Happy Independence Day!

I pray that all of you are having a FABULOUS Independence Day! I am so grateful for the sacrificial soldiers, past and present, who have made our freedom possible!

NOTE: Don't forget to enter my 2-Year Blogoversary Giveaway. Just one post down!

Two Year Blogoversary & Tea Giveaway!

Thanks to Teena in Toronto, I have been reminded that it is indeed my 2-Year Blogoversary today! This is very timely since my blogging is finally gaining steam again after necessary breaks! I was prompted to look back at my 2007 posts just to see where this journey has taken me. It is evident that I have learned more about blog formatting, but I have stayed true to what inspired me in the first place.

This poem was really the basis for my quest for the best.

Spread Your Wings

Engage the pleasure of senses,
Aloft on wishes, desires, and dreams;
Fly beyond imposing fences;
Soar! Savor! Soak to the seams!

-KJ - Karen June Miller

To celebrate, I am giving away a 7 oz. tin of Harney and Son's PARIS tea! It is delicious hot or iced. Their website gives this description: "Mike spent years in Paris and found his wife Brigitte there. So his ties to the City of Light are strong. He has enjoyed many a pot of tea at the famous Paris tea shops. So in homage to Paris, he has created this blend reminiscent of one of the most popular blends in Paris. It is a fruity black tea with a hint of lemony Bergamot."

Simply leave a comment on this post. To receive 5 total entries, peruse my 2007 posts and comment on your favorite here. Please enter only once. The deadline is Thursday, July 9th at Midnight PST. To peruse 2007 eye-dyllic blog posts, click HERE.

Matthew's new site is a real page turner...

Author and designer Matthew Mead is a wonderful source of inspiration. His website has now become a page turning magazine! And, each season's tips, templates, recipes, and how-to's can be acquired in one single .pdf download. You may sample his site, but to receive the full benefits, one needs to purchase a membership.

Stylist - Our basic plan, renewable every 6 months. $ 17.99

Master Stylist - A one year membership, renewable annually, at savings of 10%. $ 31.99

A year's subscription breaks down to about $2.67 per month and the featured download includes everything. Click on the PHOTO to visit his site.

Thoughts that Nourish

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
-Jim Elliot
Brief Biography

"I may no longer depend on pleasant impulses to bring me before the Lord. I must rather respond to principles I know to be right, whether I feel them to be enjoyable or not."
-Jim Elliot
Brief Biography

"God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him."
-Jim Elliot
Brief Biography

"When it comes time to die, make sure that all you have to do is die."
-Jim Elliot
Brief Biography

"Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God."
-Jim Elliot
Brief Biography

Resourceful Pin Cushions

Betz White whips up these whimsy-wonderful pin cushions using recycled sweaters. Take a peek at Etsy.com.

Happy Father's Day!

My dad, Craig Matheny, showed great potential, even as a toddler.

Growing up with Daddy, I always had to sort through Father's Day cards because most did not represent my dad's interests. He doesn't golf, hunt, fish, smoke a pipe, or sail. However, he does hike, ride a bike, and do carpentry: all at close to 77 years of age!

Alright, this is not the type of bike he rides, although it would be fun to see my daddy in tights!

This photo could represent Dad, except that my dad packs meatier thighs and calves! YES, he is a stud!

This vintage illustration represents my sexy and classy parents looking adoringly at me. This was their Neo-Parent era when they truly did not appreciate the perfection of having an only child. My life was bliss! I had no competition or sibling squabbles. You can tell that I was not anticipating a future of babysitting 2 younger brothers and having my bliss altered by generous doses of testosterone. No, I would never trade in my brothers, but there was something to be enjoyed here.

I seem to remember treating my daddy to breakfast in bed, uh...once. (Hopefully, this is not an illusion of my leaky brain.) It didn't look this Rockwell-ish and we were not dressed to the nines while entering a picturesque bedroom.

Now, this card at least represents something my daddy loves. He has always enjoyed working with his hands.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, DADDY!
Click HERE to view last year's Vintage Tribute.

Note: Pictures other than that of my dad are from art.com

Meals Around $2.00!

Many of you know that I am now a Pampered Chef Consultant. Did you also know that despite the miles between us, you can easily host a Catalog Show with me? You will earn free products, as well as half priced and discounted items? All I do is mail the catalogs to you, and when the show is complete, I will retrieve the show information over the phone. It's that simple! And, you will actually be helping me to earn my very own PC website!

