The first time I heard this saying; I didn't get it. Now that Frankie is about to turn 6 years old, words have never been truer. My absence from writing has been lingering on my mind heavily lately. I often believe I will start writing again at night. Yet when the night rolls around I lay in bed with Frankie helping her to fall asleep and usually I fall asleep in the process. Sometimes it turns into an hour nap and sometimes it doesn't, however, if I don't fall asleep, sitting down at the computer to write is not on the top of my list of things to do. I use the time after Frankie goes to bed to get ready for the next day. Meal prepping and spending one on one time with my husband. It just so happens to be a time I like to turn off my brain. Not to mention, Sunrise yoga has become about the only time I can squeeze in my moving meditation. Therefore, my day starts at 5:35 AM and being in bed by 10 PM is imperative for that to happen.

As we approach Frankie's 6th birthday, I simply wonder where the time has slipped away. It seems like only yesterday I was painting her nursery. She has been thriving at school, dance and swim. I have been driving her to and from all the things, with the help of my in-laws on the days I teach at the cooking studio. Sometimes I feel like her private chauffer and chef, but I wouldn't want it any other way. I know that the day will come when she won't need me to do these things anymore and it will happen all too soon. So, I shall relish in these days. I do take some time to myself lately, way more than I have in the past few years. As she get's older, I don't feel the need to be by her side for every activity and I am fortunate enough to have the support of my in-laws. They will happily sit and wait for her to do just about anything. Since they are both retired, their life pretty much revolves around her, their only grandchild. I know that the time she has with them is limited, so I try to allow them to spoil her as much as possible. Sometimes this will reflect in her behavior, but when it does, I simply remind her that she must remember to speak and act kindly if she wants to get her way. I love that she is fiery and persistent. I think it is important to not let my own childhood trauma stifle that and get in the way of how we choose to parent her.

When I was growing up, I had a wonderful childhood, however, yelling and spanking were the primary tools for discipline. I have made a conscience effort to not pass that on to her. Sometimes, one of my sisters will tell me that I will soon deal with the consequences of my parenting choices. Alluding to the fact that she is spoiled. If I tell her that is just how we have decided to be as parents, she may reply with a sarcastic remark like "Well aren't you the perfect parent." To which I respond, "Yes, the perfect parent for Frankie." It is hard to see from the outside that Frankie does not respond well to yelling and she will shut down. I want to keep a healthy relationship with her, so I choose to handle things differently. My husband supports this and is totally on board with this parenting style. Also, I try to remind my sister that I started parenting much later in life than her. The result is I have more patience. I'm not sure my parenting style would be the same had I started 20 years ago. As for my sister, although she started her parenting journey younger, she has raised two very fine young men. I adore them both. I must admit, I would not be half the parent I am today had I not witnessed her parenting the boys.

Watching both of my older sisters raise their children and observing what kind of adults they have become, has made an enormous impact on me as a mother. To say that I have learned from them how to be a parent, is not an understatement. They have always been women I look up to and learned from. I am not sure I will be able to give Frankie the same benefit of having siblings. She may be the only child I will bear. Yet, I find comfort in knowing that Frankie is getting the best version of us now, her cousins included. I am beyond grateful she has my sisters and their offspring as role models. Strong, independent, compassionate, wise and not afraid to speak their truth. It excites me to say that she is destined to be a woman with a force to be reckoned with. As she is possibly the last in a long line of what I consider to be phenomenal women.

Hello again, it has been too long since my last post. Although I have wanted to sit down and write, I have not found the time nor the words to describe my latest experiences. There have been some changes in ownership with the cooking studio and my schedule was pretty busy there for a while. After a quick transition and some schedule adjustments, things have slowed down some with my schedule at the studio, per my request. I felt like I was missing precious family time. As soon as Frankie said that she was missing me, I changed my availability so I could be home more. Specifically, I wanted to take her on some adventures. I love teaching the homeschool kids how to cook, but I realized that the time I have with young Frankie is limited and I should make her my priority. So off we went on a few short journeys, long travels and exciting adventures.

In February, I took Frankie to Atlanta to celebrate one of my very best friends, who is her Godmother’s birthday. We celebrate many important birthdays in February. My Mom’s birthday is the 2nd, and although she is no longer Earthside, we still celebrate her, because we miss her dearly. Then the 10th is Frankie’s Godmother, Angie’s birthday, the 18th is my nephews, and the 19th is my sisters and Frankie’s best friend Maebz. All very special people to us and we love to celebrate them!

While we were in Atlanta, Frankie and I went to Children's Hands On Museum | Children's Museum of Atlanta (childrensmuseumatlanta.org). The weather was rainy, so it happened to be the perfect place to take her for the day. Having grown up in Atlanta, it was nice to show Frankie the parts of the city that I love and tell her stories of when I was young. Although much has changed since I was little, it still holds plenty of memories and has tons of kid friendly activities to enjoy. The Pink Pig was a very small roller coaster at the top of the Rich’s Department Store in downtown Atlanta that we would ride, usually during the Christmas season. Atlanta’s Pink Pigs Live in History | Atlanta History Center Although it is no longer there, a ferris wheel was erected near Centennial Olympic Park – Georgia World Congress Center Authority (gwcca.org) after the 1996 Olympics took place. My plan was to take her to ride it after our visit to the Museum, however the rain put a damper on that plan (no pun intended).

I did not let the rain stop us from having an adventure though. There just so happened to be a Johnny Rockets: burgers, shakes, fries, and fun in Atlanta, GA close by. It was only a short walk-through Centennial Park. We popped open our umbrellas, put on our rain boots, and off we went. As a kid I remember going to eat Johnny Rockets, the feeling of stepping back in time to when my mom was young was enchanting. It was as nostalgic as I remember it being. We ordered burgers, fries and a milkshake. Frankie seemed to really enjoy the atmosphere, but mostly, she enjoyed the milkshake, of course. Over lunch I told her about the first time I had Johnny Rocket’s and many other stories about my childhood. It was reminiscent of when my mom would tell me stories of her childhood. These are the things I will never forget, and I hope the same for Frankie.

It is my hope that Frankie will learn that if she has an adventure planned and it rains, have the adventure anyway, dance in the rain, don’t let anything stop you from having fun. There will be times that things will not go as planned. Instead of getting upset about it, embrace it. Sometimes the best adventures happen when plans don’t turn out the way you expect them to, and this was one of those times.

