Finding adventure in every day.

A Fall Feast for the Family

Posted on October 16, 2012

It’s been a long time since my family had dinner together, at least on an evening that wasn’t a holiday. With travel and living in different locations and work – life just gets in the way.

When my parents recently decided to visit me and my brother, I knew that a restaurant just wasn’t the place for us. I was craving them all to myself in a comfortable and familiar setting.

So I did what I always do when I decide to host people for dinner and tried out a brand new recipe (it’s a terrible idea but for some reason I keep doing it). Plus, I was looking for an opportunity to try out the bottle of Pinot Noir the lovely people at Mezzcorona had been so kind to send over – you remember them, don’t you?

Categories: food and drink, sponsored

Lil Bub. Awesome. Really?

Posted on October 14, 2012

Would you like to know about something that irks me more than these posters? AS IF IT WERE POSSIBLE?

It is and it’s the misuse of the word awesome – and it turns out that I’m not the only one who feels this way.

::cue flashback music::

On my way home from a visit with Lil Bub in Bloomington a few weeks ago – yes, THAT Lil Bub (more on that in The Indianapolis Star soon) – I caught the tail end of an NPR Fresh Air interview with author J.R. Moehringer. He had been discussing his latest novel Sutton as well as his experience ghost writing Andre Agassi’s memoir, Open.

As the interview was wrapping up, host Terry Gross mentioned Moehringer’s dislike for the word awesome and asked him to explain. His response struck a chord with me.

Categories: satire, writing

Chris Economaki Leaves Us With a Life Lesson

Posted on September 30, 2012

Chris Economaki used to call my mom ‘Hot Lips’. My mom used to call him a dirty old man…and so the relationship went for another thirty-some years. My dad had met the auto sport journalist 14 years earlier in 1965, while he was working as a mechanic for Bruce McLaren.  Chris died on September 28, 2012 at the age of 91.

Categories: books and writers, current affairs, racing, writing

Project Pink: Fashion Show Benefitting Susan G. Komen Central Indiana

Posted on September 25, 2012

As we all know by now, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. To kick things off, I’ll be ‘modeling’ in the Project Pink, a fashion show presented by the Susan G. Komen Foundation. I use the term ‘modeling’ here loosely.

Let me put it this way…

Categories: health and fitness, local, restaurants, style

Contest: Mezzacorona Moments

Posted on September 10, 2012

It was one of those weeks. You know the kind – where by the time Friday rolls around all you want to do is order a pizza, pop open a bottle of wine and watching three movies back to back? This past weekend, that’s exactly what Beau and I did. I usually wouldn’t have thought much about the situation. There’s nothing special about a night like that right? But when I looked down on my living room floor I could help but smile. My attempt at a relaxed and lazy evening had turned into a lovely little carpet picnic – our escape from the world, the stress, the noise – where we could just *be*.

 

Categories: competitions and giveaways, food and drink

Announcement: Things to Do in Indianapolis (Star)

Posted on August 31, 2012

 {Flowers from Beau}

Happy Friday!

I just wanted to share a little announcement with y’all. In addition to my column, The Adventuress, I’m now the ‘Things to Do’ Reporter for The Indianapolis Star! This means I’ll be covering anything that’s fun, interesting, or exciting to do in the city on a daily basis.

Categories: adventure, local, social media, writing

Book Worm: The Travel Writer’s Handbook

Posted on August 28, 2012

Recently in my on-going battle with procrastinated projects, I decided it was time to tackle the pile of  books for review waiting ever so patiently in the corner of my office. Inspired by the long weekend in Sonoma ahead, I grabbed this book on my way out the door for the airport and proceeded to *not* read it on the flight – working, sleeping, and drooling all over Beau’s shoulder instead.

Categories: books and writers

Guest Post: Climbing Adventure with Sarah from Little Yellow Apple

Posted on August 24, 2012

I’m in Sonoma for a long weekend but here’s a special treat for y’all while I’m gone – a guest post from the lovely Sarah at Little Yellow Apple. Be sure to check out her blog if you haven’t already and read about her latest adventure – rock climbing (something I have yet to do!) below. Enjoy! 

Lesalina has been experiencing life to the fullest lately with all her adventuring, and she’s inspired and invited me, Sarah of Little Yellow Apple, to share one of my adventures with you guys. A few Sundays ago I donned a helmet and a harness and went rock climbing.

Categories: adventure

Pinning for Fitness

Posted on August 14, 2012

Image: unknown*

If you’re active on the social media site Pinterest, you’ve likely seen this image (or something similar) oh, about 1,252 times. What you probably haven’t seen, is yourself standing in the middle of your living room actually doing these workouts. Until yesterday, that was me. Today…I can sit here sore as hell and proud to say that I actually, finally did one!

No, my body looks nothing like the one in the background – yet. No, I wasn’t able to do the workout three times – two was enough to make me want to pass out. And yes, I cheated on the wall sit. ONE WHOLE MINUTE – ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Categories: health and fitness

The Trolls are a Long Way From Home

Posted on August 9, 2012

Photo: Ralph Morse, LIFE

I can recite the first hate comment I ever received on this blog nearly word for word.

It’s not because I read it over and over again, or because it rocked my world so greatly. It’s because you never forget the first time someone anonymously or virtually attacks you, your body, your lifestyle, your beliefs, or your character. This issue was recently brought to light on an open forum for my friend Meggie. You can read that story on her blog, See Meggie Run. Sadly, I wasn’t shocked by the situation that unfolded there because – and I don’t mean to reinforce a certain female stereotype – but girls can be mean. Despite how well Meggie handled that day, she will forever remember what was said.

Categories: writing