Chocolate Covered Strawberries

 

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Great sexy finger food


What you will need:

 1 (12oz) package semi-sweet chocolate chips 
 1 package fresh strawberries


What you will do:


1. In one pot fill halfway with water, bring to a boil and reduce heat.

2. In second pot add chocolate chips. Place the pot with chocolate chips over the pot with hot water. This will create a double boiler and prevent the chocolate from burning. Heat the chocolate stirring continually until melted.

3. While chocolate is warm dip strawberries one by one holding from the stem. Make sure strawberries are dry to prevent them from sticking.

4. Place on platter lined with wax paper. Continue dipping all strawberries until you have coated them all with the warm chocolate.

5. Place in fridge and let chocolate set. Enjoy with champagne and your favorite person.

"House Hunter" the show vs Reality of House Hunting

If you have even seen the show “House Hunters” it makes the house buying scenario look exciting. You get to view three houses that fit your price range and criteria. It seems almost like a lamp you rub, three houses magically appear and you can choose from one. Seems pretty simple and fun right?

As a personal assistant for a successful real estate agent, I can assure you this is not always the case. The buyer has several choices to make before the final decision is made. “House Hunters” shows the three as only options.

On the television the agent shows the three properties with ease and the final decision is made. From working in the field that would be a great reality. However, many times the agent shows several properties and the buyer still hasn’t found something that satisfies their needs. The show doesn’t tell you about the cost of gas and time spent on viewing all these properties.

Another aspect to keep in mind is financing. House Hunters does not show you the process you must complete before purchasing a home. If the buyers financing is not established before hand or they cannot qualify for a loan the buyers won’t be able to get a house no matter how many properties they view. House Hunters does not bring this point up.

House Hunters always has an easy happy ending. The reality of it is at the end of the day if the buyer has not found the house of their dreams the search continues. Some agents spend time and money showing all these properties and their clients simply walk away and decide not to buy. This is a sad ending because the agent doesn’t get paid by simply showing property. They get paid by actually selling the property.

The concept of the show House Hunters is a wonderful concept. Sure we all want to find our dream home easy and with three great choices to choose from. The buyer goes home at the end of the day with keys in their hand and looking forward to their new life. The agent has done their job of enhancing someone’s new life and even got paid for it. It’s a great show!

However when starting the house hunting process in real life do not base it on the reality show. You may have great luck and find your dream property in one easy try. Keep in mind you may go through trials as a buyer. As an agent the three house hunter rule may not work for your client. Just enjoy the show for what it is… entertainment.

Gender Bias Entertainment

I recently read an article in Cosmo magazine implying the only time females should watch the Superbowl is for the half time show. I was actually quite astonished this coming from a highly respected female magazine. Sure it isn't every girls big dream to sit down and watch a Superbowl game but why should it be limited to the male species alone?

On the flip side I even heard negative comments about how females shouldn't even preform during half time at a Superbowl game because its a "man's sport". What exactly defines a "mans sport" anyways? I know many respectable adult males that do not enjoy the game of football. That is not my place to judge how "manly" this makes them.

I realize we have certain stereotypes and gender roles that are usually followed in today's society. As a female I sure wouldn't want several guys twice or three times my size chasing me down a football field..  it would be physically impossible for me to tackle most of them. However I do enjoy watching a good game of football and seeing a good football performance as an individual.

So where do people get across drawing a line between what is female/male entertainment only? Should ladies now be banned from action movies and males banned from romantic "chick flicks" (even though I'm sure some would not mind)?

Now, I'm not saying men should go around painting their nails bright pink and women should start learning to urinate standing up (unless that's your thing, best of luck). I'm stating that just because an individual enjoys something that is not the norm for that gender it shouldn't be a judgement. So where do we draw the ten yard line between what is acceptable female/male entertainment?

Change Your Attitude, Change Your Life

 

Don't just get a job; Build a career

Don't just make a living; Make a life

Don't just have a relationship; Fall in love

Don't just talk to someone; Build a connection

Don't just give advice; Inspire Someone

Don't just eat; Enjoy a meal

Don't just write a book; Tell a story

Don't just make a schedule; Pursue a goal

Don't just judge; Understand

Don't just read; Gain knowledge

Don't just go to school; Become Educated

Don't just travel; Experience a new place

Don't just hang out with someone; Enjoy Someones Company

Don't just live; Experience Life

 

 

 

 

Game on Salsa

Looking for a easy yummy Recipe for Playoffs or Superbowl? Enjoy!! From my book "Good Cooking for Bad Girls".

