On Saturday, Dave had an away tennis match, so I had lunch with my friend Heather, who is a rock star and one of my favorite people on the planet. We ate sushi outside and people watched and discussed the after-school yoga program I’m starting this fall for low-income and at-risk girls at Girls Inc. of Greater Atlanta, of which Heather is CEO. Then we lazily wandered down to the lovely new Roswell Provisions, a European-style market that carries fresh bread, wine, meats, cheeses, pastries, coffee and more. The cheesemonger treated us to samples of a bunch of amazing cheeses, after which we paid for our purchases – I got a bottle of Dave Matthews’ Dreaming Tree Crush (and yes, I shrieked like a schoolgirl when I found it) – and made our way back outside to enjoy some really sinfully delicious gelato.

Photo courtesy of mere2007 via Flickr.

On Sunday, I ventured over to the new Lululemon showroom in downtown Roswell for their weekly free yoga class. We took our mats outside to a grassy area and did a wonderful hour-long flow practice. I shut out all the hustle and bustle of the brunch crowd, and enjoyed the sun on my face and the breeze on my skin. I think I smiled for the entire hour.

Sunday afternoon I tackled replanting the bed in front of our house, under the FatDog’s careful supervision. Our landlord cleared a large part of it out a few weeks ago and gave me carte blanche to do what I wanted. After hauling in eight big bags of dirt and ten bags of mulch, I planted three gardenias, three encore azaleas, a knockout rose, and some oriental lily, gladiolus and elephant ear bulbs. It’s a pretty big improvement, but I can’t wait to see what it looks like when all the bulbs start coming up and blooming!

And, because Sunday was April 15th – the official bring-your-plants-back-outside-day, or so says my mom – I moved my little container army back out to the deck. Even though we’ve had an unseasonably warm spring, I resisted the urge to move them earlier, and I’m glad I did because the lows last week dipped back down near freezing. Last year, my mom moved her plants out on April 14th, just in time for a hail storm to wreak havoc on them! So, April 15th it is. Anyway, I can swear I saw them perk up their leaves a little when the sun hit them.

I also did a little maintenance on my terrariums and listed them for sale. I’ll be sad to see them go, but happy that they’ll be adding a little bit of green cheer to other people’s homes or offices.

After I showered off all the layers of dirt I’d accumulated, Dave and I enjoyed a quiet dinner al fresco at a great local Mexican place. It was the perfect end to a weekend that was also pretty damn close to perfect. It’s hard to get back into my weekday routine (what little bit of routine I actually have, that is), but it looks like we have another awesome weekend fast approaching! So tell me: What did you do during this beautiful weekend?

Though my actual review was posted this past Saturday and linked on the actual Kitchen Reader page on Sunday, I’ve just now had the chance to catch my breath from my first weekend of yoga teacher training to post about it here. So, without further adieu, here is my guest post over at Victoria’s blog, and the accompanying round-up over at The Kitchen Reader. Enjoy!

Oh, and tell me: Are you a member of a book club? Does it have a theme? And is it online or in-person?

Header image courtesy of Jess Pac, via Flickr.

In the months since that discussion, I’ve done a lot of soul-searching, tons of research and had countless conversations with yoga instructors and current teacher trainees. I’ve run the numbers, trying to figure out if it is a wise investment of money that’s not entirely my own. I didn’t talk about with very many people because I didn’t want to say anything before it was a done deal.

Dave asked me to write a business plan. I said I had no idea how. “No one does,” he said. “And it will probably be entirely wrong. But the point is to make you think about things you otherwise wouldn’t have.” And so I drafted a business plan, discussing my options for teaching post-graduation and how I will market myself. We discussed it, I revised it and we discussed it again.

“You know,” I said, “This program is pretty intense; on training weekends I’ll be gone for 12 hours on Saturday and ten on Sunday.” “That’s okay,” Dave said. “It will be worth it.”

Finally, I pulled the trigger. After a thorough written application, an in-person interview and a demonstration of a few asanas, I was accepted to the teacher training program at the superb Peachtree Yoga Center. It begins this Saturday.

“I’m going to be a real, actual yoga teacher,” I keep saying over and over in my head. But it hasn’t really sunk in yet. The last week or so has been full of details and minutiae: Registering an LLC, getting a domain name, setting up e-mail, looking for a bank. I find myself struggling to take a moment away from tackling the business side of things to reflect on the super amazing inexplicable personal journey that is waiting for me. Probably because it’s easier for me to focus on the things I can control and the things that are certain (of which there are few, of course).

