Finding Winter Happiness

So I would much rather be here.... But I am here..... getting through a midwest winter and staying focused on doing things that make me HAPPY!
So I promised myself this winter I would find happiness and be HAPPY this winter no matter what. You all who know me have heard me say a thousand times how much I hate WINTER!!!!

So call me crazy but I put on a happy face along with what seemed like 10 layers of clothing and headed outside to have a fire. I poured some vino and turned on all the twinkle lights, lit some candles and even turned on this adorable palm tree( a gift from my sister) and got HAPPY!!! I have to say it is a lot of work to get all bundled up and it also takes a lot of determination to make yourself sit outside when it is only 22 degrees but you know what? We had a fabulous time.
I even painted this wine glass with chalk board paint so I could write happy little sayings to myself, this makes me happy.
I even talked my husband into sitting outside with me, he is such a good sport... I am always dragging him into some crazy idea including going to Lake Michigan to take pictures of the beach during a snow storm.
When we left the house to head up to the Beach it was snowing so hard we could not see anyone in front of us... probably not my best idea ever, I even said should we turn around? and you know what my husband said??? Nonsense we have 4 wheel drive we will be fine! Sometimes in life you just have to go for it and not look back.
As you can see lake Michigan was angry this day, check out the waves!!! they were huge,(this picture does not do justice for how big the waves were. I don't think I have ever seen the waves so big on the lake before. As we were walking down the trail to the beach you could here the lake roaring, you could just feel the raw power of the lake that day. The waves sounded like a freight train coming.Even though it was brutal out there it was invigorating, it really made me feel alive. The sound of the waves roaring and the wind beating on my skin reminded me that mother nature is always in charge! You just have to get out and breathe and enjoy what you are given each day.Mother nature did not give us sunshine this day but you know what? we still found beauty at the beach even in the depths of winter.
Molly had a blast on the beach, she was one happy dog playing on the beach, she likes to bite at the waves,so cute. I am so glad we didn't turn around and go back that day, we ALL had a wonderful day scouting around the beach. I found some nice big pieces of drift wood and even some sea glass, which mind you is hard to come by on Lake Michigan. So what are you doing to stay happy this winter? I know getting out and staying active is on my list this winter. I think camping is next on my agenda!I know call me crazy but yes we are going camping and we are going to hike some trails and be HAPPY doing it. I hope you find things to do this winter that make you happy. So get out there and embrace winter and find HAPPINESS while doing it.

~ Do one thing every day that makes you happy ~

Dreams

So lately I have been in a bit of a slump mentally and creatively.I really am affected by winter's harshness. I don't care how positive you try to be in the winter time in the midwest it is just plain HARD!!! I have tried to put on a good face and ignore it but I don't like anything about winter. So the one thing I have been doing is dreaming about one day opening my own little wine beachy boutique with my sister. We both love wine and the beach, just perfect for us.The name of our shop would be SHORE VINO. We would even sell our own little beachy creations along with wine. I can envision our little shop down by the beach with white washed wood floors and turquoise walls. As you walk in you would smell our beachy candles and hear jazz music playing. I would love to even have a small little tasting bar for vino. You could do a little tasting while shopping for fun beachy gifts.The possibilities are endless.How fun would that be to own a little shop with your sister??? so what do you think??? I could be super happy working there could you be happy shopping in our little beachy wine boutique??? Check out this vino... Seaglass just perfect for a day at the Beach. And yes the wine is really yummy.Shore Vino would gladly make you a plate of cheese, some good dark chocolate and a bottle of vino to take down to the beach and watch the sunset.

Yup that's my sister and I happy as can be riding our beach cruisers... being free and sharing all our our hopes and dreams together. Never ever ever give up on your dreams, always follow your heart and never be afraid to be "YOU" and having great friends who support you and your dreams and who are truly happy for you,I thank you for believing in me!!!

So there you have it... my dream to open up Shore Vino with my sister . Oh and by the way a dream has to start somewhere right? We have purchased the domain name Shore Vino. We both came up with the name together one night while having a little vino and brain storming. I just love it, two of our favorite things!!! A dream starts with the smallest of steps but you just have to keep moving forward to make your dreams come true!I hope you take some time to dream everyday, you never know where your dreams will take you!
S~

"Nothing happens unless first we dream."
Carl Sandburg

Welcome Fall

So fall is here in the midwest and I am embracing it gracefully... I don't mind fall it's just what comes after fall that I hate!!! I am trying to stay positive and keep a good attitude about myself. I just really have a hard time with the dark gray days that seem to linger forever. Winter really takes a toll on me... I am such the summer ocean girl at heart, it makes me the most HAPPY! I love the ocean because it is so free and untamed , even wild that is how I would describe myself a free untamed wild spirit!
I do love sunflowers in the fall they are such happy little smiling faces. I am embracing the wonderful smells of fall and the showering of falling golden leaves. The leaves have a nutty earthy smell about them. Mother nature is getting ready to tuck everything in for the winter. The squirrels are foraging, the birds are fueling up for their long trek south and the sun is slipping further away from the earth only to show it's pretty little face again in the spring. Fall is a time to reap all of summers hard work. It always amazes me how the earth goes through such an amazing transformation. Just when you think winter will never end spring announces it's arrival , the first daffodil rears it's pretty little head and the birds begin their springtime serenade. Somehow every year the earth wakes up from it's long winter slumber and welcomes us with it's rebirth of spring. So for now I will stay positive and dream of the first warm spring breeze. I will take this time to slow down and recharge my batteries and appreciate this fall season.
So in keeping with the fall theme and spirit I made a low fat curry pumpkin soup. I LOVE all things pumpkin. This really is a super easy healthy soup to make.

