Recipe: Cabbage Rolls - Whole 30 Style

I am now entering my 4th day of the Whole 30 program.  While I am still feeling a bit hungry and experiencing cravings, I am doing well over all.  I have really learned about what impulses got me to this weight to begin with, that is for sure!  So far, so good though.

When lunch time rolled around yesterday, I could not stand the thought of another spinach salad.  I just wanted something different from the norm.  So, I went to the fridge and assessed what I had on hand.  I noticed a pound of extra lean ground beef and a head of cabbage.  Cabbage rolls!!

I got to work and literally just threw this recipe together and it was yummy and very satisfying.

I was only making a single serving of this, so I pulled 3 large cabbage leaves from the head and put it in a pot with a shallow amount of water.  I brought the water to a boil, put a lid on the pot, and steamed the cabbage.

Traditionally, cabbage rolls have rice mixed in to the meat filling.  Since rice is a Whole 30 no-no, I decided to mix some extra veggies in with the meat.  I chose mushrooms, celery, carrots, and onion.  I diced them up pretty small.

I cooked 4 ounces of the lean ground beef in a pan along with the veggie mixture.  

When the meat is finished set aside and begin making your tomato sauce.  It isn't pictured, because I forgot to photograph that step.  Whoops!  All I did was take a half a cup of tomato puree and added in spices to my liking.  I chose to use garlic powder, chili powder, and a little cayenne pepper.  

By the time the sauce and meat are finished, the cabbage leaves should be nicely steamed.  Take out a leaf and fill it with one third of the meat filling.  I also put a little sauce on top.  Then, roll it up!

When all the cabbage rolls are...well...rolled, put them in a baking pan.  I put some sauce on the bottom of the pan before putting the rolls in, and then topped each roll with sauce.  Then, I popped it in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes.

This was my yummy result!  It was a nice change of pace for lunch and I loved it because I could easily make a single serving.  

Ingredients (for single serving):

• 3 large cabbage leaves
• 4 ounces of extra lean ground beef or turkey
• 1/2 cup tomato puree (I used organic). Tomato sauce would also work great here, but I only had the puree on hand. 
• veggies for filling -- You can use anything, but I used onion, mushroom, celery, and carrot.  I eyeballed the amount.
• spices for the sauce -- Again, use what you like.  I used garlic power, cayenne pepper, and chili powder.

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Steam cabbage leaves in a pot with a small amount of water.  You want to steam -- not boil.
3. Cook your meat and diced veggies in pan until meat is browned.
4. Prepare sauce:  Mix the tomato puree with the seasoning of your choice.
5. Remove cabbage leaves from the pot.  Pat dry with paper towels.  
6. Prepare your baking dish by spreading some sauce on the bottom of the pan.
7. Fill cabbage leaves with meat filling and a little sauce and roll -- kind of like you are rolling up a burrito.
8. Place rolls in pan.
9. Top rolls with the rest of the sauce.
10. Bake for about 20-30 minutes

Calories: 283

Fat: 4 grams

Carbs: 34 grams

Today, I am linking this recipe up with Amy at The Diary of a Fat Mommy!

Jake and Holly's Finish the Sentence...(and some other stuff)...

I loves me a good link up!  They are fun, what can I say?  So, today, I am linking up with Holly and Jake.  

If I had one extra hour in the day...I would probably still avoid putting away laundry.

I wish my name...Had an annoying spelling just to piss people off.  Like "Quartney."


I think anything chevron is...pointy 


My last nightmare...involved cookie dough and a serial killer.  Fat girls have fattening and violent imaginations.


Sometimes...when we touch, the honesty's too much and I have to close my eyes and hide.


My last meal on earth would be...probably the only time in my life where I would have no appetite. Oh, irony... I would probably still binge through a Chinese buffet though -- for shits and giggles.


I would much rather be forced to watch and listen to Michael Bolton's entire catalog via music video than watch one episode of American Idol.


Mayonnaise is raw eggs and oil.  We slather raw eggs and oil on our deli meats. 


10 years ago, I didn't think... Yep, that pretty much sums it up.


