Jayhawk Girl's Life

I've moved!

2017-01-10T09:53:00.005-06:00

I've moved this blog over to my own domain, AmandaNWoodward.com. Please visit me there!

How Does the East Ninth Project Benefit LFK?

2016-04-15T17:47:00.000-05:00

I happened upon a Facebook post today from a longtime family friend. He posted about the East Ninth Project asking "how many homeless families would that money wasted on this project for Hipsters help?" After my expected initial confusion at this question (I definitely don't consider myself a Hipster), I had time to reflect on some of the really positive outcomes this project will have on the community.

1) The East Ninth Project benefits families with children. When our nephew was born, my husband and I would take him for walks to Downtown Lawrence in his stroller. When you're pushing a sleeping one-month-old, you notice every single crack and bump. Some parts of the sidewalk between Delaware and Massachusetts Streets are completely reduced to rubble, and we were forced to walk with him in the street.

2) The East Ninth Project benefits those on bikes. It provides a safe route from Delaware to Downtown Lawrence for adults and children at any skill level to ride their bikes without having to be on the street with cars. This is an important benefit, as it means that a five-year-old who just graduated from training wheels won't have to bike down the street, shared with delivery trucks and other vehicles. And when that 5-year-old inevitably falls off his or her bike, they're not going to be met with a face full of gravel from the deteriorated sidewalks.

3) The East Ninth Project benefits people with disabilities. Right now, I don't believe there are any ADA accessible sidewalks or paths along this stretch of 9th Street until you get all the way Downtown. Neighbors in wheelchairs have no safe way to get Downtown without a car. This project will provide a fully ADA accessible path.

4) The East Ninth Project benefits the environment and health. Reducing the carbon footprint of East Ninth Street by providing safe walking and biking routes improves the air quality in the neighborhood and encourages healthy lifestyles. With each connecting path and riding option in Lawrence, individuals are much more likely to choose to bike, and yes, walk, versus choosing the car default.

These are only a few of the numerous benefits this project has. . . I'd say those benefits impact far more than just "the Hipsters" in the neighborhood.

To speak to the comparison my friend brought up, transitional and affordable housing is important to me. One of our good friends found permanent housing with the support of the homeless shelter and other local organizations. Previous City Commissions approved tax breaks for developers, sacrificing revenue, which could have otherwise been contributed to a budget that would have provided greater resources for affordable housing. Reversing these type of decisions will help. We also need to support efforts as part of the budget process to make sure that careful planning and consideration is given to housing. But that is the thing, we have budgets, we have planning around priorities, and every issue can’t be all or nothing. Thankfully we seem to have a commission who has taken the housing issue seriously while understanding that there has to be a balance and process.

After attending 15 months of meetings revolving around the East Ninth project (which is literally in my front yard), it is my belief that this is the best plan for the area and will provide a benefit to the largest population of people, both inside East Lawrence and outside. When my husband and I moved to our house in East Lawrence nearly 10 years ago, I was disappointed with the minimal maintenance of city infrastructure in our neighborhood. East Lawrence streets have been left with pot holes far after those in other parts of the city have been fixed. New York Street in particular north of 9th is one of the roughest bike and car rides in city.

I have lived in Lawrence my entire life and for the first time in my memory, aside from re-bricking a street that is now also in poor shape, the City is investing a large sum of money in East Lawrence infrastructure improvements. This is long overdue.

Kansas Presidential Caucus - Saturday, March 5th, 2016

2016-03-01T14:53:00.000-06:00

Dear Fellow Kansas Millennials,

I know our generation as a whole isn’t a fan of using calendars or committing to activities or events ahead of time and FOMO (fear of missing out) runs rampant in our minds, but this is IMPORTANT. Living in Kansas, our vote in the general election may mean very little, but that’s not the case this weekend, at the Kansas Caucus events.

Wherever you live, whatever your political affiliation may be, please, please, please don’t skip the caucus on Saturday. Millennials now outnumber Baby Boomers and it’s time to make our voice heard and stop making excuses for why we’re not. Nothing is going to change unless we speak up and take control of the future that we and our children are going to be living through.

Yes, if you’re a Democrat in Kansas, the caucus is probably going to take up a good portion of your Saturday afternoon. Is one afternoon of your time worth avoiding 4-8 years under a President who makes you want to leave the country? I hope it is.

