Dear Will
Dear Will,
Tomorrow you start your junior year of high school! Are you kidding me? I cannot believe this! It seems like just yesterday we were bringing you home from the hospital! I cannot believe how fast the time has gone and I really cannot believe in two short years you will be off to college! That is just insane and this mama is having a hard time wrapping her head around that fact. I will get there, it will just take me some time!
In the meantime, I wanted to take a moment today to tell you and the world how proud I am of the young man you are becoming. You have such a kind spirit and your soul is so pure. I learn so much about compassion from you. Thank you for this son! I will never forget the day you made sandwiches and took them to hand out to the homeless. I had no idea where that came from and I still don't, but I know I like what I see. I see Jesus in you. I hope that never changes.
Summer of 2018 mission trip
I also see fire in you. Whatever your interests are you go at them with passion. I know you hate when I say this to you son, but you cannot coach that into someone. You cannot coach your passion towards peoples feelings into someone, you cannot coach your love of soccer and the game into someone, you cannot coach your protective nature towards your brothers into someone. Son you are amazing! I hope you never let anyone or anything squelch your fire. You are beautiful!
As you enter into your junior year son, I hope you enter into it knowing how proud your father and I are of you. I hope you enter into it with an open mind and open eyes and I hope you enter into with a desire to continue to keep your fire burning and continue to do good. Peer pressure is real and peer pressure is hard, I know I succumbed to it once or twice. Just remain true to yourself Will and to Jesus and you will achieve more things than you ever imagined! I know because I see it in you! I cannot wait to watch your story unfold. God has big plans for you! I just know it!
I hope this year is the best year yet son! I can't wait to see what God has in store! Remember-be a leader not a follower and Berry's NEVER quit!
All my love,
Mom
Hello, World!
Are you missing any back to school essentials! I have them for you here! Just click the link!
Dear Future Kindergartner-A letter from my son Graeme
Even if your Kid did not go to the same school Graeme thinks his advice is sound! Have to say it is not bad advice being he is only a future first grader!
With school about to begin I thought it would be fun to interview my kids on what their experiences were like last year and what they hoped to learn this year. Well, the teens were having no part of it, but the little guy jumped right on it and had a lot to say actually! I so wish I had done this with the first two so I could watch their brains grow. I guess 1 out of the 3 is not bad!
Dear future Kindergartner,
Hi! My name is Graeme and I was in Miss Rumsey's Kindergarten class last year. Here are a few things you should know about Miss Rumsey.
Three things that made Miss Rumsey smile:
Miss Rumsey smiles with all her kids because she was born to be a teacher! What a gift she was to our family and still is!
When I was encouraging to my friends. Miss Rumsey really likes it when you encourage others so always think about that. Especially if someone has a bad day and drops their tray in the lunch line. She likes to see you help pick it up and make them smile.
Being Self Kind-What I mean here is not being selfish. Show others what is the right thing to do especially if something is wrong.
Being Self Respect-Show others how you will treat them and yourself and then they will know how to treat you.
Three classroom rules to remember are:
Whole body listening. Basically sit still and don't move. Don't touch others and keep your eyes on the person speaking.
Be safe. No running in the halls. That can be unsafe.
Be respectful of things you use everyday like glue, books, pencils, notebook, you know stuff you need to learn.
Three things you will learn if you are going into Kindergarten.
Subtraction
How to divide
Respect. That is a big one. One my mom and dad teach too, but you will learn that at school I promise.
My favorite thing about being a Kindergartner.
Head person of the whole school. Meaning first goes last because in my school the Kindergartners always went first and the fourth graders were last.
Gym and Music. They were so fun.
Spanish and art! I don't want to forget art. I created a lot of master pieces and my mom framed them and put them around the house.
My advice to you if you are going in to Kindergarten:
Have fun! Do what you are suppose to do! Be a leader. Not a follower! Because Berry's never quit! That is what my mom and dad say to us everyday before school.
Things I will be looking forward to as a first grader.
The Boy Loves his food so he is so not kidding about the chips and guac!
Getting closer to being able to order chips and guacamole. You get to do that at my school starting in second grade.
Finding out who my teacher is! I really want Mrs. Savage, but my mom says I will be happy with whoever I get! I guess she is right! I have always loved all my teachers! And that is what I will miss most about Kindergarten. My teacher Miss Rumsey! If you are lucky enough to get her please give her a hug from me!
Your friend,
Graeme
Hello, World!
If you have sweaty feet like I do you really need these shoes for school! My mom found them and they are AMAZING! Get your mom to get you a pair and be like me and have dry feet at the end of the day!
Thinking of Cruising? Tips to Help You Have an Amazing Experience
If you read my blog this week you learned that The Berry family LOVES cruising! Now with that being said I know cruising is not for everyone, but I promise if you have not tried it you really should! It is a really neat way to go to some really cool places and all you have to do is relax!
We have been on a total of 5 cruises as a family and I went on one with my family as a teenager so I have some tips, but I am no means a pro as every time I go I seem to learn something new. With all that I would love to share with you the tips that have helped us.
MOTION SICKNESS
First, the number one question I always get or concern is motion sickness. Honest to God I have NEVER had an issue and I do get carsick and I do NOT ride round and round rides because of this. I know people really worry about this and I get it, but MOST of the ships are so big you really do not feel it. I will not lie and say you never feel it, but I promise it is rare. There are things you can do to prevent motion sickness as well. Here are a few options that I asked people about, but have never used as it has never been an issue for us.
Again I have never had to use these but I did take the time to ask people who I saw wearing them on the ship and they swore by them. I would also say the majority of people I talked to liked the patch over the bracelet and again not real sure why.
Now that we have that out of the way let's talk packing! We have only been on 7 day, 7 night cruises so here is exactly how I pack.
PACKING
Water shoes were definitely needed on this tour!
I NEVER bring a purse on a cruise. You do not need it unless you want a tiny purse for nighttime for lipstick and powder. I always have a back pack with our swim suits, sunscreen, and cover up so once we board the ship we can change and get to the pools and lunch! The minute we are on the ship we get to our room, lock up our billfolds in the safe, change and let the fun begin! I make sure everyone has a reusable water bottle and pack as many of those in my backpack so we have them once we board as your luggage does not get to your room right away. In my luggage I pack a sundress for each night (pretty much same ones I wore in New York and you can see those here )so 7 dresses, 3 bathing suits, 2 sets of work out clothes, 2 cover ups, depending on my excursions maybe shorts and t shirt for that, a pair of shoes that will go with all of my dresses at night, tennis shoes, walking/water sandals for excursions that are rocky and wet, and flip flops. On excursions if we are going to the beach I just wear my swimsuit and cover up off the ship and shop or play and explore in them as every cruise I have been on is in the Caribbean and that is dress code! If we have an adventure like zip lining or tubing I wear my bathing suit with cut offs and a tank and bring in my backpack a dry bathing suit and cover up to change into. That is pretty much all you need. They talk about dining room dress code and two nights are "formal" and yes you see everything from sequins to a sundresses like mine so if you want to dress up then pack two formal or semi formal outfits. Me, I like to just stick to the sundress and dress it up with some jewelry. I am on vacation for crying out loud. Men do have to wear pants to dinner but khakis are fine, jeans even. My teenagers do get away with khaki shorts, but not sure that would fly with an adult male. Have not tried it. I also bring a fold-able bag for the pool and excursions that I can put in my backpack in the event I need it. Toiletries-I always bring my own, but I will tell you it has been my experience on a cruise all they supply you with is a cheap bar of soap and shampoo so I just bring it all! Besides you can get anything travel size now so I just am happier with my own toiletries. I always pack an umbrella in the event it is rainy, ziplock bags to keep our phones safe from the sand and water, or a waterproof pouch for your phone, sunscreen, and everyone should have a lanyard. You can get these on Amazon, but we always get them on the ship or as we board and everyone gets whatever design they want. Seems like a lot, but I have a secret that helped me out!
My girlfriend Corrine loaned me her cubes and I already bought my own for our next trip! These bad boys are amazing for packing and it kept everything organized and neat and I packed everything above and still had room! So I HIGHLY suggest these and I promise you I will be using them on ALL our trips in the future!
WIFI
In the past we never got Wifi, but these past two cruises we did for a number of reasons and I have to say I just went with the package on board. I am not sure if there is really a way around this and I assure you if you do not do this your bill will be stupid high! Something I did learn though is if you do not want to purchase the Wifi just ask your room steward or waiters or any crew member when you are at port where is the free Wifi. They all know trust me! If you choose to unplug from the world like most of our family does, MAKE sure your phone is in airplane mode!
ATM
We always bring enough cash as there is a safe in your room, however, if you find you're in a bind and you need more DO NOT USE the ships ATM. You will be charged a min. of $5. There is a way around that. Use your sea pass card and go to the Casino. Find a slot machine, put your sea pass card in and deposit the amount you want to withdraw. Once the money is loaded into the slot machine hit the cash out button and take the ticket to the cashier as your sea pass card has now charged your onboard account the amount you wanted minus the extra fees.
CASH
Jeffery with Tree Top Canopy Adventrues in Roatan in 2016!
Speaking of cash we always make sure we have a lot of $1 and $5 so in port we have plenty of money to tip and shop. I found out the hard way in Mexico a lot of the shops did not want to use my credit card so I had to run back to the ship to get more money. I was not far from the ship, but now I know.
Jeffery this year! 2018 with Tree Top Canopy Adventures!!!!! Love this kid!
BOOZE
Our AMAZING cabin Steward from our 2017 Cruise
So here is the deal. If you are the kind of person who when you are on vacation you like a cocktail in your hand then I HIGHLY suggest you get the drink package. We do not drink soda pop and we are fine using our reusable water bottles and filling that with water, but they do have packages for Evian Water, Soda Pop, fancy coffee, and booze. I always tell people decide if you would like it and just get if you think you might be drinking anything from pop to special coffee to booze daily. It will save you money. With that being said each state room is allowed 2 bottle of wine and amazon has some amazing containers you can purchase to bring your own booze on if you are smart. Lucky for our family Trey does not drink and I do not drink that much so we really don't need them as we have two state rooms and 4 bottles of wine is plenty for me. But here are some ideas for you to bring your own in the event you want to, but remember to bring your mixer too as you will get charged for soda water or anything other than tea and lemonade. You can buy booze on the ship in their store and use it, but it cannot leave the ship. What do you do at the end of the cruise if it is not finished? You give it to your cabin steward with a note and his tip and say thanks for taking care of us! We had an amazing week and you played a role in that!
