the candid, reverse-chronological story

hard to take a compliment

I get a lot of comments that “[I] tell [people] they look nice ALL OF THE TIME.” To be honest, I will not compliment you if I see no reason for it. Sounds harsh. That’s because it is. Really, I wonder if those on the receiving end of my compliments who bark at my words are not feeling pains of low self-esteem that, otherwise, compel them to refuse kind thoughts of them expressed in word.

Some people are just cuties and probably always get compliments on their physical appearance…

While others might get compliments on their “performances,” work, art of accomplishment-related.

just another sunny day

Sometimes I just cope by writing others off as “the peanut gallery” in the back of my mind. But come on now, Jasper…be realistic and BRAVE!

It’s been my experience, of late, to receive criticism instead of compliments…I find it rewarding to withstand fiery (and true, mind you) scrutiny and know I’ve always room for improvement.

Do you find yourself refusing compliments given you by others? How do you interpret others’ criticism? Have you found an effective/polite way of receiving compliments?

Posted by crunchy little bites | March 22, 2012 | Categories: smiles | 2 Comments »

a beach weekend invitation

Oh what wonderful news my parents gave me last Friday!

just another sunny day

We shall be visiting Kitty Hawk, NC for four days during my birthday week this year!

just another sunny day

Well, hey there little guy, you don’t seem as excited as I am about our little vacation…

just another sunny day

During Martin Luther King Jr. weekend my aunt and I traveled for a little weekend getting away to Garden City Beach, SC.

just another sunny day

This guy was brave to just let monster-beak eat a night crawler from him palm…

just another sunny day

And get a load of these fun scenes….ahh…the beach. just another sunny day

So you may not like the beach…perhaps you prefer the mountains?
just another sunny day

Or perhaps you like any time spent with family… just another sunny day

Me, I love a reason to travel! just another sunny day

And I am sure we will visit some museums in Kitty Hawk just another sunny day

That’s how we roll..

Have you any travel plans for the near or distant future? Beach ? … or Mountainsm

Posted by crunchy little bites | March 21, 2012 | Categories: smiles | 2 Comments »

CGS youth venture onto the paintball front

paintball frenzy

Load up the ammo!

And don’t drop the paint balls on the ground or the referees will yell at you to “NOT LOAD THEM INTO THE HOPPER!” They take their work seriously.
Madison's welts

paintball frenzy

Careful, these girls may look innocent but they’re fierce out there on the paintball battlefield!

Make sure the masks fit!

And do not be afraid of piglet-sized guard dogs.

Beware of welts. Big welts
And most importantly, have fun!

paintball frenzy

Lots of fun!

That’s what the pup was telling us, I’ll bet…”HAVE FUN!”

Posted by crunchy little bites | March 20, 2012 | Categories: movement, news flash, seniors, smiles, worship | 2 Comments »

married on a Tuesday

Yes, my cousin Helena was married on a Tuesday…it was lovely

I wanted to write up a little post because a dream I had last night reminded me of her big day! A Tuesday Wedding

Silly, I know, but I had this dream where my Grandpa was still alive and wheeling around in his motorized chair…I got to give him a big huge hug! And I could not stop bawling…he was so cute. Since Helena, my cousin, got married in the USA and Grandpa was in Africa, they all watched the ceremony via video Skype.

I was able to snap a few photos of the big day and spent most of my time in the ladies’ getting-ready room. It was so much fun.The boys had fun, too!Here is my cousin Rob serenading the bride and groom after the ceremony, so cute…The bride and her mother.Later this week I will try and upload more photos to this post from her big day! Happy Monday!

Posted by crunchy little bites | March 19, 2012 | Categories: inspirational escripts | 2 Comments »

the cinnamon challenge

Last night a group of us were discussing “the Cinnamon Challenge” … apparently everyone but me has heard of it. And though no one knew any such official cinnamon challenge rule existed, we found some on the internet, of course. It was fascinating to watch David decide if he’d rise to “The Cinnamon Challenge” under peer pressure. Check out his dilemma for yourself…

Have you tried the The Cinnamon Challenge? Have you HEARD of the cinnamon challenge?

