I'm an avid reader and it's true, I read the dictionary and the thesaurus! Here's a list of good books to start your new year out with positive energy, inspiration and happiness:
The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale (published in 1952!)
Happy for No Reason by Marci Shimoff
What I Know Now - Letters to my younger self edited by Ellyn Spragins
Happy reading,
Delenee
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Free Marriage Coaching
Happy New Year.
I'm offering you a one hour free consultation via telephone to get your marriage happier in 2010 based on the teachings of my book, Happily Wed and Happily Fed. Email me at delenee@happilywedandhappilyfed to arrange your free one hour marriage coaching session.
With love,
Delenee
I'm offering you a one hour free consultation via telephone to get your marriage happier in 2010 based on the teachings of my book, Happily Wed and Happily Fed. Email me at delenee@happilywedandhappilyfed to arrange your free one hour marriage coaching session.
With love,
Delenee
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Hugging Scones
I usually get an extra hug when I pop these scones out of the oven . . . that's why they are called The Hugging Scones! It is quite possible to get your husband to fall in love with you all over again by intoxicating him with these baking aromas.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Serves: 4
2 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup cold butter, cut into small pieces
1/4 cup shortening
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
3/4 currants
1/2 teaspoon finely grated orange peel
1 egg whisked
1/4 cup milk
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
In a large bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut the butter and shortening into the dry ingredients with a pastry cutter (or you may use two dinner knives) until the mixture is crumbly. Using a fork, stir in the remaining ingredients.
Knead the dough on a floured surface six times, folding it over each time. Roll out the dough 1/2 inch thick and cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters. Bake 20 minutes until the tops are brown.
Or, to make traditional triangular scones, roll dough into a large 1/2 inch thick circle and cut crosswise four times to make eight scones. Bake it as a whole 20 minutes (or a bit longer) until the tops are golden. Seperate the triangles when cooled.
Presentation: Every Christmas morning I bake these scones and serve them warm in a basket lined with a fresh tea towel and with a cup of raspberry preserves holding a tiny spoon. We eat them while opening our presents.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Baked Apple & Butternut Squash Soup
Baked Apple & Butternut Squash Soup is a delicious, nutritious, and cozy comfort food. The baking aromas will fill your heart and home with pleasure.
Friday, October 23, 2009
My passion for social change - divorce rates
I'm on a mission for social change and my passion grows to help reduce divorce and inspire longevity in marriage. My motivation runs deep. I believe that divorce is damaging the psychological health of this nation and is particularly damaging to children. They emulate us, repeating a cycle of dysfunction. The divorce rate and its ramifications are out of control. Take a look at these statistics:
* The US divorce rate is 49%
* 50% of those age 30 and under are projected to have at least one divorce in their lifetime.
* One million children will watch their parents divorce annually. Half will witness a second divorce before age 18.
Personally, I've experienced divorce through the multiple marriages and subsequent divorces of both my parents, and a dozen of my personal friends. I can tell you first hand that living in a twenty-one year marriage is the greatest feeling in the world. Of course, we've had our own thoughts and temptations of divorce. But, we didn't act on them. We just let them pass us by and did not give them attention or energy. Where the attention goes, the energy flows.
It is worth it to stick it out! A long lasting love life is not without cycles of temptation, frustration, and exasperation. But it also must embrace acceptance, compassion, patience, and forgiveness. Hang in there. I will help you and teach you how.
Delenee
* The US divorce rate is 49%
* 50% of those age 30 and under are projected to have at least one divorce in their lifetime.
* One million children will watch their parents divorce annually. Half will witness a second divorce before age 18.
Personally, I've experienced divorce through the multiple marriages and subsequent divorces of both my parents, and a dozen of my personal friends. I can tell you first hand that living in a twenty-one year marriage is the greatest feeling in the world. Of course, we've had our own thoughts and temptations of divorce. But, we didn't act on them. We just let them pass us by and did not give them attention or energy. Where the attention goes, the energy flows.
It is worth it to stick it out! A long lasting love life is not without cycles of temptation, frustration, and exasperation. But it also must embrace acceptance, compassion, patience, and forgiveness. Hang in there. I will help you and teach you how.
Delenee
Friday, October 16, 2009
AM NORTHWEST KATU-TV
Hello all!
Exciting news from a new author. . .
I've been invited to be a guest on the AM Northwest morning show in Portland - KATU-TV on Thursday, November 12th ! Check out their website. They have many best selling authors featured on the show and I am so excited!
November 12th is just two days before our twenty-second wedding anniversary. I want Glenn on the show with me . . . what do you think?
Post me your comments!
Delenee
Exciting news from a new author. . .
