My Afternoon in Pawhuska, OK

I've been making weekly trips to Tulsa from my home in Manhattan, KS with my mom. She watches Pioneer Woman and we'd talked about visiting. Unfortunately, around the time we were wanting to visit Covid-19 hit and Pioneer Woman closed. Almost weekly since then, I checked Yelp to see when they'd reopen. Finally, the end of May they were set to open. That coincided with our weekly visit. I was nervous about potential lines, but we arrived and got a table right away. They spaced us out The hostess staff weren't very professional. We walked in and they just stared at us. I was expecting a welcome at the least. Our waitress was terrific and warm. Their menu is nice, but doesn't accommodate people with dairy-free and gluten-free needs. Just a couple items for those with food allergies would be great. My fried chicken sandwich topped with coleslaw was fantastic, but hard to eat with the six inch long slices of carrot. The fries were the best I've had all year. My mom's house salad was great. Her pork chop was kinda boring, since she couldn't eat the sauce with it. The cornbread and jam that came with hers was so good. The store was massive and had something for everyone, though the prices are a little high. The bakery had vast offerings, but none that were both dairy-free and gluten-free. Please create a couple new items to accommodate allergies. The staff in the bakery were very nice. We'd like to come back, but unless a few food allergy friendly items are added, I'm not sure I'll be able to come back with my mom.

While there, I checked out some of the cute stores downtown. At Simply Jane, I found these super cute, colorful, and budget-friendly earrings.

Hopefully, I can explore more another time.

New Music via Songland from Florida Georgia Line: Second Guessing

I have really enjoyed the show, Songland from the beginning. Last week, I just loved the song that Florida Georgia Line selected and recorded, Second Guessing. I especially love the play on words. Such a sweet love song and so very catchy!

The Lifesaver that is Yelp

Each week for the last several months, I make a five-hour drive to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Tulsa is a place I'd never been previously. I have relied on Yelp in prep for those trips and while there for good restaurants close by, including menus and photos, but especially the ratings. My mom has a lot of food allergies and Yelp has been a God-send. Not all the places we've been to from there have been great, but using Yelp is a solid start. 

Through Yelp we found two of our favorite breakfast places. We also use it for sights to see or at least we did use it until quarantine. I find the wait-list feature to be so helpful. I just signed up to do the cash back and I hope to try unlocking free food offerings soon. To give back, I've started posting ratings, reviews and photos on Yelp also. Click here to see my reviews and follow me. 

Yelp has really helped us enjoy our time in Tulsa more, as well as getting there. Check it out for yourself; so helpful!

Movie #16: Call of the Wild

In elementary school, my mom read me Call of the Wild. That was until I couldn't hack it, the dog-fighting scenes got me. So, that was the end of us reading that book.

This year we've been taking near weekly five hour drives. Once, I heard they were making the Call of the Wild into a movie, I decided to get the audio book from the library. In one trip, we finished the book and were pretty hooked. Obviously, after the audio book, I really wanted to see the movie. Plus, the trailers were so good.



The movie essentially follows the life and adventures of Buck, the dog. Harrison Ford plays John Thornton, the main lead after Buck, the giant dog. It's said that the dog that they modeled Buck off of was picked up from a pet shelter in Kansas, my home state.

The movie follows Buck from a life of luxury in California as the dog of a judge. Then he gets kidnapped and sent to Alaska due to his big size, he was eyed as a sled dog. He gets purchased to be part of a dog-sled team that delivers the mail. He definitely has a learning curve. He makes friends with all the other dogs minus the lead dog, Spitz. Buck finally stands up to Spitz and leads the team. With Buck in the lead, they make record time. Just as they're hitting their stride, their lead gets a message to sell the dogs. The telegraph is on the way in and their mail delivery skills are no longer needed. The dogs are all sold together.

Eventually, the kind John Thornton rescues Buck and they have the best adventures. The scenery in the movie is breath-taking.

Thankfully, the book and movie are different; nobody wants to see dogs die from dog fighting, animal abuse, or dogs ripping out people's throats. I would've preferred an ending where everyone walks away happy, but that's not what the book or movie gave you. It did let you walk away knowing that life would go, as it should.

Surviving Quarantine

Welp, this quarantine has lasted 5.5 weeks now and unfortunately, there's no specific end in sight. Here are some of the things I've doing to try to maintain my sanity:

1. Maintain a routine

Each week day, I get up and dressed for work. No working in my pjs, I wear work-appropriate clothes and not just because on any given day, I may be on several Zoom calls. Dressing up helps keep my mind in work mode.

I work in a dedicated spot each day and try to keep my space clean and organized.

I work from 9-12, take a half hour lunch, and work again until 5ish.

