Happy Monday!

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You Tried It

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To me, it doesn't cost anything to smile and be nice to people. When I smile when I see you coming, ask pointed questions about your day, tell you how extra cute you look, ask about your family or an update on the situation we discussed last, there is no ulterior motives; I ask because I for real care about people.  People that know me or know of me don't know me because I gossip or talk ugly about people.  They know me because I remember to ask about their grandchildren,  because I remember to ask how school's going, because I encourage them to act on the dreams they've shared with me.  Encouraging people makes me feel good deep down on the inside!

The thing about being genuinely good to people is that it comes back to you. Folks look out for you; when people mean you harm they make you aware. They recognize when people are up to no good.  People pray for you and with you and encourage you also!  People note and reciprocate the good!

The one issue I have ever had with Blogger is that you can't password protect posts; that would be so clutch!  I enjoy writing from my heart, being open about real life situations I deal with or have dealt with.  The fact that y'all get funnies from B or a recipe or two is just extra!  The thought that a couple of people that think they know me are digging around and printing things out about me to discuss with malicious intent does not sit well with me.  Of all the things I need to be bothered with, someone trying to use my personal words about my life and my experiences against me should not be one of them. 

A few months ago it was brought to my attention that a couple of people were trying to use my blog against me. Like, they dug around my archives and printed things that they thought were about them or people we know mutually in hopes of stirring up mess. I've known for a while but didn't decide to act until the latest incident.  When two different people told me similar things about the same two people, I knew I needed to make adjustments. 

So in order for me to continue to express myself as freely as I'd like, I am going to move some things around to make it 'safe' for me to continue to do so.  

Stay tuned...

Happy Monday!

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Moist Nutella Brownies

My Sweet B recently turned 12.  She is what my mother would call a "love child" According to my mother when a child is made while the parents are deeply in love, that love embeds itself within the child.  I would have to agree.  B is definitely our love child. She loves being loved on, hugs are her favorite, nothing is better than cuddling up to her dad or me.  She's not reached the age where she is ashamed to hold my hand in public, give me a kiss in front of her friends or any of those things pre-teens find gross.  I am completely enamored with her, even now.  She is very inquisitive, super intelligent and she cares about her mommy and daddy.  She has a "hardcore" love for us and we respect it and reciprocate it.  

The Gruesome Twosome, that's what I call B and E.  They are the funniest when they are dancing together.  They make up dances and songs all of the time.  E's been dancing with her since she was a baby.  Their song is My Girl by The Temptations. B thinks her daddy is every.single.thing; and he thinks his "Princess" can do no wrong.  

They are so much alike it's scary. She's emotional like E when it comes to me, she cocks her head to the side and watches TV like E, she is super silly like E and she has a ferocious sweet tooth like E.

One of our birthday traditions is dinner of choice, no matter what restaurant or cooked meal.  It will always be funny to me that my kids and E would prefer I cook for them instead of being taken out to dinner.  Is this not the most random birthday dinner request? LOL

 

Her latest favorite is Nutella.  If I let her she would eat a spoonful or three every day.  So when I received her birthday dinner list I was not surprised when she wanted Nutella as a part of her dinner. 

These brownies were very moist and rich and just plain old delicious.  I'm even thinking of adding them to my Cookie Boxes that I give as gifts during Christmas...never mind these aren't cookies. LOL The next time I whip these up I will be adding some actual hazelnuts to the batter!

Moist Nutella Brownies

Adapted from http://goddessofbaking.blogspot.com/2011/03/nutella-brownies.html

What you need:

• 1 Cup All Purpose Flour
• 3/4 Cup Cocoa Powder
• 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
• 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
• 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1 Cup Unsalted Butter
• 1 Cup Sugar
• 1 Cup Brown Sugar
• 2 Teaspoons Hazelnut Extract (vanilla will work fine also)
• 4 Eggs
• 1 Cup Nutella, room temperature
• 1/2 Cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

What to do:

• Preheat oven to 350
• In a medium size bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon
• In a small sauce pan, melt the butter on low heat.  Then add the sugars and hazelnut extract.  Stir until combined 
• Remove from heat and move the mixture to the bowl of your mixer.  Let the mixture cool before adding the eggs
• Add one egg at a time, mixing completely before adding the next egg
• Add the dry ingredients, stir just to incorporate
• Add the room temperature Nutella and mix until incorporated  (Note: you can melt this in the microwave for about 30 seconds if you'd like, I didn't)
• Add the chocolate chips and stir with a rubber spatula 
• Pour the batter into a greased 9x13 pan
• Bake for 35-40 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and let cool before slicing.

Happy Monday!

The Forty Series #7: You Mad??

• Black and white is my favorite color combination.
• I'm a mild germaphobe
• I love good books and good music.
• I can be irritatingly indecisive
• I second guess myself
• I can be moody
• Cleanliness makes me happy
• I can hold a grudge
• I can be kind of mean
• I enjoy libations now and again

I will be 40 this year and I am fully aware of who I am. I've lived with myself longer than anyone else. I know me. I own every good and ugly part of who I am; some things I'm working on others not so much. I'm not perfect by any stretch but I'm VERY aware of me.

Just because you don't understand my feelings about how you made me feel doesn't make them invalid. Just because I advocate for myself and you don't like my tone and delivery or the actual words coming out of my mouth has little to do with me. Just because you would've handled a situation differently doesn't make my way wrong. Some people don't know how to deal with you when you begin standing up for yourself or having an opinion opposite of theirs.  Those same people most certainly can't deal with being called on their BS. 

I'm finding that my for real friends, love me enough to yank my collar and vice versa.  Said yanking is not some yelling and screaming tirade either. It's "you hurt my feelings, pissed me off and this is why." Girl, we are adult women with fully realized vocabularies, we can talk!  If our friendship is based on me being a yes woman to you and only expressing my feelings when they're not about you, it's good our attempt at beginning rekindling our "friendship" is ending the way it is. My spirit is at total peace.

What I know for sure about me is that: My feelings are valid whether you accept them, believe them or understand them. I will continue to be my own person with my own feelings and experiences. I will always advocate for myself because nobody knows me like I know me.

#The40Series

30 Drafts #2 - Snaps from Instagram

Instagram is my favorite!  If you follow me, @SoGirlCitySwirl, you have likely seen all of these pictures and related commentary.  I usually post my #CrackSnack finds, recipe less dinners, drink concoctions and selfies (that word just cracks me up!)

Shrimp and Grits in a white wine cream sauce!

Double Dipped Onion Rings. E only gets these twice a year!

Homemade pizzas are the best pizzas!  I'm going to have do a
tutorial on this super easy and delicious crust!

Fresh Fried Eggplant.  They were so good we had them two nights in a row!

I have found my cinnamon roll recipe! I made them two days in a
row to make sure the goodness was not a fluke! LOL

B wanted mozzarella sticks as a part of her super random birthday dinner.
Y'all know I was not going to buy frozen!  Recipe coming soon.

Saturday night dinner: Tacos three ways. Man these were so good! Chili Rubbed Cob w/ Lime and Ginger Slaw, Grilled Steak w/ Avocado Salsa, BBQ Pulled Pork w/Pepper Jack Cheese all on warm corn tortillas!

#30Drafts

Happy Monday!

Thirty Drafts

Do you see all of those draft posts!!  I am going to challenge myself this month to at least post half of those Drafts.  Mostly I just need to edit pictures but editing can be time consuming, especially if you are an amateur like me!  So thirty days at least 30 posts strictly from my drafts!
Let's see how I do...never mind that I am already two days behind...smh.
#30Drafts