Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Secret World of Girls -> Kitchen Sisters
Wow!
The Kitchen Sisters have launched their latest project - The Secret Life of Girls on NPR.
Over the next year they will air installments / stories from the research they have done over the past few months, I don't know how long they have been working on this.
The first installment was great.
Reading about and hearing varying perspectives on everyday life is always mind expanding. One story that was particularly interesting to me was about a woman in a nomadic tribe in the Sahara, I believe.
"Oumar says her society has a different take on marriage than the committed-till-you-die scenario.
'Among the Tuaregs, if someone doesn't love you anymore, you have to leave him," she says. "They say that the more times you divorce, the more beautiful you are — and successful. The women throw a party when they divorce. The divorce party is a bigger party than the wedding.' "
The Kitchen Sisters have launched their latest project - The Secret Life of Girls on NPR.
Over the next year they will air installments / stories from the research they have done over the past few months, I don't know how long they have been working on this.
The first installment was great.
Reading about and hearing varying perspectives on everyday life is always mind expanding. One story that was particularly interesting to me was about a woman in a nomadic tribe in the Sahara, I believe.
"Oumar says her society has a different take on marriage than the committed-till-you-die scenario.
'Among the Tuaregs, if someone doesn't love you anymore, you have to leave him," she says. "They say that the more times you divorce, the more beautiful you are — and successful. The women throw a party when they divorce. The divorce party is a bigger party than the wedding.' "
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Research on Libido workshop
Biological
Hormone imbalances:
Often caused by imbalance of Pregnenolone - depends on cholesterol to be made
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pregnenolone
Hormone imbalances:
Often caused by imbalance of Pregnenolone - depends on cholesterol to be made
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pregnenolone
Thought provoking links for today - Sister Hope and Homegrown Evolution
I just came across an article from Homegrown Evolution about their new book about making everyday items yourself. In the post they posed the question of whether or not to include cloth pads in the book. The comments were unanimously affirmative even though most people were still a bit grossed out by the option. I sort of am too although I have never tried one. They went on to describe a couple of groups working in Africa to distribute cloth pads to school aged girls in families where they cannot afford feminine hygiene products so that they can go to school during their periods.
Sister Hope is one of the organizations. What an amazing project that I would have never thought about. Here is their mission statement:
Our mission is to provide reusable menstrual pads to girls and women living in the developing world. We seek to keep girls in school every day, even during their period, by combining earth friendly solutions with a collaborative team effort.
We are dedicated to creating a global alliance among women across the world in order to empower young girls in poverty,
because menstruation shouldn't mean inequality.
They have a goal to reach 600 pads donated by July. I am going to make a few myself and might even host a Pad Party. Sounds like fun.
In addition to being a wonderful cause, this information is inspiring and thought provoking to me in a couple of ways.
1. Remembering the greater world experience. Many people live in various forms of oppression and that oppression is often layered in non-obvious ways that add up overtime and experience.
2. Taking the time to look at the things we take for granted. Making everyday items for yourself reduces packaging & shipping, saves money & energy, insures that your items are made of the quality ingredients and makes you appreciate the little things in your life a little more.
Sister Hope is one of the organizations. What an amazing project that I would have never thought about. Here is their mission statement:
Our mission is to provide reusable menstrual pads to girls and women living in the developing world. We seek to keep girls in school every day, even during their period, by combining earth friendly solutions with a collaborative team effort.
We are dedicated to creating a global alliance among women across the world in order to empower young girls in poverty,
because menstruation shouldn't mean inequality.
They have a goal to reach 600 pads donated by July. I am going to make a few myself and might even host a Pad Party. Sounds like fun.
In addition to being a wonderful cause, this information is inspiring and thought provoking to me in a couple of ways.
1. Remembering the greater world experience. Many people live in various forms of oppression and that oppression is often layered in non-obvious ways that add up overtime and experience.
2. Taking the time to look at the things we take for granted. Making everyday items for yourself reduces packaging & shipping, saves money & energy, insures that your items are made of the quality ingredients and makes you appreciate the little things in your life a little more.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Spring is here, or coming soon
Spring is here..or coming soon so I thought this information on pesticide contamination in fruits and vegetables would be interesting and helpful.
