WORTH IT!

Back in 1971, if you can believe it, some smarty-pants advertising marketer came up with the slogan "because I'm worth it". For some reason that seemed a pretty cocky thing for a woman to say back then. 

That soon evolved to include the everyday girl sitting at home with "because you're worth it" and then moved on to celebrate womanhood with "because we're worth it." Doesn't sound so cocky now, does it? 

I try to look after this body I live in. She's getting on, pushing 55 years old. So I exercise it regularly, make sure it gets decent sleep, not too much stress and I aim to feed it right.

But every now and then, the extra luxuries are worth it. 

Like a fresh croissant

Worth it!

Or a little Baileys in your coffee:

Worth it!

We took in Maple in the County today, complete with pancakes

And other yummy treats, like this deep fried butter tart!

Definitely worth it!!

Or, getting a new kitten, even if their alarm clock is set at 4:30 am cause they get to sleep all day.

Yup, worth it

Seems Loreal was right. Sometime's I'm worth it, you're worth it, in fact we're all worth it!

SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO CRY IT OUT

It's a proven fact that women cry more often the men, about 3 to 5 times more often. But we do tend to cry over the same things like homesickness, broken relationships and grief. 

So what brings you to tears? And why? Do you wish you could cry more or cry less? Crying is a way to communicate, like babies who cry when they are in pain, or hungry or frustrated. 

For me, I've realized it is rarely physical pain that will bring on the watershed. I don't remember crying during labour, but I do remember the intense physical pain and I had both my babies naturally without so much as an aspirin. 

But mental anguish, guilt, grief these things will have me going through a box of kleenex in no time. 

I'm around 20 years old and in a bad relationship. I've got a cigarette going in both hands. I'm crying a lot because I'm scared, emotionally drained and feeling like I'm in a locked cage. Recently I ran into some old friends. One is dealing with some mental health struggles. I can see the fatigue and confusion in her eyes. I can see the pain of loss in his. Seems we are all on the verge of tears.

Mental pain, hidden away by men and women you connect with every day is a heavy, heavy burden. So is grief, that dark cloud where your life has now been changed because someone you love is gone. Be kind to one another, the greatest pain, the heart wrenching cry of the broken, is often hard to see. 

Psalm 145:18-19
"The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them."

PLEASE PASS THE PASTA

There are certain things in life that once you've experienced the real deal, there's no going back. For example: coffee, chocolate or toilet paper! Someone hands you a quality product and you are spoiled for life.

Pasta, falls into this category. If you are using store bought dried pasta you should give fresh a try - you are in for a treat! 

A few years ago, the whole family took a trip to Italy. Mama Mia, these people know their pasta. Upon recommendation from a friend of ours (Dan), we hiked up, and up, and UP on the island of Capri to find a restaurant carved into a cave. It was here I had one of the most memorable meals of my life. 

A beautifully balanced meal of fresh seafood, pasta, just the right amount of sauce and cheese.

These pillows of ravioli were a delight too.

The setting certainly helped! Up high overlooking the sea, enjoying the balmy Italian climate

And just below us, the boats looking like tiny water bugs scooting on the surface and this amazing arc formation of rock.

I was hooked. 

Once, when my son was home from University, he showed me his pasta making skills from scratch. 

The dough is ridiculously simple - water, flour, egg, bit of salt; that's about it. But we did not have a pasta machine so we cut the dough by hand using a sharp knife.

Thought these looked pretty good! So we dropped them into the boiling salted water.

They came out big and fat, like udon noodles and made for a pretty hearty meal!

Last night, we had company for dinner and I guinea pigged them on a new Pasta dish: salmon pasta with lemon.

Garlic, butter, fresh herbs with lots of lemon and of course, fresh pasta! This would be a great meal on a summer day but it tasted pretty darn good in the middle of March. 

Sometimes the finer things in life are absolutely worth the time, money and wait. 

 Recipe for Baked Lemon Butter Salmon Pasta: Spend with Pennies Baked Lemon Butter Salmon Pasta - Spend With Pennies

WAKE UP!

I'm up early to walk Lulu. In the east, there is a hint of lighter blue oozing into the inky blackness of the starry night sky. Before I've made it half way around the block the robins are starting to laugh and sing. 

Time to Wake Up! 

Time to yawn and stretch and wake up our lazy bones. The birds know it and they waste no time in getting on with the business of life.

The trees know it. Life giving sap is moving in the sugar maples, waking up the trees from their long slumber.

We tap in and help ourselves to this gift known as maple syrup.

Tomorrow morning when your alarm goes off in whatever form that may be, Wake Up! Cherish the day you have no matter how mundane. Wake up to the gift of life with all its ups and downs, opportunities and struggles. Don't sleep through your life, waiting for something to change before you begin living.

You are right where you need to be to learn and grow. Honour the past, cherish the moment you are in, keep an eye on possibilities ahead of you. 

So there you have it - yours (and mine) Monday morning Pep Talk. Wake Up!