Hi Friends 🙂
10 days until Halloween! Do you have your costume picked out yet? A few days ago I posted pics of the fabric for our costumes and a few of you guessed correctly:
I will be Princess Leia:
Jason will be Obi Wan Kenobi:
I have yet to actually make the costumes, the supplies are sitting in the corner of the living room:
(yes I bought a Lightsaber at Target to complete the look!)
Last night I made one of our favorite dinners: CD’s Almond Butter Chili from Heather Eats Almond Butter!
HEAB we eat this at least once per week – please tell CD thanks for the 100th time 🙂
After dinner I read through your comments yesterday, concerning my passive aggressive coworker and whether you stand up for yourself or not. Most of you wrote that if the relationship is worth it, or if work is becoming unbearable, you would say something. I struggle with this because I don’t always have the right words to say at the time – I’m the person who wakes up in the middle of the night thinking “THAT’S what I should have said!!!” Or I come up with comebacks days after a situation occurred.
Lately when he makes comments that hurt me – along the lines of working half-assed, being bored with nothing to do, not doing anything, etc – I start to feel bad about myself. That is when I need to fight off those negative thoughts with positive ones, such as: knowing I am a valuable employee, knowing that my coworkers respect me and treat me nicely, that my boss tells me regularly how well I am doing and how appreciated my work is. This doesn’t completely counteract the negative comments, but it lessens the blow.
*What about you? Are you good at coming up with comebacks or do you need time to think about things? I need to process information before I can really give answers. I work this way in meetings too – I won’t contribute much during the meeting, but afterward I will have plenty of good ideas. I just don’t work well “on the spot”.
*Do you make the same things for meals each week? Is this a bad thing necessarily? Jason and I eat the same things for meals, just not always on the same days. But we always have chili, tacos/burritos, soup/sandwiches or homemade pizza at least once per week. It makes grocery shopping really easy!
Have a great day! ~ Holly
The Couch Potato Athlete 
October 21, 2010 at 7:00 am
I am so slow to come back with something – and I’m becoming such a nervous speaker that even if I know what to say I can’t get it out properly! Gargh.
We do eat the same thing again and again, but I went on a meal planning spree recently, so we’ve got all sorts of yummy plans like fruity pork casserole, fish chowder and things involving dumplings! It’s nice to take a break from the same old pesto pasta and chilli.
October 21, 2010 at 7:06 am
Your chili looks tasty as usual–I still haven’t ventured into the almond butter chili world yet. One of these days I’ll try it!
I’m horrible with combacks. Completely quiet, awkward, and never able to think on my feet in those kinds of situations 🙂 You know, it’s just who I am though, and there’s no sense in changing it now!
We rotate our dinners fairly frequently, but I do eat the same lunch salad and same breakfast on weekdays–I’m a creature of habit 🙂
October 21, 2010 at 7:07 am
Oooh I was Princess Leia for Halloween in middle school. Great costume!!
I eat the same meals a lot. As a single girl it’s easy for me to whip up one of my favorite single serving meals instead of making a recipe and dealing with leftovers. I save those experiments for the weekend.
I hope your coworker stops with the negative comments-he’s not worth your energery worrying about him!
October 21, 2010 at 7:18 am
“I’m the person who wakes up in the middle of the night thinking “THAT’S what I should have said!!!” Or I come up with comebacks days after a situation occurred.” – So me Holly! I will think of a good comeback hours later – never very quick on my feet in stressful situations.
Just keep thinking positive and don’t let that particular coworker bother you. From what you’ve said, sounds like he’s the one with issues, not you!
CD and I eat the same dinners all the time. Currently, we’re on a curry beef stir-fry kick…5 nights in row. 🙂
I’ll be sure to pass this post along to CD – he loves hearing when people enjoy his recipes. Thanks so much for spreading the almond butter chili love. 🙂
October 21, 2010 at 7:54 am
I agree with the comment comebacks – it totally reminds me of George from Seinfeld…remember that episode where he always thinks of the comebacks too late…and whips his car around to go back to the office like hours later…or maybe it’s just me who can recite all of those episodes…;)
October 21, 2010 at 10:26 am
ahh… a girl after my own (television) heart!! 🙂
I can say most every line from most every Seinfeld episode… I own the whole series – my favorite!
