Do you have a guilty pleasure? Something that you allow yourself to have way too frequently? Mine right now is probably chocolate pudding. It has been chocolate pudding off and on throughout the past, but all winter it's been top on my list. I buy a couple tubs of it a month. I try to make it last a long time, but it's usually gone by the end of the weekend. It's just too good.
It's sweet, rich, creamy, and of course, chocolatey (always a plus.) And, to borrow from another dessert treat, there's always room for it. Well, at least for me there is.
A coworker said that to make the guilty pleasure a little less guilty I should buy the instant, sugar free pudding. I will, but only to feel less guilty. Its just not as good. It is still sweet, creamy, and chocolatey - but the richness is gone. That rich texture on your tongue is one of the best parts. It seems a shame to miss out on it for the sake of a few calories.
Maybe I can work this to my advantage and be the Grammy that always has the good chocolate pudding in the fridge. I'm sure I can learn to share.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Purses
I bought a purse last weekend. Now that's not really unusual, except when I tell you that it's a green purse. Sort of a light moss color - really pretty.
I'm the type of person who likes to buy basic things and use them a lot. In the winter I carry black purses. Black goes with everything and there is no worry that it won't match. In the summer I either continue to carry my black purse or I switch it out for a tan or woven purse. So I went into the Coach store over the weekend (I'm so picky, that I've begun going straight to Coach - if I'm going to spend a lot I'm at least going to like it) and saw a purse in a size and style that I liked. It was available in tan and green. I told myself that I picked the green because the tan was too light and would get dirty too quickly. But I really just wanted the green. (There was another purse that was pink and green that I REALLY wanted, but it was new and really expensive. I'll wait until it goes down at the end of the season and see if I still want it.)
I carried the purse around with me for a bit while I looked through the rest of the store. After all, you can't buy the first purse you pick up, right? But nothing else was right. Not the right size. Not the right strap. Not the right shape. Not the right design. Not the right price. The green purse was perfect. So I bought it.
Now I had a coupon (I'm on their mailing list) and it was on sale, but it was still about $25-$40 more than if I'd gone to a mall department store and bought something that I wouldn't like as well and wouldn't last as well. But, in my increasing years I've decided that I'm worth it.
I'm the type of person who likes to buy basic things and use them a lot. In the winter I carry black purses. Black goes with everything and there is no worry that it won't match. In the summer I either continue to carry my black purse or I switch it out for a tan or woven purse. So I went into the Coach store over the weekend (I'm so picky, that I've begun going straight to Coach - if I'm going to spend a lot I'm at least going to like it) and saw a purse in a size and style that I liked. It was available in tan and green. I told myself that I picked the green because the tan was too light and would get dirty too quickly. But I really just wanted the green. (There was another purse that was pink and green that I REALLY wanted, but it was new and really expensive. I'll wait until it goes down at the end of the season and see if I still want it.)
I carried the purse around with me for a bit while I looked through the rest of the store. After all, you can't buy the first purse you pick up, right? But nothing else was right. Not the right size. Not the right strap. Not the right shape. Not the right design. Not the right price. The green purse was perfect. So I bought it.
Now I had a coupon (I'm on their mailing list) and it was on sale, but it was still about $25-$40 more than if I'd gone to a mall department store and bought something that I wouldn't like as well and wouldn't last as well. But, in my increasing years I've decided that I'm worth it.
Monday, April 5, 2010
More on the Weather
Ok, decision made. I'm turning on the air conditioning. I wanted to wait, but after a visit to my allergy doctor today - where I got scolded for having windows open when the tree pollen count was in the 600's.
Isn't that the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. My doctor reminded me that nothing has changed since last year and the year before and my itchy eyes and congestion today is a direct result of the pollen I let into my world over the weekend.
So I guess there will be no more open car windows for me. From now on I won't leave the door open when I come home in the evening. And I will be limiting the duration of my time outdoors. Sigh.
Isn't that the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. My doctor reminded me that nothing has changed since last year and the year before and my itchy eyes and congestion today is a direct result of the pollen I let into my world over the weekend.
So I guess there will be no more open car windows for me. From now on I won't leave the door open when I come home in the evening. And I will be limiting the duration of my time outdoors. Sigh.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Weather
It's that strange time of year when you don't know whether to turn the heat or the air conditioning on. If I turn the heat off, it's still not quite cool enough, but if I turn the air on, it's too cool. Or its comfortable with just their heat off during the day, but it gets too chilly at night.
What I typically do is turn it off and on and then off again and then on again. I kow that's probably the most energy efficient way to handle this time of year, but I don't know what else to do.
In an attempt to not change it up and down too frequently, I turn on the ceiling fan that is in the bedroom. It helps to keep me cool without constantly tampering with the thermostat, but unfortunately Winnie (my teacut Chihuahua) hates it. To be honest, she hates anything that makes her the slightest bit chilly. So when she starts scratching at my neck I know she's too cool and I cover her with a little blanket. She keeps her head sticking out, but the blanket keeps the breeze off her.
Ah, life is sometimes too complicated.
What I typically do is turn it off and on and then off again and then on again. I kow that's probably the most energy efficient way to handle this time of year, but I don't know what else to do.