Selfishly...I hide my own stash of watermelon in the depths of our fridge, so that my kids don't get their grubby little hands on it.  My watermelon! Mine! (Yes, this is my life.)  I also stash office supplies like this at work for similar reasons.  My computer paper! Mine! 

My favorite show on TV right now...is Breaking Bad.  Cause I work in public education and understand how it may be more appealing to be a drug lord.  Also, have you seen that show on the discovery channel called Naked and Afraid (story of my life) where people have to survive in the jungle naked??  Last week, a lady caught a fish with her lady parts.  NO JOKE.  I think I should probably add that last part to the nightmare section...<shudder> 

And, George Zimmerman...better not own any hoodies...

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That was fun...ok, now time for the aforementioned "and some other stuff..."

1. I am still doing well this week...despite my discouragement documented earlier in the week.  I am now on level 2 of 30 Day Shred and doing pretty darn well.  The cardio intervals kill me though.  Whew!  I have been taking a break from running because I swear when I walk outside I must be standing on the surface of the sun.   I think I may get up and run early tomorrow morning because I do kinda miss it and Marcy has inspired me to roll my chubby butt outta bed and get movin'!
2. Remember that I am now accepting sponsors for my little corner in the blogging world!  My spots cost $5 and $10, but last for 60 days as opposed to the usual 30 featured elsewhere.  I will pimp your blog or business like nobody's biznazz, yo.
3. Yeah, well, that's it.  Happy Thursday, y'all!

So What? Wednesday: July 17th Edition

Before getting started with my So What? Wednesday entry, I am going to make a short plug...

I am now accepting sponsors for my blog.  I am gaining followers each day and my traffic has increased from nearly no readers to about 400 per day.   My ad spaces are reasonable and run for 2 months!  I will give shout outs each month you are a sponsor for not only your blog, but also any social media outlets you wish to promote.  You will also have the option of participating/co-hosting a giveaway once I get one up and running!  Please visit my "Sponsor" page for more details!

Ok, on with the show...

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Linking up with Shannon again at Life After I "Dew" for So What Wednesdays.  I love doing this link up because it allows me to be totally random.  It's just fun to write! Here we goooooooo!  So what if...

1. I just laughed harder than I have all day at an Old Spice soap commercial. (You are the worst architect in the world!) 
2. My living room looks like a toy box threw up in it even though I JUST organized toys a few weeks ago.  
3. My summer vacation is coming to a rapid close.
4. I like Anita more than Natalie on the 30 Day Shred.  Natalie just makes me feel inadequate.  ;)
5. The mountain of dirty laundry in my bedroom is taller than my 3 year old daughter.
6. I have 3 new bosses at work...oy.
7. I got a $100 gift card as a "thank you" for assisting with a scholarship program and now that I have it, I can't find clothes I like to spend it on.  I always find stuff when I am broke.  Figures.. I know I want more clothes though,dang it.
8. I had a list of books to read for the summer and have not read a single one.  I really want to read Inferno by Dan Brown.
9. Now that I have short hair, I wish it was longer again...
10. Walking by the back to school displays make me nauseous.
11. I hate this hot, humid weather.  Kids and I are hanging out indoors this week.  Not ideal, but I don't want copious boob sweat unless I am working out, thank you very much!
12. I am avoiding looking at the sink because of the pile of dishes in it.  Hey, I don't have a dishwasher and I had to go into work and didn't get home until kinda late.  Kinda.  I could have done them, but I wasn't feelin' it.

What are you saying "so what" to this week?

Rich Courtney

Today, I am linking up with Holly and Kristie.  We all fantasize about what we would do with lottery winnings.  Here are my plans for my fake fortune.  I think you will find there is just enough charity involved to offset the greed.

Pay off my mortgage then donate the house:  I would pay off the mortgage on our current home, fix it with things like a new roof, windows, and carpet.  Then, I would donate it to an organization who could place a family in need in the house they may not have otherwise had.  In my line of work, I work with homeless families on a near daily basis.  I would love to be able to give something nice to a deserving family.  I would also make sure they were set up with some kind of assistance for costs like utilities, etc, until they get on their feet.

