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Research: my goal for 2012

2012-01-22T13:29:00.007-05:00

It seems that most years by default are full of research for me. I love to learn so I end up information-gathering without being very deliberate about it. But I have a different plan for this year! I've made a list of things I'm interested in that I want to learn more about or pursue on a deeper level than that of my current knowledge. This list may change and grow as the year progresses:

1. Child-rearing/homemaking
I have been on a continual quest for knowledge in this area for a few years now, but I'd like to be more deliberate about raising children for the Lord - specifically how to teach them about Jesus in an everyday way. I'm soon going to be an aunt! :)

2. Vaccinations
Pretty much everything in me is completely against vaccinations for both adults and children, but I'd like to make an informed decision about it. I do all I can to avoid all forms of medication too and have found (since being vegan) that I no longer have stomach aches, headaches (rarely - when I've had refined sugar usually), and colds are very mild if I get them at all. My philosophy is that proper nutrition allows our bodies to work as God intended them. Medication just suppresses the symptoms instead of dealing with the real issue.

3. The Constitution/Bill of Rights
I've supported Ron Paul for president for a number of years, but have not ever been as interested in him or what he stands for (the Constitution) than the last 6 months. I think this is in large part due to my interest the last two years in understanding the way the Kingdom of God works. Ron Paul's ideals are directly in line with how the Kingdom operates and I support him for that more than for any other reason, which is why I intend to read his books on liberty and freedom and become more educated on things that really every American should know. We are entering the fight of our lives in many more ways than just this election.

4. Etiquette
There is so much to learn from wonderful eras gone by. I'm not of the opinion that the etiquette of 100 years ago necessarily has to be discarded. I think formal and casual can intermingle and frankly I'm just disgusted with the manners of this culture. I want something different and more in line with what's important to me. How is it that so much of the time we are just following what others do and assuming that's the only way to do something? I'm guilty of this in some areas and intend to put a stop to it. Individuality is a treasure. Never leave it in your bedroom.

5. Crocheting/sewing
Material items no longer have value. They're cheaply made and when they break, you buy a new one. I want to learn new ways of crocheting and perhaps make some clothing for myself or some other projects that can have actual value for people (not including horrific sweaters and meaningless crafts just for the sake of 'handmade'). When my Great-grandma died last year, I had the privilege of being able to go through her things and much of it was handmade (lots of clothing). I value those items more than any others and I want to also be able to pass along things I've labored over to the next generation.

Is there anything you're currently researching? If you have any resources you'd like to pass along on any of these topics, please leave a comment!

2011 Book Re-Cap

2012-01-22T13:07:00.002-05:00

2011 was a good year!

I read a total of 18 books (you can find the list at the bottom of this blog), surpassing my book goal of reading 15 books + the Bible. I did not read the entire Bible, but including the books I did, the total reaches 29. I also (audio)read Pride and Prejudice 10 times, which is a record. It seems to come alive in different ways the more I read it and is by far my absolute favorite book. Additionally, I would consider The Chronicles of Narnia as a real highlight of reading in 2011. If you haven't yet read it, you absolutely must! The Biblical parallels and sheer genius of character and plot construction brought me to tears at times.

My reading goal for 2012 will be the same: 15 books + deliberate Bible reading

Book goal reached!

2011-10-16T07:51:00.003-04:00

Last night I officially reached my goal of reading 15 books in 2011. Most were physical books too, which makes me happy. Audiobooks are easier, but I love the feel of paper in my hands.

Before I continue on in my book-reading, which will include at least 2 more books this year (required for a class I'm taking at church), I'd like to quickly review some of the books I've read...

1. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
I love this series. I think I read them 15 years ago, but hadn't since and what a delight! So well-written, funny, engaging, and caused some very welcome theological mind explosions. Highly recommended!

2. "Dispatches from the Edge" by Anderson Cooper
Excellent book. I do really enjoy Anderson Cooper generally, so maybe I'm a little bias here, but the book is very well-written and was an eye-opener for me. Caused some tears for sure. I listened to the audio version which Anderson narrated himself. If I remember correctly, there's some brief unwholesome language and maybe an inappropriate scene or two. You can get a free copy from audible.com/american if you've never taken advantage of that offer before.

3. "Heaven is for Real" by Todd Burpo
I think this was a generally good book. Enjoyable read. A good introduction to visits to/visions of Heaven. I would suggest other books more readily like "Visions Beyond the Veil" by H.A. Baker and anything by Heidi Baker, Kris Vallotton, Bill Johnson, Mike Bickle, Jack Taylor or any other person in the current move of the Holy Spirit.

4. "Becoming Jane: The Wit & Wisdom of Jane Austen" by Anne Newgarden
This is a small book, but beautifully laid out. The author provides quotes from Jane to emphasis the chapter topics. I have many favorite authors, but Jane Austen has to be my absolute favorite, I think mostly because she so perfectly understands human character. I fail often as a writer of fiction because I can't stand to write characters that have realistic flaws. I would rather them be completely submitted to Christ and even already in their eternal perfected state. :) But Jane...she writes people as they really are and then shows how their character is changed (or unchanged) by circumstances and experiences. They gain wisdom and apply it. So this book honors Jane nicely. And as a soon-to-be-first-time aunt myself, my favorite quote comes from the final Acknowledgments by Anne Newgarden: "And, of course, my thanks to the brilliant Jane Austen, whose life and words are always an inspiration, and who makes me proud to be a maiden aunt." Jane's life is, perhaps, a beautiful celebration of the richness of female singleness.

Sound

2011-10-16T07:45:00.002-04:00

beauty all around us :)

"Sound" from SoundCloud on Vimeo.

Kurt Halsey

2011-07-17T15:17:00.003-04:00

A package I have been eagerly waiting for arrived yesterday containing this!

I just adore Kurt Halsey's art. This particular piece is a print framed by him and signed on the back. When I saw it, it nearly took my breath away and I knew I had to have it.

Of course my brother is the one who introduced me to Kurt's art about 9 years ago. Matt has the best artistic sense of anyone I know.
Kurt is also vegan and was one of the first people to expose me to the lifestyle by way of a link with some info on his website. He was even willing to answer some questions about it via email when I was first starting out. Check out some of his other stuff if you like what you see!

Friday Five - July 15

2011-07-15T20:47:00.002-04:00

1. What is the longest distance you’ve traveled (in one trip) by foot?
Would not be more than a few miles.

2. What is the longest trip you’ve taken by car?
my hometown in PA --> Cheticamp, Nova Scotia, Canada - 1165 miles
Cedar Rapids, IA --> Sussex, NB Canada - 1662 miles

3. What is the longest trip you’ve taken by plane?
Rochester, NY --> McAllen, TX - 1903 miles

4. What is the longest trip you’ve taken on some kind of water craft?
not many miles on a whale watch - don't like boats

5. What is the longest trip you’ve taken aboard a bus or train?
not far, just school trips when i was younger.

Friday Five

2011-07-08T17:23:00.002-04:00

I didn't like any of the posted questions for today, so I found these:

1.What's your favorite Dr. Seuss book?
"A Fly Went By" -- seriously, if you haven't read this book, you need to! so fun!

2.What's your favorite tree?
Maple

3.What's the longest you've gone without sleep?
I believe 30-something hours. It was probably during my college years.

4.What's your favorite Neil Diamond song?
"Songs of Life" from The Jazz Singer. This is actually my favorite scene in the movie...unfortunately bad audio. (Yes, my mom adored him so of course I still know all his older songs by heart.)

5.Who's your favorite Muppet?
Kermit! I have had a serious crush on Kermit for as long as I can remember. :)

Friday Five

2011-06-24T19:44:00.003-04:00

I stole this idea from Liz, who stole it from someone else. :) These questions can be found at The Friday Five. Also, I make no guarantee I will keep this up weekly as my intentions of being a consistent blogger always fall short of success.

1. What is your favorite way to travel (ship, place, car, train, etc)? Car, but I'd like to try train one of these days.

2. Who is your favorite person to travel with? My friend Diana or my mom.

3. What is the best vacation you've ever taken? Either Nova Scotia for my family reunion 3 years ago, or to Indiana. My family used to go to Indiana every summer to visit my great-grandma and it's become another home to me.

4. Where will your next vacation be to? "Vacation" - I honestly hardly ever go on vacations. My last one was technically in May when I joined my mom, aunt and grandma to clean out my great-grandma's house. I took a week off for the first time in a few years. My next trip will be to Pittsburgh for a few days in August as the maid of honor in one of my best friends' weddings.

5. If you had the time and money to go anywhere you wanted, where would you go? Italy or Europe in general, across country in the US, New Brunswick to visit my college roommate (then to NS to visit Liz!), Midwestern states

Define American

2011-06-23T21:53:00.002-04:00

The brilliant and talented Brett Brownell (Mae's lighting and visual director years back whom I have mentioned previously on this blog) directed this video. It captures the heart of the discussion we need to be having about immigration and 'illegals' in this country and reflects my own sentiments beautifully. Share your thoughts and help spread the word!

Raw Update

2011-06-14T18:55:00.005-04:00

Life is crazy! One wedding down, 2 more (+1 I'm missing) to go. Wedding showers, babies, visits home, changing bedrooms...this month probably was not the best choice for changing up my diet.

Anyway, I suppose I've failed a little bit. I'm at about a 50/50 ratio for raw/cooked foods. I started pretty strong for about a week doing pretty much all raw, eating lots of green smoothies and salads. I've used the dehydrator several times and love it! Even such a cheap dehydrator has made some amazing foods. And even though I've been eating more cooked food than I planned to, I've been intentional about avoiding processed foods and have only had a tiny bit of vegan butter and some vegan ice cream. Otherwise, everything has been whole foods only.

My favorite new raw recipes are:
Banana Soft Serve ice cream! (this stuff is incredible!!! you have to try it, could not be easier!)
Raw Chocolate Fruit Balls (I took these on a road trip - really yummy & easily transportable)
Fruit Tart (the one I posted about in my last entry)
Raw Kale Salad (I would not suggest starting a raw vegan diet with this...work up to that many greens! My body's a little more sensitive to fiber than I thought.)
Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto (Amazing! I had this on cooked whole wheat pasta. Next time I would only put one clove of garlic in, but this stuff is REALLY good)
Raw Nut Burger (I cannot say enough good things about these! So much flavor!)Banana Chocolate Kale Chips (I made this in the oven for lack of time, but they were still amazing. Tastes like smores!)

As for me, I think I've lost 4 pounds, though I can't be sure because my scale is so funny. I weighed myself when I was in PA a week before I started raw and was 4 pounds lighter than that this past weekend in PA. As for other changes, I think I would need longer than 2 weeks (and more of a raw diet than 50/50) to say anything I've experienced is directly connected to the food I'm eating. I can say a few things for sure though...

1. Raw food is easy if you prepare properly. Lots of recipes take very little effort but could take a long time to complete if you need to use a dehydrator.
2. Researching recipes for raw foods has helped to again re-define what can be considered a 'meal.' You can eat fruit for a meal or a salad or a smoothie or just have a couple dehydrated nut burgers. Or maybe some avocado chocolate pudding or banana ice cream. The possibilities are endless because generally anything you eat will be good for you.
3. A sharp increase in fiber intake is not smart. I felt pretty bloated and crummy the first couple days because I started out with a hard-core kale salad. The nutrition in it was through the roof, but you have to ease into this sort of thing if you don't want to experience negative side effects.
4. And probably the most obvious thing I've learned is that raw foodism can quickly become an idol. When you are focused on keeping your body as clean internally as possible, what you put into it becomes the central focus of your life. There is a learning curve when you're first starting a diet. I did spend a lot of time thinking about food the first few months I became vegan. But being raw is different. You can sort of become your own god. I'm not sure how else to explain it right now, so I'll leave it at that.

