Why Do I Dance Like That?

This is how my day has been going....totally dance worthy! First, last night I put some old drawings up on Etsy. Just because it's bugging me that I got this great banner for my shop(that the wonderful Kimma made) with nothing in it. Then, just now I put a couple of my watercolor paintings up there too. I love these little girls---my little watercolor ninas. They just are soaked in meaning for me. Truly juicy!

Second, I found a pair of somethin-somethin for my dear friend Andrea who is having a b-day in a week! I just stumbled upon this etsy shop this morning, and later today I was reading the artist's blog and she is totally cool! I LOVE her paintings! You have to check out RAWVOLTA-- look at these sweet paintings. Plus, the kind of kookey thing is that Andrea & I were talking on the phone today, and somehow started talking about the raw food lifestyle. RAWVOLTA is a raw foodist. Hmmmn!?!?! What does it all mean?!?!?!

Third, I am totally proud of myself, because I stayed late at work today and totally kicked butt on a bunch of paperwork that needs to be out of my life by Friday. I was planning on procrastinating and waiting to do it tomorrow...but nope...nope....no...I did it. I forced myself to stay today. Not all of it is done, but I cut a big chunk out of a major pie of misery! My reasoning is that the sooner I get rid of the stuff that I desperately need to do to make the bread and butter right now, the sooner I can move on to what it is I LOVE doing instead--like making goodies for my etsy shop--and most especially yoga! So tomorrow, it will be done--and in less time then I planned for!

Peace & Love

I Love My Edamame!

Here is an absolute MUST MAKE quick & tasty & ohhh soooo good for you dinner (with left overs for lunch!). I got it from this issue's Vegetarian Times and tweaked it a bit....and even Hansel, who is a total carnivore, and rarely likes my veggie masterpieces....adores this dish. So with that said...print this baby out and RUN--yes RUN to the grocery store.

Edamame Brown Rice Bowls

Whatcha Need:

1 cup brown rice (before you cook it)
1 16-oz bag of frozen shelled edamame
3/4 cup dried cranberries
4 oz. crumbled feta
20 pitted kalamata olives, halved
1 small bunch of cilantro chopped
2 Tbs olive oil
1 lime squeezed
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

Whatcha Got To Do:

1. Cook the brown rice in a rice cooker or follow the directions on the box. Turn on some fun music to sing and swing to while you do the rest.
2. Bring 4 cups of salted water to a boil, add edamame, & cook until tender. About 2 or 3 minutes. Drain and run under cold water (the edamame--not you).
3. Toss together rice, edamame, cranberries, feta, olives, cilantro, olive, oil, lime juice, & red pepper flakes. You are going to need a big bowl for this one! Also--don't forget to throw some salt and pepper in threre...not too much, the feta and olives take good care of adding their own salt!
4. Serve it to yourself, your sweetie, any close relatives, and scoop some in a bowl to take with you to lunch the next day!

Good stuff!!!!!!

5 Things I Want to Share About Today

1.) I bought a pair of salmon colored work-out pants. I need to get my big ass in yoga class ASAP. I went Saturday, the first time in two weeks. This is not like me, but my life has been swallowed by work. This, like everything in life, is only temporary, and I believe I can find that balance again. Having a new pair of work-out pants, somehow, helps.

2.) There are people around me that spend alot of time being angry. This is not me either. I decided this morning that instead of reflecting their anger to them-- just because their actions irritate me, I'll make an effort to spread joy. Maybe they'll get it, maybe they won't. But it feels better to be joyful, even in the face of pain, then to be grumpy. "Like water on a duck."

3. ) Eighteen more days till my ten-week summer vacation! It's taken this long to actually realize that I do love my job, and going to work, for the most part, is fun.

4. ) "Once we surrender everything, we have nothing to possess. And when we have nothing to possess, we have nothing to worry about. All worry is due to attachments and clinging to possessions." (The Yoga Sutras, Book Two, #45).

5. ) I am blessed. Very, very blessed.

Sedona Sunday

Today Hansel and I went to Sedona. He went on his mountain bike around Bell Rock and I hiked to the tip-top of Brims Mesa further north in town. The weather was perfect, and once I got on the trails, there were very little tourists to weave through. What they are doing to Sedona just sickens me. I remember when the streets were so narrow, and everything was snug with trees. I miss the Sedona that always seemed like a secret. But still, once I sneak into the canyons or make my way up those magnificent rocks, things are all good again. I love that place. So the only photos I took today were on my hike up Brims Mesa. Enjoy.

First Impressions

I hate writing the first post. I never know what to say, and I overthink that first impression. So instead, I'm taking my camera, and I'll be taking a few photos of my day today. Then I'll post them with a little somethin-somethin to say about them. That should break the ice!