Tag Archives: growing up

heart of goals {late october}

Posted on by
1

I love growth and transformation. I think most of us enjoy seeing this process take place in others. I would like to become more conscious of it in myself. For most of my life, my goals have been non-verbal and very intuitive. With the hope of becoming more consciously aware of them, I’m starting a new discipline of setting concrete goals for personal growth 3-4 times a month (weekly or so). Here are five to begin:


1. Five minutes of breath observation daily as a simple meditation.

I’ve heard the reasons to meditate. Breath is the link between mind, body and spirit, legends about Nirvana, enlightenment, getting in touch with a higher self. When I hear those things I’m all, “Righteous, dude. Let’s go.” But then the path is covered in brambles and life keeps calling me back.

I might sleep in on my day off, then lay in bed awake for an hour. As soon as I sit up to meditate, though, my inner task-master jumps up with delight, grabbing a megaphone. It begins reminding me that the floors should be swept, clothes mended, emails sent. There are groceries to buy, a cat to feed, a bed to make (and I’m still in it). With so much to do, I certainly can’t afford to be not-doing for very long. I can practically hear the rabbit from Alice in Wonderland crying, “I’m late! I’m late, for a very important date!” (Who is Maryann, anyway?) Realizing my mind has wandered, I bring it back to my breath. I deny the temptation to check and see how long I’ve been “sitting” (as they say). “Don’t look, don’t look,” becomes my new mantra. I realize again that my mind is wandering. I break down. I peek. It’s been one minute.

Clearly, I need practice. I will set a timer for 5 minutes (lame, yes, but will stop me from clock-watching). I will think of my breath. When I find myself thinking of other things, I will find my breath again. This is going to be just short of torture for me, but tough love, right? Rather than strive for enlightenment, which seems very, very far away. I think I should do this for the conscious time-out and the simple discipline of doing so.


2. Write for half an hour, five days this week.

I never know what’s hiding in this head of mine until I sit down to write, draw, or have creativity parties with kids.

Does writing this list of goals count for today? I think so …

3. Make a friendship bracelet.

Friends are important. Bracelets are fun. Therefore friendship bracelets are important and fun.

I think I have enough un(der)employed friends who don’t have to worry about whether knotted embroidery floss fits into the office dress code. Perfect.

4. Allow someone to be upset in my presence (perhaps upset with me) without getting upset.

You look at these girls and can’t help but think, “What did I do to incur such wrath?!?” Or at least I do. I have come to realize I let others’ moods and opinions influence me far too easily. I need to learn that others can be upset and I don’t have to follow. In fact, I could  help change their mood by keeping calm. Believe it or not, this idea is completely novel to me.

Now, how to do it? A friend told me to imagine myself in a protective bubble that the other person’s energy can’t penetrate. Visualization of emotional energy usually feels strange to me, but I understand the benefit. I will practice this.

5. Touch base for next website remodel.

My next website remodel is going to be for my sister, Lori. We should get together for some dreaming & scheming this week. Also, I want to hear about the amazing adventures she has in the works, like visiting Cuba to learn how sustainable gardening has strengthened communities, local economies and helped stop human trafficking. More on that later, I hope!

Wish me luck!

{…Wondering what would possess me to set weekly goals? Want to set a few for yourself? Check out MindPower for explanation and inspiration….}

Make Grandma Proud with Natural Household Cleaners

Posted on by
7

Feel good about keeping the earth as safe and clean as your home with these d.i.y. alternatives to chemical cleaners.

Pippi Longstocking: scrubbing day

Pippi Longstocking: scrubbing day

Most of this information was compiled by the amazing people at the Natural Alternative Food Coop in Luck, Wisconsin, and published in one of the few cookbooks I actually use, The Real Good Food Cookbook. To get it for yourself or someone else, call 715-472-8084.

