© 2024 Paige C. Clark | Seasonally Present | 9 to 5 Faith Podcast
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Paige C. Clark

  • Birthday cake and tea and celebration and music, what more can you want?

    “Happy birthday to ME! Happy Birthday to ME!”

    As my own personal birthday gift to myself, I am making one of my favorite cake recipes. Before you read the recipe, trust me. Can you do that? It is a deliciously moist and perfectly crumbly cake that satisfies the various elements of your palate finished off with a tinge of honey and butter that will make you salivate by just smelling it.

    This is my earl grey tea cake with a honey butter cream frosting served with a candle and a dancing flame. This recipe is adapted from A Pastry Affair.

    Now crank up the tunes and get ready to enter into culinary nirvana. 

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  • Shaking off the frost and welcoming the new season

    Gross out factor in 3…2…1…

    We shed 9 pounds of dead skin every year—

    Now take a brief moment to compose yourself from that unnecessary fact that you did not want to know. Do I have your attention now? The gross out factor was merely to emphasize the point that as humans, experiencing life, we are always transitioning from one phase to the next. Our bodies are constantly shedding anew. Bringing out a brighter life that lies underneath. As unfortunate and difficult that transitions might be, from one season to the next. They are inevitable.

    We are now in a transition period friends. From the change of one season to the other, the weather shifts, our diets change, our activities change and a new sport comes into season. The leaves change from green to yellow to brown and back to green again as new life sprouts from their roots.

    Whether simple or difficult transitions are inevitable. There’s no way to prevent these season changes from happening. But we can see them coming, and we can accept them with open arms— ready to deal with whatever comes in their wake.

    Shake off the frost

    If you live in a climate that experiences frost or snow, you might be able to relate to this a little bit more than this desert soul. But I’ve always loved the image of flowers springing up from the cold frozen ground, breaking way for spring time to come. The new blooms know that despite the cold conditions, that their time is here, to sprout and flower to be enjoyed by us or by the insects on the ground passing by. The flowers know that the time will come to to wilt away, but for the time being, this is their time to sprout and bloom. The frost experiences a transition to. Used to being snuggled up to their fellow icicle buddies, the geometric artwork will eventually melt into nourishing sustenance for the ground and for the very flowers that are parting them from their companions.

    When we look all around us we see the demonstration of transition. If this next season is presenting a hesitant transition for you, I encourage you to go in with open eyes and an accepting heart. It’s going to happen whether or not we are ready or willing. When we allow our bodies and souls to flow more willingly they can better bend with the switchbacks and climbs that await us around the corner.

    As we transition to the next season, shake off the frost and warm up what is coming your way.

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  • What’s for breakfast: week 2.6.22

    WHAT have you been loving for breakfast?

    Me? I’ve been on a real granola kick.

    It is the most important meal of the day, but intermittent fasting and diet culture has put the biggest drag on that first meal of the day. 

    Here’s an adapted granola recipe that I’ve been serving on top of full fat greek yogurt and berries! 

    1/2 cup of sliced almonds

    1/2 cup of chopped walnuts

    1/4 cup of sesame seeds

    1/4 cup of chia seeds

    1 cup of flaked coconut (unsweetened)

    1/4 cup of golden monk fruit sweetener

    1 tsp ground cinnamon

    heaping pinch fine sea salt

    3 tbsp of coconut oil, melted

    2 egg whites

    1 tbsp vanilla extract

    Mix together wet and dry ingredients separately and then together. Spread into a thin layer on a baking sheet then bake for 30 minutes at 325* until golden brown. 

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  • Valentine’s Day Dates for the 5 Love Languages

    While moseying through the Charleston airport in South Carolina, I spot a stunning red dress in the windows of a store that I can’t even recall. This red sheath dress had an overlay of a large weave lace and was the striking color of candy apple red. I can’t even remember what I said, but it was probably something simple like, “oh, that’s really pretty.”

