one month in

i am in absolute awe that we have been married one month. absolutely insane. it has been one of our hardest months.

i don't feel any different now that we are married. we were always in it for the long haul - we just made it official. my name is different - that is weird - nicole simmons.

its just been hard because life is hard and we are in one of those times when it feels like we can't catch a break.

grant is quick to remind me that it is 2008 and we knew when we decided to get married, finish a PhD and move across the country (or world) it wasn't going to be an easy year.

i wish it were though.

things i am struggling with...

1. what to do with my life. how do you decide this when you want to be a professional capable of supporting yourself, yet long to be a homemaker?

2. where we should move, if given the choice.

3. the state of this country, on so many fronts.

4. how to get it all done. there is just so much.

Halloween Costume Ideas

Alisha asked if I had any unique ideas for kids costumes... i replied that all of my 'ideas' are replicas of others, and most frequently that 'other' is martha. Here are the links I sent her.

Could they be any cuter?

Can't you just see Ella James in one of these?

goldfish, spring chicken, lambs

this is good for a mommy or daddy who want to be festive, but not go all out (click for more)

lobster

little red riding hood & wolf

egg (kinda makes me laugh)

sunflower

butterfly

ladybug

lilly of the valley

autumn

**all photos from familyfun.com or martha

i spoke too soon...

just as things were turning around i gradually developed a sore throat, headache, and body aches throughout the day today. let me tell you it is really fun to deal with not feeling well while running around like a chicken with your head cut off because recruitment is so successful - 80+ girls have contacted us since last wednesday.

i now have a temp of 100.1 F. a colleague has strep, but i just got tested - its not strep. oh and the doc informed me that if he had seen G & i immediately after mexico he would have put us on antibiotics...we never got anything. and G still isn't 100%.

pray that i wake up feeling better so i dont have to cancel the 3 assessments and 2 meetings i have tomorrow. if you'll remember - i was home sick LAST tuesday so it'd be good not to call in again...

BOO!!

Whew...

attempting to organize myself for Christmas Crafting

i have been in a funk ever since returning from our wedding & honeymoon(s). i think i was just so overwhelmed with all that was going awry and also not feeling well. this weekend i really started to feel better physically and i decided that if i wanted the overwhelmed feeling to go away i had to start on something.

so i cleaned. and cleaned. and cleaned. our place was never as dirty as it was in the months leading up to and following the wedding. it FEELS so much better. as a result of my time spent cleaning, this has become my best friend. (seriously - IT.IS.amazing!!)

being in a clean house makes such a difference in my attitude! i have to remember this. since my house was clean i was able to tackle the other major thing i'm taking on - 100% handmade (by me) Christmas. this is what i did to get myself ready and organized - took me several hours on saturday, but i now think it is possible to get everything done in the next two+ months!

1. Use this template (blogged here) to make a list of who you need/want to give gifts to.

2. Use your notebook and etsy to come up with ideas for what to make for whom.

3. Print out any tutorials/patterns you will need to use.

4. Organize them by type of gift in a binder with dividers.

5. Make a supply list.

6. Buy supplies

7. Be crafty!

I'm very excited about this and REALLY hope it all works out. Could be interesting with us hosting our first Thanksgiving (for 10-12!! yay!) and G plugging away at his dissertation, BUT i think its doable!!


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update for those interested: Grant really enjoyed his time in Missouri (said it is absolutely beautiful too!) and we will know more on Friday. He will also be returning from Detroit that day so it should be a good day of updates.

THIS.IS.SO.GOOD (and EASY!)

I always knew there was a reason that the crockpot was my best friend and this chicken is it. Seriously it was so good and juicy and flavorful and the best part - if i went really slow it took me maybe 5 minutes to get ready. Grant claims to hate rice and lapped it up with this sauce! He proclaimed it to be the best meal I've ever made.

I found it here, but the recipe is below.

Crockpot Vietnamese Roasted Chicken

4-6 chicken thighs
1 1/2 T soy sauce
1 1/2 T fish sauce
1 1/2 t white sugar
1/2 t black pepper
4 cloves chopped garlic
1 T canola oil

Mix all ingredients together and pour over chicken. Cook in crockpot on high for 3 to 4 hours OR low for 6 hours.

Few things: My thighs were frozen when I put them in and all was fine. I left the meat with the skin and bone (which I don't like to do) but after cooking the skin just fell off and the meat fell off the bone. I buy the garlic that is already minced (because I find chopping it INCREDIBLY irritating) so if you had to chop it yourself it would make the prep time longer (duh...). Also, I cooked 6 thighs and I was concerned that this wasn't enough sauce so I tripled it. Probably wasn't necessary in the end - I would probably just double it. I like the sauce to mostly cover the meat when it starts cooking so it doesn't dry out.

Oh and one other thing - I thought my crockpot was on low when in fact it was on high so I overcooked these for HOURS and they were still amazing. ENJOY!

crafty goodness

the mailman was super good to me today. i got TWO packages full of awesome crafts. 

the first one i opened was my kit from Posie! so excited about it! i may just have to keep these for myself... 

the second was from a little family called the McCords. Jenni - I LOVE the needle keeper!! and, of course, the card. THANK YOU!!

 

I also don't think I ever showed you this...

my mom made these as favors for my bachelorette party - so random, but funny and cute - good paperweight! G liked it so much he requested one - his is more masculine... (if you can't tell - they are foot shaped rocks painted to look like a foot in a flip flop)

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G made it safely to Missouri. He really likes it there! He is giving a talk tomorrow and meeting with current post docs! Keep praying for us!!! Next week he is off to Detroit.