Just in time for summer, I am giving away FREE PINEAPPLE WEDGERS to the first 3 people who book a Catalog Show for the month of June or July. Catalog shows are also a marvelous way to bless brides and birthday celebrants.

If you are interested in receiving a FREE Pineapple Wedger, leave a comment on this post or send me an email through my Profile. You may also contact me through Facebook: Karen Matheny Miller.

Invitation

As I am rekindling my daily visits here at eye-dyllic, you can also reach me quickly by linking to my Facebook account: facebook.com/kajumi. If you are not already within my Facebook neighborhood, I would love to connect with you on a regular basis!

Thanks for understanding...

I know that blog traffic here has been minimal lately, and my visits to other blogs have been curtailed by recent developments. I haven't given up blogging. I'm just needing to strike a balance and, sadly, blogging has needed to take a lower priority for a week or two.

My Mac has lost it's apple-tite and is only working by the grace of God. I can't shut it down because it is having issues restarting. Being that I just launched my Pampered Chef business, it has been important to establish myself and online presence before taking my Mac to be fixed. So, I have been frantically backing up my system just in case any data is lost.

I am leaving for Retreat today and boy am I ready! When I get back, I will be popping in to say hello and get the latest scoop! Have a splendid weekend!

More Healthy Living

[Click on the photo to visit the site.]

My pursuit of "Fat to F.A.T."* (my Mediterranean lifestyle and the body to go with it) has introduced me to some valuable resources online. A website called "The World's Healthiest Foods," provides this description: "George Mateljan, creator of the "Healthiest Way of Cooking," brings the New Cuisine for the 21st century into your home. Every week you can have George as your personal chef to show you how to cook great-tasting recipes using methods that destroy the least number of nutrients."

This really pertains to a whole food mindset where items are cooked minimally and prepared in a way that conserves the maximum amount of nutrition. Our food is already compromised by chemicals and soil that is depleted of its life giving components, so preparation is vital.

You will find that when it comes to food, I like the real deal. Research is catching up with years of chemically modified foods and the adverse side affects that they are posing to consumers: especially with artificial sugars.

Here is healthy and simple salad dressing. Also, since sugar is being added to just about everything that we eat, I have featured a very satisfying energy bar. It tastes like a peanut butter cookie, is sweetened with dates, and contains only 3 ingredients.

MEDITERRANEAN DRESSING

This easy-to-prepare dressing is great for any occasion. Just toss your salad with the ingredients and enjoy! It is not necessary to mix the ingredients of the dressing separately before using. Prep and Cook Time: 1 minute

Ingredients:

• 3 Tbs extra virgin olive oil
• 1 Tbs fresh lemon juice
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• sea salt and pepper to taste
  

Directions:
Toss your favorite salad with the ingredients and serve. Serves 2.

* F.A.T. stands for Fit and Trim

Tea for Tuesday

I am slipping in a TEA FOR TUESDAY since God has offered me some grace and caused my computer to reboot after countless failed attempts. Thankfully, I will be able to backup files before taking it to Dr. Mac.

Lifetime Television has begun a new series called COOK YOURSELF THIN. A feature on their website called "Best Bites: Lose Weight With These Surprising Gadgets," suggests a teapot as a tool for weight loss. Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, LDN explains: "Right after the last bite of a meal, many people start reaching for a sweet treat even when they’re stuffed. Retrain yourself to swap your sugary after-meal snack for a zero-cal cup of tea in dessert-like flavors such as English toffee, chocolate mint or white chocolate macadamia nut. Consistently practice the new tea-sipping tradition to save hundreds of post-meal calories, and eventually you won’t even crave the sweet stuff anymore."

Aside from tea, I found special pleasure in the crayons and coloring book being recommended as a great stress reliever.

Speaking of weight loss, I am doing well on the Mediterranean diet! One of my favorite snacks are stuffed grape leaves with lemon and olive oil. A wonderfully healthy version (without soy oil) can be found at Trader Joes. Stuffed grape leaves are filling and delicious by themselves, but for something more unusual try them covered with spaghetti sauce.

Click on the TEAPOT to visit COOK YOURSELF THIN.

Today's Bouquets

The phrase, "It never fails..." is one that I like to avoid. It establishes a negative expectation as well as a sense of being the victim. I will say, however, that the pursuit of blogging has been derailed more times lately than I care to count.

