Happiness Is..

*saving close to $70 in coupons today, using that savings toward...

*a manicure & pedicure, polish in a Spring-y shade of mauve!

*having a leisurely lunch with my best friend, Rhiannon.

*a new dress at my doorstep when I arrive home from work - ebay is the best!

*a wonderful Mommy who gave me my Ostara gift early - a sparkly new Swarovski & pearl bracelet watch!

*the sky turning dark & cloudy but having a fresh new library book to curl up with.

I looovve girly days!

Today's Inspiration: Are Your Friends an Elevator or a Cage?

Thanks to the phenomenal Christine Kane, I was lead to this post today by Steve Pavlina. This is my first time reading his blog but with wisdom like this, it's certainly not going to be my last. Here are some excerpts which particularly inspired me:

"Let’s explore the role of the people in your life. Are they elevating you to be the best person you can be, or are they holding you back?"

"I don’t think I need to convince you just how much influence other people can have over your identity. If you’ve ever experienced a major shift in your people environment, then you know that you change as well."

"Think for a moment about the 5-10 people with whom you spend the most time. Even include online communities if you spend a lot of time reading them — which individuals are having the most influence over your thinking right now? Actually write out the list — it should only take a minute. And this includes family members.
Now look at the list. It’s been said that this list will give you a glimpse into your future.

Do you want to become more like these people? Yes or no. Is anyone on the list a bad influence that causes you to backslide? Is anyone on the list a shining light that encourages you to reach new heights?"

I've been thinking a lot about the dynamics of relationships, when to hold on and when to let go. I've done a bit of letting go lately, and have felt some twinges of guilt over it. After much soulsearching, though, I realize that the decisions were good ones, that I did what I needed to do to save myself. I am consciously choosing people now who, as Steve says, "encourage me to reach new heights." I've always been afraid of heights, frankly, but I think it's high time I face that fear and challenge myself to break free from the cages and continue to skyrocket..straight to the top! There's nothing stopping me but my own self.

On My Hearth: Spicy Black Bean Soup

I'm in the mood for a hearty, though meat-free, dinner, especially since Beron is going to be working out of town today and unlikely to be home by dinnertime.
This one has low POINTS and a nice kick, and is easy as well. Perfect!

Weight Watchers Spicy Black Bean Soup

POINTS® Value: 3
Servings: 8
Preparation Time: 20 min
Cooking Time: 30 min
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

The key to thickening this soup without flour? Pureeing some of the beans before cooking it. You'll love the stick-to-your-ribs texture that results.

Ingredients

* 1 sprays cooking spray
* 1 medium onion(s), finely chopped
* 4 medium garlic clove(s), minced
* 45 oz canned black beans, undrained, divided (three 15 oz cans)
* 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, or to taste
* 1 tsp ground cumin
* 14 1/2 oz fat-free chicken broth, or vegetable broth
* 10 oz canned tomatoes with green chilies, such as Rotel Tomatoes
* 11 oz canned yellow corn, drained

Instructions

* Coat bottom of a large stockpot with cooking spray. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until onions are soft but not brown, about 5 minutes.

* Place one can of beans in blender; add sautéed onion mixture, red pepper flakes and cumin. Cover and blend on high until smooth, about 30 seconds. Pour mixture back into stockpot.

* Place second can of beans and broth in blender and puree until smooth; add to stockpot.

* Stir third can of beans (do not puree first), tomatoes and green chilies, and corn into stockpot. Bring to a boil, lower heat to medium and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes. Yields about 1 1/2 cups of soup per serving.

Now Playing at the Castle: Mediaeval Baebes

I just love the Baebes, had the good fortune to meet them in person at the Ren Fest a few years ago. Their music is both haunting and soothing to me, I find myself drifting away to another place, completely lost in the beauty of their voices. I had misplaced my autographed copy of their cd, was thrilled to discover it in my entertainment center the other day. Cleaning the castle pays off sometimes!

This song is called Temptasyon and is from their latest album, Mirabilis.

Today's Inspiration: Cherokee Wisdom

We may not always have control over what happens to us, but we always have a choice over what happens inside us.

