Always JAM in CLE

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Sister Celebration: A Birthday Recap in CLE!

This weekend we celebrated my sister's birthday AND her new home she shares with her lovely bf! Lots to celebrate and lots of fun!!!

Best man grilling apron, ever!

On Saturday, I headed over to her new digs to check it out and it was awesome! She's officially a surbanite complete with a nice yard and cul-de-sac..who woulda thunk? Her life has shifted significantly since her last few birthdays--but all for the good, she's happy, she loves her life, and all I care about is seeing her thrive :)

Photo: Wishing you good juju and lots of love in your new home Gina Marie & Danny Tohme !! Cheers <3

Cheers to your new home, and wishing you lots of love and good juju!!!

After checking out the new place, we headed back to the Heights to have a final celebration. It's crazy, when she and I first moved into that apartment I was 21! How quickly 5 years fly by!

2nd day at the apt.
celebrating my 21st birthday on Coventry

So many good times, so much growing up, so many adventures, and so many evenings sitting on that lovely porch drinking vino, painting our nails and watching people walk by. Sure going to miss that place--but all good things must come to an end and I'm so excited for the next chapter in her life too :)

So, we took a gamble as we returned to the apt. with the stormy weather and speed-walked down to Little Italy for some delicioso food at Mia Bella. We were able to sneak in some divine apps before having to hurry inside as the heavens opened up and the summer storms rolled in. It was an adventure!

Birthday girl in post summer rainshower glow

Yum! We shared the eggplant parmesean which was cut thin and LITERALLY out of this world & some sauteed calamari (as opposed to the standard deep fried). I got a super simple (yet tasty) pizza complete with fresh basil, fresh mozzarella, olives. That's what I really like about Mia Bella, it's fresh, simple and not too over the top. Real authentic Italian food! Mangia mangia!

On Sunday, Gina had a big cookout at her new digs and it was a great family & friends fun day, complete with bat masks, awkward family photos, and cornhole! Winning comination!

Wouldn't trade this fam for the world!

Gimme that!

Reviewing the financial investment of boxes of corn

Post a bitter battle of cornhole..

It was a wonderful weekend welcoming my sis into her new home and a new year to celebrate fun adventures ahead. Feeling blessed and wishing you all the best, sis.. LOVE YOU! xoxo!

Monday, June 3, 2013

Monday Meditation: It Takes Chaos

Hi there! Well the month of May was officially b-a-n-a-n-a-s. A fierce sprint through chaos and unexpected changes.

Have I been preoccupied? Yes. Have I questioned the future? Yes. Have I felt a zillion emotions but don't feel like spilling it out to everyone? Yes. Do I believe everything will work itself out? Yes. Do I love my life? Yes. Do I trust in the journey? Yes.

But here's the part I struggle with: the uncertainty that envelopes change and then sitting with that ambivalence. Whether it's the uncertainty of a job, a meeting, a move, a diagnosis, a phone call, a child, a loved one, an announcement, a nuptial, an outcome. Life presents so many opportunities to invoke that unsettling feeling of worry in NOT knowing what to expect, no matter how diligently we try to plan it. Everyone can relate to that exhaustion of trying to nail down jello.

Image Source via Pinterest

Can you blame a gal? It's tough to sit with the unsolved (hence the mega-hit show, Unsolved Mysteries). And well, I'm only (an event-planning, organized, worried, empathetic, control-freak) human. That's when it finally hit me........ I am ONLY human. As much as try to plan, research, organize, worry, empathize and control life... I can't! It's extraordinarily humbling and challenging to let go of control and embrace the chaos of changes that life throws you.

Image Source via Pinterest

Reread that. As I've turned inward the past few weeks, I've found comfort in the notion that there IS a bigger plan unfolding right before me. I am being taken care of and have so much to look forward to. I may not know exactly how things will go, but I've got to trust I am exactly where I am supposed to be on my journey. And wrap myself up in self-love. The chaos is leading to some beautiful change. Let the path reveal itself. And breathe.

Image Source via Pinterest

How do you let go of control? How do you cope with bad news? What do you do when you feel uncertain about change(s)? Do you believe in a "higher" or "greater" life plan? Are you a planner or fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants person?

Lots of love, stay positive and keep JAMmin!

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Wordless Wednesday: CLE Flats

Check out this glorious photo I took on Memorial Day Weekend -

"American Courage" barge winding its way

along the river bends of the Cuyahoga in the Flats!!!

Symbolism? I think so...

Click the image below to enlarge and get the full effect!

Pictured CLE Flats: Detroit-Superior Bridge, Jacob's Pavilion at Nautica,
Powerhouse Building, Cleveland Aquarium

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Easy Holiday Picnic & Cookout Recipes: Thai Bowtie Pasta Salad

Yes, you may have noticed my brief blogging hiatus. Ugh. The past few weeks have been a rollercoaster ride of busyness, unexpected changes and to be honest...I've needed some JAM time. Like the lil girl in that AT&T commercial says, "we want more, we want more!"

