How Thin is Too Thin?

Amazing to see the women side by side. You think of Bettie, Shirley, Elizabeth and Marilyn as classic beauties. But in today's bones obsessed world, would they still?


I hope so. That's what I think is beautiful and feminine. To each their own, I get it. But I kinda miss women looking like women. Not little boys....

Traditional Italian Sauce

Cooperstown, NY

Tonight, I'm craving some traditional Scerra family home cooking. We actually have (thanks to the aunts), a Scerra Family Cookbook!! What a treasured gift this was.... Even though there are hardly any specific measurements.....


That's what Italian cooking is all about. Add garlic, taste. Add basil, taste. Add cheese, taste. Continue to season if necessary. 


Life should be the same way.... Re-evaluate along the way. Add a little spice here and there as needed. Continue to re-assess. 


Here are 3 ways to make Italian sauce. Enjoy and Mangia!!!!



Tomato Sauce (for Pasta Fasole)   
serves approx 6 adults


2  16 oz cans crushed tomatoes (DeCecco)
small onion
oil
garlic (optional)
Parmesan cheese
basil
sugar
2  12 oz cans beans or peas

Saute onion and garlic in a little oil till lightly brown. 
Add crushed tomatoes and 1 can water.  Cook approximately 15 minutes.  Flavor with parmesan cheese, basil, and a little sugar.

Add Great Northern Beans, OR white kidney beans (cappelinni beans), OR green peas, OR chickpeas (garbanzo beans/cecci beans).

Cook about 30 minutes. 

Serve over elbow macaroni, small shells, or ditalini.

Freeze leftovers.


Sauce for Macaroni ("Pasta")

1  16 oz can crushed tomatoes (DeCecco)
1  16 oz can tomato puree
2 or 3 pork spare ribs
medium onion
garlic clove
oil

In a medium size sauce pan, saute onion in a little oil.  Add garlic (be careful, garlic burns very easily).  Add your pieces of pork and brown.

Add each can of your tomatoes plus 1 can of water.  Cook over low heat.

The following can be added for flavor:  2 tsp sugar, grated Parmesan cheese, parley or fresh basil.


Marinara Sauce (or as Mama would call it, "Fast Sauce")

1 can whole tomatoes
1 small onion
1 garlic clove
oil

In a small saucepan, suate onion and garlic in a little oil.  Cook slowly - make sure they do NOT burn.

In a medium size bowl, "squeeze" your tomatoes with your CLEAN hands.

Add squeezed tomatoes with their juice to saucepan.  Add a little sugar, grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

Cook over low/medium heat for 45 minutes.

This is Where I've Been

Busy here.....

Thanks for bearing with me. Are they not the most beautiful women ever??? 





In the 4 short days they've been here already, I feel like I've learned and grown so much. Each one comes with different talents, hardships, life stories and PERSONALITY. They are so happy!  So grateful! So motivated to succeed! 


One comes from Palau, where the entire population of the island country is 20,000. Her coffee house is the only one on the island, and if her espresso machine breaks there is no one to fix it. Can you imagine? We would just run down the street to Bed Bath and Beyond and buy one for $500. She would need to import one from Guam, or Indonesia. Her business halted until it arrived. 


We Americans certainly do take our conveniences for granted.


Others come from Kyrgyzstan. One woman is a farmer and veterinarian! You'd never guess who, because she's tiny. She wants to start the very first horseback riding club in the whole country. She had the novel idea of getting people to pay her to train them how to ride horses. To take them on trail rides. To teach people how to groom a horse. She would be the only "horse club", as she puts it, in her country. Imagine her excitement when we showed her an entire rack of brochures for tourists that offer the same exact services right here in Phoenix. When I told her that Western wear stores are everywhere here, and they sell clothing just for horseback riding, her eyes lit up like she'd won the lottery! What a moment. We're going shopping tonight, and I have a feeling she'll love the cowboy boot selection. 


Another woman comes from Malaysia and provides post-natal care to women after giving birth. She helps them regain their strength, beauty, health and fitness through traditional Malay remedies. All natural teas, bath herbs, exercise, support.... I tried one of her teas and it was absolutely incredible. It was almost sweet with zero sweeteners. All natural plans and herbs. She has 4 children, the oldest being 18. I was absolutely stunned. She looks 18 herself, seriously! Whatever she is doing -- it's working!


These are just 3 examples of my 28 select women. The Phoenix Business Journal did a great job writing up a brief summary on my program. I'm thrilled with the attention and support these women are getting from the community - they deserve it! I am so blessed that this is my "job". It does not feel like work, and I guess that's the goal, right??


"What we are learning around the world is that if women are healthy and educated, their families will flourish. If women are free from violence, their families will flourish. If women have a chance to work and earn as full and equal partners in society, their families will flourish. 

And when families flourish, communities and nations will flourish.

