Wally working = cleaning

So once again Wally is away working, luckily he is going gone for the night. At least this time. But that means its cleaning time. First, the dogs and I took a trip to the dump. Yes, we have to go to the dump, I live in the boondocks of NH...

After clearing the trash... I vacuumed and mopped the floor. I wanted to share with you guys my 2 new favorite cleaning items. I must say, it is much more fun to clean when you have fun tools to use. The first on is the Rainbow cleaning system... It is an air-purification system as well as vacuum and steam cleaner (OMG!!)

Next is the Euro-pro Shark Steam Mop -

this was a gift from our wedding registry at Macys. It is sad to say but this is actually the first time I have mopped my floor since moving into the apartment 2 months ago (yuck! i know). But at least I have vacuumed. :) This mop was so simple and easy to use I will definitely be using it more and more floors are SPARKLING.

After all this cleaning it was time to relax on the couch with some ORANGE hot chocolate, from Disney, and watch some re-runs of Greys Anatomy.

Tomorrow is FRIDAY! yay! It actually might be a quick weekend and no traveling to CT.

50 Questions that Will Free Your Mind...

These are questions that I came across randomly. They were not easy to answer...

1. How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
2. Which is worse, failing or never trying?
3. If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?
4. When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?
5. What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?
6. If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?
7. Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?
8. If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?
9. To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?
10. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?
11. You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire. They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend. The criticism is distasteful and unjustified. What do you do?
12. If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?
13. Would you break the law to save a loved one?
14. Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?
15. What’s something you know you do differently than most people?
16. How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy?
17. What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What’s holding you back?
18. Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?
19. If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?
20. Do you push the elevator button more than once? Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?
21. Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton?
22. Why are you, you?
23. Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend?
24. Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?
25. What are you most grateful for?
26. Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones?
27. Is is possible to know the truth without challenging it first?
28. Has your greatest fear ever come true?
29. Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset? Does it really matter now?
30. What is your happiest childhood memory? What makes it so special?
31. At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive?
32. If not now, then when?
33. If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose?
34. Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever?
35. Why do religions that support love cause so many wars?
36. Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil?
37. If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job?
38. Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?
39. Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before?
40. When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in?
41. If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today?
42. Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous?
43. What is the difference between being alive and truly living?
44. When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right?
45. If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?
46. What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?
47. When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing?
48. What do you love? Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love?
49. In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday? What about the day before that? Or the day before that?
50. Decisions are being made right now. The question is: Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you?

And my answers...

50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind

These questions have no right or wrong answers.

Because sometimes asking the right questions is the answer.

