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Thursday, May 30, 2013

De and Doug's Den: Reading and Movie Goals Update


Here is an update of how I'm doing on my "entertainment" goals so far this year!!!

List of twelve varied classics I want to read this year, hopefully completing one each month:

-- 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
-- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
-- Anna Karenina
-- Arabian Nights
-- The Catcher in the Rye
-- Great Expectations
-- The Hunchback of Notre Dame
-- Jane Eyre
-- The Last of the Mohicans
-- Mere Christianity
-- The Poems of Emily Dickinson
-- The Three Musketeers

List of twelve classic movies:

-- An Affair to Remember
-- Casablanca
-- Dial M for Murder
-- The Godfather Trilogy
-- It Happened One Night
-- Kiss Me Kate
-- The Maltese Falcon
-- Mary Poppins
-- The Postman Always Rings Twice
-- Pretty in Pink
-- Strangers on a Train
-- Vertigo

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Delicious: Weekly Meal Plan

Even though classes are over (hooray!), I wasn't able to fully convert over to my normal two-week meal planning schedule straight away since I went out of town for my cousin's wedding!!!

This week begins our 10-day menu until my parents arrive to begin helping us pack!  As usual, I decided on some varied main courses that we can simply choose the day before.  Now that we have a little more time, there are some time-consuming dishes. (i.e. more than dump in Crock Pot or bake in oven, I didn't go too crazy!!!)

Broiled Lobster Tails w/ Spaghetti Squash
Steamed Shrimp w/ Spinach Alfredo
Tilapia w/ Corn on the Cob and Rice
Cheesy Tuna Pasta w/ Broccoli
Grilled London Broil w/ Baked Potatoes and Broccoli
Meatloaf w/ Corn on the Cob and Baked Squash
Chili Mac w/ Salad and Rolls
Steak, Chicken, and Veggie Fried Rice
Grilled Chicken w/ Broccoli and Rice
Chicken Quesadillas w/ Spanish Rice
Chicken Florentine Pasta
Zucchini Cakes w/ Baked Potatoes

Monday, May 20, 2013

Design: Weekly Goals (May 20-26)


What a crazy week!  I'm writing this goal post from my parents house in PA after a fun weekend celebrating my cousin's wedding, but I will be heading back to my home in VA soon ;)

May Goals
1.  Set up 1-2 more friends/family "dates" -- still working on this ;)
2.  Enjoy my cousin's wedding and time with family
3.  Play board games with Doug this week -- we watched movies instead, per his request

Housework/Errands
4.  Grocery Shopping/Menu Plan (and blog!) -- no blog because there was no plan! Long story...
5.  Laundry and Packing for trip to PA

Personal
6.  Begin reading Arabian Nights
7.  Watch Pretty in Pink and It Happened One Night
8.  Rest and relax at home!!!

This week of being able to be at home and relax with no schoolwork was great!  Now that we've gotten some much deserved R & R, we are ready to begin organizing and packing for our move!!!  Even though we are only moving a few blocks to a bigger apartment, there is a lot of packing and decluttering to do so that we aren't overwhelmed with boxes (or piles of stuff) on moving day ;)

May Goals
1.  Correspond and catch-up with family/friends
2.  Spend quality time with Doug this week (playing games, going to a movie)

Housework/Errands
3.  Grocery Shopping/Menu Plan (and blog!)
4.  Surface cleaning and decluttering

Moving Goals
5.  Clean Kitchen
6.  Laundry!  Sorted and stowed or bagged for charity/donations

Personal
7.  Begin reading Arabian Nights (!!!)
8.  Watch It Happened One Night

Monday, May 13, 2013

Design: Weekly Goals


Last week was a success because 1) Doug and I graduated with our Masters' degrees and 2) our house was clean enough to have company over!!!


May Goals/Personal
1.  Set up "date" times with 2-3 friends/family members -- one left to go!
2.  Watch Original Star Trek Movie with Doug
3.  Begin reading Arabian Nights

School/Homework
4.  Complete Psalms Reading and Exam
5.  Dance because I finished my Masters' Degree!!!

Housework/Errands
6.  Grocery Shopping/Menu Plan (and blog!)
7.  Surface clean the apartment (for friends to be able to visit!)

This week is "transition week" in our house; we are taking the week off to relax and get ready for our new school-free schedules, as well as get some much needed rest before beginning to pack up our apartment to move in June!  Still, it's nice to have some goals ;)

May Goals
1.  Set up 1-2 more friends/family "dates"
2.  Enjoy my cousin's wedding and time with family
3.  Play board games with Doug this week

Housework/Errands
4.  Grocery Shopping/Menu Plan (and blog!)
5.  Laundry and Packing for trip to PA

Personal
6.  Begin reading Arabian Nights
7.  Watch Pretty in Pink and It Happened One Night
8.  Rest and relax at home!!!

