My Child To Be

To My Child to be,

There is only one of you. Amongst a sea of rainbow faces that tell you to fall into line, you stand out. March at your own pace and tell them why. I will SUPPORT it. Always. You are beautiful. Do not let the pages of a glossy magazine dictate how you should feel about yourself. Everyone is different and that in itself is beauty. Seek knowledge. We were not put on this earth to obtain degrees. Just seek knowledge from all avenues of life and I will be satisfied. Read the books you are supposed to read, and then read the books you aren’t supposed to read. They usually teach you more. Read labels, old Journals, Street Signs, and newspapers. Make your own decisions about them. Know that Parents are people too, and we aren’t always right. Know that times change, but morals don’t. Be a good person. Give more than you take. Listen carefully. Laugh loudly. Love immensely. I will support whomever you love. Choose wisely. Grow things. Start with wildflowers, you can’t go wrong. Be humble, for life is a gift. Crying is okay, that’s what chocolate is for. You can play whatever sport you like, and love whatever color you love. Follow your dreams with your feet on the ground. I will support your aspirations. Speak up for yourself; it’s how your Mother survives. Be empowered. I would do anything for your happiness.

Love,
Mommy.

Scarves

I love scarves because they remind me of the time I left you.

I love the memory of untying my red silk scarf on the side of the highway

In the middle of the night.

Jewelry fell from it like glittering confetti twinkling in the dark.

They scattered down the grassy ditch alongside the dew drops

Which were far more priceless.

As I drove, I can feel the memories flying out of the open window

Like a road map I once so desperately needed

in order to find my way around.

I once thought Love meant a constant aching need.

To be accepted. To be praised. To be valued.

I was wrong.

I once thought that anger meant passion

and passion meant pain.

Nascence fills my throat and wells into my eyes.

my hands grip the leather wheel and I exhale

and I scream so loud...

I am not sure if it's a cry of joy or sorrow.

But maybe a little bit of both.

Fireflies trail my Volvo.

They know I am on my way to something miraculous.

I am a Woman.

This occurs to me.

A woman Without a map.

Warm ,exhausted and determined.

But the world is Rich with harvest.

The scarf no longer hides my face.

It adorns it.

Face....

I have one.

Voice....

I have one too.

This is enough for me.

A smile spreads across my berry mouth.

I am full and ripe and blush

Broad and grand and flush.

Throbbing electric glow.

With a fearsome wing span.

I will make it. I will grow.

Towards the city without a plan.


To dip my toes in a freedom

of tomorrow.

This is what I vowed.

Baleen for the Rainy days

and Silver paint for the clouds.

Jesus shows up at Walmart

So I decided I am gonna talk about some media/celeb stuff on this blog...to change it up a little. The latest? A couple from North Carolina Claim to possess a receipt with the image if Christ on it.

Gentry Lee Sutherland and Jacob Simmons got the receipt after paying for photos at Walmart. The couple noticed the image several days after their Walmart purchase and believe it to be blessed. "People are going to believe what they want to believe," said Sutherland.
"There's tons of people who will say, 'Oh, we're in the Bible Belt,' but here's my question to the doubters, who else has the power to put their face on a check-out receipt but Jesus?" The couple plan to keep the receipt and share it with close relatives and loved ones.


If you ask me, it's about time Walmart found a little Jesus.

Easy Breezy Baked Mac and Cheezy

Woah. Before you run away, must I remind you? I NEVER give you hard stuff right? So don't worry about it! Here is my little secret..this recipe uses BOXED macaroni and cheese! Feel better? Good! You will feel even more amazing once you taste it. So let's get started. You will need:


1 or 2 boxes of your fav. brand Mac and cheese. ( Depending on how many people are eating,
1 box generally serves 2 people )

Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Grated Parmesan Cheese. (I used a Parmesan/Romano mix)

2 cups of milk

1 tablespoon of Butter.

2 tablespoons of Cream Cheese.

Bread crumbs.

OPTIONAL MIX INS: Spicy sausage, chicken, chopped broccoli.

Preheat Oven to 370 degrees.

Step 1: Prepare Macaroni as directed on box, drain, leaving pasta moist. ( While pasta is boiling saute any mix In's you want to use, so that they are cooked)

Step 2: Over low flame add cheese packet, 1 cup of milk, butter, cream cheese, and sprinkle in some shredded cheddar and Parmesan until it is gooey.Salt and Pepper to taste. A dash of garlic powder, if desired.

Add Mix In's Last. Stir.

Step 3: Pour Macaroni into a casserole dish and layer with Cheddar Cheese, and Parmesan. If you are making a lot, alternate cheese and pasta layers until you run out of pasta, ending with Cheese layer on top.

Step 4: Pour 1 cup of milk over the entire dish. Sprinkle with a light layer of bread crumbs.

Step 5: Bake for about 30 minutes, or until cheese starts to bubble and bread crumbs start to toast lightly.

