My Home Town

I went to the opening of the Farmer's Market this weekend.  It was packed full of people buying veggies, organic meets and cheeses, plants, herbs, and breads.  Buying local!  It was exciting to see the Market buzzing with business.

Later, I visited some sort of fest at the Tulsa Rose Garden where people were again buying up all types of gardening goodies.  We strolled through the Rose Garden and meandered over to Woodward Park.  I forget how beautifully local Tulsa is.  It was a great day!  

If you're ever out west son and your feeling like slowing down

I'll see you around, around my hometown

I saw this posted on Facebook this morning.  Wow!  WOW!  W.O.W.!!!!!!  Powerful statement.
  

“I can be immature and reach heaven. 

I’m not sure however, that I can remain immature and see hell break apart at my feet. 

If I am steeped in habitual sin, if I remain a spiritual adolescent, 

I cannot threaten hell, not while kissing its feet or lusting after its trinkets.”

-Gary Thomas

It's been a Pat Green kind of day, y'all.  I mean, top open, music blaring, boots tapping, Riverside driving {speeding}, singing along to Pat Green's Three Days kind of day.   Yes?  YES!!!!!!

Baby's just a little bit tired of the city

Billboards and bulls&%$# got her down

Seems like you need a little hill country

A little back roads driving, little bit of the old top down

Yeah, everybody gotta get away sometime

Forget about yourself for awhile

We'll go down to El Arroyo

Have some tacos and beer

And let ourselves go

I'm ok, I'm alright, carry on.............

It's kind of unnerving when you realize you don't know yourself very well.  (Especially at my age.)  It's also kind of amazing what you can learn about yourself in a short period of time.  Even when there is no tragedy, no emergency, no breaking point.  It's interesting how you could be hiding something from yourself.  I guess I didn't even know that was possible.  I guess it's like my {very} wise friend, Alex, says, if you seek the truth, you will find it.  Amen.

"You have to laugh at yourself, because you'd cry your eyes out if you didn't."

~Emily Saliers

Candice's Must Have of the Week

Ummm, yes, please!!!!  That's just about all I have to say about that.

Let's get out of the city for awhile, ok????

Happy Friday y'all!!!  

Best Salmon EVER!

Last Saturday I set out on a Pinterest mission to cook some salmon.  Some recipes are hit and miss on Pinterest, but TRUST! this one does not disappoint!!!  And it's so easy!!!  10 minutes is the perfect amount of time, too!  You can use this method on pretty any type of thick fish if salmon isn't your thing.  Oh, and you should just ignore the monthly recipe listed above, I'll never cook my fish any other way after trying this!

The herbs, wine, and lime give the fish a fabulous flavor, while the foil tray makes clean up easy and keeps the grill clean!  If you cannot grill, bake the salmon in a very hot oven.  (15 minutes at 475 degrees.)

Ingredients Needed:

• Vegetable Spray
• 1.5 pounds of boneless salmon filet, about 1 inch thick
• 1/2 lime
• 2 TBS of white wine
• 1 Tsp butter (can sub mayo)
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp lemon pepper
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp dried basil
• 1/2 tsp dill weed
• 1/4 tsp paprika

Preparation:

Preheat grill to high heat.  Make a tray out of doubled-length of heavy duty foil large enough for the filet, by folding a long piece in half and folding up all four sides.  Spray the entire inside of the foil tray liberally with cooking spray.  Place the foil tray on a platter or metal tray to transport to the grill.  

Place the salmon in the foil skin-side down (or boned-side up if it is skinned).  

Squeeze lime juice over the salmon and sprinkle with white wine.  

Spread top of salmon with the butter.

In a small bowl, mix together the herbs, except for paprika.  Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the top of the salmon, then top with the sweet paprika.  

Place baking baking pan with foil tray on hot grill.  Transder the foil tray to the hot grill.  Cook in a hot uncovered grill for 10 minutes per inch of thickness of the filet.  Do not overcook or it will be dry.  Turning is not necessary.  Salmon is done when it turns a light pink color throughout and feels firm when pressed gently with the back of a fork.  Use a spatula to life up the salmon away from the skin to serve.  Garnish with lime slices, if desired.  

