Show your appreciation

When do you appreciate your Boss?

How many times have you had a supervisor or a manager that you appreciated whole-heartedly? Did you have one that you could trust to go to bat for you? Someone that you would work harder for, if for no other reason than because you had a deeper respect for them than anyone else?

Now did you show your appreciation? When it was their birthday or Christmas, did you get them a gift?

Give yourself a moment to consider this. A great leader is one who leads by example. It is one that you have high respect for, and that you will strive harder for. But how often do you let them know that you believe they are that better person? They deserve to know. Especially as they are few and far between. Managers and other leaders are mostly chosen by degrees, it seems, these days. So few of them have the knowledge or understanding – they lack the connection ability necessary to guide their employees with confidence. They won’t have people willing to go the extra mile on the job unless there is some kind of monetary bonus or kickback they want. This is sad. Leaders should be approachable by everyone. They should have a defined respect from everyone around them, that can be seen by those coming in from the outside.

I’m happy to say I work for one such guy. My manager, Mark or Mr. V. is a guy that connects with his employees. He has managers under him to supervise the departments, but that doesn’t stop him from offering his help or talking to those other employees one-on-one. He wants to see everyone succeed. He knows how to run a tight ship, but his sense of humor keeps the mood light. He is a bit of a prankster, and he can handle getting it dished back. So when his birthday came around this week, you better believe that we treated him with as much as we could muster.

My supervisor took the time and effort to decorate his office,

take a group picture that she had a poster made of,

and coordinate with everyone in the office to help in the celebration.

I baked him a cake in the theme of his favorite candy bar, Baby Ruth.

The surprise was a fantastic success.

He really did expect the room to be filled with balloons thanks to having the balloons crammed in his window.

You don't have to go all out, but take the time to show your appreciation. Those worthy of such are a rare treasure in the business world. They need to know how much they mean to others sometimes.

Light but tasty snack ideas

Sometimes you want something to snack on that might not be the healthiest, but its just oh so good! One that I like doing is bacon wrapped, cheese smothered tater tots. Simple to make, takes only 3 ingredients… how can it get better than that?

What you need:

Bag of frozen tater tots

1 package of your favorite bacon (turkey doesn’t work too well for this one)

1 package of cheese (any of your favorite kinds)  

I like to deviate from the way I’ve seen them made online. I own a deep fryer, so I fry some tater tots first. Don’t need to crisp them too much though! Then you will want to let those sit on a napkin while you prep your next step. I cut my bacon strips in half. Get out that baking sheet and preheat your oven to 375. I cover mine in aluminum foil and spray it lightly with cooking spray. This helps to keep it from sticking too badly.

Grab one of the bacon strips, wrap up the tater tot, and place it on the baking sheet. Repeat this step with the rest of your bacon and tater tots until you have the desired amount. Bake for about 10 minutes. Then add your cheese and bake again for another 10 or so minutes. You want the bacon to be cooked and the cheese to be completely melted around your tots. You can make as much or as little as you want, based on how many people you are serving. I've also added chili to it and then covered it with cheese.

Another recipe I love is Doritos Nachos.

You know how Taco Bell has those tacos in the shells with Doritos flavoring? Well, you can pull that off with nachos as well.

What you need:

Your favorite Doritos chips (I use the HEB brand of them sometimes)

Cheese

ground beef

salsa

First thing you want to do is get that baking sheet ready. Preheat your oven to 375. Spread your favorite tortilla chips on it.

You can then top it with your favorite nachos ingredients such as ground beef, cheese, etc.

Bake for about 8-10 minutes or until the cheese is all melted.

At my house, the kids like when I pour the Taco Bell sauce over them and then serve. You can use your favorite sauce and sour cream as well.

And lastly, I made bacon and cheese crescent rolls. I took a can of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, some bacon strips cut in half, and cheese that I sliced into strips and rolled them up together.

Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes until they are golden brown. You can use any kind of cheese and your favorite bacon. Or you can switch it out for pepperoni or sliced deli meats.

