tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8588191502967542462024-03-12T18:46:13.469-06:00mangiabellatasting the beauty of life and sharing it with youmangiabellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875715701402219436noreply@blogger.comBlogger10013tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-858819150296754246.post-60605247474948411122015-09-14T12:49:00.000-06:002015-09-15T08:08:46.814-06:00Inception...and my 100th post!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Sweet Bellas (and Bros)....<b> THIS is my 100th post!!!!!!</b></div>
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Now I know that many serious bloggers achieve their 100th post quite early in the game,</div>
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often within their first year, some within their first 6 months, and some even sooner.</div>
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But considering I was birthing babies the same time I was birthing this blog,</div>
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this feels like a huge milestone in my corner of universe!!!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Who would have thought that 5 years ago when I first began Mangiabella,</div>
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with no real clear idea on where this all was going,</div>
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that my 100th post would be dedicated to announcing the release of my first children's book,</div>
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brilliantly illustrated by the immensely talented, internationally collected artist Shelbee Mares?!?! </div>
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The timing is uncanny!</div>
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It's been quite a journey, </div>
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filled with twists and turns, </div>
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mountains and valleys,</div>
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and all the suspense my heart could desire...</div>
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<br /></div>
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And so, here we are....</div>
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100 posts</div>
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a handful of babies </div>
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5 years later... </div>
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<b>*cue trumpet blasts & confetti*</b></div>
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It is with great pleasure that I announce the release of:</div>
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An inspirational children's book about a little girl who talks to the moon each night.</div>
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She asks deep questions, the moon answers profoundly using spiritual metaphors.</div>
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Poignant illustrations undoubtedly bring this tale to life with sweeping, dreamy, whimsical elegance.</div>
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<span class="s1">Available </span>online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble </div>
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and Westbow Press (A Division of Thomas Nelson/Zondervan)</div>
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click <span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1igzkbM">HERE</a></span> to purchase</div>
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I've been asked several times about how this story came about...</div>
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<span class="s1">You know, </span>I always thought the first book I'd have published would be Mangiabella related, </div>
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a compilation of my favorite inspirational writings </div>
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with some recipes in some sort of gift book/coffee table style book...and I do hope to still do that. </div>
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But as Providence would have it, this is the story that was meant to emerge first, </div>
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and this is "the story" behind the story:</div>
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<br /></div>
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Inception began one quiet November day in 2010, </div>
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when my husband sought to take a few days alone in the mountains </div>
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to fast and pray in search of some clarity and direction.</div>
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He had just been laid off from his job, and we were still in the midst of trying to recover </div>
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from a series of financial blows onset by the shifting economy,</div>
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so it seemed like an opportune time to take a step back, re-evaluate, </div>
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and make a plan for how to proceed in the days to come.</div>
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<br /></div>
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While he was gone, I was overcome with the strangest feeling </div>
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that I was supposed to return to Taos, NM, the place of our former residence,</div>
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for 3 days, and visit with 3 specific women, for reasons unbeknown to me at the time.</div>
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This wouldn't be an easy task to accomplish, considering I had a 2 year old and a 9 month old, </div>
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but it consumed my thoughts in such a way that it's difficult to describe.</div>
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Deep in my spirit I truly couldn't shake the feeling </div>
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that I was supposed to do this, even though I had absolutely no idea why.</div>
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My husband returned from his excursion brimming over with refreshment and enthusiasm, </div>
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eager to share the details of the alchemy regarding all of the things that transpired in his time away.</div>
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When I explained to him the mysterious, yet relentless, feelings I had about visiting with these women, </div>
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he exhorted me to make arrangements and go immediately without hesitation.</div>
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To detail all of the remarkable events that unfolded that weekend </div>
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would be another post in itself, but what I will share is that:</div>
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1) The first woman I met with handed me a gift for my daughter, </div>
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a whimsical children's book, and said, "I could see you writing books like this." </div>
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I smiled and chuckled, but didn't thing anything more of it, </div>
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after all, that wasn't my genre, </div>
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and I had no experience writing for children.</div>
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<br /></div>
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2) The second woman I met with was incidentally </div>
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the very woman who would 2 1/2 years later </div>
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illustrate the book that I hadn't written yet.</div>
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<br /></div>
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3) The third woman I met with was in her 70's. </div>
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She lived in this really cool earthship out in the mesa. </div>
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She had prepared a lavish feast of treats and spoils for me, </div>
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and spent the entirety of our time together </div>
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speaking bold encouragement to me with such authority </div>
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about unexpected and exciting things that would be unfolding in my life </div>
