LISTEN TO Usher - Throwback (Confessions)

Pooh’s Presence Practice

Sitting, listening, grounding, being still, feeling content, and just stopping are some of the most profoundly healing things we can do. Each moment, with all it may contain (even the hard stuff) is enough. When we can slow down enough and not be busy trying to distract ourselves or manipulate our circumstances, we invite in presence. As my teacher said recently, he loves best when he is most present. Accepting ourselves in this very moment, and accepting the moment itself, teaches us to soften to what is happening right now. We start to leave the past, and disengage from the imaginary fantasies of the future. All we really have is Now. Life is full of Now’s. If we don’t learn to be there then we miss huge chunks of our lives. It’s very hard to be present with a hijacked nervous system. This is why grounding and breathing techniques are essential. Breathing openly makes us more open to our life experience. Even taking five to ten minutes a day to just be very aware of breath starts to retrain our nervous system to regulate. We are usually safer than we think we are. When a person I’m having a hard time with enters my mind, and I start to write that imaginary confrontational script, I’ll stop and tell myself, “she’s not here right now”. Presence is being aware of what is actually Here and Now. Not five minutes ago. Not last year, not next week. The monkey mind wants to be anywhere but here, but always remember your mind works for You. You have the power, ability, and choice to direct it and lasso your thoughts. It’s a constant practice. It’s not the straying where we practice, since that’s often unconscious. It’s in the deliberate and conscious return to Now. It’s the firm decision to be part of what is.

Purple Reign 💜

I have pulled out this Carven shirt so many times over the years in prepping for shoots. It’s somehow never made it on the blog until now. This is a great statement blouse in that it carries the look. I love this top with a black, white, or light washed denim bottom. When it’s warm out I wear it with white loafers, but since it was still cold when I took this, I whipped out my purple suede booties. One of the cool details to the shirt is, in addition to the unique buttons, the longer length in back. I’m a huge fan of the intentionally messy half tuck, but the whole vibe of this top is crisp, sharp, and chic. Had to pop the collar though. The waxy effect of these jeans keep things slick and sleek. White shades to hint towards Spring.
Fun fact: when I was little my favorite color was lavender. My childhood bedroom, my monogrammed stationary, even my bat mitzvah invitations were lavender and purple. Only later did I learn it’s the color of royalty ;).

Vegetarian Chili w Cauliflower Rice

Soooooo good! I legit threw this together with whatever remained in my fridge and pantry. I know that sounds like bullshit but have I ever lied to you? I needed a healthy, hot, hearty meal and this hit the spot. Putting this together on the fly made it even more satisfying. Don’t you just love when that happens?

Ingredients:
A large onion, chopped
2 large garlic cloves, chopped
2 to 3 carrots, peeled and sliced
3 celery stalks, chopped
A pepper of your choice, large diced
An eggplant cut into chunks, sliced lengthwise first to peel most of the skin (you can leave skin on if you like)
Can each of red and black beans rinsed and drained (or one can beans and one can chickpeas)
Cup and a half veg stock
A small to medium zucchini, large diced
1/2 cup chopped parsley
2 packed cups of chopped kale
A large can plus a small can of tomato sauce
A 14 oz can fire roasted diced tomatoes, not drained
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp each smoked paprika and chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp each salt and pepper

Herbed Cauliflower Rice:
A bag of cauliflower rice, defrosted and drained
1/2 tsp each dried basil, smoked paprika
1/4 tsp garlic powder
Juice of half a lemon
Sprinkle of salt and pepper
1/4 cup veg stock

In a large pot, heat some olive oil and sauté the onion until fragrant and translucent, adding some stock to prevent pot from burning. Add the garlic, carrots, celery, and remaining stock. Cover pot to sweat the vegetables for 7 minutes. Add remaining ingredients, mix well. Cover and bring to a boil then lower heat and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes until the vegetables are all fork tender. Stir occasionally. Adjust seasonings to taste.

