little adventure in big store

today was a get-things-done day.  i had a list - a long list.

after calling natalie for directions to target (it's the one place i visit often in provo/orem area that i can never remember how to get to), i arrived with the intention of grocery shopping.  however, after spending almost an hour to find yoga pants, a humidifier, and a britta pitcher, i was almost frantic.  see, super-stores have the tendency to make me crazy - not a good way.  it's a pity the target here is super, because i love target.  but this one is so absolutely massive that i can't anything {anything} at all.  it took an hour to find three items, and after which i decided i was better off driving back to the grocery store than tying to navigate my way through endless isles of food.  grocery shopping with that long of a list is better done when you know were you're going... or at least aren't almost frantic.

luckily, provo has a health food store that does the opposite to my nerves.  two minutes in there and i had a full cart, a happy smile, and could have skipped back to my apartment.

i made tortilla soup tonight.  a favorite!  and it tasted like home. :)

tortilla soup - original recipe in one of lori's cookbooks.

1 T olive oil

1 diced onion

2 minced garlic cloves (or three... or four)

2 cups each of black, red, and pinto beans

4 1/2 cups water with 1 veggie bullion cube

1 can diced tomatoes 

1 tsp each of cumin, oregano, and chili powder

 2 T miso 

2 T nutritional yeast

stir the onions and around in the pan for a few minutes with the oil until they're transparent and brown, then add everything but the miso and nutritional yeast.  after cooking for a while... (30 minutes ish) add the last two ingredients.

i topped my soup with tortilla chips, jalapeños, green onions, and cilantro.  really, it's stupendous!

merry christmas, happy new year, and hit january's ground running

happy new year!!!

okay, i know i'm a little late.  i could say merry christmas as well because i missed that one first.  i took a little extended vacation during the holidays.  a break from. . .well, everything.  everything, that is, except a lot of wonderful and needed relaxation!

i want to jump right into the new year, new semester, new goals, and all that stuff.  but first, here's a brief review of the holidays from my perspective:

- hours of tamale-making while watching beezus and ramona three times (love it!)

- started sense and sensibility and still can't put it down.  darn that willoughby - he gets me every time in the movie, too!

- was renamed nanny by my almost-two-year-old nephew.  i'm still not sure how i feel about this.  however, i'm comforted by the fact that he actually said my name first, and that his calling everyone nanny originated by him missing the collective: "nanny and jessi."

- was second place in ticket to ride!  an accomplishment in my family, i assure you

- played carcasone into the hours of the night with hailey and natalie

- ate waaaaaay too much sugar (no worries, i'm repentant now)

- sang in the family christmas eve program

- made avocado tomitillo salsa for that evening's dinner

- saw the movie tangled twice.  man, if the holiday media has a highlight for me, it's this one.  i laaooooove it. i want to watch it again and again!  i'm listening to the soundtrack daily, and still cracking up at the funny parts.  new ideal man: eugene fitzherbert.  i've gotta find me one of those, someday.  more on this obsession to follow, that's really what it is!

- and caught a cold.  a cold that is ALMOST GONE! i'm elated. but knocking on wood and praying at intervals.

overall, i had quite the needed dose of family love this holiday season.  it was fabulous. fantastic. restful. and i didn't want to leave.

but life goes on!

and really, i love january.  a lot, actually.  new beginnings are addicting for me - i think it gives me some sort of strange adrenaline rush. . . 

you already know my obsession with little goals, and in january i get to make big ones!

so.  new year.  new me.  some changes to come, so be watching!

happy january!

and... a few photos from over the break:

 hailey's christmas toes

my wonderful nephew ashton and me - playing chess with him is always a highlight of home!

my family's wonderful christmas tree.  best. tree. ever.