The next day Frankie was having a spend the night party with my sister Caron at my dad’s house. It was time for me to have an adult night with my closest girlfriends to celebrate Angie’s birthday. We went out for Mexican and Margaritas, then to see Hamilton - Broadway | Tickets | Broadway | Broadway.com at the Official Page of the Fox Theatre in Atlanta | Fox Theatre. What an incredible show! I saw it first as a movie and loved it. I never could have imagined how much I would enjoy it live on stage. These performers were incredible! Not one missed line, or missed step was had. Not only is the story told in such a way that you want to see it over and over, but the songs, the dances, the actors all left me in awe. I would have never imagined that they could be so mesmerizing. One day when Frankie is older, I will take her to see it live at the Fox. It will be a lifelong memory for her, and I look forward to giving her the experience.

As we wrapped up our trip to Atlanta, no trip is complete until we have breakfast at Waffle House - Good Food Fast. Another nostalgic place for me. I know that 90 percent of the time we eat nutrient dense food while traveling, to keep from getting a travel bug. As a matter of fact, when we travel by car, we bring most of what we eat with us in a cooler. Usually, it consists of homemade chicken bone broth cooked noodles with carrots and fresh herbs, farm fresh eggs from Smyly Farms Online Store (square.site), my nephews farm, and fruit. However, Frankie is fond of waffles, and I grew up eating Waffle House, so it is only fair that we have breakfast there before leaving Atlanta, and so we did. This time we ate at Waffle House # 943; Margret was the cook, and it was the best darn Waffle House I’ve ever sunk my teeth in. Frankie will always get a waffle. As for me, BTL plate, scattered, covered, smothered and stomped on by the cook (if you know, you know)! With a full tank of gas in the car and full bellies, we descend back to Florida and that concludes our Atlanta trip.

As we are already more than two weeks into the New Year, I can’t help but wonder what it will bring. I have a gut feeling something big is coming. Although there are many predictions, I have faith that whatever happens, it will be worth any suffering endured. I recently listened to a podcast that discussed how so many civilizations have collapsed only to reemerge to something better. Everything is cyclical and we are nearing the end of a cycle. We even live our lives day to day in cycles. Some more attuned to the natural rhythm of the universe as a whole. Some more intune with the life that societies foresee as what should be. Others, not attuned at all, for lack of a better phrase, “with their head up their ass”…or somebody else's. I say that confidently, because I have been there. Now, I am raising a tiny human and it is more important than ever to lead her to be on her own natural cycle.

Over the last several years, I have been contemplating what I choose to be my normal. Seeking a new rhythm and realizing that just because it is what I have always done, doesn’t necessarily make it right for me now. Especially as I bring up my precious little girl into this world. There are plenty of examples, for one, working a job. Quite literally that. Showing up, doing a job and making a paycheck. My past career choices alone reflect that I was teetering between loving what I do and just making a paycheck. During my time in the food and beverage industry, I felt naturally comfortable. Usually the only time I didn’t enjoy it was when I let someone else I worked with affect me negatively. Realizing that I can’t control others actions, I can only control my response to it. Thus, making the industry even more enjoyable. If I had only learned sooner, things could have been a little less chaotic. Aforementioned, I am making the choice to start living life more aware of my intentions. Why did I ever allow people to affect me the way I did? It doesn’t seem natural to be so hyper focused on what others think or do. Now that I choose to do what I know is right for me and my family without concern of what others think I should do, life is less complicated. Thankfully, because raising a kind human is complicated enough.

Outside influences no longer have my interest. I find myself going inward to see and feel what is appropriate for this life, in hopes of raising Frankie to do the same. In my eyes, society as a whole is lost. Most people are more concerned with what others are doing to influence their actions. It is a very interesting industry, Influencers, getting paid to influence people's choices.
Social media and Hollywood have played a key role in this movement. Such a peculiar form of marketing, but it works and is considerably cheap. Some do it just for products. Others gain capital revenue for it. All and all, it seems to be a slippery slope because I know these influencers do not have anyone's best interest in mind, only their own.

When I was younger, I remember my mom using the phrase “they are a bad influence” about someone I might be hanging out with. Especially if they did something that my mom did not agree with. My approach for Frankie will be different because that doesn’t feel right for us. Good or bad, I hope that Frankie will not be influenced by anyone. So my phrase will be, “let’s not allow anyone to influence our choice.” My hope is that Frankie will make choices based on her own intuition. Although it is easier said than done, my goal is to allow her to make choices on her own even though she is still very young. I will of course discuss possible outcomes of her choices to keep her safe and out of harm's way. This is not going to be easy for me, however, if I try to influence her choices now, it will only set the stage for her to seek outside influences later in life.

One of the hardest parts of parenting for me is distinguishing between the healthy and unhealthy styles of parenting I received. In other words, what cycles I want to break from how I was raised. Something I see over and over again is “healing childhood trauma”. Of course, looking back, I realize that I never considered myself traumatized. My sisters don’t necessarily agree. Sometimes I feel like we didn’t even have the same parents, although we certainly did. Then I consider the age difference and the type of parent I would have been five to ten years ago, then it becomes clear. No one goes into parenthood knowing what they are doing. It is a learning process. Luckily, I have two older sisters that I learned from. Both of my sisters had children long before I did. I have watched them raise their children and have learned things that I think will work for us and things that won’t. Also, I do seek their advice and hear what they have to say. However, I may not always do what they said worked for them. It’s ok to get advice and not use it. Sometimes when they give me advice, it helps me come to a conclusion of my own that is nothing like what they described. Yet, their thoughts and ideas help open my mind to other possibilities. I guess you could say, my sisters have a large influence on my parenting skills. Still a better influence than some stranger whose intentions are pursued by money or products, at least that’s what I think.

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. Although I don’t celebrate what the American system has always said that Thanksgiving is about. I celebrate my F’s, Family, Friends and Food. All the things I am most grateful for. This is a holiday where we can slow down and take the time to enjoy being together with good food. It is a day that I use my passion for preparing a nourishing meal that my family and friends will enjoy. I often think it benefits us all to really take the time to nourish our mind, body and soul before the hustle and bustle of Christmas time.

