A little Piece of Sunshine

Fighting fear with Faith

October 16, 2012

March 29th (my Birthday ) is a day that I have been celebrating for nearly 30 years. Okay, I’m so lying about how long but you get my point. It’s a time of year that I have always looked forward to. However, this past year that day was one of the scariest moments of my life. On March 29th, 2012, we found out that my husband, Anthony, was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Diagnosing it is not that simple though. The only real way to find out if it is indeed Cancer is to remove the affected testicle.

I’m sure it’s easy to imagine how hard that must have been on my husband to go through such a loss. The blow to the ego, the uncertainty of how this will affect having more children, what types of treatment will be necessary ….. these were all the many things my husband wrestled with on a daily basis. For me, it was a matter of how to stay strong and hopeful for my husband and for our children.

Mind you that our son, 4 months old at the time, had no clue what was going on but there was this decision to be made about whether or not to tell our girl, Allie. Ultimately we decided against telling her the severity or even using the word Cancer. Since testicular cancer has such a great cure rate, we didn’t see the point in causing her to fear for her father especially since Allie had lost an Aunt to Cancer and was very aware of how serious that disease can be.

As soon as we were told that he would be cured of this, I decided to put 100% faith in GOD and in the words of the doctor. Sure there was talk about how this could come back through the abdomen and how radiation would be our best approach to fight that possibility. For the both of us, we so no other option then to move forward and to look to the days when this would be behind us.

I never saw Anthony worry at all about any of it. He was more in disbelief that he had Cancer. He would say, “I can’t believe I have Cancer…..in my ball!” Okay folks, we had to have some fun with this and when Anthony announced to the Facebook community that he had testicular cancer and that all would be fine……the punch lines started to roll in. Names like “Uniballer” and One ball Wonder” were just a couple of the long list of hilarity that started to poor in. The laughter was so good for the soul but the prayers for Anthony were our saving grace. You see I think it was at that time that Anthony came to grips of what lied ahead for him and the situation became real. Manageable, but emotionally real.

I thought I was handling it pretty well until one day in the shower, I was overwhelmed with doom. Thoughts of my husband ill, dying, raising my child alone, losing custody of Allie……every possible fear piled one on top of the other until the weight was too much to bear and I crumbled. I was brought back to reality when through the baby monitor I could hear the sounds of my son waking from his nap. There is no faster way to bounce back from sadness then to look into the face of your sweet baby.

No matter what you are facing in your life, know that it can be beat if and only if you have faith. It’s impossible to think you will never fear, but never allow it to take center stage in your life. Never allow it to take control of your situations while you desperately try to work your way around it. CONFIDE. Talk to someone who has faced what you are up against because its nice to know that others have been where we are. For us, our faith in GOD was the light at the end of the tunnel and the journey was a bumpy road filled with numerous attempts by darker forces trying hard to turn us into a mess……We refused to surrender to anything but GOD and we put it all in his hands. Yesterday was 6 months since Anthony’s diagnosus and he is Cancer free. Praise GOD!

Dani Sharpy

Social Media fanatic, Suburban CEO and part-time blogger

As you were…

August 21, 2012

Can you believe it? Another summer is gone and the kids are back in school. After spending weeks and months keeping the kids occupied with summer camps, family vacations and getting them ready to go back to school, it’s extremely easy to neglect things we need to do for ourselves.

I lost all sense of structure this summer. After having both sisters come to visit us, Heading north to have the wedding we were not able to have when we married each other 2 years ago, packing our home and moving 45 minutes south, trying to put the new house together (we are still living out of boxes), I felt overwhelmed since ther seemed to be no sense of routine. On a side note I want to say that as crazy as things may have seemed, how amazingly blessed by GOD we have been did not go lost in the midst of the pressure.

Are you a creature of habit who got lost in the middle of summers unpredictability? Have you lost track of the rituals that kept you grounded and focused?

This is an amazing time to realign yourself with the good habits you worked so hard to put in place. Remember when you stopped making excuses to finally started going for that morning bike ride or you finally put the car in drive and found yourself pulling up at the gym? Don’t let vacations and summer’s bliss interrupt those great efforts you worked so hard to accomplish. Consider how amazing you are going to feel when you slip right back into that healthy path you started to pave. What an amazing way to come off this breif recess by not allowing the dust to settle on those important steps you already started taking for yourself.

The reward is huge when you prove to yourself that you have the discipline to bounce back from life’s interruptions. Your challenge this week is to pick up where you left off and prove to yourself that you can. I think you’ll find that being able to do so this time around sets a serious tone of determination and happiness.

Dani Sharpy

Social Media fanatic, Suburban CEO and part-time blogger

How A Masked Crusader Fights Poverty And Brings Hope In Vancover

August 20, 2012

The Grim Reaper might not be the most obvious inspiration for a real-life superhero.

But in one Vancouver neighborhood, a man who dresses up as Thanatos — the Greek personification of death — has become an iconic figure representing generosity and goodwill.

“I don’t come from Krypton and wasn’t bitten by a radioactive spider or anything like that,” Thanatos, who doesn’t want to reveal his real name, told Metro News. “I was working downtown, trying to help out on the streets and noticing a lot of things happening … people living and dying on the streets.”

