It has been a good while since Kat’s Meows of the Week was last published but she is back. It’s been hot in the Bay Area and I’ve enjoyed exploring and spending time in nature.
Loving : All the online offerings to learn new things now that I feel like I have plenty of time again. I took this free Harvard course on happiness and well-being, and this Yale course on Ebola. My July-September project has been Prenatal Yoga Teacher training that I’ve immersed myself into. What should I start doing in mid-September when this training is over?
Eating : Chickpeas! Gosh, I’ve had to order dried, organic chickpeas in bulk because I go through them so quickly. I soak them min. overnight, then mix with avocado oil and a bunch of spices (salt, cayenne, garlic, Icelandic kelp, paprika, nutritional yeast) and bake in the toaster oven. Here’s a good recipe.
Drinking : Matcha from Pique tea is what I’m currently drinking in the mornings. Their teas are quadruple toxin screened for heavy metals, pesticides, toxic mold and radioactive isotopes. I like my matcha with a little bit of hemp or oat milk. I recently made my own hemp milk by blending hemp hearts and water in a high-speed blender. I added a date and a dash of cinnamon and sea salt for more flavor. You don’t even have to strain it if you don’t want to, but it does become less grainy when strained. I also add a teaspoon of mixture made of maca, cinnamon, one drop cardamom and ginger oil, ashwagandha and raw cacao. Plus MCT oil every now and then. I am quite sensitive to caffeine hence I use only half a pack at a time. This way they last twice as long (and yes, they are quite pricey).
Listening : Life Stylist Podcast by Luke Storey and Food for Thought by my idol Colleen Patrick-Goudreau. Very informative and easy to listen.
Reading : Spirit Babies by Walter Makichen.
Smelling : Citrus Bloom in everything. I’ve had this oil for a while but this month DoTerra had an entire Citrus Bloom bundle that included deodorant, bodywash and body lotion, and even I like to avoid buying things packaged in plastic I made the purchase. Also, the rosemary bush in our yard. Every time I walk past it it greets me with an amazing scent. Same with the basil plants and dill. There’s nothing like fresh herbs. I could just sniff them all day long.
Adoring : All the sweet rescues at the TV show Saved by the Barn (reality show about a farm sanctuary somewhere in Michigan). Also, Hopalong Animal Rescue’s Instagram. So many cuties for adoption!
Craving : Fresh picked fruits. Especially peaches, nectarines and orange. Living in California has many perks but getting fruits that are picked the same day when you eat them is one of the biggest ones. The flavor and texture is completely different.
Looking forward to : Having coffee dates with friends at Timeless Coffee (Oakland), Julie’s Tea (Alameda) and Andytown (SF).
Quote I currently like :
“You often feel tired, not because you’ve done too much, but because you’ve done too little of what sparks a light in you.” Unknown
One tip for you : Try guided meditations. Our company gave us access to a meditation app after a bunch of layoffs and COVID, and I have been meditating mornings and before bed. Sometimes sitting on a rock by the bay. Just 5 mins does miracles. Insight Timer is a great option with tons of free meditations.
Resource for you : Here’s a great resource for you if you want to dig deeper into protecting yourself from the big V.
