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yesterday I bought a copy of the magazine Artful Blogging.  The first story I read was about a photographer and the first thing she said was how she enjoys blogging but does not really enjoy writing to much.  I have been thinking about this all night and all day because I have always felt the same way and when I read her words I realized that I actually do LIKE writing!  YIKES!  My reason for not liking it is that I just never thought I was good at it and what I have realized on my cliched “journey to self discovery” is that it isn’t the fear of not being good at it but rather the fear of being judged for it.  It is quite scary to put your feelings and thoughts out there for anyone and everyone to read.  When I was in school I hardly EVER handed in my homework especially if it had to do with writing an opinion or goals for my life.   And sharing it with the class?  out of the question!!!  I am starting to think my thoughts and feelings deserve to be heard.  I was once told by someone, “Candace,  you need to learn to say and do the things you feel and be ok with how others feel about it.”  She told me that four years ago.  It was like a slap in the face.  I was a whoppin 30 years old and had never realized that I was the one with the problem.  It is ok if someone feels how they feel.  It is not ok for me to always think that everyone else’s feelings are all about me.  Let me tell you!  It takes practice when you have been doing something for so long. I have done my best to realize when I go back to that place and then try to except things.  My most recent form of practice is writing my blog posts. In the moments I feel afraid, I allow myself to accept the fear then push it to the side and then hit the post button.  Once I do it I feel the weight of the world being lifted off of me!    So although I may not be an award winning writer, I think i am not to shabby!  and by the way, my grammy told me I am REALLY good!

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”
― Anaïs Nin

I received this quote the other day in a round about but not so round about way.  Thank you for sharing it my friend, Elena!  It brings tears to my eyes, it is exactly how I feel.

This is my teenager and her friends.  They spent the day getting ready at our house and we had just enough time to rush downtown and take a few photos.  Followed by driving back to our house for a super duper extra awesome candle light dinner outside on our deck!  Clearly this is really fun for me too!  I can’t wait for prom!

today i was lucky enough to have been asked to take photos for big mountain construction.  i don’t know much about construction but i do know what looks good!  this house was simply beautiful.  i am amazed every day at how many creative and inspiring people i get to be around all of the time.  it seems that the northwest if CHALK FULL of artists. aaron sanday being one of them.

  i absolutely LOVE cooking!  this hasn’t always been the case but an old friend and the changing weather always inspire me.  i find myself baking or chopping or blending when i should be working.  i think it is a bit of therapy for me.  sooo…here it is… this cookbook…. my latest obsession…”Nourishing Meals”

let’s start with how i stumbled upon this golden book.  i believe that EVERYTHING ABSOLUTELY happens for a reason.  about a year ago i found out about some food sensitivity things that my kids and i were having.  the doc said NO GLUTEN, DAIRY, EGGS, OR YEAST!  (YIKES!)  i had no idea where to start so the doc suggested the blog called nourishingmeals.com, so that is where i went.  after a few weeks of using recipes from this blog every single day i realized that the author lives in the exact same town as me, then after a few months realized that our girls go to the exact same school and are in the exact same class!  AND!  we only live a few miles from each other!

her name is Ali and she is amazing!  i feel like every time i have a food issue she has a solution.  someone can’t have grains or flours and she comes up with a bread recipe.  i got to bake bread with her a few weeks ago for a festival at our kids school and i learned so much.  it was like cooking with my gramma, “oh i don’t know, just toss in a little of this and a little of that.”  and it was delicious! (and it is all in her cook book)  the book also has suggestions on feeding healthy children, healthy school lunches, whole foods and food sensitivities.

for the past year i have been cooking from the nourishing meals blog and now i am lucky enough to have been given a copy of Nourishing Meals  cookbook.  i must say i have made lots of recipes so far but still have lots to go so you can be expecting a bunch of photos and posts in the future about all of the Nourishing Meals recipes we are trying.  ~enjoy!

PS. this is the chocolate chip banana teff bread my kids got after school today. gluten free and vegan!  BTW, this recipe is on the blog not in the cook book.  lucky you!

he’s in…..

and he’s out!