It's Sunday so you know what that means! It's the Sunday Brunch. This is the first week of the Yule and Advent Season and We are super excited to celebrate with everyone this year. This week we have an Advent/Yule candle lighting liturgy you can do with your family and friends. We also have a five ingredient beer bread recipe that is delicious, a seasonal Sunday Setlist, a new Book Brunch, MMM That's Good Coffee (Or Tea and of course The Song of the Week.  Bon Appetite!

Here is a little Liturgy you can use as you light the First Advent Candle. Gather round the advent wreath and light the first candle. Read the liturgy and then ask everyone to share what Hope means to them. Close with everyone sharing one thing they are thankful for.

Week 1 Candle Lighting Liturgy: HOPE

I light one candle here for hope
and it is like a small lamp,
lighting a bedside table with open book,
after a long day,
the glow of heart monitor in ICU,
a headlamp for a hiker on an unfamiliar trail,
or a miner down a shaft,
a toddler’s paw-patrol nightlight,
or early-morning oven in a bakery.

We light one candle so we will remember
to notice this week’s ordinary lights of hope.

For ordinary and available to all
is the hope of Advent.

I will light Candles this Christmas,
Candles of joy despite all the sadness,
Candles of hope where despair keeps watch,
Candles of courage for fears ever present,
Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days,
Candles of grace to ease heavy burdens,
Candles of love to inspire all my living,
Candles that will burn all year long. (Howard Thurman)

Prep Time 10 MINUTES 
Cook Time 45 MINUTES
Total Time 55 MINUTES
​Servings: 1 loaf

INGREDIENTS
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
kosher salt
1 (12 ounce) beer (we've used Guinness & Sam Adams Octoberfest)
1/4 cup honey (or brown sugar, but honey is best)
6 tablespoons cold salted butter, sliced into 8 slices

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease 9x5 loaf pan with butter.
2. Add the flour, baking powder, and a pinch of salt to a mixing bowl. Pour in the beer and add the honey. Mix until just combined. Spoon the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Arrange the butter slices on top.
3. Place the loaf pan on a rimmed baking sheet. Transfer to the oven and bake for 45-55 minutes or until the top of the bread is lightly browned. Sliced and enjoy warm!

​Trung Nguyen - Premium Blend
We first tried this coffee at  a Vietnamese food truck from Huntington, WV. The owner saw Mic's Oak and Crow Coffee sweatshirt and asked if he like iced coffee. Of course he said yes and she let us try a sample. It was amazing. The owner later sent us what coffee she uses to make her iced coffee magic and this is it! You have to try it.

DEEP INTENSE FLAVOR: This Vietnamese coffee blend Robusta and Arabica coffee beans with our unique proprietary blend to bring you flavorful, intense coffee that will keep you energized and refreshed
FLAVOR PROFILE:  Grown high altitude regions to bring you an Arabica (59.9%) and Robusta (40.0%) whole bean coffee blend with hints of Chocolate (0.1%) that delight your senses with each sip

It's Sunday! You know what that means - It's the Sunday Brunch. Today Mic shares a little about feeling blue in the most wonderful time of year. This weeks delicious recipe is a Crispy Cheesy Hash Brown Egg Bake. We also have a message from Karl Forehand on Being and Becoming, as well as the weekly faves: Sunday Set List, Book Brunch, Song of the Week and The MMM That's Good Coffee (or Tea). So buckle up - it's brunch time. Bon Appetit!

It's that time of year again. It's the holiday season. Turkey, family gatherings, pumpkin pie, christmas songs, decorations, hot chocolate and so much more. For some of us it's also a season of depression. We can't quite explain it, but something begins to happen as the season changes and the night grows longer.  Some call it the blues and just struggle to put on a brave face and  just try get through it. I have been walking through this for a few years now. It's strange to have a time of year that was so dear to you when you were young become a season of just trying to put on a happy face. I feel like I can actually have a conversation about it now because I have talked to so many of you who are going through the same thing. So - Let's talk about it and share ways we are helping our mental health in this season.

What is seasonal affective disorder?
​
Many people go through short periods of time where they feel sad or not like their usual selves. Sometimes, these mood changes begin and end when the seasons change. People may start to feel “down” when the days get shorter in the fall and winter (also called “winter blues”) and begin to feel better in the spring, with longer daylight hours.

