Slushy Sangria on Tuesdays Table

While I was out driving  around today doing errands and listening to my new favorite radio station, NASH fm, my new favorite artist, Blake Shelton, came on with his song Sangria.  It gave me a hankering for some.

Why not make it a slushy version and really bring on summer?

Blackberry Sangria Slushy

Ingredients:

2 cups frozen blackberries

2 cups white wine (slightly sweet)
2 white nectarines, diced and frozen

Juice of 1 lemon

1 tbsp. sugar

Optional: ½ cup frozen strawberries

Optional: Ice cubes

Directions:

Blend all ingredients until mixture is smooth and  creamy.

Add ice cubes, if desired, and blend until you reach your desired consistency.
Serve immediately or keep in the freezer for an hour or so, until ready to serve.

Salud,

Janie

Versatility and Me

Thank you so much to ErikaKind for nominating me for The Versatile Blogger Award!! It’s such an honor to be thought of by you as worthy of this award!

There are, of course, rules to go with this award. I will get into that later.

First, an explanation. I am by no means a scientist although I am always interested in the science behind whatever it is I am thinking about. The “whys” and “how comes” have become nagging friends of mine, always demanding explanations.  However, I am one to love a good experiment (even if it is subconscious).

That is probably why I love to cook. I have allowed myself to not be restrained by recipes and really just use them as a guide. Taking a bunch of ingredients and mixing them together is creative. The result for me is just icing in the cake. It’s the process I really enjoy.

Same with clothes.  A fashionista I am not but I am so entertained walking through a mall or a store and eyeing the fabrics and patterns.  It’s all eye candy. (My husband wishes I didn’t have such a sweet tooth)!

Writing is obviously also creative.  One does not need to write well to still get the thrill of stringing words together and making a point. When it becomes interactive you know your words have made an impact.  That’s the most phenomenal feeling of all.

The truth is we are all versatile. Everyone has various interests and/or hobbies.  People are educated in multiple doctrines. Some of us are more expert at one thing or another and have chosen to direct their energies into focusing on that particular subject. I do not have the attention span for that!😬

Bouncing from one idea/activity to the other is much more my speed. One day cooking, another writing, reading, shopping, gardening, I never know what I’ll be inspired to blog about.

When I was young I always heard ” do something you love”.  I could never pick.  I love too many things. I decided I love my family best of all and since I was blessed with the opportunity to be a stay at home mom I chose that. I have been blessed again to be writing a blog that includes all of my passions. To be considered a Versatile Blogger means to me that I have been recognized for being myself.

That is awesome!

So again, thank you Erika Kind for such an awesome award.

THE RULES FOR THE NOMINEES:

1.Show the award on your Blog.  Done.

2.Tell something about yourself stating a) your country of origin b) Likes & Dislikes c)School where you studied.    I am from the United States, specifically New York.  I like chocolate and going to the movies. I studied at a private all girls university in Manhattan.

3. Thank and acknowledge the person who nominated you. Thanks, Erika.

4. Share some facts of life leading to your blogging or what made you blog? I blog, therefore I am. It helps to keep me real.

5. In your opinion, is blogging worth your time spent? Explain or expand your answer. Blogging is definitely worth my time or I wouldn’t be doing it! It not only gives my readers a chance to know me, it helps me know myself.

6. Nominate fellow deserving bloggers.

I nominate the following bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award:

hotchocolateandcream

mydailycitylife

7. Link your nominees and let them know. Done.

Thanks for reading,

Janie

The Power of the Shower

Theres nothing I like better than a hot, long, steamy shower. A good shower heals whatever ails me.   Here are some of my favorite shower must haves!!!

The Power of the Shower by noplainjanie1 featuring floral bath towels

Trina Turk LA plush bath towel
bedbathandbeyond.com

Floral bath towel
kohls.com

Hamam pink robe
amara.com

Philosophy bubble bath
macys.com

Body cleanser
target.com

Organix hair care
$20 – nelly.com

Teak Corner Bench
grandinroad.com

Have a great weekend!!!

Janie

⚡️Encouraging Thunder Award⚡️

Thank you so much to A Mommas View for bestowing the Encouraging Thunder Award to me!

