Today is the Youngest You Will Ever Be

Today is the youngest you will ever be. This is becoming more and more relevant to me as my birthday gets closer and closer; and as my yoga class grows to encompass students from 15 - 80 years of age.  In my experience, age is truly nothing more than a number.  It won't effect your daily activities, unless you let it.  For a bit of positive inspiration, take a look at 94 year old yoga teacher Tao Porchon-Lynch:

http://www.taoporchon-lynch.com/

So, remember, today is the youngest you will ever be.  Enjoy your youth, whether you're 15, 80, or 94 years young.  

Yesterday is a memory.

Tomorrow's a mystery.

Today is a gift;

That's why it's called the present.

Bread: Then and Now

The weather hasn't paned out so well for me this weekend, being overcast more often than not...I supposed the flours enjoyed rain.  But, it has given me plenty of time to loaf around.  In fact, I tried something I've been kneading to do for a while....bake bread from scratch!

This is the first time I've ever made bread, so I decided to find a simple recipe...I didn't want anything in the kitchen to go a rye.  So I googled "easy bread recipe" and this is what I found:

http://www.steamykitchen.com/168-no-knead-bread-revisited.html

'So easy a 4-year old can do it' - way to put the pressure on Ms. SteamyKitchen, I better not mess this one up.

Luckily, it was fairly easy...requiring only 4 main ingredients: flour, yeast, salt, and warm water.  All of which are inexpensive, even if you splurge for the good stuff (organic, whole wheat flour) and I guess you could also opt for expensive artisan water but most likely you'll be using tap water like me.  I have no idea who my target audience is (that's you), I'm assuming your down-to-earth, no frills type of people who like fresh bread, most likely you can read (I include pictures though, just in case I'm wrong).  All in all, it cost me about $4 to make a glorious, hearty loaf of bread.

My home-made loaf!
I added a some Rosemary from my garden for extra pizzaz and served it with olive oil and balsamic on the side.

Was taking the time to bake my own bread actually worth the effort?  I think it was.  Although it takes half a day to prepare properly, it has many benefits.  Making your own bread is cheaper, much more delicious, and healthier than settling for store-bought loaves.  Awareness of gluten allergies and Paleo/Caveman dieting is on the rise (last pun, I swear).  Reading the ingredients list on packages of store-bought bread makes it sound more like a floor-cleaning concoction than the basic ingredient in a sandwich.

Bread: Then and Now

My best advice is to read food labels so you know exactly what you're eating.  If you don't like (or understand) the ingredients listed, either avoid the food or learn how to make it yourself.  In the wise words of Michael Pollan, “Don't eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn't recognize as food.” 

 

It's going to be a beautiful day in Wilmington, NC!

Perfect weather to do something good for yourself - go for a walk, take a yoga class, jump in the ocean, or just sit outside for 15 minutes - all of these will help reduce stress.  "A 20 year study conducted by the University of London concluded that unmanaged reactions to stress were a MORE dangerous risk factor for cancer and heart disease than either cigarette smoking or high cholesterol foods" -Institute of Stress and Chrysalis Performance Strategies.

That's my dog Ramses in the photo above...sometimes, like today, he listens to my blog advice...

Not your typical Quote of the Day