Inspiration Number Two: Mom

(Picture to Come Soon)

SUZIE KINGSLEY
But I just call her MOM

Compassionate, Friendly if I've ever Known It

I know that you may be thinking either A: Why wasn't your mom number one? or B: Oh and she pulled the mom card, had to say her mom... but hear me out.

Born Emma Suzanne Cating, "Suzie" is my mom, and she has been all my life. This would explain why she has had the very most influence on who I have become thus far. If I am ever friendly, ever talkative, ever look into the eyes of another person and feel their pain, love, joy, or frustration... It's because of my mom.

My mom is one of those people that knows everyone, not because she's in a women's league and spends her days waltzing around town dressed to the T mingling in social circles, but because no matter where she is, whatever she is doing, however busy or frustrated she may be, she takes the time to jump into someone else's life.

Growing up we'd go to the same grocery store and my mom could compliment the cashier on her newest homemade headband, ask about the lady's son and daughter, and that new dog they just bought and I would wonder how in the worl she knew all this. They weren't old friends from high school and my mom didn't know her from some otherplace... but everytime my mom came to the store she would ask the lady about her life and always end with "Have a nice day!"

My mom is famous for the "Have a nice day!" and the "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." She lives her life looking for ways she can help others, but not by simply donating money, but donating a part of her life, time, or caring to take an extra minute. She makes birthday cards for people at church, she makes special brownies when someone has had a hard week, she helps the cleaning lady pack up the old blinds that were being thrown away because they would look nice in her house but she wasn't tall enough to reach them by herself.

If you ever meet my mom, she will talk you ear off. I'm not lying, if you meet either of us, we will both make your ear literally plead for silence, but she cares.

As I've grown up in the world, learning these things from my mom has put me in some interesting situations: because honestly I cannot comprehend or understand why someone would be rude or why someone would not want to do everything they could to help another person. I understand frustration, because my mother also raised me to be patient, and that means being patient with those who have had about enough... but why would anyone talk in a rude tone to get a point across. Don't we all stop listening when someone is rude and we all get more frustrated when someone yells...

Suzie Kingsley is mom, a friend, someone who makes bags for the trainers away football games, who does puzzles everynight, who bakes cookies when friends came to study, who can laugh and cut up like a 5 year old when warranted, and who love me and everyone she comes in contact with in a way I've never seen before.

I grow up better everyday because of who my mom was and is to me:

Suzie Kingsley: Mom: Compassionate and Incredibly Friendly

Inspiration Number One: Tiffany Ferguson

I'll start by saying these are in no particular order, but they are the people who inspire me to be who I am today. To grow up the way I am growing up, and people that if I grow up to be at least half of what any of them are, I will be truly blessed.

TIFFANY FERGUSON

Faithful, Loving, Servant

Tiffany Ferguson is someone who at times I'm sure faithless people have called crazy, who many times people have called beautiful especially if they have seen her heart, every time the Kenyans are amazed by, and within the past few years every moment a little girl calls Mom.

I met Tif when we traveled to Kenya last year to live amongst our 'family' there. They are surely her family. Her and her husband led a team to Kenya to become parts of the lives of a little village called Imbirikani and the Massai people who live there. Sharing love, joy, and the Word of God while we share life with them.

Tiffany is woman of faith. When asked whose faith I am inspired by I think "Tiffany" and "Abraham." And no, I'm not kidding. Tiffany knows the Lord in a close and wonderful way, and she shares his love with everyone around her with her kind and gentle spirit and outstanding hopsitality...

but her faith has been most apparent in the last year, when people may have called her crazy, or people in her situation would have doubted she stood for what she believed God was calling her to do.

After having been pregnant with Seri (her baby girl) the year before in Kenya, she returned to Kenya a year later with her 9 month old little girl. Too young for all the shots she needed, unable to eat the food there, and people said why? or how? And Tif said that the Lord had called her family to go, and Seri, named Naserian a Massai name, would be going to too.

Amazingly Seri was a blessing and never a burden. The Massai people who had named the baby in Tif's belly "Baby Love" were elated to see their Naserian. The people were honored by her name and that they were able to share life with her. Tiffany just obeyed the Lord.

In a time when the missions team was reconsidered due to financial instability, Tiffany would speak and say that she knew God had a plan. In a time a year later when she had another Ferguson on the way, she headed back to Kenya to serve and love. Again people asked how? And she said, God.

With a baby on the way, her husband now looking for a new job, the news of a job, but a move hours away, and with her little Seri turning two... She is a picture of faith. Because she knows not where God is leading them everyday, but she trusts that he is there, and he is love, and he is Jehovah Jireh; the Lord will Provide.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Tiffany Ferguson: Woman of Faith.

