My Weblog

Making cookies

I haven't made cookies in a really long time because I will easily eat a dozen in a day. But something moved me to make some and we had a good time doing so. I would include the recipe but it was pretty make-shift. I added less sugar than the recipe called for, and less butter, but then I forgot to compensate for that, so when I added the flour, they turned out really dry. So I kept the mixer running and poured in maple syrup, but that didn't help immensely, so then I poured in non-fat milk, and got distracted with something Liam suddenly did, so I didn't stop pouring when I should have. The batter was unlike a cookie batter, but nevertheless, they turned out well enough for me to eat a dozen!

Hello again.

I have been away for a while, as some of you know from my last post. I thought I'd drop by and say hello as I miss this lovely community. However I still haven't decided on whether or not to continue posting on a regular basis, as I previously did. For now, I am simply saying hello and giving a brief update. (I hope you are all doing well.)

 

While I was away, my little gem turned 2 and continues to be a beautiful spirit that fills me with awe every day. (Sometimes my awe is over his demands and preferences! Ahem...) 

The rest of my time has been focused on Yoga and keeping balance. I had the pleasure and excitement of teaching 5 classes in a volunteer position. The experience was pretty joyful and I long to teach more. The process of finding a job teaching has been surprisingly difficult but I continue to look and am strengthening my practice daily. In the meantime, I am involved in a mentorship with a fantastic teacher in the city. I get to join her in one of her weekly classes, where I demonstrate the postures, then help her with adjustments and relaxation at the end of class. During the week, leading up to her class, she gives me an idea of what she wants to teach during the week, and I get to create a sequence for that class. She doesn't use it, but we sit down together and discuss its' elements. It is a wonderful learning opportunity and I am very lucky to have this time with her. 

The rest of my time has been spent with Liam, enjoying podcasts for A New Earth, (third time around) getting out with friends more, spending more time in nature and reading more. I got over my little bout of depression by assessing the quality of my diet and changing it to include more fresh food, less sugar and wheat. It made such an immense difference on my energy level, which in turn gave me more focus and a better outlook because I was no longer so exhausted. 

I hope everyone is keeping well. I have continued to follow my favorite blogs and continue to be inspired by your creativity, values and self-expression. Lovely...

Happy New Year

I have not posted in a while, been under the weather, turns out I have Strep Throat. It's not fun. But I love this time of year. Change is in the air! I have resolutions every year, however I don't recall last years, and I don't recall achieving it, but it's fun to think about nonetheless. This year I have a few. I would love to know what yours are. Happy New Year!

1. Enjoy the everyday wonder of things. 

2. Eat more vegetables. Plain and simple.

3. Consider saying yes, before saying no.

4. Push fear aside, it has never served me.

5. Be more spontaneous. My need for structure is actually a need for control, let's face it.

6. Be more gentle with my husband. 

7. Treat Liam to more experiences in nature. 

8. Meditate.

9. Laugh.

10. Volunteer teaching Yoga.

The Evolution of a Snowman

So long....

Favorite Christmas moments

An evening walk on the seawall.

Crafts together. (I'm so in love.)

Explaining cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeers.

Playing with new toys. 

My beautiful gift from Bill.

Happy Boxing Day

Today is a day to stay inside, despite the Boxing Day sales. Here in Vancouver it is snowing hard. There are car accidents everywhere, roads are slippery, or closed. I was out getting groceries this morning, my car got stuck on my way home. Thankfully I had heavy boots on and I was within feet of my home, I just dug myself out. So I hope everyone is safe and warm. Maybe enjoy some homemade Chai? I hope everyone had a good Christmas day.

Homemade Chai

4 cups water

2 cinnamon sticks

4 cloves

5 green cardamon pods, emptied

2 tsp peeled and minced ginger

4 tsp loose black tea

1 cup organic, no-fat milk (traditional chai is made with a full fat milk, fill your boots if you like!)

honey and brown sugar to taste

Bring the water, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and ginger to a slow boil. Lower the heat, add the tea and milk and simmer for a couple minutes. Add honey and/or brown sugar to your liking.