Yes, both KU and K-State have basketball games on Saturday afternoon and if you go to the caucus, you’re probably going to miss seeing those games live. That’s why we have smart phones and DVRs.

I hope you will choose to attend the caucus and spend the afternoon with people from your community who have the same values and beliefs. Who knows, you may make a new friend or run into someone you haven’t seen in a while. No matter what happens, if you’re there, making your choice heard, you’re doing the right thing.

Don’t know what the caucus is? Democrats find out HERE. Republicans find out HERE.

Don’t know who to caucus for? Find out HERE.

Don’t know which Kansas Senate District you live in? Find out HERE.

Don’t know where to caucus? Find out HERE.

Don’t know if you’re registered to vote or what party affiliation you’re registered under? Find out HERE.

Need to register to vote? Find out how HERE.

Sincerely,

A Kansas Millennial who has voted in every local, state and national election since 2000

Contributing to the East Lawrence I Love

2015-10-24T16:00:00.000-05:00

In light of some recent characterizations made about “new” people running for election to the East Lawrence Neighborhood Association Board and because there isn’t a forum to let my extended neighbors know who I am and what I want to contribute to the neighborhood, I thought it might be warranted to blog about my history, my love for East Lawrence, and what I hope to contribute.

First, a little bit about my history:

Lawrence

I have lived in Lawrence my entire life. I went to elementary school at Schwegler, Jr. High at South (when it was still a circle) and graduated from Lawrence High School. My dad is a KU grad and worked in the airport consulting industry for most of his 40+ year career. My mom worked for Santa Fe Railroad in Topeka for 19 years before becoming a stay-at-home mom for my sisters and I, while handling a couple of health issues of her own. I love Lawrence and plan to live here for the rest of my life.

I have been volunteering as a Planning Committee Member for the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life of Douglas County for the past 6 years. 2016 will be my 3rd year serving as the Event Co-Chair. In the time I have been Co-Chairing the event, we have raised over half a million dollars for the American Cancer Society's programs and services in Douglas County.

East Lawrence

I have been running meetings, volunteering with numerous charity organizations, planning large events, and public speaking since I was 11 years old. When my husband, Josh, and I moved to East Lawrence, about a decade ago, we began attending ELNA meetings, helping with the Block Party, baking for the Kickball concession stand, buying and wrapping items for the adopted family, etc. I was also involved in running the ELNA website for a while. We stopped attending ELNA meetings after some time because of the way we felt when we left those meetings. There seemed to be an overlying negative tone and the meetings ran later than I was willing to stay because of my job in Overland Park and the early commute.

We became involved again when East Ninth began to gain some speed. Josh and I have both attended hours of meetings, studied notes from meetings we were unable to attend, researched topics and asked questions as they came up. This time has been valuable in terms of really understanding the project as well as getting to know more of my neighbors in the community.

ELNA

But, being a part of the ELNA Board is about much more than just East Ninth Street. Josh and I have lived directly on 9th Street for a long time. We are in the heart of one of the very best neighborhoods Lawrence has to offer. Now that I’m working at KU and don’t have an hour and a half commute every day, I’d like to dedicate some more time to the neighborhood association and be sure that my voice helps to shape the decisions that are made where the neighborhood is involved.

Below are a few examples of things I would try to bring to the table:

Working cooperatively with the City to establish protections for residents who have concerns about being priced out of their homes

Reaching out to all our neighbors to make sure that they feel comfortable sharing their opinions about neighborhood issues

Treating everyone (city officials, neighbors, visitors, etc.) with respect

Mobilizing volunteers to find ways to help neighbors who are struggling or need some sort of help that we’re able to provide

Encouraging young people in the neighborhood to get involved by providing additional volunteer opportunities (possibly an “Adopt a grandparent” style program)

Making meetings manageable for all who are interested in attending and having their voices heard

Making all agendas and meeting minutes available electronically

Focusing on and shaping positive change as we encounter it

Continuing to build on the great print and email newsletters we currently have

Encouraging continued active participation in City Advisory Boards, Committees and Task Forces

Possible expansion of the use of our website, Facebook page and Twitter accounts (not placing this duty solely on the neighborhood coordinator, but spreading the responsibility among multiple board members)

East Lawrence is great community and ELNA has been a significant part of making it what it is. I hope to work as part of the board to continue that tradition and build on it.

