A little bit of adorable for your Sunday

There's nothing like watching a momma kitty comfort her baby kitty while he's having a dream. This video melts my heart. Love is real.

We've all had at least one cosmic love in our lifetime

Florence + The Machine is an incredible band. (Thank you to a great friend of mine for introducing me to them!) A few of their songs are among my favorites. This one, entitled Cosmic Love is so powerful and captures the intensity and, at times, turbulence and potency of love (any type of love in life - work, art, passion, relationship, spirituality) and the loss or feeling of being lost that sometimes comes with it.

I think it's important, in order to get the full effect of this song (and the band's music in general), to listen to the whole song with your full attention and just try to feel it and take it in. The music itself, even apart from the lyrics, is so incredible (turn your volume up!) I'm sure many of us have known a love of some sort that has felt like this.

Try this vegan, summery salad

I made a salad the other night that immediately became one of my favorite dishes. Not only is it delicious (my friend and I kept repeating how wonderful it was again and again throughout the evening), it is also incredibly healthy, vegan, and so fresh that it is perfect for the warmer weather. It is full of nutrients, protein, fiber, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates - a perfect meal. I advise you, seriously, to try it out for yourself. I have a feeling it might make your list of favorites, too. (Please note that although there are a number of directions, it really is quite a simple meal to make.)

1.  Put some brown rice on the stove.
2.  Add salt (preferably sea salt) to the rice and boiling water.
3.  Since brown rice takes about 45 minutes to cook, wait about 20 minutes before moving on to the next step.
4.  Boil some water and throw in a good amount of corn (this is half the bulk of the salad). It can be frozen or fresh. (If you are using fresh corn, boil it first and then cut it off the cob after cooking and cooling.) Don't cook the corn for too long - a minute or two is sufficient; You want it to be crisp, not mushy.
5.  Drain the corn, then rinse it with cold water a few times. Next, soak it in cold water (to reduce heat).
6.  Dice one medium-sized red onion and one medium-sized red bell pepper, add to a medium-sized bowl.
7.  Drain the corn again and add to the bowl.
8.  Take a can of butter beans (the other half of the bulk of the salad) and half a can of black soy beans (Eden Organic sells both), rinse, drain, and add to the bowl.
9.  Add some chopped parsley.
10. Add about two tablespoons of olive oil and mix.
11. Dice one avocado and add to the bowl.
12. Add about three tablespoons of sweet red chilli sauce (as I mentioned in a previous post, Thai Kitchen's is my favorite) and mix.
13. Add salt to taste (I like mine somewhat salty, but to each his/her own), and a little bit of pepper.
14. Check that the rice is salted enough (no need to add butter!)
15. Serve a mound of rice on the plate with the summer salad on top. (The warmth and coolness are perfect together.)
16. Enjoy (and let me know what you think!)

My artwork

Untitled (Circa 2000)

Oprah Winfrey, one of my heroines

Tomorrow, May 25th, is the last episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show. I love Oprah. I admit that I rarely get to watch her show, however, I think she is absolutely amazing. She is honest, beautiful inside and out, real, compassionate, educates people, and constantly gives, gives, gives. She created her show with the intent to help others. She is the one person on television who has made me cry more than any other. In fact, pretty much every time I watch her show, I end up crying! 

If you want to be inspired, just read her Wikipedia page, or do a Google search of "Oprah Winfrey impact on the world." This is a woman who donates at least ten percent of her annual income to charity. She started a school in Africa, created a charitable organization, created a network to help others, has given people hope, has impacted others in more ways than I could ever list, and so much more. Rock on, Oprah. You came from hardship, overcame adversity, used your tender heart and passionate energy to do incredible good, and are a total inspiration. You have taken care of so much more than your corner of the world. Thank you. I love you.

My artwork

Bubbles (Circa 2009)

An adorable wedding entrance (that also helps people)

I know that some people may disagree, but I think that this act of dancing to open a wedding ceremony is utterly adorable. First of all, the fact that all of this couple's friends agreed to and enthusiastically participated in this performance demonstrates such a fun, loving attitude towards life and friendship. Second, a couple that wants to have fun and do something entertaining, uplifting, and energetic to celebrate their love is beautiful. Finally, the fact that they did what they wanted, without shame, reservation, or care of what others may think is admirable. They are having fun in their own way.

Additionally, due to the popularity of the video on YouTube, the couple decided to create a link to a website where people can donate money to a charity that helps fight domestic violence. They chose that charity based on the circumstances surrounding Chris Brown (the singer of Forever, the song that they dance to in the video) and Rihanna. As of September, 2010, they had already raised over $34,000. How awesome is that!? I can't tell you how many times I've watched this video. I love it!

(On a little side note, I have no idea if this is true, but I have this small idea that perhaps the bride's father was not present to walk her down the isle, and that maybe this was their solution to that situation. The thought of that makes this display all the more touching.)

Try this stir-fry - delicious AND nutritious

Try this recipe I made up the other night for a yummy, sweet (but with a kick), veggie-filled bite!

1.  Put some brown rice on the stove.
2.  Since brown rice takes about 45 minutes to cook, wait about 30 minutes before moving on to the next step (chop the veggies and set the table while you wait).
3.  Sauté some bok choy with olive oil until it is limp and tender (covering it for a few minutes helps the process by steaming it a little).
4.  Add in diced asparagus and red onion.
5.  Add sweet red chilli sauce (my favorite is the one sold by Thai Kitchen) and continue sautéing.
6.  Throw in some cashew nuts and sunflower seeds.
7.  Pour over brown rice and enjoy.

Piiiizzzzza........without cheese?

I have recently been avoiding most dairy in my diet to improve my health (more to come on this later). One of the foods I have been nervous about abstaining from is pizza. I go absolutely nuts for pizza. It's super scrumptious. About a month ago, I purchased a groupon for Domino's Pizza which expires tomorrow. I felt a little bummed because I really do love pizza (did I mentioned that already?) and wasn't sure whether I should give the groupon away or what to do with it. Despite my suspicions that I would loathe a pizza without cheese, I decided to go for it anyway.

I chose their crunchy thin crust, no cheese, and their regular sauce. (Domino's has an ordering system where you can customize your whole order and send it through online - awesome!) Then I decided to load it up with toppings. I chose onions, roasted red peppers, pineapple, jalapeno peppers, spinach, diced tomatoes, mushrooms, and black olives. It was A-MA-ZING. The thin crust was crunchy and satisfying (not soggy), while allowing me to consume less refined flour than their regular crust (which is much thicker). The vegetables were tasty and what really helped was the sweetness of the pineapple coupled with the spiciness of the jalapeno peppers and flavor of the onions.

I realized that I could still enjoy pizza without the cheese. What a fun, yet shocking, discovery. If you are interesting in going this route with your pizza parties, definitely try it out.

My artwork

This piece is part of one of my favorite series of artwork that I made back in 2000. The subject was the human body. Isn't it amazing how atoms come together to form cells that work tirelessly to house the beings that we are? Isn't it awesome how we have this life force in us that moves, grows, and heals with innate intelligence? Beautiful and spiritual, it is.