1. How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
1. Late 20s early 30s. My career is getting started as well as my family.
2. Which is worse, failing or never trying?
1. Never trying
3. If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?
1. We do things that we don’t like because other people are doing them. Even if you aren’t one to follow a crowd I think part of it is inevitable.
4. When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?
1. I hope not. I think we all would like to think that we are “doers”. I would like to see as much of the country and the world as possible.
5. What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?
1. Make the world a happier place to live, no more war, road-rage, fighting…
6. If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?
1. Physical therapy, first reason, being it is my current job, it is great to see people get better and they are extremely happy with results as well.
7. Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?
1. At the current moment I feel as though I am settling. I do my best to keep myself challenged and to continue to learn and stay educated on current topics. I believe in what I am doing, I just don’t feel as though my talents are fully at use in my current position.
8. If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?
1. Travel more, love more, be more generous
9. To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?
1. Realistically 50%. I do have a tendency to get comfortable in life and just live it.
10. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?
1. Doing things right – if I do something, I want to be proud of it and make sure it is done right and will last.
11. You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire. They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend. The criticism is distasteful and unjustified. What do you do?
1. Defend the friend. The people you are having lunch with likely don’t have the whole story and don’t know all parties involved. I would give them a chance to tell their story. Sometimes you just need a change of subject and agree to disagree.
12. If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?
1. Live your life fully, never regret doing anything.
13. Would you break the law to save a loved one?
1. Yes
14. Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?
1. Not that I recall
15. What’s something you know you do differently than most people?
1. Laugh, I think that everyone laughs differently. I love laughing and having a good time. Just start listening to everyone and you will notice the differences.
16. How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy?
1. Everyone is different. Some people really enjoy the cold weather where others enjoy the sun and warmth.
17. What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What’s holding you back?
1. Rock-climbing, I am afraid that I am not going to be able to do it and let people down.
18. Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?
19. If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?
1. Italy, the culture, food, wine, and beautiful countryside
20. Do you push the elevator button more than once? Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?
1. Yes, no I don’t believe it makes it faster, sometimes I just want to make sure it connected.
21. Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton?
1. A joyful simpleton. Life is no fun when you are worried all the time.
22. Why are you, you?
1. I am me because this is the way god made me. I am fun, crazy, analytical, clutzy, a runner, a friend, daughter, sister, wife,…
23. Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend?
1. I hope so, I try my best to be a good friend. Sometimes I can’t keep a
24. Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?
1. Losing touch with a good friend that lives near by. This is something that many times feels like it can be prevented by I am coming to learn that sometimes people just change and friendship changes at the same time.
25. What are you most grateful for?
1. My health, I have been to too many funerals of people that die much too young.
26. Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones?
1. Lose all of your old memories, it would be discouraging going through life and never remembering anything new you were seeing or experiencing.
27. Is is possible to know the truth without challenging it first?
1. I don’t think so. If you are just accepting things as fact, how are you to know what is true and what isn’t?
28. Has your greatest fear ever come true?
1. No, thank goodness…
29. Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset? Does it really matter now?
1. I remember a few times. And surprisingly no it doesn’t really matter. Life changes and your priorities change making things that were important to you 5 years ago almost irrelevant now.
30. What is your happiest childhood memory? What makes it so special?
1. There are so many happy memories. It is probably just playing with my friend Abby and swimming. Things were so simple then and it didn’t take much to keep us happy.
31. At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive?
1. Ziplining in Costa Rica, the speed, the wind through your hair, the cloud forest, and the view, it is hard not to feel alive in that.
32. If not now, then when?
1.  
33. If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose?
1.  
34. Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever?
1. Yes, I had a friend in college we would do this. Sometimes this is just what you need, someone to be there with you.
35. Why do religions that support love cause so many wars?
1. There are many opinions and interpretations of religion and many countries fight over who has the right one.
36. Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil?
1. I don’t think so, what is good and evil may vary from person to person. What is good for me, might not be good for you.
37. If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job?
1. I would think long and hard about it. A million dollars is a lot of money but I don’t know if I could live off of it for the rest of my life.
38. Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?
1. More work I enjoy doing. When you enjoy what you do it doesn’t feel as much like work.
39. Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before?
1. No, every day brings a new adventure.
40. When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in?
1. I don’t know if I have ever done this.
41. If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today?
1. My husband
42. Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous?
1. No!
43. What is the difference between being alive and truly living?
1. Being alive, is just living a breathing, truly living is enjoying the precious moments and taking advantage of the time we have and the opportunities that are given to us.
44. When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right?
1. When you come to a stand still in weighing the pluses and minuses, you just have to do it and you will know at that time if you made the right decision.
45. If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?
1. No one likes to be wrong.
46. What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?
1. Dance in public ;)
47. When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing?
1. The other day when running
48. What do you love? Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love?
1. Fresh food, I recently planted an herb garden to help increase my creativity in the kitchen.
49. In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday? What about the day before that? Or the day before that?
1. Blogging, or I just won’t remember it.
50. Decisions are being made right now. The question is: Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you?
1. I would have to say both. This is a time in my life that I am starting to take charge of certain aspects of my life, however some parts other people have been making the decisions and I follow.

There are a lot of interesting questions that just make you really think. It makes me realize that there is more to life and you want to make sure you are really enjoying what you are doing and who you are becoming.

Hope you enjoy the questions...

What a beautiful day

So up here in NH, today was extremely warm and sunny, which was a nice surprise, because I was under the impression it was supposed to be rainy all week.

