Author Archives: Be a Leading Lady

Ham & Rice – From My Casa to Yours

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I was asking around to see if anyone had ever baked ham and rice and found that a lot of people had never had ham and rice. So I never found anyone had baked it, but someone asked me for this recipe on the Be a Leading Lady Facebook page, so I thought it would just be easier to add it here. I am not a food expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I do enjoy cooking. And eating. This was the first year I cooked it like this with the Uncle Ben’s, and it was the bomb diggity bombdiggity.

Please excuse the horrid lighting. I make an awful food photographer, because I eat late at night when the lighting is bad, I take pictures with my phone, and most importantly, I don’t like to watch my food get cold.

Simply Ham & Rice

2 Box Uncle Ben’s Original Wild Rice
1 Box Uncle Ben’s Herb & Chicken Wild Rice
Ham
Ham Hock or Neck Bone
6 3/4 Ham stock or water
Butter

Place your ham hock in water. I used 2 ham hocks in a large pan and filled it about 1/2 to 3/4 with water and added pepper. Bring it to a boil and simmer on low for hours. This step can be done the night before. I have also omitted it completely if I didn’t plan ahead.

I am not a ham eater in the true sense of the word. I like lean and thin, well-cooked ham. So I take thin slices and pan fry them until golden and add a little pepper to them while they are cooking. Chop this up and set aside.

Add 6 3/4 cup water from the stock to another large pot. Add butter. Add seasoning packets from your rice. Use less if you don’t like a lot of seasoning. Add ham. Bring to a boil and add rice. Cook approximately 25-35 minutes on low until water is absorbed.

That’s it. Eat and enjoy!

Leap! Great Things Are Ahead

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What we do when we are at crossroads in our life or during difficult times tells people a lot about who we are. But it is even more telling about where we are going. Rough times are not the time to give up. They are the time to leap, because great things lie ahead. Our life is a series of ebb and flow, ups and downs, and many of the best things come after a difficult time or life-changing experience. But as we all know, these times are difficult while we are going through them.

At these times in our life, we get to decide who we are going to be. When we have lost something in our life it can place us us at these crossroads. It could be a lost relationship, job or something else that meant a lot to us or something that we felt defined us or something that we never thought we could live without. But we usually find that we can. And not only that, there is most likely a better job, or better relationship, or better life experiences waiting for us. Sometimes the growth alone by the choice of how we decide to walk through it is a big part of the amazing new life that awaits us. And sometimes these experiences are the catalyst to bring about a good change in our lives that we might not have been brave enough to bring about ourselves.

I was watching the new show Malibu Country with Reba McEntire and Lily Tomlin last week. It’s about a woman whose husband cheated on her, and she left him, so she left Nashville and moved to Malibu with her two children and mother to start her life over and to reignite her own singing career. At one point, everything seemed to be going wrong, and she was ready to pack up and move back to Nashville. And her mother offered her these words of wisdom:

“Oh baby, you gave up your voice once and here you have a chance to find it again. Don’t you go back just because it’s hard right now.” -Lillie Mae (Lily Tomlin) Malibu Country – Reba McEntire’s new show

So when we find ourselves at these crossroads, remember to leap, because great things are ahead. Stop resisting and use this opportunity for growth and change.

This is where I am at in life right now. Things aren’t easy and haven’t been for a few years. Things were so bad two years ago that I left myself two sticky notes, one reminding me to breathe, and the other reminding me to take one day at a time. Thinking too far ahead was, let’s just say, a hyperventilating experience. I didn’t have to think about any of that that very second, just today, and to just breathe.

It’s three years later now, and I have survived, even learned to be happy and found my joy, even though my circumstances haven’t changed. I also like to think that I have grown. A lot. I like who I am a lot more now. I guess in these moments, we only have two options, to go up or to go down. Staying the same usually isn’t one of the choices anymore. Now my daily reminder is on my bracelet, and it says….Leap.

This isn’t my first rodeo. I’ve learned in life that the tough times are going to come, and I’ve also learned they are great opportunities to take us to new and better levels. Past experience has taught me that this is always true.

So right now…I’m choosing to be brave and to leap, to leap into being who I was destined to be, to leap onto the stepping stone that God has provided to something even greater.

What will you choose when at the crossroads of life? What will you choose today?

