Essentially we have no control over anyone or anything.  The only thing we have control over is our own thoughts and how we chose to respond to any given situation.Letting go is perhaps one of the most challenging things to do.  We hear it in yoga class all of the time- “relax and let go” “get rid of what is not serving you”…..easier said than done. Being able to let go means trusting that something greater than yourself (the universe, god, higher power) will take care of you or the situation.    Is there a situation, circumstance or thing you are attaching to and is it possible to let it go? Can you give it up to something greater and trust that you will be supported and taken care of?  As the heaviness of winter ends and the lightness ofspring approaches, why not lighten your energetic load and give yourself permission to let go.  Maybe some of these quotes can help…..they are always good reminders for me.

“When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.” – Alexander Graham Bell

“Some of us think holding on makes us strong, but sometimes it is letting go.” — Herman Hesse

“One problem with gazing too frequently into the past is that we may turn around to find the future has run out on us.” – Michael Cibenko

All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.” – Havelock Ellis

“There’s no need to miss someone from your past- There’s a reason they didn’t make it to your future” – Unknown

“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.” –Headstone

“Every exit is an entry somewhere.” -Tom Stoppard

“Hanging onto resentment is letting someone you despise live rent-free in your head.” –Ann Landers

“We need in love to practice only this: letting each other go. For holding on comes easily–we do not need to learn it.” – Rainer Maria Rilke

“Every breath is an opportunity to receive and let go. I receive love and I let go of pain.” –Brenda MacIntyre

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” – Lao Tzu

“Sometimes you have to let go to see if there was anything worth holding on to.” –Anonymous

“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” – Dr. Seuss

“We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the life that is waiting for us.” – Joseph Campbell

“The Tao Te Ching says, When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. When I let go of what I have, I receive what I need. Have you ever struggled to find work or love, only to find them after you have given up? This is the paradox of letting go. Let go, in order to achieve. Letting go is God’s law.” – Mary Manin Morrissey

I am an omnivore kind of girl and have studied plant based and healing cooking; so I like to think of myself as pretty well rounded.  I kind of go with the flow, the season or the mood when it comes to making choices about the food I consume.   Reading this article got me thinking about some of my favorite vegan foods.  One thing I have never been a huge proponent of are the “fake” meats or processed soy products that act as meat substitutes.  To each his own, but personally not my cup of tea.  However, what I want to share with you here is perhaps my favorite “real food” meat substitute.  Drum roll please…….introducing SHIITAKE BACON!  My chef friend Patty (thanks girl ) shared this recipe with me a few years ago and I have to say it is pretty wonderful.  I have whipped this little trick out at many cooking classes and everyone is amazed at the taste, smell and texture of this mushroom and how it magically transforms into the likeness of delicious smoky bacon!  You gotta try it.

Here is the VERY simple recipe: 

Shitake “Bacon”

Directions:

Place thinly sliced shiitake mushrooms on sheet tray lined with parchment paper and coat with olive oil and sea salt (mix with hands until nice and coated).  Bake in oven at 375 ~20 -30 minutes or until crisp.  Turn and mix the mushrooms while a few times while baking.   Cooking time will depend on your oven.  

WHAT DO I DO WITH IT?????

Use it wherever you would bacon…..

BLTA (bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado)

sprinkle over salads

with brussel sprouts or other veggies

omelettes

wherever is clever! 

WHAT IS SO GREAT ABOUT SHIITAKE???

These mushrooms are viewed as a symbol to longevity and considered quite medicinal in Asian culture because of their health promoting properties.  These range from immune health support, protection against cardiovascular disease, they are an excellent source of B vitamins, iron, minerals, magnesium, dietary fiber and vitamin D.  They also provide a wide variety of unique phytonutrients.

Sorry folks, but you can’t say these things about real bacon

I will begin by saying that I am not particularly fond of the winter.  However, I must admit, this time of year I am very motivated, highly creative and much more introspective.  I find myself organizingeverything, enjoying nesting at home, getting clear on my intentions for the year and reading ALOT.  Usually more than one book at a time.  