AdoramaPix information and dicount

As a member of the US Family Guide, I was able to join in the review group for AdoramaPix. As you may know, I love picture gifts and having pictures all around my home. Sharing memories is a great way to decorate. AdoramaPix is having a great sale and I want to share the information provided for you guys to get in on it!

AdoramaPix helps people turn their digital photographs from abstract computer files into beautiful keepsakes designed to last a lifetime. Their contemporary metal prints capture memories in rich color and vibrant detail. Because your images are infused right into the metal, and not painted on the surface, their metal prints are extremely durable. Not only will your metal image be water and weather proof, but scratch resistant as well. You can even clean it with glass cleaner. Your memories deserve to live in true, archival luxury with AdoramaPix metal prints.

You can find all the fun gift ideas HERE: 
http://www.adoramapix.com/app/home/

My readers get to save! 25% off Hexagon #Metal Prints! Use promo code: PXHEXMTL25 expires 06/ 15 /2016

Columbia restaurant review

Aesthetics were inviting. But that's the deceiving part. They draw you in with friendly staff that delivers a highly professional attitude. As you gaze at the beautiful layout and designs, you take in a clean atmosphere that fools you into feeling comfortable. They play classic Spanish or Columbian music that isn't overwhelming. 

We were seated promptly right off the street. The waiter prepped our 4 seat table for 3. We all ordered water. When he brought our glasses back, 2 of the 3 water glasses had to be sent back. Some of the silverware had a film or other contaminates on them. Thankfully, we decided to order sandwiches. Instead we should've just left. The prices in the menu make you think you're getting a higher quality. But that's just another deception on their part. The best part of being there was the bread.

Before serving your meal, they bring you fresh bread and butter. The bread is flaky on the outside with a warm and soft inside that was oh so tasty. It's the perfect way to start, particularly when you're famished from the heat waves outdoors. And especially when you have to wait something over 15 minutes for your SANDWICH. I mean honestly... I can make a gourmet sandwich in less than 2 minutes. They didn't have to cook anything. And they weren't that busy. Was there only one cook? That's the only thing I can think of. And if that's the case, what idiots! It's spring break vacation and late lunch time. On one of the most popular tour sites no less. We were down St. George Street. 

Other things to take notice of, most of their dishes are seafood. Everything was very pricey. Our sandwiches were in the $10-15 range. 

The sandwiches were good. Nothing spectacular. I liked the plantain chips they served with them. A healthier and unique side dish that keeps the meal light. 

The waiter had to be flagged down when we needed something. He gave us someone else's check as well. My sisters trick of draining your glass to get service didn't even work there. 

I found their website. 

I find it interesting that they require you to be classy enough to not wear sleeveless when you're a guy. In this heat, it could be appreciated by other patrons. 

I'm still disappointed. I don't feel that this is a place I'd want to refer loved ones to. Nor will I feel inclined to return to it. With so many options on George, no one needs to suffer through the same disappointment twice.

http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/

Let's get Steampunked!

I’ve mentioned so many times that I love cosplay. I love dressing up. Being a hardcore nerd is the best way for me! I go to comic conventions, comic store events, even some movies are made to dress up for if you go to opening night! I know I wanted to dress up more for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

And with me, I don’t do store bought costumes unless I modify them. I think the best costumes are the ones you make yourself. The ones you add personalization and characteristics that are specific to you! Make it your own design by adding your own flair and style. Whether you change the characters hair color or add jewelry, there is always something that you can tweak to make it original. I mean, let’s face it, no one likes going to a con when everyone around is in cookie cutter versions of the characters.  

Now if I can start from scratch and build up from just a couple items of regular clothing, I’m definitely going that option. One of the first things I ever had made was a long, hooded cape. I bought the materials and had them shipped to a seamstress I met in eBay who sold me a piece she replicated from the Star Wars movie of that time. To this day, it is one of my all-time favorites. I could build so many costumes around just that one piece.  But enough about that…

Lately, my passion has geared towards steampunk (pun intended). Where the future meets the past, where creativity and functionality clash in a gloriously beautiful mix. Gears, skeleton keys, bronze-stained colors, and your ideas of where the future could take us combine to make some really amazing mixtures. I got a steampunk costume for a review. It is cute. But it is lacking. So I have decided to expand its amazing horizons by creating weapons that would match its genre.

