Be Blessed.

 HENDRIX

That's right... Hendrix... as in Jimmy Hendrix.

Hendrix David Varney is my Godson... down to the very literal meaning of it... my son, gifted from God.

My munchkin face, peanut head, butter butt, baby man, goober, booger, pumpkin pie lover-little. 

He is, and always will be, one of the best things that has EVER happened to me (along with the best friend that birthed him).

I got to spend some good, quality, nature time together with him. 

And it was AWESOME.

I don't know how many of you have a God Child... but if you're one of the lucky ones, you know just how special it is to be under the spell of a three year old, on a breezy day, with some pretty flowers, "sword" fighting. It's truly magical.

'RICA

Hendrix and I spent some time talking this past weekend. This little guy lost his Aunt Erica about a month ago. He's still processing it, trying to understand it, really... and frankly... so am I. His mom, my best friend, Erin Shaffer and I have been struggling with the loss of her 22 year old baby sister. I knew her for 13 short years here on this earth, and have to rely on the heavens for visitation now-a-days.

This is Erica (LEFT) and I about two years ago the night before Erin's wedding. Some of the most amazing memories were made that night.

Erica passed away earlier this month... unjustifiably.

However, losing Erica seems to bring a sense of calm, if that's even possible. I feel closer to her knowing she can hear me from afar, than I did when she was of mortal life, spiritually bound here on earth. I have faith that she will continue to enchant many more lives using the utmost advantage...  her halo.

MOMMY-N-ME

In November of 2010, I said goodbye to my mother, Kellie Wiles. She was too young, too beautiful, and too very much alive in spirit to be feeling so old, looking so worn, and living so painfully.

So, she carried on.

I celebrated her birthday on the 28th of this month.

HONESTLY, PEOPLE...

We, as a whole, have GOT to get a grip on the value of the people we love. I'm just not so sure it's realized as often as it should be. This month brought to me a lot of painful memories, moments, and morale... it took a whole lot of courage and SUPPORT... FROM THOSE WHOM I LOVE, AND LOVE ME. Without the foundation that we all provide to each other as friends, family, and companions... we would not nearly be as strong, or enduring as we think we are capable of being. Human is weak... support provides stability. Have faith in yourself, faith in God, and faith in those who have faith in you...

...{PARENTS, especially}...

I mean, get this:

Mom... The woman BIRTHED YOU, kept you breathing, taught you irreversible qualities that make you, you, and took part in making a person. MAKING a PERSON... Right?

With Dad... Can you believe men are really able to deal? So different... yet... so necessarily different. Dads make up for everything we can't be as parents, ladies... show some respect.

Halleluiah parents... ours and ourselves. 

And know...

The ones you love, aren't guaranteed to be here as long as you are. So, take it from me... someone who didn't exactly take full advantage of the blessing of family in the past...

Tell them you love them. And truly, TRULY be there.

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What's In My Bag

First of all...

Let me just say how happy I am to be back. I have had the busiest week and it is SWELL to have a few moments to sit down and blog it out for a spell. 

If you follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, etc... you've seen that it's BACK TO SCHOOL for me! My very LAST semester at Flagler College (tear!), and I'm planning on making it count.

I had mentioned on Facebook that I would do a "What's In My Bag" post once I was finished getting organized for my big first day. Although there are some things that were thrown in last minute and not seen in these snapshots... I'm PRET-TY sure I've a lot covered.

You know Hermione's bag in Harry Potter? How it somehow seems to carry everything in the universe? Yep...

Bag... Liz Claiborne

Unbelievably comfortable, and although pretty big, not at all awkward. It's got at least 8 compartments (I'm convinced there is a secret passageway in this bad boy) and it is really sleek for being so practical. 

Coffee Cup... Copco

I got mine at JoAnn Fabric, but you can get these little gems a lot of places. It keeps coffee hot for a surprising amount of time, and has a comfy no-slip grip.

Tumbler Cup... Tumbler

I got mine at World Market, but again, you can get them a lot of places. It's perfect for school, barely drips when tipped, and is WAY cuter than a thermos or bottled water. ;)

Sunglasses... Polo

Totally bargained these at Ross. My trusty cheap-o's that go everywhere will me.

Keys... duh. 

What's inside...

 

Pain killer for those achy moments... Target

Makeup remover wipes in case of a random cry and reapply... lol... Target

 Liquid black eyeliner... WetnWild

Studio Powder... e.l.f.

Pretty in Pink blush... e.l.f.

Solid black eyeliner... e.l.f.

Eyeshadow brushes

Eyeshadow Cream in Champagne... e.l.f.

Nude lip balm... e.l.f.

Eyelash curler

Hair Bands (NO OUCH!)

