Bye Bye Bye Cheater Sauce

Simple Easy Meat sauce 

To say I was fashionably late in finding my passion for food is an understatement. I think if Pinterest would have been around back in my day I would have been a more rounded momma... (For real, I have chubby cheeks on both sides now proving this so! *smile*)

My passion thing just sorta happened. I guess the saying 'you eat with your eyes first' really is true! And it's really odd how this happened as well. I wasn't new to Pinterest anymore but I had used it primarily for various DIY projects; not cooking. Cooking was an interruption. A chore. Then I saw a homemade French bread recipe on a day I was hoping to create some extra spark with the hubs after his long day. (it worked, btw!)

Some history for ya... When my littles were little, one of them informed me my spaghetti was made with cheater sauce. Hmmm, cheater sauce... really now... Hmph, the lil brat  was right & I was okay with that until I found the french bread recipe. In my mind, if I was going to make bread, then I needed to make my sauce too! (Remember mission was SPARKS..) xoxo

So, after reading more sauce recipes than I could remember, I decided to simply try & wing it on my own. Using what I had in the pantry the following was created:

• Lg Can of crushed tomatoes, (Have since tried whole peeled tomatoes in the processor which provided a more in-depth tomato flavor)
• 1 Tbls Italian seasonings, (I have been known to use fresh basil & oregano alone and/or combined but the blend has a few additional herbs that I don't grow.)
• 1 lb Hamburger meat brown and drained, (I have also blended hamburger with italian sausage or just used sausage.)
• 3 Tbls garlic,
• 1/2 sweet onion (diced),
• salt & pepper to taste
• 2 Tbls EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
• can of sliced mushrooms, drained

I browned my hamburger meat, drained off the fat and removed. Heat up the EVOO until it's shimmering then added the onion and cooked until translucent. Add garlic, stir it in just until you smell a toasty aroma. Stir in herbs & canned tomatoes, mix and let simmer for 10 minutes before adding meat, mushrooms and salt/pepper. NOTE: it's gonna splatter! I recommend a splatter guard or lid to deflect the lil drops of sauce, definitely.



I let it simmer for about 30 minutes after adding the meat just so the flavors blend. Cook your pasta of choice  per directions (we prefer Angel Hair) & top with this divine meat sauce followed up with some grated Parmesan!


I was very pleased with myself, the results, and the reception received from the hubs was the final seal of approval! XoXo

But, back to this versatile & very easy sauce... This can be tweaked as needed for your personal taste buds! Easily incorporate spice mixtures or meat variations as you deem worthy... This is just a basic go to. It can be dressed up or dressed down to pair with any pasta.

I'm sure most of you already have a trusted go-to. I just wanted to share mine as I've finally said Bye Bye Bye to 'cheater sauce' (aka spaghetti sauce in a can or jar)! BTW, there is nothing wrong with cheater sauce; my brat loved it but also loves to poke the bear!  ;)

Do you have a favorite sauce? A favorite dish? Let me know, I'm always looking for inspiration from other home cooks!

Til Next Time ~
Domesticate Rebellion

THRIVING ~ Have you witnessed the testimonies? It’s not about weight loss; it IS about feeling better from the inside out! If interested I would love to help you! Knowledge is Power! Sign-up for a FREE account & information at https://domesticated.le-vel.com

 

• DISCLAIMER: This post may contain affiliate links meaning if you click & buy, I may be compensated. So, Thank you!

Baked Thin Pork Chops & More

Baked Thin Pork Chops

Well Hello there! I hope your ready for a beautiful & tasty recipe that is so exceptionally easy to make & easy on the pocket! Double Whammy! Minimal ingredients plus minimal work equals a delish dinner on the table in less than hour.

I discovered this in my fave online app. Ah Haha, You know it too ~ Pinterest! Scrumptious ideas created and shared by culinary lovelies everywhere! Yuummm! But hey, let me stay on track here and get back to DINNER!

The original version belongs to Vicki over at Avocado Pesto; you really should check her out! This recipe is a family tradition passed down a few generations, from her mother & grandmother! And she has gluten free suggestions folks! 

Time tested! Taste tested! And now, MY family 100% approved! 

There are only four - repeat 1-2-3-4 ingredients. You seriously can not go wrong making this. Thin pork chops topped with mayo, onion and cheddar cheese come together deliciously. Baked @ 350. Effortless never tasted so good!

Here are my thin breakfast chops. She is adamant to use thin pork chops, "The thinner the better". This sparked a happy dance on my end as while shopping I mistakenly picked up breakfast cut chops!

Did you know there was a difference between Thin cut and Breakfast cut?

Well, Welcome me to the !land of Duh



As instructed, even though these are super duper thin, I still tenderized with a meat hammer.

In the above snap, the breakfast cut chops are seasoned with salt, pepper and sprinkled with dehydrated minced onion. (Did you cringe while reading that?) Usually, I have onions EXCEPT of course last night. And ordinarily, I wouldn't use minced dehydrated onion but it worked in a pinch.

Not to mention it kept this lazy girl from a road trip to the store. (Yay)

Okay, confession time... I kinda panicked seeing how thin these exactly were. You know that feeling of "Oh Shit, there isn't enough for everybody feeling"? Ya, decided last-minute to make a couple of sides just to be safe.

Better to have too much than not enough, right?

And wouldn't you know it, my multi-tasking skills were so off yesterday there is only one single picture of the *bonus* recipes which happens to be my plate! Gotta work on that picture thing! LOL! But you can see more pics in the referring links below; no worries.

Feast your eyes! Simple home comfort! Thin baked cheesy & juicy pork chops, left-over cornbread sage dressing w/ gravy, Parmesan peas, french onion rice accompanied with brown n serve dinner rolls! I'd say I had nothing to be worried about in the quantity department too!



