13 in 2013

Well Hello February. My first realization of 2013 is that I am becoming the queen of the unfinished projects. Sticky notes with never ending to-do lists are strewn around my apartment and unfinished blog posts seem to be filling my computer files. When I left my old job to take time to travel I realized that everyday life’s schedule, repeating over and over, surprisingly leaves little time to do new things. There is so much comfort in what we know, but, I’ve found when you break away from that daily routine to learn and feel so much more. Not always positive, but it brings awareness to who you are. My New Year’s resolutions are a combination of activities and conscious moments. Being home I’ve realized that my comforts have limited my conscious perspective. Therefore I’m adding them to my Resolution list so I am ever so aware and with hopes of gaining new perspective, which was easier to obtain while traveling abroad.

I was so excited to ring in 2013 with hopes that it was going to be a wonderful year. I don’t even really know what gave me that hope. The big 30 celebration this year which is looming over my shoulder seems to be more powerful than I thought. I know I wrote “Age is just a number” but there is something about this year that has a power over me… makes me a little crazy, sometimes irrational, but excited as well. I have come up with a 13 to do in 2013 (in no particular order) and I am going to use Prue.Simple.Bliss and you all to be my witness so that I can follow through:

1. Run Hood to Coast Relay: This just happens to fall on my big 30 weekend, but my sister and brother-in-law talked me into it so watch out Oregon here we come!

2. Complete my first Marathon: I have wanted to do this for a while and with training to run a relay two months earlier I figured why not, Chicago Marathon 2013.

3. Make every recipe in the cook book Forks Over Knives: I’ll get into more detail about this soon, but so far I’ve learned some amazing cooking tricks and my belly has been very satisfied.

4. Add into my yoga practice Head Stand: This is a combination of fear and strength, two things I am happy to work on.

5. Add into my yoga practice Hand Stand: See above

6. Complete my yoga teacher training certification: I am well on my way and will have updates soon. Currently I am in the middle of our anatomy section, after getting over the “gross-ness” of the descriptions I can’t believe how intricate, strong and yet fragile the human body is. Maybe if we were all a little more educated we would realize why we need to take better care of ourselves.

7. Try to learn to appreciate meditation: For a mind that is always on go I cherish the moment I can sit and focus and clear my mind.

8. Start up and cultivate my Yoga Gives Back project: Again a realization I had a while back, one of those unfinished blogs, but I will post more soon.

9. Set a new half marathon PR: Number 5 will hopefully give me a new PR.

 

10. Finish my travel writing about Vietnam: These pictures should say enough.

 

 

11. Challenge myself outside of my comfort zone: While traveling I was constantly challenging myself, and in the end I really liked the person who came out of every challenge. I want to find a way to keep cultivating this growth without having to leave the country.

 

(Trying some type of herb wrap to bring good fortune in Vietnam)

12. Learn what it means to be content: An idea that is both scary and foreign. As American’s we are taught to go for the goal, be number one, constantly competing. While I value our ambition I don’t know if it leads to happiness. It’s a theory that needs some work, but I want to know if it is possible to be content and yet still motivated in life.

13. Have fun dating: uh… er… ah, dating blows, I love when people who are off the market say, “oh I loved dating I’m so jealous that you can still do that”. I pretty much want to give that person the finger. But you know I need to change my perspective and get out there. One of my friends jokingly said “you could blog about it.” Well maybe I will! Yesterday I was looking at a profile the guy said “Loves: Meat, vegetarians and vegans need not apply.” If only they could all be that honest!

 

Age Is Just A Number…

Age is just a number but I will say 29 held some pressures that I didn’t fully know how to process until today.

“Why is 30 such a big celebration for western cultures?” Hmmm how to answer this question for an entire culture without pigeon holding us all into one category. I smiled as my cooking instructor asked me this question. She had waited until the woman who was turning 30 had left the class I think trying to be polite in case my answer was too personal. “Well I can’t answer for everyone, but my opinion of the 30th birthday celebration for western cultures is because this is a transitional time in our lives where we end the youthful confusion that our twenties presents us and enter into a age of responsibility and maturity.” I gave some examples to go along with my definition, such as the fact that usually around 30 people begin to settle down, gain job security, get married, have babies, buy houses, etc. But I reiterated that this was just my opinion, and then laughed and told her that, not only had I just quit my job/career but that I was very single and not anywhere near ready for children. I do own a home so at least one item on my check list is accomplished.