Barrettes for fly-aways and rainy days

Mascara

Deodorant (it gets pretty hot trekking around campus all day... can never be too fresh!)

{ALL Target... most from the dollar section!}

Scotch tape

Lint roller

Mini Stapler and staples... isn't it CUTE?!

Paper clips

Highlighters

Tissues for fall sniffles

Pencils (GOTTA be the kind you have to twist at the bottom)

Pens (ERASABLE!)

Hole reinforcements

SIDE NOTE:

I actually lost a 5 page paper that was NOT backed up due to the lack of these babies in handy... holes ripped, the sucker fell right out. No joke.

Hole puncher (Teachers don't do this for ya anymore, folks)

Sticker letters (Just because I'm a sucker for cutesy things)

How I keep it together...

 

This is the most amazing, multifunctional, oozing-with-space planner I have EVER owned. 

WALMART $12.00.

I have struggled with the year-to-year problem of being unable to fit everything in one little square for one day. This planner separates months, weeks, AND days, and gives you HALF OF A PAGE to write what ya gotta. 

I.LOVE.IT.

My binder is the most dorky thing ever. It screams my personality, yet, seeing as though I'm one of the oldest in my class... I don't really win "swag" points by lugging it around.

It is perfectly organized by tabs, easy note sticky tabs are located on the front inside for easy marking, "to call," "to do," and, "to buy" stickers for when I have my planner out and remember a non-school related thing.

My schedule is also taped to the inside for easy access, and the front is equipped with my initials in purple (contrasting the coral) sticky letters.

... you may now applaud. ;)

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Mention Monday-Urban Nester

Urban Nester

 This week's mention is for Molly Kidd of the fashion/food/fun/Faith blog, Urban Nester. She was my inspiration to start a blog, and continuously keeps my attention each and every day. Her faith is strong, her outfits are ADORABLE, her recipes (GLUTEN FREE) are delectable, and I've got to say... the love she shares with her husband just highlights and reminds me of the special love I share with my honey. Check her out via the link above! It's a good one!

Here are a few of my favorite posts:

Central Oregon Part II

Oatmeal Casserole

Living in Dependence on Him

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InstaBAM!

InstaBAM!

My life lately through the lens.

 

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Bread Puddin'

  Hangin' With The Hendersons

"Having a place to go - is a home.  Having someone to love - is a family.  Having both - is a blessing." 

This weekend was jammed packed with good company, beautiful surroundings, and delicious {I mean... DELICIOUS} food.

 The River City Brewing Co. is located on the riverside of Jacksonville, and although I didn't get the chance to capture our view, let me just say it was beautiful. The stormy clouds subsided once we got our appetizers, and from then on... the day couldn't have been nicer.

THIS, below, would be RCBC's version of Bread Pudding. Crazy thing, this little dessert. It takes one of the most essential staples of American History and transforms it into a melt-in-your-mouth explosion of, well, childhood.

Okay, so we accompanied it with a glass of Brut... maybe not LITERAL childhood, but man... I'm not sure how many of you have actually tried this delectable dessert, but if you haven't, you must. It has been a part of my family for years, as well as the Henderson's, and the conversation piece it ended up making of itself was one of heart warming memories and consisted mostly of "mmm" and "oh, that's good." 

There is no fixed recipe, but it is usually made using stale {yes, you now have something to do with it} bread, staple ingredients such as milk, egg, sugar, dried fruit and spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, apple pie spice, and vanilla.

{You may also booze it up if you'd like, and add a whiskey or rum caramel sauce}

 The bread is soaked in the liquids, mixed with the other ingredients, and baked... to a cloud of

PERFECTION.

Warm, gooey, heart warming, nerve relaxing, I-could-totally-eat-it-for-breakfast

PERFECTION.

What's your most delicious memory from childhood? I'd love to try to whip up your versions and share them, too!

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Mention Monday-Where's Abby

"Hej Fra Danmark!!"

This week's mention is for my good friend Abby Ross... my lil hippie baby! She has recently taken a job as an Au Pair in Denmark, and from the looks of her blog, she is in absolute paradise! I love that so many of my friends travel. I get to experience God's beauty from all over the world simply by keeping in touch with them. 

She just arrived a couple weeks ago, but what she has got up on that blog of hers so far is simply amazing! She has already found quite the following, and has made friends from all over the world. 

Abby is a natural traveler... I swear she was born to explore.

Anyway, CHECK HER OUT! . You will be amazed by the pops of color all over this country. She is making the most out of her year there, and she is bound to impress! 

Here are a few sample gems from her page:

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Know Your Dirt

I recently came across an article listing fruits and veggies that should be bought organic, or can be bought worry-free conventionally.