I was skimming through some cooking type / wellness books and was reminded of some useful information I thought I would share about the winter season.  It reaffirms the power of the seasonal eating concept but it actually takes it a bit further.  To state briefly, the ancient Chinese discovered thousands of years ago that our internal organs respond in very specific ways to the changes of the season.  As a result,  certain foods are recommended to strengthen each of the organs.  The Chinese teachings indicate that the winter season is associated with our kidneys and bladder.  Therefore, in order to find balance, we need to focus on giving these organs a boost during this time of year because they tend to get stressed.  Recommended foods are fat dissolving vegetables (daikon radish, shiitake mushrooms, green onion, onion, leeks), aduki beans, sturdy root vegetables, greens, miso, twig tea.  These options are used specifically to cleanse, tonify,strengthen and boost the organs which in turn will help us elevate our energy, mood and overall health.  It is an interesting experiment to try and take notice if and how making these little shifts do infact impact us and how.  * Side note: This is where a “food / mood” journal would come in very handy.

I welcome any insight that provides me with a deeper understanding of the physical, mental and emotional correlation to health as well as insight into a deeper awareness of my body’s natural rhythms.   I believe we are highly intelligent beings that intuitively know what we need to nourish and sustain ourselves in order to maintain optimal health.  This information is never static it is constantly evolving and changing.  It changes with the season, it changes with our age, environment and life circumstances.  The question is whether or not we choose to honor ourselves and listen toour inner guidance or not. 

During the winter months we instinctively gravitate toward warming, heartier foods, especially stews and soups.  Here is a very simple soup recipe which utilizes many of the suggested ingredients mentioned above.  

Kale & Aduke Bean Soup

Ingredients:

Sesame Oil (you can really use whichever oil you like here)

1 handful Shiitake Mushrooms (thinly sliced)

2 Garlic Cloves (sliced)

1 bunch Kale (stems removed and chopped)

1 large Daikon Radish (julianne or dice, however you prefer)

1 T Mellow White Miso or Barley Miso

1 small can Aduke Beans (rinsed)

1 box Vegetable Broth

Sea Salt & Pepper

1 T Tamari

OPTIONAL: Gomasio or Black Sesame Seeds for garnish

Heat a stock pot on medium heat and add oil to coat bottom.  Once hot, add garlic, radish, shiitake and beans and let simmer a few minutes while stirring occasionally.  Next add the kale and sprinkle with some sea salt and pepper.  Add your stock or broth then place lid on pot so the kale will wilt.  Meanwhile, dilute 1 T of miso with 1-2 T of the stock in a small bowl- stirring until miso is dissolved.  Add miso to the soup.  Allow soup to simmer on low heat about 10-15 minutes until kale is soft.  Add 1 T of tamari and stir.  Taste for seasoning.  Serve in bowls and sprinkle with gomasio or black sesame seeds if desired.  Enjoy the healthy, warm goodness and let the healing begin!

“I am not afraid. I was born to do this”.
~ Joan of Arc ~

This is not the earliest time to start a diary for you. How wonderful it would have been if I could have began when I first found out you would be joining our family back in September! However, the truth is, Mommy has been very very sick for the past 5 months and just had to focus on feeling better and taking care of you.

Today you have been living inside of me for almost 27 weeks! WOW! That is a long time…almost 7 months. It seems to have gone by so quickly. I am starting to feel better and I am definitely starting to feel like I can write again. Yes, I LOVE to write and reflect on life. It helps to provide so much clarity in situations that can seem confusing and so much joy when I have something to celebrate or have opened my eyes to new awareness. I have been doing it since I was 13 and it always has helped me. Maybe one day you will too? Or you will express yourself in a different way. The important thing to me is that you find what makes you feel grounded when you are going through confusing or difficult times – something that provides you strength and comfort – and that you always find time and a way to celebrate the beauty and love that you see and experience.

So it is about that time that I am supposed to be preparing your “nursery” or your 1/3 of Mommy and Daddy’s bedroom since we currently live in a small space and you will be bunking with us for a while. I have been scrolling through pages and pages of cute little blankets and matching…EVERYTHING. These things are supposed to create the most beautiful and perfect space to welcome my little girl into the world. Honestly, none of these things, images, products have excited me. I wasn’t sure why. It is something that so many women seem to love…planning every single detail. I know I have never naturally been the decorating type…that is why we have your Auntie Jack which you will come to learn.

