Valentines Day- A History

I revived this post from the early days of my blogging- a year ago, when I wasn't really committed to this baby.  I think this is an oldie but goodie about good ole V-day!

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Alright, it’s Valentines Day and you either love it or hate it. I find very few people are indifferent to it. For a self-proclaimed lover of love, I have traditionally fallen into the “hate it” category. As I have gotten older, I have grown to appreciate the history, but still dislike the way the holiday has been commercialized as a day that allows you to apologize for what a jerk you have been the rest of the year. I thought on this day of love, or lack of it, I would give you a brief history.

Valentine’s Day is a mish-mash of traditions and beliefs. Lets start with the date. It falls on February 14th every year because that is the day that Saint Valentine was executed for performing marriages. Strange that a priest got in trouble for doing one of his normal deeds, right? The story goes a little deeper.

In 2nd Century A.D. when Christians were persecuted by the Roman government, Christian marriages and other ceremonies were a big no-no. During that time Claudius II was building a Roman army. He thought that married men would make for distracted soldiers, with their minds back at home with their families and wives. Thus, he forbid young men to marry. Interesting logic right? Sounds like a recipe for rebellion to me! Death was the punishment for any priest that performed the rite of marriage.

This didn’t sit well with Valentine. He believed that to be in love and to be married was to be closer to God. He was a martyr for love! He was caught performing a marriage ceremony and after going to prison he was beheaded. Talk about a rough punishment! This story reminds me a little of the struggle for love and marriage we see today. I won’t go into my political beliefs about marriage rights, but lets just say I think if you want to devote your life and love to another person, I applaud you and believe you have as much right as I to do so.

A few more Valentines Day traditions tie into Saint Valentine. It is said he would give children flowers from his garden. He also signed a message just prior to his execution, “from your Valentine”. I also hear the hearts come from his heart being displayed on the town square or something… Gross? Centuries later, the 1600's ushered in the tradition of giving gifts to your love on Valentine’s Day. Most people gave flowers, but the wealthy surprised their loves with jewelry. Apparently giving a young woman a pair of gloves on Valentines was equal to a marriage proposal…those better be some nice gloves.

As literacy became more common, written Valentines cards and notes became popular and in the 1700's card makers started the commercialization of the holiday with mass-produced Valentines cards. Hello Hallmark!

So today, we woman expect (even if we say we don’t want anything) flowers, chocolates, jewelry or all of the above to celebrate the execution of a lover of love. For years I pretended like I hated Valentines Day, when really what I hated was the missed expectations. Today I try to give myself, and the man in my life, a break. Valentines Day and I have spent too many years on bad terms. This year, I’m going to appreciate the history, the sentiment and the love. Ladies, give your guys a break. Gentleman, don’t let us down. Good Luck!

Happy Valentines Day!

What? You ate a whole wheel of cheese? I'm not even mad!

If you really knew me, you'd know I think talking animals are ridiculously funny.  Like crying I'm laughing so hard funny.

Imagine my delight when a friend sent these little gems my way!  The last two are my favorite!
Bahahaha!  If animals could talk, I bet this is exactly what they would say!

You're welcome!

I. Am. Enough.

Have you ever happened upon a blogger that is so perfect both in blog and real life that it makes you question your own existence? Okay, maybe I am being a bit dramatic, but lately I've caught myself doing a lot of comparisons and feeling inadequate(in blog and in life).
"My hair doesn't do that?"
"Their love story is so great! Why doesn't someone love me like that?"
"I could never keep my house that clean!"
"Look at her skin. Ugh, mine sucks!"
"I'll never be that fit."
I'm not. I'm not. I'm not.

Then I happened upon this post from Little Miss Mama and decided I should whip up one of my own, if only for the sake of my wilting self esteem.

I'm not gonna lie, I feel a lot better!

Don't forget how great you are.  Sometimes it is easy to be overwhelmed by your perceived shortcomings.  But the thing is, there is probably someone out there wishing they could do what you do.  Revel in your individuality.  And stop comparing yourself to everyone else.  (Self, did you hear me?)

I'd love to read more of these!  Leave your "I am enough" statements in the comments or do your own post and leave me a link, pretty please!

Biggest Loser: Blogger Edition- this week I lost

Alright ya'll, I have no good news on the biggest loser front.  You see when I get worried I distract myself with food.  When I don't feel good, I eat.  This last week I have been worried about why I haven't felt great. The good news is everything is fine now... but that would have been good to know five days, a cheese burger, several pasta dishes and a lot of potato products ago.  So this week, I'm just hoping to get myself back on track!  I hope you all did better than me this week!  Link up and let me know!

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Hello lovelies! It's time for week two of The Biggest Loser: Blogger Edition, brought to you by Ashley, Chelsea and Jenn!