Buy my family our dream house:  I wouldn't buy anything so huge that it would not seem like home, but it would have at least 4 bedrooms, a gourmet kitchen,a finished basement, huge closets, and a toy room.  The backyard would have a lovely privacy fence and an in-ground swimming pool.  I may also have guest house out back for when our family visits.  I would hand pick the neighborhood and make sure that it is near the best schools.

Hire a male maid:  Why a male?  Well, in my mind, seeing a man clean (and clean well) is good for the soul.  (hehe)  It won't matter what he looks like, because men who clean are instantly attractive.  He could look like Mr. Bean, but appear as hot as George Clooney as long as he has a feather duster in his hand.

Pay off Debt:  Kind a boring one and a no-brainer.  My biggest pay off would be my student loans for my Master's Degree.  My edumuhcation was 'spensive.

Personal Trainer:  I would pay Jillian Michaels to come to my house and train me her damn self instead of using the DVDs.  At least that way, I could tell her where to stick her plank ups in person.  It would be much more satisfying.

Personal Chef:  I would have someone come and help me plan my healthy meals.  I still like to cook, so they wouldn't have to do ALL the work.  Just do all my planning for me. Cause I obviously suck at it...

Scholarship Fund and College Fund:  Charity time!  I would set up a scholarship fund for students in need.  I would also set something up for adults who want to go back to school or attend for the first time.  What can I say?  I am a guidance counselor.  I eat, sleep, and breathe scholarships during the school year.  I see how they impact lives.  I would love to be a part of that. I would also put back a bunch of money for my own kids and their college education.

Vacation, vacation, vacation!  I would go every-freakin-where.  I would probably start with a tour of Europe.  I would rent a car and drive around the round about in  London repeatedly, just so I could say, "Hey, kids look! It's Big Ben, Parliament..." multiple times.

Voicemail Message:  I would pay Morgan Freeman to do my outgoing voicemail message.  I would make sure he worked in the phrase "titty sprinkles" somewhere...just because.

Those are the best things I could think of.  It would just be really nice to buy whatever the hell I want, when I want it and not have to have buyers remorse.

So What? Wednesday

So what if...

1. I have a stupid sore throat and appear to be getting a cold in JULY!  Seriously? So what, shmo what....this pisses me off...
2. The humidity makes it impossible for me to have good hair.  Despite my appearance, I really DO care about the way I look.
3. The sunburn I got last week has caused me to peel and I am now left with pale skin again instead of a tan.  
4. I am doing a cleanse this week and really just want a piece of toast. Who craves toast?
5. All of my pets took a collective crap on the carpet the other day.  This is not typical.  Is this their way of flipping me off?
6. (Speaking of crap...) My son and daughter are now completely amused by yelling out words like "Poop!" and "Buttcheeks!"
7. I laugh sometimes when they shout out "Poop!" and "Buttcheeks!"
8. I decided to do a cleanse the same week I am going to two barbecues.  I is smart.
9. I have done the 30 Day Shred DVD so many times, I can now recite lines.  "I could always use a good chest fly in my life!"
10. I just organized my shoes on a shoe rack that my husband can see.  I now feel exposed, because he will no longer believe me when I say that I "need" a new pair of shoes.  
11. I was too worn out to give the kids a bath last night.  They can just play in the sprinklers today while playing with bubbles at the same time.  That should work, right?  
12. I consider choosing and purchasing a delicious watermelon as one of my biggest victories this week.  (You know you get excited when you open it up and see you got a good one!)
13. Speaking of watermelon, where was this all my watermelon eating life, and why did I not think of something so simple?
14. I am craving chocolate like crazy. Fat girl problems...

So What!?

