Establishing Peace

"Preventing conflicts is the work of politics.... establishing peace is the work of education" 

--Maria Montessori

On this new pathway I have relished in the delight that I am at peace. But this road has not been an easy one to take.  For a few weeks, I was withdrawn and was sulking, but Clark and his whole self made it clear that sulking around was not for us!  A new day started that day and each day after has been a rewarding experience in temperament, patience, peace, and having the ability to hold your head up high and realize that you never know what the future holds.
The future is such an amazing thing, because you don't have to take the past with you. You can choose bits and pieces, segments or people to move on with, but the whole doesn't have to travel with you.
I have been so happy- I am hoping that the future holds just has many smiles, laughs, and good times.

I've always considered myself to be a good person, nice, delightful, and having the mind set to forgive.
I don't have regrets, I feel that they bog you down and make you ruminate. 

This has been a great week for me. Working a ton of hours, not so much... hahah. But I have had moments where I just start thinking of something that was said or something that happened and just laugh or smile!

Until next time,
There is only love <3





 

Recipes! Recipes! Recipes!

Over the past few weeks I have been making more recipes and things that can be stored and frozen for a quick dinner when I am super busy with work. Last week I made Quinoa Rice pudding, Spinach, Cheese and Mushroom quiche,and vegetable soup!!
Each recipe could be stored in the freezer  and popped into the microwave for a quick- no prep meal:)

Quinoa Rice Pudding

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups water
• 3/4 cup quinoa
• 2 cups whole milk
• 2 ripe bananas
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

 
Rinse and drain the quinoa. Bring water and quinoa to a boil in a saucepan over high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat. 
Blend together the milk, bananas, sugar, and salt in the bowl of a blender or food processor until smooth. Pour the milk mixture into the saucepan with the quinoa. 

 Place the pan over medium heat. Cook and stir until the mixture becomes thick and creamy, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir in the butter and vanilla and serve warm.  

I added more vanilla and a touch of cinnamon to make it pop! 

The excitement of Clark!

 If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscover with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in. --Rachel Carson 

So excited!

There is only love

"If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made me smile, the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand."
- Unknown 

With this new found sense of self I have I really have been focusing on the realtionships that I have. Each individual person I have allowed into my life, has held a specific spot in my heart. Each person has made a mark. Some marks have hurt more than they should have. And some marks make me smile in a way I never knew possible.  
Alot of the time I am guarded with my feelings and keep alot to myself. This has always been the way I have been. Being the baby in a family of four, I learned early on... keep it to your self:) 
However being guarded sometimes proves to be a problem. Throughout my life I have been thought of as a "snob", "bitch" "stuck up", however I am NONE of those things. I am reserved, shy and only allow certain people to be in my life. I have never been comfortable being the center of attention, never comfortable with positive comments etc. But I am learning, I am learning when to stop talking, when to accept a compliment and more importantly when to forgive and forget.

<3Clark Henry, Itahca New York, March 2011. <3

So the lesson today is .... Its forgiven and its forgotten. I don't dwell on the negative anymore. I look at my son and realize that little boy is loved by more people and its only getting better. I want him to be able to not dwell on the bad, not have anger that makes his blood boil, to be able to trust certain people and learn that every once and a while you need to forgive and forget. 


Until next time,
There is only love <3

While we try to teach our children all about life.....

"While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about."  Angela Schwindt

Chunk walking with his car....lovey is inside getting a ride!

Over the past several months I have been taking tiny moments out of my day to reflect on life, and especially my time with Clark. It is so important to recall, reflect, and remember that each day in a child's life is important. 

In a moment of reflection you can ask yourself, What have you done with your child?, what has he or she done with their day? what new adventures have they begun? How have you grown as a person? a mother? a father? a friend? 

I have been trying to not inundate people with pictures of Clark. Moreover, I have stopped taking so many pictures of him, but instead have decided to take my own pictures with my eyes. We sometimes loose sight as to what is important in a specific moment  to grab the camera. It's not important to capture a moment, but to experience the moment in a holistic organic way. Let the moment happen.. let your child be him or herself without letting the world know of the accomplishments and upsets your child has had. 