SNACKS
You really don't need snacks while on the ship as there is plenty! With that being said I like my gold fish and wine at 5 so I bring gold fish and I always have protein bars, peanut butter and crackers, cheese and crackers, and nuts for excursion days as sometimes those can be long or the kids do not like the locals food.
SHIPS TIME
This is huge! No matter what time it is at whatever port you are at, the minute you start your cruise until the minute you end it you are on ships time! This is very important as your phone will be in whatever time zone you are in so make sure you remember this! You don't want the ship to sail without ya because that would really cost ya!
DINNER TIME
See my rainbow laynard? That keeps my sea pass card safe and with me at all times.
There are two different times to go to dinner and like everything else in life there are pros and cons to both. You have to choose one or the other as you will sit at the same table every night and have the same wait staff which we always enjoy because you really get to know them. We choose the 5:30 seating for a number of reasons. Kids club is closed on the Royal Caribbean from 5-7, BUT some nights you can send your kid to eat at kids club during those hours which makes for a nice dinner if you have little ones in tow. The other seating is at 8 so yes you will have more pool time, but if you are eating at 8 you miss the 8 o clock show so you have to see the show at 6 unless you are still at the pool, which the shows are amazing so you really want to see them! So as you can see there are pros to 8, but cons and pros to 5:30 but you are leaving the pool early. Con! So decide what is best for your family and just go with it and enjoy! There is an option if you do not want a set reservation. It is called Anytime dining. The pro is you can go anytime. The con you do no get the same table and wait staff which my family always loves getting the same staff so we can really get to know them and learn about their country and families. With all that, however, my friend Ashley said they chose the anytime dining and she called the Royal Caribbean BEFORE they boarded and made a reservation for 7:00 every night and they got the same table and the same staff! So maybe you can and it my opinion it is worth a try if you don't like the 5:30 or 8:00 times because honestly you get the best of both worlds. Same staff and a time that fits your needs.
EXTRA STUFF OTHERS PACK BUT I NEVER HAVE
So if you google how to pack for a cruise you can get a ton of great tips. Things I always see people discuss are an extra power cord to plug in more electronics, an over the door shoe plastic shoe rack to keep things organized, a flashlight, and chip clips or towel clips for your towels to save chairs. Here is the deal. I did all of this on our first family cruise in 2012 and all this extra stuff did was take up space. The extra power cord was not used nor was the over the door shoe rack. Flashlight, well you have that on your phone now. Chip Clips-if you are weird about your towels flapping ok, but you will get a chair. In other words all this extra stuff does is take up space, but if you think you need it and you have the space by all means bring it if it makes you feel better, but I promise you will be fine without it.
WHO WE USE TO BOOK OUR CRUISES
There are all kinds of ways to travel, but I promise you if you have someone who knows what they are doing you get undivided attention for any and all questions and they handle most of the details! We use Brandon with Select Cruises for all of our cruises and we found him because he works with my husband at Southwest Airlines. Very patient, Very kind, and EXTREMELY knowledgeable in the area of travel and cruising! So if you would like to investigate cruising a little further you can find Brandon at cruisewithbrandon@gmail.com or call him at 407-374-9637. Tell him Amy Berry sent ya!
So there you have it! Some useful tips to help you out if you are thinking of cruising. I LOVE cruising and so does my family! Funny story-When Trey and I first got married he was a pilot in the US Navy and he literally said, "We will NEVER go on a cruise!" For those of you who do not know, being in the Navy requires most individuals to do six month tours over seas on a ship, unless of course you are a submariner, then you are on a submarine. So Trey had his share of cruising! But once he had been out of Active Duty for about 7 years we finally convinced him to give it a try and he has NEVER looked back! So we Berry's think you all should give a cruise a go! You might be surprised at what you discover!
Message me with any questions as I always love to help people thinking of taking a cruise! And if you are like me and love cruising and have other useful tips I don't know and could use and share, PLEASE let us know!
Until next time!
XO,
Amy
Hello, World!
Even if you are not going on a Cruise I highly suggesst packing cubes! I will NEVER travel without mine again! The secret is....Roll your clothes! You will be amazed how they look when you get to your destination and how organized you will be!
Salty Kisses, Jungle Adventures, and Cave Tubing on the Berry Family Summer Vacation
If you have ever thought about going on a cruise take a look at our 2018 Summer Cruise. You might decide to jump on it because I am telling you we had a ball! Lots of salty kisses, swimming, adventures, and great family time! Take a look!
If there is one thing you need to know about our family trips, it is that at least once a year we cruise. I am married to a pilot so the last thing Trey wants to do is get into an airplane to get to a destination so we do a lot of driving. Lucky for us we have a few ports within driving distance and we all win. There is no flying, which if you read my post earlier in the week you know I am way O.K. with that, AND we get to beautiful places and do amazing things! This past week was no different!
Royal Caribbean still caters to the young at heart! Graeme Loved all the characters! Especially King Julien!
Side note- we have graduated to the Royal Caribbean and I say this because we have done Disney Cruises in the past and they are WONDERFUL, but with two teenagers now they are past the Disney scene and Royal offers more activities for kiddos their age while still catering to the young. If you are reading this and you have kids that are younger and you are considering a cruise I highly suggest Disney and then you can graduate on to the Royal. However, if money is a factor Royal is probably half the cost of Disney and just as good so keep that in mind. Either way you go you will be happy!
Golden Ticket to Paradise! Your Sea Pass Card!
We set sail on Sunday on the Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas and I will tell you we kind of have this down to an art for our family until this time! We decided we would leave our house a little later and see how the boarding process went and let's just say that was not smart! With that being said I am not sure if it is always like this because I later learned they were having technical difficulties that day with getting everyone their sea pass card. Which speaking of, your sea pass card is as golden as your passport. You MUST have this card to get on and off the ship, it is the key to your room, you can use it to shop on the ship, order food that is not included, which there is plenty included, or for special drinks like Evian water up to booze. So this card is important and they issue it to every human on the ship and this particular day all of their systems on land were down so they only had 4 on board to work with. That was quite an ordeal considering there were 4000 of us! So that made for long lines in hot weather and that was not fun, but once we got through it the fun began! However, with that being said, I would still suggest getting to the port at 11 and then you get to enjoy the ship all day. Just pack a tiny bag with swimsuits, cover ups, sunscreen, and Yeti/waterbottles! Because remember that sea pass card I spoke of? Well it is the key to your room so you have access to your room immediately just not your entire luggage hence the reason behind a small bag with swim gear etc.
Once we finally boarded and got to our room we were all famished so we headed for some grub. Now food is never a problem on the Liberty as they have many options. At lunch the Wind Jammer is always open and they have all kinds of buffet style food from Chinese to hamburgers to salad to you name it they have it. They also have a pizza joint on Deck 5 that is out of this world and the pizza is FREE! There is a Johnny Rockets on Deck 11, however, that is not included in your meal plan so that will cost ya, but it is good. The milkshakes are on point! Once we had some grub it was time to get our cruise on and do what we came to do and that was to sit by the pool and REEEELAX!
Pretty much that is how our days at sea went. Get up, do our first 15, grab some breakfast. Next Trey and Graeme would hit the surf rider and I would hit the gym, all the while Will would sleep in because he stayed up way too late the night before with all the new and exciting friends he met from all over. We would all meet up around 10 or 11 for a check in, Graeme would go to kids club, Will we would not see again until dinner, and Trey and I would hit the pools and REEELAX! It is amazing! Dinner rolls around and some nights Graeme joins us and others he eats at kids club! On nights he would join us we would take him to kids club after dinner, Will again would split off, and Trey and I would have a date night! Yall 7 date nights in a row!!!!!!! It was so good for our marriage! We talked, we laughed, we cried, we dreamed, we danced, and we enjoyed each other. Some days we would even snag a nap or two! Cruising for our family truly is relationship building! We love it! Sea days on every 7 day cruise we have taken are the day you board and the next two days. After that you hit your ports.
Wednesday was our first port and it was beautiful! We were in the beautiful country of Honduras on the island of Roatan. This was my second time to the island and it is still as beautiful as the last and I felt very safe. We took the boys zip lining through the jungles with the group Tree Top Canopy Adventures. This was our second time with this group and I asked for our tour guide from our first experience and he was still there! IF you ever go and do this ask for Jeffery! He is AMAZING especially with the little kids! He is so funny and he makes you feel very safe! This excursion is something anyone who has dreamed of being in the tree tops or gliding through the air like a bird! You literally get to do just that through 28 acres of jungle and mountain terrain! It is so awesome! You cover about 2 miles above the trees and through the trees and it is a site to behold! Especially when you are zipping towards the ocean! By the end of the experience you truly feel exhilarated and on fire. After the zip lines they take you to a beach where you can grab a bite to eat and put your toes in the sand. The first time we went we were dropped at a quiet beach, this time we were dropped at a resort beach and yes it was nice, but there were a lot of people there pushing massages, hair braids, bracelets, blankets, etc on you. It was crazy! Before I knew it I was slammed onto a stool being lathered in oil where not one but THREE ladies were massaging me! I DID NOT even say yes! It was crazy and Trey just sat there watching and laughing because I TOTALLY got bamboozled! And listen people, while I love a good massage, sitting on a beach in the middle of the Caribbean, being slathered in oil, well, I just could not relax. All I kept thinking was this is a recipe for skin cancer! So my advice here, if you find yourself on a beach where you are being swarmed by pushy sales peeps, put your game face on and just say NO! Or else you too will find yourself being slathered in oil while your boys are getting Caribbeans braids in their gorgeous locks! Don't have SUCKER written all over you like I OBVIOUSLY did!
