Apartment Hunting for Ryan - Day 237

Mike and I spent the day together searching for Ryan's new home in Jacksonville. Armed with a few listings Ryan found on the internet and another few printouts from a rental finder agency, we headed out on our hunt. Unfortunately we did not find the golden egg...only a few rotten ones. Rentals in the Southside area were a little pricey with a laundry list of add on costs. San Marco is the neighborhood I was drawn to. It is an older historic district with lots of charm and beautiful views of the St. Johns River. This search was not nearly as easy as I expected. Looks like another road trip to Jax is in my future.

Apartment hunting all afternoon left no time for lunch and two very hungry campers. Mike and I consulted Urbanspoon and settled on Billy's Boat House in Jacksonville Beach. Wednesday's special was 18 shrimp for $12.95, fried, grilled, blackened or coconut(ed). A hot spinach crab dip to start and the special was our choice. And an excellent choice it was. I ordered my shrimp half blackened, half fried with a salad and hush puppies. Everything was very tasty and the service was friendly. Live music filled the outdoor dining area. You could tell this was a favorite with the locals and a new favorite of ours as well.

Many hugs,

Kathy

The Long Way Home - Day 236

Today was spent on the road from Raleigh to Orlando with a few side trips in between. Susan and I decided we needed a little diversion along the way to break up the trip. We ventured into downtown Savannah with the Urbanspoon phone app in hand and settled on the SOHO South Cafe. The decor was eclectic. The menu simple focusing on sandwiches, salads and soup. Susan ordered the Grilled Veggie Foccacia and I selected the Modern Grilled Cheese and Tomato Bisque Soup. Both were delicious. Urbanspoon served us well.

My son Ryan is moving to Jacksonville at the end of April and needs some help finding an apartment. Soooooo...our second side trip took the two of us on a tour of the San Marco and Southside neighborhoods. I fell in love with San Marco. The condos and homes have a historic charm and a beautiful view of the St. Johns River. Southside is close to shopping and offers many upscale apartment choices. Our brief tour was just enough to wet my appetite for a follow up trip tomorrow with Mike.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Dinner by Ryan - Day 235

Fitting in blogging on a day filled with good food, conversation and adventures is extremely difficult. That is exactly why this posting will be brief. All I can say is I am one very proud and happy mom. Ryan made us our best meal of the entire vacation and that is saying a lot because we had some pretty amazing dining experiences. But none better than the Chicken Parmesan with homemade Fettuccine Alfredo he prepared tonight. All topped off with lots of wine, a sub par HeartSong cookie and a Kathy movie - Definitely, Maybe. This is the real nirvana.

Many hugs,

Kathy

A Southern Season...Heavenly - Day 234

Some people want to have a second home at the beach...some in the mountains. I want my second home to be at A Southern Season in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. This is a foodie's nirvana. Filled with the most amazing selection of specialty foods, wines, chocolates, baked goods, coffees, teas, candies, kitchen utensils, dinnerware and prepared food. Weathervane is their attached dining establishment and our choice for lunch. Susan and I both got the potato leek soup and half a fried green tomato BLT. Mmmmm! It was a great way to celebrate our shopping bliss.

Tennis was the event of the afternoon. Ryan was back at work and once again Susan and I got an inside peek at NC State athletics. Unfortunately NC State was not on the winning end of their matches against Georgia Tech, but it was fun nonetheless.

Susan treated us to dinner at The Pit in downtown Raleigh. We gorged ourselves on Carolina style barbecue and sides. Pulled pork for Ryan and Susan. Chopped barbecue turkey for me. Everything was very tasty.

Tonight I baked sub par cookies for Ryan's co-workers and Coach Bible. I can't believe I am saying this, but I actually missed my temperamental oven. And I definitely missed my KitchenAid mixer. The cookies looked like hockey pucks. I just hope they don't taste like pucks...whatever they taste like.

Many hugs,

Kathy

A Really Good Day - Day 233

After surviving the chilly night without the benefit of blankets, the three of us set out for one of my favorite destinations - the State Farmers Market. We perused the vendors, buying German pastries and sourdough cinnamon bread. Then it was on to The Farmers Market Restaurant for the most heavenly biscuits I have ever tasted...and fried chicken, field peas and greens. Yum!

Ryan let us accompany him to Spring football practice. Susan and I ogled tight white spandex, listened to the word of the day - S--- used in a variety of ways and snuck in a picture of Ryan at work. The sky was clear blue. The air was cool and crisp. I soaked in all in with pride and happiness as I watched my son doing exactly what he was meant to do in the world. Life is very good!

