Let's Get Serious: Food 101

Okay seriously I do not understand how people can deprieve themselves of eating. Eating is just about  the most wonderful thing in the world! Those intense flavors and intricate textures just make your tastebuds set off fireworks, it's basically a party in yout mouth! Who would want to miss out on that? So we all have our favorite meals or places to eat, but why settle with the same ol' same when there's a world of food out there to explore!? Let me give you the 411 on how to find the new hip spots so that you develop more of an experienced and sophisticated pallate. First step, you need to get a YELP account. Now that you have access to all the hole in the wall 5 star joints; be prepared to be mentally and physically obese. Every city has its secret and not so secret restaurants, Yelp helps you find and read honest reviews by customers. Chicago is a large city and has a variety of up and coming as well as established restaurants. Although, I have not been to all of them. I have come across quite a few delightfully appealing places which you must try for yourself!

Smoque BBQ: Sliced brisket sandwich, BBQ Beans, Corn Bread, Cole Slaw, Peach cobbler pie and their Spicy BBQ sauce also ask for the Sweet Jalapenos.    

        

Firewood Kabob: Firewood Platter Lunch Special, One distinct feature is that they cook their food on different kinds of wood. They day I went in, they used mesquite wood. It really brought out the flavor in the meat. 

          

Honey Butter Fried Chicken: I'm not really into fried foods, but this place has the best chicken I have ever had. Their honey butter pairs so well with the chicken. It's definitely a place you have to try. Shown: 4 Piece meal, mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, corn bread and their special honey butter.  

                           

Pequod's Pizzeria: Okay, so we all know Chicago is known for deep dish pizza. If I had to choose one place to get it this would definitely be my go to spot.  Peaquod's has a very "home sweet home " feel. It's located in a cozy neighborhood parking can be a hassle during the weekends. It's a house that has been turned into a restaurant.  We ordered a medium sized pizza for three with sausage,pepperoni, mushrooms, jalapeño, and pineapples with a carmelized crust.

                             

Big Star: Thinking about staying in and having a taco night? Why do that and miss out on the best taco's in Chi-Town?! Big Star is known for their variety and flavorful tacos. Stop by Wicker Park and check it out for yourself! Shown:Fish Tacos

                                               

Philly's Best in Greektown: I've tried their Original Philly Steak, Philly Chicken and Buffalo Chicken which are all phenomenal especially with their seasoned fries. Ask for the garlic bun toasted with giardinerra, wet or dry to your preference. I personally don't like it wet because it gets soggy fast. 

                                              

Hot Doug's: If you have never been here, well then you just missed out on one of the top 13 places to eat before you die, per Anthony Bourdain well know chef and food critic. The owner hit it big for many years but decided retire early and closed down on Oct. 4, 2014. Shown: Foie Gras, Rib Eye Steak, Wild Boar, Tequilla, Lime, and Black Bean Chicken Sausage. 

        

Well, I could certainly go on forever. So I will leave it at that for now. Go out and let your taste buds explore the world of food! 

                                                                                                    ~RSV

Get out of the Boat

 We all have a desire to grow, accomplish, and exceed but there's always those pesky obstacles that hinder us from achieving our aspirations. We begin to listen to that voice that tells us that we're fine where we're at or we'll stay here just a little longer and catch the next opportunity. We diminish our potential by making our own boundaries and staying in our comfort zones. God has planned great things for us, but we have to take a leap of faith and just trust that everything will work out on it's own. Change cannot occur unless you make the first move, you have to be willing to let go of the past in order to move onto the next best thing. Fear is a complex emotion that can be crippling and debilitating if not addressed immediately. We are not slaves to our emotions and cannot allow them to get the best of us or our situation.

    I think, act, and feel through my current emotion which sometimes makes me stubborn and selfish. When we act through our emotions mistakes are made and regrets surface. Sometimes we just need to take a minute and realize that these emotions are situational and that we will be able to get through the current issue. We cannot allow fear to draw boundaries on our talents and abilites that God has blessed us with. If you are looking to grow, then get out of the box. Stop limiting yourself. For those of you who have time, I highly recommend reading the book "If You Want to Walk on Water Then You Have to Get Out of the Boat", it is an insightful and profound book with motivational guidance that challenges you to make a change and grow in your walk.