BTW, These turned out amazing! Both *bonus* recipes turned out fantastic too! Both were Capital 'E' Easy & made with basic pantry staples. Whip up these sides in a frenzy for unexpected dinner guests to ensure you have plenty to go around!

French Onion Rice by Seduction in the Kitchen & Parmesan Peas by Ezra Pound Cake. Each are extraordinarily talented and have provided me with much inspiration on multiple occasions!

Hope you enjoy!

Til Next Time ~
Domesticate Rebellion

THRIVING ~ Have you witnessed the testimonies? It’s not about weight loss; it IS about feeling better from the inside out! If interested I would love to help you! Knowledge is Power! Sign-up for a FREE account & information at https://domesticated.le-vel.com

 

• DISCLAIMER: This post may contain affiliate links meaning if you click & buy, I may be compensated. So, Thank you!

Chicken and Dumplings

Baby it's cold outside!

When the temps start dropping outside, that's my cue for stick to your ribs grub for my guys! They work out in the elements and need the comfort of home warming them from the inside out!

While searching Pinterest (I love Pinterest) for dinner ideas I usually have the Food Network on in the back ground. On this particular day #KatieLee and #TheKitchen caught my eye (and my belly)!

NOTE: You may have seen these pics already if you follow me anywhere but here. Sorry for the duplication but this really is worth it! LOL.

Chicken and Dumplings

Something I had tried and tried (and failed and failed). No lie.

I had tried for FOREVER to make dumplings. Only once have I ever made fluffy dumplings & for the life of me - could never repeat. (Until now) They always ended up as a tasteless gobble of goo.
Can you say Yuk!

Anyone else been there?

And then there it was! Katie Lee and all her glory showing me what I needed to do!

Oh Happy Dance!

Excitement building at seeing her fluffy, light and beautiful Dumplings! Immediately I knew what was for dinner!

Of course, I switched things up (as I always do) and I couldn't be happier with the end result!

First, I made my own stock with onion, carrot, celery, thyme, garlic and a whole chicken. (Memories of my first effort to cut up a chicken make me chuckle... I butchered that baby beyond recognition, haha!)



Creating your own stock is easy. It tastes so much better than canned, although canned stock is totally acceptable! The delicious aroma will waif through your home having  your family anxiously awaiting to be called for dinner time!



Now, mine has an orange appearance because I used the vegetable medley from my stock as a substitute for the flour thickener.

Remember the carrots?

Ya, don't let the color fool you!


Whatcha think?

Glorious Happy Ending! (of the food kind, of course..LOL)

Also, I skipped the mixed vegetables and went with my 'now' family tradition of using the medley for flavor, but you can still see some chunky carrots.

Tweak this to your own taste buds!



These are Beyond scrumptious! (and totally rib sticking & undo your top button worthy!)

Try it! I can promise you will love it!

Til Next Time ~
Domesticate Rebellion

THRIVING ~ Have you witnessed the testimonies? It’s not about weight loss; it IS about feeling better from the inside out! If interested I would love to help you! Knowledge is Power! Sign-up for a FREE account & information at https://domesticated.le-vel.com

 

• DISCLAIMER: This post may contain affiliate links meaning if you click & buy, I may be compensated. So, Thank you!

Black Friday ~ Um, NO!

Yesterday was Thanksgiving.

Today is Black Friday.

In the twinkling of an eye some folks went from being Thankful & counting blessings to fist fighting in public while physically wrestling a box out of the arms of a fellow shopper!



Are You Freaking Kidding Me? 

As Nancy Reagan use to say for her anti-drug campaign: "Just say No!"

Really, it's easy.... Sleep in. Stay in your jammies all day. Eat left overs. Watch Christmas specials. Write your Christmas cards or annual  "This is what we did this year" news letter.

                          

Do AnYtHiNg but succumb to the new normal. 

But in all fairness... the not shopping on Black Friday is my thing (or more specifically not my thing...)

So, If you did trek out today to score huge on presents; kudos! You're way braver than this rebel & I hope you enjoyed yourself. Maybe grabbed a hot chocolate or latte along with some insightful people watching.

I hope you didn't have to wrestle anyone for your spoils either!

But mostly, I hope each and every one of you have Peace of this Season, Joy in every day and Love. 
Lots of Love.

Laughter.

Hugs.

And Memories! Make beautiful, wonderful, incredible heart warming memories!

Til Next Time ~
Domesticate Rebellion

THRIVING ~ Have you witnessed the testimonies? It’s not about weight loss; it IS about feeling better from the inside out! If interested I would love to help you! Knowledge is Power! Sign-up for a FREE account & information at https://domesticated.le-vel.com

 

• DISCLAIMER: This post may contain affiliate links meaning if you click & buy, I may be compensated. So, Thank you!

Greek Chicken with Lemon Rice

Chicken and Rice..

I know, I know, your probably thinking Oh Joy it's ANOTHER Chicken recipe,

Yaaaay.

Well fellow cooks, don't be fooled by its name - this one is a game changer!

Tender juicy chicken, FRESH lemony tang but not too tart. (The hubs likes all things lemon; me, meh, not so much.. But since it is him that I aim to please in this culinary fetish I have discovered I
gave it a whirl.)

ShaZam! Taste bud heaven!

Now before we go much further, let me preface by saying I NEVER follow a recipe 100%. I ALWAYS put my spin on it to fit our tastes and more so, to fit what is on hand. She provided the bare bones, I provided what was in the pantry... My kind of teamwork!

BTW, Here is where you can find the original version:  On Pot Greek Chicken & Lemon Rice

Follow Nagi - She Is Amazing! I found her recipe on a Pinterest board. I have bookmarked her site & troll for inspiration way more often than I realized.... I was scrolling through her index and was thinking, Hey, I made that too. (and that, and that, and that... Ya, I got it bad!)

Note: Her snap is so much prettier than mine & I'm okay with that! Remember, she provided the bare bones then I used what was on hand. (How many of you put your own spin on recipes?)

