Sept 21, 2019

September 21st, 2019 -- a few lifetimes ago-- I'm watching that big, bright Ferris Wheel Ignite and elate our tourists from near and far But to me, it's not an attraction. It's a Beacon. East. Home. Back to the Nutmeg State, where I was born Deanna and learned to become her, through experiment, and loss, and friendship. and pain. And I'm blasting Lizzo at the top of my phone's lungs because she's preaching to the choir about men being thugs "Why men great 'til they gotta be great?" When I thought my future was laid out like an open picket fence I thought we'd have a family and be surrounded by friends I heard the mountains calling, and could smell the ocean breeze-- but grasping onto threads of silk kept me slipping to my knees. I was begging you to put me first-- about the ABV, But the chance of us repairing this decreased dramatically When you lied about that text-- the dealer-- and acted like a joke. You were out "getting a haircut," but you were out there -- buying coke. And all the sounds of all your anger still resonate within. Holding onto my self confidence That faded paper-thin. I'll pull myself back up again and find my truest form The kween of natured witches Igniting my own storm I'll frame my dreams and passions and paint them on my walls I'm not scared to start this all again-- theres no where left to fall.

2011 to 2021 - Ten Year Transformation

At this point in my life, at almost 34 years old, I feel like I have lived a few lives. Ten years ago was a few lives ago. I was 23, turning 24. I was almost 5 years into one of my most significant relationships. I was graduating college and looking forward to being a teacher. I was also applying to grad school programs for Creative Writing all across the country. And then when I graduated in May, there werent many teaching jobs. We were all still trying to recover from the recession and teachers who were set to retire stayed in their careers a bit longer, making teaching jobs scarse. I decided to enjoy my summer and go to Bonnaroo. I put my resume on Monster.com and hoped for the best. I knew I could keep Nannying in the meantime, and could make decent money. I was living in West Haven, on the Orange/Woodbridge line, with my boyfriend and his father, in a small two family home with a nice backyard, on a quiet cauldesack. I played shows at local venues with my band Parachute Stage. I started working at CDW, a technology reseller, that summer.

My Facebook Memoir

One thing that I've always enjoyed is looking through old photo albums. I'm reflective and nostalgic, and photographs have a way of pulling me back into that moment, and making me feel. Most of the time, they make me feel happy. Sometimes they make me feel sad. They make me miss the people I have lost, literally or figuratively, throughout the years. But what I have been reflecting the most on lately, is how they seem to create chapters in the many lives I have lived. The last year and a half has been transformational for me. I moved back home to CT, adopted a dog, I met my twin flame,

we moved in together, saved for a house, we bought the house, and I am feeling more happy, and 'me,' and stable than ever. I find myself constantly assessing who "me," is, and how she has transformed during these 33 years of life, and although I can't fully map out my childhood, the last 15 years of my life have been documented and organized by me, habitually, as a live and living memoir, on facebook. But I woke up this morning scared; what if the facebook servers went down for good? Would I ever be able to retrieve those photos? They have been uploaded there for safekeeping, but in this dumpster-fire of a world we live in, what is safe? So I'm making a fail-safe. And I'm one-upping it. I'm going to re-live these photographs, and talk about the stories behind them. The people, the places, the feels. I'm going to delete the photos I dont feel connected to, or feel like writing about, and I think I'm going to learn a lot. I'm going to start from my first photos, and move towards today. Maybe one day, i'll end up incorporating childhood photos from physical albums ( I uploaded some of those too). We'll see where this journey brings me, but I'm happy to take the first steps. Chapter 1 : Jonathan Law High School When facebook first came out, the only way to create an account was with a certified College email address. I remember punching my fresh Southern CT State University email address in and creating an account, at the end of my high school senior year. It was probably one of the best times of my life. I dont remember having strangling feelings of depression and anxiety during that time, though I was always worried about doing well in school and in my extracurricular activities. I was involved in a lot. I played trumpet in Marching Band, Concert Band, and Jazz Band. I sang in choir ( and chamber singers during the brief time it existed). I co-ran Poetry Jam club. I was the president of Diversity Club. I was a Natural Helper, who was involved in peer mediation. I had friends in drama club. I had friends who played football. I worked at a local discount grocery store called XPECT Discounts. I had a high school boyfriend. I had a stable family with parents who were married, employed, and who supported and cared about me. I had teachers who were supportive of me. I had gotten into college and had dreams of being an Elementary School Teacher. My hair was dyed red with a Josie and the Pussycat Dolls cut that was short, and spunky, flipping out at the ends. I played open mics with my guitar and friends at the local Cafe Atlantique. I hung out in the woods by my house. I went fishing with my dad. How does this work with pictures? This is my nephew, Hudson, about a month ago. He turned 6 months today

