My goal for this first challenge is to find a recipe for bread that’s perfect on the side of soup or spaghetti night. I still love Angelic Bakehouse seven-grain bread for my everyday sandwich needs. I turn to North Shore Boulangerie or Rocket Baby Bakery when I want something really fancy. But nothing beats the smell of freshly baked bread straight out of the oven, so here we are with January’s challenge.

I tried several different recipes for basic white bread over the last several weeks. 

First up was the basic bread recipe from Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day. The end result here was good, but for being a no-knead bread, it sure dirtied up the kitchen! This recipe makes enough dough for four loaves, so my Kitchenaid was tied up for a week storing the dough while we tried to eat our way through finished products. Additionally, the recipe suggests a pan of water and a baking stone in the oven for a crunchy crust. I blame a lot on user error, but the end result was a little dense for our liking.

Next came the basic bread dough from Crumb, the cookbook club book. This one was much more straight forward. It did require some kneading, which I choose to do in the mixer vs. by hand. The dough comes together relatively quickly (i.e. it can be made in the early afternoon for that night’s dinner). The chew was nice and the crust was crunchy. My only hang up here was that the bread was pretty bland. I guess that’s good for flavored butter or sopping up soup, but I still wasn’t happy enough to be done with my search.

Finally, I tried a recipe from King Arthur Flour’s site, my new go-to for all FAQs on baking. I am princess-y about my flour now and will only use this brand. I’m sure a lot of it is in my head, but I feel like the baked goods I make using their products turn out lighter and more flavorful than using the store branded option. They too have a recipe for no-knead bread, but after my experience with the first bread, I passed on this option. Instead, I tried out their French-Style Country Bread. Anything that is “French-Style” has to be great, right?

It sure was!! This was my favorite bread of all the options. The recipe provides enough for two loaves which is perfect for me. (Make one now and freeze or refrigerate the other loaf for later.) Though it takes a smidge more time, it only uses a handful of dishes and mostly ingredients you have around the house. The bread can taste a little bland, so unless your doctor tells you otherwise, go with the high-end of the recommended salt portion (2 1/4 tsp) in the dough.

Here are some other tips I learned along the way that will probably make any bread recipe even more delicious.

• If you have a clean, empty water spritzer, use that to spritz water on the doors and walls of the oven for the first half of baking. Alternatively, just use a clean glass of water and your fingers to sprinkle water on the door for that same duration. Don’t try to get the walls, too, or you’ll end up with water on the dough (or so I’ve heard. )
• Honestly, I didn’t find there to be THAT much difference between the bread on a baking stone vs. a metal cookie sheet. If you have one, by all means, use it, but if not, don’t feel like you need one. Also, if someone wants to give you one of these baguette-baking contraptions, you should definitely take it. I haven’t played around with it yet, but I think the more air you can circulate around the dough, the better.
• That said, I did try one loaf in a loaf pan. It (obviously) had a better shape for sandwiches, but I found it didn’t cook as evenly as the free-form loaves.
• Burning cornmeal smells like fire, so be careful not to dust the pan with too much. Otherwise that whole “make the house smell like baked bread” idea backfires. Again, so I’ve heard…

Do you make bread at home? If so, do you have a favorite recipe or other tips for us?

The post January Challenge – How to Bake Bread appeared first on Truly, Margaret Mary.

For our first meeting, I picked the book. Yes, I forced my friends to try out my pick before we could come together in a democracy. Last November I was in a bread baking phase (stay tuned for next week’s post – how to bake the perfect loaf of bread), so I selected Crumb: A Baking Book by Ruby Tandoh. 

I found this book at Boswell Book Company where I pawed through every single baking book they had. Upon first blush, I liked this one for the variety of baking-related recipes and the beautiful, but approachable images. Turns out it came from one of the contestants on one of my favorite tv shows – The Great British Bake Off. 

After bringing the book home and testing out a few recipes, I was a little embarrassed. Turns out a good number of these recipes are really finicky and require a lot of time and dirty dishes, two things that moms and busy professional women don’t want to waste. My fellow clubmates were good sports and brought a bunch of delicious versions of the book’s recipes to our get-together, but I think there were more dishes with store-bought crust than homemade. (And honestly, the salmon cream cheese pastries made with Pillsbury crescent rolls tasted better than any of the rolls I’ve made out of the book so far!)

