Happy Monday!

As promised, the french toast from the other weekend! This weekend was somewhat lazy lay about. I was supposed to go to my parents but we had a family issue and the trip was postponed until Mothers Day weekend. Which is kind of great for me because I can chart my progress on the evil hill! My sister's Mother in Law was in town so we all hung out. Like I said, relaxing! Make this delish French Toast next time you have a lazy Saturday morning. It hits the spot! 

What you need:

5 slices Leftover Coconut Banana Bread 

5 eggs (beaten) 

3 Tbl Milk 

2 tsp Cinnamon (I used Penzley's Cake Spice, its so yummy)

1/2 Tbl coconut oil (or butter, or Olive Oil. Depends on your taste preference) 

3 cups Fruit (any kind) 

1 tbl honey 

1/4 cup coconut flakes 

Almond slivers 

What you do: 

Mix the beaten eggs, milk and spice. 

Place your bread in the mixture and let it soak for a bit then turn and soak the other side 

Melt (or heat) your coconut oil in a pan until its liquid 

Place the toast in the pan and heat until golden brown (about 1 and half minutes depending on heat) 

While the toast is heating, mix your fruit in a bowl with additional coconut flakes and the honey 

Flip and heat until the other side is golden brown 

Drop on your plate and top with fruit and slivered almonds. 

Quote for the day......

“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow.
Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.”
― Lao Tzu

Enjoy!!  

The Great Gatsby

“No amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man will store up in his ghostly heart.” 

-F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

There are some books that just stick with you. They crawl inside your soul and hide there. Snippets of dialog will scroll across your mind when they are most desired. They will paint colors inside your mind and create a new world for you. They will show you things that you would see without them. Books (as someone once said) are worlds waiting to be discovered. For me, the "reality" of the written word is much preferred to the reality of everyday. Books will take you on a journey and you will never be the same. A part of you will forever be altered by the labyrinth of the writer's mind. 

F. Scott Fitzgerald's journey in 'The Great Gatsby' is one of my favorite examples. On the surface, the novel is a story of one man's all encompassing love for a woman. But other theme's play below. Swimming under the surface is the dark exploration of the American Dream and how commerce and money can ruin people and lives. The Great Gatsby is an endearing portrait of America in the 1920's. 

While I am always an advocate for the page instead of the film, I do have to say that I am so excited for this movie! I just saw the new preview for it and I got excited all over again. I love Baz Lutherman. He directed Romeo and Juliet as well as Moulin Rouge. A Baz Lutherman film is defiantly unique and you can tell who made it. His films are also crazy well scored! I am seriously counting the minutes until I can purchase the soundtrack! I can't wait to see Lutherman's interpretation of the this great work. I'll leave you with one of my favorites quotes of all time....

"He knew that when he kissed this girl, and forever wed his unutterable visions to her perishable breath, his mind would never romp again like the mind of God. So he waited, listening for a moment longer to the tuning fork that had been struck upon a star. Then he kissed her. At his lips’ touch she blossomed like a flower and the incarnation was complete.”

Happy Sunday night. 

You are stronger than you know

"Kat, hey Kat. You have to try CrossFit!"

"Kat, hey Kat. Have you thought about trying CrossFit?"

"Kat, hey Kat! Julie and I are going to CrossFit tomorrow morning. You should meet us there!"

These are the words that have been said to me for 3 months by same well meaning co-workers. Sprinkled over me with loving encouragement and a rabid desire to wake up at the crack of dawn and do this thing called 'CrossFit '. I finally started listening.  I think it was because of this whole 60 day challenge thing that I am doing with my gals. I've done really well actually! I took pictures of myself before we started and I will take more when we are done. If I don't feel shy, I might even post my results! 

So my personal CrossFit cheerleaders gave me promises of amazing fitness. Oh, and a company discount. Plus, I could try it out for a week for free. What the heck! I was able to get through 90 minutes of sweaty, grueling hot yoga. I could do a CrossFit workout. 

I promised to meet my personal cheerleaders bright and early this past Monday morning. And by bright and early, I mean at 6am.

I had heard a little about CrossFit but for the most part I was clueless. I went to my source of information....Pinterest. With Pinterest I can not only read what the other pinners say but there's pictures! Yay! 

10 minutes after typing 'CrossFit' into the search option, I knew I might be in trouble. I knew that it would be intense. I knew I would probably die. I knew it would kick my ass....twice. Then make me get up so it could kick my ass again. FML. 

