Palm Sunday... 2020. A day of hope. A day surrounded in happiness. A day to rejoice. A day full of celebration. And… A day of sacrifice. A day of sorrow. A day clouded in sadness... While the palm is representative of royalty and welcoming and celebratory achievements and victories… At the same time of all the rejoicing… Jesus already knew what was coming for Him. He foresaw it all. On Palm Sunday. He rode into the Holy City, victorious, but entirely in peace. And this act was paralleled by His own somber thoughts at the very same time. Jesus knew the events taking place on Palm Sunday would ultimately lead to His upcoming death. His Crucifixion. He knew His arrest was imminent. He foresaw it all. He knew He would die. He foresaw it all. But… He got on the donkey, and He rode into Jerusalem anyway. The courage. The confidence. The sacrifice. And knowing that sacrifice was for all of us. Even though we did not know it. The fiercely strong and bold and thick palm leaves all touching the donkey’s paws on the walk throughout town. People waving the branches toward Him. And He - feeling the winds of the palms. All while knowing. Of the upcoming sacrifice. Palm Sunday is definitively representative of this Palm Sunday 2020, in many, many ways. And Holy Week itself. We have been told these weeks may be some of the toughest of our lives. We have been told of uncertainty. We have been told there will be death. We have been told to hang in there. And maybe most importantly… we have been told to put our foot on the gas pedal during the hardest time... And to Keep Going. Jesus sacrificed for us. For the people at the time, yes. But for all of us. And for an infinite number of people - still - into the unknown future. When people wonder… Where is God today? Amidst all the death and destruction? He lives among us. All of us. As we all sacrifice something, in some way - today. Work, finance, careers, family, friends, hobbies, school, health - Life as we know it, itself. We are all sacrificing today to help rid the world of an invisible evil. All, in our own ways. But - All - doing our part. We don’t know what the future holds - as Jesus did. So we have to have faith. And keep going. Because Jesus did know what was coming for Him - and He still kept going. Because we don’t know what is coming for us - but we need to keep going. Because the more we keep going - the stronger we become. Because as Jesus knew what was coming forward into the future for Him - He still moved forward. And just because of that, and in spite of not knowing what lies ahead, we must also live, and move forward, all while UN-knowing what is to come for us in the future. So let’s all keep going. Keep celebrating. And - Keep living. Surrounded by fear. Surrounded by mystery. Surrounded by death. Surrounded by questions and zero answers. Surrounded by unknowing. We have to keep living. It will only make us all stronger. So when you question WHY? Why did this happen? Why did it happen to us? What is going to happen? What will become of us? The non-answer is the answer. No one knows. But we just keep going. And in turn, fear goes away. Even if you try to guess what your future holds. You will not be afraid. You will go forward. You will continue in celebration. And you will then celebrate today. And you will continue to rejoice today. And you will be surrounded in happiness. And you will have hope. And you will have faith. This Sunday… This Stay-At-Home Sunday. Holy Week. 2020. ~
For more stories, thoughts, poetry, and then some, check out these other entries, right here: 63] Mercy & Comfort 62] PERSPECTIVE @ Seaside Sculpture Park 59] REACTION ~ To World War 19 55] The Shamrock 51] Life Is Full Of Pasta-Bilities ~ Bean’s Red Sauce Recipe 49] A Picture Worth A Thousand Words ~ Happy Valentine’s Day, World 48] Love & Donuts In The Air @ Beaches For Australia 42] Where Does The Chicken Cross The Road? 41] Minnie The Daschund Mouse & Her Birthday Wish 39] The Very Official & Quite Serious Donut Debate Of 2020 38] The Year Of The Sweater ~ Bean’s Minestrone Soup Recipe 36] The End Of A Decade & My New Year’s Wish To You 34] Merry Christmas ~ And How To Buy For That Person On Your List Who Saved Your Life ~ 28] The Scent Of Christmas in the Air 27] Thanksgiving & Pete’s Bar ~ Not All Resolutions Need Be Fulfilled On January First 26] Deck The Chairs ~ BE THAT CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE IN THIS OUR VERY OWN AND SHAREABLE WORLD 24] In Real Life ~ My First Visit To A Southern Living Idea House 23] Faith ~ And Life Lessons Learned Living With Wild & Untamable Hair 21] Cinotti’s ~ And Why Life Is Too Short To Not Eat Donuts 18] Sea & Sky Jax Weekend ~ Fun In The Florida Sun, Sea, Sky & Sand 6] Nine Eleven: Before & After 2] 3 Wows Plus 1 Piece Of Magic I Experienced At Jacksonville, Florida’s Cummer Museum Of Art & Gardens
0 Comments
Perspective: Of all the vantage points one can view the world from, of all the view points one can believe in - perspective - may be one of the most valuable sights of them all. CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE ~ CHANGE YOUR LIFE It’s vitally important, and maybe now more than ever before for many, to consider your perspective. Because it shouldn’t be: What CAN’T you do while sheltering in place? Or, in quarantine, or while practicing social distancing? It’s definitely much more like this: What CAN you do? If you’re stuck at home right now - maybe you’re doing your part to either not catch or spread the Coronavirus... The question should be: How can I make the most of the situation I find myself in? Instead of: What the heck am I supposed to do now?! And instead of: Constantly complaining over all the little things? It should definitely be much more like this: What little thing can I be grateful for today? And when we stress over all the INCONSISTENCIES in our life…. All the UNPREDICTABLY... All the UNCERTAINTIES over the future… We should instead be focused on TODAY… To live in the moment. To appreciate our life. To be present in the here and now. What can we LEARN from today? What can we APPRECIATE today? What can we CREATE today? What kind of ADVENTURE can we go on today? What SMALL thing, right in front of our eyes - can we turn into our EVERY THING? When, in your current reality, it may be more like this: What can I focus on today… to simply make it