It is the new year and people tend to do food detox/cleanses during this time so I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon. When I got sick last month, everything kind of shut down for me and I had horrible bouts of acid reflux for some reason. I often do get acid reflux but this was abnormal. Certain foods seem to trigger it (rich, fried/oily foods) and I assume it was triggered by the cream puff I consumed earlier that night during Christmas dinner. I'm not sure though because it didn't go away and I literally could not eat without acid foaming up. I lost about 5lbs during that time because I could only eat a few bites at a time.
Now, I am all better but I do need to pay more attention to my body and change my eating habits. What better time to kickstart a new eating habit than today? So I did. Kale as been touted as the "it" food of the moment for it's cancer-fighting properties and it seems like it is everywhere in the blogosphere. People are baking it into kale chips, eating it raw, juiced, steamed, souped, in salads...you name it, it has been done. I've added a lot more kale into my diet but my simple steam + oyster sauce method for cooking greens just doesn't work with kale. Kale is a tough vegetable. I used to buy the curly kale because it seemed greener and even healthier than flat-leaf kale but I could never chew through the tough fibers no matter how long I cooked the darned thing. It usually ended up sadly neglected in a glass container, admonishing me in the back of the fridge for letting it go to waste.
Now I know better. Today, after 2-3 weeks of being unhealthy, I felt my body crave something clean. I didn't want meat, I didn't want sweets...I wanted a vegetable salad. Not the fancy spinach salad mix I had in the fridge, but a good, hearty, earthy salad. And so I did. I finally had time to go to the grocery store today and I purchased the following items:
honeycrisp apples, yali pears, cherry tomatoes, English cucumbers, portobello mushrooms, green onions, red onions, oyster sauce, sesame oil, bananas, avocados, kale, garlic, lemons, green lentils, fancy mixed olives, fancy sweet and spicy red peppers, almond milk, and Greek yogurt.
All in all, I spent about $40 on food today (most of the cost went towards my giant tin of sesame oil--it's so much cheaper to buy it in bulk) and I went to town making my salad. First, I took a lonely acorn squash that had been turning bright orange in my pantry for weeks, and peeled and diced the whole thing. I lightly coated it with grapeseed oil, sea salt, fresh black pepper, and 5 spice powder and baked it until it was golden. Though not my original intent for the squash, the results tasted like really awesome sweet potato fries.
While that was baking, I washed and boiled the lentils in lightly salted water. Meanwhile, I went to town chopping up my veggies. All the kids went into the pool: kale, carrots, celery, red onions, walnuts, dried cranberries, avocado, olives, peppers, and lemon juice. I mixed a little tahini, fish sauce, sesame oil, and more lemon juice for the dressing and gave everything a mix. I topped my bowl off with two tablespoons of the lentils, cherry tomatoes, and some of the squash and called it a meal.
And now, my notes on the meal:
Tonight, I feel energetic and my concentration is better. I feel light inside but I am not hungry. I am looking forward to eating more kale salad tomorrow. Surprisingly, I do not want to eat meat but I still wanted to eat a little sweet snack. I baked pumpkin dark chocolate bread loaded with whole wheat, flaxseeds, and walnuts earlier today (I usually bake one loaf of fruit bread each week for breakfast), and had a slice of that for dessert. That satisfied my carb and sweet craving quite nicely.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
New Year, New Start
This is going to be a great year! This blog will be back in full force and the former, slightly-depressed ramblings of a recent-graduate-unemployed-twenty-something will give way to a gainfully employed and very satisfied late-twenty-something!
It is really hard to understand the feeling of limbo until one has experienced being unemployed for a while. Before the economy tanked, the longest I'd been unemployed was 3 months and that was because I relocated to another state and took some time off before I started searching for a job. It has been nearly 5 months for me now and I am only now starting to have legitimate career options. Thankfully, the position I am about to accept pays generously and will give me the flexibility to start a family in the next year or so.
What does all this mean for the blog? It means that there will be a renewed emphasis on places I'll go, things I'll buy, and stuff I'll do to the house to prepare for the rest of 2012.
I have many resolutions for 2012. I resolve to pay off my student loans and take my parents on an Alaskan cruise. I resolve to eat vegetarian at least once a week and to successfully grow my own vegetables after two failed seasons. I resolve to drink less coffee and to drink more tea. I resolve to finally put the rest of my house in order.
