Momentum Is Better Than Perfection.

Today is Day 21 of #the100dayproject. In our weekly collective call last week, we talked about some of the things that have been coming up for us: What if you miss a day? How do you hop back in to the project without giving up altogether? How do you handle comparing your project to others that you see? How do you continue to create when you're not entirely proud of your art for that day?

There are certain days when I don't have the energy or time to produce a piece of work that I feel completely proud of. Even 21 days in, I've come face-to-face with the pressure to make a more creative and artistic piece than the previous day. After the first week it didn't feel fun anymore. So I allowed myself to iterate and shift gears, to play and include food into the illustration. This transformed my project and I began to look forward to creating again. 

Pumpkin seeds are a good source of iron, and just 1/4 cup contains 9g of protein! #100daysofthekanzakimethodfood #Day11of100

Lettuce be aware of our thoughts and environment. Are you swimming in feelings of self-doubt, anxiety or fear? Or are you swimming in acceptance, self-love, and growth? Sometimes it comes down to a simple reframe. Use your fins wisely and swim to the environment that best supports you. #100daysofthekanzakimethodfood #Day16of100

The elephant inspiration hit me as I was slicing mushrooms. This project is training my eye to recognize the magic in the ordinary- which I'm certain is a skill that can transfer to other areas of work and writing and projects.... #100daysofthekanzakimethodfood #Day15of100

One of the artists shared something that completely resonated with me. She said, "Momentum is better than perfection."

Creating something and showing up that day is more important than skipping it altogether. This concept applies with changing your habits around food and body image as well. Daily momentum, whether that's eating a balanced and healthy meal, practicing gratitude, and moving your body consistently is more important than seeing that "perfect number" on the scale. (Spoiler alert: There IS no perfect number!) It's all about gaining momentum, putting in the effort each day, and ultimately these long-term healthy habits transform our mindset, our energy levels, and our outlook on life.

Inhale deeply. Exhale deeply. Fill your lungs and heart with gratitude. Nuts like walnuts contain high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids which reduce cardiovascular heart disease and contribute to improved brain function and mood. #100daysofthekanzakimethodfood #Day14of100

And just like #the100dayproject, we all have a body of work that reflects these daily decisions. These daily actions contribute to healthy momentum.

One brush stroke. One step. One healthy meal.

And then two brush strokes. Two steps. Two healthy meals.

Momentum is better than perfection.

Happy Earth Day!

Forest bathing in The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park.

New sounds. New sights. New smells. Nature immersion and forest bathing (shinrinyoku) is a restorative and grounding practice that heals us from the inside out. Walking along the forest floor, noticing new redwood shoots sprouting from fallen trees, seeing tiny mushrooms and banana slugs hiding behind pockets of leaves, and hearing the gushing sound of waterfalls awakens the senses. Without the noise of traffic, without screens, and without phone reception in these parts of the forest allows us to reconnect to deeper parts of ourselves. There is nothing to distract us from the beauty that surrounds us. Forest bathing directs us back to the present moment- helping us to become more mindful and connected.

Maple Falls, The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park.

We only have one planet Earth. And with today being Earth Day, it's important to understand that your individual food choices largely impact our environment. By choosing to eat plant-based (even if it's just one or two meals a week to start), this helps save the environment from thousands of tons of carbon emissions and reduces water use used for animal agriculture. 

There's so 'matcha' difference that your food choices can have on planet Earth. Eat more plants, save our planet. #the100dayproject #100daysofthekanzakimethodfood #Day20of100

If everyone in the world consumed a predominantly whole food, plant-based diet, we would have the equivalent of nearly 5 billion football fields worth of arable land that could be returned to forestable land that can be used to grow food to feed more of the world's population. It starts with you and me. And it starts with food. 

Happy Earth Day!

REVITALIZE 5-course Plant-Based Gourmet Dinner Event!

Delight and surprise your taste buds at our next REVITALIZE 5-course plant-based gourmet dinner on Saturday, May 26th starting at 6:30pm. Enjoy the unique flavor and texture combinations of whole food, plant-based dishes and expand your knowledge of nutrition and health, all in one magical evening.

You'll end the night with a personalized goody bag filled with plant-based treats and recipes for you to replicate at home.

These dinners first began as a simple idea with Chef Praveena Kumar two years ago, and it's been a joy to meet and connect people together through delicious food. 

We had the pleasure of hosting a private REVITALIZE dinner for our registered dietitian friends that we've worked with over the past decade. It was a special night!  (PHOTO: Micki Keh)

We'd love to have you join us on Saturday, May 26th from 6:30-8:30pm!

PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS HERE. 

Green Smoothies!

Now with spring here, I've been craving more refreshing smoothies in the morning and for mid-day snacks. When making green smoothies, try to include higher amounts of leafy green vegetables than fruit, and be sure to include some healthy fat (nut butter, avocado, chia seeds, hemp hearts) to help with satiety and turn off the hunger hormone ghrelin. You can also freeze cauliflower and zucchini chunks and add them into your green smoothies for extra nutrition. It's a sneaky way to easily add more vegetables into your day. Here's one of my favorite green smoothie recipes...the combo of mango and lime is one of my absolute favorites.

#The100DayProject

When we begin a journey, we have in mind what we're about to experience. But oftentimes, when we complete it, it looks very different from how we imagined it to be. Very often when it involves creative work or following a dream, the pieces come together in ways that we would've never imagined.

The first time I did #the100dayproject back in 2016, it allowed me to tap into my intuition. Creating handmade cards for friends, family and strangers pushed me into a deep creative space where I was forced to sit and listen. The mere act of intentionally listening to my intuition when I asked myself, "How can I speak truth and encourage this person who I'm creating for?" was the same that I applied for following my dream and building The Kanzaki Method, one step at a time.