…I often use examples from episodes in real life.
October 21, 2010 at 7:52 am
First off, my nieces and nephews would LOVE you for your costume choice… they are Star Wars obsessed 🙂
Secondly, I am usually one of those people that wake up in the middle of the night thinking “ohhh I should have said THAT”, too. It’s probably a good thing because I can sometimes think of some nasty comebacks later on 😉
October 21, 2010 at 7:53 am
I think I missed your post about the co worker yesterday, but if he/she is truly being a jerk, call them out on it. Seriously.
October 21, 2010 at 8:13 am
Wow those costumes will be great! I’m really not much of a “costume maker” so i usually end up buying one and get annoyed at how expensive they are lol
October 21, 2010 at 8:45 am
I definitely make the same thing for meals each week. If I find a recipe I love, I usually eat it multiple times in the SAME week, just because when you’re a house of one, you have to use up ingredients before they go bad!! Plus, I usually find some “go-to” meals in my cabinet. 🙂
October 21, 2010 at 8:46 am
Love the costume ideas!
October 21, 2010 at 9:19 am
I’m pretty good on my feet coming up with something to say back, but there are times I’ll think of the perfect thing to say too late…
Love the costumes!! Looking forward to how they come together!
October 21, 2010 at 9:56 am
I really like couples costumes! Last year, my BF and I were Mr. and Mrs. Smith!
I don’t think it’s a bad thing to make the same meals every week: I usually end up finding one a I like and making it until I’m sick of it…since I started blogging I’ve been more adventurous though– I rarely make the same dish two weeks in a row!
October 21, 2010 at 9:58 am
I hear ya – I can never say the right thing or when I do get the courage to speak my voice in a meeting, the idea gets shot down. But you keep your head high and keeping trying. Remember that you are a worthy person – worthy of respect and he cannot take anything away from you.
I generally eat the same meals as well. Salads, smoothies, chili or soup. I try to vary the ingredients (as you did with the almond butter chili) to keep myself from getting bored.
October 21, 2010 at 10:00 am
I’m terrible with comebacks – you are not alone! LOL
I was Princess Leia last year. My daughter went as Padme, my son as a clone trooper, and my husband as Darth Vader. It was fun!
Lately, we’ve been making a slow cooker roast and shepherd’s pie with the leftovers on a weekly basis. When things are busy, it’s easier to do what you know. 🙂
October 21, 2010 at 10:28 am
I LOVE your costumes!! I cannot wait to see the real thing – so fun!
I am the same way – I think of The Perfect Comeback hours later. GAAH.
Good luck with the coworker… it’s hard when there is a negative aspect in an environment where you spend much of your time and (hopefully) enjoy. Keep thinking positive! ❤
October 21, 2010 at 10:53 am
i’m TERRIBLE with comebacks. like a deer in the headlights. so that being said, two suggestions: 1) email your co-worker after the next episode. i am SOOO much better with the written word (hence why i love blogging!) and that way you can reflect, read back, rephrase, before you hit SEND (or have to open your mouth!) OR 2) role play with Jason – Jason can come up with various responses that your co-worker COULD give you and you can practise how you would reply. good luck. but DO do something as it seems like a chronic situation.
love the costume idea!!!
October 21, 2010 at 10:59 am
I eat the same things all the time. I am boring, but I love it. I eat what I crave, and I can’t help it if it is always the same thing! 🙂
October 21, 2010 at 11:52 am
I’m a little too good with comebacks and I fee the urge to say them versus holding my tongue…they are rarely mean / negative, but they can be “smart” or off-color. Ugh.
I hope you work it out!
October 21, 2010 at 12:13 pm
I’m terrible with comebacks and have to really think about something to have anything good. I hope everything turns out for the better. 🙂
October 21, 2010 at 1:22 pm
oh, keeping it classic this year with the star wars? VERY NICE! i wasent planning on dressing up but since everyone has been talknig about their fabulous costume ideas im feeling a bit leftout.. and its the only time all year that u can actually go all out and have a good time- ohhh what to be, what to be hmmm…
btw i used to suck at comebacks..but i think growing up with two older brothers kind of teaches u a lot about being more witty and “on ur toes”. now my comebacks are better than theirs..and its fun to see them struggle to think of something clever to say back. 😀
October 21, 2010 at 3:33 pm
I suck at comebacks! I’m definitely in the camp of coming up with somethingWAY too late (like laying in bed).