I set my alarm that Sunday night with trepidation. I now knew what I was getting myself into. Frankly, I was scared. I woke up at 3am. Then I woke up at 4am. At 5am, I got out of bed and dressed. Ashley (one of my personal cheerleaders) had told me to get there 15 minutes early to do some intake paperwork. I ran out of the house, forgetting the water bottle that I had carefully placed next to my keys. 

I realized I had forgotten my hydration just as I passed a gas station, so I ran in to get some water. When I got back into my car, my OnStar got confused and then got me lost. 

Whew! I hadn't even made it there and it was already an adventure. 

I righted myself and made my way to gym. Where I was not met by my gals. 

Where I realized that in order to be ready to workout at the appointed 6am hour, I had to walk into the place alone. 

Since I've developed some mild social anxiety in the last year, this is a huge fear of mine. 

As I sat in my car, I realized I could be afraid. Or I could walk in. 

By myself. 

I locked my car, straightened my hair bun and walked in. 

I pushed open the door, walked down the hall and pushed open another door into a gray and red gym. Alice Cooper was playing on the stereo. Burly men and fit women where lifting weights, doing pullups and looking like District 2 from the Hunger Games. Bruce Almighty (as I have since dubbed him) was kind enough to notice my freaked-out-deer-in-the-headlights-what-the-hell-have-I-gotten-myself into look 

and ask me what could he help me with. 

When I explained I was new and was meeting some friends, he sweetly advised me that they have a new policy. All new people have to come when there are two trainers in the gym so that one can work with the masses and the other can explain what the hell CrossFit is and how to do it to the new person. One on One style. I breathed a sigh of relief, said I would come back at 11 when the owner was there as well and beat tracks back to the safety of my car. 

Later that morning ,at work, I talked my friend Dana into going with me. (I'm not quite sure she has forgiven me for it. But I did give her coffee this morning so I think we might be ok.)
We walked in, sat down and realized that we were supposed to be in workout clothes. That when Bruce Almighty asked me to come back he meant so I could do my baseline test. That day. To the chagrin of Boss Man Jason, we set an appointment to come back two days later. Boss Man didn't really explain what a baseline test is, just that we had "better be ready". 

Wednesday, 11:15 on the dot. Dana and I walked into the gym. Ready to meet Boss Man Jason (who I think I remind him of his little sister because he gives me A LOT of grief) BMJ explained that we would do the warmup and then the baseline test. The baseline is how you know you are getting better. BMJ would time us and then in a month, we would do the test again. To see if we can beat our time. 

The warm-up ... THE WARM-UP...is what I would usually call a workout. 

I beat a tire. A tractor tire. With a sledgehammer. 

It. Felt. Awesome. 

I learned how to use a kettlebell. 

I did lunges. I did kicks. I did knee hugs. I jumped rope like Rocky! 

I learned that when I think I reached my limit, I can go farther. 

Then I did my baseline. 

Which meant that I did the rower for 500m, 40 squats, 30 sit ups, 20 push-ups and 10 pull-ups. 

As fast as I could. 

When I finished in (don't you wish you knew?) minutes, I fell to the floor gasping. 

That shit is hard!! 

BUT 

That shit felt AWESOME!  

Leaving that day, I knew I would be back. 

And I was the following morning. Bright eyes and bushy tailed. I was in at 5:55am. Ready to kick my ass. 

I've gone a few times now and I have to say.... I love it! 

I literally hop out of bed, ready to take on the day's WOD. I have more energy through out the day. I find myself smiling more. My favorite part? 

I find that little things that would annoy me, don't. 

So here's my little challenge for myself. 

There's a hill at my parents. A deadly, evil, straight up hill. I run it when I visit them. 

My time has slowly gone up since last year. 

I want that time back down. 

I want to run up that hill and make it my bitch. 

I want that hill to beg for mercy. 

Mothers Day weekend I will have been doing CrossFit for 3 weeks. 

I know my time from BCF (before CrossFit) I'll see what it is next time I visit them. 

And I will make it my personal mission to kill the hill. 

