“i have come to the frightening conclusion that i am the decisive element.  it is my personal approach that creates the climate.  it is my daily mood that makes the weather.  i possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous.  i can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration, i can humiliate or humour, hurt or heal.  in all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized.  if we treat people as they are, we make them worse.  if we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming.” - goethe

I really didn’t know that this feeling could be generated within the walls of your own home! The girls at work apparently bathe daily, with wine in hand. I get it now. I came home to a sweet lil treat…

…and headed straight to the bath tub – blasted hot water until the tub was almost over flowing. Emerged; submerged; and didn’t move for nearly 30min. It might be my new form of yoga.

In case you need the recipe, i thought i’d include it for you:
1 bath bomb/ candles (as many as req’d)/ a warm cup o’tea/ a sweet lil piece o’choco/ tunes, if desired. #sweetselflove #doitnow Enjoy! xo

It’s no secret that I adore my Bro - he used to be the dude who dished out the toughest love, until I broke down…and asked him to be just a wee bit softer. He got it. He knows how to be soft and loving and sweet; he knows how to just listen, laugh when i cry and can drop a BroBomb like none other. Last night was no exception…

He made the bold declaration that “your body really knows Steph”. I scoughed it off, “of course my body knows”…to which he replied, “no, like your body reaaalllly knows”. I shut up to listen + ponder this thought…

I got a tattoo which almost completely removed itself within the first week; i’m just not meant to be ink’d. I got my nose pierced on a whim – pain+infection free, until one morning, it had just fallen out -the hole closed over in a few hours and there is no trace left behind of my wee diamond stud; perhaps i’m not meant to be pierced. I eat gluten (usually when emotionally valunerable and low) and my tummy extends, cramps and bloats; I know for sure I’m meant to fuel this body with only the very best. I ran the marathon of Ironman on fully blistered feet. One week later, the blisters were completely gone, the memories of the finish line were strong and I had signed up for the next race; I crave endorphins! I got waxed once. A bag of frozen peas later, I haven’t been waxed since. #nuffsaid I donated blood once too and then was left passed out on the couch for the remainder of the day. My sweet accupuncturist informed me that some people just need all of their blood. (Don’t get me wrong – i’m soo for donating!)

Point: this body knows. Our bodies know. Just listen.

And then I woke up to this note in my inbox morning from a really beautiful soul…
How are you doing? How is your heart (strong, feeling, senstive, resilient?). I mean our heart muscle… it’s the ONLY infatiguable muscle in your ENTIRE body… just think of that… how it has not stopped beating since you were born. Your heart won’t let you down… stay faithful and focussed.

And just as our bodies know, so do our hearts. xo

Inspired by CHull, as she has left for Hong Kong, I thought I would share a perfect camping recipe. Right now, I live in a rad lil loft that I have affectionately coined my campsite – it’s temporary, very simple and I will soon be picking up my belongings to a new pad. Some of my favs while camping (like really camping!): morning coffee + evening desserts, especially those that require being wrapped in tinfoil and shoved into a blazing fire. These Bananas make me feel like I’m really camping…

Slice a banana lengthwise, not quite all the way thru/ add some dark choco hunks and sprinkle crushed walnuts. Bake for 20min or until banana is soft+squishy. I added a dollop of plain yogs on top. Pretty much Ben+Jerry’s Chunky Monkey, minus the cream.

Before they hit the fire...

Goes well with fresh linens, a few candles + a cup of David’s tea….luxious camping really!

I’m obsessed with lists and apps help me manage lists – TeuxDeux has been the fav. However, i recently upgraded my phone and i lost teux deux…i lost my list (*gasp!*). Funny how the most important things “to do” are lodged in my brain, never to be forgotten and the random errands of the day will still get done (like a birthday present, new tires on the car and cervelo to the bike shop)…surely the other 27 things don’t quite matter as much.

Yet, what i really learned with this phone upgrade was that “mending a broken heart”, “healing a marriage” and “being okay with the process” aren’t line items on a to-do list. I don’t shout TaDa when they are complete – in fact, I’m not even totally sure i know what “complete” looks like?

Perhaps it is all just a matter of time…and getting through means going through it and that is the beauty of this process. #noonesaiditwouldbeeasy

Remember Fat Tuesday? It happened and so did these for dinner. I’ve enjoyed them recently and thought they outta be shared. Being gluten-free usually means being creative, and these delicious lil numbers came flying outta the pan.

