Warning: you’ll want to read this all the way through before you start cooking.

Because I’ve received numerous two requests, and because we are just that cool on this Friday night, here’s our recipe for some delicious teriyaki chicken wings with wasabi ranch. This was a very experimental dinner, so measurements are somewhat approximate, and we had to sort of play it by ear when things like burning sauce happened.

brad really did the creating, but the plating was all me

So, courtesy of Brad, the marinade:

• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1 1/2 tbsp chopped or grated ginger
• 1 big-ish clove of minced/smashed garlic
• 3 to 5 splooshes of your favorite hot sauce (we like Louisiana Hot Sauce)
• 1 1/2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 spash of sake or other dry white wine
• 1 pinch of salt

Marinate 2-3 pounds of chicken wings for 40 or so minutes at room temperature. If your wings didn’t come pre-separated, after marinating would be a good time to do so. Separate the wings from the drummets and throw away the tips (or if you separate them beforehand – we forgot to – you can save the tips for a stock).

Line your wings and drummets up on a baking sheet, skin side up, place them in the middle of your oven and set the timer for 15 minutes. Oh, you probably want to have pre-heated your oven about 20 minutes ago. 450 degrees, please!

While your wings do their thing, put your marinade into a small saucepan. I hope you didn’t throw that away! So, put it into a saucepan, let it boil and then turn it down to like … medium high … whatever keeps it at a low boil. Give it a good stir every few minutes. You want to reduce the sauce and thicken it up nicely. At this point, I think we added a few small pours of Yoshida’s teriyaki sauce to thicken/sweeten. The thicker it gets, you’ll want to turn it down and stir it more often, or you might burn it. Like we did.* When the bubbles stop popping right away, are sitting on top of the sauce and it looks nice and shiny/sticky … it’s done. Remove from the heat. Brad needs me to tell you that it will look like bubble wrap. But I don’t like that analogy. But there it is anyway.

When the timer goes off, drizzle some sauce on your wings with a spoon and rotate the pan 180 degrees. Then put your sauce back on the burner (your sauce probably won’t be done yet at this point) and set the timer for another five minutes. After the timer goes off again, pull your baking sheet out, flip all the wings and sauce them again. 20 more minutes on the timer. You still with me? Sauce conservatively – you want them to crisp up nicely, and you’ll use the reserve sauce later.

Total cook time should be about 40 minutes – I’ll let you do the math.

Pull them out of the oven and let them coast on the counter for five or so minutes. Toss your wings with the rest of the sauce.

don't they look tasty?

For the wasabi ranch (which you probably should have made right after you put your wings in the marinade, but who’s counting?), mix one 16-ounce container of sour cream (we used fat free) with almost all of one packet of ranch dressing mix. In a separate little bowl, mix some wasabi powder with just a tiny bit of water, enough to wet it. We used probably a total of one tablespoon of wasabi, but I’m a weener about spice, so you might want more. You could also just buy wasabi paste instead of mixing your own paste to save a step.

We had this with broccoli, which was SUPER good with a little bit of the teriyaki-ish sauce.

Let me know if you decide to try this, what you did differently and how it turned out!!

*In the event that you burn your sauce, too, you should know we added some honey and more Yoshida’s. Hopefully you’re more attentive to your sauce, but at least now you know how to save it!

On the suggestion of my friend Doni, who I seem to always be learning from [whether she knows it or not], I’m starting a series on gratitude. Based also on the inspiration for some friends other weekly love-fest-type posts, I’m hoping to shake myself up once a week to bring some more consistency to my blogging. What better way to get out a  slumpy dump than through gratitude? [Thanks, Momma for that lesson] And so, I present you with Wednesdays are for Gratitude.

today, i am grateful for

• My little sister, who’s 21st birthday was yesterday. I’ve been a sap about it for at least 24 hours, but I am seriously the luckiest person on the planet to have been given a sister like her.
• Best friends who tell you the truth, no matter what.
• Getting small bursts of feeling inspired and happy, among persistent stress and gloom.
• The fact that I have the ability to take care of my self, my body – to feed it good, healthy food and give it fun activity, though sometimes I might not think I have time for those things.
• Hearing from locals that they’ve read my blog / like my tweets / think I’m funny [!!!]
• Being challenged at work [although stress can get pretty unfun sometimes, I'm so grateful to be learning more about what I love to do every single day]

guys, what are you grateful for?

Life? Crazy. Work? Totally nuts. House hunting? Frustrating. Blog? Not even on the list.

So busy. Can’t really even form sentences. Summer is that time for me when it’s like, I want to do everything that I can, but also work is so totally nuts that sitting down to log it all is basically the last thing on my mind.

SO! MANY! THINGS!

I read this post on holding yourself accountable, and I really took it to heart. And then I still didn’t post for months. I am so upset with myself. I am not holding myself accountable in so many places. I feel lost in the busy-ness and the stress.