Since the sun was still out when I got home today I decided it was the day to go get some flowers and plant some in the front of the house, as well as plant the herb garden. I had originally planned on only doing a herb garden because the soil is so sandy, but I have the "itch" to plant a whole vegetable garden. There is a spot that is already marked out from the previous tenants the soil just needs to be tilled.

After dinner, was haircut time... Wally decided it was time for a haircut. I just was not feeling it but I realized he may not be home for a few days and he needed it. This is the 3rd haircut I have given him and I must say I am getting better. The first one was REALLY bad. Its a good thing he doesn't care much about looks ;) The hardest part is the fading. It is definitely not easy to cut someones hair.

Nothing fantastic for dinner tonight, kielbasa, sauerkraut, and broccoli. I have made this in the past. Wally really enjoys it and it is pretty easy.

The forecast is for thunderstorms the next two days... can't wait until the weekend...

Hello again

So I know it has been a while since last posting. Life has just gotten busy. Lots of things have happened. Wally and I have gone to CT 3 times and NY once. We went down to CT for opening day of Trout Fishing and camping with his family. It was nice to see everyone and all the babies. It is too bad that it was cold and rainy. Luckily I only had to sleep in the tent one night, the other we spent with Wally's parents in the motorhome.

For the camping trip I tried my hand at gluten free baking. I made Lemon Raspberry Muffins from another blogger but subsituted for gluten free flour and added Xantham gum, which is recommended on the package.

Most of my ingredients...

1 lemon

1/2 c sugar

• 1/2 c Lemon Chobani Greek Yogurt (or plain if preferred)
• 1/2 c Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze
• 1/3 c veg. oil
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 c gluten free baking flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 c fresh raspberries

Zest 1 lemon into sugar

Combine dry ingredients in bowl and make a well. Combine wet ingredients and mix with dry.

Gently fold in raspberries. Fill muffin tins and bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Mine took just about 15 minutes. Watch for the tops to turn golden brown and they are done.

baking...

Quick dinner before leaving for camping including quesadillas... in them I put goat cheese, mushrooms, green chiles, corn, and black beans.

Dinner... another night...

Steamed aspargus

Pork Tenderloin (pre-seasoned)

Roasted sweet potatoes and 1 red onion sliced

Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees. Cook sweet potatoes and red onion for 20 minutes prior to adding pork.

Smoothies -

1/2 cup blueberries

1/2 cup of pineapple

1 cup of skim milk

and 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder = yumm



As for everything else... Easter was wonderful. We had breakfast with my family and dinner with his. I got a TON of candy, which is a good thing because I was seriously craving some chocolate. So much so that I had peanut butter m & m's for breakfast.

Wally and I have also been searching for land to put our house on. We think that we  might have found something. We met with the  realtor yesterday after work to sign some papers, afterwards we had dinner at panara bread. I had cheddar broccoli soup and 1/2 a turkey bacon bravo sandwich on tomato basil bread. Delicious... and some iced coffee!!

Keep your fingers crossed for the property...

Another venison chop seasoned with S&P and garlic powder. Served with steamed sn

Another venison chop seasoned with S&P and garlic powder. Served with steamed snap peas and rice. And a small glass of milk (does the body good).

Wally was supposed to be gone for work until today and surpried me by coming home. I guess they finished the job early. Luckily dinner was an easy one tonight. I just needed to deforst another chop for him.

We are preparing for this weekend which has gotten extremely busy in the last few days. The plan was to go to CT for opening day of fishing, a family tradition with another family. They have been doing this for years. We also have to make a trip up to NY, my uncle recently passed and the wake is Friday, which I won't  make because of work (I don't drive that FAST), and the funeral is Saturday. They have also had some services for him in Florida where him and my aunt have spent that last 5 years or so.

