Shall we make a new rule of life from tonight:
always to try to be a little kinder than is necessary?
(Sir James M. Barrie)

Self-care is an interesting topic. There are many opinions out there, and we often hold varying viewpoints within ourselves. Have you ever teetered between feeling proud of yourself for having good self-care, while also wondering if what you’re doing is selfish? Should you put yourself first? What about caring for those most important to you?

Today’s guest post from Holli takes a close look at these questions. She brings up some great points — most importantly, what works for me might not work for you. We can share our tips and tricks with each other, but it’s up to each individual to discover what makes her heart sing. What provides her with solace, comfort and peace.

Lately, I’ve found joy in rising early so I can spend time blogging before heading into work. I put my headphones on, sit down, and write. It feels so good — a little space for me before diving into a busy day. I hope you find Holli’s guest post thought-provoking. I would love to hear your insights on self-care in the comments below!

Holli (or as she is known on her blog, A Wondering Spirit, the Great Askini) is a 30-something accountant, wife, and mother. Her blog focuses on life & how to improve it, which sometimes includes thoughts on parenting, creative writing, style and exercise. She also attempts to fulfill her dream of being the next Dear Abby each week with her Wondering Wednesday advice column. Follow her on Twitter at @thegreataskini.

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Three years ago, I found a job which requires me to only report to the office four days a week. After my daughter was born and I returned to work, I started taking her to daycare on that fifth day and using it to do the kind of household chores that would normally get done during the weekend—things like going to the grocery, running other errands, getting my hair cut, and washing dishes and clothes. I did this so that I could spend my entire weekend focusing on our little family and not rushing around feeling like I had hardly seen my daughter. (It helped, of course, that my daughter loved daycare and begged to go, even on weekends.) Is this self-care or simply selfish?

I love to ride my bicycle, do yoga, and walk. Back in April, I walked my first half-marathon, and I’ve signed up to do another one in October. Lately, though, due to some sleep issues, I’ve been too exhausted to do much exercise. I set a goal of exercise every single morning as I’m getting ready for work, but by the end of the day, that goal is almost always left unmet. I tell myself I’m taking care of myself by listening to my body and recognizing that I’m tired, but I also feel that I’m not taking care of myself by moving my body lovingly and helping to increase my life expectancy. Is taking a day off from exercise self-care? How about two days? How about two weeks?

As you can see, I have a lot of issues with self-care. I tend to be an “all or nothing” thinker, and I have a hard time with the lines between self-care, self-indulgence, and simply beating yourself up. Lately, I’ve been using an affirmation along these lines: “I’m not perfect, and neither is anyone else, and we are all okay.” Although I feel silly saying this to myself over and over again in my car during my morning commute (hopefully everyone else thinks I’m on a Bluetooth!), I have found that it helps alleviate some of my feelings of guilt about doing what I think is best for me and for my family on any given day.

Spending my day off doing errands while my daughter is taken care of by someone else might not be right for you. It might not be right for most people. But right now, it’s right for my family. Not pushing my body beyond its capabilities might not be right for you either. But right now, it’s right for me.

I’m not perfect, and neither is anyone else. But we are all okay.

Where do you draw the lines between self-care, self-indulgence, and feeling selfish?

Image Credit: 0256 via Cia de Foto

There’s a difference between interest and commitment.
When you’re interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstances permit.
When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.
(Unknown)

Hello my dear friends! I hope you’re having a wonderful day. Are you looking forward to anything special this weekend? I’m continuing my blogging comeback with another Creative Weekend To-Do List, plus shopping with a girlfriend & hanging out with the Mister.

I’m really looking forward to sharing today’s guest post from Sneha. Her ideas and suggestions on committing to what matters are especially helpful as we move into a new season. I am excited to implement her tips and hope you find the post inspiring too.

When she’s not at work in the 9 to 5 world, Sneha is a writer, amateur photographer, traveler, and fanatic of coffee and chocolate. She blogs about work, health, money, self development and a hodgepodge of other favorite topics over at limitfreelifestyle.wordpress.com. Sneha is always is open to your thoughts, questions, positive comments and guest posting opportunities. Contact her at limitfreelifestyle@gmail.com and follower her on Twitter, @twiterrific84.

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This is a post about commitment. To yourself. To your goals.
To the parts of your life that matter to you.

How many of the things you said you would do this year, the habits you said you would form, and the goals you said you would work on, have you actually started on? Okay, so you’ve started on them, but have you been consistent? Have you really committed to them?

