“I have found through my work experience, that when I put my passion behind it, my efforts flourish.“

I have had many careers – music, corporate, entrepreneurship – ranging from the ministry (yep, I’m not jkg!), to music, insurance, art and photography, marketing and advertising, to owning my own companies. Some things I chose to do, others I had to do because my circumstances demanded it. It’s funny though, that in some of my darkest hours, my work saved me. In my work life, I have developed deep relationships with people who challenged me to be my best. I have learned things that were outside of my storehouse of knowledge, expanding my abilities and teaching wisdom and patience. I honed my talents, and broadened my cognitive abilities. I learned how to keep a grip on my attitude and how to treat others. This is what work does. And not to be too fluffy about it, I have had my beatings also! I have lost and lost big. The experiences gained from those hard falls have given me insight and pushed me toward opportunities that changed my life. I wouldn’t take any of them away.

This is why we work. It’s more than getting a paycheck. Our work offers the opportunity to create our dreams, to BE and DO what we are passionate about. When we mix it all together, I think it creates a beautiful picture.

Your work matters. What you do with passion and love has an impact on us all. I hope that as we enter September, you will relish in that. Take a break if you can, and if you can’t, take a nice long lunch break!

XOXOXO

You may feel a little disconnected from the core of this holiday, but you will probably benefit from it anyway. Maybe a poolside party or a Monday gathering with friends; a drive to the lake for a camping trip, or a last minute vacation “deal”; getting that extra day off work is a boon no matter what reason, right?

You may not have an emotional tie to this holiday. It may be hard to relate if no one close to you has served, but for many in this country who have lost family and loved one’s while serving in the armed forces, this holiday is sacred.

War is atrocious. Beyond tragic. The worst of the worst. In my  mind, I try to find a way to attribute some ultimate good to the wars or conflicts that historically carried out a purpose that benefitted mankind. But not all wars do so, and men and women have lost their lives regardless. My prayer is that no war would be political. That no war would be to flex a political muscle or social ideology. That no war would be to gain power for a religious doctrine. And that certainly no war would be born to support a regime, demagog, dictator or royal, or to serve self interest of those in power. So I guess you get the drift – I pray for no war ever. That no woman or man should suffer the pains of war in life or death.

I have not had immediate family members involved in the military, but I did have two uncles who fought in WWII and in Korea. Hearing their stories as a young girl set my mind against war at an early age. They were good men, gave themselves to the cause, and suffered for the rest of their lives. Like my Uncles, throughout history men and women have paid a heavy price for war: death, dismemberment, PTSD, suicide, homelessness, drugs and abuse. 

Most of us are safe here in our cozy little American “micro-bubble” lives, we’re not really in tune with the ravages of war like say the Palestinians or Iraqis, and the civilians in Yemen and Afghanistan. Why would we be? Most of us are disconnected in time from the service men and women who fought in World War I or World War II, and Korea, and many from Vietnam, Iraq and the rest. We are, in comparison, quite comfortable here in the US. Mostly untouched. The wars we deal with are quite different – gun and domestic violence mostly – and because of that we have become somewhat desensitized to the pain and suffering caused by war.

Let us take pause to remember…

Maybe what we should be remembering is the effects of war on those who served. Remember that war kills. It kills people we love. It ends lives and families. It destroys everything in it’s path. I simply do not believe in war, I believe in love. I believe in freedom for human beings wherever they are. My [your] right to live and pursue life as desired is a beautiful thing and should be held in the highest esteem.

This Memorial Day I will remember my Uncles and I will think about the damage that war does. With compassion I will think on the soldiers whose lives have been lost and the families that have suffered as a result. I will hope that the passion for a world where people are free will grow and spread until it is the preferred ideology. It just takes one persona at a time, loving and caring and showing their tolerance for humans who are different from themselves, to create a better world. Be certain that bravery is right there within you. Your voice matters when you stand up against the demagogs and tyrants who would destroy innocent people. We love these people who have died at the hands of war, let’s try loving our neighbors too – no matter who or where they are.