--
Amanda Davis
amanda.woodward@gmail.com

East Ninth Project Progress

2015-08-04T12:45:00.003-05:00

There are some very exciting things happening in East Lawrence, Kansas right now. Due to its proximity to Downtown Lawrence and the up-and-coming Warehouse Arts District, East Lawrence is one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Douglas County and there are no signs that will be changing in the foreseeable future.

Because of the desirable location, rich cultural history and deep-seeded love of our neighborhood, East Ninth Street, between Massachusetts Street and Delaware Streets received a prestigious ArtPlace Grant in 2014. More information about the ArtPlace Grant can be found HERE. Essentially, this Grant provides $500,000 for public art aspects (administration, design, fabrication, and installation) along 9th Street. In addition to the $500,000 Grant, the City of Lawrence has pledged approximately $3 Million toward additional design and construction surrounding the project.

For a neighborhood who has seen little infrastructure improvement in years, this is a huge opportunity to better the neighborhood and make it a desirable location to live for years to come.

In a memo dated August 4th, 2015, the City of Lawrence announced the final artists for the project. They are:

East Ninth Artists

Integrated Artists

The deadline for the Associate Artist program was August 3rd and selections for that program should be coming soon.

The design phase is just beginning and the excitement for the project is building. A website and Facebook group were recently started to encourage support for the project among neighbors and other stakeholders. If you are interested in the project and showing your support, please visit our website at www.eastninth.com or our new Facebook Page - Community and Culture on East Ninth.

The website includes a comprehensive FAQ page with information about the project, which is very helpful in getting caught up with the process.

We would love to hear your thoughts and what you're most looking forward to about the project.

Related Links & Articles
City of Lawrence East Ninth Website
East Ninth.com
Community and Culture on East Ninth
Lawrence Arts Center
el dorado, Inc.

6 News Lawrence Story - August 3, 2015
Lawrence Kansas Live BLOG

A Personal Favor, Please?

2013-02-01T05:00:00.000-06:00

Many of you who know me personally, know how involved I am in The American Cancer Society's Relay for Life of Douglas County and you know that I spend the majority of my free time working on planning and executing a silent auction event each Spring to raise funds for the cause. This year is no different, but I am asking each of you who may read this to spread the word about the event and about the cause.

I can say with quite a bit of confidence that each person who is reading these words knows someone who has either had cancer or who has a loved one who has had cancer. Cancer does not discriminate. It touches the rich as well as the poor and the young as well as the old. It devastates and it reeks havoc on innocent lives every single day.

The American Cancer Society's mission is to eliminate cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy and service.

To support that mission, teams from across the country come together at local Relay for Life events to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. Relay for Life is the world's largest non-profit fundraising event and the source of the majority of programs that The American Cancer Society sponsors.

This year, my team, Phil's Phighters has put together Rockin' for Relay, a silent auction and live music event to be held at Maceli's in Downtown Lawrence on Friday, March 1st, 2013. Steve Maceli was kind enough to donate the use of his space to us and local band, LandRush will be playing all evening. The doors will open at 7pm and bidding will run from 7-9pm. The band will continue to play until 10pm so that there will still be entertainment until we can get all of the auction items gathered and get everyone checked out.

The event is free and open to the public. We will have a cash bar, photo booth, chair massages and over $20,000 worth of items (over 250 items to date) to bid on.

If you're in the Lawrence area, we hope that you will plan to come out and invite your friends, families, neighbors and everyone you know. We're hoping to raise more money than we ever have before but we can only do that if everyone we know spreads the word and tells everyone that they know.

Saving lives from cancer starts with one team, one participant and one dollar at a time. We are doing our part to make sure that cancer never steals another year of anyone’s life. Will you help us?

Team Website
Donation Website
Facebook Event Invitation for Rockin' for Relay

Why Relay for Life is SO Important to Me

2013-01-25T05:00:00.000-06:00

From the day I was born, I have been witness to the effects that cancer has on the people I love. My grandmother was diagnosed with bone cancer when she was pregnant with my uncle back in the late 1950s. Before he was born, she had one of her legs amputated just above the knee. This is the only way I have ever known her. When I was younger, she was very mobile and was a pro with her crutches, but as she has aged, she is now confined to an electric wheelchair to get around.

When I was in my early teens, my dad’s cousin was diagnosed with breast cancer. I watched as this strong, energetic and vibrant woman endured treatment after treatment and finally succumbed to the disease. Bev was like another grandmother to me and without her, there is always something missing at our family gatherings.