Just when I thought this day of all days could not get any better...we headed out to dinner at Poole's Diner in downtown Raleigh. Oh my, what a wonderful dining experience. The restaurant is in a tiny old building with lots of bar seating and very few tables. The wine list was filled with interesting wines Susan and I had never heard of, but were anxious to try...them all. We settled on a Spanish white. I can't for the life of me remember the name, but we shared a bottle over the course of the evening and it was remarkable. Fruity, with a floral bouquet and citrus overtones. Don't I sound like I know what I am talking about? Of course I don't! All I know is that I enjoyed every drop. Our first course was Pimento Cheese Spread with Crostini. Amazing. Then it was on to the main course. Ryan had the Royale - an open face burger with blue cheese butter, crispy onions and a side of pomme frites. Susan opted for the Rosemary Roasted Chicken with Yukon Gold mashed potatoes. I had Crispy Flounder served over vine ripe tomatoes. We all shared a side of macaroni and cheese...very, very good mac and cheese. The atmosphere was casual. The service friendly. The evening...wonderful.

I left Poole's with a big smile on my face. And it wasn't just because I had just consumed a half a bottle of good wine. I had spent the day with two of my favorite people. It was a really good day.

Many hugs and more visits to Poole's,

Kathy

On The Road Again - Day 232

On the road again...my life's theme song. On my first day of vacation, what do I do? You've got it...I head to work to pick up a client's job and hit the road again. Luck was on my side because I finished the trip just in time to pick up Susan for the real start of my vacation. Susan and I were off to visit my son Ryan in Raleigh for a few days of good eats, good wine, an inside look at NC State athletics and a heavy dose of Ryan. The 9 1/2 hour drive flew by thanks to great conversation with Susan and her collection of CDs. Panda Express was our dinner choice enjoyed as we continued on our journey. Hopefully my knee driving didn't freak out Susan too much as ate. Along the way we drank coffee, snacked on dried fruit, celebrated arrival at South of the Border with roasted nuts and shared a box of animal crackers for that extra energy boost to make it to our destination...Ryan. What a welcome site he was when we finally arrived at about 12:30 a.m.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Dining for Women - Day 231

Today was another full plate day. A trip to Tampa and frantic attempts to take care of work details before my trip to North Carolina filled my work day. I was tired, grumpy and unmotivated by days end. I called Kenda to see if she still wanted to go to Dining for Women tonight. She was feeling about the same as I was, but agreed dinner with a group of amazing, caring women may be just the antidote for a bad day.

Dining for Women is a national organization whose mission is to Change The World One Dinner at a Time. Each month small groups of women across the country meet for dinner and conversation. A different charity is featured each month. Tonight's charity was InMed, an organization that supports health education for the extremely impoverished women of Peru. There is absolutely no pressure to donate, but after hearing the impact that a donation as small as $1.50 can make on these women, I could not help myself. My challenges and frustrations suddenly seemed unimportant. There was such a power emanating from this small gathering of women. Mission accomplished. We made a difference.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Random Acts of Good- Day 230

Today was another whirlwind tour of Florida for work. The bonus was the random acts of HeartSong sprinkled in along the way. This morning I bagged the cookies made last night, picked some lemons from the tree in my yard for my co-workers and headed out the door. Random act one was a bag of cookies for Randy...ones with NO NUTS to make him happy. Then it was on to Gainesville with a proof and random act two...a bag of cookies for Lee. The afternoon passed quickly with deliveries and proof review. Little time was left for my special delivery to Jen and Matt. They were loading their moving van when I showed up with Jen's favorite Peppermint Bark Cookies. I got a big goodbye hug and a picture to add to my smile collection for random act three. Off to Carolyn's I raced to attend a CAbi party to benefit our friend Tracy who is battling acute leukemia. I was late, but just in time to see the trunk show. The clothes were really cute, but I am starved for cash and time. I grabbed a catalog and headed out the door for the next leg of my adventure.

Earlier today Kenda drooled over my facebook picture of Jen's cookies. Turns out the Peppermint Bark Cookies are her favorite too. As I raced home to take Maddie for a walk, I realized I still had one more random act to perform. I called Kenda and told her I was going to do a cookie drive by. She was waiting by the door as soon as I pulled in with a hug, a Peterbrooke Dark Chocolate Gator lollipop and a big smile in exchange for the cookie bag. I think I got the best end of random act four.

Maddie greeted me at the door wondering what took me so long. If she only knew...

We walked around the block and I reflected on my day filled with random acts of just plain good.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Goodbye Girl Cookies - Day 229

My friend Jen and her husband Matt are packed and ready to start their new adventure in Atlanta on Thursday. One of the things Jen said she will miss the most is...not me, but my HeartSong Cookies. Her favorite is the Peppermint Bark Cookie I made for the holidays. Who said Peppermint Bark can only be eaten during the Christmas season?! Not me, and certainly not Jen. Tonight I baked a batch of cookies to keep Matt and Jen company on their drive north. The smell is incredible! Too bad I don't have e-smellevision.

