Dare to be unique

Dare to be unique. Dare to simply be yourself. Not what others want you to be or how what you think others wish for you to be - just simply be yourself. The beauty and uniqueness that is solely your own.

Embrace it.

Celebrate it.

There is no one on this Earth like you.  You were made special and unique and beautiful.  It's not easy to always be yourself but you will never regret it.  If you have to change who you are - by appearance or actions - to 'fit in', then that should tell you something.

You are special.  For anyone who can't see that is blind and anyone who doesn't honor that is a fool.  

1 Samuel 16:7 says -

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”  

Let the beauty of your heart shine through - outward trappings can't hide what is truly going on inside.  If you follow your heart in all that you do, and always be yourself - in look, actions, and demeanor - then you will always be beautiful... and that is the beauty that is most important in this world.

You'll slap your mama!

Y'all remember how I've been bored with my normal rotation of recipes?  Well, these last two weeks, I had an "I wonder" moment and went for it - oh my goodness, it was so good you'll wanna slap your mama!!  I'm calling it BBQ'd Mac n' Cheese.  Here's what you'll need...

It is so delicious - my entire family loved it!

Ingredients
1 lb of lean ground beef
1 15.25oz can of corn, drained
9 ozs of your favorite BBQ sauce (I use Bull's Eye original)
1 14oz package of Deluxe Macaroni and Cheese
Salt and pepper to taste.
Parsley for garnish

Directions
1. In medium skillet, brown your beef.  Don't forget to season it with the salt and pepper.
2. While the beef is working, prepare the macaroni and cheese per the instructions on the box.  You can make it from scratch but I was being lazy yesterday so I simply grabbed a box.
3. Drain the meet and place in a separate bowl.  Add the corn and BBQ sauce to the beef and combine until it's completely worked through and wet.
4. Once the macaroni and cheese is completed, add the beef mixture and combine.  Sprinkle parsley on top.
5. Place in a 300*F for 12 minutes to heat the corn through and marry the flavors.

I have done this with chicken and pork and it's all delicious.  I have even added crushed red peppers and chili powder to the ground beef to give it a bit of a kick and it's fabulous that way too.

It's a quick and easy way to have a delicious dinner that everyone will enjoy.

Ham, Cheese, and Hexagons

Not bad for a first go on a developing pattern.

I'm going to spend the day watching Elvis movies and making hexagons for a test crochet that I'm signed up for to help a friend.  We've already made a few design improvements to the pattern so it's been productive.  This hexagon was the first one - before the modifications were suggested that brought it to be in more of a straight line for seaming instead of the pretty swooping effect which would pucker.

I've let it sit by the wayside for a few days and now I'm going to spend the morning making these little suckers while I watch several of my favorite cheesy movies - all Elvis musicals.  Did you know that one time, there was a ham sent to him as a joke on the set of one of his musicals because he "hammed it up" on camera.  Seriously, it's true.  Funny thing was, he loved ham so he would cook it up and have a great meal.  He knew his films weren't much more than fluff but they made people, like me, very happy so he was alright with that... for a while.  Granted, he passed when I was only 4 years old but my daddy was such a huge fan that he shared him - as well as John Wayne and many others - with me to make sure I had a well rounded music and film experience.

So today, I'm going to ham it up with The King and tonight, I'm making something he would have loved - BBQ'd Macaroni and Cheese.  I'll share the recipe tomorrow - you're gonna love it!  In the meantime, enjoy some "ham" on me...

Not my fault...

I laughed at this more than I probably should.

My friend posted this hilarious picture on her page this morning and so I've been giggling and singing it since then.  I mean come on, it really is funny and the it's a good tune too so it works well.

Today, we can all thank my fabulous friend her wacky sense of humor for the selection.  We're going old school.  So have a fabulous Tuesday and enjoy a good giggle on us - it's the perfect way to start the day.

And so it begins

Oh my stars, it is so nice to finally not feel icky.  I had been fighting a horrible headache since Thursday - you know the kind that make your neck and shoulders hurt too.  Yeah, it was one of those.  It got the better of me over the weekend - complete with insomnia and tummy challenges.  Today is the first day where I feel like a human, though I have headache hangover but a good night of sleep should cure that.

