Two talented dudes sing a cappella clips of 50 TV theme songs in less than five minutes. Love it: If you are viewing this post via email, click here to see the video.
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You know a book must say something useful and important when it contains recommendations on the cover from three individuals as well-known and diverse as Anthony Robbins, Jack Nicklaus and Deepak Chopra.
And you know that the author must have a unique perspective when, in place of a legal disclaimer about health information, he prints instructions that state, "I will urge readers who feel they need (a) disclaimer's protection and counsel to close these covers and leave the pages unread." Pain Free - A Revolutionary Method for Stopping Chronic Pain explains a groundbreaking system developed by Pete Egoscue, a renowned physiologist and sports injury consultant. The Egoscue Method involves a series of simple exercises called "E-cises" that are targeted to specific musculoskeletal functions. The method succeeds because it treats the body as a closely integrated unit. All of the muscles in our bodies form unbroken chains and interact closely with one another, so exercises that isolate or "target" specific muscles do not work. The exercises are deceptively simple and require no specialized equipment, but each one is designed to pinpoint a specific musculoskeletal function. And trust me, if any of those functions have been compromised, those simple exercises become exceedingly difficult. The idea is that if our bodies are deprived of movement, they literally forget how to move properly, so the E-cises reteach the muscles what to do and how to do it. Whether you are attempting to right a specific wrong that has occurred or you have everything working properly and you'd like to keep it that way, I highly recommend that you get yourself a copy of Pain Free and try the E-cises that apply to you. Your body will thank you. Sarah xoxo For me, one of the most perplexing aspects of clinical depression is the intense self-loathing it fosters in me. When I am depressed, I feel like the most useless person on earth, and that feeling is so strong it lingers even when I am healthy.
Whenever I feel compelled to prove that I am in fact, useless, I spend a lot of time comparing myself to strangers on the internet. That's my futile habit of choice. I get a sort of twisted satisfaction from this kind of comparison. And that's because depression lies. It plays with your brain and tells you that you are less than, and that you don't deserve any success or happiness. One of my favourite quotes comes from Eleanor Roosevelt: "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." And therein lies my problem - I not only give that consent to others, I engender it in myself. But I really want that to change. While my depression is in remission, so to speak, I am going to try with all of my heart and mind to release myself from the comparison trap. I want to look at strangers' accomplishments and feel hope and inspiration, not despair and defeat. We all have our own paths to lead in life, and I need to remember that there will always be some people ahead of me and other people behind me, and that that fact simply is what it is and has no bearing on my life. Wish me luck. Sarah xoxo P.S. Advice is always welcome. Please share in the comments if you have any words of wisdom. Socca is a classic street food from the South of France. It is basically a thin, unleavened chickpea "bread," but really it more closely resembles a pancake. It is super easy to make, and every time I do, I wonder why I don't more often. This stuff is seriously addictive.
The recipe really couldn't be any simpler - there are only four ingredients - and the end result is incredibly versatile. Served on its own in bite-size pieces or as a base or wrap for other toppings/fillings, it is naturally gluten-free and vegan, so everyone can take part in its glory! Here's how it's made: Socca Makes two to three 10-inch pancakes, depending on thickness 1 cup chickpea flour 1 cup lukewarm water 1 teaspoon sea salt 2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin or other spice (optional) additional sea salt and olive oil for serving 1. Mix together the flour, water, salt, 1 1/2 tablespoons of the olive oil, and cumin, if using. (Note - most socca recipes recommend letting the batter sit for a couple of hours before cooking, but honestly, I don't notice a difference in the end result, so I don't bother.) 2. Heat the broiler in your oven. Use the remaining olive oil to oil a cast-iron skillet and then heat the pan in the oven. 3. Once the pan and the oven are REALLY hot, pour enough batter into the pan to cover the bottom, swirl it around, then pop it back in the oven. 4. Bake until the socca is firm and beginning to blister and burn. The exact time will depend on your broiler. 5. Slide the socca out of the pan onto a cutting board, slice into pieces, then add coarse salt and a drizzle of olive oil. ENJOY!! ETA: Since I just posted this at the end of November, I'm recycling it for Day 15 of Kickin' It Old Skool, which prompted us to post about someone or something we love...
