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A Journey into Thought & Spirit

Vegan Garlic Broccoli + Bok Choy

2/25/2020

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Can you believe we are almost two months into 2020? As the old saying goes, "time flies." In the late spring, early summer of 2019, I took a break from social media. During this time, I channeled my energy into my creative pursuits. 

I sat alone in silence, staring at dresses (and cleaning out my closets) and became more interested in vintage fashion. Like vintage-n-vegan, I admired some of the clothes I purchased in my travels. 
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My refrigerator was full of a bunch of random produce, including bok choy. I pulled out of my closet this blue peacock-inspired dress I bought in Hong Kong in 2008. I visited a friend who lived there from my yoga studies, and at the time, attended my first major yoga conference. I remember purchasing this dress from a local market for maybe about ten or 15 dollars.  

Oh the memories. Oh the past. And how I look forward to the future. This idea sparked to combine my passion for three things, photography, cooking and feminine fashion. I admire fashion, but I am not one to follow the trends or to spend a pretty penny. Like any Aquarian, you'll find me navigating the aisles at a Goodwill or a local flea market more than you would find me at Nordstrom. Though my tastes have changed through the years, I have come to appreciate the more feminine side of old-world fashion. 

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Last summer, the peacock spoke to me during a moment of hardship. A horrible dating experience ripped the soul from my chest and I was left sad, broken and confused. I began to find beauty in these dresses, safety at thrift stores and estate sales and pleasure in simple things like cooking, which always made me happy. I created a concoction of inspiration with fashion and recipe development. 

​According to spirit animal.info the peacock spiritually means, "The peacock spirit animal is the epitome of beauty. This graceful power animal offers lessons about self-love, honor, integrity and the importance of facing life’s challenges as well as the unknown with courage and confidence. When the peacock struts gracefully into your life you may be entering a time of rebirth. 

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Individuals whose power animal is the peacock possess a firm connection between the past and present and recognize its effect on the future. They readily see the importance of integrity and honor. Confident in all they do, those with a peacock totem also recognize the need for light-heartedness and laughter."
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I went a bit crazy collecting vintage things, but I found use for them in my props for the blog. Although this dress is not vintage, it was one of the first articles of clothing that I used to develop this Asian-inspired favorite often eaten at a Chinese restaurant. 

With this blog, I am honored to introduce my Easy shop (which I'll be uploading things very very soon), called The Elizabethan Closet. Here I'll be selling dresses, kitchen ware, tapestries, salt and pepper shakers, household goods - you name it, I probably have it. This shop is a collection of my passion and love the past, and this blog is a way for me to embrace the future. 

In future recipes, you'll notice a variety of recipes inspired by my collection, with most items for sale. Thank you for reading, sharing and subscribing. And I hope you too can enjoy some of my bygone charms. Enjoy! 

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Vegan Garlic Broccoli + Bok Choy
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time - 15-20 minutes
Serves: 4 

Ingredients:
1 tbsp canola oil
4 large bok choy, remove stems
1 large head of broccoli
5-6 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 heaping tsp fresh ginger, chopped

Sauce ingredients:
1.5 cups vegetable broth
3 tbsp rice vinegar
2.5 tbsp corn starch
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp sesame oil 
2 tbsp green onion, chopped ( one stalk)
1/4 cup soy sauce

Directions:
First mix the sauce ingredients together in a bowl until the corn starch is well blended.

Heat a skillet with the canola oil. Cook the ginger and garlic for 1-2 minutes and then add the broccoli and bok choy, and cook for 1-2 more minutes. 

Add the sauce ingredients and cover the skillet with a lid for 30-60 seconds. Remove the lid, stir and remove from heat.

​If the vegetables are not to your desired texture, cook for additional time.

Garnish with sesame seeds if needed. Serve over rice. 
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Fantasy vs. Reality: Living in an Era of Mental Confusion

2/20/2020

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Are you living in a fantasy? Or are you living in a reality? So many areas of life have become so confusing, I am not sure if people know what is real or not. 

Just take a look at the internet. How much of the world wide web has damaged or controlled us mentally? Prior to computers, humans have lived for thousands of years, surviving on the planet, using their heads and hands to live life. 

Today, people cannot decipher what is real versus fake news, and many people live this "picture perfect" life on social media, discarding the darker or weaker moments. The human mind is altered and flawed. Just take a look at Hollywood and the shows on Netflix. Much of today's programming is dark, gruesome, violent, negative and stuck in some dark fantasy. 

Behind this programming is a darker force trying to destroy and control our minds. Beauty is inspirational, death and destruction is not. Love is inspiring and is what heals people and the planet.

Living in a fantasy is either like a fairy-tale or a nightmare. Some people want to ignore the negative sides of life or a relationship because of being stuck in a fairytale where others want to destroy humans because of the demons that live inside their head. 

