KC.

Last week was Kansas City, Missouri. It was my first time to KC, although about a year ago I flew into the airport there and drove a short distance into Kansas. The city was charming - metropolitan, but still had a community feel about it. The nature of my job means that I'm usually working with different teams of people every few weeks. I hadn't met any of this team in person until we all arrived at the airport. Fortunately, the four other team members were very easy to get along with and that made being out of town a bit less annoying (more on that later). We were able to work hard and get a lot accomplished, while enjoying two great dinners at Lidia's (I have also been to her restaurant, Becco in NYC -delicious!) and Bristol.

A few facts about Kansas City:

• The city is famous for its Kansas City-style barbecue,
• The metro area has a population of just under 2 million,
• The city was formed in 1838 at the confluence of the Missouri and Kansas rivers.

The night before I was to catch my flight, J and I grabbed dinner during which I had an epiphany. I like to think I'm open to change, that I am flexible and I can go with anything, but during dinner I realized big changes (i.e., living in limbo for 9+ months and then moving cross country) are easier for me to handle than little changes (i.e., finding out Monday I have to board a plane Tuesday). When I shared this thought with J, he focused in on the issue a bit more precisely - he pointed out that I am fine with change as long as I'm in control. Whoa - he's right. After this I decided I need to embrace the flexible attitude I like to think I have. After all, how many years of flying to random locations across the country and sometimes globe on somebody else's dime (understanding I'm helping them make dimes) do I have left? Like Winston Churchill said, "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference."

Road·block.

an action, condition, etc., that obstructs progress toward an objective.

These are just a few of my blogging roadblocks over the past week.

I ordered these shoes and they arrived on Thursday. But much to my dismay, they were super red and super shiny. After flip-flopping on them, I decided it would be best if I returned them and continued my quest for the most perfect red shoes ever. I did order the shirt pictured and it was quite nice.

Work. Need I say more?

On Friday night we went to dinner with J's parents. It was the first time we've went out since moving back from NY (can you believe it's been 12 weeks?!). They went to their community caucus last week and Lindy was nominated as a State Delegate. We're really excited to hear about everything she will be involved in and know she'll do a great job representing her city.

I was dedicated last Saturday morning and made it to two classes at the gym before 9:00 am. J met me there and when we got home, we made these muffins and delivered them to some of our family for breakfast. They were good - not too sweet, but a little heavy (I didn't exactly measure the banana and I used three...). I think I would make them again, maybe as mini muffins.

Tropical Muffins with Coconut-Macadamia Topping

Ingredients
Muffins:
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour (about 6 ounces)
1 cup regular oats
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed ripe banana (about 2)
1 cup low-fat buttermilk
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
1/2 cup canned crushed pineapple in juice, drained
1/3 cup flaked sweetened coconut
3 tablespoons finely chopped macadamia nuts, toasted
Cooking spray

Topping:
2 tablespoons flaked sweetened coconut
1 tablespoon finely chopped macadamia nuts
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 tablespoon regular oats

01. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

02. To prepare muffins, lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 4 ingredients (through salt) in a large bowl. Make a well in the center of flour mixture. Combine banana and next 5 ingredients (through egg) in a medium bowl; add to flour mixture, stirring just until moist. Stir in pineapple, 1/3 cup coconut and 3 tablespoons nuts. Spoon batter into 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray.
03. To prepare topping, combine 2 tablespoons coconut and the remaining ingredients in a small bowl.
04. Sprinkle about 1 teaspoon of topping over each muffin. Bake at 400 degrees for 18 minutes or until muffins spring back when touched lightly in center. Remove muffins from pan immediately; place on a wire rack.


Yield
12 servings

Nutritional Information
CALORIES 205(29% from fat); FAT 6.7g; PROTEIN 4.3g; CARBOHYDRATE 33.3g; FIBER 2g; CHOLESTEROL 19mg; IRON 1.5mg; SODIUM 215mg; CALCIUM 69mg

A visit to the Anastasia Brow Studio on Saturday was much needed.