I will continue to press on the rest of the month! I'm really enjoying incorporating more fresh foods into my diet and hope to continue that when the month is through, though I think it will be easier than I thought to continue eating cooked foods. I've had such crazy cravings for pasta and tofu (and toast!) that I just wouldn't want to give them up. I've heard cravings are totally normal and can be conquered, but I do believe that God has provided some delicious things in this world for us to eat and if they don't make me feel internally awful, I'm going to continue to eat them. :) Vegan foods are so good!!!

3 years!

2011-06-01T21:54:00.006-04:00

Today is my three-year vegan anniversary. I love celebrating this day! It's hard to imagine not being vegan. My life has changed so much because of my choice to be veg...so much more than I could have ever anticipated, and I love it! I've not only seen positive changes in my health, but being vegan has really heightened my compassion and love for animals, people, and life in general. I've also been able to witness my family becoming more aware of what they're eating just by being around me. It's such a delight when they ask me food questions and when I surprise them with some amazing vegan dishes. My grandmother still raves about a vegan zucchini bread I made for a car trip we took last summer. :)

So, I celebrate the animals today. Most of why I do what I do is for them, whether they are 'pets' or victims of the animal industry. They're all precious to me, especially this one:Also, as you know, this is day one of my raw vegan month! I did make a few things in the dehydrator over the weekend and plan to show pictures at the end of the week. But today I made a raw fruit tart to take to my small group potluck and everyone really liked it! The recipe is here and this was the finished product:

Delish!

Raw Food 30-day challenge

2011-05-28T21:11:00.006-04:00

I've been fascinated with Raw Food for over two years. I wanted to eat raw vegan for 30 days a few months ago, but things kept coming up to prevent me from doing it. So, in honor of my 3-year vegan anniversary (June 1!), I've decided I will eat a high raw vegan diet for all of June (High-raw is 75-80% raw, allowing cooked foods too). It's nearly impossible to eat 100% raw and it's impractical for me because I have a wedding to attend mid-month and various other activities that would make it difficult. Aside from that, I've heard testimonies about people eating raw for an extended period, then going back to cooked and getting sick (cold symptoms - fever, sore throat, etc) because of the change that's taken place in their bodies. It happened to me in a small form a couple months ago after eating mostly raw for a week. So I'm hoping that by still incorporating some cooked foods, I'll be able to weaken the likelihood of illness, if I do end up switching back.

My main reasons for doing this are:
-I love challenges. I love trying new things and I love vegan food. This gives me an excuse to be creative with my 'cooking.'
-Fruits and veggies are in season! The smell of flowers and grass in the air makes me crave fruits and veggies.
-My mom gave me a (cheap) dehydrator that she somehow ended up with and did not want. Not an Excalibur but I'm hoping it works well enough to make raw cookies, breads, pie crust, etc.
-I want to see the affect it has on my body, my energy level, and my mental clarity.
-Mostly, I feel like I need to. Now that I've been vegan for 3 years, I know my body really well. It tells me what it needs and what it hates and it's been begging me for raw healthy foods for a while. It's time.

I plan to make up meal plans for every day and will try to document the money I spend. My only concerns about this are (1) the cost and (2) that I won't want to stop after the 30 days are over. If after a month of raw eating I feel amazing, it will be difficult to go back to cooked foods, which would make things a little trickier for me when other people are offering me food or I'm going out to eat. But you don't realize that you feel dead and lethargic all the time until you know what it feels like to be full of life and energy. For the past few months, I've already started to see the contrast between fresh/raw foods and pale/dead cooked foods and I find the latter becoming a little mentally repulsive. So we will see what the month holds!

My goals for the month are:
-eat a large variety of high raw, mostly organic foods
-visit a juice bar/raw restaurant and try something new
-exercise 3-4 times a week (currently, I'm not doing anything)
-research about raw fasts and cleanses (and hopefully do one)
-get 8+ hours of sleep every night
-blog regularly about it
-consider ways to sustain a raw diet beyond June

Any questions? - leave a comment. :)

Beauty in the Waiting

2011-04-18T17:30:00.002-04:00

"Waiting is an offering and a sacrifice. We may lift up our very waiting to Him as a daily oblation, in a spirit of expectancy. Waiting on God in this way is true faith - no agenda of one's own, no deadlines, no demands on what God must do. Simply an open heart and open hands ready to receive that which God shall choose, and a perfect confidence that what He chooses will be better than our best." -Elisabeth Elliot, Pathway of Loneliness, p 170

"Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways." -Isaiah 64:4-5a

I've noticed the older I get, the harder it is to wait for things. I'm so thankful for God's patience with my impatience.

Veg Month!

2011-04-03T14:32:00.003-04:00

My brother decided a couple months ago that for my birthday, he would eat vegetarian for all of April! I could not believe how thoughtful that was. Nothing says LOVE more than sacrifice and I am truly grateful to have such an awesome brother. But to add to the blessing, my dear friend Liz is also eating veg for April!!! I seriously have the most amazing people in my life. I'm so thankful for those who love me and pour themselves into and out for me. Love you guys right back!

It's still not too late if you want to join them too, even for one day! :)

Some easy veg food suggestions:
-whole wheat pasta (with sauteed veggies or steamed broccoli/garlic/basil/salt or tomato sauce)
-homemade whole wheat veggie pizza (can buy pre-made crusts)
-brown rice with veggies
-oven-roasted veggies
-salad [romaine, spinach, carrots, broccoli, sunflower seeds, raisins or dried cranberries, sweet peppers, red onion, cucumber, sesame seeds...there are some good dressings you can buy too, just read the labels if you don't want to eat junk :) ]
-taco salad (refried beans heated & seasoned to taste with cumin/paprika/garlic & onion powder, shredded lettuce, salsa, vegan sour cream on top of crushed whole wheat tortilla chips or in a burrito)
-veg chili (saute carrots/onions/green pepper/zucchini in EVOO, add a can of beans, can of diced tomatoes, and a can of tomato soup with Italian seasonings (basil, oregano, thyme) and spices (cayenne, chili powder, paprika, cumin, salt, pepper) and simmer till done)
-barbeque tofu, baked potato and steamed broccoli
-any fruit or veggies you like

Recipe ideas:
Broccoli Casserole
Chickpea Broccoli Scramble
Squash Casserole (not so healthy but delish lol)
Shepherd's Pie
Stuffed Green Peppers (I suggest pre-baking the peppers [covered] to soften some before filling and baking again)
Yummy Loaf generator (possibilities are endless!)
Penne and Veggies

Be adventurous! Try new things! Visit your local veg-friendly restaurants! Eat Veg :)

Great-Grandma - a tribute

2011-02-21T19:11:00.005-05:00

My great-grandma, 97-years-old, went to be with Jesus and her husband this morning. About a month ago, she started to have some physical issues and was going in and out of present reality. I made arrangements to travel down to PA to see her two weeks from then, praying that God would let me see her one last time.

A day before I was to leave, she fell and fractured her neck and was then in the hospital. I immediately left, asking God again to just let me have one more weekend with her, hoping she would still know who I was. I'm thankful to tell you He gave me four days that weekend, during which I stayed by her bed with my mother. She knew my name, she knew my love, she said what she's said to me hundreds of times - "I love you; I'm praying for you; Is there a special man in your life yet? No? We'll keep praying." At the end of those days, I left PA with an overwhelming peace and my prayers became pleadings that God would take her soon. She's been active and full of life up until these very last months, and I could not bear to see the enemy torment her at the end of such a beautiful life.

I was telling a friend just two days ago about how my favorite part of having Jesus' spirit living inside of me is that He never leaves. We can go through painful and troubling times and yet still have an overriding peace and joy in the midst of it. I think God's timing is so beautiful as my own words came back to encourage me today. When everything is shaking and the pain feels suffocating, Jesus is not shaken. He is a steady rock that we can depend on to hold us up.

We are certainly mourning the loss of this woman who supported all of us for many years with her prayers and encouragement, which I know God will continue to honor in the days to come. But I am simultaneously bursting with joy. She has faithfully served Jesus and she has finally been rewarded with the sight of not only His face, but also that of her husband. She's no longer confined by the limitation of her body or the strategies of the enemy to destroy her. He can never touch her again and I say, 'Death, where is your sting now? Where is your victory?" (1 Cor 15:55) I know only the sweetness that comes with the assurance that she trusted in Jesus with her whole heart and is now with Him in heaven. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:16-17)

I believe God made her and me out of the same dust. So much of my own passions I saw alive and well in this woman and I am so blessed and thankful to have such a heritage. I hope I can be as faithful, loving and long-suffering as she was.

Thanks for all your prayers and support. Please keep praying for all of us as this will be a difficult few weeks.

I leave you with this song, which has been in my heart all day:

"I am Yours, You are mine, and we'll be together forever."

Over the Ocean

2011-02-21T05:58:00.002-05:00

This band has quickly become one of my favorites for worship music. They're in the style of John Mark McMillan. Absolutely beautiful. Songs I love are Paper House, Build Your Kingdom, and I Will Be Silent. Get the album, "Paper House," for FREE here.

Caleb

2011-01-25T17:50:00.001-05:00

Love these guys :)

Music News and Freebies

2011-01-20T21:20:00.000-05:00

[Photo credit]

One thing I'm particular about is music. Free/cheap music is one of my favorite delights, but only if it's good. And I have come across some good music lately to share with all of you! (Step aside sugary-pop sing-anything-to-get-on-the-radio musician wanna-bes...)

*Daniel Bashta: My Worship in Motion
--Entire album available through a widget on his myspace page. (free)

*David Crowder Band: O Holy Night
--Yes, this is actually still available HERE if you missed it before. (free)

*Daytrotter Database
--THIS is a list of lots of musicians who offer alternative versions of their songs (free). Artists include: Barcelona, Iron & Wine, Mat Kearney, The New Frontiers

*River James: 2 free downloads!
--River James is the new project of Mae's drummer, Jacob. They have two wonderful free songs available now on their website.

*Deas Vail's album "Birds and Cages" is currently only $5 on amazon.com. Good tunes, great people.

And a band to support: The Waiting Kind. They are currently in a kickstarter campaign, hoping to raise money to make new music. Be part of the process here.

If you know of any others, please comment below!

Books of 2010

2011-01-05T19:39:00.003-05:00

As I mentioned previously, I read 13 books in 2010, reaching my goal of a book a month. I read Pride & Prejudice 7 times, as well as 3 other Austen novels (thanks to audio books), which I've been wanting to do for quite some time. I participated in the Gilmore Girls Reading Challenge with Liz, but unfortunately only reached 4 books out of the needed 5 and that included a viewing of BBC's Little Dorrit (movies count too). Even with all the variety, I found it hard to pick books I was actually interested in reading, and which I would have the time for if I could not find it in audiobook format at the library.

My least favorite book was either Phantom of the Opera, Wizard of Oz, or Alice in Wonderland. I am a fan of the musical version of Phantom, but had never read the book. I found the story to be a little confusing at parts and the Phantom character a bit less sympathetic than I expected. I did pretty much enjoy every other book, however. In 2011, I do plan to read a few more non-fiction books, starting with Anderson Cooper's "Dispatches from the Edge." :)

I am also participating in the MOHL Bible Blast with about 50 other women to read the entire Bible in 3 months. It's nice to have the accountability of others and it's been fun so far. Join us if you like!

