Yay Me!

I have just realized that I have been sans coffee for two weeks now…..2 WHOLE WEEKS! I haven’t made a conscience decision to stop, it just doesn’t sound good to me these days. I’ve never been a coffeeholic, but usually I have two cups a day. These days, tea is much more my beverage of choice. Currently I’m enjoying my second cup of Jasmine Green Tea – go figure!

Photo Credit: dadadreams

Smile

"A smile is a curve that sets everything straight" ~ Phyllis Diller

Photo Credit: KHall65890

Special Sunday

What a wonderful weekend I had, specifically, a wonderful Sunday. Woke up at 10am (decadent to sleep in!) and dear hubby took me and our son to Brunch at No Ka Oi, down off Main Street. It was a lovely morning, sunny and a wee bit cool which made it perfect! I had Eggs Benedict (always on the quest for the perfect Eggs Benedict!) Which was wonderful, and their Breakfast Potatoes were the best!

We then strolled down Main street to the beach Amphitheater and people watched (while we digested) for a while. Getting sleepy, we headed home where we proceeded to take a 2 hour nap! Wow! What a day! (I know, not too amazing, but hey, I don't get out much!)

Oh, and I finally got some of my plants in my garden! I planted fresh Italian Parsley, Basil, Dill, Bee Balm, Cilantro, and Tarragon. I still have to plant my Jalapeno, Watermelon, Eggplant and Tomatoes. Maybe tonight after work.

Butterfly

"What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly" ~ Richard Bach

Photo Credit: aimzy

Gardening Part Deux

Well, my friends....based on my previous post, it is safe to assume that I did not get out into the garden this past weekend. I think I would have melted in 10 minutes! So, that will be my plan for this coming weekend, the forecast is much more suitable for gardening!

Speaking of gardening, I received this great and informative email from a reader and thought that you'd like to look into it as well. Being an avid lover of Campbell soup (but for some strange reason, not tomato soup? Love tomatoes, ketchup, spaghetti sauce, etc....but not soup?!?!? Go figure.) I was surprised to read the following, and plan on taking them up on their offer!

"For the first time in its more-than-100-year history, Campbell Soup Company is making available to the American public specially cultivated seeds used to grow tomatoes for its iconic Campbell’s® Tomato soup. The effort is part of Campbell’s goal to grow more than one billion tomatoes across the country and to support American agriculture. Campbell also is teaming up with the National FFA Organization and Urban Farming Inc., each of which will use the special seeds to help create five community gardens in urban communities.
To learn more about this please to go http://akamediainc.com/SMNR/tomatoseed.html
Here you can learn more about the history of Campbell's famous tomato soup, Campbell's community garden initiatives, and how gardening guru Danny Seo is helping the cause. "

Let's start planting! :)

Dreaming of Rain

Well, it's day four of our heat wave here in California....and I have found myself this afternoon dreaming of rain. The cool refreshment of rain..ahhhhhh! Thankfully the forcast for the remainder of the week is a lot more bearable.

Sending out cool vibes>>>>> to those that are suffering in the heatwave! Stay cool!

(Photo credit: Tapio Hurme)

Getting Dirty

Well, the weekend has finally arrived, and I'm looking forward to getting dirty!

I've got my parsley, tomato, chive, basil, dill seeds ready to go...just have to map out my planting scheme. I love this time of year, digging in the soil. I actually love to sit on the soil and garden without gloves, sure it destroys my nails and fingers, but it's so grounding to be with the soil. Call me weird!

I'm also planning on spending 2 hours dedicated to clearing out my daughters room, I'm sure she's got the potential of several trash bags of junk in there. Hopefully I can clear a pathway for the real work next week!

Then finally on Sunday, my BFF is having a house warming party and I have been asked to help set up. Looking forward to that! Their new home is just beautiful and a long time coming!

Any special plans for you this weekend?

Simplicity

Simplicity seems to be the new "buzz" word lately. And I'm feeling it, craving it.

What got me started was that my husband was laid off last week, which is a major bummer....but we are optimistic! That got me contemplating our future, not in a panic, but in a "let's be realistic" mindset.

1) What if he doesn't find a job and we have to lose the house.

2) What to do if we can't pay our bills.

I have a renewed fire in me to simplify. Clean out the "junk" from our lives. We have an actual container of household goods (my hubby worked in the transportation industry) plus a room full of "stuff" from my daughter who moved out in December. I haven't even touched her room - Ugh! (I don't think there is even walking space in there!) Not to mention the disaster in the garage and attic. I like to purge....my husband likes to hoard. Interesting combination, but this time I think I'll win out on the battle of the "bulge".

I've even simplified my diet. I know a lot of you are doing spring cleanses/detoxes. I have started to adjust my diet to get rid of the "junk" as well. I haven't had any wine since Sunday (a major vice) nor coffee (until this afternoon when I realized my chin was on my desk-LOL!)

Have you had any lifestyle changes that have urged you to change things up? What were they and how did you do?

*I was reeeaaaalllly hesitant to post this information....I haven't even told our extended family about our situation, but I know that we are not an isolated family that has been hit with a lay-off. I hope to be a source of support/comfort/whatever and get it out there that your/we're not alone.

Thanks for letting me vent....fphwewww! That felt good!

Photo credit: hbierau

Gardening the Mind

"A man's mind may be likened to a garden which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must and will, bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind. Just as a gardener cultivates his plot, keeping it free from weeds, and growing the flowers and fruits which he requires, so may a man tend the garden of his mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless and impure thoughts, and cultivating perfection the flowers and fruits of right, useful and pure thoughts. By pursuing this process, a man discovers that he is the great gardener of his soul, the director of his life." - As Man Thinketh

Photo credit: FreeFoto.com

Wellness

Wellness doesn’t end with fresh foods, cardio classes and healthy skin. Wellness includes happiness. Wellness includes being content with your current situation and if you’re not content, then doing what you must to improve it.Wellness is giving up harmful and costly addictions that only make you happy temporarily. Wellness is giving up meaningless obligations to take on meaningful obligations like volunteering and spending quality time with family and friends. Wellness is a package of healthy body and mind, and I hope you’ll work to improve yours in 2009.

From my myspace friend-Just Juicy

How do you chew?

The earliest I can remember, I have been a fast eater. I came from a family of 8. If you didn’t eat it fast enough, someone else would snatch it up. So fast eating worked well for survival as a child, but now as an adult – I have the blessing to be able to sit with my family for a nice, leisurely meal without the threat of bro #1 or bro #2 swiping my food off of my plate.

I have discovered that by eating so fast, I don’t take the time to savor the flavors, textures, colors, temperatures of my food. I’m not “present” while I eat my food.

Last month I took an on-line class at Marilu.com. She is a great advocate for all things healthy (health in general, eating, and living). Please stop by and check her site out – it’s fabulous! But anyways, one of the assignments was to eat a meal with your eyes closed and note to yourself the experience. Was this an eye opening (pun intended!) lesson!

I realized that I:
1) Eat too fast – I slowed down when my eyes were closed.
2) Do not chew my food enough (my stomach does not have teeth.)
3) Enjoyed the textures, flavors and temperatures much more. The food even tasted
better!
4) Surprisingly was more aware of when I was full!

My challenge to you is to try this exercise yourself! Granted, you don’t need to eat your entire meal with your eyes closed, but close them periodically and enjoy the sensations! And please share with me your experience!

I have resolved to chew my food more, to always sit down when I eat, and to savor every morsel that gives me life!