8 minute read
Cooking With Anna
Cooking with Anna Rules For Life
by Anna Hamilton
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This past week, I was scrolling through Facebook and saw a post from a friend that really resonated with me. It was just a simple post that listed 5 reminders of how we should approach life every day. Simple words of wisdom that force you to truly be thankful for every day you are given. I am going to try and implement them into my life. Number 1: It’s okay to ask for help. This one is a hard one for me. Maybe it’s first child syndrome. Maybe is just plain stubbornness. Maybe is just plain foolishness. I have never been good at reaching out to others when I need help. Even with something as simple as reaching a glass on the top shelf, I would pull over a stepstool and climb on it instead of asking my husband to simply get it down for me. These past few months have forced me to ask for help. I am not the woman I once was. I used to be so strong, but now I need help to do things throughout my day. In asking others for help, I have found that it doesn’t make me weak. It makes me sensitive to others that may need help. It makes me have strength to help others when they need help. Asking for help in our daily lives helps form a bond with others and forces us to work together. Both of which are greatly important in our lives. Number 2: Your feelings are valid. As women, we are sometimes taught that our feelings may not be rational. Maybe you have been called emotional, or even worse hormonal. On occasion, yes, you may be both emotional and hormonal, but that doesn’t mean that the feelings you have are not valid. It also doesn’t mean that anyone else’s feelings aren’t valid. When speaking with others, we must learn to respect each other’s feelings. Becoming comfortable with your own feelings will make you a much happier and more peaceful person. Number 3: Comparison steals joy. Let’s just take this one in. I mean really sit still with this one for a while; let it really seep into the tiny crevices of your brain. From a very young age we are taught to compare ourselves with others. In kindergarten for example, your coloring page of a duck is put next to Susie’s duck on the wall of the classroom. You notice how Susie’s duck is all one color, a beautiful yellow. Your duck, is a patch work design, a color explosion, color all outside the lines. Susie’s duck is given a smiley face sticker. Yours just hangs on the wall…stickerless. It is in that moment that you learn to compare every detail of your life to others around you. Some things are trivial like a coloring sheet. Some things are much harder to swallow. You start down a rabbit hole and never can enjoy your uniqueness. You are special and unique. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Embrace your duck! Color outside the lines and don’t apologize for it. Choose joy and stop comparing yourself to Susie. That’s an order! Number 4: Every day is a gift. None of us are promised tomorrow. With all that the world is facing, we truly should be cherishing every day we are given. Every morning that we wake up is a gift to start fresh. The mistakes of yesterday are gone and the hopes of tomorrow are renewed again. Before your feet hit the floor in the morning, take a moment to be thankful for your blessings, and make a promise to start your day with joy. You won’t be sorry for being happy in the morning and truly treating every day as a gift. Number 5: You will always be enough. The person you are right in this very moment is just who you are supposed to be right now. That doesn’t mean you are at the end of your journey, it just means that you are where you are supposed to be in your journey. There have been many days where I have felt like I have fallen short. I have written about my shortcomings before, or at least I feel they are shortcomings. When you stop comparing yourself to others, you will always feel like you are enough. Never pretend to be something or someone you aren’t. Be true to your authentic self! You are just who you are meant to be. My plan is to sincerely put these 5 simple truths into practice. I may not always succeed, but it is going to be my new half-year resolution (Can you believe that 2020 is already half over???) My hope is that you all put these 5 truths into practice as well. Imagine if the whole world did? This week’s recipe is a quick weeknight meal that is sure the please everyone. It is a snap to fix and leaves plenty of time for you to focus on your family. It’s a one pan wonder, and even those family members who don’t like fish will be converted with this recipe. I hope you enjoy it as much as my family does. “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3: 21-23
Lemon Pepper Salmon with Garlic Parmesan Asparagus Ingredients:
1 ½ lbs. salmon (my family prefers skinless) 2 tsp lemon pepper seasoning ¼ cup Parmesan cheese ½ tsp garlic powder 1 ½ lbs. asparagus, trimmed Lemon slices to garnish Salt and pepper to taste
Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place salmon in center of a foil-lined, lightly-greased baking sheet. Lightly brush the top of the salmon with olive oil, sprinkle with lemon pepper seasoning, salt and pepper. Top with lemon slices. In a small bowl, combine Parmesan and garlic powder. Arrange asparagus around salmon. Lightly brush with olive oil and sprinkle with Parmesan and garlic powder. Bake until salmon is cooked through, about 15 to 20 minutes.
Cover Story Storage Port: The Best In Service, Security, And Location
by Ali Elizabeth Turner
continued from page 1
Storage Port. In 2015, the Patterson fam ily had the opportunity to purchase the land just south of Belle Mina (which was the site of the old elementary school) and in 2019, broke ground to build Storage Port. The facility is conveniently located at 5750 Mooresville Road, only 2500 feet away from the I-565 exit. Storage Port also houses Village In teriors & Specialty Gifts, along with an employment service called QS Profes sionals Corp. They are located near the new MazdaToyota plant. It is called Storage Port because the family has always enjoyed nautical themes. They also have a huge, beautifully dis played American flag as a landmark, and it can be seen from either direction, day or night, long before you get to the facility. Speaking of facilities, Storage Port is top flight. There are 555 units of various sizes and 45 parking spots. Storage Port can accommodate com mercial as well as residential storage needs, and they offer climate-controlled units. They are accessible 24/7 by way of a keypad. One of the things about which Patrick is the most pleased is the level of security at Storage Port. “It is safe, secure, and well lit,” he said. The Pattersons have also gone to great lengths to make sure that there are no blind spots, no places where the security cameras cannot see. Patrick has made a point of studying the storage industry in order to configure the best presentation, unit mix, and door size. The family now has had decades of experience in the storage business. The Pat tersons told me that they believe they have the best customers anywhere, and many
of their Storage Port rentals are referrals from their longtime customers. One of the unique things of fered at Storage Port as part of their customer service package is a sturdy lock and key. The lock is made from hardened steel. They wanted to make sure that the highest level of strength and security was available at the lowest possible price. I asked Patrick, seeing as I have choices when it comes to storage units in the area, why I should choose Storage Port. He answered quickly,
“The cost. That is the critical point. We are the best value.” While the facility is available to clients 24/7 via keypad access, sometimes people have urgent storage needs that must be met right away. “We will meet people by appointment,” Patrick said. The office is staffed from 9-5 six days a week, and you can go on their Facebook page to book an appointment. Buffy Wal len works in the office, and she said, “I’ll never work for anybody else.” The Patter son family has always had a commitment to invest in the area through giving to charitable and community organizations, and they are strong supporters of local schools. I also asked Patrick what some of the most satisfying things were about being “at the helm” of Storage Port, and he said, “Being able to work with my family, and meeting the needs of our clients.” Patrick loves the concept of a true win-win situation, so give him the chance to show you the best there is in storage facilities by drop ping by Storage Port today.
