Negative to a Positive

December 28, 2012

Today started out absolutely fantastic.  I even found the time to touch base with all of those I needed to thank or express my gratitude to for being part of my life in 2012.  I spoke to friends, I was productive and even received some very up lifting emails/text to start the day. 

Who knew that one simple action could tear me down completely.  I have really got to work on how I handle the way others view me.  I realize I should not care so much, however when it has to do with my work life, it matters to me.

Being strong has its draw backs.  Everyone thinks you can just be shit on and it will not matter because you are strong and will get over it.  NOT TRUE.  Those of us that take our professional life seriously, regardless how strong, take things to heart when they are said/done. 

I have often worked in industries where all of those around me are younger.  It usually means that most of my standards are not met.  I try to give enough that the change I require does not hit so hard.  There is always going to be those who just do not like change and those that are just to young to grasp that you can actually learn something from the change.  I have been told, at my newest job, that I bring a new level of professionalism here.  See, I think that is a compliment.  However, when you have those around you scared of that change or worried how it will affect them, it makes it hard.  These youngens are use to getting what they want because of the history or events.  It's time to take control of the business and not worry as much about the individual.  I understand this will be a process, but work with me people.

These are the days that I am happy that I began this blog.  This outlet does more for me than anything I can remember.  Therefore, instead of being upset by the actions today, I am going to grateful that I have this blog to keep me sane.

Positivity

December 21, 2012

There is something to be said for surrounding yourself with the right people.  The positivity around me is overwhelming.  You never really know who your friends, or even fans, are until you are in need of them.  I am happy to say my true friends have answered my need. 

It took me over 20 years to decide it was "OK" to share my poetry.  There is so much history and emotion wrapped up in the words that it was difficult for me to read, much less share with anyone else.  I honestly can't remember what the PUSH was for me to start the blog.  What I remember is the support I received once I made that decision.  Had today been the "end of the world" I would have zero regrets. 

The best news?  I have actually started work on my book.  I have started this book three, four, maybe five times (don't worry, names have been changed to protect the innocent).  While preparing to write this time I realized how much I had to say and share.  I have always been a believer in "Everything Happens for a Reason", that must mean that all of the events in my life happened for a reason.  It not only created who I am today, it led me to who I want to be.  Sharing it all can only be good therapy.

Thank you all for the support, love and positive energy you have shown me.  You will never know exactly how much it meant to me.

Close to Christmas

December 20, 2012

With five days until Christmas I am feeling anxious about the holidays.  Unlike Thanksgiving 2011, Christmas 2011 was a great holiday.  Where does the anxiety come from?  My thought is that it comes directly from me trying to be the protector of my family members.  I have spent all of 2012 working on how I handle things within myself.  I pray that it will help me in 2013.  I have tremendous difficulty when matters are not dealt with head on.  Therefore, in some of our family situations I am very uncomfortable.  What is that saying?  Elephant in the room?  That is it, there is an elephant in the room that EVERYONE is ignoring, however I can see it and hear it.  Very distracting. 

I am positive that my way of handling things is not for everyone.  I am also positive that I want my children to deal with feelings, emotions, issues, etc instead of ignoring them until they go away.  All of my children are strong, independent and opinionated.  Those are terrific characteristics if they are used in a positive manner.  Being "brutally honest", as my oldest son calls me, is not for everyone.  In my opinion, it is an Art.  An Art that is not appreciated by all.

So, my concentration will continue to be my children, my husband, my parents, my brother and his family and our friends.  Friends that fit in the definition we have created in our world.  I am incredibly grateful to be spending my holiday with my family.  I wouldn't have it any other way.

Recipe: Lemon Cake (My Favorite)

Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pans
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for pans
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs plus 3 large egg yolks
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 cup low-fat buttermilk
• 1 lemon, thinly sliced and seeded

 Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour two 8-by-2-inch cake pans, tapping out excess flour. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and lemon zest.
2. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar until light and fluffy. With mixer on low, beat in eggs and yolks, one at a time. Beat in 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Alternately beat in flour mixture and buttermilk beginning and ending with flour mixture; mix just until combined.
3. Divide batter between pans; smooth tops. Bake until cakes pull away from sides of pans, 32 to 35 minutes. Let cool in pans 10 minutes. Run a knife around edges of pans and invert cakes onto a wire rack.
4. While cakes are baking, bring remaining 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water to a boil in a saucepan. Add lemon slices and simmer 25 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer lemon slices to a waxed-paper-lined plate. Stir remaining 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice into syrup.
5. Using a toothpick, poke holes in warm cakes on rack. Brush with lemon syrup. Let cool completely. Prepare frosting, substituting 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice for vanilla extract. Frost cooled cakes and top with candied lemon slices.

Recipe: Pumpkin Surprise (My Favorite)

Ingredients:

1 box yellow cake mix
2 sticks butter
4 eggs
1/2 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup canned milk
3/4 cup sugar
1 large can pumpkin
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Mix together:

1 cup yellow cake mix, 1 stick melted butter and 1 egg.  Press into the bottom of a floured cake pan.

