Day 21- Celebrating LOVE

I went to my girlfriend Jenny's wedding in Az. over the weekend. Not only was there an abundance of relaxation for me (I proudly left my computer and my work in Minnesota) there was SO much love. It was amazing to spend time with the wedding girls the night before Jenny tied the knot and listen to all the stories we had to share about how much we appreciate and love Jenny, everything she has meant in our lives, and how thrilled we are that she found love with such a special guy. I really wouldn't have missed this for the world and even though shortly before I left I had doubts that there was enough (*see lack) money to fund my little getaway, I am so glad I stepped into trust and faith that it would work out, that there was abundance waiting for me, and that this trip was exactly what I needed. It was! I am so grateful I was there for Jenny's big day. It brought me back to a 1- 1/2 years ago when Matt and I took the same vow of love and catapulted me into a deep state of gratitude for all I have and the love that I share with my hubby! Teary- eyed I watched Jenny and Colin share their commitment with all of us and bleary-eyed I got on the plane the following morning at 5am to head home to Minnesota and into the arms of my true love. What a great weekend trip!


Matt and I share a kiss on our day


Jenny and I at her wedding



The girls of the wedding.


Jenny and Colin on their big day.

Day 15- Abundance! Really so much Abundance!

I bought a car! A beautiful 2009 Toyota Corolla, shiny white. I am actually SO AMAZED at the difference this has made in my life, allowing this kind of wanting. It feels SO GOOD to drive a beautiful car and I have never allowed myself one this nice, or nice at all for that matter. I have always driven the junkers because I just didn't care about vehicles. Well, caring about EVERY area of your life makes a difference! YES it does! Because I feel great in this car, in fact I feel stupendous every time I step into it. I promise I will take a pic and send it but really I am just so busy loving driving it right now that I keep forgetting to get a pic!

And thanks to my fabulous hubby for supporting me in all this abundance! I love you Matt!

Day 5/6- Yummy chicken and Kate + 8

My husband is not a chicken lover, or a sweet lover so it is quite amazing that he loved this recipe I made. Panko-crusted chicken with mustard-maple pan sauce. The chicken was so MOIST (do you love this word as much as I do?) and I put his sauce on the side because I wasn't sure what he would think of the maple in it. Turns out he ate it up and enjoyed it enough that it makes the share grade. I also made these totally delish mashers and we have enough leftovers for tonight's new dish; Turkey meatloaf with mushrooms and herbs. I await with bated breath as it is in the oven now and this healthy meatloaf will definitely come under careful scrutiny since Matt's beloved meatloaf is almost always made with beef and gravy and this recipe has neither.

Panko-Crusted Chicken with Mustard Maple Pan Sauce

2-8 oz skinless chicken breast halves cut crosswise in half
2tsp. + 2 tbs. Dijon mustard
1 large egg
1 tbs finely chopped Italian parsley
1 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs
2 tbs. olive oil
1 cup low-salt chicken broth
2 tbs. pure maple syrup
2 tbs. + 1 tsp. course-grained mustard
1 tbs. chilled unsalted butter

• Using meat mallet or rolling pin, pound chicken to 1/3-1/2 inch thickness
• Whisk egg, parsley, and 2 tsp. of Dijon mustard in large bowl
• Place chicken in egg mixture and turn to coat
• Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper
• Dip each chicken piece into panko, turn to coat
• Heat oil in skillet over med-high heat. Add chicken; cook until brown and cooked through, about 4 minutes per side.
• Meanwhile whisk broth, syrup, course-grained mustard, and remaining 2 tbs Dijon mustard in a measuring cup.
• Transfer chicken to plates and add broth mixture to skillet; boil until reduced 10 3/4 cup, stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes. Add butter; whisk until melted and spoon sauce on chicken.

Creme Fraiche and Chive Mashed Potatoes

3 quarts of water
2 tbs. coarse kosher salt plus additional for seasoning
2 lbs. of Yukon gold potatoes, cut into 1-inch wedges
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup creme fraiche
2 tbs. unsalted butter
3 tbs. chopped fresh chives

• Bring the water to a boil and add salt and potatoes. Cook until potatoes are tender about 18 minutes. Drain and mash potatoes. Cover the bowl to keep them warm.
• Heat milk, creme fraiche, and butter in saucepan over medium heat, just until bubbles begin to form at the edge, stirring until butter melts.
  
• gradually mix bot milk mixture into potatoes and fold in the chives.
• Season with course salt and pepper.

