Wednesday, September 21, 2011

vegetarian tacos with spinach, corn & goat cheese

this is a busy week sandwiched between visits from 
my family last weekend & dustin's family this coming weekend.  
my dad spoke truth during his visit here when he said that people in this city have to live with intention; meaning the menial things need to be planned well so
 that 'real' life can be truly enjoyed. 
he was oh-so right. 
(more on their visit to come...)
as city dwellers, dustin and i try to plan our meals each week 
in an effort to maximize our time. 
(as i'm sure most of you do!) 
this little recipe from Real Simple has been a staple for 
the past few months so i thought i would share. 

it's easy, it's healthy, and it's inexpensive! 

1 TB olive oil
1 14  oz package extra firm tofu- drained, patted dry & crumbled 
OR 
1 can of black beans- drained & rinsed 
(i can not like tofu.)
1 1/2 tsp chili powder
kosher salt (i omit this since my beans have salt.) 
black pepper
1 10 oz pkg frozen corn
1 5 oz pkg baby spinach
8 small flour tortillas
crumbled goat cheese
salsa

heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. add the protein of your choice, chili powder, 1/2 tsp salt (again, optional) and 1/4 tsp pepper. 
cook, tossing occasionally, 4-5 minutes. 
cook the corn as directed on the package in the meantime. 
add the corn to the tofu or bean mix. 
add the spinach and 1/4 tsp salt and pepper. toss until wilted. 
fill the tortillas with the protein mix, goat cheese & salsa.

this serves 4 and only takes about 20 minutes total! 

enjoy! 







Monday, September 19, 2011

Sunday, September 11, 2011

for emily & dylan

“Strangers are just friends I haven't met yet.” - Will Rogers


in just 72 hours, d & i will be hosting my family for a tour of my city life!! 
my mom & dad are bringing my teenage 
brother and sister to chicago for their first 'big city' experience. 

dylan & emily have grown up in the same little town that raised me. a small agricultural community in western oklahoma. a one stoplight town. an everyone-knows-you-&-your-business town. 

when i was around 13 years old, my parents took me on a trip to dallas, (which is BIG city to a country girl!) i can't say that i had ever given much thought about where i would live as an adult prior to that trip. that desolate oklahoma town was my home. i am not sure i had yet considered a life outside of it. but city life mesmerized me...the life, the energy, the constant movement & sound & experience & diversity. 
i apologized to my parents then & there because i knew that city life was my gig. 
i knew i was movin' out of sayre as soon as i possibly could. 

so this blog is for emily & dylan. 
here's some big-sister advice for two kids who will be 
standing where i stood all those years ago: 

dearest siblings, 

i am so stoked to squeeze your necks in just 3 days!! we have lots of fun things planned for your trip!
i hope that we can make this adventure memorable for you....an experience you'll always remember. 

before you arrive, i want you to dwell on a few ideas....


the true beauty of traveling is the intense & sudden awareness that life does not, in fact, 
revolve around you....that there are customs & cultures & fashion & sexuality & languages & religions that have molded people into an entirely different breed than the ones you are accustomed to experiencing.  i promise promise promise you that if you keep your mind open to the beauty of this diversity, you will certainly fall head over heels in love with the tapestry of humanity that dwells within this city. 
listen intently to the languages, the music you hear. 
taste the magnificent variety of ethnic foods. 
consider the possibility that you may learn something fascinating from 
someone who is not white, not protestant and who is not heterosexual.  

i know that in your lives god is very real to you. you hear about him at home, at church and at school. 
what you may not understand fully is that the god you worship looks different to other people. 
(though many will argue that point.)
but for this week, carry this idea with you:


so try to see god in every face you see.
remember that jesus loved the freaks & geeks & weirdos & outcasts. 
avoid casting any preconceived notions about what you 
believe to be "normal" on the people you encounter. 
be kind. be polite. 
savor the differences as well as the sameness. 


also....

take lots of pictures. 

look BOTH ways before you cross the street! 
everyone is in a huge hurry to get somewhere. they will run you over! 

don't wave your phones around. especially on the trains. they are a hot commodity for thieves. 
make sure you use your phone wisely & keep it charged. if you get lost, you'll need it. 

pack lightly. 

try new things. 

be adventurous.  

go with the flow. 

ask questions. 

be patient. 
despite the fact that everyone is rushing around like a chicken without a head, it takes longer to get places & lines can be long & walks can seem like miles. enjoy the scenery. 

be nice to one another. 
or you're sleeping on the porch. 

i love you both more than you could know. 
see you soon! 

sissy. 