In some cases, these mood changes are more serious and can affect how a person feels, thinks, and handles daily activities. If you have noticed significant changes in your mood and behavior whenever the seasons change, you may be suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression.

In most cases, SAD symptoms start in the late fall or early winter and go away during the spring and summer; this is known as winter-pattern SAD or winter depression.

What causes SAD?

Scientists do not fully understand what causes SAD. Research indicates that people with SAD may have reduced activity of the brain chemical (neurotransmitter) serotonin, which helps regulate mood. Research also suggests that sunlight controls the levels of molecules that help maintain normal serotonin levels, but in people with SAD, this regulation does not function properly, resulting in decreased serotonin levels in the winter.

Other findings suggest that people with SAD produce too much melatonin—a hormone that is central for maintaining the normal sleep-wake cycle. Overproduction of melatonin can increase sleepiness.

Both serotonin and melatonin help maintain the body’s daily rhythm that is tied to the seasonal night-day cycle. In people with SAD, the changes in serotonin and melatonin levels disrupt the normal daily rhythms. As a result, they can no longer adjust to the seasonal changes in day length, leading to sleep, mood, and behavior changes.

Deficits in vitamin D may exacerbate these problems because vitamin D is believed to promote serotonin activity. In addition to vitamin D consumed with diet, the body produces vitamin D when exposed to sunlight on the skin. With less daylight in the winter, people with SAD may have lower vitamin D levels, which may further hinder serotonin activity.

Negative thoughts and feelings about the winter and its associated limitations and stresses are common among people with SAD (as well as others). It is unclear whether these are "causes" or "effects" of the mood disorder, but they can be a useful focus of treatment.

So - What Can We Do About It?

First off - I'm not an expert here. I'm just going to share what I have done to help with the "blues" over the holidays. I hope that my thoughts will open up conversation where we can  help each other during the holidays. This is a safe place to share with each other. Ok. Here's what I do:

Vitamin D   I actually just started taking this in the last few years. I don't remember who recommended or if it was an article I had read but I do know this -  It helps.

When It's Sunny - Go Outside   If you can't go outside, sit near a window. Open up those curtains and let the light in. Go for a drive. I know it sounds crazy - but the Sun is very therapeutic this time of year. 

.Make Time For Fun   The hustle and bustle amplifies the symptoms of SAD or it dulls them until they finally explode down the road and you are left emotionally paralyzed (I know this from experience). Make time to just have fun. Jump in that pile of leaves with your kids. Have a snowball fight. Go to a christmas concert or play. Whatever is fun for you - GO DO IT!

Read A Book     I know what you are going to say - "Mic, all you do is read books".  I get it. I'm a broken record when it comes to books. But honestly - Reading is a good escape. It activates your brain and energizes your imagination and creativity - more than watching tv. I'm not saying you have to be a bookworm like me but grab a book about something that interests you and spend a half hour with your nose in it. Watch the magic happen!

Talk To Someone    Communication is the best medicine with SAD. That can be your spouse or a good friend you trust. Maybe you need to talk to a professional therapist. You can click the FIND HELP tab on our website to connect with someone. Opening up and talking can help you see things that are helpful and hurtful while your walking through this season. Others may be able to see what triggers your depression or what helps it.

Start A ThankFul Journal   Spend a few minutes in the morning or evening jotting down a few things you are thankful for. Then in those moments where you feel overwhelmed - grab your journal and read through your notes. Sometimes you just need a perspective change. 

Know Your Limit   Sometimes you just need to be alone. Don't push it. Don't be afraid to tell friends or family that you can't make it to something because you need a moment. If they are truly family they will get it. If not - It's still ok. You need to be healthy. Self-care is not selfish - it's actually better for everyone. Think of where the world would be right now if more people would practice self-care. I think we would actually walk in more empathy, compassion and sympathy for others because we learned to have it for ourselves.

Medication    I put this one last because I want it to grab your attention. If you have been struggling with depression for a long time  - please listen to me. Call your doctor and talk to them about it. Sometimes our bodies do not produce (or under produce) certain chemicals and other things that I do not understand that help regulate things. We need help and there is no shame in asking for it or taking prescribed medication that helps. Medicine is a true miracle. Please do not be afraid or ashamed of asking for help. If you need to talk to someone about this or need some encouragement - please feel free to message us on our FACEBOOK page or contact us HERE. We are here to help.

