Good Bye 2014

Hello my loves, I just wanted to sneak in here and give a little farewell to the interesting year that 2014 has been. Full of ups and downs, the rollercoaster that is my life this year. This year Skylar and I are staying in, well when he gets home from work anyway. We are going to watch some funny movies to bring in the New Year full of laughter!

This year I am thankful for my loving and supporting family, I wouldn’t have made it here without you. To my mother that is all ways willing to feed us and to my sisters for always being there for me as well as my amazing daddy for always knowing what I need.

To my loving honey, thank you for choosing to sleep next to this snoring monster and occasional complainer and wake up with smiles and sometimes groan for the last 9 years. You are my rock and I would have fallen off this coaster a long time ago if it wasn’t for you and your dedication to me and building a life.

To my loving friends, you know who you are, I love you more than anything and I am proud to have you in my life. We have been through so much this year, you know too much so you are stuck with me for life.

2014 has been a crazy year and as much as I have enjoyed it, I am ready for this year to be over!

Happy New Year Everyone, have a wonderful night.

Read More

Sugar: Is it a Drug?

Did you ever think about sugar? Besides when you’re craving a chocolate bar? Well there are reasons why you have those cravings. Did you know that sugar is in almost everything you eat?

Sugar is not good for you and you should not eat it, I know that I try and avoid it whenever I can. Unless it is from natural food I am eating I try not adding it to anything.

I was reading over at one of my favorite blogs, Paleo Hacks, and I found this article. I was blown away with this information and knew I had to share it with the world. You can click here to read there article, it is worth your time and effort, I promise.

Here is a teeny tiny piece of the sugar-less pie…

“As can be seen, there is a multitude of reasons why soda should be eliminated from the diet. Some studies have shown that intense sweetness is more rewarding than cocaine. Other studies have shown that food addiction is similar to drug addictions. This differs from behavioral addictions like gambling, since in food (and sugar) addiction, there are actually neurochemical changes. The more sugar that you eat, the more downregulated your dopamine receptors become. Besides this scary adaptation, there are other neuronal changes.

This includes: changes in opioid receptor binding, enkephalin mRNA expression and dopamine and acetylcholine release in the nucleus accumbens. Basically, the more sugar that you eat, the more ways your brain changes – for the worse.

Does this sound like a drug exerting its effects? It certainly does to me.

Of course, we must not forget the withdrawal effects of sugar, once the stimulus is taken away. I’m sure we’re all well aware of the “sugar cravings” that ensue, once you decided to go low carb, or after a bad night of sugary eating. The pronounced ‘hangover’-like effect largely comes from fluctuating insulin levels.”

Wow, crazy right! Click here to read the rest of the article.

I also wanted to add this little video, which I found on Paleo Hacks as well. I thought it would be a nice way to wrap up this post and make the final push to read there mind-blowing article.

 

What did you think? Do you think sugar is a drug?

Read More

Let’s face it, you love to snack, well you know what...so do I!

We are programmed to snack.

Society tells you it’s ok in one breath and then in another breath tells you that you have to be skinny. You can’t go anywhere nowadays without being bombarded by food advertisements in addition to skinny models that are plastered all over the place. They tell you to eat something however afterwards they tell you should feel bad about it.

Really...? Is this what our world has come too? Sadly yes.

But you can beat the system and there ‘logic’ by making healthier snaking choices. Wouldn’t you love to snack whenever you want and not feel guilty about it?

Here is the perfect recipe that will fill that ‘snack’ need and also make you feel good about your choice.

Popcorn.

Who doesn’t like Popcorn?

Now wait a minute I am not talking about the greasy, need 5 napkins popcorn that you get at the movie theater. Popcorn is unexpectedly healthy when made at home, this whole grain snack (surprised? Yep its whole grain) can be different every time by adding different scrumptious toppings.

This whole grain might be a great addition to your daily snacks. By making it at home and adding just enough fat, it will in return, add tons of antioxidants to your body. Even adding butter or salt to your home made popcorn won’t bring the fat or sodium levels to register in the credits of the movie theater snack.

Popcorn also will keep you satisfied for longer plus give you an additional 22% of fiber than a person that doesn’t eat popcorn. It’s full of air and low in calories so your brain thinks its eating more than it actually is.

Without any further ado here is a recipe that didn’t even last 20 mins at my house. We even gave some to friends and they couldn’t get enough.

Chocolate-Covered Popcorn Cups

Makes 12 muffin cups

8 oz (1 cup) chopped dark chocolate, 60% or higher

3 cups (750 ML) popped organic popcorn

2/3 cup (160 ML) shelled unsalted pistachios

¼ tsp (1 ML) sea salt

1.      Melt the chocolate in double boiler (I just put a large bowl on top of a pot of simmering water), stirring until melted.

