Blogger Hiatus, Depression, Health

Health. Is that a word anyone else cringes at? If there was a word that made me feel instantly guilty, that's it. 

Living gluten free is not too much of a struggle for me anymore. I'm finding it easier to resist the easy grabs - bagels, take out pizza, soft wheat fast food buns, Timbits, birthday cake. How I miss the easy wheat-eating life. But it's working for me so far, and there's enough substitutions out there these days that I'm able to have the occasional piece of toast or blueberry muffin if I want it. 

I don't know what the problem is now, though. Dairy? I wonder if I need to cut out something else that I love just for the sake of my seemingly increasingly sensitive digestive system. Lately I've been very bad and have had Dairy Queen three times in the last week! Talk about the best way to throw off all the hard work you've put into eating healthy. My digestive system hates me, my skin is freaking out, and my hair is falling out. 

That's another thing. My hair is actually falling out.  I don't know if it's stress, diet, or shampoo. After brushing, or finger combing, I literally will have strands on my hands, brush, falling out. I will feel one brush along my arm while at work - when I wasn't even touching it. I mean really...I haven't changed anything. I always brush it, I've been straightening it almost daily for the last four months (always with heat protectant), and haven't dyed it in longer than that. I try to take good care of it, and this is how it repays me? By fleeing my head? Come on, hair, that's just not going to do.

We recently went down island to visit some great aunts and my great uncle. I think the only purpose for this visit was to make my mom happy - it was kind of a sad, dull, and awkward experience.  Spending the day hanging with 90-something relatives is not usually a barrel of laughs, but they are all of varying health, and none of it is great. It was good to see them...I don't often get the chance to go to family functions as they're usually short notice and on days that I work. Anyway. The thing that got me was while my mom proudly exclaimed about my younger siblings' success in post secondary, my sister's promise ring from her boyfriend, and my aunt's farm's exploits to her dying aunts and uncle, she always paused when she came to me, the bisexual, uneducated first born, who has done nothing but work at the same job for four years, and says a variation of the following to each relative: "...and Samantha...has a dog, which she takes to dog shows, and wins ribbons."

 I'm glad my biggest claim to fame is the fact that my dog exists.

"Give me a heads up before you tear me down." Sam Tsui "Heads Up"

I dream that I will become something someone can be proud of.

 The last conversation I had with my father centered around my dog, my roommate's car, the fact that my little brother is moving away for school, and the plans to move in the next 3-4 years. He described their new home as "downsized", with room for "our children, and their spouses, and their children". 

"Dad, you sure seem to have high hopes of procreation in the next couple of years."

"Well, your sister has her promise ring. Didn't you ever think of adoption?"

 YOU SAY THIS BECAUSE YOU THINK I'M GAY?!

For the record, I have nothing against lesbian and gay couples. It just killed me that he assumed I would never amount to whatever pedestal he has placed my siblings on and therefore would HAVE to adopt a child in order to have a family. Thanks, Dad.

I think that's all the rambling I have for today. Just back to my old ways and feeling pretty squashed lately. 

xx

  

 

 

 

 

My Green Smoothie

Hi guys! *waves*

So the other morning I didn't have to work until later, so I decided to take a few extra minutes making my morning green smoothie and show you guys what I like to have. Keep in mind that what I put in these does change from time to time based on what I have in the house, but this is more or less what I have in it. 

I use my Nutribullet blender to make these. It was a much-debated purchase but in the end I'm so glad I went ahead and bought it. I make an effort to use it almost every day, and when I don't I actually find myself thinking about the smoothie I missed in my day.

I hope you can excuse the less-than-stellar iphone photos.

First I fill about half the large cup with organic baby spinach. This is my favourite "green" for the green smoothie. Some people use kale, swiss chard, even spring mix or parsley. I like the flavor of spinach, so this is really all I use. I always buy organic. Keep in mind I STUFF the spinach in there. It may not look like a lot but that's two handfuls crammed down in the bottom. I like to squish as much as I can into the cup.

Next I slice, then half the slices, about a quarter of a cucumber. I miss this when I don't have it for my smoothie. Again, I try and buy these organic, and I usually get at least 2 at a time. That will last about a week, then I go get fresh ones. It's so refreshing and really adds to the flavor, and of course green color! It's probably not necessary to cut it up so small, but I'm paranoid and want my blender to last as long as it can. Considering I'm using it almost daily to make these drinks (and others!) I want to prolong it's life the best I can. Part of that is not making it work too hard each time.

 My green smoothie doesn't feel right without pineapple. I use 2-3 "stalks" in each one, depending on how big they are and how much room I have left in the cup. I buy it pre-cut, which i know is the lazy way out, but my goal is to make making these smoothies as simple as possible so I am more inclined to keep doing it. That's the way my brain works. Anyway. This is part of the "fruit component. I usually do 50% greens/veggies and 50% fruit, as I like mine to taste sweet. The pineapple really masks the taste of the spinach, so if you're new to this I highly recommend it.

