it's been a busy week...

Last Thursday morning at 3am, myself and two co-workers headed to Chicago for a conference about Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder). The conference was good. Of course, there were some unusual "experiences" along the way. Here are the highlights from each day:

Thursday: We took the Amtrack train to Chicago because it saved a lot of money and we thought it would be fun. Turns out that depends on your definition of "fun". If having a stewardess whop you with a pillow to the head and having loud announcements that breakfast will be served at 6:30 am after just falling asleep is your idea of fun, this this is for you! It was a 12-hour ride to Chicago and overall very exhausting. We arrived in Chicago at 3:30 pm, checked into our very nice hotel room, and had a nice dinner out.

Friday: Conference day. The presenter was Richard Schwartz. For those of you that completed the MFT program at Friends, he is THE Schwartz from our original Nichols and Schwartz text. Pretty cool, I thought. He spoke about Internal Family Systems and we were hooked. It's a great model and if left me wanting more....hence the three books I bought :)

Friday was my favorite day. I had left instructions with those at work that if I received a letter in the mail to call me immediately as it was likely to be my test results. Leasha called on Friday and told me that I had PASSED MY EXAM AT A CLINICAL LEVEL and am now a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist!! I'm VERY excited!!

Saturday and Sunday: More conference...some sessions were great, others not so great. Overall, I'm very blessed to have been able to go. It's was most exciting that the conference was in Chicago!! One of my favorite cities although I wouldn't want to live there---I'm a Kansas girl through and through! We did some shopping at night and ate at some terrific restaurants. Walked about a million miles which was a great balance to all the yummy food we splurged on!

Monday: Attended part of a session and then packed up to head back to Kansas. Highlights of the trip back: kids smoking pot in the bathroom, no Amtrack staff in sight during the majority of our 12-hour trip, the lady that smacked one of us in the head with a pillow was working, and two people making out next to us.

Needless to say, if I was to write a full Amtrack review, it would not be good. Not only did we have some pretty gross encounters, Amtrack has absolutely no security measures. We were never asked for ID's except at the very beginning of the trip to Chicago, none of our luggage was scanned, etc. I now take back any bit of frustration I have had in the past with airlines and their many security measures taken.

anyone else find this disturbing???

It was a normal Sunday afternoon and I was rumaging through the Sunday paper looking for good deals. I love decorating with snowmen at Christmas so this Gordman's ad caught my eye. Can you see what I found disturbing?

random day, random thoughts...

I realized it's been a while since I've posted. I don't have a lot to blog about so I thought I'd share a random thoughts list, Looney-style. Here they are:

#1. I can't wait for the colder weather to emerge. Don't get me wrong, warm is nice but I'm ready for sweaters, fun socks, mornings that are cold outside but warm under the covers, fresh snow, decorating for Christmas, holiday traditions with family, baking, sledding...bring on the cold!!

#2. Izzy kept wanting to go outside last night. We weren't sure why. She probably went out 3 or more times in the middle of the night (not sure as I was "sleeping" while Jason let her out :) This morning, Jason came to me and said, "I don't know how to tell you this, but there's a dead squirrel on our back porch". Mystery solved. Also notable: there was a long skinny bite on the poor squirrels hip. Note the size and shape of Izzy's snout (long and skinny):




Coincidence? I don't think so.


#3. I made homemade chai tea this morning as I do many-a-morn. Not really noteworthy, but so good I couldn't not post it.

#4. Going to spend the weekend with my mom and dad this weekend and check out the wedding venue and photographers for my sister's wedding. I can't wait!! Izzy's going, too---lots of squirrels around my parent's house so she's super excited now that's she's an official squirrel hunter!

#5. Yesterday was my soon-to-be brother-in-law's birthday. He's a really amazing guy who compliments my sister very well. We're so blessed to have him in our family! What a great addition. If you're reading this, S, happy b-day!

#6. I want to learn to sew.

#7. I should find out the results of my licensing exam this week or next.

