Today is the Greatest...

day I've ever known.

Ok, maybe not the greatest, but it's been a pretty good day.

First, I realized that tonight is the season premiere of Project Runway! I just love watching people who are really good at something I'm trying to learn how to do. It's so inspirational!

Then, my boss called me into her office this afternoon to tell me that I'm getting a raise.

That's right.

A raise!

Apparently, the bank determined that some people are being underpaid compared to the market. Apparently I'm one of those people. While I'm not happy to hear that I've been underpaid for the last 5 1/2 years, I am happy about the extra money!

(I celebrated by splurging on a Wii.)

And finally - the new issue of Country Living came today!

Could this day have been any better?

I don't think so.

Homeward Bound

I wish I was.

But, I'm not.

This little house is SO cute!


But, I didn't LOVE it.

And you have to love it.

So I'm just going to reconcile myself to being a New Yorker... at least for now.

Sunday Supper - Pan-Grilled Salmon with Red Pepper Salsa

It's been a while.

Not because I haven't been cooking (well, that's not the only reason)... I just haven't made anything THAT good for a while.

But, those days are over - thanks to my friend, her daughter's fund raiser (and my own good sense to order a subscription to Cooking Light magazine), I had the BEST dinner tonight.

And, I'm off to a good start on my New Year's Resolutions.

I hope you like it as much as I did!

Pan-Grilled Salmon with Red Pepper Salsa

Salmon:
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground chipotle chili powder (I couldn't find this, and it was still really good)
4 (6-ounce) skinless salmon fillets
Cooking spray

Salsa:
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped tomato
2 tablespoons chopped red onion
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
1/8 teaspoon salt

Prepare salmon
- Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat
- Combine first 5 ingredients; rub evenly over fillets
- Coat pan with cooking spray
- Add fillets to pan; cook 4 minutes on each side, or until desired degree of doneness

While fish cooks, prepare salsa
- Combine bell pepper and remaining ingredients.

Serve salsa with fillets

Enjoy!!!

Happy New Year!

Today's my birthday! So, it's a new year (for me).

And, I've made some resolutions...

1. Make a decision

I've been trying to decide if I should stay in New York or move back to Iowa for years (basically since about 6 months after I got here). And, I'm really tired of thinking about it! I need to just make the decision and stick with it.

2. Be in Iowa for the "the holidays"

Not necessarily the traditional holidays, though...

- May 1: my dad's birthday
- July 4th: to renew the tradition of our annual 4th of July barbecue
- October 31: my dad and his neighbors have a cookout and hand out candy
- December 24: for my brother's annual Christmas Eve party

3. Try a new recipe every month

My friend's daughter sold magazines earlier this year to raise money for her cheerleading squad, and I received my first Cooking Light yesterday. Cooking Light has great recipes! So, I'm going to try a new recipe from the magazine every month. (Hopefully they'll be good enough to share!)

4. Get organized

I'm on a roll. After this, I can't decide what to work on next (I have a lot of options).

5. Basically, get a life!

Enough is Enough!

This is embarassing.


This corner of my bedroom has gotten progressively worse and worse, until I just couldn't take it anymore.

So, I bought a new bookcase at Ikea, and now that corner looks like this -


(not perfect, but getting better.)

Unfortunately, that just made another corner look like this...



I wasn't really making much progress.

But, now, it looks like this!



All of my crafts are in one spot...





I really need to cut back on buying books and yarn. (Or I'm going to need another bookcase!)

Quote of the Day

"... every course of action is a compromise..."
- Jane Smiley, A Thousand Acres

So true.