What do you do?

When you're in a rut?

I have found myself in a very somber mood lately. I will be missing a couple people that will be out of the country in the next month or two and I'm trying to push myself forward without being too sad about it.

Whenever I need a pick me up, I always like to take out the recycling. I know.. that's weird, but it has always helped to lighten my mood. I'm helping the Earth, doing something productive, and clearing some unnecessary garbage out of my house. It's always pleasing.

I think it's important to have something that can always cheer your up a little. It doesn't matter how simple. Simple is better actually because if you're like me, most motivation leaves when you're feeling blue.
Making food (cookies) helps also. : ] But give them away so you don't end up gorging yourself on them and feeling worse than before.

I'm leaving for the beach on Friday morning to spend a week with the whole family. It will be interesting but I'm very optimistic about it. I'm glad my family has finally excepted my vegan lifestyle and I won't have to fight against persuasions to eat in a way I don't feel comfortable with. It's quite exhausting to do that and it will be nice not to have to explain myself for an entire week since my family has given up trying to convert me back to an omnivore. It's a huge weight off my shoulders.

So, vacation for me of course is going to include lots of yummy food. I had a TON of recipes planned out to make but then I realized I'll be eating snacks mainly for lunch (because that's what you do at the beach) and I don't want to spend the whole week in the kitchen. However, I am making some muffins on Thursday night before I leave, as well as some artichoke dip.

During the week I have only a couple recipes picked out to make since I'm planning on eating really light during the day (fruit and nuts, veggies and hummus, etc). Enchiladas of course because I haven't had them in a while and I really would love for my mom to try them. Then I'm going to make a Tempeh Muffaletta that is really yummy. It's a sandwich filler so I can have that for lunch or dinner. My dad will probably make some veggies for me that are vegan or I could possible be in charge of that for the side dishes for dinner. It's going to be a great week, I can tell. And definitely interesting having the whole fam together.

This week has also been full of job hunting. I have an interview today, so hopefully when I get back home from the beach I'll have a job so I can make money and be a little more mentally occupied. I'm hoping to land two jobs for the rest of the summer and then somehow work all of that and school together. I'm going to be really busy this fall and I'm looking forward to it. My classes shouldn't be too taxing because I have a couple math oriented classes. I'm looking forward to my biochemistry class of course as well.

I'm hoping to pull in a lot of money in the next couple months because I now have a car payment, and some other things on my list to pay for (an extra online class in the fall) and I would love to save up my money to buy the one thing that I want most.. The Norwalk Juicer. But I may be getting my windows tinted and some side molding put on my car before that happens. We'll see though. Those are just extra expenses for an expense and I would definitely enjoy my juicer a lot more than I would enjoy side molding. : ]

Until next time, keep smiling, even when you don't feel like it.

Beauty

Where have I been?

Honestly, by the pool. HA!

I have spent most of my summer thus far next to the pool with some of the wonderful people in my life.

I'm feeling very blessed lately. I am really loving my life at the moment. There are definitely places that I want to improve on but, I'm truly happy. 

So, a brief on some food that I've enjoyed the past few weeks..

I have found a favorite place to eat out with friends.. Chipotle.. yummy yummy veggie burrito!!! It's the size of my head and I can easily pack it away.. mmmm. : ] Special thanks to my beautiful co-coach who took me to Baja Fresh for the first time so I could learn to feed my spicy food addiction. 

Ninja has also introduced me to this delightful Japanese restaurant where I discovered my deep love of Japanese curry.. I must find a way to make it myself. I also am so glad to be eating seaweed salad on a more regular basis, getting those good greens plus the necessary iodine that I miss because iodized salt freaks me out. : ]

Been back to Nama a couple of times also and each time my wonderful server had the chef make me a special vegan roll. Both times, utterly delicious!! The last roll I had was so incredibly artistic. The roll was placed around an orange that had been carved and filled with yummies. I wish I had my phone with me at the time so I could've taken a picture. It was gorgeous. 