Here are a few ways to be committed to those interests:

• Plan it out. Heard of that saying “fail to plan, plan to fail”? I’m a big fan of setting small realistic goals (so I know they are achievable) that lead up to the big picture. Have your goals in mind and then follow through and execute the steps you want to take towards reaching your goal. Are you running in a race? Set aside time each day to work on this goal. Eat well. Decide on the distances you want to run each day.

• Visualize it. Giving up a certain vice (mine is chocolate) for a while? Write it down. Put it on a calendar or in a place where you remind yourself of the goal each day and you can see how far you’ve come along. Maybe you’ll accomplish your goal time and have the energy to push it even further.

• Use positive affirmation. Let yourself know that you will accomplish your goal no matter how long it takes or how difficult it will be. Allow yourself to stay in the present. Don’t worry about how you did yesterday or what will happen tomorrow. Just look at how you’re doing right now. Surround yourself with positivity and it will help you stay motivated.

• Join a team/find a support group. This will make it easier and even more enjoyable to do what you want. Don’t be afraid to ask for help here. Maybe you’re training for a race. Maybe you’re trying to raise money for a cause. Whatever it is , it might be easier if you’re not in it alone. After all you’re in a place where you share a common goal. You can encourage each other, find out what works for each individual and incorporate those actions to get what you want.

• Be persistent. I know. We live in a world that goes so fast that when we want something, it means we want it quick. Sometimes the results won’t come as fast as we’d like. But no worries, keep at it and the results will show through, even if at a slow pace. Instead of being disappointed that you’re not at your final result, take notice of the small changes that are getting you there.

• Enjoy the ride. Isn’t that what they always say–it isn’t about the final destination, but rather about the journey taken to get there. Don’t beat yourself up over not accomplishing the goal as fast as you thought you might.

• Take some time off. You’ve been working so hard at your goals– which is great! But don’t hesitate to give yourself some down time to rest and regenerate your energy.

• Read pieces of encouragement. Whether it’s with books or quotes or anything else, this will help you stay in a positive frame of mind and will help you work to your goal. Not to mention it will add a smile to your face.

• Keep learning. What are some mistakes you’ve made on this journey? What are ways to improve your process? Challenge yourself to think about this as you work.

Image Credit: Run:Swiftly via lululemon athletica

Yoga is to attain what was previously unattainable.
(TKV Desikachar)

Happy Friday, lovelies! I hope your week is wrapping up nicely. Do you have any fun plans for the weekend? I’m breathing new life into my Creative Weekend To-Do Lists. Come back tomorrow to check it out.

When I called for guest bloggers awhile back, I receive a response from @SuburbanYogini. Rachel is a punk rock yogini, teacher, writer, massage therapist, sprinkler of fairy dust + lover of all things glitter, cake, kitties, pugs and Dave Grohl. She lives in Cambridge UK in a falling down house with her IT Geek/Photographer boyfriend and two insane felines. She is the owner of Fusion Massage + Movement and blogs at Suburban Yogini. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us, Rachel!

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The quote above is from TKV Desikachar, son of Krishnamacharya and author of yoga must-read The Heart of Yoga, is one that has resonated with me for years, and one which I have come back to again and again.

When I first read it, way back before I had even thought about training to teach yoga, I automatically associated it with yoga asana (poses). There were so many asana that seemed unattainable to me and I thought if I practice, practice, practice I could do anything.

This turned out to be true, just not in the way I originally thought.

Many years and many teacher trainings later, there are still asana that are unattainable to me. But what yoga has helped me attain is a greater sense of acceptance. Acceptance of my own limitations as well as my strengths and areas of improvement.

I genuinely believe that a regular yoga practice (and by regular I mean whatever is right for you – it could be a weekly class, or 10 minutes of mindful breathing each day, some stretches when you get out of bed, or just lying with your legs up the wall after a day at work) can help to bring acceptance into all areas of your life.

Let’s look at your creative life.

So many people say to me, “Oh but I am not creative at all, I’m just not that type of person.”

I have news for you! We are ALL that type of person. We are all creative, whether we paint or draw, write in a journal regularly, bake cakes or make curry. Whether we knit or sew, blog, help our kids with school projects or take photographs. We are creating, creating, creating all the time and sometimes it takes unrolling a yoga mat and getting your stretch on to help us see that.

When I work with one-to-one clients or with workshops looking to unleash their creative sides I use three very simple techniques. All of these are powerful in their own right, whenever you have the time or space but I believe that they work on an even deeper level after a yoga practice. So next time you unroll your mat, why not see if you can wake that creative spark with one of these ideas?

