Spousal Support

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For as long as I can remember, the Husband has been into cooking.  I suspect it’s because his big sister, Sophie, had a significant hand in raising him, and she is the best cook!  He prefers to make dinners (he loves stir-fries) and was pretty proud of this yummy creation:

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This meal was a combination of roasted, boiled, and stir-fried.  He roasted Brussel sprouts and small yellow potatoes; he boiled pasta and drizzled it in Indian korma sauce (from a jar); and he stir-fried cabbage and tomato.  All served on top of lightly roasted collard greens.  Oh, and black beans on top.

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One of Kristien’s finer creations!  The twist of korma sauce instead of plain old tomato sauce was especially flavorful.   

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I meant to do a hard swim tonight to prepare for Sunday’s sprint triathlon, but work ran late.  Coffee shops are becoming my home away from home.  I may monopolize the electrical outlet, but at least I pay my dues with coffee purchases.

 

And Operation Beautiful notes in the bathroom, of course!

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Mid-day snack was some cereal and banana:

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Fun question of the night:  If you could give your partner any special talent, what would it be?  It would be pretty sweet to be married to a hairdresser, professional chef, or accountant!  I can’t decide.

{ 95 comments }

 

  • Julie @ Shining From Within June 6, 2011, 9:35 pm

    ouuu.. intially I think makeup artist, but the way to a womans heart is through her stomach!

  • Kate (What Kate is Cooking) June 6, 2011, 9:38 pm

    I would love a man that can cook! My ex-boyfriend always cooked for me, which was pretty awesome, but it didn’t make up for his craziness, unfortunately 🙂

    • Caitlin June 6, 2011, 9:39 pm

      Bawhaha.

    • Allie @ Healthy Balance, Healthy Life June 6, 2011, 10:23 pm

      Agreed! I love a man who can, and wants to, cook for me!

    • JenATX June 7, 2011, 1:44 pm

      LOL! and I think I would like my man equipped with the talent of either personal trainer or nail professional so I could get amazing pedicures at home haha

  • Wendy June 6, 2011, 9:44 pm

    He’d be the world’s best masseuse! He’s pretty good, but not quite like when I actually pay for one. 🙂

  • Pam June 6, 2011, 9:44 pm

    I’m an accountant 🙂 I think I would pick a chef! Although, my boyfriend is very mechanically inclined and that is really a good thing for car repairs, stuff around the house, etc.

  • Lisa (bakebikeblog) June 6, 2011, 9:51 pm

    I would say chef – however I have heard that many chefs are so sick of cooking after work that they cant be bothered when they get home lol

  • Victoria (District Chocoholic) June 6, 2011, 9:52 pm

    As awesome as that dinner looks, I’d have to say that my imaginary husband would be a massage therapist. And possibly an interior designer/fashion consultant because I am hopelessly lost with both.

    • Sarah June 6, 2011, 10:00 pm

      The massage therapist idea is BRILLIANT!!!

  • Carrie @ TV and Dinners June 6, 2011, 9:53 pm

    Chiropractor. Or masseuse. Or a chiropractor/masseuse/chef combo.

    Yes, that last one.

    • faith June 6, 2011, 10:09 pm

      It’s true, being married to a chiropractor is pretty awesome! And a chiropractor/good cook/mr. fix-it is even better!

    • Amber K June 7, 2011, 12:56 pm

      Wow, I’ll take those three too! 🙂

  • erica June 6, 2011, 9:53 pm

    i would wish the bf to have super cooking abilities. i think scrambled eggs are the extent of his real-life cooking abilities. LOL

  • Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife June 6, 2011, 9:55 pm

    I would say either a masseuse, lawyer, or accountant/cpa. I love good stir fries!!

  • Kristin @ Wounded Fawn June 6, 2011, 9:55 pm

    My boyfriend is great at so many things and he cooks and cleans and give awesome massages but I would give him the special talent of cat whispering. Our cats love him but they have been actin’ a fool lately.

    I asked him what special talent he would give me just for the fun of it and he said he would give me tight rope walking skills. lol

    Just bought my healthy living summit ticket btw I’m so thrilled!

    • Caitlin June 7, 2011, 7:55 am

      So excited to see you at HLS!

