Heaven at Highlands

I had a wonderful dinner last Friday night at Highlands Bar & Grill in Birmingham, AL. Frank Stitt's restaurants always amaze me with their creations but my dinner this night was particularly amazing. I had baked oysters that had spinach, a little bacon and cheese along with a terrific vidalia onion split pea soup; both were excellent, the oysters heavenly. The signature Orange Thing was a unusually good and my dessert- an apple pie with ice cream and a blood orange mimosa topped off a perfect evening...Sheer Bliss! Great food, great fun, excellent conversation :) Fabulousity at its finest!!! Just had to tell about it ;-)

Step Up For JOY

First let me apologize for my lack of updates- I've been in and out so much my head is spinning and when I went to update my blog on Sunday I realized I had no internet service. I was without cable of any kind from Sunday @ 3pm until Tuesday @ 3pm and I must say it has been quite a frustrating experience (thanks to TW Cable) but that's another blog and probably much more under the topic- unfabulousness or much more suited for Ramblings. But I bring it up because it is what started my day on a sour note.

The cable guy was to come to my house on Monday before five but no show, no call. Other than a quick trip to the vet with Noelle (who I'm sad to say has had a puppy virus) I was home and had my cell with me the entire time. I called that evening and was told I was rescheduled from Monday to Wednesday or Thursday. They didn't call me I remind you, I called them. I am heading out of town and I DON'T HAVE CABLE OR INTERNET...my life support system. Now they're telling me that if I am not going to be in town I may have to wait until NEXT WEEK. I'm trying to make this short and sweet...I was fuming and didn't sleep much Monday night and I had not really slept on Sunday either and on top of it all I haven't felt well and have kind of been run down. The Monday night Time Warner guy told me to call on Tuesday morning, etc. The first Tuesday morning guy was the guy who had given me all the false hope in the world on Monday morning and frustrated me to know end telling me it would indeed be later in the week before my cable was restored. So I called back...a very nice supervisor had mercy on me and told me (even if it was only what I wanted to hear) that I would indeed receive a service call TODAY and he didn't understand why Micheal had not noticed that I was on the schedule. I felt I was holding on to false hope. I was dragging and very tempted not to go to Bible Study. I was going to be late, very late but I am going to miss next week and I wanted to get there. My Tuesday Bible Study group is the bright spot in my week. Beth Moore hits me dead on each time and the lovely women who attend this Bible Study brighten my spirits and give me a restored faith in humanity in general. I dug deep...I made it in time for the Beth Moore part of the study.

The first words out of Beth's mouth were something like "We're going to taste some JOY today"; release it and experience complete joy. Admittedly I grumbled, hung my head...realized I only had some crystal light and not my Diet Pepsi Max caffeine jolt. Sigh. Okay, it looks like rain, it's turning cool and I have this cable crisis on my brain. My joints hurt, my stomach isn't real happy but I had taken the proper pill and sat up straight thinking "listen Natalie...just hold tight and listen."

Deuteronomy 16:15 (flip flip, shuffle pages; let's see what God is going to tell me)"For seven days celebrate the Feast to the Lord your God at the place the Lord will choose. For the Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete." Okay, maybe the cable guy is coming? Maybe this crystal light will pump me up and I'll feel better. I'm listening, I haven't fled the scene yet. We went through the good news and the waving of the palms and the Messiah's arrival on the donkey and all the amazing history and how all that page flipping makes me see the prophecy fulfilled and honestly every time I go in, I come out full. My joy is at least glass half full, but usually I'm perky Natalie and today I've been grumpy with the Time Warner man and I'm running on fumes so how is my joy glass going to run over by the end of the day?

Moving on to John 8:12..."When Jesus spoke again to the people he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life." Okay, I could use some light. It's dark and dreary at this point and I'm still pretty mellow but I am all up for Beth and feeling that my cup is going to run over with 20 minutes and counting. I'm not quite on the joy express but at this point I've realized that my cable isn't such a crisis and my bones don't hurt quite as bad so I've bought a ticket, sitting a little taller but still feeling a bit stressed.

