Adventures in Kellyland

2011.11.27. - Happy Belated Thanksgiving

2011-11-27T21:04:00.003-05:00

It's been too long since I last posted. I was readying our house, my mind, our pantry, our fridge & our energy levels for Thanksgiving entertaining. We hosted my family & hubby's brother. Friends of ours here in Cleveland also stopped in for dessert on Thanksgiving night. They certainly added some great entertainment for Ladybug & for all of us. Lots of belly laughs & holiday cheer all around.

My birthday was the day before Thanksgiving & we took Ladybug to see her 1st movie in a theater. We took her to see newly released "The Muppets". Considering that she's 3.5 years old, it may not have been an ideal movie for her, but she behaved very well (being coerced with buttery popcorn & suckers may have helped). She loved all of the musical numbers & the big theatrics. She clapped very proudly at the end, which made us feel like we did it at the right time & picked the right movie! Within 20 minutes of us getting back to the house, our family had arrived from Virginia. We went out to one of our favorite pubs "The Brew Kettle" (also where we brewed our "Happy New Beer" Vanilla Porter last year). Everyone had a delicious meal & they were very impressed with the variety of local & craft brewed beers TBK had on tap.

It was a bit weird to go out for a birthday dinner & not have anyone sing "Happy Birthday" or have a cake...I blame all of that on Gestational Diabetes. The 3 slivers of pie on Thanksgiving more than made up for that. Hahaha! Screw you diabetes, I won that night.

For my birthday, my folks gave a very generous monetary gift to me, as did my aunt & uncle. So I put that money EXACTLY where I wanted it to go...into a brand spanking new Empire Red KitchenAid Stand Mixer!!! Check out my new home-girl "Empira". She's so hot! I can't wait to put her into high gear this week!!!

Hubby gave me a beautiful skeleton key necklace & a really cool maternity top all of which he found on Etsy (KICKASS). The top will need to be returned, as it is not truly made for a plus sized preggo like me. But the necklace fits & I haven't stopped wearing it yet.

My brother upgraded my music portfolio yet again with some really great new & older CDs. Black Keys, My Morning Jacket, Mastadon, Graveyard to name a few. YAY for new stuff to brainwash the kidlet with & new stuff for Momma's ears.

In a few short weeks, I'm taking a weekend off just for me, as a pre-baby #2 gift from my husband. He's gotten me tickets to go hang out with my friends back home sans hubby, sans kidlet (he's taking care of her for the weekend). It's just me, myself & I. I'm so stoked that it's the same weekend my bro's band is playing, too. Can't wait to go out on the town with my girls & shake my big round preggo butt!!! It's going to be great medicine to get me through the next few months of crazy snow & insanely growing belly & all these absurd hormone induced emotional days I've been having this go round.

I hope each of you had a great Thanksgiving with your family, friends &/or loved ones. I'm so thankful I got to share it with most of our family here in Cleveland.

Cheers!

2011.10.31. Staying busy!

2011-10-30T21:54:00.008-04:00

WOW. Time seems to be truly flying by this pregnancy. We're already at 19.5 weeks. WOAH. About halfway there folks. That's bonkers. We found out this past Thursday that they are "pretty sure" it's a GIRL.

We're going with the nickname I gave the baby from the beginning "Peanut". The first time we saw the baby on an ultrasound, she was as big as a peanut...so the name stuck. Ladybug calls her "Little Sister, Baby Peanut" which is just too cute. What's funny is that Scarlett totally called it. When we asked her (a few weeks after we originally told her) what she thought Mommy was having, a little sister or a little brother...her response was immediate, "a little sister". Of course! Should have known then.

To say that this pregnancy is different from Ladybug's, is an understatement. This little peanut sits WAY DOWN LOW, she likes to kick me right in the middle of my crotch, she also likes to find the most uncomfortable positions to sit in for like 20 minutes at a time. At times, it feels like she's stretching out so much that she's moving my organs from one side to the other. It is awkward & at times painful.

Speaking of pain...I felt my first Braxton Hicks contraction yesterday while we were walking around Lowe's preparing for the Winter ahead. That was really fun. All of a sudden, I felt this sharp pain surround my entire gut & just had to stand still & breathe very deeply until it passed. That's going to be SO much fun to deal with for 20 more weeks. YIPPEE!!! I'm not bitching, I promise. This is all part of the miracle.

More parts to the miracle that some unfortunate women have to deal with...Gestational Diabetes. Yep, that's one thing that's definitely the same about both pregnancies. JOY! It's fine, though. I got tested right away it seems. Naturally, my levels were high, so they sent me to a nutritionist & a diabetes nurse educator. Best people ever!!! I didn't have these wonderful people in my life 1st time & I'm very grateful for them this time around. It's been a lot easier knowing the variety of things I can eat, as long as I watch the quantity at each meal. I'm snacking 3 times a day & eating 3 normal meals. My blood sugar levels are pretty stable for now. The doctors are all concerned with 3rd trimester & what my numbers will look like then. Last time around, that's when my morning numbers were elevated & I had to give myself a shot of insulin each night. THAT SUCKED. But we all made it through & Ladybug came out perfect. SO, we're hoping that all goes well, insulin or not, and we can deliver a happy & healthy baby girl this coming March.

Until then, I'll leave you with a very cute picture of our "Little Peanut" from this Thursday's ultrasound.

2011.09.18. - A New Beginning

2011-09-18T21:43:00.003-04:00

Well...I really miss this page. I tried to hit up WordPress for a hot minute...and guess what...I just didn't like it. It wasn't familiar. It didn't have my history, it only had the present & the future. So I'm taking AIK back. We're back in business, folks.

That being said. The oven is baking bun #2. Yep, you read that correctly. We are expecting bundle of joy #2 sometime in late March 2012. Ladybug is thrilled to become a big sister to somebody. Just the other day when we were out shopping for fun crafts & projects to work on this fall, she told me "Mommy, we need to buy a present for the baby." Talk about melting my heart & nearly sending me into tears in the middle of the craft store. What a sweetheart. I know she's going to make a great big sister. She's got a heart of gold & it's filled with caring & kindness for her friends & family.

It's fun to imagine how interesting the next year of life is going to be for us all. I'm glad to be back here to write all about this journey, just as I did with our 1st little bundle of joy.