Inspirational Leather Cuff Bracelet – The Perfect Jewelry for Leading Ladies

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Have you ever wanted a beautiful way to inspire yourself throughout the day? We will see a wonderful, life changing quote, but then when we walk away, we get distracted by life and other things and forget the inspiration that was so life changing and that we wanted to remember the rest of the day or even longer.

This is a project that I have been thinking about for years. It has evolved over time, but the basic thought was to wear beautiful art that inspires and helps me keep my focus where I want. Old habits are hard to break, and I need a reminder throughout my day. But I’m a woman and wanted something beautiful that I could feel proud to wear.


I knew I was onto something when I could not wait to make my own. I wanted it so badly. I could hardly wait to work out the design details and start wearing it. I LOVE it! It makes me ridiculously happy. I am not even the person that wears jewelry around the house, but I want it on all the time. It makes me happy. It encourages me. It inspires me. So that settles it. I’m probably never taking it off.

It gets better. I know that if we look at something every day over a long period of time that we get used to seeing it and don’t really “see” it anymore. This is the realist side of me. I know myself too well. I have to set myself up to succeed and grow. So….I made the inspirational pendants INTERCHANGEABLE! That is right. Additional pendants are available and can easily be changed out in just a few seconds with no tools. The art can be changed just like you would change the art in your home simply by removing the framed art and replacing it with a new piece.So for a small amount, you can have a whole new look! How cool is that! Sometimes we need inspiration in a new area of our life, or we want something fresh and new that wows us all over again, so the art was designed to be interchangeable to stay fresh and new!

How cool is that? I’ve barely been sleeping at night while working on these.

If you are on the “Be a Leading Lady” facebook page or read the blog, you know how much I love inspiration. I want to be inspired. I want others to be inspired. I want us all to live out loud in a way that changes the lives of everyone around us. I want us all to be the person we dream of being. And the thought of having a way to do that for us every day, all day long made me so happy, and I could not wait to share it with my wonderful leading lady friends! Oh, what leading ladies we will be now!

The inspirational, leather cuff bracelet is unique art framed in beautiful, original handmade jewelry designs to complement your style and fashion. We have taken a combination of our photographs and digital art and combined it with inspirational quotes to encourage you through out your day on life’s journey.

What better way to carry your inspirational art with you wherever you go! Now you can feel inspired throughout your day, wherever you go, and stay focused on what is important to you in your life at the time.

These will make a perfect gift for practically everyone! Your loved ones and friends will never forget you as they are inspired to greatness and cherish their wonderful gift.

As a special thank you and encouragement to all of the wonderful leading ladies out there…

For a very limited time you can purchase an inspirational art cuff for only $39.99

Shop Early for Christmas! Get the unique gift that will be treasured forever!
Regular price: $55   Sale Price: 39.99

Etsy Store: https://bealeadinglady.com/store

Be sure to tell all your friends! We don’t want anyone to miss out on this limited time offer!

How Then Shall We Live: Grace Under Fire

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Jen Burgess Thompson - Photographer Fights Ovarian Cancer
What if I didn’t discount this moment, but counted it for what it is? What if I accept this day as an opportunity, as a door to reason…to LOVE my way out,,,  – Jen Burgess Thompson

How then shall I live?

In life we are sometimes given the rare opportunity to see the purest of souls, the ones who show us a way of being that takes us to the next level. They inspire us. They make us want to be better. They show us how to let our light shine. They show us that we have a light. They show us how to love our way out.

Jen Burgess Thompson was one of those souls. We lost a bright light this week, but if we take a small part of her goodness and let it live on in our lives, think what a wonderful difference we can make in the world.

A friend of hers said this about Jen the day we lost her.

Be proud that this woman, this human being touched your life. Bill Gellerman

It’s true, and I want to share her with you so that you can know her too.

I know of few people who have epitomized what it means to be a leading lady more than Jen Thompson. She showed us what it means to be a leading lady even on your worst day while going through the most difficult battle of your life. Most of what I know of Jen has been Jen with cancer, going through the worst battle of her life. We snap at people on a bad day, nothing even close to what she walked through.

It is easy to see why she was surrounded by friends, both old and new.

As I watched Jen gracefully fight such a courageous battle this past year, surrounded by true warrior friends, They went skateboarding, they took trips, they made every moment together a photobooth moment, whether in the hospital or on an adventure, or just in bed at home. Yes, she and all her warrior friends spent many moments cuddled together in bed, laughing and playing just like we did when we were little girls.