To make the cauliflower rice while the chili cooks, heat your largest sauté pan with some olive oil. Add the rice and cook for several minutes, stirring to dry it up. Add the seasonings, stock, the juice of the lemon half, and cook until all is combined, about 5 minutes on a medium flame. Serve under or alongside the chili. Chili night need not be heavy, meaty, and starchy!

Dating Apps As Spiritual Practice

I’ve been thinking about this for a couple months now. Truthfully, when one starts to see all of life as material for practice, then it will include this mishegas. I don’t hate on apps. They’re a real means to meet someone these days. It’s simply another channel for the universe to deliver to us what we need, be it more uncomfortable lessons or someone great. Hey, I’m great and I’m on apps so why wouldn’t a great guy be on there too? Having recently gone back on them after a nice hiatus, it was definitely a major point of self observation to see how I dealt with the reentry into online mingling. After reintroducing myself to the virtual dating pool, I felt that old, nervous addiction creeping up on me again. I was clearly feeling unmoored and unsteady, and in that frantic, unconscious reach for the illusion of predictability, I checked these apps until my eyes bled at 2 am. They are designed to be addictive, and I furiously swiped while batting away feelings of self loathing. Not really, because I forgave myself for the need for my human to grasp onto what she thinks might be next, like monkey bars. Humans do this and mine is no different. What made this time different was the awareness of my unconscious behavior. I firmly believe, especially having gone through this before, that the best opportunities in life come when we relax, trust, surrender, and reach a point of true letting go. All this is clearly counterintuitive to my acting like Swiping Sally. I knew on some level that this initial crazy, panicked stage was a necessary tunnel I had to go through. It’s completely normal and expected to feel unmoored and scared after having spent some months with one person, especially a terrific one. My trust muscle at this point in my life is genuinely strong. I am able to touch a place of peace, faith, and surrender often and quickly. When my mind kicks up dust storms of thoughts of doom, I am very able to talk myself back down to the inner knowing that all is unfolding exactly right. And so apps, for me, represent the quintessence of spiritual practice; it’s that constant battle between the peace of spirit within and hyper neurotic, “what if” mental activity. It’s like I can be calm and still one minute, then get a message from some dude I’d never be interested in and it’s off to the races. I’m proudest of myself when I laugh these messages off, and prouder still when I feel zero attachment to even checking the apps. If I know that Source/God/Universe is taking magnificent care of me and my desires, and I have faith in my ability to manifest (which I do), then scrolling down an endless list of men simply isn’t necessary. That’s not what’s going to find me my man. When I rejoined the dating apps, a good friend tried to be encouraging by telling me to be really proactive and assertive. However, that approach just isn’t me. It doesn’t feel right to me, in my physical or emotional body. It feels conflicting because it is; I feel that when I’m relaxed, aligned, calm, and receptive, that is when I’ll be ready and available to actually receive.

Another thing I noticed, which I’ve been taught to do through Buddhist meditation study, is to observe bodily cues throughout the day. On dating apps I immediately noticed how my heartbeat would quicken and my stomach would clench. My body didn’t like the checking, scrolling, swiping, or even reading piles of useless messages. My body was asking me to pay attention, and without judgement was directing me to stop. Again, I knew this frantic phase was part of the deal so I simply observed and allowed my human to be, well, human. I maintain that apps are helpful in teaching us to further pay attention to how our body responds to certain messages and guys we chat with. For example, last week a seemingly very nice and normal guy was writing to me a bunch. I wrote back and searched him up. Things checked out and he sounded interesting. But I had a gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach. So while my mind said, “meet him!”my body said “you don’t want this one”. A couple years ago I’d have listened to my mind. This time my inner knowing won out, and it cheered when I passed on something that I instinctively felt wasn’t for me, even if he was very tall, Jewish, had good hair, and seemed cool. When we pay deep attention to ourselves it feels good, just like how it feels icky when we don’t. I’m way passed that initial post divorce stage where I felt I had to be open minded and meet lots of guys, if even for the fact I’d never dated before (having married so young). That, too, was a necessary tunnel to go through. Now, I’m incredibly selective for various reasons, chief among them that my hungry ghost, the focus of spiritual practice, is much less ravenous. I no longer seek or need unnecessary attention. I no longer betray my desires and ignore my inner wisdom. I no longer feed into frightened thought patterns, because I can talk to my mind like a mother does to a child (my inner child) and say, “shhhh, everything is ok and right”. Instead, I listen to the ever present voice outside of me that tells me it’s “taking care of everything”. It was this voice that came to me over a year ago, and by believing it some fantastical things happened to me last summer, all around the same time. Those things, as well as those people that were brought to me, were concrete proof to keep listening to this voice which I feel around me (and not in me). It’s the voice of Spirit, and the guides sent to look after me. The guides I know that are with me every step of the way. I hear them and I feel them, all the time.