2011.04.01. Sic Itur Ad Astra

2011-04-01T08:25:00.035-04:00

I can honestly say, I've always been proud of where I originated. I was born & raised in Richmond, Virginia. It's kind of a smaller city with a lot of angst, tension & growing pains. But it is well known & highly regarded for its arts & music scenes. Two scenes that I hold very dear to my heart.

This year the Virginia Fine Arts Museum is hosting the East Coast's only showing of over 170 of Picasso's masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris. Everyone in Richmond is a buzz from this tremendous opportunity. People from all over the country are traveling to see this exhibition. There's nothing like national exposure to put a place back on the map. So, it's a very exciting time for Richmond's art scene to show off it's best assets.

For music it's known for, none other than the infamous absurdities of heavy metal band GWAR, the raw, gritty punk rock of AVAIL & by far my favorite metal band
to come out of the last 20 years, now global icons in the heavy metal world, LAMB OF GOD. All bands that have helped to mold, shape & leave their mark on Richmond. They've also helped to put Richmond on the map. Every single time LAMB OF GOD's lead singer Randy Blythe goes on stage, anywhere around the world...he proudly states "We're LAMB OF GOD from Richmond-mutherfucking-Virginia". People in China or Australia probably don't know where that is, but they know it exists & that heavy metal comes alive there.

As far as sports that Richmond is known for, well, not much until a few weeks ago. It's home to the Flying Squirrels baseball team, University of Richmond Spiders and the Virginia Commonwealth Rams. For a few years we've had some bragging rights with UofR Spiders in football...but this year tops them all for VCU Basketball. No one can believe it, but they're going to the Final Four tomorrow night!!!

I was not the biggest sports fan 10 years
ago when I attended VCU, I could have cared less about sports. But when I met my husband, the tables turned. I began to watch almost every seasonal sport, football, basketball, golf, baseball & even a little hockey. So having watched college basketball for the past 7 years, I grasp how big the Final Four is & what kind of impact it can make on a college team & it's hometown. I never ever imagined it would be my hometown up there, making waves, showing off & basking in the national spotlight. I'm so proud of the VCU Men's Basketball team, I'm so proud of my hometown city for the love & support they've given to the team & the university.

Being away from Richmond during their moment in the spotlights really makes me appreciate my roots, my city, my home. Makes me feel like a rockstar, because I come from a city that spawns success. RVA, 2011 is your year. You are shining so bright in the spotlights. For those of you that may not know "Sic Itur Ad Astra" means "such is the path to the stars", it's Richmond, Virginia's motto. Expect great things when the sky is the limit.

GO RAMS! GO RVA! BELIEVE!!!

2011.03.11. Planning time...just for us!!!

2011-03-11T21:26:00.017-05:00

One never knows when Mother Nature, fate, God, whatever may strike you down like the little bowling pin that you are...

Therefore one must always life life to the fullest!!! Carpe Diem & have NO regrets!

In keeping with that motto/ultimate goal/mantra, Hubby & I have decided to take an 8 day vacation to California this summer, ALONE. We do a lot of things *sans Ladybug*, it helps us feel like kids again & helps us to be better partners to one another, which ultimately helps us to be better parents for her. In my honest opinion, I think every couple/parent needs a vacation or 2 a year without their kid(s). It's healthy for the child to spend time with their other family members/friends & it's healthy for said couple/parent to spend time by themselves.

We are in the middle of planning our trip of a lifetime & we're getting really excited about the prospects of a new adventure. It is going to be a whirlwind drive up the Pacific Coast Highway & then back down it again. I'm looking forward to having some sand between my toes, warm Pacific ocean water across my feet & some California love growing in my heart.

Having moved to Cleveland, Ohio last year, uprooting away from everything we knew & loved & were comfortable with, having our house in Virginia FINALLY under contract (they close on it @ the end of March - Lord willing!!!) after almost a year of it being on the market & us having to STRESS over every little detail while being 8 hours away from it...it's time for a retreat. Get back to basics. Enjoy some time away, explore new places, dive into our spirits & set the inner child free for a little while.

Take time for yourselves, Moms & Dads! It is never a burden to ask the village to participate & help you out. They want to be a part of your children's lives. Your children need that time, just as much as you do. Enjoy being just YOU for a while. Let the fun, playful inner child that you haven't seen in ages come out & frolic for a few days. It will do your spirit wonders! You will come back to your reality & your child(ren) renewed, refreshed & restored.

Once you're back to reality, stop by & tell me about your own adventures & thank me for the best advice you've been given all year! XOXO

2011.03.04. - Hallelujah it's Friday

2011-03-04T15:01:00.003-05:00

So after feeling like raw dog turds for 2 weeks straight, I finally feel HUMAN again. Thank you JESUS! Mind you...I still have copious amounts of snot sitting in regions of my sinus cavities causing my head to feel about 10 times bigger than usual. This stuff cannot be accessed, discharged or removed unless violently sneezed out. YIPPEE! (sorry...TMI, I'm sure...but I need you to understand what I'm feeling here, peeps.

Haven't been able to smell or taste anything in about a week. This morning I sprayed some Coconut Lime Verbena spray in my car just to see if I could smell it...FINALLY I could smell something. It still wasn't much. I could only smell the Lime & the Verbena, but couldn't smell the Coconut. Strange. Only the strongest scents...I could smell the clementines that I ate at lunch, but not the spinach/bacon/gorgonzola quiche. How torturous to NOT be able smell bacon!!!

I cooked bacon for a mashed potato dish the other night & I couldn't smell it. That my friends = torture!!! Everyone loves the smell of bacon, especially me. It smells like love. Don't deny it...your mouth is watering just reading this paragraph. I know. Mine is, typing it. But I'm getting there...I'll be back to norm by Monday.

I must have a huge dose of Spring Fever. I feel more alive today than I have in months. Going, doing, breathing...feel like I can hop back on the treadmill & rock a mile or 2. It's good to be back. VERY GOOD, INDEED!

While the kiddo was at preschool this morning, I hit up Trader Joe's & picked up some groceries for the weekend along with a bouquet of color, like I said I would. CHECK!

