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  • Unknown's avatar

    eatveggiesdrinkwine 10:22 pm on September 20, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

    Adventures 24/52 & 25/52: Road-tripping with DP (my husband) and Veganizing my favorite summer cake 

    In my rush to post all of my summer adventures, I forgot to add one of the best …

    Adventure 24/52: 24 hours in Indianapolis with DP (my husband) and Jack Johnson
    In a whirlwind road trip to Indianapolis in July just for fun, DP and I had dinner with one of his former students at ZING, rocked in a mellow kind of way with Jack Johnson, enjoyed the downtown canal walk, felt the magic at Hinkle Fieldhouse, and got a big dose of LOVE at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. The original plan was for a group road trip, but it turned out to be a fun 24-hour vacation for the two of us … we’ll definitely repeat in a different city sometime soon.
    And returning to a more recent adventure…
    Adventure 25/52: Veganizing my favorite summer cake
    Lime Cream Torte. Sounds and looks fancy, but it’s pretty simple to make. Especially because it uses boxed cake mix, which I realized was a little weird the last time I made it. If I’m going to the effort of whipping real cream for the frosting, why am I relying on Duncan Hines processed cake mix? That was the first spark in wanting to try a makeover on this Taste of Home recipe.
    Before I go on, let me assure you that I believe in the sacredness and importance of dessert. At a restaurant, I’ll take the chocolate raspberry cheesecake over a fruit cup any day. Sure, at home I’ll satisfy my craving for something sweet with a slice of watermelon or a square of dark chocolate, but I wouldn’t call either of those options dessert. Additionally, though I find myself leaning more toward a vegan diet these days, I don’t like to use soy-based butter and whipped cream and egg replacers when I bake. So, this adventure was more about challenging myself to find less-processed options for making this tasty cake.
    The final result definitely tasted more on the “healthy” end of the dessert spectrum than I would have liked, but for my first attempt at recreating a dessert recipe, it stood up to the challenge. I substituted coconut oil and flax seed for the butter and eggs called for in this key lime cake recipe, then I made a cashew-nut based “cream” frosting (using lime juice instead of water) thanks to directions from this lovely blog I discovered. (Note: you should really soak the cashews for 2 hours or more. I was too impatient and I think the texture of the cream was impacted.) I took it to a family gathering on Sunday, and this is all that’s left:
     
  • Unknown's avatar

    eatveggiesdrinkwine 10:11 pm on September 20, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

    Adventure 26/52: Leaving a hope note for a stranger to find 

    The purpose behind last week’s Mondo Beyondo secret mission was simple: “There’s nothing like putting something good out into the world to give you the courage to believe it yourself.” I was invited to leave an affirmation in a public place for someone else to find and enjoy.

    However, for someone like me who gets caught up in the rules (e.g., what if I’m not allowed to put tape on this wall?!), the execution was not so simple. I was excited but nervous about where I’d place the notes (because I wanted to share two messages) and wasn’t sure I’d be able to snap a picture afterwards in case I needed to make a quick getaway from the tape police. (I’m only partly kidding …)

    The first note is from a Valentine’s Day postcard my husband and I sent a few years ago. Cincinnati readers might be able to spot the location. I hung the second note near a few benches. I hope that someone eating lunch or taking a few moments to reflect will see it peeking through the leaves.

     
    • adventurechaser's avatar

      adventurechaser 5:41 pm on September 27, 2010 Permalink

      LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this! I’m a rule follower too and can completely relate (that in itself is an adventure for some of us 🙂 Good for you for taking on the tape police for such a worthy cause.

  • Unknown's avatar

    Kimberly Hula 12:04 pm on September 16, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , Boston Trapeze School, trapeze swinging   

    ADV. #13: Up In the Air With the Greatest of Ease? 

    “How did you get into this line of work?”

    “Heroine.”

    Annnnd a long pause.  This had to be done for effect, right?  No matter, because at the end of the day the trapeze artist who somehow found a way to coax me off the ledge got his start swinging the bars via heroin.  Which makes this all the more spicy an adventure.

    But, to set the scene, it started a little something like this:

    I wanted attention.  From the onset my family has quietly humored this campaign.  Few members asked after what I was up to and when they did they seemed disappointed.

    “Poetry reading?  Wild…”

    And while I should make the most of my experiences and fashion some semblance of self acceptance I still really wanted my family to intone.  To emote.  I really wanted to wow them.  To be fair, I wanted to upstage my sister’s recent engagement that had everyone in a hurricane windfall of excitement.

    So what, what, what garners all kinds of attention?  Nudity (forthcoming) seemed too stark.  Windsurfing too quiet.  Then, probably in considering to the dynamic of my family, I couldn’t shake the notion of a circus.  And with that, and a Google search, I found the Boston Trapeze School.

