On the Weigh: Holiday Gift

WI: +.4 

I guess the scale just wasn't done giving just yet.  As much as I enjoyed Christmas, I am very glad the nonstop food aspect is over and done for a year.  It's kind of nice that the focus in grocery store displays, magazine articles, and TV commercials is going to be healthier things for the next month or so.  I'm not making any resolutions this year, other than to just keep moving forward.

Considering the average American gains seven pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year's, I should be pretty pleased that I've actually lost a half pound.  Right?

I'm signed up for a five-week bootcamp that starts next week.  That should definitely move things in the proper direction!

Have a healthy week!

Five for Friday, vol 81

1. You already shave your head, but you decided to grow it out just so you can shave it again in solidarity for your friend starting chemo next week.

2. I can't decide if I think The League is hilarious or if watching you think The League is hilarious is actually what I think is hilarious.

3. You have such genuine reactions to Christmas gifts, large or small.

4.  Thank you for finding such fun things to get me for Christmas.  I never know what to expect, but it's always perfect.

5.  It's funny to me how often we find ourselves on the exact same page when it comes to big decisions.  You're my favorite mind-reader.

I love you.

Weverb12 - Read

I have really enjoyed challenging myself to read more this year, and there have been lots of books that have resonated.  At the top of that list was the Song of Fire and Ice series by George RR Martin, otherwise known as Game of Thrones. 

I have read the five installments currently available over the last couple of months, and thoroughly enjoyed each one.  The books are long and complex - hundreds of characters, incredible detail, and tangled plots full of history, mythology, action, and adventure.  I love when an author so successfully creates an entirely different world, and I was completely absorbed in Westeros and families which populate it.  I just love these books, and I already know they will be some I return to again in the future.  In spite of how long each book is, they are page-turners that I read quickly.  The story is told from multiple perspectives, so you always are given a different angle of what is happening.  As soon as you think you have someone pegged a villain or a hero, they go in a differnet direction that keeps you guessing.  Anytime someone has asked for a book recommendation, this series is the first that comes to mind.  I am only disappointed that I didn't pick it up sooner!

I can't wait for the next book to come out, although it's going to be a couple of years and I already feel impatient!

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Christmas '12 is in the books.

I'm really glad the world didn't end after all. It was such a fun couple of days to celebrate with both of our families!



























































Hope your holiday was just as lovely!

Weverb12 - Spend/Save

I look around my life and everything that has happened this year, and I feel richer.  I can't really say it's based on tangible things, but I am really excited about the direction we're headed.  Hope and optimism are priceless commodities, much less all the love that seems to surround us on a daily basis.  I am thankful everyday for our wealth of friends, family, and opportunity.  In a lot of ways, this was a "hold steady" year.  No job changes or major life events or adversities for us directly, but we got to share and celebrate weddings, babies, and acheivements of many of our friends.  Happiness by proximity is just about as good as experiencing it directly.  We traveled a bit, laughed a lot, and the good days far out numbered the bad ones.  So we owed money on taxes instead of getting a refund.  So we have way more years left on our mortgage than have spent in the house.  So we can't realistically afford to take that crazy trip to Italy.  At the end of the day, our lives are rich and full and fun and bright.  And if everything goes according to plan, next year will be even better.  It doesn't get much better than that.

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Weverb12 - Respond

I believe in listening to your heart, your gut, your inner voice ... whatever you want to call it.  I very much believe that "if it seems too good to be true, it probably is" and I think that little voice in the back of your mind is the best gauge for it. 

We want to buy a lot.  We want to build a house.  I am a builder's daughter and I've taken for granted most of my life that I had never lived in a home not designed and built by my dad until I moved out of town.  But now I want that more than ever.  The problem is that there are very places to put a brand new house in the area of St Louis where we're interested in living long term. We've found a handful of lots, but most have had glaring issues that take them right back off the list as soon as we look closer.  Two of them came close enough to have my parents come down and look at, and the most recent got my dad's seal of approval, but still ... we hesitate.

The timing just doesn't feel right.  There's something that's making us hold back and we just can't quite put a finger on it.  It's a big investment that would increase our mortgage and tax burden - not over-extended, but maybe closer to financial capacity than we really want.  I love the idea of designing something - I could look at floor plans for hours - but the idea of paying for it, even five years from now .... well, let's just say my eyes tend to be bigger than my piggybank.

I just don't know.  In playing devil's advocate with us about how the lot is situated, there have been some serious seeds of doubt planted that are now in bloom.  I don't exactly know why, and that's bothersome, but an inner alarm bell is going off, and it's enough that we probably won't be moving forward with anything.

In the past, when that same little alarm has gone off, especially when it comes to big investments like cars and houses, it's been spot-on.  I have to trust that it's right again this time.  I guess there's something to be said for wait-and-see.

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On the Weigh: The Scale Giveth

WI: +1.6  Total: -.6

... And the scale taketh away.

Holidays are hard.  Ironically it was harder before the actual holiday than it was Christmas Eve and Day.  I love Christmas, but from this perspective, I am glad it's over.  I never need to eat cheeball again.  And all those fun pictures with my family?  All I can see is how very round I look.  I hate that.  Womp womp.  I'm already looking forward to working out tonight and trying to put it all behind me.