Our good friend, Lisa, turned 30 on Sunday. Her husband helped start the celebration with a surprise birthday party for her on Saturday night. It was a great party, lots of family and friends, delicious food and a sweet video of pictures of Lisa throughout the years. Happy Birthday Lisa!

Been loving the gym. The classes are great and I've been spending some time on the treadmill to get ready for a 5K this summer. I am not a runner....

I'm always looking for versatile t-shirts and these vintage T's at Target fit the bill. I purchased them on one of many trips to Target in the last week..

After learning that chicken was a major meal category last week, I decided to try some new chicken options. This Barbecue-spiced chicken was from Cooking Light on the Menu Suggestions page at the back of the March issue. It was good and really quick. The sides were standards at our house, green beans with toasted almonds and mashed potatoes.

Barbecue-spiced Chicken

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons onion powder

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 1/2 teaspoons paprika

1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder (I couldn't find this so I used regular chili powder)

01. Preheat over to 350 degrees.
02. Combine spices and sprinkle evenly over 8 (6 ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breasts.
03. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and coat pan with cooking spray.
04. Saute chicken in pan, 2 minutes each side (will need to saute in batches if making 8).
05. Remove chicken and arrange on jelly-roll pan.
06. Bake for 12 minutes or until done.

Tonight I made the most delicious salmon dinner ever. I've always liked fish and ate all different kinds of it growing up, but when I started eating sushi a strange thing happened - I was totally turned off to cooked fish. I finally came around to white fish that is flakier and I like tuna barely seared but anything else just doesn't taste right. So for years, I haven't been ordering salmon or tuna, let alone cooking it. With the time I've been able to spend cooking since moving, I realized J has been dying for salmon (something he ate for lunch a couple times a week in NY) and I found this recipe in April's Cooking Light. It seriously was the most amazing salmon I've ever had AND it only took minutes to make. You should try it!

Herb-Crusted Salmon with Mixed Greens Salad

Chopped fresh herbs dress up salmon fillets, which are a great source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. The homemade vinaigrette brightens salad greens while keeping calories and fat in check. Serve salmon with lemon wedges.

Ingredients
Salmon:
1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs
2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
2 teaspoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets (about 1 inch thick), skinned
Cooking spray
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Salad:
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 cups mixed salad greens (I used baby spinach)

01. To prepare salmon, combine the first 7 ingredients in a shallow dish or pie plate. Lightly coat both sides of fillets with cooking spray, and sprinkle evenly with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Dredge both sides of fillets in breadcrumb mixture.
02. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add fillets to pan; cook 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium; carefully turn fillets over. Cook 4 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork or until desired degree of doneness.
03. To prepare salad, combine juice, oil, mustard, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl. Add mixed greens; toss gently to coat. Place 2/3 cup salad on each of 4 plates; top each serving with 1 fillet.

Yield
4 servings

Nutritional Information
CALORIES 256(33% from fat); FAT 9.5g; PROTEIN 32.1g; CHOLESTEROL 70mg; CALCIUM 110mg; SODIUM 399mg; FIBER 1.8g; IRON 2mg; CARBOHYDRATE 9g

MAYDAY! MAYDAY! ABORT MISSION!!!

Perfect example of my job for the last four years. If you read my previous post you know about my whirlwind business trip, which includes a jaunt across the pond, that started last night and was to continue until who knows when. Late last night, the powers that be decided that the trip to London wasn't necessary....at this point. So instead of boarding a red-eye across the Atlantic tonight I'll board a flight home. What great news! No working the weekend (well there may be a little of that), no red-eye flight (they don't mix well with me), no conversion from dollars to pounds (a reminder that everything in America is on sale), no immediate uncertainty of where I'll be in the next 48 hours (I'll be boarding a flight back to Chicago Sunday night or Monday morning). What a difference a day makes!

.