Our next port was Thursday and that was Belize City, Belize. I had never been to Belize and I was very excited about this stop. We decided to do the Cave Tubing Tour and we were with a group called VIV tour and our guide was Karim and he was so good. I cannot say enough about Karim! You start your tour in a car and he takes you on about an hour drive out to the jungles and the caves. All along the way he told us about his country and different sights etc. It was very interesting and even our seven year old was a part of the conversation. Once you arrive at the site you take about a 45 minute hike through the jungle and Karim was our guide and you learn about all kinds of things from trees, to bugs, to animals, to medicinal uses of leaves, and the list goes on. I was so amazed at everything we learned and Karim did such an amazing job of keeping even Graeme involved. It truly was a cool experience. Once we got to the caves we were all given a tube, a life jacked, and a hard hat with a light and we hit the sapphire blue water. You guys this was a very cool experience! You pretty much just get in your tube, lay back and relax as you float through the dark cave, but again Karim knew some very interesting information which just made our experience even cooler! Our float lasted about an hour maybe longer and we ended with the boys jumping from some rocks and just having a bang up time. We then grabbed some lunch from the little village there on site and it was delish! The beans and rice had an underlying taste that I could not put my finger on but I later learned from Karim was coconut milk! So cool! We then got back in the car and headed back to the ship. Our tour that day was amazing and Karim made it even more special. If you are ever in Belize you should look him up with VIV and take his tour. You will not be disappointed. You will learn things you never even imagined and experience the beauty of this beautiful country.
Our last port we hit Friday and it was Cozumel. This time we chose to go to Playa Mia I am not going to lie. If I have to do it again, I probably would not do this. It looks amazing and I am sure for kids it is, but it was more of a beat down for us. Our day in Cozumel there were 6 other ships so that meant 7 ships PLUS the normal tourist. If you did not arrive to this beach by 11 you were out of luck on getting a seat anywhere, luckily we did, and it was just stupid crowded. It was an O.K. time, but nothing spectacular and the food was awful. We probably stayed all of 2 hours total and decided we would have more fun shopping. Which we did so that was a good call on our part. If you go I have a few tips I think would of helped us.
Get there by 10
Great spot if you have multiple kids other than just siblings (Ie. cousins or friends) because Will and Graeme are too different in age to really play together on the water jungle gym which means I was doing it. It was fun, but you guys it is a full on work out in the ocean on that bad boy!
Maybe bring your own food unless you are just jonesing to try theirs, but I promise it is not good and I am not a picky eater.
Bring your own life vest if you have room for the water jungle gym otherwise you are waiting in line. Once you have one you can keep it as long as you are in the water, but once you get out you have to return it and if there are seven ships at port this makes for long lines.
Bring your own snorkel gear or goggles because you do see some cool stuff if you go a little out.
Bring Cash because there are extra activities you can do if you have the $$$$ Like jet ski or water tricycles.
So like I said, once we left there we took to the streets of Cozumel and had a ball. We bought all kinds of stuff and we had so much fun watching Will use his Spanish speaking skills and negotiate with all the people. I was very impressed on how well he speaks the language, but I guess when you have been playing Soccer for as many years as he has you learn things, Spanish being one of those things you learn.
Saturday we woke up to our last day at sea and we did not waste it! We hit the slides, the surf rider, the pools, the shows, the pizza parlor, anything we loved we did! We had a ball! So much of a ball as God as my Witness we have already booked our next cruise! This time we will be bringing JP as we had to leave him behind because he is in his school musical and had rehearsals, so we will have JP, our cousins, and Grandparents! So that will be a big time! It will allow for more intimate dinners and awesome talks, more family time, more date time, more awesome countries, and more vacation time, which all in all equals very blessed time! So there you have it! The Berry Summer Family Vacation! Soon I will share with you how I packed and some tips and tricks if you have never been on a cruise and are considering it! I have an amazing Contact who will set you up and once you step board on the ship your worries will disappear! I will share with you tips I have learned for excursions like what to bring etc. If you are considering a cruise don't miss it! I promise it will be huge because you do not need half the stuff you think you do!
Until then!
XO,
Amy
I have included some video to give you a feel of all the activities you get to do in seven days and this is just a taste! I am telling yall.....cruising is so fun if you are an active family like we are! I promise to send some tips this week and if you are interested but have questions you can message me and I will answer what I can. I even have a contact that can hook ya up! And no it is not me. It is my friend Brandon and I promise he will hook you up!
Trey Surfing on the ship!
Dance lessons!
G zip line with Jeffery
Zip line with g
Will jumping in Belize
Hello, World!
Thinking of going on a trip soon? It is the end of the summer and you know what that means! Good deals on Swim Suits!
Things I Am Afraid To Tell You....
We all have things about ourselves we don’t want others to know don’t we? Today I share a few of mine…you might be surprised, ashamed, mad, or not interested at all, but for me it is freeing to admit I am not perfect and it is o.k.
Today I am turning the tables a bit. I am stepping out of my comfort zone and I am going to tell you a few things I am scared to tell you. Why would I do this? I mean after all my goal here is to get readers and a following, why would I do this? Because, I need you to see my life is real. It is not all roses and unicorns. There are some things about me that honestly I am ashamed of, but it is who I am and I make mistakes. A lot of mistakes. So today I will step out of my comfort zone and I will show you the ugly side. Not the pretty pictures where you see of all of us laughing, but the side where I am a human and I too make mistakes. This thing we do called motherhood is hard and it is so easy to feel judged, but what you need to know is you are not alone. We all make mistakes, in whatever season of life we are in, we make mistakes. So let's give ourselves some grace and love and remember no one is perfect. Unless we have walked in that persons shoes we really should not judge. We should just love.
So here we go! Things I am afraid to tell you about me....
I yell. I mean I straight up scream and it is embarrassing to admit. I mean who full on screams at their kids? I do. I lose complete control sometimes and I just can't stop. I have really been working hard on it, but it still do it sometimes and I know my older boys have just gotten to the point where they just ignore me because I am that crazy. Sure they say, "Yes mam" or acknowledge whatever I am going off about, but I know it is falling on deaf ears which is why I wish I could just get it under control. I try. I really do and I will say that since I have started this blog and really been consistent with my quiet time I am doing better, but I do slip sometimes still. When I do I ask for forgiveness and drop to my knees. Does not mean that makes it all better though because I still get sick to my stomach when I stop and realize what I am doing. Because after all if I was a "good mom" I would not do that right?
I am horrible with money! Yep! Just horrible! I don't pay any of our bills and I honestly do not pay attention to our accounts. This is horrible really and I know this. Money for whatever reason has always given me stress and anxiety. I don't know why either because I did not want for anything growing up, but for whatever reason when Trey wants to talk about the budget or look at our accounts I literally break out in hives. Really have no clue why, but I do and I hate paying bills and I hate talking money with ANYONE! Hate it!
I have a huge fear of flying and I am married to a pilot. Ya you heard me. Massive fear of flying. I do it, but I hate it and I dread it! Seriously dread it! Good news here is the last place Trey wants to be on a vacation is on a plane so we take a lot of cruises.
I cuss. It is terrible and as my father always says, "It shows a lack of vocabulary." I know this and I agree with it, but gosh darn it, for whatever reason I have a filthy mouth. I need to really work on this because yall, it is so bad! Not kidding! So yes, I love Jesus and I cuss a little.
So there you have it! Confessions of a yelling, poor money managing, scared to fly, filthy mouth mama who loves Jesus. No I am not perfect. I have good days and I have bad days and sometimes I have really bad days. What do I do on those really bad days, in those really bad moments?
We all need to remember with each new day is a new chance. A new chance to grow and a new chance to change habits about ourselves we don't like. I don't know what it is for you, but for me it is the screaming and the cussing I want to change the most so how am I going to go about it? I am going to do everything I can to get in my first 15! Don't know what I am talking about? Click here! First 15
First 15 is me turning to God! And in the heat of moments I turn to God and I remember I am worthy and you my friend are too! Don't ever forget that! No matter what the mistake is or bad habit is, you are worthy! So look up because we are loved even in the midst of imperfection.
Until next time!
XO,
Amy
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Do you need help finding a daily devotional? Jesus Calling is INCREDIBLE and here are some more ideas!
New York State of Mind Finale!
It’s here! Our final day in the city! It is a day to remember. It was amazing watching JP finish strong and we visited the 911 Memorial. Needless to say, all kinds of emotions. To see more read on.
We have done it! We have made it to the finish line in my recap of New York! Today I will share what we did on Sunday and Monday and I have to warn you parts of it are pretty somber as we visited the 911 Memorial and would you believe we did not make it half way through. I just couldn't. It was so emotional, so dark, and so real, and JP called saying he was done. Secretively I was so glad as my stomach was in knots and my head hurt. I will go back, but I will go back knowing I might not finish it yet again. It is that raw you guys. At least for me it was.
The dark hole
So, we woke up Sunday morning and got JP delivered to the studio safely, grabbed some breakfast and made our way over to the memorial. We started with the original spot of the Twin Towers. You guys, it is amazing what they have done. The hole and the way the water just flows down into the pit is peaceful yet eerie. Peaceful as you listen to the water and know there is life, yet eerie as you look down into this dark hole and you know there was tremendous loss of life. Yet the water keeps circulating and flowing which for me is a sign that those who were lost that fateful day are still with us. They are with us in spirit and the evil that created it is deep down in that pit. That was what I felt. It brought me chills and tears. It is very sobering.
The water flowing to the hole
We made our way inside and at first I was o.k. because it was honestly just pieces of metal and stuff that made it through the fires and collapses that day and for me I could not wrap my head around the pain from that. Everyone is different I know, but for me I could not grasp the gravity.
Metal from the Towers.
The different colors of blue fascinated me.
However, as we moved deeper into the museum that changed. We hit a wall where individuals were asked to paint a watercolor of what they remembered the sky looking like before the attack. This wall got to me. I really cannot answer why, but it moved me in a way that brought me to tears. Maybe it was because the sky was obviously a beautiful blue that morning, a blue that is so peaceful. You get that message loud and clear from the wall and I kept thinking, "Man, what happened that morning turned that beautiful peaceful sky to a dark and lonely color". A color I imagine hell or purgatory being. Not that I believe in purgatory, but I was raised Catholic, so the idea is in my head. That wall was changed from life to death in one hit. Tragic and senseless and that wall got me but good. I loved the quote, " No day shall erase you from the memory of time." I will remember that wall always.
Next we came to the "Survivor's Stairs". It is literally remnants of a staircase that connected the northern edge of the World Trade Center's Austin J. Tobin Plaza to the Vesey Street sidewalk below. These stairs along with an escalator provided an unobstructed exit for hundreds seeking to escape. The guide at the top of the stairs was telling people to literally go down the stairs and just run! "Run as fast as you can". He literally was repeating what a Police officer was saying that dreadful day to all the people trying to escape. It really was paralyzing thinking about what they must of been feeling and how scared they must of been.
The Survivor's Stairs
We then came to a part of the museum that had pictures of the deceased. It was very somber and just thinking about what each person left behind. A child, a spouse, a parent, friend, sibling, and the list goes on. I could not help but cry especially when I saw the children's faces who were lost. It made feelings of anger come up even.
