Chicken Salad

As the week winds down after Thanksgiving, I am getting ready to throw out all of the leftovers that haven't been eaten (which really isn't that many!), and before the turkey goes, I am going to make a version of my favorite Chicken Salad for one last sandwich

1/2 cup roasted chicken (or turkey!) cubed
2 tbsp dried cranberries
2 tbsp crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
1 tbsp toasted pecans chopped
3 tbsp mayonaise
1 tbsp sour cream
salt an pepper to taste

I love this recipe on just about any kind of bread.  The sour cream cuts the "mayo" taste and ads another level of richness.  You can adjust the amounts to suit your tastes and the amount of chicken or turkey you may have and the number of people served.

Enjoy!

Home Hair Color

I have been coloring my hair since high school.  My natural color is a dull, mousy dark blond and for 15 years I had it highlighted to a Heather Locklear-California blond.  Then I got married and had kids and the $125+ it cost became too much and I decided to learn how to do it myself. 

After countless "Light Ash Blond" / "Medium Ash Blond" / "Honey Ash Blond" boxes of color, I finally decided to bring my hair to a more "natural" shade, so I wouldn't have to be a slave to the peroxide every other month.

It was during this time I learned two very important lessons when it comes to coloring my own hair:

1) There is a VERY big difference between "Dark Blond" and "Light Brown".

2) You cannot color correct "over the counter".

What ensued was many trips to my local drug store and my hair actually being eight different colors in 36 hours - ranging from the rooted blond to way-too-dark light brown to bubble gum pink and banana cream.  I finally ended up with a blistered scalp and a hair color that reminded me of stale quacamole.  I finally decided just to wear the green tint as a fashion statement and be done with it until my scalp healed enough to try something else.

Lucky for me, a friend at work had attended beauty college and was able to bring in some professional hair color with instruction on how to use it.  Finally I was able to fix the mess on my head and have a more natural color from then on.

I never seemed to quite recover from my home remedy fiasco, until I came across an aloe based color at my local beauty supply "Satin Ultra Vivid Fashion Color" is the best hair color I have come across.

You can use your own developer (I use "Dioxygen" by Ms. Kay), or they have their own too.  You can find it online from a number of different sources.  I can't say enough about how much I love it!

Christmas Ornament

Every year I do a homemade Christmas ornament for my parents, grandparents and close family friends.  Here is my offering this year - not my best, but I still think it turned out OK.  I think the message here is - "Go ahead and give it a try!" It really helps you get into the Spirit of Giving!

The finished product

The items I used to create it - I used things already in my collection of crafting goodies, but I did buy the paper ornaments (made in the Philippines) and the napkins (made in the USA).

Perspective

Are you enjoying life, or are you enduring life?

If we continue to focus on our problems and complain about our lives, there is no way we can achieve what we desire.

Everyday is a gift and I am so grateful that I'm alive and have the opportunity to praise all of the goodness in my life and raise my spirit even further.

Tackling Leftovers

Of course there are a TON of Thanksgiving leftovers at my house - with the notable exception of pie ;)

It got me to thinking about how to best keep them from spoiling, even after we became sick of turkey and stuffing three times a day.

Many sites say to freeze your leftovers in single-serving portions using traditional muffin tins.  This is all well and good, except when it comes time to get them out.  I was given a silicon muffin pan a few Christmases ago, and that seems to solve the problem.

The flexible "cups" make the removal of your frozen goodies simple and truly are a "single-serving" as opposed to using large plastic containers from your "recycle" drawer.  They can also be put into a glass bowl with a locking lid and taken to work to be heated up in the microwave.

Now, If I can just figure out how to keep the pie from disappearing so fast...

Resolute

I have thought that Poppy Ridge Farm would be along Northern California Coast - then I saw where this piece of land was for sale...



I know that the horses are Photoshop-ed in, but I think you get the point.  Pegasus Ranch is a beautiful home with vineyard acreage in Petaluma California.  I could definitely see Poppy Ridge Farm here!

