Foods of 2012

Since I tried to improve my cooking habits over the past 5 months, I started photographing the meals I prepared. Here are just a few of my ups and downs. One thing I've learned is that I should always make more for dinner so I can save the left overs for lunch. One thing I want to improve is just my creativity with mixing and flavoring foods. Any suggestions are welcome. Here we gooooo...

I guess I could look at the good part about this. The fiber from the granola bar is a good source of energy. The macaroni is ...filling? And the soda.. ah... the soda. A bad choice. But you know? I'm not really on a diet. I didn't have too much soda over the past few months. I like orange juice in the morning and lots of water through the day. Still, the meals improve I promise.

I showed these in an earlier post, and I made them a few times. They got better!

A nice improvement from simply pasta and cheese. I got this idea from a friend who mixed peas and carrots with mac and cheese. Here I mixed in Lima beans, black olives, and tomatoes.

I've been taking car of my basil since this summer and it's doing well here. I didn't take a picture of it but there was pasta too. The basil was good with the pasta and the croissants.

Vegetable pancakes are sooooooo NOMNOM. And really easy to make. I think there are some recipes on our pinterest for a homemade pancake mix as well. That could make this meal even more healthy.

Another easy meal to make. Rice is cheap and filling, easy to flavor and mix with stuff. I always make too much. That's good though because I end up with more for later.

I'm a pescetarian but don't always eat enough protein. I got this awesome salmon burger while grocery shopping and I cooked it for dinner. Awesome wholesome sandwich. 

That's all for now. Next year I want to work on cooking even more often and making more interesting delicious meals. Guess I should also work on learning how to take good pictures of food. hah. Well, until next time!

Peace and Noms,
Ginny

Weekly Motivations

This quote is simply perfect. 

Weekly Motivations

 http://pinterest.com/blossomposh/pins

I'll try to post an image like this from our Blossom Posh Pinterest once a week. Loves to yal:) -G

Prayer to Myself

It is not easy staying positive. The concept is something new I've adopted over the past couple years. I can't speak for everyone who has been quiet or shy growing up, but for myself at that time, I didn't understand how some people could feel happy and outgoing all the time. How could I, or anyone, just march right through the troubles without acknowledging that there is a problem? Looking at the sunny side was not helpful, but as I grew older the other extreme wore out as well. Recently I have been trying to find a way to merge those extremes, to face my negativity, address its validity, and then propose ways to change things for the better.

Around that time growing up I used to pray to God when I was scared, or worried, or confused. It was the thought of tender wishes of love and safety being sent out and wrapped around me, my family, and my friends no matter how far away. More recently in rediscovering my spirituality, I've missed some part of those days. I miss the connection I felt to others, the universe, and something larger than myself; I missed believing that the connections actually had meaning. However, I had found more comfort and freedom from letting go of my Christian faith. Organized religion with its focus on one dogmatic faith fits all, felt constraining and irrational. I started believing in myself and individuals more than wishes to pretty notions in the sky. I was content, but would there ever be something like prayer in my life again?

One night I was feeling particularly down. So instead of trying to sleep while thoughts bombarded my mind, I started writing. I got out all of that anxiety about my financial independence upon graduation, all those worries about the difficulty in finding a job I enjoy in this economy, the headache about paying loans, my concerns about risking a move to another state, and my doubts about my readiness for this all. When I was finished my mind could breath again, but I didn't really feel any better. I needed a prayer--what kind though? I couldn't honestly pray to God, or any other kind of divinity. I realized what I really needed was a prayer to myself, a holy moment, or affirmation of sorts. I didn't hold back; I didn't matter how little sense I made, or how strange it seemed, I would pray to myself and say exactly what I needed to hear any time I felt like this. It was empowering experience to simply comfort myself. It was somewhere in between a meditation and a poetic conversation with myself.

Borrow my idea if you think its inspiring. If you ever feel the need wrap yourself in words of self encouragement, discipline, and love, I recommend it.

Until next time. Peace!

G

5 Simple Steps to Find YOUR Happiness

Happiness ~~~ <3

1. First, find some time for your thoughts. Have alone time-- "me" time.  I LOVE me time... perhaps more than a person should... haha. I always hear people say how busy they are with work, school, kids, etc. There is always time for "me" time whether it's just for twenty minutes or shorter or longer (like I prefer). You can adjust your schedule a bit by taking a bath, a nap, doing something creative like write or draw, getting a manicure/pedicure (if you're not a broke college student like me) or taking a walk or jog. Just do something that allows you to concentrate on you.