“I was told by a police officer that some people on the street had nothing better to look forward to than death. That really stung, that really hurt me,” he told the newspaper. “So I said if that’s the case, then death better get out there and start taking care of these people. I developed this persona to go out there and help.”

His acts of kindness include everything from handing out bottles of water to distributing slips of paper with the word ‘friend’ written on them, reports the Globe and Mail.

“This girl I helped ended up turning around from a $400 a day heroin addict in a space of six months, and she now works down there in a paid position at one of the social agencies. And when she tells the story why she changed she says, ‘Death came and told me I had to change the way I was living. Death saved me,’” Thanatos toldVancouver magazine.

The 63-year-old father-of-one is the oldest member of The Real Life Super Hero Project, a group of caped and masked do-gooders who aim to inspire others to spread kindness. He was even featured in the HBO documentary “Superheroes,” a clip of which is embedded above.

However, Thanatos views the media exposure as a means to an end — something that helps bring focus to the conditions in Vancouver’s downtown East Side neighborhood. “It gets the attention where it’s needed,” he toldMetro News.

“By using this persona, I’ve been able to spread the word about what’s going on down there, I’ve been able to get more aid in the area. I’m asked by reporters if it actually works and it’s like, ‘Well you’re here talking to me right now’ so it’s obviously working.”

Story by: Huffingtonpost.com

Marinated Grilled Shrimp

June 14, 2012

Ingredients

3 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup tomato sauce
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 pounds fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined
skewers
Directions
1. In a large bowl, stir together the garlic, olive oil, tomato sauce, and red wine vinegar. Season with basil, salt, and cayenne pepper. Add shrimp to the bowl, and stir until evenly coated. Cover, and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour, stirring once or twice.
2. Preheat grill for medium heat. Thread shrimp onto skewers, piercing once near the tail and once near the head. Discard marinade.
3. Lightly oil grill grate. Cook shrimp on preheated grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until opaque.
Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving Calories: 273 | Total Fat: 14.7g | Cholesterol: 230mg

Via Allrecipes.com

The Tools.. Transform your problems into courage, confidence & creativity

June 13, 2012

The Tools

by Phil Stutz & Barry Michaels

A groundbreaking book about personal growth that presents a uniquely effective set of four tools that bring about dynamic change in the present and impart a greater understanding of the depth and complexity of the human condition over the longterm.

The Tools addresses the most common complaint patients have about psychotherapy: the interminable wait for change to begin. Barry Michels, an LA-based therapist, was frustrated by his inability to bring his patients faster relief from the issues that plagued them. He found a mentor in Phil Stutz, a psychiatrist who years before devised a methodology that arose from a similar disenchantment. The traditional therapeutic model sets its sights on the past, but Stutz and Michels employ an arsenal of tools–exercises that access the power of the unconscious and effectively meet the most persistent problems people face–and the results are electrifying. Stutz and Michels are much sought-after–a recent profile in The New Yorker touted them as an “open secret” in Hollywood–and treat a high-powered and creative clientele. Their first work, The Tools transcends the typical self-help genre because of its paradigm-changing material, the credibility of its authors, and the instant appeal and empowerment of its message.

Jason Loose Becomes Chinese Internet Hit After He Buys An Old Woman French Fries

June 1, 2012

California native Jason Loose was only buying a poor Chinese woman some French fries, but his altruism has managed to spark a a national debate about the moral corruptness of Chinese society.

Loose, a 23-year-old intern at a sports brand company in Nanjing, told the Los Angeles Times that he bought the woman some food because “there wasn’t much money in her collection bowl and it was really hot out.” A passersby caught the random act of kindness on camera and the story went viral on Chinese microblogging sites. He’s now known as the “French Fry Brother,”Xinhua News Agency reports.

The photos show Loose chatting with the homeless woman, giving her food, and pouring water into her glass. He told Xinhua he was surprised to be called a hero — but has been told by friends the images resonated with a growing social apathy in China.

“It was such a heartwarming scene, but brought by a foreign young man,who offers his love, care and trust to a stranger in need,” username Hunlizhuchiquhui wrote on China’s Twitter-like micro-blogging site, Sina Weibo, according Xinhua. “It makes me reflect on whether I could do what he does.”

Loose told the the L.A. Times he only stayed with her for a few minutes — but before he left, asked an important question should he see her again:

“I asked what’s her favorite food to eat?” he said. “Her answer was ‘not French fries.’”

A recent slew of incidents have highlighted the breakdown of social concern in China: In October last year, a two-year-old was repeatedly run over by cars and ignored by passersby on a busy market street.

via Huffingtonpost.com

I’ve made up my mind.

June 1, 2012

To my little sister, Jessica….

I’ve made up my mind.

I took the steps necessary in making an important change in my life. In a moment of realization, I saw in my mind and spoke from my heart and a change took place.

I did not plan for the tough road ahead. I do not know how long I can expect these fleeting moments of fear to overwhelm me. I do not know how strong I am but I’m learning, day by day.

I’ve made up my mind.