It's good that today is the day I feel better because it's the first day of school around here.  I had to be ship shape to send her off, ready to face her new role in the Gifted program.  She left today as excited as I've ever seen her.  I can't wait to hear about her adventures.  I think she's probably having her lunch right about now, which means she found the surprise little card I put in there.  I wanted to tell her how sweet, kind, and fabulous I think she is but first day jitters can be deafening so while I did tell her, I wrote her too - just to be sure she knows how wonderful she is and how proud of her we are.

I hope her first day went well - if her mood is any indication, it should be perfect.

My precious little baby on her first day of 4th grade.  So grown up for being just 9-years-old... my little genius.

Sunday Snaps

School starts tomorrow.  We're picking Hobbit up from my folks with a special delivery!

Wednesday Wound Up

We're fixing to head out the door for Orientation with Hobbit's school but I have a few spare minutes before Pokey gets here to pick us up so I thought I'd share what I've been working on...

These will be a part of a curtain that I am making to surprise Hobbit when she gets back from her weekend away.

I am determined to make a shawl with this TIG yarn and I think I've finally found the right pattern for it.

I'm at the stagnate stage of my twisted shawl - 36 rows without increases!  I'm so proud of me.

So that's what's been keeping me busy lately.  I've got to say, I'm loving each of them so it's been easy to keep working - the hard part is wanting to work on all at the same time!

Off to the school - wish us luck!!

Something new

I get tired of eating the same old things... what's worse is that I get tired of making the same old things over and over again.  I've decided that once a week, I'm going to attempt a new dish - either from my favorite Better Homes and Gardens "Celebrating the Promise" edition Cook Book or from Gordon Ramsay's Ultimate Cookery Course... and today is the day!

I've decided on "Fresh Tomato and Arugula Pasta with Chicken", found on page 425 of the BH&G cookbook.  The only thing I'm lacking is the arugula so I'm going to sub out broccoli instead. I'm also 86ing the pine nuts because I simply don't have any.  The other things is, I'm going to make this as economical as possible, meaning I'm going through my pantry with what I have on hand, so that means instead of actual onions and garlic cloves, it will be minced onions and garlic from the spice cupboard.

This is the bit I'm not sure about - I don't have any tomatoes on hand so I'm debating on whether or not I can simply substitute a bit of condensed tomato soup instead.  They basically stew the tomato to release the juices so if I can get the right consistency, this might work.  Granted, I will have to doctor the soup to get the sweet out of it but that's not hard.

My noodle selection consists of penne, rigitoni, and elbow macaroni.  The recipe calls for ziti or mostaccioli so I'm going with my garden rigitoni to add some color.  I've got the crushed red pepper, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese on hand so that's good.

I'm excited to try this - I think it will turn out really well... and if not, there are fish filets in the freezer as a back up plan!  Always have a back up plan on Experimentation Nights.  Hopefully Hobbit will enjoy it.  I know Pokey will eat anything so I never worry about trying new things on him.  It's mostly Hobbit - and me - that have a challenge with new foods.  I know it's odd, considering how much I love and appreciate food, but there is a difference between appreciating food and actually enjoying some of the tastes and textures of the dish.  I'm trying to step outside my comfort zone and expand my palette to match my passion.

I'll let you know how it turns out.  In the meantime, let's groove...

Funny what motivates

The last time we had a "super moon" was back on 19 March 2011.  I had gotten my current camera for my birthday, not three months prior.  I had very gleefully taken my camera out on the back stoop and tried to shoot the moon.  I was so proud of my photograph that I shared it with a photography group I was a part of on a mommy forum.  That's when I was insulted.

Ever since that day, I've taken those words from that angry soul and used them to fuel my passion.  Not in a bad or malicious way, but in more of a productive fashion.  I have a better understanding of how my camera works, what setting work best for which type of moon, and how the position of the moon effects the final outcome in regards to color and clarity.

