So What The $#%& Am I?

I feel like I've always been someone who asks lots of questions, deep in thought provoking ideas - just ask those close to me, they are all too familiar with my relentlessness in questioning things.  As the years keep ticking by I find myself continuously veering this way and that in many areas, but I hear that's good, it's okay, and part of "the process".  What does that even mean?

Sometimes I am completely overwhelmed with all of the areas I have to be concerned with throughout my life.  I mean, physical health, emotional health, mental health, and spiritual health.  Geesh!  And if that isn't enough, then I have to worry about offending someone if my way isn't their way, I find this particularly true in the spiritual health arena.  Then there are moments where I may have been living one way, decide to re-adjust that, and choose another way instead.  Stop the presses when that happens, those that were on "your side" in one set of views will throw you to the wolves if you decide to change.

Again, here come my questions.  Why?  For example, why care if I was raised Catholic, then followed Buddhism, then Wicca, but still reference the bibles teachings?

Wait, pause, let's rewind.  I was raised Catholic since infancy, baptized in the Catholic church, went to private catholic schools my entire life (up until college that is, then I opted for public education), continuing - married in the Catholic church, all our children also baptized Catholic, went to service every single Sunday, and on all those special holidays, even once married we hulled the kiddos with us each weekend. This continued well into my 30's.  Then, for some reason, I get an epiphany.  Somehow, I get a glimpse of something else, another way of thinking.  I start observing my own life, and those around me.  I see how we all go to church each weekend, but then live abhorrently throughout the week, as if that one day in church magically removes all the bad behavoir the other six days?!  Uh oh, I feel walls being built, anger building, resentment towards the church, and those who played the part only one day a week.  No more uttering the word God, or Angels, I opted for a more general term - Universe.  Oh my stars, I don't know what I believe anymore!

So, I started exploring Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism.  Whoa!  This is different, but has some familiar grounds.  Like, we should treat each other with respect, dispense more love and compassion, realize there is something greater than ourselves, etc.  Huh!  There are other beliefs that may align with how I feel.  Then walks in this Wicca thing.  What?! I thought all that was devil, and evilness, we better not talk about this in public or people will think we're Satan worshippers.  Oh, Wicca is about using nature to heal?  What the ---, but I was sure I was taught to fear other ways.  Here we go again, why?  Why twist things into something they're not?  Why does it matter if I want to use essential oils, like the ancient "witches", to heal myself and my family?  Doesn't everything essentially come back to having origins from nature?  I mean, where does everything we eat, drink, wear, etc. come from - thin air?  I don't understand....

See, my mind is a whirlwind of thoughts.  How can I process all of this, and what the hell do I put on those damn papers as to what my religious belief is?  Goodness gracious, the pressure!  I decided that I would continue learning, in all areas, trying to keep an open mind and heart, particularly if it was something unfamiliar.  

What I now understand is that I don't have to box myself into one way of anything.  I now see that I don't have to try to please everyone, and at times I will certainly disappoint some, myself included.  However, I no longer have to fear what others may think, that's their own process.  Oh, and about that... I get it, process really equals journey.  Our journey in this life is never-ending and I'm okay with that because it means I'm still here! And, as long as I am here, I'll keep exploring, learning, and hopefully positively growing.  As I journey you can be darn sure that I will share what I'm learning, because that's how it works - we share, sharing = opening the door for others who may not have known that door existed, or who were too fearful to try and open it.  Sharing doesn't mean you have to follow what I do, just as I don't have to follow what you share or do, but it means putting down the walls we build around our safe little worlds, and truly opening ourselves to new possibilities of growth.  

It was through my own shift that I was able to release those walls, anger and resentment towards others that I felt weren't "living the talk".  All those walls, anger and resentment did was cause me to act like a toddler throwing a temper tantrum, and I was taking it out on God and the Angels, when I was really angered by the people around me, and with myself.  I went years without saying those two very important words - God and Angels.  Thankfully, through my determination to continue learning, I crossed paths with information about Anthony William (Medical Medium). With an open mind and heart I ordered his first book, more curious than anything to see what he was about.  I mean, he's only trying to offer positive things, so what do I have to lose?  Wow!  I was blown away, and since I already recognized how healing or harmful foods can be, I knew there was something to this Anthony William.  At first some things felt uncomfortable, like talking to specific Angels, you know those walls can feel deceivingly comfortable at times.  The thing is, the more I did it, the more it just felt right.  Not trying to sound cliche, but there was this warmth, like a hug.  I am truly grateful for Antony's sharing, but for me it's not just about the words that Anthony, or anyone for that matter, say.  It's more about how things make me feel, and I mean how I feel on every level - physically, mentally, emotionally, and definitely spiritually.  

I completely get it now, that spirituality doesn't have to be linked to any one religion, or any religion at all.  I know this because words don't define spirituality, it's something that has to be experienced, and that has to happen within, and it's a unique occurrence for everyone.  Spirituality belongs to each and every one of us, how we go about it doesn't need to be the focus.   I also have grown to see that spirituality can be linked to everything, from the foods we eat to the thoughts we think, therefore affecting our physical, mental, and emotional journey as well.  Through this past decade of my life it has become clear that my learning will never stop. I will continue to grow, shift, and change.  I may not believe in what you believe or follow, but that doesn't mean we can't be friends, or that we can't learn from each other, or that we can't respect and love one another.   

So, the real question now is - what will I mark on papers that ask for religious preference?  I guess it would have to be ALL, because there are bits from each that have taught me valuable lessons.  

Tiny Living Experiment Update

Just how tiny can a family go?  I guess that's an individual question, with lots of factors that could determine numerous answers.  For our family + several animals (and I mean MANY), after 44 days of our tiny living experiment, we now have a better understanding of how much downsizing works for us at this time.

Where we stood at the 30 day mark...

• Ken - never actually moved into the studio space with all of us, he would come visit us daily though - I guess we knew where he stood with it from the beginning.   
• Our middle child - lasted about 21 days, then she decided 500 sq. ft. is just too small for this many bodies, and moved back into the main house with her dad.  
• Our eldest - has her own place (and thanking her lucky starts for that!), visited seldom, and would pretty much start to have an anxiety attack when in the small studio space.
• Our youngest - content with the whole process, and mad at big sis for moving back into the main house.  
• Me - fine with continuing the experiment with our youngest.  
• Kitties - still loving it!
• Pups - still wanted more space.

My younger two and I were leaving soon to visit family, so I made the executive decision to move all three pups back over to the main house. The cats were even more thrilled with the pups gone, and loved having my little one and I all to themselves to cuddle with.   I may have shell shocked my husband though, because I'm pretty sure he was getting quite comfortable with his quiet house and ample leg room in the bed.  With wide eyes he asked what was going on, I assured him it was best and would make it easier for him to care for the pups while we were out of town ;).  After 21 years of marriage, I don't think he was buying it.  

