Books, Books, Books

Yikes.  I have so many books that I have purchased in the last year to read and yet...here they all are (and I am sure there are more in a few other piles or drawers around the house) - still unread. 

I have been so stressed this last year and have had so much on my plate that I just would tell myself that I "can't make time to read."  Yet, I believe that is exactly what my soul needs.  There is nothing better to me than to curl up in my big comfy chair and read a great book.  So, starting now, I am going to set aside time each week to do just that - curl up with one of my neglected books and take the time for me.

Feeling Great...Eat to Live Update

Seriously, I am so pleased with my new Eat to Live diet (I hate that word...diet).  I have been doing this for not even two weeks, and I have already lost 15 pounds and I eat a LOT.  Unbelievable.  Now I have a lot of weight to ultimately lose, so I'm sure it will come off faster at first, but the success has been even more of a motivator, not to mention that I am just feeling so much better!!

 I think for a non-vegan or non-vegetarian, this would be a hard way of eating to start...very extreme.  Luckily I have been a vegetarian for more than 15 years and have been a complete vegan for a year and a half so the transition has been very easy.

I haven't started making any special recipes, etc....still looking forward to that.  Right now I am doing the strict 6-week aggressive program....programming my mind and body to get past the food addiction.  If you had told me three weeks ago that I would not be able to eat some of my planned foods since I was full I would have laughed out loud.  And if you had told me that I could not have any between meal snacks, I would have said HA!  I would have said..." I can't go that long between eating."  When in actuality, I am NOT hungry between meals.

Breakfast and Lunch today (ignore the ugly paper plates and plastic - I was at work)....

(Is there a secret to peeling a pretty orange....my oranges are always so messy looking.....but at least they taste super yummy!!)

Until next time...

Peace.

Eat to Live and a Lovely Farmers Market

A lovely friend gave me the Eat to Live book by Joel Fuhrman and I love it.  Officially started that eating plan today.  I have been vegan (and before that vegetarian) for a long time, but I always add way too many processed foods, etc.  This feels right to me.  Prior to this, I have lost 30 pounds so far this year, but at my current weight, I have so much more to lose.....more than 100 pounds.  But actually, even more important, or at least equally as important, I believe that this will improve my health (high blood pressure, severe osteoarthritis in both knees, etc), and even prolong my life.  That's a good great amazing thing!!

 

To that end, my wonderful mom ( who is also my best friend) and I took a drive down to my aunts in Gordonsville, VA (about an hour and half from my house) and about a half hour in found this fantastic farmers market.  YAY!  Luscious vegetables!! 

(I am so in love with both these large cherry tomatoes and the amazing tomatoes below!! YUMMY!)

I am continually amazed and just in awe of how beautiful Virginia is.  I am so happy to have been born, raised and still living in this beautiful state!!

And finally, I have to leave you with a few pictures of some of my beloved 4-legged children......no reason....they just make me so happy!

Baby Spike....

Marty...

and dear Henry as I try to work (well, okay, I am really on Facebook, but I had intentions of working!)

I could go on with pictures of my furry 4-legged children, but I'll save that for another day!!

Peace my friends,

Lolly

I try, folks, I really try

My goal, truly folks, is to be a good blogger and blog regularly. I will get there soon, I am hoping.  I think of things to blog about constantly but somehow lately, life has been getting in the way.

This past weekend, I was happy to get some cooking done. I like to cook things on the weekends that I can freeze portions of for future use and dinners.

I made a really great homemade vegetable broth that I then froze in individual 2-cup containers. It smelled WONDERFUL and I am really happy with it since it has no sodium and just fresh vegetables and water! Lovely.

Then I made two tofu loaves - soooo good and so low calorie.  I froze individual servings and was also able to share some with my mom, who had her first taste of tofu.  She loved it, so YAY!!

And finally, on Sunday, I made a really tasty black bean soup in the crock pot....and got to use some of my homemade vegetable broth!!  Delish!!

 And I would also like to share with you my beautiful grandmother, who just celebrated her 93rd birthday on Sunday.  She lives in a wonderful nursing home about 10 minutes from me.  Although she can be stubborn and spoiled sometimes, she is an amazing woman.  And heck, if you get to the age of 93, you can be stubborn and spoiled....you've earned it!!

See you next time - hopefully with not such a big gap in between blog posts!

~Lolly

Saturday...and the livin' is easy!

