Salsa Fresca & Cholula Chicken...

Slow cook these ingredients, shred chicken and it makes a healthy and delicious meal served over rice with steamed veggies and a salad.

Outliers...

In an interview with Malcolm Gladwell, the author claims that his research has debunked American Individualism, "Americans like to believe in the myth of the `rugged individualist' that pulls himself or herself up by the bootstraps for this is a part of the American credo." Yes. It is.

And, after reading this book, I still believe in pulling yourself up by the bootstraps. Why? For those of you who've read the book, you know that Gladwell's theory is that everyone CAN succeed if given opportunity. He talks about how amazing it was that Bill Gates was given almost unlimited access to a computer at a time when the only other people with the same access were those attending the elite universities in the land. He talks about the significance of the early birthdays of hockey players and elementary students. He makes some great points about opportunity and how vital it is to success.

But the bootstraps exist in the 10,000 hours.. and in desire, creativity and effort. Everyone at Bill Gates highschool was given access to this amazing computer, not to mention those attending the elite universities and yet there is only one Bill Gates. I'm sure that among the kids who attended Bill Gates' high school, there are many high achievers. They had opportunity like Gladwell points out. They obviously had a great deal of community backing for their school, parents who were willing to donate time and money to improve things and to provide opportunity. The smart kids took advantage of those things and learned something, but for many it wasn't computers.

When I was a kid my dad purchased a Steinway piano and found a good teacher for me who also taught at a local university, an amazing opportunity. I learned to play the piano in a very basic way. Given time, I can read the notes and can play something very simple. I'm no Mozart.

Americans often refer to their country as "the land of opportunity". The idea being that we are free to pursue those options that interest us. No one tells us what to read, to watch or how to spend our time. Time is where the "rugged individualism" comes in... time and effort.

The Homestead Act provided a great opportunity for those who were "rugged American individualists". Here is a piece of land. It's all yours.. you just have to make something out of it... make it livable and profitable and do it in three years. For those who had a bright mind, a healthy body and were willing to work from morning until night without ceasing, this was a great opportunity.

Did I play the piano from morning until night? No. I love music, but it has never been my first love and there were days and days that I simply forgot to practice. I may have been a better pianist if I had been forced to practice for hours, but I don't think I ever would have been great because I wanted something else.

Gladwell is right that no one is self made. Even if they don't get a lot of help along the way, there are circumstances and influences. But, when you have a passion, people have a propensity for finding themselves in the way of opportunity.

There are so many lessons to be learned from this book. One, for me as I look at the current political climate, is a concern that the public's desire for greater government control of almost everything discourages opportunity and therefore success. Another lesson I learned is that time is the great equalizer. We all have the 10,000 hours. How will we spend it? How will we encourage our children to spend it? This book proves, if we didn't know it already, how precious every moment can be.

Tim Hawkins is sooo funny!

Watch this and his other videos HERE

Waterpik...

I'm an anti-gadget person.. because it just gets to be too much, but I have to admit... these are cool. They seem more effective than floss to me.

Inherit the Wind...

I don't believe in Darwin's theory, but I still love this film. As a Christian and a person of faith.. I can't take the side of religious fanatics or the atheistic character of Hornbeck the reporter.

Members of the L.D.S. Church live by the articles of faith. Number 11 states: "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may."

And, if people want to believe they are descended from monkeys, that's OK too. But, I claim the right to believe that my ancestors are better looking than theirs.

The point is that we have the right to believe what we believe in this country and that is something that even after The Constitution and The Bill of Rights were drafted and signed we still struggle with.

Thankfully not as much as when intolerance, bigotry and ignorance caused so much violence and misery for so many different groups of people in this country including my Mormon ancestors who were forced from their homes and communities several times before coming to Utah.

Even when we don't believe the same way, we may be able to look and learn from someone whose background is very different from our own.

A Korean family moved into our neighborhood several years ago. They are the most delightful people. Their sons are gifted, gracious, thoughtful, polite and always cheerful. They are doing something wonderful with their children. I am grateful they moved here.

Tolerance is as important as fighting for what we believe in. You can do both and and do them at the same time. You can fight hard and be respectful of others at the same time.

I think these words are really the crux of the film:

"Can't you understand? That if you take a law like evolution and you make it a crime to teach it in the public schools, tomorrow you can make it a crime to teach it in the private schools? And tomorrow you may make it a crime to read about it. And soon you may ban books and newspapers. And then you may turn Catholic against Protestant, and Protestant against Protestant, and try to foist your own religion upon the mind of man. If you can do one, you can do the other. Because fanaticism and ignorance is forever busy, and needs feeding. And soon, your Honor, with banners flying and with drums beating we'll be marching backward, BACKWARD, through the glorious ages of that Sixteenth Century when bigots burned the man who dared bring enlightenment and intelligence to the human mind!"

Anyway, I like this film quite a lot. It's well done.

Recent Love Boxes added to the SHoP...

SHoP

The Greatest Game Every Played...

Darling film.. We all loved it. The caddy is great!

Dido & Aeneas...

... was fabulous! Thanks Jackie!

Hallway is sooo close...