This left just my youngest, three cats, and myself at the studio.  During the day we were all at the main house (minus the cats), and in the evening our youngest and I slept at the studio.  The time came for our trip, while we were gone Ken and our oldest cared for all the fur babies.  Our middle decided to stay with family for a month (homeschooling perks), and it was back home for Gigi and I.  Once we returned home, I felt we needed to be back in the main house with the pups, who are generally glued to me 24/7.  

Where we stand today...

• The pups - absolutely happier in more space.
• Kitties  - love tiny living, but want to be where we are.  
• Ken - wishing we would all move back over to the studio, particularly when Ohio State is on TV :).  
• Me - realize tiny living has its positives and negatives, and that 500 sq. ft. is challenging when there is more than 2 beings involved.  
• The girls - in general I think they're happy we tried it, and now understand there's more to tiny living to consider if you want to remain sane.  
• Our oldest - since being back from our trip, has already been over more than she was during the entire experiment.  

In conclusion...

• Our house is still for sale (hint, hint).  
• We are willing to downsize to about 1600 sq. ft.
• We MUST have outdoor living space.  
• The kitties will be moved back to the main house after Thanksgiving.  

Tiny Living Update

Well, it has been 16 days since the beginning of our tiny living experiment. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, considering there would be so many bodies in such a small space, 500 sq. feet to be exact.

So, what's the verdict now after 2 full weeks?  

Cat's happy hangout

Cats = still EXTREMELY happy, they're enjoying hanging out with each other, bird and squirrel watching, and seem to move around more, which is good since before they would steer clear of the dogs for the most part.  

Pups chillin' outdoors

Pups =  adjusting, and they are happy with their new toys to keep them entertained.  They are also enjoying that this has offered them more time outdoors, with us of course, there is no sense in having the honor of homing dogs if they are left outside 24/7.  Anyway, moving on.  

The Girls =  they really are getting along well, and there have only been a few very minor instances, which is to be expected for many reasons: 1. they are human 2.  they are figuring out their hormones, which most adults still haven't been able to do ;) 3.  we are in 500 sq. ft. and 4.  they are siblings, who love each other, but, you know...

Me = I actually like it, and now when I do go to the main house I look around at how much wasted space there is, and I feel like we can get rid of even more unnecessary "stuff".  Although, tiny living = mom freaks out a bit if the litter boxes are not cleaned immediately after use, I have a sensitive nose, but in all fairness to me there are three of them, and it's poop, so come on, it needs cleaned pronto!

Ken = "visits" us daily in our tiny home.  He refers to the main house as his house, the studio as our house, he is still cracking me up, even if we are only neighbors now :).

Katie (our oldest) = hmmm, haven't seen much of her since our little experiment began.  Remember, there are lots of bodies in one space, plus she has misophonia, it's a real thing, look it up.  So this is how that equation would go: Katie+small space+several bodies+misophonia = CATASTROPHIC DISASTER! Let's just say, the Universe did good with her having her own place.  She'll visit us one day, right? Katie? Hello?

All in all, I would say so far this has been a wonderful experience of bonding.  We are learning a lot about what works, and what we would want to adjust in our planned downsizing.  We have been outside more, riding bikes, playing games, siting with the pups, having s'mores around a fire, carving pumpkins.  As cliche as it may sound, we are finding greater appreciation in time together and creating more memories, because in reality, that's all we end up taking with us anyway.

Tea/Coffee bar + food pantry

Tiny Master Bedroom

Tiny Bathroom

Tiny Bathroom

Tiny Reading Area

Tiny Girls Bedroom

Tiny Kitchenette

Tiny Living Room

Tiny Hall/Entry to other Bedroom & Bathroom                   

Tiny Living Experiment

With our family going from six to four, and the reality that the years seem to tick by very quickly, it won't be long before my husband and I find it's just the two of us. Weeeelllll, sort of, since we also share our home with 12 animals.  This last bit of information is what makes the post title so humorous, or interesting to say the least.

If you've followed this blog, then you know that we have been working on reducing and simplifying for the last two years.  With family members moving on to their own next adventure, and the fact that I'm obsessed with HGTV's Tiny Living, I kept thinking about how much unused space there was in our home.  With almost 3000 sq. feet of living space, Ken and I sat down to figure out how much we actually "lived" in.  We figure the number is right around 1200 sq. ft.  The other element to consider is the last few years we have homeschooled, so being in the ideal school district, which happens to NOT be within any walkable town, leaves us in an area that no longer makes sense for our family.  This also plays into our reducing aspect, and since we have to drive everywhere, it's wasteful to what we are striving for.

So, you see where this is going, right?  Ken has come around to the prospect of putting the house up for sale and downsizing.  We love our home, the bungalow style, the quiet neighborhood and, of course, our amazing neighbors, but we are ready for change, and by change I mean drastically downsizing.  The yoga studio right next to the house is about 500 sq. ft., and public yoga classes are coming to an end, so it led to an "aha" moment for me.  That is, to test out just how tiny we could go by ALL of us living in the studio space, and leaving the main house easier to keep clean.

The girls and I were super excited to test this out, making things nice and homey.  Before you think we are crazy, well we are, but anyway, our oldest took three of the fur babies to live with her so that helped.   Are you wondering about Ken?  When we told Ken our great idea he gave the blank, expressionless, stare.  I asked him didn't he think it was a great plan?!  His words?... "we agreed on reducing, you didn't say anything about any fucking tiny living!"  I couldn't help but chuckle a little at his response.

Needless to say, Ken will be spending most of his time in the main house, that's okay, with this many bodies in 500 sq. ft. I can't say that I blame him, and I don't want him to end up losing his mind (well, that may have already happened).

Yesterday the girls and I spent the entire day moving things over to the smaller space, making it functional.  So far, here is the verdict...

• We still have way too much stuff!
• Come nighttime, the girls were still excited and had a hard time falling asleep.
• I was tired and slept fairly well (*see lower bullet point to understand the word fairly).  
• While exploring the new grounds, one of the cats jumped on the kitchenette area, slid across it, knocking off the coaster and breaking it - apparently they are helping us with reducing.
• The cats adjusted quickly, and happily slept through the night on their kitty condos - expect for when they decided they all needed to use their kitty bathroom, which in 500 sq. ft. needs to be taken care of immediately, even if it's a 3am and again at 4 am.  I guess I should be grateful they use their litter boxes...right?
• The dogs are kind of thinking "what the hell?" - they'll be happier with the extra walks.
• Our oldest has said she won't be visiting, oh that one, she is so much like her dad :).
• We haven't seen Ken since yesterday - this actually may be working out in his favor at this point.
• The girls have realized they can't sleep in, smaller space means you hear everything, so when mom and the dogs wake up at 6:30am, so do you ;).  

This was just Day 1.  I will be sure to keep sharing our experience, maybe I'll even be able to get a video or two.  Wish us well, as we'll either bond from this, or their may be casualties.  

Is Yoga Hereditary?

