Happy Ayyam-i-Ha!

Happy Ayyam-i-Ha!

Sunset Feb. 25 to sunset March 1, millions of Baha'is across the globe celebrate Ayyam-i-Ha. Ayyam-i-Ha is a time of celebration, hospitality, charity, gift-giving and love (click here for more information on the holiday).

Reasons I'm loving Ayyam-i-Ha:

• 5 days long! (normally 4 but this leap year gives us a bonus day)
• Joyful time spent with family and friends
• Consumer America/Hallmark does not know this holiday exists. Yay for purity of spirit!
• The are no rituals/rules as to how to celebrate.....it forces me to be creative each year and active in my celebrations :)
• Our gratitude tree! Everyone at our party wrote something they are grateful for on a leaf. For each remaining day my husband and I will add additional leaves. I have so much to be thankful for. Asante Mungu! (props to my talented husband who drew the tree)
• It provides a nice time to reset my life and prepare for the 19-day fast that begins on March 2
• 9-sided star vegan sugar cookies

 

Ms. Whippet Diva

Because I have way too many pictures of our Whippet/Jack Russell diva, Busu and nothing to do with them ;)

Mr. Happy Man

This video brought great joy to my heart. It features 88-year-old Bermudian, Johnny Barnes who devotes six hours every day to greeting people with "Hello. Have a wonderful day. I love you."

These 3 sentences have had a powerful affect on the locals there. Watch and feel your heart warm :)

Mr. Happy Man from Matt Morris Films on Vimeo.

12 Reasons to Date a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer

Whenever I think back on the 26 months I spent living in Tanzania, I smile. Although that piece of my heart I left in Tukuyu aches. Luckily a bigger piece of my heart, my husband (a fellow Peace Corps volunteer I met and fell in love with while I was serving) is always nearby :)

Still looking for that special someone or just want to read a Peace Corps related piece? Then check out this post "12 Reasons to Date a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer"

My husband and I often whisper sweet nothings to each other in Swahili, appreciate hot water, live low maintenance and refer to our 2nd/3rd "mama"....Need someone to demonstrate safe sex condom techniques? We can help, we even know how to carve a phallus out of sugar cane :)

Condom race to help students overcome angst

A student demonstrating condom application on the sugar cane phallus

Tuscan Vegetable Tart & Black Bean Sunburgers

Cooked up some more tasty meals from Quick Fix Vegan cookbook.
 

Tuscan Vegetable Tart

Whole wheat pie crust filled with a layer of crushed cannellini beans then sauteed cherry tomatoes, zucchini, garlic and spices. All topped off with crushed pine nuts.

Black Bean Sunburger

A vegan black bean burger that uses blended sunflowers seeds instead of eggs.

The Color Run

My friend posted a link to The Color Run and it looks like lots of fun. It reminds me of the Hindu festival, Holi. Runners wear white shirts and end the race looking like modern art. The race is 5k. At each kilometer color zone runners/walkers are blitzed by volunteers/staff with color dust. Each kilometer of the event is associated with a designated color: 1k is yellow, 2k is blue, 3k is green, 4k is pink, and the 5k finish is a “Color Extravaganza.”

It will be my first non-timed race. But I think I could use some silliness amidst my marathon training. 

The Color Run will be held in 20 locations, click here to see a list of locations/dates (NYC - August 25).