Happy Anniversay Mile 1,234!!

Wow, it's been a year since we started this blogging adventure. I'll never forget the night we sat on Amy's couch in her new apartment, brainstorming blog names and writing our first post. How much has gone by in a year!

I remember when we first came up with the idea with the intentions to write about life's path as independent, young professionals. This all included but were not limited to: helpful tips, favorite things, lessons learned, revelations, and inspirations that came forth or got us through this challenging yet exciting time.

For me it started with 1,234 miles away from home and ended up doubling as I moved from rainy Seattle to big sky Bozeman and now to my next stop, unknown Eugene! Just like the miles doubled, so did the lessons learned and the realization of how much more I have ahead of me. This past year taught me patience, humility and perseverance.

For two busy working women, I think we've done a decent job documenting some of our thoughts the past year. I'm glad we stayed committed to this idea and I think it's only going to get even better from here.

Thanks to all our readers who listened and kept us writing.

Wishing Away

Does anyone else think the question, “Is it Friday yet?” should be banned from Monday morning workdays? I do.

Weekends are great; I completely agree. It’s a refreshing time to recover from a busy five days of thinking, planning, performing and doing whatever it is you do. I’ll admit to enjoying my weekends and especially enjoying the three-day breaks that come around. But are we wishing our lives away?

Most people don’t have jobs they thoroughly enjoy. For those that do, this is easier said than done. But I think we need to give ourselves a daily reminder (especially on Mondays) that life is precious and short. Each day is a meaningful piece to the big picture (sounds cliché; I realize). If you wish away Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday… once Friday arrives, you’ll be back dreading how quick the weekend will go by presenting, well, Monday morning again. Sound familiar?

How can we enjoy each day, including the less-than-weekend-fun workdays? I'm currently striving to experience Mondays as I do Saturdays and Sundays.

Ode To My Freezer

I don’t know what I’d do without my freezer. If I had the choice, I think I’d prefer a refrigerator with equal ratio of freezer to refrigeration space. Aside from the obvious residents (ice cubes, ice cream, flash frozen vegetables etc.), there are many other guests to invite to the party. Here are a few reasons I’m smitten…

As Jessie mentioned in Frugal Feasting: Mom's Even Better the Next Day Pasta Salad!, preparing food ahead of time for ready made lunches is key to a full-time work schedule. I take this one step further, as my freezer is generally more crowded then my refrigerator. After a meal, I fill multiple glass containers with hot recipe leftovers to freeze them the same day. After a few weeks of varying meals, I have different leftover options each day of my workweek. This way, I never get sick of the original dish. I pull a container out to defrost the day before I plan to have it for lunch. Instant, warm, savory meals at my fingertips!

My freezer is also home to many carbohydrate products, which normally spoil given there’s only one person working at consuming them. Bread and tortillas actually live there quite comfortably, ready to go when needed. Tortilla chips don’t even freeze and can be eaten straight out of the freezer as fresh and crispy as when you first opened the bag!

A go-to snack I always have on hand is frozen grapes. They’re more nutritious than ice cream or popsicles, but hold the same sweet, cold, satisfying crunch!

You can freeze fresh lemon or lime juice or even prepared pesto sauce in ice cube trays for quick, on-hand ingredients. I haven’t done it myself, but I’ve heard of many people using this method to store batches of homemade baby food purees for nutritious, convenient meals.

If you own an ice cream maker with a removable bowl, it needs to be completely frozen before you put it on the base, add ingredients and begin the churning process. I store my bowl in the back of my freezer in case an ice cream craving occurs when I least expect it!

Are you making good use of your freezer space?

According to an article in Real Simple magazine, here are some estimates of approximate freezer friendly timelines:

Breads and cakes: 3 months

Casseroles: 3 months

Cooked chicken pieces: 4 months

Raw chicken pieces: 9 months

Vegetable or meat soups and stews: 2 to 3 months