This blog post is long overdue. "Write blog post" has been sitting on my to-do list (hey, I'm an organized lady) for weeks now. I figure I'm reaching some kind of unspoken blogosphere statute of limitations, so I better write about things that happened in April now, or forever hold my peace.
That covers the "post" part of the title. As for the belated thanks, that'll take a few more paragraphs. Ooh, or maybe bullet points--I'm a big fan of the double colon list (a la Watershed), so here goes:
My first night in Nepal
Susana: "How happy are you right now?"
Me: "THIS HAPPY!"
::Thank you, Nepal. Spending seven days in Kathmandu at the end of April with my best friend Susana was truly a turning point for me and my less-than-stellar emotional state here in Abu Dhabi. There's something special and sacred about that place--not to mention my wise, patient, insightful, loving Susana, and her beautiful and oh-so-welcoming sister-friend and hostess extraordinaire, Noelle, who shared her home and so much more with me throughout the week. We processed, cried, had silly impromptu dance sessions, explored the city, cried some more, sampled the many local delicacies, attended morning yoga sessions with the most kind-spirited and unwittingly humorous yogi (who instructed us during one class to put our foot in our anus--hello, lost in translation). There were smiles and "namastes" everywhere we went. And MONKEYS! Little by little, the weight I'd arrived with lifted, and I left far lighter in spirit and positive in perspective than I'd been in a long, long time. That leads me to my next thank you.
Salsa, cigars, and Susana:
A winning combination
:: Thank you, Susana. Quite simply, your strength and words inspire me. Oh, and you totally validated mine & Adam's feelings on Abu Dhabi, which is invaluable--especially 'cause I highly doubt anyone else is going to come visit us here considering the 5-star reviews we give it (unless we're using the Abu Dhabi Tourism Bureau rating scale, in which case Abu Dhabi might very well receive 5 stars).
:: Thank you, primal living. Okay, for the most part I've refrained from proselytizing on Facebook, via email, and in person (with the exception of Adam, who has been ever-patient with my new obsession). But this is my blog, so it's time for me to tell it like it is: I LOVE EATING PRIMAL.
Primal pizza with prosciutto, olives,
and red onion
It's been about six weeks since Adam and I cut out all grains, refined sugar, and processed foods, and simply put I have Never. Felt. Better. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner is made up of real food, every time, all the time (well, minus our one cheat day featuring Snickers bars and Baskin Robbins sundaes). Bacon, coconut milk, butter, sour cream, lamb burgers, omelets, full-fat yogurt, macadamia nuts, rotisserie chicken--did I mention BACON?!--the list of ridiculously delicious things we've been eating is endless (hence all the food porn photos). Yes, I miss sugar and baking a bit, but not as much as I thought I would. And it seems like the whole Jones the Grocer debacle was actually somehow serendipitous, considering I never would have fathomed cutting out sugar--nor felt this good--if I'd continued working there.
My new breakfast staples: bacon,
avocado, and eggs
Things I don't miss: feeling lethargic after a meal; needing to eat every two hours to avoid feeling shaky and so hungry my own hand looks appetizing; breaking out (my skin has been immaculate since going primal, which I credit in part to food, and in part to my new oil cleansing method--back to mah hippie roots for me!); my addictive behaviors around any sugary item. Clearly, I've drunk the proverbial Kool Aid--it just feels so healthy and sustainable. With that, I'll end this primal plug, but not without sharing a few helpful links for those folks so inclined to check it out for themselves: Mark's Daily Apple; Free the Animal; Cave Girl Eats; Everyday Paleo.
And a few more tempting primal food photos:
Primal pancakes with homemade
whipped cream, mango, and banana
I love me some homemade whipped cream!
Primal Movie Snack Pack: prosciutto, pastrami, Baby Bells,
apple slices, olives, fig, and beef jerky
Chicken Caesar Salad with homemade dressing
:: And finally, thank you, Michael McDonald. Yes, he has provided the head-bobbing soundtrack to this blog writing session. Actually, I probably would have finished this post much faster had I not needed to pause periodically and sing "What a Fool Believes" and "Shine Sweet Freedom." But I just can't get enough of that soulful white man. Come on, how can you resist that bushy beard:
