It's crazy to think how much of my life I've been in an educational institution. Kindergarten to present, I've been through seventeen grades! Only two more to go...I hope anyways. Throughout those 17 years, I have always looked forward to school. School for me was never boring. It was fun and entertaining. A mix of sports, friends, teachers, books, math, and challenges. Something about buying school supplies, having a locker, and seeing faces I hadn't seen all summer. This year was different though. After having such a great summer, it was difficult to go back to school last week.
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Literally SO tired of summer heat. Today is a little cooler and raining thank goodness. I am so looking forward to pumpkin spice flavored everything, t-shirts and jeans, and the leaves changing colors. The past few weeks have been "sweat while you're sitting" hot. Dew points in the 60's and heat index in the 100's. That's the thing about Minnesota - ridiculously hot in the summer and bitterly cold in the winter. But I wouldn't trade it for ANYTHING☺️ We don't have air conditioning so it can get uncomfortable. After a long day at work or school, there is nothing worse than coming home and having to make something in the kitchen that is going to heat up the whole house. That's why I love this recipe. It is refreshing, easy to make, and delicious!
Well they say all good things must come to an end. The time has come to say goodbye to summer 😔 My last few days were filled with fun and memorable activities. I guess you could say I went out with a bang!
For some, it's hard to lose weight. For me, it's hard to gain weight. Like really hard - both mentally and physically. Eating to restore weight or gain weight has been compared to what it's like to eat when your pregnant. YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE EATING CONSTANTLY. (jeez it's time to eat again?!?!) My number one fear when beginning therapy was to gain weight. And then that fear quickly became number two and my meal plan became number one.
Brownies. Rich, chewy, chocolate-filled, dense brownies. What’s not to love, right? WRONG. Last week I had the itch to bake something. Coincidently it also fell on the night I had one-on-one therapy. So when my therapist asked, “What do you have planned for tonight?” I told her I was going to bake.
For those of you who don’t know, I love to bake and cook. And not to toot my own horn, but I have been told I am pretty good at it. In our family, we take pride in making things by hand and with love. Homemade noodles, homemade ice cream, farm fresh eggs, vegetables from the garden… you get the idea. I picked up on my dad’s breakfast making and barbequing skills along with my mom and aunt’s baking skills at a very young age. Some of my earliest memories are helping clean fresh green beans and learn how to measure ingredients. At one point, my favorite TV channel to watch was Food Network. One of the best parts of seeing my aunt and uncle were spending time with their pets, Kenzie and Murphy! I am a huge pet person, and I have a special place in my heart for dogs. Something about dogs just make you instantly happy. They always love you no matter what mood you're in. Someday when Justin and I have more time, space, and money we want to get a golden retriever ❤️. Kenzie is a yellow lab and looks almost identical to Ceaser, my dad's dog. She was so friendly and just wanted to play with her ball. Each morning she would snuggle up to me. Murphy is a mischievous little guy but yet oh so lovable. My aunt and uncle had lots of funny stories about him. He is infamous for getting into neighbor's cars when their windows are open and they end up driving off to work with him inside!
While leaving Seattle I truly noticed how many coffee shops there were. Literally one on every corner. If Minnesota is the land of 10,000 lakes then Washington is the land of 10,000 Starbucks. Fun fact: next to New York City and Chicago, Seattle has the most Starbuck per person in the nation! Good luck finding any Caribou out there... Back to my trip... the next few days we kept it low key and stayed around Port Townsend, where my aunt and uncle live. It is a cute, little touristy town that reminds me a lot of Grand Marais. First we went to Fort Worden. It was built in the 1900's as a military base designed to protect the Puget Sound. When you are walking on the grounds, it is almost like stepping back in time. All the buildings are kept up and posses very historic architecture. There are barracks, officer quarters, and a mess hall that are all now used for offices, learning spaces, and rentals. The grounds themselves are a state park and have many hiking trails, a beach, and a campground.
Isn't it funny how when you say, "I am going to Washington," or "I am from Washington," you have to clarify Washington the state or Washington D.C.? I always assume Washington state but I am a little bias 😏
The other night, Justin and I were craving sundried tomatoes. What a weird craving right?! The only other thing I've ever had sundried tomatoes on (besides this pasta) is the Titan sub at Erbert's and Gerbert's, but they're soooo good! They have such a distinct taste and robust flavor. Luckily I had my mom's recipe for this delicious meal and whipped it up quick for dinner...
The Emily Program genuinely saved my life. It is where I go for recovery. The day I was diagnosed, my life turned upside down. I quickly realized how sick I was. Recovery has not been easy, and at times I have wanted to give up. The Emily Program has always been there to support me and show me how much better my life is without my eating disorder.
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HEY IT'S ME TARA!Thanks so much for coming to check my blog out. I am a recent college graduate who is taking a crack at this blogging thing for the first time. I hope to inspire you to live a more connected and peaceful life with my own experiences. Recent Posts
February 2021
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