Surviving Thanksgiving

Yeah! I made it through Thanksgiving without seeing any dead Turkeys on the table. 

We had 3 consecutive Thanksgiving lunches, 1 for each family. The first Thanksgiving was at Matt's grandparents' and we did a Mexican theme. Mostly because its just too much work to do the traditional food and travel with it to their house. This Thanksgiving meal was one of the sad ones. Matt's grandfather is getting older and has Alzheimer's and may be going to a home soon. It was great bonding time though and Matt had an amazing breakthrough with his grandpa. Grandpa Curly said to Matt "I like what you're doing with your life. Let er' rip!" What an amazing moment it was and I'm so glad we were there for Matt to experience it.  

So for the Mexican feast I cooked Black Bean enchiladas with green chili sauce. They were the best ever. I used black beans, refried beans, onions, red peppers, and garlic. Matt's mom made Vegan chili!!! OMG how awesome! Oh and Vegan Brownies. I felt so spoiled. 

2nd Thanksgiving lunch was easy. We met my parents, brothers, and grandparents for lunch at Olive Garden. I had the Spaghetti Pomodoro. I think I have actually figured out how to make it better than the restaurant. It's all about using fresh herbs and the best olive oil. 

3rd Thanksgiving was at my house with my dad's side of the family. We did an Italian themed potluck style family meal. It was beautiful. Matt and I were way behind on getting everything ready so my parents and brother stepped in and we all were cooking Hell's Kitchen-style (minus the yelling). We made Spaghetti and homemade pizzas. I made a cheese-less pizza with olives, red onions, mushrooms & red peppers. 

So all that and I only had 1 emotional break down. I was at Kroger trying to buy meatballs for everyone else to eat with the Spaghetti. I was standing there with all the different varieties of ground up cow meat and I was about to reach and grab a package and got instantly repulsed. I got hot and dizzy and had to run off to an aisle to hide in as my eyes filled with tears. I never thought I'd be at this place in my life. I never ever expected to feel this connection and anguish over animals I've never seen. I never knew what I did not know.. and ignorance is bliss. or is it?

I feel good about my commitment, but moreover this change is something I can't undo. This Thanksgiving showed me that I am so blessed to be loved and respected in all my families, even if I am eating something different from everyone else.

Another Baby hat

Here is a baby hat I worked on last week for my friend Cristina. I think it needs something, maybe a flower or butterfly. I tried making little eyelets, but it looks kind of messy. The darker pink isn't as soft as I'd like for a baby hat, so I may add a silky lining. 

I've already started another baby hat for my friend Deepa. Hopefully it will turn out cute.

I'll pass on the PCOS

A year ago a doctor finally diagnosed me with PCOS. 

At that time I had quit the pill and gone 6 months without a period, (and no migraines). It was such a relief to finally have a name to what was going on and to have answers to symptoms I had dealt with as a teenager too. When I was 17-19, about every other month I would have sudden piercing pain on my lower right side below my belly button.. I would vomit for a full day, hyperventilating and not be able to leave the bathroom. After SEVERAL tests, drinking Barium and such, my gyno at the time had told me that I had cysts that were rupturing and it was completely normal in runners. His answer was to put me on the pill. Migraines begin.

Fast forward to last year, a new gyno verifies that what I have is called PCOS and that I do have cysts, lots of them. Her answer is to put me on the pill. Migraines begin again.

6 months ago I took myself off the pill again. Ironically it was about 6 months ago that I also began my vegan diet. This time I feel so much better.. I have a normal cycle, no vomiting & a decrease in migraine strength. 

So the other day I'm telling my mom that I think I cured my PCOS and she's like "Ya, it says online that PCOS sufferers should avoid eating beef & cheese, and increase eating fruits & vegetables, etc." Like DUH! Did I instinctually know this?

Anyway, feeling good.. but going to schedule a checkup to make sure I'm cysts free. What a miracle this would be.

The Seed of Knowledge

I've been doing alot of self-reflection and even overcame a vegan breakdown. 

I was dealing with a very stressful week and the resignation of my favorite co-worker and the need for "comfort food" hit hard. My mind frantically could not think of anything vegan I could eat that would fix the distress I was in. As soon as the thought of just breaking down and eating a Chic-Fil-A sandwich popped into my mind, I called Matt and told him what I was contemplating. Any my meat-eating, bar-b-q-ing husband listened, and encouraged me to stick to my decision and reminded me how much I would regret that break down. And it worked! I immediately drove somewhere else, ate a healthy lunch, and returned to work a little less stressed after communicating with Matt all of my frustrations.. In fact, I'm sure I felt less stressed than if I had used food for comfort. 