Overall, I’m still glad I purchased this book for my own collection if only for the lemon meringue roulade recipe. It is delicious and serves a large crowd. Additionally, I will turn to this book when looking for an extra challenge in the pastry department or when I need a dessert that isn’t overly sweet. (Yes, the British version of a sweet tooth is much more reserved than it’s American counterpart!) Also, I like that it has troubleshooting suggestions for every possible thing that could go wrong while baking.

I had too much fun during our club meeting to take pictures of everyone else’s dishes. As you can see, I did get a few of the chocolate lime cake, my contribution to the evening. This cake is a real surprise; make it for dinner parties, not kid’s birthdays. The lime zest gives it a pretty little punch and the dark chocolate makes it rich without being cloying.

Enjoy!

Print

Chocolate Lime Cake

A light and airy chocolate cake has a secret ingredient that makes you think you are somewhere better than here. Serve with vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream.

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 50 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Ingredients

• 4.25 oz dark chocolate
• 7 tbsp unsalted butter cubed
• Zest of 3 limes
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3 large eggs separated
• 2/3 cup superfine sugar
• 6 1/2 tbsp all-purpose flour

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 8" springform pan or grease a regular 8" cake tin and line with parchment paper.
• Gently melt the chocolate and butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Turn off the heat once chocolate has melted. Stir until butter and chocolate are both melted and incorporated. Add lime zest and salt. Set aside to cool as you move on to the next step.
• Using a mixer with the whisk attachment, whisk the egg yolks with 3 1/2 tbsp of sugar until thick and creamy. Pour into another bowl.
• Clean and thoroughly dry bowl and whisk attachment. Beat the egg whites until completely foamy. Continue to whisk, adding the remaining (7 tbsp) of sugar one tablespoon at a time. Whisk well after each addition and continue until slowly lifting the whisk out of the mixture leaves a soft peak.
• Fold the egg yolk mixture into the chocolate with a plastic spatula, then fold one third of this chocolate mixture into the egg whites. Once basically combined but still marbled, fold in the next third of the chocolate mixture. Then the final third.
• Sift in half of the flour and gently fold in until nearly combined. Sift in remaining flour and gently mix again. Try to keep as much air in the batter as possible.
• Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes until a toothpick comes out mostly clean, with just a couple crumbs. If using a springform pan, release side piece and let cool. If using a regular cake pan, cool in the pan and pull out using the parchment paper.

Notes

Adapted from "Crumb" by Ruby Tandoh

The post Cookbook Review – Crumb by Ruby Tandoh appeared first on Truly, Margaret Mary.

As I mentioned in a recent post, I’m reviving the personal strategic plan for 2016. Even though summer will be a mixed bag of no sleep, lots of diapers, and mucho baby cuddles, I still want to be focused this year. If this last year taught me nothing else, it’s that moving forward, even if it’s in the wrong direction, is better than not moving at all.

I have an official document with bullet points and subpoints I’d be happy to share with you if you’re really interested (and want to see how dorky I really am.) This document has already served its purpose to keep me focused when shiny objects presented themselves. It also worked to aid in communication with Randy. Randy is ALWAYS supportive, but this is a great way to help him get an idea of what I’d like to get out of the year.

Moral of the story – if you’ve got a spouse, significant other, or friend that serves as a teammate and cheerleader, be sure to share your plans for the year with them.

Since I could use all the cheerleaders I can get, here are my highlights in a very particular order. Keep me accountable, friends!

1. Keep family first.

The whole reason I got so wrapped up in professional endeavors in 2015 is because it was the only part of my life that wasn’t working. My family life is awesome. In 2016, I want to do a better job remembering that I’ve got a pretty great set-up at home and celebrate these folks that share it with me. This needs to be my priority.

While I try to “better myself” through the rest of the year, I want to focus on Crab Rangoon during the summer months. I look forward to that time together and that forced break from the rest of the world.

At the same time, I’m really struggling with losing my one-on-one relationship with Eggroll. She’s going to have to share the attention. Will she be good with that? Will I? While there has been plenty of whining on both of our parts, I’ve really enjoyed our dates when it’s just the two of us. I want to plan at least one activity with just the two of us per month until the shock of sharing wears off.