1. Make a Dream Board
Dream Boards, Vision Boards and Collages are all over the internet these days – and for good reason. Not only are they an easily attainable creative tool, but they work! After your practice, set yourself up on your mat with some old magazines and tear out any pictures that speak to you or make your heart sing. Paste your pictures to a large piece of card or pin them to a pinboard somewhere you will see them regularly and be inspired by your own creativity and the images that ring true. You might want to keep your Dream Board with your yoga mat for practice time or have it on the wall near your practice space.

2. Write in  a Journal
After your yoga practice why not write about it? Just take a few minutes to jot down thoughts and feelings, how the practice made you feel, what you found challenging, what you found felt good. After a while you might find that you are able to write more and more, tracking your emotions and their effects on your practice. You can even combine a Dream Board idea into this by pasting inspiring quotes and pictures into the pages or onto the cover of your journal. It is from the pages of such a journal that my blog Suburban Yogini was born!

3. Bake a Cake
Yes really! If in doubt, bake a cake. Get off your mat and into the kitchen and apply the same mindful concentration to the preparation of ingredients that you did to your practice. And when it comes time to eat the cake eat it slowly and mindfully as well. Savour it. Enjoy it. Know that you created this! I have some simple cake recipes up on my website. Go check them out if you like!

How do you unleash your creative side? I’d love to hear from you!

Image Credit: Ambassador Meghan Currie via lululemon athletica

Live with intention.
Walk to the edge. Listen hard.
Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh.
Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends.
Continue to learn. Do what you love.
Live as if this is all there is.
(Mary Anne Radmacher)

Hi there! I’m Analiese, and I blog about food, health, and holistic living at Green Plate Studios, though some of you may recognize me from my former blog, Tulips & Tea. As a long-time reader and fan of Kaileen’s blog, I’m so excited to be guest posting today!

A couple years ago, frustrated with my lack of energy and general feelings of blah-ness, I embarked on an effort to transform my health. In the process, I discovered a passion for wellness that changed not only my physical self, but also my career and life’s work. Wanting to help others experience the same level of health and happiness, I enrolled at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, and now spend my time writing about and counseling others in nutrition and wellness as a holistic health coach. What an amazing two years it has been!

It can be difficult, especially as a woman, to prioritize our own wants and needs. There’s a lot of pressure to maintain a façade of perfection: fabulous social lives, successful careers, and always-amazing relationships – not to mention a physical appearance that meets with society’s approval. Yet, it’s critical to realize that we must first nourish ourselves – literally and figuratively – in order to build a strong foundation that will enable us to truly live the life of our dreams (our own dreams that is, not anyone else’s!).

Sounds great, you might be thinking. But how exactly do I put it into practice?

Here are the 4 elements of self-care that I’ve experienced as absolutely essential in my path toward wellness:

1. Find your glow with fresh, whole foods.

Clean, unprocessed foods boost energy levels and provide you with the nutrients you need to look and feel your best. Reclaim your right to super juicy good health (not to mention beautiful skin, shiny hair, and all-around goddess-like vibrance) by consuming a colorful, plant-heavy diet of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Eat close to the source by emphasizing local, seasonal fare and, as Michael Pollan says, avoid “anything with more than five ingredients, or ingredients you can’t pronounce.”

Have fun with food by experimenting with new recipes, and remember that a meal doesn’t need to be complicated to be good. Here are some of my favorite resources for learning to cook and eat with whole foods.

2. Integrate movement into your life in a way that feeds your spirit and invigorates your soul.

When it comes to movement, a world of delicious, heart-pumping adventure awaits. Think outdoor activities like swimming, running, walking, hiking, biking, kayaking, canoeing, surfing, rock climbing, and mountaineering. Restorative yoga and tai chi practices. Booty-shaking salsa dancing, hip-hop dancing, and Zumba. Martial Arts. Tennis. Boxing. Frisbee. Whatever makes you break a sweat and puts a smile on your face. Instead of viewing exercise as a chore, ask yourself what kind of movement you crave. Let your body’s intuition be your guide.

3. Release whatever doesn’t support your true self.

I believe that true wellness is so much broader than simply fulfilling the needs of the physical body. To truly call ourselves “healthy,” we must consider the whole package. True wellness means filling our lives with the things that align with our essential selves, and that goes for our relationships, careers, and virtually any other facet of life you can think of.

Take steps to clear out the sludge: toxic people (you know the ones I’m talking about), less-than-fulfilling relationships, negative habits, soul-crushing jobs, stressful commutes, etc., even if it means making big – and potentially scary – changes. Throw Out Fifty Things: Clear the Clutter, Find Your Life by Gail Blanke is great resource on this topic.

