The Misadventures of Mrs. Duh

Still Standing...

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Duh) — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 15:38:00 +0000

Wow. It's been quite some time since I have put up a blog post. There is a reason for it of course... I'm in the process of getting a divorce. The last time I blogged, the separation was new. I wasn't quite sure how I was going to handle the emotional pain and confusion I was feeling. Now, I'm four months into my separation... and, thankfully, I'm doing much better.

I've spent a lot of time trying to sort through the feelings that accompany the end of a marriage. The shame, the embarrassment, the failure, and the sadness were almost too much to handle some days. Thanks to some wonderful friends and family (and a great therapist provided by Military One Source), I've been able to come to terms with a lot of this mess. I'm slowly realizing that I did everything that I could to save my marriage.

Some people may look back on their failed marriage and think that it was a waste of time. Or maybe that it wasn't worth the trouble. At this point, I can honestly say that I don't regret one second of my marriage. Are there things I could have done differently? Of course. Did I waste the last almost-seven years on a bad relationship? No. My marriage to Mr. Duh blessed me in so many ways. When he and I met, I was an insecure 24 year old girl working a sh*tty job, struggling to get through school, and having a difficult time loving and treating myself well. Marrying Mr. Duh changed so many things for the better. I'm coming out of my marriage with two Masters degrees, a good job, and two wonderful dogs. I'm also a confident and happy person, and I don't think I could have become the woman I am without the support of my spouse. The adventures of military life also helped me to grow and change in ways I never thought I could...

Today, movers are arriving to load up Mr. Duh's half of the house. It's a bittersweet day (more bitter than sweet...). The splitting up of the things and packing the house has definitely shown me that I'm not done mourning this loss... but I am also full of hope. I'm going to work hard to make the most of this new beginning.

Parting is Such Sh*tty Sorrow...

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Duh) — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 19:47:00 +0000

As you may have noticed, I have been silent in the blogosphere for a couple months. I'm briefly emerging from the shadows today to say that Mr. Duh and I have decided to end our marriage.

Even though the decision is mutual and this is ending as amicably as a marriage can... We've both been taken aback by how painful this experience is. The feelings of failure, embarrassment and shame are overwhelming. Anyone who has ever thought of divorce as taking "the easy way out" has obviously never been in this position. Easy is not a term I would apply to our situation.

We are spending the next little while determining how to divide all of the things we have accumulated over our eight years together and working out the physical/financial/emotional logistics of separating.

I'm not sure what will become of this blog, now that my misadventures through military life are coming to an end. That, and I won't be a "Mrs." anymore. Life does go on, though. After the grief and sorrow have been worked through, I pray that hope for a happy future can emerge.

Menu Planning Monday - January 13th, 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Duh) — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 18:38:00 +0000

I'm back from the Caribbean! We hit some bad weather along the way, so there wasn't much to do except eat and drink. I tried my best to stay Paleo while on the ship, but it's hard to be sure what is in the food when you aren't the one preparing it... so I am excited to cook all my own meals this week. After a long vacation of drinking and eating, I'm ready to get back on track.

Here's what's on the menu at Cafe Duh this week (head over to Orgjunkie.com and link up your menu, too):

*All of these recipes and grain-free and gluten-free*

Monday - Pizza Spaghetti Pie and a side of Sauteed Spinach. Excited to try this because it looks simple and will also satisfy my current obsession with spaghetti squash!

Courtesy of PaleOMG

Tuesday - Leftovers.

Wednesday - Crockpot Pulled Pork Chili. Chili and pulled pork? Yes, please!!

Courtesy of PaleOMG

Thursday - Artichoke Lemon Chicken Pasta. Like I said, I'm currently obsessed with spaghetti squash.

Courtesy of PaleOMG

Friday - Steaks, sweet potato mash, and brussel sprouts.

What are you cooking up this week?

Bon Voyage!

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Duh) — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 21:38:00 +0000

In celebration of obtaining my two Masters Degrees and due to the fact that my family has not been on vacation together since the mid-1990's, my mother decided to take me, my brother, and all of our significant others on a cruise!

We are heading out tonight for Orlando, and will board the ship tomorrow afternoon. We are making stops in Cozumel, Belize, Isla Roatan, and Costa Maya. Can't wait for some relaxation time with the fam! See you when I return!

... And, we're off to the Caribbean!

Everyone Makes It Look So Easy

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Duh) — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 20:37:00 +0000

Throughout my Facebook, Instagram, and Blog feeds, I see tons of pictures of happy couples and read wonderful stories about all of the great relationships everyone has... and it often makes me wonder, "Why is my relationship not as perfect and easy as everyone else's?"