This is what mine looked like afterward.....it tasted like heaven!  (Apologies for the lousy photo, I could hardly contain myself from digging in!)

My Main Man

My main squeeze is short.  He still lives with his parents.  And doesn't own a truck, or a car for that matter.

But he tells me he loves all the time, hugs me at all the right moments, wrestles with me, and kisses me without abandon.

He seeks me out to spend time together.  He lights up when I enter a room.  He sulks when I speak of moving or traveling without him.

And, I have to admit, he is super cute, has the dang cutest toushie ever, looks adorable in boots, and is a very  good dresser.

Who cares if he is three?!?!?!  He's about as mature of most of the people {guys} I meet these days anyway.  And quite frankly, he can be a lot more fun!!!  And reliable.  And doesn't disappoint me.  And still loves me when I disappoint him or act like a total cuckoo.

Love him to the moon and back.  And back again.  A bazillion times.

 

 

 

 

How Candice Got her Curl Back

I cut my hair recently.  It was an awkward afternoon at the salon that day.  A battle of sorts.  Me wanting a cut (apparently was not for my hair/face combo), my stylist knowing better.  More about this in a minute.....

I'm not going to lie, the past three years have NOT been the best years of my life.  Yes, I've had some truly great experiences (travel to amazing places, a new home, a nephew!, etc.), but there have definitely been some experiences I am certain have left me broken.  And it has left me in a slump.  Physically, mentally, spiritually.  

But recently..........Physically, I've wanted better.  Spiritually, I've yearned and grown, and continue to yearn and grow.  Mentally, well, a couple of months ago, I just decided I was ready to heal and move on.  So, in true Candice form, I let it marinate and contemplated what that would mean, how that would look, how that would FEEL.  I'm not going to lie, holding onto some of the hurt has kept me company, kept me distanced, kept me safe.  So, slowly, I set about a plan.  

• I livened up my living space - my comfort zone, my happy place.  New bathroom.  New bedroom.  New living room.  
• I went shopping for new clothes.  Clothes that were smart and outfit-ty.  
• I deservingly spoiled myself at the spa. 
• I got back on that danged proverbial dating horse.
• I chopped that hair right off.  

It brought back a curl I haven't seen in years.  The dead was gone.  The weight was gone.  That icky frizz was curl!  It was bouncy and luscious.  The spunk and unruliness of my youth had made a comeback.  My sass was back.  

It's amazing how loss of hair (when you want it) can be so freeing, so basic, so figurative.  So exactly what you needed.  

A friend posted this on Facebook this morning and it's been rummaging around in my mind, so I thought I would share. 

‎"I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. 

I pray because the need flows out of me all the time- waking and sleeping. 

It doesn't change God- it changes me." ~ C.S. Lewis

The Slightest Whisper

So, I'm kind of a kooky person.  And I'm ok with that.  Mostly, because I'm able to contain most of it somewhere inside the cerebral cortex behind my gargantuan forehead.  Anyway, when I am in the midst of a particularly cuckoo moment, which is typically generated by a situation that has gotten out of {my} control, it's literally like a marching band march off of noise, chaos, and dissonance inside my brain.

Recently, I was having one of those said moments.  And to add to the chaos I was in a slight fury, rocking the iTunes loudly in my earphones, AND mowing the lawn.  But smack dab in the midst of all that, the smallest voice whispers to me.  And it pierces my heart, my ears, my stomach. In that brief moment the dissonance stops.   Those five words were issued for my ears only.  A private moment.  A calm moment.  Peace.  Truth.  Love.

Father loves me every single broken part of me.  Grace washes over me.  Again.  

Blog has been updated....

So, when I blog from home, I can't upload cool pictures.  Which makes my blog seem boring and blah.  And we can't have that.  So today, I finally uploaded all the drafts with pics and added some new ones as well.....you're welcome.  LOL!!! 

Resolutions....

For the New Year, I posted some contemplations on my new year's resolutions.  I never went back and fleshed those out.  However, as I re-read the list I decided I liked it as-is.
The list consisted of the following improvements.

