T. Harv Eker was the 4th speaker of the day and definitely the most dynamic. He was very good in getting everyone energized and involved. He is an author, motivational speaker and self made millionaire. He'd asked questions and then prompt us to answer by saying "Yes or yes?" "Good or good?" We'd have to high five our neighbour every couple minutes, look into their eyes and yell "You have a millionaire mind!" I have to say it worked though, a couple of days later I saw two people high five and I said out loud to myself "You have a millionaire mind!"
He talked about financial blueprints. Each and every person has a financial blueprint. It is how you look at money, feel about money, behave around money..etc. It is your relationship with money. Your inner world creates your outer world therefore lack of money in your life is a symptom or result of your financial blueprint.
We have verbal programming from the time we are very young.
"Money doesn't grow on trees."
"We can't afford that."
"I'm not made of money."
"Money doesn't equal happiness."
"Money is the root of all evil."
We see how our parents are with money. They model that for us as children and young adults. The great thing is that when you know better, you do better. You can change your financial blueprint.
To have a good relationship with money you need to have a good blueprint. Seek out rich people and adopt their financial blueprint. Be careful though...if the motivation behind an individual making lots of money is anger, fear or revenge, they may be rich but not happy. You want to seek out happy, rich people.
Rich people believe "I create my own life." Rich people take 100% responsibility for everything in their lives. When you complain, you attract crap. Complainers attracts other complainers. Complaining keeps you trapped in the role of victim. Victims blame, justify and complain.
Rich people play to win. Poor people play not to lose. Rich AND happy - Rich people think both. Poor people think either or. If you aim for comfort you will achieve comfort.
Michelangelo said "The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that our aim is too low and we reach it."
Model and admire rich and successful people. Admire, bless and love rich and successful people. Bless that which you want.
Act in spite of your fears. Feel the fear and do it anyways.
T. Harv Eker sells shirts that say "Ready, Fire, Aim" His philosophy is that you should prepare a little, do it and then make the adjustments afterward. Don't wait until you feel 100% prepared because you may not ever be ready to act on it so just do it!
T. Harv Eker Website
What I am really figuring out with rewriting all of these notes from the conference is that all these people are all saying the same thing just in their own language. The great thing about that is they will reach a larger audience. While Jack Canfield has become my own personal mentor, someone else might get more from Harv Eker or John Assaraf or Lisa Nichols or someone else...Oprah, Gandhi, Rhonda Britten, Martha Beck, Jesus... There are so many to chose from. These people have learned the secrets to having a better life and they have committed themselves to spreading the word to the rest of us.
Thursday, 28 June 2007
Wednesday, 27 June 2007
The Power Within - John Assaraf
I feel like of all the speakers at the conference, John Assaraf was the one speaker that I got the least from. It was all things I had heard from him before. He told the same stories that he told on Oprah and Ellen and Larry King and on The Secret DVD. I felt like I'd heard it all before.
Having said that, I still took notes and here's what I've got.
.....I have written and deleted this paragraph twice. I am finding it hard to paraphrase John Assaraf because he didn't speak my language. His words didn't really reach me. In looking over my notes, I find that I am bored with them or can't figure out how to rework them in my own words to make sense of them. It's interesting, because the message is the same as Jack Canfield's, but it doesn't hit home for me the same way. It really goes to show you how we all respond differently to different people, language, techniques. I have learned (finally) to never presume that what is ideal for me would be ideal for everyone.
Out of my 2 pages of notes, 5 things stand out for me as worth writing here.
Law of gestation or incubation. Everything takes time. People often plant the seed of change but then dig it up far too early and are disappointed that nothing has changed for them. Change takes time. Plant the seed and then give it time to grow. Nourish it, support it, love it, be grateful for it and give it time.
Blind spots. We all have blind spots. We miss things that are right in front of us. (Once JM and I were walking out of Safeway and JM started laughing and turned to me and said "Are you serious? I can't tell if you are both being funny or totally missed each other" I had absolutely no clue what he was talking about. Apparently, my sister had walked right past us about 10 feet away and neither her or I saw each other.) There are opportunities all around us whether we see them or not so start looking for them.