As I have gotten older, cancer has only touched my immediate family in a very minor way, but it has touched several very close friends much more significantly. Growing up, I had a very strong connection with a friend who was about 10 years older than I was. I joined a youth organization when I was 11 and Marcie was just finishing her time with the organization. She took me under her wing and helped to mentor me and teach me the ropes. We became good friends and when she met the man who would become her husband, I immediately adored him. Phil was one of those people you never forget. He was genuine and kind, jovial and passionate. Phil was one of the most incredible men I’ve ever met.

In 2007, Phil noticed a strange lump in his calf and went to the doctor to have it checked out. He was diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma and started treatment. When my husband and I got engaged in 2009, we couldn’t think of anyone we would rather have officiate our wedding than Phil. On May 1st, 2010, Phil performed our wedding ceremony while fighting a nagging cough that was being caused by the tumors in his lungs.

Phil fought with everything he had, losing most of one of his lungs, a leg and precious time with his son, Nathan. On January 5th, 2011, Marcie was kind enough to let me know that I should visit right away because Phil was going downhill fast. As I pulled up to their house that evening after work, I prepared myself for what I knew was about to happen. When I went in the room to see Phil, he was in and out of sleep and you could tell that he was medicated for pain. We talked for a while and as I was getting ready to leave, Phil held up his hand in the sign “I love you” and I returned the sign. This was the last time I saw Phil. Late that night, he lost consciousness and he passed away the following day.

After Phil passed away, Relay took on a whole new meaning for me. I had participated in Relay for Life in the past, but never took a very active role in the event and joined a team when I knew someone who had one. Last year, I formed Phil’s Phighters in memory of Phil’s courageous battle and this year, I joined the Planning Committee for Relay for Life of Douglas County.

In March of 2012, my involvement in Relay was confirmed once again. A good friend and coworker of mine had been bounced from doctor to doctor for two years to try to determine the source of severe pain throughout her body. The doctors that she visited tested her for everything from Lupus to MS to Celiac Disease but could never pinpoint an accurate diagnosis. In March, she was given clearance to set an appointment with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and she traveled there with her family on March 12th.

Kristi’s appointment was March 13th and it began with painful biopsies and a blood draw. After the blood draw, she was told to go back to the hotel with her family and rest. The doctors planned for her to be there for the better part of a week and they would let her know when they got results from the tests. Kristi got a phone call just about an hour after she got back to the hotel. The doctors wanted her to come back to Mayo immediately. When she arrived back at the clinic, she was told that she has leukemia and they recommended that she begin chemo treatments immediately at Mayo. Kristi asked to be sent back to the University of Kansas Cancer Center for treatment so that she could be close to her family. Right now, Kristi has undergone chemo and a bone marrow transplant and is still very much fighting for her future. Kristi has so much to live for – a 2-year old daughter, Kaydence, a loving family and supportive friends.

Then, in August 2012, another friend, Leigh, was diagnosed with leukemia. I am writing this in January 2013 and she has been on or within a city block of the University of Kansas Cancer Center since the day she was diagnosed. She is able to come home for short bursts of time, but they are never long enough. The doctors hope that Leigh only has to endure two more rounds of chemo before she is finished but, unfortunately, the time that her body is taking to recover between her chemo rounds is taking longer and longer each time, which is extending her stay in Kansas City.

This year, I Relay in memory of Phil and in honor of Kristi and Leigh. Saving lives from cancer starts with one team, one participant and one dollar at a time. I am doing my part to make sure that cancer never steals another year of anyone’s life.

To find out more about Relay for Life, please visit www.relayforlife.org.

To donate to Phil's Phighters, please visit http://main.acsevents.org/goto/AmandaDavis

Tackling the biggest hassle of getting married. . . changing your name

2012-08-28T10:44:00.000-05:00

Throughout my adult life, I have always heard how difficult it is to get your name changed after you get married. When I got married two and a half years ago, I found that the process was not as difficult as many people made it out to be. Below, you will find a step-by-step guide to changing your name without all the hassles that everyone seems to talk about. I only had one hiccup regarding my name change and it involved a Kansas state law that does not allow residents to list two middle names on their Kansas Driver's license. I'll explain how I got around that below.

Marriage Licenses - First, make sure you have multiple certified copies (I recommend 3) of your marriage license.
Social Security Card - The first thing I went to change was my Social Security Card. To apply for a new Social Security Card, complete the form listed below and mail it to your local Social Security Office (found here).