    The “school” did not take on the fascade I thought it would.  Close your eyes.  Picture a trapeze artist instructing another.  Visualize the high bars.  The costuming.  Have you secured a good, sound vision in your mind?

    Now lose all of your opinions.

    (More …)

     
    • eatveggiesdrinkwine's avatar

      eatveggiesdrinkwine 9:46 am on September 18, 2010 Permalink

      Thanks for your honesty — that, to me, makes you even more brave and adventurous than being willing to fly on a trapeze.

  • Unknown's avatar

    Kimberly Hula 11:00 am on September 16, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags:   

    ADV. #12: What the Blind Saw 

    I’m at this sweet spot in the adventure continuum where everything is really beautiful and nothing hurts.  That’s to say, I’m optimistic and adventure-hungry and ready to say yes to anything.  This is good at week 13.  While still antsy, I’ve built up enough adventure momentum to keep me going.  Enough to say yes to Rebecca when she told tale of her last date with a man she met online.

    It went a little something like this: Ms. Rebecca meets up with said man, at 8 a.m., for coffee.  It’s a bit unorthodox, but I appreciate a punctual, no-nonsense meet and greet so I applaud their setup.  The date goes seemingly well until the topic of religion is broached.  Rebecca practices Religion A.  Mr. Date practices no religion.  Mr. Date goes one step further in declaring that he couldn’t wisely date someone of faith because… well, the reasons why are still foggy to me, but it’s known by both parties that this date is going no where.

    Rebecca isn’t certain if she should feel snubbed by his dismissal of her as a viable date because of her faith, or if she should be relieved that someone was so raw and honest.  Rebecca also referred to this date as handsome and successful.  He, she mused, would be perfect for me.

    That got her and our friend Jane thinking that maybe I should be set up with the dismissed date. (More …)

     
    • skywatcher's avatar

      blueskiesinva 8:37 pm on September 23, 2010 Permalink

      Dating IS an adventure. Period. I admire you for sticking this one out!

  • Unknown's avatar

    Kimberly Hula 1:23 pm on September 13, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags:   

    ADV. #11/52: The Power in Protest 

    When I had a car, it was obnoxious.  It was a little, un-souped Saturn SL1 with manual locks and windows and no stereo.  It’s lack for frills did not lend it it’s obnoxious air, instead, the bumper, the standard champagne colored dent-resistant bumper was covered, bumper-wall to bumper-wall in stickers.

    Go ahead and roll your eyes.  I am certainly one of those people.

    But I’m going to try and redeem myself.  I didn’t sponsor any lame slogans.  There was no prostelyzing about bikes or a God or even public works.  There was, however, a very real agenda to my cars backside.  There would be no mistaking my political affiliation if you were to see my wheels on the road.  You would know I’m a Democrat.  A Democrat who supports Democratic candidates.  A Democrat who supports gay rights.  A Democrat who supports ending the war.  A Democrat, a Democrat, A Democrat.

    And maybe I talk a big talk.  And showcase an impressive bumper.  But when push comes to shove I’ve been a lax Democrat.  I’ve missed voting in less sexy elections.  I argue about causes and beliefs without really researching my side and the oppositions side.  I’d like to believe I’m well meaning, and I really want to be well meaning.  It’s just… if I’m to tote around town all self-righteous like as a raging liberal (It would really have been better had I a hybrid), I should probably do more for the team, right?

    So when presented with the opportunity to stand up for something I believe in, I thought to do so.  To get in and get my hands dirty and invest myself totally to something.  And that’s usually the issue – I think I can do it all, and a lot is half accomplished.  I didn’t want that.   (More …)

     
    • eatveggiesdrinkwine's avatar

      eatveggiesdrinkwine 9:52 pm on September 15, 2010 Permalink

      So very brave of you. Good work!

  • Unknown's avatar

    Kimberly Hula 12:25 pm on September 12, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags:   

    ADV #10: How High the Hill 

    I’m still wasn’t certain* how I felt about Boston.  That’s to say, before I left for Japan I prepared myself to miss Boston.  I thought up all the selling points to this city so that my return trip home would be anticipated.  I was certain a 15 hour flight would leave me wanting and needing this newfound city I hadn’t quite broken in.  I guess I just really needed to want to want Boston.

    Japan didn’t quite do that for me.

    The trip itself left me dumbfounded.  I didn’t want to stay but I wasn’t certain where I’d sooner leave.  I thought a lot about my home city of Chicago.  I fantasized about taking an outgoing plane anywhere.  I cooked up a cute story of using an emergency only credit-card to fly anywhere I’ve never been all in the name of this year of adventure.  But, pragmatism came into play.  I had things at home.  I was enrolled in classes and had jobs.  Probably, more practically, my credit card had a limit that I near exhausted on my trip.  I was Boston-bound.

