Monday Musing: Religion doesn't make you a good person.

I am not very vocal about the fact that I do not believe in God because I have received negative responses in the past.  Last year a read a book by Dale McGowen called Parenting Beyond Belief.  This past Saturday, I attendied conference by the author sponsored by Center For Inquiry.  I was pleasantly surprised by the sense of community and the dialogue.  There was no bashing of religions or religious people.  Instead, we talked about tools to raise our children ethically and morally without indoctrination.  We were encouraged to teach our children about world religions so that they could make informed decisions on what they want to believe when they get older.  I want my child to decide for herself and to also respect other's beliefs and demand that she have respect for her beliefs.  I wish that religious people would have that respect and unfortunately most of them don't.  If you are a free thinker and have children, I recommended Parenting Beyond Belief by Dale McGowen.  I just purchased Raising Freethinkers: A Practical Guide for Parenting Beyond Belief.  It looks like it has great ideas!  I also recommended checking out CFI.  I plan on becoming a paid member now.  It is good to have a community.  I met some great people that I have more in common with me than being a Freethinker and I now consider them friends.

http://www.centerforinquiry.net/

http://parentingbeyondbelief.com/

Seitan Pizza---The Art of Food

I often tell people I do not have any artistic abilities.  I seem to forget about food.  Those of you that know me well know that  I love to cook and rarely use recipes.  Food is my art.  I love to cook and find that when I am stressed, it is an outlet for me.  I love to mix spices and experiment with new flavor combinations.  A couple of years ago I started making homemade seitan.  I often use the Seitan O'Greatness recipe that is floating around the internet as a base and then switch it up.  I have been craving figs lately. So last night I added chopped dried figs to the Seitan O'Greatness Recipe and it is awesome!!  Hubby and I made individual sized pizza's last night for a snack and I put some of the seiten on mine.  Food Art = happiness.

Day for Me

sunshine
I

I woke up this morning with intentions of cleaning, laundry and unpacking.  Even though I slept in I felt cranky and tired.  After snapping at both my husband and daughter, I realized my back pain was getting the better of me and instead of aggravating it further, I needed to take a day for me.  So instead of chores, I just did yoga in front of the fire, meditated, did some deep breathing.   Took medicine for my back pain.  Then I took a long hot bath, worked on breathing more.  With every exhale I sent my negative energy out into the universe and took in deep cleansing breaths of positive energy.

There is much to be said for hydrotherapy.  While I consider myself a conservationist, I have to make arguments for the occasional bath.  I do feel a pang of guilt for using the water, but the positives out way the cons.  For me, water relaxes me and calms my soul.  Whether I am taking a bath or sailing under the blessed sun, I get the same effect.  In the bath, I like to close me eyes and get my head all the way underwater with just with my nose and lips above the surface.  I like to listen to my heartbeat thumping in my ears and the muffled sounds of the mechanical objects in the house.  The drone is soothing as is the sensation of being lighter in the water.  All the weight of the world just floats away.

It is now almost mid-afternoon and I set here looking at the sunshine out the window as I type.  I am so relaxed and feel a quietness to my mind that I didn't have before.  Yet, I still have to keep knocking those murmurs of chores that keep rearing their ugly heads. I picture the game Wac-a-mole and just keep hammering them back down.  This is a day for me and I intend to keep it that way.

Sending calming, positive vibes your way.
Namaste

To Disney and Back

I just returned from 5 days 4 nights on the most magical place on earth.  I was surprised at how much fun we had.  We ate like kings (free dining plan), stayed out until almost midnight every night, got up early, and were basically going non-stop the whole time.  There is something to be said for the joy I saw on my daughter's face every time we turned a new corner.  It was a vacation of firsts.  First visit to Disney, first haunted house, first big rollar coaster, first time having someone ask for her autograph (she was dressed up as a princess).  I was very impressed by the whole Disney experience and how friendly the cast members where.  They all seemed to make an extra effort to make Renee feel like a princess.  I am still exhausted even though I went to bed early yesterday and the night before.  But it was worth it.  Hopefully she will remember this for the rest of her life.  The first day there she said to me, "Mommy, this is the best day in my whole life!"  I got all teary.  That made the whole trip worth it.

Friday Favorites-- i.d. Bare Minerals

I have a friend, Kirsten, who is beautiful.  I have always admired her skin.  One day I was at her house and noticed an i.d. Bare Minerals container on her bathroom counter.  Of course, I had seen the many infomercials, but being skeptical of purchasing anything on TV, I had been afraid to try it.  When Ulta open in Grand Rapids, I discovered they carried it and thought I would give it a shot.  That was about 3 years ago and I will never use another foundation or powder again.  My favorites are: Bisque, Summer Bisque, Faux Tan (awesome bronzer), and of course the original Mineral Veil.  I also like Bare Radiance and some of the other all over colors. 

