Meatball Pasta Bake

On a whim I tried this recipe recently basically because I had all the ingredients to make it! Ever do that? Trying to cut down on eating out and making more at home. This appears to be a cheap Italian food fix and it was really good! Would be easy to take to somebody in need of a meal.  Of course no prep pictures but click above the picture to take you to the recipe!

Meatball Pasta Bake

Turning the Page

This week I am wrapping up my work as a Case Manager for individuals with special needs. I have worked with individuals with special needs since 1999. Ever since I filled out an application in college to work as a direct care provider at Mainstream Living. I still think of my time working there and smile. That job helped me find my passion and desire to serve. I am so grateful for that time. Just as that job helped show me clear career path for the next 19 years, another development as occurred which has brought much clarity in my life.

As the MGA Triple Crown Showdown has grown so has my involvement with the MGA.  It was a no brainer when my friend Danielle decided that she wanted to step down from her role as Executive Director of the MGA to go and work for her husband that I would apply for her job.  As the plans started to come together for the transition, I have been filled with a variety of emotions. One thing that is on repeat in my head is this is a dream come true, to work for a cause that is so near and dear to my heart, to continue to raise awareness for a disease, Myasthenia Gravis, for which I hope someday there is a cure, and to continue to raise funds to help others fighting the fight every day.

Monday begins a new chapter in my life. Had you asked me two years ago if I was ever going to leave my role at JCDS working with individuals with special needs I would have told you that by KPERS standards I could retire when I was 58.  As I have thought of that response, because that is what I would have told you, I realize how stagnant that sounds.  While I have loved my job at JCDS, I also recognize that there was really no room to move and it would continue to be the same thing everyday, battling the disgusting GOP, fighting for clients with very little funding and not a lot of backing from the state.  Each day, as it nears closer, I feel lighter, happier, more excited. I can't wait to see what this chapter brings and the strides the MGA will continue to make. Danielle has laid some pretty amazing groundwork and I have big shoes to fill.

I am so thankful for the last 19 years of my life. I am forever changed by all the families I worked with, all the clients I worked with and all the battles fought to help the most vulnerable. Change is hard, transitions are hard and finding a new groove can be hard but I am so excited for this challenge. Cheers to change! Cheers to new relationships! Cheers to turning the page!

Christmas Concert Round 3

For the past 3 years my friend Annie and I have gone to a holiday concert in December. The first year we saw Jim Brickman, last year we saw Mannheim Steamroller and this year we saw Amy Grant & Michael W. Smith at the Sprint Center. This year we treated ourselves to a little Drunken Fish beforehand. Since Drunken Fish in Leawood closed ☹, I crave it but never want to drive down to Power and Light for it! That may have been the highlight of the evening for me! So good!

As for the concert- the end of it was amazing. Jordan Smith from the Voice performed as a special guest and sang several of my Christmas favorites. His voice was amazing. And both Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith rounded it out with some of my favorite songs they perform. A few of which I actually used to play on the piano in my younger era!

Most who know me know I do NOT love a sing a long so I was most disappointed when they asked the crowd to sing carols with them. I did not pay $70 for my ticket to sing carols with 10,000 strangers.  I paid for them to sing to me!

And now for my soapbox, you've heard me mention that I have struggled with Christianity since dipshit Donnie was elected to office. I struggle with this big idea of being Christian and then screwing the most vulnerable which seems to be the theme of the GOP. Take a look at Kansas for example. I knew going to this concert, two Christian singers, would be very "churchy" and thus it was and a bit over the top. Perhaps I am not making much sense as I try to write this explanation but at many points I was actually uncomfortable. At one point the lights went on and they tried to fundraise for Compassionate Kids by sending people up and down the aisle looking for those willing to donate $38 a month to "adopt" a kid. While I think that type of program is lovely and very much needed in our society, it's this underlying message of people who partake in such programs to make themselves look good, but behind the scenes are voting in politicians who send a very different message.  I've never been in a concert where they have literally stopped the show and tried to turn it into a benefit. In my opinion not the platform for that. Tis the season to give and I'm less likely to give if I feel guilted into it. On a brighter note, how lucky is Compassionate Kids to have two very talented performers in their corner?

Off the soapbox, sorry about that, to share a few pictures!

The trees were so pretty as a backdrop! 

And finally, as I sat in that concert I couldn't help but think of the last couple of years of Cyclone Big 12 Championships that have occurred in the very same building! 

What will next year's concert be?

Do Good

For my birthday my friend Ashley gave me a t-shirt from a new store in Midtown called Do Good Co. Ironically, I wore this shirt for the first time on my way home from Mexico.

(My shirt not pictured cause it's in the laundry!)