2.  Just do what makes you feel good! Of course, without hurting anyone else. Bonus points, however, if it helps others in any way.

3. Produce positive thoughts and eliminate as much negativity as you can. The more positivity you project the more you will see all around. It might be difficult at first especially if you've had a challenging day already. But realize not everything has to be so bad. If it's hard think about all the good in your life, and the goal you want to work towards. And if you think you will have a bad day at work before even starting, then you will! Change up your outlook! Try it.

4. Find out what you actually want.  Don't think about the pressures of what your parents want for you, what your significant other thinks, what your friends think, whether your family want you to make a lot of money because they struggled, etc. Think about what you want short and long term for ultimate happiness. For short term, it could be something as simple as watching a Disney movie or making your favorite food (like spaghetti or mac n cheese- yum). Think about long-term.  Instead of thinking "where do I see myself in five years" think of "where do I WANT to see myself in five years." Then go for it. If it's something you are afraid to tell others, don't be ashamed!  It's who you are and what you want.  Everyone is different.

5. Believe that you ARE worth it and can achieve it. And you deserve the happiness and life you want.  You just have to try.  And keep trying. And maybe try some more. And you'll probably fail. Once. Twice. Ten times even. Don't give up. The road to your success isn't going to be a straight road of ease.  Nothing worthwhile will come easy. Life can be quite tough so you might have to fight through it all to get somewhere great. And you have to believe you can reach that place.  If you don't believe it then you will never reach it.  If you don't believe in yourself then who will?

Life can and should be wonderful. For all we know, we are here on Earth once, so let's make it the best possible. And it starts by you.

♥, Kayla

How to Realize Your Dreams

Do you know what your dreams are?  Are you going after them? 

After being pulled in so many directions and listening to people tell me what I want or need, I realized I had not been going after my dreams or even knew what they were anymore, which made my heart sink.  But with that, I was able to rebuild and refocus.  I've lost sight of my dreams. They were hiding away somewhere deep inside.

There are different reasons why I lost sight of it all, but overall I can only blame myself.  While my dreams might seem so grand, I was afraid of even trying to chase them for fear of failure, disapproval and embarrassment.  That's just the worst. This quote always stuck with me, "Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game." Exactly. Bingo. B to the I to the N to the G to the O-O-O! 

It's not easy to step out of your comfort zone, but that's when we learn the most about ourselves. And that's when we can achieve something great and worthwhile. You are worthwhile, and your dreams. And so am I.  You don't need anyone to tell you that.  If they tell you otherwise then don't believe it.  I did for a while.  And I lost sight of what my dreams really are and why they matter. And why I hid them in a box in a deep part inside.

I realized that I have to trust myself.  And believe in myself. And that I deserve it.  I was waiting and instead of chasing. Opportunities don't come to you, so sitting around dreaming about it will get you nowhere.  It was like I was waiting for approval or permission from people without realizing that. Well, now I have given myself permission to try, keep my dreams big, and go after them. 

There was this other great quote I heard but don't know where it came from. "People say it's impossible only because they can't do it themselves."  This is true.  Don't let others stop you from believing in yourself, your goals, and your dreams. 

After being down so many different paths that weren't right for me, I can cross those off the list and focus on new ones.  You never know until you try. But it can be difficult realizing what you want after so much time has passed of not knowing, so...

Make a list.  

Then look at what matters most to you. And you might have a few different things on there that are equally important, and that's fine as long as you have things written down that matter to you. Try not to do too many things at once because you might get overwhelmed. Focus on the most important ones first. And you are never too old or too young to go after your dreams.

I'll show you mine, open and honest (which is a bit scary actually haha). 

• be part of wildlife conservation team or some sort of animal saving/rehabilition team or both
• do assisted animal therapy with my dog to help the elderly and the ill
• do more things out of my comfort zone
• be more daring and adventurous
• take more risks
• face my fears more: heights (go rock climbing, etc.)
• see more of the world and experience other cultures first hand
• grow a thriving garden (and not just cacti! lol)
• get my work published
• illustrate my own stories and others too
• write (and illustrate) books to help young girls
• help people with gluten-free lifestyle by creating a book (and maybe a website)
• inspire young people through books, comics, movies, etc. that I work on
• work for myself one day
• inspire and motivate others to make good choices for themselves and those around them
• help others more with my time and efforts, not just money
• laugh a lot more
• make others laugh more too
• learn to cook and think like a chef
• improve upon the skills I have now

It's totally fine if your list comes up shorter or is much longer than mine. 
If you're unsure about what your dreams are then think about what you dreamed about as a kid or growing up.  Why or when did you change that?  Why did you give it up?  Is it something you still want? What do you like to do now? What would you like to try? 
Dreams may change as life goes on, but it's still important to have them.

