tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134585912024-03-19T05:14:22.662-05:00It's All About Me...OR AT LEAST IT USED TO BE. NOW IT'S ALL ABOUT LIVING LA VIDA FAMILIA!Kayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05113494166399911997noreply@blogger.comBlogger309125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13458591.post-28849225057113190992015-02-02T10:18:00.001-06:002015-02-02T10:18:33.969-06:00Take the TimeLife has been rushing by. I swear, it was Christmas, and then I blinked and now it's February. My son will be six years old this month, and I have spent time thinking back over fond memories of his early days, months, and years. I think about how it was six years ago today, when I knew his arrival would happen in weeks. I had pregnancy complications that guaranteed a scheduled c-section, and we were aiming for his arrival at one month premature.<br />
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Of course my blood pressure would start to rise, just when I thought it would be smooth sailing. Preeclampsia forced me into bed rest, which at first sounded restful, but it isn't. I had a lot of time for thinking about my sweet son. In those quiet times I realized that these were the last days of a unique part of our relationship. Soon he would be outside me, and I'd share him with the world. I cherished each of his movements, every kick that assured me our child would have an affinity for drums, every sideways stretch where he'd push his head against the left side of my rib cage, and his feet against the right side and do his best to persuade bones to move in a manner in which they do not. I would wince when he bashed against my bladder but smile to myself at his strength.<br />
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This morning I roused a sleepy boy out of bed for school, and he immediately cuddled up in my lap, snuggling against me, pushing his body into mine. "I want back in," he said in a sleep-roughened voice. I laughed, and told him he most definitely won't fit. What he really wanted was the warm covers and soft bed, to ease down into comfort and slip away again to dreamland. I held him, capturing the moment in my mind and celebrating that my arms are his contentment, and he is my blessing. <br />
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Our weekday mornings are hectic, but today I chose to take the time to appreciate my son. Those few minutes of love and snuggles have left me with a happy heart, and on a Monday that is one fine thing.Kayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05113494166399911997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13458591.post-49488634148858023582011-11-30T11:24:00.000-06:002011-11-30T11:24:29.845-06:00Need to update!Seriously, y'all...that picture of me is from 2007 or 2008, I'm not quite sure. It was taken on the patio of the (now closed) Belmont, during SXSW, right before I met the Italian Guy who tried to romance me although I'm fairly certain he was married. Obviously, this was prior to me falling fast & hard for Jaime. Although it would make for a much more interesting story had it happened while I was dating Jaime, no?<br />
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Fictional drama aside, my life has been supercalifragilisticBUSYexpialidocious. Work has been cray cray. My law firm had been circling the drain, and crashed and burned in late February. I was lucky enough to be taken in by a splinter group of attorneys that I'd worked with, to their new office. Now I'm part of the Austin office of a large national firm, based in California. We've been doing a lot more work with a third less people, but hey, it's job stability.<br />
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I promise to update with some pictures, soon, both of the family and food and fun.Kayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05113494166399911997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13458591.post-10319682712573511662011-02-17T21:58:00.001-06:002011-02-17T22:01:19.758-06:00Gluten-Free pizza review: Mangieri's at Circle C<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWwpn6K4CDigVvTSYfZbjwsi8YE2LkHZd_4QiCpH14cQL7f_sEAM8E2ciXRDI94uPMLNWC9BjyvBRwomqkqEyz6vOM8zE8S92BNeTsRObitaAvVJZN1sAHbKoFo2hNEeH-HZU/s1600/ATXGFpizzafest.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWwpn6K4CDigVvTSYfZbjwsi8YE2LkHZd_4QiCpH14cQL7f_sEAM8E2ciXRDI94uPMLNWC9BjyvBRwomqkqEyz6vOM8zE8S92BNeTsRObitaAvVJZN1sAHbKoFo2hNEeH-HZU/s1600/ATXGFpizzafest.png" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't eat Gluten-Free because I have celiac disease. I'm lucky in that I have no wheat sensitivity. But lately I've been experimenting with GF products and dishes because I have friends who suffer from the disease. I'm curious to see how things have changed from the early days of crumbly, icky textured, second rate goods. I'm relieved to say that G-F has gotten yum-my. In the recent past I've been blown away entirely by the deliciousness that is <a href="http://blackbird-bakery.com/">Blackbird Bakery</a>. Karen turns out amazingly lucious desserts with nary a speck of gluten in them. Her crepes! Oh how I love those delicate, airy crepes! (The <a href="http://www.makersmark.com/LegalAge.aspx?Referrer=http%3a%2f%2fwww.makersmark.com%2findex.aspx%3fpgid%3d23">Maker's Mark</a> in the apple pie filling doesn't hurt, either).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I've had a burger at Hopdoddy on a GF bun and I simply couldn't tell it was wheat free. And this week in honor of Chef Jess at <a href="http://atxglutenfree.com/">ATX Gluten-Free</a>, I tried a pizza from <a href="http://www.mangieris.com/">Mangieri's</a> for ATX Gluten-Free Pizza Fest.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I chose Bella's pizza, a specialty pie, with the GF crust. Making your pizza with a GF crust will cost you a bit extra, but for those who couldn't eat it any other way, it's worth the few dollars. Bella's pizza is topped with grilled chicken, baby spinach, roma tomatoes, oregano, sesame seeds, EVOO, mozzarella and feta cheese. Umm, <em>hells</em> yeah!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnuOp8haNWE0EvECjoGdr-sqsdqY9vLyL2NJH6-LOyZbbVUwb7AhvWvbeHnQByzASnDnqmVSq29l0iskVpJ6908w0Dwnlp8sBSOZXgzn9b301lrPOCQkI8qz8SNDuBg8fFdmM3/s1600/IMG_6034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnuOp8haNWE0EvECjoGdr-sqsdqY9vLyL2NJH6-LOyZbbVUwb7AhvWvbeHnQByzASnDnqmVSq29l0iskVpJ6908w0Dwnlp8sBSOZXgzn9b301lrPOCQkI8qz8SNDuBg8fFdmM3/s320/IMG_6034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The crust was crispy on the edge, which was wonderful while warm but be warned, as it cooled it went from slightly toothsome to a little on the chewy side. The taste was spot on, even a bit buttery. As a thin crust, this one is definitely a winner. I would order it again, without a celiac sensitivity to blame it on. The toppings are fresh, well-seasoned and paired nicely with each other. There was no one ingredient that stood out too much or too little. On a scale of 1 to 5 stars, I give this a 3.75, and that would've been higher if the crust hadn't turned tough.</span>Kayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05113494166399911997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13458591.post-84720539503774627882011-02-17T21:39:00.000-06:002011-02-17T21:39:55.062-06:00ATX Gluten-Free Pizza Fest Take Two...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another winner from guest blogger </span><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=52620694&authType=NAME_SEARCH&authToken=nBIA&locale=en_US&srchid=126a0827-d00b-4401-a302-aea7502aeb22-0&srchindex=1&srchtotal=53&pvs=ps&pohelp=&goback=%2Efps_*1_Carrie_Wood_*1_*1_*1_*1_*51_*1_Y_*1_*1_*1_false_1_R_true_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Carrie Wood</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">! Carries is my GF friend who gives me her opinion of GF products available in area grocery stores. I can count on her to either give two thumbs up or a resounding "no!" to GF goods. Carries writes this post as part of <a href="http://atxglutenfree.com/">ATX Gluten-Free's</a> Pizza Fest.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrrLspivyg68CPBiQgRkiMTOCVf9LisIHTrhdBNDDLRX6sh1ucgX2MYyQ2F9KZlKmrknYoQUmQYwPPGstKh0A2IgNdI6Kvl9owEXXEZh3I7jfRa10QFw_BRd4jOUfAInXxCVV/s1600/ATXGFpizzafest.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrrLspivyg68CPBiQgRkiMTOCVf9LisIHTrhdBNDDLRX6sh1ucgX2MYyQ2F9KZlKmrknYoQUmQYwPPGstKh0A2IgNdI6Kvl9owEXXEZh3I7jfRa10QFw_BRd4jOUfAInXxCVV/s1600/ATXGFpizzafest.png" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This time I tried a gluten-free, yeast-free crust mix by <a href="http://www.chebe.com/">Chebe</a>.</span><br />
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I made it according to the directions on the back - the one with the parmesan cheese added to the crust mix. <br />