My first exposure to yoga was about 26 years ago, when my mom brought some videos home, and I decided to give it a try.  I didn't know why, but I really enjoyed it.  My practice over the following decades would be hit or miss, but I always knew I felt better after a yoga practice.  I explored different studios, teachers and videos.  As with anything, some I liked, others not so much.  It wasn't until my late 30's, when my mom encouraged me to look into a yoga teacher training program, that I finally got it, realizing just how good it felt when I was diligent in practicing yoga more regularly.  This doesn't mean I'm on my mat doing hour long practices every day, but it does mean I'm doing something, even if it's ten minutes.  I've noticed if I skip a day, I feel off.  I can't even fully describe it, but I just do not have that same lasting inner calm that daily practice brings to me.

I've made a commitment to myself to do some sort of practice every single day.  I've also made a commitment to myself to do some form of breathing/meditation every day, again, even if it's only five minutes. Doing this brings me more balance and healing on all levels (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual), and has prevented me from some possible jail time when it comes to dealing with my family :).

Through my yoga journey, it's only natural that it has trickled into my family's life as well.  Because yoga is such an integral part for me, my children and husband have been exposed to yoga too.  Whether it was because they really wanted to, or maybe it was just to appease me at first, they have been on their own yoga journey as well over the years.  Each of us has our own process, our own experiences from day to day, and only the Self can truly know what something is doing to all levels of our being, so I can't speak for them and say that yoga does this or that.  What I can say is what I notice in their interactions with others, and how they treat themselves when they commit to a regular practice, which is that I see and feel a positive shift in them.

Knowing all the benefits yoga offers, both on and off the mat, my family has gone deeper into yoga than I could have ever imagined.  Although my kiddos have been practicing yoga for years, my older two children completed a 200HR yoga teacher training program this year.  My youngest, not even a teen yet, has not gone through the training, but she can tell you all about the postures, and teach you a thing or two about the Chakras!

So, this brings me to my question, do I think yoga is hereditary?  Well, I can't say for sure, but it would certainly make for an interesting study. What I can say is that the quest for yoga knowledge, and the positive experience that yoga brings, seems to alter DNA and negative habit patterns.  I've seen this first hand for myself and my children, which is why I became a certified Y12SR leader a few years ago.  Studies show that repetitive practices, whether positive or negative, create grooves in the brain.  This groove then becomes our habit, which makes things either harder or easier for ourselves.  If you're looking to adjust a negative habit then you first need to realize that, just as it took time to create the groove of that habit, it will take time, patience and persistence to alter it to a new, positive, groove pattern.

I've found that when working on adjusting a not-so-wonderful groove pattern, this is where some genetics, environment and support come into play.  I am not a doctor, this is solely based on my own experience and observation of others.  While it's true that some are predisposed to certain disease or illness, it is equally as true to be an active participant in whether or not those genes get flipped on (as we've learned through The China Study).  I believe yoga plays a vital role in helping us keep ineffective genes off.  Why?  Well, beyond the physical, yoga creates healthy behaviors that extend off the mat and into our daily lives.   Being mindful, living compassionately towards ourself and others, being aware of our impact in the world, being more present instead of living totally in the past or future, and connecting with others are just a few of those benefits extending off the mat and into daily routines.  All of this translates to increased health, immunity, inner strength, supportive nature, self love, love for others, and awareness in how we act, speak and eat.  

All these new grooves start forming, erasing the negative patterns, shutting down the destructive genes, and forming a more meaningful life.  The quest for yoga knowledge may come into our lives for varying reasons. For my family it feels almost as if it were a genetic trait, beginning at least as far back as three generations ago with my mom, and who knows what drew her to purchase that first yoga video.  Whether it was ancestry imprint, Divine intervention, or a random act, I know that yoga has brought healing to my life in more ways than I can describe, and I'm grateful for the chance to pass that on to my children, and hope that one day they will do the same.  

No Boring Salads Please, 3 Ingredient Ice Cream, and Pupcakes

Today is catch up day to share some recipes that I promised.  Most of you know that I love food, but I have to be honest and tell you that, for some reason, I really have had no desire to spend lots of time in the kitchen. What?!!  So, what is the solution to continue eating healthy, but not spending too much time cooking AND, more importantly, not blowing tons of money eating out all the time?

Well, lots of whole foods for one thing.  Things like smoothies, smoothie bowls, and fresh juice.  Also, I think because it's summer, salads have been a top priority, but not just any salad.  I'm talking gigantic salads that you have to use a mixing bowl for (and that's just for me, not the whole family, lol).  Please DO NOT just give us lettuce and call it a salad.  Our salads are true meals people!

Easy steps to a great, but not boring, salad:

1. Add lots of veggies and live a little by mixing up your greens - romaine lettuce, baby spinach, baby kale, arugula, or a combination of them all - bell peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, zucchini, summer squash, artichoke, cauliflower, etc.

2. Get that plant-based protein in there, and I might add that by making it warm offers an even more wondrous flavor and meal experience.  Need some protein suggestions? Lentils, many varieties and colors to choose from (and a HUGE protein and iron source), baked tofu or tempeh, roasted potatoes, chopped and slightly warmed raw nuts/seeds, quinoa, rice, cooked beans, or the occasional Gardein "Chicken" Scallopini (which is also gluten free).

4. DO NOT drown the salad in dressing.  Why cancel out all the good nutrients with mounds of unhealthy dressing?  Again, lots of options, but our favorite and most simple dressing is to coarsely mash half an avocado, add himalayan pink salt, dash of turmeric and pepper.  Mix avocado throughout the salad to coat well, lightly sprinkle some high quality balsamic vinegar (seriously, sometimes it is worth paying a little extra for things) over the entire salad, and lightly toss to mix. This is enough for one serving, maybe two, but if you're like me, it's one.

5.  To top it off, and not to mention that we are addicted to it, sprinkle nutritional yeast over the salad.

*This whole process takes 30 minutes or less.  If you prep by precooking or roasting a larger quantity at the beginning of the week, and chop extra veggies and store in baggies, you'll make it even quicker through the remainder of the week.  Don't forget, you can change up the combinations of items you use to keep things interesting.  

Now, while your food digests, go make yourself some healthy ice cream to enjoy later...

Healthy Creamy Ice Cream Base (w/o using bananas!)
Approx. 1 pint (2-4 servings, depending on who you are ;)).

We love us some raw ice cream made from bananas and/or avocados. Not only is it super healthy, but it is also super easy, and makes a creamy treat.  Sometime, however, we want an ice cream that doesn't have the banana flavor.  So here is an extremely simple ice cream base.  It tastes delicious as is, but adding in other flavors or natural coloring makes it fun too.

1 c. organic canned coconut milk (if you really like coconut use one full can, but omit the 1 c. nondairy milk of choice)
1 c. nondairy milk of choice (we like soy, but you can use flax, rice, walnut, hemp, etc).
1/4 c. pure maple syrup or light colored agave

Directions:
1. Shake canned coconut milk to ensure cream and water are mixed, then place all ingredients into blender, mix well.
2.  Transfer to an ice cream maker, 20 minutes later, you have homemade soft serve, it's that easy :).  IF there is any leftovers, or you want it a little firmer, place in a freezer proof container, store in the freezer.  To serve from frozen, allow to sit out for about 15 minutes to thaw, stir and enjoy.

