I guess this year it's a Lion

With a birthday at the beginning of March (Thursday, in case you're wondering. There are two shopping days left!), I know first hand of the "in like a lion, out like a lamb". Some years it was full on spring for my birthday, other years, like this one, freezing my bits off in the deep freeze of winter.

I don't care, I'm going skiing tomorrow. And Wednesday! It's snowing out there and I'm fast running out of ski days, since the entire month is all about me! For example:

- March 11-13: trip to Fun-couver with my mom to see the amazing Dr. Wayne Dyer and Marianne Williamson at the "I Can Do It" conference. There will be other fun things too, because, well, Fun-couver is FUN!

- March 18-20: yoga retreat in Golden, BC with my yoga teachers, Nora and Judy

- March 25-28: trip to Hamilton to visit friends and run Around the Bay (30K)

Not much time to hit the slopes, so I must take advantage while I can!

In preparation, I thought I'd make up a schwack of chili for lunch at the hill. I pulled out a few cookbooks and settled on Vive le Vegan's Cocoa-Coconut Chili. I was intrigued by the addition of cocoa, coconut milk, allspice and cinnamon to the traditional chili ingredients. The result: it's ok. It's not bad, but it's not the best chili ever, either. I thought there could have been more heat (I had to add quite a bit of hot sauce) and a squeeze of lime and cilantro helped bring out the flavours. Maybe when it's reheated...would I make it again? I doubt it. I can do better on my own.

Alas, I need to clean up the kitchen, pack the lunch (there may also be some *cough cough* Amarula and hot chocolate going in the lunch bag) and gather up my gear. I bought a pair of super warm long johns at Patagonia this afternoon to keep me warm on the chair lift!

Happy Monday!