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that my head was spinning trying to process it all.</div>
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<br /></div>
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A few months later, I was giving my then 2 year old daughter Sophia a bath </div>
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when she began singing the words "Jacq & The Moon" over and over again. </div>
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There were no other words, but she sang them over and over </div>
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with different inflections in her voice. </div>
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When I asked her what she was singing, she replied </div>
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"oh, just a song I made up about a little girl, who's nickname is Jacq,</div>
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who visits the moon, so she can think some thoughts with God."</div>
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It was so profound to me that such a small child would ponder so deeply.</div>
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<br /></div>
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TWO AND A HALF YEARS LATER, </div>
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my husband and I were visiting a church that some old friends attended for the very first time. </div>
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A complete stranger walked up to me after the service </div>
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and delivered a powerful and encouraging "word" to me, </div>
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and that evening, I awoke in the middle of the night with the complete words to this story. </div>
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As I stared with bewilderment at the words on the bright screen, </div>
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all I could think was, "What is this? A song? A poem? </div>
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A story? What do I do with it?" </div>
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The next morning I awoke with the notion that this was a children's book, </div>
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and it was time to seek out the next step.</div>
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A few weeks later, I emailed my artist friend a few prayer requests, among which, </div>
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was for some clarity in what to do with this children's story...</div>
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Do I illustrate it myself? Do I look for an illustrator? </div>
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Do I look for a literary agent and pursue publishing? </div>
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Do I consider self publishing? What are my next steps? </div>
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A week later she replied and asked if I might consider allowing her illustrate it, </div>
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and oh by the way did I know that she illustrated another children's book, </div>
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and to go on Amazon and type in her name to check it out....</div>
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I had NO idea that she had illustrated a children's book!!!! </div>
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When I looked it up, it hit me right in my spirit. </div>
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I wanted the story of Jacq & The Moon" </div>
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to have a fantasy-like, dreamy whimsical feeling to it, </div>
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and her illustration style was a perfect fit...and so began the collaboration in August 2013.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H7hGsR_F9fY/VfcUlsRGoII/AAAAAAAAATk/_-GXi5OR94U/s1600/jacq2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H7hGsR_F9fY/VfcUlsRGoII/AAAAAAAAATk/_-GXi5OR94U/s640/jacq2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The publishing process was a learning experience, </div>
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and there were plenty of obstacles to overcome.</div>
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But we told those mountains to "get out of our way" at each step, </div>
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and today we are celebrating the finished product of this inspirational tale. </div>
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The target age group is ages 0-8, but likely most endeared by the kindergarten age. </div>
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It's words are uncomplicated, and the cadence is pleasing </div>
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with rhymes and simplicity that children usually ingest at that age. </div>
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That being said, it is just as easily impactive for an older audience. </div>
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Jacq's story is my story. It's your story.</div>
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It's anyone's story who wakes up every day and has to find </div>
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the courage to chase away fears and overcome obstacles...</div>
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for anyone who longs to be reminded that they have their own </div>
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unique gifts and talents that they can tap into at any time...</div>
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<br /></div>
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May you discover the power and mystery behind the words and illustrations, </div>
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and be inspired to walk out your destiny with confidence knowing that</div>
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NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!!!</div>
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<br /></div>
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KEEP SHINING SWEET BELLAS!!!!</div>
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<br /></div>
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mangiabellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875715701402219436noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-858819150296754246.post-43875054006280685472015-04-28T17:47:00.000-06:002015-04-28T20:09:21.285-06:00Curb Your Wanderlust & #trytheworld from home!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;">image courtesy of: trytheworld.com</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">“People who love to eat</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">are always the best people.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">~ Julia Child</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">Oh, how I do love surprises. Don’t you???</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">My intrinsic passion for food & adventure had most certainly been piqued when my Marrakesh box arrived.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">Like a treasure hunter looking for gold, I joyfully sifted through a heap of colorful confetti so as to unearth this delectable plethora of exotic fare.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">Images of Sira Quiroga flooded my mind, walking down the open market streets of Morocco (as her alter ego Aris Agoriuq, of course), </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">weaving through a labyrinth of snake charmers & textile merchants, contemplating over mounds of fragrant colorful spices while the scent of mint tea mingled with incense hangs heavy in the air.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">image </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">courts</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> of </span>formulatv<span style="font-family: Verdana;">.com</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">What??? You haven’t read “The Time In Between” by Maria Duenas, or seen the adapted for television series (also known as “El Tiempo Entre Costuras”), the intriguing espionage story set against the backdrop of Spain & Morocco in the 1930’s/40’s about a young woman who used her talents and moxie to rise above calamity & became a prominent couture designer amongst the highest echelons of society, AS WELL AS an undercover agent for the Allies during WWII, sewing secret messages into the seams of high fashion garments? Le sigh. Add that to your list Bellas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">Anywhoooooo......