4. Create space for possibility.

When you let go of the clutter, you create a clean canvas on which to paint a new image of your life. Fill the newfound time and space with things and activities that will support your personal growth and feed your real self. That might mean nurturing friendships, creative pursuits, a new career path, or a renewed commitment to your own development. Ask yourself what you envision for yourself one year, five years, and ten years down the road. Set specific goals and trust the voice inside you, the one that whispers “You can do it!” You can do it. With your foundation firmly in place, you’ll soon begin noticing that suddenly, anything seems possible. Lean into the possibility. Your life awaits.

I hope these thoughts inspire you to begin (or continue) your own wellness journey! I would love to hear about your successes, challenges, and experiences.

Analiese is a food writer, holistic health coach, and sustainable foods advocate. A lover of vinyasa yoga, cooking, gardening, dark chocolate, and the outdoors, Analiese lives, works, and writes from her perch in beautiful Annapolis, Maryland, where she lives with her husband, Jason, and a fittingly foodie dachshund named Basil (yes, like the herb). Learn more by visiting Analiese’s website, or connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.

Image Credit: via We♥It

The real voyage of discovery consists not in
seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.
(Marcel Proust)

First of all, I want to thank Kaileen for the opportunity to guest post for her! I am so excited to be here today. My name is Caiti, and I blog at Life is a Canvas.

On the Life is a Canvas blog, I explore all the ways that we can celebrate creativity in our daily lives — not only through artistic pursuits like art, graphic design, crafting and writing, but also by infusing creativity into everyday activities like cooking, interacting with friends, our jobs, where we choose to shop, and the way we present ourselves to the world. I am committed to the notion that we are the artists for our lives, and I know that I want to create a life full of color, vibrancy, passion, exploration, and authenticity.

When Kaileen shared that she was facing a number of amazing life changes including a new apartment with her mister in a new city, I was so excited for her! It’s such an wonderful time full of new possibilities and experiences. Kaileen’s big move made me realize that after three years in my current residence, my longest time in one location since high school, I’m feeling a bit wanderlust-y and itchy to move onto the next chapter in my life.

Maybe you’ve felt something like this, too– just a little too comfortable with your surroundings, finding yourself pining away for somewhere else or longing for something outside your life to bring back the spark.

But, as Marcel Proust so astutely articulated, it doesn’t always take a physical move to freshen our perspective. It can be as simple as looking at your life with new eyes and seeking out what have may previously been hidden by familiarity.

Here are a few ideas for how you can freshen up your routine and fall in love with your home and your town all over again–no new landscapes required:

1. Venture off course. How often do we fall into the same routines– driving the same route to work, going to the same restaurants? You never know what will happen if you chart into new territory. Sometimes something as simple as going to a new grocery store has the potential to inspire you with new ingredients, and a different route to work could lead you past a restaurant your never even knew was there.

2. Rearrange what you have. In the most literal sense, simply give your furniture a shuffle to bring new life to a room. Some people may call this feng shui, but I just think it’s refreshing. In a broader sense, you can also rearrange the way you move through your week. Try going to the gym at a different time of the day, or stop in to the cafe for a nightcap instead of your morning joe. Places take on totally different vibes at different times of the day, and you’re likely to cross paths with neighbors, employees and patrons that you might not have otherwise.

3. Simplify. It’s really amazing that getting rid of the “stuff” actually makes your life feel fuller because you are left with only the things that truly matter. Plus, it’s just plain nice to free up some extra space. Ridding yourself of those extra belongings that have gathered in corners can make a room feel new again.

4. Be a tourist. Visit the places that you may take for granted as a resident– sites like museums, local theaters, sightseeing tours or gift shops. There are likely a handful of things to do in your town that you might not even be aware they exist. Visiting these establishments can add that special charm to a place that you know so well, and you could even learn something new. Plus, it can sometimes trick you into thinking that you’re on vacation for a few hours!

5. Slow down. Practice the art of being in the moment. Slow walks through your town, chats that linger with your neighbors, and restaurant meals that stretch well into the evening are the kinds of moments that infuse your heart with gratitude and lodge themselves in your memory. Life will seem infinitely sweeter if you’re able to slow down enough to recognize the beauty that surrounds you.

I hope these ideas have inspired you to look at your life and surroundings in a new way. Do any of you have suggestions for how to “develop new eyes” for your life?

I’d love to hear them!