I'm deeply embarrassed to even admit that I had that struggle because for the most part I have had deep resolve to stay with this vegan lifestyle. But, I do think its important to share my weaknesses and my struggles. I feel stronger now for overcoming that moment.

And so I've done alot of looking back at what brought me to today, to this positive change. Why am I doing this? What truths can I hold onto for future support? What seed was planted that truly encouraged this growth?

I've known a handful of vegetarians and vegans throughout my life, but I never truly understood why they were doing it. I heard there reasoning, but it never really sunk in. Or I never let it sink in. I'm sure I was very closed to hearing the truth. So looking back there is 1 defining moment that opened the door. The moment that started this growth was when I first saw the "Meet your Meat" video by Peta. I could barely watch it and was truly disgusted. I remember I didn't eat meat for about 3 days and I cut back on eating pork drastically. Through that video I felt intense compassion for the suffering of the baby piglets.. They undergo castration with no pain medication. (Men literally pull their testicles off) It's disgusting, and with their peachy skin and chubby legs, it's very difficult not to make the connection with human babies. No doubt it has got to be excrutiating pain

That was about a year ago. And I was able to push back everything I had seen until I read the "Skinny Bitch" book. I think now, that hearing a logical and healthy reason to quit eating meat was just that extra reason I needed to make such a huge change.

I think it's important to share this information. I had to let it sink in that ALL animals have the ability to FEEL PAIN. I also know now that the footage does not just reflect one time offenses, but is the EVERYDAY process that these large factories use. (Even the "free-range" & "organic" varieties) It's tough to watch and I still have to take breaks while watching it. 

Beyond the suffering standpoint, I think its disgusting that these sick and often dead animals are still processed for eating. No wonder we have recalls and diseases spread from eating animals, meat essentially is the dead carcasses of sick animals. Because of the destructive environment these animals grow up in they are treated with large doses of antibiotics to try to keep them from getting too sick and we then consume those same antibiotics, toxins, pesticides, etc.

(Recommend watching this alone at home)

Meet your Meat Video:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2273569508770398194#

Health Goal for the Week- Get Well!

A week and a half ago I posted my first nutritional goal - EAT 2 FRUITS a day. I was doing pretty good with the goal until I got sick.

And Sickness decided to stay with me for a week and we're still discussing Sickness's departure. "Go Away!", I say. Yesterday Matt woke me up (11am) with Breakfast in Bed. It was a fun breakfast for a sick vegan girl. (Glass of water, glass of soy chocolate milk, glass of Emergen-C vitamin drink, fruit plate with sliced bananas, apples, and green grapes & a whole wheat bagel) 

I ate everything! And then I went back to sleep till 2pm. 

Overall, I am overwhelmed. I have been making myself get up and work for as long as I can. And then I'll have spurts where I feel like I'm finally well and I'll give in to Spencer dog's plea to go out for a walk. I just walked him around the block and Im back to coughing again. 

I really can't afford to be sick another week. I've been coughing all through the night and Matt is sleeping on the couch. I've been behind at work.. and don't even ask about laundry. All this, while Matt is in his hardest and last semester of college. Days away from his art installation at the Dallas Museum of Art. I need to get well!

So my goal for this week is TO GET WELL. Eat oranges, drink more Emergen-C, take some Echinacea, drink more water, don't exercise, sleep alot.

meat or not to meat

Honestly, I've been struggling lately. Not with physically wanting to eat meat, but just with being different.. It is mentally hard to hold this stance. My mind wants to go back to the easy days where I could enjoy the same meal as my husband, or go to any restaurant with my family, or just enjoy the simplicity of being 'normal'. 

Convenience, simplicity, ease of mind. 

I can feel the disgust fading some, and it is easier to not think about meat in that way. 

I have heard vegans use slavery and the holocaust as a metaphor for the plight of these animals, and that has really stayed with me. I try to remember the scope & reality of what I am up against. And this is what grounds me. The massive number of animals that are enslaved from birth to live a cruelly short & painful life. The reality is too painful to think about, too painful to remember. 

I didn't begin my vegan journey for the rights of these animals. I thought I could shed a few pounds and was disgusted with the pesticide & toxic levels of animal products. I thought I could probably avoid meat & dairy forever just knowing how "infected" it might be. But those reasons have not held me steady. 