Many hugs and sad goodbyes,

Kathy

Dinner by Susan - Day 228

Last night when we returned home from dinner at Tom and Susan's, I discovered Susan had given me a special gift. In addition to the generous slice of Christopher's chocolate cake of love, I found a container of black bean corn salad, a container of salad greens tossed with veggies and kidney beans and a grilled chicken breast. She had shared her lunch fixings with me. How cool is that?! This morning I didn't have time to pack everything up for the road. So I saved it for dinner and what an amazing treat it was. I didn't have to do a thing other than put it in a bowl, slice the chicken and drizzle a little dressing over the top. It was filling, healthy and just what the doctor ordered after driving over 430 miles for work today. Susan, you can cook for me any time you want.

Many hugs,

Kathy

My Book of Lists - Day 227

Today I discovered another material possession I have become far too attached to - my iPhone. As I drove to work at Costco, I realized my iPhone had not made the trip. Panic set in. How would I know what time it was, check the weather, answer e-mails, surf the web, log into facebook, monitor my exploding NCAA bracket? How would I pass the time on a traditionally slow traffic day? The answer was found in my pen and notebook. I wrote my blog, made to do lists for work, packing lists for my trip, a list of places to visit in North Carolina, honey do lists for projects around the house, SparkPeople food diary list, possible menus for next week, grocery list and a list of the lists I need to create! That was all in hour one at Costco. I helped people navigate the wine section and talked about Montepulciano d'Abruzzo to anyone that would listen in hour two. Hour three was spent dreaming up new ideas for HeartSong Cookie flavor combinations and adding them to...a list. In the fourth hour I stocked the wine section. This is not my job, but hey, someone has to do it. Especially someone with no iPhone. The last hour was filled with a lot of nothing. No customers. No sales. Nothing left to clean up. No lists to make. No clock to tell me when it was time to leave. Nothing. Nada. Zilch.

Tonight was quite a treat. My good friend Tom turned 55 today. Susan, Tom and Chis invited Mike and me to his birthday dinner at their home. Once again Susan made an exquisite dinner. We began with a wedge salad with crumbled blue cheese, bacon and blue cheese dressing. This was followed by perfectly grilled filets topped with a mushroom Worcestershire sauce, stuffed potatoes and grilled veggies. Dessert was a marvel of a chocolate cake homemade by Chris. Chris thought it looked a little like Tom. I don't know about that, but you could tell it was filled with love.

Many hugs and 55 birthday wishes for Tom,

Kathy

Spring Fever - Day 226

Oh my, I have been bitten by the Spring fever bug and I have it bad! I spent the day tortured in Costco while the rest of the world was out enjoying the weather. Traffic was exceptionally slow for a Saturday. I did get to chat with James, the owner of Cafe Italiano, who stopped by my demo area. If you have never been to Cafe Italiano, you should. I've written about it in previous postings. Carolyn, Kenda and I paid a visit a couple of months ago. Everything we sampled was rub your tummy good. I think the cheesecake and tiramisu was the best I have ever tasted. Business is a little slow right now, so go out to eat and support this Orlando tradition. Tell James the Costco Wine Lady sent you.

This morning before work I delivered a little happiness - a great big platter of HeartSong Cookies to my friend Beatriz. Her daughter Savannah is about the ship out to boot camp and tonight is her farewell celebration. Savannah specifically requested White Chocolate Blueberry Pecan Cookies. And wouldn't you know, that was exactly the batch of cookies my oven didn't want to bake. The oven and I did battle all night and I finally won.

There are two material possessions I would have a very difficult time doing without - my temperamental oven and my KitchenAid mixer. Both have withstood more than their share of use and abuse and I desperately need for them to hang with me for a few more years.

This week March Madness began...the Spring ritual I am extremely fond of. I filled out my brackets, actually two, and was ready to kick some Ryan butt. Then along came Thursday and I was promptly brought to me knees. The only butt I am kicking is my own. Still, I love watching the games with pizza and a glass of wine...which is exactly what I plan to do tonight.

Kaboom!!!!!!! That is the sound of my bracket now that my pick to win it all, Kansas, just went down.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Ahhhhhhh...Friday! - Day 225

What a glorious day...Friday! Especially a Friday in the Spring. A clear blue sky. Warm with just a hint of cool. I was fortunate enough to spend a good bit of the day soaking it all in on a drive to Gainesville and back for work. This is the time I love my job. I am not chained to a computer. I am freeeeeeee!

The best part of my trip was the treat that was waiting for me at the end. Mike, a glass of wine and an abundant table filled with half price appetizers at BJ's Brewhouse. Another one of our wonderful, calorie laden meals on a budget. For three, yes... THREE appetizers, a glass of wine for me and two beers for Mike, we only spent $25.00. It was the perfect way to end a beautiful day.

Many hugs,

Kathy

A Goodbye, A Good Night - Day 224

Tonight I met friends at TGIFriday's to say goodbye to Jen. She and her husband are off to Atlanta to begin a new life adventure. Jen is one of those people that is a joy to be around. Her passion for art, music, animals and friends makes her my kind of person. I will miss her terribly, but made plans to kidnap her to pick apples in the Fall.