Here is a link to the most popular 47 fruits and veggies and how they rank in terms of pesticide contamination to the meat of the item. The intention of this list is to help you make decisions of when to make the investment to buy organic or not.
http://www.foodnews.org/fulllist.php
Important things to note on the list:
Avocados and onions are a great examples of items that you do not have to buy organic unless, of course, you want to support the organic movement as an overall philosophy which is an entirely different conversation.
Grapes imported vs domestic - the ranking is pretty different - domestic grapes have a much lower contamination level than imported grapes do. Please check where your fruit comes from, especially if you chose to buy non-organic.
There is also a version that you can print out and keep in your wallet. There is an iPhone / Touch app you can download. Both are available at the link below.
http://www.foodnews.org/walletguide.php
Where is the information coming from?
The information is provided by Environmental Working Group. EWG is a non-profit organization that believes in using the power of information to protect public health and the environment. They create specialized services such as these lists as well as other indexes and applications that help people understand what is in their food, health and beauty products in addition to other items that impact public health and the environment.
You can learn more about EWG on their website http://www.ewg.org/about
Let me know if you have any questions.
Take care,
Stacy
p.s. I have attached 2 photos I took at Full Belly Farm - a local organic and biodynamic farm that we visit often.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Split Pea Soup - from What Would Cathy Eat?
Split Pea Soup
From What Would Cathy Eat? Blog http://whatwouldcathyeat.com
Legumes like split peas contain soluble fiber, which helps reduce cholesterol. So for someone like me, legumes are like medicine. And I’ll take my medicine in split pea soup form anytime.
Some vegetarian split pea soups taste like baby food, but my version is definitely for adults. I livened it up with chives, hefty shots of mustard and vinegar, and smoked paprika to give it a bit of that smoky ham hock taste that I know you love (don’t even try and deny it.)
Note: be sure to get your split peas from a good source and use them promptly, because if they’re too old they will never break down in the soup. You’ll end up having to throw the whole thing in a blender, and blending hard little peas into submission is not ideal.
2 T. extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, finely diced
2 carrots, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 T. minced fresh chives, divided
1 t. Spanish smoked paprika
2 t. fresh thyme, or 1 t. dried thyme
½ t. freshly ground black pepper
1 bay leaf
2 c. green split peas, rinsed
7 c. water, more if needed
2 c. vegetable broth
½ t. salt
1 T. Dijon mustard
2 T. red wine or sherry vinegar, or more to taste
Nonfat yogurt
Heat the oil in a large pot or dutch oven. Saute the onions and carrots over medium heat for 10 minutes. Add the garlic, 2 T. chives, paprika, thyme and pepper.
Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
Add the peas, bay leaf, broth and water.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 1-2 hours, until peas are broken down and completely soft (this will depend on how old the beans are).
Add more water along the way if the soup gets too thick.
Add salt when peas are just about tender.
Remove bay leaf.
Stir in vinegar and mustard.
Top with remaining chives and a swirl of yogurt.
From What Would Cathy Eat? Blog http://whatwouldcathyeat.com
Legumes like split peas contain soluble fiber, which helps reduce cholesterol. So for someone like me, legumes are like medicine. And I’ll take my medicine in split pea soup form anytime.
Some vegetarian split pea soups taste like baby food, but my version is definitely for adults. I livened it up with chives, hefty shots of mustard and vinegar, and smoked paprika to give it a bit of that smoky ham hock taste that I know you love (don’t even try and deny it.)
Note: be sure to get your split peas from a good source and use them promptly, because if they’re too old they will never break down in the soup. You’ll end up having to throw the whole thing in a blender, and blending hard little peas into submission is not ideal.
2 T. extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, finely diced
2 carrots, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 T. minced fresh chives, divided
1 t. Spanish smoked paprika
2 t. fresh thyme, or 1 t. dried thyme
½ t. freshly ground black pepper
1 bay leaf
2 c. green split peas, rinsed
7 c. water, more if needed
2 c. vegetable broth
½ t. salt
1 T. Dijon mustard
2 T. red wine or sherry vinegar, or more to taste
Nonfat yogurt
Heat the oil in a large pot or dutch oven. Saute the onions and carrots over medium heat for 10 minutes. Add the garlic, 2 T. chives, paprika, thyme and pepper.
Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
Add the peas, bay leaf, broth and water.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 1-2 hours, until peas are broken down and completely soft (this will depend on how old the beans are).
Add more water along the way if the soup gets too thick.
Add salt when peas are just about tender.
Remove bay leaf.
Stir in vinegar and mustard.
Top with remaining chives and a swirl of yogurt.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Myers-Briggs connection
3/8 Jennifer and I were talking about Myers-Briggs over the weekend and I just received an RFP from a company that sells Myers-Briggs assessments. interesting.
3/4 last week I was searching on the spirit rock web site for workshops and later that day I was contacted by one of the speakers to work on their web site.
I did my Myers-Briggs again and found out that I am ESFJ, last time I took it I was ENSJ...or maybe I wrote it down wrong...
moderately expressed extravert
slightly expressed sensing personality
moderately expressed feeling personality
slightly expressed judging personality
3/4 last week I was searching on the spirit rock web site for workshops and later that day I was contacted by one of the speakers to work on their web site.
I did my Myers-Briggs again and found out that I am ESFJ, last time I took it I was ENSJ...or maybe I wrote it down wrong...
moderately expressed extravert
slightly expressed sensing personality
moderately expressed feeling personality
slightly expressed judging personality
Environmental Working Groups List of Organics
www.Foodnews.com This is the list of the dirty dozen and ok to eat non organic produce. This will be a great resource to use in works hops to help people understand where to make investments in organic and where they can take short cuts to save money.
Frottage / Infinity / Forgiveness
Connections - 2
1. Frottage
2. Infinity
3. Forgiveness
1. Frottage
I heard this word in a book review my Maureen Corrigan as part of Fresh Air yesterday morning on my way to work. She was reviewing the book The INfinities by John Banville. She liked the book because Banville is very good with language and used wonderful words. Frottage was an example she used. Her example was:
"But lo, Hermes exclaims: See what they made of this mess of frottage. It is as if a fractious child had been handed a few timber shavings and a bucket of mud to keep him quiet only for him to promptly erect a cathedral, complete with baptistery, steeple, and weathercock and all. Within the precincts of this consecrated house they afford each other sanctuary, excuse each other their failings, their sweats and smells, their lies and subterfuges, above all their ineradicable self-obsession. This is what baffles us gods, how they wriggled out of our grasp and somehow became free to forgive each other for all they are not."
Link to transcript of her review.
I love this point. Love is SO ridiculously complicated when it seems it should be SO simple.
Definition of Frottage
n.
The act of rubbing against the body of another person, as in a crowd, to attain sexual gratification.
A method of making a design by placing a piece of paper on top of an object and then rubbing over it, as with a pencil or charcoal.
A design so made.
[French, from frotter, to rub, from Old French froter.]
2. Infinity
This one is much more simple.
1. There was this review in the morning,
2. then the symbol as part of a web site I was looking at that I am considering subscribing to - Sustainable Food News Link to Site
3. There was a mention of infinity in my yoga class last night but I can't recall the exact context or quote
3. Forgiveness
1. There was this rather profound mention of forgiveness in this review which reminded me of a quote I read from what Gabrielle Bernstein wrote on Facebook last week
2. quote from Gabrielle Bernstein - who was, I am sure, quote someone else - "If you are angry look for who you need to forgive to release the anger" not an exact quote. This quote pissed me off and then I realized that I needed to forgive myself for being a fool with Martin. For diving in when I new it was impossibly risky. For following my heart. So I have started truing to forgive myself and have been feeling better, much better and much more separate from the situation with Martin.
3. I woke up this morning feeling that I need to continue to work on forgiving myself for a lot of things. They way I have forgiven others. I deserve at least the same generosity that I give to others.
