The Magic in the Tragic | July Book Club

“The Magic in the Tragic: Rewriting the Script on Grief and Discovering Happiness in Our Darkest Days - A New Approach to Resilience, Grieving, and Healing in the Midst of Tragedy or Trauma”, is a long title but it aptly conveys its message.

Many chapters in my own life are marked by grief and loss. To all who have experienced such sorrow we know that you never “get over it”. You get through it, you continue to build your life and collect experiences that grow out from the space where grief left its mark, but it is always with you. This month’s book club recommendation charts a path through the pain illuminating peaceful spots of rest, reflection and healing.

Esteemed psychotherapist and bereavement counselor John Tsilimparis, MFT, shows you the ways grief and loss intertwine with beauty, tenderness, and human connection to empower you to build emotional resilience in a difficult world.

What if you could flip the script on the pain in your life and learn how to cultivate purpose and joy—not after grief but during it, not despite hardship but because of it? What if you could find a type of magic in your tragedy? A way to understand your emotions and reframe your grief that opens you up rather than shuts you down?

Drawing on his own story, scientific and philosophical evidence, the soothing effects of the arts and nature, and three decades of experience as a psychotherapist and grief counselor, John Tsilimparis offers a new take on adversity in The Magic in the Tragic. In these uncertain times, you'll be equipped to:

• Approach grief in an empowering way

• Acquire the tools needed to develop emotional resiliency

• Address fear and uncertainty head-on rather than avoid it

• Embrace difficult times without sugarcoating them

• Access the unseen beauty of your deepest emotions

• Discover the healing power and belonging of music, art, and nature

The Magic in the Tragic powerfully explores how the hardest things in life intersect purpose and meaning, splendor and connectedness. When you embrace the magic in your tragic seasons, you can step into the future with hope, knowing that even when grief comes, it comes with an invitation to new life.

If you are struggling or know someone that is, The Magic in the Tragic, is a soothing balm to the hurting soul. You can order a copy for yourself or a gift for another here:

ORDER: THE MAGIC IN THE TRAGIC

You can check out the PLAY LIST of songs mentioned in the book HERE.

Strawberry "Poke" Cake (Repost)

Back by popular demand - my Strawberry Poke Cake recipe.

I wish I could take credit for coming up with the idea, but it’s been around for some time and is already pretty well known.

For those who have never been introduced, here’s the basic info. A light, moist, refreshing desert, using a box cake mix, jello, and topped with fresh strawberries as a bonus!

I’m always one to improvise based on what I have on hand, or if I think I might like to change things up a bit, and I encourage you to do the same. For example, since Independence Day is around the corner, top with strawberries AND blueberries for a red, white and blue feast for the eyes and the mouth.

Cream cheese frosting is a departure I made from the recipe when it was given to me. I think whipping cream is what’s traditional. Do what you think you’ll like best!

Ingredients:

• 1 box white, yellow (butter,) or even strawberry flavored box cake mix

• eggs, oil and water as called for on the box

• 1 (3 oz.) box Strawberry Jello

• 1 cup boiling water

• icing or whipped cream

• sliced strawberries, for garnish

Directions:

1. Prepare cake batter according to the packaging directions:

2. Pour into greased 9x13 inch baking pan and bake, as directed.

3. Remove from oven. Let cool 30 minutes.

4. Using the handle of a large wooden spoon, poke holes all over the cake.

5. In a medium bowl, stir together jello mix and boiling water until jello dissolves completely.

6. Carefully pour mixture evenly over the top of cake. Cover with plastic wrap and place in fridge to chill for 2 hours or until Jello is firm and set.

7. Remove from refrigerator and ice with cream cheese frosting (recipe below,) or whipped cream then garnish with fresh fruit.

8. Serve immediately, or return to refrigerator until served.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened

• 8oz cream cheese

• 4 cups powdered sugar

• 2 tsps vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Combine softened butter and cream cheese in medium bowl: beat on medium speed until well blended.

2. Add powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat until creamy.

Freedom Fudge (Repost)

Reprinted from June 2021

Am I the only one that gets a hankering for “out of season” foods? I think not. So when a friend said they were making “Freedom Fudge” to share at an Independence Day gathering, my eyes lit up and my mouth watered.

And besides, as someone who grew up in a coastal town summer tourism and fudge shops are pretty synonymous. But you don’t see fudge recipes circulating much in the summer time, they usually show up in our feeds around Thanksgiving. I mean to change that with this post!

This quick-fudge recipe that makes a plate-full of rich little morsels in a jiffy calls for only 3 ingredients.

It’s so quick and easy, you can make them any day of the year and the recipients will almost certainly erupt in smiles of gratitude.

My friend dressed them up for the 4th of July by drizzling melted white chocolate over the top and adding some red, white, and blue sprinkles. That seems like a lot of work to me, but if you want to, go ahead!