Reading Goal for 2011: 15 books + the Bible

Matt's Quilt

2011-01-02T20:13:00.010-05:00

siblings: Jacob, me, Matt (12/26/10)

It has been such a pleasure creating this blanket for my brother! By the end, I realized how much I love to sew...or perhaps how much I love to create when the creating is producing something beautiful and useful. I have designed most, if not all, of the quilts I've made, except for the pattern of the baby quilt I did last spring. Designing is one of my favorite parts. It's usually the execution of the design that encourages my procrastination.

This particular quilt is the largest I have ever made and it has the most time-consuming design of any others as well. When I started it, my only ideas were to incorporate blue and maybe gray. He likes the Dallas Cowboys, so I was originally going to do something with that. But it evolved into something else.
A year and a half ago, I sewed all of the squares together for the 'front,' which is a double-Irish chain pattern. But I did it too hastily and it was really quite a mess. So I spent many many hours ripping all of it apart so I could start over. The panel was large enough to fit a queen-sized bed, so it took a long time. After that, I was discouraged and took a few months off. In the mean-time, I began designing the other side of the quilt.

Matt is the one who introduced me to Mae nearly a decade ago. At some point over the years, they were having a sale online and I was able to get a kid's size version of one of his favorite t-shirts for I think $6. I knew after that it would be the focal point of the back of the quilt. The timing is appropriate too in that Mae has completed their last tour, possibly ever, but hopefully for only a few years. So the quilt turned out to be something of a celebration of them and their influence in our lives, without that being my intention at all, with which I am very pleased. Matt was unable to attend one of their last shows here in Rochester back in October and so I took my shirt with me to the show and they all signed it.The back was actually really hard for me to design and the finished product was an idea that came to me the night before I was to cut the fabric. I had decided on something else, but the finished product is much much better. I find that is usually what happens to me with things like this, and I really believe it is God's influence to make the projects the best they can be to bless the recipient. All the colors are blue. I bought most of the fabric four years ago. The light blue making up most of the back is a thrifted sheet. All other material was purchased new and unfortunately the chain pattern fabrics are no longer in print as I tried to hunt them down recently. I love the blue star fabric especially and wish I had more of that left than scraps to create something for myself. The outer border is about as thick as the shirt-frame border.
I sewed many of our favorite Mae lyrics by hand all around the inner border. I really love how it came out and I think it added a really special and unique element to the blanket that my brother appreciated.The blanket was unfinished when I left for PA for Christmas, so I spent much of the weekend sewing. He opened it unfinished on Christmas morning and he and my mom showed it off to anyone that came by the house (though unfinished) for the rest of the weekend. I completed hand-sewing the binding just a couple hours before I was to leave to come back to NY on Monday (hand-sewing the binding is another favorite part for me). The finished product very comfortably fits a full-size bed. I left out a row of squares on the front pattern making it symmetrical and a bit smaller than it was the first time I sewed it.

(fabric/binding detail)

In the end, a success!, and one of my favorite quilts to date. Now, onto the next...

Free money: Swagbucks and MyPoints

2010-12-30T17:52:00.005-05:00

I believe I have mentioned Mypoints before. I earn about $50 in gift cards every year through that website. I highly recommend it, but would suggest creating a separate junk email for Mypoints because you will get a lot of emails (through them you earn points) and it can easily overwhelm your account.

I wanted to also tell you guys about Swagbucks. I can't remember who first told me about Swagbucks, but now that I've finally redeemed my points and received my order, I wanted to share this wonderful website with you.

I started using Swagbucks back in July. You earn swagbucks in various ways, but I have found using the toolbar to be most effective. I earn at least 10 points a day, usually more. You need 450 points to cash in for a $5 amazon.com gift card. So at the very least, every month and a half I will earn $5. I have averaged $5/month, which equals $60/year. I waited until I had accrued $25, and then, just before Christmas, redeemed all the gift cards for three books and a cd (amazon has no gift card redemption limit).

My routine every day is basically to search the web in the morning (using the swagbucks toolbar). After two or maybe three searches, I win swagbucks. It takes all of 10 seconds. I then get my four other daily points by doing what is demonstrated in the video below. Some days there are other ways to earn swagbucks, usually through the blog, toolbar message center, and facebook. Every holiday they have a code in a blog post that you can redeem for swagbucks too. And if you're spending some time on the internet anyway, it might be beneficial to you to open up Swagbucks TV in one of your tabs (make sure AutoPlay is ON) and let it roll through the videos. The Swagbucks Meter at the top of the page will tell you when you're about to win Swagbucks for watching (I think it's 5 every time). I just put it on mute and let it roll. The more time you spend on the site, the more points you will earn, but I just do what is minimally necessary.

Through 12/31/10 new sign-ups to Swagbucks can get an additional 30 swagbucks in their account (you get 30 for signing up so this will make it 60) when they use the code “JoinIn2010” during the signup process. So, if you have any inclination to join, now is the time to do it. (And if you go to the website by clicking the banner below, I'll get some referral points too!)

PS: Both US AND Canadian residents can join!

A brief sewing pause...

2010-12-16T19:05:00.004-05:00

I am feverishly working on my brother's quilt. Pictures hopefully to come after it's finished and in his hands.

But tonight I am taking a little sewing break. Considering all the work still to be done, I can't really take a break, but I am in need of some organizing and regrouping. Along those lines, I was looking back at some of my lists of goals these last few years. Matt's quilt is a priority on the list from 2008. I think I have been working on this thing for 4 years off and on and I am determined to finish it now. There are a number of other items on that list that never saw the light of day. I am, however, very excited that I have managed to keep up my reading schedule of a book a month for the last two years. I'm currently at 13 and might be able to finish another one before the end of the year. I have officially read all the Jane Austen novels except Emma thanks to audiobooks. Audiobooks are some of my most favorite things in the world, especially when they're free from the library.

I also want to pass on this gem to you. A FREE David Crowder Band song. And not just any song...the best Christmas song ever, in my opinion. Do you have a favorite?

and don't you just love owls???

Nanowrimo Reflections

2010-12-01T20:47:00.003-05:00

This is the 3rd year in a row I've dropped out of Nano. I managed to get just past 11,000 words, which is no small number, though not nearly enough to win. What was different about this year than the last few was that I loved writing. Because I wrote in journal style, I only wrote when I was truly inspired or really had something to talk about. A few events happened over the month that compelled me to write, and it turned out to be quite a good thing for me.

As much as I will likely continue to participate in Nano, I think it's doubtful I'll ever really 'win' again. But, in spite of that, I believe I have only been benefited by taking part. Nanowrimo reminds me that writing is a good thing to do and if you feel like writing for an hour or two or three, do it. Write when you're inspired (even if it's not during the month of November!), write to communicate, write to share the depths of who you are with someone outside yourself. And most of all, enjoy it.

today's beauty

2010-11-20T23:03:00.002-05:00

I just had to share that today...

-I naturally woke up around 6:30. I love to wake up that early without an alarm and feel refreshed.
-I made a delicious cucumber smoothie for breakfast. I've been dabbling in raw foods and I have loved making cucumber smoothies. Very hydrating and refreshing!
-I did some sewing! My machine was actually dusty. I don't think I've done anything with it since April. I'm determined to finish a project for my brother for Christmas. It felt really really good to be sewing again. I've missed it more than I expected.
-And to finish off this really restful day, my dear friend (and housemate) went with me to see The Sound of Music performed at a local high school. Excellent! We were also delighted to see an ad for Phantom of the Opera to be performed at the same venue in late January. Seems like it will be an unusually great winter for theatre!

i love those dresses!

Merry Christmas from Phil Wickham

2010-11-15T19:27:00.005-05:00

If Phil Wickham says it's not too early to get in the Christmas spirit, how could I disagree with him? I find myself in the mood lately and wouldn't mind it very much if I heard a Christmas song on the radio, even though it's not yet Thanksgiving. My housemate and I are coloring Snoopy Christmas pictures tomorrow to use as wall decorations. I love this time of year!

Nanowrimo 2010

2010-10-29T21:02:00.004-04:00

Only 2 days officially remain until NaNoWriMo begins. I will be participating. I will also be making a quilt, pretty much from scratch, at the same time. Should be interesting.

I'm what has become known as a NaNo Rebel. My plan at this point is to write strictly non-fiction, journal/essay style. I've never had a real affinity for fiction except for those high-quality stories that teach lessons about God and morality. I've found I have the same discretion in choosing movies and mostly go for those 'based on a true story.' All else seems like a complete waste of time in light of eternity and my brief existence here on earth. Plus, I have very little imagination when it comes to writing stories and I'm okay with that. Maybe some day I will try writing a novel, but I think it's doubtful it will ever happen. So while I am not a fan of doing things outside the rules, I don't mind so much for NaNo. This event gets me motivated and I'll be working every bit as hard as anyone else. I plan to win this year and have every expectation of doing so because I'm pretty excited about this project. Hope you will join us!

This is one awesome video :)

2010-10-21T19:35:00.000-04:00

Worldwide Moment 10.10.10

2010-10-10T08:16:00.005-04:00

6:10am Rochester, NY, USA

Worldwide Moment 2010

2010-10-06T20:48:00.003-04:00

This year's Worldwide Moment is on 10.10.10 at 6:10am EST. Find out your time of participation here. I'll post my picture on my blog when I get a chance. Let me know if you join us and don't forget to submit your picture to the website once you take it!

2010-10-01T22:54:00.000-04:00

9.28.10

Goodbye, Goodnight

2010-09-13T21:58:00.003-04:00

As I mentioned a few months ago, all five members of Mae are reuniting for a tour this fall. Unfortunately, this is their last tour for the foreseeable future. I cannot begin to express how much this band has meant to me, or how loving them has brought my brother and I closer and given us a common delight. Their artistic expression has been a catalyst for a lot of creativity in my own life and it is striking to think of how much I have been influenced by their music and their genuine love for and interest in their fans.

I'm excited to see all five guys again and am also looking forward to the opening acts. Windsor Drive has particularly caught my attention...Hope you enjoy. :)

An update

2010-09-05T19:34:00.003-04:00

Hello!

It's been a busy few months. Here are some random thoughts to update you on what I've been doing....

-My old home church has a huge yard sale every year and this year I found two awesome old Singer sewing machines to replace my broken one! $15 for both!
-My mom and grandma came to visit me and we went to Niagara Falls. Awesome time!
-My dad and brother also visited me a couple weeks ago. It was my dad's first time visiting in the four years I've lived here. They both loved it. :)
-My great-grandma (97) is in a nursing home for the time being for physical rehab. I went to Indiana with Mom and Grandma to visit her...hopefully she'll come home soon and will spend the winter in PA.
-Jane Austen adaptations! I don't think film gets any better than that. I recently saw the 07 version of Persuasion and loved it! Also, the 2008 (?) version of Sense & Sensibility is superb. You can just never have too much Austen. :)
-I've been listening to a lot sermons and have found such delight in God's Word. I love His unrelenting pursuit.
-And I suppose finally, I had planned to move back to PA this week to be closer to my family. I've prayed about it for nearly a year now and it seemed it was the right time for it. But through a series of events (especially this past week), my move has been delayed indefinitely, possibly 5-6 months more or less. I have felt for a long time that today was to be some sort of grand end/beginning in my life and it's turned out to be so but not in the way I thought. After today I will no longer be part of the choir at church. I will also not be part of a small group. These things have taken up most of my free time for about 3 years and I've been so delighted to submerge myself into them. But my heart is in pursuit of other things and I feel blessed that God has allowed me to stay here in NY longer to explore other passions. I have quite a huge stash of fabric and my intention for the next few months is to use as much of it as possible to make blankets and clothes. I also hope to teach myself other home-making skills that I have so wanted to learn. And if I am deliberate, more free time will also allow me to stay more connected to my family from a distance, be more thoughtful about the needs of others, read, and worship.