I've been invited to be a guest on the AM Northwest morning show in Portland - KATU-TV on Thursday, November 12th ! Check out their website. They have many best selling authors featured on the show and I am so excited!
November 12th is just two days before our twenty-second wedding anniversary. I want Glenn on the show with me . . . what do you think?
Post me your comments!
Delenee
Read the whole book in one sitting...reader comment
"I could not put it down! I read the whole book in one sitting. The combination of recipes and insightful stories was a beautiful way to tie together food and relationship advice. It made me laugh and cry!!! A different and inspiring way to heal, strengthen, and love your marriage."
Reader comment 10/13/09
Reader comment 10/13/09
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Ready to dive into marriage; A letter from a reader of Happily Wed and Happily Fed
Dear Delenee, October 4, 2009
I had to write to you after anxiously awaiting your book, getting it and reading it in a few short hours. Your e-mail came at such a time when I really needed some kind of a message…just like that! I love how life can work like that sometimes! I was married before and met my now fiancé (named Glenn J) shortly after my marriage ended. At that time I never wanted to get married again but 3 years later we were engaged while on a romantic trip to California wine country, staying at an amazing bed and breakfast. We have now been engaged 2 years and he is getting a little anxious to make wedding plans, understandably. I have been honestly, afraid, even though I know I want to be with him, I am afraid of “marriage” messing up the good thing we have. We have been having so much conversation of connection, commitment, life goals, wedding plans, etc., etc. Honestly, after reading your book I feel so much more confident and ready to dive into our marriage with an open mind and heart and a lot of determination.
It is so weird because he is a chef and one of our dreams is to someday own our own bakery/café (I love to bake) and one of my dreams is to write a book. It is so inspiring to know you two are doing, or have done exactly that, even while having hard times and raising your children.
Making dinner together has always been a big thing for us. Our conversations in the morning often start with “what are we having for dinner tonight?” It has always been our special time of connecting. We have recently decided I will make him dinner all by myself 1 night a week (he always cooks with me as his helper usually talking his ear off J) to give him a break. Thank you for the book, I will so be using it and recommending it to all of my friends. Looking forward to my marriage, café, and the book I someday write along side my own Glenn.
Lotsa Love,
Leah
I had to write to you after anxiously awaiting your book, getting it and reading it in a few short hours. Your e-mail came at such a time when I really needed some kind of a message…just like that! I love how life can work like that sometimes! I was married before and met my now fiancé (named Glenn J) shortly after my marriage ended. At that time I never wanted to get married again but 3 years later we were engaged while on a romantic trip to California wine country, staying at an amazing bed and breakfast. We have now been engaged 2 years and he is getting a little anxious to make wedding plans, understandably. I have been honestly, afraid, even though I know I want to be with him, I am afraid of “marriage” messing up the good thing we have. We have been having so much conversation of connection, commitment, life goals, wedding plans, etc., etc. Honestly, after reading your book I feel so much more confident and ready to dive into our marriage with an open mind and heart and a lot of determination.
It is so weird because he is a chef and one of our dreams is to someday own our own bakery/café (I love to bake) and one of my dreams is to write a book. It is so inspiring to know you two are doing, or have done exactly that, even while having hard times and raising your children.
Making dinner together has always been a big thing for us. Our conversations in the morning often start with “what are we having for dinner tonight?” It has always been our special time of connecting. We have recently decided I will make him dinner all by myself 1 night a week (he always cooks with me as his helper usually talking his ear off J) to give him a break. Thank you for the book, I will so be using it and recommending it to all of my friends. Looking forward to my marriage, café, and the book I someday write along side my own Glenn.
Lotsa Love,
Leah
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Glenn, the main character in my life and my book!
This is a pic of my man, my husband, the one-and-only, Glenn Brugman. He's dark and handsome.
This was a good --scratch that--a great moment. The wine-- a Malbec from Argentina, served at Cafe Reese. Out the window, fall approaches bringing golden leaves given no choice, but to give way to change.
I choose to look at this picture as a great moment. I will remember it as transistion.
How you view your ever changing life reflects in your heart, in your words and in your streaming thoughts. My glass is half full.
Look how nice my husband looks in a turtle neck! I love him. I want to kiss that grin. He holds his head high. (Maybe the turtle neck offers support. Ha ha).
This blog's recipe on love: A big part of a happy marriage and a happy life is how you choose to look at it and yourself in it. Delenee
This was a good --scratch that--a great moment. The wine-- a Malbec from Argentina, served at Cafe Reese. Out the window, fall approaches bringing golden leaves given no choice, but to give way to change.
I choose to look at this picture as a great moment. I will remember it as transistion.