It is really hard to understand the feeling of limbo until one has experienced being unemployed for a while. Before the economy tanked, the longest I'd been unemployed was 3 months and that was because I relocated to another state and took some time off before I started searching for a job. It has been nearly 5 months for me now and I am only now starting to have legitimate career options. Thankfully, the position I am about to accept pays generously and will give me the flexibility to start a family in the next year or so.
What does all this mean for the blog? It means that there will be a renewed emphasis on places I'll go, things I'll buy, and stuff I'll do to the house to prepare for the rest of 2012.
I have many resolutions for 2012. I resolve to pay off my student loans and take my parents on an Alaskan cruise. I resolve to eat vegetarian at least once a week and to successfully grow my own vegetables after two failed seasons. I resolve to drink less coffee and to drink more tea. I resolve to finally put the rest of my house in order.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
I'm Alive
It has been a while but I am alive! Just barely anyway. Somehow, despite being a closet germaphobe, I managed to catch the Cold from Hell. It is now 10 days and counting but despite bottles of cough syrup, bags of cough drops, homemade chicken broth-in-a-mug (I find I drink more liquids from a cup rather than from a bowl with the whole spoon-to-mouth action), vaporizers, honey, neosporin, and boxes and boxes of tissue...I am still in the grips of that damn Cold.
I really have to get better soon...like...asap. Tomorrow, I have the interview of a lifetime and I cannot be a good candidate if I'm coughing up a lung every few minutes. Lately, I've been running around town running errands and doing things for people--some of it was because of the holidays (I tried my best to contain my germs by covering my nose and mouth with a pashmina) and some of it was due to absolute necessity.
Today, I looked at my closet and discovered that my favorite suit jacket was not dry cleaned after I wore it the last time and my black sheer stockings have a run in them. Normally, I do not dry clean my blazers after each use but the last time I wore it, a bad comedy-cliche happened to me:
There I was...walking around in my beautifully fitted blazer and slim-fitted black pants, feeling all the world like a rockstar in my black patent stiletto pumps and swishy "professionally" bobbed hair, towards a group of classmates and associates about to get my mingle on...when the giant gorilla of a guy directly in front of me takes an unforeseeable step backwards and smashes right into me, sending my super hot cup of coffee flying backwards into me...drenching my top with scalding, burning, dark liquid. Eyes bugged in horror while the gorilla ass takes a look and does a true douche-bag smirk and TURNS AWAY. I would shoot eye daggers at the guy but I am a consumate professional (but in truth, my chest was burning in pain and I quickly walked off to tend to it).
And so there you have it...I could break out my other suits but this is my FAVORITE blazer. I have had it since 2004 but the classic style and fit is unsurmountable. I will dab at it today to get rid of the obvious dried coffee marks and do my best to freshen it up because there is no time to take it to the cleaners today.
Right now, I am wearing a neon-yellow oversized fleece to keep warm and between sips of green tea and hot water, I am eating spoonfuls of buckwheat honey to soothe my raw, irritated throat. Why buckwheat honey? Apparently, it has properties that are great for soothing throats, more so than other honey varieties. It has all sorts of antioxidants and anti-bacterial and other fancy sounding health benefits so I went to the health food store nearby and found a jar of the thick, dark, raw, crystalized stuff and went to town.
I am so very weak right now (5lbs lost in 10 days) that I had trouble opening it but once I did, the pungent odor of horse emerged. That's right...the fresh bouquet of equinous expellius wafted up and actually assaulted my deadened taste buds and olfactory organ. I guess the only time I've ever really smelled buckwheat is on a farm where horses live and um...drop...droppings so I dry-heaved until I could work that thick brown liquid down my throat. What do you know...I think it works!
So now, whenever I get that horrible spot of dry, itchy throat...you know the one....it's just located in a tiny part of the throat...feels like the size of a pencil-eraser...that itches and makes you couch until your abs ache and your throat light on fire...I lick a spoonful of honey to lubricate the throat and I don't feel so bad anymore.