I really hope this helped some of you today. If you struggle with SAD as well what are some of the ways you deal with it. Let's stay in touch and help each other this year.

​Mic

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease a 9x13-inch (23x33-cm) baking dish with non-stick cooking spray

2. Peel the potatoes, then shred on the large holes of a box grater. Transfer to a large bowl of water and swirl around to remove excess starch. Drain and rinse, then place the potatoes in a clean kitchen towel and squeeze until they’re completely dry.

3. Add the shredded potatoes to a clean, large bowl with the salt, pepper, garlic powder, cayenne, onion powder, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil. Toss until fully combined.

4. Transfer the potato mixture to the baking dish. Spread evenly.

5. Bake for 1½ hours, or until the potatoes are tender throughout and golden brown on the top and bottom.

6. Press the bottom of a glass into the potato mixture to create 6 evenly spaced wells.

7. Shingle slices of cheddar cheese and ham around the wells, then crack an egg into each one.

8. Bake for 15 minutes more, or until the cheese melts and the egg whites are set. The egg yolks should still be slightly soft.

9. Serve and sprinkle with chives, if desired.

10. Enjoy!

Silver Bridge Coffee has a Mothman Blend and it's the BOMB. It's ​a rich and intense combination of two African coffees that creates a bold, rich, full-bodied cup of coffee. If you love a powerful cup of coffee! Our family (the Cox's) snagged this the last time we were at the Mothman Museum and we are so glad we did. Snag a bag today.

About Silver Bridge CoffeeSilver Bridge imports the finest Fair Trade and organic coffee from all over the world. Freshness is key to optimal coffee flavor, so Silver Bridge goes from roaster to coffee cup in the shortest amount of time. Handwritten roast dates are on the back of every bag we sell at many of our stores. 

Silver Bridge is the first company in Ohio to offer 100% recyclable Single Serve Pods. We fill our own single serve pods and the proprietary cups have a seal that acts as a valve so we can fill our pods within 24 hrs after roasting. 

This is Karl Forehand speaking at the LEaning Forward Conference. It's a great talk on being and becoming. You can catch the rest of the conference HERE.

It's Sunday so you know what that means. It's the Sunday Brunch. This week we have a great blog post by Karl Forehand on the value of STILLNESS. Karl has become a voice that we have really enjoyed lately and we hope this weeks post is valuable to you as it has been for us. This week's recipe is a Delicious Molten Chocolate Crackle Pie. The song of the week is the Ted Lasso Theme - Yes its a tv show them BUT - 1. It's by Marcus Mumford (Mumford and Sons). 2. It's Ted Lasso and 3. It's a killer tune. We also have the Sunday standards: a new Book Brunch, MMM That's Good Coffee (or Tea), and the Sunday Set List. Alright, enough with the intro. Bon Appetit! 

I grew up in a tradition that didn’t value the contemplative.  It was rather stoic and rigid when it came to our practices.  We sang songs in church, had quiet times where we read the Bible, and listened to lectures in a formal setting.  This was about the extent of our experience except for study classes where very little questioning was allowed.  it was essentially another lecture where we answered guided question meant to lead us toward an objective.

When I began to deconstruct, I became more open to practices from other traditions.  I discovered that yoga and meditation helped me, even though I didn’t practice them regularly.  More than anything I was relieved to discover that they didn’t take me down a dangerous path or lead me to destruction like I was warned.  The “be careful” messaging never was that specific — mainly, because none of those people knew for sure I was doing something wrong.  They just knew it wasn’t their practice so it was scary to them.

