heatherlyn :: independent, singer, song~artist, poet, raconteur inspiring hope...

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy New Year from Us!! :: two thoughts...

RESOLVE + INTENTION

Bull-headed resolution has never gotten me very far. I find long term maintenance of such energy to be nearly impossible, unhelpful and ungracious. Each new moment, each new hour, each new day, I seek to live presently, mindfully, in a way that benefits rather than sabotages myself and my true desires & dreams; in a way that will benefit beyond myself too.

Rather than make resolutions, I am seek to put more thoughtful intention behind my actions and deliberate, worthwhile actions behind my intentions.

I seek to forgive myself quickly and realize that every time I feel I've failed, I've succeeded in learning something that will benefit the next leg of the journey and ultimately, I seek to never give up on who I know I can be.

TIME IS NOT OUR ENEMY

What would it mean to view each day as a gift, offered in a plain old simple box to be decorated in any way we chose? What if *we* are the gifts delivered in the package of each day - presents through our presence.

May this turn of the year remind us that every day is new. Every hour, a gift to be given. May we have the openness to receive, the imagination to co-create something wondrous and the patience to see it through... "it" being all-inclusive of endless possibility.

Happy, Abundant New Year from us!

www.heatherlynmusic.com

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

An Original Recipe from Heatherlyn :: a happy holiday gift to you!

Even though my primary art and expression is song, as an artist, sometimes I need to refuel my creative wells by engaging in a variety of non-pressured, playful expressions. Inspiration sometimes leads me to watercolor, go for a nature walk or it might lead me to create in the kitchen...

In college, a floor mate of mine introduced us ladies to her mom's pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. I've had her recipe ever since and after several years of experimentation, enjoying, sharing and adapting, I'd like to share with all of you lovely people my own Playful Pumpkin Cookie Recipe!

These delightful treats are a favorite in our our home for this time of year, beginning about whenever autumn sets in and through to Christmas. Really, they're great any time of year. They are especially enjoyed by our band when our living room turns into the rehearsal studio.

This vegan recipe is wholesome, full of whole grains, heart-healthy Omega-3s and fun spices. I also make suggestions for the fair-trade conscious baker. If you're into all those things, hope you and yours thoroughly enjoy for your holiday celebrations!

Love,

Heatherlyn

Heatherlyn's Playful Pumpkin Cookies Recipe!

Dry Mix

· 1 ½ c. whole wheat pastry flour (Such as Bob's Red Mill)

· 1 ½ c. quick-cook oats

· 1 tsp. baking soda

· ½ tsp. sea salt

· 1 tsp cinnamon (vietnamese cassia cinnamon is my favorite - not a brand, just a type)

· Up to 1/2 tsp blend of your favorite spices such as 1/8 tsp to 1/4 tsp each of ginger, cloves, nutmeg, allspice.

Wet Mix

· 1 cup (organic) brown sugar (such as Fair-Trade Wholesome Sweeteners)

· 1 cup (organic) granulated sugar

· 1 ½ c. canned/mashed pumpkin

· ½ cup 100% apple butter (no sugar added)

· 1 Tbs. ground flax seed and 3 Tbs. water (let “jell” 3 minutes before adding to wet mixture)

· 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract (such as Fair-Trade Frontier Co-op)

PLUS 1 cup semi sweet fair-trade chocolate chips (such as SunSpire)

OR 1 cup of your favorite combination of Chocolate chips, Raisins, , chopped walnuts almonds, etc...I used 3/4 cup chocolate chips and 1/4 raisins once and it rocked.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Use non-stick cookie sheet. (I spray with a Canola Oil Spray.)

Combine the ground flax seed and water and set aside to jell.

Do the Dry mix.

Do the Wet mix separately.

Combine ‘em!

Add chocolate chips. Try a little dough. YUM!

Scoop onto sheet, whatever size feels good to you and bake about 20-25 minutes.

I’d check ‘em at 20. The flax seed browns bake goods faster, and you can let ‘em “bake” on the sheet a little more after you remove them from the oven too! The apple butter will make these extra moist and cakey. The flax seed makes them chewy.

Christmas & Winter Songs from Heatherlyn

Holidays with Heatherlyn YouTube Playlist

During the month of December, we will be adding more home videos of playful winter songs and traditional Christmas carols for you and yours. Hope these songs from us fill your home with sweetness. Just click the link above!

Peace and Love,

Heatherlyn

Monday, December 5, 2011

Heatherlyn at Sample Night LIVE's Decemeber Audience Favorite Show!!

Heatherlyn is excited to participate in Sample Night Live at 7pm on 12/7/2011 at the History Theatre in downtown Saint Paul.

Sample Night Live presents a dozen short samples of quality performing arts events plus a visual arts installation on the first Wednesday of each month. Audiences use the playbill to opt in to the groups they love. It’s a great way to learn what is happening in the arts scene and discover something new!

When I performed for S.N.L. this past fall, the audience voted for me and won me the honor of "Audience Favorite of the month"! Because of their love and support, I’ve been invited to participate in the December Audience Favorite show. If you're able to come and vote for me, I could win Audience Favorite for the year! That could be fun. =)

Everyone who shows up gets the opportunity to win a pair of tickets to the Guthrie, The Ordway, CDs, and many other prizes donated by the groups performing that evening. Plus, everyone leaves with a goody bag filled with freebies and discount coupons to shows and events all over town.