Main Course: YaApple Cakes

Mix: 2c oatmeal/ 1c cottage cheese/ 2 eggs/ spices + vanilla
Add: 1 cooked + smashed yam/ 1 grated apple
Combine + stir well.  Fry, like you’d fry pancakes cause after all, these are pancakes, in coconut oil until lightly brown on each side.

Dessert: Chunky Monkey Cakes (apparently there is a banana trend this week!)

Same initial mixture as above. Omit the YaApple combination and add a smashed banana + crunched walnuts. I especially like these ones with a slap of pb (oy vey!) on top, with perhaps some choco chips too.

#lentneverends

This has become a new morning favorite to have on hand – especially before long bike rides. I make this the night before and keep it in the fridge, ready to go. A perfect alternative to yet another morning of oatmeal (though oatmeal can never go outta style in my kitchen!).

Mix: 1/2c chia seeds/ 1-1 1/2c almond milk (I prefer vanilla flavored here!)/ 1-2 sliced bananas/ sprinkle of your fav nut.

Stir well. Place in fridge. Enjoy cold; heated; with an additional scoop of pb* or any other fresh fruit. Super high in all things Omega-awesome for you!

*pppssst..i noticed in the latest Runner’s World mag that female athletes tend to over eat certain foods that we deem ”good for us”…pb is one of them! Apparently 2tbsp is the daily max. Until now, i’m pretty sure i’ve putting a heaping tbsp on every meal, not any longer, but the chia seeds will get a scoop! And the recipes that follow this week, i’m just sayin’, go well with a dollop of pb!

Alright….so i have to admit that when i announced the wee lil gratitude challenge, i did not think my inbox would flood with remarkable people, many of whom I don’t know, sending me lists of 100+ things (people, places, coffee + pets included!) that they are clearly beaming with gratitude for. It was sweetly inspiring to hear people’s hearts pour out. And what i love the best is that I feel like I just met (like reaaaalllly met) all these new wonderful people…because what i know for sure is that what you are grateful for just might make up the core of your heart. What we are grateful for are the things that matter the most, the people who mean the most + the “things” we just couldn’t imagine living without.

Honourable mention goes to these awesome people + their huge hearts:

“My ass because it took years to accept + appreciate its roundness.” – Brooke S.
“Girlfriends who want to hang out and go for running for hours even on the worst days.” – Nic G
“For sweat because it is my body’s way of weeping with happiness” – Heather A
“For loving what I do everyday.” – Mama, who at 62 has reinvented how she spends her days! #socool

And the WiNNER is…Amy! Check out her list below – you might need to click on it to fully appreciate it. A sweet lil package is in the mail my friend:)

photosynthesis? really! of course!!

This was mind blowing. Perhaps the very best (I mean VERY!) best dessert that has ever come outta my kitchen. It is nutritious + delicious and just freakin’ awesome. Warning: you will make this more than once in your lifetime. Consider this a rainy weekend dose of sunshine. #justsayin

No-Bake-So-Good ChocoCrust

Vitamix 2c pecans or walnuts until crumbly. Add: 1/4c cocoa powder/ 2 tbsp coco oil/1/4 c maple syrup/1 tsp vanilla extract/ 1/2 tsp salt and beat until well mixed. Press into a well coconut-oil’d pan + place in freezer while making the next batch of awesomeness…

Chocolate Avocado Mousse (ohgosh, this was so good ialmostateitrightouttathebowl!)

Vitamix: 2-3 avos/ 1 ripe banana (optional)/ 1/3c almond milk/ 2/3c maple syrup/ 1/4 tsp salt/ 1 tsp vanilla extract/ 1/4c cocoa powder

Melt: 1generous cup choco chips + 1tbsp pb

Add melted goodness into vitamix for a final squirt. Then scoop out on top of the crust from heaven your freezer. It now needs to sit…outside of nibbly spoonful reach. I liked mine best in the fridge, but you can put it back in the freezer as well. Let sit at room temperature for 15min before trying to politely enjoy, err serving. #goodluckwiththat

And that’s a wrap…week #1 of the Fresh series. It will continue on Monday…it’s just too much fun to stop…sharing the fun in my kitchen is like showcasing your art in a gallery. Hope you are enjoying the nutricious + deliciousness!  xo

Epic surf + yoga retreat. May long weekend. With Mike Nichols + friends. It’s almost sold out…please sign up today.  www.shineyoga.ca!