Random Thoughts from June 2023

I'm a strong black coffee, gerwurztraminer, gin and tonic kinda chick.

But lately ... I'm a decaf black, lime bubly, NA (non-alcoholic) beer/liquor girl.   WHAAAAAT the actual hell has happened here, I'm not sure, but here's what I know:

The non-alcoholic beer is DEFINITELY not the same as it was years and years ago.  Wowwwww it's changed and oh so good.  Check out my "What (or who) inspires me" section for a cool brand story annnnnnd grab SOMETHING to drink ... it's time for coffee talk!



COFFEE TALK 

Do you remember waaaay back last month in the Tasty Shit section, when I told you that I was making lunches for my son and his friend??

Well ... I posted something about it on my personal facebook page looking for other ideas and I got some GREAT ones!!!

I also got judgemental comments about how two 20-year old boys should be able to make their own damn lunch.

Sigh.  I was wanting RECIPES not opinions.

I wrote a post on my business page Sandra Priestley FSC (feng shui chick) this month with my thoughts on it.  Here it is:

I've  had an online presence for years now. I've done a lot of personal development and I'm fully aware that when I open up about myself, my thoughts, my opinions on various things, that there may be some haters. I was and am, prepared for that (even though it still shocks me that I HAVE to be.)

What I wasn't prepared for, was mom and business shaming on a post asking for f*cking recipes.

Nonetheless, I was able to quickly work through the emotional reaction I felt and then return to my own inner state of regulation so that I could RESPOND vs react.

I will be recording a podcast on this and going a bit more in depth but here's what I want you to know:

1. Some people are just asshats. I'm not entirely sure why ANYONE thinks they have the right to be a b*tch on social media (or at all), but the people who choose to publicly humiliate someone as a flex, just simply don't need a space in my life. I just delete and block. Buh Bye. It feels great. Feel free to do the same.

2. Someone else's behaviour has NOTHING to do with you, so release it as quickly as possible. In my mind, I keep going over Don Miguel Ruiz's book "The Four Agreements" here: we all have different beliefs (aka agreements) based on our own life experiences. Just because you disagree with someone doesn't mean THEY are right and YOU are wrong (or vice versa). It just means that your book of law looks different from theirs. That's it. The end. Don't make it more complicated. YOUR truth is truth to you and that's enough.

3. It's NORMAL to react emotionally to someone being rude to you so don't beat yourself up for having a "feeling" over it all. Feel the feelings but don't make up stories about why and what that means about you. It doesn't mean a thing about YOU ... it's about them. (See #1 and #2)

4. Resist the urge to react when you are still emotionally dis-regulated. Use whatever method you can to work through it ... journalling, meditation, talking to a coach or a friend or my fave: just feeling the feelings without making up stories about what they meant or if you're wrong. Once you are no longer feeling the feelings ... your response, whatever you choose, will PERFECT.

5. JUDGEMENT ... is not truth.

I hope this helps. XO

One more thing ... my first reaction when I read the comments was to defend my position.  I wanted to reply that the boys didn't EXPECT me to make them lunch but that I offered.  I love cooking, I love the challenge, I work from home so I have the time and it's only for a short time until he goes back to University.

This is ALWAYS going to be my first reaction .. double down and defend myself.  What I realize now though is that someone who is going to be rude on my page has a mind that a) doesn't want to be changed and b) would never admit it if she DID.  I refuse to waste my time and energy.  Let people think what they want ... their opinion is irrelevant to how badass you are!




FENG SHUI TIP OF THE MONTH 

I often say that I started using Feng Shui at around age 7 or 8, before I knew what it WAS.  Even at that age I was innately aware that my surroundings greatly affected how I felt, how I viewed my life and my outlook shifted for SURE.  

If my tiny life sucked, I would ask my mom if we could paint and wallpaper my room with some wild huge flowers ... it totally shifted the way I felt.  I would sit in my room and just enjoy life a little more, ya know?



To me, Feng Shui has ALWAYS been that ... our environment affects how we feel, how we act, how we think and how we show up in the world.  When we design our space with intention and the knowledge that our space speaks to our subconscious mind ... we can design it to be a powerful tool to manifest what we WANT in the world.

Thats it.  