I half a lemon, cut a couple slices to put in plain water, then squeeze the juice of the rest of it into my smoothie. I am COMPLETELY, and utterly, irreversibly, obsessed with lemon. Lately I've been trying to make an effort to drink more water, and nothing makes it go down better than having it taste great. Lemon does that for you, without adding any chemicals, sugar, or calories, and it helps detox your system with its cleansing properties. Get lemon daily. 

As an add-on, I like putting in either a tablespoon of chia seeds (which are SO good, by the way; another obsession) or ground flax seeds. Yes, you do have to grind them into powder for your system to do anything with them. I used the Nutribullet to do this - it comes with a Milling blade made for turning seeds into powders and nuts/water into nut milk. I just bought a container of organic flax seeds then ground them in the Nutribullet until you get a rather fine powder. It's not going to be perfect. You could buy it pre-ground if you wanted, I just found it more cost effective this way as I knew the Nutribullet could grind them for me.Anyway, flax is a good source of fibre so it's a great add on to your smoothie, and it adds a different texture, so if you don't like more watery drinks, add this to thicken it up. I don't do this everyday.

Now, you could leave it the way it was, but because I only had 2 stalks of pineapple left this day I added some fresh raspberries. Frozen would work great too; I just happened to have fresh ones. I also really like frozen sliced strawberries in this. They work as nutritional ice cubes!

Now we're done loading up all our ingredients. How pretty does this look?

We're almost there. Just add enough water to either go up to the Max line (don't go past it!) or less if you want a thicker smoothie. I usually go up to the line or just below it as I've done this day. I use filtered water from my Brita filter, but you can use any liquid you want - cocount water, orange juice, whatever. I personally don't like the taste of coconut water, but it's health benefits are boundless so it's recommended for this kind of thing. I stick to the plain water with the lemon in there.

Screw on your Extractor blade, make sure it's tight, then flip the whole works over. Lock it into the power base (there are small notches which guide you). 

 Blend...

 Keep blending...you can see it's turned this - in all honesty - gross color.

It's lucky it tastes so good, because it's certainly prettier if you don't add berries or flax. I blend it until the consistency looks the way I want it. This varies day to day.

There you go! Hope you guys enjoyed. Want to see more recipes in the future? Let me know in the comments!

Bonus: Here's my latest fruit infused water obsession: Lemon and strawberries! So yummy.

Picture Roll

My baby puppy Maia, a few weeks before she came home. I think she was almost 2 months old here. Maybe a tad younger.

Here's another one! Baby fluffy puppy <3

Shameless selfie.

Maia, older now, practicing her "down"

Christmas day. Maia's first Christmas was lovely

My favourite place is a walk in the woods!

In January I wrote out this list of resolutions. So far I'm working on all of them besides the driver's license...it's difficult when you work 8-5 and the office is only open 9-4! Since I don't drive, it's not like I can whip myself down there on my lunch break.

My 2014 Birthday picture. I'm 22 this year! I feel like I'm finally starting to make headway with my goals.

The beginning of this year brought some of the heaviest snow days I've seen in CR.

More shameless selfie time.

RAW dessert - blended frozen bananas, almond milk, cacao powder, chia seeds, with cinnamon and blueberries on top! It was SO delicious. Too bad my blender croaked just when I started getting into making green smoothies.

Maia's face when I wouldn't give her a treat. She is 6 months old here, in her crate at her first ever conformation show!! She gained a point here, which goes towards her Canadian Championship.

The same weekend, Maia and I decided we needed to take a selfie together in the car.

Maia posing on her first ever off leash walk in her favorite trail by our house.

Phoenix loves couch cushions. He keeps wondering when we're giving Maia back. Unlucky for him...we're not. Hahah.

Health and GF Update.

Hey guys.

I'm still not sure if anyone actually reads my online journal, but I thought I'd do a quick update on my thoughts and my health, mental and physical.

Ever since I started a Gluten Free journey about a year ago, I have discovered that I'm passionate about finding out where food comes from. I would be lying, however, if I said I didn't still cheat and order things like pasta and pizza, eat chocolate and drink Tim Hortons every day. But for the most part, I'm becoming very cautious and aware of what I'm purchasing and putting in my house and my body. For example, I'm paying close attention to recycled materials, organic stamps or labels, and once my local Sunday market comes back you can bet I'll be frequenting it for local produce. 

I am in no way saying this to be snobby - but there are so many people on this planet that see a burger and fries from a fast food joint as a staple in their diet. You know that they're aware it's not the "smart" choice. But they do it anyway.

