Seeing The 'Glass' Half Empty!

   After reading the Amy Glass 'I Look Down On Young Women With Husbands And Kids And I'm Not Sorry' essay, I was surprised at the level of agreement with her that I felt. She made a semi-valid point, or two. I agree that men and women still are not equals, and often times don't carry equal weight within the household. However, it is my sentiment that believing in the power of the woman means that we can rule both in the boardroom and in the home. We can do it at whatever pace and in whichever order we choose.

   To minimize the role of the "stay at home" mom is the most absurd thing you could do, as "mom" is often times the CEO of the family. Which to me, is far more important than being CEO of any Fortune 500 company. Some may argue that the ability to manage the household is one of the most important roles of our times, and I guarantee that it consists of more than just laundry.

   I'm enraged at this author's opinion that "you will never have the time, energy, freedom or mobility to be exceptional if you have a husband and kids". This position is inflammatory and it sucks to hear that my marrying the man of my dreams, and staying home to raise my children would make another woman feel this way. That she feels it "prevents my ability to be exceptional" in any way is unfortunate.

   How do you measure exceptionalism anyway? I consider being an amazing wife & mom with the option to enter the workforce at any point that I choose because I am an Honors graduated MBA pretty exceptional. I don't want to "backpack through Asia" as she describes to be a more tolerable way of life.

   I find her disconcerting issues with women to be quite disturbing.

Angel Hair with Shrimp in a Light Tomato Sauce

This pasta is absolutely amazing!! It's probably my best dish yet. I layered all of the ingredients, so you could taste every single one in the finished dish! Below is a step-by-step of how the MAGIC happened.

 

 

 I used Angel Hair pasta, but you could use just about any type of straight pasta you would like! I've seen it with Spaghetti as well. I like the Angel Hair because when cooked correctly, it adds a ton of flavor! Be sure to season your boiling water with a wealthy amount of salt b/c that is what will flavor your noodles. Cook just until al dente, usually approx 8-9 minutes.

 

 Up next is my favorite part...the SAUCE!! I like this dish b/c the sauce is very simple. Extra Virgin Olive Oil, diced tomatoes, garlic minced, butter, dried basil, red pepper flakes and italian seasonings. Be careful not to use too much, but feel free to season to taste.

I used a can of diced tomatoes b/c I wanted to add the remaining juice to my sauce as well. Simmer on medium heat until butter melts.

 

I like Del Monte w/ Basil, Garlic & Oregano...but of course you can use whatever is YOUR favorite. They recently changed the look of the can, so don't panic (as I did) if you can't find it immediately. Also, they have the low sodium version which is nice for those watching sodium intake.

Add half cup of white vinegar & juice from canned tomatoes. Simmer on med to low heat while you prep shrimp...which is up next!

 
Again, I used small shrimp already cooked but you can use whatever you would like. You could even use chicken for this dish, but be careful because chicken can dry out your noodles.

I removed the shells from the shrimp to make them easier to eat, took a little longer on the front end, but was well worth it while eating.

 
Sautee shrimp in olive oil and tablespoon of butter. Season with teaspoon of garlic powder. This is my favorite weapon because it's not as salty as garlic salt. Cook on medium for approx 3 minutes on each side. They were already cooked so it didn't take long. Just long enough to brown lightly.
 

 

Add noodles to sauce which should be ready to go, and toss. Let stand for a couple of minutes on very low heat, then add shrimp!! Top with thinly shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano (I like to buy the block and shred myself so that I can shred to my liking), then add a few more basil leaves and it's ready to eat!! I add a lot of cheese to my personal bowl b/c I am a cheese nut, but my husband isn't big on cheese. But again...this is completely up to you!

Enjoy!! 

I Am Only One...

"I am only one, but I am one. I can't do everything, but I can do something. The something I ought to do, I can do. And by the grace of God, I will."  - Edward Everett Hale

While on my 40 day Soul Fast I read this quote and it drove home for me an idea that was simple yet complex. Right in my face, yet very obscure. It is a verse that reads... "We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that He has already thrown open His door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand -- out in the wide-open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise" (Romans 5:2).

This was the part of my journey when I realized that having hope in God is not just part of the solution...it IS the solution to living authentically and abundantly.

Zimmerman Jury Deliberating

Currently on verdict watch, I ask myself how difficult this decision must be for these 6 women deciding the fate of George Zimmerman. I see it being difficult to get everyone on one accord, as the public opinion on this case is so divided.

The jury will enter deliberations, with one of the most important keys to remember atop their minds. The prosecution did a great job during rebuttal of reminding the jury that the case is not actually about "standing your ground, rather staying in your car".

This concept is most interesting because as the state also points out, Trayvon Martin was also in a position to defend himself from the defendant following him in the dark.

I am just glad that I am not on the jury to decide this case, because it is going to be a truly difficult one to decide while ensuring that decisions are made according to the law and not emotions.

The Rules...

Sunday’s sermon was about Rules…

From the beginning & throughout this sermon, I believed I would be learning about how rules work for the outside, and how the soul works differently. The soul works on what is right, regardless of what the “rules” describe. This is what I thought.

Although we talked through much of this, the biggest nugget to be taken from this sermon was the idea that working from the “done” versus the “do” is the biggest mistake that many of us make. It is the idea that instead of working from the “do” mentality, maybe we should try the “done” frame of mind. God has already determined what is to be “done” in our lives... so why continue begging for what we need him to “do”? He, the pastor, says that “do” is contrived from guilt, while “done” comes from grace. If you truly believe that God has a plan for you, and it is already written…then why all of the questions, and doubt? Why the concern? Why the worry, and the anxiety? It is already written. And not only has He already “done” it, but He has done far more than we could ever deserve! With our loved ones, our health, our strength, our clothes on our backs and the roofs over our heads…this is all representative of things that He has already proved.

I have an MBA, a healthy body, a husband who loves me and a family who loves me just as much. I have already been “over-blessed”. So … why the worry and anxiety about what is to come?

Double Wins For Gay Marriage

Today, supporters of gay marriage received two victories from the Supreme Court. The highest court in the land struck down both DOMA & Prop 8.

Still a long way to go, but this is a great indicator that as a country we are headed in the right direction regarding the equal rights of marriage.

Zimmerman Trial ... Part 1

Talk about a rough start! Whew! No matter what beliefs you carry, this is a very sad case for you too. At least it should be.

We have a 17 year old kid. Dead. Instantly. A family that will never see their loved one again, except through pictures and memories. Many of which will include the final images of his deceased body lying on a wet, dark, cold ground. Alone. Eyes open, mouth ajar, and limbs reaching for life. His loved ones will forever be burdened with his cries, his screams for help will ring in their ears and they won’t ever go away.

Even writing these facts make me ill to my stomach, however they are just that…facts.

Next, there is the 29 year old man. He is afraid for his neighborhood, and burdened by a previous act of crime in this area. He is admittedly a bit overzealous about the possibility of crime in his neighborhood, and has made several, somewhat extreme attempts, to ensure that his home as well as the homes of his neighbors are safe.

The kid was carrying a watermelon flavored Arizona Iced Tea & a bag of Skittles. The adult was carrying a fully loaded, semi-automatic pistol.

Sadly, their worlds collided on a dark & rainy Sunday night in February 2012, the rest is history…