I don't subscribe to "fear shui".  I don't suggest using traditional feng shui cures like gold flutes with red tassels and fu dogs (unless you LOVE them) and I don't believe you need to pay thousands of dollars to a feng shui practitioner in order to:  

- make your house feel good
- design your house to be a 3D vision board for what you WANT 
- learn the basic principles of it quickly and easily

First things first ... get rid of the clutter.  You'll feel better, be less overwhelmed and you'll be OPEN to receiving more ... more opportunities, more abundance, more peace, more happiness.



Secondly ... decide what it is that you WANT.  What does your ideal life LOOK and FEEL like?  Can you begin to create that in your home?



Third ... learn how to USE the knowledge of energy patterns and the psychology of your space to create an environment where you thrive.



It's really more common sense than you think.

WHAT (or who) INSPIRES ME

Ok I mentioned that I've been trying out different types of Non-Alcoholic beverages.  I was researching the best tasting ones and the Athletic Brewing Co popped up!  Their beer uses a unique process and they continue to win numerous awards when up against full-strength beers!!!



I searched where to buy it (as it turns out London Drugs carries a huge selection of NA brews including this one) and found the brand story.  SUPER cool.  Here it is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEme0SXOj7k

In 2014, Athletics co-founder Bill Shufelt was working on Wall Street.  He was working 24/7.  He was going out a lot, trying to stay active and still be his best.  He found it was impossible and thought "someone should FIX this!"

So he did.

So he decided to create a great tasting craft beer that could keep up with his busy lifestyle and NOT have the resulting hangover!

But there were a few issues:

- Bill had never brewed anything in his life
- all NA beers sucked, so he needed to create a new process
- he needed a brewer to help

While most brewers made fun of him, he finally met John Walker who was willing to give it a try and after beginning the trial and error process in a garage, they are now winning awards and expanding across the world.

** what I love about this story (and what is common with most brands that I like) is that Bill knew NOTHING about the process of building a business ... he only knew that there was a hole in the market that needed to be fixed ... and he was willing to FIGURE IT OUT and ask for help to do so.

GREAT businesses start this way ... find a hole and work to figure out how to fix it.

FUN STUFF from the INTERWEBS

This month I'm sharing just some of the stuff that made me laugh! 



Ahhhhh the good ole days ..... oh wait ... I saw this look this WEEKEND.  



We don't need to live in perfect ... but Jumanji is NOT the goal!
One of my clients will TOTALLY relate to this!!!!



Luckily I dont have an HR in my business.  ;)


COOL SHIT

I have a thing with cleaning supplies, particularly window cleaner.  

I like it to pass the "Sandra Priestley three-point inspection":

1) work well,
2) be at least KINDA organic and
3) not smell like 1954.

I've tried a number of them and truthfully ... none of them rated 3 for 3.

UNTILLLLLLLLLL Saje started making cleaning supplies!!!



I love the bottles, the products are 100% natural (good for the hormones!) and they smell great!  The glass cleaner smells like lemon, grapefruit and palmarosa (a grass) and it WORRRRRKS.  It's not streaky at all!  

New fave for sure!
 
WHAT'S COMIN UP?




INTENTIONAL:  Intimate Relationships/Marriage

When you are standing in your architectural front door looking in, Intimate Relationships/Marriage is the area of your home located at the back right hand corner.  If you are looking for a soul mate, to improve your existing relationship  with a partner (business or intimate) it's THIS area you wanna work in. 

Pro tip:  you want to have PAIRS of things in this gua!!!  You know ... to encourage a partnership.  See how that works???

YES I WANNA DESIGN MY HOME WITH SANDRA!



This started as a monthly journaling group ... $40 CAD a month ... with the intention to access your personal power but journaling, with a supportive group led by ME who is awesome.

It has turned into SO MUCH MORE.  

In this group I share not only my journaling processes, but also the things I'm learning along the way.  I've shared some mediumship stuff too!  Each and every day the goal is journaling in a way to access our subconscious mind, to release the stuff that limits us or bring forward our dreams.

It has become so much more than I dreamed it would be!!  You can join us using the link here:

I WANNA CHANGE MY OWN DAMN LIFE




There's a moment ... when you realize that every day is a gift.  We spend too much time in our heads, overthinking and worrying about perfect.  We don't try for fear of failure.  We wait for everything to be ideal before we begin ... but ideal doesn't happen.  We waste time worrying about shit that doesn't matter.

