After 6 weeks of wonderful and insightful guest Friday Five posts, today”s Friday Five post is by me. Here are five thoughts/things/ideas that are currently bringing serendipity, courage, fragrance, sweetness and inspiration into my life. I hope that these five spark an idea and bring inspiration for you too. As always, thanks for reading.
A Serendipity Journal
I gave myself this journal, as a gift for the holidays, to jot down all the “happy accidents” and “it must be a sign” moments in 2015. It has only been 9 days and I already have 5 entries in the journal! By recording all the serendipitous moments I encounter, I hope to invite, delight and marvel in more of them in 2015. Elizabeth Berg, author of The Year of Pleasures” said, “Sometimes serendipity is just intention unmasked.” I can’t wait to see all the events that unfold and how they relate to my intentions this year.
Life doesn’t Frighten me at All
This poem written for children by Maya Angelou is offering a new lense through which I see courage these days. It is a potent reminder of the innate courage that resides in all of us.
“I”ve got a magic charm
That I keep up my sleeve
I can walk the ocean floor
And never have to breathe.
Life doesn”t frighten me at all
Not at all
Not at all.
Life doesn”t frighten me at all.”
Listen to the entire poem, read by Angelou herself here.
Frankincense Essential Oil
An ancient fragrance, Frankincense is often associated with religious ceremonies. Frankincense (along with gold and myrrh), in casino online resin form, was one of the original gifts given by the Magi to young Jesus, according to the Bible. Early texts from Yemen tell that the resin was used widely for warding off ‘evil’ forces, as an anti-anxiety agent, as chewing-gum to freshen the breath, and as an omnipotent anti-inflammatory medicine, for curing everything from arthritis to gingivitis. Modern studies report that the resin is useful in treating inflammatory bowel disease and has an ability to suppress cancer cells.
I’m researching frankincense in earnest and will write a full-length post about it soon. Although I don’t yet use the resin in oral form, I have been enjoying this ancient herb/spice/resin as an essential oil. Most scents, even essential oils, especially floral ones, give me headaches, but not this one. It is pleasant, calming and soul soothing. It smells like an illuminated church or a temple brimming with peace and love. I have been using a drop behind my ears.
Buckwheat Chocolate Chip Cookies
Somewhere along the path of becoming gluten free, I started eating too many nuts. My stomach went nutty (pun intended) and protested. Although nuts are great for you in moderation, they are heavy and hard to digest, if you eat too many of them. I have been looking for alternatives to almond flour (the ubiquitous favorite for gluten-free baking) and was excited when I came across this recipe for a single serve buckwheat-chocolate chip cookie on the Detoxinista website. Easy and quick to make, I only make four cookies at a time for dessert. It is delicious with a cup of tea or milk (whatever kind you prefer)! Here is the recipe.
4 Tablespoons of buckwheat flour
2 Tablespoons of coconut palm sugar
4 Teaspoons of coconut oil
A little water to form the dough
A splash of vanilla extract
Semi-sweet chocolate Chips
Bake for 8 minutes in a preheated oven at 350 F on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Friday Five on Design–Milk
I love browsing and reading Friday Five lists, all over the Internet, particularly on Design-Milk. Every Friday a designer shares five objects they love or thoughts that inspire them. Whether you are a design enthusiast or not, you will find an abundance of ideas and inspiration in this column. Here is a link to their best Friday Fives of 2014.
Sources:
- The New York Times; Frankincense Fit for a King (One, Anyway)
- PubMed; Frankincense
- Detoxinista; Single Serving Buckwheat Cookie
- Goodreads; Elizabeth Berg
- Design- Milk; Friday Five