So that is what's going on with me. I hope you're doing well!

my cousin & me in Seneca Falls in July

Esterlyn

2010-07-20T22:11:00.003-04:00

A real post coming soon! I do have news to share, mostly of the bittersweet but leaning towards joyful kind. In the meantime, just want to let you know about Esterlyn. These guys have such a tender heart for Jesus and are really set on making meaningful connections with people that will count for eternity. They tour quite a bit and the lead, Luke, has a young family that he often has to leave behind. He is hoping to get funding through us, the fans, to buy a motorhome and have the ability to take his wife and children along on tour through Kickstarter. If you can help out at all financially, or just spread the word, I would greatly appreciate it!

Mae - Original 5 :)

2010-06-23T18:30:00.004-04:00

Mae's original five members are reunited! It has been nearly 3 years since Rob and Mark left, but they are finally back. We're expecting a great fall tour. I know this means nothing to most (all?) of you, but I am so excited!

Recipe of the Week - Oven Roasted Broccoli

2010-06-05T08:09:00.000-04:00

Seriously, this stuff is so good! I have been craving/eating a lot of carbs lately, and neglecting my veggies, so I made these up Friday night and wow, I love broccoli this way! I left mine in for 10 minutes and used Daiya cheese. It still has a bit of a crunch to it, but is soft enough to eat. YUM!

All I Need to Do is Worship

2010-06-02T21:36:00.003-04:00

2 Chronicles 20:6...

O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you...We have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.

'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's...'

"Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful." After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: "Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever." As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.

Happy 2nd Vegan Anniversary!

2010-06-01T21:45:00.003-04:00

It has been two delightful and wonderful years of eating vegan. It's hard to imagine I lived life any other way. This past year, I was able to visit a few more vegan-friendly restaurants for the first time, which my friends and I now frequent. One is Natural Oasis, which is all-vegan Ethiopian food, and it is excellent! My dad and I also stopped in at Good Eatz in Reading, PA and that food was excellent too.

I'm really thankful for the positive changes that have taken place in other people's lives because of my vegan lifestyle. My dear friend Liz posted not too long ago about how she's been impacted, which I'm so blessed by. A very close friend I have here is also a lot more conscious about her eating habits and now loves some vegan food I've introduced to her. And my family regularly makes green smoothies (all kinds of fruit along with green veggies), which I am still amazed about. Others tell me they are encouraged to eat better and now actually read labels in the grocery store, which excites me a great deal!

Being vegan has really allowed me to expand not only the foods I eat, but also my knowledge of the world and my awareness of what's going on with my own body. I have a much greater appreciation for animals and people and a continual consciousness about how my choices (food-related or not) affect others all the time. The fact that we all live together on this planet connects us in ways we are not always aware of, and discovering all the interconnections has been both heart-breaking and delightful.

Thanks for your encouragement and support. I'm looking forward to another year of great vegan living!

Oil Leak Feed

2010-05-27T22:07:00.001-04:00

I cannot say how devastating this is on so many levels...We continue to destroy the planet by every means possible.

Sense and Sensibility Re-launch and Sale!

2010-05-21T13:49:00.003-04:00

Sense & Sensibility has re-launched their site and it looks better than ever! Much easier to navigate. They are also having a 15% off sale, extended until Monday, May 24th. I plan to order 2 or 3 of the patterns in hopes that I can make some new dresses for myself. I'd live in Regency dresses if I could. This is particular favorite... :)

:)

2010-05-19T17:45:00.000-04:00

WIFD day one (for me)

2010-05-10T17:52:00.002-04:00

It was snowing yesterday, so I decided I wasn't going to wear a dress. Therefore, today is day one for me. I have had the skirt for years and the blouse was given to me by a friend maybe a year ago. Necklace from Claire's. I curled my hair and put it up in the back, which you can almost see in this picture:

Not my favorite outfit, but it will do. :)

WIFD: May 9th - 15th

2010-05-06T21:01:00.002-04:00

Sunday begins a "Week in Feminine Dress" (WIFD - "wif-d") in the Sense and Sensibility online community. (You might not be able to see it if you're not a member.) Basically, for a week of every season of the year, the ladies from the forum wear feminine clothes every day, take pictures of their outfits and then post them in the forum for everyone to see. I have never participated, mostly because I did not own enough skirts or dresses to make a full week, but it's always so inspiring to see everyone else's clothes! Over the last few months, I've been purposing to add more to my wardrobe, and I think I have enough now for 7 days. It's also relatively warm most days so that gives me more options. I'm not sure if I'll be posting my outfits on my blog, but I wanted to let you know about the event so you could participate if you'd like [ladies only :)]! You don't need to be a member of the community, just post on your own blog about it. Or don't post at all and just wear feminine clothes! I hope you will join us!

Recipe of the Week - Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting (Vegan - of course!)

2010-05-01T20:44:00.003-04:00

A couple weeks ago I made these cupcakes to take to work for my birthday. I used to love the flavor combination in my pre-vegan days and had not had it since. These were amazing! Everyone loved them and I've made them twice since, because they're so great and also because I had frosting leftover. I would say you could cut the frosting in half or in thirds. The recipe makes 16-17 cupcakes. Bake for 15 minutes. They will seem too soft to remove from the oven, but if the toothpick comes out clean, they are ready. That softness will later turn into a delicious sponge-like dessert. MMMmmmm

free stuff from Aero

2010-04-25T17:17:00.002-04:00

Thanks to Never Pay Retail Again, which I found through a friend's blog, I got 6 pairs of Aeropostale socks today for $2. There was a coupon for this weekend, $10 off a minimum of a $10 purchase. If you're reading this before your nearest store closes and want to take advantage of it, just print this coupon. Sorry for the too-late notice. Next time I'll alert you sooner to such things. There is another promotion running till tomorrow where you can get cheap gift cards. That is here. I think it's only in the States.

Recipe of the Week - Anything with Daiya!!!

2010-04-24T19:02:00.002-04:00

I discovered today that my favorite Wegman's store now has Daiya cheese!!! I immediately changed my dinner plans and bought ingredients to make cheese pizza tonight. A tiny review:

1. First impressions: pleasant and natural looking colors (mozz and cheddar), yummy and authentic smell (I only bought the mozz and it smells delicious!), delicious even right out of the bag! (i wouldn't eat the other vegan cheeses unless they are with something else).

2. It melts!

3. Creamy and very cheesy taste. Rich. I could have probably used half the amount I did and it still would have tasted great.

Overall, it is the best vegan cheese I've ever tried. I haven't had Teese yet so that could change, but for now, yum! Honestly, it tastes so much like cheese that I was reminded that I was never a huge fan of cheese in my pre-vegan days. Except for Parmesan. If Daiya makes Parmesan, I'll be all over that stuff!

Some other things it would be good for: quesadillas, poutine!!!!!!!!!, mac & cheese, lasagna, nachos, tacos/burritos, and probably an alfredo sauce.

It's Earth Day! Eat Vegan!

2010-04-22T16:59:00.003-04:00

(click on the cute cow for some very true information)

Thoughts on Modesty

2010-04-20T21:26:00.005-04:00

I came across this article today and it was a much-needed refresher...

"You should not judge a book by its cover. That is true. And if you have time in the library to browse and read the back flap or half a chapter, you will often come home with an amazing book even though the cover didn’t really promise much. But how often do you have time for all that? Between children, household, work, family, hobbies… quite often we run in and out of the library in fifteen minutes and we have to content ourselves with first impressions. After a while you even become very good at this. You know what styles of illustrations probably promise a great read, or what kind of font is often used just to draw attention to a cheap sensationalist piece of non fiction. Now and again we have pleasant or unpleasant surprises, but, in general, we know what we get. After all, a scientific work will not often have a full-colour shot of playing children against the background of a wheat field on it, a family novel will rarely have a shiny black dust jacket with blood drops over the title.

In the same way, people who do not have the time to truly get to know us and be surprised by our personality must judge us by what they see–the woman we pass in the grocery store, the librarian, the people we meet on the street. While it is true that beauty starts on the inside, the way we present ourselves shows that we care about the feelings of others who meet us. We should not explicitly dress to get attention to ourselves, but it is a thoughtful gesture to present ourselves with the beauty with which the Lord has endowed us undimmed by sloppiness or carelessness...." (read the rest here)

One Day a Week

2010-04-13T22:14:00.003-04:00

Books Read in 2009

2010-04-12T21:37:00.003-04:00

I read 14 books in 2009 (plus three more readings of Pride and Prejudice). My goal was twelve and this is the first time I have hit a reading goal since high school, so I was pretty excited. My goal is the same for this year - one book a month. I'll just give quick reviews here:

1. "Peculiar Treasures" by Robin Jones Gunn (A+)
Robin is a favorite of mine because she writes Christian fiction that is neither too fluffy nor too serious. The characters are realistic. This book is part of a very long series that I adored in high school and continue to love. They are easy to read and yet hold profound truths about God and relationships. I would recommend them to any young woman.

2. "The Scarlet Pimpernel" by Baroness Emmuska Orczy (A+)
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. So well thought-out and with a twist at the end that I didn't actually expect. I listened to it on audiobook, and even though the reader leaves something to be desired, it was very enjoyable. I would love to see the movie, but I haven't found it to rent and haven't brought myself to buy it.

3. "Quest for Love" by Elisabeth Elliot (A+)
This book is filled with chapters that Elisabeth created from letters she's received from readers. Some are stories, some are pleas for wisdom. I was greatly encouraged as a single woman to read stories of love hoped for, love granted by God in incredible ways, and love lost. I have yet to find another woman whose heart is so in tune with God's desires for our lives.

4. "Let Me Be a Woman" by Elisabeth Elliot (A)
This is the book form of Elisabeth giving marriage/courtship/relationship advice to her daughter. It expounds on the beautiful and unique roles God has given us as females (while also addressing the roles of men in some points). As with all her books, I find it greatly helpful and instructive while being enjoyable too.

5. "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen (A++)
Is there any fiction quite so wonderful as this book? I am so fascinated with the Regency Era and all things Jane Austen. The characters are real - flawed, passionate, noble, funny, brilliant and ridiculous. I laugh out loud at times! Catherine Byers' version on Itunes is my most favorite way to enjoy this book and I can't recommend it highly enough.

6. "Revolution in World Missions" by K. P. Yohannan (A)
Incredibly thought-provoking and heart-breaking. I recommend this to anyone, missions-interested or not. Beautifully written and it pierces the heart. You can get a free copy here and there's also an audio version of it on Itunes for free.

7. "Persuasion" by Jane Austen (B+)
This is not my favorite story. The book is mostly about how people abuse Anne and her anxiety about seeing or being near her previous love interest, Captain Wentworth. By the end of the book, my affections were still not stirred by Captain Wentworth. I think he needed to be expounded upon a bit more so we could see his personality in a clearer light. I did enjoy the movie version though, in which looks could intimate feeling more than reading between the lines can.

8. "Surrender" by Nancy Leigh Demoss (A)
If I recall correctly, this book is about giving your all to God. I can recommend just about anything from Nancy. She shares my love for Elisabeth Elliot and is an excellent Bible teacher. I've learned a lot about femininity and biblical womanhood from her podcasts.

9. "Becoming God's True Woman" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss (and others) (A)
An excellent compilation by some of the wisest women I have encountered. Biblical teaching about a woman's role in the home and in the community and practical advice to go with it. Highly recommended to any woman, single or married.

