a beautiful miracle...

a beautiful miracle......

i bet you thought there was an inspiring story behind this.

no story.....just a few things i've learned.......

or maybe it's more like a way i know i SHOULD live

and strive for daily.

i think we can all influence others and 

leave our "marks" on the world.

some leave great big GIANT marks,

and others of us leave little bitty ones.

but we leave them none the less.

i can truly only speak for myself and say

that i hope to wake up and appreciate every day for the

beautiful miracle it is.

i don't always do that, but i try.

and by doing that,  maybe i leave my mark on the world

 and on others that day.

we all can do this.......

by taking a deep breath of fresh air and thanking God

that we are alive.

by appreciating.....

 the big AND little things.

by noticing.......

every sunset, the birds chirping on a morning walk,

smiling at the clerk in the check out line at the grocery store,

by being grateful........

for what we do have instead of complaining about what we don't have.

wishing you a beautiful, blessed, remarkable week!

XOXOXO

Suzanne

It's True.....Chicken Soup is GOOD for You!

see all those pretty leaves changing?

feel the brisk, cool air?

(well, i don't here in Florida, but i hope you do:)

this means it's FALL y'all!

and with Fall, comes the start of cold and flu season.

we've already had a visit from the achy muscles and sore throat fairy.

and when my niece Jennifer heard my girl was sick,

she sent me her "go-to" recipe for YUMMY chicken soup.

you might be one of those who thinks chicken soup

when you're sick is some old remedy your great grandma used to use.

but.......

according to MANY experts, here's what it does for you;

 Heat: The steam from a bowl of soup (or a cup of hot tea for that matter)

 can assist in opening up clogged nostrils.

Protein: Chicken is a great source of protein which we especially

 need as appetites naturally wane when ill. 

Low protein intake can decrease immune system function,

 and a soup is an easy way to get some calories and protein. 

If you don’t like the actual meat, 

some of the protein is extracted into the broth during the cooking process too, 

so just sipping the liquid is still helpful.

Vegetables: Most chicken soup recipes include

 carrots, celery and onions at the very least. 

If you’re making your own chicken soup, throw in any hearty vegetables

 that you’ve got in your kitchen or freezer.

 Broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes, beans and peas are all healthy soup additions. 

Also, the heartier greens, like Swiss chard, kale or collards work well in soups as well.

Vegetables contain lots of vitamins and minerals

 that mean more antioxidants to fight off that cold. 

Frozen varieties are just fine, too. 

They are frozen at their peak freshness, meaning nutrient content is preserved.

Water: Maintaining adequate hydration is also important 

when you’re not feeling well.  

Fluids also help to thin out mucus and decrease congestion

 so drinking your usual 2 liters/day is essential.

here is the basic recipe........

you can add any veggies you like.

(i like it just like this!:)

Thank you Jen.....it was so good and you are SO sweet!:)

xoxoxoxo

Suzanne

Things I know For Sure.......

remember when Oprah used to do a segment

on "Things i know for sure"?

well, here are a few things i know for sure.

i know that i have found, and saved a whole lotta 

PUMPKIN recipes.

but i really don't need them.

because i realized that the best tasting, moistest pumpkin dessert is

Paul's Pumpkin Bars.

we've been looking for an excuse to bake something, 

and with new neighbors,

we found our excuse.

GOOD THING we gave some away because 

what i know for sure is that i could EASILY

eat a WHOLE pan of these yummy pumpkin bars.

no, i am not exaggeratting.

they are THAT good!

so i know for sure that i could (and almost have)

eat the whole pan!
pssst.....if you've never tried them, do it now:)
here's the recipe...from me to you!

something else i know for sure is that my girls love me.
totally, unconditionally, completely.....
they love me.
even after a frustrating, stressful day,
even after a sleepless night.
even with me being a total. unreasonable monster......
they still love me.
they try to understand.
and are quick to forgive me.
because, as they say,
they love me so much.......
and want me to be happy and not stressed about anything.
i thought that was my job,
 but sometimes our kids teach us something once in awhile.
i know this.
and i love THEM for that!

i know that i am way more dependent
on my phone than i thought.
for some crazy reason, it crashed.
and i lost everything.
little by little, i'm getting some things back but there's still
a ton of work to do and it won't all come back.
(which explains my stressful day, trying to figure this mess out
on the computer)
pictures are the worst thing to lose.
and personal, special messages.
i have an iphone but am not married to it like others are.
i think there is a lot of room to improve.
i'm wondering if anyone out there has a
Samsung Galaxy 3 phone and if you like it?

i also know for sure that
i will never find someone to cut my hair even similar to this........

i know this because i have tried numerous times
over the past few years, with various hairdressers.
they all say i have the perfect body/texture for this look,
similar to the beautiful lady in the picture.
but it is never even close.
the closest i have come is when i chop at it myself.
it still isn't right but at least i can live with it.......
and save money at the same time.
but still.......i live in hope that
someone, somewhere, someday.......will get it right:)

finally, finally, finally.........
i know that i love fall.

what's not to love.
i know some of y'all are getting cold.
but just think of us down here.......
we still go to football games, eat apples, drink warm lattes.....
DREAM of wearing sweaters,
but we sweat our tail off doing it:)
and on that note,
Happy Fall Y'all!
xoxoxo
Suzanne