On purpose

On Purpose

Walk with purpose

Wander with grace

Skip with fervor

everything in celebration

one day at a time.

Nice

The word I chose for this poem was Nice.  For an explanation of what these posts are about, check out the first one here.  This certainly isn't brilliant, just my morning thoughts. They are written without judgement. They are written to loosen up my brain in the morning.

NICE

Be nice.

play nice.

isn't she nice?

isn't she pleasant?

i don't want to be described as nice.

Nice is for strangers.

If I am "nice", you don't know me.

Call me crazy,

call me opinionated, quiet, passionate.

call me confusing, eccentric, spunky.

call me anything but nice.

The sun doesn't shine to be nice.

The full moon on a clear night isn't nice,

it's wild, made to howl.

The ocean doesn't send its waves to be nice.

It shakes you to your core.

You can save your nice,

let's not make pleasantries.

we've lived too much for that.

tell me your battles.

let's explore the moon.

scream til we're hoarse,

laugh until we're dry.

let's not play nice.

let's play loud.

Next

I'm still in my poem phase.  Picked another word from my morning pages to write about.  For more information on this writing exercise, check out this post.  Here's my latest poem from my week of Morning Pages.

Next

Around the corner

over the hump

after this bend

it'll be next.

Next is the needy one

the question-maker

the bored.

Next likes plans and checklists

watches and alarms.

Next remains on its toes.

Anxiety-ridden worrier.

Next pretends to not know Now.

Now is the rebel,

the eye of the storm.

Now won't beg for your attention,

time is too precious.

Now is your center, your breath.

Now is the gentle tear in your eye

that burst of laughter from your gut.

Now doesn't rush, it makes every second count

for those willing to take the ride.

Feeling Young Again

I'm a little late in my personal challenge to post a poem a week from my journal.   Here's my original post explaining the challenge.

So once again I feel the need to add that I don't consider myself a poet, but wanted to shake up my morning journal writing and start writing in my blog again.  I'm having fun with a challenge to myself of writing a daily poem taken from random words I see in my journal.  I'm picking one of those poems every week to post on my blog.  Here's the latest.

Grass

between my toes

bring memories of summers past

bicycles, popsicles

adventure at every turn.

goofy grins, kool aid mustaches

battle scars, "tag you're it!"

do you carry it with you?

the smell of fresh cut lawn,

hot tar on the driveways

sprinklers to chase

feeling like you're tricking the world

to stay up past your bedtime

the sun's still out!

Not a moment to waste

imagination on fire

following a butterfly could take over hours

do you carry it with you?

do you remember to remove your shoes,

to allow the grass between your toes?

can you come out to play?

Morning Thougts

I just updated the appearance of my blog yesterday.  I was inspired to figure out some of the html, blah, blah, blah. Anyhow, I think it turned out alright.  It's kind of like cleaning your room when you have an assignment due.  I always did that in college.  Before I could get started on any work, I had to clean my room.  I'm going to attempt to recharge my blog, but before that starts, I wanted to "clean it up" first.  Some people may call it procrastinating, I like to think of it as a nice shower.

For over a year I've been keeping a journal.  A friend introduced me to the book, The Artist's Way.  The book has you go on a course over three of four months.  Part of it is writing 3 pages every morning right when you get up.  It has become such a part of me that if I skip it, I feel a little off.  As you can imagine, sometimes the daily posts can get pretty boring and the same.  

Two weeks ago, my friend, Alecia Whitaker's young adult novel, Wildflower, came out.  I grabbed it on the first day and just finished it yesterday.  She's an excellent writer and I recommend getting it, no matter what your age.  The point I'm trying to get to, is that her main character keeps a songwriting journal.  And while I'm not trying to write songs, I thought maybe writing poetry would help spice up my Morning Pages for the month.  

Feeling the need to tell you, dear reader, that I know absolutely nothing about poetry, I've decided to choose one of my poems from each week to include in this revamped blog. So, don't judge too harshly, I'm just having fun.