10. "Northanger Abbey" by Jane Austen (C+)
I hate to give Jane such a low grade, but I did not really like this book. I didn't feel much for any of the characters and found some of it confusing. There are also some supernatural elements about it that should have been left out. I've heard this is the hardest of Jane's books to enjoy, and I agree. Not recommended.

11. "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers (A++)
My favorite Christian fiction novel by far. An 1800's version of the story of Hosea. Beautifully written with so much parallel to God and His bride. I always cry every time I read it. Highly recommended.

12. "Jesus for President" by Shane Claiborne (A)
Inspiring, sound teaching. I enjoy Shane's works a great deal. This book expounds on the idea of Jesus really being president of us and how that should affect our Christian living. Excellent.

13. "The Little Woman" by Gladys Aylward (A)
Gladys was an English (I think) woman who felt called to go to China to tell people about Jesus. She wrote this book about some of her experiences. Very eye-opening and challenging. An easy but important read.

14. "Feminine Appeal" by Carolyn Mahaney (A)
Another book of instruction/practical Biblical application for women. Very helpful in understanding how our qualities can best be utilized first for God, then our husbands. Highly recommended for single or married women.

2010 Reading List

2010-04-11T20:56:00.002-04:00

I am taking part (with Liz) in the Gilmore Girls Reading Challenge, so I figured it's about time I figure out what would be good to read. I am happy to find Pride and Prejudice on the list, which I'm sure I will read about four times this year, as I did the last. I just adore the way Catherine Byers performs it for the free audiobook podcast on Itunes and it has certainly become a favorite story for the boring moments at work. I am almost finished with my second listen-through already.

Catherine Byers also has a version of the Wizard of Oz on Itunes for free, so I will be listening to that as well, even though I listened to it I believe two years ago and found it to be quite disturbing in some parts. I don't know that it would be suitable for children.

My other inclusions at this point are others I can listen to at work: Alice in Wonderland and Pinocchio. I am unsure of the rest of my list. I think everything else will have to be manually read, which will be a nice change.

Recipe of the Week - No Bake Flax 'n Oat Bars

2010-04-10T15:23:00.002-04:00

I take snacks to work every day that I make at home. This 1) ensures I am eating something healthy, 2) keeps my hunger at bay till lunch/dinner, and 3) keeps me from buying from the vending machine. Let's face it, when we're hungry, we will pay $1 for a tiny bag of "Veggie Chips" (my personal choice when the other option is potato chips). So I am always glad when I can find an easy recipe that takes next to no effort and is delicious.

These bars are not only easy or yummy but also can be healthy if you use the right ingredients. I used Earth Balance for the coconut oil since I didn't have any and the rice cereal she uses is not vegan, so I subbed Koala Krisp. It's on sale this week and I figured I'd eat it as cereal too, so it wouldn't go to waste. It did add a little bit of sugar to the mix. Since this was my first time making them, I didn't leave anything out to compensate for the extra sugar which resulted in them being a little too sweet. Good thing I pressed them into mini muffin tins instead of regular ones so I can eat less in one sitting.

Changes I could make:
-Natural peanut butter (no added sugar or salt) or a different kind of nut butter
-no brown sugar
-subbing half the pb amount with jam
-using a plain rice cereal instead of flavored
-subbing hemp protein powder for some or all of the flaxseed
-leaving out the chocolate chips or subbing them with small dried fruit like cranberries

This has become a new favorite! Try it, you will like it.

Quilt finished!!!

2010-04-04T20:27:00.001-04:00

The finished top:

Scripture reference in the center (all the letters are actually even, but it's wrinkled here):The back:

Binding:
I was finally able to give her the quilt today. It has taken a few months to get to this point because I met resistance at every turn, which I can only attribute to spiritual warfare. Two sewing machines broke on this quilt, I had fabric issues from the start and last night when I went to wash and dry the finished product, the power went out from a barely there kind of wind just as I was putting it in the dryer. (I was also writing this post at that time). But I prayed and thankfully the power came back on around 12:30am, so I got up a half hour earlier this morning to dry it and wrap it up.

The reward came when she opened it and then said, "oh my gosh, this orange fabric is the same that we used in the room!" Exactly the same fabric as a window dressing, as well as a quilt that her mom made her for the baby. They love it and the father's favorite color is orange. Honestly, that is my least favorite fabric on this quilt and the only reason I bought it was because it matches so perfectly. I'm so glad God's got it all under control. :)

The next project will be my brother's quilt...in process for 3 years...I'm hoping to have it done in a month, but I think that's an impossible goal considering my time-consuming design for it. We will see.

Recipe of the Week - Pina Colada

2010-04-02T13:57:00.005-04:00

It's a day earlier than normal, but hopefully tomorrow I'll have pics of a finished quilt to show.

I came home early from work today, as has been the case for months now, and it was just as hot here at the lake as in the city, which is unusual. It has quickly moved from winter weather to summer weather, and honestly, I'm not really a fan of it. Give me 70s and a light breeze and I'm pretty satisfied. But 80 on April 2 is a bit much. Snow would be worse though, so I'm still grateful.

Anyway, earlier this week I made coconut veggie rice noodles and had a bit of coco milk leftover. Pineapples are also on sale this week at Tops for 1.88/ea. So I just happened to have the ingredients on hand to make a yummy little drink. My first pina colada (sans alcohol) was probably in middle school at a friend's annual New Year's party. I really loved the flavor combination. I've had a few more in the last 15 years, but when I became vegan, my hopes of having one again were dashed because the standard store-bought/restaurant mixture has milk in it. Enter: fresh ingredients and a blender.

Blend:
1/4 can of coconut milk
1/4 of a fresh pineapple
1 tsp of sugar (to taste, if needed)
Add:
6 or 7 ice cubes

Blend and pour into a pretty little glass :) Makes 2 cups. (I know my backgrounds are always really awful and the drink was much more pale than in this picture, but it was delicious regardless).

One step farther

2010-03-28T21:23:00.004-04:00

I spent most of the weekend sewing. The back is completely done, and I pinned it yesterday. This keeps the three layers from moving so I can tie it together. Today I tied the entire quilt and began sewing the binding on. (Pics of that another day). I miscalculated how much I needed, so I have to cut more tomorrow and finish that. It is by far my least favorite part of quilting, aside from lining the layers up before pinning them. Despite my best efforts, the fabric always shifts and it takes hours to get it looking right.
But then comes my favorite part -- hand-sewing the binding! There is something about doing this that I really like, aside from the fact that it means I'm almost done. I will likely rent a movie to watch while I sew. Today I watched "Amazing Grace," "You've Got Mail," and "Sense & Sensibility." I don't really watch movies or tv anymore, but it helps to do so when I'm sewing because I forget how long it's really taking to do the work.After that, I'll wash it once to make sure everything holds up as it's supposed to, and wrap it up! My plan is to give it to her Easter weekend, and I should make that goal without any issues. [And I think I failed to mention, the new parents are not fond of girl colors like pink and purple, which is why this quilt is earth tones. The lightest color is actually pink, but I found I couldn't avoid it and have it look right. This limitation actually made choosing fabric really difficult for me, so my method was to pick the whole square color first - brown with colored flowers - and pull colors from there for the rest. It managed to work out to my liking in the end.]

Also, I snagged some super cute kids' flannel fabric at Joann's today for $2/yd. I'm not sure what I'll make with it, but I bought 4 yards of this one pattern that is just adorable. That's enough to make two blankets, one to give away and perhaps one for myself. :)

Top done!

2010-03-22T21:41:00.004-04:00

Here's my progress so far. Sorry it is wrinkly; the brown border is really resisting the iron. :)

PS: Went to see Phil Wickham last night. He's just as humble and genuine and passionate about God as you could expect. It was great to worship with him.

Some projects

2010-03-17T16:53:00.014-04:00

Hey everyone! It's been a while. I owe you a post. So here are some projects I have completed in the last few months. Currently I'm working on two quilts, one for my brother and one for a baby.

A coupon holder for Mom's birthday (November):

Potholders for my dad and landlady (Christmas):
A scarf for our family secret santa (Christmas):

And a no-sew fleece blanket for my brother Matt (Christmas). It was a spontaneous decision. He loves penguins and I found the character fleece 2 days before I had to leave for PA. I already had the gray fleece to back it:

Forty Days of Water

2010-02-17T21:26:00.004-05:00

So honestly, I can't remember a time I ever really participated in Lent by 'giving up' something. I do usually make a point of really considering and reflecting on Jesus in various ways, but I don't give up something specific for 40 days. And as the years have progressed, I have often wondered what the point of Lent is according to the people who observe it. The definition according to Wikipedia is: Lent, in Christian tradition, is the period of the liturgical year leading up to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer — through prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial — for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

So Lent is supposed to be a sacred time to remember the sacrifice of Jesus. Instead it has become an opportunity for the question "So what are you giving up?" The fact that this is a topic of conversation makes me absolutely crazy. Lent has become a time of prideful boasting instead of reflection. It's become a joke to a lot of people too. If you Google "lent" and scroll down just a bit, you'll see all the current twitter messages about it.

Matthew 6:16-18 says “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Based on the Scriptural teachings of fasting, people publicly fasting are also not going to get any kind of lasting reward! We shouldn't fast as a means to get rewarded, but if you're going to do it and are promised a reward if you keep your mouth shut, it would be wise to follow the guidelines given to us by the One we're fasting for.

Anyway, all of that is to say that Blood:Water Mission has a 40 Days of Water event starting today. A friend and I get coffee every week, and we've decided to participate in this and move our coffee dates to our homes for dinner instead so we can donate the money we saved at the end of the 40 Days. I hope you'll join our efforts to continue building wells in poor countries so people can have the clean water they need to live.

Final Day

2010-01-31T20:48:00.002-05:00

It's the last day of blogging every day. Life took over as always. But I liked keeping track of the sun. We officially gained 15 minutes of sun in the morning and 35 minutes at night, totally 50 minutes from January 1st to January 31st! I say keep it coming. I cannot wait for winter to be over.

And One Thing this past week was great! God really met with us in powerful ways and I'm excited about what's to come for our church body as He refines us further.

Sunrise: 7:28am
Sunset: 5:21pm

Recipe of the Week - Vegan "Stroganoff"

2010-01-30T21:35:00.004-05:00

I have been craving something creamy. My favorite soup/broth brand is on sale at Wegman's, so I bought some Creamy Mushroom Soup this week. I created a sauce with it:

Ingredients:
-whole wheat Rigatoni, enough for 3 servings
-1/2 onion, diced
-7 brown mushrooms, diced
-1/2 bag Boca crumbles
-2 garlic cloves, minced
-1-2 cups mushroom soup
-1/2 cup soy milk (approx)
-2 Tbsp w/w flour
-2 Tbsp vegan cream cheese
-EVOO
**Pans needed: 2 pots (1 for pasta, 1 for soup) and saute pan

Start by sauteing onion in olive oil. When starting to brown, add mushrooms. Cook through and add garlic at the end for a couple minutes. Salt to taste. Empty into a bowl. Replenish oil and saute Boca crumbles until browned. Add to mushroom/onion mixture.

Meanwhile, bowl water for the pasta and cook according to time directions.

In small pot, boil the Mushroom soup. Whisk in cream cheese until dissolved. Whisk in whole wheat flour until absorbed. It should start to thicken. Add the soy milk and continue to boil and whisk almost constantly until it reaches the desired thickness. This is your cream sauce.

When everything's finished, combine and salt to taste.

This came out absolutely perfect and I would definitely make it again. It is fairly simple, but you will be at the stove the entire time, about 40 minutes for me.

