On the Radar

What's better than a Friday with a half-day of work and lots of exciting things heading my way in the coming weeks? Here are the things I am looking forward to that are making me a very happy girl:

1) Heading to Bloomington this weekend to spend some great, quality time with my best friend

2) Our Cinco de Mayo party (or I should say fiesta!) that we are throwing next week

3) Taking my mama to Indy for a girl's night for Mother's Day

4) Going skydiving with Zach, Leah, and Grant

5) Going to the lakes Memorial Day weekend

6) And of course, vacation with my incredible husband!!!

Have a great Friday!!!

JORDAN

Daydream Believer

Everyone has those go to places that their mind runs away to when they are day-dreaming. My location is definitely St. Maarten. The picture up above was taken at Calmos Cafe- just one of the many amazing places we ate for dinner on that trip. St. Maarten is the gourmet capital of the Caribbean (right up Zach and I's alley) and the food is made doubly splendid when you have such a beautiful view while you eat. With as crazy busy as life has been lately my mind goes on vacation to the Caribbean more and more... Thankfully in just THIRTY-EIGHT short days Zach and I will be on our "vacation 2011" and I will have plenty of new memories and places to visit in my mind when it is a somewhat dreary day in Indiana :)

P.S. A banana, some whole grain crackers (just a few) and a teaspoon of almond butter make a fabulously healthy and energizing afternoon snack!!

JORDAN

Morning Dew and Ursula Le Guin

I have never been a morning person, and I am not a fan of getting up at 6:30 every day. I must say that if there is one thing about this time of day that redeems itself though, it is the peacefulness. This is going to sound very specific, but when it is a day like today: not quite cold but still slightly cool, not totally light but you can see light in the sky, with barely a car driving by and all of the birds chirping- this is my favorite way to start the morning. Sometimes I like to go outside and just stand for even only ten seconds just to breathe in the fresh, unspoiled morning air and feel alive. Then I sit in front of a window most of the morning waiting for parents to arrive with their children, so the way it sounds and looks outside has a definite effect on me and my day, and despite the forecasted rain, today is starting off very nicely :)

On another note entirely, there is a website you can go to and type in a bit of whatever you want and it will analyze your writing style and tell you which writer you emulate. (Click here for the website if you want to try this yourself) I used a piece from an older blog post (A Limited Amount of Time). The writer it chose for me was Ursula K. Le Guin- someone I had never heard of (and props to you if you have!) so I researched her and was quite pleased with what I found. She wrote a whole collection of fantasy novels called the "Earthsea" novels. Anyone who knows me knows that I love the fantasy genre (The Lord of the Rings series being my absolute favorite films and books) and so I am pleased to apparently be resembling an author who dwells on the fantastical.
Here are a few of her fantasy novels from 1968 all the way to 2001 (though all with new covers I believe). What a large writing span.

 

 I do believe I will have to get my hands on these and see if I truly do emulate Ms. Le Guin!

JORDAN

It's that Time of Year...

Coming just around the corner, Farmer's Markets!!!

I am positively stoked for the warmer weather just around the corner that brings with it Saturday Farmer's Markets. Last year I got turned onto farmer's markets pretty late in the season and only was able to catch the last few. This year I plan on hitting them up as soon as they make their debut! We have had winter markets once a month indoors and I went to one of these, but with mostly meats and baked goods it just didn't compare to the beautiful abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables of the summer market. I absolutely love being able to support my community by buying locally instead of lining the pockets of a major corporation, not to mention how beautiful and fresh the produce is. If those aren't reason enough, the amount of money that I save makes it well worth it. Produce just tastes better when it's fresh off the farm rather than shipped to stores all over America. I am already dreaming up recipes to include all the delicious flavors of summer...

JORDAN

Something Borrowed

Some days I have no words. Well actually that isn't quite true, I ALWAYS have words- just not always words that are worth sharing on here. So today since my naptime is busy working out and cooking fire island ziti for Italian Pasta Day (which is what Wednesday has turned into for my lovely friend Leah and I) I am going to leave you with someone elses words.
This may be borrowed, but it doesn't make the advice any less worthwhile:

“Look at you. You’re young. And you’re scared. Why are you so scared? Stop being paralyzed. Stop swallowing your words. Stop caring what other people think. Wear what you want. Say what you want. Listen to the music you want to listen to. Play it loud as anything and dance to it. Go out for a drive at midnight and forget that you have work the next day. Stop waiting for Friday. Live now. Do it now. Take risks. Tell secrets. This life is yours. When are you going to realize that you can do whatever you want?”

