Sobro Cafe 3.25/4

I met my friend Lydia for lunch at Sobro Cafe today and it was as delicious as expected. This little cafe features internationally-inspired food that is generally healthy - they also offer several vegetarian and vegan dishes ... and all of the food is created from scratch (except for the bread and sweet potato fries)!

The cafe, located at 52nd and College Ave. in South Broad Ripple, is quirky in design featuring local art. Plus, our bills were brought out to us on this Hulk Hogan figurine:

Lydia and I tend to split meals when we go out to eat so that we can try more foods from any particular restaurant - we had The Good Burger, a veggie burger with avocado and sprouts on a pretzel roll, and the Torta Ahogada, pulled pork sandwich with sauteed onions and peppers and ahogada sauce. Combined with homemade potato chips, I have to say it was a delightful meal, particularly the Torta Ahogada!

Lydia and I are no strangers to local northside and downtown restaurants - so much that we have a rating system that we use to evaluate our new finds (ratings are 1-4, 4 being the best).

Here is Sobro Cafe's average score: 
Food: 3 
Atmosphere: 3.5 
Price: 2.75 
Uniqueness: 3.75 
Service: 3.25
Overall Average: 3.25

Overall, I love the idea of the restaurant - made from scratch, unique food offerings and a great atmosphere. The food and prices didn't blow me away, but I will definitely go back to try something new!

CHAOS for the Kids

Tonight I went to a fundraising event called CHAOS for the Kids to support my friend Brandon and The Project Kids Network and its programs helping less fortunate kids around the globe. Brandon is the Director of Yoga and Fitness Programs for the organization, and he will be taking a trip to Peru on their behalf. It's such a cool opportunity! Check out his bio: www.projectkidsnetwork.org/staff/brandon-cook/

The fitness fundraiser consisted of sixty minutes of spinning, TRX Core and Circuit training. The class was great! I have not done a spin class in several years but I was able to jump right back into that. The TRX Core portion was pretty challenging. To be honest, I didn't really know much about TRX but I NOW know that it takes a lot of core and back strength to do it! The Circuit training consisted of bands, rowing, ropes, sled pushing and more.  

 
I am glad I went and got to try out these new routines ... and support a great cause. Visit The Project Kids Network website for more details on the organization, www.projectkidsnetwork.org.

Sweet, Sweet, Sweet Potato Wedges

In an effort to add more "good" carbohydrates into our diets to help increase energy during times like now when we are working out pretty intensely almost everyday, I stumbled upon the sweet potato.

I usually only think about sweet potatoes around Thanksgiving time - both my mother and my mother-in-law make a fantastic sweet potato dish - but I thought I would try my hand at Sweet Potato Wedges.

Ingredients:

• 3 medium sweet potatoes
•  2-3 teaspoons of olive oil
• 2-3 teaspoons of dried rosemary

Instructions:

1. Scrub potatoes and cut into wedges lengthwise.
2. Coat with a mixture of olive oil and rosemary - 2-3 teaspoons of each.
3. Bake on a greased baking sheet for 20 minutes @ 450 degrees.

Done and done ... quick and easy! The taste was sweet but not too sweet due to the rosemary.

Give it a try!

My Husband, The Boxer

My husband fought in his first sanctioned boxing match today, and I am soooo proud!

While he didn't pull off a win, he fulfilled his dream of boxing! All of his hard work and dedication has paid off. He got in the ring, fought and was able to leave the ring with his head held high!

I am so proud of his persistence ... I love my husband, the boxer!

Cardio Blast At Home

I can't express to you the fulfillment I get from working out - my body is awake, my mind is stimulated and I feel accomplished. I have to change up my fitness routine consistently though so that I don't get burnt out on one activity. Whether it is boxing, running, biking or yoga, each day and each week is slightly different.

My husband is currently training to fight Golden Gloves boxing - he competes in March ... more on that later ... so I have been able to spice up my workout plan with some of his cardio routines.

It is a GREAT workout! You will feel it in every part of your body and best of all, you don't need a gym membership or any equipment to complete it!

Happy 3rd Birthday to Aurey!

Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday to You!
Happy 3rd Birthday to Aurey! Happy Birthday to You!

3 Years of cuddling, playing and utter enjoyment! I love this dude!

What's Better Than One Adorable Pup ... ?

TWO!

My dog, Aurey (the choc lab), is a huge part of my world! He is my playmate, my protector and the most entertaining little buddy ever! He is a furry little clown dog!

This week we are dog sitting this beautiful golden retriever, Tucker. Tucker and Aurey are best buds. Aurey is a bit younger and has a bit more energy but Tucker kind of just lets Aurey bug him as much as he wants. They are a pretty good pair ... I' not sure I would want two dogs in my house all of the time but when we have this little dude over for a few days, it sure is a pleasure ... I mean look at these two!

Disclaimer: Don't be fooled by the calm puppies you see laying in the photos above ... they have spent most of their time wrestling around, biting and drooling all over each other.

Now, THIS is Love!

