astrid eats.

Feeding the mind, body & soul

I recently read a post from HTP that has really stuck with me. In her post, “Add, Not Subtract” Caitlin discusses how easy it is to fall into the mentality of focusing on what we shouldn’t be doing- eating sugar, watching t.v., drinking alcohol, etc…However, what if we focus on not just removing the bad, but enriching with the good?

less magazines, more novels, 

less coffee, more water. 

less smartphones, more postcards. 

less talking, more acting. 

less news, more TED talks.

less treadmill, more yoga. 

less movies, more documentaries. 

less fluorescence, more candles. 

less sugar, more fruit. 

less t.v., more reading. 

less liquor, more wine. 

less to-do lists, more to-be lists. 

less stuff, more space. 

A slightly different perspective that focuses on what really matters- living a more purposeful life. 

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At the ripe old age of 22, I’d like to think that I’ve gone through my fair share of life transitions.  Every milestone seems to be *THE BIGGEST* when it’s happening and graduating from college proves no exception. 

I have never doubted myself as much as I have this past semester.   From the intoxicating thoughts of salaried jobs and new cities to the confidence-shaking lows of rejection letters and total uncertainty, steady ground was hard to find.

Uncertainty and adventure is part of what makes life, well life.  After a great deal of soul searching and the opportunity to taste success while absorbing rejection, the doubt is lifting.  I don’t know exactly what I want to do with my life and I don’t know exactly who I am.  But, I know more than I did yesterday and that is enough.

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Like most things in life, college graduation is bittersweet.  On one hand, it means leaving best friends, a beautiful campus, and a place you’ve come to know and love.  On the other hand, it signifies an exciting new chapter- increased independence, a new city, and the continued journey of self-discovery.

With less than a month till graduation, no less than 37 things a day both excite and terrify me about this impending milestone.  Without a doubt, one of the scariest things is moving away from the people I know and love. 

Granted, true friendship survives great distances.  Furthermore, these days it is incredibly easy to stay in touch through texts, e-mails, instagrams, facebook messages, and skype conversations.  However, none of these replace the value of a million random and not so random interactions that compose relationships.

That being said, here are a couple of creative ways to stay in touch…

Cards.  Everyone loves receiving mail.  Whether its for a specific holiday or just because, a card is an easy way to let someone know you’re thinking of them. I especially love these cards from Blue Barnhouse- creative and unexpected.

A brilliant tip- 5 minute phone calls.

A virtual book-club.  Each month you and your friends chose a book to read and exchange discussion through e-mails or blog posts.

Here’s to lasting friendship.

Brunch and such

A non-traditional brunch from the Green Bean-  grilled tempeh marinated in tamari and sesame oil, steamed mixed vegetables & a vegan corn pancake. 

I think undergraduates need to receive more e-mails like this one.

Washed up at 20: Rise of the SWUG

Talking to our boys about rape. 

An interesting perspective on the college admissions/affirmative action debate. 

Mad Men in the 21st century

There are some things that you can fulfill with money, but at the end of the day these are not the things that make you happy. It is the small things that make life good.
-Sebastian Vettel

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colored sharpies.

watching julia child. 

cold beer.

reading A Tree Grows In Brooklyn.

pouring milk into iced coffee.

folding warm laundry.

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“I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”

-Elie Wiesel

Today is National Holocaust Remembrance day.  To know that such genocide has occurred is a mighty burden to carry, but one that we must recognize all the same.

While today is a day of reflection and sadness, I’d like to think that it can also be a day of acknowledgement.  Acknowledgment for the brave acts of defiance, courage, and kindness in the face of terror.

Several books/articles that are particularly appropriate:

Moments of Hope in the Holocaust

Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin by Erik Larson

Rena’s Promise: A story of sisters at Auschwitz by Rena Kornreich Gelissen 

Leeway Cottage by Beth Gutcheon

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry 

Night by Elie Wiesel

Picture from my visit to Auschwitz in 2012. See this post for details. 

Link Love

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This Caprese Quinoa Salad, The only change I made was to add a hefty dose of balsamic vinegar.  A fantastic dish to welcome in the warmer weather (finally!)

I don’t really follow pop culture but I love getting a glimpse into celebrity diets.  Richard Belzer (Detective Munch  for all you Law and Order: SVU fans) shares a weeks worth of eats in this weeks New York Diet. 

A great list- 100 Rules of Dinner.  I especially love rules #9,#75,and #76.

Reading Is Sexy.

Is everybody’s favorite Mad Men character a different type of feminist?

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“I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig tree in the story. From the tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig, a wonderful future beckoned and winked. One fig was a husband and a happy home and children, and another fig was a famous poet and another fig was a brilliant professor, and another fig was Ee Gee, the amazing editor, and another fig was Europe and Africa and South America, and another fig was Constantin and Socrates and Attila and a pack of other lovers with queer names and offbeat professions, and another fig was an Olympic lady crew champion, and beyond and above these figs were many more figs I couldn’t quite make out. I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree, starving to death, just because I couldn’t make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet.” -Sylvia Plath, Bell Jar

While quite morose, I think Sylvia Plath really captures the difficulty that comes when faced with multiple paths and hard decisions in life.  Life is uncertain and there is no one path or fig that leads to guaranteed happiness.  

That being said, decisions have to be made.  While important, decisions you make don’t have to define your entire life.  What was once right and fit like a glove may no longer be exactly what you want.  Choose another fig.  Not always easy, but the right thing and the easy thing are seldom the same thing. 

I’ve chosen my fig.  Shanghai here I come. 

Picture source

The language of love!

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A few weeks ago my friends and I all took this this test.  The idea behind the test is that everyone has an ideal way in which they show and like to be shown love.  The different “love languages” are:

  • Words of affirmation 
  • Acts of service 
  • Receiving gifts 
  • Quality time 
  • Physical touch 

The concept is pretty simple.  Nonetheless, it is SO important.  Whether it’s a friend, significant other, or family member we often take for granted the fact that they know exactly how we feel about them.  But what if they speak a different love language?  You show your love by hugging and saying “I love you”, while they show their love by buying you coffee and spending time with you.  Not necessarily a huge revelation or a bombshell; everyone is different and it’s to be expected that we all express our feelings differently.  That being said, better understanding how you and those you love express their feelings is so valuable in building stronger relationships. 

While I hope people who are important to me know how much I care about them, the test encouraged me to do so more often.  

Love doesn’t have to be elaborate gifts or grand proclamations. It’s little notes, visiting an art museum you could care less about, stupid text messages, embarrassing stories, and a mutual understanding of a bond that defies explanation. 

Here’s to LOVE!

picture sources: 1, 2.

Back in the kitch

Given the fact that I am on a meal plan at school, I really look forward to getting back into the kitchen when I am home for break.  Here’s a peek at some of the recipes/meals I am planning on devouring over break…

For the sake of balance, I am planning on fitting in a few other activities:

A relatively eclectic list, but what can I say?!  Girl likes variety!