Last night, we had another "super moon" - the first one since that fateful night... and look at how far I've come!

I took this one around 9:30 pm, not long after the rains stopped.

This was taken just around midnight during a break in the cloud cover we had last night.

The change in color is due to cloud cover and filtering of the light being reflected from the surface.

When you are presented with something nasty, you have two choices... you can either get upset or you can simply get better.  I chose the latter.

A delicious tale of heartbreak

Get it.  Read it.  Trust me!

I promised you a tale about the book I just finished, didn't I?  My stars, I swear some days just vanish with a blink.  So the book, yes - it was fabulous!

Hobbit has been wanting to read The Fault in Our Stars for a while now but I was afraid that it was a bit too worldly for her so I was going to read it first, just to make sure.  It's what you have to do when your 9-year-old reads on a high school level.  Just because she can read it and understand it, doesn't mean she should be reading it... you know?

We went to the bookstore last Saturday after I got off work and we ate supper.  When we got there, I gave everyone a $20 limit and we wandered around together, finding each other books. Pokey loves his Nook so he spent his $20 on Starbucks for us all. Hobbit picked up two stories - The School for Good and Evil and Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin - and I picked up two stories - The Jane Austin Marriage Manual and The Fault In Our Stars - though I was sneaky about it because she didn't see me pick it up when we were there!

It took me two days to read the book - I'm sure I could have gotten it done in one but life required my attention, forcing me to place a bookmark in the pages for several hours.  I don't know how to summarize my feelings on this book...  I’m still recovering!! Oh my goodness, what a deliciously optimistic and mournful tale. I have not encountered such well crafted characters in very a long time. Their banter was beautiful, relatable, and real. I only stumbled on it because of Hobbit and all I can say is wow… my heart was broken by it. Truly a wonderful tale.

My sweet girl is currently on the floor with her nose buried between the pages.  I'm sure she will be in tears before the weekend is up but it really was a wonderful story and I hope it touches her, the way all magnificent tales should touch a soul.

Wednesday Wound Up

I bet you thought I shared all of my projects with you yesterday when I was playing catch up... nope, I've been busy!

I added a few more rows to my knitting while I watched the CMA concert on television last night...

We rearranged Hobbit's room and hung a canopy that she loves...

and I got all my supplies together for making something spectacular - can you guess what it will be?

Plus, I finished a fabulous book that I'll tell you all about tomorrow.  It was a quick read - just two days - but it was time very well spent.  Hobbit was wanting to read it, which is the only reason I read it in the first place - to make sure it wasn't too worldly for her.  Oh my goodness, what a book!

So what things do you have going on - creative or otherwise?  I hope that whatever it might be, it brings you joy.

How have you been?

I know, I was gone for forty forevers - at least that is what it felt like for me - so I have to ask... how have you been?  Us?  Well, we've been busy that's for sure!

The bottom line is that we now have Hobbit all set (sans the school bus finalization) to attend a new elementary this coming school year.  This changes comes about because of her being accepted into the Gifted Program.  She was tested at the end of last year and her results were off the charts fabulous!  Hobbit was given the choice of having an aide come in and assist the teacher with special studies just for her or we could transfer to another school that has a dedicated Gifted Program classroom.  We left the decision (mostly) up to her since it would be she who would be dealing with it in the long run.  She opted for total immersion into the Gifted Program classroom.  Her logic and reasoning for it were sound so we went with her wishes - which thankfully matched our own, though we didn't share with her want we hoped for since we wanted her honest opinion on the decision.

After we made that decision, the mountain o' paperwork followed which was also followed by the bazillion organizational phone calls to get the ball rolling and things in place for the start of the school... which just so happens to be one day shy of a fortnight!!  We have completed it all - including meeting her teachers (whom we love!), writing her EP for the next two years, and doing our best to get the bus situation taken care of promptly (whom we have yet to hear from and it's killing me).  So long story short, Hobbit is super excited about the upcoming year and so are we... the ducks, they are in their rows!!

What does a stressed out, OCD, control freak, type-A person do when she has to wait on others in order to move forward?  She crafts!!  Here are a few of the items I had going to keep my hands busy...

