New Job and the Frustrating Aspect of the Learning Curve

This past week was the first full week of my new job position, and it flew by! I love my new job, the team and pretty much everything about it, but I've been struggling a little with being the new person.

At my previous job, I was the person that was the most experienced, had been there the longest and practically knew everything. I was the go-to person for questions or help, but I swapped that out for this amazing new job where I am now in the complete opposite position. My team has been fantastic and is willing to help me as I learn the ins and outs of this new job, but I still get frustrated with myself because I just don't know it all yet.

Does anyone have any tips or ideas to help with this internal struggle?

To Plan or Not to Plan

As a perpetual planner, I am well aware of the fact that many things do not go as planned. Most things don't, in my experience. It doesn't matter how well thought out the plan was or how many back up plans I had, life like to throw those little curve balls at us that send all the plans flying. And I'm usually left standing with a "well, I didn't plan for that" look on my face.

I was reading through some of my old journals from 4-6 years ago today, and I just laughed at myself. All those fantastic plans I thought were foul-proof were indeed thwarted by life. Although a few were sad, unfortunate events, many ended up being things I'm glad about and very thankful for.

It just made me realize that many of the great things in my life were unexpected, unplanned events or opportunities, and I wonder if it's a waste of time to keep trying to plan my life. It has always driven me nuts that my husband doesn't feel the need to plan anything - he just goes where life takes him. I wonder if I'm going about things all wrong. Should I abandon the planning and adopt his philosophy, or is it the wrench in my well-laid plans that make the unexpected events in life so special?

What do you think? Are you a planner or a "go with the flow" type? Which is better?

My Six Favorite Fall Farmer's Market Finds

It's finally fall!!! Okay, okay... Not quite fall, but so darn close it doesn't matter. The air feels and smells like fall, and I'm running with it! Fall is arguably my favorite season of the year. Warm, cozy sweaters, boots, beautiful colors galore and - perhaps my (and my hair's) favorite part - the glorious reprieve from humidity...

 

Really, what's not to love? Everything seems so much better in fall. Even the food is better! This is my favorite time of year to visit the farmer's market, no doubt about it. Aside from the weather being much more bearable, fall in Illinois brings out a lot of my favorite foods. Here's my top six fall farmer's market finds:

 

1. Pumpkin - I. Love. Pumpkin. Not only is it one of my favorite flavors, it's super versatile. I love pureeing the pulp and making all sorts of yummy things this time of year. muffins, scones, pancakes, cakes, soups, sauces, cookies... The possibilities are endless! Plus, the seeds can be baked with a wide variety of seasonings and spices to create good-for-you snacks or salad toppings. And we can't forget the pumpkin spice latte! YUM!

 

2. Eggplant - Eggplant is unique and oh-so-tasty. When I was a vegetarian, I lived for this time of year so I could stock up on all the eggplant I could find. It's the star in one of my favorite vegetarian dishes - eggplant parmesan! Oh, my mouth is watering already... Not to mention, eggplant is fantastic when grilled and makes a great addition (or substitution for) a burger. Tasty!

 

3. Edamame - Living in the land of corn and soy beans, it would be such a travesty to forget these little guys! Fresh soy beans make for a great snack or filler salad. They are also fantastic additions to homemade stir fry! Edamame are newer crops for our region, but they are naturally fat-free, packed with protein and delicious!

 

4. Apples - Yeah, I know I can get apples virtually all year round at the grocery store, but fresh, local apples are way better. And fall in Illinois is there time to shine! This fruit satisfies one of the main criteria I have to consider something one of the greatest foods - it must taste great whether it is hot or cold. Apples are fantastic raw (peanut butter or caramel optional), but they completely up their game when hot. Apple pie, cinnamon apples and apple crisp are some of my favorite warm apple dishes. Homemade applesauce is by far my favorite though, and not just because it makes my house smell fantastic. Delish!

 

5. Butternut Squash - This fall staple is must buy when I get to the farmer's market in the fall. Like pumpkin, it is insanely versatile. Although I love using it for soups and sauces, roasted butternut squash is my favorite this time of year. So much so, it is practically served with every meal. Yes, breakfast too! As a person that doesn't care for potatoes, this squash makes a pretty decent substitute for home fries, and I love adding bits to my salads.

 

6. Pears - I honestly forget we grow pears in Illinois until my father-in-law starts showing up with fresh pears from his pear tree this time of year.  Pears were my favorite fruit as a kid, and they probably still are as an adult. Most of the time, fresh pears from the farmer's market don't last too long in the house (which may or may not be my fault), but when they do, I love baking them. I usually halve them, sprinkle on a little cinnamon, and bake them for a simple, tasty dessert you can't feel guilty about eating.

 

Thank goodness that's six, because I am now too hungry to go on any farther. And I can't wait to go to the farmer's market this week! What are your favorite local fall farmer's market finds? Tell me in the comments below!

Heavy Thoughts

So, this isn't the post I had originally anticipated writing for this week, but it's weighing heavy on my mind. My sister brought something up to me that I was not expecting, and frankly, I'm not sure what to do with it.

 

Last October, my sister was diagnosed with a tumor in her brain stem. When she first told me the news, I was devastated for her. I was devastated for myself, our family and her friends. I'm not even sure how to describe all of the emotions from that time. 

 

Almost a year later, her and I were driving around town when she mentioned that everyone around her changed how they treat her when they heard the diagnosis. Everyone but me. This was not a positive statement. She said she needed me to change. She needed me to treat her differently because she is different now. She said by interacting with her the same as before, it shows I am not dealing with the fact she has cancer. 

 

I am completely lost. Even after discussing it further with her, I'm still not sure what to do with this new information. Yes, she has cancer, but she's still my sister. How do I treat her differently? How am I supposed to show her I deal with the fact she has cancer every day

 

Thank you for listening/reading. If you have any advice, I encourage you to share it.