Love.

Real.  Endless.  Maternal.  Paternal.  Spiritual.  Platonic.  Brotherly.  Sisterly.  Tough.  Self.

Love.

There are many different kinds of love.  To me, they all fit in the same category.  Unconditional.  

Love doesn't discriminate.  Love doesn't judge.  Love is patient.  Love is kind.  Love is forever.  

February, the month of love.  Marriages rekindle, little boys and girls give secret Valentines to their crushes, couples celebrate by sending each other gifts of chocolate and flowers and sweet surprises.

Some say Valentines Day is merely a holiday created for capitalist gain.  Maybe.  Probably.  That doesn't mean we can't reap it's benefits as well.  I think we all need time to reflect on our relationships.  To think about how we feel about one another.  Maybe get a little mushy where the other 364 days of the year you may not.  Take time away from the kids and have fun together.  Send your mother a card.  Give your sister a phone call.  Give the kids a little treat and a note to say 'I love you'.  Get a pedicure or a massage (or give one).  Have a glass of wine, because, after all, if you don't love yourself, who can you love?  It's about connecting with the ones you love and may not tell them enough.

The Bible teaches us about love.

How to love our children.

Proverbs 13:24
Those who love their children care enough to discipline them. 

 How to love our friends.

Proverbs 17:9
Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends. 

How to love our spouses..

 Ephesians 5:33
However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

How to love our God.

 Matthew 22:37
Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'.

 

And last but not least, how to love unconditionally.

1 Corinthians 13:4–8a
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails ...

You Spin Me Right 'Round Baby, Right 'Round

My mind is all jumbled and spinning.  I'm trying to get my thoughts together right now so this will most likely be just a rambling mess, but here goes...

Over the past couple of months I have watched some of my facebook friends, co-workers, and very close friends become some of the most inspiring men and women I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.  Something in the air in 2013 has given people some mad motivation.  Whether it's striving to become a better person through fitness and weight loss, weeding out the negative in their lives and getting with the positive, simply inspiring others, or sometimes all of the above these people are impressing the hell outta me!  I'm a pretty stubborn person, so I don't normally just give in and conform, even if it is to a good thing.  I don't like to be judged by anyone, especially myself.  They say we are our own worst critics.  I fear failure.  I feel people seeing me fail.  I don't want to be one of those people, as I have been in the past, posting about how I just got a fabulous work-out at the gym and then a couple months down the road all of a sudden those posts stop.  And so do the gym sessions...and bring on the ice cream, baby!  I also don't want to be left in the dust either.  Believe it or not, somewhere in this warped, crazy brain of mine I am somewhat of a fierce competitor.  I'm just really quiet about it.  

So you're not going to see me posting about how many reps I did or this amazing vegan diet I've adapted to.  I'm going to continue to post crabby, screw-the-world statuses when I'm pissed off about something.  I'm going to keep up with the stupid, BFF-crazy-nonsense-drunk posts on Friday nights.  I'm not giving up my lazy-laying-on-the-couch-drinking-a-Natty nights.  If I did, then I just wouldn't be "me".  But just know...I'm watching you people.  And you're inspiring the hell out of me.  :)

Another Day In Paradise

Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a diagnosis described by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as an ongoing pattern of anger guided disobedience, hostilely defiant behavior toward authority figures which goes beyond the bounds of normal childhood behavior. Children suffering from this disorder may appear very stubborn and often angry. 

<sup>site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oppositional_defiant_disorder 

Synonyms: Pain in the ass, Argues with Wolves, Nikki

I love my daughter with all my heart.  I'd never give her up for the world, nor would I ever give up on her.  However, there are days like today where I just have to look up and say, "Really, God?  REALLY?."  Just a sample of how my morning went:

Me: Nik, did you take your medicine? 
Nikki: yes.  
Me: Do you have your lunch? 
Nikki: Yes.  
Me:  Do you have your key?  
Nikki: YES!!!  Uuuuuuggghhhh!!!!  
Me: Hey!  Don't be like that.  I'm just trying to help you.  Excuse me for not wanting you to be locked outside in the middle of winter!
Nikki: It's not even WINTER!!!  
Me: Really...so I suppose the next thing you're going to tell me is that the sky isn't blue.
Nikki:  Not today, it isn't.
 
Really.....  REALLY????

God love her.</sup> 
 

 

Quest for the Perfect Chili

It's just a silly chili cook-off contest at work....or IS it? 

THE WORLD MAY NEVER KNOW.  

Yeah, they probably don't care either way.  I just always wanted to say that.

Anywho.  I'm done being silly (you don't believe me, do you?).  No, seriously.  Let's get serious about some chili here. *serious face*  People are serious about chili these days.  Seriously.  So I figure I should be serious too (ok, fine...I'll stop).  After all, it was one of the first things I ever learned to cook.  It's also one of the first recipes I ever added to my little homemade cook book - made from a used three-ring binder they were going to throw out at work (SNAG!).  So I got an email about a Chili Cook-off from the Employee Committee (said in a deep, important sounding voice) at work a couple weeks ago.  I thought, "Hmmm....should I enter?  Can they handle my insane chili-making skills?  Are they even aware of the type of commitment they're about to make?"  Kidding.  It was actually a bit more like, "Meh...sure I'll make some chili.  Whatevs."

Let's go back to that first-thing-I-ever-learned-to-cook thing.  I was ehh...17, I think.  Yeah pretty sure I was 17 because I recall my (now ex) boyfriend's mom wouldn't let me smoke in the house because I wasn't old enough.  I had to smoke on the back porch.  <insert eye roll>  She was a pretty good cook though.  Cooking for a husband and two growing teenage boys on her husbands income alone is cause for some frugal creativity I presume.  I just remember she'd make the best chili.  Stuff I never got at mom's growing up because everyone was so picky in our house (sorry Mom-it's not your fault).  I was picky too but I'd try it anyway - so as not to be rude - and end up liking it (it's a wonder what guilt will do).  It was different every time she'd make it.  She'd throw in whatever she could find in the pantry at the time and somehow she would make it work.  She taught me something as simple as a can of corn can stretch the batch to feed two more people.  I remember asking her for the recipe.  She gave me the basics, showed me how to do it and then said, "Add whatever else you like.  It's your chili."  So that's what I did.  And I've been experimenting with it since then.  As a side-note, I hear she's not doing too well with her health right now.  Send up a thought and a prayer if you get the chance. 

Really, my chili isn't anything special...to me at least.  It's not "white" or "green".  It's not fancy.  It's just mine.  I have learned to tone down the heat since I've had kids, though.  I once won "Hottest Chili" at a work chili cook-off.  I might have killed someone with that batch, but it was damn good.  Every once in a while I'll peruse the internets for tips.  There's TONS of forums and recipes (like I said, people are seriously serious about chili).  Always looking for that extra little kick I can add to my chili, or soup, or rub, or marinade...you get the point.  So, thanks to those three little words:  It's. Your. Chili.  They made me the cook I am today.

Hopefully I have an ecstatic "YEAH BUDDY!!  I WON!!  TAKE THAT B*TCHES!!" update for you all later.  Judging starts in an hour!  Wish me luck!!!