Monday, September 5, 2011

summer sipper



dustin & i had a few of our fabulous friends over this weekend to celebrate the end of summer. 
(can you believe it's almost over?!!?) 
i thought i'd share the recipe for this lovely watermelon concoction: 

watermelon margaritas

2 tsp sugar
1 lime wedge
3 1/2 cubs cubed watermelon
1/2 c tequila
2 tb sugar
3 tb fresh lime juice
1 tb triple sec 
lime wedges & watermelon balls (optional)

1. place 2 tsp sugar in a saucer. rub the rims of 6 glasses with 1 lime wedge; spin rim of each glass in sugar to coat. set prepared glasses aside. 
2. combine watermelon & next 4 ingredients in blender; process until smooth. fill each prepared glass with 1/2 c crushed ice. add 1/2 c margarita to each glass. garnish with lime wedges or melon balls. 

serves 6. 
105 calories per serving. 

Saturday, September 3, 2011

what i know today.

I believe in love. I believe in wonder. I believe in silence. I believe in beauty. I believe in hand-written letters. I believe in sweat. I believe in stretching your limits and pushing boundaries. I believe in respect for creatures great & small and the habitat in which they dwell. I believe in laughter. I believe in adventure. I believe in apologies. I believe in conviction. I believe in passion. I believe in loyalty. I believe in second chances. I believe in six second hugs. I believe in giving. I believe in gratitude. I believe love = love whether it is between a man & a woman or man & man or woman & woman. I believe in freedom. I believe in taking risks. I believe in prayer. I believe in stillness. I believe in chaos. I believe in holding hands. I believe in listening intently. I believe in balance. I believe in standing up for yourself and others. I believe in books with worn edges that you can touch & smell & savor. I believe in stories. I believe in the sanctity of nature. I believe in travel. I believe in God. I believe in simplicity. I believe in truth. I believe in quiet walks through the woods. I believe in change. I believe in transparency. I believe a meal shared with friends is a treasured gift. I believe in diversity. I believe in learning. I believe in a nice glass of wine. I believe you can see God in every face. I believe togetherness and loneliness are essential components of a well-balanced life. I believe in the power of music. I believe every end is a new beginning. I believe in hard work. I believe in the grace and the mystery that accompanies each sunrise. I believe in the unexplainable. I believe in the force of nature. I believe you should not believe everything you have been taught. I believe in changing your mind & starting, stopping or starting over. I believe in teachers. I believe in being who you want to be. I believe the great outdoors is the best classroom imaginable. I believe in mothers & fathers & those that step in to raise a child the best way they know how. I believe in forgiveness. I believe in service. I believe you should question everything that does not feel right to your soul. I believe in being kind, not only to others, but to yourself. I believe in peace. I believe the universe is unfolding as it should. I believe in synchronicity. I believe in the power of your breath. I believe in instinct. I believe that we are not bodies with a soul, but a soul with a body. I believe in individuality. I believe in character. I believe dreams can come true. I believe you should follow your bliss. I believe there is great freedom when you learn when to say yes and no based on what is in the best interest of your heart. I believe in letting go. I believe in boldness. I believe in spontaneity. I believe that not all that wander are lost. I believe in earnest effort. I believe in hustle & perseverance. I believe it is wisdom to believe the heart. 
I believe today is the youngest we will ever be again; 
let’s live like it. 

Friday, September 2, 2011

breaking the seal.



crikey!! it's been ages since i've been able to sit down & write!

after several weeks, one new apartment, one mini-michigan vacation

& an entire month sans internet, i'm back to the blogosphere. 

in the meantime, i have been doing a lot of reading.
blogs & books & magazines.
i've been learning about  life & careers 
& spirituality
& yoga
& food
& medicine
& music
& traveling.
i've been happy & sad & back again.
dozens of things i've wanted to share, 
but for one reason or another, it hasn't happened.

maybe i needed the break. time to reassess, to be inspired.
to share deeply & fully.
to become more aware of who i am becoming.
to grow more bold.
to listen more intently.
to look back & plan ahead.
and to let go.

this little blog was meant to be about my life, my evolution, my journey.
and so it continues....