Spring dreams

Today is the first day of Spring!

I can't wait to plant my garden, but right now it is more in the dream stage as the ground here is not ready for true preparation.

I always have left over seeds from the year before (I get a little over zealous in my seed shopping. Happens each year. I never learn). Do you have old seeds too?
To make sure they are still viable you can test them:

1. Lay 10 seeds of the same type of seed on a moist paper towel.
2. Fold the towel so that the seeds are enclosed. And place into a plastic bag.
 * If you are testing multiple seed types - you'll want to label the bag.
3. Put the bag in a warm spot and leave for a few days.
4. Check to see how many seeds sprouted.
*  If 7 or more have sprouted the seeds are good to go! If 4-6 have, use them but sow them more heavily. If less than 4... then they aren't much good.

Water. But better.

During these long winter months I keep a lot of plants indoors. I like to surround myself with life.

But my plants are not prima donnas. And I don't intend on using bottled water or purified water.
But I know the chlorine in tap water hinders houseplants' ability to absorb nutrients... so whats a girl to do?
The easy and affordable fix:
Fill jugs with tap water, and leave (with caps off it it has a cap) for at least 48 hours. Some of the chlorine will evaporate, leaving purer water. And thus happier plants, or so Martha Stewart says.

A fine romance

Body Image. Its an issue so many women, including myself, struggle with. I have been underweight and now I am overweight. I've struggled to love my body, but often I view it as the enemy. Particularly with its chronic illnesses. Rather than show it compassion, I have often treated it like some horrible misbehaving piece of myself that I'd like to whip into shape. I've come to the realization that is the wrong approach. In attempting to "love myself" I've been putting myself down, calling myself names, and WAIT how is that love?

So I'm going to practice DAILY focus on the strengths of each of my body parts. For example, I'll focus on the strength of my legs and how they enable me to take the dog for a walk each and every day vs. their width.

And I'm going to start now, right after seeing all my skinny cousins.


Source: Harper’s Bazaar Magazine

Happy March!

Holidays I will be celebrating:

March 1 - National Peanut Butter Lovers' Day. (I'm not lying)
March 2 - Dr. Seuss' birthday
Edit: Nope, I won't be celebrating those fun silly holidays. I will be attending my Grandpa's funeral on the East coast those days. 


March 3 - Momo-no-Sekku (Peack Blossom Festival) (Japanese/Chinese)
March 8 - International Women's Day
March 11 - Daylight Savings
March 17 - St. Patty's
March 18 - Goddess of Fertility Day
March 20 - April 27th - Cherry Blossom Festival in DC

Seasonal food I will be buying:

• Asparagus 
• tastes like spring! 
• full of Vitamins A, C and B6. Plus potassium. 
• Its been considered an aphrodisiac since medieval times. 
• King Louis XIV had a greenhouse just for growing asapargus 
• King Louis XV used the same greenhouse to grow it's "love tips" to serve as a delicacy to Madame de Pompadour. 
• Artichokes
• Did you know these are actually the flower buds of a thistle. 
• They've been cultivated since before the ancient Greeks and Romans. 
• And to keep them moist when you store them, sprinkle with water and refrigerate in a plastic bag for up to 5 days. 
• Pineapple
• One of my favorite things to eat! Loaded with vitamin C and vitamin B6 - no wonder I crave it!  It's also has an enzyme mixture that could reduce inflammation (currently being studied). And it contributes to fast recovery and to the digestive process. 
• The enzymes are also great at breaking down proteins and therefore make for a good tenderizer. 
• Did you know, if you want to speed up the ripening you can stand it upside down.
• And good for how you taste too ;) 
• Rhubarb 
• I've actually never cooked with rhubarb before. Hard to believe, I know. SO this is the month and the year to try it!
• Kumquat
• I've never tried these either.... and I don't know how I will use it. But I will! 

Goals I will be achieving:

I didn't do so great at my February goals. Quite possibly I did the very typical me thing to do and bit off more than I could chew.
The one I didn't achieve that I wish I had... getting to the gym.
I've actually cancelled my gym membership because between my illnesses and my work schedule I just wasn't making it happen. But the thing is - I know those excuses don't cover all my gym absences. Its just not worth spending the money on if I'm not committed to making it happen. UGH. I miss the days where working out came naturally.

So I'm going to try to make March more achievable...

• Do a work out video at home a minimum of twice a week.
• Take the dog for a walk every day (I'm kinda cheating, because I already do this.... )
• Take the dog for an extended walk every weekend
• Get spanish tapes from the library
• Take vitamins and medications every day, throughout the day as required. 
• Work on my cross stitch 
• Plant some seeds for the indoor garden