But this blog is important to me. Becoming a better writer is important to me. Being here, showing up, living life and holding myself accountable for my own damn life. It’s important to me.

STRESS.

</totallyinsaneramble>

Disclaimer: if you’re here looking for a #BiSC recap, this is not that. Apologies.

Once upon a time, not so long ago, I was talking with my supervisor/mentor/superwoman, Jerri and I said to her, “It’s like I’m energized by my own life.” She told me I should blog that. I think there’s an unfinished draft in there … somewhere.

There are SO! MANY! amazing things going on in my life. House shopping! Mentoring! Ad2 Reno reorganizing! Writing! Bike rides! Live tweeting the raddest blogger event! Hanging out with my superawesome family! Not to mention all of the growing, learning and amazing work* I do at my job.

But at some point, the law of diminishing returns comes into play and the energy I put in to the awesome starts taking away from the energy that comes out. And that = tired Becca.

So um, that’s it I guess. Because, right now I can’t and/or really don’t want to put any of it down. So tell me, friends. How do you balance it all? How do you make room for everything in your live that’s important to you?

* Amazing, as in the work is awesome and fun. NOT amazing, as in I produce amazing work. I mean I do – but that’s not what I mean here. Just, shhhhh.

the cutest

My niece, Emma, is not shy. She loves everyone, and everyone is her best friend. It’s so cute to watch her interact with other kids and see how they respond and interact back with her. But everyone really is her best friend. While we were playing on the slides, she gave a bear hug to another little girl she’d been playing with for about two minutes.

friends

When she got to run through the fountain, there was no hesitation – they’re all her friends.

kids are so smart

Emma doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her. She just knows she wants to play with those kids and have a blast in the water. So she did. I don’t think it’s a secret that it can be really hard to make friends as a grown-up. But if Emma can just go up to whoever she wants and say “lets play,” why can’t I?

this was not a coincidence

Right before I’m throwing myself into a group of 70 other people, most of which I haven’t ever talked to, nervous about how it will go, if anyone will like me, BUT I DON’T KNOW HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS, my niece goes and shows me just how easy it is.

my niece, living in the moment, having the time of her life.

Bring it on, BiSC.

So, I’m just sitting at the airport, waiting to get to Vegas, thinking about how it is I got here and why. When I first heard about Bloggers in Sin City, I figured “hey, it’s Vegas and I’m there often enough and it’s close enough. I’ll totally go.” I really had no idea what I was getting myself into.

Not that I do now.

A few weeks ago I actually almost canceled my flight. What was I even doing!? Going to Vegas. Who cares about Vegas? I lived there for 10 years and have grown to hate it. Meet some “friends” I met on the Internet? CREEPY. But I didn’t cancel my flight. I connected with my roommates and realized that I do know these creepers. They’re like me. Except totally unlike me. Which is even more awesomer.

When I was a kid I was always so sociable. Never had a problem making friends. But something happened that changed that quality in me. I’m now shy and introverted and shelled. It makes me feel weird. Like I’m not really me. So I am going to Vegas with a completely open heart and so totally excited to make some amazing friends. And be complete creepers with them. Because I’m not shy. I’m that freaking loud girl. And I want to be true to myself. Starting now. Hello world.

You know, there’s this small sizable too-big-to-admit part of me that wonders if I should even be writing at all. I wonder what am I doing writing this blog? Who will ever really care what I write here? Am I doing it just for myself?

Would I be able to go on with my life without it? Yeah. [one blog post in the last month. Please.] Sometimes I question my desire, and if it’s event the right thing for me. Sure, writing is an outlet. It absolutely feels cathartic to put it all down on paper blinkey-cursor-thing. But I don’t feel like I NEED it. I can achieve that same cathartic feeling from talking it out with a best friend, a good yoga session or finally letting it all hit the fan and breaking down completely. Am I really a writer? Why do I write? And if I really wanted to be here, in this space, I’d make time to write regular posts. Right?

oh, self-doubt. you are no friend of mine

Here’s what I do know:

• Writing helps me work through things. It helps me figure out what my feelings actually are on something, when nothing else seems to work. So although I’d rather use a real life person to bounce things off of, I know that sometimes to think clearly, I just need to get. the words. out.
• I’m drawn to it. I always have been. I’ve never really not thought of myself as a writer. No amount of self-doubt can really change that.
• I want to get better at it.

So I’m going to [try to] stop doubting myself.  And start trusting myself. The writing will happen. And if I’m afraid it doesn’t, I’m just going to do it anyway, dammit.

Well, I’ve been a blogcrastinator. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about writing and why I do it. But more on that later this week. On to the monthly check-in. In fact, I think it’s time for a 5-months-in check-in. But before that, can someone please, please, PLEASE tell me how we’re already nearly halfway through this year?

