LISTS
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December 23, 2019

Intentions for the Week

 

Looking to get your head in the game? Tracy from Shutterbean makes a weekly TO DO LIST called her Intentions for the Week. Here's what this week looks like:

Intentions for the Week- Week 52 of 2019.  Here’s what week 52 in 2018 looked like! 

Happy Monday, friends!

We caught some type of flu bug here over the weekend. We’ve been taking things slow, cuddling with the kitten, and doing house cleaning in increments. I’m hosting Christmas Eve at my house. We have a party of 10 this year. Cooper will be the only kiddo! We are doing a caesar salad/lobster/linguini & clams dinner my family likes to do. I have a lot to get done before Tuesday!  Here I am trying to take a moment to be kind to my body, take a deep breath and make a few lists to keep my sanity in check.  I am making a batch of Lemon Ginger Elixir and keeping some turmeric honey close by for turmeric lattes.  It’s cold and my body needs warmth and nourishment.  Let’s figure out my Intentions for the Week, shall we?

CONTINUE READING

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my everyday life, Photography
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December 22, 2019

My Everyday Life Week 51

Here’s what this past week looked like- My Everyday Life Week 51

The week started with a cookie decorating party at my house!

I just realized that you can see my smiling face in the window reflection.

I posted the Gingerbread Cookie recipe on my blog this week.

I thought of my Mom while I was getting everything ready.

I made a simple caesar and pasta.  Weeknight hangouts don’t have to be fancy.

CONTINUE READING

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LISTS
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December 20, 2019

I LOVE LISTS

I LOVE LISTS

  1. We took a train through Canada on our honeymoon. It’s so pretty.
  2. NPR’s favorite movies of 2019
  3. How to reflect more meaningfully on the past year.  A Currently Workbook helps too!
  4. This restaurant looks crazy.
  5. Santas with a twist
  6. An Ode to Middle Age
  7. Photos of the decade.
  8. This woman is so dang sweet.
  9. WASH YOUR HANDS.
  10. The Age of Instagram Face.
  11. Gingko leaves are my favorite. This tree is bonkers.
  12. A look at 19th-century photography.
  13. The Miseducation of the American Boy
  14. This is the cutest DIY dollhouse
  15. To make: homemade orange bitters / candy cane vodka / gingerbread bundt cake
  16. Grief during the holidays.
  17. The philosophy of FLOW.
  18. Treat yo’self: thermal loungewear / facial gift set / anthro candle / jade roller
  19. The Zen of Bill Murray
  20. How yoga changes your brain.
  21. This pleases my eyeballs.
  22. Lynda Barry- a comic exercise on how to build character
  23. Homemade Holiday Gifts from the archives!

Thinking of gifting a Pep Talk Pack? Find them in my Etsy Shop

Order your Currently Workbook and join me in self-reflection for 2020!

Grab yourself a Food Journal to track your eating habits & practice your handwiting! 

 
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recipes
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December 18, 2019

Gingerbread Cookies

Every year one of my childhood friends would have a gingerbread house /gingerbread cookie decorating themed birthday party and I LOOKED FORWARD TO IT EVERY SINGLE YEAR.  I loved coming home and putting my gingerbread house on display in the kitchen all month long while my brothers slowly picked at it, turning it into a humble scrapyard by the end of the month. 

Casey, Cooper and I moved into my childhood home almost 8 years ago which is right near one my closest friends, Caley.  We’ve been friends since 7th grade and our kids are growing up together in the same neighborhood.  We’ve had a nice gingerbread house tradition going on since we moved back. Some years it’s houses, some years it’s cookies. We switch hosting.It was this holiday activity a few years ago that pulled me into the holiday spirit (for my son!) while grieving super hard over my Mom’s death.  I’m am lucky to have a friend like her in my life.

If you are really present with yourself and the experience, cookie baking will give you a good dose of holiday magic if you’re feeling a little bahumbug.  Taking your time, talking to friends, getting lost in decorating your cookies can be the best way to unwind.  

I’ve been using this recipe from Simply Recipes for the past few years and it has never let me down. It doubles nicely. The dough is a dream to work with. It almost feels like playdoh. Rolling out, cutting out shapes and decorating cookies is the best way to spread some holiday magic this season.  Perhaps you can have your own cookie baking party this weekend? You still have time to gather the ingredients.  Come on!

CONTINUE READING

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LISTS
|
December 16, 2019

Intentions for the Week

Looking to get your head in the game? Tracy from Shutterbean makes a weekly TO DO LIST called her Intentions for the Week. Here's what this week looks like:

 

Happy Monday, friends! 

We are on week 51 of 2019. Here’s what Week 51looked like last year. 

This weekend we had basketball tournaments, laundry, housework, packing up orders, MEAL PREP and dinner out with my Dad and his girlfriend (life is so weird!). We caught up on some sleep and had quality kitten time. The little boy still has no name. Hopefully, we will by the end of the week. 

Meal prep has been a long time coming!

I’ve just been out of practice and also working my way out of a food/grief rut.  The holidays are especially challenging.  At least I am heading into the week with some good options.

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Back in the saddle! ✨🐎🥗 swipe to see my salad goals this week. #shutterbeanmealprep #thingsorganizedneatly

A post shared by Tracy Benjamin (@shutterbean) on

Meal Prep this week includes:

  • iced tea
  • hard-boiled eggs
  • arugula
  • mom’s salad dressing
  • romaine lettuce
  • roasted brussels sprouts
  • roasted delicata squash
  • cut up celery, pepper & carrots
  • black beans
  • wild rice
  • cooked salmon
  • croutons

YOU CAN TELL I WANT TO EAT SALAD THIS WEEK, HUH?

Holiday cards are almost done! I have to pack them up and ship them out.  Time to sit down and figure out my Intentions for the Week. Let’s do this.

CONTINUE READING

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my everyday life, Photography
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December 15, 2019

My Everyday Life Week 50

Here’s what this past week looked like – My Everyday Life Week 50

Thank heavens for the Sun. I needed to see some this week. 

Because life has looked like this for a few weeks.

Waking up with these two.

On the lookout:

Art date with Neiley. We checked out open studios in Sausalito.

This masterpiece was “PRICELESS”

CONTINUE READING

9 comments
LISTS
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December 13, 2019

I LOVE LISTS

I LOVE LISTS

 

  1. I can’t believe such a small % of us love cooking.
  2. Nature is amazing.
  3. I love love LOVE Steve Martin.
  4. Pictures of things rarely seen.
  5. Some of these signs are soo good.
  6. Meditation for artists- automatic drawing
  7. 5 ways to reduce food waste
  8. How the loss of a landline is changing family life
  9. Veganuary is hard to say.
  10. Wanted for NYE: Halo Crown!
  11. I dunno. My brain cannot compute coffee-flavored cola.
  12. A whole bunch of healthy Trader Joe’s items to inspire a healthy start
  13. These vintage photos are precious. 
  14. Should you get advice from a bot?
  15. Yum- Andes Mint Cookies / Pull-Apart Garlic Butter Bread 
  16. This cast would have been awesome when I broke my arm.
  17. Learning to make my mother’s holiday cookies again.
  18. Figures from classic paintings brought into contemporary life
  19. This workspace/garden in LA looks pretty cool.
  20. How to get airlines to accommodate your food allergy.
  21. Make a batch of Matcha Sesame Granola for breakfast next week.
  22. All of my Favorite Things from 2019!

Thinking of gifting a Pep Talk Pack? Find them in my Etsy Shop

Order your Currently Workbook and join me in self-reflection for 2020!

Grab yourself a Food Journal to track your eating habits & practice your handwiting! 

5 comments