Coconut Banana Bread

The weather is warming up! Soon I'll be able to use my pool! This time of year always makes me happy. The trees are blooming, the air is clean, its not too hot to hike in the after noon and the fresh fruit overflows at the local grocery. Last weekend, my gals and I decided to take a roadtrip up to Pinetop. Its one of their birthdays in July and we've been scoping out locations to have a girls weekend. On the agenda? Nothing. Nothing but wine, food and perhaps some hiking and rafting. We woke early on Saturday because it is a 3 hour drive through some of the oddest towns in Arizona. At one point I looked at them and remarked "This is the town that Rob Zombie gets his extras from." Laughter ensued. It was a long day of driving and scouting I'm sure that it was the DELISH Coconut Banana Bread that I had made us for breakfast that kept our spirits high and our tummies from grumbling. Although, at the end of the day we all did crash out and spent our Saturday night zonked in front of the TV watching an indi film called 'Bachlorette'....which was stinkin funny by the way. In hopes that you too will be inspired to go play tourist in your state, I'm posting the recipe for you. Next up? We're day trippin to Wickenberg! 

What you need: 

1 ¾ cup whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1¼ teaspoon baking soda

3 Large ripe bananas, mashed

½ cup + 2 tablespoons sweetened flaked coconut

½ tablespoon coconut oil (melted) 

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ cup of honey

3 egg whites

2 tablespoons skim milk

¼ cup fat free plain Greek yogurt

¼ cup orange juice

What you do: 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda together in mixing bowl. Shimmy a little with your hips. It makes the mixing fun. 

In separate large mixing bowl combine mashed bananas, brown sugar, and vanilla. 

Add egg whites and mix together until smooth. Next add oil. 

Then, slowly add in flour and combine until moist. 

Next add Greek yogurt and orange juice. (Depending on the consistency you can add two tablespoons of skim milk. If you like your bread more dense —omit the milk — but if you like it more airy or lighter you can add it.I added it.) 

Add ½ cup of coconut and mix together.

Pour into greased, floured 9×5 inch loaf pan. 

Joyfully cover the top with two tablespoons (or more) of coconut on top.

Bake for 50-60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean and the bread is golden brown.

I had leftover, so the next day I made tropical French Toast. Don't worry, I'll post that later! I ate my piece drizzled in Raw Honey with a side of mango, strawberries and papaya. With a cup of my new favorite Coconut Hibiscus tea, I felt like I was on a tropical vacation! 

Monday

I know I haven't written all last week but I've had a heavy heart. It was one week ago today that country was wracked by the waves of the Boston bombing. Even now, after one suspect was caught and the other one was killed, there is a sense in the air. There is an uneasiness, an awareness that things will forever be changed. I watched with horror at the pictures across my screen passed by. I looked on with tears as the faces of those that were murdered emerged. And I was happy when the culprits were found. I wanted answers. I still want answers. Why two people would spread such evil into the air. Why they found a need to strike at the heart of innocents. My heart hurts. Its a scary time that we live in. I can easily be sucked into the scariness  the fear of what is going on but in times of great evil there is something that glitters. The hope. The innate goodness of people. The "helpers". Author Dennis Lehane who is a Boston native was speaking to Good Morning America and what he said stuck with me. It filled me with hope. 

"I’ve been proud to be from Boston my whole life – I don’t think I’ve ever been as proud as I have been this week.  The thing that will stick with me the rest of my life is, the plot of these brothers failed within two seconds of the first explosion. Because the objective of terror is to rattle a populous. It’s to make them paralyzed with fear,” he said. “And to see all of these civilians run toward the blast to help their fellow civilians, to help their fellow Bostonians, their fellow members of the human race was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. It was one of the great acts of heroism I’ve ever witnessed.”

That part about how the plot of the brothers failed because the object was paralyze bystanders with fear. Boston was not afraid. Boston ran into the smoke, ripped off their clothes to make bandages for strangers, thew their bodies against friends to protect them, CLOSED THE CITY DOWN to catch the evil bastards that did this. In the face of horror and evil, the people ran headfirst to fight the danger. 

And that....that is what gives me hope. 

Pray for Boston. 

At 2:50 today, there is a countrywide moment of silence and prayer for Boston. 

This week.....

60 Day Challenge

Two weeks ago my sister sent me an email about all the peeps at her work doing a 60 day challenge  She sent the rules to our whole group of friends. Some how (in some rabid lemming sort of fashion) we all agreed to take part in this experiment. The ground rules are as follows......

