Jan 15 – The Day We Picnicked

Yesterday was full of memory-making goodness, so much so, I’m not sure what all to write! It started with one of those glorious, peaceful mornings that call you to savor time instead rushing through it. Those have a way of setting your whole day just right. It was followed by worship, study, a picnic with the best potato salad I’ve ever made and some of the best friends I could ask for, pie, pie, pie, stomach-hurting laughter, Central Market, family dinner, cake and ice cream, and a night of snuggles with a good-smellin’ baby. Where’s the repeat button?

Highlights:

1)  My husband got to fully experience the giggling trifecta that is me, Amanda & Lori (some of my oldest friends) in all its wacky glory. It’s like we’re perpetually 7, have no inhibition (running through a field with a bed sheet cape, anyone?), and we laugh til it hurts. It’s balm for the soul.

2) We saw a parrot on a leash at the park. Did you know people do that? Well, now you do.

3) I made this chicken for our picnic: http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/02/25/recipe-the-best-whole-chicken-in-a-crock-pot/. So simple, and so good! Using leftovers (though those were slim) for tacos!

Love & Leashed Parrots,

K

Jan 14 - The Day I Tried Something New

When you own a pie shop and you have downtime, what do you do? Why, bake kale chips and fruit leather, of course! Yeah, yeah, it's not cake, but it helps counteract the blueberry cheesecake. Verdict: kale chips are good! Not good enough to make me want to give up regular, but still. As for fruit leather, great...if you can peel it off the foil. Trial and error, I guess!

Highlights:
1) I started the day with breakfast and coffee with a friend, and it was lovely! She had good advice for me on taking time to productively unwind (read: not tv), which I intend to put into practice!

2) started a new home simplification/organization book, Sink Reflections (written by Internet maven, FlyLady) - time will tell...

3) In that spirit, I started purging items in my closet. I think the spring weather has positive effects on my cleaning mood! Windows open, music up, house gettin' cleaned.

Love and Fruit Leather,
K

Jan 13 - The Day I Grew a Beard

This is one of those entries that would really be best with photographic evidence. I'll work on that, I promise...
Anywho, I helped throw a beard-themed surprise party for bf's hubs, which was filled with food, friends, and facial hair (even the females got in on it). We made his fav foods, in some form or fashion, to include mini pizza bites, bacon dip, and a beard cake. Also in his list of fav things: puppies. So, of course we put beards on them. Now, however, Im officially crashing!

Highlights:
1) Went to a boot camp workout today. Theres a good chance I won't be able to move tomorrow. In-tense!
2) Resisted candy, DP, and Chinese food today! Do I get a cookie?
3) two is all there is today. SLEEEEP.

Love and ZZZZZzzzz,
K

Jan 12 - The Day I Slapped Genetics in the Face

Got has granted me many, many things, but genetically good health isn’t one of them. I realized this about 2 years ago and have steadily worked to change my habits since then. So when my insurance company makes me take a health assessment, I actually get excited about it, while my coworkers groan. Great news is that I’m in better shape than I was last year – overall cholesterol down, big drop in LDLs and Triglycerides, blood pressure down, etc, and I have the health of an 18 year old. Proof that genetics are a contributing factor, not necessarily a determining one! Also proof that when you're getting old when you're impressed by having an 18 year old's health, ha. I’ll keep up my routine (and in some areas improve…*cough* VEGETABLES *cough*…ahem) and shoot for even better score next year!

Highlights:

1)  Lunch date with my handsome hubby. I know it’s just an hour, but it means the world to me when he takes time to drive out and pick me up and just sit. And eat. Especially when its Taste of Asia and there are dumplings involved.

2) It was a good day for quality time with the people I love – also got to hang with my hetero-lifemate for a bit. I would tell more of our activities except 1) its kinda top secret, and 2) if you didn’t have the details, it might sound a bit cheap/trashy. Let’s get this straight – we are cheap AND classy!

3) Began working on an awesome Spotify playlist. Is this journal worthy? Maybe not, but it WAS a highlight of my day, so there.

