To live In the Spice Rack means that you embrace the things in life that make you happy, and add a dimension of wholeness to your life. Give up feeling guilty for enjoying pleasure in your life. Be happy. Do great work that enriches your life, and the lives around you. Know that you are worthy of being loved and cherished just as you are. Start with yourself. Living a colorful and pleasure filled life isn’t for everyone. Are you daring enough to take the leap?
52 Books in 2021
Last year, I finished 25 books. It was no re than I had read in years. I’m off to a slow start so far, but that’s ok.
- Hand to Mouth by Linda Tirado
- Groomed by Samantha Leonard
- Evicted by Matthew Desmond
- Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn
- No Walls and the Recurring Dream by Ani DiFranco
- Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller
- The Intuitive Eating Workbook by Evelyn Tribole MS, RDN & Elyse Resch, MS, RDN
- Money Making Mom by Crystal Paine
- Bone Music by Christopher Rice
- The Flux by Ferrett Steinmetz
- Rain Girl by Gabi Kreslehner
- Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
- Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
- The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss
- How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge by Clay Scroggins
- The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van der Kolk
- Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
- Becoming by Michelle Obama
- Nonbinary. Memoirs of Gender and Identity
- Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
- A Demon in my view by Ruth Rendell
- Ordinary People by Judith Guest
- 1776 by David McCullough
- The Virgin of Prince Street by Sonja Livingston
- The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy
- The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
- 2020 Award Winning Book
- A Season in Hell by Rimbaud
- The Undesired by Yrsa Sigurdardottir
- Killer Reunion by G.A. McKevett
- The Day is Dark by Yrsa Sigurdardottir
- Sami Blood
- The Heart Keeper by Alex Dahl
- Alfons Mucha 1860-1939 : master of art nouveau by Renate Ulmer
- The little old lady who broke all the rules by Catherina Ingelman-Sundberg
- The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
- More Myself by Alicia Keys
- Beloved by Toni Morrison
- Human Resources by Brad Carter
- American Dirt
- The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
- The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
- The Tatooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
- The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
- A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult
52 Books in 2020
- The Roses of May (The Collector series, Book 2) by Dot Hutchinson
- Codependent No More by Melody Beattie
- Wildflowers by Drew Barrymore
- The Sinking of the Vasa by Russell Freedman, illustrated by William Low
- Superfans by Pat Flynn
- Animalistic by Susan Orleans
- The Body is not an apology by Sonya Renee Taylor
- The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
- Library of Souls by Ransom Rigg
- American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
- Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle
- Untamed by Glennon Doyle
- How to Win an Argument on Social Media by Brian Anglin
- The 40 rules of Love by Elif Shafak
- Hippie by Paulo Coelho
- Your Song Changed My Life by Bob Boilen
- * The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce
- Entering the Castle: Exploring Your Mystical Experience of God by Caroline Myss
- Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts by Kate Racculia
- What You Have Heard is True by Carolyn Forché
- Second Nature, A Gardener’s Education by Michael Pollan
- When Rabbit Howls by Truddi Chase
- Norse Gods by Neil Gaiman
- Resistance by Tori Amos
- Got Parts? by A.T.W.
- Gay Mysticism by Andrew Harvey
- No Walls and the Recurring Dream by Ani DiFranco
- Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller
- The Intuitive Eating Workbook by Evelyn Tribole MS, RDN & Elyse Resch, MS, RDN
- Money Making Mom by Crystal Paine
- Bone Music by Christopher Rice
- The Flux by Ferrett Steinmetz
- Rain Girl by Gabi Kreslehner
- Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
- Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
- The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss
- How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge by Clay Scroggins
- The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van der Kolk
- Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
- Becoming by Michelle Obama
- Nonbinary. Memoirs of Gender and Identity
- Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
- A Demon in my view by Ruth Rendell
- Ordinary People by Judith Guest
- 1776 by David McCullough
- The Virgin of Prince Street by Sonja Livingston
- The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy
- The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
- 2020 Award Winning Book
- A Season in Hell by Rimbaud
- The Undesired by Yrsa Sigurdardottir
- Killer Reunion by G.A. McKevett
- The Day is Dark by Yrsa Sigurdardottir
- Sami Blood
- The Heart Keeper by Alex Dahl
- Alfons Mucha 1860-1939 : master of art nouveau by Renate Ulmer
- The little old lady who broke all the rules by Catherina Ingelman-Sundberg
- The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
- More Myself by Alicia Keys
- Beloved by Toni Morrison
- Human Resources by Brad Carter
- American Dirt
- The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
- The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
The Year of Finishing ends.