Don't know who said this, I happened upon it on stumbleupon.com but it should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me that I absolutely love it.

JORDAN

Miscellaneous Monday

Some days I just don't know what I want to blog about and can't find that burst of inspiration that I am looking for. I think Mondays make this particularly difficult. So I was thinking about what I am pretty excited about right now and a random array of things came to mind.

1. I am the proud owner of the seventh Harry Potter dvd which I am sure I will completely wear out over the next few weeks...

2. Dessert night tonight at Grant and Leah's coupled with the return of Gossip Girl

3. My fabulous menu I have put together for the week...
         Monday: succulent honey mustard chicken
                      asparagus
                      brown rice

        Tuesday: fire island ziti
                      garlic bread
                      fruit

       Wednesday: teriyaki beef kabobs
                         rice pilaf
                         fruit
 
       Thursday: slow-cooker mac and cheese
                      grilled perch
                      grilled zucchini/squash/red peppers

     Friday: zesty chicken
               lemon couscous
               fruit

4. Also in the theme of food Leah and I attended Taste of Muncie yesterday and had a fabulous assortment of samplings from local places

5. Saturday night with friends I was re-introduced to one of the best "classic" comedies: "Tommy Boy" :)

If you haven't watched this, please do.

JORDAN

To be so Fortunate

I have never really cared for the taste of fortune cookies, but the fortunes themselves I love! I have been keeping fortunes for quite awhile now because trust me, the ones I get are worth re-reading. I attract the strangest, off-the-wall fortunes you can imagine so I thought I would share some of them with you...

"A clean tie attracts the soup of the day"

(True if you are my father)

"A man best possession is a sympathetic wife"

(Yes, it does say MAN not man's and POSSESSION?! Hello what are we, cattle?)

"You are the center of every group attention"

(How did they know!?)

"To be beautiful externally is like a glass rose; one false move and it can crack"

(Why would a glass rose be making any false moves? Such sage advice...)

"Some fortune cookies contain no fortune"

(Seriously. That's what it says. And if that is the point they wanted 

to make wouldn't the slip of paper just be blank instead?)

"Flies don't enter a closed mouth"

(Then on the reverse side where it is supposed to give you a word in both English and

Chinese it has the same fortune translated into SPANISH....????

Think I am kidding? Here it is: "Las moscas no entran una boca cerrada")

"A feather in the hand is better than a bird in the air"

(Whaaaaaaaat.............?)

So there you have just a taste of the absolutely ridiculous fortunes that find their way into my hands.

JORDAN

The Food Quest: Primanti Brother's

Introduction to our food quest found here.

Saw It: Travel Channel's "Chowdown Countdown" and "Man vs. Food"
Known For: All-in-one sandwiches (all the sandwich fixings plus stuffed with coleslaw and fries)
We Went: 2/19/11
We Had: Zach- double egg and cheese stuffed sandwich
              Jordan- Kolbassi and cheese stuffed sandwich with egg
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


Primanti Bros. What a Pittsburgh landmark! We waited in a line out the door in the freezing cold to get into this place, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. Primanti Brother's has been around since 1933, and while several new locations have cropped up over the years, Zach and I made it a point to go to the original one. Located on the properly named Primanti Way, there is no doubt that this restaurant is an institution. The style inside doesn't appear to have changed much over the years and forget about being handed a menu. The sandwich choices are painted on the wall and you holler at a waitress who hollers at cook who gets you your food in record time. Everything you need for your meal is between two thick cut slices of bread. They call it the original sub, but it's not like any sub you have ever seen! Zach wasn't extremely pleased with his sandwich because it had no meat on it and you definitely need some meat on these. My kolbassi on the other hand was to die for. The sausage was spicy and delicious, I had every topping you could think of including egg, not to mention the coleslaw and fries they squeeze into the sandwich to make it an entire meal. Primanti Brother's not only had great food and quick service, but was a fun experience in itself just visiting a place so beloved by the people of Pittsburgh. If the locals love it, you know it's gotta be good!

And by the way, we visited Pittsburgh on a weekend trip. I had no idea that Pennsylvania was a mere five hours from where we live...definitely will be making a return trip!