PS - Kathryn: My next project looks to be with a NY team also, so don't lose hope for our ridiculous dinner!

I'm Leavin' On a Jet Plane.

Don't know when I'll be back again. Really. I don't have a return trip booked. I boarded a flight to Chicago this evening where I'll be until I board another flight to London on Friday. I'm still not sure how I get from Heathrow in London to the city I'll spend Sunday, Monday and Tuesday in (Wikipedia says the city functions as a dormitory town on the London commuter belt...whatever that means). Yet another flight to board on Tuesday, this time to NY, I think. This leg of the trip is still up in the air (Kathryn, I will let you know as soon as I find out - we could meet for dinner!). A couple days in the Big Apple and THEN....I'll be back again.

Evolution.

I don't think I've mentioned that I am a procrastinator. I am. When I have something time sensitive that needs to be done I (1) think of all the other things I need to do, (2) make a list and (3) do everything on the list, saving the time sensitive item for last. I don't know why I put myself through this, you would think I would have learned by now...

Moving on to the point, I saved some work that needed to be done this morning for late last night and due to a variety of factors, I was sitting on the sofa, laptop on my knees, hunched over my computer working away. Half-way into my work, I thought of this picture and had to laugh.

The Windy City.

Another day another city. Yesterday morning I boarded a flight to Chicago, where I was supposed to spend two days (which has since turned into three - good thing I threw in an extra suit at the last minute). Chicago is a city I have visited a lot over the past four years, which has been pretty lucky on my part. I figure if I have to travel, I might as well travel somewhere good. Chicago has a great skyline, a comforting amount of pedestrian traffic (none of whom jaywalk) and is quite clean (especially in comparison to NYC).

In 2005, I spent all of May in Chicago working some pretty crazy hours. Early one morning, the team finished up and caught taxis back to our hotel on Michigan Avenue. When we got out of the cabs "the tantalizing aroma of chocolate" was wafting over the city --- it seemed almost magical. The hotel staff told us there is a chocolate factory across the river that does production at night. If it is possible to get drunk off a smell it happened, because the chocolatey goodness washed away all the unpleasantness from that day and was the only memory that stuck. Maybe I'll get lucky and have time to visit the factory tomorrow on my way out.....

Random facts about Chicago:

• Chicago is the third largest city in the US, with a population of over 2.8 million,
• On December 2, 1942, physicist Enrico Fermi conducted the world's first controlled nuclear reaction at the University of Chicago as part of the top secret Manhattan Project,
• Chicago is located in northeastern Illinois at the southwestern tip of Lake Michigan.

Day Trip.

I flew to San Francisco this morning and will return to Utah later tonight. It started out a bit stressful as I didn't leave the house until an hour and a half before my flight was scheduled to take off. Next, I saw brake lights along the freeway, but traffic cleared up and I made it to the airport in less than a half hour. Finally, I had a couple of delays thanks to the confusing short term parking signs at the airport. I am fairly certain that this was my first time EVER driving myself to the airport. Couple that with the fact that I haven't flown out of SLC that much and I had a bit of a dilemma. I had to circle the airport (exit and re-enter) twice after following the road to the rental car return and the economy parking lot. On my third attempt I backed up (even though the DO NOT BACKUP signs were the only signs that weren't confusing) and found my way to short-term parking. Finally! Once inside, it was a breeze to check in and even easier was the new security line protocol the airport has implemented. I designated myself an "Expert Traveler" and didn't even have to slow down.

City Transportation.

Today was the first day it felt weird to be out of NYC. I went into my Company's office downtown and organized my desk. At lunch I needed to go 18 SLC blocks, or 2.6 miles, and I didn't want to go to the garage, get my car out, drive 18 blocks, find a parking spot and repeat to get back to the office. Instead I thought, oh I'll just grab a cab.

Wait a minute, that doesn't work anymore. Maybe I could walk....

Hmmm, not likely in these heels. And, that might take a little while. I wish I could get on the subway...