I ran over to the new Gray House Pies location (support your local artisans) in Westlake, OH. I got to use my $20 for $10 Groupon that I purchased this winter. That's where the yummy quiche came from, along with their delicious "Berry Peachy" hand pie. Holy GOD their crust is the best crust I've ever tasted. If you find yourself in Cleveland...get a slice, fall in love.

I've been catching up on bills & correspondence this afternoon. But I'm about to go tear up that treadmill for a few minutes before the weekend truly starts.

Y'all have a great one!!! CHEERS!

2011.02.26. I need to write here more

2011-02-26T22:44:00.005-05:00

I've been journaling in my old school "Mead Composition" notebook. I've been GREAT about writing & documenting things going on, on the daily with the fam, the kidlet, etc. But I fail to post here.

Bad Kellfire.

Will work harder to post here & there!

February has been kind of a brutal

month. I started off my new diet, lifestyle change, going strong. Then I headed South, literally & figuratively. I went home to Virginia for a visit around Valentine's & tried my best to be "good". But when a weak mind is tempted....it's just weak. Cheese, dairy, are all back in the diet again. While I'm still enjoying my Almond Breeze with my Kashi & Earth Balance margarine on most of my dairy free breads & grits. I'm still getting cheese in there somewhere. Whether it be at our super mega favy go to fast eats place QDOBA or Chick Fil A...or somewhere else. It weaseled it's way back into my diet like the cheap whore that it is!

I wasn't able to get in the exercise I had planned out in my head while in Virginia. So that took me off track, again literally & figuratively. Low & behold...get back to Cleveland & Saturday the kidlet & I both get monstrous sinus infections. THEN, to top it off...on Wednesday, I got blasted by some wicked 24 hour crap your guts out & then finally puke the rest up flu bug. By Friday, my patience for this god forsaken tiny shithole of an apartment had warn SLAM the fuck out. We'd been here since last Saturday. I had gotten out once the previous Sunday for a grocery run & we both got out on Tuesday for lunch with the hubby. SO...to the last week of February

2011...you are a muther fucker & I'm glad we survived you. Thanks for the weight loss plan/detox??? You bitch!

On to March...

I'm marching into March. I'm hopping back on that beautiful beast in my living room, cranking up some heavy fucking metal & I'm going to work this body out SO hard that it's going to bring on Spring INSTANTLY! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Can you tell I really am over the snow? It's not that bad folks. It's really not. Cleveland does SUCH an amazing job of cleaning it up quickly, so that the rest of us can go about our dailies as normal folks would on a sunny day. It's just that it still looks like Christmas up here. I can't get over Christmas. Like I'm in a

constant Christmas hangover or something. It's beautiful & white & glittery & sparkly and cheery...and when the sun hits it, it's magnificent & glorious, but people...it's just WHITE. I need more color. The inner artist in me needs to see some flipping blooms soon!!!

On that note...I think I'll buy us a pretty $5 bouquet at the store this week for the dining room table. I need color, come hell or high water, I'm going to have some THIS WEEK.

okay. rant over. i'm out.

2011.01.27. No More Excuses. No More Blame.

2011-01-26T23:10:00.005-05:00

Having struggled with weight my entire life, I've come to a realization that I had a lot of pent up frustration against my Mom for buying so much junk food, cooking the way she did & allowing me to eat the way I did for all those years. I wasn't seeing the whole picture. I saw the "Blame Blinders" & was using it as a crutch, a pathetic excuse for the reason why I was the way I was. Mom, Dad & most of my family taught me some very valuable things lessons in eating...like eating my vegetables & trying new & different things, even if they looked or smelled funny.

I'm having to re-educate myself in the kitchen & learn so much all over again. It's challenging & I find myself dealing with a lot of emotion over all of this. Writing helps. So you might be seeing a lot more posts over the next year. I find that I don't need to pay for therapy, when I can work out all of my issues myself in writing.

So, I have to stop putting the blame on her. I've been an adult almost as long as I was a child in my parent's care. It's time for me to take responsibility for my own nutrition, health, well-being & future.

With that being said...an open apology to my Mom:

Mom,

Your cooking is comfort. It brings me back home: to the dinner table we grew up around, to

all the times we shared laughing, talking, crying, fighting, farting, burping & laughing some more. We were members of the Clean Your Plate Club so we could get dessert after our dinners. You fed & helped raise us the best you knew how. For that I'm very grateful. You guys loved us & provided us with hot home cooked meals that were made from your hearts. There's no gift greater than a parents love, care & devotion to their children. We are truly blessed.

For the past few years, I've been picking my childhood apart. Trying to point blame at everything & everyone for the reasons why I am the way I am. I've pointed directly at you when it came to my weight issues. Only because I knew it had to have been your fault for allowing us to eat so much butter, salt & junk food. It's taken until today to realize that my obesity is not anyone's fault. I'm so sorry for pointing so many times at you for my issues. It's not your fault that I am the way I am. You were doing the best you knew how & I realize that now, being a Mom myself & having to make decisions for my daughter's health & nutrition.

I'm truly blessed to have had 2 loving parents who cared so greatly & provided such a wonderful family institution to learn from & be loved by for so many years. Thank you & Dad both for leading the way & giving me your best.

It's my turn to step up & make myself better. It's time for me to take what I've learned & make it what it needs to be for me. Somethings will be different, but one thing will remain the same. I will put love into every meal I make. I will also provide love, kindness, respect, open ears & an open mind to my family at each meal time that we gather around our table. These are just a few of the great values that I learned from you & Dad. They are certainly ones that I will carry on with my family.

I love you more than words can ever do justice. I'm truly sorry for blaming you for my faults. I stop making excuses & I stop blaming anyone. My eyes are open, my heart is open, I carry no burdens, no regrets, no shame & no blame. I'm ready to change myself, for myself, by myself.

With my love always & forever,

Kelly

2011.01.26. Animal Within

2011-01-26T15:40:00.004-05:00

And this is how I feel today.

Kashi Go Lean + Banana + 8th Generation Light Vanilla Soy Milk = YUMMY BREAKFAST (with TONS of energy to keep you going & going & going!!! It's been my Energizer battery this week.)

