Time to Resurrect the Blog?

So... it's been a while.  Almost 3 years, to be exact.  It's hard to believe I let that much time go by without blogging.  Honestly, it's just been tough to find time to fit it in, but the truth is, I really do miss blogging.  I've had several people ask me about blogging again recently and it's been nagging at me.  I never did set a New Year's Resolution, so maybe this is a good one.

So, what have we been up to lately?  A lot has changed, yet a lot has stayed the same.

I'm still a Literacy Coach by day and a mom by night.  Sadie is now ten.  TEN! She just celebrated her 10th birthday and I celebrated my 40th! Yes, that's right, I just celebrated a pretty milestone birthday, too.  Since this was a pretty big birthday for both of us, we decided to go to the Happiest Place on Earth!

We had an amazing trip, and I'll write a follow-up post about something really amazing that happened to us while we were there.  Here's a hint for you.

I'm still teaching Zumba-- I teach for a gym and also I have gone out on my own and have a class called Shake It with Liz.  That's been a really fun adventure.

I started going to OrangeTheory Fitness last spring. That's been a great addition to my fitness routine.  I really love the classes there and how they have added a whole new type of exercise to my routine.  Yes, I love dance-fitness, but I also love adding in the weight training and other types of challenges I get to do at OTF.

I can't give an update without mentioning the loss of our sweet Baylee.  If you've been reading the blog for quite some time, I am sure you remember seeing our girl here.  She had some health complications starting last spring and in August, we had to say goodbye to our sweet and loving girl.  She gave us 16 years of absolute devotion, always sticking right by my side.  We miss her very much.  It's amazing how much dogs dogs give us, asking so little in return.  There really is nothing like the love of a dog.

So what can you expect on the blog now?

I've got a few posts planned.  I am going to do a little series of posts about our trip to Disney.  I want to highlight some of the really cool things we did and include some tips.  I thought I would also do a post about the food at Disney (hello, obviously). I'll also continue to talk about health and wellness, teaching Zumba and my experiences at OrangeTheory.  AND, I now have an Instant Pot (a.k.a. Magic Pot) so I'll share some about what I'm cooking.

Thanks for reading and I'm looking forward to reconnecting with you!

Catching Up

Hey there, remember me? I know, it's been quite a while. I'm always surprised when someone says, "I really miss your blog." That's such a nice compliment, and I miss it, too. The truth is, life's just been really, really busy. But not too busy for Kale Chips.

Sadie is growing like crazy and she's so smart and so much fun. Ryan is doing great also.

I am still teaching Zumba. I've got a great class and we have so much fun. Here's a picture from St. Patrick's Day with some of my loyal participants. They are the best!

I get asked all the time why I stopped blogging, and really it wasn't a conscious decision. Life just sort of got in the way. But I also decided it was time to return to writing. Those of you who know me well know that I used to write a lot, and even had a few things published in some literary magazines a few years back. But in the past 10 years, Indidnt write much and I certainly didn't send off any manuscripts. For the past year, I have been trying to get back into it. I've sent off a few things, and we will see what happens. I'll keep you updated.

I also have really enjoyed learning about essential oils. I ordered this great starter kit from Young Living which had 11 oils in it. I have used the oils to help reduce headaches, of end off spring allergies, and more. It's truly been a game changer for me.

If you've been curious about oils, I would be glad to share how they have helped me and my family over the past several months. I love being able to use something natural rather than something that really isn't good for me in the long run.

Well, that's it, in a nutshell...

Thanks for reading and I'll try not to let too much time go by before the next post.

Goodnight, all...

 

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The Goat's Beard (Manayunk, Philadelphia, PA)

As you know, we spent last weekend in Philadelphia. Although we were there for sad reasons, we managed to squeeze in some fun at the same time.

On Friday, after looking through some of my grandmother's furniture and decorations, we decided to go for a late lunch in Manayunk.

Manayunk is a historic district, located in Philadelphia. There are lots of unique shops and restaurants located there. With the help of Yelp, we decided to grab a late lunch at The Goat's Beard. The Goat's Beard is located on Main Street in Manayunk, and they use fresh, local, organic ingredients. Check out their website here.

There are a few tables located outside, and then the inside has a few more tables. There is space upstairs for private parties as well.

We were lucky that we arrived just before they closed for the break before dinner.

A little day drinking...

It was really hard to make a decision, but I decided to go with the fish tacos.

On the tacos: fresh fish, fresh salsa, cilantro, pickled cabbage, and creme fraiche. Can you really go wrong with anything that has creme fraiche? No, you can't.

Everyone tried something different. My sister had the mussels, which it had considered ordering as well. I did steal one and they were delicious also. There is something really beautiful about mussels. I love the black, shiny shells.

If you are in the area, I would definitely think about checking out The Goat's Beard for brunch, lunch, or dinner!

