Things That Are Good, Neither or Really Shitty

Ladies and gentlemen (there are a select few of you, I hope).  This is it.  The introduction of my 

WEEKLY FEATURE.  

Once a week (on Fridays) I am going to be here, dishing the dish, full of links and critiques and my opinions – which Salt'n'Pepa taught me "...are like assholes and everybody's got one." (Side note, if you haven't listened to this this year, you should.)

So, THIS week's roundup:

• This wall color.  I sweat the bravery, I sweat the color, I do not envy hanging art on it.  Ps. No one looks that good while painting (new thing to live up to.)

• So since we are already talking about people looking awesome...I want to tell you how stinking awesome I look in this sweater.  Seriously.  I bought it in all three colors.  I am old.  It is official.  But I am happy.  So suck it. 

• More on pretties:  Rings cast from sand. Stackable.  Unique.  Going on my MUST have list.

• On the SHITTY list.  This terrible article about the grossest stuff you'll ever hear about. Seriously, if you want to quit, just quit.  If you want to smoke, just smoke.  Yuck to chemical poison.

• If you do care about your body and you are ready for a spring (god, I hope) cleanse. The click here because this is the one you want.  The recipes OMG they make me want to cook!  

• Loving THIS song.  Rosie Thomas. There is a reason it is on the "Sad Songs Channel" but seriously, major prettiness. 

That is, officially, all that is important in the world today.  Well, except for THIS granola I make weekly to feed my family.  Oh, and THIS calzone.  And THESE pork chops.

Happy Weekend.  I'm out

A Little Bird Told Me to Blog About Granola

Granola is food.  As far as I am concerned anything with proteins and carbs that is EASY to eat in many different ways is PERFECT. 

It also makes me feel all glowey inside when I make a big batch of ANYTHING.  Like I've turned into some kind of survivalist.

So here is what you can do to feel like a glowing bass-ass survivalist:

In one bowl :

• Three cups of grains (I use mostly rolled oats and a bit of uncooked quinoa).
• One to one and a half cups of nuts. I find a combo of pecans and almonds pretty dope as long as I chop them up super fine.  
• One teaspoon of salt - I like bigger crystals so it crunches.
• One to two cups of seeds (I favor raw pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds).
• One cup of shredded coconut.  Yum.
• Two teaspoons of spices.  I am currently using cinnamon and ginger and nutmeg.  Explore!  

Mix these all up together.  Then add,

• 1/4 - 1/2 cup of oil (olive or canola works well)
• 1/2 - 3/4 cup of sweetener (I use maple syrup)
• Optional - One egg white, whisked until foamy before adding. This makes those clusters that I love.

Mix it all up – spread on a parchment paper covered cookie sheet (for easy clean up) – bake at 300 degrees for 45 minutes (stir mid way if you don't want clumps).  

It will NOT be hard when you pull it out of the oven.  It hardens as it cools.  Let it cool all the way.  Then add some chopped up dried fruits.  About of cup of cranberries, chopped figs and raisins does the trick quite well.

I double the batch and share some with this chick.

Bitchy Little Critic:: Your Inner Voice

I just told a client a few weeks ago: Your inner voice narrates all that you do.

Your inner voice is: 

• Not always right.
• Just a moment in a long story that we tell ourselves about ourselves. 
• Created by all that comes at you in life.
• Beautiful, no matter what it says.

What does yours say?

Recently my inner voice has been a bitchy little critic.  (CLICK TO TWEET)

I keep telling her to STFU.  But she doesn't listen.  

I speak to myself SO DIFFERENTLY than I speak to anyone else.

I talk to my kids with (mostly) sweetness.  My husband. . .well, I try.

With my clients I am firm, yet kind.  My friends and family come to me to be talked though things.  To be LISTENED TO.

My intention is to work on the conversations I have with myself in my head.  Conversations about feelings and thoughts and worthwhileness and overwhelm and incapacity. The funny thing is when these things come aloud, I don't even believe them.  

I know I am not what the voice says I am.  But now, to sweeten the voice.  To add fullness and honey.  

Learning to take care of myself.  Learning to care for myself with how I talk to myself.

Do The Same Things Everywhere

When my mom and I drive through towns we always wonder:

"What do the people DO here?"

I am starting to wonder that about myself.  What is life really made of?  Do my quote-unquote accomplishments matter? Does anyone notice if I wash the dishes? 

I know I think too much.

I've noticed, thanks.  But seriously, moment after moment after moment.  This is life.  Just stringing the bits together. 

Here I am, now on the East Side of Providence, still asking the same questions.  Still trying to figure out what the heck I am doing.

This morning's answer sponsored by Emerging Energy Acupuncture: I am off to make banana bread. 

Crack (AKA Heirloom Tomatoes) & Genetics – What I Got From My Mom

They say addictive tendencies are passed down through families.  Booze, smoking, drugs, pills, meth.  Tomatoes?  Do those count?  Also passed along is the normal genetic crap – like hair color, eye color, breast size and weird toes, etc.  And then there is nurture which molds and shapes us.

