a book that is fab

Guess what!  My gal pal, Holly, just self published an amazing book!  It's called 5 Things- Holiday Style: Making the Season Meaningful.  Affordable.  Unforgettable.  It is a 3 month holiday celebration guide full of traditions, recipes, and stories that will make you laugh and cry!  (Cry in a good way, of course... not the ugly cry.) The best thing is the traditions and activities are applicable to every age and stage of life.  This books is for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles... anyone who wants to use it, really.  Holly is the type of friend who always has goooood ideas that are thoughtful, timeless and deeply significant.  She is the reason why my family and I write a prayer to Jesus and keep it in our Christmas stocking year after year.  The first year we did this, our child (who was unable to write at the time) dictated 4 pages of notes!  Talk about precious!!!  

I just got my 2011 prayer out of my stocking and read it.  It touches me to the core and moves me to tears.  I can see so many prayers answered as well as areas where I am still growing and learning.  I tell ya, a tradition like that is invaluable.  Holly also introduced me to the term "age appropriate" (which we use like gangbusters around these parts) and her delectable pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.  I eat the cookies in one bite I don't even like pumpkin.  They're that good.  

I'm not telling you about this book because Holly is my friend.  I mean, that's part of it, but really, I'm sharing it with you because it is fabulous and you know I love to share the good stuff!  This book is like a cheat sheet of  delicious eats, games, anecdotes, traditions and fun for every budget and stage of life.  5 Things- Holiday Style encompasses all that we all deeply desire to give, experience and share with the people we love year after year.  It encourages faith, love and provides the mechanics to create awesome opportunities for memory making.  All the tips, tidbits and traditions apply to both older and younger children, so everybody is included!  My bragging doesn't even do it justice, so please check it out for yourself!  If you're interested, you can order it on Amazon or Create Space.  I bought a copy for myself and a copy for a friend.  It's that fab!  You'll love it!  Pinky swear!

food, folks & fun...

Hey yall!  Still reveling in the joy of the holiday season... and gearing up for the new year! So excited!!! A tad disappointed that we are not riding around on hovercrafts like I thought we would be when I was a little girl... still excited nonetheless!


Today I was thinking about how sweet life is and how grateful I am... for love, joy, my family and friends.  I am also grateful for each one of you.  I cherish your visits, comments and support.  It makes my heart swell and feel a genuine connection to each one of you.  Thank you for cheering me on, laughing with me, crying with me and loving what I do in this corner of the world enough to keep coming back over and over again.  You know we're pretty much besties now, right? Right.  


I do hope your holiday has been full of merryjoylove, good times with the people you love and  delish eats.  The post below is an oldie but goodie that captured the essence of a perfect summer day... It makes me think of all the great things about the holidays.  Enjoy! And please check out a few of my favorite blogs...




Food, folks and fun... Remember that old school McDonald's jingle? 


As I was trying to summarize my feelings on the way home late last night, those four words came to mind.  Then I started singing a bunch of vintage Mickey D's tunes.  


Remember the MoonMan driving the car singing, "It's Mac toniiiiiiiiight!" 

credit

I briefly attempted to sing the song with all the McDonald's food items... "... a cheeseburger, a Happy Meal, tasty golden french fries... and to drink a Coca Cola, diet coke or orange drink..." Lyrically speaking, it was pretty much an epic fail.  Not to worry, lack of lyrics has yet to deter me so I proceeded to have the time of my life humming, singing and making up words.  I was working with a tough crowd though.  No one in the car was moved to join in the reverie.  The driver was giving me the side eye and the other passenger was fast asleep.  I proceeded with my concerto nonetheless...


Now where was I?  






Yes... the plot for the story of yesterday... Food, folks and fun. I decided to rearrange the order of the words.  Even though it doesn't sound as catchy, fun, folks and food would be more apt.  Yesterday was one of those days where all the ingredients meshed perfectly.  You know those sweet memories where everything about every moment is special?  That perfectly describes yesterday. 


An entire day of leisure, good times with friends and fam.  


So fun. So edifying.  So long overdue.  


Swimming til sun drunk, water concerts, noodle cars and bikes, girl talk, guy talk, good eats, carefree conversation, watching kids romp for hours, holding hands, inside jokes, kindred spirits, divine connections, and lots of laughter culminating with fabulous fireworks lighting up the sky.  


I hope your holiday was just as enjoyable and sweet.  




These are a few of my favorite blogs...


