Do you ever get so overwhelmed with things that you just freeze and do nothing?
It's like being a deer caught in the headlights. Panic takes over your mind and you can't go left or right.
I'm sort of at that point right now. I have so many projects and tasks to complete, and logically I know I should let something drop, but I just can't bring myself to do it. And what's better? I forgot my to-do list at work. Again.
I just... don't know where to start.
Logic tells me I should just pick one thing and do it, and go down the list one by one, and maybe logic is right. But where do I start!?
How do you deal with feeling overwhelmed? When all you want to do is throw your hands in the air and disappear on some remote tropical island, left to sip rum filled coconuts for the rest of your natural life?
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Wickerman 2011
As I mentioned previously, I attended my 2nd Wickerman burn in Artemas, PA. It was the most fantastic time, and I now live for Wickerman each year. Only 352 days left!
It really is an event you have to experience to truly understand, but I wanted to share with you some of the photos from the weekend. Photos have been provided by a new Wickerman friend, known as Side Show Bob. You can check out his site and the other events he's photographed HERE.
And now... Wickerman...
(PS, I'm the chick with the pink hair.)
It really is an event you have to experience to truly understand, but I wanted to share with you some of the photos from the weekend. Photos have been provided by a new Wickerman friend, known as Side Show Bob. You can check out his site and the other events he's photographed HERE.
And now... Wickerman...
(PS, I'm the chick with the pink hair.)
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Cucumber Blueberry Feta Mint
Ok I really gotta share this recipe with you guys. It's all kinds of yummy!
I snagged it out of the Wegmans "Menu" magazine. I love Wegmans. They come up with some really fantastic stuff. My family and the boyfriend totally loved it. It took almost no work, and I totally look like a genius.
Cucumber & Blueberry Salad with Feta
Ingredients:
Cucumbers, peeled & cubed (about 4 cups)
Blueberries, rinsed and picked over (about 1 pint)
1/2 cup Wegmans White Balsamic Vinaigrette
3 tbsp thinly sliced mint leaves
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
salt & pepper to taste
Combine cucumbers and blueberries in a large bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Add white balsamic vinagrette, mint and feta. Toss gently to combine.
That's it. Really.
Now go make it for your July 4th picnic. I said so.
(And watch for my upcoming Independence Day recipe. It's red, white, blue and delicious!)
I snagged it out of the Wegmans "Menu" magazine. I love Wegmans. They come up with some really fantastic stuff. My family and the boyfriend totally loved it. It took almost no work, and I totally look like a genius.
Ingredients:
Cucumbers, peeled & cubed (about 4 cups)
Blueberries, rinsed and picked over (about 1 pint)
1/2 cup Wegmans White Balsamic Vinaigrette
3 tbsp thinly sliced mint leaves
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
salt & pepper to taste
Combine cucumbers and blueberries in a large bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Add white balsamic vinagrette, mint and feta. Toss gently to combine.
That's it. Really.
Now go make it for your July 4th picnic. I said so.
(And watch for my upcoming Independence Day recipe. It's red, white, blue and delicious!)
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Merry Solstice!
Boy, it really crept up on me. Life is in complete chaos at the moment and it's all I can do to keep up. It's like I'm on a treadmill and somebody cranked up the speed on me!
So obviously I'm back from Wickerman. It was one hell of a time, let me tell you! My gods... it's just one of those things you have to experience to truly understand. You really do.
I promised I'd get pics and a recap posted, and I really will. I'm not entirely sure I'll get to it tonight (since it means scrounging for photos. I totally dropped the ball on getting many of my own.) But... I'll do it. And that also includes a bit about the food! We are seriously the best fed camp at Four Quarters. I guarantee it. Wait til you see the pork!
And I do have a yummy recipe I want to share with you that is perfect for summer picnics. It's to die for. Better than watermelon and feta, and that's really hard to beat.
Well, I better scoot for now. Being that it's the Solstice, I have to celebrate somehow! In a pinch I decided to gather family and friends at the local ice cream shop tonight for a treat. It's not a big, elaborate ritual, but that's ok. It's the thought that counts, right?
And as they say... it's all down hill from here...
Ha!
So obviously I'm back from Wickerman. It was one hell of a time, let me tell you! My gods... it's just one of those things you have to experience to truly understand. You really do.