I've been thinking a lot about my past and what lead me to today. I've been feeling extra grateful lately too, because I'm realizing that many of the goals I set out to achieve have been accomplished-- and I never really sat down and took a minute to congratulate myself. It wasn't luck. It was the stars aligning with every positive choice I made. Every difficult deciion I pursued. Every time I gave something up, or sacrificed my time, energy or money. Each step I took was one in growth, and I've used each experience-- positive or negative, to learn and drive myself closer to my goals. Closer to my Big Picture Dreams. I have a lot of dreams, and they adapt and grow and change as I do. The path is never straight, but rather more like a hike. There are uphills, downhills, creeks where you get your feet muddy, high winds, where you have to hold on for your life. Sometimes you get wet. You have to learn how to dance in the rain and forrage onward. Find ways to be creative, and stay warm. Be grateful for the beauty surrounding you, and the experience you are having in that moment. Knowing that you can never have that moment back. I don't go on Twitter much these days, but I recently checked in, and came across a Tweet from my ex- we'll call him Raymond, because i'm not close with anyone named Raymond. Raymond tweeted on October 20th, 2021: "It’s been five years to the day since I met my wife under very unlikely circumstances. We started at a @SavetheSound cleanup and ended at Outer Space. We’ve been through a lot in a short time, and I’m grateful for it all." The thing is, this tweet triggered me. And i dont use that phrase often. But it did. Because on October 20th, 2017, Raymond and I were still together. We were planning flights for him and his mother to come to Chicago and celebrate Thanksgiving with me there. You see, I had moved to Chicago a few months earlier, alone, and Raymond and I decided to do the long-distance relationship thing, because we had been together NINE years, and he encouraged me to take this promotion out in Chicago so we could start a new life, once he finished his Masters Degree, which would be at dissertation stage around Christmas time. The Master's degree that I had supported him through, after supporting him through re-starting his bachelors degree, and associates degree, after he dropped out of college initially, and had lied to me about graduating, at the party we first met at. It's a mouthful, I know. I invested in Raymond. Why? Because we met when I was 19, and we were together through nearly all of my 20's. We had grown up together. And he was my best friend. And his family was my family. And our friends were entirely integrated, where every single holiday, birthday, and vacation encompassed our tight-knit crew. When Raymond and I officially broke up, on Saturday, November 11th, after various phone calls and discusions around it being mutual, and thoughtful, especially while we explain it to family and friends. Everyone took it hard. Most people were confused. The thing is, Raymond and I had been trying to make it work for a long time. There was so much good in our relationship, but it was much more like a friendship than a relationship. And I think that's why it hurts more. When you find out that your best friend, who you have been in a relationship with for nine years, was cheating on you-- when you have confirmation of that from a Tweet.... it burns.

Dont Settle for Less

What is a perfect relationship?

What does the perfection relationship look like? Feel like?

What qualities does a perfect partner have?

What can you bring to the table?



These are all questions I have asked myself, throughout the years, as I "searched" for my perfect match.