Dream big. Dream bigger than you think is big. Imagine things for yourself that you have always thought as unattainable. Visualize it and focus on it. The more clear you can get the better. You will start to come up with ways that you can make it happen.
Change is the only constant. Change is either going to happen to you or you can be the one to make change!
When you are interested in something you will do what is convenient. When you are committed to something you will do what it takes.
So I guess I did get some valuable things from John Assaraf after all. I have always chosen the convenient route before so this time, I am committed. I am committed to my own success.
John Assaraf Website
Having said that, I still took notes and here's what I've got.
.....I have written and deleted this paragraph twice. I am finding it hard to paraphrase John Assaraf because he didn't speak my language. His words didn't really reach me. In looking over my notes, I find that I am bored with them or can't figure out how to rework them in my own words to make sense of them. It's interesting, because the message is the same as Jack Canfield's, but it doesn't hit home for me the same way. It really goes to show you how we all respond differently to different people, language, techniques. I have learned (finally) to never presume that what is ideal for me would be ideal for everyone.
Out of my 2 pages of notes, 5 things stand out for me as worth writing here.
Law of gestation or incubation. Everything takes time. People often plant the seed of change but then dig it up far too early and are disappointed that nothing has changed for them. Change takes time. Plant the seed and then give it time to grow. Nourish it, support it, love it, be grateful for it and give it time.
Blind spots. We all have blind spots. We miss things that are right in front of us. (Once JM and I were walking out of Safeway and JM started laughing and turned to me and said "Are you serious? I can't tell if you are both being funny or totally missed each other" I had absolutely no clue what he was talking about. Apparently, my sister had walked right past us about 10 feet away and neither her or I saw each other.) There are opportunities all around us whether we see them or not so start looking for them.
Dream big. Dream bigger than you think is big. Imagine things for yourself that you have always thought as unattainable. Visualize it and focus on it. The more clear you can get the better. You will start to come up with ways that you can make it happen.
Change is the only constant. Change is either going to happen to you or you can be the one to make change!
When you are interested in something you will do what is convenient. When you are committed to something you will do what it takes.
So I guess I did get some valuable things from John Assaraf after all. I have always chosen the convenient route before so this time, I am committed. I am committed to my own success.
John Assaraf Website
Tuesday, 26 June 2007
Look at me go!
Yesterday, after writing all about Jack Canfield, I felt really excited about life. I perused his website and signed up for his free 21 day mentorship program. I felt so good and happy and motivated reading everything that I got from him that I decided I needed to buy his book; The Success Principles: How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be.
The second I decided that, I couldn't get it into my hands fast enough. I went to Banyen and went straight to the business/finance section and didn't see it there. I walked down a few rows to the self-help and there it was. There was only one left. I felt in that moment that I would have paid a million dollars for this book, luckily it was only $20.
I hopped in my car and drove the hour to work with Jack Canfield smiling up at me from my passenger seat and me smiling back.
I have seen people carrying and reading books about how to be successful or rich and I always thought of them as people who were different than me. They were a different type of person. They were people who would read books and figure out how to be successful and/or rich and make it happen. They wore suits and heels and drank lattes and had coiffed hair. I realized, smiling at that book on my passenger seat, that those people aren't any different from me. I am one of those people.
I started reading right away and was instantly in love with this book. I am 100% committed to reading, following and living these principles.
Back in January I wrote this post about my journey so far, and in it I talked about how once I had the knowledge that I was meant for more, I couldn't keep ignoring it...I had to act on it and change my life. I feel the same way with this book. This book is providing me with knowledge and ideas that are now planted in my brain, I cannot ignore them. When you know better, you do better.
I am so super excited about my life.
