Where is YOUR Happy Space

Is there a place where you feel safe?
A place where you can let go and be yourself?

You know that place that you call your "Happy Place".

My Happy Space

I know that I always feel at peace when I am by the water.
I don't know that I could live ON the water, but living BY the water brings a smile to my face.  The changing scenes the sky, even when a storm is rolling in, is always gorgeous to view.

Now if You (I) still need a reason to smile ... 

a little wine would be a great addition.

Help in finding the real you

If you are looking to "find" yourself and don't know where to start (like me) you might want to check out Martha Beck.

Martha is a sociologist, a life coach, an author and speaker.  From what I heard, she was a speaker at Limelight by Alcone's conference and did an AWESOME job.  I wish I had been able to be there, because from what I heard the conference was phenomenal but her talk sounded like it was one of the highlights.

I will be perfectly honest here.  
I had actually never heard of her before, which is kind of crazy because she has so many books that she has written.  
In fact, when I looked on Amazon they listed 103! 

I am forever looking for things to read on Amazon (love to keep my Kindle "full" so I can always find something when I'm waiting) and I had NO idea.  Hang head in shame....

When I first looked into her, because of all the Limelight buzz, I saw this ...  "All my life, I've addressed crowds because I'm scared of public speaking..."  I was immediately drawn to learn more, you see I saw "I'm scared of public speaking" and said to myself ... a kindred spirit.  I know, I know, I can talk about a lot of things but public speaking .. definitely NOT my cup of tea.

I figure I've found something/someone good, someone who just might be the catalyst to finding out just who I am or who I want to be.  I know, after all this time, I still don't know if I am where I am suppose to be, where I want to be, so it is definitely time to get my act together.   Better late than never, right?

But hey I'm not the only one who is thinking she is pretty good person to help me on this journey, even Oprah Winfrey said "She's one of the smartest women I know".  Pretty nice endorsement, don't you think?

You can find Martha's blog here.
I'll see you there.

Quick Strawberry Cake

Here is just another reason I love my Tupperware.

Strawberry Chantilly Cake can be made soooo quickly that even "drop in" family or guests/friends can be served an excellent treat.

Yield: 8
Serving Size: 1 slice

Ingredients
For the cake

• 1 lb. fresh strawberries, tops removed
• 1/8 tsp. coarse kosher salt
• 12 tbsp. melted, salted butter
• 1¾ cup granulated sugar, divided
• 3 small egg
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 6 tbsp. plain yogurt
• 6 tsp. vanilla extract
• 3/4 tsp. baking soda
• 3/4 tsp. corn starch
• 1½ cup all-purpose flour
• Sliced strawberries for garnish

For the Vanilla Whipped Cream frosting

• 1 tsp. unflavored powdered gelatin
• 2 tbsp. cold water
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract

Instructions

1. In the base of the Power Chef® System, add strawberries, ¼ cup of the sugar, and salt. Cover and pull cord until strawberries are roughly chopped. 
2. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
3. Grease and flour the Stack Cooker 3-Qt. Casserole and the ¾-Qt. Casserole; set aside.
4. In the 2-cup Micro Pitcher add butter. Microwave on high power 25 seconds, or until melted. Remove from microwave, transfer to base of the Power Chef® with paddle attachment. 
5. Add remaining sugar, cover and pull cord until butter and sugar are well blended.
6. Remove cover, add egg, cream, yogurt, vanilla, baking soda, and baking powder. Cover and pull cord until well blended; about 20 pulls. 
7. Add flour, cover and pull cord until well blended; about 20 pulls.
8. Using a spatula, divide batter evenly between the two casseroles; stack and cover. Microwave on high power 11 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. 
9. Remove from microwave; let stand 30 seconds. Transfer cakes to a cooling rack. 
10. Let cool completely before frosting.
11. Meanwhile, make the frosting. 
12. In a small bowl, stir together gelatin and water; set aside. 
13. In the base of the Quick Chef® Pro System with whip attachment, add cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Turn handle until cream reaches the soft peak stage. 
14. Add gelatin, continue whipping cream until stiff peaks form (cream should be the consistency of stiff frosting). 
15. Remove whip attachment, cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
16. Place first layer of cake on plate or cake stand; cover with strawberries. 
17. Spread 1/3 of the frosting over the strawberries. 
18. Add second layer of cake; Spread 1/3 of frosting over the top.
19.  Spread remaining frosting over the sides of the cake. 
20. Decorate cake with fresh strawberries. 
21. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate up to 3 days.