I promised I'd get pics and a recap posted, and I really will. I'm not entirely sure I'll get to it tonight (since it means scrounging for photos. I totally dropped the ball on getting many of my own.) But... I'll do it. And that also includes a bit about the food! We are seriously the best fed camp at Four Quarters. I guarantee it. Wait til you see the pork!
And I do have a yummy recipe I want to share with you that is perfect for summer picnics. It's to die for. Better than watermelon and feta, and that's really hard to beat.
Well, I better scoot for now. Being that it's the Solstice, I have to celebrate somehow! In a pinch I decided to gather family and friends at the local ice cream shop tonight for a treat. It's not a big, elaborate ritual, but that's ok. It's the thought that counts, right?
And as they say... it's all down hill from here...
Ha!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Wickerman 2011!
It's that time again! Wickerman!
This is THE event of the year. Bigger and better than dare I say it? Boarfest. Yes folks, that's right. Bigger than Boarfest.
Seriously though, Wickerman is the shiz.
This will be my second Wickerman and now that I know what to expect, I can't wait! Only a few more hours until I pack the car and hit the road for 5 days of camping, eating delicious Primal food, drinking my face off, fire, drumming, dancing, swimming, art, comradery, spirituality, and good times to be had by one and all.
Wickerman is about several things. As listed on the Wickerman website, it's about such things as Radical Inclusion, Gifting, Decommodification, Radical Self-reliance, Radical Self-expression, Communal Effort, Civic Responsibility, Participation and Immediacy.
What does that mean in English?
Basically it comes down to creating an environment of giving, inclusiveness without judgement, freedom to be yourself, interaction and participation. Attendees are encouraged to discover their strengths and express their true selves (especially through art), while also helping to build a strong and supportive community in which there is room for everyone to grow. It's also a time and place without any commercialization, and we strive to be in cooperation with nature, leaving the land better than we find it.
One of my favorite things about Wickerman are the Theme Camps. The camp I belong to is Rhovanion, a Renaissance-themed camp where we'll be teaching (and some of us learning) to do chainmail and make Mongolian hats.
Other Theme Camps include "Bar Nun!" where you can confess your sins to the big hairy nun in exchange for full absolution and a delicious home-brewed beer or wine, prepared by the 5 Sisters of Divine Fermentation. There is also "Camp RunnaMuk," "Bodypainting Extraordinaire,"If You Can't Duct It..." where you can create useful or artsy items entirely out of duct tape!
Again this year there will be "Em's Enchanted Dressing Room!" which I think is an absolutely fabulous idea. It's a clothing exchange. You can take something to borrow or keep. Bring something, take something! I think I will take a few items to trade!
I think I might also be interested in the "Multidisciplinary Academy of Fire Dance." Just maybe I'll learn a thing or two about playing with fire. I'm also curious about the "Tree Of Knowledge." They'll be tying scrolls of knowledge (trivia!) in the trees. There will be divinations given by Mr. Wizard. Not that I won't be doing some scrying of my own. Wednesday is the Full Moon after all.
Another of my favorites is the pirates at "The Celtic Rose Project". The Crew will be dressed to the nines in Renaissance attire to complete the feeling of really being on the ship. They do tons of cool stuff including a wet skivvies contest.
That's just the beginning. There are tons of other cool camps and campers, and random activities. It's going to be a great time, and a big recharge for my batteries. I really, really need this. And while I would LOVE to blog live from the event and update with pictures throughout the event, I really need to disconnect from the rest of the world for a few days. No news, no internet, no radio. Nothing. Nada.
Who knows, by next year I'll have the whole live blogging thing figured out and will be able to do quick updates throughout the day that don't totally interrupt my Zen, but right now I haven't practiced with my Droid enough to do it right, so watch back on Monday or Tuesday for updates and photos about the event.
:)
This is THE event of the year. Bigger and better than dare I say it? Boarfest. Yes folks, that's right. Bigger than Boarfest.
Seriously though, Wickerman is the shiz.
This will be my second Wickerman and now that I know what to expect, I can't wait! Only a few more hours until I pack the car and hit the road for 5 days of camping, eating delicious Primal food, drinking my face off, fire, drumming, dancing, swimming, art, comradery, spirituality, and good times to be had by one and all.
Wickerman is about several things. As listed on the Wickerman website, it's about such things as Radical Inclusion, Gifting, Decommodification, Radical Self-reliance, Radical Self-expression, Communal Effort, Civic Responsibility, Participation and Immediacy.
What does that mean in English?
