Thursday Therapy -- You better start runnin' cause you much too late to jog.

Exercise. This one word can either make or break your day. Some people love it… can’t get by without it. For others, it’s the nagging thing in the back of their mind that they know they need to do, but either never get around to doing or if they do, they hate every minute of it. I think I’m kind of in between these two. I love it once it’s done, but most days, I dread the thought of sweating so much that I can’t do anything until I’ve had a shower. There’s no doubt that exercising has multiple advantages. We all know it’s good for your heart, and for your waistline, but I think sometimes we forget that it’s good for our mind. Exercise helps us to physically rid of the stress of the daily grind. There’s nothing like boxing or running to get rid of all of the things that weigh you down. Exercise helps you, for the moment, focus on your ability, and what you’re capable of doing instead of all of the things you can’t control. Aaaahhh… there’s that word. Control. A lot of things seem to revolve around that one word. Think about it. Generally, people aren’t as happy when they don’t feel like they’re in control of this or that… being their life. We mentally seem to spiral out of control when we don’t have control of a situation. Say you’re panic stricken about money…. not in control = stress/worry/anxiety. Job problems …not in control = stress/worry/anxiety. Your kids are doing things they shouldn’t… you’re not in control = stress/worry/anxiety. The things we don’t feel in control of are the things that stress us out, and cause us to turn into the kind of women we don’t like. The thing is, we can’t control everything, and truth be told, even when we think we do, we’re wrong because God is in control. The faster we realize and live that out, the better off we’ll be. However, in our own minds… we can control some things. Working out is one of those things. Working out makes us feel stronger, healthier, more confident and releases the endorphins that make us happy. Exercise is free therapy. It doesn’t matter what your circumstance or health problems, most everyone should be able to find at least one exercise that they can do. I get that not everyone has knees and feet that will hold up to running. I’m right there with you. Swim, bike, use and elliptical machine or do Pilates. There are tons and tons of things to do for exercise. Just make sure it’s something you enjoy doing or you’ll give up. Get a work out buddy if that helps keep you accountable. We can all say we don’t have time, but that’s not true and you know it. Even if you have to do two or three 15 minute sessions to get enough in, you can do it. Sacrifice 30 minutes of TV watching or reading. Do whatever it takes to make yourself exercise at least 4 times a week. You can do it. This may be therapy you have to force on yourself, but I promise it will make a difference in your life in more ways than one. Watch this today http://www.hulu.com/watch/4103/saturday-night-live-little-richards-simmons-show. I promise it will make your day.

Wednesday Whatabouts -- Canning

Lately I’ve really been missing my grandmother who I lost last year. I can honestly say that she was my hero. She lived through the depression in complete poverty, and raised eight kids on her own after her husband was killed at a young age. She never went to school after the 8th grade, but she was smart. She taught English to make money for her family to survive on. Through the years, it was a struggle for her to have enough food to go around, but she always took care of her kids. Later on, she had a bi-weekly column in the local news paper where she told about the local happenings and of course told what all of her grandkids were up to. Through it all my grandmother was a rock. You would never know how much inward strife she must have had based on her outer demeanor. She was also the spiritual leader and example for her large family. My grandmother loved to garden, and she loved to cook. Every time I would go for a visit in the country I was always underfoot while she cooked. It always amazed me how she could seem to make a feast out of nothing. In the summers I would go help her with her canning. My grandmother was serious about her canning. She had a whole room outside that was dedicated to all the things she canned. It was always so exciting to see what all she had in there, and what all she would share. There were green beans, sour kraut, bread n’ butter pickles, tomatoes, apple butter, chow chow, pear preserves… you name it, she had it. It was how she and her children survived. While I’m fortunate enough to not have to can for survival, I do love it and I think it’s a great way to save money and the foods can also make good gifts. So in honor of my grandmother, my Nannie, I’m going to start up my canning and freezing this week. And like her, I’ll only use the Ball jars with the wide mouth because she says they’re the best.