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.
I am eternally grateful for all of the amazing people and opportunities in my life.

Favorite Low-Cal Treat

Love this combination.  Make the Jello according to package instructions, substituting Hansen's Diet Ginger Ale for 12 ounces cold water.

Part of the Solution

I read a lot of New Age books.  I have a list of at least five that I read bits of every morning.

This morning, I was reading "The Law of Attraction" by Jerry and Esther Hicks and came across a really interesting way to look at The Law of Attraction and manifesting what you desire.

By the Law of Attraction, you will attract only those things that you want to attract. The rub comes from focusing on what you lack (don't want) rather than abundance (what you do want).  Everything I have read has lead me to believe that it is the way you feel which determines what you manifest.  If you feel good, good things manifest, if you feel bad, bad things manifest.  The trick is knowing which feeling your focus is on.

Then I read about SOLUTION thinking versus PROBLEM thinking.

Focusing on a solution makes you feel positive emotion.  focusing on a problem makes you feel negative emotion.  When you are feeling positive emotion, you are attracting into your experience that which you want.

This makes so much sense to me - and hopefully you too.  The next time you are wondering if you are thinking and feeling for the positive manifestation of your desires, ask yourself "Am I focusing on a solution, or a problem?" And always choose the solution. Because if you focus on the problem, more problems are coming your way!

Helpfullness

The topic of "helpfulness" came up this morning - I was accused of telling someone they were "not helpful" a couple of days ago, and I have no memory of saying this.  The fact that I don't think this person to be particularly helpful probably indicates that I did, in fact, say something to that effect. 

This got me to thinking about what it means to be helpful. 

Webster's Dictionary defines helpful as "of service or assistance" - although it doesn't specifically say so, I would think that means "of service or assistance to others".  So do people think they are being helpful when they are being "of service or assistance to themselves"?

As you know, I am on a journey to Poppy Ridge Farm.  I believe that having a sustaining, organic farm with many different types of rescue animals can live happily will not only be "helpful" to the planet and other living things, but would also be a place where celebrations for many of life's milestones can occur.  I believe that by working toward this goal, I am being "helpful" to the planet and it's many inhabitants.

Oprah has said that if you want to find your passion, make a positive impact on the world, we need to ask ourselves a very important question:  "How can I be used in service to myself and the world?" then listen and be open to what we are feeling.

If we are feeling slighted because someone does not think we are helpful, then we only invite more of the same feelings to us.  If, on the other hand, we listen to those feelings and find a place where we can be of joyous service to the world - amazing things will begin to turn up in our lives!

How can I be used in service to myself and you?

Eye on the Dream

The moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too.  All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred.  A whole stream of events issues from the decision which no one could have dreamed would have come their way.  - W. H. Murray

Reuse Shopping Bags

I was at Whole Foods the other day and saw the cutest reuse holiday shopping bag

www.wholefoodsmarket.com/holidays/giving/betterbag.php

I thought "What a great idea to use the bag for Christmas wrapping rather than the conventional roll wrap I have used in the past.  You could also load individually wrapped presents into the bag to deliver to families, rather than use large plastic (or paper) shoppers from retail stores.

I was so disappointed to see that they are actually made in China!  On the Whole Foods website, they are all about "Caring about communities and the environment" "Seek supplier partnerships that share their concern for social responsibility and the environment"  "Work with supply partners in eliminating all unnecessary production and distribution costs to ensure the best possible price".

Which brings up the question about the 80% recycled material that goes into making the bag: Where are those recyclables coming from?  China? the United States?

Well, I don't know about you, but if you can afford to shop at "Whole Paycheck", I'm sure you wouldn't mind spending another 25 cents on a reuse shopping bag if it could be made, if not in the United States, at least on this continent, and not imported from a country half way around the world!