A year ago, I upgraded this site to a business account, and then had one of the roughest unexpected years of my life. I did not renew, but will do so once I get into a good routine, making it worth the costs.

Things I accomplished in 2019:
- LGBTQ+ Leadership training
- LGBTQ+ Presbyterian Ambassadorship
- Changed jobs
- Divorce
- Joined a band to raise money for kids
- Performed “Under Pressure” in public along with a storytelling opportunity
- Started my tattoo in honor of my father
Goals for 2020:
- Save up 3 months of living costs in case of emergency.
- Pay down my car loan.
- Set up a weekly and monthly newsletter with Tiny Letter.
- Collect all of my haikus into one concise book.
- Launch 1-2 online classes.
- Record and market one music album and associated video components.
- Host a monthly crafting experience.
- Grow my TupperWare and essential oils businesses.
- Create and maintain an inventory for my online jewelry store.
- Continue my dad’s tattoo
I intended to read 52 books and only finished 20, but that was more than the year before. I’m pretty happy with my list. Having a goal of 52 books is reasonable though, so I’m going to do this again.
My word for 2020 is RELEASE.
My intention for 2020 is MEDITATION.
My theme for 2020 is BEING PRESENT, JOY.
52 Books in 2019 July Update
I decided in January to make an ambitious list of 52 books I already have access to, in paper form or audio book and read them by the end of December 2019. At this rate, I probably won’t make it, but I have thus far read 12 books (and started many others) that I wouldn’t have otherwise read. I also joined my church’s book club (although I missed the last two meetings). This was such a great decision for me, as I’m feeling inspired, and connected with other people who love good books.
What have YOU been reading lately?
(BOLD means finished)
- The False Door by Brett King
- How to Fix a Broken Heart by Dr. Guy Winch (twice)
- White Fragility by Robin Diangelo
- Dead Certain by Adam Mitzner
- P.S. from Paris by Marc Levy
- Educated by Tara Westover
- The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms
- Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
- Being Jazz by Jazz Jennings
- The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchinson
- How to Fix a Broken Heart by Dr. Guy Winch (twice)
- Dare to Lead by Brene Brown
- Haunting Charlie by Wendy Wang
- Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler and Maira Kalman
- The Library Book by Susan Orlean
- Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
- Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
- The Covert Passive-Aggressive Narcissist by Debbie Mirza
- The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell
- A Serial Killer’s Daughter by Kerri Rawson
- The Intuitive Eating Workbook by Evelyn Tribole MS, RDN & Elyse Resch, MS, RDN
- Money Making Mom by Crystal Paine
- Bone Music by Christopher Rice
- The Flux by Ferrett Steinmetz
- Rain Girl by Gabi Kreslehner
- Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
- Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
- The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss
- How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge by Clay Scroggins
- The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van der Kolk
- Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
- Becoming by Michelle Obama
- Nonbinary. Memoirs of Gender and Identity
- No Walls and the Recurring Dream by Ani DiFranco
- Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
52 Books in 2019
I’m going to start by making a list of books I already have access to, in paper form or audio book. I’m certain I will go “off list,” too.
