Friendships & Relationships

Friendships 

I have been through my fair share of friends and learned a lot of lessons about trust and who I should let into my life. I will just give you a few examples of friends I have HAD and some that I still have but remember to maintain my distance. FRIEND ONE-someone who only comes into my life when they need something and becomes very distant every time she thinks she finds a relationship worth while...until something happens and of course I am the one there to listen to her cry and console her and attempt to convince her that her life didn't revolve around some loser. When I need someone, is she there for me? NO. FRIEND TWO-someone who would come over DAILY whether it be night or day and vent to me like I was some kind of psychologist and tell me about one of the million guys she was "IN LOVE" with and how they make her feel and how she couldn't have them because no one would love her. I couldn't even get a word in with this girl about my life, and of course she never asked. One of the few friends my fiance actually showed he cared for and liked and she has the nerve to tell everyone I am settling for him. REALLY?! I have someone who loves me JUST as much as I love him. I am not settling...and Its funny how you can say that yet you are the first one to jump up when he got home from work and give him a hug....WEIRD right?! I have had a lot of bad and I know a good thing when I have it. To her-good luck to you in the future and in all of your one way non existent relationships..I hope one day you go for a guy who is worth a damn. Someone who isn't engaged to someone else or in jail. As I friend...I should be able to tell you my opinion without you getting all upset and deleting me from your life. Take some constructive criticism from a REAL friend...or what used to be. 

I am thankful for the few REAL friends and family I have who are there for me ALL the time : ) I am a lucky girl....I am just glad I got rid of my baggage : )

Relationships

I am going to keep this simple. ALWAYS be with someone who loves you JUST as much as you love them. It took me many failed relationships to realize that even though someone tells you he loves you....doesn't mean he really loves you. Let him show you. Lying, Stealing from you, pawning your things for drug money, staying out all night and making you worry, ignoring your calls when you know his phone stays in his pocket, teasing you by talking about marriage when his mental state is telling him SINGLE doesn't show you he loves you and doesn't show he is serious about the relationship. I wasted a lot of time and learned a lot of lessons but I don't regret anything or take anything back because I put up with a lot and got to see the bad in relationships and all i can say is...."I know now......"

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

I read this book and IT IS REALLY GOOD ...AND  is being made into a movie starring Sandra Bullock, Tom Hanks, and John Goodman. I wont tell you much....but its about a 9 year old boy with a strong imagination who loses his dad in the 9-11 attack.

Nicole DuBois-Photographer

I set my long lost friend Andrew Bechtold up with Nicole today, who does AMAZING work. I met Andrew @ Lees-McRae and he finished school @ NC school of the arts for Dance. LOVE how his shoot went! I got to watch Nicole in action and was memorized. I wish I was talented. LOL

One my new favorite recipes!! Spinach Pasta Shells

1 pound medium orlarge shell pasta (not stuffing shells) & SALT

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)

1 onion, chopped

2-3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 box frozen chopped spinach (10 ounces), defrosted and wrung dry in a clean kitchen towel

Freshly grated nutmeg

Black pepper

2 tablespoons butter

1 can Italian tomatoes (28 ounces)

1/2 cup fresh basil leaves (10-12 leaves)

1 cup ricotta cheese

1 cup Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, divided

1 ball of fresh mozzarella cheese (1/2 pound), cut into 1/2-inch dice

Pre-heat the oven to 400°F.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Salt the water and cook the shells for 2-3 minutes less than the package directions. Heads up: You will need to reserve 1/2 cup starchy cooking water just before draining the pasta.

Meanwhile, heat a medium size pot or high-sided skillet over medium heat with the EVOO. Add the onion and garlic and sauté for 3-4 minutes. Add the spinach, pulling it apart as you add it, and season with a little freshly grated nutmeg, salt and pepper. When the spinach mixture is warm through, transfer it to a small dish and reserve. Return the pot to the heat, add the butter and melt. Add the tomatoes and break up with a spoon. Season with salt and pepper, add the basil leaves and cook to thicken the sauce, 7-8 minutes.

Drain the pasta and return the pasta to the hot pot. To the pasta, add the spinach, reserved starchy water, ricotta cheese and half of the Parmigiano Reggiano. Adjust the salt and pepper, to taste, and transfer to a baking dish. Top the pasta mixture with the tomato sauce, mozzarella and remaining Parmigiano Reggiano. Bake until the cheeses are melted and bubbly, 6-8 minutes.

Living One Day at a Time

The secret to life is living it one day at a time. Our lives are made up of a million moments, spent in a million different ways. Some are spent searching for love, peace and harmony. Others are spent surviving day to day. But there is no greater moment than when we find that life, with all its joys and sorrows, is meant to be lived one day at a time. It's in this knowledge that we discover the most wonderful truth of all. Whether we live in a forty-room mansion, surrounded by servants and wealth, or find it a struggle to manage the rent month to month, we have it within our power to be fully satisfied and live a life with true meaning. One day at a time, we have that ability through cherishing each moment and rejoicing in each dream. We can experience each day anew, and with this fresh start we have what it takes to make all of our dreams come true. Each day is new, and living one day at a time enables us to truly enjoy life and live it to the fullest.