Thursday, January 31, 2013

When Faced with~

For some, FEAR stops them right in their tracks.
They never reach their goals because they let fear
cut them short.
We all have fears...
Over the years, I have learned to take mine 
and face them head on.
This is not to say that I am not still faced 
with some that cause me moments 
of pause, but I try to work past them.
Trying to learn from each one.
There is a lesson to be taken away 
from each encounter with your own fear.
Don't let yours stop you from 
your goals...
XoXo
<3

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

More than a Number~

There are days when we think that one is a lonely number...
In fact, it is just the opposite.
There is strength in one...
Take a Stand,
Use your Voice,
be an Unshakable Monument...
You are a Living Testament.
We each are given an unspecified amount of time.
Each of us have the choice,
 of how we want to live that life...
How we want to be remembered, 
what we want to leave behind...
When you think of "ONE",
think of how Powerful 
one can really be...
XoXo
<3

You are Enough~

                           Sometimes in moments alone, we have words that creep in... 
                          I don't know why we let the words slip into our head...  
                              But what resonates in us is, 
                             "Am I good enough?!? " 
                             "Does what I do make a difference?"   
                      Every day we plant seeds, if we know it or not... 
                           We Touch Lives...  
                       Sometimes, we are not around to see the effect of what becomes of that  
                          tiny seed that has been planted...  
                       I would like to believe that we are good enough.  
                    That what we set into motion, 
                  has a long lasting positive influence on the lives that we touch. 
                             It is easy to slip into self doubt and darkness...  
                            We can't always change situations, 
                       no matter how we wish for it to be, or try...  
                        We have to look at those moments,
                    and see them for what they are... 
                      Moments of lapse of judgment, anger, or confusion that become 
                   dark spots in our hearts... 
                  In difficult situations people react differently,  
                  and in doing so, sometimes hurt others...  
                I believe that most people only want the very best in life, 
                and set out to chart that course. 
                       If you are one who always wants to leave people and places, 
                          better than they were before you were there... 
            I think you need to replace your thoughts with, 
                   I AM Good Enough... 
                         Beauty remains, even when you don't get to see the end results. 
                        You just have to keep believing that what you do  
                     does touch lives, and makes a difference... 
                   We can't erase the darkness, but we can keep a path lit...
XoXo
<3

                          

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Motivational Monday~ Take Away Lessons


 Yes, I know that this is a "Urban Legend", but you know what... 
 I don't care...  
There are lessons that you can learn.   
These days, I would almost say, there are more "Teddy's" 
out there than you know about...   
Since being involved in the Susan G. Komen 3~Day events,  
I have gotten to know many children that have lost their Mother or Father...  
If nothing else, we can learn lessons from this...  
Instead of assuming, if we would just take a moment, 
learn about someone else, and what is going on in their lives...  
Encourage them, instead of taking delight at tearing them apart...     
Give love, when someone is in desperate need of being loved...  
None of these lessons are hard to learn or to do...  
You just have to extend your hand and your heart to someone else...  
XoXo 
<3 

Jean Thompson stood in front of her fifth grade class on the very first day of school in the fall and told the children a lie.  Like most teachers, she looked at her pupils and said that she loved them all the same,  that she  would treat them all alike.  And that was impossible because there in front of her, slumped in his seat on the third row, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.
 Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed he didn't  play well with the other children, that his clothes were unkempt and that he constantly needed a bath.  And Teddy was unpleasant.  It got to the point during the first few months that she would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then marking the F at the top of the paper biggest of all.
Because Teddy was a sullen little boy, no one else seemed to enjoy him,  either.   At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to  review each child's records and put Teddy's off until last.  When she opened his file, she was in for a surprise.
His first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright, inquisitive child with a ready laugh.  He does his work neatly and has good manners...he is a joy to be around."
His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle."
His third grade teacher wrote, "Teddy continues to work hard but his mother's death has been hard on him.  He tries to do his best but his father doesn't  show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken."
Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school.  He doesn't have many friends and sometimes sleeps in class.  He is tardy and could become a problem."
By now Mrs. Thompson realized the problem but Christmas was coming fast.  It was all she could do, with the school play and all, until the day before the holidays began and she was suddenly forced to focus on Teddy Stoddard.
Her children brought her presents, all in beautiful ribbon and bright paper, except for Teddy's, which was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper of a scissored grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents.  Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet  with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one quarter full of cologne.  She stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the  perfume behind the other wrist.
Teddy Stoddard stayed behind just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson,  today you smelled just like my mom used to."  After the children left she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, and writing, and speaking.  Instead, she began to teach children.
Jean Thompson paid particular attention to one they all called "Teddy."  As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she  encouraged him, the faster he responded.  On days there would be an important test, Mrs. Thompson would remember that cologne.
By the end of the year he had become one of the smartest children in the class and...well, he had also become the "pet" of the teacher who had once vowed to love all of her children exactly the same.
A year later she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that of all the teachers he'd had in elementary school, she was his favorite.
Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy.  He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still his favorite teacher of all time.
Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would graduate from college with the highest of honors.  He assured Mrs. Thompson she was still his favorite teacher
Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further.  The letter explained that she was still his favorite teacher but that now his name was a little longer.  The  letter was signed:
Theodore F. Stoddard, M.D.
The story doesn't end there.  You see, there was yet another letter that Spring.  Teddy said he'd met this girl and was to be married.  He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering...  Well,  if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit in the pew usually reserved for the mother of  the groom.  Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. And she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.
They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson’s ear, 
"Thank you  Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference."
Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She then said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. 
I didn’t know how to teach until I met you."



