CoMo Foodie Find : 5 Generations Salsa

November 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment

5 Gen Salsa Columbia, Missouri food

Last weekend I braved the King’s Daughters Festival in search of new Missouri finds to highlight here on the blog. It took a bit of digging through the Egyptian cotton sheets and personalized coozies, but I did find a few stand out items.

One of my favorites was the 5 Genrations Salsa Kim Lanes was sampling. This sweet yet spicy recipe has been handed down generation through generation of Kim’s family, hence the name 5 Generations. The tagline Original San Antonio Recipe references where the salsa got its start. As a five year resident of the Alamo city, I definitely recognized the hallmarks of the roasted style of salsa so popular there.

You can find 5 Generations Salsa at area HyVee stores and the Mosers on Rangeline for around $4 a bottle. Or you can also order directly through the 5 Generations website. There you can also pick up a case for $45. Consider snagging one for hostess gifts or to bring to holiday parties.

Filed Under: Feed Me CoMo, Foodie Finds Tagged With: , , , , ,

How to Win a World Series

November 2, 2011 By 1 Comment

Winning a World Series is no easy feat. Out of the current 30 MLB Teams 8 of them have not won a World Series, ever.  Since 1903, only 69 managers have won a World Series.  In fact, it is so hard to win a World Series, the Cubs haven’t won one in 103 years, which actually puts a smile on my face.  Some of baseball’s greats have never won a World Series, Ted Williams, Ken Griffey Jr, Ty Cobb, and any Cub player that played after 1908 unless you were one of the lucky ones like Lou Brock who got traded to a winner (ie: The Cardinals). 

So I am sure you are asking yourself  “Adam, you are a loan officer.  How the heck do you know how to win a World Series?”  Well I am glad you asked.  As noted above, it is not easy but I have found a way to just about guarantee you win a World Series. 

 First things first-you can’t play for the Cubs. It’s obvious that they are one of the worst teams in baseball when it comes to winning.  Now if you like to drink Old Style, get super drunk, and choke away every opportunity you ever have, than play for the Cubs or be a Cubs fan.  When you do choke you’ll at least be able to blame it on a goat, ball, or one of your own fans (see Steve Bartman).  

 Second, avoid being a fan of or playing for any team out of Texas.  We all know everything is bigger in Texas, this includes losses. No team that is currently based in Texas has won a World Series.  Between the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers that is a solid 99 years of losing, not quite as awful as the Cubs but pretty bad.

 Third, and probably most important is to make sure a Crutchfield was born in the year you want your team to win the World Series. I was lucky enough to be born in 1982 when the Cardinals laid the smack down on the Brewers and my son Max was born in 2011 when the Cardinals crushed the Texas Rangers.  In a year of rally squirrels, good luck turtles, and happy flights we can also add the Crutchfield rally baby to the mix. 

It’s crazy to think that I have been on this earth long enough to have a baby and both of us have gotten to see a World Series win, not one single living Cubs fan can say that.  Of course my son and I are just doing our part as Cardinals fans but it is a pretty awesome bond that we share together.  A bond that not many people can share, *cough* *cough* Cubs fans.

I don’t want to get everyone’s hopes up to high, my family has no plans of having a baby in 2012 but if things go as planned I suggest you buy playoff tickets for the 2013 season as soon as possible.

The Rally Baby

Filed Under: CoMo Commentary, CoMo Sports, Misc CoMo Tagged With: , , , ,

CoMO Sports: Why The Big 12 Is Like Lindsay Lohan

August 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

After a year of following the issue of “conference realignment” in major college athletics (oh, yeah… academics, too, I guess), I’ve learned one thing about the Big 12 Conference:

They are the Lindsay Lohan of NCAA BCS conferences.

Here’s why…

The Big 12 is a hot mess.

The conference HAS enjoyed a number of tremendous highs. Since the formation of the conference in 1996, the Big 12 has scored 54 total national championships in every sport imaginable. That equates to about 3 or 4 NCAA championships every year. Every school (including former members Colorado & Nebraska) has won a Big 12 title in something, so it’s a competitive league as well.

Lindsay Lohan has had major (non-drug related) “scores” in her career as well. “The Parent Trap” remake was cute. “Mean Girls” was hilarious and is now a cult-classic. She’s even won a damn Grammy.

But Lohan has also won three out of the five Razzie Awards she’s been nominated for. If there were a “Razzie” for athletic conferences, the Big 12 would have won for last summer’s attempt at keeping their schools. They’re also nominated again this summer for their work on the sequel (Texas A&M). Win or lose, it’s always an honor just to be nominated.

Like Lindsay Lohan, the Big 12 doesn’t know what she’s going to do at 4:00 PM, much less in 2012.

Colorado? Gone. Nebraska? Gone. Texas A&M? Cheating and loving it. So, the Big 12 will need to replace these ex-boyfriends at some point. I see and hear A LOT of names on A LOT of publications and sports shows pop up as “possible additions” to the conference roster.

I’m going out on a limb, here… so bare with me…

What I REALLY think is the main comparison you can make between the Big 12 and Lindsay Lohan… is “datability”.

Lindsay Lohan is not at all attractive to any of Hollywood’s hottest bachelors. If you’ve got a career, some noteriety, are moderately good-looking, and don’t want to lose it all on a fling with a wildcard… you DON’T DATE LINDSAY LOHAN.

Notre Dame will not want to join the Big 12. BYU will not want to join the Big 12. Arkansas will not want to join the Big 12. All three of those schools are in positive, stable situations that they’ve created for themselves.

