I Want.

Let's all remember back to the day when I started this blog, before I began reading numerous food blogs on a daily basis and learned what the heck a Vitamix is and the of many uses of a Rice cooker. Those were the days...my wants were merely limited to any piece of clothing I could charge to my debit card. I had no idea about all the fabulous appliances I was missing out on in the kitchen. Remember I started this blog to go green, stay healthy, and reduce my spending? Well take a look at this...


My Christmas List. Yep. It is currently October 30th. Halloween let alone Thanksgiving have not passed by yet and I am already greedily thinking of all the wonderful gifts I will be tearing open on Christmas Day.

Ok, ok, so I get a little excited about Christmas! But seriously take a look at what I want.

Four books, one about the male brain, one about indoor container gardening, one about vegan cooking, and one about bread baking. Can you say nerd, nerd, foodie nerd, and foodie nerd?

The other two wants? A cheap blender/food processor(since I have none...I miss cheap homemade hummus!) and a mini slow cooker. Food nerd aaand food nerd, and frugal food nerd at that! (Notice how both of these are about the cheapest ones you can get.) But you know what else is weird? I really wanted to want more stuff. Yet I honestly couldn't think of anything else to put on my list (well besides a portfolio bag with a strap...and warm sweaters...those are practical!).

Last year I think my Christmas list included 25+ items. And many of the items on my list were electronics...which would have both a high impact on the environment and my (parent's) bank account. Reading books is a pretty low impact activity, and as for cooking gear- I think a blender is somewhat necessary...the slow cooker on the other hand... Well, anyways, I just wanted to prove that I have made SOME progress on my materialistic ways.

And after writing all of this I just convinced myself that I would never use a slow cooker. Honestly what was I thinking?! Those things are turned on all day- think of all the energy that would suck down! Besides why would I want a mini slow cooker anyways, when I just discovered the wonders of cooking in massive bulk amounts and freezing my food!

So even though I am already thinking about Christmas presents...I still think I am well on my way to becoming a true low impact healthy foodie fashionista. Besides there's nothing wrong with giving your parents a Christmas list early so they can share in your own joy of planning ahead, right? ;)

Have you set any goals for yourself this year? Have you made progress? Or do you remember your New Year's Resolution? Have you stuck with it?

When I told the BF about my goal to run the 5k Turkey Trot in under 24 minutes (by the way I have not run since Tuesday...I better get to work on that goal!!) He asked me if I would ever just run a race for fun.

Honestly, I think my answer is no.

I run everyday(read: whenever my lazy butt feels like it) for fun, but when someone else is watching AND timing me, I want to run fast. Or well what I consider a fast pace for me that is!

I blame it on all those years of varsity competition in high school. I can't let my competitive spirit go! I think of all the addictions to have an addiction to competitiveness is much better than addiction to shopping :)

Now how did that post start out with a Christmas list and end with goal setting? Haha sometimes I wonder about my rambling ways!

New Month Resolutions

It's the first of the month so I'm taking this opportunity to make some resolutions. After yesterday's post about my recent failures I decided to just pick up my head and keep trying my best. I was rewarded with the great success of a mega salad topped with delicious curried tofu!

The mega salad has inspired me.

To have a green month! Not green as in environment/energy saving (although maybe I should do that as well) but green as in MEGA SALAD GREEN! I have made a promise to my body to make it feel better by making one meal a day a mega salad. Reasons for doing this:

1. after spending $150 at the grocery store I need to start eating cheaper. Salads are about as cheap as it gets.

2. I can utilize the end of the Farmers Market to its full extent- because Mega Salads require lots of fresh veggies on hand.

3. My body loves them!

4. While I have been mostly vegetarian for a little over a month I have not been a good vegetarian. Yes, fistfuls of vegan carob sweetened chips are vegetarian...but that doesn't mean their good for me! Salads are an easy way to make a healthy vegetarian meal, because I can easily add all the nutrients/healthy fats/protein I need to have a well rounded meal into them (I'm thinking a rainbow of veggies, beans, hummus, avocado....yummm)

So here's to a new month! Look forward to a post later today that will hopefully have a salad.

Along with that new month resolution I made another. Work. Out. No matter what it is get up and MOVE at least 5 times a week. I started today with a run, because I really craved one last night. But it was already dark out...and running alone in the dark in Minneapolis is not a healthy decision.

I let myself sleep in a little (still recovering from my sickness) and then hopped up and put on my favorite accesory. My famous running watch (yes the one that I had a breakdown about)


Then I put on my favorite running t-shirt! The Minnetonka Half Marathon was my very first half-marathon. I miraculousy met my goal time perfectly 1:55:00! It was the BEST day of my life. I felt great the entire run, and at the finish the endorphins were so strong, and I was so confident, I'm pretty sure I considered running for president.

Then I started the daunting task of finding my favorite running shoes in the walk-in closet I share with my lovely roomies....


I searched closer...


Found them! (They're the blue ones...hidden under other shoes form lack of use :( )


Then I was out the door. Not gonna lie I felt super awkward. My stride was all messed up. But I felt pretty good...for about 6 minutes. At 10 minutes my pounding sinus headache came back and I decided to head for home. I struggled but somehow I made it home in the year 2010! (haha get it? My watch timed my finish at 20.10 minutes)


I don't feel defeated at all about this run. Yes it is pitiful I couldn't run for more than 20 minutes, while struggling, when before I would look forward to 10 milers. But I haven't run for over a month, or even really exercised well. The sad truth is I let myself slip a little. And I don't like the feeling of it. The other sad thing is, I'm still sick, and a stuffy/runny nose does not go well with running. So I will enjoy an extra cup of tea and hope tomorrow I feel better so I can attempt another run.


After my run I was didn't feel like oats...I craved some lighter fare. So I decided on Kashi cereal! Yumm I love these shredded wheat squares...but I wish they weren't sweetened at all. Does Kashi have an unsweetened bran cereal? If they do I will find it...


My Kashi was enjoyed with a frined...SLOTH. (Goofy gift from the BF)


And while sitting in bed reading other food blogs...instead of in front of my wilting fall display in my messy living room.


Of course I couldn't have just plain old cereal. I topped it with banana, raisins, walnuts, and chia seeds for an extra boost!



Delish. I am headed to my hometown...aka the land of slow internet so I hope I will be able to post through the weekend...but they may be few and far between. I will try my very hardest!

Are you making any new month resolutions?