Dinner: A Love Story

I just finished another book, this one Dinner: A Love Story.  I loved it.  It's a unique writing style that is a mix of prose and recipes.  It is the non-fiction narration of Jenny, her husband Andy, and their two daughters, Phoebe and Abby, and their tradition of family dinner.  She took the book through three distinct phases: she and Andy as a couple and the dinners they had, she and Andy with young, picky eaters and the dinners they had, and she and Andy with girls that would actually start eating (circa ages 7 and 8) and the dinners they had.  It was witty and quick with what I hope are fantastic recipes in between.

Perhaps more than anything, this book made me want to start cooking more fancy dishes: fish tacos with pineapple salsa, pork ragu with pappardelle, the works.  It was a refreshing read that I've got all marked up: highly recommend it, especially if dinner is important for you.

And That's a Wrap

Yesterday I finished my final for my last class of my MBA.  I did it.  With all the support and encouragement I received along the way, I think it would be better phrased WE did it.

And it feels really, really good.

The Happiness Project

I just finished reading The Happiness Project and it seems everyone I've spoken to has gotten an earful about how wonderful it is: the ideas!  the genuine voice of the author!  the captivating tone!  I really enjoyed it (and would recommend you read it!)  A few of the great ideas I've pulled from it:

1. Doing little things often can have a big impact (just as doing a huge thing every once in a while).
2. Act the way you want to feel.
3. Make your passwords (to email, your computer, etc.) single word reminders for goals you have.

She has a new book, Happier at Home, that I've already preordered coming out in September.

Happy reading!

TA DA!!!

Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read.  One does not love breathing.
-To Kill a Mockingbird

"Red File" - Part 1

I attended a preparedness class yesterday that has me very motivated to get prepared.  This class was one in a series of four on preparedness, including things like food storage and financial preparedness.  Perhaps what struck me most about this class was that much of what we discussed costs nothing to do, but could mean the world to you if a disaster were to happen.

My blog doesn't really have a theme, but forgive me if for the next little while I post things on preparedness: I feel like everyone should do SOMETHING to start being prepared.

DON'T FEEL OVERWHELMED.  I'll break this down into workable sections.  :)

The first thing to do is get your "Red File" in order.  This is the file you would grab if someone knocked on your door and said "There's been a chemical spill, you have 1 minute to be out of the house."  The best part is that it doesn't cost money to put this together. 

Please note that leaving this marked "Important Documents" or "Emergency File" is like gift-wrapping identity theft.  Though I believe these should all be stored together, you want them in a secure (or very unassuming) place that nobody would find if they didn't know it was there.

To keep things simple, we'll call this "Red File Part One".  Gather the following:

1. Copy of driver's license
2. Birth Certificates, naturalization papers
3. Social Security Cards and information
4. Immunization records
5. Deeds, Titles and Trust information
6. Mortgage loan information
7. Insurance policy information for auto, home, life, business

I'll post more in a few days: happy gathering!

Graduation

Oh yeah - tomorrow is graduation.  I'm walking, receiving my MBA.  Maybe earning would be the better word.  Either way, it's kind of exciting - I am ecstatic about having merited a hood and am looking forward to celebrating the day.  For me it's a pretty big deal.