Another snow day.

I don't really feel productive on snow days. 

My day started with coffee, PB&J oats, and Veronica Mars.  I finished season two.  Chrissy and I have been working on our Logan Echolls face.  He has the same "I'm about to drool on you" expression for every emotion.  I'm about to cry.  I'm about to kiss you.  I just realized I'm in love with you.  My dad SUCKS.  Your step mom bangs me.  I'm going to jail.  I'm out of jail.  I love you again.  I hate you again.  I'm having a party.  In my pants.  Hopefully by the end of the post I'll have a picture for you.

The rest of my day included this:

Yes that is my lunch on my yoga mat.  Had a little Dave action on the mat.  That sounds real bad.  My love, if you are reading this, it was only a podcast yoga workout.  Anyway, I did a different podcast than the other day and I still got tripped up on his half pigeon flow.  I'm going to have to you tube it or something to attempt to figure out what the hell he is telling me to do. 

I was hungry.  As always.  So I made up some onions and made the sandwich!  Chrissy loves me today.  I made her one too.  I had some green tea with it and my book.  Goal is to finish that book today! 

Lets have a closer look at deliciousness...

It was great.  The apples look like pickles but I swear it wasn't an onion and pickle sandwich.  Gross.

What is that hiding behind my sandwich?

Oh.  That.

Just some of the best vegan chocolate chip cookies evah!  Chrissy made them this time.  She's good at that. 

What are you doing to not lose your mind during the snow day?


I almost forgot about Logan's drool!

Source

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Source

Do you see what I mean?!?!  Any other actors/actresses you notice that seem to be making the same face for every emotion?  I'm totally team Logan over team Duncan, but seriously, don't drool on me.

Onion breath.

Before we get into my oral hygiene, Beth put together a special post for all you Cedar Falls V*s! 

I always think of Cedar Falls and the secrets of the town when I hear this song...



Back to morning breath, have I brushed my teeth yet? onion breath.  Ever since I had the sandwich I think I've made caramelized brown sugar onions every day.  How?

An unyun, olive oil, brown sugar, salt, and a cast iron skillet.

Whisk together:
1 T of olive oil
1 T of brown sugar
A pinch of kosher salt

Pour the above concoction on your skillet and let it heat up on a low to medium heat.

Chop as much onion as you'd like while everything gets warm and ready. Mince, slice, whateves.

Combine all on the skillet and make magic!

The steam is getting in the way of a glorious picture, hence why I don't have a completely browned up onion shot. 

I've used the onions in sauce, zucchini cakes, and recreations of the sandwich.  Beth made her own sandwich too!

Book Report Wednesday!

Sooooo.  I'm reading for school.  Sigh.  But it is an interesting book.  Very quick read and I may be done with it after today.

Amazon  It is by May Sarton.  I don't know why the A doesn't show up. 

The narrator, Caro, has been placed in a "home" due to her old age, health, and recent forgetfulness.  Her brother and his much younger wife have "dumped" Caro off at the home.  At least that is how Caro feels.  Caro spends her days floating through old memories and trying to sort out how her life became what it is now, here at the home.  Her caretakers do not seem to really care.  Helpless and hopeless.  It feels like existential angst as I read it.  But I do love getting swept away in Caro's memories and the little things where she finds joy.  Such as just being outside and just being.  She gets so caught up in existing with the sunlight, she forgets to read her paper.  I don't know if the purpose of the book is to demonstrate the singularity of death (at least death's personal process), how elderly are not valued in America, or as a caretaker, how we should not judge and must always treat people as a real and deserving human beings.  Maybe it is all of the above.  I'll report more when I finish.  I have to write a huge paper on one of these books I read.  Maybe I'll post the paper or an abridged version.  One thing I know about the book already is I love the narrator.  I love that she has lived more than many of us ever will, and I hate that she is treated as if none of that matters.  Because she did not get married or have kids of her own - society says she has no one to care for her - she is left in this home essentially to die, as if her life never even mattered. 

