How do you get inspired and Yoga/Cooking Retreat recap
I know I know. It’s already Wednesday and I haven’t posted a blog yet this week. I’m so jealous of my blogging friends that are really good at it, who get posts out almost every day. I cherish you all for inspiration and letting me into your lives. But I’m not so good at this blogging thing. At least not lately. Let’s just say I’m in a little bit of a funk. Ever since I got back from my book tour I’ve felt kind of stagnant, uninspired. Life is good so why would I feel this way? I’m exploring what’s going on inside me, with my hormone production and my thyroid function. Sometimes when you’ve got the blues it’s because something is chemically wrong. If you have any experience with this please share with us in the comments.
So when I feel uninspired I don’t feel like blogging. I don’t feel like cooking either, but thankfully things are turning around. My good mood started Saturday at the Yoga and Vegan Cooking Retreat. Then I spent a good 5 hours in the kitchen the last few days making new recipes. Not only am I creating recipes for my next book I have to retest all the recipes already on paper. I like to make sure everything works as is before I hand them off to my recipe testers. Speaking of recipe testing, I need a few more people, so if you can commit to 5 recipes a week please let me know!
Saturday I had the pleasure of co-hosting a one-day retreat with Nicole Sopko from Upton’s Naturals. Nicole and I met at VIda Vegan Con, then we had her teach yoga at the Texas State Veggie Fair (where Upton’s was present too). Everyone had great things to say about her yoga classes. She asked me if I wanted to host a retreat with her and of course I said yes! I had recently met Ruby who has a retreat center an hour out of town that would be perfect. A Day Away Retreat is so lovely and is a great place for a getaway. They can hold up to 12 people for overnight stays, there’s a pool and jacuzzi, animals friends to play with and the space is versatile for all kinds of needs. I highly recommend it. They do crafting parties, weddings, health retreats, you name it!
I was the chef for the retreat so I got to spend all day doing what I love: feeding people delicious food! It was inspiring to hear of everyone’s health journey and everyone raved about the meals. I went to the retreat the day before to start prepping. I blasted some music and danced around the kitchen as I cooked. For some reason I totally forgot how much music inspires me and puts me in a good mood. Since my dad is always at home when I cook I never turn on music. I’m going to ask him if it’s ok to blast some jams because it really helps me cook!
We started the morning with Wholesome Banana Bread Muffins and fruit salad. For lunch we had my famous Un-Tuna salad (pictured above, Blissful Bites pg. 206) and chilled gazpacho. For dinner we had a Moroccan Chickpea and Root Veggie Stew with brown rice and a spinach salad. For dessert everyone got an individual peach cranberry crisp. For more photos of the event visit my Facebook page.
Thank you to everyone that attended. It was lovely to meet you all and I wish you the best of luck on your healthy journeys. Since I was only able to give a short cooking demo, my plan is to have a weekend retreat that is mostly cooking classes with a few yoga classes thrown in. This will be the first weekend of June. Space is very limited so if you are interested please contact me asap.
So tell me what inspires you? When you are feeling stagnant what kinds of things to you do to get out of the blahs?
In addition to running the VegCookbook club (we're loving your cookbook!), I'm also a juicy blogging coach and teacher. An exercise I like to do with my students when they are stuck for post ideas is to reflect on: 1. what is the goal of your blog, 2. who are your ideal readers, and 3. what kinds of blog post ideas will help you meet your goals, and reach your ideal readers. This is a fun exercise to do with a handful of blogger friends too.
Great advice Britt! Thanks! Glad you are enjoying Blissful Bites 🙂
I'm with ya on the music! it gets me going to write blog posts too 😉
I hope you get feeling inspired again soon! But you know, sometimes you need a bit of the blahs to get really revved up again. Like in exercise, you need a rest day.
That is very true! It can only go up from here 😉
"Ever since I got back from my book tour I've felt kind of stagnant, uninspired."
It may just be the let down of finishing something that you put so much time, energy, and anticipation into. I tend to feel that way a day or two after closing night of a play, or after hosting a big party. I am going to paraphrase Danielle LaPorte here: absorb the bad feelings and transform them. Kind of like a coffee filter. Sometimes it helps to just acknowledge that you're feeling icky (like you did here) – the feeling is recognized and can now splinter off and lift off of you.
And, keep the music playing!
I think that is part of it. When I came back I was like “What’s next?”. Here’s to transformation!
I'd love to test some of your new recipes! I've also been in a cooking rut lately (and have been relying more heavily on processed foods…) I could use new recipes (and a commitment to make them) as a good motivation to get my kitchen humming again. And yes, 5 recipes/week would be no problem. Looking forward to hearing from you!
Wonderful Debbie! I will email you!
Ooooh! I'd love so much to be a recipe tester, it's something I've always wanted to do. I'm always trying new recipes, so it would be a lot of fun. 5 recipes a week is no problem- one per weekday 🙂
As for the rut, I keep an ongoing list of possible ideas for recipes at all times. It's a collection of inspiration from my favorite restaurants, TV shows, books, magazines etc. Some days I'll add pages to the list in one sitting. Then when I get stuck I can keep moving forward by testing and making things that sound good from that list.
Nicole I would love to have you!! I will email me you.
Thanks for the ideas!!
I have a thyroid issue myself and it can definitely affect energy and desire to do anything. Plus when my medication starts to go off the shift is so subtle that I often do not notice the problem until someone else points it out. I blame the weather, work, anything but my thyroid.
If you still need recipe tester and are looking for someone who is just beginning to go vegan, I would be glad to help out.
Amy
Thanks Amy. I’m going to have some blood work done next week to have it tested. I would love to have you as a tester!!
The recipe tester thing sounds interesting but otherwise I am sure inspiration/motivation will come !
Thank you! I will email you about the testing 🙂
I love trying out new recipes! If you still another recipe tester, I would love to do it! I would love to have new recipes to try because I also have been in a rut the past couple of weeks!