Upon arrival in KC and grabbing my car to head South on I-29 my low tire pressure light came on. Can we all just say a collective "thank you Jesus" for tire pressure alerts on the dashboard? I likely wouldn't know otherwise until a hard to steer bumpy ride would alert me. I got off at the first exit and pulled into the gas station. I filled my tire with what I think should be enough air and pulled away. I knew I would have to drive a bit in the parking lot for the gauge to read how much air had gone in. I was beyond mad when it read that the tire pressure was the same. I pulled back to the air and started to fill the tire again. I did it for longer figuring that had to fix the problem. I pulled away and started down the road but noticed the gauge did not move once again. I decided to try the gas station across the street thinking maybe the air wasn't working. I encountered the same problem. I decided to try once more and this time when I rounded the corner to pull back up to the air there was another SUV there putting air in. I decided to ask the man for help. I HATE asking for help. He told me he needed to fill his first and then he'd help me. I told him what was going on and as he connected the hose to my tire I saw this huge nail sticking out. I showed it to him and he assured me he was going to get me fixed up. I started complaining that I was in a hurry to get home, that I had just landed at the airport and my parents were at my house but only for a short time and I wanted to see them. It was then that he went to his trunk and got out this tire kit. As he opened the gate I saw his car was also filled with suitcases, 2 little kids and a wife. I felt so bad for taking up his time and complaining about being in a hurry to get home.He proceed to share with me that he had worked at a gas station in high school and fixing tires was his job back in the day.  Right then and there the man fixed my tire with a patch that I know would have cost me money at a service station. I reached in my purse to give him the last of my cash from my trip to which he refused and he said to me, "Have a Merry Christmas," and drove away. 

Do Good. Do good to others and it will come back to you. My do good shirt is definitely lucky. And by the way go check out Do Good Co in Midtown. Your shopping benefits great causes, KC Pet Project and Kids TLC.

Mexican Thanksgiving

I polished off my passport last week to attend a wedding in Mexico. The trip was full of firsts! First time to Mexico, first time at an all inclusive, first time in a foreign country solo (for 1 day!).  It pretty much didn't feel like Thanksgiving but I shall say what a great way to spend Thanksgiving.

I was lucky enough to have a room at the Barcelo Maya Grand Resort Palace which was right off the adult pool. I could have lived there the entire week. I read books, I dozed, I drank rum punch smoothies with fresh bananas. It was peaceful and quiet. The weather was perfect. Warm during the day and cooler at night. It was perfection.

Being that it was my first time traveling to an All Inclusive I had no idea what to expect. Barcelo Maya Grand Resort has 5 hotels on their property and apparently the Palace is the high end property. I was lucky enough to score the cheapest room at this property, thanks Expedia, which also meant I got to use the amenities at the Palace where as the other hotels could not use Palace amenities.  The lobby in the Palace is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. If I went back I'd definitely stay at the Palace again as the one thing I enjoyed was the restaurants, both a la carte and buffet were right on the beach so you could sit and eat and get the view. That wasn't true to all of the other hotels on the property. Most of the restaurants were settled more deep into the property.  A few had bars and grills which were pool and beach side. I was able to eat at a la carte restaurants 3 of the 5 nights which I loved.  Other meals were buffet style. I will say after 5 days there I was over buffet food. I enjoyed lots of chips and guac for lunches but no other real Mexican food.  A lot of the cocktails were very sugary and they don't have diet pop so I tried tons of new things trying to find my go to! The a la carte restaurants had wine you could buy or house wine which was included in the all inclusive package. A few of the poolside grills also had house wine available.

All of the Barcelo properties had the most amazing pools and views. The property is in tip top shape and very clean. I also felt very safe there. I walked a ton as the entire group was spread out through the 5 hotels. They also have a shuttle which can take you back and forth throughout the property. The annoyance was the people they allow on the property to try to sell you things. Like photo ops with birds, yes that did happen. I also found this to be true in the airport. Everybody wants to sell you something or get you to buy something so keep your head down! 

All in all it was a fantastic trip. I loved going someplace new. I loved that there were 55 others (also attending the wedding) that I could hang out with at anytime but that I also could chill on my own time/schedule whenever I needed.  

I am so grateful for this trip! 

Pepperoni Grilled Cheese

Do you ever get in a lull where you feel like you are out of recipes? And then you wonder how in the heck does that happen when you have pinned over 1K recipes on Pinterest?! I came across a good one recently. Comfort food at it's finest and not necessarily healthy but was quick, easy and tasted great.

Pepperoni Grilled Cheese

Grandma's Pearls

If you've stepped in any store or seen any social media this Fall you've probably noticed Buffalo Plaid is all the rage. I didn't own anything Buffalo Plaid until I popped into Ross yesterday on the hunt for a scarf that would be a bit festive for the season. Scarf was a fail but I came across a Buffalo Plaid shirt I thought could be dressed up with jewelry for the holidays and the $10.99 price tag was cheaper than a scarf. When I got home I was sifting through my necklaces to see which would dress it up a bit when I saw my Grandma Foss' pearls.  I'd seen bib necklaces with pearls so upon quick search in my ribbon drawer I found a black ribbon and pieced together my own bib pearl necklace to dress up my flannel. So much fun and loved wearing Grandma's pearls.