No Coffee- Tea ok sparingly

No soda

No Chi

No sweets of any kind- Honey ok

No fried foods

No breaded foods

No white bread, rice, pasta, or tortilla - you can have whole wheat bread, pasta and tortillas

No junk food

Mozzarella cheese ok

Must Drink at least 64 oz of water a day

Exercise at least 30 minutes per day

15 push ups a day

15 sit ups a day 

1 mile 3 times a week

I don't know what possessed me to give up coffee. Out of all the things that I feel would be the worst, giving up my cuppa joe I thought would be the hardest. I was wrong. 

I miss SUGAR! Oh dear lord how I miss sugar!  

This week in my office has been the worst! 

Cookies on Monday 

Chocolate cake on Wednesday 

And today? Cheesecake! 

I pushed through though and today is actually day 5 of this and I am doing surprisingly well!

For the first three days I tried to do the Tracy Anderson food plan along with her videos.....

No this isn't blood, its beet, parsley, spinach and apple juice I made all by myself. And I also have homemade applesauce and a carrot puree. Aren't ya jealous? 

After that I gave up the baby food inspired plan and became ravenously hungry for chicken. 

Like, all I wanted was some chicken and nothing but chicken. 

I wanted something crunchy and yummy for lunch and came across this lil gem below. I loved the satisfying crunch of the broccoli and the slivered almonds. The link to the original recipe is under but I made a few changes because I also love spice! 

What you need:

1 lbs Chicken

1/4 cup slivered raw almonds

1/2 cup water chestnuts

1/4 cup green onion, chopped

1/4 cup celery, chopped

1 tablespoon minced Ginger

1 tablespoon minced garlic

2 cups broccoli

2 cups shredded cabbage

1 Tbs Coconut oil

1/2 Tbs Chili and Garlic Sauce (more to taste)

Splash Soy Sauce

Sesame seeds to garnish

What you do:

Clean all vegetables and trim fat from meat (I'm pretty picky when it comes to my meat).

Cut broccoli and chicken into bite sized pieces.

Thinly slice 2 cups of cabbage

Julianne (fancy way to say slice) green onion, celery

mince garlic and ginger.

Heat wok over high heat.

Add coconut oil , swirl to coat bottom of wok,

Add green onions, garlic and ginger

Saute lightly then add meat

Cook meat for 3-4 minutes, until mostly cooked.

Add in broccoli, water chestnuts and celery, cook for 2 minutes

Add in almonds and cabbage

 Cook 2-3 minutes, until cabbage softens a little.

Make a 'hole' by moving the food up the sides of the wok

Add a splash of soy sauce and the garlic chili sauce and push food back down to the middle

Toss thoroughly to season

Remove from heat and  sprinkle with sesame seeds

Nosh away folks!!

Original recipe

http://www.primalpalate.com/blog/chicken-and-vegetable-lo-mein/

Short and Savage

Last night I went with my sister and a good friend to 8th Day Coffeehouse for a small group thing from my church. We went a little early so we could hit the farmers market/food truck gathering that downtown Phoenix has on Wednesday evenings. After noshing on some excellent South African curry from one of the food trucks, we made our way to the coffeehouse.

I usually don't talk about my faith here but last night I was lucky enough to have met this adorable married couple that have started a small business selling faith based tee-shirts. The thing about the United States is we have this amazing thing called freedom. Meaning that we are able to speak freely. Other countries, not so lucky. In some countries religious freedom is little more than a myth. Faith Certain governments restrict religious practice. In China this means that individuals are "allowed" to attend government-sanctioned organizations and registered places of worship. The only purpose for this is to control the growth and scope of the activity of religious groups. For those stepping outside one of the five officially sanctioned religious punishment can take the form of varying degrees of harassment, imprisonment, torture, and forced religious conversion. Makes you want to go to those countries, right?

 

If you are the founders of this tee shirt company it does! While working as missionaries, they realized that they could be deported, their passports confiscated or (even worse) imprisoned. Still feeling impassioned, they created tee shirts that seemed inconspicuous....unless you read the Bible. See this shirt below?

Aww...how cute, right? Ravens flying free from a nest! I love it! And the phrase 'Consider the Ravens', it's just a tee shirt, right?

Wrong. The tee shirt is actually in reference to Luke 12:22-31

"Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!"

 

It doesn't stop there, if you lift up the bottom of the tee shirt it says "Are you not much more valuable than they?" in both English and Vietnamese. You know why its on the underside of the shirt? So you can wear it up for all to see the verse but flip it down when the police show up.

 

 

I bought this one last night. This verse really struck a cord with me. Recently, I have found myself worried and stressed. Fearful about the future and resentful about the past. It was this line that I felt I needed to remember.