Image Credit: Take One Last Breath via WeHeartIt

It’s amazing how much a home is like a puzzle, with so many pieces and just one way that it all fits together. We’ve finished the outline and are now working on filling in the picture. The toughest part is done and we’re left with fun things like picking out new sheets, picture frames and candles.

Recently I put out a call for guest bloggers and I was overjoyed when Jenn Gibson offered to share her wisdom on balancing work, play, and passion.

Jenn believes in dreaming big : she’s the creator of Roots of She. She loves yoga and the beach, is a photographer & writer, and isn’t above stealing snuggles from Bean the Boy Kitten. Daily parts of her life are paper journaling, talking to her dear sweet momma & sky-gazing. You can follow her on Twitter and visit her often over at Roots of She.

In art and dream may you proceed with abandon.
In life may you proceed with balance and stealth.
(Patti Smith)

And sometimes, may you proceed with all three at once.

In order to make my life work, I cultivate each of these things.

Abandon: This is how I choose to live, with abandon. I embrace each moment with bright joy and drink it down.

Stealth: When faced with a challenge, I move with stealth. Unobtrusively, I observe how I’m feeling, what I’m thinking, and go from there.

Which leaves us with balance, the trickiest of Patti’s trio.

Finding symmetry for balance and abandon is almost always a delicate thing, and rarely an easy thing. It’s something I keep coming up against and that I’ve been working on in my life, especially where it relates to the intersection of work and play: my job and my passion.

My job: I work for a nonprofit, and my main focus there is on social media strategy and creating original multimedia content. I’m always on the computer — Tweeting, updating Facebook, researching new social media platforms, editing videos, drafting questions for interviews.

My passion: I run Roots of She, a collaborative project that tells the stories of the female experience, in all of its shapes, sizes and forms. The site launched a little over six months ago, and it’s now in the third cycle of contributors.

My relationship with social media and technology is evolving — the more my job and passion become integrated with the social web, the more I need to ensure that things stay light and fun. That there is balance between work and play.
Which leads me to this:

Tools and tricks of my trade, or: some of the practices that help me find balance

• E-mail: I check my e-mail once a day, normally in the afternoon. It’s so easy for me to fall into the rabbit hole of rapid replies and obsessively refreshing my inbox. Putting gentle boundaries around this gives me the freedom to enjoy responding to the notes that come my way instead of having it become stressful and rushed.
• Auto-reply: I have an auto-reply on my e-mail that lets people know that I’m only checking e-mail once daily. This lets them off the hook for waiting for a quick reply, and it affords me the space to not be constantly checking my e-mail. It removes the obligation of a quick response, on both sides.
• HootSuite: This program saves me — one of its features is message scheduling. I can schedule tweets and messages days or even a couple weeks in advance, so when I log onto Twitter or Facebook, it’s all playtime — catching up and being silly with friends, checking out interesting links. Engaging with people in a mindful way: being present with them and not think ‘Oh I need to tweet this post’ or something along those lines. And your presence is powerful.
• Unplugging: I recently decided on a no-Internet after work policy. I don’t turn on the computer, I don’t even open it. I went so far and removed the Facebook and HootSuite apps from my Droid. I have to tell you, it’s a lot quieter now. I’m not constantly checking to see if the little LED light is blinking at me, instead I’m rooted to my yoga mat or writing in a paper journal or sharing a conversation on the phone. I’m connecting with the people, things and dreams that live in my heart.

Because I know that when I practice these things, I feel calmer and more centered, I’m not drained or fatigued. I know that then I’m giving you the best of me, the best of what I am. You deserve no less than that, and neither do I.

Image Credit: Balance, originally uploaded by PiscesDreamer

It’s faith in something and enthusiasm for something that makes a life worth living.
(Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.)

Greetings! My name is Taylor Mathis. I am a food photographer from Charlotte, NC, and the author of Taylor Takes a Taste. I want to start by thanking Kaileen for letting me talk with you today. I am really excited to be sharing a few of my favorite recipes with you just in time for the 4th of July weekend!

A little about me. Like Kaileen, I was a college swimmer—University of Wisconsin—and I live in NC. I love traveling, taking pictures, eating and entertaining. Taylor Takes a Taste is where all of these interets are combined.

The main purpose of the site is to make you hungry. This is done in a variety of ways. On the site you will find recipes, special projects on Fridays celebrating the National Food of the Day, a college town food tour, a tailgating tour (I went to 14 college games in 14 weeks across the country last year and am currently writing a book on it), and tons of food photography tips and tutorials. While there is a wide range of topics on the blog, they one commonality is they all have delicious looking food pictures!