Basically it comes down to creating an environment of giving, inclusiveness without judgement, freedom to be yourself, interaction and participation. Attendees are encouraged to discover their strengths and express their true selves (especially through art), while also helping to build a strong and supportive community in which there is room for everyone to grow. It's also a time and place without any commercialization, and we strive to be in cooperation with nature, leaving the land better than we find it.
One of my favorite things about Wickerman are the Theme Camps. The camp I belong to is Rhovanion, a Renaissance-themed camp where we'll be teaching (and some of us learning) to do chainmail and make Mongolian hats.
Other Theme Camps include "Bar Nun!" where you can confess your sins to the big hairy nun in exchange for full absolution and a delicious home-brewed beer or wine, prepared by the 5 Sisters of Divine Fermentation. There is also "Camp RunnaMuk," "Bodypainting Extraordinaire,"If You Can't Duct It..." where you can create useful or artsy items entirely out of duct tape!
Again this year there will be "Em's Enchanted Dressing Room!" which I think is an absolutely fabulous idea. It's a clothing exchange. You can take something to borrow or keep. Bring something, take something! I think I will take a few items to trade!
I think I might also be interested in the "Multidisciplinary Academy of Fire Dance." Just maybe I'll learn a thing or two about playing with fire. I'm also curious about the "Tree Of Knowledge." They'll be tying scrolls of knowledge (trivia!) in the trees. There will be divinations given by Mr. Wizard. Not that I won't be doing some scrying of my own. Wednesday is the Full Moon after all.
Another of my favorites is the pirates at "The Celtic Rose Project". The Crew will be dressed to the nines in Renaissance attire to complete the feeling of really being on the ship. They do tons of cool stuff including a wet skivvies contest.
That's just the beginning. There are tons of other cool camps and campers, and random activities. It's going to be a great time, and a big recharge for my batteries. I really, really need this. And while I would LOVE to blog live from the event and update with pictures throughout the event, I really need to disconnect from the rest of the world for a few days. No news, no internet, no radio. Nothing. Nada.
Who knows, by next year I'll have the whole live blogging thing figured out and will be able to do quick updates throughout the day that don't totally interrupt my Zen, but right now I haven't practiced with my Droid enough to do it right, so watch back on Monday or Tuesday for updates and photos about the event.
:)
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Trust Your Gut
I'm learning this right now, on both fronts. Over the past couple of weeks, ever since visiting Batty & Co, I've changed my eating style and totally threw counting and calculating out the window. I haven't counted a single calorie or carb, and it's been GREAT. I have indulged when I wanted to indulge, and haven't restricted myself from anything I really wanted.
Yes, according to the scale I've gained some weight, but as most of us probably agree- scales are stupid. After the initial 4 or 5 pound "blow up" my weight is holding steady and behold! My clothes all still fit! My guess would be that my reserves are full, and some of that "weight" is due to the heafty amount of fruits and veggies residing in my gut at any given time. The number on the scale does not worry me.
What to eat, when to eat it... it's all become a huge numbers game in the Primal and Paleo communities- and in weight loss forums of all kinds. Protein, carbs, fat. Ratios. Too many carbs, not enough fat, or vice versa. IFing for 12 hours versus 16, or 24. One meal a day, or two? Or three?
Don't get me wrong, I like numbers. My brain is drawn to numbers, but I'm burned out. I browse through the blogs and forums and one thing keeps popping into my head.
"I DON'T GIVE A CRAP ANYMORE!"
What do I eat?
Whatever I want... within general Primal constraints.
When do I eat it?
Whenever the heck I want. I eat a couple meals a day, sometimes three. I snack if I'm feeling peckish. Some days I eat 6 or 7 times. So what?
Have I mentioned I HATE the word "peckish?"
I do.
But I digress...
Oh... and this whole "follow your gut" thing seems to work in non-food-related areas too. When you hear a little voice nudging you, by all means listen to it! Women especially. It can keep you safe.
I've been working overtime for the last 2 weeks solid. Rarely if ever do I listen to the local Top 40 station, especially in the mornings. The morning hosts are annoying as all get out. But... while listening to Bill Bennett a little voice said "Maybe you should listen for the birthday wheel."
Sure... why not?
Lo and behold, they spun my birthday! AND I was the tenth caller, winning me $106... which ironically the Universe decided I was going to need for a surprise chiropractor visit, tire repair and other miscellaneous expenses.