I’m so humbled and grateful for this opportunity, and for the support of those closest to me: Dave has provided his time, support, love, feedback, and so much more, and is okay with me being almost entirely absent for ten whole weekends. My dear friend Victoria has been privy to my hemming and hawwing and has been an amazing cheerleader. And my wonderful family has been wholly supportive of this endeavor.

I’m excited, but also nervous. It feels like my first day of school all over again. Except, instead of carrying a shiny new Rainbow Brite lunchbox, I’ll be carrying my shiny new Manduka PROLite mat. I’m not quite sure what to expect. But I’m sure it will be amazing.

Because sharing is caring, and of course I care about y’all, I thought it would be fun to provide a tutorial for making your very own tiny environment. So, in this post, I’ll first show you what supplies you need and how to choose the right container and plants. Then, I’ll give you step-by-step instructions for assembling the terrarium. Finally, I’ll provide some tips for proper care of your new little world. I’ve also provided my contact info if you love them, but aren’t so much into the DIY thing.

Gathering the Supplies

Even though they look fancy, terrariums are deceptively simple to put together. With a little bit of effort and planning, they can be done fairly inexpensively as well. Moreover, by making multiple terrariums at once, you can reduce the cost of each one even further.

Choosing a Container

When selecting a container for your terrarium, keep in mind that you should pick one that is glass and has a relatively tight sealing lid (as an aside, open containers are sometimes used; however, that is not a true terrarium my friends, that’s just a glass flower pot). Make sure that your hand can fit comfortably through the opening, too. I’ve seen wine bottles and other small-necked vessels used, but placing the plants in those requires chopsticks or tweezers. It also adds a whole extra layer of complexity and dramatically increases the likelihood of things being thrown across the room in a fit of frustration. Finally, consider the size and shape of the container, and determine 1) whether it will accommodate the number and types of plants you have in mind, and 2) how it will fit in the space you’ve chosen to display it.

I found an old glass cookie jar and a huge mason jar while perusing a favorite local antique store with Victoria one day during lunch. I thought it would be fun to repurpose these vintage containers, and as an added bonus, the two of them together cost less than ten bucks!

Picking Your Plants

Try to select plants that need only low to medium indirect light and can tolerate a humid environment. Also, choose plants in a variety of colors, textures and sizes to give your terrarium added visual interest. If you look carefully, you’ll see that many small potted plants can be divided into two or more pieces; by doing so, you can make several terrariums with a variety of plants for very little money. I also purchased a bowl of live moss to add as ground cover and to keep the soil moist. Ferns, mosses and other non-flowering plants work well. Avoid succulents, however, as the high humidity inside the terrarium will cause them to rot.

Other Ingredients

In addition to your containers and plants, you will need pea gravel or other small stones, activated charcoal (this is sometimes also called activated carbon, and can be found in the fish tank section of the pet store), dried sphagnum moss and potting soil (don’t use dirt from the ground, as it can contain microbes and fungi). You’ll also want to have a spray bottle handy, as well as an implement to help move dirt and plants into place; my mom had the genius idea of using a small telescoping back scratcher – it worked like a charm!

Assembling Your Terrarium

Now that you’ve got everything ready, it’s time to build a terrarium!

• First, add 1 1/2-2″ of pea gravel in the bottom; this will help with drainage.
• Cover the gravel with a thin layer of activated charcoal (about 1/4 cup); it will control any odors and filter the water that drains down.
• Now, completely cover the charcoal with dried sphagnum moss, which prevents the soil from draining down into the bottom layers. The moss will be a little bit poofy, but don’t worry – the weight of the soil and plants will pack it down.

At this point, you should have something that looks sort of like this:

Keep in mind that the size of each of the base layers will depend upon the size and shape of your container. While you’re filling it with the first few ingredients, make sure you save enough room for a fair amount of potting soil and your plants.

