A Huge "Thank You" - from the heart and stomach . . .

I am a lucky and blessed girl. And despite some very real and fast-impending challenges upon me, I have to stop and recognize that there are so many people in my life who love me, who worry about and pray for me, who are there for me in ways big and small . . . I'm overwhelmed by it, truly.

Since I've been out of the hospital, I've been grateful that a number of dear people in my life have made it a point to take me to lunch or dinner, buy me healthy food to stock my fridge, check to see if I'm actually eating said groceries (or at all) and if I'm able to keep my food and meds down. Not only do I appreciate all of this - but I will admit that I need it. I need people who care asking after my eating habits and offering whatever they can (that chicken soup I love from Jalisco? bananas for upping my potassium per doctor's orders? to get out of the house at least for a bit and be around people and order whatever sounds good on the menu? My family and friends are wily, persistent and, kind, and don't easily take "no" for an answer when they know their stubborn girl needs more of a nudge than normal).

And partly because of their collective efforts (it scares me a little that now so many have each other's numbers and could easily work out some crazy shenanigans with me likely being none the wiser), and partly because of my own resolve to get healthy, food has once again proven a key link in the circles of life and happiness.

Now, off to brunch with a dear old friend and her husband - what could be better than a Fried Green Tomato "BLT" on a sunny patio with old friends? Today, nothing. Oh, indeed, I am a lucky girl.

Yours,
Love Bites,
Carrie Neal

Love MoSaic's Fried Green Tomato sandwich (add bacon, of course!!)

"Delivery!"

This girl has had a rough week or so. A follow-up doctor's visit last Wednesday turned into a do-not-pass-go, go-straight-to-the-ER episode that resulted in my five-day staycation at Piedmont Hospital. Eep!

Sparing you all the gory details, I'll just say that somehow e-coli infected my bladder, then my blood and it turned into a severe kidney infection. My stats and vitals were all over the place - from crazy high blood pressure to scary low, a heart rate as high as 144 bpm, fever up to 104, and excruciating pain throughout my stomach and lower back. It was quite the ordeal.

I often have a hard time keeping food, drink and medicine down when stressed (and I was a little stressed mentally and obviously physically to say the least, here!) and I get particularly nauseous to boot so even if I feel a little hungry and want to try to eat, it's not often a success.

Hospital food also tends to be less tasty than my usual daily fare. It's not terrible, but you can't expect a hospital food service to match Bistro Niko, right?

Tilapia with orange sauce courtesy of Piedmont Hospital's dining service

But! I lucked out and had other delivery services available. Living so close to Piedmont and having parents, a boyfriend and other friends also in close proximity meant that I got spoiled by having treats from my usual haunts brought to me. My troops did anything that they could to entice me to eat. Daddy brought lunch one day, my favorite turkey sandwich from Panera (just turkey, romaine, Swiss and cucumbers on French) and a CamiCakes red velvet cupcake (sooo yummy!) . . . Mom brought a stash of diet coke and one day a breakfast plate from Another Broken Egg with scrambled eggs, bacon, an English muffin and tomato slices . . . The Boy really outdid himself with another breakfast from ABE one morning, a "date night" spread of a Houston's smorgasbord of my favorite things - the smoked salmon app, the Club Salad with my requested moderations. . . Fellini's pizza and salad (and "Ronin") for another date night . . . a steak and side of pasta from Brio for a third. I might not have eaten much of any of their treats, but they were so thoughtful to take care of me, I tried, and at least I kept what I did manage to eat down. And felt a little stronger with each meal. And felt even more grateful to have the people who love me taking care of me in this particular way.

Houston's yummy Club Salad for me and a grilled salmon steak for him  (my fave smoked salmon app not shown) - mmmm, such a treat!

Grocery delivery! Maybe those bananas will help boost my very low potassium level, along with the supplements.

Daddy knows just how I like my turkey sandwich from Panera and the CamiCakes was a sweet touch!

While I was gone, my mom was sweet enough to clean my apartment and do my laundry - and "clean out" my fridge as she saw fit. I came home to a pristine fridge - missing a few of what I consider staples. My energy level is definitely not up to par yet, and the thought of grocery shopping was more than I could handle. So when my sweet Godmother called yesterday to see how I was and what she could do for me, as bad as I can be about accepting help, when she suggested she come over to visit, then maybe we make a grocery list and she could run get me a few things I'd need and like. . . under the circumstances, I said "yes, please" to another angel in my life.

Food can be healing in so many ways - obviously, for its nutritional content, but also for its comfort factor. It can be made or delivered with love. It can be extended as a peace offering or as something to give when  there's little else you can do. It really does cover a multitude of sins, "fix" (at least temporarily) one's current ills, bring smiles to faces and create an opportunity for people to connect.

