Fire Up The Barbie! Shashlik Kebabs

{ Dre as a grill master }

In our effort to be more health conscious, we bought a grill. We went depot hopping to find the perfect sized grill for the perfect price. We started at Sears, then Lowes, then Home Depot, then ended up purchasing one at Menards (where we did save money).

{ Shashlik - a Russian/Middle Eastern Kebab }

I'm pretty lucky I scored a husband who is a phenomenal cook, thus adding on to my repertoire of exotic recipes. He's been spoiling me by cooking lunch and dinner since I've been under the weather. Tonight he grilled a dish called, Shashlik, which is kebab usually made of lamb, but we used filet mignon instead. It was delicious! Can't wait to try out more grilling recipes. It's all new to me.

Oh grilled vegetables, how I miss thee! The grilled veggies were all sorts of divine. Haven't tasted such excellence since summer 2010 at my parent's house during the 4th of July Barbie. But anyway, I'm starting to feel better again and am very excited to finally get a lot of things done... and to learn how to cook new recipes.

Exactly How I Feel

This is exactly how I feel which is the basis of my blog posting absence. From the unmentionable, to the allergies, to the weakness, to the - how about all of the above of just feeling blegh, blegh, and blegh? Even this blog post is blegh.

Two days ago I suffered from severe seasonal allergies which caused me to wear a mask around the house. How extremely uncomfortable. In addition to the madness, it was difficult to breathe. My poor husband had to go back and forth to the pharmacy to try to make me feel more comfortable. Bless his heart.

My parents also decided to lessen my stress by taking Pretzel and Colette for the week. They really are amazing although I really miss my cute babies. It has been so quiet without them, it seems so odd.

I'm not usually this sickly. As a matter of fact, this is the first time I got sick in two years - then again, the circumstance is completely different.

Anyway, I've been jealous of my husband jet setting and traveling for business. Okay, that's an exaggeration but I'm  really proud of him though. But I definitely miss the chase of building something from the ground up... which is probably the reason I've been addicted to the electronic game of Monopoly. It's all I can really do from bed. *sigh* 

As someone told me, "It does get better." -- I hope so.

Organic Life

{ Seattle Public Market 2007 }

Dre woke up today and decided to purge all of the unhealthy foods out of the refrigerator. We went to the grocery store afterwards and stocked up on everything organic: products, produce, eggs, and even the meats. I didn't object to his decision because I've been wanting to do this for a long while now. This drastic change is necessary and came at a perfect time since I'm also assisting with a health seminar next month.

The hardest part for me is giving up the soda and the coffee. I can deal with letting go of unhealthy and processed foods, but lack of my favourite drinks got me in a state of withdrawal. It's pretty crazy. But little by little, one goes far.

I think this lifestyle change is more difficult than the challenge I had when I became vegan in 2003. True, I was vegan for almost two years, but I was also an unhealthy one at that. It was carbs galore for me and I actually gained weight. It was difficult, but I think that maintaining a healthier lifestyle will be, most definitely, challenging.

Festivities

I love when a new family comes to town. Enter the Aquino family from Puerto Rico - they're so fun loving and down to earth. Yesterday's festivities at the Rankin's house involved a get together birthday party for Nahira, Gabriel's wife. Good times. The video and the photos are provided by my mobile. I forgot to bring my Nikon.

Capital City

Challenge 5: Complete a 365 day photo challenge
Picture 57 - Capitol City
(Pic 57/365)

Here are the other pictures from Des Moines, IA. In the picture directly above, you can see Iowa's capitol building in the background. We did not make our way there since we visited it two years ago when I still had my regular point and shoot camera. Someday we'll go back to take better pictures.

However, below are some photos I took of Iowa's Capitol Building and its surrounding area back in October 2008. I used a Canon point and shoot camera. Nonetheless, with the limited knowledge of photography I had back then, the pictures actually turned out quite decent.

The Pagoda: Our Brief China Experience

Challenge 5: Complete a 365 day photo challenge
Picture 56 - The Pagoda
(Pic 56/365)

The Robert D. Ray Asian Gardens by the river walk in Des Moines, IA was an amazing experience. It felt like we experienced China for a what seemed like a nanosecond. My ultimate dream would be to travel to different countries (worlds even) to take unique and astounding pictures of anything exotic to share here on my blog. Someday.

#5 - Spring Beginnings

I went out to the backyard and took some pictures. The air is not yet permeated with pollens to make a significant difference in my allergy levels so I stayed out a while. The temperature feels good and the trees are budding beautifully. I can not wait to hear the sound of a lawnmower cutting grass, kids playing outside, and everyone out and about tending their gardens. I also miss photography... very excited to start it up again.

Challenge 5: Complete a 365 day photo challenge

Picture 55 -Spring Beginnings

(Pic 55/365)