This year I'm participating in the project and will be doing 100 food illustrations for my upcoming projects. Today is Day 3, and it's not too late to join in! Follow me on Instagram @juliannekanzaki for each day's illustration, and let me know what project you choose to embark upon!

Courage.

(Photo: Don Reed)

“There comes a moment in our lives
when dreams and fears collide.
And most will choose to play it safe
to never risk their pride.
But if you listen to that voice
which calls from deep inside,
You’ll find that you can walk with faith
across the great divide.”
— Julianne Kanzaki, from "Courage" spoken word poetry

Matcha Tea Latte.

Enjoying some Matcha Tea Lattes in my dad's ceramic mugs... :)

To celebrate March and all things green, I thought I'd share my new favorite hot beverage- a Matcha Tea Latte! Not only does matcha tea contain high amounts of antioxidants, amino acids, and chlorophyll, but it also contains the amino acid L-theanine. L-theanine increases serotonin, dopamine, GABA and glycine levels in the brain, and also has a relaxing effect on the mind and body. Here's how you can make your own matcha latte at home!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (or any other unsweetened plant-based milk)
  • 1-2 tsp. matcha green tea powder
  • 1 Tbsp. coconut oil (optional)
  • 1 Tbsp. honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar to taste

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Heat the almond milk on the stovetop. Combine the other ingredients to the milk and continue to heat until the coconut oil is dissolved and melted.
  2. In a high-speed blender, blend to combine all ingredients for 45 seconds to 1 minute or until frothy.
  3. Enjoy!

This #KanzakiCards design is available by request or at Kaleidoscope Coffee in Point Richmond.

Macro to Micro.

The best way to spend the day- wake up early, pack a picnic lunch, and share the day with someone special in nature. Cataract Falls was the perfect place to experience the magic of the wild outdoors on a grand scale, all while noticing the tiny miracles of life hidden close to the ground.

Have you seen Ladybird? There's one line from the movie that I absolutely love:

Don't you think they are the same thing? Love and attention?

So here's to being out in nature. To paying attention to the world and everything in it. That, my friends, is love.

Cataract Falls

Lush waterfalls after the recent rain.

Life exists on the macro and micro level. 

The Art of Consistent Action.

Celebrating nine months of picking up the watercolor brush and reclaiming my love for art.

As a naturally wired Type A, goal-oriented person, I love deciding what I want to accomplish and doing whatever it takes to get there. For Ironman training, this meant waking up at 4:45am to fit in a trainer workout or swim before work. It meant saying no to social functions because I had to sleep early to prepare my body for a long bike or run the next day. It meant saying no to a lot of things that would take me away from my training. I was laser-focused. I knew my goal, and understood that these sacrifices were all a part of the journey. After nine months of solid training, I triumphantly crossed the finish line. I knew that was the destination I was seeking to reach, and I got there. 

Day 1 of #the100dayproject. April 4, 2017.

Even though now I still have my big dreams and goals in visible sight, I've learned to relax more into accepting the gifts along the journey. To live and experience different paths along the way with eyes wide open, finding the hidden treasures that each one holds.  These past nine months have been all about enjoying the process. And I've learned these lessons tangibly through the instrument of art. Watercoloring, to be exact. What began as Day 1 of #the100dayproject on April 4, 2017 started a daily ritual of painting. Painting something. Anything. It was a means of self-expression, self-discovery, and becoming childlike again. Giving myself permission to play, to not have the answers, to try new things. 

Experimenting with indigo...

We face a blank canvas everyday and it's up to us to decide what we want to create with our lives. Throughout #the100dayproject I tried a lot of things. There were days when I wasn't extremely proud of my work (hello, DAY 1!!) but promised those in my tribe that I would show up anyways. Some days I discovered new techniques, and made more of that. There were plenty of times when I felt stuck and wanted to quit. But I kept going. And now, exactly nine months later, I've found that the feelings and the art inside of me are better expressed through my watercolors. The creative gap (the space between what you want to create and what you're currently creating) is slowly shrinking. And it happened by being consistent, giving myself enough grace and space to create, and to play.

The last painting I completed on December 31, 2017. 

Why am I writing this? To share that growth and transformation happen slowly. But it does happen with consistent action. Perhaps it starts by drinking water instead of soda. It begins by meditating for 5 minutes in the morning. It begins with one brush stroke, a dab of water and paint, and childlike faith. It begins with deciding that you are an artist, and it's not too late and you're not too old to change your life.

Framed jellyfish 5 x7" original watercolor is now available for purchase in Kanzaki Shop.

I've been enjoying doing customized designs recently, so contact me if you'd like a certain design or quote painted or hand-lettered!

 

Abundance.

May your cup always runneth over. (Vernal Falls, Yosemite National Park)

Abundance. This was one of my core desired feelings for 2017. Knowing I was leaving a full-time, steady-paycheck job (aka. a financial security blanket) to build my own private practice, I knew that I would have to shift around certain material possessions in order to fund my dream. So 'abundance' landed on that list of desired feelings, mostly in a one-dimensional way of Dear God, please let me earn enough to pay my bills and eat. 

While reflecting upon this past year, I realized that I experienced abundance on a variety of levels. Thankfully, my basic needs were met and the bills got paid. But now more than ever, I understand that an abundant life is one where I can live and do what makes my heart sing, have creative freedom, healthy and positive relationships, gratitude, and good health. An abundant life is one where there is no lack of potential, no creative cap or ceiling in terms of what I can envision and make, and one where joy is sparked in nature, in laughter, and in new experiences.

I learned this lesson this year: When you adopt a mindset of abundance instead of scarcity, you move from a place of fear to a place of love. An abundant life means intentionally choosing to live with the belief that there is enough for you. Enough for me. Enough for all of us.