About 2 months ago, the city informed us that we had a small water leak... almost imperceptible.
We looked everywhere, but couldn't find it... until one day I was in the hallway and looked up.

.. the ceiling had sunk. Ooops. The swamp cooler hose had sprung a leak.

Bummer, but when life hands you lemons.. do the best you can to make lemonade... so we painted the hallway bright yellow!

It's still not quite finished, but sooo close.

We are really enjoying another bright, happy color.

The Shadow of the Thin Man...

This, so far has been my favorite of The Thin Man series. Loved it. Myrna Loy is fabulous and lovely! We watched this last night with popcorn and had a great time.

Back to School House...

In the ShOP...

Stand and Deliver...

"There will be no free rides, no excuses. You already have two strikes against you: your name and your complexion. Because of those two strikes, there are some people in this world who will assume that you know less than you do. *Math* is the great equalizer... When you go for a job, the person giving you that job will not want to hear your problems; ergo, neither do I. You're going to work harder here than you've ever worked anywhere else. And the only thing I ask from you is *ganas.* *Desire.* ...
...If you don't have the *ganas,* I will give it to you because I'm an expert. "

In that last line, is the secret to great leadership... to give another person the desire to better themselves... to expect great things from them.. to give them dignity and skill.. to show them who they really are and what they can really do.
Stand and Deliver is one of my very favorite of all time films. If you haven't seen it in awhile... check it out... It's a beautiful thing.

It may seem like a bad time but...

It may seem like a bad time to promote items, businesses and services on this blog. We are in a depression and no one I know is feeling materialistic. Save, save, save is the mantra of the day. We are in a depression. All of us have friends, family, neighbors that are out of work so it hardly seems like the time to buy a new house, handbag, fancy dinner, but sometimes it is the counter-intuitive thing that is the right thing to do.
I am not telling anyone to be irresponsible, or to purchase something they can't afford, or to go into debt. I'm not. Really, I'm not. That would NOT be good. I try to be good.
I believe strongly in paying 10 percent to the Lord and then paying yourself by saving 10 percent.
But, if you've done that and were planning to have the hallway painted, splash out on lovely red shoes or get a new hairdo. Do.
If we don't, more and more of our friends and neighbors will be out of work.
When you buy something that you can afford and have cash to pay for, you are helping to support some one's family. You are keeping the car repairman, beautician, salesperson or cruise director employed. Employed is so much more than money and security. Employed is self-determination and dignity. Employed is a spiritual principle that is a blessing of peace and a blessing of confidence and more.
So, that is my reason for promoting business (lovely items) on my blog. Business is one of my causes and I want the places I patronize, those who are talented, creative, innovative and hardworking to survive this thing. It's almost impossible in the good times.
So, if you have occasion to feel patriotic... Go shopping! .. even if it's just for a small treat..
Today, I did my patriotic duty. I bought a double blueberry donut from Tasty Donuts!!!
Mmmmmmmmmmmmm. Doing the right thing sure tastes good!

Cutie Skirt...

We bought this skirt and it's so cute on. Really darling. It's now on sale 1/2 price with a few sizes still available. It's quite long.. hard to find right now.
Boden

Happily Ever After...

Melissa & James had a beautiful wedding...

=

May Pole...

Candy Shop... Free candy!

Dancing into the night...

... on the terrace overlooking the river...

... leaving by way of an honor guard of bubblegum pixies with sparkler swords and daisy toes...

.. for time and all eternity.

Mints...

Little c and I recently collaborated on this

love box featuring

"Mints" the very cute Springer Spaniel...

Pretty Flowers at Moms...

The Professor and the Madman...

I wish so much that medicine understood more about the crippling, devastating condition of schizophrenia. Some people live too long and Dr. Minor has to be one of those people who suffered severe mental torture almost every night of his long life feeling that he would be forced to do something awful by the demons who raged in his mind after dark.
During his better hours, he did what he could to assist in one of the greatest, if not the greatest literary efforts.. the cataloging of the English Language.
The is a terribly sad and tragic, but amazing story.

Salt Lake City Magazine... Best of the Beehive!

If you purchase just one magazine this year.. this is my favorite. It's so much fun to go through and see all the the great talent we have in our fabulous state!

Grateful for Pioneers...

Many of the Mormon Pioneers converted to the church in Europe. They joined the body of the saints in New York, in Missouri, in Nauvoo. In each place they built a beautiful community, in each place they were misunderstood, hated and finally persecuted and brutally driven out.
Leaving their beautiful and tidy little homes, they crossed the great plains in covered wagons if they had means and handcarts if they did not. They took each step with great courage and faith in their convictions. They suffered greatly along the way. They buried their husbands, brothers, sisters, wives and mothers. They left their children in frozen, shallow graves as they listened to the wolves howl in the distance. But with faith in the goodness of their God, in his eternal plan of happiness, and in reunion they came into the Salt Lake Valley and built the glorious Salt Lake Temple in order to worship; a place where they could be sealed forever to those precious ones who were left behind.
I am forever grateful for my connections to these valiant saints and for the city they built with courage, industry and faith ... all in reverence and honor to God.
Hope you had a wonderful Pioneer Day.. July 24, 2009 marked 162nd anniversary of the day the Mormon Pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley.