Favourite Things ii ...

 

Well folks, how has your week been so far?  We have made it to Thursday, only a night to go and its the weekend.  What do you have planned?  Are you doing anything exciting, or fun?  Or maybe you are just going to ground with a good book, sometimes, for me going to ground is simply the best, a time to renew, recharge and relax, to get ready for whatever is coming at us in life.  Let me know what you get up to, and whatever you are doing, enjoy yourself, life isn't a dress rehearsal.

Favourite things for this week ...

This book is a must, you gotta check it out. The stories are fascinating, and its really cool to listen to some of the songs after having read about them knowing why they were written.

I've been jazzing up my exercise routine, with this awesome dvd.  There is only so much Day 1 - legs, Day 2 - upper body, and Fat Burning Cardio aka interval running on a treadmill, a girl can take in rotation - don't get me wrong, these are great workouts, but not 24/7/365!

If we don't give our muscles variety, they get lazy, if we don't give our mind variation we get bored.  So to this end to stop the boredom setting in, I have been trying out some other forms of exercise, and the dance cardio on this DVD is really amazing, I cannot recommend it, or the matt workout dvd it enough.  Seriously the results I have seen in just a few days of doing this are fantastic.  

You can even watch some of Tracey's videos on youtube, from your phone making it the perfect way to get a little workout fitted in, when you don't have time to hit the gym, or take them to the gym with you to perk up your normal workout.  Let me know how you get on, I am always keen to hear what workout tips you have, or what types of exercise you have been doing that work really well, and get great results.

I discovered this blog lastweek when it's writer started following me on twitter, I have been inspired, and touched by the things he writes.  His latest post, is really inspiring for all you girls out there, waiting for a guy to really love you.  Keep writing Mike, I can't wait to read what you have to say next.

Do you guys use TED?  If not head over there right now, and check it out.  My friend Marian told me about it a couple of years ago, and I was hooked immediately.  This week, I am absolutely loving this song by Jackson Browne.  It reminded me to be thankful for where I am at any given moment, rather than wishing I was somewhere else, to be truly present in what I am doing, trying to make a difference in the world that I am in. Whatever you are up to be happy where you are, be mindful of everything that is happening and enjoy it for what it is.

I've been listening non stop to this album since I bought it on Monday.  Alison and Union Station's music, bring me space to breathe, to listen and dream.  This album has already become a firm favourite, and I know I will listen to it for years to come.

Tell me, what are some of your favourite things this week...

that's it for now

Nics

salt and sparkle = life remarkable

Thankful

They say, people will forget what you did for them, what you said, and where you hung out, but that they will never ever forget how you make them feel.  But how do we make ourselves feel?

Feelings are tender, they get battered and bruised easily.  They need to be taken care of and looked after.  But how do we do this, when we are in pain or we are suffering.  How can we lift our heads, when the pain pierces so deeply?  Eternal questions, and I am not sure there is ever one answer that will completely satisfy everyone.

A few friends of mine are living in pain at the moment - the pain of loss, the pain of illness, the pain of diseased bodies, the pain of broken friendships, the pain of gossip - pain's that dig deep, pain's that make my heart cry for them.  When they share their thoughts with me, and their pain, I feel so honoured that they would share these secrets of the soul with me.  I often get asked a question - how did you get through it Nics?

You see, I too have lived with pain, a lot of pain.  In fact I see a whole decade in my life wrapped in a darkness so black, there are days I can't remember, because I was trapped in such agony.  That pain now thankfully has gone, and I am well, I am free, but I have a feeling or two as to what those who are in pain today go through.

My answer to that question would fill many blog posts - but one thing that I always share with people, is find a way to be thankful.  What an oxymoron, I hear you cry, how can you be thankful when you life is full of heaviness?  Well, I know that it seems strange, but when we go through tough times, if we can find something to be thankful for each day, it somehow, like a miracle, lifts us out of ourselves, out of our burden, out of our darkness, and gives us hope.

I encourage you to try it, even if you are not in pain - just living life - because trust me, I know that can be tough too.  There will be something, one thing that you are thankful for, all you have to do is look a little to find it.

Have a conversation around the dinner table, or with a pal, and say out loud, one thing that you are thankful for in the day that has just passed.  It could be a glass of water, a dramatic sunset, a tulip, a chat you had with a friend, a delicious dinner, a song you heard - the list goes on and on.  You might think right now, I have nothing to be thankful for, life is so terrible, but trust me here guys, you really do, just take a moment, even if it is something you think that is really inconsequential, just say it out loud, or note it down.