The next area we hit I could not even finish. It was voice recordings of people saying good bye to loved ones on voice mails, stories of people witnessing individuals jumping to their death, and just more stories of death and evil. I could not take anymore. I had to leave. Thankfully JP called right about that time and we did have to leave. I honestly don't think I could take much more.
I am so glad we made it to the memorial and I do hope to go back someday and finish it. Mainly out of respect of all those who lost their lives that day or those who lost loved ones. I don't think I can EVER forget that day even if I wanted too, but I will say this Memorial is a great lesson for those who were not even alive of how good will always over come evil. How on September 11, 2001 we were all united. We saw incredible courage and amazing acts of heroism. We saw this country unite and stand in solidarity together that day and the days that followed. That is what we will remember.
Needless to say the cab ride to get JP was very quiet, but once we got to JP that all changed. Seeing these kids finishing up was an amazing site to see. They were all so happy and so proud and that was just what I needed. We got JP and started heading back to the hotel and on the way back we hit the Black Tap. Have you ever been to a Black Tap? Oh my! If you have not you must go! It is basically a hamburger joint, but the milkshakes! Oh the Milkshakes! These milkshakes can turn any sadness into pure joy! They look joyful and they taste GREAT! So this was just what the doctor ordered for us!
JP and "Asaka" one of the leads in Once on This Island! Yall....she is AMAZEBALLS!
Afterwards Gramzee was whipped so we took her to the room and for our last night, Ginger, JP, and I headed out to Time Square and decided to try our luck at the lottery for the Musical Once On This Island. Would yall believe we won! We scored 3 tickets for $59 each! For those of you who do not know, a Broadway ticket right now is going for about $250 plus! And that is the back row people! Not only did we score 3 seats at such a great deal, they were KILLER seats! We were so pumped!
While we waited for the show to start we headed to Time Square and had a little fun and made our way back. Here are some of our street shots! Ginger was not thrilled with me making her do this, but she played along and loosened up and enjoyed herself and having everyone stare at the "crazy tourist"!
After the show we were all hungry, so........we decided to go out with a bang and get more.......guess......PIZZA! We went back to the quaint restaurant by our hotel, Serafina, and got some more of that delicious black truffle pizza. Three pizzas to be exact and we ate every last bite! Oh yes we did which made for an incredible nights sleep! Ha!
This pizza is so stupid good! I can't even stop thinking about it! I might have to learn to make it!
Dylan's Candy Heaven!
We got up early Monday because JP still needed to hit one more stop. Dylans Candy Store and at first I was like what is the big deal? Well you guys, unless you go you will not understand. It is a kids haven! It is so fun and there is all kinds of fun candy and treats. Perfect place to stop for treats to bring home, but before we could leave the city we stopped at Rue 57 for lunch and I had the french onion soup in honor of my mom, because who in their right mind would order soup when it is 98 degrees outside in New York City! Me! That is who! And I loved every bite of it just like my mom would have! If you like French onion soup I highly suggest Rue 57! After our last meal in the city we headed to the airport and we were back in Dallas before we knew it!
Whew! We are done! I hope you enjoyed reading about our trip as much as I enjoyed reliving it and telling you all about it! I could not be more proud of what JP has accomplished and where it has brought him and I am so thankful I got to share it with my AMAZING Mother in Law and one of the most special people in my life, my childhood bestfriend! How blessed I am!
Me and my Star!
Until next time!
XO,
Amy
Hello, World!
Do you have one of these wonderful gadgets? If not you really should!
New York State of Mind-Part 3
To see more about our amazing adventure in the City read on! I hope you are enjoying it as much as we did!!!!!
Happy Monday, Friends!
Today I am recapping our third full day in New York and I think this might have been my favorite day by far! I mean it was all incredible, but today was almost magical! And I needed that after our emotional night seeing Dear Evan Hansen. If you missed that post you can catch that here: New York Part 2
And if you missed Day one that is here: New York Part 1
Back to day three! We woke up bright and early again and got JP delivered safely to the new studio! Yes they threw us a curve ball and we switched studios, but honestly we knew that would happen and it was a great thing for JP to see more awesome studios in the city. Luckily this studio was close enough we could walk and there was no subway involved. I like it that way! I mean the subway is fun, but let's just say I am happier walking.
JP and his friends!
Once we arrived at the studio everyone was congregating outside as it was still locked and I got to see JP interacting with all the kids. Nothing warms a mother's heart more than to see their child in his or her element and let me tell you he was! As we were about to leave a mom I had yet to meet arrived a little late with her son and I introduced myself to her and her daughter. I am so glad I did too! Her name was Tanya and her daughter was Kyra. I invited them to breakfast with Gramzee, Ginger, Chris and Trish (our other new friends) and I. I am happy to report they came and I had the BEST day with sweet Kyra. She was like my little shadow and being a boy mom let's just say I was in HEAVEN!
We started out getting breakfast at another cute New York diner which I have decided I am totally all about. You can get your eggs anyway you like them and the bacon oh man the bacon!
Our amazing Pedicab tour guide Z!
From there we all decided we wanted to see Central Park. The only problem was it was 98 degrees outside so we decided to do a pedicab. Best decision ever as our tour guide Z was amazing and as hot as it was, the wind in our face was very welcomed! If you ever find yourself in Central Park on a hot day I HIGHLY suggest this route. The horses are put up anyways when it is that hot so why not have someone else do the pedaling for you! IF you are lucky enough to get Z you are in for a real treat! Trust me! You can see him in the Saturday Night Live Video at the end of this post! He is the adorable Pedicab driver in the video! Look for him and if you are in Central Park find him and have him give you his tour. He knows the park inside and out and he is too cute and so funny!
Kyra running through the water at the park. Oh to be a kid and to be free!
Central Park is magical and experiencing it with new and old friends made it even more special. I will remember this day always. I had so much fun and I cannot wait to go back! Here are a few photos of what we saw and did.
JP and Maise! He was so happy to have her there!
We had to be back to the studios early that day as the kids were performing for us. I had some surprises up my sleeve as JP's bestfriend Maise happened to be in the city with her brother who was performing with iTheatrics on another project and JP's Uncle Frankie too! Both of them text saying they could make it to the performance and we got to surprise JP with his own little fan club!
VERY special to all of us to have Uncle Frankie there! Especially since he lives in California! The stars and the moon were aligned and we were all so happy!
I have to say we were all wowed by the show! What this group of kids accomplished in three short days was nothing short of amazing! I so wish I could show you video or pictures from it, but I can't because I was not allowed to video tape. What I can show you is a group photo we were allowed to take at the end of JP and the cast and I promise you EVERYONE of these kids was amazing! The talent was off the hook and I was over the moon proud of my kid! I am still beaming! Yet another experience I will cherish always!
The cast and directors! Everyone in this photo has AMAZING talent! EVERYONE!
I still laugh at how the water comes out of the ceiling!
Needless to say, JP was whipped after rehearsing all day and then preforming so we decided to just grab a quick bite! Guess what we got! Pizza! Just this time it was from a quaint restaurant, Serafina, which was near our hotel and their black truffle pizza was OUT OF THIS WORLD! You have to try it if you are in the city! I am still dreaming about it! LITERALLY! After pizza I stopped in a pharmacy and got huge bags of epsom salts and we all took long epsom salt baths in our quirky tub and hit the sack early.
So there you have it! Day 3! And what a magical day it was!
Later this week I will wrap up our adventure with the 911 memorial, more pizza, a musical, and onion soup in honor of my mom! Oh how I wish she could have experienced this with us. I know she was there in spirit though and I know she is so proud of JP Berry! We all are!
Until next time!
XO,
Amy
Take more creative photos with the hands-free selfie-stick, a favorite of Amy Schumer's. [Season 41, 2015] #SNL Subscribe to SNL: https://goo.gl/tUsXwM Get more SNL: http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live Full Episodes: http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-liv... Like SNL: https://www.facebook.com/snl Follow SNL: https://twitter.com/nbcsnl SNL Tumblr: http://nbcsnl.tumblr.com/ SNL Instagram: http://instagram.com/nbcsnl SNL Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/nbcsnl/
The Trishtini
I promised you the recipe on that amazing cocktail my friend invented and today I have it for you! Just in time for the weekend! Cheers!
Remember that drink I talked about yesterday? The Trishtini? if you missed that post you can catch that here: https://worthyheart.com/blog/2018/7/15/the-trishtini
As promised I have the recipe for you today. It comes with a warning.
WARNING:
Drink at your own risk! EXTREMELY delicious! VERY refreshing! SUPER easy to make. Packs a HUGE punch!If you are still o.k. with all of those warnings-then here you go!
THE TRISHTINI
Developed by my friend Trish who lives in Jersey and has a smile that lights up the room! So does her daughter by the way! Side story: Our first day of practices in New York for JP we were riding up the elevator with Trish and her daughter as well as other kids and their parents. One kid was talking about how he had done this a few times and Trish's sweet daughter said she had tried out before, but this was her first time making it. I saw her smile and I literally said, "They saved the best for last! That smile of yours is AMAZING!" And I promise you she got that smile from her beautiful mom! Now back to the point of today's post! The drink that will make you too smile big!
1 Part St. Germaine
1 Part Cucumber Vodka
dash of lemon juice
Top it off with Prosecco
Ginger, Trish, Gramzee and I! Cheers to new friendships and amazing recipes!
We had our bartender shake it up in a shaker with ice and man was it good! Give this one a try sometime and tell me what you think! I promise you will love it!
CHEERS!
Amy
Hello, World!
Need the perfect glass for this amazing cocktail! Grab one here!
New York State of Mind Part 2-
Part 2 of our amazing adventure in the city that never sleeps!
Part 2 of my New York State of Mind begins today! If you missed part 1 you can catch that here: https://worthyheart.com/blog/2018/7new-york-state-of-mind-part-1
Where did I leave you? Thursday night I believe! So Friday morning again we were up and at 'em early as we had to have JP to the studio by 9, fed, hydrated, and with lunch. I am proud to say we nailed the subway and we were there in plenty of time! Thank God JP is a fast learner because he was the reason it was so easy for us.