The things I've done better with:

• More Jesus, less world - I've done much better with setting time aside for this. Still a work in progress.  Guess it always will be.  
• More fruit and veggies, less cookies - YES!!!!  It doesn't hurt that it's coming into produce season, but I'll take the credit!!  ;-)
• More creation, less pinning - Oh yah! I've enjoyed creating again in the kitchen.  In fact, I made a salmon Saturday night that was ultimate perfection!!!  
• More organic, less packaged - Well, I've stopped by packaged crap. Does that count?

The things I need help with:

• More praying, less gossiping - I've made good strides with the praying, not so much with the gossiping.  
• More water, less tea (this hurts me real bad) - Well, there's just not much to say about this.  Total fail!  
• More movement, less Kardashians - I'm working on it; it felt good this weekend to be out moving in the yard and garden.  Thankful for a puppy who needs to be worked out as much as I do.  
• More wagging, less barking - Definitely can do the wagging, need help with the barking still.  
• More reading, less "must see" - Love that summer is coming.....it's my reading summit.  
• More giving, less spending - This is a weird one. I've definitely given unselfishly lately. I think it may have been cancelled out by some selfish spending I've done as well.  :-/
• More intent, less haphazard - I struggle.  Every day.  

We Rode In Truck Lyrics

Someone recently sent me a link to this song.  Sometimes I forget how much I love making a connection over music.  Especially, a song that can physically take you back in time, or has lyrics that describe something about YOU {me} or a time or a dream in your life with the perfect wording.  This song was such an encounter.  A flashback for sure.  A pleasant surprise.  Love when someone reminds you of something stored away for safe keeping.....

Down where I was born, was Heaven on Earth.
Where Flint River washes that Red Georgia dirt.
The sun sets slow, And the stars shine bright.
We raised cotton, corn, A little cane and kids.
You either lived on a farm Or wish you did.
Jesus always walked close by our side.
Where I grew up, We rode in trucks.

There's a lot about life You can learned on a bus.
How to lie, how to fight, How to kiss, how to cuss.
The closer we sat to the back, The smarter we got.
We were poor, we were ugly, We were all best friends.
Wide-eyed, baptized, And still wantin' to sin.
Thank God, We get more than just one shot.
Where I grew up, We rode in trucks.

That's us Haulin' hay in the field with the radio on.

And that's us Headin' straight into town When the work was done.  

In my mind I can still see us now, Ridin' down Buck Island Road.
It wasn't that long ago.

We thought tobacco and beer in a can, Was all it would take
To be like our ol' man. But I saw how it made my momma cry.
It was huntin' and fishin' And football games.
Then it was girls, And everything changed In our lives.
Fallin' in and outta love, We rode in trucks.

That's us with our tailgates down in the parkin' lot
That's us with mud on our tires when it rained a lot.
In my mind I can still see us now, ridin' down Buck Island Road.
It wasn't that long ago.  It's part of my soul,  yeah.

Shake it Off

Because I like love the songs of the month......and because I like the lyrics.....and because I especially liked when Katherine McPhee covered it on Smash!!!!

Regrets collect like old friends
Here to relive your darkest moments
I can see no way, I can see no way
And all of the ghouls come out to play
And every demon wants his pound of flesh
But I like to keep some things to myself
I like to keep my issues drawn
It's always darkest before the dawn

And I've been a fool and I've been blind
I can never leave the past behind
I can see no way, I can see no way
I'm always dragging that horse around
And our love is pastured such a mournful sound
Tonight I'm gonna bury that horse in the ground
So I like to keep my issues drawn
But it's always darkest before the dawn

I am done with my graceless heart
So tonight I'm gonna cut it out and then restart
Cause I like to keep my issues drawn
It's always darkest before the dawn

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh woaaah
Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh woaaah
And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back
So shake him off, oh woah
And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back so shake him off

And given half the chance would I take any of it back
It's a fine romance but its left me so undone
It's always darkest before the dawn

And I'm damned if I do and I'm damned if I don't
So here's to drinks in the dark at the end of my road
And I'm ready to suffer and I'm ready to hope
It's a shot in the dark and right at my throat
Cause looking for heaven, found the devil in me
Looking for heaven, found the devil in me
Well what the hell I'm gonna let it happen to me

Slight Pinterest Addiction

So, I am slightly addicted to Pinterest.  Only slightly.  Ok, it's nearing full blown, but I think I have it under control.  And by this I mean, I don't get on it every day.