Really good information.

{Don't fret, ya'll. I'll have some good, juicy, fattening things up here for you decadent lovers at some point, I'm sure!}

If you're like me, you can really break the bank in a whole foods store. I've come to realize that adding one more stop to your grocery trips (one to a conventional market, as well as your organic market) can save you money and give you a bounty that is fresh and clean. 

I decided to do just that on this rainy (later beautiful) day.

It's so funny to me that these people have no idea they're being broadcast across the internet world wide! Celeb status! ;)

The 411:

Peaches & Nectarines- Known for being sweet and juicy, peaches & nectarines can be just as alluring to insects as to people. Farmers spray an excess every week from bloom to harvest, and the fuzzy cute stuff can trap that pesticide. Go organic for sure.

Celery- Due to peak consumer demand around Thanksgiving and Christmas, 75% of the crop is grown during the fall and winter, when rain and wind promote the growth of bacteria and fungal diseases. Go organic for sure.

Potatoes- Potatoes are sprayed up to 5 times throughout their growing process, and again before harvest to prevent mold and sprouts (the natures way) from happening during transit. It's also done to ensure fast food services and potato chip producers have a uniform size potato. ORGANIC!

Strawberries- Strawberries are extremely delicate and prone to disease. Fungal diseases can cause them to mush and perish during transit and storage, and with berries, that's about the only time you have to get them from farm to market before they go bad. Go organic.

Blueberries- These berries are target for blueberry maggots and bagworms. They've been on the "dirty dozen" list for years. ORGANIC!

ON THE FLIP SIDE:

Veggies like onions, avocado, sweet peas and corn, and fruits like pineapple, mango and kiwi have a tough, self-protective rind that protects them from being affected by sprays and/or insects. 

To see the full list, including the fruits and veggies you can buy conventionally with no worry at all, visit this website.

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Saints!

It's that time of year again... 

My very last semester as a Flagler College Saint. Bittersweet, really... It has taken me quite some time to get through school, but this last home stretch has been a couple of the best years of my life.

 Con: school really puts a damper on your financing. Pro: there is nothing more valuable to me than an educated mind. 

So, I'm bustin out the writing utensils and downloading the best-of iPad apps for my study sessions gone A.D.D.

I have to say, I really am looking forward to this one last go-round with Flagler College. The campus is absolutely, positively, undeniably beautiful, and the people are just so... St. Augustine. If you have never been to this place, it's a MUST DO. It is the oldest city in The Nation, and it is like a time warp to cool breeze and historical beauty. I don't ever go a single day at school without having to wait for the nearest horse and carriage to cross, see a beautiful piece of architecture, or a sunshine-y/peaceful place to study. 

I am so unbelievably blessed to have had the opportunity to spend my days in this city.

 If you ever decide to visit this campus while wandering the beautiful St. Augustine, I'll probably be the one with way too many books to carry, a Starbucks coffee, rockin yoga pants and messy buns, with a blissfully at peace smile on my face:

Here we go... See you at graduation!

For information about Flagler College, this is their homepage.

 

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Hippie Bowl

So I've seen this done quite a few different ways, but here's mine.

The Hippie Bowl

The Lick-Your-Lips-Kind-of-Health-Food Bowl

What you'll need:

1 Cup- Rice

1 Handful- Kale

{I also added a handful of Organic Girl's SUPER GREENS}

1/4 Cup chopped Avocado

1/4 Cup chopped Tomato

• Prepare one cup of rice
• Place Kale {and/or whatever greens you decide to add} into a medium saute pan with enough water to cover bottom.
• Cover and steam on medium heat until a vibrant green {about 5 min, depending on the heat of your stove}
• Lay the greens over the rice.
• Add avocado and tomatoes
• Drizzle with Tahini Sauce {Recipe Follows}

Tahini Sauce:

{I made my own, but Trader Joe's also has a pre-made version}

1/4 Cup- Tahini

2/3 Cup- Warm Water

1/2 Tsp- Pressed Garlic

1 Tsp- Grated Ginger

1/2 TBsp- Soy Sauce

To Taste:

Salt

Pepper

Lemon

Parsley

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Goin' Steady

I "dated" my man this weekend, 

and it was the bees knees.

I have been told that "dating" your guy consistently, "does WoNdErS for your relationship, keeps it interesting, makes memories," yadda yadda... ;)

So, I scheduled a weekly Date Night... and this was our first.

We ate at this super fantastic little restaurant called Mossfire Grill in the artsy "five points" of Jacksonville. We got to know each other a bit better outside of the routine conversation and laughed amongst ourselves as we people watched from the breezy, upstairs patio. We even threw in a {not really adult appropriate, but fun anyway} game of paper football while waiting for our check. This is how you hang with your best buds, right? :)

We perused the street art and wall carvings, went into a REALLY killer art shop with handmade goods from across the world, I drooled over their herb and spice collections, Steve played some skull guitar... Definitely my new favorite shop.

