Body Love

So, instead of diving into the brownies or doing something else equally unhealthy yesterday, I turned on the tv and discovered a new-to-me show on Lifetime: How to Look Good Naked. Kali has mentioned it to me a few times but I never got around to watching. Well, it was perfect timing. What a positive, uplifting little show! I'll definitely be tuning in again.

There's a lot of "love your body" messages out there from the new Dove ads to an entire campaign and that's such a positive trend, I hope it continues. While I myself still want to lose some weight to be healthier and stronger, self-flagellation and body hatred is not the way to do it. I know this, of course, but it helps to have a reminder now & then.

Where my day has gone...

Because I try to be honest on here and reveal the good stuff as well as the bad, I'm here to tell you that my day has gone to hell in a handbag. The Monday that started out gracefully has been anything but.

I've had a horrible stomachache all day long (does anyone else have this happen at mid-cycle in their moontime?), got little accomplished at work, tried unsuccessfully to take a nap to make up for last night's lack of sleep but I'm just not a napper so I wasted two hours tossing and turning. Lily is upset over college issues, does not know where she wants to go and classes start in a month, she quit her job for good reason but has nothing else lined up. Bambi hates her job as well, went out to get a haircut and now hates it. All of our moods and problems combined are causing us to snap & bicker at each other. The Castle is a total mess, piles of laundry to be done...I could go on & on...

Just not a good day, wish I could hop into Bettie and drive away..or at the very least, dive headfirst into those peanut butter fudge bars...but that wouldn't solve anything now, would it?

Daily Om: Living in Grace

What a beautiful concept, living each day gracefully. I already started off my morning on the right note, walked barefoot around my back yard and thanked the Universe for allowing me to be here one more day. Life truly is a gift, isn't it?

A Glimpse Of Perfection
Living A Day In Grace

Grace is always with us. It flows like a river through our lives, artfully reminding us that there is magic and power beyond what our eyes can see. At times we catch its subtle beauty, like during chance meetings, near misses, and insights that seem to come from nowhere. Other times we experience grace in all its powerful surety such as when a job or relationship comes to an end. Though we may forget that this is grace at work too, it is indeed influencing our lives, helping us to move forward and take the next step. Grace exists in all situations, in every moment, yet all too often we may overlook its presence.

Imagine how it would feel to live an entire day in grace, to fully appreciate that your day is unfolding in absolute perfection. Whereas usually you might miss the magic in ordinary events and interactions, on this day you would recognize them all as little miracles. Perhaps you could begin with your first deep breaths in the morning, becoming aware that there is an abundant supply of air for you to breathe. Your lungs know just how to carry oxygen to your blood, and your blood knows where to carry it from there. This is grace at work. You might appreciate the brilliant sunshine, the warm summertime rain, or the possibilities for learning that greet you at every turn. You might notice the ease with which you do your job or laugh with a close friend. These things are also grace. Even laying your head down at the end of this day and resting in the stillness of night is grace.

With each opportunity you give yourself to enjoy this current of benevolence, you may discover a deeper peace. Your faith may strengthen and your heart may open. You might begin to wonder if struggle is really all that necessary after all. By living this one day in grace, you might open the door to many more.

Monday Menu Planning

I am still budgeting rather closely this month so I'm digging through the pantry and freezer to use up what we have. Now, I realize that some of these are "convenience foods" and not-so-healthy but I'll watch portion sizes and supplement with lots of fresh veggies, etc.
Please note that all of these items were purchased on sale, usually BOGO, or in bulk at Costco.



*Monday: Egg Rolls and Ramen Noodles with Vegetables
*Tuesday: Chicken Tenders and Fries
*Wednesday: Chicken Tostada Salad
*Thursday: Steak and Mashed Potatoes
*Friday: Shrimp Roll Sandwiches
*Saturday: Dinner out or soup & grilled cheese sandwiches
*Sunday: Grilled hot dogs & hamburgers

The Writing Diet?

