As a read a friends blog last week... I found that I was looking thru her blog trying to find the BIG blow up... the ONE good reason for her to divorce her husband. Isn't that what society tells us...? we have to have concrete evidence that our husband was bad to us..before we can file for divorce... I never found that post... but I didn't find that she endured a lot of verbal and mental abuse!!! Something we have in common....
Since the beginning of my current relationship/marriage with Steve... There are times I am in such awe of the way he treats me...He treats me so amazingly well.. such a huge difference from my first marriage, the only other relationship I have known... I have found that I need to talk about the differences... to verbalize about how nice it is to be treated so sweetly, because I am use to being treated like crap.... and I would explain to Steve, what I am use too... Several friends and family members have suggested that I STOP comparing my 2 relationships... and for a few weeks I did... but after reading my friends blog and thinking about what I lived thru I have come to the conclusion that I am NOT comparing... I am verbalizing, acknowledging and accepting that I was ABUSED!!
I was not physically abused... I was never hit... I was never physically forced to do anything I didn't want to do... I don't have bruises or scars that the world can see!! I was verbally and mentally abused... the abuse went on for so long I didn't even realize I was abused... Towards the end of the relationship I knew I was a victim and I was tired of being one... I just didn't know how to break the cycle of abuse!! Except for end the marriage... but how?
The scars from verbal and mental abuse last for as long as you let them torment you... By acknowledging the abuse and by talking about it I am able to free it... I can let it go... I can say that is no longer my life... and I can move on!! This is my process... and it's working... once I talk about a certain situation... the memory turns to dust and I am able to just blow it away!!
Friday, April 15, 2011
Abuse is abuse... it's that simple...
Monday, March 21, 2011
Etsy Customized Set...
Stefanie asked me last week to design her a logo for her business... Took me a few days to get the inspiration and get the design going... but yesterday everything burst out of my head!! I personally love it... but I still don't know how she is going to like it... and with the birth of this design is also the birth of my
Etsy Gourmet Banner Set!!
1 Round Logo, 1 Square Logo, 1 Banner, and 4 Avatars...
$24.95
Friday, February 11, 2011
I do LOGOS!!
I think they have to be my favorite thing to create... they are fast and easy and can convey so much in such a small space...
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Crockpot Mac and Cheese
1 1/2 cups milk
1-12 oz can evaporated milk (skim if you have it!)
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted, cooled to room temp
3 large eggs
1/2 tsp salt
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 tsp yellow mustard
3 cups (12 oz) shredded cheese (I used cheddar)
1/2 pound elbow macaroni or mini penne, par cooked. (this means cook them for about five minutes until tender but not completely
cooked)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Bread Crumb Topping
1 cup plain bread crumbs
2 tsp dried parsley
1/4 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp garlic salt
2 tbs Extra virgin olive oil
* Spray the inside of your slow-cooker with cooking spray or grease it with olive oil. Combine milk, evaporated milk, eggs, butter, and salt & pepper in slow-cooker and whisk until until well mixed.
* Add the shredded cheese (not the Parmesan) and the par cooked pasta, stir until combined. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese on top.
* Cover and cook on HIGH for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, reduce the temperature to LOW and cook for 2 to 2 1/2hours, until custard is set in the center and the pasta is tender. The macaroni and cheese may sit in the cooker on the KEEP WARM setting for 30 minutes before serving.
Directions for bread crumb topping:
Mix all the crumbs and spices together.
Add the olive oil to skillet and heat on medium heat. then add the bread crumbs. Stir until bread crumbs are golden. Only takes a few minutes to don't stop stiring and don't walk away!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Craftberry Bush...
After months and months of trying to come up with a name for my Etsy Shoppe... I finally did it!! I came up with a name... I must have sent Tory 100 text with name ideas!! I didn't even ask her about this one.. I just DID IT!
The Logo was another challenge... This is the first one I came up with... so 80's...ehhh?
It is cute... but like I said VERY 80's!! I knew what I was wanting for my logo... but my brain wouldn't function to create it... I guess I had to sleep on it! Because on Tuesday I woke up and created the new one!! Funny how the mind works...
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
Back to School.. seriously what do I want to be when I grow up?
So which degree do I go for?
1. Graphic Communication Art & Design
Graphic Communication Art & Design, or more commonly referred to as "graphic design" by industry professionals, is a career that combines creative thinking with visual, technical and artistic skills, for the purpose of communicating ideas and messages to a specific audience. Graphic designers help deliver their clients' message by giving it a visual form appropriate to the message and audience. A graphic designer can find employment in advertising agencies, graphic design studios, in-house design & marketing departments and printing establishments.
or
2. Phtography
The student in the Commercial Photography program learns to solve photographic problems through the skillful use of camera, lighting, laboratory, and electronic techniques. Included in the program are experiences in commerical, general and digital photography. This program articulates with UNO's College of Fine Arts and with Bellevue University.
.... do I really have to choose just one?
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
sometimes i wish...
Sometimes I wish I didn't care about people's feelings...
Sometimes I wish I could be selfish....
Sometimes I wish I didn't love so much....
Sometimes I wish I didn't have that still small voice telling me what is right...
But all the time.... I am glad I am me!!
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
the busy cook
One of the effects of watching cooking shows is that you want to cook.. or bake... or just create something good to eat... so that is what I did today...
I have heard over and over about how delicious brioche is. So I did a search on google for brioche and found an easy recipe on the Epiqurious website... Brioche is a wonderfully light, butter and eggy bread. Hopefully mine will turn out.... If not I can always try again next week! The next thing I decided to tackle was to use up some of these end of the season tomatoes Gene brought over for me so I made some cooked salsa. I have made fresh pico de gallo all summer long but I have never made cooked and bottled salsa so I put a batch on the stove.... It turned out pretty good! Not spicy like I like it but it is for the group home so I can't have it too spicy. I then turned my sights one lunch and tried my hand at homemade chicken nuggets... well that recipe can be deleted they tasted horrible... We all ate them for lunch so they weren't that bad!! I must admit I was missing a few of the ingredients, so to be fair I will have to try it one more time when I have all the ingredients on hand!!
Tomorrow I think I may just attempt baking powder biscuits... not something I have made from scratch since I was in 7th grade home ec class... if I remember correctly I did get an A on my biscuits!!
Today I must admit I am putting poor Suzie Homemaker to shame!! The kitchen is even all cleaned up!! I need a nap... but no time.. I have to hit the shower and off to see client!! Woot!!
Sunday, November 07, 2010
giving thanks is not just for thanksgiving
Give Thanks. Start Today. It's Every Day
1. I am thankful for my relationship with Jesus Christ.
2. I am thankful for my amazing best friend and the man I love... Steve
3. I am thankful for children for the joy they bring into my life
4. I am thankful for friendships with people I have met ALL over the world thru the Internet... I have made some amazing friendships with people I may never meet in person... but who I will always call my friends...
5. I am thankful for the talents that have been blessed to me and how they help me make it thru this earthly life...
6. I am thankful for you.
One more day to serve. One more hour to love. One more minute to praise. For this day I am grateful. If I awaken to the morning sun, I am grateful. ~Mary Lou Kownacki
Monday, October 04, 2010
Alderwood Quilts October Giveaway- AccuQuilt GO!
Alderwood Quilts October Giveaway... An ACCUQUILT GO!! Monday, August 16, 2010
Sunday, August 01, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
clouds....
Yesterday evening as I was pulling into the Hangar... the movie theater... I noticed the clouds reflecting in the window... I liked what I saw.. grabbed my iPhone (why did I spend all that money on my big camera? ) and snapped this shot... I edited it and placed it on Facebook and a friend asked me where the great quote is to go with the picture...So I opened the edited photo and began to look for a quote. I could think of the tune.. of the song I wanted but not the lyrics...except it had to do with clouds.. so I did a google search and found... IT!! The perfect quote... well I think it is...
In creating this piece...it made me wonder how many clouds have kept me from my goals... not the clouds per-day but what is on the other side... I had too much fear to fly through them to see.. so instead I flew in circles... because I thought it was safer...
What clouds are blocking you from moving forward?
Think about it...
Meg
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Happy Easter.... better late than never...