That's Linus, my cat, a.k.a. my Sweet Baboo. The photo on the left was taken on the day I brought him home from the Humane Society. He was eight months old. The other two show him at his two favourite activities: surveying the neighbourhood through my living room window, and, of course, sleeping. I did not name him Linus, but whoever did chose very well. Just like his namesake in the Charlie Brown cartoons, he is shy, quiet, loving and very wise. And he's a sucker for a soft blanket. I've had him for nine years now, but before that, I had never had a pet of any kind. So you have to know that Linus is special. I first learned of his existence through an acquaintance who volunteered at our city's Humane Society. She had immediately fallen in love with Linus when she met him, but she was unable to take him in herself, so she sent out an email to everyone she knew encouraging us all to consider adopting him. Something in her message triggered a response in me, so I went to the Humane Society to meet Linus. It was love at first sight, and the next day, he was mine. Ever since that day I've been telling people that I love him so much I can hardly stand it, and it's true. He is the softest, cuddliest, sweetest soul and I am thankful every day that I have him. He is my best bud, and the world's best confidante. (Never once has he shared any of my secrets.) And to be honest, he keeps me sane, even on my darkest days. He is just so unbearably loveable, I can't help but feel better about life when he's sitting in my lap. He calms me when I'm frustrated, comforts me when I'm sick, and every day he makes me laugh. Even though I live alone, I rarely feel lonely with Linus around. I guess that's what it all comes down to - it's nice to have a pet because it's comforting to have another living thing around the house. And if all of this makes me sound like a crazy cat lady, then so be it. I will wear the badge with honour. Linus is worth it. Sarah xoxo "Because for some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet or excite you. Books help us understand who we are and how we are to behave. They show us what community and friendship mean; they show us how to live and die. They are full of all the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. And quality of attention: we may notice amazing details during the course of a day but we rarely let ourselves stop and really pay attention. An author makes you notice, makes you pay attention, and this is a great gift. My gratitude for good writing is unbounded; I'm grateful for it the way I'm grateful for the ocean."
Anne Lamott, from Bird by Bird, Some Instructions on Writing and Life I love me some odd animal pairings. And the cuteness rating on this one is through the roof. Enjoy. If you are viewing this post via email, click here to see the video.
"In order to change skins, evolve into new cycles, I feel one has to learn to discard. If one changes internally, one should not continue to live with the same objects. They reflect one’s mind and psyche of yesterday. I throw away what has no dynamic, living use. I keep nothing to remind me of the passage of time, deterioration, loss, shrivelling."
Anais Nin I've been purging a lot of "stuff" lately. I feel like I'm in a transitional period in my life, and right now that involves taking a good hard look at the things I own to see if they still suit me. I used to be much more emotionally attached to things than I am now. But I have learned that objects do not have any inherent meaning, only the meaning I place on them. And that if the meaning I have placed on certain objects no longer serves me in a positive way, I have the power to simply get rid of those things, along with the negativity attached to them. A few items in particular often stump me, though - specifically books, music and my own personal journals. I tend to (wrongly) think that there is a finite supply of good books and music in the world and that I will never have another good idea if I get rid of the ones I've already had. I need to learn to believe in abundance - to believe that there will always be more available to me: more books, more music, more ideas, more knowledge, more love. I think that in order to do that I need to open my heart and believe that I deserve more so that my spirit will be in synch with the world and able to receive these gifts when they do come my way. My heart has been closed off for far too long now, and I have only myself to blame. I have let people batter and bruise it until it has become a part of me that I no longer recognize. But that's about to change. I am ready for abundance. Bring it on. Sarah xoxo This review is going to be short, because right now I am doing everything in my power NOT to get a migraine. And so far I'm winning. Part of the reason for that is because I have read The Migraine Brain by Dr. Carolyn Bernstein and Elaine McArdle.
Dr. Bernstein is a migraine sufferer (or "migraineur") herself, and she has written this book because "migraine is one of the most misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and undertreated diseases on earth. " The book contains analysis of the most recent clinical and pharmacological research, patient anecdotes, interviews, quizzes and questionnaires - all aimed at providing the reader with a comprehensive migraine treatment plan. It has taught me so much - most importantly, that migraine is a neurological disease, and that headaches aren't the only symptom. Certain chemical and structural differences in the migraine brain cause the many debilitating symptoms, and the effects of these differences can be minimized with a personalized wellness program. If you are a migraine sufferer and you haven't read The Migraine Brain, I say get yourself a copy pronto and don't come up for air until you've read it cover to cover. You will thank me. You're welcome. Sarah xoxo My blog had its one-month anniversary yesterday, and to celebrate, I decided to sign up for a month-long blogging event coming up in December called "Kickin' It Old Skool." The fabulous Ridler sisters, Jamie and Shannon, are the brains behind this blog-a-thon, and they are inviting anyone and everyone to participate.
Every day in December, Jamie and Shannon will post a prompt for a blog post at kickinitoldskool.blogspot.ca. Participants then simply visit the site each day for new inspiration and then check back later to share what they've written based on the prompt. The idea is for bloggers of all kinds to come together and have some fun, like in the "olden days" of the internet before everyone got so serious and uptight. (My words, not theirs.) Whether you're like me and just starting your blogging career or you're a seasoned blogging professional looking to shake things up a bit, you'll find a place in this adventure. There are only two rules: 1 - Be kind. 2 - Have fun. And there's absolutely no pressure involved. Participants can join in every day, or just once or twice. The standard is simply whatever feels right. If you'd like to join in, visit kickinitoldskool.blogspot.ca and add your info to the comments. Easy peasy. I hope to "see" you out in December! I'm excited! (Let me know in the comments below if you've decided to participate. I'd love to hear from you.) Sarah xoxo |