Let's be honest. Oatmeal and freedom don't have much in common. I won't pretend to make an elaborate connection. However, both do feed the soul. Sometimes when the world around us isn't going as predicted, it's best to feed the part of us that needs soothing. It's the part that has no relationship to our stomachs. It's the part that tells us it would be a good idea to start the day with a warm buttery stack of pancakes and a slab of salty bacon. It's the part that feels beast like until the last lick of syrup is sopped up with a fork. However, the scientists say, or at least the ones who love to kill joy, foods such as pancakes and bacon, only make us feel better for the short-term. Honestly, sometimes I hate science. 

With that in mind, last night I pulled out the slow cooker and steel cut oats. The word on the street is oatmeal is as good as pancakes when cooked slowly. Well, that is a total lie. Nothing is as good as pancakes. However, being healthy is important and more studies show the food we eat does affect how we think. Our bodies break down oatmeal very slowly, so it keeps the brain sharp for hours. Today I am trying slow cooker oatmeal garnished with freedom inspired berries Yep; it's a stretch.

Overnight Oatmeal*

*This recipe will need to be started the night before or about 7 hours before breakfast.

Makes 6 servings

• 1 -14 oz full fat or light coconut milk
• 11/2 steel cut oats
• 41/2 cups water
• a dash of salt
• garnishes: blueberries, raspberries, chia seeds, bananas, butter, and honey

Step 1: The night before or approximately 7 hours before breakfast, turn a slow cooker on low and add the coconut milk, water, salt, and steel cut oats. Stir together and place the lid on top of the slow cooker and let simmer overnight.

Step 2: Wake to a piping hot pot of oatmeal and stir the oatmeal together until smooth. Place oatmeal in bowls and garnish with selected toppings.

Until tomorrow American Breakfast Lovers!

As the old saying goes, no news is good news. However lately, it feels like the all the news is bad news. People are at odds, the world is on edge, and all of our celebrity stars are leaving us for good. Our mission today is to dig up some good news. What is going on in the world that we all can agree is providing us freedom from the negative world around us?

Here are five feel-good stories to make today better here in "The Week" magazine. The five include; a great-grandmother graduates from college with 4.0 GPA, puppies found alive 5 days after Italy avalanche, 31-year-old man welcomes sick 89-year-old neighbor to move in with him, veteran returns dog tags to brother of soldier killed in action, and 11-year-old may be youngest yoga instructor in U.S.

Enjoy the good stuff and see you tomorrow Newsies.

There is a lot of press lately about politics. It doesn't matter who resonates with us politically. What is important that no one fiddles with our fundamental American rights. They cover everything from freedom of speech to women's rights. To say the Constitution is important is an understatement. The constitution is the foundation of the United States of America. Without these rights, we lose the freedoms that weave the American identity into all of us. If we begin to chip at away at these rights, we are starting to chip away at the solid foundation that makes this country great.

We have come to a moment when some of us may find these values challenged. Who can help?

Until today, I didn't know much about the ACLU. However, they protect fundamental American rights. They fight for the people who find their rights challenged. They seem like a precious and a valuable organization. I'm going to research them further. How about you?

Until tomorrow Defenders of Freedom. 

This post contains an affiliate link.

A long time ago, many of us were teenagers or as some people use to call us, half humans. Maybe in the dark recesses of our minds, we remember our high school literature class. It may have required a reading list. Maybe the books on the list included "The Catcher and the Rye," "Of Mice And Men." and "Lord of the Flies." However, one book stood out ahead of its time "Nineteen Eighty-Four" by George Orwell {affiliate link}. I don't remember the whole story. I do remember reading about Big Brother and the creepy feeling that washed over me with each passing page. At the time the ideas in the book were chilling BUT futuristic.

As of late, this book has become popular again. Perhaps people are looking to this book to provide clarity in today's rapidly evolving world. Maybe they see Orwell as the man with the crystal ball. Either way, I'm going to read the book again and understand why I should care. How about you?

Until tomorrow Ministry Of Truth.

Sometimes we don't agree where things are heading with the world around us. It can feel like we don't have control over the big future. Here is the bad news, we don't have control of much. Here is the good news, we do have the freedom to contact people who can direct the future in a certain way. In fact, we can call someone who has the power to make the change we want to see here in America.

