So I will be 30 in nearly 2 months. I am not really happy about it. I don't feel like I should be 30. I don't feel like my life is in the right order to be in my 30's. And I know, I know...life is a journey, perfection is boring, a watched pot never boils, live life to the fullest. I understand, and agree with, these cliches. But I think I've been living my late 20's in a sleepy existence--unhappy with my job, my environment, my self. I am hoping that my 30's can usher in a new more conscience life.
Here's a few things I want to do or get started in the next two months:
1) Get on the grid, and get my finances and stuff in order.
-Meet with a financial advisor about my money market, 401K, and retirement...I mean if I'm 30, that's only a little over 30 years in the workforce (that thought literally makes me want to vomit).
-Change my name legally, including reapplying for a passport.
2) Get a healthy schedule going.
-In general, I don't like being over scheduled, but a followed schedule for working out and grocery shopping would be a good step.
-Take vitamins and up the fiber!
3) Be a good person.
-Start volunteering.,
-Follow the "Treat people like you'd like to be treated" rule to the letter. I want to "be the change you'd like to see in the world."
-Reconnect with friends I've lost touch with along the way. Sometimes you lose touch with friends and it's okay, you just move in different directions...but sometimes, as is the case for me, you lose touch with people you care about very much for no good reason. That makes me sad.
I have more goals than that, believe me, I do...but we're talking two months! I will do my best!!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
More Doggy Fun
So this past weekend, the hubby, pup and I went to two more dog parks; on Saturday we went to Independence Grove Dog Park and on Sunday we went to Duck Farm Dog Park. Nola Belle is loving all this activity, I feel bad we didn't explore these dog parks all summer. All three parks are great. The pond at Independence Grove is awesome and the pup was all about swimming despite the cooler weather. We always thought she'd enjoy swimming, but she was too distracted at Prairie Wolf last weekend. The dog park is mostly wooded with trails all around the pond. Duck Farm was also very nice; mostly open fields with low grasses and mowed paths. We brought our tennis racket and some tennis balls and bopped them all over the park with Nola bounding along after them.
After going to the three closest parks, personally, I would rank them 1) Prairie Wolf 2) Independence Grove 3) Duck Farm. I love the prairie grasses and flowers at Prairie Wolf, along with the large open areas and nice swimming spot. Independence Grove is awesome for Nola to go swimming and has some great trails, it does not however have a doggy drinking fountain. The largest negative to Duck Farm is the lack of water (though there was a fair amount of mud), but for us it is the most conveniently located so I am sure it will get a lot of use by us! My hubby ranks them 1) Independence Grove 2) Prairie Wolf 3) Duck Farm. I think he really liked the wooded shady paths at IG.
If by some stretch someone from the Lake Country Forest Preserve reads this, please know I love your dog parks, so please please please consider making on in Northern Lake County...like maybe by Van Patten Woods, just a suggestion. I would use it all the time!! Thanks!
After going to the three closest parks, personally, I would rank them 1) Prairie Wolf 2) Independence Grove 3) Duck Farm. I love the prairie grasses and flowers at Prairie Wolf, along with the large open areas and nice swimming spot. Independence Grove is awesome for Nola to go swimming and has some great trails, it does not however have a doggy drinking fountain. The largest negative to Duck Farm is the lack of water (though there was a fair amount of mud), but for us it is the most conveniently located so I am sure it will get a lot of use by us! My hubby ranks them 1) Independence Grove 2) Prairie Wolf 3) Duck Farm. I think he really liked the wooded shady paths at IG.
If by some stretch someone from the Lake Country Forest Preserve reads this, please know I love your dog parks, so please please please consider making on in Northern Lake County...like maybe by Van Patten Woods, just a suggestion. I would use it all the time!! Thanks!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Dog Park Fun
So today we tried out Prairie Wolf Dog Park. What an awesome place.
The park was full of people and dogs on this nippy fall day; everyone was out to enjoy themselves. We've visited the Lake County Forest Preserve with our pup before, but to parks where she was required to wear a leash. These trips have always been fairly pleasant, except for the doggy pulling on her leash, barking at bikers, and a very thirsty puppy. However, at the Prairie Wolf, the pup got to be off her leash which she loved, and they had a drinking fountain at her height. What's even better is the park is absolutely beautiful making great for the people too. And what's great!!!...there is a large pond for the dogs to swim in too. Our pup was not so fond of the water, but it was a great area, and I hope she's braver the next time we go. It was a great day at a great park. Next time I think we will try the Independence Grove Dog Park. I am so happy to live in a county that has such a nice park system. New wish: a Lake County Forest Preserve Dog Park in Northern Lake County.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Nasturtium Vinegar
Today I made four bottles of nasturtium vinegar that I will give away as gifts. The finished vinegar will have a nice peppery bite and will an excellent ingredient to use in salad dressings, sauces, and other dishes. Here's how I made it...
I picked about 4 blooms per bottle and lots of leaves that I cut in thin confetti strips. I put the leaves and blooms in the bottles and filled the bottles with apple cider vinegar. Then I sealed up each of the bottles.
