Excuse me while I kiss the sky

More often then I'd like to admit my mind wonders to Jimi. There's quite a few people that I tend to dwell on, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Bob Marley, Otis Redding, Bradley Nowell to name a few. But today I'm focusing on Jimi. I think if I had to pick one person to spend the day with it would be him. To just be a sponge and soak up any and everything I could. I know his time was short lived for a reason and I see that as a gift.

I think that there's a large following that get him and know his music and for them he forever lives. But I also think there are some who just know the name and a few key songs and how he went out. I think that everything he had to say was so profound that its worth repeating forever. I'm not even saying you have to like his music (although how can you not!) But to see how his mind worked and how he formed his thoughts is something to be shared.

I've compiled some quotes and pictures that mean more than words. ...Enjoy

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.

 I used to live in a room full of mirrors; all I could see was me. I take my spirit and I crash my mirrors, now the whole world is here for me to see.

 If I'm free, it's because I'm always running.

You have to give people something to dream on.

 Music doesn't lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music.

 When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.

White collar conservative flashin down the street, pointing that plastic finger at me, they all assume my kind will drop and die, but I'm gonna wave my freak flag high.

I'm the one that has to die when it's time for me to die, so let me live my life, the way I want to.

When I die, I want people to play my music,go wild and freak out and do anything they want to do.

When I die, just keep playing the records.

Don't chase your dream, be it!

This picture grabbed me and I feel like I could get lost in it. The caption for it read, "Don't chase your dream, be it!" Interesting spin on "Chasing your dreams" I thought. I like both to be honest.

Fun! "We are young"

I can't get enough of this song right now. Makes me feel like I'm in a movie! Love it!

Zucchoodles!

I adore this recipe. So simple, so delicious and can you say..good for you!  Its a great substitution for pasta so you can dress it up the same way.  I personally like it with just some chopped leeks, garlic, cayenne and a little cheese.  But the best part about this dish is making it your own!!

And so we go....you'll need:

2 medium zucchini (approx)
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Cracked pepper and kosher salt to taste

With a potato peeler shave off the skin.  Then using the same motion, create wide long ribbons by starting at the top of the zucchini sliding down the length.
Continue making ribbons, turning the zucchini as you go making sure to get as much as you can. When you get to the center portion you can either set it aside and save it for a salad or snack or I just chop and cook them with the zucchini "noodles."
Heat large skillet on med high.
Add the olive oil and the zucchini noodles.
Saute the noodles for 2 to 3 minutes. You don't want to over cook!
Season and toss with fresh pepper and salt.

Variations that I add:
Cayenne pepper
Minced garlic and chopped leeks (Saute in the olive oil first then add the zucchini)
Parmesan, Asiago or sharp cheddar
Pasta Sauce & turkey meatballs

I can relate!

Just came across this quote and I found it very relatable to my current life changing plans. A big move in my future to a place I've never been! Why? Because I want an adventure!

A man climbed a difficult mountain that had claimed many lives. A friend said: "Did you go up there to die?" "No," said the climber, "I went up there to live.

Stay Informed

If you've got time for social media or to scope the net please just take a few minutes to stay informed. Not asking you to donate anything but your time and educate yourself. Education that's free with the knowledge gained being priceless.

Please spend a few minutes on http://www.unhcr.org

(Pic via @unhcr)

Chase your dreams!

Square peg, round hole.

I'm sure that somewhere along the way you have heard the expression, "A square peg in a round hole."  Where the basic bottom line is (assuming you are the square peg) that you aren't going to fit, unless you reshape your edges or change. Suddenly I'm noticing that lots of people and situations around me fall into this thought process..leading me to think that this simple saying can explain a lot of unhappiness.

Out of all the things that you do daily or weekly, how many of them fulfill you or make you happy?  How many are a constant source of displeasure or negativity?  How many are things that are truly necessity?  How many things do you make yourself believe are necessity?

Obviously there are many many things that we are fashioned to believe must be done in order to "survive" or "get it done". But who decides that certain way?  I'm forced to refer to Einsteins quote about Insanity, doing the same thing over and over yet expecting different results.  If we find ourselves doing the same thing that makes us unhappy over and over again...do we just accept it as gospel and just be happy for the down time, the me time, and then back to the grind?  When does the time come to realize square peg, round hole? When do we realize we are supposed to be happy more than unhappy? When do we acknowledge that ALL of these types of thoughts are ok?