(BOLD means finished)
- The False Door by Brett King
- How to Fix a Broken Heart by Dr. Guy Winch (twice)
- White Fragility by Robin Diangelo
- Dead Certain by Adam Mitzner
- P.S. from Paris by Marc Levy
- Educated by Tara Westover
- The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms
- Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
- Being Jazz by Jazz Jennings
- The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchinson
- How to Fix a Broken Heart by Dr. Guy Winch (twice)
- Dare to Lead by Brene Brown
- The Intuitive Eating Workbook by Evelyn Tribole MS, RDN & Elyse Resch, MS, RDN
- Money Making Mom by Crystal Paine
- Bone Music by Christopher Rice
- The Flux by Ferrett Steinmetz
- Rain Girl by Gabi Kreslehner
- Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
- Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
- The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss
- How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge by Clay Scroggins
- The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van der Kolk
- Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
- Becoming by Michelle Obama
- Nonbinary. Memoirs of Gender and Identity
- No Walls and the Recurring Dream by Ani DiFranco
- Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
- The Library Book by Susan Orlean

My Goals for 2019
I finally took the plunge and upgraded this site to a business account. I have been waiting FOR YEARS to do this, and I realize there will never be that perfect time, or that magic angel whispering in my ear to do it now. I just have to DO IT! And so I am!
What are some of my personal goals for next year?
- Read or listen to 52 books.
- Save up 3 months of living costs in case of emergency.
- Pay down our 2 car loans.
- Set up a weekly and monthly newsletter with Tiny Letter.
- Collect all of my haikus into one concise book to shop around.
- Launch 1-2 online classes.
- Record and market one music album and associated video components.
- Host a monthly crafting experience.
- Grow my TupperWare and essential oils businesses.
- Create and maintain an inventory for my online jewelry store.

As you can see, I have more than a few things on my mind! But, I will be breaking them down into bite sized steps, and enjoying the experiences as I go.
Letting go…
Danielle LaPorte inspires me often.
Click on the picture to read her list!
Here’s my list.
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I give up the feeling that I’m not worthy. It’s done.
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I give up the doubt and judgment I have towards myself, which keeps me frozen in fear.
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I give up being dependent on other people.
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I give up thinking that I am not enough. I am.
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I give up waiting for other people to value me.
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I give up feeling lonely when I am great company, and I have a lot of friends who love and care about me.
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I give up sacrificing my needs for what I think are more noble causes.
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I give up pushing people away when they get too close.
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I give up waiting for validation.
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I give up keeping quiet when I have something to say.
What do you give up? Let me know in the comments!
I am a colorful bird.
I am a colorful bird.
There’s nothing that I’ve done before that has been harder than this transition. It’s also the easiest to do because I know THIS is who I am.
The world is OUR canvas. Let’s all be colorful birds.
Cactus Pear
I tried three new-to-me fruits – cactus pear, pepino melon, and pomegranate.
Cactus pear is the fruit of the prickly pear, or Opuntia. Also known as cactus fig and Indian fig, the plants grow all over the world in the proper climates. It can be found in South America (mine was grown in Chile), Mexico, and desert climates in the United States. It is also found in Southern France and Italy, Sicily, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Egypt, Eritrea, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and many other places.
I got my cactus pear at a grocery store (Wegmans!) and all of the prickly parts had been removed. There are many warnings about touching these fruits without proper gloves, and taking care not to touch the fruit even if the spines have been removed. They also have something called glochids, which you don’t want to mess with.

Creative Commons from the Wiki page – Stan Shebs
The insides of the fruit are a deep red. The meaty pulp is heavily speckled with seeds, which are extremely hard. We removed the meat and then strained the seeds out of it.
The texture of the fruit seed to me to be quite similar to quava or mango – lots of liquid contained within the meat. It was sweet and enjoyable (except for the prevalence of seeds!). It also stained my fingers a slight pink from eating a tiny piece.
You know I love my health protein shakes these days! Mom and I are going to add some fruit puree (minus seeds) to our shakes.
I would also love to try dyeing some fabric with the gorgeous red fruit.
Here are some recipes I’d like to try using cactus pear.