I spent Easter weekend in Salt Lake City... I went to meet many of the friends I have made on line in the past year... My bestie Lynda who has been with me with ALL my ups and downs in the past year!! It is amazing to me that you can have such a bond with a person that has lasted a year and have never set eyes on their living being... I know that I knew Lynda in the pre-existence... She is just one of those people that I have met and BANG... instant friendship...instant bonding!! I love her like a Sister...
I met Lynda at her work and then went and had lunch with her new hubby, Criss.... They are so cute together and so much in love... ahhh*wipes tear... At first I think Criss and I were sizing each other up... making sure we each had Lynda's best interest in mind... But soon we realized that we are both good for her and accepted each other... I think Criss is an amazing man and the perfect man for Lynda.... and trust me I was worried... their whirlwind courtship... engagement and marriage was so dang fast... but I am now at total ease... Love Criss like a brother!! Welcome to the family..man!!
Friday night I went on my first offical double date... Rafa and I went with Criss and Lynda to eat Italian at Criss' favorite restaurant... Don't remember the name but it was good! Then it was off to Midvale and to the LDSMingles Conference Dance and Bash... I was able to meet many of the people I have been chatting with on and off over the year!! It was so great to put 3D faces with the 2D pictures I have been looking at as we chat... A few I have met before and it was good to see and connect with them again!!
I spent Friday night up in Tremonton at Lynda and Criss's home... It was cool I felt so realaxed and comfortable... It felt like I have been in Lynda's home many many times... and actually with all the time we have spent on the phone... I have...but just not physically!! Saturday morning Criss made breakfast YUM!! I had to hit to road to get back down to SLC too meet up with Rafa and head on over to Conference....
Conference... Rafa and I went with a few others from his Branch!! Conference was amazing... I loved Pres Holland's talk... After Conference Rafa and I walked around Temple Square it was packed and I was wearing high heals... so that didn't last a whole long time.... So we went and changed clothes... and went over to the mall at Dinner at a texmex grill place... very Bobby Flay and VERY VERY good!! I had heard that there was a singles dance down in Orem so we went to look for it...Finally found it... but, the rumor was wrong no dance... so instead I went to Jeff and Nicole's... Poor Tave was sick and so Nicole got him up out of bed...partly cause he heard me... the not so quiet Aunt Meg... Tave was not so happy to see me either... UNTIL.... I pulled out my handy dandy
On Sunday morning Weston was a little shy of Aunt Meg...but not Tave... once I pulled my phone back out... Oh then Weston was right there with him... playing on my phone... Travis, Sharlene, and girls; Rob, Chelsea and kids; and Shawn and Abby all came over to Nicole's for lunch and an Easter egg hunt... Due to the 3" of snow outside...the egg hunt was held indoors... We had great food.. family... fun... and even a little conference... (to be honest I fell asleep)...
Sunday night I headed over to Travis and Sharlene's... it was fun to sit and talk with them and hear all about their plans for their future. BTW... my
The last few things I wanted to do was find Mormon Handicrafts and go to the distribution center... so late Monday morning I packed my bags and with the escort of Kapria I loaded my car... she was so cute.. I blew my kisses and back to SLC.... I met up with Rafa and together we went in search of Mormon Handicraft... Dang it so wasn't what I remembered... but next door was a distribution center so we went there... I went ahead and bought my temple clothes so now I can go to anytime I want... and not have to find out if they have rentals... Right now my closest temple is in Omaha and they don't have rentals.... so YIPPEEE.... I am locked and loaded!!
For lunch I found a Der Wienerschnitzel!! ...and yes I ordered 2 chili cheese dogs.. it has been almost 30 years since I worked at the one in Vista... but oh how yummy those dogs tasted... The very last thing I wanted to do was find a Mexican market and buy some dulces (Mexican candies) so back to State Street and up towards S SLC... I found one!! I bought my favorite tamarino, and watermelon lucas suckers...
For Dinner on Monday night I ate at Chelsea's... I felt so bad that I got lost and was late... so I had a speed dinner and get to know her kiddo's... But it was fun to have some one on one time with Chelsea and her kids...
Hopped on a plane in a snow storm... headed back to Missouri... Home sweet home.. and back to work...