Sunrise: 7:29am
Sunset: 5:20pm

2010-01-29T21:35:00.000-05:00

Sunrise: 7:30am
Sunset: 5:19pm

Rita Springer

2010-01-28T23:00:00.002-05:00

I absolutely love that woman. She is part of our women's event at church, leading worship tonight and speaking tomorrow and what a blessing to have her here! :)

Sunrise: 7:31am
Sunset: 5:18pm

Animal Torture in the News

2010-01-27T14:56:00.001-05:00

I watch most news by podcast, a day after it's aired and I was so...happy?...to see that the evils of the dairy industry were being shown on World News on Tuesday. This unfortunately leads the general public to continue purchasing milk, though getting it from a different "humane" source (which I won't get into since my thoughts are already documented to the right in my vegan series). But, maybe some hearts will be turned in vegan favor. Who knows?

Sunrise: 7:32am
Sunset: 5:16pm

One Thing

2010-01-26T21:30:00.003-05:00

January is a month of prayer and fasting at our church. We complete the month with a week of worship, two hours each night, and call it One Thing. This year, they split the week in half: Men - Sun, Mon, Tues; Women - Wed, Thurs, Fri. We'll be combined Saturday night and Sunday morning.

I'm part of the choir, so I'm there every night regardless, and what a blessing it has been! I'd estimate about 500 guys have shown up each night and it is so encouraging to see such a group of men passionate about God, worshiping with all they've got - grown men jumping up and down and spinning to the music. The sweetness in the room tonight was incredible and I know a new group of leaders walked out of that room when it was over.

Guys, above all pursue Jesus. He will make you bold, strong leaders; real men. It's not just the women who need your humble passion, but the entire world. We will follow you!

Sunrise: 7:33am
Sunset: 5:15pm

sweet find

2010-01-25T22:34:00.004-05:00

We have been getting out of work early most days lately and today was no exception. So I went to our local Salvation Army. I've been reading some refashioning blogs and getting super inspired, and thought I'd try to find some items worth saving. I didn't end up finding any clothing, but the trip was very successful. I found a gorgeous sage green full size sheet (which I will use for fabric) for $4, a couple other great deals, and the grand prize: this batting, about 6 feet X 8 feet, for $4! It's perfect for a quilt I'll be making over the next few months and I'm so excited to use it. I love the stuff, but have only bought it once before because it's so expensive.

Sunrise: 7:33am
Sunset: 5:14pm

2010-01-24T21:27:00.001-05:00

Sunrise: 7:34am
Sunset: 5:12pm

Recipe of the Week - Lentils & Chard

2010-01-23T20:31:00.002-05:00

I got this recipe from the Compassionate Cooks podcast "Veg Food for Thought." She didn't actually give exact measurements, so this is my interpretation. Play around with it.

1 cup lentils
2 1/2 cups water
2 bay leaves
1/2 T dried thyme
1/2 onion, finely chopped
2 carrots, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 bunch of green chard, washed and cut into chunks or 1-inch strips
1/2 can crushed tomatoes, optional (someone told me these were a good addition. i haven't tried it)
1 or 2 T tamari
olive oil for sauteing

-Boil water in pot, add lentilsd, thyme, tamari and bay, cover and stir occasionally. Approx. 45 mins to cook; should be al dente, not mushy, when done.
-In another pot, saute onion and carrots in olive oil to your liking. Add 1/2 of the garlic for the last 2 minutes of cooking time. (If using tomatoes, add now and simmer till all flavors are blended.) Empty contents into a bowl.
-Saute remaining garlic in olive oil a couple minutes, then add chard, stir and cover. It should take about 8 mins to cook. Stir occasionally and add salt if needed.
-When lentils are done, add the sauteed onion mixture to it. Serve over chard.

This is surprisingly good. The chard doesn't really taste like a green veggie and the texture pairs nicely with the lentils. Quick and cheap at roughly (by my estimate) $1.50/serving. Makes about 4.

Sunrise: 7:35am
Sunset: 5:11pm

CNN

2010-01-22T23:21:00.005-05:00

I've decided I love the people at CNN. In the last week and a half, I have seen every news network cover Haiti. The main anchors were there the first few days, then replaced by the secondary anchors for a few days, and now the third string is doing the dirty work. But not Anderson Cooper. Not Sanjay Gupta. Not the CNN team. They're STILL in Haiti, 11 days later, reporting and saving lives. And while Haiti is just a footnote on other news stations, it's the main story on CNN. I honestly couldn't care less about who won in Massachusetts or if the healthcare bill will pass or where Tiger Woods is spending his time these days or even that Jay Leno is taking back The Tonight Show. Nothing is more important than Haitian lives, and though I don't know much about him at all, Anderson Cooper's actions and coverage this past week has given him hero status in my mind. Thanks, Anderson, we need more journalists like you.

I've also been thinking about how it'd be helpful to really get a lay of the land in Haiti...see where everything is in relation to everything else. Well, CNN has given us something that comes close, and I'll take it.

Sunrise: 7:36am
Sunset: 5:09pm

Happy Birthday Dad!

2010-01-21T20:45:00.004-05:00

Diana's wedding, Nov 2009

Sunrise: 7:37am
Sunset: 5:08pm

Misty

2010-01-20T21:10:00.004-05:00

My dog, Misty, died a year ago today. She was 12, so I grew up with her and was so blessed to have her around. Sometimes when I go to my dad's, I'm still expecting her to be at the door when I walk in, excited and running around. In my opinion, black labs are the best, and we all miss her a lot.

Sunrise: 7:37am
Sunset: 5:07pm

The First Joke - Jeff Martin and Steve Padin

2010-01-19T21:42:00.002-05:00

A great album. If you have any inclination, you can listen to them all once for free at lala.com. My current favorites are Forrest (Forest) and Runway, which is already stuck on repeat in my head. Enjoy :)

Sunrise: 7:38am
Sunset: 5:06pm

The First Joke

2010-01-18T21:23:00.002-05:00

In case you were wondering, Mae is not the only band I love. They are my favorite of course, but there is another one that stole my attention around the same time - This Day & Age. A few years ago, the lead singer, Jeff Martin, left the group to pursue other interests, like becoming an English teacher. Matt and I were pretty disappointed. Fortunately, we were able to see them live on their last tour. I wrote about the experience here if you're interested. It was also published in the online magazine I used to proofread, Lifted, which has been defunct for a few years, but ironically has that article on the main web page. (I just discovered that as I was looking for the link. Crazy.)

Anyway, This Day & Age has been dead for a few years, but I still love the music. They are my number 2 band. The remaining members formed another band, more jazzy, called The Reign of Kindo. Love them too. The guys are just really solid, really personable, and really talented, so it's been easy to follow their progress. But they are not quite This Day & Age. So imagine my extreme excitement when I discovered that Jeff Martin and Steve Padin, the Kindo drummer (formerly TDAA member as well), were writing music together! It's been a long couple months of waiting, but I'm happy to report tomorrow is the big album release date on Itunes! It's a completely experimental project, but I just love Jeff's voice and musical talent so much and am delighted to have some new TDAA reminiscent tunes for my car. You can find their music here.

Stoked! :)

Sunrise: 7:39am
Sunset:5:04pm

2010-01-17T21:22:00.000-05:00

Sunrise: 7:40am
Sunset: 5:03pm

Recipe of the Week - Makeshift Soup!

2010-01-16T21:42:00.003-05:00

This week, I planned to make some sort of lentil soup, assuming I had lentils in my cabinet. I did infact have lentils, but they were so old that they fell all apart once I rinsed them. It was a scary sight. By that time, I had already started cooking for the soup, so I couldn't turn back, and therefore came up with something on the fly. Here is that "recipe" but everything is approximate! Use what you've got on hand. Makes 3-4 servings.

Ingredients:
1 carton of No-Chicken broth (Imagine brand, add more if you want it to be more like soup and not stew, or use less of the other ingredients)
1 onion, diced
1 medium butter potato, peeled and diced
1 clove of garlic, minced
6 baby bella mushrooms, chopped roughly (I like chunks, not slices)
1 cup of frozen spinach, chopped to desired size (can also use fresh)
1/4 can of great northern beans
handful of whole wheat rotini
1 Tb dried celery (you could use fresh, but might need more liquid. i hate celery, but like the flavor it lends, so i keep dried on hand for soups)
a bit of tamari

Boil broth in medium saucepan. Add potato and celery. Cooking time will be between 15-20 minutes depending on potato sizes. Add the rotini at the appropriate time for all of it to be finished together. Meanwhile, saute onion in extra virgin olive oil in a saute pan over medium-low heat. When mostly cooked/browned/translucent, add mushrooms. When browned to your liking, add garlic, stirring often and cooking for 1-2 minutes more. Raise heat to medium, add spinach and cook until heated through. Add mixture to broth pot for the last 5 minutes of cooking, along with the beans. Taste for seasoning and add tamari if needed (which adds salt) and anything else you might want. You could also add some maple syrup for a touch of sweetness (which I do in my bean soups), but I found the rotini added a really neat sweet/salty flavor.

Serve with crusty bread or peanut butter toast. :)

Sunrise: 7:40am
Sunset: 5:02pm

heat wave

2010-01-15T21:23:00.002-05:00

the snow is melting and melting fast! i actually might try to make a snowman tomorrow since the snow is pretty much in great condition right now for it, but it might all be gone by the time i get to it! i'd be fine with that. 30s weather feels so warm to my face now that we've gotten past that crazy 2 weeks or more of 10s and 20s.

i'm still reeling about Haiti. as someone said today, once you've donated money and seen the devastation, all you can really do is wait and turn off the news. i would add 'pray' to that list, but i think it's true. since i'm unable to go and help, i only get more and more restless watching the sorrow unfold.

Sunrise: 7:40am
Sunset: 5:01pm

Mixology & Haiti

2010-01-14T06:35:00.005-05:00

Hey girls! (sorry matthew, you probably won't be interested in this :) )

I've been in contact with Mixology's Rachel, the creator/owner. She's a really sweet woman and she definitely has a passion for missions and social justice, which draws me to her even more. Typically, 5% of all her sales go to Blood:Water Mission. (I can share a little bit more about her through email if you'd like. It's great to know I am supporting this girl with my purchases).

In light of this Haiti disaster, she is selling pod samples (like the ones in my picture a few days ago) and all the proceeds will go to Samaritan's Purse to aid the relief. She does normally have pod samples for sale on her website, so this isn't the only time you can get them, but if you've considered donating to Haiti and haven't done so yet, I would encourage you to go this route.

I plan to do a review of the makeup in the coming weeks, but what I can say right now (3 days wearing it) is that I love it. I don't feel like I have makeup on at all, it covers great, and the eye shadow colors are wonderful. Additionally, my skin has been less dry and it seems to even be helping my complexion!

Some of my general faves so far are:
Eyeshadow - Suga and Era (used as a liner)
Bare-faced Mineral veil
Radiate Illuminizer

I'm expecting another shade of foundation in the mail soon, as well as a different primer mineral veil, blush and a few more eye shadows.

If you get a foundation/blush/veil/illuminizer, you will need a mineral makeup brush. You might want to go this route. There's also a Babuki brush on there without samples for $14 I think. The travel brush set is good since all the different brushes are in there, but if you can't afford it, a cheap eye shadow brush from any store should work for eye shadows. And I've found the easiest way to pick colors was to go to her actual site and then order from etsy, which is where the Haiti pod samples are.

If you have any questions, you know how to contact me. She also welcomes questions and is very quick to respond. And shipping is super quick.

More to come on Mix, but I hope that helps for now!