Fall is the perfect time to bring out the stockpot and make warming soups. This low fat cream of pumpkin soup is perfect on a cold fall day, or as an appetizer for a Thanksgiving dinner. I also topped mine with fresh sage, low fat greek yogurt and toasted pumpkin seeds. Of course my meal would not be complete with a little red wine, oh how I love Mr. Cab !

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp curry powder
• 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon
  
• 1 tsp cumin
• 3 cups fat-free, low sodium vegetable broth
• 1 15-ounce can pumpkin
• 1 12-ounce can evaporated fat-free milk
• Freshly ground Black pepper to taste

Preparation:

Heat oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until softened. Stir in curry powder and cumin and cook for 1 minute. Add broth and pumpkin. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Add evaporated fat-free milk and cook for 2 minutes.

Transfer soup to a blender and blend until smooth. Recipe courtesy of low fat cooking

I hope you enjoy this fall season . Get out and enjoy all that fall has to offer, whether you go for a hike or a sunday drive through the country just get out and Breathe and Enjoy life!

S~

"Don't be afraid to lean into the wind, love the earth in all of it's natural glories, and take care of each other"
Tom Brokaw~

Simple Beachy Craft

Happy Friday!!! I am so excited I am flying down to South Carolina to visit my sister today WOO HOOO!! It has been two months since we've seen each other. I have been trying to keep myself busy with craft projects and social things since she has moved but let me say it has been very hard for me. But today is a HAPPY day, in a few hours I will see her , oh and did I mention she only lives 10 miles form Hilton Head Island!!! I get to break out the tank tops and flip flops! I can't wait to walk on the beach and catch up with my sister. I have missed our long talks, drinking vino together, sharing laughs and tears, our hopes and our fears and our Sunday family dinners together. So by now you must now how much I love the ocean. I am an ocean girl through and through, So here is my latest little beachy craft project, so simple...
So get yourself some rope ....
Paint some clothes pins turquoise oh and did I mention turquoise is my favorite color??? Hot glue on some cute little starfish....
Find your favorite beachy pics and attach, and there you have it! A happy little way to display your favorite beachy pictures. Don't you just love the little "Be" I just found some shells on the beach and spelled out happy little sayings...

So back to reality ... fall is in full swing here in the midwest and you know what that means... All things PUMPKIN!!! so last weekend I was pumpkin obsessed, it was all about the pumpkin. I made some yummy pumpkin curry soup and some very tasty low fat pumpkin muffins. And I even had a pumpkin latte, yum-o. I have to say the house smelled amazing. So for the pumpkin muffins you will need...

1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 cup brown sugar or organic cane sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp of ginger
1/8 tsp of allspice or cloves
1/8 tsp of nutmeg
1 cup oats
1 1/4 cup of canned pumpkin
1/4 cup of applesauce
4 egg whites
1/2 skim or I used plain soy milk
1/4 cup of walnuts

Mix together all dry ingredients
mix together wet ingredients and blend all together.

Enjoy your muffins with a cup of freshly brewed coffee~

HAPPY FALL!!!

Bake muffins at 350 for 18-20 min depending on your oven!


For this recipe and other low fat muffin recipes go to ...http://www.suite101.com/content/pumpkin-muffin-recipes-a73082
Hope you have a super weekend, get out and enjoy the sights and smells of fall...

"October's the month
When the smallest breeze
Gives us a shower
Of autumn leaves.
Bonfires and pumpkins,
Leaves sailing down -
October is red
And golden and brown."
- Can Teach Songs

Poblano White Bean Chilli

Happy Friday!!! it was a beautiful fall day here in the midwest... My heart is happy and my spirit feels free... I love this little sunflower doesn't it look like a happy smiling face. It sure puts a smile on my face. I love sunflowers in the fall and daisies in the summer, both are happy little things.
Now for a little fall inspired meal Poblano White Bean Chilli
Recipe courtesy of Vegetarian Times Magazine

3 cups cooked white beans 1 recipe for Rajas
2 cups vegetable broth
2 tsp oregano
1 tsp cumin
1 cup fresh cilantro
1 cup corn
1 cup black beans
1 tsp lime juice
1/4 cup low fat milk
3 oz goat cheese
1/4 cup roasted pumpkin seeds

Rajas recipe :

6 poblano peppers
2 tsp olive oil
1 medium onion
2 cloves garlic thinly sliced
1 tsp dried oregano


Roast and peel poblano peppers on burner of stove top,then peel off charred skins
heat oil in skillet add onion, garlic cook for 5 to 9 min add oregano and poblano strips season with salt and pepper

Bring beans, rajas broth oregano and cumin, bring to a simmer and add corn black beans, cilantro and lime juice cook 15 min. warm milk in sauce pan , add goat cheese and stir until smooth
Serve chilli garnished with goat cheese and pumpkin seeds.