Once we dropped JP we decided we wanted to take it easy. My mother in law and I had a nice leisurely walk and along the way we met some really nice firemen and did a little shopping. We found a quaint diner, had brunch, and decided we wanted to go back to the room until Ginger arrived to rest. Gramzee took a bath in our quirky tub and a nice long nap and I wrote a little. It was actually perfect as our room overlooked Central Park and I was able to sit and really reflect on what was happening and how awesome of an opportunity this was and is for JP. In the quiet I was able to thank God for all He had blessed me and my family with. It was a moment I will never forget and one I will always treasure. How often do we moms ever get 3 hours of alone time with no disruption to where we can really be present and grateful. Not often enough.
Ginger arrived around 4 and together with Gramzee we made our way back to the Studio to get our boy. We got to the studio early so we met up with one of the other mother's and found a cute little bar and had a delicious cocktail! I have named it the Trishtini as my new friend Trish is who invented it! Let me tell you it is delish and has a punch! Look for the recipe tomorrow! You will not be disappointed, but warning! ONE IS ENOUGH!
Once we had JP we rushed back to the room to get ready for our show. We took the subway and I can tell you after one trishtini I handled that subway like a champ! I guess my inhibitions were down and I did not care if I looked like a tourist because that was the only time I handled it with ease! Ha! We were starving so Gramzee and I made our way to a little grocery on the corner and grabbed all kinds of goodies so JP would not be late to the show.
We made it to the musical in plenty of time and what a show it was! Dear Evan Hansen. All I can say is WOW! If you have kids, if you are on social media (which I assume you are as you are reading this), if you plan on having kids, and if you ever get the chance to see this show I HIGHLY recommend it. I think every human being should see this show! Truly it is that amazing. The entire premise is about inclusivity and the importance of human connection and it was just beautiful. Sad, but beautiful! Of course I cried through the entire show and the thought of kids not feeling loved just kills me, but it is real. They all need to know they are not alone and they will be found. They need to know to just hold on tight and the sun will come up tomorrow. For whatever reason they don't understand tomorrow will come and it kills me knowing my own kids might be feeling this at times and that really tugs at my heart.
When I later asked JP what he thought about the show he said he loved it! I asked what made him cry and he said he has friends who have thought of suicide and his heart hurt for them knowing it. He told me that social media while it is fun and great it can really hurt a person. I could not agree more and I was so glad he saw such a powerful and moving show to really see and feel how social media can create harm and pain. We talked about the idea of EVERYBODY deserves a smile and a hello! That a smile and a hello might save someone's life. So the point here is GO SEE THE SHOW if you ever have the opportunity! You will not regret it! If you don't believe me ask JP! I promise you he will agree!
Of course after the show we had to hit Ray's Pizza for the THIRD time, but hey who is counting? And besides I was averaging 25,000 plus steps a day so I deserved it! Ha!
So there you have Part 2 of New York State of Mind! Be looking for Part 3 as it was yet another amazing adventure in the city that never sleeps!
Until then!
XO,
Amy
Hello, World!
I wish you could see my dress in these pictures, but you cannot. I am still working on my photography skills! The dress is AMAZING and I got so many complimnets and I got it here!
New York State of Mind Part 1
Part 1 of our amazing adventure in the big apple!
So it has been over a week since JP, my amazing mother in law, and my dear childhood friend and I hit the big apple. I think I am still recovering, processing, and wrapping my head around it all. The trip was truly magical and truly amazing on a number of levels that I just don't know where to begin or end. I have decided I will just start at the beginning and the beginning might surprise you.
May 3 at exactly 1:20 pm I happen to be on my email and I received a message titled: DISNEY'S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL-iTheatrics 2018 Choreo DVD. I opened it immediately and here is a little of what it said:
Congratulations to all who participated in the 2018 Junior Theater Festival Choreography DVD auditions in Atlanta and Sacramento and others who have done amazing things with iTheatrics throughout the year! You should be so incredibly proud of yourselves...your professionalism, flexibility, and talent amaze me. This email is your invitation into the 2018 High School Musical JR. Choreography DVD Shoot cast. Yes, you are cast!
JP's amazing dance teacher who discovered our shining star and is helping me navigate all the excitement! Thank God for Mrs. Megan and everyone at Preston Center Dance
I remember sitting there and thinking, "HOLY HELL! He made it! He really made it! Now what? HOLY HELL! I have to go to New York! YUCK!" I admit it! I said it! But I am proud to say I obviously sent the email on to him and sent him a text saying, "READ YOUR EMAIL NOW!" Then I picked up the phone and called his dance teacher Ms. Megan. I did not have a clue as to what iTheatrics was or is, remember this is all very new for me having a kid in the dance and acting world, and I asked her is this something that I REALLY need to make happen. Well she gave me a resounding YES and I trust her and I know how much she believes in my John Paul that I started working on the details as I needed to have John Paul in New York no later than June 26. Which that alone gave me the hives. I had ZERO desire at that time to go to New York. I had been before as a kid and I remember thinking it stunk and was stupid crowded! Well I can assure you my mind has since been changed and I am happy to report I LOVE NEW YORK CITY! Like REALLY love it! Like that will have to be a post in itself I love it that much!
JP and I getting ready to board our plane. Smiles all around!
Ok, back to JP! Being that I did not want to go I asked my mother in law if she would come with me and she was more than excited to come and my bestfriend Ginger too! So I had two peeps to keep me entertained while JP danced and sang all day which was great! We arrived in New York late on the 26 and my sweet JP had a list of places he wanted to hit. First on the list was Rays Pizza. Let me just say, "WINNER!" That pizza is amazing! Have you ever had it? If not, I highly suggest it should you find yourself in New York and I highly suggest keeping it simple and going with the pepperoni pizza! I knew New York had amazing pizza as my family is from the east coast, but holy cow I forgot how amazing! And boy did it hit the spot after traveling.
BEST PIZZA EVER! RAYS for the win! One happy kid here!
The next day we were all up and at 'em early as we had to get JP to the Ripley Grier Studios by 9 am, with a packed lunch: all the while figuring out the subway system. Now that was a sight to behold! Trust me on that! I am happy to say we figured it out by day 2.5 and I am now the proud carrier of a couple of metro cards with a few rides left on each! Maybe we can use them next year if he gets invited back!
The AMAZING Steven Kennedy kindly booting the parents out! I will let you look him up and see how amazing he is and how BIG this iTheatrics invitation is for JP! I am still in awe after looking into all of the wonderful people working with JP.
Once we made it to the Studio we were allowed to go up for the parent meeting. I was all ready with my pen and notebook and JP was so embarrassed. I seriously thought it was a meeting! Basically it was, "Hi we will have your kids every day until 6. Here is who you check them in and out with. Pack their lunch daily please and send them with water. Check emails because if there are any changes or updates you will get them there. Do not camp out here! There is a Starbucks somewhere for that! Nice to see you, congrats on having such talented kids, now beat it and let us work our magic!" I was like wow! But, hey I realize if this is what he wants to do in life this is good. So I put my notebook up and my mother in law and I headed out to hit the streets.
AMAZING New York breakfast!
On the way down the elevator one of the sweet moms could tell we were new, it was so obvious it was ridiculous, and she asked if there was any questions we had as she had done this with her child already. I was like, "Thank you Jesus! Yes we have a ton of questions!" Then my mother in law piped in, "Can we treat you to breakfast?"
Chris and Trish were amazing! They knew the program and they knew the city which was an even bigger bonus! So we had breakfast, got our questions answered, and headed out. When we started this journey I asked my mother in law, "What do you want to do while we are in New York?" All she wanted to do besides see JP in his element was Bloomingdales and the 911 Memorial. So Thursday was our day to hit Bloomies as Ginger really wanted to see the 911 Memorial and she had yet to arrive.
When I travel I am not one that has a list of places to go like my son JP is. I am more the type of let's walk and experience it all. So I said to Gramzee, aka my mother in law, "According to my map Bloomies is this way! So let's stroll!" That is just what we did and we had THE BEST time! We happened across Bryant Park. It is this park that has ping pong games going, water fountains, pop up shops, a reading nook, and it was just so quaint and we just really loved it! I highly suggest you going there should you be in the city. It is so sweet! I imagine during the holidays they really do it up!
Right next to Bryant Park was the public library and again it was so beautiful! We did not actually go in but we admired the architecture and statues outside. We kept walking and low and behold found St. Patricks. For those of you who do not know, my mom was VERY Catholic and my dad still is. We walked over and we were going in to light a candle and would you believe they were starting a mass. Actually I have since learned there is a Mass all the time, but I took it as a sign from my mom that she was actually with me. My mother in law asked me if I would like to stay and attend and of course I did. I cried a little, but honestly they were happy tears as I could feel my mom's presence. It really was a magical moment for me. After mass we kept walking and found a quaint french restaurant and had a MAGNIFICENT lunch. I wish I could remember the name, but for the love of God I can't! All I can say is it was delish and is about three blocks down from Bloomingdales! Which we hit hard! So hard I made a friend at the Clarin's counter. Grace! She is amazing and if you are ever in New York and find yourself in Bloomies, you really should stop by her counter and ask her for a quick facial. It was AMAZING and so is she! She had me refreshed, refaced, and ready to get JP and hit the city at night!
The amazing Grace of Bloomies! So lucky to have crossed paths with her!
After our facials we got to JP, thanks to Grace's help in hailing a cab! Another site to behold, my mother in law and I trying to hail a cab! Grace saw the trouble we were having and graciously helped and we made it to JP just in the nick of time! We got JP and we headed to another spot on his list. Ellen's Stardust Cafe, which for those of you newbies like myself, is a very touristy but really neat experience. Especially if you are into the Broadway Musical Scene. Basically in a nutshell your waitstaff are Broadway performers who are in between shows or trying to get a show and they entertain you your entire meal. A lot of fun and I highly suggest you going if you love Musicals and singing! We had a ball and little side note. Go between 5 and 6:30 and your wait will be a lot less than after 6;30. Anything after 6:30 can take up to 2 hours. So take it from me. Try to get there before 6:30, but even if you don't, New York is the best place to people watch, so why not do that in line at Ellen's Stardust Cafe!
Gramzee was in good hands!
After dinner sweet Gramzee was spent so JP and I put her in a bike buggy and sent her home and we headed to Time Square! Want to talk about amazing people watching! It is the melting pot of people watching and JP and I loved every minute of it! From the Pot Mobile, to the painted naked people, yes you read that right, to all the interesting sights and sounds! It was a site to behold and one I am so glad to have experienced with my sweet JP and one that I will remember always. Ever have moments like this?
