~ Sometimes an "Attitude of Gratitude" Takes Work. Yesterday I Had Plans to Meet Up w a Dear Friend, but When I Woke Up with a Migraine My Plans Had to Change. Personally, I Get Very Frustrated When the Abilities of My Body, My Flesh, Do Not Match the Desires of My Heart, & the Plans in My Mind. I've Been Thinking A LOT About Intentions. Things We Want to Do, Things We Plan to Do, Things We Hope to Do & How Sometimes Our Intentions Have to Be Enough. I'm Lucky to Have A Group of Friends Who Are Patient, Understanding & Full of Grace When it Comes to my Health Issues. They Know My Heart Rather Well & Know That When I Bail or Hesitate to Make Plans it is More Often Than Not because My Body Just Won't Collaborate with My Mind and Heart. It is in These Times I Dig Down Deep for My "Attitude of Gratitude". I Could Linger on How I Feel or I Could Thank the Lord for the Beautiful, Understanding & Generous Friends He Has Allowed Me. I Could Pout All Day Over the Things I Can't Get Done or I Can Focus My Energy On The Things I Can. Even When What Can Be Done, is Rest. I Choose to Continue to Make Lists, Plans, Set Goals, & to Dream because I Believe That is My Part in This Deal Called Life. I Will Choose to Thank the Lord for All That He Has Done, All He Continues to Do on a Daily Basis & For All That He Has Yet to Do. Choosing to Believe, Choosing Faith, Choosing to be Grateful in the Fact That He is a Promise Keeper. ~
~ Plans Change. Disappointments are to be Expected. Pain is Real & There are Only 24 Hours in a Day (I'll Let You Decide For Yourself if That's a Good Thing or a Bad Thing, lol). ~
~ It Is Up To You To CHOOSE An Attitude of Gratitude, Served with a Side of Sassitude. Just For the Record, I'm Grateful for Each One of You!! Family, Friends, & Followers You Keep Me Motivated & Pointed Toward the Positive. ~ Happy Thanksgiving Week!!! ~
Happy Thanksgiving!!!! This week is probably filled with cooking, baking, family meals, traveling, and perhaps even some preparing for Christmas. Black Friday shopping anyone? I had planned to not post this #NewMusicMonday until December, but seeing as Thanksgiving week tends to lead into the Christmas season I thought that you might want some holiday tunes to soundtrack your season preparations to.
I LOVE Christmas music, decorating, baking, sending/getting Christmas cards, wrapping gifts, and watching Christmas movies. It's such a magical time of year. It is only right that I begin with the tunes. It would seem that EVERY artist is releasing a Christmas album this year. Garth and Tricia, Kacey, Brett, Rascal Flatts, Lauren Alaina, Jessie James, so on and so on. It can be difficult to sift through what is going to be classic, new or fit with your holiday style from what is going to be the same ol' same ol' just with different vocalists and arrangements. So, know this, I am only recommending tunes I have listened to and truly love!! Most of them will be appearing on a mix tape I plan to make for several friends who will be doing a lot of traveling.
Starting with Kacey Musgraves', "A Very Kacey Christmas". I have been anticipating the release of this album for months and I tell you I am not one bit disappointed. Kacey, once again, as always, delivered!!!! This time wrapped with ribbons and bows. This album is already one of my favorites and is going to be one that stands the test of time with me. It isn't the average, run of the mill, "Go Rest Ye", or "Santa is Coming to Town" set of jams. Musgraves sticks with her unique style with this holiday offering and shares tracks such as "I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas", "Feliz Navidad", "A Willie Nice Christmas" which features none other than Willie Nelson of course. I legit encourage you to get this album and make it apart of your Christmas/Holiday season. Today I am going to share, "I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas". Anyone that follows me on Facebook knows that I have had this stuck in my head since Tuesday.
Kacey Musgraves - "I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas"
fr "A Very Kacey Christmas"
Brett Eldredge - "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"
fr "Glow"
Brett Eldredge also released a Christmas album this year, "Glow". It can be found anywhere music is sold, but the cut that Target is selling has 3 bonus tracks that others do not. I have high expectations when it comes to a Christmas album from Brett. He is a crooner. A country music Frank Sinatra. So, I wasn't 100% what his album might end up being like. Classic is going to be a word I use to describe it. I think that he amped up his crooner and holiday spirit for this one and it's kinda a dreamy, slow jams for the holidays' kind of album.