I know that this is the nature of the beast when it comes to social media. Most people post the good stuff, and leave out bad. No one argues. No one has to spend the night on the couch. Just-because flowers happen all the time. Fun dates and little love notes are common place. Unfortunately, this creates an unrealistic world, where all the relationships are perfect.

I have known from the start that my marriage requires a lot of work. Mr. Duh and I disagree and argue on a regular basis. We have had periods where we sleep in separate bedrooms. We have read "Help Me! I'm Married!" type books. We have been to pre-marital counseling and marriage counseling to help us resolve our issues. I'm sure some people are shaking their heads and feeling sorry for The Duh's, because maybe it really is easy for them... but it never has been for us.

As a married couple, we have had our share of good times and there has never been a lack of love here. If love was truly "all you need" in relationships, ours would be a cake walk. It's all those other things in life, deployments, work trouble, family, and our own emotional baggage that makes us have to work extra-hard to get our marriage to function.

We are currently going through a rough patch... one that I'm not sure we can get out of. We've agreed to work as hard as we can, up until the deployment starts (Of course, deployment adds a whole extra layer of complication to an already sensitive situation). You might be asking yourself, "Why is she airing her dirty laundry all over the blogosphere?" I guess it's because, in spite of what we see on social media, life is full of dirty laundry.

If you feel like your life is a hot mess sometimes, I want you to know that you are not alone. Some of our lives are complicated and messy... and that's okay. Maybe I'll start a support group. "Hi, my name is Mrs. Duh and I'm a hot mess."

Mandatory Resolutions Post for 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Duh) — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 22:32:00 +0000

We are hours away from a New Year... so of course it is time to put up my New Year's Resolutions! I know some people aren't fans of making resolutions, but I always enjoy trying to set new goals for the year. Last year, I had five resolutions, and managed to keep three of them. Not bad!

I've cooked up some new goals for 2014. Some a physical/fitness related, and others aren't.... I like to mix it up! Here we go!

-Participate in a Half-Marathon: Well, this is happening whether I want it to or not... because I have already paid for and registered for the Rock and Roll Marathon in Seattle this June. Ideally, I'd like to finish in under three hours.

-Be Less Political on Social Media... and Be More Active Locally: I am a political gal. I love elections, debates, hot-button issues, etc. When people post political things on Facebook, I have a hard time not putting in my two cents. As much as I love to wax political on social media, it isn't really changing anybody's mind or getting anything done. So, I'm going to get off my computer and put my political gumption to good use. Maybe I'll volunteer for a local campaign, attend City Counsel meetings, or maybe do something as small as write my Representatives more often.

-Eat More Vegetables: Lately, I've begun to realize that I eat more protein that anything. While that isn't bad, I need to work on getting more veggies and diverse nutrients into my diet. 2014 will be the Year of the Veggie!!

-Master Toes-to-Bar: This is a Crossfit-specific resolution. There are a lot of things at Crossfit that I struggle with, like pull-ups, double-unders, squat snatch... just to name a few. Toes-to-bar is one that I know I can get with practice. So, this year, I vow to practice and master the elusive Toes-to-bar movement!

-Work on my Housekeeping Skills: With school, work, moving, and just general craziness of life, my house has fallen into disarray this year. I'm going to get on a better schedule for cleaning the house.

Do you have any resolutions for 2014?

It's Back - Menu Planning Monday!

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Duh) — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 18:20:00 +0000

Thanks to school and vacation, I have been slacking on posting my menus... but I'm back with some more awesome recipes this week! Mr. Duh is back home for a little while, so I have an extra mouth to feed for the first time in almost two months. I so enjoy having more than just me to cook for! I hope you'll head over to Orgjunkie.com and link up your menu, too!

Here's what's being cooked up at Cafe Duh this week:

**Recipes featured are gluten-free, grain-free, and Paleo/Primal friendly**

Monday - Roasted Tomato Bacon Soup and a side salad. This recipe comes from the Make Ahead Paleo cookbook, and it is delicious!! Mr. Duh isn't Paleo and has requested that I make him a grilled cheese sandwich to accompany the soup. I wandered all over the store yesterday trying to find the bread for his grilled cheese... I haven't purchased a loaf of bread in over a year!

Tuesday - Asian BBQ Chicken Thighs with Coconut Cauli-rice. This one also comes from the Make Ahead Paleo cookbook, and it's my first time trying this recipe. I had almost all the ingredients already, and only had to buy the chicken thighs. Did I mention that this is a crockpot recipe? That means its going to be easy-peasy! Winning!

Wednesday - Chunky Pineapple Guacamole with Grilled Sweet Potato Chips. Mr. Duh is working on Christmas Day, so I'm spending the day with a friend and her family. I was asked to bring an appetizer to share, and thought this sounded like a yummy one!