Basic Supplies:

  • baking soda
  • borax and washing soda (these are stronger than baking soda and somewhat toxic — do not ingest and use gloves if you find they irritate your skin)
  • cornstarch
  • essential oils: tea tree, eucalyptus, lavender for disinfecting properties, others as you wish for scent.
  • lemon juice
  • liquid soap (castile and other vegetable-oil based soaps)
  • salt
  • spray bottle (reuse an old one if you can!)
  • vegetable oil
  • vinegar (distilled white)
  • other helpful products: Bon Ami cleanser and Oxo Brite

All-Purpose Spray

  • 2 tsp. borax
  • 32 oz. water
  • ¼ cup vinegar
  • ¼ cup liquid dish soap

Dissolve the borax in hot water. Add to a 32-ounce spray bottle, along with vinegar and water. Add dish soap and up to 20 drops of essential oil if you want to add a little delicious scent. Shake it up! Spray on your sinks, tub, tile, toilet. This spray acts as a mild disinfectant. For stronger killer-power, reduce measurements of water and dish soap by half (for a higher ratio of vinegar and borax).

Disinfectant

A small dollop (roughly a tsp.) of tea tree oil in a quart (4 cups) water is an effective antibacterial, antifungal and antiseptic cleaner. Use it on knobs, levers, shower curtains and other places germs and fungus like to meet and make babies. This is also great to spray on your yoga mat between classes or after a particularly sweaty session.

Drains

Got a slow drain? Pour a cup each of baking soda, salt and vinegar down the drain. Wait at least 15 minutes, then pour boiling water down the drain to wash it all away. Rumor has it that if this doesn’t do the trick you can let the mixture sit overnight and flush with boiling water in the morning. Pouring boiling water down your drains on occasion will help prevent build-up in the first place.

Floors: Tile and Linoleum

1-2 teaspoons of liquid soap in 3 gallons of water. Mop that floor! Rinse with 1 cup of vinegar in 3 gallons of cool water. Shine on.

Floors: Wood

1 cup vinegar in 3 gallons of warm water. Best thing for wood floors, according to a past landlord who kept a century-old building looking half its age.

Furniture Polish

Sure they’re famous for making salads delicious, but olive oil and vinegar have transcended the dinner plate! Mix one-to-one and use to polish your furnishings with a soft cloth. Food-grade linseed oil (aka omega-3 or flaxseed oil) also works. A little scented oil can make it even … mmmmm … what was I saying?

Glass

I don’t know who the marketing genius was who made us believe we had to buy Windex, but they’ve had us duped for decades. It’s this easy: slip a quarter-cup vinegar and a quart (about 4 cups) of water in a spray bottle. Spray on the glass and wipe until dry with a clean rag or newspaper. Stubborn spots might need a little extra spray and massaging, but your glass will sparkle.

Laundry

  • Brighten: add ½ cup lemon juice during rinse.
  • Bleach: Use hydrogen peroxide instead of bleach (for a color-safe bleach, I use Oxo Brite. It’s not d.i.y. but it is non-toxic, natural, biodegradable and effective).
  • Sweaty gym-sock scent eliminator: add ¼ cup vinegar to the rinse cycle. This should also take care of lingering detergent, for you sensitive types.
  • Minimize detergent: adding ½ cup baking or washing soda softens the water and reduces the amount of detergent you’ll need. For liquid detergent, add at the beginning of the wash. For powdered, add during the rinse cycle.

Oven

Mix 1 cup baking soda and ¼ cup borax with just enough water to make a paste. Scrub it onto the oven and let it go overnight, or while you complete a day’s worth of other projects (cleaning or otherwise). Wipe away the dried paste and rinse well.

Rug & Carpet Spot Remover

Right away, dab up as much as you can with a dry rag or paper towel. Sprinkle with baking soda, cornstarch or borax and let dry. Wash with club soda and vacuum.

Rust Remover

I’ve had varying degrees of success with this one, but it’s certainly better than nothing. It also puts you in the mood for a margarita, Mexican beer or tequila shot. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Sprinkle salt on the rust, squeeze a wedge of lime — enough to soak salt. Let rest for a few hours. Use rind to scrub until rust is gone.

Scouring Powder

Mix 1 cup baking soda and ¼ cup borax with a few drops of essential oil. Store in a shaker and use it like powders named after planets.

Soft Scrubs (for stubborn spots on countertops, sinks or tubs)

Mix together baking soda and liquid soap for a mildly abrasive cleaner. Work into spots with sponge and rinse. For small, enclosed places (microwaves or toaster ovens), make the paste with just baking soda and water.

