If Only Life Was as Easy as Following a Recipe

By Heather Steele

If you are struggling, you know you are alive. Life isn't meant to be "easy" it is supposed to be meaningful. The journey to get there is different for everyone but many of us share the same struggles. Whether you are fighting to maintain a positive self-image, trying to make steps towards a healthier life or gaining the courage to accomplish a huge goal, If Only Life Was as Easy as Writing a Recipe will guide you through some of these common hard spots. Each chapter starts with a life lesson and ends with a healthy living recipe. The short stories range from the first time competing in a triathlon to the first (and definitely not the last) time getting dumped and everything in between. Life isn't easy like a recipe, no one is handed a piece of paper with very detailed steps to success. Instead we throw a lot of random elements into a bowl and hope they coalesce into a desirable outcome. If you want to gain control of what is thrown into your bowl or how you react to them, this is the book for you!

• Language: English
• Publisher: eBookIt.com
• Release date: Apr 28, 2018
• ISBN: 9781456631079

Book preview

If Only Life Was as Easy as Following a Recipe

by

Heather Steele

Copyright 2018 Heather Steele,

All rights reserved.

Published in eBook format by eBookIt.com

http://www.eBookIt.com

ISBN-13: 978-1-4566-3107-9

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

Table of Contents

Sometimes Tripping Lets You Know Where You Stand

Part 1:

Life Is Ticking By….And I Cannot Stand The Sound

Brownies Aren’t So Sweet Anymore

Contaminated Needles

Keep Your Mouth Shut, You Manatee

Banana Butt Bread

So Many Balls

Boiled Egg and Cat Poop

Totes Love Oats

Muffin Surprise

Don’t Be A Cabbage Head

Shrimp and Grits

Don’t Give Up On Lent-ils You Try This Recipe

Truffle Fries

Sammy Adams and Pimento Cheese

Part 2:

Random is Just s Six Letter Word for Chaos

Who Needs PSL when you can have a PCC

Hold the Mayo

Reppin’ and Meal Preppin’

Zoo-WHAT?!

Stuff This

Captain Dave’s Nutrition Facts

Always DEPENDable For a Good Laugh

Sometimes Tripping Lets You Know Where You Stand

Have you ever been out on a run, wind blowing through your hair, fresh air pumping through your lungs and a smile on your face? A million thoughts are probably going through your mind; what you will say at your first meeting in the morning, that the floors need to be vacuumed, if you will have both turkey and ham for Thanksgiving. Before you can even process it, your entire body is skidding through gravel to an abrupt stop. For a split second you are thinking: WHAT JUST HAPPENED?? As these thoughts pummel your conscious you simultaneously stand up, brush yourself off, and look around to see if anyone saw (trust me honey, everyone saw but they are too busy laughing). Then you run off examining your wounds and assessing the damages. It is in that split second that you became stronger because you got back up and kept moving forward. Did you lay there, face down in the gravel and cry? Did you roll over on your back, look up to the sky and say why? Did you curl up into a little ball and wait for someone to pick you up like a baby and coddle you?

We go through our lives with plenty of stumbles and maybe at times we even feel like we are simply stumbling through life. In trying times it is important to stop, think about what is in your control and what road blocks are in your way. If you can easily move forward without catching your toe, put forth extra effort and jump even higher. For things that are not under your control, do not worry excessively over problems you cannot change. There is strength in being able to determine whether or not you have the ability to change certain situations. Put forth the effort you would have expended worrying towards something else that will have a positive outcome. You cannot always change circumstances you are catapulted into but you can change how you approach them. I know it is not as simple as that because we all have brains that do not like to be powered down. Mine, for instance, seems to have been equipped with an extended battery with several backup generators.

I have fallen down plenty of times, both metaphorically and literally but I have learned to get up fast and power through. For those who feel like during your next fall you might not get back up, I wanted to create something to help when times are just ROUGH. So you can know that you are not alone. Everyone has their struggles but it is important to realize that you have the ability to shape your life and be in control of your own happiness.

Hopefully, you can relate to some of my stories or just find solace in the fact that they haven’t happened to you. If you hate my stories then I hope at least my recipes speak to your healthy eating self! This book has two parts, the first follows monumental moments in my life. The second follows no timeline but something far scarier...my spontaneous thoughts. Each story ends with a recipe. This is not a picture book, you will not see examples of dishes I have made because I do not want you to compare your meal with mine. I wouldn’t post a picture without spending time to make it aesthetically appealing. News alert, a messy plate and a picturesque one taste the same. There are also no nutrition facts or portion sizes. Limit sugar, eat food that is not processed and never eat until you are full. Follow this and you will not need to know how many calories are in a portion. As you read please enjoy the stories and try the recipes! To kick it off, here is a story to remind you that life can always be worse.

When I was in high school, we had an awards ceremony that required everyone from pre-school to twelfth grade (and parents) to attend. It just so happened that I was getting an award that day. I rarely wore anything other than our prescribed uniform or one of my swimming t-shirts. I would not say I was a tomboy growing up but I was incredibly self-conscious. I hated dressing up because I felt like I would be noticed (I still struggle with this!). I liked being known as swimmer girl who was far too busy to put forth effort into hair and makeup because I had big goals that my peers just could not comprehend. In actuality, I was so self-conscious I would wear multiple extremely tight sports bras because I did not want anyone to notice my mosquito bites had grown into bee stings. However, on that day I was proud of myself and I wanted to feel special. I went WAY out of my comfort zone and wore a long, flowy, teal skirt. There in the front row I sat, so everyone could see me when they called my name. Every single seat in the house was filled as I waited for my time to shine.

Finally, the principal called my name. I shot up fast because my pride did not outweigh my shyness and I wanted it to be over fast while still getting my deserved recognition. Recognition is definitely what I received. As I was shooting myself out of my seat like a rocket, I stepped on the back of my skirt. My body went up and my skirt went down. Everyone in the gymnasium gawked at my bright pink thong that I picked out specifically for this special occasion and my blinding white butt. Mortified, I sat down and buried my head in my friend’s arm feeling like I never wanted to surface for air again.

If ever you need a quick pick-me-up, think about this story and be thankful you are not having one of THOSE days. Lift your head up, laugh it off and get moving with your day and your life!

Part 1:

Life Is Ticking By….And I Cannot Stand The Sound

Brownies Aren’t So Sweet Anymore

When I was in elementary school, my parents signed my sister and I up to be part of an all-female outdoor community service club. We were never really outdoor loving children. Our idea of playing outside was playing with dolls on our lanai with the ceiling fan on high. The most I ever enjoyed the sweltering