A Lesson in Being Thankful.....from the local YWCA

This week’s lesson is each girl drawing the name of a gift (not desirable gift) and writing a thank you note to Santa for it.  This teaches them how to be thankful even when what they have isn’t something they wanted.  Below are some of the notes:

For 1 sock:  Thank you for the 1 left sock.  Now I can make a sock puppet for my 2 baby cousins.

A paper plate:  Thank you for my paper plate.  Now I have something to eat on. I can also make a face on it.  Now I can scare my brother if I make a scary face on it.  This is the best Christmas gift ever.  I hope any other child can get the same paper plate as me.  I love my paper plate.

Empty shoebox:  Thank you 4 my precious shoebox.  I will put my lizard in there.

Half eaten bagel:  Thank you Santa for the eaten half bagel.  If it wasn’t half eaten, I would wrap it around my finger like a wedding ring and I would it into a present for my father.  He wouldn’t be surprised at all.

Paper towel tube:  Thank you for this paper towel tube.  I can use it for my hair to hold it because my hair is very long.  Even my sister will probably need it too.

Half a pack of post it notes:  Thank you for the post it notes, it really helped my life because I posted them everywhere!  On my house, floor, outside my house, on the trees, on my TV and even on my mom & sister.  I hope for the next Christmas you give me more packs of post it notes, for I can really post them EVERYWHERE!

Coat Hanger:  Thank you so very much for my awesome new coat hanger.  I can hang so many things now.  I can’t wait to go home & start putting shirts, pants, dresses, leggings, and skirts on an doff of my sweet new hanger.  Today I told everyone at school about my new hanger.  Thanks.

Old comic strip:  Thank you fort the old comic strip I will give it to the Grinch so he can have a good reason to laugh instead of him laughing when he does something bad.  Cause comic strips are funny so he can have a real reason to laugh.

Box of toothpicks:  I am grateful for getting a box of toothpicks because without toothpicks I would NOT be able to get the food that is stuck in my teeth.  I will be able to get it out because with toothpicks I can get food out of my teeth.  Without toothpicks I cannot get food out of my teeth.  S I am thankful for having toothpicks.

Old tire:  Well, thanks for my tire.  I will tie it on my tree an swing on it every day!

Fish heads:  Thank you so much for my fish heads.  When my sister gets me mad I will put them under her bed to scare her.  Love,

Half eaten apple:  Thank you for the half eaten apple.  I fed it to my dog and she really enjoyed it.  Thank you.

Thank you for these sunglasses that are missing a lens. I poked it out and now they are awesome glasses that go well with my mustage shirt and shorts.  HurrayJ

What an amazing activity!  And what positive attitudes these girls have.  I just couldn’t quit typing them for you to see.  We do have 400+ more if you want to see originalsJ  I hope I can be as thankful for gifts of this sort—concrete &/or life challenges.  I knew you’d appreciate seeing this.  You make the difference with all you do for the YWCA!

The "Like" Factor....

Okay, I know this sounds weird and I may lose you at some point here, but bear with me...you very well may be in a relationship with someone you don't like....


There.


I said it...


And the fact is that it is entirely true...and it happens every day...

I know, I've been in several the most recent on lasting two years....yeah I told him I loved him...and yeah, for the most part I meant it...I did love him...I just didn't like him....at all...not even a little bit....


All of his habits, the way he did things, the way he moved and talked to me....made me want to shoot him on a daily basis....


You do not feel this way with someone you like....


Don't get me wrong, I am not saying this is a bad thing...on the contrary this blog is suppose to be going in a completely different direction......


In the direction of it is really okay to like someone......there is nothing wrong with it! When have we put so much emphasis on jumping straight to "I Love You" by doing so we've diminished the meaning of these words to the point we are basically saying "I Like You" when we tell our hopeful partner "I Love You".

Why do we do this? Consistently....relationship after relationship.....

A lot of times we jump head first into a relationship because it feels good...and we all want to feel good...let's face it and if we can get that feel good feeling from the affection of another person instead of intrinsically....we go for it....like me and Golden Corral's rolls and honey butter...it's going to happen and it's going to happen more than once...

The problem with this approach is we don't take the time to actually spend time with that person and to get to know them......

out of bed......

I am being serious....

Once you spend 6+ hours a day for more than five days with a person and you get a pretty good idea on if you're going to be able to stand them on a long term basis rather quickly.....this buffer period also gives you a chance to make sure that you are equally compatible with him....

This is a good way to determine if you are going to end up having homicidal dreams about that person on a nightly basis and end up having to spend hundreds of dollars for counseling just to keep yourself from following through with it and ending up with a script for Xanax and mood stabilizers.