Social Security Card Application

Passport - Next, I recommend updating your passport (if you have one). This is how I got around the Kansas state law restricting two middle names on drivers' licenses. The Kansas DMV is required to list your name on your Drivers' License exactly as it appears on your Passport, so if you update your passport first, the DMV has to list your name that way. Visit the site listed below, gather the items needed (confirm that you are completing the correct forms) and mail them in as directed.

Passport Name Change

DMV - Then, change your name with the DMV. Contact your local DMV to find out what the paperwork requirements are, but I would recommend bringing every form of identification that you can find (birth certificate, marriage license, old license, passport, etc.
Everything Else - Most of the other changes you will need to make can be taken care of by completing this process.

Add all of your accounts to this Excel Spreadsheet.
Open this Word Document.
Edit all of the information that is highlighted to personalize the template.
If you know how to use mail merge, the document is all set up for that using the Spreadsheet above. If not, you can copy and paste the information into the Word document and print individual letters for each of your accounts.
The letter can be updated to include other information that may need to be changed.
Include a photocopy of your marriage license with each letter (do NOT sent your certified copies unless it is specifically requested).
Mail the letters and you're all set.

Items that may be handled (some of these items may require additional information) in #5 include (but are not limited to):

Employer information
Credit Card Accounts
Financial Accounts
Mailing Address
Utility Companies
Homeowner/Rental information
Attorneys
Medical accounts
Voter Registration
Schools
Insurance accounts
Subscriptions

Liberty of the Seas Group Cruise - Day 1

2012-01-03T09:19:00.000-06:00

Day 1 means that we get to have our first look at the Liberty of the Seas. This will be the largest ship that we've ever sailed on and I'm very much looking forward to exploring it's offerings when we're able to board.

Before leaving the hotel, be sure to have a carry-on packed. Typically, my carry-on consists of prescription medications, a swimming suit (if you'd like to swim when you get on the ship) and a change of clothes for that evening's dinner (in case your luggage is a late-arrival). Having these items will ensure that you have an enjoyable first day on the ship. Sometimes, luggage doesn't arrive until 7 or 8pm and occasionally, even later, so having a few important items will allow you to be able to do things on the ship that you wouldn't be able to do otherwise.

We usually leave the hotel around 10am to head for the Port so that we can be on board as close to lunch time as possible. Most cruise lines tell you that boarding doesn't begin until 1:30 or 2pm, but that's not true. You can be on board as early as 11am on some occasions. Early boarding is all dependent upon how early the ship got into port and how smoothly debarkation of the last set of passengers went. If things were moving slowly, they may not open boarding until 1:30 or 2pm, but we've found that that's not usually the case. I don't think we've ever boarded a ship later then 12:30pm.

When we arrive at the port, we will be greeted by luggage porters. These are the men and women who handle all of the luggage for all of the passengers arriving to board the ship. This means 3,634 passengers luggage is handled by these people each time the ship comes into port. If you take into account that these porters are also assisting people getting off the ship, this could be 7,268 people in one day.

It's customary to tip the porters when you hand off your luggage. Some people believe that a bigger tip means that your luggage will get to your cabin faster, but I don't think there's any way that one can guarantee that with so much luggage changing hands. You should definitely tip the porters though, just as you would tip your cab driver or a doorman at a hotel.

Once your luggage is left safely with the porters, you can proceed to the check-in area. Sometimes, it will be open by 10am for check-in and sometimes, you will have to wait a bit until they are ready for you. If you have to wait, generally, there is a seating area for you to wait in, but be prepared, because sometimes, especially with the larger ships, these areas can become crowded quickly.

Check-in is typically pretty painless. Just make sure that you have your passport, cruise documentation and the credit card that you will be charging for all of your on board purchases (no, everything isn't included - alcohol, Ben & Jerry's, specialty coffee, etc. is all an additional charge).

Once we board, we have to wait until the cabins are ready, which usually doesn't happen until around 2 or 3pm. This will give you plenty of time to explore the ship and stop at the Windjammer for a buffet lunch but be prepared, because this day in the Windjammer is going to be complete chaos. This is one of the only open locations on the ship during boarding and that means that it's where everyone ends up. It can get pretty hectic, so my recommendation is that you find a table first and then have someone stay where while the rest of the group goes to get their food. If you don't scope out seating first, you may end up wandering around for 20 minutes while your food gets cold in your hands.