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I topped it exactly like I topped the Almond Flour Pizza crust. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt1Tg02DCSa7vcPiqGwKwGBMYe_p0P0NCsfkHmmnATXYSY8KvsyX4yfAsEPJq5Z9_nf6zVRuOqbdqgC_hbwWyNnrmGP3_J4LFrY-UL-cQKx01bz1bOjuvr4n1zG6hPm7VN8Md6/s1600/Chebe_Dough_Topped_%2526_Ready_to_Bake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt1Tg02DCSa7vcPiqGwKwGBMYe_p0P0NCsfkHmmnATXYSY8KvsyX4yfAsEPJq5Z9_nf6zVRuOqbdqgC_hbwWyNnrmGP3_J4LFrY-UL-cQKx01bz1bOjuvr4n1zG6hPm7VN8Md6/s320/Chebe_Dough_Topped_%2526_Ready_to_Bake.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Pic. 3 - just out of the oven (sorry, it's a little out of focus, but I think I swooned!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIeVfImo83VNWElBES8yBT31Ba6I0e6RL5iXUG6qw7k-k0reQmLlayvTupBL78dseKMaAm4oa9CzcNl8BWeUy-IUTKwpqRjBgHUzq4VayibL5Kz36D6Y2EzDhPsQ7oVSfbKd6-/s1600/Chebe+Baked_Chebe_Pizza.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIeVfImo83VNWElBES8yBT31Ba6I0e6RL5iXUG6qw7k-k0reQmLlayvTupBL78dseKMaAm4oa9CzcNl8BWeUy-IUTKwpqRjBgHUzq4VayibL5Kz36D6Y2EzDhPsQ7oVSfbKd6-/s320/Chebe+Baked_Chebe_Pizza.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Pic. 4 is what was left (hubs ate half) and the empty Chebe package.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzIueOAjmRQGS65VTQGD2DgrEtGTQl2TZWiAczcveqATb4XfksRRL5Ui-btiZgEde9aU0oyKT0d5-72suHTuq_DBSMdNc6qZNmBG60upBQQcC_2sM9ZRCYbmi4mVDuasqIKX_I/s1600/Chebe_Pizza_Dough_Pkg_%2526_the_Quarter_leftover.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzIueOAjmRQGS65VTQGD2DgrEtGTQl2TZWiAczcveqATb4XfksRRL5Ui-btiZgEde9aU0oyKT0d5-72suHTuq_DBSMdNc6qZNmBG60upBQQcC_2sM9ZRCYbmi4mVDuasqIKX_I/s320/Chebe_Pizza_Dough_Pkg_%2526_the_Quarter_leftover.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This crust is quite simple, and shapes easily. I forgot to sprinkle cornmeal on the stone, so it stuck just a teensy, but loosened easily with a spatula. It makes a thin crust, but it's not chewy or tough. Hubs doesn't like crispy crust so I bake a little less than crispy crust would require. This crust held up well and didn't get soggy in the middle and the slices could be picked up and eaten by hand just like pizzeria slices. <br />
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Our vote between the 2 we tested is the Chebe, because it mostly closely approximates a yeasty pizza dough and because we both agree we'd eat it again!Kayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05113494166399911997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13458591.post-18699986364681931182011-02-17T21:31:00.000-06:002011-02-17T21:31:14.009-06:00Gluten-Free Pizza Fest Take One...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBq8-NG91mTN_q_6rOo9mtaPzFoTqFSLNhmDflxS6MiUpQo18j0gG41oax42JuPm5OagKbwnn-7OONc5RRYrxrKbdSjImW7HJOGSG5y0ZSIoqtLqNerfLAy9vF_Ap4kEwCySxW/s1600/ATXGFpizzafest.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBq8-NG91mTN_q_6rOo9mtaPzFoTqFSLNhmDflxS6MiUpQo18j0gG41oax42JuPm5OagKbwnn-7OONc5RRYrxrKbdSjImW7HJOGSG5y0ZSIoqtLqNerfLAy9vF_Ap4kEwCySxW/s1600/ATXGFpizzafest.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Welcome guest blogger </span><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=52620694&authType=NAME_SEARCH&authToken=nBIA&locale=en_US&srchid=126a0827-d00b-4401-a302-aea7502aeb22-0&srchindex=1&srchtotal=53&pvs=ps&pohelp=&goback=%2Efps_*1_Carrie_Wood_*1_*1_*1_*1_*51_*1_Y_*1_*1_*1_false_1_R_true_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Carrie Wood</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> to my blog site today. Carrie is a Gluten-Free friend of mine and she'll be reviewing a few GF pizzas in honor of </span><a href="http://atxglutenfree.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ATX Gluten-Free's</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Pizza Fest.</span> <br />
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Since going wheat and yeast-free over 2.5 yrs. ago, pizza has not been part of my life. Oh, sure I could eat the toppings, but pizza isn't pizza without the crust. Carrie, of GingerLemon Girl fame, posted a gluten-free, yeast-free recipe last year and the Pizza Fest gave me a reason to coerce my husband into trying 2 different gluten-free, yeast-free pizza crusts.<br />
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1st Contestant: Gluten Free Almond Flour Pizza Crust (courtesy of <a href="http://www.gingerlemongirl.blogspot.com/">GingerLemonGirl</a>)<br />
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Dry Ingredients:<br />
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2 c. almond flour<br />
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1/2 tsp. salt<br />
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1/4 tsp. baking soda<br />
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1 tsp. oregano<br />
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1 tsp. garlic powder<br />
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1 tsp. basil<br />
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Wet Ingredients:<br />
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3/4 c. mashed white beans (I used cannelinni beans)<br />
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3 eggs (Egg sub. would work, too)<br />
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3 T. olive oil<br />
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1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 12-14" pizza pan with parchment paper.<br />
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2. In a large metal bowl mix all dry ingredients together.<br />
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3. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and all all the wet ingredients.<br />
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4. Mix them thoroughly. The dough will be quite wet. <br />
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5. If you're making 2 med. pizzas, split the dough in half.<br />
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6. Spread the dough in a circle on the parchment paper with a spatula. It may help to wet the spatula or spritz it with non-stick cooking spray to keep the dough from sticking to the spatula. (I like the feel of dough in my hands. I opted to plop it out on the parchment paper on my pizza stone. And using wet hands, I smeared and shaped the dough - rewetting hand as necessary).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7w9b-XI9fks1WpZwdK_adb3TRmnNbsRHxpyxyV3mYeBBNTzDhtEbYMOe1-k59CzfDfolHtEi7nYmTJO55B-ql24j-aWZI20IIYO8I-pYGiFCQL-J9NI0SLuEDfOqcbcwr94vg/s1600/Almond_Flour_Pizza_Dough_-_Shaped_%2526_Ready_to_Top.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7w9b-XI9fks1WpZwdK_adb3TRmnNbsRHxpyxyV3mYeBBNTzDhtEbYMOe1-k59CzfDfolHtEi7nYmTJO55B-ql24j-aWZI20IIYO8I-pYGiFCQL-J9NI0SLuEDfOqcbcwr94vg/s320/Almond_Flour_Pizza_Dough_-_Shaped_%2526_Ready_to_Top.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Pre bake the dough in the preheated oven for 10-132 min. until golden brown.<br />
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Add toppings (I used 1 c. Delallo Tomatoes with Basil pureed, topped with slices of low-fat, thinly sliced provolone, then turkey peppperoni, and topped with grated low-fat mozzarella).<br />
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Bake topped pizza for 10-15 min. until toppings are cooked to your satisfaction.<br />
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Cool for about 5 min. and then serve.<br />
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This crust is a bit mealy, of course, due to the almond flour. It's easy to make & shape, sets up nicely and has a good flavor. The verdict: Good, but not good enough to make again. <br />
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The rule at our house is that we all have to like it . . . since hubs is compromising and eating wheat-free goodies to accommodate my sensitivity, and my goal is to make delicious food that so closely approximates it's wheaten counterparts that no one misses the wheat!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGe7H76Y0WCAsMxu6nUru176V7koxr0DMfjXhT8tTeAjzW6FxOrvYU2m9EDq7pOc4iENikFueoQM9jcSFAt8s7NZjoS58OV-Tk4Dtk_tyceEb37ACXZJ98f79zzc8eDmmX6XQ6/s1600/Baked_Almond_Flour_Pizza.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGe7H76Y0WCAsMxu6nUru176V7koxr0DMfjXhT8tTeAjzW6FxOrvYU2m9EDq7pOc4iENikFueoQM9jcSFAt8s7NZjoS58OV-Tk4Dtk_tyceEb37ACXZJ98f79zzc8eDmmX6XQ6/s320/Baked_Almond_Flour_Pizza.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Kayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05113494166399911997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13458591.post-24737595422207823712011-01-14T11:03:00.001-06:002011-01-14T11:04:40.319-06:00Green Monster!<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kayaspix/5354989612/" title="Green Monster by Kayaness, on Flickr"><img alt="Green Monster" height="400" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5209/5354989612_7c6c757959.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I've been trying out different things in my quest for healthier eating habits. A <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/bodyrescuemassage">fit friend</a> of mine has turned me on to the <a href="http://greenmonstermovement.com/">Green Monster Movement</a>. Michelle kept talking and posting about her Green Monsters until I was dying of curiosity. I've now had two Green Monster breakfasts in one week and I'm hooked! The picture above is today's GM in a <a href="http://www.beertownaustin.com/">Beer Town Austin</a> 'stache glass and the recipe is below. <br />