Courtesy of PaleOMG

Thursday - Spicy Shepherd's Pie Chorizo Meatloaf. Did someone say chorizo? Nom nom nom!!

Courtesy of PaleOMG

Friday - Date night! I try to never cook on Fridays, so Mr. Duh and I will be heading out to eat that night.

What is on your menu this week?

Graduation Week in San Antonio!

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Duh) — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 19:37:00 +0000

Last week was one of the best weeks ever! Not only did I graduate from school with two Masters Degrees, but I also got to spend time with my Texas friends and have a Girls Weekend with my mom in a city that I love!

Here are some photos from my San Antonio Graduation Adventure!

One of my best pals had a birthday while I was there, and the theme was "Hats!". We had a great dinner, followed by dancing the night away!

I also got to workout at the Greatest Little Crossfit Box in Texas: Lonestar Crossfit! It was wonderful to see all my favorite workout buddies!

And of course... there was graduation day!!!

The Highs and the Lows

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Duh) — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 22:32:00 +0000

I'm on a plane right now... and I'm blogging! I am sure digging this whole on-board wi-fi thing!

I have been absent from blogging over the past month or so, mostly due to school. But guess what? In the words of Alice Cooper, "Schools Out Forever!" I turned in my last graduate school assignment last night, and now I'm on a plane to San Antonio! In exactly one week I'll be walking the stage with my classmates to received my, not one, but TWO, Master Degrees!

When I clicked "submit" on that assignment last night, I was filled with all sorts of emotions... but mostly I was filled with joy! Unfortunately, I was alone in the house with no one to join in my celebration (except my dogs, but they are not impressed by such achievements). so, I poured myself a shot of whiskey and packed my bags for San Antonio!

It has been a rough couple of weeks. A friend of mine from Megacorp lost his brave battle with testicular cancer this week. He was young, smart and one of the nicest people you'd ever meet. He fought the good fight, all with a smile on his face. I feel so lucky to have known him, but it's not fair that he's gone. Also, my two year old nice, Katie Lynn, was diagnosed with leukemia earlier this week. Needless to say, that was hard news to hear. Katie, her brother, and her parents have a long road ahead, and the treatments won't be easy. Katie is the cutest and most bad-ass toddler EVER, and I have no doubt that she'll kick cancer in the junk! But, a child shouldn't ever have to go through something like that. Yet again, it's just not fair. Plus, Mr. Duh and I are on the opposite side of the country, and can't do much to help. It sucks.

Here's Katie getting a visit from her Grandpa. Due to a weakened immune system, everyone around her has to wear masks.

In light of Katie's diagnosis, one of the only things I could think to do was to start volunteering for the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society. Since school is over, my calendar is pretty open and I'm glad I have time to volunteer for such a good cause. I've put in my volunteer application and am awaiting an assignment to see how I can help.

One of my big goals for 2014 was to participate in a Half Marathon. I've been way too scared to sign up... until Katie was diagnosed with leukemia. I saw that the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society and St. Jude's Children's Hospital are sponsoring the Seattle Rock and Roll Marathon in June 2014, and knew that I had to sign up! So, yesterday I joined Team in Training. I'll be able to work with running coaches and train with a team for the marathon. During this time, I also will be raising $1600 (or hopefully more) for the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society. I'm going to run 13.1 miles in Katie's honor, while raising money to help find a cure.

Over the next six months, you might see a lot of training updates and fundraising efforts here on the blog! Any donations ($1, $5, or whatever) will be much appreciated! If you can find it in your heart to donate to the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society, please visit my fundraising page:

http://pages.teamintraining.org/wa/rnrseatl14/wduhaime

It's been a crazy/sad/happy/you-name-it sort of week! I'm looking forward to graduation, the start of my marathon training, and getting back to blogging again. Please say some prayers or send some good energy Katie's way. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Menu Planning Monday - 11/11/2013

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Duh) — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 20:19:00 +0000

It's a special Monday today.. It's Veterans Day! I want to send a shout out to all of the amazing military members out there, past and present. Thank you for your sacrifice and service!

Mr. Duh left for TDY last week, and I realized I overdid it on the menu. I had way too many leftovers! This week, I'm only making two dinners, but I'm also going to post a couple things I'm making for lunches on the menu. If you like to plan your menu for the week and blog about it, head over to Orgjunkie.com and link-up!

Here's what's on the menu at Cafe Duh this week:

Monday (Lunch): Butternut Squash Soup. Nothing says "Fall" like yummy soup!

Tuesday: Paleo Jambalaya.This is a first for me, but I'm sure it will be great. PaleOMG never steers me wrong.

Wednesday (Lunch): Chicken Avocado Salad Wraps. I figured out how to make Paleo Mayo last week... and now I'm obsessed with it! So, you'll probably see a lot of recipes with mayo from me over the next few weeks.

