DINKs

For all of you who have wondered, and even those who haven't, we do NOT plan to remain DINKs forever. What is a DINK, you may ask??! Double Income, No Kids. I was asked yesterday at church, if that is our plan--remain childless. Though the thought has crossed my mind, and left just as quickly, we do plan to have kids. Eventually. So rest easy, there will eventually be little Barowski's for you to babysit and love on. So for now, HAVE SOME PATIENCE people. Stop drinkin' the Chesapeake water and SLOW the oh-so-lovely questions down.

d&k

Today, I took a little drive to D & K Surplus Grocery in Red Lion. It's a GREAT surplus store that sells a ton of organic (many from Trader Joe's, Wegman's, etc.), whole wheat, and no-sugar added products. It's a little bit like Aldi's mixed with BB's, from what I've heard of those two stores. D & K has some products that are expired, but can still be used-like canned goods. Most products are within a month or two of their sell-by date, and so cannot be sold in regular grocery stores. Because of the dates, prices are incredibly low. I bought canned beans for $.30/ea; name-brand salsa for $.99 a jar; Diet V8 Splash for $1.34....and I passed up a TON of great deals, because I don't have room to store it all!

Maryland gals, you really should make the trek to Red Lion. It's worth the drive-you can even meet at my house and I'll drive! Seriously.

Mags, too

I'm with Danielle. I hate throwing away old magazines, and so my bookshelves are packed. Too packed. I am looking to pass them along to anyone interested. Here is what I have:

Cooking Light
Real Simple
National Geographic

Let me know if you're interested, and I will get them to you!

survey

Best Feeling: Getting under warm covers on a cold night and curling up. Then putting my cold hands on Miguel and him yelling at me. =)
Best Knowledge: That no matter how irrational, evil, disrespectful, etc. that I am, there is grace to change
Best Friend: Miguel, Sacha, my dad. Don't hate if your names were left out
Best Vacation: Trip to Dominican Republic fo' sho'
Best Sight: a 2 hr. school delay on the WGAL website
Best Book: The Devil in the White City-at least the best one I read last year
Best Movie: Fracture (if you haven't seen it, you really should)
Best Song: Anything by my boy-Justin Timberlake! hehe
Best Possession: My engagement ring. I still look at it ALL the time and LOVE it.

Surprise

This morning, I slept in. Well, tried. Miguel left around 5:00, and the dog began crying right around that time. I could hear Cuzco run around, stop, and then cry. I got up briefly to check the weather and see if we had a 2 hour delay. After, I went into the bathroom, turned on the light, and came face to face with a cat. A cat. I screamed. Why?! We don't have a cat!!!! But, there it was, a real orange tabby sitting on my sink, staring up at me. I immediately called Miguel to find out where in the world this cat had come from.

As Miguel warmed up his truck this morning, the cat had followed him and then went to our front porch. Realizing that Aaron and Erika's HOUSE cat had been OUT all night, Miguel let it in. Poor cat. First had to deal with the snow, and then my dog chasing it around the house at 5:00 this morning! Explains the crying-Cuzco apparently loves to chase the cat and then cries incessantly once it jumps too high for him to get to it. Look at this face; he wouldn't hurt a fly!!!

March

Our book club for the month of March is "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I just started, but am enjoying it so far. Plenty of big words and an American classic, what more could you want in a novel?? Sadly, though, I have not been successful at reading it while on the elliptical at the gym. Unlike Harry Potter, it does require a bit of concentration.

Read along if you'd like!!!

Inspired

I have a newly developed desire to bake. Yet, my dilemma is always-we don't use white flour AND we don't use sugar (much). I was browsing around Barnes and Noble, looking for something that would satisfy our desire for GOOD desserts. And, here is what I found:


I can't WAIT to try out the recipes for Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Dessert Waffles, Chocolate Fudge Brownies, Peanut Butter Éclairs, Lemon Raspberry Cake....just to name a few!!! My first attempt at whole grain baking is going to be a carrot cake, per my husband. I am going to substitute the sugar with Splenda, yet continue using real butter. We will see how it turns out!!

Super Bowl

NY Giants 17, New England 14

BOOOO YAAA! Take that, Tom Brady!

Appetizers

I need your help, ladies!! I consistently fall back on the "same ol' appetizers"--stuffed hot peppers, black bean salsa, fantastic franks! I need some new AND good recipes. Would you be willing to post your favorite appetizer recipes for me, and let me know when you do? I am looking for anything ranging from Superbowl snacks to dinner party hors d'ourves.


Thanks!!

Calling...?

Sunday, I shared with Emily that I would LOVE to be a personal organizer. Monday, I shared with Laura that I would really love to be a personal organizer.