This is actually going to Hobbit for Christmas - just need to line it.

This is going in the gift bucket - but I need to line it too.

I took that orange from the above bag and started on a baby outfit - broke out in horrible hives!

I'm debating if I like the pattern but I am trying to use my TIG Bellini again. I do like how it plays up.

My husband's 'lead' at work asked for a Captain American shield "doily" for her sofa.  She loved it.

I am attempting to knit again... painfully slow but better slow than not at all.

So that is what I have been doing lately.  I also just got back from the store yesterday with supplies to work on a Christmas cross-stitch collection.  Oh yeah, it's going to be awesome.  I'll share with you when I've had a chance to get it going - which more than likely won't be until after she goes back to school.  Right now, I'm off to spend some time with each of the projects I still have in progress.   How about some "mood music" to craft by...

Allergic to orange

The color, apparently, not the fruit.  Sounds silly doesn't it, but I swear it must be true since I've been using that particular brand since it came out a few years ago.  Here's what happened.  I pulled out my copy of Crochet For Baby All Year and I was settling in to make the sweet outfit for a little girl found on the month of August.  I loved the bonnet and little lace tummy on the top.  I had picked up the most gorgeous shade of burnt orange that ever existed because I figured that it would work great as a top or a jumper and the color would work through the cooler months as well.  It was squishy and soft and beautiful... and it made my arms break out in a most horrible and painful rash!!  Just like when I was working on that hooded wrap for Peanut last June - all itchy and painful and less than attractive.  It was so bad it hurt to move my arms.

Isn't this going to be the most fabulous little bonnet!!

It seriously took about two weeks for my arms to not be totally disgusting but as soon as they were good to go, I was back in my stash shopping for something new to make.  I loved the patriotic set that I shared during my review so I figured I'd start over with the hat - just to be sure my arms wouldn't flare up again.  So far so good and I've made some serious progress in the hour that I had to work on it last night.  I plan to have it finished and sent within the week.

The thing I love about these patterns is that they are written so clearly, you can just pick up your hook and go to town.  There is no need to sit and study the lines, wondering what exactly they are trying to convey because the designer makes everything plain and simple... and the finished items are just too cute for words.  I secretly want to make this bonnet big enough to fit me!

I've got so much to share with you about what I've been up to but for now, I've got to get going on the day. I hope y'all have been having a lovely time and I'll be back tomorrow!

Holiday

That's just what we're fixin' to do around here - enjoy a few days of relaxation while we get things in order for another big year of school. Meetings, schedules, and changes galore - oh my!! It won't be long but don't fret that things have gone a tad quiet. Just getting my ducks in their necessary rows so life can run as smoothly as possible in our crazy little part of the world.  I'll be back before you know it.

I have a plan

I am fluffy.  I've spent most of my life as fluffy sans my college years where I was the extreme opposite of fluffy which is just as unhealthy.  I have a handful of heath related issues that would benefit from me not being so fluffy - asthma, cholesterol, family history of heart disease, and joint pain... so I've decided to do something about it.

Each Thursday, right here, I am going to track my progress too.  It's one thing to make a declaration of having a plan, it's another thing to hold yourself accountable for said plan.  So to hold myself accountable, I'm going to document it... for me.  I know there will be good days and bad days, heck there will be good weeks and bad weeks, but I know this and it's okay.  The important part is that I get up and begin again.

So what is my plan?  It's super simple honestly because I won't do complicated.  I refuse to do complicated - my head will explode and I'll be defeated before I even begin.  It's not expensive either because I don't have the budget for it and it needs to be something I can maintain forever.  It's a lifestyle change so there won't be any prepackaged food shipped to my house.  It will be a simple thing that I can do without disrupting my world.

Stephen Covey taught me that it takes 21 days to make a habit, so that is exactly what I am going to do - make a new habit.  Here it is...

I rearranged my office by putting my bike right there in the corner.  I will ride this when I get up and I will do it three times a week to start.  My goal is 15 minutes a day right now.  I will increase it as time goes on but that will be 45 more minutes a week than I do currently so every little bit counts.