through the day alive? You see, in order to make it through a situation successfully, historically, people who survive intact and come out living and breathing on the other end, have focused on the little things. Whether it’s second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, week by week, month by month, and year by year. Focus entirely needs to be on the present moment. And the simple routine of daily life. And then, those simple and small moments, add up to perseverance, add up to survival, and add up to the journey, and to life itself. And right now, amidst all the uncertainty of the CoVid19 pandemic, many people are stuck at home. Many people are confined and sheltering-in-place. Many people are alone. Many people are bored. Many people are working their behinds off. Many - countless people - on the front lines of this world war, are stressed to the max, while literally putting their lives on the line for others. And many people - whatever they are doing, or not doing - are trying to make it through another day on this, our Earth. So, as I write about the little things in life - today, I wanted to finally take the time to highlight a very small, and a very special park, on a lovely little street corner in my little beach town. Yes - There’s a great little park in Jax Beach that you should definitely check out in the future. And unless you and your area is currently under a shelter-in-place order or official quarantine, etc., my guess is that you’ll still be trying to get some fresh air at some point each day. While making every effort to stay home as well. We are still going to the grocery store, and picking up take out, and going to pharmacies, and getting fuel in the car. And lots of people are still in need of walking their dogs. And many who are able are going for walks themselves. So the really great thing about this seaside park is the fact that it has absolutely nothing that you should or need to be actually physically touching in any way. It’s all sculpture. It’s all art. On display. It’s all to look at. It’s all to gaze upon. It’s a great place to safely get some fresh air while you may be practicing social distancing. It’s located directly next door to the Ugly Cupcake & Muffinry. And most importantly, of course, it’s right on the oceanfront. So, no need to worry about spreading or catching germs while gazing at beautiful art in the fresh coastal air. Seaside Sculpture Park, located @ 480 1st Street South, in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, really is one of the little hidden gems in this small coastal town I call home. I’ve been frequenting this park since moving to Florida. And I have watched the art get changed out many times. Sometimes, the piece of art proudly on display becomes so commonplace and usual and ordinary to life on 1st Street - and blended seamlessly into the surrounding scenery, that when a sculpture gets changed out for something new, there's a fictitious and dramatic or literal uproar in town. In fact, right now there are Nemo fish on display. And a sea turtle. There used to be a copper looking shrimp, and there used to be a skeleton - that everyone misses. Right now there's a metal looking pipe that looks, to me, just like the Pixar logo lamp. And currently, I’ve become so used to the Nemo fish, that when they leave, I will be the one in an uproar. Well, not really. But all kidding aside, when the Nemo fish came, I started to call the park the Nemo Fish Park - instead of its rightful and real name. And that’s now what it always will be to me. Seaside Sculpture Park is run by the University of North Florida. More specifically, the UNF Department of Art & Design. The actual UNF campus is a little bit over the bridge and inland to the west, located very close to the St. John Town Center. UNF has a beautiful and sprawling, vast piece of land that the entire campus sits upon. With swamps and trails and lots of wildlife, all surrounding the campus buildings, offices, and dorms. And about as many times as I’ve driven past the campus, I’ve visited my Nemo Fish Park about a thousand times more than that. My dog also loves the park. And if you’ve got a dog right now in the current apocalypse spreading before us, they definitely still need to get their daily walk in. So if you’re local, I’d highly recommend checking out this adorable and free park. And if you’re much farther away, my recommendation is to find the small park in your own town. To think outside the box. And then go ahead and get outside of your own box. And breathe some fresh air into your lungs. In a safe and common sense kind of way. Yes, there are lots of areas on complete lockdown, quarantine, and shelter-in-place, etc. And always heed the warnings of your locality. But if you’re not under direction right now, you should consider stepping outside. Keep your distance. And get in a lovely walk. Maybe to a lovely park. Because, as you may be cooped up at home, it doesn't mean you still shouldn’t live. And breathe. And feel the sun on your skin. So, go ahead and get out there. Go ahead and change your vantage point. Go ahead and change your point of view. Go ahead and change your perspective. And go ahead and change your life. You can keep social distance, you can follow all the guidelines, you can gaze upon without touching, you can breathe in the fresh air, and you can look at all the beauty around you. Because, maybe instead of: I’m stuck in the house with nothing to do and nowhere to go. It can actually be: Today, I’m going for a walk to Seaside Sculpture Park. And I’ll look at the Nemo Fish, while I look up at the sky. And watch the birds fly overhead. And I’ll see all the other dogs being walked. Because maybe while Mother Nature certainly can be a beast and an evil villain, she can also most certainly be the true heroine of your own amazing story. ~
