On Food & Things

I really love eggs. Just about any way you can make them (except hard boiled, please never give me a hard boiled egg!). Although I had totally thrown caution to the wind when the whole "you shouldn't eat eggs" trend came about, I am happy that the surgeon general (or whoever makes up all these food "rules...I feel like it should be the surgeon general for some reason) has once again decided that eggs should be consumed, and are a wonderfully  nutritious part of your day. I mention this because I have recently rediscovered the amazingness that is slow-scrambling eggs. As a single girl, more often than not, I would simply crack my egg into the frying pan, turn up the heat, and scramble, scramble, scramble! When I started cooking breakfast for Harris before work each morning, I started, you know, actually cracking eggs in a cup, whisking them, pouring in a little milk, salt, pepper, but then I would still cook them super fast on high heat! What a cardinal sin I was committing! I had forgotten how truly wonderful and fluffy slow-cooked eggs are, and I am happy to say, both the hubby and I have been enjoying them the past many breakfasts.

Now, to move on from eggs, because I am sure no one wants to talk about eggs. Anyone besides me and my little sister watch the season finale of Pretty Little Liars last night? I remembered why I usually save that show for morning viewing - I was so freaked out by the end (even if I did read the leaked script beforehand and knew exactly what was going to go down!) that I made Morgan stay on the phone with me until I made it in the bedroom where Harris was sleeping. You know, just in case someone in a black hoodie jumped out of my guest bathroom on the short walk from living room to bedroom.

Speaking of entertainment (like my segway there?), John Krasinski might possibly be my most favorite actor ever. Harris and I have been re-watching The Office, which may be the best comedy ever to air on television, and I just forget how awesome the whole show is, but especially the character of Jim. Likewise, I absolutely love him in Something Borrowed (and really hope they make the sequel just so there can be more of him!), and currently have It's Complicated on the TV in the background, and, as much as I love Meryl Streep, John makes this whole movie, and I love it. Also, how do the three siblings in that movie actually look like they could be related? No joke, I am pretty sure they look more alike than my sisters and I do.

I don't know about y'all, but I am supremely over this moody weather. Please make up your mind, weather gods! This pendulum effect of 38 one day and 72 the next is not for anyone, not even the birds. No joke, we are supposed to hit 72 on Saturday, be back in the 40s on Sunday, and have a chance of snow on Tuesday. I cannot deal!!! Moreso, the wind has been a beast lately - there is this nice wind tunnel effect created by the roundness of our condo building, and the wind really gets going. So much so that the other day I was a little worried that somehow the wind would scoop Lucy up, and, with her lovely Elizabethan collar, she would be whisked away!

Finally, to bring this full circle and back to food, we have been in a deep pizza phase in this house, and, really, is there a more perfect food? You can get your carbs, dairy, meat, veggies (even fruit because Kayla's friend introduced me to pepperoni and pineapple pizza and it changed my world) all in one. And you don't even need a fork. Pure genius, and, were I ever be forced to decide on one food to eat the remainder of my life, it would for sure be pizza. So there's that, and now you know.

Happy Hump Day!

Hump Day Musings

I somehow find myself being surprised that today is Wednesday, which is, in itself, surprising. Monday was a terribly long day, and even longer feeling. I felt like the Ligons managed to cram about 3 days worth of hours into that one little Monday. Poor hubs had to work Sunday night, got off at 5am, had his final exam at 9am, got home just before noontime, and had to be back at work at 5pm. I am flabbergasted at his ability to not turn into a five year old in those situations (ahem, like yours truly), but he was just an absolute trooper. My Monday was far less involved, but somehow just felt incredibly long. Obviously you can see why I am confused about my surprise to find myself at Wednesday.

