Eyes, Ears, Mouth, and Nose~~March '13

Happy Easter!

Here's what my eyes, ears, mouth, and nose were into this March:

Being on a partial TV fast, in which I was only partaking when others were present, I've really enjoyed The Bible on The History Channel. I'm realizing more and more how sensitive I am to violent and vulgar entertainment...so no worries here. I did enjoy the deep themes of The Perks of Being a Wallflower though.

I already talked about coconut sugar...last night, as part of our family vacay festivities, it was my turn for the iron chef dessert battle. My secret ingredient being coconut, you better believe I whipped out the mighty mighty coconut sugar...as well as coconut oil, coconut milk, and coconut flakes. This made for a DECADENT chocolate coconut cake. Another fun ingredient I've been into this month is cashew cream. It makes vegan smoothies really creamy and tastes so silky.

As far as dreamin', I've been really into EUROPE! Because (big announcement) I'm going on a 6 week missions trip to Portugal, Spain, and Rome this summer! I am so excited to start raising support and to get there so we can bless the socks off of some missionaries. I've also been dreaming about fun career options (more on this with my next happiness project update).

As I began dreaming up fundraising options for the trip, I decided that maybe handmade crafts will rake in some dough. The ribbon "curtains" (pictured above) might make it to my etsy shop when it gets set up. Yes, March was a crafty, crafty month.

Other than these things, I am SO into relaxing because it's spring vacation and I am loving the free flowing family time.

Mighty, mighty coconut sugar!

As many of you know, I have cut out white flour and white sugar from my diet completely (except for my one cheat meal per week, which I highly recommend to any dieter in the world). As a baker and dessert lover both, this was not a fun change at first.

But then...I discovered coconut sugar.

Coconut sugar is slightly less sweet than white sugar and is made from the sap of coconut flowers, so it is completely natural and plant-based. The glycemic index is lower those of white or other processed sugars, so it doesn't peak your blood sugar so harshly. And it's yummy!

With coconut sugar, I've tried out a number of recipes, but my favorite has to be my version of a chocolate coconut cookie (though coconut sugar doesn't exactly taste like coconut, it pairs well with actual coconut shreds). Try it for yourself!

Healthy chocolate coconut cookies:
1 c. coconut sugar
1/2 c. agave nectar
1 c. butter, softened
1 t vanilla
2 eggs
2 c. quick oats
1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1/3 c. cocoa powder
1 1/2 t baking soda
Pinch salt
1 c. chocolate chips (you can make these yourself with coconut sugar too!)
1 c. unsweetened, shredded coconut

Preheat oven to 350. Combine first 5 ingredients and mix well. Combine next 5 ingredients in separate bowl. Combine two mixtures, add chocolate chips and coconut. On parchment-lined cookie sheets, scoop out rounded tablespoons of dough. Bake 10-12 minutes. Enjoy!

Shamrock Shake Time!

I tried out a few healthy shamrock shake recipes yesterday (one involving a HUGE amount of kale, ick). And after my experiments, I would recommend this recipe to satisfy that craving you may have this weekend for a green dessertish shamrock shake. Sure beats fast food...and it's on my diet!

1 c cashew cream (made by soaking 1/2 c cashews in 1/2 c almond milk overnight and blending on high til super smooth)
Generous handful of spinach (not kale, hehe)
1 avacado
2 T agave nectar
1 c ice
1 T vanilla extract
1 t peppermint extract (teaspoon, not tablespoon!)

Blend spinach in cashew cream til you get a smooth, green color. Then add the rest of your ingredients and blend til smooth. Add more almond milk or agave if you want a thinner or sweeter shake, respectively!

Enjoy the green! Happy St. Pat's weekend!

Recipe adapted from this one (I made just a few changes for green coloring and nutrition).

My Happiness Project~~Part 6

February wasn't the happiest month.

Wait, that's not what I mean. The month itself brought me plenty of happiness, but as far as my happiness project goes, I was not super focused.

"Make Valentine's Day count for the women around me"...check.
"Love people"...half check. I loved people no problem, but did I live love out intentionally on a minute-to-minute basis? Not necessarily.
"Keep up with long-distance friendships"...no check. The best of intentions doesn't bring about results if they're not carried out. I think someone wrote a quote kinda like that once.

So am I writhing in self-guilt? Not really since loving and making long-distance calls is still available to me this month. I'm saying "there's grace for that." March's happiness goal is:

"Take a step toward my career...go to a conference, apply to a school, meet with a dean, etc."

In hoping to move toward a more career-type job in the near future, I've done a lot of dreaming. Being 22, done with college, and invested in a steady full-time-short-term (hehe) job means I am safe to dream. I could remain a nanny for a long time, but since I sense that it will not fulfill me forever, here is a list of the dreams I have dreamt for myself:

Culinary school
Supplement distribution
Marriage and family therapy
Life coaching
Spiritual direction
Nutrition
Writing
Crafting (as in full-time crafting...if this were a viable career option for me RIGHT NOW, I'd not be here typing)
Birth coaching

So I have my work cut out for me this month. I pray this pursuit proves hopeful and fun rather than taxing and dead-endish.

Photo: my boyfriend exercising career aspirations along with me (or just thrift shopping)...

Eyes, ears, mouth, and nose~February '13

The short little month brought a lot of things for me to be "into".

I've been fighting a lingering illness, so I've recently been won over by sinus rinse. I won't go into the gory details, but it pretty much rocks at getting your stuffy nose un-stuffed in a natural way.

On the lookout for natural, "gentle" sugars or sugar replacements, I'm falling for coconut sugar. I've been using it in baking recipes mostly...like the best oatmeal chocolate chip cookies (I also used the coconut sugar to make my own chips!), pumpkin muffins, and pancakes.

Speaking of kitcheny things, I have been making a lot of butternut squash soup. On the road the being convinced that I eat too much saturated fat (still not 100% buying it because I've eaten wholesome fats my whole life and remained healthy), I decided to do Meatless Mondays. Since the family I work for on Mondays is essentially vegan, preparing meatless meals has been pretty easy. And cutting out meat and/or animal products just once a week is a much more realistic way for me to tone down the saturated fats because no way in heck am I giving up dairy. Ever.

On the reading front, I'm consistently perusing my GoodHousekeeping mags. Above is a recent photo of the books on my nightstand (or on the floor under my nightstand). Til We Have Faces, by C.S. Lewis has been my main literary pursuit. I am inches away from being finished with it and though I'm less than blown away, it has been nice to read good writing again. Clive Staples, you have such a way with the pen...

I am trying to cut down my TV consumption, so the only show I am legitimately keeping up with is The Biggest Looser. I don't care how people may mock it...this show is so, so inspirational to me. I love watching how human beings can push themselves to their limits and change when they really have a reason to do so.

One last thing: I'm majorly into Taylor Swift's RED for my ears. This album totally satisfies my desire for girly tunes and singability.

And that's what my eyes, ears, mouth, and nose were into this February. Happy weekend!