When talking to Kaileen, she told me she was a vegetarian with a sweet tooth. Upon hearing this, I knew the perfect recipes to share with you! First up is a delicious beverage that is perfect for entertaining at a summer cookout of just drinking on a warm weekday afternoon. Add a little vodka and you have a delicious cocktail! This blue green iced tea is the perfect drink for any summer occasion!

Blue Green Iced Tea

First for the syrup.
- 1 cup blueberries (frozen or fresh)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 lemon

In a pot, add the blueberries, sugar, and water. Over medium heat cook the blueberries until they are thawed. Turn the heat up to high bringing a mixture to a boil. Remove form heat and let cool.

To remove the blueberries from the syrup, pour the syrup through a colander or strainer. With a fork mash the Blueberries against the side of the colander/strainer to get all of the juice out of them. Do this over the syrup so that the juice is added to the syrup. Add the juice of 1/2 lemon and stir.

To make the tea you will need.
- enough green tea bags to make 1/2 gallon of tea (this will depend on the brand of green tea you use)
- 8 cups of water
- blueberry syrup from above

Bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add the tea bags and let steep for 10 minutes. Remove tea bags and stir in blueberry syrup. I used all the syrup that the above recipe made, but you can add more or less depending on how sweet, and blueberry tasting you want your tea to be. Stir.

Add the remaining 6 cups of water and stir. Let chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

The next dish is a roasted Sweet Potato Salad. This is the perfect side dish to any dinner party, tailgate, or picnic. It is filling enough to put in a burrito or wrap and eat as a meal, or can accompany a wide assortment of main dishes. Pineapple and sweet potato might sound like a strange combination, but they really work well together! Give it a try and see what you think!

Roasted Sweet Potato Salad

Ingredients
- 4 medium sized sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into approx. 1 in cubes
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 cups fresh pineapple chunks
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 1 yellow bell pepper diced
- 1/2 cup shallots diced
- 1 jalapeno seeded and finely chopped
- 1/2 cup scallions thinly sliced scallions
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro chopped
- 1/2 cup flat leaf parsley chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste

Dressing
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- zest of 1 orange
- 2 tsp deli style mustard (the mustard with the brown stuff in it, not the yellow stuff you put on hotdogs)
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil

In a roasting pan, combine sweet potatoes and olive oil, salt, and pepper. Stir around coating potatoes in oil. Roast for 25-30 minutes at 425 F, until fork tender and golden brown.

In a large bowl, add potatoes and mix with the rest of the non dressing ingredients.

Let cool while you prepare the dressing. To prepare dressing, whisk together the apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, orange zest, mustard and vegetable oil.

Pour dressing over cooled potato salad. Toss. Chill in refrigerator until ready to serve. Toss again prior to serving.

Last, but certainly not least if Double Chocolate pie. This pie is one of my mom’s favorites. Easy to make and absolutely delicious. A rich base of bittersweet chocolate ganache sits on top of a buttery and crumbly graham cracker crust. Layered on top of the ganache is a sweet German chocolate cream layer. The whole pie is topped with a light and airy whipped cream. This pie will need to chill over night, so keep that in mind if deciding to make it.

Double Chocolate Pie

Crust - use a pre made 9″ graham cracker crust, or make your own.

To make your own, you will need:
- 1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 6 tbsp melted butter

With a fork in a medium bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs and sugar together. Add melted butter. Stir until a thick paste is formed. Spread the mixture evenly in a 9 inch pie pan. Make sure an even layer is formed on the bottom and sides of the pan. Bake for 8 min at 350. Let completely cool.

Chocolate #1 Ganache Layer

You will need:
- 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream
- 6 oz bittersweet chocolate (chopped into small pieces)

In a medium pot, bring the cream to a simmer. Remove from heat and add the chocolate pieces. Let stand for 1 minute. With a whisk, stir until the mixture is smooth and all of the chocolate is melted.

Pour Ganache onto prepared graham cracker crust. Level out the chocolate layer and then place in the freezer for 20 min.

Chocolate Layer #2 German Chocolate Cream

You will need:
- 1 3/4 cup whipping cream (1/2 cup at room temp, 1 and 1/4 cup very cold)
- 4 oz German chocolate (chopped in small pieces)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar

In a medium size pot, bring 1/2 cup of room temperature cream to a simmer. Remove from heat and and add chocolate. Let stand for 1 minute. With a whisk, stir until all chocolate pieces have melted. Let cool to room temperature.

In a chilled mixing bowl, begin whipping 1 1/4 cup cold whipping cream. Add vanilla and slowly add sugar. Whip until thick and fluffy. Add room temperature chocolate mixture. Whip until soft peaks have formed.