What is a Christmas mix tape with out Mariah Carey? It's not a Christmas mix tape is what it is....or isn't. "All I Want for Christmas is You", has been sung at every coffee house, open mic night, holiday office karaoke party EVER!!!!! "Merry Christmas" by Mariah is the highest grossing Christmas album of all time. It was released in 1994 and has only grown in it's popularity as the years progress. It has found a new audience being available on streaming services and download sites like iTunes.
Mariah Carey - "All I Want for Christmas is You"
fr "Merry Christmas"
Christina Aguilera - "Oh Holy Night"
fr "My Kind of Christmas"
I feel that another voice that has to be heard in the Holiday season is Xtina's. Girl can sang. Let's just get that out of the way right now. No matter her style, song choices, movie roles, judging abilities on The Voice. None of that matters when girl can SANG!!!! When "My Kind of Christmas" was released in 2000 I thought that it might be a contender against Mariah's, "Merry Christmas". While it did well, Mariah can SANG too and so "Merry Christmas" remains champion of Christmas music. But, I would say when it comes to popular artists that Christina's, "My Kind of Christmas" is a solid second. I will be including several of her songs on my mix as well.
Earlier I mentioned Brett Eldrege's, "Glow" as a possible classic. While we are in the vicinity of classic I obviously have to bring up Bing Crosby. If you think Christmas and do not hear Bing singing, "White Christmas" immediately, then something is broken in your head. "White Christmas", is one of my favorite Christmas movies. I love that it is old. I love that it has been edited with Technicolor. I love that it has stood the test of time. I LOVE Bing, singing "White Christmas" in that Santa suit, the sisters in their beautiful costumes and the ballerina with red toe shoes. I always thought they where the most beautiful ballet shoes ever to be created!!!
Bing Crosby - "White Christmas"
fr "White Christmas"
Rosemary Clooney - "Jingle Bells"
fr "Classic Christmas"
Rosemary Clooney, aunt to George, is Bing's female co-star in "White Christmas". She is stunning and her vocals can't be compared. I have a Christmas compellation CD called, "Classic Christmas" with tunes by Bing, Rosemary, and Gene Autry just to name a few. I think that any Christmas mix should include some classic Christmas by the greats.
I added a new Christmas mix to my library called "Nashville Christmas". It is the favorites sung by a variety of country artists. Hunger Hayes, Faith Hill, Blake Shelton, Jana Kramer, Lee Brice, Fankie Ballard, and more. It is a fun mix of church Christmas music, old favorites like, "Up On the Roof Top". There is also Jeff Foxworthy's "Redneck 12 Days of Christmas" to spice things up. I am sharing Hunter Hayes cover of "Go Tell it on the Mountain", with you today. I think Hunter is an amazingly talented writer, composer, instrumentalist and arranger. He has had number one's, but I think we are still yet to see...er hear...all that he is capable of. Give his cover of this classic a listen and then head to the store to get, "Nashville Christmas".
Hunter Hayes - "Go Tell it on the Mountain"
fr "Nashville Christmas"
A Fine Frenzy - "Blue Christmas"
fr "Oh Blue Christmas"
I got A Fine Frenzy's, "Oh Blue Christmas" at a used music store over five years ago. It immediately became one of my favorites. More of an EP it only has about 6 or so songs on it, but they are so perfectly dreary and melancholy that I can't help, but to listen to it on repeat. It isn't the typical, all up beat, fa-la-la-la-la, Christmas album, but it is one that I'm forever gonna love. Her cover of Elvis', "Blue Christmas" is so opposite of the original I can't help to adore it. I'm a large pendulum swing kind of girl when it comes to the things that I like and don't like. It's just who I am. Give it a listen and add A Fine Frenzy's, "Oh Blue Christmas" to your list of things to keep an eye out for at used music stores.
Because I am so in love with this album I feel I HAVE to add at least one more track from, "A Very Kacey Christmas". This one is an original called, "Ribbons and Bows", a fun upbeat, Christmas love song. I'm not usually a love song kind of girl, but this one is filled with enough spunk and sass that even I like it. I really hope that the two Kacey Christmas tunes posted this week will encourage you to check out the rest of the album. This week it was released on vinyl and is GREEN!!! She really is just the bestest at being so very herself!!