So when did it become such an ordeal to actually like someone.....to just look at the person and say "I like you" and with those three little words you mean so much more...you mean that you acknowledge them as a person...that you recognize their faults....flaws...and silly little idiosyncrasies...that you value their strengths as well as weaknesses and that you value your time with me as the gift it is (never let someone make you feel like your time with them isn't a gift...it's a gift...your time is valuable and anyone you spend an extraordinary amount of time with that doesn't appreciate it....then you need to spend less time with them....)


I have recently been spending time with someone (see I told you this would make since eventually) and I Like Him....I can say it....I know what it means....I have spent I don't know how many hours with him just talking and visiting and telling stories.....I enjoy my time with him and appreciate the time he does spend with me because like me he is busy and I am humbled that he spends what free time he has with me....


I can say I like him and not bat an eye....does this mean I like everything about him? No....he has some habits that are annoying (who doesn't) but are so trivial in comparison to all the things I do like about him that they don't bother me as much as they would normally....and that is how it is when you like someone....the good out weigh the bad...and while you know there are some bad traits you just don't give a damn....cause you would still rather spend time with them when they are being annoying than not at all...

He has not (in a serious all jokes aside I really mean this) said it in return....and this is bothering me.....and I know that doesn't make a lick of sense...why should I care if he hasn't said it or not....just the fact that he is spending his free time with me and point a , b, c and the cat in the cradle and you can't compare apples and oranges blah blah blah....

It matters because after a certain point you have to know where you stand with a person....you have to know that you mean more than just a distraction....you have to know they LIKE you....for being you....for your quirky personality.....for the fact that turned up shirt sleeves drive you crazy.....for the fact that you are you and yeah, there is probably a something he'd change about you, but for the best parts he wouldn't change a bit....

Things about Me

1. If I give you my time, don't make me regret it. I have a lot going on in my life and if I actually take the time to make you part of my life you better freaking appreciate it for the gift that it is and handle with care. After a while I'll just stop trying.

2. If I text you, it's because I miss you and I'm thinking about you. If you don't text me back and I know you are not busy then I will just assume that you don't want to speak to me, especially if this goes on for extended periods of time. This is not a good thing. This is the 'I'm getting to fed up to care' and I will eventually stop trying.

3. I'm a mess- literally, some days I will end up forgetting half the stuff I need at home and the other half- well let's just so there are reasons those days are not mentioned.  I will drive you crazy and some times not in a good way but I'll always be there for you...call me, beep me if you wanna reach me, I'll be there.

4. I just want your time. I'm not asking for all of your attention, I'm not asking you to forsake your friends, hobbies, and everything else to be with me and only me, but I am asking for you to take the time to include me in your life. Don't keep me a secret. If you don't want to be seen with me in public, then you don't deserve to be with me in private. I am not your dirty little secret.

24 Rules For Being A Gentleman In 2014

Okay- I stumbled across this in my newsfeed this morning and I can't help but share it because- well- to be perfectly honest....men today are total douchebags and don't know how to be a gentleman if their life depended on it.....and that very well may be the scenario before too long- so please....read....and take heart....from http://thoughtcatalog.com/chelsea-fagan/2013/12/24-rules-for-being-a-gentleman-in-2014/

I now give you----- 24 Rules for Being a Gentleman in 2014

24 Rules For Being A Gentleman In 2014

DEC. 9, 2013 

By CHELSEA FAGAN 

The Age of the Gentleman — that semi-imaginary time we all have in our heads where men you actually wanted to sleep with wore fedoras and treated ladies like ladies — might be over, but there’s no reason it can’t come back next year. We just need to set up a few ground rules for being a modern Cary Grant/Paul Newman/Ken Cosgrove. We’ll all be drinking scotch and wearing linen suits again in no time.

1. Have a signature drink that you both can make at home after a long day’s work, and order with effortless swag at any bar you happen to be in. (This means no complicated ingredients and easy substitutes. If it’s a whiskey soda, so be it.)

2. Keep all negative social media activities to a minimum, because no gentleman engages in things like Twitter fights or passive-aggressive Facebook statuses. It’s just not classy.

3. Hold doors open for everyone, because that’s just a nice thing that you do.

4. Always text back promptly, even if it’s to let someone down gently. The worst thing you can possibly to do someone is leave them hanging so they can torture themselves with worst case scenarios.

5. Own and be able to sufficiently rock at least one suit. Suits are the greatest untapped resource that most men have access to, and can take even the most slovenly 4Chan dweller into slick presentability. You owe it to yourself to know your way around a suit.

6. Master a good handshake, so that you are neither depositing your limp sea slug of a hand on someone else’s palm, nor crushing them with your Rock-Biter-from-the-Neverending-Story force.

7. Never attempt to explain, under any circumstances, why a cat call should be considered a compliment.

8. Do not be afraid of accessorizing, because a pair of nice shoes or a classy watch can Upgrade U almost immediately, as explained in the Beyoncé song.