More Karma insight

Time to recharge.
Time to take a look and make sure you are giving off what you want to receive.

I know that when someone is being "ugly", and I don't mean how they look physically, but how they treat others or us, we think Karma's gonna get them.

With some of the things that have been happening lately, to me especially, I've been wondering if just maybe I'm not as "nice" or "sweet" or "kind" to others as I thought.

It just might be time for a Karma check up in my life.

How about your life?  
Are you Karma Safe?
Are you sure?

WE are important

Yes, I am important.
Yes, I am special.
And so are you.

I know we all want to be accepted and loved for ourselves.
Sometimes we think that if we put ourselves aside and just concentrate on that "other" person, they will love us just as much and all will be perfect.

Sometimes that doesn't happen.
That "other" person doesn't love you as much as you love them.

We need to respect and love ourselves to see that and accept it.
And then move on.  
YOU are special and deserve to be loved and respected for YOU.
But if you do forget this ... I will continue to remind you.

Don't forget that.

Happy Monday

I saw this one a few weeks ago and thought .. I really need to share this soon.

We all make mistakes.  
I know some don't believe that, but really it is true.
Some may not think that anything is a mistake, its making a "choice" but really it can just be so simple as its a mistake.
Accept it.
It happens.

BUT today is Monday .... Good Morning.
It's a new week, correct those mistakes from last week and move on.
Let's try to make this a great week!

Tupperware Mid July brochure

It's that time again. 
Time for the Mid Month Tupperware Brochure.

Some really awesome awesome pieces in this brochure that you don't want to miss out on.
These short term items, ends on July 28th, include these awesome Modular Mate Sets!
Usually you need to wait until January to get these types of deals ... don't miss out on these.

All month (mid month to mid month) long, you can get these deals below.
My all time favorite are the Freeze-it Plus containers to make all kinds of make ahead meals so I don't have to worry about what's for dinner when we have been out and about all day ... or when we are working late!

And don't forget, school lunches are right around the corner ... so the sandwich keepers and snack cups and big wonders in sets of 5 are PERFECT.

I have a this set up for the Mid July Brochure Party that will be open until August 10th so if you want to hop on in ... 

Let's fly

Happy Friday.

Sometimes people think (yes that includes me) that you have to be leading the pack or be near the head of the line to succeed.

But I am here to tell you that sometimes it really is as simple as this.

All you need to remember is that NOW is your time.
Now is the time for you to spread your wings and fly!

But just because your wings are ready and you should be ready to fly, it doesn't mean it has to be now, right this second, or even today,   Just know that you can make it in your own time, so long as you don't give up, don't stop!  

I bet you can make something beautiful just like YOU.

Salad with Summer Squash

I know you have seen the zoodle recipes that are all over Pinterest.
I know I've thought it was going to be a fad that wouldn't last.  
But I guess I was wrong judging by the number recipes you can find.

Here is one from the Tupperware site, using my beloved Mandoline, that I may just be making this with some of our garden treasures.

Yield: 1
Serving Size: 8 oz.

Ingredients

• 1 large zucchini, ends trimmed
• 1 large yellow squash, ends trimmed
• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, divided
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tbsp. rice vinegar
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro
• ¼ of small red onion, peeled
• 2 tbsp. honey
• 1 tsp. poppy seeds, toasted

Instructions

1. Using the Mandoline with round knob at #2 and the triangular knob at #6, slice thin strips of zucchini and squash. 
2. Transfer vegetables to large bowl and toss with ¼ tsp. of salt. Let stand 10 minutes; drain liquid.
3. In the bowl of the Chop ’N Prep™ Chef, add lemon juice, olive oil, rice wine vinegar, garlic, cilantro, red onion, honey and remaining salt. 
4. Pour over vegetables and gently toss to coat.
5. Refrigerate 20 minutes. 
6. Sprinkle with poppy seeds before serving.