This is also a good time to do some exploring and to get yourself acquainted with the ship. If you're not hungry immediately, you can even wander around the ship first and wait out the crowd in the Windjammer.

The rest of day one is filled with muster drills (thank goodness you don't have to wear your life jackets anymore) and a sail away party. I usually spend this day getting used to where things are on the ship. I know this time won't be any different since it's a very large ship and we'll have a lot to explore in 5 days.

Liberty of the Seas Group Cruise - Day 0

2011-12-29T07:00:00.000-06:00

On the first travel day, all 23 of us will be travelling to Ft. Lauderdale from various locations across the country. We're hoping for good weather as we travel at the end of January since we'll all be escaping the horrible mid-US winter.

Most of us have flights on Delta in the mid-morning leaving from Kansas City. Others are flying in from Denver. We're looking for a good place to have dinner in Ft. Lauderdale that evening, so if you have any suggestions, please let me know.

We'll be staying at the LaQuinta Inn & Suites, Ft. Lauderdale Airport. We got a pretty good deal through our travel agent and we'll get a ride from the airport and to the Port the following morning.

Getting Back Into the Swing of Things

2011-12-27T14:52:00.000-06:00

So, it's been quite a while since anything was posted to JayhawkGirl's Kitchen. Hopefully, that will change since I have a new iPad and will have easier access to blogging going forward. I thought it would be appropriate to start the blog posting back up again by writing a series of posts about our upcoming cruise to Jamaica and Haiti. How appropriate, right? My last big series of postings ended with posts about our honeymoon cruise, so why not start back up with the cruise we're taking next.

This time, we will be traveling with many friends and family members. I believe there are a total of 23 of us going this time, but there's always room for more. I'm told that the balcony cabins have been deeply discounted at this point, so if anyone out there wants to get credit for booking with a group on Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas on her 5-night, January 30th sailing out of Ft. Lauderdale, just let me know and I'll get you hooked up wi our travel agent.

That being said, here are some of the highlights of the ship we'll be sailing on:

Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas
Pools & Whirlpools - 10
Spa Treatments - 100+
Crew Members - 1,360
Gross Tonnage - 160,000
Length - 1,112 ft
Width - 185 ft

Royal Promenade

Boxing Ring

Flow Rider Surf Simulator

Rock Climbing Wall

H2O Zone

3-Story Main Dining Room

Ice Skating Rink

Curry in a Hurry – Lawrence

2011-04-28T15:54:00.001-05:00

Today, I stopped by the new location of Curry in a Hurry on the outskirts of Downtown Lawrence. We’ve been hearing a lot about it through the Journal World and local twitter users and Josh really wanted to try it. I had the day off of work for a doctor’s appointment and had some errands to run, so I stopped by on my way home.

The setup is like nothing I’ve seen before in a restaurant. Sammi has a buffet-style setup where all of the curries are pre-packaged in to-go containers and you just select which variety of curry you would like, grab a container of rice and any side items that you’d like (I grabbed naan bread, but there were at least two other items that I didn’t pick up) and take your selections to the register to check out. I chose the chicken curry and rice for Josh (and unfortunately, he ate it all before I could get a photo) but Sammi was also offering pea and potato curry today.

The store has also been converted into a small storefront convenience store with candies, sodas, cigarettes and other convenience store items. It’s definitely a unique addition to Downtown Lawrence.

Josh thought that the curry has some great flavors and that it was very good. We hadn’t tried Sammi’s curry before, when he was working out of the Shell gas station near 19th & Mass but people have raved about his set-up for quite some time. I know his true fans are delighted to have him back with his curry in a hurry. I also know that we will be back to visit Sammi and see what kind of variety he will bring to Indian cuisine in Lawrence. We’re definitely looking forward to it.

Curry in a Hurry is located at 1111 Massachusetts Street in Downtown Lawrence, KS.

Jarritos Nation Contest

2010-06-02T19:38:00.001-05:00

Today, I was contacted by someone from Jarritos, a soda manufacturer from Mexico. They seem to be expanding in the US and asked me if I would sample some of their products and let you all know what I think about them. I’m excited to receive my package and will let you all know what I think after I’ve had a chance to test them.

In the meantime, check out the Jarritos Nation contest! It’s a website designed to bring all fans of Jarritos together and award prizes for posting photos. Entering is very easy – just head to www.jarritosnation.com and “claim” a location on the map with a photo. Prizes range from packages of Jarritos to digital cameras and even a 12 day cruise to Hawaii! Good luck!

