your team

We are all just trying our best out here in the world aren't we?

Why we are so hard on ourselves......I will never understand.

Most of us are so quick to forgive someone a missed deadline or forgotten appointment yet we can't seem to give ourselves the same courtesy. Although it is important to have standards and to want to do our best, there are times when we focus too much on doing what is best for others and lose focus on doing what is best for us. When I was growing up my parents always said "pay yourself first". They were referring to saving money but I think this can also be applied to other parts of our life.  "Love yourself first." 

Asking for help is tough sometimes and I think it is partly because most of us are misguided in thinking that admitting you are overwhelmed or that you need some attention is a sign of weakness or that you are being selfish. When our loved ones ask us for help we don't think about weakness....we just help them get through whatever is going on - so why do we assume they would judge us? I think we all struggle with this concept. If you plan it right you may not even have to ask, it all depends on your team. I have surrounded myself with a great team and much of the time they know when I need help getting through a tough spot, or a shoulder to cry on, a kick in the ass to remind me it could be worse or when I just need to be silly and share a good belly laugh!

As team captain it is up to me who gets to play, who has to sit on the bench and who doesn't make the cut. Just because someone tries out does not mean they are getting a jersey. Sometimes I am the one on the bench and I need to count on my team to do the heavy lifting and other days my top player is out on an injury. Whatever the case, the game is still on and tomorrow is another day. It is so important to have the right team, knowing the strengths and weakness of your players and being kind to yourself.

Take a tip from the NHL and once a year have a trade day.....maybe its not a trade but just a time to get rid of some of the team members that aren't fit for your team anymore. But remember to keep at least one goon....they are important!

Cabbage Soup

I have been seeing a cabbage soup recipe all over facebook so when I ended up with half a head of cabbage leftover in the fridge I knew what to do! I decided that I was just going to use the ingredients I had and make up my own recipe....I mean its soup! isn't that all soup is? Just a bunch of whatever you have with some liquid and flavouring - always works for me! 

So here it is!

Ingredients:  

Cabbage

Carrots

Celery

Ground meat (I used Johnsonville Mild Italian ground sausage)

Diced tomoates

Crushed tomatoes

Dill

Tabasco

salt & pepper

The  process:
 Chop the cabbage, put in a wok with grapeseed oil and salt - fry.  At the same time, fry the sausage.

Once the sausage is thoroughly cooked and the cabbage is fried, add to your soup pot.

 Add the tomatoes, carrots and celery - using water or tomato sauce to thin. I used water (about 2 cups).  Add dill, hot sauce and salt and pepper. 

 Simmer and serve! So good and so easy! I was really happy how well it turned out and I will be making cabbage soup again......even though my husband came home and asked me why the house smells like fart. 

May the 4th Be With You

OH Star Wars.....so wise. Do you think George Lucas knew what he was creating? Educating generations of people? So much to be learned from these characters.

Seriously! My momma always said to be a leader not a follower. I will admit I may have followed a fool or two......for a brief time.

So so true.....On May 19th 1999 (my 18th birthday) I was sitting in an Edmonton movie theater at 2am watching Episode One - The Phantom Menace with the man I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with.......I had no idea that just over three years later he would be gone forever.  

Wow. Just wow. Think about it. It kind of reminds me of a quote our GM has on his desk that basically says that common sense is a misconception based on the fact that we have all had the same experiences...

Since today is Star Wars Day 

I am going to channel my inner Jedi! 

You should too.......

and remember to use the Force.

a day off

I was feeling run down and a little drained....so I took a day off!! There was no reason other than I was feeling like I needed some "me" time - booked a day off work and stayed home! Man it was nice! 

So many of us are too busy loving other people and forgetting to love ourselves! We go out of our way for our spouse, kids, friends and our work but we will hardly go out of our way to take some time just for ourself! While it is important to be available to the people in your life when they are in need of your support, guidance or advice; it is equally important to make time for you!

A  recent survey found that nearly half of Canadians are not using their vacation time. Nearly half?!

WHAT IS WRONG WITH US??? 

Why do we feel like we can't take time off?

Why do we feel like we can't be away from work? 

I have yet to meet someone who is so important that the wheels would fall off if they took a day off!

So do it!

Take some time off and do something for you!! 