Some of us may tend to overlook or forget that we elect members of Congress, and they are civil servants. They are elected to enact legislation that will create the freedoms for tomorrow. I am embarrassed to admit that I only vaguely know who represents me in Congress. That is to say, I don't know their background or their stories. Yet, they are upholding my freedoms. Anyone can look up their federal representatives: two Senators represent an entire state and one U.S. Representative accounts for a specific district. They can be found here and here. All you need is a zip code.

Now off to do research on my representatives and perhaps use my freedom and dial up my Congressperson. How about you?

Until tomorrow Great Americans.

What we need to do today is take charge of our freedom. It doesn't matter what political party we affiliate with or what personal values we find important. What is important is the American core value of freedom. These are the freedoms we have fought hard to keep and for in which others have given their lives. We are talking about the fundamental freedoms all Americans should understand, including myself.

I ask myself if I understand our system and what privileges it provides. Today, I'm studying the United States Constitution. The preamble says a lot.

If we look at our country from the perspective that we all need to be free, what does that look like to each of us? If freedom is the foundation on which we build our society, how does it change what we do today? This week? I'm going to take charge of my freedom. How about you?

Until tomorrow Great Americans.

Being a novice is hard but being simple can help. It's important to start off simple. Simple is about limiting choice. Simple defines what is important. Take drawing for instance. Think of the multitude of objects, colors, and situations to draw. It's overwhelming. Deciding on a particular paper and the right drawing tools is perplexing. Add the complicated voice inside our head that says "You can't draw" and it ends with never drawing anything at all. 

We need to simply select an object, pencil, and simple sheet of white paper. We are then less likely to say to ourselves "You can't draw." We might say "This is exciting." By limiting choice, we can see a bit clearer on how to proceed to the next step. We are less overwhelmed by choice. We are then more relaxed to make a leap. Simple makes it easier to see the path that we need to take. I tried easy today and sketched up simple drawings. How about you? What will you draw today?

Until tomorrow Real Simple.

The word on the street is no one likes green vegetables. Jokes are written about eating spinach, swiss chard, and kale. We would be hard pressed to find someone who's midnight snack is a stalk of celery. When we get stressed, we don't reach for broccoli. All this talk makes us realize, it's hard being green. However, most of us, including me, could use a little more green stuff in our lives and our bodies. Wherever we turn we are told that green vegetables are chocked full of vitamins, minerals, and disease-fighting good stuff. As it pains me to put away the chocolate for the day, today I will focus on eating greens. How about you?

To help us become mean green eating machines, here is an easy recipe full of the dreaded good-for-us green stuff.

Farro Green Machine Salad

Serves 4-6

• 1 large yellow onion peeled and thinly sliced
• 4 tablespoons unfiltered extra virgin olive oil
• 1-8.8oz package farro 
• 2 leaves green swiss chard (destemmed and leaves chopped)
• 2 cloves garlic
• Juice of 1 fresh lemon
• 1/2 cup tablespoons unfiltered extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup garbanzo beans drained
• 2/3 cup feta cheese crumbled
• 1 ripe but firm avocado pitted and sliced thin

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 420 degrees Ferenheight. On a foil-lined baking sheet, place the onions and toss with 4 tablespoons olive oil. Roast for 20 minutes until slightly browned. 

Step 2: While the onions are roasting, cook the farro according to the package directions. Drain and place in a large bowl.

Step 3: In a blender or food processor, add the swiss chard, garlic, and lemon. Pulse until smooth. Add the olive oil and salt. Blend until smooth.

Step 4: Assemble the salad by adding the beans, cheese, avocado, and onion on top of the farro. Pour half the green dressing on top of the salad and toss until combined. Add more dressing as needed.

Enjoy your greens and see you tomorrow green eating machines!

It's just one of those weeks for a lot of people. It just hasn't been a great week. That's why we all should grab a buddy and veg out. We should watch a little television on a school night and cram ice cream down into our bellies. Maybe even say to heck to all the new year's resolutions today? If we need more of a reason to just relax, here is a printable card to invite a buddy to veg out together. It can be downloaded for FREE here.

Now, let's stop thinking about serious world news for a bit, obsessively scrolling through social media and snuggle up on the couch with a friend. That seems pretty simple.

Until tomorrow friends.

P.S. The FREE printable makes a great Valentine!

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Speak the word coffee, and many of us pick up our heads and say "Yes, please." I for one need my morning cup of joe to get the brain working and the body moving. The day just doesn't go right if I don't guzzle down a good 16oz cup. However, as this week plugs along the words, simple + green keep running through my brain. Most of us want to feel better, and the world on the street is a coffee can create quite a physical crash.