Kacey Musgraves - "Ribbons and Bows"
fr "A Very Kacey Christmas"
Vince Guaraldi - "Linus and Lucy"
fr "Charlie Brown Christmas"
I think the best way to end this mix tape list is with Vince Guaraldi's, "Linus and Lucy" from "A Charlie Brown Christmas. No lyrics. Just instrumental and yet it can get the Christmas feels all stirred up inside. It makes me thing of a simpler, easier, more innocent times. A time when Santa was still real, I left carrots for his reindeer, and was a angel on the church's float in the town Christmas parade. It was so cold!! This angel wore long johns and jeans under her angel dress. I can recall not being able to feel my nose or fingers when it was all said and done. But alas, that's what the season, this sound track and I mean, life for that matter, is for, memory making.
I hope this list inspires your Christmas listening this season and perhaps even gives you some new tunes to sing along to. Happy Thanksgiving Week!! Merry Christmas!! and as always, Happy New Music Monday!!!!
This May Very Well Make Me a Major Geek, but I Am Genuinely Amped About Binge Watching Some "Gilmore Girls" in Preparation for the Four New Episodes Being Released This Friday. I'm Amped to Listen to Christmas Music, Get My Christmas Decorations Out & Up. And the Perhaps Geekiest Part, to Begin the Marking Things Off of My Holiday To-Do List. I Have True Bliss in My Heart Right Now. It's Better Than Any Medicine that I can Think Of.
This Next Week is the Beginning of a Non Stop, Hustle and Bustle Season of Family Events, Shopping, Baking, Cooking, Work Parties, Children's Sport Teams Awards Banquets, Church Activities, School Events, I mean the List is Endless. It Is Up to You to Keep Your Calm in Such a Chaotic Time and I'll Be Honest in Saying I'm Not Always the Best at it. But Things like A Gilmore Girl-Fest, Making A Christmas Card List, Writing Blog Posts to Hopefully Help Others With the Chaos, Helps Me With My Chaos. What is Your Bliss? What Brings You Unexplainable Peace, Joy, Bliss?! Is it A Cup of Coffee in the Morning Before Everyone Wakes Up? Is It Wrapping Christmas Gifts While Listening to Christmas Music or Watching a Christmas Movie? Feel Free to Share in the Comment Section. Keep an Eye Out as I Plan to Post DIY's, Tips, Tricks, Recipes, Gift Ideas, etc. Throughout the Holiday Season.
For Past Posts Just Type "Christmas" into the Blogs Search Bar and All Past Post Posts Should Pull Up for You to Cruise. Merry Christmas!!!
Also, Just a Side Note, I LOVE The "Gilmore Girls". I Received One of the Seasons in a Box Set For Christmas About Ten Years Ago. I was Living in my Very First, All Alone, All Mine, Apartment and Had Just Gotten Back from Christmas with my Family When I got REALLY, REALLY Sick. What's New? Anyway, I Sat Cuddled Up in Blankets and Pillows on My Inherited from My Former Roomates' Couch, Crying, Feeling So Lonely and So Grown Up in My All Mine Apartment, Watching Season 4 without Having Seen Seasons1-3. I Immediately Felt Understood. I Felt Comforted. I was Able to Distract My Mind from the Pain and Get Past the Moment b/c of the "Gilmore Girls". Cheesy? Lame? Whatever!! It's My Truth. It's How I found GG and It's Why I am STILL, Ten Years Later, a SERIOUS Fan. With That Said, I am Taking This Gilmore Girls Revival, VERY SERIOUS!! So, Much So That I Took the "Don't Blab the Final Four Words" Pledge. My Fellow Fans Will Understand, "Read the Button Missy!!". For Any Other GG Fans Reading This, You Can Follow This Link to Take the Pledge as Well By Clicking Here --> Town of Stars Hollow !!! Happy Binge Watching!!!