</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">A culinary plan began to emerge as I unpacked and examined each mouth watering treat. It was time to play. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">Included in my box was:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">A package of Dari Organic Whole Wheat Couscous, definitely a Moroccan staple. Easy peasy to prepare.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">A bottle of Dip & Scoop culinary argan oil, handmade by Berber women in Southwestern Morocco (fair trade). It’s nutty buttery taste was delicious, great for using as dip for flatbread, or to top off salads, veggies or fish.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">Tajini couscous sauce. This sauce was bomb diggy. After sauteeing my veggies in argan oil, salt & garlic, I tossed them with the couscous sauce. Delish.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">Villa Jerada Kefta Rub. Awesomeness in a jar. A blend of spices including cumin, morita pepper, mint, coriander, cilantro, cinnamon, & paprika…this is what I used to spice up the Lamb Meatballs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">Orientines biscuits, "Croquants a l’Ecorce d’Orange” - a tasty sweet little cookie with zing that would pair delightfully with some mint tea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">And finally, Titus sardines in oil. My husband is all over this one…he declared a “sardine & crackers” party to be in order quite soon, and although I am not a sardine lover, I shall oblige. An opportune time to step out of my comfort zone, wouldn’t you agree Sweet Bellas?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">Also included, was a card with an itemized list of the aforementioned & a culture guide filled with movies, music, recipes and insight to the customs, lifestyle, heritage and traditions of Marrakesh. Cool Beans.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">So, what tasty concoction did I whip up? </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n6T61SYHe2k/VUAVrjpM0xI/AAAAAAAAASg/h96jpkXIK_Y/s1600/t5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n6T61SYHe2k/VUAVrjpM0xI/AAAAAAAAASg/h96jpkXIK_Y/s1600/t5.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xj_abQ1cfEY/VUAVm7Mfe_I/AAAAAAAAASY/r_pGTULbfYU/s1600/t3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xj_abQ1cfEY/VUAVm7Mfe_I/AAAAAAAAASY/r_pGTULbfYU/s1600/t3.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">Kefta Spiced Lamb Meatballs with Moroccan Style Vegetables & Couscous. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">A side of toasted Tandoori Naan & Roasted Red Pepper Hummus to accompany. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">The end result: hadshi bneen (This is delicious!)!!! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">And I must say, the experience curbed my wanderlust…for the evening ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">You know how very much I enjoy tasting the beauty of life and sharing it with you Sweet Bellas, and so, if you have a penchant for adventure and intrepid taste buds, but seem to be a little short on funds to book a trip out yonder, give #trytheworld a whirl.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">Visit them at <a href="http://www.trytheworld.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.trytheworld.com</span></a> ~ Peeps like CNN, HuffPost, ABCNews, Travel & Leisure, FoxNews, Wall Street Journal & NBC are singing their praises.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">Plus, they have a great promo going on, subscribe for 2, 6 or 12 months, and get a Paris box free - Oui Oui !! Free Shipping. Free Returns. Pause or Cancel anytime, no hassles. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">You also can purchase a one time gift for a foodie lover, or purchase a subscription as a gift. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">So many options….life is delicious….Mangia!!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">What about you? Try any great new subscriptions lately?</span></div>
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mangiabellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875715701402219436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-858819150296754246.post-66035281191858138192015-02-11T10:47:00.000-07:002015-04-28T20:05:39.333-06:00Juxtaposition...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S6Lp_2yQJgc/VNuL5TbVOXI/AAAAAAAAARU/r_H7NID98wk/s1600/silence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S6Lp_2yQJgc/VNuL5TbVOXI/AAAAAAAAARU/r_H7NID98wk/s1600/silence.jpg" height="640" width="512" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">I <b><i>love</i></b> the silence,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">just before a kiss</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">between lovers lips.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">The stillness of his body,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">entwined with mine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">Children in bed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">A house at rest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">Oversaturation,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">coming to an end. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">I <b>HATE</b> the silence,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">after harsh words</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">between lovers lips.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">Waiting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">Waiting. Waiting. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">W</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;"> a</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;"> i</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;"> t</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;"> i</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;"> n</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;"> g.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">Standing over a freshly dug grave.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">A suffocating moment.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">The doctor's results.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">The call that never comes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">A rapist's breath,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">before he unzips.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">Somewhere, a cold, steel blade,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">is touching someone's wrist.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">I <b><i>love</i></b> the silence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">Mornings on the porch.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">Sunlight on my face.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">Thoughts trickle</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">from reservoirs deep.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">A crisp, blank page.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">Daydreaming.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">Quiet contemplation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">Submerged in prayer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">A holy moment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">A deep exhale.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">The sky is gray and gloomy,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">silver raindrops drizzling ever so gently.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">The silence was truly golden this morning,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">but sometimes it's not...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">sometimes it's deafening, isn't it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">Just pondering the juxtaposition of it all.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">Somewhere out there, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">someone is soaking in the silence...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">Somewhere out there, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">someone is drowning in it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">Maybe it's you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">If you're feeling overwhelmed this morning,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">I'd love to pray for you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">Shoot me an email at mangiabella@live.com</span><br />
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mangiabellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01875715701402219436noreply@blogger.com3