I found myself asking the question: If this were me, would I have the same support system that she has had? I don’t know. And maybe that answer is more of a reflection of me than my friends. She went through this battle like this because that is how she lived life before cancer. I saw a friend she knew from high school post on her wall today and shared a story of how Jen had reached out to help her when she was a troubled youth in high school, even offering her a place to stay in her home.

And then I read another story of a 5th grade Jen who helped a young first grader whose glasses had been broken. She helped her pick up all the pieces and took her hand and walked her home, even if this meant that she could potentially miss the bus. To Jen, at that moment, that little girl was more important.

Jen lived her days how she wanted to live her life.

How then shall we live?

Is what I want and who I want to be how I live my life every day? Have I led the life that sees the best in others, a life that is grateful and not bitter or hurt? A life that remembered how to laugh and play? Has my light shone so brightly that it made others want to shine their light, too?

Her light has shone so brightly that it revealed the darkness in my own life. It made me wonder if this is what we would be like if we were not riddled with demons, but then who’s to say that she did not have her own, and she just chose not to let them dim her light.

Pleading. Begging. God, use me, show me, make me an implementer, an instrument. Bring good here. Show light here where it’s dark. Use this tiny little story of mine and make it seriously significant………………

……….USE ME!

(and He is.)

-Jen Thompson

The wonderful thing about this quote by Jen is that I read it AFTER I wrote this article, after I wrote the above paragraph. I find it amazing that we both used the same words. I struggled so much with writing this article. It was hard to pull all of the pieces together. I felt like this was confirmation that I had done this, that I had said what I needed to say. Her light continues to shine.

When we see someone like her, it’s easy for us to think that she is probably like that because she has had a charmed life.

On top of the cancer that she fought so bravely, she was going through a bitter divorce.

It is not because bad things did not happen to Jen that she was this way, because they did. They happen to all of us.  It’s that she chose not to let her mind rest on the bad things in her life sacrificing every other good thing in her life for the sake of it. Jen lived life on purpose.

 (Another quote from Jen that I found after I wrote this article. Wow. It’s like she is right here with me.)

So here are some of the things that I’ve learned or have been reminded of through all of this:

  • Be grateful. It’s not all about you. You’re not owed anything. Be grateful for everything.
  • Be a giver. It teaches us to appreciate what others do.
  • See the best in others. Find their hidden treasure. Make them feel like a rock star.
  • Accept gracefully and gratefully from those who are there for you…both in good times and the bad.
  • Be there for others.
  • Show up and walk through your battles with grace. Grace under fire. Others have done it, and so can you.
  • Small acts of kindness can make a big difference to the person receiving it. Even if you cannot do and be everything, do something. It takes a village, and together we can do much.
  • And then when you are on the receiving end of this act of kindness, celebrate it. Celebrate the person. Make them feel like a rock star. You never know what they may have sacrificed to do that small act of kindness. Even someone who writes you an encouraging note took time out of a day that already probably felt all too full. Life really isn’t all about you, so celebrate those people who made some of it about you.
  • Be a friend. Make friends. Rekindle friendships. Open your heart. It takes a village. Build your village. See 1-8 above.
  • Smile, smile, smile. Even though your heart is breaking. Even though you might be scared. Nat King Cole said it best:

Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it’s breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you’ll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You’ll see the sun come shining through for you

  •  Celebrate life. Celebrate moments. Celebrate people. Celebrate.

The truth is that we do not know if we have tomorrow. But we do have today. Celebrate today.

May she live on in each of us. May we never take a moment for granted. May we always hug our children a little tighter, and may we hold our friends close. May we always be kind and love one another. May her light shine on.

Note: Jen Thompson fought a courageous fight in the battle against ovarian cancer. She was diagnosed a little over a year ago and passed away October 12, 2012. She not only fought for herself, but she fought for us spreading the word with others on what some of the symptoms are. I’ve included a list below and encourage everyone to pass it along.
We must be our own advocate in matters of our health. Know the symptoms of ovarian cancer.

In loving memory of Jen Burgess Thompson.

The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14

How then shall we live?

Showing Up and Daring Greatly

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It’s a wonderful thing that we are continually learning and able to experience growth. And you begin to pull all the little signs and messages together that been leading you there.

This has been my aha moment this week:

  • Be real. Be present.
  • Be in the moment.
  • Be comfortable in your own skin by embracing who you are with no shame and with a sense of humor.