When on the path, every single thing becomes fodder for growth and learning. As Eckhart Tolle says, “relationships aren’t here to make us happy, they are here to make us conscious”. Relearning myself on dating apps has been an excellent way to reinforce all I have learned, and all I continue to learn. As well as to remind myself over and over how I want to be in all spaces. The key is to refrain from judgement, and I have been much more forgiving of myself in this area. Spirit doesn’t judge, and if I’m tapping into my own spiritual body then practicing non judgment is essential. I’m not on dating apps to date. I’m there to find the ultimate loving relationship, the unicorn that is rarely seen but exists enough to be ever so talked about. I’ve often been told I’m a unicorn, and I’d agree, which is why I’m seeking my male counterpart. And it’s not going to be from FunGuy asking me “how I’m handling these crazy times”.

Some asshole was recently pissed I wouldn’t give him my digits. In his pathetic little tantrum he told me that I’m not getting any younger. First of all, Wad, a relationship with YOU sounds like fun! Secondly, what I am getting is a whole lot smarter. And when my thoughts, instincts, and actions all align, my spirit soars. The most important person I need to send a super like to is, and will always be, myself. Take that, JJ from Florida!

Listen to Animotion - Obsession

Listen to Danity Kane - Damaged

Not So Basic Blend

Ok, let’s see what we’ve got here; some basic pieces you all def have in your closet, blended together to make a not so basic look. Dark rinse bell bottoms, a neutral knit turtleneck of sorts (this DKNY one is sleeveless, a good transitional piece), and a patterned blazer. Oh, and sunglasses that lend a pop of color or whimsy. Each of these standard items came together to make a solid transitional look when it was freezing in April, though clearly time to mentally and stylistically move the F on from winter wear. Neutral Lanvin wedges are hiding underneath the jeans, adding that great booty lift that denim loves so much. I used these same jeans a few weeks back, with the retro sweater. Pairing it today with this Isabel Marant blazer that I’ve had forever makes for an entirely new vibe. A structured blazer is a great way to take denim to a date. Lastly, always capitalize on a good blowout.

Vegan Mushroom Bolognese

One of the first recipes I ever posted on the blog is my famous classic meat bolognese sauce. It’s still easily one of the most popular recipes here. I miss it, since it used to be one of my favorites, too. Who doesn’t love twirling pasta into a hearty sauce? I came up with this vegan version that’s full of diced veggies, hearty mushrooms, and a rich herbed tomato sauce. Use with your favorite pasta or grain. I used a low carb edamame mung bean pasta, which was absolutely delicious.

Ingredients:
8 cups diced baby Bella mushrooms
Large diced onion
Cup each diced carrots and celery
Red cooking wine
Tsp dried basil
3/4 cup veg stock
Large 28 oz can tomato sauce
A 14 oz can fire roasted tomatoes (optional)
A tbsp tomato paste
2 tsp each paprika and garlic powder
1/2 tsp turmeric
Heaping tbsp fresh thyme leaves
Large dried bay leaf
2 tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper
1/3 cup finely chopped parsley


