Trust: Things Are Happening...

Bryant Park

Trust was last week's focus.  Trusting that though we may not see progress...things are happening underneath.  I'm "establishing my root system."

I thought a lot about how hard it is to trust...to have faith when seemingly "nothing" is happening.  I've had issues with this.  BIG ISSUES.

This time around though, I feel as if I've turned a corner. I'm loving how calming/quieting down my energy over the past months has helped me see more clearly and experiences have been flowing to me in a manner I can handle and be joyous within.  Even the darker experiences. I have found joy and inspiration within some of the saddest situations, which is amazing to me!

I try to sit in the quiet, motionless, moments and listen.  Sometimes all I hear is my heartbeat or the wind in the trees...sometimes I hear a voice that assures me I'm still "in the works..."

And that's OK.

There's a gentleness to it...a calm energy that feels good because it feels like me.

Don't get me wrong...I have my moments of frustration and impatience. I wouldn't be me without the odd question of, "Where am I going!!?" "How am I going to get there!!?

But I've been planting seeds and I do feel as if things are happening.  Every little risk, every heart to heart, every blog, every new dish I cook...gets me closer.


XO

P.S. One of my little risks has yielded me a printed piece in TV Guide Magazine!  I wrote about my love of Dr. Who for our "Guilty Pleasures" issue.  Check it out!

Spicy Thai Coconut Rice‏

When I buy groceries for the week I usually try to save money by buying an organic soup that I can mix with brown rice and voila!  An inexpensive meal.  Sometimes it's as simple as veggie chili with rice...and sometimes I get creative:

1 can of Amy's organic thai coconut soup
2 cups brown rice
1 package of extra firm tofu
1 bunch basil
Fish sauce
Crushed red pepper flakes
Curry powder

I browned the tofu in fish sauce, curry, basil, olive oil and crushed red pepper flakes while the rice cooked with a vegan, no salt added bouillon cube. I've also used chicken in place of the tofu.

Then I mixed it all together with the soup.

You do need to be careful when using canned soup (even organic) since the sodium content can be high.

It was delicious! I brought it to work all week and loved it as much at the end as I did in the beginning :)

XO

I Believe In Myself, I Believe In My Dreams...

 Cloud gazing in Bryant Park

I believe in myself, I believe in my dreams...

This was the mantra we were working with this past week in Creative Dreaming...and I'll admit, I sort of forgot until the end of the week. It's amazing how we can shy away from firmly committing to ourselves sometimes. Sometimes it can be scary when our dreams start to come true.

When our June Apprenticeship day came on Saturday...it all came back to me.  We even meditated on embracing our whole selves.  The good and the "bad."  Acknowledging and loving ourselves...welcoming all of our parts.

Words my teacher spoke last year resurfaced as well: "If it's not enjoyable, it's not sustainable."

SO TRUE

When I stop and think about my life and the richness that it's held up to this point, I don't think of the time I've spent behind a desk. I think of running down the street during a June hail storm in Florence, drinking tea across from the Tower Bridge in London, tarot cards on the patio in St.Thomas, making my Dad laugh at the dinner table, getting off the bus in Edinburgh for the first time, feeding Hamish the Highland cow, "swimming" on Iona, Guinness and laughter in Dublin, hugging my nephews, hearing the earth squish beneath my boots and the wind whistling past my ears, feeling the rain fall on my face, smelling the grass and trees...

I've recently made a promise to myself. Now that it's warm outside, I will try to go to Bryant Park every day...even for just 15 minutes.  Get out of the "office" air, take my shoes off and stand on the grass, read...or just lie there.  It's saved my sanity...and my back.

 My upside-down view of 6th avenue...

 Kicking back with "The Princess Bride"

Getting outside this week hasn't been as easy and I feel the difference. I tried to compensate by walking a different way home, alongside the park, on Monday and was rewarded by a slew of Sassafras trees!  Seeing those delightfully cartoonish leaves made me smile instantly, lifting my spirits.

What does all this have to do with believing in myself and my dreams?  Well...it means I'm going to continue to live life in an enjoyable and sustainable way...and I believe it will all take me to wonderful places. Making lovely memories every day.

XO

Homemade Yogurt!

I was so excited to get this easy recipe during my last apprenticeship day (the origins of it are unclear since it was found online).

Now that I've made yogurt I just can't go back! It also spurred me to only eat/drink real, full fat dairy...I even want to look into buying raw milk in the future.  I'm telling you...I'd love to learn how to churn my own butter, but that's another blog...


Yogurt Recipe

1/2 Gallon whole milk (organic if possible)
1/2 Cup full fat plain yogurt with live active cultures

Heat the milk in a crock pot on low for 2 1/2 hours, then turn off/unplug and allow the milk to cool in crock pot (with lid on) for 3 hours.