Ingredients:

• 1 12oz package semi-sweet chocolate chips

• 1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk

• 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter

Directions:

1. Place sweetened condensed milk and butter in saucepan and heat on stovetop on medium heat until butter is melted.

2. Turn off heat and add chocolate chips, stirring until melted and mixed thoroughly.

3. Pour into 8”x8” baking dish lined with waxed paper.

4. Chill in refrigerator 3 hours or over night.

5. Cut into squares and serve.

Double this recipe for a larger crowd and use a 9”x13” pan. Feelin’ nutty? Add half a cup chopped walnuts. Going soft? Toss in a cup of mini-marshmallows. Trying to lighten up? Substitute white chocolate chips….

Keep it simple, or make it a show-stopper, ‘cuz hey, it’s a free country!

Freedom Fudge; your fudge, your way. Any time of the year!

Red White & Blue - Berry Bites

Reprinted from July 2020

Sharing again…

President’s Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, or Veteran’s Day… there are many designated holidays throughout the year that encourage us to celebrate the American Spirit. One way to do that is to serve up a little red, white, and blue on the buffet table.

I'm not quite sure that Red White & Blue - Berry Bites qualify as a "recipe" as much as it does as a "craft", but since it is definitely edible (very, deliciously edible) I'm filing under both categories.

Ingredients:

• Red ripe strawberries, rinsed, stem on

• White chocolate chips - melted

• Blue sugar crystals

• Waxed or parchment paper

Instructions:

1. Take a sweet, red, beautiful strawberry, holding the stem end in your fingers, dip the tip - up to about 3/4  of the berry into melted white chocolate, then immediately dip it again - leaving a band of white - into blue sugar sprinkles. Place on parchment or waxed paper to "set".  Voila! 

Friend, and Point Hope Director, Jan, made some up with daughter Erin and grandkids; while she thought that perhaps they weren't as picture perfect as the ones from a magazine, there's no doubt a ton of fun and even more love went into their creations.

This is an uncomplicated but showy display of patriotic pride with a berry big blast of flavor! Have fun with it!

Star Spangled Fruit Skewers (Repost)

Reprinted from July 2024

Headed to a 4th of July BBQ tomorrow and don't know what to contribute?

Take these red, white and bluuuuue fruit skewers and watch folks rocket themselves toward the buffet table!

Made with ripe red strawberries, sweet white nectarines, and sensational blueberries, it's a sweet treat that agrees with kids, parents, and most dietary considerations. For a little added pizzazz, these are topped with an angel food cake star, but that's completely optional.

Serve with some sweetened cream cheese fruit dip for an extra explosion of flavor.

Ingredients:

For the skewers -

• Fresh Strawberries

• Fresh White Nectarines (Substitute marshmallows or cubes of angel food cake)

• Fresh Blueberries

• Angle Food Cake, sliced and cut into star shapes (Optional!)

• 6” bamboo skewers

For the fruit dip -

• 8 oz (standard package) cream cheese

• 1/2 cup powdered sugar

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
  

Directions:

For the Skewers -

1. Wash fruit.

2. Remove stems and cut strawberries in half, if desired. Leave whole if you prefer.

3. Cut nectarines in wedges, peel, then cut wedges in half.

4. String fruit onto skewsers in a red, white, and blue pattern.

5. Top with star shaped angle food cake piece.

6. Layer on serving tray.

For the dip -

1. Beat the softened cream cheese in a mixing bowl until it’s smooth and creamy. 

2. Add powdered sugar and mix until well combined,

3. Add vanilla and combine

4. Then add in the lemon juice and beat until creamy, smooth, and irrisistable! 

Red, White, and Blueberry Beet Salad (Repost)

Reprinted from July 2019

Here’s a fun, festive, 4th of July salad for your holiday table. My sister made this one up just for the occasion (because she knows I LOVE beets, even if she doesn’t!)

It calls for 4 very basic ingredients as well as a basic vinaigrette dressing made with red-wine vinegar. You can whisk one up yourself, or use a bottled one you’ve purchased, whichever get’s the job done to your satisfaction and gets you out of the kitchen and back into the celebration as quickly as possible.

You’ll wow your guests (or your hosts) when you place this on the banquet table!

Red, White, and Blueberry Beet Salad

Ingredients:

• 5-6 large beets, peeled, cooked (you may boil or roast - your choice), cooled, and cubed

• 2 pints of blueberries, washed and drained

• 6-8 ounces feta cheese, crumbled

• a bed of baby spinach

For the dressing:

• ½ cup olive oil

• 4 tablespoons red wine vinegar

• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

• 1 tablespoon honey or agave syrup

• 2 medium cloves garlic, pressed or minced

• ¼ teaspoon fine kosher salt, to taste

• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Make the vinaigrette dressing:

   1. In a liquid measuring cup or bowl, combine all of the ingredients except oil. Stir well with a small whisk.

   2. Drop a single drop of oil into the mixture and whisk briskly, add another drop and continue to whisk, then add remaining oil in a stream, continuing to whisk until well blended.

