Returning Home...back to Spokane

Well, Mom and I got up...I finished packing...we stopped at R and M Bakery to get some of my favorite sugar cookies and then to the shop to say goodbye to my dad...and then we headed to Columbus to meet my friend Liz for breakfast at First Watch (a restaurant I miss from my Cincinnati days)...I got the usual...the Power Wrap...so good! And we sat and visited for awhile. Then we said our goodbyes and mom and I headed to Easton to go to Trader Joe's to get some snacks for my trip! There were so many good things...I settled on grapes, string cheese, banana and some dark chocolate covered pretzels...YUMMY! I also had some left over spaghetti from Olive Garden with me...and an apple. So I felt like I had enough food to avoid buying a lot at the airport. We stopped at the post office to ship my extra stuff...and then mom dropped me off at the airport! Ah...it was such a quick trip but I felt like I did so much! Of course my trip home wasn't so easy...I missed my connection in Detroit by minutes...and had to wait to leave for Minneapolis until 6:15pm...and then only had to go from there to Spokane rather than go to Seattle as well...but I got in about 11pm...tired and ready to sleep. Tim met me at the airport...and we went home and to bed! WHEW what a trip!

Returning to my Childhood Home...Day Two

So...my mom and I had stayed up talking until 1am...so we had a slow start today...we did make some food for a picnic...and then ran a couple errands. We packed up the food...and met my dad at Moundbuilders Park for a picnic....we sat in the shade of a tree and had chicken sandwiches with tomatoes and lettuce, pickles, potato salad, fruit salad, and carrots...it was all so yummy! Once we were done...we visited for awhile and then my mom and I proceeded to walk through the Moundbuilders Museum...checked out the Octagon Mound at the Moundbuilders Country Club, the Alligator Mound in Granville...and while in Granville we went to Whits (homemade frozen custard) and a cute little shop where my mom bought my birthday present...a beautiful ring. We drove through Dennison University...and then headed back to Newark. We went to OSU-N and walked around campus...then headed to my high school...walked on campus and looked at the buildings. As we walked around we ran into a teacher who had my sister for a class or two and he told us my high school was scheduled to be leveled starting in April of next year! I was shocked!! They are going to make a new, state of the art, handicap accessible building...ah, that is rough...I understand why...but it was soooo cool knowing that I graduated from a CAMPUS STYLE high school...one of only a few in the country! We walked around and took pictures...and then headed to Roosevelt...my junior high school...which has been empty for two years and has my ELEMENTARY SCHOOL going there this year while my elementary school is being updated. We walked through those halls and I looked for familiar rooms...it was bittersweet...once we were done...we headed back home and I changed...I met my friends at the Y for a Zumba Class...which was AWESOME!! What a great workout! Made me want to do that style of exercise again! We had a great workout then headed to Olive Garden for dinner...and talked and talked....it was great! Then I headed home to pack...I was going to be leaving the next day!

Returning to my Childhood Home...Day One

So...the whole reason I was even at home was to surprise my childhood friend at her bridal shower in Columbus...one of her friends contacted me a few months ago and asked what would be the possibility of me coming to her shower...I bought a ticket and the rest is history! So Sunday morning I got up and went to church with my parents...after church I left for Columbus...I wanted to stop at Hallmark and Barnes and Noble before the shower. I found the PERFECT card...having nothing to do with weddings or showers...and then bought the book by Lisa See called Snow Flower and the Secret Fan...because I want her to read it and it is about life long friends (Liza and I have been friends for 32 years). Once I got all of that...I was ready to surprise her! Her friend asked me to come right at 2pm so people could see the surprise...I walked into the Rusty Bucket at Polaris, and sure enough, she was surprised...she almost burst into tears...and she had NO IDEA I was coming...I was introduced to all of her friends (all of them seemed to already know me) and we sat down to eat. Rusty Bucket has the BEST deep fried dill pickle spears...and I learned one of the only places to get a cheeseburger with VELVEETA on it...so I was sooooo pleased. At the end...Liz's friend had got us all cupcakes from a local bakery...so cute, so many different flavors Ganache Dessert Kitchen...I think that is where they were purchased...even had red velvet!! After the shower, Liz and I headed downtown to check on a friend who runs a tattoo parlor...we visited him for awhile...and then drove through the OSU district...it has changed so much over the years...through Columbus downtown area...short north...and then we headed back to her place to visit...it was a great day, and a great opportunity to catch up with a GREAT friend!!

