food for thought

These last few weeks have been full of frustration.  Ever since the snow storm in mid-February, our cars have alternatively not been working.  If you really want to see how much you love someone--share one car with them for 8 weeks.  Our cars are old, and we expect repairs.  For them all to happen in such a short span?  Just aggravating.

Thankfully, I believe we have reached the end of the car journey.  All throughout this journey, I was very upset only once, about the middle of it.  However, I did have some anxiety throughout this experience, but only when I drove.  I tried to focus on the positive and be grateful that we had the funds to make repairs, and that family helped along the way (especially the father-in-law who gave up a Saturday to make repairs--so so grateful!).

Anyway, I hope that you have had a fabulous week!  Happy Friday, my friends, and I hope that you have a beautiful weekend!

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food for thought

My best friend is on the other side of the country, and today is her birthday.  I love her so much, and I miss her every day.  We talk to hours on end, and it never feels like there are thousands of miles between us.  She is in a stressful time in her life.  She forgets how beautiful, intelligent, and wonderful she is.  I like to remind her about it, and this is one of my favorite quotes because it is so true for everyone especially her. 

I hope you have a wonderful Easter weekend!

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food for thought

You might or might not have noticed, but this week, I took a spontaneous break from blogging.  Last Sunday, I was really just not feeling it.  I might be able to come up with several reasons why I felt like that, but it wasn't important for me to explore it.  The bottom line is that I couldn't bring myself to work on the blog.  This is definitely unusual for me; so I embraced it, listened to it, and spent the day lounging/reading. 

Monday came around, and I kicked myself for not working.  However, I acknowledged that what I needed was rest to recharge so the guilt melted away.  I've been working on some new recipes, and I can't wait to share them with you!

Always remember, my friends, your happiness is a necessity not just a priority so listen to yourself.  There is a reason that you don't feel like doing something sometimes (not that perpetual laziness is a good thing!) so embrace it, and good things will come!

Have a beautiful weekend!

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food for thought

A silly proverb, but completely true.  The Hubby LOVES potatoes, and so I know he loves me when he shares his French fries/mashed potatoes/hash browns with me; that's true love right there!

Have a safe and fun weekend my friends!

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food for thought

I've had a hard week this week, but I am trying to be open to love and everything that happens to me each day because I learn something.  I learn that I don't like it; that I am stronger than I think I am; that I love something; that I need to change something, etc.

Have a beautiful weekend my friends!

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food for thought

You know, I've been thinking long and hard about this quote.  I would have to disagree and change it. 

I LOVE my job; however, there are days that love is not enough.  I have to make myself work, and this is coming after a very hard few days of work along with a few more hard days ahead.  I don't think it's the work or the job that make it hard, but the people, situation, or other uncontrollable aspects of the job that make it hard sometimes.  I know that it will quiet down, and I will not have to work so hard to do my job.  For now, I will have to push through it.

How would I change this quote?  "Do what you love, and those hard days will be much easier"  It's just like a relationship: real, deep and true love will get you through the hard times.

Anyway-I'm looking forward to relaxing and visiting with family this weekend.  You have a happy weekend too!

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food for thought

Are you showing those around you that you love them through your actions?  Something as simple as making the bed, taking out the garbage, buying a favorite chocolate, calling just to say HI, all are simple acts of love.  I challenge you to show your love to someone by calling them, making breakfast, buying a favorite treat, etc.

Have a safe and love filled weekend!

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food for thought

On this day before Valentine's Day, the day of love, don't forget that you are equally deserving and in need of your own love and affection.  So do something that you love and something that's only for you, whether it's taking a relaxing bath, getting a massage, making time to read, watching your favorite movie with cake and champagne, go to bed early, sleep in later, have breakfast in bed, whatever you LOVE to do!

May your weekend be filled with my three favorite things:  LOVE, laughter, and light!  <3

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food for thought

I've been anxious all week for later, tomorrow, now, three days from now, yesterday, next week, three weeks ago.  I missed so much beauty and life around me, and then today I stopped.  I lived for today and loved every moment of it.

Have a fabulous weekend, my friends!

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food for thought

Plus, you are so gorgeous when you smile  :o)

I've had to do more smiling than usual this week to keep from crying and creating mad/worry wrinkles.  This first month has been very frustrating for me at work, and I haven't always shown love.  When I realize that I haven't, I smile, get up, and take a short break.  I know that we all can't do that, but we can all stop, take a deep breathe, think of something that makes you smile, and smile.

I'd much rather have smile/happy wrinkles.

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food for thought

{love yourself by Lim Heng Swee}

LOVE your eyes-

LOVE your face-

LOVE your body-

LOVE your mind-

LOVE your soul-

LOVE your flaws-

LOVE your personality-

LOVE your wrinkles-

LOVE your impatience-

LOVE your frustration-

LOVE your happiness-

LOVE your sadness-

LOVE your bad days-

LOVE your good days-

LOVE your friends-

LOVE your family-

LOVE each other-

LOVE your life-

LOVE YOURSELF

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food for thought

I am still trying to keep my resolution to show more love; I've had some challenges, but I'm taking baby steps.  No other real words of wisdom for this week so have a safe and wonderful weekend!

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food for thought

This year I've decided that my guiding principle will be to choose love. To choose love instead of hate; choose love instead of meanness; choose love over sadness, setbacks and heartache.

I have one aspect of my life that definitely needs some love. Surprisingly, I have a hard time loving/being kind/tolerating those who I don't like. My philosophy is that if I don't like you, then I'm not around you. Unfortunately, you can't escape them all, and I know that I am not at my best when I interact with them. I can feel my body contorting with anger and cruelty; my face hardens and my speech is clipped, short and hard. My soul just quietly sits there saying "you know this is wrong".

