Category: Uncategorized

Summer Breeze

Posted on by Diana Brandmeyer

Summer Breeze

This morning  there was a familiar but not recognizable smell in our home and it wasn’t from last night’s dinner. This smell triggered happiness and youth, but I couldn’t figure out what it was or where it came from.

Copyright: idal1981 / 123RF Stock Photo

Then I noticed the curtains dancing in front of an open window. A memory clicked into place.

Summer mornings waking up to white sheers billowing over my bed. A summer breeze was the best, notes of fresh grass, moisture from the dew and possibly, could it be hoped for? A cooler day?

Our house didn’t boast central air, not even a window unit graced our home. We had fans and soaked washrags in cold water to cool ourselves. A summer breeze offered refreshment that couldn’t be obtained anywhere in my neighborhood.

Now we have air conditioning all summer long–or at least we did. Ours in now waiting to be repaired which is why the window was open, and today I’m glad.

Every year we go from heat to air conditioning because of allergies. We’ve become insulated from some gifts that God brings us in the morning. Today, I was reminded of a time when summer breezes woke me with a curtain kiss.  I closed my eyes and breathed in the sweet air and remembered when the house was quiet, brother was asleep, and if I was quiet I could sneak past his room and have cherished time with my mom.

This song was a hit when I was a teenager and it makes me think of summer too.

What’s your best summer memory? Please share in the comments.
Tweet: Summer Breeze Makes Me Feel Fine http://ctt.ec/21Cqw+ #summer #blog

The Color Yellow and Vitamin D

Posted on by Diana Brandmeyer

Yellow the Sun Color and Vitamin D

a2z: the letter Y

 

It’s January and I’m craving the color yellow. Between now and March where I live there is a noticeable lack of sunshine .

The gray cold days take over offering shivers rather than the prefered warmth and happiness that I thrive on. I find if I go to my room I feel better. Clothed in yellow walls I’m surrounded by the color of the sun. My mood improves, soon I’m feeling happy.

It could be I need more vitamin D this time of year. People with celiac have difficulty in absorbing D vitamins from the food we eat. There are subtle signs of deficiency, fatigue, bone pain and weak muscles. It’s always a good idea to get tested before adding vitamins to your daily routine. I have been tested–hate that as I don’t like needles, and found that I do need to take vitamin D.

So I’ll take an extra dose, and hang out in my yellow room more often.

Yellow sewing room
happiness
Do you live where there is a lack of sunshine in the winter?
What do you do to improve you happiness level?
Please sign up for my newsletter and follow me by email. That will make me happy too!
Diana



 

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What’s Your view for 2013?

Posted on by Diana Brandmeyer

The View Ahead

a2z: the letter “V” for View

 

It’s here, the New Year 2013 and everyone is asking what are your resolutions? I prefer to ask what is your view for 2013?

I’m a visual person. I get more done when I visualize what I’m working toward.  One year I made a vision board slide show that I kept on my desktop. Every morning I watched it. That was a very good year for me.

My view for 2013 is centered around what God wants me to do. The problem for me is figuring out what that looks like. While I prefer to think God would like me to be comfortably well off-food, health insurance and a fat savings account, I have a feeling that’s not His vision for me.

So how am I going to figure it out?

I’m not.

I’m resting on this verse. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

But in case God needs a view of MY 2013 and the beach I’d like outside my door:

sandy ocean beach view
My View for 2013?

 

My View for 2013?

 

What’s your view of 2013? Tell me in the comments. I’d really like to know.

Diana

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Under the Christmas tree

Posted on by Diana Brandmeyer

Best Christmas Gift

a2z is for the letter “U”

It’s Christmas!

Maybe you have snow, or maybe you are celebrating where the sun shines bright and warm today.

Christmas, tree, Jesus
White Christmas

;

The packages are opened, paper crumpled and tossed in fun, bows are stuck on top of heads. What? You don’t put them on your head?

red Christmas bow
Wear it!
The tree once beautiful with all the packages looks a little bare.
Christmas tree with white lights
Not my tree!
Wait! There is another gift!
Jesus in a manger
Now the baby Jesus in this picture was born Jewish, so I think he’d have dark hair, brown eyes and a little darker skin. It doesn’t matter what he looked like though.
What is important is to know what Jesus did for me, and for you if you want to follow Him.
In case you missed the birth announcement of Jesus Christ let me tell you about him.
God sent his only son to live among us to keep the Jewish laws perfectly. He lived as Jewish man the way God wanted us to live, but we find impossible. We break the commandments all the time. We are not perfect people. Jesus was and he did follow God’s laws.
He did it for us. He came here for me, to take my sins, the ugly mistakes and things I’ve done that I’m not even aware of being wrong. Because of Him I get to stand before God, my father without fear of damnation. Grace has given me eternal life. I hope that you also decide to follow Him.
Merry Christmas



eMeals Makes Potato Casserole Gluten-Free

Posted on by Diana Brandmeyer

eMeals does it again!

 

It’s dinner before Advent services time again at my church since going gluten-free I haven’t gone . There is another family at my church that is also gluten-free. We were sad about never getting to eat with our church family. So we started bringing our own dinner to share. I turned to Emeals for help because I have been cooking for 2 people not 8 for several years. They didn’t fail me!

I wish I had a photo of this dish. I took it to church for the dinner before Advent services and it seemed kind of odd to pull out my phone and snap a photo!