Whew! Ok, here we go. In a large pot, heat 3 tbsp olive oil and sauté the onion until fragrant and translucent, adding 1/4 cup red wine to deglaze and flavor the base. Add dried basil, carrots and celery, and 3/4 cup veg stock. Mix. Cover pot to sweat the veggie mix for 5 minutes, then uncover and sauté for another 2 minutes to release the steam.
Add chopped mushrooms and another 1/4 cup red wine. Sauté uncovered for about 7 minutes, stirring often. If the mushrooms give off too much liquid, carefully drain only half the excess liquid.
Add the tomato sauce, paste, fire roasted tomatoes if using for chunky texture (don’t drain), paprika, garlic powder, turmeric, bay leaf, salt, pepper, thyme, and parsley. Bring to an active simmer on medium high heat, then lower to a still kinda active but much gentler simmer (my flame was on low) uncovered for 30 to 45 minutes. Stir occasionally. Adjust salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately over your fave pasta or grain. This dish def feeds a crowd.

Not My Problem

Forgive me for this copy of this poem, it was the clearest I could pull up.
American born from a Palestinian father, Naomi Shihab Nye is one of my favorite recent poetry discoveries. Her way of taking and twisting the mundane into thought provoking poems has impacted me a lot, especially during this difficult time. The monsoon of anti Semitism has plunged me into a roiling cauldron of feelings; rage, disgust, fear, sadness, despair, the frustration of not being heard/seen/cared about, as well as disappointment in how I have sometimes reacted, however justified I know my reactions are. This poem spoke to me in terms of that. When we are pushed, poked, prodded, and pounded on, how can we respond while staying steady instead of diving headfirst into a tornado of unhelpful reactivity? How can I express what I need to and honor that vocal part of me while maintaining equanimity? Almost every day for the past three weeks I have woken up deciding to not go down the social media rabbit hole. Within 2 minutes I have discarded that commitment. It’s enough, and at this point it’s a matter of standing firm in how I want to spend my time and energy. How we spend our days, like the poem says, tells our story. When deep trauma is triggered, which is what is happening now in the Jewish community, it is human nature to seek out those who agree with us (survival mode) and those who don’t agree with us (our chemical addiction to stress reactivity). I have done both of those things so much lately, and I know it’s proof of healing to even have that awareness of the unconscious activity. I’m tired though, not just of the situation but of my old habits. Each step towards the way of change, which indeed begins with awareness and commitment, becomes a new bag of trash left over from the story of how we spent our day.

I’m currently in the midst of a paradigm shift, and how I continue to navigate all this staggering hatred will either cooperate with the shift or it won’t. The shift requires a fresh response in all areas in order for me to send the message to myself that, yes, I’m going in the right direction.

listen to Naomi Shemer - Shuli Nathan - Yeroushalayim shel zahav - ירושלים של זהב

In Defense of Cancel Culture

Isn’t it ironic how people want to cancel Cancel Culture? Um, isn’t that just another version of the same? It seems that anyone who wants to believe they are woke, open minded, and liberal free thinkers rail loudly against cancelling. On a certain level this obviously makes sense. Are we to cancel someone simply because we don’t agree with something they did or said? I have been accused of doing that a few times this week, in light of the brutal global anti Semitic climate that has emerged from the current Israeli Hamas conflict. Note I did not say Israeli Palestinian conflict. There are many Israelis, Palestinians, and Israeli Arabs who truly wish to live in peace and tranquility. This conflict is between a democratic government and a proud terrorist organization with a charter that clearly calls for global Jewish genocide. You do the math, if it fits your narrative. If not, cancel, right? It’s been a very interesting thing to note this week that people who are neither Jewish nor Palestinian, and who have probably never been to Israel, are suddenly self proclaimed experts on a conflict that brilliant scholars and skilled politicians cannot seem to crack. But any dope with an Instagram account is now spitting misinformed bars from their imaginary dissertation on this volatile topic. Did you care about this last year before it was the trending topic? Or were you too wrapped up in your own stuff and cancelling everyone else? Many people who accused me of cancelling did the exact same thing when it was their issue that was the hot topic. Social media, all media, has been a frightening space to be in for a long time now. There are certain narratives being fed to, and consumed by, the public. You don’t agree? CANCELLED. OUT. DONE. Even if someone has a good point that goes against said narrative, they are shamed and finished. Amongst the numerous layers of staggering hypocrisy that have been made crystal clear recently, accusing others of subscribing to cancel culture is one of them. It’s like when you have a problem you can cancel, but if I have a problem then I can’t.

