inside a bachelorette's kitchen #1: special spicy sausage and homemade spaghetti sauce on penne

My inspiration was some basic Italian sausage from Target that I've had in my freezer for weeks.  It wasn't even thawed but I decided to go with it.  Then I realized I have a few fresh tomatoes from the farmer's market, and of course LOTS of fresh basil from my garden.  I went for simple, and looked up the basic Italian Tomato Sauce recipe in my Betty Crocker cookbook.  (This cookbook is a staple for any kitchen, whether run by a novice bachelorette or an experienced chef!)

I mixed some fresh tomatoes with some canned (Which I didn't even realize I had! cupboards can be so sneaky!), along with onion, bell pepper, garlic (always from cloves, never powder!), FRESH basil, oregano, salt and pepper.  So easy!  It simmered for 45 minutes.

Simmering tomatoes

Meanwhile, on to the sausage.  Sausage is probably my all-time favorite meat.  (Bacon is second, followed by turkey versions of those two.)  I really wanted extra-spicy sausage, so I literally just googled "how to make sausage spicy", and found Emeril's "Homemade Mild Italian Sausage" recipe.  Obviously I'm not going to go to the homemade extreme, but I just did a quick scan of the ingredients list for some inspiration.  Garlic, paprika, fennel seeds, salt, pepper, cayenne, anise, parsley, and red wine.  I had ALL of those things (except cayenne-- but I substituted Chili powder).  Basically I just put the thawed sausage in a big skillet and sprinkled all those things on it without really measuring... and let it all cook together.  It turned out AMAZING.  The red wine was my favorite part, and it all smelled sooooo good while it was cooking too.

A really old cabernet that had been open on top of the fridge for weeks, paprika, parlsey, chili powder, fennel seed & anise

The best spicy sausage ever

I fixed some whole grain penne to go along with it all, and put everything together on the plate, and sprinkled on a little parmesan.  I don't like to mix things like this together in serving bowls, especially when it's just me.  I like to mix it up on the plate.  I also made a simple Romaine salad with tomatoes and carrots with balsamic dressing.

It was soooo tasty... I would order this in a restaurant.  But, I don't have to because I can make it at home and save myself probably about $20!  And have two days' worth of leftovers to boot!  Spaghetti is such an easy go-to dinner, but it gets boring after awhile.  But THIS was DELICIOUS and I could probably eat it weekly without getting sick of it!  And I got to exercise a little creativity and use some things that were hiding in the cupboard.

Stay tuned for Tex-Mex Chicken Chili :)

inside a bachelorette's kitchen: a preface

I have been making a major effort to save money because of the cuts in my hours/pay and because it's just a good thing to do when you're 25 and have thousands of dollars in loans!  One of my saving initiatives has been to eat out as little as possible.  I made it a habit while in school, but now I absolutely never eat out on my own, and I couldn't tell you the last time I even stopped at a fast food place or even a chain restaurant.  I pick and choose when and where I'm going to eat out... and with whom.... or if I'll just cook for my guest/s instead... or just choose a different activity altogether.

Let me tell you though... it's tough to switch from eating out on a whim to cooking in every single day!  Especially cooking for one!  But really only at first... after you start doing it more and more and get the hang of it, it becomes its own habit.  It's starting to turn into a hobby for me too.  It just takes little steps at first, and then letting yourself be creative and have fun with it every now and then.  Some days I cook in order to come up with something to feed my belly.  Other days I cook because I need an outlet for creativity.  Other days, something just sounds really really tasty!  But I will tell you that the first reason is happening less and less.

I do eat a simple breakfast daily, but nothing crazy.  I make my own coffee at home, and never buy it on the road.  A $7 bag of coffee and $3 bottle of creamer last me weeks!  I do the Carnation breakfast essentials and eat a banana every morning.  Bananas must be the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to getting sugar and filler into your body quickly... Only like 20 cents apiece and they come prepackaged which is just super convenient.  On weekends, however, I like to get a little fancier and do eggs or sausage or toast, etc.

Special Weekend Breakfast = Pancake, Turkey bacon, eggs, fresh blackberries

I pack my lunch every day, as a rule.  It's the same basic thing every day: turkey sandwich, an apple, and either carrots or sugar snap peas with alternating hummus flavors.  It saves me time when I only have 30 minutes to break for lunch, it saves me money (it's about $2/day when you break it all down), and it saves me calories.  When I have no choice but to eat fruits and veggies, then I eat every last bite.  And after crazy mornings at work when I'm starving by noon but have hours to go, nothing sounds yummier to me than my turkey sandwich and my apple!