Friday, May 10, 2013

Distinctive

Distinctive (adj):  different, unique, original

Today, my life is taking a new turn.

I have completed all the work necessary in order to graduate with my 90-hour M.Div, a process that has taken the entirety of four years of my life, almost to the day.

And I have no idea what to do with it.

Let me explain:  I have a lot of options and choices ahead, but none of them seem "right."  Maybe I just don't want to "grow up" and "be an adult" that is out of school, but even continuing my education seems like the wrong step to take.  And for someone who tends to plan out (in detail) the next, oh 40-50 years, not knowing what I'll be doing in 3 months or 6 months or a year is kinda super frightening.

However...
I have spent that last year and a half slowing down and enjoying my life instead of merely "doing" life, and it has been a huge transformation for me.  Even the fact that I am NOT rushing into the next "thing" after graduating is contrary to my nature.  Taking a break is not something I naturally strive to do.  But here I am, graduating with a supercharged degree, having absolutely no answer to "what are you doing after graduation?" or "what's next for you?".  And I'm okay with that.  If there is any proof of change in me, and of God's peace in my life, it is that I am completely okay with not knowing what will happen next.  In fact, I'm not even worried about the options and what I'm going to do next.  Whoa.

But, hey, let's not get crazy.  I still have some short term goals and plans ;)  After all, moving in 6 weeks will take a lot of time, effort, and organizational stamina. (PS Today is my two-year apartment-versary!)  Once we are settled in our new apartment, I think the dust will begin to settle, and I will look around and realize I need something to do.  I need a plan.  I need to figure things out.

But I know there's no rush.  And that is completely foreign to me.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Delicious: Weekly Meal Plan

With graduation around the corner, Doug and I are still banking on quick and easy meals.  Plus, we are working to clean out our pantry items before we move!

Here are our main meals for this week:
Broiled Lobster Tails w/ Zucchini, Butter, and Garlic Pasta (nice celebration meal)
Broiled Salmon w/ Wilted Spinach and Alfredo
Baked Pork Chops w/ Roasted Squash and Cheesy Rice
Grilled Chicken Tacos w/ Peppers, Onions, and Mexican Rice
Grilled Steak and Cheesy Broccoli Stuffed Potatoes

Design: Weekly Goals (May 7-12)


Oh my goodness, what a week!  Between lease signing, paper-writing, studying for a Final, and my little cousin's 5th birthday party, I have barely had a chance to breathe!


May Goals/Personal
1.  Set up "date" times with 3 friends and family members -- Only set up one (with my Gram) which was practically already set before I even began focusing on friends and family!  Still, I'm counting it.
2.  Go see Iron Man 3 with Doug this week

School/Homework
3.  Write and Submit my Psalms Analysis Paper
4.  Study for upcoming Greek Final (5/6)

Housework/Errands
5.  Grocery Shopping/Menu Plan (and blog!)
6.  Begin decluttering/packing for our move to a new, bigger apartment ;) -- My dear husband put a stop to my decluttering and packing madness with a sweet reminder that we have SEVEN weeks until we move, but only ONE week until graduation.  He is so wise.

This week should be a bit easier and revert back to normal since I only have one Exam between me and graduation!  We will have some friends in town this weekend, so much needed cleaning is in order ;)

May Goals/Personal
1.  Set up "date" times with 2-3 friends/family members
2.  Watch Original Star Trek Movie with Doug
3.  Begin reading Arabian Nights

School/Homework
4.  Complete Psalms Reading and Exam
5.  Dance because I finished my Masters' Degree!!!

Housework/Errands
6.  Grocery Shopping/Menu Plan (and blog!)
7.  Surface clean the apartment (for friends to be able to visit!)

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Design: May Goals

May = Graduating with my MDiv, packing up my home in order to move, and celebrating my cousin's wedding!  Whew!

2013 Spring Goals
As I said last month, giving my time and focus to my friends and family can never truly be a checklist of goals, but must stem out of habitual change in my own life.  I tried to ease into things last month, but now I need to move things up a bit ;)

1.  Plan regular "dates" with friends and family members (even if they are Skype dates).
2.  Begin corresponding more with long-distance friends and family.
3.  Go out of my way to do something fun with Doug each week. (He's a quality time guy.)

Other Goals
4.  Read the Poems of Emily Dickinson; read Arabian Nights
5.  Watch It Happened One Night, Pretty in Pink, and An Affair to Remember
6.  Complete all my schoolwork in order to GRADUATE!
7.  Have fun with friends and family at my cousin's wedding
8.  Begin packing for our move!