I use the bisques with the maximum coverage brush as a cover up and it works better then any I have tried.  It doesn't look cakey either.  I do not like their "foundation" as I do find this to be too heavy for me.  But the rest of this line always looks natural and you can even sleep with it on.  I have acne prone skin and this make-up doesn't clog your pores and is actually good for your skin.  Even though it is pricey, it is worth it.  You have to use very little product and I don't think I have even consistently stuck with the same make-up for as long as I have with this. 

I recommend the starter kit.  It is a huge discount compared to purchasing everything separate.  It does come with the foundation but even if you don't like that, it is still a deal.    Ulta even has a small try it kit (pictured above) right now for $20.00! http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod2980097

Monday Musings: "Weathergasms", Walt Disney World, and The Joy of Finding The Perfect Pillow.

At work we have been using the term "weathergasm" to describe the local, and now national, meteorologists reaction to even the slightest chance of severe weather.  The most recent occurrence started yesterday with the announcement of “....... A HISTORIC BLIZZARD CAPABLE OF  PARALYZING PARTS OF SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN...WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND DRIFTS OF 5 TO 10 FEET POSSIBLE." (taken from Bill's Blog, WOODTV8).  Last time there was this much excitement we got very little snow.  I seems to have gotten worse this year with a "winter weather advisory" every time we even get a chance of snow, with snippets telling us to be "cautious while driving".  Well DUH!  It is winter and it is Michigan.  I found that TV8 seems to be the worst local news, in this regards.  I won't even watch them anymore because of their over sensationalizing of every news item, not just the weather.  I just want the media to be straight forward and give me the facts.  Enough with the hype!.


On another note,  only 11 days until we are in sunny Florida.  I can't wait.  We re-watched our Disney planning video this weekend..  I know this is really cheesy but I get tears in my eyes thinking about what Renee's reaction is going to be when she first sees Walt Disney World.  When she was 3-years-old, I took her to see the Wiggles in concert.  I cried when they came out on stage.  Not because of seeing them, but because of the pure joy and excitement on Renee's face.  Seeing her so elated made me cry.  I am sure I will bawl like a baby when we see Cinderella's Castle. 

Please disregard the mess!!  This room is still under construction.  Imagine cream colored cork flooring and natural pine trim.

DH and I went shopping at the mall on Saturday.  This is something we rarely do.  I am happy to report that I found the perfect throw pillows for the addition!   I am so excited by this!


I also found this rug last week at Pier 1.  I hope to pick the rug up this week. 


Happy Monday!

Rug

Pillow

Favorites on Friday---Teas and Other Hot Beverages.

I have decided to make my Friday posts about my favorite things.  This weeks is Teas and Other Hot Beverages.


I have not always been a tea drinker. I used to only drink it as a special treat, usally on a cold day.  I was recently told that I have borderline high blood pressure and one of the things suggested to me was to quit drinking coffee.  So, I have made a real effort to replace the 1/2 pot-of-coffee-a-day habit with teas and other hot beverages.  Here are a few of my current favorites.


Chai Maté by Café Maté (a local Grand Rapids company)
They make many flavors but my favorite is their Chai.  I also like their Mint.

Mate is an infusion of yerba mate a species of holly and has origins in Argentina among people of all ages, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, eastern Bolivia and southern and western Brazil.  It also has many health benefits. For more information on this, please see their website via the link above. This is sold in many different speciality store in GR.  I recently purchased it at Global Infusions, which is an awesome local fair-trade store.  They have a whole wall of bulk teas and spices. 

I am drinking this one this morning mixed with Oolong.

Flowering Jasmine Tea, so pretty when it opens up.

Ginger with Orange and Vanilla.  I recently fell in love with fresh ginger and have been using it all the time. This "tea" is made by simmering about an inch section of ginger sliced very thin, a clementine orange sliced, and a teaspoon of vanilla extract (or 1/2 half of a vanilla bean split and scraped). 










What are your favorite teas?

Little Bit Of Spring

I really don't mind the snow and cold, really.  What gets me this time of year is the lack of color and sunshine.  Yesterday, a friend that lives in California posted some photos of some beautiful flowers.  The day before, I was looking out the window at my sleeping garden, longing for those first shoots and little narcissus buds to start poking out.  Realizing this isn't going to happen for at least 3 more months, made me really sad.  So, I had to stop at Meijer on the way home last night to pick up some green onions and while in line, I noticed the floral section.  I ended up buying this beautiful bouquet.  Every girl should buy herself flowers.  They brighten up the house and my mood. 