Went to gym with a friend this morning. We sent the kids off with the sitter there & we attacked our cardiovascular systems. I went straight for the Elliptical Machine!!! I remembered how it felt from years ago & remembered how much burning it put into my quads. Now I know that quads are the biggest calorie burners...THAT'S where I need to focus a TON of my energies. So I stayed on there for 30+ minutes. Then hit the treadmill next to my friend, so we could chat & I could wind down a little before we picked up the kids.

After my 600+ calorie burning stint at the gym, I feel like an animal. Like there is a beast within, ready & roaring.

2011.01.24. Evolution & War

2011-01-24T01:27:00.006-05:00

Diets change. Come or go. They evolve with how you're feeling. What's working. What's not working.

Latest discovery is MyFitnessPal.com. Just found it while I was glancing at our February edition of PARENTS magazine.

I put it my numbers & it gave me a reasonable date as to when I can achieve the first 10 pound lost...okay, so I should lose 10 pounds by February 28th as long as I follow their guidelines. Starting with 1,520 calories a day - no biggie, I got this. The kicker is that I'm going Dairy Free this week. 2 weeks ago I was informed that I have Hypertension & that I have to take a pill for that & adjust my eating/exercise habits drastically!!! I'm super pissed off about this, being that I'm only 31 years of age. I shouldn't have blood pressure issues at Thirty-fucking-One. It angers me. And most of you know that when I'm angry, I get even. So me getting even, is going to be interesting.

I feel like I'm at war with myself. And I have me to take the Victory or me to take the loss. The loss is being unsuccessful, which if you're me, you feel like you've been that way you're entire life. Even though you know that's not completely true. Just at dieting/exercising. And even that's not 100% accurate. I was HIGHLY successful losing 35 pounds the summer of 2007, which resulted in my first au naturale period & ovulation & TA DA...we got a Ladybug 9 months later.

But when you can count on both hands how many times a doctor/health professional/asshole has called you obese...you NEED to do something about it. There's no excuse for this. I'm not sure how I got this way. I've been a chunker my entire fucking life. I'm over it. I'm pissed off & I'm over being that person.

Cleveland has brought some awesome new beginnings & realizations for me. One is that I'm not the same old Kelly I used to be. Two...fuck anyone who gets in my way of THIS DREAM. Including myself.

I'm waging a war against my own obesity. It's a war that I've been battling for 25 years, at least. I know I can do something about this & turn things around for myself & I'm going to do it. If you so much as say one negative thing about anything I'm doing or try to step in my way of success, to hell with you...you won't exist in my world. Simple as that.

I'm cutting ties with Dairy products. I'm cutting ties with junk food. I'm cutting ties with all kinds of shit that I've either been fed or allowed myself to consume. It's unnecessary & useless. It shortens my life & that's the last thing I want.

I want to live a LONG, healthy & happy life. I want to travel to every corner of the earth & experience God's beautiful artwork for myself. I want to cherish my family & my friends into our

elderly years where we look back & say "damn we did a whole bunch of kickass shit & we rocked

out the whole way through".

If you don't like the language...fuck off.

If you don't like my attitude...get over yourself.

If you don't like what I'm writing...read elsewhere.

This is for me. This is my war. I'm ready for blood.

"In order to find peace, one must endure the war within." - ME

red

2011-01-04T23:46:00.002-05:00

she is bold. daring. vicious.

she is 2011.

she plans bold things. but only for her to enjoy.

she plans daring adventures. but only for her to journey.

she plans to be vicious. but only for her to endure.

you will not understand. and she does not care. this is her life. this is her journey.

this is she. this is red. this is her blood.

see her core. see the rawness. the meat of her being.

she will bleed pure once more.

Write. Paint. Sew. Sculpt. Draw.

express visions of her mad imagination.

angels. demons. truths. lies.

all abound in this town. this town of red.

red is pure. the color within us all.

unites us as one in nature.

she will bleed pure once more.

2010.09.23. - Sharing some inspiration

2010-09-23T03:14:00.004-04:00

When I'm up late &/or can't sleep, I read articles. I found this one this evening & had to share it. It truly speaks to the Mediterranean lifestyle.

I'm really starting to think about joining a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) with a local farm. As much produce that I've been purchasing lately for me to try out for myself & the family...maybe it's time to consider doing this & truly eating seasonably.

While the agricultural season ends in Ohio around October 30th...I still have a few weeks to enjoy some of the fruits of the local land. Just in doing a quick search for CSA's in the area, I've found a vendor that I can order my produce/meats, etc. online & pickup from each Friday afternoon. How cool & convenient!!!

That was a very inspirational article to me. It certainly has me thinking about my health, my family's health, Earth's health & how we can all help ourselves & Mother Earth.

Love, Light & Peace.

2010.09.13. - Live, Learn & Drink Good Beer!!!

2010-09-13T14:25:00.009-04:00

Okay...so it's really easy to forget that I have GOT to eat 7-10 fruits/veggies a day. It's really easy to get side tracked.

I have to constantly remind myself that whatever I put in my mouth BETTER be healthy & in line with the Mediterranean lifestyle, or else I suffer the consequences ALMOST instantly.

That being said, it's hard to escape a steak dinner when someone else has invited you over & you have no clue what's on the menu other than something grilled. Then when you find out that it's a beautiful strip steak that you know will be cooked to perfection (because your husband is asked to grill, after you brag about his mad grill-skills)...what the hell are you supposed to do, turn your nose up & say "I'm only allowed to have beef twice a month & I've already had enough this past week for 2 months" um, no...you just smile, say "Thank you" and eat the hell out of it. Damn it was good. But double damn it turned my whole world upside down this weekend. By "my whole world" I mean my poor intestinal tract. It got uber confused. It's been confused for the past 3 weeks now.1st it was the influx of veggies, then the severe lack of veggies, this time it was WAY too much beef. Holy canoli!!! So I'm back on track. My innards are thanking me with the influx in spinach today. We live & we learn. Apparently, if you're going to eat beef, eat more salad than beef. It helps!!!

Now that has been stated, on to much prettier topics.

Like the GREAT AMERICAN BEER FESTIVAL!!! We will be there in less than 3 days. 2 nights of BEERFEST!!! Yup, this is probably going to be another wreaking havoc on my innards kind of weekend. I'll be back on track on Monday. It's not every day one has the option to sample over 2000 amazing beers, you know. Gotta CARPE DIEM on this one folks.