I Have A Very Bad Habit of When Waking Up & Immediately Feeling Behind in the Day Ahead. It Doesn't Matter What Time I Wake or if I've Set an Alarm, Have a Long To-Do List or A Casual Day In Front of Me. I Wake Feeling Already Defeated & I KNOW That is the Enemy Starting his Day by Attacking the Start of Mine. Knowing This Means That w Each Morning I Have to Make Some Immediate Choices. I Have to Choose to Overcome the Feeling of Immediate Defeat. If I Wake Up Sick & In Pain I H...ave to Choose to Believe That Even That Has A Purpose That Could Bring Him Glory. I Have to Choose to Start the Day at A Pace That Allows Me to Feel His Presence, His Guiding Force & Love for Me. I Have to Choose to Start the Day Seeing Little Accomplishments as Big Deals. He is w You in Every Step of Your Day, but it is Up to You to Hand Those Steps Over to Him. It is a Choice to Say Whatever This Day Holds, Lord, its Yours.
As the days pass and we get closer to Christmas I want to continue to give you the following 1. music to soundtrack your season, 2. encouraging words to help you feel less alone in a season where it can be so easy to wallow in loneliness, and 3. an array of ideas for this oh so busy season of giving. I will be sharing DIY's, like the "Invitation Keepsake Ornament" found HERE , recipes, decor, multipurpose hacks, small businesses I trust and recommend as well as discounts and deals that I come across. I will also be sharing gifts that I have received or given and would highly recommend. Recommendations is where we will be starting.
I have some of the most beautiful, smart, generous and creative friends that a gal could ever ask for. They keep me reminded of their love and support for me year 'round, but on my birthday they really go above and beyond to make me feel loved and celebrated. This year I received several packages, which is always exciting. I will forever be a child at Christmas when it comes to opening presents. I can't even help it. Blame my mom for making Christmas so awesome. Lol!!
I have a bit of "map key" system when it comes to mail that I receive from my friends. Over the years they have each left their undeniable mark with their mailings. Sometimes my friends forget to put a card in the box saying who the gift is from or a return label that would identify them. It has kinda made getting their mail that much more fun, cause we all know my affection for mail. For example, I have one friend that the return label is usually to an explosives factory, fire extinguisher company, etc. I usually end up texting her asking if I should call the bomb squad to come open this piece of mail. One of my other friends is a momma of three and an Army wife so, to say her hands are always full is a bit of an understatement. However, she never forgets me and for several years in a row her gifts included random parts of toys that her children had thrown into the box with out her knowing. I do my best to get them back to her, but it is hilarious none the less. The text to her usually goes, "are you missing a piece to that leggo battle ship? Cause I think I have it.". Another friend usually tends to forget to put a card in at all. Her goals are usually to drop me a text so I know something is on it's way, but she is a forever busy kind of gal and sometimes that gets forgotten and what usually happens is that it suddenly appears. I rarely actually see the delivery man when dropping off this friends mail. It just appears as if out of no where. The lack of return label or note actually lets me know who it's from. LOL!! She is where this very clever Blue Apron gift came from. When her gifts arrive it usually ends up me texting her asking if she sent (fill in the blank) and her going "I meant to text you!!", LOL!! I love it!! It is something consistent. Something that I have come to expect from them and I love that none of them are the same in their care package mailing ways. It encourages me to be creative in what I send. Anyway, one of my birthday gifts this year was a Blue Apron box.
Blue Apron Egg
Blue Apron is a pre-planned and pre-organized meal delivery. You can order for a family of two or a family of 4. It can be modified for certain specifications such as vegetarian, but all food, ingredients, etc. are assembled in the same space so it is recommended that if you have a severe food allergy that this might not be the service for you. You can order once or you can set up a regular delivery. Blue Apron also offers a variety of supplies, cooking utensils, wine, etc. in their online shop. I received a meal box. It had three meals each serving two so, I had left overs for the next day. The box included three recipes that gave detailed instructions as well as photo's. It also included everything needed to cook the food. Well, everything other than the oil to cook it in, the salt and pepper. My box included a chicken, fish and beef meal each with sides. As I mentioned, each meal has a detailed recipe page, ingredients that are labeled and pre-measured, as well as the meat that each meal centers around.
The box that it is all sent in is layered with a variety of cooling/frozen packing things to keep everything fresh on it's way to your door. I was very impressed by their packaging/cooling system.
