My word is my bond. Superstar Me

hiatus

hʌɪˈeɪtəs/

noun

1. a pause or break in continuity in a sequence or activity.

Have I been on a hiatus? Yes and no. 

There has been a definite break in continuity of the blog, but everything else has moved forward at the speed of light. 

I promised you something the last time I posted and I've made good on that promise. Life never let me lose sight of it. 

Superstar Me: Adanna and the Dog Star.

Sample Page from the book

Available on Amazon

Click the link below to watch the EXCITING book trailer and get your copy now!!

www.starinspiredbooks.com

This book has evolved so much from its beginning concept, through illustrations, illustrators, and elements; but what never changed was the purpose for writing it, which is to be a part of the availability of diverse books that empower and inspire children universally, but especially for children of the African diaspora.

Sneak Peak

I've been missing for quite a while, but I've been working on something wonderful for you guys!

I promise!

Here's a sneak peak!

Seize the Day!

#HappyThursday

Just call it pizza Part 2! - Black bean goodness

Hey!

Excited to bring you another new healthy recipe I found for the kids.

Its easy...Its delicious and full of goodness.


Mom Tips: 
There's no meat or dairy. You can feel free to add your choice or cheese or cheese alternative if you wish.

If making some for the whole family, add the jalapeno on top of the pizza rather than in the black bean dip. 

Ingredients

4 corn tortillas, or whole-wheat tortillas (6-inches in diameter) I used Ezekiel Sprouted wraps
1/2 cup Black Bean Dip, recipe follows
1 large tomato, seeded and diced
1 cup shredded green cabbage
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Place the tortillas onto a baking sheet and spread 2 tablespoons of black bean dip on top of each tortilla. Top with tomato and cabbage and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the pizzas from the oven and sprinkle some cilantro on each one. Allow to cool slightly before cutting into wedges.

Black Bean Dip:
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon minced jalapeno pepper
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 tablespoons lime juice
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1 tablespoon water
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Heat the oil in a skillet over a medium heat. Add onions and saute until they soften, about 2 minutes. Stir in the garlic and jalapeno and cook for 1 minute more.

Put the beans into a food processor. (I used a blender and a spoon and it was fine.)  Add the onion mixture and the rest of the ingredients and puree until smooth.

Yield: 1 cup

Recipe courtesy of the Food Network

Let's just call it "pizza" - Helping mom's serve healthy alternatives. pt.1

I dedicate this post to all the mom's that are seeking healthy alternatives for their picky kids, especially toddlers and those that have allergies and eczema.

I used to think that a tummy full with some veggies on the side was a good thing. We have to make sure our kids are fed right? Eat all their dinner right?
But having a toddler who refuses fruits and veggies even though I do, got me thinking. PLUS..I now know that the truth is...a tummy full is not a tummy full anymore.
GMO's, PROCESSED JUNK....INGREDIENTS WE CANT SPELL!!....  Time to take back our lives...


Introducing a healthy 0 meat, 0 "cheese", 0 "milk", chock full of veggies, filled with proteins and vitamins dish, that I like to call "Let's just call it pizza"

(In adult language, its a frittata with zucchini, mushrooms and tomatoes. Please don't tell your kids its loaded with veggies until after they're done. :-))

Ingredients/Shopping List:

(Semi-domestic mommy tip: You can copy and paste this right into your smart phone notepad or into an email and then open at the grocery store.)

1 1/2 cups of roughly chopped Ripe tomatoes.
( Fresh is great, but canned organic roasted or whole is a good choice too)
1 cup sliced baby bella or white Mushrooms
Egg Replacer or 2 eggs and 4 eggwhites ( depending on your kids dietary needs or allergies
1/2 large Zucchini thinly sliced
1/2 cup of red onions finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic minced/crushed
1-2 TBSP  olive oil ( preferably extra virgin)
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 - 1 cup of shredded vegan mozzarella
Black pepper to taste
1 tbsp chopped oregano

(***Note: You can either use four eggs and 1/2 cup almond milk or simply follow the above. )

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Prepare veggies:

Chop tomatoes or open canned tomatoes and place in a dish
Slice zucchini and then half them into semi circles.
Slice mushrooms
Finely dice red onion

If using almond milk Measure your Almond milk and then mix with the 4 whole eggs

Grate the vegan mozarella ( You can find this in your specialty aisles at the food store or at your local vegan or health store.)

If using eggs and whites or egg and egg white replacers. Separate your 2 whole eggs and 4 eggwhites, then whisk them til theyre nice and frothy.

Heat an oven safe frying pan over medium high heat. When ready, place the olive oil in to heat slightly ( remember that heating any oil to high temps makes it toxic!)
Reduce heat and then saute the mushrooms, garlic and onions. About 3-5 minutes. (Make sure they do not char or burn! :-)

Add sliced zucchinis on top to layer. Then add tomatoes. And a pinch of salt evenly over. ( Starting to feel like we're making pan top lasagna huh? lol)

Let those veggies cook about 3-5 more minutes

Pour your egg mixture over the vegetables. Then add another pinch of salt, ( optional) and black pepper to taste (optional). Let cook for two minutes on low.

Place in oven for 7-10 minutes only. Checking with a table knife to make sure its cooked through.

