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Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts

Saturday, December 24, 2016

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas!



Hello Lovelies, wishing you the most joyous, beautiful, awesome Christmas you've ever had! May your day be filled with three of the most important "F" words.

......................FOOD . FAMILYFRIENDS........................

Speaking of friends please show some love for this exquisite piece of Art created by a friend and fellow Artist. He took classic images and added his own spin on them, pretty clever don't you think?  You can check out more of his work, Strider Raven at monstersago-go.blogspot.com




Cherio!

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Easy Peasy Yummy Recipes - Come Get Some!

I want you to meet brown sugar meatloaf, gnocchi in fontina sauce, baked sweet potatoes with ginger and honey, apple pie by grandma Ople,  and white chocolate cherry pecan cheesecake. There is more, 467 more recipes that I've tried, or saved at one of my favorite sites.

ARE

   
YOU

HUNGRY
     
YET???


http://allrecipes.com is the best thing to happen to my kitchen in years. If you are tired of chowing on the same old, same old checkout this site. I credit it with inspiring me to revive the Sunday meal tradition in our home. The site is thorough, with tons of recipes, step by step instructions, photos, videos, even reviews, and tips from fellow foodies. There something there for everyone. I love it. 
Take a minute to stop by plan, and a special meal for a few or your favorite people.
Bon appetit!

Guest post by Shanda Neighbors.


Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Inspirational Quotes Of The Week


I hope these quotes inspire and motivate you the way they did me.  Enjoy!












Cherio!

Monday, January 6, 2014

From Strength To Strength


Last year was a year that came wrapped in challenges and surprises.  Some of them good and some of them I wish I could forget.  Along the way though, I have grown stronger, wiser and that much more grateful, especially for the little things. Little things like watching the sunrise or watching a movie with my dad and son.  In actuality, these are not little things at all but the real substance of life and our most cherished memories.


My Dad (left) and Brother

 When My father fell gravely ill the latter part of 2013 I finally understood how precious and fragile our lives really are.  We are all here but by the grace of God.  My dad is doing better now but I am forever changed by his near death experiences and stories.  I am convinced that there are lessons to be learned in everything, even in the painful moments that are hard to get through.  It is because of those moments that we can appreciate happy moments and joyous occasions.  This year I will savor the good times,.... and when bad times come I will take away whatever I can learn from it.

Happy 2014 lovelies and all the best for the new year!

Cherio

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Sorry Seems To Be The hardest Word

I don't know if it has anything to do with age but as I get older, my patience is starting to really dwindle...like wayyyyyyyyy down.  I used to be a really patient person and I still am but only to a point.  Lately I have been really struggling with people who knowingly wrong another but keep it movin and still expect the relationship to remain the same.  Are you kidding?  

Years ago I would have made it my mission to make peace and smooth things over.  I did that even to my own detriment many times.  Not any more though.  You see, I realize that to condone these actions are just teaching the offender that they can get away with this.  Again. And again.  And hey, after a while this gets real old. 

Recently I had an experience in my life that made me think about the value of self respect and knowing when to walk away from a relationship.  Let's just say it was pretty enlightening.  I learned that while self restraint/control is one of the greatest assets one can have, the ability to admit one's wrong and apologise really heals a multitude of sins.  It does.  Unfortunately it does not work if only one person does all the apologizing.  It takes two to tango. Sorry may be the hardest word, but it is worth it's weight in gold in a relationship.  Just sayin.

Cherio!

Monday, November 26, 2012

Christmas Tree Inspiration

If there is one season that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, that would be Christmas time.  Every year during the yule tide season, I become a kid again.  I love the food, the fragrant smell of pine everywhere, the Christmas carols...well most of them, and the way everyone seems to be in a better mood.  I especially love the many different ways people decorate their Christmas trees.

 Every year the trees seem to be more creative and even more fabulous than before.  Check out these trees from trendytree and I dare you to not be inspired!















Cherio!

Monday, November 19, 2012

Pie - A Little Slice Of Heaven



I found this pie recipe a little while ago on asgoodasgluten and I just had to share!  Just looking at this makes me sooooooooo happy....this is definitely my Thanks Giving desert.  Yum!

