July 20, 2011

The Sweetest Perfection

Often when we think of the perfect moments of our lives, they're times filled with bliss, joy, happiness. Though last night on my bike ride home, I found perfection in a new way. I have been going through a lot of stuff lately. I won't get into the details because they're not important. What is important is how I have been feeling. Quite simply, I have been feeling "less than", "Not enough", and as though I may have taken some wrong turns. 


As I rode home, the clouds had begun to move in and then the rain, hail, thunder and lightening followed. I was soaked, cold, my skin was turning a bit red and puffy. Just as I began to curse yet one more bad decision to be on my bike in a storm, I rode under a bridge. The bridge was a temporary haven for three people who looked like they were without a home or stability. I suddenly felt like I got the big old wake up call from the universe, you know the temper tantrum kind rather than the whispery sweet kind. I hadn't been listening. 


I was so worried about what I don't have that I couldn't see all the amazing things I do have. In that moment I was so worried about getting from point a to point b that I hadn't stopped to recognize that I had the luxury of point b. 


The part of yoga that I have always loved is the spaces in between. Learning to thrive when you're not quite in the darkness or the light. It was in that very physical manifestation of the space in between work and home last night that I woke up. I realized that some things aren't happening for me in the way or in the amount of time that I would prefer, but I am still on the path and the stability and opportunities in my life have been taken for granted. 


Time to push forward, recognize the perfection in that moment, the way everything came together to last night to serve a certain purpose, to remind me to trust my training, my motivation, my path. 


Have you ever experienced this form of perfection? Have you had the universe deliver you a perfect combination of signs and physical manifestations in order to teach or unveil?

The Sweetest Perfection

perfect [adjective, pur-fikt] 
exactly fitting the need in a certain situation or for a certain purpose.


Often when we think of the perfect moments of our lives, they're times filled with bliss, joy, happiness. Though last night on my bike ride home, I found perfection in a new way. I have been going through a lot of stuff lately. I won't get into the details because they're not important. What is important is how I have been feeling. Quite simply, I have been feeling "less than", "Not enough", and as though I may have taken some wrong turns. 


As I rode home, the clouds had begun to move in and then the rain, hail, thunder and lightening followed. I was soaked, cold, my skin was turning a bit red and puffy. Just as I began to curse yet one more bad decision to be on my bike in a storm, I rode under a bridge. The bridge was a temporary haven for three people who looked like they were without a home or stability. I suddenly felt like I got the big old wake up call from the universe, you know the temper tantrum kind rather than the whispery sweet kind. I hadn't been listening. 


I was so worried about what I don't have that I couldn't see all the amazing things I do have. In that moment I was so worried about getting from point a to point b that I hadn't stopped to recognize that I had the luxury of point b. 


The part of yoga that I have always loved is the spaces in between. Learning to thrive when you're not quite in the darkness or the light. It was in that very physical manifestation of the space in between work and home last night that I woke up. I realized that some things aren't happening for me in the way or in the amount of time that I would prefer, but I am still on the path and the stability and opportunities in my life have been taken for granted. 


Time to push forward, recognize the perfection in that moment, the way everything came together to last night to serve a certain purpose, to remind me to trust my training, my motivation, my path. 


Have you ever experienced this form of perfection? Have you had the universe deliver you a perfect combination of signs and physical manifestations in order to teach or unveil?

The Sweetest Perfection

perfect [adjective, pur-fikt]
exactly fitting the need in a certain situation or for a certain purpose.


Often when we think of the perfect moments of our lives, they're times filled with bliss, joy, happiness. Though last night on my bike ride home, I found perfection in a new way. I have been going through a lot of stuff lately. I won't get into the details because they're not important. What is important is how I have been feeling. Quite simply, I have been feeling "less than", "Not enough", and as though I may have taken some wrong turns. 


As I rode home, the clouds had begun to move in and then the rain, hail, thunder and lightening followed. I was soaked, cold, my skin was turning a bit red and puffy. Just as I began to curse yet one more bad decision to be on my bike in a storm, I rode under a bridge. The bridge was a temporary haven for three people who looked like they were without a home or stability. I suddenly felt like I got the big old wake up call from the universe, you know the temper tantrum kind rather than the whispery sweet kind. I hadn't been listening. 


I was so worried about what I don't have that I couldn't see all the amazing things I do have. In that moment I was so worried about getting from point a to point b that I hadn't stopped to recognize that I had the luxury of point b. 


The part of yoga that I have always loved is the spaces in between. Learning to thrive when you're not quite in the darkness or the light. It was in that very physical manifestation of the space in between work and home last night that I woke up. I realized that some things aren't happening for me in the way or in the amount of time that I would prefer, but I am still on the path and the stability and opportunities in my life have been taken for granted. 


Time to push forward, recognize the perfection in that moment, the way everything came together to last night to serve a certain purpose, to remind me to trust my training, my motivation, my path. 


Have you ever experienced this form of perfection? Have you had the universe deliver you a perfect combination of signs and physical manifestations in order to teach or unveil?

July 15, 2011

Power Scones

I originally posted this recipe back in 2009 but I thought it could use another mention. I am training for the Oyster Race and trying to cut back on the cupcakes so these delicious treats  satisfy my craving for baked goods while being kinder to my calorie and nutrition goals.

The scones are still delicious but lower in fat and you can make them in smaller portion sizes than a standard scone. They're great for a quick bite before hitting the trail.

Ingredients
1 2/3C  all-purpose flour
3/4C  rolled old-fashioned oats
1/3C   sugar
1/3C  whole wheat pastry flour
2 tsp  baking powder
1/2 tsp  baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
6 tbsp  butter, chilled, cut into small pieces
1/3 C  lowfat buttermilk
2 lg  eggs
1 tsp  vanilla extract
additional buttermilk for glazing
4 tsp  brown sugar mixed with 1/2tsp ground cinamon

Directions
Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Pulse dry ingredients in a blender until the oats are finely ground (I tend to throw in an additional teaspoon of cinnamon in the batter, it gives a little more flavor). Transfer to a large bowl. Rub in butter until the mixture forms a coarse meal.
In a small bowl, whisk together buttermilk, eggs and vanilla. Pour over oat mixture. Using a fork, toss until a moist dough just forms. Turn out onto a floured sugace and pat into a 7in circle. Cut into 8 wedges and arrange 1/2in apart on baking sheet.

Glaze scones by brushing lightly with buttermilk. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Bake 18min, until scones puff and are pale golden.