When I really started loving my job with my mom, I made the conscious decision that I could stop looking for other work, other big-girl-jobs, because there was nothing wrong with what I was doing, I was GOOD at what I was doing. So I was switched from an hourly pay check to a salary and I started putting in way more effort, jumping to the top of the management chain, kicking ass and taking names, running a wholesale/retail operation, merchandising and selling. It was fun.

Skip a few years ahead, the owner of the business passed away, it fell apart and we all had to leave. I went to a competitor for work and was welcomed with open arms, told I could start two days later, and my salary was matched. Boom, easy.

Well that place sucked. It was not the blissful, hard-working environment I was used to. The management was lazy, the owners were horrible, and so on and so on. But I needed money. I had just purchased a new home for myself at the ripe age of 25, and I did it alone.

So I stuck it out. Through the mental strain, drain, and ridicule. Until finally, after two years, the owner decided he was done with my strong-mindedness. Long story short – I joined the unemployment community. (With FULL support from the rest of the staff at that awful place – if i didn’t know any better, I think they were all a little jealous of my severance).

The initial event was a little embarrassing, but after a week of letting it sink in, I was excited. I had the summer to do what I wanted, no work on the weekends, no early morning wake up calls. It was wonderful. I spent the summer traveling for fun, helping family members, celebrating my sisters engagement and upcoming wedding, and I didn’t look back.

And so thats that. In a very brief, summed up kind of story. Thats how I went from working like a dog to being unemployed.

6 months later: Boredom is starting to set in. I don’t know if its boredom, maybe loneliness, a sense of not being a part of something. I have plenty to do around the house, organization, cleaning, and plenty of time for cooking that I had never had before. I even started an Etsy store, selling things that I was making for fun and to stretch my creative muscles.

I feel like I’m on a journey, but Im not entirely sure where Im headed. So stay tuned.

More times than not I can never use it all fast enough, but this time I made a point to use it all.

The first thing I did was make kale and artichoke dip. I was heading to a friends house for dinner and was bringing the before-dinner snack. It was delicious, but of course I don’t have a photo.

This is the recipe I used:

Kale and Artichoke Dip

1 (14oz) can artichokes, drained and chopped coarsely
4 oz cream cheese, softened
6 oz greek yogurt (I used Chobani)
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tsp garlic salt
6 oz kale (8-10) cups

Chips or crackers of your choice.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine artichokes, cream cheese, yogurt, parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, garlic salt and kale until completely mixed. Pour into a 1 1/2 qt baking dish or pie plate and cover. It definitely will not look cheesy enough but the kale will cook down. I was worried for a while but if you stir the dip a few times while in the oven you will see it change. Bake 2o mins. Give a good stir (or a few) and bake for another 10 mins.  Top with another 1/2 cup of mozzarella and bake uncovered for 5 mins.

It was a hit… so much that we got a non-kale eater to finish it off. We didn’t really tell him that it wasn’t spinach that he was eating.

Next thing I did was split the second head of kale in half. One half got cleaned, chopped and put in the freezer for some future winter recipe. Points for me!

The other half was put into my minestrone soup. This soup recipe was kind of made up by me but also loosely based on other recipes. Usually thats how I cook, I read recipes to find out the gist, then I wing it depending on what I have or what I like to eat.

I think I make this soup at least once a week when the weather starts to get chilly.

Ingredients:
4 slices of bacon
1 medium onion
2 cloves of garlic

4 medium carrots (I have used parsnips in place of the carrots also)
3-4 celery stalks
2 russet potatoes (I have used red potatoes too)
1 14oz can of diced tomatoes (roasted or garlic flavor, whichever you prefer)
1 14oz can of white beans

1 quart of water (4 cups)
2 cups of beef broth
4 cups of kale or swiss chard

Instructions:
I start with 4 slices of bacon. Sliced into small pieces and browned in the bottom of my ceramic soup pot. Once the bacon is crispy remove and drain on paper towels. Then in the bacon fat I sauté the chopped garlic and onions, chopped carrots and celery. Add in chopped tomatoes (small, bite size pieces so that they cook quickly). Drain beans and drop them into the pot along with the entire can of undrained tomatoes. Salt and pepper to taste. Add broth and water. Let boil until potatoes are soft and then add in chopped greens. Stir and let simmer for 5 minutes.