That, my friends, is a perfect kind of delivery in my book.

Yours,

Love Bites,

Carrie Neal

Love Soup

So, I may have the sweetest boyfriend in the world. He does many nice things for me - on a big scale like trips and stuff - but it's the little things that make me smile the most and know how much he loves me. When he brings me a card, or slides one into the writing contract he printed out for me, or makes me brunch, or like today . . . I have been feeling pretty stressed and very lousy lately for various reasons and did not sleep at all last night. I'll spare you details of the other physical complaints I have and my anxiety over tomorrow's doctor's appointment, but he was my hero today.

He and I usually have anywhere from one to three meals a day together, at pretty nice spots. We also do casual, or take out occasionally and we had planned on lunch today when he had a break at work. Given the holiday weekend, today is his Monday so it's been hectic. After the awful, restless night I had and how I was still not feeling better by around 11am, a special delivery sounded so nice. And I didn't have any Advil type product (for day or night use- I am not supposed to take Tylenol/acetaminophen products). About an hour later, I had my favorite Mexican chicken soup and a supply of pain relievers for now and for tonight so hopefully I can sleep.

I managed to get down about half the soup - he is always encouraging me to eat, in a non-aggressive way - and we'll do something about dinner later. That, my friends, is love soup.

Yours,
Love Bites,
Carrie Neal

I so love Jalisco's Mexican chicken soup!

Oh, My . . .He-Artichoke

The Boy knows how to feed me. We dine out almost daily, and often for multiple meals. We have a few favorite haunts and since we dine so easily together - by that I mean, we quite naturally decide on what to order, what to share, etc (which is sooo wonderful). He is always gracious about what I want but also voices his opinion when strong on the subject of ordering this vs. that; it is a perfect combination. He also knows about my past eating struggles (I'm sure we'll get into that in future posts) and is patient with me when I'm indecisive and also knows when to take the lead when I mean it when I say, "You decide what to get for us."

After my meeting at Parental HQ yesterday, we met up for a late lunch at one of our recent favorite spots. I was hungry but a bit emotional so I left it to him to order something for us.

We've gotten in the habit of starting with the roasted artichoke appetizer at this spot before we decide on something else (he knows I can be peckish if we don't get something started, depending on the time of day or how in-the-mood-for-a-specific-something I'm feeling). It is delicious.

What I didn't know about the grand artichoke (until I did some research just now) is that it has restorative/digestive powers related to the kidneys, liver, and gallbladder.They are also good for fighting high cholesterol. And here, I just thought they were yummy!!  You can learn a lot at Lifescripts site (http://www.lifescripts.com)  if you want to learn more about the lovely artichoke.

Sometimes, a good meal with a favorite food is just what the doctor (or the Boyfriend) ordered.

Next time you see grilled artichokes on a menu somewhere, or want to add a "different" vegetable to your rotation at home (hmmm, pasta? grilling? so many choices) . . . consider going for it!

Yours,
Love Bites,
Carrie Neal

Grilled artichoke with herb aioli

Fortification

So today, I have a Serious Talk on deck with my parents. You know, the kind about life issues, and money, and Where Carrie Neal Is Going. This made me alternately nauseous and yet cognizant that some fortification pre-Geneva Convention was probably a smart idea. Oh, and I also spent the morning sending out resumes, creating alternate resume versions (you know, one focused on writing, one on my restaurant work, a collective one updated . . .) and cover letters. Talk about stress! And I don't tend to eat well when I'm really stressed, but in the spirit of trying to take care of my body and mind. . .

To what did I turn? The incredible, edible egg, of course! I love eggs in many forms, from scrambled to fried and I love them maybe a little bit more in some form of a sandwich. Today's concoction, inspired by the tasty site Hannah and Bryan's Sweet Tea & Stilettos (see pic and link below), consisted of fried egg, some yellow and red tomato I had on hand, a little avocado and a slice of Swiss. On my favorite Nature's Own butter bread (when I'm going down and dirty simple, this is my go to pick rather than something fancier). I didn't wrap mine up in parchment and tie it with a ribbon - if I was gonna eat, it needed to happen pronto after creation! - but it turned out tasty.

I managed to eat most of it (ok, not quite half, but Sir Doggus, as we call Luke around here, got a few nibbles so it wasn't a complete waste). Feeling at least a little fortified and marginally calmer about the pending conversation, I can face the day.

They say breakfast is the meal of champions - well, I need to be a champ today. I guess technically I had brunch versus breakfast . . . I can leave home in a bit feeling fortified. Sometimes you just have to feed yourself right and pray for the best.

