So here I am, finally in New York City! As you can see from the picture above, my workspace view has changed dramatically from the gorgeous woods north of Lake Harriet. But I will say this, the action, life and energy just outside my window is quite inspiring.

Now, I know this “spontaneous” move to New York City came as a bit of a shock to many. But this was a true culmination of 3 months of deep debate, thought and question. But as life so often does for me, a light shown bright personally and professionally and I knew right away that this was the move I needed to make. You see, over the summer my personal life took a turn in a most wonderful direction and as the falling leaves began to give way to winter, I found the most recent professional chapter coming to a close.

The most remarkable part of all of this is the ultimate fulfillment of a dream I held since high school. Just ask my parents about my set goals back then of going to school in New York. There has always been this pull towards this city that I suppressed for so many years. But aside from everything, I know that this midwest kid from a small town in Minnesota needed time to gain experience in Fargo, expand cultural awareness in Minneapolis and ultimately land in the big apple with both feet firmly planted and ready to tackle the next step of my life.

So what is coming next for this small town kid in the big city?  Good question! Even I don’t completely know. What I do know is that the next career move will be amazing and rewarding whatever it might be and that my love and joy for cooking and baking will find its way into a book that I’m working on in hopes to deliver it by this time next year.

There is my update and a little tidbit of where I’m at and what I’m doing.  The adventure continues and what is next can only be described as one big adventure.

Stay tuned!

One treasure that I discovered was a book of captured memories from my senior year.  Now I know I had intentions of actually filling it out at the time, but I only got to page 6 of what was supposed to be a 54 page journal.  I’m sure my mother would be thrilled that this piece of valuable memorabilia was put to good use.

Well here is what was captured 14 years ago.

At the time my friends referred to me as C-Ball (I think this was invented by my friend Liz and an attempt to live up to the “West Side” moniker of attempting to be gangsters)

I rolled out of bed at 6:00 am (I’ll admit here that it was only because my dad came down and woke me at that hour) and classes began at 8:20 am. My sister was 9 at the time, my brother 14 and lets just say that my parents were 14 years younger than they are today.

My haircut consisted and I quote “use gel and comb forward and then back for the authentic ‘GQ’ look.” The shoes were Doc Martins and leather sandals (Birkenstock), Music styles I liked haven’t changed; Pop and Orchestra.  I wore clothes from Structure, GAP, A&F, Eddie Bauer, Old Navy and cite Dayton’s in St. Paul as my favorite department store.

My favorite music groups were Savage Garden, Celine Dion, Madonna and Janet Jackson.  All I have to say here is if this wasn’t a clue to my mother of things to come I don’t know what is.  My favorite T.V. show was “Touched By An Angel” (I watched this with my mom religiously). Favorite movie was Titanic and best liked celebrities were Kate Winslet, Celine Dion and Rosie O’Donnel (Yes that was really the list back then).

Here is what really blows my mind.  On page 4 was a rundown of prices I paid for things.  $2.99 for burger and fries, $5 for a movie ticket, $1.19 for a gallon of gas, $70 for a pair of jeans, $100 for shoes, $2 to rent a video, $12 for a large pizza, 89 cents for a soft drink, 68 cents for a candy bar, $30 for a concert ticket, $16 on a CD, $8 for a haircut and $20 for a night out.  I’ll admit, some of these have gone down, some up and many I found astounding that we got things at that price!

Well there is the trip down memory lane.  Hope you enjoyed!

Well, this book is home to a recipe for banana bread that I have found to be very fond of over the years.  Of course I gave it a small upgrade with a not-so-secret ingredient, Ghiradelli’s milk chocolate chips.

Another trick that I deploy with the bananas is letting them fully ripen (I’m talking brown) then throw them in the freezer till your ready for a bake off. Then set them out to thaw in the fridge overnight the day before. When it comes time to use them just pull off one of the ends and squeeze out the insides (juices and all). Believe me this makes quite the difference in the moisture content of the bread when done.

Here are the details.

In a kitchen blender, cream together a 1/2 cup of oil and 1 cup of sugar. Add two eggs, 6 tablespoons of milk and 3 bananas. Blend these ingredients well. In a separate bowl sift 1 3/4 cup of flour, teaspoon of baking soda and 1/4 teaspoon of salt together. With the blender on low speed slowly add the flour until it is just incorporated (not one bit more to avoid activating the glutens in the flour). Remove the bowl and add 3/4 cup of Ghiradelli’s milk chocolate chips. Scrape the edges with a spatula and give it one final stir to ensure all the ingredients are mixed in.

