Kristen Suzanne's

FOOD · TRAVEL · LIFESTYLE

Main navigation

Would’ve Died Happy Last Night

by

I was lying in bed last night sandwiched between my husband and my daughter. And my right hand held my seven-year-old daughter’s hand … still so small and precious. Relishing and cherishing the feel of having her little hand rest in mine while she slept. On the other side of me I was snuggled up next to my husband. I was lying there completely happy. Fully content. Feeling the cool breeze of the fan on a hot Arizona night. Recognizing my satisfied belly of food.

I thought to myself, “I could die right now and be happy.”

Gratitude.

Similar Posts:

Not Tip-Toeing Around My Daughter

by

I’ve been doing a lot of soul-searching and evolving the past few years, and I’ve come a long way.

I noticed something today, though.

As I try to tackle my all-consuming passions issues with healthy eating and wholesome living, I realized that I am indeed breaking out of it. Slowly and surely.

And as I realized that, I actually saw another part of my life where I was behaving in a similar way, which was going to need an intervention. Shit.

So here’s the thing. I realized I tiptoe around my daughter, trying to say the “best or right” thing. Always. I tiptoe, because, for the past seven years, I’ve been trying to watch my language so I don’t fuck her up.

Here are some examples…

Instead of saying something is good or bad, I will respond with “Oh that behavior is not appropriate… or it is appropriate.” (Depending.)

“Ahhh that show features a girl whose behavior is inappropriate. Tsk-tsk-tsk.” I think I read in some parenting book that it would be better not to label my child’s behavior as good or bad. I don’t remember why.

Well, today the same thing happened while homeschooling.

We had a situation, which has come up before, where she’s doing something that she enjoys maybe watching a show or drawing, and I have to burst her bubble and say OK let’s do a worksheet. I’ll get some grumbles from her.

“Fuck,” I think to myself, “I want a better attitude for these!!!”

But before responding in any harsh way I get my wits about me and I start rambling, in a song-songy voice, something to the effect of … “Well this is important for learning in school and my job is to teach you and I have a responsibility and I want you to do well in school because when you do well in school you can have choices in life and this is important for later on because choices give you freedom.” Yada yada yada.

When what I really want to say (and should) is, “Do the fucking work. Do you want to be an idiot when you grow up?”

But, you see, I’m afraid to say something like that even though it’s my nature to want to say that because I’m afraid of any damage I could do if I use those words. And it’s not the cussing that’s a problem… she hears that all the time, but the other words I want to hold back on.

But I’m reading Tim Ferriss’ Tools of Titans and I’m coming across these people who are brilliant and successful, and they’re mentioning things their grandpas taught them or here’s what my daddy always said or my mentor taught me blah blah blah. Things like that. And I started to wonder what is she going to say about me that I always said. What pithy, memorable, life-inspiring things am I branding her memory with?

I couldn’t think of anything.

And I realized that my tiptoeing is probably doing more harm than good.

When I realized that I need to be me, I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders. I was like, “Yeah! I need to say what’s on my mind and to be honest with her.” I got a little charge up my spine.

I want to be ME which should encourage her to be HER. I hope.

I remember, when I was little, my mom would put my brother and me in the car and drive us to a real fancy neighborhood with mansions, and she would say to us, “Hey, if you study, this can be yours.” Then, she would take us to a bad part of town and say, “And, if you don’t study, you’re going to end up here.”

I remember that. She was passionate about that. It left an impression.

Dammit! I want to be my punchy-self, too,

Similar Posts:

Words To Live By

by

I picked up a copy of Tim Ferriss’ latest book Tools of Titans, at the library, and I really enjoyed reading through it… learning about the “tactics, routines, and habits of billionaires, icons, and world-class performers.”

I’m always up for new tips and tricks to navigate life. I was a Tony Robbins fan twenty years ago, if that says anything. In fact, I still have my (really) old Get The Edge journal. That’s one I’ve kept. Tony Robbins helped me through some dark times in my life. ❤️ his work.

Anyway. Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss.

One of the people featured in Tools of Titans is Jane McGonigal. She is a research affiliate at the Institute for the Future and the author of the New York Times bestseller Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World.

Tim Ferriss asked her “What is something you believe that other people think is crazy?”

Her response moved me…

“That you should never publicly criticize anyone or anything unless it is a matter of morals or ethics. Anything negative you say could at the very least ruin someone’s day, or worse, break someone’s heart, or simply change someone from being a future ally of yours to someone who will never forget that you were unkind or unfairly critical. It’s so common today to complain or criticize others’ work on social media, or dogpile on someone for a perceived offense. I won’t do it. It’s not my job to be the world’s critic, and I’d rather not rule out any future allies.”

Those are some words to live by.

I highly recommend Tools of Titans. I have many pages bookmarked and I have taken lots of notes in my journal. You know, the journal I talked about in the last post? It’s a perfect example… I’m reading a book and there are things I want to remember. Things like awesome health tips, inspiration to live my best life, recommendations for other popular and potentially life-changing books to read.

If you want to get the book from the library, then be prepared to wait because there’s probably a wait-list. I could have bought the book, but that wouldn’t have been very frugal or minimalist given my current passion for both of those. And let’s not forget we are moving abroad next year. I’d rather make room for my Instant Pot in my luggage (oh I’m gonna try) then for a giant book like Tools of Titans.