I'm looking forward to trying several different types of beers that I've never had before, such as:

Sour Ale/Wild AleBarleywine (only a few because they're really high alcohol content)
Black IPA

I'm really looking forward to visiting these specific Brewers:

The Du ck-Rabbit Brewery - (Farmville, NC) Love & miss their Cream Stout...can't find it up here in Cleveland. BOO! Although, having Bell's on tap & bottled everywhere up here makes up for it.

Horseheads Brewing - (Horseheads, NY) for obvious reasonsJolly Pumpkin - (Dexter, MI) apparently they make awesome Sour Ales!!!
Left Hand Brewing Co. - (San Clemente, CA) love their Oktoberfest & Milk Stout Ales
Marshall Brewing Co. - (Tulsa, OK) for obvious reasons
Pisgah Brewing - (Asheville, NC) - All organic, yummy!
RJ Rockers - (Spartanburg, SC) - My Mom's home town brew

On top of the GABF fun & festivities this Thursday & Friday...I'm hoping to catch up with a good friend from high school while we're out there & celebrate 5 exciting, fun-filled years of an awesomely kickass marriage!!! So it's party time, peeps. I've primed my liver, hydrated my loins & I'm ready to drink myself into a Craft Beer coma!!! (Just Kidding!)

No I'm really excited to go become an official beer snob, eat pretzels off a necklace & celebrate 5 wonderful years with the most supporting, most awesome guy I've ever met, my best friend, my lover, the best Daddy our little Ladybug could EVER have & my rock!!! Marshman, while our anniversary is still technically a month away, know that you mean the world to me. You & Scarlett are my everything. Thank you for completing my puzzle.

Peace, Love & Light.
K

2010.09.01. - 5 lbs WOWZAHS

2010-09-01T23:55:00.008-04:00

Holy POOP it's working. Holy poop is all I do. (laughing hysterically in the background having just admitted that)

Eating my 7-10 fruits & veggies is surely cleaning me out. It's all good. I know I NEED the fiber. I feel great. I have more energy. I'm still super jazzed about this whole thing. Even despite the fact that I've veered quite a bit these past few days.

But as the lifestyle says, balance the diet throughout the week. Some days will be heavier days than others. Lighten a few days up a bit & it will all balance out in the end. Definitely a mentality I can get behind for life!!! Balance is something we all need in our lives, not only in our diets, but in our minds, in our spirituality, in our beliefs, in our homes, in our relationships. Balance is something we all struggle to achieve throughout our lives. This is helping me to achieve much more all-encompassing balance than I had imagined. That, my dear friends, is what the Mediterranean lifestyle is ALL about & why I feel like it's doing me justice.

So, I haven't posted in a few days there's a bit to catch up on as far as foods I've tried, etc.

Last week, my new pal "K" introduced me to Aladdin's Eatery in Lakewood, Ohio (uber hip western 'burb of Cleveland). Holy Heaven on Earth!!! Best hummus, best pitas (made fresh & served warm) I have ever tasted in my life. I ordered the "Chicken Sambusek Plate" (pictured to the right)
Here's the description: Char-grilled curry chicken combined with onions, peas, herbs and spices folded into a pita pie topped with diced tomato, and scallions. Served with mixed greens, sliced tomatoes, mushrooms, calamata olives, and your choice of dressing.

Here's a picture (left) of the beautiful salad "K" ordered. NOTE: The pickled turnips were not at all appealing to either of us.

We splurged!!!

We ordered dessert & coffee. I'm so grateful that we did, too. It was the last piece of their Key Lime Cheesecake & we split it. Peas McGees, it was scrumptious! We spent 4+ hours there chatting it up in the window seat with a great view of Lakewood's Detroit Avenue scene. 2 cool Mom's, 2 great meals, 100's of great stories & 1 awesome dessert to top off the already outstanding evening.

And after all of that, I lost a pound the very next day. WOOHOO!

My new found obsession is garlic sauteed spinach. It makes me want to curse the universe every time I eat it...for just last weekend was the 1st time I'd ever had it. Yeah. CURSES! So I've been putting it with everything now. My hummus wraps at lunch, my penne at dinner. You name it, fresh sauteed spinach is going in it, somehow, someway, I don't care. My body loves it & craves it!!! Never again will I eat canned spinach!!! NEVER!!!

Oh, after that meal at Aladdin's where there were 3 kalamata olives in my salad...I had to have more. We went to Westside Market on Friday morning with "K" & her daughter. As soon as I saw the big ol' bowls of yummy kalamatas calling my name...I ordered up a half pound of them bad boys. They are almost half gone! I've put them on everything as well.

So the update is this: Olives & spinach are my new addictions. Life is good!!!

2010.08.25 - Minus 2 lbs

2010-08-25T21:15:00.004-04:00

Today started well. I woke up at 6:30am with my alarm clock. Ran into the bathroom, attempting to not wake up the hubby. Used to potty & took to the scale to find that I had lost 2 pounds. Lord willing those are 2 lbs that this body will NEVER see again. That's the goal: Lose it & never look back!!!

I got my gear on & hopped on the treadmill at 6:40am with a big ol' glass of water in hand. I did a steady walk for 31 minutes today. Sweat like a fiending crackhead for some reason, but after a nice hot shower & a healthy breakfast I was feeling like GOLD!
I made another mini whole wheat bagel with natural peanut butter & whirled up a very bland smoothie. Cantaloupe, apple & peach with non-fat Greek yogurt, 1 tbsp of local honey & low-fat organic milk. I think it needed strawberries or pineapple to really give the flavors a boost. But I gulped it down & got the kiddo ready for our fun day ahead.

We had a playdate in Broadview Heights, OH, which is about 30 minutes from where we are. I am head over heals in love with the Moms & kids that we've met through a group I joined on Meetup.com. We all get along really well & our kids play really well together. This was our 2nd "playgroup" playdate so far & it was just what we needed. Ladybug spent most of her time playing outside on the slide & in the little tot car. I spent most of my morning chatting it up with 3 beautiful, smart, sophisticated, educated & wonderful women. THIS is what I've been dreaming about finding up here. I had this back in Richmond. It was hard as HELL to leave my beautiful, hysterical, loving, kind, generous, unconditional friendships when we moved. But I held high hopes that I could find some great women up here to bond with, just the same.