Always trust your gut. You know what's best for you, but you must listen. There are no secrets if you pay attention to what the Universe is trying to tell you.
Remembering to listen. That's the hard part.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
My Big Fat Amish Auction
Yesterday was just too much fun.
Across the creek from my parents house the Amish have a nice size goat farm. Danny and Iva Yoder are awesome, wonderful people, and like most Amish have a very large family- 6 kids. They also run the Creekside Greenhouse, located on their farm. Every year they host a huge community auction. I tell you, Amish really know how to put on an event!
When I arrived at my parents house they'd already gone to the auction. I could see the smoke from the barbecue chicken as I drove down the road to the house, and when I got out of the car I could hear the auctioneers making calls. Did I tell you they run 4 separate auctions simultaneously? Household goods, large equipment, small equipment, and with the exception of this year they usually have livestock. I was really disappointed there was no livestock this year. I really was hoping to pick up a couple milking goats.
Even at 9:00 in the morning, there were loads of people there already, and the auction was in full swing. There were easily 600 people there, if not more. Amish travel in from all over the region- New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio. Here in our area the Amish community and the "secular" rest of us are pretty interdependent, so there were a lot of us regular folk there too. A lot of familiar faces- neighbors, past classmates, even my landlord was there.
Quilts are always the big draw for the auction, and last year I remember one going for over $2000. Due to the economy, prices were more subdued, unfortunately for the Amish. Yet a single quilt easily pulled in $300.
Since there was no livestock, my focus naturally became the food.
I had just given blood, and the post-donation "refreshments" leave a lot to be desired. Raisins and water do not make a meal. When I got to the auction I was all about finding myself some good grub. I knew they'd be doing a mouthwatering chicken barbecue, but you wouldn't believe what else I found!
No, I didn't eat the beans or the potato salad. It was all about the chicken!
Now THAT is a salad bar!
Isn't that just awesome!? I have to do something like this for Boarfest for sure!
After lunch I had to hit up some sweets. Amish sweets aren't like regular junk food. Granted, the wheat did make me feel less than great, but it was SO worth it. Homemade peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies (not pictured,) homemade ice cream, and homemade root beer!
All in all it was a great day, even if thunderstorms did roll in. It's becoming an Amish auction tradition. I didn't buy anything other than food but that's ok. There's always next year!
Across the creek from my parents house the Amish have a nice size goat farm. Danny and Iva Yoder are awesome, wonderful people, and like most Amish have a very large family- 6 kids. They also run the Creekside Greenhouse, located on their farm. Every year they host a huge community auction. I tell you, Amish really know how to put on an event!
When I arrived at my parents house they'd already gone to the auction. I could see the smoke from the barbecue chicken as I drove down the road to the house, and when I got out of the car I could hear the auctioneers making calls. Did I tell you they run 4 separate auctions simultaneously? Household goods, large equipment, small equipment, and with the exception of this year they usually have livestock. I was really disappointed there was no livestock this year. I really was hoping to pick up a couple milking goats.
Even at 9:00 in the morning, there were loads of people there already, and the auction was in full swing. There were easily 600 people there, if not more. Amish travel in from all over the region- New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio. Here in our area the Amish community and the "secular" rest of us are pretty interdependent, so there were a lot of us regular folk there too. A lot of familiar faces- neighbors, past classmates, even my landlord was there.
Quilts are always the big draw for the auction, and last year I remember one going for over $2000. Due to the economy, prices were more subdued, unfortunately for the Amish. Yet a single quilt easily pulled in $300.
Since there was no livestock, my focus naturally became the food.
I had just given blood, and the post-donation "refreshments" leave a lot to be desired. Raisins and water do not make a meal. When I got to the auction I was all about finding myself some good grub. I knew they'd be doing a mouthwatering chicken barbecue, but you wouldn't believe what else I found!
No, I didn't eat the beans or the potato salad. It was all about the chicken!
Now THAT is a salad bar!
Isn't that just awesome!? I have to do something like this for Boarfest for sure!
After lunch I had to hit up some sweets. Amish sweets aren't like regular junk food. Granted, the wheat did make me feel less than great, but it was SO worth it. Homemade peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies (not pictured,) homemade ice cream, and homemade root beer!
All in all it was a great day, even if thunderstorms did roll in. It's becoming an Amish auction tradition. I didn't buy anything other than food but that's ok. There's always next year!
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