Full Sail

Sailing is a spectacular way to enjoy the sun, the water and the open blue sky - three of my favorite things! During lessons last week, I learned that sailing is not difficult, though it takes some skill and attention. The best part about it is you have the wind to guide you and if you take your cues from it, you'll be good to go.The boat we took out was a 40 ft sailing yacht with a galley and salon that sleeps 4. You could, presumably, live on this beauty for a month or two.

 

The basics of sailing are knowing the fancy names for the different parts of the boat. The front is called the bow, the back is the stern, the right side is starboard, while the left is port. Once you get this down, when the captain calls out an order, you'll know exactly what he's referring too. For instance, "tighten the line at the bow!"

I love everything about sailing, though make sure to bring some ginger root chews along to stave off sea-sickness. The water can get a little choppy at times.

Once you get a good rhythm going, though, it's smooth sailing from there on out.

Apres-sail, a nice meal at the local cafe is always a welcome treat. In this case, the local joint is actually called, The Local!

Grab a mixed-green salad with tuna, potato, grilled portobello mushrooms, roasted artichoke hearts and balsamic vinaigrette.

And/or a grilled shrimp panini.

Then perhaps, head for a wine tasting at the Dog and Oyster Winery.

Sit in one of these pretty pastel chairs and reflect on the sailboat you're set on buying.

Then again, you might consider this piece of wisdom, before making the jump.

Good Food

 
I love food and I love to eat well. After all, you are what you eat. Good food is paramount to a good life and here I will share with you some of my most memorable meals of late. For me, good  food is delicious, wholesome, chemical-free and made with love. If you can get it from a garden, your own or that of a friend, you are truly blessed. The next best thing is food grown locally and picked up from your town's farmer's market. Further down the line would be the local co-op or independently owned health food store. And if it becomes necessary, Whole Foods will always do in a pinch. As a last resort, the organic aisle of your neighborhood Safeway or Publix may have to suffice.

Fresh organic fruit can't be beat as a meal fit for your sweet body and soul. You can't lose with a simple meal made up of a single fruit just picked, like these organic strawberries.

Or a fruit salad made with these, some plums and sliced bananas.

Then come green salads, of course. There is nothing like chlorophyll to invigorate the body and mind. Have you ever tried fresh pea shoots with avocados, vine-ripened tomatoes and just-picked lettuce? Supreme eating, for sure.

My favorite way to make a salad into a meal is to add a grain. Taboulleh is number one in my book for this. I love it with nettle as the green and couscous as the grain.

Also, with the traditional parsley, bulgur wheat and a side of hummous, you just can't go wrong!

But when you have greens just picked from your own garden, it is always best to keep it simple.

To these gems, I added smoked salmon, herbed goat cheese, artichoke pesto and raw sauerkraut, to accent their natural goodness.

Occasionally, I like to indulge in eggs and fish and always prepare these animal-based foods with gratitude in mind for the sentient beings. Free-range organic eggs and fresh cilantro makes the tastiest frittata!

Though, when time is of the essence, a quick scramble will do.

I love to eat greens with every meal now and have come to revere these chlorophyll-rich leaves in all their variety and splendor. Ahhh, the simple pleasure of raw kale, olive oil, lemon juice and salt.

And a bowl of greens tends to put me in the mind of southern cooking. So, when I am in the mood for soul food, but with a healthy twist, grilled salmon is my go to.

The requisite black-eyed peas and rice come along as well. In this case, coconut brown rice with some raw cilantro on the side.

For an Asian-inspired twist, however, you can do rice noodles and steamed broccoli instead. Tasty indeed!

I am truly filled with gratitude for all this good food and send out my blessings far and wide. Thank you.

Serendipity

"Serendipity can be described as good fortune, luck, or a fortunate accident. It’s the effect by which you accidentally discover something fortunate, especially while looking for something else entirely."

 "Serendipity is looking for one thing and finding another." Wiki

While taking a walk on an early spring day, I stumbled upon an enlightening message painted on the sidewalk at the base of a beautiful tree.

The tree seemed to reach out to me in an embrace of perfect love and acceptance.

I had been contemplating making a move abroad for a few months and wasn't sure if now was the right time to begin traveling. This tree and its message really helped to clarify that I am right where I need to be and my travels can wait for a more opportune moment.
 
Then, feeling a bit hungry, I stumbled upon this delightful cafe and felt certain that I was being divinely guided.

 
Later, while hiking along this perfect path and contemplating love and its vicissitudes,

I walked right into this charming stone. The message was poignant and clear.



Another day while checking my blog stats, I noticed someone visited through Pinterest, so I clicked on the link and came to the most inspiring photo of two women in scorpion pose.

I was so moved by the peace and beauty of this posture, that I decided I must practice it. I then found myself spending the afternoon perfecting my scorpion pose. I achieved a lot for my first practice and now intend to experience this pose daily.

I have been craving Nigerian food since I returned from Lagos to the US several months ago. Looking everywhere, from Florida to New York, for a restaurant where I could get pounded yam and okro soup or pepper soup and boiled plantain. While visiting a dear friend in Va Beach, she casually mentioned the opening of a new Yoruba-owned Nigerian restaurant nearby, which served all my favorites!! Here we have catfish pepper soup, boiled yam and palm oil.

 It's called the Amazing African Restaurant!

 

A few days before Earth Day, I went to the post office to mail a package to an Etsy customer who purchased one of my Love Fairy Bags. 

While waiting in line I noticed a flyer for an Earth Day celebration that coming weekend. I decided to give them a call to see if I could set up a booth there showcasing my bags. They had one spot left! That weekend, I found myself in a lovely venue making great sales!

Imagine my delight when, after missing my stop on the light rail, I spotted this shop from the window!

I can't wait to see what wonderful and unexpected joy will happen next!

Organic Houston

There is good food in Houston, TX. Delicious, wholesome, organic food that defies the beef-centric reputation of the state. I found the most intriguing little organic market in the downtown historic district. The Georgia Market on Main and Prairie has everything an organic food connoisseur is looking for. You can shop for groceries or relax and dine in their exceptional cafe. The space is small and intimate, but the selection of good food is quite expansive.

All this tasty produce is used to make the delicious dishes served in the cafe. The set-up is buffet style where you can make your own salad with fresh organic greens and a choice of hummous, taboulleh, guacamole, pico de gallo and other delights.

My salad with the sesame ginger dressing was the perfect meal.

 There are also homemade soups available

And Houston-made Kickin Kombucha to drink! This was seriously the best kombucha I've had the pleasure of tasting.

For dessert, the raw almonds by New Earth are awesome. They are like no almonds you've had before!

After a satisfying meal, checking out the natural beauty of this southwestern town is on order. Take a walk along the paths of the Museum District.

The trees here are magnificent.

As are the wildflowers.

And downtown Houston hosts families, seeking to escape the heat on the weekends, in its Discovery Green.

For a real respite, pop over to the Hilton just across the street where you will find splendid views of the city from its rooftop deck.

Organic Houston!