Luck of the Redneck

Sometimes I can act so much like a kid.

Hubs and I have a date this weekend, sans little guy.  I couldn't be more excited!  We try to do something at least once a month with each other and send Coop off to Granny and Pooh's house.  We are so incredibly lucky to have them and we know it!  Little guy absolutely LOVES visiting them ~ they are such a huge part of his daily life.

So for our March we shall be celebrating one of my faves ~ St. Patrick's Day!  I just love the Irish.  I'm not sure if it's the volumes of green beer, the bagpipes (which I ADORE) or all the drunken Irishmen.  Or Wannabe Irishmen, I suppose.  I can't really talk - I'm true diversity.  I've got a little of everything in me but unfortunately, no Irish (to my knowledge).  That must be a mistake I'm sure.  I am the baby of the family and I'm certain unplanned, so I suppose anything is possible!  I just take liberty on my son's Irish heritage from the ex's side of the family even though I hate the ex (at least he gave him one cool thing!)  And it's even cooler that my daughter is Scottish, so we get the whole rivalry thing in the mix!

We are going to act like 21 year olds all day Saturday.  St. Pat's parade downtown, lots of Irish food and beers and awesome music and then end the night with a Jason Aldean concert.  Wait... what?  Oh yeah... I can just see it now.  The concert venue is across the street from the popular Power and Light District in downtown Kansas City and it will be FILLED with drunken wannabe Irish lovers.  And rednecks.  Awesome.

I thought about my wardrobe for the day and have to admit a green John Deere t-shirt might be the only solution I can muster. 

The good news is we rented a room downtown.  No driving for this couple! 

I am so jazzed I can barely stand it.  It shocks me most days that we have been married almost 19 years and still have this passion.  Oh don't get me wrong - we passionately THROW DOWN some days, too!  But we are fortunate that this part of our marriage, the best friend part, has always been strong.  Even when we don't like each other much :).  We always have fun together!

Happy Thursday, friends!

Jen

This Is How We Do It

Today is a day of empowerment!

I feel so fortunate to have my blog as my outlet.  I have poured onto these "pages" my fears, joys, excitement and yes, sometimes anger.  My readers (yes, YOU) are so supportive and encouraging, laughing and crying and sometimes spitting right along with me!  I so appreciate all your emails, texts, comments and hugs over my entries.  Even when I'm having a cranky day, it always brightens it to know that I can pour it out here and get words of encouragement back!

So to honor all my friends and readers, I have had many questions on how this whole thing works.  Here is a simplified list of the Top 10 questions:

1.  How do you set this up?

2.  Does it cost to blog?

3.  How in the world do you have time to blog? (I get this one the most..)

4.  How secure is it to write on the web?

5.  Can you block readers?

6.  Why do you have "followers"?

7.  Do you have to put ads on your page?

8.  Can you customize what is shown on your page?

9.  Do you ever fear strangers / retaliation etc. from your blogs?

10.  More a comment, not really a question ~ "Nobody will care what I have to say."

Well friends... your long awaited chariot is HERE!  I thought I'd give you some Blogging 101 to help get you past the hurdle of intimidation you may be feeling.

More than anything, if any of you have ever been to therapy you know how important it is to journal your thoughts and feelings.  My mom bought me my first diary when I was 10 years old (a Hello Kitty one, and yes I still have it).  I would journal really important stuff like "I hate my brother" or "My mom is a doo doo head".  But what I was really doing (and still do to this day) was sharing my thoughts and feelings to help myself better understand what was happening in my life.  It gives great perspective to your life to write it out, if for no other reason but to reflect.

So for the questions above.  Here goes:

1.  Setting up a personal blog is EASY PEASY.  There are a million different sites that offer free blogging tools.  For mine, I chose to use Blogspot.  Here's the link:  http://www.blogspot.com/.  I landed there because a good friend of mine used it and I always loved her pictures.  That was the initial draw.  It is basically Blogging for Idiots... you can't mess up.  And if you don't want your website to have the blogspot title in it, you can choose to buy your own domain for $10 a year (only if you want).  My official webpage for those of you that don't go in that way is www.jdsjourney.blogspot.com.  

2.  Nothing!  It's free, unless you buy a custom domain for $10 a year.

3.  BIG secret coming on this one... I blog ahead of time, most of the time.  You can schedule your blogs out.  For example, I never ever write my Friday Faves on Friday (or Thursday for that matter).  They culminate throughout the week when I have time.  Much easier to get your blogging in every day!

4.  Security is always on the top of most people's minds.  What if someone can find my house by my blog?  Well, don't use your real name.  Or the name of your City.  Or the name of your kids.  Some bloggers that I follow reveal all about themselves personally and others are totally anonymous.  It's complete up to you and your comfort level.  (Keep in mind in about 5 keystrokes I can find out where you live, what you drive, where you were born, your birthday, your parents names, etc.  It's public information on all of us.