Finally, that guy who helps run the show deserves a little focused attention, too, right? We’ve done a great job of continuing to date each other even with Eggroll around. Folks tell us it’s harder with two kids, which we don’t understand. We appreciate that now we double our chances of having someone get sick or being too tired to put on real make-up, but we have an outstanding cadre of babysitters and the desire to get out just the two of us. If we end up being completely wrong and homebound, we’ve agreed to doing an at home date night at least once a month that doesn’t involve sitting on the couch and staring at the TV. That’s not bad for a worst case scenario.

2. Pay attention to non-professional ways I feel fulfilled.

Since there is a good chance that this won’t be the year I win the 40 Under 40 award for my professional endeavors, I want to spend time on other aspects of my life that make me feel happy, worthwhile, and valuable. I really do appreciate that there are plenty of ways to be successful besides having a corner office and a fancy title. 2016 will be the year I live that theory.

Probably most important for the world is a renewed dedication to charitable outlets. Since I have extra free time, I’m going to put myself out there as a volunteer where I can really dig in. I’ve already started at the Hunger Task Force a couple times a month. So far I’m just assisting with data entry which is an interesting way to truly learn about their programs vs. working on an event committee and staying out of the fray. I think this will be an eye-opening experience that’s good for my soul.

Speaking of “eye-opening”, I recently realized that I haven’t taken a picture where I thought I looked pretty in a long time. I think I look OK live, but on film (or JPG), I just don’t dig what I see. I’ve got a color I love, but I need to figure out a hairstyle that works better. I need clothes in my closet that fit the person I am today, not that I was five years ago. Sure, there is the obligatory “get back to pre-pregnancy weight by 12/31/16” goal on this list, but it’s less about weight and more about being strong and active.

Reading is my favorite “me” outlet, so I gave it its own line. Also, I have this family yearbook that I did for year one and haven’t completed another year’s since. It’s a great photo album recap, so I need to do years two through five. Talk about accomplishment! Finally getting these done will make me so happy!

3. Find a business model that I can focus all professional aspirations on in 2017.

When I first lost my position last fall, this first thing I thought was “shoot, I can’t go work for someone else now just to ask for 12 weeks off seven months later!” I knew I’d have to do my own thing, but even that thing would have to be put on pause for the summer. What the heck do I do with that?

In that spirit, I am trying to take the first few months of the year to test out ideas. Not building websites and setting up LLC bank accounts to build new businesses… Just testing out ideas. I’ve got three to explore.

1. Manage a dinner delivery service.

   This would be a la Blue Apron local to Milwaukee that focuses on regional ingredients and recipes that can be made with and/or appease little kid appetites.

2. Write a pregnancy book.

   I’ve already started this once-a-week look at what really to expect when you’re expecting. (Ex. Unexplained tears, stinky gas, and nightmares involving technicolor cartoons, old boyfriends and your dead dog) Currently I have it tied into a food memoir since that seems to be in vogue and well, food.

3. Freelance as a food photographer and recipe designer.

   I recently read Three Many Cooks where the mom made a career out of recipe testing. Is that even a thing anymore; because I want to do it! I guess that’s what I was doing at the 2015 jobs, so I need to find it again. Even with my limited skills and equipment, I’ve put together a beautiful food photography portfolio. Let’s do more of that.

I always think I have more time than I really have (she says as she sits at a coffee shop, running two hours late on an afternoon of errands), but my plans are to dabble in all three endeavors from January through April and dig deeper into the pros and cons of each. The blog will probably benefit from a few more food posts as I practice, so you win, too.

Depending on the hour of the day, who I am talking to, or how the wind is blowing, I change my mind on which of these projects sound the most promising. I sincerely hope this time where I can just do it for fun shows me where my interests lie. Then, when I resurface in the real world in the fall, I can move toward professional goals with a more focused approach. Here’s hoping.

So that’s a lot for my 2016. What are your goals for the new year? If you need a cheerleader, let me know. I am happy to wave my pom pons for a friend in need!

The post My 2016 Strategic Plan appeared first on Truly, Margaret Mary.

