Feel Good Friday

Battle of the Burger

In July my dear friend Ashley and I took a trip to my hometown. While there we dined at the Cider House, which in 2015 was named the "best burger in Iowa."  I had the Barber Shop Special which was to die for, mouth watering good. You should know that the Cider House is housed in an old Barber Shop so kind of a fun name for this particular burger. Pretty much could have eaten 10 of these burgers. A must if you are ever in SE Iowa.

A week later back in KC, I decided to try the neighborhood Snack Shack which had been coined as one of the best burgers in KC.  Can I just say there was no comparison to the burger I had had the week before. Maybe it's the Iowa beef, maybe it was the company, not sure but could hardly even eat my burger from the Snack Shack.  Always love trying something new so chalk this up to a new experience.

Where should I try my next burger?

Wordless Wednesday

Sometimes Pinterest Projects like the Sara Lee Cake Balls turn out looking look like this 

and.....

You go to the store and end up buying cupcakes that look like this and it's ok.

Zucchini Crustless Quiche

A trip to the Farmers Market this time of year is never complete without the purchase of zucchini. Love them! As I purchased more than enough I scoured the Internet for some good recipes. I came up with this Zucchini Crustless Quiche recipe that I have made twice now! So good and so easy.

Lake Weekends

I was blessed to spend back to back weekends in August at the Lake! Fastly, becoming one of my favorite spots. So close to home yet feels so far away. A great place to relax! Great boat rides, great food, great drinks, swimming with my favorite water pup, and too much cussing (just for you mom!) Thank you to the wonderful people in my life who continue to invite me to the Lake. I hope you all know you are more than welcome in KC anytime!

Can't wait to go back!

Embrace

So much in the media these days are about the bad, the violence, the threats, the person monster running for president who doesn't have humane thoughts about other races and wants to ban particular sects from being in the US. I shake my head and think of  what it must have been in WW2 for those who were Jewish. So divided and scared for their well-being, their lives really.

Unfortunately, in July the death of a care provider for one of my clients exposed me to a situation where I was NOT the majority. I was the minority. I could not help but wonder what it was like for this community of Kenyans to function day in and day out in a nation where we are so mean to those whose first official home is not the USA. I applaud them for sticking through the thick and thin and trying to better themselves in a place has shown hostility to outsiders. Just as they welcomed me into their community, I wish we would do the same. I'm so sick of hearing people talk about how they want to ban Muslims from entering the country.  For just as many Muslims that may want to hurt others,  I guarantee we have MORE white, gun happy Americans to do harm.

So for once can we please join hands, quit the divide and do better. If I learned one thing from attending this funeral, it was that this group of Kenyans came to America to do better, be better. From experience, I know that Calleb was just in the middle of doing better, being better when his life was so unfairly taken. He had embraced America, unlike how we embrace others, and was in the middle of giving it his all. So how about we give it our all and embrace those of any color, any religion, any sexual preference and make the world a better place. If you feel so inclined to help Calleb's family recover from this tragedy you can donate here. 

In the meantime, take a second to watch this video. So powerful.

Save the Date

also, don't forget the MGA Date Auction is this Friday! Two great events to support the MGA that you don't want to miss!

Oh yah, and how can we forget, purchase Chiefs tickets through the MGA and they get a kick back!

As always, thanks for your support!

Wordless Wednesday

One of my clients painted this picture for me and sent it in the mail. Two things, I LOVE getting mail & who knew that they would pick the colors I LOVE.

#sometimesworkisntsobadafterall

Hosta Guy

My dad has the most beautiful yard of Hostas. My yard has greatly benefited from the Hosta's in my parents yard as they are easy to split and transplant contributing to much of my landscaping.  When I learned there was a "Hosta guy" in Olathe I just had to take my dad there.  It's a Hosta farm at a man's house.  Supposedly he has over 500 different varieties of Hostas that he sells onsite or can ship to you.  What a cool place!  I didn't take any pictures while we were there unfortunately so instead sharing some pictures from my parents yard and their plethora of Hostas.

If you are local, be sure to check out Made in the Shade, the KC Hosta Guy!

Making the Most of my Veggies

I had a fridge full of vegetables last week. A couple of trips to the Farmers Market and I was feeling like my Dad (notorious for buying way TOO much at the FM! Sorry Dad!) I wanted to put them to the best use possible so I scoured Pinterest recipes and came up with some options. Each was delicious!

Tomato Salad with Dill & Red Onion

Classic Succotash

Olive Bread- (gotta have some carbs right?)

A sweet piece of trying of the fact that I was trying to eat all these veggies. My friend Annie happened to pop over one night and I served some up for her too. What a fun surprise! And one less serving of leftovers which you know I hate!

PS. I highly recommend getting yourself a glass of wine while you cut all these veggies!

Are you Ready?

Truth be told. I have not felt like myself in a few months. As I have struggled and felt my way through one of the most uncomfortable situations in my life I have longed for some type of normalcy. Some kind of structure. Some kind of sign that it's all going to be ok. I mean after all, isn't that what people always tell you, It's all going to be ok, it's all going to work out.  Well, what if it doesn't?

The flood gates really opened a few weeks ago when I attended a funeral of a guy my age who tragically lost his life. (I actually have a post about that in my drafts which needs some finalizing) Anyhow, at the funeral, the pastor kept saying, "Are you ready?" If your life ended tomorrow, are you ready? Good question, right? Followed by the hymm, "It it Well With My Soul," might as well just invest in Kimberly Clark (you know the kleenex company) now. And I used to not be a crier. Good Lord. Literally. Those words have continued to ring in my ears. "Are you ready?"

In a time in my life when a particular relationship is very broken hearing those words crushes me because I am literally backed in a corner, this corner of uncomfortableness where I feel helpless. Any mis-step I take could be cause for more pain and bullying. At this point, who in the heck knows what the right steps to take are.  So hearing the words "are you ready?" in the context of, if your life ended tomorrow, is a gut punch.

The feeling of a gut punch is a full sign that I am not ready.  But what I can do is be me, find my old self, focus on being a better person, say I'm sorry when I make mistakes, accepts other peoples mistakes and apologies, help others, be grateful, look for the best in others, and treat others how I want to be treated Life is not perfect. People are not perfect.

My grandparents were killed 13 years ago today in a car accident. My friend Ryan, 18 years ago in a car accident. Were they ready? My sense of humor wants to argue with this question. Of course they weren't ready? Nobody is ready unless they are 99 years old, wearing a diaper, laying in a bed in a room they share with a snoring roommate at a nursing home!

Sometimes the most painful questions make you learn the most.  This has been a deeply painful journey but someday I will understand this detour.  xoxo