I think I will not go out today to buy silk stockings...I can buy them tomorrow before my interview and still have plenty of time. I just don't want to go outdoors today and expose myself to the elements again. I will hunker down, cuddle up, and do my best to go an hour without dripping, couching, sneezing, or blowing my nose. An hour. That is all I need to get through the interview. Please pray for me.
I really have to get better soon...like...asap. Tomorrow, I have the interview of a lifetime and I cannot be a good candidate if I'm coughing up a lung every few minutes. Lately, I've been running around town running errands and doing things for people--some of it was because of the holidays (I tried my best to contain my germs by covering my nose and mouth with a pashmina) and some of it was due to absolute necessity.
Today, I looked at my closet and discovered that my favorite suit jacket was not dry cleaned after I wore it the last time and my black sheer stockings have a run in them. Normally, I do not dry clean my blazers after each use but the last time I wore it, a bad comedy-cliche happened to me:
There I was...walking around in my beautifully fitted blazer and slim-fitted black pants, feeling all the world like a rockstar in my black patent stiletto pumps and swishy "professionally" bobbed hair, towards a group of classmates and associates about to get my mingle on...when the giant gorilla of a guy directly in front of me takes an unforeseeable step backwards and smashes right into me, sending my super hot cup of coffee flying backwards into me...drenching my top with scalding, burning, dark liquid. Eyes bugged in horror while the gorilla ass takes a look and does a true douche-bag smirk and TURNS AWAY. I would shoot eye daggers at the guy but I am a consumate professional (but in truth, my chest was burning in pain and I quickly walked off to tend to it).
And so there you have it...I could break out my other suits but this is my FAVORITE blazer. I have had it since 2004 but the classic style and fit is unsurmountable. I will dab at it today to get rid of the obvious dried coffee marks and do my best to freshen it up because there is no time to take it to the cleaners today.
Right now, I am wearing a neon-yellow oversized fleece to keep warm and between sips of green tea and hot water, I am eating spoonfuls of buckwheat honey to soothe my raw, irritated throat. Why buckwheat honey? Apparently, it has properties that are great for soothing throats, more so than other honey varieties. It has all sorts of antioxidants and anti-bacterial and other fancy sounding health benefits so I went to the health food store nearby and found a jar of the thick, dark, raw, crystalized stuff and went to town.
I am so very weak right now (5lbs lost in 10 days) that I had trouble opening it but once I did, the pungent odor of horse emerged. That's right...the fresh bouquet of equinous expellius wafted up and actually assaulted my deadened taste buds and olfactory organ. I guess the only time I've ever really smelled buckwheat is on a farm where horses live and um...drop...droppings so I dry-heaved until I could work that thick brown liquid down my throat. What do you know...I think it works!
So now, whenever I get that horrible spot of dry, itchy throat...you know the one....it's just located in a tiny part of the throat...feels like the size of a pencil-eraser...that itches and makes you couch until your abs ache and your throat light on fire...I lick a spoonful of honey to lubricate the throat and I don't feel so bad anymore.
I think I will not go out today to buy silk stockings...I can buy them tomorrow before my interview and still have plenty of time. I just don't want to go outdoors today and expose myself to the elements again. I will hunker down, cuddle up, and do my best to go an hour without dripping, couching, sneezing, or blowing my nose. An hour. That is all I need to get through the interview. Please pray for me.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Thinking...
A while back, I posted about some new vehicles we were considering. Since then, my 96' Maxima has bit the dust twice and shall be revived no more. We may be able to hold off on a new car for a little while longer though--hubby already takes the train to work and I might be able to do the same.
I'm just thinking out my thoughts here...so here goes (sourced through random googling):
Research
2007 Prius = <$15,000
MGP = 46 combined
Cargo space = 14.4 cubic ft
2012 Prius V (wagon) = $29,000
MPG = 42 combined
Cargo space = 34.4 cubic ft. (seat up) and 67 cubic feet (seat down)
Analysis
That is a HUGE difference in price and in storage. Our initial goal was to buy a gently used vehicle and let the first owners take the depreciation hit. We plan to buy it outright rather than to make monthly payments unless the financing rate is very very low.
