day 1

Day 1 and I already failed! Dang! By habit, I went to put creamer in my coffee...a few drops in I knew something was wrong...oops.

Other than that slip up, the rest of the day is gonna be great. Toast and jam for breakfast. Squash soup and a walk for lunch. Granola and a tangerine for a snack.

Funny how us women are into food. Must've come from Eve :)

going vegan

If I knew I'd be writing this 10 years ago, I'd think I'd be crazy. 10 years ago is when I first heard about vegan-ism and thought it absurd. It's one thing to not eat meat because it was a living being...but to not eat animal products? It doesn't hurt anything!

Or does it? I've read plenty of facts to know that decreasing ones meat intake will increase ones health...across the charts. Vegetarians are shown to have lower risk of heart disease, lower blood cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, and lower rates of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and prostate and colon cancers. All it took me was a few pages of China Study to realize the gross factor of eating meat in excess.

Personally I used to be size 12...creeping up on 14. A lot of that thanks to the college 'freshman 15' and late night cheese nuggets. Moving to Chicago with healthier and more expensive options, as well as a healthier city lifestyle of walking everywhere, probably brought me down to a healthy 6/8. And it wasn't til I met my 1st generation Polish-American beau that I learned the essence of eating whole foods, and mostly fish for meat. I may still have my round cheeks :) but I can't recall gaining weight since.

Living on the farm, I graciously experienced the full circle of life, eating the very creature I was tending to. Since then I think I can count on one hand how much beef/pork/chicken/fish I've bought...mainly because I want to know my farmer, that the beef/pork/chicken/fish was raised sustainably...and honestly, it's a lot of work to research, and much easier and cheaper to eat veggies (especially with a garden)!! Last year at this time I gave up meat for lent (until that was the only option while in Ecuador)...and that vegetarian trend just continued on.

So why vegan? In my mind, the jury's still out, so I'm open to finding out more. I think there are lots of great nutrients in things like fish and eggs. But I'm a complete sucker for ice cream and butter and cheese. Did I mention, butter? I guess this means no honey either. or grande hazelnut lattes. or even creamer...dang! I thought I came so far withholding the sugar...what baby steps to where I am now :)

I've had some great discussions with vegan friends about it though...not the 'animal cruelty' kind of vegans, but the vegans more in tune with their bodies and the cruelty that these foods do to their energy and quality of life. I appreciate the pure and simpleness of it.

Considering we're still 3 months from a good supply of spring greens, I'm oh so thankful to still have potatoes, a couple winter squashes, some growing mushrooms and herbs, and a freezer full of summer produce. (well, Rach does technically since mine is still busted :) oh! and canned dill pickles from Dad :)

Of course this also means no Dr. Pepper.
I could care less about cereal these days.
And no egg pastas.
But there will be my homemade bread...maybe next year I'll go gluten free...who knows.
I think there will be dark chocolate mangoes (thanks Em :)
And wine.

Join me for the next 40 days and see how it's going! I don't expect any readers to go vegan, but I hope this might encourage others to think about what they're eating...or how they feel after eating.

I feel like I should be eating ice cream right now...

PURE

New year, new resolutions. I have a huge list of things I want to do/see...knowing I won't get to all of them, but will be happy to cross off a few. And overall: grow a little more than last year.

But my main goal? To be real. Wait, no...more than that...to be a real woman sounds kinda bitchy and dramatic. A little too blatant. Let's have a little more compassion...little more vibrance...


To be PURE.


Inside out. Transparent. Simple. Raw. Light. Wholesome. Peaceful. Nourishing. Beautiful.
How do I do that? DETOX.

So I'm starting from scratch. Starting with the stuff I can easily change. Well, easy might be an understatement when it comes to ridding myself of these: toxins and plastics. I've never said this before, but this stuff is the devil! Maybe we'll never be able to fully rid it of our lives, but using it seems to bring hell to earth.

And considering that toxins are pretty much in every body product, I think I'm finally and slowly giving up on makeup and deodorant. Will this cause me to detox some unhealthy relationships then too? hha... I don't want to hide behind a painted face. And seeing how even 'pure' deodorants like Toms still had a toxic ingredient for the first ingredient, I've switched to mixing coconut oil and baking soda. So far I still have friends...they must be really sweet or it must be working...hopefully both :) Farm interns, you were onto something, but next time I want you to press the issue :)

In my office, a fridge full of free HFCS (aka Pop/Soda/Soda Pop) magically appeared one day, and keeps replenishing itself. Apparently it's cheap. Cancer is not. Dr. Pepper is my weakness, especially with company lunches of pizza or mexican food. I keep telling myself 'everything in moderation' and I'll stick to that. Same story with vino with pasta, and cold beer with summer concerts...I am only human :) Baby steps and eventually I hope to wean myself off crappy foods. I know even not to stick my nose up to food someone else provides. Thank goodness there's now a bottomless basket of fresh fruit in the office. And I believe Lent will be a good time to test the water as a vegan....more to come on that...

I've also rid my life of useless crap. Baggage. Books I don't read. Stuff I'll never use. Fridges that don't work. And now especially, toxins and plastics :)

I enjoy roller coasters, the work hard/play hard...but I'm gonna sit back and enjoy the ride. Take things slow. Have pure and healthy influences. Continue to surround myself with people who are true to themselves, not always surface level, not always accommodating. Go to bed on time...not cram everything into every last minute which is why I'm always late :) Answer my emails and texts punctually so they don't stare at me from my inbox :) And continue to travel the world and appreciate the little things :)

I want to be pure for myself, to utilize the full potential of my energy and life.
I've been blessed with this shell and want to honor my Creator.
I want to be a good influence for my friends, I want to be strong to uplift them.
I desire a soulmate who values the same purity, the same truth, the same spirit.
I want to be a good role model for the little kiddos with wide eyes, the next generation that will build upon ours.
I challenge my peers to have the same vision, or challenge me back so that we all learn.
I'm grateful for what I've learned from my elders, and for expanding on that knowledge.

Pure output is much easier with pure inputs. Here's a little inspiration.

Goodness, I do sound like quite the hippie :)