Island Life
So the deal is this: A bunch of my family bought property here, on Block Island, in the 70's and 80's. The land was dirt cheap and the island pretty inaccessible. That's all changed.
So the deal is this: A bunch of my family bought property here, on Block Island, in the 70's and 80's. The land was dirt cheap and the island pretty inaccessible. That's all changed. It's a booming tourist industry where land is unbelievably expensive and the tourist population runs wild. While my family used to own cool retail stores, they now rent their properties. This place is how I got turned on the the rental & real estate business. So typically, our houses are rented in summertime – and thats okay with me. After the tourists leave an the seasons begin to shift the island becomes ours once again. Fall out here can be warm, swimming, leisure days or blustery stew and fireplace weather. Totally unpredictable, totally perfect. Picking pears and apples, making pie, eating beef stew in front of a crackling fire. Tanning on the deck, taking outdoor showers, walking down the beach. Is this the life?
I am so
lucky
to have the life flexibility I have. Thank you internet (ahh, online businesses). Thank you Nicole (my trusty assistant). So, if you need me, catch me online; I'm on
island time.
Mmmm, blog lovin'. More here:
I Miss, I Miss, I Miss (Because Being Self Employed is not ALWAYS the Bomb)
I miss high heels (I work from home you see).
I miss the water cooler (cold, free-to-me crisp water, anytime).
I miss being the right temperature for a man in a suit jacket (and stashing sweaters under my desk).
I miss tech support (calling them, not being them).
I miss take out for lunch (because I'm lazy).
I miss high heels (I work from home you see).
I miss the water cooler (cold, free-to-me crisp water, anytime).
I miss being the right temperature for a man in a suit jacket (and stashing sweaters under my desk).
I miss tech support (calling them, not being them).
I miss take out for lunch (because I'm lazy).
I miss commuting (mmm, forced time and space).
I miss direct deposit (weekly, biweekly, whatever).
I miss thinking it's not my problem (these days, it always is).'
I miss coworkers (even the nasty ones, I swear).
I miss weekends (WTF are those?)
I miss paid time off, and sick days and subsidized heath insurance (seriously, they pay you to not work AND stay healthy).
I miss sexy underwear (seriously, what's the point?)
I miss corporate credit cards (someone else pays for something!)
I miss elevators (okay, maybe not so much).
I miss empty trash cans (every morning, yo! Trash be gone like magic! And that shit is vacuumed too!)
I guess what i am saying is this so over said, but under appreciated thought, thanks Joni.
“Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.”
And also, how can I make sexy underwear, ice water and vacations a bigger part of my life?
So for all of you "I-still-have-a-9-5-and-I-resent-it" this post is for you. Breathe in the goodness and get your creative off on the side.
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.
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."
- 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!
- 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!
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!