For dinners, I usually keep it very simple during the week. I don't like to make the same thing more than once in a week, or two weeks if I can help it.  But it's not the end of the world if I do.  I have gotten to where I have some favorites and "go-to's" for my weeknights when I come home from work needing immediate refueling... as long as it's healthy and I'm still getting some variety each night, then it works.

Some of my favorites are frozen burger patties.  I love the MorningStar black bean burgers, Trader Joe's Veggie burger patties and Trader Joe's Mahi Mahi patties.  I always have sandwich slims (the little round flat ones that come in pairs-- only100 calories per pair and 5g fiber!) in stock because I eat them daily for my lunches.  I also like the pre-cut/cooked frozen Tyson's chicken and steak strips, or Morningstar "ChikN".  They are 2 minutes in the microwave, and perfect to add to a salad with tomatoes, shredded carrots, cheese, and whatever dressing I'm in the mood for.  I basically keep all that stuff stocked weekly so that's easy to throw together when I come home and am desperate for food.

I keep freezer drawers stocked full of various veggies so I always have something easy for a side, as well as frozen chicken breasts, and cod or tilapia filets.  I buy the big bag of chicken breasts and then bag them up individual as soon as I get home from the store so that it literally takes two seconds in the morning to pull out a baggy to be thawed by dinner... but usually I forget to do that and microwave on defrost when I'm in the mood for chicken.

Tilapia tacos with cilantro-lime rice and homemade blackbean salsa - Last made in July

Every now and then I'll be a little more creative and actually plan ahead a little bit, or just get creative with what's available.  I can do a quick and dirty version of my mom's "Swiss Chicken" (which I'm sure I'll have to make and post about another time), or make fish tacos with homemade salsa, or yummy rosemary potatoes with my rosemary from the garden... or one of my favorites, breakfast for dinner.

Quick 2-serving version of "Swiss Chicken" - Last made in August

I can't say I always get fancy on the weekends, but the last couple of weekends, I've gotten a little more ambitious.  I have two posts waiting in the wings about my cooking adventures, the recipes I used and modified, and the final creations I made that were soooo good and received rave reviews from my toughest critic (me).  Photos and recipes will be included, as well as some of the changes I made and experimented with a little bit.

I've been working on my Christmas list and it is already including a KitchenAid mixer, an onion chopper and a new garlic press (mine is so old and too weak for the quantities of garlic I need!)... I'm sure more will be added.  There is also something about the weather changing that makes a warm kitchen a really cozy and happy place to be!

In the meantime, look out for the upcoming reports on homemade spaghetti with special spicy sausage, and tex-mex chicken chili!

rally thursday

y'all... I'm having a pretty tough time rallying this Thursday.  See yesterday's post: I am just in a major funk.  I know I still have things to be positive about... but I cried while driving multiple times today, and I'm about to go to sleep and it's not even 9:00.

This morning I had a continuing ed course that was semi-required for work, but they usually put on pretty good courses and this one didn't disappoint.  It was a pretty basic OT fundamentals kind of course, called "Pursuit of Excellence."  One of the big-time OTs in the company with lots of experience in treating and in teaching gave a 4-hour talk, ultimately challenging us to be more creative and strive to be better clinicians and not get stuck in the rut of difficult treatments.  She was a great presenter, which always helps, and had a great sense of humor.  She was very realistic and very honest.  I wish I could learn from her more!

Favorite line of the day was during a review of basic sensation tests...  "I have three words for you from my earlier days as an OT in acute care.....  sensory testing. safety pin. coumadin."

The class ran over by about 45 minutes so I was late getting to my clinic to start treatments, and it kind of threw my day off.  I was trying to bust out of there so I could rally by accompanying my friend V to the bridal shop to officially buy her wedding dress!  She has had it picked out for a long time, and just couldn't stop thinking about it, so today was the day she made it official.  So exciting!  I also saw what my bridesmaid dress will be like, and it's nothing crazy... typical bridesmaid chiffon with lots of gathers in a color I probably wouldn't buy for myself... but I will be happy wearing it and standing up next to her. :)

Afterward, I went to dinner with her and her bff (they met when they both moved here the first time about 2 years ago and have been super close ever since).  I was glad we got to do it because I have been so socially deprived.  But, it made me realize I really don't have a lot in common with her, or her bff.  Is there something wrong with me that I have such a hard time finding people I mesh well with and bond with?  That I have anything to really talk about with?  Am I being too picky or am I just so square or so aged-beyond-my-years that I cannot socialize with people my own age?  Or was I just too wound up from the week?

