I am on day 2 of the 21 day yoga challenge! I am loving every minute!! Who else has joined me?
Also I am still not eating sugar. 23 days!!!!!! This week, I am going to make no sugar, vegan mini-cheesecakes. I am super excited about them. I'll post pics and the recipe for you. It came from a delight little gem of a book I picked up at Bookman's called, Sexy Bitch. I'm in love....
That's all I have for now.
Peace and Love
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Friday, January 6, 2012
Let's Talk About Plastic Bay-Be, Let's Talk About You and Me
Watch this first, then discuss....it actually makes me cry every time I watch it.
What'd ya think? To some of you this isn't new, but to a bunch of you, this is a horrific new detail in our environmental disaster. 2 MILLION BOTTLES EVERY HOUR IN THE U-fucking-S ALONE? WHAT THE FUCK????? Seriously??? It doesn't have to be this way!!! Remember when you were a kid and your parents had snack duty for your AYSO soccer game? If you are as old as I am, they brought the team orange cooler filled with Tang and some sliced oranges, not 30 fucking Gatorade bottles, mini sized to start out a new generation of fat kids, and 30 individually wrapped crap-tastic snack whatevers.
Think people! Do you need all those plastic bottles? Do you need to have anything, but one bottle, glass (you can find them for $5 at Ross) or stainless steel, that you carry around with you all the time? Do you need that crappy soda? And if you do, can you fill it up at the fountain, in your own cup? Even aluminum is better because it can be fully recycled. Think deeper. Do you need a plastic bag at the grocery store? Can you carry out your small items or bring your own bag? For you in Phoenix, the Roadrunner farmers market sells hand made t-shirt bags for $1!!!! Buy 10. My friend Alli makes them. I have one and I love it!
All that packaging that goes into processed food production, is it really necessary? The answer is no! There is actually an award for food processing companies who have the best packaging, best meaning most plastic used, not best for the environment. Hey all those veggies you buy in the produce section and wash, do you really need to put them in plastic bags just to take them home? They are already full of the store personal and shoppers germs and you are washing them anyway, why take the bag too? It does nothing to keep your veggies longer, I promise. Make your own produce bags, and if you're not crafty, buy reusable ones at Target or support a work at home mom who makes their living reusing and selling things like this on the Internet.
Let's reduce in 2012. Just me and you. It will catch on. Look how neon clothing has made several comebacks in fashion! This can be done! Write to your favorite store bought cookie maker and tell them you won't buy their cookies any more until the reduce the packaging, or better yet, make your own! You, yes you!, can make a difference. Please, watch the video again and give it a thought. What else can be done to reduce this massive death trap? I'm all ears and heart. I will follow any other suggestions. (I'm not accusing you, I'm just a bit worked up.)
100th Post!
So to celebrate my 100th post, I thought I would share a muffin with you. And in honor of my processed sugar ban, these are sugar free, but very sweet!! My new favorite muffin!!!!!!! Like so favorite that I made six yesterday, ate three and a half, shared the other two and a half with the boys and today made twelve more. The intent is to eat them over the weekend, but I'm not sure if all twelve will make it past the night...
Introducing Honey Wheat Muffins!!!! They are easy to make and healthy and sweet, sweet, sweet!!!! And when I get around to buying whole flax seeds to make egg replacer*, they'll also be vegan!! (Substitute non-dairy milk for regular.) Yahoo!!!!
I've also been making fresh loaves of bread since yesterday. If you aren't familiar with the 5 Minute Bread recipe, acquaint yourself immediately! I first found the recipe in Mother Earth News and that's the recipe I still use, so please, for all that's good and holy, follow the link and make your own bread! Seriously no kneading and fresh bread daily!! The article is a bit wordy, but there are recipes galore in it! The actual bread recipe starts on page 3. Guess what? You can freeze the dough, but why? It keeps in the fridge for up to two weeks, as if. But, the longer its stays in the fridge, the more sour it gets. Hello??? Could it be a more perfect way to give yourself and your family a delicious, nutritious snack?
Okay, the benefits of making your own muffins and bread: You know what's in them and where it came from. You can make them the way you like, like without crappy sugar the fucks with your brain and liver and kidneys and fat cells. I made the bread with half organic white flour, half freshly ground wheat flour (Thank you, Anneka!!!) and half a cup of flax meal. There is no waste, like no plastic to throw away to contribute to the Plastic Island. So many good reasons!!! Start baking!!!!
Hey busy people!!!!! All of these freeze, so with a quick thaw you can have the best food ever!!
*To make your own egg replacer, boil a couple of teaspoons of flax seeds in a couple of cups of water. It will start to thicken up a bit and look and feel like goopy egg whites. Strain the seeds, or keep them in as I usually do, and used 1/4 cup of replacer for every egg your recipe calls for. Hello fiber, goodbye maimed, mutilated, overworked and abused hens!!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
4 Minute Shower
In the interest of doing more for the environment, I have been talking to a few people about they do. Many things I already do, or don't, but a four minute shower is not one of those things I do. So I timed my last two showers. This is what I can accomplish in 1 four minute period: the first shower I did all my soaping and I shaved. The second shower, I just soaped and sat for what seemed like 10 minutes with the water on my head. Both times I also brushed my teeth. I haven't washed my hair yet and don't intend to for a few more days, so you'll have to wait for those results.
Challenge for you: Can you take only four minutes showers for the rest of the month and compare your water bill from December? I'm with you in this. Lets see how much water we can conserve!!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
21 Day Yoga Challenge
Yoga Journal emails you in the middle of the night, so when you wake up in the morning, your days lesson is right there on ye ol' laptop/desktop. Download promptly and do. That's it. There are anywhere from 30-60 minutes. My plan is to save an hour for the whole thing every morning and the days it goes shorter, I can also meditate. Good luck all!!!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Motivation
My motivation waxes and wanes. I'm not sure what it's dependent on, but I do know that I am heavily motivated so far this year to get back to my truth. To get back to me. Just me. I have a plan for today.
What is on your motivational list? Anyone want to take the 21 day yoga challenge with me? It starts on the 9th. Does anyone even read this anymore? Haha! I have been a bad blogger!
- Purge anything that is unnecessary
- Stay off the processed sugar, 16 days today!!
- Preserve $40 worth of seasonal food per month, in the winter having to buy it from the organic store, in the summer from the farmers market
- Start storing water
- See where else I can cut down on my dependence of others, like utilities
- Raise bees
- Start a garden in the community plot
- Take the 21 day yoga challenge
- Write letters instead of text or email
- Build my hen house
- Knit to make money and possibly to have a booth at the farmers market, so I can save up for boarding season
- Learn to snowboard
- Visit my family
- Write on the blog more often
What is on your motivational list? Anyone want to take the 21 day yoga challenge with me? It starts on the 9th. Does anyone even read this anymore? Haha! I have been a bad blogger!
Friday, September 30, 2011
How Do You Do It?
A few weeks ago, after a customer commented on my new tattoo, I realized that I am growing up to be the person I wanted to be when I envisioned growing up. I have tats and piercings. I go to college and frequent my favorite coffee shop. My pants haven't fit my waist since I was seven, and I have the body to pull off LOW rise jeans. There are a few things that still don't work with my 15-year-old version of my 34-year-old self, but I'm getting there.
One huge component is how I live and raise our kids. I live a very modest life. My rent is my biggest bill and I gladly pay it because I love the home I have made this house into. The kids go to a laid back "hippie" school, it's a Steiner school, for anyone who wants to know. They are versed in all forms of art, music, drama and get to play in the sunshine, rain, snow mud and anything in between. They play sports and Number 3 is joining the Earth Scouts this month. I work only three days a week and go to school five days a week. My loans pay for most of my expenses right now. I weighed the consequences of taking out so much money to the benefit of being able to concentrate on my school work and, most important to me, being able to be with the kids.
My friend emailed me today and asked for advice. She is thinking about quitting her job and working from home. She's scared to death and asked for tips on how to do it. Without too much thinking this is the advice I gave her:
Sheer will, perseverance and faith that you can do it. Honestly, I'm not sure how I do anything anymore. I just believe that I can, take what comes and own it; good or bad. That doesn't mean I don't struggle, cry, scream, give up or complain, but at the end of one of those moments, I wipe my snot and remember that I have felt like giving up before and it's all worked out.
Most of the time, my plans are basic, not thought through. I'm not sure if that's good because I don't have expectations or bad because if I don't really have a plan, then I really don't have a back-up plan. Except I do have a back-up, I suppose. It is faith in my convictions, faith that, once again, I will be okay, faith that I am supposed to be where I am right now, no matter where it is. This isn't based in religion or God, just belief in magic, I guess. The magic in me.
I guess what I am saying is super-cliche, but follow your heart. Do what's right for you. In my case that meant breaking apart my family, losing my home and my car, leaving my friends and living without running water for 7 months. And that doesn't include what I have done to keep my relationship with Tris thriving. I believed that leaving [the kids dad], so many years ago, was what my heart was telling me to do. I believe that doing everything in my power, without giving up myself, is what I have to do for my romantic relationship. I believed that moving to Flagstaff was the best choice I could make for my family.
On my hard days, and I do have them, I remember what I believe. I make a list of the things I am grateful for and do not pause to mourn the things I have lost in my journey. If working from home is what you want to do, I support you. You may have to make a list of the things you are willing to give up to make that dream come true, but if you are willing to put them on the list in the first place, then you are probably willing to part with them. Simplifying my life was the best thing I have ever done, but that is just me. I know you will take the next step in the direction your life will take, just be willing to accept whatever direction that is.
Oh. And I make my bed every day because there is subtle satisfaction in doing one little thing for myself, even if the rest of my day is devoted to everyone else. (I learned this from my friend, Katy. In fact, she practically made me make my bed every day. Now, it's a habit and I relish in the fact that I get to slide into tight sheets every night. )
I retyped this mostly for myself. This is what I tell people and what it probably true, but from my perspective, I am only doing what I have always done. Maybe it's ordinary, maybe extraordinary, maybe it's just mi vida loca. Anyway you see it, I make my life the way I want it because, to me, there is no other option. I hope you are realizing your dreams and not letting fear hold you back from the reality that could be yours if you just jump. So plug your nose, when you are ready, and be prepared for whatever temperature that water is when you hit.
One huge component is how I live and raise our kids. I live a very modest life. My rent is my biggest bill and I gladly pay it because I love the home I have made this house into. The kids go to a laid back "hippie" school, it's a Steiner school, for anyone who wants to know. They are versed in all forms of art, music, drama and get to play in the sunshine, rain, snow mud and anything in between. They play sports and Number 3 is joining the Earth Scouts this month. I work only three days a week and go to school five days a week. My loans pay for most of my expenses right now. I weighed the consequences of taking out so much money to the benefit of being able to concentrate on my school work and, most important to me, being able to be with the kids.
My friend emailed me today and asked for advice. She is thinking about quitting her job and working from home. She's scared to death and asked for tips on how to do it. Without too much thinking this is the advice I gave her:
Sheer will, perseverance and faith that you can do it. Honestly, I'm not sure how I do anything anymore. I just believe that I can, take what comes and own it; good or bad. That doesn't mean I don't struggle, cry, scream, give up or complain, but at the end of one of those moments, I wipe my snot and remember that I have felt like giving up before and it's all worked out.
Most of the time, my plans are basic, not thought through. I'm not sure if that's good because I don't have expectations or bad because if I don't really have a plan, then I really don't have a back-up plan. Except I do have a back-up, I suppose. It is faith in my convictions, faith that, once again, I will be okay, faith that I am supposed to be where I am right now, no matter where it is. This isn't based in religion or God, just belief in magic, I guess. The magic in me.
I guess what I am saying is super-cliche, but follow your heart. Do what's right for you. In my case that meant breaking apart my family, losing my home and my car, leaving my friends and living without running water for 7 months. And that doesn't include what I have done to keep my relationship with Tris thriving. I believed that leaving [the kids dad], so many years ago, was what my heart was telling me to do. I believe that doing everything in my power, without giving up myself, is what I have to do for my romantic relationship. I believed that moving to Flagstaff was the best choice I could make for my family.
On my hard days, and I do have them, I remember what I believe. I make a list of the things I am grateful for and do not pause to mourn the things I have lost in my journey. If working from home is what you want to do, I support you. You may have to make a list of the things you are willing to give up to make that dream come true, but if you are willing to put them on the list in the first place, then you are probably willing to part with them. Simplifying my life was the best thing I have ever done, but that is just me. I know you will take the next step in the direction your life will take, just be willing to accept whatever direction that is.
Oh. And I make my bed every day because there is subtle satisfaction in doing one little thing for myself, even if the rest of my day is devoted to everyone else. (I learned this from my friend, Katy. In fact, she practically made me make my bed every day. Now, it's a habit and I relish in the fact that I get to slide into tight sheets every night. )
I retyped this mostly for myself. This is what I tell people and what it probably true, but from my perspective, I am only doing what I have always done. Maybe it's ordinary, maybe extraordinary, maybe it's just mi vida loca. Anyway you see it, I make my life the way I want it because, to me, there is no other option. I hope you are realizing your dreams and not letting fear hold you back from the reality that could be yours if you just jump. So plug your nose, when you are ready, and be prepared for whatever temperature that water is when you hit.
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