Grease and flour two standard loaf pans and evenly divide the batter between the two. Bake at 325 degrees for 45-60 minutes (just to the point where your testing stick comes out clean).  Let cool and remove from the baking pan and of course. Enjoy!

P.S. – a glass of milk is highly recommended.

Well, over the last few years (and a healthy dose of the Barefoot Contessa on Food Network) I think I’ve got the formula down just right.

TIP:  If your using frozen chicken breasts, be sure to thoroughly thaw the chicken before prep.

Blot the chicken dry with paper towel, this helps the olive oil and seasoning adhere better.  Drizzle and rub olive oil on both sides of the chicken breast.  Season well with salt and pepper. For an extra kick I’ve been using a northwoods inspired spice blend with smoky chipotle and cayenne red peppers.  About a 1/4 teaspoon dusted on both sides does the trick.

Turn the grill to medium/high heat and let it warm up for a good couple minutes.  (Same if your hitting the skillet for the winter months).  Once the cooking surface is hot place the breast of chicken down and leave it for 3-4 minutes.  This gets a nice grill surface or that golden brown that makes the chicken great!  Flip to the other side for an additional 3-4 minutes.  Once the meat is firm to the touch (use the thongs to avoid burning yourself) it’s done.  Remove from the heat and place on a serving dish and cover with aluminum foil for about 5 minutes.  This “resting” period is critical in ensuring a nice juicy piece of meat.

And with that, you’re good to go with a great piece of chicken!  Enjoy!

Congresswoman Gabby Giffords

Giffords Returns, as Does Unity, Briefly
Representative Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in January, appeared after voting on the debt.Representative Gabrielle Giffords returned for the first time since an assassination attempt.

The Lede: New Arrest in British Hacking Scandal
The police in London arrested a 71-year-old man in connection with the British phone hacking scandal, and news reports named him as Stuart Kuttner, a former News of the World managing editor.

Long Battle on Debt Ending as Senate Set for Final Vote
Members of Congress left after casting their votes Monday on the budget agreement. The bill passed 269 to 161, signifying relatively strong support of the plan.The Senate prepared on Tuesday to take up the budget agreement passed by the House, in hopes that President Obama could sign it into law before midnight.

Stocks fall ahead of Senate vote on debt limit
Stocks are falling in early trading ahead of a Senate vote to raise the nation’s borrowing limit.

Sweatin’ out the summer: Impressively oppressive
The fifth-warmest July came with record misery measurements. No temp records, but plenty of others.

Homeowners are ‘in better shape than you thought’
A new Twin Cities home price index takes aim at the high-profile monthly Case-Shiller report.

Moody’s signals worry over state’s finances
The ratings agency lowered its credit outlook for Minnesota, saying gimmicks used to balance budget didn’t solve the problem.

When the world shows you chaos and uncertainty, lend a flashlight to find the way.
// Lessons on Civility
So much of life in general is filled with chaos and confusion. My mother’s was not much different. I witnessed struggles from being a woman in the workplace while juggling the “expectations” of being a mother. I watched as she faced professional uncertainty as public policy turned on education. But if there is one thing that she was really good at it was making sure to step in and take part. She didn’t always have the answer but always was one of the first to stand up and make sure the discussion got started. She understood that through civic involvement and exercising civic responsibility that we could achieve and overcome any obstacle. She showed us that our biggest role in this country is that of the involved activist. Speaking out for those without a voice and ensuring that even the smallest issue had a flashlight in which to shine its message to those that needed to hear it.

When guests are on their way, don’t just make it a party…make it a splash
// Lessons on Entertaining
My grandma was a consummate entertainer and this skill most definitely was taken to a new level by my mother. From following standard entertaining etiquette to that added flair that ensured that every person that should be in attendance was there and fully attended to. We had countless parties over the years, from the annual family get-together, to neighborhood gatherings and significant milestone events such as graduation and birthdays.

She taught us that to make a party grand didn’t require a significant budget, nor did it need the fanciest food. The key to a magnificent event was a gracious host and an ability to bring a variety of people together in friendship.

When life gives you lemons, through them out and reach for the raspberry ice.
// Lessons in Entrepreneurship and Innovation
We all remember those childhood memories where we grabbed the jug of lemonade from the fridge and took to the streets peddling the refreshment for 25¢ a glass. Well with health in mind and a desire to reduce sugars in the kids, mom ensured that a cool refreshing sugar-free option called “raspberry ice” was ever present and on hand. So with convention tossed to the lake breeze we would take to the street with a new refreshing beverage that seemed to always disappear without haste.