1. So what if I am a link-up whore?  I am new to the blogging universe (bloggiverse?), and am trying to meet new people. 
2. I bribed my kids and husband with a trip to Dairy Queen yesterday if they behaved while mommy shopped at IKEA.
3. I spent $85 on storage solutions at IKEA cause the kids' toys are out of freakin' control.
4. I partook in a peanut butter sundae with chocolate ice cream at Dairy Queen...but it was a small...and I counted ever last calorie AND was still under my calorie allowance. Booyah!! 
5. We didn't go to Dairy Queen because the kids and husband behaved.  We went cause mommy was stressed after that experience.  Stress eating, much?
6. The dining room is an obstacle course.  It needs cleaned.  I have been saying this for a week.  Today is the day, people!
7. I didn't get right up and run today.  Not feelin' it, but there is a Jillian DVD in my near future.
8. Tomorrow is my 34th birthday and feeling rather "meh" about it.  
9. I have fruit flies in my kitchen that I cannot seem to get rid of -- despite cleaning like a maniac.  All because one banana went bad in the fruit bowl and I didn't notice.  For things with tiny lifespans, they sure stick around.  Little bastards...
10. I didn't get the job I interviewed for last Wednesday.  Little bastards... 
11. I have a sad addiction to Candy Crush that I cannot seem to overcome -- despite being stuck on the same level for, like, EVER...
12. I wanna be one of the cool kids.
13. I went to Whole Foods for the first time yesterday and was totally disappointed.  Not only did it smell of stinky fish, but everything was so damn expensive.  $17 for a jar of almond butter? Seriously? (They have all the stuff I would want from there at Meijer....and CHEAPER.)
14. I couldn't think of anymore of these, but did not want to leave my number at unlucky 13.  Don't judge me.

My Vacation Link-Up + Other Random tidbits...

First of all, after reading Holly's blog today, I was reminded that Google Reader will be no more very soon.  If you are following my blog via Google Reader right now, you can also do so through Bloglovin' in order to keep up with me.  If you visit Holly's blog, she has a link to give instructions on how to make the transition to Bloglovin' for following your favorite blogs.

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Runnin' Music!  If you need a great music mix to run or exercise to, look no further.  Download "All Day" by Girl Talk.  It is a mix of songs that just make you want to dance or run...or both..whatever.  Just a warning though:  It is riddled with profanity (but so are my runs), so it is definitely not something you want to play with the kids present.  The awesome part is that you can download it for free here.  Don't worry.  It is legal.  Girl Talk albums are mash ups of other artists' songs, so he cannot legally make a profit from it.  Therefore, he just does them and allows the mash ups to be downloaded off his website -- and the artists are ok with that because he is not making profit off their music.

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And now, the link up!

My favorite vacation was our trip to North Myrtle Beach last summer.  I loved it because we went with a group of family on Tim's side.  We all rented a condo and just had an all around great time.  I am pretty sure it was also my favorite because it is the first vacation we have taken together since Darcy was born.  The kids loved the beach and still talk about it to this day.  We couldn't swing a big vacation this summer, but we are hoping to go again next summer.  

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Beach view from our condo.

Darcy on the balcony...looking sweet. 

Bathing beauty.  Her favorite part of the beach was collecting shells and building sand castles.  She was afraid of getting in the ocean.

We broke away from the group to take Aidan to play miniature golf.  He "won." (Highest score wins in golf, right? haha)

Aidan at the little Lego shop/workshop.  He had fun in here and was psyched about the complimentary pirate hat.

The SkyWheel was awesome!  We took a ride during the day because the line is 2 miles long in the evening.

Aidan taking in the view from the SkyWheel.

Darcy and I enjoying the view.

View from the SkyWheel.

Family photo op.  Cannot ever get both kids to smile. 

The only mistake of the vacation was going to Planet Hollywood for dinner.  Planet Hollywood is laaaaaaaame.  Tim and I had a good time poking fun at the pop culture references that were cool if we were there in 1994 though.

One of my favorite pics from the whole trip.  We were grocery shopping for the condo after our first full day there.  I think someone was a little worn out.  :)

Sunnies and Summer Accessories Link Up

I was going to write something a little more serious today, but I decided I didn't feel like it, because it's Friday!  No one wants heavy on Friday, right?  I decided to participate in yet another link up.  What can I say?  They are fun and Holly is churning them out this week!  If you have not visited Holly and Laura's blogs yet, you should.  They are two on my list of favorites.

