The Evils of Social Media

I googled that exact phrase. Some articles I found defended social media and some ripped any type of credibility to shreds. All I can say is what I feel. You might thoroughly disagree.

Blogging is a type of social media. It is a way to interact indirectly or sometimes directly, with others. There are controls which allow us to limit who can view posts, add their comments, or share a link. Facebook is another, as well as Twitter and LinkedIn and Pinterest and Myspace and goodness knows what else is out there (that I am A-okay with not knowing about).  It can be overwhelming. That’s what I’ve found I’ve been feeling lately, toward social media and networking specifically, overwhelmed.  It is like an emotional rollercoaster – sometimes you are so excited to read about something or hear good news and other times you might find yourself jealous, envious, and cynical. That’s arduous.

So for November, I’ve taken a break from Facebook. I have to admit … I slipped up while in Denver and “checked-in” at the H&M store. But! I am very proud to say I have not browsed around, stalked, or had a single rollercoaster emotion for several days – at least in regard to Facebook. I’m a girl. Rollercoasters, unfortunately, are natural phenomena in everyday life. Hence the reason I am trying to lessen the amount of up’s and down’s in my day!

I am sad to report that I have turned to Pinterest to fulfill my sad addiction that is perusing the endless depths of a social media sight…However, I will now be giving that up as well. Pinterest is just as addicting and overwhelming as Facebook. At first I didn’t think it was. At first I thought it was just people being carefree and posting pictures of things they like or enjoy. At first I viewed it as an outlet for self expression. Then it happened. I started seeing people post pictures of how they hoped to look one day, recipes for all foods “skinny”, pin boards titled “one of these days…” for the girls longing to find Mr. Right, DIY trends that only few people can really pull off, family and baby photographs, etc.

It hit me today. I need to stop looking at these things. They make me long for things, contribute to my fears, and leave me feeling hopeless and empty. The only ones I like to see are the inspirational quotes that help me get through the day or someecards (someecards.com) that make me laugh even when I don’t want to.

Here is to not succumbing to social media pressures to be a certain way, want a certain thing, and envy others. Here is to counting my blessing. Here is to taking it one day at a time. Letting go and letting God. Social media shadows my life too much and inhibits my ability to bear the fruit of the spirit.

Fear of the Unknown - Dun, Dun, Dun!

I am a scaredy cat.


I'm afraid of everything. It is super annoying. Even things I don't want to be afraid of and try not be afraid of, plague me. I'm afraid of dying. I'm afraid of close family and friends dying. I'm afraid of having my heart broken. I'm afraid of pillows over my face. I'm afraid of getting hurt. I'm afraid of judgment day. I'm afraid of quitting. I'm afraid of flying. I'm afraid I won't get the opportunity to experience certain things in life. I am a wimp. That's all there is to it.


Why do we constantly live in fear? All of us. We are all afraid of one thing or another. I might be a total weirdo because I am afraid of so many things.


Lately I've been thinking about all the reasons why I fear these things and ways to overcome them. I really think that, for me at least, I am afraid of the unknown.  I'm not sure how Heaven will be if I die; I don't know how I would cope with someone close to me passing away; I know what a broken heart feels like and I am so afraid of it happening again because, quite frankly, it sucks - not just in the romantical sense of the phrase...I don't know how I will feel when I can't breath because of the pillow; I don't know how I will feel if I break a bone; I don't know what will happen to me on judgment day; I don't know how my employer will take it if I quit; I'm not sure what will happen if I fall out of the sky in an airplane; I don't know the "what if" of an opportunity if I don't take it or miss out on it for one reason or another. 


We facebook, twitter, and blog stalk people just to be "in the know". We thrive to know what's going to happen next. God didn't put us on this earth to be comfortable. Things will always change. We will always have to face a fear of some sort. We will never know what is going to happen in the next 5 minutes, 5 months, or 5 years.


I found a great website that listed some amazing Bible verses that address fear, specifically, and they gave me a lot of hope and new found peace in the unknown.  Faith is one of a few options to overcome fear. I'm not a "get over it" type of person - so - I find ways AROUND it....like reading Bible verses that give me warm fuzzies and allow me to feel safe, even if just for a moment. I hope you find comfort in the unknown. It's a struggle. Imagine how boring life would be if we knew what was going to happen next. Try taking a leap of FAITH - literally - see what happens....I guarantee you won't fall on your face.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)

For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. (Isaiah 41:13)

Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.  The Egyptians you see today you will never see again." (Exodus 14:13)

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)

The Lord is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)

But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God." (Luke 1:30)

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people." (Luke 2:10)

So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can Man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:6)

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)

Do not be afraid - Me

Deductibles, Donations, and Deductions

Money sucks. Doesn’t it? It does. It can be your best friend or your worst enemy, a catch-22 type thing. Sometimes you feel like you will never get out of a hole you might be in but aren’t saying you’re in because you’re ashamed that you might possibly even be in that situation. Working in the field I work in, I’ve learned that even wealthy people make poor financial decisions – the bad part is, the repercussions  they face are greater than us poor or middle-class folk’s might face. Mo’ money, mo’ problems – as the philosophers of the rap world say.  So, today it’s about money.

