Happy Weekend...

Happy summer Friday! It has been a wonderful, soul-nourishing week kicking off the next chapter of my career, and I'm thrilled. Here's to a sunny weekend of time spent outdoors, picnics, bare feet grounded to the earth, and fresh air vibrating through our bodies. Here are a few things that piqued my interest this week:

• Letting a little classic Afrobeat and Rock groove me into the weekend. 
• Reading up on Esther Gokhale and the Gokhale Method of posture, and getting some tips on how to properly stand, as my new organization uses standing desks (!!!). Did you know just how much your posture affects your overall health? Learn more about standing tall with her book "8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back."
• After we spent one solid and restorative night of doing completely nothing this week (no television, no music, no lights, even! Just being together, as the soft breeze came through the windows and the sun set) I totally support this concept of "Slow Parenting" discussed in the Globe a few weeks ago. Even without children, there is strength in truly disconnecting, slowing down, and practicing the art of noticing with our partners and friends.
• And finally, a favorite romantic poem from Stanley Kunitz, "Route Six," that has me jonesing for a trip to the Cape this weekend. I can almost see the Orleans rotary now...

"The city squats on my back.
I am heart-sore, stiff-necked,
exasperated. That's why
I slammed the door,
that's why I tell you now,
in every house of marriage
there's room for an interpreter.
Let's jump into the car, honey,
and head straight for the Cape,
where the cock on our housetop crows
that the weather's fair,
and my garden waits for me
to coax it into bloom.
As for those passions left
that flare past understanding,
like bundles of dead letters
out of our previous lives
that amaze us with their fevers,
we can stow them in the rear
along with ziggurats of luggage
and Celia, our transcendental cat,
past-mistress of all languages,
including Hottentot and silence.
We'll drive non-stop till dawn,
and if I grow sleepy at the wheel,
you'll keep me awake by singing 
in your bravura Chicago style
Ruth Etting's smoky song,
'Love Me or Leave Me,'
belting out the choices.

Light glazes the eastern sky.
Celia gyrates upward
like a performing seal,
her glistening nostrils aquiver
to sniff the brine-spiked air.
The last stretch toward home!
Twenty summers roll by."

Golden Zinger

A few years ago, I bought a juicer and used it for about six months. And then I remembered why I never truly hopped on the juice cleanse train in the first place: I'm more of a smoothie girl. I prefer getting the full fiber of the fruits and vegetables I blend, for their benefits and a more satiating drink. And so, my little juicer slowly made the journey north in a box, and went in a cabinet somewhere in our new apartments. 

Until this week.

Over the past two months, I've been undergoing a bit of a dental overhaul, and, as a result, have been dealing with a bit of jaw pain while recovering. After sleepless nights, dentist adjustments, and one too many ibuprofen, I determined there had to be a better solution. And then I remembered turmeric.  

Turmeric is a relative of the ginger root, and long praised for it's anti-inflammatory capabilities, which are found in the curcumin within. Remembering how a friend used the root to help manage pain in the past, I decided to pull out the juicer, and extract it's golden magic, along side ginger, which is an equally as powerful anti-bacterial adaptogen, and citrus-boosting lemon. A swirl of raw honey also adds some good immune system boosts and a touch of sweetness to balance out the bite.

This shot is a true zinger, and also helps warm and invigorate the body, while infusing some good healthy benefits. While I'm hoping that time might also be doing it's job, I'm happy to report that the pain is finally subsiding, as is my increased use of allopathic medicines. Give it try, and let me know what you think!

Golden Zinger Shot

Juice of a 4-inch piece of turmeric

Juice of a 3-inch piece of ginger

Juice of 1/2 a lemon

1 teaspoon raw honey

Put first ingredients through the juicer, as directed. (I put mine through whole, but follow directions for your juicer!) Pour into a glass and mix with raw honey, to taste.

