A Tragic Day

Tonight it is very dark in Santa Cruz. A shooter killed 2 police officers, then died in a following shoot out with law enforcement. It is hitting me a bit hard because I was near the scene when it happened, at Whole Foods buying tea for my sore throat after work. They put us in lockdown and it was quite scary, and we didn't know what was going on outside.

Apparently there has never been an officer killed in Santa Cruz before today, and now there are two gone with loved ones and children left behind. It is so very sad to think of them. I am trying to focus on gratitude, that no one else was hurt, especially the children locked down in local schools, and for my own life which today tilted away in front of my eyes for a few moments of shock. We hear about things like this and can't imagine them happening right outside our doors, but when you experience terror it shrinks the world. We are a very tiny community tonight, under the macro focus of tragedy.

I love you, Santa Cruz. Stay safe tonight, and hug someone.

Food Crush: Butternut Squash

This is the first in a series I call Food Crush, featuring healthy edibles that, well, I have a crush on!
Today's crush is butternut squash, a winter staple low in calories and fat, and a great source of Vitamin A, fiber, and good carbs. No cholesterol means it's super heart-friendly, plus it has cancer-preventing properties. I love it for its beautiful orange color, naturally delicious taste, and easy preparation. Here's all you need to know to make up a quick dish of warm goodness:

Mashed Butternut Squash

You will need:
-1 butternut squash. (pick one with blemish-free skin, that feels heavy)
-water
-oil spray or cooking spray

Preheat the oven to 350. Spray a sided pan (a cake pan will do) or baking dish with oil or cooking spray. With a large knife, cut the stem off the end, then cut the squash in half lengthwise.

Scoop out the seeds and stringy bits with a spoon and discard. Fun fact: those seeds mean it is technically a fruit! Lay each half face-down in the pan, skin side up, and push the cut end up against the side of the pan to keep it from drying out.

Pour a bit of water into the pan, 1/4 to 1/2 a cup depending on it's size. This will keep your squash moist while baking, so it will come out with a lovely texture for mashing. Bake for about an hour. Read a book, go for a run, or clean out your closet. Your reward will be a finished squash when a fork easily scrapes through the flesh.

Allow to cool for 10 minutes. The skin will still be hot, so use a potholder to handle it while you scrape out the insides. You can then mash it, and add things like salt or maple syrup or whatever floats your boat. I don't think it needs anything, personally!

Enjoy your latest crush!  <3

Vegan Life, Episode 1: Vegan Superbowl

Just a quick post, to do something I try not to do too often...
BRAG!
A few weeks back, I was invited by my vegan friend to a vegan Superbowl party in the city. Up until that point I had never been to an all-vegan party. Feast your eyes on that spread!!:

Yes, those are vegan hotwings

My contribution? A crowd-pleasing dish of artichoke dip, and vegan rice crispie treats. Yep, vegan. Totally demolished by happy football fans. I was proud to be holding my own in the company of like-minded (like-tummied?) individuals.

The first few good hours

Hello.

Whether you're beginning here, or returning through the long thread of future posts I can only imagine today, welcome. This is my beginning. I've had blogs before, but my heart fell out of them. I think I understand why- I didn't have a strong sense of my true self, and wandered far from it in my ramblings and rushed schedule of posts. I'm here today to announce that at 29 I suddenly came to know myself better than ever- what makes me happy, what keeps me healthy, and what fills my heart to the brim with the all-sparkling sensation that mine is a life well-lived. This blog is both a gift and a reminder to myself, that every day- every bad, beautiful, sensational, chaotic, rainy, unexpected, sick, loving, endless day- contains a few good hours in which to actively shape the life of my dreams. I'm here to share all I'm learning about what we can do to live in this moment, and I hope others will find some value in my discoveries. Ralph Waldo Emerson is my favorite writer when it comes to quotes, and the way I feel about life right now is nicely summarized in this one:

"To finish the moment, to find the journey's end in every step of the road, to live the greatest number of good hours, is wisdom."