© Sandy Hibbard 2019

Marilyn Monroe From How to Marry a Millionaire

Champagne & Vintage Cocktails from The Ritz

A revised and updated version of a popular blog post!

I have to start this post out with a chuckle, because I am not a big drinker.  My daughter says that in 2012 her mother “discovered” wine – well in 2015 I discovered whiskey!  I am learning!  The mystique and glamour of the vintage 1920-30’s jet-set writers, movie stars, moguls and millionaires sitting around the Bar Hemingway at the Paris Ritz has enticed me to explore these creative libations.  I recently came across a very cool book “The Cocktails of the Ritz Paris” that fed that dream.  So here are a few recipes I have recently shared with friends from that glamourous time in history when men wore hats and women wore gloves to the cocktail “hour”.  I fully intend to imbibe in at least a couple of these vintage drinks for my New Year’s Eve celebration.
Happy New Year to you all,enjoy and be safe and don’t drink these tasty concoctions and drive…please!   Love and Peace and Prosperity for an incredible 2016!  Sandy

 
I have to start by mentioning my favorite:  The Old Fashioned – the original classic in my opinion. Be sure to make it with a good bourbon whiskey like Woodford Reserve Bourbon.  For the recipe, see my recent post here.
 
 
 
And what is a New Year’s celebration without Champagne?  Here are a few of my favorite cocktails made with Champagne:

 
The Champagne Cocktail as published in The Cocktails of the Ritz Paris.  This delicious cocktail is a perfect Champagne twist for tonight’s New Year’s celebration!
1 Sugar Cube or tsp of Sugar
2 dashes Angostura® Bitters
6 oz. Champagne
In a Champagne Flute, place sugar and add bitters. Pour Champagne slowly in small portions to avoid excessive carbonation and bitter stains on the lip of the glass. Garnish with fresh fruit.
 
 

 
This year I discovered the French 75 and my little sister Leisa’s favorite!
1 1/2 ounces Gin
3 ounces Champagne, chilled
1 tablespoon fresh Lemon Juice
1 teaspoon Agave
Lemon Peel, for garnish
Mix together the gin, lemon juice, and agave. Pour into a chilled champagne glass. Top with champagne and garnish with lemon peel to serve.  DELISH!

 
ST. GERMAIN & champagne – St. Germain is exceedingly unique and rare, and is only handmade in very limited quantities from the elderflower berry. Mixed with Champagne, it makes for an exceptional cocktail.
2 oz. St. Germain® Elderflower Liqueur
6 oz. Champagne
In a Champagne Flute, add St. Germain liqueur. Pour Champagne slowly to proper fill level. Garnish with a lemon spiral.
 
 
 

Ready for a smooth vintage cocktail that you can stir up at your New Year’s Eve celebration? Here is one from The Hotel Ritz in London in 1922 the “Millionaire”.  
“The typical millionaire, circa 1920: top hat, tails, sweep-fendered Rolls-Royce, the whole Scrooge McDuck bit. An image with traction. In fact, it spawned several cocktails of that name, none of which a true millionaire would order. It was bad enough that these formulae wore their aspirations on their sleeves — back then, in the age before Trump with a capital T, a millionaire had to at least pretend that it wasn’t all about the Benjamins. Worse, though, most of ’em sucked. But here’s one — created at London’s top-shelf Ritz Hotel, sometime before 1925 — that “tastes sense,” as Lawton Mackall put it in Esquire’s October 1940 “Potables” column. Sweet, pleasant, even jovial…”  (From Esquire.com)
Here is the recipe:  2 ounces rye whisky, 1/2 ounce Grand Marnier, 1 dash grenadine, 1 egg whites. “Shake with cracked ice as though 7 demons were goading you to it” (Mackall), then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. A note on the rye: In strict point of fact, one of the more muscular Canadian brands — think Crown Royal — might be more historically appropriate, that being what Brits at the time thought of when they thought of rye whiskey. In point of taste, though, we’ll stick with American rye. A note on the egg: 1 white for every two drinks’ll work fine; we just didn’t want you to go around dividing egg whites.