What hidden gem in your town have you discovered since the Coronavirus took precedent over all our lives? I’d love to know. Drop me a comment down below: Hey you! Over there! Yes, you - the one with the different perspective… go ahead and check out some more inspirational stories right here: 3] The Dog Days Of Endless Summer 5] The Reef On SR A1A: Worth Pulling Over For 8] It’s Fall ~ In Florida ~ Y’all! 11] Eleven South Bistro & Bar ~~ Supper Club Of The South 18] Sea & Sky Jax Weekend ~ Fun In The Florida Sun, Sea, Sky & Sand 21] Cinotti’s ~ And Why Life Is Too Short To Not Eat Donuts 23] Faith ~ And Life Lessons Learned Living With Wild & Untamable Hair 26] Deck The Chairs ~ BE THAT CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE IN THIS OUR VERY OWN AND SHAREABLE WORLD 27] Thanksgiving & Pete’s Bar ~ Not All Resolutions Need Be Fulfilled On January First 28] The Scent of Christmas in the Air 34] Merry Christmas ~ And How To Buy For That Person On Your List Who Saved Your Life ~ 36] The End Of A Decade & My New Year’s Wish To You ~ 37] New Year/New 007 ~ Here’s 20 Tips That Will Have You Seeing 20/20 In 2020 ~ 39] The Very Official & Quite Serious Donut Debate Of 2020 41] Minnie The Daschund Mouse & Her Birthday Wish 49] A Picture Worth A Thousand Words ~ Happy Valentine’s Day, World 51] Life Is Full Of Pasta-Bilities ~ Bean’s Red Sauce Recipe 55] The Shamrock Plus - if you’re looking for further ways to help you through this Corona Crisis that we find ourselves in right now - check out the below posts for a few more ideas: 58] Bean’s Corona Kickin’ Chicken 59] REACTION ~ To World War 19 60] Welcome To Muffin Land ~ The Ugly Cupcake & Muffinry 61] Bean’s Idea List ~ 15 Daily Activities For Well Beyond 15 Days And for some more artistic adventures - check out the links below: 2] 3 Wows Plus 1 Piece Of Magic I Experienced At Jacksonville, Florida’s Cummer Museum Of Art & Gardens 14] Finding Trinkets & Treasures @ The Jax Beach Vintage Flea Market 22] Saturday On San Pablo Island 24] In Real Life ~ My First Visit To A Southern Living Idea House 31] Tuesday’s On First Street ~ The Jax Beach Art Walk ~ 32] Jolly Holiday In Jarboe Park ~ The Beaches Green Market 48] Love & Donuts In The Air @ Beaches For Australia Lately, I have been asked the following question, many times: “How come you are not worried?” And my answer is very, very simple: My foundation. And what I mean by that is this - my routine. My daily practices. My daily activities. Structure - how I plan, build, and then act out my days. By building a daily and weekly routine, life can become very simplified. Even the toughest of tasks can be accomplished through small steps, repetitive practice, and routine... And routine maintenance - so to speak. Building a routine lays a foundation. And continual practice builds an increasingly stronger foundation. And as you will see in bullet number 14 below, a strong foundation can help you through a tough time. I have been practicing calmness, patience, discipline, determination, and perseverance for so long now, that even these challenging days are far easier to get through than they would have been in the past for me. Now, when something hits - out of the blue - I can REACT appropriately. I can react reasonably. I can react with health in mind. And that goes for any and all situations. Foreseen, planned for, or very unforeseen. You see, if you practice not getting angry when someone cuts in line in front of you enough, you won’t overreact when something even bigger happens in life. If you practice not getting stressed out in traffic, when a two hour traffic jam comes along and surprises you, you’ll treat it like a mini-vacation in your car - instead of a ball of stress and tension and anger. When you are on the phone and the automated operator tells you to press zero to speak with someone, and you press zero, and they hang up on you instead, after being on hold for 45 minutes, you can simply blow it all off. Dust yourself off. And call again. No big deal. And I am not in any way trying to compare a global pandemic to the dilemma of sitting in traffic or other minor and petty issues within our communities and society. I’m simply stating if you practice healthy habits, healthy reactions, and practice more patience than you ever thought a human being could possibly have - then you will have a stronger base to fall back on when something even larger attacks you. And as we are now suddenly living in the midst of a very official 15 Day Challenge set forth by our government. I have once again chosen how to react. I acknowledge that we are at war - with a virus. We are now living changed lives. Every single one of us. I educate myself. I plan. I act. I react. And I act again. Example: REACTION ~ To World War 19 So, while, as of today, America is on the back end of these initial 15 days, each day is still vitally important that we all follow the guidelines. And, to do all that has been asked of us - with a lot of uncertainty added into our days. And whether we are doing our very best to stay home, or still working outside the home in what the government is considering an essential business. We’ve all changed some aspect of our daily activities at this point. In order to slow the spread of Coronavirus, every person on this planet has an important role to play. And ultimately the question is this: How will you change your life to do your part? Chances are you are going to follow the guidelines to the best of your ability. This leads to spending time at home, or at least to become very socially distant from one another. For a whole lot of time. Which leads to the need for human activity in the home, plus, the act of being around less people. Instead of - outside and away from home, and thus, interaction with more people. I’d like to present you with a number of activities that I have long ago since adopted into my lifestyle. Each of these bullet points below has helped immensely in the current situation as I also have adjusted my lifestyle now to help lower the curve. To bend that curve in the right direction. So, whether you're at home, or you’re not - we can’t just SIT there. We need to LIVE - wherever we’re at during these trying times. Check out any or all of Bean’s List below when you are seeking a way to fill a gap in your down time. When you are seeking a distraction. When you want to react to a situation in a more calm and rational manner. Not everything on this list is for purposes of staying home, sheltering-in-place, or for quarantine, but they are all merely examples of little things. Little things that can help you in some way of getting through a day. Small ways of keeping your mind, and your body, occupied. To keep your brain stimulated. And to get creativity flowing. And lastly - to help inspire. To provide hope. To light the flame on the fire of your faith. To keep going. To