It’s The Little Things

He brought me coffee in bed as he was leaving for work this morning.  (It’s my day off!)  He gently kissed me on the forehead and stroked my hair.  As I looked up at him and smiled drowsily, he smiled back and told me to have a good day….

It’s little things like that, which make me feel loved and cared for…..and seem to make the biggest impact on me. I’m becoming more and more comfortable with it….with letting someone take care of me in that way.  It was very difficult for me at first… I guess I always questioned the motives behind the sweetness for some reason….but, I have noticed that the more I give of myself…. the more I receive in return.  Funny how that works.  He thinks I’m amazing…I certainly wouldn’t go that far, but, I am finally beginning to believe that I am worthy of all this love.

Yep, those walls are definitely crumbling and my heart is definitely softening… All those little things really do add up.

What’s In A Name?

It has come to my attention that there is another “Sweet and Saucy” on WordPress….and, although I do believe I am the original, I just don’t feel special any longer   So, I am considering changing my blog’s name.  The name fit perfectly when I first started this blog, a little over three years ago…it was strictly a food and recipe blog.  But, since making changes and turning this into more of a therapeutic, hodgepodge, personal blog, the name doesn’t fit as well…. especially, if someone visiting here is strictly looking for a food blog……but, it does fit my personality…so I’ve been told anyway, which is why I chose it to begin with   In that regard, perhaps I should keep it…why fix what ain’t broken, right? On the other hand,  I like being unique and a change could do some good.  

Help!!

  What do you think?   Should I keep the name or should I change it?   If I change it…what should I call it???  Any ideas?  Your suggestions would be most appreciated!

♥Cas♥

A Simple Supper

I needed something quick and easy to cook one night last week, in order to avoid the temptation to call for a pizza!  I looked frantically through my freezer and all I could find meat wise were some ground sirloin patties.  In my fridge I found a red bell pepper, a small sweet onion, some grape tomatoes and some soy sauce…. and so, I thought “What the heck, I will just put them all together, along with some spices and see what happens!”  It turned out really well, very flavorful, similar to salisbury steak….and I was really glad I decided against the pizza

All measurements are approximate…

What you’ll need:

4 ground sirloin patties

Bell pepper (any color) thinly sliced

Onion, halved and thinly sliced

1 or 2 tbsp. Soy sauce

2 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. onion powder

1/4 tsp season salt

Pepper to taste (the more the better, in my humble opinion)

a handful of grape tomatoes, halved

2 tsp. olive oil

Put it all together:

Add olive oil to a large skillet and heat over med temp.  Season patties on both sides with all seasonings and half of the soy sauce.  Cover and cook until slightly pink in center, turning once.   Add sliced peppers and onions, and any other fresh veggies you may have on hand if you so desire…mushrooms would be perfect with this!   Add the remaining soy sauce, cover and cook until tender, approximately 10 minutes…..add the tomatoes during the last few minutes.   Serve the veggies over the patties…along with a salad or other greens.   If I weren’t doing the low carb thing, I would serve this with some sort of potatoes, such as the sweet potato fries in the photo I borrowed  Enjoy!

 Let me know if you try it….would love to hear what you think!  And please feel free to send me your own simple recipes to try…I will post them here!  

And please feel free to add me to your blogroll or link me on your own site…I will be happy to reciprocate! 

♥Cas♥

What A Week!

An exhausting, fun, exciting, overwhelming, stressful, wonderful week!   I survived my first week of classes….and I feel so good about it.   I know it’s only just begun and I have a ways to go…but, I will just take it one week at a time…or one day at a time if I have to, in order to finish what I have now started.    I have met so many people this week, absorbed so much information, and have done so much paperwork that my brain might explode…but, it has been good.  I can’t wait until next week, when things really get started!  I’m excited to be learning new things…and I am looking forward to the challenge.  Which is actually a new thing for me.   We had our first lecture quiz today and I got a 100…. I just wish that I would have had this drive years ago…..but, then again I would have missed out on a lot of really wonderful things in my life.

However,  I am in a new chapter now…. and I am writing it as I go….. Yay me!

Here I Go…

Financial aid is all set up. I received my schedule.  I’ve met all my instructors… and Classes begin on Tuesday!   I’m actually very excited and not nearly as intimidated as I thought I would be!  After all, it has been a VERY long time since I was in school….but, I’m really looking forward to learning something new!

I think the thing that has finally pushed me to make a decision and move forward with it, is that I finally feel worthy of something good and I am not allowing myself any more excuses, nor am I looking for the “easy way out”   And all those negative words of discouragement, (whether my own words or someone else’s),  which used to play in my head like a recording whenever I would start, or even think about starting something,   no longer have any power over me…. I’ve simply stopped believing them.   I finally know who I am, or rather I have found “me” again and I do know that I am capable!   I am doing this for myself….not to impress or please any one else and not to prove anything to anyone…except me.

When my kids were younger, I had a sense of purpose at the beginning of each day and a sense of accomplishment at the end.   All of my self worth was tied up in being a mom and a wife, but, they grew up and didn’t need me in the same way…and my relationship with my ex husband seemed to stop growing..and I no longer felt needed there either..  I do feel needed again, and that is a wonderful thing…I need to feel needed… as we all do.   But, I also need something, once again,  that will allow me to feel a sense of accomplishment every day….Something that will allow me to help others and to feel like I have a purpose in life…a purpose beyond mom, or fiance’, or wife,  or daughter, or friend….or whatever other title I may hold…. Something that will allow me to really stand on my own and be independent if ever it came to it again……Something that is just for me…but, will also benefit those around me… I really need that.

I am thankful for the courage that I have found to take that first step…. I will need it during the next 10 months to continue moving forward when things get tough…but, I am determined….. and I have a great support system for those times when I am not feeling so courageous!   

 Wish me luck….I know I can do this!  I am ready now.

PS…did I mention I get to wear scrubs to class? Sexy, no? Actually, it’s required, which should make getting ready in the mornings a no brainer!  I will keep you posted on my progress…bye for now!

♥Cas♥