Seeing the Goodness

 

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How are you doing?  I can imagine your days are filled with highs and lows, anxiety, coupled with feelings of joy, love, fear and worry, perhaps with moments of boredom in the mix, as you adapt to a new and different normal.

Uncertainty is stressful.  The world is facing an economic crisis and the coronavirus pandemic is the deadliest threat to ordinary life that we have experienced in modern history.  BUT we are experiencing this adversity collectively. We cannot let fear consume us.  We will get through this.  We will beat the virus.  The economy will bounce back.  We need to shift our fear into hope, faith and courage.

Be present.  Dig Deep.  Make choices with love, practice kindness, to yourself and others.  Be grateful.  We owe so much to the healthcare workers, doctors, nurses, hospital staff, truck drivers, grocery store clerks and everyone on the front lines who are working on our behalf.

This global pandemic is shifting us, shifting our daily lives, shifting our priorities and shifting the way we work, live and interact.  This is an unprecedented time for us globally.  Focus on your health, both physical and mental.  If you are experiencing anxiety, address it.  Self-care is essential during this time. Everything is upside down with most of the world forced to stay home.

These are dark days indeed, but I am seeing the goodness that is rising up around us.  We may be forced to be apart but we are coming together as one in so many new ways.

When the school systems closed down, their first concern was to make sure the children that relied on school lunches for food did not go hungry. (If you are able, consider making a gift to #nokidhungry.)  Only after local school systems figured out how to bag breakfasts and lunches and disseminate them safely did they focus on the learning.  Once they did, they offered chrome books for loan to the families that did not have computers at home, and internet providers were offering free wifi.

I worked for a decade trying to make change in the education system with the ArtScience Prize and it’s difficult.  We did a lot of good but shifting schools and systems to make big changes is very, very hard.  Yet in a matter of weeks, across the globe, education systems quickly shifted to remote learning almost overnight.  This will no doubt help us conceive new ways to educate equitably going forward.

Across the US people of all ages are banding together to make face masks for our doctors, nurses, emergency care workers, truck drivers and grocery store workers.  People are gathering together in new ways both virtually and in person.  There are online social cocktail hours.  There are gatherings of neighborhoods from their balconies, windows and driveways in order to interact.

In Arlington, MA the community has launched 6 Feet at 6PM to connect as a community, visually and virtually, each evening at 6pm.  They are asking everyone to come out of their homes or look out their windows to wave to neighbors in an effort to check in with each other at a safe distance to make sure “we are all OK as a community.” #Arlington6At6

In Italy people are coming together for song from their windows and balconies, here is one hauntingly beautiful video.  One of the people who sang wrote “Imagine the whole world singing like this from their houses. No hate, no nothing. Just unified for once. Love this so much,”

Remember during this time filled with anxiety, it’s important to move your body, practice self care and eat healthy.   Yogaworks is offering free virtual yoga classes with teachers from across the US.  This morning I took a virtual class from an instructor in Atlanta and had others participating from India, Norway, Sweden, Texas and more.  86 people turned on their computers and practiced yoga at the same time.  Amazing.  You should try it.  If you are new to yoga, it’s ok there are classes for everyone.

This is also a time to try something new, alone or with your family.  Faer is painting every day and taking online piano lessons.  Ellie has taken up embroidery  and is creating beautiful things.  Alexander is learning new skateboard tricks.

Get creative.  Grab a book and read.  Listen to music.  Pull out your mixer and bake something.  Embrace this time with your immediate family and friends, whoever you are with during this time.  Connections are important.  Conversations are important, especially with our children to help them process this historic time with all of the ambiguity and unknowns.

It’s also important to get out in nature if you can safely do this.  Look at the clouds.  Watch the wind in the trees. Take a deep breath.  Listen to the birds.  Be happy that you are alive.

I’ll close with the same words the yoga instructor said this morning as she ended class:

May you be happy.  May you be healthy.  May you prosper in ways that bring you joy.  May we all be free.  I love you. Namaste.

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Carrie Allen created this site as a way for people to share stories about things they love.  She loves chasing quiet, authentic moments and sharing them with her family and friends.  Read more about her inspiration here. 

Toast

We need to talk about toast.  Toast is one of the simplest ways to pull something fabulous together for breakfast, lunch or dinner and anything in between.  It can be savory, sweet, simple, complex and the combinations are endless.  Toast is comfort. The bread can be sliced bread, white bread, wheat bread, rye bread, sourdough, gluten-free or a bagel, french bread or flatbread.  You get the idea.  Anything goes.

And guess what?  During this time when everyone is inside and balancing this new life of work and family and everything all together, toast can be your saving grace.  It’s simple.  Seriously, you can prepare a meal with toast in 5 minutes or less.