 

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

 

I cant change anything. I can't predict the future. All I can do is be present. Every day. Be conscience of me and who I am. And I am precious. I am worthy. I am good.

I want to tell you something and I want you to really hear me....

You are precious, you are worthy and you are good.



You should not worry for what  might happen or what has happened.

What you should do is celebrate your wonderfulness.

Rejoice in your uniqueness.

 

There is one other phase that I want you to remember as you go about your day. As you walk amongst the meanness that seems to permeate the world.

 

"Are you not much more valuable than they?"

 

Yes. You are.

 

These are things that I will remember each day. I am wonderful. I am unique. I am rare. I am valuable. No matter how the world tries to tear me down. No matter how a person tries to hurt my heart. No matter how badly someone tries to make me feel.

 

I am valuable.

 

The name of the company is Short and Savage. This is the theme from their business.

SHORT: (adj.) limited; small in extent: the amount of time we have on this earth​
SAVAGE: (adj., slang) fierce; intense: the way we spread the Love

I am short. And I will be savage. 

If you want to purchase one of their shirts please do so!

http://www.shortandsavage.com/#!the-fill/cgxi

 

 

 

Margaret Thatcher

Yes, two posts in in a row like this?? However yesterday we lost a driving powerful female force and I simply cannot have this pass unmentioned. I know the press will go ape shit scray cray over but I wanted to throw my own two cents in the wring.

Margaret Thatcher was the longest-serving British Prime Minister of the 20th century and even more amazing is that she is the only woman to have held the post. Known as the 'Iron Lady' for her uncompromising politics and leadership style, she held office in what was formally the boys club and implemented polices that were known as Thatcherism.

Margaret was originally a research chemist before becoming a barrister, and later was elected Member of Parliament for Finchley in 1959. I know that most of my posts are reflective of food and other such frivolities as I meander through a 1st world problem kind of life (which I readily admit I am thankful for. Deeply deeply thankful for). But sometimes there is something that needs to be said/posted whatever that deserves the respect of everyone. This is one of those things and I am about to get up on a soapbox here. A soapbox that you should join me on. Did you read what I just wrote? Ms. Thatcher was elected Member of Parliament for Finchley in 1959. Again, 1959. Do you know what it was like for women back in that time? Certainly not like it is now. For the most part sexism, harassment, abuse and women not being given at least some respect. Basically, these ads below sum up the attitude to woman in 1950s

Later, Edward Heath appointed her Secretary of State for Education and Science in 1970 government. A scant 5 years later in 1975 Thatcher defeated Heath in the Conservative Party leadership election to become Leader of the Opposition and became the first woman to lead a major political party in the United Kingdom. She became Prime Minister after winning the 1979 general election. She had been called many things but none stuck as well as the 'Iron Lady'.  Ms. Thatcher overcome a sexist, misogynistic time frame and rose far above it. In the process she blazed a trail for little girls to hope for more than a hoover vacuum for Christmas or a man to take care of her. She inspired woman to become their own person, to have strength and dignity while maintaining their femininity. This was a rare quality that was taught and is still being cultivated today, the ability for a woman to retain her ladylike qualities but learning to be successful in (lets face it) a man's world.

I think Ms.Thatcher was unfairly painted at times. It must have been difficult to be a woman in a world where one had to balance both raising a family and having a career. She was painted as a woman who wouldn't budge, who was stubborn and who unmoving. But woman have to be at times. We are fighting an uphill battle. We fight for respect every where we go. Because one has breasts, there is a certain amount of worth one has to prove at times. Its not fair but its also ignorant to assume that this isn't the case. Ms.Thatcher is an inspiration to all.

 

Ms. Thatcher spoke one of my favorite quotes of all time....

 

“Watch your thoughts for they become words.
Watch your words for they become actions.
Watch your actions for they become habits.
Watch your habits for they become your character.
And watch your character for it becomes your destiny.
What we think, we become."

One should live by these phrases.

"Life does not have to be perfect to be wonderful"

What a sad way to start this week. This morning Annette Funicello passed away after a long battle with multiple sclerosis. For those of you who are not well versed in the Hollywood lore of old, Annette Funicello was the maven-haired sweetheart of original “The Mickey Mouse Club” in the 1950. She was spunky, sweet and was the rarest of Hollywood rares....men lusted after her and woman wanted to be her. No one could hate Annette Funicello! She was an angel! Some people say they have glitter in their veins, Annette was living proof that this is true. She radiated such joy no matter what. There's so much that I could say about her. Condensing her life into a few hundred words will not begin to describe this amazing dynamic woman.

