Nothing to do Tuesday

    Is there really nothing to do? Not exactly- but nothing that I really WANT to do. Hey I did start the dishwasher :) I made a couple of calls- but everyone I know actually works more than 2 days a week so I was left fill the space alone. That means it’s time to utilize my beautiful new kitchen!

  I wanted to make some cookies because James always likes to take them to work and we are heading to a friends house for some Dexter later this evening- and I always like to pawn off my baking so I don’t inhale all of it myself. In case you didn’t know I’m in love with peanut butter. Can’t seem to start the day with out at least 1 spoonful :) With that James is equally addicted to peanut butter cookies and while he has a few favorite recipes I thought I would make a more traditional looking peanut butter cookie:

Peanut Butter Criss Cross Cookies

They looked and smelled amazing while they were baking and I can’t wait for James to give me to final review- which he already told me will also include a cold glass of coffee flavored soymilk. Needless to say he’s excited to come home!

     We can’t just have our dessert- unfortunately as part of a balanced diet we have to include something more than peanut butter and sugar.. I know, I was bummed out when I found that out too! So what to make??? Well I had lots of time- and I had potatoes. So I went with a childhood favorite- something I used to make with my dad all of the time- something that is my FAVORITE kitchen memory and probably the reason I love to cook..... GNOCCHI! 

     If your not Italian you may not know what these are- these wonderfully dense but fluffy potato “dumpling”- Oh my!!! Maybe they are traditionally dumplings but in my family they were homemade and used in place of pasta. My dad used to make a clear sauce with chicken and Broccoli- tons of onion and garlic, yum! Well I don’t eat chicken- but it doesn’t matter- these tender little dudes are amazing standing alone with just some Earth Balance, salt and freshly grated cheese. Now you may be tempted to go out and buy they vacuum sealed versions of these- but don’t even bother. They will let you down- these are just meant to be made with family, from scratch. Period. 

YUM.

Fire in my heart

    60 minutes of yoga can be so many things. It’s a good stretch out for over worked muscles as well as a workout. Static vs. dynamic- static poses are always more challenging for me. I am almost never static. Even when I sleep I’m in constant motion. I have always been hyper active, though I keep that activity at bay by working out, and believe it or not chewing gum helps me tremendously. Little known fact- during my swimming career you would never find me without a piece in my mouth. I chewed gum during each and ever single practice- the only time in the water without a piece was durning a race! Long hours doing laps can cause the mind to wander and if your like me it’s sounds like a pin ball machine in there.. Bouncing from one thought to the next. That habit has followed me well into my adult years- practicing yoga, slacklining, going to the gym- all include my chewy mint friend.
    While practicing a few moments ago I really came to understand something; I can never be still. In my yoga I am constantly shifting, adjusting and focusing on everything else besides what I’m doing. Sure I am really good at getting my body contorted and picture perfect in these postures- but try to get me to hold them for more than a few breaths and I’m all over the place. This is something that I’m working on in all aspects. How do we gain the power to control the brain? Controlling the body is a piece of cake in comparison.
   I’m not the typical yogi. I drink coffee, swear, occasionally drink alcohol, smoke herb, I do not meditate (can’t sit still long enough)... but I do have the ability to by completely dynamic. I can flow through postures- I have a great sense of moving meditation- which is why slacklining is the best thing in the world for me. At this point in my life and my practice I can’t tackle mastering the mind- and I know few in the world really have- but I am not even there yet. I have done everything to try and master the physical part of my practice, again there is so much to work through, but it come more naturally to me.

   So what am I getting at? Well there are a few things- Acceptance is one. I have accepted that this is a life long journey that I am on- one that I will stubbornly pursue and one that I will never conquer.. and that is ok. Two is to gain the knowledge that who I am, my person- my practice- my quirks- are beautiful. Though I may not see it or truly believe this 80% of the time I need to remind myself that I am who I am for a reason. Yes I’m not typical- but I don’t want to be. I am special as is each and everyone of you out there. We are who we need to be. And that is good enough for me.    

Slack it.

     The temperature was slightly above 50 degrees, I was off work, and I had some free time- So what does that mean???  

(Recycled from October)

You guessed it- slackline time! I was more than excited to get out in the sun, and on the line. After this past weekend at Frog Lotus Yoga and finally putting together my travel plans for the teacher training in May, I was stoked to get out there.  I went to a local state park, Goddard State Park to be exact. The space is pretty awesome with tons of trees and space to get everything set up. Even though it was in the 50’s, there was a ton of wind coming off the water (The park it huge but there is a water front area) so it was chilly. Good thing I layered well and took my leg warmers! It took some time to get set up since I spent the time wrapping the trees with old yoga mats for protection from the line (I normally wouldn’t do this for a short slack session but I didn’t know if I would be allowed to set up the line in the first place and I wanted to cover my tush in case someone came over to yell at me :) ) Every time I would get the mat in place and just about wrap the time around it the wind would blow super hard and make everything fall- leaving me to try again. Thankfully with persistence I was able to get it together- and in a  semi-sunny spot for warmth. 

   I was on the line for less than 5 minutes when a park truck drove by, and down the road-turned around and drove back down towards me, passing by- then they turned around again! This time they stopped right behind me and shut the truck off. I figured that at this point I would be getting in trouble, but to my surprise when they stepped out of the truck- they were just asking me what I was doing- and couldn’t believe that I could walk on it. We talked for a few- I told them what it was all about, explained who the Yogaslackers were. After a few they took the hint that I was there for a reason and went back to the truck- hung out for 5 more minutes before starting the truck and leaving. It was a bit weird and I was glad they left! 

    I worked for 45 minutes on walking the line, sit to stand, kneeling, sitting, shoulder stand.. My ankle was on fire!! 5 minutes on the line feels like 15 minutes on the yoga mat. Needless to say I was wiped out and freezing when I disassembled the set up. 

    Fast forward a few hours- I was at the studio taking a Classic Rock yoga class doing some balance stuff and it was incredible how much easier the balancing on the mat was compared to the line. Now I know what your thinking- Duh! I know it’s going to be easier- but I felt like I was so much more able to focus during class than normal. I always have trouble calming my head down. I have a ton of stuff running through my mind at all times. There are two ways I can calm the mind. Smoke and exhaust my body to the max. Today was exhausting- 1 hr PT, 1/2 hr on the Arc machine at the gym, 45 mins on the slackline and then 1 hour yoga.  I feel amazing right now..

Sunny Sundae

After spending the weekend in North Adams MA at Frog Lotus Yoga, assisting a Yogaslackers workshop- I wasn’t looking forward to returning to everyday life- meaning Denny’s. What’s the best way to perk up a rough Monday??? Get an ice cream sundae! James was very serious about it- he even put his serious mustache on :)

 I ordered an old favorite (that I haven’t had in the 4 vegan years) Classic sundae with 2 scoops crazy vanilla, caramel whip cream and nuts!! James also got a classic sundae with 2 scoops butter crunch and hot fudge- check these bad boys out!

 Taking a bit of this was intense.. I mean look at all the whipped cream!

 It was a very delicate and blurry process. I had to use my hands to get it all on the spoon- lol

 This is an INTENSE face! It was so yum!

 Sugar rushes leave you feeling AWeSOME

 Blurry smiles :)

 And crazy faces!

And some smooches! Talk about beating the Monday blues... I’ll have ice cream any day.


What do you do to beat the work week blues?

Days in photos