Emily Tucker

on writing

Emily Tucker2 Comments
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Writing is hard but I always feel called back to it, like Gatsby to the green light. Writing is emotional and takes emotion to do and for someone not always in touch with their own emotions it takes digging and cracking to reach to the marrow of my bones and willingness to leave my heart open on a page. It almost doesn’t matter about the fact that everyone can read what I’ve written because maybe they might have some introspection I don’t have on myself or the topic I’m writing about. 

 

Not having crazy emotions most of the time means I can do things well that can be hard for those that are deeply attached to their emotions. This is how I can write & speak bluntly, purge my house easily, detach from hurts that people have done to me & watch This Is Us without crying most of the time. But this also makes me not feel as womanly sometimes cause I don’t meet some stereotypes. I also struggle to meet my kids emotional needs. Also at times it makes me dwell on if circumstances in my life have brought this emotional distance onto me even more, like a self preservation tactic. Maybe it’s why I’ve become terrible at printing pictures or even looking at old ones.

 

I don’t think I’m the only one that is working hard at learning to be emotional but it does feel like a lonely road. Some people’s emotions take up the whole room and suffocate the rest of us. I’ve always known that I’m an empath, which is a funny combo with my low emotional status. I have to be careful how much darkness I take in because it can take me down.

 

How do we find the balance in a broken world? Now I don’t have correct answers but these are things I know right now for my own balance...

I need to begin to write all the time and share it even if it scares the shit out of me some days. 

I have the gift of creating order & organizing and want to bestow that to others to have life giving homes & businesses. 

I must dwell in community with other believers even though I’ve been burnt & have burned others in the past. 

I cannot and will not live life keeping my story silent & locked inside to harbor negativity, that has already done enough damage in the past.  

Begin to say yes to adventures & be okay with feeling scared when I do new things.  

Believe in the good and that it will come even in trials sometimes. 

Family is everything, even if it’s not your nuclear family.  

God is greater than all the bullshit we have gone through and will continue to go through. He is unfailing, consistant, merciful and best of all forgiving.  

 

Here's your invitation to be scared with me, to share and do it anyway, live free & from peoples perceptions & expectations of you and let grace cover it all because life is short. 

 

emily  

summer things

Emily TuckerComment

This summer quite possibly was filled with lots of media but mostly books plus some new fave products. I also lost 7 lbs & 11 inches this summer. I’m super surprised because it started off really slow in June. 

 

TV/Movie:

  • Evil Genius on Netflix - kind of a slow start but I liked how it finished.

  • Westworld is back with season 2 on HBO - love/hate this season. it feels like one of those seasons that just has to carry you to a great 3rd season, sophomore slump for sure..

  • I watched Ugly Delicious for a second time - in case you needed convincing on how good it is. Yes, I am a foodie and junkie of all things food knowledge, culture & history... so I'm extremely biased but it’s one of the best shows.

  • When I need to watch something that requires nothing from me, I watch Gossip Girl. Probably the 3rd or 4th time watching it plus I read the books so I'm well versed in the world.

  • The Bachelorette is back - I def felt bad for Becca K. at the end of Arie's season, which I had high hopes for since I thought he was great on The Bachelorette back in the day but oh how the mighty have fallen. His season on The Bachelor was almost garbage, he and Lauren, his now fiance, couldn’t be more boring. I got nothing from her that showed me that relationship was going anywhere. Now I don't necessarily think I would have picked Becca as the Bachelorette but so far the season has been entertaining and some of the guys feel like real contenders. Then the season slowed way down at the end. I skipped Bachelor in Paradise this year. I’m intrigued with Colton as the Bachelor but still wish it was Peter.

  • Staircase: I watched most of it on Netflix and was kinda bored by it and still have the last 2 episodes.

  • To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before: I will be watching this on repeat all fall/winter. It’s literally the best movie I’ve watched in a long time.

 

Books:

  • Buzzwordathon: brought to us by my fave booktuber, Booksandlala. this round was books with GIRL in the title. thank god I have a bunch on my tbr, still have yet to make it past few pages of Gone Girl. I just needed lighter fare plus I'm the worst at prioritizing reading fiction

  • Party Girl: 5 stars, a good fun, post college light romantic read. Not overly sexy and def more on the realistic side of romance.

  • Sweet Girl: 5 stars, slow start but then it was so great to see a girl discover her dreams and reluctantly fall in love.

  • Little House on the Prairie: 5 stars, this was a little sadder than I remembered from my reading as a kid. So much on the native american front that is almost hard to read. Knowing even the slightest backstory of how we completely ruined Native culture, makes this slightly sad to read. So good to have a child friendly story about western expansion and a journey that could have been potentially perilous. I however don't think is my favorite in the series. We are reading through the first few as our homeschool read aloud for this past school year and summer.

  • Smart Girl: This finished off the girls series and was so

 

crockpot curry chicken soup

RecipesEmily TuckerComment

This winter has been hard on all of us but especially me. Most days, I'm on fire and motivated by my goals and others I just want to stay in pjs all day. One thing that has started to become a staple of our weeks is soup sundays. Soup fills that warmth in me I'm usually lacking on lazy days. The kids rarely partake in soup eating (eyeroll emoji...), so don't feel bad if your kids don't eat soup cause mine won't either. 