Thursday: BBLT (Bison, Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato) Burgers with Cajun Sweet Potato Fries. I'm using the grill without the assistance of my husband. Wish me luck!

Friday: Going out to dinner with some of the ladies from Crossfit.

*All the recipes are gluten-free, grain-free, and Paleo-friendly*

What's cooking at your house this week?

Debbie Downer

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Duh) — Fri, 08 Nov 2013 18:20:00 +0000

So, I've been kinda sad this week. Today is Friday. I should be jazzed for the weekend and all the great things ahead... but I'm not. I just want to stay in my bathrobe, close all the blinds, and hide in my bed all weekend. Why, you ask? Maybe it's because I'm feeling homesick for Utah and Texas. Maybe it's because I had to go to the dentist (my least favorite place EVER) twice this week. Maybe it's because I miss my husband. Maybe it's all the cloudy skies and the fact that the sun has been setting at 4:55pm. Honestly, it's probably all of the above.

For the most part, I'm a jovial person... but we all have our down days. Since I'm feeling bummed, I'm hunting down things on the internet that make me laugh and smile. Enjoy!

Bat-Dad... Hilarious!

Cat Shark Week -

Sh*t Crossfit Girls Say... I've said a few of these myself.

Menu Planning Monday - 11/4/13

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Duh) — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 17:27:00 +0000

Mr. Duh left this morning for six weeks. He's away for NCO Academy, and I won't see him again until a few days before Christmas. Sigh...

Just because I'm solo for the next month and a half doesn't mean that I won't be cooking yummy dinners! I'm going to use this time to experiment and try out some new meals, and hopefully find a few more good ones to put on regular rotation.

Here's what's on the menu at Cafe Duh this week:

*All of these recipes are grain-free and gluten-free*

Monday - Buffalo Chicken Pasta. I've been big into spaghetti squash lately, so this one looks like a win!

Courtesy of PaleOMG

Tuesday - Leftovers.

Wednesday - Creamy Chicken Chili. The cold weather up here in Washington is perfect for soups, stews, and chili! This is one of my favorites from PaleOMG.

Courtesy of PaleOMG

Thursday - I'm eating leftover for dinner, but I'm making Chipotle Chicken Salad for lunch. Can't wait to try it!

Friday - Paleo Burrito Bowl. I've been in the mood for Mexican this week, so this should satisfy the craving!

So, what's on your menu this week? Head on over to Orgjunkie.com and link-up your menu!

Happy Halloween!

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Duh) — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 20:12:00 +0000

It's going to be a tame holiday here at Chateau le Duh. Passing out treats, Pumpkin Chicken Casserole for Dinner, and maybe watching a scary movie (I'm thinking The Conjuring). We aren't getting dressed up today, but Ozzie and Floyd sure are! This kind of cuteness only comes once a year!

Have a safe and fun Halloween!

'Tis the Season - Costumes!

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Duh) — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 21:39:00 +0000

As you may know, I've had a lifelong love of Halloween! Since I was a kid, I've loved dressing up and putting up decor all over the house. I also spent 14 years managing a seasonal haunted attraction, where I got to help create a fun working environment for the employees and scary/entertaining show for the customers. After I left the haunted house, it took me a little while to get my Halloween mojo back... but after a few years of "normal" Halloween seasons, I'm enjoying the season again.

I've had some fun costumes over the last few years (Elvira, Carrie, etc.), but I always enjoy it the most when Mr. Duh and I do a couples costume. A couple years ago, we were Frankenstein's Monster and the Bride of Frankenstein. That was a big hit! The problem is that we have such a hard time agreeing on what to be! I like classic horror characters (like Carrie) or funny costumes, and I am not a fan of the overtly sexy costumes. Usually, I have to suggest about 100 ideas before I can find one that he'll agree to.

This year, after a few cocktails and a lot of internet searching, we were able to find something we both liked! Not only did we like it, but I think it's my best one so far!

Look familiar? Yep, we decided to be Beetlejuice and Lydia! Definitely one of my favorite movies of all time!

We didn't know anyone who was having a party, but we were in the mood to show off our costumes... so, we got together with a couple of friends and went to a bar that was holding a costume party. We even ended up participating in a costume contest! It was a fun night and the costumes were a hit! Now, I better start planning for next year. Beetlejuice and Lydia will be a hard one to top!

Happy Halloween Everyone!!

Are you dressing up this year? If so, what are you going to be?