Next we looked at John 7:37-38 Jesus said "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the scripture said, streams of living water will flow within him." Okay...I need some living water (since no Pepsi Max is handy). The celebration of water pouring and the streams of living water. Visualize. I closed my eyes and imagined Jesus pouring this living water over me...The Holy Spirit filling me up as cold water woke me up rushing over me. Boy did I need someone to pour some water over me. I was getting it...but I wasn't getting it. Why couldn't I shake my mood? Look and listen to all these wonderful promises of God...

Listening to Troy sing at the end I just got kind of lost. Hello!?! I thought I going on this joy ride, stepping up this morning yet for some reason I was still a bit grumpy. :( It wasn't as down in the dumps, my mood had lightened for sure just not quite as joyous as I felt I should be after reading some pretty significant passages from the Bible. What's a girl to do? So was I going to lunch with the group? Ummm...No. Ummm...Maybe... Well, I'll go sit, but I won't eat. At least talking to Andy and MaryAnn made me laugh. Good start.

When I arrived at ABC I ran into my aunt, uncle and friend. It was great talking to them. My aunt (praise the Lord) has just gotten a good report from another bout with an ovarian cancer recurrence and looks great. Her words were encouraging and we talked about my potentially talking to a girl suffering from Crohns. She mentioned some things we had in common, some sad things, but lots of blessings to remember. Work with me now because God is picking me up.

Then I ate with the most wonderful group of ladies from my Bible Study. Mitzi, Louise, Danna, Mrs. Lurie, Amelia, Sarah Bennett- I don't think you know how much I treasure each and every one of you and have felt blessed just getting to know you and ALL the ladies in the Tuesday morning study. Everyone wanted to hear about my Birmingham plans and everyone was a cheerleader. J-O-Y rising and rising. While we were there I saw some other uplifting people- Mindy & JD, Paula, Mary & Mrs. Hackman, Amanda Faulk. So Mitzi pointed out how many sweet people there are in the world and the next time somebody gets on our nerves we can think of all these various people. The conversation meter was way above uplifting and by the time I left after talking to Paula and her mother, I was bouncing out the door. The 'sun' wasn't shining but the SON was shining.

The rest of my day was wonderful...the sun came out eventually. My cable got fixed. Noelle did great in puppy class and I got to see Maddy. I visited a bit with Courtney, I was productive in the mass clean out of my home and I think I made a couple of people smile today. Since my ultimate blessing and restoration of good health, my 'Good Day Meter' is based on making people happy and making someone else smile. I went to the gym and I'm still pumped writing this. God is good and He certainly gave me a shot of JOY today. I'm so happy I rolled out of bed and Stepped Up. Indeed God kept His promise and my cup ran over with Joy :)

This blog is for the beautiful women of Tuesday morning "Stepping UP"...all ages, all stages of life. MaryAnn for blessing us with her leadership, all those who attend and Mitzi for reading my blog and encouraging me to keep it up! And of course, Beth Moore (who I feel like I know personally) for writing all her wonderful work. Merci beaucoups :)

To close I intentionally left out the second verse we read this morning because it sums up what I'm feeling now and what I hope to remind myself every morning whether or not I have tv & internet, whether or not I feel okay and even if the sun is not shining. Psalms 118: 24 "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

This IS the day that the Lord has made...REJOICE & Be Glad!!! :)
If we only step up to receive God's blessings, He will give us the ride of our lives and our joy will be full.

"Nisi Dominus Frusta"

Nisi Dominus Frusta
"Without the Lord, Frustration"...

In my Stepping Up Bible Study (the Psalms of the Ascent, Beth Moore) there was a passage written by Benjamin Franklin in 1787 from his "Speech to the Convention for Forming a Constitution for the United States" that applies to our world today.

