Perfectly Imperfect

Unplugged...continued

So I have returned from my unplugged vacation and really enjoyed the break from being so connected. It truly made me more self aware of my need to constantly be "doing". Maybe that explains the facebook addiction I am fighting as it feeds the need to update all my activities through the status update feature.

But, what I found is that when I wasn't so busy keeping up with everything, I actually had the ability to be present in the moment and enjoy what I was doing.With my new found realization I am making a few commitments to myself including the following:

• Slow Down - Stop the race against the clock
• Do Less - Enjoy More
• Make time for Me
• Appreciate, admire and adore my husband - I've put him on the back burner for far too long
• Let Go of the Ego
• Turn off home computer on the weekend & at night

I've also just started listening to Eckhart Tolle's audio book from iTunes called Living a Life on Inner Peace. It is truly amazing. Only 36 minutes into it and I feel like he is speaking to me personally. I can identify with so much of it and know that this is one of the books that will bring about change. And, I'm starting one of his other books on loan from my mom called Awakening to Your Life's Purpose! Hey, I'm  39, it's about time I woke up to it eh?!

Cheers, peace and love,
Kim

Coming Unplugged

In the wired world we live in we are all moving at the speed of light. I am constantly running around 1,000 mph with my hair on fire. I often ask myself with all the technology around me, why do I never seem to have enough time? I can barely get through the day-to-day to do list, let alone have time to keep up with friends and family or have time for myself.

Don't get me wrong... I am a big fan of technology, but I find myself yearning for a world that doesn’t move so quickly. With 3 email addresses, 3 voicemails, 2 computers, linked in, facebook, twitter, a blog and texting…it’s just out of control. I struggle with the fact that these tools help me research things, keep in touch and more, but how much of a time suck are they and in this fast paced world are we replacing actual relationships with virtual ones? And, are we so crazed just trying to keep up that we don’t have the ability to be present in the moment and actually enjoy it?

I think I need an intervention. Because I am taking a vacation with Poppy next week I’ve decided to declare it an "Uplugged Holiday". I will not check email or voicemail. I will not “tweet”, I will not text,  I will not go on facebook  (I know, you’ll believe it when you see it!) and I will take a week off from the blog. We’ll see if I can actually unplug myself and see what impact it has.

But, you’ll have to wait for my return for the update!

Cheers,
Kim

Mommy Mantras

In the daily struggle, and yes, it is a struggle, to hold it all together as a mother I walk the line of balancing my various roles: worker, mother, wife, sister, daughter, friend. Often I feel like I'm not doing any of it well, but am trying to be a lot more accepting of what I can give, when I can give it.

As a mother's day gift to myself, I downloaded (on the kindle app for my iPhone - love it) the fabulous little book Mommy Mantras: Affirmations & Insights to Keep You From Losing Your Mind by Bethany Casarjian & Diane Dillon. It is full of mantras for dealing with the daily challenges of motherhood like:

• This Feeling is Temporary
• Surrender to the Goat (a personal favorite - it is about doing things for the millionth time in a row and actually enjoying them because time and moments in your kids life go FAST)
• Within me there is a peacefulness that cannot be disturbed (this is a good one when your kid is going ballistic in public)
• When it's over, it's over
• They are who they are
• Ignore the score

And so many others I could go on and on. Since I am only in chapter 4, I have a lot of insight to gain, but have already found this book to be a keeper. I kind of wish I had bought the actual book so I could share it with friends. But, it gets even better because there is a Mommy Mantras blog too. Now I can get my daily dose of sanity right from my desktop.

If you find yourself looking for a little something to get through the day, check it out..maybe we all need a little more OM in our home!

Cheers,

Kim

Breakfast in Bed

With Mother’s Day quickly approaching I let Marc & Poppy know I wasn’t in the mood to go out this year for a big fancy brunch. Instead, my ideal day would include sleeping in late and then enjoying breakfast in bed with my two favorite people, then spend the entire day in our jammies watching movies and chillin’ out.

Included are some great recipes I recently got from the JWeekly which I thought sounded delish and easy to prepare ahead - even a busy daddy and 3 year old can do it!

Cheers,
Kim

Smoked Salmon and Scallion Frittata
Makes 4-8 servings

olive oil (for greasing)
12 eggs
1 cup half-and-half
6 oz. smoked salmon, flaked
6 scallions, sliced
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground pepper
8 oz. cream cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease an 8-inch pie pan liberally with olive oil. In a large bowl, beat eggs together with half-and-half. Gently stir in salmon, scallions, salt and pepper. Drop dollops of cream cheese evenly throughout.
Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until the eggs set and are firm to the touch. Allow to cool for 5 minutes and then cut into wedges or squares and serve.

 

Challah Bread Pudding
Makes 10-12 servings

4 cups milk
8 Tbs. (1 stick) butter, melted in microwave
11⁄2 cups sugar
6 eggs
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 loaf challah, cut into 11⁄2-inch slices
1 cup raisins

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Combine milk and melted butter with the sugar, eggs, cinnamon and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Whisk until incorporated and smooth.
Line a large baking dish with the challah slices, sprinkling the raisins as you go. Pour milk mixture slowly over the top of everything and let stand until the bread has absorbed almost all of the liquid, 5 to 10 minutes.
Wrap the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 50 minutes. Remove the aluminum foil and cook 10 to 15 minutes longer until set in the middle and lightly browned on top.

 

Champagne-Pomegranate Cocktail
Makes 1 serving

1 oz. pomegranate juice
1 oz. pomegranate liqueur
Champagne or sparkling wine

Pour pomegranate juice and pomegranate liqueur into a Champagne flute, add Champagne to fill to the top.

 
Fruit Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
Makes 4-8 servings

2 Tbs. honey
juice and zest of one lemon
1 tsp. poppy seeds
1 cup halved seedless grapes (red or green)
2 kiwis, peeled and sliced
1 cup sliced strawberries
1 cup blueberries
1⁄4 cup sliced almonds

Whisk together honey, lemon juice and zest, and poppy seeds. Drizzle over grapes, kiwis, strawberries and blueberries in a serving bowl. Garnish with sliced almonds and serve, either chilled or at room temperature.

Recipes Source: JWeekly