​I believe most people are not in reality, but living in a virtual reality, a fantasy or delusional fairy-tale, chasing something that doesn't exist. 

What is reality and what is fantasy?

Reality: the world or the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them.

Fantasy: the faculty or activity of imagining things, especially things that are impossible or improbable

Biases, opinions and life experiences affect our realities and fantasies. Many people want to live in a fantasy of showing off how great their life is, or how it is better than most. Celebrities are a perfect example, but as seen through numerous Hollywood suicides, fame and fortune does not buy internal joy and happiness. 

One difficult part of existence today is that because people are so mentally confused, or indoctrinated by various systems, beliefs or ideas, that mental health has become unpredictable or too unstable. You don't know if you say one wrong thing to someone that they'll snap, or do something out of spite. 

Although fantasy is an excellent form of escapism like a good book, movie or a guided meditation, there is a tipping point when fantasy hinders our mental health. 

Whether deliberate or unintentional, many people seek a fantasy reality, or a real-life fantasy experience. ​

Fantasies affect reality and the way you see the world. The "grass is always greener" is a perfect example of living in a fantasy. Just because one moves onto the next relationship or relocates does not mean that perfect fantasy that lives inside our head will occur. 

This type of fantasy is different than the dark fantasy that many people live in. If people's minds are continuously consumed by hate, violence, death and morbidity, there comes a point when one may want to live out that fantasy in real life. 

​They may fantasize about deviant sex they saw in a porno, or may become attracted or empathize with serial killers who used their childhood trauma and lack of empathy to hurt other people. Their own mental anguish and pain and suffering continued to destroy and take away other people's lives. 

Many atheists believe spiritual people live in a delusional fantasy in where no creator exists and life is not interconnected. Although the spiritual community has its flaws, it is possible to be stuck in the ethers without being grounded on the earth plane. On the other hand, spiritual people think atheists are delusional and close minded to think that nothing greater than themselves exist. 

So what is the balance? Balance is needed in everything in life. We should appreciate the divine without getting lost in a fantasy, just like I explained in another post about the Parable of the Flood. 

There comes a point when a fantasy crosses the line. 

Many people break personal boundaries because of being stuck in a fantasy. If you think about this from a Biblical perspective, God doesn't tempt people. God tests people, but doesn't tempt them. 

God is love. God doesn't want you to cheat. God doesn't want you to steal or hurt or kill someone else. That is the work of darker forces to destroy humans on an individual and collective level. 

People who dwell or swim in a fantasy are often not able to be satisfied in real life. They constantly seek more of something. More money. Money stimulus. More possessions. More fantasies. As stated before they are mentally confused and this dissatisfaction will lead them to continuing down a negative path. 

What do you think about fantasy versus reality? In all honesty, who even knows what is real anymore?
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30 Minute Recipe: Pasta with Lemon + Collard Greens

2/11/2020

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Collard greens is an underrated vegetable. Known as the vegetable of the south, collard greens are versatile raw and cooked. Greens and lemon go together like peas and carrots. Together, the flavors balance one another and add a zesty taste that ignites freshness to the meal. 
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On top of being delicious, collard greens are chocked full of minerals and vitamins.

In just one cup of collard greens expect to consume:
77 mg of potassium
1.1 grams of protein
1.4 grams of dietary fiber
Vitamin A - 36%
Vitamin C - 21%
Vitamin B6 - 5%
Calcium - 8%

Greens are important for overall health and assists in keeping the digestive track regulated.  

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KEEP IT CLEAN & EAT YOUR GREENS

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Pasta with Lemon + Collard Greens
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes

​Ingredients:
8 oz pasta (half a regular bag)
1 bunch of collard greens
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2-3 tbsp olive oil
1 small lemon, juiced
1 tsp nutritional yeast (or more)
1/2 tsp salt
Pepper to taste
Optional toppings: pine nuts 

Directions:
Cook pasta according to package directions. Wash the collard greens and remove the stems by cutting them with a knife.  Fold the greens and slice to your desired width and length. 

In a pan, saute the garlic in two tablespoons of olive oil for 2-3 minutes. Next, add the greens, salt and pepper and sauté until tender, or around 3-5 minutes.

​Once the pasta is cooked, drain and place the noodles back into the pot. Add the additional tablespoon of olive oil and mix. Add the greens and all other remaining ingredients. Adjust the salt and pepper as needed. 

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    Author

    Elizabeth Rae Kovar M.A. is  Author of her memoir, Finding Om and is a Fitness Trainer, Yogi, Reiki Master, Presenter and Lover of Life. To view her portfolio please visit www.elizabethkovar.com
    Follow her travels at: lemontreetravel.com

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