Base w/ Blue Majik

*Try adding in other flavors/colors to change it up.  If adding other flavors, add them in once there is only about 5 minutes left in the ice cream making cycle.  If adding spices or natural color, mix in the blender at the time of mixing all the base ingredients.  Try one, or several, of the following to create different ice creams...

Spice/Herb/Color suggestions:  2 tsp. ground cinnamon - 1 tsp. ground cardamom - Tbsp. Blue Majik (amazing blue color that can be used to make Superman ice cream) - 1-2 tsp. ground turmeric (pretty yellow, again for Superman) - 1/2 Tbsp. spirulina (for green) - 1 Tbsp. matcha green tea powder (pale green) - 2 Tbsp. beet juice or powder (the "red" needed for the final color in Superman) - 1 Tbsp. Maqui powder (purple/pink) - 3 Tbsp. cacao powder (for brown, but also chocolate flavor) - 1 Tbsp. Acai powder (purple) - 1 Tbsp. 1/4 c. chopped fresh mint leaves - 1/2 tsp. pure mint extract - 1/2 Tbsp. pure vanilla extract, and there are many more, too many to list.

Flavor suggestions - 1/4 c. nut/seed butter (melting it slightly prior to adding to ice cream allows it to get incorporated better before the cold firms it back up) - mini chocolate chips - coarsely broken cookies (Mary's Gone Crackers would be a better option, and there are several different flavors - chocolate chip, ginger, double chocolate) - chopped fresh fruit - chopped nuts/seeds - coconut shreds - chopped dried fruit, etc.

Okay, that takes care of us humans, but what about our beloved fur babies?  Well, one of ours just celebrated her 3rd birthday.  In this house, the animals who have so graciously permitted us in their lives, get a yummy treat for their special day too.  In the past I have made things or have taken them to the local puppy bakery (which is amazing), but remember two things here - 1.  I don't want to be in the kitchen long, and 2. I don't want to spend lots of money ordering out.  So, again, I was in a quandary, but I found the perfect solution that I will share with you for your precious darlings.

That nose could not be any closer!

Easy Peasy Pupcakes w/ Easy Peasy Frosting
Serves approx. 15 mini cupcakes

For Pupcakes:
1 c. Gluten Free Bisquick mix
1 c. Organic soy or coconut milk
2 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract (alcohol free and GF)
1 Flax Egg (1 Tbsp. ground flax meal w/ 3 Tbsp. warm water - whisk really well)

Directions:
1.  Place liners in mini cupcake pan, preheat oven to 350.
2.  Mix all ingredients in a bowl, whisk or use spatula to fully incorporate.
3.  Fill liner almost to the top, bake for 10-15 minutes.
4.  Allow to cool completely.  Serve as is or proceed to frosting recipe.  If not using immediately, store in an airtight container for up to 3 days or in the freezer for 1 month.

For Frosting:
1/2 c. Organic or Natural Peanut Butter or Sun Butter

Directions:
1.  In a small pan or microwave, melt PB or SB to soften even further.
2.  Using a teaspoon measurer, drop a tsp. full over cupcake, use the back of the teaspoon to spread it.  Repeat until all cakes are frosted.
3.  Place in fridge for 15 minutes to set the PB or SB, then celebrate your babies birthday or adoptaversary.

You could technically eat them too, but they are pretty bland since you want to limit using sweetener for your babies, plus they may not appreciate you eating their goodies.  If they are anything like our angels, they may not have a problem sharing the love they have for you, but when it comes to food... that's another story.

Some 4th of July Fun

NOT a news flash, I adore food.  With this time of year I particularly enjoy making smoothies, creating all sorts of different flavors and colors.  There are some pretty amazing people out there making all kinds of artwork, using none other than some of my favorite things... FOOD!  And not just any food, but healthy, whole foods.  Foods that make me feel good, causing me to use ALL of the senses I've been blessed with, instead of taking them for granted.

For my latest food adventure I was prompted to create a layered smoothie. Okay, so the possibility of winning a new Vitamix helped.  Yes I already have one, but my thought was if I win a new one I can give my current one to my oldest, so she too can enjoy all the benefits Vitamix has to offer.   Geez, the things we do for our kids ;).  I really like making smoothies, but to be honest, I wasn't sure about this layering thing.  I thought, wow, they look really pretty, but do I want to be spending that much time creating totally different smoothies at once?  Isn't it a pain to keep cleaning out the blender?  How many ingredients is this going to be? Pretty much I was psyching myself out.  Finally I thought, my goodness don't be a baby, try it once, if you don't like then just stick to one from here on out.

I realize preparing foods isn't for everyone, but when I experiment with whole foods it's visually pleasing for me, you know, eye candy.  It gets my juices flowing (don't go dirty on me).  With greater appreciation, I find that seeing all the amazing natural colors makes me want to create something that will nourish me from the inside out.  My sense of vision gets activated first with all the colors.  Then I get to add my sense of touch by being mindful while I am preparing the food, noticing if it's cold, if it's textured, does it have seeds or pits? My senses start to do a sort of dance, moving sinuously from one to the other, and back again.  Now my sense of smell gets to join in as I peel, chop or dice up rainbows of joy.  Even my sense of sound is included as I pay attention to the sound of the peel, or the blend of perfection.  Of course, all of this has literally been setting my sense of taste up for the grand finale.  With my mouth already watering, I experience the satisfaction of my, I mean my blenders, hard work.  Once again, all of my senses swirling in synchronicity as each one is sent back into action by that first sip or bite of whatever I've created.  As I think about all of this I become eager to finally create a layered smoothie recipe, if nothing else, at least it will be pretty, I hoped.

As I decided on what my first attempt at a layered smoothie might be, there were some ground rules I set for myself.  One, make it simple, and two, tie in the upcoming holiday.  So this has led me to a 4th of July Smoothie concoction.

4th of July Layered Smoothie (serves 2)

Ingredients:

Red Layer -
1 cup unsweetened coconut water
1 1/4 cup frozen strawberries

White Layer - (coconut cream)
1 can coconut milk (full fat) placed in the fridge the night before
1 Tbsp. lucuma powder (or pure maple syrup if you want it sweeter)

Blue Layer -
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut water
1 packet Blue Majik
1 large frozen banana

Directions:
1.  Combine red layer ingredients, blend until smooth.
2.  Pour into bottom of two cups, rinse blender (don't bother washing or drying it).
3.  Open the coconut milk, pour out coconut water (save for later or use in next layer).
4.  Scrap the thick cream into blender, add lucuma or sweeter of choice, blend until smooth.
5.  Pour some onto red layer, you will have some left over, store in an airtight container in the fridge (use on pancakes, waffles, etc. or freeze to use later)
6.  DO NOT rinse blender this time, the little bit of cream will add a nice flavor to the blue layer.
7.  Place blue layer ingredients into blender, blend until smooth.
8.  Pour onto white layer, top with chopped strawberries, blueberries and coconut shreds.