Money and the holidays, two things that go hand in hand, creating the perfect storm of stress and worry. This year I am doing what I should have done as soon as I was out of my parents’ house. This year financial contributions will be made in the name of my loved ones to charities in lieu of gifts.  Each member of my immediate family will admit that if they want something, they can get in their car, go to the store, and buy it. We are fortunate. We are blessed. No, we aren’t buying Ferrari’s or multiple pairs of Louboutin shoes, or even Tiffany’s jewelry for ourselves. Our needs have been met, that’s all.  

I am actually really proud of myself. I have never been good at saving money or budgeting. But, when forced to do the inevitable, I had to get good at those things – and fast. Ever heard of an insurance deductible? Well, I met mine this year after a lovely appendectomy. I never knew what ‘deductible’ really meant because it was usually always in the thousands-of-dollars range so it was of no concern that I would ever ‘meet it’. Now I am an insurance knowledgebase.  I was forced, around June, to begin budgeting my spending and to create a pay-down plan for my astronomical (to me at least) deductible that I had, unfortunately, met. I am proud to announce that I will actually be able to use the medical deduction on my taxes this year! It’s been tough but well worth it. I haven’t splurged at a mall in months and I am actually going to survive! Through the months of budgeting and making ends meet, I was able to go on several trips and haven’t felt burdened at all.

I think that’s what has inspired my new approach to gift giving this year. Knowing that I am ok without material items has shown me how insignificant ‘stuff’ is at times.

This year is going to be different (except for my niece, she’s a baby, she gets tangible gifts!) This year my priorities will be better organized. This year is going to be a struggle, but finally not financially. This year I am going to try to focus on why we gather for Thanksgiving and the true meaning of Christmas. Instead of joining the mad dashers, and die hard sale finders for “Black Friday” shopping, I will be relaxing at my parents’ house after a fabulous meal the day before, without a stress or worry in the world (maybe, I can dream, can’t I???). This year it’s not about the ‘stuff’ I might be given or receive. This year I will be filled with the fruit of the Spirit.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/78831884/ministry-of-poster-r044-fruit-of-the

 

Cook by Picture - Shrimp Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

Think paint by number - kitchen style - and you got...

"cook by picture"

Use your judgment on the amounts, hopefully you can tell from the pictures! There are three parts

1. Portobello Mushroom Caps

2. Shrimp Mixture for "Stuffing"

3. Bread Crumb Topping

Have fun with it and ENJOY! 

Ingredients

Peeled, cooked, chopped, cooled baby shrimp

Two Mushroom Caps - gutted and rinsed off

All ingredients shown above mixed together

Bread crumb topping ingredients

This is a small bowl

Before cooking

Cook at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes

Surround the 'shroom with steamed broccoli (I added a little parmesan cheese to the broccoli)

OK I WILL HELP YOU OUT!

Measurements - for those who MUST measure everything out - in order of the first picture:

-1 tablespoon of Dijon Mustard (If you don't like Dijon, just buy it, there are other recipes - tuna melts and baked chicken - that you can use it in for some awesome flavor!)
-2 tablespoons of parmesan cheese (I did 4 pinches; I like cheese!)
-2 cloves garlic, minced
-Couple shakes of the parsley (2 teaspoons)
-Squirt of Lemon Juice (2 teaspoons)
-3 scoops (tablespoons) of Onion and Chive Cream Cheese Spread
-Enough cooked shrimp to feed 2 people (about 3-4 ounces; I cooked mine with a little EVO Oil and minced garlic)

Bread Crumb Mix - seriously, eye ball it. If you melt the butter (and 2 cloves of minced garlic) and bread crumbs and it's too dry, add a LITTLE more butter. On the other hand, if it's too moist, add another shake of bread crumbs.

Note - The "stuffing" tastes awesome. I am not a mushroom fan so I only ate half of it (and all my VEGGIES!).