Do more of what you love. And that's when it should become clearer.

♥, Kayla

Balancing My Life and Morning Routines

Hello Blog, Hello Kayla!

I haven't pressured myself to post here... because I've been busy. I'm fairly caught up with things at the moment, so I'm back! In the three weeks since I've posted I've been organized, well fed, and chill... and then, unorganized, in need of a good stretch, and stressed out. Right now, I'm O-K. I know there's always something I can do that will make me feel better, so there's no point in groaning for too long.

The Conflict of School and Life: Is Harmony Possible?

With graduation at the end of this semester I've been thinking about the whole of my college experience. For one class I'm writing a reflective essay about my writing development throughout college. If I were to graph my college experience it would look like a valley between two hills: up, down, up. At first I was really excited to learn, but I didn't catch onto concepts as quickly back then. Once I did, I was really excited about language and meaning and the human experience (English major by the way). But after awhile the language got me bogged down; I wanted to learn through experience. In academics, I think we are so focused on abstract words and concepts (love, war, beauty, truth, society, etc.) that in comparison to reality these concepts can seem petty. So then came the valley in my college experience, when I guess I fancied myself a 'dandy'. I learned as much as I could, but I didn't kill myself for As. Sometimes you learn more from your mistakes. I was also working a lot at restaurant and that experience was valuable too. After two years of working there, however, I had had enough. I had forgotten, what I wanted to do. I worked and went to school, but these were my duties and not my passion. Later I got a job at school and started researching and doing things I enjoyed. Eventually things got better.

This past week I was stressed because of things I had to do for school. I was killing myself over hanging out with my friends one night when I could have/should have been studying. But I was treating my studies like duties not my specified interest and treating my hangout time like guilt and not fun. I thought HECK, I do like my homework assignments and I do like this class; I'm going to enjoy doing the work too. And after I've spent some quality time in isolation with books and words, I should enjoy a slice of pizza and beer with chums. :P

What I need to work on: Routines

The worst thing for me is waking up early. UGGGGGHHHH. I usually stay up late because it works for me. I think I picked this habit from my Mom. I love sleeping too. Ah, sweet bed. This kills me come the morning though. Should I assign myself a bed time? My Monday through Friday schedule is one that requires me to be somewhere by 8 or 9:30am. Blehhh. Rushing to get ready in the morning sucks. I do want a morning routine though, at least during the weekdays. I'd love to do a short yoga stretch and have time to get pretty-pretty. I like to dress casual, but at this point in my life I want to look professional too. I've worked in an office too so I have gotten used to dressing nice at school. If I can work on sticking to a routine, the morning will be great.

I have been cooking more frequently and made these awesome breakfast quiches! I found the recipe on our Pinterest so check it out! I made a bunch on these one night and in the morning they were a quick grab and go breakfast. Whoo hoo!

I start my new job tomorrow! I'm excited. It is definitely going to require more organization, and I know it can do it.

Lataaaa,

G

The Last Day of Summer

It is the last day of summer...

And here I am enjoying it to the fullest: being as lazy and productive as possible. I've watched so many episodes of Game of Thrones over the weekend that it is a little ridiculous (I'm half way through season 2). Actually, I think this is perfectly fine. This is my last day to do whatever I want without worrying about what is due tomorrow or what big decision must be made. It's kind of like Mardi Gras and school is Lent. :'D Anyway, I also made a wonderful brunch today of fried eggs and potatoes, a cheese omelet with onions, spinach, and tomatoes, and a chocolate cupcake with crunchy peanut for the frosting. JUP. Happy belly. I went for a bike ride, walked around this park on my street, and swung on the swings. Wooo picturessss:

I was feeling pretty nostalgic because I was of the notion that this is my last true summer everrr. When you're in school, summer becomes this ideal season for running and trees and backyards, sweating, growing, and learn on your own terms. Summer was adventure time. School is so rigid in comparison. The days are structured your life is set for months. But just because I'll be finished with college in December doesn't mean summer is gone forever. Seasons are cycles after all. Still, I want to say goodbye to that little piece of childhood some way. I kind of wanted to go to a garden. I love that scene from Harriet the Spy; it's their last day of summer and Scully takes them to this awesome garden with all these recycled materials. Maybe I'll try to make a wind chime for my back porch...