Posted by crunchy little bites | March 16, 2012 | Categories: cinnamon, friends, family, and awesome people, health | 4 Comments »

family Christmas “2011″

family Christmas "2011" We did not get to celebrate Christmas 2011 as a family this past year so we made up for that this past weekend!

There were not any stockings involved but we has such a nice time together!

family Christmas "2011"

Pinkies up everyone!

family Christmas "2011"

Dad got a sweatshirt from my work…

family Christmas "2011"

MaShelley got a box inside of a box…

family Christmas "2011"

…inside of a box…you get it

family Christmas "2011"

Red, white and green represent!

family Christmas "2011"

Appetizers and tuna steaks for the main meal…nice marinades make a world or difference at Christmas time

family Christmas "2011"

Merry Christmas to the grilling team!

family Christmas "2011"

We even watched Christmas movies and went for traditional family Christmas stroll around the neighborhood. Fun times! Merry Christmas from your family to yours! And a happy New Year! )and happy thursday )

Posted by crunchy little bites | March 15, 2012 | Categories: daddio's recipes, friends, family, and awesome people | Leave A Comment »

proof is in the pudding

Originally I had wanted to make this spectacular recipe to submit to Better Homes and Garden. But that cannot happen when you use almond milk and flax and old yeast rolls…can it? proof is in the pudding

And I may be getting used to the remote for the camera…

proof is in the pudding

Just as I was getting used to the camera remote my focus motor broke! woops!

proof is in the pudding

And my other kit lens broke last year, to boot!

proof is in the pudding

Nonetheless, here’s a little recipe:

The line-up:

8 yeast rolls (rough-chopped into medium-sized-subes)

1 c. raisins

2 c. almond milk

1/2 c. sugar

4 T. ground flax seed plus 8 T. water (max flax eggs)

1 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. vanilla

1/4 t. salt

directions: whisk all ingredients (except for raisins and bread cubes)

proof is in the pudding

next: place bread cubes and raisins in oven safe baking dish, pour liquid (whisked) mixture over dry ingredients and place into 375 degree, pre-heated, oven.

proof is in the pudding

Other instructions: try to not get very carried away with shutter release remote.

proof is in the pudding

Suggestions: I mean it!

proof is in the pudding

Next up: find some nice light!

how to find the light!

Ehhhh, I don’t know how I feel about this, a little too dim, perhaps? The sun was headed down for the evening!

how to find the light!

Jasper, seriously, you’re finished with the baking, go back to lighting!

how to find the light!

Getting there…I may have lightened the photo up a bit. And don’t forget to take your bread pudding out of the oven after 45 minutes of baking!

how to find the light!

Perhaps setting up a little contrast with a light colored towel will help to compensate for the waning daylight?…

how to find the light!

Or, perhaps, to hide the towel in the background will provide onlookers with a bit of distraction from the foreground. Does anyone get where I am going with this?

how to find the light!

This may be the baby bear photo: “just right?”

how to find the light!

You tell me because, after all, the proof is in the pudding!

how to find the light!

Many times I sit down to write and publish a post and it turns out a completely different way than I had initially intended…from the get-go I wanted this to be a funny play-by-play of my making bread pudding but I discovered that I did not take enough photos for that, really. My initial plans went unsupported by my photo work so I wung-it .

how to find the light!

Must you ever just “wing-it” with your posts or writing?

Happy Tuesday to you all!

Posted by crunchy little bites | March 12, 2012 | Categories: craftiness, milk, photography, scrumptious | Leave A Comment »

green monster madness

Have you ever heard of a green monster? Not all green monsters are created equally Which is why Angela created this page for green monster smoothie recipe submissions!

{source}

No, I am not talking about this green monster. I am talking about a smoothie! This is the kind of smoothie that some may think tastes like a plant but I think it tastes yummy!

tastes like a plant?

Into Jasper’s green monster smoothie goes:

1 c. fresh spinach

1 c. almond milk

1 scoop brown rice protein powder

1 t. vanilla

1 banana

1/2 c. greek yogurt

tastes like a plant?

Does it taste like a plant? No, I do not think it tastes like a plant. And though I do not go around licking leaves or chewing tree bark, I think I can vouch for the green monster recipe tasting like food, not plants.

tastes like a plant?

