Apple Tart (v, gf) & Fearing Your Power

During December's gathering, the table was decorated with flowers, champagne, and three delicious treats. Whipped coconut cream sat beside a beautiful and warm apple tart next to a dish of the tastiest chocolate chip oatmeal cookies ever. Today, I'm (Emily, here!) dishing out an oh-so-easy dessert recipe you need to make asap. Seriously. I'm thinking this is the perfect recipe to say I love you this V-Day. You know, if you're into that kind of thing.

But before we get started, I wanted to talk about getting back into the groove. I've been going through a pretty rough time, and even though TGVG has maintained it's beauty and love, my heart has not. It's been having a hard time processing, accepting, moving forward, letting go, getting over crushes, finding new ones, being sick of rejection, being excited by possibility. It's been overwhelmed. I'm overwhelmed. Not in the usual work or school kind of way, just by my power.

Does that make sense? Do you ever get overwhelmed by the concept of how you have the power to shape your emotions, to control the outcome, to work with all you have and make it more or less? Because you actually have that power. Every time you sit in your pity party, you have the power to turn it off and make it a dance party. When you are angry, you have the power to shape that anger into productivity and progress. When you are sad, you have the power to turn that sadness around to a form of hope.

This realization is overwhelming for me, because some days I don't want to know of this power. Lately, nothing felt right, and I knew I had the power to change it around, to fix what I could, let go of what I couldn't, find inspiration in something new, but I just didn't want to at all.

So I didn't.

I wallowed and cried and left it all to February. Well February is here, and even though I don't really want to, I'm dealing with my s*** and pulling myself together. Here are small steps I'm taking to feeling better about myself and my life (taken straight, unedited from my journal)::

1. Floss, because I gotta

2. No more TV/Netflix/Videos on school nights (except movie nights with M, or if I have to watch something for film class). Instead I will read or paint or do my hair or yoga or just breathe.

3. Wake up and be up at 8 am everyday - weekends between 9:30 and 10:30

4. Kind bedtime routine with pj's & mindfulness.

5. Cleanse & detox once this month (over a weekend)
TGVG note:: detoxes are not for everyone, but Emily likes them a lot and has experienced tremendous positives from them, so she does them!

These might seem too small or too large for you, but they are perfect for me, and I encourage you to find several small steps to turn your life back to the one you want. Because you have the power to do so right now. If you're waiting for permission from someone to take control of your life, this is your permission -- go for it! If you need help, reach out and ask for some!

Now let's change your life with some TART!!! OHMYGOD Yes.

This recipe brings all of the Great Vibes because it's ...

super easy to assemble and make
sweet
chewy
rich yet light (promise)
decadent
versatile
superfoods to the max

Apple Tart (v, gf)
Ingredients ::

Crust -

+ 2 cups oat flour (whole oats ground in coffee grinder or blender)
+ 1.5 cups almond flour
+ 1/2 tsp sea salt
+ 1/2 cup coconut oil
+ 1/2 cup maple syrup

Filling -

+ 4 apples
+ 2 tbsp lemon juice
+ 2 tbsp maple syrup
+ 3 tbsp sliced almonds

Glaze-

+ 1 tbsp Maple syrup
+ 1 tbsp Lemon juice
+ 1 tbsp Water

Recipe ::

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. In a bowl combine oat flour, almond flour & salt.

3. Heat coconut oil and maple syrup, stirring to combine.

4. Add coconut oil & maple syrup to flour and stir until combined. Try not to over stir -- if you do, it can make dough more tough and chewy.

5. Spread dough in an oiled tart pan, press down, & fill sides to form a crust. If you don't have a tart pan, just use a pie plate!

6. Pierce crust with a fork several times and bake for 15 minutes.

7. Remove from oven and flatten crust with a fork -- push it back down until it resembles a flat crust again and not a Dutch Pancake!

8. Peel and evenly, thinly slice 4 apples. Once crust is out, place apples in the design of your choice - or just throw 'em in - inside the tart.

9. Combine maple syrup and lemon juice and brush over the apples.

10. Sprinkle almonds on top and bake for 1 hour or so until the apples are soft and slightly browned.

11. Combine all the ingredients for the glaze, plus or minus any ingredients to taste.

12. Brush tart with glaze.

9. Devour & enjoy! Best served warm with whipped cream or ice cream - gramps' & my fave.

Notes::

All ingredients are vegan and most are organic.  If these things are important to you, I encourage you to do the same. Finances, availability, and personal consumer choice can impact purchase decisions. My hope is that you closely follow the recipe, but make allowances where necessary -- my feelings won't be hurt, and your taste buds will still have a party. Promise!

+ What's your favorite pie or tart recipe?