Similar Posts:

Pieces Of My Journal

by

I have kept journals in some form throughout my life. I will write a lot in them… I will study the pages often … and when I feel they have become a part of me, I usually tear them out and start over or transfer to a new journal what I’m still loving, needing, or working on.

As a minimalist, I like to distill down the important points I want to remember and get rid of the extra fluff. So a page in my journal might start filled with words and stickers and shapes and colors and pictures, but after a while I realize I don’t need all of it and I will rewrite it in fewer words. Sometimes I just “white it out” or cover with blank paper using tape and glue. I have some interesting journals to say the least.

Sometimes old thoughts, feelings, writings, or ideas don’t apply anymore because I have grown, matured, developed, or my preferences have changed.

Out with the old and in with the new.

Evolving.

Eventually my pages get too filled and I’m ready to start a new one, inevitably transferring some of the old ideas and things I’m still working on into the new journal amidst clean crisp white pages ready for all the new lessons and things I want to work on.

I like to keep a current journal with me at all times, especially while traveling. This is my latest one. Here are a few pages of the things I’m working on instilling inside me right now. My inspirations.

In the back of the notebook is also a section where I am keeping notes about olive oils. Another section I am tracking notes on finances and frugality.

My journal covers an array of topics and coffee stains … just depends on what is going on in my life at the moment.

Ideally I would use my iPhone for my journal. I’m a fan of Evernote, in spite of its limitations with folders, for keeping notes and ideas💡 but it just does not inspire me like a paper notebook does in my hands. Maybe I’m just old-fashioned. I like looking at the paper more so than the screen.

I have tried to do away with the journal in paper form, and only relying on my phone so that I am carrying less… I always find myself going back to having a paper journal. (I like stickers and glitter pens too.)

Various quotes and ideas I’ve come across that inspire me.

From Only Love Today – a good book by the author of Hands Free Mama (another favorite book)

I still need reminding for this 😳

When I’m still, quiet, sitting and simply listening … I get the most peace and clarity. But, I need reminding to do it.

When we move abroad I would like a journal with me, but the one I have now is too big for travel. I will be looking for something small and minimalist. A pocket-sized Traveler’s Journal might be perfect.

Similar Posts:

Chocolate Peanut Butter Eggs

by

Inspired by any recipe using minimal ingredients, I was massively intrigued by the 2-ingredient Nutella Brownies I saw online: Nutella + Eggs.

We don’t eat Nutella, so I figured I’d make my own version, requiring 3 ingredients instead.

  • Organic peanut butter
  • Organic chocolate bar
  • Eggs

I didn’t do much in the way of measuring other than an estimate of about a cup total between the peanut butter and chocolate (warmed on stove to make liquid-ish) plus 4 eggs.

The eggs get the crap beaten out of them to increase their volume and supposedly make less egg-tasting but… more on that in a bit.

Mix the warmed chocolate mixture with the eggs and bake in a greased baking dish for about 20 minutes (350 degrees or thereabouts).

It looks impressive.

It tastes less so.

In spite of beating my eggs a lot, I thought it tasted like chocolate peanut butter eggs instead of brownies.

That doesn’t mean it’s bad… just need to create expectations.

It needed to be sweeter so we drizzled maple syrup on one serving and tried another with strawberry jelly. (My chocolate bar was the organic dark chocolate from Trader Joe’s with pecans and raisins in the light blue wrapper – so not super dark chocolate.)

Sort of tasty (and interesting, to be sure). Just not brownies.

Kamea and Greg enjoyed them well enough that’d I’d probably make again. Maybe… now that I know what to expect.

A fun experiment to be sure. 🙌🏼

Similar Posts:

French Fries with Olive Oil

by

I’ve been reading about and researching (i.e., trying) a lot of true, quality olive oils. I’m drawn to olive oil like a moth to a flame 🔥 and quite happy about it.

As a result, I’ve reached out to some companies to taste their olive oils. Today, I’m featuring Gaea because they sent me some bottles and this tasty looking recipe.

In the past, I didn’t cook with olive oil, but this post details that we can indeed! 💃🏻🙌🏼

From the PR peeps for Gaea olive oil…

“Did you know August is National Olive Oil Month? Celebrate the liquid gold with Gaea, the leading Greek food company specializing in authentic Mediterranean Extra Virgin Olive Oils.”

Recipe:

FRENCH FRIES MADE IN THE OVEN

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

  • 4½ cups organic potatoes
  • ½ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil by GAEA
  • Coarse sea salt
  • Fresh pepper
  • 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika

PREPARATION

Preheat the oven at 220°C /450 F.

Scrub the potatoes clean and cut them into slices approximately 1 cm thick.

Place them in a bowl filled with water and leave them for approximately 15 minutes.

EXECUTION

Drain the potatoes, season them with salt and pepper and place them on a baking dish. Top them off with Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Roast in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.

Season with paprika.

Reduce the temperature to 200°C / 400°F and bake for 10 more minutes or until they get a nice golden color.

Similar Posts:

  1. Navigate:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. ...
  10. 202

Kristen's Raw © Copyright 2017 — Terms and Conditions