Weekly Wrap-up: February 17, 2017--Vol #2
"Every day's a school day!" --Jerry, my Irish B&B Owner
Truer words have never been spoken. I'm pretty sure I appreciated Jerry's advice back then (I was giddy over being in Ireland for the first time & the whiskey was flowing freely that night!)...but I definitely appreciate them now.
The older I get, the more I realize there is to learn (which is somehow NOT what my 12-year-old, know-it-all self thought being a grown up would be like. At all. SURPRISE!). I'm not just talking about knowledge & information...although there is plenty of that to learn too...I'm talking about the entire Universe going on inside each of us. The things only we can teach ourselves.
My inner Universe this week was a hotbed of a-has & "you've got to be kidding me, how could I miss that?!" moments. For starters...
- I redefined a concept I use all the time (and wasn't using all that well, now that I reflect back on it)
- I actually LISTENED to that tiny, almost imperceptible voice in my head I'm usually not slowed down or quiet enough to hear
- I made decisions to do some things I not only never considered before, but downright scoffed at (before walking a mile in my own shoes that brought me to this place at this time...funny how our minds can change when circumstances shift).
Never stop learning,
Leslie
PS--For the ideas, items, & inspirations that schooled me up this week, scroll on & click around below. Perhaps you'll enjoy your own new awareness or life lesson!
This Week's Terrific Tidbits:
What you missed on the blog:
Ever felt like you didn't do enough? Or maybe you weren't "good enough?" What if all it took to un-think that thought (or at least find a better one) was to actually DEFINE enough. I checked the dictionary & got advice from a few sources (including my awesome mom), FINALLY understanding what enough really means to me. Click here to read more & define enough for yourself!!
Are late bloomers really late...or are they just being compared to some kind of calculated average that makes it seem that way? Click here to read why a discussions in the childbirth class I am attending made me see "late bloomers" in a whole new way.
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What I'm Reading (& Loving!):
I'M HOSTING A VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB!!
Last week I mentioned that I had started reading Deepak Chopra's book about reinventing the body (man do I need this as I experience pregnancy...and WISH I had found it sooner). Well, I got so excited by people's responses, I volunteered to lead a virtual book club! I'm doing this to have in the moment exchanges about the insights, super truths, & new questions to ponder readers are picking up as we go! If you want to join the conversation, (1) buy the book & (2) click here to join the book club (it's a closed group on Facebook...so you must be there to play this time)! We "officially" kick off today...but it's a come as you are, drop in when you like kind of conversation, so don't be shy if you're just seeing this & want to play...we'd love to have you!
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What Inspired Me When I Needed It Most:
One of the hardest things I experienced about getting pregnant, was telling the people in my life I knew were struggling with infertility. I had some serious guilt...but I also wanted to share my joy with them because they are so important to me! This week I was INCREDIBLY inspired by my friend Christine Bullock & her beautifully vulnerable video about the IVF journey she & her husband have been on for the past 4 years. It's something we don't often talk about...but maybe we should start. Whether you've struggled with infertility or just felt alone on part of life's journey, this video is full of hope & worth watching.
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A Fancy Feast...without the guilt!!
Perhaps you're not one to feel guilty about indulgence. If not, good for you...and please share your secret! Haha! My ace in the hole happens to be my hubby! He knows how important healthy eating is to me. SO...when he Googled "healthy date night recipe" and this little gem ("Skinny Carbonara" by Jamie Oliver) came up, he knew he was onto something fabulous. So much so, in fact, that we decided to save the expense of dining out on Valentine's Day & have this instead. Saving me calories AND money?! He so got lucky on V-Day! ;-)
Click here for the recipe that makes me swoon every time! It's also included below for your convenience with a few notes on how we make our own version (bold, italicized comments in parenthesis are my additions & changes)!
Ingredients
200 g freshly podded or frozen peas (we use frozen for ease & find them delicious!)
1 tablespoon flaked almonds
1 small clove of garlic
½ a bunch of fresh basil , (15g)
15 g Parmesan cheese
1 lemon
150 g wholewheat spaghetti (our current obsession is edamame pasta, which gives us more protein in this dish! Originally found at Costco, now we have to order it online...and do because it's freaking awesome! Click here to find it on Amazon)
1 rasher of higher-welfare smoked streaky bacon
olive oil
1 large free-range egg
100 g fat-free natural yoghurt (we use Fage Greek Yogurt)
Method
1) Put a pan of boiling salted water on the heat for your pasta, dunk a sieve containing the peas into the water for just 30 seconds, then put aside, leaving the pan on the heat. Very lightly toast the almonds in a dry non-stick frying pan on a medium heat, then blitz until fine in a food processor. With the processor still running, peel and drop in the garlic, a pinch of sea salt, the basil leaves, the finely grated Parmesan and the lemon juice. Blitz until it comes together, then pulse in the peas, to try and keep a bit of texture.
2) Cook the pasta in the boiling salted water according to the packet instructions. Meanwhile, very finely slice the bacon and fry slowly in the frying pan with 1 teaspoon of oil on a medium-low heat until golden and crispy, then use a slotted spoon to transfer to kitchen paper, so the flavoursome fat stays in the pan. Scoop in three-quarters of your pea mixture to heat through.
3) Whisk the egg and yoghurt together well. When the pasta’s done, reserving a mugful of cooking water, drain the pasta and toss straight into the pea pan, mixing well, then take the pan off the heat (this is very important, otherwise the egg will scramble when you add it, and we don’t want that). Pour in the egg mixture and toss until evenly coated, silky and creamy, loosening with cooking water if needed. Taste and season to perfection, and serve topped with the remaining pea mixture and the crispy bacon. It might be skinny, but it’s beautifully light and delicious. Enjoy!
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