9. Do not refer to things as “gay” that aren’t homosexual human beings. People who call things “gay” as a pejorative are truly the raisins in the trail mix of life.

10. Do your best not to put others down in order to elevate yourself, it reeks of the people who categorize men by their Greek letter status.

11. Call your mother, even if you have to set up a Google calendar reminder to get yourself to do this.

12. Know how to cook at least a few good meals, because a) there is nothing worse than guys who assume it’s up to the woman to do all the cooking, b) there is nothing sexier than a dude who can cook, and c) everyone deserves to feed themselves well.

13. Make good eye contact, but not so much that it gets into “I’ve been watching you from behind your dumpster” levels.

14. Don’t corner people at house parties with your political views (and this goes double — nay, triple — for libertarians, as you guys are the most egregious culprits).

15. Erase the word “slut” from your vocabulary.

16. Treat every woman with the same amount of respect and humanity that you would your mother, sister, or daughter — and think about why there might have been conditions on how you treated them in the first place.

17. RSVP.

18. Always put a little money away at the end of each month, and not because you’re saving for anything in particular.

19. Be up-front about your finances, because it’s unfair for anyone to believe in the outdated gender roles of “the man should pay for everything.” As long as you’re working hard and trying your best, you deserve to be honest.

20. Do not sleep with anyone who wants a relationship from you that you are not prepared to give. Using their affection to get something from them physically is easy, but it makes you a bad person.

21. Learn how to dance, at least a bit.

22. Never underestimate the great value of unexpected flowers on a day that is otherwise nothing special, especially in long-term relationships.

23. Don’t be disdainful of selfies, guys have just as much a right to look and feel good about themselves as anyone else. If you want a selfie, take a selfie! Just don’t be a dick about other people who like to do it, too.

24. Be compassionate, and know that you are allowed to experience the full range of human emotion. Where the gentleman of our grandparents’ generation might have prided himself on keeping all of his feelings in check for fear of seeming ‘feminine,’ a real gentleman knows that the best thing about him is his ability to be kind and empathetic. Everything else — yes, even the suit — is just icing on the cake. 

Chicken, Sausage and Peppers

Chicken, Sausage and Peppers

Recipe courtesy Food Network Magazine
Recipe categories: Sausage, Chicken more
Recipe Ratings & Reviews(68)

Photo: Chicken, Sausage and Peppers Recipe
Rated stars out of 5
Rate This Recipe
Read 68 Reviews
Total Time:
35 min
Prep
15 min
Cook
20 min
Yield:
4 servings
Level:
Easy
Print Recipe
Full-Page View
Save to Recipe Box
Review Recipe
E-Mail
Share It!


Quick-Fix Meals Main
5 Easy Dinner Recipes
Dinners With FN Chefs
More
Ingredients
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3/4 pound sweet or hot Italian sausage, cut into chunks
3/4 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into chunks
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 small onion, chopped
2 Italian green frying peppers, cut into 1-inch pieces
3 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
1/2 cup dry white wine
3/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh parsley
2 jarred pickled cherry peppers, chopped, plus 2 tablespoons liquid from the jar
Directions
Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the sausage until golden, about 2 minutes. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then toss with the flour in a bowl; add to the skillet and cook until browned but not cooked through, about 3 minutes.

Add the onion, peppers, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste and cook 3 minutes. Add the wine, scraping up any browned bits; bring to a boil and cook until slightly reduced, about 1 minute. Add the broth and bring to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook until the sausage and chicken are cooked through, about 5 minutes.

Transfer the chicken, sausage and vegetables to a platter with a slotted spoon. Increase the heat to high and stir the parsley and cherry peppers and their liquid into the skillet; boil until reduced by one-third, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Pour the sauce over the chicken mixture.

Per serving: Calories 335; Fat 14 g (Saturated 7 g); Cholesterol 95 mg; Sodium 891 mg; Carbohydrate 10 g; Fiber 2 g; Protein 36 g

Photograph by Antonis Achilleos

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/chicken-sausage-and-peppers-recipe/index.html?oc=linkback

Chocolate-Almond Butter Fudge Sauce

Chocolate-Almond Butter Fudge Sauce

Recipe courtesy Aida Mollenkamp
Show: Ask AidaEpisode: Chocolate
Recipe categories: Chocolate more
Recipe Ratings & Reviews(3)

Photo: Chocolate-Almond Butter Fudge Sauce Recipe
Rated stars out of 5
Rate This Recipe
Read 3 Reviews
Total Time:
7 min
Prep
2 min
Cook
5 min
Yield:
1 1/2 cups
Level:
Easy
Print Recipe
Full-Page View
Save to Recipe Box
Review Recipe
E-Mail
Share It!
 36

Quick-Fix Meals Main
5 Easy Dinner Recipes
Dinners With FN Chefs
More
Ingredients
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
11 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/4 cup almond butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Directions
Place cream, water, cocoa powder, corn syrup, and salt in a small saucepan and mix to combine. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, whisking frequently, mixture is slightly thickened, about 3 minutes.