In an attempt to not change it up and down too frequently, I turn on the ceiling fan that is in the bedroom. It helps to keep me cool without constantly tampering with the thermostat, but unfortunately Winnie (my teacut Chihuahua) hates it. To be honest, she hates anything that makes her the slightest bit chilly. So when she starts scratching at my neck I know she's too cool and I cover her with a little blanket. She keeps her head sticking out, but the blanket keeps the breeze off her.
Ah, life is sometimes too complicated.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Springtime
Today I spent a few hours outside and enjoyed it tremendously . . . until I came back in. The head started aching and the sinuses were filling up. Spring is not an easy time for me. It's so difficult to want to be out enjoying the weather but knowing that I will suffer for it later.
When I was growing up on a farm I would wake up in the morning with a nice breeze blowing and, of course, my nose rebelling in dozens of sneezes. I felt I'd been reborn when I moved into the city and finally had air conditioning that allowed me to keep the windows closed. It was a tradeoff, but it made my life easier.
But I became a bit of a hermit - keeping indoors more and more. I think that is why I like windows so much - I get to stay somewhat connected to the outdoors and preserve my sinuses.
When I was growing up on a farm I would wake up in the morning with a nice breeze blowing and, of course, my nose rebelling in dozens of sneezes. I felt I'd been reborn when I moved into the city and finally had air conditioning that allowed me to keep the windows closed. It was a tradeoff, but it made my life easier.
But I became a bit of a hermit - keeping indoors more and more. I think that is why I like windows so much - I get to stay somewhat connected to the outdoors and preserve my sinuses.
Friday, April 2, 2010
People Watching
I took myself out to lunch today. I asked to sit by the window (because it had better light and I was going to read until the food came) but I ended up people watching.
My favorite "character" was an elderly man in a wheelchair. He was wearing a little golf cap positioned jauntily off to the side, large yellow sunglasses, and he wistled. The sunglasses caught my eye first - they had to be women's (who else would wear canary yellow sunglasses) but he wore them with style.
Second was the young man carrying a skateboard. He was wearing a knit cap (even though its warm out) and he was wearing skinny jeans that were belted tight underneath his butt. I understand the under-you-butt-to-show-your-underware look, but I've never seen it with skinny jeans. It just looked completely wrong and took some getting used to.
Then came the little girl and (probably) her father. She looked 8-10 years old. He talked to her (gotta give him credit for trying) and all she did was roll her eyes and pick at several iron-on tatoos that covered her arms. I wanted to shake her and tell her to give him a chance, but . . . alas . . . I was on the other side of the glass.
The final characters came as I walked back to the office. It was a mother and daughter who could have passed for twins - only in a "mini me" sort of way. They were both short, overweight, with long frizzy hair parted in the middle. They were dressed alike and had on similar sunglasses. Each were drinking from a cup with a straw. They didn't communicate or even look at each other, but coming down the street it was definitely a sight.
Maybe I'll leave the book at home the next time I take myself to lunch.
My favorite "character" was an elderly man in a wheelchair. He was wearing a little golf cap positioned jauntily off to the side, large yellow sunglasses, and he wistled. The sunglasses caught my eye first - they had to be women's (who else would wear canary yellow sunglasses) but he wore them with style.
Second was the young man carrying a skateboard. He was wearing a knit cap (even though its warm out) and he was wearing skinny jeans that were belted tight underneath his butt. I understand the under-you-butt-to-show-your-underware look, but I've never seen it with skinny jeans. It just looked completely wrong and took some getting used to.
Then came the little girl and (probably) her father. She looked 8-10 years old. He talked to her (gotta give him credit for trying) and all she did was roll her eyes and pick at several iron-on tatoos that covered her arms. I wanted to shake her and tell her to give him a chance, but . . . alas . . . I was on the other side of the glass.
The final characters came as I walked back to the office. It was a mother and daughter who could have passed for twins - only in a "mini me" sort of way. They were both short, overweight, with long frizzy hair parted in the middle. They were dressed alike and had on similar sunglasses. Each were drinking from a cup with a straw. They didn't communicate or even look at each other, but coming down the street it was definitely a sight.
Maybe I'll leave the book at home the next time I take myself to lunch.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Thursday
Today is Thursday. All in all a good day because you can see the end of the week and it's close enough to touch.
But this is the second Thursday I've had this week. For some reason I woke up yesterday knowing it was Thursday. I went through most of the morning feeling that way until someone in my office burst my bubble. Even though I knew it wasn't - I couldn't shake the feeling that it really was Thursday. (Do you ever get like that?)
At first I was bummed. But then I realized that it has made this week a little easier. Wednesday is never good - too far from the last weekend and still not close enough to reach out to the coming weekend. It's a dreary day. But I didn't have that yesterday. Although I learned that it was Wednesday, I still felt Thursdayish. Cool.
But this is the second Thursday I've had this week. For some reason I woke up yesterday knowing it was Thursday. I went through most of the morning feeling that way until someone in my office burst my bubble. Even though I knew it wasn't - I couldn't shake the feeling that it really was Thursday. (Do you ever get like that?)
At first I was bummed. But then I realized that it has made this week a little easier. Wednesday is never good - too far from the last weekend and still not close enough to reach out to the coming weekend. It's a dreary day. But I didn't have that yesterday. Although I learned that it was Wednesday, I still felt Thursdayish. Cool.
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