This year I will be treating those that I don't like just like I treat an aspect of myself that I don't like: with love, kindness and patience. Will I love them eventually? Maybe not, but I know that I didn't add to the cruelty and unkindness the world can show.

What are you focusing on this year?

Have a wonderful weekend!

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food for thought

I know that I've used this quote before, but it's one of my absolute favorites!  I believe this especially rings true during Christmas time.  As you are running around stressing out about presents, just remember the Christmas was never about buying audacious presents; it's about spending quality time with those you care the most about!

I am so proud and happy that my family decided not to buy each other Christmas presents this year; instead, we made the decision to spend time together doing some fun Christmas activities like going to see the Nutcracker, baking cookies, and having lunch together.  I must say, I believe this is my favorite Christmas yet!

I am also using this quote because we are having a Hobbit Party on Sunday (complete with breakfast, lunch and tea!) in preparation of the movie coming out on Wednesday (which The Hubby and I are seeing right after I get out of work!).

I hope that you have a wonderful weekend!

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Food for Thought | Thanksgiving

{Be Thankful}

I don't have the perfect life.  This year, I have been practicing gratitude for everything: the heartaches, the set backs, the good, the thrills, the disappointments, and the ugly.  

 

Around Thanksgiving, many people say they are grateful for their families, friends, having a job, etc.  I am always eternally grateful for my friends and family without whom I would most certainly be lost.  However, this year, I am most grateful for all the little things in my life.  Below is a very small sampling of the small things that I am always grateful for:

• the daily kitty welcome committee/snuggle crew
• the daily comments from The Hubby that he loves me, thinks that I am beautiful, sexy, intelligent, etc
• the sunrise over a beautiful Kentucky landscape on my way to work
• the sunset view that I have from my house
• the surprise emails from my grandparents about how they love me and are proud of me
• the banter and time I spend with my mom
• the health of my body, mind and soul
• my senses: being able to see, touch, hear, taste, and smell my surroundings
• for the compassion that is shown to me by others (who I don't forget to thank, even if they are strangers--one person even cried after I thanked them!)
• for authors that write the books I read
• for the directors/writers that produce/write the movies and TV shows I watch
• a warm, soft, safe place to lay my head at night (or for nap time in the middle of the day)
• for all the people both near and far that make my life easier, better, safer, etc

I am not perfect, and sometimes I do forget to be grateful especially when I am sad, mad, frustrated, stressed, etc.  I am human, and I am grateful for that.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I'm taking a short break, but I'll be back next Monday!

 

PS--I am thankful for you too, my dear reader!  Did you really think that I would forget you?

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Food for Thought

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Food for Thought

I am unabashedly happy this week.  The reason?  No reason!  I am happiness, and happiness is me. 

Is my life perfect?  Not by a long shot, but I know that there are people out there that are praying for what I have.  What I have is pretty awesome.  I have a man who loves me and all my flaws; I have a job that I absolutely love waking up to every morning; I have a beautiful family that loves and supports me.

I will be at the Incredible Food Show tomorrow and reporting back on Monday.  If you go, say hi!

Have a fabulous weekend!
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Food for Thought

This week was month end for the accounting world, and it actually went very smoothly.  Well, all except for that one moment someone came with about 60 folders that I had to invoice out before we closed the month.  I might have used an explicative to voice my frustration, but once I had them and saw them, they weren't that bad.  I still stayed at work until about 7:15 PM, but once I saw the positive, working on them made it so much easier.

Just like this quote portrays, I know that I get so overwhelmed by the negative, that I forget to look for a positive, for the beauty.  This quote reminds me to do that beautifully, and again, as fate would have it, it popped up when I needed it the most.

Have a beautiful weekend!  It's supposed to be fall out there, and I. CANNOT.  WAIT!!!!

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Food for Thought

I am suffering from a book hangover this week; I can't stop thinking about the story, and I get emotionally worked up every time I do.  I read "The Killing Jar" by Gloria Nixon-John and Robert "Skip" Noelker about a 15 year old boy, Ted Lynch, who killed his 7 year old neighbor during a psychotic break-down in 1978 Kentucky and was sentenced to death at the age of 16.  He was diagnosed with schizophrenia about 1 month after the killing, but he NEVER received treatment.  The book focuses mainly on the trials and background of the boy who was abused and starved most of his life.  This book is based on a true story; Ted Lynch did not contribute to this book; his psychologist contributed, and it has lots of court transcripts, interviews, newspaper articles, etc.

Why do I get so upset?  So many of Ted's family, friends, neighbors, etc testified that they knew the boy was being starved and how his mother abused him (verbally and emotionally), but instead of helping Ted, they just stopped all contact with the family.  How pathetic is that?  Instead of helping the poor boy by reporting the mother's actions to authorities, they just walked away.  How can you not help when you babysit the kids and the mother leaves instructions that each child will only receive one slice of bread with one tablespoon of peanut butter PER DAY? Plus, the mother leaves only enough food in the house for that instruction.  How can you not think that it is not abuse or starvation?  How can you live with yourself?

I guess that I have hope and faith in human beings, but with this book, I'm a disappointed and just a bit mad at the world.  Then I get to thinking about all the bad stuff happening in the world right this very minute, how many people are just walking away "because it's easier", and I get so angry at mankind.  Why must we hurt others?  I don't understand cruelty or revenge.  My revenge has always been to never give that person another thought, to not waste another minute second on them.

So this week my food for thought has several aspects: mainly, if you see or seriously suspect abuse, please report it!  Don't turn a blind eye!  The other is just to be nice to one another.  I know that I have a problem with this sometimes, but I am making a conscious effort to be kinder to everyone.

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Food for Thought

{source}

I am seriously missing my best friend right now.  If only I could hop on a plane and see her, but for now, long, nonsensical phone calls will have to do.

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