2.      Divide popcorn and pistachios evenly among 12 standard-sized paper-lined muffin cups

3.      Drizzle melted chocolate over popcorn. Make sure you cover with chocolate so that it can seep down into crevices and bind together

4.      Sprinkle tops with sea salt

5.      Place in the fridge to set for about 1 hour

6.      Enjoy!
 

This recipe was found in the lovely Sage Magazine. Natural Living for you and your family. It is full of amazing information and plenty more delightful recipes I look forward to trying and sharing.

I also want to share this link to remarkable website, Paleo Hacks, I visit on a regular basis. I found this post the other day and thought I would share it with you. So head over there and help yourself with beating the cravings!

 

As always, thank you so much for visiting and I hope you see you again soon.

Did you try the recipe? Tell me what you thought of it…

Read More

Movie Monday- White Christmas

It’s December 1^st, so you know what that means, Christmas movies! This month I am going to share with you some of my favorite Christmas movies.

 

Ever since I was a little girl my mom and I would watch White Christmas every year. I have thoroughly enjoyed keeping this tradition well into my adult hood and look forward to passing it on to my own children. It is a musical romantic comedy set after World War II and was directed by Michael Curtiz and released in 1954.

 

 

Two World War II Army buddies, Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) and Phil Davis (Danny Kaye), form a successful song-and-dance act and follow two sisters, Betty (Rosemary Clooney) and Judy (Vera-Ellen) Haynes to a Vermont ski-lodge where the Haynes sisters are scheduled to perform a Christmas show. When they get there, however, they find that it hasn't snowed since Thanksgiving and that the lodge, which is owned by Bob and Phil's old Army general, Thomas Waverly (Dean Jagger), is on the verge of failing. To help out, Bob and Phil come up with a plan to help.[1]

 

 

This film is filled with amazing actors who truly make the film genuinely spectacular. First, Bing Crosby shows off his amazing voice and dance skills alongside Danny Kaye who plays a comedic protagonist. Vera-Ellen is the most amazing dancer I have ever seen and will wow you with her magnificent moves. While Rosemary Clooney plays a more laid back character however the chemistry that her and Bing Crosby have will have you falling in love.

 

 

This story is so well told and the costume design as well as choreography is mind-blowing. The detail in the set design is extraordinary and fits the time period perfectly and complements the story. The time and effort put into the dance sequences surly pays off in the remarkable scenes they captured.

 

 

The message is beautiful, with a little heart and hard work you can not only make your dreams come true, but fulfill others as well. This movie is rated G and is great for all ages and its outstanding soundtrack will have you singing along in no time. In my opinion, White Christmas will always be a classic Christmas movie and is worth the 120 mins of my time. If you enjoy very imaginative costume design and songs they will get stuck in your head than this movie will be your cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter’s night.

 

 

I am also going to list some honorable mentions because I love Christmas movies and my list was far too long.

Today’s honorable mentions

Miracle on 34^th Street the 1994 addition directed by Les Mayfield

The Muppets Christmas Carol made in 1992 and directed by Brian Henson

 

Is there any Christmas movies I should add to my repertoire that you love? Leave a comment and maybe I will love it too!

Read More

Poetry - Gone

Gone

written by Tamara Morgan

 

It was a day very much like any other

Except the fact I had lost something

that meant a lot to me

But now it is gone

I am not sure if I can get it back

It took me along time

To get it in the first place

What will I do if

I never get it back?

Will I never have anything like it again?

Probably not

My tears are the only things, these days

That keep me company

They are the only ones that understand

The pain I am going through

I am not sure if I should look

For something new or run back

Old memories flood my head

And I remember all the late nights

The talks about things only me and you knew about

The good times

When you and I were friends

But the days change and so do people

They grow apart just like me and you have

Friends for ever, it seems only yesterday

We talked and laughed

Except it didn’t last forever

And only in my dreams

Can I have you back with me

 

 

Photo source

Read More

Music in the Breeze

Good morning my blog friends, today I wanted to try something a little bit different. When I was in high school I loved to write. Poems, short stories, my brain was an endless supplier of ideas and inspirations. I would love to get a hold of that person again and start creating with the written word once more.

In anticipation of this I have found some of my old work and would like to share it with you. And along the way I will be able to start sharing new pieces. I will warn you, some of work is dark however some is very quite funny. I had an amazing creative writing teacher and she helped shape me into the writer I am today.