 And maybe for New Year’s morning – The Ritz Jam Cocktail.Here is the recipe: Berkshire Ice Glen Vodka, Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup, Spoonful of Seasonal Locally Made Jam….

From my heart to yours – How will YOU embrace this life?

If you are fortunate enough to have your health, to have a job, a home and shelter, and food to eat – then you are blessed in this world!  God lives in us, He is in our hearts.  He is joy within us.  He is love flowing out of us and to those around us.  It is up to me, no one else to realize this, and to ALLOW it to live in me. It is up to you to do the same.  I think life is this simple.  We so over complicate and over stress everything, seems like everyone is always looking for something or someone to blame for their problems – I certainly know I do.  This week a quiet voice from my mind came to me in a “moment” I was having, it said “you can either complain, cry and whine about this or you can make a decision to change it.” That statement, ever so clear, brought me peace.  I understood that I have that power to make change for me.  When I live in my joy, my love, and keep a grateful heart of hope and understanding of this simple fact, I am empowered to really live my life.
This holiday season find a silent night to ask yourself how you want to live your life, then remind yourself that you can!  Don’t be afraid to let your love out and share this same message to the people in your life. Be thankful for what you have and know that if you have the things I mentioned above, you are blessed above the majority of the people in the world!  It is really simple.  We’re here for a minute to love for an eternity of generations to come!
How will you embrace this life?
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year with love,

So often we miss out on the moment because we are too preoccupied thinking of other things, or stressed out over what we need to do, or too busy to even think at all.  I have been there.  I’m changing. Each day I want to focus more on how to stay alert and aware of the present moment – to DO. MY. BEST.  George Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life” was so bogged down in the demands of life that it chiseled away at his self esteem, to the point that he didn’t think HE was worth anything living. He finally learned that “no man is a failure who has friends” through the love and awareness of the people who cared for him.

In matters of love, we often take for granted the tender sweet moments we share with our lover, they are gone all too quickly, but when we are present, they will be indelibly written upon our hearts.  When we are alive in the moment, we are not the only one that will be blessed, but those around us will be enriched by our giving, by our awareness.  It simply says “I love you, you are important to me”.  Being present has the power to change and enhance our lives and the lives of others.

I challenge you to join me in being “awake in awareness” today and everyday. Let’s witness each act of love that is shared, and received, and relish in every moment, every hug, every caress and laugh!

XOXOX

Water Wine Spirit

Water to dilute the elixir of spirits

Wine to enhance the melancholy of the heart

Whiskey to make the journey worth while

Well, it is that time of year again when I am enticed by cooler temperatures to explore the smoky, heavy, and smooth Whiskey cocktails that are perfect to warm up with, preferably by a quiet fire, with a good friend, and tantalizing conversation.  It all starts with my favorite, the Old Fashioned (OF). It has only been a couple of years that I have been indulging in good Whiskey, and honestly, I don’t know why it took me so long.  When I tasted my first OF, I knew that Don Draper was on to something… and he was right.  It is the best of the best – whether in it’s early organic form – “sweetened and seasoned” with a lump of sugar, bit of ice, bitters and some good Bourbon Whiskey, gently stirred – or one of today’s variations with brown sugar, slice of orange, a titch of cinnamon (yes, my little secret), a bit of water and 2 oz of Rye or Bourbon Whiskey and shaken like a wildcat, then garnished with an orange rind or cherry.  (However, I am still NOT a fan of a cherry in an OF, or using any sort of carbonation to aid dissolution.) I usually prefer my OF with Woodford Reserve Bourbon Whiskey, but tonight I experimented with a special Rye I recently received as a gift from a friend – A Midwinter Nights Dram.

