HeartSpeak - November 25, 2021 Thanksgiving Reflections

Celebrating a day of #gratitude and #thanks ! Sending lots of love and hugs to my family and friends today.

Thinking about our Native American ancestors and brothers and sisters who recognize this as a day of mourning. I truly understand why.

Also thinking of those who are spending today alone. Some by choice and some due to circumstances beyond their control.

I am thankful for #technology and the ability to connect across the miles. This brings families closer on days like today. It truly has come a long way. I remember the days of dial up, the AOL icon and alerts telling you "you've got mail", the screech of a modem trying to connect! Nokias, flip phones, beepers/pagers! 

Everyone deserves access to this technology and the best internet. Imagine if it was you or your kids that could not access it. So much work needs to be done.

I pray we can get it together not only for us, but our babies and grandbabies! They deserve better. WE deserve better. It will take a fight but we must continue to fight, no matter what! Our ancestors fought for us. They shed blood for us.

If nothing else has learned in recent times, recognize EVERY election matters. Do you see how much of your life is impacted by your state and local government? Your mayors, judges, sheriffs, school boards, GOVERNORS, etc... can be the difference between life and death, justice and injustice. Many empty seats at tables today. 😢🙏🏿❤️

Wherever you are today, whatever you choose to do, I send you lots of love and warm thoughts. In all of your cooking and celebrating, take some time to look inward. Are you headed in the right direction? If not, are you going to adjust your  course and get on track? Life will just happen to you, if you let it but there is a lot you can control. It just takes a little effort, sometimes a lot! In the end, it will be worth it! 😉

On this day of #thanksgiving , I wish you a peace that surpasses all understanding, a love that comforts you and life where all of your basic needs are met. May God fill your cups to overflow that you will in turn use to bless others. When given the opportunity, #payitforward in kindness!

Love y'all to LIFE!

MzVirtue

 

HeartSpeak 11/7/2021 - Always Bet on You

HeartSpeak Video Link 

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CV_dlMopkch/?utm_medium=copy_link

HeartSpeak 11/7/2021 - Always Bet on You

When God gives you vision, He also provides who and what you need to bring it to pass. Your dreams should be so big you have to GROW into the person who will make it happen. Now is not the time to give up! It's not too late to get back on track!

Others are betting on you, not all favorable, but you know what truly matters at the end of the day? YOU must bet on you! Believe in yourself!

I am praying for those who have felt like giving up or have given up. Asking God to send you new energy and clarity in your journey to becoming who HE created you to be! You've got this!

You know you were made to do more. Now go do it!

Peace, Love & Blessings!

MzVirtue 💕😘🤗

#blogger #writer #poet #hopedealer #KingdomKid #cbd

#Heartspeak - June 20, 2021 - Accountability...

The key to living life without regret

is making choices and decisions

you can live with. - MzVirtue ❤️

I have been asked quite a bit over the years if I had things in my life that I regretted and would like to change if given the opportunity. I tend to put much thought into my answers when asked questions and this one was no different.

Contrary to the beliefs of a "few", there are no perfect men or women on this earth and there are no doubts in my mind that we all have and/or will make mistakes. This is how we learn. This is how we grow. 

Because this is how we learn and grow, I would not change a thing. Why? Because I absolutely love the person I am AND love who SHE is #becoming. I am growing and learning daily.

I found out pretty quickly in life that actions have consequences. So, basically, any actions I did or didn't take created results. The pressure from peers and society can sway you but at the end of the day, the choice is truly yours.

Many times people follow the advice of folks who do not have to live with the consequences of their action or inaction. Choose wisely. Taking someone's advice does not give you the right to be upset with them if the result is not favorable! 

I could go a lot deeper into this. Maybe at a later date. Bottom line is this: When you make the decision to do or not do something, be sure you are prepared to live with the consequences. That way, if it doesn't work, the person who made the decision is YOU! Own it then move forward!

It all comes back to accountability. You are responsible for your decisions. If you made the choice, why have regrets? Sounds simple, right? It is! 

Please share your thoughts or comments below. Would love to hear them! ☺️

Yummy-Licious Easy Peasy Cream Cheese Frosted Cinnamon Rolls

 Happy Attitude of Gratitude Friday, everyone! Nope, not a holiday but an every day mindset we should all start with! We can intentionally be grateful and make that our main focus before we even begin each day. It will have a huge impact on EVERYTHING else we encounter in our day. Having a rough day or week? Take a moment to focus on what you are grateful for. Play a favorite song. Recite some positive affirmations. No matter how hard things get, there will always be someone that would trade places with us in a heartbeat. #foodforthought

 

Today, I wanted to share something positive that has kept me going (and growing) during the lockdown. I rediscovered my love of baking and was able to reconnect with one of my loves for it from the past.

 

It started with cookies, then grew. Every ingredient in my house was looked at as, what can I create with this? I am a creative by nature so it has not been hard to do. Bananas became banana nut bread, banana cupcakes, banana nut muffins. Apples, peaches and pears became cobblers. Lemons because lemon cupcakes. Bottom line, I found it relaxed me. I quickly discovered that the freezer is my friend and even my cookies could be frozen and thawed within in minutes so I no longer had the guilt of tossing items, or (just being honest) eating them all myself over the course of a few days. We are all family here, right?

