day six hundred and ninety-one

during a recent search for ways to complete my volunteer hours, i discovered a great organization called seattle works. its purpose is to foster community involvement by creating volunteer opportunities for people looking for a way to help. i signed up for one of their "hot projects" last weekend working for the seattle women's trek triathlon. i helped registrants prepare for the race taking place the next day, which was easy enough, and i was in and out in three hours. but i didn't feel like i was really helping the community -- i was helping women who paid money to test their athletic prowess. i have nothing against that -- meeting women of every age and size who had signed up inspired me to consider doing a triathlon in the future -- but these weren't people in need.

so i've also signed up for a teamworks group, which means i've committed to volunteer one saturday per month, with the same group of fifteen people, for four months. our introduction party is tomorrow, and from what i can tell so far there seems to be a heavy focus on building team morale and relationships through drinking. i am supportive and excited!

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on a related note, a couple years ago my mom gave me a beer-themed puzzle for christmas, knowing it was on my list to complete one. it's not that i've never done a puzzle -- quite the opposite. when i was a kid i remember the dining room table was almost always home to an in-progress puzzle, and whenever anyone had a free moment they'd sit and work on it.

i really miss that, so that's what this goal was about. i have no room in my studio to work on something like this, so a few friends sat down with some mimosas over brunch last weekend and put it all together at maddox's house. it now rests gloriously on her kitchen table, and i have not yet figured out a way to transport it...

easy peasy

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and finally, for said brunch i made salsa with tomatoes i grew myself! (see previous gardening posts to learn more). this recipe is AMAZING, and i've already made a second batch because it was so loved. i highly recommend it.

basically, all's you gotta do is combine these ingredients in a bowl and let it sit for a few hours before eating it.

• two plum tomatoes, chopped
• one ripe avocado - peeled, pitted and chopped
• one-fourth cup finely chopped red onion
• one clove garlic, minced
• one tablespoon snipped fresh parsley
• one tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
• one tablespoon olive oil
• one tablespoon red or white wine vinegar
• four ounces crumbled feta cheese

boom!

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day six hundred and sixty-seven

just purchased this and this from amazon. lida and i are going to kick #68’s ass.

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in foodland, i used my slowcooker for the first time ever! it’s been sitting in the box since my uncle gave it to me for christmas last year, and now i feel so foolish for neglecting it. it really can be that easy to make great tasting food (and lots of it). and OHMAN the bbq chicken i made? so freakin’ good (#59). i’ll be making more of this.

awwwww yeah

• - 6 frozen skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• - 1 (12 ounce) bottle barbeque sauce
• - 1/2 cup italian salad dressing
• - 1/4 cup brown sugar
• - 2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce

put the chicken in the cooker. combine everything else in a bowl, then pour it over the chicken. set it for 4.5 hours on high. AND THAT'S IT.

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finally, i’ve decided on a new #82. originally i had planned to go a month without logging into facebook. and i actually gave it up for a week recently with no problem , but i realize that it’s in the best interest of my new business to maintain an active facebook presence. so i had to think of another vice to take a break from. at first i thought, drinking! i do that ALL THE TIME! but realistically, going a full thirty days might make me really grouchy, especially when there’s a holiday, birthday, or just plain great excuse to party every month at the least. and for what? i’d be miserable and frankly don’t know that i’d feel that great about it in the end.

so instead, i’m giving up beer. it’ll serve the intended purpose of the original goal, which was to cut back on something that’s not good for me. i’m used to having one or two beers a day (during the week – weekends are another story), so it will be tough. but since i’m not a huge fan of wine or liquor, my overall alcohol (and caloric) intake should still go way down. i’m thinking the month of october or november for this one, since i totally had beers last night.

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