Living It With Lisa

Opportunity dances with those who are ready on the dance floor.

H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Chris Wideners Action Point:
While I believe that most opportunities are those that we make for ourselves, I also know that many opportunities simply “arrive” in front of us, asking, “Would you care to dance?” The question is whether or not we are ready to dance with Opportunity. Or must we say, “I don’t know how to dance. I haven’t prepared.” Or, “First let me prepare myself.” Either way, Opportunity says, “That’s okay. I will find someone else. I may be back again, and perhaps you will be ready then.” What would you say today if Opportunity arrived and asked you to dance? Action Point: Get your dance shoes. Take your dance lessons. Get your dance clothes. All of these are analogies for doing today what you can to be prepared for when Opportunity offers you its hand to dance. Be ready!

I was worthless, until I decided to be worth more.

Kim Jeffery
Career Woman

This is an impressive video! 

I am truly a Crème Brûlée Connoisseur!  I have sampled Crème Brûlée around the world. From Sydney Australia to Washington DC and many places in between.  I could tell you stories, but suffice it to say I have a definite opinion on how it should be served.  No more than an inch thick, in a shallow dish so that there is lots of crunch from the burnt sugar!

For those who aren’t quite sure what this dessert is here is the definition: 

French for “burnt cream”; pronounced /ˌkrɛm bruːˈleɪ/ is a dessert consisting of a rich custard base topped with a layer of hard caramel, created by burning sugar under a grill, or with a blowtorch or other intense heat source. It is usually served cold in individual ramekins.  The custard base is normally flavoured with just vanilla, but it can be enhanced with chocolate, a liqueur or fruit.  

Now for the NOLA story.  NOLA is one of Emeril Legasse’s restaurant. The day after Thanksgiving, Vic and I flew into New Orleans to rent a car and drive to Biloxi to see Austin our #5 grandchild who was 7 days old. We decided to grab a bite to eat and since we have eaten at several of Emeril’s restaurants, I determined it was time for NOLA.  So off we went to the French Quarter. 

Lunch did not disappoint.  Even though we were stuffed I decided to look at the dessert menu.  Well I couldn’t resist because there it was Chicory Coffee Crème Brûlée with Brown Sugar Shortbread.  I have never had coffee Crème Brûlée.  So we decided to taste it. 

Horrors of Horrors out it came in a 50 style coffee cup!  Perfect presentation, but this was going to be a tough sell when you don’t have a bite of topping with each bite of custard.  Well Emeril, you won me over.  It was perfectly flavored and the custard consistancy was perfect as well.  I ate almost the whole thing!  As I sat savoring each bite, I told Vic that it had to be that my favorite flavor of ice cream is coffee and this reminded me of that except it wasn’t brrrrr cold and every other element of this dessert was perfect! 

Emeril, you are the exception!  A must try for anyone who loves Crème Brûlée.

Even though our Thanksgiving holiday is over, we should keep the attitude of gratitude though out the year.  Many people are racing through life so quickly they rarely stop to reflect on the many things they “do have” to be thankful for.  Their focus is just on what they “don’t have.”

That lack mentality can potentially strangle your ability to live life to the fullest.  What you “do have” is far more than most.  And what you “do have” is usually all you could ever need to get to where you want to go.  Let that sink in.  You HAVE what you NEED to GET where you want to GO.  Why haven’t you realized that?  You might be too busy focusing on what you ‘don’t have.” 

Remember, you always get more of what you are focusing on.  Thoughts are things.

Think about this…

“You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.”

- James Allen, “As A Man Thinketh”

What is your focus today?  Tomorrow?  Next year?  It is imperative for your success no matter what your station in life to make a conscious effort to shift YOUR thoughts on ALL you “do have” and away from what “you don’t” have.  You may be surprised at what you ultimately get as a result.  The answer: way more than most.

You are the only one in charge of your journey.

Where are your thoughts taking you?