--J.T. Garrett and Michael Tlanusta Garrett

I am a little bit Cherokee, about 1/8; my Great-Grandmother married a pure Cherokee man. My mother tells lovely stories about her Grandpa picking her up on his white horse, carrying her back through the woods to the house he shared with her Grandma. My Grandmother definitely looked Native American, with her high cheekbones and black hair, she was gorgeous. Though the "bloodline" has certainly been mixed with other races, I still believe there is some Cherokee Spirit in me, including my love of wolves and my earth-centered belief system. I am proud of that tiny part of me, and I embrace it completely. So, today when I read this on the Care2 website, I was inspired to share.

Seven Simple Truths from the Cherokee

Adapted from The Cherokee Full Circle, by J.T. Garrett and Michael Tlanusta Garrett (Inner Traditions, 2002)


These clear and simple truths are based on traditional American Indian beliefs. They illuminate the values underlying the Cherokee vision of the Full Circle, and they can help us begin living our lives in more connected, healed, and whole ways.

1. We are our own best experts. No one knows us better than us. Nobody but us has seen with our eyes the things we’ve seen, and most importantly, no one but us has experienced our lives in quite the same way that we have. What others do know of us, they know only through what they see and what we tell them. It is our choice whether or not to invite others to see with our eyes or walk in our shoes; it is their choice whether or not to do so.

2. We are our own worst enemies. No one does a better job of deceiving us or treating ourselves badly than we do. No one can do a better job of finding ways to ignore our innermost thoughts and fears than we can. Certainly, other people may try to make us feel badly, or want us to be different than we are; however, their success depends on our willingness to let them succeed in doing so. Our success in doing ourselves wrong depends solely on intention.

3. The worst thing about having so many choices is having to choose. No one can say for sure who is truly worse off: the one who is forced to do something and wishes she or he could do something entirely different, or the one who freely chooses to do something and later regrets it.

4. Imagination is the one true measure of freedom. It’s not a matter of what you can or cannot do, but what you think you can or cannot do that matters. Inevitably, the rest will follow in time. Being open to experience or the possibilities of every situation reflects the inner strength of one who has established harmony within oneself.

5. Wisdom is having more questions than answers. The one who has found all the answers to his or her questions has run out of questions. The one who has run out of questions has run out of learning. A person who ceases to learn has also ceased to experience. And a person who has run out of experience cannot be wise.

6. Search long and hard enough for something and you’ll surely find it. Sometimes we look for something when there is nothing. However, if we keep looking for it to be there, almost miraculously it will be--this is especially true of limitations. Moreover, the harder we look for a certain quality of limitation, the more likely it is to appear before our very eyes. At the same time, if you look too hard for something you might miss it altogether.

7. Sometimes we try so hard to be what we’re not that we may forget who we are. Our nature provides us with opportunities for becoming something much greater than ourselves. However, if a circle tries to bend by ignoring its center, it’s no longer a circle.

On My Hearth: Lean Cuisine Salmon with Basil

Well, I seem to be fighting a cold and really don't feel much like cooking, nor am I particularly hungry. My girls are working tonight and Beron won't be home from work in time for dinner either, so I've decided to have one of my favorite Lean Cuisine meals. It's from the Spa Cuisine line, I try to focus on those as they have more veggies and whole grain pastas & rice.

This one "weighs in" at 4 WW POINTS and provides 1.5 servings of veggies, is a generous portion and we all know how good salmon is for us. A winner all around!

On My Hearth: Reservations!

We are celebrating Beren's birthday with pizza-on-the-beach, so I won't be cooking tonight. However, I received an email from Karen at kcEnamels.com whose fabulous Eggplant Parm recipe I tried lasst week; she wasn't able to take a peek at it before I "purged" my blog, so I'm re-posting it again. It was so good, it deserves to be up here permanently.

Karen's artwork is awesome, too, have been perusing and drooling over her beautiful creations!

Eggplant Parmesan
(4 portions, 2 WW pt each)

This low fat version is easy to make and very tasty. It’s only 2 pts per serving if you use Veggie cheese and a tomato sauce that is only 1/2 pt per 1/2 cup. So make extra for leftovers. It's also good cold to take for lunch. Note: the veggie cheese used in this recipe can be purchased in the produce section of most supermarkets. You can substitute the real thing, but use a low-fat variety to keep the fat in-take down (and adjust the points).