Since going gluten free, I haven't been able to order the foods I would usually order. I haven't been able to eat burgers, take away pizzas, crazy bread, pasta, bagels, sandwiches, etc. The list goes on. Of course there are so many GF versions of these foods now. And for a treat, these are great to have in the house. But they're just not the same, and there's a reason for that. Human beings were never meant to consume wheat, really. They were never meant to consume genetically modified corn and apples sprayed with wax and pesticides. God forbid a bug crawl on your fruit. That's why you wash it, right?

I don't know. And I'm by no means an expert. And I'm kind of getting off track.

My point to all this rambling is this: whole foods will improve your health. Consuming whole, well-produced foods will work wonders on your body. You know that after eating a large, fatty or starchy meal you feel like crap. You feel that way for a reason. 

I'm making an effort to include more whole foods in my life, and I think so many other people could benefit from doing the same thing. It's not hurting anyone! Actually, it would probably hurt less. I'm not saying veganism or paleoism or gluten free living is for everyone. It seems there's a new diet trend out there for people from all walks of life these days. You can read online, pick up a book, watch a video about any kind of lifestyle you wish. But who says you should conform to being any one of these things? Why can't you just eat wholesome foods that make you feel good and make your body into what you want it to be? 

Most of us want to lose weight. I'm included in that bracket - no one is perfect and I do have pounds to lose. I'm not saying I don't. By implementing a raw, whole food diet into my regular life, I feel that I'm helping myself get better. And if one person can do that, so can others. 

There are so many helping hands out there these days.

Anyway, let me go into a bit more detail of some switches I've been using lately to help progress into a raw food diet over the next year or so. 

It took me almost a year to go Gluten Free and learn about the lifestyle and what wheat does to my body. I know now that I can't eat gluten, and that I feel like absolute shit on a stick if I do (accidentally, or otherwise). I haven't intentionally eaten gluten in months, but I did have an attack by a restaurant back in January which was absolutely brutal. I've learned so much and I want to keep learning. Here's a few changes I've been slowly making in my diet, home, life. I hope they help you too.

Give up: Tim Hortons Mocha

Try this: Double Double Tim Hortons Coffee

I only drink one of these on an average day, and sometimes we don't go at all. I mostly have these in the morning at work. I used to order a mocha all the time - and I know that a double double still involves processed white sugar and dairy cream - but it's better than half hot chocolate. It's fewer calories, less fat and less sugar. This is one vice I allow myself - I am not the same person without morning coffee! I hope in the next year to slowly get away from the sugar entirely. Or, to ask for just cream and add my own agave or something instead of the white sugar. I've become very in love with coffee and I don't want that love to end...I usually just have the one cup a day.

Give up: Processed fruit juices

Try this: Fruit waters

I haven't had a lot of orange juice lately. Instead I've been cutting up a lemon, and/or a handful of blueberries or raspberries, sometimes cucumber, and putting that in either a large glass or small pitcher in the fridge overnight. I've been drinking that instead of fruit juice from the store. The best part? You're getting additional hydration, it tastes great, is really cheap to make, and you can use any fruit you want! I've seen these done with herbs too - like mint. You can always blend a fruit juice and strain it, but I don't have a high speed blender (or at least one with a high enough speed), so I've been doing the "fruit infused" waters instead.

Give up: Brown sugar (in teas) - I still use these sugars for baking etc

Try this: Agave syrup

 I've become a lover of agave lately. Some I like more than others. And I like this better in chai tea then anything else. I'd rather have chai than another tea anyway. But I'll get to that. My favourite is the Nectave one, but it's only available for purchase in bulk. So when I see it at Winners, I grab as many as they have. I love the flavor of this one. There's another brand I get at the grocery store too, and I keep a bottle of the vanilla agave at work for coffee if I happen to have some there - which isn't too often, as I usually need to buy a creamer too. Anyway. This stuff is really sweet - the one I'm currently using says "25% sweeter than sugar, so you don't have to use as much". And they aren't lying. I know when I've put too much in. Since I don't like honey, this is a good alternative to more processed sugars, and I don't care for artificial sweetener. However, agave isn't for everyone. It's actually high in sugar, so if you're diabetic, this won't work for you (I know this only because my mom is, so she can't use it). Otherwise I really like using this in tea or coffee, and I feel better knowing that it's organic.

Give up: Windex, or other chemical-based cleaners

Try this:  Green, organic, or chemical free cleaner, like IQ, Method, PC Organics

I don't use most chemical-based cleaners anymore. The only things I haven't found a replacement for is drano, which is pretty difficult to find a working one that's organic, my laundry detergent (the one I have is the only one that hasn't made me itchy!) and the wetjet refills for my Swiffer. I use PC Organics toilet bowl cleaner (works just as well as Lysol!), IQ grapefruit bathroom cleaner and green tea all purpose cleaner, and Bath and Body Works hand soaps - which aren't organic, but they are at least cruelty free, and I really like them. This one holds true of tissues, toilet paper, paper towel, and the like. Even my cat litter says it's biodegradable. Eventually I want to get a cat genie so I don't have to throw litter away at all.