Act I is Rated-G, Act II is Unrated; and kids get in FREE. Use Discount Code MEMBERS and get $5 off admission online. Buy tickets, check out the line-up and see the complete list of prizes at www.SampleNightLive.com.

You're invited to the Facebook event.

We are grateful for the staff and volunteers that make SNL happen. Heatherlyn Music has been in relationship with them for a couple of years now and they have been so good to us. Everyone involved has a great spirit abouot them which seems to stem from a genuine appreciation for artists and enthusiams to see us thrive within the greater community. Cheers!

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Kindness in a Ziplock :: music on the move

What do you do when you see someone with a cardboard sign at the street corner? What do you think as you sit at that red light? How do you feel towards the one reaching out...especially in this season when there's a lot more talk about giving and sharing and "spreading the joy of the season".

It's a good question: "What DO we do...?". What would be most beneficial and helpful? Though many questions need to be asked and addressed about larger societal and systemic circumstances that have led someone to the streets, in that moment, it seems to me that the better question is simply: "What is kind?"

Especially during the winter months, as the chill sets in, my husband and I, along with a group of friends, decide we'd like to be prepared to simply show kindness when such an unanticipated encounter at the street corner occurs. We would rather find a way to move out of a sense of shared human dignity instead of ignore, judge or make assumptions about that individual's story or motivations. So we gather together, everyone providing something different to contribute to what we call "Love in the Glovebox Bundles".

We pool together large ziplock bags, hats, socks, gloves, chewy granola bars, hand warmers and other small, useful items to assemble simple care packages. Our hope is that this small gift will be of significance to whoever receives it. Our hope is that it will at least contribute a ray of hope into their day and communicate: "You are not alone. Someone cares."

We want to do more this season than share songs about "comfort and joy". On Thursday, December 8th, Heatherlyn Music is teaming up with The Buzz Coffee Cafe, inviting all the communities we've connected to, through the music to bring collected care package items and create Love in the Glovebox bundles together.

All of us will take a couple bundles to have in our gloveboxes and we'll leave the rest at The Buzz for baristas to pass along to patrons and share the movement with the abundance of guests who come through the next day for their artisan fair!

Our time together will begin at 6:30pm with a couple songs from Heatherlyn and her brief reflection on why the heart beat of the music would naturally inspire us to lead our community in this simple movement of active compassion. Beyond being an audience and enjoying the music, we invite everyone to engage the music, engage kindness, engage humanity.

If you are not geographically near to us, but your heart is near to this conversation and you've been looking for a way to respond to that question: "What do we do...", feel free to share the idea - collect, create, and care with your group of friends and family. Share your story here.

QUICK LINKS

Facebook Event

Heatherlyn Music

Love in the gLovebox

Friday, September 16, 2011

KARE 11 Today Show with The Storydwellers

A couple of The Storydwellers, my band mates, Matt and Aaron joined me on the set of the KARE 11 Today Show to announce the release of our brand new album STORYDWELLING! We had so. much. fun. Check it out....

VIEW COMPLETE PHOTO GALLERY

LIVE TV :: BEST NOT TO TAKE OURSELVES TOO SERIOUSLY...."Laughter is the best relaxer." says my friend Lindsey Lewis. She's a smart lady.

And of this, Matt Patrick says: "That sweet old guitar of mine doesn't like to played up past the 12th fret... Kinda like an old man that refuses to drive over 40mph on the freeway. You just can't force it!"

WARMING UP AND RUNNING THROUGH OUR TEASERS BEFORE TAPING:

IT WAS A RATHER STAR STUDDED SHOW, but what the heckle does that mean? I believe that each and every one of us - we all are stars born with a light to illuminate our world. So shine on, Friends. VIEW COMPLETE PHOTO GALLERY

HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE 10/04 STORYDWELLING ALBUM RELEASE CONCERT!!

PEACE TO YOU AND YOURS!

With a Grateful Heart,

Heatherlyn

Monday, September 5, 2011

09/13 :: STORYDWELLING Album Release - Available Online + In Stores!

Heatherlyn_cd_release_poster_color_border

Tuesday, September 13th, 2011, the long awaited release of the STORYDWELLING album, produced at The Library Recording Studio and co-created by the generous contributions of our community will arrive on the scene!

STORYDWELLING will be available on www.heatherlynmusic.com, iTunes, Amazon.com, and all your favorite online music sources. Stores making STORYDWELLING available include the Minneapolis Electric Fetus Record Store and The Buzz Coffee Cafe in Burnsville, MN. Many more online & physical venues to come!

heatherlyn :: independent, singer, song~artist, poet, raconteur inspiring hope...

Pages

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy New Year from Us!! :: two thoughts...

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

An Original Recipe from Heatherlyn :: a happy holiday gift to you!

Christmas & Winter Songs from Heatherlyn

Monday, December 5, 2011

Heatherlyn at Sample Night LIVE's Decemeber Audience Favorite Show!!

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Kindness in a Ziplock :: music on the move

Friday, September 16, 2011

KARE 11 Today Show with The Storydwellers

Monday, September 5, 2011

09/13 :: STORYDWELLING Album Release - Available Online + In Stores!

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