I have a fabulous view when I ride too.  I will just pop on a show or the news and peddle away.

I have a personal journal to log everything.  What I like, what I don't, recipes, ideas, ups and downs - just personal things for me only.  I could write in bold letters how much today stunk or I could leave myself a little pep talk.  It's just for me and won't be shared.  I think it's important to have a place where I can cry or toot my horn that is just for me.

I will log everything - what I eat, drink, and do.  There are so many things already in their database that I don't have to reinvent the wheel!  I made a free account and I will go in every day and log my information.  It keeps track of it for me and has an analysis tool so I can tweak the things that need tweaking.  I've wandered around here and it's just fabulous!

I learned that my coffee is 140 calories a cup... and that "Light Arts and Crafts, Sitting" burns 156 calories an hour.  Oh yeah, when I said I was going to log everything I meant it!

So here we are - at the jumping off point.  I won't be sharing numbers, those go in my personal journal, but I will share images - unflattering and truthful images.  No fancy angles or editing, just raw files straight from the camera and uploaded... and so it begins... today.

Sunday Snaps

I started a shawl last night and I'm really loving how it's coming out.  Should finish this week if I stick to it!

While we were out last night, Pokey bought me the 4th season of Downton Abbey so I plan on having a marathon on Wednesday and Thursday when I'm off.  I think I can get through all 4 seasons in that time - at least I'm going to enjoy trying!  I'm taking Hobbit to my folk's on Tuesday so this will be the perfect way to fill those two quiet days before I head back to work for a long stretch of busy days.

I have notified Marilyn, the winner of the TIG yarn giveaway, so once I have her information I will be able to post all the winnings to all the winners.  Thanks again to everyone for celebrating my 4 year anniversary with me.  It has been a fabulous time and I look forward to many more years with all y'all!!

Weekend Wonderment

These are going to be filling my weekend hours when I'm not at work - should make for a fun time!

1. I am still working on my little orange top for someone very special.
2. I decided last night that I needed a white shawl, so I started one.
3. I am really enjoying my book so I will find some time to devote to it.
4. I'm thinking DPS for tonight, CSL for tomorrow, and the a British movie marathon on Sunday.

Anything planned for your weekend?  Whatever it is, I hope it brings you joy.

Some stuff to share

I finished my shawl last night!  I blocked it out in the office and woke up to being completely dry.

As soon as I had the points pinned on my shawl, I immediately started on my project from Crochet for Baby All Year!

So I have been busy these past 24 hours... oh yes, and I have the winners for the last two giveaways to share as well!  Let's see, where did I put them...

The winner of this amazing pattern book is Carmen N!!

The winner of Cuppycake Yarnz is Kristy M!!

I've reached out to both winners but as always, if I don't hear back in 48 hours, I will chose another because such awesomeness needs to be shared.  Thanks to all who entered and don't forget there is still time to win some TIG yarn as well!

Wrangling it all up

I worked on my Market Bag while we were at the beach yesterday...

As well as adding a few rows to my socks while Pokey and Hobbit played in the sand and surf.

I may not be a fan of the beach but I sure do love the memories Hobbit is making while we're there.

I also get to take some pretty awesome photographs of some really fabulous things that only happen while we're there.

Today it is raining so Hobbit and I are just goofing around inside.  She's channeling her inner Rita Skeeter.

We got all dolled up playing with my make up simply because we could... silly, cheesy things that we are.

Now it's time to finish up this shawl - only have a handful of rows left.  All lace.  Should be fun!

Don't forget - today is the last day to enter for the pattern book giveaway and the Cuppycake Yarnz giveaway.  I'll announce the winners tomorrow.  There is also the TIG giveaway still going strong - that winner will be chosen on Sunday. 

Good luck to everyone and I hope y'all are having a fabulously productive day full of giggles and grins.

Tuesday Tunes

I'm being forced to go to the beach today. I am not a fan of the shore. My daddy is a ginger and my mama is a blond… I step in the sun and burst into flames. Though I must say, my sweet duo did come home with a chair umbrella for me the other day which I thought was amazingly sweet and I will definitely utilize.

