Food for the Soul: Green Monster

I just made my first green monster. It's a delicious smoothie invented by Angela of Oh She Glows, and it's so easy to do. Go read the story of how she came to invent her green monster. It's really inspirational!

Small Green Monster, by Amanda James

Here's the basic formula that I follow:
a couple handfuls of spinach (you can't taste it; don't worry!)
thickener: frozen bananas, ice, yogurt
liquid: milk/soy milk/almond milk/juice

optional additions:
protein: nut butter, seeds, protein powder
additional flavors: frozen fruits, chocolate, honey

I use the measurements on my blender to help me guess how much I'm making and then add thickeners or liquids to get the consistency I want.

Small Green Monster, by Amanda James

I've been making smoothies for a while, but never thought to add spinach. What a great way to care for yourself! Sometimes caring for ourselves simply means eating food that will make us feel good on the inside and glow on the outside.

Poetree

Continuing yesterday's theme on the magical world of words . . . Have you heard about the mysterious paper sculptures that have been left in various locations around Edinburgh? I just did, and the mysterious appearances have been continuing on for months!

The artist has been leaving them at locations that support "libraries, books, words, ideas," such as the Scottish Poetry Library, the Scottish Storytelling Center, and the Central Lending Library.

The "poetree" was left at the Scottish Poetry Library, with the note: "It started with your name @byleaveswelive and became a tree . . . We know that a library is so much more than a building full of books . . . a book is so much more than pages full of words . . . This is for you in support of libraries, books, words, ideas . . . a gesture (poetic maybe?)

Poetree, by Mysterious Book Sculptor with a Heart of Gold
Photographed by chrisdonia

My other favorite is the one that was left at the Scottish Storytelling Center, with the note: "For @scotstorycenter - A gift in support of libraries, books, works, ideas . . . Once upon a time there was a book and in the book was a nest and in the nest was an egg and in the egg was a dragon and in the dragon was a story . . .

Poetree, by Mysterious Book Sculptor with a Heart of Gold
Photographed by chrisdonia

For more pictures, visit Central Stn, where I first heard about these works of art.

Smarty-pants words

I believe words have a way of mediating our reality. From playing with words to learning new words (in my native English language or a foreign one), becoming aware of words helps me realize that the words I choose have a profound effect on how I define myself and the world, as well as how others see me.

So, given how powerful words can be, I love the idea of the Word Project of Polly M. Law (found via Sue du Jour). It introduces viewers to new vocabulary through pictures as whimsical as the words themselves. 

Here are my favorite pieces:

"Dinomania: (n) irresistable urge to dance," by Polly Law

"Empyreal: (adj) celestial, elevated," by Polly Law

I wonder how she would illustrate some of my favorite words:

terpsichorean  (adj.) Of or relating to dancing. n. A dancer.
oneiromancy  (n.) The practice of predicting the future through interpretation of dreams.

What are words you'd like to see illustrated?

Song of the Day: End of the Line

I heard the Traveling Wilburys singing "End of the Line" the other day, and it instantly made me feel like I was ready for whatever the day brought. No matter what, it was going to be all right.

"Well it's all right, even if they say you're wrong
Well it's all right, sometimes you gotta be strong
Well it's all right, as long as you got somewhere to lay
Well it's all right, everyday is judgement day"

(You know the Traveling Wilburys, right? They're the Avengers-like group of music superheros: Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, and Roy Orbison. Awesome.)

Sacred Space: Chartres Cathedral

It's time for another pilgrimage, friends!

This time, we'll visit the great cathedral of Chartres, completed in 1290. (My husband and I visited the cathedral just this summer, while it was undergoing renovations. It's amazing how light the stone became when renovated; it's a completely different space--light and happy. We're looking forward to seeing again some day when the renovations are complete.)

Chartres is famous for its beautiful, old stained glass. Much of it is a gorgeously rich blue color. Besides the lovely colors, the artists creatively portrayed the classic stories of the Bible. One of the most famous windows is called the "Blue Virgin." Below her are panels depicting Christ's temptations and the wedding at Cana. (Isn't it a lovely transformational image? struggle with the shadow → marriage of opposites → wisdom...)

The "Blue Virgin" of Chartres, taken by me

Chartres is also famous for its labyrinth, which visitors can still walk along each Friday in the summer. I love labyrinths, because they symbolize the great faith required in spiritual wandering. As you walk, you wonder, when will I reach the center? But the beautiful thing is, you always do reach the center, the rose of enlightenment. You're never lost.

from the book Alle Tiders Labyrinter, by Jørgen Thordrup, via Lavigne

Whooo are youuu?

The caterpillar asks Alice, "Who are you?"
Alice and the Caterpillar, by the Emily Martin, aka the Black Apple

I came across a lovely article by Anne Lamotte on Oprah's website (via Medicinal Marzipan).

I love that Anne describes the process of coming to live authentically as an often messy, embarrassing, painful process. Because if you're really wanting to see transformation, it's going to take courage.

Alice and the Piglet, by Emily Martin

The Mad Tea Party, by Emily Martin

Read the whole article; it's so worth it! And then ponder the last two sentences with me, because they're too poetic to not become a sort of mantra:

"To love yourself as you are is a miracle, and to seek yourself is to have found yourself, for now. And now is all we have, and love is who we are."

Still Life with Live Flowers, by Emily Martin

Admiring: Two Yoginis

Girl Crush? What a great idea for a magazine!

I have a whole list of girl crushes. Who are they, you ask? Well, let me introduce you to some of them! Here are two ladies from the yoga world whom I admire.

Tiffany Cruikshank. I took one class from her at a retreat, and she kicked my butt. What I love about her: she embodies strength and grace. And her playlists are groovy.

Neesha Zollinger. She's a teacher on yogatoday.com, and her bright spirit always makes my day a little better. Plus, she did a lesson based on Star Wars. Sweet!

Neesha Zollinger

The moral of today's girl crush episode: seek out women that make you want to be a stronger, brighter you.