How you view your ever changing life reflects in your heart, in your words and in your streaming thoughts. My glass is half full.
Look how nice my husband looks in a turtle neck! I love him. I want to kiss that grin. He holds his head high. (Maybe the turtle neck offers support. Ha ha).
This blog's recipe on love: A big part of a happy marriage and a happy life is how you choose to look at it and yourself in it. Delenee
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Never Say the "D" word
Never Say the “D” Word
Trust me on this. I mean it. Regardless of what he did or how mad and hurt you are, you can NEVER, EVER say, “I want a divorce.”
The “D” word is the death of a marriage. Remember that. Your need to say it will pass. Be patient. Emotions are like currents; they ebb and flow. Difficult situations will evolve and resolutions will come forth. Trust that they will, in time. Just don’t say the “D” word, ever. I know a couple that loosely tosses the phrase out when talking about each other and threaten each other with divorce every time they argue. Don’t throw this hurtful phrase in your spouse’s face in the heat of the moment or in a negative mood. You can’t erase that “D” once you said it. Once said, it is difficult to remove its weight. Respect your spouse and yourself. Respect the marriage! You made a commitment for happy ever after¾why then would you ever dishonor yourself, your word, your promise and your marriage? Get working positively towards solutions to your problems, instead of poisoning your marriage with the big ugly “D.”
Glenn and I promised early in our marriage to never say the “D” word. Coming from a background of multiple divorces in my family, I knew we had to be firm about this rule. Each of us has, a few times, started to or wanted to say the other no-no words, “leave” or “separate”, but the feeling and moment passed. It does. Once, I literally bit my tongue to keep from speaking and I could only communicate through nodding. It worked.
Trust me on this. I mean it. Regardless of what he did or how mad and hurt you are, you can NEVER, EVER say, “I want a divorce.”
The “D” word is the death of a marriage. Remember that. Your need to say it will pass. Be patient. Emotions are like currents; they ebb and flow. Difficult situations will evolve and resolutions will come forth. Trust that they will, in time. Just don’t say the “D” word, ever. I know a couple that loosely tosses the phrase out when talking about each other and threaten each other with divorce every time they argue. Don’t throw this hurtful phrase in your spouse’s face in the heat of the moment or in a negative mood. You can’t erase that “D” once you said it. Once said, it is difficult to remove its weight. Respect your spouse and yourself. Respect the marriage! You made a commitment for happy ever after¾why then would you ever dishonor yourself, your word, your promise and your marriage? Get working positively towards solutions to your problems, instead of poisoning your marriage with the big ugly “D.”
Glenn and I promised early in our marriage to never say the “D” word. Coming from a background of multiple divorces in my family, I knew we had to be firm about this rule. Each of us has, a few times, started to or wanted to say the other no-no words, “leave” or “separate”, but the feeling and moment passed. It does. Once, I literally bit my tongue to keep from speaking and I could only communicate through nodding. It worked.
Preface
Dear Reader,
I've written a cookbook for love. Happily Wed and Happily Fed inspires committment to marriage. Through this blog, I share excerpts from the book. Now you can be happily married for twenty years. This book gives the recipes for success. I share recipes on how to flirt, communicate, love, endure and give as told through my twenty year marriage story, and I blend in delicious recipes of food.
There are far too many tears, divorces, broken homes and unhappily wed couples in the world. I want you to be more fulfilled in love and in life. My immediate desire for this book is to satiate a hunger I recognize in today’s marriages and to ease the endless pursuit of nourishment. My vision, however, is to inspire longevity in marriages and reduce divorce-one marriage at a time-by encouraging you to embrace your marriage as robustly, creatively and optimistically as I have.
I begin this cookbook for love from our restful home in Kula, Maui, Hawaii, during the twentieth year of our marriage. We have come a long way. Our journey of love, friendship, struggles, joy and cherished family times are bonded together by great meals. We have survived against many odds: divorce statistics, parental history (multiple marriages and divorces of both my parents) and the unbelievable truth that we met, kissed, got pregnant and married all within 4 ½ months!
This book also resembles a memoir. I have added odd family tidbits and humorous mishaps to keep you entertained. You will come to understand what pulling a “Wilson” means and walk through twenty years of life with me. I have not researched the topic of marriage, nor am I a psychiatrist or psychologist. I have lived it. I am a wife sharing with you what works for my marriage. I am also a home cook sharing with you our treasured family recipes. I have not studied culinary arts; I have, probably much like you, learned as I cooked. You will enjoy meals originating from Mexico, The Philippines, France, Italy, Hawaii, India and our restaurant, Café Reese, in Portland, Oregon.
