It's good to be back to FYR, time away has has been extremely productive and exciting. Hope you've all been doing great as well.
I decided to try thePALEOway of eating for a little while and I have been enjoying it so far. I decided to take a break from my projects to tease your eyes with some delicious food:
Pan-seared Tilapia and baked Asparagus
Pan-seared Tilapia
I use bragg's 24-herbs blend for my fish, it's that simple, I don't have to add anything else except maybe a sprinkle of salt. 1 tsp of coconut oil on medium heat and fish should be done in about 10 minutes.
Baked Asparagus:
Cut off woody end of asparagus,
Sprinkle asparagus with salt, pepper and a drizzle of olive oil
Bake at 425 degree for 20 minutes.
Cayenne pepper dusted Mango and almond slices (great snack)
I felt like eating something that resembles our meals back home: Spinach and turkey with boiled ripe plantains
It has been many months since I last passed by FYR, so many good things have and are happening, I will share a couple of them with you. A few months ago, I received an email from a world renowned author, speaker and wild life photographer asking permission to include my poem in his long awaited auto biography. I visited his site and was very impressed with his work and passion and of course I said yes to him.
The coolest thing is that I wrote 'In My Lion's Heart' in 2007 and he started writing his autobiography many years later yet we have the same title for our work. Mine was inspired by a relationship and yet it fits the topic of his work and passion in his autobiography. These are moments I would say were long ordained and were 'meant to be'.
I am also happy to announce that the very first book in our (my daughter and I) children's book series will soon be available for purchase for you, your kids, nieces and nephews to enjoy.
After winning a contest for the best children's book, 'Be yourself, Natalie' will be the first in the series to be published. Soon after it won, we started working with an amazing illustrator who turned our words into visual magic. The 'Be yourself and Shine' children's books are a series of unique, imaginative and charming stories with underlying morals and/or messages for young minds.
Will keep you updated as we progress.
I hope you are all chasing your dreams and keeping your passions ablaze.
EAT AND DRINK TO YOUR HEALTH AS ALWAYS, 1000 SUNS & COUNTING FROM FYR!
He came a long way
from a place called Oregon
She, she was just a sweet girl
whose heart could use a little tarragon
to spice up the chase, whisk some embraces
they never knew, they never saw what we saw watching them
she, with her open HART
he, with his chocolate lines
Though masked by tears and shadowed with disappointments
she decided to FALL→ FORWARD
for behind the scenes as she read the passages in her Bible
God himself chose to remind her in such a beautiful way
that your heart can plan all it wants but it's always God's will and purpose than wins
I'm certain her HART, now full, sings songs without words
for this man she loves has a gift he'll forever now call
his HART's DESIRE.e ❤
If I had been betting for the winners of every 'Bachelor' and 'Bachelorette' season, I sincerely will be a multimillionaire today. My friends and colleagues hate that I am always right, and I just don't guess right when there are only two contestants left, I usually can tell on the second time the show airs in its season. I am not a match maker, even though I did introduce two people over two decades ago and they are still together and have children now (it was just a stroke of luck, I guess). anyway, this is a first, I never blog about things like this but this couple, I really, really like!
Anyway, if you are not familiar with the Bachelor or Bachelorette, it is a franchise that started many years ago with a goal of matching a Bachelor or a Bachelorette with potential mates. Usually the Bachelorette has 25 men introduced to from the start. She starts to get to know each one of them and eliminates contestants until she is down to the final four. The Final four get to take her to see their family. Then she gets to take the final two to meet her family. If all goes well and feelings are mutual with the last man she picks she may or may not get a proposal. This all takes place within a time frame of three months during which they venture to the most beautiful parts of the world, a whirlwind of sorts, unrealistic? maybe, but it is good to know that three marriages have come out of this and all still going strong with a few of them having babies. Trista (the very first Bachelorette) has been married to her firefighter hunk, Ryan, for over nine years now, they have two beautiful children.
This season's Desiree captured our hearts from her season with Sean (the Bachelor), I think maybe because she carried the hunger that most women want and need; a great companion who can love them like they've never been loved before. Desiree is a gorgeous bridal stylist with an infectious smile, very humble, extremely sweet and a big dreamer, hmm, that sounds like yours truly, lol, she is also very creative and very smart. The very first day her season began I tweeted about my three favorites for her, they were Drew, Chris and Robert. Drew tugged at my heart with his story during his introduction and it didn't help that he was drop dead gorgeous.