The second I decided that, I couldn't get it into my hands fast enough. I went to Banyen and went straight to the business/finance section and didn't see it there. I walked down a few rows to the self-help and there it was. There was only one left. I felt in that moment that I would have paid a million dollars for this book, luckily it was only $20.
I hopped in my car and drove the hour to work with Jack Canfield smiling up at me from my passenger seat and me smiling back.
I have seen people carrying and reading books about how to be successful or rich and I always thought of them as people who were different than me. They were a different type of person. They were people who would read books and figure out how to be successful and/or rich and make it happen. They wore suits and heels and drank lattes and had coiffed hair. I realized, smiling at that book on my passenger seat, that those people aren't any different from me. I am one of those people.
I started reading right away and was instantly in love with this book. I am 100% committed to reading, following and living these principles.
Back in January I wrote this post about my journey so far, and in it I talked about how once I had the knowledge that I was meant for more, I couldn't keep ignoring it...I had to act on it and change my life. I feel the same way with this book. This book is providing me with knowledge and ideas that are now planted in my brain, I cannot ignore them. When you know better, you do better.
I am so super excited about my life.
Monday, 25 June 2007
The Power Within - Jack Canfield
Jack Canfield is the creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series of books and is a motivational speaker and Success Coach.
He was the second speaker of the day and he was really great. I feel like he is one of the speakers I got the most from. I definitely took the most notes while he was talking.
Here is just some of what he said.
Your purpose is to fully express who you are and feel joy. You have a destiny and a path based on your joy and what makes you happy. If you don`t feel joy it is a signal to you that you are off course.
What you are attracted to is telling you where you are evolving to. When you achieve a level of success you get to see something that attracts you to the next level.
Success is a combination lock - if you know the combination the lock has to open. Meditate, feel good, get up early, be in action.
The goal is to achieve success by taking the short route - further and faster with less effort. This is possible! One hour of inner work is worth 7 hours of outer work so do your inner work.
Jack Canfield wrote a book called The Success Principles: How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be. He shared some of his principles with us in the conference.
Take 100% responsibility for your life and your results. Give up all: blaming, complaining, justifying, defending, excuse making.
Focus on what you want. Live in the present in a state of joy and focus on where you want to go.
Follow your inner guidance. You have to give up all of your excuses and find a way.
Events + Response = Outcome
It isn`t what people say to you but what you choose to make of it that matters. If someone insults you, do you choose to believe them and internalize it or do you choose to not believe them and stand in your own truth and power. Most people choose to blame the event and not their own response. Inner work is more difficult than outer work thus 1 hour of inner work is the same as 7 hours of outer work. Taking responsibility is freeing and empowering.
Response = Thoughts
Thought is an energy that has power. This has been studied and proven over and over. When you are dishonest and lie (even to yourself) you leave your integrity and weaken yourself. Focus on the positive and you focus on strength. Surround yourself with good people and good energy. Whatever image you put into your head and see clearly, your body will do. See goals as complete - general or specific. Spend 15 minutes a day visualizing. The brain takes 25 - 30 uninterrupted days to create a new neural pathway.
The decisions that you make in powerful moments will be reinforced by the emotion around it. We all remember where we were when 9/11 happened. In emotional moments think good things. Body posture is also very important.
Attraction ends in the word action. Attraction is inspired action. Expanded creativity is the ideas that seemingly come out of nowhere. Once you have cleared your mind of the negative, you are open to the flow of positive energy and can see the inspired action and expanded creativity that is always inside of you. They are there whether you see them or not. Possibilities, opportunities, hugs, healing, wealth, ideas.
Speak affirmations - I am happily depositing my $100 000.00 royalty cheque for Cooptown.
Daily Disciplines
* morning intention - visualize your day going well, set your intention for the day - release any negative feelings
* use external images to keep you focused
* think a better feeling thought. notice your thoughts, do they make you feel bad - then think a better feeling thought
* have an attitude of gratitude - NOW
* take action - obvious and inspired action
* let your joy or non-joy guide you
* act as if it works
Stay motivated with the Masters. Read, study, explore, seek out those who are successful and learn how they got there. Invest in yourself and be a student forever. Keep learning.