    Fast forward two months to my birthday and I unwrap that beautiful dress as a birthday gift from my husband. I learn that it was from Brooks Brothers and that he payed attention to my compliments that one morning while we were on our way to the terminal. More than the dress itself, it was the thought and intention he put in. He was paying attention when I least expected it. He bought the perfect size that fit me like a glove, and that brief passing comment was one of the sweetest birthday gifts I had ever received.

    Dreamy dates are not just for hallmark movies. And you don’t need Hollywood budget in order to make them happy. In light of the season of love, here are 5 ways to make grand romantic gestures that are built just for the love languages of your significant other.

    Acts of Service

    Is there a date that he or she has been wanting to do that you’re just not that interested in? Well, here’s your chance to shine. By “sacrificing” your preference of dates, for theirs, you will be serving them up with their preferred date and showing that you’re willing to meet them where they are at. Does she want to go to that ballet? Or does he want to go off-roading? Take that step out of you comfort zone to serve your spouse.

    Physical Touch

    Take a couple’s yoga class together. Physical touch doesn’t have to be sexual, intimate or exclusively for the bedroom. Physical touch is a way that in any present moment, that you are thinking of your significant other and that you are wanting to be near or close to them. It’s the connection that they desire. A yoga class might seem silly or clumsy, but it can offer up an out of the idea box, to build love through touch in a nonsexual way.

    Quality Time

    Take quality time up a notch. Eliminate all distractions. If your significant other’s love language is quality time this means that their connection with you comes through undivided attention. Do a tech-less date/day. Put away the phones. Turn them off, not even on silent. Put them in a lock box if you have to. Undivided attention is a rare commodity these days. Give something more rare than a diamond in undivided attention to your significant other and enjoy the time without the background noise.

    Gifts

    This is where the stereotypes begin to excel. Think jewelry, flowers, or that new dress she has been eyeing. Pay attention to what she says she likes, scour her Pinterest board, see who she follows on Instagram. Those little moments that you pay attention to her words of wishes, when you deliver, it will be much appreciated and she will feel honored that you were listening.

    Words of Affirmation

    It might feel weird or awkward to write a story or to put your feelings down on paper, but for your spouse— it should be worth it. A great way to get started is to just write down what you would tell him/her. Write a song or poem. Deliver those written words in a romantic setting such as a candle lit dinner or in a secluded location during a hike. The intentional gesture shows forethought, preparation, and communicates your love for the other person.

    Remember that love is two ways. It it a constant dance of give, take and sacrifice. If any of these ideas made you feel a little squirmy, remember that a small sacrifice for your significant other whether in the form of attention, investment or intimacy, will be a huge impact for making this valentine’s day one to remember.

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  • How to move and settle without going absolutely mad

    I packed and moved my life 10 minutes east over the course of 12 months. Yes, it took me 12 months to move. But it wasn’t by accident. It was by very intentional design. Moving is said to be one of the most stressful activities that someone will encounter in their lifetime. And with that in mind, I decided to own the chaos, plan ahead and push through a season of extreme stress with, dare I say it?, ease.

    When you move, your entire life feels like it has been turned upside down and you’re living in an alternative universe until you can get back to a state of normalcy. It’s okay to feel a little bit cucko-for-cocoa puffs during this time, but I promise, it won’t last forever. There are a few things that I’ve done during my recent move that helps ease this transition and make me feel a little bit normal. 

    Keep a routine

    Not only is keeping a routine good if you have any furry friends in your house, but it can also provide you with some much needed grounding in a time where everything feels a little bit insane. Try to wake and sleep at the same time. Eat meals as consistently as you can and keep the same boundaries that you kept at your previous home. If you didn’t bring your phone to bed, keep it that way. If you watched a movie before you went to sleep, keep that routine. It will help your body adjust more quickly to a changing environment.

    Unpack when you can

    I might be a little bit crazy about this one, but unpack as quickly as you can. Know it is not a race, but unpacking and getting back to a state of homeostasis as quickly as you can does wonders for your body’s regulatory system. When you get rid of the clutter, trash, boxes, and chaos, it can help you feel settled and rooted in your new home.

