Fuel Your Creativity

Sometimes we all feel stuck.  It happens.  And it's depleting.  It depletes your energy and your outlook on life.  That's no fun!

So, especially now with the new year, let's rev up that spark inside you again.  Get moving, and I don't just mean physically.

Yes, exercise can and will spark creativity in you that you may have not known existed or just left behind and forgotten.  With your endorphins moving, more oxygen hitting your blood, you'll find answers to questions and new ideas flow more readily.

But it's more than just working out.  Find what makes you happy.  And then exploit it.  For example, I love designing and thinking big picture.  So I've always loved watching Project Runway.  It gets my wheels turning and I find myself wanting to bust out the sketchbook and pencil - and I usually do!  I don't recommend sitting in front of the tv and vegging out, if you're going to do it, make it effective.  Love to cook?  Watch Top Chef and challenge yourself to decide what you'd make for the challenge and compare to what wins.  Love interior design?  Try an HGTV show.

Otherwise, get a book, a mentor, a class - dance, horseback, cycling, anything - and fuel your creativity.  New Year's doesn't just have to mean a New Date.

House of Scary

Well, it's been 5 whole days of living at this crazy new house, and Ein is doing brilliantly in certain things, and terrified by others.

Things that terrify the little guy:
-New objects
-Big objects
-Fridge
-Vacuum cleaner
-Washing Machine
-Fireworks
-People walking around
-Dogs walking around


Phew.  And the thing is, because he's so little it makes sense.  All 14.2 lbs of him.  So what does this crazy little guy do when he's scared?  Runs and barks.  A lot.  Lots and lots of barking! 

So here's what we've done to help curb the fear.  We pick up Ein, put him in our laps, and then I pet or rub the thing that is scaring him.  For example, we sat in front of the washing machine, him in my lap, and me petting the door to the washing machine as it ran.  He slowly calmed down (sometimes I say quiet as he barks and gently hold his muzzle together to reassure him that we do not bark at these things, then say Good Boy when he's quiet).  He even reached his nose out to the washing machine door and sniffed it, and as he got more confident we put his paw on the door, and voilá!  Much better!

That has curbed the fear of all objects so far except the vacuum.  Vacuums are scary things man!  Oh, and the unknown people and dogs walking around.  He still doesn't know what to do about them, but we'll make it work!

Totally recommend this trick with your dog.  Hopefully you'll have less "scary" things around your house too!

Welcome, Ein!

We are officially welcoming home Ein, our newest family member and four month old Pembroke Welsh Corgi! 

We drove to Ohio the other morning to meet the breeder and pick him up, and omg!  What an amazing dog!  Even the breeder was sad to see him go she loved him so much.  And he is a doll, a totally amazing dog.  The whole ride home he hung out quietly (some of that due to sleeping!) in the back seat with my husband, not making a fuss at all!  Even when we got home he was great.  And having never owned a Corgi before, I was surprised by how smart he was.  Those of you with Corgis may be shaking your head by that completely obvious fact, but I was stunned.

The other thing that really impressed both my husband and myself, is how amazing the dog is simply because he spent his first 4 months with his breeder and their family.  There is something to be said for the training dogs receive when they learn to live with a pack, for one, and learn proper training from a young age - including potty training and crate training.  Wow.  Absolutely, 1000% recommending buying from a breeder.  But do your homework.  NOT a "for sale" breeder, but a breeder that doesn't breed often, is picky about which dog is placed with you, and wants to stay in contact.  That is a good start to knowing you have a good breeder.  And ours was GREAT!

Day 2 and so far Ein is happy and adjusting well.  We often find him lying spread eagle on his back while he sleeps or plays with a toy.  It's super cute.  And we are super excited to share more in the future!

Corgi!

Have you ever felt that moment of pure pleasure when something you've been hoping and waiting for finally comes to pass?  You want to jump out of your seat, shout, high five the world, and yet smile so wide your face could fall off.  That was 10am this morning when my husband and I received an email from the breeder we had been speaking with for the last 3 months.  We have a puppy!

Thinking this is silly?  Maybe you are like the wonderful many people who adopt from a humane society.  (I used to volunteer at one in college and it was the happiest moment for us when one of our dogs got a new home)  Maybe some of you purchase dogs from pet stores, which most of us working for humane societies abhor for the fact they promote puppy mills.  But back to the point.  :-)  We have wanted a corgi for about a year and about three months ago we finally decided to start the hunt, knowing that breeders don't always have puppies and good breeders take such pride in placing their pups that you don't always get one even if they have puppies, and that's how ours was.  She was very cautious to let us know that she did have three litters, but that she places based on location, personality, and lifestyle, and she wasn't sure if she'd have one who would fit.  After more discussion we had narrowed down our selections and decided that one of her male pups would be perfect, but the only problem was that she wanted to potentially keep it and breed /show it.  So thus became the waiting game, and hoping that she would feel placing the puppy with us would be more advantageous. 

Two months passed, and we started to think maybe it wasn't going to work for us yet and that we would  be back on the waiting list.  Until this morning, that is!  That email was the best email ever!  I have a small understanding and great appreciation for people who look to adopt children, because I know that process is even more cumbersome.