I always top with grated parmesan cheese and I have also poured the soup over elbow noodles in the past as well. Im not a fan of cooking noodles in soup because I prefer my pasta on the al dente side.

Heres a photo of all of the chopped up veggies. I dropped the ball on more photos though. I love this soup.

I hope someone tries my recipes. : ) If you do, let me know.

But then something happened when I moved into my own house. I started shopping totally for myself and decided one day that I was in one of those rare yogurty moods. I grabbed a Chobani Flip and couldn’t stop obsessing.

Now every time I go to the grocery store I buy handfuls of Chobani. Handful was an understatement.. I can’t usually carry the amount that I buy. Breakfast, snack, dessert… I really cant stop.

My go-to is coconut (I buy those in 4-packs), the flips are usually eaten before bed (I especially like the chocolate, almond, coconut one) and the banana, dark chocolate Indulgent, yeah those are gone in seconds.

I even cook with it! The other day I made kale and artichoke dip with Chobani’s plain greek yogurt. Oh so good.

Today I had one of the Limited Batch Apple Cinnamon. So yummy and festive. Pumpkin is delicious too. I hope that they come out with another Limited Batch for Christmas. Maybe something else to do with cinnamon.. or cranberry?

For the record this wasn’t a sponsored ad. I just love the stuff.

I also just realized that my yoga book made a cameo in that photo. Didn’t notice it at first. Ive been trying to slowly work myself into yoga. I love the idea of it and envy yogis for their strength and grace. I’ve never taken an actual class and Im wondering if thats why I don’t really feel like I can say, “I do yoga”.

But I have a pretty mat!

It fascinates me though. I follow yoga instructors on Instagram and my cousin is also an instructor and sent me the book in the photo a while back when I first told her I was interested. Too bad she lives in Wisconsin or I would have my own personal instructor.

There wasn’t much point to this post.. other than expressing my love for two somewhat random things. I think Im going to go do some sun salutations now… At least Im motivated today!

Not the best photos (I actually stole them from a realty website before I bought the house) but these are the front and back of the house. Not huge, 1025 sq ft, but its a great starter-house. Three bedrooms, one bath, a decent kitchen and a super sunny and bright dining room. Did I mention I live in a lake community? Im only a block from the water and I have lake access! Maybe one day I’ll have a boat. Ahhh dreams.

So the house was move in ready, but it definitely needs work here and there. I went a little nuts and bought new couches, a whole new bedroom set, new mattress, and a dining room set. Whoops. But before you think Im totally nuts, I’m using a hand-me-down tv stand, the second bedroom has my moms old bedroom set topped with my college mattress, I was given a free book shelf and my future brother-in-law (kind of…?) made me a coffee table. I also jacked a picnic table from my uncles campground for the back patio. Balance. Right?

So my favorite room in the house is the dining room. I’ve done nothing to it but furnish it. Heres what it looked like with the sellers furniture in it:

And now with mine:

Its bright, airy and cheery.

As of right now I don’t feel like any other rooms are ready or even half ready. So far there are painting projects half done, Pinterest plans for two of the bedrooms, and a re-caulking brainstorm for the bathtub. Im planning on doing some before and afters on here – basically just so I can see the changes that Im making.

What do you think? I want to know if other people have just purchased houses and what your to-do list/priorities look like.

I’ve had to pump the breaks on accessory buying and updating because I took a huge hit in August when I had to replace the roof. We thought it was just shingles, but when the guys got up there plans changed. Ouch. Fingers crossed that another huge problem like that won’t surface for a while… I’ll knock on wood and throw some salt over my shoulder too. Just in case.

Since I haven’t done anything to this blog in over a year…. (year and a half now), I’ve decided to come back. I know there isn’t anyone here waiting to hear from me, or anyone that believes I’ll show face once a week (or even once month), but I want to be here. I have so much that has happened to me in the last year and a half that I feel like I need to document it. I need to keep track of projects and express myself in some way.

Only a few life changing events have happened since last July…

A year ago I adopted a dog. I love him.

6 months ago I bought a house. It was scary but I love it.

6 months ago I quit my job. That job I used to obsess about how much I loved? Yep. Its gone.

6 months ago I started a new job. I never thought I would get a new job, its been a roller coaster.

So yeah, I’ve got a lot to talk about. House projects, work, money saving. I don’t really know what category this blog falls under but Im thinking about just keeping it listed under Life.

This is just a little post for me to pour out my feelings… but I will be back shortly with tons more to say.