Pour mixture onto ganache layer. Spread evenly over ganache surface, going right up to the edges of the pie pan. Chill in refrigerator over night.

Whipped Cream Topping

You will need:
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1/3 – 1/2 cup powdered sugar ( depending on taste)

In a cold mixing bowl, add the cream and vanilla. Begin mixing and slowly add the powdered sugar. Mix until soft peaks have formed. Spread whipped cream over the German chocolate layer of the pie. Let pie set up in the freezer for 20 minutes prior to serving.

Optional: garnish with chocolate shavings.

Taylor Mathis is an editorial and commercial food photographer based out of Charlotte, NC. His work has been featured by Garden and Gun Magazine, Our State Magazine, Charlotte Magazine, and Publix.

In his free time he blogs at TaylorTakesATaste.com and tweets @taylor_mathis. He was a swimmer at the University of Wisconsin and a huge Wisconsin Football Fan.

©Taylor Mathis
www.taylortakesataste.com

Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness.
Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Continue to learn.
Appreciate your friends. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.
(Mary Anne Radmacher)

More than two decades ago, the remarkable author and artist Mary Anne Radmacher wrote the words quoted above. In her new book, she expands these words to invite readers to explore what it might mean to live each day with intention.

This week Mary Anne is on a blog tour to help spread the word about her new book, Live with Intention. I’m excited and honored to share my interview with her.

Also, two lucky readers will win a copy of Mary Anne’s new book! For your chance, please leave a comment with one of your favorite quotes by Monday, February 28 at 9:00 pm EDT. I will announce the winners on Tuesday.

KE: What motivated you to come out with your new book, Live with Intention?

MAR: I wrote the poem twenty years ago. Since then it’s been quoted in dozens of books, journals, speeches and printed on numbers of different products.

I’ve referenced it in several of my own books and it was the right time to dedicate a whole book to it. I want to inspire people to grasp their own intentions and purposely incorporate them into the actions of their every day.

KE: What are your favorite creative resources?

MAR: Far and away my friends are my richest and deepest creative resource. They are brilliant, share their views on the world willingly and showcase my work on their refrigerator doors. That’s the greatest compliment – when one of my friends wants my creation in their kitchen. Some of my best work emerges from wanting to make something special for a friend.

KE: Who/what inspires you?

MAR: Reading biographies and the condensed philosophies of great thinkers is very inspiring. Mothers who are kind to their children in grocery stores. Differently abled people who, in spite of their physical challenge, do things like hold a door open for someone. The national anthem. I stand for it even when I hear it televised when I am at home. The 4th of July is my favorite holiday and I think the heroines of the American Revolution rocked.

KE: If you could go back in time, what advice would you give to yourself at 25 years old?

MAR: “It’s not about you.” AND, “It’s all about you.” I know, but contradiction is where I get some of my best lessons.

KE: How do you make every day an extraordinary adventure?

MAR: Ha. Mostly every day IS an extraordinary adventure, all on its own. But on the days when that is less apparent I play my favorite music that reminds me of the risk and thrill of it all, I dance a little and I re-read my life mission statement which I glue in the front of every journal. It calls me to the significant stuff.

KE: How does being connected to your intentions impact the quality of your life?

MAR: I am less inclined to be broken by the hard impact stuff. It’s all material for learning and when I’m connected and flowing with my intentions, I know and respond from that truth at my core.

KE: What is your favorite quote?

MAR: I’d have to say “favorite” transitions from time to time but right now it’s,

“Discipline is remembering what you want,” by David Campbell.

Ah. See how hard this is for me? And,

“Nothing big ever came from being small,” from President Bill Clinton.

Image Credit: Brooklynblossoms via WeHeartIt

You get in life what you have the courage to ask for.
(Oprah Winfrey)

Well, hello there! How have you been my dear friends? I’ve been a bit quiet here on le blog due to last week’s #reverb10 launch. The lovingly positive feedback we’ve received has my heart bursting with joy. If you want to reflect on this year & manifest what’s next, I recommend you visit www.reverb10.com.

Today’s Sparklitsa Sunday post is the ninth in a series of interviews with creative and inspiring folks on the web. Kimberly Wilson was last week’s Sparklista, and tonight I’m excited to share an interview with Jess Constable. Last year, she featured me on her Make Under Your Life series and I’m so glad to return the favor!

Jess is a talented jewelry designer and from Chicago who’s on a mission to help people design a life with intention through her completely delightful site, makeundermylife.com.

