The F Word

One little four-letter word is the ruler of my life.

F-E-A-R

In many cases it's justified, which I'll explain in context of my current situation, but whether the fear is warranted or not is beside the point. Fear shouldn't be running the show, for me or anyone else.

I am registered to run a half marathon next month. NEXT MONTH. I started halfheartedly training months ago, and then life got in the way, and then I started again, and then life got in the way again. Well, you know that saying, the one that goes something like: "If you want to do something, you'll find a way. If you don't want to do it, you'll find an excuse." There you go, a perfect explanation for this particular predicament. After all, I do hate running, and that is absolutely no secret.

I kind of figured I would turn the training into high gear once the kids started school, and hope to at least walk really, really fast and run part of the half.

And then...

I haven't really talked about this much, but a few weeks ago I'm pretty sure I had a seizure. Something like this has happened to me before, but it had been over three years since the last incident. At that time, I had some testing done, and a neurologist wanted to put me on a drug I was not comfortable taking, so I never filled the prescription. I started a rigorous chiropractic regime with adjustments three times a week and just concentrated on taking better care of myself. And I was fine, until a few weeks ago when it happened again.

Unsurprisingly, it happened when I was run down and worn out. I was out of town with my mom and kids, spending lots of time in the bright hot sun (a migraine trigger for me), walking a lot, driving a lot. I ended up with a killer sick headache our last night at the hotel, was okay the next two days and then woke up to this thing that I think was a seizure.

This is how it happens for me. Always when I first wake up. I feel sick, then lose control of my hands (and once, my entire body). I don't have convulsions, like you are probably thinking when you envision a seizure. I know now that there are actually many different types of seizures. My muscles in my hands seize up and I can't move my fingers. I'm dizzy and nauseous and totally conscious the whole time. This time I was sweating profusely but I can't remember if that was the case in the past. I don't know how long it lasted but it felt like an eternity.

For the rest of the day, I felt horrible. Weak and nauseated, with no appetite and no energy. I felt unwell for several days, and when I started to feel better, I over-did it (we were getting ready for my daughter's birthday and redecorating her bedroom), and then felt bad again for a couple more days.

Finally I felt normal again, totally, blissfully normal. I spent days school shopping and walking around Greenfield Village and still felt completely fine.

Then last weekend we went to my father-in-law's for a little barbeque and swimming, and I did something I have done hundreds of times in my life. I did a somersault in the pool. One, that's it. When I came up out of the water, the world was tilted sideways. I struggled to swim to the side of the pool, and slowly inched my way out. I made it into the house, where I sat in the dark bathroom until it was time to leave. I was dizzy and nauseated the rest of the day and felt unwell for days afterward.

According to several of my friends, this last occurrence seems like an episode of vertigo. I've never had anything like this happen to me before, and with it coming so close on the heels of the other incident a few weeks ago, I'm a little uneasy.

(No, I haven't been to a doctor. That is a discussion for another day.)

So anyway, let's come full circle back to that F-word. You see now what I mean? I think I'm justified in being a little scared, given the circumstances. I don't know if I can (or should) run, and I'm worried that if I do I might trigger another episode.

I'm a little annoyed, to tell the truth. But since I'm (once again) feeling fine, I'm going to walk everyday and see how things go. If I continue to feel good, maybe I'll try running a little bit. I don't know.

I think I'm being properly cautious, given the circumstances. But I still don't like it. I want to be able to run without worrying about the implications on my health. Yes, I did mention that I hate running. But still, it is my prerogative to torture myself as I see fit!

I'll be honest. What happened to me was terrifying. I am very afraid of it happening again. (Fearful enough to take meds that might make me suicidal and unable to drive? Probably not.)

This is, unfortunately, not the only area of my life where fear is king. It's just the one that's on my mind the most at the moment.

I think most people let fear rule their lives to a certain degree. What about you? Have you managed to move beyond your fears, or are they holding you back?

Book Review + Giveaway: Dark Hope by Monica McGurk - New YA Trilogy

I have a confession. I'm 39 years old and I love YA.

