I recently started listening to Glennon Doyle's podcast, We Can Do Hard Things, and so enjoyed the episode entitled "SELF CARE: How do we identify our real needs and finally get them met." This podcast is one of the top 20 most listened to in the US, so you may already be familiar with it.
Read MoreMost of us know what we should do to lead a healthier more fulfilling life. And yet we aren't able to act upon that knowledge. In my work I help people create micro-habits, the small steps that help a client move from knowing what to do, to actually doing it. And, as you can see from this illustration, a small step may be the ONLY way to get on the ladder to meet your goal.
Read MoreIt's been reported in The New York Times that "In a survey of thousands of adults last summer, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that 20 percent of Americans said they had trouble sleeping because of the pandemic."
That makes sense, right?
Read MoreSore shoulders or neck after a long week? Here's a quick fix that feels SO good right away!
Find your yoga belt, and in 2 min you'll have a WAY more spacious feeling in your heart ❤️ and more freedom and ease in your neck and shoulders. It's a great way to head into the weekend.
Looking for online yoga classes?
Read MoreIs there anything more restful than sleeping with a baby on your heart?
Bruce and I just spent 5 weeks in Italy helping out with the care for our new grandson, and while we did plenty of food shopping, cooking, and baby holding, we also got in some good solid rest: we slept extra long hours, we meditated, did restorative yoga, and we did nothing.
Read MoreSending out greetings to you all from our base camp in Tuscany! I'm here visiting my family, including a new grandson, through May 22. It's really exciting and I'm so happy to be able to be here at this special time!
Read MoreWe're all wound pretty tightly these days, after 8 months of a pandemic, and we all deserve some stress relief, for sure.
Join me right now for a 2 minute practice to breathe and remind yourself: WHAT gives you joy? WHO gives you joy? When we remember these things, and hold space for our gratitude for them, it can make all the difference.
This is our favorite comfort food. Thick, spicy and it comes together so fast. Scattered with cilantro, over rice--delicious. It's traditionally made with kidney beans, but use whatever you have on hand. I always double this recipe.
Read MoreHas this week felt like a year? I don't think I have EVER seen anything like the news cycle in the last 7 days! We are all energy beings; national and global events have an effect all of us.
In chaotic times it's especially important to take steps to create peace in our lives. And right now, as we go into the darkest time of the year, it's a great time to step into daily habits that calm our minds and lift our spirits.
Having a good solid rhythm in daily life supports health; when we begin to create regular times for simple things like rest, exercise, and meals, our bodies REALLY like that predictability.
As part of the natural world we are governed by pulsation or rhythm, think of it:
our breath moves in and out in a rhythm our hearts beat in rhythm
our cells move waste out and take in nutrients in a regular pulsation
Argos, the wilderness labradoodle, suggests we all get outside more this fall and winter for balanced immunity as well as for more fun. (And he is all about more fun.)
Argos loves Forest Bathing:
Time for the last warm weather meals, and this is everyone's favorite at our house: tons different veggies and a delicious dressing. Makes a great lunch, or light supper. (Don't let the name scare you; you won't taste the anchovies, just the umami they add. My kids loved it when they were little.)
We've eaten this twice this week. This is slow food, but worth it the effort. And, if you're working from home you can easily soak the polenta for an hour before baking. There's no need to stir it as it bakes, which is a relief. Light and creamy, add a green salad and it's an easy supper all by itself.
Read MoreWe’re heading toward the fall equinox and you might have noticed that suddenly it seems like it’s growing darker much earlier.
And when it’s darker you might feel tired much earlier.
And, since the last six months have been so intense, you might even be MORE tired than usual.
Maybe the best thing we could all do right now is extend some kindness to ourselves.
Right now you might be seeing the effects of prolonged stress on your body and mind and heart:
Feeling like you can't take "One more thing".
Weight gain
Sleep problems
More anxiety
This recipe is adapted from the cookbook "Tuscany: Simple Meals and Fabulous Feast from Italy" by Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi.
It takes a good deal of greens and it's like a frittata made with greens instead of pasta. We love it.
What an intense journey it's been for the last 6 months! Honestly, I was not sure what to expect this fall! I was planning on going into the autumn season teaching my regular courses online, but an idea rose up about a membership and it grew into such a fantastic experience over the summer that I'm BEYOND EXCITED to offer it out to you in September!
Read MoreThis is a recipe from "Still Life with Menu" by Molly Katzen
I love to eat this in the summer because you don't have to bother using your oven in hot weather or waiting hours for it to be ready. It's a great topping for seasonal fruit, and Bruce even puts it on top of his Raisin Bran!
This is from the Spannocchia Cookbook with recipes by a master chef, Loredana Betti. Last year Karen Score and I led the Tuscany Retreat and based our group at Spannocchia for a week. It was a true gift to be able to experience Loredana’s incredible cooking first hand.
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