   3. Taste, and adjust as necessary.

2. Place cooked cubed beets in large bowl, add blueberries, pour viniagrette over top and mix well.

3. Place baby spinach leaves on serving platter.

4. Layer dressed beets and blueberries over the top of spinach, then sprinkle liberally with crumbled feta cheese.

5. Refrigerate until serving.

Enjoy this salad, bursting with red, white, and blue flavor, as we celebrate our great nation’s birthday! I hope your 4th full of your favorite ingredients, and mixes up to be a happy and safe holiday!

Let's Eat! | The Simplified Cookbook

Know any newly minted adults who suddenly find they’re in charge of feeding themselves? Or maybe someone who’s been practicing for a while but knows a limited number of filling and familiar recipes? How ‘bout busy parents who just need to get some wholesome meals into the kids and still have some energy left after the ordeal.

For the recent grads or those bored with the same-old, same-old, “The Simplified Cookbook”, by Emily Ley, is your ticket to gastronomic happiness.

Life's complicated. Dinner doesn't have to be. In a world of complex recipes and multi-hour cooking marathons, here's your culinary rebellion: 60 ridiculously simple meals that prove delicious doesn't mean difficult. Each recipe is a gift to your future hangry self – just 6 ingredients, 20 minutes, and zero culinary degrees required.

Think of this as your "I can't even" cookbook. Had a day? These recipes understand. They're the ones that show up in sweatpants, bring the good snacks, and don't judge you for eating straight from the pan. From quick-fix comfort foods to "how did you make this?" dinner party heroes, these 60 assembly-style recipes are your new kitchen best friends. One book. All the go-to meals. Because sometimes the most loving thing you can do for yourself is to keep it simple.

Try the quiche, found on page 36!

As a mom of three running a company, author Emily Ley understands the daily dinner struggle firsthand. She’s turned her talent for simplifying the complicated into a practical guide for anyone who wants to eat well without spending hours in the kitchen.

I know a few 20-somethings that can use this, some 30-somethings that will want it, and some I-better-not-say somethings that will love it too!

Make someone’s day (maybe your own) and pick up some copies of “The Simplified Cookbook” to pass around! Breakfasts, Lunches, Dinners, Desserts… and beyond. It’s all in,

ORDER: THE SIMPLIFIED COOKBOOK

Novel Threat | June Book Club

For the dad, grads, and any of you with a thirst for intrigue and espionage -with a touch of romance- I give you my June Book Club pick, “Novel Threat” by Traci Hunter Abramson.

In a world of covert codes, two CIA operatives must infiltrate a New York publishing house, where every word on the page could be a weapon.

Brandon Hale, a seasoned CIA case officer, contemplates walking away from the covert world of espionage to embark on a quieter path in publishing. But his plan takes an abrupt turn when a critical source within the Labyrinth terrorist organization is assassinated, leaving behind a cryptic message about a New York publishing house. Rather than submitting his resignation, Brandon finds himself going undercover at Monroe Publishing to stop the next terrorist strike against the US.

Kimber Seidel, a CIA finance officer with secret aspirations of becoming a novelist, enjoys a serendipitous encounter with a handsome book lover like herself on her way home from London. Though she cannot reveal her true employment to her new friend, Brandon Hale, she can't deny the instant spark that ignites between them. When Kimber's manuscript is unexpectedly shopped to Monroe Publishing as a pawn in the CIA's counterterrorism plot, Kimber must navigate the intersection of her literary dreams and her covert life as well as her deepening connection with Brandon.

Though each decoded message is leading Brandon and Kimber closer to the truth, it is also leading them into the line of fire, where the stakes are higher than anyone ever imagined.

June is the month of graduations, Father’s Day, weddings… and like every month on my calendar, one for reading! Pair all of them up nicely with the gift of “Novel Threat” a great early summer novel that will keep the reader on the edge of their picnic blanket!

Order: “NOVEL THREAT”

Rockin' the Tic Tac Toe! | Craft

Tic Tac Toe… Got my ducks in a row!

I’m a little obsessed.

Recently, I picked up some flat rocks, grabbed my paints and brushes, and now I can’t stop making these rockin’ Tic Tac Toe games!

Join me? You could make a really clever Father’s Day or graduation gift using a theme or color scheme that had personal meaning to the recipient.

You’ll need 10 rocks with paintable surfaces, acrylic craft paints and brushes, and a can of spray sealer. You’ll also need something to paint a playing board on - I used wood rounds, but you coud use anything flat, like a ceramic tile, or a chunk of timber. Make sure you wash your rocks and let dry completely for best adhesion.

Paint half the rocks in one color or in such a way you can tell they are a group, like chicks - and 5 of an alternate color or group, such as eggs. (If you’re helping your littles make a gift for papa, just have them paint 5 rocks one color, and 5 rocks another. Or, if they are a little older, maybe paint 5 with X's and 5 with O’s.) Paint a Tic Tac Toe board using 2 verticle lines and 2 horizontal lines so there are 9 playing squares roughly the size of your rock playing pieces.