What's YA, you might be asking? YA stands for Young Adult, as in the book genre meant for young adults. They're typically fast moving, exciting, easy to read books, and feature teenagers as the main characters. Lots of stuff is vying for real estate in my mind these days, so uncomplicated reads work best for me. Many YA books are good, really good; can't put it down-stay up all night reading kind of good. Plus I am now the mother of a teenager myself, so it's beneficial to keep current on the intricate workings of the teenage brain.

The latest YA gem I've come across? Dark Hope, by Monica McGurk.

Book 1 of the Angel Prophecies

Dark Hope is the first book in McGurk's Archangel Prophecies Trilogy. Which is a good thing, because I definitely want more!

A brief synopsis:

Hope Carmichael was raised by her hyper-protective, uber-religious, survivalist father for most of her childhood. But no one could blame him for being so cautious, after Hope's enigmatic abduction as a young child. Now that she's a teenager, Hope has the opportunity to live a more normal life with her mother, and is suddenly given more freedom than she has ever had. Life just gets more and more curious for Hope as she makes a mysterious friend at her new high school and becomes personally invested in the crusade against human trafficking, which is rampant in her new hometown of Atlanta. She is about to embark on an epic adventure of a lifetime.

The name of the trilogy - Archangel Prophecies - gives you a clue that Dark Hope is celestial in nature and involves angels. Beyond that, I would rather you read for yourself to discover Hope's mystifying characteristics, friendships, and life experiences!

While Dark Hope really is fun to read, with all its magic and adventure, it is much more than the latest teenage supernatural fad. McGurk brings attention to an issue that often goes unnoticed and under-reported: human trafficking, specifically right here in the United States. Many people do not realize how prevalent modern slavery truly is. It is a terrifying issue that deserves much more attention in the media, and I'm glad to see it getting some in a book that is sure to become a huge success.

I would recommend this book, which melds together romance, mystery, supernatural topics, teenage angst, adventure, and current events, to:

• Anyone who loves YA
• Anyone looking for a new, quick paced series to start
• Fans of supernatural/mystical/angel novels
• Readers interested in modern day slavery
• Eclectic readers like myself, who love books of all kinds!

Once you finish Dark Hope, you won't be able to wait to read the next book in the series (which is already complete, publishing date TBA), so make sure to keep up with author Monica McGurk on social media:

• Twitter: @monicamcgurk
• Facebook
• Pinterest

I have no doubt that you would LOVE to get your hands on your own copy of Dark Hope! Just enter the Rafflecopter form below, and maybe it will be your lucky day!


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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Walking with Dinosaurs Report

Still deciding whether you should treat your kids to Walking With Dinosaurs tickets for this weekend? Read on before you decide!

Wednesday night I took Connor, Mathilda, and my godson to the Palace of Auburn Hills to see Walking With Dinosaurs. I had heard of the movie, and in fact Connor and Chris had seen it at the theater when it was out. But, even though I had read a bit about this live show and wrote about it over at MichiGal Travels, I wasn't really sure what to expect.

I've been to the Palace for basketball games, Disney on Ice, concerts, and other live shows. They always manage to change things up to suit the performance. In this case, I'd say the staging area was about the size of the ice arena for the ice shows. Really big. There was a (human) narrator who was out there the entire time, and two jumbo screens on either side of the stage so that the audience could get a better view of what was happening down there.

Walking With Dinosaurs was way more educational than I was expecting. The narrator basically took us through an abridged version of the history of dinosaurs. As he told us about different eras and various species, the dinosaurs would come out on the stage. Some were manned by people who were inside of them, but most of them were robotic. They were massive! Aside from the educational value of the show, there were some cool special effects - like when the narrator explained about the origin of flowers, colorful flowers "grew" all around the stage.

If you have kids, you have probably read and learned quite a bit about dinosaurs since becoming a parent. Nonetheless, I felt the show was pretty interesting, and I learned some new things. Having the huge dinosaurs up on stage illustrating the narrative really brought it to life. They moved around the stage, demonstrating some typical dinosaur behaviors. A few times they sort of interacted with the audience by growling up close or bending their long necks over them.

We were sitting in section 224, and the seats were great. We had a clear view of everything. But it might have been fun to sit on the lower level, especially when those big long necks poked their head over and got up close and personal.