This literally took me about 5 minutes to make.  I wasn't sure how long each layer would stay thick enough to hold the next layer put on top, so I put the cups back in the freezer between each layer.  I'll have to work on my layering skills, but my goodness this smoothie is rich, creamy, and most definitely satisfying! I hope you enjoy.

Is Circadian Rhythm A Real Thing?

I do not know why, but I woke up one morning last week and had a strong urge that I needed to rebalance my body somehow.  I eat fairly healthy, practice yoga and mediation, so what else was there?  Then the words circadian rhythm began to echo somewhere deep within the reserves of my brain.

Huh, circadian rhythm. I remember vaguely learning about circadian rhythm and reading articles about how it affects your sleep in the past, but what exactly is circadian rhythm, and how would it help me to feel the overall rebalance that I was looking for?

A little scientific refresher was in order.  Thanks to the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, I was quickly reminded about the perfectly planned connections between the exquisite human body and our amazing natural world.  Beyond regulating sleep, I was surprised to find out how our circadian rhythm can affect us in other areas as well..."Abnormal circadian rhythms have also been associated with obesity, diabetes, depression, bipolar disorder and seasonal affective disorder -NIH".  This last part was interesting because I have experienced seasonal affective disorder before, particularly in the winter, so this was nice to learn.    

Now that I had my refresher, and knew how crucial circadian rhythm is to my health, I needed to conduct a personal experience.  When I say personal, I mean family (they are so lucky to have me ;)).  How would I go about this experiment in a way that made sense for our life today?  We don't live on a deserted island far from civilization, so becoming hermits was not an option.  We needed to continue interacting with the world, and I needed to continue running our family business.  

Talking with the kids, we decided this experiment would last four days, Monday through Thursday.  There would be limited electronics in the morning to allow for our experiment check in, social media check in, and business updates.  This would be on the computer, should last no more than about an hour, and there would be no phone use.  The remainder of the day there would be no electronics, and all day/night there would be no lights, only candlelight.  

Watching the girls interact with each other and nature during those four days was beautiful.  We had sincere interest in each other's words, played more games with each other, went outside more, read, colored, got some much needed cleaning accomplished, practiced yoga outside, meditated more, and the quality of sleep was incredible.  Every evening we would go outside and watch the brilliant show the fireflies put on.   While we may have enjoyed fireflies before, this experiment gave us a greater appreciation for their beauty.  We can't stand human created fireworks because of the environmental and health damage they cause (cue eye rolling from many of you, but that's how we feel).  Realizing fireflies truly are natures fireworks was amazing, there were 100's of them, and Gracie would name them as they landed on her (she is the cutest!).  

For us our circadian rhythm rebalance was fun, but more importantly it allowed us to reconnect with each other by taking our faces out of mind numbing technology, honoring the person in front of us instead of half listening. It provided time for self reflection, tuning in through silence and gratitude.  It allowed us to realize that circadian rhythm can help with other disorders beyond sleep, which is an important piece that can offer hope and healing to many.  

We decided we liked how this felt, and we will practice being more mindful to our interactions with each other, and use electronics less.  Sometimes pictures or videos just cannot do justice to the beauty that is the people and nature we are surrounded by, you have to go out, turn off the television, put down the phones, close the computers, and immerse yourself in it.  

Want Some Movies With Meaning?

Although I love that the weather is becoming warmer, and want to be outside immersed in it, we have had some pretty wet weather as of late.  So what to do when it's too stormy to be outdoors?  Well, we like playing board games, cards or coloring, but we also enjoy watching old movies or TV shows too. While I enjoy watching some things just for the sake of watching, I generally want to watch things, and have my children watch things, that will cause us to ponder the meaning or lessons that may apply to our life at that moment.

Nothing puts a smile on my face more than when watching something that produces questions from the girls such as, "she said the Mystic could be anywhere after the Mystic passed away, that is so true" or, "it made me think about looking past the outside and seeing what's on the inside".  What movies can cause children to come up with these statements?  Movies with meaning, that's what.  Yes, even animated movies and shows can create thought provoking questions in children AND adults. The list of movies with meaning is endless, I thought I might share a few that most people have probably never heard of, but should definitely make it a point to put on their "to-watch" list.

My movie reviews:

Our all time favorites is Song of the Sea:  The movie is about mythical meeting modern, and the choices we have to make living in each.  One theme that certainly strikes a cord with us was something that our last book club book, The Gift of Imperfection, brought to light.  That lesson is that you cannot numb the painful moments that cause suffering, without also numbing the joyful ones.  You cannot pick and choose emotions to numb, when you numb one, you numb them all.  Sometimes there is suffering, but you should not close off from that or you risk losing that experience and others that may provide powerful lessons and possible joyful moments.

The Secret of Kells has an amazing storyline about releasing your fear and holding onto your faith even when times seem dark.  It also explores how sometimes those in power may feel they have our best interests at heart, but that building walls to keep others out can sometimes create more walls that never truly allow us to live.

The Secret World of Arrietty is a more recent version of The Borrowers.  The lessons in this one relate to unlikely friendships that allow courage to blossom in new ways.

My Neighbor Totoro brings imagination back to life, and reminds us that we should never lose that child-like imagination to foster hope, creativity and patience.

Howl's Moving Castle explores the issue of vanity, and how outward appearances may not always tell the whole story of what is going on inside of someone.  It also provides a lesson in not running from our problems because they will still be there, it requires courage and bravery to face our most troubling issues so we can find inner peace and stability.

The Dark Crystal is a Jim Henson production, and an extraordinary viewing as the lessons in this are numerous.  The most obvious one being that each of us has negative and positive elements within us, it is up to us to put our ego and greed aside to allow the positive ones to shine, or we risk losing ourselves to the negative ones.

Jesus & Buddha: Practicing Across Traditions causes us to, again, put down the walls we have built in regards to a "right" faith to embrace the root of both Christianity, Buddhism, and many others, which is all about living a life based on love, kindness, compassion and service.  I might add that living in this way applies not only to others, but to ourselves as well through self care.  Without love, kindness and compassion for the self, you cannot be of authentic service to others.