After the party I noticed a missed call from my son Ryan. I figured he was calling to harass me about my pathetic NCAA bracket showing. Instead I was treated to the much anticipated news that he got the internship with the Jacksonville Jaguars. I was elated! That means he will be relocating to Jacksonville at the end of April. I will actually be able to see him more than every 3-4 months. In case I didn't mention it before...I am sooooooooooo proud of him.

Many hugs and GO JAGS,

Kathy

Happy St. Patty's Day - Day 223

Today I took on the role of Cookie Leprechaun to deliver my six bags of Dark Chocolate Mint Chip Cookies baked last night. All day I worried that they may taste like mouthwash because I added green mint chips and dusted them with finely chopped green mint bark when they came out of the oven. I baked so few, I never tasted them. They kind of smelled like mint Listerine. Oh well, it is the thought that counts.

Tonight was the final night of Corned Beef and Cabbage Week with Sandy. This time we decided to mix it up and venture outside our Cracker Barrel comfort zone to TooJay's. Not the best idea. The corned beef was more like deli sandwich meat instead of the thick slices we are used to. The cabbage had a strong clove taste and the potatoes were not quite fully cooked. To make matters worse...it was more expensive. Instead of a grand finale to our adventure, it was a grand fizzle.

Many O'Hugs,

Kathy

Still Corny at the Barrel - Day 222

Sandy and I celebrated Day 2 of Corned Beef and Cabbage Week at Cracker Barrel. I think it tasted even better than the night before. After dinner, I stopped by the house to pick up some of the Costco Red Velvet Cake to drop off to my mom and brother. I feel like such a little porker right now. All I do is eat, bake or write about eating. I thought the SparkPeople site would make me more accountable for my diet and exercise, but I can't seem to consistently log my feasting and exercise seems to be a once a week event.

Tonight I was very, very tired. I had the best of intentions of making cool St. Patrick's Day Sugar cookies for friends and clients with the Irish butter I bought this weekend at Costco. But did not have it in me. Dark Chocolate Mint Chip Cookies were the only cookies that made it to the oven. I actually think they look pretty good, but there aren't nearly enough of them. Oh well.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Corned Beef and Cabbage Week - Day 221

Several years ago my friend Sandy and I started a tradition the week before St. Patrick's Day. We indulged our mutual passion for Corned Beef and Cabbage at Cracker Barrel. Not just once, but several times in one week. Yes, it is a goofy, weird tradition, but it is something we actually look forward to. Tonight was the first night of Corned Beef indulgence at the Barrel. Mike came along for the experience, but not the Corned Beef and especially not the cabbage. Sandy shared stories of her weekend in South Florida. I whined about my toothache. And Mike sat back and took it all in. Then we made plans for tomorrow night's Corned Beef adventure.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Spring Ahead, Less Time in Bed - Day 220

Every good thing has its consequences. I love the longer daylight hours of Daylight Savings Time. I hate the loss of an hour snuggled up under the covers. The hour loss of sleep really hit me during my time at Costco. Store traffic is always slower on Sundays. I spent much of the day with a severe case of Spring fever.

I passed the time by watching people. Brightly colored Crocs seemed to be the fashion statement of the day...yellow, orange, pink and lime green. Oh my! Crocs, tattoos and pregnant bellies were in abundance. I cannot remember when I have seen so many pregnant women in one afternoon.

I ran into a classmate from junior high and high school that I have not seen in over thirty years, Mark Schulman. I know he didn't remember me, but we had a wonderful conversation nonetheless.

The tasting options today were outstanding. Baguette slices with Irish butter, Irish Dubliner cheese, corned beef and cabbage, mushroom ravioli, quinoa rice pilaf, popcorn chicken, chicken patties, bacon, mango juice, salad, kettle corn and tuna salad on crackers. Mid afternoon I went on a feeding frenzy. Boredom is the mother of hunger. And I was bored out of my mind. No one to talk to. No one to buy my lonely bottles of wine. There was so little activity, there wasn't even anything to clean up. The afternoon dragged on and on and on...

Unfortunately I had little to look forward to after work. It was back to my other job for a planning meeting for a project that doesn't come about until January 2011. I want a life!

The highlight of my day was dinner with Mike at home. I made Italian Sausage with Penne and Roasted Garlic Bread. Washed down with a nice big glass of Montepulciano. Yes, one of my lonely bottles found a home in my shopping cart.

Many hugs and GO GATORS (amazingly they made the NCAA Basketball Tournament),

Kathy

Spring Has Sprung - Day 219

Today there was a buzz in the air at Costco. People seemed to have an extra spring in their step and a smile on their face. After enduring two days of rain and dreariness, the sun decided to make an appearance. Costco was filled with flowering hydrangeas, orchids, tomato plants, palms and trees. Lots of inspiration for fixing my very sad looking yard. My demonstration area was surrounded by all sorts of water sports items - paddle boats, paddle boards, one and two person kayaks, inflatable boats, pools, floats and surfboards. For a moment I had a strong desire to don a bathing suit. Oooooooh...then the mental image of me in a suit hit the brain. Maybe not.

