meet mckenzie
It's me.
New resident of Missouri, dog mom to a perfect 2-year-old golden retriever, and parter to an incredibly busy medical student. We are doing our best to enjoy our lives out here in the middle of nowhere.
I figured you may want to know a little bit about me, so here it goes.
I am a...
VEGETARIAN because I choose not to eat things that have moms and eyes.
I have avoided meat for four years now. It's not a grand story, it's very simple. I was eating steak, heard a "moooo" in my head, felt like I was going to vom, and stopped eating meat. Since then I realized that I have more energy and sleep much better than before. Also the challenge of finding and creating new, meatless recipes is the best puzzle I have ever done. Really, I don't know if I'll ever go back.
TRAVELER because I want to understand other ways of life.
If I could do one thing for the rest of my life, I would travel the world. Growing up in a conservative suburban area with little to no diversity created a fire for experiencing something other than what I was stuck in. I have traveled to 12 countries and have done my best to appreciate their food, sights, and way of life. People say it's a cliche, but traveling really does change your outlook of life.
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BEHAVIOR ANALYST because there is no better feeling than experiencing the magic of learning.
I have dedicated my life to working with exceptional populations. I was a special education teacher for four years, and taught mostly individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Two years ago I went back to school to follow a more specific passion within the field, and am now studying to pass my boards exam to get some extra letters behind my name. I am hoping so hard that I will be back working with my people again soon (send all the good, boards passing vibes.)
COOK because I'm a stubborn, independent woman who did not enjoy marinara sauce as a child. Also, I always wanted to be just like my grandma.
I grew up in a home where I was told to make my own food if I didn't want it what my parents were making. Every spaghetti night, I took my parents up on this offer. I don't really think they meant it, I think that they were trying to call my bluff; see how badly I didn't want their meal. It stared out with simple things like quesadillas or grilled cheeses, but I soon graduated to enchiladas and pan seared chicken breast. Once I was old enough to be trusted with an oven on my own [7th or 8th grade,] I was making dinners for my family.
My love of cooking should be credited to someone else though. My Grandma Janet never failed to have a stool next to the mixing bowl so I could inaccurately measure the ingredients or mispronounce the steps in the recipe. She had a talent of making something out of nothing in perfect time. Thanksgiving was, and will always be, my favorite day of the year because I got her all to myself. She inspired my creativity and enthusiasm for making food and I am so grateful for that.
HOUSE PLANT LOVER because I rescued one small (dying) pothos from my local grocery store nursed it to the large, leafy beauty that she is today.
Really I just think they are pretty, and I have too much fun stalking auction-style Facebook groups. I am no expert, but I have more living than I have killed so I'd say I'm winning.
