7/12/11

hello guys,

i haven't logged into this space in what seems like forever. i just wanted to check in with all of my blogger friends. i still am not going to update friendly eating, but wanted to share with you guys my current blog:

http://steadyandjoyful.com

i wish everyone an abundance of health and love on their journeys. thank you.

griffen

hello

for as much as I want to continue friendly eating I have to call it quits. I have learned a lot from the community. i started this blog to reach out to others, and while i think i have, i've been having hard time finding inspiration for writing. in sincerity i hope that people will continue to follow the path that brings them happiness and to find gratitude in the biggest and smallest of ways.

if you would like to still read on my adventures please follow my new blog at:

thanks for the people who joined in on the discussion.

happy belated valentines

ian gave me the sweetest star wars valentine

happy belated valentines! i had a really good time. there was yummy food, cute valentines day cards, mustaches and time spent with good company.

organic italian parsley

spicy red pepper pesto

(serves 2-4)

1/2 cup walnuts

1 cup roasted red peppers, drained

1/2 cup fresh basil

1/4 cup parsley

1-2 cloves garlic

1 teaspoon red chili flakes

several pinches of black pepper

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

pinch of pink himalayan sea salt

start by processing the walnuts, red peppers, basil, garlic and parsley. Then add the spices and olive oil until well mixed. Good as a dip or over bite sized pasta. I used a gluten free rotini for last nights dinner. This recipe could totally be made raw, by using a whole fresh bell pepper.

candles

i don't normally celebrate to many holidays, but last night was fun. it was great to both cook and to un-cook, especially in the next recipe's case...

raw banana cacao pie

(serves 2)

cacao/ banana filling:

2 bananas

1 avocado

1 tablespoon extra virgin coconut oil

1 heaping tablespoon raw cacao powder

1 banana, sliced thinly

shredded raw coconut to garnish

pecan crust:

1/4 cup pecans

1/2 cup deglet noor dates, pitted

1 tablespoon extra virgin coconut oil

pinch of pink himalayan sea salt

this is quite a simple recipe to make. i used a regular old bowl for the mold of the pie. start by processing the 2 bananas, avocado, evco, and raw cacao powder until you have a thick and mousse like consistency. pour into a a bowl lined with parchment paper. along the top place the thinly slice bananas on top of the mixture. let this firm up in the freezer for about 1-2 hours. While the cacao banana filling is freezing, process the pecans, dates, evco and salt. It will be a crumble like texture. When the filling is firmed up place the crust on top of the bananas and firmly pack it in. Cover and freeze for another 2-3 hours. When ready to serve pull the parchment paper from the edges so the pie pops out, and place onto a plate. gently peel away the paper to reveal your delicious treat. I garnished the pie with raw shredded coconut.

sorry for all the iPhone pictures. I stepped on my digital camera and the screen is broken. I am going to replace it one of these days. anyways, off to yoga!

some fun

ice and snow

this weekend marks the end of my program that i've been attending the last month. it was an extension of the teacher training i completed last fall. the training was both fun and educational. i was able to gain more confidence, get feedback from my peers/mentors and receive new perspective on teaching yoga. all good things.

this winter, has been my best yet. although, i am not as active or inspired to cook as much i want, i'm very happy with what's going on in my life. working 40+ hours at whole foods, doing teacher training, and having a few classes to teach was difficult, and some days exhausting, but more fun then anything else. i'm glad that training is over so i can have more time to myself. to rededicate to my own yoga practice (that i've been neglecting, a little bit) and utilize my own kitchen instead of the salad bar at work.

these are a few things throughout this week that made me feel good:

fresh air and the snow melting away

getting two scoops of ice cream with good company

viparita karani (legs up the wall) on my breaks at work

spending time with ian

love and fear

bottle cap magnent

one thing that i am truly learning is how to accept things when they happen. good or bad. it's hard to listen to internal dialogue. i sometimes contemplate over how things could be better versus how things actually are. although i wont ever take a passive stance about things i believe in, i feel that sometimes it's necessary to sit back and allow certain things to happen and let them be. regardless if it's the way you pictured the outcome. because we really have no control of what the world brings us... we do have the power to adapt though.

i taught a yoga class this past weekend that wasn't my best. i was so hard on myself that i allowed my anxiety dictate my movement and speech. it was shortly after i taught my class i felt some of these emotions surface and said to myself "you really care about teaching, and you love it... that's why you feel like this." and with that, i accepted that not all of my classes will be great nor will they be perfect. the feeling instantly subsided and my fears diminished. although, i would like all my classes could go smoothly, thats just not how it is.