Jack Canfield Website
He was the second speaker of the day and he was really great. I feel like he is one of the speakers I got the most from. I definitely took the most notes while he was talking.
Here is just some of what he said.
Your purpose is to fully express who you are and feel joy. You have a destiny and a path based on your joy and what makes you happy. If you don`t feel joy it is a signal to you that you are off course.
What you are attracted to is telling you where you are evolving to. When you achieve a level of success you get to see something that attracts you to the next level.
Success is a combination lock - if you know the combination the lock has to open. Meditate, feel good, get up early, be in action.
The goal is to achieve success by taking the short route - further and faster with less effort. This is possible! One hour of inner work is worth 7 hours of outer work so do your inner work.
Jack Canfield wrote a book called The Success Principles: How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be. He shared some of his principles with us in the conference.
Take 100% responsibility for your life and your results. Give up all: blaming, complaining, justifying, defending, excuse making.
Focus on what you want. Live in the present in a state of joy and focus on where you want to go.
Follow your inner guidance. You have to give up all of your excuses and find a way.
Events + Response = Outcome
It isn`t what people say to you but what you choose to make of it that matters. If someone insults you, do you choose to believe them and internalize it or do you choose to not believe them and stand in your own truth and power. Most people choose to blame the event and not their own response. Inner work is more difficult than outer work thus 1 hour of inner work is the same as 7 hours of outer work. Taking responsibility is freeing and empowering.
Response = Thoughts
Thought is an energy that has power. This has been studied and proven over and over. When you are dishonest and lie (even to yourself) you leave your integrity and weaken yourself. Focus on the positive and you focus on strength. Surround yourself with good people and good energy. Whatever image you put into your head and see clearly, your body will do. See goals as complete - general or specific. Spend 15 minutes a day visualizing. The brain takes 25 - 30 uninterrupted days to create a new neural pathway.
The decisions that you make in powerful moments will be reinforced by the emotion around it. We all remember where we were when 9/11 happened. In emotional moments think good things. Body posture is also very important.
Attraction ends in the word action. Attraction is inspired action. Expanded creativity is the ideas that seemingly come out of nowhere. Once you have cleared your mind of the negative, you are open to the flow of positive energy and can see the inspired action and expanded creativity that is always inside of you. They are there whether you see them or not. Possibilities, opportunities, hugs, healing, wealth, ideas.
Speak affirmations - I am happily depositing my $100 000.00 royalty cheque for Cooptown.
Daily Disciplines
* morning intention - visualize your day going well, set your intention for the day - release any negative feelings
* use external images to keep you focused
* think a better feeling thought. notice your thoughts, do they make you feel bad - then think a better feeling thought
* have an attitude of gratitude - NOW
* take action - obvious and inspired action
* let your joy or non-joy guide you
* act as if it works
Stay motivated with the Masters. Read, study, explore, seek out those who are successful and learn how they got there. Invest in yourself and be a student forever. Keep learning.
Jack Canfield Website
Saturday, 23 June 2007
The Power Within - Lisa Nichols
Lisa Nichols was the first speaker of the day and it was a great way to get the whole conference going. She is a best selling author, motivational speaker and life coach. Her goal is to speak to and better the lives of one million teen aged girls. She is somewhere around 70 000 so far.
She had us turn to each other and ask "What's up for you right now?" and then answer from the heart. We are so used to saying "how are you?" and "fine" and she wanted us being more honest than that. We all always have so much going on in our lives, yet don't open up or share with people what is up for us right now. It was freeing and hard to turn to my partner and tell them that I felt good but nervous, pushed outside my comfort zone by being there and worried about some things that are going on in my personal life.
She talked about truth being power. Authenticity is powerful. I had learned this for myself a couple years ago but it was so nice to be reminded and reinforced. When you speak the truth and are authentic you can stand fully in who you are and what you say without fear of being caught in a lie or trapped by inauthentic behaviour.