Remove 1 or 2 cups of the warm milk and mix with 1/2 cup of yogurt.  Add back into crock pot and whisk thoroughly.

Cover crock pot and wrap in 1 or 2 thick towels.

Let the whole mixture culture over night (8-12 hours).

Pour into glass jars and put into fridge!


I've enjoyed my yogurt with fresh blackberries, stewed apples and cinnamon, and mixed in with my morning oatmeal.  It's delightful!  So mild and creamy...and my stomach is all the better for using whole milk.

I was fascinated by how hard it was to find whole milk yogurt at the supermarket.  All I could find was Greek style (which I love, but is also expensive).


*Remember to save a 1/2 cup of your yogurt for the next batch!

XO

Patience Might Be The Key...

But it's so hard to turn at times!

This is sort of a post script for my "I'm In This for the Long Haul" blog.  I was thinking about it after I posted.

Everything in my life right now lends itself to cultivating patience.  Everything.

Patience for New York.

Waiting for my hair to grow out (this is hard for a Leo).

Slowly paying down my big credit card and student loan.

Watching my savings account grow...slowly but surely.

Waiting to buy certain things (only when I have the funds).

Every time I get a paycheck I square away the bills...budget out this and that...put money on the card and in savings...and then I have to wait until the next payday.  Fingers drumming on my desk.

Waiting for the new season of True Blood to start :)

Researching and waiting to find what my next course of action will be for Scotland.  This is something I cannot rush because I want to make sure to align myself with where I'm supposed to be, not just jump into something for the sake of jumping.

Patience is a very hard won ability for me.  I have been known as an "I want what I want when I want it" kind of gal.  And that has rarely served me well.

With all this patience building comes a lot of thinking, assessing and changing of ideas, which is sort of exciting to tell the truth.  I've been brain-storming my life. Since I'm in a bit of a waiting period right now, why not scout out the possibilities?

I'm trying to learn how to listen...then follow...then listen...then follow.  It's quite a lesson in patience. Especially during the days I don't seem to hear anything.
XO

Weekend Warrior

Fishies and Chips

This week's "assignment" was to take a risk. I spent all week trying to figure out what risk and couldn't think of anything!  I realize, now, that I think of a risk as something big and dramatic...like dropping everything and moving away.  Just a random example ;)

I have been taking little risks for a while now.  Such as asking questions, speaking my mind, and establishing healthy boundaries.  I'm still working at voicing my needs and asking for help.  I'm a little gun-shy still with that.

Some more risk has been involved with purging my apartment because I've been a bit of a hoarder for years...sentimental and craft-related. I'm sure a lot of you can relate.

I read an article about de-cluttering and it mentioned clearing off all surfaces; putting everything in a box to go through when you have time. This is exactly what I did! The result was a clear computer and coffee table.

I was really productive!  I worked on and off all day Saturday and treated myself to my version of a dinner Mom used to make when I was a kid: "fishies" with homemade tartar sauce, rosemary fries and a natural blackberry soda. Then I kicked back with some Dr. Who and Season 1 of True Blood.

Sunday was filled with more of the same.  It was really great because instead of getting overwhelmed with trying to get everything accomplished in one weekend, I took my time, still had a rest, and saw some progress.  I'm seeing how similar organizing my life and my apartment are...I can't expect either to come together all at once. I'm learning more every day.

XO

Art and Gimlet Cookies

I have recently submitted a photo to Exhibition One: Zero Gravity at Lolita Bar.  I donated some cookies for the opening reception and decided to take the opportunity to create a new boozy flavor combination! 

Drum roll please...

3 T Gin
2 T Lime Juice
1 t Lime Zest (optional)
3 T Chopped dried cranberries
1/2 c Raw Sugar
1 c All purpose flour
1/2 t Baking Powder
1/4 t Sea Salt
2 t Cornstarch
3 T Canola Oil
3 T Milk

Soak cranberries in gin for about a half hour.

Mix the sugar and lime juice together and let it sit along with the cranberries.  I found it almost acted like sweetened lime juice (but without the corn syrup).

Preheat oven to 350F.

Combine dry ingredients and mix well.  Add cranberry/gin mix, sugared lime juice, zest, oil, and milk. Mix well. Drop onto a cookie sheet (I use a cookie scoop) covered with unbleached parchment paper. Bake for 18 minutes.

Makes about 18 cookies


They were very popular ;)


Most of the time I try to create these cookies from alcohol I already have in the house.  Then I search drink recipes to get inspiration.  It's a lot of (delicious) fun!

Here are some photos from the opening reception at Lolita Bar (on the Lower East Side of Manhattan):

 The photo on top is mine...

That's me in the mirror :)

XO