#3 Online Shopping Inspiration {Series} - Final

Preface (from the 1st post and 2nd post in the series)- Do you ever see things hung up in someone’s home and you wonder if they even know what it says? If it has any meaning to them or not? Maybe you don’t, but I do. As I was shopping online the other day I ran across these little poster, hanging, canvas print decoration things and began to think about what each one said and meant to me, not that I would readily hang them up all over my apartment or anything.  I will post one a day until I run out of things to say about them. I have to limit it to one [or two!]  a day so I don’t bore you with my chatter:

Do you catch yourself being cynical? Defensive? Contemptuous? How about slightly jaded from past experiences? Do you hold grudges? Is forgiveness hard? When people tell you to “let it go” do you want to punch them? Maybe not that dramatic, I know, but we all feel this way sometimes. If you don’t, just close your browser window and walk away, go see a counselor, because you’re in denial. (kidding)

“Change your thoughts and you’ll change the world”

YOUR thoughts, not someone else’s. You WILL change the world. I am guilty of assuming the person on the street corner is an alcoholic or druggie. I read a friend’s blog that talked about how her and her husband befriended a homeless couple (read about it here) and it really convicted me. Not all things are as they appear. Not all governmental figures are bad. Not all evangelists are in it for the money. Not all house wives are spoiled rotten. Not all clearance items at the mall are great deals. Changing the way we think, changes the way we interact with others, encourages and inspires positivity, and thus, can possibly change the world at a miniscule level or gargantuan level. The next poster, wall hanging, décor item is an excellent embellishment and compliment to this one; in other words, it completes my thought.

  

The other morning I performed a random act of kindness.

I was really early to work. Hungry, I decided to make a drive-thru run (VERY out of the ordinary for me) but I couldn’t help but think how good an egg and cheese taco sounded! I think I felt bad going through the drive through, first of all, and then realized I should probably bring some for my office. I would like to consider myself the taco fairy.

Yes, it was only tacos – but do you know how many “thank you’s” I received? Sometimes a taco goes a long way. I’m not a saint, just a taco fairy!

I remember in elementary school they were always talking about random acts of kindness. I couldn’t agree more, with the importance and effect said acts can have on a person, a family, a life, a city, a country, our world. Just like big gifts come in small packages, small acts can have a far-reaching, profound, and contagious effect on our lives. Movies like Babel and Crash always make me realize how we are all connected in some way. Surely you’ve received an act of kindness within the past week, pay it forward today. Set a goal – perform one act a week, then bump it up to twice a week, then maybe small acts every day.

See how you feel. Keep the cycle going. Change the world.

"Don't buy children for sex"

DID YOU KNOW....

12 Million children are kidnapped or sold into slavery each year.  200,000 children are smuggled into the United States of America each year.  Human trafficking of children is the 2nd largest growing crime in the world according to the United Nations.  In 2008, the Department of Justice released an alarming discovery: An estimated 300,000 children  between the ages of 11 and 18 are lured into trafficking are American Citizens. (Embassy of Hope Center website)

A few months ago I had the privilege of attending an event hosted by three beautiful (inside and out) girls C, C, & C (seriously). The event's purpose was to open the eyes and hearts of fellow friends to sex trafficking, promote knowledge of local sex trafficking, what all trafficking entails, and ways to help. There were snacks and items for sale from Eternal Threads, guest speakers, and incredible testimony by two sex trafficked, abused victims. Embassy of Hope Center's Elizabeth Crooks was one of the speakers who divuldged TONS of good-to-know information (along with a few other guest speakers).

To make a long story short, the title of this post is the ad campaign that Embassy of Hope Center and Shared Hope International have come up with to bring a provocative message to our city. In a message they write, "A cry for help. Reports are made. Investigation begins. The result? A child is rescued from the crime of human trafficking in San Antonio. A trafficker is prosecuted. Justice advances...San Antonio children are lured into a pimp culture that wants ownership of their spirit, soul, and bodies.  Manipulation is the game = capital gain. While drugs are sold once, a child is a precious commodity that is sold again and again."

The cost of the billboard is $4,000 per month per billboard. If 80 people donated $50, the board could get put up.

I encourage you, with everything in me, to host a gathering to sell eternal threads merchandise and get the word out about human trafficking in the USA and your community. It's just like hosting a Pampered Chef, Stella & Dot, or Scentsy party. It will be near-effortless, life changing, educational, eye-opening, and a huge blessing to so many victims.

If you would like to learn more about hosting a human trafficking awareness and Eternal Threads event, please contact me and I can help get it going! You don't have to sell anything, buy anything, give away anything, just open your home and invite your friends. If one person tells ten people, and each of those ten tell another ten, think of how quickly we can help promote, prevent, and eventually end trafficking in our local communities.