Tarnish Removal

  • Brass, copper, bronze and aluminum: rub with sliced lemons. For tough spots, sprinkle the lemon with baking soda, then rub.
  • Sterling silver: this could also work as a science experiment. Line a bowl with aluminum foil. Sprinkle with salt and baking soda and fill the bowl with warm water. Soak the silver in the bowl and the tarnish will leave your silver for the foil (perhaps this could work as an analogy about old married couples and hot young homewreckers … but I won’t go there). Rinse, dry and buff your silver with a soft cloth. Who discovered this?!?

Toilet Bowl

Shake some baking soda into the bowl, pour a little vinegar around and scrub as you normally would.

Alternatively, mix a cup of borax, ¼ cup of vinegar and a few drops of essential oil right in the bowl. Let rest for a a few hours (or shorter if you really have to go), scrub with a brush.

Tub & Tile

In a bowl, mix ¾ cup baking soda and ½ cup liquid soap. Add ½ cup water and 2 tablespoons vinegar. Stir with a fork until smooth.

Good luck!

Bone Party {the how and why of bone broth}

Posted on by
3

teeth party

At a recent social gathering I found myself discussing, of all things, bones. Human bones, animal bones and how they’re linked.

The conversation had meandered quite naturally from the topic of teeth. You see, I’d just returned from a year without fluoridated water. “Good for you!” my cohorts encouraged, probably thinking of how fluoride interferes with proper thyroid function.

“But!” I cried, “When I went to the dentist I had two cavities! I haven’t had even one for over a decade.”

“The fluoride shouldn’t matter,” declared the resident expert. “Cavities are a sign that you’re not getting enough minerals. Your organs are leeching them from your teeth and bones because you’re not ingesting enough.”

“Oh my. How do I get more?”

“Bone broth.”

I gulped, vague recollections of my parents boiling animal carcasses in water floated through my mind. I remembered standing off to the side, hoping I never had to do such a thing. Though I enjoy an occasional steak or burger, meat has never been at the top of my to-eat list, let alone bones. But for my teeth I would do just about anything, so I got the low-down.

bone brothThe recipe is easy: bones, pot, water, vinegar, simmer.

Get some bones from your local butcher, put them in a pot and cover (just barely) with water.

Splash in some vinegar, let sit for a bit. The vinegar is essential. The acid helps leech the minerals from the bones into the water, where they can be absorbed by your body.

Turn on the heat and bring to a boil, then turn down the heat and let it simmer for at least 12 hours. Some people leave it going for a day or more. The logic is that the longer it goes, the more minerals come out, though probably after 12+ hours you’ll get diminishing returns. Have errands to run or friends to visit or just don’t want to leave the stove on all night? Two words: crock pot. If you got yours from your mother, like I did, say a silent “Thanks, Mom,” as you’re dumping the ingredients in.

When there’s lots of fat on top of the broth and the bones seem empty, strain with a colander. You can line the colander with cheesecloth if you want your broth to be pure liquid. Use in soups, to cook rice (and other grains), steam veggies or make sauce.

Notes:

The broth you buy at the supermarket is not going to have the same health benefits as homemade. There are no regulations for the ratio of bone to water and most (if not all) are very diluted. They’re also high in sodium, since they pour on the salt to make up for lost flavor.

Josh Bryceson of Turnip Rock CSA told me that you want to start with good, healthy animal bones. A mass-manufactured animal is raised on high-calorie, low-nutrient feed so it gets fat in a hurry.

“If they’re not raised on grass with healthy soil,” warned Josh, “they probably don’t have a whole lot of minerals in their bones to begin with.” You can boil it all you want and you still won’t be doing much for your body.  If you don’t know a local farmer, butcher or fishmonger and you didn’t catch or kill the meat yourself, organic is probably your best bet.

Josh gave me some of Turnip Rock’s very own bone broth to try for myself. It was amazing, slightly salty, completely smooth and wholesome. Great taste is one of the best reasons to make your own broth.

But if, like me, you’re getting into broth for your health, there are a couple more things you might want to know. Part of the function of your bones is the storage and release of minerals. When your body takes minerals from your bones to help the organs function, the bones are doing their job, but we need to replenish the mineral supply.