Remove from heat and add chocolate, almond butter, and vanilla. Stir until chocolate is melted and sauce is smooth. Serve warm.

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/aida-mollenkamp/chocolate-almond-butter-fudge-sauce-recipe/index.html?oc=linkback

Chocolate Cups with Whipped Cream

Chocolate Cups with Whipped Cream

Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray
Show: Food Network SpecialsEpisode: All Star Chocolate
Recipe categories: Chocolate more
Recipe Ratings & Reviews(25)
Rated stars out of 5
Rate This Recipe
Read 25 Reviews
Total Time:
10 min
Prep
5 min
Cook
5 min
Yield:
4 servings in demitasse cups
Level:
Easy
Print Recipe
Full-Page View
Save to Recipe Box
Review Recipe
E-Mail
Share It!


Quick-Fix Meals Main
5 Easy Dinner Recipes
Dinners With FN Chefs
More
Ingredients
2/3 cup whole milk
1 egg
2 tablespoons sugar
Pinch salt
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons hazelnut liqueur or dark rum
Ingredients
1 cup whipping cream
2 tablespoons sugar
Mint sprigs, for garnish, optional
special equipment: 4 demitasse cups
Heat milk in a small pan over moderate heat until it comes to a boil.

In blender or food processor combine egg, sugar, a pinch of salt, semisweet chips, and liqueur. Run processor or turn on blender to low setting. Pour in boiling milk in a slow stream. The hot milk will cook egg and melt chocolate. Process or blend 1 minute, until smooth.

Spoon chocolate into 4 demitasse cups and chill. After dinner, beat cream until soft peaks form. Add a little sugar and beat to combine. Top the chocolate cups with a dollop of cream and garnish each cup with mint sprigs.

Place cups on saucers and serve with demitasse spoons. If you use teacups, this recipe will yield 2 cups, rather than 4.

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/chocolate-cups-with-whipped-cream-recipe/index.html?oc=linkback

Cheesy Tater-Topped Chicken Casserole

Go easy on yourself with this quick one-dish meal, topped in potato nuggets. With chicken, cheese and veggies, too, it’s both delicious and well-rounded.

• E-mail
• Add to Grocery List

2K+

 

187 Reviews

• Prep Time 10 min
• Total Time 1 hr 5 min
• Servings 6

Ingredients

1

bag (24 oz) Green Giant® frozen broccoli, carrots, cauliflower and cheese-flavored sauce

2 cups diced cooked chicken

4

medium green onions, chopped (1/4 cup)

4

cups frozen potato nuggets (from 2-lb bag)

1/2

cup finely shredded Cheddar cheese (2 oz)

SAVE ON THIS RECIPE!

LOCATION

• H-E-B (1 on sale)
• Lowe's Market (1 on sale)
• Randalls (1 on sale)

See all sales

Save $$$ on your favorite brands

Directions

• 1Heat oven to 375°F. In ungreased 11x7-inch (2-quart) glass baking dish, place broccoli, carrots, cauliflower and cheese sauce. Microwave uncovered on High 3 to 5 minutes, stirring once, until thawed. Stir well until cheese sauce is melted.
• 2Stir chicken and 3 tablespoons of the onions into vegetable-cheese mixture. Top with frozen potato nuggets.
• 3Bake uncovered 40 to 45 minutes or until bubbly around edges and potato nuggets are golden brown. Sprinkle with cheese and remaining 1 tablespoon onion. Bake 5 to 10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

Expert Tips

For a cheesy boost, try this recipe with Green Giant® frozen broccoli in three-cheese sauce instead of the mixed vegetables.

Try this recipe with diced cooked turkey instead of the chicken and mozzarella cheese in place of the Cheddar.

Get new recipe inspiration every week! Free Newsletters

Nutrition Information–

1 Serving

 

Calories

360

 ( 

Calories from Fat

150),

 

Total Fat

16g

 

(Saturated Fat

8g,

 

Trans Fat

3 1/2g

 ), 

Cholesterol

50mg

 

Sodium

1040mg

 

Total Carbohydrate

33g

 

(Dietary Fiber

6g

 

  Sugars

4g

 ), 

Protein

23g

 ; 

% Daily Value*:

Vitamin A

60%;

 

Vitamin C

35%;

 

Calcium

15%;

 

Iron

15%;

 

Exchanges:

2 Starch; 0 Fruit; 0 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 1 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 2 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 1 1/2 Fat;

Carbohydrate Choices:

2 

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.