We decided to, "scoop up," the night by inhaling some super good FRoYo in an air-condition-handicapped Tasty D.Lite, and headed home. 

Let me tell you something, friends... I have been thinking about this evening with my other half quite often since. I guess it is a good thing to get out and giggle every once in a while... ya kinda begin to remember the purity of it all. 

Ugh. Love him. :) So blessed.

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Superfood Omelette

Kale, Mushroom, Goat Cheese and Tomato Omelette

"Superfood Omelette"

2 Tbsp Olive Oil

1/2 Cup of Chopped Kale

1/4 Cup of Chopped Tomatoes

1/4 Cup Chopped Baby Bella Mushrooms

1 Egg

1 Egg White

2 Tbsp Milk

• Heat olive oil over medium heat and add the Kale and Baby Bella Mushrooms. Saute until the Kale and Baby Bella Mushrooms are softened.
• Toss in Tomatoes and heat through
• Meanwhile, whisk egg, egg white, milk and Goat Cheese in a medium bowl until combined. 
• Pour the egg mixture into the pan, cover, lower heat and let rise (about 5 minutes, depending on your stove).

{Watch closely! The bottom can brown and burn in seconds!}

• Plate and serve with your choice of fresh fruit.

Voila! Your "Superfood Omelette"

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Walking Art ; Art Walk

Ahhh, the sweet, sweet smell of the Art Walk... blood, sweat, and fears emulating from the original, up-and-coming artists, costumes, and haiku's. 

I have a few favorite gals that accompany me on this one special day of the month. One of which, is that little gem right there in the middle of those spectacular photo op's. Her name is Lindsay, and she's a fantastically good time. She happened to be serenading on some mans street piano while he took a break... right?... awesome.

Art walks are filled with such an immense amount of creativity. There were an entire army of Stormtroopers (just 'cause). There were also belly dancers, and a man who painted people's shoes for a living (and made quite the profit doing it... RIGHT ON DUDE!).

I even got my VERY OWN Haiku from a random artist by the coffee shop. His name was Erick (with a 'k'), and I'll honestly never forget when I first read it. It was PERFECT, and completely random at the same time. Thanks, man.

{follow his Instagram @ErickErickErick}

The Art Walk takes place in the heart of downtown Jacksonville, Fl {details here} and it is a thing of beauty. Not to mention the jaw dropping sunsets that take place mostly EVERY time I go. 

God is good, and that sky should make you feel like lifting any darkness into the light. Just sayin'.

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Concrete Jungle

So I recently did this thing... where I went to New York City.

There is something super special about this place. I mean, aside from the extra special taxi driving, or the super special smell... I mean there is something that's all heart jumpity and eye widening about it. It's like you eat the little red mushroom from Mario and you grow a little taller.

When you step into those streets, you suddenly become absolutely anybody you would like to be.

So how 'bout it, NY? How does it feel to be your own universe?

I mean it, I think I lived ten thousand lives during that one spectacular trip.

I was an afternoon news anchor, a celebrity stylist, a marathon walker, an expert navigator, a wine connoisseur, a food critic, a top executive... {rambles}.

That's the case with every trip you take, really... you sort of become someone different when you arrive, and then you take someone different home. 

For example of lesser scale than that of the Big Apple - During one of my most recent grocery trips, I think I may have actually become the worlds best extreme couponer when I saved a whole FOUR DOLLARS on my super new, super cool razor. And when I drove home that day, my honey got some extra sugar for the proud mood I was in. I conquered the sale and brought a more confident woman home to a loved one.

So how 'bout it, ya'll? How does it feel to be able to morph into all these fantastic beings... just by the quick switch of your 'tude?

"Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, ALWAYS bring your own sunshine." -Anthony J. D'Angelo, The College Blue Book

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... why not?

Check it out, my opening act...

I have prepared, practiced, perfected and persisted conversation since I could read, write, and 'rithmatic. I've just always needed a medium that would allow my mind to slither its contents from my head to my hands and toss them into the world.

Problem solved.

"For myself, I am an optimist-it does not seem much use to be anything else." 

{Winston Churchill}

So, rest assured my dear friends, to absorb the thoughts I am to share is to experience an optimistic recess from the otherwise day-to-day weighing thoughts.

This is my attempt at attaining a clearer life for myself, and sharing it with every single person that I possibly can.

Starting with a stuffy nose, a rainy night, and a nice, hot cup of tea.

Welcome.

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