This year I have added a couple more Fs to celebrate, first of course, Frankie. She has developed into this sweet young lady that is by far, the second F, funniest little human. I never thought about these things Shayne and I would get to enjoy as Frankie brings them home from school. Things like paintings and pictures that are inspired by her school, teachers and friends. Crafty fall necklaces that she made for me during school because she thought of me during arts and crafts. This year, her Thanksgiving Day dinner placemat was by far the funniest!

One afternoon, I was picking Frankie up from school and her teacher, Ms. Jackie, came out to the car to tell me that she cannot wait to send home her “What I am Thankful for” project. Ms. Jackie told me that she laughed so hard when she saw it. I could not wait for her to bring it home! I only had one more week and she would send it home after their Thanksgiving feast at school. The suspense was killing me. You see, Frankie makes me laugh every day, but this is no surprise as I did make her. Still, I couldn’t imagine what was so funny that Ms. Jackie had to alert me. It was like the night before Christmas waiting to receive it.

Now, before I say what she was thankful for, I’d like to give some background information. Frankie is a lot like her daddy in the sense that once she is on a routine, it is hard to break that routine. She will eventually adjust, but it does take some time, patience and ample notice. I started potty training Frankie just before she turned two. Ever since the beginning, Frankie has never liked pooping on the toilet. Maybe it is because it takes time out from playing and sitting on the toilet. I tried every trick in the potty-training book. The only thing that seemed to work must have made quite the impression on her. I wonder if this will be something that will stick with her for life. Moreover, I certainly plan to keep this placemat for life!

Frankie did not start school at the beginning of the school year. We were still in the process of looking at different schools and she was on a waitlist, so we just held off. As soon as we found that the Montessori school had an opening for her class, we decided it was time. Frankie started school about two weeks before Thanksgiving. It being one of her very first school projects to bring home, the teachers got a quick glimpse of the kind of child they will be dealing with for the remainder of the year. From what I can tell, they are not disappointed.

As they created their little placemats for Thanksgiving Day feast, she was asked what she was most thankful for. Her response made it to the placemat, with the help of the teacher who wrote it for her. “I love my mommy because she gives me M&Ms when I poop.” Bravo! The fact that the teacher did not try and convince her to put something else she is thankful for, just confirms that we picked the right school for us, not just Frankie. No, it is not the response most parents would want for a dinner placemat to be used for a family gathering. As for our family, we embraced it completely. This represents Frankie best! She is unapologetically funny, inappropriately funny. She does not care what others think of her response. She knows that we will absolutely love it! All I can say about it is that humor is important. The fact that her sense of humor comes from a long line of family members, that although something may not be appropriate, we still find it to be hilarious. We laugh a lot and usually it is because it is not appropriate. I have the same sense of humor as my dad. Now Frankie has the same sense of humor as us. No shame, life is too short to be ashamed of the things that make you laugh. We don’t take life too seriously; it makes it more fun that way. Besides, if you can’t laugh at the things in life that may not be so pleasant, what is the point? So, I would just like to give thanks again, I am more than grateful for our sense of humor.

And just like that, Frankie is off to school. We held off on sending her to VPK for a few reasons, mostly because I was not ready. However, I noticed a change in her, a maturing that was undeniable. She wanted to start school and I didn’t want to hold her back. After months of touring different schools, we finally found one that was best suited for her. We looked at Waldorf inspired, faith based and public, but we finally settled on Montessori. All my research led me to believe that this was what she needed at this era of her life. Frankie is intelligent and shows much interest in anything science. She knows her ABC’s and can count to 30, sometimes skipping 16 for some strange reason. She is social and loves to lead and be led by others. The only place I see her needing guidance is in emotional regulation. This just so happens to be something both myself and her daddy have struggled with as well. It does not surprise me, yet I am unable to help her in this area. I have tried showing her things that I do to regulate my emotions, although it doesn’t always work when I am trying to help her. Understandably, because I am her mother and she feels safe with me, therefore, she will get wound up and sometimes I can help her calm down, and sometimes I can not. Usually when I can’t regulate my own emotions and cause escalation of strong emotions. This is why we chose the school and education style we did.

After dropping her off on the first day, I cried for at least 30 minutes, only proving my difficulty with emotional regulation. Once I got to work, I was able to focus on preparation for class, all was well. Due to my poor planning, I had to work all day and was unable to pick her up from school. This was probably a lot of my issue with dropping her off. Still, her daddy picked her up and then brought her to see me at work so that I had a chance to run out and ask how her day went, get a great big hug, and congratulate her on her completion of the very first day of school. She was so proud, and I was proud to see that she truly enjoyed her day. It was a quick visit as I was in the middle of teaching a cooking class. I could not wait to get home to hear all about her day.

That evening at dinner, I asked her what she enjoyed most about school. She said that craft and snack time was her favorite. Snack time is also momma's favorite, so that was no surprise. When I asked if she had a favorite teacher, she said that she liked them all but the one that did the crafts with her was her favorite. I met her teachers briefly and they were all very sweet and very soft spoken. Frankie will definitely benefit from having teachers with calming voices, the complete opposite of myself. Now that we are on day number three of school, she seems to be making new friends and enjoying the Montessori way. She mentioned that the class went into another classroom with older kids, it seemed to make an impression on her, because she asked me if she would be going back to her room or staying with the big kids. Frankie has always gravitated to the older kids. I always found it interesting that pre-teen children would allow her to join in play with them at the park. I guess she communicates well with them, and they seem to enjoy pretending like they are babysitting her. I often wonder if this is because for the first few years of her life, she was mainly surrounded by adults only. After all she is an only child and was around only adults during the pandemic.

One morning while I was dropping her off, one of the teachers approached me to tell me that she is very excited to send home her Thanksgiving project that says what she is thankful for. She said that she laughed so hard when she read it. She also mentioned that she truly enjoys having her in class. Knowing that she brightens the day of others, makes me so happy.

This stage of parenthood is most enjoyable. I never could have imagined that my child spreading joy to others would make me feel so happy, accomplished even. This is just the beginning of witnessing what Frankie can do to change the world, one person at a time. Her father and I look forward to watching her touch the lives of others for many years to come.

