Things To Do

 What do you do when your list of things to do feels overwhelming?

Disclaimer: the above is not reflective of my current To Do List, but rather my Fantasy To Do List. 

Right now, my list feels so very long.  There are things to do in the immediate future: prep for my upcoming events, return phone calls, clean out that crazy overflowing drawer in the bathroom.  There are the omnipresent things to do: laundry, make dinner, laundry, grocery shop, pay bills, laundry.  Then there things to do in the future: refinish my desk, work on and launch SMJ 2.0, plot my next career move, crunch my way to a six-pack, perfect that Chicken and Broccoli Rice recipe (still not ready for prime time, as I found out the hard way last night).  Finally the minutiae of life: keeping mine and lil' J's nails from turning into talons, weeding the clothes he's outgrown out of his drawers, Swiffering up the dog hair (again).  Each item on its own is so pedestrian and simple, they make me feel like an utter cliche. However their cumulative effect is something akin to a dog walker walking too many sizes of dogs at once; the big ones bounding out in front, the small ones running circles around my ankles, and the end result being me sweating and tangled in leashes, wondering what to do next.

Here's what usually happens to me when I become overwhelmed with To Dos:
1) I get a tingly, slightly panicked feeling in my outer extremities, and a tight feeling in my chest.
2) I then feel the need to escape this feeling completely, so I chuck it all and end up doing something like baking banana bread or reading the Style Section of the New York Times.
3) After escaping briefly, I inevitably attack the list, usually getting more done than I thought I could or would on any given day.  Yet, the overwhelmed feeling remains, rarely being swapped for a feeling of completion or relief.

I can see that some of this is healthy (taking a break, baking, creating some work/life balance), and some of it is not (never really allowing myself to celebrate my successes and completions, and instead just moving on to the endless and inevitable Next).  What I am after, as always, is more balance in this equation:  a way to see how manageable and tackle-able even my most formidable lists are, and promise to exhale completely and renew myself for the next day. 

A friend suggested that I attack my stress proactively, planning out my day by the half-hour, making distinct tasks for each period of thirty minutes, and adopting a steely resolve to stay on task for the time period (no reading Babble.com while I'm supposed to be writing a memo, no writing a memo when I ought to be cooking dinner with a glass of wine). I can see the value in this, but worry that more rigidity will only lead to more stress, not less.  Essentially, I want to holistically overhaul my approach to being overwhelmed in a laissez-faire and mellow fashion that doesn't involve further lists, charts and graphs.  This is what I am pondering this fine Tuesday...

In short, there has to be a better way.  Maniacal mamas and systems-oriented sisters (and productive papas and busy bros)... talk to me.  How do you do it? 

I adore your advice and hearing how other people handle the juggling act.  Hit me back!

Look out world

I've had ten hours of sleep, two cups of coffee and a most fabulous birthday weekend.  I was well-loved and feted by my boys, family and friends, and feel so lucky to have a life filled with such good and fun people.

This guy likes to party.

I feel rested, replenished, and ready to take on the rest of this month.  I am 34, hear me roar!

I also wanted to share this most inspiring photo I saw this morning (I understand it has gone somewhat viral on the mama blogs, so sorry to be a copycat, but it is such a beautiful image, I can't help but share).

This is Licia Ronzulli, Italy's MEP, attended a voting session of European Parliament with her baby girl.  I just love everything about this photo (posted originally on Capucha), and it is inspiring my Monday!

I am off to tackle two full in-boxes and a To Do list as long as my arm, as well as that daunting seasonal task of packing up the sundresses and hanging up the trousers and sweaters for the winter + doing the same for Little J (but getting sappy while packing up all the things he's outgrown).  Back tomorrow with more.  

Have an inspired Monday!

Mama's Little Helpers

There's only so many nights you can eat Annie's Mac or Flatbread pizzas without feeling a little gross and domestically delinquent.  As I mentioned, we're entering another busy season here at Casa SMJ, and my time for creating complex weeknight dinners is limited.  During times like these, the best I can do is strive for a culinary middle path, somewhere between dinner entirely from a box or can and entirely made from scratch is my salvation.  Cover your eyes, people, we're going semi-homemade:

Photo: Food Network, Semi-Homemade with Sandra Lee

Let it be known that I can't stand this woman, and that her "tablescapes" and outfit-matching kitchen decor make me want to take a Xanex; however, she is onto something, as much as I hate to admit it.  Most people just don't have the time or energy to make their whole weeknight dinner from scratch, and the next best thing to calling for a pizza is "cheating" a little, and calling upon help from jars and cans.  I think there are ways to do so without totally going over to the dark side.  Take our Tuesday dinner...

 Penne Pasta in Mushroom Sauce with Sausage, Peppers and Petite Peas

"But SMJ," you say, "didn't you have two conference calls, a full work day, and that omnipresent toddler to contend with on Tuesday?  Wasn't it also raining and terribly depressing in Boston?  And aren't your eyebrows long overdue for some tweezing?  Did you not want to simply dial for Pad Thai and call it a day?" 