Conversation with customers today was as special as the weather was good. I spent a good long while talking with fellow Gator, Doris. She lost her husband recently to a heart attack and is having a difficult time without him. I shared my view of dealing with the death of my grandmother years ago. After a year of grieving and feeling sad every time I thought of her,I decided this is not how she would want me to go on. Mema would want me to smile when I thought of her. I included many of her things throughout my home and feel comforted when I see them. Mema triggers were adopted...the sound a train whistle and the appearance of a cardinal is Mema saying Hi! I quickly scoop the bubbles from a freshly poured cup of tea for good luck...just the way Mema did all my life. I wear her antique pendant when I need to find extra strength to conquer a challenge. It works! I replaced the feelings of loss with feelings of comfort. Doris listened intently and seemed to genuinely enjoy our conversation. You could see glimpses of the joy and affection she felt for her husband hiding beneath the sadness. I hope the talk helped. Somehow I think it did.

After staring at the Seafood Road Show for 5 hours, I decided shrimp was on the menu tonight. The pound of tiger shrimp I purchased after work was simply prepared. I shelled the shrimp, wrapped them in prosciutto, seasoned with a little pepper and sauteed in olive oil and a little butter. The result was absolutely delicious. I served it with my favorite sides - roasted asparagus with toasted pecans and yellow rice. Dessert was a slice of Red Velvet Cake from Costco and a cup a really strong coffee. It feels so good to be back in the kitchen with something other than cookie dough.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Ditto - Day 218

Today...ditto from yesterday, except for the baking part. I took the night off. So thank goodness, no cookie talk. The rain, traffic and stress were exactly the same as the day before. Uug!

Mike was off today and had the opportunity to watch some NCAA College Basketball games. Evidently Red Lobster was a major sponsor because Mike had Lobsterfest on his mind. So when I arrived back in Orlando from my Tampa adventure, we met at Red Lobster for dinner...along with the rest of Altamonte Springs. The waiting list was long and I am not a patient person, especially when I am hungry. I positioned myself near the bar to swoop in the moment someone left. To my delight after only about 5 minutes, a couple of bar stools opened up. Mike and I took our seats in the bar for an enjoyable dinner of grilled lobster and shrimp, langostino topped tillapia, wine, beer and great sport and political conversation.

This weekend I vow to actually cook a meal in my own kitchen. I actually miss it. The only action my kitchen has seen is the cookie baking kind.

Yesterday I heard a radio spot for Pepsi promoting a program called Pepsi Idea...or the Pepsi Refresh Project. It is a program to foster ideas to advance social good. Over 20 million dollars will be awarded in grants to fund programs by individuals and organizations who submit proposals to this program. The site for the Pepsi Refresh Project is www.refresheverything.com. I plan to do more research. Somehow I know I have an idea for the betterment of this world in this always dreaming Pollyanna brain of mine. Mike will not be happy with me promoting something about Pepsi. He is a Diet Coke addict. I hope he will forgive me for the greater good.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Inclimate State Tour - Day 217

Harried...the best word to describe how I felt at the end of Work Day 217. The weather was abysmal today - rain, tornadoes and lots of traffic added up to accidents, a sea of red tail lights and stress. My work travels took me to Gainesville with a proof and Scott's WTH Cookies. I left behind happy campers as I headed on to the next leg of my tour. Lunch was cheap, fattening comfort fast food from Grandy's drive thru in Gainesville. Chicken tenders, mashed potatoes, green beans and a yeast roll hit the spot.

Dodging raindrops, lightening and tornadoes, I made it to stop two in Tampa. By this time, I needed a hug. Kat obliged me with an e-hug :)-|--<. Somehow it did the trick. The road home was long and wet. Imagine that...I didn't feel like cooking dinner again. Cookie baking was a given, as was dinner at Sweet Tomatoes with Mike and another BOGO coupon. You know you have gone to a restaurant a little too often when you know the name of your favorite bus person...Gabe.

The creative use of ingredients on hand was the theme of tonight's baking for Carolyn. Once again I started with my old reliable base dough and added peanut butter chips, Special Dark chocolate chips and coarsely chopped cocktail peanuts. Mike was my taste tester on this one and gave it a thumbs up. I ended the evening baking M & M Cookies with Toasted Pecans. Carolyn asked me to bake a basket for the guys at Performance Sports where her son wake boards. All that water sport activity makes them hungry for HeartSong and I am more than happy to oblige. In a strange way, baking makes all the stress of the day disappear. As I have mentioned before...it truly soothes my soul.

