Wednesday, April 28, 2010

ZZzzZZZzzZzZZzZ


You have to be really tired to start falling asleep with one leg on top of a cymbal and another leg underneath a cymbal.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Homemade Bread

I forgot to buy bread at the grocery store this week. Instead of making another trip there, I just whipped this up after work:



It's Simple Sassy Soda Bread from La Dolce Vegan. It was unbelievably easy to make. I was done preparing the dough before the oven preheated. Who said making bread was hard?

If you've never made bread before, try it! There are so many simple recipes out there (I would recommend VegWeb for ideas). Your whole house will smell amazing and you'll have a tasty treat afterwards. Seriously, you'll thank me later.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Berry Nice



I'm scouring the interwebs for inspiration for a special Mother's Day present. I really love this drawing, and it's sparking my brain to make some blueberry-themed goodness.

I've got to go harness this idea! Hopefully I'll have results to share soon!

Friday, April 23, 2010

Stomach Bug


I made this painting after work on Monday. It's what I imagine was in my stomach, causing all of the ruckus.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Happy Earth Day!


I have read a lot of blog posts today related to Earth Day, but only one moved me to do something (and think about doing more): this post from Re-Nest. The post is about the EPA's "Pick Five" effort to encourage people to be more environmentally conscious.

I made my pledges, and then the website urged me to print off my pledge. Maybe it's just me, but that little part doesn't seem very environmentally friendly. I guess I'll let that slide thinking maybe the people who print their pledges will be more encouraged to recycle or reduce paper use in the long run...At least the EPA's doing something to encourage us common folk!

Below is my pledge, copy+pasted in lieu of printing. I already do most of these things, but having it in writing will maybe give me that extra push!

To help protect the environment, I pledge to:
  1. Help keep water clean by using biodegradable and environmentally friendly cleaning products.
  2. Buy locally, or grow your own! Reduce air pollution caused by food and goods transport.
  3. Learn about composting, try it out!
  4. Learn about the native species and the negative effects of non native plants and animals in the environment. Plant native species in your gardens, encourage important pollinators such as bees and birds by planting gardens full of their favorite plants. Join a team in your community that removes non-native species.
  5. When purchasing goods, opt for sustainable, recycled or reused resources. Choose items in less packaging.
Pledged Thursday, April 22, 2010.

I must admit, I don't like the idea of more bees roaming around my house, but I understand that they have their place. Of course, I am a little torn by the idea that I'm to grow food, but that I'm also to grow native plants...I'll have to work that one out.


I signed the pledge around one o'clock and finished the subject of the picture below around eight o'clock
.

Yep, that's a compost bin! Now where's my prize for acting so quickly, EPA?

Kidding! I'm excited something finally gave me the kick in the pants to start composting. Here's to decomposing piles of garbage!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

My First Risotto!

I made risotto tonight for the first time. I was inspired by Alicia Silverstone's recipe in The Kind Diet. I'm a huge fan of her book!

I love the main ingredients: peas, rice, and mushrooms. I guess I was bound to enjoy it. It took a lot of work, but it was worth it. We had it with Quorn cutlets for dinner & there's enough leftover for my lunch the rest of the week.

My stomach's still in recovery, but this dish makes it very happy!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Twosday!


So, I'm still not back to normal health/feeling-wise, but for now, here are two things that help me feel better.


Oops & Romp! They're such good kitty cat buddies when you're sick. Romp has looked after me like a worried mother, while Oops has snuggled with me like a fluffy hot water bottle. I think if I could keep them with me all day, I'd be feeling much better. Maybe my doctor will write me a prescription for 24/7 kitty cat companions?

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Ugh.


This is what I feel like...hence, not posting much recently. I spent five + hours in the ER last night, but it was worth it because it certainly helped. I still feel like someone ran me over with a steam-roller, but I imagine I'll eventually feel a little better.  Off to sitting still on the couch some more!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Yuck.








= what I feel like right now. I hope I'm not getting sick. I've been on such a good, long un-sick streak!


Cross your fingers!

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Twosday!

Everyone is posting things that they are looking forward to this spring. I'm jumping on the bandwagon - only in FL, spring and summer are essentially the same thing. So below are two things I'm looking forward to for springsummerfall, aka, now through October.