 

 

 

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Remembering in Philadelphia

So what did I do? I promised to blog more often. Yeah, guess what I didn't do? Blog more often. I bet you won't believe any of my promises anymore, but I hope we can still be friends.

Everyone has been asking me lately, "I miss your blog. When are you going to update it again?" It's so flattering to know anyone out there DOES actually read this! Know what else? It makes you feel guilty for not keeping up with it.

Since I have been bad about cooking lately, I thought I might just write a quick post about a trip to Philadelphia this past weekend.

Last week, I was in Philadelphia for my Grandmother's memorial service. She passed away in February, but the brothers and sisters decided to arrange a memorial service later in the spring when more grandchildren and friends could attend.

Oddly enough, this was the first time I have ever slept at this grandmother's house. I always loved her home. It's an old (built circa 1900!) row house located in Roxborough, an area in Philadelphia. One of the coolest parts of her house was the third floor. I always thought it was neat that you could see the skyscrapers of Center City from her third floor window.

My grandmother, Betty (otherwise known to most of us as Mom Mom) had the most infectious giggle. Even though she faced some very hard times throughout her life, she was always able to leave the past in the past and focus on the present.

 

When we saw her this past fall for her 90th birthday, she was smiling and laughing. I will always be glad I was able to be there to celebrate with her.

On the day of the memorial service, the weather was predicted to be rainy, but it was such a beautiful day. It was just warm enough to make you want to sit on the porch all day. Look at how blue the sky was that day! Amazing. Even though it was a sad day, we enjoyed the time with all of our family who came from all over the country to be together.

The church where we held the service was absolutely beautiful, inside and out. Although I love my home state of South Carolina, there is something special about these old stone buildings.

 

Saying goodbye on Sunday was especially sad. Have you ever left a parent or grandparent's home, knowing that you will probably never cross that threshold again? It's a strange and sad feeling, like you want to remember every little nook and cranny and the memories you made there.

 

I know I will never forget sitting on those steps in the living room, waiting for my turn to open presents on Christmas morning.

Or the back (secret) stairwell and racing my sisters to see who could get to the bathroom first.

Or looking out the top story window to see the Philadelphia skyline.

Or eating Cheesesteaks from Dalesandro's at the dining room table.

Or the radiators. Or the stone wall out front.

Goodbye, house. We'll miss you.

 

 

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Currywurst: Easy, Tasty, and Cheap German-ish Dinner

Welcome to a new week! Isn't Currywurst a crazy word? It doesn't sound like food, does it? But it is. It's weird, but delicious!

So, what's been happening lately?

We now have a six-year-old. Yep, crazy, but true.

We got buried in the snow. Then added some ice. Then more snow. It took several days to get out of our driveway.

We found a rug and some pillows for the living room! I am terrible at picking out pillows, but this was my first attempt. Here's a little before, before, and after.

Gotta figure out what to put on this giant wall. (The one over the loveseat. It's about 20 feet tall!) Suggestions??

And as you know, we made Currywurst. I never heard of this dish before, but back in December, my friend Kevin made it at a Holiday party and everyone loved it! It was so simple, but delicious. Ryan was home with a sick Sadie that night, so he never got to try it. I knew he would like it, so I finally got around to making it this weekend.

There are many different versions of Currywurst- and none is really the "right" one. The version I made is the super quick one because I used tomato ketchup instead of stewing a sauce. But according to sources I checked, it came about as a quick easy meal that is also easy on the budget. It Germany today, it's considered to be a type of fast food, often sold in street carts or food trucks. Here is a link to an article about Currywurst in the Wall Street Journal, in case you are interested in learning more.

Quick Currywurst

I feel weird even calling this a recipe because it's so simple.

Ingredients:

• Package of 4-5 brats (I used the Harris Teeter brand)
• Ketchup
• Curry Powder

Preparation:

Preheat the grill to medium-low. When grill is hot, add the brats. Be sure to turn them often. Cook for about 15-20 minutes, or until cooked through. Remove the brats and let rest a couple of minutes on a cutting board. Next, slice into bite-sized pieces, but leave them on huge cutting board. Drizzle with ketchup. Then finish it off with a dusting of curry powder. You can use more if you like the flavor of curry- which I definitely DO! Enjoy!

We enjoyed ours with roasted Brussels sprouts. Yum! Love them crispy like this!

I think this is a great dish to serve at a cookout or casual get together. I think it would also be a great spring/summer patio dinner for just two people. Light some candles. Grab some beers, add some other pick-ups, and just chat, drink, and eat! I think my husband and I will make this sometime for a stay-home date night when it gets warmer.

If you try Currywurst, let me know how you like it! Thanks to my friend Kevin for the idea!

In other news, this weather has been amazing! We have had some 60-70 degree temps and it has been so nice for walks to the park, walks to the yogurt store, and just sitting outside! I know the cold isn't finished with us yet, but this does make me excited for spring!

 

 

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