Want one that is more recent?  Okey dokey, we recommend Inside Out.  This one is not only hilarious, but drives home the message that inside of us are all these emotions (five in particular for this movie), but as The Song of the Sea taught us, you can't only harness the joyful ones at all times.  You need to experience and allow the other emotions (fear, disgust, sadness, anger) as well to provide balance and a basis to understand the lessons that life offers us.  For instance, some fear can keep us safe in a dangerous environment (i.e., not walking alone at night in an unfamiliar area).  Some disgust can help us to learn that certain things keep us healthy (i.e., washing hands after going to the bathroom).  Occasional sadness allows us to process pain instead of burying or numbing it, provide better judgment capabilities based on past experience, and/or create a stronger sense of motivation for growth (i.e., acknowledging the loss of a loved one and how it hurts to not have the physical body here can open up the door to growth in other areas, creating the opportunity for us to remember all the beautiful happy memories, and can motivate us to experience positive tools in creating, albeit different, but new happy memories.  Wheres hiding the pain may create other health problems and possible addictions).  Even allowing some anger helps by keeping uncontrollable urges in check, and this keeps us, and others, safe ;) (i.e., using words to convey our annoyance, not yelling or cursing, can release our feeling in a more constructive manner, causing us and others to question and respect what is making us upset.  We then can choose tools to help physically release that as well, such as a punching bag or power yoga.  Whereas always ignoring our anger/irritations so people don't get offended will eventually create powerful pent up volcanic reactions and explosions, again not healthy for ourselves or those we've lashed out at).  Finally, we have the joyful emotions, which are pleasant to experience.  Joy grants us the moments of elation and happiness that can boost health, gratitude and appreciation (i.e., beginning a new project, hobby or friendship).

I hope at some point you can view one, or all, of these movies.  Check the weather, pick some upcoming rainy days to pencil these into your calendar, and see what your take away may be from each.

Have an inspirational, thought provoking, movie/show to share?  Feel free to add them in the comments!

My Humbling Yoga Practice

I decided that my personal yoga practice today would go a little differently.  I think striking a balance between inner and outer peace is necessary to stay rooted, and I feel that the effort I put towards that is genuine.  However, as I was looking out at all the beautiful scenery, I couldn't help but wonder if I was being truly present in my practice.  I think it's absolutely fine to admire and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us, but sometimes even peaceful settings such as the one I see from our yoga studio window can be distracting.  I wanted to experiment with how NOT using my vision would affect my yoga practice.  Determined to really get into what gift this could give to me, my practice consisted of moving through most of it with my eyes closed.

Sitting in meditation with the eyes closed can offer some insight, but I wanted to sincerely open up to the opportunity of what this experience could bestow.  As I moved through the warm up portion, I felt calm, then it was time to come to my feet and begin Surya Namaskar.  This was different, with even Tadasana feeling a little like a stranger.  Initially, I almost felt as if I were grasping at the posture, which was not a comforting feeling.  As I stood, with my eyes closed, I realized that this was because I was so used to finding a tangible drishti for my focus.  If I were to be able to continue this experiment, I needed to release the grip of the comfortable and find something less tangible.

This is where I brought my awareness back to my breath.  Ahhh, this feels better, less scary.  Connecting my movements with my breath as I began flowing through Surya Namaskar, I found a rhythm through my breath.  It was then that I noticed a deeper connection to my movements that I had not ever noticed before.  Not relying on visual alone gave me a new sense of where my body was through each posture.  It was as if I was encountering all of these postures for the very first time.

Continuing through my practice, I arrived at the time for standing postures.  As I shifted into Vrksasana, I felt everything in my body struggling.  Coming back to my breath helped, but with standing in one pose, not moving and balancing on one leg, it quickly registered that something else needed to happen here if I was going to stay there, and not end up on the floor.  My internal dialogue went a little like this: "okay, I've got this, take a breath, start out in the lowest foot position... still wobbly, what is happening?... alright, what would I do if my eyes were open?... oh, right, I would find my drishti, probably looking at the beautiful green trees... okay, let go of the green trees and focus on what will provide centering at this moment... right, sorry... drishti, drishti, where is my drishti?... I know, not only let go of the green trees, let go of all other outer sensory grabbing energies... here we go, deep breath, shift back into Vrksasana, now focus the closed eyes to the center, third eye area.  Oh...my...goodness, there it is!... oops, little wobbly, got too excited for a moment.... there it is again, breathe, stay, this is nice".

I moved through my remaining practice much in this same way, having this internal dialogue as I shifted into each new posture.  I'm not saying that my practice looked pretty, but it felt beautiful.  As I kept finding an inner drishti, it allowed more awareness to the postures.  Yes, I could feel every muscle quiver as I stayed for several breaths, but it was actually liberating.  Not to say I will be doing every practice with my eyes closed, however, it brought a new sense of body and mind awareness.  I will definitely revisit this practice in the future as it gave a fresh sense of grounding, while leaving a piece of harmony in my soul.

Oy Vey, Can Animals Having Cognitive or Mental Disorders?

Well, last nights walk was such a joy!  Let me start at the beginning.  When it is just my younger two and I each of us walks one of the three dogs.  On occasions, such as this, our youngest gets the biggest dog, Mya.  This may sound strange, but she is really well behaved (I'm talking about the dog, stay with me here, sorry Gracie).  As with any being though, there may be a time when Mya sees something she needs to investigate such as a bird or groundhog.  In this instance, we have instructed Gracie that if Mya is hell bent on running, let the leash go (we may not have used the word hell bent when talking to Gracie).  This will prevent ER visits due to road rash, and Mya will stop and come back when we call her.

Okay, moving forward with our glorious night.  All the dogs were harnessed and leashed, so on to the walk we went.  Not five minutes into the walk, I see a large black dog, no leash, approaching.  I immediately freeze, Gracie immediately drops her leash, and Ashley has a panicked expression as she is looking back at me, because I have the pup that prompted the question I am asking in the title of this post. Chevy and Mya are fine, and sniffing the [non member of our family] dog that they have not seen since he was a puppy.   Our third, and precious, little nugget had already stiffened into protect mode.  If only the other dog had stayed up with our other two... but, he didn't. He decided to come visit Janie.  Seriously? can you not read her body language, or the fact that she sounded like a demon?  I am pretty sure our other two dogs, and the girls, were frozen in fear because nobody was moving.  Thank goodness for our neighbor, who called the other dog over to her while the owners finally made their way to get their fur baby.

By this time, I am fairly certain something ruptured in my brain because my head was pounding more than my heart.  Needless to say, our walk was done, everyone was shell shocked.  

Let me remind anyone who is reading this that I view all beings the same.  I do not feel humans are a superior species so for me to ask a question, such as the title suggests, I am being 100% serious.

I am a firm believer that other species can, and do, have diseases and illness that are generally associated with humans.  You know, like cancer, diabetes, AIDS/HIV, leukemia, food allergies, environmental allergies, etc.  So for me, I do not see why it would not be just as possible for them to have mental disorders as well.  I have told my family before that I think Janie has ADHD, and possibly some form of Autism.  This seems extremely likely for animals to have these disorders as well.

After our stress filled event, Ashley said she would go and apologize to those people, and while I am happy to know we have raised a conscious child, I thought about that a moment.  I reassessed the entire thing and told her I did not think that was necessary. Before your judgments take over, let me explain:

1. We live on a quiet road that dead-ends and only has two other neighbors.
2. We had all of the dogs harnessed and leashed.
3. We were not on the property of the business that owns the other pup.
4.  Our other two pups, who were in the led, are sociable.

