A Special Valentine's Day

I hope you are enjoying this day of love – yet another opportunity to thank our gracious Father for bestowing upon us so many blessings including dear relationships that make the difficulties of life bearable and bring joy and laughter to our hearts. Already, this is the best On.a.Whim Valentine’s Day ever. Although I will not yet divulge the main reason for this highest ranking (no, you will NOT drag it out of me!), I hope to in the near future.

Handmade cards are the best, and my little man Rollins was more than able to please with this one:

Here is a recent pic of the handsome little mister with his beautiful mother:

Kat and I drove up to Nashville for a short trip. She became a master photographer, and I caught up with Jen and Zach. Good times were shared by all. Enjoy the below photos from a lovely, full weekend.

I picked up my dream car after years of wishing, hoping and praying:

We enjoyed brunch at this fun little Nashville breakfast nook:

Jennifer made Valentine's Day cookies.

Zach and I read her the directions and offered emotional support from the couch while we watched the original Superman:

Also on Saturday, Richard and Marlene (affectionately a.k.a. Mosquito and Grasshopper) celebrated 59 years of true love. Sadly I couldn't immediately locate a good pic of the two lovebirds together, but this funny oldie will have to suffice:

And tonight I get to share a homemade Valentine's dinner with one of my dearest friends Katie who has been leading wilderness therapy trips in Utah and is in town for a quick trip.

Hope you and your loved ones enjoy this Valentine's Day!

With Love,

Cricket

*Tear-It-Up Tuesday will be on Thursday this week. Please stay tuned.

Tear It Up Tuesdays: The BOSU Ball

Welcome back to Tear-It-Up Tuesdays! After a slight break over the past month and a half, I'm excited to get back into this weekly routine. I'll share running posts over the couple of weeks in preparation for March's Azalea Trail 10K, but today -- the BOSU Ball!

A BOSU Balance Trainer, or BOSU ball as it is often called, "is a fitness tool consisting of an inflated rubber hemisphere attached to a rigid platform. It is also referred to as the 'blue half-ball,' because it looks like a stability ball cut in half."

I didn't know this, but the name is an acronym which stands for "BOth Sides Up." It refers to the two ways a BOSU ball can be positioned. The BOSU is often used for balance and core training and can be positioned with the ball up or on the ground.

So, first I'm going to demonstrate a simple squat on the BOSU. This exercise strengthens your core, glutes, hamstrings and quads. The more comfortable you get on the tilty platform, the deeper you can go into your squat. I'd begin with three sets of 10 squats then increase as you feel comfortable.

For our guest expert today I invited my co-worker John. A fitness specialist and certified personal trainer, John will be demonstrating a more advanced version of the above exercise by holding two, 12 lb weights at his sides.

Another way to modify this exercise is to hold a weighted bar above your head while you squat. This will further challenge your balance and also provide a workout for your arms.

Happy Squatting!

In the Air

No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow.

Happy Monday Dear Ones. I have good news: there are only 41 more days until spring!

Which means: Easter, the Azalea Trail 10K, my birthday, farmers' markets, fresh flowers, and kittens & puppies galore!

This morning I was so excited by this prospect that I put on my new spring peep-toe booties (purchased with part of my tax refund – first time EVER to finish my taxes early) along with a cute new dress and matching cream tights. I practically flew out my front door and down the three steps where I proceeded to tumble face forward in an extremely ungraceful, unladylike manner. Though my tights were soiled and I gained yet another nasty bruise on my knee, I simply picked myself up and carried on. Nothing –not even humiliation— will take away my spring fever joy today!

Have a lovely day!

True Intimacy

Our souls are constantly in search of intimacy. We crave to be known and understood: for someone to see us, want us, desire us. Oftentimes we seek it in a person, position or possession; we want the perfect spouse, the perfect job, our dream home. Our hearts become frustrated as our longings are never fulfilled. We forget that the only One who will provide lasting, true intimacy is our Creator.

I’ve been dwelling on this love letter over the past week and am encouraged to know we have a Father who knew us even before the creation of the world, who loves us in spite of our every thought, and who pursues us relentlessly.