It is the knowledge of the suffering that holds me committed. The image of a scared calf being pulled by his tail from the veal crate. How is he any different than my dog? 

We think it is so crazy that people in China often eat cats and dogs. Does a cow, chicken or pig not feel pain? Do they not suffer?

It is with a heavy heart that I realize that I have opened the door to the truth and I am stuck with that knowledge. And not just the knowledge of the suffering of farm animals. I have opened the door to compassion and the desire to know what is going on in the world. And the truth is overwhelmingly depressing.

Coupons Work!

Yeah! I'm so excited! I finally figured out the whole coupon thing for buying groceries. I just saved $19.73 and ended with just a $50 grocery bill for the week. (This coming from the girl that has rung up $150 bills quite frequently.)

I researched on www.moneysavingmom.com and www.frugaldad.com and some other sites I have already forgotten. Here is what I found & learned:

1. You can load digital coupons onto your grocery shopping card! 

(ie Kroger, Tom Thumb, etc) - I used Cellfire and Shortcuts. Cellfire even has an iphone app that makes it easy to load digital coupons while you're in the store. I love this because I can't lose them. Even better, these digital coupons currently work in conjunction with physical coupons. That means you can end up getting some items for free. 

2. Cut/Grab/Share/Print all the Coupons you can use- 

Once I started looking I noticed coupons everywhere. The gas station had a stack of old newspapers and they let me take the coupon inserts for free. I think I may be able to convince some friends to start a coupon swap with me. And of course there are tons online to print as well... I'm just a little wary of overusing ink/paper.

3. Use a binder to organize them- 

INSTRUCTIONS HERE

This method works really well. I made mine in under and hour. Use baseball card collector size inserts for the coupons and dividers for each category. This will allow you to quickly flip through and find the type of coupon you need. 

4. Strategize-

So I read that the trick to really saving alot is to time using the manufactured coupon while your store is having a sale. www.moneysavingmom.com is awesome for spelling out the best deals and how to get them. 

These are 2 of the deals I got that seemed good to me. 

Pillsbury Crescent Rolls

Kroger sale 3 for $5  makes them $1.67 each

Minus 50¢ coupon that got doubled 

= $1.33 each when they are normally $2.28

Birds Eye Steam Fresh frozen veggies

$1.89 - .39 Kroger Sale

- $1 Coupon

= 50¢ for the bag

5. Stock up when the price is right-

I've been using a grocery app on my iphone called Grocery Gadget. It has truly changed my life. I keep track of what items cost at each store so I know where to stock up on spaghetti sauce (Costco) where to buy the best and cheapest produce (Kroger) and which stores have the best Vegan products (Whole Foods). Matt and I can even shop at the same time at 2 different stores and just move an item to the other person's list if we see it is cheaper there. I love the digital life! I don't even have to ask what he needs from the store because he adds it to the list on his own. 

I am actually upset with Costco right now bc I could not find the Prego Spaghetti sauces. They usually have 2 very large Prego spaghetti sauce bottles for $4.64. We can get about 6 servings per bottle. I checked Kroger and a bottle half that size cost around $3.50. So I guess I'll have to wait till I have a coupon. (Prego is 1 of those accidentally vegan foods, thank God too!)

6. Don't stray from the plan-

I am so guilty of just throwing random things into my cart. If I don't make a meal plan then I end up with half the ingredients needed for about 12 different recipes. 

7. Contact favorite brands-

Being vegan it is difficult to find alot of discounts for vegan food items. So for these, I will need to really hunt them down. I'm going to go through the same channels first- websites, veggie blogs, veggie magazines... then when all else fails I am going to contact them to ask for coupons.

(Uncle Eddie's cookies, Galaxy Foods- soy cheeses, Earth Balance- butter, etc)

8. My thoughts on Bulk buying-

I've really had mixed feelings about bulk buying at Costco & other warehouse clubs. But now that I have been comparing items down to the per ounce cost, it really is cheaper. But I think these tips can help really get your money's worth. 

• Share the membership- My mom & grandma share a membership cutting the yearly cost in half. 

• For non-perishables- wait till you have a coupon

• Stick to a list (a small list) of items you are positive that you will actually use. 

• Avoid the gimmicks, junk food, frozen appetizers & special offers.

• Don't go down the middle aisles (clothing, etc) unless there is a specific item on your list.

• Make sure they have items you will use on a regular basis before you join.. I go every month to stock up, so I feel it is money well spent, or at least better spent than my gym membership.