 

Change is Good

Like most people I have my set of make up products that I do not stray to far from. You know what I'm talking about, the stranded on a desert must have essentials. Why change something that works, right? Well, recently I discovered Birchbox which is a company that provides samples of various popular and upcoming brands. My friends have tried it out and loved it, so I thought I would give it a shot. You're suppose to create a profile with your beauty interests which lets them know what kind of products to send you. To tell you the truth, the items are hit or miss. I think it's a great idea, it allows you to expand your beauty collection and possibly find new items that you may grow to love. Here are some of the must have items I discovered.

Beauty Protector: Shampoo, Conditioner, Hair Mask and Detangler These paraben and sulfate-free products leave your hair silky soft with a luxurious floral scent.

Harvery Prince Fragrances:Hello- A Spring time favorite which has a burst of citrus, summer forsythia, and pink plumerias. 

Harvey Prince: Imperial Gardenia- A pure floral aroma of gardenias a perfect summer time scent.

Catherine Malandrino Frangrance: A sophisticated summer date night scent which combines jasmine, grapefruit, pear and italian mandrain.

Make up Forever Smoky Extravagant Mascara: Love the brush definitely helps to elongate the lashes.

Make up Forever Rouge Artist Natural -N4 Pink Beige, great everyday color. 

Make up Forever  Rouge Artist Natural-N9 Copper Pink, formal color.  

I usually do not wear lipstick because it dries out my lips, but this brand is very creamy, holds moisture and has long lasting color. 

Whish Shave Cream- Helps prevent dryness after shaving. All natural ingredients that leave your skin soft and smooth.

Tocca Green Tea and Lemon Hand Cream- Paraben free hand cream enriched with natural extracts from coconut oil, shea butter and aloe. Love this brand and this fresh scent! They also make great perfumes.

Hope this was helpful, go out there and try something new! 

                                                                                                             ~RSV

Overcoming the Negativity

Sometimes it seems like nothing goes right no matter how hard you try. You try to put on a smile and muddle through your day, but it just doesn't feel right. During those times I try to pull back and take a break from negative thoughts, people, and circumstances. I try to do my quiet time in order to get me through the day. Quiet Time, for those of you that don't know is time spent praying or reading the Bible to become encouraged. I absolutely love Elevation Church in Charlotte,  North Carolina, Pastor Steven Furtick is amazing and always has uplifting messages. I use the Elevation app on my phone, which I would reccommend to everyone. The message I want to share with you today is called Soul Detox, I hope it impacts you guys and gets you through your day. I'll share my notes below. (Click the Title, for the video.)

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                                                                                   NOTES                                    

    -It is an ongoing battle we face, but we have to choose to either obey the Flesh or the Spirit of God.

    -Believe in the power of God, stop beleiving in the inabilities of your life.

1. Identifiy and Reject toxic thoughts. Proverbs 4:23 -Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

  Don't be captives of your thoughts, make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 

2.Replace Toxic Thoughts with God's Truth. Phillipians 4:7-8 , Romans 12:2, "...Be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

3. Guard your heart against toxic words. Proverbs 4:20-23 Althogh we can't control waht others say, we must guard our hearts from toxic words which can hinder us from our goals. 

4. Truth or Trash: You are not who others say you are, you are who GOD says you are. Stop being your OWN worst critic!

5.Speak life giving words in EVERY situation. Stop speaking Toxic words into your life. There is power of life and death in the tongue. Phillipians 4:13-I can do all things through Christ who STRENGTHENS me.

                                                                                                                         ~RSVhttp://elevationchurch.org/sermons/souldetox

Seconds to Minutes to Years

Twenty Four years, encompassing first steps, training wheels, new friendships and first crushes. We gain numerous experiences, accomplishments and milestones through these years. We are so often given advice by those that have gone before us, but as young souls we want to learn and explore on our own. Only through mistakes, heart ache, and tears do we grow and overcome our fears. 

One thing we have to remember is that there should be no regrets only experience gained through each decision we make. As a Christian it is important to know that God has known our every thought and decision before it was made and He loved and forgave us anyways. If God is able to forgive us then we should be able to as well. Sometimes people wonder how can God use me after the mistakes of my past, but we need to know that these thoughts only prevent us from using our God given gifts, and achieving our potential. So take today to make a difference in your ways, make a change in your thoughts, and be the light you were created to be.

 Matthew 5:14 instructs us to be the light to those around us, "You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept." God wants us to let our individual talents to shine. This is His instruction for us. When we spend time with Him daily we will develop a keen understanding for our steps and direction for the future. 

                                                                                                           ~RSV