Final Stretch!

I am in the final stretch of getting my current show opened, and Saturday I will perform in a one night only show and bust out some Janis Joplin. All this of course is being done on top of a full time day job. I have to admit, I am starting to feel this current lifestyle wear on me more than ever before. Sometimes I wonder how much longer I can take it. It can't be good for me to work so much (as I noted when I did not recognize my dull face in the mirror this morning), but alas, one job pays the bills (which I am very grateful for), the other doesn't YET. I will get back my Sun-Wed evenings beginning October 11th. So, 2.5 weeks! (Although with a Sunday matinee-Sunday night doesn't really count.)

While I have been pretty good about getting in a Bikram class at least once a week during September, it's been tough. I have to force myself to go because the lure of my sweatpants and many backed up hours of fall television is so strong, but I do it. I know I owe it to myself and I owe it to my body that I've worked so hard on not to neglect it when the going gets tough and time gets crunched. I also know I feel 10 times better about everything after I go. It clears my mind and I sweat out my toxins and stress. My plan is to get to class as much as possible most likely three times per week (Saturday midday, Monday nights, and Wednesday nights). While I could smush in two more on Sunday morning and Tuesday night, I know that is a bit crazy and a recipe to get sick. I will use Sundays and Tuesdays as back up classes or for I-am-feeling-great-ambitious-week-rockstar classes. Three cheers for me for not going overboard. It's hard for me to reign myself in somtimes and not go crazy with diving back in to more agressive exercise. My immune system will thank me.

I have been craving food lately when I am not hungry-a definite sign of stress (and exhaustion as well).
Things I crave lately:

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Salsitas live in the vending machine at work and I rue the day I tasted of them!

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Diet Coke

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Chocolate Chips
(Nope, not all chocolate contains milk.)

MMMM Bleeding Heart Bakery Cake Balls!
Baked Goods

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Wild Berry Skittles

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Salt, Salt, and More Salt

I have kept myself relatively on track which is a miracle.
My weapons include:

• Lots of breathing
• Water (I make myself drink 32 ounces before I make a decision to have a DC-works well, and I usually get distracted during that time and forget about the DC....but I admit that sometimes I just gotta have one.)
• Hot Tea
• Not beating myself up when I indulge a bit (no sense in that!)

I will prevail!

What are your biggest cravings when you're stressed? What are your tips to fighting them?

Dreaming of Thanksgiving

I know....it's two months away, but seeing all of the delicious looking root vegetables and squash hitting the markets is making my head spin with all of the possibilities for my Thanksgiving Feast! After nine months on a plant based diet, I find that very few imitation meats actually taste good to me. After cleansing the ol' pallette for a while now I taste the processed-ness (I made that word up) of fake meats so much more. I still enjoy some of them of course (I'm looking at you Trader Joe's Vegetable Massala Burgers and Chicago Diner's Stupidly Delicious Gyros), but Tofurky-meh. I think I will pass this year, because there are many more new dishes I would rather try!

Meet some early contenders:
Guacamame (Guac-ah-mom-ay)

Source and Vegan Planet Blog Guacamame Recipe

Oh yes, this is a combination dip of avacado and edamame that comes from Robin Robertson's Carb Conscious Vegetarian Cookbook. As we know I think edamame hummus is divine (you can buy it at Trader Joe's if you aren't into making your own). I am excited to try this. I like the twist, and it seems like a great dip to bring to a party. Frankly, it just has a fun name.

Ina Garten's Roasted Butternut Squash Soup and Curry Condiments

Source and Recipe

Is she trying to freakin' kill me with sweet and savory delightfulness?! I am almost scared to try this because I may die of happiness! A simple switch of chicken broth to veggie broth and this soup will be mine!

Root Vegetable Cassoulet

Source and Recipe

Apologies for the blurry pic. This dish is one of my pretend friend Alicia Silverstone's featured Thanksgiving dishes on The Kind Life. It was shared with her by the folks at Foodink Catering. Haven't you wondered what you could do with those adorable mini pumpkins you see everywhere this time of year (besides sit them on your desk or dining room table or mantle until they rot)? You can stuff them with vegetable goodness and fill your belly, that's what!

