#Strongertogetherkc

If you follow my blog you know that I am NOT a fan of our new president. I have zero respect for him. Respect is earned and talking the way he talks about women, those with disabilities and minorities makes me feel ill.  When friends started talking about going to the Women's March in Kansas City last week I was quick to jump in and say I wanted to go.  I had no idea the lasting impression or how inspiring the March would be to me.  Because I am vertically challenged, I could not see any of the speakers, only hear them.   The entire two hours was also a true test to my claustrophobia. I seriously felt like I was standing chest to chest with half a million people. Really only 10K in KC but you get the gist when you can't move or see!  Several speakers took to the stage to tell their story of discrimination and provide testimony why now is the time to take a stand. I was floored, I was moved, I was chilled by what I heard. All of the speakers were local and these are things going on literally in my backyard.  If you read about the march you would know that it wasn't just about women, it was about rights to human kind, how we treat one another, how we talk to one another and how we move forward.   

Some of my favorite signs and pictures from the march.

Our lives are the example we spread to others and it's so important to set a good example. Children are the future and they need to see how to respect one another, how to treat one another.  God said "love thy neighbor" and I firmly believe that no matter what color, what size, what religion, what sex. We must strive for equality.  We moved forward a whole bunch in recent years and are on track to move back back back.  I will be doing everything I can to accept all, be kind and treat anybody and everybody I meet with kindness.

For more information on the Womens March, click here.

#kindKC #womensmarch17 #strongertogetherkc

Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime has become like a dream to me. I know I'm about 5 years behind but..... I somehow got an offer to join as an Amazon Student and it's only $49/year.  Cue in this girl has been Amazon priming everything from light bulbs to face wash to batteries! Yes, cheap light bulbs and batteries and saves a trip to the store (Target) where you might end up with $100 worth of extra goodies in your cart.  My dear friend Liz told me about priming dog food. What a wonderful world! I no longer have to load the dog food into the cart, out of the car and into the house. This is what happens when a deliciously smelling package arrives.....

Amazon Priming dog food also means no more generic Hy Vee brand for this sweet pup!

#winning

Are you running about 5 years behind too? Haven't signed up for Amazon Prime yet? You must! Use my link and we both get a discount!

Amazon Prime Referral Link

Low Carb Dinner Goodness

Being that it is January I can't think of one person not trying to tackle the new year with some sort of healthy goal. I found this low carb recipe on Pinterest.  In an attempt to only use groceries I already had on hand, my version is minus the shrimp and fresh parsley. This was SO good and I actually ate it leftover for lunch two days in a row. (A big step for me as I hate leftovers!)

My version also contained the McCormicks Sausage Links. I love McCormick spices and these sausages are often found with grocery rebate apps which make them easy to buy.

Enjoy!

Restaurant Week & Good Eats

January always marks Restaurant Week in Kansas City and other major metropolitan areas.  The purpose of Restaurant Week is to give back to local charities by doing something simple; EATING! You know eating and drinking, two of my most favorite things! This year RW gave back to Boys Grow, Children's Center for the Visually Impaired and Cultivate KC.  You may recall in the fall I went to a gala for Boys Grow which is an impressive organization providing guidance to some of the most vulnerable youth. With RW, you want to get your reservations EARLY so you can get a good spot. Spots fill up FAST and are generally very popular.  An impending ice storm that never happened canned my first scheduled RW outing to Plaza 111 Steakhouse.  My advice for RW is to pick a place that is generally not somewhere you'd go on a normal day due to the price as all menus are $15 for lunch and $33 for dinner. A portion of the cost goes back to the three charities.

First stop was Michael Smith Restaurant. Michael Smith is a James Beard Award winner. For those wondering, the James Beard Award is for culinary excellence and like getting an Oscar for cooking. I've always wanted to try Michael Smith and it did not disappoint. So good. Insert food coma.  

The Michael Smith busing our table.......

Next stop was the Majestic for brunch on Saturday. It also did not disappoint. Historical landscape in downtown KC. I have always wanted to try the Majestic but is definitely a more pricy opinion for eating out so not really in the cards. Restaurant Week was the perfect time to check it out. And the Beef Tip Omelet- amazing!

The last stop was the make up from the ice storm that never happened. Two friends and I had to scramble to find a new location/date and selected Rye.  Now this was a disappointment. They had posted on the website their lunch RW menu.  When we got to the restaurant they gave us both the Lunch version and the Brunch version of the RW menus. When we we to order they indicated they were only honoring the brunch RW menu. So why did they also give us the Lunch menu version? This was an issue as one of the girls I was with does not eat meat therefore the brunch menu did not offer a vegetarian option. Very disappointing as well as the wait staff did not really offer any solution nor acknowledge the information that was posted online was different.  I'd only been to Rye once before with my mama (you know the time I put my menu in the candle at the table and started a fire), but I don't think I'll be back.  To be honest, their fried chicken for which they are known for and what I got at brunch was just ok. 

        

And I can't talk about eating last week without mentioning our monthly Culinary Club Adventure.  We checked out Bistro 913 in Overland Park. Bistro 913 offers Vietnamese and Hawaiian cuisine. I had not had Ahi Tuna Hawaiian Poke since my brothers wedding in Hawaii 2 years ago so that was a treat and very tasty. Who doesn't love some raw tuni?! YUM.

And then there is this. While Bistro 913 does not have alcohol we quickly learned they would let you bring your own bottles in. Cue have somebody run to the liquor store for a few bottles. Only they return with a CASE.  Some of us are just getting over our headaches.....