This means that if you are getting cavities or experiencing bone loss, you can actually reverse these processes. Bone broth is a great starting point, but you don’t have to stop there. Check out this article on how to remineralize teeth naturally and this one on preventing tooth decay.

Mineral deficiencies have many effects on the body and can even affect your mood.  Here’s a great resource for learning more from Townsend Letter: examiner of alternative medicine, “Traditional Bone Broth in Modern Health and Disease.”

Bean Kick {cook dried beans}

Posted on by
4

beans beans beans

Packed with fiber, protein, folate and iron, beans satisfy hunger, provide long-lasting energy and can even help lower cholesterol. But that’s just the beginning. These nutritional rock starts are also versatile in the kitchen and — most importantly — tasty.

It’s always a good idea to have a few cans of beans on hand for short notice, but if you’re using canned as a default you’re missing out. Dried beans are less expensive, lighter to carry home and with the right planning, they’re not much more trouble. How do you get from dry to delicious?

dry beansStep 1: The Soak

Beans like a nice, long bath. 8 hours or so. Pour your beans in a big bowl, but don’t fill it more than halfway. The beans will expand (to about double). Fill the bowl with water.

People often suggest soaking overnight, but then you’d have to cook them in the morning. Instead, try soaking the beans while you’re eating your breakfast toast. They can have a great, relaxing swim while you’re at work. You’ll come home to happy beans waiting to be cooked.

Working a long day? Don’t be afraid. An unattended bean never complained about a few extra hours in the tub.

soaked beansStep 2: The Boil

Drain and rinse your soaked beans, pour them into a big pot and cover them in plenty of water.

Bring them to a boil and once they’re boiling, simmer for an hour and a half. That’s a rough guide — see guide below for more specific cooking times.

Beans are patient and forgiving in the cooking process, so it’s ok if you forget and leave them on a little too long. Just don’t let all the water boil away.

Drain, rinse and use your favorite recipe!

 

Adzuki: 1 cup dry to 3¼ cup water. Cook 45 minutes (pressure cook 5-10 minutes). Yields 3 cups.

Black: 1 cup dry to 3 cups water. Cook 60-90 minutes (pressure cook 15 minutes). Yields 2¼ cups.

Black-eyed Peas: 1 cup dry to 3 cups water. Cook 60 minutes (pressure cook 15-20 minutes). Yields 2 cups.

Fava: 1 cup dry to 2 cups water. Cook 90 minutes (pressure cook 20 minutes). Yields 2 cups.

Garbanzo: 1 cup dry to 4 cups water. Cook 2-3 hours (pressure cook 30 minutes). Yields 2 cups.

Great Northern: 1 cup dry to 4 cups water. Cook 1-2 hours (pressure cook 10-15 minutes). Yields 2¾ cups.

Split Peas: 1 cup dry to 3 cups water. Cook 45-60 minutes (do not pressure cook). Yields 2 cups.

Soy: 1 cup dry to 3 cups water. Cook 3 hours (pressure cook 30 minutes). Yields 2 cups.

For best digestion:

  • discard soaking water before cooking
  • add a little vinegar toward the end of cooking
  • only salt beans at the end of cooking
  • add a strip of kombu seaweed vegetable to the pot

PB & What?

Posted on by
2

Yeah, we’re grown-ups .. but do we have to give up all the pleasures of childhood? Try this spicy pb & j and you won’t miss being a kid.

pb & J woos harissa

pb & J puts the moves on harissa.

Remember Shel Silverstein’s young king with the self-destructive appetite for peanut butter? Smart man. The sticky stuff has been a lifelong passion for many, especially paired with its faithful sidekick, jelly.

Sometimes, though, the idea of a pb & j is, well, yawn-inspiring. Call me jaded, call me a grouch. I want my sandwich to bring a little thrill.

Enter Tunisian chili-pepper spread, harissa. The stuff packs a well-rounded kick just begging to be paired with jelly’s sweet touch and a nut butter’s smooth body. Between two slices of fresh artisanal bread, this is a threesome you’ll want to get to know.