It sounds so powerful and fierce! Two attributes I’m not normally associated with. I might be more like an encouraging rainstorm, sending out my slow but steady drips of prose hoping to resonate with someone.

It makes me feel both humble and a bit more capable.  A Mommas View knows what she talking about, so thanks again for encouraging me!!!

I got started blogging for a number of reasons.  Most of them are selfish.

1. I wanted  a distraction from some personal issues going on at the time.

2. I wanted to use it as a chronicle of my thoughts to help me remember myself when I no longer can.

3. I hoped to entertain other’s by entertaining myself.

4. I wanted to prove to myself that I could.

5. I was going in a diet and giving up chocolate so I needed something else to do beside eat!

Rules for this award:

Post it on your blog
Grant other bloggers the award

What you cannot do:

Abuse or misuse the logo.
Claim that it is your own handmade logo.
What you should do after receiving the Encouraging Thunder Award:

Enjoy the award!
Give thanks to your nominator
Mention your purpose in blogging

I would like to nominate the following blogs who give inspiration and encouragement to the rest of us:

So Bad Ass

Life of Janine

Countlesswonders

Simply Grateful Housewife

Finding My Inner Zen

Thank you to everyone who continues to read and find me.  You are my encouragement!

Janie

IPO or Bust!?!?

This is what I am contemplating. The initial public offering of my blog noplainjanie.

  Let  me explain. Aside from my immediate family and 192 new friends and followers that have found me on the Internet no one knows I have been writing a blog. Not my extended family, not my closest friends not even my hair colorist.. I don’t know why I’ve been so hesitant to go public.  This is my version:   I think it’s possible I’ve been nervous about being judged, mostly unfavorably.  Is it good enough?  Is it witty? Too light, too serious, too “who does she think she is?” I have three Liebster Awards, a Creative Blogger Award and a Versatile Blogger Award. It has been amazing to be recognized and humbling too. Awards and nominations leave me striving to be better and to never coast. I initially told myself I would go public once I had 100 followers.  I figured there was safety in numbers and if 100 people thought I was worthy of following then surely my friends would be supportive. This is what it looked like when I reached that goal:   I  could  see the leap from of faith I was asking myself to take.  I didn’t jump. Instead, I renegotiated the terms.  200.  When I would reach 200 followers my self-esteem would be so high that announcing my blog would be easy.  Ha! As I write this I am at 199.  To some blogs here on WordPress that is laughable.  There are blogs who are so much younger than mine who have triple the readership.  There are some who have less. Aside from this target I set for myself I never otherwise pay too much attention to the numbers and the stats.  Now though, I am close.  Again.

I do not want to run scared, but I’m too scared to run! To take the leap or not take the leap?  That is the real question!

  Is there any way to guarantee success?  No, of course not!  That what taking a leap is all about! Those who know me, however, know that I have very rarely ever leapt anywhere! I’m way too much a control freak for that and putting this out there leaves me with no control.   One person, just one more person puts me at this precipice and this weighty decision.  Somehow I am coming to believe that I have more faith in those who I wish to share this with than in myself.  I am also coming to believe that is ok.       So true!   If not now, when?  At 300 or 500?  When will it be enough? I have been preparing for this forever.  I have been writing forever.  Maybe not writing well, perhaps not clever enough, possibly not so amusing, conceivably dull but I have been writing. Incredibly 199 people believe in noplainjanie. Oh crap, I haven’t been counting ME!  I’m at 200 if I count me and why shouldn’t I? So I respectfully ask you, my new and my old readers:   Don’t judge too harshly. For those that are new to noplainjanie start at the about page up top and then click here. Thanks for reading and following. Janie

Tuesdays Table Healthy Fish and Chips

Fabulous Flounder on Tuesdays Table with Addicting Zucchini Chips

 

Is it healthy, fast and full of flavor?   Yes, yes and yes!  You DO like fish you just didn’t know it.  A great alternative to a heavy meat meal, perfect for the warmer weather.

