Lunch deluxe

1. Toss mixed green with thin slices of roast chicken plus canned chickpeas. Pack separate containers of lemon vinaigrette and whole grain croutons, then toss at lunchtime
2. Canned albacore with curry mayo and chopped grapes stuffed into a whole wheat pita. Add a pineapple, kiwi and coconut salad
3. Bacon, avocado, sprouts, hummus, and tomato in big whole wheat tortilla. Tuck in baked chips and a sports bottle with pomegranate juice.

Coffee Yum

Simmer crushed seeds from 1 cardamom pod and 3/4 cup low fat milk in a small saucepan over medium low heat for about 5 minute, stirring occasionally. Heat 2/3 cup water almost to boiling. PUt 3 tbsp. finely ground coffee in a drip cone set on a large mug. Pour water over grounds. Strain milk into coffe. Stir in sugar if you like. Serves one.

Retreat Treats

If I only had the time and/or money, I know where I'd like to go.

Shambhala (2 miles from Denver)

New Camaldoli Hermitage (Big Surrr)

Spirit Rock (Marin County)

Ranch at Live Oak Malibu

Glen Ivy Hot Springs (Riverside County)

Red Mountain (St. George, Utah)

Esalen (Big Sur)

Ten Thousand Waves (outside Santa Fe)

Rancho La Puerta (just over the border from San Diego)

Hawaii Island Retreat (northern tip of the Big Island)

Breitenbush Hot Springs (Oregon Cascades)

Easy Peasy Cheesy

Nobody does cheesy like L.A., right? Here're some places to get some quality cheese.

Campanile 624 South La Brea Classic Grilled Cheese ($16)

Wally's Cheese Box 2107 Westwood Blvd. The Classic ($7)

And don't forget to cut the cheese in S.F. American Grilled Cheese Kitchen
Mousetrap ($8.50)

DIY Data

Good places to start before tackling a homespun, homemade project.
unconsumption.tumblr.com
scrapaction.org
dollarstorecrafts.com
destinationdiy.org (Julie Sabatier)