Her rice is gorgeous and golden. Her chicken has an incredible beautiful crust. And for y'all folks who like the nutritional break down, she provides it all! Inclusive of notes with options like no other! Very helpful! Seriously. You should seek her out! (I am not being paid for this recommendation either!)

Marinade consists of lemon juice, garlic, oregano and salt. I allowed my chicken to marinade for about two hours. *Be sure to save your marinade! (I totally kinda ditzed on the pictures as we were H.U.N.G.R.Y. I grabbed my camera as an after thought.. My Bad!)

I used boneless thighs. Would definitely prefer skin on and with the bone, but that was yesterday's dinner! This totally smelled my house up with scrumptious anticipation!

I didn't drain the fat (Honestly, there was not very much to drain IMO) nor did I toss out the brown bits after searing the chicken. And, once I sauted my onions in the drippings, since there wasn't really enough fat in my opinion to worry about, in went the rice with the chicken broth and water.

Thus, darker rice..

But in my defense, I simply could not toss out that beautiful flavor left behind after searing the thighs! (And I read in her comments where another follower concurred!)

And lastly, I used instant rice. I only had to adjust my cooking time in the oven as to ensure the bottom of the cast iron skillet didn't burn. But I assure you, the flavors melded perfectly!

Ta Dah.. Simple. Easy. One Pan. Less than hour. Taste bud heaven!

Hope you enjoy! If you switch it up, let me know! I'm always seeking inspiration!

Til Next Time ~
Domesticate Rebellion

THRIVING ~ Have you witnessed the testimonies? It’s not about weight loss; it IS about feeling better from the inside out! If interested I would love to help you! Knowledge is Power! Sign-up for a FREE account & information at https://domesticated.le-vel.com

 

• DISCLAIMER: This post may contain affiliate links meaning if you click & buy, I may be compensated. So, Thank you!

She was Human

Mom

Woman. Mother. Wife. Sister. Daughter. Grandmother. And if you're one of the lucky ones; BFF.



All descriptive words relating to the female that typically dominates our lives. Influences us by example. Teaches us. Her role differs from family to family depending on a variety of circumstances.

Historically, mom's are remembered as the one who changed our diapers, kissed our boo boos, coddled us closely in their lap, gently rocked us to sleep. She would place a cool rag on our forehead when we didn't feel good. Awake us from a bad dream with the warmth of her assuring touch. She lifts us up when the world has rejected us. She teaches us about faith. She is usually the one who encouraged us to follow our dreams. Find our passions.



She will do without to ensure her child has what is needed & more often than not, what is wanted.

She will work tirelessly to make ends meet.

She will cry alone in the dark.



She will clothe you, feed you and comfort you until she can no longer.

She is also the voice of reason. Discipline. Correction. She re-enforces values, teaches responsibility, keeps traditions of the past while creating her own for the future. She turns a structure of brick & mortar (or tin in my case) into a warm comforting secure place we fondly label as home.

She is the lighthouse beacon that shines thru our darkest days leading us back to safety when we stray.

A mothers love is unconditional and knows no limits although they themselves are indeed limited.
She was determined. Fierce. Independent. She was strong. She had an enormous amount of compassion. And she never met a stranger.

She was a nurturer. She was a giver. She was a survivor.

She was private. She was a screamer. She was disabled. She was self-educated on most fronts. She was opinionated. She was lonely. She was a force to be reckoned with under the right circumstances. She was a fighter.

My mom had been put up for adoption at birth. She lived a traumatic life with her adoptive mother who was abusive and an alcoholic. She had been physically abused by her adoptive mothers' frequent suitors.  She was subjected to the worst of the worst and had no one to turn to for help. She was alone on the streets as a young teenager. She only had a ninth grade education and provided for herself by waitressing until she met and married my dad.

If you're a follower of my writings, then you know my mom has passed. We had a relationship full of turmoil. History between us was filled with anger and resentment. We both longed to be closer; we wanted what we witness in other mother-daughter relationships but it just never happened for us. We were different. Our relationship was strained to put it mildly.

However, no matter where I was, no matter how ugly our encounters could become, she never walked away. She never gave up and she always welcomed me with open arms. (And on occasion, she chased me with those open arms too!)

During our final walk, I chose to hold her hand instead of pull away. I chose to embrace her instead of turning my back.



I chose to walk this walk with her because of all things my mother was or was not -

She was human!

She was perfectly imperfect. And in that I am grateful because I too am perfectly imperfect.

Just as with my dad, I look back on my walk with her & can smile. Prior to her passing, just about two months before, I experienced MY perfect day. A day without resentment. A day without anger. Without jabs. A day of forgiveness and healing. And a lifetime of love.

One single day I will forever treasure & fondly recall upon until we see each other again.

So let me ask you... Have you reached out to whom you call mom lately? Do you harbor resentment from the past as I did? I urge you to reconcile those differences. If your mom is like mine was, no matter what has transpired -- she's waiting for you.

She will continue to wait until she can wait no longer & takes her final breath.


Til Next Time ~
Domesticated Rebellion

My bologna has a first name, it's OSCAR.  My bologna has a second name it's MAYER.

(Anyone else singing the jingle now? Ah, haha, You're Welcome!)

Today sandwich, specifically a 'smooshed sandwich' is my metaphor. I'm using it in reference to the inevitable feeling that comes with being pushed (or pulled) in two different directions. Simultaneously. An internal tug-of-war! If continued long enough, the struggle can leave one feeling SMOOSHED inside, much like a sandwich... 

...and you're the bologna!

I felt this way when I recognized life was officially welcoming me into the Sandwich generation! Typically, the sandwich generation refers to adults who have littles AND also care for their aging parents. The hubs & myself were formally introduced to this life back in 2009 when his father was diagnosed with ALS. Our littles were 'just' grown & a few months earlier we had graduated to the grand roles of Mimi & Papa.