"In the beginning of the contest with Britain when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for the Divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard and they were graciously answered...And have we now forgotten this powerful friend? Or do we imagine that we do no longer need his assistance? I have live for a long time (81yrs) and the longer I live the more convincing proof I see of this truth, that God governs in all affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall without his notice, is it possible that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that 'Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it' I firmly believe this, and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall proceed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel."

When I read this I thought of our world today as we are in the midst of war...Our lack of prayer...In our attempt to be politically correct by respecting the rights of other religions, we have set aside the 'In God We Trust' values in which our country was founded. With the political climate in the United States gearing up for a Presidential election in November as well as many other important offices, let us stop and pray. May we be led to rediscover the power of our Lord and the foundation that only he can provide. Without Him, we are nothing, our labor in vain.

I close with Psalm 127 (NCV) as food for thought:

If the Lord doesn't build the house,
the builders are working for nothing.
If the Lord doesn't guard the city,
the guards are watching for nothing.
It is no use for you to get up early
and stay up late working for a living.
The Lord gives sleep to those he loves.
Children are a gift from the Lord;
babies are a reward.
Children who are born to a young man
are like arrows in the hand of a warrior.
Happy is the man who has his bag full of arrows.
They will not be defeated when they
fight their enemies at the city gate.

ThirtyFabulous...

To Good Friends & ThirtySomething Year Old Women Everywhere...
Go To Ramblings :)
I wish I had a pic of all of you

Sunrise, Sunset...The East & The West

Technically I started my Saturday just after midnight with this beautiful sunrise from afar, I ended it at Bud & Ally's watching the sunset over the beautiful white sand beaches of Seaside, FL. After dinner with my girlfriends at RedBar we made it back to Dothan...Indeed a FULL 24 hours.

These simple wonders- the sun rising in the east and setting in the west, I marvel at the beauty and promise from the Lord.

Psalm 103:12 says
"As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us." Certainly there is NO coincidence that is how we begin and end our day. It's as simple as claiming Christ as our Saviour, confess our sin, ask forgiveness and recognize God's beauty and gift in the morning and the evening, daily; walking in His word and becoming a child of God.

What a FABULOUS, remarkable reminder of His forgiveness!

Another quote from Coco Chanel comes to mind..."The best things in life are free, the second best are expensive." I can think of that in frivolous terms but my heart is saying "Natalie, God's Love is Free...The Price He paid for Your Sin was expensive, He gave His Son's life..."

Just something to think about this Sunday morning as I (attempt) to "Walk In His Time and Not My Own..."

Many Blessings!

Food Fabulous Food...

My Top Ten Favorites Of The Moment...
Cheeze Its and Coca Cola are the things I'm giving up for Lent but I'm going to give my Top Ten Home Cooked Favorites...

1. Macoroni & Cheese (Never Out of a Box) (Mila's was the BEST!)
2. A Top Notch Hamburger or Cheeseburger (preferably ground steak)
3. Asparagus w/ Cheese Sauce (My Aunt Grace's Recipe)
4. Mashed Potatoes (especially my grandmothers)
5. Spinach Salad w/ Warm Bacon Vinagrette (Rosebud's Chicago, my absolute fav)
6. The Natalie Cupcake (OohLaLa)
7. Tomato Soup (usually accompanied w/ grilled cheese)
8. Filet Mignon (Daddy's, Mike's, The Willet House, Gramercy)
9. Hummus W/ Homemade Pita Chips (MM, LaLe, even DCC)
10. Sweet Potato Fries (w/ Bleu Cheese Dressing)

And I wonder why I can't lose that last five pounds ;-)
Throw in a Rice Krispy Treat and I'm done...
Hope to hear from you...I'm sure there's more out there than my comfort food!

This is a recipe I found and I must admit I have not tried it but it received a 4.8 on a 5.0 cooking scale on foodblogblog.
Its title caught my eye...