1.  Annie's Eats
First of all, Annie is cute as a button.  Literally.  She can throw down in the kitch as evidenced by her delish recipes.  I have tried many of them.  Our favvvvv is this brazilian shrimp soup.  My fam DEVOURS it.  I really appreciate the fact that all her recipes are *truly* all natural, homemade goodness with minimal ingredients that I can actually pronounce.  Her recipes run a balanced gamut from healthy to decadent.  I can get my veggies in and occasionally have a sweet treat.  Annie is also an excellent and detailed teacher.  I've always felt a connection to her... I don't know if it's because my mom's given name is Annie or what, but for me that connection has intensified since we both had a loved one pass away Thanksgiving week of this year...  Do yourself a favor and pop over to her site ASAP!  You'll love Annie and her eats!!! She has her best recipes up for the entire year and it is drool-worthy.  




2.  Meal Planning 101
Another good-eats blog.  I lurve the tag line for this blog: this ain't your boring ol' meat and potatoes kinda meal planning.  My fav thing about this blog:  ethnic food.  Fabbbb Indian food and crock pot friendly recipes that are savory.  Second fav thing about this blog:  weekly menus with a printable grocery list.  Yes, you just read that right.  Weekly menus with a printable grocery list.  With 46 weeks of meal plans, your days of  writing out a grocery list could potentially be over, ya know? Third fav things about this blog, which is really synonymous with my fav thing: Chicken Tikka Masala... my absolute favorite dish of ALL time.  




I hope you find some good eats for your belly!  I'm over here singing the Golden Girls theme about cha because I love ya!!! 




XOXO ♥ Sharita

If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies...

Reveling in the joy of the Christmas season.  Love, peace and joy.  Surrounded by friends and family.  Nothing beats spending quality time with the ones you love.  Nothing.  As I look around our den... toys are everywhere, the Cosby Show just finished playing and the people I get to do life with literally bring me joy.  The holidays are a season of togetherness and rest.  A time to take into account what really matters and carry that awareness into the future.  Life is good and I am grateful.  Truly grateful.  


Here is another oldie but goodie post.  You might want to read this post first though... and be sure to check out a few of my favorite bloggers below.  




Now that you have a firm grasp on who you are at home and you've decided whether or not you like what you see, it's time to address your outlook towards change.  Whether or not you  need to make changes in your life right now, it is time to fully embrace the concept of change.  

Seasons change...

Relationships change...

You change...

I change... 

Claudia True's Art      

Change is an inevitable and constant catalyst throughout life.  So the question today is do you willingly embrace or willfully resist change?  Friends, I am learning to willingly embrace  it.  Once upon a time I viewed change as a bad thing; however, I now see that change is a positive, healthy and undeniably dynamic sign of growth.  I am reminded of this truth every time I see a butterfly.  

In the midst of change there are definitely uncomfortable moments and sometimes the process literally hurts; HOWEVER,  on the other side of change, the full beauty of the journey is on display as you are enveloped and forever transformed by the rich experience.  


My encouragement to you today is this: Do not underestimate an opportunity to experience positive change and transformation.  Change is synonymous with freedom. Just when the caterpillar thought it was all over, he became a butterfly.








These are a few of my favorite blogs...


1.  5things.us 
My good friend, Holly's blog about raising girls in today's world.  Topics include healthy relationships, identity, mean girls, media, boys and real stories of moms and teens.  Every blog is a good read.  Her most recent blog about their stocking tradition is my fav.  

2.  Music Nerd Musings
Another good friend's blog.  She talks music, music, music and her posts make me laugh, smile or reminisce every time.  Her current series is entitled December Soul, which makes the musician in me swoon. 



Christmas love and holiday hugs from me to you!!! XOXO
  

wordle your holiday!

In the final days of the year, I will be re-posting some oldies but goodies AND sharing some of my fav blogs to read.  I'm re-posting this one because I thought it would be fabulous for the memories and meaning surrounding the holiday season.  Let me know if you make a Wordle creation and be sure to see two of my fav blogs below!
   
Friends!  Have you heard of Wordle?  It's a fabulous, fun online tool that you can use to create word clouds.  Wordle is a very fun way to commemorate a special person or event.  It's is super easy to use, can be used in a variety of ways, and best of all... it's free!  You can use Wordle personally or professionally.  I think it's especially neat to use in a classroom setting!  Today was such a special day for me and my fam that I decided to wordle it!  You can see mine below... What will you wordle?


  


    www.wordle.net




p.s. Wordle did not pay me to say any of this... I just genuinely love using Wordle.  Holla!  






These are a few of my favorite blogs....


1.  Whatever...  
Meg D is fun & fab, creative and kind... I always find something inspiring over there and I love the reason why she named her blog "Whatever..." (be sure to look at the upper R corner of her home page.)


2.  Bless Your Heart
TonyaRohr (I always say her name as one word) is one fun, funny and classy lady.  She is a culinary genius, trust me.  Girl can throw down in the kitchen!  You can find laughter and good eats on her blog.  AND she's Southern, which = A+ in my book.  




4 more days...