Other that that? I've honestly been snacking between trips to the pool on hummus, guac, and salsa. Every now and then I'll cook up some veggies in my roommates favorite dish, Spicy Almond Stir Fry. It's super delish and I will be making it again this week since I just bought all the ingredients from the farmers' market yesterday. It will probably be the best stir fry yet because of the fresh ingredients. 

Earlier this week I also threw together a pasta dish that is yummy and sooo easy. 

Pasta, head of cabbage, 2 stalks of celery, 2 onions, 2 garlic cloves, 1/4 cup of soy sauce and 5 tbsp of marinara sauce.

Saute onions, garlic, and celery in a little olive oil. Add cabbage, soy sauce, marinara and let cook on low heat a bit. Add cooked pasta and mix. Easy mode. Cheap. Healthy. Makes a TON of pasta. And is even good cold right out of the fridge. : ]

Tomorrow I think I'm going to make this awesome quinoa and black bean dish my daddy made a week or so ago for me. My daddy has been so great about making new dishes that are vegan friendly for me. I don't think anyone can know how grateful I am for that. 

Now to look into next week.. : ] It's going to be great. 

New hair. Bleach and it's all coming off.  <3

New car. 2008 Black Acura TSX

Best friend is coming home. 

And hopefully a new job at Teavana. 

Been going to the Rush with Ninja lately. We went twice this week. We go late at night and I really enjoy that. I'm not worried about having to be done at a certain time and I actually have a lot of energy around 10pm. Ran 4 miles Tuesday, and 5 miles on Thursday. I don't know if Ninja inspires me or what but I like it. I'm going to hopefully go again tomorrow night after I've rested my legs some. Dad said he plans to run 7 miles on Sunday so I have to catch up to that soon. 

Anywho, I have physics that I'm putting off in order to write this blog. I can procrastinate no longer.

Until next time...smile more than necessary and love as much as possible. 

Living

Sometimes we get so caught up in the things that we are supposed to do and how we are supposed to act that we forget to even enjoy the blessings that we have and embrace the possibilities at hand. I don't want to live like that. I never have wanted to just fit the mold.

I wish I could have a reminder of that every morning before I start my day.
I would be much more light-hearted.

: ]

YOU.

"You. Yes, you. I am writing this for you.

I know you are reading this. And I want you to know I am writing this for you. No one else will understand. No one else knows. They think that this is for them. But it’s not. I am writing this for you.

I want you to know, life…it’s hard. Every day can be a challenge. It can be a challenge to get up in the morning. To get yourself out of bed. To put on that smile. But I want you to know, that smile is what keeps me going some days. You need to remember, even through the tough times, you are amazing. You really are.

You should be happy. You are gorgeous.

I know that the weather might not be perfect. You might have to turn your back to the wind or feel the cold nipping at your nose. But you know what, at least you are there to feel it. At least you can enjoy the sun’s warm rays on your face. Or that cold February wind biting at your cheeks. You know what that means?

You are alive.

Everything will be okay."

90 Days

It's extremely gross outside and I don't like it. It has taken a pretty big toll on my mood. I have not been feeling too wonderfully about myself the past couple weeks. I really want to change that before it gets out of control...

Thus, I'm going to embark on the p90x journey of staying active and getting in shape for the next 90 days. I'm going to make a commitment to blogging every few days so that I can at least have some sort of accountability for myself. I am going to steer clear of my desire to bake and veg out on the couch.

So, I'm going to be cooking very healthful meals and getting in shape hard core... for the next 90 days...

Wish me luck.

Upon Waking...

...this morning, I was bomb-barded by Death. I am really disappointed in humanity and their celebration of death and brutality. It's so inappropriate.. Yes, Osama Bin Laden is responsible for an unfathomably number of human deaths. I understand the importance of his death. But, why is it that we have to celebrate his death directly with words like, "I wanted to be the one to shoot him." and "OBAMAS DEAD....FUCK YEAH!!!" I appreciate those who decided to celebrate the relief this brings, not the actual death of a human being.Not only that, people are using every chance they get to bash our President. I'm just disgusted and it's only 930am.

Can't we just all get along?

...ahimsa...