  • kalli@fitandfortysomething June 6, 2011, 9:57 pm

    i always tell my husband i wish he was a chiropractor!!!! i would be in heaven 🙂

  • Caitlin June 6, 2011, 9:58 pm

    I wish I was married to a man certified in acupuncture 🙂

    • Caitlin June 7, 2011, 7:54 am

      hehehe it’s pretty sweet!

  • hippierunner June 6, 2011, 9:58 pm

    I’d love if my boyfriend were suddenly blessed with the talent to be an amazing masseuse who loved to give massages! My sore muscles would love that.

  • Heather June 6, 2011, 9:59 pm

    That dinner looks fantastic. I usually love to cook, so I don’t think I’d want my hubby to be the super star cook in our house. I think I’d rather him be a personal trainer. Then I wouldn’t have to pay the big bucks for one. Oh and if he could be a massage therapist as well that would be perfect. Then he could give me an awesome massage after he kicked my butt at the gym.

  • Caitlin @ The Caitie Experiment June 6, 2011, 10:01 pm

    Well, my bff is already a chef who loves to spoil my bf and I with her fab skillz, so I think I’d wish to give my bf the ability to clean our apt as well as I do! 😉 He tries, but I still have to secretly re-do the bathroom after he leaves for work….nasty!

  • AndreaClaire June 6, 2011, 10:01 pm

    Mechanic or carpenter/plumber. One of those people who can fix things for free because they love me.

  • The Healthy Engineer June 6, 2011, 10:03 pm

    Mmmm I love black beans!

    It’ll be a while until I get married, but a chef and handyman would be great. And an insect killer. Even though I hate bugs, I can never kill them.

  • Katheryn June 6, 2011, 10:06 pm

    It’s a toss up between hair dresser or a massage therapist. Luckily I married someone who can fix anything home or car related. That talent has saved us thousands of dollars over the years.

  • kirsten June 6, 2011, 10:09 pm

    I would say a professional chef who loves to clean up after himself 🙂

  • Stephanie @cookinfanatic June 6, 2011, 10:10 pm

    Ahh hahaha as a CPA I think it’s too funny that that’s in the ranking with professional chef and hair stylist… cracks me up?! I think my choice would be home repairs – of all kinds – this past month at my house is proving to be quite expensive and that sure would come in handy! 😛

  • Jessica @ The Process of Healing June 6, 2011, 10:11 pm

    Aw yum! You’re one lucky woman!
    And I would looove my man to be more financially skilled. Money and saving? Not his forte.

    • Baking 'n' Books June 6, 2011, 10:14 pm

      Oh that’s a good one! I know it’s horrible to say…(and I don’t think I’d let it derail me if I found the “one”) – but having someone who’s financially secure and savvy would be a dream…

      I don’t know Caitlin – sounds like you already got a dreamy guy!

      How do you feel about missing workouts, etc? I used to deal with a lot of guilt for just being inactive and sitting or writing or whatever all day.

  • Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga June 6, 2011, 10:14 pm

    If you could give your partner any special talent, what would it be? = foot masseuse or professional masseuse of any kind. I’d never leave the house 🙂

  • Courtney June 6, 2011, 10:16 pm

    My boyfriend *thinks* he is an amazing cook, but I just play along. He’s got something against recipes, but has no culinary skill whatsoever. He doesn’t even know the difference between soup and gumbo. I know this because we once made gumbo together, and I had my recipe in tow and here we was not measuring anything, and adding CONDIMENTS to our soup! Apparently, pickle juice is also in the condiment family in his book. Yipes.

    Anyway–he’s already an awesome physical trainer, so I’d make him a psychic. He cannot get hints and has no “date etiquette”. Argh! hahaha

  • maria @ Chasing the Now June 6, 2011, 10:16 pm

    I wish my husband loved to cook. I don’t mind cooking, and I even enjoy it most of the time. But it would be nice to have a hand in the kitchen on long days.

  • Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table June 6, 2011, 10:18 pm

    Masseuse! How awesome would a nightly massage be!?

  • Katie @ peacebeme June 6, 2011, 10:19 pm

    I honestly can’t think of anything right now. I think my man is pretty perfect.