Regardless of how uncertain life may seem, I’m going to rely heavily on the things I am sure of. I’m going to let those who love me be there for me. I’m going to fold my hands and pray that the good Lord will fill my mind and heart with peace so that I can see this through.

I know that I will have moments of weakness but I also know that “I’m bigger than my body gives me credit for.” (Thank you Mr. Mayer) I’m going to trust my intuition and learn from this experience and remind myself that “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!” (Thank you Ms. Clarkston)

I’ve made up my mind.

That what I seek, I will find. I will not allow my comfort to keep me complacent and under no circumstances will I settle for the familiar. I will live this life to the best of my ability always remembering that tough decisions will arise but they will not break me.

I’ve made up my mind…….and I deserve the reward for being true to myself.

Dani Sharpy

Social Media fanatic, Suburban CEO and part-time blogger

Brendan Haas, 9, Wins Trip To Disney World, Donates It To Family Of Fallen Soldier

May 30, 2012

Nine-year-old Brendan Haas from Kingston, Mass., has exemplified the meaning of Memorial Day through his sacrifice and thankfulness.

The young boy showed up on the Duxbury, Mass., doorstep of Timothy Steele, a soldier killed in Afghanistan last August. Brendan’s Memorial Day surprise for Steele’s family was a trip to Disney World that he had won, whdh.com reports.

Brendan’s reason for donating the trip was simple:

“I think it would make them a lot happier,” he said.

Brendan won the trip through a program called “A Soldier for a Soldier,” which involves trading an item up for something bigger or better and started with a toy soldier in February. In what became a national endeavor, Brendan kept trading until he got the trip to Disney World, according to the news outlet. He announced he would donate his prize, and numerous families submitted nominees through facebook and email.

He ended up drawing the name Liberty Hope Steele, the soldier’s 2-year-old daughter, whdh.com reports.

Eric Haas described to the news source how proud he was of his son.

“Little people can do a lot of things if they put their mind to it,” he said.

Watch the full video from WHDH above.

Story by Huffingtonpost.com

Kale & Cranberry Muffins

May 30, 2012

When you need something that travels well and is still satisfying, nothing takes care of a morning appetite like a good dose of protein with a touch of delicious and nutritious cranberries. And you can even feel good about getting some veggies to boot!

As a special treat for our followers, Tiffany of The Gracious Pantry put together a tasty and nutritious recipe that is not only a convenient on the go breakfast option, but is also clean!

These delicious Kale and Cranberry Breakfast Muffins are the perfect solution to a busy morning. They freeze well so all you have to do is take two out of the freezer the night before and breakfast will follow you out the door the next morning! Can’t beat that for healthy convenience! Prep on the weekends and you’ll have an easy and convenient breakfast all week long.

Enjoy!

Kale & Cranberry Breakfast Muffins

(Makes 14 muffins)

1 1/2 lbs. ground turkey

2 cups baby kale, tightly packed when measuring, chopped

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1 tbsp. onion powder

1 tbsp. garlic powder

1 cup dried cranberries (I used fruit juice sweetened from Whole Foods)

1/2 cup whole wheat bread crumbs (I used whole wheat Panko, but you can also make your own)

1 egg or 2 egg whites (optional: Only if the mixture seems very dry. This will depend on how much water is in the turkey)

Salt to taste after cooking

Blend all ingredients together with your hands in a large mixing bowl and portion out into baking papers/cups or a non-stick muffin tin. The mixture should not go over the top of the baking papers.

Bake at 350 F. for approximately 35-40 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of at least 165 F.

Allow to cool for a bit as they tend to really retain their heat.

Coconut Chicken Satay

May 24, 2012

INGREDIENTS

1 lb chicken breasts, preferably locally and/or organically raised
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup unsweetened whole coconut milk
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon fresh-squeezed lime juice
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
3 cloves garlic
1/2 fresh jalapeno, seeds & stem removed (use the other half to make some overnight refried beans…yum!)
1/8 teaspoon chili powder
1/3 cup unsweetened shredded coconut, lightly toasted (note: coconut can burn quickly and needs to be stirred/checked frequently while toasting…we do ours in the toaster oven for no more than 2 or 3 minutes)
Also need: skewers and foil lined baking sheet

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven broiler on high. Soak skewers in water if you don’t want them to cook/burn in the oven (I didn’t because I like to skip steps).
Cut the chicken breasts into strips and thread them onto about a dozen skewers. Place the prepared skewers on a foil-lined baking sheet and set aside (you can stick them in the fridge if you’d like).
In a food processor or blender puree the peanut butter, coconut milk, lime juice, vinegar, honey, garlic, jalapeno, and chili powder together. Remove ¼ cup of the peanut mixture and drizzle/brush it over the raw chicken skewers.
Place chicken under the broiler to cook. After 4 – 5 minutes take the baking sheet out, turn the skewers over, drizzle another ¼ cup peanut sauce on top, and cook for 4 or 5 more minutes or until cooked all the way through.
Once the chicken is done take it out, drizzle on the remaining peanut sauce (or serve it as extra dipping sauce on the side), and sprinkle the toasted coconut on top. Serve warm and enjoy!

courtesy of 100daysofrealfood.om