oohs and awes

My new favorite meal, makes a great hangover cure to boot!

Here are the ingredients, just cut everything in to bite sized pieces:
(Most everything is from the farmer's market and the things that aren't are still organic when possible)

Red and Green Romaine
dark leafy baby greens mixture
celery
sprouted mung beans (super easy to sprout yourself, just rinse, soak 8 hours, strain, let dry 8 hours, soak again and watch 'em grow!)
carrots
broccoli
avocado
strawberries
walnuts
currents
...Add any other vegetables you like...
For the dressing:
1 tsp. dijon mustard
1 tbsp. white balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. flax seed oil
a quick squirt of agave syrup (counters the mustard and vinegar)
several shakes of dill
freshly ground lemon pepper
...whisk these together and there you have a tangy, vibrant, and utterly delicious dressing to make this salad super satisfying (make it big!).

A creative way to get someone to rake your lawn

Ted talk given by writer Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat Pray Love)

Emily recently posted this to her blog, Get in Emily's Head, and I just watched it. Elizabeth is incredibly moving, funny, cute, sweet, humble, informative and somewhat addictive...I want to watch it again, now.

Let it motivate you...

This is a short, yet, extremely moving story of a woman who turned an unwanted life of prostitution and poverty in to a her dream life of service and creativity. I hope it inspires you.

Our coffee table is so pretty

Now for the good news...

This really makes me think about all of the unnecessary hunger in the world today

"http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/2793564/Dumpster-diving-with-the-freegans-Why-pay-for-food.html#"

Because I love food (real food, farmer's market fruits and veggies, and Mike and my home made deliciousness), I believe this is of utmost importance:

WAITING FOR IT TO BE OVER

This is sort of a supplement to my last post. I just finished my job as a PA on a movie called The Effect. The last thing (I think) I said to the producer was that I learned a tremendous amount of information about film making and I thanked him. It is so true, being involved in something, no matter what capacity, brings forth an understanding and appreciation that cannot be had from being told or shown or reading about a subject.

The last movie I saw was My Best Friend's Girl and I saw it with new eyes after having worked on a film, I was able to appreciate everything from the set decorations to the moments where the camera's focus changed ever so slightly (ok, that's because I had a monumental crush on the first assistant camera operator or focus puller). I also learned the reason behind the order in which the names roll in the credits, paying special attention to one title in particular ;)

With that said, it wasn't always fun. And there were definitely times when I felt as though I didn't belong. Additionally, there were the stereotypical situations of corruption; the slightest bit of power in the wrong hands...



There were also those who couldn't wait for it to be over. Those who knew that they were saying, "I can't wait for it to be over" now, but would look back with fond memories of the good times and laugh at the bad times. And appreciate all the characters that made an impression, even if they were thought to be jerks while we were filming. Then, there were those of us who smiled everyday. Knowing that this is life. Choosing not to fall in to the category of people cursed with life happening while they are making other plans or WAITING FOR IT TO BE OVER. With practice I've learned not to wait for an end but to appreciate what I am doing WHEN I am doing it.

Follow the Yellow Submarine

Last night I finally listened to Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I say finally because I received at least 4 summons to listen to it in the two days prior to actually doing it.

1. While driving home from work at 6am on a Sunday morning I listened as a twelve year old girl read a letter she wrote to NPR's "This I Believe In". She disclosed that the Beatles music was the only music that her family could agree on during long road trips. In particular, she mentioned that they would all sing along to Yellow Submarine. The letter she read went on to reveal her wise father's attempt at finding their lost dog by driving through the neighborhood blasting the Beatles through the car's speakers. This didn't bring the dog running but it was a memorable experience for the girl who's father passed away not longer after this incident.

2. Once home on that Sunday I slept for about 4 hours then went to the farmer's market and the grocery store. Home again...I began cooking away. Then, the boys walked in. My roommate and two of our friends from SB. I loved that there were hungry boys in the house because I had just made enough blueberry pancake batter for our little army. JR and I started talking about food, spirituality, messages, and music. He brought up the Beatles, namely the song Yellow Submarine. He said he loved the song and heard the message it offered.