    I DO think it would be awesome to have a husband who practices acupuncture like yours does though! 🙂

  • Laura June 6, 2011, 10:23 pm

    Right now, having either a husband or a parent who was a specialist doctor would be awesome, because I’m having some serious health issues and it’s really difficult just to get appointments and then the staff are so busy that it’s hard to get proper help – I would be all over some nepotism in that regard!

    Otherwise, a genius inventor would be pretty cool. He could come up with things that would not only help around the home, but also make millions, thus keeping me in the lifestyle to which I would like to become accustomed! 😀

    (Going on what others have said, though, a hair stylist/make up artist would also be really useful to have around – although, ahem, sorry to horribly stereotype, but there might be a few other issues involved if your husband was a makeup artist! And I think the problem would be that a professional anything probably isn’t going to be too good about coming home and doing it for you for free! People like Jools Oliver and Tana Ramsey seem to have to do most of their own cooking and cooking for their kids, because Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsey et al are too busy off with their restaurant empires!)

    • Caitlin June 7, 2011, 7:54 am

      Sorry about your health woes 🙁 I think you’re right, hairdresser would be the most useful in the end.

  • Molly @ RDexposed June 6, 2011, 10:26 pm

    The ability to give endless massages!! What athlete/girlfriend wouldn’t want that in a man?

  • Maria (RealFitMama) June 6, 2011, 10:34 pm

    I’m married to a professional chef (graduated culinary school with a 4.2 GPA and worked as an Executive Chef for multiple years) who is currently going to school full time to finish his accounting degree.

    He next to never cooks at home and I have a feeling that once he graduates next May we will more than likely be paying someone else to do our taxes.

    Just sayin… 😆

  • Val @ Balancing Val June 6, 2011, 10:38 pm

    I wish mine was a travel agent!

    Imagine all the vacations 🙂

  • Gina @ Running to the Kitchen June 6, 2011, 10:59 pm

    I’m going to have to agree with all the masseuse commenters. God, that would be nice!

  • Jolene June 6, 2011, 11:00 pm

    I’m married to a computer geek who has been described as a younger Kevin Sorbo (be jealous!)…and he’s an Engineer (Engi-nerd). His talents come in quite handy all the time! And he likes to cook to boot! Now, if only he had time to cook more than 1x a month I’d be stylin’! (We have 4 children and bringing home our 5th from China so I tend to do all the cooking!)

    • Caitlin June 7, 2011, 7:53 am

      Yay! Congrats on adopting 🙂 🙂 🙂 one of my goals.

      • Jolene June 7, 2011, 9:03 am

        Thanks Caitlin. We have 2 children we adopted domestically (and 2 by birth) and our 5th is coming from China (4 yr old boy). We are in the fundraising process right now and working on paperwork. Such a blessing children are!

  • Julie @ Lettuce Choose Healthy June 6, 2011, 11:01 pm

    love when dinner is full of color 🙂

  • Holly @ The Runny Egg June 6, 2011, 11:21 pm

    I’d choose a professional chef or a masseuse for sure!

  • Maria June 6, 2011, 11:35 pm

    I’m pretty happy that my Fiance is a computer nerd. IT support 24/7! But it would also be great if he had a special talent of cleaning the bathroom.

  • Kelsey June 6, 2011, 11:43 pm

    Well, I would definitely go with the special talent of keeping our house sparkling clean without me asking and without him complaining!! 🙂 It would be wonderful to never have to sweep, do laundry or empty the dishwasher ever again!! A girl can dream, right?!

  • Jen June 6, 2011, 11:50 pm

    My boyfriend says he’d make me a professional masseuse. I would make him a maid, specializing in bathrooms. 😉

  • Michelle (The Runner's Plate) June 6, 2011, 11:54 pm

    I love that picture of your standing against the brick wall!

    It would be sweet if my husband owned a plane and was a pilot, then we could travel wherever, whenever we wanted!!

  • Julia June 7, 2011, 12:02 am

    he would know how to plant trees that grew ben franklins lol. now that would be sweet

    • Caitlin June 7, 2011, 7:52 am

      that would be pretty sweet 🙂

  • kyla June 7, 2011, 12:06 am

    It’d be pretty sweet to be married to Mike Holmes! That man is schmexy. And he know how to fix homes.

    • Caitlin June 7, 2011, 7:52 am

      bawhahah, great comment.