I’ve shared a few of my favorite designs with you... Yes. they’re corny. Yes, I crack myself up. But I’ve had so much fun making and gifting, and I’m sure you will too!

Be creative. Have fun!

Lemony Rhubarb Scones

Pamper Mom this Mother’s Day, starting off first thing in the morning with these oh-so-delicious Lemony Rhubarb Scones!

My gardens are lush with rhubarb this time of year, and I’m always looking for new ways to use the tart, beautiful stalks. Pies, alone or with other fruits like strawberries and blueberries. are of course a favorite, and I can’t tell you how much rhubarb sauce we go through topping pancakes, waffles, and ice cream! But I’d never thought about using them in scones until a friend recommended this recipe to me.

These two tarts - lemon and rhubard - are tamed with a sweet sugar glaze and the combination is melt-in-your-mouth, delish!

This is a basic scone recipe, which as you know, comes together pretty quickly because it has baking powder for leavening. All you have to do is add the lemon’s zest and juice and the chopped rhubarb to take them from Ho-Hum to Oh-Yum!

Deliver to Mom on a breakfast tray with her morning tea or coffee, a posie, and handmade card to start her day off right. Don’t forget to spoil her the rest of the day as well!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/3 cup granulated sugar

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• Zest of 1 lemon

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, frozen and grated

• 1/2 cup chopped fresh rhubarb

• 3/4 cup heavy cream

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

• 1 egg (for egg wash)

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, whisk together dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and lemon zest.

2. Add grated butter and cut into dry ingredients with a pastry cutter or two forks until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

3. Add chopped rhubarb and stir.

4. In small bowl, mix wet ingredients; cream, vanilla, and lemon juice. Pour into the dry mixture and stir until just combined.

5. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface, knead a few times, and shape into disk approximately 1-inch thick.

6. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes - or overnight if you want warm scones in the morning!

7. Preheat oven to 400 degrees as dough is chilling and prepare a baking sheet with a large piece of parchment paper.

8. Cut chilled dough into 8 wedges and place them on prepared baking sheet.

9. Brush the tops with beaten egg

10. Bake for 20 minutes, until golden brown and no longer wet inside.

11. Cool on wire rack then drizzle with glaze.

Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 3 Tablespoons heavy cream or milk

1. Combine sugar and cream/milk, mixing well until thick and smooth. Add more sugar if too thin, or more cream/milk if too thick. Drizzle over cooled scones.

Becoming Girlilla | May Book Club

I get so excited about sharing inspiring stories with you!

This month of Mother’s Day (May!) I have a really lovely one. “Becoming Girlilla” by Jennie Smythe, Founder and CEO of Girlilla Marketing, mother and breast cancer warrior.

Like all success stories, it’s full of failures - which we like to call “set backs” because it sounds less painful. But Jennie has known the pain of uncertainty, the loss of her estranged father, she’s valiantly fought breast cancer, and stood her ground in an industry that can easily knock you over.

Becoming Girlilla highlights how resilience, authenticity, and passion can make a meaningful impact both online and in real life as Jennie candidly shares her path to success, full of sometimes surprising and oftentimes laugh-out-loud moments. Along the way, she’s navigated an industry that often underestimated her, fought through personal and professional hurdles, and rose to the top of her field.

A digital marketing trailblazer, Jennie’s memoir—Becoming Girlilla—is the unfiltered, inspiring story of her rise from unlikely beginnings to digital marketing powerhouse. Her experiences at Elektra, Disney’s Hollywood Records, YAHOO! Music, Warner Bros. Records, Clear Channel and more led her to launch her own Nashville-based firm, Girlilla Marketing, following a deathbed conversation with her estranged father.

Becoming Girlilla isn’t just about one woman’s resilience—it’s a call to embrace change, unleash potential, and make a positive impact in the world.

Order “Becoming Girlilla: My Journey to Unleashing Good - in Real Life, Online, and in Others” for someone who could use a little inspiration in their life - maybe that’s YOU!

Discover more at Becoming Girlilla and sign up for the newsletter HERE
Join @GirlillaMarketing on Facebook / Instagram / LinkedIn / TikTok / Online
Follow Jennie Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook

Jennie lives in Nashville with her husband, and their two children.

My Mother's Day Sweepstakes

Mom’s are special! Her day is coming up on Sunday, May 12th!

To celebrate the spring season, and the moms in our lives, I’ve put together another sweet little package to gift-away. This lovely collection is just a few of my favorite things, provided by a few of my favorite radio sponsors.

5 lucky winners will be selected between
Friday, April 25nd - Friday, May 9th.

To enter yourself or a deserving mom, no purchase is necessary, but you must send me a note telling me a little bit about yourself or the person you are nominating. Even though all winners will be chosen at random, I will LOVE reading your letters and learning more about you and/or the special mom you’re nominating!

