Wedding Belle | Journal Gazette

Using your noodle

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 03:00:00 EST

Mark's eyes got big and I could almost see him salivate ...

A matter of comfort

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 03:00:00 EST

There was a time, in the first few months of my marriage, when I began to relax. I felt more at ease. More comfortable. Like, "wear my baggy gray sweat pants all the time" comfortable.

In review: More than meats the eye

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:45:00 EST

Mushrooms are not hamburgers. They're not. No matter how fantastic a portobello mushroom is supposed to taste on a bun, it doesn't. It tastes a bit yucky, if I can be honest.

Bread winner

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST

Road trip or re-create college fave at home?

Recipes in review: 'Bar none'

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 11:53:00 EST

There are weeks when I wonder why I even plan a menu. Weeks when the meals on the list don't sound good or the ingredients are hard to come by or time to prepare even the simplest of dishes seems elusive.

Afternoon in the 'City'

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:42:00 EST

It was supposed to be the perfect Valentine's date: dinner at home, a movie and dessert at DeBrand. That was until Mark decided that he didn't want to see the movie - "Valentine's Day" - after he had read reviews.

More than meats the eye

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST

What if dinner was about something different, like vegetables or other sources of protein?

Under review: "Cream of the crop ... or not"

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 18:21:00 EST

Do you ever wonder whether the dishes I select for my weekly menu, which I post on Friday, actually taste good? Should you make them? Would I change up the recipe.

Bar none

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Fri, 28 May 2010 10:00:00 EST

I blame "Top Chef Masters." One of the recent episodes challenged the chefs to make tailgate food on a charcoal grill. There was grilled pizza and grilled chicken pitas and Korean-style skirt steak and burgers.

Remote access

Mark Truesdell — Thu, 27 May 2010 15:19:00 EST

A little story from the man of the house ...

Brush off

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Wed, 26 May 2010 03:00:00 EST

Had it not been for my crush on Chris Turner in the fifth-grade, I probably would have stopped brushing my teeth.

Hot pursuit

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Tue, 25 May 2010 10:57:00 EST

Shepherd's pie for dinner, and it's 78 degrees. Or homemade In-N-Out burger?

Cream of the crop ... not

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Fri, 21 May 2010 03:00:00 EST

Cream of the crop ... not

Beyond all reason

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Thu, 20 May 2010 16:20:00 EST

I'm not really sure why I married Mark. I mean, if someone asked me, "Why did you marry Mark?" I wouldn't know what to say.

Helping hand

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Tue, 18 May 2010 03:00:00 EST

I'm not gonna lie - the air was thick in the Truesdell house. Mark and I were in the middle of a heated conversation; Denali was barking, adding his 2 cents about the disagreement; and I was unable to find an escape route.

Scheduling conflict

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Fri, 14 May 2010 08:00:00 EST

When I accepted a new position at the Journal Gazette, I knew my work schedule would change. I just didn't realize that my cooking schedule would change, too.

Plum crazy

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Wed, 12 May 2010 18:07:00 EST

Mark likes plums. Did you know that? I didn't know that. We were just driving, making our way to Cincinnati, when I took out my bag o' food. (I find that I feel the need to snack for an

Back to basics

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Fri, 07 May 2010 10:00:00 EST

I didn't make Mel's best-ever Ground Beef Tacos

Bugged out

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Thu, 06 May 2010 03:00:00 EST

I did not feel good. I didn't. I didn't want to eat. I didn't want to drink anything. I just wanted to sleep ... and sleep ... and sleep.

Fired up

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Wed, 05 May 2010 16:52:00 EST

Fifty-three degrees. Fifty-three degrees and rain.

Shell shocked

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 10:00:00 EST

These tacos are so good that "there is no going back to the store-bought taco seasoning after making your own."

Putting the chill on romance

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 13:55:00 EST

Some men buy their wives flowers. Others buy jewelry to give to their ladies. Others buy chocolate. All of it in the name of romance.

Playing catch up

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 10:00:00 EST

I was offended. Really offended, actually. Of course you knew that, after reading

My town, Philly

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 10:00:00 EST

It was by chance that I saw it.

Independence day

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 10:00:00 EST

"I want to be more independent," Mark declared as we stood in the kitchen. "I want to be able to fend for myself." I stopped and stared at him. Was this the same man who, not 5 minutes earlier, asked me to pause "The Fourth Kind" and asked that I make him a strawberry milkshake.

'Lost' thoughts on marriage

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 10:00:00 EST

Is it important to maintain independence in a relationship, and how do you do it?

Spring fling

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:57:00 EST

Mark is alive. I'm alive. Taking those facts into account, one could assume that our spring break

It's a smash!

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 10:00:00 EST

A double cheeseburger, fries, cup of chili and shake from Steak 'n' Shake might be the most perfect meal. Everything about it makes my mouth water - from dipping the fries into the chili to eating the whip cream off the shake with a spoon to the burger with the works on a greasy bun.