Who knows, this could become a vegetable that my family might actually ask for.

Don't run out of time

How many times have you heard people say that they can't do something right now because its "not the right time"?
They need to wait until they are in a better place.  
Or when things get easier so that they would have more time.

I know I've said it myself.
I've wondered if maybe I should have waited to do this or that.  If it would have been easier or less complicated, if I had just waited.

Now I'm not saying to be reckless or foolhardy.
I'm all for planning and going forward with your eyes open.

But remember we never know when we will draw our last breath.
No I'm not getting morbid.

Stop chasing the what ifs and dreaming about what you think you should have, just because you were born.

Sometimes, when we are happy with what we have and where we are in our lives, there are more doors opened for us and more of the things we have hoped for or desired becomes ours as well.  

But even if that doesn't happen, being happy with where you are will lead you to even more happiness.

Don't live your life wishing for something more,
Be happy with what you have been given, what you have earned and just maybe even more will be yours.

Flavored Shaved Ice

Do you remember flavored ices from when you were a kid?
You know what I am talking about, right?  

Today with the help of Tupperware, we can make our own shaved ice with the Grate Master Ice Shaver Cone and then make whatever fruit flavoring you want.  

Here is a quick way to make some Strawberry (red) and Blueberry (blue) flavorings to get you started, but remember other fruits will work as well.  If you try something different, give us a shout and let us know what else works as well.

Yield: 6
Serving Size: ¼ cup

Ingredients

• 5 oz. frozen fruit strawberries, thawed
• 5 oz. frozen blueberries, thawed
• 2 cups water, divided
• 2 cups sugar, divided
• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt, divided

Instructions

1. In the 2-cup Micro Pitcher, stir together strawberries, 1 cup water, 1 cup of sugar, and 1/8 tsp. of salt. Microwave on high power 2½ minutes. 
2. Remove from microwave and transfer to a bowl. Let stand 5 minutes or until fruit is soft. 
3. Repeat with blueberries and remaining water, sugar and salt.
4. Transfer strawberry mixture to the Power Chef® System with blade attachment. 
5. Place cover on Power Chef, pull cord to puree. Return strawberries to bowl. 
6. Rinse Power Chef and blade, and repeat with blueberries.
7. Strain strawberry and blueberry puree into separate Squeeze It™ Bottles. 
8. Add water as needed to create desired consistency.
9. Squeeze the desired amount of flavored syrup on Shaved Ice in cones or bowls.

I think I will be making this often this Summer season.  

And I bet the Grate Master Ice Shaving Cone can be used to make some awesome frozen drinks on the deck ... just sayin'

Be YOU

Sometimes I just feel like "why".

Yes you can be going along, feeling like you are doing just fine, getting your act together or getting to a place with your "passion" and somebody comes along and just shatters it all by calling it "stupid" or professing that you "don't know what you are talking about", but of course, they know better.

My confession .. 
  I've been feeling that way lately, a lot lately to be totally honest.

Then I saw this one and was hit with that "AAAHHA" moment.

I have a few things on my plate, just as a side business point of view, from Tupperware to LimeLight by Alcone to Pruvit.  
And then of course there is this blog and my family and my full/part-time job.

This picture/quote is what kind of "smacked me in the face" and said to me ... just keep doing what you do, until YOU don't want to do it anymore.  
When others see it and agree, they will be inspired just as you have been inspired to do all that you do.
Those that continue to discount what you do or say ... that's THEIR problem NOT yours!

So hopefully here and now I can say and take to heart ... 
If you don't like what I say, what I post, what I do ... just move on because until I don't like these things .. I will continue to be ME.

Join me in embracing YOU.
Just as I am embracing who I AM.