Salad Dressings:  (If I didn't specify which greens to use assume simple head lettuce or romaine hearts chopped up.)

#1:

XV Olive Oil, Lemon Juice, Pulverized Dried Mint (powder consistency), Ume plum vinegar and celtic sea salt.  pour on salad simple salad greens (like head lettuce or romaine) in that order and toss the salad a little to distribute the flavors and enjoy. 

#2.

Mix in a glass jar first: XV Olive Oil, POM Pommegranite Juice, Brown Mustard (I use horseradish but stone ground is best), Rice Vinegar.  Shake Shake shake and pour on romaine or a heaping pile of baby arugula, garnish with pommegranite seeds.

#3.

XV Olive OIl, Grade B Maple Syrup, Stone Mustard, Lemon Juice, shake in a glass jar and put over warm kale greens and some canned tuna.  Garnish with sesame seeds

#4.

XV Olive OIl, Cider (Or red wine) vinegar, Onion Powder and Garlic Powder, Oregano, S&P.  Simple house dressing to put over basic greens.  Dont forget radishes and cucumber in it. 

Jesus died for us so it's natural to want to give up something every year for Him.  I'm all for it.  I love Preparation times like lent and advent and the week before summer trips.  I love to test my will power.  Until i'm proven  yet again that I'm WEAK!  ugh

This next 40 days I'm going raw.  Completely raw.  Green chlorophil lovins until the day I can decapitate a chocolate stefanelli's bunny. 

So far I've been back at my Catholic mass and I have to say that it's redundant as usual.  I wish my priests would speak up and annunciate better.  I can't hear snot from their pious speak.  That and I can't relate to it like I could at the protestant services I went to.  But I can say this much...at a Catholic church, I dont have to be a married breeder to be loved by God.  Actually I dont have to be barren either..but at least I feel more welcome at a Catholic church.  I also dont have to be uber social either so no more sucking the God Chi from me when I walk into and out of church anymore...I can go in..have my God n' Nikki time and go home.  It's really a blessing.  Thank you. 

Best to stick with what you know....but it's good to try raw more again. 

Salute'!!!

I really dont know what to write here.  I think I'm having a storm today.  I had a talk with a friend last night.   I can't wait until St. Patrick's day.  I can't stand valentines day.  I'm thinking of seriously quitting going to my protestant church I go to and go back to Catholic church.  I'm tired of that women are no good if they are not married mommies bullshit.  I'm not.  Thing is, I dont think that being single is that bad and I get along fine with being unable to produce.  So why all of a sudden is it a good CHristian thing to do is to marry and breed.  WHere the hell does that leave me?  (pun intended). 

I say "storm" becuase that's what it's called.  my autoimmune condition when it flares up is called a storm.  Doesn't mean these feelings of mine are not real....it just means that I'm really dog butt tired and it takes all the effort of  I dont now what to keep going without feeling like dirt.  I WANT to get up and get stuff done but I also need to reach out and ask for a hug.  I like hugs they are like medicine.  A friend of mine in the poetry network says that a person needs daily hugs to be healthy.  So far then, it's a miracle that I'm still alive. 

You know.  ..when I go to mass, I can just be me.  single...annonymous....on my own...my God and Nikki time.  I dont have to connect with other young mommies and their stained jumper'd conundrums.  I can be me.  Just me.  Being "Single, Selfish and Unfulfilled" is now "Just Me.  Alright".

When I started my resolution to go to church regularly again like I used to...I started going to mass (where I teach at now).  Everything was going ok until my friend told me about this place that SHE doesnt' even go to anymore! 

I should just go back to mass. 

Something is happening that might shift some of this way off.  I hate waiting until the 4th to schedule fate.  BUT what must be done must be done I supose. 

People set new years goals that they can't achieve.  Truth is they COULD achieve if they break it down into realistic goals.  I found this out in conversation with someone who complains that they dont make resolutions for the new year ahead.  She took a look at my previous year's list and saw about 90% of it crossed off.  "How did you do that!" she asked me. 