#8. I made roast chicken and asparagus and onion risotto for dinner last night even though we didn't get home until 8:30 pm. Pretty amazing, I know!

That's all for now.........................................

5 things I hate to admit...

Hey, Eeka...this is cool. Similar to another blog I read that posts "Not Me Monday"...I love it! Here's my attempt at my "Five Things"

1. My dog owns nearly as many outfits as I do. Golf pants, luau dress, summer halter dress, mailman outfit, santa outfit...you name it, she's got it. Embarrasing, yes. Cute, yes. Wierd, YES YES YES!!

2. I love scary movies. Many people find them disgusting and can't believe someone would waste their time watching these flicks. Well, I like them. So there.

3. Our kitchen has been in the process of a makeover for 2+ years. The wallpaper is ripped off. When people come over, I tell them it's an "old world look"...but, really...it's just unfinished.

4. Sometimes in the morning, in an effort for those last 15 minutes of sleep, I convince my hubbie to shower first and I promise to make lunches. Instead, while he's showering I'm dozing :) As soon as the shower shuts off, I run frantically to the kitchen to make lunches. It's a fun little dance we do. I pretend he doesn't know I do this but...let's be honest, he does :) He's such a sport!

5. I love the smell of garlic on my fingers after cooking with it. What I find strange is the number of products out there designed to remove the smell from your hands (stainless steel bars, etc). After dinner, hubbie catches me with my fingers up to my face, just stiffing away. I think I have a problem :)

Eeka, this was fun...I'd like to tag Dani and Dannon :)

from Whiskey Tango to Martha Stewart...

I couldn't wait until the house was completely finished to post some pics of it. As my co-worker noted, we have gone from Whiskey Tango (blue house with yellow trim) to Martha Stewart (slate gray with white trim). We absolutely love it! Now we need to work on the front yard...

favorite thing #2

I thought I'd start blogging about my favorite things. I got this idea from a page I read periodically (http://www.1000awesomethings.com/) For a website it is, well...awesome. Anyways...for fellow Wichitans, I wanted to share my new favorite restaurant. Any time I get a chance to go out for lunch, I take a short drive to Sugar Sisters Bakery. It is a new-ish local bakery located just east of College Hill on Central that serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything in between. I couldn't even start listing the items on the menu that are my favorite because they are all so good.

Today I tried the three-cheese quiche. You're lucky I snapped a picture half-way through because it didn't last long! It came with an equally delish mixed green salad with homemade ranch. YUM-O! You have to try it out! You can check out their blog (see my blog list). So, that's my favorite thing #2. Stay tuned for favorite #3!

one of my favorite things...

I have a new favorite recipe I received from my soon-to-be brother-in-law. If you like Chai tea, you will absolutely LOVE this recipe. I will be honest...I thought about keeping the recipe to myself but I just can't. This recipe is SO much better than Starbucks Chai Tea Latte (and that's saying a lot because I really enjoy a good Starbucks drink!). Jason and I have gotten into the habit of making it each morning to take to work with us. See the picture...doesn't last long!! Let me know if you try it and what you think!

Recipe for Chai Tea (makes 2 cups…double as needed)

1 whole clove
1 whole cardamom pod
1 tea bag (I use Luzianne)
8 whole fennel seeds
1 slice of ginger
1 cup water
1 cup milk
1 ½ - 2 tablespoons sugar or Splenda

If you buy a mesh tea ball it makes for much less clean up when making the tea! You can put the clove, cardamom pod, fennel seeds, and ginger in the tea ball before placing it in the water.

Directions:

Place in pan: whole clove, cardamom pod, tea bag, fennel seeds, ginger, and water. Bring water to boil. Let boil for approx. 5 minutes. Add milk and sugar (or Splenda). Stir continuously and watch very closely…as milk heats up it will begin to boil and will boil over the side of the pan. As the milk starts to rise, remove immediately from heat.

If you did not use a mesh tea ball, strain spices and enjoy.
If you did use a mesh tea ball, simply remove and enjoy.