Get a notebook, put it by your bed, and just before lights out, each night, write down three things, that happened, that day, that you are thankful for. Keep those notebooks, read over them in years to come, they will make you smile, and they will show you how far you have come.

By making the decision to be thankful, we allow ourselves to hope again, to find life in darkness, to grow in the midst of our circumstances, and to find something to smile about, some colour, in the midst of what can often become a monotone world.  Let an attitude of gratitude allow you to spread your wings and fly.

Today, I am thankful for:

Having the opportunity to write this blog, and share conversation with you my readers

My friends - what an honour to know so many wonderful wonderful people

Dolly Parton - I just adore her music, her writing, her command of tone and her storytelling, right now as I write this, I am listening to this tune of hers 

Please do drop me a line and let me know what you are thankful for today...

Can't wait to hear from you, that's it for today...

Nics

salt and sparkle = life remarkable

Lambs

The air was alive with the sound of tiny bleats, from little lambs, who looked only days old.  It was one of those Spring afternoons, when the energy of the new life all around us crackles like electricity in the air.

The light was spectacular.  With the reminds of a rainbow strung across the tail end of Rathlin Island and Scotland was clearly visible in the distance - only seven or so miles away from the County Antrim coast, across the Irish Sea.  

As I drove along the coast road high up in the Antrim Glens, I just had to pull over, jump out of the jeep, and stand there, drinking in the atmosphere.  It felt good to be alive, to experience the beauty of nature, of creation, and just breathe in the buds of life that were exploding all around me.

I sat for quite a while mesmerised by the lambs.  Who still unsure of their feet were jumping, knocking into each other,  and bleating their little hearts out.   These beautiful creatures who signify so much of the joy of spring time, were having fun, just hanging out, playing with each other and like me enjoying the rays of afternoon sunshine. 

A friend who is a farmer told me that lambs are symbols of gentleness, meekness and sacrifice.  He went on to explain that the Lambing season is a risky business, and with nearly 20 million lambs born in the UK alone at this time of year, it is possibly the biggest event in many a farmer's calendar.  

For the shepherd, it brings  late nights fraught with complicated births, vet's, farm workers, orphans, twins, and even quadruplets; as he oversees both the ewe's labour, and the lambs birth.  Lambs generally weigh about nine pounds at birth, and they are very independent, walking almost immediately after they are born.

Find out how lambs are born here.  I took a few pictures of that glorious afternoon, which I hope you have enjoyed looking at - write and tell me about your favourite things in Spring.

That's it for now, looking forward to hearing from you.

Nics

salt and sparkle = life remarkable

Flat Breads - perfect study food

My sister is studying for her final year school exams at the moment – nothing like an exam to add stress to a household. 

When your studying as many of you know, there is nothing better than to have someone cook for you. I know from experience – years and years of exams -that there is nothing better when you are hungry, tired and it just hurts to think anymore, to have food put on the table in front of you.  And, not have to make any decisions is really rather blissful.

Naomi – that’s my sister – came into the kitchen, with just that look on her face, as I was finishing off a big pot of her favourite leek and potato soup.  When she asked me to make her some flat breads to go with it, there was no way I could deny her anything. Especially with that; my life hurts from studying, just radiating off her.  So I got to work.  Well really, just chucked a few ingredients together, as these flat breads, contain so little work, they really are so flat they are horizontal, the most chillaxed of all my bread recipes.

Soft, chewy bread, with a little bite to the crust, these breads are common to just about every culture, and are often cooked over fires, or grills.  I cook mine on the floor of our aga, and they literally take minutes, from mixing the dough, to placing them on the scalding cast iron to cook.

These breads need no resting, or raising, proofing, or knocking back, they are literally, knead and go; perfect when you are in a rush, and want something yummy, and quick.  They also work really well served on a big platter loaded with lots of garlicky butter, with a handful of parsley thrown on top.

Hope you enjoy them, let me know how you get on.

That’s it for today…

Nics

salt and sparkle = life remarkable

Breathe 2

Why would you want to write a blog?

Beyond vaguely knowing of their existence, I didn’t know what a blog was, or why you would want to write one.  Honestly, this time last year, I really had no idea what was in store for me in the blogsphere. Little did I know how quickly that was going to change, or that one-year on, I would be joining this wonderful world, with my own blog, Salt and Sparkle.

My story begins last winter...

When two friends from university each respectively began their own blogs ...

Sheridan 

The Southern Eclectic

Vienna

 Tiny Test Kitchen

I didn’t know what they were going to write about, or why they were starting blogs, but I was really interested, in this idea of blogging and decided to read what they had to say.