Anyway, on to the link up!  Summer is an interesting time for me.  I love it because I work in education -- which usually equals summers off.  That alone makes it awesome.  The part that I dislike is the part where it is hot outside and I have to show more skin.  I am trying really hard to break out of my comfort zone and buy more shorts and the like, but it is hard.  I am getting there though.  ANYWAY, these are my favorite summer time accessories:

Elle Sunglasses from Kohls:

 

I have never spent much on sunglasses -- especially since I have had children.  I have witnessed my daughter take a pair of sunglasses and break them in half with her superhuman baby strength.  It was always one of those situations where it all happened in slow motion and I could not get them from her fast enough.  I know now that nothing is safe in my purse -- so my sunglasses now reside in my car.  Anyway, I love the Elle line of sunglasses at Kohls.  They are very affordable -- especially on sale (Which, let's face it, Kohls is always having sales that claim to have the "lowest prices of the season.") They are always cute and have some kind of embellishment on the sides that make them just a bit prettier.  They look expensive, but I love the fact that I can usually buy them from under $20.

Vera Bradley Mailbag:

I am on the go a lot with the kids during the summer - at amusement parks, playgrounds, zoo, etc.  I love this bag because it can carry a lot and because it has a long strap, so I can wear it across my body.  That way, my hands are totally free for kid wrangling.  Anything Vera Bradley is going to be on the pricey side (full price this bag is $78).  I never pay full price for Vera though. My mother and father - in law live in Fort Wayne, Indiana, which is the location of the annual Vera outlet sale.  THAT is where I buy my Vera stuff -- discount/outlet style.  So, I think when I purchased my mailbag it was more like $30. You can usually find lower prices on their website also as long as you choose a print that may be discontinued soon.

Bobs Shoes - Sketchers

What came first -- Bobs or Toms? No clue.  Don't care.  I always like to buy a pair of canvas shoes for summertime.  When I am out with the kids, flip flops are not always ideal for me.  Running after a 3 year old in flip flops is comical at best.  Also, the mulch at the playground makes walking in flip flops at the playground a huge pain...sometimes literally.   These are so comfy!  I tried on both Bobs and Toms and Bobs won for me.  They were more comfortable AND they were more affordable -- they are about $10 cheaper, but Shoe Carnival was having one of their awesome sales, soooo...Bob wins.   PLUS, if you buy a pair of Bobs, Sketchers donates a pair of shoes to the Shoes4Soles charity which gives shoes to children living in impoverished areas.  Shoes and charity? I'm in.

Genius Fit Capris by Lane Bryant

I usually live in capris over the summer, because shorts and I don't get along at this point.  Again, I am working on it.  This summer, I have purchased Genius Fit denim capris from Lane Bryant.  I love them because they hold their shape.  I am kind of in between sizes right now, so once the tightness of the freshly washed jeans wears off, I get a saggy jean ass and my 'draws start to slip down.  These don't do that -- ever.  It rocks.    Again, these can be pricey, but you have to hit good 'ol LB when they are having a good sale.  I NEVER buy anything full price from them.  I had one of their Gift Cheque thingies which discounts $25 off a $75 purchase AND capris were $20 that weekend.  So, I got a GREAT deal.  Another thing I liked about these is that the cuff is not sewn in -- as in you can unroll these.  I usually go for this because I have freakishly wide calves (thanks to my grandfather -- why do we always inherit the icky traits?) and when they are cuffed it is a bit snug.  When they are unrolled they are a little longer, but they look very cute.  I have some Real Women Dollars that I may redeem for another pair of these babies this weekend.  Score!  

Aveda Pure Abundance Style Prep

This stuff is the bee's knees!  I have really fine hair, so any styling I do, is useless during the summer because of the humidity.  My hair just deflates and looks like, well, crap.  THIS STUFF has been awesome!  When paired with a hair dryer and a round brush, this stuff gives my hair the body it needs, humidity or no.  I mean, my hair still will not hold a curl in the summer (Have yet to find a hairspray that works for that, so if you know of one, let me know!), but at least with this stuff I can still have volume.  This is definitely a splurge for me ($24/bottle), but it lasts a long time -- a little goes a long way.  Several months of good hair days is worth $24 to me.

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup:

Now, while I have not been blessed with an awesome metabolism or normal sized calves, I was blessed with nice skin.  Sooo, that means I don't have to do much in the makeup department.  I do like to put on a light foundation though and this stuff rocks!  It is very light and natural looking.  I also like that it has sun protection built in.  I am very low maintenance when it comes to cosmetics,  so, for me, this is perfect.  It is great for summer because it is so easy and protects my skin.

