Make A Date With You

Happy Valentine's Day, good lifers!  Although today is usually celebrated for the love shared between you and a significant other (I celebrate 20 years together with my hubby today!), I wanted to talk a little bit about self love today.  One of the tools I have gained on the Simple Abundance path that I started last month, is to make creative dates with myself.  They are an opportunity to learn more about yourself and what brings you joy - versus doing what the status quo thinks you should do.  They are about helping you find the true you and learning who that person is.  What does she like to do when the clock isn't ticking?  What does fun look like when she gets to decide the outing?  What clothes would she wear if no one was looking?  

So, today, I want you to make a date with yourself.  Celebrate you.  Reconnect with old pastimes that brought you joy.  Discover a new hobby that makes your heart sing.  Go to breakfast by yourself at that corner cafe that you always wished you had time for.  Shop the aisles at that cute little store down the street that is always calling your name.  Saunter the aisles at a bookstore and browse the section that intrigues you, but you never seem to get to.  It doesn't matter what you do, as long as you do something for YOU.

And if you like this experience, do it again...maybe once a month.  In our own relationships, especially as parents, we talk about the importance of nurturing it and spending quality time together.  How about making that same investment of time in yourself?  I know this for sure: if we don't make the time to find out what we love and give it to ourselves, no one else will.  If we are to live our good life, loving ourselves is where it all starts.  Find out what it is you love today and give it to yourself.

And because Valentine's Day can also be about your sweetie (hey, I have a romantic home cooked meal planned tonight, for after I put the kids to bed!), here's a sexy recipe from my Crazy, Sexy hero Kris Carr that you can you use for your honey.

Vegan Penne A La Vodka

Ingredients:

• Brown rice pasta 

• 1 jar of your favorite pasta sauce 

• 2-3 cloves minced garlic

• 1 cup frozen organic peas

• 2 heaping tablespoons capers

• ¼ – ½ cup raw, unsalted cashews

• ½-1 cup water (to blend cashews)

• Drizzle of olive oil (optional)

• Splash of vodka (2-4 cap fulls or an ⅛ of a cup)

• Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions:

Bring water to a boil and add a dash of salt to keep the pasta from sticking. Once the water is bubbling, add the pasta. Follow the directions on the package; it should take about 12 minutes or so.

To make the sauce, use your favorite jarred marinara as the base. Pour into a saucepan and add the garlic, peas, capers, plus a drizzle of olive oil and splash of vodka.

In a high-speed blender, blend the cashews and water until they are creamy. Add more or less water to suit your desires. Pour the cashew cream into the sauce and stir.

Cook on medium to low heat for about 15 minutes. Bathe the sauce all over the pasta and serve with a bright and tasty salad.