I can't watch or listen to the news because it hurts me too much to hear of other people's pain. I remember crying for weeks over 9/11 when I was in high school because of all those people and their families. And the recent Toyota thing? They played the family recording on the radio of their last words before they got hit and killed by another car. I bawled uncontrollably for the entire day.
This means a sharp comment someone else might be able to just brush off cuts deep.
I’ve decided to focus on myself...to look at me...inside out.....and remind myself of who I am...this way, I will be posting a reminder about myself... one each day, for the next 100 days... sharing with you 100 simple truths about me. -Locus
In honor of the very relflective Locus, and my most recent emergence from my marriage, I'm going to follow in her footsteps and try to figure out who I am.
I used to know so clearly once upon a time. And I feel like I no longer know, maybe I can find my way back to that confident girl I used to know and love.
We'll start tomorrow. Are you ready for the truth? I'm not sure I even am :o)
I haven't heard this song in a million years, but it played perfectly as I got into the car. Might be my song..
Always a woman to me..
She can kill with a smile She can wound with her eyes She can ruin your faith with her casual lies And she only reveals what she wants you to see She hides like a child, But she's always a woman to me
She can lead you to love She can take you or leave you She can ask for the truth But she'll never believe you And she'll take what you give her, as long as it's free Yeah, she steals like a thief But she's always a woman to me
CHORUS: Oh--she takes care of herself She can wait if she wants She's ahead of her time Oh--and she never gives out And she never gives in She just changes her mind
And she'll promise you more Than the Garden of Eden Then she'll carelessly cut you And laugh while you're bleedin' But she'll bring out the best And the worst you can be Blame it all on yourself Cause she's always a woman to me --Mhmm--
Bridge
CHORUS: Oh--she takes care of herself She can wait if she wants She's ahead of her time Oh--and she never gives out And she never gives in She just changes her mind
She is frequently kind And she's suddenly cruel She can do as she pleases She's nobody's fool And she can't be convicted She's earned her degree And the most she will do Is throw shadows at you But she's always a woman to me --Mhmm--
Nature, as in Mother Nature, has a way of taking ugly things, even things forced upon her, and making them beautiful. Look at the oyster and the pearl, or for an even better representation, look at Glass Beach in Northern California.
"From a distance one could think that Captain Hook spilled a chest of jeweled loot on the colorful, sparkling coast of Glass Beach, nestled in the rugged cliffs of the Northern California coast. Littered with amber, indigo, sea green, and ruby shards of glass and pottery worn smooth by the waves, Glass Beach is a kaleidoscope of color and a coastal rarity. Once a public trash dump, the area was closed in the late 1960s when the North Coast Water Quality Board realized that polluting the coast was harmful. Since then, Creation has reversed man's folly to an enchanting effect. Today Glass Beach is a little-known secret tucked away in the unassuming town of Fort Bragg. An occasional sea lion frolics in the waves, and in and around crystal-clear tidal pools of crab, starfish, mollusks and anemones, you will find a treasure trove of sea glass trinkets."
This was one of my favorite sites while visiting my sisters in Northern California, of course I didn't know it used to be a landfill until reading it in my Textbook for my Environmental Biology class.
This is what Nature does, takes garbage and makes it beautiful.
My relationship with my Husband of just about three years ended abruptly and violently yesterday. Leaving me with a shattered heart, a bunch of garbage, no car and my brave little boy who will never have to hear screaming again.
All I can hope is that Nature can do to me, what it did to "Glass Beach"; wash me clean, polish me and make me beautiful again, at least for my son.
I've been reading more and more about "Cooking Clubs" and getting excited to create one!
I got this book, The Cooking Club Cookbook at my favorite bookstore, Dog Eared Pages.
On the back:
"Recipe for a Cooking Club
Ingredients
*Six or so members, to taste
*One day a month, for meeting
*Tinfoil for carting dishes between kitchens
*Sense of humor, plus extra for garnish
*The cooking club cookbook-- strongly recommended
1.Choose your members.
A go-get-'em attitude is our only prerequisite, although you get extra points for having a dishwasher
2.Plan a Theme, such as
Spanish, sexy foods, or mardi gras. Discuss menus in advance so you don't end up with six desserts. (On second thought, thats not such a bad idea...)
