Gindi Vincent

The Dish on Career, Fashion, Faith, and Family

Day 18 – Cooking

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Mine did not look this good – this is all Pinch of Yum prettiness!

I’m still cooking.

Literally. (Me personally as well as food on my stovetop…hahaha. Laugh.)

As you know, I’m mildly obsessed with soups. So of course over the weekend I made three soups which is ridiculous because it is now past time it’s appropriate to make that much soup. Regardless.

I went straight back home, to Pioneer Woman, because she never fails. Hamburger soup (where I sub out beef for turkey and use vegetable broth), veggie chili (you know my all time fav), and corn chowder (where I add potatoes and carrots and blend a little of it up to thicken it).

But I also am cooking other things and this recipe YOU MUST GO MAKE. I got a wild hair to make street tacos. Particularly shrimp. I rarely cook shrimp at home because Bray can get it fresh in Louisiana. So there we fry it or boil it and it can’t be beat.

Nonetheless, I marched myself to the best seafood counter on my side of town and picked up some shrimp and made these Spicy Shrimp Tacos. The tacos were good. But the reason you should make these now is THE SAUCE. If you do not like cilantro, I don’t know what to do with you. I know some of you people think it tastes like soap. I do not understand you.

This sauce is amazing. I almost didn’t make it. I almost took a shortcut. No, no, no, no, no. Do not do that. I made a big batch (which means I added more cilantro, sour cream, and I threw in a little fresh jalepeno). So lucky us, there are leftovers. I used it as salad dressing last night. And more, it’s coming.

Because I wasn’t sure if the kids would go nuts for sautéed shrimp (they do love shrimp), I also sautéed a little rotisserie chicken with some onion and salsa as an alternative. I had fresh guacamole, sour cream, and that amazing slaw from the shrimp taco recipe. Plus the cotija cheese. That’s it. Easy peasy. *Don’t forget to warm the corn tortillas on the griddle.*

The kids said if I got fired I should open a kitchen.

Our afternoon nanny who is from San Salvador said I used all the ingredients that they use.

Then, the next day, I used the leftover chicken mixture to make nachos. I just shredded some cheddar, drained some beans from my veggie chili, threw on the chicken and broiled it all on low. Then I topped it with guacamole and THAT SAUCE. I could probably eat that with a spoon. (Like little bit at the green sauce at Los Tios, if you’re from Houston.)

Now I can’t finish this post without a tiny little mention of the eldest. I still tear up trying to tell this story. He’s had a rocky year. He has persevered but it’s been tough. The silver lining of this year is his INCREDIBLE teacher. We go to a private school where the kids have been blessed with extraordinary teachers through elementary school, but this woman is an angel. She gets this boy. And she loves him. For you mommas, that’s all you ask.

Well, it was her birthday yesterday. So he comes bounding home on Monday filled to the brim with joy and starts working in the kitchen. I immediately throw him out because I was having some women over to meet our new pastor and was not going to let him trash the kitchen right before their arrival.

He acquiesces but makes me promise this: he gets to bake at 7 pm when he gets back from little bit’s practice. For their standardized test comprehension practice, they’d studied a chocolate chip cookie recipe that day. He thought it would be perfect if he baked THOSE VERY COOKIES for her on her birthday – she loves chocolate chip cookies and with this being a school recipe and her being a teacher, it’s perfect!

Anyone dying?

He came straight home at 7 pm and went to work. We ran out of butter so he went and picked another stick up at our neighbor’s house. He baked them all by himself. It made 34 cookies. He had one to ensure they were edible. Then he counted out everyone in his class, his teacher (who would get the most), his coaches, and a few former teachers to assess who would get how many. There were baggies with their names on it and a big platter for his classroom.

Day 17 – Bubbles

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The bubbles have arrived.  Bubbles popping up all over the red tender skin on the right side of my chest.  They’re burn blisters of course.  I’d hoped this would have waited until the very end so my skin wouldn’t be peeling during radiation. 

Alas.  Bubbles. 

