Fantastic Foodie Friday~ Apple Pie Oatmeal

A warm embrace on a cold Winter day, this voluminous Apple Pie Oatmeal will remind you of that delicious apple pie, but will leave you feeling energized and ready to tackle the day ahead.  This is also wonderful if you make it and put it in the fridge as a quick cold breakfast.

Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup regular oats
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger + pinch of kosher salt
• 1 + 1/4 cups Almond Milk
• 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces
• 1-1.5 tablespoon pure maple syrup + more for drizzling
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 tsp fresh lemon juice (optional)
• 2 tbsp chopped walnuts, for sprinkling on top

Directions:

1. In a medium sized pot over medium heat, whisk together the 1/3 cup oats, peeled and chopped apple, 1 tbsp chia seeds, 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce, 1.25 cups Almond milk, 1 tbsp pure maple syrup, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ginger, pinch of kosher salt. Whisk well.

2. Heat over medium heat for about 8 minutes, stirring often. When the mixture thickens and the liquid is absorbed, it is ready. Stir in the pure vanilla extract.

3. Pour into a dish and sprinkle with chopped walnuts, a pinch of cinnamon, and a drizzle of pure maple syrup. Add a tiny bit of almond milk on top.

Nutritional Info (Serves 1, without walnuts): 438 kcals, 10 grams fat (healthy fats!!), 13 grams fibre, 11 grams protein.

Beauty of Change~

"We delight in the beauty of the butterfly,

but rarely admit the changes it has gone 

through to achieve that beauty."

~Maya Angelou~

Dream a Little Dream~

Never stop dreaming...

Some people can't see your dream

or even imagine it,

but that doesn't mean that you can't 

achieve it.

Believe in yourself,

your dreams

& 

never let go.

You never know where 

your dreams will take you...

XoXo

<3

Take a Moment~

Sometimes, 

it is difficult to see past where we are at.

To see past our own hurt, problems or struggles 

 that we are going through.

If we could just take a minute,

to think past where we are at.

Maybe,

 just maybe we could help to 

ease another's pain.

Or 

at least bring them a ray of sunshine

during a dark day.

We will all have days that will challenge us,

but at the end of the day

if each one of us chose to reflect 

beauty and love.

What a difference the world would be.

XoXo

<3

Motivational Monday~ Memorial Day

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

 Thank you to all those Brave Men and Women who have Served our Country 

and to those who have made the Ultimate Sacrifice Defending our Freedom. 

Your Sacrifice will Never be Forgotten.  

I understand the Sacrifice our Military Members 
have made Defending us. 

It is an Honor to Defend this Great Nation 
and 
I will give my life if necessary. 

God Bless America.

Honoring~

For every Man and Woman in the 

Armed Forces that have paid 

the Ultimate Sacrifice for my 

Freedom.

Thank you...

I have one more day,

because you gave your life 

to secure mine.

I will never be able to repay your debt,

but I will spend the rest of mine

trying to live it to it's fullest.

Remembering your sacrifice

and never taking it for granted.

Thank you seems hardly enough,

but I hope you know all the 

feelings that are behind those words...

I will Never Forget 

and 

You will Never be Forgotten...

XoXo

<3

Song Saturday~ If You're Reading This~ Tim McGraw

If you're reading this
My Mommas sittin there
Looks like I only got a one way ticket over here
Sure wish I
Could give you one more kiss
And war was just a game we played when we were kids

I'm laying down my gun
I'm hanging up boots
I'm up here with God and we're both watching over you

So lay me down
In that open field out on the edge of town
And know my soul
Is where my momma always prayed
That it would go
And if you're reading this
I'm already home

If you're reading this
Half way around the world
I won’t be there
To see the birth of our little girl
I hope she looks like you
I hope she fights like me
Stand up for the innocent and weak

I'm laying down my gun
I'm hanging up boots
Tell dad I don't regret that I followed in his shoes

If you're reading this
There’s going to come a day
When you'll move on
And find some one else
And that's OK
Just remember this
I'm in a better place
Where soldiers live in peace
And angels sing amazing grace