But it was more than that…I just didn’t know it yet.

A few days ago, the above mentioned Auntie Jack posted an image and quote on her Facebook wall as she does each day (don’t even ask…by the time you are reading this Facebook will probably be a distant memory). As soon as I saw it I was struck by a lightening bolt of energy and connection. My initial response was to relate to the picture myself. A young girl looking up at the sky with conviction and determination and the Joan of Arc quote “I am not Afraid. I was born to do this.” accompanied it. My first response was that this is how I wanted and expected to feel about pregnancy… and I don’t. If I choose this mantra then maybe I can turn that around. Or maybe I really do know the truth of this mantra but it is hidden deep inside because on the surface I am experiencing all of the fear that society places on me as a woman on this journey. Whatever the reason, I have known that I wanted more than anything to feel the strength and understanding depicted.

Then, just as quickly, I realized something even deeper. This is what I want for you. Not the pregnancy bit (lol… that means laugh out loud and you are probably thinking right now… “oh mom, nobody has said that in decades…lol), but this feeling of strength and assurance deep in your soul in an uncertain and sometimes overwhelming world. Oh wait…peel back yet another layer. It wasn’t at all about what I want for YOU. Your life will not be about what I want for you. It will be what YOU want for YOU.  And right now you are living inside of me so the two can easily get confused. And I am pretty sure that I will have many many times in the future where I want so badly to have an agenda for your life. I promise right now that I will do everything I can to reign that desire in and to support you in your journey…lead by you! That was a little tangent… back to the point at hand. I suddenly realized that it was you that connected to this picture immediately. It was you that said “This is for ME”.

You have not physically entered our world yet…but you are already here. I can feel it now. Honestly…I haven’t. Until yesterday. I have not heard a word. I have not felt connected. Do you know why? Because I have not been listening! I have been distracted. And that is ok. Even though for a long time I didn’t feel it was ok. I felt like I wasn’t being a good enough Mommy already because I was just getting through the stress of each day. Most days I was barely thinking about you. I barely could. And everything was so so so overwhelming and different and strange and confusing and weird. And I was caught up in the fear of what was happening to me and around me. The details are not important now. What is important is that I told myself it was ok to experience whatever I was feeling and everything would work out as long as I was true to my feelings every day.

And now…7 months in… I am starting to listen. By now, as you are reading this, I have told you the story of the picture that is hung above your bed and the Joan of Arc quote that is scrawled across the canvas that your Aunt Amanda created especially for you. By now we have had many many conversations about what it means to you and to me and how that meaning changes with each new day, year and experience.

BUT – now you can read the words written by your Mamma in real time when you shared my body and my soul for a little while…teaching me so much before I even knew you.

Love,

Mom

MAKING THE MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT CONNECTION FOR OPTIMAL HEALTH

with:

Tara Bogota, Natural Foods Chef & Yoga Instructor
Sonia Lopez-Simpson, Certified Life Coach
Sunday, February 3, 2013

WHO WE ARE: We are a dynamic duo consisting of a Certified Life Coach and Natural Foods Chef whom are both Yoga Instructors. We want to empower women by helping them arrive at their “sweet spot” in order to bridge the heart, mind & body gap to be and feel complete, whole and full of love! We explore common female issues (body image/appearance, stress, weight loss, dealing with transition) and offer healing and personal growth through yogic perspectives, diet and spirituality.

