KELLY PARK

Endless Want

dkpark — Sat, 01 May 2010 22:25:50 +0000

The endless want

The endless search

For that particular

Something

The endless yearning

The heart wrenching

Ache

The never ending

Attempts to fill

The heart with stuff

The heart only wants

One thing

To recapture the feeling

Of God’s arms wrapped

Around us.

She says He smells

Like rain

April 7th: I ate what?

dkpark — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:02:34 +0000

@Dunkin Donuts: Lg Ice Original with cream and sugar

@Home: hard salami, swiss with cesar dressing on whole wheat

@Home: Peppermint

@Home: Ritz crackers

@Home: Left-Over Taco Pizza, Pepperoni Pizza

@Home: Blue Bell Ice Cream Cake and Ice Cream Flavor

My Birtday Present(s) are here!

dkpark — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:41:56 +0000

Yes, I am fully aware of the fact that my birthday is not until July 8th. I am also well aware of the deal I made with Husband that stated somewhere I would wait until actual birthdate to open present that is already here…in his closet…mocking me for the deal I made.

Today, from Amazon.com, this came:

The new Nintendo DSi XL — mine is bronze (which is more like black)

The screen is 93% bigger than the last version.

I also have a 24-piece accessory pack and a Star Wars Lego game I am not allowed to play with either.

I have stared at the boxes longingly several times.

And I haven’t whined once — not entirely anyway

Here is CrunchGear’s review of the DSi LX

Frugal Living websites and coupons!

dkpark — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 10:04:11 +0000

As part of the Plan dealing with paying of our credit card debt I have been scouring the internet for not only coupons and freebies but also websites that offer wisdom and insight. Here are a few of my favorites so far:

Frugal Living:

Wise Bread (link)

Independent Beginnings (link)

Wallet Pop (link)

Coupons and Freebies:

Free Snatcher (link)

Free Freebies (link)

Promotional Codes (link)

Free Shipping (link)

Retail Me Not (link)

Mommy’s Wish List (link)

918 Coupon Queen (link)

Passion For Savings (link)

Coupon Cabin (link)

Ebates (link)

Money Saving Mom (link)

Coupons.com (link)

Another great tip is – if you really want to try a new product or even an existing one and you cannot find a coupon anywhere – head over to the manufacturer’s website and check there. You might have to sign up for a news letter or something (good time to have a back up email account) but you can almost always get a coupon or maybe even a free sample.

Plans – You have to have plans

dkpark — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 22:57:23 +0000

Plans – you have to make plans. They must be fluid but you have to have some idea of where you are going in this life. Where do I want to be in 18 months? Where do I want to be in 3 yrs? Where do I want to be in 10 years. I never have truly had a goal. Never sat down and made a plan. I realize most of what we plan in this life gets pushed aside by circumstances, life, others, and even God (yes I said God and will be saying God often — run now if you feel the need)

I will be 40 years old 4 months — it’s time to have a goal, a Plan. It’s time to stop thinking “well, I will just cruise on till I die or Jesus comes back which ever comes first”

Stay tuned.

Ah Chocolate Milk!

dkpark — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 22:53:52 +0000

In my coffee that is! I picked up some 2% chocolate milk this weekend at Central Market – specifically to put in my morning coffee. I almost forgot how good it was — that and a banana was breakfast for me.

I also “jazzed” up the work desk a bit this morning with some Star Wars action figures. I am officially back in my Star Wars collecting phase. And oh it’s so much fun!

At lunch I zoomed home to take Emma Belle out for a quick walk — it was raining so it was a quick one. And then lunch of greek style yogurt, agave nectar, cinnamon and wheat germ

Tonight – on the schedule: Top Gear and pizza with Husband!

Sunday Sunday

dkpark — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 18:47:52 +0000

This morning it was my turn to take Emma Belle for a walk — the weather was beautiful – a bit chilly at 45 degrees but the sun was shining so I didn’t mind a bit.

The Sunrise was beautiful over the buildings (date stamp? that’s new)

The sunlight shining off various building and the shadows really attracted my attention

We were the only ones out this morning — the streets were ours.

A little later, Husband went to work and I went out in search of fake sushi and guacamole for dinner. Central Market makes a pretty mean “cali roll” — while there I picked up a couple of other things I just couldn’t live without.

I haven’t had coconut water in a long time!

I must walk Emma Belle again before the big hockey game comes on. I am not a big hockey fan but I am a big Olympic fan.

Beautiful late-Winter Saturday

dkpark — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 22:55:12 +0000

After what has seemed like the worst winter EVER around here — God blessed us with a wonderfully sunny and WARM day! It was supposed to be 63 degrees today — I just know it was warmer than that! I actually left the house in flip flops and short sleeves (and jeans). After a nice lunch we took a walk around the neighborhood then ended up by the “lake” sitting in the sun reading. Perfect.

Bronze Cattle — look at that blue sky!

headed toward the “lake”

“lake” thank you EDS/HP for repairing the fountain

On a baking related note : when attempting a new recipe (Irish Soda Bread) make sure to get more than you need of an odd ingredient (buttermilk) — if you screw up the first one you can attempt a second one. No Irish Soda Bread for us tonight — but will attempt it again and not forget to fold in the butter.

Dinner at Gordon Biersch

dkpark — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 15:22:38 +0000

One of the reasons we live where we do is the convience of many great restaurants. Last night we went to one of our favorites – Gordon Biersch.

We do go their quite often – the ambiance of the place is great and the food is amazing. They have a brewery on sight and one of my favorites is the :

The Hefeweizen (or as I call it “the banana beer”)

It is my favorite and never fails to complement whatever I order.

Traditionally Husband and I split two appetizers – the portions are plenty for us.

Again one of our favorites is the :

(forgive the low light – not ready to drag camera around this is an iphone photo)

Dinner was excellent the company even better!

On tap today: the baking of Irish Soda Bread!

Joys of eating meat and get away from me carrots!

dkpark — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:08:11 +0000

Since I have returned to the world of the meat-eaters I truly enjoyed one of my favorite recipes last night – my own homemade spaghetti sauce (maybe I should start taking photos of these meals?)

The secrets to great spaghetti sauce? do not drain the grease and if you need liquid to simmer use a decent red wine.

It’s an easy recipe:

2 lbs of lean ground beef

2 lbs of jimmy dean sausage

1 large onion

2 cans of rotel

1 can of tomato sauce – if you think you need more add it

1 can of tomato paste – if you think you need more add it

2-4 cloves of fresh garlic

a bunch of Italian seasoning – mine comes from the spice aisle at Target

a bottle of decent red wine – you won’t use it all in sauce but you can drink the rest

Method:

brown beef, sausage, onion, and garlic. add everything else

with the wine — add enough to bring it to a boil and then reduce to a simmer for 45 min

the wine is the secret — the flavor is much deeper

As far as those carrots in the fridge — I really cannot stand to look at another carrot for a bit.