Monday, I got home from work and received a random e-mail from Cathy stating this (I am not joking): "Libby, I was thinking about you. I think you should become a personal organizer. Just wanted you to know."

Random? Or God?!

Now, how to go about fulfilling my true calling of becoming a personal organizer...

Perspective

A cute story I heard today:

A little boy is playing "Toss and Catch" by himself in a field. An older man is watching him. The little boy throws the ball into the air, swings his bat, and misses. He then proclaims, "I am the best baseball player EVER." The man watches, and chuckles. The boy throws the ball up again, swings, and again misses. He yells even louder, "I really AM the best baseball player!" The man thinks to himself, "this kid is crazy." Once again, the boy tosses the ball, swings and misses and cheers triumphantly. The man walks over to him and says, "I heard you say that you were the best player ever. How is that, since you've missed the ball three times?"

The boy replies, "I am the pitcher!"

Amazing what a change in perspective does??!

Back to Book Love

It's been a few months since I have posted about books. Since I've been away from the topic, I have read a few books, though nothing great.

December's book club book was Tuesday's with Morrie, by Mitch Albom. It was my choice, mainly because several people had recommended it to me. It was moving and heart-wrenching. I sobbed through most of the book; it hit a tad too close to home. The premise of the book, in case you aren't familiar, is this: A college student strikes up a lasting relationship with one of his professors. The student, Mitch, learns that his professor, Morrie, is dying. Mitch then flies to visit Morrie on a weekly basis (on Tuesdays). Each week they discuss a new topic, ranging from love, to life, to money. One of the chapters especially struck me. Morrie asked Mitch what he would do with 24 hour if he knew it would be his last 24 hours. Morrie went on to explain that he would surround himself with all of the people he loved. He would enjoy their company like never before, and make sure that they had good memories of him as their last. Sadly, My first thought was that I would go to some exotic location, soak in the sun, and live it up.

How would you choose to spend your last 24 hours?

January's book club book was Bel Canto, by Ann Patchett. There is not a lot to say about this work of fiction, other than I would not recommend it. While it could have been a fascinating plot (a group of high-ranking officials being taken hostage in S. America), it turned out to be nothing more than a disappointing, juvenile work of modern fiction.

Other than my book club books, I have been ploughing through the Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling. I am currently on book six, The Half-Blood Prince. After finishing books 4 and 5 over Christmas break, I realized that I have officially joined the bandwagon. When people ask what I recommend in terms of a good read, I ALWAYS mention Harry. And he truly deserves more than just a mention. The books are entertaining, page-turners, and well written. Enough said. Go get the books.

An episode of "Friends"?!

I recently returned from a short trip to St. Louis where I visited with my friend Andrea. While there, I had a lot of time to sleep, relax and read. All three are on the top of my "favorites" list.

One morning, I sat on her couch reading. We had the blinds and windows open, because it was a surprisingly beautiful day. As I was reading, I happened to look up from my book. A normal occurrence, right?! Well, it just so happens that directly across from her apartment is another apartment building. Her window looks directly into the window of the apartment across from hers. Not only that BUT the window in the adjacent apartment is knee to chin height. Still not so bad you might think. HOWEVER, it just so happens that the window is in the apartment's bathroom...in the shower for that matter.

And to my further dismay, there was a butt naked man in that very shower, thoroughly cleansing himself with a poof. My mouth immediately gaped; I quietly screamed for Andrea to "come and check this out!" In the mean time, naked neighbor had turned himself, so as to face our window. Enough said.

I had to ask myself if I was truly seeing this or was it really just my imagination. Andrea confirmed that "Ugly Naked Guy" had, on more than one occasion, been spied across the way. I may not remember another detail of my trip to St.L. But I will certainly remember my experience with her fat, old, and hairy neighbor!

Christmas Pics.

Miguel and me at my uncle's house. Miguel is actually (almost) smiling! And I look like I took this picture of us. However, my cousin was just sitting incredibly close and had the camera right in my face. Yay for a fat face picture!



















Me, my cousin Maya, and my sister. Maya is deaf, which means I get to stumble through...er...I mean...use my Sign Language once or twice a year. She just got engaged to a great guy. So hopefully, I'll get to travel to California in June for their wedding.

(I stole these pictures from Sacha's facebook page.)

Christmas honesty

Christmas this year was incredibly low-key. We spent two days with family, and had a wonderful time enjoying one another. Despite the relaxed atmosphere, God faithfully used circumstances to reveal some long-standing, difficult issues in my life. How kind of Him to show me my heart, even during a season full of distractions.