I told her that I just organize a few things I want to accomplish into realistic goals.  This has been going on for about 5 years now so ofcourse there are a lot of crosses off in the pile.  Now it's crunch time on a particular goal but that's beside the point.  what you do is this:

Separate the goals into something like this:

Physical: Physical meaning body and physical meaning anything you can see physically with your eyes...your house (ie, redo the bathroom) or the car (get summerized for family trip before june). 

Mental/Emotional: This is feelings in general and also the working brain like organization or conquering procrastinating or it can be getting over your mohter's voice in your head types of insecurity about yourself.  It could be addictions if you choose to work on this as well. 

Spiritual: Bet you can't guess what THIS one is for!   You can also put (get to that yoga class) in this one but I put it in phsyical as my spiritual practice lies mostly with Jesus.  But for some it's not like that so the spiritual section can be used for this.  Some put connect with God's creation in nature" .   That is a good goal..however the job here is to be specific and not metaphorical in your goal making...HOW would you connect with nature.  Go to more pagan nature rituals?  Teach inner city kids to plant a community organic garden?  pray every time you go deer hunting?  The trick here is to have somehting specific to cross off.  I'm reupping my "read the bible all the way through" resolution as I will not let Leviticus beat me down! 

Financial:  Kill the debt-monkey?  Up your credit score?  Learn to balance a checkbook better?  Prioritize your budgeting ? Pick whateve ryou feel you need to work on this year. 

Social:  We're human beings!  We NEED Nurture as well as nature.  We have this God given ability to reach out either to demand love or give love.  This could be "Work a soup kitchen" "volunteer at a nursing home" or "offer to wrok the holiday for a young mother" .  It can also mean just to head out and socialize!  "Make it to all community festivals this year" is one of mine.  I miss each and every one of them....We have Great ones too!  It's sad.  From working all the time and letting others walk over me in that aspect...I've cut myself off of having a social life.  THAT will cease with the exception of school.  This can also be used as a goal to get back in touch with old friends and far off family members that you loved being around.  It can also be a goal to start writing the good old fashioned NOTE to someone in the MAIL...you know..Snail Mail?  Good things come to those who wait! 

Aspirational:  Take a guitar class?  Learning German?  Going back to school (that's the remaining 10% that I'm crossing off this year or bust!)

Anything you wish you put on here.  Whatever you want.  What have YOU always wanted to accomplish that is special to You this year?  Since I'm headding to school come hell or high waters, I'm going to put "Learn: Italian, Sign Language and Mandolin" (or accustic guitar) for the future aspirations. 

I've got a few drafted up.  The trick is to make these realistic as your life allows.  No snarky defeatest remarks and to go at it with a practical passion for doing what makes you happy and moves you forward from your desire to grow as a person.  There is no qualifying who's goals seem like more fun.  this is a personal goal list for the new year.  And if you didn't accomplish it...re-evaluate the goal to see if it really fits into your life or not and also Put it back on for hte next year. 

Today is December 30th.  You can have this ready in 48 hours.  Good Luck!

I normally have this ready before my birthday in November, but Today I'm working on getting some chi in the house (ie: Cleaning) and getting ready to draft my New Years Resolutions for 2010. 

2009 was a great year to see some important truths that I have to work on.  2010 will hopefully be the year I start tackling the big one and get crackin. 

I've angered a lot of people and caused a shift in something in a lot of my relationships.  Some I care to heal but others, I'm coming to find that it's not about me and its' best to let go.  I never got this so it's strange territory trying to navigate my emotions and thoughts around for the best possible outcome.  I just know that its' time to move on.  And grow internally rather than externally.  OH! That's another thing!:

I found out that after working there for 2 years that I can just show my ID at the university and I can work out there (and swim!) for free.  Immagine that! I get the flippin YMCA member ship and the other gym I got a free trial for 6 months and here I could have just came over there and get it all done for nothing.  I still want to get my walks in though.  ;D 

I'm going into hiding for a while.  I have to pace myself as I'm one to go into things I'm excited about like a bull in a china shoppe.  But it's time.  I may not be liked...but I'll be able to respect myself in the morning. 

2010 Blessings from me to you!

Nic