"O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord...

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there...

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place...

When I awake I am still with you...

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

~From Psalm 139

Kale: Nose Crinkling Not Allowed!

Apparently Kale is the new “it” food. The leafy green was a headliner in February’s Real Simple, featured on The Today Show this week, a discussion topic of last night’s phone conversation with Jen and just about the only in-season vegetable you can find at Whole Foods these days!

In my New Year’s attempt to supplement my diet with lots of veggies, I made a kale smoothie this morning. The best thing about it? It tasted nothing like kale!

I blended 1 cup chocolate soymilk, 1 TBSP peanut butter, 1 banana and 1 cup frozen, chopped kale. A yummy, healthy start to Wednesday; bottoms’ up!

BTW: I thought about titling this blogpost "What the Kale?" or "All Hail Kale," but refrained. :)

A Shrimp Tale

Although I now claim Birmingham as home, there are three loves always able to beckon me 250+ miles south on I65: Family (the beloved G&G + my Uncle Mark’s family still remain in Mobile), Shopping (there’s antique shopping galore in downtown Fairhope), and Seafood (namely SHRIMP!).

Growing up near the coast, I’ve been spoiled rotten with fresh, delicious seafood. No, I’m not referring to the Red Lobster or Publix frozen variety. I’m talking about straight-out-of -the-Gulf, still kicking (well, swimming/paddling) FRESH seafood! Sigh, it can be such agony for a gal from Mobile to live in a landlocked city!

Last weekend, mom and I headed to Mobile to visit with G&G and celebrate Grandmother's 79th. On Saturday, we daytripped to Fairhope where we shopped and indulged in some much needed seafood at Felix's Fish Camp. Here's a pic of me and the lady of honor from last spring at our favorite Fairhope shop - Green Gates Market:

With the taste of shrimp still fresh on my mind, I decided to try my hand at Shrimp Scampi Friday night. For starters, I made my new favorite appetizer: Toasted walnuts, chopped and rolled into goat cheese and then drizzled with honey.

This appetizer is so easy and is great served with whole grain crackers.

Then on to the Scampi! Lots of fresh, minced garlic is a must. I ended up using four whole cloves and then saved the rest for the sauteed spinach.

1/2 cup white wine or chicken broth if you prefer:

3/4 lb penne pasta. I went for whole wheat:

Fresh chopped chives:

I also used:

Mushrooms, butter, olive oil, salt, heavy cream & 1.5 lbs of shrimp.

Boil penne as directions say:

In the meantime, heat 2 TBSP butter + 2 TBSP olive oil

in non-stick over medium heat.

Add mushrooms:

Garlic and Chives:

1 cup heavy cream:

Bring all to a simmer. Let thicken a bit:

Rinse and drain pasta:

Add cooked, peeled and deveined shrimp to skillet.

Stir together and let simmer for five minutes:

In a large bowl combine penne and skillet contents:

Sooooo Delicious:

In another skillet, heat 2 TBSP olive oil and 2 garlic cloves:

Add fresh spinach into pan over medium-low heat:

Toss, toss, toss with a pair of tongs.

The spinach will wilt and cook extremely fast.

So, be attentive; it's a needy dish!

Serve up in a bowl:

The spinach balances and adds nutrients to the heavier, creamy Scampi. I was extremely surprised how well both turned out and will definitely revisit this dish. Happy weekend friends! Hope you're staying warm inside somewhere, sitting on hot cocoa and reading a good book!

How You Know It's Been Too Long...

So, it's been awhile since I've written. Another move (into a new place w/o Internet service!), Christmas, New Year's and Snow Days have sabotaged my already short attention span. Today I got the below from one of my oldest and dearest. The note inspired me to GET WITH IT AGAIN! Stay tuned, my faithful readers, for a new post this weekend. It will feature...Shrimp.

Dear Miss Laura,

I've been checking On.A.Whim hoping for some news, scrumptious recipes, workout tips, amusing photos, ideas of hobbies I could take up, etc. But NOTHING. I just sit here with nothing to do. No inspiration. Please, give us, your faithful readers, something!

Miss & love you La!
Christy