Continue Reading

Instructions
1. Position a rack in the lower third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 375° F.
2. Fit the pie crust into a 9-inch pie plate. Brush the edge of the crust with beaten egg, then sprinkle with vanilla sugar (or coarse sugar). Lightly prick the bottom of the dough with a fork. Line the crust with parchment paper and fill with pie weights, beans, or rice. Freeze 10-15 minutes.
3. Bake until the crust is set, 20 minutes. Remove pie weights and continue baking until the crust is golden, 5 minutes. Remove from oven. Reduce the oven temp 350°.
4. Meanwhile, whisk together the eggs and sugar until well combined. Add the cocoa powder, instant coffee, and salt. Whisk in the melted butter, hazelnut liquor, and vanilla, whisk until smooth. Fold in the chocolate chips. Pour the mixture into the baked crust.
5. Bake for 45-55 minutes, until the pie is puffed on top, but still wiggly in the center. The longer you bake, the more set your pie will be. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Let cool 20-30 minutes, then serve the pie warm, dolloped with whip cream. Or chill and serve chilled with whipped cream.
6. To make the whipped cream, whip the cream using an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Add the maple syrup, hazelnut liquor (if using), and vanilla. Whip until combined and fluffy.

All Butter Pie Crust
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 sticks (1 cup) cold salted butter, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
2 tablespoons hazelnut liquor (optional)

Instructions
1. In a food processor, combine the flour, salt, and butter. Pulse until the mix clumps together to form pea-size balls. Add the hazelnut liquor (if using), then add 1/2 cup cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough comes together and forms a ball. If the dough feels dry, add 1-2 tablespoons additional water.
2. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Roll out into 2 rounds. Use as directed.

INTO THE VOID from Oak and Crow Coffee
Dark and soulful with a long smoky finish. Dark roast coffees are tricky. Care has to be taken to retain the flavor characteristics, so that they will come through smokiness of a very dark coffee. Into the Void has that balance. 

Honestly, this is the best coffee we (Lindsay & Mic) have ever had. Plus $5 of every purchase goes to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

​Grab yours HERE.

It's Sunday and you know what that means - It's time for the Sunday Brunch. This week we have a great article from Mic on setting intentions as well as a delightful Banana Bread recipe from Lindsay. As always we have a brand new SB playlist, Song Of The Week, Book Brunch and a new section: MMMM That's Good Coffee (or Tea). So here you go - The brand spanking new edition of the Sunday Brunch:

Career goals, life goals, business goals and, of course, resolutions.
There was a time, not so long ago, where I lived by goal setting — and told others it was the way to go. But I have to tell you a secret. I found something better to help achieve whatever you want to do and go wherever you want to go.

Setting intentions.
Sure, nothing beats a goal when you want to get things done. But an intention goes way deeper than that: it’s a powerful tool to boost your inner strength. And if you’re determined to grow through your actions, then an intention could be the key to unlocking a lifelong habit of excellence.

Here’s why setting intentions is the way to achieve your goals. Goals or intentions? Let’s have a look at definitions.

Goal: “An aim or desired result”.
Simply put: what you concretely achieve.

Intention: “Something that you want and plan to do”.
​
In essence: the process you go through until you get to “what you concretely achieve”.
I like to see goals as a practical, efficient way to see the future. Want to stay on track and hit a result? Then set a goal!

Setting goals work so well because it’s part of a cognitive process of planning and analysing. It gives you full control on how you’re going to move from A to B. And your brain loves that. It rewards you with feel-good hormones such as dopamine each time you engage in the process.
Sounds great? But in the meantime, life happens. You find it hard to increase willpower and self discipline and stick to the plan. When the time comes to evolve from motivation to resilience, it’s difficult to follow through.

If you’ve ever been stuck and found it difficult to embrace a positive perspective, then setting intentions could be a magic shift for you. Because your intentions support goals from the inside.
Setting intentions is the act of stating what you intend to accomplish through your actions. It’s a commitment to what you want the journey to be about as you move on or move up.

When you are intentional about something, your focus is in the moment: who you are, what you do, why you do it. And it requires presence along the way, checking inside as you work on the outside.

This is why setting intentions is the way to achieve your goals. Intentions bring a special quality of focus. They act as a powerful reminder of the bigger perspective. And they trigger introspection: result aside, what am I hoping to gain from the process?

The difference between setting intentions and defining goals

Let’s be practical. I will use this example because it was all over tik tok and social media over the summer: “I want to stand on my head”.

Let’s set a goal: achieve  headstand and balance on your head for a good 30 seconds.
With that end result in mind, you’re going to practice hard, try (and fall, many times). Experience frustration (why others and not me) or even fear: what if the upside down is full of monsters? (Not kidding. For your brain, body upside down = scary thing).