We all have our own experiences and journeys that got us to where we are. Without the struggles, challenges, joys and accomplishments that we have all had we wouldn't be the people that we are now. Don't get hung up on the negative aspects of your past story. Don't think that you need to hold on to the hard parts of your life as the 'bad' things that happened to you. Own them, be responsible for them. "This is what I have experienced, but this is what I made it through!"
Have a vision for your life. See it clearly. Your life is bigger than you and every journey makes you the perfect person for the job! If no one else sees your vision it's because it is your vision. It was given to you. See it clearly - feel it clearly! Believe in who you get to be!
Be an action! If you aren't in action you are just a thought or a conversation. Set your vision. Create your goals and then act. Be an action.
Lisa Nichols Website
She had us turn to each other and ask "What's up for you right now?" and then answer from the heart. We are so used to saying "how are you?" and "fine" and she wanted us being more honest than that. We all always have so much going on in our lives, yet don't open up or share with people what is up for us right now. It was freeing and hard to turn to my partner and tell them that I felt good but nervous, pushed outside my comfort zone by being there and worried about some things that are going on in my personal life.
She talked about truth being power. Authenticity is powerful. I had learned this for myself a couple years ago but it was so nice to be reminded and reinforced. When you speak the truth and are authentic you can stand fully in who you are and what you say without fear of being caught in a lie or trapped by inauthentic behaviour.
We all have our own experiences and journeys that got us to where we are. Without the struggles, challenges, joys and accomplishments that we have all had we wouldn't be the people that we are now. Don't get hung up on the negative aspects of your past story. Don't think that you need to hold on to the hard parts of your life as the 'bad' things that happened to you. Own them, be responsible for them. "This is what I have experienced, but this is what I made it through!"
Have a vision for your life. See it clearly. Your life is bigger than you and every journey makes you the perfect person for the job! If no one else sees your vision it's because it is your vision. It was given to you. See it clearly - feel it clearly! Believe in who you get to be!
Be an action! If you aren't in action you are just a thought or a conversation. Set your vision. Create your goals and then act. Be an action.
Lisa Nichols Website
Thursday, 21 June 2007
Happy Summer Solstice
Today was the longest day of the year. It rained a little but it was also lovely out and so some friends and I planted ourselves down at Spanish Banks and enjoyed the first day of summer. We played some Mexican horseshoes and drank some drinks. We ate some popcorn and strawberries and shared good times.
I took these photos at 10:10pm with no flash. I know they are blurry but there is still something about them I really like....I think it's just the gorgeous shades of blue and that they are a reminder of a very nice and different night out with friends.
I took these photos at 10:10pm with no flash. I know they are blurry but there is still something about them I really like....I think it's just the gorgeous shades of blue and that they are a reminder of a very nice and different night out with friends.
Wednesday, 20 June 2007
The Power Within
Last Sunday I went to a conference called 'The Power Within' put on by The Secret people. There were 5 speakers who each presented for just over an hour. They were great speakers, highly motivational and inspiring. I took notes on everything and felt really pumped up and motivated to make some changes to my life. Some of which I have implemented already.
What I am going to do is write separate posts for each of the 5 speakers and outline or summarize what I got from each of them.
I don't have time to start right now but wanted to write this much so that I would have to follow through with the next steps.
Now, I am off to enjoy a beautiful Wednesday afternoon with two really great friends and a baby!
What I am going to do is write separate posts for each of the 5 speakers and outline or summarize what I got from each of them.
I don't have time to start right now but wanted to write this much so that I would have to follow through with the next steps.
Now, I am off to enjoy a beautiful Wednesday afternoon with two really great friends and a baby!
Saturday, 16 June 2007
Cukes and Vin
I don't have much of a sweet tooth.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy sweet things. But what I often crave most is bitter and salty. I love salt and vinegar chips, dill pickles, olives, caper berries...things like that.
