Sweet Potato Fries

    On my quest for a better body, I am trying to find alternatives for some of my weaknesses.  One of my biggest "guilty-don't-eat-me" food is french fries.  From the research (and Lord only knows why I would need to research this little fact) french fries is probably one of the worst foods someone could eat.  REALLY!?!?!?!  Just kidding, I knew that, but on a Saturday nite after watching an entire football game so that I can see my one little clarinet player march (for 7 minutes) with the marching band, then picking her up at midnite after the game -- fresh fruit unfortunately is not the first stop. Usually it's a burger and fries --- baaad. 
     A yummy alternative to regular french fries would be the sweet potato fry.  These are very simple to make.  Slice a sweet potato, toss with a little olive oil and the seasonings of your choice (paprika, sea salt, garlic, pepper) then bake on a cookie sheet lined with foil paper at 450 for 20 minutes.  There are lots of varieties of this recipe on line to try.  Give them a try!

NATURE'S CANDY

One of the many things I look forward to during the summer months is the wonderful fruits that are found in the grocery store.  My favorite fruit of all times of course is watermelon.  So many of my childhood memories, with my parents and grandparents include summer days on the back porch eating a huge slice of watermelon with a box of salt by my side (yep!! I said it -- SALT!!) .  Of course, I still enjoy watermelon now - but without the salt.  I can't imagine destroying the wonderful sweetness of watermelon by sprinkling it with salt. 

I trully believe that fresh fruit is a gift from God.  He knows that we crave sweetness in our tummies and our lives -- thus -- fruit is born.  This summer my daughter and I have spent many days sitting on our patio - enjoying a slice of ice cold watermelon, on a hot Texas day.  I hope that I have created a good "watermelon" memory for her to share with her friends and family one day.

Retail Therapy?!?!

A couple of weeks ago a co-worker posted on FaceBook that she needed a little "retail therapy" to make herself happy again.  I just about lost it!  I thought that was funniest thing ever, but I definetly agreed with her there is nothing like a little retail therapy to make a girl happy.  Retail therapy can be costly these days (financing a college student's summer living expenses and a teenage at home!!).  My oldest daughter- living on a budget- introduce me to Ross - sort of a discount store.  These stores claim to purchase overstocked items from other companies and then pass the savings on to the consumer.  Now - due to my great respect I have for those "Fashionistas" in the know - I promised myself to NEVER post anything about fashion - however I am about to break that promise.  THIS IS NOT ABOUT FASHION - it's about living on a strict summer budget while maintaining necessary retail therapy.  So, with that in mind here is my pic of some recent deals I got a Ross and Payless Shoe Store.

I purchased these two really cute t-shirts by Candy Rain from Ross - total cost $12.00 dollars and a black cotton blend jacket for $6.99.  The sandles - which I love - cost $12.00 from Payless.  Okay, so it's not Anne Klein, Marc Jacobs or Michael Kors, but it's fun and cute.  At least I think it's cute.  So I got a little therapy for under $35.00 (if you don't count the Starbucks Passion Ice Tea I stopped for on the drive home).  Okay so , I took the plunge, I'm putting myself out there for criticism.  But hey, this blog is about the THINGS THAT I LUV.  I love a good deal, retail therapy, lunch with my girl friends and just plain old having fun.

Wimbeldon 2010 - SERENA!!!

Happy 4th of July everyone.  I love the 4th of July, fireworks -illegal in my sub-division , hotdogs, beer, chips, salsa - all illegal on my diet.  I'm just going to be illegal and have fun doing it.  Anyways, I just want to say, I am so proud of Serena and her Wimbeldon win!! So in her honor, Sunday morning Mimosas are in order.  A little orange juice mixed with a little sparkling wine.  Yum yum!

                                                                         Mimosas in the Morning

My Quest for Better Health

    
     When I was a little girl, my mom had a book entitled, Better Than Medicine.  It was almost like a bible to her, she was constantly reading, underlining, and rabbit-earring the pages.  She told me that basically the book was teaching her how to live a healthy life style.  Her moto was - preventative care is better than medicine.  I never really understood what she meant until I became a mom.  A few months ago, I was watching a news program about the rising cost of medical care - I had a light bulb moment.  If I did not start taking better care of myself today, what type of medical care could I possibly afford as a senior citizen.  Today my mom is 81 and with the exception of a little dementia, she is in great physical health.
    I made a committment after seeing that news piece that preventive care would lessen my chances for needing meds for heart disease, diabetes, cancer and all the other unknowns.  My first stop - signing up at the gym - I love Pure Fitness (women only - oh yes!)   I feel so much better - physically and mentally since taking on this challenge. 

Monday Nite TakeOut - Sushi

                                         Temptation Roll and Spicy Crunch Roll


 My daughter and I had such a busy weekend, we thought cooking a meal tonite was out of the question (good girl, since I'm the one who cooks).  We both agreed nothing would be better than Sushi take-out.  Just a few years ago if my husband would have suggested we eat Sushi instead of burgers and fries from McDonald's or Burger King, I would have thought he was a nut!  If you have never tried Sushi before, give it a try - I promise you'll love it.  There's no need to go to an expensive Japanese restaurant, lots of grocery stores, like H.E.B and Kroger's, makes it fresh on the spot.  It's much better than greasy fries and burgers.  Chow.

Happy Father's Day - A Tribute to My Dad

1916-1974

     When I got the idea to pay tribute to my dad on Father's Day, I wasn't quite sure what I would write about.  My dad was a hard working man, who put his family first.  Born in Louisiana, in 1916, he was poor and was only able to get a 3rd grade education.  He worked in the fields with his mother and siblings until he was old enough to join the military (one of the few options available to poor Black males in that era).  He overcame many obstacles - racism, the inability to read and write, poverty.   One day he met my mom and together they made a committment to raise a family together.

My father worked for U.S. Steel Company for many years, purchased property and designed a home to raise us in.  As a school teacher, I use my father as an example to my students of all races, that anyone, can overcome obstacles in their lives.  My father's mom died when he was young, he could not read or write - he signed an X for his signature on many documents, yet he was able to work and accomplish what so many people say that "they can't".  If Lawrence Charles could accomplish, anyone can accomplish.  My mom taught my dad to recognize the names of his favorite baseball teams and to understand the numbers.  He then learned to sign his own name.  He raised a family to love all people, no matter their race or religion.  Bigotry was not allowed in our home.  My sister and I learned so much from him - and this is why we are successful today.  I love to share his story with my students and today I get to share it with the world. My dad died on Easter morning, 1974, but he forever lives in my heart.

 Happy Father's Day to my dad, and to all the dad's around the world.