In the meantime, I’m wondering about depression DURING pregnancy. There is so much going on physically, mentally, and surrounding a pregnant lady. It makes sense that her emotions are all over the place, but this pregnant lady once again can’t shake the Sads.

I say “once again” because I remember this from last time. It was (and continues to be) never serious. I don’t have any thoughts about ending anything. Rather, I just want to go sit in my room alone. I don’t want to be with Eggroll. I don’t want to talk to Randy. I don’t want to cook or eat anything. I most certainly don’t want to go out in public and put on my Public Face. I just want to go read a book in bed and get snuggly under the covers.

The American Pregnancy Association defines depression during pregnancy (or antepartum depression) as a mood disorder in which a woman experiences symptoms for two weeks or more. These symptoms include:

• Persistent sadness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Sleeping too little or too much
• Loss of interest in activities that you usually enjoy
• Recurring thoughts of death, suicide, or hopelessness*
• Anxiety
• Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
• Change in eating habits

Check, check and check. (*Again, I don’t have thoughts of suicide, but hopelessness… That cat is always by my side during these episodes.) Sigh.

For me, these phases typically only last for a couple of days before I’m back to “normal”, which makes me think it is just a mood swing. That Crab Rangoon is growing some new body part which causes a new hormone to course through my system which makes the whole rest of my body to go nutballs.

Or perhaps it’s the fact that I’ve had a steady diet of Christmas cookies in both finished and dough form this week.

Or maybe it’s because I’m waking up at 3:30 am and can’t turn off all the great ideas I have for 2016 plans, only to fall asleep 30 minutes before the alarm goes off at 6.

Or maybe it’s due to all the computer time vs. taking gym breaks.

Ah yes, the doctor is always the worst patient, right? As is the yoga teacher. I know better. I know how to fuel my system. I know what I’m supposed to do, but who actually follows the “supposed to’s”?

I’m writing this post from the gym where I’m waiting on a yoga class to start. The teacher does a good job of working us hard while giving just enough time for focus on meditation. I had my healthy smoothie for breakfast and plans for a salad and healthy fixings for lunch. I don’t have time for a nap, but I’m going to set an alarm for 5 pm and try to turn off all the work stuff at that point. I’ve even got my O.A.R. station on Spotify. If O.A.R. can’t get me dancing, then all is most definitely lost. (Ah, memories of Summerfest, draft beer, warm weather, and my twenties…)

Sure, I’m making another batch of sugar cookies today (hence will eat a bunch of dough) and make no promises about my negotiation skills with my id when we both wake up in the middle of the night, but I’ll take some baby steps. Pregnancy is a waiting game in a great many ways and this is no different. I’ve just got to wait out this grumpy episode and know happiness will return.

And if it doesn’t, well, I hope Santa brings me an acupuncturist and a new blankie.

If you had issues of depression or mood swings while pregnant, what did you do to make things better?

The post Is Depression During Pregnancy A Thing? appeared first on Truly, Margaret Mary.

It started with a job that I thought was my fast track back to Professional Barbie, where I went from “holy cats, I get to travel for work again!” to “thank you Maggie, but the ad agency can take it from here” in a heartbeat. (With a side of “I don’t think they like what I’m doing, but where’s the bloody feedback?!” for good measure.)

This slowly morphed into “yah, I’m pregnant” to “hmm, that doesn’t seem right” to “damn” pretty darn quick.

Then I had to put my dog down after he pretty much walked (scooted) up to me and said “mama, I’m done”.

The rest of summer and early fall was pretty cool working on my other professional project. That was until she told me she wanted a full-time person instead of me.

FAHK.

The worst part about all this is that I couldn’t really talk about any of it. Part pride, part socially-accepted decorum, I couldn’t get pissy in (electronic) print as we’ve all figured out is my preferred outlet for getting over a thing. Commence Project Taking Forever To Get Over Things.

Thanks to the bestest, most patient husband on the face of the planet, a new dog that only eats Eggroll’s toys 75% of the time, a new baby that’s growing like Reneesme, a realization that I can take sweet food photos so I could probably do something with that, and a toddler who only has two or three major tantrums per day, I finally see the end to this shitstorm tunnel.

