Love harnessed and bound...

...no blade can undo my quiet repose. ~lostsentiments


This is my entry for this weeks Nonteam Treasury Challenge featuring Bird of a Feather by MyAntartica. 

I'd been absent from the treasury making world recently, every time I made one I would spend all ton of time promoting them to get them to the front page of the treasury hotness on etsy. Some days that's fun to do, but I'd really rather not stress too much about how many views I get (though it is a TON of fun to read the comments, watch the views, favorites and clicks #'s change ^-^) and trust the people who like the kind of world I create in a 4 x 4 treasury will somehow, eventually find me ;). 

Anyways, when I saw the inspiration item this week I *had* to put in an entry... so I hope you enjoy the eye candy shared ;). 

Do you make treasuries on Etsy? What is your favorite part about them? 

Keep Calm and... ?

Slow, I'm feeling slow these days. Though everyone has the equal 24 hours in a day - however, lately I feel like other people are able to squeeze every last ounce of life out of those moments, go to bed and wake up earlier than me to seize the next day. I feel like I'm just trying to stay ahead of things. Does this happen to anyone else?  All these things... all these things... stay ahead of or on time with the bills, the birthday cards, the baby showers. Getting together an idea for dinner before dinner to have everything ready to mix and have it all in the cupboards when I decide to go to mix it. Can I leave the dirty dishes there? I think maybe I'll get to them tomorrow (I hope, I hope). Planning. I find I spend a lot of time in the now planning for later and I am beginning to wonder if I'm missing the now. Ya dig? Does this happen to anyone else? I mean, if we don't plan and become passive, um, lots of stuffs would fall through the cracks, or it would right? O.o The house of cards might just come falling down.... Bleh. Maybe this is suburban life, or rather, this is the life of a responsible adult? Oye vey.. ;) Someones got to do it, right?

Keep Calm and Take a Bath designed by Agadart of Etsy :)

 I pose a question - should I keep calm and take a bath? A bath with Epsom Salt? :D Is this appropriate for said times? It doesn't sound productive to me, wouldn't doing this just put a person behind on their scheduled things? :) ;) I mention the Epsom Salt because the chiropractor really wants me to do this. Baths take a while..  I really believe with all the hustle and bustle and how much women do for their family and friends there needs to be a time of decompressing and rejuvenating though. If we're in a constant state of stress our bodies start breaking down and then something gives.

A few years ago I was working as an accounts payable specialist and the work load was constant and intense. When I stress out I sweat and my stomach normally gets knotted and the last thing I tend to do is eat or drink because I would get indigestion anyways. I let it go long enough that I ended up with a sharp pain in my stomach e that would not go away. Needless to say I was concerned but not trusting a doctor in NoVa I roped my husband to taking off work to help me to the an Emergency Room. God bless him :). So yes, I landed myself in the hospital with... what would you guess? Dehydration... lovely... this visit could definitely have been avoided. This was years ago and I've learned to manage stress and my workload a bit better now.

 I don' t want this for me, or anyone for that matter. I work hard  in order to enable me to enjoy times with my family and friends...

Gah! Praying for balance and wisdom. :) It's definitely a balancing game as new challenges present themselves daily. I'd love to hear what things you do to decompress - what things rejuvenate you!? Hmm??? ^-^ How do you finish this sentence... Keep calm and ...?

Chicken & Cheese Ham Burgers! Paleo Friendly and Low Carb

 ** Pan Kissed Chicken & Cheese Ham Burgers! **

Yes - it's kind of a play on words here - I was trying ;) tee hee

Thank you to SmokedandGrilled for the base of this recipe geniusness! After making them once I decided to add a few additional items to spice it up and add more of our families favorite ingredient - cheese ;). though in some Paleo variations this is not an accepted food. Feel free to omit if you're doing Whole30! But of course ;)

****I cannot wait till it stops raining long enough for me to get these on the grill! :)****

I mean pan seared salty flavor from the meats is great - but to add a smokiness to them with the grill? YUM! And yet I wonder - liquid smoke... there is such a thing... O.O ^-^ For now - let's share the recipe as it is today shall we? :) ;)

What you'll need:

2lbs Ground Chicken
1 cup cooked ham - diced
2 cups Parmesan cheese - shredded
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp ground mustard
1 tsp cilantro

1) Mix up the meats first
2) Add the cheese and spices - mix well.
3) Form into burger patties and cook 'em up!

I'm a bit of a condiment nut folks, so it *should* mean a lot ;) when I say these burgers don't need anything but to be eaten as is. You will still find me pulling out mayo and Paleo Ketchup though to dress this up if I am feeling especially like an otter that day ;).

Makes about a 13 burgers :) Feel free to cute the recipe in half for smaller crowds. I normally make food with leftovers for work in mind. Adjust accordingly ;)

5.9.13 UPDATE: -

LEFTOVERS FOR WORK - for the win! ;)