Busy times!

I've been busy despite my efforts to keep things simple. I feel so stretched for time, that even to make today feel easier, I was dropping a package off at a friends at 10:45 last night. Seems my days don't end, and they still aren't long enough. I can't imagine how I would achieve anything if I had a job outside of my home. Kuddos to those of you who lead a creative life, work, raise your kids, have time for exercise and still have room left over for your husband and yourself. Are you out there? If so, please, do tell how! Anyway, I don't know how much I will be posting over the next couple days. We are visiting family and friends and our days will be full. I also teach my first Yoga class next week, I want to be prepared for that, so I need to focus some time on being quiet and keeping my practice up. I have to admit, I feel a bit overwhelmed right now. I love the Christmas season, I love the snow we have right now, I love playing Christmas carols, having the Christmas lights on, the smell of cookies baking, wrapping presents, sending and receiving cards... But a part of me is ready for it to transpire into something else. Something a little more organic; less shopping, more Yoga, less sugar, more salads... Don't get me wrong, I am super excited for Christmas morning with my son and husband, and the rest of the family visiting we have that day, and I am so lucky most of us are in the same town and not missing each other due to the snow. (I won't see my mom however) But I am craving a bit more balance. Am I alone in this? Well if I don't get a chance to post in the next couple days, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hanukkah, and I hope everyone has a safe, healthy, warm few days. I will leave you with a few snowy photos from a full day in it yesterday. (this is not normal for Vancouver)

 

Christmas dinner

Last night my sister and her family hosted a Christmas dinner. She decorated her house beautifully. One tree in the parlor with vintage and crystal decorations, the other in the family room, that the kids decorated with fun, homemade decorations. They put on quite a spread, we ate well. And we had more kids there this year because my brother is engaged to a woman with 2 kids of her own, and my cousin had a baby this year. I didn't get any photos of the baby, but I did get one of my one and only niece. 

Study

Today marks 2 more weeks until my Yoga training is complete. I am torn. I don't want it to end because I love the exponential learning, and the group of women I have been sharing my time with, as well as the amount of Yoga I have been doing. On the other hand I really want to start teaching and would like to get my feet wet. There has been tons of studying and practical work, and at times I have been overwhelmed by it, but it always seems to come back to a balance. Anyway, I'm hoping to really enjoy these next 2 weeks and get as much out of it as possible.

A little down time

I haven't had any time to read lately, so today I am sitting down with some tea and some homemade Vegan Fudge Brownies and enjoying my magazines! I will include the recipe for the brownies later, they are fantastic. Magazines and brownies, indulgence! Have a nice day! 

Oh yeah, way to go Obama!!! I'm so pleased for America and the world. Positive changes are to come, I'm so excited.

Weekend of Yoga

I just had a really fantastic weekend of intense Yoga. My body aches, but my mind is clear and life seems simple. The Yoga was really intense, I sweat like I have never sweat before, there were well over 100 people there and we danced and listened to some beautiful music, worked super hard and had some good laughs. Bill came on Friday night, it was the best date we have ever had. You'd think a break would be in order after about 12 hours of intense physical Yoga practice and an immense amount of introspection and meditation, but I have more Kundalini tonight. If anyone is curious about it, Semperviva offers a fantastic Kundalini class at 7:30 pm on Mondays, as well as other days which you can find on their website. Monday night classes are full of energy, the room is quite dark and the music is really loud, the energy is huge. 

This is the only photo I took and it doesn't convey the amount of people that were there or the mood, but I thought I would include it anyway.

A weekend with Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa

I am SO EXCITED! I will be spending the next two days in a workshop with my favorite yoga teacher, Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa. She is an incredibly lovely, heart-warming, inspirational woman who teaches Kundalini Yoga in a very progressive, non-traditional way. I have always felt balanced, strong and happy after doing her Yoga videos. She makes you work hard, and sweat like crazy, and she is super calm throughout. Her pregnancy book Bountiful Beautiful Blissful also helped me through my pregnancy. OOOOHHHH, I can't wait! Have a nice weekend.