Drew Kenney
Drew
Chris was the one who got down on one knee to tie his shoes, now Chris is extremely handsome as well, tall, dark with piercing eyes.
Chris Siegfried on one of his modeling shoots
Chris is a pro baseball player turned mortgage broker
Phew! hmm Chris, I meant to write
Well, two of my first picks Drew and Chris were part of the final three, not bad huh?
Desiree, too cute
Happy to say she ended up with Chris with whom she'd been writing poetry with all season. Their dates were richer and more at ease, seemed like everything just flowed. Their proposal was one of the best proposals in both Bachelor and Bachelorette history.
Gorgeous looking couple
Three months after the show was over :)
oh, btw, I woke up yesterday to find out that Matt White is following me on twitter, yes, The Matt White who wrote the awesome song above, I was tickled pink <3 br="" nbsp="">
I wish Chris and Desiree all the best, never has a Bachelorette been so loved and I think and hope and pray that all the positive energy from those who support them overrides the negative, after all, all good things come from above, right Desiree?
I dedicate this song I wrote to both of you on your wedding day:
Let us Remember
As I look into your eyes I remember how we first came to be oh the memories, memories, memories
Sing of melodies, marvelous melodies you met me and I saw you
Everywhere you go
Let me go with you everything you see dear let me see with your eyes
Everything you do my love let me do it with the heart of you
When this cold world comes between us two let’s remember to feel what we feel today I’m your woman, your lady, your only girl
Hello, hello, hello! Anybody there? I haven't blogged for a while, and won't be posting as often as I used to but I thought I could do snap shots of the activities and recipes every now and then when I get a chance during my busy schedule. I've been on contract to finish my new manuscript in the next several months, I am excited beyond words to be working with an amazing publisher for this book. Where do I start? I hope you have been "FLYING LIKE AN HELICOPTER" lol. Okay so I have amazing musical children who come up with songs and melodies to die for. Nina, 10, has been composing a lot lately and so my son, 2, who has been watching her, decides he wants to be a songwriter too; we are all in bed one night when he stares at the ceiling fan and goes "I'm flying like an helicopter, helicopter, helicopter, flying high, high, high". Nina and I took those lines and ran with it, the melody and lyrics are so beautiful we decided to write a song, someday, maybe, you will hear it on Nina's album.
The summer has been busy and event-FULL. Hope and pray you all have been healthy and productive. Here are a few random pictures from the JOY-filled whirlwind.
My brand new 2013 Honda-baby: Named her 'Ista', meaning 'Favored' in Hindi
Getting ready for show
Happy 10th Birthday, Nina
Almost 3 years old, Ricky
3rd Race in 4 months. The hill slowed me down.
Starting Training for my half marathon in October, can't wait to add the sticker to the back of my car: Bragging? heck yeah!
12oz tofutti sour cream 12 oz tofutti cream cheese 1 cup tofu 7 Tbsp blue agave 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 5 Tbsp soy milk (vanilla flavored) 4 Tbsp cacao powder (Hershey's 100% pure unsweetened) 2 Tbsp coconut oil (melted) 1 Tbsp lemon juice (freshly squeezed) 5 slices of dried mango 1 vegan pie crust Directions: Mix all the ingredients, except the pie crust, in a food processor with an 'S' blade and blend until smooth. Pour into pie crust and place in refrigerator for 1-2 hours until firm. Enjoy!
A Nina Lakota recipe/creation
One of my models, Nani
These girls killed the runway! I was mighty proud
Goofing backstage, before the show
Gege, sister of mine
A Nina Lakota recipe/creation
Proud Moment
Nina's handmade jewelry, coming next Spring to ninalakota.com/shop
Nina's handmade jewelry, coming next Spring to ninalakota.com/shop
Nina's handmade jewelry, coming next Spring to ninalakota.com/shop
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below:
❤ My Love ❤
Out of the ashes of my life You've created glitters for my crown
From the litter of my broken heart(s) You've painted me a masterful mosaic
with You to lose is to gain
to surrender is to win
A love that I, the poet, the word-weaver, cannot explain
consumed and on FIRE
so overwhelmed that the weight of it all throws me to my knees
and only on my knees do I ever find these words to be true
only on my knees do these words ever find an escape
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