Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Pinterest Recipe Review: Fish Tacos with Watermelon Salsa

Pinterest Recipe Review: Fish Tacos with Watermelon Salsa


  • Save time ( always great recipes)!
  • Save money (no wasted ingredients)!  
Don't you just hate to buy a bunch of ingredients, make a new recipe and hate it? I do. That's why I'm reviewing this recipe for Fish Tacos with Watermelon Salsa. Because I Love It! Save yourself time and money by reading Pinterest Recipe Reviews!

I found the recipe for Fish Tacos with Watermelon Salsa at dryhyman.com. I pinned it. This recipe intrigued me so much I made it the day after I first read the ingredients. The dish turned out beautifully, so colorful and delicious! 


Find the recipe here. I did not make a single modification to this recipe. The salsa is very easy to make with a combination of taste from sweet to tangy. I used white flaky grunts caught in Panacea, Florida by my brother and sister-in-laws. Dr. Hyman's Special Seasoning added to the flavorful enjoyment of this gluten-free dish. I used my Pampered Chef Grill Pan to put a sear on the fish. Marking this one as a healthy family favorite!

Tammy's Taste Stats for Flavor = 
1 =save your time, 2 =try if you got the goods, 3 =just so-so, 4 =close to Mom's and 5 =grab a recipe card
Preparation Difficulty =
 1=kid proof, 2=easy, 3=worth the time, 4=difficult and 5=enroll in culinary school

Easy Mediterranean Chicken is a FIVE for flavor

and

2 for E.A.S.Y.

Took about 15 minutes including cooking the fish!


Never buying a fish taco again. 

Making it myself,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
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Friday, June 12, 2015

How to Make your Living Room look like You Paid a Decorator

I started with my inspiration picture...

Ever drool over the beauty of a room in a magazine? You wish your home looked like that but just don't see how it could be possible. You're not a decorator?  Oh, YES YOU ARE and here's how to do it! I've listed 10 simple elements to spot and copy to get that decorator look you've always wanted. Set your inner decorator free!

TIP: Be sure when duplicating a room setting that your room is similar to the one you're lusting over. For example, compared to the picture above the similarities in my living room are:

  • the fireplace
  • TV over the fireplace
  • window to the left side of the room
  • open space to the right
  • similar room shape; square to rectangle-ish
  • wood flooring
  • a multi-light chandelier



Let's get started with 
 How to Make your Living Room Look Like You Paid a Decorator! 

I'll explain each of the numbered elements in the room that I recreated. (Please refer to the numbered picture above.) These are the things that attracted me to this room setting:
  1. Black Fireplace Mantel. The black accent in the inspiration room is a powerful statement color which according to HGTV, never goes out of style. I painted my mantle black leaving some white to resemble the fireplace in this picture. 
  2. Wall Color. I selected Valspar Aspire paint from my local Ace Hardware store. The color name is "Fog Rolls In".
  3. Black Bookcases. I positioned mine on the outside wall due to lack of space on my fireplace wall. Feel free to make some modifications when needed confidently knowing you'll get the same end result. I bought tall, skinny bookcases from sears.com. You can find them here. 
  4. Bright White Ceiling. I've always used an off-white ceiling paint but this time I chose a brilliant bright white to mimic the ceiling in my inspiration room.
  5. Black Light Fixture. My existing chandelier is simply gorgeous after two coats of black glossy spray paint. I'm excited about upcycled chandeliers. Check out another one of my projects here.
  6. Striped Accent Fabric. Two wing back chairs boldly add a striped statement to my room. Again, take some liberties and don't think you have to be so exact. I didn't have a place for benches beside the fireplace so I embraced the stripe with accent chairs instead.
  7. Gray Sofa. My search for a gray sofa left me exhausted and unsuccessful. I went with a natural earthy beige fabric sofa. I found mine locally (and the rest of my furniture) from Cochran's in Ringgold, Georgia. Their selling point was Laura Bush has five in her home. The selling point for me was comfort!
  8. Orange Throw Pillows. Love, love this accent color. Got my orange pillows!
  9. Artwork. Everything I found similar to the inspiration room was too pricey for my budget. I decided on a homey, modern feel with wooden signs.
  10. Warm Vibe. The ambiance of the inspiration room invites me to come in and sit down. My goal was to recreate a warm, welcome room using all the elements that inspired me.
You tell me...how did I do?
Taken at Christmas
Love how the fixture turned out!

My "Laura Bush" sofa and new wall pieces
I like my living areas roomy and airy. I love the inspiration room but it was a bit too cramped with furniture and fixings for my minimalist taste! Plus, my hubby has to have his recliner.  I reused my coffee table and accent tables. I'm VERY pleased with the results. My room is calming and peaceful, enjoyable to relax in. I fall more in love with the wall color every day.

I'd love to know what you think. Leave me a comment. Please share with a link or photo a room makeover you are proud of!

Feeling like a decorator,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap






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Wednesday, June 10, 2015

5 Positives to Glean from Caitlyn Jenner

bruce jenner
I don't want to keep a can of worms open but I do want to weigh-in on the Caitlyn Jenner topic. I've seen various Facebook posts from my friends that are disconcerting, unsettling at the least. I feel sad for Bruce Jenner. What would make an Olympic Champion want to change genders? We have the 20/20 Special dvr'd but I haven't watched it yet. I'm suspecting the cause goes deeper than "I've always felt more like a woman than a man."

Here are the positives I've gleaned from the highly publicized situation:

1. God wants to give us a new name. Revelation 2:17 says "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." When we overcome the world through Jesus Christ, we receive a new name. God may have already given Bruce a new name. I just doubt it is Caitlyn.