Now granted in this instance the challenge was simple, but there were many times growing up where entrepreneurship and innovation was always encouraged and celebrated. Whether it was short stints with woodworking endeavors to real world business operations as an adult. I remember the lessons my mother taught me in never giving up, finding the new path to venture down and above all else; encouragement for the extraordinary.

When no one has a plan for you, make a plan no one thought of and run!
// Lessons in Making a Difference
The late 80′s and early 90′s in Minnesota saw some of the toughest and most painful decisions in the states history when it comes to education. As with many teachers during those times, my mother found herself at the mercy of budget cuts and the low end of the seniority pool. Facing a significant employment cut and having a family of 5 to care for she reached out in new and inventive ways to make ends meet. The amazing thing of this whole process is what transpired proved to make a huge difference in the lives of many disadvantaged youth. The “Mentor Mom” program (an initiavtive that matched teenage moms with established mothers to serve as role models) and her work with homebound tutoring provided a view to a world I had never known until that point.

Through this exposure I learned one of my most valuable lessons. We all have value, we all have worth in society, someone just needs to give us the key to unlock the future. She exuded such passion in many that the world had seemingly left behind. Through new parents that would have structure and guidance and kids graduating high school when everyone else said they couldn’t to the student that, eventhough no family member was present at the sporting event, they could count on a teacher that was so much of a mother as well cheering them on.

My mother’s legacy to students and youth will far outweigh much of her life’s accomplishments and to this day no matter where I am at, people still come up and recognize me as one of Mrs. Mohs’ boys and share how absolutely amazing she was and the impact she had on their life.

When you find yourself at a Plateau, ask yourself “What’s next?”.
// Lessons in Discovering You Ultimate Calling
This lesson has been hammered home a bit lately and you might recall the topic surfacing in a post just from last week, but it bears repeating. I watched both my parents reach for the stars on many occasions. Mom in particular never settled for the easy and mundane. She was a mover and always reached to the next step. If there was a problem, she was right there with a solution or her gang of girlfriends to swoop in and save the day.

Much in the same way that she pushed me to always reach higher and further she undoubtedly provides the same push in her own life. To this day, even though her professional career as a teacher is behind her she refuses to plateau and slow down. She has embarked on a new adventure as a senior living community manager and dives at an even greater pace into non-profit involvement within the community.

She demonstrates daily that the journey through life is never finished and that growing in personal experience and the way we interact with the world around us is by far the most important challenge one can embark on in life.

Golden Rule:  Many things in life don’t come with rules and regulations. They come with expectations.
Rules and curfews were a far cry in our house growing up. We didn’t have set chores we were required to do and we didn’t have a specific time we had to be home at night. Yet we had something more important hovering over our conscience…expectation. There was an expectation that we would help out around the house where needed. It was expected that if we were out late some night that we were abiding the law and behaving ourselves, and most importantly we were to let dad know when we got home.

Life is full of challenges and it is not necessarily how we are restricted that brings about peace and harmony. But it is more about what the expectation is for our daily life. Care for one another, make good choices and seize every moment.

My mother and I are very similar in many ways. Two seemingly polar opposites of the spectrum, but at the core identical in more ways that one can count. Steadfast, determined, and confident, we never back down and we most certainly don’t shy from the challenge.  These are the lessons I learned from my mother growing up, lessons that, for many, provided a foundation for a life filled with service and a commitment to leave the world better than we found it.

Stephen Crowley/The New York Times // The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, above center, after a closed-door meeting of Democrats.

A run down of what peaked my interest today.

World markets relieved by US debt deal
Markets breathed a huge sigh of relief on Monday after President Barack Obama said U.S. lawmakers agreed to a last-minute deal to raise the U.S. debt ceiling, preventing the world’s largest economy from defaulting.

On Education: Pa. Joins States Facing a School Cheating Scandal
Staff members of The Notebook, a community newspaper and Web site that covers Philadelphia public schools, at work in their office last week.A large data file contains evidence that suggests cheating on state exams at 89 Pennsylvania schools.

Debt deal goes to Congress
The Senate and House still must get on board, but the mood in Washington was one of profound relief.