JORDAN

Here Comes the Sun

CLICK ON THIS 
Thank you :) I absolutely have a thing for waves/the ocean

Today is positively gorgeous! I have a very strong urge to be up on my roof reading when the weather is like this. So, I am a passionate person by nature, but it is days like today that really feed my fire. Something about a beautiful day just makes me feel SO ALIVE!! You know, that feeling you get where anything is possible? Where you can be anyone and do anything? Ah yes, I am all smiles today :)

 P.S. Bonus points if you pick up on the Beatles reference... :)

JORDAN

A Perfect Blend

I would love to live the big city life but not feel bereft of the great outdoors- to me, this picture right here embodies a perfect scene. The thrill of a thriving metropolis mixed with the beauty of nature. Who says you can't have it all? :)


JORDAN

Hello, Monday

Today has been one of those days...and it's only halfway over! I need to start off by telling you that I did NOT jump out of a plane yesterday. We were re-scheduled for May 8th due to weather, which turned out to be a great thing because not only does my husband get to sky-dive with us now, but we had a fantastic time in Broad Ripple with friends!

Now this morning I woke up pretty groggy and out of it (thanks to allergies I am sure) and have found that hasn't really changed as the day progresses. My power was out for a little over an hour, making for a very dark recess for the kids. Finally I began calling parents to come get their children- no power = no lunch, and right as I finish that task, lo and behold the power comes back on! Commence re-calling all the parents. To top it off yesterday was an absolutely beautiful sunny day in the 80's (we almost hit a record for April 10th) and today is much cooler with plenty of rain. Oh, and did I mention that it's a Monday?

Sound whiny? Yeah I thought so too. Conclude complaining now. Despite the aforementioned things, I am pledging to have a good attitude and a good rest of my Monday! I am a very glass-half-full kind of person (honestly more like glass totally full) so I am going to choose to focus on the positive things about today

1. Tonight my husband and I are going to enjoy Fifty-cent sushi rolls at a local sushi place, hooray!!

 

2. I am going to go to the gym with Leah after work and get a good workout in

3. I have no plans tonight other than the gym and dinner, so I am going to get lots of sleep!

Um...I WISH this was my room...

4. I have a brand new issue of Food & Wine to read :)

Did I mention I am going to get a lot of sleep?
So find something to make you happy this Monday and keep smiling! Everything in life is better when you smile! (And I definitely don't care if you thought that sounded cheesy- it doesn't make it any less true!)

JORDAN

I'm Trying...

I'm Trying...

...to not eat the leftover chocolate caramel pecan pie that has been residing in my fridge since dessert night back on Monday since neither Zach or I am willing to absorb the calories

...to not count down the hours minutes until I am off work and can head to Indy for a little mini-vacay

...to be optimistic regardless of our skydiving outcome. If we get rained out then we will have a fabulous weekend doing other things and will reschedule for a time when Zach can go too! If we don't get rained out, hello, I'm going skydiving!!

...to stop adding more books to what I am already reading (I am currently at four books and a magazine...)

...to not be mad at Indiana for constantly forgetting it is April NOT March

...to not ruin how incredibly healthy I have been eating all week on the coming weekend

...not to constantly laugh at my daycare kids when I know they are trying to tell me serious things (they are just too funny and adorable!)

...to patiently wait for vacation and not wish time away til it gets here

...not to have a panic attack over taxes, by this time next week they will have been paid

...to get psyched to have an awesome weekend whatever it may bring!!! (don't have to try to hard on that one :) )

Happy Friday Friends :)


JORDAN

Someone Please Do These...

1. In the memo field of all your checks, write "for sexual favors."
2. Specify that your drive-through order is "TO-GO."
3. If you have a glass eye, tap on it occasionally with your pen while talking to others.
4. Stomp on little plastic ketchup packets.
5. Insist on keeping your car windshield wipers running in all weather conditions "to keep them tuned up."
6. Reply to everything someone says with "that's what you think."
7. Practice making fax and modem noises.
8. Make beeping noises when a large person backs up.
9. Finish all your sentences with the words "in accordance with prophesy."
10. Signal that a conversation is over by clamping your hands over your ears and grimacing.
11. Holler random numbers while someone is counting.
12. Adjust the tint on your TV so that all the people are green, and insist to others that you "like it that way."
13. Publicly investigate just how slowly you can make a croaking noise.
14. Decline to be seated at a restaurant, and simply eat their complimentary mints at the cash register.
15. Buy a large quantity of orange traffic cones and reroute whole streets.
16. Repeat the following conversation a dozen times.
    "DO YOU HEAR THAT?"
    "What?"
    "Never mind, it's gone now."
17. As much as possible, skip rather than walk.
18. Try playing the William Tell Overture by tapping on the bottom of your chin. When nearly done, announce "No, wait, I messed it up," and repeat.
19. Ask people what gender they are.
20. Sit in your front yard pointing a hair dryer at passing cars to see if they slow down.
21. Go to a poetry recital and ask why each poem doesn't rhyme.
22. Ask your co-workers mysterious questions and then scribble their answers in a notebook. Mutter something about "psychological profiles."

