thegreatkaysby – Page 14 – The Great Kaysby

Lactation Lament

Sleep loss? No problem. Less free time? Not too hard of an adjustment. Breastfeeding? The most difficult thing I’ve done in my life, and I get on stage to act in front of judgmental audiences for a hobby. One show I even entered doing a cartwheel and always had the lingering thought of what if I land on my head or break an arm? Breastfeeding makes that cartwheel look like a walk in the park! Thus today I want to lament on lactation, and what it has taught me.

DETERMINATION!

I’ve set a lot of goals in life. Some of them I’ve met; some of them I haven’t met. I thought these taught me grit and determination. Wrong! Do you know what teaches determination? A stubborn baby with an equally stubborn mama!

Lil Kisby was very energy efficient (the PC way to say lazy) when it came to nursing. Instead of latching, he felt the best way to eat was either from a syringe or a bottle especially the one that was leaky. He was born late May 20, and he decided to latch on June 7. For those counting that was 19 days!

In addition to him not latching, my milk production was around 50% of what it should be. Now a baby can’t just eat 50% of the time! Unlike mama, he doesn’t have extra fluff to lose. What did this mean? A strict regimen of nurse, supplement, pump and repeat every three hours. Yesterday – July 30 – he finally made it through a day with no formula supplementation because he was able to get full on breastmilk! 72 days after birth!

Now I get what determination means!

Supply, Supply, Supply

When your supply is low, you will do just about anything to help increase it. At least you will if you’re me. Seriously, if the lactation consultant had told me to stand on my head 7 hours a day to increase my supply, then I would have found a way to stand on my head 7 hours a day. Thankfully, that wasn’t recommended, but here are somethings I’ve tried!

Motherlove More Milk Special Blend – I’ve used the liquid and capsule forms. Both smell terrible and taste like they smell, but they were the number one recommendation. So my breath my smell like an herb garden, but if it helps then it is worth it!

Hot Tea – I’ve drank raspberry tea and Mother’s Milk tea. I don’t know how much they are helping, but they’ve turned me into a hot tea drinker. They are both decaf, and I find them to be relaxing before bedtime. Give me my tea and a book, and I’ll sleep like a baby!

Lactation Cookies – I bought some, then I found a recipe via Google to make my own. Store bought cookies were good, but mine are great because I added chocolate chips and peanut butter chips!

100 Grams of Protein Daily – This is the hardest for me as I am not a big meat or bean eater. My main sources of protein have been chicken nuggets and peanut butter with the occasional pork and hamburger. If I liked steak this would be a lot easier!

The Pink Drink – This drink is made at Starbucks and women on the Internet claimed it worked. There is no scientific evidence to support that it would help, but it tastes delicious! I’m a sucker for refreshing strawberry drinks! If it does help then cool, if not then it is $5 of tasty!

So…

So for those of you out there who have also struggled with breastfeeding, I want you to know that you are not alone! The lactation struggle is real! However, persevering through is worth it! I’d love to hear your stories of perseverance in the comments!

Now I must go make tea!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Baby Eats Every 3 Hours…When Do I Eat?

I knew when LilKsby came along that he would have to eat every three hours. They taught us that in Baby Care Class. What they didn’t teach us is that sometimes feedings can take 90 minutes to 2 hours each time when you’re having to breastfeed, supplement, and pump every feeding. This isn’t always the case for people, but LilKsby wasn’t big on eating when he was first born. Can you imagine not liking to eat? I never thought that was possible!

So what do you do when you basically have 60 to 90 minutes for a meal between feedings?

1) People who say what can I do to help can bring you food! Seriously! Take them up on the offer whether it is for a home cooked meal or something from a drive thru. You will enjoy that few minutes you get to sit in a chair with your eyes closed instead of cooking.

2) Stock up on easy to cook frozen meals before baby comes. For some people this means cooking healthy meals, freezing them, and being ready to reheat. For me and Mr Kisby this meant stocking up on frozen pizzas and other frozen meals that bake in the oven. As an example, frozen lasagnas that take 70 to 80 minutes have been great! You put them in right before the feeding starts and then the lasagna is done right before you’re done!

3) Be okay with ordering pizza! This has the benefit of someone delivering it to your home, and it will taste delicious! If you’re a good techie, then download your favorite pizza place’s app and you may start to accrue points for freebies! The Papa John’s app has a great rewards system! Also, sign up for email rewards. Pizza Hut frequently sends out free breadsticks!

4) Drive Thrus – this option is not healthy, but it has one major advantage: babies have a tendency to fall asleep on car rides. So utilize the drive thru so that you can get something to eat, and baby will get a nap allowing you to eat! This option can get expensive, but most drive thrus have a value menu.

5) Hoard leftovers like it is 1999 and people are afraid of Y2K! Leftovers come in very handy as you can zap them in the microwave and be eating in two minutes or less! Plus, it’s a good excuse to have pizza for breakfast.

6) Be like a farm animal and graze whenever you can! Seriously! Become a pro snacker. Baby might not allow time for full meals. Therefore, stock up on peanut butter crackers, granola bars, or whatever else you like to snack on.

For the last 8 weeks this is pretty much how we’ve gotten through when it comes to food. It isn’t the greatest advice, but it will help you establish a routine. I also recommend having someone as fantastic as Mr Kisby to assist. It makes a world of difference!

In the mean time, LilKsby has fallen asleep after a feeding. That means snack time for me!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

B is for Baking

Cooking doesn’t excite me. I’ve always felt like it is a lot of work that leads to a lot of dishes, and more often than not it seems that the cooking takes more time than the eating. I suppose that is why I’ve always enjoyed eating at restaurants so much. One, someone else cooks the food, and two, someone else does the dishes. Plus, I like the socialization of being at a restaurant!

Despite not enjoying cooking, there is one thing I love to do in the kitchen: bake! I suppose it goes back to baking “scratch” biscuits when I would spend the night with my grandma (see my grandma blog). Those experiences were always fun! Now, I just enjoy the warm, fuzzy feeling that comes with baking! Throughout the year, I get my baking fill with cookies mainly and perhaps the occasional bread, muffin, or brownie. (Sidebar: I love cupcakes, but with so many cupcake stores popping up it is easier just to go buy them.) The holidays are my time to really go hog wild!

My desire to bake during the holidays can be pinpointed to November 2008. This was the year that I had my gall bladder removed, and I had to take two weeks off of work to recover. I quickly became bored, and I decided I wanted to learn how to make pumpkin bread. So, I did! Once I started baking the pumpkin bread, I realized that I enjoyed baking it more than I liked eating it. This led to me baking it for other people and the realization that I enjoy making other people happy with food.