Avon Glazewear Lip Gloss

I love this stuff year round, but it is great for the fun, simple look that I like to sport during the summer.  I love lip gloss way more than lipstick anyway.  I love the shine and it is just pretty.  I know it has to be reapplied way more often than lipstick, but oh well.  It's purdy.

Well, that about wraps it up, I guess.  I had fun doing this!  Happy Friday!

My Wedding

It's link up time!!  I really enjoyed linking up with Holly last week for my letter to my 21 year old self.  This week, she is hosting a wedding link up, and I thought it looked like fun.  So, here goes..

My wedding is probably one of my most fond memories.  It was quite literally the perfect day.  It was beautiful, it was fun, it was everything that I envisioned when I pictured my wedding day. I guess I will break things down a little because I could ramble endlessly and change topics continuously without setting some writing parameters.

Date:  October 19th, 2002  -  The weather was perfect.  It rained a little in the morning, but my Mamaw told me that it was good luck to have a little rain on your wedding day, and she was a wise woman.  The sun came out and it was beautiful.

Wedding Party:  The wedding party included our closest friends and family.  There are an uneven number of groomsmen and bridesmaids, but that is the way it had to be.  I wanted these ladies in my wedding.  While some may find it odd that it was a bit uneven, it worked out really well.   Maid of honor was my sister, Carrie.  Best man was Tim's best friend, Jeremy.

Colors:  Violet and Silver

Catastrophes? None, really.  The only hiccup was that the florist called my mom 2 weeks before the wedding cancelling because she fell ill.  My mom was able to find an awesome replacement at the last minute.  She didn't even tell me about it until the new florist was in place...because that is how much my mom rocks. (She knew I'd worry.)

You planned your wedding on Sweetest Day? Really?  Well, yes, but no.  When we set the date, we had no idea because we don't observe Sweetest Day-- under protest.  I mean, come on, we all know Hallmark made it up to pick up profits during a slow greeting card season.   Anyway, I didn't realize it until mom and I started visiting florists and they wanted to charge more because of it being a "holiday."

Ceremony:  Ceremony was at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Richmond, Indiana.  It was a Catholic wedding mass (AKA: 2 hours long).   I know it was important to both sides of the family that we do it the traditional, Catholic way, and that was fine with me!  We did all this preparation and had all of our friends and family together celebrating. Why have it end in 10 minutes?  It was very traditional. We chose classical, traditional music that was played on the old pipe organ -- very beautiful.

I was nervous (as all brides and grooms are), but I was most nervous about being a ball of tears during the ceremony.  I was most nervous about my dad making me cry.  We are close and there tends to be that father/daughter moment before walking down the aisle.  My dad did the coolest thing.  He looked at me and said, "You know, I saw the strangest thing on TV the other day.  Celine Dion was on VH-1 singing a cover of an AC/DC song. Isn't that just awful?  Such a shame."  That lightened the mood and I was able to laugh and smile with that thought in my head.  No tears.

The only thing that went "wrong" during the ceremony is that my veil kept falling off.  No biggie.  Just a pain.

My favorite picture from that day.

Reception:  Reception was nothing short of awesome.  It was so much fun!  We had good food (although I cannot remember eating a bite -- I was told it was good though), music, dancing -- the whole enchilada.  We stayed until the last guest left.  )It was a relief, cause I needed my mom to help me with my dress, so I could pee.)  I really was sad to see the night end.   The highlight of the evening?  The DJ played "Who Let the Dogs Out" (No, this song was NOT the highlight of my evening. I do have some taste.  Keep reading...) and we are all having so much fun, we just keep dancing anyway.  Well, my lovely grandmother appears on the dance floor and starts dancing right along with us!!  It was the best thing in, like, EVER!!  My grandma was a tiny, very conservative, reserved woman.  I had never seen her let loose like that.  It was amazing and a memory I will always cherish.  Thankfully, the moment was captured on video.

Honeymoon:  We went to Vegas!  It was a lot of fun and our first real vacation together.  I hope we can go back some day -- now that we aren't poor newlyweds and can stay somewhere nicer than the Circus Circus.  