 

When I was reading one section about Caro and her European love affair, I quickly thought of Beth.  Even though Caro has not, or has yet, to get into extreme detail about her one love, I know the possibilities would excite you, Beth!  Other readers out there, if the possibilities excite you also, you should check out some Cedar Falls vignettes on Beth's page.  Maybe Beth can post us a link to one to start the Cedar Falls virgins off right...

 

What are you reading now?

Don't wanna!

School starts back up tomorrow.  But it will be, God willing, my last January as a grad posing as an undergrad.  I hope there aren't any meetings today.  I'm never quite sure what the schedule is supposed to be the first couple of weeks... I'm not going.

I wanted to put together some recipe posts today for the week, but if I don't have to leave the house during this negative degree weather, I may not.  Food shopping is needed.  Oh crap, just remembered I promised myself and my sister I'd go to the gym.  I have to start on my 500 mile goal!  I wish I could count stairs.  I try to take the stairs frequently at work.  Unless I'm on like the 20th floor or something.  Elevator please!  I did however practice yoga yesterday in my bedroom.  I found a podcast, Dave Farmar,  that other bloggers have been raving about.  It is completely audio which was beneficial in the sense I just used my drishti to focus on my unorganized closet rather than looking around the room to make sure I was doing the pose right.  I wouldn't recommend it if you are just starting yoga.  But in all seriousness, it was relaxing to just focus on a voice rather than visuals.  I am feeling it today!  I'm going to update my yoga hours and bike/jog miles on the side of the blog to help me keep track.  Root me on!

I hope to continue posting through the coming semester.  I've had fun this past month doing so!  If my posting gets limited, let me know what you'd like to hear/see/read more about.  I think I might have some readers besides my in real life friends, so if you are listening, say hi!  And if you have a blog I'd love to read it too. 

RE-vamping

Can you re- something if it never was? 

My sisters will tell you.  I make questionable wardrobe choices.  Shopping is often painful for me.  I am attempting to enjoy it and find things I truly love and will wear and be able to remix in other outfits so it doesn't seem as though I'm wearing the same tired old shirt.  I will tire out an outfit like you wouldn't believe.  I will love it so much til I hate it and create some vision in my head how the outfit now all the sudden negatively shows parts of my body it initially complimented.  The outfit will make me stick out like a sore thumb and people will no longer want to be my friend.  That may have to do with the fact they've seen me wear the same outfit most days for a month and are wondering if I washed that peanut butter stain off and if that is a new one...

Here are some of my gripes about shopping...

Trying on dresses without the right footwear.  Or any outfit for that matter.  I try to make my dressing room trips conclusive and swift.  That typically means leaving on socks.  Plus that is a dirty floor.  Wow that number looks great with my mid-calf striped winter socks.  I love going to a store that has helpful sales people offering to find a pair of heels in your size so you can better picture yourself in the dress.  This typically happens only in this store.  I love Jennifer Reale Design and wish I could purchase all my dresses from her.  Alas, my pocketbook will not always allow such spending.  Trying to find a cheap-o dress in Charlotte or Forever 21?  Forget about it.  You and your calves are on your own.

Sales.  You get wicked excited by the plethora of well organized goodies on the 75% off rack, then you look and it is only size 0, 2, some 4's, and 16.  If I keep eating BBQ utz chips for breakfast I'll be able to soak up the benefits from this rack but there is no way in hell I'll ever be a 0 or a 2. 

Bargain shopping.  Some people love the discount stores like TJmaxx, Marshalls etc.  I can't spend much time in there.  The lighting and disorganization in it all sends my calm mood into pure chaos, much like the store.  I really have to be in the right mind set.  I have found some great workout gear in said stores.  And I typically do shop only the organized racks they have on the outskirts of the department, hiding those massive long unorganized racks.

Questionable quality.  I sound like an old lady.  They just don't make things to last like they used to.  Some stores I enjoy the styles that they offer but then I think about items I've purchased before.  Hems have fallen out, shape has been lost, even small holes arise.  Not worth it. 