Making others happy with food has always been a challenge in my family due to the number of diabetics, but I’ve found that with a little creativity and ingredient substitutions I can make No Sugar Added (I don’t like to say sugar free because ingredients like fruit make it so natural sugars are present, and Splenda For Baking actually has some real sugar in it). One of my favorite diabetic friendly recipes is my no sugar added peanut butter pie. My aunt gave me the initial recipe, but I tweaked it to not involve cream cheese (YUCK!). Are you ready? This is the most simple peanut butter pie ever: graham cracker pie crust, sugar-free chocolate pudding cups, natural peanut butter, and light whip cream. I use the light whip cream instead of the sugar free whip cream because of the immense fat content in the sugar free. The light is low enough in sugar that many diabetics can have a tiny bit of it. All you do is mix the pudding, peanut butter, and whip cream together and put it in the pie crust. Ta da…no sugar added peanut butter pie! This pie made my Thanksgiving table this year!

This past Christmas I had the brilliant idea of making everyone their favorite desserts as part of their Christmas presents. The first dessert was one that I’ve made for several years for my dad. It is a sugar free pecan pie. To get the recipe, I just Googled “sugar free pecan pie recipe” and found a great one on http://www.tablespoon.com. I’ve made it several times now, and while the ingredients can be costly depending on the current nut prices, the end product is worth it!

My mom’s favorite has always been Black Forest cake. I’ve looked at several Black Forest cake recipes over the years, attempted one that was a TOTAL disaster, and finally came up with a compromise to her favorite desert that I was okay with presenting to her. This past Christmas, I took a Sugar Free Pilsbury Cake Mix and baked it per the instructions on the box. I’m not sure if I used the Sugar Free Chocolate or Sugar Free Devils’s Food off the top of my head. Once it had cooled, I took the corer that I’d never used before and punched a bunch of holes in the cake. Each hole was then filled with a canned cherry (no sugar added!) or two and just before serving, I covered it in whipped topping. My mom was satisfied with it, but I’m still open to an actual EASY Black Forest cake recipe if one exists!

For my aunt, I baked brownies. Since it was Christmas, I went with the good stuff! Well…the good stuff if you like brownies. Have I mentioned that I don’t really like chocolate? In fact, I don’t eat a lot of things I bake…I just like to bake! So what is the good stuff? Ghiradelli Double Chocolate Brownie Mix! Find it in a Wal-Mart near you! Sorry, but this one is not No Sugar Added.

The best thing from this last Christmas was that I finally learned how to make Mr. Kisby’s favorite: buttery spritz cookies. For years I’ve ate the spritz cookies that his mom made, and I never wanted to try them because I was sure that it would be complicated. Determined to give it a try due to my pregnancy and wanting to be able to make LilKsby spritz cookies one day, I finally broke down and learned how to make them. Once again, I turned to Google to find the recipe and then Mr. Kisby’s mom to verify that the recipe I found seemed accurate. This time I used a Taste of Home recipe that was easy and delicious (not No Sugar Added)! My only negative part of this baking experience was the cheap cookie press. Somethings you really should spend more than a $1.50 on.

With the arrival of LilKsby, my baking time is kind of limited. I hope by the holidays I’ll be back to a point where I can bake for everyone again. Until then, I’m a Nestle Toll House gal! You know…those fancy cookies made by Phoebe Buffay’s French relatives!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Birthday Freebies

Who likes free stuff? 🙋‍♀️ If you said no to that, then I do believe that either (a) you’re a liar or not fully paying attention to the question or (b) you’ve got way more money than I do! And if that is the case, then feel free to share the wealth with those of us you may deem to be peasants!

One of my favorite things about my second favorite holiday aka my birthday (first favorite is Christmas) is all of the birthday coupons that places send you just for signing up for their email lists! Now you’ve got to understand my brain for a second. If somewhere I really like has an email list for discounts, then I’m on it! However, this doesn’t mean I always read the emails all year. Typically I only open them all at birthday time or if they are from Chili’s because let’s face the truth that Chili’s has some of the best chips and salsa on the planet!

Here are some of my favorite birthday discounts in no particular order:

1) Mark’s Feed Store 🥩 – Buy 1 Entree, Get 1 Free! I also like to call this the only time me and Mr Kisby can eat there for less than $20! He treats himself to a combo with pork, chicken, and brisket while I enjoy whatever way I can get the most sides for free. My favorite things at Mark’s are the sides since I’m not a big meat eater. I love their pasta salad and potato salad!

2) Chili’s 🌶 – What they’re on the list? Shocking! Not! 😂 So check out the dilemma we had when going to Chili’s for my birthday which is also the same week as teacher appreciation week. We had to decide which one coupon to use (since Chili’s is like 45 minutes from our house – come on Elizabethtown build one!) from free dessert, 20% off the bill, or free guacamole and chips. So Chili’s has this great deal all the time where you can get 3 things for $10 (non-alcoholic drink, appetizer, and entree). The 20% off couldn’t be applied to the discounted special so we ruled that out. Then we realized that for a $2 up charge we could get guacamole as the appetizer for the 3 for $10 special. So we opted to get the $8 cookie dessert for free! This time we ate for $23! I’ll let you decide if we made the right choice based on the picture!

3) Olive Garden – Free Dessert! 🍝 If you really want to make the most of this coupon, then go at lunch time! You can get a lunch duo (I chose the gnocchi soup and pizza bowl) and your free dessert for less than $10! Tiramisu is delicious all the time, but it is even better when it is free!

4) Fazoli’s – Free cookie with purchase of an entree! 🍪

5) Texas Roadhouse – Free appetizer or side kick of ribs with purchase! We learned the hard way this year that this discount cannot be used with the Early Bird Dining.

6) At Home – 25% Off Your Purchase

7) Victoria Secret – Free Panties

8) IKEA – 15% Off In Store Purchase and Free Food

9) Kirkland’s – Free Gift With Purchase and 25% Off

10) Bojangles – Free Boberry Biscuit – You can’t go wrong with a biscuit that has blueberries baked into it and is covered in frosting!

11) Pizza Hut – Free breadsticks!

These are just the ones that I remember getting from scrolling through my emails! I haven’t been able to use them all, but next year I’ll plan better! 😂

There are a lot more birthday freebies out there if you Google them! Some places even allow you to sign up your kids so that they get birthday freebies too! So you can bet that LilKsby will be getting signed up for freebies!

Put in the comments your favorite birthday freebies so that I can add to my list! And don’t forget to subscribe so that you always get the latest from The Great Kaysby!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby 🎂

Mother’s Day Musings

Did you know that before it’s current incarnation the idea of Mother’s Day in the U.S. came from two concepts? One of the concepts was to teach women how to properly care for children which totally makes sense to me given how many prep classes we’ve been to in preparation for LilKsby. The other concept was with Mother’s Friendship Day to promote reconciliation and peace among women after the Civil War. The concepts were carried out by Ann Reeves Jarvis and Julia Ward Howe. It was the work of Jarvis’ daughter Anna that got Mother’s Day turned into an official holiday in the early 1900’s to continue the original concepts. Later in years, Anna became disgusted with how commercialized Mother’s Day and denounced the commercialization. (For more on the history go here: https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/mothers-day.)