We recently eliminated our land line, choosing to use our mobile phones as our primary numbers. This should have been simple. Instead we took a 6-hour world tour of Verizon Customer Service. We lost our Internet for several days, just when it was crucial to stay connected. In addition, my Chase bankcard was stolen and used for fraud ($280), and Wachovia neglected to post a cash deposit which caused my first business account deposit at Union Bank to bounce.

Even now, the act of trying to write this post was obstructed by Blogger's inability to SAVE NOW.

Not to despair, there were some wonderful blessings that popped through the cracks of negativity. Here are the highlights...

• We tried to sell a black '91 Chevy Silverado to create revenue for my daughter's March 2009 wedding. I affectionately referred to the truck as The Beast. Although it was highly functional, it was ugly and slow. Two months after the wedding, the janitor at my 9-year old's school happened to be driving by our home and spotted the FOR SALE sign. (His name is Miller, too.) Within 2 days, he payed cash for the truck and we no longer have to worry about Tuesday street sweeping!
• After almost 15 years of earning my kitchen tools and cookware by hosting PAMPERED CHEF shows, I have now become a Consultant! It was time to say yes to a recession proof business that has been going strong for almost 30 years. I love their integrity and the awesome quality of their products.
• My son, Bryce, wrote a wonderful speech that could have been used for his 8th grade graduation, but we suspect that he was uncertain about it. With his recent flirtations with unhealthy peer groups, he acknowledged in his piece that being cool is not what life is about. No one made him write about self respect and respect for others. It came profoundly from his heart. And, this mother's heart was touched incredibly!
  

"Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing, it's when you've had everything to do and you've done it!"

-Margaret Thatcher

Happy Mother's Day!

We have all nurtured and been nurtured...

Have a wonderfully blessed and affirming Mother's Day!

"My Romantic Home" Giveaways

To celebrate over 1,000,000 visits to her blog, Cindy from My Romantic Home will be hosting a GIVEAWAY on the 2ND MONDAY of each month for the NEXT YEAR! Mark your calendars and plan to make regular visits to her charming blog spot. As a good blog neighbor, Cindy's hospitality is top drawer!

Winner of the Cinco de Mayo Tea Giveaway

Cherry Blossoms - Autan - Flickr

The winner of the Harney and Sons Cherry Blossom Tea is:
Michelle P. of Creative Writings 101

Congratulations, Michelle! Please use the email address in my profile to send me your address.

Extension of Cinco de Mayo Tea Giveaway

M E M O : A lowlife spammer by the name of "sexy" invaded my blog comments with Asian characters masquerading as over 400 links to lewd sex sites. Unfortunately, I have had to revert back to comment moderation due to this perverse attacker's lack of self control. I know you will understand.

ALSO, I will be extending the CINCO DE MAYO TEA GIVEAWAY until Wednesday at 12:00 PM PST. To enter, scroll down one post.

Cinco de Mayo Tea Giveaway!

I've been taking intermittent blog breaks due to a backup of {stuff} that won't go away simply because I glance at it. To honor your patience and because May has me feeling perky, I am giving away some Harney & Sons Cherry Blossom Tea in a tin of 20 sachets. This seasonal blend consists of "green teas and the vibrant flavor of plump, fragrant cherries. A Spring awakening of the senses." The threshold for this GIVEAWAY will be brief. Just leave a comment on this post before May 5th, 2009 at Midnight PST. The winner will be revealed on May 6th.

~> Be sure to check out my last 2 posts covering my Mediterranean, pleasure-eating lifestyle. I've lost 6 pounds thus far!

A Mediterranean Getaway

My previous post introduced the title, "Fat to F.A.T." (fit and trim) and my approach to shedding the extra pounds that have been robbing me of energy and the ease of being. By choosing the healthful, satisfying components of Mediterranean cuisine, I have truly found a getaway from our compromised American diet.

Author Melissa Kelly, co-owner and executive chef of Primo Restaurant, located in a charming 125-year old Victorian home in Rockland, Maine, wrote the book Mediterranean Woman Stay Slim, Too: Eating to be Sexy, Fit, and Fabulous. She has been featured in Esquire, Gourmet, and O, The Oprah Magazine. Kelly's food philosophy is "not just to eat Mediterranean food but to fully embrace the Mediterranean life, where every bite matters, where only the best will do, and where every day is a passionate adventure." Does this sound like a regimented diet filled with faux sweeteners, flimsy substitutes, and multi-syllabic chemicals?