What about Matcha? Matcha is a green powder made from green tea leaves pulverized into a powder. Packed with antioxidants, one cup delivers the health benefits of 10 cups of green tea. It supports weight loss, energizes the body and calms the mind. It might be a great way to start the day. I'm going to try it. How about you? Here is a recipe to get us started.

Matcha Coconut Latte

• 6oz water
• 1 teaspoon Matcha powder{affiliate link}
• 1 tablespoon honey (optional)
• 3 oz full-fat coconut milk

Step 1: Warm the water to approximately 170 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove from heat and pour water into a heat-safe bowl.

Step 2: Wisk in the Matcha powder until frothy. Add the honey. Wisk the coconut milk. Place the tea mixture to a favorite mug and pour the coconut milk on top.

Drink, sip and enjoy the better!

Until tomorrow 

Hey, Friends. I'm going to take a break from this week's Simple + Green theme to chat about Valentine's day. It's more than a few weeks away. However, in our house, we are already talking about how to celebrate the day dedicated to red hearts, boxes of chocolate, and messages of love! Sure, we will be making valentine cards but what else can we do to celebrate cupid's favorite day? Cue up the dramatic music because there is a super cool new STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) book for purchase, STEAM Kids Valentines Day. Just like STEAM Kids, STEAM Kids Valentine's Day strives to inspire our next generation of inventors, innovators, and leaders to:

question like a scientist | design like a technologist | build like an engineer

create like an artist | deduce like a mathematician

- and, most importantly -

play like a kid.

STEAM Kids Valentine's Day is packed with 14+ sweet projects perfect for February. All the activities are designed for ages 4-10. They are showcased in an easy to use photo-rich format. Projects include:

Super Sized Crystal Hearts

Magnetic Attraction

Rocket Valentines

LED Roses

Valentine's Day Speakers

And more...

The PDF ebook can be purchased only at steamkidsbooks.com. Watch as kids smile with hearts in their eyes as the sweetness of STEAM Kids Valentine's Day unfolds with each project.

Until tomorrow super cool Valentine!

In a VAT country? Click here

In a VAT country? Click here

Most of us forget where our food comes from unless we live on a farm. Going out and walking around agriculture makes us realize things are simple but complicated all at the same time. Let's take the life of a chicken, which turns out isn't that simple. Some of us eat chicken every week. When we open the package from the grocery store, it seems like a basic, tan form of protein, nothing more. However, visiting a farm and watching a chicken makes us realize things are simply complicated. Chickens lay eggs. Their feathers are light, beautiful little fluffy wisps of art. They make ridiculously funny clucking sounds. They each can have their specific character and social dynamics. They use their days to scoot around pecking at bugs, seeds, and fruit. They are simply alive. It's interesting how the simple can be so complicated. 

Until tomorrow, Chicken.

With the start of the new year, some of us are trying to eat better. Maybe it's to shed a few holiday pounds, get beach ready or drive ourselves mad. Whatever the reason, nourishing ourselves seems to get more and more complicated every year. There are detox diets, clean eating plans, and important superfoods. There are spices for digestion, probiotics for intestines and tinctures to improve our skin. There are fat flushes, no sugar diets, and all week smoothie plans. 

All these healthy eating systems seem overly complicated. Can eating be simple & green? Can it make us happy? I'm going to try it this week. How about you?

Stay tuned.

It can seem like all the relevant and practical stuff in our lives should come first. The laundry needs washing, the groceries put away, the lawn needs mowing, the paperwork needs filing, the errands need running, the dishes need cleaning, and the list goes on. What about matters of the heart? Why do they always seem to get placed last on the list?  Today, I am going to hug my kids, call my loved ones and reach out to people that matter.

Matters of the heart just moved to the top of the list. 

Until tomorrow.

It sometimes just doesn't go well. The day just doesn't add up. The flight gets canceled, the roof leaks, people don't show up to the important meeting, the kids throw up, the car breaks down, and it can start to feel like the day is against us. The only thing we can do other than running away is to say "whatever."

There is something about indifference that is healing. I'm going to to try "whatever" today. How about you?

Until tomorrow.

