Life at a "Swell's" pace

Poplar Tree saplings and clouds

POPLAR TREE SAPLINGS IN THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY OF OREGON

Getting to the heart of the matter

I recently placed a candle in my bathroom and had it lit last night while I folded clothes in the laundry room next door. The scent was amazing and I couldn't help but get lost in thought. My thoughts took me all over the place. Thoughts about my move in September, my choices I've made so far in life, my wonderful son and how happy he makes me every day, thoughts about his dad and how I wish the very best for him when we are gone, thoughts about Oregon, Arkansas, and every state in between while we are apart. Thoughts about my yoga practice and training and where I want to be in two years with it. Thoughts about all the trauma from my past and events of pain I have made peace with. My thoughts are really my driving force behind my sanity and if it wasn't for thinking things through completely, I don't think I would be where I am now.

As I was lost in thought and folding the last towel from the dryer, I stepped into the bathroom to envelope myself in the pleasant aroma and glanced over to the little red box I have in the corner with magazines in it and saw this.....

How wonderful is that? When I saw it I was reminded of a thought voiced during yogic practices, "BE PRESENT." There is nothing more calming than the thought of being present at that very moment. It's a Zen practice that comes with ease and simplicity when practiced over and over. Being present is nothing more than focusing on what's the task at hand and letting go of, but learning from what we have already encountered and what we will soon face. But not spending too much time on what will come. Prepare and move back to present.

What a great image to see during the moment of thoughts.

It was almost a sign to me that everything is okay and will be okay. It was a comfort.

Do you find comfort in simple things that would otherwise be overlooked by some?

To learn more ways on helping you stay focused and being present visit my Yoga page over at Dairy of a Yogi. I'd love to have ya!

Here is the candles I have been burning lately in my own home.

Rosemary Source Sage Source

Eco-Tip: Make sure your refrigerator is cooling without drafts. Slipping a piece of paper when the door is shut will help determine whether your door is sealing properly. If the paper slips or slides when the door is shut look into replacing your door seal around the edge. For this and other tips on going green visit, The Earth and Me Go Green.

Lemon Pepper and Garlic Pitas

This recipe is amazing and offers so many flavors when paired together. When made in the crock pot it can be made a day ahead or allowed to cook all day and enjoyed when the dinner bell rings.

Here's what you'll need:

1/2 white onion

1 tbs. fresh garlic

1 tbs. lemon pepper seasoning

1.5 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breast

1 cup of water

A pinch of oregano

A pinch of paprika

A pinch of sea salt

A pinch of black pepper

(The last four ingredients can be altered to your liking according to your taste)

Additionally you'll need:

1 cucumber

1 tomato

1/2 cup light mayo

Whole wheat pita pockets

1. Chop the onion in bite-sized chunks and place on bottom of crock pot.

2. Weigh your chicken breasts and use roughly about 1.5 lbs. of chicken breast. Cut off any fat along the edges.

3. Add in the garlic, lemon pepper, and remaining ingredients on top of the chunks of onion.

Aren't those little stands the cutest? All they are is a candlestick glued to a small saucer with E-6000 glue. Find the tutorial HERE!

Be sure and save all of your scraps from any vegetable cuttings to use in your garden for compost.

4. After the chicken has cooked in the crock pot for about four to five hours remove it from the crock pot and shred the chicken.

I like to shred it completely then place it back into the crock pot to soak up some of the liquid from the cooking process.

5. In a separate bowl mix the mayo and 1/2 of the juices from cooking your chicken.

Finally, open up your pita pocket and coat the inside with the mayo mixture, add in the shredded chicken, top with tomatoes.

Add a little sea salt and black pepper to the top and serve along side your sliced cucumbers.

ENJOY!

Eco-Tip: Eating clean can mean a lot of things to a lot of people, but the bottom line of eating clean means picking organic and natural over the other. Making better choices for your health and eating habits can yield long term benefits in the long run. For this and other tips on going green visit, The Earth and Me Go Green.

Contrast of color

Eco-Tip: To enhance your green lifestyle consider green apps to add to your smart phone to give you the encouragement and the boost you need to keep on the right track. Consider an app called GoodGuide. It's an app that can help you make better choices at the grocery store. For this and other tips on going green visit, The Earth and Me Go Green.