How often should I drink a green monster smoothie? Well, I am not a doctor, I am not a registered dietician, I am not a clinical nutritionist…I will say that you can eat green smoothies as a fun morning treat, an afternoon snack or as a meal that would replace any proper nutritional dish (consult your doctor).

tastes like a plant?

On day I will get Angela to post my recipe to the green monster movement site but she is busy writing a cookbook!

tastes like a plant?

You can throw all sorts of ingredients into your green monster smoothie! I would not suggest real plants in your smoothie, however.

tastes like a plant?

Instead of spinach, sometimes I use raw or steamed kale! Even Justin Bieber chugged a green monster smoothie before his 2010 Madison Square Garden sell-out!

{source}

Yes, I may have also followed him on Twitter last night. Sue me! I want to know what a dude tells 18.1 M followers each day! You can follow me if you’d like

Back to the green monsters!

tastes like a plant?

However you take your green monster just don’t forget the banana! Happy Friday to you lovely people!

Here’s me chugging juice, not a green monster! ..okay, happy friday! – Jasper Naomi

Posted by crunchy little bites | March 9, 2012 | Categories: kale, snackeroo, vegan, veggies | 2 Comments »

bangarang!

they match

So this is SPRING eh? Yes it is! Spring fever is in the air. March madness is gearing-up and I just wore Bria’s wedding/bridesmaids shoes for the first time since her big day, September 17, 2011! (my fingernails match SOMETHING today!)

wedding for bria!

fun day!

And I may have purchased some Justin’s Maple butter with Heather‘s coupon! Then got one of my own…so if you’d like $5 off, you can use this coupon code! here…

DUP519

spring fever

The air is just lovely and full of the smell of spring! And I may have slipped away from the office for a sweaty-back-acquiring-trip to the post office!

spring fever!

This weekend my parents will be celebrating Christmas since we did not get to celebrate Christmas 2011 together, yet…if that makes any since? Tuna steaks are my request! I’ve never had them and for some reason have been wanting them!

spring fever!

I was riding my bike! No seat belts!

spring fever!

And who doesn’t like and awesome find! Fun shot of the day

spring fever!

Deliver those packages!

spring fever!

And ride them bikes, people! Happy Thursday to you all! – Jasper

Posted by crunchy little bites | March 8, 2012 | Categories: health | 3 Comments »

taking the plunge!

I did it, I tried mustard-colored nail polish! — Although, I think a similar-colored sweater might have been a better choice but I’ve made worse decisions in life!

Currently I am on week five of my nine week marathon training plan and it’s going well! Justin Bieber might be new new young-crush but don’t tell anyone, okay?

I might keep posting awkward self-portraits so that you may make your judgments about how confident/non-confident of my marathon-training plan I appear.

Update: Tried my first steel-oats in a jar project…not a fan

My nail color has changed three times in the past two weeks…They went from Katie-inspired gray.

To mauve-ish…

crafting a care package 101

To flat mustardy yellow!

Also, my father and step-mother arrived from Africa yesterday! And I had not seen them in over three years! Crazy!

Posted by crunchy little bites | March 7, 2012 | Categories: chocolate, daddio's recipes, music, snackeroo, yogurt | 4 Comments »

making a gift package for any one one oh one

crafting a care package 101

As you may know, I like to write letters. And I like to send packages. Well, I thought I’d share a little 101-package-making-post with you.

crafting a care package 101

Bubble wrap is a must. Package-recievers can, then, POP all of the little bubbles and annoy their friends!

crafting a care package 101

Make sure an wrap all of the little package contents with cute baker’s twine or ribbon, too!

crafting a care package 101

They’ll appreciate your attention to detail .

crafting a care package 101

Since my parents live in Angola, Africa, I have sent them a few care packages but none were this adorable.

crafting a care package 101

Gotta put AWESOME movies in the care packages, too! As DVD’s become more and more obsolete, you’ve got to take advantage of the times!

crafting a care package 101

Sometimes it’s just fun to make a bit of a mess while you craft, too!

crafting a care package 101

I really really really wanted to send all of the baker’s twine along so that my package-receiver could decorate packages to send to her friends as well! But I could not let it go! So much for wanting to be a minimalist

crafting a care package 101