I questioned going back to work very seriously because my sanity was starting to plummet after about a month & half of living up here. My dear Mother informed me of Meetup.com & it has been a saving grace for me. (THANK YOU MOM!) I've found friends there & on Moms Like Me.com as well. All outstanding women that help make my decision of continuing to be a Stay at Home Mom - AWESOME!!!

If the right working opportunity were to present itself, I'm pretty sure I'd still consider it...but we're talking 15-20 hours a week & the pay would have to be pretty good in order for me to put Ladybug into childcare. Just saying.

So at the end of the day, I'm freaking ecstatic. I'm so pumped about the weight loss, I'm jazzed about new friendships growing, Ladybug's getting fun social time with kids her age & we are all so blessed to be in good health & finding new happiness in our new town. I trusted my faith & she has delivered!!!

2010.08.24 - Dinner was OK. Work in progress!

2010-08-24T20:20:00.003-04:00

So we tried the marinated cod & it was way to lemon-y & too much mint, I think. It overpowered the fish & it was just too much. Neither of us could eat it, really. We had the cous cous with marinara & steamed carrots on the side. I didn't get around to making Mom's recipe for squash casserole until after dinner. However, my revised recipe is WONDERFUL!!! I just had a small portion of it with a tiny bit of sea salt added to the top of it...Oh my heavenly goodness...health nut/vegetarian friends you gotta try this!

My recipe variation:

Instead of using boxed seasoned/cornbread stuffing mix, I opted to TRY a whole new grain...I cooked up & some Quinoa (spoken KEEN-WAH) & seasoned it with oregano, sea salt, olive oil, garlic & pepper. I also used olive oil in place of melted butter & non-fat Greek yogurt in place of sour cream. It is pretty tasty, kids!!! Here it goes:

Momma Inge's Squash Casserole ~ Kellfire-ized!

2 cups Quinoa
2 cups cooked squash - drained
1 cup of onions - diced & cooked with squash (or 3 T. onion powder)
1 cup of non-fat Greek yogurt
2 eggs – beaten (could totally use egg whites here instead)
6 Tbsp Olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all together and bake at 350 degrees for 45 min. to
1 hour or until center is not soft.

So, fish is a work in progress for me. I'll be experimenting with that for a while, until I find things that work & we all like it. Until then, a glass of wine & some boob tube to call it a night. Cheers!

2010.08.24 - inspiration. motivation. quest.

2010-08-24T15:32:00.002-04:00

The BAM Body: "It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell.
-Buddha"

2010.08.23 - Viva Mediterranean!!!

2010-08-23T22:20:00.003-04:00

As I drink a glass of red wine to my health, cheers to yours as well.

Today marks day 1 of my CHOICE. I was given 2 options for my health on Friday. So in an effort to get me living good, living right, living healthy, I chose to make a whole lifestyle change. I'm going to live, breathe & eat Mediterranean style.

According to my new doctor at the Cleveland Clinic (one of the country's best hospitals), this is the best lifestyle/dietary guidelines to stand beside. Here's a picture of the food pyramid by which I'll be going by each day:

Lots of whole grains, whole foods (veggies, fruits, nuts), healthy oils & fats, fish and wine! Can't go wrong there!!!

This lifestyle has stood the test of time. It's proven to be the healthiest, leading to better brain health, lower risk of heart disease & lower risk of cancer. So honestly I can't lose by committing to this.

Here's my meals for today:

Breakfast:
Whole grain mini bagel with 2 tbsp of natural peanut butter
6 strawberries
1 small apple cut up

Snack:
Peanuts when I needed them & water

Lunch:
Spinach salad with tomatoes, feta, garlic stuffed olives & light drizzle of olive oil & balsamic vinegar
hand full of whole wheat crackers

Snack/Energy Booster:
Pineapple & Strawberry Smoothie
(.5 cup non-fat Greek yogurt, .5 cup low fat milk, .5 cup pineapple, .5 cup strawberries, 4 fresh spinach leaves (weird, but good booster), 1 tbsp local honey) = DIVINE SAVING GRACE!!!

Dinner:
Whole Wheat Penne Pasta with Gourmet Chicken Sausage with garlic marinara on top.

After Dinner:
Hot Tea (Rooibos to be VERY specific, because it in of itself is DIVINE)

Dessert:
glass of Malbec (i.e. red wine)

I'm in heaven. I love the flavors I've had today. I made Scarlett Cous Cous with marinara for dinner. While she wasn't hungry tonight, she really seemed to like her new style "spaghetti" as I referred to it.

Tomorrow's dinner is Mediterranean Marinated Cod over Cous Cous with fresh squash casserole on the side.

Menu planning is a MUST. It'll become 2nd nature soon. As will all of this awesome food that I'm going to be eating every single day. I'm excited. I love the direction this will take my mind, body & spirit. It's a lifestyle change, not a diet by any means. It means taking time out to thoroughly enjoy making my meals, eating them & knowing that they are doing brilliant things for my body's health & future.

On top of that, is my exercise goals. 3 days cardio, 2 days strength training. Today was day 1 & I started it with cardio. Just hopped on the treadmill at 6:45am, turned on VH1 Classics & rocked out. It was quick & it was fun. Tomorrow I'll be lifting weights & huffing & puffing. It's all about balance. And my body is going to finally find some, starting today!

2010.07.09. - Hell of a time to be in Cleveland

2010-07-09T14:54:00.006-04:00

This is just my 2 cents on "LeDecision" & our recent move to Cleveland, Ohio:

We knew moving here during LBJ's free agency would be a hectic time in Cleveland. This city and frankly the entire state LOVES the Cleveland Cavaliers because of LeBron James. They have a huge banner of him looking like he's either hugging the world or claiming his "kingdom" overlooking the entire Downtown area for crying out loud. For a city that ESPN & other news channels refer to as economically challenged & depressed...these great folks in Cleveland sure stepped up & threw tons of money into trying to keep their "King". The fans here gave him everything, including their hearts and it's so painful to see the disappointment & heartache all over right now. I don't even know what I could compare it to, honestly.

