Becoming an Aggresive Driver, ways to cope!

This post will be kind of short and sweet for those quick browsers. Please feel free to leave feed back and I hope this information helps the slightest bit. 

Are you becoming an aggresaive driver? I know that I can definitely say I'm guilty as one. We’re always in a rush- to work, to get home, to get our errands done, driving kids, etc.  We get aggravated when people don’t do the speed limit or are talking on their phones & not paying attention.  Driving a car is stressful-period!  Blood pressure rises & we tense our body.  The number one thing that needs to be said is , Relax while driving (of course, pay attention to the road-haha) and give yourself a chance to breathe & to reflect.  Here are some tips/ways to help calm down and cope with aggresive driving (Road Rage):
 1. Sometimes, I shut off the radio & enjoy the“quietness”. 
 2. Put soothing music on and just listen carefully to the lyrics or focus on the background 
 3. Don't focus on what others around you are doing or where they are going ( Where are you going?)
 4. I always carry a bottle of water with me, take small sips when you feel your getting ready to yell
 5. Think about where your heading and the steps you're gonna take once there.


If anyone can think of some tips/ advice to give I'd love to hear some and add to my list ;)

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff !

I like to always say for myself advice is "It's All Good, No worries"! Take what you can from this post, feel free to leave feedback and remember don't take offense to any of my words, but hopefully use them in your own way to make maybe life easier. 

“See the Glass as Already Broken (and Everything Else Too): This is from a Buddhist teaching which says“that all of life is in a constant state of change”.  Everything has a beginning & end.  There is a peace to be found in this teaching.  When you expect something to change, you’re not surprised or disappointed when it does.  Instead of becoming “immobilized” when something is destroyed, you feel grateful for the time you have had.  This philosophy leads us tomaking peace with the “way things are”. 

 

I try to think of all possible outcomes (good or bad) so I’m prepared mentally & physically when making major decisions.  But here’s the key- “don’t over-think it” !!!!   We will always be on Life’s rollercoaster, with it’s ups and downs.  The important thing is when you are on the rise going up that long climb on the coaster & ready to hit the top,  be conscious to enjoy that moment- schedule fun things to do, meet friends/family- because when you do go down it could be a fast, scrray ride. 

Be Grateful For What You Have VS. What You Want!

Someone close to my heart gave me this advice and I thought I should pass this along the way for others to read and share, may help make a difference in someone's life. 

Do you ever feel that your life is falling apart and that no matter what good comes into your life it won't make a difference? Well stop always feeling and saying I want this I want that, and think truly hard about your life.  " Think of What you Have Instead of What you Want”-  A lot of us tend to focus on what we“want” instead of what we “have”.  We just keep expanding our list of desires, which guarantees we will remain dissatisfied.   Take a breath & remember all you have to be grateful for.  Rather than wishing your spouse/boyfriend/girlfriend was different, try thinking about their wonderful qualities.  Instead of complaining about your salary, be grateful you have a job.  If you do, your life will start appearing much better than before.  For the 1st time in your life, you’ll know what it means to feel satisfied & heading toward inner-peace.

 

Think about creating,  “Good Things in My Life List”- when You're feeling sad about things in your life. Start off with the phrase "Here’s what I’m grateful for":  Example, I have a wonderful husband who isn’t unfaithful and would give me the world , doesn’t spend money frivolously, is a hard worker & handy in the house and mechanically(great for our cars and boat) & doesn’t smoke or do drugs; We own a home & a four cars (one being our beater truck, one is my husbands' baby, and then our two dailys); With that being said I don’t have to take public transportation or do my laundry at a Laundromat; I have great friends/family who are very supportive, I’ve been fortunate to always find a job, I have wonderful memories with my family.

Then write a list of “ Things I’m Resentful For”-  Compare them to the “Good Things” & what I’ve found is that “you can change the things that are bothering you or need improvement” – it takes time & thought but many things you don’t like in life can be improved. 

Enjoy this message and I hope someone can walk away with some good advice and judgment from this.

Recipe of the day from Start to finish. 7/31/13

Today, July 30,2013, I would like to share a Summer Dinner Layout from Drinks, Main Course, and of course Dessert. I hope you all find this helpful when in need for a meal to please ;)

White Summer Sangria:**Great for a large amount of people, can cut in half if needed for smaller servings.

2 Bottles of Barefoot Moscato (the largest bottle), 1/2 cup of Coconut Rum,1/2 bottle of Sierra Mist or Sprite (mix in when ready to serve)

Pineapple chunks,Diced Granny Smith,Sliced kiwi (3),Diced Strawberries

Serve over frozen Green Grapes and Ice

** I made the sangria with 1 bottle of wine and the coconut rum and fruit in a pitcher about 3 hours before the party and then when putting in the serving container i dumped the pre-made in and I added 2nd bottle and the sprite stirred and served 😉

Non Alcoholic Drink: Peach Ice Tea

Prep time:  5 mins Cook time:  10 mins Total time:  15 mins  Serves: 8

Ingredients:

12 regular sized tea bags; Fresh, filtered water; 1 cup of sugar; ¼ teaspoon of baking soda; 1 -11.5 oz can of peach nectar – found in juice aisle

1 lemon; 4 fresh peaches

Instructions

Bring 4 cups of water to a boil, remove from heat and add tea bags. Let tea steep for about 10 minutes.

Remove tea bags and add sugar to hot water, stir until dissolved. Add baking soda and peach nectar and stir.