march before you feel like it. To get out of your own way. To live. Any day. And every day. So, today I present to you - Bean’s Idea List. Included are 15 daily activities you can partake in - anytime - anywhere: 1-Adult Coloring Books Adult coloring books. If you have not yet tried an adult coloring book, but have had your eyes set upon them - today is the day to finally take action. While bookstores are mostly closed for the pandemic, you can still order books online. Yes, goods are still being shipped. Or, don’t forget to check out the magazine aisle next time you are at a grocery store or pharmacy. Or even the dollar store. They usually have a small section of coloring books and crossword puzzles. It’s finally time to take your colored pencils out of hiding. Dust them off. And give them a job to do. 2-Bullet Journal Buy one! They are soooo fun. Now is the time to try a fun and exciting way to stay organized. I’ve been bullet-journaling for a few years now, and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for organizing my life. Plus, besides increased organization and efficiency in daily life - I no longer have ten thousand different random notepads, journals, and post-its, sitting everywhere around the house and lying in different bags and purses and atop different counters and desks. Now, everything I write is in one, singular, book. And that book can go everywhere with me if I’d like. 3-Hope Sometimes, hope - is just about continuing. It is just about continual movement. You may feel like your actions are small. But they are all important. Your actions ripple and inspire many others. Keep living. Keep moving forward. Keep going. By continuing onward, you are being hopeful. Optimistic. While some of life has to pause, you can still continue in many, many ways. You can still, always, have hope. 4-Gratitude Journal With hope - comes gratitude. Write daily in your Gratitude Journal. Even if you don’t know what you are doing when you start out on your gratitude journey. Even if you think you have nothing to be grateful for. Even if you think that the thing you are grateful for is silly or a waste of time. Write down that gratefulness. Here is an example of my gratefulness just from this morning: Today, I am grateful for the ability to support local workers who still have a job. Today, I am grateful that my husband and I gave a tip to the Barista. Whether I can afford it or not right now, I am grateful to pay it forward. Today, I am grateful that I went for a walk. Today, I am grateful for the coastal winds flowing through the sky. Today, I am grateful for the ability to work, and to work with a large, hot, very delicious coffee filling my tummy. Today, I am grateful for the beautiful blue sky. Today, I am grateful for the palm trees growing outside my window. Today, I am grateful for the beef stir-fry meal I am preparing to make for dinner at home tonight. Today, I am grateful to get my uniform ready for a very long shift at work tomorrow. Today, I am grateful for the job I have to go to tomorrow. Today, I am grateful for hard work and the opportunity to work hard. Today, I am grateful for my determination. Today, I am grateful for patience. Today, I am grateful for American’s all over the country - who are working together as a team. All doing their part. All doing anything and everything they can, to help. 5-Smartphone Apps and YouTube Videos Videos are a fabulous distraction. Use them sparingly. But, use them indeed. YouTube is free. For all those who still do not pay or those who cannot afford cable or streaming services just like me, use YouTube to your advantage. Sure, I cannot see all the latest shows. I’ve never seen Game of Thrones, not even once. I’ve never seen The Handmaid’s Tale - even though I’m dying to binge watch the whole series to date. I’ve never seen Baby Yoda in action. I’ve never watched The Crown. And I’ve never seen The Walking Dead either. But, I’m ok with that. Because, instead, I’m best friends with Adam Hattan, Tim Tracker, Fresh Baked, The Dis Unplugged, and a whole lot more free fun. If you need something to watch. There’s something out there for everyone. Click on the free app, and find your favorite channel. 6-Cook Cook - If you don’t like to cook. Or, if you tell yourself you can’t cook. Now’s the time to push away all those excuses. And learn to love to cook. Be creative with food. Whip up something delicious. Be patient with yourself. Try a new recipe. Serve a meal to your family that was made inside your home. For some healthy and hearty and filling meals, check out these recipes below straight from my kitchen to yours: 10] Bean’s Soulful Southern Chili 38] The Year Of The Sweater ~ Bean’s Minestrone Soup Recipe 43] Bean’s Bold Beef Stew Recipe ~ 47] Bean’s Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnut Recipe ~ A Super Food For A Super Sunday 51] Life Is Full Of Pasta-Bilities ~ Bean’s Red Sauce Recipe 58] Bean’s Corona Kickin’ Chicken 7-Contemplate Sit on your Porch or your balcony. Rest in your backyard. Be outside with nature. Practice breathing exercises utilizing the built-in App on your Apple Watch. Look around you and be present in the moment. 8-Listen - Mindfully Turn Off The News - And Turn On A Podcast Better yet - a new-to-you podcast. Get outside of your comfort zone and select a subject matter unfamiliar to you. Or an area you’ve always wanted to learn more about, but just never pressed play on. Either way, from crafting, Etsy, politics, sport, fitness, and weight loss, all the way to comedy, the royal family, celebrity gossip, motivational speaking, and conspiracy theories, if there’s a topic in this world, there’s a podcast with the same name. Delve into the app, grow your library, and start challenging your brain in new ways. 9-Media Awareness Be aware of the media around you. And I don’t just mean the news media. I mean social media. Spend the effort to get your news straight from the source. And limit your time on all the social media platforms. They are all time-suckers folks. They all want to rule your day. You - rule your day instead. Live your life offline, instead of online. There is, of course, a time and place for social media, but most people need to spend far less time on all the social sites than they currently are. I would like to challenge everyone to put the phone down. Live your life. Even