For Your Monday...

HAPPY MONDAY!

Controlled Emotions

So I am driving into work one day and on two separate occasions someone almost hit me because they were either talking on the phone or just in the wrong! Instead of simply waving to say, “Whoops my bad” they had the utter gall to look at me like I was in the wrong! Me, who always signals, me, who drives safely 99.99% of the time. One of those jokers got the finger! Now I am not proud of my behavior but it felt really good while I was in the process.

As my anger subsided I began thinking, “Oh my goodness, it only took some fool becoming indignant with me before I began clowning. What if that situation had escalated?” Then I thought, “I would have run that fool over with my ride!” LOL Seriously, I need road rage calm down tactics. Anyone?

All jokes aside, life is so much bigger than a car ride or dealing with any other situation that may have someone else controlling your emotions (toxic people, jealousy, liars, etc.) We cannot change people; we can only work on the betterment of ourselves. That could be something as simple as speaking to that heffa unkind woman at work that’s always giving you the cross eye, or refusing to participate in workplace gossip...no matter how salacious! Little things do make a difference in improving ourselves.

Society has become so obsessed with itself that people are rude and inconsiderate and have this horrible sense of entitlement that drives me nuts!! I can’t change society but I can control me and my actions. So for today, I promise to work towards controlling my emotions and how I react to other people’s negativity and rudeness. When given the opportunity to rationally and calmly discuss a deemed wrong I will do so with a spirit of understanding and forgiveness...otherwise, Imma need bail money!

Y’all have a great day!

The Lemon Bush

So I have this lemon bush that I have yet to use for actual lemons! For the past two years the plant has been heavy with fruit but the fruit never turned yellow. Never.

So this year, with all the rain we've received, the bush is heavy with fruit again. So I decided to do some research on what's going on...cause yall know I LOVE me some lemons!

So guess what? You have to pick the fruit off of the branches in order for it to change. At least that is what I read on a couple of gardening sites.

So B and I picked an entire bowl, sat them on the kitchen windowsill and now we wait! It could take two or three weeks for the fruit to change to yellow.

If this works I will be giving lemons away because that bush is so full! I'll keep you posted!

For Your Monday...

HAPPY MONDAY!!!

Source: www.pinterest.com

Now Churning: Strawberry Blueberry Sorbet

Sorbets are easy: Fruit, a squeeze of citrus, a sweetener, a blender and an ice cream maker!  For this deliciousness, I used fresh berries, the juice of one lime and cane sugar...#WavesHolyHands....this was sooooooo good!

Creamy Bolognese over Pappardelle

So I'm trying this new, free (for now) photo editing software...see how fancy I keep it for ya'll! It has all kinds of fun tools.  One day I will read the instructions for the camera I received for Christmas.  Until then it will be all trial and error around these parts! There is just so much to learn about photography it's alot a bit intimidating. Besides, I have so much on my plate right now I wouldn't be able to give it the full attention that I would like.

My plate was also filled with this delicious comfort food! This was so good.  Pappardelle is my favorite pasta...it can do no wrong! This slow simmering sauce was the perfect companion to this hearty pasta. I mean, make this when you have several hours to be in the house...the longer it simmers the better the flavors meld together...making it a day ahead is even better! Oh the goodness!

Creamy Bolognese over Pappardelle
http://www.fureyandthefeast.com/2009/11/low-and-slow-meat-sauce/

What you need:

• 1/2 pound ground beef
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 cup onion, minced
• 1/4 cup carrot, minced
• 1/4 cup celery, minced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1/2 cup red wine
• 1 3/4 cup (about 14 ounces) crushed Italian tomatoes
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon butter
• Salt and pepper, to taste

What to do:

• In a 3-quart pot over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef. Remove from pot and drain. Set aside.
• Add olive oil, onion, carrot, celery and garlic to pot and sweat for 2 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook for about 5 to 6 minutes, or until tomato paste darkens in color.
• Add red wine to pot and use wooden spoon to scrape any bits of food that may be stuck to the bottom of the pot. Let wine reduce in half, about 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add tomatoes, water, brown sugar, oregano, basil and ground beef. Bring sauce to boil, then reduce heat to low cover with pot lid slightly ajar so steam can escape. Simmer for 3 hours, stirring occasionally. Taste sauce and adjust seasonings to preference. Add heavy cream and butter to finish, and serve with your favorite pasta noodles

CLEARLY, I need move photography further up my long list of to do...most especially photo editing! LOL

For Your Monday...

HAPPY MONDAY!

Source: www.pinterest.com

Some Easy

There is this gospel song that I love to listen to when I am going through negative situations I see no end to. The song goes “Hallelujah, any how, any how. Just keep on praising Him. Anyhow. Anyhow. Hallelujah.” The song is so old that have to listen to it on cassette! The name of the singer escapes me now but I love it! I listen to that song when I am begging God for some easy or crying out to Him when I don’t understand His plan for me.

Being thankful has always been difficult for me. I always feel like I should be more advanced in my life, more things, more money, blah blah blah. I feel like I have had enough difficulty throughout my life that I deserve some easy! Apparently, God does not see it that way!