This is one of the reasons I love blogging so much. Its lets me be myself and share my work and free my soul. I wrote this back in high school as a project and I thought it was so amazing how I used to pour out my soul in everything I did…

My name is Tamara Morgan and I love to write because it helps me grow, to express my feelings and for pure pleasure. Throughout my years, I found that I have naturally loved to read and I am very fascinated on how powerfully authors can make their writing. Despite that, to release stress I write in my journal everyday and pour my feelings and emotions all over the page like a painter would a blank canvas. Above all that, I also write to grow, such as in school, I can get help from students to edit, which helps tremendously. Whereas, I also write for pleaser because it lets me say what is on my mind, but it is still personal. I love writing. As I have said, my name is Tamara Morgan and I love to write for the purpose of my own true desire.

So here is the first piece I want to share with you…

Music in the Breeze

Written by Tamara Morgan

as I walk my dog though the fallen dead leaves
he unexpectedly stopped and blankly stares in to the dark
I suddenly here music in the breeze
looking up seeing nothing, he begins to bark
I look for the source of the music but to my despair
the trees are blank and in the sky nothing but stars
I see nothing that can compare
where is this coming from, music from mars?
it can’t be from that far away, I ponder
I look in to the darkness of the night
how far in these woods must I wonder
these trees they give me such fright
the dog barks and wakes me from my dream
we haven’t entered the forest it was so real , or so it would seem
 

Photo Source

Read More

Movie Monday - Phantom of the Opera

The phantom of the opera is a wondrous movie filled with love, passion, fear and betrayal. The movie is based on the famous opera “The Phantom on the Opera” by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The story along with the design of the entire story is amazing, it truly a remarkable adventure.

The Phantom of the Opera Directed by Joel Schumacher is a story about a girl named Christine. She is the daughter of a famous violinist which had died when she was only a child. She was taken in by Madame Giry, a ballet teacher that worked at the theater, he daughter Meg Giry and Christine become very close. Christine became a back up dancer in the opera theater and on the side took singing lessons from a secret music teacher. She called her teacher The Angel of Music but little did she know it was the Phantom of the Opera. Her voice became his passion. Her love became his obsession. Her refusal became his rage...

The music is so compelling it will make you fall in love with it as soon as you hear it. The orchestra is so talented and the singers must practice all the time because their voices are incredible. Andrew Lloyd Webber truly tells the story through his music, without the video you can still catch a glimpse of the story. You can close your eyes, listen, and the melody can tell a story all on its own, the imagery is remarkable. The softness of the music combined with the shire violent nature of some of the scenes keeps you on your toes the whole time. Wanting and waiting for the next moment of the marvelous musical performance.

The actors in this rendition really make the film come alive, they are brilliant. A part from the imagery of the music, the actor’s feelings really shine through. The lead actor, Gerard Butler (Phantom) and his partner Emmy Rossum (Christine) truly portray all the aspects of love, fear and hate, almost as if it was genuine. They are both fantastic performers moreover their voices are amazing; it really makes the movie come to life. Patrick Wilson (Raoul) does a fabulous job of portraying the star-crossed lover, as a consequence has to keep fighting hard to protect Christine. This love triangle comes to a dramatic end however and the outcome will keep you on your toes in anticipation of the closing scene.

Overall, in my option, this movie tells so many stories in one, that if you’re in the mood for a romantic heartfelt tale, than this movie is undoubtedly for you. Moreover if you’re a lover of musicals this is a must see and is essential to add to your repertoire. I give this motion picture 5/5 in all aspects, costume design, cinematography, choreography as well as story.

Have you seen this movie? Tell me what you thought about it…

 

Read More

This is me today...

I havent done this in a while and I thought it would be fun....

 

Song in my head….  Anything and everything Christmas

In my window… complete darkness, and some dust on the sill

I am thinking… I really not ready for Christmas to come yet

I am thankful… all the blessings God has given me in my life, and for the challenges that have made me a better person

One of my favourite things… butternut squash

From the kitchen… all I see is dirty dishes

I am wearing… my pj’s I got for Christmas last year

I am creating… a blog post at the moment, hahah

I am going… to start getting dinner ready, Chicken wings tonight

I am wondering… why I ever stopped writing for fun, not blogging I mean. Like poems and stories

I am reading… sadly nothing at the moment. But dont forget about Talaya's Book review of Iron King is coming up in a few days :) Super exited for that!

I am hoping… my back gets better soon so I won’t be in pain

I am looking forward to… spending Christmas with my family and Skylar this year

I am hearing… the sound of random old Christmas music, right now... "Happy Holiday/The Holiday Season by Andy Williams.

Around the house… the lights are out and all is quite

Fun fact… did you know that mirrors are actually green?

Plans for the week… finish up physio for this week and take a break this weekend. It's my Nephew'S birthday party on Sunday should be lots of fun. His birthday is really on Christmas day! Oh how I miss them now they have moved away.

 Have an amazing weekend everyone!

 

Read More