Use the ENTER button to send me a note telling me who you’d like to see blessed by these delights and why. Make sure you include a full name and shipping address, and an email too.

Good luck and Happy Mother’s Day!

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The Geller Gals at Laura Geller have come up with a special little package for spring, “It’s A Pink Thing” Marbleized Makeup Collection.

It includes their Baked Blush-n-Brighten Marbleized Blush in Pink Praline and a creamy swirled Italian Marble Lipstick in Amarena (like the cherries).  Mom will be radiantly "in the pink' with this delightful duo!

Laura Geller was made for mature women, but that doesn’t stop my daughters from raiding my make-up collection. Their products are that divine, their formulas are that exquisite, and their palettes that up-to-the minute! A little touch of luxury, this gift will be used and appreciated!

Find all the “It’s A Pink Thing” choices,
and so many other delicious offerings at Laura Geller!

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Bigelow Tea, a family-owned business that brought us the citrus and spice delight, Constant Comment, back in 1945, still prepares each tea blend with the utmost care and attention.

This delicious collection of their caffeine free herbal teas makes a great gift for Mother’s Day or any occasion including get well, thinking of you, or simply a treat for any day you might need a moment for yourself. The Benefits Wellness Tea Collection gift box includes 8 tea bags each of Stress Free, Balance, Throat Defense, Sleep and 16 tea bags each of Stay Well & Calm Stomach.

Bigelow Benefits are everyday teas that fuel your body with good for you ingredients. Take a moment just for yourself this spring with Bigelow Tea.

Order the Wellness Tea Collection from Bigelow

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“Becoming Girlilla”, by Jennie Smythe, is my May Book Club pick and I’m dropping copies in my gift packages!

A digital marketing trailblazer, Jennie’s memoir is the unfiltered, inspiring story of her rise from unlikely beginnings to digital marketing powerhouse. Her experiences at Elektra, Disney’s Hollywood Records, YAHOO! Music, Warner Bros. Records, Clear Channel and more led her to launch her own Nashville-based firm, Girlilla Marketing, following a deathbed conversation with her estranged father.
 
Becoming Girlilla highlights how resilience, authenticity, and passion can make a meaningful impact both online and in real life as Jennie candidly shares her path to success, full of sometimes surprising and oftentimes laugh-out-loud moments.

Inspire someone special with a copy of “Becoming Girlilla” today!

______________________

“Shine Bright Anyway” by counselor, Faith Broussard Cade, is a beautiful book with 90 messages to inspire hope.

It was my January Book Club choice, and I’m adding it to my mom’s bundle too! Faith gained a large Instagram following when she started posting daily handwritten positive affirmations or “love notes” on her account as she grappled with recovering from a traumatic brain injury.

Following that success, Faith wrote her debut book which promises to show readers that they are enough even when the world says they’re not. The cheery cover hints at the bright and loving messages inside to lift Mom’s spirit.

Give the gift of “Shine Bright Anyway”.

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Founded in 1912 beneath magnificent Mount Rainier in Washington State, Brown & Haley Candy Co. has been a purveyor of fine confections for over a century.

Their flagship product, Almond ROCA Buttercrunch Toffee combines premium California almonds and pure vanilla with fresh local butter and a Signature Blend of cocoa beans for an irresistible taste sensation of buttery goodness. Each gift tin has individual foil wrapped pieces and is resealable for freshness.

Almond ROCA was my mothers favorite candy, and I can’t unwrap one of the gold foil confections without thinking of her. A beautiful spring Seattle Collectors Tin of Almond ROCA is included in my Mother’s Day bundle in addition to a selection of ROCA bites, in three delectable flavors. A treat for the sweetest of the sweet - Mom!

Surprise all those you love with a tin of Almond ROCA!

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Eyes of Faith® Optical creates eyewear that changes lives and reflects the hope within you.

Their glasses are thoughtfully designed with Biblical scripture printed inside, and every purchase supports meaningful causes like free glasses, shelter, and support for people in need around the world.

My dear friends are contributing a sleek and sporty aviator style pair of sunglasses, in their Reflect design. The classic shape flatters every profile and is finished with high-quality, comfortable spring hinges. The 2 Corinthians 3:18 passage "...see and reflect the glory of the Lord" , is printed inside the temple to remind you to seek and show God's love throughout your day.

Keeping the sun out of your eyes, and the Lord in your heart! Mom will love these!

Find an Eyes of Faith® showroom near you!

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Mercy Ships sends hospital ships filled with caring volunteer medical professionals to heal those without access to medical care in the farthest reaches of the world.

As I a little reminder of all the good they do, I’m dropping in some Mercy Ships swag perfect for the sunny season!

I’ve been helping to spread the word about Mercy Ships and encourage everyone to support their mission with monetary gifts, volunteering, and prayers because I believe in their mission. These gifts help provide free surgery and strengthen the healthcare infrastructure in the nations they serve., bringing hope and healing to children and families suffering from painful, disfiguring, and often preventable conditions.