Sizes, schmizes.  I really don't think these numbers mean ANYTHING.  Especially when you try on one size, it is too big and accentuates your thunder thighs with its baggy-ness, then you try on the next size down and hello muffin top and flat mom butt.  I don't get it.  The larger size, I need a belt, but this smaller size, one fricken size down, I need to wear spanks or some sort of girdle to make them fit appropriately?  And now my ass is smooshed down into my mid thigh.  Thanks.

Wide feet.  It is hard to find comfortable shoes that look great.  I abhor shoe shopping more than any other shopping.

This year I have purchased two tops and a pair of jeans.  Flares are being sold again!!  I haven't bought jeans in three plus years because I can't really do the skinny jean thang.  Not flattering to saddle bags.  This is probably another reason why my sisters question my fashion sense.  My resistance to current styles. 

SOOOOOOOOO
I will work on being more open.
Having patience with the shopping process.
Leave expectations behind.
Be less critical of myself.
Find a mantra to repeat over and over and over and over to mentally prepare myself.
ENJOY SHOPPING!

Talk amongst yourselves...

Do you like shopping?  What helps you get in the mood?  Do you have any words of wisdom for me??

Veggie Restaurants!!!

In the past week I went to two vegetarian restaurants!!  I wish I brought my camera and took pictures. 


The "BIL" is away on military duty so he treated his lovely wife and I to dinner.  My "SIL," Liz, is such a beautiful person and we always have a blasty together.  The two of them just found out the little peanut-fetus inside is a female peanut-fetus.  I put quotes around the in-law label because don't you have to be married to officially have in laws?  It is so much easier to say in laws rather than, my boyfriends brothers wife sista motha fatha.  PLUS I'm crazy in love with my love and getting married is way too in style for us right now. 


Liz and I went to the Garden Grille and I got my stand by Eggplant Rollatini that is stuffed with herbed tofu-nut cheese.  Delish.  I also had a glass of vino.  Liz got the lasagna special with multiple side salads.  I ran late so she got a salad to appetize herself, then decided to order the lasagna that came with a salad.  Then the server mistakenly thought she ordered another salad.  I ended up eating one of them.  Between the two of us we probably cleared out a garden.  This restaurant has fantastic lunches as well as dinners.  All their desserts are vegan too.  I typically get a juice while I am here but the server inside me felt bad.  Making juice is a pain in the you know what and it was busy.  So I stuck with the lemon water and vino.  The atmosphere is just amazing in this place! 


My sister Katie and I were going to go to the Garden Grille, but plans changed a bit and we decided to meet up in Boston after I got out of work.  The restaurant didn't open until 5, so we got coffee at Mr. Crepe in Davis Square.  This cute place does not have a website.  I loved the high ceilings and the color scheme of the place.  It made me really want to move into a loft with exposed pipes and a ceiling that's half tiled and half industrial.  Really unique.  Katie got a double americano sweetened with vanilla and I got a soy latte.  She is so city.  I love her.


Starving, we wandered down the road hopping puddles of melted snow, wicked gross btw.  We reached our destination of The Pulse Cafe.  This restaurant is completely vegan!  I've been here once before they changed their menu.  Now their menu is more diner style and the food snob in me was initially skeptical until I fell in love with the description of one sandwich.  Apple Melt: Grilled Cheese with Twist: Sliced Granny Smith Apples, Brown Sugar Caramelized Onions, Cheddar Mozzarella Blend and Dijon on choice of White, or Whole Wheat.  I decided to nix the dijon just cause I'm not a huge mustard fan and had the sandy on wheat with a side of fries.  SO GOOD.  Diner style typically means to me greasy and unhealthy but this sandwich was anything but.  The only oil seemed to be from the Daiya Cheese, which is my fave vegan cheese, and it was just amazing.  I almost went back there yesterday after my doctors appt in the city, but I was just so wiped from my day I couldn't dodge snow banks and walk around in the freezing cold.  I need to go back and try their butternut squash mac and cheese.  They use a cashew cheese sauce, I wonder if it is similar to mine.