1 medium eggplant
1/2 c. seasoned bread crumbs
1-2 large tomatoes (you need 8 slices), optional
1 egg white
1 c. low fat tomato spaghetti sauce
3 oz. Veggie Shreds mozzarella flavor cheese
4 Tbsp. Veggie Parmesan grated cheese
oil spray

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Wash the eggplant and cut into thick slices, about 1/2" each.
3. Beat the egg white with 2 Tbsp. water in a shallow bowl. Put the bread crumbs in another bowl.
4. Dip each eggplant slice (both sides) in egg white mixture and then dreg in the bread crumbs on both sides.
5. Place on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with oil. Spray the tops with oil, too
6. Bake at 400 degrees for about 40 minutes. Turn slices over and bake another 10 minutes until brown and the eggplant is soft
7. Reduce oven to 350 degrees
8. Slice tomato into at least 8 slices
9. In a square baking dish layer the ingredients as follows: put a little tomato sauce on the bottom, then a layer of eggplant followed by tomato slices then sauce, mozzarella and parmesan, then another layer of eggplant followed by tomato slices then sauce, mozzarella and parmesan.
10. Bake for about 30 minutes until the cheese melts. Let sit for 2 minutes and serve with a large salad.

P.S. Karen just emailed me with this: the only tomato sauce I’ve found that fits the 1/2 pt per 1/2 c. is Healthy Choice. f anyone finds another brand, please post here or email Karen and let her know. Thanks!

Today's Inspiration: The Art of Focus

I got this from Daily Om a couple of weeks ago and it really hit home with me. I have been turning my attention lately to positive things, allowing the beauty in my life to be the main focus and the other "stuff" simply background which doesn't really have much impct anymore. It's amazing what a little shift in focus can do!

The Art Of Focus
Energy Protection

Many of us are sensitive to energy, so we make our homes a sanctuary and only leave when we have fully prepared ourselves. We may use gemstones, essential oil, or talismans, or perhaps we call on our angels or surround ourselves in a bubble of light. But we should be conscious of what we are seeking to accomplish. It is important to remember that if we want to shield ourselves, we might inadvertently keep out the good that is coming our way. All of our tools can be helpful if we use them wisely and keep ourselves engaged in all the world has to offer.

If we instead seek to filter distractions, than we can be like prospectors panning for gold. We learn to filter when we are children as we learn about the world around us. At first every leaf on the ground is a reason to stop and investigate. But as we learn where to focus our attention, the rest becomes background. We don't cut ourselves off from the world, we merely shift our focus.

As humans, we don't always know what is good for us. Sometimes what appears to be a negative situation contains a gem of wisdom that leads to our highest growth. Rather than focusing our thoughts on what we want to keep out of our experience, we may want to turn the light of our attention to the good we'd like to create while leaving room for something better. By doing this, we allow space for the wisdom of the universe to work its magic on our behalf. If we trust the universe, we know that good is present even if it doesn't look good on the surface. When we shift our focus this way, we actually attract those things into our lives, and the rest falls away without the effort of filtering. By practicing the art of focus, we invest our attention and energy into making our lives a positive experience.

Happiness Is...

*celebrating Beren's birthday, watching him thoroughly enjoy his special day.

*Coyote Ugly. If you haven't been to this place, I encourge you to go. A new one just opened in My Kingdom and we couldn't wait to try it out. What a fun evening!

*spending the night in a posh hotel room, waking up whenever we wanted and enjoying a leisurely lunch at a wonderful little outdoor cafe. I looooove grilled portobello sandwiches!

*visiting my favorite little shoe store and grabbing two pairs for $30! (Aren't they adorable?)

*coming home to my family. Just 24 hours away and I was really missing them!

Today's Inspiration: Henri Nouwen

"Writing can be a creative and invigorating way to make our lives available to ourselves and to others. We have to trust that our stories deserve to be told - we may discover that the better we tell our stories, the better we will want to live them." ~Henri Nouwen

My dear friend sent me this quote today. I was inspired by the quote and then, since I'd never heard of Mr. Nouwen, I was intrigued and compelled to do some more research.

It seems as if he was a gentle man, a peaceful spirit with a unique type of spirituality. Though I may have a different belief system, I am always open to learning more about the Spirit, in whatever form one sees Him/Her. I'm going to check my library to see if they have any of Henri's books. Thank you, Grace, for sharing this with me!