Many hugs...even e-hugs,

Kathy

Whew! - Day 216

Last night I baked cookies for my client friend Scott to satisfy his need for a fix. When I asked him what kind he was craving, his response was...surprise me. Scott is a very creative guy and I decided his cookie needed to reflect his spirit. I decided to use a little of this and a little of that...what the heck. I named them Scott's WTH Cookies. To my base cookie recipe I added some dried blueberries, white chocolate chips, Special Dark chocolate chips and toasted pecans. The result was very good...almost as good as the rare perfect cookies from a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately Scott will not be able to enjoy his almost perfect namesake until tomorrow. Today was one of those days when the clock hands seemed to be moving at warp speed and the list of things to accomplish kept growing. I could not get ahead. I spent the morning and early afternoon putting together a never ending proposal, battled through computer issues, endured grumpy co-workers, drove to Tampa with a proof and ran out of day. Thank goodness Scott was very understanding that his fix would be delayed until tomorrow.

As I drove back from Tampa tonight, I had only one goal in mind...satisfying my craving...a drink, cheap eats out, great conversation with Mike and no dishes to clean up. Mike agreed to meet me at BJ's Brewhouse for one of our famous appetizer dinners. Although BJ's has been mentioned on previous postings, it too bears repeating. From 3-7 Monday through Friday they offer half off all appetizers and mini pizzas, $3.00 House Wine and $1.00 off all cocktails and draft beers. For $21.00 Mike and I pigged out on Thai Shrimp Lettuce Wraps, Angus Burger Sliders with Crispy Fries, Chicken Wings, a glass of House Wine for me and Diet Coke for Mike. Whew! That is just what the doctor ordered.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Giving Back - Day 215

Last night I put together a cookie basket for a bake sale to raise money for Second Harvest Food Bank at my brother's office. Michael's face lit up when I presented it to him this morning. And shortly after he got to work I received text messages and photos proclaiming the delight of his co-workers. The really cool thing about the cookies I made is for every one sold for $1.00, it yields $9.00 worth of food to go to a needy family. That means the 25 cookies I made will net $225.00 worth of food for Second Harvest. As I always say...never underestimate the power of a cookie.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Stop To Smell The Banana - Day 214

This evening after dinner I tried to figure out what to write about tonight. Nothing particularly memorable happened today. Lunch was a TropiChop at Pollo Tropical...good, but not postworthy. Tonight I am baking cookies for my brother to sell at an office bake sale to raise money for Second Harvest Food Bank. That is very cool, but I think everyone is getting kind of sick of hearing about cookies.

And then Mike asked me if I had smelled the banana. What?! Mike is always asking me crazy things. OK, I'll bite. I picked up the very ripe banana and took a sniff. Smelled like a banana to me. I looked at him quizzically. Mike said he read an article in his health publication that smelling bananas leads to weight loss. I almost snorted the banana taking in long deep smells. From now on you will always find a bunch of bananas in my kitchen...and my nose won't be far away.

Many hugs and bananas,

Kathy

Noshing Through The Day - Day 213

Accountability is working. For breakfast I made Mike a delicious looking egg sandwich on grilled Naan bread with bacon and cheddar cheese. I wanted one too. The smell of bacon was intoxicating. I ate half a piece with my not so tasty Low Sugar Apple and Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal.

Out the door I headed for work at Costco. Thank goodness the CDS demonstrators were offering some tasty options because the oatmeal did not do the hunger satisfaction trick. I noshed on Penne with an Italian Cherry Tomato Sauce, a bite of Kashi Granola Bar, two delicious Spinach Mozzarella Ravioli and a bite of sliced Brie. And then I sat bored out of my mind. To pass the time I checked facebook, cleaned up the wine section and sold 34 bottles of wine. All the while thinking of the projects waiting for me at home.

The noshing continued at dinnertime. I warmed up Crab Corn Chowder from Costco and served it with smoked salmon, asiago cheese, boursin, prosciutto, crackers and a big glass of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. I dread trying to calculate the portion size for my SparkPeople entry.

The rest of the evening was spent watching the Oscars and baking cookies. I took the safe route baking two old favorites - White Chocolate Blueberry Pecan and Toasted Pecan Chocolate Chip. They turned out well, but did not excite me. I keep thinking of new taste combinations, but have no time to experiment. Gluten free options haunt me every day. Maybe next week will allow me to explore my creative side.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Took A Step - Day 212