Game On Salsa

Everyone will be your biggest fan when you serve this!

 

What you will need:

·         1 16 oz Mexican queso dip

·         1 10 oz can of rotel well drained

·         1 lb ground beef

·         1/3 cup fresh chopped cilantro

·         Pepper to taste

What you will do:

1.       Brown Ground Beef with cilantro. Drain

2.       Microwave queso dip in 30 sec intervals stirring until liquidity.

3.       Combine ground beef, queso dip, and drained rotel in large bowl.

4.       Season to taste and serve with tortilla chips.

Cheating tips:

·         Use different types of rotel to add flavor. Some rotel are mild, spicy or include different spices.

·         In a hurry? Use a jar of queso dip therefore there is no melting the cheese dip required.

 

Find this and more recipes in "Good Cooking For Bad Girls" by Tori Bradley, available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble online, Omega bookstore

Mutual Facebook Page.. YES OR NO?

I think its wonderful when you find someone who truly enhances your life and you fall head over heels in love with. That feeling of knowing you have found someone who you want in your life forever and have such a wonderful connection with is what most of us are striving for. We all want to be loved and appreciated and have someone to build a wonderful life with.

Now logically I have to say that I am absolutely blown away with the new concept of mutual facebook pages. Where has the individuality gone? Now you are no longer your own person but just a part of someone else? This may offend many and I truly congratulate you for your success. Success is different for many people and by all means, if changing your relationship status and becoming a "whole" by being with someone else is your equivalent of success, then be my guest. I am no better than anyone else and do not claim to be... My ideas of success may be very different than others and I do not choose to live by others standards.

"Why wouldn't you want to have a mutual page together with the love of your life and no matter what storm you will weather it together?" I ask myself. Look at society, we as women have become so socialized to believe that marriage is a must and sign of success. A huge celebration is thrown in honor of a bride; who must get the most elaborate dress, the most sparkling expensive ring and brag to all her friends of how she has finally settled down with the man of her dreams and this will be the happiest day of her life. It appears as showing off a trophy that you finally convinced one of the better male species to commit to your desires to live happily ever after.

So what happens when the honey moon stay wears off? When bills come in, reality sets in and the gloss comes off the finish? Is happily ever after really having him taking over your bathroom in the morning (because of last night’s taco bell) when you need to prep for work? Does happily ever after consist of doing their dirty laundry with a smile after working all day and putting a gourmet dinner on the table? Sometimes you take the good with the bad, sure I can accept that.

However this idealistic idea of romance somehow fizzles with time. Sure you will enjoy their company and the person will still bring butterflies to your stomach (in good and bad ways) and give you that happiness you desire with someone. There will be times when you will disagree. This happens with anyone. It can occur in daily life with friends, family, lovers, etc. What happens when that occurs? You have now invested all your energy into one person and have no one to vent to.

So you go on your facebook page to vent or get advice and NOPE- sorry you have one page together. The instant you email a friend to tell them your predicament you have just stirred up a whole new problem. Consider if something tragic happens and gosh forbid things don't work out (of course you already know it will) then what do you do? You have lost your independence and are solely dependent on someone to complete you... How will you go on?

I feel like as a couple you should both have something to bring to the table. The idea of a relationship should be to enhance each other’s life, not own it. When all is said and done, you are your own person with your own ideas and values. Sure your mate may share many of these but there may be some variations of disagreements along the way. I tell you as an individual... Do not lose yourself along the way.

 

Critics

As a writer I have discovered there are a lot of critics in the world. I don't think anyone really wants to be criticized. Sure we all want to hear "Wow that was perfect! Good job!". However it does not always seem to work out that way. Sometimes we roll our eyes and ignore the criticism completely or we over analzye it to the point we feel we are unworthy.

I have realized there is a fine line between criticism and judgement. Criticism stems from someone looking at your work (or whatever it is your doing) and making an announcement of how it could be done better. Judging is someone elses (sometimes bias) opinion of how things should be done.

As individuals we have to choose what criticism to accept and consider. We are all only human and we all make mistakes. If we listen to the criticism, and consider it as something that would help we are opening ourselves up for improvement. However if we disregard every opinion we have closed our minds to any improvements that could benefit us.

Knowing the difference between criticism and judgement can be difficult  at times to distinguish. However if someone is saying "that is wrong" or "that is bad" its usually judgement that should be disregarded. Ignore the negative comments and disrespect. However if someone is telling you "what to do to improve" its probley worth putting some consideration in.

In the long run we know what works best for us. Don't dwell on the negative but look forward to each positive improvement to make yourself the best YOU!