• Now, add a few inches of potting soil on top of the moss – enough for the plants to root into. If you’re worried about your plants having enough headroom, you might want to hold them up next to the container and eyeball it. You can also play around and build little hills with the soil:

• It’s time to plant! Place your plants in the terrarium, making sure not to crowd them too much. It’s easy to get overzealous; trust me, I know. Play around with different configurations to see what looks best before you tuck them into the soil. Then, once your plants are positioned, add a little more soil around them and pat it down.
• Finally, plant some live moss on the surface of the soil. It looks pretty and also helps keep the soil damp. Some people also like to add whimsical miniature figures to their terrariums; this is a matter of personal preference.
• Before you close your terrarium, spray a few squirts of water into it. It’s important to use a spray bottle because it allows you to carefully control the amount of water that gets added.

And there you have it: Your very own little terrarium!

Caring for Your Terrarium

Now that you’ve completed your terrarium, the hard work is done. However, you’ll still have to keep an eye on it to make sure it’s thriving.

• Check for excess condensation. Some condensation is normal, but if there’s too much, open the terrarium and let it air out for a day or so.
• Conversely, also check the soil to make sure it’s damp. Use your spray bottle to add a little bit of water if the soil feels dry.
• Don’t use fertilizer in your terrarium because you don’t want to encourage a lot of growth.
• Once in a while, prune the flowers and foliage that are dead, wilted, yellowed or too large. If a plant dies altogether, remove it immediately.

Don’t Want to Get Your Hands Dirty?

I can help! If you want a terrarium of your own, but don’t want to make one, check out the pre-made terrariums I have for sale, or send me an e-mail and I am happy to provide options for building one on commission. Mother’s Day is fast approaching, and they make great birthday gifts, too.

Alright, now that I’m done with my shameless plug, it’s your turn to tell me: Do you have a terrarium at home or in your office? 

However, the fact that an organization requires its board members to give or get shouldn’t deter people with limited financial means from serving. The other day, a woman with whom I volunteer shared a fantastic article by Nell Edgington highlighting several ways board members can raise money without writing a check or directly asking others to do so. The key point of the article is that organizations and board members alike should define the “give or get” responsibilities as broadly as possible:

If you think of a board member’s “get” responsibilities in these much broader terms, then I find it difficult to imagine a board member who cannot bring money in the door. You just have to get strategic about how each individual board member can best contribute to the organization’s bottom-line.

Some of the suggestions include soliciting an in-kind service, negotiating more favorable rates from vendors, or having coffee with a potential donor to explain why you serve the organization. In both my paid and volunteer non-profit experience, I’ve seen board members contribute in a variety of ways. Just to name a few: Introducing the organization to a grant-making foundation, connecting staff with local businesses who can provide services or do fundraising events, finding in-kind equipment donations, or providing services like accounting and web design.

By defining a board member’s fundraising obligations more broadly than simply writing or soliciting checks, the organization in turn broadens its spectrum of potential board members significantly. While check-writers are always appreciated, there are so many people with vast life and professional experiences and a passion for the organization’s mission that can contribute meaningfully in other ways as well.

So, tell me: In what ways have you contributed as a board member without directly giving or soliciting funds?

Because the rain and cold make me want spring to hurry up and arrive, the first recipe I decided to tackle was Springtime Paella (p. 142) – a variation of the traditional Spanish chicken, seafood and saffron rice dish. This version only calls for chicken, but provides suggestions for substitutions; since this was my first attempt (and because Dave isn’t crazy about shrimp), I stuck with chicken.

As I mentioned before, the keys to Yarnell’s method for making an entire meal in one step are: 1) layering the ingredients in the proper order, and 2) using the correct ratio of liquids to grains.

I made sure to start my little experiment early enough so that we’d have plenty of time to make it to Taco Mac to eat in case dinner was a total disaster. And, in the interest of not boring you to tears, I only took pictures after every couple of layers of ingredients. That’s how I roll: Always thinking about others.

In any case, the whole thing took maybe 20 minutes to put together. First, a layer of onions and garlic:

Next, there’s a layer of ladyfingers, then beef sauteed with peas and onions… Just kidding. It’s actually arborio rice, followed by broth mixed with saffron, smoked paprika and red pepper flakes:

Then, chicken and red bell peppers:

Finally, the remaining vegetables: The recipe called for frozen peas and cremini mushrooms, but I also added frozen green beans. I was going to add a can of drained, diced fire-roasted tomatoes as well, but had a brain fart and forgot. Oh well. The filled pot then gets topped with several sprigs of fresh thyme:

The whole thing goes into the oven, covered, at 450F for 45 minutes. Or, as the recipe suggests, until “3 minutes after the aroma of a fully-cooked meal escapes the oven.” I don’t want to split hairs or anything, but that wins the prize for vaguest, most random, unfollowable cooking directions ever written. In any case, I just set the timer and 45 minutes later, out it came:

And here is the final, plated product:

The verdict? This dish is pretty far from the bright yellow rice and assortment of bite-sized chicken and seafood that come to mind when I think of a traditional paella. Nonetheless, it was pretty freakin’ delicious, especially considering the (lack of) effort that went into it. Both pieces of chicken were fully cooked, even though they differed in size significantly. The vegetables were tasty and not mushy, and the rice was flavorful (and plentiful). I tend to like my rice a little drier and less cooked, so next time I will adjust the liquid and cooking time down slightly. And even though it creates an extra dish to wash, I plan to sear the meat before putting it in the Dutch oven to better seal in the juices. Next up: Chicken Satay!

I happened to be near our local Sur la Table a few weeks ago for a work-related errand. Of course, I stuck my head in on my way out. You know, “just to look.” Lo and behold, they were having their huge annual sale: Everything, including all of the Le Creuset Dutch ovens, was on sale. But, because I’m a girl with champagne taste and a beer budget, I set my sights on a lovely 3-quart Sur la Table house brand enameled cast iron Dutch oven:

At $49 – marked down from $79! – it’s much more my speed. The picture doesn’t do it justice, but the outside is a lovely deep red color. It also comes with an oven-safe knob on the lid, which surprisingly is not included with a (much pricier) Le Creuset. (As an aside, is it just me, or is it supremely stupid to put a non-oven-safe knob on a product that is meant to go in the oven?).

The inside is enameled, which is a must-have feature for me. I am neither brave enough nor patient enough to season and care for plain, un-enameled cast iron: I actually drive to my dad’s house to borrow his skillet anytime I make cornbread. I realize this is grounds for having my Southern card revoked, but so be it. The lid also has a bunch of little bumps on the underside. The saleslady said that it’s a “self-basting lid”: Condensation supposedly collects on the bumps, then drips back down into the food to keep it from drying out. I’m dubious, but whatever.

I was so excited to finally be the proud owner of my very own Dutch oven! I then realized I had a problem: I have no clue what to make with this thing, other than the usual chili, pot roast and various other sauces and soups. Happily, I wasn’t flummoxed for long, because Victoria told me about Elizabeth Yarnell’s Glorious One-Pot Meals:

Yarnell’s basic premise is that by layering whole grains, vegetables and proteins in a specific order, and adding the proper ratio of liquid, you can make an entire meal in a Dutch oven in less than an hour. Genius.

I have yet to test drive the cookbook, but I’ve already dog-eared a bunch of pages and look forward to trying several recipes. Yarnell also provides a blueprint for developing your own creations using her proper-layering-and-correct-liquid-ratio method. Regardless, I’m sure whatever I make will be healthier (though maybe not quite as tasty) than the bolognese I made to christen the kitchen’s newest denizen:

I am looking forward to a long, productive and delicious relationship with my new Dutch oven. So tell me: Do you have a Dutch oven? If so, how often do you use it, and what do you make?

Header image by djwtwo.

The quiet, dimly lit studio officially opened last week in a former storage room just past the security checkpoint at SFO’s Terminal 2.

Airport officials believe the 150-square-foot (14-square-meter) room with mirrored walls is the world’s first airport yoga studio, said spokesman Mike McCarron.

The room, open to all ticketed passengers, contains a few chairs and yoga mats but no instructors or televisions. No shoes, food, drinks or cell phones are allowed.

“Silence is appreciated,” says a sign spelling out “Yoga Room Etiquette.”

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Of course, it comes as little surprise that San Francisco, home to numerous celeb yoga teachers like Jason Crandell, would be the first city to do this.

I applaud SFO for trying to improve travelers’ flying experience, and can only hope that my own hometown airport – the world’s busiest – will follow suit.

The nation’s leading breast-cancer charity, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, is halting its partnerships with Planned Parenthood affiliates — creating a bitter rift, linked to the abortion debate, between two iconic organizations that have assisted millions of women.

The change will mean a cutoff of hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants, mainly for breast exams.

Planned Parenthood says the move results from Komen bowing to pressure from anti-abortion activists. Komen says the key reason is that Planned Parenthood is under investigation in Congress — a probe launched by a conservative Republican who was urged to act by anti-abortion groups.

