“Friendship is never established as understood relation. It is a miracle which requires constant proofs. It is an exercise of the purest imagination and of the rarest faith.”
– Henry David Thoreau
This Coca-Cola Cake is simply one of the best sheet cake recipes on earth. The magical brew of carbonated cola is the secret to the tender texture.
Yield: 12 servings
Ingredients
Preparation
From Southern Living
Don’t get me wrong, I love my vertically changed sistahs, too. But for the “Gambs Galore” women like myself, get with Long Elegant Legs! They are fashion forward especially for jeans, pants and leggings. Celebrate your fierceness!
PROVERBS 16:7
7 When a person’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Although it changes along with my experiences, this scripture has been my favorite for a couple of years now. Suffice it to say that leadership comes at a price. Sometimes we choose it willingly and sometimes it is thrust upon us whether we want it or not. Following my own path is not so difficult, however, creating a path for others to follow and adopt… #painful! Even if those you lead actually believe in your ability to do so, inevitably there will be folks among them who question your ability or resent it. My prayer is to accept leadership with grace and humility at all times whether at home or at work.
Relax hair, body, mind…
Float in fragranced water and
Enter silks
Slide on opaque legs designed to
Step in leather shoes – –
Tell who you are
Raise curls which cascade down
Burden shoulders
That hold upbringing straps in place – –
Leave hands free to choose
Diamonds smile in mirrors
Which line the eyes and
Contour cheeks with color
Lips say what you mean tonight
Egos & Buffaloes (White Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Cookies)
Total Time: 35 mins
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Yield: 48
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup salted butter, softened
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup coarsely chopped macadamia nuts
1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips
Directions:
1 Preheat oven to 300°F.
2 In medium bowl combine flour, soda and salt. Mix well, set aside.
3 In a large bowl with a mixer blend sugars at medium speed. Add butter and mix to until it forms a grainy paste, scraping down the sides of the bowl. Add eggs and vanilla, and beat at medium speed until fully combined.
4 Add the flour mixture, macadamia nuts and white chocolate chips, and blend on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
5 Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the edges begin to brown. Move immediately to cooling rack.
NINA’S PEDICURE
I let the nails grow and petrify
over the toes of an old lady.
Nina, whom I love to care for
says it takes podiatry now.
Using water will clean the tool
but cannot sharpen.
That takes metal-hard strength.
Water seams weak to me,
yet it is strong enough to soften and
make a file unneeded.
Her skin has wrinkled so it must be ready.
The water proves itself and
erodes neglect that stiffens nature.
Smoothes aging lines that go deep
like basement rock
Boars through without fizz or drill
And lets me trim and buff and
Polish eight – blood red.
I leave the big toes clean to see my work
And gain some balance.
Tenacious
Te·na·cious [tuh-ney-shuh s]
Adjective:
1. Holding fast; characterized by keeping a firm hold
2. Highly retentive: a tenacious memory
3. Persistent
4. Holding together; cohesive; not easily pulled asunder; tough
In most cases, I would confirm that I am definitely not a follower. However, I recently found myself in the midst of some serious self-evaluation. I wondered: “Am I really following my dreams or am I chasing them.”
As I look at the difference, to follow means that the dream is real and I own it. But to chase a dream says that on some level I’m not really convinced that it’s obtainable. As I follow dreams/goals that are decades or days old, I feel empowered to know that there is already a connection to that dream. For instance, I shared with a friend recently that I am going to Paris in April. There, the goal has been verbalized and now I follow my path to fulfilling that dream. Although I have been to Paris several times, each time I visit increases the value of the first dream I had many years ago of seeing that lovely city.
While visiting New Orleans last Spring, we toured the city from one of those double-decker buses. There was a rain shower that made the floor and steps somewhat slippery, so the tour guide began to chant: “Take your time, watch your step.” My friend and I joked about how he said those words, but the message began to resonate on a different level. TAKE YOUR TIME, WATCH YOUR STEP.
Following my dreams rather than chasing them allows me to take my time and watch my step. It’s not a matter of being overly cautious either. The less slips and falls, the more dreams I can add to my ever growing list of dreams still to follow.
Egos & Buffaloes 