Anyway, maybe it was those things, or maybe it was everything else I've been struggling with this week, or still the boy or blah blah blah... but, when I got in my car to go home I just started crying.

Sooo... maybe rally Friday?

from the other side

It's been nearly 7 weeks since the boy broke it off and broke my heart.  I know it's been nearly 7 weeks because I remember the exact day and replay it in my head nearly every day, and every week is a milestone.

I still cry at least once a week.  My heart hurts,  I am so terrible for listening to country music because it's those dang songs that always do it to me while I am driving home from work after a bad day or something.

I went to church choir practice tonight, and our director was saying something about the word "love" and how we pronounce it and say it in one of the pieces.  I think he was kinda being funny or whatever to help us to remember how to use the right vowel and stuff... but then I started thinking about the word love.

And that I think it is one of the saddest things in the whole world for someone to love someone else, and the other one not to feel the same.. or to not show it.  (Well in my book, not showing it is the same thing.. if you can't show it, do you really love them?)

I mean, in Christianity, it's really sad that God loves everybody, but we don't always love Him back.
It is so sad if a parent loves a child, and the child has turned away and cannot love the parent back... or when a child reaches out for love from a parent, and doesn't get it.. or maybe doesn't have a parent at all.
It is sad when siblings or friends do not reciprocate love.

And it is the saddest thing when a woman is so completely in love with a man and despite how hard he tries or he wants to, he simply cannot return it.

It is that, along with the fact that I don't have a great social support system.  Even though he was far away, he was my support system. We talked every day and that was what I was excited about getting off work for and going home to do... to talk to him and include him in my evening.

But, it was all cut off from me, and I didn't replace it with anything.  I don't really have anything I look forward to when I leave work except to be done with work for a few brief hours before I go back.  I already finished 5 seasons of Gossip Girl on Netflix so now it's on to Dawson's Creek season 1..... I'm sure teen angst is a good way to keep my spirits up, just like the country music I listen to on the way home.

The other terrible thing is that I still initiate conversation with him.  We're on talking terms and all... he "wants to be friends."  Cold turkey never worked before... so I feel like the only thing that will really help me move on is time.  And probably making him a much much much less important part of my life.

Next week I start a new job, and I think it's time I also start getting serious about fighting this funk I have been in for nearly 7 weeks.  ESPECIALLY since shorter days and cooler weather and candy temptations are approaching.

Such a depressing post......  where is my peppy perky positive self?!?  I hope she's waiting for me in October!

time traveling as an OT

About a month ago, I went "home" to my parents' house in Ohio (where we all grew up) for a summer get-together with the whole family.  It was my three older brothers, their respective wives, the middle brother's 3-year old little girl, and our grandmother... and of course my parents and I.  My middle brother's wife wasn't actually able to make the long trip (it's a 12-hour drive for them) due to her work, so all the aunts really pitched in to give my bro a break... and because the little trouble maker is CUTE as can be.

I had a BALL playing with my niece and being a little girl. She is showing some delays for her age.  I don't think she necessarily has a disability or autism or anything, but she does have some sensory processing issues, she is not yet potty-trained, and is a really picky eater.  I also picked up on a little bit of echolalia... but I haven't been around a lot of examples of that so I can't say for sure.  I don't have enough peds experience!

Even though the little one behaved a little bit differently than we expected a three-year-old to behave, I felt really comfortable playing with her, modeling for her, and even teaching her in subtle ways.  I feel like it wasn't that long ago that I was three years old.  I remember things I responded to for behavior... like finishing my dinner so I could have dessert... or someone telling me I was acting like a "baby" instead of a "big girl"... and the worst was when my brothers or parents would imitate me when I was crying/whining about something.  I hated it!  When little one would cry or whine about something silly, I would start to copy her-- stomp my feet on the ground and pout and cry.  It would only take seconds before she'd start watching me and realize I look really silly and just start laughing.

I haven't been around little kids all that much... but the times I have, I've always loved!  In high school and college, I used to always volunteer for Vacation Bible School, tutoring elementary and junior high school students, babysitting, and the list goes on.  It was never my sole purpose, but I always liked it.

