PICS
You ever hear music that really gives you cold chills? Makes you feel something in your chest you can't quite explain, gives you faith in the ability of man to create something truly beautiful? There have been a handful of artists who do this for me, and Dixon's Violin is one of them. I have been lucky enough to see him play live twice and await the next performance.
Experimental and improvisational electric violin? Yes please.
How inspiring!
I have been keeping myself busy making cold process soap. It is so much fun! I am making too much soap though so am making plans to start a little soap business. I'm going to rent a booth at a local market here that starts in May. I'm thrilled to finally put myself out there. I often think/dream about ways I can be self employed and then talk myself out of doing them. Not this time! I don't plan to make a lot of money, but it will be so enjoyable to share my creations with others and at least pay for the hobby.
I like to support local farmers and businesses. I use grass fed local milk and local organic oats in my milk/oat soaps. I use coffee from a local roaster who buys fair trade beans in my coffee soap.
Do you use natural soap? I've bought it for years but only recently started making it myself. The soap I make is by far the best soap I've used
I added some new earrings to my Etsy:
Stay warm!
Happy early Valentines Day
My hair is getting so long.
Experimental and improvisational electric violin? Yes please.
How inspiring!
I have been keeping myself busy making cold process soap. It is so much fun! I am making too much soap though so am making plans to start a little soap business. I'm going to rent a booth at a local market here that starts in May. I'm thrilled to finally put myself out there. I often think/dream about ways I can be self employed and then talk myself out of doing them. Not this time! I don't plan to make a lot of money, but it will be so enjoyable to share my creations with others and at least pay for the hobby.
I like to support local farmers and businesses. I use grass fed local milk and local organic oats in my milk/oat soaps. I use coffee from a local roaster who buys fair trade beans in my coffee soap.
Do you use natural soap? I've bought it for years but only recently started making it myself. The soap I make is by far the best soap I've used
I added some new earrings to my Etsy:
Stay warm!
Happy early Valentines Day
My hair is getting so long.
How was the winter solstice for all of you? It was windy and snowing here, just the way it should be.
I am feeling very positive for the new year. I rarely make serious resolutions and carry them out, but I am going to try this year. Here are a couple:
1. Eat more vegetables
2. Become committed to a workout schedule including yoga, pilates, and spinning classes.
My culinary creativity has been flowing lately due to 2 reasons. One is this cookbook I bought:
I have always loved Indian food but could never make authentic dishes at home from google searching Indian recipes. This book has changed my life. I feel like an Indian kitchen goddess now
Here are a few dinners I've made recently:
Nothing satisfies like vegetarian Indian food.
The second reason is I have rediscovered my love for raw desserts. I was really into raw food when I was 19-20 but kind of stopped doing it. Remember that raspberry cheesecake I posted a couple blogs back? I have been making more different flavors.
Triple layer strawberry cheesecake with raw chocolate sauce:
Can you believe this is actually good for you? The crust is made of dates and almonds. Filling is cashews, strawberries, coconut oil, cacao butter, raw local honey, lemon juice, vanilla. Sauce is raw cacao powder, honey, coconut oil. What's really hard to believe is how delicious and creamy these cakes are.
Chocolate cheesecake:
On the bottom are raw chocolate bars I made. Just like the hard candy bars you buy at the store, but they are made with raw cacao powder, unrefined cocoa butter, and raw honey. I add different things to different bars like hemp seeds, goji berries, spices, etc.
I have a new passion and love for chocolate and that's because I've recently found out how GOOD it is for your body. Raw chocolate is so different from commercially processed chocolate - that's why chocolate has an association with 'junk food' and a 'guilty pleasure'. Here is some info on the health benefits of raw chocolate:
I am feeling very positive for the new year. I rarely make serious resolutions and carry them out, but I am going to try this year. Here are a couple:
1. Eat more vegetables
2. Become committed to a workout schedule including yoga, pilates, and spinning classes.
My culinary creativity has been flowing lately due to 2 reasons. One is this cookbook I bought:
I have always loved Indian food but could never make authentic dishes at home from google searching Indian recipes. This book has changed my life. I feel like an Indian kitchen goddess now
Here are a few dinners I've made recently:
Nothing satisfies like vegetarian Indian food.