Tasty Tuesday -- Lieutenant Dan… Ice-cream!!!

In my book, ice-cream is really one of the best things in the world. For me, it’s one of those things that is nearly impossible to turn down. Chocolate, mint chocolate chip, butter pecan, rocky road, one sweet whirled, strawberry, vanilla bean, turtle, double fudge brownie, cookies n’ cream, coconut, coffee… I could go on forever naming all the delicious flavors. So, if you’re like me and love all things ice-cream, you’ll love today’s treat. Today’s recipe is so, so simple and can easily be adapted to suit your taste buds or dietary needs. This can also be made in any quantity you’d like, so I’ll leave that part up to you and just give the ingredients. I generally use an 8x8 or a 9x13 dish, but it can be made for one if you’ve got a hankerin’ and don’t want to wait for company to make it. This isn't anything prolific, but it's quick, easy and it's ice-cream.

Ice-cream Delight
Ice-cream sandwiches (pick your flavor)
Cool whip
Heath or Butterfinger bars (broken into small pieces)
Chocolate and Caramel ice-cream syrup

Place the ice-cream sandwiches in the desired dish, and spread on thawed Cool Whip. Next put crumbled candy bars on top. Drizzle caramel and chocolate over everything. Cover with plastic wrap, and pop the dish in the freezer so ice-cream won’t melt and Cool Whip can firm up. Keep frozen until ready to serve.

Here are some other ideas for this easy dish.
Use brownies or cake in place of ice-cream sandwiches
Toasted, sweetened coconut
Pecans
Any other type of candy bar
For a healthier version, use No Sugar Added ice-cream sandwiches, Lite Cool Whip, Sugar- free syrups and Sugar-free Toffee Bars

Make a Difference Monday -- Show Some Gratitude

I hope you all had a great weekend and were able to call, spend time, or reflect on time spent with your dad or father figure. I was able to make a quick trip to visit with my Dad for a few hours. One of my favorite things about my Dad is that he doesn’t take himself too seriously. I think I take after him in that way. I hope I do.
So, on to todays make a difference Monday. One of the lost arts of our society is expressing gratitude/thankfulness. I know so many ladies in their late 70’s and 80’s that still have it. You know the ones who have the ability to write poetic thank you notes or who always bake a cake to express their sincere gratitude. I have been fortunate to be surrounded by so many women in my life who have led by their example and I hope that I do half as good a job as they have in showing my gratitude toward them and others. I think we live in such a fast paced society with such a “gimme” mindset that we often take the little things for granted or else we just feel like we’re entitled to everything. It’s very important not only for others, but for ourselves that we take time to give a genuine thanks to those who have had a special impact in our lives even if through just one deed. Maybe it was your parents, maybe it wasn’t. Maybe it was a teacher, a co-worker, a neighbor; someone at church… the list could go on and on. Showing your gratitude is such a simple thing to do, and yet is often left undone. Today, pick at least one person who has impacted your life in a wonderful way and tell them how much you appreciate them. Sometimes all it takes to make a difference is to tell someone they’ve made a difference to you.

Forget About it Friday -- Why not?

Forget waking up at dawn. Sleep in tomorrow!!!!!!! Hope you all have a great weekend.