So now I have officially entered into the last 365 days until the big 3-0 and that pressure I mentioned earlier has completely faded away. While my description for 30 had some of the stereotypical expectations that come with the age, being here and following my own path has made me realize that I can be happy not following the flock. I laugh when I meet people along the way, I usually get asked if I just graduated university hence why I am traveling, I smile hoping that my youthful looks are what prompted that question rather then people just trying to be polite, but tell them no I quit my job and I’m traveling. This answer doesn’t get looks of horror or shock, usually I get congratulations and words of encouragement.

With no pressure I rang in 29 alone, but with much love coming state side. You all have been so supportive and the words of love made me feel as if you were all just down the mountain from me. Yes I have left sea level and climbed about 5,000 feet to a town called Sapa in the northern region of Vietnam. I am surrounded by lush mountains and cool air, a tropical version of Park City, so I am in heaven. For the birthday celebration I awoke from a restless night of sleep on a train that hurtled me from Hanoi up to Lao Cai, which is about an hour from Sapa. The night train was a first for me and an experience to say the least, not a restful night of sleep, but no real horror stories to report. When I arrived at my guesthouse I was beyond pleased with my room and the decor. I enjoyed a couple of doughnut holes I had bought from a street vendor in Hanoi and fell asleep for an hour. Then it was time to hike down the mountain away from Sapa, through the rice paddies to the little villages below. The decent was a slippery, muddy nightmare. Flanked on all sides by local H’mong tribal woman I was anxious that I would either fall in the mud or fall off the side the of the mountain. And then a small hand with a strong grip grabbed me and proceeded to lead me down the mountain. Her name was Hi and while she may have been 90 pounds she became my walking stick and balancing aid for the decent. Her strength was shocking and she kept me on my feet which was a true talent. I tried to explain to her that I was naturally clumsy as we were walking on a balance beam of mud between different rice paddy fields. She just smiled and kept asking if I was ok.

My birthday ended with a cold beer, tofu, a almond tart, and a amazing night of sleep in the cold mountain air. I know not the extravaganza I am used to having for a birthday celebration, but a nice way to ring in a new year and a new chapter in my life. Now I believe that age is just a number and it is what you do for yourself and the people around you during that year that matters most.

Happy Birthday Daddy!!!

Look at this attractive man, I know what your thinking, how does he have a daughter that is almost 29 years old he looks like he is in his early 40’s. Well it is only fitting that a man so young and fit should get this a paddle board for his 60th

Birthday! Happy Birthday Daddy! Of course I seem to time your big ones with my international travels, 50 (Spain), 60 (East Asia), but I’m thinking about you and I want to wish you the happiest of birthdays.

Thanks to you and mom for your endless support, without it I wouldn’t be able to be living this experience which has already been life changing. Thank you also for giving Brittany and I such a special place in Cape Cod, this view is the one I look forward to every year, climbing over the crest to Nana’s beach always just a little winded with excitement and need for more physical exercise, I have yet to find a view more fabulous then this.

Have a beer and a lobster for me and have such a wonderful celebration. I miss you and love you forever and always.
xoxo Linds

Chocolate Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Icing

Today is a very special day for my family. 26 years ago, after being three weeks past her due date, my baby sister was introduced to the Marshall family of three adding the finishing touches to our family unit. She had dark red hair and the sweetest face. I actually have a memory of my Nana making me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to take in the car on the way to the hospital to meet my sister. Although I don’t have any real memory of her I do remember a large balloon in the corner of the room attached to a basket of saltwater taffy, which I enjoyed very much probably more then the baby in my mom’s arms.

Brittany and I are exactly two years and ten days apart. Growing up and sharing our birthdays within ten days of each other was always a challenge for us because we were never good at sharing. To say we had a tumultuous relationship growing up is probably a bit of an understatement. And if you ask either of us to tell you stories they would be vastly different, and I am sure a little exaggerated on both sides!

