Dos Caminos

Hola....friends! How's life?

You know sometimes you do something and you're not sure why...then later, suddenly it all makes sense.  This reasoning does not apply to me putting a greens twisty that says 'organically grown' on my forehead...but stay with me....I do have a point here.  I thought a lot about 'choices' today, and after a mango cucumber margarita..(yum) the other day at Dos Caminos in New York City...I started to question this again.  At first, this was just going to be a sweet little post about my niece Maureen and I going to an Esty wedding event in the city, but after translating the title words I knew I had something much more to say.  After all 'Dos Caminos' translates to two paths...or two roads.  And that got me thinking.

We all make millions of choices throughout our life, and we take many different paths along the way.

 

'The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live.' -Flora Whittemore

What kind of life are you living? Is the journey you're on the path that feels right?  It's always good to check in and be conscious of which direction our feet are going and what makes us happy.  You can't look for happiness from others, it has to come from deep within yourself. 

Today's happy choice for me...an early Sunday morning coffee date with Joe, a walk with my friend Joy and making homemade almond butter banana bread was all it took for me to smile and feel pure joy and happiness all day!  Sometimes it's just that simple. 

  And thinking back to the Etsy event,  it reminded me that there are so many creative and talented artists in the world... it's fun and inspiring to see it on display. 

The event was called 'To Have & To Hold' and they put this marriage quote up on the window outside...

It was so special to share this day with my niece, who is getting married this June.  She means the world to me and is so excited for her big day.  Having just gotten married myself, it will be five years for Joe and I this summer (what?! time really flies), it is such a joy to share and go through this major life milestone with Maureen.   And this quote is so perfectly stated...'hundreds of tiny threads, which sew people together through the years.'

 I've watched my beautiful niece grow and sew her own threads of life together.  From a precious beautiful baby, to a happy vibrant young girl, to a smart, outgoing teenager, a fun college co-ed and now as a young professional living in New York City.  It has been such a sweet journey with her on her unique path through life. 

The bride to be...

I can't wait to see what lay ahead for both of us...we have so many choices to make and experiences to share.  If only we all had view-finders to peek ahead. 

What path do you find yourself on today? 

Are you making healthy choices that bring you joy and peace in your life? Are you loving and respecting yourself enough to take good care of your health in all ways..physically, spiritually and  emotionally?  I hope so. 

We all have moments in our life where we struggle with which path to choose.  We may question is this really what I want to be doing? Questioning is part of living...I've been struggling myself with making choices lately.  Changing jobs, careers, school...which direction to go, and I've had to tell myself to try all different directions (when I can) and see what feels right.  And through that process, as shaky (and scary) as that may feel...if I follow my heart, trust myself and listen closely, all the answers will come.  We are always exactly where we need to be. And you always have the power to take a new path, if the one your on is not working for you. 

Each step of our life a different colored pot...guiding us to the next door to open.

 I hope the path that your on is bringing you peace and happiness.  If you find yourself struggling, reach out to people that love and support you.  It helps to share your thoughts and feelings with others. 

Speaking of different paths....I found it really funny that our train (subway) system in Hoboken is called the Path train...and coming home last night I found this empty six pack on the platform. 

 Ha...we all make 'choices' in life....and this looks like someone was enjoying their Saturday night and celebrating Cinco de Mayo a little early this year.  That's why I love this town...it keeps me young and makes me smile.  I hope they made it back in one piece...Cheers everyone....Happy Cinco de Mayo....enjoy your journey and all your beautiful choices.   Be well! 

The Line Up

Walking to the gym the other day...and look what I spotted!! 

The line up...in the form of scooters outside a nursery school.  I had to capture the image, the colorful scooters, helmets and bikes all secured neatly in a row, along the iron fence, waiting perfectly still for the children to return and hop on after school.  It made me hum the tune 'get your motors running, head out on the highway...lookin' for adventure or whatever comes our way'.  Who doesn't like the 'Born to be Wild' song every now and then!  And remembering the feeling of being let out of school to run free and play!  As adults sometimes we forget, or don't always have time, to remember the importance of 'play time'. 

Other Lynda "line up's" this week included....trying out my new cookbook, 'Weeknights with Giada' by Giada De Laurentiis.  It just came out....it's wonderful. I can't wait to try a bunch of recipes. 

I started with one of her quick and easy vegetable soup recipes, using instant polenta, zucchini, fresh thyme, tomatoes, carrots, and garlic. 

This yields so much soup and was perfect after a long work day.  It came together in minutes. Warm, creamy and delicious, it hit the spot.  It also felt great to get all the nutritional benefit of so many vegetables.  Even though you might think of soup more in the winter time, this is perfect for a cool, damp, rainy spring day. 


Continuing with the spring theme...I thought I'd share some quick and easy health tips to try this week. I find these to be helpful, and hope you do too. 

