|
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR OWN ISSUE TO PRINT.
Sept-Oct 2006, Issue 13
The other day in Denver I saw a woman in business attire walking down the sidewalk eating a waffle cone. It was no ordinary waffle cone, it was overloaded: a triple-scoop with whipped cream and sprinkles. Just watching the lady made me smile. It also made me think: I’ve never done that. Why not?
While I love ice cream, I’ve always considered it a treat to be enjoyed with someone else—my kids, my friends, or my husband. I’ve never splurged on a big treat when running solo. I’m not sure why I hold this tenant; it is akin to going to the movies with a friend—I’ve never gone to the cinema alone either.
I thought about the ice-cream phenomenon more that night.
You know what? I’ve passed up a lot of opportunities waiting to “share” an experience with someone else. While some things are better shared, some can be pretty darn good sans a companion. With schedules and lives as busy as they are these days—if I wait to enjoy something with a pal—the ice-cream moment may melt away.
So I’ve changed my motto. Though I’m no L’Oreal spokesperson, I say: “I’m worth it.” Life is short. It is time to indulge—with or without friends. The ice-cream angel gave me the permission I needed. I’m passing it on to you.
My goal for the next month is to do something just for me—something I would not ordinarily do. I challenge you to do the same. Share great moments when you can, but create them for yourself all the time! Why not?
GIRLS, have a great Fall! Run in fallen leaves, pick a fabulous pumpkin, bake a scrumptious pie. Take time for yourself. Take time for those you love.
Love big! Dream big!
Life is meant to be lived—savor the ice cream moments and LIVE BIG, every day!
Blessings,
Celeste Palermo
“Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.” --Mary Schmich
Ravishing Recipes
GAYLA’S GAME DAY DIP
So, it’s football season—and what’s better on Game Day than chips and dip?
This recipe rocks! My mother-in-law made it once, and it is now a family favorite.
EVERY TIME I make it, people ask for the recipe…YOU MUST try it.
Serve with “Scoops” or another hearty chip—or the chips will get lost in the dip! Enjoy!
Mix together in a big bowl:
2 Avocados- diced in small cubes (Pick avos that are slightly soft, not mushy.)
2 tomatoes, diced small (I like one yellow and one red, for color.)
1 red onion, diced small
½ bunch fresh cilantro, (Wash, dry, then chop it up well)
½ jalapeño pepper (diced really small—or add the whole thing if you’re brave!)
1 can yellow corn, drain off water
1 can black beans (I like to drain and rinse these too)
Juice of 2-3 fresh limes
Garlic powder, salt, and fresh ground pepper to taste
Stir gently and let chill for an hour to set flavors.
Then, get the chips, put on your team jersey and hit the couch!
Heather’s Awesome Chicken Marinade
A friend made this chicken for a Book Club dinner and we begged her to share the recipe! Serve with saffron rice and grilled veggies. YUM!
Mix, then let it marinate for about 1 1/2 hours. Good for 3-4 chicken breasts.
Juice of 1 lemon (approx 1/4 cup)
1/4 cup olive oil
2 Tbsp soy sauce
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp ground cumin
black pepper to taste
Finding Love
Poem by Linda Titcomb
Have you ever found love in a casserole? I have. Making a delicious meal or scrumptious cake for a friend is a heartfelt way to show you care. After I had Morgan, I had friends bring me meals—delicious dishes baked full of love. Consider baking up something yummy as a way to show others you care!
We all want to be loved.
We want to be appreciated,
Acknowledged…and loved.
We look for love in:
Spontaneous hugs,
Friendly smiles,
Kind words,
And unselfish deeds…
But there are times
When love catches us
By surprise,
When we are too tired,
Too angry,
Or too overwhelmed to feel it…
And it is in those moments
We find love:
Tossed in a chicken salad,
Melting in our mouth with a warm chocolate brownie,
Zinging us with a homemade hot tamale.
When we need it most,
And least expect it,
We find love…
In a Casserole.
“You have a unique message to deliver; a unique song to sing, a unique act of love to bestow. This message, this song, and this act of love have been entrusted exclusively to the one and only you.”
--John Powell, S.J.
THE NEXT SURVIVOR SERIES
Author Unknown—Circulated on Internet
Six married men will be dropped on an island with one car and three kids each for six weeks.
Each kid will play two sports and either take music or dance classes. There is no fast food.
Each man must take care of his three kids; keep his assigned house clean, correct all homework, complete science projects, cook, do laundry, and pay a list of "pretend" bills with not enough money. In addition, each man will have to budget in money for groceries. Each man must remember the birthdays of all their friends and relatives, and send cards out on time.
Each man must also take each child to a doctor's appointment, a dentist appointment and a haircut appointment. He must make one unscheduled and inconvenient visit per child to the Urgent Care (weekend, evening, on a holiday or right when they're about to leave for vacation). He must also make cookies or cupcakes for a social function.
Each man will be responsible for decorating his own assigned house, planting flowers outside and keeping it presentable at all times. The men will only have access to television when the kids are asleep and all chores are done. There is only one TV between them, and a remote with dead batteries.
Each father will be required to know all of the words to every song that comes on TV and the name of each and every character on cartoons. The men must shave their legs, wear makeup daily, which they will apply to themselves either while driving or making three lunches.
Each man will have to make an Indian hut model with six toothpicks, a tortilla and one marker; and get a four year old to eat a serving of peas.
Each man must adorn himself with jewelry, wear uncomfortable yet stylish shoes, keep their nails polished and eyebrows groomed. The men must try to get through each day without snot, spit-up or barf on their clothing.
During one of the six weeks, the men will have to endure severe abdominal cramps, back aches, and have extreme, unexplained mood swings but never once complain or slow down from other duties. They must try to explain what a tampon is for when the 6-yr old boy finds it in the purse. They must attend weekly school meetings, church, and find time at least once to spend the afternoon at the park or a similar setting.
He will need to read a book and then pray with the children each night without falling asleep, and then feed them, dress them, brush their teeth and comb their hair each morning by 7:00. They must leave the home with no food on their face or clothes.
A test will be given at the end of the six weeks, and each father will be required to know the following information: each child's birthday, height, weight, shoe size, clothes size and doctor's name. Also the child's weight at birth, length, time of birth, and length of labor, each child's favorite color, middle name, favorite snack, favorite song, favorite drink, favorite toy, biggest fear and what they want to be when they grow up.
They must clean up after their sick children at 2:00 a.m. and then spend the remainder of the day tending to that child and waiting on them hand and foot until they are better. They must have a loving, age appropriate reply to, "You're not the boss of me.”
The kids vote them off the island based on performance. The last man wins only if...he still has enough energy to be intimate with his spouse at a moment's notice. If the last man does win, he can play the game over and over and over again for the next 18-25 years...eventually earning the right to be called Mom!