The last two weeks or so have had a very out of control feeling to me. I'm having a bit of a hard time dealing with work life balance and life life balance and there is no good way to write about it because it's all just starts to feel like too much.
I have four blog posts written most of the way in my head and no time to get them typed. I will work on that this week, in the mean time thanks for your patience. And let's everyone remind each other to give ourselves a break every once in a while.
In truth, at this point, all I really want to do is cook great food and garden half naked all day. I guess we all make compromises. :) image via sophie lecuyer.
In the last few days there has been an explosion of color. Green grass, fluorescent little buds on trees, yellow daffodils and pink tulips popping up all over. And across the street there are these beauties, tons of blooming magnolia trees all down the block that create a faint smell to be enjoyed when you walk along. They'll make you so happy it's spring you could almost cry. We made it.
Things you can learn by doing a three day raw foods/juice cleanse: • It's possible to lose 5 pounds in three days
• It's actually really nice to take a break from drinking wine after work every once in a while
• Reminder that a banana is a perfectly good snack that fills you up
• Juice from the juicer really can be a good breakfast
• How to enjoy juice at room temperature
• Doing such an exercise is made a hundred times easier when done with friends and coworkers who can help support each other
• It won't kill you
• It's very possible to live without coffee • You do not need to be eating as much as you think you need to be eating •
It's a really good way to hit the reset button, feel better and remind
yourself how to be cognizant of what you're putting in your mouth
• To love blackberries. Yum! They're like nature's candy!
The sun finally decided to shine here in Minneapolis and not one single solitary minute too soon. I think it's safe to say we were all one snow storm away from completely snapping. Towards the end of the seemingly endless days of rain, snow and wind there wasn't anything really to be done except make a big bowl of pasta and pour yourself another glass of wine. It was the bottom of the barrel and nearly impossible to imagine what a warm sunny day might feel like. And now that those warm sunny days have finally arrived there are dues to pay for all those carbohydrate heavy meals and excess drinking.
I decided to do a three day cleanse of drinking only juice from the juicer, eating only raw fruits and veggies, raw nuts and eliminating any non prescription drugs (advil, tylenol, etc), alcohol and coffee. I'm looking forward to it actually because I want to feel better than I do right now, which is not great (I watched the film Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead again for motivation.) After the cleanse I'll continue making smoothies before work as I love to do in the summer. A tasty, healthy way to start the day. I recently bought my very own juicer and I've been using it to my smoothies advantage. Making fresh juice and freezing it in ice cube trays for use with the rest of the ingredients in the mornings is a great way to get more nutrition into your drink.
For the perfect smoothie you'll need:
- Frozen fruits. Any kind you like. - Yogurt. (Don't get fat free and make sure your brand doesn't have high frustose corn syrup in it) I like Brown Cow the most. - Juice. Generally 100% apple juice works best
- Honey (approximately a tablespoon)
- Optional enhancers could be soy protein powder for energy + amino acids, psyllium husk powder for colon health and added fiber (metamucil has aspartame and artificial colors in it), or chia seeds for omega 3 + antioxidants.
This kid is pure joy. He is so insanely sweet and his excitement over projects makes them even more fun. I wasn't sure how he'd feel about helping repot some snap peas, but he was beyond pumped. And his beloved Ariel doll got to play in the dirt while he scooped. I explained to him that eventually these plants will go outside in a raised bed garden that grandpa is going to help me build. This later lead to his first email that I dictated for him, Grandpa, I want you to come to Addie's and help plant the plants in the dirt so that we can make yummy food to eat.
A horribly stiff neck put the brakes on any to-do list check off's this weekend. So that was annoying.
I try to remember in times such as these to talk to myself like I would talk to a friend,
"Sometimes if you won't slow down, life will slow you down for you."
So I guess life wanted me to spend a very good amount of time on the couch this weekend. Aside from the pain I guess that's ok with me. And laying around on the couch today with my family after a nice Easter dinner was a great way to spend a holiday anyway.
One thing I was able to keep up on this weekend is tending to my little plants I started in the basement. They're so happy on their little warming mats under florescent lights they're sprouting up like crazy. I can't wait to get my raised beds built and for the last frost warnings to pass so I can get my little friends out into the ground.
I've waited so long for my own garden, however small. This is going to be fun.
I could not stop talking because now I had started my story, it wanted to be finished. We cannot choose where to start and stop. Our stories are the tellers of us.
Little Bee by Chris Cleave
I'm Addie. A graphic designer living in Minneapolis. This blog covers everything that means the most to me including, but not limited to, my puggle, King, art and design, photography, books, music, dating and friends and family. Some of the big things and a lot of the little.
All photos are by me unless otherwise stated. If you see an image that I haven't properly cited, please let me know so I can give credit where credit is due. Thanks.
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