Mix:

1 large can pumpkin, 3 eggs, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup sugar, 2/3 cup canned milk and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.  Spread over the cake mixture.

Combine:

1 cup cake mix
1/2 cup sugar
1 stick melted butter
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Sprinkle over the top of cake.

Bake at 350 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes.

This is a family favorite.  It is easy to do and ALWAYS a hit.  Give it a try and let me know.

Recipe: My Pumpkin Muffins

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups raisins
4 3/4 cups flour
4 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2  teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons nutmeg (optional)
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
6 eggs
1 can pumpkin (29 oz)
1 cup applesauce
1 cut nuts (I prefer walnuts)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease three 12 cup muffin pans.  Soak raisins in hot water for ten minutes, then drain.

In large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon.  In a separate bowl, mix the eggs, pumpkin and applesauce until smooth.  Add this mixture to the dry ingredients and stir thoroughly to make batter.  Add the raisins and nuts.  Spoon batter into the prepared muffin cups.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.  Toothpick should come out clean from the center.

I have not made these muffins in years.  I am thinking it will be a special treat for my kids this Thanksgiving.  Give them a try and let me know your thoughts.

Grateful November

My eyes opened this morning and I was immediately smiling.  I wasn't sure why until I started to pay attention to my thoughts.  It is November!  November is my favorite month of the year.  As a kid I am sure that was because it was my birthday month; however as an adult it is so much more.

I admit, I do love my birthday and I am very spoiled for a full week, yet there is more to November.  My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving.  I love having the family and friends together simply to spend time together.  There are no gifts, no cake - just food, fun and laughter.  Last year was one of the hardest Thanksgivings I have ever had.  I have worked very hard at pushing past that and not allowing it change how I feel about Thanksgiving.  

This year a good friend posted on Facebook to post everyday something you are grateful for.  I love this idea!  I know, it has been happening forever, but after the events last year I want to do this, need to even.  

So, my smiling is due to the fact that I already had so many thoughts of things, people, events I am grateful for that I am having to choose what to post each day.  Now that is something to be grateful for.

Happy November Everyone!

Importance of Timing

I found this and thought it was amusing to read some of the things written in the past:

The Importance of Timing

Joshua Harrison and his $2,500 cast

It was just another Sunday, not much to do, just shopping,  errands and a birthday party for our 8 year old son Joshua's  friend. Not the kind of day when you would expect anything  to happen, but have you ever had a day where you  expected something to happen? First up - shopping, we despise doing this, so we get it out of the way. We then made a quick run to the bank and  the post office. Finally, we drop off Joshua at the birthday party. The party is just around the corner from our house, so we walk him there. Day over - all we have left to do is to pick up Joshua in a couple of hours - time to relax, right? Wrong! Two hours later we are at Urgent Care getting  Joshua's wrist and arm x-rayed. You see while Joshua was at the party running and playing with his friends he decided,  like most kids do, that he was unbreakable, like all the  super hero's he loves to imitate. A quick run up a ladder  and jump off the platform amounted to two fractures in his left arm. Don't worry too much - he was fine in 4 - 6 weeks.

The reason we tell you this story is not because we don't want you to send your kids to their friend's birthday parties. We tell you because we found out the hard way, that "time truly is money." You see we decided on September 5th to purchase an accident plan for our family. We could have had it start immediately, but we decided to save a little money and have it start on October 1st. Why was that bad timing? Because Joshua's accident happened on September 28th, two days before our accident plan was effective.
Two days... two days cost us $2,400. With doctor bills, x-rays, urgent care, rehabilitation and medication our total out of pocket was $2,500. If Joshua could have just held off for two more days it only would have cost us $100, the accident plan deductible. Or we could have decided to spend the extra $35 for the month of September and the financial outcome would have been the same.
The moral of our story is a simple one - you make decisions every day because you don't think anything is going to happen. The fact of the matter is it could happen to anyone, any day.

Yvonne Harrison
Fort Collins, CO

Halloween 2012

October 31, 2012

Halloween is absolutely one of my favorite holidays.  Family is always around, friends come over, there is fun and scary laughter everywhere.  I do not remember loving Halloween as a kid.  Perhaps it is having kids that makes it more fun.

I was very sad last night when I took my two youngest to the trick or treat event at the local high school; it just wasn't that much fun for them anymore.  They have out grown it.  UGH!  Josh was in one of his football outfits:

Kayla was dressed as a mini KISS fan:

We were ready to go.  Personally, I think Josh is at an age where he thinks all the girls in the high school are more fun to look at then to get candy from. As for Kayla, she may have had more fun with some friends rather than her brother who was trying to be cool and check out the "girls". 

So, tonight we will see friends and family, have some dinner, send the kids out trick or treating and hand out candy.  I cannot wait to see all the smiling, scared and worried faces on all the kids.

Enjoy Halloween!

Coming Soon!

Bon's Place

Coming Soon!

Fun cooking ideas and recipes
Family
Poetry
Short Stories
Snap shots of my first BOOK!

I am able to do this because of the support of my family and friends.  Thank you!