It seemed like it wasn't that long after his dad moved in that my dad had his event. Incapacitated over night in 2011. It was necessary for him to go to a veteran's center for 24 hour care. With him not being in the home, my care-taker roll was immediate. See, they were married for 54 years! Just four months after his dementia diagnosis, mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer. To me, I believe in my heart they both were sick long before anyone knew. They compensated one another much more than realized and when he wasn't there, she started declining rapidly. The four months prior to her diagnosis was absolutely crazy for me. I was already stressed to the max with a company buy out and my dad. Always something at the house.

And now mom. I was being push/pulled in so many different directions. SMOOSHED!

Mom was totally dependant on him. Except attitude. completely independent on that front! lol... The new role of caretaker for my own mother was Over The Top and totally different. Completely consuming. My life as I knew it was on the back burner. Focus was her now.

Everyone has felt that emotional tug of being one place but wanting to be elsewhere. Being needed in multiple places at the same time. Wanting to do everything with everyone, so no one misses out, no feelings are hurt. Let me assure you, that doesn't work, at least not for long and it didn't work for me AT ALL.

When you're a caretaker, the emotional and physical toll is brutal. Constantly wondering if you're doing enough. If you're doing all you can. Did you forget anything? When a person your caring for suffers from Alzheimer  or dementia, its gruelling on multiple levels.

My mom had always called the shots in our home. She was accustomed to her way, her time, her being in charge and let me tell you what - all hell broke loose every single time one of the young CNA's tried to get her to do something she didn't want to! Every Single Day!


Eventually, everything I was doing during the course of my days (and sometimes nights) surrounded the needs of my mother. I bathed her. Helped her eat. Changed her, her clothes, bedding - ensured she was taking her medicine, sat and listened to the same stories over and over and watched television. All while she was a resident at a nursing home.

(I don't know if your familiar with nursing homes but in my experience, they SUCK.  I'll save the bitch fest on that point for another writing though.) 

I thought I could handle anything & everything during this walk with her. I was wrong. I thought I could do it alone.  I was way wrong.

I found myself walking away from family and friends in order to satisfy myself that my mom was being properly cared for. But In trying to do it all, the overwhelming feeling of being smooshed set in. In the words of my doc "One must take care of themself before taking care of someone else, especially someone with a debilitating disease, otherwise you both lose". He also informed me he had lost caregivers before the death of the one they were caring for. I believe that. My journey depleted me. I found myself in the deepest darkest places during and after our walk together had ended.

It's taken over a year for me to find myself again and crawl out of the pit I was in. Thank God for my faith. My hubs and kids. For my grands. And for online groups with people from everywhere to help. Keeping a sense of humor also helps.

So I ask: Are you smooshed? Are you caring for someone and don't have anyone to help or have help but they suck? (aka nursing home)

This is my personal message to all you caretakers. If you care for a disabled parent or spouse or child, I urge you to seek out assistance. Support Groups are available. There are a ton of online communities with other care givers who share their insights, their struggle, what worked for them and what doesn't. No one really understands the devastation you experience on a daily basis unless they are/have walked the same pathway.

I worried no one would understand MY walk. I worried I would be judged because I was angry. I worried I wasn't doing enough or I was doing it wrong because SHE was angry. But I learned thru online support I was normal. What I felt was natural. And my thoughts were not just my thoughts; they were thoughts and feelings of others who shared the same walk long before me and my mom.

Don't go through your walk feeling smooshed. There is help. And btw, if no one has told you - You Rock!

Til Next Time~
Domesticated Rebellion

People Watching; learning from strangers

I absolutely LOVE watching other people. Do you? People watching has been a life long addiction. To see others' in action without them knowing is/can be very insightful as to who they are as a person and sometimes, can reflect characteristics you want in yourself, how you want the world to see you too.

It can also be an eye opener! Reflecting similarities of your own personality that you would rather not have as a part of your biological marker. Watching can demonstrate how another lives. What's important to them. People watching to me is just fascinating.

Maybe your thinking this is on the Creepy? Perhaps; that is if I were an actual stalker. See, I don't set out to watch. It just happens. At a restaurant, doctors office, grocery shopping, church. Something catches my eye (or my ear) and I can't stop myself from being intrigued on a more personal level.

I watch interactions. Couples. Kids. Fellow employees. Waitresses. What catches my eye? Sometimes, it's how someone handles a stressful situation. Or, how they speak to others but primarily, I notice HOW they make others feel. On occasion, I have witnessed something shocking only to have it resonate a feeling of dread, because I privately acknowledge I could be that person given the right instance.

Why do I love to watch people? Because I learn from them. I identify with them on some level. Has this happened to you? Do you find yourself drawn to a situation or person for reasons unknown? Read on...

A few yester-years, while waiting on the hubs, I heard a young mom with littles trailing behind her. I watch as she attempts to keep them around her. I see her roll her eyes to the ongoing demands that come with motherhood in public. (Haven't we all been there?) I spy each of her followers out of the corner of my eye. I wonder how does she handle the wild one? What is she saying to the youngest one that demands one on one NOW? I see the mischievous one who disappears within the racks of cloths in various store fronts and anticipate how she'll handle her moment of frantic searching when she notices he has slipped from view. Will she yell? Panic? No... She was prepared. She speaks a coined phrase and just like that, the eldest little responds then emerges from his hiding spot. And on their merry way they go.

I muse over these things for a moment, recalling my own "Marco Polo" games in Wal-Mart when my littles would divide and try to conquer. I see my younger self in her. I smile at her. She smiles back, removes the fallen hair from her face as she gathers each little and moves on. I identified with her. Motherhood was our unspoken but yet spoken connection.

Commonality connects the universe. We all come into this world the same way. Other than traditions, or social status, or heritage, we are all the same, but yet different.