A word of caution: at times it was super loud. When we got up during the intermission, I noticed someone selling ear plugs. If you have a child who is sensitive to loud noises, you might want to consider bringing some. Also, when the T-Rex is out, and you notice her walking over to the edge of the stage to look directly at the audience, know that she is about to snarl really loudly. She walks around and does this to different sections of the audience, and it's loud and potentially scary. So, I'm not trying to ruin anything for you, just giving you a heads up so you can be prepared in case you think it might scare your child.

Other things you should know:

The show started at 7:10 and was over at 8:50. This included a 20-minute intermission.

Parking is $10.

Food is expensive but I've seen worse. I bought 3 regular size beverages, an order of nachos with cheese and salsa (big enough to share) and a soft pretzel (also big enough to share) and the total was $24. I also bought three individual size cotton candies, and that was $9 total. The serving size is small, but how much sugar do you want your kid consuming anyway?

If you have a dinosaur fan on your hands, I'd say this show is a MUST. The three kids I had with me, ages 5, 8, and 11, are not particularly huge dinosaur lovers. But their attention remained drawn to the show the entire time and they really enjoyed it. This is a unique performance and I was impressed with the stage production and the flow of the narrative. If you're looking for a fun family outing this weekend, this just might be it.

Walking With Dinosaurs

Squirrel Cheeks Boutique Romper Giveaway

Pink and grey lace romper

One of the greatest things about having three daughters: the clothes. Little girl clothing just keeps getting cuter and cuter. On the flip side, my girls have very strong opinions about what they wear and I don't really get to pick out their clothes anymore. If you have a little one, take advantage! You might not believe me, but before you know it they will be insisting on personal fashion statements and throwing your carefully coordinated ideas out the window.

Boutique clothing is not something I've delved into much. I see other little girls dressed up in sweet little boutique outfits and always think it's too expensive. I'm sure some of it is, but I have found a place that has the most adorable, precious, items - at a REASONABLE price. I mean, very reasonable. Squirrel Cheeks Boutique is the place to visit if you are shopping for a little girl. Looking for a lace romper, or a satin romper? Unique dresses, tutus, outfits and accessories? Doll clothes? Click over and take a look around. I think you will be surprised.

Think the shipping prices will kill you? Think again. Orders from Squirrel Cheeks ship for just $2 plus 10% of your order, and orders over $200 ship for free.

Regular costumers will love that they can earn reward points from Squirrel Cheeks. Create an account and start earning, one point for every dollar spent. Reach 100 points and redeem them for a $5 gift certificate that can be used on anything on the site.

Are you a boutique wholesaler? Squirrel Cheeks is the place to buy wholesale rompers and other girly girl items. In fact, Squirrel Cheeks caters to wholesalers, offering free drop shipping and and automatic 20% discount on all orders - and NO minimum order.

For more info, follow Squirrel Cheeks on Twitter and Facebook.

Now, how about a giveaway? One lucky MichiGal reader will win one solid colored romper (color of choice) in Small (0-12 months), Medium (12-24 months), or Large (3T/4T). (Please note that larger sizes are available for purchase at Squirrel Cheeks, but this giveaway is only for S, M, or L). Just use the Rafflecopter form to enter!


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Dearborn's Giulio and Sons Offers Tasty Vegetarian Options

Our dinner group, with Chefs Vera and Mills

At times, being a vegetarian has its challenges. For example, when eating out I am sometimes underwhelmed by the vegetarian options available at certain restaurants. On the other hand, one of the things I love about adhering to a vegetarian diet is that it has often pushed me outside of my typical food comfort zone. If  I had turned vegetarian in my 20s, I probably would have lived on grilled cheese sandwiches. Now I'm more willing to try new things, which often leads me to delicious culinary discoveries that, at one time, I would have never believed I could love.

A recent dinner at Giulio and Sons, located within the Adoba Hotel in Dearborn, Michigan, is a case in point. I met up with a few fellow local bloggers (Gwendolyn from Finding Sanity in Our Crazy Life, Amber from Metro Detroit Mommy, and Stephanie from Mom Among Chaos)  to sample some items from the new dinner menu. Having no idea what to expect, other than a vague idea that Giulio and Sons serves Italian fare, I kept an open mind and palate.

Giulio and Sons has recently welcomed a new head chef, Chef Gabriel Vera, and a new sous chef, Chef Byron Paine Mills. The two have collaborated to create a new menu of unique, contemporary Italian dishes.