One of the snacks that I love and rarely have is cucumber and vinegar. (fondly referred to as cukes and vin) This snack goes so far back in my life that I have no idea where it came from. I didn't always like it though. I have memories of sitting on the floor, around a tv in my grandparents basement, with my sisters and cousins watching The Wonderful World of Disney. In front of us would be bowls of cucumber slices, soaking in vinegar. My sister and cousin would be passing a salt shaker back and forth, salting each slice of cucumber before popping it in their mouths. In front of me would always be a bowl of olives.
I always wanted to like cucumber. I loved the vinegar and the salt and the cucumber smelled so good and sounded so crisp and fresh but every time I tried it, I could only eat the thinnest of slices and even then I could only eat 1 or 2. As a teenager, I started forcing myself to eat more cucumber. I so wanted to like it. Really, I think I just wanted an excuse to drink salt and vinegar.
To this day I can only eat cucumber if it is thinly sliced, floating in a bowl of ice cold vinegar with a shaker of salt on the side. I've learned to keep the portions small or else my lips turn white from the vinegar and I start burping these alarmingly frothy burps. I guess this is why it's a snack I rarely have.
But I had it tonight. And it was great.
Monday, 11 June 2007
Life's little surprises
I received a very unexpected gift today from a girl I work with. It was so out of the blue and she handed it over as though it was nothing, saying "oh, here. I got you this".
Sometimes the little things can mean so much. A kind gesture goes so far. I thanked her and tried to convey how much it meant to me and she seemed surprised that I was so touched. I will pay this forward.
Sometimes the little things can mean so much. A kind gesture goes so far. I thanked her and tried to convey how much it meant to me and she seemed surprised that I was so touched. I will pay this forward.
Friday, 8 June 2007
This is the life
I am away from home right now. I am over at my dad and stepmom's house in Nanoose. Their NEW house in Nanoose. Their new ocean front, adorable house with a view and beach access.
We just got in from walking along the beach, taking pictures and flipping rocks over to find the crabs and urchins. A lovely black dog followed us with a stick and played at our feet. We found an abundance of heart shaped rocks and one cat shaped rock. We laughed and planned our future here, kayaking, swimming, walking, bbqs and family.
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Tuesday, 5 June 2007
Cleaning
I am cleaning. Well, not right now. Right now I am writing. But only because I needed a break for a moment.
I just cleaned the cupboard under my sink, which probably hasn't been cleaned since I moved in. (like my passive voice there? I'm outraged! Why hasn't someone cleaned under my sink for me!!) I was doing some other cleaning, reached in under my sink to grab some supplies and saw the most giant silverfish ever. It was the grand-daddy of all silverfish. I killed it with a sponge and then took a closer look at the state of the cupboard. Ironic that the cupboard that holds all of my cleaning supplies is the most filthy of all spaces in my little apartment. So I cleaned it.
It was five minutes of the kind of cleaning that requires gloves, distraction and inner strength. But I did it. Now it's all clean and organized and feels 100 times better. I, however, feel like there are bugs crawling all over my skin and I'm all skeeved out. I'm am going to go and tackle something a little less daunting. Like my toilet.
Here's a pic of the clean cupboard.....you have no idea how gross it really was. I didn't think to take a before picture. Too bad.
I just cleaned the cupboard under my sink, which probably hasn't been cleaned since I moved in. (like my passive voice there? I'm outraged! Why hasn't someone cleaned under my sink for me!!) I was doing some other cleaning, reached in under my sink to grab some supplies and saw the most giant silverfish ever. It was the grand-daddy of all silverfish. I killed it with a sponge and then took a closer look at the state of the cupboard. Ironic that the cupboard that holds all of my cleaning supplies is the most filthy of all spaces in my little apartment. So I cleaned it.