One day we wake up and realize that we've lived our lives for someone else ... and when we look back, it doesn't even look like US anymore.

And that's why I have created this coaching suite.

I promise ... life is not meant to feel like an assembly line of tasks.  It GETS to be good and when we can lean into that "thing" that we are great at ... it gets to be great.  I'm determined to help you get there.

CLICK TO WORK WITH SANDRA

TASTY SHIT!

This month I'm all about quick and easy snacks/sides ... and I couldn't pick between two of this months faves:  blistered shishito peppers and my daughters new cucumber recipe, so you're getting em both!

Blistered Shishito Peppers

If you haven't tried these you HAVE to!  You can find them in the produce section in a pre-packaged bag.  Approximately 1 in 10 are hot peppers so it's like culinary Russian Roulette.  (They aren't THAT hot though so don't worry).  Also, I'm not a huge fan of cooked peppers but I ate this whole pan myself.  Obsessed!



Ingredients:
1 bag of shishito peppers
1 tbsp grapeseed oil
celtic sea salt (or whatever salt you've got on hand)

Instructions

Ok listen carefully, cause there is a TRICK to making them amazing!!!  Wash the peppers and dry them before starting.  Toss the peppers in oil BEFORE cooking.  You can see that they're kinda wonky shaped so tossing them before cooking means you get all the nooks and crannies (and not too much oil).

Warm the frying pan (I used cast iron) over medium heat until you can sprinkle a few drops of water on the pan and they sizzle and quickly evaporate.

Add the oiled peppers to the dry, heated pan in an even layer.  Let them sit for a minute at a time before stirring (so that they get nice and blistered and charred).  Stir every minute until the peppers are tender and blistered in spots ... about 10 minutes.  (Popping sounds are GOOD!)

Transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle with a generous sprinkle of salt.  (Squeeze of lemon if you'd like, I didn't and I'm not sure that I would).

Our Tips and Tweaks:

You can see that I cut the stems off of these peppers.  I did that because they were getting a little too old for my liking.  I think by doing that, some of the seeds came out so I MIGHT have made them slightly less hot?  If the peppers were a little fresher I would have definitely left the stems on so that I could have held the peppers by the stem!

There are a few shishito pepper recipes out there but simple sauteed/blistered ones were the most popular.  They are delicate peppers and simple is best for these suckers!

Shea's mini-cucumber snack



Ingredients:
1 package of mini cucumbers, sliced into 1" pieces
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
1 tbsp sugar (optional)
1 tbsp sesame seed (or to taste)

Instructions

Whisk oils, vinegar and sugar in a bowl.  Add in cucumbers and toss.  Sprinkle with sesame seeds and toss again.  Serve immediately!

Our Tips and Tweaks:

- There's not much to tweak in this recipe it's nice and tasty as is!  The first time I made it I completely forgot to add the sugar.  I don't think you NEED it at all.  If you'd like to add it, try 1/4 or 1/2 a tbsp to start and keep adding until desired taste!

- adding in a bit of black sesame seeds gives a really nice contrast!

- my daughter and I eat this snack with chopsticks!!!  Yep ... we're fancy like that.  I learned to use chopsticks when I was young, in Vancouver at a restaurant called The Snow Garden (I didn't dare ask for a fork in that place).  I always thought I was so cool because I could use them so well as a 10 year old.  We taught our kids to use them at a young age too ... and ... if ya got it, flaunt it.  

If you try it, or tweak it I'd love to hear what you do!  Post a pic on your social media and tag me!

***

Once again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you SO much to all of you who regularly email me, recommend my group, my courses, my coaching or this newsletter to your friends and colleagues, your biz besties and your family.  I appreciate every one of you and every message that I receive.  

OH AND ONE MORE THING!!!

If you're loving this email but you're wanting all the blasts from the past, you can now access ALL MY PRIOR NEWSLETTERS on my blog!!

www.thefengshuichick.ca/blog 

"Life is not meant to be an assembly line of tasks ... it's meant to be a masterpiece.  Only you can hold the brush".  

Sandra Priestley 
XO





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