There seems to be this overwhelming attitude of being stuck.  Stuck in a job that makes you miserable, living in a location that you don't enjoy, in a relationship that doesn't help complete your being, not truly fulfilling your life purpose, not feeling any real connections with those closest to you.  But isn't it really just a lack of choosing to see that you can change things?  Or the desire to want to?  A lack of courage perhaps?  I'm not saying that its easy by any means, but if the end result is your happiness then how do you compromise that?

To be continued...

"Who we are never changes. Who we think we are does". -Mary S. Almanac

Breakfast!

So I got this idea from watching Hungry Girl last weekend and have been hooked since. She dipped her sandwich in sugar free syrup and I either omit that (at work) or this morning I tried maple! Its so delicious, so filling, packed with protein and fiber to give you the energy to start your day and to help your tummy stay fuller longer!

And so we go....you'll need:

2 whole grain waffles (I used Vans 8 Grain)
1/2 c of egg substitute
2 pieces of turkey bacon
1 slice of reduced fat cheese (Cabot makes a great one)

So to make this delight I put the waffles in the toaster oven (or toaster, place the turkey bacon on a paper towel in the microwave for 90 seconds. Slice my cheese. Pour egg subsitute in a microwave safe bowl. Once bacon is done set it aside and put eggs in the microwave for 1 min 45 sec (give or take). Once everything is done I build the sandwich! Waffle, cheese, eggs (the hot eggs will make the cheese nice and melted) turkey bacon (torn into half pieces so they don't hang over) then the other waffle. Cut in half and enjoy. Dipping in a HEALTHIER syrup is optional. Or when I'm not real hungry I use 1 waffle and cut it in half to make a half sandwich!

Fact!

"When you know better you do better."

Its Fall!

Two things...


I got a chance to play with my Pudding App and I was able to take some pictures of the beautiful changing trees on my street. They look like they are on fire...that's what my mom and I say. One of our favorite times of year. I was literally outside in my pj's doing this so I had to post my bounty somewhere!

Fuel

Here’s the deal. A part of me wishes I was one of those people who just eat to live rather than live to eat but I’ve decided to fine tune either thought process because there is just too much of a gray area there for me. I think that food can be as amazing as you want it to be and there’s nothing wrong to live to eat as long as you are doing right by your body and supporting its functions by putting good things in it, practicing moderation and exercising regularly. 

One of my passions is cooking and putting together healthy dishes that can make the most fastidious eater change their perceptions and loving every bite.  I particularly like the “I don’t really like vegetables” type of person…look out I will change your mind! But I digress, my point is I am using this medium to share this passion, this fuel that we all run on. 

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Ideally I have this every morning for my first breakfast (yes I said first...I eat about every two hours..small meals, 5 to 6 a day)...but by "ideally" that is to assume that I get up on time and never run late and have time to make this most amazing smoothie.

Kale or GREEN Smoothie

Kale - 1 cup (rip leaves off stem and throw away stem)

Frozen Mixed Berries - 1 cup (no sugar added)

Half of a frozen Banana

Flax Seed Meal - 2 tbsp

Cold Water - 1 cup

Blend and enjoy!

We are indeed much more than what we eat, but what we eat can nevertheless help us to be much more than what we are.  –Adelle Davis (1904-1974)

Doing the right thing..

You know when you possess certain strengths that others don't have it scares them. And sometimes their automatic response is negative to hold you back, even when they care for you, because they're scared. They don't know that kind of fearlessness. But it helps me know I'm doing the right thing.

Trying to figure IT out...

This past weekend I was thinking about how I think I can be relatable to people.  And fitness and health naturally came to my mind.  I'm not someone who has just hit their goal and I'm not someone who doesn't get it.  I'm trying to figure IT out. I understand that fitness, health and clean eating are important but I'm still trying to figure IT out and apply it to my life. 

So I have decided to use this blog as a plug in to me and what I'm experiencing.  I hope for it to evolve into something that allows me to share my passion for cooking, my daily and weekly trials and tribulations of figuring out this healthy eating thing, my conventional and not so conventional workouts, what its like for me being a plus size woman and how I go about finding my inner and outer beauty and the days when its an uphill struggle and all the other bits and pieces that make up me and this life that I am experiencing.


Oh and I'm a hardcore MMA and NASCAR fan so I'll be talking about that too! 

Stay tuned...

"There is no wrong way to have a body." - Glenn Marla