Therapy Thursday -- Dear Diary

First, let me say, I can't imagine ever starting a journal entry with those words. To me, that's more of Martha May Whovier's style. I was never much into journaling when I was a child. I was way too much of a tomboy to ever go for anything so girly. I was the girl who was out playing baseball and fishing with the boys instead of playing with Barbie and hosting tea parties. As I’ve gotten older and learned a whole lot more about life and myself, I’ve found journaling to be very therapeutic. I’m a very train of thought writer, so needless to say, my journal topics are all over the map. Some days my entries are a written prayer. Some days the entries are a venting session. Other times, I write about what I’m loving about life at the moment, and things I’d like to change. If I had any drawing capabilities at all, I know I would sketch. I think I’d even like to start adding photos if I’m journaling about a particularly great day I’ve had or event I’ve gone to. Although my journal entries are always different, there is one thing that I always try to do. I make a point to write down things I’m thankful for. Sometimes when life is hard or even when it’s great, we forget to take the time to be thankful for things we’re able to do or have, lessons we’ve learned, or relationships we share. I’ve recently been in situations where I see spouses/boyfriends and girlfriends putting one another down and being really hard on the other (almost John and Kate plus 8 style). This isn’t healthy. There is always a reason why we like or love someone, and it’s important not to lose sight of it. We all get annoyed with people from time to time, but constant nagging or bashing is only going to push the person further and further away… even if they don’t say anything at the time. I say, if you’re upset with someone, stop and think before you speak. Nine out of ten times, the situation is too petty to be worth harsh words and an argument. Later on that day, once you’re removed from the situation, take time to write down a few things that you appreciate about the person you were ready to lash out at earlier. I guarantee, you’ll be more thankful that they’re in your life than angry about the irritating situation. This works for husbands, boyfriends, good friends, family, kids etc. Even if you’re not upset about anything or anyone, take the time to write down the little things in life you’re thankful for. I think it’s almost human nature to dwell on the bad and turn a blind eye to all the good in our lives. Let journaling turn that around for you.
Journals are things that I never want to get rid of. I think reading them 20 years down the road will give me such a wonderful and personal glance back into my life. I know feelings will change, I’ll mature and my perspectives will be different years from now, but I’d like to remember how things are for me as I see them. It will also be neat for relatives to have once I’m gone. It’s not that I journal for someone to read it… it’s the opposite really, but I would have loved to have had a journal from one of my grandmothers’ younger years. It would be so special to have a closer look into their lives when they were closer to my age. I wish I’d started journaling so much earlier in my life, and maybe you do too, but it’s never too late to start. Never doubt your potential to give self- therapy.

Wednesday Whatabouts -- Calgon take me away!

I’m having one of those weeks where I need an escape. I love my job. I really do, but I get so fed up with the constant gossip and complaining some folks do. It’s exhausting. I need a private beach, sunscreen that smells like coconut, beautiful weather, and great music STAT. Too bad that isn’t going to happen anytime soon. I do, however, have my first ever spa day coming up soon. I’m excited and curious to see if a hot stone massage is really all that magical. I’m thinking it could be. I’m very interested about the whole spa experience. I may or may not have called to see if they could get me in a day early, and they may or may not have returned the call. Should I take my I-pod or would that take away from the new age music they’re sure to have? I wish I had a friend going with me, but this was a gift, and I don’t exactly think it would be a great friend move to ask someone to shell out hundreds of dollars so I’ll have someone to go with… but I digress. Can I make it through two and a half more days?

Tasty Tuesday -- Not your Mama's chicken.

I love chicken, and I try my best to come up with new ways of seasoning it so I don’t get tired of the same ole’ thing. Here’s quick and easy recipe you’ll enjoy by yourself, with friends, or with family. I love mushrooms, and Baby Bella’s are my current favorite, but I know that a lot of folks hate mushrooms all together. If that’s the case, substitute grilled red onions for the mushrooms.
This chicken is great by itself or as a sandwich. If I’m doing this as a sandwich, I use a whole wheat bun; add some lettuce, tomato, red onion and some honey mustard. If you don’t have any pre-made honey mustard, you can easily make your own. I’ll put a honey mustard recipe below. Be sure to let me know if you ever try one of my recipes. I’d love to know what you think. Have a tasty Tuesday!