I was just reading an article in one of my favorite magazines, Body + Soul, which I found very interesting. I really like Julia Cameron's books, especially The Right to Write, but the morning pages were difficult for me. I have a hard time with actual writing nowadays, would prefer to use the keyboard. Even when I'm on Weight Watchers, I use their online tools instead of the paper food journal. I'm going to include a snippet of the article but you can read the whole thing here, then let me know what you think. I seriously need to get my eating back on track, I feel pudgy and soft instead of curvy and voluptuous. *wink* Not a good look for a pin-up!


Dieting Trick: Keep a Food Journal

So you're ready to try again. You've got the books, the healthy snacks in the fridge, and, yes, you even threw away that secret stash of Oreos in the back of the pantry. Ah, the familiar rush of a new weight-loss plan: a heady mix of hope, promise, and fantasy shopping. But how can you make this time different, and finally step off the diet merry-go-round?

Grab a pen. Writing -- everything from keeping a food log to free-association journaling -- is a powerful tool when it comes to healthy eating and shedding pounds. Putting pen to paper helps break the momentum during a rush to the pretzel jar, and studies show that writing down what you eat can help you lose weight and keep it off. "Two of the most important factors in weight loss are intention and monitoring," says Sasha Loring, a psychotherapist with Duke Integrative Medicine at Duke University. "Writing can help with both."

On My Hearth: Peanut Butter Fudge Bars

I woke up to a bit of a mess this morning, little Jackson on my bedroom floor looking up at me quietly, totally out of character, not his usual bouncy kitten self. I immediately woke Lily and had her take him to the vet, just knew something wasn't right, and the pile of vomit (sorry!) in her room confirmed my suspicions. He's at the vet now, they believe he swallowed "something" and it's stuck in his bowels. They gave him a laxative and are waiting for it to do it's job. Poor little baby! And all of this just after I posted this morning about my critters..

On the heels of that I got a call from Dad informing me that my aunt is arriving from Ohio on Monday. While this is good news, it's important that she spends some time with my mother, it requires planning and preparation which increases my stress level big time. Sigh.

So, what do I do when I'm overwhelmed and anxious? I retreat to the kitchen.

I have all of the ingredients on hand for these bars so they'll be a cinch to whip up, and hopefully some baking will work it's magic on this stressed-out kitchen witch.



Peanut Butter Fudge Bars

Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 20 Minutes
Ready In: 40 Minutes
Yields: 30 servings

"Peggy Murray of Enfield, Maine relies on a cake mix and other pantry staples to make these rich crumb-topped treats."

INGREDIENTS:
1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 egg
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons butter or margarine

DIRECTIONS:
1. In a bowl, combine cake mix, peanut butter, egg and oil. Press two-thirds of the mixture into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes.

2. In a heavy saucepan, heat the milk, chocolate chips and butter over low heat; stir until blended. Pour over crust. Sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars.

Pampered Pets

We loooove our critters here at the castle..and they are spoiled rotten as a result!

Since when do we have a pet duck? Maybe if I'm very quiet they won't notice me?

Hey, that's my water!

Jackson (yes, that's his new name) was only supposed to be visiting for the weekend while Lily and her boyfriend were away, but it appears he's made himself quite comfortable, hasn't he?

Jezebel says it's her turn

Salem waits (im)patiently each morning for us to turn on "his" water fountain

Tabitha wants to come along!

Bliss of Solitude

My horoscope is particularly fitting today since, as I wrote to a friend this morning, I am embracing quiet and solitude in a big way. I've been driving with the radio off, or playing soothing classical music. I've been retreating to my bedroom more often, closing the door on the blaring tv and household noises. Though I haven't been reading as much in the past couple of years, I've returned once again to the comfort of my books. I've spent more time outdoors, too, tending to my little garden or just watching and listening to nature. Last night I took a long dip in the pool, relished in the warmth and peace under the water. I even tried out Kali's mermaid monofin and though I surely didn't resemble one, I felt like a lithe and graceful mermaid frolicking in the sea! Silly, perhaps, but so what? The one thing I've learned from Mom's illness so far is to laugh, love, and live more.

So today I'm going to take even more quiet moments for myself, even the time here on the computer counts as it helps me process my thoughts and sort out my feelings on my own, without dumping on anyone else. Sometimes I really am my own best company.