This blog is a creative outlet for me to share recipes and insights into the world of teaching via my son and my own educational background. I have included pictures of Clark in some postings, others I have included  phrases, quotes, and other pictures of relevance as to what I have spoken about.
I hope that you enjoy reading my posts as much as I love writing them! 

Until next time,

There is only love <3

Inner Peace and Energy

"When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace."
-- Dalai Lama

Over the past month, I have been living a new life. One that is all about being happy, healthy and energized. Not only am I seeing the results off of my waist! Down 11 pounds (in once month) !! Goooo me! But I am feeling extremely energized and most of all......HAPPY!
I have been eating very wholesome and succulent meals that are including more fiber and protein, thus giving me more energy and it helps to sustain me for longer periods of time. Hence, not eating in between meals, unless it is a healthy snack - hummus and veggies, multigrain "Food should taste good" chips... etc.

Work has been super busy and I am working more than my 20 hours, but thats ok, because Clark is enjoying his time with my family in Cambridge. By the time I get home we go out for our daily walk and or some playground time!

I am at such peace right now, having positive people around me that support, love, and respect me has been an amazing process that is helping me in this new life.
Until next time,
There is only love <3

Earth!

"Earth gives us stability. It is the foundation upon which we stand, play, grow our food and where we live. In order to be healthy, happy and whole, we must learn to live in harmony with that which nourishes and sustains us."
During these first few days of chilly air and crisp mornings we are reminded of how lucky we are to live where the trees transform from one color and shape to the next. As I have said before Fall is my most favorite season. The air turns brisk and the colors at your feet are astounding.
The quote above reminds me of how lucky we are to have ample food that is locally grown. The next few blog posts will be about making simple, healthy recipes that include APPLES!

I am taking Clark apple picking... we went last year, but I highly doubt he remembers it, seeing how he was only about 3 weeks old:)
It is hard to imagine that he will be taking part in this activity, even if it is just walking up to the trees and seeing what nature has in store for us!

Recipe! Chicken and veggie pockets!

Today is a beautiful "autumn" day. The air is cool and crisp. My favorite season is fall. I love all the beautiful colors that will begin to show and explode onto our streets and lawns. Pumpkins, cranberries, mums and corn stalks will begin to pop up all over. The weather will turn crisp and cool... and of course Starbucks will begin selling there most delicious Pumpkin Lattes. I have a rule that although they began selling them in early September, I can not purchase one until the air tells me too!

Well, today feel like a beautiful autumn day. I decided that I would spend some time on Sunday preparing for the week ahead, and in preparation for the week, I will make several yummy, healthy foods for Clark so that he can be prepared to stay with Na- Na while I head to work..

Today I made Chicken and veggie pockets with mashed potatoes and butternut squash- sprinkled with cinnamon. Boy does this house smell delicious!

Chicken and Veggie Pockets ingredients:

1 TBSP Olive Oil

1 Leek, white and pale green parts only, thinly sliced, about 2/3C

2/3c fresh or frozen corn

1 1/4c finally chopped cooked chicken breast

1/2c shredded white cheddar cheese

Salt & pepper

2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed

All purpose flour for dusting

1 large egg, lightly beaten

In frying pan over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the leek and saute until soften, 5-8m. Add the corn and saute until tender, 2-3m longer. Remove from the heat and let the mixture cool, then stir in the chicken and cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

- Unfold 1 sheet of the thawed puff pastry on a lightly floured work surface. Using a rolling pin, roll out to the thickness of about 1/8". using a 3" round cookie cutter (I used one of my drinking glasses that has a wide mouth), cut out 8 rounds and arrange on baking sheet. Repeat with the second puff pastry.

I used a plastic cup to make the circle shapes.

- Place 1-2 TBSP of the chicken mixture on one half of each round. Brush the edges of the round with the beaten egg and fold the dough over the filling to make a crescent shaped pocket. Press on the edges to help them adhere, then crimp the edges with a fork to seal. Pierce the pockets in severa places with the fork. Brush the tops lightly with a little more of the beaten egg. Refrigerate for about 20m

 - Preheat the oven to 400 F. Transfer the pockets directly from the refrigerator to the oven and bake until puffed and golden, 16-18m. Let cool slightly then serve.