Curry Chicken Soup
  • 6 cups chicken broth

  • 1 cup canned coconut milk

  • 2 frozen chicken breasts

  • 4 tb of butter

  • 1 can of garbanzo beans, rinsed & drained

  • 1 can of cannellini beans, rinsed & drained

  • 1 onion diced

  • 3 garlic cloves, minced

  • 1 Tb curry powder

  • 1 tsp turmeric

  • 1 tsp garam masala

  • 1 cup orzo pasta, can be substituted with rice or lentils

  • salt & pepper to taste

step 1: Pour chicken broth & coconut milk in crockpot and place frozen chicken breasts in the liquid. Turn crockpot on high for 2-4 hours or on low for 4-6 hours. 

step 2: Place butter in pan to melt on med-high. Put chopped onions & garbanzo beans in pan to brown after butter has melted. Once those have browned (4-6 minutes) add in the garlic and spices. Spices bloom when they are heated, especially curry. Once the garlic is translucent and lightly browned, remove pan from heat and scrape into the crockpot. Pour in cannellini beans at this time and add additional salt & pepper to taste. 

step 3: Once half way cooked, the chicken should be pulled out to shred or chop. Put chicken back in after and now pour in the orzo or substituted grain. When the orzo puffs up from soaking up the broth the soup is ready. enjoy & devour. 

-This can be frozen but I suggest leaving out the orzo or other grain until it is reheating. Pastas and grains in soups do not freeze well. 

Crockpot Curry Chicken Soup at Formerly Known as Emj

the 6

Weekly 6Emily TuckerComment

Weekly things on my mind.

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Still lusting after this. 

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#foodgoals right there. I have the urge to replicate & just stare at this for hours.

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I've been very hesitant to jump fully on the essential oil bandwagon.. I only have a couple roll-ons that I got at Target for use on kids, which I love btw but I really love the way scent can effect my mood. These don't officially launch until next month but I'm thinking I want to try them. A Beautiful Mess/Oui Fresh also have a new natural beauty box & other items launching this Fall. 

I just finished season 1 of Westworld! Soooo I normally hate AI movies, etc. but this is so different and with a wonderful creepiness. Plus such a killer cast, pun intended. I have a love/hate with HBO shows but this one was worth it. 

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Crack in soup form. Everyone devours and loves this stuff. Make it now. 

monthly wrap-up & goals

GoalsEmily TuckerComment

this month:

july was crazy, busy, relaxing, stressful and wonderful. all at the same time but feeling so much peace and joy. leaving the bay area was by far the hardest and I think best decision ever made. it hurts my heart to leave the area I was born & raised in but we are already making strides of progress and having tons of fun here. the pace of life is slower & simultaneously kinder than the bay. I have already spent time with my cousins twice this month, my mom came two weekends, & I had a ladies night in. still sort of midway through unpacking & decorating. have to make an enjoyable/dreaded Ikea trip to hopefully finish up on home stuff needs. I haven't worked out all month but have been so busy and sweating that I haven't gained weight but I can tell my strength is lame right now. 

do:

exercise daily - 30 min

1 hour decluttering/purging/unpacking daily - purge focus: clothes, crafts & toys

powersheets august prep

meal plan breakfasts & lunches & dinners - veryyyyy tired of eating out except Sonic cause its a love & addiction

get kids back into morning & bedtime routines

write new cleaning routine - more rooms = new schedule

get library cards

finalize homeschool plans for first 6 weeks 

make sure I have all supplies I will need for first couple weeks of school 

start school gently

 

read:

The Life Giving Home - 1 chapter a day

 

learn:

listen to podcasts while washing dishes & other tasks

 

be:

proactive & less reactive

 

eat:

give me ideas! I'm soooo loathing cooking lately. I always feel uninspired in summer since I'm more a fall/winter food person. 

weekly wrap-up

GoalsEmily TuckerComment

this week:

it was pretty good but with normal ups & downs. Lets just say I was really ready for spring break. Lilah is getting her 5th and 6th teeth and is a big grump, which has interrupted our normal routine. we had a very relaxed and mostly enjoyable spring break. best part was getting my hair done. we also had a memorial for Patrick's great aunt Ruth who passed in December at 100 yrs old, it was relaxed and nice to celebrate the life of such a tenacious & kind woman. 

 

do:

exercise daily - 30 min

write monthly blog content calendar 

15 min daily decluttering/purging

finish powersheets prep

meal plan breakfasts & lunches - i've noticed that i'm more unprepared in these areas lately

work on Lilah's nap schedule

 

read:

The Life Giving Home - 1 chapter a day

Chasing Slow - 1 chapter a day

 

learn:

listen to podcasts while washing dishes

 

be:

present. i'm struggling with being present and not thinking about all i have to do lately. i am in a bit of a overwhelmed rut, where i feel like i'm taking 2 steps forward and 1 step back with everything. i'm really proud of how i am progressing but with lots of change happening this year i really want to be on top of things more. part of the problem is that i'm really anxious about our move this summer.

 

eat:

creamy white chicken chili

chili dog tacos w/roasted potatoes & cauliflower

chicken parmesan w/ pasta & broccoli 

potstickers w/ rice & stir-fry veggies