Just Cooking My Way Through 2021

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We are into the third week of 2021. Who is still working towards their New Year’s Resolution? In our household, there has been a big push towards low-carb eating. I started the year out with no Dr. Pepper for 30 days, I will admit, I had a little slip one day but have been going strong since then. With the low-carb eating going on in our house, I figured I would join in on the fun too.

One thing that I want to do for myself this year, is to enhance my cooking skills. Since, like many Americans, we are trying to eat better this time of year, I figured why not step up my cooking skills in the process.

Boneless Pork Chops in Creamy Garlic Spinach Sauce – (Minus the Spinach) – My first cooked meal of the New Year and I have to say, I was amazed! I was so impressed with myself and it has definitely given me the confidence to keep cooking, even though I may be a little slower than the expert cooker in our house.

Boneless Pork Chops in Creamy Garlic Sauce

Ingredients

  • 6 pork chops, boneless – We got the thinner boneless pork chops and actually cooked around 9. 6 went in the sauce and we had some plain ones for leftovers. You will see in the original recipe it calls for 3.
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • 1 teaspoon Paprika
  • 2 teaspoons of olive oil – I didn’t measure this, just did a little shake of the wrist to get it across the pan
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 6 cloves garlic, finely minced – I used a Garlic Press for this
  • 1 small yellow onion – minced
  • 1/3  cup chicken stock
  • 1 ¾ cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning – I didn’t measure this, just a shake across the pan
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red chili pepper flakes – I didn’t measure this, just a couple shakes throughout the pan
  • ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese – it calls for grated, I just used the kind you would put on your pizza

Directions

  1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season your pork chops with paprika, salt, and pepper on both sides. Place in the pan and cook until your liking. Mine came out golden brown. If you are the temping type, they need to at least be 145 degrees internally. Take them out of the pan and set them aside.
  2. Melt the butter in the same pan. Add garlic, onion, Italian Seasoning, and red crushed chili pepper and stir-fry about a minute or so. When my onions started browning, I added the chicken stock.
  3. Reduce the heat to low and add the heavy whipping cream. Bring the creamy sauce to a gentle simmer. Depending on how thick you want you sauce this could take a few minutes. We like it a little thicker, so I let it simmer and stirred occasionally.
  4. Stir in the Parmesan Cheese and allow sauce to continue to simmer and wait until the cheese is melted. I kept stirring occasionally at this point as well.
  5. Put the pork chops back into the pan to reheat. I covered the pork chops with the sauce and served.

For our side we had Bacon Wrapped Asparagus –

  • Set your oven to 400 Degrees
  • Get out a cookie sheet and cover it with foil
  • Snap your Asparagus – simply bend in half and let them snap naturally
  • Put them into a bowl. Add olive oil and salt and pepper. Mix all the ingredients until your asparagus appear seasoned
  • Take out your bacon, either cut it in half or tear it in half
  • Wrap each asparagus with half a piece of bacon, placing them on the cooking sheet
  • Place in oven and cook for about 30 – 40 minutes, depending on how crispy you like them. I placed mine in the oven right before I started cooking the pork chops and they were ready when the meal was ready

Tips

  1. You probably only need half an onion and make sure to chop it extra small.
  2. Season to how you like it, sometimes more is better

If you are interested in the original recipe you can check it out here – https://www.eatwell101.com/boneless-pork-chops-in-creamy-garlic-butter-sauce

P.S. Their pictures are a lot prettier than mine. Don’t worry I plan to step it up on the photography side next time.

I hope this brings you as much comfort as it did me.

As always share some love, we could all use a little more love.

XOXOXO

Casey

The Power of Introverts

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For most of my childhood, I seemed like an outgoing person. I was always involved in some kind of sports activity, normally multiple at one time. I also played the piano and was an avid reader. I have always loved to write as well. The older I got, the more competitive I got in sports. I was a fairly smart kid, never really having to study extra hard after school unless it came to Math. I also grew a passion for photography. Did I mention that I was the starting pitcher for our high school softball team when I was a freshman?

After high school and into College (which would turn into long drawn out years of College at all different ages experience) I was a bartender at a restaurant, who went out all the time, who was surrounded by her friends all the time, whose creative side (reading, writing, and photography) seemed to die.

