The Real Deal

One thing I definitely know is that either you recognize the superiority of cooking from scratch, or you don't.

I will never forget the first time I had homemade chocolate cake. I was working as a massage therapist and a client brought a cake in for another therapist's birthday. It was AMAZING. I learned in that moment that scratch would trump processed EVERY time.

I could give up store bought or boxed cake every day for the rest of my life. This from scratch cake is so divinely perfect, it's crazy and not giveupable. It is literally the best cake I have ever tasted. And I admit, I have tasted a few. What's your point?

I did NOT make the frosting included in this recipe, which I'm sure is also divine, but instead tried another fabulous recipe found on the same site. It's called "That's the Best Frosting I've Ever Had." And it is. Try it. You'll thank me.

The American palate has to be trained or it's innate to a foodie, but either you recognize the real thing as amazing or... you think Big Macs are amazing. Real cake does not have that sugary sweet, easy on the palate taste that we're used to. It's LESS sweet but more divine. It's heavier but..lighter. It's...complicated. It's REAL.

Did you know they train bank tellers to recognize counterfeit money not by ever showing them counterfeit bills? Instead, they have them make a deep study of the REAL thing so that they automatically recognize the junk bills. Anyone with a real taste for real food can tell what's real and what's not. You won't be able to fool them. Get yourself used to eating REAL, HOMEMADE food and your tastes will change and you will learn quickly to not only recognize, but appreciate, and then absolutely adore and demand the real deal. Try this chocolate cake and taste upon genuine goodness.

My life is a Cake Batter Martini

I'm only blogging because a friend dared me to. Made me. Dared me. Whatever.

I have nothing to say that is positive and am wondering if I should embrace the new negative me or do as my Grandmother said, "If you can't say anything nice..."
Actually she said, "If you can't be a blessing, then stay home." But that didn't quite fit so I adapted it to the old stand by.

I am SICK TO DEATH of falling off the health food wagon. I am just saying that Creamsicle Cupcakes and Devil Dogs along with Smoked Turkey Feta wraps and Creamy tomato fettuccine is going to taste a whole HECKUVA lot better than lettuce. And for those of you that have seen my garden, you know I have a Great White Hunter ability to possess lettuce. Ya'll know I am just kidding and love a good healthy salad. I am just in my 20% mode right now. (You know, that old 80/20 solution of 80% Healthy and 20% free for all?)

I am just wondering if I can I live my 20% for say, 99% of a period of time (that is TBA) and then live my 80% 50% of the time so I can then gradually make up the 30% in my 20% time. Then save the extra 1% to tip the scales , I mean to give me leeway for make up %'s. So pretty much, I'm covered. Right?

I'm skipping church today because I feel mean and if I have to paste a smile on my face and hear anyone say any one nice thing to me or one mean thing about someone else I might go postal. I realize the phrase "going postal" is seriously outdated but I have never been able to use it so I am taking the license. Besides, I like things that are postal. Like pretty stamps. I LOVE pretty, cool, different, themed stamps. So if you ever want to get me anything, get me stamps. The Forever kind, thankyouverymuch. Not that I ever send ANYTHING by mail anymore...am I digressing or what?

What was I saying? I have no idea.

So I am staying home from church today and wallowing in whatever and seriously considering an official nervous breakdown. Except I am not nervous. More like a "Can you just not bother me for the rest of my LIFE" breakdown. Yeah, that's it. Am I allowed to do that? Because you know, I have this parenting book going on and I can't seem to make it fit into any of the chapters.

I just found a recipe for Cake Batter Martinis. Yes, that is a real thing. I found it here. I kid you not. I am not going to MAKE one I just said I FOUND one. Like the recipe stated, I'm not really comfortable endorsing buying 7 bottles of booze while you're still in your pajamas. But it is an interesting recipe and of course, metaphor for my life.

Life is Sweet and delicious, fun and exciting, but always leaves me tired and with a headache. My life is one Cake Batter Martini I tell ya'.

Note to self: Blogging is not facebooking. Stop wanting to post every 20 minutes.

Stream of Thought

I feel like the tin man when he gets oiled again. Stream of thought. My favorite.

I cannot find my old blog design. It's outdated. That could actually be a metaphor for my life. My old design is outdated and I'm left with this.

Haven't been here in so long, I forgot everything I ever said. Scrolled back 2 posts and saw the best BD party I ever threw one of my kids. Good memory.

