Bread…

I literally love bread! I do not think it makes you fat. And here’s why! It has to do with moderation. And good ingredients! I am a firm believer in having what you want but learning what your body needs. Bread done right is not horrible for you or your waistline, especially in small amounts. Especially if you aren’t really allergic to the ingredients. Anything that you have too much of is a problem. Having said all of that, I do understand that not all bread is made the same. Have you ever looked at what is in your loaf of bread? Have you seen the comparisons of what used to be in a loaf of bread versus what is now in a loaf of bread? The simple truth in healthy eating is that anything that has to be made in one place and shipped or stored in another for an undetermined amount of time will require chemicals and things that make it shelf stable and last longer. My grandmother made bread everyday. We used to shop at the “bread store” when I was younger. Merita had a store on Old Pineville Rd. Now we shop at a grocery store and our bread comes from who-knows-where. Even some of the baker’s breads, like LaBrae, will have stabilizers and additives to make them last longer, but those are better for your gut and the environment, and yet so much more expensive. So my solution has been this journey of making my own bread.

My favorite sourdough loaf so far!

I started with a really terrible relationship with yeast. I tried for years to made bread in a bread maker, then just dough of any type, like pizza dough, with yeast. Nothing really turned out well in my house. Until I moved into my new house! The only thing I can figure is that the old house was drafty and often cold. Seriously! Dough would not rise in my old house! Now I have no problems making yeast breads, pizza dough, you name it. I’ve really had some yummy successes in the last 3 years since we moved.

My relationship with bread comes from my Dad! He could make the best bread and cornbread, and did so at least once a week.

Then my friend at church brought me some of her sourdough starter. I was so intimidated! But she walked me through step by step what to do. I don’t need the science behind it, just the directions. I have had my ups and downs. One time I thought I put too much water and the dough looked really runny, but once it baked, it was perfect with big airholes and chewyness except it molded stored on the counter for 4 or 5 days. Another time I didn’t put the oven temp high enough and the inside of the bread didn’t cook. But there have been way more successes than failures! Here are some things that I have learned…

• There are a million recipes and directions out there I’ve always been told that baking is exact and that is really why I shy away from it. But it is not! Choose one method and stick with it long enough to feel comfortable experimenting away from it.

My first experiment…tiny loaves for Christmas presents for my friends!

• Don’t invest in a bunch of things until you know you want to continue doing it. You can proof your loaf in the pan or bowl. You can use bread pans, clay bakers, whatever to bake them in. The starte can be stirred with a knife and covered with a towel. Don’t overcomplicated it!

• Plan your schedule. The one down side I’ve found is that it is time consuming and requires a plan…the starter has to sit for 12 hours, the dough sits for 12 hours, the dough proofs for an hour before baking. I personally take my starter out to warm it up on Friday AM, Feed it Friday PM, Make the dough Sat AM, proof and bake Sat PM. Different recepies will have different steps and times, but it will take you 2 days or so to make bread. Where as yeast bread can take just 6-8 hours.

• Be part of the community. Where ever you get your starter or favorite recipe or favorite process from will create a community. Follow people on social with different ideas. Take tips from any one who will offer them. The friend I started with and I talk about sourdough every time we see each other! She will try something new and share it with me. I send her pics of all the things I try. It really is all about being part of that community!

My First Loaf!

I think the biggest lesson is just to try! Don’t be scared! Cooking good food has always been an accomplishment for me. Making that first beautiful, perfect loaf gave me such a sense of self sufficiency. I don’t have to depend on buying bread from a bakery or store. I don’t have to have fancy equipment or tons of time on my hands. I can make something really good and healthy for me and my family right here in my own home with my own two hands. Absolutely worth it!

Oh So Thankful

I can’t help but answer those security questions that ask what is your favorite holiday with Thanksgiving. Yes, I love the Christmas season for it’s nostalgia and traditions. And our family and friends really enjoy the creativity and theatrics of Halloween. But Thanksgiving to me is the perfect day. A day devoted to food and family. As much as I love my church, I don’t have to be anywhere for a service. The stress of cooking all day isn’t stress for me at all but a respite for my soul. Pouring my love and thankfulness into whatever meal I choose to prepare. Then gathering somewhere with some people to enjoy the food, the conversation, and the time that passes. There’s football on or played outside. We always take a walk or hike or do something physical to burn off all that we ate. But the real reason it is my favorite is the focus.