I tell you all these things because I have recently come to learn that I am actually an introverted person. I enjoy my quiet time. I enjoy my alone time, I love reading. I love writing and being in my head, I have so many thoughts that sometimes I have to get them down on paper or else I won’t stop thinking about them. I find this very fascinating as I look back on my younger years and see some of the same qualities but at times almost the opposite of how I am now.

I recently read – “Quiet, The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop talking.” – By Susan Cain. This book blew my mind and explained a lot of questions that I had. That even being an introvert, if you have a true passion about something you will display extrovert qualities because you are doing the thing you love. That your environment can play a part in displaying different qualities as well. For so long, I felt different than some people. I know a lot of people but I have a select few really good friends and honestly, I have those friends still because THEY reach out and communicate with me. I am happy being able to read a book all day yet I long for companionship without any expectations. Me, ten years ago would have been out multiple times a week. Me now, dreads even thinking about going to the grocery store, but yet, I can stand and work a booth for multiple days at a time selling some of my favorite shirts.

If you have ever been a little bit curious about the introvert/extrovert relationship you should definitely pick us this book. There is advice for introverts on how to learn how to be more vocal. There is advice for extroverts on how to maybe listen a little bit longer. There is advice for people in relationships who are introverts/extroverts. Did you know that a disagreement may turn into a huge fight because you don’t understand the personality of your partner? Imagine how happier homes could potentially be if we actually understood how the other processed information. Have a child that has a different personality than you? This book will help with that too. Even if you don’t have a close relationship or a child, reading the book will definitely help put a different perspective on the people you work with. Imagine the greatness that could arise if we all understood each other a little better.

As always share some love, we could all use a little more love

XOXO

Casey

How to Make 2021 the Best Year Yet

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It is crazy how much one person can change your life. How a child can be born and your whole life turn around. How everything that you thought was important no longer seems relevant. How, as she grows she pushes you to want more and do better for you and her. On this day 9 years ago, I was blessed with a little girl that would change my life. She rocked my world from the moment she entered. 

Not only has she changed my life and motivated me to want more, she has taught me so much along the way. Her love for animals is something out of this world. Her compassion and grace is something that brings me to my knees. Her innocence and love for all things reminds me of the good in this world. Her youthfulness reminds me of the little girl in me, the dreamer in all of us. 

As the New Year approaches think back on this past year. 2020 was not the best year for many, in fact probably for the majority it was really hard. However, there are lesson learned in everything that we do. 

Instead of being angry about how things are not working out for you, let’s work on being grateful for the things that have gone right for us. Celebrate every win, no matter how small. Be grateful for everything, big and small. The more gratitude that is shown, the more you realize how blessed in life you truly are. Remember, it’s the little things that matter. 

Show kindness to everyone regardless of how you really feel about them. Imagine how the world would be if we just showed kindness to everyone. You never know what someone else is going through or dealing with, show them kindness. You might be surprised about how much better you feel about yourself when you do. 

Do more of what brings you joy. Find out what makes your heart go pitter patter and do more of that. It doesn’t have to make you money, it doesn’t have to be done for someone else. It is all about what makes you happy. You being happy and so full of love for yourself should be your main concern. How can you possibly take care of anyone else if you aren’t taking care of you.

As we embark on another year, I challenge you to make this coming up year the best year of your life. I plan on making it the best year of my life. 

Whatever you do, share some more love, we could all use a little more love. 

XOXO

Casey

When Life Gets Tough, Dig Deep and Find Your People

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This past week was a tough one for me. Sometimes, it does not matter how positive of a person you are, there are just bad days. It doesn’t matter how nice you are or how much you give or how much you read or listen to your podcasts, you still have those bad days. If you are not careful those bad days can string together and become a bad week. Those things that you usually brush off your shoulders, start to feel a little heavier and it begins to seem like the slightest thing throws you off balance. Then it seems to be one thing after another until you find yourself crying your eyes out over things that are out of your control. To top it off, you can barely move most days because the chiropractor went to work on your neck and the pain just moved down to your back instead. To end the week, you find yourself laying on the floor unable to sleep and just waiting for tomorrow to start. If this is you, YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

Like I said this past week was a rough one. No matter how bad your week gets, just know there is something better coming. Know that no matter how bad it gets, you are amazing and you are doing one heck of a job. Know that these hard times shall pass. And find you a good friend. One of those friends that you can call up at any hour and talk too. One of those friends that will tell you when you are over reacting. One of those friends that will tell you to stop being sooo dramatic, that it isn’t the end of the world. One of those friends that will have your back through thick and thin. This could be your spouse, your lover, your friend, or maybe even your mother. Whoever they are, keep them close and then thank them for always being there for you when you decide to go off the rocker from time to time. Shout out to my person for always being there to snap me out of it.