I was soon hooked. I was excited.  Here was a world that I knew virtually knowing about, but could not wait to explore.  Vienna and Sheridan's next posts could not come quickly enough for me, I just loved reading everything they had to say, checking out the links they suggested, having a go at their recipes or projects, or simply smiling at their words and pictures.  (if you have a moment today folks, head over to their blogs, and check them out, they really are awesome).  Everytime I read what they have to say I am inspired, and feel warmth in my heart, their words have really touched & encouraged me to try new things over the past year.

Then one rather slow workday, when I was up to date with their latest posts! The projects I was working on done and dusted. I found myself, just floating around on their blogs, wishing they would post a new entry while I was online. Then wait for it - I discovered their blog rolls.   Life was never to be the same for me again! 

Never has a day that has been so dreary, with each hour dragging by, as I waited on the clock, suddenly turned around 360’ into something exciting and colourful.  I was in a sort of online heaven – words, pictures, photographs, recipes, projects, images, thoughts – there was so much to look at, so many places to visit, too many things to read in one go… I was inspired, overwhelmed, encouraged.  And, I was excited – from then on everyday has brought and still brings a new blog to visit, new words to read, and new pictures to look at.

Thank you Vienna and Sheridan for introducing me to this new world, and inspiring me to start saltandsparkle

You can check out some of the things I like to read by clicking on my ‘words worth reading’ tab on the left.  And, I would just love it, if you shared with me some of the blogs you love to read.  Can't wait to hear from you.

That’s it for today…

Nics

salt & sparkle = life remarkable

Twisted logic ...

I used to work for an executive tv producer who when faced with suggestions for change in the programme I worked on during a team meeting always said, 'Well, it isn't broken so why would we fix it?' and things would continue as they were.  There is I have to admit some logic in this, if things are going well, the audience like it, and we are getting good ratings, doing what we are doing, then we don't need to do anything.  

But it always grated with me, I always felt that we missed out, and that just because there was an element of truth or logic to what he said, did not mean that we should not necessarily have a look at some of the changes the team suggested.

I believe that when you have the mentality of 'it's not broken, so why fix it?' that you fix yourself to one position, that may work for now, but won't work for the then, or the future.  Life does not stand still, so why should we.

We may be in a place that is really good, things are going well, and like the tv exc we have good ratings, but when we say, we have nothing to fix, we actually compromise ourselves, because what we are really saying is that, we have nothing left to go after, we have nothing left to learn, we are twisting logic.

The year Tiger Woods wiped the floor on the golf circuit, winning everything, breaking every record, being the most successful golfer of his time, he decided to initiate a change because he believed he could do better, be better, play better and so he went for it.  He hired a new coach, and completely changed his swing.  It took a lot of practice to become natural, but he persevered and he made it, going on to win countless other championships.

Change is tough, it is a risk, it takes courage, but it is always worth it.  I heard a statistic recently that said 80% of people once they hit 30 stop growing as people, they plato, and stay still.  These words send a shiver up my spine. I would hate when I am 50 to be the same person, as I was when I was 30.  I want to keep growing, to embrace change, to take risks, to look forward, to forge new ways to do things, and go to places I might never have imagined anywhere but my dreams.

I want to seek and find ways that constantly challenge me, that change my outlook and position, that cause me to go deeper, to look harder, to listen, to refine, define and shine.  I want to keep learning.

A few years ago a friend of mine wrote this song.  It was after she had been given a picture of Michelangelo, that said beneath it 'I am still learning', she found out that Michelangelo one of the greatest artists of all time, said there should never be a day that goes by when he isn't learning, and even on his death bed he wanted to still be learning.  

This song has inspired me for many years, especially during times when life hasn't always been easy, it has helped me to look closely at tough times, and find out what I can learn from them.  Eilidh talks a little about the song in the clip below, and then sings the song - listen to the words, let them sink deeply and keep learning.

May I encourage everyone who reads this to 

LISTEN - LEARN - LIVE

To seek out new experiences, and never be happy with the status quo, don't rely on the twisted logic of 'it's not broken so why fix it'.  Just because it's working at the moment, doesn't mean it will forever, it doesn't mean it doesn't need oiled, or looked after, nurtured so it can grow, it could break at anytime, and the only way to be prepared to deal with that is to challenge yourself not to stand still.

That's it for now ...

Nics

salt and sparkle = life remarkable

Michelangelo image courtesy of http://www.webexhibits.org/colorart/i/michelangelo-creation-adam-.jpg