Break it up

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 03:00:00 EST

I had plans. Real plans. Mark and I were going to spend his spring break in Las Vegas, eating at fabulous restaurants, shopping at too expensive boutiques and feeding the nickel slots. Then I realized it wouldn't be

All shook up

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 21:59:00 EST

I talk in my sleep. I've even been known to sing in my sleep (sorry Camp Stonybrook bunk mates). Never, ever, though, have I been told that I randomly shake people in my sleep. That was until Friday morning.

Pie in the sky

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 10:00:00 EST

Art, wine, young people - it was a sophisticated evening at the newly reopened Fort Wayne Museum of Art.

Stake your claim

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 13:20:00 EST

For sale: One empty uterus, approximately 29 years old. Never been used and in proper working order. Please submit reasonable offer, including medical costs related to transfer.

At a loss

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 23:37:00 EST

I blame my best friend. She was the one who up and decided to join a weight-loss group in her Nebraska town. She was the one who had to go be all successful and inspiring ... and make me jealous enough to join a group, too.

Long live the king, crab

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST

I was so excited, I could almost taste it. I was going to make scalloped potatoes and pair it with pan-fried ham steaks. (Read Sunday's Living section, and you'll know why.)

Run away

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 03:00:00 EST

Sweat seemed to pour off me as I stood in the kitchen, trying to catch my breath after a 5-mile run. I drank a glass of water, then two, and pushed away the dog as he tried to lick the salt off my hands.

Lessons in love

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:50:00 EST

My grandma taught me to never, ever call a boy. You must be chased, she said. You also had to be: *Dressed well but modest. *Polite.

Golden touch

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:23:00 EST

I'm married again. Well, at least I look married again. After 10 days away for sizing, my engagement ring and wedding ring are back on my finger. They fit fantastically (

Freezer burn

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST

I opened the freezer and just kind of stared. There was a half-eaten box of soft pretzel bites, two Italian turkey sausage links (leftover from Monday's Healthified Pizza Pasta), fat-free whipped topping and two flash-frozen chicken breasts. Add in the frozen meals and ice cream sandwiches, and it looked kind of pathetic.

Killer secret

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:10:00 EST

You know who he is - Dr. Oz, the Oprah medical expert who now has his own TV show. He likes to talk about how to live a better life whether it be through environment changes, diet, exercise ... or sex.

Ring leader

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:22:00 EST

Too much caffeine, exhaustion and a slight sugar high from baking Tiramisu Cheesecake Bars

Fired up

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST

I have seen the sun. I have felt the (relative) warmth. I have glimpsed the start of spring.

Standard issue

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:00:00 EST

I still haven't seen Valentine's Day. And you know what? I'm still a little upset about it. (Just ask Mark - he's been reminded. Several times.)

Green with envy

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST

Turkey Tequila Burgers, Tortellini Primavera, Chicken Cordon Bleu Stromboli, Pacific Pork Kebabs with Pineapple Rice

How the cookie crumbles

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST

I'll be the first to admit it: They were not the best cookies I had ever made. I had the darndest time getting the peanut butter kiss cookies off the oven rack, and they were a tad crumbly.

Total gawker

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:57:00 EST

Why didn't I find this site until nearly two years after I started wedding planning? Seriously? Seriously!

Can't stand the heat? Get out of the kitchen

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:20:00 EST

"I'm not sure why, but I've been a bit of a food snob lately," Mark said.

On the cutting room floor

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:09:00 EST

We were supposed to see Valentine's Day. We were supposed to see the chick flick because a) I really wanted to see it; b) I was planning our Valentine's Day celebration; and c) Mark agreed to go to participate in my planned activities.

Flushed away

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:00:00 EST

I was eating a lovely dinner of leftover chicken and roasted vegetables at my desk while I talked to Mark on the phone.I told him about my day, a boring day that involved a lot of lying around before coming to work. Then, he told me about his morning at school.

House of pancakes

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 10:00:00 EST

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. You know what I say? If it's so important, you should get to eat it twice - once at normal time and once at dinner.Yep, I'm advocating breakfast for dinner.

Run for my money

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:00:00 EST

It was cold but not that cold. The sidewalks were clear of snow and ice. My feet were moving, and my breathing was fast but steady. I was feeling good. Really good.

I'm not willing to sacrifice my marriage for Lent

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:32:00 EST

I went meat-free on Fridays. I gave up things I liked and didn't want to live without. Things like candy and hitting my brother and soda and saying curse words.

So sweat

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 10:00:00 EST

There's nothing more romantic than sweating with your partner. Or so says Dr. Belisa Vranich,

Day trader

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:00:00 EST

Soup Night is moving to Tuesday.

Funny Valentine's

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:00:00 EST

Ladies, please forgive me for what I'm about to say. I also apologize if your significant other stumbles across the blog and tries to use it "against" you.

Difference a year makes

Kimberly Dupps Truesdell — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:45:00 EST

"Is the first year really as hard as they say?" my friend asked me.