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P.S.S. Have you checked out all of the
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Book Club :: Elizabeth Gilbert's, Big Magic Part One & Two - Courage and Enchantment

cover photo for Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

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Today we're finally jumping into Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. I feel like these last few weeks have been yeeeaaaarrrrrsssss. Ya feel me? But gosh, what a book!

For today, we're talking all things Courage and Enchantment. What lovely titles, huh? Let me just say that this book is beyond captivating. I find myself talking about it with everyone I speak with, explaining her views on ideas as living entities and our responsibility to "show up". I've yet to read elsewhere how we're responsible and also not responsible at all for the spark. We can ask for it, want it, show up for it, hold hands and skip with it, but we're not lost if it isn't there or if it takes flight in the middle of a good conversation.

I never read Eat Pray Love, but I bet women and men everywhere really identified with her voice, because I find myself associating with the images she outlines. I find myself falling for her narration and the tales she's woven of creative habits, of falling in love with your craft, and freaking owning everything you've got to put it out front and center.

I've got a few questions to spark discussion, and I'm hoping we can get some great discussions going in the comment section! Ready, set, let's go!!! (Clearly I'm excited to talk about this -- the girl gang has been blowin' up facebook with talk of how genius this is, and I'm excited to debut those thoughts woot woot! -- sorry F.Scott, I can't lose the exclamation points on this one).

If you've missed any prior Book Club get-togethers, head over to Book Club and catch up! Still haven't grabbed the book? It's not too late. Promise! Buy it here.

For February 5th read Part III, Permission. Xx.

Question Time

Courage::

+ What are some of the ways you fear living a creative life?

Here are some of mine: I'm afraid I'm a fraud that no one has discovered yet; I'm afraid somebody else is doing it better, and I shouldn't bother; I'm afraid I am unworthy; I'm afraid my honesty isn't refreshing but detrimental; I'm afraid I'm not the glamorous, attractive woman the media wants to see in the public eye; I'm afraid I'll run out of ideas; etc. etc. etc.

+ Have you ever argued for your limitations? Pg. 18, she writes of the saying: "Argue for your limitations and you get to keep them."

+ I LOVED how she wrote how fear is so boring, because it is always the same. Ugh. Fear is so stupid!!! In your head or aloud, say "STOP, STOP, STOP, STOP!" right now to any doubt or fear creeping up. If you're wondering why, refer to the aforementioned sentence or bullet point.

+ What could you think bigger about? Your future, your career, your romances, your passions?

Here are some of mine: My career is going places I couldn't even have imagined, so I need to stop dreaming small; my future is going to happen whether I'm ready or not, so I need to stop worrying about if it's going to face plant -- it's already kicking up; I'm worthy of the romance of a lifetime, so why the f*** do I keep telling myself not yet, not necessary, not worthy. Doubts are silly, and I'm done with them. What are you done with?

Enchantment::

+ How do you deal with the dreaded "they stole my idea"? Do you recognize how awesome it is that it's living its purpose or do you close off and hate the person? Have you ever had that happen? What could you do differently now on forward?

+ What has the world said "no" to that really ticked you off, but later you realized it was meant to be, because something freaking amazing was hurtling towards you at the same time?

+ Have you been waiting for a permission slip? You don't need one, but if you're worried you do, as Elizabeth Gilbert writes, "THERE, I just gave it to you" (p. 90).

+ Right here, right now, declare your intent. Who are you?

I am a dreamer, a romantic, a writer, a yoga instructor, a guide, a health coach. I am all of this and even more.

+ What have you been complaining too much about?

Here are some of mine: I don't have a significant other; I'm not earning enough money; It's just not working. LAME. I'm only bringing more of that in my direction, so let's cut that out, K? K. 

Any other ideas?

That's all of the questions I have to spark conversation for now... Hop down to the comments and give it a whirl -- no thought too big, small, unwanted (within reason), or otherwise!

*affiliate links were used in this post :: thanks for supporting The Great Vibes Guide & me! Xx.

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Subscribe to The Newsletter.

Subscribe to The Newsletter.

P.S. Did you know you get The Great Vibes New Year Guide when you sign up for The Newsletter? Subscribe right now >>>>>

P.S.S. Have you checked out all of the
other places Emily's spreading the Great Vibes?

Taking Some Time ...

I just wanted to thank you all for your kind thoughts and words these last couple weeks. Your support has been meaningful to me and a lovely reminder of what living is all about.

I've been having a little difficulty getting back into my old habits, so there won't be any new posts until Friday when we reconvene for our first book club of 2016! If you haven't already started, snag the book here, and regardless of how much you've read, join us back here on Friday for discussion.

Celebrate life & take time to remember a hero today. Speak your words of truth with kindness & recognize there is no better day to start than today.

Talk soon, loves. Xx.

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