Now that I'm out in my career as an OT... I'm wondering if there is a place for me in pediatrics.  A couple of weeks after that weekend, I noticed an advertisement for a position in an outpatient pediatric therapy clinic.  I looked at their website, and I immediately got super intimidated.  A week or so later, I saw it was still posted.  I still wasn't sure whether I should apply, but I started updating my resume and creating a cover letter template, and thinking about what I would say if a pediatric OT asked me why I was qualified for such a position.  A few days after that, I got my courage up to fill out their application and send it along with my resume, references and a cover letter explaining my strength for adapting to new situations... and didn't hold my breath.

Sure enough... I got an email a couple days letter inviting me for an interview!  I was shocked!  That interview day came yesterday, and I was nervous about it all week.  I questioned whether I was really ready for this big of a change in my career -- geriatrics to pediatrics -- but ultimately decided that every interview is a good learning experience, regardless of the outcome.  The interview was amazing!  I really clicked with the OT supervisor who showed me around and interviewed me.

I am still not sure whether I am ready for a big change in my career.  I still love what I am doing with my old folks everyday, and I am good at it.  I feel like I just started yesterday... but I also feel that I am just now starting to get the hang of things after being at it for almost a year.

The interviewer seemed to really like me.  She told me she had interviewed 8 people already, but just didn't feel like she had found anyone that quite fit.  She explained that it wasn't enough for anyone to come in with a great resume and laundry list of pediatric experience, but that the person had to be the right fit, be willing to learn, and be ready to interact with the kids, and of course with the parents.  After I felt comfortable talking with her, I was very honest in saying that I wasn't sure if I was ready yet for a big change in my career, but that I feel like I am in an exploratory and transitional phase.  She actually brought up the possibility of starting with them part-time, to "get my feet wet" as sort of a trial-run.  In the back of my mind this whole time, that is just what I was hoping for to get my foot in the door with pediatric OT.

I love the work I do with the older adult population, and I know I am needed there.  But I want to know what else is out there for me.  I want to keep doors open so that when it comes time for me to make a change, that I will have opportunities.  I have 40 more years to work, but maybe only a few more where I am young and adventurous and bold and willing to try new things and accept failure.  I want to know what opportunities are out there right now.  I always talked about going back to peds when I have kids, but 10 years from now-- these jobs and opportunities might not be there!  Or what if I spend too long in one specialty/area that it makes it even harder to make that leap?

My mom's advice: "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush!"  Maybe my time for a change is only a month from now.  I am going to go back to the clinic in a couple weeks to "observe" and meet some of the other therapists.  I have to say, exploring these possibilities is pretty exciting.

my career as a writer

Did you know that an occupational therapist's job consists of soooo much typing?!  SO MUCH.  And as it happens I have a full caseload right now, which is about 12 patients worth of notes.  For each individual patient, my documentation includes one really long evaluation, then 3 to 5 "short" notes per patient each week detailing what they did that session, plus two "long" notes per patient each month to give an overview of each patient's progress since the last "long" note, and then a discharge summary.  On top of that, for each of those "long" notes we have to write a paragraph summary regarding their overall progress in terms of a percentage out of 100%.  It's absolutely ridiculous.

Paper-writing used to be my least favorite assignment in school.  I'd much rather do a group project, portfolio, or give presentations all day long than sit down and write a paper.  HA- Now my JOB is to write papers!  I wonder how long of a paper I would write if I copy and pasted everything I typed in a single day into a word document, then set it at 12 point Times New Roman... my guess is about 10 double spaced pages.  No lie!

Out of all of this writing, about 50% of it is typing on a tiny iPod touch device that we therapists use to recap each patient treatment.  It's like sending a bunch of really long iMessages, except on a smaller and much less sensitive touchscreen... and much more frustrating.  And no emojis.  Everything else I type (the "long" notes) is on the computer, but it is extremely daunting and non-user friendly.  We also have four therapists sharing two computers. We're expected to do as much documentation as we can with the patient present, so that we can educate them about their progress and collaborate with the patient when making their goals or deciding how much therapy they will need, etc.  But-- there is simply SO much typing to be done, that I just feel RUDE when I've run out of things to talk to the patient about, and then I realize in my head that I just can't focus on what I'm typing at the same time I'm talking to somebody... too much multitasking!  (Side note: I'm a FAST typer, so that's not even the issue!  Thank you AIM!)

At the end of the day... My fingers are just SO tired.  One day I will need occupational therapy to rehab my hands due to overuse injury.  And now that it's getting cooler outside (read: 60s), my internal body temperature just gets a little lower and my hands feel cold all the time.  My poor pre-arthritic fingers. :(

rally thursday!

