Laura looked over at the time in the right hand corner of her computer screen. 4:15. She checked it about every 15 minutes. Remarkably, only 15 minutes ticked by each time she did that. Interesting. Not that she didn’t have a lot to do. Deadline was her middle name. There was always a million and one things to do at the office and Laura was a consummate worker and was fairly content with what she did. Yet, 5:30 p.m. couldn’t come sooner.

There was a lot that needed to be done at home. The leaves needed to be raked. The dog needed to be fed. Dinner needed to be cooked. Not to mention the upstairs bathroom hadn’t been cleaned in a month and the laundry was piling up. It also wouldn’t hurt to even attempt to finish reading the last three chapters of that book, or perhaps, if today was a day for miracles, she could even work on her short story.

When the clock hit 5:26 p.m. Laura rolled her eyes and shook her head and dared to leave four minutes early.

Laura gazed out the window of the train on her way home, tapping her feet and admiring the enchanting landscape of abandoned buildings and railroad tracks. Other passengers on the train stared at Laura too hard for her taste and she self-consciously wiped the tip of her nose with her hand thinking maybe there was a smudge of ink there. You never know.

She let out a deep breath. “Oh my goodness! That was the longest 20 minutes ever! Thought I’d never get off that train.” Laura ran to her car and jumped in. She buckled her seat belt and drove home. As Laura pulled into the driveway, Lassie (yes) jumped out of a large pile of leaves, wagging his tail and panting like only dogs can do, so happy to see her. Laura gave Lassie the once over and unlocked the door to her house. She threw her coat and purse onto the kitchen counter top and opened the freezer to find a Lean Cuisine to shove in the microwave for three and ½ minutes. Laura walked into the downstairs bathroom and took a seven minute shower. She lotioned up in her adjoining bedroom and pulled her boyfriend’s tee shirt over her head.

Laura walked into the living room and browsed through her CD collection. She placed the selected CD into the player and pressed play. Natasha Bedingfield sang a heartfelt tune and Laura cried with even more feeling. She let the song repeat until she ached every word. Laura wanted to call out to someone. Something. But she was too tired to even pray. And wasn’t it useless anyway? She shook her head, maybe shamelessly at herself, maybe in despondency. She got up enough energy to walk back into the kitchen. She didn’t go toward the microwave where her now cold TV dinner was. She reached for her purse instead.

❤ and ✰,
Kandi

I stay up clean the house.
At least I’m not drinking.
Run around just so I don’t have to think about thinking.
That silent sense of content
That everyone gets
Just disappears soon as the sun sets.

His face in my dreams seizes my guts
He floods me with dread
Soaked in soul
He swims in my eyes by the bed.
Pour myself over him
Moon spilling in
And I wake up alone.

This weekend I was enjoying a delicate breeze that flowed through my apartment from the opened windows as I sat and read a book. The cool wind touched my face and relaxed me and brought an effortless smile to my face. Nothinesses are the greatest things in life. The simple enjoyment of nature made me feel extremely connected to Spirit. To God. To Goddess. I put my book down and turned on some nature music and went into meditation. I let my breath find an easy rhythm. My toes relaxed. Then my legs. My aching back and my tight jaw. I breathed in. I breathed out. The silent space I found was beautiful, and the insights I received were even more beautiful. When I opened my eyes, I felt calm and connected to the music I was listening to, to the book on the coffee table I was just reading, to the people who just lost their lives in the Pakistan floods, and to the Aurora Borealis (aka Northern Lights) that were displayed in the sky the night before from Sun explosions. I felt so connected to my Source. My mind opened up and affirmed that I was part of everything and everything was part of me. 

Since I discovered my true connection to the Universe, I have at times been looked at with less than accepting eyes. I find far too often that when humans don’t understand something they tend to look at that something with trepidation and fear. They give the fear a name and label it. It is now the enemy. I know many people who have the gift of intuitive abilities, who feel a connection with their ancestors and pay tribute to them, who honor the Goddess within, or who are simply free spirits and can’t be held down by traditional religious boundaries. All these people at one time met criticism by friends and family who just didn’t understand how and why they shifted away from the traditional religions they grew up in and now embrace a more expansive path. They’ve heard words like: “What is this ‘spirit’ you’re feeling? I’ll tell you what it is…it’s the Devil! You’re demonized that’s what you’re feeling.” At the very least its “woo-woo” and taboo. 

Just because you don’t have a full understanding and comprehension of Spirit/Ka/God/Allah/Jehovah/Oshun/MotherNature/Ka, doesn’t make It demonic. Just because you have yet to evolve past your human mind limitation doesn’t make the connection some people have to It wrong or evil. They say the veil between the Spirit world and the Material world is very thin, and some of us have pierced it. I think it is so awesome, in fact, its our purpose, to tap into our Source in a more intimate way. Don’t dare let someone else determine how close you can get to God or, conversely, put Him in a box for you! The Divine is within us. Sit and listen to your Divine Voice.  What do you feel, hear, taste within you? Do your own research. Take God out that damn box! Blaze your own trail! Be proud of who you are and your spirituality in whatever dress its wearing. If you live each day with the goal to express Truth and Love and Grace, you know you are on the right path and are still connected to our Divine Source. 

And don’t take chatter about your spiritual path personal. Remember: What people don’t understand, they fear. What people fear, they label. What people label, they judge. 

Evolve or die.
❤ and ✰(Love and Light),
Kandi

I’ve attached to this post an Earth Day Coloring Book I composed from pictures on the web.  Please print the book out for your children to color. 

