Finding Joy in Life By: Candice Smith

 

Do you experience Life, or are you just living? 

Does each minute, each moment resonate, or are you wishing time away?

Are you present, or is time washing over you in a blur?

These questions are difficult to answer, especially if the answers come from the second half of  the questions.

But, it is never too late to recalibrate, re-prioritize, and start being an active participant in your life. 

As routines fall into place, bills need to be paid, and Life's demands start to pile up, it is incredibly easy to get bogged down in endless to-do lists, a work/sleep cycle, and no time to "stop and smell the roses". But, that is not Life, it is just living.

The goal is balance.

B-A-L-A-N-C-E.

Finding time for sleeping, eating, working, chores, and errands needs to be balanced with finding and experiencing joy.

Joy is different for everyone. For some, reading, pampering, and watching television brings joy. For others, sport, competition, and activity sparks joy. Still, others will have an entirely different criteria for joy. And some may not have any idea what brings them joy at all.

That is part of the problem in American life today. Joy has been all but omitted by most. In turn, joy has been replaced by fear, paranoia, insomnia, and an over-inflated sense of self-sacrifice. Healthy eating, exercise, sleep, and relaxation are no longer priorities and so many suffer.

It is time to put "You" back in your life's equation. 

Start small.

For one week, carve out a mere five minutes for yourself. That's right, only 300 seconds. Think about what makes you joyful. If you already know, make a plan or embark on doing it, whatever it is. Five minutes a day for a week. If you don't know what truly brings you joy, use the five minutes each day to explore what that might be for you. 

The next week, week two, spend 15 minutes exploring your joy. Set a timer. Let your mind go. 

During week three expand the daily time to 20 minutes per day.  That is a solid dose of time!

And, finally, on week four, take a full 30 minutes. 

When this fits into your life easily and happily, you are well on your way to a more joyful life. 

When you feel you can spare more time - do it!

You are worth the investment in time, and you deserve to have a life filled with Joy!

Anticipation By: Candice Smith

There are those who do not understand why I anticipate with excitement Christmas all throughout the year. They question my sanity, or, at the very least, my judgement. In truth, I anticipate with excitement every day of the year. But, by putting emphasis on special days or events throughout the year, it ups my JOY factor! And, it can increase yours, too!

Think back to childhood when waiting for your birthday was a yearlong event. Whether it was planning a party with a theme that delighted you, growing older to gain more privileges, or simply getting gifts you longed for, the anticipation of one's birthday was - is - all-encompassing. Of course, you'd live and enjoy every day, but thinking about your birthday - anticipating it - made your birthday all the more special. 

Another example of anticipation enhancing the joy factor is vacations. Time off from school/work is wonderful. If a trip is part of vacation, all the better to anticipate, but it's not even necessary. Anticipation of time off, lack of responsibility, and free time to pursue your heart's content is potent enough to keep you motivated at school/work to get to said vacation. As for a trip during that time off, anticipation is a pre-requisite! Often my anticipation of my impending vacation is better than my vacation! I dream of every detail - what I'll wear, where I'll go, the restaurants I'll eat in, stores I'll shop in, sites I'll see. It's always perfect in my anticipation. In reality, my trips are never perfect. Invariably things go wrong, and even if it is a brilliantly wonderful vacation, the anticipation of the vacation enhanced the vacation tenfold.

Finally, Christmas. Since my earliest memories Christmas season has brought me so much unlimited joy. In my home of origin as a child I had to wait until December for my parents to put up our tree and decorate for Christmas. The artificial tree would be assembled in the living room. It was so lovely. Then twinkling multi-colored lights were wrapped around. Finally, ornaments collected over my parents' lives together were hung on its branches. In the rest of the house my mother placed scant few decorations around - a knit Santa Claus pillow/doll on the couch, a small Christmas tree in the window, and we all pinned our Christmas stockings on the beautiful wooden mantel. I was mesmerized by the entire scene. Each day in December I would run home after school and sit at the base of the Christmas tree. It called to me, exhilarated me, and fed my inner soul. Like birthdays, time-off and vacations, Christmas anticipating was always more wonderful than actual Christmas!