This is the only holiday where you are meant to spend the day trying to think only of the gifts you’ve been granted. I think this practice comes easily for me, but I’ve noticed over the years that it doesn’t for others. Whether it is their negative mindset or their selfish desires, it is sometimes difficult for people of any economic or social stature to take a time to just sit in the thankfulness of simple things. I, personally, make it a daily business practice to declare 1 thing that I am thankful for that day. It is a section in my Planner (https://www.canva.com/design/DAGW7rIBiTk/JlvQXEukf0O9oKri5-91DA/view?utm_content=DAGW7rIBiTk&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h0a552cb279 – 2026 will be available in December. Designs can be customized.) But some people lack that ability because it isn’t a skill they were taught. I wanted to make sure I taught that skill to my little people (and the teenagers I taught for years) so I would come up with a way every year that people could express gratitude for things even in the most undesirable life stages and situations. Here are a few great ideas I’ve gather, and some I’ve used over the years, to make an activity for your Thanksgiving gathering…

Gratitude Centerpiece – Since it should be the center of your feast anyway, why not create a centerpiece out of all the things you and your guests are thankful for! Use a mason jar, flower vase, special turkey shaped ceramic, or a tree. Decorate with leaves, nuts, cranberries and your favorite ribbon and accessories. I’ve found easy to use items at the Dollar Tree. Fill the centerpiece with notes or cut out leaves where everyone has written something they are thankful for.

Gratitude Journal – This one is great if you like to give your guests small party favors! It could be very inexpensive, or you could really go all out. Wrap a journal for every person to take home as a gift. Inside the front cover of each journal, tape or glue a list of Gratitude Journal Prompts. You could gift them a simple small notebook, again Dollar Tree has great ones in the stationary section. Or search Etsy for a beautiful bound leather journal. I like the ones that you can change out the paper inside like This One. Wrap the journals in brown craft paper and attach beautiful ribbon or decoration to the gift with their name to use as place setting markers at the table.

Thankful Table Runner – I’ve done this for the entire week leading up to Thanksgiving! Tape a long piece of paper to the wall and have everyone write a different thing they are thankful for on it every morning. Wrapping paper or craft paper work well for this. One year we had a piece of cardboard painted with chalkboard paint. Find some pretty pens or pencils, pain pens, or chalk paint pens to store close by on a string or in a jar. Write (or print out) something big in the middle. Use this as your table runner for Thanksgiving dinner, or just leave it there through the hustle and bustle of presents and Christmas.

Gratitude Game – There are some great ideas out there! Search Pintrest to find more, but this is my favorite. Everyone rolls the dice. The number they land on tells them what they have to say they are greatful for. You can purchase these on Etsy or just make them yourself. I would make this the placesetting at the table, maybe with their name on it, and let everyone write down what they are thankful for. You may even go find different die and theme it out (IYKYK)!

Picture Op – Everyone (especially younger ones) enjoys a good photo op. And we never get enough pictures at Thanksgiving! You can have these made or make them yourself. Create a frame for everyone to take a photo in. It would be really neat to have them write what they are thankful for and a way to change it for every person. Make a corner of your home the Photo Booth. Include props and signs that say what everyone is thankful for. I have some great ideas for that (and many other things) in my Holidays Pinterest Board.

Most importantly, take some time this November to think, write, and say outloud some of the things that you have to be thankful for. Think about the simple things that we take for granted everyday. Things that you can’t live without. Things that there are probably people in this world that do live without. Things that make you and your life unique to this world. There is a ton of research out there that proves some type of gratitude practice can lead to more physical and emotional health. Even if you or your guests and family don’t turn this in to a “practice”, it is a great way to frame the reason for this season…especially a we gear up for the next season!

A Return to “Normal”

Is it even possible??

I really dislike using that word…NORMAL. Could someone define that for me?? Does it mean a 9-5 job in an office? Two children and a white picket fence? The point is, normal is different for everyone. I hear people say all the time, “I just want a normal life.” Really, no ones life is normal. Humans have a way of making life work. We sure have been “making life work” for the last almost 2 years! As some major corporations are contemplating bringing workers back to the office in the new year, there is a lot to process, consider, and even plan. Maybe foremost on our mind is the fact that COVID is still around. We started quarantining and working from home because it existed, and it still does, so why would we consider going back to “normal”. The truth is it’s always going to exist. And variations of it have existed for years. We have got to get through some of the fear, use the knowledge that we have gained, and create an environment where people can be successful and thrive.