To donate to the ad campaign click here. To learn more about trafficking and what you can do, visit Embassy of Hope Center.  To purchase items from Eternal Threads, shop online. To contact me, click here.

[Eternal Threads establishes sustainable methods of helping women and their families, who live in poverty to increase their income enabling them to educate their children, buy nutritious food and medicine and other basic necessities. Increased livelihood will also help mitigate the risk of trafficking and exploitation that women and children in extreme poverty face.]

[Embassy of Hope Center is a 501(c)3, faith based, non-profit organization that specializes in professional training on issues of human trafficking, prevention education for at risk youth, and survivor care. Their services include advocacy for survivors and family reintegration assistance for exploited men, women, and children who are victims of crime such as forced prostitution, pronography, stripping, and other types of human trafficking.]

#2 Online Shopping Inspiration {Series}

Preface (from the 1st post in the series)- Do you ever see things hung up in someone’s home and you wonder if they even know what it says? If it has any meaning to them or not? Maybe you don’t, but I do. As I was shopping online the other day I ran across these little poster, hanging, canvas print decoration things and began to think about what each one said and meant to me, not that I would readily hang them up all over my apartment or anything.  I will post one a day until I run out of things to say about them. I have to limit it to one [or two!]  a day so I don’t bore you with my chatter:

“You are here, be present” - This speaks volumes to modern day society. I can’t even say “this generation” or “American society” because it is addressing everyone. To the students trying to do homework at Starbucks, distracted by Facebook and iTunes downloading, to the stay at home moms, grandparents, etc.  who can’t get off their iPhone apps (words with friends, for example), to the twenty-something striving to be a professional by today’s standards, we are all somewhere else most of the time. Yes, I’ve been in situations where someone, older than I am, told a coworker and friend that having an iPhone or smart phone was necessary to the advancement of their career; this ‘boss’ also said  having emails sent to it was a way to measure professionalism and one’s  drive to move up in a firm. Seriously???? This friend of mine, at the time, hardly even knew how to answer a cell phone!

Yes, I know, I’m one to talk. Counting down the days to when I will get my new iPhone 4S in the mail, I have no right to speak. However, how many times do you think about walking away from the person you’re trying to have a conversation with, you know, the one who hardly looks up from their ‘smart’ device to truly understand you or hear you?  Have you ever thought about telling someone, “you’re here, be present”?  Sounds harsh but maybe we need to do that sometimes.

Note to friends/family - I am really digging a hole here, aren’t I?

Turn off the world around you, or at least let it go for a few hours a day. Don’t tell the world what you’re doing via Facebook. Don't pull a Kardashian move and make your entire life public - you don't HAVE to. Don’t answer every call because each one is not SO IMPORTANT that your life depends on it. Answer your text messages after dinner. Let your work emails rack up – the hours of 8-5 are there for a reason. Everything in moderation – that doesn’t just go for food. Generate, foster, cultivate real, authentic relationships…and just be still.

#1 Online Shopping Inspiration {Series}

Preface - Do you ever see things hung up in someone’s home and you wonder if they even know what it says? If it has any meaning to them or not? Maybe you don’t, but I do. As I was shopping online the other day I ran across these little poster, hanging, canvas print decoration things and began to think about what each one said and meant to me, not that I would readily hang them up all over my apartment or anything.  I will post one or two a day until I run out of things to say about them!

 

Oh Steve Jobs – how you have inspired so many. I don’t know of his religious preference but in my book, the Good Book, we are told that nothing we stockpile up here on earth is ever going anywhere after this life. Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish. I wouldn’t say endorsing foolishness is the wisest advice, but have fun with life. Don’t torment yourself with stress and anxiety (yes, I need to take my own advice). Do something fun and for yourself at least once a day. Do something you ENJOY with people you LOVE once a week. Never pass a moment you have of free time to call someone you miss or have been meaning to catch up with. Please, dear friends, don’t EVER take a job for the security or money – even if it means you’re a bit hungrier. It’s a good weight loss tactic!

Live the life you were meant to live. Find joy in everything – even the way your dog might lick you all over after a sweaty workout. It’s the little things in life that count. Try not to take things for granted. If there is a shoulda, coulda, woulda statement coming out of your mouth daily, make it happen, get over it, or find a way around it. My PALS teacher in high school always said “don’t b***h about things, do something about them”. No, not the most appropriate sentiment to leave 16, 17 and 18 year olds with but, the woman got things done! If you’re out of place, pray about it. Ask and you shall receive. God answers prayers on His time so show patience. We are all on a journey. At the end of our journey no one is going to ask how your stock portfolio looks, what you retired with, how many cars you have, what licenses and certifications you retained – people will comment on your heart, your soul, your being, your faith in God, your friendship, your love. Just keep on keepin’ on.