For a limited time, you can make a greater impact on more children and families by giving monthly. When you make a monthly donation by April 30th, your first three gifts will be matched, up to $25,000, to go twice as far.

Learn more at MercyShips.org

Carrot Cornbread Muffins with Chili Honey

We’ll be setting our Easter brunch tables soon and I’m always looking for simple but tasty offerings to add to mine.

Alongside a spiral cut ham, scalloped potatoes, and assorted veggies and salads, I’m adding these Carrot Cornbread Muffins with a drizzle of Hot Chili Honey.

The muffin recipe is not my own, but the tried and true one that’s appeared on the back of my Albers Corn Meal box since I was old enough to follow written directions and be trusted with the oven. The easy addition of a cup of grated carrot makes them special in a few different ways.

The carrot adds moisture, texture, a hint of sweetness, and a dash of color, elevating the humble muffin to something a little bit special. (And sneaks in some added nutrition and fiber!) But the real star of this show is the the Hot Chili Honey you’ll use - along with a generous dollop of butter - to bring these to the next level!

There are many recipes out there for Hot Chili Honey, several of them call for fresh garlic or fresh peppers, and several more involve corn or potato starch, cooking time, and multiple ingredients. Not this one. Mine calls for honey, bottled hot sauce, and chili powder - with a dash of pepper flakes for show. That’s it.

One of the best things about this combination is that it is shelf-stable for about 3 months. (All those using fresh garlic must be refrigerated and consumed within a week.)

Give this simple, elegant, and tasty combination a go, and let me know how you like it!

Carrot Cornbread Muffin
Ingredients:

• 1 cup corn meal

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 1/4 cup sugar

• 1 Tbsp baking powder

• 1 tsp salt

• 1 cup milk

• 1/3 cup vegetable oil

• 1 large egg, slightly beaten

• 1 cup grated carrot

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400* F. Prepare 10-12 greased or paper-lined muffin tins.

2. Combine cornmeal, flour, sugar, bsking powder and salt in medium bowl.

3. Combine milk, oil, and egg in another medium bowl, adding grated carrots last.

4. Add milk/carrot mixture to cornmeal/flour mixture. Stir until just blended.

5. Spoon into prepared tins, filling 3/4 of the way full.*

6. Bake for 15 minutes or until an inserted toothpick come out clean

   * Hint - I like to use a gravy ladle to fill my cupcake and muffin tins.

Hot Chill Honey
Ingredients & Directions:

• 1/2 cup honey

• 3 Tbsp Hot Sauce of your choice

• 1/4 - 1/2 chili powder

• sprinkle of red pepper flakes

Simply combine all ingredients and let the flavors marry a while. Go lightly with the chili powder at first, until you know how hot you’d like your sauce to be. Pour into a sterilized container with air tight seal. Shelf stable up to 3 months.

Love this hot/sweet combo? Don’t think that carrot cornbread muffins is all you an enjoy it with! Sooo delicous on roasted veggies, pizza, chicken and with a charcuterie spread! Enjoy!!

The Time Traveler's Masquerade | April Book Club

April showers bring May flowers, but in the meantime, we need something to do when the clouds let go of their heavy burdens. 

Enter my book club pick for the month, "A Time Traveler's Masquerade", by Sian Ann Bessey.

"Romance blossoms when Isla Crawford steps into McQuivey’s Costume Shop in London and is swept back in time to 1605, where she and Lord Bancroft attempt to thwart Guy Fawkes’s Gunpowder Plot.

One moment, Isla Crawford is inside McQuivey’s Costume Shop trying on a Jacobean-style gown for the parliamentary Autumn Ball, and the next, she is standing in an unfamiliar garden, barefoot, coatless, and at the mercy of a fierce storm. Confused, she seeks refuge in a Tudor manor, where she discovers that she has inexplicably traveled back to 1605, mere weeks before the culmination of Guy Fawkes’s infamous Gunpowder Plot.

Simon Hartworth, Lord Bancroft, finds his orderly seventeenth-century life disrupted when a mysterious woman appears on his sister’s doorstep during a storm. Intrigued by the stranger’s quirks and bewildering speech, he feels compelled to protect her and heed her warnings about a fatal plot against Parliament. As Simon is drawn into Isla’s dangerous scheme to stop the evildoers, he can’t help but also feel drawn to her."

How will Isla get back home to her own time? Does she want to? Will she unknowingly alter the course of history? Four centuries out of place, thrust into the midst of a treasonous plot, her heart and her head aren’t always in sync with one another. 

A fantastic fantasy, perfect for an Easter basket and for an afternoon when spring rains keep us out of of the garden but a book can transport us to another time and place!

Find your copy here: A Time Traveler's Masquerade

The Chosen | "Last Supper"

The Chosen: Last Supper
Coming to theaters starting March 27, 2025

The Chosen is a groundbreaking historical drama based on the life of Jesus (Jonathan Roumie), seen through the eyes of those who knew him. Set against the backdrop of Roman oppression in first-century Israel, the seven-season series shares an authentic and intimate look at Jesus’ revolutionary life and teachings.

