Fathom the Journey
Sharonda Shariee Short:
Ace of Wingz is definitely LEGIT!
I kept seeing them all over Instagram (@aceofwingz), so we had to give them a try.
Lots of flavors for everyone’s taste, and don’t sleep on the loaded fries. Just treat yourself!
Check their location before you pull up!
Location Visited:
Ace of Wingz
Not listing the location visited, because they were a food truck. Then they’ve moved around to a few buildings. They are worth looking for when you would like to go.
I was craving macaroni salad. I am the only person in my house who eats it, so I rarely make it. I decided to try a different version, Bacon Ranch, to see if I can persuade the family to give it a try. I got the recipe from Pinterest (Pinterest User: LifeInTheLoftHouse.com) and my 10-year-old daughter asked if she could make it. She whipped it up in no time. She only needed help with boiling the noodles. She could probably do this part as well, but I have not relinquished boiling or frying to her, yet, for obvious reasons. I asked my husband to take care of the noodle boiling, and she went from there.
The Bacon Ranch Macaroni Salad was a hit with everyone. We will definitely be adding this to our menu of optional sides, especially when we grill.
Recipe:
Instructions:
I thought I would be able to update you all more, but the last seven months have been INSANELY EMOTIONAL. There are just no amount of words to describe it.
However, after nearly five months of Triple Negative breast cancer chemotherapy, today I finally got to ring the bell to signify the end of chemotherapy treatment.
I could not be more grateful to the Lord, and my Care Team of doctors, nurses, and techs for getting me to a point where I can move on to the next step of getting rid of this cancer that has temporarily taken residence in my body.
But man, shout out to my family, friends, and my co-workers for holding me all the way down, thus far!
My chemo sitting buddies, the home visits, the company through my six-day hospital stay, the calls, the texts, random/special food and juice prep, store runs, my children being my stair-runners, making sure I have every essential imaginary to be comfortable.
EVERYTHING everyone one of you all do and have done for me is appreciated down to my entire soul!
And when I say Edward, my husband, has fulfilled his, “in sickness and in health” marital vows to the fullest, I absolutely cannot express that he has been absolutely SERIOUS about taking care of me and has not missed one consult, appointment, or treatment.
Not one step has been missed in making sure I am taken care of. I say to him often… THANK YOU! He says back to me, you do not have to thank me. There is not anything else I was supposed to be doing. This is what I am here for. Even still, THANK YOU! 🥺❤️
So, after 16 chemotherapy infusions, countless days of being sick, and what seemed like a never-ending hospital stay, my treatment plan for chemotherapy is over.
I move on to surgery, next month, to remove the area where my tumor existed. I chose a lumpectomy, where a portion of my breast is removed, as opposed to removing my entire breast (mastectomy). Then, several rounds of radiation will be necessary to clean-up the area.
The results from my pathology report will determine how many radiation treatments will be necessary. I am a researcher, so I have been preparing myself for this part, and I am very anxious about the number.
However, I am going to do my best to focus on surgery and recovery, for now. Recovery should be approximately 2-4 weeks. My doctors say everyone is different and could be more or less. As mentioned before, I have not been able to update as much as I would like to, but I hope to be back during surgery recovery to let you all know how I am doing. I appreciate everyone for checking up on me and my progress!
If you are going through breast cancer treatment or are mentally and physically preparing to do so and have any questions, feel free to give me a shout.
I have documented everything along the way, for my understanding, and in hopes of helping the next person.
According to breastcancer.org, “exercise may help you have fewer and less severe side effects from treatment. Research shows that exercise can help ease fatigue, lessen anxiety, improve quality of life, reduce the risk of lymphedema, improve physical function, strengthen bones, improve sleep, and ease bone and joint pain.”
Insert record scratch.
Exuding energy you do not seem to have, even a little bit, can help you feel better?
How Sway?
For a good part of a year, I have been wanting to try Reformer Pilates, so I made this my exercise of choice to try and get back into the swing of moving my body.
Prior to being diagnosed with breast cancer, I was in the gym regularly three to four times per week and in an Xtreme Hip Hop dance class one time per week. That all came to a screeching halt, and I found myself barely walking up the stairs in my home, without having to take a break.
I felt like yoga and pilates would be low impact options, while still moving for heart health, gaining muscle, or at least not losing muscle during this journey.
I found Moveology Pilates & Fitness, close to my home, so I decided to give it a try.
The Pilates instructor, Shieda (Shi for short), was warm and welcoming. I always look for spaces that are filled with good vibes only energy, and that it was.
