Happy Halloween!

...from Woodstock and yours truly!

For the second-straight year I dressed up as an SNL character :) Last year I was Robert Goulet's daughter from Red Ships of Spain, this year clearly I'm the Shake Weight Commercial DVD girl in the pink tank top! Actually, everyone ALWAYS tells me I look like Kristen Wiig. Do you see it??

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Hope everyone had a good holiday weekend :)

Pumpkin Banana Bread to solve all life's problems

Lately I've been having a lot of worries -- from unemployment troubles, to dental freakouts and even waking up to a flooded garage this morning. I needed to do something to help me be in a better place.

Baking sort of did the trick. It easily went down my knot-laden stomach and helped satiate me for a bit. Earlier in the morning/week, I had several cavities filled which is only part 1 of a two part procedure. I'm pissed; I brush 2-3 times a day, floss often and rinse my mouth with flouride solution daily. Stupid genetics. Anyways, they had to take out an existing cracked filling, because a cavity had formed beneath it. When all was said and done, my dentist looked me in the eye and told me there's a chance the procedure killed my nerve. In that case I'd need a root canal scheduled next week. But only if the pain gets out of control in the coming days. I should have been worriedly thinking about how painful root canals can be, but instead I was in tears about maxing my credit card, which this will do if I have to get the work done.

And then this morning, when J.D. left to go golfing with his coworkers, he freaked out and told me the garage was flooded due to a crack in the hot water heater. We've already had issues with this FIVE YEAR OLD HOUSE in the past month. Our HOA hates us, with neighbors continually complaining about Woodstock's "bark" (he only barks three times and then stops and he's an indoor dog, so he only goes outside to do his business). One anonymous cowardly neighbor left a pleasant note that we had recently done yardwork (ourselves, can't afford a gardner) and needed to pick up all the leaves before they blew into their yard. A.) We picked up all the major branches and clippings... B.) it had been windy the night after, so lots of dead flowers and leaves naturally fell off our bushes in the first place. My solution? I stole rocks from their frontyard and buried what few leaves were still on the ground in our rocks. You want passive-aggressive? You got it! Then one of our sprinkler heads seemed to be broken and our water wasn't turning off. The landlord tried to make US pay for the repairs.... I'm over this house!!!

Anyways, while I wait for my water heater to be replaced and the return of hot water, I'm going to close my eyes and enjoy another piece of this tasty pumpkin banana nut bread. Pumpkin spice and banana nut bread are my two favorite muffin flavors, so clearly this was a good marriage.

PUMPKIN BANANA NUT BREAD

Ingredients:

• 4 c all-purpose flour
• 2 t baking powder
• 2 t baking soda
• 2 t ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 t ground nutmeg
• 1 t ground ginger
• 1/2 t ground allspice
• 1/2 t salt
• 1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin
• 3 ripe mashed bananas
• 1 1/2 c vanilla yogurt
• 1/2 c applesauce
• 4 large eggs
• 3/4 c granulated white sugar
• 3/4 c brown sugar, packed
• 1 c chopped walnuts

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour two loaf pans. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, and salt until combined. Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat pumpkin, bananas, yogurt, oil, eggs, sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Add the flour mixture, half at a time, and beat on medium until combined. Fold in walnuts.

Divide batter between the two prepared loaf pans. Bake for 45 minutes NOTE: I used one large loaf pan and ended up needing about 63 minutes to cook it all. After the 45 minutes, poke the middle of your bread and check to make sure it's not crazy gooey inside.

The One That Got Away

Yesterday needed to be an exciting, busy day for me to get my mind off a phone call that started my morning. I received what I imagine would have been the perfect job for me and for where I'm at right now. Except.... it was in Nevada. I'm in Arizona. I interviewed over the phone and then was flown out to Reno to meet all the co-workers and coaches who would be working with this position. It was very enticing. I was sold immediately upon my flight out to Reno.

But the mind can play some gnarly tricks on you when you've steadily been unemployed for the better part of three months. I really wanted the job. I still do. However, it was not practical for me and my situation so I had a long inner struggle trying to figure out whether or not I should take the opportunity. In order to keep my mind from exploding, I tried to keep busy with J.D. and Woodstock, allowing a day to really explore the Phoenix area and what I would be missing if I took that job.