You might be thinking how could anyone feel disgusted on a day designed to celebrate others? I can’t say much about the commercializing causing disgust as it did for Anna, but I can understand it causing disgust for those who feel their reason to celebrate has been torn a sunder.

Like many holidays, Mother’s Day is easy to celebrate when you haven’t experienced loss and grief. For those whom their mothers and grandmothers are still with them, Mother’s Day is a celebratory day. It is a day to uplift the women in their life and recognize the impact they’ve had on their lives. In these cases Mother’s Day is a time of sharing a meal around a table, laughing, and giving thanks.

But what about for those who aren’t so fortunate?

For those who have lost their mothers and grandmothers, Mother’s Day presents a societal reminder of what they are missing every single day. I’ve seen countless friends post on social media about how this holiday isn’t a day of joy for them, but a reminder of the heartache and loss they’ve been experiencing since their loss be it days, months, or years ago. I can’t fathom how much it must hurt to see all the Mother’s Day paraphernalia and propaganda when all you want is to see your mother/grandmother again, hear her voice, hug her, kiss her, and tell her how much you love her. Since I can’t truly understand how this feels, I pray for all of those experiencing sadness on days like Mother’s Day.

For those who find disgust in this day because it directly reminds them that they aren’t mothers, I can empathize with you. Last year, Mother’s Day came just less than three months after our loss, and I spent the whole day feeling punched in the gut and broken. Whenever, I saw people saying “Happy Mother’s Day” to one another and then nothing to me because I didn’t have my child at my side or a growing baby bump, I wanted to scream out that just because my baby was in heaven that didn’t make me any less of a loving mother. But I kept my mouth shut and my pain buried inside (except for in front of my husband who got to see the tears of frustration in private) because we live in a society where talking about things like miscarriage are still taboo for whatever reason. It also hurt seeing all these people on social media wish their daughters, sisters, cousins, friends, etc a “Happy Mother’s Day” because their kids are a visible presence on earth. I know none of this hurt was done intentionally, but it opened my eyes to those who grieve every Mother’s Day. Those women who have gone through miscarriages, failed IVF attempts, failed surrogacy attempts, infertility, and more than most people will ever be able to comprehend hurt so much on Mother’s Day because of all of the extra reminders of how much they want to be a mother and haven’t been able to be one. That hurt is in addition to the pain they feel everyday from the losses they experience because even though you move forward from loss, you never forget it.

For those who’ve had children pass before them, I can’t begin to understand how Mother’s Day must feel for you. I’ve heard there is no loss like the unexpected death of a child. After all, it is engrained in us that the natural order is for parents to go first, but that’s not always what happens. I know how hard it is as a teacher to lose a student, and I know that can’t even hold a candle to how it feels for a parent to lose a child. I imagine that holidays are extremely hard especially when surrounded by so many unintentional reminders of your loss. I pray for you too!

For all of you who are aching on Mother’s Day, here are some words in which I recently found comfort:

For all of you that got to celebrate the day, be thankful and enjoy the time you’ve been gifted. But if you see a woman down in the dumps or obviously putting up a mask, then don’t be judgmental. Simply be mindful about how this day may not be so celebratory.

I love you all!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

A Reflection on Change

“The south moves north, the north moves south. A star is born, a star burns out.
The only thing that stays the same is
Everything changes, everything changes.”

-Tracy Lawerence, Time Marches On

When I began this blog a little over a year ago, my goal was to write about either a travel spot or my love of food once a week. Well, obviously since I haven’t blogged since August that didn’t quite go as planned. Why? Because simply put, things change.

There is a plaque on my living room wall that says “I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I’ve ended up where I need to be.” This is a quote that I think describes my life – and probably that of many others – beautifully. When I began the blog last year, I was going through a time of loss from which writing provided me a distraction. The distraction was intensified by dreaming and sharing about all of the places I’ve been or love to eat. At the time, I needed that distraction.

Today, I’m back to blogging not because I need a distraction, but because I want to share my reflections on life. Unlike Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby, I know that today is my birthday. There’s no forgetting that one for me! Also, unlike Nick I’m not turning 30; I’m turning 36. But similarly to the character of Nick, I have been going through a period that has changed the shape of my life. You see, last September we found out that God was blessing us with a rainbow baby.

This has been one of the happiest yet most intimidating changes me and Mr. Kisby have ever faced. In fact, at times – especially during those early appointments before I could feel baby moving – the changes were downright scary. But then you realize that you’re going to get to see the world through an innocent, beautiful, all wondering pair of eyes and suddenly you feel overwhelmed by how blessed you truly are!

This change has also led my mind to take a different direction from the focus of travel and food that are me and Mr Kisby centered, to dreaming of things that revolve around us and LilKsby. There are so many things I want us to share with this bundle of love:

The breathtaking ocean
The majestic mountains
The beauty of our quaint, small country church
The awesomeness that is Derby Festival
The places I loved as a child
The greatness of true friendship
The wonder of waterfalls
The fact that there are great free things to do
The adventure of reading
The joy of writing
The simple things like a walk through nature that show us the Kingdom, Power, and Glory around us

If you’d have asked me when I turned 35 if I would ever have a mind shift like this, then I’d have probably told you no. At the time, my heart was still broken and healing especially with the close timing to Mother’s Day when I had to watch as mothers were put on pedestals while I wanted to scream, “What about me? My baby is in heaven!”

But as Robert Frost once said, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” My road between May and September 2018 involved some amazing things that allowed me to be ready to be blessed by change. Me and Mr Kisby celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary (though I did tell him happy 7th anniversary) with an amazing dinner at Jeff Ruby’s and another cruise! We even tried snuba diving where supposedly there was a shark swimming near me that I didn’t even notice! I walked across the big Mary Kay stage in Dallas as a part of the Princess Court of Sales! In a fabulous dress of course! We went to the State Fair! We saw Taylor Swift in concert in Nashville! We spent a lot of time with friends and family! And shazam! We were blessed with the biggest, best change in the world: the change of LilKsby.

With our change, I will continue to blog. They might be more reflective than informational, but I’m looking forward to that. Maybe I’ll help someone else that needs a change experience one.

In the meantime, be like Gatsby…

“Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us.” – F Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Restaurant + Love = Egg Roll House

If you’ve had the pleasure of meeting The Great Kaysby in person, then I have no doubt that you have heard me talk about Egg Roll House. For those who’ve never heard of it, Egg Roll House is a family owned Chinese restaurant nestled in what used to be the heart of Radcliff when Fort Knox was still booming and Winn Dixie and K-Mart off of Knox Boulevard were the premiere business areas. Now Winn Dixie and K-Mart are long gone, but Egg Roll House has remained. It has seen a ton of other businesses come and go, but there it sits diagonally across the street from the Gold Vault Inn. You might be thinking, what makes Egg Roll House so good? It’s simple. When you’re at Egg Roll House, you feel loved like you’re at home.