in that moment i realized that fear and love go hand in hand. feeling vulnerable is natural. but allowing ourselves to feel that way is what makes us human. thats what gives us the strength to connect and be part of life. what makes us reach out to the people we want to share our time with.

it's been snowing off and on

with that said, this past few weeks has brought me a lot of happiness. i have found i smile the most when i focus on what i have versus what i think i need. when i realize my own strength. it's so important to listen to yourself. stand up for what you believe in. learn from your situation. surround yourself with people who respect you. eat food that makes you feel good. find balance, accept your feelings and take responsibility of them.

depression and yoga

yoga has been part of my life for a few years now. off and on, but in the past year or so it's become a major part of my life. i don't want to say it defines who i am, but i am very passionate and inspired by the journey it unfolds for me. i practice various styles quite frequently and have completed a 200 hour teaching certification.

So, let's rewind to about a year ago... something happened to me, and i wasn't quite ready for it. i was turning 21, struggling with finding my place in this world and hit a complete dead end. or maybe that's what i thought happened. sadness comes from so many different sources and if you don't face it it manifests in your every day life. sometimes you don't even notice where it goes. things suffer, and most importantly you do.

i woke up every day uninspired. i didn't feel like communicating to many people and when i did, i found myself with a lack of things to say. i felt that i had no purpose or any direction. my depression was crippling me from the inside out. people that i loved were driving me crazy, and the things that i found happiness with i no longer participated in. i was sad, and i couldn't help it. i would have some good days, but i remember there being a time when just getting out of bed was monumental...

it was time for change. even though i was sad i knew that my life was worth it. because, i was worth it. i had the power to change. i was stronger then i thought i was. there was light (as tiny and as far away as it seemed) and i was going to reach for it.

the gears were turning. for me to feel good about what was in front of me i had to go deep down inside and confront what was troubling. i had to trust my intention, and not to second guess it. i had to release guilt that i was miserably holding on to. i had to find the strength that was locked away somewhere. i had to find peace in growing up. most importantly, i had to realize the past brought me to this place, but i have the power to choose where i'm going to go.

it's you who decides if you will fall into the pattern of the past. while that may be comfortable in some scenarios it's not generally the safest. at that moment i decided to live consciously and move in this world with a purpose. to feel, to live and to love.

and thats where yoga comes in. this practice has helped me tremendously. to be a better person. be a more patient person. cultivate self awareness and find compassion for myself. so i can be a more compassionate person to others. every time i step on the mat i learn something new about myself. whether it be physically or mentally i take something with me, so i can live my intention off the mat. it's that 60 minutes you give to yourself, to just stop the chatter and to release. what yoga has taught me is that for everything you shed, you gain something new.

i am a true believer that yoga comes to you when it needs to. you can take it or leave it, but this practice has made me overcome some of the toughest times in my life. and the times i have found myself the happiest, yoga was integrated somewhere in the mix. yoga came to me during that time of sadness. it gave me the strength to confront my fears. it gave me the support to feel good about myself. it gave me a community that cares about my growth. it gives to me everyday in ways i can't explain. and for me personally the ability to teach this practice i learn more then i ever have in my life. that means so much. to witness people find compassion in their lives is my purpose. that is why i want to teach yoga. i have a direction to follow. it may feel uncertain at times but it's something.

i don't think that happiness is the ultimate goal by any means, but finding contentment and gratitude have allowed my days to become so much brighter. to realize that being a good person and working hard counts. to express when you need to and reach out when you feel depleted. in our society, it seems like we find extremes to live with. we are either extremely depressed or extremely happy, but when it comes down to it, where is just being okay? why is it hard to just be okay? what is so scary about that? nothing really. that's where contentment is... where being able to work hard and appreciate your free time lives. where you find yourself: right in the middle, present and on the path where compassion will guide you.

"illuminated emancipation, freedom, unalloyed and untainted bliss await you, but you have to choose to embark on the inward journey to discover it."