Love & Low Cholesterol,

K

Jan 11 - The Day I Learned I Can't Blog From Bed

Actually, I learned quite a few things yesterday, though not all of my lessons ended as badly as me falling asleep mid-post. I learned that on most of my work days, my writing content will be slim, as I can’t really discuss where I work or what I do (sounds like I’m a spy… I will not confirm or deny). I also learned a good lesson both in humility and not forgetting my running shorts, as I ended up having to wear a borrowed pair whose burnt orange tint did nothing for the neon green shirt I brought to wear. Stylin, I tell ya. Learning keeps life from being stagnant, so I welcome the lessons!

Highlights:

1. Our neighbors must think we’re nuts. We have thin windows, Jon likes to scream like a girl/yell inappropriate things/just yell to embarrass me, as he knows it will. I told him they probably think we have a crazy cousin named Leroy locked in a closet or something. This comment was followed by Jon yelling LEROY repeatedly, and loudly. Maybe we are nuts?
2.   Studied 2 Kings 5 at Bible study – so many implications: God uses  the boldness and kindness of a servant girl, breaks the expectations of the prideful Naaman , uses Elisha to show that God’s favor can’t be bought, and heals not just the body, but the heart of this “man in valor”. More on this later, perhaps.
3. Ran nearly 3 miles today. I usually dread runs before I go, but never regret it once it's over, and today was no exception!

Love, Learning & Leroy,
K

Jan 10 - The Day My Sanity Was Redeemed

In everything turn, turn, turn, I suppose! Today went off swimmingly. Besides my time in the cubicle, I went to an upper body class (don't be offended if you wave at me tomorrow and I don't move. Blame my scrawny, really sore arms), had dinner waiting in the crockpot and finished the night hanging out with my small group. For 9 very different individuals, I think we make a good team. I'm stoked to see where God will take us this year!

Highlights:
1) We touched on living community intentionally. In that spirit, I have dates with two lovely ladies this week! Here's for better friendships on the horizon, on purpose!
2) Y'all, excuse my language, but please look up Shit Girls Say on YouTube (episodes 1 &2) My husband confirmed my suspicions...I think this is me.
3) God's getting under my skin about some issues. It's the kind of thing that's uncomfortable but you know it's for your own good. That whole Psalm 139 thing can be annoying. ;-)

Love & Happy Days,
K

Jan 9 - The Day That Everything Went Awry

Ever have those days when you brain seems to purposely short circuit when communicating to the rest of your being? Yesterday was like a comedy of errors for me. NOTHING went as planned, starting close to 12:00 AM. 

I woke up in the middle of the night, got sick, fell asleep in the bathroom floor, woke up, dragged myself to bed, slept through my alarm, couldn’t get my car started, finally did and was late to work, spent the day trying to fight off a headache, typos (my fingers just wouldn’t work), napping on breaks and at lunch (oh, I slept through that alarm too) instead of working out as I had planned, went to the store twice, each time either forgetting things on my list or just grabbing the wrong item (jalepenos instead of green chiles, tomato paste instead of sauce, etc), got home to start dinner and managed to flip an open jar of minced garlic (let me just pause here to say that you should avoid this at all costs…you have no idea how far that stuff travels), dropped a (raw) meatball, spilled cornstarch on the floor (and of course, myself), apparently fell asleep on the couch and refused to move, as I woke up somewhere near 12:30 this morning, fully dressed (the husband, bless him, can only fight my sleepy stubbornness so long before he just leaves me there).  Whew.  Given all that crazy mess, I figured today’s highlights should be praises to curb the negativity. Bad day, you will not win!

{Positive} Highlights:

1)    1)   I received a warm welcome back at work, and nothing blew up while I was gone. After being gone for a week, this is a huge blessing.

2)   2)  I have a great husband. Seriously, no one can comfort me quite like he can, and he did just that after all of my disasters. So thankful for him.

3)     3)  In one day, I was able to undo much of the dietary damage I inflicted on vacation. Feeling much better today after a day of real food. Speaking of food, I also tried a great new recipe from one of my fav food blogs. Check it out: http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/05/swedish-meatballs.html. I served it over no-yolk egg noodles. Great comfort food after such a day!

Love & Happy Thoughts,

K