A few ideas for toppings with things you likely already have on hand:

  • Peanut butter and jelly and sliced fruit on top
  • Avocado and egg with or without greens and salt and pepper
  • Nutella, peanut butter and banana
  • Cheese toast (served with warmed tomato soup!)
  • Plain with butter and leave the eggs and fruit on the side
  • Cheese and tomato drizzled with balsamic vinegar
  • Cucumber, cream cheese and dill
  • Buttered toast with a bowl of veggie soup
  • Hummus and veggies
  • Tuna Salad
  • Chicken Salad
  • and so on…

For the kids in the house (regardless of age) make it fun.  Play with shapes and even get them to help assemble… or make a toast bar, putting a variety of things out and letting everyone assemble their own toast.

And let’s not forget cheese.  Warmed cheese and bread with anything is divine.

Consider toast your blank canvas and share your toast ideas below!  Next up I’m thinking about french toast… but that is altogether different.

Be well.

33D3287D-7494-4CBE-894B-A02DF7A5768D
Carrie Allen created this site as a way for people to share stories about things they love.  She loves chasing quiet, authentic moments and sharing them with her family and friends.  Read more about her inspiration here. 

 

 

Reboot, Refresh

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Green juices by Nadia Damaso

 

It’s been a minute since you’ve heard from me, for which I am very sorry; however, I made a conscious decision in late November to unplug over the holidays and spend quality time with the family.  We had a fun family vacation in Vermont, and amazing meals  rich with connections and conversations throughout the holiday season with loved ones from Vermont to Virginia, and many tables and cities in between.

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Photo by Jess Ann Kirby

 

The holidays quickly turned into 2020 and here we are in March already!  During February Krister and I participated in the NY Now Winter Show, our first ever trade show and I am delighted to share that our linens are now sold in boutiques across the US in 15 states.

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August Table at NY Now Winter Show 2020

 

But what’s this reboot, refresh about any way?  During the holidays I spent a lot of time journaling and creating vision books to help me get crystal clear on what I want for myself, for my family, for August Table and how I want to engage with you.

Ultimately, this blog is about passion with the intention of bringing more joy, more love and more laughter to you, my friends. You will find posts about mindfulness, healthy eating, my favorite recipes, food photography, paintings, design, coffee shops and more.  I will also be curating more content from friends and inspiring things that catch my eye, which can be on any topic.

What would you like to see?  Do you want to share a story or a passion? Truly anything goes so please reach out or drop a comment below.

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Maple Broccolini Salad with Cashew Cream by Thyme & Emerald

 

So let’s refresh.

Today you cannot go anywhere without hearing about the coronavirus, the flu and germs.  I think this is a great time for everyone to think about what’s on your plate, what are you putting in your bodies, as well as making sure you wash your hands as much as possible.  For most people, 55% of daily calories come from processed foods.  This is not healthy – the more calories that come from processed foods high in salt, preservatives, sugar and saturated fats the worse it is for your body.  Try to substitute processed foods for more fresh fruit and veggies.  Please.  It’s good for you.

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Green Smoothie by My Berry Forest

 

One way to do this is to make smoothies and juices as well as adding in more greens to each meal.  The more nutrition you put in your body the stronger your immune system will be to help you fight off viruses and germs.  I’ve pulled a few favorite recipes and photos to inspire you here.

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Kale and Pink Beet Salad with Turmeric Tahini Recipe by Thyme and Emerald

 

Over the last few months I have been talking about the benefits of drinking celery juice to just about everyone who will listen.  We start our mornings with 16 oz of freshly juiced celery juice on an empty stomach – before coffee, I know…  The results have been transformative! Why not give it a try?  Celery juice helps clean out toxins, viruses and heavy metals from your body.

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The Medical Medium on the Virtues of Celery Juice by Anthony William on Goop

 

In addition to the celery juice I’ve focused on what’s on our plates, trying to ensure we have as many colors as possible on the plate and that our meals are loaded with nutrition.  One of my favorite go to any time meals is eggs with greens – not to be confused with green eggs and ham.  The recipe below of Turkish fried eggs coupled with garlicky greens and avocado is delish.

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Turkish Eggs with chile butter and whipped feta by Half Baked Harvest

 

I hear you – sometimes it feels like a lot of work to pull together a healthy meal.  I know what it feels like after a long day when you want to put your feet up and relax but have hungry faces looking at you.  The more you plan your weekly meals out and shop on the weekends the easier it is.  Also you need to simplify.  And guess what, if you get the rest of the house to help you prep it becomes a fun activity.   I look for things to have on hand that put a delicious meal on the table in less than 30 minutes, like the Saucy Garlic Butter Shrimp with Coconut and Rice Noodles below from Half Baked Harvest.

 

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Saucy garlic butter shrimp w/ coconut milk and rice noodles recipe

 

On the weekends I like to make big pots of soups, chilis and stews and put extra in the freezer to pull out on those extra hectic nights.  I’d love to hear what you have on your table.

Stay healthy and be well.

33D3287D-7494-4CBE-894B-A02DF7A5768D
Carrie Allen created this site as a way for people to share stories about things they love.  She loves chasing quiet, authentic moments and sharing them with her family and friends.  Read more about her inspiration here.