And this is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen:  a recipe for Rice Crispy Earth Balls!  How cool is that?  To add color to the treats, use natural food coloring or sugar like the products created at India Tree, or use other natural coloring products found locally.

**
3 Tablespoons butter (I use Earth Balance)
1 10-oz package of marshmallows (or 4 cups mini marshmallows)
6 cups crispy rice cereal (or brown rice cereal)
blue and green natural food coloring
pizza pan

• Melt butter (medium heat) in a medium to large pot.
• Add marshmallows, stirring constantly, until marshmallows are melted.
• Remove from heat and add cereal.
• Stir to combine them dump out onto the pizza pan.
• Shape the cereal mixture into small “globes.”
• Follow directions for using food coloring or food sugaring and add the color to the globes to resemble Mother Earth.
• Happy Earth Day!

While your children are coloring or making earth day balls, you can talk to them about what they love most about Earth and what they want to do to keep it in tip top shape for their children.

** picture and India Tree suggestion courtesy of GreenDaily.com

1 Tablespoon canola oil
2 medium onions (peeled and minced)
1 clove garlic (peeled and minced)
1 Tablespoon ground coriander
2 teaspoons ground cumin
½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
6 Tablespoons diced tomatoes
1 cup water
4 cups cooked chickpeas or 2 (15 ounce) cans chickpeas, rinsed and drained
2 teaspoons ground roasted cumin seeds
1 Tablespoon amchoor powder
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon garam masala
½ teaspoon salt
½ lemon (juiced)
1 fresh, hot green chili pepper (minced)
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger 

• Heat oil in a large skillet.
• Add onions and garlic and sauté over a medium heat until browned (3-5 minutes).
• Turn heat to medium-low.
• Add the coriander, cumin (not the roasted cumin), cayenne and turmeric.
• Stir for a few seconds.
• Add the tomatoes.
• Cook the tomatoes until browned lightly.
• Add chickpeas and a cup of water and stir.
• Add the roasted cumin, amchoor, paprika, garam masala, salt and lemon juice.
• Cook covered for 10 minutes.
• Remove the cover add the minced chili and ginger.
• Stir and cook uncovered for 30 seconds.

This is 100% whole wheat bread sliced VERY thin.  Two slices together is only 100 calories!  I’m a big fan of what’s inside my sandwich, not necessarily the bread itself, so I find that I eat a lot of wraps over sandwiches, but I miss the taste of ingredients wrapped up in bread.  This is perfect! Not too much bread, not too little.  I have to say, this bread will definitely go on the permanent shopping list.

Hair - BLONDE-ISH

Your Mother – TOUGH

Your Father – RIP

Fav Food - CHEESECAKE

Dream Last Night – ?

Fav Drink – MARTINIS

What room are you in?  – WORK

Hobby – READING

Fear – LONELINESS

Where were you last night? – HOME

Something that you aren’t – PATIENT

Muffins – BLUEBERRY

Wish List Item – LAPTOP

Where you grew up - CLEVELAND

What you are wearing -  SKIRT

Your Pet – NONE

Friends – MAYBE

Something you’re not wearing – EARRINGS

Fav Store - TRADER JOE’S

Fav Color -BLACK

Last time you laughed – EARLIER

Your Best Friend – E/T

Best Place you go over and over – BOOKSTORE

Person who you email regularly – BOSS

Fav Place to Eat – SUSHI ROCK

Mareblu Naturals Blueberry Pomegranate Trail Mix Crunch.  I never heard of the brand before but through the vending machine window I saw on the label:

100% Vegan + Gluten-Free + Kosher

There’s some good fat to be found in the snack (because of the nuts), but the snack can also boast of being low in sugar (4g) and will help you put a nice-sized dent in your daily protein intake (5g).

The trail mix consists of sweet, nutty clusters and has a delightful blueberry flavor (although I didn’t really taste any pomegranate).  All in all, I am in love with this trail mix and will definitely add it to my shopping list!

Fresh, healthy “real” food is scarce in schools across America these days.  However, Jamie Oliver wants as many of us as possible to help him make a difference by supporting an effort to get everyone (parents, children, school cooks) educated about food and healthy cooking skills.  His mission is for every kid to get good, fresh food at school.  “The junk food must go” Jamie says and he wants to show the President and industry how many of us out there really care about this issue as well.  He has a petition on his website that takes seconds to sign.  Please sign the petition so that you can show you want a change in the way American children are fed at school!

The T.V. reality show Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution premiered Friday, March 26th at 9:00 and will air every Friday until April 23rd.

MESSAGE FROM JAMIE:

I believe that every child in America has the right to fresh, nutritious school meals, and that every family deserves real, honest, wholesome food. Too many people are being affected by what they eat. It’s time for a national revolution. America needs to stand up for better food!

You live in an amazing country full of inspirational people and you have the power to change things. With your help, we can get better food into homes, schools and communities all over America and give your kids a better future.

Sign the petition to save America’s cooking skills and improve school food. It could be the most important thing you ever do for your family. America’s health needs you now!

Anyways, in addition to the pancakes, we had turkey bacon, and BF had two eggs and I had oatmeal w/ almond butter, pumpkin butter, raisins and a few almonds.  Oh and we had a glass of orange juice.

So I would recommend Bob’s Red Mill Buttermilk Pancake and Waffle Whole Grain Mix.  Its not vegan or gluten free, but it is very heart healthy and made with natural ingredients.  Yummy!