  • Khushboo June 7, 2011, 12:37 am

    That such a yum twist to pasta! I would love to be married to a hairdresser come masseuse come personal trainer come chef of a husband- now wouldn’t that be fun!

  • Amber Faye @ One "Faye" At A Time June 7, 2011, 12:37 am

    Wow that looks fantastic! My hubby is a good cook but doesn’t really like “healthy” foods. I have to basically force him to eat his veggies.
    And I would want my hubby to be a masseuse. Mmmmm yep. 🙂

  • Julia June 7, 2011, 12:47 am

    Opera singer? And insane yardwork guy? That’s what my husband actually is lol.

    • Caitlin June 7, 2011, 7:51 am

      Yardwork would be good!

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) June 7, 2011, 12:54 am

    I would give my husband a massage therapist talent, and a strong desire to want to give me massages ALL the time.

  • Floey June 7, 2011, 1:30 am

    A spouse with Dr. knowledge would be nice. My BF is interviewing for pharm school now so we’ll see where that goes 🙂

  • Laura (Starloz) June 7, 2011, 2:24 am

    i love the idea of korma over veggies/pasta, if only i had time to make one from scratch.

  • Jessica M June 7, 2011, 2:37 am

    A hairstylist in the house would be handy and a money saver!
    or a personal trainer!

  • Kris June 7, 2011, 4:53 am

    I’d definitely like someone who could cook, or was more gifted mechanically, but DH as a financial advisor (second career after career as a Navy officer) has done an amazing job building our financial future. And major props to him yesterday as a grief counselor when he listened to me boo hoo all night after having to put our 16 yo simple dog to sleep.

    • Caitlin June 7, 2011, 7:50 am

      AWWW I am so sorry about your puppy <3 e-hugs.

      • Kris June 7, 2011, 3:07 pm

        Thank you! I’m devastated.

  • Jumanah @ Healthy Living in the Middle East June 7, 2011, 5:08 am

    My husband already is a great cook! So I definately would have to say I wish he was gifted as a car mechanic! My car is always breaking down and I have spent thousands of dollars getting things fixed! Sure would be nice if he knew how to fix it!

  • Juani June 7, 2011, 5:47 am

    I would have my boyfriend be a super cleaner,lol.I hate cleaning the house.Or maybe have him be the best mechanic in the world.Or even better,the best veterinarian (specializing in all things cat – since we have 4).The list goes on and on…

    • Caitlin June 7, 2011, 7:47 am

      hahah so basically, you want to marry a maid/mechanic/vet hybrid. Love it.

  • Freya June 7, 2011, 6:10 am

    A sports physio!! I would gladly marry mine (he’s gorgeous) 😀
    I think you’ve got it good with a doctor of sorts! Free treatment 😀

  • Victoria - The First Day June 7, 2011, 6:31 am

    I love it, what a lucky lady you are! My hubby is a great breakfast cook but that is about it, lol! If I have to pick one thing I would say housewife! Yep housewife! He would be able to cook, clean, do laundry, make the boys lunches for school, do homework with them, take care of the animals, all the “fun” stuff! And if he was my house wife that would leave more time for me to GET massaged, manicured, pedicured and hair styled!

  • Lauren June 7, 2011, 6:55 am

    I am married to an accountant/financial planner and I have to say, it’s extremely nice not to have to worry about our finances at all. He takes care of everything! But I think it would also be fun to be married to a musician. I’ve always had a thing for a guy that can play a guitar and sing.

  • Hillary June 7, 2011, 7:00 am

    Professional masseuse. Hands down!

  • Parita @ myinnershakti June 7, 2011, 8:08 am

    Hmmm…good question! It’s truly a toss up between chef and hairdresser 🙂

  • Katie (Sweet Tater) June 7, 2011, 8:17 am

    cat groomer. sometimes i wish stew was a cat groomer.

  • Tessa @ Amazing Asset June 7, 2011, 8:39 am

    Hmm I couldn’t decide between all three of those either! I suppose I would go with the accountant because I am so terrible with money-relate stuff! Something I certainly need to work on haha

  • Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) June 7, 2011, 8:40 am

    My husband is a good cook too, but his talent is as an illustrator. I love it, but sadly, since they are so critical of their work, I don’t have any artwork of his hung in the house. I’m the chef in the house and he knows he has it good there.