Our version of The Biggest Loser is a little different than the one you see on TV! In Blogger Edition, no one gets kicked off, and we aren't just trying to lose weight. Instead we are creating a place to go when you need a little motivation, when you need to voice your frustration, when you are looking for a healthy recipe, when you are looking for a new workout to try. This is the healthiest link-up on the net!

So grab a button, link up and enjoy! 

Delightfully Delectable: Bacon Mac & Cheese Bites

I got invited to a Super Bowl pot luck yesterday and I wanted to bring something easy to make, that everyone would enjoy.  In years past, I have made bacon wrapped shrimp, but the problem is you have to cook them on location and I usually set off a fire alarm from broiling the the little suckers.  That's always been okay at a boyfriends house or my best friends' but this year I didn't know my party planners as well.

This year I wanted something that could be served warm or cold, went well with the other Super Bowl food groups (chips, dips, things made in a crock pot, things made on a grill, beer), and was considered a comfort food.  I found a recipe for Mac and Cheese Bites and made some of my own additions!

Serves 12

• 6 Strips of Bacon (or 8 if you like to eat a couple pieces while you cook like me.
• 2 Cups Elbow Macaroni (although you could probably get creative and choose your favorite pasta)
• 1/2 Cup seasoned breadcrumbs
• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
• 1 1/2 Cups Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• 1 1/2 Cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
• One Egg (whipped)
• 1 Cup Milk
• 1 Tablespoon Butter 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (Fahrenheit) 
2. Cook your bacon.  When it's to your desired level of crispiness, set it aside.
3. Grease your cupcake tins.
4. Bring a pot of water to a boil.  Sprinkle in some salt.  Add macaroni and let boil for 8 minutes.  It should be a little less soft then if you were ready to serve it.  Drain noodles and place back into pot.
5. Add butter and egg to the pot and allow butter to melt while coating noodles.  Do a solid amount of mixing here.  Add milk and mix thoroughly. 
6. Add bacon and both cheeses and mix while cheese melts.  A lot of cheese gets stuck to the spoon, don't let it just hang out there!  Mix it in with the rest!
7. Spoon mixture into cupcake tins.  I had some extra, so i put it in a glass dish and stuck it in the oven too... Hello lunch!
8. Mix together breadcrumbs, salt and olive oil.  Sprinkle breadcrumb mixture over top. 
9. Put those little babies in the oven for about 30 minutes or until the tops become a lovely golden brown.
10. Let them set for 5-10 minutes before taking them out the tins.  This allows the cheese to really set and hold the bites together.  I found that using a fork was the easiest way to pop them out.  
11. Enjoy!

Into the tins. Add your breadcrumbs. Ta-Da!

MMM MMM MMM MMM MMM!!!!  These bites were a BIG hit!

I always think things like this look really impressive, even if they are easy to make!  Try them out as an appetizer or a side dish!

Words That Inspired Words

Today I found a notebook that has been dancing in and out of my life since the summer of 2007 when I bought it in an over priced paperie in London.  You see, I had to have it.  I needed a beautiful book with crisp pages to write down everything that was happening to me during my three month stay across the pond.  Turns out, I used about 8 pages in jolly ole' London.  Since then, it has steadily collected my words on an irregular basis.  

Today I picked up that notebook again, this time to make some notes about design and sketch out a few ideas, but I got easily sidetracked.  It was as if I had stumbled upon a hidden chest of treasures. Only where a pirate would find gold coins, I found words. 

Those pages about London at the front. Behind those, notes about my wedding plans; venue comparisons thoughts about colors, etc.  Then a history lesson for a novel I had planned to write.  Page after page of American history dated and mapped out.  The beginning pages of that novel, with words that inspired me to write this post.  Then, a journal entry about going through my divorce.  A budget sheet with ideas of how to pay off my debt faster.  A list of New Year's resolutions. A gym schedule.Quite the fascinating road map to where I am today.  

Isn't it funny how looking back makes you look forward?  It reminds you of dreams and redevelops passions.  Reading through the different pieces that make up a notebook that has haphazardly followed my adult life, I couldn't help but smile.  No matter the troubles, there has always been triumph.  No matter the pain, there has always been growth and strength.  

So today I thought I would share a little excerpt from the novel I had hardly started.  The words that have inspired me to take another stab at writing something worthy of a hardcover.  I hope you like it!

This Is The New Year

Alright kids, it's February first, and most likely you have forgotten about those resolutions.  I just wanted to remind everyone that every day is a new beginning and a chance to start over again.  The point of a resolution is to make a change and sometimes, change takes practice and time.  Don't give up or give in!

Remember my resolution?  I don't mind if you steal this for yourself.  2013 can be the best year of your life if you let it!

And because I love happy songs, Glee and YouTube, here's a little nugget I've been obsessed with!



Have a great weekend loves!