Crispy Kale Chips

I love Kale chips.  They are such a perfect guilt-free crispy/salty craving fix!

I love to season mine with Herbs de Provence, olive oil & lemon juice and they really are perfection.  I find that I don’t really need any salt on these either.   Add in a glass of Sauv Blanc & this is the perfect happy hour treat, or pre-dinner appetizer.

I’m still working on perfecting the crisp on these chips..and Dani Spies video was informative.  I love how chipper she is in all her videos! so adorable.

Yoga daily

Heard in class..(sun beams hitting one student on a hot day in santa monica)

Teacher: ” you’re in a sunny spot of class right there (pointing), you can move over to this cooler side of class or use this opportunity to practice equanimity…”

I found this funny

I had the most amazing practice today with a new to me teacher, Heather.  It never ceases to amaze me how wonderful new experiences, new teachers, new practices can be to your life.  Sometimes we only think we like routine, when in reality, there are so many new wonderful things, people, places, ideas to discover…if only we were to look, listen, see!

Today’s intent:  I couldn’t help but meditate on a first date I had yesterday…on love, on life, and what I want to manifest in my life at this juncture…

Today’s practice:  uplifting, amazing, joyful, fun & flexible.

Today’s favorite pose:  jumping in and out of plank felt particularly light & agile for some reason

Unapologetically Oneself

Before we are able to think of others we must have been unapologetically ourselves

We must have taken the measure of our nature, in order to master it and employ it for the benefit of others like ourselves.

And yet, and yet:  how hopeful each individual person is every time again,

How real, how well intentioned, how rich. 

When one then looks at the confused and dreary crowd,

It is impossible to grasp that the individual loses himself (herself) there in this way as if without a trace…”

Letters on Life, Rainer Maria Rilke

Juice Feast Ending

I ended my Juice feast yesterday (instead of today).  I have to say, that it was much more difficult than I had imagined it would be- and it may have to do with the fact that I generally have a lot of coffee everyday- so essentially I had gone cold turkey on food, coffee, etc all in one fell swoop. 

The Good:

I decided to give up coffee for a while.  I slept like a baby, and felt better rested than I had in weeks.

The Bad:

I felt very exhausted, lethargic and cranky.

All I could think about was food!

Overall:

I don’t know if I would do a fast for more than one day at a time- perhaps it would work better if I integrated a partial fast every week or, fasting until lunch (as Kimberly Snyder recommends: green juices or smoothies until noon) – something short and simple like that. 

Anti-climatic, but that’s life sometimes .

 

Juice Feast Day 2

One of the big changes from yesterday, along with drinking juice only, was that I didn’t have any form of caffeine!  Usually I do have a large cup or two of coffee or espresso daily.  I was exhausted yesterday.  But I’m thinking that my body was dying to get some sleep in!  I napped mid-day, then fell asleep at 8pm!  I woke up today at 6:15 or so, so that is a lot of zzzs.  I had some doubts about continuing the feast today, since a nice piece of toast sounds great.  But the good thing was that my morning juices are waiting for me, so now I’m working on the Greens 1 juice & some Detox 4 juice on the side.

Noon:  Green smoothie (didn’t stay strictly on juice only…)

Pm:  Roots Juice

Juice feast day 1

Juice Feast Diary

Day 1:  I was in the neighborhood so I stopped by Pressed Juicery ( super friendly & an adorable little juice bar! )

Am:  lemon water & coconut water (no hunger)

Lunch:  Green Juice 1, Roots Juice 1 (I’m feeling actually quite satisfied and full)

Snack:  Roots Juice 2 ( I felt really tired late afternoon, and actually napped -which I never do- and ended up missing yoga)

Dinner:  Detox Juice 1 (still feeling very sleepy- not hungry though- and ready for bed early tonight

Overal my energy levels kind of free-falled in the afternoon, and my exercise & yoga plans went out the window!  Hopefully after a good night’s rest (and perhaps increased intake of juice tomorrow) I’ll be able to actually get some yoga & running in.  Good night!

The Great Juice Feast ( a la My New Roots & Goop)

It’s spring time & we’re on the cusp of summer…and I’m feeling eager to get started on my great juice feast!  The reasons are many, and I’ve been getting inspired by people getting wonderful results in body, mind and spirit after their juice feasts.

The reason:

Lately I’ve noticed that my skin hasn’t been so great (read break-outs), I’m easily bloated for some reason, it takes a lot of coffee to get my energy up in the morning (and it seems to take a large dip mid-day), and my sleep has not been as restful as I’d like.

I think it’s such a wonderful idea (if I can follow through) to re-set our bodies a few times a year with a few days of juice fasting (I’m aiming for 4 times a year- approx at the end or beginning of each new season…

I like the simple guidelines that Sarah gives us and always she presents the information in such a relaxed and approachable manner.  (photo from her site )

Her basic routine is to enjoy 6-7 juices per day consisting of greens, herbs (such as parsley, mint), sprouts, various vegetables, roots (including ginger) & fruits.

The next few days are perfect for me to enjoy a juice feast- I’m off of work & the weather is in the 70s.  She mentions that the key thing is to be actively engaged & distracted from hunger and to have easy access to your juices!