5.  Nope.  This one might be a biggie for some.  You can't block out who is reading your site, built in this format.  It is a webpage on the giant world wide web.  Anyone can read it.  My thought is if you have things to hide (or want to keep secret), don't blog about them!

6.  Readers can choose to "follow" me if they would like.  For those of you that view my page on your phone, you may want to jump on a computer to look at it in real life.  It is way cooler that way!  You will see who I read, past blogs (if you want to go back easily) as well as choose to follow me.  If you follow me, it just means that you will be notified when I blog.  Kinda like having Facebook on your phone and getting notified when you have a message.  Only I only blog once a day, so you are safe there.

7.  You do not ever have to put any ads on your webpage.  I tried it out as so many people talk about how much money you can make by advertising.  You can get specific on ads though.  I put a couple up on my page and if you click it, I can get paid.  It's nominal, so don't get to excited!  I'm not going to quit my job or anything anytime soon.

8.  YES!  This is what I love about Blogspot... the customization.  There are so many options, from backgrounds, to fonts, to colors, to pictures.  It's unbelievable what you can do.  Many of my readers have a very specific title and background and it is their "trademark" if you will.  I haven't gone that far yet.  I like changing my colors and backgrounds every month.  But I always leave my title, "My Soul Steps".  My blog is a reflection of the steps my soul takes every day.

9.  I don't fear strangers or retaliation.  I am typically only publicly negative about 2 people that I blog about - my ex-husband and his 4th wife - both of which I do not speak to or see.  I do not care if they read my blog or not. I also do not care if people tell them about it (if they don't read it).  I don't type anything in there that I wouldn't admit to their faces.  They are crap and I don't mind telling them that.

That said, if you are experiencing volatile relationships with others and are coparenting with them or working with them or something more intimately related, don't blog about them if you don't want confrontation.  It will only lead you to a drama filled life.  Every single one of my close friends know that I blog and that they may become the victim of a story some day.  It's part of knowing me.  They accept it (maybe not love it, but accept it... sometimes begrudgingly).  And by the way... my hubs has never told me not to blog about something.

10.  This one hurts my heart a little bit.  Friends, somebody will most definitely care about what you have to say.  Maybe you wouldn't have something to say everyday, but when you do speak you have a voice!  Your good friends and family will always be supportive of you!!  I will give you a bit of advice though... a lot of people are skeptical about blogging.  They worry about what others will think if they say this or that.  If you are one of those types of people, don't blog.  It will EXHAUST you wondering what others think of you.  Do it for self expression, for growth, for release... not for approval or acceptance.

My last piece of advice?  If you take this journey on, you will see that there are a million people JUST LIKE YOU in lots of ways.  Say you have a cause, like pet adoption.  By virtue of your blogs, others will find you and you will find them and all of sudden you will have an expanded network of people just like you.

I'm proud to say that my daughter took up blogging earlier this year and I LOVE reading her blogs.  They make me laugh right out loud most days!  She is funny, spirited and sarcastic.. but most of all she blogs about little nugget which I love to share in HER journey of motherhood! 

I hope you find this helpful in lifting the mysticism that is blogging!  If you want to take the leap and have any questions, I'm always here for you!!

Happy hump day!
Jen

And... BREAK!

Ah, Spring Break in Kansas City.  What fun can be had!  Little guy has had some time with his big brother, Granny and Pooh and at the end of the week, he gets two whole days with DAD!  They are both so excited, although I'm sure it has a lot to do with the endless amount of basketball to be watched those two days.

The principal of my little guy's school is so awesome.  Everyone loves her, kids and adults alike.  But every once in awhile, I think she's been in the educational system to long and forgets how to connect with us working families.

When she distributed our last note before Spring Break (1 week and 1 day, by the way... plus we get off again at Easter), she told us parents to "Enjoy our time off for rest and relaxation with our kids".  Hmmm, does she understand that not everyone in the world gets (or takes) off for Spring Break? 

Personally, I have never taken off Spring Break.  Sure, I get the fever like everyone else!  But have you ever tried to get into a restaurant during Spring Break?  Have you ever tried to board a plane during Spring Break?  It's NOT the easiest of all tasks with kids running around everywhere!

I had lunch with a good friend recently who sent her 13 year old son to New York City with a friend and his father for Spring Break.  In all fairness, the father does travel quite a bit to NYC to conduct business, so it's not as though he is a rookie in that area.  I asked her if she was worried about him traveling that distance and spending the week there.  Nope, it will be fine.  Ahhh!  I would just DIE.  It's not like Chicago or anything - NYC is an extremely busy place! 