What I find most intriguing in my people watch is a calm collective coolness in the midst of confrontation. One who can smile while saying 'kiss my ass' in an even tone & without becoming red-faced. One who doesn't unravel, much like I, in the midst of 'a moment'. I admire strength and confidence. I admire honesty and humility. I admire REAL.

Identifying doesn't mean being the same. Its simply recognition. I have learned about myself by watching others. I see qualities that inspire me and I want those to be a part of who I am. I want others to see 'that' in me. I will ask myself "Can I mimic them and still be genuine? My response is usually yes. Usually it's just a change in attitude. A new perspective in place that will allow me to 'be like them' in certain situations but maintain the uniqueness of me. Sometimes, we don't realize who we are and we look to others as a mirror. Wanting to see our self the same as we noticed or felt in a stranger.

Are they role models? Isn't everyone to some degree? Rather knowing or unknowingly, someone is always watching. And I can honestly say I feel like I am a better person by trying to incorporate some others' attitude toward life, toward mishaps, toward failures into my own outward qualities. They are life lessons learned thru observation instead of trial and error and heartache.

We expect children to mimic us. And we witness teenagers trying to mold themselves into what they perceive their peers to be like. Why would the action of wanting to be better stop with adolescence? I don't think it does. For me, I learn from my interaction with pretty much everyone. My mimicking another is of the utmost respect and adoration. It's my acknowledgement that there is always room for improvement in who I am. It doesn't mean one isn't confident or is insecure but instead it is the all-powerful knowing that you never stop learning about yourself.

Personal growth is a life long endeavor.

Do you admire the actions of someone? Who inspires you to be a better person? Is there another person who you look up to? What have you learned from strangers that made you a better person?

And for the record, I AM a stalker. I am an avid blog stalker.
Til Next Time ~
Domesticated Rebellion

No Regrets; creating a better Hindsight!

I was thirteen years old when he had a heart attack. He was lying in the small circular patch of grass that divided the two roads in our neighborhood. No one knew what to do, except me. Everyone just stood around. Or maybe there wasn't anyone. Maybe it was just me standing there. And now I had a choice. A choice that would change the course of my life in a direction I never anticipated. I could let him die or I could start CPR.

While waiting on the paramedics, I started performing CPR on my father.  I'm sure it was only for a few minutes, but it felt like forever until someone more experienced arrived on the scene and took over. He was breathing they confirmed. His heart was beating irregularly but nonetheless, beating. The man in uniform looped a tube around his head placing a mask over my fathers mouth and nose, rolled him onto a stretcher and transported him to the local VA.

There, people were telling me I probably saved his life. He would be so proud of me. I should be proud of myself. But that isn't how I felt. I wasn't proud. I was angry. A deep rooted resentment that surfaced after making the choice to save him.

I have written about time. How fleeting it is. How our tomorrows become yesterday before we even realize it & what we do today will affect us in one way or another tomorrow. Which tomorrow you might wonder? I can't say, nor can anyone predict.

My tomorrow came years and years later.

I was sitting in the lawyers office with my mother. His secretary showed us into a large conference room and asked if we wanted anything to drink. He would be with us shortly she stated. The room was quiet. My mother sat on one side and my eldest son on the other. A few minutes later a folder of documents was placed before me. The first document was a durable power of attorney naming my mother to make decisions on his behalf. That was normal. Then I read the next paragraph.... in the event she was not able or unwilling... I turned the page and read my name.  Oh Hell No! Me? ME.

My heart started racing. Why me? What the hell was he thinking? I could name a dozen reasons why I, of all people, should not be the one to care for him. I should not make choices on his behalf. My youthful anger that had long ago subsided to a low simmer was now raging at full boil. I had dealt
with 'our' life. Or so I thought.

The next 6 months proved to be heart wrenching. I witnessed the dominant influence in my life succumb to dementia. I witnessed his struggle in trying to understand what was happening to him. I watched the confusion in his eyes flicker between thankfulness to concern, sometimes convinced I was lying to him about events.

He was never mean to me nor was he ever violent. Because of those two realizations, I found myself fighting FOR him. Struggling to grasp my responsibilities versus my own emotions. Selfish emotions. But emotions I was entitled to feel and no one blamed me. I watched as he returned to a child-like state of mind. But before he regressed, he became my dad.

The day after Mothers day 2012 he had another heart attack. As I look back, I have zero regrets in my acceptance of responsibilities to be his voice. I did not use the powers granted to get back at him. Instead, I used it to love him. To love him again as I once did - innocently.

Sometimes life just doesn't make sense. Sometimes things happen that we are not in control over and how we respond today determines our fate tomorrow. If you do not already, I encourage you to review your angle on life. Your next steps. Do you consider your tomorrows? Do you ponder what the future holds? I can honestly say I did and because I did, I look at yesterday and can genuinely smile.

I hope each of you gain what I consider now as my 'gift'. To be able to look ahead just enough to ensure when you look back, you too can genuinely smile.

Til next time~
Domesticated Rebellion

reblogged: Everything has Changed!

When life as you know it no longer is what you knew....

https://freedomfound.blog/2017/11/02/first-blog-post/Everything has Changed

How I quit smoking! Part 4

Not long after I stopped cigarettes and had my cute pastel pink vape I noticed my cough was going away. Initially I also noticed my lungs clearing up and my voice returning to normal.

My clothes didn't stink & the hubs ~n~ I kissed ALOT more! (😉)

But I realized I had simply exchanged one method of smoking for another. The HABIT was still the same. I came to this realization while having a discussion about non-filtered cigarettes - (OMG YUK!)

I remembered preferring filtered smokes to non-filter. And that's when it registered. Really sank in that I was still feeding my body the primary chemical of traditional cigarettes, feeding my brain the addictive repetitive action of hand to mouth, deep breath, exhale and nicotine.

My success no longer felt very successful.