It’s funny how hard it is to get everything right. At the same time. While I have not adhered to 100 percent daily activity, I’ve definitely been rocking the bicycle. It’s been really nice out, but what’s really sealed the deal is having a friend to ride with! I helped Victor pick out a super-rad Gary Fisher from the Bike Project, and now we both ride to work and have fantabulous lunch rides. The only downside is this: riding is more fun when you have some place to end up. Like a restaurant. Or a cupcakery. So, needless to say, I’ve been eating out more than once a week.

But, we also now have the added perk of making every day casual Friday – every day we ride our bikes, that is. It’s an awesome deal! Olsen rewards us for taking care of the environment, which is totally a win-win. Plus it means more incentive to ride the bike, which means more exercise for me. Which is a win. So, my resolution is to ride my bike to work and/or go on just-because rides at least four days a week. And the rule is, if it doesn’t happen [because sometimes there are client meetings and bad weather, etc] I need to get on the elliptical or go for a walk. Because even if I’m not In It To Gym It, I’m still trying to be healthier [and putting it in boldface totally makes it more commitment-y].

I’ve also introduced meat back into my diet. I’m still trying to keep my breakfasts and lunches vegetarian [or at least pescatarian], but it’s nice to have some meat in moderation again. And it’s nice to be able to share the same dinner with my boyfriend again. I still really enjoy experimenting with my cooking, and meat or not, I’ll keep doing that.

My other resolution [in addition to all the continuing points-tracking, eating more vegetables business] is to pinch my pennies. Because internet, I’m house shopping.

pause for omg

And so I need to better prepare myself for all the exciting things [furniture! paint! gardening!] and not so exciting things [HOA fees? Taxes? Maintenance?!] that come along with it. So, while I’ve always been pretty good with money, I’m going to really start watching what I spend [except for the weekend of May 20].

And the other resolution is to not lose sight of my health and fitness among all of the crazy that my life might soon be.

sedoney baloney

You know, I think when most people go through this for the first time, it feels different. Growing up, we didn’t have a pet until I was in third grade. Sadly, we had to give her to a family without children after a few years. We got Sedona the day before I started sixth grade. It was the best day ever, and I remember bringing her home from the breeder, sitting in the back of our minivan, holding her on just one hand. And in sixth grade, I had small hands (not that they’re huge now).

sedona, sedoney baloney, poopy-dog

She was three parts shih tzu and one part lhasa apso, and the sweetest dog anyone ever met. I don’t think she ever even snapped at anything that wasn’t a squeaky toy. It’s been about seven years since I lived at home and saw Sedona regularly. It’s been about four years that she’s been sick. And it’s been about six months that we’ve known this day would be coming soon.

I thought I would be more sad when I got that phone call from my dad. I think I have to put Sedona down this week. But I’d been expecting it. The last time I was home she could hardly walk or eat. I knew it wouldn’t be long before she just couldn’t walk anymore. So I was surprised this afternoon, when I got the text from my brother. She’s gone. She’s gone and I didn’t get to say goodbye.

It’s harder than you think it’s going to be.

Somehow, at some point during the writing process, this quickly went from a happy-go-lucky “it’s spring!” post to an extremely vulnerable post. So I’m going where the words take me, and I’m putting it all out there.

That whole shpiel about my blood pressure, and how I need to make sure I’m getting physical activity every day, even if only 10 minutes?

i suck.

I was really great about walking outside or getting on the elliptical every day. For about a week. I just .. have no idea what my problem is! I feel in such a rut. I know two things: that I want to be outside, and that my body wants to move. I also know that my mind gets in the way. My mind wants to be lazy and catch up on shows and skip the exercise. So I’ll say it again.

i’m in a rut

It’s not that I don’t have the desire to be in better shape. To feel better about my body. To be healthier. To have endorphins that put me in a better mood. I want all of these things.

But I just don’t know how to want them enough. I need to want them more than I already want them. Because the amount of wanting I have going on right now just isn’t enough. I can make excuses all day long for why I don’t get more activity. But the real reason is clear: I don’t want it enough. I have to want it hard enough, long enough to make it a routine.

I know that it’s part winter blues and part lack of a “buddy,” but this is a recurring struggle in my life.

“When the weather is nicer, I’ll ride my bike to work more …”

“When Brad gets weekends off again, we’ll [insert fun outdoors-y activity here] together …”

It shouldn’t have anything to do with the weather, Brad’s schedule or the fact that I have no one in my life that lives close enough, enjoys the same activities and share’s a similar schedule [which is kind of depressing to me in itself].

So, I need to figure out how to be better at wanting what’s good for me.

so in april, i have just one resolution

To get physical activity, even if it’s only a 15-minute walk, every day. But this time, the difference is I’m going to focus on WHY I want the physical activity.

I’ve recently added the “In It To Gym It” blog to my reader for hopes of getting inspiration from others like me, and others who are so completely different from me. For now, I’m just lurking [and feeling inspired], but maybe one day soon, I’ll actually join in.