Cut once...enjoy for days.  Prepping healthy snacks ahead of time.

 cut up vegetable strips

Whenever I'm prepping veggies, I try to cut up a whole bunch at the same time, that way I always have healthy food at my fingertips.  Pepper strips, carrots, celery are always on hand.  They are crunchy, filling and so good for you. 

Be creative: Bored of your usual salad in a bowl? Try making a lettuce wrap...

For these little beauties....I rolled up avocado, thinly sliced cucumbers, ribbons of carrot in a fun little spinach leaf.  Fresh, bright, fast and crunchy. 

Nuts for nuts!  Roasted unsalted almonds

A great healthy snack that keeps you full until the next meal.  Filled with heart healthy fats, nuts are an easy way to get some omega 3 fatty acids, protein and dietary fiber. 


Drink more... Water...you know you need it. 

Water is so important for our health, after all most of our bodies are made up of water.   It keeps us hydrated, flushes out toxins and helps all our organs function properly.  Add a slice of lemon to make it a little more exciting. 

Spring is a time for Sprouts....try this super food on your next salad.  It's a great way to add crunch and increase your energy levels.  It's also proven to help make your skin look younger...bonus! 

Remembering these tips can help keep you away from eating a whole bag of these....yum. Have you tried the new sweet potato flavor?! So good. 

Wishing you all a happy, healthy week.  I hope these tips help you make smart choices and feel good about yourself.  Taking care of yourself is so important.  It helps in all areas of our life. 
I hope your 'line up' this week includes some fun. Get outside and play (exercise), enjoy nature, laugh and make time to be with family and friends! 

  Hang in there everyone...until next time...be well! 

Knock Knock

Who's there? Orange.....Orange who?

Orange you glad my blog is back up and running.  I am.  And I'm truly thankful that you are taking the time to read and I'm sending you all lots of love and best wishes.  I know that knock knock jokes are a little childish, but now that my computer is back up and running...I feel as happy as a little kid on Christmas morning.  I won't bore you with all the details...but let's just say all is right in my world. 

Now back to the orange....I woke up the other day craving citrus...aren't you glad you know that?  Something about a juicy orange is getting me out of bed in the morning to have some fruit.  I love how your body just sends you gentle signals of what it needs at just the right time.

Since spring is in full swing...I've been reading and planning recipes about what spring represents.   Spring is when seeds sprout, flowers bloom, and the sun warms the earth.  There is a sense of renewal and new life all around. 

Even in this city...signs of spring are blooming. 

This is the ideal time for cleansing and rejuvenation for overall health and well-being. 

Clearing out the old and making room for all the goodness of what a fresh new spring has to offer.  If you're like me, you might be having a hard time adjusting and you might feel a little distracted or out of sorts.  It's totally normal, give yourself time to transition into a new season one step at a time. 

While my computer was down...we celebrated Easter with friends and family.  I hosted an Easter brunch which was so nice and peaceful.  I made Paula Deen's 'not so healthy' french toast casserole.  It was so delicious and easy to make.  Try it one of these days, it will be a huge hit at your next breakfast party! 

 I also found myself in the kitchen experimenting with some new recipes, trying to add more greens (spring is when the earth turns green...so you need to be eating yours) and cleansing juices like celery, cucumber and lemon.  I also have been eating lots of delicious foods like...

roasted brussel sprouts with sea salt

'clean out my vegetable bin' side salad

Avocado, cucumber and pepper sandwich on toasted sprouted sesame Ezekiel bread...can I get a yum!! YUM!!

And finally, still working on a new spring salad with leeks, chickpeas, fresh thyme, asparagus, peppers and carrot.   Recipe coming soon. 

And we can't forget the vegan chocolate chip oatmeal cookies I made for my nephew Jack.  He had a construction theme birthday party so I made cookies and loaded them up in a big toy truck!  We made jokes about 'wide loads' the whole ride to their house....thanks cousin Susan for holding on to this tempting load of cookies and making sure they arrived perfect for the party. 

This spring I feel grateful for all the new opportunities that are blossoming in my life.  I appreciate each day with a fresh attitude and pure joy in my heart.  We say good bye to winter's darkness and embrace the promise of spring.  The renewal of earth and new life can awakening within each of us. 

I hope this spring you feel a beautiful sense of renewal and growth.  Stretch yourself to new heights and reach for the warm sun.  You're so worth it. Thanks for taking the time to check in and read.  

Have a wonderful week. Be well. 

Where have I been?

Hi Everyone! Experiencing major computer issues...please stay tuned. I'm learning patience. Hope everyone is having a wonderful week. I can't even post any pretty pictures...so I leave you with a quote that I try to say everyday. It reminds me to stay grounded and be thankful. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do. 'Be thankful for what you have, Pray for what you need, Work for what you want.' Be well... Lynda xo