So while we got ourselves a Christmas puppy, we knew the waiting would pay off.  So to all of you either in a similar place or nodding knowing what this process was like, cheers to you and your wonderful (and now furry) family!

EBates! - Power of Referrals

It's official, my husband and I are Ebates shoppers! 

Haven't heard of EBates?  It's basically a "Paid to shop online" portal where once on the website, you can click on any major retailer and shop online through them.  The best part though, is, so long as you're logged onto the partner's site through EBates, you'll earn CASH back on your purchase.  For example, we just bought our holiday gift cards through there at 3% cash back!  AWESOME!

Even better?  There are referral bonuses.  So now you can tell friends about the benefits of shopping online and actually get "thank you" checks from EBates just for the referral! 

I mean, you're going to go shopping anyways, right?  Might as well get paid for it!  Think of everything from Nordstroms and Macy's to Pier 1 and Home Depot, even Walgreens and Sam's Club!  WOW!

So check it out for yourself.  Go to www.ebates.com and let them know I sent you! 
Stephanie Caprini
sdcaprini@yahoo.com

And ENJOY getting PAID to do what we already love doing!

Spanish Teacher Gifts

Need some great ideas for teacher gifts that won't break the bank?

Here's a great one!  For the Spanish teacher at your school:

http://www.amazon.com/Quotes-Spanish-Stephanie-Caprini-ebook/dp/B00E9ZX06I/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1386711354&sr=8-4&keywords=stephanie+caprini

Quotes in Spanish!!!!  And you choose: By Theme or By Grammar Topic!

Happy gifting and happiest of holidays.

Christmas's First Snow

It's official!  Chicago has just welcomed it's first snow of the season!  And if you're like me, you're cringing at the "!" at the end of the last sentence!  No, I am not a snow person.  I'm not a snow bunny, and I don't look forward to making snow people: round, angelic, or otherwise!  However, there is something to be said about a night without wind where the snow falls in a ways that's almost magical.

My husband and I have been sitting on our couch looking out and watching it pass the streetlight near our patio.  The wind earlier in the day was brutal, but now that it's stopped the falling snow is so serene that it's almost as peaceful to watch as the waves are to listen to.  There's a sobriety to the falling snow that fills you with merriment knowing the holidays are upon  you and calmness to realize that nature can be truly beautiful. 

So if you haven't taken 5 minutes to sit and watch the falling snow in quiet, I challenge you to do so!  Let your time measure be the falling snowflakes and take in the beauty and serenity that the early part of this season can bring!  Plus, it's always a great excuse for some home-made hot cocoa!!

You're Doing Okay!

I went to my friend's wedding this weekend.  So fun!  Who doesn't love a good wedding with photo booth, father-daughter multi-song bananza, and just absolutely beautiful holiday decor?  Right.  So it was amazing.  However, one thing I did realize is that weddings are also a time where people not only catch up, but can also get "caught up" in the "so tell me about your life" question.  It seems it's positioning us to "highlight" reel the last 3 months, 2 years, or even 10 years (depending!) 

Be careful in listening to those highlight reels.  Remember that they are just that:  highlights.  I once heard someone say "Don't compare your behind the scenes to someone's highlight reel," because the reality is they don't ever look the same.  Most people don't delve into the mundane, the worries, and the frustrations they encounter in everyday life when they are trying to just fill you in on their last (insert number here) years.  And it's thereby unfair to judge your life against it, even if it may be tempting or second-nature.

If you find yourself comparing anyways and feeling down about your seemingly not "up to par" reality, try this:  write your highlight reel.  Or if that's not doing it for you, step into someone shoes and objectively ask yourself, "What could they be jealous of that I've done."  Maybe you have a new baby or a new house.  Maybe you paid off a loan.  Maybe you are committed to being healthier or took a trip.  It sounds terrible to say "what could someone be jealous of that you have?" but sometimes we don't realize just how special we are or just how well we are doing.  Why is that?  Because we live it every day!  We don't always see the forest through our own trees. 

So remember, You're doing okay!  Smile.  Laugh.  And if you're just frustrated that you're not where you thought you'd be at this point in your life, the nice thing is you can always reassess and adjust.  Nothing is so set in stone that it is unmovable. So take it all with a grain of salt and reward yourself for the accomplishments and milestones you have passed.  Life is good, and you are doing great!

Fill Up Your Cup

What do you do to help fill your cup back up?  And no, not that cup.  Coffee house down the street or my personal fave - my Cuisinart single brew machine - helps take care of that!  No, I mean your emotional cup - the one that fills you back up with positivity and the feeling that you are powerful, strong, important, capable, loved, and on purpose.  The one that reminds you that you do good things and you have direction in life.  That cup.  How often do you fill up that cup?

If you happen to be sitting there thinking.....um.....uh.....hmmm......yeaaaaaaaa, one in a ....never.  That's okay.  Everyone starts some where.  My suggestion?  Read a good quote for today!  Say something positive about yourself  in the first person.  "I AM ________"  and then SMILE.  If you're more seasoned, do you have CDs or something on your iPod to tune into when you're commuting somewhere instead of the radio?  Do you read something every morning or evening to reset yourself?  Do you gather with people who push you to be better and happier? 