Weekly Words: "Stand Still"

"Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you
Are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here,
And you must treat it as a powerful stranger,
Must ask permission to know it and be known.
The forest breathes. Listen. It answers,
I have made this place around you.
If you leave it, you may come back again, saying Here.
No two trees are the same to Raven.
No two branches are the same to Wren.
If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you,
You are surely lost. Stand still. The forest knows
Where you are. you must let it find you."

- David Wagoner

Green Mango Smoothie Bowl

I'm now at the end of my time between jobs, and I find myself doing things that are truly nourishing to my soul. Facial massage that lasts a little longer than usual. Chia seeds in my water. Long walks for the hell of it. I'm determined to squeeze out every ounce of "me" time before starting this exciting new journey. 

Several moons ago, I was a food blogger, and old habits die hard. Quite often, styling food is simply just cathartic to me, as if placing things just so had the same effect as a brush stroke or a good stretch for the soul. And so, what better way to really get into it than by making smoothie bowls? A smoothie bowl is a delicious, spoonable smoothie, yes, poured into a bowl, and topped with goodness that is otherwise not easy sipped: chopped fruit, nuts, granola and seeds. I don't know about you but there's something about the art of spooning that really makes me savor a dish.

Below is a new favorite recipe that combines luscious soft fruits like banana and mango, which deliver a potassium and beta-carotene boost, along with Vitamin C-packed citrus and a healthy dose of cruciferous kale. I've topped with more mango and banana, and a slew of Omega and fiber-filled seeds like Hemp, Chia and ground Flax, as well as immunity-supporting bee pollen. Add a bit of protein powder, and you've got yourself the perfect summer breakfast.

Green Mango Smoothie Bowl

1 small banana, sliced

1/2 lime, peeled

1/2 orange, peeled

1/4 grapefruit, peeled

1 small bunch of kale, de-ribbed

1/2 mango, cubed

1 packet of raw protein powder (I prefer this kind)

1 tsp bee pollen

1 tsp chia seeds

1 tsp ground flaxseed

1 tsp hemp seeds

Chopped fruit (I used banana and mango, but feel free to add berries, stone fruit and more!)

Combine first six ingredients in blender, and top with filtered water or preferred nut milk and 3-4 ice cubes. Blend until combined, and pour into a bowl. Top with bee pollen and seeds and enjoy. 

Weekly Words: "A Circle of Trust"

"Like a wild animal, the soul is tough, resilient, resourceful, savvy, and self-sufficient: it knows how to survive in hard places. I learned about these qualities during my bouts with depression. In that deadly darkness, the faculties I had always depended on collapsed. My intellect was useless; my emotions were dead; my will was impotent; my ego was shattered. But from time to time, deep in the thickets of my inner wilderness, I could sense the presence of something that knew how to stay alive even when the rest of me wanted to die. That something was my tough and tenacious soul.

Yet despite its toughness, the soul is also shy. Just like a wild animal, it seeks safety in the dense underbrush, especially when other people are around. If we want to see a wild animal, we know that the last thing we should do is go crashing through the woods yelling for it to come out. But if we will walk quietly into the woods, sit patiently at the base of a tree, breathe with the earth, and fade into our surroundings, the wild creature we seek might put in an appearance. We may see it only briefly and only out of the corner of an eye - but the sight is a gift we will always treasure as an end in itself.

Unfortunately, community in our culture too often means a group of people who go crashing through the woods together, scaring the soul away. In spaces ranging from congregations to classrooms, we preach and teach, assert and argue, claim and proclaim, admonish and advise, and generally behave in ways that drive everything original and wild into hiding. Under these conditions, the intellect, emotions, will and ego may emerge, but not the soul: we scare off all the soulful things, like respectful relationships, goodwill, and hope.

A circle of trust is a group of people who know how to sit quietly "in the woods" with each other and wait for the shy soul to show up... In such a space, we are freed to hear our own truth, touch what brings us joy, become self critical about our faults, and take risky steps toward change - knowing that we will be accepted no matter what the outcome."