It was five minutes of the kind of cleaning that requires gloves, distraction and inner strength. But I did it. Now it's all clean and organized and feels 100 times better. I, however, feel like there are bugs crawling all over my skin and I'm all skeeved out. I'm am going to go and tackle something a little less daunting. Like my toilet.
Here's a pic of the clean cupboard.....you have no idea how gross it really was. I didn't think to take a before picture. Too bad.
Monday, 4 June 2007
Cookies
Ok, so I didn't make any lemonade, but I did bake some great cookies.
Do you remember that episode of Three's Company where Jack enters a cooking contest and has to dress up for the taping of the cooking show because the contest was for women only. He makes cookies but gets sabotaged by the woman cooking beside him, who ruins, spills, or throws away his ingredients. He starts just chucking ingredients in and asks Janet and Terri if they have anything on them that he could put in cookies...candies, sweets, whatever. Terri hands him a box, he bakes it into the cookies and it turns out they were cough drops.
Baking these cookies reminded me of that episode because I changed up the ingredients to suit me and it felt like I was just tossing anything in.
They turned out chewy and not too sweet and so yummy that I am going to share the recipe here.
3/4 cup butter
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 cup flour
2 tsps. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups oats
1 cup dried cranberries
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1/3 cup sunflower seeds
Preheat the oven to 375 F. Lightly grease baking sheets.
In a large bowl and using an electric mixer, beat butter, brown sugar, egg and syrup on medium speed until creamy. In a separate bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add to creamed mixture, mixing on low speed until blended. Stir in remaining ingredients and mix well.
Drop dough by tablespoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets. Bake in center of preheated oven for 8 - 12 minutes or until golden around the edges but still soft in the center. Let cool for 10 minutes leaving them on the baking sheet and then transfer to racks. Eat. Enjoy.
*What I did with my batch was to leave out the pecans and sesame seeds and add in chocolate chips and rice crispies. I did 3/4 cup of choc chips and 1/3 cup rice crispies. I think you could probably modify this to suit whatever you like.
Anyways that's my post for today.
Do you remember that episode of Three's Company where Jack enters a cooking contest and has to dress up for the taping of the cooking show because the contest was for women only. He makes cookies but gets sabotaged by the woman cooking beside him, who ruins, spills, or throws away his ingredients. He starts just chucking ingredients in and asks Janet and Terri if they have anything on them that he could put in cookies...candies, sweets, whatever. Terri hands him a box, he bakes it into the cookies and it turns out they were cough drops.
Baking these cookies reminded me of that episode because I changed up the ingredients to suit me and it felt like I was just tossing anything in.
They turned out chewy and not too sweet and so yummy that I am going to share the recipe here.
3/4 cup butter
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 cup flour
2 tsps. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups oats
1 cup dried cranberries
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1/3 cup sunflower seeds
Preheat the oven to 375 F. Lightly grease baking sheets.
In a large bowl and using an electric mixer, beat butter, brown sugar, egg and syrup on medium speed until creamy. In a separate bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add to creamed mixture, mixing on low speed until blended. Stir in remaining ingredients and mix well.
Drop dough by tablespoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets. Bake in center of preheated oven for 8 - 12 minutes or until golden around the edges but still soft in the center. Let cool for 10 minutes leaving them on the baking sheet and then transfer to racks. Eat. Enjoy.
*What I did with my batch was to leave out the pecans and sesame seeds and add in chocolate chips and rice crispies. I did 3/4 cup of choc chips and 1/3 cup rice crispies. I think you could probably modify this to suit whatever you like.
Anyways that's my post for today.
Sunday, 3 June 2007
Lemonade
I am having one of those interesting conundrums right now. I am feeling a wee bit sad and frustrated and yet don't want to give it any weight or energy. So I am in conflict with wanting to acknowledge my feelings and let them be but also not wanting to wallow or feel sorry for myself.
I know the secret to happiness and it's so simple, which is exactly why it is so hard. The secret to happiness is that you choose it.
That's it.