Oldways.org itemizes the following attributes of a delicious Mediterranean diet:

• An abundance of food from plant sources, including fruits and vegetables, potatoes, breads and grains, beans, nuts, and seeds.
• Emphasis on a variety of minimally processed and, wherever possible, seasonally fresh and locally grown foods (which often maximizes the health-promoting micronutrient and antioxidant content of these foods).
• Olive oil as the principal fat, replacing other fats and oils (including butter and margarine).
• Total fat ranging from less than 25 percent to over 35 percent of energy, with saturated fat no more than 7 to 8 percent of energy (calories).
• Daily consumption of low to moderate amounts of cheese and yogurt (low-fat and non-fat versions may be preferable).
• Weekly consumption of low to moderate amounts of fish and poultry (recent research suggests that fish be somewhat favored over poultry); from zero to four eggs per week (including those used in cooking and baking).
• Fresh fruit as the typical daily dessert; sweets with a significant amount of sugar (often as honey) and saturated fat consumed not more than a few times per week.
• Red meat a few times per month (recent research suggests that if red meat is eaten, its consumption should be limited to a maximum of 12 to 16 ounces [340 to 450 grams] per month; where the flavor is acceptable, lean versions may be preferable).
• Regular physical activity at a level which promotes a healthy weight, fitness and well-being.
• Moderate consumption of wine, normally with meals; about one to two glasses per day for men and one glass per day for women (from a contemporary public health perspective, wine should be considered optional and avoided when consumption would put the individual or others at risk.)*

*My husband and I choose not to drink; nonetheless, it is naturally embraced in the Mediterranean.

Kelly suggests a 3-step process to pleasure-eating which includes putting one's fork down between bites.

1. Stop doing everything else.
2. Focus totally on the taste of every single bite.
3. Chew every bite thirty times.

I grew up with TV trays, frozen dinners, and having some sort of audio/visual stimulus such as television or radio on during the meal. Then, the busy agenda of my adult years had me eating on the fly, often in the car. I have taken huge strides to isolate my dining experience from the flurry and distraction of life, substituting radio and TV with soothing music or silence, and good conversation. Admittedly, it is still a challenge to take a bite and place my fork down until I have thoroughly satisfied my palette. One very pertinent reward is not bypassing one's natural signals of feeling full.

From Fat to F.A.T.

A little transparency here... I have contended with weight ups and downs since I was a toddler. I was a chunky chica in an era that considered baby fat to be part of a healthy upbringing. Unfortunately, this established a preset for the years ahead. Throughout my adolescence, I was never huge, but I was usually dealing with at least 10 to 20 extra pounds. Before marriage, I became very slim while singing and dancing in a vocal band. After getting married and having 3 children, my weight began to gradually climb until "mental pause" brought my metabolism to a screeching HALT!

STOP THE TRAIN!

I dream thin. I always have. And, my outer reality is not in alignment. Up until a week ago, I weighed more than I have ever weighed. I don't dislike me, I'm just miserable living in this body. I have less energy and I am noticing unfavorable changes.

At 51, it would be easy to think that looking good again is futile since I no longer have a youthful body hiding beneath this upholstery. The thought of drapes, flagging upper arms, and jowls is far from appealing, but I do believe that by placing the emphasis on health, I could easily surprise myself.

I love turning negatives into positives. (I have often seen God use negative circumstances to birth something new or simply upgrade my life.) F.A.T. = Fit and Trim. I gave up calorie and carb counters many moons ago. I refuse to interrupt the sensual pleasures of eating with statistics.

My plan is based on something I have always loved: the Mediterranean diet. Not long ago, while shopping at a business closure, I picked up a fabulous book written by a female Italian chef. I will divulge the title and details in my next post. Lets just say that I have already lost 4 pounds! Woo woo!

To be continued...

My Blog Groove

My daughter's recent wedding, maternal adjustments, script writing, role memorization, and production schedules have knocked me out of my blog groove. I miss my regular blog visits! My favorite blogs give me transport and escape, although I admit that I am finally catching up with obligatory projects that were falling behind. I am crossing my fingers that this means I can return to normalcy, if there is such a thing.

I wrote 3 monologues for Easter that were performed for our church's Good Friday and Easter Services. I had the honor of playing Mary Magdalene twice. What an emotional journey that was. I have played many roles in theater, but I have never had the opportunity—or the task—of memorizing such a lengthy role. I had to shut everything down for about a week and cram! Despite a few nerves, I truly felt the Lord's strength and presence during my performance.