Let me make this clear. Anti Semitism is abuse. Like any other “ism” or human phobia, Jewish hatred is abuse. At the slightest whiff of that, and I mean the SLIGHTEST, I will cancel you. Not from your right to exist and speak freely, but from my life. It’s amazing; distancing and detoxing ourselves and our lives from any other type of relationship abuse is not only encouraged but congratulated. Good for you, Gurl, he didn’t treat you right. Block his sorry ass. You deserve better. The parent, friend, or boss that wasn’t good to you? F them! Delete them from your life. Protect and honor yourself, Babe! I follow many relationship, dating, love, and therapy accounts/coaches/teachers. Across the board they teach that to in order to protect our emotional and mental well being, strict boundaries are needed. Lines that cannot be crossed are essential for how we treat ourselves. And how we treat ourselves teaches others how to treat us. So a jerk boyfriend can be cancelled but not someone spouting poisonous anti Semitic garbage? I don’t think so. I reserve the right to eliminate anyone and anything that threatens my life, my peace, my rights as a Jew, my rights as a woman, my kids, my community, my heart, and my state of mind. The worst offenders are the woke “peaceniks” who don’t even comprehend how the regurgitation of the “cool” narrative is literally leading to Jewish beatings all over the world. Dude, pick up a book or book a flight. Too much effort, I know. Much easier to argue with me over what I’m allowed to be offended and hurt by. Much easier to yell at the world for cultural appropriation while posting memes of children being led to the gas chamber every time you have a bad day. We are more concerned with getting pronouns right (something I am very careful with, since I don’t want to offend with how anyone identifies) than calling people Nazis. Nazis, you Guys. One of the most evil groups of people ever to exist. ADOLF HITLER WAS TRENDING THIS WEEK ON TWITTER. Read that again and again and again. Guess who un cancelled Adolf freaking Hitler? Every single person who in some way has weaponized one of the most painful parts of modern Jewish history for their own usage. I love how the new millennial shtick is “I’m not anti Semitic, just anti Zionist”. Hey, whatever helps you sleep at night and carry on during the day. Look, you are clearly entitled to your opinion, no matter how much I don’t agree. Say whatever you want, and don’t give a moment‘s thought to how that is directly causing harm to others. Sure, that’s your right in this democratic country we call home. This land isn’t ours btw. It belongs to the Native Americans, but you won’t see people posting and screaming on behalf of them. Jewish hatred has always been sexy. It has always garnered points and street cred with the masses. Jews have been scapegoated throughout history. This is a hard and sad fact. So perpetuating that narrative has always been fully acceptable and expected. It’s always on trend. That’s not what this post is about though. It’s about the fact that just as you have the right to spew uninformed, ignorant, embarrassingly uneducated garbage in the name of “ social justice”, so too do I have the right to remove you from my life. I have done this. I will keep doing this since my life and my energy are precious. In this one life I have, you and your anti Semitic rhetoric are not welcome. There is a block button I can use at will. I will do whatever I have to do to protect myself.

If a friend gives me very bad vibes for any reason, out. If a relative has caused me great harm, out. In my personal life this is always lauded and admired. In my Jewish life, the message is that I am required to eat shit no matter how bad it tastes. Sorry, Boo, that’s not how I work.
If you hurt me and genuinely love me, we can work it out. Good people, myself included, make many mistakes.

If you hurt me and you don’t really care about me, I will cancel you. Faster then you can hit share. And trust me, I won’t regret it. I am very selective with whom is granted access to my life. And abuse of any kind will never be allowed in.

There is a phenomenon I’ve noted in regards to Jewish shiva, the mourning period after someone dies. I have had the good fortune to not yet sit shiva, but I know many who have. Shiva is a weeklong period in which visitors come visit the mourners. Every person I know who has sat shiva, despite drowning in grief and misery, remembers exactly who came to visit and who did not. They never forget who did not come to visit. They won’t know what day it is or if they ate lunch, but they will remember if you were there for them. Humans are pack animals. Our survival depends on our herd. We instinctively know who supports our survival and who will leave us for dead, physically or emotionally. This is why shiva, and participating in any kind of anti Semitic rhetoric, hits so hard. We are designed to look for those who will sustain and support us. Which also means we are designed to look for those who won’t.