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1 Tb milled flax seed<br />
2 cups raw spinach<br />
1 1/4 cups vanilla coconut milk (or any milk of your choosing)<br />
1 Tb organic creamy peanut butter<br />
1 banana<br />
2/3 cup frozen broccoli florets<br />
<br />
Blend, blend until all is smooth. Enjoy!Kayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05113494166399911997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13458591.post-72091065563929400072011-01-04T13:40:00.001-06:002011-01-04T13:41:50.710-06:00Crockpot barbacoa...easy & delicious<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfjisIG4fMbpJYl6cwve4srBEfM-6DE__FtC2I6RPYYB2c6djmoI7YrIR19_vyxtO4tumX62o_w9UgAggWXzc3cnW78em3cmWGbCYKwPD8Nf5P0NPkYtGq2FQ_ApscJRuK1KM/s1600/barbacoa+tacos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfjisIG4fMbpJYl6cwve4srBEfM-6DE__FtC2I6RPYYB2c6djmoI7YrIR19_vyxtO4tumX62o_w9UgAggWXzc3cnW78em3cmWGbCYKwPD8Nf5P0NPkYtGq2FQ_ApscJRuK1KM/s320/barbacoa+tacos.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>I love barbacoa. It reminds me of when we'd go see my Grandpa in San Antonio. On weekends, he'd buy a pound of barbacoa and corn tortillas for us to eat after church. The rich meat with its distinctive mouthfeel was always delicious. What distinctive mouthfeel? I hate that overused word "unctuous" but saying "fatty and sticky" doesn't sound appealing to most people. But this beef is fatty and slightly sticky, from the slow roasting process that melts down the meat, connective tissue and tendons into a pile of wonderfully slick, sumptously flavorful goodness. <br />
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It all starts with beef cheek...or at least mine does, as the traditional process involves an entire cow head. I don't know about your house, but mine does not have a refrigerator large enough for that business. Please ignore that beef cheek meat is not your pretty, clean cut of meat like you normally use. It is positively primal in appearance, with all manner of fatty bits and stuff. I clean off most of the fat but leave the other stuff, unless it is an obvious vein, which grosses me out, so I'll practice my knife skills on that. In other words, remove it without losing a finger.<br />
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I cook my barbacoa in the crockpot, using a little seasoning, orange juice, apple cider vinegar and water. You want the liquid to cover the meat, so chop it in large sections if necessary. I had a half of an onion and some garlic cloves that needed to be used before they ended up in my compost bin, so I rough chopped them and threw them in, too. After long and low cooking, you'll end up with what almost looks like pot roast, only it shreds easily with two forks. I found myself unable to resist eating barbacoa tacos immediately after the meat was done. I doubt you could resist it, either. Somewhere in heaven, my Grandpa is smiling, pointing down to me and saying "¡Esa es mi nieta!".<br />
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Crockpot Barbacoa<br />
<br />
1-2 cups water<br />
juice from half a regular sized orange<br />
2 Tb. apple cider vinegar<br />
3-4lbs beef cheek meat<br />
salt<br />
pepper<br />
garlic powder<br />
onion powder<br />
fresh, roughly chopped onion & garlic if you have it on hand<br />
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Combine water, juice and apple cider vinegar and pour into bottom of crockpot. Liberally season meat, add to crockpot along with fresh veggies, if using any. Cook on low heat for 12 hours. Remove from liquid, shred with forks. Serve with warm tortillas and any condiment or toppings desired, such as salsa, chopped cilantro, diced onion.Kayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05113494166399911997noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13458591.post-40679734713083858532010-12-22T14:51:00.000-06:002010-12-22T14:51:54.502-06:00Wheel of Fortune is teaching my son his alphabetRyder has taken to pointing to letters and calling out their name, although mainly he says "E" and "D" for everything. I thought at first that maybe <a href="http://pbskids.org/sesame/elmo.html">Elmo</a> isn't such a squeaky voiced tool of a monster and he was to thank for helping Ryder learn his letters, but I was mistaken. The <a href="http://www.wheeloffortune.com/">Wheel of Fortune</a> is teaching my son his alphabet.<br />
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At dinnertime each night that Ryder is with his Welito y Welita, they push his highchair up to the table and eat while watching quick witted contestants solve the puzzle. It makes complete sense when you think that you hear a contestant ask for a particular letter, then see it on the screen, hear it again as Pat repeats the letter, and see it light up when Vanna turns it (or not), well, you get the repetition. And repetition means retention, therefore enabling Wheel of Fortune to be a viable education source for toddlers. At least for mine, that is.Kayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05113494166399911997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13458591.post-74771392363059713572010-12-22T14:30:00.003-06:002010-12-22T14:44:41.560-06:00December rolled me like an ocean waveDecember has been a great surge of activity for me, where you fight to keep your head above water and you end up exhausted and slightly disoriented. I didn't take any time off after the excitement of our wedding ceremony, which was lovelier than anything I'd imagined, and the cold yet fun reception. No honeymoon, as we are still on one income and I didn't really want to think of leaving Ryder behind. His first solo overnight stay with Welita y Welito was on our wedding night. He was fine. I was so tired that it didn't really register, until I woke up the next morning. I missed him almost immediately, but was grateful to have been able to sleep in for a change. None of us knew that a little more than a week later I'd spend many nights away from my sweet son. We were thrilled to have had our big day and ready to relax into the holidays.<br />
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We'd been burning the candle at both ends during the wedding week, getting ready for our celebration. Ryder had been having some trouble sleeping, too, so none of us were well-rested. We've had a few strange things going on in our house, too. I joked that we need to call the <a href="http://www.the-atlantic-paranormal-society.com/">TAPS</a> team. I'd been waking up, swearing that someone was tugging on the sheet or comforter, a few of Ryder's toys had been turning themselves on, random weirdness of all kinds...up until the morning of our wedding. I was the first up and was pulling clothes together for Ryder's diaper bag, standing at his dresser. Right behind me, in his room, a little girl's voice called out "maaaahhhmeeee", slowly and plaintively. I don't get scared often by paranormal things, but this frightened me. I rushed back to our room, where the boys were still sleeping. I knew it wasn't Ryder's voice that I heard, but I woke Jaime up to ask if Ryder had been calling for me. No, of course not. This brush with the other side kept me uneasy for a week. I still get creeped out, if I think about it too much.<br />
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The first Sunday of December was intended to be my rest and recovery day, a day in which I would do nothing but prepare meals and watch mindless T.V. or a movie. And I was doing just that, up until shortly before lunch. The phone rings and your life changes, isn't that always how it works? One of the attorneys I work for called from Puerto Rico, where we had a trial starting the next day. Our trial team paralegal had a death in the family, could I make the 3:30pm flight from Austin to San Juan? Amazingly, I did. The next 8 days were a blur of travel, intensive trial work, my first courtroom experience outside of being a juror and a teeny, tiny taste of Puerto Rico.<br />
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Mid-month, back in Austin, it took about 5 days to feel normal again. I arrived home sleep deprived and jittery from the full on adrenaline rush of total immersion into trial work. I'd wallowed blissfully in a super comfy hotel bed, with a down featherbed, all by my lonesome in San Juan...but in Austin I was back to fighting for covers with Jaime and, more often than not, Ryder, who demonstrated his new ability to sleep sideways in bed. I felt so disconnected from home that if someone had suggested I'd actually been gone a month, I'd have readily agreed. It was odd to turn on the television and not have it auto-programmed to the <a href="http://www.wapa.tv/">WAPA</a> channel. (And I'd really love to be able to walk to a breakfast buffet every morning, prepared by trained chefs who do not get called "MomMom" or "Kay").<br />