For my sisters and I Annette Funicello was the star of our favorite movie ever.... 'Babes in Toyland'. A cute kiddo film from 1961 that was set in nursery rhyme world. I don't know how we found this movie seeing as how it was in the 80's when I saw it for the first time but nevertheless, my sisters and I were addicted to the Disney adaptation. Mother Goose narrates the story in which Mary, Mary Quite Contrary (the darling Annette) and Tom the Piper's Son are about to be married. Of course there is the sinister Barnaby who plots to foil this fairytale romance between the two by kidnapping Tom the Piper's Son and setting Mary up for financial ruin! Her only escape is marry the evil Barnaby. I don't want to spoil it for you but even now many years later (shut up, I'm not doing math) it makes me smile. My sister found a copy on Amazon and we indulgently watched it only two months ago. We sat on the couch, giggling like little kids as Tom the Pipers Son and Mary Mary Quite Contrary sang their undying devotion to each other and Mary coyly refused to kiss her beau.

Annette Funicello  was also the star of many a beach bunny movies. Movies that had the most scandalous moment being a stolen kiss under the moon on a beach. A first love so simplistic and innocent that one cant help but be nostalgic. This whole walk down memory lane has me revisiting the most romantic moments in own life. There's something so pure and sweet about a kiss. Today we mourn the loss of one of Hollywood's shining lights that blinked out.

Annette was a star in Hollywood and she was the brightest and biggest. If you put Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift together you would get an idea of how grand this woman was. Yet she didn't fall prey to the typical drugs, booze, blah blah blah.

This is where it gets really important. Are you paying attention? While reading the stories about her and reading what she accomplished in her life I ran across a quote of hers that made me stop and really think....

"Life does not have to be perfect to be wonderful"

I was dumbstruck by the simplistic zen wonder of it.  She had a life that was full of ups and downs. Happiness and sadness and yet she lived by the words

"Life does not have to be perfect to be wonderful".

I want you to really ingest that. I want you to really let that marinate.

Life does not have to be perfect to be wonderful.

Goodbye Annette. Thank you for the glitter.

 

Hot Yoga

No, no this is not me. There is no way on God's green earth that I could do this.  When I do yoga I get hot and sweaty and gross. But I also get some well needed clarity.

Have you ever had 'one of those' days?

You know the day that I mean.

It seems as if all the cosmos are against you. Everything in the world is conspiring to make you lose it? That was my day today. I swear that it felt everything in this world wanted to slap me upside the head.

I faced setback after setback today. Nothing seemed to be going my way. I was Rocky getting pummeled by Apollo Creed. I was Kristin Wiig in 'Bridesmaids' getting kicked out of my apartment. I was Emily in 'The Devil Wears Prada' getting hit by a cab. I don't know why the universe wanted to pick on me today, I was wearing yellow for pete's sake! Yellow is a happy color! From the moment I set foot into work, I knew that it was going to be me pushing up hill. By 11:30, I had hit my limit. It took every ounce of my will power to finish out my day.

I was so frustrated. I was so over it all. I wasn't zen. I wasn't happy. I wasn't wanting to do anything but curl up in bed and cry. And cry.

I don't know about you but days like that make me fill utterly and completely defeated.

The last thing I wanted was to drive halfway across town, change into gym clothes and sit in a hot room. But I did it anyway. I drug myself there. 

And I found my safe space. 

Seriously.

I found my zen, my freedom. 

It was the first time that I was able to do all 26 postures. 

From Pranayama all the way to Khapalbhati. 

It was the first class I had taken alone. The other few times I had gone with my cousin and once with my friend. But this time I went alone. 

There was a freedom in picking where I wanted to practice, I chose by the window. I wish I could tell you it was because I felt the need to stare out the big windows at the barren desert landscape beyond. But it was actually so I could watch my car. Cause I am that strange. 

But from the moment I clasped my hands under my chin and began the first pose, I felt the day melt away. During the Savasana I found myself watching the sun streak the sky a brilliant pink and then slowly fade to purple and then black. I wasn't concerned about anything but breathing in the hot air and breathing out the negativity that had settled someplace in my heart. Ridding myself of that anger that had snaked around my ankles and held on tight. 

