Quote of the Week

 

This one just speaks to me this morning.  A good plan to navigate the week ahead.

Daily Challenge for October

 

October is going to be about self-care for me. When I was in school over the past decade, almost all of my professors were huge advocates of self-care. And it makes perfect sense.  When you work in the humanities, you give a lot of yourself, but you also need to take a break and rejuvenate.  If I am not good to myself, I will not really be good to other people.  So, this month my daily challenge is to take time each day to do something for myself.  It can be something big or something small. But it needs to be something to make myself happy.  I tend to live my life at the mercy of other people.  By that I mean that things that I do are usually following the leads of other people, especially when it comes to my free time.  I need to start putting myself first before I begin to feel resentful all around.  Today, I will be attending the UNCG production of Sweeney Todd with two close friends.  I love going to the theatre and this will be something that I can do for myself.  I am looking forward to not only seeing the show but taking the time to do something for me.  Let's hope I can keep this up!

Recipe of the Week - Macaroni Salad

 

There are so many variations of macaroni salad out there. I love a good macaroni salad and will always be willing to try a new recipe for it.  This is one that I found in Mom's recipe box.  I don't ever remember her making it but that does not mean she didn't.  And I love that the card is written in her handwriting.  It is a simple recipe but very refreshing.  I really enjoyed this one and will definitely make it again.  I hope you like it too!

Macaroni Salad

1 16oz box of macaroni

1 small onion, chopped

1/2 green pepper, chopped

1 tomato, chopped

1 cucumber, sliced

Pickles*

Mayonnaise 

Salt and Pepper

Celery Seed

Cook pasta according to directions.  Drain and set aside.  Once the macaroni has cooled, add vegetables to the pasta in a large bowl.  Add enough mayonnaise to bind the ingredients together.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Mom recommended lots of pepper.  Then 3 dashes of celery seed.  Stir to combine and serve.  It is good at both room temperature and chilled.

*Mom's recipe says to add pickles if desired, but she did not specify if it was a dill pickle or sweet salad cubes or pickle relish.  I opted for dill pickle.  I quartered and chopped one large dill pickle and added to the salad. 

Prayer for the strength to survive

 This should be an everyday prayer for me!

Feed the Birds - Julie Andrews

 Riding the wave of Julie Andrews birthday yesterday, here is one of my favorite songs from Mary Poppins.  A beautiful and haunting song that was one of Walt Disney's favorites.  He would often ask the composers to play it for no other reason than he loved it so.  I can understand why!  Enjoy!

10 Favorite Julie Andrews movies

 In honor of today being Julie Andrews's 90th birthday, I am thinking of all of the wonderful films she made and the happiness she has brought into people's lives, especially mine!  Here are 10 of my favorite Julie Andrews films in no particular order.  I have included several of her television movies as well. If you have not seen any of these, I highly recommend them! (Descriptions courtesy of IMDB.com) 

1. Thoroughly Modern Millie

In New York City during the Roaring Twenties, would-be flapper Millie Dillmount's self-appointed mission to marry her boss is complicated by white slavers and true love.

2. Mary Poppins

In turn of the century London, a magical nanny employs music and adventure to help two neglected children become closer to their father.

3. Victor Victoria

A struggling female soprano in 1934 Paris finally finds work after posing as a female impersonator, but it complicates her personal life when a visiting Chicago gangster finds himself inexplicably attracted to the seemingly male performer.

4. The Americanization of Emily

An American Naval Officer's talent for living the good life in wartime is challenged when he falls in love and is sent on a dangerous mission.

5. Cinderella

Although mistreated by her cruel Stepmother (Ilka Chase) and stepsisters Portia (Kaye Ballard) and Joy (Alice Ghostley), Cinderella (Dame Julie Andrews) is able to attend the royal ball through the help of a Fairy Godmother (Edie Adams).

6. The Princess Diaries

Mia Thermopolis has just found out that she is the heir apparent to the throne of Genovia. With her friends Lilly and Michael Moscovitz in tow, she tries to navigate through the rest of her sixteenth year

7. Our Sons

Donald is a young man dying of AIDS. His lover, James, asks his mother to go to Fayetteville, Arkansas and tell Donald's mother, who has been estranged from her son for years.

8. Darling Lili

Set during World War I, this movie is a cute spin on the Mata Hari legend.

9. One Special Night

Two strangers take refuge in a small cabin during a stormy winter night and, despite their differences, or perhaps because of them, they are undeniably drawn to one another in this holiday classic.

10. The Sound of Music

A young novice is sent by her convent in 1930s Austria to become a governess to the seven children of a widowed naval officer.