The second reason is I have rediscovered my love for raw desserts. I was really into raw food when I was 19-20 but kind of stopped doing it. Remember that raspberry cheesecake I posted a couple blogs back? I have been making more different flavors.
Triple layer strawberry cheesecake with raw chocolate sauce:
Can you believe this is actually good for you? The crust is made of dates and almonds. Filling is cashews, strawberries, coconut oil, cacao butter, raw local honey, lemon juice, vanilla. Sauce is raw cacao powder, honey, coconut oil. What's really hard to believe is how delicious and creamy these cakes are.
Chocolate cheesecake:
On the bottom are raw chocolate bars I made. Just like the hard candy bars you buy at the store, but they are made with raw cacao powder, unrefined cocoa butter, and raw honey. I add different things to different bars like hemp seeds, goji berries, spices, etc.
I have a new passion and love for chocolate and that's because I've recently found out how GOOD it is for your body. Raw chocolate is so different from commercially processed chocolate - that's why chocolate has an association with 'junk food' and a 'guilty pleasure'. Here is some info on the health benefits of raw chocolate:
I have ordered some awesome molds for chocolate making. My raw chocolates are going to look really professional and cute, and I am thinking about adding them to my Etsy shop! Stay tuned on that. Just in time for Valentines day
Share some of your new year's resolutions in the comments. I'm curious what kind of changes 2013 will bring to everyone
xoxo
Happy birthday to me! I am going to bake myself a chocolate cake.
But first, I want to show you some of the things I've been crafting lately. I started selling on Etsy again too so check out my shop:
http://www.opaquesuicide.etsy.com
Jewelry:
Crop circle jewelry!
I make these on my embroidery machine and then dye them. I did a 'Four Elements' series here, what do you think?
And for the body..
Organic body bars
And my favorite blend of herbal tea that I make.
Cheers!
But first, I want to show you some of the things I've been crafting lately. I started selling on Etsy again too so check out my shop:
http://www.opaquesuicide.etsy.com
Jewelry:
Crop circle jewelry!
I make these on my embroidery machine and then dye them. I did a 'Four Elements' series here, what do you think?
And for the body..
Organic body bars
And my favorite blend of herbal tea that I make.
Cheers!
I can't get enough of this song right now! Give it a listen.
The end of summer is almost here - it went so fast. Doesn't it always? I'd be lying if I denied looking forward to autumn though. That season has a special place in my heart. The cool, crisp air and rich colors of the changing leaves..
Plus I have an excuse to do more cooking of soups and pies.I haven't been on here a lot lately. Maybe it's because I've been spending a lot of time planning for a huge event in my life: creating a home. No, I'm not going to buy a conventional house and spend the rest of my life paying for it. I'd rather travel so I can meet people like you
. There's another way - this way works with nature, not against it. This way allows you personal freedom so you aren't tied to a mortgage. Build your own! It's completely realistic to build your own natural, safe home in an affordable way. Check out this amazing site and blog on Earthbag building
I've found so many amazing blogs of people who have built their own earthbag homes, or are in the process.
A few years ago I posted a blog on here mentioning I wanted to build a cob house. Cob is great, but earthbag is much faster to build, uses the same materials, and looks the same when plastered. So far we have cleared a site on our 12 acre wooded property, laid a driveway, and excavated a huge pit for the 5000 gallon rain cistern we bought. We want to start building right away, but it can be really expensive at first since we are paying as we go and don't have a loan. Wish us luck as we continue to save and build the home of our dreams! I'll keep you updated with photos. I'll post photos of our cleared lot soon.
Here are some photos of earthbag homes others have created.
