comfort cooking

I do love cooking and once in a while I am also good in trying out new stuff...though most of the times I am just not sure what to cook to make everyone happy!?
I know tonights dinner will be a highlight for everyone: fish and chips :-)
reflecting it right now...the whole week was quite a selection of the kids favorite...see that's still my problem BALANCE...

I am so not balanced in the last few days and sure I can point out some reasons for that. natural ones, no one can change anything about, but also "homemade" ones, I definitely can do something about and I started with one thing today. I am very vague with all this as especially the homemade things are matters every word written is too much and not worth it...

back to the balance...the balance I'll try to have my students in at the end of a yoga class, the balance I am in at the end of my practice...and I still let it be taken away...it's just so hard to let go of certain things again and not surround oneself with people/things/situations that could be avoided...

so what I did this week was not only getting my balance through my yoga practice but I did a lot of comfort cooking...unfortunately this always makes me eat all this yummy stuff as well, but I also have to say I am really getting stronger in resisting too much sweets and late night snacks ;-)

enough said, some pictures of what went out of my comfort kitchen this week...so far :-)

yummy cupcakes to start with...

pizza always makes the kids happy...

Clara and I made some yummy homemade pasta!

and finally applesauce...

{this moment}

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Inspired by "soulemama"

things are happening

oh yes, what a week...

my yoga teacher offered me to practice my teaching with her and happily we agreed to have a session last Thursday...

I was nervous but oh, what a great feeling to teach a true class...not just in my house, but at the studio.

I did a classical Sivananda class and until I sat down to start the class I wasn't sure about chanting, but when I started it all just happened naturally. I was so happy I did and I could feel the energy that was with me. The energy that was also felt by my teacher and so she encouraged me to teach a class at todays "open house" at the studio called the breathing room.

I don't think I need to mention how nervous I was, also because I just decided yesterday evening to really go for it!

Not an easy task to do a class at an open house where you not only have lots of people in the class, but also everything from newcomer to advanced student.

Anyway, I did it and from the feedback I got it went ok and I can't wait to start my classes in October...

This is a dream come true...since the day I started a regular practice I had the wish to one day teach and help people to fall in love with yoga just the way I did. I truly enjoy to guide them through a practice that makes them feel good and relaxed and let them experience inner peace.

so you can imagine it was quite a yoga-based week :-)

still I am happy I managed to organize the first official playdate for my little "baby"-girl (turning 4 soon). oh, she was so proud to have her own little friend at home without her big sister disturbing and also full attention of Mama!

moments like that and especially our girls-, and sometimes whole family-, dinner make me very grateful to be a woman who does not have to go to work every day. with one afternoon-activity at my daughters school and teaching yoga two mornings now, I still have free afternoons with my girls and time to spend on cooking, writing, sewing and whatever else crosses my mind ;-)

I did try out some new recipes since I am back in Cairo, just never had the camera close by and ready to get a shot...watch the space I'll have some recipes and pictures coming...or whatever else crosses my mind :-))

right now I am...

...grateful

...tired

...smiling

...loving

...ready for bed

namaste

back...

...from Austria

...from fun stuff with the girls

...refreshing rain

...family visits

...not knowing what to expect

...missing the kids

...missing my husband

...meeting wonderful new friends

...beautiful nature

...yummy organic food

...getting up at 5.30am

...every day meditation

...every day chanting

...silent walks

...

yes, we're back in Cairo...already spent 3 wonderful days at the beach (thanks to my husband who made me go!), back to school and everyday life. and my last 4 weeks at the Sivananda Yoga Center in Kitzbuehel just make everything different...

I was afraid of going there and I wasn't quite sure if I can make it and yes, I am proud and happy that I did it - can't help the ego ;-)

after the first week where I really thought I am not going to make it and I missed my family so much, I got into it and I understood that I have to let myself completely into it...so I did and the experience is something one cannot write down.

I learned a lot...about me and others and of course YOGA!

I got used to sit down and meditate and it is incredible how much I miss it now and I realize how important it is for me to make the space for it in my life...working on it :-)

I miss the feeling of chanting together and I am more than happy that I have a group of yogis around in Cairo where this things are happening as well!

and I met wonderful people, some became friends and we shared an interesting time of our lives together.

still, it is hard to be back with such a different consciousness and again I need to give myself and my family the time to adjust and integrate and let them catch up...I took quite a big step without them and they will follow slowly...

again it's about letting go (oh my favorite), letting go of the idea to change everything in one day...

and I also cannot write down everything in one day...watch the space and see what happens!

I want to close with a song from MC Yogi "be the change that you want to see in the world" - enjoy!