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!"
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
It's so good to be home. Back in my calming, enlightening and rejuvenating comfort zone.
While I thoroughly enjoyed being back East around family and friends, home just has a special vibe that cannot be replicated. So I am soaking up the pleasure of mi casa today. Piddling around (country term which means doing nothing), thinking about doing laundry, resting, unpacking very slowly, and putting up Christmas decorations while Star Wars-The Phantom Menace plays in the background. I really like the fight scene with Qui Gon Jinn, Obi Wan Kenobi and Darth Maul. Makes me wish I had a light saber. I can see myself flipping, using the force and working my light saber like Obi Wan! I want a cool Star Wars name too. Something royal like Princess Leia... Princess Shar! Can you come help me wind my hair in two big circles on either side of my head, please? I found some Star Wars Random Name Generators, but their ideas were not as good as Princess Shar LOL!
In continued random news, I discovered my first gray hair. I found two, actually and I'm really excited about em!!! You know, the whole wiser-better-stronger thing!
Here are a few savory, sweet and hilarious spots from my travels:
Getting my hair cut (6 inches!) and flat ironed:
and then remembering why I rarely ever get my hair flat ironed:
Watching the little ones romp in the very place I romped as a child... FUN times!
Dunkin' Donut Munchkins (chocolate and blueberry only) :)
Chicken Biscuits from Bojangles. Bless your heart if you've never had one.
Visiting with my great Aunt Lucy who is almost 104 years old and sharp as ever!
Eating @Chow Time in Memphis... giggles about the shenanigans between me and my mom
Cheering for my cousin, yelling at the ref and laughing hysterically @high school BB game
Great conversation with my Uncle John
The awesomeness that is Brooke, my sister-in-love
Getting to see my brother perform (singer/songwriter extraordinaire)
The sun shining brightly the day after we buried my brother Josh
Attending a World Aids Day Awareness Event
The most darling turquoise shoes confiscated from the closet of my mother
Zaxby's vanilla milkshake
Remembering to give thanks each day
Riding home with my husband... that is when I realized that Dorothy had it right.
Home: there's no place like it.
Hugs, Love and Happy Holidays to you and yours!!!
Quality: a degree of excellence
vs.
Quantity: an indefinite amount or number
Why do we believe that bigger is better?
Where did the notion if a little feels good then more is even better come from?
Although I don't know the origin of these statements, I do know one thing about them. They are both synonymous with one word: foolywank.
In many areas of life, I am beginning to see that quality trumps quantity. Dare I say in all areas of life, quality trumps quantity? Yes, I dare to say it loud and proud: Quality trumps Quantity. Always.
As I pondered this post, I attempted to discover instances where quantity was most important and every time I thought I'd discovered an example, I could always spin it to make quality the winner.
Money? A quantity of rupees (basic unit of currency in India, Mauritius, Nepal, Pakistan, Seychelles and Sri Lanka) in the middle of Aldi (local supermarket) won't do me any good because the rupee has no standard (or quality) in the US. A quantity of rupees in the right location would be fantastic if the money is quality (not damaged or counterfeit).
Next, I thought of Love. An indefinite amount or number (aka quantity) sounds fabulous, right? Right. Until I realized Love without quality would connote crap-tastic, lackluster love. And a whole (indefinite!) lot of it. Pass!
Don't believe the hype.
Lack of quality = useless.
Quality over quantity.
Always.
Would love to hear your thoughts...
"Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we shall tend." -Sarah Ban Breathnach
When I came across this quote the other day, it really struck a chord in me. It's a reminder to see the cup as being full to overflowing. Every moment of every day, I decide whether I cultivate a heart of abundance or a mentality of lack. Sometimes I get it right. Sometimes I don't. The cool thing is this: when I find myself leaning towards notions of lack, I am able to shift my focus and recalibrate my settings. It's a conscious choice (meaning I decide) to embrace the abundance that is mine.
It is important to embrace simple pleasure and enjoy life everyday. Even during the tough times, there are still sweet moments to cultivate and savor. While the expression of enjoying life will vary from person to person, if you are stuck, reconnecting with your inner child is a great place to start. Laughing, viewing life with a twinkle in your eye, being open to making new friends, having a happy heart, playing outside, singing, coloring, drawing and being silly. Your inner child never goes away and it is never too late to rekindle or rediscover your free-spirited, fun, and fabulous self.
The keeper of a childlike heart possesses a great source of wealth for abundance is a state of mind which can be experienced in a variety of ways. Indulge at a 5 Star restaurant or frolic at the park and have a picnic; run through the sprinklers or go barefoot, play in the dirt, hit the art museum, feed the birds, and bake cupcakes with sprinkles. Sing loudly, laugh often, share something with someone you love, write a letter, sit and do absolutely nothing, play kickball, volunteer or go for a swim. If you have lost the wonder, you must find it again and take heart... finding it again is much easier than you think. Just open your heart and embrace the gift of life that is already yours. Appreciate the beauty of the horizon, the sunset, an established tree or sapling, a treasured moment or possession, even another person. When you realize and appreciate the riches that you already possess, life opens up like the flowers of a beautiful bouquet. Let's tend the lavish garden of abundance. Look around: We are rich.
