It’s Monday and unlike my usual start to the week, today I’m housesitting out in Edna Valley so I took the morning off from class, yoga, the gym and such. Feels good to sleep in a little bit and take a luxurious bath in a huge tub with fancy oils, I’ll say! I did however do my 10 minute meditation practice that I told you about last week. It’s day six and I’m still going strong! 

Me this morning!

It’s wasn’t easy to sit for 10 minutes the first day but by day three, I learned just to focus on the sound of my breath, over all the background noises (dogs, yelling kids at the park, college kids in SLO chanting “Woo Hoo”) and my monkey mind. Gosh it’s hard to quiet that thing! I usually spend the first minute or two trying to breath louder than all my internal dialogue, my To Do List… those sorts of things. Easier said than done that’s for sure.

Every day I’ve been switching up the time of day I meditate at, where I do it at, and the way I sit; sometimes in half-lotus, full lotus, hero’s pose and good ole cross legged position. I am finding I enjoy the stillness in the late afternoon, between 5-6 p.m. I have a break in my schedule between 5:15 and 5:45 p.m. most days, so I’m using that short window of time to meditate. I’ve taken a “selfie” each day so far so I can hold myself accountable for this 10 day challenge and as you’ll see I’m outside, inside, and the dogs even joined me for a short bit of time too!

My book club met this past weekend and it was so fun as usual. All of the girls read a ton and it’s interesting to mix our tastes together on the third Saturday of the month! Next month we’re reading a literary classic, Jane Austen’s Emma, while November’s book is Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See and December’s is the non-fiction Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan. I had better get reading!

But first, some historical fiction!

Onto all things yummy now… last night I made a tasty little artichoke for dinner since it looked as if it was starting to go! I utilized some of the ingredients in the kitchen in the home I’m staying at and it took just over 30 minutes to make. Andy made a delicious grilled Burrata cheese sandwich with cornichons, Italian sausage and sliced apples. Paired with my favorite Aioli Garlic Mustard Sauce from Trader Joe’s, you just cannot go wrong! By the way, if you love artichokes as much as I do, check out this great grilled artichoke recipe or this other steamed artichoke recipe I’ve made in the past!

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Steamed Sea Salt Artichoke- serves two or more 

Ingredients:

-1 artichoke

-5 cloves of garlic, minced

-1 T butter

-drizzle of grape seed oil (or olive oil)

-1/4 cup white wine

-1/2 t sea salt

-1 t spicy mustard

-pepper

Directions:

1. In a medium sized pan, add an inch of water, the white wine, pepper and sea salt. Chop off the tip of the artichoke and the very end of the stem and place in liquid.

2. Cover and steam on medium for at least 30 minutes or until soft.

3. In a frying pan, place the garlic and butter and let sit until the butter dissolves. Take off the heat.

4. Place the artichoke in a bowl and place the garlicky mustard mixture on the side. Enjoy!

Mangia!

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Have a great rest of your Monday everyone! I’m off now to take some yoga-shenigans pictures around this lovely house I’m staying at for the week… cause that’s what I do! Yoga everywhere… right?!