Socrates on the Secret of Change

This is a great quote and I've seen a few variations on its theme like , "What you resist persists," "Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change," "And like attracts like."  Mother Theresa has a philosophy that she will never be AGAINST something like war or poverty but will always be FOR positive concepts like peace and prosperity.  This quote reminds me how easy it is to pay attention to the negative but how anti-productive that activity may be at times. For example, if I am constantly talking or thinking about what I don't like or want about something, there is no room to even see what may be right about the situation. This doesn't leave any space to attract more of the positive.


 An additional misstep may be the worrying that could come with focusing on what is wrong instead of what is right.

Worry is like rocking in a rocking chair. There is plenty of activity but you are not getting anywhere!

Socrates had it right, focus on the positive for a change.  That's some age-old wisdom in my book that still holds true today. Enjoy your day.

Truth in Advertising!

So excited to turn on the TV and see a national Dairy Queen commercial.  The reason for my excitement is that my daughter is in the ad! The entertainment industry is very interesting and I can say I have enjoyed it so far. It is fast paced and the scheduling can be hectic but it is really fun and  constantly changing.

Dairy Queen made a few commercials and she may be in other ones throughout the year, but for now she is in the Blizzard commercial featuring the June Blizzard, S'mores. And as a point of interest, there really is an ice cream blizzard in the cup that doesn't fall out when it is flipped! Truth in advertising!

Simple Summer Salad

Light, filling and tasty!!

When I am looking for an easy, delicious and satisfying dinner on a hot summer evening, I always go back to the basics - A light but filling salad. Whatever lettuce I have on hand (usually a bibb or romaine) and a meat topping (my favorite is shredded rotisserie chicken) form the backbone of the meal.  Borrowing from the Cobb tradition, bacon and egg really are the secret ingredients. From there, I can add all kinds of goodies. Avocado, tomato, pine nuts, walnuts, pecans, cheese and croutons are just a few ideas to add different tastes and textures (not to mention monounsaturated fats, which are the "good kind".) If I want to cut down on the animal protein, I may just make a lettuce, tomato, bacon and hard boiled egg version.  This salad has a lot going on, so I stick to a good extra virgin olive oil and red wine or balsamic vinegar for the dressing. It never fails to get compliments... even from my die-hard meat and potatoes family members.

Ingredients:

Your favorite lettuce, chopped or ripped
6 slices of cooked bacon (I always make more just in case)
2 hard boiled eggs
1 cup of rotisserie or baked chicken
1 avocado
fresh mozzarella cheese cut in pieces
grape tomatoes
croutons
extra virgin olive oil
red wine vinegar

Combine all ingredients and toss lightly
Serves 6-8



                                            

Inspiring!

A young woman working in a Verizon store inspired me today with her strength, courage and attitude. I don't know how we got into a personal conversation but she shared how she was married to an abusive husband who had tried to kill her. She has been out of the relationship for several years but she told me she speaks at a woman's shelter to help others who have been abused.  She went on to say that she loves her job even when people lash out at her for something she has no control over.  I was impressed by her attitude that sometimes people just have bad days. She is a single mother who loves life. I continue to marvel at the experiences people endure and how they respond. Some are truly inspiring!

Improv!

Actor, Jon Fine, playing my husband in the photo shoot today,

After three days of unbelievable rainstorms, and an afternoon clearing yesterday, today was an incredibly beautiful day. The temperature was a little cooler than usual for the month of May and we were delighted to enjoy the sunshine. All that information is just a lead up to my real reason for this post!

 I had booked a print job for today and the wardrobe I had intended to wear would have left me too chilly so ventured to a nearby clothing store for the basics... solid colors, steering clear of black and white. Unfortunately, there was not a khaki pant option so I was looking at jeans (one lavender and one mint.)  I sent the colors to my stylist, Annie. (If you haven't visited her blog take a minute to do so, you will see why I always consult her on wardrobe questions. Annelliott.blogspot.com ).  I did not have time to tell her why I needed top options so I just sent her some photos.

The part of this tale that really amused me was my other daughter, Rebecca, (another fashionista and also in the acting business) was helping me put my choices together for the client. She casually mentioned that Annie had called and asked her to help me pick my clothes for her graduation. We both thought that was odd but about 30 minutes later I realized why. Annie thought I was planning to wear the combination of clothes I had sent her in my text to graduation!

Now back to the weather. (Sort of.) Not only was the day gorgeous, I had a blast on the shoot. It was for an awning company and I was cast as part of a couple enjoying the shade the awning provided.  Improv! I loved it. Great Monday. Hope yours was too.