Check it out:

Right now I'm loading the next episode of GoT and I have a bunch of laundry ready to put away. Getting ready for tomorrow, graaaa!@(*$#@$()*. After that I'm gonna pack some lunches. Hopefully I can make enough to last me through the week; I'll let you know how it goes. I've been taking notes from this awesome website with hundreds of awesome lunch ideas, and it's helped.

Until next time:) I wish everyone starting school again good luck. See you tomorrow Kayla, maybe?

G

OH and check our pinterest

If you, dear reader, are also interested in living a healthier more beautiful life, we have a Pinterest with lots of great tips and resources. We may even try out some recipes or DIY projects on this blog.

Blossom Posh Pinterest!

Here is one of our pins!

"Vitamin D from the sun benefits in many ways that most people don't know."
(Follow link for image source)

Later!

G

Project Love Yourself

Helllloo there, Kayla and hello there, world! WELCOME!

I'm Ginny. My friend Kayla and I want to start living healthy, happier, and more balanced lives. This blog will be our documentation of that process, the ups and the downs. I will soon begin my last semester of college and be shoved into the real world. Oh my, what will I do without the structure of school? Well, this blog is a start. I figure it's time to just do things on my own, or even better with a friend!

Let's see... I should start with a list right? Here are some goals, qualities, things I'd like to achieve or work towards...

A QUALITY WISH LIST

1. Spiritual Development: I want to be more in touch with and aware of the energies around me. I want to do good for the world. One way I can do this is by meditating more frequently. Along with this, I'd also like to develop my intuition. Since my first trip to a Renaissance festival last November I've taken an interest in Tarot cards. I have my own deck as well as a book and hope I can study the cards more often. I want to have more energy, motivation, and drive to get things done.

2. Healthy Body: Now, I'm not going on a diet. I'm actually pescetarian--basically a vegetarian who eats fish. I've always naturally eaten lots of veggies and healthy stuff because I enjoy those kinds of foods. But there was also a time in my life when I was extremely body conscious, and that wasn't healthy either. Time has passed and I've become more secure in my own skin. But. I really need to work on getting enough protein in my diet and eating regularly balanced meals. It seems easy enough, but when you're a poor college student buying groceries for one, it can be challenging. Often times I wake up too late to eat breakfast or pack a lunch. My stomach grumbles through most of the day and I usually wind up spending too much on eating out. When I get home sometimes I'm so tried or busy with work and school that I forget to eat. That's no good either. I plan on getting to bed earlier and waking up earlier so I can be prepared for each day.  I don't want an ideal body that meets someone else's standards; I want to be strong and healthy. I love my body and so I've got to take care of it.

3. At-home Yoga: I've been dancing for over 15 years, but since getting into my later years of college I've had to concentrate more on my academics. Studies, life, and work can get stressful and my body was giving me signs of this. I didn't have as much energy, my muscles ached, etc. Dance and exercise had always been a big part of my life. Oh how I missed running, and leaping, and spinning, and stretching. Oh man. Dance classes around town are pretty expensive so I could never go regularly. Then I signed up for a few yoga classes at my school's rec center and discovered something extraordinary. It was exercise AND meditation. A perfect combination of what I needed. However, even finding time for yoga classes with my schedule has become perpetually more difficult. Over the summer, I've started doing yoga on my own. I'm so interested in it that I am considering getting a certification to teach. This year I hope to make more time to be active with my at-home yoga and to read more about it as well. What I love about yoga is that it is always practice. It doesn't matter what level you are at; what is important is that you listen to your body.

4. Writing and being consistent with this blog!

That's enough for now, although I could go on. Lists are a good start, but they once they get too long in my eyes it only seems like a list of things I haven't done. This list is a little different though. None of these things will ever be completely achieved. My spirituality, my health, my yoga, and my writing are things I always want to work on and improve. Blog entry number one, check.

Until next time, BYEEEEE!

Ginny

P.S. Can't wait to hear from you, Kayla:P

Here ye, here ye!

This ish gonna be beurtiful. Yesh. Jusht wait.