Old folks will always say things like, "if God can see you to it he will see you through it." Well that rings of utter BS when I am going through particularly hard times, whether it is financial, relationships or just life’s curve balls. There was a time that I could 'whoa as me' with the best of them. Well I can now attest to the power of that phrase. As I have gotten older I have learned to be thankful in spite of what is going on in my life. Usually the end result is always that I am stronger, wiser and/or more resilient. On the other side of most situations I can see the why. Some not so much and I am OK with that. In His infinite-His-way-is-not-my-way wisdom, I am learning to let God be the lead. The back seat is kind of comfortable when He is in control.

So the next time you are thinking, “Why me Lord/God/Creator” say “Hallelujah anyhow.” Know that God’s plan for you is THE plan for you and that there is a lesson in you not having some easy.

A Pizza Bar - In Pictures

This was such an easy bar to put together for a Saturday night dinner. I made the dough ahead of time but store bought would be fine, I'd already had the vegetables cut and leftover cooked sausage in the fridge and added pepperoni to the mix. I think I am going to add this to my list for a girl's night in party.

Fresh dough

B and her best friend

They were serious about their work

Even E got in on the fun

For Your Monday...

HAPPY MONDAY

Source: www.pinterest.com

Now Churning: Chocolate Dump Ice Cream

Every six weeks or so I gather all of the leftover ice cream stir ins, little bags of nuts or chocolate (cinnamon, peanut butter, etc) chips or whatever little corner of sweet something that is left in my pantry that might taste good in an ice cream and I dump it in vanilla or chocolate ice cream.  We have yet to be disappointed by the taste creations I create!

This Chocolate Dump included Or.eo pieces, chocolate chips, pecans and toffee pieces. I made this the same weekend I made the Banana Pudding Ice Cream...E thought he was in frozen sweet cream heaven! lol

The Friday Five

Five songs I've been rocking in my I.pod this week


Tevin Campbell: Goodbye "Cause I'm the T to the E to the V to the I to the N" 

The Temptations: Treat Her Like A Lady "Now I believe a woman should be treated with the utmost respect" These brothers can MOVE you hear me! LOVE LOVE LOVE The Temptations. Every time our family gets together we always have a Temptations sing off...dance moves and ALL!

The Police: Every Little Thing She Does is Magic Eighties music is the best! I also LOVE a good band. Live music beats all! I appreciate and respect musicians man. It takes skill to read music, carry a tune, timing, learning and playing your instrument! #Respect

Robin S: Show Me Love "Heartbreaks and promises, I've had more than my share" This song used to go so hard!! Her voice is so powerful! I rocks with Dance/House music yo!

Melody Gardot: Worrisome Heart "I would be lucky to find me a man who could love me the way that I am" I think I heard this on an old show Lipstick Jungle with Brooke Shields...I loved the show, love the song; her voice is lovely, the music is beautifully arranged...winner all around.

So what are some songs you've been rocking out to lately? Have a great weekend! Do something fun!

Thursday Throwback

This is not that far of a throwback, Christmas 2011. I just LOVE this picture of them.LOL

I GOT TEQUILA!

...but I still haven't found any tart cherry juice! *sad face*

Alas, this is the first of three margaritas that I love. These are easy and refreshing and just plain delicious! 

White Mango Margarita

Makes about 2 servings

• 1 cup White Tequila (or Tequila of your choice) 
• 3-4 Tbsp Mango Puree (defrosted frozen puree is fine)
• 1/2 cup Triple Sec
• 2-3 Tbsp Lime Simple Syrup (one part lime juice to one part sugar; heat until sugar is dissolved)
• Ice cubes

In a medium cocktail shaker, combine all ingredients, give it a good shake and strain equal amounts into a martini glass and enjoy! For extra-ness, place the zest of one lime and two tablespoons of sugar in a saucer. Run the rim of your martini glass with sliced lime and dip into the zest/sugar mix, then fill glass with the goodness!

Originally posted May 2011

For Your Monday...

HAPPY MONDAY!

Source: www.pinterest.com

Pageant Recap: In Pictures

Warning this post is picture heavy!


This post is a few weeks behind! We had so much fun preparing for B's first pageant. Dress shopping, accessory shopping, shoe shopping; the hotel was lovely (we will be heading back later in the summer), the pageant company was wonderful and even the girls were lovely. We had a really good experience with our first pageant. So much fun B will be doing another one in six months though leaving it up to her she would do one monthly! No ma'am, no sir!

This was the first dress she tried on and LOVED but it was nearly $200

We LOVED this one too but it was even more expensive...um we were on a tight budget so NO

B liked this one but me not so much...it ended up being broken or something so we couldn't get it anyway

Fancy signage

B's "stance" during rehearsal

The gang! W was such a HUGE help during the process. Definitely could not have done it without her!

Peep that piano two finger ring! She STAY accessorizing! LOL

Q and I had brunch together!

Lil joka can EAT! He was GREAT brunch company

Before the swim suit competition

Silly girl 

We loved this hat!

The pajama party!

We roasted marshmallows and watched an outdoor movie at the hotel

Final look. We found this dress for $89!!!!

The humidity was NOT nice to her hair! LOL we ended up pinning it back because it had gotten so BIG!