That is why every woman, every man, every child, every family, and every nation on our planet has a stake in the discussion that takes place here." - Hillary Rodham Clinton 

30 sec reading: The Black Man

by Paulo Coelho on January 19, 2012

We are at the restaurant of a German University. A red haired student, and undeniably German takes her tray and sits down at her table.

She then realizes she has forgotten her cutlery and gets up again to pick it up.

Coming back, she sees with astonishment that a black man, possibly sub-Saharian by his appearance, is sitting there and is eating from her tray.

Straight away, the young woman feels lost and stressed . But immediately changes her thought and presumes that the African is not familiar with European customs concerning private property and privacy.

She also takes into consideration that perhaps he does not have enough money to pay for his meal.

In any case, she decides to sit in front of the guy and to smile 

at him in a friendly manner.

The African responds with another dazzling smile.

The German girl starts to help herself, –sharing the food with the black man with genuine pleasure and courtesy.

And thus, he took the salad, she ate the soup, both took their share of the stew, one took care of the yoghurt and the other of the piece of fruit.

All this peppered with numerous refined smiles – timid from the man and smoothly, encouraging and kind by the girl.
They eat up their lunch.

The German girl gets up to get a coffee.

And it is then that she discovers, on the table behind the black man, her coat placed on the back of a chair and her food tray untouched.

________________________

I dedicated this charming story –  to all who are wary of immigrants and consider them as inferior individuals.
To all these people, who with the best of intentions, observe them condescendingly and with paternalism.
It would be better that we free ourselves of prejudices or we run the risk to make a fool of ourselves like the poor German who thought to be at the height of civilization whilst the African greatly educated, let her eat and share her meal and at the same time was thinking ; how mad these Europeans are.

 

Update 8:00 PM, Jan 19 2012
The original post in Spanish, published a few days ago in the most respected Spanish newspaper EL PAIS: El Negro , says that this is a true story. However, it is not. The story is based in a short movie, winner of Cannes Palme D’Or.

Horse Farm Beauty

“I’d always believed that a life of quality, enjoyment, and wisdom were my human birthright and would be automatically bestowed upon me as time passed.  I never suspected that I would have to learn how to live - that there were specific disciplines and ways of seeing the world I had to master before I could awaken to a simple, happy, uncomplicated life.”
-Dan Millman

A few years ago I went on vacation....20 minutes from my house. It was amazing! It's great to appreciate the city you live in - appreciate the life you have. Many times I'll catch myself dreaming of trips I want to take, countries I haven't visited, things I want to do.... Without realizing that I'm not paying attention to what phenomenal opportunities are right in front of me.


So, I encourage you to pay attention to your life right now. Focus on what is great about it. Get out and enjoy what may have been overlooked in the past.

Hilarious!! And....Scary!

Celery butt

Gorgeous tack room. I wish photos could convey smells....The smell of old wood and leather. Divine.

He did NOT want a bath

Canned peaches, anyone?

Hello, beautiful soft nose

The Push and Pull of Emotion

There are certain people who come into your life, and leave a mark. Their place in your heart is tender; a bruise of longing, a pulse of unfinished business. Just hearing their name pushes and pulls at you in a hundred ways, and when you try to define those hundred ways, describe them even to yourself, words are useless.

Sara Zarr

Sometimes words cannot describe emotions articulately. However, I feel like this quote captures mine. 

I don't think anyone ever plans to feel this way - that's what is so startling. The person or the emotion comes out of nowhere.... 

Now...what to do with this feeling....

Cultural Faux Pas in New York City

I absolutely love this article. I especially love the description they give of WHY New Yorkers have such an intense need and desire for personal space and privacy. 


I grew up in New York state (Rochester) and we did not have the same intense fight for personal space, but I do understand it. I am a lover of privacy, a constant seeker of personal space and borderline anonymity. 


Contradictory to the purpose of a blog, but even now, I'm sharing at will.


I love my fellow New Yorkers for the understanding of mutual respect. You do what you do. I'll do what I do. No judgements, no unnecessary conversation about it. Just do your thing. 


What I don't love about New York is the lack of connection to a community in an emotional sense. I appreciate the 'raised by a village' way. I love feeling emotionally connected to people because they share where they came from, who they are now, what they hope for, dream about. Like, it's ok to high five or talk to a stranger's child without fear of being yelled at by an overprotective NY tiger mom. New Yorkers don't do emotional community. They just do their thing. I respect it - but couldn't be that way in my own life and be happy for long. I'd feel isolated and afraid of offending everyone' s little personal bubble.


Anyway... check out the article. Awesome tips for tourists and also maybe a few reality checks for my fellow busy New Yorkers! ;) 

Burning Man 2011 - Oh The Places You'll Go

Based on Dr. Seuss's final book before his death, this is a story about life's ups and downs, told by the people of Burning Man 2011. Probably the best and most interesting story tellers you'd ever find in one place! Enjoy!