In the City of Brotherly Love~

Though, I have not made it to Love Park yet.
I had to share this picture...
This past weekend Philly, hosted a 3~Day Reunion.
It was wonderful to meet people who's name 
I have been familiar with for quite a while, 
but have never met in person.
It was a great night filled with Fun, Food & Friendship.
Then on Sunday, before making the trip home, 
we made a whirl wind trip of downtown Philly.
The boys got to see the Liberty Bell up close & personal.
I am glad that I took the boys with me, 
so they could meet new people 

see a place,
 that they have only read about in books.
XoXo
<3

Monday, January 28, 2013

Song Saturday~ Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen - Good Time

Picked this song this week because of the Philly 3~Day Reunion...

Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen - Good Time Lyrics

Woah-oh-oh-oh
It's always a good time
Woah-oh-oh-oh
It's always a good time

Woke up on the right side of the bed
What's up with this Prince song inside my head?
Hands up if you're down to get down tonight
Cuz it's always a good time.

Slept in all my clothes like I didn't care
Hopped into a cab, take me anywhere
I'm in if you're down to get down tonight
Cuz it's always a good time

Good morning and good night
I wake up at twilight
It's gonna be alright
We don't even have to try
It's always a good time

Woah-oh-oh-oh Woah-oh-oh-oh
It's always a good time
Woah-oh-oh-oh Woah-oh-oh-oh
We don't even have to try, it's always a good time.

Freaked out, dropped my phone in the pool again
Checked out of my room hit the ATM
Let's hang out if you're down to get down tonight
Cuz it's always a good time

Good morning and good night
I wake up at twilight
It's gonna be alright we don't even have to try
It's always a good time.

Woah-oh-oh-oh Woah-oh-oh-oh
It's always a good time
Woah-oh-oh-oh Woah-oh-oh-oh
We don't even have to try, it's always a good time.

Woah-oh-oh-oh Woah-oh-oh-oh
It's always a good time
Woah-oh-oh-oh Woah-oh-oh-oh
We don't even have to try, it's always a good time.

Doesn't matter when
It's always a good time then
Doesn't matter where
It's always a good time there

Doesn't matter when,
It's always a good time then

It's always a good time
Woah-oh-oh-oh Woah-oh-oh-oh
It's always a good time
Woah-oh-oh-oh Woah-oh-oh-oh
We don't even have to try, it's always a good time

Woah-oh-oh-oh Woah-oh-oh-oh
It's always a good time
Woah-oh-oh-oh Woah-oh-oh-oh
We don't even have to try, it's always a good time.

Fantastic Foodie Friday~ Turkey Cutlets with Fresh Corn



  • turkey cutlets, patted dry (1 lb.)
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil 
  • shallot, finely chopped
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
  • 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth 
  • 1 cup fresh corn kernels (from
  • small ears of corn)
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Preparation

  1. Sprinkle cutlets with salt and pepper. Warm butter and oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until butter is foaming. Cook cutlets until browned, turning once, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate and cover loosely with foil to keep warm.
  2. Add shallot and bell pepper to pan and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 3 minutes. Pour in chicken broth and bring to a boil, scraping browned bits off bottom of pan with a wooden spoon. Add corn and mustard and continue to boil, stirring frequently, until sauce thickens a bit, 2 to 3 minutes more. Place cutlets in skillet and turn to coat with sauce. Add chopped parsley and any accumulated juices from turkey plate to skillet; stir. Serve turkey with sauce immediately.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Beauty Remains~