    And really, that’s no reason to complain.  It’s just… I hadn’t acclimated to Boston yet.  I’d been adventuring and trying on for size different neighborhoods and trying to be really and truly optimistic, yet, the city fell short.  Something was missing. (More …)

     
  • Unknown's avatar

    AG 5:54 am on September 12, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: 23/52   

    Adventure #23: Hiked Another Mountain! 

    Adventure #23: I found myself on a mountain…again!

    I said I’d never do it again, but I did it! I hiked up a mountain today in what felt like a trek through the Cambodian jungle! (haha) The hike to the top to see beautiful waterfalls was stunning!

    Photobucket

     
  • Unknown's avatar

    AG 5:53 am on September 12, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: 22/52   

    Adventure #22: Angkor Wat 

    I made it to Cambodia a couple of days ago via bus from Bangkok. Crossing the border was an adventure in and of itself, but Angkor Wat was worth the trip!

    Photobucket

     
  • Unknown's avatar

    AG 9:26 am on September 11, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

    Adventures #22: The Great Wall of China 

    I started out my month long travels through Asia in Beijing. I was determined to walk on the Great Wall, and despite the scary chairlift up to the wall, I made it!

    Photobucket

     
    • Kimberly Hula's avatar

      yearof52adventures 1:26 pm on September 13, 2010 Permalink

      This looks incredible! I’m in awe of your nomadic lifestyle!

    • eatveggiesdrinkwine's avatar

      eatveggiesdrinkwine 9:53 pm on September 15, 2010 Permalink

      I love this picture. Thanks for letting us adventure/travel vicariously through you.

  • Unknown's avatar

    eatveggiesdrinkwine 9:25 pm on August 25, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

    Adventures 14-23/52: Summer fun 

    Candlelight dinner for one

    Where has the summer gone? I’m still behind on adventuring, but not as much as my lack of recent postings might indicate. Here’s a speed-round update of all that’s happened:

    14/52: Making a multi-step pizza dough recipe to enjoy during my personal candlelight dinner (pictured above) while DP was away for a golf weekend. Totally worth weighing all of the ingredients and waiting hours for the dough to rise.

    15/52: Finishing my first quilt. I love its fabrics as well as its imperfections (there are many).

    16/52: Offering on a whim to quit my job (or really, just work part-time.) This offer was respectfully declined and led to the discovery that the director of my program reads my blog (Hi Raj!) … he asked me if this was one of my adventures. I told him I didn’t intend it to be, but it made sense to count it as one after the fact.

    17/52: Repurposing old hiking socks into an iPod arm band (aka, Socking it to the Apple man or, I’ve already spent $200+ on an iPod, I don’t need to spend $30 more on something that’s going to get sweaty holding it).

    18/52: Inviting a new friend to dinner to discuss leaps of faith, cooking for a career and living a purposeful life.

    19/52: Admitting—out loud and with tears—that I can’t do it all. And finally believing it. And finally letting myself be okay with it.

    20/52: Moving my relationship status with (not on) Facebook to “it’s complicated.” I ignored it for a few days and found out that it seems to be creating rather than filling some void in my life. I’m not deactivating my account just yet, but I’m still reflecting on other ways to meaningfully connect with people.

    21/52: Putting our house up for sale, in anticipation of another adventure.

    22/52: Becoming a morning walker, even before I have a sip of coffee. I never thought I’d be a person who wakes up early to exercise, but I’m three weeks into the routine and feel too good to stop–until the mornings get colder and darker, at least.

    23/52: Registering for the Mondo Beyondo online class to begin exploring my dreams and reclaiming my happy place in life.

    I sense lots of adventure possibilities in the next few months, and my goal is to better about blogging … so, stay tuned!

     
    • Kimberly Hula's avatar

      yearof52adventures 1:15 pm on September 13, 2010 Permalink

      Looking good lady!
      I am so.very.inspired by you!

    • Zavrina's avatar

      Zavrina 12:33 pm on May 4, 2011 Permalink

      You’re a real deep tihkner. Thanks for sharing.

    • Iffi's avatar

      Iffi 3:32 pm on October 8, 2012 Permalink

      When I use my search engine to look for blogs to read yours has come up several times on different categories. That just made me want to read it more, I can see why. It is excellent. Keep up the awesome work.

    • Kimberly Hula's avatar

      Kimberly Hula 3:18 pm on January 2, 2013 Permalink

      Thanks Iffi! That means a lot!

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