3. At a party at my best friends new pad she and I talked to a musician that was really in tune with life. He talked about coincidences and I told him about the Yellow Submarine and how it kept popping up. He asked if I had listened to it yet to find out what it's lyrics meant to me. He said that there are no coincidences, just hints that you are on the right path when you're receptive to them.

4. I typed Yellow Submarine into the search bar on my computer but my internet was misbehaving so I decided to listen to a couple of pod casts that my best friend downloaded for me awhile ago. One was from "This American Life" and it was entitled Quiz Shows. The first story was about a man that was an unlikely candidate for Ireland's Who Wants to be a Millionaire. He was painfully shy and more than that he discussed his self hatred and feelings of worthlessness as sound bites from the show played in the background. The first question he was asked was "What color was the Beatles Submarine? Red, Green, Yellow, or..." Of course, he got it, along with 250,000 pounds worth of other questions, an audience that couldn't help but root for the soft spoken man, and some new found self-esteem...And I got another summons to listen to the song.

Hence, finallyfinding the song with a smile of acknowledgment (of something greater at work here) from ear to ear backed by the thoughts, "Alright, I get it, I must listen to this song".

Of course, I have heard it before I just never really listened to it before. This time I listened to each lyric and waited for it to speak to me. It didn't. Don't get me wrong, I like the song and it may have a message beyond living together on a yellow submarine with our friends on board, yet, the message I got from the whole experience was that my myspace quote is so true, "Pleasure lies in the pursuit, not the destination"

Like when people meet in a movie

Yesterday I went hiking up Runyon Canyon sans expectations of anything. I did people watch the Monday hikers to see what other jobless or independently wealthy people looked like. I noticed when people noticed me. At the first bench, where there is a nice lookout over the city, I saw what a clear day it was-you could literally see out beyond the city and into the blue of the ocean. No smog, no haze, just a perfect day.

While I was at that little pit stop I noticed Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome notice me. It's not unusual to see hotties on the canyon, so I continued on my hike. Pretty much immediately after I began the uphill climb I sensed that Mr. TDH had decided to start his climb too. He was right behind me for much of the hike til I stopped and stared at the view again...this is when he passed me. Then, he stopped to take in the view. At this point I just told myself that it could either go on like a cat and mouse game for the rest of the trail, OR I could say something. Hmmm? What to say...I went with stating a fact, "It's so clear today", I said as I stood right next to him and looked at the Griffith Park Observatory in the distance. I don't remember what he said to that, yet it was the beginning of our spending over four hours together. We walked and talked and we realized that we are neighbors, that we have friends in common, that we both needed to go to Ikea, that neither one of us has life figured out and that that is okay, that we both want to start carrying cameras with us to not miss the opportunities for capturing beauty (and for me to capture the fairy landscapes of Runyon after the rain), that we could talk so freely with each other and that THAT is rare. He came over to see my apartment (that's not code for anything). My flatmate came home and we all talked for an hour then decided to hike the canyon again. We walked and talked again. I confessed that I initiated a conversation with him because I thought he was too shy to talk to me. He confessed that he had "noticed" me. I said I knew it, he didn't believe me. He thought he had been so subtle.
It felt as though we were just kids that met on a playground and decided we were going to be friends from that moment forward. No pretenses, no guards up.

My life changed with one little remark about what a clear day it was, actually it changed with the decision I made to say anything at all. It really made me think about all the opportunities for adventure that I am faced with everyday.

It was like when people meet in a movie and their lives are changed forever.

I'm sensing a pattern...

My recent dreams include finding Puff Daddy behind a building almost in tears...okay, he was crying. He told me that he felt like he was always playing a character and he didn't even know who HE really was anymore. I took him by the hand, told him that I have had those feelings before and that I could help him figure himself out. And, as with any dream, the rest is really fuzzy.