Letter to my 21 year old self

Today, I have decided to participate in my very first link up.  This one intrigued me, because I have never taken the time to write a letter to myself at a younger age.  So, I decided to go forward with the task.  So, here goes!

Dear Courtney,

You don't know this yet, but this year is going to be one of the most exciting and life changing years in your life.  Right now, you know that some of these changes are on the horizon and you are scared and not nearly as excited as you should be.  You have spent so much of your life playing it safe and doing what you feel others expect of you, rather than taking risks and exploring life and your options.  You just turned 21, sister! Don't forget that you ARE an adult and are no longer obligated to answer to mom and dad when it comes to all of your life decisions.  This is your life, for God's sake, LIVE IT!

While I am not going to break all of those time travel rules which could mess with the space/time continuum (I don't want to all of a sudden wake up and find mom married to Biff Tannen.), I am going to give you some nice previews and advice that may clear up some confusion and frustration for you as a more mature adult.  

You will travel/study in Quebec (You know this already and are really nervous about going).  Do not, for God's sake, rent a room from Edith.  While she is a nice woman, she board juvenile delinquents (seriously, she does) and you will have to lock up your room every time you leave it -- even to pee.  She also is a horrible cook and will serve you runny eggs and fried bologna for breakfast.  If you don't listen to my advice and end up with her, you will get out of it and find a better place to live.  You will meet a great friend, so take heart that this is experience will provide you more than an education.   You will be homesick from the moment your airplane lifts off.  Please do yourself a favor and try to get over that.  Relish in this amazing opportunity and ENJOY your time.  You are now nearly 34 years old and all you want to do is go back and show it to your family.   Make the best of your time and for God's sake, don't buy the sparkly black flared jeans.  They seemed like a great idea at the time, BUT...  Oh, and you are actually going to live off of Cadbury chocolate, KinderEggs, and Spicy Doritos and LOSE WEIGHT.  Don't get cocky.  Enjoy it while you can, cause that will never again happen in your lifetime.

Shortly after you return from your Canadian adventure, you will meet the man you are going to marry.  He will make you feel beautiful and important the way no other person ever has.  He loves you and you will love him.  After you get married and real life takes over, he won't tell you as much how beautiful and important you are, but that happens in life.  You will still love one another and still think all those things, but neither of you will say them nearly enough.   During your married life up until now, you will go through some pretty difficult trials (things which are not his fault), and he will be your biggest supporter and your soft place to fall.  You will also try your hardest to be all those things for him.

You are going to graduate from college and get your first real teaching job this year.  You have worked really hard to get to this point.  I really have no large piece of advice in this area other than to enjoy it and remain confident.   You still lack so much confidence in yourself.   You are capable of so much more than you even know at this point in your life.  You can do great things.  You are smarter than you even know.  You have every right to be successful.  You will make mistakes, but that is part of navigating through this thing called life.  

Sometime between now and your early 30s, you will lose some people you love.  Ok, I know you and by reading this you will drive yourself nuts worrying about who that might be.  The reality is that you will lose both of your grandmothers within a year and half span.  One will be accidental, one will be due to illness that you kind of saw coming (as painful as it still is).   It will be painful.  All I can say is, continue to love those women as you always have, but never take a second for granted.  When they are gone, you will do anything to even just hear their voices.  They will always be two of the most influential, important women in your life.  I guess I will break one of the time travel rules and give you the following instructions.  Grandma likes to keep a throw rug in the front, spare bedroom.  Get rid of that rug, so she will never trip over it.  Either that or show up to visit on August 26, 2009 and be there to catch her when she falls.  I know we all have our time to go, this is one of those cases where life just seems so unfair and you want to fix it. 

Courtney, I am sitting here 33 years old and can honestly say that you are living a very blessed life.  You are surrounded by love and amazing opportunity.  Love those around you, but don't forget to also love yourself. Take care of yourself so that you can take care of those you love.

Oh, and the biggest Powerball jackpot was won recently.   Do yourself a favor and buy a ticket for the May 18, 2013 drawing.  HINT:  22, 10,13,14, 52 and the Powerball number is 11.  Win and go buy yourself somethin' pretty.   (Oh, Someday a crazy wild-eyed scientist or a kid will show up asking about that ticket. If that ever happens...)