1. Why do you blog?
I blog because it’s the way I’m able to fulfill my purpose at this point in time. I know, deep in my bones, that I am meant to help people design a life with intention. To help them reflect on their lives and design their life according to their values. The web enables me to do this each day in a simple, expansive way. I can reach people all over the world from sitting at my own desk. It is the perfect place for me to begin and then expand into other areas like books, videos, or in-person workshops.

2. What are your favorite creative resources?
I consider the blogs I read to be creative resources for me. I don’t do a lot of research for my work, I actually spend most of my time working on my own business. That said, I have a passion for interior design and I spend a lot of time reading design blogs and online publications like my friend Crystal’s RueMag.com and LonnyMag.com.

3. Who inspires you online? Offline?
The people who inspire me via their business, branding or purpose are Blake Mycoskie of Tom’s Shoes and Rebecca Minkoff of RebeccaMinkoff.com. They have done incredible things with their companies in a relatively short amount of time and at a young age. Blake’s view on life and business completely jive with my own and Rebecca has such a beautiful design sensibility which inspires my own jewelry design.

Other than that, I’ve got a rather big history crush on Ben Franklin. That man just had so much passion for what he did and always made sure that his impact improved the lives of others.

4. If you could go back in time, what advice would you give to yourself as a budding blogger?
I would tell myself to stick with it and keep going. I’d also tell myself I’d save a lot of time by starting with WordPress.org rather than starting on Blogger.com (since I ended up switching a few months into blogging). I’d also tell myself to be patient as my readership grew. But overall, I don’t have many regrets from blogging, I’ve loved every minute.

5. What are your favorite things to do when you’re not online?
I love to drink wine with friends, go running, walk to the Farmers Market in Lincoln Park on Saturday mornings, do my nails, and decorate my apartment.

6. How do you make every day an extraordinary adventure?
I don’t know if I go out of my way to make each day an extraordinary adventure, I am generally a person who favors routines. But, one of those routines involves writing on MML and helping others design a life with intention – and that in itself provides a variety of new opportunities which makes each day special.

Image Credits: via Jess LC

In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.
(Coco Chanel)

Hello sweet friends! I’m grateful for another lovely weekend gone by and am looking forward to the week ahead.

Today’s Sparklitsa Sunday post is the eighth in a series of interviews with creative and inspiring folks on the web. Liz Franco from SRSLYLIZ was featured three weeks ago, and tonight I’m excited to share an interview with Kimberly Wilson!

Kimberly is a yogini, blogger, entrepreneur, activist, author, and designer in love with the notion of tranquility in everyday – with a splash of style and sprinkles on top!

I’ve been a fan of Kimberly for years. Her passion and love shines through all that she does. I’m honored to have her as part of the Sparklista Sunday series, and hope you enjoy her inspiring words below.

1. Why do you blog?
I began blogging in October 2004 as a way to process, explore, and share in a way that went beyond my personal journal. I am motivated to share my voice online because it is an amazing outlet and way to build connection with women around the globe.

2. What are your favorite creative resources?
Oh my goodness, where do I begin? Yoga, hot baths, meditation, art journaling, book stores, documentaries, fashion, nature, travel, bed days, markers, stamps, water colors, paper stores, japanese masking tape, dollar stores, etsy.

3. Who inspires you online? Offline?
Online I am inspired by the crafty and creative communities I come across along with many women I’ve interviewed on my podcast, Tranquility du Jour. Offline I’m inspired by my yoga students, my team, my colleagues at school, glossies, and strangers who smile as I pass them on the street.

4. If you could go back in time, what advice would you give to yourself as a budding blogger?
Let the blog read as a playful experience versus an article. My early entries were less about my current experiences and more about “top 5 X” – this is great for magazines but I’ve enjoyed personalizing my blog more over the years. Now when I meet blog readers, I’m always shocked with how much they know about me. They’ll say to my boyfriend Tim, “oh, you must be beau!” They know my dog, my schedule, my dreams and there is something special about that connection.

5. What are your favorite things to do when you’re not online?
See #2. I LOVE all of those things and feel refueled when I take the time to savor them. I also like to indulge by eating sugary staples such as cupcakes, cuddling with my pug and beau, and sipping ginger ale (my latest addiction).

6. How do you make every day an extraordinary adventure?
Fave mantra: live fully, laugh often, leave a legacy. I try to infuse doses of sparkle into my day by lighting candles, taking deep breaths, being fully present with those in front of me, listening, and am always challenging myself to be more, do more, love more.

Image Credit: via Kimberly