Now to let them sit for at least 3 weeks before using. The nasturtium can remain in for decoration, but you should make sure the vinegar always covers the flowers or they will mold.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
A few days in St. Louis
In August we went down to St. Louis for a few days to see friends. It was an amazing time. I will mostly share the trip via photo. I would highly recommend any of these locations if you are looking to check out the St. Louis area.
The City Museum, Downtown St. Louis This place would be awesome to bring kids between 5 and 10, but as an adult was very awesome as well. The entire place is a work of art!
The City Museum, Downtown St. Louis This place would be awesome to bring kids between 5 and 10, but as an adult was very awesome as well. The entire place is a work of art!
We ate dinner at Zia's Restaurant in the Italian neighborhood called The Hill. The food was to die for, especially the Pomodori Fritti as an appetizer. Even though we were all stuffed, we made our way down the street to get some gelato.
The second day was nearly completely dedicated to the St. Louis Zoo located in a beautiful park area that also houses the art museum. The entire place is a terrific green space. The zoo is free, and there is free street parking; which is a great deal if you ask me!
For lunch we went to Pappy's, as seen on Man vs. Food.. We didn't do the challenge but we did get a lot of awesome food to eat!
It was a short trip, but I feel like we got to see and taste some of the best St. Louis has to offer.
Garden Kabobs
Yummy Kabobs with fresh garden veggies!!
Nasturtium, chicken and a little salt. Delicious!
Pork, sweet pepper, cinnamon, brown sugar.
Far right, streak, salt and pepper...also, cherry tomatoes mixed in the other kabobs.
All cooked up on the grill with a little extra virgin olive oil. So good and fresh!!!
What we did on our summer vacation
We build a gravel patio!!
When we moved in our house a few years ago, the backyard was one of the things that made us say "Let's buy it!" But that doesn't mean we did have some improvements to make. The site of our new gravel patio used to be where the previous owners had a swing set. We have a nice big deck off the back of our house, but the patio allows for more entertaining space and most importantly a fire pit. Below are the general steps we took to make our patio...
1) Dig down about 4 inches the entire area you are hoping to cover with your patio. That seems very simple but for us took the most time. Much easier to say than to do! Also, its good to have a plan of what you might want to with the displaced dirt.
2) Tamp the dirt.
3) Shovel in enough "traffic bond" or small pea gravel to cover the entire area to a 2 inch depth. You will want to make sure everything is relatively level at this step but a gravel patio is much more forgiving that a brick patio.
4) Tamp this layer of gravel.
5) Now the next steps are what we did, but is the fun and creative part, so if you are thinking about attempting a similar project have fun with this part. We added landscaping lumbers that matched the borders to many of our flowerbeds. We then put bricks lining the landscaping lumber. The bricks we used where also left by the previous owners, they are imperfect and discolored and I love them! Under the lumbers and bricks we put leveling sand. This is the part we were most concerned with everything being level. We got a long level and tried our best to have the sand level everything out. Though this was the step we were most concerned with leveling, we eyed a far amount of it too. (Again, way less particular than a brick patio.)
6) We also added a small star burst for where the fire pit would sit. We used a trash can lid, put sand around it, and then leveled out the bricks, each going longways and making a bursting pattern. Then, of course, removed the lid.
7) Pick out your gravel! We discovered while Lowes and Home Depot sold gravel it was much cheaper to buy from a bulk landscape place. However, that might be because we have a truck, delivery costs might drive up the price much more. We picked a purple granite mix.
8) After shoveling out all the gravel in the nooks and crannies, the only thing left to do is place your furniture, fire pit, and have a fire!!!
When we moved in our house a few years ago, the backyard was one of the things that made us say "Let's buy it!" But that doesn't mean we did have some improvements to make. The site of our new gravel patio used to be where the previous owners had a swing set. We have a nice big deck off the back of our house, but the patio allows for more entertaining space and most importantly a fire pit. Below are the general steps we took to make our patio...
1) Dig down about 4 inches the entire area you are hoping to cover with your patio. That seems very simple but for us took the most time. Much easier to say than to do! Also, its good to have a plan of what you might want to with the displaced dirt.
3) Shovel in enough "traffic bond" or small pea gravel to cover the entire area to a 2 inch depth. You will want to make sure everything is relatively level at this step but a gravel patio is much more forgiving that a brick patio.
5) Now the next steps are what we did, but is the fun and creative part, so if you are thinking about attempting a similar project have fun with this part. We added landscaping lumbers that matched the borders to many of our flowerbeds. We then put bricks lining the landscaping lumber. The bricks we used where also left by the previous owners, they are imperfect and discolored and I love them! Under the lumbers and bricks we put leveling sand. This is the part we were most concerned with everything being level. We got a long level and tried our best to have the sand level everything out. Though this was the step we were most concerned with leveling, we eyed a far amount of it too. (Again, way less particular than a brick patio.)
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