Links

I posted some links of sites I visit frequently or I include in my aggregate.  I plan to add more, as well as links to non profit agencies and causes I support.  But for now I have to get ready to go set up this week's farmers' market!

Letting go of fish

I have made a lot of good strides to going back to vegetarianism (I have been off and on for 16 years).  Now being a little older, I am able to make good decisions about how to be a healthy vegetarian and have what in my opinion is the optimal diet for me, but also for animals well being and for the well being of our planet.  I've allowed fish to be a back up plan- when I am stuck for options to eat, I will order a fish dish or tell family that is the one thing I might eat when I am at their homes.

I need to make the next step and omit fish.  I think mentally I am transitioning to being vegan for life, it's just a gradual process.  This video helped remind me this morning.  Warning: May not want little ones around when you watch, it is explicit.

This article from The Atlantic also brings home the global and environmental considerations of eating fish, as well as the produce that we buy.  I take a lot of pride in knowing where my food comes from.  Shouldn't I be doing the same with fish?  Really if I'm not, I'm quite the hypocrite.  

My love affair with Mason Jars

I use Mason Jars for everything.  Canning and keeping food, of course.  I also store my leftover green juices/smoothies in them, my dry herbs and seasonings, I even use them to store our cotton and qtips in the bathroom. 




I also use a large old one to keep all my grandfather's match books he collected around the world while in the military. (That's another Ball Jar with Epsom Salts next to it).










My love affair with Mason Jars extended to our wedding, where we used them for a very economical and simply lovely aisle decor.  The hydrangeas we got from a neighbor's back yard! 

 Today I have found a new joy in my jar use.  The thing I use them most for is drinking.  But, I have a tendency to fill one jar with water and then later wonder if the jar I find as I am moving about the house is the same one I've been drinking from or if it's yesterdays. . . Cleaning up our glasses regularly would probably be just as easy.  But today I've started writing the day of the week, so I know this is my drinking glass for the day.  A little silly, but way better than days of the week underwear!

Purple tomatoes

Before I started volunteering with my local farmers' market, I knew nothing of heirloom tomatoes or tomatoes that are purple! That's one of the many joys of buying from your local farmer and shopping the local markets.  You'd be surprised how much you don't know about fruits and vegetables and the many unusual varieties available.

I'm growing my own this year, but until they come in more, I'm eating on these multi colored lovelies from one of the farmer's at the Wednesday evening market I work at.  Lycopene overload!

Day 23? I think I was done about Day 19.

I am done with the Crazy Sexy Diet Cleanse.  Officially.  Unofficially, I am still eating and living for the most part like I am on the cleanse.  I cheated a few times- a couple occasions of eating fish and three or so occasions of drinking a little red wine.  But otherwise, I think I did well and can pat myself on the back.  I have avoided caffeine, sugar, white stuff and kept my gluten intake to a minimum.  I am gradually becoming a guru of green juices and smoothies, even without owning a juicer. I also lost 15 pounds in a month.

My plan is now to stick to a vegan diet, but I can't yet call myself vegan because I know a little goat cheese and some seafood still creeps into my diet now and then.  I am feeling great being alcohol abstinent and plan to continue to keep the drinking to a minimum as well.  But I am not going to beat myself up if I enjoy a good wine or beer on the weekend.

The continued focus is on continuously working toward overall improved well being.  I continue to exercise daily and working (or struggling) to take time for myself during this summer break to focus on the home and my own interests, such as the garden, researching for the upcoming school year and exploring mental well being through meditation and other practices.  I fell short on things like dry brushing and meditation for the cleanse, so I am going to try to work on making these types of self care activities a habit.

I've given up on using my summer break for any major home improvement projects.  My involvement with my community farmers' market and our farm dinner fundraiser took up most of June.  July I'm trying to save for me and family.  Before I know it we'll be back to school and I have a big task ahead of me.  I'm sure the blog focus will turn more towards this once August rolls around.

Turning the School Around

Earlier this week I went to retreat for the school where I work.  The school I will be working at this year is a Turn Around School.  This essentially means that the school has not met the state's established standards for a period of consecutive years.  We are now at the point that if there is not improvement, the state could take over our school, and/or it could become a charter school.  One aspect of change that was discussed was an 8 step instructional process.  While this applies primarily to teachers, it impacts the whole school.  I was told that I could be engaged in a period where I am assisting a remediation of sorts with students who need the extra assistance.  Frankly I need to learn more about this.  I think coming from a social work paradigm but living in an educational world, I don't fully get how this process will be put into practice.

