Delicious lemon bars

Living in California, I feel very lucky to be able to grow citrus. Where I am from, the Netherlands, it is quite cold and citrus won't grow very well. Now I should also mention that I married a man who has amazingly green fingers. Whatever he touches in our garden seems to turn in to pure gold. So far every year we have had oranges the size of store bought grapefruits, more plums than I will ever figure out what to do with and the same goes for our lemons. Although with a family who loves using lemons for Mexican dishes that's not so much a problem. However, I do enjoy using lemons myself as well. And I can't even begin to say how delighted I am to be able to go outside and simply pick some of our fresh lemons every time I have a craving for lemon bars. Besides, with the recipe I use they're very easy to make and taste delicious!

The Eighty-fourth Problem

Once a farmer went to tell the Buddha about his problems. He described his difficulties farming, how either droughts or monsoons complicated his work. He told the Buddha about his wife - how even though he loved her, there were certain things about her he wanted to change. Likewise with his children - yes, he loved them, but they weren't turning out quite the way he wanted. When he was finished, he asked how the Buddha could help him with his problems. 

The Buddha said, "I'm sorry, but I can't help you." 

"What do you mean?" railed the farmer. "You're supposed to be a great teacher!" 

The Buddha replied, "Sir, it's like this. All human beings have eighty-three problems. It's a fact of life. Sure, a few problems may go away now and then, but soon enough others will arise. So we'll always have eighty-three problems." 

The farmer responded indignantly, "Then what's the good of all your teaching?"

The Buddha replied, "My teaching can't help with the eighty-three problems, but perhaps it can help with the eighty-fourth problem." 

"What's that?" Asked the farmer. 

"The eighty-fourth problem is that we don't want to have any problems." 

From 'Being Zen' by Ezra Bayda. 

Healthy homemade granola

Healthy homemade granola 

It's an all new year, you know what that means. New Years resolutions. As always we're trying to start the year off right by eating healthy. Here's a quick and easy recipe to help your day off to a good and healthy start. Because breakfast is, after all, the most important meal of the day!

"Yo soy Mermaid"

Have you always wanted to be a mermaid? You might want to think again.

This past weekend my husband and I watched 'Confirmed Kills' a comedy special by Iliza Shlesinger. (We just got Netflix yay!) Iliza reminded me of a less cynical and sharper type of Amy Schumer. I'm not necessarily a big fan of Amy Schumer, but I'm always intrigued by successful females who try to inspire and empower other women so decided to give it a go. What I loved about Iliza's special was that not only is she quick, razor sharp and funny, her dialogue is very empowering. Which you know I'm all about. There's a part in her special where she hates on mermaids. Mermaids and everything they stand for. Not being able to take a stand (literally, I mean come on they don't have feet), holding up the image of the perfect willing victim for any sailor (scarcely clad, perfect hair) and last but not least, hoarding! "Look at this stuff, isn't it neat? Wouldn't you think my collections complete?" Well guess again! 

Reflections

Looking back over 2016 there are lots of things we could talk about, politics, artists that made huge impacts on the lives of many passed away, terrorist attacks, wars etc. 

All of these subjects however tend to have a negative note to them, so that is not what I want to talk about at the end of yet another year.  Especially because we're looking at the beginning of a new year with lots of potential. What I want to talk about is about what really matters looking forward.