Ingredients

1/3 cup rolled oats and if I dint have them I just up the amount of panko
¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 ½ tablespoons chopped parsley plus extra for garnish
½ teaspoon dried oregano
4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon olive oil
Kosher salt and black pepper
4 flounder fillets (6 ounces each) or tilapia
Lemon wedges for garnish (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

Mix the ground oats with the panko breadcrumbs, garlic, parsley, oregano, lemon juice, zest, oil, and ½ teaspoon salt in a small bowl.

Place the fish filets on a baking sheet lined with parchment or foil and season them lightly with salt and pepper. Spoon equal amounts of the breadcrumb mixture onto the filets, lightly pressing it in so that it adheres to the fish.

Bake in the oven 10-12 minutes until the fish is opaque and topping is golden brown. If the topping needs to be browned further, place the fish under the broiler for a minute or two.

Garnish with chopped parsley and lemon slices. Squeeze lemon on top just before eating.

Slice zucchini very thin and place on baking pan.  Drizzle olive oil, add  garlic powder,pepper, sea salt, and onion powder and bake for 25-35 minutes at 375*  or until crispy.

 

Fish and chips never tasted so good to your heart❤️

Beam Me Up

Nice sentiment. I hope you don’t have to be a Star Wars fan to reap the karma. I was never one for science fiction although when I was young I liked to watch Captain Kirk and Spock do their thing.  I liked the whole “beam me up” idea. I still do. How awesome would that be?!?! Imagine the possibilities!!

In an embarrassing situation? Get beamed away!

Someone annoying you? Beam away, or better yet, beam them away!

It’s endless really. So many possibilities for use.  There have been countless times I have wished to be anywhere than where I am.

The invisibility cloak is also worthwhile, don’t get me wrong, but they have two very different uses.  Hard to tell which one is more useful.

Being the proverbial fly on the wall has its own distinct advantages.  There are situations where one would love to know what’s going on when people think you are not around.

There are other circumstances where it’s just better not only not to know, but to not even be around.  That’s when getting beamed up would come in handy.

In either case one does not want to be present in their current presence. Happens a lot.

Need to overcome that. Being present is what it’s all about after all.  Creating a life for yourself that you WANT to be present for.

So may the fourth be with you and may you all find yourselves exactly where you want to be.

Janie

Out of My Comfort Zone

Outfits I would admire on someone else but never have the guts to wear myself!  I’ll have to work on that!!

Out of My Comfort Zone by noplainjanie1 on polyvore.com

Forever Mommy

Once you have a child you are forever a mother, forever someone’s mom.  Is it possible to be forever a mommy though?  Or in my case a ” mahmmee”.

Is there a time limit on how long your child can call you mommy? Does it become inappropriate at a certain age?

I have to be honest, I am almost fifty, my mother passed away five years ago and yet I still refer to her as mommy. It’s how I think of her.

The dictionary describes “mommy” as  “ones mother( chiefly a child’s term).”  Really?  At what age do you stop being the child of the woman who is your mother???

Is it babyish?  Immature? Silly sounding? I guess so.  I also don’t care.

I refer to myself as mommy to my kids.  They’re grown.  Old enough that they don’t call me mommy.  That’s ok. I’m not mad.

The other day I asked one child to tell the other child that mommy(me) said hi. I got called out on it.  Mommy?  Hahaha.

Yeah. Mommy! Just because I no longer put the spoon in your mouth I still feed you.  I don’t put your shirt on over your head and gently glide your arms into each sleeve, but I bought that shirt and I may have washed it last week. You drive your own car but I’m still teaching you how to get from place to place.

Teaching your children doesn’t age out.  Caring and worrying for them doesn’t expire.

Childhood goes by so fast.  Before you can even take a breath your kids are go from infancy to first grade and if you take a nap you’ll wake up and they’ll be taller  than you.

Let me say I’m your mommy. Let me hold on to the feeling of joy and wonder that I was given three such amazing gifts to mother.

What do your kids call you???

Janie

Feeling a Little Blue

I’ve been feeling a little

kind of blue!!!

Here are some of my favorite new arrivals from Michael Kors in my color of the season

The Greenwich Saffiano Satchel

Logo Plaque leather sandal

Striped Drawstring Tunic

Bradshaw Watch

Logo Padlock Leather Bracelet

Aahh, I feel so much better now!

What’s your color of happy?

Janie