But the day I left for college our relationship changed, and with time it has only become stronger. While we have embraced the fact that we are very different individuals, we have also become deeply bonded by the fact that we don’t know anyone the way we know each other. To say she is my best friend, confidant and at times big sister is only the truth. Oh we can still fight like champs from time to time, but it only brings us closer in the end. 

Brittany presented me with a challenge for her birthday. She loves these cupcakes that come in a jar, specifically the salted caramel cupcakes. The company that makes them went out of business and she said, “They can’t be remade, especially vegan.” Well like any natural human being I accepted that challenge and voila, here is the final product.

Yeah they need some work, and the official taste test comes tonight. But let me tell you, my fingers could not stay out of the batter bowl, the chocolate cake recipe I made is beyond yummy. My plan is to try to make them again, after I get some notes from the birthday girl, so stay tuned because the final recipe will be posted soon.

 

I know its been awhile since my last post, and I promise with summer coming to an end I will get back into the kitchen and get some fun things made. Fall and all its flavors is a favorite of mine so I can’t wait to share all the bites with you.

In closing, to my little sister, Happy Birthday, you are such an amazing friend, daughter, fiancé and sister, we are all very blessed to have you in our lives.

Happy Birthday Summer Berry Crisp

Happy Birthday Dad!!!

To say that my dad is pretty awesome is a large understatement. How can you not love someone who laughs at all your jokes and thinks you’re the funniest person he knows. Well he has never actually said that, but it was implied. And he is not biased at all being my father.

I have many fond memories of my dad and my childhood. My favorites are the memories of our father daughter Friday afternoon ski dates. In elementary school we got out early every Friday, I think it was some crazy time like noon. And every Friday during the winter months I would rush out the front doors of Parley’s Park Elementary School to find my dad waiting for me in his ski clothes. The smell of sunscreen today makes me smile thinking about how every time he brought out the sunscreen he would say it reminded him of the beaches of Hawaii. One time I remember my dad telling me that when I got just a little older I would probably rather ski with my friends than with my dad. I remember telling him that would never happen because he would always be cool to me. And today even though he sometimes tucks his workout pants into his socks I still think he is as cool as they come. And I never stopped skiing with him!

My Dad’s long running joke is that he could never win in household that was overrun by women, even the dog was female. And let’s be honest he couldn’t win, especially when it came time to choose dessert. Three woman and chocolate is going to beat my father’s favorite berry crisp every time!

So for my dad’s birthday he gets his choice Summer Berry Crisp.

Summer Berry Crisp

serves 5 to 8

Ingredients:

Berry Mix:

–        1 ½ cup Blueberries (fresh or frozen)

–        1 ½ cup Raspberries (fresh or frozen)

I used the frozen 12 oz bags and would prefer that to fresh, more cost effective as well

–        Zest of 1 Lemon

–        ½ Lemon juiced (optional makes for a stronger lemon flavor)

–        1/8 cup Sugar

–        ¼ cup Light Brown Sugar

–        2 tablespoons White Whole Wheat Flour (any flour will work this is my preference)

Crumble Mix:

–        ½ cup Sugar

–        ¼ cup Light Brown Sugar

–        ¾ cup White Whole Wheat Flour

–        ¼ teaspoon Salt

–        ¼ lb cold, unsalted Earth Balance Butter

–        ½ cup Quick-Cooking Oatmeal

–       Zest of 1 lemon    

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Gently mix Blueberries, Raspberries, Lemon Zest, ½ Lemon juiced (optional), Sugar, Light Brown Sugar and Flour and pour into baking dish and gently smooth the top.

3. Combine Flour, Sugar, Light Brown Sugar, Salt, Quick-Cooking Oats, Earth Balance Butter (diced) and Lemon zest in the bowl of an electric mixer with a paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until the butter is pea-sized and the mixture is crumbly.

4. Sprinkle evenly on the top of the Blueberries and Raspberry

5. Bake for 1 hour, until the top is browned and crisp and the juices are bubbly.

6. Serve immediately, or store in the refrigerator and reheat until warm.

This would be great with the Coconut Whipped Cream. Instead of vanilla extract for the whipped cream I would use coconut extract or lemon extract.

So here’s to you dad, I hope you have a wonderful day and I promise to make this dessert for you in August!