“If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.”

Maya Angelou

Set Boundaries – What are you and the people you live with comfortable with? At this point we have all reached a limit. We know by now what we are comfortable with and what we are not. Some of us are comfortable wearing masks everywhere and all the time. Some of us prefer to stay away from people. I find myself being a mixture. I see the importance of live meetings, but understand the risk and apprehension involved. I find myself keeping live stuff to really important things that can’t be done any other way while trying to scale back on the random times out in public or in a crowd. We need to not only set the boundaries for ourselves and our families, but we need to feel comfortable communicating them. It cannot be an atmosphere where people feel afraid of doing what makes them comfortable. At least not yet. This will be a time to test the waters and see where we can go from here. Collaboration is important for many businesses and school is imperative for kids. We have to find a common ground.

Getting Healthy doesn’t mean loosing weight.

Get Healthy – I really wish we could have some serious conversations about how food is medicine. I’m not saying you won’t get COVID or you can cure it with the right diet, but it does make your immune system stronger to fight the virus, and any other illnesses that might come our way. Start with leafy-green vegetables. This is the #1 best source for anti-oxidants that can boost immunity and fight off free radicals. Berries make great warriors too. Try adding a smoothie to your day, whether just for breakfast or an afternoon boost instead of coffee. What if you added a salad to your day? Salads are easy to pack as to-go lunches. The toppings and dressing may not make them “low- fat”, but the bed of greens you add stuff to can make it a health punch! Staying healthy may mean vaccine, maybe that means vitamins, maybe that means loose weight. This is a great time to do double duty on the healthy trip and keep your body fighting germs.

My new favorite smoothie recipe: 4 oz V8 Carrot Ginger, 4 oz vanilla almond milk, 6-8 mango chunks, 1 tsp. turmeric…blend and enjoy!

Stay Flexible – Things are definitely going to change. We are going to see times where schools go to remote learning or events that get turned into Zoom calls. It is important to keep that in your mind. It may mean that we still need an at-home learning space for the kids or private office space for Zoom meetings. When the teenager is late for school and my entire schedule gets turned upside down, I get super frustrated! I’ve learned this year to prepare a little flexibility into my schedule. Mentally decide which activities can be moved around and which cannot. The mental exercise of rearranging my schedule is a little calming in itself. We are still being asked to do things a little out of the normal, so mixing that with what used to be normal may take a little mental exercise.

The Real Estate industry didn’t really slow down pre-post-or during the pandemic. We made changes on the fly. And we are keeping most of those…masks are required to see houses, no overlapping appointments, trainings are still virtual or at least have a virtual option. But business is kicking right along! People want to move! Inventory is still super needed with about 5 buyers to every seller. Interest rates are still low enough to save you some money on a monthly payment from pre-pandemic rates. And sellers are still able to get top dollar for their home at a rate of about 19% over pre-pandemic values. We are also beginning to have conversations of dealing with an influx of foreclosures or bank owned properties. I am very interested to see how that whole market levels out and have done some training and preparation to deal with those opportunities.

I am looking forward to a great 2022! Yes, I am a glass-half-full person. Positive energy into the atmosphere will send me positive energy back. That is what I believe. My word for the year is still HELP, same as last year, because I think there are so many more people that will need my HELP in 2022. Whatever your outlook for the year, Good Luck and don’t be Normal!

Happy Fall Y’all!

It is my favorite time of year!!! Maybe because it’s my birthday season! Maybe because it’s Halloween and “witches” are finally cool! But this year I decided to explore a little deeper into why I love this season so much. Have you ever felt a real connection to the Earth? I think I do more in the fall. It’s like the energy, colors, harvest and celebration make me a more productive human, a better person, even a better Real Estate Agent.