Weeks, months or years later, high fives and champagne out, you’re finally upside down, noticing that (1) there are no monsters out there and (2) you need to carefully adjust your eyesight otherwise you squint.

How many of you would say “I made it!”? And think of the next thing to run after?
How many of you rejoice and then deconstruct the process: building upper body strength, overcoming fear, or developing the grit to stick to something that matters to you?
Now, let’s see what setting an intention would look like: simply to know how it feels to balance on your head.

You’re likely to pay attention to each moment where you get one inch closer to the end result. Notice that split second where you could lift your feet off the ground? What was missing to do more than 1 wobbly second? Is it balance? Strength? Lack of focus? Fear of monsters in the upside down?

Bear with me: we haven’t achieved the full 30 secs headstand yet. But part of the result is real already. You’re in it. You have a high degree of awareness of the whole process. You integrate the benefits as you work on your target, no matter what the end result looks like, no matter when it becomes real. Your intention supports your goal 100%.

I’ll say it again, goals are great to get things done. But I know human nature well enough to tell you that they can be a trap. A trap where you focus so much on the outcome that you ignore the journey, its lessons, and the joy of going through it.

That’s why I think setting intentions is the way to achieve your goals.

How to work with intentions
Let me share with you how I do it for myself. Usually, setting intentions is for me a process that follows 4 principles:

1. Always a positive affirmation
2. Always on the back of a wider goal
3. Always at regular frequency
4. Always part of a small ritual

Each month, I have a bit of quiet time Then I have a look at my goals and I get to work with my intentions. As my holistic view of life is to align whatever I do with body, heart, mind and soul, I tend to do that with intentions, too.

Here's a few examples:

Goal: go to bed at early 4x / week.
Body intention: I am rested and energised.

Goal: Set boundaries in a  relationship with a friend who constantly crosses emotional lines. Nicely.
Heart intention: I am compassionate towards people who is not where I am at right now.

Goal: stop for 5 minutes each day and do some breath work.
Soul intention: I am in tune with my feelings.

I remind myself about my intentions every day. I review progress on my goals every week.
Setting intentions on the back of your goals can act like magic. Because you bring the wider perspective of growing through your actions. You get into a self-exploration routine. And you do so each time you analyse your results.

How? By giving your inner a leader a voice to ask ”is there another way to do this?” each time you feel stuck.

How do you go about your goals?  Post your ideas in the comments on Facebook or right here on the blog.
​

The Book Brunch

Ingredients
1 stick butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
2 eggs
1.5 cups flour 
1 tsp baking soda 
1/2 tsp salt
2 medium bananas, mashed (think baby food)
1/2 cup sour cream 
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg

Directions
Preheat oven to 350. 

Grease a 9x5 loaf pan (you can also line it with parchment paper/grease).
In a standing mixer with a large bowl and paddle attachment, beat butter and sugars together. While that’s going, mash the bananas. (I put them in a bowl and gave Rowan a potato masher. He had a great time! Lol)

Add eggs and vanilla to the butter/sugar. Mix well. Add in the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt, mixing until just combined. Fold in the sour cream and mashed bananas. 

Spread evenly in the loaf pan and bake for 45-60 minutes (ovens will vary), until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool completely.

The Sunday Brunch Set List

MMM That's Good Coffee (Or Tea)

​Description
Kichwa Tembo means “elephant head” in Swahili, and this offerings present a classic, hardworking Kenya profile with citrus fruit like grapefruit, bright and tangy acidity, balanced sweetness, and some of the complexity expected from a Kenyan.

Tasting Notes
Rich, juicy and sweet with lots of caramelized sugar and grapefruit flavors. A great option for drinkers that prefer a full, darker coffee.

Great morning coffee with a shot of cream and a little sugar.

Hey we hope you enjoyed the latest edition of the Sunday Brunch. If you would like to contribute an article, recipe, book recommendation ETC,  please message us on our Facebook page or Email us. We would love your creativity added to ours. If you would like to help support what we are doing here at Hope Community head over to our website and click the green give button. You can even set it up to do monthly donations. Thanks for hanging out and we will see you Tuesday evening!

(Lindsay said we had to include this pic of Mic with a cute cat from his mom's house - So Here you go!)