Some mornings, you just wake up and know it’s going to be a good day, and with luck, a great day. That’s how I felt Monday morning when I looked at the clock and it said 7 am and I was still in bed.. Now that’s a rarity, day off or not. But I woke up hungry, and just couldn’t settle for something like a protein bar. I wanted an omelet, but not one that was going to leave me feeling full of guilt instead of full of healthy things. That meant not using a whole egg, the the base of the omelet. Instead, we go for the high protein egg white. To start, I grabbed a bag of stir fry veggies from the freezer with asparagus, snow peas, carrots, onions, broccoli and water chestnuts and sauteed them with just a touch of non stick spray until they had a nice little brown going on; added little Italian seasoning, black pepper and grated Parmesan cheese and set that off to the side. Then gently add the egg whites to that same small pan, and rotate the whites until you have a firm base, add the veggies back on to one side and fold the other side on top. Slip that onto your plate, alongside those veggie (sausage) patties and a nicely sectioned Gala apple, and it was breakfast in bed with the morning paper and a cup of my special blend of sugar free hot chocolate with just a smidge of instant coffee for a little kick, and Ann Kelly felt very, very good about the start to her day.

Even better for later on? An extremely delicious chocolate/blueberry baguette from 20 Shekels Bread, a locally based bakery from Largo who loves to take special order, and offers a totally organic bread - Ezekiel bread; they also use as many organic ingredients as possible in all their breads. I found them in the Fresh Market in Hyde Park Village this past Sunday, and discovered they do have a heart for starving artists. They happily take care of the artists on site and will trade bread for art! The samples are generous for everyone, including the dogs since this is a pet friendly event the first Sunday of every month. Reach out for orders and more information at orders@20shekels.com and of course, online. But since we so love our local markets, you'll find them all over the Bay, including the Safety Harbor 3rd Friday every month from 6-10 pm, which I need to check out myself, and the Ybor City Market Saturday mornings from 9 am - 1 pm year round. Be sure to stop in at the Singing Stone Gallery and say hello to Natalie and Dan Balk. Dan is an incredibly talented man and his original jewelry was a highlight of the RNC which you probably saw on Bay News Nine.

I was also fortunate enough to meet Angus Macaulay at the Hyde Park Market, who’s a recent addition to the Bay area art scene, and does lovely original art that’s affordable, unique and colorful. I have some smaller pieces that are about to find a new home in Kelly’s Kitchen, and when I figure out the perfect arrangement I'll post a picture.  He’s usually located across from the circle, and can be reached at angustartwork@msn.com. Angus is hoping to make the cut for the next Mainsail Arts Festival, and based on a few of his works that made me think of one of my favorite artists - Monet - I’m keeping my fingers crossed for him.

To top off that perfect day? An email from Yankee Candles for a sale. Yes, time to restock so when I’m relaxing in my tub with loaded with the Village Natural Echinacea, Ginseng and Tea Tree Oil the mineral bath soak in I found in Target,just one of the many stops I made yesterday as my friend Laura and I were enjoying a Sunday in Tampa minus the RNC insanity, I can also enjoy whatever scent I find on sale. Oh yes...also grabbed a bath pillow. I’m being totally indulgent on a day off. And yes dear Martha that is a good thing. Hmm, which also reminds me...I need to go look at her paint colors for another project. But that’s for tomorrow...

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM KELLY’S KITCHEN

...for tomorrow is another day (like I need to tell you who...)