Sep 25, 2012 |
What if I’m Not Good Enough? This question haunts me every day. Why haven’t I achieved my dreams, my goals? What if I have the wrong dreams? What if I’m not good enough to accomplish that which I live for?
Everyone says, “All things in good time,” or some sappy rendition of that sentiment. But what if that’s not it? What if the reason is not because it’s not the right time, but rather, because I’m the wrong person?
Why do I run from the Open Door instead of going through it? Why am I hesitant to grab the Golden Ring? No one else can stand up on my Merry-Go-Round and get it for me. It’s my Merry-Go-Round.
I’m well aware that I keep going ‘round in circles; I keep rising and falling. But I keep rising again. And my reach is getting higher. My strength is getting better. I’m learning which beasts bring me down, and which horses hold me high.
So why do I see in me the failures that others notice? Why, instead, do they not notice my successes? And then it dawned on me: My successes are private. My failings are public.
When times are difficult, I vent. I ask for help. I call my VIP and claim a Girl Date at Starbucks. But when I succeed, I don’t like to brag. I don’t toot my own horn. I wait for others to notice. And sometimes they don’t.
Sometimes I celebrate in silence.
Sometimes I get stuck in my ways and consider others’ opinions as just that: opinions. Suggestions that I don’t have to follow. Ideas that I don’t have to pay attention to. I’m stubborn that way. I get it from my father.
I know failure is a part of the process. I have to discover what doesn’t work in order to come up with the Winning Formula. But sometimes I know people don’t see that part. They see the failings. And they keep seeing the failings. And refuse to see me grow.
They see the Baby Steps, not the sprint, not the marathon. They see the Stumbles, not the Standing.
And it hurts. It hurts because I’m so much more than what I used to be. I’m not saying others are keeping me down. But they aren’t helping me up, either. These are not people I can dismiss, either. You know who I’m talking about: sometimes we all have to do a little closet-cleaning and get rid of the things (people) that no longer fit, that are basically useless to us. They may still be in good condition and beneficial to others, or they may just be so worn out they’re no good for anything. These are not those people. These are people I treasure, adore, and still need. Extended family. Church friends. People I admire and want to share my life with.
But some of them have Blinders on. And I’ve done nothing to remove them. I see them only when I’m needy, only when I’m hurting, only when I’m alone and lonely.
No wonder they haven’t seen me succeed. I won’t let them.
It’s time to Change the Game. It’s time to scream it from the rooftops and not be ashamed. It’s no small task to reach a great goal, and I’m choosing not to hide it.
I am Good Enough. And I’m only getting better.
You can call me a narcissist if you want to, but someone has to be my Number One Cheerleader. It may as well be me… right?!
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Sep 24, 2012 |
It’s here! The first major cosmetic surgery for Frankly, My Dear…
It’s not finished. It needs a few more changes. But so far, so good.
The first thing you’ll notice is when reading individual posts, the sidebar disappears. This means, if you want links (like Popular Posts, Blog Buttons, and advertising), you’ll have to check out the home page. Can’t find it? That’s because I renamed that button! It’s now “START HERE”.
So go ahead. Start Here.
Let me know what you think.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Sep 24, 2012 |
On the heels of a completely reorganized kitchen and staying up late because I was the only one in the house (Yes, I realize I’m no longer a teenager. Thank you for reminding me!), this morning I slept past my alarm and awoke only when the Scrub Jays shouted in celebration. They found the food I’d set out for them last night!
They were gracious enough to let me sit nearby and take these photos:
Posing Pretty
Food!
Where to Hide the Stash?
This Dirt is Soft Enough to Hide In.
Another Helping? Don’t Mind If I Do!
Bird Feeder
More, Please. Thank you.
Finches Ate Breakfast, Too.
Hummingbird Feeder
The Hummingbirds flew away before I could photograph them, but I just love the look of the feeder against the house and sky.
I heard Old Blue squawking last night. I hope he’ll return for dinner tonight.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Sep 23, 2012 |
This is one of my favorite recipes. This is what every coffee drinker in my family gets each year. This is what gets me through the holidays.
HOLIDAYS?!
That’s right. I said it. And I’ll say it again.
HOLIDAYS!
For weeks, I’ve been working on my Holiday Gift Basket Giveaway: scrounging up sponsors, writing reviews, and just plain getting into that Ol’ Holiday Spirit.