One of the many reasons Egg Roll House feels like home to me is because my family has literally been eating there for 25 years (possibly more). Before Egg Roll House, there was another Chinese place we ate at, but I was so young that prior to eating at Egg Roll House I thought Chinese food was fried shrimp and fries. Thus Egg Roll House was the first place that I really tried and fell in love with Chinese food! The earliest things I remember eating there besides delicious chicken wings were the Triple Delight (chicken, shrimp, and beef that I wouldn’t eat because I’m not big on beef), fried rice, and egg drop soup. I would also eat Sweet and Sour Chicken without the sauce. This would lead to a lot of laughs when I was in high school because for years my best friend also ordered Sweet and Sour Chicken without the sauce because I had said I didn’t like it, and then she tried it from the buffet and was like “You liar, this is good!” In my defense, I never said it wasn’t good, I said I didn’t like it. LOL

Over the years there have been a lot of laughs like the Sweet and Sour Chicken incident at Egg Roll House. We’ve had many weekly family meals there, and more summer break lunches than I can count. We’ve shared the Egg Roll House with others too. For example, when Mr. Kisby and I got married, we took our out of town family who came in for the wedding there to eat. We’ve also taken friends there on countless occasions over the years. One of my favorite more recent memories of a friends trip there was when we met another couple and their son there after church one Saturday evening. All of the adults ordered various Chinese dishes, and the son ordered chicken nuggets and fries. When our food came out, he wanted ours because it looked so good. I’m so glad that Egg Roll House could be a part of introducing a new generation to the deliciousness of Chinese food like it did me so many years ago!

As you can see for us, going to Egg Roll House isn’t just about food. It’s about going to a restaurant where you feel loved just like you were eating in your own home. There is something nice about going into a restaurant and them knowing what you are going to order to drink when you walk in the door (sweet tea for Mr. Kisby and unsweet for me). Just as nice is the owner coming out and talk to you when you come for dinner. I find it to be extraordinarily nice when they’ll ask things like “Where are your parents?” when me and Mr. Kisby dine alone or “Just two?” when me and Dad eat there and Mr. Kisby and Mom have to work. Making us feel even more loved? When we mourned the loss of my grandmother and uncle (who were also frequent customers), they mourned right a long with us. Can you imagine feeling more at home without being at home? I can’t!

For more info check out: http://eggrollhouse.weebly.com/. I highly recommend anything mentioned previously or the Egg Drop Soup with an order of Spicy Wontons and Lucky Family or Gai Sue Chicken for the entree. I hope we see you there!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Fair Food Fun!

I’m back!

After a summer hiatus, The Great Kaysby has returned.

When last we met, I discussed some great stay-cation ideas for the state of Kentucky. Today, I thought I’d tackle another great Kentucky tradition: The State Fair. The are a variety of reasons to go to the State Fair. Some folks go for the animal exhibitions and the horse show. Others go to see the concerts (a lot of which are free by the way) while some go to ride the rides and play games on the midway. There’s also some people who go to see the arts and crafts, then browse the shops. Frankly, I go with the hope of winning the appliance of the day from GE. Still waiting to win that dishwasher…

Oh, and of course I go for the food!

There is something about the State Fair that makes the most conscientious eater think, “Man, I need a funnel cake” or “Dang…I might not survive without that deep fried Oreo.” So just in case you don’t know what you want to eat at the State Fair, here are my Top Three foods that you should try!

#1 – Pork Burger – Kentucky Pork Producers

See that logo? Look for it at the fair! Scratch that! Search for it, hunt it down, and find it at the fair! Why? Because the pork burgers are amazing! They are tender, juicy, melt in your mouth delicious, and good to the last bite! I like to drizzle just a little bit of mayo on mine for that extra bit of tastiness! Another reason to try the pork burger? They are always very reasonably priced; they are a way to support local pork producers! Seriously…get the pork burger. Get two…bring one of them to me in a to go box.

#2 – Fried Rice

Now I know what you’re thinking. Fried rice at the State Fair? YES! In my defense, I love fried rice almost anywhere and have yet to find fried rice that made me wrinkle my nose in disgust. However, this fried rice – from one of the food vendors in the South Wing food court – is a great deal! For $3 you get a boat (one of those french fry or nacho boats, not a fishing boat) full of fried rice. Best part? It isn’t overly salty like some fried rice can be. Plus, it is a filling snack. If you’re worried about the carbs just remember that you’re going to walk a ton of steps just to get to the food court in the South Wing.

#3 Kizito Cookies

If you haven’t heard of Kizito cookies, then I’m afraid that either (a) you don’t live in the Louisville Metro Area or (b) you might live under a rock. If it is the second, then come on out from under the rock! Kizito cookies are made locally at Kizito bakery which is owned and operated by Elizabeth Kizito. The cookies – and now many other baked goods – are the product of Elizabeth’s hard work and imagination. Have you ever been at an event in Louisville and seen the lady selling cookies out of a basket on her head? That is Elizabeth! The cookies are AMAZING, and she is one of the kindest people I’ve ever met! In fact, I’m about to eat a Chocolate Chip Kizito cookie when I finish this blog. Check out her website here: https://kizito.com/.

Honorable Mentions

These things aren’t in my Top Three, but they are definitely worth a try!

Funnel Cake – plain old, powder sugar covered
Tater Twists – plain, maybe with ketchup
Pickle Samples from the pickle vendor in the South Wing (buy some too!)
Dip Samples from the vendors in the South Wing (buy some too!)
Flavored Coffee Samples from the vendors in the South Wing (buy some too!)
Anything from the Kentucky Cattleman’s Association
Fresh, squeezed lemonade!

#thegreatkaysby #foodie #kentuckystatefair #kentuckyporkproducers #kentuckycattlemansassociation #kizitocookies

KY-ish Staycation

“Staycation all I ever wanted…staycation no time to get away.”

The idea of a staycation – officially a bona fide Merriam-Webster word since 2009 and allegedly used as early as 1944 by the Cincinnati Enquirer – has been a growing trend in the US since the financial crises of the late 00’s. The idea of a staycation is simple: enjoy a vacation while being able to sleep at home. Staycations can be as easy as hanging out at home and just doing fun things like vegging on the couch, playing video games, and watching TV. They can also be a trip to somewhere within a 3 to 4 hour drive from which you can go and come back in one day. Either way, they are typically cheaper and require less advance planning than a getaway vacation. With summer fast approaching, I thought I’d talk about some great Kentucky-ish (aka some are in Tennessee or Southern Indiana also called SoIn) staycation spots!

