mental clarity. essential.

Have you ever just needed a weekend to yourself?  Like one where you have no plans, no schedule, no one to cook for or take care of?  YUP. I needed one, and thank GOD I got one!

My husband was gone for his high school friends' bachelor party, and I chose to stay home (instead of travel somewhere...) I felt I needed some time to myself! Not greedy (maybe?)... 100% pure SELFISHNESS!

After experiencing this weekend, I am firmly passionate about everyone doing this at least once every couple of months, that is, if you don't get the chance to do this at a more frequent interval :)

(Side note: It was kinda scary being home without my hubs (first time ever).. he does have a way of making me feel safe.. I just had to get over it real fast)

Saturday involved the usual morning run followed by a trip to the local farmer's market.  It gets better... I laid out at the pool the rest of the afternoon! HA! How sweet is that!? 

I meal planned, got my grocery shopping done for the next 2 weeks and was able to spend Sunday afternoon on a cruiser bike ride to the beach!

Down time=peace=mental clarity=minimal thinking=ahhhhhhhhhh

This 'equation' is MANDATORY. And I am a Dr. so that is your order! Serious. Stress is linked to some 99% of all illness and if you don't ever take time to get your head clear and have some mental clarity in your life... Sickness is what you will have!

My cruiser, Lake Charlevoix, and clear skies= :)

I hope you get one soon, and I look forward to my next one!

Take Away: It is essential for good health (mentally, physically, socially) to take some time to yourself every once in a while... No plans, no one to bother you!  It will be healing to your body, and is the perfect ingredient for a healthy lifestyle.

xoxo.

~Because there is no such thing as perfect, or never.  

Our goal should be to find what is Just.Right. ~

bachelorette party.

bachelorette mayhem. somuchfun.

Bachelorette parties.. a gathering filled with penis shaped food, penis straws, penis-like objects, and penis talk.. sounds about right.  Oh yea, and pure mayhem!

There really is no better way to send off a single lady, than to throw her one hell of a part-ay!

This past weekend we sent my big sister off in STYLE :) I mean, I love planning and throwing parties... but DAMN they are so much work! It paid off though, because like I said before, everyone needs to have a great sing-life send off.

We went to Grand Haven, MI and stayed at the Serendipity Resort.  We were a 2 block walk to the cutest little down town area (and just so happened to be there during side walk sales! BONUS!).  The bar scene is quaint and unique and with Lake Michigan and a private pool..oh and SUN, we had it all in a fingers reach (...or a legs walk)!

Friday night we had a fondue & wine party and played Pictionary.

Chocolate and Cheese fondue.. and all the 'dippers' one could as for!

Saturday was a pool day, with home-made catered dinner (sorta), a party bus ...and lots of alcohol.

Cute little pool tiki bar.. we brought granola, yogurt, and fruit for fruit parfaits, along with mimosas and my homemade zucchini bread. (Saves time / $ / hassle for everyone to just bring breakfast foods to a party)

Dinner. Chicken tortilla soup, deviled eggs, strawberry pretzel bars, Jimmy Johns, and buffalo chicken dip... all of the faves of the bride-to-be!

Desserts. Since the bride is gluten intolerant, we purchased GF cupcakes from a local baker, made strawberry champagne cupcakes, penis-shaped fruity pebble treats, and mini fruit tarts

The ladies all dressed up!

MUST PLAY GAME= The 'underwear game'. Elegant decor, doubles as extra gifts for the bride!

My sisters, mother with sleeping nephew, and I

(Just had to reminisce MY bachelorette party which took place over a year ago :) )

Cute sign my sister made.. and the underwear game!

My posse on the sunset party boat cruise

:)

Well..if the bride-to-be was extremely hung over on Sunday, I suppose that means the weekend was a success! 

Happy Almost Wedding Big SisterSarah!

Take away: Never slack on party planning.  Someone will appreciate it.

xoxo.

~Because there is no such thing as perfect, or never.  

Our goal should be to find what is Just.Right. ~

w.o.w.

OK, so this wonderful little store in Boyne City has this amazing.. thing ? that they do.  Every week, the owner (Ed) sends out an email educating his followers on a wine 'kind' and then a wine of that 'kind' is the featured wine at a discounted price; known as the wine of the week (w.o.w.).  

Ed is a wine guy..and knows LITERALLY everything there is to know about wines. He is such a unique gem of a resource to us in this beautiful town.  He can answer every question you have about wines, and foods, and pairings, and flavors, and grapes, and regions, and.........

The most awesome thing is that he and his wife hand select EVERY bottle of wine sold in their store. They do not carry a bottle of crappy wine. Seriously. It is like every wine in the store is a child of his, and he wants to see it succeed; just like any other good parent would.  He takes pride in his selections, and puts thought into his individual recommendations.  The one thing you hear over and over again from fellow Wine Emporium shoppers is, "We have yet to purchase a bad wine from Provisions"  ...Now that would give another buyer confidence!

So back to the W.O.W.  Since I am shy (I guess you could say when it comes to purchasing wine) I have made a vow that I will always purchase the W.O.W. and let you know about it!  I know, I get the best part of this. But my hopes is that in trying all these varieties of wine, it will expand my horizon when I go to the store and want to buy a bottle (and don't have Ed to help me).  Like the idea?  I love it :)  I will also try and save Ed's emails and add his professional take on the featured wine... it's nice to know you are drinking quality, even if you don't know/taste exactly what the professionals are talking about ;)

This says it all!

Take away: Shop & Support Local! You might just find a diamond in the rough!

xoxo.

~Because there is no such thing as perfect, or never.  

Our goal should be to find what is Just.Right. ~

my favorite 'pins'.. to date.

Some of you may know my slight obsession with Pinterest.  I know I am not alone. 

I have created a menu board in my kitchen, (I will post about my love for that at a later time) and in my will to stick with menu planning and minimal grocery store trips, I turn to Pinterest for recipes to aid my planning.

I LOVE pinning and re-pinning great sounding recipes, and on a weekly (daily) basis, we actually cook them.

Here are a just a few... (I promise more to come). 

PS: If I could be hired to test and blog about only recipes I found on Pinterest ... I would be in HEAVEN! It is definitely a guilty pleasure. (I feel like each new recipe brings me a new challenge... and my competitive edge tells me I am always up for a challenge)

AND no, I am not a chef.  AND yes, I promise to be honest. 

Black Bean Tacos from Endless Simmer.

Oh so good!

We have implemented 'meatless Mondays' so I am usually in search of good meat free recipes. My husband (and I quote) said "I usually dread meatless Monday's but this recipe is awesome!" So there...even from the meat-lover.  These have great flavor and are EASY to make.

~

Next, is Balsamic Chicken, Spinach, and Tomato Pasta from Multiply Delicious

(AKA tortellini make over)

The way this recipe is so flavor-ful and fresh tasting, it blows your mind! We made it and ate it hot for dinner one night, then packed it in the cooler and at it on the boat, cold for lunch. SO VERSATILE. Basic ingredients that just work together! Again...not very time consuming either!

~

Last, but not least, Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Shells from Eating Well

These little gems are a little time consuming, but oh SO SO SO good!

I followed the recipe to a T and had some left over noodles, but a large serving of stuffed shells and we ended up freezing some (which turned out good).  I doctored up some jared sauce... adding green peppers, onion, and mushrooms; and one time we made this I added ground turkey to the sauce for more of a 'meal'.

Welp, I hope you try some of these keepers!  And happy pinning!!

Take away: Go out on a whim! Try something new!!

xoxo.

~Because there is no such thing as perfect, or never.  

Our goal should be to find what is Just.Right. ~