I left feeling like I always do, a touch shell shocked and really sweaty. But clean. Somehow refreshed. I knew that tomorrow would bring more challenges, that I could not always be happy but that if I could do 90 minutes of poses in a class all by myself I could do anything.  

Life is made up of moments, some good,some bad, some sad, some happy. But just like happiness is fleeting, so is sadness and joy is right around the corner. 

Nameste bitches. 

Haha! Come on, I have to keep it honest! 

Love=Cocaine

Did you know that love is much like an addiction. 

Seriously.
We as human beings are designed to crave love.
Crazy, right??

Read on my ill informed friends..... 

I was doing some research and ran across this little gem. 

ASAPScience says that the brain of someone 'in love' is chemically similar to that of someone 'on cocaine'. 

Yes. You read that right. 

Love=Cocaine. 

Can you believe that shit?

 Basically, when you are involved with someone the threshold on your pleasure centers has become lower. Do know what that means?
It means that the gate your mind has constructed to keep you safe has been breached.
BREACHED my friends!!
 So when you are looking at a photo of this person that you "love" your traitorous brain releases a surge of dopamine and norepinephrine.
Let me repeat that.....

 Dopamine and Norepinephrine. The same chemicals that are released when you do COCAINE!
Those lovely, happy, feel good chemicals release even more so if you orgasm with this person. 

Awesome.

You know what else is like cocaine? 

Sugar.

So, when I am feeling glum I am make cookies. 

Cheers....here's some cocaine cookies.
The bad thing about baking when you are depressed is that the cookies taste sad.
Honest. Swear to god.
Read 'Like Water for Chocolate' and you will understand.  

I recommend a good moscato before you start and your favorite music to dance to.
Do it. Dance around because no one is watching. Trust me, you will feel AWESOME.

Funny side note...as I picked up sugar, flour, butter and vanilla from the store today both the people in front and behind me asked me if I was baking...
Uh no. I'm making steak.
Seriously. What else would I do with sugar, flour, butter and vanilla?
Anyway, here's the recipe. Bake 'em. Eat 'em in bed.
Cheers!


Broken hearted Sugar Cookies
Makes 5 dozen
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Directions
 In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth.
Beat in eggs and vanilla.
Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt.
Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
 Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.
Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter.
 Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven.
Cool completely.

Yea, I didn't really frost mine before I ate like 2 dozen.
If I get around to it tomorrow I will frost some and post the pics.

British Invasion

Its official. 

I have my first ginger obsession. Not like the condiment ginger which I will inhale at every sushi place that I go to. But my first ginger obsession via the human kind. 

Here's how it started.... it was a cold and blustery day.

 Kidding. It was a normal Tuesday and I was on my lunch break reading everything that I could about Katherine Middleton. Don't question, just accept that I have a recent British fetish. I pretty much kissed the clerk when I found my local Trader Joe's carries crumpets  I mean, really! How exciting is it to have tea and crumpets?! I'm practically hanging out in Notting Hill for pete's sake! 

Anyhooo.... I was reading about the exploits of the Duchess when I suddenly took a google detour and found myself staring into the broodingly handsome, unshaven in the best possible GQ kind of way, face of Tom Aikens. 

Now you know me, while a pretty face is enough to give me pause I also need substance of some sort. I have to have some kind of seasoning in the broth in order for me to want to dip my pasta into it. 

Luckily for me (and you, now that I have made you aware of this wonderful man) Tom's talents extend past simply looking good. He was the youngest British chef to win two Michelin stars at Pied a Terre, in London's Charlotte Street, in the 90's. Since he graced the earth with his presence in 1970 this would out him barely in his 20's when he accomplished this feat! 

Swoon! 

And his talents go even deeper! My tittering on food is positively childlike compared to his prose on the culinary experience in his restaurant. I wish I could hear him say this in that sexy British accent of his!  

‘The change is more than skin-deep. The experience begins in understated surroundings, with just a linen napkin and a glass. From there it builds up and unfolds, like a story: excitement and surprise as each course arrives.’’

Seriously! Someone who is that passionate about food has my attention. 

Go here if you are lucky enough to get to London http://www.tomaikens.co.uk/
If your not, you can always check him out on youtube. I have to admit that I did watch one or two of the videos just to hear him talk about nosh. 

What I wouldn't give to have breakfast in bed with this fellow! I am a sucker for whiskers but on Tom for some reason they seem that much more manly!

Thoughts from my mom

"You don't have to like everyone Kat." 

"Even Jesus only picked 12 people"