So I challenge you: Do something tomorrow to fill up your cup!  And then pass it on!

A Good Photographer

Phew!  Welcome Back!  I know I've been out for a while.  I never thought I'd be the person who says this, but putting on a wedding and working through the pre-wedding "to do"s and post-wedding "thank you"s.  They keep you busy, but if you really feel honored, then you'll love doing them.  Making the wedding bags for hotel guests and writing all the thank you cards for the beautiful gifts we received was so fulfilling.  I felt like I was making people feel loved and happy, and that was such a great experience. 

So if you're getting married, enjoy all the moments and stop feeling bad about being "off the grid" because that'll mean you're fully involved in the experience.  And in the process of being "off grid," you'll be going through a lot of wedding pictures, and, let me tell you, INVEST in a GOOD photographer.  It'll make all the difference in the world.  If you need a good photographer, I'll recommend the following because they were the best:  George Street photography, specifically Dan Dinanno!  He was amazing, and Colin, the second photographer, who may or may not have is own company too, is fantastic!  Big 5 stars from this girl!  LOVE them.

So if you are on a mission, start with a good photographer.  The rest won't matter if it won't be photographed correctly! 

Pumpkin Risotto

WOOHOO!!!! It's fall finally!  And that means, like all you coffee lovers already know, it's pumpkin EVERYTHING!

So tonight's menu?  It, of course, included pumpkin!  Pumpkin risotto that is.

And even better?  Vegan and Gluten Free.

First: get risotto rice.

In a big saucepan (deep too), grill up vegan butter and veggies (I choose leaks, carrots, and broccoli.)
saute until golden brown (not runny)

At the same time, bring 4-5 cups of water to a boil.  Then take off immediately.  Just keep hot. 
IN THE WATER, include 1 Veggie bouillon (a GF and V option).  Also, 2 cloves of garlic and 2 tsp of basil.  You can find frozen and pressed basil at Trader Joe's, but not sure how much that is in big leaves.

Once everything in pan is golden brown, pour in 4-6 oz red wine.  Stir in and make sure any excess is evaporated.

Add in 1 cup of warm water from pot at a time.  Make sure it's soaked into the rice before adding more.  Should take about 18-25 minutes to add all the water.
While adding water in, toss in 1 tsp of cinnamon and 1 tsp salt.  Stir in.

When done, rice should be al dente but not hard.

Let sit for 2-3 minutes.  Sprinkle vegan parm or mozzerella cheese on top.

ENJOY!

In Limbo

Do you ever feel stuck?  Like stagnant and feeling like you're fighting against quicksand and yet you never go anywhere?  That was tonight. 

I think sometimes we forget the power of patience.  It's a virtue for a reason, and especially in today's society it's just so difficult sometimes to remind ourselves that this "fast-paced" society is a revelation to the world of time.  In fact, it's counterintuitive and makes you poise unrealistic goals for how long things in your life should take. 

So then you find yourself in these "Stuck" places.

My recommendation?  Take a walk.  Get OUTSIDE.  Ride your bike, and do it SOLO.  Allow yourself to breathe in the fresh air and remind yourself the power of nature and the power you hold within yourself.  There's something very grounding about being outside, that it recharges your battery and reminds you to recheck your "time" table.

And if that's not enough, the view should remind you to feel grateful. 

And if that still doesn't work, force yourself to enumerate a mental list of the things your grateful for!  It may seem forced (but hopefully not!) and it'll bring about a sense of comfort and a smile.  And those always brighten your spirit and make you happy (-er). 

So go play with Mother Nature.  She's a great source of refuge and power.

Remember, you are Strong.  You are Successful.  You are Powerful, and you are Poised to do Great Things with your Life!

Quartino

What a great night out!  We were asked to join my cousin and her husband on their 12th anniversary dinner, which was a total honor!  How cool, right?!

So we headed to Quartino in Chicago and met them at 5, before their 8pm musical started.  Having never been before, we knew it was a bit more "rustic" Italian, but as gluten free (me) vegans (us both) we never know exactly what to expect!

Much to our surprise, we had some excellent food!  (remember, we are a little forgiving at restaurants as they don't often cater to G-Free Vegans!)

My dinner?  Their yummy lemony all veggie salad and olives.  Then following was escarole and white beans and another dish of Broccoli Rabe.  Ok.  WOW.  AMAZING!

My fiancé had olives as well and then a basil garlic gnocci.  The plate may have seemed small, but the gnocci are always guaranteed to fill you up!

Not a G-Free Vegan?  My cousin and her husband raved about the bacon wrapped dates, the clam linguini, and the pork shank!

Dessert?  Of course!  Dark chocolate strawberry fondue for me, donuts and tiramisu for the rest of the table!

Wine?  2 bottles of Napa Cabernet!

Verdict?!  Definitely a place to revisit!

Today's Quote to Moving Life Forward

Do the thing, and you shall have the power; but they who do not the thing have not the power
~Ralph Waldo Emerson