Al Jazeera English Arrives on N.Y. Cable
“Revenue is not our priority. It’s being seen,” said Al Anstey, managing director of Al Jazeera English.The Qatar-based Al Jazeera has struggled to secure American outlets for its English-language TV news channel.

Congress Must Trim Deficit to Avoid Broader Cuts
The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, above center, after a closed-door meeting of Democrats.The deal would cut into education and Medicare if Congress does not enact legislation by the end of the year.

News Analysis: After Protracted Fight, Both Sides Emerge Bruised
Speaker John A. Boehner faces an immediate test on Monday, needing to bring along enough Republicans to push the deal through the House.A full victory lap was not expected — or, perhaps, deserved — by those on either side of the debate, which has consumed the capital, unnerved the financial markets and infuriated Americans.

Washington Memo: In World’s Eyes, Much Damage Is Already Done
Christine Lagarde of the I.M.F. spoke of a weakening “positive bias” toward the nation.The United States may have saved its credit rating, but world leaders say its reputation may have faltered.

I-35W bridge collapse memorial to be dedicated
Minneapolis will mark the fourth anniversary of the Interstate 35W bridge collapse Monday by dedicating a memorial honoring the lives lost and the survivors of the disaster.

Optimism on Wall St. Tempered by Hurdles Ahead
The New York Stock Exchange on Friday. Analysts and investors warn that markets could remain turbulent in the weeks ahead.Doomsday talk that had dominated recent weeks faded as political leaders signaled they had reached a compromise.

Opposing the Health Law, Florida Refuses Millions
Gov. Rick Scott of Florida in his office in Tallahassee.Florida’s leaders have rejected grants and sought deferrals in carrying out the 2010 health care law.

OP-ED: Why I Dream of Madrid Pride for America
Commentator Jimmy Nguyen hopes for the same freedoms that many LGBT and straight people alike enjoy in Spain.

LaWana Mayfield (source: www.lawanamayfield.com)

And now for today’s news that I’m zeroing in on… yeah it just seems to get more and more entertaining these days.

Once Again, Bachmann Won’t Answer
It doesn’t matter how you ask, where you ask, or whether you put sugar on top, Rep. Michele Bachmann isn’t answering questions about reparative therapy.

Charlotte Could Elect First LGBT Councilmember
LaWana Mayfield, an out lesbian, is running in the Democratic primary to become the first openly LGBT member of the City Council in Charlotte, N.C.

Recovery Still Slow as New Data Show Little Growth
Shoppers at a Best Buy store in New York in April. Consumer spending has been extraordinarily weak in recent quarters.The United States’ gross domestic product grew at an annual rate of 1.3 percent in the second quarter, especially disappointing numbers, as a sharp recession is usually followed by a recovery.

A Young Tibetan Lama Prepares for a Greater Role
Ogyen Trinley Dorje, 26, the man deemed to be the 17th reincarnation of the Karmapa, one of the most revered figures in Tibetan Buddhism, recently visited a monastery in Woodstock, N.Y.Many Tibetans are looking to a young lama to assume the mantle of the Dalai Lama when the elder lama dies, and take on the role as shepherd of the Tibetan people.

Carmakers Back Strict New Rules for Gas Mileage
“The standards are going to be quite stringent and a challenge,” said Scott Becker, a senior vice president in the United States for the Japanese automaker Nissan. Above, the company’s electric vehicle, the Leaf.While the car industry once argued against even minimal increases in government fuel rules, a rise to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025 is being meekly accepted.

US stocks plunge on debt standoff, dismal growth
U.S. stocks are plunging after a dismal report on economic growth added to traders’ fears about a stalemate over raising the country’s borrowing limit.

MetroBus (StarTribune.com)

There are definitely a few developments worth noting from debt reduction talks to a few behind the scenes little known movements.

High gas prices = higher ridership

Republicans Seek Big Cuts in Environmental Rules

House GOP set to vote on revamped debt-limit bill

Boehner Rallies Restive Party Ahead of Vote on Debt Plan
The House prepared to convene in anticipation of a close vote on a Republican plan to cut spending and head off a federal default, as Democrats, too, huddled behind closed doors.

Bachmann Has Cold Shoulder for Tough Questions

Minnesota Somali community is focus of congressional hearing on Al-Shabab

Fed survey: Economic growth slows across much of the US

British Judge Outlines Hacking Investigation
The inquiry ordered by Prime Minister David Cameron into the broadening scandal engulfing Britain’s tabloids, political elite and police will have broad powers.