Our marriage, like many, has not always thrived. There have been starvation periods! It has had dark storms, disappointments, trials and moments of exasperation felt by both partners. Our marriage is not perfect, nor should it be. It is alive, changing and growing, as we live within its unfolding story. At its best, it is a good example of the commitment to the most important long-standing human relationship two adults can share. I hope my marriage tips and recipes will resonate with you. What works for me and for my marriage can work for you, too.
Throughout this book I portray a traditional role for wives in wonderful ways. That is what usually suits my marriage. But, please remember that I am also an entrepreneur, a real estate investor, a restaurant owner, and now a writer. Being a wife today is an interesting balance. I write from a wife’s perspective, because that is what I know. Men like this book, too. Should you be a husband reading this, just flip the words he/him/husband to she/her/wife and many chapters will apply. My marriage tips work for new marriages, old marriages, first, second or third marriages, or for anyone wanting to enhance their love relationship and stay committed. I offer you recipes for feeding your marriage and recipes for feeding your family. You can absorb them all at once and change immediately, practice them once a week or reread them for inspiration when you need to. That recipe is up to you.
My Uncle Fred, who has been married to my Aunt Lynn for thirty-nine years, encouraged me to finish this book and said, “It might add spice to a marriage that in the beginning had all the right ingredients, but over time needs additional sauce.”
There is one more thing you should know: I have actually prepared at least 15,000 meals for Glenn. Do the math! That would be approximately 2 meals per day times 365 days times 20 years. This is one great way to show your partner love.
Delenee
I've written a cookbook for love. Happily Wed and Happily Fed inspires committment to marriage. Through this blog, I share excerpts from the book. Now you can be happily married for twenty years. This book gives the recipes for success. I share recipes on how to flirt, communicate, love, endure and give as told through my twenty year marriage story, and I blend in delicious recipes of food.
There are far too many tears, divorces, broken homes and unhappily wed couples in the world. I want you to be more fulfilled in love and in life. My immediate desire for this book is to satiate a hunger I recognize in today’s marriages and to ease the endless pursuit of nourishment. My vision, however, is to inspire longevity in marriages and reduce divorce-one marriage at a time-by encouraging you to embrace your marriage as robustly, creatively and optimistically as I have.
I begin this cookbook for love from our restful home in Kula, Maui, Hawaii, during the twentieth year of our marriage. We have come a long way. Our journey of love, friendship, struggles, joy and cherished family times are bonded together by great meals. We have survived against many odds: divorce statistics, parental history (multiple marriages and divorces of both my parents) and the unbelievable truth that we met, kissed, got pregnant and married all within 4 ½ months!
This book also resembles a memoir. I have added odd family tidbits and humorous mishaps to keep you entertained. You will come to understand what pulling a “Wilson” means and walk through twenty years of life with me. I have not researched the topic of marriage, nor am I a psychiatrist or psychologist. I have lived it. I am a wife sharing with you what works for my marriage. I am also a home cook sharing with you our treasured family recipes. I have not studied culinary arts; I have, probably much like you, learned as I cooked. You will enjoy meals originating from Mexico, The Philippines, France, Italy, Hawaii, India and our restaurant, Café Reese, in Portland, Oregon.
Our marriage, like many, has not always thrived. There have been starvation periods! It has had dark storms, disappointments, trials and moments of exasperation felt by both partners. Our marriage is not perfect, nor should it be. It is alive, changing and growing, as we live within its unfolding story. At its best, it is a good example of the commitment to the most important long-standing human relationship two adults can share. I hope my marriage tips and recipes will resonate with you. What works for me and for my marriage can work for you, too.
Throughout this book I portray a traditional role for wives in wonderful ways. That is what usually suits my marriage. But, please remember that I am also an entrepreneur, a real estate investor, a restaurant owner, and now a writer. Being a wife today is an interesting balance. I write from a wife’s perspective, because that is what I know. Men like this book, too. Should you be a husband reading this, just flip the words he/him/husband to she/her/wife and many chapters will apply. My marriage tips work for new marriages, old marriages, first, second or third marriages, or for anyone wanting to enhance their love relationship and stay committed. I offer you recipes for feeding your marriage and recipes for feeding your family. You can absorb them all at once and change immediately, practice them once a week or reread them for inspiration when you need to. That recipe is up to you.
My Uncle Fred, who has been married to my Aunt Lynn for thirty-nine years, encouraged me to finish this book and said, “It might add spice to a marriage that in the beginning had all the right ingredients, but over time needs additional sauce.”
There is one more thing you should know: I have actually prepared at least 15,000 meals for Glenn. Do the math! That would be approximately 2 meals per day times 365 days times 20 years. This is one great way to show your partner love.
Delenee
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