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I learned a lot in Puerto Rico, at trial. I also tried my best to get a little down time in where I could, but that proved next to impossible. The morning I left I managed to put my feet in the ocean and also to lay in a hammock for a while. I'd love to go back when I can enjoy the delights of the island. I missed my boys badly, though, and was grateful to return home to them. I flew back on a Monday and was in my office on Tuesday, no time off. I was brain dead and drained by the weekend.<br />
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Ryder suffered not only the temporary loss of his MomMom but also of his grandmother. My Mom was in Mexico for a week, having dental work done while I was gone. As a result, Ryder's been a clingy little spidermonkey right around the time I need to leave for work in the morning. It's the residual effects of my "solo honeymoon" in Puerto Rico and not having his Welita to comfort him, I'm sure.<br />
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In keeping with the ebb and flow of my emotions and energy level this month, this week was the first total lunar eclipse of the winter solstice moon in hundreds of years. I wished on that gorgeous moon, awed by its vivid whiteness in the dark sky. I wished for the ill wind to blow away, taking with it our money troubles and for the moon to pull in prosperity for us. For Jaime, to find not only a job that pays well but also one he will be passionate about, and for myself, to continue to learn and grow in my current job while I tend lovingly to my Twitter amour. Bless us, luna.Kayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05113494166399911997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13458591.post-73555635355510158682010-12-05T23:54:00.000-06:002010-12-05T23:54:32.741-06:00Honeymoon Without My HoneyIt's hard to believe that it's only been 9 days since my wedding. The last week was a blur of family returning home post-nuptials, playing catch up at work, a lovely media dinner at <a href="http://www.soleilaustin.com/">Soleil</a> (must visit their raw bar!) and the <a href="http://thataustingirl.blogspot.com/2010/12/happy-bleet-up-day.html">Bleetup</a>, with the <a href="http://republicofaustin.com/and-your-austin-blogger-award-winners-are/">First Annual Austin Blogger Awards</a>. I was honored to be nominated for ATXFoodnews in the Twitter category. Yesterday I ended the week by working at the <a href="http://www.austinsportsexpo.com/">Austin Sports Expo</a>. In short, it's been hectic.<br />
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In a shocking-not-shocking, this is my life move, I got a call on Sunday a little before lunch saying that a co-worker had a family emergency and was flying back to Austin from our trial site in San Juan, Puerta Rico. Four and a half hours later, I'm on a flight to Puerto Rico. <br />
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<em>Ahem</em>. I repeat, I am on a flight to San Juan freakin' Puerto Rico! I don't know what to expect, as I've never been to trial (or Puerto Rico) before. I'd like to think of this as my honeymoon sans Jaime but I know I'll be working my bum off. I hope to have a little time to enjoy the food & city, but I'm not expecting much.<br />
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I am having some anxiety leaving my guys. Ryder waved bye bye and blew me a kiss at curbside check in. I resisted the urge to make out with Jaime like a high school girl who's just been grounded from seeing her boyfriend for a week (probably for sneaking out her bedroom window, scraping her legs on the holly bushes and waking up the dog with her squeal of pain...not that I'd know). If I hadn't indulged in half a Xanax, I may well have dissolved into tears. I'm convinced that Ryder will have grown so much while I'm gone that a Norelco shaver embossed with "A sharp gift from Puerto Rico" is in order.<br />
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Drama queen theatrics aside, I'm looking forward to the next few days. My company obviously believes I'm capable and dependable and I'll be working my tail off to prove them correct. Wish me luck.Kayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05113494166399911997noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13458591.post-74378799473601576342010-12-05T23:47:00.002-06:002010-12-05T23:47:30.383-06:00Matrimonial Bliss...or, "honey, we did it!"This should say everything.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwC9Zc4XJ4tSyHNgQz7HkWJL6pdQraOClENj7K9zWpUIOID9_AUQblL2D4JS8A1eWMe3y-TXWYuodrHwrW-0R92zW0MBU4Z3_-UbfGfDxYqLrtRjGtJVtIplPDhmcpf_idSFb/s1600/kaynjaime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwC9Zc4XJ4tSyHNgQz7HkWJL6pdQraOClENj7K9zWpUIOID9_AUQblL2D4JS8A1eWMe3y-TXWYuodrHwrW-0R92zW0MBU4Z3_-UbfGfDxYqLrtRjGtJVtIplPDhmcpf_idSFb/s320/kaynjaime.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Kayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05113494166399911997noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13458591.post-36768510945935547992010-11-21T12:16:00.000-06:002010-11-21T12:16:22.024-06:00Wedding bells & dieter hellThe wedding is Friday. Five days to go and I'm so freakin' hungry! My crazy gorgeous wedding dress fits, mind you, it's not like I can't get into it. But it fits snugly, like a glove, but not like a sausage skin -- that would be bad. I want a teensy bit of breathing room in it as I plan to boogie the night away to wonderful wedded bliss tunes like "Baby Got Back" and "White Wedding". So...I've been low cal, low carb, low everything except a lettuce leaf and a thin slice of avocado. Okay, maybe not that deprived, but there has been no barbacoa, no steak & fried egg tacos from <a href="http://www.one-taco.com/">One Taco</a>, no cheeseburger in paradise, noEgg Nog (with bourbon) ice cream at <a href="http://www.amysicecreams.com/2.0/#/home/">Amy's Ice Cream</a> and certainly no beer. Well, save the one glass of <a href="http://jesterkingbrewery.com/">Jester King</a> Commercial Suicide I had this week, in one of <a href="http://www.beertownaustin.com/blog/beertownaustin-mustache-glass-is-here/">Beertown Austin's</a> fabulous moustache glasses. I know I shouldn't have, but it was whisky! barrel! aged!! And it was supremely delicious.<br />
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All my hard work is paying off, though. I'm about 3lbs under what I was when I first tried on my dress, so I'm calling this a success. After all, it's Thanksgiving soon and we'll be making our traditional cornbread dressing, oven roasted turkey with a bacon blanket over the breast, pumpkin and pecan pies, broccoli, cheese & rice casserole...yeah, I'll be eating the toddler sized portions on Thursday, so that the very next day I can step into my gown and not pass out if I try to inhale too deeply. For the record, my seamstress refused to let out the side seams, telling me quite firmly that the dress fits perfectly. <br />
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I'll be picking up my sister and niece on Tuesday morning and guess where they want to head to immediately after arrival? Yeah, uh huh, <a href="http://www.juaninamillion.com/">Juan in a Million</a>. Kayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05113494166399911997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13458591.post-16807904019808741172010-10-22T15:15:00.001-05:002010-10-22T15:19:26.181-05:00Everybody's workin' for the weekend..It doesn't get any easier, as we age, to make it through a rough work week. Just like Loverboy went from wearing tight red leather pants to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME9-nujEplc&feature=player_embedded">this</a>, my life is such that Monday morning starts with me feeling energized and ready and ends Friday afternoon on life support. TGIF, yeah, yeah, can you get me another cup of <a href="http://www.kohanacoffee.com/catalog.php?cPath=24&osCsid=832n3asoksi97spfgoc80t3cd6">coffee</a>?<br />
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Saturdays should be for sleeping in, but since we have an active toddler, no one sleeps late anymore. Instead, you can find me training with <a href="http://www.austinfit.com/index.shtml">Austin Fit</a> for the February half marathon. If I can't sleep, I might as well work out. And, oh man...it is so hard to get moving on Saturday morning. I know I need to exercise. I know I need to dump some more pounds. This isn't rocket science. But maybe rocket fuel would be the perfect assist in getting me out of bed and on the road. (Note to self: invest in <a href="http://www.guenergy.com/products/gu-energy-gel/faqs">Espresso Love Gu</a>).<br />
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It's ironic that the two days when I have time to relax are the same two days that Jaime is rarin' to go, get out of the house, go somewhere, do something. I'm thinking about a bottle of wine, the couch and a dvd and he's gazing outdoors with a rapturous look on his face. Of course, I'm not the adult in the family who's main source of Vitamin D comes from the sunny side of the playground, either. <br />
