Soap Fans Recipe Project: The Journey

"Don't Forget About Us"

2006-04-08T14:49:00.000-07:00

You can view this video at the Habitat for Humanity International website. Hear the stories of recovery and the continued need from the devastated Gulf Coast region...
https://www.habitat.org/disaster/2005/katrina/default.aspx

Have you all been watching "Extreme Makeover: After the Storm"? I have. I am touched by the generosity of all of the volunteers. And moved to tears with each story of devastation and recovery. I believe they have one more episode of the "After the Storm" shows. Try to catch it if you can...

It is heartwarming to see the work being done. And it is quite clear that there is so much more work to do. I have wanted to do more since that dreadful day in August when Katrina struck the Gulf Coast. Watching the work being done via the "After the Storm" shows has awakened that desire to do more, deepened it even. The company I work for shuts down for that week between Christmas and New Year's Eve. I have volunteered to go to the Gulf Coast area to help rebuild during that week. I am hopeful that some work will be available during that time. My friends who live in the New Orleans area were spared major damage from Katrina. I am grateful. My friends who live in the Nashville, TN area were also spared major damage from the recent tornadoes that devastated that region. Again, I am grateful.

I am also so very grateful for the opportunity I have had to work with this wonderful group of soap friends on this cookbook project. I am proud of all of us. I can only hope that if I were to suffer devastation such as that seen along the Gulf Coast, and most recently in Nashville... that someone would offer the same assistance.

S :o)

Cookbooks are here!

2006-04-05T18:03:00.000-07:00

Our beautiful cookbooks have arrived and are ready to be shipped to their new homes. I'm stoked.

T

Remembering

2006-03-27T11:56:00.000-08:00

In less than 6 months, hurricane season returns. From what I hear, people are still not back in homes. Some are not getting the trailers. Some trailers are still empty. This is not ready. That is not being done. This is not working. And so it goes. Mountains and mountains of frustration stemming from a single event.

I do not know what our little cookbook will do. I just know that something needed to be done. And that we somehow needed to make a difference.

Rebuilding is a long and arduous process. It will take years before those areas are rebuilt. They are starting now. Work is being done. But, I still think there is more that we can do. And, over a period of time.

I shudder to think of those trailers withstanding another storm. But, I guess I just, in my small way, want folks to know that we have not forgotten, they they do matter and together we can make a difference.

All best,
trust

p.s. For further information: http://www.hurricane-katrina.org/

Extreme Makeover Home Edition ~ After the Storm

2006-03-23T15:03:00.000-08:00

did you see the new extreme makeover home edition? "after the storm" i think it's called... about rebuilding homes in hurricane ravaged gulf areas? it airs tonight and then for the next 3 weeks i think

i can't wait to watch it... knowing that the money we raise is going to help do that too!

quote

2006-03-18T12:46:00.000-08:00

The meaning of life is to find your gift, the purpose of life is to give it away. -- Joy J. Golliver

Closer than ever now!

2006-03-03T11:11:00.000-08:00

So, I'm expecting the book proof in the mail today. I wonder what's in store...the layout, the contents, now that it is all coming together. You know it's sorta like the culmination of all our effort boiling down into this single proof. Yes, it not only validates this project, but immortalizes it because now when each of us walks into the kitchen, there staring back from a cookbook rack or a shelf or even a countertop will be this book of recipes...our very first. And we'll know that someone has been blessed by this project, and we'll know [or sometimes be reminded] that we've been enriched by this experience. As Yasmeen may have envisioned, we are coming "full circle"--we are closer than ever now!

T

More on Circles

2006-03-02T15:17:00.000-08:00

I have more to say about circles. They appear to be everywhere. The central part of the small external computer speakers are circles. My coaster is a circle. The clockface, lampshade and CD's, all circles. Smiley-face. One of the best circles. Now, tell me you did not smile when reading that. Not sure why I look at circles and smile, but I do. Even my purple pumpkin for Halloween candy is a circle. Most homes are not. I know of some who do build circular abodes. They say it forces everyone to gather in the center. They say it is comforting. I once saw some dome homes along the highway. Several of these circular structures placed in a row made a catepillar. I kid you not. Check out, http://www.monolithic.com/. There are circles everywhere. Circles make me smile

-Y-

Circles

2006-03-02T14:55:00.000-08:00

Circles are round and friendly. Hardly anyone is intimidated by a Teddy bear with a round face and tummy. This blog has circles. On the way home yesterday, I could see a bit of the Lion King from someone's minivan. I started to sing Circle of Life, because I believed that to be the song that was playing during the scene I saw. I believe Oprah mentions full circle. I sometimes see her put her hands together as if in a circle. In chat, we discussed giving circles, women connected through the spirit of giving. It made sense. From the beginning, this project has had at the core, that sense of likeminds, kinship, across the land. It is hard to describe as little more than a feeling, but it has remained. It is so rare to find a team of likeminds, even rarer to progress on a path of similiar goal and intent. But it has that quality, as Oprah may describe it, that sense of Full Circle.