And I came to understand that

The Roaring 20's

It's been awhile! I'm re-starting this baby to create accountability for myself on this renewed journey towards a Healthier Dee.

It is January 2nd, 2020, and I have committed to a 30 day detox including:
* No Alcohol
* No Caffeine
* No Added sugar
* No Gluten
* No Excess Social Media


My goal is to join The Edge and workout 3-5 days a week, including Yoga. I also intend on continuing my nightly meditations and add a small journal entry before going to bed.

This morning I had a green smoothie for breakfast

Lunch was a cup of tuna salad and a cup of fresh beets w roasted red onions and goat cheese.

Took my multi vitamin in hopes to raise my vitamin D levels and energy levels.

Still feeling like i could totally take a mid day nap, but pushing through.

Today is Gym and Grocery prep day. LETS DO THIS

30 Day Salad Challenge

Happy New Years Veggie Lovers!

2014 means yet another Fresh Start, so why not start out with a fun and veggie filled challenge to get the year going strong?

Every January I set new goals for myself, and this year I have some big ones:

1.) Lose 10 pounds by my 26th Birthday (January 30th 2014)
2.) Pay at least $10,000 of my loans off in 2014
3.) Let go of things that I cannot change and focus on what I can change.

The first goal is an ongoing goal to move towards my ideal weight of 130lbs. Right now I am 166lbs. I plan to be 155lbs in 28 days.

In order to better grasp how I have gained so much weight during the last few years, I had to look back and evaluate my daily routines and habits. In considering this, I determined that my weaknesses fell in over consumption of sweets as well as over consumption of alcohol. I may not have drank any alcohol at all Monday through Friday, but on a typical Friday or Saturday night, I might go through 5-10 beers each night depending on if Beer Sports, such as Flip Cup or Beirut were involved.

A 12 oz Bud light is 110 calories.
This means that 5 beers = 550 calories, and
10 beers = 1100 calories.

...not very "light" after all.

I also evaluated what I was eating on a daily basis. As a whole, I was eating approximately 1200-1300 calories a day, which is in the range of what I should be consuming.

However, many times, what I was consuming was high-carb and high-simple-carb related, such as Bagels, Bread, and Pasta.

In December, I decided to abstain from alcohol consumption as a whole. I'm not going to lie-- it was hard. Between free after-work Happy Hours and Holiday parties, it seemed that everyone was drinking every other day. It made me realize how many opportunities I really had to drink. I was strong and aside from 1 mimosa on Christmas Morning, I met my challenge and lost 5 pounds.

I had a few glasses of wine on New Years Eve and decided that I should continue this challenge into January. Being more conscious of what I am putting into my body is going to be key in keeping my weight in check.

This brings us to the key topic of discussion:

THE SALAD CHALLENGE!

I thought it would be fun to dedicate an entire month to getting to know salads a bit more intimately.

Disclaimer: Even though I have been vegetarian for over 6 years, I have never been a huge fan of salads

So, I'm compiling all of my favorite salad recipes, and learning new ones to get better acquainted with my raw veggies. Salads for dinner, and left over salad for lunch. LETS GET IT ON.

I will attempt to post daily and share my recipes for anyone who would like to jump on the salad train with me.

Today I have a simple Garden Salad

Mixed Greens-- (baby spinach, arugula and romaine)
English Cucumber
Grape Tomatoes
Red Pepper Hummus ( 1 Tbsp)

with a dressing of 1 Tbsp EVOO, 1 Tbsp Balsamic Vinaigrette, a splash of Braggs Liquid Amino ( adds salty flavor) and cracked black pepper.

I also brought an Avocado and some grapes as snacks today.

Join in and follow along as I continue my journey and if you have a favorite salad recipe that I should try, share in the comments!

Until tomorrow!
VEG-OUT!

Fresh, Healthy, Icecream!

Found this on the wonderful world wide web:

NO CHEMICALS IN THIS ICE CREAM!!!!!