My Valentine's Day surprise was a day of indoor rock climbing at Climb Time Indy in Castleton then dinner and drinks. It was perfect! My husband definitely knows the way to my heart!

This was our first time at Climb Time, and I have to say it was more challenging than I thought it would be. We got all geared up in our climbing shoes and harnesses and dove right into it! We climbed for about 2 hours - I guarantee I'm sore tomorrow!

We had a lot of fun laughing with each other as we attempted every wall. Aaron was definitely the better climber though I was not too shabby! I had a bit more faith in the harness and rope then Aaron did, so I was able to be a bit riskier in my climbing.

Climb Time is a decent-sized facility with climbing areas for a range of expertise. We were able to climb as we wanted to without having to wait in a long line. We scored a Groupon for 3 climbs for $20 - so the price was definitely right - but even if we had to pay full price, the price isn't too bad.

Trying out this new activity for V-Day proved to be a great date - add on our delicious dinner at Applebee's (the location of our first ever date), and I am one happy girl!

... oh wait, I forgot to mention the heavenly Flying Cupcakes that my Valentine gave me to fulfill my sweet tooth - red velvet with choc chips and choc with strawberry filling ... YOU HAVE GOT TO TRY THE FLYING CUPCAKE (if you haven't already!).

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope you are all feelin' the love this Valentine's Day!

Check out the card I made my husband ... I Belong with You, You Belong with Me, You're My Sweetheart!

I definitely stole the lyrics from that catchy song called "Ho Hey" by The Lumineers - love it! We aren't officially celebrating the day until the weekend, except for cards ... I'm excited because my husband has planned a surprise!

I want to hear about your Valentine's Day though - any amazing gifts, crafts or experiences to share?

Oh, the Joys of a Good Wine!

Oh, the joys of a good wine! I may be no wine connoisseur, but I sure know what I like and Huber's Orchard, Winery & Vineyards' Blackberry wine is now up there as one of my favs!

I stopped at a local liquor store the other night to grab a bottle of wine, and as I perused the local wine section I stumbled upon this gem. It was the only wine option they carried that was produced by this company out of Borden, IN and I tend to like Blackberry wines, so I gave it a shot and ... yum-o!
I found out it is also carried at Kroger.

I was interested to learn a bit more about this winery and it's southern Indiana location so I jumped on their website and found out they have been making wine since 1843. Pretty impressive - check out their site for more info http://www.huberwinery.com/.

I think I just might put this winery on my list of places to go next time I happen to be traveling south.

Love is in the Air

I love creating homemade gifts for my husband, especially for Valentine's Day! My husband is an amazing man. We have been married for 5 years and, let me tell you, it is more rewarding than I could have ever expected. You know the cliché saying "I married my best friend", well, I DID! Being with my husband is pure bliss for me!

Last year for Valentine's Day I gave my hubbie "52 Reasons I Love You". It was a Pinterest project that I personalized. (oh, Pinterest how I love you!)

To complete the craft, you will need the following items:

• deck of cards
• hole punch
• o-rings
• computer (or you could hand draw each sticker if you choose to)
• 8.5 x 11" label paper
• printer

Directions:

1. Using a graphic design program such as Adobe InDesign or even Microsoft Word, design 52 label stickers each with a different reason for love, plus a title label sticker as shown above. Each sticker should measure 1.5 x 2.75" - example to the right >>>
2. Print your design on a piece of 8.5 x 11" label paper (sticky back) and cut each sticker to size.
3. Then, punch holes in each playing card.
4. Connect 53 cards with the o-rings. (52 cards, plus a joker to create the title card)
5. Stick each reason for love in the center of each card. 

Enjoy sharing the love!

Giving credit where credit is due: I found this project idea at http://www.papervinenz.com/2011/02/hi-everyone-this-is-last-of-my.html.

My Definition of Felicity

What is the definition of felicity according to www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/felicity?

fe·lic·i·ty

noun \fi-ˈli-sə-tē\

plural fe·lic·i·ties

1 a : the quality or state of being happy; especially : great happiness b : an instance of happiness 
 

2 : something that causes happiness

Synonyms: beatitude, blessedness, bliss, blissfulness, happiness, gladness, joy, warm fuzzies

I personally find felicity by creating blissful experiences through adventure, imagination and healthy living. I am in my “happy place” while traveling, in my craft room, in the kitchen and at the gym. I have found over the past several years that creating life experiences by doing what gives me joy is my key to living a fulfilled life.

To some, road tripping it 19 hours to Maine or trying a new hole-in-the-wall restaurant may not be your idea of a good time. To others, sweating it out on the treadmill or creating a one-of-a-kind DIY masterpiece doesn’t seem appealing. But to me, it’s LIVING. I treat each day as a potential to learn, grow or challenge myself physically, mentally or creatively.

I plan to share my felicities with you and hope to encourage you to try something new, challenge your mind and body or simply live for what makes YOU happy. I encourage you to share your experiences with me as well – I’m always up for branching out!