The thoughts ran through my head ferociously before arrival. What will I wear to cover my head? Will I be cool enough, because chemo hot flashes are very real! Would I be able to keep up since this was my first time out, in a workout setting since diagnosis? How many people would be in class, so I am not exposed to all the things that people carry along with them. The list in my head went on and on.
My worries were put to rest, the classes are no more than five people per session. Shi moved at my slow pace, but also adjusted me when needed, and pushed me when I said could not do a certain movement. She made me aware that in her classes, you listen to your body, and adjust to what you feel you can handle. Shi said, “if I feel you can do it, I will encourage you to keep going, but you are ultimately in charge.”
We used the reformer’s main carriage. The reformer’s stand-up bar to stretch, which felt amazing. Then we moved onto the Pilates chair. I made it through the 50–55-minute class, very slowly, but I made it! One thing I know for sure, the sleep I will experience tonight will indeed be improved.
I plan on continuing Reformer Pilates. If you are looking to try out the class, Shieda will be having an open house to check out the space, on May 6, 2023, from 12PM-2PM. If you sign-up by the end of open house, the $100 registration fee is waived.
However, you can always sign up for a drop-in class or one of her packages. Find the link in her Instagram bio, @moveology_fitnessaz and do not forget your grip socks.
Location Visited:
4340 W. Chandler Boulevard, #3
Chandler, Arizona 85226
I go scared, figure it out — so you can go with ease.
Hot air ballooning had been on my list for years. Not because it looked peaceful, but because it looked terrifying. My husband refused. His logic? At least one parent should stay on the ground to raise the kids.
Fair.
So I found a friend who trusted my research more than her fear, and we booked the ride with Rainbow Ryders anyway.
My research on the company and safety stats convinced a girlfriend to go along with what I felt was a great idea.
From the moment I booked the ride, with Rainbow Ryders Hot Air Balloon Co. (RR), every human sense was stimulated.
An oversized basket, a giant balloon, fueled with hot-air, thousands of feet in the air, with 12 people inside, could we be any crazier? We were willing to see! I booked the hot-air balloon ride about three weeks out. You had the choice of a sunrise or sunset ride. We chose sunset, because getting up before the sun comes up over the horizon and baring the morning coldness was not anyone’s idea of an enjoyable start to a day.
There was no individual weight limit with RR, but they will ask what the total weight is for the individuals booking in your party. They placed us in a basket according to the other 10 riders that rode in the same basket with us, to give the balloon an overall safe balance.
Per RR, there were other requirements that we needed know before we booked our ride, such as being able to get in and out of the basket (similar to getting on and off a horse), standing for three hours, since we did have to stand the entire time, no on balloon seating. Wear comfortable clothes and closed toed shoes.
We checked in one day prior, to confirm our attendance for the next day. We arrived one-hour prior to flight time on the day of the ride to get an assigned basket, pilot, and van.
The ride from RR headquarters to the launch-site was about 45 minutes. Once the balloon chasers located an idea space for take-off, they began set-up. Set-up took an additional 45 minutes. We filled the time with a photo-op and observing the process of the crew inflating the balloon. They process is all manual, from pulling the basket out the back of a pick-up, unraveling the balloon to make sure it is flat and ready to be inflated with large fans.
Once the logistics were in order, it was time for take-off. Nail-biting and wonder started to take over. However, the hot-air balloon ride was the most serene, relaxing, and enjoyable time that you can have at approximately 3,000 feet in the air. Surprisingly so quiet, just the sounds of whispering chatter from our balloon neighbors, and the sound of the fire fueling the balloon. Our pilot pointed out some landmarks and gave us some short personal stories about his flying experience over the last 30 years.
After about one hour and a half in the air, we prepared for landing. Landing was bumpy, but not rough. We skipped a few times, but our basket did not tip over, like we were warned could happen. There are small steps etched on the inside of the basket. We used those to climb to flat ground. We had a or few celebratory glasses of wine, and all the riders received flight certificates. Our balloon chasers met us at the landing site and chauffeured us back to the RR Headquarters. Overall, our experience was 10/10.
And yes, we are a little bit crazier since scratching hot-air ballooning off of our bucket list. Would not have it any other way!
Our total price paid was $390, for two riders, not including tip.
Have you been hot-air ballooning? Who were you able to talk into going with you? Tell me about your experience. If you have not been hot-air ballooning. would you try it?
Location Visited:
Rainbow Ryders Hot Air Balloon Co.
715 E. Covey Lane, #100
Phoenix, Arizona 85024
Sharonda Shariee 