Roasted Red Potatoes

Roasted Red Potatoes.

You'll need:

1 baking sheet

Aluminum foil 

Olive oil

Garlic salt

Black pepper

Butter

Red Potatoes

Preheat your oven at 400 degrees.

Cut your desired amount of potatoes the way you like, preferably medium thickness, thin enough to cook through to your desired tenderness.

Spread potatoes out on your aluminum foil lined baking sheet.

Pour about 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil over potatoes and toss them around so they all get coated.

Then, sprinkle 2 teaspoons of Garlic salt all over the potatoes.

Then,  add teaspoon of Black Pepper. (Sprinkle all potatoes)

Give them a good toss, to make sure they are all coated, and evenly seasoned.

Then you can take a tablespoon of butter, melt it in the microwave in a glass bowl, and pour the butter over the potatoes.

When oven is preheated, put the potatoes in and bake for 30-35 minutes. 

Turn after 15 minutes.

Plans for Labor Day.

So who has plans for Labor Day?

Not me!!

I plan to not make plans....wait.....uh....what?

You got it.

I am going to lay by the pool, read, wear no makeup at all, eat what I want, and take a nap on my pool float.

Sounds good doesn't it?

Sometimes you need too take time for yourself, and rest.

Your body needs some TLC.

No, not TLC as in crazy, sexy, cool, or no scrubs.

I mean Tender, Loving, Care, or R&R.

Sometimes we are constantly moving and going somewhere, or doing something.

We can easily wear ourselves down and become unpleasant and not fun to be around.

So this weekend, make plans to not make plans.

If you have plans you can cancel, cancel them.

If you have a hobby, something you like to do, do it.

Be creative.

Be fun.

Relax.

Put on some awesome shades, and just chill out.

Or....run a hot bath, add some lovely smelling bubble soap to it and listen to soft music to relax. 

Pamper yourself.

Do whatever makes you happy.

Breath, in and out.

Take in the scenery.

If we slow down, we can enjoy life more.

When we rush through life we miss important moments.

We miss conversation, in person conversation.

We spend too much time on our cell phones, on social media or in front of the tv.

Things in our world today have become so impersonal, and selfish.

We have become too consumed by things that really don't matter.

That's right, I said it.

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest do NOT matter in our life today, we do not need them to survive.

I'm not saying I wish those sites were never created, because I am, but what I'm saying is we don't need them every hour, every minute at our fingertips.

So, put down your phone, get out, or stay in, but just be present.

Xoxo,

Kiersty 

Glendale = Amazingness (not a real word)

Ok, so as most of you know because I like to inform people of the fun things I do, because its awesome, I went to Glendale, Ky today. 

To say the least, Glendale was a little slice of heaven.

But.....I'm not going to say the least, I'm going to add on to that statement.

Glendale: the weather was perfect today, the food was exquisite, the hospitality was top notch, the men and women that work at Whistle Stop were extremely sweet, and may I just say again how AMAZING the food was?!

(Sorry, this was after we dug into it all)

If you don't know this, which you probably don't, I LOVE antique shops.

To restate that, I love to shop.

Every store clerk was welcoming, and helpful, some even gave me and my bestfriend coffee. I love coffee too, so I was a happy camper. 

I loved every store. Even the ones with weird stuff, like the pic below.

(This little Santa was wearing more eye shadow than me, and kinda looks like MiMi from Drew Carey show)

Yes, I went into every store, and browsed from top to bottom. 

I may not be able to remember the names of every store but some I can remember the dates they were built. 

The first store, I bought a lovely floral, metal framed picture, I had to have it. 

Florals and anything vintage just scream my name. I bought this beautiful picture at the circa 1917 shop. I think I loved being in the building more than shopping there, and not because they didn't have wonderful things because they did, but because of the buildings history. 

Just by looking at the worn, stained, chipped, dark wood floor, I knew many people at a different time walked those same floors. There is something mind blowing about that to me.

Those floors may have been old, squeaky and chipped, but they were so beautiful.

What made them beautiful?

They had a story. That is why they were beautiful.

Little lesson: just because people step on you,  or you have been scratched, worn, had things thrown on you, doesn't make you unworthy of the word beautiful. 

Life brings things, situations, problems and many other experiences, but at the end of the road, when you are still strong and holding on, just like that strong wood on those floors, you will be more beautiful after you've stood the test. 

Those floors were once brand spanking new, and when the floor was first installed I'm sure people appreciated it for a while, but then forgot to appreciate it. But now, years later, I appreciated that beautiful oak floor. 

Why? 

Because we don't really see much real hardwood flooring anymore, it's all flooring that looks like the real deal.

So remember when you feel beat up, and worn for being you, and you think nobody appreciates you, don't worry. Don't sell out for the fake. Be you. Be real, scars and all. 

People might forget who you are sometimes and how much they need a person like you, because you are that strong person, kinda like a strong foundation that won't give in under pressure, like that floor. 

You could look at this message the wrong way or you could look at it how I am telling it.

To put it simply, be strong, stay real, and don't give in.

Lesson over, now back to my adventure.

__________________________________

 

The second thing I bought was a book. 

Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm boring. But you will soon learn....my heart is kinda the heart of an 85 year old, instead of a 23 year old. 

The book is by my favorite poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson. 

There is something so captivating about his words on a page. 