I do actually do some of the things I see on Pinterest.  Especially the cooking stuff.  And I swear if I could afford even one thing off of Polyvore I would be stylish.  Or if I could fit into any of it.  Promise.  Cross my heart, hope to die.  And heaven help me if I had time......I would do even more.  But unfortunately, I have a limited budget, am bigger than a size 6, and busy myself with stupid things like reality TV.

I did have some time this past week (THANK. YOU. spring break) and I took to redecorating my bedroom.  Keeping Pinterest in mind, this is what I created.  I took the recent matching of yellow and grey and applied it to my already buttercream painted bedroom.  I accented it with some teal-ish colored accent pillows. I'm still on the look out for a complimentary blanket and/or some accessories in the same color.  I also added the grey night stand from IKEA that I purchased a couple months ago, although, at the time, I didn't really know what to do with it, I knew I was in love with the grey.  Oh, I also got the quilt at IKEA as well.  I'm telling ya, I'm in love with gray right now. Plus the quilt is perfect for the warmer weather that is headed my way.  What do you think?

P.S. As soon as I remember to take my drill home from the office, I'll get the bathroom remodel pictures up, too!

What??? I'm not easy going???

I have always coined myself as an easy going person.  Thinking I have always been a go with the flow kind of gal.  I was a Sunday morning kind of easy.  Right?!?!?!?!  It wasn't until a couple weeks ago as I was reading a description of myself that I had posted online, that my friend scuffed a bit and gave me that "oh really?!?!" look.

I, of course, was slightly indignant to the thought I was, in fact, not an easy going person.  And even more so, when they insinuated a slight control freak tendency.  Whatevs....I mean, come on, who is more easy going that this guy?  There was also talk of how I may have confused easy going with adaptable.  But, of course, the thoughts already penetrated my thought pattern.  The thoughts were prepared to marinated itself until it was ready for a good grilling {trial}.

Unfortunately, it only took a week for a situation to present itself.  Wow!  Clearly, I mean, bright. as. day. clear, I am not an easy going person.  I mean there may have been a public display of insanity, hysterical chaos in full effect.  It wasn't a pretty sight.  The fact that I was/am wound tighter than a $7 watch was hard to swallow.  

Yesterday, as I was spending an absolutely gorgeous {this is why God make Oklahoma} Sunday afternoons on my deck with said friend, I felt compelled to admit, I was, in fact, may not an easy going person.  And that, yes, perhaps, I may be utterly confused between being easy going and adaptable.   It happens.  So grateful for friends who know all about me and love me anyway.  :)

Spring Break

So it's Spring Break....and I've got Spring Fever real bad!!

It's spring fever.  That is what the name of it is.  

And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, 

but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!  ~Mark Twain

Not sure what it is about the spring......but something ALWAYS stirs inside of me.  It's a youthful energy, too.  It's stay up all night, misbehave, meet new people, buy new shoes, chop off my hair, kiss a boy kind of energy.  And I LOVE it.  :)

Happy One Year to ME!!!!

Yesterday was my one-year anniversary at work.  It has definitely been the longest and shortest year of my life.  One year.  50 work weeks.  Approximately 250 work days.

I would have never imagined what I was signing on for when I started my new job.  It's been a roller coaster of experiences.

However, I've learned a lot.  I've grown in confidence.  That's mostly due to my co-workers.  Almost daily I receive affirmation from them.  How lucky am I?  Everyday someone encourages me.  W.O.W. As I type that, I know God has certainly blessed my career.  And while there are daily reminders of malcontent persons, I know I am surrounded by people who believe in me.  And for that I am thankful.  Thankful for this 50 week carnival ride!

Road Trip

I am going to IKEA {heaven} on Saturday.  I am looking to buy some accents for the new bathroom remodel; I believe I have settled on the color scheme and the fabric I want to use for the shower curtain is at IKEA.  So what better reason to load up and drive 500 miles for a couple of yards of fabric?!?!?!

I am also in the process of a new living room set up, so I am going to contemplate a new coffee table or possibly end tables, some new lighting, and some new seating options.

I am also going to check out a night stand for my bedroom; it dawned on me the other night it is finally time to get one of those for my bedroom; three years is long enough.  

One day, I will pick an IKEA room and re-do it just like the catalog.  And it will be my happy place.  You'll want to come visit me there, I promise.  Can't wait! 

I need a phone call.

I need a phone call.  I need a big love.  I need a plane ride.  I need a sunburn.  I need a raincoat.  I'd like to hear a little guitar, I guess it's time to put the top down.

There's things I remember and things I forget. I miss you, I guess that I should.  But what would you change if you could?

These conversations are passing me by, and I don't have nothing to say.  You get what you pay for but I just had no intention of living this way.

I miss you, I guess that I should.

Happy birthday, my friend, my love.

Nothing to do, but wait....

I booked my summer vacation.  July 30, 2012.  Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

And now I have nothing to do, but wait.  198 days.  4,766 hours.  28,5976 minutes. That's a lot of time to contemplate.  Gorgeous sunrises and sunsets on the beach.  The cabanas.  The sand.  The smell of coconut sun tan lotion.  The smell of salt water.  The sun, the glorious sun.

The rest and relaxation that awaits.  The lack of a schedule.  The lack of a clock.  The sounds of the water crashing on the shore.  The sounds of children laughing and running from the waves.  The sounds of the birds over head.  The sound of the ocean breeze.

The bouts of laughter.  Time spent with friends.  The joy of new experiences.  The wonder of new sights.  The formation of new memories.  The pleasure of getting away from it all, if even for a short period of time.

Wait...Wait....Wait

Cannot wait!!!!!

Operation Bathroom Remodel Commence

So, last year I blogged about getting more creative and in tune with my inner-DIY-goddess as a part of a new years goal setting plan.  Admittedly, I spent ALOT of the past year focused on the other life goals, but I did spend some quality time becoming intimate with DIY work, albeit all of it was focused on the yard.  In fact, I believe the only inside DIY project was replacing my toilet seat lid.  :-/

It's not that I didn't think about other projects, but quite frankly, I was completely overwhelmed the last half of the year with 1) the unexpected complication of an office move, new boss, and new job, and 2) with failing at the continuation of the afore-blogged life goals.

So, in an effort to redeem myself I am concentrating on thinking about how to inspire myself to re-imbrace the "Personal Health" component of my life goals AND physically moving forth with a DIY project this month.  And by DIY, I clearly mean, design and dictate, while a contractor does most of the work.  And so, to make it official:  Operation Bathroom Remodel has officially begun today.

Woo.  Hoo.  Ok, just kidding, that is not my bathroom.  We only tore down one small piece of horrendous trim today.  But don't get me wrong, I look forward to the day I can tear down a wall with a sledge hammer.  

To be honest, I haven't even settled on the color pallet.  I simply told the contractor some of the big picture fixes I had for installation of a vanity, new trim, new floors, a new door, and a new toilet (one that when I sit, I am NOT reminded of kindergarten, and that Lindsey doesn't lean in!!  LOL!!!).   I digress.  I am having difficulty settling on a color pallet.  I am currently in love with the color gray.  But am not sure how to use it in the bathroom?

What I can't decide on is, which color(s) would best compliment my internal color pallet and gray?  I think I have found the perfect set of colors.

Why this pallet you ask?  Well, one, it does kind of scream Candice, right?  Side note:  if this doesn't scream Candice to you, you SERIOUSLY need to spend more time with me.  And two, I already have the paint that is grayish, albeit I am thinking it may be too dark for my bathroom?  Paint is such a pain to re-do, well, more frankly, to re-tape, so I am being fairly non-committal at this time.  You can see some of the other color pallets I am contemplating here.

Wish me luck; I have no idea what I am doing!  Comments, suggestions, interventions encouraged!!!

Contemplating Resolutions....

My first start at contemplating resolutions for the year have only led me to the following more...., less....

• More Jesus, less world
• More praying, less gossiping
• More fruit and veggies, less cookies
• More water, less tea (this hurts me real bad)
• More movement, less Kardashians
• More creation, less pinning
• More wagging, less barking
• More organic, less packaged
• More reading, less "must see"
• More giving, less spending
• More intent, less haphazard

You'll have to bear with me as I work these thoughts into a more cohesive, strategic plan of action.....