What started as a crowd-funded project has grown to over 250 million viewers and more than 17 million social media followers.

Now Season 5 is being release in theaters as “The Chosen: Last Supper“ covering the dramatic events of Holy Week from start to finish. Shot in a beautiful cinematic format, The Chosen: Last Supper brings the most pivotal week in history to audiences in this special three-part theatrical release.

The table is set. The people of Israel welcome Jesus as king while his disciples anticipate his crowning. But—instead of confronting Rome—he turns the tables on the Jewish religious festival. Their power threatened, the country’s religious and political leaders will go to any length to ensure this Passover meal is Jesus’ last.

All 8 episodes of Season 5 will be available to enjoy in theaters in a 3-part theatrical release

You can get your tickets now at TheChosenLastSupper.com
(As well as preorder your tickets for the 3-part theatrical release.)

After being told about The Chosen by a close friend, I have LOVED every episode and even had a chance to visit the cast and crew on set. I am eagerly looking forward to this theatrical event, and can’t wait to attend with family and friends.

What a lovely gift at the holiest time of year!

Traditional Irish Brown Bread

‘Tis the month of March, when we’re all just a little bit Irish!

For as many years as I can remember, that means a hearty meal of Corned Beef, Boiled Potatoes, Cabbage, and Irish Soda Bread on the 17th. Mmmmmm.

But recent travelers to the Emerald Isle tell me traditional Irish brown bread is where the real goodness is! They said it was served at every meal, alone with a slathering of Irish butter, as well as alongside soups, stews, and even sometimes made into sandwiches.

It’s a hearty, somewhat sweet dense loaf that quickly comes together. No yeast or rising, but more like a banana bread or pumpkin loaf. Although you’ll need some ingredients you may not have on hand, like buttermilk, molasses, and Guinness Stout.

I hope you’ll think of adding this to your Saint Patrick’s Day meal… and maybe have it often througout the year!

Ingredients:

• 2 3/4 cups whole wheat flour

• 3/4 cup old fashioned oats

• 1 tsp salt

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 2 Tbp dark brown sugar

• 1/2 cup molasses

• 1 cup Guinness Stout

• 1 cup buttermilk

• 2 Tbp melted butter

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Place all dry ingredients in large mixing bowl: flour, oats, salt, soda and brown sugar, combining well.

3. Make a well in dry mixture and add all wet ingredients: molasses, Guinness, buttermilk and melted butter. Stir together by hand - do not use a mixer as it’s easy to over mix.

4. Pour into a prepared loaf pan (sprayed liberally with cooking spray or lined with parchment paper.) Spread into corners, cut line through the middle with spatula, and sprinkle top with some oats if desired.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.

6. Enjoy!

May the luck o’ the Irish be with ye!

The Tides of Time | March Book Club

It’s been a while since I shared an historical romance with you, one of my favorite, “lose yourself for an afternoon” genres.

To remedy that, just in time for spring, I’ve chosen, “The Tides of Time”, by Sarah M. Eden, for my March Book Club pick.

This one’s a bit different, it includes some fantasy elements, and like iced tea and sunshine, the two pair together perfectly! Get it from Amazon or Shadow Mountain Publishing.

In 1793, a storm propels Lili forward through time, kindling a love that transcends the ages.

Fleeing the clutches of Robespierre’s revolutionary Tribunal in France, Lili Minet makes a desperate escape on a ship headed to England, but her dangerous flight takes an unexpected turn when a violent storm catapults her off the ship and eighty years into the future, leaving her stranded in the unfamiliar world of 1873 England.

When lighthouse keeper Armitage Pierce rescues a woman from the tumultuous sea, he does not anticipate her silent, cold response to his gallant efforts. Though he is wary of this woman and her odd behaviors, he finds she is just as wary of him. And he can sense that she is not telling him something of great import to her. Only Armitage’s grandfather, a man seasoned by the mysteries of the sea, can seem to penetrate Lili’s defenses to offer her support. But as Lili heals from the physical and emotional wounds of her ordeal and Armitage continues to offer light and safety to her, a tender friendship blossoms between the two.

Yet the shadow of danger looms as the threat that chased Lili from France all those years ago reemerges in her new present. Together Lili and Armitage must navigate the challenges of a love that defies the boundaries of time and the perils that reach across the decades to ensnare Lili. As the storm clouds gather, Lili and Armitage face the ultimate test—whether their bond is strong enough to rewrite the pages of history itself to save them and their love. 

So many lovely things happen this month … Daylight Savings Time (hooray for longer evenings!), Saint Patrick’s Day (corned beef and cabbage, yes please!), and Spring Equinox (new beginnings!)…

Add “The Tides of Time” to the list, and lose yourself for an afternoon in a storm of danger, passion and mystery!