Jokingly, I told her she better get ready... he's going to expect this treatment every Spring Break.  Her comment?  Yep, he already does.  At 13.  Oh my.

I'm thankful my little guy doesn't expect lavish trips to New York City for Spring Break.  He likes playing Modern Warfare with his brother.  He likes going on adventure hikes with his Granny and Pooh.  And he will LOVE watching basketball with his daddy.  Yep, he still calls him daddy.

As a sidenote - it is the most beautiful weather in Kansas City right now.  Today we are expecting it to hit 80 degrees, almost the all time record of 82.  In March!  The top is definitely coming off of sassy on the way home (get your minds out the gutter!)

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Happy Birthday, Jo Jo!

Great, I'm a fantastic furry kid owner.  Jackson's birthday was last Thursday and I'm just now remembering it.  Yikes.  Well, at least it wasn't one of the two legged kids.

Jacks hit the big 13.  Wowzers.  Time sure flies.  I can't believe it has been that long since we drove in the sideways, driving rain all the way to Stet, Missouri (yeah, look it up.  I didn't know where it was either!) to pick him out of a litter.  Purebred labs, my coworker tells me.  She owns the mom and the dad.  

When we arrive at the farm there is a fenced area with pups inside.  Oh my gosh, they were absolutely darling!  We sat and played with them for over an hour, honestly falling in love with them all.  But we choose Jack (well, hubs did really) because he was the calmest of the litter.

And that he is.  Jack has honestly been the most calm, independent and loyal pup from the first day we brought him home.  He totally submitted to his older sister Abbey from the moment they met, allowing her to continue to rule the roost.  He went to puppy obedience school and completely bowed down to the little puppies (should have seen the chihuahuas.. .they were so confused).  He has never bitten a soul, or snapped at them for that matter.  Although some could attest that he resembles a great white shark when he jumps up for a treat and shows his fangs.

Of late, he's been taking glucosamine to help with the arthritis in his back hips and legs.  He's graying around his eyes and mouth.  He spends a lot of time napping (when he isn't eating).  He's slowing down.

Happiest birthday, Jackson!  We sure love you, Bear in the Big Blue House!

Jen

      

MY MADNESS!

While I have been planning St. Pat's day ruckus and scouring the internet for something green, I totally overlooked the fact that March has descended upon me.  How did I not see this coming?  

I met hubs in late summer '92.  He was on one knee by Christmas and I was smitten.  Little did I know what was right around the corner.

The first year we were married, hubs had an interesting job that caused him to travel approximately 26 weeks a year.  It was a tough go but I think ultimately helped us make the most of every moment we had together.  Most of his travels caused him to be gone Thursday - Sunday so I didn't get much weekend time with him.  Maybe that is how I missed our first March Madness together.

But before our first anniversary, I got a glimpse of hubs passion for NCAA basketball.  He watched every single, solitary moment of basketball.  Oh, and remember... this was pre-DVR.  I'm guessing the VHS recorder was working hard.

Each year we grow older together, I somehow assume he will not be as interested in the games.  Oh to the contrary.  Not only is it getting worse (or at least it seems that way), he loves his Missouri Tigers more and more every year (as if that is even possible).

Now don't get me wrong... I'm a big basketball fan.  I love to watch a good game, especially lately with the fueled MU / KU rivalry since we are leaving the Big 12 and heading to the SEC.  But the hours and hours and hours and HOURS of basketball that will overtake my house are sometimes just to much to bear.  67 games, to be exact.  And most, if not all, will be watched in my living room this year.

And then of course insert little guy, who requires at least 50 copies of the bracket so he can simulate different outcomes.  This year I have demanded that he tape them to his hang out room's walls - I am not looking at them spread out all over the kitchen table, breakfast bar, living room, etc.  

I do have to admit though that the one thing I would never change is the conversations held between hubs and little guy.  They banter back and forth like a couple of old men sitting in rockers.  Who is seeded where, how they finished their conferences, why KU will choke before they get to Sweet Sixteen.  It's hilarious.  Sometimes I forget I a have a little guy, with his vocabulary and knowledge.  At least of all things NCAA.

Oh, and just to spice it up... little guy also simulates actual games on the bracket on his Playstation to guess the outcome.  Yep, he does.

Maybe next weekend I will inject a mani/pedi, haircut and some tanning?  Anything to feel a little feminine.. and get ready for the male smackdown in my house.

It truly is MADNESS!

Jen

Fork Me, I'm SOLD!

One of the things I have truly loved since joining my new firm last summer is the massive array of dining choices within 10 miles of the office.  The first few weeks I was just thrilled with all of the new selections but as per usual, I fell into a routine and tend to dine at the same 4 or 5 restaurants anytime I go out.

Not yesterday!