Those Who Inspire Me, Thanks for your Giving: Two Months of the People that have Changed my Life.

So November First starts the "Those who Inspire me. Thanks for your giving." Showcasing the people in my life, near or far, who I know like the back of my hand, and who I've only heard stories about, who inspire me to become who I am today... who have helped to mold me into who I am am today and make me into a better woman tomorrow. The people who have helped me... Grow Up.

My goal is to include a picture of each of them, something that captures the essence of their character and what they mean to me, although I know that to such an extent it's not possible, but I can try at least.

I'll note that to God be all the glory, to these men and women because of the way they have been used by God to inspire me and bring more glory to Him.

May the Month of November and December be full of thankgiving, or giving thanks to the people who grow me up Bee Kay...

Inspiration...

i n s p i r a t i o n...

So I don't have too much time and it's way past my bedtime and I just wanted to note a few things about today, how I'd like to move past my procrastination... and how I've recently been inspired.

Although I did go to my internship (PS did I mention I rotated to a new hospital where the patients reason for admit are always crazy and I've had multiple adventures.) and saw patients, wrote chart notes, and all... once arriving at home:

I took a two plus hour nap, had some soup, watched TV (wish is something I've recently picked up, does that come with growing up?), made a friend a fun card, had some ice cream and chocolate covered raisins... and then sat down to complete a few summaries and 4 essays that are due on Wednesday night...

Yep, been putting those off for a little too long, and haven't quite gotten past the first essay yet. So I'm not sure if procrastination is part of growing up, but I sure hope not... because I was thinking about trying to grow out of that actually.

Anyways: Also noteworthy (I say that like the first half of this was even worth reading) I've decided I need a few focuses of the blog. A small project, some goals, so here are few ideas:

7 days of Cooking from what's hanging around the kitchen
14 days of All food in and analyzed from the eyes of a dietetic intern
23 days of Details in places we may ordinarily not be looking
30 days of Reflection on this project called the One Year Bible and "catching Up"
44 days of Hugging someone every day (working in a medical setting and being home studying a lot that one could be hard, lol... sad though)
100 days of logging when I sleep and wake up every day... Just Kidding, who would ever read that.
or... 143 days of What is Love (from the world's eyes, and God's via the Bible)

Anyways maybe this sounds crazy but I think it'd be good for me. I need the "days" to keep my goal in mind, otherwise I'll just get lost... and behind, lol. And I'll note I was inspired by my camp friend Bailey and her roommate just taking a moment everyday to take a photo and capture a moment for 365. It is a highly recommended read...

Like my favorite tree that reminds me of God's beauty and inspires me to love and breathe and enjoy... today (well yesterday) these ladies inspired me as well.

Mr. Columbus and food for thought.

So life has flown out the window like a bird running home and I'm just trying to make lists to keep up...

That being said I'll very quickly catch you up on my latest adventures.
1. Ew
I tried a new recipe that I edited from one found on the back of Campbell's Low Sodium Cream of Mushroom Soup... I was going to call the masterpiece "Penne Green Bean Tuna Casserole." Although now seeing the name, and imagining what it could taste like it seems like an awfully yucky idea, I thought it would be great and ended up eating the leftovers for two days... due to my "I'm saving so I can pay off my student loan really fast when I get out of school finally" low budget.
Now I call the recipe "Ew!"

2. Yummy
So I did successfully make a wonderful and healthy! meatloaf, that I've captured by camera and I'll be posting as soon as I can along with the recipe... get excited.
Also for all of you that are not from South Louisiana, I'll be posting a great little story about Gumbo and a recipe (kind of) that you may be able to follow to end you in heaven, AKA Dad's Gumbo and Mom's Potato Salad.

3. Thank You Mr. Columbus
I'll have to give props to Mr. Chris who decided he must in fact sail, for discovering the Americas and doing it in such a way that I got Monday off of work. My long weekend allowed me to see some beautiful people in my life.
The people that make you understand exactly who you are, and not only how you can better love, or how much they love you, but How much God must love you to bless you with people like them. The people that you could spend years drinking tea with and talking life or sitting with your arm around and saying nothing at all and being perfectly content.
To Amy, Lyndsey, Grace Community Church, and Kyle: thank you, may God bless you even one half of how you bless me and it would turn your world upside down.

(Just a quick update, but More to come later on adventures of love, laughs, food, and friends...and my newly redecorated bathroom!)

Smashing Italian Chicken Pasta

So okay, so you may be thinking that I've got more recipes than anything else at the moment... but it's just because at the current moment it seems the only time I sit down to write is as I'm eating, lol.

So here's something I whipped up while needing motivation to complete a paper, and just used what was in the kitchen.

Smashing Italian Chicken Pasta
(Makes 2 servings)

6 ounces of boneless skinless chicken breast
2 tablespoons olive oil
Dash of black pepper
1/8 yellow or white onion
2 cups (dry) vegetable pasta (the swirly pasta in red, tan, and green)
1 cup favorite red pasta sauce (I use Classico Fire Roasted Tomato and Garlic and it's cheap)
1 small Roma tomato
1/2 cup shredded mozzerela cheese

1. Fill a medium sized pot with water and set to boil on high, cover for faster boiling.

2. Place chicken in microwave to defrost. Use defrost setting.

3. In a medium size sauce pan (with a lid for later) add olive oil. Add dash of black pepper to pan. Heat over medium heat on the stove top.

4. Chop onion into small chunks, no need to chop into dust or anything.

5. Once chicken is defrosted, cut into chunks and add to olive oil pan, making sure to stir occasionally so food does not stick.

4. As the water in the pasta pot comes to boil add pasta. Boil until al dente.

5. Make sure to stir olive oil/ chicken pan, turn the heat to low, and add 1 cup of your favorite red pasta sauce. Place lid on pan.

6. Drain pasta (USE CAUTION with STEAM) and add pasta to olive oil pan. Replace lid.

7. Cut up tomato and add to pan. Cover with lid for 5-7 minutes.

8. Remove lid stir away any excess water in the pan as steam, and serve.

9. Add a sprinkle of mozzarella cheese to the top of each serving! and Yay, Yummy!

Jalapeno Chicken Fajitas

So I decided that I should learn to cook more things, recipes that people actually eat. I've been known to combine mustard, blue cheese and tuna and spread on a tomato stacked on a cucumber and love it. Other think that's disgusting, and my breath smells awful.

So here's one of my latest attempts at leaving the tuna death combination behind (well, maybe) and cooking great food (however I cannot promise it won't be a little out of the ordinary). Although I had recipes for multiple chicken dishes that I'd try my own recipe tonight. To my surprise it actually turned out well; my last attempt at creating my own recipe made red beans and rice that looks more like refried beans and rice and tasted like bean paste :(

The taste is flavorful, yet not too spicy depending on the strength of the jalapenos and salsa. So here is the recipe; it's quick; easy; healthy; and cheap... What more could you ask for?

Jalapeno Chicken Fajitas
(makes 4 fajitas to serve 2 people)

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon jalapeno juice (just use the juice from a jar of jalapenos)
Pepper
2 4-ounce boneless skinless chicken breast
1/2 green bellpepper
1/4 yellow onion
4 6-inch whole grain tortillas
1 cup salsa (any kind will do, I used Great Value Brand Black Bean and White Corn Salsa)

1. Defrost chicken breasts and slice if the breast is very thick (over an inch).

2. In a medium to large sized skillet pour olive oil and jalapeno juice and heat. Heat until a drop of water dropped unto the pan sizzles. (CAUTION: Don't let the oil get too hot, be careful.)

3. Place chicken in skillet until cooked and golden on one side; then flip. (Chicken may stick a bit, that's okay.)

4. Wash and slice bell pepper and onion and place in skillet with chicken.

5. Note: a nice color should form on the bottom of the pan, feel free to slide around the chicken and vegetables to pick up that golden color. That's all great flavor in there!

6. After about 2 - 3 minutes, turn the hear low or off and cover with lid. This allows the vegetables to soften up a bit.

7. Warm up the tortillas, fill with chicken vegetables and a few tablespoons of salsa, roll, and enjoy!

I'll include a picture later, but for now I'll just let you know it tastes great!

Welcome!

If you've made your way here and decided to stay, thank you. My name's Brittany, my friends call me BK... growing up I was given the name, and still growing up it's stuck with me. I recently moved into the "real world" where work requires "business casual" and cooking dinner should be more than peanut butter ans strawberry preserves on wheat.

I've already begun wardrobe shopping, and I'm a sale-finder, deal getter; thinking that I can make anything I see cheaper than the sale price. (Note: I'm usually very wrong, lol) But I'll invite you to join me in multiple new attempts, clothes, my crazy hair, cooking, decorating, budgeting... and all those things we're supposed and I' like to master as "grown-ups."

A little life, a little failure, a little success, and quite possible a lot of God. Enjoy.

(Below is a Quick Tuna Sandwich!... tuna, apple chunks, bell pepper chunks, dijon mustard, and dab of mayo mixed up and served on whole grain bread... with the other half of the apple!)