After that, we headed back as JP had to be up and ready to hit the dance floor by 9 am for another full day in practice. But we first made another stop at Ray's Pizza! JP LOVED their pizza! So we did and yes I am happy to report I ate it again too! I think I ate my way through the city and what a city to eat your way through! They know how to make their food! So we had our late night pizza and hit the sack!
So there you have it folks! Part one of New York! I can't wait to share Part 2 with you later this week with a New York State of Mind!
XO,
Amy
Hello, World!
Have I told you about the AMAZING shoe that I walked all over New York with! It was such a blessing to be able to wear sandals in the heat of the summer and these sandals are amazing for your feet!
Unforgettable Flank Steak, Wasabi Mashed Potatoes, and Green Salad
Need an idea for dinner? I have one that the entire family will love! Steak, potatoes, and salad! Check it out!
Do you ever have those days when you just cannot think of anything to make? Happens here all the time as I have three boys who love to eat and a husband who is LITERALLY a human garbage disposal when it comes to food. The man loves his food and when he is fed something he LOVES he NEVER forgets it.
Case in point. Last Wednesday, I was and still am honestly, recovering from John Paul and my amazing trip to New York. Yes, I have yet to blog about our trip, that is coming, but if you missed what took us there you can catch that here: https://worthyheart.com/blog/2018/start-spreading-the-news
My beautiful friend Jen and her amazing husband Jeff!
Back to the point- I just could not come up with any dinner ideas. I asked Trey what he felt like and he literally said, "Call Jen Clifton and get that recipe from when we ate at their house." I looked at him and asked, "Are you serious? That was like over a year ago and I know this because she has had a baby and it was before she was pregnant!" He was serious yall! He remembered that it was flank steak and wasabi mashed potatoes! I was like dang! Impressive! So of course I called Jen and the rest is history!
So today's blog is literally an entire meal! I am happy to report it is pretty darn easy to make and it VERY delicious! So delicious my husband my remembered it 20 months later! Give it a whirl and let me know what you think.
Flank Steak, Wasabi Mashed Potatoes, and Green Salad
I used 1lb flank steak
Marinade:
1/4 cup Coconut Amino Acids or Soy Sauce (I prefer the Amino Acids as a substitute)
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
Ground fresh Ginger and I did this to taste for my family so I used 1 Tablespoon your family might want more.
I also added 1 garlic clove, minced because we put garlic on darn near EVERYTHING in this family.
Combine all that in a baggie and let it marinade all day or overnight if you can, but at least for 30 minutes.
Grill until desired doneness. Let stand, covered loosely with foil for 10 minutes, before cutting in thin strips against the grain.
Wasabi Mashed Potatoes:
2.5 to 3 Lbs of Russet potatoes
1/2 cup butter
4 ounces of cream cheese, softened
1/4 to 1/2 cup half and half
1/2 teaspoon Lawrys Seasoned Salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
Wasabi and Coconut Aminos I use.
Wasabi cream Sauce
Prep:
Peel your potatoes and place in pot of boiling water. Boil for about 45 minutes or until you can slide a knife through the potato.
Drain water and add butter, cream cheese, cream, salt and pepper. Mash and blend well. Once smooth add as little or as much wasabi as you like for taste. We like a lot, but some people are sensitive. I did about 2 Tablespoons maybe more.
Salad:
Romaine Lettuce
6- 10 Green onions chopped
1/2 to 1 cup Chopped Broccoli blanched or raw
Raman Noodles crushed up and toasted in butter
Walnuts toasted
Toss all of the above together.
Salad Dressing:
1/2 cup of Vegetable Oil
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 Tablespoons Coconut Amino Acids or Soy Sauce
Blend all together and pour over your salad and toss well.
There you have it. An entire meal and one that people will surely remember! My husband is proof of that!
Bon Apetit!
XO!
Amy
Hello, World!
Here is the link to my FAVORITE Maxi this summer! I have it in 4 colors! No lie!!!!!
Summer Packing Guide for New York City
Heading to New York? Don’t know what to pack? Let me help you!
New York! How I love thee! The city that does not sleep! The city where there is so much to eat and do! All you have to do is walk outside and take a little stroll because the city is filled with heart and soul. How do you pack for something like this? I asked my dear friend Elizabeth and she nailed it! Here is what I got and yes I went to my faithful friend Amazon for most of it, because hey, that is just what I do!
I packed 7 dresses and one jumpsuit because I am in there for 6 days and I wanted extra just in case. I packed two pairs of walking shoes and one pair of tennis shoes. An umbrella, a crossbody handbag, a foldable shopping bag, my charger for my phone, my make up, some jewelry, perfume, lotion, tooth paste and brush, my favorite curling iron, my favorite hairbrush, one work out outfit just in case, undies, bras, books for night time reading, my AAA map of the city, and my bullet proof coffee on the go! Here is a look at some of it! Maybe you will see something you just got to have for your upcoming summer travel!
I have talked to you guys about these before and I swear they are amazing. Not only are the easy to walk in, but I get tons of compliments every time I wear them.
Oh sweet baby Jesus! These amazing sandals are not only cute, but you guys the comfort level is off the chains! I am telling you I LOVE these and I am soooooo happy with this purchase!
Say hello to your new Summer fave! I loved this dress so much I bought it in 3 colors! No lie! And when I get a picture in it I will show you all the fun ways you can wear. IF you are shorter you can tie it at the bottom, so adorable! The straps make it adjustable and I wear a little bandeau under it! So cute and so stinking comfy!
Got these to wear with my sundresses and they are great! I am very happy with this purchase!
Seriously! How cute is this!!!!!!
Another amazing find! I am so happy with this dress. I just put a bandeau on and go! You can dress it up or down and it is so pretty and comfy!
The jumpsuit I packed is from Urban and I LOVE IT! I swear I could live in it! I actually got it off of an fellow bloggers site. The link to it is: https://www.urbanoutfitters.com/shop/uo-shapeless-gauzy-striped-jumpsuit?category=SEARCHRESULTS&color=049
The rest of the dresses I packed were already in my closet so not really sure where I got them, but sundresses is the way to go in the city of New York for real!
Anyone who knows me well, knows that I live in my PJ's and these are some of my favs! They go EVERYWHERE with me!
I wear these PJS ALL the time and NEVER leave home without them!
So my feet are very tiny and I can get away with buying kids shoes. I got these amazing shoes in a pale pink and I love them! If you have tiny feet or a little girl these shoes are so cute.
These are the one pair of work out pants I brought along with my Dallas Dance Fitness Tank because hey! I got to advertise for our group! Speaking of, if you ever want to try your hand at dance fitness and you live in the Dallas area, hit me up! Check us out at: https://dallasdf.wixsite.com/dallasdancefitness
I am not a real handbag lover and when Elizabeth told me I needed a crossbody bag I was like, "What the heck is that?" She explained it to me and my first thought was no way am I spending money on something I will never carry after this trip. Then I thought, "Why don't I check Amazon out?" I did and I got this little bag. No it is nothing fancy, but for a girl that literally needs it for six days I thought, "What the heck?" It came in and it is actually pretty cute. Cheap as dirt, great reviews, and it will serve it's purpose for a girl who could care less. Plus it can carry my billfold, phone, lipstick, and shades! And it was only $13.95! As far as I am concerned that is WINNING!
This little bad boy is very expensive, but oh so worth it if you have long hair and like to have beachy waves! Not kidding! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, mine and take it everywhere I go!
This stuff is amazing and it is what I use when I am traveling to make my bullet proof on the road. It is creamy and taste like chocolate and is really good! I know I am starting my day with healthy fats and that is the goal when I am away. And yes, I do ask any barista to make it with my coffee wherever I am! I have never had anyone complain, one time I got a rolled eyes, but just once!
Started this and LOVE it! Cannot wait to write a review! Everyone should read it!
So there you have it! Most of the stuff I mentioned above was bought for this trip, some things I have had, but they are so amazing I just had to share again!
What do you pack when you go to New York and what is the one thing that you ALWAYS make sure to have with you when you travel? Mine is lipgloss! And yes I get mine on Amazon unless I am wearing my lipsense.
My girlfriend Karen got me this as a gift once and it is in my car, a kitchen drawer, my dance bag, and by my bedside. Love this and love my lipsense moisture lip balm. That stuff is AMAZING!
So what do you pack when you go to New York? Share with me! I have a feeling I will be heading back again soon with my sweet JP. He is so talented and the city lights up his soul!
Until next time!
XO,
Amy
Start Spreading the News!
My triple threat and I are heading to the big apple! Follow along with us and to hear about what we are doing check out today’s post! This mama is very proud!
Oh my, Oh my! Today is the day! JP is off to great places! He is off and away!
JP, my mother in law, Ginger my childhood friend, and I will be heading to New York! JP has been invited into the 2018 High School Musical JR Choreography DVD shoot cast. YES my friends! He has been ask to be in the cast and Trey and I could not be more proud! The more I learn about this opportunity the more in awe I become. He will be working with choreographers from: iTheatrics, Broadway Junior, Disney Theatrical Group, Music Theatre International, Tams-Witmark Music Library, Samuel French, and The Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization! Pretty big deal for a 15 year old boy! A 15 year old boy who we literally through the help of his dance and choir teacher, just discovered his talent a year ago! If you do not know my back story on my beautiful and talented boy you can read about it here: https://worthyheart.com/blog/2017/11/12/my-triple-threat?rq=my%20triple%20threat
I cannot wait to share with you all about this amazing experience, but in the meantime I would love to ask you all for your prayers for a safe, successful, amazing trip, that will open up many doors for my beautiful boy, if it is God's will! I just know God has a plan for JP and the gifts he has given him and I cannot wait to see what that plan is! Until then I wrote a little diddy, using inspiration from a very popular song! Hope you enjoy it and the video I included of him! He is pretty easy to spot as he is the only boy on the stage and please excuse the quality-yours truly was the one recording it from my silly phone. :) Until next time! XO, Amy
Start spreading the news! We leave TODAY! JP is going to be a part of it, New York, New York!
With his converse shoes-he is longing to stray all around the heart of Broadway!
He is going to wake up in the city that doesn't sleep! He will be kind of his hill, top of my stack, and he will never want to come back!
His summertime blues, will finally melt away and he will be on his way to making a start of this and I promise you, I know he will try to stay, right there in old New York!
Uploaded by william berry on 2018-06-26.
Hello, World!