Going into isolation when we move. I predict it lasts all of 2 weeks before I get myself into even more trouble.

Since I last blogged regularly, I have finally embraced FB and become a regular there. Being back makes me feel like a husband that cheated and returned home. Except I am still keeping my mistress on the side. FB has such nice curves...

I am not the same woman that left this blog. Don't expect her back. Sorry if I disappoint you in my current, less than conservative nature.

I am ready to put together all the pieces of the book and am pretty darned excited.

I pray love and peace to each one of you, the saving knowledge of Christ if needed and mostly, do yourself a favor and laugh your arse off before you hit the sheets tonight. It'll be worth it.

Will it stick?

Not sure if I can make the blog stick again. I just can't seem to FEEl it anymore. But I want to blog again and try to center myself back on the life I want to live with the kids. Life without all the external stuff that got in the way the last few years. Yes, years. So, that leaves me totally stripped, drained, empty, broken, and a whole different kind of older. I hear this is when God works best. Oy. He should have a pretty serious game plan because generally, I have a whole bunch of crazy to recover from.

P.S. Told you I would Am. Now go keep an eye on Magalish. ;) Can you tell me how I feel sunburnt when we were in the shade all day? I wonder if this is going to be too weird now that I'm a fbookie.

Coming out of the Blog Smog

Ok this new blog design stuff? It's PROOF that I hate designing anything. I like this design after about 4,000 wasted tries and 1.5 hours of the most wasted time in my life, but of course, it says happy new year.

Plus, I am not the happy happy color, designy whiney type gal. I am the straight black and white gal. The content is better than the package gal. Especially at 40-something. And I can say 40-something because I AM over 40 and it makes me sound sage like. Like I am aged. Pronounced a-jid, for extra emphasis if you like.

I wanted to start a new blog. Should have. Maybe still will. But am still trying to figure out the design part. Wanted a big country look for the new homestead. But nothing worked. I like the more rock n rolly look.

Okay...enough of that already.

2 Peter's in the HOUSE!!!

We began 2 Peter at The Chap yesterday. JK, I am NOT going to start calling CC "The Chap". Just had to try it to freak you all out. P-Diddy stuck when I called Doug that once in a post and I do NOT want this one to stick as well. Lol

Anyway, of course- I could not deny the truth yet again that Doug discussed about ignoring who I am in Christ...again! If you are called...and if you possess the power that Christ gives...why oh WHY do we deny it and ignore it????

I lament that I possess a lot of Peter and Paul's worst qualities. Sigh. I'd like to think that makes me just like an apostle!! LOL! But really what it says is I am just a sinner saved by grace. (Ok, that's bad theology but you know what I mean)

Read this wonderful devotional by Oswald Chambers...I just CANNOT get over this guy!!!! Amazing every time!!



The Piercing Question


Do you love Me? —John 21:17


Peter’s response to this piercing question is considerably different from the bold defiance he exhibited only a few days before when he declared, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" ( Matthew 26:35 ; also see Matthew 26:33-34 ). Our natural individuality, or our natural self, boldly speaks out and declares its feelings. But the true love within our inner spiritual self can be discovered only by experiencing the hurt of this question of Jesus Christ. Peter loved Jesus in the way any natural man loves a good person. Yet that is nothing but emotional love. It may reach deeply into our natural self, but it never penetrates to the spirit of a person. True love never simply declares itself. Jesus said, "Whoever confesses Me before men [that is, confesses his love by everything he does, not merely by his words], him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God" ( Luke 12:8 ).

Unless we are experiencing the hurt of facing every deception about ourselves, we have hindered the work of the Word of God in our lives. The Word of God inflicts hurt on us more than sin ever could, because sin dulls our senses. But this question of the Lord intensifies our sensitivities to the point that this hurt produced by Jesus is the most exquisite pain conceivable. It hurts not only on the natural level, but also on the deeper spiritual level. "For the Word of God is living and powerful . . . , piercing even to the division of soul and spirit . . ."— to the point that no deception can remain ( Hebrews 4:12). When the Lord asks us this question, it is impossible to think and respond properly, because when the Lord speaks directly to us, the pain is too intense. It causes such a tremendous hurt that any part of our life which may be out of line with His will can feel the pain. There is never any mistaking the pain of the Lord’s Word by His children, but the moment that pain is felt is the very moment at which God reveals His truth to us.


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