"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sale away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails, explore, dream, discover" - Mark Twain

The Steve Jobs' quote inspired my thoughts further on this piece. This poster caught my attention initially because of the reference to a flower. I’m a girl. I’m girly. I like flowers. Not too difficult. However, after I realized what it said, did I become intrigued. It’s a simple thought. Not too overly complex, complicated, or convoluted. Straight and simple and to the point. What is a miracle? Most wouldn’t consider a single flower a miracle but just THINK about it. How awesome is the process of a plant - a budding flower morphing into a beautiful and picturesque object that is on the earth for our enjoyment? How intricate our world has become even though it is full of tiny miracles. Our whole life would change if we understood, enjoyed, comprehended, loved, confided in the miracles around us. How? Personally, maybe I would be less over dramatic, more go with the flow. Maybe I wouldn’t stress quite as much or worry about things I cannot change or control. Maybe I would laugh more, stay up later, take things for granted less.  How would your life be changed if you could see and know the miracle of a single flower clearly?

Jack-o-Lanterns for dinner!

PS - check this out too!

Is it too late to post this???? Halloween was JUST yesterday! I don’t think it’s too late. Jack-o’s should be for all of Fall. They are fall colors, aren’t they? I am posting it. So here you go! (PS - sounds like a lot of work but it's not!!!!)

I had some WONDERFUL company last night, good friend from middle school (even though we knew of each other before but didn’t like each other!), high school, college, and beyond…oh and she is now my neighbor…came over for a glass of wine and girl talk.

We talked about our weekend, our joys, and our struggles; laughed and related to one another all while we drank some “Steak and Potatoes”. It’s this really awesome wine I tried at the Alon Market HEB (had to specify because this HEB is the best HEB in all of SA). The sample guy didn’t even card me! So I felt obligated. Anyways, it’s the closest thing I will ever get to eating steak and potatoes so there you go.

While we talked I mixed together the following in a large bowl:

1lb of ground turkey, raw  – 93/7 (had to use 85/15 because there wasn’t any 93/7 at the time)

1 long squeeze of Dijon mustard (should have been about ¼ cup)

1 heaping dollop of Enchilada Sauce (mild, medium, whatever – it should be about ½ cup or so)

1 small onion, chopped (I don’t care if you use white, yellow, green, purple, or brown – I used yellow)

1 small tomato or half a large tomato, chopped – or more, play with it!

2-4 cloves fresh pressed garlic – I used 4, we love garlic

4 slices of whole wheat bread, cubed – this makes the mixture thick – weird I know but good!

After I mixed everything thoroughly, CW (neighbor friend) and I got to work on our bell peppers. You will need about 4-8 bell peppers (whatever color, flavor you like). I found the kind with relatively flat bottoms so they would stand up. I had 4 but there was about half the meat mix left over – will probably cook it up tonight for tacos or something or make turkey burgers out of it.

Anyways – take a tiny paring knife and carve out your Jack-o. Be careful not to get too intricate or the poor pepper will fall apart. After you carve out a face, cut off the top of the pepper. All the seeds, or most, will stick to the top. Cut them all off and carefully scrap out and rinse your Jack-o-Lantern. See our cuties below:

Then you will stuff them lightly, don’t pack the meat mixture down (I don't know why, just don’t do it). We filled ours up and put their little caps, seed-free, back on top, arranged them on my new pampered chef mini bar pan (so cute), and baked them at 350 for 1 hour.

With about ten minutes left we took off the lids and put some Mexican blend cheese on top and let them finish baking.

CW's Pumpkin - looks like he is drooling!

His face got a little distored - they shrivle up and look 'scary' - so fun!

As a side I steamed some asparagus. Most people don’t like it but that’s because it’s not cooked right. Put your asparagus, with 1 inch of the ends cut off, in a large sauce pan with water and a pinch of salt. The water should cover them. As the water heats up and begins to boil, your asparagus (that’s like ‘deer’ – no plural alternative) will start to turn bright green. You know they are done when a fork slides through them easily but they aren’t soggy (about 5-10 minutes). Serve immediately with another pinch of salt for flavor.

And VIOLA – Jack-o’s in the pumpkin (bell pepper) patch!