Just saying... I love the idea of their "Better Bag" - but I hate the fact that it comes all the way from China.

Garden Resources

Now that Fall is upon us, and I am SO wanting to plant my garden TODAY - I have to satisfy my urge with ordering up bulbs and seeds for spring.

Two of my new favorites are Seed Savers Exchange  www.seedsavers.org and
Easy To Grow Bulbs www.easytogrowbulbs.com.

I received my orders from both companies quickly and am looking forward to container planting the bulbs this weekend and the seeds when recommended. Many of the seeds from Seed Savers Exchange are also USDA organic.

I am also giving a Seed Savers Exchange gift certificate to my dad for Christmas this year.  He enjoys his garden and I think he would really enjoy trying some heirloom varieties.

I also need to get caught up on the 20+ episodes of Victory Garden I have on my DVR - forecast calls for rain this weekend, so maybe that will be my excuse for staying indoors!

House Plant Replant

With family coming for Thanksgiving dinner, I need to get my house ship-shape, so today I decided to re-pot my house plants in the hope that they will spruce the place up!  I also bought a couple of "as-is" plants from IKEA for $2 for a little extra green.

These hadn't been re-potted since the housewarming party three years ago!

This plant was so droopy.

I used some small branches and raffia to help perk it up and give it some height.

Can't beat a $2 deal!

I painted a basic terracotta pot for the Elephant Foot Palm, the Lucky Bamboo went into an old pot from the garage.

I am really happy with how they turned out - I just hope they don't die before next Thursday!

Arugula and Lentil Salad

I was looking for a light dinner to serve my family when they came into town next week for Thanksgiving.  I didn't want anything too heavy knowing the over-the-top dinner we would be sharing on Thursday, so I thought a nice salad would do the trick.

Originally this recipe appeared in Gourmet magazine November 1997 "Spinach and Lentil Salad with Oregon Blue Cheese and Tart Cherry Vinaigrette" Below is my version with ingredients found in my neighborhood Trader Joe's.


Arugula and Lentil Salad with Gorgonzola and Cranberry Vinaigrette

I box pre-cooked Trader Joe's Lentils (found in the refrigerated produce section)
7 tbsp red wine vinegar
8 bacon slices
1/4 cup olive oil
1/3 cup finely chopped shallot
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup dried cranberries
2 tbsp sugar
1 bag pre-washed arugula
1/3 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese

Bring lentils to room temperature.  In a bowl toss lentils with two tablespoons vinegar and salt and pepper to taste.

In a skillet, cook bacon over moderate heat until crisp.  Transfer to paper towels to drain, crumble bacon.

Heat two tablespoons oil in the skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking and cook shallot, stirring until golden brown. Stir in water, cranberries, sugar and remaining five tablespoons vinegar and simmer, stirring occasionally, until liquid is reduced by half, about 10 minutes.  Reduce heat to low and whisk in remaining two tablespoons oil in a slow stream until emulsified.  Season vinaigrette with salt and pepper.

Add half the vinaigrette to lentils and toss well.  In another bowl toss arugula with half of the lentil mixture, half of the bacon, half of the cheese, and remaining vinaigrette.

Divide arugula mixture among six plates and top with lentil mixture.  Sprinkle salads with remaining bacon and cheese.

Hope you enjoy!

Photo credit: Randy Mayor

Organize!

My closet is a mess...

I went on a tear about six months ago - when I was going to Bikram yoga four times a week, watching what I was eating, and looking better than I had in years - and donated all of my too big clothes and ratty shoes.  Now, 30 pounds heavier, I have nothing that fits.  I have never been much of a "pants" girl - mostly because I have the saddle-bag shape that severely limits fashionable pant styles that fit me properly, but now even my skirts and dresses are not fitting.  I vow, with every episode of the Biggest Loser, that I will get back on track, lose the weight again and get a more healthy body.  So far, I'm still putting all of that off.  Oh, I have every excuse in the world to "start tomorrow", but I need to start NOW, not tomorrow, not tonight, not in 10 minutes... NOW!