To explain further, just as with humans, some animals are sociable, others are not. The reasons for this are varied, and I could not begin to pinpoint any one reason. Janie was adopted as a pup and was without her biological mom at a very young age (earlier than 7 weeks), we do not know her story, or the story/genetics of her parents.  We can make all the assumptions we want as to why she is riddled with anxiety and a fierce protector of us, but in reality, we just do not know.  As much as some people may think, doggie school is not an option for her.  Out of the eight fur babies that have been a blessing to our family over the years, only two ever went to doggie school.  For the others we used the same methods and educated at home.  You know, we are homeschoolers for our humans, same with the pups I guess.

Anyway, as I look back, some were sociable, others less so.  For the less so ones I always felt like maybe we were bad parents.  Now, I feel completely confident in saying I do not feel I always need to apologize for one of my babies behaviors just because it makes someone else uncomfortable.  Don't get me wrong, there are precautions that need to be taken when it comes to safety, which I feel we do by harnessing, leashing, not taking her to dog parks, and not walking her in a high pedestrian area.  Janie is highly intelligent, and knows all the commands such as sit, lay, stay, here, come, and she knows how to help herself to the water and ice dispenser on the fridge.  When we take her on a walk all by herself she seems to have more control over her emotions, but when with the entire family (dogs and humans), she is stressed.

Doggie school in this situation, and with this particular princess, would not go well because she cannot focus once stimulated, and we would be kicked out, or politely asked to leave and not return.  I guess some questions that I have are: why do people judge and assume you are a bad parent if your child (fur or otherwise) does not act according to societal standards, or why do people think they always have the answer? Giving suggestions or sharing information is one thing, judging, when you have no clue, is another.

I end with, yes, each of our fur babies has their own unique personality.  They each want to be loved, and to give us love.  They may not act appropriately for YOUR liking, when steps can be taken to adjust that we will take them, otherwise, respect the fact that they are amazing beings in their own right, with emotions, fears, behaviors, stresses and anxiety that may not always be remedied by strictness, control, school or anger.  We will continue to work with our little bundle of "not the norm" emotions, but we will do it in our way, letting her know that she is loved no matter what.




*If anyone has noncritical comments or suggestions I would be open to hearing them.  I do not like traditional muzzles so that is not an option, and would make her anxiety heightened.  If there is a muzzle that would not make her feel like she couldn't protect herself or us, let me know.

What The Heck Is Sole?

I am feeling energized this morning as I've implemented the Ayurvedic practice of Sole. Pronounced SO-Lay, Sole is purified water that is saturated with Himalayan Pink Salt. The water gets saturated to the point that it cannot naturally hold any additional salt. 
Does this sound conflicting with reports regarding salt? So how, and why, would people do this? Well, first and foremost you DO NOT use table salt, which has been bleached and stripped of the minerals and elements that are good for us. You use a pure salt, such as Himalayan Pink Salt. Sea Salt is also beneficial, but with ocean contamination on the rise, when making Sole, I prefer to use Himalayan which comes from the Mountains, generally far from industrialization and, therefore, less toxins :).

Himalayan Salt contains 80+ minerals and elements that our bodies need. What else does Sole do? 

• Helps to rehydrate the body after it has used energy and water during sleep to repair our cells.  
• Helps nerve cell communication throughout the body.  
• Helps to rebalance electrolytes in the body (which is why nerve cell communication is enhanced).  
• Due to natural rebalancing, sleep begins to improve.  
• Stabilizes blood sugar.  
• Promotes clearer skin, healthy hair and nails.  
• Helps to reduce allergic reactions due to it's natural anti-histamine effect.  
• Reduces/eliminates muscle cramps.  
• Boosts energy and mood.  
• Increase bone health, which stands to reasons with all those natural minerals!
• Reduces/prevents vein problems (i.e., varicose veins).  
• Improves digestion, which in turn can have an added bonus of promoting weight loss.
• Often can reduce blood pressure.
• Due to it's natural anti-bacterial makeup, helps to detoxify the body.

Holy smokes! Where has this stuff been all my life?!! This is absolutely one of the easiest, and cheapest, ways to rebalance and promote health throughout my body. If you want to try it for yourself this is what you do…

1. Get a glass jar with a glass, or plastic (BPA free), lid. Do not use metal, as it can interfere with ionization. The ions are what makes the whole process good for you. Don't worry, I won't go into a science lesson here. If you are interested in the whole ion, electron, proton process visit this cool site I've used for my kids, okay, and myself too ;).
2. Purchase pure himalayan salt from a reliable source. Check a natural food store, Amazon (read reviews) or Salt Works. I happen to live by a salt cave that gets high quality, food grade, salt chunks.
3. Fill jar with pure, filtered water, making sure it covers the salt. If using grain instead of salt chunks be sure it covers the salt several inches above the grains. Close with lid, give it a shake and leave it overnight.
4. The next morning, get a fresh glass of filtered water. Do not shake or mix the sole, add only a 1/2 to 1 teaspoon (remember, no metal utensils) of the Sole (salt mixture) to your fresh water, and drink. Be sure to drink this before eating or drinking anything else to allow the body full opportunity to assimilate the benefits.

That's it, how easy it that? Add water to the himalayan salt, set overnight, done. Because himalayan salt is anti-bacterial and anti-viral, the leftover Sole will keep indefinitely. You'll just want to add more salt and/or water as the mixture gets low.  

If using salt grains, and the next morning they have all dissolved, then add more grains to the water until there are grains that sink to the bottom. When you see grains sink to the bottom, and are no longer getting dissolved, then the Sole is at the proper level. Remember, Sole is created because the water can longer absorb the salt added to it, meaning, the water contains enough salt. The extra at the bottom is fine to leave and is a good indicator to you that the water is at the proper salt to water ratio.

The water really does not taste the same as when you've been at the ocean and swallowed a mouthful of salt water. Of course if you took a swig from the whole jar of Sole, that probably would taste the same as a mouthful of ocean water. It's an interesting experiment to perform to notice the slight weight difference of fresh plain water vs. the water with the teaspoon of Sole added. It is really hard to describe, it has a slight salt taste, but the water actually feels more weighty, or full bodied than plain water. You do the experiment for yourself and you'll see what I mean.

I don't think that water has much taste, but if it bothers you, when adding the teaspoon of Sole to your fresh water, also try adding a few drops of fresh lemon juice to your glass and see if that helps. 

If you give Sole a go, be sure to share your experience and what you think about it. If nothing else, you'll know that your body is getting lots of minerals! If you find you just can't stomach the taste, get creative in figuring out ways to add a tsp. (that's all you'll need, trust me), to your favorite dishes. I love adding it to rice, roasted veggies, soups, etc.