Autumn has fallen and all the local farms are gearing up for their Fall Festivals.  My husband and I enjoy taking Frankie to these little festivals. She loves the rides, corn cribs and bouncy houses. If there are farm animals to see or feed, she is always anxious to do that most of all. Some of them have a corn maze, but Frankie was not interested in that this year. In fact, she does not really enjoy large crowds, so we choose to visit this festival early in the month. This year we chose Sykes Family Farms – 9 acres of cornfusion and fun! (sycofarms.com) for our family adventure. Only one hour drive from Jacksonville, making it convenient for a quick morning trip. They offered hayrides, a barrel train pulled behind a tractor, corn maze and corn crib in addition, a few bouncy pads. There were plenty of activities for the littles to enjoy. Frankie tried the cow milking station, not a real cow and duck races, not with real ducks. Because the animals were not real, it didn’t seem to amuse her for long. She was able to see real cows, goats and a turkey, but she could not pet or feed them as she had in the past at the Celestial Farms Fall Festival. Understandably, she was disappointed and sadly Celestial Farms has since closed.

She spent most of the time playing in the corn crib. She also rode the barrel train around the corn maze a few times. The bouncy pads got a little crowned for her, so she did not spend much time jumping on those. We went to the bubble barn to make lots of huge bubbles, she chased them and popped them, but that didn’t last long either. Honestly, I think her favorite part was the kettle corn, she is a foodie, just like her parents. She was not interested in getting her face painted or painting pumpkins. I assume that is because we paint pumpkins at our house and the face paint itches when it dries. Still, we enjoyed our visit and it did help us get into the fall spirit. We don't have very cool falls living in Florida, therefore it is hard to get into the spirit. The leaves here don't really change colors like they do just North of us, another reason it still feels like
Summer in October.

Lucky for us, plenty of houses at the beaches are decorated elaborately for Halloween. One of our favorite fall activities is to ride bikes around to check out all the Halloween decorations. That evening after we got back from the farm, we took our bikes out for a ride to see them all. As a treat for Frankie to make the ride more enjoyable, we stopped for ice cream at Cookies and Creme Jax Beach - Ice Cream, Cookie, Cookie Delivery with house made ice-cream and cookie sandwich. Frankie gobbled on the chocolate chip cookie with vanilla ice-cream rolled in sprinkles. Shayne and I shared the chocolate brownie cookie with salted caramel ice-cream, both were rich and delicious, more than enough to share. It was the perfect place to stop and give Frankie a break from the bike ride. Not only does she love the cool treat, but she also enjoys all the games and kid activities that they offer to kids to play with in front of the store. As she played the giant connect four with another little girl, Shayne and I sat back and enjoyed the sunset. Soon it was time to get back on our bikes and ride home, passing the festive houses before dark. It was a wonderful evening to conclude our fun filled day of fall adventures.

That night while I was lying in bed with Frankie, we talked about our day. Frankie exclaimed that she really enjoyed the farm, but she was sad that she could not feed the animals. I explained to her that those were working animals, and they have a job on the farm. I told her that the animals we used to visit at Celestial Farms were rescue animals that needed to be loved and some of them were old and didn't work anymore.  Therefore, we could feed them and touch them without worrying about disrupting their jobs. She understood the reason and asked if we could try to find some other farm that we could visit, so she could feed the animals. I told her I would do some research and find a new farm to frequent as we did with Celestial farms. Frankie was lying there so quietly, I thought she was asleep, when all of a sudden, she said "mommy, wouldn't it be cool if all the corn in the corn crib was popcorn?" to which I responded, "yes, it would be cool, and it would probably cover the entire farm. She giggled and said, "I bet those working animals would love that for a snack!"

Frankie and I traveled to meet one of my sisters in Savannah for the night. It was such a fun experience for us. The travel time was only about two and a half hours, so it wasn’t too daunting. We left early enough to be there by lunch time, because we always enjoy dining in a different city. Not only does it get us out of the local area restaurants we frequent often, as food loving people, we always enjoy trying something new to tickle our tastebuds. A good friend of my sister, who is from Savannah, was meeting us for lunch and he insisted on eating at Flying Monk (flywiththemonk.com), which is a noodle bar. Frankie is a huge fan of noodles, and this restaurant did not disappoint. It did not surprise me either knowing Scotty is a huge foodie and also Korean, so it was destined to be authentic Asian cuisine. A few days prior, I had a stomach bug, so Pho was exactly what the doctor ordered. Not only was the broth rich and comforting, but it was also a bowl big enough to split with Frankie. Especially after edamame dumplings, which helped to fill our bellies. However, I am positive we would have both been satisfied without them. Yet I am extremely glad we ordered them as well. The dumplings were crispy on the outside and full of edamame, served with an umami sauce to help kick it up a notch. I highly recommend giving this restaurant a try if you are ever in downtown Savannah area and enjoy a good noodle house.

After lunch we checked into our hotel, unloaded the car and then walked down to take the ferry across the river where my sister was staying with a friend on the other side. The afternoon was warm, so we decided to go for a swim, relax and enjoy the pool for an hour or so. Frankie loves to swim, so we took the opportunity to let her get out some built up energy. She swam nonstop for almost an hour. I was only a little worried that she would wear herself out to a point of no return and have a meltdown. I was also secretly hoping it would bring her energy level down just enough to not have any struggle getting her to bed, especially in a different place. To my surprise, the excitement of being with my sister and in a different city, helped her pull through dinner time without any major breakdowns, thankfully!

After dinner we began our journey back to our hotel for the night. The walk was only one-half mile away, but walking with a four-year-old, who has been on a short road trip, walked at least two miles and swam for an hour, was pushing our luck. I thought for sure it was all over once we got to the extremely steep staircase that would get us up off of River Street. Frankie looked at me and just about lost it when she saw the stairs. She immediately started whining “oh man, I don’t want to have to walk up those stairs!” The truth was that none of us wanted to walk up those stairs… and I definitely didn't want to especially if I had to carry her 40-pound body up them as well. So, Caron and I yelled with excitement, “oh let’s see if we can count them all?” That motivated Frankie enough to take the stairs. 31 steps later, we were at the top, all out of breath. Yet we still had about one-half of a mile to walk to the hotel. This was it; this was about to be the straw that broke the whining toddlers back. Luckily for us, Samuel “Mule” with Royal Bike Taxi | Providing Excellent Pedicab Service in Savannah was waiting in the street just at the top of the stairs. Like a knight in shining armor, he sat upon his Pedicab as if it was sent to us from heaven. My sister and I said it must have been our mom looking out for us. The timing of his presents was impeccable, serendipitous even. Frankie just jumped right in the seat and said, “We should ride this!” Samuel looked at her and said, “Climb on aboard!” That man was as lucky to see us, as we were for him to be there. Naturally, he offered to take us the scenic route and tell us some of the history behind the areas we passed. It was the perfect way to end our day in Savannah.