Anyway, over this past holiday weekend, I got to enjoy one of my FAVORITE insta-pick-me-ups...A FAMILY COOKOUT! Typically, my Mom whips up the fave staples in the kitchen, my sister brings the creativity to dishes, and my Dad, well he masters the grill! I've become accustomed to being the "table-setter" but have dipped my toe into more recipes over the past years (what can I say, I'm very lucky to have a family of great cooks!!)

I pinned this recipe and made it once before. I wanted to test it out again and get my seeester's seal of approval before I made it for her BIG BIRTHDAY party this weekend :) It's super easy and simple for anyone, for realz, even me. Win!

Necessary ingredients!

Thai Bowtie Pasta Salad

Serves 6-8

(tweaked my recipe from original found on weekofmenus.com via pinterest)

1 lb farfalle (bowtie) pasta

1/3 cup canola, safflower or other mild tasting oil
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/4 cup sesame oil (optional)
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon honey
3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

Pretty peppers all prepped

2 large red, yellow or orange bell peppers
1 shallot, diced
1 bag of MorningStar soy chicken or 2-3 cups of rotisserie chicken, cut into bite sized pieces
3 tablespoons roasted sesame seed
Salt & pepper to taste
3 cups washed baby spinach
2 tablespoons red pepper flakes (optional)

Boil and cook pasta according to directions. Make sure to salt the cooking water. Drain pasta and set aside. Return the pasta pot back to the stove. (You don't need to wash it.) Add the canola oil, soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, and rice wine vinegar to another pot. Heat over low heat until the honey is dissolved. Remove from heat and toss in the pasta. Add the bell peppers, chicken, shallot, pepper, sesame seeds, and red pepper flakes (optional). Toss well to coat all the ingredients. Before serving, toss the pasta with the spinach, to keep the vibrant green as much as possible. Total time: about 35 mins, including prep.

Nom, nom, nom!

This can be chilled or served warm at room temperature, making it a big hit at any summer cookout or holiday picnic!

If that's not a sign of approval, I don't know what is!!!!

Yeah, 'Merica!!!! Happy noshing, and keep on JAMmin!

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Wedding Weekend Recap!

A few weeks ago, I flew to DC with my college gal pals to celebrate my gf's bachelorette party. This weekend, the long awaited day finally came and we celebrated Steph & Joey's wedding! It was so lovely--in every aspect!

Here comes the bride!

I've never encountered such a calm, collected (and beautiful!) bride--must be all that event planning experience :) From the church, flowers, dress, accessories, reception, venue, to live band, everything was on point! No detail went unnoticed during the memorable day and evening!

Swept her right off her feet!! :)

Photo source via Facebook

Congratulations Mr & Mrs!

Gorgeous flower arrangements!!

After the ceremony, we headed over to the Intercontinental Hotel for an awesome & first class reception. We had such a fun time as we celebrated our first college gal pal getting hitched to a great guy!!!

The happy couple's first dance

Love this cake-cutting photo

Congrats, Steph!

Rockin the poof and curls

JCU girls!

Old habits die hard...get weird :)

Reeling that great catch in..
haha gotta love those dance moves!

What an awesome wedding!!!! Dancing, toasting, laughing, celebrating, catching up with college friends, delicious food and sweets, and witnessing a major milestone for a longtime friend! I hope my future wedding is enjoyable as theirs was!

Congratulations to Steph and Joey...wishing you love birds a wonderful life and journey ahead as you start this new chapter in your lives. And thank you for including me in your special day! XOXO...keep JAMmin :)

Monday, May 6, 2013

Monday Meditation: Laughter & Lightness

Do you ever one of those days/weeks/years where it seems to be one challenge after the next? Yep, we've all experienced that feeling! I had a few instances recently of gravity punctured by lightness. What a difference it makes to pause and bask during the moments of lightness.

I was having a deep conversation with someone about eating and nutrition habits for IBD. I suggested "to avoid all dairy products, including eggs." ....Where is that food pyramid from grade school again? ... Well, evidently eggs are categorized as dairy in my book. My silly slip up prompted a belly laugh for both of us and an ongoing joke that helps break up the challenges of combating stomach issues. Hey...

Image source

What I'm saying is, don't take yourself so seriously. Life is full of serious challenges, so relish in the moments you can laugh at yourself, at mistakes, at fear, at frustration, at adulthood.

Lighting up the laughter with some glow in the dark/neon glasses :)

Get a good laugh in when you're physically exhausted too. Like this weekend, when I spent 3 hours cursing that stubborn pachysandra I tore out from the garden and cathartic relief as I beat the crap out of the shoveled mounds to shake the dirt from the roots. Pyaw! Take that!

Image source

So whether it's a heavy situation with health, work, family, life, or even gardening--be sure to counter it with some laughter and lightness!

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Wordless Wednesday: DC Trip in Pics

Let's face it, I'm still reeling from a whirlwind weekend trip to DC from my gal pal, Steph's, bachelorette party. So here's a less wordy highlight recapped in photos... enjoy :)

Sweet Treats!