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We've compromised this weekend. After my 6.5 miler in the morning (carrying my iPhone in case I need to call a taxi) we will indulge in some R&R before spending the afternoon outside. Specifically, we'll be helping to celebrate <a href="http://www.draughthouse.com/">The Draught House's 42nd birthday</a>. Delicious craft beer is the one thing guaranteed to get me off the sofa. The fine men of <a href="http://www.beertownaustin.com/">BeerTownAustin</a> have a <a href="http://www.beertownaustin.com/blog/draught-house-42nd-anniversary-beer-list/">delicious list</a> of the brews to be had at Draught House's celebration. <br />
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I am excited to see my standby favorite <a href="http://512brewing.com/">(512) Brewing's</a> Double Pecan Porter, but I'm super thrilled to try <a href="http://www.jesterkingbrewery.com/">Jester King's</a> Commercial Suicide and <a href="http://www.southernstarbrewery.com/">Southern Star's</a> Pro-Am Smoked Porter "primed with agave syrup with chipotles in the cask". What what?? Oh, those cheeky Conroe brewers! Four 6.5oz pours are your's, with a glass, for $12 (if only it was BeerTownAustin's <a href="http://www.beertownaustin.com/blog/beertownaustin-mustache-glass-is-here/">moustache glass</a>). Happy weekend, indeed.Kayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05113494166399911997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13458591.post-59957094291988815692010-10-19T14:28:00.001-05:002010-10-19T14:35:56.459-05:00A healthy glow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxdb8p_XBNf16TDBt0H11NIjfHFn2gRTx-jyvRvCRiQr2QxdgCLEijx1KSsZiXEosvCeIIRaslM-mKpkJmA0R3AYT1VvR8x_Wj1GOf61vZGpIdE5jRKky8AXltoxO74QCfXmQ/s1600/Spray+Tan.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxdb8p_XBNf16TDBt0H11NIjfHFn2gRTx-jyvRvCRiQr2QxdgCLEijx1KSsZiXEosvCeIIRaslM-mKpkJmA0R3AYT1VvR8x_Wj1GOf61vZGpIdE5jRKky8AXltoxO74QCfXmQ/s320/Spray+Tan.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>Those of you who know me well are familiar with my milky white skin, a hue so light if I was any paler I might actually go transparent. Thank you, Dad, for the great genes that make me look younger than I am, but could you have at least let Mom give me her Mexican-American olive tones that instantly brown in the smallest amount of sunlight? Seriously, I tell people I'm Latina and they probably think I meant to say "I'm studying Latin". If you'd dust me in <a href="http://kitkraft.biz/product.php?productid=6335&cat=73&page=1">ultra-fine glitter</a> I'd sparkle like one of the <a href="http://www.twilightthemovie.com/">Twilight</a> vamps. Well, no more, folks! I've found the answer to the problem, the solution to me blinding Jaime when I pull my shirt off and it is <em>awesome</em>! <br />
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Yes, the picture above says it all, airbrush is in, tanning beds are out. Super friendly Laurie, the owner of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Healthy-Glow-Mobile-Airbursh-Tanning-Austin/140599222653074?v=info">Healthy Glow Mobile Airbrush Tanning Service</a> stopped by my house one recent Saturday afternoon and worked a small miracle. Carefully airbrushing me, Laurie turned this anemic-toned chica into a lightly bronzed woman. The effect was natural and flattering. In fact, it was so natural looking that when I visited with a friend later that day she remarked that my half marathon training was leaving me looking sun-kissed. Little did she know, it was a faux tan. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRiQuQuSm68qeGOSWjYLESKrv_eCdTN0S0fG2IiyuR1qQvwRdYPxkhlDDW0a6XMjSaERoksqHDMhxdYFLIjNUVfS0p_ePU3q6lHsHDXBkDDac_rgTst3f413meOIpathm9Fcv/s1600/IMG_5837-8x6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRiQuQuSm68qeGOSWjYLESKrv_eCdTN0S0fG2IiyuR1qQvwRdYPxkhlDDW0a6XMjSaERoksqHDMhxdYFLIjNUVfS0p_ePU3q6lHsHDXBkDDac_rgTst3f413meOIpathm9Fcv/s320/IMG_5837-8x6.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Laurie's set up is a simple one, fitting into one medium sized case. Handy, because she will come to your home with her equipment. Even better, you can claim the hostess with the mostest title and throw an airbrush tan party. You supply the friends and <a href="http://www.cocolopez.com/alcoholicbeverages.html">beverages</a> and she'll come in, pop open the airbrush tent and get to work.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TeP3btZq-dqcpwMzedWpHK26CwtNvtgGH0Fm1U0Vz0rcsqQx7lV-Jwue0beEFTKETI5CssKo7gd_ybabbX0sln8H2iMp1Izyar2lMNeC960kkf5bboE16gVSL_zMk_Bb7hQO/s1600/IMG_5838-8x6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TeP3btZq-dqcpwMzedWpHK26CwtNvtgGH0Fm1U0Vz0rcsqQx7lV-Jwue0beEFTKETI5CssKo7gd_ybabbX0sln8H2iMp1Izyar2lMNeC960kkf5bboE16gVSL_zMk_Bb7hQO/s320/IMG_5838-8x6.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Please, no comments about the cardboard in the background. It's hard to indulge in picking out window treatments when you are on a fixed income. Besides, that window overlooks a brick wall, so unless you are a really, really good Peeping Tom, we're not worried about drapes. Ahem, back to the subject. Most women will wear their bathing suit, but I wanted more of an all over tan. Laurie was okay with me going au naturel, but I opted to wear small undies and a strapless bra. The spray will show up on light fabric, but washes out easily.<br />
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Laurie had me stand in the tent while she explained the process, starting off with blowing air on me so I could feel how cool it was (colder than I expected). Then she began airbrushing me, methodically and smoothly. I leaned this way and that, held my arms up then down, inclined my head to each side...you get the picture. When she was done, Laurie explained that the bronzer would darken slightly over the next hours but asked me to make sure I was happy with the color. I could've asked to go darker but the shade she chose for me was perfect. Laurie blended my farmer's tan from my running shirts so that I was one even shade from the top of my shoulders down to my hands. The entire process took less than twenty minutes.<br />
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I'm so satisfied with my tan that I've already asked Laurie to airbrush me before my wedding next month. I followed her instructions on body care pre-tan: exfoliate paying close attention to problem areas like elbows, knees and feet, shave the day of or before and moisturize well in the days prior to the airbrush session. You want as smooth a canvas as possible. You can't wear deoderant or makeup for your session or have freshly lotioned skin. After-care is easy, too. You want to wait about 8 hours before bathing (plan ahead!), moisturize, moisturize, moisturize, take warm, not hot baths and avoid shaving your legs as long as possible. The tan lasts between 7-10 days, dependant upon how much your skin naturally exfoliates. <br />
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I'm thrilled with my Healthy Glow airbrush tan, and want you to experience it, too. If you book an airbrush tan party with Laurie and three friends get tanned, your's is free. Laurie charges only $35 (remember, she's coming to you, that's a steal!) for a full body tan. If you live outside of Austin, she charges a nominal $10 fee for mileage. You can contact Laurie through her Facebook site for <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Healthy-Glow-Mobile-Airbursh-Tanning-Austin/140599222653074?v=wall">Healthy Glow</a> or call her at (512) 573-1106. Now go get your own healthy glow!<br />
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<em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">In keeping with <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/adv/bus71.shtm">FTC regulations</a>, I am disclosing that Laurie was generous enough to tan me for free, something that was greatly appreciated and resulted in this happy blog post. Satisfied, Big Brother?</span></em>Kayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05113494166399911997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13458591.post-5064708308374573912010-10-05T12:48:00.003-05:002010-10-05T17:27:32.450-05:00Beer...sleep<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kayaspix/5054984170/" title="pecanporter2 by Kayaness, on Flickr"><img alt="pecanporter2" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4129/5054984170_b49c771628.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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What I really want to talk about today is beer. Beer in all its beautiful, beery goodness, like <a href="http://512brewing.com/">512 Brewing</a> Pecan Porter pictured above (apologies for the dismal quality photo), Oaktoberfest from <a href="http://www.liveoakbrewing.com/">Live Oak Brewing</a>, and Oktoberfest from <a href="http://www.shiner.com/main.php?page=beer">Shiner</a>. All of these are recently quaffed, greatly enjoyed beers. I love this time of year because it means a good number of seasonals from local breweries. I tend to be somewhat ADD in my beverage choices, zinging back and forth between lighter flavors and deeper ones. October is a beer month that completely plays into my drinking style. I have a list of more beers to sample, but if you have a "must drink" local brew, please let me know in comments so that I, too, may partake of its deliciousness.<br />
