1970's tile, 1990's music, and 2013 me

"I will buy you a garden, where your flowers can bloom..."

I'm enjoying the sounds of 90's alternative radio as I relax at my friend's new home in Proctor, MN. She purchased her first home last fall and has put a lot of work into renovating the 1970's interior into an elegant contrast of chocolate hues, pale greens, and crisp white woodwork. It reminds me of my massage room, and that's probably why I feel so at home and peaceful here.

While she is away at work today, I am enjoying the freedom to fill her kitchen with wonderful baking smells! My first recipe is inspired by the abundant harvest of rhubarb this spring!

Rhubarb Crisp

5 cups chopped fresh rhubarb
3/4 cup white sugar
3 T corn starch
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract


Mix together in a bowl and stir until well coated. You'll notice juice starting to seep out of the rhubarb.

1 1/3 cups oats
1 cup light brown sugar (packed)
1 cup flour
1/2 T cinnamon
3/4 cup melted butter

Mix together in a large bowl until crumbly. 

Pat 1 cup of this mixture into the bottom of a buttered 8x8 pan. 

Pour the rhubarb slop into the pan... 

... and top with the remaining oat mixture. 

Bake at 350 for 45-55 minutes until browned on top and bubbly on the edges. Serve warm with vanilla bean ice cream. 

The Feminine Mystique (but not really)

My last post was about never being too busy to live life, and then I went and missed nearly 7 weeks of writing... It wasn't for lack of things to write about. Those of you who know me know how passionate and overworked I get about a number of things. Not to mention that there is no shortage of women empowerment related material in the everyday news for which I could ramble about. I just got, well, a little busy. ;)

Today, I was struck by an article that has exploded on the internet, news channels, and has Angelina Jolie trending on Twitter. Many of you, I'm sure, are aware of her double mastectomy by now. Her article "My Medical Choice" appeared in the opinions section of the New York Times. In it, she discusses her difficult decision to help ensure she will be around for her six children and husband, Brad Pitt.

Near the end of the article, she hints at a deeper concern many women feel when faced with the decision of altering their body. She writes, "On a personal note, I do not feel any less of a woman. I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity."

For decades, the public has been sexualizing women. Young ladies grow up believing that being feminine means showing off some cleavage, swinging their hips, and pouting their lips. Likewise, many breastfeeding advocates and natural childbirth activists argue the distinctly feminine role we have is birthing children and being able to feed them from our bodies. Without intending to, I'm sure, several women have felt reduced to their body parts on both sides of the spectrum. We cannot deny that our bodies are different from men. We cannot deny that our ability to birth children and breastfeed is uniquely the woman's role.

There is something deeper than our physical bodies here... I am continually wrapped up in unraveling the mystery of femininity. I'm reminded of my sister's sculptures, many of which are naked women, and the responses she gets from friends and family members: "Why naked women?" She explores that mystery through vulnerable art forms, void of covering, exposed. I am reminded of many authors like Betty Friedan who try again and again to express in words what femininity is about. I am reminded of saints like Mother Theresa whose actions implore us to see the mystery in everyday life. I am reminded that femininity may always remain a mystery, but also, that it is a complex patchwork of so many different threads.

What makes YOU feminine?

Never too busy to live life

I had my first acupuncture experience today.

It was pretty much awesome. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect and I was slightly nervous. I am pretty familiar with the meridian lines in one's body due to my Thai massage training and I know enough about my own energy to know when things aren't a-flowing. Despite more familiarity with eastern medicine than the average American, I was still apprehensive about it hurting for some reason. I expected to feel a little pain from the needle insertions or something. Turns out, there was no pain at all. I focused on deep breathing, relaxation, the music and meditative mantras, and found the entire experience deeply relaxing.

I'm not going to go out and sign myself up for the next acupuncture training course in the metro, though many of you who know me well would expect that. I did, however, schedule a follow-up session.

Why am I telling you about a seemingly trivial part of my day? Well, because I want to point out a few pieces of advice I read today and realized applied nicely to my experience:

1) Fear is typically what stands in the way of new experiences. If I'd let my unfamiliarity with acupuncture or my nervousness about the possible pain envelop my thoughts, I probably never would have tried it. Too often, we get absorbed in our fears, doubts, and worries to jump in and try something new - whether it be new foods, a relationship, sky diving, acupuncture, or some other experience.

2) Your time is your most precious resource. Make sure you are working in your work time and relaxing in your recreation time. Don't let the two merge together to make neither of them profitable. This rule always trumps the “Have a willingness to learn” rule. Learn as much as you need to and then focus on the application. - Jay Stockwell, from his ebook on creating an online business

I could have spent a lot of time researching acupuncture, learning more about it, reading testimonials, watching youtube videos about it, etc. or I could just schedule an appointment. Often times, we get so wrapped up in the learning piece of a topic that we never actually go out and DO ANYTHING. I am at fault for this so very often, and am constantly reminding myself of this helpful advice. I routinely coach people who talk and talk and talk about what they're going to do, but they rarely get to it until I kick them in the butt.

Also, had I spent the entirety of my acupuncture session thinking about doing my taxes, worrying about my to-do list and such, it would not have been "profitable." I would not have gotten the experience of relaxation that I did. Similarly, when I sit down to focus on work, I make that time more profitable by being in the moment and not thinking about relaxing with a good book.

3) Almost everyone I know is busy. They feel anxious and guilty when they aren’t either working or doing something to promote their work. - Tim Kreider, from his article entitled "The Busy Trap"

I have been feeling a tad guilty for the life I lead lately. On a lackadaisical Monday afternoon, I got to enjoy an acupuncture treatment (not to mention it was after a holiday weekend full of family time). How lucky am I? Tim Kreider's article was full of validating and heartwarming sentiments for the choices I've made (and for many other self-employed individuals I bet). So many people assume that I'm busy because I have a multitude of passions and projects I am pursuing, but my schedule is incredibly flexible. I almost always have time to babysit my nephew or niece, to have a cup of tea with a friend, to have a phone chat with a faraway friend, or to get acupuncture! I do, because I MAKE time. I could probably put more effort into my work, yes, into advertising, earning money, and the like, but my priorities aren't there. My priorities are in developing the relationships I cherish, taking care of my wellbeing, and enjoying life to the fullest.