I'm so hungry right now after writing this post.  I promise next time I'll bring my camera and take pictures so you can see the deliciousness!

Talk amongst yourselves...

What restaurants are you totally digging right now?  Or are you  more craving a type of cuisine?

Ohm? An update?

Although I haven't been keeping a log, which maybe I should for the next 30 day challenge, I'm about half way through my meditation a day thinga-ma-whootsy.  It has been a challenge.  I have yet to make time in the AM for myself or a mid day re-charge, the schedule doesn't quite allow.  I wonder if I could find somewhere to hide during my lunch on those 12 hour days...

Anywho I thought I'd share with you some challenges I've run into as well as so benefits...

Challenge numero uno:  Anxiety.  Sometimes, if I'm not able to initially focus on my goal of meditation or truly exhale it all away and just listen, I get worked up.  This could be a number of factors including MYSELF and my ENVIRONMENT.  Lesson to  be learned, don't force it if your heart isn't into it or if you are not physically in the right place.  It has proven to be more harmful than good.  I'm sure we all could apply this lesson in more situations than meditating.

Benefit numero uno: Rest.  Since I typically do this before bed, I fall asleep easily and even though I still whimper when I hear the alarm in the morning, as soon as I am up I do feel more together.  I've been abstaining from my afternoon coffee on most days also. 

Challenge numero dos:  Voices. I mentioned I prefer guided imagery meditations, and I guess even just tranquil musical journeys, rather than pure silence.  With that said, if the voice guiding you is Sylvia Browne, how relaxing can that truly be?  I once did a "Find your Spirit Guide" meditation from her archives and in her rough and husky, even hasty, voice she said, "Now ask the person in the gazebo what their name is."  You know what I saw and heard?  A blonde lady who told me her name was Bob.  Maybe my subconcious thinks "Sylvia" should really be a "Bob."  For Christmas, my love gave me a CD/DVD/book reiki kit that included reiki music and a guided imagery CD from William Lee Rand.  I've been mostly practicing my meditation this time around with his guided CD.  His voice is adorable.  He just seems like such a gentle and loving man.  I also love, love, love Richard Lanza's hypnotherapy CD. He is an amazing person.  I've had the pleasure of being his student in both classes he offers through his yoga studios and his learning center.

Benefit numero dos:  Excitement.  I look forward to meditating.  I never know where I'm going to go, what I may encounter within myself, but I almost always truly enjoy the journey.  Especially after a yoga class.

I'm sure there are more, but I'll leave it at that.

Last night, my love and I decided to watch Eat, Pray, Love on demand over the well produced Lifetime movie The Craigslist Killer.  Maybe we made the wrong choice.  I read the book many many  moons ago and I was swept away in Elizabeth Gilbert's journey.  Maybe because I myself was on the road of "Who the f- am I? And what am I f-ing doing here?"  The movie cannot convey the journey as well as the book.  Maybe because the book is Liz's internal process and a movie would be visually boring if it was just her thoughts.  I think Julia did get some of Liz's struggles across, but not quite her growth and acceptance.  It was a hard role I'm sure.  Why do we always love the books more?  Is it because we invest more time in them?  We spend days with them rather than 2 hours?  One thing I can't complain about in the movie is the scenery.  I just want my own meditation hut in Bali.  And I want to smile with my liver.  Maybe that is my next meditation move... the smiling meditation... smiling from my liver.  My gallbladder might get jealous. 

CREAMY!



What a wonderful day of binge eating. Since I am sick of cafeteria food, a snow day at home meant cooking. Well, I only made one meal but it should carry me through the rest of the work week.

As I mentioned, cheese and I broke up a year ago. There are plenty of replacements but not always the most convenient. Some items aren't easy to find either, as there is not a nearby Whole Foods or TJ's. I loved pasta dishes in creamy white sauces with, you probably guessed it, cheese.