Chicken breasts
Zataran’s Blackening Seasoning
Baby Bella Mushrooms (sliced)
Bacon (optional)
Monterrey Jack or Sharp Cheddar Cheese (use 2% for a healthier option)

Cover desired number of chicken breasts liberally with blackening seasoning. Grill or sauté (sauté in 1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil plus 1 tsp Butter) chicken until the juices run clear. Bacon and mushrooms can be cooked in a grill pan that is covered with foil as well. I like this option for easy clean up. If you’re not grilling, cook the bacon and drain most of the grease from the pan. Save enough to sauté the mushrooms or you can use a little olive oil for that instead. If you’re grilling, throw the mushrooms and the bacon together to cook. If after cooking for a few minutes, you want to make your bacon crisp, just put it directly on the grill for a minute or so. After everything has finished cooking, place chicken in grill pan. Top with bacon and mushrooms, then put cheese on top to melt. If you’re cooking inside, it’s easiest to just layer everything and pop it in the microwave it until the cheese is melted.

Homemade Honey Mustard
Disclaimer: This is very approximate. I generally do this by sight and taste. I recommend you do the same.

1 tsp honey
1 tsp mustard
2 Tbsp mayonnaise
You can add a little BBQ sauce for an added kick if you like.

Make a Difference Monday -- Sunflowers and a Milk Shake

I’m having the kind of day where I’m going to have to force myself to make a difference, but I know once I make an effort, I’ll be glad I did. There’s no doubt, we all go through hard times. We deal with loss, depression, break-ups, anger, hurt feelings, little annoying things that get under our skin, accidents, loneliness… you name it. At one point or another, we’ll all deal with most if not all of the above. I can name at least five friends/relatives who are going through a rough time right now. I know people who are out of jobs, who have just had their house burn down, those who have had miscarriages, several who are battling cancer, some who are stressed about work, stressed about what their kids are doing that they don’t know, and some who are just depressed about getting older. All of us can go from being on top of the world to being at the lowest low within a matter of minutes. I know. It’s so depressing to read all of those things, but what can we do? Well, first, we can be thankful if we’re not at a low point. Then, we can hopefully bring a little cheer to those who aren’t so lucky. Sure, you can help monetarily sometimes, but that’s not always possible, and depending on the situation, money isn’t always the right or best answer. Sometimes folks just need a shoulder to cry on, or a great friend to veg out and watch movies and eat ice-cream with. If you’re too busy for that, a simple card can still make anyone’s day. I try to be creative when I’m trying to cheer up a friend. Here are some of my favorite things to do. A bouquet of fresh flowers (bouquet of sunflowers at Publix for $3.33), a homemade CD, handmade card, chick flicks, milkshakes, favorite coffee drink, a candle and some Mr. Bubbles, window shopping, going for a walk, gifts for pets, gift cards, homemade cakes, something for their house in the color they’re diggin’ at the moment, etc. There are so many creative things to do that are either free, or cost hardly anything. Now that I’ve inspired myself, I just need to pick a friend, and go make a difference in their day. We can all make a difference one person at a time we just have to do it. Add to the beauty today.

Forget About It Friday -- Movies

This is going to be short and sweet because I'm about to leave to go to a cookout, but I wanted to wish everyone a happy, fun and safe weekend and also give a shout out to my best friend whose birthday is tomorrow. There are several good movies out right now, and some sneak peaks too. Lately, I've seen, Star Trek, Up, The Hangover, Night at the Museum, and I'm going to the sneak preview of The Proposal tomorrow night. As you can tell, all of the moives I've seen lately have been really diverse, and all were good in their own way. By the way, even though "Up" is a Pixar film, it's really more for adults. It deals with some pretty heavy issues that your kids may not enjoy. "The Hangover" is really funny, but I could have done with a lot less f-bombs and all of the gd's. " Night at the Museum" is pretty cute, but not as good as the first. If you're looking for a family friendly film, this is the one I recommend. As for "Star Trek"... to say that I'm not a fan of any of the old shows is a massive understatement. The only thing I knew about it going into the movie was that there were guys named, Spock, Kirk, and Scottie. That being said. I really enjoyed the movie. It far exceeded all of my expectations. My best friend saw "My Life in Ruins" this week and said it was cute, but that the writer will never do anything as good as "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". I have high hopes for "The Proposal", and I hope the movie lives up to its' hype. Wow... not so short after all. Take a couple of hours to go enjoy a movie this weekend. I'll be back Monday. Hope you all have a great weekend!