From my mother I've inherited a few things:

• A severe addition to buying all the heirloom tomatoes that I can get my hands on during the last two weeks of August in the Northeast.  Seriously, folks today I spent OVER $60 on tomatoes.  And that is just ONE DAY of tomato buying.  I will eat them all.  Well, my mother is visiting, so she will help.  And my daughter (be it by nature or nurture) has also inherited this severe addiction. 
• I did not inherit my mother's blond hair, bad teeth, aversion to conflict or affinity to beer.
• I did inherit her big boobs, long legs, green eyes, and lack of verbal filter. 

All in all, I think I've done pretty well.  And if my daughter's worst addiction continues to be tomatoes, I think we will all get big pats on the back.

How to Prepare an Heirloom Tomato for Proper Consumption

1. Never, ever, ever, ever put that tomato near the fridge. 
2. Have a good, sharp knife.  And slice that ugly/beauty in thick rounds.
3. Sprinkle with good salt, preferably course, preferably sea salt.
4. Let sit for about an hour. 
5. Eat. 

So Lost the Damn Smoothie Blog Post and Then I Lost My Shit.

I suppose there are people in the world who go to sleep at night and then wake up the next morning.  That hasn't happened for me in over three years.  I was up last night (googling smoothie recipes with almond milk frozen in ice cube trays) and thinking about what this might do to my brain, this lack of sleep. 

So I got up.  And I wrote a WHOLE LONG BLOG POST about my favorite smoothies, with tips and techniques and tricks and it was so clear and awesome and then I hit the FUCKING DELETE button like an idiot. 

So, in former days I might do something like throw my computer.  But these days a I am a whole lot more in tune to the fact that the universe is whispering to me: Girl, get the eff of the computer and go live your life.   So I walked away and took some time away and come back to you now with two DOPE smoothie recipes that I have perfected in the times spent living my life OFF the computer.

Bomb Ass Not-So-Fruity Smoothie

This one will fill you up.  I swear by it when I won't get to eat for an hour (yes, I eat almost every hour.)  Also, my daughter loves it, she says it is "better than the blue one." 

1. Throw coconut flakes in any milk (almond, cow, soy). I just put it in the bottom of the blender. Add a bit of vanilla or almond extract and some cinnamon.  Then, let it sit for a bit.  I sue this time to unload the dishwasher, wipe some surfaces, make cereal for my daughter or something like that.  Efficiency, folks!
2. Then I add two whole frozen bananas (I freeze mine quartered, cut once the long way and once the short way) .  Then a heaping tablespoon of peanut butter and a bunch of plain greek yogurt.  Then a few cubes of ice and blend away!
3. Yum. 

Crunchy Fruit Smoothie

This is a pretty basic milk and fruit based smoothie.  But I decided to include it because it is a fun baseline to work with and has a couple of sweet tricks.  I think I have talked quite a bit about being a fruit hoarder, so this means I always have an ample supply of frozen fruits and as everyone knows, frozen fruit an awesome smoothie doth make.

1. Start with any milk in the bottom of a blender.  I know, I know, I am getting repetitive here, I obviously like this step.  Throw in some chia seeds (google if you don't know of what I speak).  I also like coconut flakes in here...but I just like coconut in general in the summer as it reminds me of the tropics and sunscreen.
2. Add a lot of frozen blueberries and peaches (mine I never have long enough to freeze) and greek yogurt (for protein, ya'll) and blend.  Some people choose to use a sweetener in this, depending on their fruits - If I do use something I use a spoonful of some kind of corn syrup free jelly or jam from the fridge.  Honey or agave are also fine, clearly, but I don't like agave and having a little kid has gotten me off honey.  I really like to put fresh raspberries or blackberries in this one too as it is one that makes a virtue of the drink that you must chew.

So, go make some smoothies and report back. 

 *it is fun to make jars of frozen fruit mixes and leave in your freezer.  Then dump them in to your blender in the AM and add right back to the same jar.  PRETTY THINGS!

Balance - A Lesson From Fruit

Mmm, my whole car and house smelled like fresh berries for days.  Every year I like to pick as much as I can of fresh blueberries, strawberries or blackberries and freeze them for the winter ahead.  See, I like winter, but I don't like the absence of food that tastes like food.  So, this is my solution.

The whole time we were picking (and beforehand) I was think a lot about the concept of preparedness.  The fine line between being a horder and having a well-stocked pantry.  Similarly, the line between getting all of your work done, but not being obsessive about completion.  

There is something to be said for having fresh berries and there is something to be said  for having a blank to do list. BUT, not ALWAYS.  Again, back to the concept of balance.

Right now I am getting to practice a lot of my balance skills.  I feel like I am rushing very fast to the finish line of this pregnancy, but still giving myself those reminders to live in the present moment and balance FAST with SLOW. 

How do you keep balance in your life?