1. Springs!

Well, swimming in general, but especially springs!!! We went on a trip to Alexander Springs (above) last summer, but only got to swim for 30 minutes because of a terrible storm. It didn't quite fulfill my springs need, so I'm itching to go!


2. Riding bikes!

This picture was taken 2007ish, but it pretty well sums it up. I will really be looking forward to riding the bike in the picture (I have two others). It's a Columbia Roadster from 1964! It needs new tires before it's in riding order, but I can't wait!

Monday, April 5, 2010

Crunch, Indeed!

I normally eat pretty healthily. One of the things this means, is I try to eat a decent breakfast. What this means is that I shy away from ultra-sugary breakfast cereals.

But I just had a bit of Brian's Cinnamon Toast Crunch.


...And now I want to eat the whole box!

Send me some positive healthy food vibes!

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Bunny Breakfast


This is what I made Brian for breakfast this morning: Daniyell's Banana Pancakes from La Dolce Vegan topped with an over easy egg face and American cheese features. I had a bunny shaped pancake with simple maple syrup & Earth Balance.

I love any excuse to make ridiculous foods.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Summer Clothes, In "Spring"


I have found it! The article of clothing that I will be wearing all summer (which, in FL, means now through October).


It's a kind of cheesy little tiered denim skirt from Old Navy. I picked it up on sale a few weeks ago for $15. It's so very comfortable, is super-thin, and is nice enough to wear to work (at least on casual days). 

Last year, I wore a pair of gray denim shorts from American Apparel almost every day. This year - it will be this skirt. And I found it just in time too, since my car said it was 87-degrees this afternoon. 

Bring it on, summer!

Thursday, April 1, 2010

No Fooling...

I was going to try to think up some goofy little bit to post today in honor of April Fool's, but I've decided to take it in a completely different direction.
 
My paternal grandmother, Leah, would have been 90 years old today. Sadly, she passed away just before my birthday in 2008. But don't fret - this is not meant to be a tear-jerker, it's meant to honor her and all of the things she imparted to me in the 25 years she was in my life.
 
The first of these things that she contibuted - my name. Her middle name was Rachel, and this was one influential factor in choosing such a swell name for me.
 
Secondly, and this is good or bad, depending upon how you look at it, I'll credit her, in part, with my caffeine addiction. When I was little, she called me her "Coca-Cola Kid". She drank soda constantly. Forever. And she started me on this path at a young age, allegedly giving me Coke in my bottle, though I obviously don't remember this. Her drink of choice was Coca-Cola until I introduced her to Dr. Pepper when I was 11 or 12. She was hooked after that! And say what you will about soda/caffeine, she lived a long and (almost all) healthy 87+ years!!!
 
Next on the list - my craftiness (and by this, I mean my propensity for handicrafts). She used to quilt by hand with her sister and friends on a large frame hanging in her screen room. I started pitching in no later than age three. Who knows how many quilts are floating around that have little patches obviously done by a toddler! But she was nothing but supportive and encouraging in the process. And she taught me how to make little Barbie clothes around the same time. I wish I still had some of those fashionable little items!
 
The next one took quite a long time to develop - my green thumb! She worked in her several (large) gardens every day, weather permitting. And I mean, EVERY day. I hated it when I was little because I couldn't stand being out in the heat that long. She was in her 60's and 70's and she could run laps around me through the garden! All the while growing enough food to feed the family and a ton of other people who couldn't provide for themselves. And what she couldn't eat or give away, she canned, so no one was every without tasty fruits and veggies. About the only thing that I was good at during this time was string peas and helping her dry out seeds. I had a tendency to kill anything I tried to grow until I got a hearty bonzai in college. The last time I talked to her when she was at all close to 100%, I told her she had inspired me to start gardening. And I've done just that. There are half a dozen cherry tomatoes on my plant right now that survived a dozen freezes this winter. I have to contribute that to her handing down some good genes and sneaking in some gardening knowledge despite my protests!
 
There are all kinds of other, intagible things that I feel like I got from her - my desire to help others, my sense of humor - but I don't want to get too sappy. I'll just say that I miss her and I am lucky to have had the best gradmother of all time.