Wednesday Whatabouts -- Sew Blue

I love these dresses. They're simple, and just right.

Today I hate myself for not really knowing how to sew. These dresses are just a sad reminder. Sure, I have a Singer, but most of the time it just sits in my craft room behind all of my card making and scrapbooking materials. It’s sad really. You would think a Southern girl would know how to sew, but I don’t. My husband is from the country and had to take home economics in high school, so he knows a little bit about sewing, and both of us come from long lines of professional seamstresses. Back in the day, both of my grandmothers made clothes, bedding, curtains etc. and sold them to help pay the bills while staying home with their children. I know that my husband’s Mema did the same. My Mom learned to sew at an early age, and she hated it, so she hasn’t sewn in my lifetime. By the time I became really interested, both of my grandmothers couldn’t see well enough to teach me. My Dad’s mom knows how much I cherish hand-made quilts and blankets and has given me many that she or my great-grandmother made. I’ve tried to ask questions over the years about how to make certain things, and she starts throwing out all of these words that I don’t have the slightest clue what they mean. So, I have given up on her helping me out. I read the instructions to my Singer several years ago, and I can do a basic stitch to do things like throw pillows, but that’s it. If someone gave me a pattern, I wouldn’t know what to do with it. The worst part of it is… I LOATHE sewing. I’m pretty sure it’s because I was never taught the right techniques for cutting and pinning. I hate that part so much and I’m so bad at it that by the time I get ready to actually sew, I’m violent. I suddenly become the 3 year old you see in the mall having a temper tantrum. I throw things, scream made up obscenities, and then once I’m “calm”, I mutter how much I hate what I’m doing under my breath. I’m pretty sure if anyone were around, I’d kick them. Yes. It’s really that bad. All of that having been said, I would love to know how to sew… the correct way. Every time I go shopping I think about how much money I could save if I could just make whatever I’m currently drooling over. I could have three times the clothes I have now, and all of my bedrooms would have different bedding that I could change out at different times during the year. I would have all sorts of beautiful pillows and curtains. (I’m sort of sounding like Ralphie when he’s imagining how glorious his life would be with the Red Rider BB Gun.) So maybe I wouldn’t be that extravagant, but I would have a lot more. I would find a way to justify it in the family budget. So much for that. I’m too chicken to take a class because I’ve heard that the “beginner” classes aren’t really for people who are completely new to sewing. Instead, I will just window shop, and continue to be jealous of those who sew.

Tasty Tuesday -- Coconut Caramel Pie

I don’t know about the temperature where everyone else lives, but it’s starting to climb into the upper 80’s and low 90’s around here. So, for today’s Tasty Tuesday recipe, I’ve decided to go with something that can cool you down and bring a smile to your face at the same time. It’s so simple that anyone who has an oven, a pan and a mixer can make it. It makes two of these yummy pies. The pies should be prepared at least 5 hours in advance so they will be frozen. It’s great to make when you’re entertaining a crowd, but I generally keep one and give one away to a friend or a neighbor. Be sure to ask about any nut allergies before sharing. This pie definitely doesn’t get any points for being healthy, but I assure you, it is divine!!! Hopefully one day, I'll think about it and add pics of the recipes. Sorry for now.

Coconut Caramel Pies
2 baked Pillsbury deep dish pie shells (prepare according to pkg. directions)
¼ c Butter
1 (7oz) pkg. Sweetened, flake coconut
½ c Chopped pecans
8 oz Cream Cheese (softened)
14 oz can Sweetened Condensed Milk
16 oz Cool Whip (thawed)
12 oz jar Caramel Topping

Bake and set pie crusts aside to cool. Melt Butter in large pan. Add coconut and pecans; cook till coconut is golden brown (stirring frequently). Remove from heat and cool completely. Combine cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk. Mix until smooth. Fold cool whip into the mixture.
First, layer ¼ of cream cheese mixture in each pie shell. Next, drizzle ¼ of caramel topping on each pie. Finally, sprinkle ¼ of coconut mixture evenly over each pie. Repeat the layers with the remaining ingredients. Cover and freeze until firm. Let frozen pie stand at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing.