Cancelling is editing. And editing eliminates the excess that isn’t helpful. If you won’t help me, or will only do so at your convenience, I wish you well but from a very, very far distance. You are not safe for me. If I brought you into my life with the touch of a button, I can escort you out with the touch of another.

Hatred is cancelled.

Spinach Dandelion Green Soup

Dandelion greens are packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and anti inflammatory properties. They have a bit of a bitterness to them, so I wouldn’t really suggest this for babies/kids. I didn’t mind the slight bitterness since I felt so healthy eating a cup of this crazy beneficial soup. It was also really nice as a sauce atop a clean grain such as freekeh. Toasted, seasoned chickpeas and slivered almonds lent an earthy, layered crunch. Feel free to only use fresh spinach instead of the combo with the dandelion, eliminating the bitterness. This soup can be served at any temperature.

Ingredients:
One large onion chopped
3 large bunches fresh spinach, not baby
1 large bunch dandelion greens
10 cups vegetable broth
Can chickpeas
Salt, pepper, optional garlic powder, turmeric, and paprika to spice the chickpeas

Sauté onion in several tbsp olive oil in a large soup pot. When the onion is fragrant and translucent, add the greens and broth in batches, letting the greens cook down. Add all the broth, 2 tsp salt and 1 tsp pepper. Bring to a boil, simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, blend when done and cooled slightly.
To make roasted chickpeas as garnish, rinse a can of chickpeas, drying very well. Mix with a drizzle of olive oil and season with some salt, pepper, garlic powder, turmeric and paprika. Place in a parchment lined pan and toast in a 425 oven for 45 minutes. If they’re not crispy enough, you can crisp more in a lightly oiled frying pan.

To use the soup as a green sauce atop a grain such as freekeh, farro, quinoa, or brown rice, simply prepare your grain of choice then drizzle the soup, and sprinkle toasted, silvered almonds on top. The crunch factor is important here so I advise not skipping that part. This makes a great side dish.

Overall Mood

I’ve loved overalls since, well, probably the age of 2. I still think they’re adorable and fun, not to mention sexy when worn with a tank top, bralette, or crop top. I like my overalls baggy to highlight what’s underneath. This whole outfit is from Free People. I love the combo of army green and dusty rose. It’s a good mix of earthy and sweet. I also have a thing for long sleeves and Birkenstock’s, as well as for wind that gives me Beyoncé wind machine hair.

The Guest House by Rumi

Wishing all who mother in their own unique ways a very happy Mother’s Day. This poem has meant a great deal to me as a mother. Taking care of my own emotional guests has helped me reparent myself, an act of self love I desperately needed. This has helped me better deal with the visiting emotions and experiences of each of my children. Knowing on the deepest of levels that each feeling, thought, mind state, fear, agitation, and inner happening is just a visitor passing through. When I welcome them I remain the steadfast host who can ultimately escort them back out. But to do that I must greet them first. They are knocking in order to be seen.
Being a mother is fraught with so much emotion. Victories, failures, mountains of self doubt, and immense love all seem to be detonating simultaneously. The trick is to remind ourselves over and over that while these guests come and go, we remain. Knowing this is one of the best things we can demonstrate to our kids. Their own thoughts and feelings come and go while they remain a constant. And as their own experiences wash over them, knocking them over just as ours do to us, Mommy remains.

I’m not perfect because no human is, but I am here. My love for you is not a guest.