Give up: Cheap, processed chocolate

Try this: Organic, fair trade chocolate

Chocolate companies use way too much crap in their treats. It's not necessary - organic chocolate comes pretty close in price (not exactly, but if you think about it, it's pretty reasonable), and is usually fair trade too. I like the Camino, Green Black, and Endangered Species varieties. Yes, I still buy crappy chocolate sometimes. But I'm conscious of what I'm doing, and if I'm in the grocery store and get hit by my sweet tooth, I make a point of checking out the organic section. You can usually find vegan versions too.

Give up: Kraft Dinner, Sidekicks, other boxed meals

Try this: Annie's organic macaroni and cheese/GF varieties 

Who said healthy food can't taste good? When I'm really lazy and want something warm and comforting, I usually check my GF cupboard for a box of Annie's Organic. There are two GF varieties, a traditional mac and cheese and then a shells and white cheddar, which I prefer. These make a quick and easy meal that usually feed two portions or if I'm only cooking for myself, dinner and leftovers for lunch the next day. There are so many kinds for everyone else too, so if you're looking for something new, I seriously recommend looking at these the next time you're in the store. Yes, they are more expensive than regular KD, but they are certified organic, and for someone like myself who actually can't eat KD anymore, they're a great option.

These are just a few of the swaps I've made in everyday life. Let me know down below if you're interested in seeing more. I'm sure I could come up with a ton of posts about this.

Thanks for reading...

 

Resolutions 2014.

This post took forever to get up. And not for the reasons you'd think - thinking too much on each one, too busy to write, etc etc. I'm basically just lazy. I've been spending a lot of time on my beauty blog, which you can check out here if you haven't already. So if you're looking to check in with me a little more regularly, hop on over there for all things beauty related.

But anyway, this is not what this post is about. 

RESOLUTIONS for 2014

Lose Weight

This is a constant one for most people. It was one for me last year as well, and I think I'm on my way. 

Gluten Free

In 2013 I started a gluten free diet. For the most part I'm cautious of what I eat now but I have cheated and haven't been as careful as I could be. I'm going to make it a goal for 2014 to be very cautious of what I'm eating and where it's from. I think it's easier to watch what I eat when you take any possibility of ordering in or eating out off the table, so to speak. For example, I can't order a burger through a drive through or a take home pizza anymore. It's also encouraging me to cook more at home and eat a little better.

Organic, Fair Trade, Local (Food)

I'm trying to purchase as many organic, fair trade products as I can in the coming year. I'm already doing this, but I could be trying harder (like I said in the GF section). With every organic purchase over processed purchase, I feel better about things.

Cruelty Free, Vegan, Not tested on animals, as natural as possible (Cosmetics, Body care, Hair care, and Nail care)

I am making it a goal to only purchase personal care items that are at the very least cruelty free (meaning against animal testing and the use of animal products in cosmetics). I'm also trying to stick with products that are as natural as possible. For example, most of what I was using a year ago was full of chemicals which are no good for your skin! Now I'm obsessed with vegan, organic skincare which works better than the chemical-filled garbage.

Save Money

Again, another common new year's resolution for a lot of people. There is talk of going away on a trip to England at the tail end of 2014, so I really do need to jump on this resolution as quickly as possible.

Get L license

This joins in with the laziness thing. I am now 22 and don't have my driver's license yet. What a lazy ass I am. One of my big goals for this year is to get on learning. The sooner I learn the sooner I will get places. Literally. 

WISH LIST for 2014

I thought I would include some of the things I'm wishing for this year. These are items, so don't get all fussy on the fact that I have a wish list of things I plan to save up for and/or purchase this year. It's just something I wanted to put up somewhere so I'll remember.

Cat Genie

My boys will be 3 years old in May and I've wanted one of these since I got them. They're expensive, but I like that they are eco-friendly, and scooping won't be necessary anymore! And I can stop buying litter to throw away later. 

Queen (or larger) Bed

Yes, I want to buy a bigger bed. How else can my cats sleep away the day in ultimate comfort?

Queer As Folk Complete Series

Again, something that might sound a little weird to some people. I've been meaning to buy this series since I finished it a couple years ago (I watched all the seasons, almost three times, online). I just haven't done it yet. I think this year I will save up and purchase it for myself.

Alright guys, that's my new year's post for 2014! Who knows how often I'll come back to this blog, but if you want to catch up with me, hop over to my beauty blog (link is in the top of this post). I'm on there a lot more frequently.

Thanks for reading! Ciao!