Tag: Depression

Project Fun Facts from 2017

1)I have had diarrhea for over 300 consecutive days (you’re welcome … feel free to stop reading now….)

2)I have worn my bathing suit bottom as underwear 3 times

3) I lit our food on fire 6 times

4) I slipped in dog drool daily

5) I peed myself 4 x (that is another story….)

6) I lied to 75 Starbucks Baristas about my name

7) I cleaned up cat vomit 6 times

8) I shared 150 memes with friends

9) I danced interpretively weekly in my kitchen

10) I messed up on radio song lyrics 2x / daily

11) I cancelled ‘date night’ with my husband every second week because ‘I had already taken off my bra’

12) I have 10% new grey hairs

13) I pocketed dozens of barely used Kleenexes to ‘save for later’

14) I shared daily ‘random thoughts with Jerral’ with friends and strangers alike

15) I have had 7 giggle fits ( NOT ENOUGH!!!)

16) I binge watched all seasons of ‘The Office’ over a 2 month period

17) I swam through a pool coated with caterpillars once (never again!)

18) I killed 6 plants

19) I swallowed 2 flies

20) I had 4 temper tantrums

I would love to hear some of your fun facts from 2017

Project All Thumbs

I have learned the key to keeping a plant alive….

Trauma.

I have two hybrid hibiscus plants that have moved inside for the duration of the winter.

The one that my son accidentally backed into with our van and subsequently had to be transplanted is amazing! Each new bloom is like ‘pew! pew! pew!’ every second day.

The other one however, it is shy. Now that it has moved inside, it is very, very hesitant. Little by little, with a little coaxing I am confident that it will not only survive, but thrive.

These plants are not dissimilar from my life. HE makes beautiful things.

Isaiah 61

Project Yummy

I made food that transported my family back to a different time, a different place, a different life.

I love that food can be so transformative for the mind and body.  Food for me is family, friends, fellowship, feelings and sometimes epic fails. Thankfully, this one was a win!

rghaif

Morocccan Rghaif/Msemen

Msemen – also known as rghaif – are Moroccan pancakes that have been folded into a square shape before being fried in a pan.   This is a recipe for the dough used to make msemen. The dough is kneaded like bread dough until soft and smooth.

How to Fold & Make Msemen: -Flatten portions of the dough and fold them into squares. Frying the dough in a pan yields a layered pancake or flatbread that is crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. – The recipe below uses a little semolina flour for texture and taste. The use of semolina is a matter of personal preference. Substitute more semolina for the white flour if you like a coarser texture. Or, you can omit the semolina entirely.

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 60 minutes

Yield: Approx. 20 msemen (4″ square)

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups flour (340 g)

1/2 cup fine semolina (90g)

2 teaspoons sugar

2 teaspoons salt

1/4 teaspoon yeast

1 1/2 cups warm water (approx. 1/3 liter)

For folding and cooking the msemen:

1 1/2 cups vegetable oil

1/2 cup fine semolina

1/4 cup very soft unsalted butter

 

Preparation:

Mix all the dry ingredients in a large bowl.

Add 1 1/2 cups of warm water, and mix to form a dough. Add more water if necessary to make a dough that is soft and easy to knead, but not sticky. If the dough is too sticky to handle, add a little flour one tablespoon at a time.

Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead by hand for 10 minutes, (or knead the dough in a stand mixer with dough hook for 5 minutes), until the dough is very smooth and elastic.

Proceed with folding and cooking the dough.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve the msemen plain, with butter and honey, or jam.

To make a syrup from butter and honey, simply melt equal portions of butter and honey in a pan until hot and bubbly. Carefully and quickly dip the msemen in the syrup and place on a serving platter.

 

 

Project Sorry, not sorry

  1. I am not sorry that I am in love with Egg McMuffins ( if you have healthy, homemade options please share your recipe … I have a problem!) #eggmcmuffinsarecrack
  2. I am not sorry that I told my son that too much texting will give him turrets in his thumbs (I am not sorry I accidentally typed Turrets instead of Tourette’s because that is almost funnier..)
  3. I am not sorry that I do high karate kicks at the grocery store to show the clerk I am wearing slippers
  4. I am not sorry that I tell Starbuck’s baristas my name is ‘Sam’
  5. I am not sorry that I tell my family all the goings on of my bathroom habits
  6. I am not sorry that I tell my daughter to give a wink and a finger gun when she doesn’t know what to say.
  7. I am not sorry that I told an obscure acquaintance that accidental bottom to bottom contact is called a ‘moon landing’
  8. I am not sorry that I hug large stuffed animals in stores (and my collection is ever increasing at home)
  9. I am not sorry that I insist on a regular basis to my husband that I am delightful
  10. I am not sorry that I meow at our cat or speak baby talk to our dogs
  11. I am not sorry that I left my clean, folded laundry in the middle of the kitchen table for a week.
  12. I am not sorry that my husband shows off his amazing dance moves in public
  13. I am not sorry that I occasionally leave my bra on the stairs and that it makes my son say “ew!!! mom!!”
  14. I am not sorry that a)I own a carebear onesie b) I bought one for my friends too c) that I insisted we wear them out into the world (You’re welcome Walmart and Tim Hortons)
  15. Finally, I am not sorry that I am sharing this with all of you. I have found freedom in my depression to just be me. I am DELIGHTFUL dagnammit!!

Project Lean In

Hey friend I know who reads this… remember when we broke the wall???

There is something to be said for leaning into the new normal of depression. Leaning in means more kindness towards self. Leaning in means getting help. Leaning in means transparency with the people in your life. Leaning in means that who you are is less about what you do and more about the essence of your being. And when I think about how my depression has strengthened my faith life,  I can almost weep with Gratitude. God is good.  All. The. Time.

lean-in-post-1-iyra0d5s

 

 

Project Nacho Cheese

What do you call cheese that isn’t yours??? …………..

NACHO CHEESE!

I recently was host to a large group of hungry women and I wanted to make something that was sure to please and that I could mass produce. And so began my adventure into nacho cheese…

My goal was cheese sauce that rivaled 7-11’s. Guess what happens when you fudge a recipe? Or quadruple it? Lumpy sauce. Thanks to google and my blender I redeemed my sauce and it was a big hit.

My mistakes in the kitchen and in life are always redeemable. #thankful#cheesefordays#broccoli

I kinda made this recipe :

I substituted evaporated skim milk to add a sweetness and sprinkled in cayenne for heat. (when my sauce separated I threw a portion into my blender with a little flour and voila … sauce restored to greatness)

https://selfproclaimedfoodie.com/green-chile-cheddar-queso/

Project Wrestle

So, I thought it was about time that I share that I am a pro wrestler.

Some days I wrestle with whether or not I should wear pants.

Some days I wrestle with whether or not icing is a food group.

Some days I wrestle with whether or not it is ok to binge watch ‘The Office’ instead of laundry.

This is real life people!

All joking aside, I do wrestle daily with how I should spend my time. I want to make each moment count and at the end of the day I want my God to smile down on my choices. And on rough days I know that no matter what I do or don’t do… I am loved.

 

 

Project Fierce

Watching America’s Next Top Model (any season) is the surefire prescription for all that ails you.

I am not going to lie… our family and extended family has taken a few hits lately. This could have devastated me. It didn’t.

I thank Tyra Banks and ANTM for getting me through those moments when I was tired beyond words. Here are a few things I learned:

  1. Be you. You is beautiful.
  2. When you show up, give your best.
  3. Being broken down is beautiful.
  4. Be Fierce.

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