2. Get some fresh air

The weather hasn't allowed it everyday, but whenever it's nice I try to go for at least one walk and sometimes three.

3. Stay active

Generally, I try to work out each work day. If it's nice, I'll go on a walk or run.

After not touching a basketball for at least a decade, I've started shooting baskets some evenings. It's been a good addition.

I've also been doing a ton of yoga. My gym has been offering it live a few days a week and I found Adriene's at home yoga. She's great and her dog, Benji is the cutest.

I did a barre class that my gym also offered and really liked that.

I've done some Zumba, as well, which I also enjoy.

I'm super burned out of working out at home, so I'm looking for new ideas.

4. Find a creative outlet or several

I've been doing a bit more acrylic painting lately, which has been fun.

For my birthday, a friend bought me some diamond painting projects. I first saw it on Cheryl Burke's Instagram and thought it looked super interesting. It's really easy and addictive.

My current project

I decided that it would be fun if I painted my nails each week of the quarantine. It's been fun to come up with different combinations and use more of my nail polish supplies.

Also, writing this blog has been a bit cathartic too. :)

What things are keeping you sane during this time?

Movie #15: I Still Believe

I've wanted to see the movie for ages, I've been familiar with Jeremy Camp's story since college, when I heard him in concert. So, for my birthday, we rented, I Still Believe. Jeremy married super young and his wife, Melissa died of cancer. He's now a famous Christian musician and remarried with kids. I've always enjoyed his music, but was interested in watching the movie to see more of his story. That and the actor that plays him, KJ Apa has played in some shows and movies that I enjoy, Riverdale, A Dog's Purpose, and The Hate You Give.

Here's the movie trailer to pique your interest a bit more. :)


The movie also stars Britt Robertson, Gary Sinise (Lietenant Dan!), singer Shania Twain, and Melissa Roxburgh (who I recognized from Manifest).

The story opens with Jeremy moving from Indiana to college in California. His first night, he sneaks into the back stage before a concert. He introduces himself to the lead singer, Jean-Luc La Joie of Kry. Next thing you know, Jeremy is tuning Jean-Luc's guitar and swapping out guitars for the band during the concert. While doing that, he spots Melissa for the first time. He can't take his eyes off of her as she sings and praises Jesus.

After the concert, he awkwardly introduces himself to her. Later, she spots him on campus playing his guitar and singing. She says hi and it's still awkward. As she leaves, she asks if he has plans for the night. Some friends and her are going to the beach. He says he'll be there and it's a date. She tells him to bring his guitar. He shows up and it looks like she's having a flirty conversation with Jean-Luc. Apparently, she's friends with him too. She makes Jeremy sing in front of everyone. She joins in too, as they sing a song I've never heard of, Find Me In the River. I did't know it was also sang by JJ Heller; love her. I love that song, it's so sweet and soft.

Here's the music video:

Somewhere after that, they started hanging out more. Jeremy asked her what was up with her and Jean-Luc. Apparently, they'd been longtime friends, but his feelings had changed, but she didn't like him like that. Melissa finally agrees to go on a date with Jeremy. They go to somewhere that simulates the stars. Melissa loves looking at the stars. At the end of the night, they agree to keep their relationship quiet. Jeremy thinks they should tell Jean-Luc about their relationship after an awkward lunch with the three of them when Jean-Luc asks to talk to Melissa alone. Melissa doesn't want to hurt him, so she doesn't want to tell him about her and Jeremy. The conversation doesn't end well.

The next day, Jean-Luc let's Jeremy use some of his studio time to lay down some tracks. Jean-luc also invited Melissa. She shows up and they all take a break. Jean-Luc heads out to take care of something and Melissa goes into the studio with Jeremy. They patch things up and he sings her a new song, with the lyrics, "I love, I love you, I love you." She's not sure what to say. She asks if the song is about God and he says no, it's about her. They share their first kiss, only to look up and see Jean-Luc witnessed the whole thing. He's mad and hurt. Now, Melissa is mad that they hurt Jean-Luc. So, she breaks up with Jeremy. He goes through the rest of the semester heartbroken. He heads back home for Christmas.

While on Christmas break, Jean-Luc calls in the middle of the night to tell Jeremy that Melissa is really sick and in the hospital. With his parent's okay, he drives from Indiana to California. He finally arrives and falls alone on a hospital couch. Melissa's family wakes him up, they've heard all about him. He goes to her room and everyone leaves so they can visit. She had a tumor the size of an orange removed from her stomach. He's not sure what he should do, but Jean-Luc asks him if can live without her.

The next day, Melissa tells Jeremy that she loves him. He's shocked and leaves saying he needs a minute. He next takes her to the chapel in the hospital that he decorates with lights to resemble their first date. He asks her to marry him and without hesitating, she says yes.