Apple Pumpkin Salted Caramel Pie
Ingredients: 
·1 GF Super Easy Pie Crust Recipe (I use a homemade blend of gluten free flours or Bob's Gluten Free All Purpose Blend)
Apple Layer:
·2 medium Honeycrisp apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
·¼ cup sugar
·1 TBS GF flour mix
·½ tsp cinnamon 
Pumpkin Layer:
·1 cup canned pure pumpkin
·¼ cup sugar
·1 egg, slightly beaten
·½ tsp cinnamon
·1/8 tsp allspice
·1/8 tsp ginger
·1/8 tsp cloves
·1/8 tsp nutmeg
·Dash of sea salt
Streusel:
·¼ cup packed brown sugar
·2 TBS GF flour
·2 TBS butter, softened
·½ cup pecans, chopped
Salted Caramel Sauce:
·12 individually wrapped caramels
·¾ TBS skim milk
·Dash of sea salt

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400˚. Prepare pie crust according to recipe. 

In a large bowl, combine all apple layer ingredients. Spoon mixture into prepared pie crust.

In the same bowl, mix pumpkin layer ingredients until well blended. Pour over apple mixture. Bake for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl mix streusel ingredients with a pastry cutter until mixture resembles course crumbs. 

Sprinkle streusel over baked pie, and then return to the oven. Bake for 15-20 minutes longer, or until a knife inserted into pumpkin layer comes out clean. 

Over a double boiler, combine caramels and milk. Stir frequently and heat over medium-low heat until mixture becomes a sauce. Stir in a dash of sea salt and drizzle over the pie. Let pie cool completely before topping with caramel and serving.


And there you have it, an amazing mouth watering desert.  I have a feeling that once I make this, it will be a happy happy Thanks Giving.

Cherio!

Saturday, October 27, 2012

What's Driving You?


I don't know if growing older has anything to do with this but my whole outlook on certain things in my life has gradually shifted.  When I was in my 20's, all I wanted to do was succeed.  I was so driven and I still am today, but what drives me is what has shifted.  In the past I wanted to silence the haters and make a few people eat some much deserved humble pie.

I wanted to serve it to them personally if you know what I mean.

Over the years though, I have learned that if negative energy/emotions like revenge or hate is what is driving you, then when that energy is expended you will be left without focus or drive.  Thank God in my case, passion for what I do is what keeps me going.   There was a time though when my reasons for wanting to succeed was not 100% passion.

Today as I move forward I can truly say that I am done with that. That period of my life is over. I search my heart and there is no trace of malice or pain against anyone.   And not because I have Not experienced pain, hurt and disappointment.  It is exactly BECAUSE I have had such experiences that I am not bitter.  I choose to do this for me.  To concentrate on anything else is not only distracting but it is giving my power to someone or something else.  I can't have that. When I have to hustle and grind it out, though I do have people that love and support me, ultimately it is my faith in God that truly sustains me.  I have proven over the years that people come and go but God will Never leave me or forsake me....I think I am gonna keep rollin with that...

Cherio!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Am Feelin the Blog Love!

My blog just received another award and I must say, this makes a girl feel a whole lotta special.

Many thanks to Katya Kate from mommygrowingup  fochoosing me as a recipient of the award.  You really made my day! The Sunshine Blog Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspire others in the blogosphere. I am so happy that I am considered a part of this group since I created this blog to inspire, learn and most of all have fun!.  Mission accomplished.  So yayy me and woot woot!!!





Here are the rules for accepting this award:
1. Thank the person who gave this award and write a post about it.

2. Answer the following questions below.
3. And pass the award to 10~12 fabulous bloggers, link their blogs and let them know you awarded them. 
My answers to the questions:
Favorite color?  I love teal,  not the dark teal though, light teal.  That color makes me all kinds of happy and calm.
Favorite animal?  I am a sucker for dogs, they are so loyal and loving.  Close second is guinea pigs.  They are  so cute and chuck full of personality.  
Favorite number? 36  Its my lucky number. lol, for real.
Favorite drink?  Pina colada (unleaded/minus alchohol)...........ummm so yummy
Facebook or Twitter?  Facebook for sure.  
Your passion?  Art and design, God and family...but not in that order.
Giving or getting presents?  I love to give, there's no better feeling than to know you have helped someone else.
Favorite day?  Wednesday. Also known as hump day which I was totally unaware of but makes it even more interesting. 
Favorite flowers?  Peonies and bouganvilla.  They couldn't be more opposite  from each other but I adore them both.