I've read a lot of articles, blog posts, etc. today from Clevelanders & they are pretty pissed off at the whole situation. They are pissed off about every aspect of how this all went down & how it's given the media every opportunity to smear Cleveland's name in the mud. And to the media who has continuously put a bad name on this wonderful city that I now call home...A BIG OL' MIDDLE FINGER TO YOU!!!

Cleveland ROCKS & if you haven't been here to experience it for yourself, then you have no right to bad mouth it. If you've been here & you thought it sucked...well shame on you for not exploring it properly. Anyone in their right mind would see that our local economy is thriving. From top-notch locally owned bars & restaurants, to local markets, small home grown businesses, urban farms, rural farms, big corporations HQ'd here, too. You name it...there's tons of growth & growth opportunity to be had in this beautiful city. You're blind if you can't see what we see. That's why we're here. Potential, opportunity, hope, great & passionate people, arts, music, a true sense of community. These folks take care of their own. They always have & they always will.

Cleveland doesn't need this one person. Cleveland has & will continue to hold it's chin high and keep on fighting the good fight.

I'm proud to be a Clevelander amongst all of this commotion. I'm so glad that we moved when we did. That we get to be a part of all of this. I see great things happening here. Things are changing here in Cleveland, Ohio & I think it's all for the best!!!

2010.06.01 - Wish list, what's yours?

2010-06-01T16:13:00.002-04:00

My 2010 Wish List (that I'm just now creating halfway through the year)

1) live healthier
2) travel more with Scarlett
3) find a slice of Heaven in Ohio (you know...like OBX is to Virginia - need something like that up here...although I've seen more OBX stickers & tshirts on folks up here than I have in Virginia)
4) read more
5) find more time to craft & sew
6) take another sewing class
7) make a few new friends
8) find a good evening babysitter (for those random date nights we enjoy)
9) make a list of books I'd like to read to Scarlett & that we can check out at our local library
10) teach Scarlett a new word every day

Now that I've said mine...what's yours? These are more like tasks than wishes. What would you like to have accomplished out of the 2010???

Cheers!

2010.05.27. - Ladybug's 2nd birthday

2010-05-27T14:08:00.002-04:00

She woke up & the first words out of her mouth were "Beetzah, Beetzah, Beetzah!"

She must have been dreaming about it or something. Normally she wouldn't refer to pizza unless one of us had informed her that we were having it for lunch or dinner. But it certainly let me know what she was getting for her lunch today.

She was in the most cheerful mood all morning. That's not to say that she's not normally cheerful, she is. But today, it's as if she knew how exciting a birthday can be...she has been so playful, happy & full of birthday joy all day.

I just put her down for her nap after 2 slices of her own personal pan cheese pizza and about 30 minutes of playing with her new toys, a card from her Aunt Mimi & Uncle Poppi that sang to her & a few rides on her new pony. She was rubbing her eyes like crazy after all of the excitement of the morning. She has more to come tonight, too!!! Birthday are so much fun, no matter what age you are, you should celebrate all day, if not all week!!! We're only given one life to live, we should celebrate each year for it's another year to have even more fun, laugh louder & enjoy our loved ones that much more.

Tonight she's getting her mini-tricycle & we're taking her to Chick-Fil-A for dinner & ice cream & lots of playtime in the very magical Toddler area. Should round out her birthday week perfectly.

We went to Cedar Point yesterday with her & we all had a blast. They have this wonderful thing called a "Parent Swap Pass". Basically, one parent watches the child at the exit or nearby, while the other waits in line & rides the ride. Once the parent finishes at the ride, they hand the Parent Swap Pass to one of the ride's staff & goes to get relieve the other parent with the child. That parent then goes up the exit ramp & gets to ride immediately. How awesome!!! That way, we both got to spend fun time with Scarlett & fun time riding all the rides we both wanted to ride. AWESOME!!! I highly recommend that all parks provide this kind of pass for parents with young ones. It's so simple & such a great way for both parents to enjoy their trip to the park.

Scarlett rode 5 rides yesterday. She rode the Hot Rods, the 4x4's, the Caroussel, the Flying Ace Balloon Race (which was NOT a hit) & the Camp Snoopy Camp Bus. It was so much fun to see her enjoying her day at the park too. She walked quite a good bit of the day. She loved that they were playing music...she'd bust a move in the middle of walking & people around us would just giggle & tell us how cute she was. We could all see how much fun she was having!!! We'll be back to Cedar Point before the end of the season for sure. It's only an hour away from Cleveland, which is perfect.

Well, back to cleaning & maybe unpacking a few more boxes. Cheers to all & Happy 2nd Birthday my sweet Scarlett Rae. We love being a part of your life & we love having you as part of ours!!!

2010.05.25. - We're in OHIO!?!

2010-05-24T14:06:00.004-04:00

That one caught me off guard too. The reality of this whole move hasn't quite sunk in for me yet. It just feels like a really weird vacation with lots of boxes to unbox & a much smaller household & lots of fun NEW things to see & do outside of our apartment. Over the past week, we have worked our tails off trying to get this place spic & span. We are still working our tails off too. We have so much stuff. We had no idea how much until we moved it here. Now we're downgrading all over again.

We downgraded a LOT before packing anything up. We downgraded during packing. And now here we are downgrading again. It's good to purge. I truly believe in that. If only I had the guts to purge Scarlett's room. I just haven't reached that point yet. But I'm noticing what she's not playing with & soon it will be going to charity!!!

While we're not purging & unpacking, we're exploring as much as we can. We've been to Bradstreet's Park in Rocky River, Rocky River Reservation, Lakewood Park and we are going to Cedar Point sometime this week. We've got a plan together for that one. One of us will ride a ride, while the other take Scarlett & rides a little kiddie ride or 2 with her. Then we'll swap. That way we can all get fun & enjoyment at the park. Should be a great time.

I hope everyone is having a great week. It is gorgeous up here with 80 degree days & sunshine this week...a few scattered clouds, but nothing getting in the way of the warm (NOT HUMID) sunshine up here. I'm loving this!!! By the way...the pools opened about 2 weeks ago up here. They really know how to live up their spring & summer months. They open the pools around the 1st or 2nd week in May & leave them open as long as the Fall chill stays away...so sometimes through mid-October. How about that? That seems wild to me!!! I reckon we'll get in & give it a whirl this weekend. It certainly looks inviting!!!