3 cups (2 cans) coconut milk

1/4 cup cacao powder

1 ripe banana, mashed

4 ounces dark chocolate, chopped

1/4 teaspoon sea salt<

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup creamy almond butter

Topping: Toasted Almond Slices, Banana Slices, and Dark Chocolate Chunks

work outs

I found this on a vegan site I sometimes get emails from. Super great Youtube channels if you're looking for cheap, at home workouts!

Acidic vs Alkaline foods in your Body

Hi Friends!

I know it has been a little while since I've posted, but I have been super busy with some really important stuff.

Anyway- yesterday I watched this awesome documentary called "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead." about this guy Joe who is fed up with his Fat and Sick lifestyle, and decides that he will go on a Juice Fast for 60 days to better his life.

It was an inspirational documentary and got me thinking about juicing. I've wanted my own juicer for awhile now, so I'm buying one on Amazon. ( I have a boatload of giftcards for Amazon anyway, so I figured now's the time!)

I also started researching why these juice fasts actually work. Part of the reason is that, as American's, our food intake is Highly Acidic. This plays into factors of:

1) Needing over the counter and perscription Acid Reflux, Acid Control meditcation.

2) Draws nutrients out of our essential nutrients such as Calcium, to regulate our system.

and 3) Assists in slow metabolisms, low energy, and weight gain.

This Video: is super informative, and if you don't understand how acidity plays a role in your body, it really breaks it down like you're a kindergartener ;)

Enjoy!

Where do you get your PROTEIN??!!

I just finished another delishous lunch, completely free of animal products/bi products, but packed with nutrients and PROTEINNNNNN! (insert mean muscle face here)

Simple enough, we cooked up some brown rice and quinoa in veggiestock/water and threw in some spices, salt and peppah'

Then we sauteed some tempeh in a 'honey mustard' sauce. I usually use Agave, but we got had some honey left over from the pre-vegan stage, so I figured, why waste it?

we threw in some frozen veggies: mixed peppers, corn and carrots, with an onions we pre chopped and threw in the freezer as well.

after they sauteed all together, we mixed some of the rice/quinoa in a bowl with the veggies and tempeh on top

Ta-Da! Delicious, nutritious, easy, and cheap dinner.

How much protein is exactly in this meal? (figure in about a 1/2 cup rice/quinoa, 1/2 cup tempeh and 1/3 cup mixed veggies)

1/2 cup Tempeh: 15g protein

1/4 cup brown rice: 4g protein

1/4 cup quinoa: 5g protein

1/4 cup corn: 3g

that equals: 27 grams of protein in ONE MEAL!

Not to mention its completely balanced, you have your good-carbs, and your veggies too!

Cholestoral? ....Zilch!

Fat? .... <6grams!

sugar? ... <6 grams! ( and you dont have to add the agave/honey in at all if you dont want!

Peace out cubscouts! get'cha veg on!

Jazzy Vegetarian Radio Show

Good morning Veg-heads! I follow a lot of Veg-style blogs and facebooks and this one came up! I thought it was super cool because I've never heard of a Vegetarian Radio Show. I havent gotten too deep into it yet, but from what I can tell, you can learn some new recipes and veggie tips from her, so check it out!! http://www.jazzyvegetarian.com/links.html

Healthy Transformation

*** WARNING: Long post :) ***

The other day, I was asked to write something about my own transformation, from being a chubby, junk food addicted, highschooler/college student to a well informed, active and healthy young adult. I'm not going to lie- I used to drink Pepsi and eat snack packs like it was my job. My regular breakfast consisted of a large Chocolate Chip and sugar encrusted Muffin from Dunkin Donuts, along with a Large, Iced Caramal Latte, Extra Sweet, with whipped cream on top. This lasted throughout most of College as well, because even though I became a Vegetarian in the fall of my Sophomore year, I still had little restricting me from large quantities of sugar, dairy, cheese and fast food. I was the typical College student- Loved Pizza, chinese food, Ramen Noodles, Pop Tarts, Sugary Cereals and survived off LOTS Of coffee and sugary energy drinks. Every year I gained more weight, but I also gained more knowledge from my frustration. I would research healthy recipes and vegetarianism and collect recipe books... but I would make excuses that I just didnt have enough time to exercise.