We spent the afternoon picnic-ing and hiking around South Mountain Park, a network of regional mountain trails that overlooks Downtown Phoenix and the entire Valley of the Sun.

Sometimes a girl just needs some time alone with her dog to think.

By the end of the day, I'd talked to enough people who've done the long distance thing in favor of a job, I spoke with former co-workers, friends and family. The results came back split. I needed a break for dinner. Spaghetti squash it was then, with a zucchini asparagus marinara sauce atop. As delicious as it was, I was too nervous to eat.

Eventually I went to bed, tossing and turning and dreading the call I'd have to make in the a.m. With a heavy heart, I decided to turn down the position this morning. But, I freaked out. When the director didn't answer, I left a voicemail. How cowardly was that?!? Who leaves a voicemail??? Either way, I'm still hopelessly unemployed and in search of the right opportunity. It's so hard when companies aren't hiring and the positions I've applied for online keep getting reposted in search of new candidates. I wonder if I'm going to find as good a job in this area as what Reno had promised me...

It's funny because I've up and left so many times in my life for jobs that promised very uncertain futures. I packed up and moved to France with no idea where I'd be living. After living in Europe, I jumped into a job in collegiate athletics, a career that would be extremely demanding, despite not really having any previous experience in the field. I up and left my job in Stockton to move to Arizona with no promise of employment anywhere on the horizon. I've seemed to land on my feet each time. But I decided not to take the leap in this specific situation.

I just hope I made the right call; it takes a lot of courage to say no to a job you really want. Now I'm going to drown my sorrows in an afternoon of baking. Sleeping in late didn't help elevate my confidence level today. Maybe pumpkin banana bread will do the trick.

100 Never Looked So Good

While I've struggled a lot this year, I guess I can finally say I made it to 100 miles since I picked up running again back in April. However, my struggles still continued into 100 miles. I really haven't ran more than three or four times since I injured my knee at the end of June. The last few attempts have been feeble at best. I like to call it more of an interval walk-jog effort. And it's going to stay that way until I find a job and can afford physical therapy to properly rehab my knee back to jogging comfortably.

Lucky for me, my most recent "run" that put me over the 100-mark was pretty leisurely. Last Sunday (10-10-10), a couple of my friends from Arizona State talked me into participating in the Tour de Fat's 'Stache Dash. I was feeling up for some costume action, free food, the alleged two bottles of free beer at the end to all who participate and of course, the donation to fund cancer research.

J.D. and I jog-walked the entire 3.1 mile course around Tempe Town "Lake" -- read here to get more information on why I've quoted that. The rest of our group sported a soundtrack of 70s and 80s rock hits that blared out loud along the entire course. It was glorious. The only thing about the day that really sucked (besides my old lady knee) was the lack of beer at the finish line. Apparently the website said nothing about Tempe's inability to secure a permit for alcohol on the race day. Too bad... A vanilla milkshake at lunch lifted my spirits pretty high in the absence of beer.

I think we finished around the 38-minute mark. Keep in mind the last time I entered a 5K race, I set a PR of just over 22 minutes. Quite the difference haha. The race was ugly, and I'm not talking about our time!! There were mullets, mustache ride signs, jean shorts (jorts) on men, nasty stains in inappropriate places and skin tight Reno 911 cop costumes. My eyes are still burning.

My outfit was pretty tame. Originally I was going to do the 'stache on the finger trick, but I was promised a fake 'stache when I arrived. However, it was a 2 p.m. run in nearly 100 degree heat -- a terrible idea if I you ask me! My faux facial hair didn't last very long. It got too sweaty and itchy and I'm pretty sure I inhaled some polyester fibers along the way.

Before

After, not a good look for me.

Ready at the starting line to get our 'stache dash on.

The race was actually the second time J.D. and I had explored Tempe Beach Park . The week prior, we made an appearance at Tempe Oktoberfest! It was kind of cheezy, but fun and we had some interesting food. And tasted some amazing beer, as would be expected.

Again we didn't stay too long due to the raging heat, but we were still able to enjoy the day's festivities. There was a cover band, midway with rides and games, German passport booth for the kiddies, large beer steins to be purchased and food and drinks galore.

A Belgian wheat, brat with sauerkraut and a really authentic.... ballpark pretzel.