if you are at home right now. Pick up a book - instead of the phone. Pick up your child - instead of your phone. Pick up dinner - instead of your phone. Pick up a vacuum - instead of your phone. Pick up the laundry - instead of your phone. Pick up a paint brush - instead of your phone. Put the phones down - and lift up your life. 9-Give Give your time. Give your money. Give your resources. Give your talents. Give your expertise. Give your EXTRA. And, give, when you have nothing left to give. This last suggestion is probably the most important part of giving, in my mind. Whenever you think you have nothing left to offer, that’s when it’s the most important to give more than you think you even have left. When you share with the world, that’s when you receive the greatest blessings in return. So call it selfish if you want, but by giving it all away, you are receiving much, much more. 10-Exercise Just because you may be stuck at home, does NOT give you an excuse to not participate in physical activity. We all, as human beings, are much better off physically, mentally, and emotionally when we move our bodies. Of course rest has a place. But there is also an imperative space in your day for physical activity. And it doesn’t have to be hard. It doesn’t have to make you sweat too much. You don’t have to be out of breath. It just means to move. So, toss those excuses aside, and make moving just as an essential part of your day as brushing your teeth currently should be. EXAMPLE: My experience running the Key West Half Marathon in January 2020. 11-Get fresh air. If it’s much too cold outside, open the garage door, and soak up some fresh air that way. If it’s a Florida afternoon downpour, go in the outdoor parking garage and soak up some fresh air that way. If it’s a beautiful day, get out there and workout, stretch, sit and read. Any way you slice it though, you should be building fresh air into your day. Even if you have to get creative with the way to obtain that fresh air, make it a daily goal, and start. 12-Read The benefits of reading are so numerous that I’m not even going to get into it here and now. Read a book. And keep reading. 13-Arts & Crafts Work on a detailed puzzle. Draw or sketch. Paint a canvas. Sew. Crochet. Knit. The list can go on forever. Paint rocks and share joy and happiness around town. You can even tag your rocks with your local rock painting Facebook group - and you’ll be part of an ongoing virtual and digital scavenger hunt. I found this rock just the other night - and I was so darn excited! Thank you to the person who spread this joy to me. Here are some examples of how I incorporate art, of all kinds, into my life: 2] 3 Wows Plus 1 Piece Of Magic I Experienced At Jacksonville, Florida’s Cummer Museum Of Art & Gardens 12] Paint N’ Pints @ Intuition Ale Works ~ Downtown Jacksonville, FL 14] Finding Trinkets & Treasures @ The Jax Beach Vintage Flea Market 24] In Real Life ~ My First Visit To A Southern Living Idea House 31] Tuesday’s On First Street ~ The Jax Beach Art Walk ~ 32] Jolly Holiday In Jarboe Park ~ The Beaches Green Market 14-Routine Keep your routine. Besides number 15 below, this may be the most important bullet point in terms of its relation to these scary times during the pandemic. Whenever there is abrupt change - of any kind - your equilibrium may become off balance. If you already have a well-established routine - your foundation will be strong. It will become so solid and so firm, that when an earthquake comes, it may only rattle the building a bit, break a few picture frames, and then continue standing for the rest of its life. Without the right foundation, the structure is a lot less stable. And you risk collapse. So, start today. Build a routine. Start small. Take one step a day. One step a week. However fast or slow you need to build that routine is up to you. But build it. And stabilize it. And provide that routine - with routine maintenance. Use those bullet journals and write it all down. Routine has done a lot for me. By establishing a dedicated, solid, thick barrier wall of routine in my life, I have accomplished more than I ever thought possible. And all of those accomplishments started with routine, and dedication to that routine. And having the patience to continue moving forward, even when times are tough, are all because of the routine, even when I desperately want to break it. For examples, check out: 1] Happy Birthday America! ~ 4 Simple Steps To Help You Have An Easy Americana 4th: 7] My ‘Before & After’ ~~ How A Single Act Of Kindness, Lime Bubly, And MyFitnessPal Helped Me Lose 77 Pounds In One Year 17] Fall Flavors ~ Six Simple Steps I’m Taking This Fall To Maintain My Massive Weight Loss 37] New Year/New 007 ~ Here’s 20 Tips That Will Have You Seeing 20/20 In 2020 ~ 15-Love Have faith. Have hope. Believe. In yourself. In others. In your team. In your community. In your leaders. In your state. In your country. In the world. And last but certainly not least, LOVE. Love yourself. Love your family. Love your friends. Love the creatures you share this planet with. Love your life. And - Love your enemy. And what in the heck do I mean by that one? I mean love even your very worst enemy. That simple. Love who you hate. Love the one who you can barely stand. Love the one you disagree with the most. And show that love to them. Every single day. You will become a much happier person if you can put this tactic into practice in real life. For some good, old-fashioned faith, hope and love - check out the links below: 23] Faith ~ And Life Lessons Learned Living With Wild & Untamable Hair 26] Deck The Chairs ~ BE THAT CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE IN THIS OUR VERY OWN AND SHAREABLE WORLD 34] Merry Christmas ~ And How To Buy For That Person On Your List Who Saved Your Life ~ 36] The End Of A Decade & My New Year’s Wish To You ~ 41] Minnie The Daschund Mouse & Her Birthday Wish 48] Love & Donuts In The Air @ Beaches For Australia 49] A Picture Worth A Thousand Words ~ Happy Valentine’s Day, World 55] The Shamrock 59] REACTION ~ To World War 19 So, this sums up Bean’s Idea List for today. I hope you will take some of these ideas to heart, and put them into action in your daily life. Let’s all work together to get through the pandemic that is changing all our lives. Let’s all share ideas. Let’s all share stories. Let’s all give. Let’s all share ways to get through another day. But mostly, let’s all love one another - right now and forever more. ~