Sunshine, Love & Hugs from OH!

2010.05.04 - May is here...Oh, dear!

2010-05-04T21:27:00.002-04:00

So it's been a while. The last post definitely spoke volumes about change. Boy oh boy is there a TON of change that I need to tell y'all about.

We're moving to Cleveland. And we're moving next weekend. Oh yeah. The reality of it is sinking in really well right about now. That's why I waited until the last freaking minute to write about it openly. I'm excited, thrilled, nervous, scared, frightened shitless, totally ecstatic & totally overwhelmed with all kinds of emotions right about now. My brain is constantly thinking of things I need to do, things I need to add to our ongoing TO DO LIST & things that I need to do for the new apartment once we arrive there. I'm thinking about the friends that I want to see & hang out with before we leave. I'm thinking about all the wonderful things to do in Richmond before we leave. Because it may be Thanksgiving or Christmas before we get a chance to come back...I need to see Richmond in it's beautiful Spring state. I need to take lots of pictures to remember it by. I need to see my family again before we leave. I need to hug them longer than I've hugged them ever before. I need to tell everyone how much I love them.

You see this isn't as easy as it may seem on the exterior. Inside my head, I'm a friggin wreck of emotions. I realize that there's the webbernetz (aka intarwebs, aka internet) and I have a new Smart phone & Skype & all that freaking jazz...but I know for a fact we are going to miss a lot about Richmond. Miss seeing our friends, visiting with our families, eating at our local haunts, seeing the local scenery, hearing the local music...we're going to miss it.

I'm so excited that we have a fresh new start in a really kickass place. Cleveland is going to be awesome for us. I'm totally psyched for it. Learning new local haunts, meeting tons of new people, making new friends, spending Summers on the lake...all of it sounds awesome. But leaving Richmond behind ain't easy.

Richmond, you are my roots, the beginning of my story, you have "the good ol' days", you have my heart, my friends, my family...to uproot myself from this beautiful place is not easy on my heart. But if I don't do it now, I won't do it.

Change is good. Stirring up the pot makes the soup richer, more flavorful & it doesn't let things settle at the bottom & burn up the pot. Crappy analogy...but that's how I feel. The big guy in the sky provides us with an opportunity to mix things up a bit, stir up the soup of life, I say everything happens for a reason & let's try it...Carpe Diem. Seize the day, the opportunity!

So I'm a mish-mash of raw emotion these days. No wonder I haven't written in forever. I had to let the soup boil a little bit. Now it's time to stir.

XO.

2010.03.03 - RVA

2010-03-03T00:15:00.003-05:00

I've lived here for 30 years. Born & bred. Everything about me screams out Richmond native. I've lived in all 4 corners of the city & bought my 1st house within those city walls. I've watched the rise & fall of many great bands from several great clubs...mostly that fell by the wayside themselves. I've worked in many different industries, from local to national, healthcare to land development, credit cards to medical/surgical supplies. I've watched friends leave & come back due to the 'Curse of Richmond' (i.e. if you take a specific exit off of 95 N, you'll break the curse & won't be forced to return) as if Richmond were a cesspool or something.

I grew up eating Ukrop's White House Rolls & having Dot's Bakery bake my birthday cakes for most of those 30 years. I'm getting a little sentimental about the switch over to Martin's. While I know that they will still be using the Ukrop's recipes for their ready serve foods & bakery items, it just won't be the same. And that's alright. Change is good & healthy for us all. Whether we like it or not.

The big duderino in the sky has got his 3rd eye pried wide open & I'm pretty sure that change is inevitable & probably his best medicine. It's what makes us grow & develop, become the people we need to become.

So there's lots of change on our horizon. And it's starting to feel like I'm ready for it all.

2010.01.05 - Happy New Year!

2010-01-05T21:43:00.000-05:00

2010.01.05 - Happy New Year!

I am so excited for this new decade! New hopes! New dreams! New everything! Maybe it's the whole New Year's bug that I got bit with...but I'm just extremely happy for this new decade, I feel like the world is bound for some forward movement into greatness over this next 10 years. Anything is possible. Maybe even flying cars like they thought we'd have by now!!!

Regardless, I'm so happy & thrilled that we've exited the Aughties or whatever the hell ya want to call the past decade of life. I can tell you that everything in my entire world changed in that decade. I got engaged, married & had a baby in only 3.5 years. I lost the only 2 grandparents I ever knew, both Grandma's. I lost several great friends that went way before their time was up, one my high school sweetie & more recently a dear family friend who's heart was bigger than anyone's I have ever met & his smile shined brighter than the sun every single time I saw it! I worked my way up the corporate ladder, only to tell them I'd rather work for free & work harder than I've ever worked before being a stay at home Mom than get paid for their silly desk job. After almost 2 years of staying at home with our little ladybug, I decided to go back to school this year & do something I've always dreamed of doing. And at the end there, I had to say goodbye to my 4 legged best friend who'd seen me through all of the above...my dear sweet Hailey. To which our home will never, ever be the same without. I miss you baby girl...more than I can ever admit!!!

I'm very stoked to see what the next 10 years will consist of...I'm pretty sure there will be lots of love, laughter, happiness & pure joy watching our little ladybug grow. I'm excited for our country as we embrace our still new President and renew our faith & pride in our country. My hope is that the soldiers that have fought so tirelessly in this long-lasting war come home to open arms, not only from their families but from our economy in offering them jobs, from our citizens in offering them help getting back into normal American life again. May our generation not have to suffer the way the Vietnam generation did. Let's never forget those who fought for our country!!! Give them the respect, honor & welcome home they deserve! I hope to see a less-tabloid driven media. I want to hear the ACTUAL news in the world, not personal things happening to sports icons or Hollywood's finest - I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT SHIT & neither should anyone else! I want the real news, dammit! I want to see people caring about their local businesses MORE, local news MORE, local foods MORE.

So I have a lot of hopes & desires for this next decade. I believe it will be a HUGE decade for positive change, growth, forward-thinking development. I'm just one small voice, but I feel like I have the power to push for positive change in our world!!! Push with me!!!

Happy New Year & Happy New Decade!!! GO U.S.A.!!!