First Impression The Adoba Hotel, at 600 Town Center Drive, was easy to find coming from I-94. Free parking is ample and the restaurant, on the second floor, was easily accessible from the front lobby via stairs or elevator. Giulio and Sons itself is lovely, if a little dimly lit (some might say romantic).

Staff  From the hostess to the waiter, to the manager and chef, everyone was friendly and accommodating. Our waiter was especially wonderful, which enhanced our dining experience all the more.

Food We sampled smaller portions of several menu items, as well as a full sized main course and the decadent dessert buffet. In short, we ate until we were ready to burst.

Giulio's Caprese Salad  Heirloom tomatoes, barrata cheese, micro basil, smoked sea salt, and house made balsamic reduction.

This was not something I would normally order because I am not much of a fan of anything balsamic. However, mixed with the delectable dainty tomatoes and the flavorful cheese, it was a very tasty combination.

Would I order it again? Yes, I would order it to share. Balsamic is still not my favorite, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Miniature Portobello Burger  Made with chimichurri sauce, roasted red peppers, and Swiss cheese on toasted brioche.

This is something else I would not typically order because I generally steer clear of mushrooms.  In fact, I'm going to have to admit that this was the first time I had ever tasted a portobello mushroom. Unbelievable, I know. But I went to dinner with an open mind and I'm glad I did because this little "burger" was so enjoyable. (My stomach is growling as I type this.)

Would I order it again? Yes, it was quite good. And now I can say I like portobello mushrooms. See what I mean about vegetarianism? If I weren't a vegetarian, I could have easily passed my entire life without ever trying this!

 Vegetable Lasagna  A 60 layer vegetable lasagna served with marinara sauce.

The spiciness of this dish really overpowered the flavors. I like a little spice, but not this much. I'm not sure if it was the marinara or the lasagna itself, but this was definitely my least favorite sampling.

Would I order it again? No, I don't think so.

Homemade Mushroom Ravioli  With brandy tarragon cream sauce and glazed sweet peas.

Again, because of the mushrooms, I would not have ordered this on my own. But I loved it. The sauce was perfectly creamy and scrumptious, and the mushrooms were just right - not overpowering at all.

Would I order it again? Absolutely, yes. This may have been my favorite dish of the night. 

Lemon Parsley Risotto  With chili oil, sweet peas, and parmigiano reggiano cheese.

This was a creamy, flavorful, mouthwatering dish. It is really too bad it came last because I was fairly bursting at the seams by this time. But no worries - I brought it home to finish.

Would I order it again? Yes, I would most definitely order this again. 

Clockwise from top: Risotto, Vegetable Lasagna, Caprese Salad, Ravioli, Portobello Burger

Despite the fact that we were stuffed to capacity by the time our last tasting was brought to the table, none of use would think of leaving without a visit to the dessert buffet. I would come back to Giulio and Sons just for dessert. It was amazing! There were platters upon platters full of various cakes and treats. The bread pudding was particularly heavenly, but there were so many options it was really difficult to choose. Save room, trust me!

We tried so much, but we didn't try everything. The menu is full of many enticing options. We also didn't try the salad bar, but I took a peak and was impressed with the expansive spread. In speaking with the chef, I was also impressed to learn that Giulio and Sons uses many local ingredients from the surrounding area, and that all pasta is made in house.

Giulio and Sons is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week. Guests staying in the hotel can also order up room service from the restaurant. This would be a perfect place to come for a special occasion meal. It's a bit of a splurge, but well worth it. (Note: I did not see the breakfast and lunch menus.)

I had a very enjoyable dining experience at Giulio and Sons, and would like to thank the staff and management for a fabulous evening of good food and good company.

Please click over to read Gwendolyn, Amber, and Stephanie's takes on our evening at Giulio and Sons! 

Finding Sanity in Our Crazy Life - Unveiling of Giulio and Sons New Menu
Metro Detroit Mommy - Check Out These 5 New Menu Items at Giulio and Sons
Mom Among Chaos -New Menu at Giulio and Sons Restaurant

Disclaimer: As part of a blogger dinner, I received a complimentary meal from Giulio and Sons. All opinions are my own. No other compensations was received.