After a few months my chest was heavy again. My lungs weren't as clear as I had figured they would be. And while I wasn't coughing all the time, when I did, it wasn't pretty!

So my next goal was to stop vaping. Entirely. And I enlisted my local vape shops to help. Even though they knew they would lose me as a revenue customer, they also knew from experience, I would keep spreading the word about their product, their store, as well as their customer service and we initiated a plan of attack.

Over the next six months, together, we reduced my 'juice' nicotine from 24 mg to ZERO! I still fed the hand to mouth habit at zero but It was so much easier than I anticipated.

I was on cloud 9 when I realized my body no longer craved nicotine. And that realization allowed me to put the vape down, permanently. The hand to mouth habit was fed with a pen or pencil and quickly faded into a memory.

Today, I am happy to say I am nicotine free. I do not smoke traditional cigarettes, I do not vape and I do not use Ecigs and most importantly, I do not miss any of it!

Here's to starting a new healthy tradition for my gene pool!

Are you an ex-smoker? How did you quit?


Til next time ~
Domesticated Rebellion

How I quit smoking! Part 3

Finally.... moving on to the HOW I quit.

*Note: I am NOT recommending my way at all. 

I just want to share what I did and before doing that, 

I wanted to share Why.*

With all of the federal laws about tobacco changing and alternatives becoming available in lieu of traditional chemical infested cigarettes, I learned about vaping.

I was immediately sold on the non-tobacco bandwagon with the all 'food grade' products that provided fun flavors, didn't pollute or stink up my home with second hand smoke and I could blow a smoke ring the size of a car.  Yay! This also meant no more going outside if I wanted to huff and puff.

I quickly invested in a 'kit'; tried all the flavors at a local vape shop and was on my merry way.  I could smoke anywhere because I wasn't REALLY smoking at all..

Right? Right!

And it was just like that.

I quit traditional cigarettes and started vaping. The new age alternative to big tobacco. I won!
or so I thought...


To be continued...


Til Next Time ~
Domesticated Rebellion

How I quit smoking! Part 2

I thought I was fairly well rounded in life experiences; well, most of them. I mean I made it through the 70's without a bike helmet, I had lead paint on every single wall and I never used hand sanitizer.

Skip to the 80's and I got married, had a kid, moved across the country, got a divorce, moved back, had another kid. I was rocking the single mom thing and I was considered one of the cool ones! Strong! Solid! Independent!

I was well versed in this thing called life at the ripe ole age of 20 something.... (or so I thought).. (Being so 'well versed' at such a young age is another story altogether to come at a later time..)

So, fast forward to 2011.

I'm married, I have 2 more children under my wings and a wonderful husband. I had climbed the corporate ladder to a management position and enjoyed all the perks that came in the industry.

Life was great!

Then the phone rang.

It was the VA hospital (my dad served in Vietnam) and it was a social worker asking if I was his daughter.. Yes... She asked if I was aware of my dad being there; um, no, I wasn't. At least not this particular time.

She expressed to me that my mom, who was feisty, disabled, but fiercely independent was wondering the halls of the hospital. They asked if I could take her home for some proper rest. Well, of course I can and I dropped everything leaving to travel the hour long drive to get her.

"What are you doing here?" was her reaction. I told her I received a call and asked her what was up this go around? My dad was all hooked up to oxygen and sleeping. About that time, the hospital staff walked in doing rounds, introduced themselves (there was a team) and they began in a matter of fact tone explain to me my dad had deprived himself of oxygen and they were not yet sure if he would be able to 'return'..

I learned he was in their car, removed his oxygen line, and proceeded to light up while reading Louis L'Amour, https://g.co/kgs/mRCFdb. Lost in his book and habitual smoking, he failed to remember to put his oxygen tube back on and flip the on/off button to his tank. He was found disoriented and confused.

Over night, my dad became incapacitated! He no longer knew where he was. How old he was. That he was retired from the Air Force. That I was a mother. He was only able to recall distant events that occurred before I was even born.

I had my dad about 6 months after that night. It was upon his death, my reaction and how it immediately affected me that I decided one way or another I would stop smoking. No way in hell was I going to allow my children and grandchildren to witness what almost broke me.


To be continued....

Til Next Time ~
Domesticated Rebellion

How I QUIT smoking! Part 1

It's November. The holidays are fast approaching. Halloween was fun but now its time for the real festivities!  Bring on the turkey and dressing, right!

Do you love the holidays? I do! 

I have visions of get together's, incredible food, happy faces, giggles, laughter....  

Those visions create a feeling of anticipation & excitement for the most part. BUT today, I am missing the days of yesterday when kids were little, drama was less, my parents and the hubs parents were here and the annual gatherings in our lil home were FULL! I mean 'standing room' only on occasion. #memories

Now, Let me rewind several years...

My dad, who was an avid smoker developed COPD (https://www.copdfoundation.org/What-is-COPD/Understanding-COPD/What-is-COPD.aspx) several years ago. I guess when you smoke, you should naturally expect to develop something lung related. That was his opinion. Everyone dies someday of something. And did I say he LOVED smoking! Even after being diagnosed, he would remove his O2 and puff, puff, puff when opportunity presented itself.

Growing up, I was a daddy's girl, another story entirely, and I mimicked him & my brothers in everything! The competitive side of me (I felt like I was missing out on something) led me to pick up my first cigarette at the tender young age of 9 years old! (Yes, I said 9!!) I was of the generation that thought smoking was 'cool'. You're a #badass with a smoke hanging out of the corner of your mouth and what a rebel I was blowing the hugest smoke rings around! Ya, I was proud! (SMH) 

Even with my dad contracting illnesses, needing oxygen, being in and out of the hospital for respiratory issues, I used cigarettes as a coping tool. If I was pissed off, I smoked. If I was stressed, I smoked. If I needed to keep my mouth shut (a difficult task for me no matter) yes, you guessed it, I SMOKED. 