Serve with a Hawaiian roll, and a beer. :)


YOU ARE WELCOME.

If you liked this recipe, check out my other easy recipes in the sidebar.





Have any easy cooking tips? Ideas? Comment below!

Tiffany Says:

Dear Tiffany,

I have been with my boyfriend for two and a half years. However, I have known him for 5, as we went to college together. I would like to get engaged, but every time I bring it up, he changes the subject. I am getting really annoyed. I think that we are both at a good time in our lives to do it, and I don't understand why he won't propose. I know that I am a good girlfriend and that I will be a good wife. What is his deal?
Sincerely,
Tired of Waiting.



Dear Tired,

The first thing I need you to do is ask yourself why you want to be engaged/get married. Why is it important to you? You need to identify why you need this, before you can go about trying to make it happen. The reason being is that many women do not know why they want this in the first place. Sit down and ask yourself why you desire this. What does marriage mean to you? What will benefit from it? I noticed you said, "We are both at a good time in our lives to do it" You have to realize, that getting married is not something that you can put up on a timeline, though many people do just that. What may be a good time for you, may NOT be a good time for him. Likewise, getting married is a beautiful thing, but it is also a lifelong commitment that should not be ventured into lightly. Just because you feel like it's a good time, is not a good reason for getting married.

Other illogical reasons for getting hitched are as follows: You think it will improve your relationship. This is a very bad idea. The relationship should be secure before you enter into marriage. Too many times, young women think that marriage will help their guy "grow up" and it backfires on them. Putting undo pressure on someone to get married is not only unfair, it is unhealthy and the marriage may suffer from it. Getting married because your family wants you to, or because all your friends are is also not good. Do not let other people rush you in life. It is your life, and you are going to be the one who has to live it.

Once you have sat down and evaluated why you want this, it is time to have a talk with your significant other. Tell him exactly why you want this. Maybe you want to start a family, maybe you want to spend the rest of your life with this person and this ceremony will symbolize that.
Make sure to talk it out calmly. If you are expressing your love, your tone should be loving. Avoid arguing, accusations, or any high pressure/ triggering words. Tell them exactly what you want and why. Important* Ask them what they want as well. You may just find out, that they may not want the same things as you, or may not want them when you do. Remember, there are two people in this relationship. Tell him/her why you are ready NOW. You two may have to come to a decision on when is a good time for you both to take that step. Keep in mind, that you may realize that he may NOT want marriage at at all.

Remember, no matter how much you love someone, if they are not headed in the same general direction you are...it may be best to move on. Never deal with someone who is not open to hearing your feelings, or criticizes you for feeling them. Your feelings are very valid. If you are dealing with someone who is unwilling to compromise or listen to you, this is not the person for you. These conversations should be healthy ones, which help the both of you get on the same page, and nurture your future together. Being criticized for expressing your desires, is wrong. You are worth more than that, and you are worth being heard.

Lastly, I want to say: Marriage can be a beautiful thing, and a wonderful step in your life, but it doesn't always equal happiness. If you are happy right now, the way things are... cherish it and enjoy it because in the end, it is about your BOND with your partner, and not about a piece of paper.

Tiffany Says: Advice blogs coming soon!

I will be giving "Ask Abby" style advice to all of you who write in. Ask me for advice on relationships, school, fashion ,writing, cooking e.t.c..Anything really. I will do my best to answer from experience and research. All questions will remain anonymous on my blog. So what are you waiting for? Ask away!!

Email: Tiffanywrites@rocketmail.com

Letting Go...

I know it still hurts you. I know it still hurts to hear their name. That lump in your throat just aching to take over and steal your voice. Threatening to take control of you and clinging to your heart, with every beat, you feel the past. Like Wisteria climbing the walls of your soul. Weeping. Seething. Aching. Heavy with Sorrow. Tonight though, my love, it is time to let it go.

Nothing comes of holding onto old wounds. Nothing comes of crying for what should have been, or could have been. FORGIVE those who have hurt you. Forgive them wholeheartedly with lungs full of sweet air and arms full of compassion. Let your forgiveness fill every vein , until you succumb to the release that only forgiveness brings. It is time. It is time to do yourself the favor of moving on. It is time to stop letting anger tear you down, limb by limb. Forgiveness is power. It is taking your life back. It is knowing that you survived. That you are not a victim, you are not bitter. You have lived and you have learned.

Forgiveness is having the last laugh, and not a vengeful laugh, but a deep guttural, from the bottom of your belly laugh. Forgiveness is a long sigh on a lily pad, a field of untouched snow, a new chapter. It is the chapter where you realize you're gonna read the book, because you can't put it down now...you want to see what happens next. Forgiveness is not about them. It is about you. Let it go today. Make the choice to not let the past dictate the future. You are where you are for a reason. You followed the path you were supposed to take. Keep going...keep going. Tomorrow is a new day, and you have things to do.