WHAT WE ARE OFFERING: The stress of the holidays is over and now it is time to refocus our energy on ourselves: HOW WE WANT TO FEEL AND WHAT WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE NEW YEAR! We believe that if we feel good, alive and healthy from the inside out, we become energetic magnets to attract that into our lives that we set out to achieve. Please join us for a unique workshop that explores what we feed ourselves on all levels; mentally, emotionally and physically and how you can work with energy in order to implement healthier habits that will create sustainable lifetime results.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:
How to vibrate at a higher level of energy so that you become a master at manifesting
What types of messages you are unconsciously broadcasting to others and how to mindfully raise this energy so that you are living in balance with positive energy
How the chakras combine with food and energy to nourish our bodies and correct imbalances
Specific foods and recipes to help chakra imbalances
Develop greater awareness of body image and learn healthy habits
Learn how to raise your confidence, inner peace and clarity through breathing
Self empowerment tools for the New Year

BIOS:

Tara Bogota is a Natural Foods Chef and Yoga Instructor whose mantra is supporting organic, seasonal and sustainable agriculture. In 2012 she spent six months working on organic farms and vineyards in New Zealand which completely changed her life on many levels and her outlook on food systems. After spending many years in kitchens, Tara has recently shifted her energy to teaching, farming and writing. She is also the co-creator and educator of the Sustainable Weight loss Program at Terra Sky.http://www.cookbreathegrow.com

Sonia Lopez Simpson is a certified Life & Transition Coach and Master Practitioner in the Core Energy process. A process that shifts clients’ old beliefs and habits and moves them forward in ways they have never experienced before. Sonia’s clients experience increased sense of purpose, clarity, joy, inner peace, improved relationships, fulfillment and most importantly she teaches clients how to become positive energy magnets to attract and manifest all that they wish for!http://www.sonialopezcoaching.com

When: Sunday, February 3 , 2013

Where: Terra Sky Wellness Center, Summit, NJ
Time: 2:00-4:00 pm
Investment: $45

REGISTER AT: http://www.terraskycenter.com/events/upcoming_events.htm or please call 908-277-1222 for further information.

So my boyfriend owns a pub.  And often times the wine and liquor reps will bring us new things to try out (definitely one of the best perks of the job!).  A few months ago we wanted to bring in some new red wines so our rep gave us about several different bottles to try; different varieties within different price ranges.  Hmmmmm… this is definitely no fun to try alone (my honey does not care much for wine, much to my dismay) so a light bulb went off.   I decided to turn our wine bounty into an interactive gathering with a twist!  You see, I think that the label on the wine bottle, the price of it and the knowledge of what type of wine it is, will immediately influence our opinions of the wine before it even touches our lips. “Well its a $40 bottle so it must be good,” and “oh, that pretty little bird on the label is beautiful so I think I will like this wine etc…” you know where I am going with this.  So my idea: A blind wine tasting!  My sister and I organized the gathering at her home and invited a bunch of friends.  I cut brown paper bag pieces and covered the labels of each wine and numbered them accordingly.

I researched each of the wines and had notes on each (this definitely added to the experience and I loved playing the role of a wanna be sommelier) but I never revealed the price or the winemaker when discussing.  For example:  ”wine #1 is a medium body wine with hints of blackberry and cherry that pairs well with”……and then everyone would discuss the wine and takes notes on each. I also had them rate the wine on a scale of 1-10.  We took our time and really had fun with it.

At the end, I revealed each of the bottles and prices and we went through what they thought of each one.  Very interesting results…the most expensive was a favorite but so was the least!  And the funny thing was that the least expensive wine was seriously the ugliest bottle and to me looked very, very cheap and unappealing.  I would have never bought it off the shelf.  Goes to show, you can’t judge a book by its cover.

Anyhow, I hope you like my idea and perhaps it inspires you to have a little fun with your friends as well.  Its not quite a Sonoma or Napa wine tasting but if you enjoy tasting different wines it is certainly an experience you and your friends will enjoy and appreciate. Hey, any wine tasting I’ve been to, no matter where, I have always had a fantastic time! Infact, at the end of this one we had quite a few people dancing!  This makes me happy.  For any of you hosting New Years, this could be an idea for you?

I have included one of my favorite party goat cheese appetizer recipes here that is always a hit and pairs well with most any wine and a little plug for my little friend “the vinturi”…enjoy and CHEERS!