My uncle Hugh was a great man, battled cancer, loved his family and his dogs. He will truely be missed.
Hugh C. Pailley Obituary: View Hugh Pailley's Obituary by Albany Times Union

(I can't get the link to work, sorry :( )

I have also been wanting to make these Lemon Raspberry Muffins from Tina's bog, however, when going to get all the stuff together I realized I didnt have any baking soda. How is that? Oh well. I will make them next week. My plan is to also try to make them gluten free?!?!

Just another thursday.

Just another Thursday...

Work has been super slow lately. Luckily I am there no matter what. Most of my patients are first thing in the morning and last ones in the evening.

Here's my lunch today. I had a whole PB&J prior to the picture, roasted red pepper hummus and celery, chobani yogurt with chia seeds and Back to Nature Cranberry Pecan granola, and an apple, earlier that day there was a banana in the mix as well. On slow days at work I tend to eat more, not much more for me to do besides clean...

Tonight I also got to use my new vacuum, the RAINBOW. It uses water as a filtration system instead of air filters so it doesnt clog and all you have to do is rince the water out. We live on a lake right now with lots of sand around, so with 2 dogs this place gets pretty nasty. I will take pictures of all the stuff that comes up!

Last night I also decided to run it as an air purification system with some deodorizor in it. I came down in the morning to a fresh smelling house! mmm...

This weekend was a busy one. We had gone to Saratoga on Friday for a friend's we

This weekend was a busy one. We had gone to Saratoga on Friday for a friend's wedding which was a ton of fun. We headed home early Saturday because the in-laws where coming up for a visit. It was a relaxing day of hanging out, going to dinner, and playing games. Sunday we headed the Foothills, the local diner,for breakfast. I had cinnamon raisin french toast, YUM. After we headed to the buffalo farm. They had all sorts of exotic meats and you can order fresh stuff like leg of lamb. While we were here we got to see about 30 of their 100 buffalos they have. The owner explained to us there was 3 different farms. After lunch we headed to look at some property which didn't turn out too well. We will just keep on looking. . . .

This message has been sent using the picture and Video service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, Quicktime@ 6.5 or higher is required.

Breakfast for Dinner

Typically I am not a big fan of breakfast for dinner but tonight was one of those busy days again and I forgot to take anything out to defrost for dinner. So it was either take out or breakfast for dinner.

Now the big decision would be eggs or pancakes? I really enjoy both but we have 2 dozen eggs in the fridge because I was going to make tres leches cake, but then gave up sweets for lent, so we have slowly been getting rid of them.

First I cooked up 1/2 an onion, a small green pepper, a clove of garlic and 3 sausage links.

 Chopped up 2 BIG handfuls of spinach

 Scrambled 6 eggs with a little milk for extra fluffiness

 Mix it all together with some salt, pepper, and garlic powder for this beautiful egg scramble

 Top with a dolop of salsa and BRINNER (BReakfast and dINNER) is done.

Wally really enjoyed his brinner. The dogs waited patiently while we ate, because they eat after us.

Now off to our next workout; P90x LEGS and BACK, I think.

Very boring lunch

Happy Thursday! Today is my last day of work for this week. Tomorrow we head for Saratoga for Lauren and Bryan's Wedding where I have the honor to do a reading. :)

Today's breakfast was blueberry waffles with peanut butter. Sorry no pictures. I was in a rush getting out the door today. Lunch was also pretty boring. I had a leftover subway sandwich, pineapple and plain chobani. I am not to fond of plain chobani so I figured I would add some fruit. I am bummed that I forgot to bring chia seeds with me. I just received my package from iherb.com with them in there and I am dying to try them. My morning snack consisted of 5 pretzel rods. Hopefully I am not hungry later because that is all the food I brought with me today.

Very boring lunch

 Last night was a busy night. We had a rep from Rainbow cleaning systems come give us a talk. We had stopped by their booth at a home show and they were giving us a air purification system. They were also trying to sell a larger system which has attachments to make it into a vaccum. To see all of the junk that came out of the carpet and cushions was disgusting :P  (I'll post pictures of it later). I will probably use it later today or tomorrow especially because my in-laws are likely coming up this weekend.