Notre Dame is independent, respected, and billing top dollar. Basically, a top veteran Hollywood actor that can guarantee big box office. BYU is also finally an independent and is like an award winning supporting actor, finally getting a shot to play a leading role on their own terms. Arkansas is the type-casted comedy actor that keeps cranking out sequel after sequel and collecting paycheck after paycheck. You likely won’t see many accolades come his way, but you can bet it will be quality work and that he’ll continue grinding it out well into his 70′s.

So, like Lindsay Lohan is a red flag for the top actors in Hollywood, the Big 12 will have to look elsewhere for a love interest. They both have to begin their search for somebody that is either: A) Poor & small-time; B) Will do anything to get any level of exposure; C) Doesn’t care that you’re on the verge of a shipwreck, as long as he can stay in the guest house.

TCU would love to hook up.

Houston would be happy to get drunk and make out.

SMU would probably go all the way on the first date, no questions asked.

So, if the Big 12 and fans of their member schools think that some kind of rabbit will be pulled out of a hat and that Notre Dame will trade any kind of it’s financial freedom and courtship from the Big Ten, just to get a spot in the cracked and leaking Big 12…

Your time would be better spent waiting by the phone with Lindsay Lohan, hoping Bradley Cooper will call.

Filed Under: CoMo Commentary, CoMo Sports Tagged With: , , , ,

CoMo Events: Farmers and Artisans Market

July 8, 2011 By 2 Comments

There is a new market in town that serves more than one purpose. It’s the new Farmers and Artisans Market in the North Village Arts District. Such a great concept for Columbia! The community loves its artists and farmers and really care about buying locally. It is on Sundays until November 13th and goes from 9am to 2pm.

I’ve gone the past two weeks and it almost doubled in size over that time! I think there is a great mix of farm stands with awesome looking produce, and art booths with wonderful handmade items. And I appreciate that it is on Sunday and not Saturday. Saturdays are usually busier and makes it harder to get to the farmers market. It’s nice to have a choice now!

While I was there I had to pick up some new potatoes from the community garden, a bar of handmade soap, and an adorable little handmade pot. Next time I will plan my grocery shopping better so I can pick up some more fresh produce. The art is an added little bonus to the trip! It will be great to pick out handmade gifts for upcoming birthdays and holidays.

You should definitely stop by and check out the new Farmers and Artisans Market. It is located at the Wabash Bus Station at 126 North 10th Street. Just grab a smoothie or coffee up the street at Kaldi’s or Main Squeeze and do some shopping! Visit http://farmandart.com for more information.

Filed Under: CoMo Arts and Music, CoMo Events, shopping Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

CoMo Arts : Audrey McFadden

May 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

A Busy Mom’s Guide to Feeding Your Soul and Finding Time to Follow a Passion

Audrey McFadden is many things. A foodie with a flair for making incredible mouth watering recipes. A world traveler who loves to explore the sights, sounds and textures of countries with different cultures from our own. An artist on canvas as well, bringing her imagination to life with a few brush strokes of acrylic paint and a few moments to herself when she can carve them out. But first thing’s first – she, like many of us, is a busy mom and wife who enjoys taking care of her family and watching her kids grow.

If you opened your Sunday paper last weekend (May 22nd, 2011) and saw a burst of pretty colors and eye-popping palates then you’re already familiar with Audrey McFadden art. When you see her creative bursts of color, your mood is automatically lifted and your mind begins to travel to a place where bright colors flourish and flowers never fade. Perfect for any room in your home, Audrey’s original pieces are not only a treat for the eyes (lucky us!) but they take care of a very important part of a mom’s life that often gets ignored; her soul. According to the busy mom of two boys, Audrey says, “painting feeds my soul.” That’s something that can easily get lost in any mom’s world when she is too busy driving her kids to soccer practice or dance class, grocery shopping and taking care of everyone else before herself.

Audrey began painting in 2008 after moving into a bigger house with barren walls. “I couldn’t find anything I liked that was affordable since I had just quit my job to stay home with my two sons and was feeling the budget crunch. So, I thought maybe I could paint my own art like they do on HGTV shows all the time. Why not, right? I went to our local Michael’s and bought a few canvases and a small inexpensive art set,” Audrey says. It was that simple. “I had never even thought about painting before. And I never thought it would get this far. Own my own art business? Never thought that would happen!”

 

Audrey is a creative person by nature, so picking up a brush and just creating something from her imagination came easily. Her interests in cooking and traveling are also focal points and inspiration for her pieces which are always bright and electric with color and energy.

This local mommy artist believes every woman should make an effort to find a creative outlet and stop listening to the voice that tells you that you can’t do it. “Get out of your head and just go for it! It will feel great! There is always a little time to devote to yourself; when kids go to bed or before they wake up; when they’re in school. And you don’t necessarily need a lot of money; Craft stores have huge discount coupons. The great thing about painting and having a studio in your own home is that you can do a little bit at a time. I take time when I can, either when it’s nap and quiet time or after the boys are in bed. My husband travels a lot for work, so I’m home alone after the boys are in bed. It is the perfect end to a busy and often crazy day to go unwind with a paint brush.”

Check out her website and new Facebook page that showcase her artwork and give details on how you can purchase a one-of-a-kind piece or matching series of her work. Be sure to visit her at Art in the Park this year June 4-5 at Stephens Lake Park and Mid-Missouri PrideFest on June 12.

Need a little nudge towards following your own passion? Some final inspiration from our mommy artist Audrey McFadden:

“If you take time for yourself and are happy, then you will be a better mom and have happier kids. It all starts with you. I think as women in general, we want to put everyone else’s needs first. It’s just our nature. But we can all get up a little earlier than everyone else or take time at night to do something just for ourselves. We need to feed our souls somehow. I love the saying, ‘If momma ain’t happy, no one’s happy.’ So true for my household!”

Filed Under: Artist Profiles, CoMo Family Tagged With: , , , , ,