What Ought To Be: June

1. Closer in Faith:  Not much better the the past month

2. Lose 50 Pounds: I don't even want to know. I will get back on this, I don't think that I will loose the 50 pounds by the end of the year. If I could just get to the gym and eat better by the end of the year I would be happy. It hasn't helped that the very few times that I tried to get myself to the gym it's been closed. I have also been on vacation and haven't not cared about diet or exercise so I have to get back on it this month. However, as part of my Discovery project I did a lot of walking on the UT Campus. 

3. Cook Better: I have really only cooked the meals from the cookbook and a meal for Small Group. I will say that I have been looking more forward to cooking the meals. So, I guess that's improvement.

4. Dress for Success: This has been back and forth this month. 

5. Speak up: So, I have learned something this month about this. Last month was insane, mainly emotionally insane, but insane. So, this month was really just trying to get back to feeling normal. This stress, and the fact that I have been way off track in a lot of areas. So, I didn't have much I wanted to speak up on, or really felt like it at all. However, saying "yes" and that's all could be speaking up. I was asked by one of the ladies at our church to take over a monthly event that we have for our women's group. I told her I would do it. Now, I didn't say much but what I did say mattered.

6. Own the Room: This one I'm still working on. I am not sure how I will know when I felt like I have owned the room. I really need to stop letting this little crazy shy person inside of me that tells me to hide, control me. Like when I am uncomfortable I feel like I want to hide. I need to say something more. 

7. Look People in the eye more: This one I feel like I have done better one. Handing out docs to people at work I know who will look me in the face now when I am being intentional about looking at them. 

8. Building Relationships: I have talked to all of my friends this month, I have not been the best out it. I do need to adjust this as this month goes one.

9. Style: 

So, a funny about this shirt. I say it three months ago when I was buying the last set of shirts. I hated it. I justified not buying it then because it was cold. It was still there when I went back this month to get it. I bought it and took it on vacation. I sent a Marco Polo to my group of friends, about nothing related to this shirt, and Alaina was like "That shirt is cute! Is that you uncomfy shirt for this month? I love it". I didn't tell her, or anyone, that this was a new shirt and she knew right away. I will say the one thing I love about the shirt is that it show my bow tattoo in the back. 

10. Creativity: So, I did read. I read like 3 1/2 books by Francine Rivers this month. I think that is something that helped me during this month. Reading is something I love to do but never make an effort to really do it. I have really enjoyed my reading time this month and I hope I continue to do it.

11. Spoiling: So, the one thing that I really wanted to do this month is redo by bathroom so I did. 

IT'S SO PINK!!! 

12. Peace: So, I am at peace for the most part. I know I can improve but seeing where I was at last month I am doing way better, even it it's was just back to where I was at the month before. I know that I will get better, and that I will learn from what I have been through. I just have to keep going. 

So, this month's classic movies from the cookbook are lots that I have already talked about. However, even the Confidence movie this month is a true classic. One that I have never seen before.. Dead Poet Society. 

John Keating is a teacher that loves to challenge the people he is teaching. He loves to show people how to think for themselves, and how to look at thinks differently. This kind of teaching is something that is ground breaking for the teachers and students at the boarding school where Keating grew up. When he gets a job there he meets a great group of boy who are just ready to get into the world, but also want to be the adults that their parents want them to be. We see just how wonderful, and tragic, their lives are with their family and with their peers at the school. 

I was really not ready for the heartbreak that came with the movie. The reason that I added it to the list is because I saw the seen where Robin Williams is telling the boys that the reason that they use words is to whoo women. That words can give them confidence that they never thought about before. The looking at words in a different way can make for a different mindset. I think I need to really that. I need to stop speaking stuff over myself, and speak more life. That I need to say "I can" more rather than "I Can't". 

This love story is set during World War II. It's about an American Cafe owner in Morocco who runs into the woman who got away. He husband, who she thought dead when they were together, is trying to escape to America to help put an end to the war. 

We have talked about this movie many, many times before. However, the last time I watched the film, was a few years ago at the Tennessee Theatre. I have seen this movie dozens of times in my life. I will say that it wasn't until that last time the I got the movie. I understood why it's so endearing, why it's so loved, and why people are drawn to it. What I finally got out of it was this. You can have a life that looks like is everything wonderful from the outside. You can be slick, and smooth and sly, but you still have to do something with your life. Bogart's character put his life on hold for a number of years after the love of his life didn't show up at the train station. Everyone in Morocco looks at him like he is the coolest thing since sliced bread but he really isn't happy. When he find that, yes, he does love this woman, and will always love her, but he had to live again. You can't be stagnate. 

This wonderful meal is called Roasted Eggplant Tagine with a French 75 to drink. Now, as you can totally see, I have put way too much sour cream in this bowl. It was a lot of different flavors that I have tried in the past and never really liked. This also had some stuff that I have never tried before. Eggplant is something that I have only ever cook once before this. I also think that my eggplant was not the correct ripe. I am not sure it it was over or under ripe, it's was not right I can tell. I have never really liked chickpeas. However, they were good. The one ingredient that I didn't know how to feel about, but ended up loving, was couscous. I loved all of these flavors put together. I would probably make this again, however, I might not do the eggplant, and add some sort of protein to the meal. The French 75 drink was strong but good. So far I haven't really had any of the drink in this book blow my socks off. I really hope that there will be at least one in here! 

This Alfred Hitchcock thriller is about two men who try to pull off the perfect murder. One the is so perfectly planned that they are able to hold a dinner party over the body, without any of the guests knowing. 

This movie is one that is amazing to watch every time that I see it. It's the movie that really inspired me doing any of the projects I am doing now, and writing this blog. What I love the most about this movie, besides the story of course, is how it's filmed. It's filmed in almost one continuous shot, with the exception of two cutaways. That is a feat in the time when everyone was on film and you had to shoot in 20 minute increments.

This was the most carb loaded meal so far. There was so much bread and cheese! We have Camembert in a Coffin and Parmigiano Rope Twists. The drink was called Art of Choke. Look, I'm not going to spend too much time here.... it's bread and cheese.... of course it was good! The drink..... let's just move on....

  When an unsuccessful script writer accidentally finds himself in the life of a washed up movie start, his life is turned upside down. Not knowing if it's for better or for worse, we watch the events of his life unfold when they both try to climb back into the limelight. 

 Smoked Oyster Waldorf Salad in Avocado Shells is THE WORST MEAL I HAVE MADE THUS FAR! I do not like apples, oysters, not fond of avocados, and really don't like mayo. All of that is in there. Never again! Not in a million years! The Ritz Cocktail, probably will not make that again either. 

 

We are here, again, with An American in Paris. Let's go over it again real quick. An American G.I. is living in Paris as a painter who falls in love with a girl who is engaged to one of his friends. 

I love this movie. Gene Kelly is always fun to watch, and Gershwin tunes are always good. When you watch it you know why it won best picture. 

This was the easiest meal to make... it's a charcuterie board. So, I just got some port wine cheese (I got the one with almonds to be fancier), some nuts and raisins from other meals that I had left over, and some of  my favorite crackers. I was so thankful that this was the last meal on the last month because catching up I need a break. Throwing stuff on a plate and calling it a meal was great. The An American In Paris Cocktail was really good!

Alaina came over to make another meal with me. I didn't have all of the ingredients for the drink when I made the meal, however, we got to try it and it was really good! I might want it with a little less bourbon next time but I was really surprised!