Slow Down...

I cannot believe I'm looking at the date 12/15 right now. Wow this month has flown by for me and probably everyone based on the mood and energy I'm feeling out there in shopper land! Rushing in the grocery store, running around in the mall, bolting through Target ... don't forget the card for the mailman! I'm certainly not one of those people who are done and have their table set for Christmas which is ten days away! And if you are done - good for you. But for the rest of us, life is a bit busier than usual these days.

I really wish we could slow down this month. Instead of scheduling in all the parties, the dinners, and the shopping this season I just wish we could relax and actually appreciate this time of year. It is hard work for me to keep going at this speed when the Earth is doing the Winter Solstice thingee. Am I the only one who has trouble getting up when it's so dark out? Maybe I was a bear in a past life that likes to hibernate as the days get colder and nights get longer.

Anyway my reason for writing this post was what happened to me yesterday when my girlfriends and I went into NYC for a day of fun. We did the tree, St. Patrick's Cathedral (see picture), lunch at Eataly and some shopping. A great day of friends and enjoying the city in this holiday season. As we were heading to our bus in Port Authority (yes we were rushing as we fit in as much as we could before heading home to get our kids from school) I turned my head around to look at a sign while walking ... (keep in mind walking through the streets of NYC with my vision loss is quite a challenge but I'm thrilled to be there navigating around with my friends) I bumped into a man who blatantly yelled at me, "WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING!!!" Huh? Really? He just kept scrambling along on his way with a giant cloud following him down the corridor. Yuck. Maybe that doesn't sound terrible but he was just miserable. And I almost yelled out to him ... "*#@... you dumb ..... " But what is the point? He was just a troubled young man who I felt sorry for. If you are that unhappy I feel bad for you even if you just took my happy buzz away for a few minutes.

So it made me think of this: everybody needs to slow down with this crazy frenetic pace we are keeping right now. Just chill. It will get done. Write it all out if that helps or better yet if you're a post-it note freak like me start writing all those jobs you need to get done and post them on the wall. As you finish each one take it down and put it on the desk, counter, car dashboard, etc. Collect them and look at them at the end of the day. You will feel proud and a bit relieved that maybe you're not as behind as you think.

Ok ... now if I can just make time to wrap one present!
Be Well and Don't Forget to Breathe Deeply!
Krista

Sicilian-Style Orange Chicken

I told you I'd share the recipe from tonight if it was successful. So here it is for you to try out in yours ... I was so happy to have it all done before we all split in separate directions - one kid to swim and one to her basketball game. A 5:30 pm gift!

Sicilian-Style Orange Chicken

Serves 6
3 1/2 pounds bone-in chicken legs, thighs, and breasts (I like to take the skin off for better visual)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
4 Garlic cloves
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 cup of orange juice
2 teaspoons of corn starch
1 teaspoon of grated orange zest
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and arrange in a single layer in the crock pot. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste, garlic and oregano. Add 3/4 cup of orange juice. Cover and cook on low for 5 hours.

Remove the chicken to a serving platter. Cover and keep warm. Pour the chicken juices into a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer. In a small bowl, stir together the remaining 1/4 cup orange juice and the cornstarch until smooth. Add the cornstarch mixture to the saucepan and cook, stirring until smooth and thickened, about 1 minute. Stir in the orange zest. Pour the sauce over the chicken. Sprinkle with parsley and serve warm.

FYI: I didn't have the bone in chicken so I used boneless chicken breasts. They were wonderful as well but tomorrow when I food shop I will add it to my list. I served the chicken with roasted potatoes and carrots and the family did love it. Don't you love it when you introduce a new recipe and you see empty plates? A very happy moments for us busy moms! And that picture of fresh parsley up there? Still growing in my garden! :)

(recipe courtesy of "The Italian Slow Cooker")

Dinner in the Crockpot on this Rainy Tuesday!

I am testing out this new recipe that I will share with you all after reviews come in! I will say it smells great on this dreary Tuesday! I am gearing up for the after school activity!

Between the busy sports, the Christmas season that is upon us (I am really surprised when I see the date on my phone!) and the book I have started writing (more on that later) I am feeling a bit overwhelmed! But it is what it is and I have decided to embrace it all as "good stuff!" I guess that is one good thing about getting older! It will all get done and if it doesn't, it wasn't meant to be in my opinion.

Update on my first annual check up with the brain surgeon: all is stable. The remaining tumor is not growing at this point! That is good news. He did say that these meningioma tumors are beasts! They continue to grow as we get older if there is a remaining tumor that is unable to be removed. So there are options available for those of us with this situation and I'm checking into one next month. Gamma Knife radiosurgery is actually surgery without opening you up. About 200 tiny beams of radiation are delivered to the site of abnormality without much effect on the surrounding brain tissue. This would pretty much turn the abnormal cells into dead scar tissue. Pretty cool? If you know anyone who has had experiences with this please let me know. There is no rush for me to decide on this treatment however I always love hearing from people who have experience with it.

Last week was my checkup at NYU and Bryan and I had a great time enjoying New York. We decided to transform my anxiety about seeing my doctor into a 2 night get away! Certainly a mini-vacation when the news is good!

This picture is my angel on my shoulder! I have always loved these angels since I was a kid in Rockefeller Center!

Be Well,
Krista