A milestone

 Last weekend marked my 30th year as a Radiologic Technologist - a healthcare profession that many are starting to see plays an absolutely vital role in the medical world.  

I graduated from a local community college program with good grades and my family intact, although the two years of school and financial struggles took it's toll on us at the time.  And we had many more miles to go...

After graduation I got hired at the city's trauma hospital, and that's when the real education began.

But I had loving support and a drive to succeed.

Going to school and clinic full time, while working part time and raising kids left me exhausted most of the time, even for the relatively young age of 34.  So working full-time and continuing on with raising and expanding our family seemed like a seamless transition.

Not gonna lie - Mark and I faced many struggles until we found the right pace of life.  And I think that my mother was right to encourage me into this profession, as it has helped me in so many ways, not just financially.  I feel proud of myself and the example I set for my children.  And I know that through the job I have done all these years, I have been able to provide for my family in a meaningful way.

Happy 30th milestone, indeed!

Gina

Monday menus #86

Maybe its the heat, but we've been treated so some really pretty sunsets in Austin lately.  It always makes me pause and want to take a photo, like its the first time I'm seeing it.

And really, its gone within a few minutes!

No rain came out of those clouds, but it made for a pretty sky to admire on the way to my car.

Monday - kitchen closed

Tuesday - Taco Salad (romaine, taco meat, avocado, cheese, orange bell pepper){buy groceries}

Wednesday - Butternut Ravioli*, zucchini {on call in p.m.}

Thursday - Burger Parry with O&P, BBQ beans {change air filters}

Friday - Chicken Tacos (chicken breast strips, cheese, lettuce, tomato) {meet with dietician}

Saturday and Sunday - kitchen closed

Gina

*I still don't feel like cooking, and I have a BUNCH of food in the freezer, so I'm gonna roll with it

5 thing Friday - pumpkin pillow, fall decor, nuts, "dead" tree, happy hour

 I saw this cute pumpkin pillow on Instagram and ran right over to Wal-mart to get it.  As pillows go, its purely decorative.

Did I need it?  No.  But look how cute it is!  I set out the rest of my Fall stuff, too.

And I made a couple of floral arrangements using stuff I already had.  The one in my bedroom looks fuller in person - the vase has old potpourri filler and tiny pinecones.  I also spruced up the room, changing out the linens and giving every surface a good clean.

The one on the dining table seems wackily large but I'm going with it.

A squirrel is feasting DAILY under my patio set,

eating the pecans that are falling from what my neighbor referred to as a "dead" tree that he was planning on cutting down.  Besides it being a very healthy tree, it makes pecans now, and its sitting smack dab on the fence line.  So much so that a cut out was made in the fence to accommodate it.

So, no, it stays.

The 100 degree plus days means its too hot to even leave the house.  So I made my own stay-at-home-fun by slicing up some spicey cheese and peaches, and adding in some blueberries and crackers.

Happy Hour is served - stay cool!

Gina

Monday menus #85

I am very ready for Fall's cooler temps.

Its not just the heat, although that definitely is dragging my psyche down.  Its the desire to have something change in a positive way.  

Monday - fridge clean-out.  Might do Taco Quesadillas to use up some tortillas. {I'm off today, buy groceries}

Tuesday - Meatloaf with Portobello Mushroom Sauce, mashed potatoes, frozen veggie (make a plate for Friday) {do a bit of yardwork}

Wednesday - Grilled Lemon Garlic Chicken on salad with fresh berries {cross something off my home improvement list of small projects}

Thursday - BBQ Pork Loin Chop, mac and cheese, collards {library day}

Friday - Leftovers from Tuesday {payday}

Saturday and Sunday - kitchen closed

Gina

5 thing Friday - eating habits, trees, thrifting, wall protectors, tote

 Its been a pretty boring couple of weeks.

I've been doing a good job at work not eating from the various snack baskets or pizza boxes or anything other than what I pack for myself.  A protein shake over ice is a good mid-afternoon snack and helps tide me over for dinner at 6 p.m.  Breaking the habit of eating fast food on the way home was HUGE.

And speaking of fast food, if Chik-Fil-A hands me a free cookie, I will eat it, just not after 6:30 p.m. (their cookies are pretty wonderful)

The tree guys came just two days after I gave the go-ahead, and they were done in less than 2 hours.  I remember that Mark used to tackle this job on a Saturday while he had all four kids underfoot.  Crazy.

The oak out front got such a good haircut!  Maybe now that the yard gets that much more sun and air, it will continue to improve, as well as my poor lantana which are limping along.

I found this bowl for $7 at Goodwill and thought I could use it with filler for the holidays.  I googled it, and a couple of people are selling one exactly like it for $40.  I also bought three books and a salad spinner.  Riotous livin'.

A mixed review: these seems to be heavy duty and stick well to non-textured surfaces.  However, the one I put in the bedroom is still on the wall, so maybe I can sand the wall smooth in the other places I need them.  Another little project.

I bought myself a very heavy duty tote bag for work with free shipping and on sale for less than $30.  Gone are all the Vera Bradley totes I carried for years that were wearing out at the straps.  I gussied it up with an iron-on transfer from Etsy and cute pull fob/dangle from Consuela.  See?  Not much happening here lately...

Gina

Monday menus #84

 I'm no landscaper or gardener.  We can safely say that my plants manage to thrive not because of me, but in spite of me.  (I mean look at my non-existent grass) However!  Moving these lariope from the front yard to the backyard was a good move.  It filled an empty and ugly space without adding more shrubbery to block the windows.

And now they have decided to bloom!

The ones near the patio are blooming, too.  Another bit of evidence for the milder summer we are enjoying this year, with lower temps and more rain.

Monday - kitchen closed

Tuesday - Taco Salad {tax office appt.}

Wednesday - Bun-less Burger with onions and peppers, broccoli {buy groceries, Beer Necessities meet up}

Thursday - Cranberry Pecan Turkey Salad Lettuce wraps

Friday - Out (enough for two small meals) Might end up having rotisserie chicken! {payday}

Saturday and Sunday - kitchen closed

Gina

Little project: wires and cords

 I feel as though I have written a lot about my closet, which is pretty silly.  It has taken me a long time put it back to being an actual closet.  {The moment we moved in, Mark was executing his plans to create an office/ham shack.}  But I finally have the last piece of that removed. 

This bundle of wires and cords stretch from a hole in the ceiling, where they originate in the attic, attached to various antennas.

At one point, I tied them together to make them easier to bundle and manage.

Then I coiled the rest of the length on the shelf under my coats.  But it always bothered me to know they were there, serving zero purpose. (remember, all of the ham radios went bye-bye, as well as the steel shelf in here that they were sitting on.)

Back then, this was so cluttered and ugly it made me want to cry.

Armed with a sturdy ladder and Scout's help, I trimmed the wires, then pushed them through the hole up into the floor of the attic.  (None of them are plugged into anything.)  Then I found a rubber chair leg protector that fit the hole and we shoved that into the hole.  Lastly I painted it white to match the ceiling.  Here it is drying:

You don't see it unless you know its there.

No more cords to "hide".  I like it.

I finished it all up, vacuumed, and stood back to admire it.  I did feel that same old "he would be so mad at me" feeling, like I was destroying something I knew little about that he was so into and worked hard to set up.  (I know he would forgive me) Would I rather have Mark here with me, ham radios and all?  Yes, A thousand times over.  But that's not reality, so instead I have a clean and neat closet with a few tears shed.

And I won't have those cords reminding me daily!

Gina

Monday menus #83

Cooking for just me is working out great, as I figured it would.  The boys seem unfazed by my decision.  I am still not thrilled to be cooking at all, but I can't just eat out all of the time.  Apart from the time, gas, and expense of going to get something, its hard to control the portion sizes and salt.  

So, cooking at home it is, for the most part.

Monday - kitchen closed {packing food for work}

Tuesday - Strawberry Chicken Salad {buy groceries, on call}

Wednesday - Salmon, chard, corn {yardwork, on call}

Thursday - Rudy's Beef Brisket, pinto beans, green salad (enough for a weekend meal, too)

Friday - Garlicky Shrimp and pasta with leftover chard {weekend food prep}

Saturday and Sunday - kitchen closed 

Gina

Finishing out the summer

I am actually trying to tie up some loose ends on projects I had to "circle back" on.  I think my To Do list got a bit ambitious.

The photinia is toast.  I trimmed it up, treated it for red spot, and still it has decided to die.  Its going to be a pain in the butt to remove so I will wait until the weather cools, then buh bye.  I still haven't gotten the tree company out to trim up the oaks but that will get done!

Whenever I accomplish a small task it gives me a boost - a good one to do is to change out my own wiper blades.  Easy. And I love that I can easily handle these small things that the oil change place will charge you an arm and leg for.  Now I want to clean and polish up Subie's headlamps and I bought a kit for that.

I should go ahead and sell the truck.  I was initially keeping it because I used it to visit Highlands.  But I sold that property over a year ago...I neither need, nor want, a pick-up truck.  I feel nervous about selling this on my own, but I have a plan.  Now if I could only get 'er done!  Small steps: gather up all my truck paperwork, clean it inside and out, take some glamour shots, list it.

I came across the Nook and thought it would probably function well as a way to watch some simple low weight exercises on You Tube.  So I bought another 5 pound weight at Academy ($11) and set up a spot that will make a few minutes of exercise each day a no-brainer.

This air-conditioned, carpeted, and private empty space will do nicely.  Scout offered me the use of his weights in the garage, but again, the weather has to cool a bit for that.

The roof on Camp Rustown is 15 years old, and we have had at least a couple of weather events in the last 15 years.  I've been seeing that gravelly stuff at the down spout base of the gutters, so I know it is degrading.

And there are a couple of spots that look like they are lifted.  So, I will be gathering quotes, picking a roofing company, and getting a new one.  I am not going to wait for the next storm to blow through and damage more than a shingle or two.  And instead of a red roof (which, why did I choose red?  I remember doing that) I am going to go with black or very dark charcoal. Also!  I have paid for address numbers to be placed soon on either side of the driveway

A fun thing to do with a tee shirt that fits too snugly across your hips - this is why I need to stop buying men's tees!

Cut up a few inches along the sides.  No need to stitch it.

Make yourself a side vent tee that you will actually find comfortable!  I have a couple more I could do this to, but I am waiting to see if I will enjoy wearing them when I am a few more pounds down.  I lost 7 pounds since the first of June, which is part of my biggest summer project: myself.

Happy August!

Gina