    If you can’t unpack, add in your own grounding items.

    If unpacking at an expedited rate feels impossible or infeasible for you, try to unpack a few items that will keep you grounded. It might be a family photo, a beloved blanket, or having your technology in place. These items can help return yourself to a state of normalcy and can help you nest a little bit quicker even though there are boxes scattered about.

    Make your meals at home

    I don’t know how everyone else does it, but when we moved, we ate out the entire week. We had snacks for breakfast, leftovers for lunch and then did takeout in the evening. As unsustainable as it is, it worked for the time being. But as quickly as it started, we finished the takeout orders. First and foremost, we don’t typically eat out frequently. Doing so was outside of our routine (see tip #1) and we wanted to return to our normal habits as quickly as possible. Also, there is something strangely grounding and nesting about breaking in a new kitchen. It’s where the hearth of your home is and breaking bread together is a great way to break in the new home.

    Pace yourselves

    Lastly, practicing grace with yourself is paramount to making a move filled with chaos and crazy. Everything is not going to happen at once, and that is okay. A good thing I like to do to make sure that I keep up a good pace is that I scheduled a house warming party 1-2 months out of the move. Send out invites, make it permanent. That way, you have a goal, an end date and then you can pace yourself leading up to that date.

    BONUS Tip

    Unpack the necessities, hide the rest. Closets and cabinets will be your new best friend as you slowly purge and organize your life. But by unpacking the needed and necessary, you’ll be able to feel a bit like home from day 1. 

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  • Family retreat gives space to set your 2022 goals

    Retreats are not just for work conferences or small groups. A family retreat can provide a moment of pause and reset for the upcoming year and give a great glimpse into priorities and goals for the year.

    Retreats are usually shorter than vacations. A 2-3 day get away can provide the distance and disconnect to make these times truly valuable. Retreats are done very intentionally and have a set goal or outcome from them. Vacations might be filled with adventure and indulgence, but retreats provide a great time to reflect and face with great honesty the triumphs and failures of the previous year.

    Depending on the year, for our family, the retreat might be in the backyard or in an airbnb up in the mountains. The location doesn’t matter near as much as the heart posture you approach it with.

    This year Justin and I are going up to a cabin in the woods for a long weekend. We work through what we want our goals to look like for the next year, do a start/stop/continue exercise, and intentionally reflect on the previous year. It is truly a beautiful time that we get to spend together. We take the days to write down our intentions, goals, resolutions, and how we are going to accomplish them all.

    I encourage you to do the same with your family. It doesn’t have to be extravagant or anything fancy, it just has to be. Just take that time with your family. This season of new refresh and starting over can be your restart button. The new year is a great opportunity to do just that.

    If you are unmarried, a personal retreat isn’t out of the question as well. It can be a really life giving time to turn off your phone, escape into the silence of nature and really give yourself time to connect with God and yourself. Setting up intentions for the next year whether alone or with a partner can help with intentionality, a present heart posture, and a beautiful space to dream.

    Planners are a great way to write out your dream and get really specific with it. I am absolutely addicted to paper planners and I have to convince myself that one per year is enough. I’ve put together my top line up of my favorites so you have a choice to pick from. 

    Top 5 Planners
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  • The perfect way to start a resolution

    I am someone who absolutely loves new years. I am unashamed of it! In recent years there has been a lot of kickback and resistance to over-glorifying new years resolutions. Some of the chief complaints being: 1) you can restart any time any day of the year. 2) Most of them don’t last. 3) They’re always too big and too lofty. Keep reading for the perfect way to start a resolution in your life.

    In the era of “manifesting” your future, I find it a little odd that the former complaints would fall on the lap of the new year. Resolutions set the stage. It is the introduction to the main show. Not only does it provide a really amazing time structure for setting and accomplishing goals, but it is also giving everyone a designated season for goal setting. It is for people both within and outside your circles.