Pour yourself a glass of vino and sip and savor..

Have yourself a HAPPY little evening... Seeing that happy seems to be the the theme today what do you think of this wine glass? I just painted it with chalk board paint, so simple and so HAPPY Hope you have a super weekend... we are tearing windows out this weekend fun fun, the last house project and then every room has been re done. Stay tuned I will be posting the sun room make over, gonna have a warm beachy feel, can't wait until it's done!

Think HAPPY. Be HAPPY.

Photo Friday

So recently my friend and I headed up to the beach to soak up the last bits of the summer sunshine... It was an absolutely picture perfect day, not a cloud in the sky, which mind you is kind of a rare thing here in the midwest. We hit a few of our favorite places for some appetizers, lunch, vino and then some more vino hee hee.We then headed down to the beach to take some photos. You wouldn't know that it is the start of fall by the photos, too bad summer is coming to an end.
I am not quite ready to put away my flip flops... Summer just makes me so happy I hate when it has to go... I absolutely love the feeling of sand between my toes. but for now I will appreciate every last nice day of summer we still have.
So now for a few little recent projects.... Who doesn't love taking something old and giving it new life! I love re working old pieces.
I found this dresser at an amazing antique shop not too far from home called Green Oaks Antiques now I love anything shabby chic and scuffed up. As you can see it was quite the transformation. I absolutely L*O*V*E the way it turned out ! My husband painted it , thanks honey! ,and I just took some sandpaper to it and scuffed up all the edges. So simple and so beachy cottagey.
So for this next little project I just used some chalkboard paint on these wine glasses. How fun are these. You can never have too much chalkboard paint in your life! I just love little craft projects ... just wish there was enough time in the day for all the ideas swirling around in my head! well I am off to enjoy my vino, and a little dark chocolate by the wonderful fire . Oh by the way the crickets and cicadas are still singing, ahhh a little bit of summer still hanging on ! I hope you have a great weekend. I am going to soak up all the sunshine I can!!!


"Summer is coming to an end but it is forever alive in my soul "
S. Spain ~

Photo Friday And Greek Inspired Pizza

HaPpY FrIDaY!!! so my husband and I just got back from a backpack trip up at Isle Royale National Park. I have to say it was amazing!! Stay tuned I will be posting lots of pics soon but.... I really love the way these silhouette photos we took turned out. We had so much fun being creative taking these photos of each other. That is one of the things I really love about vaca is the time I have to get creative with photography, it is so peaceful and quiet you can hear yourself think. I think when I am out there being connected to nature it brings out my creativeness even more, you can just breathe and just be quiet with your thoughts. The sunsets there were so beautifully amazing and so peaceful. I just love my husband we have so much fun together in all our adventures, he is always so willing to go along with all my crazy ideas. I wonder what he is thinking in this picture??? I know what I was thinking... how incredibly relaxed and at peace I was in my soul. I always tell people I am such a free spirit you can't hold me down. I need to spread my wings and be free. I can't tell you enough how incredibly thankful I am for such a beautiful life. I have an amazingly supportive husband who supports me in anything I do. I have wonderful girlfriends and a sister who is my best friend! I am so lucky that I am able to take wonderful vacations and see beautiful places life for me is truly wonderful. This is one reason I love to go off into the wilderness and just slow down and recharge. I feel like when I am out there for me it is a total cleansing of my mind, body and soul, so wonderfully REFRESHING!!
So I leave you with a wonderful pizza recipe, my husband and I enjoyed this tonight outside on the deck with a little vino and a cozy fire. Enjoy the rest of your weekend... I hope to get a 30 mile bike ride in this weekend, a little training for the apple cider century bike ride we are getting ready to do in 2 weeks. wish me luck...











Greek Inspired Pizza



So I had every intention of making my own wheat crust but... it has been a long day and I opted for buying a organic whole wheat pre made crust. Hey and you know what it worked just fine and tasted just like the one I usually make from scratch!

for the base I just kept it simple olive oil and roasted garlic.
the toppings were

kalamata olives
artichokes
fennel
red onions
pine nuts
feta
fresh rosemary
fresh thyme

I just sauteed the fennel and onions and that's it so simple and let me tell you this was one of the best pizzas I have ever made! Give it a whirl if pizza is your thing I don't think you will be disappointed.

Hope you have a fabulous weekend... I am moving over to the wonderful fire we have going in our chiminea to spend a cozy little evening with my friend MR Red Vino!!!
S~