Orgasmic Mac & Cheese
1 1/2 cups sliced crimini mushrooms
1 1/2 cups sliced shitake mushrooms
2 tbsp oil or bacon fat
1 1/2 tbsp sherry vinegar
4 tbsp butter
4 tbsp flour
2 2/3 cup whole milk
4 oz herb chevre, crumbled
4 oz sharp cheddar, shredded
4 oz parmigiano reggiano, separated in 2 2oz piles
1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
2 tsp fresh rosemary, minced
1 tsp fresh sage, minced
2-3 tbsp white truffle oil, depending on how strong you like it (yes, this is some rich mac-n-cheese)
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 cup panko
10 oz elbow pasta
kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place a large pot of water over high heat and cover. Place a large saute pan with 2 tbsp oil or lard over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the mushrooms to the pan and saute for 7-10 minutes or until the mushrooms are fully cooked and slightly caramelized. Toss or stir occasionally. Season with a pinch of kosher salt and black pepper then deglaze the pan with sherry vinegar. Allow all of the vinegar to cook out, then remove the mushrooms from the pan and set aside.

Begin the cheese sauce. Add 4 tbsp butter to a medium-sized sauce pan and place the pan on the stove over medium heat. Once all the butter is melted and hot, whisk in 4 tbsp flour. Cook the flour, whisking, for about 30 seconds , just long enough to get rid of the raw flour taste, but not long enough for the flour to start caramelizing. Add the thyme, rosemary, sage, and red pepper flakes. Continue stirring and allow the herbs to saute for about another 30 secpnds. Slowly pour in the milk while whisking continuously, so the roux and milk incorporate smoothly and there are no lumps. Allow the bechamel to come to a simmer (it won’t gain it’s full thickness until it does), stirring occassionally.

While waiting for the sauce to come to a simmer start the pasta. Liberally salt the pot of boiling water, almost to the point it tastes like sea water. This may take a few handfuls of salt . Add the pasta to the water and cook the pasta for a minute or two less than the suggested time on the box.

Once the bechamel has reached a simmer, stir in the chevre, cheddar, 2oz of parmigiano, and truffle oil until all the cheese has melted. Turn off the heat and and taste the sauce for seasoning levels. Season with salt and pepper as necessary. In small mixing bowl, mix together the panko and remaining 2oz of parmigiano reggiano.

Strain the pasta immediately once finished cooking. In a mixing bowl, toss the pasta, cheese sauce, and mushrooms together. Pour the macaroni and cheese into a deep glass or ceramic loaf pan and sprinkle the panko/parmigiano mixture evenly across the top. Bake the mac-n-cheese in the upper part of the oven for about 15 to 20 minutes or until the topping is golden and the cheese sauce is bubbly. Serve hot. Enjoy!

The Untouchable Top 20

Most might assume that I would start my list of uber-fabulous things with material possessions, like my Louis Vuitton cabin bag, something silly like the way Tom Brady looks in his Patriots uniform, or perhaps even a good divorce attorney. Granted these things are fabulous and will probably make another list. However, when I think of the TOP 20 things to begin this, none of them are necessarily tangible and most are free of charge(monetarily speaking). So to start off fabulously, I'd like to mention 20 things I find to meet the criteria and that I certainly would not want to live without.

FABULOUSITY TOP 20
1. God's Grace/Salvation
2. Love (Unconditional, especially)
3. Joy
4. Forgiveness
5. Health
6. Peace
7. Happiness
8. Hope
9. Freedom
10. Family-relatively speaking, of course ;-)
11. My Mother's Advice
12. My Father's Approval
13. My Sister, her friendship & her husband for putting up with us both :)
14. My Nieces (Maddy, Hillary, Caroline & Ella)
15. My Brother and his wife
16. LAUGHTER (even @ yourself)
17. The Smile on a Child's Face & the Sparkle in their Eyes
18. Respect for Self & Others
19. The Perfect Kiss
20. Sex (good or bad, I guess it rounds out the Top 20)
(and yes, coups, it probably should be ranked higher ;-))

Let me know yours...