True Grit: The Ability to Have a Growth Mindset

Hello Friends!

I want to inspire you this Thursday morning. Rest assured, I'm not a morning person. This is my "True Grit" moving full speed ahead as we speak. On that note, Good Morning!  I wanted to talk today about the term, "Grit"."Grit" is defined as:

1

a :  sand, gravel

b :  a hard sharp granule (as of sand); also :  material (as many abrasives) composed of such granules

2

:  any of several sandstones

3

a :  the structure of a stone that adapts it to grinding

b :  the size of abrasive particles usually expressed as their mesh

4

:  firmness of mind or spirit :  unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger

Wait, go back, "Grit" is defined as firmness of mind or spirit: unyielding in the face of hardship or danger. I really like this term. Especially since I'm a teacher. 

Unsurprisingly, it's difficult to motivate a student.  Especially on A Monday morning when they may be half asleep, dreaming of bed on a rainy morning clutching a teddy bear. 

I even dream those thoughts! We're all human. We all have difficulties in our lives and tragic events such as someone close to us passing away, a debilitating sickness, or a hardship in our family. 

It's the ability to move past those experiences, no matter how hard they may be and keep moving. This is were a teacher can not only be teaching the common core standards, but teaching students to move past these experiences in time of fear and anxiety. 

We almost need to be inspiring life coaches that frame a child and prepare them for the life ahead. Good or bad. School shouldn't be just about getting recognized by achievements, but also working past obstacles in daily experiences and trying our very best in life. 

If  you didn't learn about this term in school, it's never too late to start! Never give up! 

Because one day, that little grit of sand will become a beautiful pearl:)

Fall/Winter Style: 50 Shades of Gray

Good Day!

Today I wanted to write about color. Each season, color inspires me to my mood and what is happening around me. Since the days are getting shorter, I want to wear less black and something more appealing to the eye. I loved wearing black during October. The eye palette can take in this color since the colors in the environment are strong and constantly changing.

When we transition into darker days, my wardrobe tends to stay on the warmer side. I don't like to wear bright colors, but neutrals like a perfect grey sweater. Gray is great, you can pair it with another neutral, or throw in a brighter color.  Even Manolo Blahniks come in a beautiful gray color!

I also love gray in interior design. There are many different shades of gray. Finding one for your style is the fun part! I love a gray neutral on any wall. Gray works well with darker hardwood floors. It really pops!

Men look really polished in gray as well. I keep telling my husband to cherish those little gray hairs around his sideburns! Gray is a very distinct color. It shows age and sophistication. I have paint links below to get any ideas. What is your favorite shade of gray?

Benjamin Moore Paint:

http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/for-your-home/our-five-favorite-grays

The Breton: A Nautical Inspired Style

Ahoy Mates!

Just kidding, I wanted to get you attention by writing a cheesy tag line. With that being said, I am a complete striped tee shirt addict! Long sleeve short sleeve, cotton, jersey,  it doesn't seem to matter. I love all sorts of colors, but my favorite would have to be the classic black and white or navy and white striped.

Do you know why the sailors wore The Breton uniform? No? Then I'll tell you. It was the French navy that was thought to inspire this pattern. This was out of safety and one of good measure: so that if a sailor fell overboard, the distinctive stripe print could easily be spotted in the waves. Pretty cool, huh? The sailor stripe was associated with the coastal region of Brittany, which is why it's called The Breton stripe.

So why blue and white? One reason was because blue is associated with the sea and the sky, and the white either symbolized the point at which the sky and sea meet, or the frothy waves in the ocean.

This is neat fact:  there should be 21 stripes on a true sailor shirt. These signified 21 of Napoleon's victories. So now that you know a little bit about the nautical shirt history, I thought I could tell you were to find some great well crafted Nautical shirts. Have Fun!

The Breton Co.

http://www.bretonshirt.co.uk

J. Crew:

https://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/ingoodcompany/saintjames/PRDOVR~26211/26211.jsp

Edith A. Miller:

http://shoptest.edithamiller.com

Saint James:

http://www.saintjamesboutique.com

Fall Soup: Creamy Chicken Tortilla

Happy Sunday!

Today I just wanted to write about the soup I made on Saturday night. I'm  showing my Martha Stewart domestic goddess side ever since I received my lovely wedding presents.  One thing that I do enjoy eating in the Fall is soup!  It's warm, and fills you up with comfort. I decided to make shredded chicken taco salad last night. I made a lot of chicken and thought I could make one meal into two. I always remember I have chicken leftover and decided to just get the ingredients to make Tortilla soup for afterwards.

Great Sunday lunch! I used my Cuisinart Crockpot, added all my ingredients in, and let it cook!  I prefer 2 fresh ears of sweet corn. Slice the cob so the kernels shave right off. Serve with sliced avocado, Tortilla chips, sour cream, cheese. MMMMMMGood! I will most definitely be making more soup this Fall!