The next morning, we woke up and had a quick breakfast before heading to the Savannah Children’s Museum SCM (chsgeorgia.org). This museum is all open air and sprawled throughout the former Central Georgia Railway repair facility and stood adjacent to the Georgia State Railroad Museum. The museum has over a dozen creatively designed exhibits, including an exploration maze, a reading nook, a sensory garden, and a nature kitchen. The museum educators lead participatory art and STEM programs daily. Frankie enjoyed the water table, arts and crafts area as well as the large cushion building blocks to construct forts with. One of the things I loved most about it was that it was very different from the children's museum we frequent at home. She was able to use her imagination while simultaneously piquing her interest in STEM activity. When it was time to leave, Frankie gave me a bit of sass. So, I assured her we would return another time for a longer visit.

Finally, our last stop before getting on the road home was THE ULTIMATE DINOSAUR ADVENTURE, a unique kid activity located at Savannah Riverfront Hotels | JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District. It was educational and we caught a glimpse of a Stegosaurus skull, Walrus skull and cave bear fossils from about 150 million years ago. Also, on exhibit were some of the largest geodes I have ever seen. The size of these crystals was beyond imaginable. It was a last-minute decision to check it out, and we were super glad we did. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end our Savannah adventure. When it came time to load up in the car for the two- and half-hour ride home, Frankie climbed right in her seat leaving any sass right there in Savannah. She was exhausted and I was extremely glad to have a very peaceful ride home.

Looking for a foolproof sourdough bread recipe? I’ve been making fluffy, soft crusted sourdough sandwich bread in my Stone Loaf Pan - Shop | Pampered Chef US Site and with my recipe it is an easy no-knead overnight rise. I use Organic Bread Flour | King Arthur Baking Company for an irresistibly soft sandwich bread that my family loves. This recipe includes a no-knead method that is perfect for an easy overnight rise that creates the fluffiest sandwich bread with all the health benefits of sourdough.

Here is what you will need for my sourdough bread recipe:

• Sourdough starter – active and bubbly
• Filtered Water – warmed to 95 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Bread Flour
• Honey - I use local raw.
• Extra virgin olive oil and salt

Follow these steps during the bread making processes to ensure it turns out:

1. Feed your sourdough starter 12-24 hours before starting this bread recipe.
2. In a large bowl combine the sourdough starter with warm water, and the honey and oil. Next add the flour and salt. I use a silicone spatula for mixing.
3. Mix well to form a shaggy, sticky dough. Tip: Wet your hands and use them to finish mixing the dough. Then cover the bowl with a damp towel and allow the dough to rest for 30-45 minutes.
4. Next, carefully coax the dough from the bowl and transfer it to a clean and lightly floured surface. Stretch and fold the dough a few times before returning to the bowl. Recover with another damp towel, and now allow the sourdough to rise at room temperature overnight, approximately 8-10 hours.
5. In the morning, lightly flour your surface. Remove the dough from the bowl and gently stretch it to form a rectangle. Use your fingers to dimple the dough to release the air from the dough.
6. Next grease bread stone with room temp butter, roll the dough into a log shape, tuck ends and place in a bread stone seam side down.
7. Allow to rise for 1-2 hours.

When you’re ready to bake your sourdough loaf, start by preheating the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Next, bake the bread for 45 minutes, until the crust is a lovely golden-brown color. Tip: If you like a crispy crust, place a pan with 1-2 inches of water in the over on the rack under the bread. Once it is finished baking, remove from the oven and carefully tip it out of the pan onto a rack to cool.

After the bread has cooled completely, use a clean dry kitchen towel to wrap the bread with before storing it in a bag or container.

Weigh your Ingredients!

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• 65 grams sourdough starter, bubbly and active. (fed within 12-24 hours)
• 300 grams warm filtered water (95º to 100º F)
• 56 grams honey
• 500 grams bread flour
• 20 grams extra-virgin olive oil
• 10 grams sea salt

Instructions

1. Add the starter to a large bowl. Mix in warm water, honey then stir and add oil. Add bread flour and salt. Stir with a fork or spatula until a thick, shaggy dough forms.
2. Wet your hands, and finish mixing dough by hand until the flour has been absorbed. Cover with a clean, damp kitchen towel and let the dough rest for 30 to 45 minutes.
3. Coax the dough from the bowl and stretch and fold the dough by stretching then pushing it down the middle and turning 1/4 until you make it around to the first fold made. Cover with a damp towel, and let rest at room temp for 30 minutes, repeat stretch and fold process.
4. Cover with a clean damp kitchen towel and let rest at room temp overnight (at least 8-10 hours) until it has doubled in size. Do not refrigerate the dough.
5. In the morning, lightly flour your work surface. Remove the dough from the bowl, gently stretch it into a rectangle, then your fingers to dimple the rough to release the air from the dough. Roll up dough into a log shape. Cover and let the dough rest for 10 minutes.
6. Butter bread stone. Tighten the dough log by gently pulling it towards you and tucking ends to fit loaf stone. Place it in your loaf stone, seam side down. Cover and let rise for 1-2 hours, until the dough has doubled in size. Press the corner edge of the dough in 1/2" and if the indentation remains, it's ready to bake.
7. Preheat your oven to 375º. Bake in the center of the oven for 45 minutes. The top of the loaf should be golden brown in color. Once removed from the oven, tilt the pan to remove the bread and cool it on a cooling rack.
8. As soon as the bread has cooled completely, wrap it in a clean dry kitchen towel before storing it in a bag or bread container. You can store it in the freezer for up to 1 month if needed.
   