Favorite Time of Year

THE COLORS:When I was a kid, my mother did this color matching thing that helped you understand what type of colors worked well for your skin tone and personality. We were all definitely “Warm” color palettes! And those are all the colors of Fall. What I realized is that those deep dark colors of the leaves as they change is that fall really matches my personality too. I enjoy a full-bodied life. The things I consume are that way as well. Food is heavy with flavor, drinks are full of tannins or malts, books have rich and deep stories. After a visit last year to Colorado, I saw the difference in the green mountains of North Carolina that I love so much from the Rockies in the west, but that doesn’t even begin to compare to the beauty that happens when those greens turn to gold and burgundy and orange. It literally does something to my soul. The change is a powerful miracle that I’m not even sure of the scientific specifics, though I’ve heard it and taught it to my children so many times. That change gives me hope, because after all the humans mimic what happens to the Earth, since we are nothing more than Earth ourselves. If the Earth can go through such drastic changes to create so much immense beauty, so can we.

THE ENERGY: I feel a different energy in the air. Maybe it’s created by the pull of the Earth away from the sun. Maybe it’s created by the cool temperatures. It could even be the lack of humidity in the air after a summer of thickness. All of those things seem to make it easier to do things. It gives me energy to work harder and longer. I even see it in the animals on the farm. The horses always get a little more frisky this time of year. Our old guy Tyson, who you can’t get to run in the summer, will just take off in these months. I don’t work horses very much in the summer because the heat is too much, in my opinion, but once the temps begin to cool, we are back in the arena putting on some muscle mass. The boys here have gained a few pounds on all that summer grass. Now it’s time to turn that into muscle.

THE HARVEST: If you don’t go to the Farmer’s Market this time of year, you are really missing out! And if you don’t have a local one, find one to deliver! My favorite delivery is Misfit Market, but there are tons of local farms that will ship. My favorite thing to do is go to the local farmers market to meal plan for the week. Our last market find was homemade pasta. I really enjoyed building meals around the homemade tortilini, ravioli and gnocchi we found. Sometimes I can find bushels of older produce that I can take home and can for the winter. One day I will get back to my own harvest. The nights of shelling peas and snapping beans in front of the TV are not over for me. I dream of a pantry full of Ball jars with all kinds of concoctions. I will be apple picking in the next week. Then there will be a trip to pick pumpkins and gourds for processing and drying. In preparation for my garden next year I’m going to try to do a little seed banking this year! I’ve been reading about it in ancient cultures. The people who held the seeds in a village held the power! I don’t have a green thumb by any stretch, or any power for that matter, but I am sure going to try!

THE CELEBRATION: The beauty of it all is that it culminates in my absolutely favorite holiday…Thanksgiving! It is the only holiday that is truly, solely about food. My favorite day where I spend all day in the kitchen and all week prepping. It celebrates 3 of my favorite F words Food, Family, and Football. What could be better than eating with your favorite people and falling asleep in front of the game or starting your own outside in the cool air. I spend time making crafts and decorations and dessert (which I never make because I don’t measure things). When my native ancestors would gather from the fields and preserve and store and then give thanks…I fell connected to that, or at least I try to. And as I get older, I find the need to try a little harder every year to connect to that. It’s not trendy and people don’t understand why I do it. They say it’s “harder”. But how can something that your people have been doing for hundreds of years be harder than the basic, plastic stuff people try to do now?!

August was a busy month! I think the cooler temps will make the market even more active.

OH WHAT DOES THE MARKET DO?? And I don’t mean Farmer’s Market. Traditionaly Spring is the busiest time for Real Estate. People are looking to move through the summer and settle down for fall. But after the spring, and heck the last 18 months, we could all use a “settle down”. In the 4 years I’ve been in Real Estate, the Fall has been my favorite. I do think this year we will see a calming of sorts where people are actually able to get into the homes they want and maybe even have a selection of homes to look through. BUT, with the right tools and techniques, none of that really matters. Yes, I can likely get you the financing. Yes, I can find you a beautiful home in your budget. And Yes, the price you pay might be higher than what you would get it for in maybe 12 months…BUT the interest rate will be lower!!! Find yourself a mortgage calculator and do some quick math…$370K house at a 3.5% interest rate ($1675) vs. a $350K house at a 5% interest rate ($1840)…https://www.mortgagecalculator.org The rates are already starting to climb. There is some fear that the Fed will make some changes. I met with a lender this past week that has a program at $0 down, 3.5% for a 640 credit score that’s a conventional loan. Yes, Real Estate is about price. But sooooo much goes into that price. Fall is my favorite time to sell houses!!

I hope you enjoy all the cool temps, amazing food, and beautiful scenery!

You do not control everything; just the story!