This morning I woke up in the mood to throw out complacency and take action. I recently read a column in the latest edition of Cooking Light that mentioned several nutritional sites. This morning was my time to join. I went to SparkPeople and signed up - www.sparkpeople.com. SparkPeople is a free site started by one of the original eBay employees as a way to reach out to others and inspire a healthier approach to life. The site offers a way to journal your eating habits, record exercise activities and set goals for weight loss or simply a healthier lifestyle. I was able to explore the site for a few minutes before Mike announced his choice for breakfast. No oatmeal. No pancakes. No toast. Mike wanted Athena Cafe. So off we went to Athena with our BOGO coupon. I know I have mentioned Athena in previous postings, but it bears repeating. It is a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant in an Altamonte strip center. The restaurant has a diner feel, both in the menu choices and the comfort you feel when you walk in the door. I love breakfast at Athena for one big reason - GRITS. They make grits the way grits should be made - with milk. Each bite is creamy comfort in a spoon. I ordered the Breakfast Special - two fried eggs with grits and dry toast. The hot coffee kept coming. Mike and I had a really nice relaxing start to the day. Unfortunately...actually fortunately, I am now VERY accountable for what I eat and how much I exercise between the blog and SparkPeople. I am hoping this will guilt me into change. I, the queen of talk and good intentions, am ready for action.

Speaking of action...I have to brag. I have been mall waddling three times this week. A few more weeks of this and I may actually advance from waddling to walking.

My Costco buddies at work today were far too generous. I took in the mother load - a whole slice of brie, an overflowing paper cup of Wholesome Fruit and Nut Mix, two crackers with tuna salad and a taste of granola. There goes my calorie count.

Tonight Mike and I met some of his bowling team cronies for dinner at TGIFriday's. Eating healthy out was definitely a challenge...especially since I was hungry. I opted for the three course dinner for $12.99. For the first course I chose Fried Green Beans...hmmmm, not really a diet friendly item. Entree choice was equally bad - Sizzling Parmesan Crusted Chicken with Angel Hair Pasta. I redeemed myself somewhat by only eating half and saved the rest for lunch tomorrow. Dessert was definitely out of the question. Wrapped to go, Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie for Mike to enjoy tomorrow.

After making all my journal entries into SparkPeople, I was pleasantly surprised with the results. I actually fell slightly below my calorie intake goal and had a very tasty time doing it.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Big Box of Goodness - Day 211

Last night's late night baking was assembled into a very cool box of goodness this morning. My co-worker, Carolyn wanted to thank a vendor for a job well done on a recent box project. She asked me to bake cookies to package into the box sample the vendor made for her and I happily obliged. I tucked two cookies in each treat bag and tied ribbon to coordinate with colors on the box. The box insert was topped with natural kraft shreds and the cookies were placed on top. The whole box was tied with ribbon. Everything worked well together and I was very proud of the result. Carolyn called after the box was delivered to say the vendor was extremely pleased. They said it is rare that someone actually takes the time to do anything to say thank you. Isn't that a shame? With very little effort, you can make many people happy. I am sure next time Carolyn needs help with a project, this vendor will do whatever possible to make it happen. It truly is all about the little things...or in this case, a big box of goodness.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Brunch at Beefy King - Day 210

On the run once again. I had no time for breakfast and little time for lunch. It was 10:50 and I was hungry. When am I not?! Beefy King came to mind. Beefy King is an Orlando tradition. In business for over 40 years serving meaty, juicy sandwiches on steamed buns and hot, crispy spuds (tater tots). Today I ordered a Reuben and a small order of spuds. My lap was my dining table. Yum, this sandwich hit the spot. And the spuds...oh the glorious tater tots. Every time I eat one I hearken back to childhood. When cooked properly, a tot is crispy on the outside, with a salty, warm potato center. Beefy King makes a great tot!

This morning I finally caught up with Rachel to complete my random acts of HeartSong. She humored me with a blog pic. I drove by her home remodel on the way. It is beautiful with a Craftsmen feel - stacked stone accents and Mission style columns. While on the road to Gainesville, I received an e-mail from Rachel claiming my cookies were "sublime." I love that word! It may have to be the word of the day in the near future.

Dinnertime found me in Gainesville and that meant Leonardo's Pizza was the next stop. The special pizza of the day was Spinach Artichoke. It was without a doubt one of the best slices of pizza I have ever had. The thin crust was crispy on the edge and soft, but not soggy. This white pizza was topped with fresh spinach, artichoke hearts, the perfect amount of cheese and was gone before I crossed Payne's Prairie.

Tonight I baked cookies for my co-worker Carolyn. Tomorrow she is taking a box full to her client/vendor to thank them for a job well done. I made White Chocolate Blueberry Pecan and Toasted Pecan Chocolate Chip. And now as I write this blog, I realize just how tired I am. Sorry to leave so abruptly, but Maddie and I need some shut eye. Good night!

Many hugs,

Kathy

Window To My Diet - Day 209

Another trip to Tampa. Another fast food lunch. This time I grabbed a Panda Bowl at Panda Express - Firecracker Chicken with Chow Mein Noodles. For fast food, it was actually quite good - a spicy blend of hot peppers, chicken breast, red and yellow peppers and onions.