Be sure to take a moment and acknowledge everything you have accomplished. Pat yourself on the back for how far you have come. Take an evening to yourself to celebrate YOU! The to-do list will always be there tomorrow, your self-care SHOULD always come first! Keep Shining!

As always, share some love, we could all use a little more love!

XOXOXO

Casey

The Holidays Can be So Exhausting….

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This will probably get me labeled a scrooge…. but I will survive. The past few years my joy for the Holidays has dwindled. Now, don’t get me wrong. I love watching Mattie open her presents and seeing the excitement she has on her face when she gets all the new, fun, and exciting things. However, that excitement usually dies down about fifteen minutes later when it is rush rush rush to the next place.

You see, my parents have been separated since before I can remember. My Holidays normally consist of trying to hit 4 or 5 different places, sometimes in the same days or within a two day period. While, it is nice to be able to see all of your family, sometimes it can be overwhelming. Sometimes, I just wish Mattie and I could wake up Christmas morning in our matching pjs and not go anywhere. Unwrap presents, make hot cocoa, play with all the toys, and have a day of relaxation. To make this happen, you either have to 1. Plan Christmas with other people on different days or 2. Make the tough decision to maybe miss some other Family Christmas’s you are supposed to attend. Do you rock the boat or not? In my mind, you have to do what’s best for your family. Meaning, your own little family.

What does your family do for the holidays? Do you travel from place to place or stay home?

Besides the hustle and bustle of the Holidays another thing that has put a sour taste in my mouth is all the expensive presents that are needed to be bought. Adulting is hard! I feel like every year there is more and more pressure to buy the latest gadgets, get the best gifts, and give to all your family. The consequence of that… your pocket book is empty or negative if you used credit cards to buy your presents. Sometimes I feel like we forget the real reason for the Season. We are so busy buying presents or driving down the road that we don’t take time to really remember what that day is all about.

Whatever your Christmas plans consist of, I hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas! I hope your Holidays are filled with lots of love, family, and good food. As far as our plans, we shall see what happens, I do know that matching pjs will be involved! 

Share some love, we could all use a little more love

XOXOXO

Casey

The Social Media Life

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Do you ever find yourself aimless scrolling through social media? Whether that be Facebook or the Gram? It could even be Twitter or one of the newer platforms. This weekend I found myself scrolling a lot more than normal.

Side note here, most of my work includes social media posting, scheduling, and reviewing. I have found that there is a huge difference in getting on to work and just scrolling. Okay, continue on below.

The more time that I spent on my phone the more I could feel myself start to fall into the “feel sorry for yourself” category. With every engagement post, wedding post, baby post, people killing it at life post, the more I wondered what was wrong with me! Now, don’t get me wrong, I am happy for all the people that are out there killing it at life. I am happy for all the couples getting married and having babies. However, when you are constantly seeing and being reminded of the things that are going right for everyone else and not exactly going right for you like you thought they would, you begin to wonder.

Where did I go wrong?

If this isn’t you, props to you. If this is you, know that you aren’t alone. As I got home from a long weekend, I was tired, I was drained, I was confused, and I was sad. All of my time consuming other people wins led me to feel/think that there had to be something I was doing wrong.

Well, I was wrong and so are you!

  • You are exactly where you are supposed to be right now. All the trials and tribulations have led you to where you are. You have overcome more things than you know and while things may not be exactly like you want them, that doesn’t mean they aren’t already in works.

  • Remember that no one is perfect. While their social life may seem perfect, know that they are facing trials just like you and I. Everyone is human and no one is exempt from hard times or “life”.

  • You are amazing! Keep shining and don’t ever stop

So how do you not get on social media, especially when it may be your job?

A few things I am trying. I really dislike seeing notifications, when I see them, I constantly want to check them. To combat this, I have moved my apps from the first screen on my phone, all the way to the back page. When I get on for work, I schedule my posts for work and then immediately get off and close the tab. For some of my pages, I need to comment back to people, check messages etc. When it comes to this, I am scheduling a time in the morning and in the afternoon/evening to look over this stuff. When I do get on during this time, I am really conscious about how I am spending the time and making sure I am just not scrolling to scroll. Different things work for different people. What tips or tricks have you tried?