1. Frottage
2. Infinity
3. Forgiveness
1. Frottage
I heard this word in a book review my Maureen Corrigan as part of Fresh Air yesterday morning on my way to work. She was reviewing the book The INfinities by John Banville. She liked the book because Banville is very good with language and used wonderful words. Frottage was an example she used. Her example was:
"But lo, Hermes exclaims: See what they made of this mess of frottage. It is as if a fractious child had been handed a few timber shavings and a bucket of mud to keep him quiet only for him to promptly erect a cathedral, complete with baptistery, steeple, and weathercock and all. Within the precincts of this consecrated house they afford each other sanctuary, excuse each other their failings, their sweats and smells, their lies and subterfuges, above all their ineradicable self-obsession. This is what baffles us gods, how they wriggled out of our grasp and somehow became free to forgive each other for all they are not."
Link to transcript of her review.
I love this point. Love is SO ridiculously complicated when it seems it should be SO simple.
Definition of Frottage
n.
The act of rubbing against the body of another person, as in a crowd, to attain sexual gratification.
A method of making a design by placing a piece of paper on top of an object and then rubbing over it, as with a pencil or charcoal.
A design so made.
[French, from frotter, to rub, from Old French froter.]
2. Infinity
This one is much more simple.
1. There was this review in the morning,
2. then the symbol as part of a web site I was looking at that I am considering subscribing to - Sustainable Food News Link to Site
3. There was a mention of infinity in my yoga class last night but I can't recall the exact context or quote
3. Forgiveness
1. There was this rather profound mention of forgiveness in this review which reminded me of a quote I read from what Gabrielle Bernstein wrote on Facebook last week
2. quote from Gabrielle Bernstein - who was, I am sure, quote someone else - "If you are angry look for who you need to forgive to release the anger" not an exact quote. This quote pissed me off and then I realized that I needed to forgive myself for being a fool with Martin. For diving in when I new it was impossibly risky. For following my heart. So I have started truing to forgive myself and have been feeling better, much better and much more separate from the situation with Martin.
3. I woke up this morning feeling that I need to continue to work on forgiving myself for a lot of things. They way I have forgiven others. I deserve at least the same generosity that I give to others.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Pasta & veggies that Jack loves
What you need:
Pasta
Romanesco
Chard or kale
Olive Oil
Butter
Salt
Garlic
Parmesan
Start pasta (I use this awesome organic pasta that’s made out of potatoes, rice and non-genetically modified soy – this seems to be easier to digest for me at least)
I chop up 1/2 head of romanesco broccoli, 3-4 leaves chard (small pieces) and 1 sm clove of garlic
Heat pan
Add 1 Tblsp olive oil
Add garlic for 10-20 secs
Add broccoli
Cook for 5-7 minutes until tender
Prep bowl for tossing:
Add 1 Tblsp of olive oil, some salt, 1 Tblsp butter and grate about 1/4-1/2 cup of parmesan in a bowl
Finish veggies:
Add chard (the smaller pieces the better)
Let cook for a minute
Take off heat
Pasta should be done now.
Put hot pasta and veggies in bowl for tossing
Toss until butter and cheese is melted and everything is coated and yummy
Taste to see if you need more salt
Plate
Add more parm
Eat
You can do this with just veggies too. And a variety of veggies and different pastas....
Cauliflower
Broccoli regular
Asparagus
Carrots (although a bit sweet)
Zucchini
Squash
Eggplant
Pasta
Romanesco
Chard or kale
Olive Oil
Butter
Salt
Garlic
Parmesan
Start pasta (I use this awesome organic pasta that’s made out of potatoes, rice and non-genetically modified soy – this seems to be easier to digest for me at least)
I chop up 1/2 head of romanesco broccoli, 3-4 leaves chard (small pieces) and 1 sm clove of garlic
Heat pan
Add 1 Tblsp olive oil
Add garlic for 10-20 secs
Add broccoli
Cook for 5-7 minutes until tender
Prep bowl for tossing:
Add 1 Tblsp of olive oil, some salt, 1 Tblsp butter and grate about 1/4-1/2 cup of parmesan in a bowl
Finish veggies:
Add chard (the smaller pieces the better)
Let cook for a minute
Take off heat
Pasta should be done now.
Put hot pasta and veggies in bowl for tossing
Toss until butter and cheese is melted and everything is coated and yummy
Taste to see if you need more salt
Plate
Add more parm
Eat
You can do this with just veggies too. And a variety of veggies and different pastas....
Cauliflower
Broccoli regular
Asparagus
Carrots (although a bit sweet)
Zucchini
Squash
Eggplant
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