To accomplish this:

1)  I plan to purchase most of my juices- across the street there is a Wholefoods with a wonderful juice bar .  The game plan is to stock up on the juices for the day in the morning- and keep lemon/cayenne/ginger water & rooibos ice-tea in the fridge for hydration.

2)  I plan to stay engaged in daily life & distract myself from hunger by:  going to the museums I’ve been wanting to check out, tracking down that upholstered reading chair I’ve been looking for, reading/working at a cafe, taking an art class or 2, doing my daily 1.5 hour yoga practice, walk/run/bikerides down to the beach, meeting friends for movies or fresh juice (not meals:)!

I also found more gentle guidance at Gwyneth’s Goop site:

She has great recipes that you could use before or after your juice feast.  Clean simple items like vegetable soups, smoothies (which she replaces one meal with each day) and simple steamed fish & greens dishes. ( all images shown from her site Goop)

She has great images and sample detox menu plans that seem not only simple, but delicious.

From her site:

“According to Dr. Alejandro Junger* (our detox specialist) in addition to the above, there are a few more “basic principles of detoxification” that should be kept in mind while following our detox menus.

• Do deep breathing or gentle yoga.
• Take a couple of spoonfuls of extra virgin olive oil at night to help stimulate your liver to eliminate bile and keep its circulation flowing.
• If your bowel movements get sluggish, you can accelerate things by drinking half a shot glass of castor oil followed by a glass of water or using a mild herbal laxative. Bowel elimination is paramount for correct detoxification.
• The skin gets rid of many toxins so it is important to sweat, either by exercising or taking a sauna.
• Finally, make sure you eat whole organic foods, which have the best chance of having all the nutrients needed for liver and general detoxification.”

So here we go!   I’ll keep an ongoing journal of my 3 day juice feast here.

On Daily Rituals

Good morning!

A large portion of my day consists of daily rituals that I’ve integrated into my day. These include:

A morning yoga practice
A daily cardio exercise routine in the evening
The same breakfast: lemon water, French pressed coffee, banana slices in soy milk or soy yogurt
1-2 hours each Mornings are for reading, planning and to accomplish high priority items and correspondence
Two meals a day- generally breakfast and an early dinner.
A book (generally an engaging non-fiction) that I carry around at all times (I use it for when I’m bored, waiting, feeling overwhelmed and need a momentary escape, bed time:)

Some that I’m attempting to start:
Winding down by 9 and to be in bed by 10.
A no labtop mandate in bed (reading books instead)

Many of the proponents of creating positive habits recommend going 100%- practicing them daily so that they become automatic. I'm also the same way with foods: I'm vegetarian (some fish) and I don't eat any processed foods, dairy or refined grains- and it is far easier to completely omit these things from my diet vs occasionally having them and having an unhappy stomach (day) as a result.

It definitely is far easier for me to do these small but important routines every single day, so I don't give them them a second thought and my life thus becomes seemlessly more vibrant and fulfilling.

On the beauty of daily routines Andy Warhol wrote,

“Either once only, or every day. If you do something once it’s exciting, and if you do it every day it’s exciting. But if you do it, say, twice or just almost every day, it’s not good any more.

Harumi, and the Beauty of Japanese Cooking

A few of my favorite things include cooking great healthful & delicious food, as well as art (painting, sculpture, viewing or making- I love it all). When these two combine, such as they do in Japanese cooking, where it’s said that you eat with all 5 senses- it’s love at first sight. I’ve been infatuated with Japanese cooking ever since my days of graduate school when I lived a few minutes from many Japanese restaurants and grocery stores. This lead to the typical series of events that occurs whenever I become obsessed with something new…excitement and inspiration, then a ton of research including bookmarking websites and multiple trips to bookstores & libraries, then creation & sharing.

Recently, I found Harumi’s cookbooks at my local library, and her books are masterpieces- in their simplicity, coherence and approachability. The personal anecdotes scattered throughout the recipes give beautiful insight into the art of Japanese cooking & long held traditions which manifest in her every dish.

“an important part of the cook’s job is choosing the best dish for each recipe, as the correct dish will complete the picture of the meal.  In common with much of Japanese art, such as sumi-e, we believe that simplicity is a key element in beauty.  This simplicity also means that each dish holds only a small portion of food so that the dish itself can be seen and appreciated.”

 

 

 

 

 

White Fish Salad dressed with sesame dressing, “this makes a great starter or a light lunch…”

Tofu and Avocado Dressing, ” the combination of avocado and tofu gives it a real richness and melt in the mouth texture that is quite special.”

All Images from Harumi’s Japanese Cooking by Harumi Kurhihara

Easy & Hard

From Gretchen over at her blog “The Happiness Project,”

“Steve Martin’s memoir ” Born Standing Up” reminded me of one of my favorite quotations, from G. K. Chesterton,”

“It is easy to be heavy: hard to be light

My life lately,

A Napa valley day trip
A friend with a cloud over her head, eternal
Keller food enjoyed with good company
Wine flowing at Cakebread
A vibrant couple from Wisconson
For a long vibrant life she swears by “Florida pineapple wine by the case, one meal a day, and naps”
A dilemma on life decisions & love elusive
The decisions on friendships healthy or toxic, hazy gray

Life by the beach, Heavenly
Energy restored, Clarity gained
Becoming myself once again