I have a friend who embraces being real. We have been friends since we were 12 years old, and I absolutely adore this about her. No matter how embarrassing the story is, and believe me we have accumulated plenty of them, she laughs hysterically about it. She came into town last weekend and we met for dinner and drinks and had a great discussion about embracing all of ourselves. She inspires me. It’s not my strong point. I tend to get embarrassed or ashamed. Yeah, I’m fun like that. She is my safe place. I can let my guard down and be real with her.

This is what this opens up in your life when you embrace it…real connections and real relationships. Sure some people may use this to feel superior to you and those relationships will not move forward but those are their issues and not ours. We showed up. It reminds me of this quote: “An enlightened woman will not seek to be understood, she just enjoys the company of likeminded people. –Casey Leasure

It makes no sense, but we do it all the time. We seek to explain ourselves and seek validation from others.

I love when you have one of those moments like I did with my friend where your eyes are open to something you know you need in your life, and then you begin to see it everywhere. I was watching the Katie Couric Show this week, and one of her guests was Brene Brown, author of Daring Greatly.

I love the daring greatly philosophy because it’s about showing up. It’s about going big or going home. If we are not showing up for our life, we have truly already lost. I love what Brene said daring greatly.

Brene says to dare greatly that we need to be willing to be vulnerable and defines vulnerability as: unceertainty, risk, emotional exposure. Vulnerability is being all in. It’s showing up.


“To avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.” -Aristotle

If we want to avoid criticism in our life, we are not even going to be showing up. We also must learn to ignore the critic sitting on the sideline. We are the one in the arena of our own life.

“Make no mistake it feels uncomfortable to put ourselves out there, and it feels dangerous, but I don’t think there is anything more uncomfortable or dangerous, I get teary-eyed when I talk about this, than standing on the outside of our lives wondering what it would be like had we shown up.” -Brene Brown

She gave the example of a character in a movie who shows up outside of a girl’s window with his boombox playing a love song to woo her. As movie-watchers, we are rooting for him. It feels quite differently when we think of being the ones to put ourselves out there, but in the end that is usually where great things happen. He was daring greatly, and at least he showed up.

For some strange reason, we think we are the only ones who get nervous or have social anxiety issues, or who are dealing with depression or post traumatic stress disorder. It is simply not true. We all experience these at one time or the other, even your favorite celebrities.

We are all just human. Ad it is human to feel these things, but what is truly heroic is to be real and be able to laugh at yourself.

Lauren Graham was on The Ellen Show today discussing her social anxiety at a recent party of Ellen’s. She was intimidated by Ellen and the others around her and blurted out ridiculous comments in an effort to make conversation. It was hysterical listening to her tell the story. But I love that she did. That makes it okay for me to be human and embrace it too. Even Ellen admitted to having social anxiety issues.

[Watch Lauren Graham on the Ellen Show]

No one is as together as you think they are. We are all just human.

It’s all about showing up. Whether we have an anxiety disorder, depression, or other overwhelming life situations, we have the power to stop where we are and say that I am going to show up and lead my own life. To say that we are going to be real and embrace ourselves.

It is about showing up and being true to yourself, taking chances, and going outside of your comfort zone to risk nothing for something great. We’re really not risking anything if we don’t already have what we we want. We have nothing to lose.

I love this part of the story. Famous blogger, and one of my favorites, Jenny Lawson, also know as The Bloggess, was also with Brene on the Katie Couric show. Jenny had struggled with depression and anxiety disorder and while already a very popular blogger, struggled some days to get out of bed. She felt the dissonant cord struck in her life knowing that her husband knew, so she was very brave and shared this with her readers. It gave them permission to be real too. Which is the first step to begin any healing process. She told the story of the “sisterhood of the traveling red dress”. In an effort to reclaim her life and say that she was in charge again, going totally out of her comfort zone, she had a friend make her a large red ball gown and did a photo shoot to capture her embracing and reclaiming her life. Then she blogged about the importance of going after the things we want, even if we think they are ridiculous, because we are worth it. That very dress has now made it’s way all over the world so that other women could embrace the same moment.

I’ve always said how important it is to have these images of ourselves. I wrote in an article, A Mirror Has Two Faces, that you need to have at least one picture of yourself where you shine, not just shine on the outside, but shine on the inside, too – you at the top of your game, confident and happy. Put these pictures where you can see them every day. And, remember, you do not have to find yourself. You just have to remember who you are.

So lighten up on yourself today. Be kind to yourself. Show yourself the same grace that you would your best friend. Be brave today. Be grateful for this moment, and dare greatly.