   
   

The past week reminded me how much I love spending time on the lake. It was such a wonderful experience. Although very different from what it was in the past, there were things that seemed very familiar. I remember my mom being her happiest at the lake, I feel a lot of that same happiness. Whether at the beach, the lake, a river or spring, they all give me a peaceful, calm feeling of joy and relaxation. Except at the lake, it feels different, it is almost like I am close to my mom while I'm there. I’m not sure I can explain it, but it is a feeling like no other. Not only do I think of her while I am there, but I also like to imitate her adventurous side while I'm there. I want Frankie to have that same call to adventure. One thing that has not changed since I was little, I am still the first one off the boat as soon as the engine turns off. Something my mom and I always did when I was younger. Luckily my uncle Alan is still alive on earth and my cousin Ian reminds me so much of him that even though he was not with us this year, it felt like he was.

My husband, Frankie, my cousin Ian and his three kids were just cruising the lake one morning, looking for a nice place to drop anchor and take a dip. I overheard Ian telling the kids about when we were younger DeeDa (what the kids call Alan) would always know which island on the lake had the rope swing. No sooner did Ian get the words out of his mouth, he pointed to an island that had a rope swing made with a water-skiing tow rope. Mind you, this is a totally different lake than the one we grew up going to. Anyway, he said to pull closer, drop the anchor and he would check to see if the swing was safe for us to swing from. During his inspection, Ian noticed that there were rocks under the water just shy of where you would land if you didn’t swing out far enough. As he looked further, he noticed that there were also branches coming up under the water, so we decided it was too risky and unsafe to allow any of the kids to try it, therefore we didn’t try it. Still, I couldn’t help but think back to the good old days when Alan would do the same thing for us as kids.

After that didn’t work out, we decided to find the little white sand beach that Frankie noticed on a previous boat ride. As soon as we located it, we dropped anchor and went for a swim. Ian and his son swam ashore to explore the island and Frankie and I floated behind. As I got us closer to the shore, I told Frankie to stand up and as soon as her little feet hit the bottom, she quickly pulled her feet back up, landed back in my lap and refused to put them back down again. She did not like the way the bottom felt. It wasn’t grainy like the sand on the ocean floor that she is used to feeling, it felt more like mud, squishy and slick or as she said “gross”. So, we floated back out and just enjoyed swimming around the boat. It wasn’t long before everyone else was in the water too. After a nice swim, we climbed back aboard the boat and ate a little lunch, then drove back to the dock. During our boat ride we reminisced of all the fun times we had on Lake Lanier growing up. Recalling the days that Alan would just drive the boat right up on the shore of an island, pitch a tent and camp out for the night. Ian made the comment that being out there made him want to buy a boat. I told him that it makes me want to buy a Lake House.

As we arrived back at the double decker dock, everyone else was chilling on the dock. Some of the ladies were sunbathing, the older kids, my nephew and his friend were jumping off the top deck of the dock. Just like that I realized that all the while we were out looking for something adventurous to do and those who stayed back, made the adventure happen right there on the dock. So, although things aren’t as they have been in the past, the legacy of my mom and her adventurous side, lives on when we are there, through all of us. Not just me, but my sister, my nephew and my cousin. I know she was there with us. Not only did I see her in the yellow butterflies fluttering by each day, but in the fun, the laughter and adventure that was with us all at the lake. I am forever grateful for the memories she created with us as kids. I am truly grateful for each day I get to spend with my family and friends on adventures and making happy memories. As I document these times, I can only wish these memories are cherished by others as much as I cherish them. Just as I cherish all the memories of the adventures we had growing up. Just like old times!

Remembering traditions and trips from my childhood has me longing to create these types of memories with Frankie. I can remember waking up early on Saturday mornings during the summer and loading up in the Astro Van while my dad hooked up the boat trailer so we could spend the day on Lake Lanier. My mom would pack pimento cheese sandwiches and cold fried chicken to take on the boat for lunch. She would bring all the snacks, watermelon, chips and pistachios, back then they had a red dye on them, and they would turn your fingers red. Moreover, I remember bringing Mellow Yellow or Squirt soda to drink. Oddly enough they were two sodas I don’t recall having any other time really.  Once we got out far enough from the city and closer to the lake we would stop at a roadside tent or shack for boiled peanuts (a southern delicacy).  Nowadays they sell them in regular gas stations, but unfortunately they are not as tasty as I remember them being. As we backed the boat into the water I would watch intently as my dad and mom worked together to get the boat off the trailer and into the water. To this day when I smell a boat exhaust on the lake as it cranks and starts, it brings back a flood of fun memories.

My uncle Alan taught me how to waterski. Alan spent a lot of time on that lake, he had a boat at one point also. There was an island with a rope swing that we would swing into the lake from and a bridge that the more adventurous adults would jump from. I’m pretty sure my mom jumped from it, landed wrong and ended up leaving a huge bruise on her leg. Needless to say, I don't believe I ever jumped from that bridge, even as I got older. Lake Lanier is very large and said to be haunted. Also, from what I understand it was actually a small village that was flooded. I did however get my scuba certification on this lake. Although I didn’t dive very deep, maybe about twenty-five feet, I did see some pull tab beer cans, what looked like old Christmas trees and a very old Volkswagen. This lake has some interesting history that I didn’t really find that fascinating until I was older.

Since we live less than a mile from the beach in Florida, we spend our Saturdays in the ocean. Although I love it and feel extremely fortunate to be able to do this, by the end of summer, I am ready for some freshwater lake time. The air is different on the lake, it is a refreshing change of pace. My mom's favorite lake to visit, before she passed away, was Lake Hartwell. One of her friends had a house there and we would visit her and spend the weekend tubing, swimming and just lounging around the dock. It was where she always enjoyed spending time together. Last year my husband and I started a tradition. We decided that every Labor Day weekend we would rent a Vrbo | Book your vacation rentals: beach houses, cabins, condos & more and spend the long weekend with family and friends creating fun memories with Frankie. Our first time going was a success so we will continue the tradition for many years to come.

