I loved college because at least when we stayed up late studying and working (and occasionally a fun time?), we got to sleep in to at least 7 or 8am. I’ve been taking my daily vitamin as an insurance policy right now, especially with the season of germs starting and going out to the middle schools (germ factories) now. My iron levels are normal since last visit, so I don’t know what’s my deal. Ah well, hopefully the funk will pass and sleep will miraculously just not be needed. I think that would be wonderful if I didn’t have to sleep because so many things could be accomplished in those 5-7 hours!
I am looking forward to the month of October though because my hours are being cut back. It’s just for one month based on my contract position which is kind of weird. This really isn’t a good thing as far as the paycheck goes, but I think it will be nice to have a tiny bit of extra time. It seems right now my time is worth more than what I’m getting paid. Unfortunately, I think I will have to request less hours with my next contract. Just for me, I don’t think I can do this and work on my thesis and research. Half the time I’ll be working on something only to look down and see that it’s already 11pm and wonder where the heck the time went and why didn’t I accomplish more?
Anywho, I turned in my first very rough draft outline to my chair today and hopefully we can get my committee formed! I’m excited, yet nervous!
This weekend doesn’t look as exciting as last :) I’m going to try to at least get a bike ride in on Saturday morning and then I’m not sure if Chris has any plans Saturday night for our 3-year anniversary (the non-wedding type)? I told him we don’t have to do anything, especially since we splurged on dinner and the concert last weekend. Sunday will be reserved for lots of school stuff!
Lately, I’ve been going for easy dinners :) Tonight we had some good ol’ sloppy joe’s! Kind of reminds me of childhood when my mom would use that packet or canned stuff. As I got older, I really didn’t like those pre-prepared packages, and making sloppy joe’s from scratch isn’t too bad.
I adapted the recipe only slightly from the blog Pinch My Salt. This blog has some great photography and recipes :)
Sloppy Joes
- 1 onion, diced
- 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, pressed
- 1 T. Olive Oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 t. chili powder
- 1.5 t. ground cumin
- 1/8 t. cinnamon (this is so good!)
- 1/8 t. freshly ground black pepper
- 1 t. kosher salt
- 1 small can tomato paste
- 1/4 cup fruity balsamic vinegar
- 1 T. brown sugar
- 1/3 C. ketchup
- 1/2-3/4 C. water
Sauté onions, peppers and garlic in olive oil until softened; add beef and cook until browned.
Make a circle in the middle of the pan, add tomato paste and balsamic vinegar and cook down for 10 minutes.
Add all other ingredients to the ground beef mixture and cook, stirring, over low heat until thickened (about 10 minutes). Add more water if it gets too thick.
Serve in whole wheat buns and get messy!
I like to serve a big salad along side. This time mine had goat cheese, cranberries, heirloom mater and carrots.
Also topped it with some gooey cheese . . .
What’s a food you remember from childhood? What do you do when you get in a funk?
Have a great weekend!
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11 comments:
mmm sloppy joes :)
always puts a smile on my face!
"tacos and cheese" remind me of my family. i swear, if they could live off it they would! or taco salad:)
BBQs also bring back childhood memories, with bbq salmon, and O Natural "vggie" chkn burgers
I can totally relate to how you're feeling. The last couple weeks have been no good in the eating/sleeping/not stressing departments for me. Good idea on decreasing your hours while working on your research and thesis. You'll be happier and (slightly) more rested that way. :) The sloppy joe is a good idea too. Maybe B & I will make that for dinner tomorrow? When I get in a funk, I eat junk and that only worsens the problem. A fresh, crisp salad sounds really good right now...Mmmm... :) Good luck with everything. :)
There's definitely a limit to what the body can take before it shuts down. keep taking those vitamins!
I feel very lucky that I can be a full time student right now. I have been feeling overwhelmed learning how to be a student again. But my stress level would be through the roof if I had to write a thesis and work all day too!
Hang in there!
Hope your energy returns soon! I think a lack of sleep always puts me into some kind of funk. I have been downing Amazing Grace as sort of an insurance policy (I figure it can't hurt).
Congrats on turning in your first draft! So exciting!
I try to get more sleep when I'm in a funk, but usually that doesn't happen right away.
sorry to hear that you didn't sleep well and woke up super early. it happened to me lately too and I know how it fells. Lack of sleep makes our immune system to get week, so you feel nauseous and week. As long as you restore or go back to your normal schedule, i'm sure you'll feel better. The most important thing is de-stress. it took me years to realize that my bad sleep was due to stress, even unconsciously.
First of all, get some rest.
When I get into a funk, I like to exercise because I used to sleep a lot and I found exercise actually woke me up (ok, this was actually chronic fatigue syndrome and for me it worked best if I bypassed the nap and worked out instead. Keep in mind though this was after sleeping for almost a year, but still the exercise worked well, nothing hard core, just walking it off basically). But if you do not normally nap, napping is in then since your body seems to want it now.
Childhood food for me is mac and cheese. My mom is not much of a cooker, so mac and cheese was easy.
Kristen, sending you lots of sympathy and big "feel better soon" hugs! I completely relate - juggling work and school regularly leaves me sleep deprived, and I often feel like I ought to push through the exhaustion, but when I do so, of course, I just wind up feeling more fatigued... :-p You are SO wise to listen to your body and get the extra sleep you need! Keep resting lots and pamper yourself a bit - you deserve it! :-)
Oh wow, I love sloppy joes! Thank you for reminding me that I haven't had sloppy joes in ages! Your recipe looks absolutely delicious - I'm printing it out to fix soon! Thank you!
P.S. Childhood nostalgia for me always involves my mom's homemade mac and cheese... :-)
Kristen,
First I would like to make sure you have not hit your head or ran your head into anyone's..haha, that sounds trange but I hit my head once on Nick's head (we collided) and I had a small concussion. I was really tired for two weeks. Just think about it. But it's probably just stress, and the change in weather, I've had that too. It goes away. I hope it does, sooner than later for your sake!
I am all about quick dinners and sloppy joes are a great idea. IN fact, they remind me of my childhood :) Also meals like chili, tuna noodle casserole, and chicken divan!
Good luck with everything. Stay positive and keep working hard, funks come and go, this one will go soon :)
Wow, so yummy! You have such a sensible approach to good, whole food. Glad I found your blog!
My childhood favorite food was spaghetti with meat sauce. I still make it, but I sub in some of the pasta for zucchini and always go for whole grain. Even yummier!
Sounds like a lovely anniversary celebration :D Simple & perfect. Those bars sound amazing...I so totally want to make some!
Wow! The food I remember from childhood was my mom's lumpia. Now, she makes fresh lumpia bcuz it's healthier. It's awesome bcuz everything is from scratch. Las Vegas Filipino restaurants/fast food places like Chow King can't compete with my mom's recipe. As for when I am in a funk, I either practice some Tai Chi, yoga, swim, or figure skate. If those are not possible, then, listen to music or watch a funny movie. If all else fails, I watch an episode of "Family Guy."
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