Easy right? But not always so. For example, I know right now that I can make the choice to be happy. I can look at the good. Be grateful for what I have. Be present and clear and enjoy the moment. But sometimes there is a stubborn little part of me that wants to feel bad. I think I have this belief that if I feel a little sorry for myself that other people will give me attention. Yet, this isn't the kind of attention that I want. At least logically this isn't the kind of attention that I want.
I want the kind of attention that comes with smiles and laughs, honest and present energy, light and joy...and I want all of those things to be coming from me. I want to draw in those things and the best way for me to attract that is to be that. Feeling sad and frustrated is a negative two-fold. First, what good does it do me to feel sad and frustrated and then secondly, that is the energy I am expending and therefore, will attract it back to me.
I rented some movies yesterday and last night I watched one of them. The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio. It was a cute movie, but what stayed with me was Julianne Moore's character. She lived in the present and made the most out of every situation. That saying "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade"- she lived that. It was inspiring to see.
I feel like I got some lemons today.
I am going to go make some lemonade.
peace, love and joy to you all.
kt
I know the secret to happiness and it's so simple, which is exactly why it is so hard. The secret to happiness is that you choose it.
That's it.
Easy right? But not always so. For example, I know right now that I can make the choice to be happy. I can look at the good. Be grateful for what I have. Be present and clear and enjoy the moment. But sometimes there is a stubborn little part of me that wants to feel bad. I think I have this belief that if I feel a little sorry for myself that other people will give me attention. Yet, this isn't the kind of attention that I want. At least logically this isn't the kind of attention that I want.
I want the kind of attention that comes with smiles and laughs, honest and present energy, light and joy...and I want all of those things to be coming from me. I want to draw in those things and the best way for me to attract that is to be that. Feeling sad and frustrated is a negative two-fold. First, what good does it do me to feel sad and frustrated and then secondly, that is the energy I am expending and therefore, will attract it back to me.
I rented some movies yesterday and last night I watched one of them. The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio. It was a cute movie, but what stayed with me was Julianne Moore's character. She lived in the present and made the most out of every situation. That saying "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade"- she lived that. It was inspiring to see.
I feel like I got some lemons today.
I am going to go make some lemonade.
peace, love and joy to you all.
kt
Saturday, 2 June 2007
It's getting hot in here
Damn, it's warm. My apartment right now is a toaster oven. And I am the toast.
Seriously though, I am generally miserable in this heat and it's only just begun. I just came from outside and it is glorious out there. It is nearly 10pm and I was walking around in a t-shirt and it was great. I hate the unbearable heat during the summer days and I love the warmth of the summer nights. How can I have the warm nights without the hot days?
I spent the whole day outside today except for a short stint in my friend's cool apartment watching an episode of Remington Steele. It was a good day. We sat (in the shade) at the beach and had some laughs and fun and then sat on a patio for dinner and drinks. The party carried on after that but I chose to come home and take it easy.
My apartment is not cool. My apartment is roasting. I am too hot to sit here and type so I am going to grab a big ol' glass of water and flop down in front of the fan and watch a movie. I rented three movies for the week. Melinda and Melinda, Kinsey and The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio. So I'll close my eyes and pick one to watch.
Seriously though, I am generally miserable in this heat and it's only just begun. I just came from outside and it is glorious out there. It is nearly 10pm and I was walking around in a t-shirt and it was great. I hate the unbearable heat during the summer days and I love the warmth of the summer nights. How can I have the warm nights without the hot days?
I spent the whole day outside today except for a short stint in my friend's cool apartment watching an episode of Remington Steele. It was a good day. We sat (in the shade) at the beach and had some laughs and fun and then sat on a patio for dinner and drinks. The party carried on after that but I chose to come home and take it easy.
My apartment is not cool. My apartment is roasting. I am too hot to sit here and type so I am going to grab a big ol' glass of water and flop down in front of the fan and watch a movie. I rented three movies for the week. Melinda and Melinda, Kinsey and The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio. So I'll close my eyes and pick one to watch.
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