Menu Planning Monday - Week of 10/28/13

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Duh) — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 18:22:00 +0000

It's another installment of Menu Plan Monday! I'm excited about my menu this week, since I'm trying a few new recipes. I'd love to hear what you're cookin' this week, so head on over to Orgjunkie.com and link-up! Here's what's being served up at Cafe Duh this week:

*All of these recipes are grain-free and gluten-free*

Monday - Creamy Crockpot Chicken and Tomato Soup. This is the easiest recipe EVER! Plus, it makes plenty of yummy leftovers.

Tuesday - Spaghetti Squash Noodle Bowl with OMG Sauce. This is a dish with Asian flair, kind of like a Pad-Thai. I'm excited to give it a try!

Courtesy of PaleOMG

Wednesday - Leftovers.

Thursday - Pumpkin Cream Chicken Casserole. In honor of Halloween, I figured I'd give this recipe a try. PaleOMG always has the best recipes, so I bet this one will be delicious as well!

Courtesy of PaleOMG

Friday - Crockpot Sesame Orange Chicken with Cauli-rice. I made this a couple weeks ago, and I'm obsessed with it! I hid the leftovers from Mr. Duh because I wanted them all to myself. I might share this time... maybe.

What's on your menu this week?

Post-Graduate Dreams

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Duh) — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 07:37:00 +0000

"Yeah, they're called 'Doctors'."

College and I have had a long (and not always productive) relationship. It took me ten looooong years to get my Bachelors degree. Six months later, I was bored and decided to get my Masters degree. Halfway through my Masters, I figured I'd add on one more Masters. Piece of cake, right? Wrong.

I've been in school on-and-off for 14 years... and I'm set to graduate with two Masters degree in December! These last few semesters have been so hard, and I've got a bad case of Senior-itis. I can taste the sweet freedom that is waiting just around the bend. Freedom from assignments, group projects and 150 page per week reading of the most boring material EVER WRITTEN (Aswath Damodaran and your mind-numbing Corporate Finance text, I'm looking at you). It's going to be glorious!

Since graduation is so close, I've been keeping a mental list of all the things I can't wait to do once I graduate. There will be so much time for activities now that I'm out of school! Here's some of the things I can't wait to do:

-Read a book for pleasure. It's been a long time since I've done that. Hell, I might even get crazy and join a book club!
-Volunteer. There's a rescue shelter near the house that needs help with the doggies or maybe go spend some time at a local food bank. I've been so blessed in my life, and I'd love to take time to give back.
-Pay more attention to my husband, especially after dinner. After dinner, I usually head straight for the books or my laptop. If I don't head off to another room of the house to study, we sit next to each other... but don't speak. It will be nice to really spend time together in the evenings.
-Train for a half-marathon. I've been putting of trying this for a long time. Maybe once I'm out of school, I can't say I'm too busy for really long runs. Shear terror will be the last excuse I can hide behind.
-Focus more on my work. I've been wanting to take on more projects at work and do some continuing education.... On second thought, maybe I don't : )
-Go on a big vacation. I can check this one off the list soon! Our trip to the Caribbean is scheduled for three weeks after graduation!

Sometimes I tell myself that I'm not going to miss school at all, but I'm pretty sure I will... at least a little bit. I mean, I started researching PhD programs the other day. I'm beginning to think I'm an academic masochist.

Meal Plan Monday - 10/14/13

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Duh) — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 20:42:00 +0000

I have been so busy with my HORRIBLE Corporate Finance course, and my little blog is so neglected because of it. Anytime I sit down at my computer lately, I am working on assignments. Luckily, this evil class will be over at the end of the week! One thing I always have to make time for is my menu planning! No matter how horrible school is, I always make sure we've got good stuff to eat for the week.

Due to how crazy this week is going to be, I am making everything in the Crockpot. I'm all about "fix it and forget it" when life gets a little nuts! Here's what's on the menu at Cafe Duh this week:

*All of these recipes are gluten-free and grain-free*

Monday: Beef Pot Roast. I don't think I've ever made a pot roast before, so hopefully it will turn out well!

Tuesday: Leftovers.

Wednesday: Asian Sesame-Orange Chicken with Cauliflower Rice. This comes from my new cookbook, Against All Grain and I can't wait to try it!

Thursday: Salsa Chicken a la The Young Retiree. The Young Retiree is a great blog that I follow, and Elizabeth has a great (and super easy) recipe for her Salsa Chicken. I'm excited to try her recipe! The only difference is that I'll switch out the quinoa with cauliflower rice to make it grain-free.

Friday: White Chicken Chili.This recipe is from another new cookbook I purchased recently called Make Ahead Paleo. How I love trying new recipes!

What's on your menu this week? Head on over to Orgjunkie.com to link-up!

Menu Planning Monday - 10/7/13

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Duh) — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 12:00:00 +0000

It's the beginning of the week, which means another installment of Menu Planning Monday! Mr. Duh is working graveyards for the next few weeks, so I'm eating by myself most nights... but that's no excuse to be lazy about the cooking. Head on over to Orgjunkie.com and link up you menu!