3.Cook at home, then bring your dish to the host's house.
You should be able to experiment with all goods, just no force feeding.
(Don't think we haven't tried.)
4.Eat. Drink. Compliment everyone's dish. Have fun. It's what will get you and the gang back in the kitchen month after month."
So this is more for like a club of women that cook to eat once a month (potluck), I'm hoping to do more of a cook a meal and exchange. But there are some YUMMY recipes in here! Where else can you find a menu of "Sexy foods" and for Brunch in the same place??
Talking about food, I found this new recipe I'M DYING TO TRY!! It would be perfect for a cooking club exchange meal...
For step by step deliciously mouthwatering pictures, visit Mother Huddle here.
Cilantro Verde Enchiladas
1bunch Cilantro
2 cups salsa verde (green salsa or green enchilada sauce)
1medium-large onion, quartered
1 jalapeno, seeded and sliced (keep some seeds if you like heat)
1Tbsp chopped garlic (1-2 large segments)
1/4-1/2 tsp salt or to taste (this will depend on the salsa verde you use)
18 ounce cream cheese
10 tortillas
4-5cups diced or shredded cooked chicken (I used six pre-frozen breasts from Costco. If using fresh chicken, three or four large ones would probably be plenty.)
2cups monterey jack cheese, shredded
Cook your chicken in the oven or crockpot with salt, pepper, garlic powder, lemon juice, and a little olive oil to add another level of greatness to the enchiladas. Preheat your oven to 350°.
Ina blender combine onion, salsa, cilantro, garlic, jalapeno and salt. Blend until smooth. Stir in softened cream cheese. Pour half of the sauce over the chicken and stir until well coated. Reserve remaining sauce to pour over the enchiladas.
Scoopabout 1/2 a cup of chicken mixture in each tortilla, roll up and place side by side in a lightly greased 9×13 pan. Pour reserved sauce over finished enchiladas and cover with tinfoil. Bake for about 30-35 minutes remove foil and sprinkle evenly with shredded cheese. Bake uncovered for 10-15 more minutes.
Make sure enchiladas are heated through and enjoy. They taste great served with black beans, tomato, and olives.
I might have said before, Easter is one of my all time favorite holidays.. I'm so excited this year because Jadyn is finally old enough to get into it, and I know he'll just love it!
To kick off the season, a dear friend (Your the best Moran, we adore you guys!) allowed Jadyn to hold her bunnies. It was too much fun, this bunny he's with was just amazing! Jadyn picked her up, squished her, poked her in the eyes and mouth (for scientific purposes, of course {"Eyes, Mommy. Mouth."}) and jumped around her doing his best impersonation and not a peep. She just stood there lovingly. What was more, she actually seemed interested in him! She climbed up to smell him and even leaned forward to give him a kiss!!
Look at how beautiful Morans' daughter are!! Jadyn is so taken with her! I've never seen him bicker so! ;o)
And beautiful baby...
I was talking to Hubby and he was telling me of how easter was for him growing up. It was so nice to hear and to see the accompanying sparkle in his eyes.
"I remember we would search the house for ages looking for where the Easter Bunny had hid our baskets. Some times in the dryer, sometimes in a closet. I'm not sure when but after awhile the Easter bunny got tired of hiding the baskets, which was ok (By then I had been pretending for years for sake of my brother and my sister) but I did love hunting for them!"
This is so different from my own easter experiences.. For us, we just woke up and there was our basket like out of magic.. The eggs spread out all over the yard for us to scoop up and hunt out, then we'd do it again and again...
I think we will marry our Easter traditions.. I love the idea of hiding Jadyn's basket, but maybe this year with a trail of eggs or easter grass to the hiding spot (since he's so little) and we plan to go to Sedona for the egg hunt on Saturday and then over to the family on Sunday. I truly enjoy spending time with my inlaws, I'm so glad to be able to give Jadyn the gift of knowing them.
Of course, we (meaning I) made some baskets for the kids we know, and plan to "Egg" a few neighbors..
What was your easter at home like? What do you have planned for this year?
I'm a mother to a wonderful little boy. I wasn't taught any "homemaking" skills growing up, so its all still pretty new to me, but I have romantic ideals and big dreams for a life that has a happily ever after, even if I make it myself!