Going to the gym, reading a book, spending time with my family, watching cooking shows, sitting around the fire, going on a date with my husband...or my camera, catching up with a girlfriend, being outdoors,  having a nap, playing cards, soaking in the hot tub, laughing, snowshoeing or hiking....the list goes on and on!  I know what my "something for me" looks like!

 Do you?

compliments

         "A remark that says something good about someone or something."

Simple.

So simple. 

How good does it feel to get a compliment!?

I mean really? Who doesn't like a compliment?

Compliments work. 

It is amazing how choosing a wine that compliments your meal really does make the wine and the meal better! (could just be the fact that it is wine though). One of the big supermarkets even has a brand called our compliments. "Compliments of the gentlemen at the next table" has been an acceptable way to pick up chicks for years and even sometimes when you need to get a little extra scoop of ice cream on the cone a quick "how do you get the scoops so perfect?, I am so bad at it" will usually work.

Compliments are easy to give. 

Sometimes they aren't as easy to accept - but that is a whole other topic! So if they are so easy to give why not give more of them? Why not try to make it a natural part of your way of being? When you notice something compliment worthy make it known! Let it out! You will not only feel better for saying it but the person receiving the compliment will also feel better!

Everyone does at least one thing each day that deserves a compliment. They pick out a cute outfit, got a hair cut, are wearing new shoes, helped you do something and the list goes on. The point is that they did something to allow for a compliment.  All you need to do is be on the look out. It is amazing the things you can learn when giving a compliment too. There have been many times when I have simply complimented someone on their watch and I get the complete history of where they got it and what it means to them, or other times waiting in the grocery store line I toss out a "nice purse" and I am rewarded with a smile and a very excited story of how great of a deal they got on it!

People like to be noticed, people like to know they are being noticed, and more importantly it is important to notice the people around you. After all, what's the point of being here is not to pay attention the world around us?

Turkey and Cabbage

I love creating a new recipe! I love it even more when it turns out to be delicious! Here is one that I tried and am happy to report it was easy and very good! 

We have started to eat more ground turkey and I really only have one good "go to" recipe so today I had a look at what was in my fridge and told my husband to cross his fingers..... supper could go either way! I had been meaning to try oven roasted cabbage and I thought it would make a good side for some turkey balls. I used Epicure spices because that is what I have and what I use, but you can use whatever spices your family likes! 

Turkey Balls
 1bs ground turkey
shredded carrot
green onion
2 eggs
1/2 cup of bread crumbs ( i use brown rice krispies crushed with my rolling pin)
Epicure El Derado spice

Mix together - form into balls. Place on lightly greased baking sheet. 400 degree convection oven for 25 minutes or so, flipping after 15. 









Serve with hot sauce (if you want to) I used tia chili sauce.

 Cabbage 
Cut into 1" thick slices
Drizzle grape seed oil over cabbage
top with Epicure garlicky dill topper 
Place in 400 degree oven 20 minutes or so. (depending on how crunchy you like your cabbage.
Before serving drizzle with mayo/dill/dijon mustard mixture

   Very easy and very good! As with pretty much everything this meal goes well with red wine! ;o) 

another 8 things that make me happy!

There are a lot of things that make me happy! The number 8 is one of them which is why I wanted to do another "8 things that make me happy"

1. A good night sleep! Oh how everything is right with the world again after a good night sleep! Every once in awhile I forget this and something bothers me WAY more than it should.....but then I have a good sleep and my clear head prevails! No wonder they often say "why don't you sleep on it?"

2. Having my camera at the right time! Pretty self explanatory.

3. A bargain! Especially when you aren't expecting it! Even when it is just toilet paper, lol a good deal is a good deal! 

4. A good hug! Hugs are magical. They make everything better....even if it is just for a moment, they can turn your day around and your mood! Giving a hug is just as good as getting one! 

5. An uncontrollable laugh! Laughing is great for you, but uncontrollable laughter is a true gift! It doesn't happen often enough which makes me appreciate it all the more! 

6. Seeing my husband smile! I just love him so much! 

7. Taking a risk! Whatever the outcome I am always happy with myself for being brave! 

8. My health! Well actually the health of everyone I love really! 

What makes you happy......and are you getting enough of it?