Returning to my Childhood Home....First Night

So, I flew home this weekend...and it was a great weekend. I left Saturday morning about 4:30am to go to the airport and arrived into Columbus, Ohio at 8:30pm flying through Seattle, Minneapolis, and Detroit...but uneventful and on time every leg of the way! So my mom met me at the curb...I was so proud of myself...I packed a backpack and a purse...no checked in luggage!! She and I drove back to Newark Ohio...my hometown of several years and discussed what we may have to eat once we were home. I told her I needed a Plaza Pizza. Once we were close to Newark I called in my order...13 inch Cheese Pizza...and was told I would wait 30 minutes and it would be ready to pick up! So...we got home, talked to dad a few minutes and then we headed out to get the pizza. It was tempting not to just start eating it once I was in the truck...but I managed to survive the 3 minutes home to get napkins and begin to eat. By the way, this pizza was $8.00. Mom and I sat and talked and ate...talked and ate. I smelled it...soooo good...almost a little bit of a cheesy saucy smell. I told mom as we ate that memories were flooding back to me...my first one, eating Plaza with my friend Holly, her mom would go and get us a pizza...we would open a couple of Pepsi BOTTLES...and drink that with the pizza while watching Friday Night Videos...my other memory would be of my friend Liz and I getting a half pepperoni pizza (for her) and half cheese (for me) along with a can of grape pop for her and can of cream soda or root beer for me....and eating it in a car...burning the roof of our mouths on the cheese. Ah...fond memories. I thought I would have difficulty eating an entire HALF of a pizza...turns out that within 5 to 10 minutes...the pizza was GONE...

Losing Weight and Eating Food

Well, I LOVE to eat...so one of the things I have sworn to do as I lose weight is eat well! I purchased two new cookbooks last week at WW...one is NOW AND LATER where you cook one meal and then on the opposite page is what you can do with the leftovers...different meal with similar ingredients. LOVED the first recipe we tried...BBQ Turkey (although no stores had turkey, so we used Chicken breast instead) and then the following night we had gumbo! It was great! The other cookbook is called HIT THE SPOT with pretty flavorful dishes...we made the Pork and Tomato Carnitas...SOOOOOOO yummy! I swear there are times that I can't believe that I am on WW. I will also plug the Weight Watchers cookbook Momentum...TONS of great recipes...even my husband likes them! There is nothing worse than thinking for the rest of your life you will be eating yogurt for breakfast, a salad for lunch and some sort of chicken breast and veggies for dinner. I am so happy that both my husband and I love to cook and love to try and make things that are both healthy AND nutritious! If you feel like you are in a rut with your diet...and really you need to look at it as a lifestyle change...get a new cookbook...ask a friend if they have a cookbook you can swap...and try something new for dinner!

Tea Time

On Sunday August 9th I hosted a tea at my apartment. I will say I have missed entertaining a group...and last Sunday I had 7 guests for tea. I decided to make chilled strawberry soup with whipped cream on top...I made two cold drinks, definitely not traditional for tea but it is summer...so I made a Peach/Mango/Orange Spice Iced Tea with mint and a Raspberry Fizz drink for kids who may not like tea...I had 2 kids and 2 teens attending. I also made Huckleberry Tea as the hot tea selection. I made sandwiches....salmon and cream cheese (doctored with dill and garlic), peanut butter and jelly, peanut butter and fluff, ham (two options, one with munster and mustard and one with my cream cheese ranch spread) and cucumber sandwiches. We also had huckleberry scones with honey or cherry jam...and then the dessert was a half a sponge cake with mandarin oranges and blueberries and whipped cream on top...everything seemed to be a hit...everyone dressed up and most wore hats! It was great fun! I host a second tea on Sept 13th and I am very much looking forward to it!

Birthday Fun July 2009

So, I turned 39 this year...and for the first time in TWO YEARS I got to spend my birthday with my husband (he was out of the country the last couple of years). It was so exciting. He asked me what I wanted to do...and I told him as long as I could spend the day with him, I would be fine! So...on my actual birthday I spent one of the few times I work on my birthday...working...it was a great day...nothing too incredible, one of my co-workers made me some YUMMY cupcakes (yellow with fudgy icing) and lots of regular fun. I got off at 4pm and joined my co-workers who SHARE my birthday...that is right, in a staff of 10 THREE of us were born on July 31st! We headed to Hay J's for a celebratory drink...and then one of them stayed with me and my husband for dinner. Tim and I headed home after work and got a blizzard from DQ and watched Valkyrie...Tim also surprised me with my birthday gift...a basket and bags for my bike so I can ride it to do errands and grocery shopping...well once it cools off...too hot!!

Saturday I worked....got off at 4pm and Tim greeted me at the door with a "pack some stuff in a bag..." and I did...we left soon after and headed downtown. It was HOT really rather HOT...we also had the dog...so I wasn't sure where we were headed. Turns out he got us a room at the Davenport Hotel. Not just a room, but a Penthouse King suite...ooh la la...and Elphaba got to stay with us! We immediately changed into swimsuits and headed to the pool...there was only one other couple in the pool...after a half hour we headed up to shower and get ready for dinner. We ate in the Peacock Room...I LOVE their French Onion Soup! I also tried the new Sweet Tea Vodka...YUMMY! We finished up and headed back to our room to watch an in room movie MY LIFE IN RUINS...and then ordered room service dessert...the signature sundae made with ice cream, fudge and the peanut bruttle they make...VERY yummy! We stayed up late...slept in and ordered breakfast room service which was YUMMY...we were headed home by 12noon!

I had a great birthday...once again reminded of how many people are out there that think of me...I got some great presents...although as I get older I find that spending time with people and a card makes me happiest! I got phone calls, cards and emails! I am definitely blessed and can't wait to continue this year experiencing all life has to offer! Hopefully in good health and in sound mind!