Sometimes we are too close to a picture, 
to see the whole of it's glory. 
We get so honed in on one thing,
that we let everything past that, get blurry... 
We in essence, lose our perspective. It is at these times, we need to take a step back,  or sometimes step away briefly, so that we can see the beauty that is before us... There are many reasons why this happens,  but I would like to think that it is not done  for any other reason then that we just get confused... In a world that sometimes moves way too fast, we get caught up in many things that are just that... "Things" There are so many amazing moments
that happen every day, 
we just need to slow down
&
learn to appreciate them... 
Beauty Remains... We just have to learn to change our perspective
 &
admire what they are...
XoXo
<3
 

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

It's Not about You~

It always amazes me how some people
can take something that is so 
beautiful, 
pure 
&
 selfless
 and make it about them...
There are somethings in this life,
that are simply not about you...
Other people have feelings,
&
opinions...
Maybe next time you 
decide to do something,
you should think about 
your actions before 
you set them into motion...
As I learned long ago,
for every 
Action,
their is an 
equal 
Reaction...
Food for Thought...
XoXo
<3

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

It is Inside Each One of Us~

We each have Magic that lies inside us...
Trust, that...
Believe it...
&
Know in your Heart,
that you can accomplish your own kind of Magic...
XoXo
<3

Monday, January 21, 2013

Motivational Monday~ The Power that Lies Inside One

One Person, 
One Life, 
One Word... 
Can make a Difference... 
I Believe, 
that Any Person, 
Their Life, 
Their Words... 
Can Make a Difference... 
Just because you are Small... 
Doesn't mean you Can't do it... 
Just because you've Never been able to... 
Doesn't mean that you Never will... 
You... 
Your Life... 
Your Words... 
Can Make a Difference... 
You just Need to Believe... 
In the Power of ONE!!! 
XoXo
<3

Sunday, January 20, 2013

What Love is...

In the silence, 
when everything seems 
darkest... 
That is when you have to hold on...
Imprint Love into your Heart 
Believe that Love will always 
conquer...
No matter the odds, 
no matter the obstacles,
Love will always find a way...
XoXo
<3

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Song Saturday~What Makes You Beautiful

A New Year, a New Saturday!
It will now be known as "Song Saturday"!
Felt that this was a Great Song to Kick Off things...
Even if you don't care for the song, it's the words...
XoXo
<3

"What Makes You Beautiful"
          By One Direction
[Verse 1]
[Liam]
You're insecure,
Don't know what for,
You're turning heads when you walk through the door,
Don't need make-up,
To cover up,
Being the way that you are is enough,

[Bridge]
[Harry]
Everyone else in the room can see it,
Everyone else but you,

[Chorus]
[All]
Baby you light up my world like nobody else,
The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed,
But when you smile at the ground it ain't hard to tell,
You don't know,
Oh oh,
You don't know you're beautiful,
If only you saw what I can see,
You'd understand why I want you so desperately,
Right now I'm looking at you and I can't believe,
You don't know,
Oh oh,
You don't know you're beautiful,
Oh oh,
That's what makes you beautiful

[Verse 2]
[Zayn]
So c-come on,
You got it wrong,
To prove I'm right,
I put it in a song,
I don't know why,
You're being shy,
And turn away when I look into your eye eye eyes,

[Bridge]
[Harry]
Everyone else in the room can see it,
Everyone else but you,

[Chorus]
[All]
Baby you light up my world like nobody else,
The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed,
But when you smile at the ground it ain't hard to tell,
You don't know,
Oh oh,
You don't know you're beautiful,
If only you saw what I can see,
You'll understand why I want you so desperately,
Right now I'm looking at you and I can't believe,
You don't know,
Oh oh,
You don't know you're beautiful,
Oh oh,

[Harry]
That's what makes you beautiful

Na na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na [x2]

[Middle 8]
[Harry]
Baby you light up my world like nobody else,
The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed,
But when you smile at the ground it ain't hard to tell,

[All]
You don't know,
Oh oh,
You don't know you're beautiful,

[Chorus]
[All]
Baby you light up my world like nobody else,
The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed,
But when you smile at the ground it ain't hard to tell,
You don't know,
Oh oh,
You don't know you're beautiful ([Zayn:] Oh),
If only you saw what I can see,
You'll understand why I want you so desperately ([Harry:] desperately),
Right now I'm looking at you and I can't believe,
You don't know,
Oh oh,
You don't know you're beautiful,
Oh oh,
You don't know you're beautiful,
Oh oh,

[Harry]
That's what makes you beautiful