Father's Day Lessons
It’s Father’s day! What are some things you have learned from the Dad’s in your life? I share of few lessons we have learned today! Take a look!
It's Father's Day! A day we celebrate our fathers contributions to our lives and thank them for all they do for us and our families. Did you know Father's Day was first celebrated by a girl by the name of Sonora Smart Dodd and she came up with the idea way back in 1909 when listening to a sermon at church about Mother's Day? Sonora sat there and listened to her pastor and thought, "I want to designate a day to my dad, William Jackson Smart, too!" You see, Sonora's father was a Civil War Veteran and a single parent who raised six children! Sonora recognized his contributions and wanted him to be celebrated as well as all fathers. So, June 19, 1910, at the YMCA in Spokane, Washington Father's Day was founded. How special is that?
The truth is though, Father's Day was not official until 1972 when President Richard Nixon signed it into law and made it an official holiday. Now Father's Day is celebrated every third Sunday in June and fathers get the day off and are celebrated and loved on all over the nation. This Father's Day I want to do just that and I am asking my boys and Trey to do the same. I have asked each boy what is the best memory or piece of advice their father has given them and I have to say I love their answers and I think you will too.
Let's start with the youngest Berry Boy! Graeme! When I asked Graeme what Trey has taught him he sat there for about two minutes which I really loved. It showed me he was putting serious thought into his answer and boy did he! He looked up at me and replied, "Dad has taught me how to cast a fishing rod REALLY good Mom! I am really good at fishing now because of that!" I giggled on the inside and said, "That is so special Graeme!" He nodded. I then asked him if there was anything he would like to say to his dad. He again sat there for a moment with the serious thought he gave me before and looked up at me and said, "Yes, I would like to tell Dad he is the BEST DAD and thank you for always fishing with me and teaching me how to play Monopoly. I would also like to tell him I love him all the way to Booger City!" So there you have Trey, your son loves you all the way to Booger City! I know you are so proud! Ha!
The boy NEVER quits!
I then had to text the other two as John Paul is on a trip with a friend and Will is on his mission trip. I asked them both the same question. Will was the first to reply and his favorite piece of advice from Trey is: "Berry's never quit." This advice dates all the way back to their preschool days when we would take the boys to school. Trey always said and still does by the way, "Berry's never what?" And the boys would and still do reply with a resounding, "QUIT!" I have to say I really do attribute this daily dose of never quit from their Dad to all of their success. We are so blessed by their can do attitudes and their work ethics. Both big boys that is. Graeme remains to be seen, but I pray daily he follows right along in their footsteps.Point is, I believe in my heart of hearts it is due to the tiny pep talk each morning Trey has given them and I so treasure that and all those memories and moments of "Berry's never quit."
Next I got my sweet JP's response and wow is all I can say! JP literally wrote back to my text the following: "Food is a necessity for life, but it consistently acts as a home and a place to talk, relax, and be together with your family. Going to get dinner or lunch with my dad, specifically at S&D Oyster Company, gave me something little but something I will never forget and something I will be eternally grateful for. I learned some of the most valuable life lessons and so much more more and it was so nice just to talk for an hour or two with my Dad." Oh my I love this kid! And I love that he appreciates these special simple moments with his Dad.
Family, food, and good times! Nourishment for the body and for the soul!
I asked Trey the same questions as I really wanted to see if some of this that the boys had to say about their father stemmed from the way Trey was raised and it is a resounding YES! Trey's best advice from his father is the following:
Forgive-that my friends is my favorite!
Keep your knees together-I will save this explanation for a future post! And trust me you will not want to miss it!
He said his father always told him and still does by the way how much he loves him and how proud he is and was of him-even when he screwed up!
And last but not least-Never quit! He said he learned the art of persistence from his dad! And there it is....the roll over came from my father in law! Thank you Grubba! It all really started with you and now my husband is carrying the tradition and my hopes and prayers are that my kids will too!
I kid you not....my father is LITERALLY preaching about the law of radiation and attraction in this photo!
When I think about these questions for my own father I can tell you the best advice my father ever gave me is very simple and it is kind of the meaning behind my blog when I really think about it. My father always told me, "Amy, life is all about the law of radiation and attraction! What you radiate you will get back." My dream and what I want to be remembered for is my love for all and that people see me radiate love. I learned this from my father. My first knight and shining armor, my first love, my first hero. My dad gave me my roots and my wings so I could fly and taught me to reach for the stars and follow my dreams and to do it with love. Thank you Dad! I love you so and I am so proud of the man you are and so proud to call you My Dad!
So this father's day if you are lucky enough to still have your Dad on this earth, take a moment, reflect on what is the best advice you have gotten from him, and thank him. Tell him what he has taught you and make sure to let him know you love him. After all we are all worthy of love!
Happy Father's Day Trey, Dad, Grubba, Chuck, Paul, Ralph, Tom, and all the Father's of this world!
XO,
Amy
Hello, World!
This is a great book to get for any parent! I am doing it with my dad and I so wish I had it when my mom was alive!
Amazon Summer Essentials!
What are you taking to the pool or beach? I have some ideas for you. Take a look!
Summer is in full swing in the Berry household. We are swimming, attending Vacation Bible School, Will is going on his Costa Rica mission trip Saturday, and we have been hitting the lake! So all is good in the world for this moment in time. That is subject to change as life tends to do that, but for the moment everyone is happy and doing fun things!
With all these fun things happening you know I have been hot on Amazon! I mean every time I turn around someone is saying, "Mom, I need (fill in the blanks!)". So I thought I would share with you what this mom has stocked up on for tons of summer fun! Maybe you could use it too! If so just click on the picture and Amazon will have it to you in 2 days tops! I love that!
I was sooooo excited to get this! I love Rachel I mean like serious girl crush and if she is cooking it I am going to try it! I hope to share some with you on my blog, but why don't you take a look. I promise the chic is real and I just know in my heart of hearts her cookbook has got to be a winner too!
HOLY COW! The price on these bad boys is AMAZING AND they PASS the see through test with flying colors! I am so excited about this purchase as is my husband! They are like $80 less than I spend now on tights! No lie! This one is one of my proudest finds! For real!
Yes, I am that girl! I hate technology, I know this does not make sense! So I still do my calendar by hand. I don't know why I cannot get with the times. I guess I just like my handwriting!
Lip cancer is no joke so every summer I stock up on these bad boys and fill each boy's backpacks and my swim bags. You can never have enough of this stuff and I love it because it does not sting and it taste so yummy. Each boy has their own flavor faves too so everyone is happy!
We are a Sun Bum family. It does not sting, it is not pasty, and it smells delicious. Sunscreen is the key here though people! Skin cancer is no fun and is definitely not pretty!
I have to wear my make up! Probably one of my biggest musts! So got to have this stuff on hand daily for pool time!
How fun is this towel! I got a pink donut for me! So fun, so big, and so cute!
My favorite lip balm for the lake or pool. Such a pretty color too!
Everyone needs a good pair of shades for the pool and I personally LOVE my Tom Fords! Hollywood style!
How cute is this beach bag?! It will hold your towel, sunscreen, lipgloss, shades, and then some!
Because who does not need a jelly fish float right?
This is my second pair of BareTraps, both from Amazon, and both amazing! I cannot wear flip flops anymore because of my ankles, I do, but only if it is for a short period of time or to make the outfit! Ha! But I have found some cute sandals I love and I swear by this brand now! Very comfy and actually cute. I get all kinds of compliments!
I love this hat! You can pack it in your suitcase or in your pool bag and it will not get messed up! It is bendable and foldable and oh so adorable! Perfect hat for the pool or beach!
So that my friends is what I have been ordering as of late from my dear ole pal Amazon! See something you like, just click the link. It is that easy!
Happy Shopping!
XO,
Amy
Hello, World!
One thing I forgot to mention was my cover up! How cute are these by Billabong? And Yes! They are ligit! I just got mine in the mail yesterday and I love it! Click the link if you are in the market for an adorable cover up!
Easy, Flexible, Crock Pot Tacos
Need an easy, flexible, taco recipe the entire family will love? Read on my friend. I have it!
If your house is anything like mine in the summer you NEVER know who is going to be home for dinner and who is not, or even better who is going to bring over a friend or four! My kids do that and I am not complaining by any means, but I am having to get creative with meals. I need them to be simple, quick, and really good. I mean I want the boys friends to want to come back! I love that our house is a grub hub for them. Do you want to know why? Because what happens when you eat? You talk! It is such a beautiful thing-especially when you have teenagers!
Graeme was VERY happy with this recipe!
So Tuesday Trey was flying and I knew I would have Graeme for sure, but had no idea about the others. Graeme TOTALLY digs taco Tuesday so I knew I had to do something or we would be going to Taco Bell. I decided to get creative and try something that I could make a lot of and it would keep all week. I have to say it turned out pretty darn good. I would love if you gave it a try and let me know your thoughts. Even if it is bad, I love hearing from you!
Summer Tacos/taco bowls
INGREDIENTS:
2-3 tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil will work too
1 chopped onion
3-4 tablespoons crushed garlic in the jar or 2-3 cloves garlic minced
1 lb ground beef
1 can enchilada sauce
1 can black beans
1 can rotel with lime juice
Cooked rice
flour tortillas and hard taco shells
avocado
romaine lettuce
cilantro
sour cream
shredded cheese
jalapeno
PREP:
For this recipe I used a crock pot and let it marinate all day in the crock pot. So stinking good!
In a pan heat your oil on medium heat and add your onion and garlic. Cook for about 5 minutes.
Add your ground beef and brown it.
Pour your meat mixture into your crock pot and add your enchilada sauce, beans, and rotel. Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours.
About 15 minutes before time to eat, cook your rice.
When you are ready to eat EVERYONE has options. You can do soft tacos, hard tacos, or taco bowls for those of us trying to be a little more health conscious. Whatever your choice add your meat mixture and garnish your taco or bowl your way. If you do a bowl start with the rice and then add your meat and top.
That is it! Super Easy! Super Good! Super flexible for everyone in your family! My kind of meal!
Bon Apetit!
XO,
Amy
Hello, World!
Have you seen the new fire cube from Amazon! Check it out! Pretty cool stuff!
The Gift of Time
Time is a gift that is free and priceless and it might be the greatest gift you ever give a person.