Here's what's on the menu at Cafe Duh this week:

*All of the recipes listed below are grain/gluten-free and dairy-free*

Monday - Spicy Pineapple Chili. One of my all-time favorite recipes!

Courtesy of Civilized Caveman Cooking Creations

Tuesday - Leftover chili. Yum!

Wednesday - Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps w/ side of Steamed Broccoli. This recipe comes from my Practical Paleo cookbook. Unfortunately, the recipe isn't listed online... but here are a bunch of lettuce wrap ideas from the author: http://balancedbites.com/2011/05/15-delicious-lettuce-wrap-ideas.html

Thursday - Smoked Paprika Chicken Thighs w/ side of Green Beans.

Courtesy of Primal Palate

Friday - Grass-Fed Ribeye Steaks w/ Side Salads. I love stating off my weekend with a steak!

What's on your menu this week?

A Little Run Chat - 5K's!

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Duh) — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 01:33:00 +0000

A couple months ago, I participated in my first 5K race. It was a great experience, and I was looking forward to doing more... So, in a few weeks, I'll be running in my second 5K!

I was never a runner. I could always go for hours on the elliptical or Stairmaster at the gym, but the treadmill was my worst enemy. When I started trying to run in the spring of 2012, being able to run for one mile without a walking break felt equivalent to hiking Mount Everest - It was never going to happen.

But one day, it did happen! I was able to run a whole mile. With some practice, I got to a mile and half, then two, then a 5K! Once I was able to consistently run 3.1 miles without taking walking breaks, I bit the bullet and signed up for a 5K.

Mr. Duh and I ran the Orting Summerfest 5K in August, which was a small event that benefited schools in the area. There were only 100-ish participants, which made it nice and not-too-intimidating for me. I was still nervous, though...

We ran on a scenic trail with lots of trees and creeks, which made the experience even better. I just put in my headphones and tried to enjoy the experience. Mr. Duh was nice enough to stay next to me, even though I know he could blow the doors off my pace! He didn't even break a sweat! He was also able to run up ahead to stop and take all of these pictures of me running.

Pre-Race

Mr. Duh did a good job taking pictures!

Such a pretty trail!

I don't have the most attractive run-face...

Thank God, it's the finish line!

Post-Race Pic

At the end of the race, I found out I ran my fastest 5K ever! I finished in 33:52, which was an average of 10:33 per mile. Not only did I complete my first race, but I also had a bunch of personal records. It was a good experience. Words can't even express how good it feels to accomplish something that, at one point, felt completely impossible.

We found a 5K going on at the end of this month called the "Sacks of Love 5K", which benefits an organization helping with testicular cancer awareness. I haven't been running as much lately, so I plan on doing a few 3 mile runs a week to prepare and hopefully get my time back under an eleven minute mile... but even if I don't, that's okay. Participating is fun! For an inexperienced runner like myself, my main goal is just to cross the finish line!

Back on the Wagon

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Duh) — Wed, 02 Oct 2013 19:09:00 +0000

No, I haven't quit drinking. Here at the Duh House, we are getting back on a different wagon... the Deployment Wagon. We got word yesterday that he deploys early next year.

Mr. Duh has deployed a number of times during his military career, and I have been with him through two of them. I always thought deployments sucked, but they never made me too upset. We'd just take them head on and pray they'd go by quickly. I mean, I was living in my hometown for the last two deployments, surrounded by family and friends... Not to mention that I don't have kids, and school and work always kept me busy.

This upcoming deployment feels different. We went from a regular deployment rotation to four years with no deployments (while Mr. Duh was on his Drill Sergeant tour). After four years of having my husband home every night, I kind of got used to him always being there. Sure he worked A LOT, but I saw him every day... and I'm realizing I took that for granted.

This time around, I won't have the daily comfort of my family and friends. Not only am I far from my hometown, I'm in totally new town. I don't have any support system here. Sure, I'll make a few trips home and hopefully get a chance to make some friends over the next few months (working from home doesn't help much). My only friend and support-system-of-one is leaving for a long time... Sigh.

I feel the worst for my husband. He has training out of town this month, will be gone for six weeks starting next month, comes home for a little bit, then heads out for the better part of a year. I'd hate to be gone for so long. I can boo-hoo cry about being alone all I want, but it never compares to the sacrifice he makes and what he goes through while he's away.

I hope I don't sound like I'm complaining about deployments, because I understand that it comes with the territory. I married a military man during war time; deployments come with the package. I just remember when being apart felt like a normal part of our marriage... and now it doesn't. It's time to start psyching myself up for this deployment. Gotta get ready to put the Game Face on!