Sunrise: 7:41am
Sunset: 5:00pm

Haiti Devastation

2010-01-13T21:59:00.003-05:00

Just want to share this article today. It's almost like reading a movie script. Hard to believe this is really happening.

Sunrise: 7:41am
Sunset: 4:58pm

Haiti & War

2010-01-12T21:07:00.000-05:00

Haiti had an earthquake today. A catastrophic earthquake.

This event felt close to me, I think because a friend of mine went to the Hands and Feet Orphanage last summer and came back and explained to me how truly devastating the country is in just every possible way. It's certainly not a place anyone would want to live.

Also, on the news, Diane Sawyer was explaining about drone aircraft, unmanned flying machines that are commanded to drop missiles by the push of a button halfway around the world, aimed at 'terrorists.' I have to wonder, first, what the goal of this 'war on terror' is exactly. It sounds like, at 'best,' the US wants to eradicate evil. I'm not sure what other goal they could possibly have, aside from perhaps wanting everyone to hate America and its residents. If the latter, they are succeeding quickly. But if the former, I then wonder how our 'leadership' could be so dumb. You can't beat evil with evil. You can't fight violence with violence. From my perspective, there is no way to 'win' this war.

What was perhaps more disturbing as I watched the news today, was the fact that the reporters (or maybe the poor misguided soldiers) were trying to make me feel like 'taking out the bad guys' is a great thing. In an interview, Gen. Stanley McChrystal said (when speaking about the letters he writes to the families of soldiers who have died), "[Letters are] my way to try to express to the family how much this nation and I appreciate what their son or father or husband did. But I think that I also can reassure them that what we are doing is both right and it is being done well so that those sacrifices are not in vain." (ABC news, 1/11/10)..."Right" by whose definition exactly?

This world is facing a lot of devastation, and I'm almost shocked by how it seems to be escalating. But then I remember...

"You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains." (Matt. 24:6-8)

Maybe it's me, but everything does seem to be caving in around the world right now. It sure does stir a passion in me to do something about it.

Sunrise: 7:41am
Sunset: 4:57pm

Mixology Makeup

2010-01-11T21:48:00.004-05:00

My new mineral makeup arrived today! I'm pretty excited about this stuff. I've heard a lot of great things about Mixology, so I'm trying it out. I purchased a set of brushes, which came with 10 samples, bought two additional samples, and then also received another sample free as well as a really gorgeous heart pendant for free from Bella Bejeweled. I'm hoping these products make it on my forth-coming 'favorite vegan products' list. All was purchased from Mix's etsy store.

Sunrise: 7:42am
Sunset: 4:56pm

more time

2010-01-10T21:46:00.002-05:00

Checking in to say...

Sunrise: 7:42am
Sunset: 4:55pm

The busyness of my winter has begun, but I still want to keep track of the wonderful sunlight that continues to lengthen our days!

Recipe of the Week - Green Smoothie

2010-01-09T20:25:00.004-05:00

This week I want to share my 'go to' recipe for when my body is begging me for some fruits and veggies. I can always tell when I haven't had enough of them, and since I don't love vegetables, this is an easy way for me to eat them, and it's very yummy too! This recipe will make about 2 cups of smoothie. I have it for dinner about once a week, sometimes with something I've baked that week, like an oatmeal bar or banana bread. If I haven't made anything, I substitute a piece of toast or something similar. The smoothie itself is pretty filling, so additional food is not really needed, especially if you add some raw oats to the recipe.

The ingredients:
-One cup of liquid: 1 organic banana plus other fresh organic fruit or bottled fruit puree. You could also sub non-dairy milk, soy yogurt, 100% orange juice (with pulp), etc. My typical blend is a banana (which makes it creamy) and bottled puree with a bit of soy milk. You just need whatever you use to equal about one cup.
-a handful of frozen organic spinach (more or less based on your taste). I usually put in the most I can handle taste-wise because that is my "green vegetable." The fruit's job is to mask the taste of it, and it does a really great job. Unless you put in a lot, you can't even taste the spinach, I promise. **You can also use fresh spinach, but keep in mind it will liquefy quickly because the leaves are full of water, thus adding to your liquid amount.**
-2 tsp of ground flax seeds
-4-5 chopped dates (the purpose is to use these as a sweetener. it's natural sugar, and they have a good amount of fiber, so put in as much as you like)
-1 cup of organic frozen fruit (my blend is 5 strawberries, 6 chunks of mango, and 3 chunks of pineapple)
-optional: 1/4 cup raw oats

Recipe:
1. Liquefy the banana, fresh fruit, and other liquids in a blender.
2. Add frozen spinach and blend until also liquefied. The pieces of spinach should be very tiny. At this point, the mix will be bright green, or brownish green, depending on the fruits you used up to this point. Blue and Red berries mixed with the spinach make mud brown, which is not pleasant to look at, but not indicative of taste. Yellow fruit will make the green very bright.
3. After liquefying the spinach, and while the blender is still running, remove the center cap and add the flax seeds, blending about 10 more seconds. If you add the flax when the mixture is stopped, it sometimes gets stuck to the sides, so I find it's easier to add it while the blender's on. (You would also add in the oats now and liquefy those as well).
4. Stop the blender, add the dates. Blend until they are chopped to your liking. I usually leave them in tiny pieces because they are then like little pieces of candy when I'm drinking it.
5. Stop the blender. Add the strawberries and blend until smooth. Stop.
6. Add the mango and blend until smooth. It should be pretty thick at this point, which is how I like it. Adding the frozen fruit in stages allows you keep the consistency thick and "frozen." If you blend it too much, it will melt the frozen-ness of the fruit and make it thinner.
7. Taste it and make sure you have added enough of everything. If it needs to be sweeter, add more dates and blend accordingly. If you actually taste the spinach, add more fruit. If it's too thick, add more liquid.
8. Finally, add the pineapple and blend until they are all broken up. I don't like a lot of pineapple, so I add it last to brighten the flavor just a bit and boost the frozen-ness of the drink.

And that's it! Enjoy!

Sunrise: 7:42am
Sunset: 4:54pm

Seasons

2010-01-08T20:58:00.003-05:00

You all know how much I love Mae. 2009 was an excellent year to be a Mae fan, with a new song every month, two shows, and the release of two eps with one to release in 2010. They put action to their words and made a difference in the lives of many people, and I'm exceedingly proud of them.

In October, they released a song called "Seasons," which is a 13-minute instrumental song that progresses through about 12 scenes. It is breath-taking, so I thought I'd share it with you all. If you're interested, you can download it for a minimum donation of a dollar, and receive the mp3, as well as cover art and the different photos that the music is "describing." The combination is gorgeous.

Sunrise: 7:43am
Sunset: 4:53pm

Day 7

2010-01-07T20:51:00.005-05:00

I've decided that posting every day is not a good thing. If blogging was all I did, I'm sure I could offer you all more than just a short journal entry of the day's events. This weekend I hope to get some posts written. I want to share my favorite Etsy shops, products, book reviews, and Christmas projects. Soon. Very soon.

In the mean time, it was cloudy again today, but I'm so thankful, there was a strip of yellow-orange sky just above the lake horizon, which meant it was probably sunny in Toronto. It was a small blessing. I did choose to spend some time outdoors, dressed for making a snowman, but not able to do so because the snow was only slightly packable. So I shoveled a path to the lake, climbed (stepped?) over my gate, and cleared off a bench just outside our yard wall to sit on and enjoy a bit of nature. It was actually really nice since I was so well bundled up. The edge of the water is out quite a ways and one of these days I'd like to go to the edge and take some pics. I made a path about halfway out and then decided I was just too tired and cold to go all the way.

This is another pic from the same day as yesterday's pic. I can't wait to see the beach again.

Sunrise: 7:43am
Sunset: 4:52pm

i miss the sun

2010-01-06T22:21:00.002-05:00

I haven't seen the sun since last Saturday. 5 days ago. I took this picture in November and I'd really like to pull a Mary Poppins right about now and jump into it. I can no longer see any shore on my beach and there are huge ice chunks floating behind the ice wall in the lake.

Today was the first day we didn't get any snow since last Saturday and the highways are actually completely clear which makes me so happy. It seems more snow is in the forecast for tomorrow night, but I am loving this 24-hour break. The amount in my yard seems to have shrunk a bit and there are icicles everywhere. It amazes me that the snow is kind of melting even though we haven't had any temperatures above 28*, if even that high. I am so eager to just have 30's and 40's weather!

Sunrise: 7:43am
Sunset: 4:51pm

Have you guys seen this???

2010-01-05T21:41:00.003-05:00

I don't have much to say today, but I came across this flier a bit ago and thought I'd share. I don't get upset about many things, but the fact that this church genuinely means what they say (as far as I can tell from various websites, etc) just rips my heart out. There may be few people in our country or in the world that actually think these people are speaking the truth of the Bible and are "Christians" (as in 'people who follow Christ'), but my heart breaks for those few. American Christianity, whether it is mediocre/complacent or theologically off the deep end, isn't doing much to show the world who Jesus really is.

Sunrise: 7:43am
Sunset: 4:50pm

We've gained 3 minutes!

2010-01-04T21:53:00.005-05:00

The snow has indeed continued to fall through last night and today. There is at least 3 feet of it in most places in my yard, and it will hopefully stay put as the wind seems to have stopped being so crazy. I was pretty stunned when I walked outside to shovel this morning, seeing that it was so high and practically completely burying my car. But I dug myself out and now I'm glad to be home again and ready for a cozy bed.

Sorry for the brief 'wow it's snowing in winter' posts. I promise some 'real' posts will come soon. Also, have you noticed that we've gained 3 minutes since the start of the year? I was talking with a co-worker last year about this, and he and I both agree that we can literally feel the extra minute each day. I am not a fan of the darkness winter brings and am eager for daylight to return, so I'll be keeping track of how much sunlight WNY is getting for all of January, as a sort of encouragement that wonderful spring is coming.

See you tomorrow :)

Sunrise: 7:43am
Sunset: 4:49pm

my view

2010-01-03T20:00:00.005-05:00

That was my sidewalk today after arriving home from church. It was about 2 1/2 feet high. Thankfully, it's just powdery lake-effect snow, so it was super light and easy to shovel. I just cleared enough so I wouldn't be wading in it to get to my door. I expect it will look like the picture again tomorrow when I'm leaving for work.

Fun times.

Sunrise: 7:43am
Sunset: 4:48pm

snow

2010-01-02T21:41:00.004-05:00

it's everywhere. if only it was packable snow, then i could make a snowman like this (though perhaps a nice one instead of an angry one):i left rochester on thursday, the snow in my driveway melting away, which made me very happy. yesterday, we had a type of heat wave in PA, with a high temp around 38* or 40*, which made me even happier. and today, as i'm sure you are also experiencing, winter has indeed set in. one of the problems of living on the lake is the snow drifts. up to my knees in some spots on my sidewalk and in my driveway tonight as i arrived home. other places in the yard are practically bare. this defeats the purpose of shoveling, but i'll be doing it anyway tomorrow so i can go to church.

i hope you're staying safe in the mess...

Sunrise: 7:43am
Sunset: 4:47pm

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T23:15:00.002-05:00

That's kind of what I felt like this morning. Exhaustion mixed with a late bedtime apparently results in a mad headache and haziness for the next 12 hours, and without alcohol too. I was at my cousin's for a sleepover, during which we watched one of our favorite movies, Big Man on Campus, on VHS while eating veggie pizza and Tofutti vanilla ice cream. :) (Oh how I wish it would be released on dvd.) We quickly switched to Times Square coverage at 11:58, hi-fived at 12am, and promptly turned on "Whose Line is it Anyway?" before heading to bed. For New Year's last year, I was in a movie theater in NY seeing Benjamin Button. I think the people who stand outside in Times Square (or anywhere for that matter) for hours upon hours just to see a ball drop are crazy. Let's get excited for things that really matter like clean water in poor countries or animals being rescued.