And you guessed it, after last week. It's no eating out this week! Was a fun week getting back out with my friends and being social. I missed them ALL during my 6 weeks of medical hell.

Wordless Wednesday

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Ugly Socks, Chronic Illness & a Special Thanks to my Mama

There are a lot of depressing things going on right now; the fact that it's January, Donald Trump, jeans that don't find those Christmas cookies that you ate so cute, these SOCKS. Yes, these damn socks. They are a must if you have a surgical procedure at KU Med so I got to dawn them last week for several hours. #Depressing.

The last 6 weeks of my life have in fact been, very depressing. They have caused a constant reminder that I do in fact suffer from a chronic illness and I must fight very hard if I want to try to have a "normal" life.  Two Plasmaphersis treatments, two experimental chemotherapy treatments and a fistula port clean out. The constant need to focus on my medical issues means I have been off the wagon on exercise, healthy eating, out of the loop socially and just naturally haven't felt like a successful contributor to society.  I've got "to-do" lists on so many notepads stuffed in my purse and work bag that I am overwhelmed each time I catch a glimpse of them. The pure thought of returning to my routine is exhausting.  How does one transition from facing their chronic illness to going into a work meeting and trying to care for individuals as their Case Manager? I know I have battled this for years but maybe it's age or maturity but I feel it deeper this time.

As each day gets a little better, my arm is a little less sore and I regain my strength I know it will become a little bit easier.  I am especially grateful for all the support of my Mom these last few weeks as she has been back and forth to KC more times that you can count and I so appreciate that. She's been by my side for ugly socks, attempting to eat hospital mashed potatoes WITHOUT butter, blow drying and helping me with my hair, fulfilling my fountain diet coke needs, bathing my dog two times in one day due to her racing through the mud, ironing, doing laundry, cooking, cleaning and just the normal things moms do.  So thank you! And thank you Dad for taking care of yourself while she has been gone. I can't give out thanks without also saying thanks to all my friends for the meals, too!

Tomorrow starts the normal routine. No more sick days or breaks from work for awhile and I must give it 120%! Here's to better health in 2017!

To Toss or Not to Toss?

I did some deep cleaning and rearranging this holiday weekend and as I was working in the kitchen I realized I still have tomatoes from my tomato plant trying to ripen on my windowsill.  Anybody else got this problem? And yes these are some baby tomatoes.....

She's 4!

My furry baby turned 4 this week. The BIG 4. This picture perfectly captures her personality.  She's her own type of character and likes to throw me a curve ball just when I think I have her figured out.

I ❤ her so much and she adds so much spirit, entertainment and JOY to my life. While I've said this before it couldn't be more true.

She's coming around to some of the frequent visitors of our home & is still very partial to her Grammy & Gramps. And absolutely no progress with the mailman. She's certain somebody has come to murder us everyday around 10am!

This sums it up! Right by my side these last few weeks!

Says the girl who said she'd never own a dog........

Dollar Tree for the Win

These adorable purple ramekins found @ the local Dollar Tree. 3 for $1. Can't find much of a better deal! Don't worry, purchased in December before I started "No Spend January" (blog post coming soon.....) 

Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti "Casserole"

Here we go with that good old Lutheran word, "casserole." Last week on a particularly cold and snowy night I was craving something creamy and warm. I had this recipe pinned in my "Recipes to Try" board on Pinterest.  I basically had all the ingredients to make it so simply purchased a roasterie chicken from Hy Vee and went to work. It did not disappoint! There is nothing healthy about this recipe so if you are looking for healthy I don't recommend.

Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti

And once again I totally failed. No preparation pictures!

Feel Good Friday

January feels good for one reason. Cleaning sh*t out! I always take the opporunity in January to clean and organize. And I always find treasures. Last week I found this treasure. My Grandpa Foss sent this to me when I was in the 4th grade- 1989! Such a treasure....

Feel Good Friday

Earlier in December my mom and I volunteered with a group from church at Sheffield Place.  Sheffield Place is a transitional living facility for mothers and children in the heart of KC. The goal of the agency is to empower women to become self sufficient and care for their families. As a group we served them dinner, played games and they had a visit from Santa. It was truly eye opening experience. I held a 2 week old baby and helped man the "fishing" game.  But mostly relished in the joy that came across the children's faces as they won a prize or got to eat one more roll.

If you are determined to give, check out Sheffield Place. They are always in need.

Think it out Thursday

Photo Cred: myself, walking the nephdog in Seattle :)

Wordless Wednesday

When your mom has to spend 1/2 of December with you for your medical treatments and you think the right thing to do is reward her with wine. But then the cork gets stuck and you have to jab the bottle open with a knife and strain out the cork. Nothing like drinking a nice glass of vino poured from a measuring cup!

Reverse Advent Calendar

Raise your hand if you loved those chocolate advent calendars as a kid. I remember getting them a few times at Somebody Cares, a gift store on the square in Fairfield.  And I do believe there were times when I ate the chocolates a few days in advance. Oops. I saw this post on Facebook earlier this Fall and knew it was right up my alley for Christmas time. 

I had fun collecting groceries for my reverse advent calendar. I used my grocery rebate app, Ibotta and got some good deals! 

My mom is delivering my box to the Lord's Cupboard in Fairfield next week! While small, I hope it helps somebody in need.

Happy New Year- 7th Annual MGA Triple Crown Showdown

Happy 2017! May this year bring you lots of good luck and cheer!

From today until 1/5/17 you can register for the 7th Annual MGA Triple Crown Showdown for just $20!

Use the code: MGANEWYEAR

Click here to register