I smoked without any true realization of consequence until I witnessed him taking his last and final breath. 

He died. 

His body gasped for his final breath and I fainted...
To be continued....


Til Next time ~
Domesticated Rebellion

Blurred; the line between now and then...

Hello web friends ~ have you ever been in stuck?  Ever had an idea you wanted to move forward with but it was just slightly out of your comfort zone? Ya know, that lil voice inside that screams at you but you aren't sure if you should actually listen to it?

I AM THERE!

A couple of weeks ago, I started this blog thinking how cool it would be to share ME STUFF.  Ya know, things like personal recipes, gardening tips, lessons and life experiences. Mom stuff. Creative stuff. Domesticated stuff. Rebellion stuff.

But I get bored easily.

Which made me think I bet most of you do to. Am I right? I mean everybody has pinterest, facebook, snapchat (to name a few) to get our narcissist fix. Pins and posts and shares that SCREAM this is ME! I did this! Like Me! Follow ME!

Um, no.

Don't get me wrong, I HAVE all of those. I even at one time had a myspace. Even though I am not a social butterfly, I love people. Specifically, I love helping people! I am a nurturer by nature. I have a genuine heart that FEELS the vibes of my surroundings and all those who enter.

So, moving ahead, I realized I have tons of stuff in my head that has (and I hope will continue), to help others. I'm not Dear Abby friends by any means but I have a lot of life experiences and stories and well, history... And what good is my history, my lessons in trials and tribulations, if not shared.

I'm one of those who is so much better at helping others than I am at helping myself. Sound familiar? You know where I am coming from, right?

So, without further hesitation I'm inviting all of you to my world! (Creepy, freaky but Rebel-ishly real)  Here, I will recall on my mistakes, share my lessons in love, life, cooking, parenting, pets and everything else that makes me unique with hopes that it, I, might help you!

So, stay tuned into the whimsical writings of a self-proclaimed Rebel, who refused to grow up and conform to typical adult life.

Til Next Time ~
Domesticated Rebellion

I have arrived... My Time on Top of MY Totem Pole

Hi all ~ thanks for coming back! If this is your first time stopping by, Welcome! Thank you for spending some time with me!

Hmmm, TIME. Have you ever stopped to wonder, truly wonder, about TIME?

I mean, do any of us have enough of it? I typically feel like I don't or like its running out. (#sandthruthehourglass comes to mind, ☺ )

Time is referred to in so many different ways. Time is yours to keep or to share. Either you have time or you don't.  Either you make time or you don't. Time is free on one hand but on the other, its the most  invaluable gift everyone has.

Truth is either you master it or it masters you. Right?

BTW web friends, This is not one of those posts that give you time saving tips or scheduling advice. Sorry, not gonna find those here... This is just the deep thoughts of a former wild child who kinda almost reluctantly grew up. One who gets lost in timeless thoughts when life gets hectic.

See, I do this kinda evaluation thing. It's personal, it's beneficial and it helps me to keep my perspective on the big picture. (Not all pictures are created equal so please keep in mind this is just me... rambling..... Maybe someone can glean something insightful from my yesterdays for their tomorrows)

I've read (and I'm sure you have too) successful people manage their time while unsuccessful people do not.  What does that mean? Does this mean I have to stay glued to a schedule? Mapping every moment of every hour of every day? Living in 15 minute increments?

Um, hell no! Not this girl.  However, I have learned that rather you stick to your day planner or schedule on the fly; everyone could benefit if they were able to feel like they manage their time wisely. I feel better already! LOL...

Time is valuable. Rather (Cha Ching) supporting your family or sitting for a spell listening to the rambling of an elder sharing stories of days gone by. Maybe its babysitting for your baby who needs rest after having their own baby. (sigh) Or perhaps just listening to your spouse grumble about their day.

The point is it all takes TIME. I know I am not alone in this way of thinking. We've all been at one or more life stages and we've seen first hand how time literally flies.

I experienced this time flight after becoming a parent.. I mean geez, didn't it take forever to reach driving age? Graduation? College? And the next thing, WHAM, marriage, kids, jobs - time never stands still. But it kinda does, right.. and we know this because we never truly see it happen until your young man is in a tux for prom or your young lady is wearing high heels (and it's not to play dress up) Or, we lose an aging parent way before we ever imagined.

Time is a gift!

There are so many of us that give much of ourselves to others. Family, career, friends. Yes, time spent with others is usually spent wisely (#memories) but we forget to also give our-self permission to have quality down TIME. Me time. Remember free time?

Down time is productive time by the way. Down time allows us to unwind. Relax. Breath. Down time regenerates us from the inside out & I consider it almost as important as sleeping! To me, being wise with my time is being productive. Productiveness is me feeling accomplished with anything being one step closer to completion AND sometimes productiveness is just making myself sit in my chair binge watching TV while drinking my coffee in my jammies on the 3rd Saturday of the month! (don't judge 😊)

My reality of how precious time is seriously hit home when my parents, within 6 months of each other, were diagnosed with Alzheimer and dementia.  Can you say "Oh Shit!"? I sure did. Daily. And often. For the next several years. It was during those years, that I learned one must manage time and do so as wisely as possible.

Another BTW, 'wisely' is my way to say 'no regrets'. Regrets suck! #Wisdom. 

Fast forward a few years.... Today, both parents have passed. All kids have grown and now have kids of their own. And now it's my time on top of MY totem pole.  It just means that I have lived. I have brought life and have lost life. I have been elevated by nature to the top of my totem pole by those who have come after me. And while someday I know I will be replaced, until then, I have gleaned from this life that time is fleeting, that it is short, that it is hard but mostly it is beautiful and rewarding when invested wisely. "No Regrets" #hindsight #breath #relax

So, What do you spend your time on? Who do you give your time to? How will you look back on today when today becomes tomorrow?  I spend time now gardening, cooking, reading and learning but mostly just enjoying the little things which are truly the big things and my time has never been more productive. Spend your Time enjoying your climb to the top of your totem pole.

