PUSH!

     So I believe I have had many times in life that I have had to "push" for something to happen....from being a little girl and realizing the swing needed to be "pushed" to move, to now being an adult and having to "push" to get through situations and still maintain. Over my [short] years :-), I realize that the pushing times eventually brought a smile to my face or a slight giggle. Those smiles and giggles were just a reminder of how bad I felt, the tears I cried, and the frustration I experienced in different moments...and how I thought I would never get through them. But yet and still, I would be present in that moment, battle scars present, but healed.  

      My grandmother told me, "There is nothing you can't get over or through", and I stand firm on that notion. I realize, even when you think you aren't doing anything, each day that you wake up, and work a little to get through any situation, you are literally pushing yourself, inch by inch, away from whatever is behind you. "Behind you" doesn't have to mean a bad relationship, or trouble- it can simply mean pushing yourself closer to your dreams.  But the point of it all is the "pushing" time defines you in the end. 

     Like a mother pushes to bring a child into the world, that temporary pain or sacrifice you make to birth something beautiful, is essentially what life is about...keep pushing...

The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses – behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights. -Muhammad Ali 

NO NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS...JUST "TO-DO" LISTS

     Happy New Year to everyone! I am very excited for this year, but not for the normal reasons. I am excited to continue what I started in 2012...putting in HARD work is very important to me, and 2013 is about the be a year that I reap what I have already sown. Looking at all of the lists I have seen from friends and family, I encourage you to do what you need to do to accomplish all of the goals you have for the year 2013! 

      To keep yourself from becoming overwhelmed, I encourage everyone to turn their goals into "To-Do" Lists! Make your goals realistic by finding a way to implement them in your small everyday tasks. For an example, instead of just saying "I want to save an extra $2,000 this year", make that the goal, but find a way to save about $40 per week. Add this to your budget. This may be the difference between visiting your favorite takeout restaurants and lining up at Starbucks only twice a month instead of every week! 

    I pray that you all stay diligent, disciplined, focused, and inspired to make your life everything that you want it to be! I am a believer that we can achieve EVERYTHING we desire and more...as long as it lines up with God's order and we are willing to work hard and sacrifice SOMETHING for it! Grind now, relax later :-) 


Peace and Blessings,

   Patrice 

GLENARDEN COMMUNITY DAY- LOOK WHAT I WON!

SERVICE OF EXCELLENCE AWARD

 


    Anyone that knows me, knows that I am from Glenarden, Maryland and I am VERY proud of it! This weekend, I was a part of the committee that organized the 2nd Annual Glenarden Day & "I Walk For You" Walk-A-Thon for the community! There were performances by the 1st Baptist Church of Glenarden, a spoken word performance by Orville "The Poet" Walker and a visual art presentation by Saheed Fawehinmi !

   As a TRUE surprise, I was given the "Service of Excellence" award for my contributions towards the community in the 23 years I have been a resident! I am truly honored, not because of the award, but because I am so proud to come from a city that has groomed me to be proud of where I came from, but to also push forward for the better. 

   Glenarden may not be known as the greatest area to live in for some, however, with the bad there is always the good. My paternal grandmother has been a resident for over 40 years, my maternal grandparents got their start as a new family there, my maternal grandmother owned 2 beauty salons in Glenarden, and my parents met as young children there.  Unbeknownst to me until about four years ago, my paternal in-laws have also been residents for 40+ years! 

    Although I have moved into a new area with my family, Glenarden will always be my home. While we must always push to grow up and out, I am so blessed and thankful to come from a place that has groomed so many people that I love and admire, and I will continue to give to my family, friends, and community!!!

-Patrice

FISH FRY FRIDAYS----Patrice's Beer Battered Fried Jerk Fish Recipe!!

So my family is on a HUGE health kick. We have done this before, but we are now determined to make it a lifestyle; howwwwwwever, we still have tons of food that will NOT be on our list in our house and WE DO NOT WASTE FOOD lol!  We decided to give some food away, but eat the rest and start fresh in August. With that said, I saw some leftover cornmeal, half jar of jerk seasoning we use, and a beer bottle and created a recipe last night! I have been getting good with creating things in the kitchen in the last year so I decided to share my newest recipe with you!

Patrice’s Beer Battered Fried Jerk Fish

(Still trying to think of a cooler name)

10-12 pieces of de-boned fish (I prefer Pollock)

Oil (For frying)

Beer Batter Mix

½ Cup of Walkerson’s Traditional Jamaican Jerk Seasoning (Your preference to use Mild or Hot & Spicy)

2 eggs

1 Cup of Beer

Dash of salt

Fry Batter mix

3 cups of cornmeal

2 cups of flour

Season salt (about ½ cup)

Pepper (2 Table spoons)

   1. Rinse thawed fish and place to the side

   2. Heat skillet with oil, or start deep fryer (I cheat and use the deep fryer lol)

   3. Prepare Fry Batter Mix; use a large Ziploc bag and combine cornmeal, flour, season salt, and pepper. Use Season salt and pepper to your discretion- I pour enough to make flour and cornmeal look LIGHT red and well mixed with pepper.