*Note: I occasionally add something chocolate to this.

How Cool is This

I found these at greenhome.com Kinda pricy but worth it in my opinion.
Set of 8—$25.00Set of 8—$25.00

Eight plantable greeting cards that grow wildflowers when the lucky recipient plants it. What a beautiful and eco-friendly way to share and create beauty but leave not waste.

The set contains eight cards with matching envelopes, 2 of each blue, pink, green and orange per set. Each card measures 4x6 inches folded.

Each greeting card's seed paper contains the highest-quality mix of annuals and perennial seeds including: Bird's Eye, Clarkia, Coreopsis, Poppy, Catchfly, and Snap Dragon.



To plant your seeded greeting card:
1. Prepare a pot of soil or small patch of garden.
2. Place greeting card on the top of soil.
3. Spread a thin layer of soil onto the paper.
4. Water well and give plenty of sunshine.
5. Keep moist during germination. 6 - 8 weeks.

Also available are plantable cards and calendars!
Calendar
Journal
Inspirational Cards
Valentine's Day Cards
Christmas Cards


No more tossing cards out with the trash. Instead, plant them. LOVE IT!!!

Make a Difference Monday -- You're sooooo good looking!

This may not always be the right compliment to give, but it’s pretty great. If you don’t remember, this is what Seinfeld suggests that people say instead of “bless you” when someone sneezes. I don’t know about you all, but a nice compliment can last me all day. If I’m having an absolutely awful day, and someone says something nice like, “Wow, your hair looks great!”, I suddenly feel like everything is going to be ok, and that I’m worthwhile. Maybe I’m crazy. Maybe I shouldn’t take every compliment to the bank, but eh… why not. Women can sometimes be so competitive that we can come across as being hateful or self-absorbed. So many of us feel like we’ve got to be tough because we’ve got something to prove to the world. Prove you’re nice. I’m not saying that complimenting a random person will make them your best friend; it shouldn’t. It just means you are taking a second to appreciate something about someone else and that you’re quite possibly, making their day. Giving a great compliment is a gift, and so is being on the receiving end. I used to have trouble receiving a compliment. I would always turn around and say something to put myself down to negate what they said. This isn’t good. When someone compliments you, kindly and sincerely say, “Thank you.” A sarcastic, “Yeah right, thanks.” doesn’t quite have an appreciative ring. Another thing that folks sometimes do is automatically feel the need to compliment the one who gave the compliment. Don’t do this either. They’ll know you’re grasping for straws. Maybe instead, we should just accept the compliment (always acknowledge it) and then pass one along to someone else later. It’s funny how the small things can make a difference in our day. It may be funny, but it’s true. So, today, take a moment to give a compliment and make a difference in someone else’s day. If you're reading this today... you're SOOOOOOO good looking! Yeah. Go ahead. Take it to the bank ; )

Forget About it Friday -- Yatzi!

With a down economy, I think everyone has to watch spending right now. At least we should. However, it's important to have a life. So, we still have to find inexpensive ways to have fun with friends or family to avoid sitting at home and grunting like Harry in "When Harry Met Sally". My solution- game night. Right now, you're either in complete agreement, or you're making a face and shrinking back. I find myself in both positions from time to time. Games are one of those things that even if you hate them, you end up having fun playing before it's over. Enjoy a good card game like spaids, Rook or hearts with some folks or get a big group to play a game like Catch Pharase or The Game of Things. Forget about dinner, and just serve popcorn and soft drinks or dessert and coffee. You can't beat entertaining for under $10. If you don't have any games, you can generally find them for less online, or check the paper to see when Target or Wal-Mart are running a sale. Some of my favorite games are those I mentioned above as well as Like Minds, Apples to Apples, Cranium, Dominos, Monopoly, Canasta, Scategories and any of the Scene It games. It's always great to see how funny and revealing games can be. So, call up some folks or just enjoy time with the fam and have a game night this weekend. Had a bad week? Forget about it and play.