Throughout college I took 5 to 6 classes each semester and worked 2 to 3 jobs at the same time. I was an active sorority sister and philanthropist--- I was extremely busy. I didn't stay up all night partying, and honestly didn't drink that much, but the combination of my food choices, and excuses for not exercising were catching up to me, and before I knew it, I was graduating college at 155 pounds. I went from my highschool weight of 120 to gaining an extra 35 pounds in 5 years.

I decided enough was enough. I had all the tools to live a healthy and happy lifestyle, and I wasn't going to make any excuses anymore.

I started reading, researching, and watching youtube videos on health, diet, and exercise. I collaborated ideas with friends, asking about diets that worked and exercises they knew were effective...and then in January of this past year, I took the plunge- I became Vegan. I knew about all the fats and sugars and extra calories that were in my favorite milk, cheese and egg dishes, and I had enough information to know how to supplement and replace those items with dishes that were healthier and just as delicious. I cut out all animal products and animal bi-products from my diet. That was step one. I dropped 5 pounds in a month!

Step two was really getting serious about exercise. I never enjoyed exercise and always made excuses why I couldnt do it: The gym was expensive. It was too far away to drive. I don't have enough time to do a "full" workout. I'm too tired. I'll do it tonight. I'll do it tomorrow. I walked to class, so that counts. I didn't eat -that- bad today.

I had to tell myself... SHUT UPPPP!!!! I was straight up lying to myself and I knew it. My complexion sucked, i was fat, unhappy and unhealthy.

After college, I was fortunate to be working full time at a job that had a small gym downstairs with a few treadmills, an eliptical, a bike, some weight lifting machines, yoga balls, and resistance bands. I decided I would set my alarm to 6am, go to work in my gym clothes, work out and change there to be upstairs and at work by 8am. I joined a work Healthy Team Challenge for a 3 month period, and when that was about to end, I joined a Biggest Loser Competition at work as well. I went to the gym for an hour every morning, at first, speed walking on the treadmill, then jogging, learning how to do intervals, and long uphill speedwalking. I changed it up a little every day, and then started incorporating weight lifting. I looked up simple exercises I could do with resistance bands for my arms, back, chest, and legs- and incorporated those exercises into my routine.

I knew that in order to keep myself excited about exercising, I would have to have consistancy, but I would also need to switch things up enough to keep it fun! I joined some Zumba and Pilates classes at the local YMCA and started doing that a couple times a week.

I thought of things I always wanted to do that were healthy for me: Learn how to hoola hoop and learn Yoga. I got myself a cheap hoola hoop to pracitce at home and joined Yoga at Love&Healing, in Trumbull. It was enlightening, and in the first class I could already tell that my posture was inproving and that the stretches and exercises were toning my muscles. Plus it was SUPER relaxing!

Nobody likes to run. If you do, you're lying or you're a freak, sorry! haha... no, but seriously, nobody says "Man, I just can't wait to run today! I love that feeling that my heart is about to give up and I'm so hot and sweaty that I just want to die!" Noone. says. that. But, it's just a great way to get in shape! If you love the outdoors, go to your favorite hiking trails and incorporate that. If you live by the beach, run along it! If you have a school by your house, run the track! It's free, and its great for you. If you have a bike, do that too! Like to rollerskate/rollerblade? Get on it! Skateboard? Sure! There is so much you can be doing to better yourself for little to no money at all. Just be active. Once I learned that, and got into the routine, it became natural. I wasnt making excuses anymore- I was just waking up and going.

and you know what? I had enough hours in the day. And my energy was improving! I wasn't falling asleep at my desk anymore, becasue my body was up and moving. The key is to find things you enjoy, get into a routine (we are extreme creature of habit) and stick with it! If you tell yourself you're not going to be able to do it, you wont, and if you tell yourself you can, you WILL! Don't stress. You're blessed :) Think about all that you have, how lucky you are, and how much your health and yourself matter!