Honeymoon Day 10 - May 11, 2010 Oranjestad, Aruba

2010-05-24T00:00:00.000-05:00

I'm pretty excited to be going back to Aruba. This is the only island on this cruise that I've been to before and I'm looking forward to showing it to Josh. We booked a tour here and it visits a lot of the big "must-see" places on the island.

The last time I visited Aruba, my dad and I were picked up at the pier by some of the Rainbow Girls from Aruba and given the grand tour of the island for free. We had lunch with them and visited all of the sights on the island. After the tour, they took my dad back to the ship and took me back to their Masonic Lodge for a party with some of the local foods and gifts for me from the Aruba Rainbow Girls. It was a great experience and I'm looking forward to seeing this beautiful is;and again.

Honeymoon Day 8 - May 10, 2010 Curacao

2010-05-21T00:00:00.000-05:00

Our plans for this island were set back as well. We really wanted to do the Dolphin Encounter, but unfortunately, by the time we tried to book it, there was only one spot left. We didn't want to do it if only one of would be able to go since it was a long excursion, so we decided to do a different excursion instead.

We're planning to do a tour of Sea & See in Curacao. Basically, you board a semi-submarine and get to see all the ocean life from 5 feet below the surface of the water. Then we'll be able to tour some of the island after we do the underwater tour. It should be a good time. I'm looking forward to seeing the colorful architecture of Curacao and the suspension bridge that's 200 feet above the city.

Honeymoon Day 7 - May 9, 2010 Bonaire

2010-05-18T00:00:00.000-05:00

Well, our original plan for Bonaire (an air-conditioned bus tour of the island) fell through, so we're going to have to find something else to do with our time in Bonaire. I really wanted to do a tour because it's not an island we're likely to go back to in the future. There's just not enough to do there for a couple who has no intention of becoming Scuba certified. Hopefully, we'll find something to keep us entertained while we're there or at least find a nice beach to spend the day on.

Honeymoon Day 5 - May 7, 2010 - Samana, Dominican Republic

2010-05-15T00:00:00.000-05:00

In Samana, we're planning to do one of the island tours. Samana is located on the Northeast corner of the island of Hispaniola. The Dominican Republic shares the island with the country of Haiti, but didn't suffer any major damage from the recent devastating earthquake like Haiti did. We won't be close enough to Haiti to see any of the damage of the eastern part of the country, but we're hoping to really get a feel for the Dominican people and lifestyle. I don't know much about the Dominican Republic except for their notoriety for making good cigars. I guess we'll find out much, much more.

Honeymoon Day 4 - May 6, 2010 - Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos

2010-05-12T00:00:00.000-05:00

Day 4 will bring us to our first independent island - Turks & Caicos. I don't know much about Turks & Caicos, but hopefully, I'll learn more as we get to explore this island.

The cruise center in Grand Turk offers a Flowrider Experience. You know. . . the surf simulator that's on the aft end of some of the larger Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships. This one is different because it's on land and available for anyone visiting the island, not just cruise ship passengers. Through our ship, the cost is $29 and Josh really wants to try it. While I'd love to participate, I know I would get hurt, so I've chosen not to attempt it. I'll stand back and watch Josh have fun and hopefully, get lots of good pictures.

Honeymoon Day 3 - May 5, 2010 - Half Moon Cay, Bahamas

2010-05-09T00:00:00.000-05:00

Day 3 of our Honeymoon will take us to Half Moon Cay, Bahamas. This is the island that's owned by the Carnival Corporation and is shared by the ships that are owned by Carnival (Carnival, Holland America, Costa, etc). We'll have to tender in to the island since there isn't a dock available.

Half Moon Cay offers tons of amenities and lots of beach availability to just lounge and relax. We're not sure what we will be doing in Half Moon Cay and as with the rest of the Honeymoon, we're planning to just take it one day at a time and see what we're in the mood for at the time.

Honeymoon Day 2 - May 4, 2010 Holland America ms Noordam

2010-05-06T00:00:00.000-05:00

Day 2 of our Honeymoon will bring us boarding the Holland America ms Noordam for our 10-night cruise. We've been looking forward to this cruise since we got home from our last one. It will be a new experience because we've sailed on both Royal Caribbean and Carnival before, but never Holland America.