Sarah M. Eden is a USA Today best-selling author of witty and charming historical romances, including 2019’s Foreword Reviews INDIE Awards Gold Winner for Romance, The Lady and the Highwayman, and 2020 Holt Medallion finalist, Healing Hearts.

She is a two-time “Best of State” Gold Medal winner for fiction and a three-time Whitney Award winner.

The Dead Sea Squirrels | Fun New Faith Series

If your family loves VeggieTales, get ready to be excited. There’s a new fun-filled animated show bringing faith-based storytelling to life in a way that’s sure to capture kids’ hearts while teaching them about the Bible.

Introducing The Dead Sea Squirrels:
A new show by VeggieTales co-creator
Mike Nawrocki.

The all-new animated series is available exclusively on Minno as of February 14, 2025!

Merle and Pearl, two squirrels from biblical times, are the stars of The Dead Sea Squirrels. Based on Mike Nawrocki’s popular, award-winning book series, the story follows Michael Gomez, a 12-year-old boy who discovers the petrified squirrels while visiting his archaeologist father in Israel.

After smuggling them back to Tennessee, a rainstorm rehydrates them, bringing the squirrels—and their firsthand knowledge of the early church—back to life!

Together, Michael and the squirrels navigate modern-day challenges, all while sharing biblical lessons and hilarity.

It’s my prayer that this series helps kids make a connection to the Bible and the life of Jesus.
~ Mike Nawrocki

There are 13 action-packed episodes in the first season. Ready to dive into the hilarious, heartwarming world of The Dead Sea Squirrels?

Stream the show on Minno and explore the book series to join Merle, Pearl, and Michael on their unforgettable adventures!Each episode brings laughs, adventure, and timeless lessons grounded in biblical truth.

"The Unbreakable Boy" | New Movie

While the month of February is still dishing out dicey winter weather, it’s also dishing up some really fantastic movies we can duck into to escape the unpleasantness of outside!

“The Unbreakable Boy”, in theaters February 21, is one.

It’s my kind of movie, raw and real, but also positive and uplifting. It has “all the feels” as they say. It’s about a family dealing with the realities of a child who has both autism and a rare genetic disease called Osteogenesis Imperfecta (brittle bone disease), which causes frequent bone fractures.

It does such a beautiful job of illustrating the immense challenges and extreme joys that raising a child with special needs comes with.

 “You’ve never met a kid like Austin. He’s not just one in a million… he’s one in four billion – the odds of being born with both a rare brittle-bone disease and autism. But what makes Austin truly unique is his joyous, funny, life-affirming worldview that transforms and unites everyone around him – especially his dad, Scott (Zachary Levi), who comes to see Austin not as the symbol of something broken, but the triumph of an indestructible spirit.

To meet Austin is to know that being “unbreakable” is not about physical strength, but the inner strength that comes from embracing love and grace, even in the most trying times. “

“The Unbreakable Boy” stars Zachary Levi and Meghann Fahy as Austin’s parents, Patricia Heaton as his grandmother, and Jacob Laval as the resilient, effervescent Austin LeRette.

Learn more about “THE UNBREAKABLE BOY”
In theaters February 21, 2025

“The Unbreakable Boy”, based on a NYTimes bestseller of the same name, is an inspirational true story from Kingdom Story Company and the producers of “I Can Only Imagine”, and “I Still Believe.” TICKETS ON SALE FEBRUARY 12, 2025.

 Ticket’s on sale February 12: https://theunbreakableboy.movie/

Walk On | February Book Club

Continuing a theme from January, my February Book Club choice is another great book to add to your personal support library.

"Walk On", by Stephen Panus, is an inspiring and emotionally powerful story which transcends grief, loss, and love, and provides anyone suffering from any form of adversity, struggle or hardship with rays of hope and a pathway for becoming the best version of themselves.

Stephen Panus has been a publicist, sports agent, artist, attorney, sports marketing executive, author, and motivational speaker. He’s represented an NFL Pro Bowl player and Super Bowl champion, a multiple-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 and a “Dancing with the Stars” champion, international star tennis players, and serves as CEO of Twisted Hairs, LLC, a strategic advisory agency offering marketing, media & public relations services. Yet, the only title that’s ever mattered to him has been being a father to his two boys, Jake and Liam.  

When his elder son, Jake, was tragically and suddenly killed as a passenger in a reckless and senseless car crash at the tender age of sixteen in the summer of 2020, Stephen’s life imploded. Seeking to both survive and move forward, he wrote “Walk On” to confront his daily agony and inspire his family with a renewed and resilient faith in living and turning their pain into purpose.

Featured on "Good Morning America" as a GMA Book Club buzz selection in 2024, "Walk On" is an authentic memoir revealing a father's quest to turn pain into purpose after the tragic and sudden death of his beloved 16-year-old son, Jake.

More than anything, it's been said that "Walk On" is "a book for everyone because it can teach us all how to be better people."

Purchase Your Copy of "Walk On"