“ In Winter the bare boughs
that seem to sleep Work covertly,
preparing for their Spring.”
---Rumi

Can you believe it’s already February, <<Name>>? And how about that COLD spell (aka The Polar Vortex)? Though it wasn’t as cold here in Ohio as it was in Chicago, Milwaukee, and other places, -26 windchill is pretty crazy cold in my book.

Today, though, is officially the mid-point between Winter & Spring. In the Catholic Church, it’s Candlemas – St. Brigid’s Holy Day – and the reminder that the light is returning. For those who practice Earth-based religions, it’s Imbolic, again, a day to honor the return of the light.

Maybe it's a good day to light a candle and invite the light back into  your own life and heart.

Culturally, today is Groundhog Day!  When I lived in Texas, the significance of little Phil from Puxatony didn't affect me directly. Of course, I was curious about the results, but it ended at simple curiosity.

Now, though, after being in Ohio for nine years, I find myself a little more than curious about that cute little critter’s meteorological leanings. Did he see his shadow and scurry back into his hole for a longer nap? Or did he look around and find that though the world was a bit on the chilly side, it looked pretty safe and nifty out there?

(And, I wonder, how accurate is old Phil?)

Weather is one of those things that we discuss and react to all the time. Because it affects our daily lives in a lot of ways. Yet, the thing is, weather is one of those facts of life. Reality. Something that cannot be controlled.
 
Reality and things out of our control reminds me that we are also always in choice.
 
There are so many things we think we HAVE to do. Make dinner. Do the Laundry. Clean the house. Buy Groceries. I can hear the grumble, grumble of have-to and should-do. And I'm the first to admit that it's easy to get in the way of thinking. It's easy to see all the things we do each day as obligations.

And, sometimes, we see the ways in which we care for our loved ones as “have to”.

The truth is, you don't HAVE to do anything. Yes, there are consequences to skipping things, like not paying the electric bill. Or putting gas in the car (anyone else had to get gas when the windchill is crazy cold  like I did earlier this week?? WOW!). 
 
And our loved ones? Seeing the ways in which we care for them and nourishing our relationships as something to do with a joyful heart? It shifts how we feel to the depths of our souls.
 
I have to admit, I get in that grumpy headspace sometimes. And I come back full-circle and remind myself: Everything I do is something I choose to do.

Making dinner isn't an obligation, it's a choice because I want us to be nourished. Making sure the laundry is done and the clothes have been dropped off and picked up at the dry cleaners isn't done out of obligation, it's done because I choose to tend our needs. I don't match ties and shirts with JB's suits because I have to, I do it because it makes his mornings easier.

We can extend ourselves grace when we get stuck in that space of obligation/choice. We can allow that even if the weather makes us cranky, we can’t control it so why argue with the reality of it? Instead, just bundle up and stay warm.

When I talk about being in choice instead of obligation....and choosing kindness and grace.... I often have to be reminded that these concepts extend to ME.  That I deserve to be tended and cared for just as much as others. I get to choose what my soul needs instead of weighing it down with the burden of obligation. In fact, just reminding myself that I am always in choice releases the burden.

What about you?  How might your life feel more nourishing if you saw every action as a choice rather than obligation? Can the choice to not argue with reality, but work with it shift your world? What can you do to embrace the sunshine on even the greyest days? How would it feel to be kinder to yourself, and extend yourself some grace?

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. So, I’m sending you love and the reminder that kindness and grace begins with you and extends to others.

And a reminder: I'm just an email away. I love hearing your stories and helping you find the resources you need to create a life you love.

With so much love...........





PS - I have space for two new clients beginning in March. If you're looking for someone to help you shift things in your world, reply to this email. We'll schedule a quick call to see if we're a good fit. And go from there ;-)

It’s practically impossible to eat well without a plan of some sort.

Every parent knows the arsenic hour – that agonizing space between everyone getting home from work and trying to get dinner on the table. We want to be good custodians of our bodies –and the bodies of our family – but everyone is tired, cranky and frustrated. So, you go for the bag of Goldfish or drive-through the closest (kind of healthy) fast food spot on the way home.

But it isn’t just young children and parents who experience arsenic hour. For singles, couples, and families of all ages,  the “what’s for dinner” while staring into the fridge can be one of the most stressful moments of the day.That’s why one of my favorite go-to-tools for anyone that wants to live a less stressful daily life is to create a weekly meal plan.

Though creating a meal plan may feel a little too structured, what it allows you to do is get your head above water and relieve the pressure. It also doesn’t have to be a grind.

Here’s how to eat better and reduce stress with these tips for meal planning.

• Brainstorm a list of your family’s favorite meals. The first time you do this, you may want to do it on blank 3×5 cards so that you can tactically see the possibilities. You can note the themes of the cuisine, the main ingredient, or more.
• Lay the cards out and see the beginnings of a meal plan begin to emerge. Best of all, you don’t have to dig around in cookbooks or websites for ideas – your skeleton plan will be based on what your family loves to eat. It also allows you to see patterns and makes grocery shopping less stressful.
• You can also create themes based on the day of the week based on family activities. For example on days that you know you’re going to be away from the house, that’s a crockpot meal day. One of my client’s reported that her son always looks forward to Taco Night.
• If you have kids, consider designating one night a week “Kid’s Night”. Let your younger children help pick a favorite meal – and get the older kids involved in making dinner for the family. One of the few things children can control is what goes into their bodies (aka they become picky eaters). Getting them involved in the planning and prep teaches them valuable skills, allows them to have a sense of control, and allows them to feel as if they have a voice in the family.
• Create a written menu plan for the week. I’ve even created a downloadable plan for you! (Digital Fill in the Blanks Version | Print and Write in the Blanks Version)
• If your life is super busy, I really advocate making a rotating plan of two or three weeks of meals seasonally. Then, all you have to do is make copies of the menus. If any single meal becomes too tired, then you don’t have to reinvent the wheel, you simply have to substitute one single meal in the rotation.
• Post the schedule for the week on your fridge every Sunday. No more questions of “what’s for dinner”. And, whoever arrives home first can get the meal started.

I know that meal planning seems too simplistic to be effective, but time and again I have seen this single habit create more loving and harmonious evenings for my clients – and my own life.

One of the biggest changes I made when I understood that it was up to me to create my life was to get a better handle on what foods I chose to put in my body. What we nourish our bodies with allows us to nourish our hearts and souls as well.

And here, my darling, is to well nourished hearts.

When it's cold outside, I want something warm, hearty, and satisfying. Like this shortcut to Chicken Caccetora. I love to make this with already prepared Marinara sauce, but it's not always on hand. Here's a new take on one of my favorite recipes without having to make the marinara ahead.

Take a chicken breast and cut it into bit sized chunks. Heavily season with garlic powder, Italian seasonings, and freshly ground pepper. Put three tablespoons of olive oil in a dutch oven and sear the chicken, just until the outside is browned, then remove from pan and set aside.

Add to pan 1/3 pound of pancetta, cut into strips add to olive. Then add in a diced Spanish onion, eight cloves or garlic (sliced or pressed), and ½ cup of shredded carrots. Saute on high until onions begin to become translucent. Add three 14-ounce cans of diced tomatoes (OR one 28-ounce can of diced tomatoes and  once 14-ounce can of crushed tomatoes) and sauté until it begins to bubble.

Add the chicken back into plan along with 1 tablespoon of Italian Seasonings and 2 cups of chicken stock. Simmer on low for 30 minutes. 

Serve as is for a hearty chicken stew or ladle over pasta. It’s delicious either way.