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Alas, I am too exhausted to write about beer. I need sleep. I need sleep like an armadillo needs to be spray painted glow-in-the-dark neon colors. What? Obviously, this will give the armadillo a competitive edge when crossing a dark Texas highway. I believe it may also reduce drunk driving, since if I left happy hour and saw a neon green armadillo streak across Hwy. 71, I would damn sure pull over and call a sober friend to pick me up.<br />
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Sunday night I had action dreams all night long. I enjoy a rambunctious movie as much as the next woman, but dreaming of running around in the dark with my task force of fellow vampire killers (with ultra cool automatic weapons equipped with UV bullets) meant waking up worn out. I dragged through my very busy work day and ended up with the caffeine shakes in the late afternoon. I was determined to go to bed early Monday night.<br />
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My hope of getting a solid night's sleep died a little after midnight, when Ryder woke up with a tummy ache. At least we think it was a tummy ache...can't quite tell when you're dealing with a child who's most advanced word is "door". He tossed and turned and cried out and grunted and, after a dose of <a href="http://www.mylicon.com/">Mylicon</a>, made a few other loud noises, all of which were repeated at 3am and 5am. At the barest crack of dawn, Ryder decided he was up for the day, smiling and happy. Of course. Meanwhile, I'm trying to find out where I can buy a case of <a href="http://www.5hourenergy.com/">5 Hour Energy</a> and dashing off an e-mail to <a href="http://www.unclebillysaustin.com/index.php">Uncle Billy's</a> telling them that the breakfast crowd would love their Insomniac Coffee Stout.Kayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05113494166399911997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13458591.post-81955867385008191672010-09-23T15:03:00.000-05:002010-09-23T15:03:41.875-05:00Tempting TastingsOver the last week I've managed to taste a fair number of delicious dishes. Let me stop right here, before I write another sentence and implore you to do one thing, and to do it very, very soon. Go to <a href="http://www.urbanatthedomain.com/">Urban</a>, located in the Westin at <a href="http://www.thedomainaustin.com/">The Domain</a>, and order anything you want, as long as it includes the sweet corn bisque and finishes (or starts!) with the avocado tres leches cake. Yes, I said avocado. Tres leches is always a favorite but the addition of avocado gave it a little special "oomph". If I'd had to taste this blindfolded and guess the mystery ingredient, there is no way I would've come up with avocado. It is more of a deepening of flavors, of richness and buttery goodness than "hey, I just ate a mouthful of cakey guacamole".<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_enV2WElRZ6AuUWpArFpyl9kpePupMStnZLIpLSn6-8_HCe2k6RyaZTOrnCwOjtDLtiU5VtsD7hjLKiXF1c693HI_oIRM3fL432VMjFZvP2BYLnre7dLzh9bW8NeV_3-jUZE2/s1600/Avocado+Tres+Leches2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_enV2WElRZ6AuUWpArFpyl9kpePupMStnZLIpLSn6-8_HCe2k6RyaZTOrnCwOjtDLtiU5VtsD7hjLKiXF1c693HI_oIRM3fL432VMjFZvP2BYLnre7dLzh9bW8NeV_3-jUZE2/s320/Avocado+Tres+Leches2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The sweet corn bisque is equally rich and enticing, served with a roasted corn pico de gallo on top. The first spoonful is sweet, silky goodness with a surprising rush of heat from the spices. This is no demure damsel of a bisque! I could happily eat it until I pass out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGI6yF5UiYk6aiH90i2NacDcZv6bAkyKLwHm0EQYOfUsIVOaGGd8j6wEoShKTjVT-36wyawxUakKI4R8NzzC7cVz5e5cdmlJvENCOJ3uoNJxNx-fyzA4VPO-W9AyE4I6w85gUp/s1600/Urban+corn+bisque2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGI6yF5UiYk6aiH90i2NacDcZv6bAkyKLwHm0EQYOfUsIVOaGGd8j6wEoShKTjVT-36wyawxUakKI4R8NzzC7cVz5e5cdmlJvENCOJ3uoNJxNx-fyzA4VPO-W9AyE4I6w85gUp/s320/Urban+corn+bisque2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Because I am a low/highbrow foodie (thanks for coining that phrase <a href="http://thataustingirl.blogspot.com/2010/09/we-try-new-restaurant-urban-and-what.html">Tolly</a>!), I have to include my favorite lunch last week. Behold, I give you the newest creation on <a href="http://www.hatcreekburgers.com/">Hat Creek's</a> menu, their Turkey Burger, a juicy, peppered patty, grilled to perfection. It rocked my noontime. It could rock my eveningtime, if Hat Creek would please open a restaurant in South Austin. My picture doesn't do justice to this burger, as I didn't get a great angle of a shot, to showcase the patty, but I was just too eager to eat it and didn't stop to snap more photos.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rijzHc1Z4lVL3a3dyf5l_ptBj2R3yZ6Ut_MrjdM2D-0wiPs2_Im9hxPv8h9sN3057W-VuCzJmfwfnUzKAeRvLZP1hv_lwYjK7l-fYvOIyW2GbASpl0fxGUQpJ9oY2BarUQUQ/s1600/turkeyburger2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rijzHc1Z4lVL3a3dyf5l_ptBj2R3yZ6Ut_MrjdM2D-0wiPs2_Im9hxPv8h9sN3057W-VuCzJmfwfnUzKAeRvLZP1hv_lwYjK7l-fYvOIyW2GbASpl0fxGUQpJ9oY2BarUQUQ/s320/turkeyburger2.jpg" /></a></div><a href="http://liftaustin.com/">Lift Cafe</a> has a sweet little patio where you can sip a bevie (alcoholic or caffeinated or both) and relax. The day I stopped in, a friend and I ordered this pretty cheese plate. Divine. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEp3x4fKnIQD4_8tInhqi5Ztqzm0MFq4Vkjq6OUW8XiluMFbqqocrMYIccWbfbKXMlNN_aURU_bDMe6icSUNAjqkxt0QrbQUOFRloPgcQDC7DbStamwYZ5ArJj5SdyHFIFtca/s1600/cheese+tray+Lift+Cafe2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEp3x4fKnIQD4_8tInhqi5Ztqzm0MFq4Vkjq6OUW8XiluMFbqqocrMYIccWbfbKXMlNN_aURU_bDMe6icSUNAjqkxt0QrbQUOFRloPgcQDC7DbStamwYZ5ArJj5SdyHFIFtca/s320/cheese+tray+Lift+Cafe2.jpg" /></a></div>And in celebration of stinky cheese (not that we had a stinky one on our cheese plate), I give you a different kind of treat. A "trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat". Well, if you're a toddler who thinks feet are good to eat, that is.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSBzid_As3WVWCq4D2eIx2TnTQF9CaH8pxt4vhyphenhyphenZqzHRwU3ZohqD0BUsHWa3HIbZKQKGCh045CIopA8pGvgX7boRZU5niEO7c0PAzBOVxM4OXBAPPBa-JzNjX0PbDehJQqaffA/s1600/feet2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSBzid_As3WVWCq4D2eIx2TnTQF9CaH8pxt4vhyphenhyphenZqzHRwU3ZohqD0BUsHWa3HIbZKQKGCh045CIopA8pGvgX7boRZU5niEO7c0PAzBOVxM4OXBAPPBa-JzNjX0PbDehJQqaffA/s320/feet2.jpg" /></a></div>Kayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05113494166399911997noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13458591.post-74842716552643505362010-09-15T11:43:00.003-05:002010-09-15T11:53:10.991-05:00So Not Photogenic<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrLrn2pV9rYBocyF85xJYJLz5rbg6Y_5l_UGzIw8ii8SIxnqh7TO_V_EJgHIUxndw3trhNQkXelH9dvbtvsjcoti3ebDMYwHCFzvM88xM-sVkmjP5Fv441rU2aDEZciT2yOAx/s1600/Kay+2010.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 278px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517182173126760722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrLrn2pV9rYBocyF85xJYJLz5rbg6Y_5l_UGzIw8ii8SIxnqh7TO_V_EJgHIUxndw3trhNQkXelH9dvbtvsjcoti3ebDMYwHCFzvM88xM-sVkmjP5Fv441rU2aDEZciT2yOAx/s320/Kay+2010.jpg" /></a> You know, I always tell people I'm not photogenic. I end up looking drunk, each and every time. I can't help my <a href="http://www.rosacea.org/index.php">rosacea</a>, folks! It's not that I'm a red nosed drunk (okay, it's not that I'm <em>always </em>a red nosed drunk). After years of pictures that I swear do not look like me, or at least, not a sober me, I'm starting to wonder...maybe the pictures are true to life. Maybe I spend 100% of real life looking like I'm under the influence. I don't know the answer to that burning question (and quite possibly don't want to know, either) but I do know one thing: I made a cute baby.<br /><br />So, to counteract the effect of having to look at the above picture of me, taken this week, here is another recent picture of my offspring. My very adorable, extremely photogenic offspring. Notice that Ryder is starting to lose the baby look and advance into kid-hood (cue mama tears).<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidq9jR0mTukdnjCJXAv0cO6UDLCF93MyKDbaWHZIsi7qaTaNuS5y28GrbeY6wjf_e0Pb3RQ83LCTOd5-YyOSmlVCjVfxZwQXqOJIWnUl0poCzKrP8mbfa4vo01BmMOUNnNCzqf/s1600/Ryder+Sept+2010.