Thursday Therapy -- Chillin' and Chocolate

Sometimes we all just need girl time. So for today’s therapy, grab your best gal pals and have a blast. There are so many fun things to do with girlfriends; movies, dinner, sips n strokes, craft projects, working out etc., but I’m not in the mood for any of those today. Today is a great day for relaxation and indulgence. Yes. It’s the perfect day for a pedicure and some chocolate! My recommendation is to call your best friends (who are the reliable short notice girls), meet them for a pedi, then either head to a great restaurant/bakery or home to share some decadent chocolate. If you’re going for the at home route, my idea is to either prepare some chocolate covered strawberries and chill them ahead of time, or you can do some fun fondue. If you do this, I recommend dark chocolate chips, a little heavy cream, and some coffee liqueur. Then get some strawberries, pineapple, and maybe some pound cake to dip. If you’re worried about your waist line don’t. Sharing a dessert helps to ensure you’re not going to get too many calories. Choosing dark chocolate is also better for you because of its’ heart healthy benefits. I have a friend who freaks out any time anyone mentions dessert. She absolutely will not touch it because she’s sure it will somehow instantaneously cause her thighs to explode. She literally gasps at the very mention of anything with sugar. Please don’t do this. It’s crazy. People will really think you’re nuts if you act like you’re physically scared and taken aback by the idea of enjoying chocolate every once in a while. To put things in perspective, one dark chocolate covered strawberry is about 25 calories. That’s really not bad at all. Eating dessert with girl friends is best in my opinion because we all know that when we’re with one another, downing a huge brownie piled with ice-cream and hot fudge just isn’t going to happen like it would if we were alone. Instead, we try to create the appearance that we’re dainty and that we hardly eat anything… EVER. So, dish out the cash for a pedicure and share some chocolate and gab with your girls. It’s more therapeutic than you know.

Wednesday Whatabouts -- Dream On

I’ve recently decided that I need at least three houses to fully satisfy my decorating urges. I realize that I have no need for that many houses, and that I am indeed very blessed to own one, but a girl can dream can’t she? My home décor is very traditional. I’ve got lots of greens, reds, golds, browns and black. In the winter, I love my warm colors and cozy surroundings, but come spring and summer, I want cool, clean colors and lines. For this reason, my second house would be a summer home on a quiet beach. Don’t worry. There will be no starfish or cheesy peach shell wall paper. I’m thinking more whites, blues, and yellows. My third (imaginary) house would include all cheap and trendy furniture so I could change things out as often as I desired. I wouldn’t be afraid to do funky things with color or furniture because any furniture in the house would be so cheap that I wouldn’t mind if I ruined it trying out a new finishing technique. This one would more than likely have to be in Europe somewhere. I say this never having actually been to Europe. Again… a girl can dream.
I’d like to become way more eclectic in style with the house I live in now, but it will have to be a slow process. My Mom always taught me to get traditional basics so you don’t have to worry about it going out of style anytime soon. So, as a young woman, this is the route I chose to take. It’s a safe buying choice. It’s also the boring choice. I’ve slowly begun to add more edgy pieces here and there, and have even gone a little vintage with one. It’s a step-out for me. I refuse to get into any debt and won’t buy what I want until I can pay for it at the moment, and I won’t get anything I don’t absolutely love. Until I find my next piece, I’ll just keep searching the web and picking things out of magazines that I eventually want go buy. Aaahh the damage I could do with several milliion dollars.