Yes, my pretties.  I totally did not feel like cooking.  But, I anticipated that I wouldn't want to cook this week on Saturday at the grocery store, and with some smart shopping, I was able to prepare this meal with almost no effort.  Behold, mama's little helpers:

Good shopping makes for a good meal... we have frozen petite peas from Whole Foods, Niman Ranch Sausage, Trader Joe's penne, an orange pepper, and the star of the show, a prepared mushroom sauce from a local pasta shop.  Yes, that sauce cost $4, but it also took this meal from ho-hum to highly delicious, and made it seem like I had been slaving over the stove for hours.  With the glass of wine pictured above, this meal made me feel like a normal human being with enough time in her day to prepare a proper dinner for her family. All I had to do was chop and saute the sausage and pepper, throw in a handful of peas, boil up some pasta, and toss the whole lot together in the sauce.  Dinner was ready in 15 minutes, meaning my husband, sister and I got to sit and savor it with some good conversation to boot.  Sometimes, it is well worthwhile to go semi-homemade.

What's your favorite quickie dinner?

Forecasts

Hello my lovelies.

 The forecast for today?  

Gloomy, rainy and gray; a perfect day to sit inside, sip a cup of English tea and ponder life. 

The forecast for the week?

A visit from my sister (yessss!), a boat trip in the harbor, work work work, and my 5th 29th Birthday!  

The forecast for the month?

October shall be epic at Casa SMJ.  We're getting a new roomie, and I have not one, but two, big work events on the horizon, one of which will cause me to hop on a plane and leave little J for three times as long as I have ever left him before (hello, freedom! hello, heartache! hello, emotional rollercoaster!).  I shall require a large wine stash, and at least two new pairs of work pants (thank you for all your suggestions)... I plan to pull the trigger on some purchases while my personal shopper (aka, aforementioned sister) is in residence, and will share my choices once they are made.  Only a Libra would take going on 6 weeks to choose some new pants.  I exhaust myself.  I hope you'll stick with me for the ride this month, and excuse infrequent posts around my events (October 22 and Novemeber 5).  There is only so much a gal can accomplish in a 24 hour day.

And, most importantly, the menu forecast...

This week we are featuring a comfort food extravaganza including pasta in mushroom sauce and the chicken and broccoli fried rice I've told you about before and am finally ready to share.  Dig out your elastic waist pants and stay tuned.

xoxo

White Chili

This has so far been a most un-fall-y fall.  Maybe since I've been in Vermont the last six years, I am accustomed to the end of September meaning brilliant foliage colors and chilly nights, often with the first hard frost.  So on this past blustery Sunday, with the boys watching football and the temps hovering in the low 60s, I went and bought the ingredients for what sounded like a quintessential fall dish: white chili.  White chili has no tomatoes or chili powder like traditional chili; it features subtler flavors of green chiles, white beans, and cumin.  I envisioned eating a bowl of this on a crisp night this week, perhaps with rain drops beating on the window outside. However, by the time I got around to making it yesterday, I was wearing shorts and a tank top and, if I am not mistaken, got a bit of a sunburn on my walk to get more cumin from the store!  Where are you fall?  And global warming, what are you doing to chili season???

Okay, trust me, I'm not complaining.  After six years of six month winters, I'll wear my shorts as long as possible, thank you.  I'm just saying, depending where you live in the country (I hear it is something like 120 degrees in SoCal), this dish may or may not appeal this week.  If you are still sweating it out, never fear, this dinner was just as tasty on a warm evening; you just have embrace the southwesterness of it all. And if you are a chili lover, I definitely recommend giving this recipe a whirl, no matter what your thermometer reads today.  We loved it.  Subtly spicy and with a jalapeno kick, it was really quite delicious, and a nice departure from the classic ground beef chilis everyone is in the mood to whip up this time of year.  Well, not everyone. Vegetarian friends, I think this recipe could be just as good without the chicken...try it and let me know!

White Chili
Ingredients
1 lb. large white beans, soaked overnight
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalepeno pepper, minced
8 cups chicken broth
2 chicken breasts
2 4 oz. cans chopped green chiles
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 cup half-and-half
Chopped cilantro, grated sharp cheddar and sour cream for garnish
Directions
1) Soak your beans overnight.  When ready to use, rinse them thoroughly.

2) Heat the oil in a heavy soup pot or Dutch oven.  Add the onions, garlic and jalapeno and saute until the onion softens and begins to turn brown, about 10 minutes.

3) Add the beans and broth, bring to a boil and then turn down to a low simmer and allow to cook, covered, for about 2 hours or until the beans are very soft.
4) Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil.  Add the chicken breasts and allow to them to poach in the boiling water until they are cooked through: about 15 minutes. Remove from water and allow to cool on a plate in the fridge while the beans cook.  When the chicken is cool to the touch, shred it by hand.

