When I Was Your Age...

On Tuesday Ready by 21 Mentoring hosted 20 mentors and the sophomore class

of DISHS on a trip to Isle au Haut for a day of fun, community service and 

"getting to know you"

It was wonderful and I continue to be blown away by the quality of

the community I live in.

Our youth are kind, curious and full of possibility  and our

adults are kind, curious and full of possibility

The perfect match!

As the school year winds down

- and I'm back to mowing the lawn - 

It is fun to remember all the ways we've brought older and younger together this year

 It really does enrich everyone's life, so much, to connect

 and share exactly where each of us is in the here and now.

The one thing that seems to stand out for me is that almost every

adult that has come to be with the kids has said

"When I was your age...."

The cool thing is that the end to that sentence hasn't always

been steeped in what it used to be and what they should be doing

The messages have been more like;

"I thought I could do anything"

"I thought I was invincible"

"I was so worried"

"I didn't have half the pressures you all have since social media"

"I had so much fun"

"I thought I'd never make it out"

And as I continue to mow the lawn

(not because my Dad told me to, but because I have chosen to)

 I realize that I haven't changed much since I was "that age"

The real difference is that

time and experience has given me the wisdom

 to tweak some of those early beliefs

I still believe I can do anything - that I choose to do

My sense of invincibility has turned into a commitment to a healthy lifestyle

I've learned that worrying is always an option, but truly overrated

We are all learning about social media together

and the fun that used to get me in trouble is now legal!

The biggest one for me was that feeling that I'd never get out

But I did.  and I did again.  and I did again

Our possibilities are truly endless

We just have to recognize and love that 

sweet, crazy, impulsive, passionate, stymied teenager 

inside of all of us.

Give her a big hug, thanking her for the opportunities and

forgiving her the mistakes.

Enjoy your holiday weekend and thank you for all you are

Kyra

I

Touching Base

Hi all,

I just wanted to touch base

I haven't written in a while, seemed like there wasn't anything

profound to share, but life is good, really good.

 Yesterday I went to my first Yamuna body rolling class

with some friends and then I puttered the day away.

While puttering I watched a candid You Tube of

 Eric Rupert and Mario Batali

The greatest quote was from Mario - he said,

"My heart and imagination are intertwined" 

I love that

I couldn't remember if I'd shown you the little day bed area I set up in my office - 

It's like this little nest...

Oh, and did I tell you I'm going to Junior Prom?

Ha!  

Deer Isle Stonington has this aged tradition,

the public is invited, they do a Grand March, all the

Junior's families come

I've never been...

The theme is Alice in Wonderland 

(this is a bit too appropriate for me if you know what I mean)

I continue to be infused with such energy and admiration

in my connection with the students and really look forward to seeing them

in their finest.

Speaking of which, here is the new logo for Ready by 21 Mentoring;

The artwork and layout is by our board member, Gina Podesta

Looks great doesn't it?

I have 25 wonderful new mentors trained and ready to go for next year's juniors

 and I am in awe of everyone and what you are all willing to give of yourselves

That goes for mentors and mentees both.

I brought these delicious gluten free cupcakes to a movie night

with my book club.  Instead of a book this month we watched To Kill a Mockingbird

I used the recipe for my quinoa cupcakes and then made the

frosting from Barrett's raw brownies I posted a few times back.

  The host's husband ate two 

and had no idea they were laden in avocados!

There is more, but I'll save it for next time.

I've included the cupcake recipe below.

I hope you are all well and being kind to yourselves.

Kyra

CHOCOLATE QUINOA CUPCAKES

WITH CREAMY COCOA FROSTING

CUPCAKES:

1/4 cup unsalted butter

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1 cup sweetener (I use coconut crystals)

1 1/4 cups quinoa flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp sea salt

2 eggs, separated

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup yogurt or sour cream

350 degree oven

Place butter and water in a small saucepan.

Bring to boil, remove from heat and whisk in cocoa.

Let cool to room temp.

In another bowl whisk together

 the sweetener, flour, b powder, b soda and salt

Once the cocoa mixture has cooled, whisk in

the egg yolks, vanilla and yogurt (or sour cream)

until smooth

Stir this into the flour mixture until smooth and thick.

Whisk the egg whites until frothy and thickened

and fold into the batter.

Divide into 12 lined muffin cups and cook just until

moist crumbs attach to a tooth pick inserted into the center

10-20 minutes depending on your oven.

FROSTING:

Place

 3 ripe avocados

 1/2 cup cocoa powder,

1/2 cup liquid sweetener 

( I use brown rice syrup and a bit of maple syrup)

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1 tsp vanilla

into the bowl of a food processor, 

process until smooth and creamy

Frost as desired*

*It makes enough that you can eat a third of it with

a spoon and still have enough for the cupcakes

:0)