Tasty Tuesday --Bring on the Jerk

You all will come to find that I absolutely LOVE cooking. I take a very laid back approach so it almost feels therapeutic to me. I hope that you all will try these wonderful weekly recipes as well as taking the liberty of making them your own by tweaking them to your liking.

I try to eat pretty healthily except for the occasional weekend or holiday binge fest. I never eat anything that I hate just because it's good for me, so that makes it all the more important to find new ways to make healthy foods good enough for myself, family, and guests to really enjoy. As for the not-so-healthy foods, my Dad says it best, "Everything in moderation." Never completely stop eating foods that are fattening, fried, or sugary. It just isn't right. Just eat a little bit every once in a while and share the rest so you don't find yourself sitting with an empty cake plate in your lap. Don't eat because you're happy or sad or bored. Eat for nourishment and because it tastes good!

On to today's recipe. Since it's a great time of year to grill, we're going with grilled Jamaican Jerk Chicken. This is a recipe that is delicious and good for you. That's a combo you can't beat in my book. If you don't have access to an outdoor grill, you can always use something like a George Foreman Grill. The taste won't be quite as good, but you'll still get the over all flavor. This does require several hours to marinade, so don't try to make this last minute. You can always marinade over night, and have it ready to throw on the grill when you get home from work the next day. The main thing is that the flavors need enough time to soak in. Warning: This is spicy!! Use gloves while preparing the habanero pepper.

Jamaican Jerk Chicken

1 Dried Habanero Chile (re-hydrated, seeded and coarsely chopped)
2 Tbsp Yellow mustard (I use French's)
2Tbsp Fresh Rosemary
2 Tbsp Fresh Basil
2 Tbsp Fresh Thyme
1/2 c Green Onion (chopped)
1 clove Garlic (quartered)
1 tsp. Salt ( I use Kosher salt)
1/4 tsp Black Pepper
2 Tbsp Fresh Lime Juice
4 Chicken Breasts (You can choose bone in or boneless)

In a small food processor or blender, mix all ingredients except chicken until well blended. Arrange chicken on a non-metal dish. Brush 3/4 of the mixture over the chicken. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate chicken (and remaining marinade) for at least 4-6 hours. Allow chicken to set out for about 20 minutes before grilling. Cook till juices run clear turning once and brushing with remaining chili mixture.


*Note: If you are using boneless chicken, you may want to make sure the chicken is all the same thickness so to assure even cooking. To do this, place chicken on a cutting board, cover with plastic wrap, then use either a meat mallet or pan to hit it several times or until the chicken reaches the desired thickness.

Make a Difference Monday -- Be Universal

Yes, Monday is here; back to the daily grind. For most people who work, it’s a day to dread all weekend long, but for a few, Monday means a fresh start, or a new outlook. Either way, Monday is the day that I am going to choose for all of us to try to make a small difference in the world.
There is only one action that I can think of that is completely universal. Smiling. A simple smile breaks all language barriers and cultural differences. It’s amazing how a friendly smile from a stranger can brighten your whole day. There are so many people who are caught up in their own little world that they give what Seinfeld calls, “the stare ahead”. That is, if you don’t make eye contact, you don’t have to acknowledge the person. In several Asian countries, there is actually an un-written rule in driving that you should not make any eye contact with another driver. However, so many of us live our day- to- day lives this way. We walk in and out of stores, offices, gyms, churches, and restaurants giving the stare ahead and avoiding the common courtesy of a smile or holding a door open for someone else. I know when I’m having a horrible day, and someone flashes a quick smile my way it can make my attitude change in an instant. Now, please understand that I’m not an advocate of sporting a fake smile at all times. It’s just not healthy. There are times when people (especially those close to us) need to see that we’re not always hunky-dory. Allowing those closest to you to see past the surface is essential to actually becoming happy and not just the having the façade. But, I really think that in our daily activities when we’re surrounded by strangers, a smile is exactly what is needed. You never know when you can be a light in someone’s dark tunnel. Go out and make a small difference to one or a one hundred. Just smile : )