It can’t be avoided… and I don’t want to.
I’ve spent the last week reorganizing my kitchen, and today we decorated for Fall. I’ve tweeted it, Facebooked about it, and shown my beautiful dishes on Instagram. Didn’t see it? Well… here you are:
And now I’m ready to cook. Bake. Make. And taste.
Sounds exhausting? You would think… But don’t worry. This Girl’s got ya covered with some great tasting caffeine.
Mocha Flavored Coffee is one of those really great, easy, oh-so-appreciated recipes. You can add as little or as much as you want to 8 ounces of hot liquid. I prefer to embellish my basic coffee with it, others add it to hot water. Either way, it’s sure to please.
RECIPE: Mocha Flavored Coffee
Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup instant coffee
- 1/2 Cup granulated sugar
- 1 Cup powdered creamer
- 2 TBSP Cocoa powder
- 2 TBSP instant hot cocoa mix
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together.
- Add 2 rounded teaspoons (or more) to 8 oz. hot water or coffee.
- Stir thoroughly.
Notes
Embellish with whipped cream, cinnamon, nutmeg, chocolate shavings, sprinkles or candy canes.
Store in air-tight container for months (if it lasts that long!).
Use decaffeinated coffee grounds and a sugar substitute if desired.
3.1
https://franklymydearmojo.com/2012/09/23/recipe-mocha-flavored-coffee-mix/ (c) 2012 Frankly, My Dear... New Inklings Press
Now here’s a little bonus idea for you (call it an early Christmas gift): How often do you wish you could just take a small break from the day and enjoy a blend of your favorite cafe mocha? But you’re busy. Working. Running errands. Taking care of the Home Front. There’s not always time or money to treat yourself.
Well, now you can!
I bought my OXO Good Grips Salt and Pepper Shakers for just this purpose!
See that great little pour spout on the side? Just Take and Shake!
They’re called Good Grips for good reason: These little dandies fit perfectly in the palm of a hand, making them easy to hold. They’re solidly built, but not bulky. They’ll fit in your cabinet, desk drawer, and bag. And because they’re clear, there’s no guessing if there’s enough mix left for one more Mocha. They’re perfect.
Carry one of these lightweight shakers with you throughout the season, and you’ll enjoy several mugfuls of this great drink recipe. (Be sure to keep the shaker holes covered or put a small round of paper under the cap so it doesn’t sprinkle all over the inside of your tote!)
As you can see, I also like to add layers of cinnamon and nutmeg to my personal stash. A few shakes of the shaker and it blends quite nicely. Each shaker holds enough mix for three regular cups of Mocha Flavored Coffee.
So whether I’m at work, in my own kitchen, or busy running errands, I always have a great cup of coffee with me.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
[Disclaimer: Frankly, My Dear.. has joined up with OXO and their Blogger Outreach Program. I have not been compensated for this post in any manner. All reviews and opinions are my own.]
Sep 22, 2012 |
You know those Blog changes I’ve been talking about? Well, some of the behind-the-scenes ones are already in the works. (Thanks, Webmaster!)
I’m visiting many other Blogs to get aesthetic ideas as well. I’m hoping to streamline my many tabs, have a better design (to tie in with New Inklings Press), and just make it look more professional as well as be easier for you to manage.
One of the changes I was not counting on was losing my email subscribers through a Feedburner glitch.
That’s right: I’m not even sure any of you are still getting my posts by email. [Although, technically, I am, because I’m also a subscriber…]
I logged in to my Feedburner stats (a fancy tracker through Google that compiles information from my daily clicks. Tells me how popular I am often you view Frankly, My Dear…
Tonight I see that I’ve had no subscriber data for three days. I panicked. I thought perhaps those behind-the-scene changes may have had something to do with it. Thankfully, they didn’t. (I trust you, Webmaster!) But the internet scuttlebutt is that Feedburner will cease to exist as of October 20.
What does that mean? I’m not really sure. Except as soon as I get the stats back (general consensus is it takes a few days), I’ll definitely save the Feed List and sell it to the highest bidder protect your privacy and if/when the Feedburner change happens, I’ll let you know and sign up with a different email subscription service.
In the meantime, if you subscribe by email and are still getting these posts, please let me know. You can leave me a comment, stop by my Facebook or twitter profiles, or send me an email.
And thanks for being a valued and valuable reader.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