My best friend once called me a control freak. I argued with her over and over. But, it was true. I think it was because I always believed I was in control of what happened to me. When bad things happened it was my fault. It took a lot of blame, guilt and shame to understand that is not the case. We do not have control over everything that happens to us, but we may be able to control the effect that event has on the rest of our lives.

Take time to make real lemonade! Here’s my favorite recipe: https://pin.it/5NRCF9F

My mother always called it “making lemonade”. Life hands you lemons and you make lemonade! I cannot begin to explain the amount of lemonade I have made in my life (literally and figuratively). I had a realization the other day that my amount of lemonade is likely no different to anyone else’s. Even those who are seemingly #blessed have faced a fair share of disappointment. We CANNOT grow as fast from success as we can from failure. If you were handed everything that you thought you needed at the time, where would you be today? Think about it! I would have 5 children with my first husband! Insert eye roll emoji (which is by far my favorite)!

Whatever you have today, let it fuel your future story. Maybe it needs to create your right-now story. We do NOT control this pandemic. We do NOT control stay at home orders or toilet paper shortages. We DO control what we do! We have power to use our time at home for good. Most importantly, we DO control what our mind creates during this time. Do you know that 77% of your thoughts in a day are negative? Here are a couple of tips to help you deal with the things you do not control:

MAKE A PLAN If you need a schedule to maintain sanity, make it! But if you just need a “Here’s what we are doing today,” that’s okay too. But allow yourself the freedom to change it or break it!

FIND PROJECTS Not like mowing the grass, but now is the time to do things you never had time to do before. Make them lofty goals and major endeavors. We have plenty of time.

GO OUTSIDE Sunshine is the only real source of Vitamin D…and that helps your immune system. Period.

REST What a great time to get 8 hours of sleep a day! Your immune system needs that. Your brain needs that. Your mood needs that. But make sure you have a time to get up.

EXERCISE There are tons of online exercise options right now! Many trainers, dancers, gyms, equipment manufacturers are offering free sessions. Search YouTube and the internet! My faves…The Journey Junkie, Yoga Girl, CLI Studios, Twitch and Allison Holker.

COOK Food fuels your body! Do you have a favorite food that you can’t get right now? Have you always wanted to master some recipe? I’ve always wanted to master making bread!

INTERACT Call people! Write letters! FaceTime! Zoom! Send smoke signals! Something! Humans require interaction…we are social beings, so find a way to talk to someone about something somehow.

I did not control or create the abuse I suffered during 2 marriages. I did not cause the financial hardship my family has always endured. I was never able to alter the way men objectified and treated me. There is no way to take power over the senseless deaths and injuries suffered by my friends and family. I DID control the ability to walk away from abusers. I CREATED financial security for my family. I LEARNED that the objectification was the reason for 2 abusive marriages, not my inabilities to commit or judge people. I FIND spiritual solace in the memories of the ones I’ve loved that no longer exist on this earth. The point is that none of these things made me a worse person, they made me better!

Strawberry Season

For this Southern Girl, berry season is a momentous occasion!  It means the beginning of summer and all things fresh.  I don’t mind the heat and humidity, when it means I can eat all kinds of fresh fruit and veggies.  Ya see, I don’t buy strawberries in October, or tomatoes in December, because that’s not when they are in season, so the reward of waiting until the opportune moment is a farmhouse sink full of ripe, juicy strawberries that have to be washed, cut, frozen, cooked, jellied, or just eaten (that’s my favorite!).  Many of my friends call me crazy…”modern technology makes strawberries available all the time”…”I don’t have time to do all those strawberries before they go bad”…”why work so hard when you can just go to the store and buy them”.  Sorry, y’all, but 2 hours spent with my kids at the strawberry farm then an hour washing and processing (while munching) seems like a much better way to spend my Saturday!

Here’s my favorite thing to do with them:

Strawberry Shortcake

Cut about 2 cups of strawberries into extra small pieces.  Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar and stir.

Cut a slice of Entenmann’s Pound Cake (or make your own, but even I’m not that ambitious!).

Whip up some homemade whip cream by combining whipping cream, a little sugar (to your liking) and a splash of vanilla.  Turn the mixer on a high setting and let it go. (Homemade whip cream is not ambitious; it’s easy!)

Layer on a plate or in a bowl and enjoy!

{Got some extra calories stored up from eating that salad for lunch?  Replace the whip cream with vanilla ice cream!}