- Parker Palmer

Making Space for our Thoughts

This weekend, I had the pleasure of finding some alignment in my intentions and my actions. At the end of the week, I set a goal to better begin my days with a slow start and to disconnect from my cell phone. Over the weekend, my fiance and I were fortunate to attend a retreat in preparation for our upcoming nuptials, and spent the majority of the three days without phones or internet - completely present to the moment and each other during this part of our journey. 

It's no surprise that we are all more connected to devices than was even possible a decade ago. To some extent, our over-connectedness has been wonderful - we are able to keep in touch with loved ones, and even virtually cross oceans. We can attempt to be more productive than ever, with the flick of a finger on a keyboard or screen. But often, having a phone glued to our hands and eyes can prevent us from truly  being in the moment, and letting ourselves listen to the organic thoughts and emotions that naturally arise in our minds. 

“I’m as guilty as anyone of using my phone as a crutch, either to avoid talking to people I don’t know at a party, or to stave off boredom while waiting for a friend in a bar. I’m also easily distracted by the various pings and vibrations coming from my iPhone, and often find myself drawn into an endless loop of checking alerts, reading my social media streams and replying to non-urgent email and text messages. Often, I can’t resist sneaking a peek at the screen during movies or other outings. And as much as I hate to admit it, I’ve occasionally been so preoccupied by a text message that I’ve almost bumped into someone on the street.”

— Jenna Wortham, "Trying to Live in the Moment (and Not on the Phone)"

I've noticed lately that my craving for what I've deemed "updates" is something that I'd like to step away from. These updates surround anything from buzzing text messages and emails to the change in weather or the status of a train delay. They are things that keep me constantly in motion, plugged in, and often, tuned out.  Quite often, things like true introspection, personal insight, and awareness can get lost in the mix of digital noise.

One way to begin cutting the electronic cords in our lives is the begin the day without them.  For many people, their first instinct in the morning is to reach for the phone, even before getting out of bed. While sleep experts herald the positive effects of limited screen time before bed, I wonder if we could all also benefit from limited attachment before we arise. It might allow us to begin our day slowly, and let our first thoughts evolve from a sleepy subconscious atmosphere to a more gentle focus on daily intention. This type of practice encourages true inward listening, and doesn't allow noise to disrupt the mission we set around our daily purpose. 

I've made it my goal to begin disconnecting at the start of my day, just as I've worked to limit my evening screen time exposure. I'm working hard to remember what David Whyte says in his poem on beginning the day intentionally, "In that first hardly noticed moment in which you wake, coming back to this life from the other more secret, movable and frighteningly honest world where everything began, there is a small opening into the new day which closes the moment you begin your plans." 

Interested in beginning to reset the way you arise? Here's my challenge to you:

• Set an attainable goal for a certain number of days each next week that you'd like to invite yourself to wake up quietly and not peek at your phone. You could start with one day or three, but make the goal one that isn't too easy but not impossible to reach.
• Consider a method of reminding yourself to do this. It could be a note next to your bed, a reminder with your morning alarm (again, no peeking at that email once you turn off the alarm!), or a reminder from your bedmate.
• Think about what might get in your way of reaching this goal. An important part of reaching a goal lies within personal accountability. For example, I worried that using my phone to wake up and remind me to start my day slow would push me to begin looking at messages. In order to prevent that, I chose to print out David Whyte's poem, which moved me greatly, and place it next to my bed as a moving reminder to start slow. If you're interested in a similar practice, I'd also recommend "Why I Wake Early" by Mary Oliver or "The Waking" by Theodore Roethke. 
• Before you get out of bed, take a few deep full body breaths and set an intention for the day. It could be an intention around how you want to feel, what you want to explore, or what gratitude you might want to incorporate in your day. Whatever you do, avoid thinking about your "to-do" lists.
• Consider a quick 5-15 minute meditation to allow yourself the time to make even more space and let those intentions you set truly marinate. 
• Finally, begin your day, and take notice of how those mornings that you incorporate this act differ from the others. Make note of changes in how you feel at the start and end of each day.