Corvette Museum – Now I don’t know a lot about engines or specs on a transmission, but I know pretty and shiny! Oh and you can see a cool exhibit of some cars falling in a sinkhole! You’ll also have a chance to see the only 1983 Corvette in existence which as an ’83 baby I find interesting. As an added bonus, you take the tour at your own pace which allows you to spend as little or as much time in the museum as your attention span allows. Adults – $10 – http://www.corvettemuseum.org

Kentucky’s Stonehenge – So this guy, Chester Fryer, built Stonehenge replicas in his yard. It is really neat to walk through (which you do at your own leisure) both because it is pretty to look at and the work that went into the development is amazing. We went and saw it in 2008! FREE – http://www.kystonehenge.com

Lincoln Birthplace – good if you either like history (me) or climbing a lot of stairs (not me). The natural spring on the property is beautiful as is the replica cabin. Plus, the tree from the property known as the Boundary Oak totally provided the name for a local distillery! Don’t you think Lincoln would have totally approved? FREE – nps.gov/abli/index.htm

Cumberland Falls – home of the epic Moon Bow! Which BTW is not someone mooning you in front of a waterfall! It has been billed as the Niagara of the South and is very pretty. Thankfully, there is a lot to do at the State Park because truth be told you can only stand around looking at a waterfall for so long before it becomes boring. But in the park you can go white water rafting, attempt to take a raft up under the falls, hike, enjoy activities in the lodge, chill in a cabin, etc. All this makes it a great location! Some free activities, some not so much – parks.ky.gov/parks/resortparks/cumberland-falls

21C Museum Art Gallery – This is the uniquest gallery I’ve ever been to! I love the variety of media represented in their installations. A favorite of mine is the installation shaped like a tornado made up of items salvaged from a tornado. It is a quick tour, but well worth it with everything else on Museum Row! Free – 21cmuseumhotels.com/louisville or for those in the Lexington area 21cmuseumhotels.com/lexington.

Discovery Park of America – Just across the Tennessee line is this gem of a museum! There is literally something for everyone here and the building is shaped like a dragon! Plus, for an additional fee you can attempt an escape room. Oh! And for no additional fee you can climb on an old train and pretend to be a conductor or the dude in the caboose! General Admission Adult – $14.95 – discoveryparkofamerica.com

Mammoth Cave – home of a really cool tour where the only light is a lantern you (aka Mr. Kisby when we went) carry on the journey! Plus in the cave are cool features like an abandoned TB hospital, old mining equipment, and supposedly a ghost or two! Prices vary by tour – nps.gov/maca/index.htm

None of these tickle your fancy? Here are some other popular attractions!

Louisville Slugger Museum – Free mini bat with admission!
Squire Boone Caverns – Lot of stairs, but you get to see a coffin!
Indiana Caverns – Is it a walking tour? Is it a boat ride? Is it both?
Frazier Museum – Lots of old school sharp objects and shiny armor!
Speed Art Museum – Good art, good times!
Rauch Planetarium – Space fun for the whole family!
Newport Aquarium – Fish? Pretty! Sharks? Freaky Fun! Penguins? I LOVE PENGUINS!
Forest Edge Winery – Good wine, great people!
Castle Post – It’s a castle in Kentucky…enough said!
Keeneland – It is beautiful and you can gamble KY style by betting on horses!
French Lick and West Baden Inns – cool 1920’s architecture, a freaking amazing dome, gambling, and wine with Italian food.

There’s a lot more staycation kind of things to do around Kentucky, but these are some of the tops I recommend! Let me know which ones you like best!

#thegreatkaysby #mrkisby #travel #staycation #kentucky #southernindiana #tennessee #museums #stateparks #nationalparks #art #history #culture

“You Can Find Me In St. Louie…Where I’m Gonna Eat Cupcakes All Day…”

Yesterday, was supposed to be blog day; yesterday, I couldn’t think of what food place I wanted to write about. I racked my brain, and I racked my brain without any avail. The only solution I could come up with? Take a nap! And take a nap I did! It didn’t even dawn on me that I hadn’t written my blog until I was going to bed. In true Scarlett O’Hara fashion I thought: “I can’t think about that right now. If I do, I’ll go crazy. I’ll think about that tomorrow.”

And I didn’t think about it today either…

Until 4th Block rolled around and at school I was sitting in the FACS classroom about to judge our school version of Cupcake Wars. My thought process all began when I spotted a bag of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups on one of the counters. My first thought was, “Man, I hope there’s a peanut butter cup cupcake entry!” Then I thought, “Oooo…Jilly’s has the best peanut butter cup cupcakes!” Which of course led naturally to, “Ooooo…do you think I could get Mr. Kisby to drive to St. Louis for a cupcake? Is there anyone I know in St. Louis that I can pay to bring me a cupcake? I should write a blog on Jilly’s Cupcakes!!!!”

If you know me outside of this blog, then I know that you are laughing because you know that is how my ADHD brain works. Also, you know that I LOVE CUPCAKES!!! Seriously, love me some cupcakes!

I can’t remember exactly when I found out about Jilly’s, but I know that it is my principal’s doing. I believe we were talking about food – maybe even judging school cupcake wars – and he mentioned that the best cupcakes in the world were at a place in St. Louis. I had to know where because I was going to be driving through St. Louis to go to my family reunion that summer. So he told me about this little place called Jilly’s that had been discovered during a trip he’d taken.

As soon as possible I was looking up Jilly’s. Much to my joy, it was only like five minutes off the road that we take to go to Kansas. Hooray! That meant a stop wouldn’t be overly out of the way. 🙂

When the day finally came to go to Jilly’s, I was over the moon. I had read that they were a two time winner of Food Networks Cupcake Wars and that got me even more excited! After all, Food Network isn’t going to give awards to places that blow. Upon arrival I immediately fell in love with the decor! There were neon colors everywhere (Queen Elizabeth would be pleased to know that Jilly’s color scheme totally matches the dress she wore to Harry and Meghan’s wedding!) and cool features that have this vintage diner feel. I was happy with the stop before I even got my cupcake!

Choosing a cupcake was very difficult! At Jilly’s they have various special cupcakes each month and their regular line: Simply Iced, Missylicious, Chocolate Thunder, Bee Sting, Twisted Pink Velvet, 24 Karat Carrot Cake, Reese’s Chunkage, and Turtle Cheesecake. I ended up going with the Reese’s Chunkage because Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are one of my most favorite things in the world so much so that as a teenager I got a cat and named him Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (Reese’s for short because that would’ve been a mouthful to yell every time he got in trouble)! This cupcake was amazing! It had a chocolate cake base with a little ganache surprise baked into the middle. Finding the ganache was a good bonus, kind of like at Mardis Gras when you chomp down on the plastic baby in the King’s Cake and win a prize!

What really brought this cupcake home was the frosting. Now to be fair, I’m a frosting-aholic! I’d typically rather eat the frosting than the cake, to the point that if somebody stuck a birthday candle in a tub of frosting I’d be as happy as a pig in mud. The frosting on the Reese’s Chunkage is a buttercream frosting made of little drops of heaven or as Jilly’s puts it chocolate and peanut butter with crumbled up Reese’s Cups all over it. I prefer little drops of heaven.

After this first experience, several more pilgrimages were made to Jilly’s as part of other trips. Two more family reunions found themselves paired with cupcakes. Went to St. Louis to see Phantom of the Opera for Mr. Kisby’s birthday present? He got theater tickets; I got cupcakes! On our last adventure to Jilly’s a little over a year ago, we not only got cupcakes, but we also tried Jilly’s Ice Cream Bar next door to the Cupcake Bar.