July 11, 2008
Bliss Of Solitude
Leo Daily Horoscope

You may be easily upset today. Feelings of agitation could plague you, leaving you prone to irritability so that you are quick to lash out at others. Because you may be feeling very emotional and reactive, you may find yourself becoming easily overwhelmed or exhausted. You could relieve some of the anxiety you feel and regain your emotional equilibrium by retreating into your home or another private, solitary place. When you’re alone today, you’ll likely feel comfortable accessing your innermost thoughts and feelings and bringing them to the surface where you can view them clearly. You could also benefit from determining whether you’ve been neglecting your needs or pushing aside the voice of your intuition.

The peace you experience during solitude can be the balm that soothes your soul when life’s uncertainties begin to frustrate and agitate you. The world is replete with noisy distractions and people competing for your time. Being alone allows you to focus your attention inward and commune with yourself as you bask in the silence. You’ll be able to address your needs easily as the small, quiet voice of your inner self becomes audible in the stillness. With no one to interrupt your reflections, you can examine the root of your irritability and determine how you can combat it, either inwardly or by making changes to your life. You can control your environment and simply bask in tranquility. Embracing solitude today will relax you and help you gain a more complete understanding of yourself.

Thrifty Thursday

I did a bit of "retail therapy" as my friend Jersey calls it..grin..stopped at my fave thrift store and found some lovely treasures!

*A nice sturdy bamboo silverware caddy, perfect timing since the bottom fell out of my old one just last week! Here in the land of forever-summer we do bbq and entertain year-round so these things really take a beating.

*A fabulous straw bag, really love the faux-snake handles and details! I happen to have a pair of shoes that match perfectly, but that doesn't surprise you does it? *grin*

*A stack of blue & cream sunflower cloth napkins, again perfect for the season!

*Two boldly-printed skirts, can't wait to pair them up with colorful tanks!

*An armload of books - I rarely buy paperbacks at the thrift store because for only $1.50 I can have the hard-cover version.

Total spent: $30.00. Not bad, eh? I couldn't have purchased two new books for that sum! Have any of you read these?

*The Good Wife Strikes Back by Elizabeth Buchan
*Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes
*The Cake Mix Doctor by Anne Byrn
*Multiple Choice by Claire Cook
*Coal Run by Tawni O'Dell
*Comfort me with Apples by Ruth Reichl
*True to Form by Elizabeth Berg

Now, I'm off for cocktails with my sweetie, Kali & Kevin, going to celebrate Mom's return home and many other things that we have to be grateful for.

A Rosemary Morning

"Go outside. Look at growing things. Breathe in their shiny, green newness and breathe out your troubles. Find a rosemary bush for this especially. Rosemary is a great cleanser and protector. Ask nicely, first, and after you've allowed it to help you, break off a branch and carry it with you, brush your fingers along it for comfort, inhale its scent for support. (Whatever you do, don't cook with it!!!!) When it's dried out completely, burn it with a wish and thanks. Then, if you need to, do the whole thing again."

"At the beginning of every day, remember to thank the universe that you have been given a part to play in it and at the end of every day, thank it again, for giving you the opportunity to live that day through."~Anonymous

I have a new e-mail blogging friend who at the moment shall remain anonymous, though you know soon enough I shall "assign" her a special name of her own! *smile* She has been inspiring and delighting me with lovely notes about practical life and practical magic, the snippet above an example. Though I know little about her, I can already "see" that she is wise and kind and special...and that we are truly kindred spirits.

So, this morning I took her advice. After waking up too early with too little sleep, the weight of the world on my shoulders, I read her e-mail. Then I poured myself a fresh cup of coffee, grabbed a few gingersnaps and took a stroll out to my tiny little garden. With the birds chirping in the background, I dug my bare feet into the soul, knelt down and thanked the universe, the goddess, the Spirit for another day on this earth. I plucked off a bit of rosemary, brought it to my nose and breathed deeply. Ahh...it was lovely, and healing, and awakening..just what my friend said it would be. I feel refreshed, alive, and ready to go on with my day, that little sprig of rosemary at my side.

Thank you, dear friend, I have no doubt that you have been sent to me at this time in my life for a reason and I am ever-so-grateful. Blessings to you.


“Kindred Spirits are not so scarce as I used to think.
Its splendid to find out there are so
many of them in the world.”
~ Anne Shirley