MAC & CASHEW CHEESE
 Adapted from Color Me Vegan by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau

INGREDIENTS

• 1 ¼ cup of raw cashews
  
• ½ cup of nutritional yeast
  
• 2 t of onion powder
  
• 2 t of kosher salt
  
• A few grinds of fresh pepper (use with your own taste buds in mind)
  
• 2 cloves of garlic
  
• 1 t of garlic powder
  
• 3 ½ cups of almond milk
  
• 3 T of cornstarch
  
• ½ cup of Earth Balance
  
• Juice from 1 lemon
  
• ¼ cup of Daiya cheddar shreds
  
• Panko or other bread crumbs
  
• 1 lb of whole wheat pasta
  

DIRECTIONS
While your pasta cooks according to its directions, finely process the cashews in a food processor. Don't let it become cashew "butter." Add in nutritional yeast, onion powder, garlic (cloves and powder), salt, and pepper. Process a bit more. Again, you want it processed fine. Kinda like a flour.

In a saucepan, simmer the almond milk, cornstarch, and earth balance. Reduce to a low-medium heat and cover for 10 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Combine the liquid and the dry ingredients in the food processor by slowly adding the liquid. Then add your lemon juice. The result will be creamy goodness.

If you are attempting to make this dish slightly more nutritious…

Add some veggies! Broccoli and cauliflower are always delicious au gratin.

Combine everything in your baking pan. I recommend a big baking pan as I initially spilled some of this creamy goodness while trying to stir everything around. By everything I mean cooked pasta, the completed sauce, and veggies. Then sprinkle and stir in the daiya cheese. It is warm enough to melt the cheese. You can eat now, but I love crispy bread crumbs. Plus I didn't cook my veggies yet. I topped with panko and cooked it in a 400 degree oven (don't forget to preheat!) for 15 minutes.

Yum.

Chrissy couldn't wait.



Yes I used paper plates. Do you know how many dishes I've done already?! Don't judge me.  And don't judge my photog shadows. 

Notes: Next time I'd use more garlic and daiya cheese. I might use less nutritional yeast. This was delicious, creamy, and satisfying. I used rottini for my pasta and my dad was upset with me. Macaroni and cheese should only be used with elbows! My cookbook suggested placing the liquid in a mold or bowl, refrigerating, then serving as a hard cheese!

Flapjacks.

Just kidding. Pancakes.

On a snow day you need something hot! Something to help you hibernate. So I made pancakes. I haven't made them in a while. I haven't made them all year. Ha. Enough of the stupid jokes. I made blueberry cinnamon pancakes!

INGREDIENTSInspired by every pancake recipe out there, no specific recipe followed this time.

• 2 cups of flour (I used spelt for extra fiber and protein)
• 2 cups of unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 2 t of baking powder
• 1 t (heaping) of cinnamon
• Frozen blueberries (add as much as you want)

Just mix it all together! Pour it onto your preheated skillet. I used a seasoned cast iron skillet. This recipe made 10 pancakes with the batter portioned out in ¼ cups.

Tip: add your blueberries (or chocolate chips – we all have those days) to the pancake as soon as you pour it on the griddle/skillet. I find it makes less of a mess and will flip easier than a fruit or chocolate chip melting directly on the cooking surface.

Next time I would add more cinnamon and maybe even some more spices, like nutmeg or cloves. Sometimes I add maple syrup right to the batter also for some extra sweetness.

I topped the 'cakes with warmed blueberries and their juice, cinnamon, earth balance and maple syrup.

I heart melty butter.  The blueberry juice made me tie-dye pancakes.

Chrissy's stomach just made a wicked loud noise. Embarassing.  I'll pretend it said thank you.

 

 
What do you make on cold days for comfort food?

A little gross...

The snow that is.  Thankfully, I was not scheduled for work today.  So I actually get to be snowed in!  I don't think I've ever worked for a company that closed on a day that snowed.  The future is looking the same.  I guess I'll have to invest in 4-wheel drive and some tire chains.  Ha, I can't imagine myself putting chains on my tires.