This first poem I titled Morning.

MORNING

Is it already?

Just one more minute.

Awake to appreciate

the feel of cotton against my face.

my Morning lying next to me

still dreaming of the night.

In the quiet

exploring new worlds

discovering new lands

content alone

to be the first

a badge of honor.

The birds have known all along.

They tell me of battles won,

bring news from other lands

all in a mornings work.

We gossip

I, with my coffee

them, from their perch

much to catch up on

I'm not the first.

Peace & Happiness

I just got back from my sister-in-law's wedding in South Africa.  She got married on a beautiful vineyard in Tulbagh, SA.  I took this picture the morning of the wedding.  We stayed in the cottages in the pic.

I love this

Have a beautiful weekend!

Creativity

Listen More

I love this quote.  I could do this more and I know a few others who could too...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day from one of my favorite ad campaigns!  "Dumb ways to die" presents "Dumb ways to Valentine". 

Choose Strength!

I just came across this quote and needed to share it with you.  This will be my 2014 theme!

No time like the present.

What are you going to get started this weekend?  If you've got 30 minutes, you've got time to start, no excuses.

A tasty morsel to muse over.

In the middle of winter when the earth can look gray and drab, it's good to feel like this quote from the philosopher Albert Camus.  Repeat after me: You are more than the weather, embrace your internal summer.

Start when you're not ready

I love this.  Actually my acting coach gives this instruction to many of us before we do a scene, "start when you're not ready, you'll surprise yourself." 

It being the beginning of 2014, we have no more excuses, suck it up, be brave and jump.  "Now is as good a time as any."

Ordinarily Wonderful

I came across this quote on Pinterest and had to share.

 "time stands still
best in moments
that look
suspiciously
like
ordinary life."

I hope during this holiday season, you find time to admire the way the clouds wisp across the sky or how the snow sticks in your eyelashes, or the way the moon glows on a frosty night.

     A winter sunset walk around Lake Calhoun, MN.

Turkey Chili with Ginger and Lime to Warm You Up!

With most of the country in a cold snap, I thought today would be I good day to make some of my favorite chili.  This is my friend Sara's recipe and this girl knows how to cook!   A lot of the measurements are "some" or "to taste" because this is a play as you go chili.  If you need specific measurements, maybe check out some other chili recipes for ideas.  I add a half bag of frozen corn to this concoction, but up to you if you want to add it or not.  You could also make this a vegetarian chili or beef, it's up to you.

Ingredients:
Ground Turkey - 1.5 lbs
1 T of Peanut Oil (to brown turkey)
Diced Onion (1/2 to whole medium)
Crushed Garlic - 3 cloves
2 Cans Diced Tomatoes
1 Can Black Beans
1 little can of green chilies (optional, it's too spicy for my family)
Juice of 1 lime
Cumin - about 1 tablespoon, you can adjust to what you like
Chili Powder - some (see, this is what I was talking about ;)
Celery Salt - to taste
Black Pepper - to taste
Oregano - 1 tsp
Tabasco - 4 to 5 shakes of the bottle (our family uses the milder green version, we're whimps)
Paprika (optional) - 1 tsp
Ginger (optional) - 1 tsp
1/2 bag of frozen corn (optional)
Cilantro - garnish (optional)
We also like to add a T of greek plain yogurt (or sour cream) and some shredded cheese - garnish

Brown Turkey and Onions in a large skillet.

Add everything else in pot (including browned turkey and onions) and simmer for a minimum of 15 - 20 minutes.

Garnish with cheese, cilantro and plain greek yogurt (or sour cream).  This also makes delicious leftovers.  I usually make up a batch and have a bowl for lunch for a few days.

Developing Courage

As I was scanning my facebook newsfeed this morning, I came across this comment from Maya Angelou.  I had to share it with you.

Maya Angelou on Courage:

MS: If you could speak to the world community, what message would you most want to deliver to humanity?