   4. Prepare Beer Batter Mix; mix jerk seasoning, eggs, beer together in a separate bowl. Add a dash of salt.

   5. Dip pieces of fish into the Beer Batter mix then Fry Batter Mix and place into a separate bowl. Continue until a fish is coated.

   6. Fry fish- 1 ½ min on each side in skillet, 3 minutes in deep fryer

   7. Drain by placing fish on paper towel-lined plate and Serve.

This was so good, I may have to bring this back when we have a "Cheat Day". Hope you enjoy! I got no complaints from my family...and in my *Olivia from The Cosby Show voice* "We are still alive!" lol :-) 

Here is a pic (This was all that was left):

I HAVE BEEN SLUMMING MAN....

OK, so it has almost been a month since I made a post, but I have been CRAZY busy. I have had the Blog on my mind though! I have been taking pictures of the things I have been doing, so I figure, this post will be that last few weeks presented in pictures! Here goes:

SECRET LIVES! 
So I was in another installment of the stage play Secret Lives of Ministry Wives! It was an amazing production (once again). There were many challenges, but we made it through. Kudos to the cast for the best professionalism and "coming-through-ness" ever! 




WATKINS PARK TRAILS 
    I had an amazing time with my brother, nieces, nephew, and The Seans at Watkins park. We went initially to see the Nature Center and play on the playground, but in an impromptu decision (not made by me lol), we walked on one of the trails at Watkins Park in Upper Marlboro, Md! We had a stroller with us which is why I didn't think this was such a good idea. Of course the trail was not paved AND it got smaller as we got deeper....it was an adventure, but next time, we will plan better! 




FOODIE GIRL
If you haven't noticed, I LOVE food! Especially trying new types of foods. As a post-birthday treat, my BFF Tiffany took me somewhere (mum on where) and then we had breakfast at a nice restaurant in Bethesda. I cannot remember the name, but they specialized in Seafood (my fave) and New Orleans Cuisine. I had a shrimp omelet with salsa and beignets and she had poached eggs with salsa. Her meal is below, as I had already eaten mine by the time we thought about taking a picture lol! 




AFTER THE STORM! 
As most people in the DC/Metropolitan area experienced, we had a crazy storm recently! Some were without power for days on end. My family was lucky, as we only had a few hours that night without power. After a few hours using battery operated candles (smart me!), we were back in business. It wasn't until the 2 days later, I went out on the deck and saw that half of my gutter was hanging off my house!!! I took this picture for the insurance company, but here you go!

*dials insurance company immediately*

RETIREMENT

My high school principal, Mrs. Helena Nobles-Jones, has truly been a star in my life. We have had a very strong personal relationship and she has been an inspiration in my life as a loving, yet strong woman. After over 30 years of service in education, she retired from Prince George's County Public Schools this past June, and will (hopefully) REST as she has given TIRELESSLY to her students over the years. My husband and I were able to attend her WONDERFUL retirement party and she seemed to enjoy herself.

Not only did we share a last name for years, but when I went to college in New York, unbeknownst to me and my other BFF Monique, her nephew went to the same school and was pretty much our big brother, showing us the ropes. We figured out, much later, that Mrs. Nobles-Jones was his aunt, and his mother (her sister) invited us to spend the weekend in Boston with him. Mrs. Nobles-Jones' love spreads all throughout her family and extended to us then and for that, along with many other things, we are grateful! 

We love you. 

THE END! 

No long post today! Just a proud Big Sister showing off her brother's basketball skills!!   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzxJQ7tST6g&feature=youtu.be 

SUPER HAPPY

So this weekend was amazing, and it keeps going!!! I think I want to This week coming is going to be extremely busy for me, so I am going to create a new project called "My Week In Pictures" where I will post pictures from what I have done....a snapshot into my life!!! Today though, I wanted to post a Devotion from Joel & Victoria Osteen. Enjoy! 

                                                        

Closer Than You Think TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded” (Hebrews 10:35, NIV) TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria Have you been praying and believing for something that seems like it’s taking a lot longer than you thought? Many times, people can miss God’s best simply because they give up before they see their “due season” come. Don’t let that be you! Be encouraged today, your answer is closer than you think. If it seems like things are getting more difficult, remember, when the intensity heats up, that means you are closer to your victory. It’s always darkest just before the dawn arrives. You serve a faithful God, and He’s working behind the scenes on your behalf. Don’t cast away your confidence today because your reward is coming. And just like a new mother forgets about her labor pain when she is finally holding her newborn, you’ll forget about your struggle when you are holding on to your promise. While you are waiting, keep an attitude of faith and expectancy. Wake up every morning and say out loud, “I’ve come too far to give up now. My due season is coming. I will reap my harvest.” Stay in faith and look for His hand of blessing because He has promised you victory, and it’s closer than you think! A PRAYER FOR TODAY Father in heaven, today I stand believing that You are working behind the scenes on my behalf. Give me Your strength to continue believing until I see Your promises fulfilled in my life in Jesus’ name. Amen. — Joel & Victoria Osteen