by Sarah | Apr 28, 2013 | All About Erik, All About Indiana, All About Me, All of Us, Blogging Life, Indiana Family of Farmers, Sponsored, Zest & Zing
GIVEAWAY CLOSED – WINNER SELECTED
Are you a foodie?
Are you a wanna-be-foodie?
Do you love watching the cooking shows – even better, the cooking competition shows?
Ever fancy yourself a judge on one of those?
Do you like helping out awesome causes like Gleaners Food Bank?
For the second year, Indy is pairing up chefs with local farmers for a cooking competition for Zest ‘n Zing.
And they’ll be picking an audience member to be a judge!
Oooh, and it’s being emcee’d by the Weather Man – Paul Poteet and Jennie Runevitch of WTHR.
I know, I sound a little fan-girl here, but I’m really excited for the opportunity to go to this event, and even more so that I get to give one of you a pair of tickets to go! That’s right, I’m not just talking about the event, I’m inviting you to join me! (Thanks to Indiana’s Family of Farmer’s!!)
So before I give you tickets, here’s the nitty-gritty details of the event.
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Zest ‘n Zing: A Foodie Event for the At-Home Chef
What it is: Two teams, each made up of a chef and a farmer, go head-to-head to create a great new dish. The winning chef receives $500.
When it is: May 7, 2013. Doors open at 5PM, the competition begins about 7PM.
Where it is: Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center
Cost: $20 online – and all proceeds go to benefit GLEANERS! Seriously. How awesome is that?
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So, you want a pair of free tickets to this event, right? I know you do, because it’s awesome.
So I’m going to make it easy on you. All it takes to win is one comment.
For that comment, I want you to just tell me what you’re most excited about for the event? Is it the good food? The thrill of competition? The possibility of being a judge? Or meeting the farmers that will be there?
The Giveaway will end at 9PM on Tuesday, April 30th. I’ll contact the winner by midnight through email. You’ll have only 24 hours to respond before I draw another name so I can get the name to IFOF.
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Disclaimer: I am an IFOF Ambassador and therefore this is a sponsored post. I’ll get the same Zest ‘N Zing tickets as the winner does. However, while I do blog for good food, good company, and good competition – I don’t sell my opinions. All thoughts and opinions expressed in the post are my own.
by Sarah | Apr 10, 2013 | A to Z Challenge, All About Family, All About Home, All About Indiana, All About Me, Random, Story of Me, The Reluctant Hoosier
The path is familiar.
Second nature.
The first time I followed it, I was only 14.
Unable to drive.
Unable to process what it meant.
How I would change.
While the path stayed the same.
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The first time it was the I-90 to 271, to 71, to 270, to 70…and off the highway in the middle of Indiana.
A far cry from home.
From the suburbs of Buffalo, the suburbs of Indianapolis – that felt to me more rural than suburban.
From attitudes and pride, to looking people in the eye and church.
A foreign land.
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For three years we traversed the path between two worlds frequently.
We lingered in the past, and at the same time moved forward.
Our lives moved on, and a few years later, so did we.
We left behind Indiana and followed new paths…
Only to return again.
Not “home”…no, not New York.
“Home.” Indiana.
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20 years later I could still drive the path blindfolded.
I know the way.
I can still find my way through my old home town, even though I learned to drive 500 miles away from it.
Instinct brings me back around.
But I don’t.
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Now the roles are reversed.
This foreign land has become home.
Familiar.
Safe.
The last time I drove that route was 2 years ago…and it was for a funeral.
Before that, almost 4 years had passed.
I missed much.
So much it’s now foreign.
There are days I miss that land.
Days I feel my heart call me home.
But life has moved on.
And so have I.
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I will return again.
I will eat the familiar, delicious foods.
I will drive the pathways that no longer lead to the same places I remember, where strangers now live, or where the home itself has been changed.
Because a piece of me will always remember and belong.
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Those interstate pathways carried me away.
Took me to places I never expected.
But they can never lead home again.
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The A-Z Challenge has over 1900 participants, all blogging from A to Z this month. Check them out and see if you can’t find a few new favorites!!
by Sarah | Apr 2, 2013 | 45 before 45, All About Indiana, All About Me, All of Us, Bucket List, Indianapolis Zoo
Two years ago when I first made my 45X45 list, I added a little something that I thought would be easily accomplished. Something that I’d always wanted to do, but hadn’t because I always came up with an excuse.
Seeing the butterflies at the Indianapolis Zoo. It was a special display they had annually with all of these butterflies. I’d heard such beautiful things about it. I wanted to take my camera and nestle in and stay forever.
So, to keep myself from using the “It’s too expensive to take us all” excuse, I bought our first zoo membership.
That was the year the butterflies went away. I was sad, but we still put that zoo pass to very good use, and have not hesitated to renew our membership every year since.