  • Eva June 7, 2011, 9:12 am

    A chef would be great, but I would constantly feel inadequate in the kitchen (oh the irony). I would also look petty with my penchant for peanut butter sandwiches compared to his supposed masterpieces!
    Off the topic, I meant to ask Caitlin and readers about motivation in life. I know it is a rather big topic to cover, but I am at university and I find myself CONSTANTLY procrastinating- how I got through A-levels, I have no idea. I know university assignments are nothing in comparison to real life motivation, but I fear that my laziness isn’t just a faze, but something more permanent that will extend to every part of my life. So yes, I’m just wondering how people got through things whilst staying motivated by the bigger picture? Thanks xx

  • Samantha @ Health, Happiness & Skinny Jeans June 7, 2011, 9:14 am

    Great question! I think I would want my boyfriend to be a massage therapis or tech wizard who could help me build an amazing looking blog!!

  • Paige (Running Around Normal) June 7, 2011, 9:23 am

    Well, I’m married to a techie, so any computer problem (or solution) I have, he can fix it. And it’s pretty cool to have lights that turn off and on with a remote, a theatre he put together in the basement, and an elextronic jukebox he made! I’m not sure what I’d do with out his computer/tech-savvy/electric mad skillzz!

    But, it’d also be cool for him to be chiropractor so I could be adjusted on the couch!

  • Lisa @ lisa letting go June 7, 2011, 9:27 am

    I would have to say a handy guy is a talent I really like and need. I can’t fix anything, so I need help in that area. Luckily, my boyfriend is great at fixing cars, random household appliances, and even dinner 😛 He has many talents, I’m not sure what I did without him!

  • Sarah June 7, 2011, 9:32 am

    Yum! I have yet to try Korma sauce, but you peaked my interest. I know exactly where it is at the grocery store- I think I know what’s going on my list for next week!

  • Ali @ Ali Runs June 7, 2011, 9:38 am

    I would definitely want my husband to be a handy man. My uncle is awesome at all of that stuff, and their house is gorgeous because he does all the work on it. He actually enjoys doing all of that in his spare time.

  • Ash @ Good Taste Healthy Me June 7, 2011, 9:45 am

    Definitely a contractor/builder. I ALWAYS want to change up the house and/or do renovations so if my fiance knew how to do all that it would be pretty awesome.

  • Ashley O. @ The Vegetable Life June 7, 2011, 9:53 am

    MASSAGE THERAPIST all the way!! That would be the best thing ever!

  • Amanda (Eating Up) June 7, 2011, 10:39 am

    Either finances or maintenance! I can’t decide. How about both?

  • Beth (Well I'll Be) June 7, 2011, 10:52 am

    My husband is a web master, so that comes in handy, but it wouldn’t hurt if he was a masseuse, and he worked part time at Lululemon to get me a discount!

  • Brittany June 7, 2011, 11:22 am

    I really just want my boyfriend to be able to take on amateur carpentry. That is all. I don’t ask much. But do you think he sees it that way?? ha!

  • Nikki June 7, 2011, 11:52 am

    Massage therapist for sure!!!

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin June 7, 2011, 12:25 pm

    I definitely want to marry a guy who can cook! Or at least someone who likes the same foods I do. I can’t imagine being married to a “meat and potatoes” type guy, or worse, someone who lives on McDonalds! 😛

  • Lauren @ Sweet and Twisted June 7, 2011, 1:21 pm

    I’d make him a general contractor! We both stink at home renovation things! Plus it is expensive to pay for that kind of work. I’ll teach him the cooking in time 🙂

  • Gina (Yogattude) June 7, 2011, 1:29 pm

    That meal is beautiful with all the different colors! My boyfriend loves to cook and I love that about him! He often has dinner waiting when I have a busy day…I’m such a lucky gal!

  • becca (bellebottoms) June 7, 2011, 1:38 pm

    I’d love to be married to a travel agent, so he could get discounts on trips! 🙂 or a handyman….that would be sah-weet! 🙂

  • Lee June 7, 2011, 1:53 pm

    Professional neat freak would be nice. Our house is always such a mess.

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