Today I plan on cooking and storing leftovers.  I'm sick of work's cafeteria food.  The food isn't bad, but I'm over it.  I'm done.  I'll be sure to post some recipes and goodies!

But right now I want to talk about my first 30-day challenge.  I won't talk about how last night I failed and fell asleep while watching Veronica Mars.  That's why it's challenging, right?  You have to deal with yourself.  Either way, it's one week into the challenge.  What is my first 30 day challenge of 2011?  No picking wedgies in public. Meditating daily.  Instead of digging in my bum Instead of cruising the net and reading a page turner before bed (I guess I'll have to add instead of watching Veronica Mars), I've been listening to a reiki guided meditation CD.  This next week I'm going to work on a more conscious meditation rather than falling asleep during it.  I guess the relaxation part is working.  Whateves, I work on my chakras and my reiki.  No dreams I can speak of, but I had a nightmare last night when I didn't perform reiki on myself!

I find guided meditation initially works the best for me.  It's easy to get anxious and void out any therapeutic response to meditation while wondering if you are doing things right.  When concentrating on commands and the guided imagery with a tranquil ambient soundtrack, it can be easier to get in sync and cast out other thoughts.  Your intentions get the most focus.

There are multiple free podcast meditations to get you started.  Even some on youtube.  I think on demand tv even has a meditation channel.  Challenge yourself with me!

Talk amongst yourselves...

What are you doing on the snow day?

Ever watch Veronica Mars?  I'm hooked!  So is my baby sis, Chrissy.  I won't tell you how many episodes she watched yesterday. 

Do you meditate?  What's your meditation set-up? I typically just like music.  I like laying down too a la shavasana style.  Incense and oils are nice, but I don't typically use them.  Crystals are also nice too.  Once I used a crystal on my third eye and that helped me focus on "opening" up that area.  During my challenge here I plan on doing a little research.  There are many types of meditation.  I especially like the Hemi-sync's metamusic.  You can almost feel the music dancing through your brain.  My love and I once went to a party with all these ivy-league intellectual professor types (he has networked a lot through his writing) and we met this one dude in a velour suit who proclaimed the meditation he teaches is the only correct meditation!  There is more to that story, for another day.  Funny story.

Do you listen to podcasts? I think podcasts are fabulous!  Free and fabulous.  I've learned much about vegetarian health through podcasts.  I've attempted to brush up on my espanol.  As for meditation podcasts, I've only listened to a few.  Meditation Oasis has been around for a while and has many meditations for specific purposes for all lifestyles. 

I can here my sister starting to stir upstairs.  Time to make some pancakes!

Namesake.



Cielo. New Hampshire, August 2010.



Writing it down…

Making it happen?!
I hope so. If I publish some New Year goals/intentions/ideas/resolutions maybe I'll stick to it. I usually do well with resolutions. I gave up french fries for a year and I think after the year of completing that goal, I only indulged in fries if the restaurant was indulging as well, i.e. using peanut oil or truffle oil. I eat fries now, although about once a month. They are never as good as I remember them. Potato chips and I have an unhealthy relationship. Maybe I should find a meeting…
Last year I went vegan. I had quite the cheese hangover on January 1, 2010. No, it wasn't the wine. I had half a glass. It was the cheese. Every course of my meal had cheese as the main attraction. Two weeks into veganism I had withdrawals and wanted the comfort of a grilled cheese sandy. But no. I worked through my cravings! And then, I discovered Daiya. At this time, Daiya was not provided by supermarkets but that soon changed. Hopefully it will be available in all supermarkets one day, not just Whole Foods. I also discovered other foods that did not involve cheese at all and fell in love with being a vegan.
2011 begins a whole new decade. So many exciting things are going to happen in the next ten years. Instead of dreading of the big three-oh, I'll be looking for cheap botox and the newest thigh master to beat the big four-oh. What will be the shake weight of 2020?
I thought maybe I should kick things off with a resolution to be friskier. That was quickly shot down as I don't quite have a handle on appropriate times to be more frisky. Why is it not always appropriate to repeatedly slap your partner's behind?
Here are some goals I will work on this year. These will not get shot down…