This past Friday, Trey and I loaded up two cars with 7 boys and 1 girl and headed out to the lake and I have to say I was a nervous wreck for a number of reasons. I have a tendency to worry as a mom as it is, but add in 5 extra kids who are not mine and I really worry. I worry so much that Thursday night as I laid in bed I literally had to talk myself off of the, "what if" cliff. "What if one gets hurt tubing?" "What if one falls out of the bunk and breaks an arm?" "What if one gets bit by a snake?" "What if one drowns?" I am not kidding when I say I had to talk myself off the cliff because the more I worried, the worst the "what if's" became. Have you ever done this?
Finally I started to relax my breathing and really concentrate on it and I got smart and started talking to God. That my friends always helps and a funny thing happens, you go to sleep and you wake up in the morning refreshed and ready to go do whatever it was that was trying to keep you up. Only now you put it in God's hands and have a little faith. So we loaded up and headed out and I focused on these amazing kids and having a wonderful weekend where these kids could be just that, kids!
I honestly did not know what to expect, 6 teenagers and 2 seven year old boys, but we honestly had a great time. We went tubing, fishing, boating, swimming, played corn hole, frisbee, and ate whatever we wanted. I had the opportunity to talk with a few of the kids alone and it was awesome. Awesome to know that they would not only talk, but really open up to what they are going through as teenagers these days. I have to tell ya, it does not sound easy. They are so connected with each other, yet so disconnected and the funny thing is they know it, but they don't know what to do about it. They want to be more connected, but technology keeps pulling them from each other, telling them do this and you will be "in" or "one of the cool kids". Kind of sad really. When I asked one of the guys if he was having fun his immediate reply was, "Yes, I am so relaxed!" I thought to myself how sad that a kid has to feel like an adult now and get away to relax. It hit me though, it was not that he was away, it was that they were not attached to their phones. They were enjoying each other right there. The only thing the phones were being used for was music. It was a beautiful relaxing thing.
Later on that day, Will, my oldest son, asked me to go take some pictures in the fields with him. He has really gotten into photography and wanted to find the perfect spot for the golden hour to take pictures with his buddies. The golden hour in case any of you are wondering is at 7:30 pm at Possum Kingdom Lake. Any how, we were in this field and he was snapping pictures of me getting the camera ready. I was playing around "pretending" I was modeling and he looked into the camera lens and with the most sincere expression said, "I love you." RIGHT THERE AT THAT MOMENT I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, there was NOTHING more important than what I was doing. Right there, Right then, spending time with my beautiful boy, my family, and their friends. I was given an opportunity to love my boy, love his passion for photography, love my family, and love all their friends, and I took that moment and did not worry about any thing else! Boy am I glad. That is moment that I will cherish FOREVER!
Whoever wrote the following quote was spot on, "The greatest gift you can give someone is your time. Because when you give your time, you are giving a portion of your life that you will never get back."
Time is the gift you will never get back and time is the gift you can never take back. What are you doing in your life to ensure that you have the beautiful gift of time with those you love? When was the last time you hugged someone you loved so much you did not want to let go? Or spent time with your kids-even though you were so exhausted all you wanted to do was veg on the couch? When was the last time you went on a date with your spouse or sent someone you love a note or flowers? How often do you put your phone down and really listen to your kids, your friend in need, or your spouse?
One day your life will flash before your eyes, make sure you spent your time with those who matter to you most. Because when this life is over none of the other "stuff" will matter. What will matter is those that we leave behind have the memories of time well spent and knowing they were loved. I for one am going to try harder to spend more quality time with my family and friends. I want them to know they are loved and they are worthy!
Until next time!
XO,
Amy
Hello, World!
Father's day is just around the corner. Why don't you give the gift of time no pun intended! This new Fitbit is waterproof and is awesome! I love mine!
Why Worthy Heart
I have been asked a lot lately as to why I started this journey into blogging. Today I will try to answer that question.
It has been almost a year since I started my writing journey, 10 months to be exact, and I have to say I have thoroughly loved every minute of it. I really did not know what to expect, but I can assure you I did not expect the joy and healing writing has brought me.
Oddly enough when I started this process I started it as a way to cope. My mom had died. My sister and I, with the help of our younger brother take care of our father who has mild dementia and I have a family. Three boys and a husband who is a pilot for a living- so gone quite often. Seemed reasonable enough to add more to my plate and start a blog with the tens of thousands of other new bloggers and tens of thousands of established bloggers in the world! Right! Not so much, but I went for it. Mainly because my mom had encouraged me to write and so had my cousin Sue in New Jersey. Not even sure if she remembers that, but she did and it stuck with me and I went for it. I figured what the heck did I have to lose! Nothing really and I had no idea how much I would gain! Sue if you are reading this, "Thank you!"
Cousin Sue, Dad, and Cousin Peg to the right......
Because of my beautiful mom and my cousins inspiration Worthy Heart was born. Some of you have asked why Worthy Heart? When I was choosing a name I really wanted something with the word cope in it. Simply because that is what I was doing at the time. Coping. However the name I came up with was not a good fit. "Commit to Cope". I was smart enough to google similar things just to see what would come up and honest to God all kinds of stuff on suicide came up. Swear! Try it. Promise that is what you will find too. I scratched my head and thought, "that is not gonna work!" and I started the process of looking at words I loved and playing around with meanings until I realized what it was I wanted to convey. I wanted to convey love and that everybody is worthy of it. EVERYBODY! Pretty people, fat people, rich people, poor people, sick people, old people, talented people, boring people, skinny people, homeless people, black people, white people, yellow people, short people, people without limbs, people in wheelchairs, addicts, gays, blondes, brunettes, athletes, non athletes, ... ALL people. All people are worthy of love. You are worthy of love and you are loved. You are loved by God!
That my friends is the why and how of Worthy Heart and boy am I so thankful! So if you are ever doubting your worth remember this: "You are not worthless. God does not make worthless things! You are worthy because God Says so and you are good enough because God made you." Always remember this and know you are worthy and you are enough.
Until next time...
XO,
Amy
Hello, World!
Always remember....You are worthy!
10 Plus One Unique Gift Ideas for Dad!
Looking for a unique gift idea for Dad? Look no further! I have some fun, neat ideas.
Amazon mom is back! Well, she never really left as Amazon is at my house on a daily basis! No lie! However, I decided yall really only need to see my cool Amazon finds once or twice a month. The same stuff over and over can and did get boring. To me at least......
Today that is not the case! I have some cool finds that will get Dad's Day taken care of in one quick click of a button! Or two if you are feeling really generous! I have to tell you, I took some time researching different ideas and I really do believe I have found something for almost anyone. But, if you have a really cool find, please share! I am always open to new and other suggestions! And hey, that is another beautiful thing about Amazon. Free returns on most items! I love that!
Trey has some back issues due to a crash a while back so he is trying out swimming for his workouts as of late and is finding that he really enjoys it. My friend Karen told me about an item similar to these and I immediately jumped on it. I think he will be very pleased and very surprised. If you have a swimmer in your life, try these bad boys out, I bet they make swimming all the more fun!
For all the golfers in your life this jacket is so cool and weather resistant! Bonus!
Because what Golfer doesn't need more golf balls?
So what do you get for the dad who does not need anything but loves his scotch like my dad? Golf ball chillers! Because....why not?
While researching ideas for Trey I came across this cool contraption! If your hubby or dad have any neck or back issues this might be the gift of relief.
Trey has crazy hours being a pilot, like really crazy. Some days he reports at 3:30 am and others at 1:30 pm so needless to say his sleep habits are awful. Thinking about one of these bad boys for him. Anyone have any experience with it?
If your husband or father drive a lot and need to use navigation this device is super cool! I need one!
Have someone in your life that could use help trouble shooting car issues? This little gadget will save the day!
If he hunts or loves to be outdoors than he definitely needs this bad boy!
Because everyone should have something like this in the car. Especially your loved one!
One last idea because we could all use a little laughter in our lives!
Hope I have inspired you and you have found the perfect gift for the dads in your life! Until next time....
xo,
Amy
Delicious Mexican Street Corn
Have a pool party? Need a quick, easy, delicious dish? Click the link! It is a crowd pleaser!
Summertime, summertime! Oh how I love summertime!
One reason I love summertime is all the pool parties and gatherings! Summer is such a great time to slow down and spend time with those who matter most. You catch up and you really enjoy each other. You are not worried about what practice you have to get to, if there is a test your kid should be studying for, or thinking about how your alarm will be going off at 5:45 am so you really should scoot! You just enjoy your time and you relax a little more than usual.
Next time you have a recipe with onion or jalapenos to chop, try my trick of swim goggles! Works like a charm!
What is one big thing you do when you get together with your friends and family? Eat! Nothing brings people together like good food! I am always playing around with new recipes and watching what people like to eat so I can perfect it at the next gathering. To me it is a way of giving something to my friends and family when I see them really enjoying something I have made. Honestly, it is a gift I get back when that happens. It brings me so much joy when someone says, "Oh my gosh, that was delish! I need that recipe!"
This past weekend we had our annual summer party at our Uncle Peter's and I made a mexican street corn dish that I got from my neighbor Monica. She had never made it either so I played around with it, based on my likes and dislikes, and I have to say I am very happy with the outcome. Everyone loved it and I promise you will want to have it at your next gathering! It was that good! It is pretty easy to make too so that is a bonus! Next summer gathering you have try it. Let me know how they like it!
Monica's and Amy's Mexican Street Corn
Ingredients:
5 ears of fresh corn (I bet you could use frozen here and you would need 4 cups)
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 red bell pepper
1/2 red onion chopped
1/2 cup fresh cilantro chopped
6 green onions chopped
1 jalapeno pepper diced (I took the seeds from the pepper to have less heat)
1.5 avocados chopped
Juice from 2 limes
1/2 tsp cumin ground
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup feta cheese
PREP:
The corn can be done a number of ways. For this particular time I grilled the corn until it charred a bit. I then cut it from the cob and put in a large bowl and tossed with with the butter. Another option is to put butter in a skillet and melt it on high heat then place corn cut from the cob or take frozen corn (you do not have to thaw) and put in hot butter and cook until you see the corn charring. If fresh 5-7 minutes if frozen could take up to 10 minutes. Whatever way you choose, once corn is charred put in a large bowl to cool for a few minutes.Once corn is cool add the rest of the ingredients and stir. You can add more lime juice, salt, and pepper as you desire. Place in refrigerator until ready to serve.
If desired garnish with cilantro and more cheese or if you are like my man/child more avocado! So easy and so good! Even the kids loved it!
Happy Summer!
Bon Apetit!
XO,
Amy