I would really like someone to do at least one of these and tell me all about it :) Better yet, lets turn this into a checklist and spend a day trying to accomplish each thing! You in?

JORDAN

Above and Beyond

I blogged awhile back about the new show that was coming to ABC in March - Secret Millionaire. So far it has been an inspiring, eye-opening show to watch. One episode in particular that they did in Gary, Indiana was very sad knowing that it was a city just a few hours from me. I just caught up on the L.A. episode that aired a week ago (what would I do without hulu? who actually has time to watch television in real time!) and this episode had a specific incident that had a profound impact on me.

The millionaire spends one week in a very low-income, rough area looking for organizations and people that are helping to really make a difference in bettering their community. This week's millionaire - John Ferber- was on skid row in Los Angeles. Skid Row is a positively terrifying place with over ninety thousand homeless people residing there. John found a guy named Amin (AH-mean) who takes donated clothes, sleeping bags, etc. to skid row daily. Amin also uses his own money to put together baggies he calls "hygiene kits" that have things like soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deoderant and such in them. John went with Amin on one of the deliveries and as they were passing things out directly out of Amin's car, an elderly man with a walker came by wearing worn out shoes that were covered in feces. He passes by and Amin yells after him to find out the size of his shoes and the man responds. Within two seconds Amin has taken off his OWN shoes and given them to this homeless man. He took his very own shoes right off his feet and gave them away. This wasn't in a movie, a Bible story, or a song. This literally happened not very long ago in L.A. People like Amin really do exist, and man I would like to be one. How amazing is that! How absolutely generous and selfless and incredible. It may sound like not such a big thing, but really, how many people do you know who have done something like that? I know I never have...

Can you please just watch the show? It's incredible.

JORDAN

Miscellaneous Monday

A dreary, dark, rainy Monday. I am not complaining though- these are the days my daycare children sleep the best, so nap-time today is going great! So I don't have a whole, complete thought for a post today, but I do have a million different thoughts running around and I have been catching up on my friend Rachel's  blog lately and was inspired by her to do a miscellaneous post.

*SKYDIVING*

In a mere six days I will be going skydiving. I am terrified out of my mind about it- especially since two skydivers in California died this past week... Hopefully by this time next week I will be on here blogging about my successful experience, I have to say my excitement far outweighs my fear!

*SKINNY COW*

I have finally re-discovered the world of exercise and healthy eating and am hard at work trying to undo the damage I have done to myself over the past month and half. Yesterday I was introduced to Skinny Cow's dessert treats (all ranging at about 100 calories) and am convinced they are going to be a big help for my dessert-craving self.

*DESSERT NIGHT*

Speaking of dessert, tonight is dessert night with Grant and Leah at our house. We have been doing this for eight months, and I have made the dessert on our turn each time. This week Zach made the dessert though and he is very proud of himself, so hopefully that turns out well :)

*KITCHEN*

If there was any room in my house that I could choose to be the biggest/best, it would totally be my kitchen. As much time as I spend in there, I really wish I had more room to move around! How great would it be to have a kitchen like this one!?

*FAMILY*

I really do have a fabulous family. Zach and I were fortunate enough to spend most of Saturday evening with them hanging out, drinking wine, going out to eat, and cracking endless jokes. My parents are so important to me and I am so looking forward for all of us to get to spend some time on vacation together this summer! Speaking of vacation...

*60 DAYS*

That  is all that is left until we leave the rest of the world behind for TWO WEEKS! Aaaaah! (Can you tell I'm excited) Trust me, this will not be the last you hear of vacation in the weeks to come...

Finally on this completely random post, I will leave you with some pictures as of late:

St. Patty's + Thursday night date

Dancing with Leah at "Muncie Gras"

 

Kori and I with Dee-Dee our traveling angel

  Have a great Monday everyone!

JORDAN