Chicken
Chicken, Potato & Brussel Sprouts
For me this was a great gift!! I sometimes struggle with what to cook/eat. Especially when I am just cooking for me. This gift gave my poor meal planning mind a good rest while technically providing 6 meals. Ya know, seeing as I didn't have to share with anyone. The first meal was baked, breaded Chicken with potatoes and brussel sprouts (pictured above). I absolutely LOVED how everything was already labeled and measured out so that you knew exactly what to add when. It took so much stress out of cooking. I also was so glad that they included a detailed list of ingredients for each recipe and pictures as you follow the instructions. I'm a visual learner so pictures are super helpful for me!!!
My other meals were a fish meal and a beef meal. I didn't get pictures of those because I forgot. My bad. But, the burger was a pimento cheese burger with the side of collard greens. At the moment I am not allowed to eat dairy so, I modified this recipe to better suit my needs by leaving out the pimento cheese. That is another perk to this system. Once you receive your box you can mix and match your items if needed.
Collard Greens
All in all Blue Apron is a Stacie Recommended and Discount Diva Approved gift idea for Christmas 2016. When you consider the cost of a restaurant meal, to go meal, or even heading to the grocery to gather up all ingredients for three meals that serve two, this is actually a very cost effect program. Plus they offer discounts for first time customers!
When deciding what to cook for myself, but more so when I have company I have a bit of a rule that I plan by. What am I willing to sacrifice? You are going to sacrifice something, it's inevitable. You will either sacrifice extra finances by eating at a restaurant or ordering to-go food, but that will allow you time with your dinner guest, family/friends, etc. No cooking. No cleaning. No muss. No fuss. Or, you sacrifice time, time spent at the grocery store, time meal planning, meal prepping, actual cooking, serving and then clean up. Taking away from your quality time with your guests or even just your own personal down time. I'm not saying eat out every meal and I'm not saying cook every meal. I'm saying there is a balance and it's up to you to decide what works for you and your family in your day to day. Blue Apron definitely helps out with that decision process now and then.
Blue Apron Recipe Sheets
and Fresh Veggies/Fruit Ingredients
I hope that this little review of Blue Apron helps you if you are considering trying it out or are trying to come up with a creative gift. Happy Meal and Gift Planning!!!
Insecurity Manifests in A Variety of Ways. The More Obvious is Our Outward Appearance, Which is Often the Very Thing Making Us Insecure. Hair to Hide Our Face. Make-Up to Cover Our "Flaws". Clothes Too Tight or Two Sizes Too Big to Disguise Our Bodies Natural Shapes. While Looks Are Often Our First Thought When it Comes to Insecurities They Aren't The Only Place Insecurities Live. Some Feel Inadequate in Their Academic Standings. Some Feel Less Social & Left Out b/c of Thei...r Inability to be Comfortable in a Crowd. Insecurities Also Manifest Through Our Socials. Y'all Know One of My Major Social Media Philosophies is "That it is What You Make It". Your Socials Can Be a Place of Humor, Inspiration, Encouragement, Sharing of Real Life & Momentous Events or it Can Be A Place of Complete Vanity, Bragging, Tearing Down, Bullying, Mean Girl-ing, Exclusivity, Moping, Hate Speech, or Doom & Gloom. It Is ALL Up to You. Let NO ONE Dim Your Sparkle, Enthusiasm, Affection , Belief & Passion for Positive Posting Just b/c it Makes Them Uncomfortable, Annoyed or Brings to Light for Them, Their Insecurities. Let No One's Hate Speech Toward You, Virtual Picking On You, or Attempts at Edited Perfection & Exclusivity Take Away the Desire You Have in Using Your Little Space of Virtual Reality for Good. Often, These Things Have More to do w/ Who They Are Than Who You Are. ~ I Struggle to Keep My Insecurities at Bay, but Sharing My Weaknesses & The Things the Lord is Teaching Me w/ You Helps Me to Keep it Somewhat Manageable. EVERYONE Has Insecurities. I Don't Care Who You Are. No One is 100% Confident w 100% of Who They Are, A 100% of the Time. Everyone Has their Moments. You Have Been Made Uniquely You for a Reason. Even Your "Flaws" Have Purpose if You Let Them. Be Encouraged Today. You Are Smart. You Are Beautiful/Handsome. You Are Loved!
