Funemployment continued...

I am no longer keeping track of how many business days I have now been out of work. But last week there were some interesting developments and let me start out this post by saying I am 99% certain I will be entering a trial employment period tomorrow with a solo practicioner. I only say 99% because we haven't discussed the dollar bills, y'all. I do not anticipate getting an offer that is low. I think the offer will be fair. And so long as it is fair, I'm going to give this trial period my best shot.

Enough of the boring unemployed attorney talk. Let's get to the fun stuff. Last week was Valentine's Day. So much love in the air! Pfft! We do not "celebrate" Valentine's Day. Let me take a moment to be super cheesy here and just say that I love my hubby every day. No Hallmark holiday required. BUT. I did wake up early enough to make his current favorite soup, a lovely red lentil and coconut soup. This was my gesture to show him that I loved him eternally, as chopping jalapenos and onions first thing in the morning is not the most fun thing to do. I put it in the crock-pot so it would be nice and ready when we got back from the Field Museum. Have I mentioned I live in a bomb-ass city where there is a lot to do (often for free)?? Yeah. I do.

It has been quite some time since we visited the Field Museum, as well as the Art Institute of Chicago which I wrote about a few posts ago. In fact, the first time we visited both was when we came to Chicago after eloping. So, it has been almost 10 years since we visited these fine establishments.

I highly suggest that when you visit any of Chicago's museums, you devote an entire day (or 2) to each one. I promise you won't get through the entire museum in one day. I also suggest you wear comfortable shoes and sit down often. These museums are rather large and no one wants to visit a museum with a grump. So sit, please.

First, let me introduce you to Sue.

You'll find Sue on the first floor welcoming all visitors to the Field Museum.

Here's Sue's buddy the Pterodactyl. I honestly have no clue if he or she has a name.

When we visited the Field Museum we only went through 3 exhibits. We went to see the Lions of Tsavo (and saw much of the Mammals of Africa exhibit along the way), The Grainger Hall of Gems, where I got my sparkly fix, and Inside Ancient Egypt, where I got my "Ancient Aliens" fix.

Please bear with my sense of humor...

I couldn't resist. I love to say "wild ass."

I'm thinking the guy on the left looks like a wild ass. The guy on the right is trying to act like he doesn't know the other guy.

Ok, on to the sparkly stuff. Let me say these photos do NOT do the jewels justice. I mean these jewels were amazing. A.MAZE.BALLS.

this was one of my favorites. it really did look like it was on fire.

Again, the photo could not capture the rainbow that was glowing inside this opal.

This was my hubby's fave. He could totally relate to some dinosaur treasures.

 Again, there were magical rainbows pouring out  of these gems!! It was AMAZING people!!

Ri-DIC-ulous.

Finally, we went to see the mummies in the ancient Egypt exhibit. I did not take pictures of the mummies because I think it's kinda rude to take pictures of the dead. Yeah, and it's kinda rude that they got dug up in the first place so that we could peer at them centuries later. But that's another soap box...

Totally Ancient Aliens shit!! I love that show.

I'm pretty sure these include instructions on how to build a structure that will open up a worm hole to allow space and time travel...

 This last pic was snapped mere moments before we got yelled at that the museum was closed! ruh-roh!

Proof that humans did not build the pyramids...

Peace out people! Hope you have a fabulous week. Try the soup I linked to. It is spicy and comforting after a day at the museum. xoxo

creamy vegan potato soup

i am always skeptical of any vegan recipes that claim to be "creamy." while i admit i have not fully given up dairy i have noticed that the more i eat a whole food, plant based diet, the easier it is on my digestive system. this recipe impressed the skeptic in me and i HIGHLY suggest you look past the word "vegan" and give this recipe a try.

i didn't follow Jenna's recipe to a T, simply because when i cook i don't really measure my ingredients, and i didn't have 5 potatoes. i added some pinto beans and spiced it up just a bit.

my take on her recipe:

1 spoonful of virgin coconut oil
1/2 large yellow onion, diced
3 stalks celery, chopped
2 large handfuls of baby carrots, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced
3 large russet potatoes
1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
sea salt
fresh ground pepper
bay leaf
dried thyme
dried red pepper flakes
4 cups (1 box) of vegetable stock
2 cups unsweetened almond milk


in a large pot, heat the coconut oil over medium heat. add onion, celery and carrots. saute. just before translucent add the garlic, a generous pinch of salt and pepper, thyme and the bay leaf. saute until soft and translucent. add the veggie stock and bring to a boil.

add potatoes and boil for 15 minutes.

remove the pot from heat. take 2 cups of the soup mixture, being careful not to include the bay leaf, and pulse in a food processor. add the mixture back to the soup and turn pot back on low. add the almond milk, pinto beans, salt and pepper to taste and generous pinch of red pepper flakes. warm thoroughly.


I hope you can see the difference in the veggies. The first photo is right after I added the veggies to the pot. The photo on the right is when I added the garlic salt and pepper.

BOIL THEM TATERS!

MAKE SURE TO REMOVE THE BAY LEAF BEFORE SERVING. 

Enjoy! xoxo

lessons in certainty...the uncertain

day 6 of unemployment: today i am making a vegan creamy potato soup. potato soup and the rain are the only certain things for today.

every week hubs and i go to sutra study on wednesday night and every week i am challenged. each week the teachings touch on something i am dealing with. last night we talked about attachment and desire for certainty. obvi what i'm dealing with now is my unemployment/underemployment. currently i am unemployed, but i know soon another project will come along. but the big picture is i am underemployed. and that is the part that is so hard to accept. i admitted last night that i am angry. i feel like i deserve to have a permanent position where i can get on with my career and have the financial ability to buy a home or start a family.

as i said this very thing out loud, i was then reminded that even if i had that position there is no guarantee i wouldn't be fired, laid off, transferred or that i am even physically able to have a baby. and i had to admit that i recently had a conversation with my hubby's uncle who said in all his years, even he is waiting for his life to settle down.

so i learned my lesson that there is no certainty in life. and waiting for that perfect job to live my life is foolish.

in the meantime, as always, i am grateful for what i have today, this moment. i have my health. i have a roof over my head to keep me warm from the slushy rain and snow that has been coming down all day. i have some yummy smelling potato soup on the stove to warm my belly later. i have my wonderful hubby who encourages me and loves me.

i am also very thankful i live in such a cool city that i get to go to the art museum and admire amazing art (for free if you are an Illinois resident!). here are some pics i took in my "Ferris Beuller's day off" adventure. Sans Cubs game, sans Ferrari.

starting out with some impressionists...

Eve. she doesn't look so bad!

 Moving on to the Modern wing of the Art Institute of Chicago. Opened in 2009.

i love shit like this - interactive, meaningful and fun

yes, i ate a piece. a carefully selected red candy. tasted like cherry.

Jackson Pollock

Mao wearing blue eyeshadow. Andy Warhol.

Ha!

Back to the ancient stuff...

Who knew the creature from Where The Wild Things Are existed in 8th century Asia?

Dragon!

proof that my dog is an ancient breed of chubbylapdogness