Smooooothies! Getcha detox on!

Lately, I have been SUPER into smoothies. They are a great, quick, easy, and cheap way to start out the day, get in that extra boost of energy, and get your daily dose of fruits and veggies! The coolest part about smoothies, is you can tailor them to do what you want done for your body, mind and soul. This article explains the benefits of smoothies and difference recipes to combat your worst enemies. Think of it as a magic potion... eye of newt... hair of a wareworf, you know- that sort of thing. ENJOY!

Meatless Mondays

It's 2012 people and it's time we get our acts together and change the world, before the Mayan's wipe us out! Ever wonder how you can change the world? Better your Health? Lose some weight? Actually make a difference? Well, here's a baby step for you, if you're interested: Meatless Mondays. That's right, for one day a week, ( Yep, just one!) you can eliminate meat from your diet, and start making a difference! This video explains a lot more as to how it can make a difference, who it affects, how it can be done, and why to do it! It's easy. It's not like we're cavemen, hunting down antelope and trying to decipher between poisonous berries- let's be honest, there is at least a "Quickie Mart" a few blocks away that has some veggie or noodle options that are meat-free, but lets be even more honest- the Stop and Shop, Trader Joes, or Whole Foods provides a CORNACOPIA of options that are healthy, delicious and affordable :) Remember, I am talking whole-foods here, friends. When you start getting packaged, preserved, quick-and-easy meals, your prices go up due to convienience. Start buying your fruits and veggies, chopping them up and getting some recipes together! Stir fry? Veggie/bean burritos? Fajitas? Veggie fried rice or Lomein? Some veggie indian cuisine? Rice and beans? pasta and veggies? Veggie pizza? Can I make it easier?! Let's do this! One day a week can make a HUGE difference! Let me know how your first Meatless Monday goes! What are you eating? How do you feel about it?

Are Animals Emotional??

I saw this video and it was highly interesting to me. It talks a lot about the emotional aspects of animals and how humans relate. at. It also talks about animal capabilities vs. Humans. Really Interesting stuff!

Skinny Bitch ---Book Review

I know I'm a little late to the party, but I finally picked up my own copy of Skinny Bitch and gave it a read. First of all, I couldn't put it down. It was sassy and honest and just what I had needed to refuel my motivation as a vegan who wants to be as healthy and look as good as possible. I really love how the authors go through each and every Vice we have ( Coffee, Cigarettes, Alcohol, Dairy, Meats etc.) and breaks down why they are bad for you, what they are doing to your body, and why you should kick them out of your life! Some of the stuff is very scientific and it really breaks down to how these things directly affect your life, body, and the way you feel. They also do a great job of talking about how the food industry really works. The politics behind it, and all the cruel behind-the-scenes action we all try to ignore in order to live in Pleasantville and continue to eat our porkchops. She actually presents quotes from Factory Farm workers who have seen it all first hand. Lastly, they are able to present great healthy tips for your new Vegan lifestyle. Shopping lists and meal plans, and extra motivation to get healthy and SEXY! It's not hard when they break it down for you like that. Basically, we all grow up in this world of denial. we dont want to look our food in the face. we dont know our limits. and we need someone to slap us in the face and bring us back to reality. That's what Skinny Bitch does, and I highly recommend it as a good intro read to the Vegan lifestyle.

Veggie Protein!