Store it - Wrap the cooled chicken pockets in aluminum foil and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 1 month. thaw in refrigerator and re-heat in oven.

(Recipe from The baby and toddler cookbook: sectioon 12-18 months)

                                                                                                                                                                               Next I made a side dish of mashed potatoes and butternut squash and  sprinkled it with a touch of cinnamon. Clark really enjoys spices and such on his food. Cinnamon is a great spice that adds just enough to make the dish very appealing to him.

Happiness has four stages!

 

In the book, The Happiness Project , Gretchen Rubin states that happiness has four stages, 

" We must anticipate it, savor it as it unfolds, express happiness, and recall a happy memory." 

It is so important to recognize happy moments when they are happening.These moments can be snip-its-- for example enjoying a cup of coffee with a friend, walking while the autumn air hits your face, the grey skies that are exploding with rain, seeing your son play with his great grandparents, learning a new skill, talking to an old friend, or rejoicing in laughter.

Over the past few weeks I am able to rejoice in those happy moments and anticipate that not all days are going to be kick ass! But I am taking constructive steps to recognize  that even if a day is bad, there are still some bright spots.  This is something new that I really never have thought about before. Usually I would have chalked the day up to a loss. 

Because of these steps I am now more reflective at the end of each day as to what has happened good or bad, what made me smile and what could have been done better. Reflection is a great tool that can help you see the positives and also the negatives- when reflecting those bright spots in your day are magnified and sometimes can completely overshadow the grey skies. 

Each day is a new adventure that brings on new feelings, insecurities, happiness, smiles, frowns and excitement.

This process has made me a totally different person. Although I am still an earthy crunchy chick my outlook on everything has drastically changed. ... my eyes maybe grey but my heart is exploding with beautiful rich autumn colors!

Until next time,

There is only love<3

Recipe! Tomato and Basil Boca Burger with Whole Wheat Pasta and Organic Sauce!

As you are aware I am completely stepping out of my comfort zone and loving every minute of it! Today I began experimenting with Boca Burgers- these vegan burgers are delicious! I purchased Tomato and Basil burgers! They are zesty and succulent. They have numerous varieties of Boca Burgers and even Chicken-less chicken!  I would absolutely try these again! Even Clark loved them!

To start I placed the burger  in the frying pan and let it cook, once done, I chopped it up into pieces.

While the burgers were cooking I boiled water to make  a small batch of whole wheat pasta.

Once the pasta and chopped Boca burger was done I added a little Newman's Tomato Basil tomato sauce.


Had I had enough time I would have made my own sauce, but thus is a way of life when you are working and want a healthy meal in a hurry!


It has been an unbelievable week. I have enjoyed literally every single minute of this new life! It's amazing what a few months can do to a person! My smile literally touches my ears! I am walking on sunshine and boy does it feel good!

Until next time,
There is only love <3

Recipe :Greek yogurt onion dip!

Back to what this blog is really about.... creating yummy recipes that are quick, easy and healthy!

This weekend I made a yummy greek yogurt onion dip. My nutrionist was telling me to utilize greek yogurt more because it contained better ingredients than average yogurt. I had used greek yogurt as a base for baked chicken, but never really enjoyed the taste alone. But given the fact that I am stepping out of my comfort zone I decided to give it a whirl.

To start, get a small container of greek yogurt and a quarter of a package of onion soup mix.

Dannon Oikos greek yogurt

Mix greek yogurt with onion soup package ( about 1/4 of the package will do)

Greek yogurt onion dip- with cucumbers! 

This dip was really yummy and paired really well with cut up veggies or Reduced fat Cape Cod potato chips.

Give it a whirl... I think the next time I will make it ith spinach and Knorr's Vegetable Soup mix!

Love

Love is such a powerful condition that everyone wants to feel and take part in. " One of the great joys of falling in love is the feeling that the most extraordinary person in the entire world has choosen you"- Gretchen Rubin, The Happiness Project. 