    Goal setting and resolutions are so critically important for your family and relationships. Every year, Justin and I sit down with a big sheet of paper and talk through what was good about the previous year, what was not-so-good, what we want to do, what we want to experience, and what we want to change. Now imagine if the two of us weren’t on the same page about setting goals at the same time. Our measurements for success would be completely off kilter and the synchronicity between him and myself would lapse.

     

    Don’t be shy or let anyone rain on your parade about setting a new year’s goal. Chase after that dream. Set those mile markers. Accomplish that goal that you haven’t been able to shake out of your head.

    Get really clear on what your goals are. Whatever you call them, however you define them, get crystal clear on what target you are aiming for. My top piece of advice for people who are wanting to set goals is to go by the SMART method.

    S (specific) M (measurable) A (attainable) R (reasonable) and T (timely)

    Specific — make sure your goals are very specific. Whether it is one big goal or a bunch of small goals that line up to one big one, make sure it is specific and defined.

    Measurable— This one is a bit weird, but I implore you to push bit harder to get a measurable outcome. And make it specific. “I want to spend more time reading.” “I want to read 20 books next year.”

    I would even define books here. Do ebooks count? What about audio books? Books for school? Children’s bedtime books? Get ultra specific.

    Attainable— Going with the example from above, reading 365 books in a year for the average person is probably not attainable. The reason it is important to set attainable goals is because if the goal is too big or too crazy, it can be deterring and defeating when inevitably you don’t meet it. Set a goal that you can attain.

    Reasonable— This goes hand in hand with the attainable piece, but reasonable is trying to bring you back to earth with your goals. Am I going to be a multimillionaire by the end of 2022? No. Could I attain money? Yes. But is a multimillionaire a reasonable goal for 12 months. No.

    Timely— This means that your goals must be bound by some type of time frame. If you don’t set a time frame, you will never know when/if your goal is accomplished because you’re not watching the clock. Whether it be days, weeks, months or even years, set a time limit. You can always hit the repeat button.

    Goals can be a tricky field to navigate, but by using the SMART method, you can get your new year off to the right start.

    I’ve put together a FREE downloadable that is the perfect jumping off point for you to start off the new year on the right foot. Click the link below to get it straight into your inbox.

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  • Paige’s Top 5 Daily Planners for an Easy 2022

    A table with an open laptop and note pad and a calendar

    My daily planner saves my life. A few years ago, I went on the hunt for the perfect (for me) daily planner. I love to have a physical one to carry with me, especially to mark down dates in the future. I like having lots of room to write, keep notes, add appointments for the day.

    Just for you, I have curated my tried and true planners that I recommend not just for next year, but the years to follow! My favorite and #1 choice is the Simplified planner by Emily Ley. This planner has full page spreads for your day to day, and half pages for your weekends. It also has tabs for easy month identification. At the beginning of each month there is also a calendar view so you can see what is ahead. Every year I transfer over my birthdays, holidays, vacations, and important celebrations. Then at the beginning of every month, I fill it all in. Then on a daily basis I use my Simplified planner to fill in my meetings and to-dos.

    1. Simplified

    Cost: $60

    Pros: hardcover, designed well, extra pages, full month view and daily full pages

    Cons: Limited designs

     

    2. Golden Coil

    Cost: Starting at $68

    Pros: Nice design, customizable, more design options, spiral ring, build your own

    Cons: Page count is limited, most expensive

    3. Day Designer

    Cost: Start at $60

    Pros: Can choose format, nice covers, hard covers, spiral bound

    Cons: internal layout is a bit cluttered

    4. Erin Condren

    Cost: Starting at $59

    Pros: customizable cover,

    Cons: difficult binding, soft cover, limited internal designs

    5. Passion Planner

    Cost: $40

    Pros: cheaper than other options

    Cons: Soft back, limited options, no customizability, limited designs

    Whether you pick one from above, or you revert back to your iCal, make sure you note to make some extra time and wiggle room for your self care. And check out my new years goal setter below.

    Download

    Happy planning!

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© 2024 Paige C. Clark | Seasonally Present | 9 to 5 Faith Podcast