What is a weekend on the lake without a boat? Yes, it is fun to just kayak, paddleboard and swim from the dock. However, renting a boat from Location – Harbor Light Marina is affordable, and they make it easy. The staff is friendly and helpful. They make sure you have the equipment and details you need about the lake in order to enjoy your time stress free. Last year the house we rented was only about a fifteen-minute boat ride from the marina. This year we got a larger house because we have a bigger group, and the house is a one-hour boat ride from the marina. I only know this because the gentleman from the marina took the address of the house we rented and gave me an estimate of the distance for us to better plan our day. This was not only super helpful, but it also put me at ease knowing what time we can expect to arrive back at the house to pick up the rest of the crew.

We are all looking forward to the trip this year. We have the same group coming as last year only my cousin will be joining us with his kids, making it even more exciting for Frankie because she will have other children to play with. Who am I kidding? It makes it even more exciting for me and my husband because we can relax a little more instead of constantly entertaining her. Don’t get me wrong, we will have eyes on, especially being on a lake, but she will have youngsters to entertain her. Frankie has been calling it “Lake Narwal” ever since last year and I don’t have the heart to correct her. The time will come all too soon when she can read and learn the correct spelling. Until then, Lake Narwal, here we come.

Frankie and Maebz have been friends since before birth. I worked alongside her mother, where we became friends and just happened to get pregnant 3 months apart. Needless to say we have traded off watching each other's kids ever since they were born. Frankie and I pick up Maebz from school once a week and hang out together. When the girls did ballet, our routine was, I would pick Maebz up from school and we would go get ice cream at our favorite ice cream spot Mayday Ice Cream. Then I would take the girls to the park or home to play and do arts and crafts. On this particular day, Maebz was triumph of her fears.

Since we are members of Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens | Jacksonville, Florida Attractions, we love to visit the animals frequently. One of the Jaguars recently had a cub and I wanted to take the girls to see “Banks”.  The weather forecast was partly cloudy with a 50% chance of rain. But this is Florida and there is always a 50% chance of rain…it’s either going to rain or it's not. It could rain at my house and stay completely dry 2 houses down. If it does rain, it is usually brief. I observed the sky, and it was blue with white puffy clouds passing by. Up until we pulled up to the Zoo. In the near distance I see the sky lingering dark and gray right over the Zoo. Having just driven 30 minutes, I told the girls that we are going to make a run for the gift shop at the entrance and wait out the storm.

As we got to the door, I told the girls not to touch anything without asking me first. They agreed and we made it into the store just as the bottom fell out and it started pouring rain. These little angels did exactly what I asked. Therefore, I allowed them to play with inexpensive, non-fragile toys. There was this older nonfunctioning mechanical ride that at one time moved for a quarter. However, this one did not work, but it was a little jeep and they enjoyed pretending to drive it. It definitely helped pass the time. After about 45 minutes the rain stopped, and the skies cleared. Now the Zoo was business as usual, and it was time to see some animals. It couldn't have been more perfect. The animals seemed to really enjoy that the rain cooled things off. They were all out and very active, so we got to see so many of them.

The girls requested to ride the train, so we hopped on and rode to the other side of the Zoo. Next to the train stop is the carousel. Frankie said, “let's go ride the carousel Maebz”. Well, the excitement must have gotten the best of Maebz because she forgot she was fearful of riding the carousel until after they picked which animal to ride and sat on top. Then Maebz looked at me and said with dread, “I don’t want to ride it, I want off!”. To which I immediately responded by unbuckling her and Frankie and taking them off the ride.

Frankie was not happy that she couldn’t ride.  I got down to eye level with Maebz and asked her to just watch the carousel one time and see if it changes her mind. Then I walked over to Frankie who was visibly upset that she could not ride. I got down next to Frankie and explained that Maebz was having a hard time because she had never ridden a carousel and she was scared. I suggested that Frankie comfort Maebz and tell her that everything will be ok, we would be right there with her ensuring she was safe. I am not exactly sure if that is what she said to her, but whatever it was, Maebz agreed to give it another try. With determination in her eyes, Maebz walked through the line, got up on the dolphin and latched her belt. Just as she was about to say that she changed her mind she didn’t want to ride it, the bell sounded. That meant the Carousel was about to start moving. It was too late to get off now. And just like that, she did it, she rode that Carousel dolphin proudly. Nervously, but proudly. She said, “I like it, I like it, this is fun!” Frankie and I both grinned ear to ear. It was a proud moment and that energy lasted through the rest of the day.

As a matter of fact, Maebz was unstoppable. On the way home we stopped at my friend's house to feed her dogs and go for a quick dip in the pool. Maebz was willing to put her face under water and blow bubbles. Apparently, it was something she didn't really like to do, but she did it. Her confidence level was through the roof. I am so grateful I got to witness such courage in such a little person. I was proud of Maebz for trying new things and I was proud of Frankie for being her cheerleader and comforting her through it all. What I thought would be just a typical day together with friends, doing our thing, turned out to be a day full of surprises and accomplishments. These precious angels are such an inspiration.  Watch out for “The Adventures of Frankie and Maebz.” .... coming soon.

Grilling is one of my favorite ways to cook. During the summer, it is necessary in our house. Not only does the grill make everything delicious, but it also makes cooking more fun with less pots and pans to clean. This may not hit home with everyone living in Florida, in the summer, you want to keep your house cool. My house in particular. Its walls are concrete cinder block and there is maybe 18 inches between the ceiling and the roof and no insulation. Our house is not shaded, so by midday, the AC is running none-stop. Anyway, I do my best to cook outside, it helps keep the house cooler in the evening hours. Therefore, I grill a lot. Recently, I started experimenting with pizza dough, using my sourdough discard, following Sourdough Pizza Crust Recipe | King Arthur Baking. Game changer!

My husband and daughter will almost always say pizza, if I ask for dinner suggestions. The dough must be made the night before, so I anticipate it on the weekends. I feel better knowing I can add nutritional value to it and use organic unbleached flour. Adding the sourdough starter helps with digesting the crust. Using quality cheese and toppings adds the nutrients I like to provide for meals. Adding shredded carrots to the sauce adds a touch of sweetness, while ground fennel seed gives it a richness and depth of flavor, both serve a purpose nutritionally. Sometimes I use dry herbs and other times it’s fresh oregano, rosemary, basil and thyme from my herb garden. Either way, my sauce is usually on point. I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, when I cook the sauce in a cast iron skillet or Dutch oven, it always turns out rich and velvety. Using a significant amount of olive oil, imported from Italy or Greece, can help with that velvety on the tongue texture in the sauce.  