After that rather winded introduction, I'd like to discuss some (un)important things that have been on my mind lately:

First up, oatmeal. I have a fickle relationship with oatmeal. I rarely find myself in the mood for oatmeal. Sometimes I find myself disgusted by the texture. Then I start leaning in the other direction - "ooh but this oatmeal has so much fiber, and so much protein, and so few calories!". And, then, after that initial lean, I am all in. I am eating oatmeal every single darn day, and dreaming about eating it for every single darn meal. I never know how long my fickle love for oatmeal will last, but it always rears its head. Usually, however, my love for oatmeal surfaces in the cooler days of autumn, or the cold days of winter. I am surprised to find that I am having my love affair with oatmeal in the throes of summer. Granted, we do keep our house about the temperature of the arctic while we sleep, and, since one of us is sleeping for about 16-17 hours out of the day, it is usually pretty cold in here. Obviously that is my defense, because I need to defend my summer oatmeal eating to you.

Second up, also related to oatmeal. I am seriously considering writing a strongly worded letter to the Quaker Oats company. It drives me b-a-n-a-n-a-s (you'll see the pun here in just a minute) that I can only buy the BANANA BREAD oatmeal in a variety pack. Banana Bread, in my humble opinion, is really the only oatmeal worth it's sauce. So I always buy the variety pack (after scouring the shelves for perhaps a whole box of the good stuff, mind you), and I am always so angry at Quaker Oats for only giving me two measly packages of Banana Bread (along with 2 packages of Cinnamon - not my fav - and like 4 packages of Maple Brown Sugar - a fine alternative, but so lacking compared to the real oatmeal gold). I savor those Banana Bread packets like, well I have no appropriate analogy this early in the morning, but savoring is happening, let me tell you. I have to temper myself and not let myself eat the two packets back to back because then I will have nothing to look forward to in that little box. It is a silly, tragic game I play with myself. I googled, for the hell of it, "whole box of banana bread oatmeal", and found, on Amazon (which is my favorite thing ever sometimes) a 4-box set (8 packs each) of all Banana Bread! It was like $26 + shipping, and I am debating ordering it for reals. I have only talked myself out thus far because I am not sure how long this love affair will last, but it keeps for awhile, right?

Finally, let's discuss Pretty Little Liars. I freely admit now that I watch this gem of ABC Family programming. Thank you, Nat the Fat Rat for emboldening me to make this confession. When it comes to ABC Family programming (which I really love, mind you), I have been guilty in the past of saying things like "oh yeah, I watch that occasionally, my little sisters watch it, and, you know, I wanted to make sure they weren't watching anything too bad for them" (thanks for the made-up alibi Kay & Moe!). I was ashamed to admit I was a 27-year old grown up watching a show about teenage girls. Hi, my name is Courtney, and I am addicted to teen dramas and YA literature. Phew, it felt so good to get that off my chest. I was able to freely admit it yesterday, when my coworker friend (ahem you know who you are) asked, "Did you watch the Bachelor/Bachelorette/whichever-one-is-actually-airing-right-now-because-I-obviously-don't-watch-it-and-don't-care last night?" to which I responded, "I don't watch silly things like the Bachelor/Bachelorette, I watch silly things like Pretty Little Liars". I felt emboldened (word of the day, apparently) to tell him this because, well clearly he is a he watching nonsense geared at women, so I felt okay being an adult watching nonsense geared at teenagers. Apples to apples, yes? Much like oatmeal, I have a love-hate relationship with PLL (okay, pretty much all love, but it drives me b-a-n-a-n-a-s every week! (isn't this whole post tying in so wonderfully right now)). Dear I. Marlene King, just answer my questions! Tell me, is Ali alive? Who is A? Who is Red Coat? Why do you make me totally root for a high school teacher's relationship with his student? Why do I have such a girl crush on both Aria and Spencer (also, for the record, I am so obviously a Spencer). You spiral me into a Pandora's Box of questions, not unbeknownst to me (I did watch Lost, after all), and I keep running back to you for more! For the love of all that is holy, I hope you are not teasing me with promises for the midseasons finale!

There you have it, lucky readers. Happy Hump Day to you all!