1. I want what I have.
   Be present. Although the future is exciting and life would be easier if I was already finished with school and well established in my career, I will focus on enjoying day to day life. This will be especially challenging for a dreamer like me, but it is probably the most important thing I can work on.
2. Bike and run a combined 500 miles.
   I hate running. But I love how I feel after running. I want to run a race this year. At least one race! Originally I thought I'd like to run 500 miles this year but once the warmer weather arrives I'm going to want to spend more time on my bike. I'm excited to see what I'm capable of!
3. Spend 200 hours on my yoga mat.
   I've already spent 1.25 hrs there. 198.75 to go! Yoga is something that helps keep me well and fit. It pushes my physical, mental, and emotional boundaries like nothing else. I've meandered off the mat the past few years and I'm looking forward to getting back on. My spring semester schedd seems to welcome this challenge. J
   
4. Thirty day challenges!
   Last year began with this challenge and it was a unifying event. Andrea did a thirty day yoga challenge. I've already begun one 30-day challenge, but that is for another post. These challenges will range from anything I want to work on from a fitness goal, spiritual goal, and maybe even some fashion goals! I should be on What Not To Wear and hopefully some challenges I put myself through this year will change that. I found a new-to-me fashion blog, Kendi Everyday, and she issued a 30-for-30 remix challenge where a heck of a lot of other bloggers participated and documented. I think I'd just need help getting those 30 pieces.
5. Push boundaries with yoga and spirituality through trying new things and taking classes.
   Group and guided meditations really help me sync into myself. I think it is something about the collective energy in the room. I need to do this more. This past year I took two different yoga workshops and am looking forward to doing more. Maybe I'll finally get my Reiki II! There are many possibilities…

Of course there are the read more, create more, healthy more ideas. I'd like to focus more on classics but I'd really like to find my reading niche. I often get caught up in a series, and then mourn the loss once I've closed the last book. At one point in my life I was really into film. I'd like to rekindle that love. Lack of time and a partner that doesn't quite have your taste in movies kinda put a damper on time with the big screen. When it comes to being healthier, I just want to cook more for myself. I've conquered many bumps, and quite frankly pot holes and boulders, already on the "be-more-healthy" road. Now I just need to find more time and energy in meal prep.
Any ideas for 30-day challenges? Anyone want to run a 5k with me? Who wants to redo my wardrobe?
xoxo

2010 Highlights!

While living in 2010, it always seemed like a year I just had to get through in order to reach 2011 – my last year as a born again undergrad. Side note: I'm working towards a second bachelor's degree. As much as I always attempted focusing on the present, I often would be daydreaming and spouting off, "I can't wait until ________!" Even though I wished time away and often felt like I did not have any spare time, the year was full of great highlights.

• BABIES! Many of my friends got knocked up this year. Part of me wishes I could go through all the firsts with some of them and watch our kids play together yada yada yada, but obviously it is not our time. What is it about being 28 and the constant tugging on the uterus? Some of my friends are patiently waiting for their due date still as they wonder if that last kick broke their ribs, but most gave birth this year. Shout out especially to little Zoё and Lucas! In addition to friends giving birth, I completed my maternity rotation. I mostly worked with postpartum women, which is very routine, but on my last day I worked closely with a midwife and a L&D nurse to assist in a delivery! Couldn't of ended the semester better.
  
• WEDDINGS! My love is one of 7 in his family. With one sibling already married, the other 5 got engaged all within a year. We attended two beautiful weddings this year.
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
• VACATION! We got away to the condo in Loon and had so much fun. Our short week consisted of hiking, biking, kayaking, horseback riding, ziplining, swimming, caving, and I think our favorite was beginning a day with a quiet breakfast on top of Loon. Here are some picture highlights!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
• DREAM JOB! Well not quite the actual dream job yet, but the foot is in the door and I am in the building. I won't be talking about my job much on here for privacy purposes but just know I love my job and I'm very excited to build my roots and flourish.
  