With a flip of the calendar into the new year, I am ready (and need to) write again. I spent the whole year with people telling me “that’s not the right voice”. It wasn’t. It was my voice, trying desperately to get out, even if no one wanted to hear it at the time.

2015 didn’t have a strategic plan. It only had three words. I blame that for part of my floundering. In an effort to right the ship next year, I’m planning the heck out of 2016. As part of this planning, I’m doing an online workshop this week to help focus my passion (blah, blah, blah). In one of last night’s sessions, they asked “what do you want to be doing when you’re 80?” My answer: living in Kaysersburg, France where I nibble on baguettes while I write and make delicious dinners for Randy when he gets home from his old man putzing each night.

I’ve got a computer, three loaves worth of this dough in the fridge, and a plan for black bean and corn quesadillas before Randy leaves for a concert this evening. I guess I’m not that far off from perfection after all, huh?

Now if only I could get paid to be a hermit who pontificates and plays with food. Then I’d make money like the rest of you folks and feel like a contributing member to society. Ah, someday…

I’m still a little cautious about pictures of Eggroll (and soon-to-be CR) on the internet, so I’ll work on creative photography skills to share an accurate representation of my life (75% daydreaming, 25% yogurt-covered toddler).

In the meantime, as a thank you for your patience and your continued support, here’s a recipe for Homemade Oreos I posted on my professional site last week. I can’t get enough of these cookies. In case you missed it there, read it here and make them RIGHT NOW.

Even if we don’t know where we are headed, we can at least enjoy the cookies.

Print

Easy Homemade Oreos

Use the topping to make homemade chocolate sandwich cookies, as a dip for fruit, or as frosting for cupcakes. The recipe does make more than you'd need for a box of chocolate wafer cookies, but I promise these are some leftovers you'll love to come back to!

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 24 cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup mascarpone cheese
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
• 1 box chocolate wafer cookies

Instructions

• Using a stand mixer with whisk attachment, whip together cheese, cream and sugar until firm peaks form.
• Using a spatula*, spread one (or more) tablespoons of the cream mixture on to one chocolate wafer cookie. Top with another wafer cookie.
• Store assembled cookies in an air-tight container or plate with plastic wrap in the fridge for 4-8 hours.

Notes

1. *If you want to get fancy, I suppose you could use a pastry bag here instead, but I say it's not worth all the trouble.
2. Cookies get crumbly after too much time in the fridge. Don't assemble too far in advance.

The post I’m Back and I Brought Cookies appeared first on Truly, Margaret Mary.

Print

Easy Homemade Oreos

Use the topping to make homemade chocolate sandwich cookies, as a dip for fruit, or as frosting for cupcakes. The recipe does make more than you'd need for a box of chocolate wafer cookies, but I promise these are some leftovers you'll love to come back to!

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 24 cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup mascarpone cheese
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
• 1 box chocolate wafer cookies

Instructions

• Using a stand mixer with whisk attachment, whip together cheese, cream and sugar until firm peaks form.
• Using a spatula*, spread one (or more) tablespoons of the cream mixture on to one chocolate wafer cookie. Top with another wafer cookie.
• Store assembled cookies in an air-tight container or plate with plastic wrap in the fridge for 4-8 hours.

Notes

1. *If you want to get fancy, I suppose you could use a pastry bag here instead, but I say it's not worth all the trouble.
2. Cookies get crumbly after too much time in the fridge. Don't assemble too far in advance.

The post Easy Homemade Oreos appeared first on Truly, Margaret Mary.

I got you at 25, as I’m now learning people do. Even though I bought a house three months before I bought you, it was you that taught me responsibility. How to read people. How to be a mom, even if that means cleaning pee off of your bottom and your bed twice a day or damn near punching the vet when he yanked your leg. With your fondness for cats, you prepared me to love all my children no matter how much I disagreed with their beliefs and actions. You made me a mama bear, ready for my Eggroll and anyone else who comes behind her.