Check out her great recipes!

www.cookingclassy.com


Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp canola oil
• 1 1/2 cup chopped yellow onion (1 medium)
• 1 Tbsp finely minced garlic (3 cloves)
• 1 jalapeño, seeded and chopped (1/4 cup) 
• 1 (32 oz) carton low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 tsp of each chili powder, cumin, and paprika
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 1/4 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts*
• 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chilies
• 1 1/3 cups milk
• 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (15 oz) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 2/3 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup sour cream

Directions

• Heat canola oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Once hot, add onion and jalapeño and saute 3 minutes, adding garlic during last 30 seconds of sauteing. Add chicken broth, chili powder, cumin, paprika and season with salt and pepper to taste. Add chicken breasts and bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium, cover pot with lid and gently boil until chicken has cooked through, about 15 minutes.
• Remove chicken and allow to rest 5 minutes. Meanwhile, add diced tomatoes with green chilies to pot. Then, in the 2-cup liquid measuring cup used to measure milk (or a bowl), whisk together milk and masa harina until well blended. Pour mixture into pot and cook, stirring frequently, until mixture boils and thickens slightly (it won't thicken much). Dice chicken and add to pot, then add black beans, pinto beans and corn. Then stir in cream and sour cream and cook until heated through. 
• Serve warm topped with cheese, sour cream, avocados, cilantro, limes and tortilla chips.
• *If chicken breasts are fairly thick, slices them horizontally through the thickness to create two portions. They will cook faster this way and be more tender as they'll cook more evenly.
• **If looking to make this gluten free, be sure the masa harina you're using is labeled as gluten-free, same with the tortilla chips. Masa harina can be found in the Latin section of the grocery store.
• 
  
• Recipe Source: Cooking Classy

http://www.cookingclassy.com/2014/03/creamy-chicken-tortilla-soup/

A New Yorker in Paris: What I've Learned From the French

Good Day Friends!

I hope you are enjoying your week!  I have been reading many books in my free time. This is a good thing for my brain, but a bad thing because I'm afraid of becoming a hermit. Sometimes I just like to get away with the so called perfections and "Keeping Up" vibe I get from Facebook, Glossy magazines, and Television.

I feel like there is this sort of feeling of "like " me or "I won't be valued enough" mentality? It's silly and brings me back to elementary school. Anyone else get that?

It very similar to the "Keeping Up with The Jones" mentality of the 1950s. It's the"We need the bigger house honey", or, "the nicer vehicle to be better". There's nothing wrong with being successful, just doing it to "one up" someone else is what irritates me.  Today, the general public wants to aspire to be the Kardashians and their "All About Me" way of life.

I love fashion magazines and posts, but every time I scroll, its always something about them and how millions are fascinated by these people desperately out for attention. I was brought up to believe, if you have money, good! Be modest and don't flaunt it! It's tacky and in bad taste.

Sometimes social media is draining, I literally want to turn it off for awhile and read a good old fashioned book.

That's why today I wanted to summarize my French fascination with you all. You may think they  exude arrogance and are stiff neck, but its actually a very simple, beautiful culture.

It was refreshing to read how my no painted nails and very little makeup routine was in good taste with their elegant take on classiness. They are sexy and imperfect, showing their disheveled hair and stylish casual street style. . They actually prefer the "less is more look". Tres Bien!

They are confident in themselves and are passionate about what they do. No Botox,No Cosmetic Surgeries, No B.S. They actually love aging and strive to gain maturity and class. They welcome their wise years with open arms.

These books made me feel so much better about myself. I don't need the million dollar lifestyle to feel beautiful on the outside. After reading these books, I walked around the city a little bit taller, and felt more comfortable in my own skin. Find out what your style is. No need to try to be anyone else. Self-Knowledge is KEY, Ladies!

 I'm confident in my own skin and know that my work is benefiting society in some way. All You need is some well kept hygiene, one of your favorite perfume/good face cream/ lotion, a smile from ear to ear, and matching under garments. Poof! Cinderella!  Oui! Oui!

Here are the books:

Oh, La La: French Women Secrets to Feeling Beautiful Everyday. By Jamie Cat Callan

http://www.jamiecatcallan.com

All You Need to Be Impossibly French: A Witty Investigation into the Lives Lusts, and Little Secrets of French Women By Helena Frith Powell

Knowing Your Value and Then Getting Some More

Hello Readers!

Today I wanted to talk a little bit about the word success. Success is defined as:

 1. the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors; the accomplishment of ones goals.

2. the attainment of wealth, position honors or the like.

How do you define the word success? Many people have different ideas of how they measure their success. I am happy to say that New York Public Schools are doing away with the standard letter grade A-F. Why? You ask? Because students as learners for one see the world differently.

I remember growing up in the one minded school setting that treated each homework assignment as a one-size-fits all classroom setting. It was like they were putting us through a production line and stamping us with a sign of approval that we all learn the same thing and think the same way. While I understand that there is some truth to this, this is not how society and educators should think.

Teachers need to grade on a holistic grading scale for the most part, and grade accordingly to what mission the school sets for the students. Look at the student as a whole. Observe their learning on a day to day basis. Another point I wanted to bring up is, not everyone was made to go to college! College is a privilege and luxury, but don't criticize someone who's success is to aspire to be something else. If they are working, they have value in society. Be humble wherever you stand. Not boastful.

Another area on success is on women's wages, I recently read a book called "Knowing Your Value" By Mika Brazinski. Success isn't just based on monetary value, but if you work hard, I believe you should be compensated.  This book opened my eyes and took into account a women's responsibility to know her value in the workplace and ask for it. Yes, if we work really hard and just sit there, nothing will happen. You need to ask and know your value.

Those were just two subjects I wanted to bring up about the value of success. We each have personal goals and aspirations. It's up to you to make your world a living success of your very own. Don't let anyone stomp on your dreams and aspirations. They are yours and what make you your very own success. How do you measure your value?

Characteristics of Successful People:

~Have a sense of gratitude
~Compliment Others
~Read Everyday
~Share information and data
~Exude Joy
~Embrace Change
~Keep a To-Do List
~Forgive Others
~Continuously Learn
~Want Others To Succeed
~Keep a Journal
~Accept Responsibility For Their Failures
~Operate From a Transformational Perspective