Source: Associated Press

Komen – which is no stranger to controversy – has been facing pressure from many anti-choice groups lately. The organization also recently brought former Georgia GOP gubernatorial hopeful Karen Handel on board as their new VP of Public Policy. It then announced its decision to un-fund Planned Parenthood after implementing “newly adopted criteria barring grants to organizations that are under investigation by … federal authorities.” I find it hard to believe that the timing  of this decision was entirely coincidental with Handel’s arrival, especially given the fact that during her run for the Governor’s Mansion, she stumped for the elimination of state funding to any organization that provides abortion-related services (even though that funding, by law, would never directly fund abortions).

The Real Deal

With so much media attention and political chatter swirling around this issue, I thought it might be helpful to provide a few of the salient facts:

• The funding provided by Komen was never used to provide abortions. In fact, it was specifically earmarked for breast cancer screenings.
• A mere 3% of all services provided by Planned Parenthood are abortions (and an estimated 277,000 abortions are prevented each year through their provision of free and low-cost contraceptive services).
• Cancer screening and prevention constitute 16% of their services annually.
• Funding from Komen to Planned Parenthood covered 170,000 breast cancer screenings each year.
• 1 in 5 women have visited a Planned Parenthood facility in their lifetime.

Source: Planned Parenthood; FactCheck.org

The bottom line is that the vast majority of the services provided by Planned Parenthood are health and wellness screenings and contraceptive services for women who are low-income and/or un- or under-insured – services that save lives and prevent unintended pregnancies (thereby averting thousands of abortions).

The Silver Lining

The good news that has come from this controversy is that within the last 48 hours, Planned Parenthood has received $650,000 in donations – almost enough to replace the funding from Komen – so it can continue to provide life-saving screening services to those who couldn’t otherwise afford them.

I know many people (including my grandma) who are withdrawing their support from Komen, but are unsure where to redirect their contributions. Some are giving directly to Planned Parenthood, while others want to continue to support organizations dedicated to breast cancer research, prevention and/or treatment. If you fall into the latter category, here are some ways you can ensure your charitable contributions are as effective as possible.

After deciding during week 2 that I was tired of doing the same practices over and over, I seized the chance to experiment a bit more this week. When practicing at home, I selected whatever DVD sequence I felt like I wanted or needed to do at that time. I also took the opportunity to return to the studio and took a couple of live classes, which always challenge and inspire me. I even came to love pigeon pose, a huge milestone in the progression of my practice.

I confess, however, that I lacked consistency somewhat this week, and was faced with my own disappointment in myself when I skipped a couple days. I know that daily practice is best, but also realized that forcing myself to do it when I really don’t feel like it sometimes ends in frustration or dissatisfaction. Most importantly, even though I haven’t done it perfectly, I’ve developed a habit of making my yoga practice a more integral part of my routine, which I am certain will continue beyond these two 21-day challenges.

Today is also the last day of my vegetarian challenge, which I began when I started the second yoga challenge. I am proud to say I made it all the way through without caving, though it was hard at times. While I’m glad to know I can do it, I have learned that now is not the right time for me to try vegetarianism permanently. I don’t really feel confident enough to try to cook vegetarian and be able to consistently get enough protein into my diet. And even though it’s much more mainstream now, vegetarian options remain limited in most places. I’m pretty sure I drove several servers crazy when I was coming up with random combinations of menu items and ingredients because I was so sick of black bean burgers. These past three weeks, I think I have eaten a black bean burger in almost every way possible: As an actual burger, on a salad, in a wrap, in a burrito… I may revisit vegetarianism at some point, but for now, I’m eagerly plotting my return back into the meat-eating world tomorrow.

It’s been one of those weekends that I hate to see come to an end; it’s been unseasonably warm and sunny, and full of great things and exciting happenings for lots of people I love (including my brother getting his wings on Friday!). Friday evening I went to an amazing yoga class that focused on deep savasana, followed by coffee with a new friend. Today, my tennis partner and I won a great match, which was properly celebrated with beers at the “largest heated, enclosed outdoor patio” in town. And, before I sat down to write just now, I closed my door and took a couple of poses and let the wonderfulness of the weekend settle in. I can’t think of a better way to bring this challenge to an end. Namaste!