You taught me about love. You tolerated the old boyfriend because you knew I needed to experience a long-term relationship before the fates gave me Randy. You, too, didn’t seem too sad once he left the scene and it was just you and me.  You still loved me even though I had to leave you in a cage for hours there at the beginning. Though I put you in costumes. Though I tried to make you hang with other dogs. Though I didn’t allow you on the furniture anymore. You didn’t care about these silly rules. You showed me to love my family unconditionally and to always show excitement when they walk in the door, whether its 15 minutes or 15 days since I’ve seen them last.

You let me hold you. I needed to hold you when I got the call that dad had his accident. When I got home from that trip sans said parent. When I got the next call about mom. When I lost baby #1. When I went all pregnancy wackadoo with baby #3 (and again when baby #3 was no more). On the other hand, you jumped up and down with me when Randy went to get dinner that night he proposed. You were the first to learn I was pregnant with Eggroll. You let me talk to you endlessly when this working from home business was starting to make me crazy. You NEVER let me cry without you trying to lick away my tears. That’s one of the reasons I know its time. You aren’t doing this anymore.

Since you’ve been around, I’ve lost parents, gained a husband, had a daughter. I’ve learned how to create wills out of thin air. How to start a business. The importance of life insurance. How to pick out lampshades. The shedding cycles of English-bred dogs. I’ve put on some pounds, but my face is thinner. My hair color has changed. My style is different. I drive a different car and have different plants growing in a different garden. Almost nothing is the same as the day we first met.

At first this made me sad. Made me weep for the girl I was and the life I had then. But then I realized you were the catalyst. With you, I got out of the hamster wheel that had me spinning in place, alone and in a job that provided a decent income but not much self-worth. Life now is great. It’s got gigantic holes where parents should be, but it’s great. I am fulfilled. So for that, thank you.

I’m trying to tell myself its time for me to let go of MY dog. MY life isn’t just MY life anymore. You are the last shred of evidence that I was once Maggie Skarich, association manager by day and goer-outer by night. That girl is gone. When I got you, we discussed you being around 15 years which would have taken me to 40. Perhaps that was too much to ask and why you are reneging on the contract. Perhaps you knew that by 35 it would be time for a new pet. One that Eggroll picked out and Randy paid for. One that sees my girl through middle school and me through hiring my first employees.

Oh, Noah, I am going to miss you so much. I’ll miss the never-ending piles of fur and constant barking. I’ll miss the games of fetch and the walks we went on. I’ll miss watching you sleep, all curled up with a blankie. I’ll even miss the shit breath.

In your honor, I will try not to mope. If you were with me when I walk out of that appointment, you would hop on my lap, lick off the tears, and hand me a ball to throw. With body language, you’d tell me to get on with it. I will, Little Man, but first I shall remember your life lessons:

• Be willing to do anything for a cookie. It’s usually worth it.
• It’s OK to push to be first.
• Don’t ever let a person I care about be sad, even if that means putting on a chicken costume.

Please tell mom and dad and Max that I miss them so very much. I hope you are more comfortable wherever you are going. I hope there are hundreds of cats for you to befriend. I hope you can run around and get on the sofa and stand sentry at the window. Watch out for me, OK? Hopefully it’s a long, long time before I’m coming down your road, but it will be nice to know I’ve got one more spirit looking out for me.

I love you, Noah. Today I am grateful for you.

The post An Ode To The Dog I Bought In My Twenties appeared first on Truly, Margaret Mary.

Turns out I must have done that already, because this was the only picture I could find. There weren’t as many people there as I remembered. I hope there are even less of them this time.

(Pay no attention to the ’94 at the bottom of the image. This was back when we had actual film and I could never get the date right on that camera…)

So instead of telling the story of why I didn’t get a date in college because I was a Yankee, let’s look at all the other reasons I was not the pick of the litter in my teens and twenties.

First up, we have this sweet-smelling memory from cheerleading camp. Please meet Fred. Fred wore Joop, that department store cologne that still stops me in my tracks. I’m glad to see he’s just as pretty as I remembered. WTH is going on with my chipmunk cheeks though??

Let’s also note the fold in the picture where I must have tried to crop Nikki out. 15-year-old girls are fun.

Next up let’s go to a table at Denny’s. Yes, if it was midnight on a Friday, you were bound to find my high school friends and I at a Denny’s. Probably after cruising. Probably eating a bunch. Probably being goofy. We went through a phase where we tried to perfect our own version of American Gothic. This one is pretty good. Man, we were idiots.