Def Leopard

We here in Jersey are wild for animal prints! Leopard print, big hair, leather, and hair band music; we wrote the book on that rad ass time in the 80’s. I seriously feel bad for anyone who didn’t grow up tasting all that the decade of 1980 had to offer. The vibes from back then cannot be replicated, but we can still rock some of those trends, yes? This jumpsuit is versatile. It’s an outfit that works day or night, as a comfy yet chic hostess look, or even as a cover up at the pool. It’s a great vacation piece since it serves many purposes. It’s Norma Kamali, and it does not wrinkle, which is a gift from the fabric gods. I love how the pop of red in the sunglasses add to the otherwise black and gray color palette. The shorter cut of the jacket works really well with the high waist on the jumpsuit, making for a flattering silhouette. The fit and scale of outerwear pieces can make or break the overall feel of a look. Wishing you all a totally radical, Jersey strong day!

Listen to Kesha - Blow

Stuffed & Rolled Eggplant

These vegan roll ups are stuffed with cauliflower rice and topped with a simple, fresh tomato sauce. They plate beautifully and are delicious warm or room temperature. As a side or vegan main, this dish is super satisfying. Extra cauliflower rice mixture is yummy the next day on its own. Double the tomato sauce to use for pasta or as a bread dipper. This recipe is my second plant based brunch offering, and I’m sure it’ll fast become a regular guest on your table.

Ingredients:
2 medium or large eggplants sliced thinly lengthwise about 1/4 inch thick, skin on
2 cups cauliflower rice, uncooked
1/3 cup EACH toasted pine nuts, chopped red onion, chopped parsley, and chopped fresh mint
Juice of 2 lemons
3 tsp olive oil, plus more to grill and sauté

Sauce ingredients:
4 cups cherry tomatoes
4 cloves fresh, peeled garlic
1/2 tsp dried oregano
Salt, pepper, optional 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes if you like a kick
1/3 cup chopped parsley or basil, for final step

You can always use jarred marinara as a hack, but I encourage you to make a fresh sauce, if only to learn how easy it is for a variety of other uses.

Oven on 400. In a pan, mix the tomatoes, garlic cloves, oregano, and salt and pepper (maybe 1 1/2 tsp salt and 3/4 tsp pepper to start), and several tbsp olive oil. Roast until tomatoes start to brown, about 45 minutes.
Meanwhile, prep the eggplant. Place slices in a single layer, brush with olive oil and sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides. Using a hot grill pan (you can also broil, just watch very carefully), grill the eggplant until each side has dark grill marks, a couple minutes each side. Set aside to cool in a single layer.
To prep filling, sauté the cauliflower rice in a well oiled pan until translucent. Add salt and pepper to taste. There should be a tender bite, but don’t overbook in order to avoid mush. Set aside to cool until it’s just a bit warm. Put the cooled “rice” in a bowl. Add the chopped herbs, onion, and toasted pine nuts. Add the fresh lemon juice and 3 tsp olive oil, adjust seasonings to taste, and combine all thoroughly.
To stuff each eggplant slice, place 1 to 2 tbsp of the mixture at one end of a slice and roll lengthwise, tightly enough to secure the filling. Place on a serving platter in a single layer, or in a pan for next day use.

To make the tomato sauce, simply pulse the roasted tomatoes and garlic in a food processor several times to yield a very textured sauce. Add the chopped parsley or basil, pulsing maybe 3 more times until all is combined in a fresh, colorful, chunky texture. Check seasonings. Spoon sauce over the eggplant roll ups. This reheated really well the next day.

Spring Skirting

So into this flirty skirt sweater combo as a transitional look. Shot mid April while it was crazy cold, this look was both cozy, practical, and seasonally appropriate. The chunky, cream colored knit sweater worked because it’s not a heavy wool. That would have felt out of place in April, even if it was 39 degrees that day. The length of the sweater is also what made it work with this sweet skirt. It hit right so it didn’t overwhelm the skirt, the key Spring piece. The flowy aspect of the skirt balanced the warmer sweater affect, as did the straw Spring boots that I’ve had forever. The floral skirt paired with this handmade ceramic heart shaped necklace, made for a real Spring vibe. Pretty, feminine details for the win. I was able to keep warm while mentally embracing the shift in seasons. It’s essential we stay internally cozy as we navigate change.

Listen to Justin Bieber - Peaches ft. Daniel Caesar, Giveon