And there you have it,  now, it's time for me to share the love. The blogs that I am listing below keep me smiling, inspired, entertained, informed and looking forward to their next post! Check them out and you'll see why.








Friday, June 17, 2011

Touched By An Angel


Wanda Mcphee

Two months ago my grandmother whom I love dearly fell critically ill and we almost lost her.  That was a sobering time for not only me but my family on the whole.  You see my grandmother, Sarah, is the matriarch of the family and is the best human being I have ever known.  She is kind, loving, encouraging, funny, nurturing, selfless, smart, wise, forgiving and I can keep on going with the adjectives.  All of them positive, all of them true.  This woman inspires me like no other.


Wanda Mcphee

So when "Grammy" as we affectionately call her fell ill it was as if someone had pushed the "pause" button on my life.  Everything stopped and all that was left was raw nerves and heart ache.  There were so many thoughts going through my head.  I tried to find the positive in it.........nothing.   Finally a call from one of my sisters made all the difference.  My grandmother told her to cheer up and let everyone know (in case she didn't make it) that she had lived a good life and was looking forward to seeing her friends and loved ones who had gone on before her.  She was happy and excited to go to heaven. 


She had experienced a vision prior to falling ill in which she saw heaven in all its splendor and vividly described it to my mother.  She saw lots of people she loved  there and was overwhelmed with peace, love and joy.  In the vision she had stood at the gate wanting to go in so badly but an angel told her that it was not her time yet.  And it wasn't.  Though she is experiencing severe complications from diabetes at the moment she still continues to live life courageously and with joy.  She is thankful for every moment, even if some of those moments are painful.   I am not sure how everything will unfold with Grammy but I know that she will be all right even if this is her time. Her faith and love for  God and the testimony of her life gives me that confidence.   I will see her again.


Cherio!



                            
                            

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Enter The Dragon......fly


If I had to choose a creature that I feel most connected to, it would be the dragonfly. I don't exactly recall how it all started but for as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated with them.  As time passed, I started noticing very peculiar behavior and occurrences involving my little friends.  I'll explain.  Generally I am a pretty happy person but occasionally I have bad days just like everyone else. On those days, I kid you not, the dragonflies would show up in abundance.  The strange thing is, they would appear on my door step, fly into my home or quite a few of them would just hang out in my yard.  Never the neighbor's, just me.





There are two incredible incidences involving dragonflies that I will  never forget.  Three years ago I had had a very beloved family member pass away and naturally, I was heart broken and really sad.  The day after the funeral, I went outside to walk my dog and I was in shock at what I saw.  There were huge colorful dragonflies everywhere, my dog was so confused, he couldn't figure out which one to chase.  There were hundreds of them and they were flying all around me.  I am sure this will probably be the first and only time I experience something like this.  The other incidence was eight years ago when I was going through a very hard time financially.  It was so stressful that I had headaches almost daily. I am a praying person so I clung to my faith and belief that God would help me get through it all.  One day I began to hear a insistent buzzing sound coming from my bedroom.  I went to check it out but on further inspection discovered that the noise was coming from inside my jewelry box.  Since the box has a lock on it I was a little perplexed as to what could be in the box making a sound like that.  I figured it had to be a phone or something mechanical?  Well, eventually curiousity overcame fear and I opened the box slowly............ and I literally almost passed out.  Inside the box was a huge blue -green iridescent dragonfly.  Time froze, I  stood there in total shock for quite a while.  Finally when I had collected myself a little, I asked my son to release him back into nature.  To this day I think about that.



Dragonfly Symbolism



On my covet list.


I often joke about my heritage because its so varied and rich.  I am Bahamian (from the Bahamas), Jamaican, African and Native American.  Above all though I am a child of God.  I honestly believe that if God knows how many hairs are on my head surely he knows am crazy about dragonflies.  Perhaps its just his way of doing something that he knows will speak to who I am as a person. Something just for me.  So, every time I see a dragonfly its like a little message from God.  The message is always the same, "You are special and loved!"






I love this pillow!
How gorgeous is this bracelet!! Lol, Its on my husband's "honey do" list.




Luv!!!!