*What new activity have you added to your life during this global Coronavirus pandemic? I’d love to know - let me know in the comments down below: 3/16/2020 0 Comments #58) Bean’s Corona Kickin’ ChickenI don’t know about y'all, but I’ve been busy kicking some Corona butt. I’m still living my life. With some amendments, yes... You know - those simple things in life. Like being able to grocery shop in peace. That’s out the door. Or, planning beyond one dinner out. The door’s been closed on that one too. And, maybe it's the simple act of choosing what brand of soap or even toilet paper to buy… Something we may usually take for granted, or show zero appreciation to on a daily basis. Yes, choice is kinda, sorta, maybe severely limited on our selection of toiletries there too. But regardless of change - I’m still working. I’m still exercising. I’m still staying hydrated. I’m still washing my hands. Funny thing there - I always did wash my hands. I still have a daily routine. I still plan. I still write. I still paint. I still cook. I still eat. And I still ramble on and on. So, yeah… I’m still simply chugging along. I suppose the only real and big difference here is that I’m gonna take that virus, and give it a swift kick in the you know what, and send it packing. I will NOT be scared at all. And with all these simple and very basic of changes in life happening right now, I know with a hundred percent certainty that there’s one vitally important thing on the above list that is imperative to human survival. And we all certainly don’t need Google or the news to tell us that it is so. And that is food. Cooking. The act of eating. Amidst all the Corona Chaos - we all still need to eat, my friends. Yes, Corona Apocalypse or not - we all gotta eat y’all. So today I’m publishing a fabulous and easy and completely one pan dinner recipe. If you’ll be home busting some Corona behind, do it in style with an easy meal. That is, as long a you have some chicken available at your local grocer. Lord only knows we don’t have access to a lot of toilet paper these days, but your store may, possibly, have chicken. Makes sense, right? This recipe was inspired by the MyFitnessPal One Pan Chicken recipe, with some modifications to suit our tastes. It’s loaded with flavor. Very healthy. And a simple dinner to whip up after a long day of fighting crime - or viruses. I hope you enjoy making this dinner as much as I did. And I definitely intend on making it again real soon. In the interim, I’ll keep living. I’ll keep on keepin’ on. ~ Ingredients: One pound of chicken - we used legs for this meal. One pound of fresh green beans. One small carton of cherry tomatoes. One onion, chopped or sliced. A few garlic cloves, chopped. One carton of chicken broth. One tablespoon or so of your favorite olive oil. Balsamic Vinegar to taste. Sea salt to taste. Freshly ground peppercorn to taste. Directions: Pour olive oil in a large pan. Add chicken and start simmering. As chicken cooks add chopped or sliced onion. Continue simmering. Let chicken continue cooking. Add chicken broth. Add cherry tomatoes and seasoning. Add balsamic vinegar. Simmer for 15 minutes or so. Stirring occasionally. Serve in a bowl and enjoy. Optional: To really kick things up a notch, to really be brave, to really show Co-vid 19 that you are not afraid, serve this fabulous meal with a bottle of Corona Beer on the side. ~~
What’s your favorite one pan dinner recipe? What are you STILL doing during Corona Days? I’d love to know. Drop me a comment down below: And for more of Bean’s Recipes - check these other delicious meals right here: 10] Bean’s Soulful Southern Chili 38] The Year Of The Sweater ~ Bean’s Minestrone Soup Recipe 43] Bean’s Bold Beef Stew Recipe ~ 47] Bean’s Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnut Recipe ~ A Super Food For A Super Sunday 51] Life Is Full Of Pasta-Bilities ~ Bean’s Red Sauce Recipe Also, I’d recommend checking out my experience with MyFitnessPal and how it helped change my life: 7] My ‘Before & After’ ~~ How A Single Act of Kindness, Lime Bubly, And MyFitnessPal Helped Me Lose 77 Pounds In One Year |
Archives
July 2024
CategoriesAll 100th YouTube Video 12 South 12 South Nashville 15K National Championship 1935 Hurricane Memorial 1st Place Sports 2020 2024 Periodical Cicada Emergence 26.2 With Donna 4Ocean 4th Of July 4th Of July Travel 5K Race 9/11 A1A ABBQ Acosta Bridge Acrylic On Canvas Acure Acure SPF 30 Day Cream Adairsville Advent Calendars Adversity Alan Roberts Alba Botanica Alba Botanica Hawaiian Coconut Sunscreen SPF 50 Alba Botanica Kids SPF 50 Al Carius Alligator All Wheel Drive Amanda Moon Art Amazon Amelia Island Amelia Island Coffee America Amtrak Amtrak Auto Train Amtrak Roomette Amtrak Silver Service Amtrak Silver Star Angeletti Cookies Angies Grom Angies Subs Anna Maria City Pier Anna Maria Island Another Broken Egg Cafe Appetizer Apple Watch Arlington Lions Club Park Art Atlantic Beach Atlantic Beach Arts Market Atlantic Beach Barbecue Atlantic Beach Elementary School Atlantic Beach Fire Department Atlantic Beach Heritage Tree Atlantic Beach Police Department Atlantic Boulevard Atlantic Ocean Auto Ferry Autumnal Equinox Autumn In Florida Aviles Street Avondale Azure Oceanfront Residences BabylissPro Hair Straightener Bacon Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Bali Balis Park Basic Invite Bay Breeze Cottages Baymeadows Beach Boulevard Beach Cottage Beach Diner Beach Diner Ponte Vedra Beach Beaches Art Fest Beaches At Vilano Beaches For Australia Beaches Go Green Beaches Green Market Beaches History Museum Beaches Museum Beaches Oktoberfest Beaches Town Center Beaches Water Tours Beach Fest Beachin' Beach Vibes Beach Walk Beans Baking Series Beans Basement Bash Beans Best Award Winner Beans Coffee Shop Challenge Beans Recipes Beef Stew Before And After Beignets Bennie Furlong Senior Center BEPREADY Best Western Historic Bayfront Best Western Oceanfront BeYou Jewelry Big Talbot Island State Park Bird Island Park Bird Watching Birthday Black Friday Blackhawk Bluff Blue Angels Bluebird Bluebird Of Happiness Bluebird Of Happiness Statue Blue Bloods Blue Cypress Fishing Pier Blue Orchid Thai Cuisine Boxty Bradenton Beach Breakfast Review Breezy Coffee