J.D. enjoying his dog sans kraut. He also purchased a Sam Adam's Oktoberfest beer which we've been intent on finding in the grocery store to stock the fridge this month!

Eventually we couldn't take the heat, despite a cold beverage each. So we joined J.D.'s parents inside the air conditioned bar across the street, watched a little football and split a real authentic Bavarian seasonal beer for the low price of $2. If you ever find this at BevMo, purchase IMMEDIATELY:

We'd like to keep the German/beer theme going this month. Apparently in Glendale there is a restaurant very much like the Hofbräuhaus in Munich and Vegas -- both of which I have been to! It was featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives and is having a seasonal festival this weekend and next weekend as well. I HAVE to check this place out!

Prost!!

leisurely

I'm Eight Again :)

I keep seeing commercials for a DVD that just came out this week.

And it takes me back to when I was eight years old and LOVED BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.

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Seriously, I went crazy for this movie. I think I watched the VHS so much, it skipped in parts where the tape got messed up. I had a Beauty and the Beast sleeping bag, I think a tent, stickers, wall posters, you name it. I had it.

(I was even Belle for Halloween one year)

And now that the DVD is out and I don't have any Disney VHS tapes from my childhood (or the capability to play any of them), I kind of want this movie.

I might buy it and watch it soon :) ....Or steal it off the Internet....

What's your favorite Disney movie?

Lucky me

I've come to the conclusion that I've interviewed for at least 11 jobs now. Obviously none of those have materialized. (If you stick with me, there's a fancy dinner show towards the end...) When I first moved here, I had interviews for three jobs in the first two weeks alone. Some never called me back, but for a few I moved on to finalist status. Then a few weeks passed before I heard anything positive back from my applications. Mid-September, I had interviews for three jobs in one single week. Then I never heard back. Now, almost a month later, I have the potential for three more jobs..... (And a pending application to be a substitute teacher!!)

As J.D. says, when it rains it pours. On the other side of that, the desert can have some pretty brutal droughts. So I'm hoping I land some sort of employment soon. I'm still struggling to pay my monthly bills....

However, I did manage to have some luck gambling at an Indian casino this weekend (with someone else's money). I don't gamble. I prefer city lights to the artificial twinkle of smoke-filled casinos. But when I do gamble, $10 for example, I'll tell myself to quit if my losings dip below $5. It's all about setting limits. Especially when you don't have any money at all. Which is why I'm not going to go clothes shopping again until I have a job. Gambling $20 iIinherited from J.D.'s parents this weekend, I opted to only do the minimum on a video poker machine. Usually you have options of spending 5-10 times the $0.25 it takes to play. Obviously, the more you spend the more you could win. Figuring, what the heck, I'll go one over the minimum, I got a hand with two Aces. I held those cards and then suddenly, two more aces made their way into my next hand. Four aces. ♣♥♠♦ So with my one over the limit, I had three rows of four aces......

It's only the second time this has happened to me. (I've only gambled twice. I think in total I've spent 15 minutes gambling, spending only about $13 to get to my winnings.) So basically, I can afford some of the rent this month....

Back to my real life, I've been pretty lucky too. J.D. and I celebrated one of his days off with a fabulous tapas dinner about a week ago. Thanks to the Foodbuzz Challenge -- which I've been voted off *pouts* -- I've had the opportunity to expose my talents to international cooking. And I'm loving it. I want to keep cooking foods I've never made before. It's been such a blast! It's been a week in the making, but here's the line-up:

White Sangria with Grand Marnier! This concoction will be a whole separate post within itself :) So look for that in a future entry!

Pre-made Bruschetta -- on sale!!!

Roasted Rosemary Potatoes with Garlic and Shallots....

....From a tapas book!

Prosciutto-wrapped Cantaloupe

Tropical Spanish Salad

Honey Herb Roasted Chicken Bites

Gambas al Ajillo

All together now!

Someone was a little jealous.

All dressed up for a night in. So fun (and saved us some major spending).

And don't think I forgot about dessert. We finished the night with some fried dough.

Doesn't sound good? Well, how do Churros con Chocolate sound?! Because they were amazing... for the next three days haha.

Now I'm inspired by our new IKEA desk to start scrapbooking! I've never had a scrapbook set-up before and now it's on! Yay :)

Thanks for putting up with my crazy random update today :)