Quick updates

We are still job hunting.

Some of the snow has melted, though I think we will still get more.

Found a great new doctor.

February flew by so fast!

I’m reading the Chronicles of Narnia in Italian.

Job search takes up most of my time.

I’ve been working out and eating well!

Castle is an amazing TV show, you should check it out!

I made it three days without using my crutch

My husband is teaching me to crochet.

I miss being in school.

What's been happening

DNA

So we’ve done some fun activities as date night or for FHE. The most recent being DNA extraction! (Don’t worry it was from beans.) Trevor found the idea online, we tried it and had fun! It was a really simple process that required household items.

Gym

I’ve been hitting the gym pretty regularly. I’ve been holding steady with my work outs. I think that is pretty great news.

Knitting

I have once again restarted my hat attempt. My husband has almost finished his third pair of socks! I’m so proud of him!

Thomas Kinkade puzzle

For date night we got a 1000 piece puzzle of a Thomas Kinkade. It took us a few days to get it all together. We really like it. It’s fun to have something that we put together and looks really nice.

Cooking

We’re focusing on cooking healthy and still finding great recipes on sparkrecipes.com. The newest recipe that we tried was white beans, pasta and chicken. I say give it a try!!!

Overall it was pretty good, just a little bland. That’s easy enough to fix though. This is a good dish with lots of protein and fiber. It is also very good reheated. Warning though a serving size is larger than expected.

http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=294364

New lamp

We got a new lamp that is so nice! It helps light up the apartment so it’s not so much of a cave!

Sister missionaries

I’ve been able to go out teaching with the sisters in our ward and it has been so wonderful. These sisters are both strong, bright and kind women. It’s been a real boost to be able to watch them teach and get to know the amazing people they are teaching.

Work, Work, Work

The hubby is still working two jobs! I’m still working days as a cashier. When I’m not working, I’m applying for jobs! I have learned interesting things from being a cashier, such as it’s is most polite to have change ready or handy, teeth must be brushed often, students have to do some elaborate projects for school, and there are a lot of nice people out there.

In the past week I’ve been ranging from 4 to 13 applications a day, depending on work schedule and cover letters. Haven’t been getting much of a response, so I had my resume reviewed and it got good reviews. I’ve made the recommended changes, which hopefully get more of a response. I'll keep you updated.

Grrr.... angry face

Last Friday I got a call from a doctor's office informing me that I had an appointment today. I had to confirm it was actually for me, because I had made no such appointment. Turns out it was supposed to be for a mandatory insurance exam. I doubled checked the date and time before I got off the phone with the nice receptionist. Hmm, Monday the 17th, sounds a bit odd but she doubled checked it, so okay. (MLK day??) Since I was scheduled to work today, I had to get a replacement.

However upon arriving at the office a little before my appointment time, the building seemed rather vacant. I knocked, then rung the door bell. Called the office and left a message. Repeated this process and then called the 'emergency' number. Still another answering machine. Left another message. Waited on the porch for 15 minutes, then took pictures with my cell phone camera to prove I was there at the right time. I am really frustrated because I could have been working today, but I got a replacement because I was told this was mandatory and yes in fact the doctor's office would be open today. I know that anyone can make a mistake and I'm not angry at any person, just the situation.

How's Life

Right now life. I am still working as a cashier and applying for lots of jobs. I recently did a hefty chunk of research on resume and cover letter writing. This resulted in an overhaul of my cover letter and resume. My main motivation was to avoid insanity. This is because the definition of insanity is doing the same thing again and again, expecting different results. So here’s doing something different in hopes of different results.

I’ve been able to catch up a little on Castle. Such an amazing show! It is well written and exciting, all with great costuming. I’ve become a fan of the show. If you haven’t seen it, you should check it out!! I’ve been waiting for a long time new Bones episode. I don’t sit there waiting for the shows, I usually just watch then on hulu when I am folding laundry or need to be still and relax.

We have been improving our diet and finding really great recipes on sparkrecipes.com. We have tried a sweet potato and black bean soup that is really delicious. http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=227453 If you are interested in some healthier recipes you should check out this site. We have liked almost all the ones that we’ve tried. I’m glad to have someone else who is committed to healthy eating.

My hubby is working two jobs right now, but we make the best of the time we get together. He is the best and works hard to take care of me and make me happy.

Protein Pancakes

I found this AMAZING recipe in SHAPE magazine for January. It sounds different and strange. Try it and you’ll love it.

1/2 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup fat free cottage cheese

2 large eggs, or 1/2 cup egg whites

1+ tsp vanilla

1+ tsp cinnamon

Mix all ingredients in a bowl.

Cook over medium heat in a skillet sprayed with non stick spray.

Cook two minutes (or until golden brown) on each side

Top with your favorite toppings (fruit is tasty!!)

They are low calorie, very low fat and high in protein.

Work Out Update

So I’ve been able to go to the gym 3 times this week. Yay! I’ve been feeling better in this last week. I’ve done a lot of cardio, some weights and core training. Cardio has gone well. I am doing a warm up for strength training. Core training is difficult, which means I need to do more, and get into shape. I’m feeling happier when I exercise, and in a little less pain. I need to keep it up and will do so. I have a lot of support!!