Shop Breidert Green Brewery Review Bridge Of Lions Bryan Pieper Bucee's Burger Republic Butterfly Butterfly Garden Cafe Du Monde Calhoun Cal-Sag Channel Cal-Sag Trail Cantina Louie Carnival Cruise Line Carnival Elation Casa Marina Hotel And Restaurant Casa Monica Resort & Spa Castaway Island Preserve Castillo De San Marcos Cat Cafe Celebration Celebration 5K Celebration Florida Cell Phone Centennial Park Chattanooga Chattanooga Tennessee Chaunies Coffee Truck Cheap Holiday Photo Cards Chicago Food Chicagoland Chicago Pizza Chili Recipe Chocolate Chip Cookies Christmas Christmas Day Christmas Decor Christmas Eve Christmas In The South Christmas Pop Up Bar Christmas Tree Church Cicada Cicada Coemergence Cinottis Bakery Jax Beach City Of Jacksonville Florida Special Events City & See Civil War 2.0 Clay County Clay County Historical And Railroad Museum Clay County Historical Society Clinique Clinique Moisture Surge SPF 28 Clinique Superdefense City Block SPF 50 Clover Coast Guard Coffee Coffee Plantation Cafe College Columbia Restaurant Comfort Comfort Zone Community Blood Drive Community Of Dreamers Community Presbyterian Church Atlantic Beach Compass Consistency Content Creator Cook County Cookies Cook With Me Coola Cordele Cordele Railway Park Corinne Crabtree Corona Coronavirus Courtyard By Marriott CoVid19 Crane Island Creative Discovery Museum Crescent City Crescent Lake Crisp County Crock Pot Cross Country CSX CSX Railroad Cummer Cafe Review Cummer Museum Cummer Museum Of Art & Gardens Daily Activity Daily's Place Dames Point Bridge Dames Point Bridge Park Dancin' In The Street Danny Reagan Daschund Daylight Savings Time Daytona Beach Deck The Chairs Delicomb Deltona Dessert Deviled Eggs Dick Mondell's Burger & Fries Dining In Atlantic Beach Dining In Jax Beach Dining In Ponte Vedra Beach Dining On The Water Dining Review Dining Review Vilano Beach Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday Disney Springs DJI Phantom 4 Drone Dog Days Of Summer Doggie Stroller Dog Life Dolphins Don't Tread On Me Donuts DoubleTree Doubletree By Hilton Hotel St. Augustine Historic District Dreamers Dreaming In The 904 Driftwood Jax Beach Drive Thru Lights Drone Video Duck Pond Ducks Dune Restoration Project Dunkin Donuts Dutton Island Preserve Duval County Shore Restoration Project Duval Street Earth Day East Coast Greenway Easter Easter Sunday Brunch Eclipse Box Edens Leaf Naturals Edgewood Avenue Eleven South Review El Faro Memorial Ellie Golden Life Embarkation Emerald Coast Endless Summer Everbank Stadium Every Damn Day Fitness Explore With Me Facebook Fairfield Inn & Suites Faith Falcon Heavy Fall Fall In Florida Family Traditions Father's Day Fernandina Beach Film Review Fireplace Fireworks First Watch Fishing Five Points Flag Day Floating Generation Florida Florida Cold Front Florida Cracker Kitchen Florida East Coast Railway Florida Endless Summer Florida Keys Florida State Parks Florida Winter Flowers Forest Preserve Forest Preserve District Of Cook County Forest Preserve District Of Will County Fort Clinch State Park Fort George Island Fort. George Island Foundation Foundation Of Faith Four Four Points By Sheraton Frankfort Frankfort Country Market Frankfort Fall Festival Frankfort Fire Protection District Frankfort Grainery Frankfort Illinois Frank Reagan Frazier Park Freedom Freight Train Fresh Off The Palette Friendship Fountain Fuller Warren Bridge Full Moon Full POV Fun Facts Garlic Artichoke Dip Gate River Run Geese Georgia Gina Cristine Photography Gingerbread House Girvin Road Giving Golden Hour Golf Carts Grace Grape & Grain Exchange Grateful Gratitude Great Florida Birding & Wildlife Trail Green Cove Springs Green Spaces Green Springs Park Green Sulfur Spring Guana River Preserve Gulf Coast Guy Fieri Hampton Inn Hampton Inn & Suites Chattanooga/Downtown Hampton Inn & Suites St. Augustine Villano Beach Hampton Inn & Suites St. Augustine - Villano Beach Happiness Happy Holidays Happy New Year Hawkers Asian Street Fare Heart Of Georgia Railroad Hemingway Henry Flagler Hickory Creek Hickory Creek Preserve Highway I-4 Hilton Hilton St. Augustine Historic Bayfront Historic Bridge Street Pier Historic Old City Jail Holiday Holiday Inn Express St. Augustine - Vilano Beach Holiday Season Holidays In Jax Beach Holidays In Neptune Beach Holly Berry Hot Chocolate Hotel Palms Hotel Review Hotel Room Tour Hotels Huguenot Lagoon Huguenot Tennis Park Hurricane Beryl Hurricane Joaquin Hurricane Kit Hurricane Season Hyatt Place St. Augustine Ice Cream Iced Tea Illinois I&M Canal I&M Canal Trail Intracoastal Intuition Ale Works Review Ireland Irish Blessings Irish Blessings To You Irish Food Irish Mode On Isaiah David Hart Bridge Is It Humid Out Today? Islamorada Island Donuts Isle Of Eight Flags Italian Restaurant It's Gonna Be May Jacksonville Jacksonville Beach Jacksonville Beach Fishing Pier Jacksonville Beach Tennis Center Jacksonville Grand Prix Jacksonville Public Library James Bond Jamie Reagan Jarboe Park Jarboe Park Christmas Tree Jax 4 Kids Jax Beach Art Walk Jax Beach Coffee Shop Jax Beach Pier Jax Beach Vintage Flea Market Jax Today Jellyfish Jerusalem Jesus Jimmy Buffett Jimmy Johns John Glaude John Ross Joliet Joliet Iron Works Historic Site Joy Key Largo Key West Key West Half Marathon Kilwins Kindness Kindred Spirits King Tide Kiss The Sun Goodnight With Me KitchenAid Kona Ice Kookaburra Coffee Krispy Kreme Lake Katherine Lake Katherine Nature Center & Botanic Gardens Lake Monroe Lake Monroe Historic Bridge Landon Park Lemon Bar Liberty Life Along The Coast Life Before Facebook Life Is Like A Hurricane Life On The Coast Lifestyle Lime Bubly Live Oak Tree Livestream Livestream On YouTube Lizard Love Love Life Love Muffin Love Yourself Luck Of The Irish Lumi Bean Candles Magic Magic Beach Magic Beach Motel Main Street Bridge Make Your Monday Matter Mallory Square Manatee March Before You Feel Like It Margaritaville Margaritaville Beach Hotel - Jacksonville Marina Marriott Marshmallow Marsh Massive Action Mayo Clinic Mayo Clinic Jacksonville Mayo Clinic Jacksonville Florida Mayo Clinic Pain Rehab Clinic Mayport Cats Mayport Florida Mayport Village May The 4th Be With You... May The Sand Be With You... Memorial Day Merry Christmas Cards Metra Metro Diner Mexican Food Mexican Restaurant Mezza Luna Ristorante MFPMilestones Mickler's Landing Mike Buresh Milkweed Minestrone