Pour tea mixture into large pitcher and stir in 10 cups of ice water. Stir in 1-2 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Add sliced, fresh peaches and serve over ice. Makes one gallon of peach iced tea.

Main Course: Yummy Chicken (our household name for this dish) 

Ingredients

6 tablespoons olive oil
2 lemons, 1 thinly sliced, 1 juiced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3/4 pound trimmed green beans
8 small red potatoes, quartered
4 chicken breasts (bones left in, with skin, about 3 1/4 pounds)

Directions
Preheat oven to 450°F. Coat a large baking dish or cast-iron skillet with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Arrange the lemon slices in a single layer in the bottom of the dish or skillet.In a large bowl, combine the remaining oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper; add the green beans and toss to coat. Using a slotted spoon or tongs, remove the green beans and arrange them on top of the lemon slices. Add the potatoes to the same olive-oil mixture and toss to coat. Using a slotted spoon or tongs, arrange the potatoes along the inside edge of the dish or skillet on top of the green beans. Place the chicken in the same bowl with the olive-oil mixture and coat thoroughly. Place the chicken, skin-side up, in the dish or skillet. Pour any of the remaining olive-oil mixture over the chicken.
Roast for 50 minutes. Remove the chicken from the dish or skillet. Place the beans and potatoes back in oven for 10 minutes more or until the potatoes are tender. Place a chicken breast on each of 4 serving plates; divide the green beans and potatoes equally. Serve warm.

Dessert: Oreo Cream Cheese Cookies

(makes about 3-4 dozen, adapted from Brown Eyed Baker)

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
6 oz 1/3 less fat cream cheese, room temperature
2 cups granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup mini dark chocolate chips
2 cups Oreo crumbles

Preheat oven to 375, line a cookie sheet with parchment.  I have found that parchment keeps the cookies from spreading too much, as they tend to do on a greased pan or a silpat.

In the bowl of a stand mixer on medium speed, cream together butter and cream cheese until thoroughly combined.

Add sugar and vanilla, mix well.

Add flour one cup at a time and mix on low just until combined.  Stir in chocolate chips with a rubber spatula.

Pour Oreo crumbles into a bowl.  Scoop dough out and roll into roughly 1.5'' balls, then roll in cookie crumbles, coating thoroughly.  Be sure to cover the dough balls really well in crumbs, as this is what holds the cookie together while baking.  Space cookies about 1-2'' apart on sheet.  Bake on center rack about 14-15 minutes and allow to cool on sheet several minutes before removing to wire rack to cool completely. 

Hope you and your dinner guests Enjoy!! Check here for new recipes ;)

Ever Feel the Need to Vent, Just Don't Know How?

"First I'd like to say this is my first time ever blogging before and hope that my words can make you think hard about things that maybe on your mind and your not sure how to handle them; give advice to those who are in need; share wonderful tips on life (whether my own or from others); Wide range of recipes; etc... Please don't take offense from my blogs though my intentions are meant to be for the good."

 Do you ever feel the need to just vent and don't care who hears you, you just need to get it out?  This blog is all about how to handle stress and aggravation. I can honestly say I am know for getting all crazy over stress in my life, but I have found some ways to get it out of my system.  Some of my "quick fixes" are to write it down on paper, call a friend, go to a quiet spot , and my favorite last resort go somewhere you can be alone and just vent aloud. 

 When trying the writing method don't worry about how you write it down it can be half-fast and all over the place with thoughts just get it out. I tend to find writing calming for my brain for it gets all my thoughts and words out of my mind, but when I go to look back at my writing afterwards sometimes it doesn't always make sense. That's okay you take the paper and just throw it out "be gone stress" if you have a fireplace lit and can throw it in there go right ahead burn all the bad. 
   Calling a friend can have its plus and minuses, so make sure you know it's going to help lead you to positive relaxation. For example, pick a friend that you know you can tell them, "hey, I'm having an off day can I just rant and you listen and if you need to rant as well I will do the same for you".  Sometimes spouses/significant others are great for that, however it can make matters worse for they may already be worn out with their daily lives and little stuff amongst your relationship. You never want to have your venting backfire on you especially with the ones you love. 
    Do you have a quiet spot to go to? I find sometimes finding a quiet spot just helps give me that moment to breathe in with the good and exhale the bad out. A quiet spot doesn't always have to be a place thats completely quiet for you, sometimes i like a little background noise (its more about your preference). It can be somewhere in your home ( for some reason when I was a kid it was always my closest),take a walk/drive,  or a place like the park/beach. As I got older my favorite quiet spot is near the water; whether I drove to it, walked down to a little beach near by, or just sat on my boat.  My favorite part about my quiet spot is water comes off so majestic to me with ever shine and glisten off the top layer of the water and the lapping sounds as it hits up against the shoreline..ahh already becoming at  peace just talking about it. 
  Finally, my favorite thing to do for venting, go somewhere that I can talk aloud and let it all out! I like to lock myself in a room if I am home and just straight up have a full blown conversation with myself aloud and sometimes scream if need be. Now, if I'm not home and I'm in my car I tend to find the most soothing music ever and turn that on so while I talk aloud and get everything out in the open I'm calm and realizing its all going to be okay.. Out with the bad with the good!




I hope this helps anyone who reads this note.. Take it however you want to... Use my advice, don't use it.. I just hope this was enjoyable for your reading eyes ;)