TRAX! That could work....except that lunch starts in 5 minutes and I have no idea where to catch it, how often it runs, where to get off, etc. etc.

So I went to the garage, got my car and drove straight up the street 18 blocks. I did pass a couple of buses and thought

Oh, I could have taken the bus. I'm going to have to figure out SLC public transportation one way or another. Chances are by the time that happens, I'll prefer my car!

Smalls.

I am not a morning person, never have been. My first night out of town for work I never sleep well. I think this is for two reasons. First, I am a bit OCD when it comes to hotels so I never really settle into bed. In fact, I tend to lay quite rigidly in the same position all night (not at all common for me). I don't walk on the floor without socks, I clean off the remote and after an email from my Dad I don't use the glasses in the bathroom. And second, when I have to meet people in the lobby the next morning I wake up at all hours thinking it's later than the actual time. I've been doing this for years - just ask Monica about all the times I called her house during high school at 3 am to tell her I was coming to pick her up for dance practice that didn't start until 6 am. Skip forward to 10 am this morning, when I was a couple hours into meetings (about topics not overly exciting), with a less than adequate night of sleep. I was hurting and what came to my rescue.........Peppermint Altoid Smalls. I can't say that I love their flavor, but the "curiously strong mints" perked me up in no time and my heavy eyes became a thing of the past. If only I had discovered this amazing quality sooner!

On the Road Again.

After eleven weeks with no business trips (how can you count an overnight lay-over when you're moving over 2,000 miles cross-country?), I find myself on the road again. Chalk it up to my first trip since relocating to Salt Lake, but other than my trips to London and Vancouver while living in NY, today was the loooooongest travel day I have had in my three and a half years in the business. My darling and sleepy chauffeur dropped me at the airport at 7:30 a.m. where I was randomly selected for a full security screen. I then boarded a plane to Houston (very coincidental that I've been in that airport three times in the last five weeks) landed and caught a strange shuttle bus to avoid security and jump terminals. I boarded another plane, this one bound for West Palm Beach International Airport and then waited in a very hot cabin while a maintenance crew found and replaced a part on the plane. After being delayed for about an hour, we took off and flew over the Gulf of Mexico, arriving in Palm Beach at 6:00 p.m. At the end of the day (literally), I'm chalking the long day of travel up to (1) this IS a cross-country trip and (2) I lost two hours while crossing time zones. Now I've got to get myself tired so I can go to bed and shrug off the jet lag tomorrow morning. And now, what you've all been waiting for....

A few FUN facts about Stuart, Florida:

• Elevation is 10 feet above sea level
• Population of 14,633
• There isn't a building in the town over four stories tall
• Outdoor activities include sailing, diving, fishing, camping, hiking, biking and golfing (near PGA headquarters)

Bed time treat.

I saved a bit of work for after a BodyJAM (how did I lose my coordination?) class at the gym and dinner with Heidi. When I finished up and sent my last email, I was in serious want of a little treat. Fortunately, I purchased Haagen-Dazs Dulce de Leche ice cream on my grocery trip this weekend. I hadn't had it for quite a while, but given my gold star record at the gym lately I decided to indulge and it did not disappoint. If you haven't tried this before, you must go get some - it is simply amazing! Hands down my favorite ice cream and I should know since I'm an ice cream girl (I got it from my Dad). Now I'm off to learn how to set my washer on delay so that the millioneth load of laundry I'm doing will start while I'm still snoozing and be ready for the dryer when I wake up - gotta love technology!

Back to life, back to reality.

After three weeks spent moving back to Utah and settling in, I was expecting to start work again today....until I spoke to the staffing coordinator for my new area and she told me things were slow and I wouldn't be assigned to a project until later this week or next week. So imagine my surprise, when in the middle of my morning I started getting emails from a partner asking me to work on a new project. Fortunately, the work didn't take all day and I was still able to accomplish a couple of things on my to-do list.