Soup Mini Golf Mokena Mokena Illinois Momentum Monarch Butterfly Monday Moonrise Morning Motivation Morning Walk Morning Walk With Me Motivation Mourning A Loss Mr. Weatherman Muffins Murals Murray Hill Murray Hill Theatre MyFitnessPal My Own Irish Blessing My Wish For You Naples NASA Nashville National Donut Day National Hurricane Center National Monument National Park Service Nation's Oldest City Nature Nature Preserve Navi Waterfront Bar & Grill Nemo Park Neptune Beach New Lenox New Lenox Commons New Lenox Community Park District New Lenox Illinois New Orleans News 104.5 WOKV News4Jax New York City Night Walk Nine Eleven NOAA Nocatee NOLA Norfolk Southern Railroad Northbank Riverwalk Nurse Shark Oak Park Avenue Oak Park Avenue Train Station Oaxaca Club Obese To Beast Ocean Boulevard Oceanfront Dining Oceanfront Park Ocean Fun Facts OceanView Lodge Old Plank Road Trail Olivia Shore One Ocean Resort One Ocean Resort & Spa Opening Of The Beaches Opening Of The Beaches Parade Orlando Orland Park Orland Park Illinois Overseas Highway Pacifica Pacifica Sunblock Pain Rehab Clinic Palatka Palm Sunday Palm Valley Palm Valley Holiday Lights Boat Parade Palm Valley Outdoors Bar And Grill Palos Heights Pasta Pasta Party Pastries Patience Peanut Butter Bubbles Pelicans Pelindaba Lavender Perseverance Perspective Peterbrooke Chocolatier Petes Bar Petes Bar Thanksgiving Morning Gathering Pet Friendly Pet Loss Phit-n-Phat Phone Call Pier Pina Colada Pine Avenue On Anna Maria Island Pinhole Projector Pink Lemonade Pirates Paradise Pirates Paradise Souvenir City Plan Plant City Poinsettia Polar Plunge Pollyanna Ponte Vedra Beach Ponte Vedra Inn & Club POV Prairie PRC Progress Prospect Five Points Public Beach Access Public Butterfly Garden Pumpkin Spice Purpose Race Expo Rain Raintree Restaurant Random Acts Of Kindness Ranking Reaction Real Christmas Tree Recipes Red Boat Water Tours Red Sauce Restaurant Review Rest Stop Rick Burnett Artist Key West Ritas Jax Beach Riverfront Park Riverside Riverside Arts Market Riverside Avondale Riverside Duck Pond Riverside Memorial Park Riverwalk Road Race Road Trip Rockaway Garden Rod & Reel Fishing Pier Rollin With The Nolans Ronnie Phillips Ron On The Go Room Tour Ross's Landing Routine Safe Harbor Sago Coffee Jax Salt Air Inn & Suites Salvation Army SAM Shoreline Excursion Railroad Sandcastle Competition Sand Dunes Sanford San Marco San Marco Avenue San Marco Bookstore San Marco Town Square San Pablo Island Sawpit Creek Boat Ramp Seacoast Bank Seafoam Seahorse Oceanfront Inn Sea La Vie Jax Beach Sea Oats Seascape Condominiums Seaside Park Seaside Sculpture Park Sea & Sky Jax Seas The Day Sea Turtle Statue Seawalk Music Festival Seawalk Pavilion Seaweed Seinfeld Self-Care September 11 Sevier Park Shamrock Shamrock Zoomies Shell World Sheltie Sheltie & Friends Sheltie & Friends Easter Coloring Book Shetland Sheepdog Shipwreck Shopping Sights & Sounds Skin Care Small Towns Snail Sneakers Sports Grille Social Media Solar Eclipse Sous Chef Southbank Southbank Riverwalk Southern Belle Riverboat Southern Grounds Southern Living Idea House Southernmost Point Southern Swells Souvenir Souvenir City SpaceX Spreadshop Spring Spring Break Springhill Suites By Marriott Spring In The South Spring Park Coffee Stand Mixer Starbucks Star Wars Star Wars Day Stationary Statue Of Liberty St Augustine St. Augustine St. Augustine Nights Of Lights Staycation St. George Street Stingray Stitch 626 Day St. Johns County St. Johns County Dunes Restoration Project St. Johns River St. Johns River Ferry St. Johns Town Center St Patricks Day St. Patrick's Day Strawberries Streamlabs Streetcar Street To The Beach Sugar Cookies Summer Sun Sunblock Sunrail Sunrise Sunset Sunshine Skyway Bridge Super Bowl Sunday Supergoop Supergoop Sunblock Supper Club Take Out Dining Talking To Camera Tampa Tampa Bay Target TECO Line Streetcar System Tennessee Tennessee Aquarium Tennessee River Teresa Echols Thai Food Thai Smile Thankful Thanksgiving The African Queen The Ancient City The Boathouse The Caffeinated Cat The Castillo Inn The Continental Hotel Site Landmark The Dis The Donna The Donna Foundation The Donna Marathon The Economy Inn The Green Monster The Lodge & Club The Lone Sailor The Mini Bar The Passage Water Memorial The Peach State The Player's Championship The Reach Resort Key West The Reef The Renaissance The Renaissance St. Augustine Historic Downtown Hotel The Saint Augustine Beach House These Are My Dreams These Are My Dreams The Podcast The Spark By Hilton The Spark By Hilton St. Augustine Historic District The Year Of The Cicada Time Savings Tinis Martini Bar Tinley Park Tinley Park Illinois To Do Downtown Jacksonville To Do In Celebration Florida To Do Jax Beach Tonys Turkey Trot Review Traditional Irish Pancakes Trail Of Tears Train Depot Train Ride Trains In The 904 Trains Magazine Tropical Disturbance Trout Creek Trout Creek Community Center Turtlehead Lake Turtles Twistee Treat Uber Ugly Cupcake & Muffinry Ulta Products Unboxing United Nations Universal Endless Summer Universal Epic Universe Universal Orlando Resort University Of North Florida U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers U.S. Highway 1 Valentines Day Venice Venice Beach Pier Vertical Livestream Veterans Day Veterans Memorial Vilano Beach Vilano Beach Fishing Pier Vilano Beach Nature Boardwalk Vilano Beach Pavilion Vilano Beach Pier Vilano Coffee Shop Vilano Grill 180 Vilano Road Vilano Town Center Virtual Railfan Visit Chattanooga Visit Jacksonville Vlogmas Volunteer V Pizza V Pizza Jax Beach Wake Up The Sun With Me Wake Up With Me Walking Tour Walk With Me Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge Walt Disney World Watch With Me Watercolor Painting Weather Weight Loss Weight Loss Success Weight Maintenance Wetlands White Bison Coffee White Christmas Whit's Frozen Custard Whits Jax Beach Wicked Lick Willaford Railroad Museum Will County Williams Sonoma Winter Meals Winter Park Winter Wonderland World Market World Ocean Day World War 1 World War 19 World War II Worst To Best Ybor CIty Year In Review YouTube YouTube Anniversary YouTuber Youtube Shorts |
_____
My Floridian Adventures On YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@christinepieper ______ My Motivational Merch Shop! https://christines-floridian-dreams.myspreadshop.com/ ______ © 2024 Christine's Floridian Dreams. |