Now I must say that I’m not a big ice cream person because of how cold it is and how much the texture of real ice cream weird me out. However, I do love a good milkshake. With this in mind I was expecting that Mr. Kisby would really like Jilly’s Ice Cream Bar and I would think meh…it’s okay. WRONG! I will absolutely, 100% admit that I was wrong! I loved the Ice Cream Bar too!

When we went into the Ice Cream Bar we had no idea what to expect, but quickly found ourselves drawn to the Crazy Shakes! So what is a Crazy Shake? The best way I can describe it is you take a cup. You get the rim of the cup damp, and you swirl it around in a bunch of candy sprinkles so that they get stuck to the outside of the cup. Then you fill the cup with a delicious milkshake. Next you cover the top with whip cream. After that you cover the whip cream in wafer pearls, jam a piece of waffle cone down in the whip cream, and top it off with a miniature version of the cupcake providing the namesake for the Crazy Shake. Then just for fun you put in a few neon colored straws. Something this epic deserves more than one straw because a Crazy Shake likes to party!

For our first Crazy Shake soiree (and only one thus far in life) I chose the Missylicious Crazy Shake, and Mr. Kisby chose the Chocolate Thunder Crazy Shake. You see how good they look in the pictures above? Now imagine that as a taste and multiply it by like ten! Hands down this was the best milkshake I have ever had in my life! There really are not accurate words to describe their deliciousness!

If shakes aren’t your style, then Jilly’s Ice Cream Bar has other options as well. They have regular classic ice cream flavors, ice cream flavors inspired by the cupcakes, root beer floats, banana splits, and ice cream cupcakes. Oh yeah, and they have crepes! Literally, something for every sweet tooth out there!

You might be thinking what if I don’t like sweets? Guess what? Jilly’s also has a cafe in the Cupcake Bar part of the building. They have a variety of soups, salads, and sandwiches. I recommend the Famous Barr’s French Onion! Not into soup? Try the brisket!

Jilly’s has something for everybody whether their palette prefers salty and savory. Plus, they provide a fun atmosphere at very affordable prices. Personally, I think it is worth the trip to St. Louis to give them a shot!

Now who wants to bring me a cupcake? It’s just a 4 1/2 hour drive…

For more on Jilly’s Cupcake Bar visit http://jillyscupcakebar.com/.

#thegreatkaysby #mrkisby #foodie #jillyscupcakebar #jillysicecreambar #reeseschunkage #stlouis #cupcakes #foodnetwork #cupcakewars

“Oh, I want to take you down to Kokomo….”

“Aruba, Jamaica, ooo I wanna take ya; Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama…”

– Kokomo, Beach Boys

Well, I’m not a mama, but last Mr. Kisby did take me to the Bahamas for our 5th Wedding Anniversary! We opted to go to the Bahamas as part of a cruise giving us two new experiences in one trip! We began our search for a cruise with my fear of flying in mind. (Seriously, if they would just let me be in control and fly the dumb plane, then I’d feel a lot better about it…) This meant choosing a port that was close enough to drive to which for me means a 12 hour drive according to my Maps App or less. My criteria quickly narrowed our ports to Charleston, SC; Jacksonville, FL; Mobile, AL; and NOLA. Mr. Kisby began some research and found that with these in mind Carnival was the most budget friendly choice given we decided we were going three weeks before embarkation. With some browsing – very user friendly browsing I might add – we found that the Carnival Elation leaving from Jacksonville on July 10 for 5 days to the Bahamas best met our needs.

We began our journey on July 9 with the intent to drive to a Days Inn we had found near the port. On our way to Jacksonville, we stopped at The Varsity Cafe in Atlanta for lunch. I’m a major sucker for nostalgia, and I had previously been to The Varsity on my 11th Grade choir trip in 2000. I remembered it being super fun, so I told Mr. Kisby we were stopping there for lunch. For the first time ever, I tried a slaw dog! It was really good and that says a lot since I don’t normally eat hot dogs!!! The rest of the trip down – minus traffic in Atlanta – was very easygoing. There’s a lot of pretty countryside in Georgia and Florida. Also, there have bears along I-10 in Florida. Seriously…I was shocked to make it all the way to Florida and see signs warning us of bear crossing zones! Like they know to cross at the signs…Anyway we made it to the Days Inn without any issues, and I really enjoyed the proximity of the motel to a Walmart because I forgot to pack a loofah and some other cruise necessities. Come July 10, we both really liked the proximity of the port to the motel! After driving ALL day on Sunday, it was nice to not rush on Monday morning and only be 15 minutes from port.

My thrill with the cruise began while we were still driving to the port. Before we even parked, I was thrilled by the size of the ship. We were about to board the Carnival Elation – one of Carnival’s Fantasy class ships – and I felt like I was boarding a ship of dreams. I couldn’t believe how big it looked from the parking lot! You can imagine my excitement increasing with every step! The closer we got to the boat, the more I felt like a volcano about to explode! Going through the terminal even made me giddy. By the time we were on the ship, I felt like royalty! I couldn’t believe how beautiful everything was, how hyped the atmosphere was, and how nice all of the workers were! I walked around the ship in awe, remaining in awe as we indulged in an Italian buffet, and staying that way until we got to our room!

Let me tell you about the room! I was expecting something the size of a good closet from what I had heard over the years. Much to my surprise, it was about the size of a hotel room! For our first cruise, we went with a porthole room (a) because it was cheaper and we didn’t want to spend a lot of money on a room just to get sea sick and (b) because it is fun to say porthole. To celebrate our anniversary, we paid for one of the packages and they had our room fixed up for us with special decor, souvenirs, and a cake! We had plenty of space for us and all of our stuff to live comfortably for a week. Plus, we got to look out our porthole like we were spies!

Day 1 was very enjoyable, but Day 2 was even better! Day 2 we woke up early and got to see the sunrise over the ocean. There is nothing more breathtaking than watching the sunrise over the ocean and only being able to see the water surrounding you. This was one of the most serene feelings I’ve ever had in my life!

Serenity (both the views and the private 21 and over deck) aside, I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about being “trapped” on a boat all day. My biggest fear with a cruise was that I would get bored because you couldn’t go anywhere that wasn’t on the boat. Guess what?!? There was no opportunity for boredom! Hungry? You could eat all day! Enjoy gambling? Go to the casino! Enjoy competitive activities? There were those all day! Are you into relaxing? Go to the spa! Sit on the deck with a book! Chill in the hot tub! Take a nap in the sun (with sunscreen if you’re like me)! There was never a dull moment! One of my favorite discoveries of Day 2 – that would continue to be utilized the remainder of the trip – was the Pizza Pirate restaurant! Hands down some of the best pizza I’ve ever had! We were also very pleased with the discovery of the coffee bar!