- b.k.s. iyengar

pizza potluck

yukon gold potatoes and sun dried tomatoes

it was my birthday yesterday. i slept in till 10 am made a beautiful breakfast, played some ukulele and ventured through the snowy tuesday to take a hot yoga class. after that, i picked up some groceries with a really good friend and started getting prepared for my birthday potluck.

morning stirfry

(serves 2)

2 tablespoons extra virgin coconut oil

3-4 cloves garlic, minced

1 large carrot, chopped

1 large yukon gold potato, diced

4 crimini mushrooms, chopped

6-10 sun dried tomatos (soaked)

2 handfuls of spinach

1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes

1/2 tablespoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1/4 teaspoon pink himalayan sea salt

several pinches of black pepper

on medium heat warm coconut oil in large skillet or pan. saute the garlic alone for about 2 minutes and add potatoes. keep stirring potatoes until they become tender and golding on the edges. add sun dried tomatoes and then carrots. saute for another 5-7 minutes. add the rest of the ingredients and stir until the spinach wilts. serve!

daiya cheese pizzas

after hosting parties in the past this year i decided to be prepared. i stayed in for the larger part of the afternoon letting the dough rise, preparing the marinara sauce and getting out the table setting. i prepared a large pizza as well as pizza bites and let them sit in the fridge until my friends arrived so there would be fresh hot pizza right from the oven. and for another yummy and quick recipe to throw together:

chickpea date and walnut with mixed greens

(serves 4)

6-8 cups mixed greens

6 oz canned garbanzo beans

8 medjool dates, chopped

1/4 cup walnuts, chopped

black pepper to taste

sea salt to taste

balsamic vinegar (i used fig balsamic)

spring water with organic lemons

mary's gone crackers, local hummus and carrots, veggie booty and fstg chips

pretty soon the table was filled with food. these were some of the snacks. some of the pizzas that came last night were so beautiful and totally delicious. i tried every one. here are some of the pizzas that were on the table last night:

- sweet barbeque onion

- ice cream pizza with dandies marshmallows

- brownie crust with mangoes and blackberries with raspberry sauce

- chard and squash with chickpea sauce

as well as squash roasted with orange marmalade, pigs in a blanket and yummy cupcakes.

i didn't get to take very many pictures, but thats okay because i was thoroughly enjoying eating tons of amazing food and celebrating my birthday with very special people. i am extremely grateful to have friends that trekked below zero weather. I'm amazed that 30 people fit into my 400+ square foot studio apartment and adore them all. thanks guys you are awesome, one of my best birthdays yet.

birthday weekend

drive to idaho springs

starting on thursday i took one week off of work. it's been really nice. i've got to clean my apartment, go on a few bike rides, make really delicious food and most importantly to relax.

kombucha botanica and a larabar

getting out of the city is nice even if its just for the afternoon. the car ride was beautiful. so many different colors on the mountains as we drove by. it's one of my favorite things to do in colorado. especially when you have music, snacks and good company. ☺

our destination was indian springs. about 40,000 gallons of natural hot mineral water is pumped into their pool. the pool is inside of a dome that houses tropical plants.

banana trees

green pool water

it was really crowded this weekend, but i still had a relaxing experience. in the dome it's extremely humid, and the water is kept above 100 degrees. my hands were like prunes and i was a little loopy from the heat, but i came out feeling refreshed.

pink clouds

the late afternoon drive home was peaceful. a weekend of being completely off of everything was much needed. my birthday is tomorrow and i'm going to have a pizza potluck. it's going to be delicious!

Janurary

my good friend leah playing her mandolin

that must've been the shortest hiatus, but i'm back . i was having a hard time comprehending things this week. i was making weird mistakes at work, my body was sore and i just wasn't feeling grounded enough. i had so many thoughts racing through my brain. i couldn't concentrate on anything in particular.

after i received some thoughtful perspective from people i love, a couple hot yoga classes (one with a blindfold on) and an afternoon in the park making music, i feel much better.

sometimes all it takes is one really satisfying meal and a beautiful day to get you back on track.

setting up mukta hasta sirsana

and yes, i'm wearing short shorts in the middle of the winter.

hiatus

hey guys, i have to take a break from friendly eating. i entered the blog world to share things i'm passionate about, also to connect with like minded individuals. although i enjoy blogging it has become a chore, or an outlet to waste an unnecessary amount of time. i don't want it to feel like that because i learn a lot from the community. anyways, i've hit a creative road block and have a lack of things to say. i will be back soon!

freedom

last wednesday, i rode my bike to work at six am. i had this great feeling inside of me as i traced a path in the thin layer of frost. not a single car was out that morning, just my bicycle and i cruising down clarkson. there wasn't any sound except my tires grazing the pavement and the street lights flickering above me. it was almost surreal, like a dream. the black sky, cold air biting my nose and silence to my destination. it was peaceful. thoughts that entered my mind disappeared with every rotation. i felt so free.

something personal

“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

- ralph waldo emerson

shifting into something a little more personal then food. i have had a lot of emotions piling up this past week and i feel like it's something people could relate to. so i felt it was necessary to share them. this is something i've been finding myself doing a lot. ego completely aside, just raw feelings and emotions.

in the past i have:

- looked in the mirror and didn't like what i saw

- been in dead end relationships

- fallen victim to people's bad intentions

- struggled with gender/ sexuality issues

- allowed my depression to cripple me

- felt powerless and weak

- had no confidence when something new was placed in front of me

right now i need to:

- focus inwards and release what no longer serves me

- fulfill the needs of people in my life without sacrificing my own

- live by example and stand firm in my beliefs

- embrace who i am and what nature gave me

- be grateful, inspired and compassionate

- find strength because it's there, and speak for the one's who cant

- be mindful that i'm still learning a lot about myself and my capabilities

although this is a healthy example i tend to compare what happened before with what is going on now. or i get ahead of myself and get lost in my own thoughts. i think it's something we all go through. i don't want to be over eager about how i feel, but i also want to feel. i want to play it cool, but not to cool. we are strange, and sometimes it feels good to honor that space of where that weirdness comes from.

it's not that i don't like laying out my cards i just feel like i already have played with this deck. what's making comparisons, scenarios and overanalyzing just about everything going to do for me? nothing really. while i think it's important to speak what is coming from the mind i find that it's important to really speak what's coming from the heart. the past really reflects what makes us stronger today. and thats the thing. it's today, not yesterday or the next. the only thing that matters is what going on right now.

i don't want to sound like i've been sad. it's just been another self realization boot camp i've put myself in. i lately i've been riding a lot of new waves of emotion. new people in my life, shifts i have to cover, feelings i obtain and the ones i have let go.

i want to move through this life with no guilt or shame of my past. i want to move through this life with no expectation of the future. i want to move through this life with my full attention to the morals i hold, the people i have made connections with and the really radical moments that unfold daily.

they don't have to be big. they can be though. i know what it feels like...

being warm under the blankets, high fives, big plates of vegan food, opening letters from friends, handholding, riding bikes at the tiniest hours of the morning, being lost in your own words while someone is listening, a glass of cold water before bed, making my dad laugh...

with all of that said, i truly am in a better place right now. i feel like i am strong enough to make decisions and move toward things i haven't tried before. i find comfort in the people around me and have healthy dialogue between them. i think that uncertainty just makes you go with the flow and to welcome each day as a new one. they are bigger issues in this world and i'm ready to speak for, act towards and tackle once again. there is a new breath of confidence. i feel really good about it. thanks for listening.

winter months

oranges and gt's trilogy kombucha

it's been a week. a long week. i've been shifting gears and changing schedules for my upcoming extensions program with my local yoga studio. i'm excited to be a part of the program and do the things i love (even more) and be around people who want to do the same.

there's been a lot of good around these parts these days. i think it's partly because i've been taking the right steps to having a healthier winter. if you know me, i'm the first to say i am not a big fan of winter. in the past, i've allowed winter to get the best of me. i have binged on unhealthy foods, was relatively inactive when it came to exercising and spent a lot of time in front of the computer or watching movies.

i knew that at the beginning of winter i didn't want to feel like that so i stayed committed, involved, and passionate about the things i love. and you must be saying easier said then done, and while thats true i have found that by simply just by setting an intention or having a mantra it will manifest somewhere throughout your day.

i am strong,

it's my intention to love who i am.

and with that and little bit of pushing yourself, winter (or any situation) is not as bad as it may seem. tiny problems or road blocks are magnified when you are unhappy/ unhealthy. that why it's important to incorporate proper foods, movement, communication in our lives. so we can enjoy the good things when they are in front of us. to love yourself and also to feel loved.

so often we allow ourselves to shut down or close our doors because we are vulnerable. no one wants to feel exposed. but by putting yourself out there and talking about things that make you feel that way will not only release tension that you have built up inside yourself, but it will allow you to be a more liberated person.

these are thoughts in my head right now. and now a yummy cooked meal that will get you through the winter months.

stir-fry kale with tempeh and pecans

1-2 tablespoon extra virgin coconut oil

1 medium sized shallot

3 cloves garlic

1 head kale (deveined and torn into tiny pieces)

1 package of tempeh (cubed)

1 tablespoon nama shoyu

1/3 cup halved pecans

1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes

pinch of pink himalayan sea salt

drizzle of raw agave nectar

heat the oil on medium in a large non-stick pan. saute shallots and garlic for about 2-3 minutes alone, and then add cubed tempeh and pecans. continue to keep stirring the contents of the pan until the tempeh becomes cooked through. I always taste test this!

then add kale, chili flakes, and salt. Cook thoroughly and then add nama shoyu and agave nectar. serve immediately and garnish with black pepper.