When I first became Vegetarian, almost 5 years ago, I started by weaning out red meats, then white meats, and finally fish/seafood. I did it little by little because its good to let your body adjust and also not to just eliminate proteins without replacing them. There are SO many options for vegetable based proteins, which are so much healthier because they contain far less fat, zero cholesterol and less calories. Here are a few options that I use as protein in my meals: Tofu: Tofu is just a mashed up bean (edamame). (just like mashed potatos, but instead of a potato, it’s a bean!) You can buy it in firm form, or silken form. The firm form is in a block that you can easy cube, or cut into strips. It ‘s great for stir fry recipes. You can grill it, marinade it, and spice it up- just like chicken. If you freeze it overnight and thaw it out, it makes it even more firm and chewy too! It contains about 10 grams of protein, zero fat and zero cholesterol. Tempeh: Tempeh is fermented grains. It’s very nutty and has a great texture to it. You can bake it, grill it, marinade it, sauté it- really anything you want. There are ways to give it that smoky bacon like flavor so you can replace that in your favorite breakfast meals, or even on a BLT like sandwich! About 16 grams protein! TVP: Textured Vegetable Protein is a dried grain in small pellets. When you pour hot water and mix it, it soaks up the water and becomes much like a ground meat ( more like ground chicken than ground beef). I love using this as taco meat- all you have to do is add the seasoning like you would normally do and it has the exact same flavor, 13 grams of protein, but NO fat or cholesterol! Seitan: Seitan is made from Wheat Gluten, a flour mixture. It is kneaded into a dough ( like pizza dough) and boiled until it becomes firm. It can then be soaked in a vegetable broth and baked or you can use it just like chicken in any other way. It has a wonderful chewy texture and can take on any flavor. This one is my favorite  Oh, and lets not forget about Beans! Black beans, Kidney Beans, Lentils, Pinto, Green Beans, White beans, Navy beans, Lima Beans, Chick Peas, Mung beans... Quinoa, Cous-Cous, Nuts, Seeds, Oatmeal, and Peanut butter are all great Protein options :) There are also tons of Vegetarian and Vegan manufacturers that make Veggie Burgers, Veggie Hot Dogs, Veggie Corn Dogs, Veggie Chicken Patties, Grilled Chicken, Chicken Nuggets, Turkey burgers, Italian sausages, breakfast sausage links or patties, veggie bacon, veggie turkey, veggie beef chucks (great for beef stew)….really, just about anything! And they are all Low to No Fat and No Cholesterol! Some of my favorite brands are: Gardein Quorn Morningstar Farms Boca Amy’s SmartLite Tofurkey **If you're going Vegan, double check your ingredients, because some Morningstar and Quorn products contain milk or egg products.

Master Cleanse

*some of this can be alittle TMI, but for those of you trying to learn what the cleanse is really like, I’m trying to be as honest as possible here. Sorry.

I am officially on Day 2 of my journey with The Master Cleanse. I began easing in over the weekend with soups and fruit/veggie smoothies and yesterday began drinking my "Lemonade" mixture all day long. I weighed in on Friday, April 20th and was 155 pounds.

Yesterday I felt like I was Starving all morning, but once 2 o'clock hit, things evened out. I got home around 5:30 as usual and didn't know what to do with myself. At that time, I usually started planning out and making what I was going to eat for dinner, but instead, I filled up another water bottle with water, lemon juice, grade A maple syrup and a few dashes of cayenne pepper, and drank away.

When that was finished I still didn't know what to do so I cleaned: did laundry, washed dishes, organized the bookshelves. Then I turned on the TV and watched a little Undercover Boss—that show always chokes me up at the end!

Around 7:30 I decided I was going to try the Salt Water Flush ( SWF) which is basically mixing 2 Teaspoons of seasalt in warm water and chugging it. I’m not going to lie, it was super hard to get down. I gagged a few times. It tastes really gross. Then I walked around a little bit, breathing slowly and finally sat down to finish the episode. I knew, from reading about the Cleanse that it would take about 30 minutes to an hour. Within 15 minutes I felt my stomach grumbling and moving around. Something was happening. But I didn’t end up going into the bathroom until about 8:30 and probably stayed there for a good 30 minutes. So… needless to say, I’m glad I didn’t do this in the morning. I don’t have all that time!