Day 3 brought the first port of call. This port was at a private island owned by Carnival called Half Moon Cay. The island was once a fort during some war time or another and is now utilized as a beach day getaway. Both the beach and the natural foliage of the island were breathtaking! As part of our anniversary trip, we decided to treat ourselves to a private cabana on the beach. Hands down…best decision of the trip! Our cabana had AC, a stocked cooler, porch with loungers, misting fans, snorkel gear, float loungers for the ocean, and more! We got to privately enjoy the beach for six hours! And our cabana was on the end, so it was even more secluded!

While at Half Moon Cay I learned how to snorkel! Way fun and it made me feel like a champ for our snorkel the next day in Nassau! It was also a great place to collect shells, see some cool almost clear fish, and just relax in the sun. I don’t know what was more fun, being in the water or sitting on the shore watching the water! I’d have to go back and try it all again for further research…

Day 4 brought us to Nassau. Here we booked a two reef snorkel. This was also a great trip! We took a boat about an hour from the port and got a great tour of several islands on the way to a reef. The reef we went to is famous for having Corona commercials filmed on it and a James Bond movie (I’ve never seen one so I can’t tell you which). In both snorkel locations, I was enamored by the plant life that was visible on the reef as well as the variety of fish. I tried to take some pictures, but I was so enamored that I just want to swim and swim in order to see everything possible! I highly recommend snorkeling in the Bahamas!

After snorkeling, we were so exhausted that we didn’t see much of Nassau. We bought some souvenirs and then headed back to the ship for some lunch and showers! One of my favorites sights in Nassau was the lighthouse below that was on the outskirts of the port. I love lighthouses and was enamored of the Nassau skyline in behind this one.

Day 5 was another Fun Day at Sea! This time we participated in some of the on board activities, but we mostly just relaxed and enjoyed our last day at sea. I loved just staring at the ocean and enjoying the tranquility associated with doing so. The ocean has always been one of the places where I feel most connected to the natural world around me, and being able to see nothing but the sea game an indescribable amount of calm!

I know this is a lot of info packed into a little bit, but there are so many possibilities on a cruise, that it can be overwhelming. If you choose to cruise with Carnival, then here are some highlights you must checkout:

Pizza Pirate
The French Onion Soup
The Chocolate Molten Lava Cake (I liked it and I normally don’t like chocolate)
The musical review shows
Coffee Bar
Serenity Deck (if you’re over 21) and Serenity Whirlpools
The shops – you can win prizes without buying a thing!
The library – it has board games and books!
Pizza Pirate (it is worth multiple mentions!)
The different musicians playing at various locations on the ship
On this ship: The Gatsby Bar!

I can’t wait to cruise again!

#thegreatkaysby #travel #carnival #cruise #mrkisby #anniversarytrips #bahamas #halfmooncay #nassau #pizzapirate #carnivalelation

Everybody In the Whole Cell Block…Let’s Eat Jailhouse Pizza!

So from our travels to Niagara Falls, there really aren’t any restaurant recommendations I can make. I’m sure there are great options, but (a) we ate at Planet Hollywood which is now closed and (b) we ate a Denny’s or somewhere similar. That said, I thought for my first foodie blog I’d discuss a place a little closer to home. In fact for me this place is about 30 minutes from home. My first foodie blog is about….drum roll…Jailhouse Pizza!

Jailhouse Pizza is located in Brandenburg, KY in the old Meade County Jail. The jail was built in 1906 and was in operation until 1976. It even survived the ’74 tornado that destroyed the courthouse right in front of it! But apparently not everyone that ever went in the jail survived, as it is rumored to be haunted! The haunting is well enough known that some paranormal investigation shows have filmed episodes at Jailhouse Pizza! And for the right price, you can do your own late night Scooby Doo-ing and you might meet Bigsby the ghost!

Personally, I don’t go to Jailhouse Pizza for ghost hunting; I go to Jailhouse Pizza for the experience and food! If you are wanting a typical restaurant experience, then this can be obtained in the main dining room which is actually an add-on to the original building or by sitting on the porch. Both of these areas offer a beautiful view of the Ohio river and Southern Indiana (which I’ve now learned is called SoIn). Often you’ll spot a barge or some recreational boater. This view makes for a very tranquil dinner.

Maybe…just maybe you want a unique dining experience instead. Well buddy, Jailhouse Pizza has that too! If you so desire, you can eat your dinner in an actual jail cell! This option is really cool for a couple of reasons. Obviously, the first reason is that you’re eating in a historical jail cell with the metal bed still attached to the wall, and the metal door still able to close! I know because I played with the door! The second reason that eating in the jail cell is cool is because it gives you a glimpse into how the prisoners lived. Their cells were incredibly small and sparse, and their cell doors had a slot through which meals could be passed. The walls are solid brick, so you can imagine that before central heat and air the temperature in the cells could be very miserable. There are windows, but they too are covered in metal bars. I can’t imagine surviving in one of these cells as a prisoner, but they sure make for a fun, unique dining experience!

So speaking of dining…Jailhouse Pizza also has great food! Seriously, we’ve been eating there for years and not once have we tried something and not liked it! On our most recent journey to Jailhouse me and the hubby – we’ll call him Mr. Kisby in blogs – took my parents with us. Our mission was simple: Try a variety of things for a more detailed review. Shout out to our waitress Madison for dealing with the eccentricities that this mission brought on!

We began by ordering the Jailer’s Bread appetizer. Basically, it is garlic bread covered with cheese, and it did not disappoint! Mr. Kisby particularly liked the savory flavor of the garlic butter and spices. For our main course we decided to share fettucini Alfredo, a grilled chicken salad, chicken bacon ranch pizza without onions, and a meatball sub with fries.

My parents mostly ate the Alfredo, but I made sure to sample a couple of bites. I really liked the creamy texture of the sauce! I didn’t try the salad my parents shared, but I really liked the presentation. They enjoyed the salad!

And now for the best parts I enjoyed! Now I must say I have always liked chicken bacon ranch pizza! Chicken? Good! Bacon? Good! Ranch? GREAT! Put all that together on a golden crust and you’re good to go!

The surprise sensation of the night was the meatball sub! Because Mr. Kisby likes cheese, I didn’t order the sub without the mozzarella cheese blend like I normally would. I was fully prepared to not like the sandwich because of the cheese as I am VERY PICKY about how I will eat cheese and like it. (As a reference, I order bacon cheeseburgers without cheese.) Much to my surprise and delight, I loved the meatball sub! It was the perfect combination of flavors and the meatballs were very juicy! Was it messy? Absolutely! It was messy to the point of needing a fork to eat runaway meatballs! To me this made it even better! And bonus…the sandwich came with a crisp dill pickle and fries! What more do you need?

If for some reason you need more food than what I described above, then you can try the Prisoner’s Pardon Pizza Challenge. All you have to do is find a buddy – preferably that Man Vs. Food guy or one of those food eating champs – and eat 12 pounds of pizza in 60 minutes. The challenge pizza is 30 inches in diameter…that’s not that big is it???