Ms. Angelou: I would encourage us to try our best to develop courage. It’s the most important of all the virtues, because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. You can be anything erratically—kind, fair, true, generous, all that. But to be that thing time after time, you need courage. We need to develop courage, and we need to develop it in small ways first. Because we wouldn’t go and say, “I’ll pick up this hundred-pound weight” without knowing our capacity. So we need to say, “Oh, I’ll start by picking up a five-pound weight, then a ten-pound weight, then a twenty-five-pound, and sooner or later I’ll be able to pick up a one-hundred-pound weight.” And I think that’s true with courage. You develop a little courage, so that if you decide, “I will not stay in rooms where women are belittled; I will not stay in company where races, no matter who they are, are belittled; I will not take it; I will not sit around and accept dehumanizing other human beings”—if you decide to do that in small ways, and you continue to do it—finally you realize you’ve got so much courage. Imagine it—you’ve got so much courage that people want to be around you. They get a feeling that they will be protected in your company.

This hit me today, possibly because last week, I was having a conversation with someone with very different political views than me.  While I can appreciate that we are all entitled to our own opinion, due to my nature of not wanting to ruffle feathers, there are many times I stay silent.  Always after those conversations I walk away feeling awful, betrayed by myself.  Just because I don't verbally say I agree with them because I don't actually voice my own beliefs, I am in a sense agreeing with them.  

In a world where we are taught to get along and I always valued my gift as a peacemaker, how do I stand up for what I believe in without "gasp" people getting upset?  I always tell myself, you're not political, you don't have enough facts to back up your opinions.  I'm beginning to realize how much that "voice in your head" gets in the way.  You think it's there to keep you safe, you see a homeless person outside your grocery store asking for money and maybe you'll give him a dollar, but your inner voice says, make sure you don't make eye contact, you don't want to encourage him to ask for more.  You see a couple having a spat and it's getting heated and your voice says, stay out of the way, she can handle it, she's obviously been dealing with it for awhile.

So today, I am giving myself permission to tell my inner voice to shut up.  Maya Angelou says to start with a five pound weight, for me that means stating my opinion confidently because everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I've got to go with my gut.

Thankful Pie

Oh. My. Gah! I saw this recipe and know what dessert I'm making for Thanksgiving.  Check this insane recipe out!  I think I can smell this Gingerbread Eggnog Pumpkin Pie through the computer.  (From the blog Thumb in Plum.)

Gingerbread Pie Shell Recipe

Ingredients for the crust

• 1 box gingerbread  mix
• 2 tbs unbleached flour
• 2 tbs melted butter

Directions

1. Prepare as cookies, as directed on the box (stop the prep after refrigeration)
2. After cooling in the refrigerator break into 2 even balls and roll one out as you would a pie crust on a floured board or pan to 1/4" thick
3. Flour the top and roll it loosely. Line it up with a 9" pie tin and unroll it, pressing down and making sure there are no spaces between the shell and the tin. Cut the dough hanging off the edges
4. Use the extra dough for the top of the pie, another pie crust, or use the rest for some yummy gingerbread men you can bite the heads off of

- See more at: http://www.thumbinplum.com/2012/12/gingerbread-eggnog-pumpkin-pie.html#sthash.ujMmkHxR.dpuf

Cran-Apple Stuffing!

Even in LA, it's starting to get "chilly" out.  Not compared to my Minnesotan roots chilly, but "LA chilly" and it doesn't take long to think that fifty degrees means breaking out the hat and mittens and marshmallow puffy jacket.

So when I came across this recipe tonight, while wondering what I can make to make the house smell yummy and warm, I knew I had found my delicious solution.  Cranberry-Apple Corn Bread Stuffing, straight from Better Homes and Gardens.  Just look at this savory picture, you know you want to make it.  Pair this with a roasted chicken from the grocery store and dinner is served.

Letting Go

Does it ever seem like there's a universal energy going around and everyone you're connected with is facing similar challenges?  For the past couple months I've been noticing that with quite a few friends.  I came across this quote and found it relevant, maybe you're facing a similar situation where this might resonate with you as well.