• FRIENDS! I'm so thankful I still have friends. Every semester I fall even more off the face of the earth. Even though Daddy still allows me to live under his roof, not without frequent questioning of "when the hell are you planning on moving out?" I still have plenty of bills to pay which leads to school, studying, work, lots of coffee, and naps. I'm also thoroughly enjoying the new friends I've made in school and through clinical. Maybe we mostly bond over misery, but most importantly we are all thrown into similar emotional situations. Some of these situations are scary because it is our first time while others are emotionally heavy for our patients and their families. We have to be the backbone in these situations, but when we reflect on our days with each other, no one understands it better than the person standing right next to you.
  

2011 is loaded with adventures already including more weddings and babies! Even two vacation weddings – one to Bermuda and the other will be a quickie in NYC. Oh how I miss you NYC, you dirty beast!

Saucy Berries!

I needed dinner. I have not been the most proactive cook lately. Vegetables have wilted. Canned goods have become dusty. I don't even want to look at the lemon I bought to juice. Peanut butter will never go out of style. Pasta Bene is on speed dial. Anyway, last week I saw a blogger's recipe that I had to try! Angela posted a recipe for a "back on track wheat berry and bean salad" to help with the post holiday feeling of what the frick did I just eat!? and I'm still hungry.
Speaking of "what the frick?!" What the frick is a wheat berry? I did what any educated person does. I googled which then led me to Wikipedia. This did not give me much more information other than a wheat berry is the entire wheat kernel. Yay for unprocessed! But really… what is a wheat berry? I did further research and came across this food network blog post. I love that this little berry is packed with nutrients especially protein, fiber, and iron. I find this nutrient combo helps give me an extra energy boost.
Angela's recipe is for a cold salad, but with our recent blizzard and my dysfunctional relationship with winter, I had to morph this into something warm. Something warm and saucy. The results were amazing.


Warm and Saucy Berries and Beans
Adapted from: Oh She Glows

Ingredients

• 1 cup of dry wheat berries; soaked, cooked, & drained
• 1, 15 oz. can of navy beans; I used Eden Organic navy beans but any white bean would go great in this recipe
• 1 sweet onion, diced
• 2 small-medium sized red bell peppers, diced
• As many cloves of garlic your heart desires minced real fine; I used 3 cloves
• 1, 15 oz. can of diced tomatoes
• 1-2 cucumbers
• ½ t of dried thyme
• ½ t of dried oregano
• ½ t of dried basil
• 1 T of olive oil
• 2 T of balsamic vinegar
• 2 pinches of sugar
• Kosher salt and pepper to taste

Directions
Begin preparing the night before. Soak wheat berries in cold water overnight. Drain, rinse, and cover with water in a medium sized pot. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer on a low-medium heat for 1 hour. Drain.
While berries are simmering, prepare diced veggies. When berries have about 30 minutes left, sauté peppers, onions, and garlic in a pan with olive oil on a low heat until onions are translucent but there is still liquid in pan. Add tomatoes, herbs, balsamic vinegar, sugar, S&P, now let simmer for about 10 minutes before adding beans. Make sure all the liquid does not cook off in order to make it saucy!
If you sauté pan is big enough, add in the wheat berries. Mine is not, so I combined the sauce with the wheat berries in a bowl on the side.
For the finishing touch I added the chopped cucumbers. I found it gave the dish a nice crunchy and cool contrast. I'm sure you could cook the cukes or even substitute it with some zucchini!

They will be transformed…

I cheated and used the food processor for my chopping. I love how it minces garlic! How do you like your garlic?

This aroma gets my sister hanging out with me fast. She only likes me when I cook for her.

It is all coming together.

Check out the new dish towel from the “in-laws.” I know it clashes with the meal and plate, but its fun!

Thoughts on pans? I heart cast iron. I’m looking forward to creating a registry one day full of beautiful pots and pans.

Anyone else in a cooking rut? I hope this gets me out of it... speaking of getting out of ruts, I should post my New Year Intentions.