5) When the beans are cooked through, stir in the chicken, chiles, spices and sugar and allow the flavors to combine.  Taste and adjust seasonings as necessary.

6) Lower the heat and stir in the half-and-half.
7) Serve with cilantro, cheddar and sour cream.
Serves 8
Some notes about this recipe:
- This chili, as prepared above, has quite a kick to it.  If you are serving a crowd whose palettes can't take heat, omit the jalapeno.
- "Brown sugar, SMJ? Really? In chili?", you say.  Yes, I say.  I tasted my chili after adding the spices and it was just missing something... it was tasty but had kind of a one-note chile flavor.  Adding the sugar balances the spiciness of the peppers and gives the whole dish a lovely, rich complexity.  Just trust me on this one.
- You could totally leave out the half-and-half; it adds a delicious creaminess, but the chili was pretty damn good without it as well.  I just couldn't leave well enough alone.  And I like creaminess.

Enjoy!

Love This

Look who brought his "laptop" to the table so he could sit and "work" with me this morning...

I mean....

The best part?  He actually did sit and tap away at his computer while I did the same, and I got some good work done this morning!  I'll admit it: there are some days that working from home feels impossible at best, insane at worst. But then there are the days that everything just clicks... the boy is chill and entertains himself, I am well-rested and caffeinated and firing on all cylinders, and together we move through the day kicking ass and taking names.  Some days I feel like I am doing both of us the gravest disservice by trying to juggle everything, and some days it feels brilliant and right.  When little J brings his computer to come and work with me, I'd like to think that some little element in his brain is storing all of this away as having pride in a work ethic, but even if he is just mimicking me and it doesn't go deeper than that, I can't help but feel that there is some redeeming value to this situation.

I am blogging this so that on a less poetic morning, I'll remember that there are, in fact, days where it all comes together.  Every working mom out there is striving for balance.  I am starting to think that comes less in the form of some zen mindset that one can attain and hold day after day, and more in decidedly placing as much value on the good days as the bad, and knowing that most days fall somewhere in between.

And while we're discussing the quest for balance, I had to share this fun poster I saw last week in Paper Source (one of my favorite stores ever):

I adore my Keep Calm and Carry On poster... it anchors my kitchen and reminds me to breathe.  However, I love this send up of it as well.  A great reminder that NOTHING is ever to be taken too seriously.

Taking Care

Last week was a blur of unseasonably hot weather, dirty martinis, and fun with family, made a little hazy in retrospect by a cocktail of meds I was taking to keep my back from going out.  A weekend of long walks, Lidocaine patches, Advil, and arnica backrubs courtesy of the husband (my hero), with some lattes and barbecue thrown in for good measure have me feeling somewhat back to normal today.  And the rainy skies in Boston are making me feel like hunkering down for a week of detox and renewal.
On my list for the week?
1) Join the gym!  Imagine my glee when I found out this morning that our local, independently-owned gym is having a super-special today: $99 for three months!  YES!  I'm so in.  I love that this place has on-site childcare and classes called "Butts & Guts" and "Hot Latin Buns".  I am so taking HLB and reporting back, don't you worry.
2) Cook up healthy meals for the fam after several Annie's Mac & Cheese fueled weeks around here.  On this week's menu are White Chicken Chili, a Quickie Indian Night I hope to make more intriguing with the addition of homemade garlic naan, and steel-cut oats for my mornings, which I pre-made for the week last night.

 

Chicken Chili photo courtesy of Kohler Created.  I plan to use my own recipe, however, and will share it once I perfect it!

I wrote last fall about cooking big pots of SCOs on Sundays and I am so about to get back in the habit.  There is nothing better than a quick, healthy, filling hot breakfast in the fall and there are endless possibilities for dressing up your oats: this morning I added a half a smashed banana, a drizzle of Vermont maple syrup (is there any other kind?) and a sprinkle of cinnamon, but I also love to add fresh berries, honey, and a dollop of Greek yogurt or peanut butter on the top.  Yum.
3)  Yoga night.  It must happen.
4) Start a new book.  I am thinking in the time of a restful, restorative, self-improving-type week, it is going to be If the Buddha Got Stuck which I got as part of the best care package ever a couple months ago:

 

LOVED this package: the spicy Vosges chocolate bar and awesome energy bar are obviously long gone, but the Ginger Tea lives on and will also play a major role in my week.  I am excited to delve into the Buddha book, as I could use a little self-help right about now, and always love looking to that guy for advice.  I'll review the book when I'm finished!  In the meantime, if you also plan to curl up and do some reading this week, you must do so with some Teatulia Ginger Tea, which is hands down the tastiest ginger-brew I have ever experienced.  Thanks JM!
5) More arnica.  I'm telling you, this stuff is the miracle cure.

Arnica in the wild... pretty, no?

What will you do this week to take care of you?