I Lost $5.

Write a Soldier

Who doesn't love mail? Why not take an extra minute in your day to write a note of encouragement to those serving in our military? I'm sure these men & women are missing home & our letter might brighten a tough day. Click here for a list of organizations that organize these campaigns.

Free Fun in Nashville

Yesterday, Mrs Cheap posted this article about the best free stuff to do in Nashville this summer. You must check it out, but here are some highlights: World Music Festival at the Schermerhorn on June 6-8, Free Movies on Wednesday at Centennial, learn about 19th & 20th Century Farming at Ellington Agriculture Center from 7/7-8/11, Free Family Events on June 15 at Warner Park, the Ugly Tomato Fest on June 16, Tours of Purity Ice Cream or Hatch Show Print, Free Frist Center days on June 27 or July 25...It's really a great list w/tons of great stuff.

What Mrs. Cheap didn't mention is Redbull's Flugtag contest on June 23. Pictured above is the Lightning 100/Yazoo Brew/Climb Nashville "Yellow Submarine" float. See more about the float at Lighning100.com

My Favorite Restaurants

I was tagged by Jenny W in a "dining meme." I guess I don't read enough, because I don't know what "meme" means. But anyway, she listed her Top 5 Restaurants, so here are mine. My list was different before there was a child in my life. Now they consist of mostly quick stops that are light on the wallet. (PS. I realize I'm breaking some rules. See Jenny W. for the real rules for those who follow suit.)

Baja Burrito/Blue Coast Burrito - The food is amazing, healthy & cheap. Plus, I know Nan quite well & I have the secret "Light Ranch" recipe.

Calypso Cafe - The only place where I don't have to bring Ethan's food with me. You must try the Lucayan Salad. Or the Beans & Three. Or the Black Bean Salad. And the fruit tea.

Yellow Porch - Love the waiter, Shon. The food is unique, fantastic & they have great specials. Looks like my food is all within a single block, huh?

Wild Oats - Not really a restaurant, I know. But this is the only other place where I can take Ethan for a good cup of soup & see for myself that the food is dairy & egg-free.

Frothy Monkey - A nice little local coffee shop with some great salads. And high chairs.

Now these folks have been tagged. Your turn, Ladies.
Amanda C.
Moriah F.
Jenni D.
Christine A.
Libby S.

Spaghetti

I think he liked the Spaghetti.

Fundraiser - Cooking for Kenya

Climb Nashville has just begun the search for recipes! We're putting together a cookbook, as a fundraiser for Made in the Streets. The cookbook will be compiled church-cookbook-style, and consist of Vegetarian & Vegan recipes. If you read this regularly, you know that we are not vegan, but because of food allergies, many of my recipes happen to be vegan. And many gym members are interested in healthy eating. Here's a few of the recipes so far: Black Bean Quinoa, Vegan Vegetable Lasagna, Spinich Salad, Yosemite Burritos...

The only way this cookbook will see the light of day is if we get enough recipes! If you have something you could submit, please let me know! This will be primarily gym members, but the more recipes, the better it will be! Funds from the sale of the cookbook will help children in Nairobi, Kenya.

Google It

You know you've Googled yourself. So spill it...Found anything interesting? Or want to brag on something you've done that's posted on the web? I'm giving you permission to do so, right here...My namesake is a Romance Novelist. Pretty cool, right?

Local Fruits & Veggies

I’m so excited I can hardly contain myself. Next week we’ll be full-fledged members of a CSA. Every week, we’ll get ½ bushel of locally-grown fresh fruits & vegetables delivered to a location of our choice. Local foods mean less fuel in the transportation from food around the globe, and sustainability for local farmers. But most importantly – the taste!! Fresh-picked food that lands on my table the next day – YUM! The Barefoot Farmer got high marks from a friend, but I ultimately chose Avalon Acres because also offer blueberries, meat, eggs, bread & cinnamon rolls (yum!). Pictured above are some of the portions for other members.

Looking for Kid Tunes

I'm a music fan who's not eager to transition from my music to "kid music." That's why this Top 20 list looks interesting to me. However, I feel the time has come for E to begin learning "The Wheels on the Bus" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider." So here I am, turning to you guys for help. Does anyone have any suggestions for music that's not too over the top? I'm specifically interested in the classics, like above songs, "Old McDonald had a Farm," etc. Thanks!

Behold, Our New House!

If you know us well, your jaw will drop, or you’ll simply roll your eyes at the fact that we are moving once again. Yes, it’s true. And yes, it’s crazy. But I’m so excited about our new place. Starting today, we’ll be playing musical houses until we finally unload the PODs at our home mid-June.

Hopefully I’ll be able to keep up my posting, but I’m just not sure how this will work. Right now, blogging is easy to do during my morning breakfast, but not sure if I’ll be able to keep it up w/all the transition. Until then!

Facts about Food Allergies

Please read these facts about food allergies to gain understanding the problem affecting us & more than 11 million Americans. You or your child will likely be social situations with a person w/food allergies, since occurrences are increasing dramatically. Some people think the parents of allergic children are “overprotective,” but when you are risking a severe reaction, or your child’s life, you go to extremes to protect your child.

Food allergies kill more than 150 Americans each year and are responsible for 30,000 emergency room visits.


For reasons that scientists cannot yet explain, food allergies afflict more and more children each year. Between 1997 and 2002, the number of children under age five in the United States suffering from peanut allergies doubled.


The average American elementary school today has ten children suffering from severe food allergies.


There are currently no medications to cure or control food allergies. Strict avoidance of the allergenic food is the only way to avoid a reaction.