MAKE SURE YOU USE YOUR OVEN MITT OR TOWEL TO TAKE OUT OF THE OVEN!!! Or else! You've been warned.

Invert onto a large round dish, or slice pizza style right in the pan and serve!

Social Networks - The TRUTH OF WHO YOU ARE!

Y'all remember MySpace, Hi5, BlackPlanet ?......The era of the social network!




Everyday we turn on our laptops, or smart pads and connect to a source before we do anything else.

Usually that source is a social network.

We are seemingly addicted to plugging in to other's lives.

But what is it really all about?

The internet is a living, 'breathing' thing! A consciousness.

We decide what part of that consciousness we want to align ourselves to.

Look at your Facebook friends.  Look at their names..their aliases....their pictures....Read their posts. Are they largely ignorant, bitching, catty, sarcastic....or mostly political, revolutionary, philosophical? Know that you create your space in these social networks; It is an insight to the connections that you willfully make because of WHO YOU ARE.

Check out your twitter timeline. Is it mostly uplifting, full of movers and shakers, thinkers and consciousness,.....or riddled with mindless banter to fill up the spaces between your obligations?

The people we log in to watch, stalk or interact with...are an extension of our consciousness.

So when you log in again, or no doubt go back to the Facebook or twitter page that is already open on your browser, take a look at the opportunities you have opened your spirit to by who you've chosen...because of where you are in your life.

LIKE your existence enough to build it and not contaminate it!

Retweet a version of yourself that you are proud of!

I realized that social networks weren't always what I was made to believe they were, places to connect to OTHERS and meet people. They are ways to open your eyes to all the extensions of your self and your desires.

Peace

Get outta here!

"UGHHH!! Get outta here!"

You are a sniveling, complaining, judgmental  whiny, negative Nancy, bitter Shleprock, and we can't deal with your bad air anymore!!


At the beginning of each year, most people join exercise programs, start new diets and explore avenues of self-help. Its a time of restoration and a sense of new beginnings.

IF IT IS JANUARY ANYth AND YOU ARE DRAGGING YOUR BUTT AROUND, COMPLAINING, SAGGING YOUR JAWS DOWN, FROWNING AND B$&%ING TO ANYONE THAT WILL HEAR YOU, PUTTING ON FAKE SMILES AND JUDGING OTHERS, GOSSIPING  .....LISTEN....Nobody has time for that!!! Imagine what the rest of your year will look like honey?

The effort that it takes to stay optimistic and to commit to being in a peaceful and abundant state of mind is priceless. It takes discipline and determination and a certain Je ne sais quoi to keep your head above water. The last thing you need when you've decided to take that journey is a person in your circle or your personal space, spewing venom, subliminal resentment or spilling their self pity everywhere.

I'm not talking about people who have genuine problems that are difficult or have gone through trauma or hardship or emotional turmoil. We enjoy being there for our friends when life is hard on them.

 I'm talking about people who spend so much time judging others, putting on a show, or feeling like the world owes them a favor because of their own self-proclaimed fabulousness, that they don't realize they are toxic themselves...until nobody wants to bother with them much anymore. (And even then they think its everyone else. - No one is jealous of you, ....its you! Your attitude and your mindset suck!)

There is also much to be said for those that are not genuine. Just because you are pleasant, does not mean you are nice. The false exterior can be so transparent! Examine your thoughts, and the mind you are in when you speak to others or about their situations. If you are ugly on the inside, no amount of fake will prevent others from "feeling your vibes" ...people are more intuitive than you think.



Girl...you are grown.....get your self together!

Get REAL !!!

In quantum physics, theory states that "An object does not exist independently of its observer!"...which means things don't exist until we pay attention to, or look at it, or perceive it. I don't know about y'all but THAT'S HUGE!!!!!!!!!!! #EPIPHANY

I've always been of the conviction that when we have a problem we should look at it from every angle. Study it, figure it out, worry and lose sleep over the pros and cons of it and then formulate a plan.

But if we were to take the approach that Quantum Physics suggests in theory, to our thoughts , that "An object does not exist independently of its observer!"..... THEN IT MEANS THAT OUR THOUGHTS AND EMOTIONS HAVE NO LIFE UNTIL WE DECIDE TO LOOK AT THEM, STUDY THEM AND BREATHE MEANING INTO THEM.

Even if the theoretical magic of quantum physics does not lend itself to our cerebral outpourings, can it be applied with the same effect?

I put it to the test myself. Having been confronted with strong emotion, rejection or resentment, I chose to BREATHE through the emotion, letting it pass over me, rather than become a part of me. I allowed myself to feel it, without actually focusing on it. I focused on my breathing..the energy emanating from my hands..feet.....body...and focused on the present moment..until all I felt was peace.

Talk about a "Peace that surpasses all understanding!" 

Ever had a WOW moment? Well I love Oprah, but pardon me for one second because "aha!" will not do justice to the realization in that moment.

It gave a whole new meaning to the term "Get real!"

At that point I was in control. My thoughts were bought to subjection. And I was not a slave to the person or thing that was the catalyst for setting off those thoughts and resultant emotions in me.

It was the beginning of an unlearning...the  burning of a miseducation.....creating my own REAL!

Do you dare to get REAL?