I am a firm believer in doing what makes my body naturally feel better. If I add, or eliminate something, I take notice how I feel physically, mentally, and emotionally. For me, noticing how I feel is a key indicator if it is or isn't beneficial, and a deciding factor if I want to keep doing it. A great example of this is gluten and refined sugar. They send my auto-immune disorders into a frenzy, so I don't particularly need a doctor or test to tell me otherwise, but that is a whole other blog post that I'll save for another day ;).

*Please note, I am not a doctor or Ayurvedic Practitioner. If you have concerns for yourself, then by all means, check with your healthcare professional before implementing into your routine.

1,2,3 = A Happier Me

This weekend was our first book club meeting.  The book we tackled was The Happiness Project.  Let me tell you, I definitely recommend reading this book.   Not because it regurgitates an exact list that you need to follow to ensure your happiness, because, let's face it, any book that does that is full of BS.  So why then?  Because this book makes you think about YOUR life, and YOUR happiness, and YOUR project.  The key to reading any book like this is to remember, it's not a one size fits all.  There is no, I did A, B and C, so now I can check them off and be happy for the rest of my life.  It is a continuous journey.

Does that last statement sound ominous or too hard?  Well, for myself, doing all the things that seem easier never really brings me any kind of lasting happiness.  Instant gratification may seem easier, but the crap that I am left to deal with afterwards is actually a lot of work.  For instance, I eat fairly healthy, but do allow myself treats once in awhile. The times in the past that I would eat junk repeatedly may have seemed easier in the moment, but then I was left feeling like #$@&.  My arthritis would act up, I was grumpy, then those around me became grumpy, so then I felt guilty, which then caused even more horrible physical, emotional and mental feelings and symptoms.  Now, those once in awhile treats of a sweet or greasy food are just that, a treat, instead of a habit or convenience.  Eating and preparing healthier options may seem like work for some, but for me, the payoff is so much better.  In reality, my awareness and proactive efforts of my health does, in fact, bring me happiness.

After reading the book and discussing it with others I found that, although I may not have resonated with everything she said and did, I was able to begin thinking about what my project would look like.  I guess, in a sense, I had already begun my project at the beginning of the year when my family started our gratitude jars.  So, yes, that is where I am beginning my project.  I don't think I'm taking a shortcut by going back to something already started because the gratitude jars are an ongoing project that lasts the entire year.  In the book, the author tackles lots of ideas and goals.  I decided my project needed to be simpler, so that I didn't feel overwhelmed, and to increase the chances of me sticking to it and creating those lasting life habits.  Remember, most importantly, this is MY project.  This isn't what yours has to look like.  It's just a place to get the wheels turning, for you to think about what you may want for YOUR project.  Ready for phase 1, 2 and 3?  Here we go…

Phase 1: Gratitude

First up in the gratitude department was the gratitude jars (GJ).  I don't even remember where I had seen the idea, probably Pinterest or something.  Anyway, it is an ingenious concept that reminds me to appreciate all the good and abundance that already surrounds me.  The last few years our family has done vision boards, which are also fun and inspirational, but the GJ seemed like a new way to practice gratitude on a more consistent level.  My oldest got all of the supplies, jars and decorations (for us to make our jars unique to each of us).  Each day we write a simple sentence or word that expresses the good in our life, then place it in the jar.  That's it, it takes only seconds. The best part is that it causes us to think about the good, instead of reflecting on the negative. This has been especially helpful on days that seemed not particularly pleasant.  Here's the payoff, it creates a new habit of looking for the positive, and at the end of the year we get to read each slip of paper to remind us.  As I continue with each new gratitude item, I keep the items I have already implemented so that my gratitude muscles keep growing. The next gratitude item I recently added is to appreciate how much better I feel when I get enough sleep.  This one I just started, so I will keep you posted on my efforts!

Phase 2: Organization

This is something that I started at the beginning of the year.  Notice I said started because, just like the gratitude jars, this will be an ongoing goal.  Clutter is inevitable for most of us.  There's that spot on the floor that clothes always get dropped, or that drawer in the kitchen that odds and ends find their way to, or my all time nemesis, the counter that acts as the drop off for everyone's stuff.  In a family of 5, plus LOTS of animals, clutter abounds.   Organization can seem like a daunting goal in my project so I decided that instead of trying to do it all at once, and feel completely stressed out, I would break it down into smaller organization projects (OP).   It's no secret, I love being in the kitchen.  So, you guessed it, that was my first OP.   This took several days because I broke down which areas of the kitchen to do each day.  I want to stick with it, attempting to do the entire kitchen in one day would have been too much, and too frustrating.  Day one and two, I organized the spices, moving them to a drawer for easy viewing and access.  Day three and four was the cabinet that contained oils, vinegars, super foods powders, flours, etc.  Day five and six was our pantry, where all the extra and duplicate items are stored.  I took a break for a few days, then went on to where the cookbooks and dishes are kept.  I am not done yet, but already it feels soooooo much better.  Not only is it aesthetically pleasing, it has taken away many frustrating moments of trying to find or dig something out that was buried.  Once I feel satisfied with the kitchen area, I plan on moving to closets.  For sanity sake, I will be saving my youngest child's room for last ;).

Phase 3: Be Tiffany

This last phase is a big one in creating more happiness in my life, and ultimately, for those I interact with.  A key phrase that resonated deeply with me throughout The Happiness Project was to Be Gretchen (the author).  Such a simple statement, but can encompass so much.  I am a people pleaser and nurturer by habit, and it often brings me great pleasure to make others happy.  However, it also can bring tremendous stress and pressure at times. Sometimes, when asked or looked to for help, I didn't really want to do it, but felt I had to.  When this occurs, instead of being happy, I was irritated, which creates this unpleasant cycle of reactions.  If I did something I really didn't want to just to please someone else I felt annoyed, I would be short with responses and agitated overall.  This, of course, was readable to that person, who then felt irritated with my reaction.  So the whole experience ended with bitter feelings instead of happiness for anyone.  I did something I didn't want to in order to please someone else, but instead only made them feel bad too, kind of defeats that entire purpose I did it for, right?  Over the past few years I have been making sure to take time for myself, and to be okay with that, which is a hard thing to do when you're not used to doing that.  Taking this one step further to create true inner peace is to put into practice those two simple words - Be Tiffany.  I am bringing more awareness into whether I truly want to do something or not.  This isn't selfish because it is causing me to be honest with myself which, in turn, allows me to be more authentic to those around me. If I can't, or don't want to, do something I now will nicely decline, refer them to someone or something else better suited, or ask them to choose another time for me to help.  I realize there may be times where people take offense, this is even more so with close family and friends who have been used to me dropping what I am doing to help them instead, but that will be par for the course.  I value my health and happiness, so this is an important part of my project that I intend to continue, they will get used to it :).

I am excited with my happiness project and goals.  Since this is MY happiness project, I may decide to add additional goals in over time, but for now, I will focus on my three phase plan.  I already am feeling positive shifts in my well being so I know it is working for me.  Hopefully my project efforts will have a domino effect, in that, if I am genuinely happier, those around me will be too.