The first of a new month on a Monday - how lovely

Boy, the weekend got away from me!  I did my grocery shopping, laundry, my last class for the season, tons of cleaning, and company yesterday afternoon.  So what else is new?  I am thinking of taking Friday off (tacking it on to having Thursday off), just to have a day of doing nothing - which, I am sure, is a futile plan...

I was telling my daughter how my bucket list is horseback-riding lessons, kayacking, and rock climbing (safely at the gym).  Just once for each, mind you, but doing them all this summer.  She looked at me with tears in her eyes (honest!) and said, you aren't dying are you?  I had to clarify that it was my bucket list before summer dies away! lol

I'm trying a few new recipes this week to start the month off.  I have a split chicken marinating in a tahini-based dressing - my husband promised to grill for me before he leaves for work so that it is ready for dinner.  Then, from my Italian Slow Cooker cookbook I made a tomato sauce with red wine yesterday, and tomorrow will make (from the same cookbook) a "Big Italian Meatball" with the sauce.  Then from my GI diet book (which was headed for Goodwill but I fished it out to see if there were any good recipes) I am making a chili recipe (crock pot also).  These should be plenty to get through the week.

I went through a (short) period of just cooking on the fly but found that didn't work for me at all.  I came home hungry, nothing prepared, and making poor choices all through the evening.  Even if I had something ready to cook, if it wasn't done and ready to go on the plate, it didn't get cooked or eaten.  I found that even with not dieting, being prepared is still the best way for me to go. 

Karly Randolph Pitman calls it "grounding" and I am so grateful to her for showing me that no apology is necessary to acknowledge that planning and cooking ahead is what I need to stay healthy and less crazed in the food department.  I had a friend who made fun of all the planning, grocery shopping and cooking that I did on a weekend to get through the upcoming week.  She intimated that something was really wrong with me to be so obsessed with this planning (she, on the other hand, picked up a pizza on the way home from work).  I felt bad about my "style" for a while and really did think something was wrong with me.  But, when I read Karly's take on it, I realize that no apology or explanation is necessary.  It is what makes my life run smoothly and contributes to my well being - both mentally and physically.

So anyway - chicken is on the grill (hopefully), sauce is made, two slow cooker recipes ready in the wings, and my bucket list at my side.  The new month is off to a good start!

Miriam