This year? The butterflies have returned! A couple of weeks ago I got to go to a special event before it opened, take my camera, and wipe that sucker right off the bucket list. And I have the pictures to prove it. (although when I go BACK this week, I’ll make sure to take my zoom lens that I forgot last time, so I can really get those close up and personal shots. ~ahem~)
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by Sarah | Nov 19, 2012 | All About Erik, All About Family, All About Indiana, All About Kennedy, All About Me, All About Molly, All of Us, Indianapolis Zoo, The Reluctant Hoosier
Two years ago I took a leap of faith. Despite initially cringing at the cost of a membership to the Indianapolis Zoo – I splurged and bought it to cover our family. I knew that one of the leading factors behind us never going was the cost to get in. I thought, if it’s “free” after that onset – maybe we’ll use it.
And use it we have. I re-purchased it last year and go on a moderately regular basis, weather and time permitting. Sometimes just me, but most often with the kids.
One thing about going to a smaller zoo – you learn some of the quirks. Like the brown bear always hides, the wild dogs are always asleep, and the gibbons are always chirping like mad.
This past weekend we went with the girls on a gorgeous sunny day and the zoo had turned on its head. The Gibbons were silent, letting us hear the chirping of the otters they share a cage with. The wild dogs were awake and moving all over their enclosure. Best of all, the brown bear was up close and personal – with a big friendly grin on his face.
I’m so glad that this time I took my camera – because I get to throw some of my favorites at you. Of course I have SO many, I’m struggling to pick just a few so I will beg you to please head on over to my FLICKR account to see the rest. It’s worth it, I promise…everyone was posing for my camera.
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by Sarah | Oct 29, 2012 | All About Family, All About Indiana, All of Us, Blogging Life, Indiana Family of Farmers, Table Talk, The Reluctant Hoosier
[flickr id=”5075549323″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]Fall is my favorite season. I might be partial to summer because that’s when I was born – but it gets too hot (especially here in Indiana) and far too humid and I don’t have a pool anymore.
Besides – fall has all the gorgeous color, brief though it may be.
Fall is the season I start to bake. I start making Christmas cookies early & freeze them – but I also start baking bread. And pie. And anything else I can concoct. My family loves the influx of fresh food baked in warm oven. Only thing I wish for at this time of year is a lot more counter space.
Fall is also the season that the local farmers have the corn mazes, apple picking, pumpkin picking, and fall festivals. There is so much to do at this time of year – and my favorite is the apples. Apple pie and applesauce adorn our table regularly in the fall.
There really is no better season.
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This post was written as part of Indiana Family of Farmers Table Talk series. As a Table Talk contributor I received various products to help along the table talk. All opinions and stories in the post are my own truth.
by Sarah | Oct 22, 2012 | All About Indiana, All About Me, Blogging Life, Indy Geek Girls, The Reluctant Hoosier
Of all the things I thought I’d do in my life – scaling a pseudo-mountain wasn’t one of them.
This Friday I did just that.
Thanks to The Crag in Brownsburg I got to scale rock walls, challenge my pitiful out-of-shape body – and laugh at some of the best innuendos I’ve heard in years with my friends.
The Crag is a great indoor climbing facility tucked away in Brownsburg that has walls from “easy” to extremely challenging.
[flickr id=”8104337222″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”right”]A group of us went, within about five minutes we were trained on tying ourselves to the ropes and belaying. The staff was super friendly and helpful, and even clued us in on where to start for the easier climbs (although it wasn’t long until the dares for the harder climbs began).
I was a total newbie to the climbing thing, and sadly mistaken at how much I’d be able to do. It was super difficult, and I’m still feeling the aches in my shoulders and upper arms days later. Much as they tell you to use your legs, your arms get killed.
[flickr id=”8104322567″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]Thing was, much as it hurt and tough as it was, every accomplished climb was a rush of adrenaline and pride. Every single one of us set forth to climb onto a platform, and we all did, making our strong pose – even those that were afraid of heights.
I’m ready to go back. I just need someone to go with me. Best part is that it’s not that expensive. A day pass for those over 8 is $20 – and for those under 8 it’s only $12. But there are weekly specials that are super worth it. Wednesdays are their canned food drive. If you bring in 2 cans of food, you get your pass for $12.
[flickr id=”8104333850″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”right”]Friday nights are Family night. It’s $30 for the first 2 members (a $10 savings) and then only $5 for each additional family member. That’s only $40 for a family of four. You can’t go to the movies for that folks – and rock climbing takes teamwork and communication.
The best night, of course, is date night. $15 for the two of you. You’ll be challenged, you’ll laugh, you’ll have to be there to support each other going up and coming down. Again, cheaper than a night at the movies and better for your marriage then sitting the dark for an hour and a half.
So if you’re in Indy…get thee to The Crag. Some tips – don’t wear heavy sneakers. Wear shoes cut closer to your feet so it’s easier to plant your feet against the wall. Wear pants – you need to have those harnesses nice and tight. And be prepared for sore muscles and possible blisters.
View all the pictures from our night HERE in my flickr acct
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*The Crag treated me and some of my fellow IndyGeekGirls to a night of climbing free. All opinions and achingly sore muscles are my own.