Baked Goat Cheese with Caramelized Onion, Garlic and Mission Figs

Recipe courtesy Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh @ food network

Ingredients

• 2 pounds goat cheese
• 14 dried Mission figs (1 cup), sliced
• 1/4 cup dry sherry
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 large Spanish onions, thinly sliced

• 10 garlic cloves crushed

• 3 rosemary sprigs
• 2 teaspoons salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2 sliced baguettes, for dipping

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Crumble the goat cheese into an oven safe dish and set aside.

In a sauce pot combine the figs and sherry with enough water to barely cover the figs. Place the sauce pot over high heat and bring up to a bubble, cover and remove from the heat and let the figs plump while the onions are cooking.

Pour the olive into a large skillet and place over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper and cook, stirring often, for about 10 minutes, or until lightly browned. Using a slotted spoon remove the plumped figs from the sauce pot, leaving behind any of the pluming liquid. Add the figs to the cooked onions, stir to combine and then spoon over the goat cheese. Place the dish into the top half of the oven for 20 minutes, until the edges begin to bubble.

Remove and serve immediately with sliced baguettes.

*** Ahhh the Vinturi!

I love this gadget- my mini wine aerator.   You pour your wine through it and it properly aerates the wine allowing for the flavors to develop quicker and provides smoother finish.  I swear you can taste the difference.  I try it out on friends all of the time.  I pour one glass regularly and another through Mr. Vinturi and the difference in taste is apparent.  I bought mine at Bed Bath and Beyond.  Great gift for wine lovers!

Funny story- we were at a fine dining restaurant about a year ago and I asked the sommelier what he thought of the vinturi or tools like it and here was his response : “ I won’t let anything but fine crystal touch my wine”.  Geeez! (I thought to myself).  So he basically poo poo-ed it,  but since most of us don’t have hours to decant our wine, this little guy is alright in my book!

http://vinturi.com/

On the surface of our world right now
There is war, violence, and craziness
And things may seem dark.

But calmly and quietly
At the same time
Something is happening underground.

An inner revolution is taking place
And certain individuals
Are being called to a higher light.

It is a silent revolution
From the inside out
From the ground up.

This is a global co-operation
That has sleeper cells in every nation.
It is a planetary Spiritual Conspiracy.

You won’t likely see us on T.V.
You won’t read about us in the newspaper.
You won’t hear from us on the radio. We don’t seek glory.
We don’t wear any uniform.
We come in all shapes and sizes, colors and styles.

We are in every country and culture of the world
In cities big and small, mountains and valleys
In farms and villages, tribes and remote islands.

Most of us work  anonymously
Seeking not recognition of name
But profound transformation of life.
Working quietly behind the scenes

You could pass by one of us on the street
And not even notice.
We go undercover
Not concerned for who takes the final credit
But simply that the work gets done.

Many of us may seem to have normal jobs.
But behind the external storefront
Is where the deeper work takes a place.
With the individual and collective power
Of our minds and hearts
We spread passion, knowledge, and joy to all.

Some call us the Conscious Army
As together
We co-create a new world.

Our orders come from the Spiritual Intelligence Agency
Instructing us to drop soft, secret love bombs
when no one is looking. Poems ~ Hugs ~ Music
Photography ~Smiles ~Kind words
Movies ~ Meditation and prayer ~ Dance ~ Websites
Social activism ~ Blogs ~ Random acts of kindness…

In our own unique ways
With our own unique gifts and talents.
“Be the change you want to see in the world”
That is the motto that fills our hearts.

We know this is the path to profound transformation.
We know that quietly and humbly
Individually and collectively
We have the power of all the oceans combined.

At first glance our work is not even visible.
It is slow and meticulous
Like the formation of mountains.
And yet with our combined efforts
Entire tectonic plates
Are being shaped and moved for centuries to come.

Love is the religion we come to share
And you don’t need to be highly educated
Or have exceptional knowledge to understand it.

Love arises from the intelligence of the heart
Embedded in the timeless evolutionary pulse
Of all living beings.

Be the change you want to see in the world.
Nobody else can do it for you.
Yet don’t forget, we are all here supporting you.

We are now recruiting.
Perhaps you will join us
Or already have.
For in this spiritual conspiracy
All are welcome, and all are loved.
The door is always open.

~ Author Appropriately Unknown