I'll stick with being a fan of Elvis singing on the beach... it's more my speed.

Relaxation motivation

Not the chicken, the African Flowers - isn't it fabulous, so very happy!

I've spent the past week celebrating so I took this holiday weekend to relax... well, when I wasn't working I was relaxing.

I had originally told myself that I was going to work on my Mission shawl that is due by Sunday the 13th but instead, I worked on my Quidditch because the colors made me super happy.

Don't get me wrong, I love my Mission but when I show the finished pictures, you will understand what I am talking about because I had to go undercover and create something that will keep me well disguised.  Which in my case, that means working with muted colors.  I did not realize how badly I craved color until I started this grey project.  I love grey.  I think it is a beautiful and underutilized color but if you look at my projects that I've made since I started this grey shawl, you will see the other extreme because they have all been done in neon yarns.  Funny to think how a color can do that, isn't it.

There are still a few more days left in the pattern book giveaway and the final two yarn giveaways (here and here) so be sure to toss your name in the hat.  I promise you, this pattern book will blow your mind!  Once I'm done with my shawl, I've got my University of South Alabama blue ready to go for little Miss Rebecca - we had to pick a neutral team to keep the family peace... since we were all Jags at one point, it seemed fair.

Happy Monday and I hope the holiday weekend motivated you too!

Awards and one for the road

Oh my goodness, did you miss all the fun celebrations that lead up to today - my 4 year blogiversary?  No worries, I have something for you in just a bit - plus, there is still time to enter two of the previous goodies located here and here.  The first two fabulous yarny prizes have closed and so here are the winners...

Luv2CUSmile is the winner of "Anna"!

BethS is the lucky winner of "Iris"!

All winners have been emailed for their physical addresses.  If I do not hear back from them within 48 hours, I will pick again until I do hear back from someone - as much as I would love to just keep them, I want y'all have to them.

Now, for those who were late to the party - I have something fabulous for you too.  Are you ready?  Well, y'all know how much I have loved Three Irish Girls over the years.  I think my love affair with their yarn has been going on since roughly the minute Sharon opened her shop in 2010.

She made the most vibrant colorways on the most exquisite bases.  There are still a few that I have been wanting to get my hot little hands on but have yet to achieve said goal.  Do y'all remember my 95 mile pilgrimage to A Good Yarn in Sarasota just so I could squish the yarn and fell in love with Octopus Garden?  Yeah, well it wouldn't have been as long if I didn't go out of my way to avoid the super scary bridge but that's another story entirely.

I've been able to celebrate anniversaries past with Sharon who founded TIG so I thought it only fitting that I reach out to the new owners to see if they would like to carry on our tradition - and they were more than eager!!

This tonal blue is absolutely stunning - the highs and lows bring such depth to this yarn.

How would you like to get your hands on this squishy little beauty?  Isn't she gorgeous!  I am never disappointed when it comes to TIG because the love and joy for their creative process shines through in each and every skein.  The subtle changes in hue of this magnificent blue reminds me of the ocean or even a fabulous Florida sky.  I can literally get lost in this yarn - the texture, the color, and the weight are all perfectly balanced.

I can totally attest to the fabulous squishiness of this skein.  I may or may not have squished and squeed upon it's arrival.

If you would like to be the proud owner of all 320 yards of "Ice Blue Raspberry" on the 100% Merino Wool Kells Sport Merino base, then simply a Rafflecopter giveaway This one closes on July 12, 2014 at 11:59pmET and the winner will be announced on July 13th. Open to residents of the US only due to postage costs.

Good luck everyone and here's to another year in the making!!

Give thanks today

While the smell of BBQ and the sounds of laughter fill the air, be sure to take a moment and give thanks to those who bravely serve in our military. Their daily sacrifice makes each of our days possible. While you are watching the beautiful fireworks twinkle in the sky later, say a prayer for those who are standing watch to keep us safe tonight - as they have done every night before and will continue to do every night that follows.

Freedom is many things, but it is not free.