Behind the Chrysalis

She’s All I Got—

—Jimmy Cozier

When is it love and how do you know? After being disappointed and hurt so often, we usually tend to lock our hearts up in little imaginary safes complete with security codes and closed circuit monitors. We put them away for safe keeping in hopes that we can dust them off when the right person comes along. The issue here is that sometimes we forget the code to access our hearts. We meet new interests with skepticism and dare not run the risk of losing the security that we’ve built up during our time as singles. 

How do you know it’s love? How do you know if it’s sincere like? Sometimes we have a feeling… it could be the very same feeling that we want to run from when confronted by a prospect. If it isn’t love, why do we feel this way? Why do we take so much time trying to avoid it, trying to ensure that we won’t be conquered by it. We want to win over love. In the effort to do so, are we just inhibiting love from existing in our life? 

When do the guards come down… when is it safe? 

These are Thoughts Behind the Chrysalis

@ChrysManifested

Brokenhearted—

— Brandy & Wanya

Refill —-

—-Loving Miss Elle Varner

Broiled Tilapia with Kale and Napa Cabbage

Kale 1.5 Cup

Napa Cabbage 1.5 Cup

Tilapia (2 pieces- 4 oz each)

Vegetable Broth 1/8 Cup

Minced Garlic 1 Tbsp (or to taste)

Cumin 2 tsp

Coriander 2 tsp

Salt (to taste)

Pepper (to taste) 

Old Bay Seasoning (to taste)

Prep tilapia by washing it in cold water, patting dry, and seasoning each side with salt, pepper, and Old Bay seasoning. Spray a shallow pan or cookie sheet with non-fat cooking oil spray, place tilapia on it and set aside. Heat the oven to BROIL. 

Rinse kale and Napa cabbage in cold winter. Remove the kale from the ribs. Coarsely rip or cut both the kale and Napa cabbage into bite size pieces. Heat a large fry pan on medium heat and spray with non-fat cooking oil spray. Add the minced garlic to the pan & allow to brown. Add the cabbage and kale, tossing with salt, pepper, cumin, and coriander. Cook until the greens wilt and add the vegetable stock. Set to low heat for about 5-7 mins. 

While the greens finish, broil the tilapia for 6-8 minutes (3-4 minutes on each side), turning half way through the cooking. 

After 6-7 minutes remove the greens from heat; after 8 minutes, remove the tilapia from the oven. Plate the greens first and serve the tilapia on top. This serves two people!

Weight Watchers Points Plus: 2 points

Egg Whites (egg beater) 1/3 Cup

Minced Garlic 1 tsp

Light Sour cream 1 Tbsp

Chunky Salsa 1.5 Tbsp

Celery 3-4 pieces, cleaned half

Onion 2 slices, diced

Salt & Pepper, to taste

In a small bowl, combine the sour cream and salsa. Mix well and set aside.

Spray a small fry pan with non fat, cooking oil spray and heat on medium. When the pan is hot, add the garlic and onions. Brown the garlic and onions and add salt and pepper. Once the desired color is reached, add the egg whites. Prepare the egg whites (scrambled or omelet). After plating the egg with the celery on the side, Pour the sour cream salsa sauce over both the egg & celery. 

Enjoy! Add a piece of fruit for an additional side item as well!

Weight Watchers Point Plus: 1 point

(via livelaughlovelocs)

Viola Davis… 

Natural hair and in my fav color! Prettiful

Viola Davis

Wow… such a different look from her character in the help. Beautiful and so TONED! We could all use some tips from her trainer. 

“Old and set in their ways”

The longer I stay single, the more I notice that I am becoming single minded. It will become necessary to let go of the ways and thoughts of a single individual when you’re considering a relationship with the right person.

How much of the single minded mind set is holding you back from a potential relationship? 

Have you ever met someone and upon spending time with them, notice that they have a list as long as the Nile of the way they like things done, the things they will do and the things won’t do? Single living makes us very particular. Living alone and not interacting on a personal level with someone as you move into your adult years gives you time and space to determine what you prefer. This of course is a GREAT thing, but have you ever considered how much of your ways you will have to give up when the right person comes along? 

Try this: Ask any of your newly married friends about their transition phase. Ask them how easy/hard it was for them to begin sharing their space with someone. The longer you have lived an established life as a single, the harder it will be to transition into sharing that life with someone else. 

As you date and begin to become serious with the right one, remember to relax some of those single minded preferences that have become part of your everyday. It may not be that big of a deal if your significant other doesn’t put the cans in the cupboard the way you do. Maybe placing the pillows back on the couch in the perfect arrangement isn’t as significant as you think. Perhaps spending all of your free time watching Sports Center is not the only way to spend your spare time. Perhaps it may be necessary to call your someone to let them know where you are and why you’re running a little late. It may be appropriate to replace some me time with some us time. 

I guess the big picture here is to be flexible.

Bending doesn’t cause breakage.

These are thoughts Behind the Chrysalis

@ChrysManifested