The most common allergens –peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk, fish, shellfish, wheat and soy – are staples of our food supply and nearly impossible to avoid completely.


For some children, even small traces of allergenic foods, as little as a drop of milk left on a shopping cart from another child’s snack, for instance, can trigger life-threatening anaphylaxis.


Food allergy affects the entire community surrounding a food allergic child. Schools attended by severely food allergic children must take a variety of precautions – from sanitizing classroom toys to segregating dining areas to providing special medical staff and training – in order to safeguard their health.


Learn more at the Food Allergy Network here.

The Aly Report

We’ve had a blast with our niece & nephew are staying with us for a few days. Here are a few of the funny things that we've heard from Tessa (5 years.)

-“One time we saw a dead mouse…And one time we saw a caterpillar.”
-(while looking at the TV Preview Channel) “I need you to read me all the stuff…that is appropriate.”
-“Sometimes I have bad dreams that are part Narnia and part Starburst" (Star Wars).
-“When I do this (crouching on the floor), I’ve got to go to the bathroom….Or, I’m just sitting.”
-(after defiantly disagreeing) “Take THAT as an answer.”

And this one from Sam (11). “Bread is my favorite food group....Besides Sugar.” Me too, Sam...Me too.

Teach or Attend a Sewing Clinic?

I’ve been talking with Karina & others about our desire to resurrect the fine art of sewing. I could host once a month sewing clinics, and 4-5 ladies could bring machines over & have a little sewing lesson during the day. I'll email you the date/time & it would be first come, first serve. We could split the cost of a babysitter (if you’re a mom) and we could have a couple of hours to learn some new skills. If you are interested in coming, post here & I’ll give you a call when we get this started. I've had 2 ladies from church to tell me they could help me with some sewing questions. You ladies are first on my list to call for teachers! If you would also be available to teach, please let me know!

And Today I Made...

Inspired by Amanda and the Wardrobe Refashion, I decided to make this very old & faded black t-shirt into a new top. I used this leftover blanket binding, which was too small to use for another baby blanket.

New Top = $0!

Musical Genius

I'm proud to say that my brilliant son has mastered the recorder. Well, really just one note. But anyway, he raced around the house playing his one note & I could barely catch a picture!

Last night was the first time he went to bed without dinner. Wouldn't touch anything on his plate, so I didn't make him any alternatives. He's up this morning, and doing just fine. For those who wonder if our kids will still live without their supper...

PS. favorite word this week: Truck

I Love…Products for Kids w/Allergies!

Here are 3 great products that will help me & other allergy moms rest easy when our child is in the care of others, or next time we go to a birthday party or church potluck. Any graphic designers want to help me design an allergy t-shirt? I like the t-shirt idea below, just not the design. Seriously. Anyone?

1) Drink labels from BumpyName. Standard named labels available, or print your own with allergy-specific info.
2) This or this t-shirt, perfect for times when the kid is just out of sight. I wish I he wore this yesterday, when an unknown mom was sharing food w/him at the park. Grrr...
3) Stick Mabel's Labels on your kids drink, bag or food to help spread the word to caregivers.

It Pays to say Thanks.

As a small-biz owner, I understand the value of a “Thank you. Well done.” I also understand the value of “I had a poor experience with your business. Here’s what happened & my opinion on what could have been done better.” So I try to give feedback when it applies. I want to share 2 of my experiences & say that you never know when it will pay you back!

I bought a very cool Bondi Band during the Race Expo last week & wore it during the Half. I later emailed the owner, with my race photo, and told her how much I loved her product! She said if I let her use my photo on her site, she’d send me 2 more, for free!! Cool, huh?

My second story revolves around a very bad experience I had with KodakGallery.com. I love them & they always do a great job, but they misplaced my Christmas photos (sent in actual 35mm film.). They eventually found them, but a series of poor customer service situations left me very unhappy. I emailed the company, recapping my experience in detail & telling them how I felt it should have been handled. They gave me a credit for 100 free photos!

The reason for telling businesses should not be because you think you’ll get free stuff. But I know that business owners love hearing positive feedback. Also, they would much rather hear your negative experience firsthand & have an opportunity to correct it, than for you to tell 8 people all about your bad experience.

What's a BBF?

I guess it’s a term I made up – BBFs are my Best Blogging Friends. Sometimes they are folks that I know quite well. Sometimes they are people I know only through blogging. If you’ve ever posted on my blog, you’ll end up in my BBF list. Speaking of, if you don’t want to be on the list, please post here, and I’ll remove your link & comment. No problem. I know we all blog for different reasons, and I totally understand folks wanting to stay more private. My list is growing, as I have several people I need to add. When the list becomes too long, I may have to edit it down to only the folks I have phone numbers for, or something like that. I’m not quite sure what will happen when that day comes. In the meantime, thanks for being my BBF!

Fair Trade Gifts for Mom

Feel good about the gift you buy Mom next week. Fair Trade empowers farmers and farm workers to lift themselves out of poverty by investing in their farms and communities, protecting the environment, and developing the business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace. Here are some awesome gifts that you’ll feel great about buying.
First, there’s this Vietnamese bowl or this Kenyan basket from A Greater Gift.

Of buy her something beautiful she can wear, like this necklace from Mercado Global. Or this shirt from Fair Indigo.Or buy her some coffee from Dean’s Beans.

And don’t forget, you can shop locally at 10 Thousand Villages for tons of beautifully crafted fair trade items.

Minnie Pearl Curtains

I just found out that it was actually Minnie Pearl's curtains that I wore to church today. (See post 2 days ago.)