I had the opportunity to hit a new spot, for me anyway.  It's a concept, local restaurant owned by none other than Sheridan's.  Yes, as in the ICE CREAM!  

The name of this fabulous joint is Unforked, and they use the UN throughout their mission statement, core values and menu choices.  The BEST part about them? All of their ingredients are hormone and steroid-free.  They have gluten free options on the menu.  And EVERYTHING they prepare is purchased locally, straight down to the Shatto Milk.    

At first it was impossible to choose.  Everything on the menu seemed so incredible.  Plus I was WAY overdue for my normal feedathon schedule.  My friend recommended the kale salad.  She had just had it with her book club that week and was already craving it again.  What a great sign!  Here is the actual description:  

Hail the Kale 

Fresh ribbons of kale lightly tossed with parmesan cheese, toasted bread crumbs and lemon olive oil dressing

They had two fish specials for the day - Ahi Tuna in some kind of wasabi and mango slaw and panko breaded tilapia in a spiked slaw.  What I didn't know is that they were in tacos!  Either wheat, flour or corn tortillas.  Oh yummo!  Since specials I can't post the exact description but I'm sure you get the point.

To help weigh out our healthy selections of kale and fish, we just HAD to order one of their specialties, Fundido Fries.  Oh help me...

Fundido Fries
K Fries (Golden brown Kennebec potatoes, hand cut, fried, sprinkled with pure ocean sea salt  topped with queso, crispy bacon crumbles


And of course, no meal is complete without ice cream, right?  The special of the day?  Lemon Lush Concrete - vanilla custard with whole lemon bars blended in.  Oh yeah, baby!

Anyone looking for a new place to eat that hasn't been here absolutely MUST visit.  Heads up - it's quite popular!  We arrived at 12:45 and had to wait for a seat.  It's not a very big place but definitely one of a kind.  The decor is awesomely modern and fun!

I'm in love.  I may have to scoot over there next week for some more.  Like all good eats, when I find something I love I have to visit until I try as many menu items as possible.

Can't wait to get back there again!  If you want more info for yourself, please follow this link:  Unforked Restaurant

Have a great Saturday, friends!!

Jen

FRIDAY FAVES

My FAVE day of the week... FRIDAY!  You know what that means?!  Buckle up, friends... it's my Friday Faves!

FAVE BOOK SERIES

After dragging my feet (kicking and screaming), I finally gave in.  After months of my Turbo Kick instructors urging, I finally picked up this series.  OH MY.  Obviously it has now been made into a movie (of which I am going at 12:00 am on OPENING DAY) but WAY before all the hype, it was just a quiet little series.  I downloaded the first book on a Friday night.  By Saturday afternoon, I was finished with it.  Purchase the second book in the series on Saturday afternoon, finished by Tuesday.  Bought final book in the series on Tuesday, finished it by Friday.  It's obvious I LOVED this series.  If you haven't considered it, give it a try!

FAVE MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE

Yep, this is ME!  I must say that the main reason I love this one so much is because my momma always used to say this saying.  You know the one... Up shit creek without a paddle?  She had a lot of these sayings, which still make me laugh when I think about her.  I'm giving serious contemplation to making t-shirts or something with this one them.

FAVE BOOTS

In honor of next weekend's Jason Aldean concert (and Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney.. see a pattern?), I would absolutely, positively and completely  devour these perfect two steppers.  The color and texture is fantastic and would look AWESOME on my size 8 stompers.  Please, oh please?!

FAVE YUMMO

Oh my.  Someone grab me before I hit the floor.  These scrumptuous loves could possibly be the highlight of my month!  What could possibly be better than chocolate, caramel and fudge anyway?  I have GOT to try these!

FAVE TRAVEL DREAM

Ah... more Ireland.  Obviously my ode this month anyway, but I have always wanted to visit this delightful land.  So incredible!  I could tour castles all the live long day.

FAVE BREAKFAST YUMMO

To continue my current love desire of quinoa, check this one out!  Anything blueberry and lemon are true faves of hubs (well, really it's the lemon... he tolerates the blueberry).  This is a definite try in our house!  Here is the link to the recipe:  Lemon Blueberry Quinoa Pancakes

FAVE FASHION

In preparation for St. Pat's Day, I'm scouring the web for cute green ideas.  This one is PERFECT for me... all the way down to the cute green polish!

FAVE SASSY QUOTE

Ah, I love this one!  Say what you want, but it's completely and honestly true.  Especially for women. We will flock together when someone else in causing crap.

FAVE BLING

I am not totally sold on this specific saying for me personally, but I absolutely love the stamped copper.  Truly beautiful - and of course this particular jeweler will customize.  I love handmade items!!

I hope you all have a fantastic Friday!!
Jen