Later in the week I dreamed that Oprah was helping families in a town or village that had been flooded. It was incredibly eerie--there were bodies, cars, and peoples' personal effects floating in the water. While she is OPRAH, she was not immune to the damage that had been done, nor was she above helping save things and people from the water (I know, it's super weird...it was a dream). At some point she wanted to get out of where we were and get a ride out of the town--not too easy with the roads being under water and all. Somehow, we made it out. She confessed to me, as we were both looking in a mirror and talking to the reflection of each other, that she was really unhappy about her weight being always in flux and that the headlines about her hurt her feelings. I didn't know what she was talking about because I don't watch t.v. or read the rag mags. She explained the issue and I told her, as I had Puffy, that everything would be okay and we could work it out/off. I then asked her where her favorite place to live was and she said Santa Barbara (which I guessed at the same time that she answered me). I told her that I used to be her neighbor- well not right next door, but SB is so small that we're all neighbors. And I babysat for a little Lilly did live just around the corner from her mansion. She wasn't all that amused. However, she was receptive to my offer to help her though. She was on the phone quite a bit scheduling interviews and the like. At one point she was on the phone with Brittany Spears. She seemed kinda private, yet she was candid in the same way that Puffy had been the other night...

Maybe my dreams are telling me that I should be in the celebrity self-help line of work?! BTW, if you google images of Oprah, you'll see that she really is beautiful and has a glow to her that only a kind heart and lots of moo-la will give you.

I am you and you are me and...we are the walrus

Chalkboard philosophy...

Gotta love chalkboard communication...The lav at The Sojourner restaurant in Santa Barbara has a chalkboard in it allowing its patrons to leave a message for everyone that uses the loo in the same day. I was the lucky recipient of the message, "All One...Al one [Alone]". And because there was more room on the board I picked up the chalk and jotted down my favorite Confucius quote, "Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I might remember. Involve me and I will understand."

Em and I discover that she is me and I am her

Remember to love everyone we are all one.

 

 

I'm bringin poppies back

 

This is me thinking of you...

Never in a million years did I think that I would send self portraits to a guy that I like. Turns out It didn't take that much time. Nor was alcohol necessary to induce such an action on my part. I blame delirium and a smooth talking crush.

He asked for pictures of me...this is as racy as I get (Sorry boys). So, I sent these pictures and never received a response. Ouch. The upside? I learned that I am brave enough to put my heart and self portraits out there. Okay, so I'm a little crushed, but whatever doesn't kill you...

Do the makers of Dove use Dove?

Do the manufacturers of Cheetos eat Cheetos? After my sister told me about our skin thoroughly absorbing what we put on it--as if we were to ingest it--I thought about some of the products I've used in the past and whether or not I would eat them. Dove soap has a nice ad, "made with 1/4 moisturizing cream" or something like that. Well, what are the other ingredients? I wonder. I haven't looked it up, I suggest you do if you use it. I just know that I would not eat it. And I don't think the makers of it would either. Who knows if they even use it, knowing whats in it.

I wondered about foods I used to enjoy too. Cheetos were one of my favorites, the girls in my family love crunchy food. Now that I am more conscious of what I put in and on my body, the thought of Cheetos is not so appealing to me. What do the ingredients even mean? Is there any nutritional value beyond getting more than your maximum daily quota of sodium and red dye? And again, do the manufacturers eat the stuff? Actually, I don't like the idea of food being manufactured at all, that's a term for furniture making not food making. My recommendation is to go to the farmer's market and try something fresh.

I LOVE EM'S BLOG

My best friend has a blog, www.getinemilyshead.com, and her writing is so vibrant that she doesn't need an austentacious background. Her site reminds me of a classy hotel room--at least the nice bedding in one.

I bet that some people go to hotels and think, "this is how I want my house to look." So they go home and tear down all the colorful kids stuff they have and replace it with the more simple, elegant, and refined look of a hotel room. That's why there are so many "Hotel Collection" bedding sets. The only problem with this is that a lot of personality can be lost in the remodel.