Whatever you do, know that You are Amazing and don’t forget it!

As always share some love, we could all use a little more love!

XOXO

Casey

Sometimes You Just Need to Wet a Line…

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Have you ever wondered what would happen if you just took a break? If you took all the deadlines you needed to hit, all the extra work that was required of you, all the “I need this now” and wrapped it up into a pretty little bow and said I’ll see you Monday.

Would the world end? No, definitely not. Would everything fall apart? Ehh, most likely not! Would the work still be there on Monday? Why, yes it would!

We are in a time right now where everyone demands that “their” thing be done right then and there. We want our stuff now regardless of the cost/toll it might take on other people. We are so used to having instant gratification that when something doesn’t happen right away, we seem to lose interest. Sometimes, we just need to take a step back, take a break, and learn to live again.

For me, that living again was night fishing off a dock in Matagorda this past weekend. It was fishing with my dad and bringing back all the memories of when we would do the same exact thing when I was little. We would fish “all night”, it sure felt like all night to a kiddo, get some rest and do it all over again the next day. It was fishing with my daughter, even though she may not have been as patient with the fish as I was. It was creating new memories, like seeing a rattle snake roll up on you from the dock next door and scare the bejeezus out of you. Side note here, did you know that rattle snakes can swim? I am from Texas, we are always taught to watch out for snakes, watch where you step etc. etc. I have seen pictures of people fishing in boats and have snakes swim towards them, however having it happen in person, I was not ready for! Let’s just say, I high tailed it inside and my fishing for that night was over, but not before I got a picture!

By taking that much needed break over the weekend, I was able to come home with a creative and flowing mind, ready to knock out some content. When things get hard, when you feel the stress coming on, sometimes the best solution is to stop and just have a moment. You will be surprised at the amazing things that will happen when you stop to smell the roses.

As always, share some love, we could all use a little more love!

XOXOXO

Casey

How Did You Figure Out What Your Ignites Your Soul?

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I recently read Untamed by Glennon Doyle and I loved the book. It was one of those page turners for me when I wasn’t expecting it to be. Heck, I didn’t even know what I was getting myself into just knew that the book had been recommended. While I was reading the book, so many light bulbs were going off. She writes about being in cages, basically being stuck in beliefs that we were raised on and never really giving them a second thought. When I finished the book, I knew that it was a powerful one, one that could really open the eyes of people.

Now that it has been a few weeks and I have sat with the book, it has only made open my eyes more. It has led me to thinking about finding your passion and doing things you love. 

Which always leads me back to the question, what makes my heart burn with passion? What ignites my soul? How do you figure out the answers to these questions?

I asked a friend and their response made sense. You don’t. You do what feels right and what you find fulfillment in. Which is exactly correct because the things that bring you fulfillment, bring you joy and happiness which bring you overall peace.

But what if you don’t know what fulfills you? What if you have gone for so long doing things that other people thought was best for you? Society, family, and people you know who have your best interest at heart but may not actually know what lies in your heart. Then what? What if you are so focused on keeping your head above water so that you don’t drown that you have forgotten what brings you pure happiness. Not the “oh this is fun” happiness, but the happiness that takes your breath away, the one that reminds you how amazing God really is, the happiness that you wish everyday was like.

So where do you start? I heard once long ago to just start doing things until you find something. I have tried so many things and actually enjoy a lot of them, the hard part is finding one to hone in on and actually get started. I also know that you can’t wait for things to be perfect to start, you just have to start. So here is to starting….

Share some love, we could all use a little more love

XOXOXOX

Casey

Things I wish I knew in my Twenties ….

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The past few days I have been seeing posts that say – People in your thirties, what advise do you have to give to the people in their twenties? While I did comment on some of them, I did want to share more than just one tip. So why not do what I do best and write, it is my cure for everything. Check out my Top 5 tips I wish I knew or had done in my twenties

  1. You don’t have to go to College right away or even at all.

While this is totally against what most people say and think, I am living proof that sometimes it is okay to wait to go to college. My advice would be to go see the world. Move out of your home town. Work. Travel and figure out what you want to do in life, without the influence of other people. There is a huge world out there, explore it. You never know what you will fall in love with. On top of that, if you do go back to college at an older age, you will appreciate everything you learn so much more! Trust me, this I know for a fact.