What do you and your spouse do to get prepared for deployments? Are any of us ever truly prepared?

I'm Back... And Meal Planning Monday!

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Duh) — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 21:32:00 +0000

Hello, Bloggy Friends!

I have been MIA for the past 5 weeks due to work issues and a terrible Corporate Finance class. I'm only 9 weeks from graduation, and they decided to slap us with one of the hardest classes imaginable right towards the end! So, as my graduate school experience comes to a close and work projects start to ramp up, my blogging might become pretty irregular... but I had time today, so here we go!

Monday - Creamy Crockpot Chicken Soup: Putting this together took about ten minutes and will cook all day in my slow cooker. I hope it turns out to be yummy... because I love to put simple recipes like this in the rotation.

Courtesy of Everyday Paleo

Tuesday - Leftovers.

Wednesday - Honey Dijon Chicken: Another crockpot meal. Can anyone tell I don't want to slave over the stove this week? I believe I'll serve this up with Nom Nom Paleo's Curried Cauliflower.

Courtesy of Civilized Caveman

Thursday - Leftovers again. I don't know about you, but I love leftovers!

Friday - Steaks with baked sweet potatoes and steamed broccoli.

*All of these menu items are gluten-free and Paleo-diet friendly*

What's on your menu this week? Head on over to Orgjunkie.com and link up your menu!

Misadventures in Fitness: Hot Yoga!

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Duh) — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 19:19:00 +0000

Last week, it was a new fitness adventure for this gal... I decided to give hot yoga a try!

I few weeks ago, I met a group of ladies through a website called Meetup.com (I'll post about the website in the future). We went out for dinner and had some great conversation! One of the ladies there was telling me about how she does Hot Yoga twice a week. I've heard nothing but good things about it from the people who do it regularly, and this gal was no exception.

If you aren't familiar with Hot Yoga, here's the gist of it:

Hot Yoga is a series of 26 postures performed in a precise order, set to music, in a room heated to approximately 105 degrees and 40% humidity. This class systematically works the entire body, toning your muscles, promoting weight loss, reducing stress and increasing your overall vitality. Incorporating strength, balance and flexibility, Hot Yoga teaches students how each pose stimulates the mind and restores and shapes the body.

Sounds awful to me. So, why does everyone love it? What sold me on trying it was this lady telling me how relaxed and refreshed she feels afterwards. She explained that she goes to Hot Yoga on Fridays after work, and it just washes all the stress of the week away. After that description, I had to give it a go!

Friday rolled around, and the panic set in! I'm no fan of the heat. Why would anyone willingly put themselves into an environment that is so uncomfortable? I was convinced that this may be one of the longest hours of my life. As much as I wanted to bail, I couldn't cancel on my new friend after agreeing to join her. So, I drank 64 ounces of water throughout the day, put on my best moisture wicking clothes, and headed out for class. If I've done Crossfit in 105 degree weather, I can handle some yoga poses... right?

When you walk in the studio, I first noticed the giant, heavy metal door leading into the hot yoga classroom. Looked like they really work to keep that heat in the room. When you first step in the classroom, that heat hits you like a brick wall! So, my mind immediately started telling me, "Get the hell out of here." But, determined to complete the class, I put my mat and towel on the floor and sat down. The room was dimly lit and there was some calming spa-like music playing... which was good, since I was not calm at all.

First of all, the yoga poses weren't too difficult. The instructor gave a lot of good modifications for those of us who aren't too flexible. I found all the stretches enjoyable.

The heat became harder and harder to deal with as the class progressed. In the beginning, you are a little sweaty, but by the 30 minute mark I was RAINING sweat (just like the photo above). You can feel hundreds of beads of sweat trickling down your face and body, and it was distracting to me. I had to do my best to focus on my breathing and just zone out from what was happening physically. If you begin to feel light-headed or dizzy, you are encouraged to just lay down on your mat and breathe.

As class came to an end, I was on my mat in a pool (no joke) of sweat. My hands were all pruned up, like I had just gotten out of a bathtub. As we were laying there, the instructor opened the classroom door, and you feel a rush of that amazing room-temperature air... it was glorious! They also passed out frozen, aromatherapy washcloths for you to place on your face and neck, and that also felt glorious.

When I walked out of the classroom, I felt cleansed, refreshed, detoxified... just plain amazing. My whole body felt loose and relaxed. I felt like a new woman! When I went to bed that night, I slept better than I had in a long time.

Overall, I give hot yoga a thumbs up! It's more of an exercise in mental toughness than physical exercise. If you try it and can stick it out, you'll feel the benefits afterwards. I'm thinking I might add hot yoga into my schedule once a week, and treat it as an "active rest day" for awhile. Hopefully, it will help with my flexibility as well!