Yours,
Love Bites,
Carrie Neal

Fried Egg BLT from http://www.hannahandbryan.blogspot.com

Food For A Friend

I have a friend who is on bed rest, possibly until her December due date. This friend is actually someone I'd only known online via Yelp til today. When I took her food and other treats and we had a wonderful visit.

Since I have a little time on my hands, when I saw that she had posted about her situation and asked for suggestions of places that delivered or were nearby for family and friends to pick things up for her - just so she didn't always have to eat hospital food (though when I saw the menu of her choices, I was impressed - but anything that's the same gets old, so I totally get it!) - I offered to make her something, whatever she wanted. I'm good with pasta dishes, casseroles, a few other things. And while I'm chronically bad at accepting help (I mean, I've only let the boy bring me food when I needed something maybe twice), I love doing nice things for others and when I make an offer - well, like I said to her, "I wouldn't offer if I didn't mean it." (Hmm, perhaps I should take my own words to heart when someone asks me what I need??). She thought muffins and fresh fruit sounded great. And tea. No one likes those "fruit cups" the hospital serves, or bland tea, and since the Boy liked the muffins I made him the other day so much, it was game on!

I got up this morning and made my blueberry muffins, and put together a goody bag. A couple boxes of (decaf) flavored tea so she had some choices, fresh strawberries and (score, as she loves it!) a couple of kiwi. Threw in a good new book - if you haven't read Emily Giffin's newest book, Where We Belong, do!) and a few DVD's (a "Law & Order" season, "16 Candles," and the winner since she has not seen it, "Eat, Pray, Love"- score!) and I was off to play foodie fairy friend.

It's no fun being cooped up, so to speak, but if there's a small way you can care for someone - well, it does this girl's heart good.

Yours,
Love Bites,
Carrie Neal

Yelp-A-Licious!

So anyone who knows me knows that I am a big Yelper. I love the site, I've met so many great people through it and I enjoy everything from the "foodie" Elite events (certain Yelpers get deemed Elite each year based on a number of variables, from frequent reviewing to positive participation in the site and being, as Yelp's tagline is, providers of "real, honest, reviews" of businesses in their local community). It's a pretty cool thing and you can check out my Yelp page here: www.carrienealland.yelp.com.

Yelp just got even cooler in my book, last night, with the Kickoff Party for "Yelp Helps": a month of activities with Yelpers working with over 20 local charities to do good and raise money for great organizations in our fair city. I volunteer with The Junior League of Atlanta and this year am again working with Open Hand (two outstanding Atlanta nonprofits) but was not familiar with most of the participants in this Yelp series.

Last night, we were invited to the Georgia World Congress Center (hadn't been there in ages!) for a night of fun, introduction to the participating charities, and - of course! - food. When these things come together, and the night raises a few thousand dollars before the month of events has even started, how can it not be awesome??

Fun for a good cause!

From learning about two new organizations with whom I definitely want to volunteer - Ahimsa House (visit www.ahimsahouse.org) who work to rescue pets caught in domestic violence situations and find them new and safe homes (I was shocked to learn that more than 71% of domestic violence victims report that their abuser has threatened, harmed or killed their pet!!), to Atlanta Pet Rescue and Adoption (check out this upcoming event on September 23rd - www.pawsintheparkatlanta.com), I was excited! Yes, I have a love for animals and since I already do other volunteer work with organizations like Open Hand that focus on feeding critically or terminally ill people, and Junior League which focuses on women and children at risk, I look forward to trying something different over the next weeks!

And while we got to peruse the information about all these great organizations, there were "snacks." More than snacks, really - Billy and crew from the awesome Cypress Street Pint & Plate were there (their Philly cheese steak is awesome and they had mini versions plus meatball sliders for us!) and gave coupons out, Maddio's Pizza was there with a blue cheese pizza among other options (more coupons, score!), Googie Burger was in full force with a whole kitchen wagon set up to make full burgers and fries, OMG cupcakes . . . the list goes on. This is why it "pays" to be a Yelper!

This makes my heart happy - we always have fun at Yelp events and there's always good food and fun people, but when you can also party with a purpose . . . that's way cool. Looking forward to a great month of fun, friends, food and new experiences with some of our city's best charity folks!

Yours,
Love Bites,
Carrie Neal

P.S. If you're interested in learning more about "Yelp Helps" - visit the Yelp  Atlanta home page  and check the bottom right side of the home page for full details on all the organizations that will be involved, and event dates as they are posted!!

Visit www.yelp.com/atlanta for details!!