Cornbread-and-bacon-stuffed Pork Chop

St Louis just barely missed getting a whole lot of snow this week, but it sounds like just about everything south of us has not been so lucky.  I wouldn't have minded being able to work from home today, but I also love the easy drive and excellent parking that this week brings.  Silver linings.  Hopefully you are comfy, cozy, and not too badly snowed in wherever you are.  And if you're hungry for something warm and hearty, try this easy pork chop for dinner. 


Cornbread and Bacon-Stuffed Pork Chops
6 boneless pork rib or loin chops, 1 to 1 1/4 inches thick (about 4 lb)
6 slices center-cut bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 small red bell pepper, chopped
1 cup corn bread stuffing crumbs
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (2 oz)
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram leaves
1/4 teaspoon pepper



Heat oven to 350°F. Make a pocket in each pork chop by cutting into side of chop toward the bone. In 12-inch skillet, cook bacon over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp. Stir in onion and bell pepper. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are crisp-tender; remove from heat. Drain. Stir in stuffing crumbs and water until well mixed. Stir in cheese. Sprinkle both sides of pork chops with seasoned salt, marjoram and pepper. Fill pockets with about 1/3 cup stuffing. In same skillet, cook pork over medium heat, turning once, until brown. Place pork chops in 13x9-inch pan. Cover tightly; bake 45 minutes. Uncover; bake about 15 minutes longer or until pork is slightly pink when cut near bone. Adapted from Betty Crocker.

Stay warm out there!

Merry Christmas!

We hope the holiday brings you tidings of joy! Here's to another happy New Year!

Love,
Kenny, Meagan, Tucker, & Penelope

Instagram Life, Dec 15-21

Jumping bean



Favorite lunch thing




Tolerating Les Mis









Super thankful for these little monkeys this week.



Kenny's fur-lined hoodie, repurposed.



Kenny's best STL friends. Happy 30, Jake!

Addendum.

6. My family has a tradition of putting silly things on our Christmas gift tags. You are very into it this year. There is some very intense Googling and chuckling to yourself going on right now.

I love you.

We've decked our halls with boughs of holly.

And with twinkly lights, and pretty red ribbons, and shiny ornaments, and just a little bit of glitter. Fa la la la la la la la la!










Merry Christmas, from our home to yours!

Five for Friday, vol 80

1. You sat through Les Mis with me, bless your heart. And with minimal jokes (at least during the show). You then proceeded to sing basic requests for me for three days, just because.

2. You felt just as lucky, relieved, and protective of the dogs after the door/police incident as I did.

3. I'm very happy that I won at your work potluck. Cookie plate came home empty!

4. You understand that life is short, and you take the time to appreciate the people you care about. But damn, it hurts my heart to see you upset and there be not a thing I can do about it.

5. I can't imagine anyone else I'd rather spend the end of the world with.

I love you.

Weverb12 - Thank

Dear neighbor,
Thank you for taking a walk everyday, rain or shine or blustery winter storm. Thank you for noticing that our front door had blown open this morning. Thank you for closing the door before our two baby dogs got out onto our busy street. Thank you for calling the police since you didn't have our number, just so they could come check and make sure no one else got in either. We'll be bringing over something to show our gratitude (and our cell phone numbers) very soon. We really appreciate being next door to people who look out for us and ours.
Thanks,
The people next door

Dear Tucker and Penny,
Thank you thank you thank you for being with us. Thank you for being so scared of curtains flapping in the wind that the wide open door behind them doesn't seem that appealing. Obviously you were just guarding the house from would-be intruders. Thank you for being brave and barking at the cops until they went away. Thank you for wanting to sit in our laps as much as we needed to cuddle you tonight. We couldn't imagine coming home to a house without both of you in it.
Love,
The people who feed you
Weverb12

Weverb12 - Triumph

About this time last year I had the chance to interview for a promotion at work.  It was a great opportunity, and I have never been so nervous going through an interview process.  It's the job I've been targeting since starting at this company two and a half years ago, and I put a ton of pressure on myself to get it.  Unfortunately, I did not.  I went up against two colleagues, equally qualified and just as focused on the position as me, and I just didn't do as well as the person who got the job.

It was incredibly disappointing.  It never feels good to miss out, especially when you know that you didn't do your best in getting there.  I clammed up in the interview, letting my nerves and anxiety completely best me.  I don't think I totally crashed and burned, but it was not a meeting I felt confident leaving.  That's pretty much the worst, when you know afterwards that you didn't really represent yourself or your abilities how you'd have liked.  It sucked, frankly, and it was no surprise at all that my coworker (who nailed it) ended up on top.  C'est la vie.

Now, I am a silver linings person.  The eternal optimist.  Once I got past the initial disappointment and self-flagellation, I focused on what I could do better next time.  I got some really great feedback from management about what they wanted to see me do better next time, and what I can take with me in my day-to-day tasks.  As hard as it was - I hate not getting what I want and I hate admitting that I am not as good at something as I think I should be - it kind of lit a fire for me.  Ever since, I feel even more focused on earning that position next time the door opens.  I am lucky to work for a management team who is very good at developing their people, and I have tried to take their feedback every chance I get.  I've grown a lot in the year since the interview and subsequent let-down. One of my biggest issues coming into this job has been my confidence, and I've done a lot to get better about trusting myself and my expertise in my role. All in all, I've had a good year professionally.  Not exactly where I would have like to be, but still in a really good place.  Next time an opportunity comes up, I feel really confident about my ability to seize it.

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Weverb12 - Quote

"The key to success is in your backbone, not your wishbone."