My family has a typical list of toppings preferred. Pepperoni, green pepper, onion and mushroom. The mushrooms I use are not just your baby portabellas you get from the grocery store, we use Lion's Mane or Blue Oyster from Harmony Mushroom Co. My primary source for vegetables is grown in Florida and sold by Charles Alverez at the Home Page | AtlanticBeachMarket. Some research shows sourcing fresh, local ingredients helps with the body's ability to absorb the nutrients. Whether or not that is true, I can say that locally sourced food just tastes better. There is no denying that.

Next, I invested in a wooden pizza paddle and semolina flour. These items are a must for ease of transfer to my Pizza Stone - Shop | Pampered Chef US Site. Before you stretch out your dough, use a generous amount of semolina flour and distribute evenly on the pizza paddle, this will help the pizza slide off the paddle and onto the stone effortlessly. Place the stretched-out dough on the paddle before putting on the sauce, toppings and cheese. Another tip, make sure the pizza stone is extremely hot before putting your pizza on it. I usually place my stone directly in the middle of my grill and turn it up to high heat. I wait at least 15 minutes before placing the pizza on it. The hotter the better. Anything over 500 degrees is where you want your heat. It will cook at 300-400, but it will take longer, and the crust won’t have the same chew to it that I like.

Once the pizza has been transferred to the stone, close the lid. Now, if your grill is anywhere from 500-800 degrees, don't go far. You will want to check it in 1 minute. It can take several minutes if it isn't at least 500 degrees. Then, I use a flat metal spatula to rotate the pizza halfway after the crust has cooked for about 1 minute. Then give it another 1-2 minutes before checking it again. The spatula and tongs will help you transfer the fully cooked pizza on to a flat pizza pan. Letting it rest can difficult, I usually let mine rest for 2-5 minutes. This part can be a struggle, especially with a toddler and husband waiting for their pizza. It will however save the roof of their mouth from the molten cheese. Grilled Pizza has become a regular weekend night meal and I am now totally ok with it and happy to provide it. Pizza delivery is convenient, but the end product is no comparison in quality.

My pizza has become a favorite and I couldn’t be happier. I truly enjoy making it. The satisfaction I get from hearing my friends and family tell me how much they enjoyed their meal, is the reason I do it. Recently Frankie said “Mommy, this is a yummy dinner!” and it made my day. Knowing that I can satisfy my toddler's taste buds, all while providing the nutrients she needs is important to me. It may not always be easy, so making those wins is helpful. Cooking is a passion; I love it and I put my heart into everything I cook. This must be the reason why I truly enjoy turning out a crowd-pleasing dish.

It isn’t often that I see myself in Frankie. Mostly I see her daddy. It has been this way since the first time I laid eyes on her. She has his complexion, his eyes, face shape and his love for Star Wars. However, as time progresses, I am starting to notice subtle things here and there that remind me of my mom…so really, it must be me. She doesn’t have my rhythm, or my fashion sense, those are Shayne. There are a few things she does have of mine, my sense of humor and love of food. She also has my outgoing personality.

Frankie doesn’t have a hard time making friends, or just striking up a conversation with people. She will make friends with adults and kids alike. For instance, we went to the park around 10:00 AM the other day in hopes that we would leave by 12 noon when the heat starts to become unpleasant. She had been playing with a little girl that she knew from ballet that we just happened to run into at the park. Shortly after, her mother told her that it was time to leave because it was getting too hot. At which point I told Frankie I was setting the timer for 15 minutes. The timer is a great tool for Frankie, she will usually respond well if I set a timer. Well on this particular day, she wanted to resist when it was time to leave. After asking 3 times, I told her I was leaving to go have lunch and then ice cream and I would be back to pick her up after that. I walked away and hid behind a pillar thinking it wouldn't be long before she was running after me. I waited .... When I didn’t see her, I peeked my head around the pillar to see where she was, and she was still on the spinning play equipment. She wasn’t spinning anymore, instead she was facing a couple of moms sitting on a bench. I watched and waited a little longer. Soon I realized that she was not coming towards me at all, and I needed to go over and tell her again that it was time to leave. When I walked over, I said “it looks like you called my bluff.” To which one of the moms said, “she sure did!” Apparently, she had turned to them and said, “I don't know how many times my mom has told me she is leaving me, but she never does.” Honestly, I laughed, and I stood there proud. I am so glad that she is confident in the fact that I will never leave her.

Still every day I see some new developments that I didn’t notice before. She will either do something or say something that I recognize as something I might say or do. Most recently she loves to pretend she is cooking me something to eat. She will ask me what I would like to eat, then give me a list of choices. I will choose something, and she will go to her play kitchen and fix it. The joy I find in cooking has grown so much since I have a family that truly enjoys my meals. I cook most of our meals at home. Considering I work part time for Home - JAX Cooking Studio, there are some nights that I come home from cooking all day and I don’t feel like being in the kitchen anymore, so we will go out to our favorite neighborhood restaurant Pho Viet Restaurant – Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine (phovietjax.com).

I have been eating Pho at this restaurant since I moved to Jacksonville almost 15 years ago. The food is healthy, delicious and the owner Miss. Lu is like family. She has put 3 of her children through college with the profits from this restaurant. Honestly, I can’t think of any other place I would rather spend my money. Frankie has been eating Pho from Lu since she was in my belly, sometimes twice a day. It is no surprise that Frankie loves to eat there as well. Even when we are out eating, Frankie picks up on things that I will notice later down the road and think, “WOW” she remembers that. I have a ritual or system for eating my Pho. I always order extra herbs and bean sprouts on the side. I don’t just put my herbs in my soup, I tear them. It then helps release some of the oils and helps impart more of the herb flavor into the soup. That small step did not get by my little foodie, in fact, while she was making me some “Pho noodles” in the backyard one afternoon and I noticed that she was using some of my flowers and potted plants for the soup. She tore the leaves before putting them in the “soup”. I can tell you this, had that been the real deal, It would have been some of the best Pho ever! As I pretended to eat the soup, I said, “Frankie, this Pho is better than Pho Viet.” She replied, “don’t worry, I won’t tell Miss Lu, I don’t want to hurt her feelings.” That is when I learned that she has also picked up on the importance of being compassionate.