What I did get from the retreat is that I am happy with our new administration team.  I think they are all very motivated and have significant strengths to improve the school.  I also saw and spoke with many teachers who appear motivated to challenge themselves to make changes and work together to make the school more successful.  We are making very significant changes, including splitting the school by gender, changes to the schedule, changes to instructional methods and increased engagement of community partners.  I am beginning to do some research on how to better engage parents and families and I'm excited to be proactive about that aspect.

The retreat was an alert that this will not be an easy year.  It could very well be another school year where I have a pink slip towards the end of it (like I did this past school year).  I know it will be some late hours and hard work, but I am excited to be where I am at.  I am excited to be a part of facilitating change and success.  The kids at my school are awesome and they deserve it.

First Fast

I am doing my first liquid fast today.  Technically it should be tomorrow.  But, it's pouring down rain so we've opted out of starting our half marathon training today.  Since today is now a self imposed rest day, I decided it was the best day to fast.  I truly forgot to do it last Sunday because we were coming back from the family visit, but I did remain on the cleanse diet. 

Starting off with a big glass of green juice.  This is already about half way gone.
It's a mix of kale, celery, cucumber, apple, ginger and mint that I blended and then strained through mesh cloth.  I don't own a juicer.  I also added some aloe vera juice afterward.  You'd be amazed how great that green goodness can taste. 

Visiting some friends out of town today, so must plan ahead with a smoothie for lunch.  The whole day is liquid- juice, smoothie, water and green or herbal tea.  The husband is doing it with me. We'll see how it goes!

10 Things I Love

Continuing with the 21 day cleanse, one recent day asked to focus on the things you love, as a way to bring focus to the positive things in our lives.  Here's my initial list, I could add many other things.

1. Snuggling with our dog
2. The fluffy bits of the cat when she lets me pet her.
3. Seeing my garden grow.
4. The way the husband pushes his feet against my feet in the morning.
5. The way I feel after a good workout.
6. My dad's random calls to say hello when he's travelling in the car.
7. Making lists
8. Mingling at the farmers' market
9. Making kids laugh
10. Listening to NPR podcasts or loud music while I do chores.

Developing ritual and meaning

After a nice family visit with my husband's side of the family and recent discussions at home and with friends, I've been thinking more about rituals and what give each of meaning, individually and as families.  This article shares a few ideas for creating family rituals, but I think there are many other things that could be added to the list.

One of my fondest memories of childhood is reading books with my mom.  It was a ritual that we read every night before bed.  When I got to around 6 or so, we started reading chapter books together like Stuart Little and Pippi Longstocking.  I think these times were so valuable for me and my mom's relationship, but also engrained my love of books and reading.

As I got older, obviously rituals change.  We of course have the holiday rituals of favorite family dishes and activities.  But those have changed too as my brother and I have gotten older.  The focus is now on my brother's children and creating rituals and memories for them.  One ritual I do miss is when my parent's and I lived in the same city, I would go over for dinner every Sunday and spend time with them.

What are rituals that you think are important to foster growth for children or rituals that have important meaning to you?

Thank you cards

I love Sara Cotner.  She is so thoughtful and creative.  I like this idea she has for her own Thank You Card Station.  I don't think I could manage to make an area like that in our house, but have been meaning to organize the greeting card drawer at our desk.  Perhaps that will be added to this week's agenda.  I definitely have some thank you cards to write.

Bending the rules

My husband and I went to visit some of his family this weekend.  His mother is Korean and we were all visiting his Korean Aunt and Uncle.  Never have I experienced such hospitality and warmth when staying at someone's house.  They had a lovely home with an amazing large backyard and garden.  Our dog was welcome with open arms to join in the fun, she loved that yard.

Needless to say, I had to bend the rules on my cleanse.  I have been trying to keep things highly raw and vegan.  I kept the raw, but this weekend with about six different types of fish.  She made a large plate of sashimi, california rolls, crab, and there were so many kinds of amazing kimchi (which does fall within my rules).  A) It would have felt rude to refuse this wonderful meal and B) I had never had a meal like that before and had to experience.  So I didn't feel too guilty during, especially since raw fish is a reasonably healthy rule breaker.  But I allowed myself to feel bad about it yesterday.  Oh, did I mention the wine that was placed before me this weekend? That was difficult to refuse too, but drank in much more moderation than in the past.

Back on the horse today.  Have a run planned, then my strength workout and yoga.  This afternoon, I plan to work in the yard.  There's a mulberry plant trying to take over my vegetable garden and I am about to declare war.

Keeping Kids Active in the Summer

I thought this gave a few good suggestions for summer activities for children with ADHD, but really all children.  There is a significant rise in ADHD, although I believe it is often more of an environmental diagnosis, rather than a biophysical. 

Regardless, I think it's important to keep young children active during the school breaks, for the physical and mental well being.  I think all children have some difficulty retaining academics during long breaks and benefit from enrichment activities that help maintain and expand that knowledge throughout the summer.