Good afternoon, folks!  After a long week, the weekend is here! WOOT! My mom and I are meeting a group of our wonderful friends tonight so that will be fun. 

I lost about 2 pounds this week (I have my weigh-ins on Thursday nights).  Not as much as I had hoped, but considering my weekends are usually spent eating too much and all the wrong things (my obsessive compulsiveness rearing its ugly head).  Yet, when I plan and pack my breakfast and lunches during the work week, I eat very well and in moderation.  This weekend, so far, I am eating only healthy, good for me foods in all the right portions.  I know it's only Saturday, but normally by this time, I would be up probably a few pounds between Friday morning and Saturday morning.  I really have a food addiction and it is truly a day at a time.  I want to be healthy and happy.  If I can live with my conviction of being vegetarian for 15 years  before going vegan a year + ago, I can do this too.  It's all connected.

I had planned on doing only a whole foods diet , but have adapted it a bit for what I know will work for me.  I will still do mostly whole foods, but will include Ezekiel Breads occassionally, Gardein products occassionally, and the cereal I eat for breakfast during the week (with raw almonds and either sliced banana or strawberries).  So, not exactly all whole foods, but I think this is what is going to work for me.

So, for now, this is what I think will work for me and I am pleased with it.  Always a vegan diet, but not all whole foods! Healthy, yes, and that is most important for me right now.

Lunch just now was super yummy....a sprouted grain english muffin toasted, 2 tbsp hummus, with some Mediterranean tabbouleh added on top. It was REALLY good and quite satisfying.  Who knew....a measured portion would be enough....took me a while, but for today, I get it. :)

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Lolly

All Locked Up, Safe and Secure

Stressful day today.  I was leaving for work early this morning - had brought my stuff out to the car and then had to go back in the house to check on my old pup Lily.  Well...I couldn't get in!  The door lock was broken.  We had a ton of rain so I waited a few minutes, thinking maybe it had something to do with being wet.  No.  I was locked out of my house.  OMG.

I had to go to work (Mondays are very busy).  I called a local locksmith and arranged to meet him at my house after work. Of course I freaked out all day at work.  My crazy brain was convinced that the unknown locksmith was going to rob my house before I got home (nothing against locksmiths....it was just my weird brain!) and the alternative, I was then convinced that my front door would suddenly unlock and all my animal babies would escape.  Yes, I was a basket case!!

Finally, I got home and met the locksmith.  It took him more than an hour to even get the door open.  Apparently the latch or something had just disintegrated. I just had the lock installed 4 years ago when I bought my new front door.  Frustrating, but  at any rate I am all locked up safe and sound - and $100+ lighter in the wallet - and am grateful that everything worked out.

On a happy note, Mom and I went to Snow Creek Farm about two months ago (our friend opens her home 3-4 times a year to sell her amazing crafts, art, etc) and she gave us some pussy willow stalks for decoration.  Well my mom had mentioned that when she was young she stuck a pussy willow branch in the ground and watered it religiously and a pussy willow grew.  I wasn't sure, but thought, what the heck.I stuck some in a large Grecian pot and some directly in the garden area.  Well..........................tada.....................I actually have pussy willows growing............take a look.

And I am happy to report that even more are starting to *bloom* in the ground. Who knew, but I am thrilled.

And finally, another picture that makes me happy.  As I sit here at this moment in my big comfy overstuffed chair and ottoman, this is what I see at my feet just beyond my laptop - my sweet heart cat, Freida (ignore my funky foot).

The Cove

I saw the creators of this documentary called The Cove on Oprah on Earth Day and was literally sickened.  It was created by dolphin activist Ric O'Barry,director Louie Psihoyos and co-produced by Fisher Stevens.  I haven't seen the whole movie but just the Oprah Show and the trailer was a shock to my system.  I know I should watch the movie, but it is just so disturbing I am not sure I could physically get through it. 

After watching The Cove, Ric O'Barry says people will be shocked by the slaughter and inspired by the magnificence of these mammals. "It's not about intelligence. It's about consciousness. They are self-aware like humans are self-aware," Ric says. "I don't believe that the fishermen are aware of that." 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KRD8e20fBo

I understand that there are atrocities everywhere, even in my own area, but I think it's important to talk about all of them and to share what we learn.

Check out the trailer and I would love to know if you have seen the documentary. The slaughter begins again in September.

Lolly