Dinner last night was also very spring-like.  Light and full of layers of flavor that paired very nicely with a Michigan Riesling.  Renee stayed over at the neighbors for dinner, so DH and I had a wonderful dinner alone together.


This is the first time I have ever made Rainbow Trout and it was amazing.

Asian Style Rainbow Trout with Trader Joe's Harvest Grain Blend

Make 2 servings of Harvest Grain Blend following package directions

16 oz of Wild Caught Rainbow Trout fillets
1 tbsp of sugar
4 tbsp of soy sauce
salt and pepper
4 white button mushrooms, sliced
1 bunch of green onions, biased cut (white and about 2 inches of greens)

1 tsp of minced fresh ginger

1/2 cloves of elephant garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press

2 tbsp each of canola oil and sesame oil

1 thin sliced sweet red pepper

1/4 head of napa cabbage shredded

1/4 bag of Mann's Rainbow Salad
2 tbsp of fish sauce

1/4 cup of  Rice Wine Vinegar

1/4 cup of orange juice
1 whole star anise

rub fish on flesh side with 2 tbsp of soy, sugar, and salt and pepper (just a couple of dashes)

heat oils in a large heavy skillet such as a chicken fryer
saute onions, garlic, ginger and mushrooms for about 4 minutes

add veggies, fish sauce, orange juice, rest of soy and rice wine vinegar and stir

place fish flesh side down and throw in star anise

cover and simmer for about 4 minutes and then flip the fish over and cover and simmer for an additional 4 minutes. 

layer grains, veggies and fish.  Enjoy!

Asian rainbow trout

A Tasteful Garden: recipe | chai shortbread cookies

A Tasteful Garden: recipe chai shortbread cookies: "tea's best friend... I thoroughly enjoy the ritual of having a good cup of tea each night. It offers serenity in a cup after the long day. W..."

Wordless Wednesday

Dreaming of summer on Croton Pond

Farrotto (Risotto made with Farro)

2 Cups of Italian Pearled Farro
1 8 oz package of Crimini (Baby Bella) Mushrooms
1 Small Spanish Onion
2 Ribs of celery
2 tbsp of Better Than Bouillon Vegetable mixed in 4 cups of warm water to make broth
1 Can of Great Northern Beans
1 1/2 cups of baby spinach
2/3 cup of petite peas
1/2 cup of grated Grana Padano
2 tbsp of EVOO



In a heavy pan, heat EVOO and sautee onions, celery, and mushrooms until onions are tender. Deglaze pan if needed with a 1/4 of water.  Add farro and stir.  Sautee for a couple of minutes and then slowly add broth 1/4 cup at a time letting farro absorb broth before adding more.  This process can take up to 40 minutes to use all of the broth but it is what breaks down the startch and you will get a creaminess to the broth.  When you have about 1/2 cup of the broth left, add the beans, peas, and spinach.  During the last 1/4 cup of broth, check farro to see if it is done.  I should be chewy and nutty, if not soft enough, add more water, if it is done add the Grana Padano.  Serve immediately with extra Grana Padano on top if you wish.

Stevia

I have been using ground stevia leaves leaves as a sweetner since this summer.  I had a plant that I harvested the leaves from. But I am now out.

So last night I bought some Stevia In The Raw.  As far as a sugar replacement goes, I like it alot.  You do not need use as much as sugar and it is natural and 0 calories!!! 

Cabbage apple salad

I made this last night and it is really yummy.

1/2 of a head of Napa Cabbage--shredded (app 4 cups)
2 small Gala Apples cored, quatered and sliced thin
1 small onion, quatered and sliced thin (I used spanish but they are really strong, sweet or even green onions would be good)
1/4 cup of dried cranberries

Dressing
4 tsbp (1/4 cup) of White Balsalmic Vinegar
8 tsbp (1/2 cup) of Canola Oil
1 tsp of Stevia in the Raw

mix dressing together in a small bowl

mix all ingrediants together


You can add pinenuts or walnuts and/or blue cheese but I am trying to keep the calories low.

Renée

Renee

Drop Box

Favorite photos

P1000347, originally uploaded by traciedawnl.

Photography is a hobby of mine.  I just posted my favorites from the past few years.  If you would like to see more, please click on the flickr feed at the top of this blog.