In truth, I anticipate each day of the year. Daily I look forward to seeing my colleagues and students at school. I anticipate a spot of free time for a restorative nap. I've learned to anticipate and appreciate a much-needed workout. I anticipate and cherish time with my children, friends, and especially my husband. My birthday, time-off, vacations, concerts, plays/musicals, reading books, hiking, watching favorite TV shows or movies, time with my family, my husband, and alone are all things I anticipate. Christmas, when I look forward and anticipate it all year long, gives me enormous pleasure all year long, especially when I share the anticipation with others.

Try anticipating things with pleasure in your life, you will find how much happier it can make every day.

Remember, I love Christmas so much, I wrote my first book about it!

Quick and Easy Easter Recipes

Easter time is a time of early spring, rebirth, pastels, Easter egg hunts, and family gatherings with tasty foods.

Many think of ham, lamb, or turkey as the main dish for an Easter celebration, and those are truly wonderful meals. The side dishes like cheesy potatoes, mint jelly, and stuffing are great as well. Add a spring vegetable like asparagus and the Easter meal is complete.

For those of you, however, who are not entertaining twenty-five people for dinner, do not like a roast, or are vegetarian, these meals don’t quite fit the bill.

Or, if you are doing one of these meals but want a supplemental dish that complements your spread but is unique as well, this meal is perfect.

I’m convinced, although I’m not by birth, that somehow I am Italian. I adore the Italians family values and their embrace of a huge spread on holidays and ANY day!

Pasta Primavera literally means spring pasta.

Pasta Primavera

Ingredients:

• 3 carrots, peeled and cut into thin strips
• 2 medium zucchini or 1 large zucchini, cut into thin strips
• 2 yellow squash, cut into thin strips
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs or herbes de Provence
• 1 pound farfalle (bowtie pasta)
• 15 cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan



Directions:

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
On a large heavy baking sheet, toss all of the vegetables with the oil, salt, pepper, and dried herbs to coat. Transfer half of the vegetable mixture to another heavy large baking sheet and arrange evenly over the baking sheets. Bake until the carrots are tender and the vegetables begin to brown, stirring after the first 10 minutes, about 20 minutes total.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
Toss the pasta with the vegetable mixtures in a large bowl to combine. Toss with the cherry tomatoesand enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Season the pasta with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and serve immediately.



I recommend using a whole wheat pasta cooked according to the directions as it offers a nutty flavor and a strong dose of fiber.

In addition, I’d offer a multi-grain baguette for a side as well as a delicious tossed salad.

And, since dinner is so healthful, and it is Easter, I’d serve a sinfully delicious dessert!

Here’s the offering. With Easter Baskets overflowing with cute egg-shaped candies, I thought this would be an adorable and tasty way to serve them!

Chocolate Easter Egg Nests

Shredded Wheat or Rice Krispies and melted chocolate make perfect nests for candy coated Easter Eggs and they are quick and easy to make.

Hands-On Time: 20 minutes
Ready In: 3 hours
Yield: 8 chocolate nests

Ingredients:

5 large Shredded Wheat (or 2 cups spoon-size)
1/3 cup good quality milk chocolate chips
1/3 cup good quality bittersweet chocolate chips
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) butter
3 tablespoons golden syrup, such as Lyle's

mini candy coated chocolate eggs

OR

3 cups Rice Krispies
scant 1 cup good quality semisweet chocolate chips
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons golden syrup, such as Lyle's

Directions:

1. Crush the Shredded Wheat into a bowl with your fingers. Put the chocolate chips into a saucepan together with the butter and golden syrup and melt over a gentle heat.
2. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Stir the Shredded Wheat into the chocolate mixture and spoon eight mounds onto the lined cookie sheets, shaping into rounds with a dip in the center.
3. Chill in the refrigerator for several hours until set, then peel the nests carefully away from the parchment and fill with mini chocolate eggs.



These can be filled with jelly beans, foil-wrapped eggs, or the decadent Cadbury Mini Eggs I am so wild about. If you are expecting a lot of guests, definitely double or triple the recipe to be sure and have enough.

Wishing you and yours a very Happy and Healthy Easter/Spring! A very Happy Passover to those celebrating that holiday!