-Y-

Stop the Presses, Alert the Media!

2006-02-23T11:11:00.000-08:00

Uhhhh yeah, looks like the media is already alerted. That's right, our first--of hopefully many more--media nod. Susan was just contacted by a columnist from The Peoria Journal Star Online Edition (http://www.pjstar.com/) who does the "Cook's Corner" column every Wednesday. She wants to feature 3 or 4 recipes and hopefully our project. So let's hope and pray for the best!

----------------------------------

UPDATE: We made the press! Visit our Peoria Journal Online article: http://pjstar.com/stories/030106/COO_B92R263F.034.shtml.

It's a wrap!

2006-02-16T11:49:00.000-08:00

We've finally made it to the day that we're putting the cookbook to bed. All recipes have been collected and now we go to print. It's been a 3-month journey, a wild ride, but it's come down to this day. All our efforts and the efforts of so many others, those who have contributed and pushed this project, will soon be showcased in a wonderful and unique book of recipes. I'm stoked!

T

Happy Valentine's Day!

2006-02-14T11:52:00.000-08:00

National Cream Cheese Brownie Day

2006-02-10T11:57:00.000-08:00

Did you know that today is National Cream Cheese Brownie Day? Yes, seriously and mark your calenders for Feb 21, which is National Sticky Bun Day. I kid you not.

http://www.web-holidays.com/calendar/

Y

My Purpose

2006-02-07T18:28:00.000-08:00

Although I have the opportunity to back date messages, I am better going forward. My reasons for becoming part of this project have not changed. I want to help Hurricane Katrina survivors re-build their lives. That is my sole purpose. I will never get those horrible images of men, women, and especially children walking through knee deep water seeking some form of safety. I make every effort to live my life with purpose. Helping others does just that.

Ode to the Weary in well-doing

2006-02-06T11:33:00.000-08:00

I sense that our team of four is in that weary phase, where we know that there is still much to be done, yet we only have 8 hands collectively. We have accomplished a lot, a whole lots in the three months that we've started this project, and I believe it will be, as I feel it already is, worth it.

Still, it can be a slow and sometimes tideous process, collecting recipes and pushing the project and making sure all our "i's" are dotted and "t's" crossed, especially when we each pull our daytime jobs (gotta make rent ;)). I have felt the burden of this project at times, but just when I think...man, I don't know if I have the energy...something exciting and wonderful would happen (a small victory, like us partnering with Habitat for Humanity) and, boom, I'm reminded why this project is so important.

So, ode to the weary (that's us) in well-doing (that's us, again). Together, I know we are making a difference.

T

Labor of Love

2006-01-20T17:08:00.000-08:00

Received an e-mail today. In it were numerous words of support, among them, this must be a labor of love. In my mind I thought, yup, Labor of Love. There is no other way to undertake a project of this scope, and keep giving and giving and giving, day after day unsure of the end results. This started from nothing, just a thought an idea, but our small but mighty group ran with it. I have heard time and time again that you must love what you do. Each day brings something new, sometimes challenges, sometimes great gifts. This is no small undertaking. But, we are doing the right thing. It feels right.

Y

A New Year

2006-01-01T23:12:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! We are eager about the possibilities that await us and are excited. So much has happened. So many updates to the web site. Recipes have been entered, but we still need more. This Typensave system, through our cookbook company, is just wonderful. Easy. The company is wonderful. We love them.

But, it is easy to get wrapped up in all this and forget. It has been months since Katrina and many are still homeless. Many are still struggling. There is not much rebuilding. And this is why we are doing this. To remember. And help in some small way with rebuilding.

It is gonna be a good year.

Y

Web site over 1,000 hits

2005-12-13T18:56:00.000-08:00

We crossed the 1,000 mark in the last day. Cannot believe it. Less than a month after this all started. Doing a Happy Dance!!!

Y

Our first Celebrity recipe...

2005-12-11T15:01:00.000-08:00

Kassie DePaiva is giving us a recipe! She wants us to use the one from One Day With... Wally. It is a salad recipe. Apparently she also has a "killer" crock pot turkey recipe. Hmmm... we'd love to have that one too Kassie! :o)

s

We have a NAME!

2005-11-28T15:37:00.000-08:00

Well, we always had one, but this is our new official name. We are now the Soap Fans Recipe Project and our cookbook is Fantastic Recipes. Get it? FAN-tastic Recipes. Ha Ha! Yes, we thought it too clever. But, the recipes are really good. Have you seen them? Well, you will soon enough, in just a few short months.

Y

Beginnings

2005-11-22T22:03:00.000-08:00

Hi

We just had our first chat. I cannot believe it. We are all on the same page and the energy was just amazing. This feels right. It just feels right. We, as soap fans, are mostly women. We all cook. Images around food just bring up wonderful warm memories. This is exciting.

Y

Team, we have a website!

2005-11-21T22:19:00.000-08:00

Okay, it's all still in the works, a work in progress, if you will, but it has that bold food motif going on, very fitting for our project. Enjoy!

T