Friday Five

1. A. and I are not going to the wedding. We just don’t have any fiddle room in the budget right now and A. found out on Wednesday that he has to work tomorrow anyway. The stars just wouldn’t align in such a way that we could make this trip.

I called J.R. to let him know and feel like a giant pile-o-crap. He really understood but I still feel like a big jerk.

2. I am starting to reconsider. I should just go! Who cares if we can’t justify the money right now? Except, have you ever gone to a wedding by yourself? It is not the most fun, trust me. Ugh, I feel like such a heel.

[Updated: This sounds like I feel like his wedding is all about me. Hmm. I don't, I swear. I just know I'd be really dissapointed if A. and I got married and he and his (26 hours and counting!) almost-wife weren't able to join us.]

3. So – I’d like to be sure to send a really thoughtful gift. I’ll check out their registries, because I know most people appreciate getting what they’ve asked for. However, just in case, for those of you who are married: What was your favorite wedding gift? What was your least favorite? For the single ones out there, what was your favorite gift to give? Hell, what was your favorite gift to receive, for whatever occasion? Whatever I send, I think I throw in a batch of homemade cookies, too, for good measure.

4. On the way home from the gym last night, I stopped to pick up the mail. I tend to check the mail daily at the beginning of the month when I am expecting the power bill, but then really let it slide for days on end. (The power bill is the only bill we still get through the mail. The little rural co-op hasn’t discovered the internet, yet.) Anyhoo, I’d let the mail pile up for a couple of days. I was surprised to find a package box key in with the giant armload of mail. (There are four larger post boxes for small packages.) I hadn’t ordered anything and I didn’t think A. had, either.

To my utter delight, I had a small package in there from Lisa. Her copy of the book, Plenty, was waiting for me. I greeted it with squeals of delight and gratitude.

Lisa had mentioned on her blog that she was reading it and I commented that I was jealous because I’ve been trying to get my hands on that book for over a year to no avail. With everything else on her mind and a to-do list that wouldn’t fit on an oversized piece of paper, Lisa made a note to herself.

That she had placed this book in the mail for me would be a generous and thoughtful gesture at any time, but it is especially sweet as she just flew off to Malawi earlier this week for 10 weeks of research. She had plenty of other details to attend to.

So very sweet. (Thanks, Lisa!!!)

5. I love when I get my act in gear and have good, yummy food available all week. Having decent meals throughout the week makes such a difference in how I function and feel. I thought I’d share a couple of my favorites:

For breakfast all week I’ve had Swiss Oatmeal (cold oatmeal, a recipe I’ve blatantly ripped off from the Corner Bakery):

½ cup rolled oats (I’ve been using the quick-cooking kind), uncooked
1 C. (approx) plain or vanilla yogurt
1 Tablespoon dried currants
1 Tablespoon dried cranberries
½ banana, sliced and diced
1/8 granny apple, sliced and diced
Sometimes I throw in a little dried coconut, if I am in the mood.

Combine and mix it up good. I use enough yogurt to get the consistency I want. This also travels well (if you keep it cool). I’ve eaten it at my desk three of the four work days so far. Yummy and filling.

I eat the remaining half of the banana while puttering around the house in the morning, and eat the rest of the apple with some protein in the afternoon, about an hour before hitting the gym. Usually, I just bring some nuts to eat, but today I decided to make peanut butter yogurt dip for the apples.

Peanut Butter Yogurt Dip

¾ C creamy peanut butter
1 C plain or vanilla yogurt (if plain, you can add ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract if you want. I kind of like the taste of just the plain yogurt.)

Mix and dip your apples, pretzels, crackers, pears, whatever in it.

I love this because it is a perfect energy combo late in the day. I always feel like I have enough energy to hit the gym when I remember to bring a snack like this. Plus, it feels kind of luxurious, in a way, to have something to dip my food into. It is like Ranch dressing, but not as evil.

Enjoy!