As far as Thursday, it was a typical Thursday in therapy today.  Thursdays have always been cursed between me and one of my close friends, V....  But I love how my coworkers also recognize the awfulness of Thursdays... it just goes to show how truly terrible they are.  I won't go into it...
INSTEAD I am rallying for three reasons:

1. Halloween candy is out.  I have already devoured one bag of mellowcreme pumpkins, and my second is way high up in the cupboard where I can't reach.  It's okay though because Starburst came out with fruit-flavored candy corn this year and I'm addicted so far.  And there are Reese's pumpkins tucked away in the freezer. :)

2. A couple weeks ago, I ripped up my giant tomato plant (it grew to be well over 5ft tall) that was overtaking my other two plants (another smaller tomato variety, and bell paper), but not producing any fruit, stealing all the sunshine and water, and was becoming a real eye-sore.  All summer, all I have harvested was one small tomato (about 2" diameter) and 2 pretty small red bell peppers.  BUT I'm excited to report that as of tonight, I have five good-looking tomatoes coming in, and FOUR teeny tiny bell pepper fruits!  Maybe there is still hope!  This deserves photos, so maybe a future edit is in store...

3. I interviewed for a PRN position with the orthopedic hospital about a mile from my house awhile ago.  I hadn't heard anything since my second interview back at the beginning of August, so I figured it meant they hired somebody.  This week, out of the blue, I got an email from the rehab manager asking if I was still interested in a position!  I guess their interviewing got put on pause for a bit and they are still looking to fill that position.  I'm still in the running!

Bonus rally: ALSO on the job front, I have an interview tomorrow morning at a PEDIATRIC clinic!  I got bold a couple weeks ago, updated and reformatted my resume, and sent it to some pediatric outpatient clinics that had openings listed.  More on my pediatrics interest later.  Meanwhile, I actually got offered an interview at one of the clinics, and I was actually able to fit it into my crazy schedule this week.  Hey, 6 years of school + $75K debt = job security!

walk to end alzheimer's

On September 28, I am walking for all my adopted Grandmas and Grandpas that I have the joy of serving as an occupational therapist.  I'm also walking for their caregivers, friends, children, and grandchildren whom I often cross paths with.  I am passionate about being able to educate and motivate caregivers and loved ones.  I know I'm just a small part of their lives and their experience with Alzheimer's, but I absolutely love being able to make a resident smile, or see a caregiver nod their head in understanding, or help a family member to simply take a break.

Alzheimer's disease is expected to cost the U.S. $1.2 Trillion by the year 2050.  See the video on the right hand side for a quick overview of the significant economical impact of the disease.

"Investing in research now will cost our nation far less than the cost of care for the rising number of Americans who will be affected by Alzheimer's in coming decades." - Bill Thies, Ph.D., Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, Alzheimer's Association

I hope you'll simply take some time this month to learn more about Alzheimer's, especially regarding what the association is doing to help families, and what is the latest in research.  Alz.org the website for the Alzheimer's Association and is full of amazing resources for family members, medical professionals, and regular people just wanting to know a little bit more.

Personally, I think the most interesting area of research is developing validity to use "biomarkers" to detect Alzheimer's disease in its earlier stages-- or even before it starts.  This means that maybe one day we could go into our annual physical and have lab testing done, and the test panel might include a certain protein or particle that present in the blood which is indicative or predictive of Alzheimer's diesase.

This is kind of like how we know that having high cholesterol is a predictor of coronary artery disease.  When someone has a high cholesterol reading, the doctor suggests ways to manage it, prescribes medications, and knows to monitor it on a regular basis-- to prevent the onset of later problems.  With early detection of diseases, we have a better chance of keeping things under control.

Currently, a diagnosis of Alzheimers is based solely on behavior or mental changes.  However, by the time those symptoms are apparent, the disease is already in advanced stages.  What if we could detect Alzheimer's earlier?  Would treatment be more effective in less advanced stages?  Could we slow the rate of onset and progression?  Could individuals live more fulfilling, independent lives and be able to continue to participate in all the "occupations" they have always enjoyed?

Thank you for taking time to educate yourself and be a part of the movement to end this epidemic.

I am SO thankful for several of my friends and family who have felt led to make a donation to the association!  I just started educating my friends and family yesterday, and they have already helped raise $105 for the Association in the matter of 24 hours.

Their funds will help the Alzheimer's Association advance research into prevention, treatments and a cure for Alzheimer's. For the millions already affected by the disease, the Association offers care, education, support and resources in communities nationwide.

You too can help financially by supporting your local chapter of the Alzheimers Association!  Look them up online at alz.org