Sandy’s Old Fashioned:

2 oz of Midwinter Nights Dram Rye Whiskey
1 tsp of dark brown sugar
1 tsp of water
3 shakes of Angostura Bitters
1 dash of cinnamon
few cubes of ice
1 slice of orange with rind, muddled
Shaken and poured into a single Whiskey glass over large ice ball

While you are watching the new “Charlie Brown Christmas” why not take a look at the other 14 “Best” Whiskey cocktails for the season and mix your favorite?  Read the recipe well so you don’t miss anything, and above all… enjoy, experiment – there are literally hundreds of variations of the classic cocktail.  It sure beats the heck out of making more purchases online on this cold Cyber Monday.  Cheers!
XOXO
Sandy
 
 

Holiday Magic and My Favorite Things

The holidays of Thanksgiving, Hanukah, Christmas and New Year’s have officially begun, and I am so excited as it unfolds each special gift. What a wonderful time when all is focused on love and giving – the sentiment, the change in focus, the energy and the opportunity for celebration, gathering and stopping to give thanks and outwardly show our love are the things I love most about it.  Even though these qualities can and do occur year round, for some reason, there is a bit of magic that infiltrates everything this time of year.  And I love it!

Today I want to wish each of you a very happy holiday season!  To start it out right, here are a few of my favorite things to remind you of the magic that is all around us. These are the simple beauties that inspire and motivate me. I invite you to take a minute and share with me what inspires you too.
Love and hugs – Sandy

A Few of My Favorite Holiday Things:

• a crackling, cozy fire in the fireplace
• decadent hot chocolate topped with homemade whipped cream
• listening to Carpenters Christmas album
• drinking eggnog
• looking at the cards at Papyrus
• being with my two wonderful grown up kids
• going to pick out the Christmas tree
• making and eating squash casserole (for my recipe go to: http://wp.me/p14m59-10R)
• rubbing up against the Christmas trees at the tree seller and taking the pine scent home on my coat
• cooking with my family and the mayhem in the kitchen
• drinking hot spiced tea by the fire

• presents under the tree
• fresh baked pumpkin pie with real whipped cream
• hanging a lights and decorating the front porch
• drinking wine and baking with friends
• creating the perfect holiday cards to send to special friends
• watching classic holiday films – It’s a Wonderful Life, White Christmas and Miracle on 34th Street
• shopping for little stocking stuffers
• hitting the $1 section at Target and sending “care” boxes to my loved ones
• snow flakes falling on Christmas Eve
• listening to and singing “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and “White Christmas“
• laying under my mom’s HUGE Christmas tree like a kid
• snow sledding under the full moon

• hanging the stockings by the fireplace for my kids and granddogs
• mom’s stockings that she hangs over her mantel and the surprises they contain
• shopping for treasures and special ornaments
• taking chilly walks and stomping through the colorful leaves
• Bing Crosby, Barbara Streisand, Frank Sinatra, and Mariah Carey, Michael Bublé, MJB holiday music
• learning about and experiencing how others celebrate their holidays
• donating time or singing for local charities or special schools
• hosting a festive gathering at my home for special friends and family
• having coffee and shuffling around the house early in the morning in my cozy pajamas
• a chance to reflect on the amazing year I experienced
• endless scarves to choose from

• city streets and trees outlined in colorful lights
• going out in the neighborhood and doing some old-fashioned Christmas caroling with the family
• wrapping presents with beautiful papers and ribbons
• pumpkin bread with a homemade latte topped with cinnamon
• spending more time with my parents and family, loved ones and friends
• dressing up and going out to dinner for a special holiday night
• quiet walks and talks with family after we have eaten the holiday turkey
• an opportunity for a fresh start
• new chances to love and give

Wishing you a grateful heart, unconditional love and abiding peace – Happy Holidays!

Other posts on SaturdaySoul:
A world created from passion – passion has it’s downfalls, but how could we live without it?
love’s the only gift worth giving – we look for what will heal and comfort us, but it is right here in front of us!
Dazed in an Ice Cocoon – sometimes we think we will die in our icy little cocoon, but we will emerge again.
You Will Receive Wisdom on Your Journey – don’t forget to grab a little wisdom along the way!