Cayenne Overdose

Somebody put way too much cayenne in my water this morning.  I think it was the cat, she looks pretty guilty.

21 Day Cleanse, Day 4

Continuing with my Crazy Sexy Diet 21 Day Cleanse, things are going well.  I did have a small bite of my husband's crab cake when he visited me at the farmer's market last night, but other wise I have kept to the plan.  I am working out daily and already down 4 lbs this week.  I think just the lack of beer drinking is making a huge difference.  So far I don't miss beer or wine, my biggest vices, but I know temptation will be there at some point in these 21 days.

One of the hardest things for me to include is meditation.  I've managed to get that in once in the past three days.  I'm making it a goal to get that in today.  I do like to think of yoga as semi-meditation, when I can really clear my head and focus on my breathing through poses.  But to just be still with myself is going to take a little more practice.

Otherwise, I have made a habit of dry brushing, my diet is highly raw, green and alkalized, I'm drinking loads of water and some green and herbal tea.  It's a little time consuming with planning and making sure I am covering all my bases, but as the days roll on I'm more comfortable and it gradually becomes more habitual.   

I know the upcoming weekend is going to be a challenge.  We are going to visit some of the husband's family and I know there will be lots of good food.  I have a feeling out of respect (and desire) I won't stick completely to vegan diet but I will still be mindful of what and how much I consume.

I really like the "prayer" for today:
Please help me to locate my inner rebel.  May I become a trailblazing leader, not a follower.  When I stand in my fully actualized glory, I encourage others to do the same.

Farmers' Market

I'm a volunteer for my local community's farmers' market.  This is my second year, but I have taken a much more active role this year, coordinating much of our Wednesday night market and coordinating a farm dinner event later this month.  Since I finished the school year and started summer break last week, this has seemed like a part time, almost full time job.  But being there for the market last night, in 95 degree heat, it felt well worth it.

I believe strongly in buying locally sourced and grown products.  Being vegetarian, I'm of course seeking a lot of good variety of vegetables, and there's no place else to find them but a farmers' market.  One of the strongest draws though is the sense of community created.  So often these days, there is little or no sense of community, or neighborly connection.  Everyone goes on about their busy lives and too many live to work, rather than working to live.  At the market, there are the regulars that come through, stop to visit, let me pet their dogs, chat about their lives or just how hot it is in mid-June.  All the vendors that participate in our market have a story- one that often entails significantly hard work and dedication.  They are passionate about what they do, what they grow and how they grow it.  That passion flows in abundance to our customers and creates connections to be found no where else. 

21 Day Cleanse, Day 1

Today I am starting Kris Carr's 21 Day Cleanse from her book Crazy Sexy Diet.  I'm vegetarian and have attempted veganism multiple times, most recently last year for about six months.  My weakness is cheese.  I really like cheese.  I also eat seafood on occasion.  This cleanse is a vegan diet, but the focus broadens to encourage limiting alcohol, sugar, caffeine, processed foods and maximizing raw, whole foods.  She also encourages regular exercise, mediation, and emotional self care.  All things I believe but do not practice consistently.

Day 1 has gone well.  I'm a little emotionally drained from other things, so I think my energy level would be better if not for that.  I forgot to meditate and dry brush, must do that tomorrow.  But I did run, complete a weight/strength routine and do an hour of yoga so I got the exercise in!  Food has been mostly fruit and green smoothies today.  Need to eat a little more at lunch tomorrow, I think.  Tonight's dinner will be a quinoa "Buddha bowl."

Today's affirmation from Kris: I am capable, confident, intelligent, resilient, and in charge.  Health and happiness are my birthrights and I accept with gratitude.

Yes, I am all those things.  And I am ready to claim my rights.

The blog name inspiration

"One final paragraph of advice.  Do not burn yourself out. Be as I am-a reluctant enthusiast... a part time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it is still there. So get out there and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, encounter the grizz, climb the mountains. Run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, that lovely, mysterious and awesome space. Enjoy yourselves, keep your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to your body, the body active and alive, and I promise you this much: I promise you this one sweet victory over our enemies, over those desk bound people with their hearts in a safe deposit box and their eyes hypnotized by desk calculators. I promise you this: you will outlive the bastards."
Edward Abbey

I love this quote from Edward Abbey, from a speech he made in the late 70s.  I am a social worker for urban schools, volunteer for local food and farm organizations, an environmentalist, hugger and high fiver.  I believe strongly in fighting for the people and things I believe in, but I also believe in "saving the other half" of myself for pleasure and enjoying my life.  I try to do this by enjoying art, music, books, cooking, gardening, running, yoga and photography, as well as enjoying time with my husband, family and friends.


This blog is going to be an amalgamation of all those things.