2. Do what makes you happy regardless of what society, your parents, your friends, or even your neighbors think.

You only have one life. Do not waste it trying to make someone else happy or doing something for someone else.  For so long I tried to “fit in” with what I thought was the right thing that I should be doing. Which in turn pushed aside what I really wanted to do, what my passions were.   You are your own person. Your thoughts, your feelings, your passions are yours and no one else’s. Do not let anyone take those away from you. Pursue those passions with a fire. Do things you love.

3. Save some money from every check

I waited tables and was a bartender for almost 12 years of my life and I have nothing to show for it except some great customer service skills and I know how to make a drink or two. Seriously though, regardless of how much money you make, make sure you save some of it. Save some from every paycheck or every shift you work, even if it is only $5. After 20 shifts you will have $100. Depending on how many shifts a week, that’s roughly $100 a month you are saving. Now just think, if I had done that, I would have over 14 thousand dollars in the bank not including interest. If you have a full-time job, fantastic. Make sure you set up your 401K and at the very minimum put in what you need to get your company to match you.

4. It is okay to be alone

For some reason there is this huge expectation that we have to be married right out of college and have a baby the following year. I am here to tell you, it doesn’t have to be that way. Trust me, I would love to be married and have a family but I also want it to be with the right person. Don’t ever settle because you deserve the world. If your partner isn’t willing to do for you what you are willing to do for them, then maybe just maybe they aren’t the partner for you. It is okay to wait. It is okay to not get married in your twenties. It is more than acceptable to wait for the person that sets your soul on fire.

5. Be a nice human being

There were a lot of times in my twenties when I was not a very nice person, especially since I worked in a restaurant for all of them.  Be a nice person. Show compassion and love. Show grace. No one is perfect and everyone makes mistakes. That perfect family or life you see on social media isn’t real.  Everyone has their own troubles and struggles that you may know nothing about. Be nice and spread some love.

These may seem like small tips to some but sometimes it is the little things that matter the most.

Whatever you do in your twenties, be great doing it.

And as always, spread some love. We could all use a little more love.

XOXO

Casey

Just Keep Smiling …

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I don’t know about you but this quarantine this past month or so has left me in a mix of emotions. Some days, I am on top of the world and other days it takes everything I have to get out of bed. Why is that? Why does being stuck at home only intensify the emotions you already have?

What most people see when they look at me, is a girl who seems to have it all together. You take a look at my social media and I do my very best to uplift, encourage, and inspire every day. I have an amazing child that deserves so much more than I could possibly every give. I have an amazing job that I love with everything in my soul. I just started a brand-new boutique (The Rustic Pony) that has taken off with all the support everyone has given me. This is literally a dream of mine coming true. I also am part of an amazing company that sells some of the best makeup I have ever worn. I am two classes and a thesis away from getting my Master’s degree, something that I have wanted for a long time. From the outside looking in, it sure seems like I have it all together.

Traveler1

I am here to tell you that I don’t. I am just a normal girl who has a crazy range of emotions to deal with. Just a normal person no matter how many wins she gets never comes close to getting what she really wants. A girl who has days were the tears just fall down her face no matter what she does.

I am here to tell you that life in general is hard and no matter how perfect or great someone else’s live seems; remember they are fighting battles you know nothing about. Trust me, this is coming from someone who suffers from self-esteem, confidence and depression issues. Yes, you read that correctly. I am also someone that works hard every day to stay positive. I do personal development almost every day, I try my best to surround myself with positive people who bring me up instead of drag me down. I show gratitude for everything and everyone in my life. I do my very best to trust in the Lord’s plan but sometimes that just isn’t enough.

I am here to tell you that it is okay. There will be some days that get the best of you. You have to pick yourself up though, dust yourself off, wipe your tears away and know that tomorrow will be better. You have to find something in your life worth fighting for and do whatever you can to better yourself for that reason.

Most of all you have to believe in yourself and know that you are capable of everything you have ever dreamed of. No matter how you feel keep smiling. There will be dark days but know that those days will pass and there will be better days ahead.

Keeping reaching for the stars

As always spread some love, we could all use a little more love

XOXO

Casey