Not so with Emily's blog. It's as if instead of going home and redecorating, she moved in to the hotel left the walls and bedspread, and brought her own bag of tricks to boot. She writes poetically about her life, the people she has encountered, the things she has done/heard/seen/overcome, and little things she's noticed that have made a big difference to her and the world at large.

Instead of biting someone else's style find yours. This reminds me of one of Em's great posts about imitating, I highly recommend it...

How do you get to know someone?

On a recent hike I overheard some girls chatting about where they went to college and what each others' major was, where they were from, etc. This mild eavesdropping made me realize that I hate those questions. If you really want to get to know someone make them think. Ask them what their dreams are, what they've always wanted to do, what's stopping them, how they feel about what they have done in their lives (not just where it was they did it or for how long). The better the questions the better the answers.

You'll likely make a new friend in one deep conversation over of a bunch of shallow encounters. And the person that you ask these questions of will be forced to think about their life and what they really want to do with it. They will thank you!

People are interesting they just need to know someone is interested.

Supplement to small boob post

I just remembered a really disturbing dream I had recently about someone near and dear to me getting implants. She is a tiny little thing (well, tall but very slim). In my dream she had had implants that gave her enormous, cartoon like breasts. She looked so top heavy and strange that I could hear people saying that she looked like a cartoon as she walked by them.
This dream just solidified the fact that I have grown to disapprove of implants for myself and my loved ones.

Small Boobs Don't Sag (as much)

It took me years of seeing and hearing that big boobs were better before I could even imagine needing them, much less think about getting breast implants. Then, I imagined, I wished, I hoped, I prayed, and I even bought an herbal supplement that is supposed to make them grow. That was $300 not very well spent, thankfully they offered a refund (which, I'm sure, they are counting on some people probably finding to much of a hassle to obtain).

After trying the prepackaged herbal supplement I was emailed study results, lists of herbs, and alternative ways to increase your breast size by my loving and very well meaning mother. I was over the herbs before I even opened the attachments--they were too obscure and you needed to combine too many of them to get any results (which were supposed to be like going through puberty again and hopefully having your body get it right the 2nd time around).

Finally, I let myself entertain the idea of getting implants. I talked about it to friends and family. In part, I was just hoping to be talked out of it. My loving mother stepped in again by showing me a video of an implant surgery. This should make anyone considering implants reconsider. It did me. Then, some time passed and I forgot what the surgery looked like and again began to think of the end result.

Ultimately, I can't say what made me stop having the desire for bigger boobs. I like to attribute it to the fact that I have accepted myself fully and completely as being who I am supposed to be and looking the way I was intended to look (By whom? Who knows? Just accept it). Everyone that says you must look inside yourself for wisdom, love, and beauty is right. And this is an appropriate place to leave you with some of my wonderful mother's advice: "The key to happiness is having something to do, someone to love (I say love everyone), and something to look forward to". If you follow this, then you won't have time or want to worry about how big your boobs are.

And remember, small boobs don't sag (as much).
Fake boobs feel like rocks

FOOD:BEAUTY

My sister just graduated from an esthetician program in Maui. I asked her what she learned and if she could share some advice on basic skin care. She told me that rice flour makes and excellent gentle exfoliant, honey makes a great mask, apple cider vinegar is good for your whole body, basically, everything you need for your skin you might already have in your kitchen.

This is very important because the first thing she was taught was that your skin is your largest organ and it "eats" whatever you put on it. She said she was asked if she would eat her eyeshadow and her answer, of course, was NO. Her teacher said that in effect that is what she was doing by simply applying it externally to her eyelids.

You don't know how happy it made me to have this confirmation. As someone who makes my own beauty care products out of ingredients that I can and do eat, I felt less like a hippy chick. Admittedly, I once ran out of the supply of coconut oil I have in the kitchen and just went in to my bathroom and borrowed some from there--it could be gross if there was hair or body oils in it but it was clean, and after all it all originally came from the same jar. >(:0)