Jeremy heads home and his parents are shocked to hear the news. He packs back up to head to California, but not before his mom gives him her engagement ring to give to Melissa. Melissa gets released to go home and Jeremy is there to give her the ring. <3

He takes her to appointment and they learn hard news; she needs a hysterectomy due to cancerous ovaries. She's devastated, she wants kids. Jeremy and Jean-Luc rally people together to pray for Melissa's upcoming surgery. She goes in for surgery and they learn, the cancer is GONE!

Six months later, they marry on the beach. It's perfect and they're so happy. Next, they're on their honeymoon in Hawaii. They're having the best time. One night, Melissa starts to have stomach issues and not feel well. She wakes in the middle of the night and wakes Jeremy, telling him something is wrong. They fly home and head straight to the hospital. The tests reveal cancer has spread everywhere and there's nothing the doctor's can do for her. They go to their new apartment for the first time and are greet by wedding photos and gifts. They're beyond sad. Melissa locks herself in the bathroom and breaks down crying.

One night, Jeremy wakes up to hear Melissa vomiting in the bathroom. He runs in there to see her vomiting blood. He takes her to the hospital. She's near the end. She asks him to play the song he just finished. It's "I Still Believe." She raises her hand is praise to God while Jeremy sings.

She wakes screaming to Jeremy and her family that she's healed. She tells Jeremy that he has to believe her. He runs to get a doctor and before they can get back, her sister, Heather is screaming Melissa's name. She passed away. He's devastated that he didn't get to say goodbye. He's broken. His dad drives from Indiana to California. He arrives to find Jeremy collapsed and lying on the floor of Melissa's hospital room. Together the get ready to leave and Jeremy nearly collapses while signing her death certificate.

They have her funeral and Jeremy heads home to Indiana with his family. One particularly hard day, he sees his guitar and smashes it. While leaving the room, he sees something. Amidst the shards of his guitar, He sees some paper. It's a letter from Melissa. Essentially, she tells him to pick up his guitar and start playing again. His dad is relieved to one day hear Jeremy playing again.

From there, it pans to Jeremy being introduced as a successful singer/songwriter. He sings, "I Still Believe." He leaves and a girl who introduces herself as Adrienne. She says Melissa impacted her life.

In the end they marry and have three kids.

Such a good movie; I laughed and I teared up. See this movie!

Music by Terrian

I have fallen in love with the music of Terrian. It's so spirited and deep. Her voice and lyrics hit me right in the heart.

Thankfully, over spring break, I was able to hear her sing on the Toby Mac Hits Deep Tour. She's also in Toby Mac's DiverseCity band. So, let me share some my favorites with you.





I can not wait to hear more music from Terrian and follow her career.

Johnny Rotten's Burger Bar & Wienery in Salina, Kansas

While in Salina, Kansas visiting a friend, we explored downtown. We got hungry and decided on Johnny Rotten's Burger Bar & Wienery. They had a nice, cool interior.

They had build-your-own burgers and build-your-own wieners. I like being able to customize my food to get just what I want.

I loved my burger which had a pretzel bun, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions, and guac.

I really enjoyed their sweet potato fries!

I can't wait to go back once this quarantine is over!

Packing Cubes

Every time I go somewhere, even for one night, my bag becomes a mess. I can't find anything and it's so frustrating. For awhile, I've thought that maybe packing cubes would be the answer to my messy bags with lost items. So, when Christmas came, I added them to my wish list. My cousin got me a Veken 6 pack with various sizes in a vibrant purple.

It also came with a guide of how to best fold different types of clothing. The cubes are all different sizes which is so very convenient. The shoe bag is perfect for two pair of shoes. There's even a dirty laundry bag.

I won't go anywhere now without my packing cubes. They keep everything so much more organized. I know where to find each type of clothing. I would most certainly recommend them for all travelers.

Part One: My Favorite Brunch Spot in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Recently, my parents and I have been spending a lot of time in Tulsa. Since we're there pretty much every week, we've been exploring restaurants.

Back home in Manhattan, Kansas we barely ever agree on a restaurant we all like, but in Tulsa that's another story. Our go-to breakfast/lunch place is First Watch. We've probably eaten there at least five times in the last two months. Everything I've ordered I've loved. They have the best orange juice; so fresh.

Their morning meditation juice is so good. We also get great service. They're very helpful with my mom's gluten and dairy allergy which is really rare. Getting on the wait-list through Yelp is smart.

Chicken salad melt and salad with lemon dressing

A.M. Superfoods Bowl

Tri-fecta (eggs, sausage, and banana granola pancake)

And...writing this just made me crave their food and I'm not in Tulsa now. :(