Do you remember those Christmases as a child, where your best friend rode down the street on her new bike? And you sat inside looking at the pj's your grandmother made for you? I remember longing for what I did not have-jealous would be the appropriate term. During each phase of my life, I can times of intense jealousy and discontentment. During college, I was in 10 weddings (I wish I was joking); all I wanted was to be in my own. After graduating, I envied my friends who made more money than I did. All I wanted was to teach special education AND make bank.

Now that I am in the possible realm of child-bearing, I have found myself thinking, "The announcement she just made was one I really wished I could've made." This year at Christmas, my sister-in-law made THE announcement. You know, the one that makes your skin prickle from jealousy. The one that makes you cringe on the inside and fake-smile on the outside?? She is pregnant with her second baby. The moment she announced it, I immediately felt sorry for myself. Sorry for myself, not because we've had an intense struggle with infertility. Sorry for myself, not because we've even been trying to have a baby!!!! Sorry for myself because....well....plain and simple, I am discontent with my current situation and want what I do not have! And that right now is a baby. In the next season, it will probably be a bigger house, or a newer car, or nicer dishes (that is a vice of mine!!!).

After wrestling with a serious attitude, God gently reminded me that He has blessed me beyond measure during this season. I have a job that is five minutes away. I have a house that I love. I have a husband who works hard to ensure that we are never in need or want. I have the time and energy to invest in my girl friends. I have the freedom to schedule outings and not worry about getting a sitter. I have the luxury to read Harry Potter when I want for as long as I want. AND I have the pleasure of holding the kids, and then handing them back when they drive me nuts!!!! So I say, bring on "aunt-hood" as I wait for his perfect and sovereign timing.

Snowy Day

As a kid, I loved the book, "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats. In it, a young boy wakes up to discover his world is covered in snow. I didn't wake up to a blanket of snow, however, our forecast for a dusting to 2" has slowly become 5"+ and still falling.


Here is my snowy day (we got off at 1:00):





















































"Special" Hot Chocolate Recipe
2 C. milk
3 T. baking cocoa
2 T. Splenda
2 squares dark chocolate
1 t. (or more) cinnamon
A good bit of Kahlua (I just poured it in until it tasted good!)

Using a whisk, combine all ingredients in a small sauce pan . Stir continually over medium-low heat until hot. Pour into two mugs. Serve with Cool Whip.

Winter, con't.

I felt like a school kid today. As we sat in the classroom, I glanced out the windows and saw snow flurries. "It's snowing?!!" shouted one student. "Do you think we'll get off two hours early?" I asked, then laughed at myself.

Hours later, this was the view off of my deck. Can you see the snow settling on the railing? I love this sight. Though it's not significant accumulation, it's enough to make me excited.




































(sorry for the glare in this last picture. It was the only way I knew of to capture the snow falling.)


















I think I'll go make some hot chocolate, and think about Miguel as he freezes his tooshie off at the Raven's game!

Holidays

During our reading class at school, I have my kids respond in writing to a simple question. Today, it was "What do you love about winter?" I got answers ranging from "Drinking hot chocolate inside" to "Making snow angels." I realized that I love this time of year. I love shopping amidst the insanity. I love buying just that right gift. I love chopping down our Christmas tree. I love seeing all of the Christmas lights beginning to sparkle. And I really love the extra opportunities to see family and friends. (This year, I am going to visit my best friend, Andrea, in St. Louis!)

What do you love most about this time of year?

addition

What do you get when you add:

13 hours worked on Monday
+
12 hours worked on Tuesday
=Wednesday off!!!

Yay for a looooooong holiday. Did you know that Monday is the first day of gun hunting in PA? That means NO SCHOOL for staff or students. Wow, I love living in the sticks.

Check out this cute comic.

Dukem

I love my book club. I truly do. The girls have become some of my most enduring and faithful friends. We meet once a month (at least), and never are in want of good conversation, GREAT food, and belly-aching laughs. After reading "A Long Way Gone" (see previous post), our host decided that we'd be adventurous and try an Ethiopian restaurant in Baltimore. We met at 1:00 at Dukem, a little restaurant right on Maryland Avenue. It looks like a hole in the wall, but the upstairs dining area was surprisingly cute and cozy.

We ordered a combination platter which allowed us to try lamb, tibs (beef cubes), chicken, lentils, and several vegetables. The meal was served with a crepe-like bread that was tangy. The bread was used as our utensil. Ethiopian restaurants do not provide diners with knifes, spoons OR forks! Each meat option was in some sort of sauce, ranging from mild and flavorful to spicy and "nose sniffling."

I had a blast sampling a new cuisine and loved the experience of eating an entire meal with my hands. The food was delicious (loved the spicy lamb) and the experience was one I'll never forget.