2. Judgement is scary. If you believe what the Bible says in Matthew 7:1-2 "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." I don't think you'd be criticizing Bruce Jenner. My husband calls it karma. Call it what you want, just know God has the final say-so. You could wake up tomorrow morning with the burning desire (from your flesh, of course) to change genders!

3. Is a gender change sin? I don't know. Do you? This may be too much information but I had a complete hysterectomy when I was 30. Did I change my gender? No, but I have to take estrogen to keep myself sane and female. But that's ok because mine was medically necessary, right? Of course I'm gonna think that's a better reason because it was me!  But if I really truly believed Jesus, couldn't he have healed me? Surgery was so much easier!

4. Could Caitlyn Jenner be a Christian? Possibly. I don't know the heart of Bruce Jenner and neither does anyone else except God. The Bible says we will know people by their fruit. Remember, lemons are a fruit! I've seen people whom I believed were Christians do some awfully strange things. The good news is a gender change is forgivable if it is sin. So is judging others. Don't get me wrong. I believe sin is sin is sin. I just don't agree with the way Christians pick and choose what is sin and what isn't.

5. Is Caitlyn happy now? Probably not. Bruce Jenner proved to the world that achievement, wealth and fame does not a happy man make. He'll also prove it does not a happy woman make. What people, especially Christians, must realize is God gave his son so we can have eternal life through him. That's my belief. I believe our eternal life begins the moment we accept Jesus as Savior. So here's a nugget...If you aren't internally happy right now as a Christian don't expect to die and suddenly find happiness in heaven. Ain't gonna happen!

Those are the 5 things I gleaned from Caitlyn Jenner. Do you agree, disagree, don't care? lol What have you learned from his/her situation? Reply to this post or email me at tammy.stafford@hotmail.com.

Learning and growing every day,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
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Thursday, June 4, 2015

Would Jesus Wear a T-Shirt?

t-shirt Jesus
My memoir, Labeled by Humanity, Loved by God was published in 2010. Since that time, I've shared my testimony with civic groups, church groups and just about anyone who will listen. Marketers tell me I need a brand. I have a brand new me through Jesus so I'm not sure why this is needed. But, to fit in with today's marketing, I came up with several but the one that sticks with me is....T-shirt Tammy and her Testimony! (Thanks Jan McNeill for helping finalize the brand!) Didyou think why? I'd love to tell you.

I believe Jesus would wear t-shirts. T-shirts would be the fashion statement of Jesus if he walked the earth today. T-shirts are comfortable, modest and cool. They usually display a written message. As a matter of fact, I wore a t-shirt to church this past Sunday. I didn't feel like I was dressing down for worship because Jesus accepts me just as I am. He is the Great I Am!

The thing I find special about a t-shirt is its shape. When you place your head and arms in, it resembles a cross. You are basically wearing the symbolism of Christianity! I wear a t-shirt every day. They suit me. I look best in one of them. So my brand may someday be: T-Shirt Tammy with a tagline of "Clothed in the Cross".  Do you like it? Make me happy and take the survey to the right side of this blog.

Brands and taglines really aren't that important in God's plan. Getting dressed up to go to church or other places doesn't impress God either. Yes, I know Jesus would wear a humble cotton t-shirt if he were to physically show up at church this Sunday. I'd have one on too. I hope he'd walk over to me and say "Bless you child. You're clothed in my righteousness inside and out!" Jesus gets me.

Feeling good in a t-shirt,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap
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Monday, June 1, 2015

5 Things to Do When God is Silent

What is happening when God is silent? I'm not exactly sure but I'd like to share five things that may help you through the quiet times.

I routinely do two things when I get into my car; put on my seat belt and my sunglasses. I can see better if light isn't blinding me. What happens on a rainy day? I put on my sunglasses and can't see. I have to take them off to allow light to reach my eyes. I think the same instances happen in our spiritual lives. We routinely block out "too much God" keeping him at a distance. As long as we can hear him, feel him and know He's present; we pray routine prayers, attend routine church services and lead routine lives. When God is silent, we can't feel him and begin to wonder where He is. We feverishly start searching for the light, His Light!

The Bible says in Pslam 28:1 "Unto thee will I cry, O Lord my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit." What's in the pit? Darkness! The same kind of darkness we feel when God is silent and the darkness we see when we wear sunglasses on an overcast day.

Five Things to Do When God is Silent:

  1. Praise Him. Tell God how powerful and mighty He is. Let him know you believe he's busy orchestrating his grand plan and you're available when he's ready to talk.
  2. Repent. We haven't sinned every time God is silent. But, repentance is a fresh cleansing for the soul. Repenting feels so good! 
  3. Hold On. He's Coming. Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. He's always near you even when you can't hear him or feel him. Soon you'll feel him slip his hand into yours or hug you with those great big arms. Everything's gonna be alright!
  4. Listen Attentively. Do you ever start your day expecting to hear from God? I do! Sometimes I get troubled and don't listen as closely as I should. I couldn't write last week. This week, I've had my heart open and listening with elephant ears!
  5. Believe Him....for everything. He is able. 

Have you ever been given the "silent treatment" by your spouse or your children or maybe you've given someone the silent treatment? Has someone ever begged you to talk? God may be giving us the silent treatment so we'll beg him to speak to us. He may be silent so we will become better listeners. Whatever the cause, you know the reason God is silent in your life. Break your routine. Take those stunner shades off and let the Son shine in!

Listening more intently,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

What do you do when God is silent in your life? Comments are welcomed.
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