Relationships take alot of work, alot of patience, and require both parties to let themselves be "known". This means letting your partner understand who you are, your quirks, values, passions, concerns and hopes. This process of letting yourself be known is never ending, more and more can be revealed over the course of time. Thus, creating a solid foundation to your relationship- it becomes more stimulating, exciting and interesting.
Spending time doing things together, creating new memories and engaging in activities that both people care about can help to establish a lasting relationship- that can weather the storms as " well as provide fertile ground for love, and happiness, to blossom",  Tal Ben-Shahar.
Sometimes, people do not want to open up to others, sometimes they believe that not being forthcoming will be better in the end. However,  when you don't open up to the person you care about, or potentially love it makes the time you spent together very foggy. It is hard to look back on time spent together and think about what was the truth and what wasn't.
I realize that I can not change anyone else, I know I am a loving, giving, kind person who deserves exactly what I give out into the world. One day I believe it will come back to me, until then I will still be all of those things and more, because in the end.... " There is only love"
Until the next time,
There is only love <3

Imagine your life as a journey!

In the book, Happier by Tal Ben - Shahar , he talks about imagining your life as a journey. "You are walking, knapsack on your back, making good progress, until suddenly you reach a brick wall that stands in the way of reaching your destination. What do you do?".  In the past my gut reaction was to turn around and avoid the challenge. 

But over the course of several months I have been taking more challenges, more risks and loving life more and more. When you succeed at something you never thought possible the reward is that in itself!
When you come across that brick wall, you must say to yourself, by getting through this wall, I will be a better person. The learning process will teach you alot about the adventure but also that of yourself.  
" When we commit, when we throw our knapsacks over that brick wall, we demonstrate faith in ourselves".  One must have the utmost faith in him or herself and know that anything is possible. When you have found the faith in yourself to make your own decisions, to open your heart to love, and to be happy, that is when you adventure begins. 

Until the next time,
There is only love <3

New energy!

Apache Blessing
May the sun bring you new energy by day
May the moon softly restore you by night
May the rain wash away your worries
May the breeze blow new strength into your being
May you walk gently through the world and know its beauty all the days of your life.


This week I went back to work part time. I can not believe how much I love what I am doing! I have this rejuvinated energy that is  positive and happy. Not seeing Clark for a few hours a day has been hard, but he has been loving his time with Na- Na, Grampie Jim, Uncle Ian , Auntie Danielle, and Grampie Bruce. They are taking such good care of my chunk.  I am so incredibly lucky to have an amazing family.

I am learning so much in this position. It really has taken me out of my comfort zone. In the Happiness Project, Gretchen Rubin states that " fun falls into three categories: challenging fun, accommodating fun and relaxing fun".   Challenging fun is described as the most rewarding yet demanding ; it can create frustration, anxiety, and hard work, it takes energy and time but in the end it it pays off with the most satisfying fun.
My new job as an administrative assistant at the Children's Center falls under challenging fun.

The school is a beautiful old Victorian home with all sorts of small rooms and hideaways.  I have this ability to find cozy, warm, inviting, homey schools that expel  positive energy and creativity. I work best under these conditions.
Once I get home Clark and I have alot of time together and have been going on long walks by the Charles River and to the playground.  I am so excited to see him at the end of my work day. This has been a perfect way to keep up with my nutritionists' suggestions for adding more exercise to my daily routine and spending time with my babe.

I am sad to say that I have finished the book The Happiness Project .  However, I have learned so much about myself through this book. One of the most important things I have learned is that " when people's minds are unoccupied, they tend to drift to anxious or angry thoughts. And rumination - dwelling on slights, unpleasant encounters, and sad events - lead to bad feelings. "  This hit the nail on the head when thinking about the events of the past few months. I have created a new mind set, when I begin to feel sad about things. I think about my "area of refuge"- this is not a place per say, but a state of mind. Basically, when I start to ruminate (which I must say isn't that often, due to my happiness level being raised in so many different ways) , I think about positive things for example, Clark's face - giving good morning kisses to my chunk, Ithaca is Gorges- farmers markets, Cayuga lake, flowers on the door at 214 Utica, "10 square miles surrounded by reality", aroma of fresh tomato sauce, feelings I get when shopping at the farmers market with my chunk, seeing Clark's face when having a hoodsie for the first time, watching my chunk walk! Seeing all the new thing he is learning , and making myself so happy!

The next one on my list is Tal Ben- Shahar's book Happier. I hope I get alot out of this book!
Until next time,
There is only love <3