#61 Be your own Hero~

Oh my darling fox,

Sometimes I find quotes or sayings that inspire me to write things that I feel are important. When I find a treasure like this one, I usually think of you. Then I think, what a great life lesson..and from there  I write.

You know, I  use to believe that when I met a man and got married I would be whole. I thought it would be him who would carry me through my difficult times. My husband would make absolutely everything better. In reality, and with a slap in the face I learned fairly quickly that I was the one responsible to pick myself up, he would only hold me up once I got there.

Let me explain, I don't want to sound like your father wasn't supportive, protective, caring and nurturing. We both know that without him, I wouldn't be who I am today. He has and  always will be my rock, and when my life fell a part on days that he was at work, the moment he came home I would immediately feel a peace come over me. I knew everything in the world would be ok again.

To this day, it still feels this way. I am so blessed. 

But with all this said fox, there has been many times when it has been my own arms that have had to lift myself up. Honestly as heavy as it may have been at the time, it was the best life lesson I could have learned. You must be able to sit down with only yourself and understand that under any conditions you are going to be ok. 

Another important perspective is to remember that most people are fighting a battle that you know nothing about. So do not put expectations on others to hold you up when you are down. If someone does show up to help you, that’s wonderful. Appreciate their time, and always be thankful. If you find yourself wanting to help someone, make the time. Having the chance to step up and support someone is one of the most selfless acts you can do. Just don’t loose yourself in the process. Always remember to save some strength in your core for the battles you will fight. 

So I do believe that I may have already done a post similar to this one. But I still feel this topic is so important. I find these days too many people rely on others to “help” them out. To help fix their problems, or even take their situations from them and make them yours. 

I want you to always remember as a young, confident, sophisticated woman the importance of being able to care for you~

My hope is that someday you find yourself with a husband as wonderful as your father. A man who will highlight your strengths and underline your weakness. A man who will absolutely pick you up when you need that, and one who will stand silently beside you while you learn to be a stronger, better you~

Until next time Fox, good night and god bless~

100 Things I Want To Teach My Daughter- #62 Bake Cupcakes...as often asyou like~

100 Things I Want To Teach My Daughter

#62 Bake Cupcakes..as often as you like~

Cupcakes can ultimately be the cure for anything. On crappy days, good days, sad days and quiet days I bake cupcakes.
Cupcakes can bring happiness to absolutely everyone in your life, I say bake them for family, friends and co-workers. If you find yourself having a hell'ish day, bake cupcakes.
They will always bring a smile to your face, and also to your loved ones faces.
 

I love baking them, really for any reason.
 

The best kind are home made, complete with homemade icing.
 

 

You know how much I love to bake. Sometimes I will bake for no reason. It can even be therapeutic.

 

Someday when you are grown, possibly a wife and mother you may find yourself baking cupcakes as well. Involve your children, make it a fun activity. And then you can enjoy the treat on a Sunday evening before back to school.

 

Or Fox, bake a batch of cupcakes on a Tuesday evening. Just for fun, before you and your family watch a fun Disney movie.

 

Take cupcakes to your friends, for no reason~

 

I have two homemade icing recipe's that I use for cupcakes. I will share them here with you. The first one Nana has always made, she learned from her mother.

I believe its called "Boiled Icing" its the kind of icing that I will need to show you how to make. Its a tricky one, very sensitive. One small mistake can ruin the whole batch.

You start with Brown sugar laid out on the bottom of a sauce pan, you drop some water into the brown sugar, just enough to wet the sugar.

On low/med heat slowly bring the sugar to a boil. DO NOT stir, only run a fork through the sugar to evenly dispense the heat.

While waiting for the sugar to boil, take 2 egg whites and using a hand mixer whip the egg whites until the egg whites are firm and stiff, forming peaks when fluffed. Add 1/2 teaspoon of Vanilla extract.

Once the sugar is boiled, and forming bubbles that pop, slowly poor the sugar mixture into the stiff egg whites while mixing with hand blender. Slowly poor the sugar, as the heat mixes with the eggs it will cook the whites. Keep mixing until the icing becomes thick.
I will show you this a few times, it took me awhile to learn how to properly make this icing. Once you mastered it, it will be a favorite amongst your family as well~

The second Icing recipe I got was from Jill, she was a nurse who worked with Braden but became a wonderful friend to the family.

It is a buttered based icing, and is your favorite. I LOVE it as well, I think the other recipe just reminds me of my childhood so I tend to favorite it more.

You will need:

1 cup of milk
4 TBSP of flour
1 cup of white sugar'
2 TSP of vanilla
Cook milk and flour slowly until thick, set aside to cool.
Heat butter with sugar, add vanilla
Add thickened milk, using a hand electric mixer on high until smooth.

This is one that I use all the time, and I love that it came from a dear friend.
Well Fox, that's about it. Keep these recipes and use when you need to share your love.