Trust me, read the ingredients and you’ll understand without a photo why these are so amazing!

 

The recipe came from Emeals on their holiday menu. I am an affiliate so if you are interested in the company please click my link to check it out. I make a small amount of money which feeds my necco wafer and diet dr Pepper habit.

Twice Baked potato casserole Gluten Free

Recipe Type: side dish
Author: e-mealz.com
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 10
Ingredients
  • 8 medium unpeeled potatoes
  • 14 oz. sliced bacon
  • (cooking spray)
  • (1/4 t salt)
  • (1/4 t pepper)
  • 3 cups sour cream
  • 8 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 8 oz. shredded Cheddar cheese
  • 4 green onions, chopped
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Poke potatoes with a fork.
  3. Bake for 45 minutes or until tender. Set aside to cool for 20 minutes.
  4. Cut raw bacon with scissors into small pieces. Place in a 2 quart saucepan and cover. Cook over medium-high heat until browned and crispy. Drain on paper towels.
  5. Cut baked potatoes into 1 inch cubes. place half in a greased 9 x 13 inch baking dish. sprinkle with half the salt, pepper and bacon.
  6. Top with half the sour cream and cheese.
  7. Repeat layers.
  8. Bake uncovered, for 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted and center is hot. Sprinkle with onions.
Notes

****** Cook potatoes and bacon ahead of time!!!!!

 

I wrote another post earlier about emeals and offered a recipe there too. Read it here.

SAVE TIME AND MONEY WITH EMEALS MEAL PLANS

The Writing Process, Q&A, Interviews with Tyndale Oh My!

Posted on by Diana Brandmeyer
It’s been an amazing week for me. The writing process for me has taken me on many journeys. Every time a book is published I am amazed and awed by the publishers responses. All of the publishers I’ve worked with have provided me with exceptional editors and marketing staff.
Tyndale, my latest publisher, is among them.
Working with them has been a pleasure.
Tyndale Blog
Tyndale has begun the promotion for Mind of Her Own  on their blog.  To say that makes me happy is not good enough. Ecstatic? Yep, that works.
In case you missed any of the copious amounts of tweets and facebook status here are the links:
If you haven’t read them, please do and leave me a comment over there. I’d love that!

The Writing Process, Q&A, Interviews with Tyndale Oh My!

Posted on by Diana Brandmeyer
It’s been an amazing week for me. The writing process for me has taken me on many journeys. Every time a book is published I am amazed and awed by the publishers responses. All of the publishers I’ve worked with have provided me with exceptional editors and marketing staff.
Tyndale, my latest publisher, is among them.
Working with them has been a pleasure.
Tyndale Blog
Tyndale has begun the promotion for Mind of Her Own  on their blog.  To say that makes me happy is not good enough. Ecstatic? Yep, that works.
In case you missed any of the copious amounts of tweets and facebook status here are the links:
If you haven’t read them, please do and leave me a comment over there. I’d love that!

Ped Love for Toes-review

Posted on by Diana Brandmeyer

PEDS RELAX YOUR TOES

a2z: the Letter “P” is for Peds

When Kim my essentircs instructor suggested her students pick up toe stretchers I was skeptical, or rather thinking she might be a bit nuts.

Feels so good!

Thick sides seperate each of your toes. Peds spread your toes wide and your whole foot relaxes. It almost feels like you’ve had a foot massage when you remove them.

OH! My feet aren’t turning blue! It’s a shadow!

I’m sold.

Are there any odd products you’ve tried thinking they wouldn’t work? Tell me about them in the comments.



 

Nascar Dreaming

Posted on by Diana Brandmeyer

Rusty Wallace Race Day

a2z: the letter “n’ is for Nascar

copywright Diana Lesrie Brandmeyer
Race With Rusty Wallace

Last year I had a great idea for Ed’s Christmas/Birthday gift. He’s a New Year’s Eve child so combineing gifts is not new to him. Groupon sent out a deal that seemed perfect.

What man could resist 12 laps around the track in a Nascar race car? Not mine! So I bought it, along with extra insurance! 

What I didn’t know was that many other wives were buying the same deal, and all of our husbands would be driving the track at the same time. 

I should have read the fine print! If I had I would never have purchased this bucket list item for my beloved. 

I asked if I could return the gift. Ha! No!

copywright Diana Lesire Brandmeyer
Fire Proofed!

So he arrived, took a class and wore this fireproof suit.

Before he climbed in he took a ride around the track with a real driver. It was so fast I couldn’t catch it on my camera. He climbed out of the car beaming like a teenage boy.

Turns out there are no doors in these cars. 
No, I didn’t know that, or that the headlights are really stickers!
 

copywrite Diana Lesire Brandmeyer
Sliding in the Window

 
He’s in. He’s ready. 

My stomach is knotted with explantions I will have to make to friends and family if he doesn’t come back alive. 

Hey, I watch some racing! There are always crashes and burning cars!

copywright Diana Lesire Brandmeyer
Ready to Race

Here’s a badly shot video taken by a nerve wracked wife. I caught the take off’ and the wave after that my camera went in my pocket and my hands folded in prayer.

He came back safely!
This year I think I’ll give him socks.
 Have you ever given your spouse a gift you wished you hadn’t? 
Would you give your spouse a dream gift that scares you?
Diana