It's funny how we find comfort in food. There is something special about a warm bowl of soup or a slice of blueberry cake. Food has a strange way of feeding our bodies but also our soul. We rely on food to bring a certain kind of comfort and pleasure points. It's the start of the new year, and some of us are re-examining what we eat, how often we eat and how to nourish or bodies differently. It's a difficult task because we don't want to let go of all the joy that food brings to our lives, the senses it endears and the time that it provides for stopping for a moment. Food reminds us we are human. It makes us feel alive.

Most of the time I feed my emotions with peanut caramel chocolate clusters or a pint of ice cream. However, the food that makes me feel the most alive is one that brings on the heat. Thai chili peppers are some of the hottest peppers on the planet. No one should mess around with these little powerhouses. They are HOT!, HOT!, HOT! What if we combined regular old instant chocolate pudding with one very hot chili pepper? Let's try it.

 Hot! Hot! Hot! Chocolate Pudding

You will need:

• 1 - Thai Chili Pepper with ALL the seeds removed. (Be careful when handling the pepper as the oil from the seeds are hot.)
• 1 package of Jell-O Simple Good Instant Chocolate Pudding
• 2 cups milk
• toppings (optional)

Step 1: In a small sauce pan add the 2 cups milk and the chili pepper. Ensure all the seeds of the chili peppers are removed. 

Step 2: On the stove top, heat the milk and the chili pepper on medium to high heat for about 2 minutes or until tiny bubbles form around the edges of the pan. Do not let the milk boil. Remove from heat and remove the chili pepper. Let the milk cool in the refrigerator. The milk should be cool in about 3 hours.

Step 3: Follow the Jell-O pudding package directions and stir together the milk and Jell-O pudding for 2 minutes. Place pudding in small serving cups and garnish with toppings.

This is brazen and bold comfort food.

Until tomorrow Hot Stuff.

It's easy to get in the habit of being someone else. It's simple to watch and mimic a life that isn't our own. It's hard to do the thing that makes us, well, us. Take the fact that I Iove the color pink. Yes, the pink. As a well-educated, worldly woman, I am not allowed to like pink. Everyone knows pink is a color that strictly for princesses, lipstick and people who aren't taken seriously. For all the talk that women should be allowed to be anything they want, pink and princess feel like they are nonstarters in the future being female.

Why can't we like pink, princesses or anything we want and still be a powerful senator or CEO? More importantly, whether you are female or male, why can't we just be ourselves? 

It's all rubbish. I'm going to throw on a bold shade of lipstick and parade around today. How about you? What will you do today to be yourself? Being bold is being ourselves. Own that shade today.

Until tomorrow.

It's hard to be simple and it's harder to do something simple. Take drinking water for instance. We have overcomplicated the process. Today there are various kinds of water to buy in single serve recyclable bottles. This has caused a mess of complication. There is the multitude of companies that sell water in an overly involved process. There is sourcing the water, bottling, advertising, shipping, logistics, and finance. Then factor in recycling and environmental cleanup of the bottles.

What happened to just getting water from the tap? I am going to make life simple today by pouring water from the faucet into a reusable glass. What will you do simple today? Is being simple brazen & bold? I think so.

Until tomorrow.

P.S. Yes, initially I made this post about cayenne grapefruit water. I wanted to talk about bold & brazen flavors. The message became overly complicated, messy visually and frankly who wants to drink cayenne grapefruit water? Gross. Simplify. Leason learned.

Here is today's question. Would you know if you weren't kind? I'm not sure I would. Sure, there are distinct times when our emotion gets the best of us. We all name call, gossip and expand rudeness into the universe. We lash out and do things in our anger that are defined as unkind. However, what about the times when our opposing worldview doesn't align with someone? Do we become unkind in our lack of empathy and understanding? Or are we upholding our values and our worldview? There are times when we stumble upon others who don't share our core values. It's hard to find common ground and things get messy. The question then arises, can we be kind when forced to deal with another's worldview? I have to think about this. 

Something to create thought on today. Until tomorrow great philosophers. 

Isn't it funny how sometimes we can have a distorted perspective on our lives? I'm as guilty as anyone. I have a skewed view on the way things should be versus the way things need to be. However, one day we wake up and things are be gone. People leave, things get lost, or we have to say goodbye to something important to us. It becomes difficult because we hold into the expectation that things will never change. It's a funny perspective because what in our lives doesn't change? What in our lives is forever? There is a lot of buzz about "living in the moment" but that can become stressful in its expectation as well. What if we began "living without expectation?" What if we become detached from the outcome? How does that perspective look to you? Do you love it? I think I'll try it. Let me know what you think.

Until tomorrow.