Fantastic Foodie Friday~Breakfast Egg Muffins To Go

Eggs are one of the most versatile breakfast foods around, but few of us can spare the time to cook them in the morning. These eggs muffins are designed to be cooked ahead of time, then grabbed on the go. Egg muffins will keep one week in the refrigerator. Microwave 30 seconds to reheat.  Just add a variety of different goodies to your tin. Maybe 6 with bacon, onion & cheese and 6 with spinach, mushrooms and ham. You can't mess this up! In the morning, just grab a couple from your ziploc and reheat them and away you go! No unhealthy trip to Mc D's. Lots of variations Enjoy!   Yield - 12 muffins 1/2 pound ground Italian pork or turkey sausage 4 ounces frozen chopped broccoli florets 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese 12 eggs 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 12 parchment paper muffin wrappers or 12 silicone muffin cups Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Heat skillet over medium heat. Add sausage and cook until no longer pink. In a microwave-safe bowl, microwave frozen broccoli florets until thawed (approximately 4 minutes) and drain. If using a muffin tin, line tin with parchment paper wrappers. If using silicone muffin cups, place cups on a baking sheet lined with foil (to catch any egg overflow and making clean-up much easier!). In a large bowl, combine sausage, broccoli and cheese. Spoon mixture into cups, filling them 2/3 of the way, leaving room to add the egg mixture. In another bowl with a pour spout, beat together 12 eggs. Add salt and pepper. Pour egg mixture into each muffin cup, being careful to leave a little room (1/4 inch or so) at the top. Bake 25 minutes, or until muffins have risen and are firm. Variation: Instead of Italian sausage, try diced bacon, Canadian bacon, ham, chorizo or crumbled breakfast sausage. Try other veggies such as diced red pepper, spinach, zucchini, mushrooms, etc. Mix and match at will!

Finding Balance~

In this life, 
we have to find a balance between 

our have to's and want to's...

Our survival & our desires.

If you are lucky enough to gain this 

delicate balance,

hold on to it with everything you have.

Many go through life living with an uneven scale.

Nothing will ever be perfect,

but you can achieve balance.

Every day,

 you will be tested & pulled in different directions.

Through your life you will learn 

that some tests you will pass with flying colors

others

will leave you with a lesson to take away.

The directions that you pick will 

either lead you closer towards 

your balance, 

or will 

help to distract you from it.

We need to be honest with our 

feelings

emotions 

and 

goals.

They will not always be able to be had

right now,

but if you know what you want

you have to be willing to make sacrifices for it.

Life is not a sprint

but a 

journey.

Don't be afraid to be who you are 

or 

go after what you want.

If you don't go after it 

no one will hand it to you.

XoXo

<3

It's the Little Things~

When sometimes all you have to give is

Your Friendship, Heart, Time & Talent...

I know to some, this might not be much.

For my Friends

I would walk through fire and not even blink.

For my Family, I would do so much more...

The things that Last,

the Things that Matter 

aren't 

things at all.

They are actually...

Moments Shared,

Smiles Given

and 

Memories that are Made.

This is what people

Remember,

Hold on to 

&

Cherish.

Long after,

the moment has Passed...

What we leave behind

are Little Foot Prints.

In the Hearts and Minds 

of those that we make connections with.

Time is fleeting...

Don't waste a Second

on

"things" that don't matter.

Embrace the here & now,

don't let a moment pass you by...

Live Every Day in the 

Here & Now.

Life is too Short & Uncertain

to let these Precious Moments 

slip by...

Sometimes,

it is the tiniest of Things

that leave the most lasting

impressions...

Now,

Go out there 

& 

LIVE...

XoXo

<3

Spring Concert~

Today I had one of those "Proud Mama" moments.

Watching Tristin take the stage 

& 

Shining in his Spring Concert at school.

Can't believe that it was almost 9 years ago

that I got to see his little face for the first time...

Taking stock in the little moments 

that seem to go by in the blink of an eye.

How I Love this Little Man that is growing 

up right before my very eyes...

XoXo

<3

A Journey~

                                         Lately, I have been Inspired

to do one thing for myself each day...

To find the Beauty in Each Day,

no matter what that Day Holds...

I am on a Journey

&

Every Day is a New Adventure...

I am Embracing the

 

Here & Now,

as Tomorrow is all to Uncertain...

XoXo

<3

When you Know~

When you know.

No one has to tell you...

You don't need someone   

to show you.

You just know...

You can feel it.

In your Heart,

Soul 

and 

with your whole Body...

When that moment 

comes...

Nothing can prepare you for it...

You just have to 

Breathe,

Believe

& have 

Faith...

XoXo

<3

Just a Note~

I know that I have not been keeping up with the blog, 

like many of you have become used to.

Sadly, it has just had to take a 

back burner for the time being...

I have been in a transition state.  

Looking for a new house in North Carolina.

It has been a frustrating journey,

one that has tested me in many ways.

I am learning new things every day 

through this process...

One of them, is to just keep trying...

I guess, in thinking about this trip,

I thought that I would find

 the perfect house, in the right place

&

I would just know...

Instead, 

I have driven many miles,

spent lots of hours,

and 

gone many places 

finding out that many properties that 

have been listed have since either 

fallen into disrepair 

or 

they have been listed using pictures 

of them in better days...

I would like to think that people are 

trustworthy and honest,

but with what I have witnessed

recently,

makes me wonder...

To give the benifit of the doubt?!?

Believe me,

I am not giving up,

but each day I am becoming 

more aware 

that everything is not always what it seems.

It is better to see for yourself, 

and do due diligence 

than to rely on what is put before you.

So,

the hunt continues...

XoXo

<3