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517183610589015122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidq9jR0mTukdnjCJXAv0cO6UDLCF93MyKDbaWHZIsi7qaTaNuS5y28GrbeY6wjf_e0Pb3RQ83LCTOd5-YyOSmlVCjVfxZwQXqOJIWnUl0poCzKrP8mbfa4vo01BmMOUNnNCzqf/s320/Ryder+Sept+2010.jpg" /></a> <div> </div>Kayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05113494166399911997noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13458591.post-14311518979418843952010-09-13T15:18:00.004-05:002010-09-13T17:46:14.193-05:00Singin' the Monday bluesYou ever have one of those days? The kind of morning when you wake up feeling more tired than when you went to bed? Those days always make me wish I had the freedom to stay in bed, pull the covers up and not put a toe on the carpet until I damn well feel like it. The kind of day where you want to eat leftover cold fried chicken for breakfast, chocolate ice cream for lunch and quite possibly an entire bag of Funyuns for dinner, but only if they are <a href="http://kayanaustin.blogspot.com/2006/03/wasabi-funyunsmy-newest-addiction.html">Wasabi Funyuns</a> (sadly, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funyuns">discontinued</a>).<br /><br />I'm having one of those days. Yes, singin' the Monday blues. The cause of it is the sad state of our finances. With my sweet partner-in-crime laid off, our checking account is anorexic to the point of Karen Carpenter-hood. Our wedding is in November and we've knocked our budget down to the bare bones. And by bare I mean that if our budget was a dress, <a href="http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-us&biw=1004&bih=578&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=tila+tequila&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=">Tila Tequila </a>would want to wear it.<br /><br />I'm okay with a casual reception at an ultra casual location because I'm more of a casual girl than anything else. I'm very much okay with everyone getting to wear comfy, tempurature-friendly clothing to our celebration. I'm okay with the idea that we can't afford a caterer, so we'll spend the day prior to our wedding (Thanksgiving) cooking for the reception. I'm okay with hauling Jaime's sound equipment so that we don't have to hire a DJ, only hook up a laptop & run music. I'm okay with not having loads of fresh flowers everywhere you turn.<br /><br />I'm so sad at only one thing, a trivial detail considering that I'm bagging a great catch of a husband. I can't afford a wedding cake. A beautiful and unique cake is the only part of a traditional wedding that I truly adore but...gorgeous cakes cost a serious amount of bank. We are rich in many ways but not in terms of ink & paper with pictures of various dead presidents on them.<br /><br />And that, dear reader, is what is bringing me down today. Usually I can work myself up into a seriously good rant and rave about all kinds of issues but today it's simply a selfish whine about a cake. I feel ridiculously shallow, but at the same time tears sting my eyes. It's a freakin' cake, for cryin' out loud! But giving up this one desire is difficult and sad.<br /><br />Hah, just when I really get into feeling bad for myself, writing this post, my insurance company calls...they have a "Well Aware" program that I got hooked into when I was in a car accident a few months ago. When I told the nurse my back was feeling fine he ominously said "We'll keep you in the program. You never know, your back could be fine one minute and in the next half hour you're in major pain". Nice. Just what I needed to hear today, to boost my spirits. Can't help but laugh!Kayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05113494166399911997noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13458591.post-63918612612720330542010-08-28T13:01:00.002-05:002010-08-28T13:46:51.517-05:00BlogathonATXOne thing I've learned from the last year of Tweeting is that you just never know what kind of fun thing you can stumble upon, just from reading a quick post. When <a href="http://twitter.com/ileenieweenie">Ilene Haddad</a> questioned if anyone wanted to get together on a Saturday and exchange blogging ideas, advice and tips, it quickly escalated into a full blown workshopping event. BlogathonATX is underway, with blogging, content & tech experts on hand.<br /><br />The jokes started flying when I mentioned to friends that I was attending a blogging workshop. "Are you wearing your Star Trek uniform?". No, of course not. I'm rockin' the Princess Leia gold bikini from Star Wars, you dork! I admit that a blogging workshop sounds like a bunch of socially inept people heads down over laptops, ignoring the people sitting around the same large table but trust me, it's far from the truth.<br /><br />It's probably a good thing that only one room was designated the "Talking Room" because you can hear the laughter all the way to the back of the building. <a href="http://conjunctured.com/">Conjunctured</a>, a co-working space in E. Austin, donated the use of their sweet offices for this event. It's an old house and I'm probably blogging from the master bedroom. How cool is that?<br /><br />With conversations ranging from all-about-blogging to raw foods diets and every topic in between, it's been a heckuva good time. I even did an interview for <a href="http://amandaquraishi.com/?p=63">Q</a>, telling her in 10 words or less why I blog. Y'all know I couldn't manage it in 10 words...I used 11 and then kept talking.Kayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05113494166399911997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13458591.post-55593366454733883582010-06-28T17:40:00.003-05:002010-06-28T17:43:30.865-05:00Ryder Learned to Feed Himself<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJ70AzrF0k9triwor9yRWxJNIQdEi4J-l5de8nafbF8s706hSjbqdIHE7WhvHq5dvR69Fx4PxXrSuLL9hnFqTpiikQgyIoIyOtudGruuG1xsg84-n83TWZEGZqiSjYNm5iux8/s1600/Ryder+feeding+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487958373895233394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJ70AzrF0k9triwor9yRWxJNIQdEi4J-l5de8nafbF8s706hSjbqdIHE7WhvHq5dvR69Fx4PxXrSuLL9hnFqTpiikQgyIoIyOtudGruuG1xsg84-n83TWZEGZqiSjYNm5iux8/s320/Ryder+feeding+2.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbhfrNXBpcjT94nfjui-c59GEF1PJZyHIXkHOPgiW1ba1qg6jiYjAvv44zn6IGsawat3iUyWAvq1Rg8t9sOarcQv0JhPTeAkWRSswmgo3N2ZiqcBe-1Hxp5Bx3C_fT7DQ2OM_/s1600/Ryder+feeding+.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487958365948170386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbhfrNXBpcjT94nfjui-c59GEF1PJZyHIXkHOPgiW1ba1qg6jiYjAvv44zn6IGsawat3iUyWAvq1Rg8t9sOarcQv0JhPTeAkWRSswmgo3N2ZiqcBe-1Hxp5Bx3C_fT7DQ2OM_/s320/Ryder+feeding+.jpg" /></a> A happy boy with his pureed prunes! Gotta love it that he's eating but man, what a mess. I should've taken pics after he finished off his strawberry applesauce dessert. He had his entire face covered in food, from forehead to chin.</div>Kayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05113494166399911997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13458591.post-3829553485624552792010-06-16T22:33:00.002-05:002010-06-16T22:37:11.012-05:00Mama's New Hair & Cute Baby Pics<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OwMzOCSPrPgJ3ZaGJ-SaPs9fVXJeJWzdU8oPefkwyz8lnksJfpIV9XEbuyQ1xYBUNtHetdZZJk1dcPP3yVMfcjTa9csopvHDayMGoLV70tVQ9wpqbigHXn9yRVgO2I0-EeEp/s1600/IMG_5771.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483581510559401778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OwMzOCSPrPgJ3ZaGJ-SaPs9fVXJeJWzdU8oPefkwyz8lnksJfpIV9XEbuyQ1xYBUNtHetdZZJk1dcPP3yVMfcjTa9csopvHDayMGoLV70tVQ9wpqbigHXn9yRVgO2I0-EeEp/s320/IMG_5771.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIyLpVa1oEMHJf0L5gzwDx-A2Tamdr56Qglykw6mKo37Glcpoe1A-81EiDllAFxqldTU39gjsIFf0MjY8Zu0cfmWR0zqXYHSHlx6AseEPgz-AiN8mAhhfCGRKq0bsXUUx222n/s1600/IMG_5770.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483581301146619330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIyLpVa1oEMHJf0L5gzwDx-A2Tamdr56Qglykw6mKo37Glcpoe1A-81EiDllAFxqldTU39gjsIFf0MjY8Zu0cfmWR0zqXYHSHlx6AseEPgz-AiN8mAhhfCGRKq0bsXUUx222n/s320/IMG_5770.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>Ryder likes my new look, too. The proof is in the pics! Notice how shiny & healthy my hair looks--I owe it all to the <a href="http://www.brazilianblowout.com/">Brazilian Blowout</a> at <a href="http://www.sirens-salon.com/index2.html">Sirens Salon</a>. </div><br /><br /><div></div></div>Kayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05113494166399911997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13458591.post-32736990447715047032010-06-16T22:07:00.010-05:002010-06-16T22:41:28.792-05:00Hair She Goes!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMzLL-IG5xIK3vi0O31M9TQXgwYtYuXMag7MVPsVzmOXMhRBlyCwe4Mb_yznHX5FIfrOptojHShfweXx4f7r-15N7yEQEhMBSkh4RV2RMxFkXvxVJKpoManfEjAQWgaXGEggsn/s1600/IMG_5762.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483579894896370834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMzLL-IG5xIK3vi0O31M9TQXgwYtYuXMag7MVPsVzmOXMhRBlyCwe4Mb_yznHX5FIfrOptojHShfweXx4f7r-15N7yEQEhMBSkh4RV2RMxFkXvxVJKpoManfEjAQWgaXGEggsn/s320/IMG_5762.JPG" /></a><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUK6tZ5XSKnFAxja8qw0aMiVomHXKuCaWAb1kftcagXBA0P6wCT9tkE1dfdO2EXxbEPW0E07_TUs4BqZ0avQy6q9RYXbAM9H6CK0iggNaZ-YKe2ZEcDeA_9rwigH5r3FVqCpF/s1600/IMG_5764.