I must say I'm pretty proud of my buys today. 

And did I mention that the book is a 1900  copy. I'm not sure what edition it is, but it's definitely an antique, and I'm in love with it. I will be taking it to work to sneak a read. Shhhh.

All in All, my best friend and I had a blast.

 So Glendale, for this, I thank you.

I hope you will tolerate is again.

Oh, and I forgot to mention, I ate some peanut butter fudge from one of Glendales shops, and it was delish. A+.

After we left Glendale we visited my grandparent at their new house, and we ended the day with a funny movie. 

We saw "Let's be Cops" which was HILARIOUS! But it did have some cussing, so don't take your kids to see it if you're thinking about it. 

Today was a great adventure. We shall do it again soon, and very soon.

To end the night with a good note, I have some cool popcorn skills. 

Good night!!

Weekend fun!!!

Ok,  so tomorrow is Friday and I am SUPER DE DOOPER excited for my weekend! So much so that I used the phrase, "SUPER DE DOOPER" which I don't do on a regular basis.

Let me tell ya why I am so excited:

FRIDAY, also known as "free-day" for me. (I get off of work for the weekend)

I will be going to the KENTUCKY STATE FAIR, I absolutely love the fair. 

They have SO many exhibits, animals, FOOD, and entertainment.

My bestfriend and I like to sit at the Mike Linings tent because not only do they have delicious food, but they have a live karoke contest. We sit there, eat and listen to the performers. It can be quite hilarious at times, which is why we watch.

I love the food! There will be so much eating taking place.

For example: cotton candy, funnel cakes, hot dogs, and whatever else I can find. 

Don't worry, I will most definitely take pictures and keep you updated on everything I do. I will most likely blog Friday night when I get home.

AND......SATURDAY!!!!

So, Saturday I have planned a mini road trip to Glendale, Ky for the day. Glendale is this cute little town with tons of antique shops, and my favorite restaurant "Whistle Stop." Glendale is kinda like Mayberry from Andy Griffith show. It's quiet, lovely, homey and the people are very kind. 

If I could live there I totally would. 

Let me just tell you about "Whistle Stop," it is a made from scratch, down home, country cooking kind of place. This cozy place is settled right by the railroad tracks in Glendale, and it reminds me of the same restaurant from the movie "Fried Green Tomatoes." 

My favorite thing from there is the chicken salad, fried pickles AND butter scotch pie, it is simply to die for.

I highly recommend this little town and scrumptious spot to eat.

I will post pictures from my trip to Glendale  Saturday evening. If anyone has any questions about anything from this post, please don't hesitate to ask.

Remember to live free.

Xoxo,

Kiersty

Live your dreams....

I spend most of my days dreaming of things I want in life, for my family and I and for the world.

It's never to late to live your dreams.

Dream bigger and better thn you did yesterday.

If you want it, work for it. Life doesn't hand you things you want, sure, we receive blessing from The Lord above, but we should also do for ourselves.

Work hard, be kind, and laugh every day.

Some of my big dreams are:

Finish college

Own a old farmhouse

Own a big piece of land

Grow a huge garden of veggies

Grow peach and apple trees

Grow lavender 

Raise chickens for eggs

Sell eggs

Write books

Paint everyday

Walk my land everyday

Own a basset hound

Travel Europe 

Have a tin roof 

Listen to the rain with the windows open

Hike at least once every two weeks

Publish my poetry 

Go to smithsonian 

Dance on my wrap around porch with my  future love to Billie Holiday

Own a lake house & canoe

Go to a Uk basketball game once a year

Get married

Make a difference in the world 

I know, I know, this is a long list of things that seem impossible.

But, to quote the elegant Audrey Hepburn, "Nothing is impossible, the word itself says I'M POSSIBLE!!"

When people tell you that your dreams are too big, tell them their mind is too small, because anything is possible with hard work, prayer and persistence.

Live your dreams.

The art of losing.

You may be wondering why the title of this blog post suggests that there is art in loss, well, there sorta is.

When you lose something or someone, you go through a state of shock at first, you can't believe they're gone, it doesn't seem real.

 You may even have dreams about this person.

Then after you've accepted the fact that they're gone, it still hurts so freaking bad that your heart literally cries, it sobs tears of sorrow and so do you. 

Your mind wants to feel better, but you just can't, you CAN'T!!! 

So everyday, you grieve, cry, sleep. Repeat.

But then time goes on. It has to. Time can't stand still, and neither can you.

It's not that you've forgotten about that person, the way they made you laugh, the way they smiled or even the way their voice sounded. 

It's just at some point you have to start your life again, for them.

It's hard to live without someone that you've lived so well with for many years.

It's hard not to wanna hug them, kiss them and tell them you love them.

But, sometimes you just have to start over.

 Just like an artist and his blank canvas, he will spend days upon months and sometimes years on a painting, he puts every bit of himself, his life, his blood sweat and tears into his work. 

And when this beautiful, glorious masterpiece is finished he has to start over again, on a blank canvas, to create something beautiful again. Again. 

(Pablo Picasso "crying woman")

Then that previous canvas, that beautiful work of art gets to be appreciated by all who pass by it and see it hanging in a gallery.

So, when you are having to start over again, just picture yourself and your life as the new blank canvas, and God the artist. 

Live free. Love wildly. Love God.

Xoxo,

Kiersty