Ideas

OK. So even though I barely have enough time in my day to remember my name.... I have decided to start a recipe/food blog! Someday I would love to be a good enough cook to make up my own recipes from scratch, but I'm not there yet... so this will be a blog for me to review recipes that are acceptable in the Couts Kitchen.

So now I have to come up with a title for it. Any ideas? I was thinking about something like "Couts Kitchen Approved" or something about food or recipes or something along those lines.

Suggestions are welcome! If you suggest a title and I choose it, I will actually send you a Season's Best Recipe Collection cookbook from The Pampered Chef!

Let's hear 'em.

Correction

In my last post, I mentioned that being a wife is a medium-fun job. As I read it, I thought, "Oh no!" Being a wife is the most fun, but what I meant was that the work it takes is more medium-fun. Just wanted to clear that up!

By the way, I've been thinking about making a cooking blog... basically trying out recipes and giving my reviews. Any thoughts?

Does anybody read this? :)

Balance

I've been struggling a lot recently with this. Balancing a job that is high-stress, low-fun and another job I love that is low-stress, high-fun (Pampered Chef) and my most important job of being a wife, which is high-stress, medium-fun, but by far the most worthwhile and rewarding job. I just have a hard time finding the correct balance.

I spend 8-10 hrs/day on the main job, cook dinner (my outlet), then spend about 45 min-1 hr/night (that I don't have a show) on PC, try to get on the treadmill for 30 minutes, and then spend the rest of the night cleaning. It's amazing the mess that 2 exhausted adults can make in such a short period of time.

I'm completely worn out. After a full day of work, Mike gets to come home, eat dinner, and chill the rest of the night. I don't know the meaning of chill. And when I sit down or lay down for more than a few minutes, I have this feeling of guilt, and the dirty toilet or tub or the fact that the dishwasher is full of clean dishes just won't leave me alone and I eventually get up and take care of it. I like to have it taken care of, it's just that I never get to relax. And we don't have kids yet! Isn't this supposed to be the time that I'm supposed to remember as relaxing? I can only imagine how tough it's going to be if I have to work when we have kids!

Sometimes I feel like I'm still new to this whole "wife" thing, and life is full of adjustments. Another part of the problem is that we are busting out of this apartment and there is just not enough room for all of our stuff, which stresses me out more than anything. I'm having to come to terms with the fact that this apartment will never ever ever ever be really clean until we move... which is hard if your main job is to "keep home." I love Mike so much and want to be the wife he always wanted.

A good step I made is to try to complete a little bit every night instead of waiting until the weekend to have a cleaning fest. That helps out tremendously. And I've also let go of the fact that when Mike helps, he's not going to do it exactly like I do and it's OK. I'd rather have his help!

Can anyone relate? Any ideas? Words of advice? I'd appreciate it so much! Oh, and thanks for listening!

A random thought that came to me last night....

"You know, maybe if I got a cold or the flu, then I would actually get to rest for a few days."

Am I crazy or what? Can you believe I actually thought that? I'm afraid that since I'm so busy and stressed, that it will kill my immune system and this may happen....

let's hope not.

Too Busy to post....

No really. I've been too busy to post!

We have had the craziest past few weeks... crazy, but very good! From September 24-29 Mike and I went to Savannah, GA to attend my sister Melissa's wedding and we stayed a few extra days for vacation. What a GREAT time we had! I have neither the time nor the energy to upload a bunch of pictures, so you will have to go to my Facebook page where I uploaded a few hundred! Since we've been back, we have both been insanely busy with work and squeezing out the last bit of outdoor fun before the cold weather and snow takes over!

Here's just a preview though.... while we were in Georgia, we did the following fun things:

-got to hang out with my family whom I see once a year, twice if I'm lucky

-watched my sister get married 

-got to visit her new house with her new husband

-put our feet in the Atlantic ocean at Tybee Beach

-ate enough fresh caught seafood to sprout gills

-walked around historic Savannah, hand in hand

-took a trolley tour around town

-visited Fort Pulaski, a civil war fort that is still in great condition

-climbed 178 steps to the top of Tybee Lighthouse

-ate at The Lady & Sons, Paula Deen's restaurant

-took a million pictures

-met all of Melissa's Savannah friends

Now don't you want to go check out pictures???

Have a great day, all.

Read this book

This is the best "diet book" that I have ever read, and take this from someone who has heard of everything. God bless Bethenny for putting into words everything I try to express to my participants over the phone each day! Her methods aren't revolutionary, they are just common sense, but in this day and age of instant gratification, they may seem revolutionary. And look for her next book, coming out in December!