Weekly Words: Discovering the True Wonder of You

"What may be is always potential for discovery. It's never too late. This knowledge should give man his greatest challenge - the pursuit of self - his own personal Odessey; discovering his rooms and putting them in order. It should challenge him not only to be a good person, a loving person, a feeling person, an intelligent person, but the best, most loving, feeling, intelligent person he is capable of. His search is not in competition with anyone else's. He becomes his own personal challenge.

Loving yourself involves the discovery of the true wonder of you; not only the present you, but the many possibilities of you. It involves the continual realization that you are unique, like no other person in the world, that life is, or should be, the discovery, the development and the sharing of this uniqueness. The process is not always easy, for one is bound to find those who will feel threatened by a changing, growing you. But it will always  be exciting, always be fresh and like all things new and changing, never be dull. The trip into oneself is the grandest, most enjoyable and longest lasting. The fare is cheap; it merely involves continual experiencing, evaluating, educating, trying out new behavior. Only you can be the final judge in determining what is right for you."

- Leo Buscaglia

Summer Rolls with a Spicy Peanut Sauce

We're amidst a bit of a heat wave here in Boston, and despite the fact that we have yet to install our air conditioners, I'm still filled with joy over the change in season after a very long winter.

With the heat comes a positive shift towards spending as much time as possible outside - grounding feet against the grassy earth and taking full inhalations of every blooming tree and flower as they ripen in our neighborhood, allowing ourselves to get fully intoxicated by the earth, in bloom.  We've also been squeezing out every minute of daylight, only to head indoors at a final glimpse of the pink and gold sky.

This weather also has me craving cold foods, liquids and little else. While woman cannot subsist on smoothies alone, salads and bowls for every meal can get old fast. Enter the new favorite bite in our household: homemade summer rolls. Filled with fresh vegetables and paired with a delicious spicy peanut dipping sauce, we totally ate these for three days straight this week.

Summer rolls pack delicious flavor for something so quick and easy to make (you can whip up a batch in twenty minutes flat). They are a nice way to get an abundance of raw vegetables and herbs, which are naturally hydrating on hot days and add a nice crunch. Speaking of the crunch factor, feel free to mix in whatever vegetables you have on hand. Some favorites to include are peppers (bell and jalapeno), cucumbers, carrots,  and some good leafy greens like spinach or kale.  You can also add in simple lean protein, such as shrimp, chicken or egg, to help sustain energy.

My suggestion? One evening this week, whip up a half-dozen rolls, pack them between parchment and bring to the park, along with a vat of the spicy peanut sauce. While this summer weather may be temporary, it's a sign of what's to come. Spring is still full in her breezy splendor. Enjoy as much time outside as possible and soak up that natural air.

Summer Rolls

(Makes 4 small rolls)

1/2 cucumber, sliced into thin 2-inch strips

2 carrots, sliced into thin 2-inch matchsticks

1/2 avocado, sliced into small wedges

1 jalapeno, sliced into thin circles (seeds in or out, depending on preference)

1 scallion, sliced into rings

1/4 cup cilantro leaves, stems removed

4 rice paper sheets (I prefer brown rice paper, and use these)

For summer rolls, first make a clean surface. Soak one rice paper round in warm water, until slightly soft (about 20-30 seconds), and transfer to surface. Arrange 1/4th of each of the vegetables neatly towards middle and left half of the sheet, leaving a one-inch border along edge. Roll up rice paper tightly around filling and fold in sides and continue rolling. Transfer summer roll to a plate and cover with damp paper towels.

For Spicy Peanut Sauce: 

1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter

1/2 tablespoon tamari (low sodium) or soy sauce

1/2 tablespoon mirin sauce

1/2 tablespoon lime juice

1/4 tablespoon red pepper flakes (to taste)

1/2 tablespoon sliced scallions

Combine first four ingredients in a bowl, and whisky until creamy. Add more liquid or peanut butter, depending on consistency. Mixture should be smooth and easy to pour. Top with red pepper flakes and sliced scallions and serve in a small dipping bowl.