The flush itself, once it happened was not as bad as I thought. I thought it might hurt or be extremely uncomfortable, but it “went smoothly.” And was not painful or irritating at all. Once that was done, I brewed a cup of “Smooth Move Tea” (It is Chocolate flavored!) and steeped it for 10 minutes and got in bed to read, drink my tea, and fell asleep calmly.

I slept well except for the fact that I was paranoid I might wake up in the middle of the night and need to run to the bathroom. But I didn’t! All was well.

This morning I’m not too hungry. Definitely an improvement from yesterday! I had a very small BM this morning, but nothing frightening. Someone tried to scare me yesterday and said to “wear a diaper,” which did not make me feel very confident, but now I know this is not the case.

I feel like, once I get through today and tomorrow I’ll be more than good to go for the ten days. Who knows? Maybe I’ll push it even further!

Super Smoothie!!!

The last few days I have been slurping up Super Smoothies and they are super revitalizing and delicious ( did I mention, good for you too?!)

Yesterday I combined:
1 cup baby spinach
1 cup kale
1 cup strawberries
1 whole mango
1 whole banana
2 cups pure orange juice

and blended it up! Instant goodness!

Today I have a little more simplicity and a lot more kale:

4 cups kale
2 cups strawberries
1 large banana
2 cups pure orange juice

Did you know that 1 cup of kale has only 33 calories, but has 1g fiber, 2g protein and 206% vitamin A, 134% vitamin c, 9% of calcium and 6% iron!

1 large banana contains 120 calories, 31 carbohydrates, 4g Fiber and 1g Protein as well as 2% of your Vitamin A, 20% of Vitamin C, 1% calcium and 2% iron

1 cup strawberries contains 1g protein, 2% calcium, 149% vitamin c and 3% Iron

Pure orange juice contains 2g protein, 10% vitamin A, 3% calcium, 207% vitamin c and 3% iron

Mangos contain 3g fiber, 1g protein, 25% vitamin A, 76% vitamin c, 2% calcium, 1% iron

Spinach contains 1g protein, 1g fiber, 56% vitamin A, 14% vitamin c, 5% iron and 3% calcium!

G-Zen

This past Wednesday, my friends and I checked out this Fabulous Vegan restaurant called G-Zen in Branford CT. It's a cute little place that is completely vegan, organic and eco-friendly.

I ordered the Portabella Tofu Napoleon and let me tell you: The Tofu was marinated and cooked to the perfect firmness and taste. The portobello was thick and juicy and the asparigus was crisp and fresh. My favorite part of the meal, however, was the red-mashed potatoes with the Merlot sauce. MMmmm Mmmmm MMmmmm!

I also had a refreshing glass of fresh Zen-gria, which included a mix of red wine with fresh blueberry and pomigranet juices topped with a fresh slice of lime, lemon, and orange on top with skewered grapes!

For dessert, even though I was full to the brim, I had to take home a piece of Chocolate, Hazelnut cake to share with my boy. The mouse-like frosting was sweet and decidant- the cake, extremely moist and rich. And on top of it all, it came with a side of fresh raspberry coolie, which held just the right combination of sweetness and tartness to pair with the rich, chocolately goodness!

All in all, I'd give the experience and the food 5 stars! We had the sweetest waitress, the atmosphere was simple and soothing, and the menu had many creative and palate pleasing choices. ( I also snuck one of my friend's sweet potatoe fries and it was crisp, crunchy, and sweet-potatoey :) My favorite!)

The only thing to be weary of is their prices, but remember friends- Fresh, Organic, and House-made food takes extra cost and extra work, so go in with that in mind. I would certainly go back to this place and Highly recommend you give it a try- whether you're veg or not!!!