Then, let’s cross over from high school to college (and/or my career in real estate.) First, we have one of my Glamour Shots images. My whole JV cheerleading squad got these pictures done. I had an 11 X 17 of me in my cheerleading uniform up in Southridge Mall for a few months. It’s still in my basement if you want to see. Hey, I don’t have many brushes with fame, so I had to keep proof.

And then there’s Amber and I doing our professional wrestler stances. Good Christ.

Somewhere in this general time frame, mom had a hip replacement surgery right around Thanksgiving, so I got to take the reins. Let’s note a few things.

1. I loved that shirt. I wish I still had that shirt.

2. See that TV screen? There is a big old regular TV directly out from the direction I am facing. Why there was a TV wasting counterspace is beyond me.

3. Huh. Looks like I did do dark hair before.

4. Food – it was meant to be.

Speaking of meant to be, check out teenage Noah. He’s all ears and legs in this picture. Even he had an awkward phase!

I think that’s enough embarrassment for one post. Enjoy!

The post #TBT of Epic Proportions appeared first on Truly, Margaret Mary.

I’ve never given the actor much thought, but turns out my subconscious has a big, honking crush on the dude. I blame this Aisha Tyler interview.

Well, and this. I mean, he’s not the ugliest girl at the party.

In my dream, it was back in the pre-Randy days when I was still searching for the half to make me whole (or some other stressful nonsense.) For some reason I was in LA at a conference. (Because history.) At this conference we were talking about food (because always) and Mr. McHale presented a batch of profiteroles with chocolate ice cream which he was now his thing. (This is my dream. Of course my dream makes a comedian also sell a dessert cookbook.) I became wowed by the dessert and the man behind it and because of that decided I wanted to marry him. Yep. I didn’t care about what stood in my way – he is famous, I am not. He lives on the west coast, I’m a midwest girl. He’s married with kids and I wasn’t. I didn’t care. I wanted to have that life and that dude and I WANTED IT NOW. In the dream, we flirted-slash-discussed how to get that dough right (it’s one I can’t do in real life…) while I fretted about HOW CAN I MAKE THIS HAPPEN?!?!

I woke up at this point and for a solid three minutes, I thought I was 24, had met this famous guy, and stood a chance at being his wife. Honestly, the thing I was fixated on was how weird we’d look on the red carpet since dude is like a foot and a half taller than me.

When the alarm went off, my mind immediately jumped into it’s normal racing mode.

What the heck did that dream mean!?

I must hurry and get dressed to get this run in!

What will we eat today?*

I hope Kelly was OK with the email last night. Are we going to partner? Am I going to do this thing alone? What is “this thing” anyway? How much money do I want to make? How many hours do I want to work? Ok, I want to earn that much in that amount of time. How can I make that happen ASAP? Who wants me to work for them? How do I sell myself (or the joint business?!?)? I need to get the other web site up and running so I have a portfolio!! I have that interview at 8:20. I need to make sure the new site is ready ASAP so I can post the interview in a timely fashion on said portfolio! Must do it all today!!

So there you go. In fact, my dream wasn’t telling me that I wanted to go after the famous guy (though I do think if someone were going to play Randy in a movie, it would be him). Instead, I know (sort of) what I want the next professional step to be and I WANT IT RIGHT NOW! I just don’t know how. Nor do I think it will come easier than going back in time to meet someone super famous and becoming arm candy.

Sigh.

I’ll try to cool my jets. And maybe try the profiterole dough again. Every step forward is in the right direction, right?

Do you have any dreams that spur you into action?

*Always

The post Keeping Up With the Crazy Dreams appeared first on Truly, Margaret Mary.

Step 1:

Find a comfortable seat. I’d suggest something outside. Bonus if you can lay down in the grass and really feel your surroundings.

Step 2:

Close your eyes. Take a couple deep breaths. Feel the wind. Feel the sun. Feel your spine.

Step 3:

Need some focus? Click here. Turn up the volume. Lay back. Close the eyes again. Take it in.

If you’ve had a bad day, or a good day for that matter, this will hit home. Sure works for me.

Namaste, rock n’ rollers!

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