I picked up some Nerf-like weapons and some Rustoleum paints with my boyfriend, who is working on turning his Nerf ax into a zombie-hunting accessory to his Umbrella Corps cosplay.

I also have a couple guns I’m doing for the Lara Croft look I’ve been planning for ages!

And I gotta say, I’m super excited about them so far. Especially after running into a friend of mine who’s dad has a bunch of skeleton keys he might part with…  

My boyfriend and I spent one night starting the modifications.

We aren't done yet, but I'm liking where they are so far.

Gotta love free pancakes!

Took the kids out to IHOP last night.

You can't pass up 3 hot, free pancakes... Although we had to wait 35 minutes to get to a table... But the kids ate and I didn't have to cook or clean up. 

It was completely satisfying. And they will be having another cool special for St. Patrick's day. 

So wear green and get your pancake face on! Don't forget to tip the waitress, be patient with them and have fun. 

The Mask is on

Do you ever feel that every day and every moment needs to be portrayed as going well? That you have to keep up good appearances to the world around you better? That’s my outlook. The world has enough darkness. There is enough pain, hurt, and sadness to go around. So someone has to shine through it all. Someone has to offer that glimpse of joy that makes others smile. I’m not a clown, by any means. I’m the complete opposite actually. I’m not full of jokes. I’m sarcastic. I don’t like people. I like being alone. It doesn’t help me get out of the darkness when I’m alone, but it helps to avoid making it worse when the people who are offering advice or trying to help only make it worse…

You know that saying, “Sometimes the ones who smile the most, are the ones who hurt the most on the inside”? It’s true. They put on a mask and always give off that happy-go-lucky attitude that is expected of them. Do you ever wonder how they do it? Here’s a secret… they sometimes cry themselves to sleep.

When they have a bad day, they try not to include anyone in it. They tell themselves its fine. Everyone has bad days and they all come to an end. They take every task in the queue, one by one, and get through it. Someone smiles at them, they smile back. Someone asks how they are doing, they answer with “doing good, thanks”. And for the most part, no one notices that it is all an act. Why? Why can’t people see through it?! I tell myself that it is because I’ve gotten good at the act. I’ve practiced it so well. Got it down to the last faked laugh. Then I finally collapse at the end of the day and hope for a better day tomorrow. I cry and tell myself to stop being so pathetic. If I slip up and actually talk to someone about what is going, I feel worse. Not only am I feeling bad, but I’m telling someone else and they will probably feel bad. I’m spreading the bad instead of promoting good. I’m burdening them. They can’t do anything about it. They can’t offer anything more than, “It’s going to be okay”, “Just breathe, you got this”, or “It happens, get over it”. That last one is my favorite. Why? It further reminds me I’m sounding like a pathetic whiner. “Cry yourself a river, build yourself a bridge, and get over it.”

Today started off all wrong and has continued to go uphill. Haven’t even hit the crest yet. On the radio, they said today was National “Get Over It” Day. Sorta fits. Tell myself to get over it. Stuff is hitting the fan and I have to suck it up. Put on the big girl panties and throw back. Right? That’s not how I feel inside though. But that’s how I’m trying to look on the outside. I’ve quit answering the text messages. Not talking to anyone on Facebook. I’ve decided to put the walls up and take the battering rams out against the projects I’m faced with. It will be a long day. And I know that eventually it has to end. Until then, I’ll put on the mask. I will be that light in the darkness. I don’t suggest walking towards my light though. Just take it as a beacon of hope through the chaotic seas of the daily grind. If I slip, and the weakness I feel within shows, just act like you didn’t catch it. For the sake of my pride.
Have a great day, folks! It can’t last forever.