No One Likes Grumpy

My Girls down South, reuniting is fun!
Go Buffs!!
(Special thanks to Pam in helping name this Blog Post)

Hi y'all!  I have just come back from 10 days back in the good ole 'US of A,' spending time down South, so I am feeling the y'all is just the greeting I need.  So...I have been a way for sometime, but with some prompting hoping to find my way back to A Hollywood Ending.  Not that I have not been living one, but back to writing about it.

My mom once told me that life is like a circle and during your life you might be on top, maybe on the side, or possibly on the bottom but it will always swing back around.  Now do not go and get your smallest violin out, I certainly have not, but I have just been waiting for things to swing just a tich back up and they have in a really good way.  So sorry for not posting, but no one likes grumpy.

So what's new?  Well, I have left the world of recruitment.  I tip my hats to those that recruit, especially in an agency setting.  It was a tough day-in and day-out for little old me.  And when I told my boss it was time for me to go my simple explanation was, "I just do not feel needed."  I did not feel like I was accomplishing anything or truly helping anyone, and besides that my ass began to double from sitting so much!  So, I have gone out and got myself a brand new j-o-b.

Just another lil snapshot, unrelated to the post but
everyone likes pictures!

My future mother-in-law always says, "Do what you love and money will follow."  I know I have rambled on several times about looking for my passion and I always go back to cooking and most of all EATING (and that does not help my rear end either :) and so I have found a job in food.  I saw a positions posted looking for a Sales Manager for a company that runs farmers markets out here in the Middle East, providing patrons with organic and local veggies.  I was shocked that they had a position open as I had randomly sent my CV months before on a speculative basis to get no response, but all be darned I sent it again and got a response.  I went through several interviews and Viola...A job I am so excited about a company I am so proud to be apart of.  I really could see myself in this industry, we all know how trendy "Local & Organic" is at the moment and I am banking that it lasts.

Before this brilliant job starts I get to go see Lions, and Tigers, and Bears, oh my!!  Maybe not Bear or Tigers, but Zebras and Giraffes!  Maybe Elephants too?  We were going over some trip details last night and there are some very specific wardrobe requirements for this lil safari.  Apparently white or bright colors are not allowed, also it suggests not to wear camouflage as you might get shot at?  By hunters?  HUH, so confused?   I am thinking the boys were teasing but you can trust I will not be wearing any of that.  Actually I never thought I would say this but I am actually going shopping tonight for those pants that zip off into shorts.  Yep, I am totally going to rock that look with a wide brimmed hat and maybe some zinc on my nose (not the white color though).  Sexy!

So trip details to follow!  I am back, be excited :)  I am.

One Year Later

Elephant! 

Since I have been away I have celebrated a milestone.  One year in Dubai!  Six new countries, a magnitude of new food encounters, 2 10ks & 1 half marathon, great new friends, one phenomenal fiance, and I think it is safe to say it has been a very full and rich year.

It is hard to say what will happen next?  Much to my mother's dismay at a wine tasting, we had this Scottish Gypsy (equivalent to physic in "American") tell us that in 1 year and 9 months, not to be specific or anything, we would be moving to Hong Kong and then finally settle down some where in Germany.  Now I have an open mind and I am okay with living the expat life, but I think that is taking it a little bit to the extreme.  I do still get very much homesick.  We have a fab life over here but I miss my family, friends, and their many milestones.

Family in Dubai!

My latest endeavor is trying to discover my passion.  It sounds cheesy, but this is something I think I have always struggled with.  I have tried running, which has been fun, but let's get real, I can definitely take it or leave it.  Lately, I have been cooking a lot more and going to the farmers market, and reading blogs on whole foods and cooking.  We have mad some pretty great dinners!  Maybe I am onto something.  The gypsy did mention to me that I will go back to school at sometime?  It is a little far fetched, but maybe culinary school?  Or maybe just a cooking class, either will suffice.

This past year has been full of changes, almost all of them for the good, let's see what this next year brings.  My Hollywood Ending will undoubtedly continue, "A true love story never ends..."

Bring it on year two!  I am ready.

New Town, New Hobby

Alright, clearly I have fallen off the blogging bandwagon since I have become gainfully employed, but I will not let that detour me.  As I have mentioned I have been working to find a balance here in my new dubai life.  A big part of my focus has been directed to and focused on healthy living.  I tend to lack major will power when it comes to the food part.  I do a stand up job about going to the gym but when I get home at night often times my thoughts go to yummy, delicious forbidden foods!  I have to say since being in Dubai I have yet to really have a good hamburger and oh my goodness how I miss Chipotle, it was the last meal I had before I got on the plane courtesy of my thoughtful mother!  And needless to say In & Out has yet to expand to the far East.  So I have resorted to something I really did back in Phoenix, I cook!

It is so nice to have someone to share a meal with every night.  E and I go through different blogs collecting recipes each week, then we drag our feet to the grocery store, something neither of us like to do, but once the shopping is complete I feel so productive.  I have made beef and black bean tacos, gasztpacho,  varieties of stir fry, and countless different versions of quinoa.  And do you know what, I actually like to cook and I am not too bad at it either.  You can check with E and J, they are my references.

So my goal is to continue gymming it up, continue grocery shopping, and whipping up healthiness and hoping that I will see the results and feel better.  Do you have any healthy recipes to share?  I would love to hear all about them.

On a side note Ramadan is coming to a close, which means it is Eid, which means we get two days off (E gets the whole week, but who is comparing?!), which means we are going on a trip.  We are headed to Sri Lanka to enjoy the beach and hopefully see some elephants.  Sand and Elephants, perfect combination.