 

If you try these out, let me know. Even if you don't consider yourself a baker, give this recipe a try! Remember, flour is your friend and you don't want to skimp when you are working with and rolling that dough! Cool thing about this recipe is you don't need to "knead" the dough.

 

Hope everyone has a great weekend and rest of your day!

 

Yummy-Licious Easy Peasy Cream Cheese Frosted Cinnamon Rolls

 

INGREDIENTS:

 

Dough

 1/3 cup water warm

 2 1/4 tsp instant yeast (1 pkg)

 1 tsp sugar

 2 eggs

 1 cup milk, lukewarm

 1/2 cup sugar,  granulated

 1/3 cup butter unsalted, melted  

 4 cups all-purpose flour

 1 tsp salt

 

FILLING

 1 cup brown sugar dark, packed

 3 TBSP cinnamon ground

 1/2 cup butter unsalted, softened

 

CREAM CHEESE ICING

 8 oz cream cheese, room temp so its nice and soft

 6 TBSP butter unsalted, softened

 2 cup powdered sugar

 1 tsp vanilla extract

 1/8 tsp salt

 

DIRECTIONS:

In a medium size bowl whisk together the water with the instant yeast and 1 tsp of sugar. Let it rest for 5 minutes.

 

Add the eggs, milk, sugar and melted butter to the yeast mixture and whisk until well combined.

In a large bowl combine the flour with the salt. Pour the yeast mixture and using a wooden spoon stir until well combined. Dough will be sticky. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rest for 10 minutes.

 

Preheat your oven to 350 F degrees. Line a 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper. Spray some cooking spray over the bottom to help the parchment paper stick to the baking pan.

 

Roll the dough out onto a well floured surface, until it's approximately 16 inches long by 12 inches wide and about 1/4 inch in thickness.

 

In a small bowl whisk together the brown sugar with the cinnamon.

 

Spread the 1/2 cup of butter over the entire surface of the dough, then sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar evenly over the surface of the dough.

 

Starting at the long edge, away from you, roll the dough down to the bottom edge. Cut the dough into 2 inch slices. Place the rolls into the prepared baking pan, 3 x 4.

 

Let the rolls rest for another 10 minutes, allowing them to rise until there is no space between them.

 

Place the baking pan in the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

 

Prepare the cream cheese icing. Add the cream cheese and butter to a mixing bowl and mix until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients and mix until smooth.  

 

Ice the rolls once you remove them from the oven. Enjoy!!!

 

Sunday #Heartspeak 4/25/2021 - Peace and Forgiveness - the link...

 

#Sunday #Heartspeak 4/25/2021 - Peace and Forgiveness - the link

Increasing the peace in your life starts with gratitude and ends with God's promise of unconditional #love. In the middle? Forgiveness, unclosed closure and self-care! Listen up... my latest Heartspeak... God bless! 🙏🏿❤️🙌🏿- MzVirtue

https://www.instagram.com/tv/COG6P7aDlfu/?igshid=9uwuplvmhw2s

Spreading some good, positive vibes!!! 4th month into 2021! How is everybody doing out there???

New Family Reunion Music from the Isley Brothers and Uncle Snoop! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!! #goodvibes

HeartSpeak 1/24/2021 What Kind of Friend are YOU???

#Sunday #SundayThoughts #SundayVibes #Heartspeak - Over the years, in my various friend circles, I have been the one who kept in touch with everyone and if you wanted to know how someone was doing, you could reach out to me for an update. That was because I sincerely cared about the people in our group. When I say I am your friend, I mean it. When I say I have your back, I mean it.

As the years have passed, I have learned that although you consider someone a friend, that isn't always the case on their end. People are strange in that way. They will call you a friend, even family, but their actions don't always line up with their words. I never understood the point. Some will keep you near in case you become successful too, but that's an entirely different post!

I adopted the phrase "Love IS what Love DOES" MANY moons ago as a result of trying to manage these sometimes complicated connections. At the end of the day, ACTIONS speak louder than words. #LoveIsWhatLoveDoes

As we enter a time in our lives where friends and family will need each other more than ever, take time to evaluate the kind of friend YOU are. Are you representing the qualities you expect in others? Are you taking the time to strengthen and nurture your friendships and actually caring enough to ask your friends how they are and how things are in their lives? 

Don't be the person that takes good, solid friends for granted because in this season, users and takers WILL start getting cut off. Folks are tired and will be seeking those who add to their lives and not drain. This includes your STRONG friends. Check on them. Don't only reach out when YOU need a shoulder or helping hand. 

Be consistent. Be kind. Be understanding. Always remember, Love IS what Love DOES! If I ever told you I love you, I still do. That won't change, even if you are no longer a part of my life.

#2021 A year for us all to learn to be better humans! It's all about empathy and kindness for me! Peace, love and blessings - MzVirtue ❤️