One of the many benefits my daily blog offers is a window into just how unhealthy my diet is. Due to my crazy schedule I am currently on a rare fast food regimen. Tonight I found myself in Tampa after 5:00 and feeling hungry. Mel's Hot Dogs called my name and I answered. Hot dogs are something I usually consume only a couple of times a year. I can't believe I actually have been to Mel's twice in the last month. It was heaven on a bun...a poppy seed bun topped with a tasty dog that popped when I bit into it, sauerkraut, mustard, ketchup and neon green relish served with a generous portion of fries, slaw and a Coke with crushed ice. If only I could apply the same conviction I use for my daily blog to a healthy diet and exercise...

Guilt is a powerful motivator! When I got home from Tampa this evening, I quickly walked Maddie and headed to the mall to mall waddle for 30 minutes. Mall waddling (walking for most normal people) has the added advantage of window shopping as you waddle. The Loft had some pretty things in the window that I drooled over each of the four times I passed by. I am sure my 30 minutes didn't do much to combat my recent fast food fetish, but at least it was SOMETHING!

Unfortunately the mall waddling also put me in the mood for shopping...Marshalls shopping. I headed out of the mall and straight for the light. I basked in the light of the Marshalls sign. Don't worry Kenda, this cash starved foodie didn't buy a thing.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Afternoon Delight - Day 208

Cookies for breakfast...what a horribly unhealthy, yet wonderful way to begin a day. It is very rare to have any cookies in the Paiva household. As fast as I make them, I give them away. Thank goodness!

Seven cookies stayed home from the last batch of perfect Toasted Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies baked Sunday morning. Two hopped into a Priority Mail package for my son Ryan. Two were enjoyed by Mike. And the rest, sadly, were devoured by ME. Did I mention they were perfect? I am usually my own worst critic...always apologizing for something. But I could not find any fault with these.

Today was my sister-in-law Kevina's birthday and once again I forgot. Thank goodness her butt dialed my phone this morning. It gave her the opportunity to remind me. Otherwise I would be on her poop list forever. My horrible birthday serenade probably moved me further down the list, but it made her laugh.

Keeping with the unhealthy eating theme of the day, I dashed through the Chick-Fil-A drive thru on my way to Tampa. My lottery winnings from last night got me an 8 nugget meal with a side salad and iced tea. Thanks Michael! I really don't like most fast food, but I like Chick-Fil-A. And I never tire of the "It's my pleasure" response when I tell them thank you. I wish more companies would drink the Kool-Aid Chick-Fil-A gives their employees. That company seems to do things the right way.

On the way back from Tampa this afternoon I decided to take a detour to Parkesdale Farm Market...famous for Plant City strawberries and Jumbo Strawberry Shortcake. All the retired folks within an hour of Plant City were at the Parkesdale Market. It was amazing! The economic recovery is alive and well in Plant City. People were standing in line...a rather long line to order a Jumbo Strawberry Shortcake or Strawberry Sundae Boats.

At first, I was going to just take pictures for posterity. I wasn't the least bit hungry. But the sweet smell of strawberries got the best of me. I ordered the #3 Strawberry Sundae Boat - vanilla soft serve ice cream topped with mounds of very sweet, juicy strawberries, light on the whipped topping. Oh my, it was worth the wait and the calories. Truly an afternoon delight!

The Plant City Strawberry Festival begins Thursday, March 4 and runs through Sunday, March 14. I have never been...not a big fan of huge crowds or country music, but I might just have to go sometime. I am a huge fan of strawberries.

Dinner tonight was unimpressive - Lean Cuisine and hot tea. Cookie baking dominated the evening. I baked for a belated 50th birthday basket for my friend Chris and some treats for Rita's mom and for Rachel. The results passed the eye test. After my unhealthy indulgences today, I just couldn't bring myself to taste them.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Just A Day - Day 207

Tonight when I was collecting my thoughts to write my blog posting I could not think of anything exceptional to say. On the surface, today was just a day...a downright beautiful day, but just a day. And then I began to dig a little deeper. Today was actually quite exceptional. Everything came together at work without the usual drama or angst. My team helped with a mountain of quotes and all proposals got out on time. I picked up payment for Saturday's catering from Tom and was amazed by his generosity. Tonight I got to share the wealth with Vicky and her smile made my night. Rachel sent me an e-mail excited about her future party plans and promised to follow my blog. Very cool. Dinner was a relaxing meal at...Sweet Tomatoes with Mike and my BOGO coupon. No kitchen to clean up. No big dent in my wallet. Also very cool. I received an e-mail from Vel, a Costco customer I met yesterday. To me it is amazing to be able to make a connection with a person in a matter of moments. Happiness kept rolling. I even cashed in lottery tickets my brother had given me for Christmas and got a whopping $6.00 in cash. I'm rich! And if all that wasn't enough, when I got home this evening I indulged myself with one of the perfect Toasted Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies from yesterday and a cup of hot tea with honey. Aaaah...

What was I thinking?! Today was much more than just a day...it was a really good day!

Many hugs,

Kathy