The 14 Days of Valentine's Day - Post # 7: Cook Your Heart Out

Let's just get something straight.

A guy worthy of my heart, knows how to cook.
A guy who knows how to cook, is worthy of my heart.
A guy who prefers microwaved dinners 6/7 days of the week, should learn how to cook.

In my opinion, cooking is a significant part of any relationship, whether it be romantic, a friendship, or a family relationship. Cooking brings people together. It allows time to be spent preparing a meal and sitting down (hopefully!) at a table to talk, and commune with one another.

My dad was the one who taught me how to cook. I remember peering over the stove at a young age, watching him cook dinner after dinner, meal after meal. My mom would cook, too and she would bake, but, there is only room for so many cooks in the kitchen. I always loved watching my dad prep meals, as if he was a "magician" in the kitchen, with green peppers, steak, mushrooms, and tomatoes as his show. My parents and I always sat down at the dining room table to eat. There is actually research that supports the notion that parents who cook and eat dinner/meals with their children on a regular basis do better in school and in life. (Look it up!) As a teacher, that part of cooking always resonates with me and to this day, my students and I follow "recipes" in class such as for writing and for making salt dough for math.

As you can see, cooking is a vital part of my life. It is not something that I dread doing after a long day at work (granted, their are some days that seem longer than others where I feel like a need break from the everyday routine), but rather, a necessary task that I embrace. Cooking relaxes me and is a equally a great stress reliever. I feel better after I cook a meal or bake. My favorite part is seeing the meal in my head, with all of the colors and textures and tastes, and putting it onto the plate. Cooking is ingrained in me, much like stories and traditions are passed down in families. Cooking is my tradition that I hope will be carried on to my future family and children someday.

With that said, a man who knows his way around a pan and a kitchen, and who is handy with a spatula and the flavors of seasoning, is one that I am attracted to. Everyone deserves a nice meal out every once in a while, but a home cooked meal, where two people work together to prepare it (or even a surprise meal by candlelight) is one that I prefer more. There's just something so natural about the art of cooking and the ability to create a delicious meal with your hands.

Anyway, if you're out there, "potential guy," make sure that you know how to cook. Because, I can sniff out a natural cook from the wannabes. And, I hope that you "wannabe" with me.

-cheers!

the 14 Days of Valentine's Day Posts: GET OUT THERE!

Hi Readers,

So, I am a little behind in my posts (but only by a couple of days!) Since I last wrote, we had a snow day on Friday and we have one scheduled again for tomorrow. Wow! I guess the ground from Pennsylvania was a little confused :)

Anyway, continuing with the "14 Days of Valentine's Day Series."

I've often been told by many friends that I need to "take more risks" when it comes to meeting people, particularly where relationships are concerned. I am quite accustomed to "crushing" as a todays teenage girls say and keeping it a secret all to myself. I do have to admit, that I am not one of those gals to make the first move. In addition, I am also very adept (from years of experience, I might add), to putting up invisible walls/boundaries between myself and the potential guy that I like. Honestly, I'm not really quite sure why I do that. Perhaps, when I examine this characteristic of myself more closely (NCIS style), I realize that I put up these "walls" as a sense of protection in case I were to "get hurt."

As a young girl, I was always "gun ho" about my education. My parents instilled that piece of learning within me that their belief in being an educated, thoughtful, mindful person is one of the major stepping stones in life. I carried this belief with me all throughout my childhood and onto high school. Sure, I had crushes, but never really any "serious" boyfriends. Looking back, all of the guys that I "liked" or developed an interest in, were those with charisma, who had significant flaws, were jokesters and jocks. I'm typically drawn to the guys who needed fixing and those that I think may like me and that I could "fix." But the reality is, you cannot help those who do not want to help themselves.

Nowadays, I appreciate men who do have a good sense of humor, who can make me laugh, who like independent and self-driven women, who are passionate about their field of work, and who love their family, animals, and kids.

As far as the "getting out more" to meet new people (particular guys), I am slowly learning how do this. More importantly, I am learning how to navigate the waters of once having a social life (in college) to having no social life (full-time work and Graduate school) to having a life outside of work again. It's a messy and beautiful balance and I am fortunate to be a part of it.

Check out this article, Stop getting in your own way, from October 4, 2015 - written by Erika Ettin from the Tribune News Service and published in The Providence Journal. It is a great piece about dating, relationships, and how we can sometimes be the person who is "getting in the way."

Any suggestions for me? Feel free to leave a comment.
Stay warm my New Englander friends.

-cheers!