Here's to looking forward to more days of life. A new year doesn't signal changes unless there is an effort to make them. So what changes do you want to create, both today and in this next month to make your little part of the world better? I'll be sharing mine with you some time before the end of January. But for now, enjoy the day off (if you get one)!

Sunrise: 7:43am
Sunset: 4:46pm

Nablopomo

2009-12-29T17:32:00.003-05:00

Hello everyone!

It's been silent around here lately. Too silent. So, thanks to Liz's tip and my failed Nanowrimo attempt this year, I've decided to participate in January's Blogging month hosted by Nablopomo. My intent is to post every day the entire month, to sort of make up for bailing on Nanowrimo. This is not a substitution for writing a novel, and I'd much rather participate in Nanowrimo, but some writing is better than no writing, right? I figure there will be plenty of things to write about, including book reviews for the 14 (14!!!) books I read in 2009, passing my goal of 12. If you count that I read Pride and Prejudice 3 1/2 times (almost 4 times, but there are still 2 more days to finish), then my book count jumps to 17. It has been years since I've read so many books in a 12-month period, and I could not be more satisfied to check that off my list.

So, I look forward to interacting with you guys again, looking over this past year and towards a new start with new dreams and hopes to be excited about.

Hope your Christmas was great! Happy New Year!

Recipe of the Week - Pierogies!!!

2009-11-28T17:37:00.002-05:00

It has been about a year and a half since I've had pierogies. I used to love them, but the store-bought kind has both eggs in the dough and cheese in the filling. My dad and I were planning to spend some time together today, and so I suggested we just make home-made pierogies. It's been years since we've done so. He has a pierogi mold, as well as a pasta maker, which made the process that much more fun and easy. It took several hours to complete everything, but the end product was wonderful and tasted just like the store-bought ones I used to eat!

Our fillings for this recipe were potatoes with sauteed onions and mushrooms, and he added cheese to his. Boiled and then sauteed, served with stir-fry veggies. Delish!

Recipe of the Week - Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-21T18:46:00.008-05:00

Since I am actually going to PA for Thanksgiving this year, I figured I would have a pre-thanksgiving meal of my own that is entirely cruelty-free. I do plan to cook something for the family dinner aside from the incredible vegan pumpkin cheesecake I'm making for everyone, but it's not likely it will be anything traditionally eaten at a thanksgiving dinner (I might make a casserole of some sort).

My local natural food store has Tofurkys currently on sale, and I have never had one, so I bought one and made it tonight, along with roast carrots and onions and candied sweet potatoes. I didn't make gravy for tonight, but I will likely make it tomorrow for the leftovers. (It's the same gravy I used for my poutine recipe - delicious!)

Some notes about the Tofurky:
-it's mostly vital wheat gluten, which may or may not be a very bad thing. I guess time will tell how it might affect me.
-it tastes very similar to Tofurky's deli slices, so if you don't like them, I don't think you'll like this.
-the texture is very close to being too similar to actual turkey flesh for me, but I can make an acceptably clear distinction, unlike the steak strips I have tried in the past.

That being said, dinner was absolutely delicious. I am so pleased with how everything turned out and it took hardly any effort at all. My favorite part of the Tofurky was the stuffing inside. Almost creamy and very flavorful. And I was even able to use my vegan marshmallows for the top of the sweet potatoes, which made it even yummier! I definitely consider this meal a great success.

Recipe of the Week - Broccoli Cheese Soup

2009-11-14T14:57:00.003-05:00

This soup hit the spot this week. I was home visiting my family a couple weeks ago, and every one of them was very sick, not with the flu but run of the mill colds. So, I ended up catching a bit of something...but that's really it - a bit. I could hardly be called "sick" at all. This is the first time since last December that I have had any sick symptoms, and basically it's just a very minor headache, a little congestion, and the slightest scratchy throat. Thank you vegan diet. :)

So, in an effort to get more green veggies into my diet to boost my immune system, I made broccoli cheese soup. I boiled the broccoli with the potatoes in the broth after sauteing the onions. I set aside a cup and a half of potatoes and broccoli when cooked and dumped the rest into my blender. Puree then add the flour and some nutritional yeast to it and puree a bit more. Empty back into the pot and add the remaining ingredients along with set aside veggies. Simmer to thicken and eat. :)

I also bought some vegan marshmallows while at the Natural Food store this week, and they are SO yummy.

IdeaBlob

2009-10-30T05:46:00.002-04:00

Guys, I need your help! Mae is hoping to win $10,000 for their current charity project, DonorsChoose. There has been a lot of competition the last week and we are in danger of losing the money to other ideas. Please read their message to the fans below or watch the short video to learn more information and vote for them! Thanks!

Thanks to you, we are in the finals of the Ideablob competition for $10,000, but here's the catch... the competition is now more fierce than ever and we can only win with your help! The competition ends October 31st.

Please take a moment to register and vote for our idea on Ideablob here!

http://www.whatismae.com/ideablob

Earlier this year, you helped us successfully win $10,000 on Ideablob which went directly to help build a home for a family in need in Newport News, VA in conjunction with Habitat For Humanity. This time, we are partnering with Donorschoose.org to help fund an educational project in every state. By helping teachers receive the supplies they need to make the educational experience more fun, thorough, and priceless, we can make a difference in literally thousands of children's lives! Please take a moment to register and vote for our idea and help us win $10,000 for Donorschoose.org and teachers in need!

Recipe of the Week - Cheezy Crackers

2009-10-17T06:09:00.001-04:00

Since I saw this recipe a few weeks ago, I have been wanting to try it. I have never owned mini cookie cutters, so I've been on the look out for those so my crackers would be cute and not boring. Thankfully, my co-worker found some the other day in Wegman's and told me about it. They are Halloween cutters, 12 in all, including 5 basic fall-ish ones (oak and maple leaves, an acorn, a pumpkin, and a half-moon). I will never use the Halloween-themed ones (unless I figure out a pleasing way to alter them), but I figured it was worth the money for just those five, since buying online would incur shipping charges anyway.

So, getting back to the recipe, they really turned out to be quite yummy! Next time I may cut the amount of salt in half or lose it all together and just sprinkle some on the tops because they are a bit too salty for me, though still very addictive. The longer I am vegan, the more easily I am able to taste all kinds of foods, particularly salt and sugar. Sometimes even a little can be too much. I also left out the pepper because I don't generally like it and rolled them out to about 1/8" instead of 1/4", cutting the time in half, because they get crunchier instead of dough-like. Sorry there are no pictures. I am getting new batteries for my camera soon.

I plan to try these next... :)

Sherwood

2009-10-15T22:08:00.003-04:00

I don't know how many of you might be Sherwood fans, or if you've even heard of them, but their new album is only $2.99 at amazon.com. This is a limited time offer, so by the time you see this, it might be over. I'm not a huge Sherwood fan, and honestly haven't listened to any of their stuff in a few years, but I bought this album and I really like the sound. I don't love them enough to pay $10 for it, but I do think it's worth $3.

yikes!

2009-10-06T22:17:00.003-04:00

it seems life is always flying by, but it has really picked up some speed these last months. i have been much busier than in previous months, which is causing me to go from one thing to the next without much acknowledgment of days or weeks passing. Liz's post about Nanowrimo starting in less than 30 days is just what I need to get focused and find some order and productivity in my schedule.

In September, my housemates migrated south for the winter, a dearly loved 95-year-old man who lived in a nursing home I volunteer at died, and I made a trip home to PA to see my family for the first time in 4 months. Additional to that, I am still attempting to cultivate some home-making skills, work full-time (and sometimes OT) at my job, and be involved in my church as much as possible through choir, small groups and the launch of our new downtown campus which will begin this Saturday. Amazingly, I do not feel too overwhelmed as I've purposed to be intentional about my devotional life. I'm really thankful God is using me in so many ways and know He will be my strength in the busy days to come.

I'm excited to say I'm nearing my goal of reading 12 books in a year! I expect to exceed it soon. I am also planning to sew quite a bit this winter. As I was organizing my house a few weeks ago, I discovered that my fabric stash is much bigger than I thought! So I plan to make some blankets for Christmas presents and will hopefully post my projects here as they are finished.

What's going on in your life?

sunrise in August

Recipe of the Week - Yellow Squash Casserole

2009-09-12T09:24:00.000-04:00

This recipe is incredible! Not so much very healthy, but very tasty indeed. I think you could easily substitute zucchini for the yellow squash, but I really liked the flavor it gave to it. And the vegan cheese...mmm. I only ended up using 3 medium squash, which made 3 large servings. I replaced the margarine with olive oil and used almost an entire package of Ritz (30 crackers). And I got by with about a half block of vegan cheese. By my calculations, this meal cost me less than $2 a serving.

I will definitely make this again. Super simple and easy, and very delicious!

Worldwide Moment 2009 is done!

2009-09-08T20:58:00.002-04:00

Here's my picture:

The sun was nearly set by the time wwm came, but my friend and I were out at the pier for our weekly walk, so I decided the sunset would be best to capture. I noticed tonight too that the beach was considerably quieter than in recent weeks. A welcome change in my opinion. Very peaceful and the air is still warm, which makes it a lovely spot for quiet reflection. We had a lovely time.

Worldwide Moment 2009

2009-09-07T20:54:00.002-04:00

Worldwide Moment is tomorrow night! If you participated last year, then you know what it's all about. For those of you who didn't, all you need to do is take a picture at 8:09pm EST on September 8th and submit it to www.worldwidemoment.org. [If you do not live in the Eastern Time Zone, find your corresponding time here.] The idea is that people all across the world are taking a picture at the exact same time. I believe there are currently representatives from 88 different countries. The basic purpose behind this project is to stand together with others in a moment of unified peace and artistic expression. And it's fun!

If you decide to join us, I'd love to see your picture! I'll be posting mine here. Leave me a comment if you display yours somewhere online.

Have fun!

Odds and Ends

2009-09-05T22:01:00.004-04:00

Hello!

Just an update for anyone who is still reading this blog...

Lately my schedule has been delightfully full. We are working 40 hours a week (and even overtime this week!) for the first time in about 3 or 4 months, which has messed up my schedule a bit, but I am readjusting quickly.

I've been cooking every week, but sometimes nothing new, which is why I haven't posted any recipes. But here are a couple that I have come to love quite a bit:
-homemade bread
-oatmeal bars

I have been studying a lot over the past few months about Biblical Womanhood and am increasingly fascinated by God's incredible design for us as men and women who have been uniquely made to reflect His glory. He has greatly enhanced my perspective on many of these things, which has necessitated some change to my schedule and way of life. Currently I am endeavoring to recover my lost love of sewing and making things, as well as making my home into a haven fit to entertain guests. I must confess, I have never been very organized and "clutter" defines my living space more often than not, which is not honoring to Christ, and so, I am taking this blessed three-day weekend to change some things around.

Along those same lines, I found a bunch of fabric at Wal-Mart today on the $1 and $1.50 shelves! I am so excited to use what I purchased to hopefully make some dresses, blankets, and possibly curtains for my bedroom. My project over the next two days is a very simple fall coat for myself, which I'll share with you all if it goes well. :) I'm very inexperienced in making clothing, but I'm determined to do it, so I will keep at it until I am successful.

And lastly, this was my view a couple of mornings ago and I thought you might like it:

This sunrise simply took my breath away! How beautiful is God's handiwork.

Have a blessed week!