We already have a sedan but we have continually needed a larger "hauling" vehicle and it has been a huge PITA trying to stuff things into the little car or borrowing people's trucks/SUVs. Plus, it'd be nice to have a larger car when we have a family. A stroller fits easily into the trunk of hubby's TSX but it leaves no room for anything else. Of course groceries/stuff can be put in the backseat of the car but we'll still be tight on room.
On the other hand, a '07 Prius is about half the cost of a new Wagon. Is it worth the extra cargo space? le hmm. Perhaps it is not a good idea to compare a wagon with a sedan. It's more accurate to compare the wagon with a SUV. Could we wait another year or so before buying a new car? That way we might be able to get a used 2012 wagon then?
Hm.
To be continued.
I'm just thinking out my thoughts here...so here goes (sourced through random googling):
Research
2007 Prius = <$15,000
MGP = 46 combined
Cargo space = 14.4 cubic ft
2012 Prius V (wagon) = $29,000
MPG = 42 combined
Cargo space = 34.4 cubic ft. (seat up) and 67 cubic feet (seat down)
Analysis
That is a HUGE difference in price and in storage. Our initial goal was to buy a gently used vehicle and let the first owners take the depreciation hit. We plan to buy it outright rather than to make monthly payments unless the financing rate is very very low.
We already have a sedan but we have continually needed a larger "hauling" vehicle and it has been a huge PITA trying to stuff things into the little car or borrowing people's trucks/SUVs. Plus, it'd be nice to have a larger car when we have a family. A stroller fits easily into the trunk of hubby's TSX but it leaves no room for anything else. Of course groceries/stuff can be put in the backseat of the car but we'll still be tight on room.
On the other hand, a '07 Prius is about half the cost of a new Wagon. Is it worth the extra cargo space? le hmm. Perhaps it is not a good idea to compare a wagon with a sedan. It's more accurate to compare the wagon with a SUV. Could we wait another year or so before buying a new car? That way we might be able to get a used 2012 wagon then?
Hm.
To be continued.
Monday, August 15, 2011
A New Goal
Last fall, I went through a pantry/freezer cleaning experiment to see if I could go the entire month without buying any more groceries/spending any money on food. Although we had a few unexpected food expenses arise (taking the family out to dinner), we saved a lot of money that month. Obviously the stuff that was languishing in the back of the pantry and freezer for months weren't items we typically used so once we cleared it out, we were able to start anew with stuff we actually do consume regularly.
Now I want to embark on another experiment. While it saved money to empty out our food stores, it isn't sustainable in the long run because we'd have to replenish it eventually. A better experiment would be to try my hand at a little extreme couponing! We don't typically consume a lot of conventional groceries: we either try to grow our own or buy local & organic--not stuff you'd see in the weekly sale mailers. However, there are items that occasionally pop up that we do put to good use: soy milk, almond milk, juices, jarred (never canned) tomato sauce, and occasional toothpaste/mouthwash/floss etc. I'd prefer to use Tom's of Maine toothpaste but we haven't fully made that switch yet.
Anyway, today was my first attempt at extreme couponing and while it isn't much, I did manage to save $2.05 on a half gallon of Almond Breeze! I've purchased it at as high as $4.29 before but I usually buy it for around $3.79-$3.99. Today, it was 2 for $6.00 and I had a $.55 manufacturer's coupon + store double coupon. I ended up paying $1.95 for Almond Breeze...pretty much a 50% saving from my normal cost! It feels so good!
So I'll do a little here and there to start accumulating more coupons in anticipation of my experiment come September. I'd really like to see how much I can save that month. My goal is $100 off our normal food/grocery expenses.
Now I want to embark on another experiment. While it saved money to empty out our food stores, it isn't sustainable in the long run because we'd have to replenish it eventually. A better experiment would be to try my hand at a little extreme couponing! We don't typically consume a lot of conventional groceries: we either try to grow our own or buy local & organic--not stuff you'd see in the weekly sale mailers. However, there are items that occasionally pop up that we do put to good use: soy milk, almond milk, juices, jarred (never canned) tomato sauce, and occasional toothpaste/mouthwash/floss etc. I'd prefer to use Tom's of Maine toothpaste but we haven't fully made that switch yet.