I was messaging a friend who has been through this and has offered sage advice along the path.  She’s also honest. A trait I love. I asked for tips now that I’m all bubbles.  She’d already given me a list of creams to use, which I’ve been applying. 

Unfortunately, there’s nothing left.  “I’m so sorry. You’re doing all you can. I have a permanent scar from radiation burns.”

I looked at my clock.  Nearly noon.  Nothing on my work calendar until 2. 

I needed some air.  And also some milk, eggs, and butter. 

So I drove to a grocery store a little further away.  Windows down.  Storm has blown through and now it’s sunny and 75.  BLARING music. 

For some crazy reason, I thought of Sheryl Crow.  I haven’t listened to her in years. 

I went all the way back.  Tuesday Night Music Club.  Played all of the songs I still know the lyrics to. 

I kept going back to the first track, Run, Baby, Run.  And I don’t care who’s driving by. I’m singing loud, right along with Sheryl, hair blowing out the window: 

So run, baby, run, baby, run, baby, run, baby, run. 
So run, baby, run, baby, run, baby, run, baby, run. 
So run, baby, run, baby, run, baby, run, baby, run.

Over and over. 

Run. 

I remember the days I always rolled my windows down.  Let my hair blow loose. Sang at the top of my lungs.  Exhaled. 

And now, I’m driving to pick up groceries for three kids with radiation burns on my chest. 

It all changes so fast. 

Yesterday, before radiation I dropped our dog at the vet and afterwards I dropped my car at the shop for an oil change and inspection.  Today, before radiation I dropped our tortoise at the vet and afterwards picked up Bray at the mechanic because of an ever aging truck. 

All before 8:30 am and the start of a full time work day followed by softball practices and baseball games. 

There are days you want to run. 

You don’t. 

But it’s okay to sing about it with your hair blowing out of the window. 

Day 16 – Three Trees

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Credit: KFMB

I’ve written about friendship more times than I can count. Probably because one of the greatest gifts God has given me in this life is some phenomenal women.

I have a forest of these friendships. Large old redwoods where the roots go down so deep that the tree can’t be moved. Tall pine trees that aren’t as thick and deep as their sisters but have provided incredible shade and protection during this season. New fir trees that have brought unexpected joy and diversity.

This morning, in a matter of three hours, three trees encircled me exactly how I needed. A divine gift.

My emotions have been all over the map lately. But anger isn’t one that has crowded in much. Until last night. I got crazy angry. No one saw it. The worst of it, for sure. It kept me wide awake. I knew the anger was WAY out of proportion to the thing(s) I was angry about, but it completely submerged me.

I lay there late into the night asking God, please show me the heart of this anger. Help me understand why I’m having this emotion beyond what I should. Please take this away.

While I finally drifted off, I fell asleep with no answers and woke up with it sitting on my heart like a weight.

Right before I left for radiation, I received that incredible text above. From one of the oldest trees in my forest. She and I have been prayer partners for over 15 years and have seen each other in the highs and lows. She has so faithfully prayed me through this season that I could tangibly feel it.

This morning, when I responded to her gorgeous prayer with thankfulness, I explained what had happened. She responded with this:

If that is not the most perfect response, then I don’t even know what is. I could have cried.

Then. Tree Number Two shows up. I call her wailing about this ridiculous emotional battle. First, she showed insane empathy. She could teach a class. Then she explained how it happens to her. And then she got angry for me and let me let it go. (Even though she is going through SO MUCH this week – her own big battles!)

Finally, if it wasn’t extravagant enough to have these two gifts from God, tree three waves good morning. She and I start talking and she just gives me permission to feel HOWEVER I want but then to go lay it down with the Lord. Then she says she’s coming over to pray with me. Just driving over to pray me through the ick.

And so she does. She takes me to pick up my car at the service station to boot!

Today started hard. But God is so faithful to remind me I am one tree in a forest full of trees. If I feel the wind knocking me about, my roots are intertwined with all of these other trees to keep me upright. In an article entitled, How do Trees Work Together to Help Their Communities, the author writes:

Another way trees can share is by root grafting. This is a process in which roots of different trees grow in the same area, overlap, and physically fuse together. Trees of different species are even capable of fusing their roots together and turning the combined root structures into one massive underground circulatory system. All of this is pretty remarkable and explains how trees can share vital nutrients among one another even when they seem to be spread far apart from one another.