I am going to start by getting my closet in order.  Reconnect with the clothes that I saved when I was feeling good and get that feeling again.  Nothing can motivate me more than looking good in clothes that I enjoy and take pride in, beginning with how I treat them.

I remember hearing that to get your life in order, you need to first get your home in order, so that is what I'm going to do. NOW. I'll keep you posted with my progress, keep me posted on yours.

Have a great day!

Thanksgiving Card

I have always loved to make homemade cards to send to friends and family.  This is the card I am sending out for Thanksgiving this year.  I used papers and a stamp that I had in my "collection" and utilized my Silhouette SD which I received for my birthday for the heart leaf and letters on the front.
In the future, I will try to reference the artist/manufacturer of each of the products I use, but for now, here is a look at what I started with.

 Send me images of your Thanksgiving cards and I'll post them here for all to see.

Happy Card-ing!

Dreaming the Big Dream

By believing passionately in something that does not yet exist, we create it.  The nonexistent is whatever we have not sufficiently desired. -Nikos Kazantzakis

 Photo credit: dustydavis.com

Plastic Bags: Reduce-Reuse-Recycle

I have decided to make a conscious effort to use as few plastic bags as possible from here on out.

 It disturbs me greatly when I go into the garage and see the huge (plastic) Crate & Barrel bag that holds all the other plastic bags our household has collected over the past months.  It is estimated that over 1 trillion plastic bags are given out to consumers every year - over 1 million per minute!

But it isn't enough to say all plastic bags should be banned - What I think is needed is a shift away from a "Use and Toss" mentality.  Paper bags or compostable plastic require more more raw materials per bag in the manufacturing process which means a higher consumption of raw materials, greater energy in bag manufacturing and greater fuel use in the transportation of the finished product.

One reusable bag takes approximately the same amount of resources to make as 28 plastic or 8 paper bags.

When we do use a plastic bag, it is vitally important that we dispose of it properly - the best (and easiest for me) would be to bring your clean, dry bags to a plastic bag recycling bin.  Almost every grocery store in my area has one out front.  The most difficult thing for me is remembering to bring them.  Since my Crate and Barrel bag is too large to fit through the recycling bin opening, I have decided to fill my daily newspaper plastic bag with as many of the other, collected plastic bags as I can and keep them in the trunk of my car, so that when I go to the grocery store, I'll have a neat bunch to drop off!

If we simply put the used plastic bags into the trash (as my garbage collection company recommends), the plastic can then take up to 1000 years to degrade in a landfill.  When plastics breakdown, they don't biodegrade, they photodegrade - break down into smaller fragments which soak up toxins.  They then contaminate soil, waterways, and animals upon digestion.  This makes the proper recycling of plastic bags that much more important.

I am going to see how many days I can go without taking a single plastic back from a store - Safeway, Target, H&M... I already brought my own sack to the Harvest Fair & Festival yesterday and was able to refuse shopping bags from three vendors who offered them.

Let me know if you have any ideas for recycling used plastic in the home - I have seen some clever DIY projects that I'll try and share in the coming months.

Saving the planet one plastic bag at a time!

The journey has begun...

Welcome to my blog! - I decided to start documenting my journey to Poppy Ridge Farm.  Although it now exists on paper and a borrowed computer - in a rented room, in a house in the suburbs, very soon it will be a working farm. An amazing, organic, self-sustaining farm overlooking the Pacific ocean.  Where rescue animals live and thrive.  Where crops are harvested, flowers bloom, gifts are made and celebrations abound.

I will plot out my journey and along the way, share stories about what I learn, how I live, and all that I create while Poppy Ridge Farm becomes a reality.

I look forward to your feedback and hope we inspire each other to find the life of our dreams.

This is SO EXCITING!
Linda

Photo credit: beachbungalow8.blogspot.com