Our cabin will look something like this:

Honeymoon Day 1 - May 3, 2010 Ft. Lauderdale, FL

2010-05-03T00:00:00.000-05:00

We'll be taking off bright and early the Monday after the wedding and heading for sunny Ft. Lauderdale, FL. We've been to Ft. Lauderdale together before and decided to book a less expensive hotel near the airport this time since we would only be there for one night. We got a great deal through Expedia for about $200 per person, including both round-trip airfare and hotel for one night.

We don't have great plans for Ft. Lauderdale this trip, but we'll probably find a nice restaurant and have dinner before catching up on sleep from the previous week's lack of it.

The hotel that we'll be staying at in Ft. Lauderdale is the Sheraton Suites Plantation. It's not a 5-Star hotel, but it's a Sheraton and we'll be more than satisfied with what they have to offer, I'm sure.

We'll be waking up in the morning and heading for Port Everglades to board the Holland America ms Noordam for our 10-night Southern Caribbean Cruise. We can't wait!

We're getting married today!!!

2010-05-01T00:00:00.000-05:00

Today, I'll marry my best friend and we'll finally begin our life together. Of course, not much will really change, but I'll start the process of changing my last name and Josh will be my husband instead of my fiancee or boyfriend. Some days, I thought this day would never come and believe me, having a 14 month engagement hasn't been easy. We've been at the "let's just do this already" point for quite some time now but the day has finally arrived and I couldn't be happier to have all of our friends and family in town to celebrate with us. Thanks so much to everyone who has travelled to be with us and to those of you who were unable to make it. We're so happy to have you in our lives!

S'Mores Cups

2010-04-15T00:00:00.000-05:00

Don't these look just divine? When I first saw these in the new Simply Sweet Cookbook from The Pampered Chef, I was immediately drawn to them and began to reminisce about my days as a Girl Scout. We consumed many, many S'Mores in our day and usually, someone's marshmallow would become a flaming ball of molten sugar as some point. Some people liked them extra crispy, but I preferred to have mine just barely golden brown and melty. That makes a perfect S'More in my opinion.

These included all of the classic S'More ingredients. Graham crackers, Hershey's chocolate bars and marshmallows, but they didn't require a fire and were slightly less (alright, way less) messy to eat. They were pretty awesome!

Click HERE for the recipe.

Cookies 'N Cream Cheesecake Bites

2010-04-08T00:00:00.000-05:00

Just the thought of these made my mouth water. How could you go wrong combining Oreos and cheesecake? These were awesome little bites of goodness, I just wish they were a little less time consuming to make. You have to break apart all of the tiny Oreos and place them in the mini muffin tin without letting them fall over. After all that work, I just wanted some cheesecake and they definitely satisfied that craving.

I made these for my Open House as well and they were a hit!

Click HERE for the recipe.

Bird Dog Bar at The Oread Hotel

2010-03-31T23:00:00.000-06:00

Those of you from Lawrence may have noticed the new structure that now towers above the northern end of the University of Kansas campus. The Oread hotel was recently completed and is not fully in operation. With the opening of a new luxury hotel, comes the chance to try some new restaurants in town. My friend Shauna and I took the opportunity while wedding planning, to visit the Bird Dog Bar in the Oread Hotel several weeks ago and we left satisfied and impressed.

We didn't order anything that was terribly exciting (we both got burgers) but instead of french fries, I ordered the Mac & Cheese as my side. Let me just tell you, this was some of the most amazing mac & cheese I've ever had. I actually wanted to get it as my main dish but I'm always hesitant to do that because there are lots of ways for people to screw up mac & cheese and I didn't want to possibly waste my money on something that was merely mediocre. The Bird Dog's mac & cheese was anything but mediocre. It was outstanding and the next time I go here, I will absolutely order it as my main dish!

What's even better about the Bird Dog Grill? Oh, that's right, the Oread offers free 2 hour valet parking with a purchase from any of its restaurants. That's pretty awesome on campus, where parking comes at a premium.

Shauna and I also decided to try the roasted red pepper hummus and pita as an appetizer and we weren't disappointed with that either. The hummus and pita comes with celery, cucumbers and olives and it was really good. I'm not usually a fan of anything with any kind of bell pepper in it, but this was very good and I would definitely try it again.

Overall, the Bird Dog Grill gets my vote for a new restaurant in town that's got staying potential. I wish them the best of luck and look forward to going back again!