I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.
-Jimmy Dean
One of the best things about summer and/or living in Florida is the ability to grill out. Food just tastes better from the grill. This summer, we really got into grilling out, especially our vegetables. One night, we did veggie shish kabobs on the grill. There are plenty of options, therefore, it just depends on your taste, but here are the basics.
Ingredients
- 1/2 to 1 pound protein (sirloin, chicken, shrimp, tofu) if you prefer
- 1/2 to 1 bowl full of button mushrooms
- 1 large white onion cut in bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 head of cabbage cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 bowl full of grape tomatoes
- 2 peppers cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup to 1 bowl of other veggies you might like such as zucchini or squash
Stacy’s Suggestions and Preparation
- Prep your veggies and protein by cutting them into bite-sized pieces.
- Get your grill warming up.
- Line a baking pan with parchment paper.
- Put your veggies and protein onto your skewers.
- Spray with Olive Oil spray and season with Nature’s Seasons.
- Take your skewers to the grill and grill for about 10-15 minutes. Turn skewers every few minutes. A grill mat also helps for those loose veggies and a quick clean up.
- Make sure protein is fully cooked.
- Remove from grill and skewers and ENJOY!
Although we put our food onto the skewer first, you could season it first in a bowl then place it on your skewer. This post has some flavorful ideas for seasoning.
When you have a dream, you’ve got to grab it and never let go.
-Carol Burnett
Believe you can and you’re halfway there.
-Theodore Roosevelt
Don’t feel bad if people remember you only when they need you. Feel privileged that you are like a candle that comes to their mind when there is darkness!
-James America
This workout came about one day when I didn’t have a lot of time, and I didn’t want to mess with getting any equipment out. I did want to get in some type of workout, so I determined that 50 was a good number of reps, and I figured two rounds would be sufficient. I did this workout right in the living room. This Quick One can be done anywhere!
Do two rounds of the following:
- 25 air squats
- 50 punches (25 each arm) (see video above)
- 26 lunges (13 each leg)
- 25 tricep dips
- 26 plank taps (13 each shoulder)
This workout didn’t take long at all, but it got my heart rate up, and it made me feel good for getting it done. You can always make this workout more intense by adding weight or doing an extra round or two if you have time. But please warm-up if you do. If you need ideas for modifications, let me know.
Inspire Someone Today
-unknown
As you read in “How Did I Get Here“, I visited eight countries in Europe before going to Thailand to teach English. After three days in Germany (“Take the Leap “), I flew to Helsinki, Finland for the second leg of my trip. I was so excited to meet up with my friend/family member, Marja.
Marja was a foreign exchange student who stayed with my family in the ’90s when I was in college. After playing basketball for and graduating from my former high school, she went back to Finland and became a teacher. Like myself, she loves traveling and has visited numerous countries. She came back to visit us in Pennsylvania and Virginia over the years, but I had never been to her home country, and I couldn’t wait to see her, her family, and her hometown.
I made plans with her before I left the United States. We messaged through What’s Up and Facebook while I was connected to wifi in Germany to finalize plans. I don’t know what I would have done without modern technology:) She said she would meet me at the airport exit. I wasn’t sure how big the airport was or how I would ever find her, but to my surprise and relief, she was right there! Have any of you traveled before cell phones and the internet? Please tell us about your experience!
Marja and her partner were the BEST tour guides! They and their son welcomed me into their apartment with open arms. Marja had the most creative agenda for me neatly decorated and laid out. I was so excited!
As you can see, on Saturday, we rode our bikes to a child’s birthday party where I met other Finns. It was nice to be immersed in Finnish culture and actually see the homes of people who lived there. The thing that impressed me the most was that I was in a roomful of people, I was the outsider, and of course, didn’t know a lick of Finnish. Once they knew I was a visiting American, many of them spoke English to make me feel more comfortable. It was a shock to me. I was so grateful they all knew English and could communicate with me, but it made me a bit sad to think about all the people that come to the United States who don’t know English and who can’t understand what is going on. And I was further impressed by Marja who came to the US and immersed herself into our culture. What courage and strength! Have you ever been in a roomful of people who didn’t speak your language? How did you feel?
We went to dinner at Juuri, a fabulous restaurant, and spent the night in the heart of Helsinki at Hotel Indigo. The next day, we took a bike tour of the city and went to Suomenlinna Sea Fortress. Helsinki is a beautiful city right on the water, and although it was a little chilly, it was an amazing fall day.
Monday, I went with Marja to the school where she teaches. It was such a cool experience to be in an educational setting in another country. Most of the day, I didn’t understand a word but definitely got the gist of what was going on. It was a fantastic experience seeing her in action and meeting other teachers in her school. The kids were very similar to American students…laughing, learning, engaging, and just being kids.
Tuesday, Marja and I explored the city. Click Helsinki for more views of the city. We went up to the Tower bar to view the city from above. Then we got on a cruise ship to Sweden. I was so excited to mark another country off my list! Viewing the archipelago from the ship was amazing. Although we only had one day, we explored the old and new town of Stockholm. One of my favorite spots was the Himlen, a rooftop bar. We also explored Kungsträdgården, a beautiful park in the middle of the city.
The next day we took the ship back to Helsinki, and I boarded the plane for my next adventure!
Have you been to Finland or Sweden? What were your favorite spots?
“The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly.”
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“IN THE END… We only regret the chances we didn’t take, the relationships we were afraid to have, and the decisions we waited too long to make.”
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