Faves

Some of my current faves.

We'll start with food. Why not?
Since my daughter and I started the South Beach eating plan last week, here are some of my fave meals.

Le petit dejeuner (breakfast...sounds nice in French, non?)
omelette filled with cheddar cheese, Canadian bacon, onion, with diced avocado over the top

Dejeuner (lunch)
Artisan greens and lovely Campari tomatoes I got from Sam's...(going back for more today) ~ Mixed greens, tomatoes, cilantro, fresh jalapeno, blue cheese crumbles, golden raisins, dried cranberries, pecans, blue cheese vinaigrette...and a seasoned hamburger patty! I know...that doesn't sound good but it is! Weirdly, the combination is delicious.

Le diner (dinner)
Another salad!

This summer I have been lax on eating fresh vegetables so it's good to catch up by eating salads. The key to prevent boredom is the combination of flavors. Try different types of lettuce...not just the trusty Romaine. Butter lettuces, artisan lettuce, baby spinach, a new to you salad dressing...slivered almonds, pecans, walnuts...goat cheese is so mild and delicious, too.

My favorite drink any time of year: Arnold Palmer

Here's how I do it: I brew my own tea and I like it strong. Currently I am using Lipton tea bags (Publix often has them as a BOGO), but I like Tetley quite a bit, too.
We buy Simply Lemonade (SL) and I just found it at Sam's Club for a great price. It's in a 2 pack for less than $4. Other than ChickFilA lemonade, I think it's the best.
We fix our AP's by the glass. I always have brewed tea available. I like less lemonade than my husband so fixing it by the glass works great for us.
Tervis tumbler + ice + home brewed tea (strong) + SL lemonade = my favorite drink!

Fave books at this time:
The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven by Kevin and Alex Malarkey, published by Tyndale. I found this book at Sam's Club. I think I was led to it. Amazing.
p. 114 "I had seen a lot of angels in Heaven, but that was when I wasn't in my body. After two months I finally came out of my coma, but I couldn't talk. I knew what I wanted to say, but I couldn't say it. That was really hard."

p.47 -48 "Heaven is not the next world; it is now. Heaven is not up in the sky; it is everywhere and nowhere. Heaven is a place that is not a place. It's eternal. All other places end. Heaven is a time with no past, present, or future...it is always now. When I was in the car, I tried to move my legs. I realized that they would not move. I went through a light and I heard music. Then I was in the presence of God."

Heaven by Randy Alcorn published by Tyndale
p. 54 "Often our thinking is backwards. Why do we imagine that God patterns Heaven's holy city after an earthly city, as if Heaven knows nothing of community and culture and has to get its ideas from us? Isn't it more likely that earthly realities, including cities, are derived from heavenly counterparts? We tend to start with Earth and reason up toward Heaven, when instead we should start with Heaven and reason down toward Earth. It isn't merely an accomodation to our earthly familial structure, for instance, that God calls himself a father and us children. On the contrary, he created father-child relationshiops to display his relationship with us, just as he created human marriage to reveal the love relationship between Christ and his bride (Ephesians 5:32)."

p. 69 "If the martyrs in Heaven know that God hasn't yet brought judgment on their persecutors (Revelation 6:9-11), it seems evident that the inhabitants of the present Heaven can see what's happening on Earth, at least to some extent. When Babylon is brought down, an angel points to events happening on Earth and says, "Rejoice over her, O heaven! Rejoice, saints and apostles and prophets! God has judged her for the way she treated you" (Revelation 18:20). That the angel specifically addresses people living in Heaven indicates they're aware of what's happening on Earth."

Fave Activity: running and or walking with a friend
I am not a "let's do lunch or coffee" kind of woman. I like to move. I think I have an "issue" with feeling trapped when I am inside sitting down. I like the freedom of physical movement and the big sky and green grass, palm trees, flowers...scents of nature...birds flying...spotting wildlife even if it's just a turtle on the road of life...sandy beaches...


"Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Walk beside me and be my friend."
~ Albert Camus
One exception to "doing lunch or dinner" is the occasional "date night" we share with another couple. Good conversation, trying new food, kindred spirits...

"To like and dislike the same things, that is indeed true friendship." ~ Sallust
But, Jen, the jury is still out on my "like" of anchovies...one little salty fish at at time...

And just for fun...my shower buddy. Yeah...not that kind.
Olay total effects body wash ~

I think that about covers it: food for the body, spirit and soul. And a little moisturization helps, too.
Have a beautiful day!

"One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
To behold (to perceive, contemplate with pleasure) the beauty of the Lord,
And to meditate in His temple."
Psalm 27:4