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483576679280016530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUK6tZ5XSKnFAxja8qw0aMiVomHXKuCaWAb1kftcagXBA0P6wCT9tkE1dfdO2EXxbEPW0E07_TUs4BqZ0avQy6q9RYXbAM9H6CK0iggNaZ-YKe2ZEcDeA_9rwigH5r3FVqCpF/s320/IMG_5764.JPG" /></a>I've always had curly hair. My hair is fine, not very thick and it gets really, really frizzy. It can't help it. That's just the way it is. When I dry my hair with a blowdryer OR let it air dry, with expensive products or with cheap ones, it comes out the same way: curly/wavy going every which way and not so much trying to conform to a style. The pics I'm posting prove it.<br /><br /></div><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483575513505533986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryMaQhH-3oAxbPnyQNZ3bUUlsC08hwk5b6d-_y7mT2wr7ux7CYymi5QHkT658WDyPnbCVCd5TX7G68M9mTf-zOpdf864FhmkQtCVYD8Kzu7dsjEXx8-4gnPvN_HVT73sXbLzh/s320/IMG_5763.JPG" /> </div><br /><div>When Emma at <a href="http://www.sirens-salon.com/">Sirens Salon</a> said she could give me a <a href="http://www.brazilianblowout.com/">hair treatment</a> that would leave my hair as shiny, silky and smooth as a baby's I simply did not believe her. Did.Not.Believe. But after my relaxing visit with the lovely staff at Sirens (and a glass of wine or two) I started to believe. And after Emma and Callie had worked some magic with touching up my color and giving me a <a href="http://www.brazilianblowout.com/">Brazilian Blowout</a>, I became a religious zealot believer. I'll never doubt Emma again. </div><div><br /> </div><div>Here are some after shots of my hair when we were done. My friends will think I look just like I'd stepped out of Sirens after having my hair flat ironed but this is a simple rough dry with a blow dryer, something that would normally leave me crimpy curled. I've never had hair that looked this smooth, sleek and ultra-well cared for until now, with the Brazilian Blowout treatment. On the plus side, the treatment doesn't smell funny (or strong) and there's no fear of chemical burns on your scalp, either. With a color touch up, the Brazilian Blowout and a quick cut I was in the shop for almost 3 hours, so plan accordingly. Take it from me, every minute is worth it!<br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_1crjGHlK3aj1KMDj4zFAcdncMbT9fnF9VpXPIm2-MxTgQNv4JEKfO9YxuiucyfrRiOV8IHpvlQ7omTyK6U5wEZ8oizlmUZDmokAyYxthLtqvryPdcruwz4L3EYEABDzXqO-/s1600/IMG_5765.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483578639833639762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_1crjGHlK3aj1KMDj4zFAcdncMbT9fnF9VpXPIm2-MxTgQNv4JEKfO9YxuiucyfrRiOV8IHpvlQ7omTyK6U5wEZ8oizlmUZDmokAyYxthLtqvryPdcruwz4L3EYEABDzXqO-/s320/IMG_5765.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2Qh2VBOzPJDCBgdQzJyOqIji5tw-wIH6hG6YFdEWW9fouyCfJOy2CvHEyidIZDgfEPacXXxXnj984oFh-oU7sFQI8_GnLFI0m08ud3kuEuFuwVcEfQqhKWzlDaw85ijAG8O2/s1600/IMG_5767.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483579342352498466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2Qh2VBOzPJDCBgdQzJyOqIji5tw-wIH6hG6YFdEWW9fouyCfJOy2CvHEyidIZDgfEPacXXxXnj984oFh-oU7sFQI8_GnLFI0m08ud3kuEuFuwVcEfQqhKWzlDaw85ijAG8O2/s320/IMG_5767.JPG" /></a> <div><br /><br />I love it! My hair has never looked better. And when I wash it, I don't have to worry about it reverting to messy tresses...this is going to last for up to 3 months. Absofreakinglutely amazing!<br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Kayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05113494166399911997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13458591.post-84108423628035513692010-05-26T17:57:00.002-05:002010-05-26T18:08:19.022-05:00The Art of RelaxationI must've managed to learn the art of relaxation. Despite being sick every day of my vacation last week, I'm back to work feeling refreshed. I didn't realize how difficult it would be to be the only parent on vacation -- even with help from my sister and her family, Ryder was a handful. I never fully relaxed from parenting (two words: separation anxiety) but I did some serious R&R from my 9-5 job. I came home even sicker, stayed out of work yesterday but today I hit the ground running. Its nice to feel calm & centered at work again.<br /><br />Ryder had a blast, being center of attention. He had his first trip to the zoo and freaked out in the penguin & puffin exhibit. To his credit, the penguins were within touching distance and they did splash us a few times, which had Ryder clawing to get away from me and to Maggie, who was standing the farthest away. Poor babes then discovered there was another exhibit directly behind him. The stuff of nightmares, I'm sure. Aggressive, angry, I'm-gonna-get-you flightless birds. LOL He was very much relieved that the rest of the animals were behind fences and sometimes netting. Every animal he saw he'd point to and say "woof woof". Gazelle? "Woof woof". Giraffe? "Woof woof". Snow leopard? You get the idea.<br /><br />My sweet picky eater also discovered the crack that is McDonald's Chicken McNuggets. Ryder, who won't eat much, devoured three nuggets. Unbelievable! I would've disowned him had he not happily munched down on a pile of Vietnamese charbroiled pork from my com dac biet plate at my <a href="http://www.phogrand.com/flash.html">favorite St. Louis restaurant</a> later in the week. There's hope for him yet.<br /><br />I'll post pics soon, probably the ones of Ryder playing the piano. He is his father's son.Kayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05113494166399911997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13458591.post-40022115441257793522010-04-19T08:38:00.004-05:002010-04-19T08:58:54.620-05:00April 19th, 1995 at 9:02am<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjl20CuOGYPqx6m1Q86w9ezAxxyarG5A4Qb-AwhXeG5TAY8z2kvYAtUal9J77enQ_QduBFrzxEXS50J0qCj_2tr1IbzIq7nHCYJVNoKPfc3ma1EONpx_nRcw87b7bQuiJF8Qj/s1600/Baylee.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 252px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461845191885923826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjl20CuOGYPqx6m1Q86w9ezAxxyarG5A4Qb-AwhXeG5TAY8z2kvYAtUal9J77enQ_QduBFrzxEXS50J0qCj_2tr1IbzIq7nHCYJVNoKPfc3ma1EONpx_nRcw87b7bQuiJF8Qj/s320/Baylee.jpg" /></a>Fifteen years ago an American terrorist blew apart the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma_City_bombing">Alfred P. Murrah Federal Government Building</a>. I watched the breaking news stories with shock, disgust and horror. I'd lived in Oklahoma City for a very brief period of time while my father was teaching at the FAA Academy affiliated with OU. I thought about my friends who live there as I watched coverage of the tragedy, and was thankful that no one I knew worked in that building...or so I thought. Later that evening I'd find out that the baby in the image above was <a href="http://www.oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org/secondary.php?ordering=5&view=17&section=1&catid=24">Baylee</a>, the niece of a family friend. Baylee had turned one year old the day before she was murdered.<br /><br /><div></div><div>Today, as we remember the victims of the bombing I ask one thing only: strive for kindness. Be nicer to people. Say "please" and "thank you". Treat your fellow citizens with all the respect and nicety that you would be pleasantly surprised to have received. It is my ferverent hope that in being kinder to each other we will find the way to peace both in our nation, which clearly has factions of unrest (plane flown into an an IRS building comes to mind) and in the world. </div><div> </div><div></div><div>Please consider a donation to the <a href="http://www.oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org/index.php">Oklahoma City National Memorial</a>, built by those who promised not to ever forget the loss of loved ones. The memorial educates those about the events surrounding the bombing and works toward healing the pain caused by it. At the website, you can find stories of triumph over injuries alongside a list of those who perished.</div><div></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;"><em>A note about this picture and potential copyright infringement: I have no idea if this is the picture snapped by <a href="http://www.famouspictures.org/mag/index.php?title=Oklahoma_City_Bombing">Lester LaRue or Charles Porter</a>. I'm certain this photo will be used without permission many times today. I hope that whomever owns the copyright, if it is copyrighted, will forgive my use of the photo of Baylee Almon.</em></span></div>Kayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05113494166399911997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13458591.post-10137659419532202962010-04-16T17:04:00.002-05:002010-04-16T17:07:26.001-05:00Bottle of wine, fruit of the vineThere's some old folk song that goes "bottle of wine, fruit of the vine, when ya gonna let me get sober? Let me alone, let me go home, I wanna go back and start over". Well, with the work week I've had I will strive to be singing that song later tonight.<br /><br />Carry on.Kayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05113494166399911997noreply@blogger.com0