Anyway, today was my first attempt at extreme couponing and while it isn't much, I did manage to save $2.05 on a half gallon of Almond Breeze! I've purchased it at as high as $4.29 before but I usually buy it for around $3.79-$3.99. Today, it was 2 for $6.00 and I had a $.55 manufacturer's coupon + store double coupon. I ended up paying $1.95 for Almond Breeze...pretty much a 50% saving from my normal cost! It feels so good!
So I'll do a little here and there to start accumulating more coupons in anticipation of my experiment come September. I'd really like to see how much I can save that month. My goal is $100 off our normal food/grocery expenses.
Upcycling
Things have been shifting and changing the household lately. We moved in over two years ago and we haven't really touched the house since then. Now that we have settled in, we have a better of idea of our habits and we are working on re-doing parts of the house. We have 4 bedrooms, all of which are good-sized, but they aren't being maximized so we went to work planning and rearranging existing furniture.
The first project we did was to repaint a horrible bright blue bedroom (think "My Little Pony blue") into a much more flattering and neutral pale grey. We are also in the process of taking apart the study and moving one of the two desks out to make a sewing/crafting area for me in the grey bedroom. We have plans to turn the study into a more functional library/playroom/guest room down the road. By rearranging the study, we re-use existing stuff to complete other areas of the house. We hung curtains and added a large pendant light for the dining room. It is currently an IKEA white paper lantern but I saw this wonderful DIY hack for making a hemp pendant lamp that I want to try:
The first project we did was to repaint a horrible bright blue bedroom (think "My Little Pony blue") into a much more flattering and neutral pale grey. We are also in the process of taking apart the study and moving one of the two desks out to make a sewing/crafting area for me in the grey bedroom. We have plans to turn the study into a more functional library/playroom/guest room down the road. By rearranging the study, we re-use existing stuff to complete other areas of the house. We hung curtains and added a large pendant light for the dining room. It is currently an IKEA white paper lantern but I saw this wonderful DIY hack for making a hemp pendant lamp that I want to try:
I either want to make one gigantic one or maybe 3 medium sized orbs hung in a row. They look like West Elm's Abaca pendant but at a fraction of the price:
I can see it being a fun craft project with kids so I'll probably attempt this on a weekend when I have my niece over.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
I was Born in the Wrong Era
Hubby always jokes that I was born in the wrong era. My BA is in English and focused on 18th century Anglo literature (and comparative literature from other countries around that time.) I love all things from that era: the literary works, the history, the fashion, the furniture, and the lifestyle. It's just fascinating! Lately, I've been drawn to living the lifestyle of the generations past: I'm into baking my own bread from homemade starter, growing organic vegetables, and refurbishing furniture. Basically, it's just old-fashioned homemaking and working with one's hands.
I have one more professional hurdle to pass in the very near future but once I complete it, I will have a short period of free-time before I begin working again. During that time, I have multiple home projects that I hope to accomplish. They include: remodeling our kitchen (cabinets and backsplash), painting and re-decorating the study, painting a bedroom, installing a picture gallery, sewing slipcovers for our cream colored sofas, and buying a cheap (<$30) wingback chair to reupholster.
If I have time, I want to make a headboard for the master bedroom, hack our living room ottoman into a storage ottoman, and some other plans that include metallic grasscloth wallpaper. It's going to be a super busy but very fun-filled summer! I can't wait!!
P.S. Hubby, if you are reading this, I would really really really like a sewing machine (preferable Janome brand) for my birthday/our 2nd wedding anniversary! Oh! and an electric nail gun.
okthanksbai.
I have one more professional hurdle to pass in the very near future but once I complete it, I will have a short period of free-time before I begin working again. During that time, I have multiple home projects that I hope to accomplish. They include: remodeling our kitchen (cabinets and backsplash), painting and re-decorating the study, painting a bedroom, installing a picture gallery, sewing slipcovers for our cream colored sofas, and buying a cheap (<$30) wingback chair to reupholster.
If I have time, I want to make a headboard for the master bedroom, hack our living room ottoman into a storage ottoman, and some other plans that include metallic grasscloth wallpaper. It's going to be a super busy but very fun-filled summer! I can't wait!!
P.S. Hubby, if you are reading this, I would really really really like a sewing machine (preferable Janome brand) for my birthday/our 2nd wedding anniversary! Oh! and an electric nail gun.
okthanksbai.
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