A little inspiration…
by Weez on June 22, 2011
Never look down on anybody unless you’re helping them up.
~ Jesse Jackson
I just found this quote, and it’s a topic I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. I’ve realized, spending time thinking about and getting upset over other people’s actions (usually those I don’t agree with or just annoy me) is just a huge waste of time. This is something I used to do a lot more, but over the years have learned to just let a lot of is slide off my back and focus on more positive thoughts. And this isn’t something that just happened, I had to make a conscious effort of change the way I think. Crazy, I know!
So instead of focusing on things I have NO CONTROL OVER, instead why not make myself a better person by learning from other’s actions. If it’s something I admire, how can I incorporate this into my life? If it’s something I do not agree with, then I ask myself some questions:
1. Do I also do this? If so, stop it completely or change for the better.
A lot of times the things that annoy me the most are things I do myself, like procrastinating or always having to be right.
2. If I don’t currently do this, how can I make sure I never start and what can I learn?
I love to learn from other people’s mistakes because sometimes it means I don’t have to make my own first!
When I was a kid and I’d complain about someone to my mom, she’d usually respond with “Sweep your own doorstep.” So now, whenever I find myself obsessing negatively over someone else’s actions, unless I can turn it into a positive or help that person in some way, I try to refocus my energy on improving my own life. I’m a work-in-progress. 
Berries… present and future!
by Weez on June 21, 2011
I love berries, and I love that my backyard produces and ABUNDANCE of berries in the summer. Soon I’ll need to decide what to do with them all. Eaten fresh, of course, but also freezing for smoothies and cooked for jams. And I think I’ll have to whip up a few batches of “ice cream” (frozen bananas and berries, processed in the food processor to create the equivalent of ICE CREAM!).
The strawberry pickings even after my mom enjoyed a bunch!
Blackberry bush – there are hundreds (if not thousands!) of tiny berries already on this monster!
The ABC’s of Food
by Weez on June 19, 2011
A little something I found at The Snarky Chickpea, filled in with my own answers of course!
A is for Avocado: How do you like yours prepared?
- This is one I’ve only recently started to like, mostly as a spread on a sammich or a tiny bit of guacamole on a chip.
B is for Bread: Regardless of nutrition, what is your favorite type?
- I’m a true follower of multi-grain or whole grain bread. The most whole the grains, the more I seem to like it. I’ll take whole grain over white any day (unless it’s fresh baked bread out of the oven!).
C is for Chocolate: What is your favorite kind currently?
- Honestly, I’m not a huge chocolate fanatic. I like dark chocolate and the occasional brownie or chocolate chip cookie. Don’t get me wrong, I like chocolate, but it’s not something I crave.
D is for Donuts: You might not currently eat them, but what kind do you fancy?
- Probably the glazed ones if I had to choose.
E is for Eggs: How would you like yours prepared?
- Not prepared, as in left for the chicken who laid it. I prefer a good tofu scramble. Leave the “chicken period” to the chicken.
F is for Falafel: Yay or nay?
- Is there something in between? I had it once and it was ok, but I’d be up for trying it again.
G is for Groceries: Where do you purchase yours?
- The local super Walmart and Aldi, it’s the most economical and decent selection. If it’s a specialty vegan item, I’ll order from veganessentials.com.
H: is for Hot Beverages: What is your favorite hot drink?
- Hot cocoa for sure. Not a big coffee or tea drinker here.
I is for Ice Cream: Pick a favorite flavor and add a fun topping.
- Chocolate. Definitely chocolate. And with a swirl of peanut butter. YUM!
J is for Jams or Jellies: Do you eat them? If so, what kind and flavor?
- Strawberry jam, homemade is preferred. Or raspberry jam!
K is for Kashi: Name your favorite Kashi product?
- There’s a cinnamon or autumn harvest kind I think I tried once that I thought was good. Usually, though, Kashi is a bit pricey for my budget.
L is for Lunch: What was yours today?
- Green smoothie! A bit non-traditional but so refreshing on this humid day.
M is for microwave: What is your favorite microwave meal/snack?
- There is veggie eggless eggroll microwave dinner that’s pretty decent for a quick lunch at work. Come to think of it, I don’t make a lot of meals in the micro…
N is for nutrients: Do you like carbs, fats, or proteins best?
- Best? I’m not sure. I do like a good pasta with veggies, and I try to limit processed fats. So I guess carbs.
O is for oil: What kind do you like to use?
- Usually none. Very occasionally Smart Balance Lite, and I think I have an old bottle of canola oil in the cabinet.
P is for protein: How do you get yours?
- Beans, veggies, tofu, TVP, and probably tons more I’m not even aware of!
Q is for Quaker: How do you like your oats?
- I’ll often use oatmeal as an ingredient in my veggie burgers. And sometimes add a half cup to a smoothie.
R is for roasting: What is your favorite thing to roast?
- Sweet potato fries, for sure!
S is for sandwich: What’s your favorite kind?
- Tofu scramble on toast is my fav at the moment. I also really enjoy a thinly sliced vegan deli meat with lettuce and mustard.
T is for travel: How do you handle eating while traveling?
- Argh, badly. I’m not a huge fan of salads, and that’s usually the only veg option at restaurants that isn’t fried. I usually try to bring my own food.
U is for unique: What are some of the unique foods that you like?
- Nooch (nutritional yeast)
- Green smoothies (fruit smoothies with lots of spinach)
V is for vitamins: What kind do you take?
- A multivitamin, but thinking about looking into the B12.
W is for Wiener Schnitzel: Do you ever recreate this traditional Czech food?
- Umm no.
X is X-RAY: If we xrayed your belly right now, what food would we see?
- Green smoothie and water.
Y is for Youth: What foods remind you of your childhood?
- Hotdogs and fish sticks
- Ice cream sundaes
- Grilled cheese sammiches
- My mom’s homemade chicken tenders
Z is for Zucchini: How do you prepare it?
- I love it grilled.
Backyard / Garden – Summer 2011
by Weez on June 18, 2011
It’s unofficially summer here and my garden is rockin’ it.
It’s never too late to start over…
by Weez on June 18, 2011
Today is the first day. The first day of what, you might ask? Well, I’m not sure. I just feel… stuck. That spinning-wheels kinda feeling that makes a person more and more frustrated the more and more they spin. How does a person stop the mere spinning and move in the forward direction? Something’s gotta change. I just don’t know what. It’s like I’m in a room with 37 doors and don’t know which one to choose. But maybe there isn’t a right answer. Maybe the “right” answer is to just make the decision to make a choice!
Thing is, making decisions isn’t one of my greatest skills…
