Five Minute Fridays – Prompt Word: Joy!
It’s that time again where we celebrate Fridays by writing our hearts out to a prompt word provided by Lisa-Jo Baker! It’s where we write without a care in the world. We don’t worry about critiquing and correcting. We just write for the sheer joy of letting our fingers fly as we share our hearts with the world.
Our prompt word for today is: Joy!
Ready?
Set?
GO!
The moment we’ve all been waiting for is here! It has finally arrived! Our horses will come to their new homes this weekend. Oh the joy and excitement as my daughter asks, “Is it time yet?” and I reply with, “Yes, ma’am!” Her eyes light up and she almost screams with the sweetest smile on her face, “WHEN?!” to which I reply, “Sunday!” She really does squeal then! And she jumps up and down, twirls around, and runs to tell her sister who is as equally excited as she!
While the horses bring my daughters pure joy, it is those very same girls that bring ME the most joy in this life. I get the honor and privilege of being their mother! God trusted ME … little ole me … to raise them, care for them, love them, treasure, and cherish them … and I do! Oh, I do!!!
They have brought me so much joy through the years, more than I could ever put into words. They always greet me with a huge smile and a warm hug no matter if they just got up in the mornings or if they come home from school, or if we share anything exciting … a hug is sure to follow along with laughter as we dance around in the kitchen together acting silly and just enjoying being together!
It brought me pure joy to see their facial expressions when their little heart’s desire was to be “horse trainers” and now their dreams are becoming a reality. Their joy in becoming horse owners brings ME such joy.
STOP!
Michael’s Cafe & Catering
My husband and I had the pleasure of attending an event this week for the grand opening of Michael’s Cafe & Catering, located at 1620 Main Street in Columbia, South Carolina. Michael’s Cafe & Catering has a contemporary atmosphere offering hot breakfast and even a Sunday brunch! They offer daily specials, handcrafted signature sandwiches and salads, a fine selection of craft and imported beers as well as a wine list featuring international and domestic favorites if you’d like to partake of “spirits.” And for those that would like to have a working lunch, they also offer free Wi-Fi.
We felt welcomed from the moment we walked in the door as Executive Chef Michael Fusco and friends greeted us. We were immediately offered beverages of our choice upon our arrival and ushered over to where the food was so eloquently displayed. We mixed and mingled with their staff and other bloggers at this event, and it was wonderful to socialize in this atmosphere with other “foodies.”
Chef Michael had a variety of salads on display. I had a hard time deciding on a favorite between the Cobb Salad and a Greek Salad with Chef Michael’s homemade dressing to go with it. My husband made a bee-line straight for the Shrimp Salad, and I’d say that one got his vote as he went back for seconds!
There were several sandwich choices from Philly Cheese Steak, Grilled Pimento Cheese, and Hummus & Veggie Wrap just to name a few. Although it was a toss up between the Philly Cheese Steak and the Grilled Pimento Cheese, I’d have to say that the Philly Cheese Steak won me over in the end. Michael’s also offers Pimento Cheese Dip, so my taste buds were dancing with delight!
Also, while I am not a huge fan of Chicken Salad, I will have to say that Michael’s Chicken Salad had me going back for more! It was delicious!
Cookies were brought out for dessert, and they were melt-in-your-mouth goodness. Confession time: I could not eat just one … or two. (Don’t judge me! ~smile~)
Michael took us around to show off what is sure to be a gathering place for many! There is a huge conference room which would be great for company meetings or after church gatherings! It is big enough to accommodate any group!
Michael showed us his prep room which is perfect for culinary classes! He is, in fact, entertaining the idea of having classes here, and if he does, my husband said he would be among the first to sign up. He was THAT impressed!
Michael, then, took us into the kitchen where the meals are prepared. It had such a nice feeling of home, though, that it felt only natural to gather in that area to converse.
All in all, we had a wonderful dining experience. We enjoyed wonderful food with a super group of people, and we highly recommend this restaurant to you!
Michael’s is currently open Monday through Saturday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Be sure to inquire about them catering your next event by calling 803-726-CAFE.
If you’re in the Columbia area or just passing through, be sure to check them out! You will be so glad you did!
To learn more about Chef Michael, click here to go to their website!
An Opportunity For College Students
In just a few short months, my oldest daughter will enter into her Senior year of High School. We have already been looking at colleges this year and visiting different campuses on our search for the perfect fit for her and her interests. In doing so, we have learned of the cost of tuition at these schools as well as the cost of books! All of this can be extremely pricey, as you can imagine. However, I just recently learned of an opportunity for college students where they can actually rent textbooks instead of buying them. At first I was not sure about this option; however, upon researching it further, it sounds like a great deal for college students! Before you dismiss this option, consider the following perks of renting textbooks:
• You will save 40-90% off of bookstore prices.
• Shipping is free both ways – to you and back to the company when you’re finished.
• You don’t have to worry as highlighting is allowed in the textbooks.
• They have very flexible renting periods.
• And, (this is huge for me), they donate to Operation Smile with each textbook rented!
There are certainly more benefits to going this route, but those leaped off the page at me when I learned of this opportunity.
To further expound on Operation Smile, please consider the following quoted from their website:
Operation Smile is an international children’s medical charity that heals children’s smiles, forever changing their lives.
As an international charity for children, we measure ourselves by the joy we see on all of the faces we help. At Operation Smile, we’re more than a charity. More than an NGO. We’re a mobilized force of medical professionals and caring hearts who provide safe, effective reconstructive surgery and related medical care for children born with facial deformities such as cleft lip and cleft palate.
Every three minutes a child is born with a cleft. One in 10 of those children will die before their first birthday. The children who survive are often unable to eat, speak, socialize or smile. In some places, they are shunned and rejected. And in too many cases, their parents can’t afford to give them the surgeries they need to live a productive life. Every child deserves access to safe, quality surgical care. Every child deserves a future filled with hope.
That’s where we come in as the largest volunteer-based medical charity providing free cleft surgeries. Since 1982, Operation Smile — through the help of dedicated medical volunteers — has provided more than 3.5 million comprehensive patient evaluations and over 200,000 free surgeries for children and young adults born with facial deformities. Our work creates a lasting global impact. We train local doctors in developing countries and strengthen healthcare systems so more children in some of the poorest areas in the world can be treated.
As one of the most prominent charities for children in the world, we work in over 60 countries to heal children’s smiles and bring hope for a better future. Together, we are saving children’s lives.
Thanks to the generosity and spirit of volunteerism shown by our supporters, we heal thousands of children per year. With your help, how many lives can we change tomorrow?
http://www.operationsmile.org/about_us/who-we-are/
In addition to all of the above, please also consider that Campus Book Rentals (www.CampusBookRentals.com) has a new program called RentBack (www.RentBack.com), which is a new initiative that allows students to rent the textbooks they own – to other students! This is a wonderful opportunity for them to make use of their old textbooks that they no longer need to study with as they can earn two to four times more money compared to what they would ordinarily make through buyback options or selling their books back at the end of the semester!
We will definitely be looking into these options and programs as my daughter goes to college in the Fall of 2015!