So, is your mouth watering? Are you thinking, “Pizza, meatballs, and pasta, oh my! Pizza, meatballs, and pasta, oh my!” as you read? I hope so! And I hope that the next time you want to throw a party in the county jail you’ll opt to do so at Jailhouse Pizza! http://www.jailhousepizza.com/index.html

Niagara Falls Part 2!

And so the Niagara Falls journey continues…

If being near the water isn’t your thing, then maybe Skylon Tower would be more your speed. This tower goes way high up in the air and allows visitors to have a birds-eye view of everything in Niagara Falls. For me it was terrifying; however, if you are a fan of heights then you will probably love the views! http://www.skylon.com/

While heights are too dangerous for my blood, the danger of white water rapids thrills me! Thus, the White Water Walk was a fun attraction to me! This walk entails going down to a wooden walkway and walking along some of the most treacherous Class Six white water rapids in the world. Everyone who has tried to physically enter them has died, but the rapids are thrilling to look at. The color of the water is incredible! https://www.niagaraparks.com/visit/attractions/white-water-walk/

If indescribably beautiful colors of nature are your favorite, then the Butterfly Conservatory is a must see! It is home to over 2,000 butterflies and astounding greenery! They say that if one of the butterflies lands on you, then you are a lucky person. One landed on my husband in a very personal way… https://www.niagaraparks.com/visit/attractions/butterfly-conservatory/

Outside the conservatory was a fascinating floral clock. It was gorgeous! The tour guide told us it was a one of a kind clock. I burst his bubble by telling him the Kentucky State Capital Building has one too. Ooops!

The last two Niagara Falls stops were smaller. One was at Souvenir City where we could shop and eat lunch. The other was a 4D movie viewing of Niagara’s Fury about the creation of Niagara Falls. I would definitely recommend the 4D movie if you enjoy multi-sensory experiences!

As if all of this in the two blog posts wasn’t enough to checkout, here are a few other things I recommend:

Niagara Falls IMAX – The dare devil (not be confused with that hottie Daredevil on Netflix) exhibit is cool!
Hard Rock Cafe – Have a hurricane and get a souvenir glass!
Marineland – Checkout the Dragon Mountain roller coaster! Hands down one of the best roller coasters I’ve ever ridden!
Niagara Scow – See it before it disappears! Seriously, scientists have predicted it will be gone by 2030!
Falls At Night – Pretty colors light up the falls!
The Hershey Store – Just because it is Hershey and Reese’s candy! Do you need another reason to go there? I think not!

Whew! That is a lot of info about Niagara Falls! But can you tell how much I love it there? The good news is that it is only a 10 hour drive if you never stop (so plan for 12). If you’ve got a passport, then get in the car and go next time you have a long weekend!

Until next time!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

#travel #thegreatkaysby #mauhoneymoon #niagarafalls #butterflyconservatory #whitewaterwalk #floralclock #skylontower

Niagara Falls Part 1

“We can’t afford Niagara Falls, but there’s a fountain by the old town hall.”

— Hometown Honeymoon, Alabama

As newlyweds did we have the money? Thanks to simplifying the wedding, yes we did have the ability to make Niagara Falls part of our honeymoon road trip. In July 2012, we spent Friday the 13th to Sunday the 15th in the self proclaimed Honeymoon Capital of the World. We even got the Honeymoon/Romance package at the Marriott overlooking the falls! It came with a suite with a falls view (a frightening 27 stories up), a bottle of wine, and chocolate covered strawberries! Besides the goodies, we chose the suite because it had a fireplace (obviously a necessity in July) and a whirlpool tub! But it wasn’t just honeymoon cliches that brought us to Niagara Falls even though they helped us feel like royalty. The sheer beauty of the area drew us there.

Before our honeymoon, I had been to Niagara Falls twice. However, I hadn’t seen it in nearly ten years and I wanted to share the beauty and wonder of Niagara Falls with my husband. After all, seeing something through the eyes of someone you love can make it even more magical! Which even thought it was a brief trip it was more astounding than I could have dreamed! Well except for the fire alarm being pulled in the middle of the night and having to run down 27 flights of stairs in my pajamas. FYI…not the best idea to take off down the stairs and leave your new husband behind, but I digress.

With little time and so much to see, we opted to do a travel tour with Magnificent Tours (www.magnificentniagarafallstours.com) at the recommendation of the hotel. Aside from seeing many sites, the tour gave us the convenience of not having to fret over driving directions, not stressing about parking, getting extra information that only someone local to the area can provide, and getting to line jump with express group passes! Plus, in six hours time we were able to see seven places! I can’t remember the order we saw them, but I distinctly remember the places!

One of the places was Journey Behind the Falls. This stop was exactly what it sounds like. You get to go through a tunnel (dig a tunnel, dig dig a tunnel) and checkout the falls from behind. 😉 It is a really cool view as you lookout through the falls, and the rush of the water appeals to your sense of sound as well. And as a bonus the sound totally makes you have to go to the bathroom! https://www.niagaraparks.com/visit/attractions/journey-behind-the-falls/

We also got to get up close and personal with the falls from the front on the Maid of the Mist boat tour (now Hornblower Niagara Cruises is part of the tour). Luckily, the tour comes with a free raincoat because YOU WILL GET WET! This tour got us as close to the falls as you can get without getting injured (or worse) by actually going over the falls! This boat ride is definitely one of my must do activities in Niagara Falls! https://www.niagaracruises.com/

Whew! That is a lot to soak up for Part 1! I’ll be back with Niagara Falls Part 2 (and more pictures) soon!

XOXO

The Great Kaysby

#niagarafalls #thegreatkaysby #mauhoneymoon #journeybehindthefalls #maidofthemist #travel

The Adventures of the Great Kaysby

The Island – Pigeon Forge – October 2017

For as long as I can remember I have had an interest in writing. No matter the format – journals, short stories, poems, academic papers, etc – I’ve always taken joy from creating the written word. Since the digital age began, I’ve desired to add blog writing to the list. However, I could never think of what kind of blog would be fun to write for me and fun for others to read. Then, while on a cruise during Spring Break 2018, it dawned on me that I should write a blog about travel and food! What qualifies me to blog about travel and food? Well, that’s for you to decide!

But, before I begin talking about traveling and food, let me tell you about me. When I’m not traveling or indulging in my self diagnosed “foodie addiction”, I wear a lot of different hats. Some of my hats include wife, daughter, cat mom, friend, Independent Beauty Consultant with Mary Kay, special education teacher, philanthropist, gamer, and arts/crafts creator (I’m a glue gun guru!). All of these hats in one way or another influence my travel and foodie decisions. For example, my role of wife is directly related to my trips to Niagara Falls, the Poconos, and the Bahamas. Additionally, somehow I find a way to tie all of my hats to my favorite social activity: going out to eat!

So am I qualified to blog about travel and food? I think so!

Tune in soon for my first travel blog about Niagara Falls!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

#thegreatkaysby #travel #foodie