I'm in silly mode today which can only suggest that being up at 4:16 AM on a Saturday morning is a little loony. So, I thought I would share some wacky wedding shots with you. Have a wonderful weekend!

Alysia Smith (of Rev411 Photography) captured the happy couple, Brian and Briana, jumping for joy!

My two sons, Bryce (14) and Brock (9), staged a spoof of the wedding by donning the Mickey and Minnie Mouse hat and veil. Bryce even enhanced his bosom.

Vintage Easter

Joseph Leyendecker - Easter Egg Hunt - c1933
art.com

National Grilled Cheese Month

There's a restaurant in Los Angeles called Clementine. It is located directly across from the Century City shopping center. I discovered through their website that it's National Grilled Cheese Month, and they will be featuring 5 gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches every week during the month of April.

Grilled Cheese with Tomato & Basil - Martha Stewart

Grilled cheese sandwiches are a Miller household staple. My husband prides himself on his GC technique, although I think I can get pretty cheesy with my skillet, too. We especially love to dip our melted wonders in fresh tomato soup! When American or Cheddar cheese is substituted with gourmet cheese or the cheese is layered with items such as crisp green apples, prosciutto, artichokes, eggplant—or whatever tickles one's fancy—an adventure begins.

I've gathered some cheesed-up fun for you. Also, please use the comment section to inspire me with your grilled cheese favorites.

GRILLED CHEESE WITH TOMATO & BASIL
Martha Stewart

Ingredients - Serves 4

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
• 8 slices white bread
• 12 ounces Gouda or Swiss cheese
• 1 large ripe tomato, thinly sliced
• 1 handful fresh basil leaves

Directions

1. Butter one side of each slice of bread. Arrange 4 slices, buttered side down, on clean work surface. Divide cheese evenly among 4 slices of bread. Arrange tomato slices over cheese, cutting slices in half to fit if necessary. Scatter basil leaves over tomatoes. Top with remaining slices of bread, buttered side up.
2. Place sandwiches on a medium-hot grill, off direct heat. Cook until bread is golden and cheese is beginning to melt, about 4 minutes depending on heat of grill.
3. Turn sandwiches over, and continue grilling until bread is golden and cheese is completely melted. Move to a slightly cooler part of the grill to melt if bread is darkening too much.

Fresh-Fig Grilled Cheese Sandwiches - Martha Stewart

MORE INSPIRATION
Fresh-Fig Grilled Cheese Sandwiches - Martha Stewart

Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwiches - Allrecipes.com (combines cream cheese, mayonnaise, and shredded Colby-Monterey Jack for a yumcious concoction)

9 Gourmet Grilled Cheese Recipes - Hugging the Coast

Spring has Sprung!

Spring Stiletto - Elena Feliciano - art.com

It's amazing how emotional adjustments can temporarily stymie enthusiasm. I haven't lost interest in anything. I just needed a little break from routine. Now, I am tackling some memorization for a Good Friday monologue, as well as an Easter solo. My house is in order and it feels wonderful!

Spring is so cheerful here in California. This floral stiletto promises to put some spring in your step.

Well, today I plan on visiting blog friends, starting with those who have visited recently. Happy Spring and see you tomorrow!

Word Pictures

I found a cool website, Wordle, that takes any given text and scrambles it into a unique word picture. There are many options to play with. The one above was based on Psalm 1:1-3 from the Message Bible. The original Scripture is shown on my sidebar.

Here is another one depicting life with gusto...

After the Fairy Dust

The Wedding of Brian and Briana Lemos
March 21, 2009

I took a week to let the fairy dust settle after my daughter's wedding last weekend. What a perfect day it was! There wasn't a glitch in the hitch. God was faithful down to the most minute detail! The newlyweds headed into Northern California for their honeymoon, and I was left to sort through the myriad of maternal emotions.

My daughter is 21 and was married on the 21st.

I remember well the overpowering feelings I experienced when I held Briana for the first time. All the excitement and preparation building to that moment could not possibly compare to the rush of love and the weight of responsibility that I felt. Likewise, after living with Briana for over 21 years, letting go also released a complexity of emotions, including the need to rearrange my nest.

Featured here are preliminary photos taken by Alysia Smith of Rev411 Photography. For protection, her watermark is on each of the photos. I am quite pleased and anxious to see the remainder of her work.

Briana with her proud daddy, Barry.

Notice my youngest son, Brock (in the white shirt), at the forefront of the action.