Hopefully we will also be able to see some more properties this weekend. I am so ready to buy something so this house building process can get started.

P90X last night was Yoga. Some things are getting easier and some aren't. I am pleased with the flexibility that I am gaining.

I need plans for dinner, any ideas? something quick and easy please...

Happy 2 month anniversary. Tonights dinner was venison with aspargus and a pasta

Happy 2 month anniversary. Tonights dinner was venison with aspargus and a pasta side. I cheated with the pasta. It was a long day at work and sometimes you just want an easy dinner.
workout tonight is P90X shoulders/arms and ABS.

Party Time!!

Quick update today...

My meals today were pretty boring, cereal and coffee for breakfast, leftover lasagna roll ups for lunch, and ravoli with sauce and green  beans for dinner.

But this weekend on the other hand was a little bit more exciting. First, I left my sick husband with our two dogs and drove through Vermont to Party-town, NY, just kidding, we were in Cohoes then Troy.

It was snowing on my drive over the mountains. You can't see the snow all that well.

 Lauren, the bride to be opening presents. It was small shower but she has already receieved a TON of stuff.

 I have known these girls for 10 years. I can't believe that. We all met our freshman year of college. All different majors and all completely different personalities. I think that is what makes it work.

 Bachelorette Party BEGINS... pitchers of Sangria, Tacos, and Jello shots

 Homemade guacamole... 4 avocados, tomatoes, garlic, red onion, jalapenos, salt and pepper to taste.

 Hanging out, having a good time...

 "Lauren Jenga" - So the story behind this - someone made up a game drinking jenga, each tile you took had something that you needed to do; drink 1, drink 2 ..., give 1, give 2, social, waterfall... So Zerlina (the creative one) decided to make Lauren her own version.

 Some of the tiles...

 Z- was also in charge of the Sangria which was DELICIOUS

 More party fun

 Naughty bingo with some sweet prizes...

 Now, out to the bar. Browns Taproom, I do miss their Cherry Raspberry Ale.

 One my way back home to NH. I saw some crazy stuff like a giant bed and chair...

 I also made this pit stop. This is nostalgic for me. As a kid driving to NY for CT we would always stop here and get lemon or rootbeer candy. So naturally I made the stop, enjoyed the view, but resisted temptation of going inside for candy.

 Later I found this covered bridge. For some reason they fascinate me.

Hope you enjoyed all the pictures. Tonights workout was P90X Plyometrics. We are on week 2, I am pretty motivated to keep on going, but I need to get outside and start running more as well.

Until next time...

Finally Friday!

Happy April Fools Day!

Work was another slow day at work. I woke up this morning to 4 inches of snow on the ground and it was still coming down.

this is actually the sunrise from Thursday morning. After our early morning workout.

Tonights dinner was DELICIOUS!!

Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna Roll-ups with Gorgonzola Cream Sauce

from Rachel Ray 30 Minutes Meals 2

 Over medium heat saute mushroom bits, chopped onion, and garlic in oil. Until mushrooms give off their juices ~ 7-8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add dry chpped spinach to pain and heat through for 1 minute. Adjust salt and pepper and add nutmeg (I used All-spice, didn't have nutmeg).

 Add 2 c. of ricotta and stir for 1 minute. Remove pain from heat but leave veggies in skillet while rolling lasagna.

 Spread a layer of spinach mushroom filling on pre-cooked lasagna noddle.

 Roll up...

 And arrange 8 noddles in casserole dish...

 In small sauce pan, heat chicken broth over moderate heat. Melt gorgonzola cheese into both and bring to a boil. Add cream and stir to thicken.

 Cover lasagna noddles with sauce and mozzarella cheese.

 Broil until cheese is melted....

 Yum...

 And serve...

I was the only one eatting tonight because Wally is not feeling well. There are lots of leftovers. Can't wait to make this again. Using the food processer for the mushrooms and onions was a great idea, chopped up the pieces very small, made for a great filling consistency.

Lots of laundry got done today as well. Now I just need to put it away and get ready for NY.

Until later...