Til next time
Domesticated Rebellion

Simply AmAzInG EASY Glorious Homemade Bread

Hi Ya! C'mon & sit a minute & check out this recipe I found on pinterest. ((I ❤ pinterest! ))

https://www.itsalwaysautumn.com/2016/02/12/homemade-artisan-bread-easiest-bread-recipe-ever.html#_a5y_p=5877592

...in MY carb loving family we are lovers ❤❤ of homemade bread!  (no lie, like who isn't right?)..  and in addition to h/m bread and pinterest, I am also a lover of easy! I believe Less is best - so this recipe with minimal ingredients is right up my ally!

In my world, everyone enjoys nice fresh baked bread with butter or jelly or jam OH MY!. Others take the savory road with meats and cheeses, slathered thick with mayo's, aioli and such. Beautiful layered sandwiches bursting with all kinds of goodness. Whatever your heart desires... The possibilities are endless!

And (if you couldn't already tell) I'm a fan of ALL of the above.. LOL.

Well, speaking of homemade bread ~ just feast your eyes on this beauty:

TaDah

 

I made this tonight and WoWed  the hubs! While I have made a lifetime of wow'ing him - 👅, haha, he is known at our house as the "sour dough King"! (The pressure is HOT.. or on.. whatever..)

Seriously! King status.

He created his own original sour dough starter using indigenous yeast found on our land! 

That was back in 2007! Damn, its been 10 years! 

I think that is bad ass! But I'm partial where he's concerned. 😉 Lol.  Anyway, in the beginning, He was a slave to his starter. ugh!

Feeding, growing, oopsing. When it was born, his words, it needed him. It was (ahem, is) a pain in the rear! Demanding even. But that's not my way. I'm demanding enough, (again, hubs' words, haha) my food can't be too.

Which is in part what I found intriguing about this mix n leave recipe! 

I went the full 24 hours before baking and the flavor is very mellow, the airiness (is that a word?) inside is so light and fluffy and the air pockets, oh my my! 

And the crust is to die for chewy too!

I will forever use this recipe. While this isn't "my" recipe, it is now my 'go to'! Try it!

https://www.itsalwaysautumn.com/2016/02/12/homemade-artisan-bread-easiest-bread-recipe-ever.html#_a5y_p=5877592

Few ingredients, mix n leave, and BAM!

Taste bud heaven. Enjoy y'all!

Til Next Time ~
Domesticate Rebellion

THRIVING ~ Have you witnessed the testimonies? It’s not about weight loss; it IS about feeling better from the inside out! If interested I would love to help you! Knowledge is Power! Sign-up for a FREE account & information at https://domesticated.le-vel.com

 

• DISCLAIMER: This post may contain affiliate links meaning if you click & buy, I may be compensated. So, Thank you!

For the Love of Spring

Hey folks, Is it cold where you live? Fall has arrived in my corner & while I was going through my images I was transported back to early June when veggies were ripening in the garden and bursting with the best flavor.

This image makes my mouth water! Seriously!

This delicious salad is one that I typically only get when we go out to eat. Until now!

This past Spring/Summer season, I started my very first little veggie garden to see if I have green thumbs or not.

Well, my thumbs are not green (but at least I have thumbs!) LOL

And while this was suppose to be healthy aka not so tasty, I made a home-made red wine vinegar and honey dressing that knocked it out of the park! Even the hubs enjoyed! #Score

Next year #fresh will be better than ever!

Strawberry Spinach Almonds Avocado Oh My

Til Next time ~

Domesticated Rebellion

Mission Position

Hi Y'all! Welcome back!

I sat here in my lil corner of the world after I created this blogspot wondering, what the hell am I doing? More importantly WHY am I doing it? And you know what - I Don't Know! 

Being female, its common knowledge (or is it common assumption?!) our genetic makeup creates a need to spill out about a thousand words per day...  Hmmm.. I've never had a word counter around but I bet I speak a whole lot more than 1,000 words daily! (and some admittedly shouldn't come out of my mouth!) 

So here I was, all proud of spitting out a few meager lines when I asked myself what purpose am I filling? (Everything has a purpose behind it, right?) And that folks led to me to start thinking of businesses, their company mission statements. Their purpose... What is my purpose?

Ta Dah! Mission Position was born!

Haha, I'm thinking some of you might be here simply because of the name! Love it (and love your dropping by!)

My *mission position*, put simply, is my rebel-ishly way of saying my mission, my way! I've always had a bit of rebel in my blood. Not enough to wear jumpsuits mind you but enough to keep things interesting.. Spicy! (or at least have some scratch their head!)

So my rebel-ishly position is simple - Be Happy, Be Kind, Be Honest; but mostly Be Real! With me, prepare yourself for sometimes quirky, sometimes sappy, always opinionated, occasionally funny glimpses into living rebel-ishly!

Til Next Time ~
Domesticated Rebellion

Late? Naw, just Rebellion!

Am I too late? Did I miss the boat? Was I even invited? Is there a timing aspect applicable?  

Do I really care? 

No. At least not to the timing aspect.  I'm always fashionably late for everything since this guy caught my eye! (❤) 

So....  What is it that has me all keyed up? Blogging! Yes, I said blogging. To blog or not to blog seems to be the relevant question. This online sensation of getting your voice out there all over the world. The ability to share your seemingly inconspicuous life with everyone you know, but more so, everyone you don't know. 

Really!? The Entire World will be my audience? OH LAWD! That within itself has caused writers block; the equivalency of being speechless. 

Hmmm, speechless. New concept to this one because I always have something to say.  👅

Stayed tuned folks as I find my online voice & share how beautiful being rebel-ishly late can be.

Til Next Time
Domesticated Rebellion