is winter hard for you? do you find that certain seasons are easier to maintain a lifestyle you're apart of?

communication

breakfast quinoa with raisins, pepitas, hemp seeds and blueberries

it's been eight days since the new year and already a lot of shifting has begun. i've noticed it already. it seems that simply externalizing your feelings to friends, loved ones, coworkers and most importantly yourself the world will materialize what you need and even sometimes what you want.

sprouted grain tortilla pizza

i was given a really awesome opportunity. on christmas eve, my friend passed on her grant she won at our local yoga studio to me, so i could continue my education as a yoga teacher. i couldn't believe it! i was unable to afford this particular program that i wanted to do this month with the holidays being so close, (not to mention i was still paying off tuition from the first training) so it was truly a shock when she came through my line and told me i was enrolled. the program will not only build upon my strengths and weaknesses, but allow me to meet with a mentor of my choice. it's an amazing feeling to have the support from the friends in your life.

music making

and with that said i had another realization. when i find myself lost, there are the little reminders in life that propel me in the right direction. it's easy to get caught up in the stress of life when your all tangled up inside. but truly it's the people that are willing to meet you halfway and listen. it's the days when it's the hardest to wake up and you push yourself to get up. it's that selfless giving and unconditional love that gives me energy to keep going. we aren't as insignificant as we think we are. we have purpose. i have purpose. the decisions we make are important. no matter how small or large your purpose is, it's there and you're here for a reason. ☺

now for a simple, yet delicious raw cookie recipe.

cinnamon almond cookies

(makes 6 servings)

1/2 cup almonds (soaked for at least 8 hours)

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup pitted medjool dates

1 teaspoon extra virgin coconut oil

1 teaspoon cinnamon powder

1 teaspoon raw agave nectar

pinch of pink himalayan sea salt

start by processing the almonds, cinnamon and salt alone. remove almond powder from food processor, and pulse dates, raisins, agave and coconut oil until you achieve a paste like consistency. combine the paste and powder and knead until well combined. shape into cookies and garnish with halved almonds.

- side note: i like to have a "crunch" when i make raw cookies so I process all of the ingredients together at once.

the little things

little seeds

i have found that the little things as subtle as they can be, are the most special moments in your day. you know, the things that make you day dream, or to pass the time. the things that make you weep even just a little, or make you laugh until you cry. it's the little things that find the biggest places in our heart.

it's pomegranate stains on your white shirt... a pint of peanut butter chocolate ice cream shared with one spoon.... the sound snow makes when it crunches with every step... or text messages with little smiley faces in them.

happy? new year

winter

after all of that intention setting, self realization and the want for happiness i realized something. i'm a little scared to loose the happiness i've cultivated. i hold on to so much expectation. in result of that the moment i'm in is lost because my thoughts are free radical. i'd like to say i focus inwards mainly, but a lot of it happens externally and that is all done because i see what i want in situations, people, places in time versus how am i contributing to situations, communicating to people that are a part of my life and the places i am in. it's interesting how we have our "expectations" and what our true reality is.

raw acai cashew, cacao coconut, spicy sesame and nutmeg cinnamon truffles.

life isn't easy, but no one said it would be. i have so much faith in the idea that our happiness is governed by choice. we choose the people we surround ourselves with. we choose the food we eat. we choose the jobs we go to everyday. no one put us here except ourselves. there are a few exceptions when nature unpredictably gives us something to deal with, but it's always our choice to adapt and move forward. thats life. sometimes its good sometimes it's bad, but finding yourself in the middle of it is what makes our lives so beautiful.

speer bike path

two days ago it snowed in colorado. although i'm not a big fan of snow, it has been really pretty to walk in and get cozy indoors. snow is a sign of opportunity so it's funny how it coincided with the new year approaching. i cried all night to be honest with you guys, but it was only because i released something that i was holding on to. recognizing your emotions is the first step to the healthier you. in 2011's quest for the better version of myself it's also my intention to find stillness and the genuine 100% authentic me.

"Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us."

- Nelson Mandela

2011 intentions

in 2011 it's my intention to:

to stay active and be outdoors.

to eat healthy meals that nourish.

to relax if i'm at home or across the world.

to ride my bike more and learn how to skateboard.

to find the beauty in the present moment.

to continue my education and become a better yoga teacher.

to see more bands i love and create more music of my own.

to seek the truth and cultivate self awareness.

to prepare food that is creative and delicious.

to share, be inspired by and to love friends and family.

to make conscious decisions with my money.

to craft and create.

to have fun and be spontaneous.

to eat more cupcakes.

to be open to what comes next.