Incredibly thankful for all of the incredible trees who share their goodness in my life. I pray I return the favor.

Day 15 – Moving On

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Again, writing my Friday post over the weekend.

Day 15 marked my last dose of full breast radiation. Now I move on to the “booster” course where they smash my chest under this hard plastic plate and focus on the area where the tumor was. It’s not comfortable but it’s less radiation area overall so surely that’s good…

It was a good weekend. That’s me with my second COVID vaccine marked! It knocked me out a little. Saturday night and Sunday morning I felt like I had a mild flu. Eyes were warm, aching body, and even more zapped than radiation.

Little bit and I had a wonderful brunch. Got pedicures. Ran a couple of errands.

This is the last quiet weekend I’ll have for a while. The boys baseball games start this week, and little bit has both softball and track happening right now too.

The boys took the opportunity to get away and work cows at the ranch. They’re growing up so much and trying to juggle city sports with farm living. I’m not sure what will win out.

I have one and half weeks left. My emotions are all over the map. I go from upbeat to sad, or even angry. I’m processing everything and it may take a while. I’m so thankful for friends that let me process.

So off to my final full week. Then next week I’m done on Wednesday in time for Easter!

Day 14 – Skin Care

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A few weeks ago, I looked at my face and it wasn’t pretty. I come from a nice long line of women with good skin. We’re lucky. But the events of late have AGED me.

I use a mix of drugstore skin care products. As you know from your time with me on Fashion Fridays, periodically I would delve into skin care. I’d incorporate a new product but it was definitely a hodge podge.

As of February, I had a mix of Olay, CeraVe, and Beauty Counter face creams. I had a mix of Origins, Cetaphil and Olay cleansers. And I was using Laura Mercier, La Roche-Posay, and CeraVe as my daily moisturizers under my powder.

Things had to change. I needed to start making more of an effort.

Who ya gonna call?

Well I called my friend that has the most gorgeous skin of anyone I know. (And I know a ton of people with gorgeous skin.)

I texted: Okay-the last year has aged me TEN! Lay your skin care regime on me – I’m willing to spend some $$ to try and stave off the aging.

I knew she would have answers but I also knew her products were pricey. Now was the time to finally get past my price point issues.

She laid it on me. So I promptly got on Sephora and put everything in my cart (except for one product which really was outside my budget). Then I texted her pictures of my eyes to illustrate the sad state of affairs.

Now that I’m almost a month in, I can share my new regime and what I like. I had to text it all to her so she could walk me through it.

In the morning, after washing off my face, I put on the Clarins Double Serum, the Sunday Riley Auto Correct Eyes, and a daily moisturizer. That is the only every day product I didn’t purchase because she is trying some out for me. She also sent me home with TWO BAGS of her high end samples to try out.

Currently, I am loving the Ren daily moisturizer sample but would prefer a tinted SPF one that does double duty. For example, I LOVED the AmorePacific super hydrating tinted moisturizer in her sample bags but when I went to buy it IT HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED. Why do they discontinue the best stuff? I just tried a Shiseido one that was light and creamy, but again no SPF which is key.

At night, I wash my skin with the Clarins Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser. I love this product so much. Historically, I haven’t been able to find a cleanser that really cleans and doesn’t dry out my face. This solves that problem.

After the cleanser, I put the Clarins Double Serum and Sunday Riley Auto Correct Eye Contour cream on again because I was instructed to do so! (I usually would never put all that on in the morning.) Then I put on the Ren Revitalising Night Cream which I really love too. My night regime is my favorite. Twice a week I mix the Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment in with my Ren night cream and it is utterly decadent.

She has also advised me that she’s trying “facial sheets” which she recommends because you do not wash off the product. I had no earthly idea what she was talking about, but if she finds one that works and doesn’t cost as much as a plane ticket, I’ll let you know.

What say you? Do you have skin care products you swear by??