Matt and I took on Hollywood and the gross popularity of reality TV last night when we mockingly went as 'Kate +8' ( I was Kate with 8 baby dolls tied to my hip and Matt was my camera crew). Some of you may know this show and the ridiculousness of it, Kate is divorcing Jon and TLC has come forward and said that the show will now be called 'Kate +8' instead of the previous title, 'Jon and Kate + 8'; this of course will only happen if people continue to tune in to this train wreck of a family who's parents have put their children on display in order to find financial abundance. A beautiful reminder that when wealth is desired at the expense of other people's lives (their own children's) there is a karmic return and in this case it is playing out on national TV. Matt predicts bankruptcy for both of them within a year of the show ending. While it might not be in total taste to make fun, we did get a number of laughs!


Kate is having an "affair" with her camera man




'Kate + 8'

Day 4- French toast with Pears and Pomegranate sauce

Kelley and I had a beautiful breakfast with the kids. Sid is so much fun! We LOVED our french toast and Sid was sliding his pieces of french toast all over the sauce, he couldn't get enough. This one made the grade for sure.

French toast with pears and pomegranate sauce

1 cup whole milk
5 large eggs
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp vanilla
4- 3/4 inch slices of egg bread ( I used texas toast)
2 ripe ajou or bartlet pears, firm yet ripe, cored and cut into slices
2 tbs butter
1 cup of pomegranate juice
3/4 cup golden brown sugar

• whisk together milk, eggs, 3/4 tsp of cinnamon and vanilla in a baking dish. Add the slices on bread and let them soak up the egg mixture, about 3 minutes on each side.

• In a skillet melt 1 tbs of butter and add the pears, cook on med-high until the pears become soft.

• In a pan melt 1 tbs of butter and add the pom juice, remaining cinnamon, and brown sugar, simmer over med-high heat until the sauce thickens a bit and becomes like syrup, about 8 minutes.

• In a skillet cook the soaked bread slices about 4 minutes per side until cooked.

• Top french toast with pears and sauce, and enjoy. YUM!
  

Day 3- So much to love

There is so much to love in my life that the abundance experience has been an effortless undertaking. The sati series I just finished up was all about abundance. One of the declarations is "abundance is my inheritance". If you really believe this, and claim your inheritance it is waiting for you.

What you seek you find.

The question is what are you seeking? If you are looking for abundance in every area of your life it has a beautiful way of showing up no matter what the external circumstances are. It is the state of mind that you take on that allows you to find it. Commitment to living in abundance, without an attachment to the outcome, is what brings it into your life. Another declaration in this series is " I appreciate, and then I wait." Are you willing to hold fast to your state of mind, and practice patience. No matter what seems to be happening in your world, will you stand strong and trust that all will be well, that abundance is coming, no matter what! I love the no matter what promise, it stands for determination and perseverance. If you don't give up on yourself, your dream, it is sure to come about.

Abundance has come to me in so many ways in the last 3 days. My car is on its last wheel and though I've wanted a new one for some time, my hubby has pushed for us to carry on with the junker. It is acting up again and when I called him yesterday to tell him he said "what do you want to do?" I said "Get a new car!" His response? "I think we should get you a new car, you really deserve it." You know what, I agree. And it feels so good that he offered this up and now we are looking for one. Abundance!

My first Sigh yoga IntenSati class is on Monday. It is full, and there is a WAITING list! Abundance!

I haven't written because I have had an Abundance of client appts. Wow, it is showing up everywhere and I am so grateful for all of it.

Monday night was my first new meal and I made Lime and Honey glazed Salmon with Basmati rice and Broccoli. It was a great dish, a bit sweet and my husband doesn't love sweet for dinner so this recipe didn't make the grade. I already decided I would only share the awesome ones and since this was ok but not terrific I will pass on writing it up here.

I am off to my sister's for breakfast tomorrow and we will be making French toast with Pears and Pomegranate sauce. We'll see how it does and if it passes the share test (it must be a minimum of an 8 on a scale of 1-10). So excited to be trying these new things.

Have a day filled with abundance, L-

Pre-pave- Day 30

My #1 desire for today:

I finish up my month of pre-paving in style and get ready to roll into a month of abundance!

Recap:

Style baby, Style. I got in the last of these beautiful 30 days and I am so excited to start up a new experience. Trust me, I will be pre-paving away in the mean time and the coming month will be abundant!

Pre-pave- Day 29

My #1 desire for today:

I sleep in and rest myself this morning and I don't get out of bed until I am good and ready! I have fun things planned for my day off and I take my time getting prepped for the day. It feels luxurious and indulgent to give myself this nothing but me time.

Recap:

Oooh, the luxury. I didn't get out of bed until 11am. Seriously! I LOVED it, and I took a nice long bath and enjoyed the morning snuggling with Matt and not feeling rushed to get anywhere at all.