We make a lot of the same meals every week, but I try to switch it up/try new things so we don’t get bored.
October 21, 2010 at 4:19 pm
I never come up with comebacks at the time…I am so slow at it. If I happen to come up with one…I feel awesome for a few minutes and then it is back to the old me…slow. We used to do meals over and over, but we don’t do that now. Probably because we are home all the time and really we don’t have to do quick standards. Besides, I have to create in the kitchen or I start to go stir crazy!
October 21, 2010 at 5:32 pm
Great costumes!
I have a pretty basic list of meals that I keep ingredients at the ready for. It makes things easy on weeknights. If I have a sudden urge to create a masterpiece, I’ll grab the necessary items on my way home. We always have pasta at least once a week. That’s a given 🙂
October 21, 2010 at 5:49 pm
i eat the same things all the time…food groove, not a rut, have posted about it many times before and am re-linking it again tomorrow 🙂
snappy comebacks…i suggested yesterday you have some mentally rehearsed ones as i know based on you mentioning it in the past (or else im just psychic!) that youre more of a delayed comeback person. I think most people are. However i work in an environment where i HAVE TO be 110% snappy at the drop of a hat!
This guy sounds like an a$$hole. And a bully. I wouldnt even be subtle with him. I’d just start firing back. If he says something rude, just call him out on it or one up him. Of course he may get off on this and it could escalate. At that point, I’d discuss w/ my manager. This is work. Not bullyfest. You dont need this sh*t.
xoxo
October 21, 2010 at 5:56 pm
ive been craving chili like WHOA lately!!! you got me wanting some!!!! I must make this SOOOON! the weather=total chili weather
October 21, 2010 at 6:36 pm
you will make a great liea! love it! you have some keri fischeresque qualities.
i need to make chilli soon. i can’t beleive i havent yet.
October 21, 2010 at 8:34 pm
Omigosh, I cannot wait to see your costumes photos! I wish my bf would do a couples costume. Speaking of which, he had rave reviews for the salsa chicken you had suggested once upon a time. It was tast-ay!
October 21, 2010 at 8:54 pm
LOVE your costume!!! Halloween is so much fun 🙂
I am just like you with comebacks….I always think of them later, or I shoulda, woulda, coulda attitude. It always makes me mad that I am not sharper in the moment….because when the moments passed, it passed…and it’s like you feel that person NEEDS to be told–however, it defeats the purpose as time goes on.
I hope that situation gets better for you. Like you said, stay positive and fight off those negative thoughts!
October 21, 2010 at 8:58 pm
that leia costume is PERFECT for you!! great choice!! where’s the party?
maybe you should talk to your boss about this jerk? sounds like harrassment, and he shouldn’t be getting away with that stuff. i’m sorry you have to deal with that bozo.
and yeah, we’re not very adventerous in the kitchen area. but i actually enjoy eating simple things, they tend to be easier and cheaper. 😉
October 22, 2010 at 6:53 am
[…] Blogroll ← Costumes, Chili & Comebacks […]
October 22, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Cooooool! Princess Leia! this reminds me of the episode of Friends where Rachel dresses up as Princess Leia for Ross 😀
I’m sorry to hear about your colleague, I haven’t read much blogs this week so I’m still catching up 😦 but I recorgnise myself in you somehow, I almost never know what to say at the right moment but it usually comes to me a bit later and then the situation is already over.
October 22, 2010 at 5:59 pm
Awesome costume!! You two are gonng rock it 😛
I’m not really dressing up this year because I’ll be traveling for most of the day..but I might go out and get a wig or something 😛
October 28, 2010 at 6:48 am
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[…] week I wrote about my passive aggressive coworker, and I wanted to give you all an update on how that’s going. I’ve had to work with him on a few […]
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