If you decide to give hot yoga a try, here are my tips for you:

Bring your own mat.
Bring one big towel to cover your mat and a smaller one to use to wipe your face. You will be standing and laying on your big towel, so it's nice to have one that is easily accessible to towel off with.
Hydrate before. Don't just chug a bottle of water right before class. Start hydrating the day before and keep it up throughout the day of.
Don't wear cotton. It will get soaked in sweat and bog you down. Try to wear some good, quick-dry synthetic workout clothes.
Hydrate after.
Pat yourself on the back! Doing yoga in that hot-ass room is no easy task!!

Would you ever try hot yoga?

Monday Menu Planning Link -Up!

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Duh) — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 17:06:00 +0000

...and it's Monday again. Where does the weekend go? I don't know about you, but mine was way too short. I could have used another day to get more cleaning done and get ready for my trip home next week. I'm so glad I get to go home to get some things done around the office, and also see my wonderful friends and family!

Here's what's on the Menu at Cafe Duh this week:

*All of the recipes below are gluten-free and grain-free*

Monday: Spice Rubbed Crockpot Chicken with Asian Fried Cauli-Rice. So, I'm not a fan of plain cauliflower rice, but there are some recipes out there that can help make it more interesting. I've never tried this particular version of cauli-rice, but it looks like it'll be a good one!

Courtesy of Nom Nom Paleo

Tuesday: Good ol' leftovers.

Wednesday: Chicken Shish Kabobs (with Paleo marinade) and Grilled Balsamic Asparagus. I'm trying to get more use out of our grill, as Summer's end is drawing near!

Thursday: Easy Mexican Salad with Guacamole. This is a new one for me. It seems like a simple, but yummy meal... We'll see how it turns out!

Courtesy of PaleOMG

Friday: Date night! I think I'll need some Prime Rib to wrap up my week!

Bonus Breakfast Recipe: I've been feeling bored with my regular old bacon and eggs, so I decided to change it up with Apple Streusel Egg Muffins this week. These are so yummy, and also work with my 21 Day Sugar Detox. If you are looking for something different in the mornings, give this recipe a try!

What's on your menu this week? Head on over to Orgjunkie.com and link up!

There's a First Time for Everything

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Duh) — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 03:43:00 +0000

After talking about it for the last year, I finally bit the bullet and signed up for a 5K!

Mr. Duh and I are going to run in a tiny 5K, and it's this upcoming Saturday. It's not much of a feat for my marathon-running husband, but it's a pretty big deal for me! I'm feeling confident that I can run 3.2 miles without having to walk AND without feeling like I need to lay down and die.

Signing up for a race does add an interesting dimension to running. When it's just me and my iPod on the running trail, I feel free of pressures. Now, I'm running with my husband and a bunch of strangers... but if I can run that distance on my own, I can certainly run it in front of others, right?

My goals are to complete the run in 36 minutes and to not take any walking breaks, and I'd like to think those are realistic. I have no idea what the route is though, so anything goes. The most important part is to just get across the finish line!

I must say, I'm pumped at the idea of actually finishing this! Less than a year ago, I'd huff and puff my way through half a mile. Running a 5K didn't seem like anything I could accomplish... Doing what was once unthinkable is going to feel pretty damn good!

Have you reached any big goals recently?

Another Menu Planning Monday Link-Up!

noreply@blogger.com (Mrs. Duh) — Mon, 29 Jul 2013 17:17:00 +0000

It's Monday, which means that it's menu time! A lot of my life lately revolves around what I eat, so it's always fun to share the new recipes I find. Please stop by Orgjunkie.com to link up your weekly menu! And away we go!

**All of these recipes are gluten-free and grain-free**

Monday - No meal today, because I'm taking my nephew out to dinner for his 17th birthday! One of the best things about moving to Washington is that my two oldest nephews are only a 30 minute drive away!

Tuesday - Smoked Paprika Chicken Thighs with Cucumber Tomato Salad. I've made the chicken thighs a number of times, but the salad is new. Cucumber is my favorite veggie, so I'm excited to try it!

Courtesy of The Food Lovers Kitchen

Wednesday - Crockpot Garlic Pork and "Rice". Another new one from PaleOMG... she's got the best recipes, I swear! And when I put rice in quotes, it means that it's actually cauliflower diced up to rice size. I know it may sound a little weird, but it's delicious!

Courtesy of PaleOMG

Thursday - Leftovers.

Friday - Smoky Bacon Chili. Bacon AND Chili? Yes, please!! I'll probably serve this up with a side salad. I went to Costco this weekend and bought a TON of lettuce. So, I'll probably have side salads with everything this week.

What's on Your Menu??