Maple Giner Roasted Vegetables with Pecans

Source and Recipe

This recipe came to me via the archives of an awesome mom/gardening/crafting/artist blog called Dig This Chick (a pal of the life-loving and inspriational Kelle Hampton.) Look at those beautiful brussel sprouts! It is of course apparent that I want almost everything I eat to be sweet and savory. NOM!

One thing to note about all of these delectable looking dishes is that they are all made with clean natural ingredients. While I don't need to down a ton of maple syrup, it's such a wonderful natural sweetener that won't wreck my system. I won't feel a trace amount of guilt eating any of these dishes. Beautiful.

Stay tuned for more contenders as we count down to Thanksgiving!

I Die

Welcome to the latest installment of Put This In Your Mouth.
I like mustard, and I am IN LOVE with this mustard. I wish for all of you that you can taste this one day:

About a month ago I randomly came across this mustard in what I call the "gourmet randomness" section of Marshall's (don't judge). My husband and I are all about mustard, so I grabbed it. Holy flavor erruption! This stuff is full of chipotle, reisling, horseradishy goodness!! Five calories a tablespoon for a huge flavor punch? Yes please! It has brought my tofu "egg salad" to a whole new level.

For a good single serving I use about 1/5 of a package of firm tofu, 1/4c minced onion (whichever color/kind I have on hand), 1/4c chopped green bell pepper (or celery-but bell pepper is yummier), some dashes of garlic powder, a tablspoon of veganaise and a tablespoon of this magical mustard, and salt and pepper to taste. So yummy. Since my rehearsals are a 35 minute brisk walk away I don't have much turn around time when I get home from my day job. Tofu "egg" salad has been a protein packed life saver.

I went back to look for another jar and didn't see any. Frown. I looked at a couple of similar places, and alas, no luck. Then last weekend I was at a TJ Maxx looking for a costume piece and there it was. Behold, The Motherload:

I actually did practice restraint (and generosity-haha) and left two jars.

Have you found any amazing food finds lately?

Devastation

My awesome soy flour low carb bread is now being made differently and is no longer vegan friendly. I noticed a label change on our new loaf this week and the ingredients are different. For shame Today's Temptations Bread. For shame. You'll be getting a nice but firm letter from me. It's been such a go-to staple for me. UGH.

Eye on the Prize!

'Twas a weekend filled with handsome husband time, haircuts, besties, friends old and new, grown-up wall art purchases for my apartment, vegan food delights, drainage, more sleep than I have gotten in a year, two amazing adorable and perfect babies, and my return to Bikram.

With rehearsals and my plague from last week, I couldn’t make it to yoga class. I was on the fence about going while sick when I was free on Thursday night and opted out. Boy I am glad I did. Sunday night went fine for the most part and the eight days away didn’t seem to affect my practice-I even progressed to the next level in one pose which was exciting (Proper form toe-stand for those who care. My awesome yoga place is very much into being in correct form and not fudging, which I love because I know a few years ago I was doing toe-stands at other places before I should have been). I digress. The class went fine as a whole, but I noticed I kept getting a little dizzy and my vision would go black after each pose (kind of like when you sit up too quickly). Then it hit me. Hello- Bikram is done while only breathing in and out the nose and I was still stuffy. Yes, BB30, blurry vision prevention begins with BEING ABLE TO BREATHE. So, I snuck in some tissue time here and there and I was in much better shape. It was tough though. I can’t imagine returning to class any sooner, so my instincts were right!

Toe Stand
(Only I'm not to the point of having my hands in prayer yet...YET)

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I am feeling more clogged and icky today than I have felt in a few days. What gives? I must be allergic to my day job. Haha….hrrmmm. My ears are so stuffed up I can barely hear! Everything sounds like I am underwater. I tried to sneak away for a little hand stand action (which typically does the trick), but it didn’t work. I think a decongestant is in order with a side of Emergen-C. I also ate a healing soup of tofu, zucchini, onions, herbs, and collard greens in a yellow miso and tomato broth with a little brown rice which was a delight, and I wish I had more! Broth is magical. Just is. Miso and vegetable broths are full of good minerals that help your immune system and digestion. All of my hippie books say so :)

This month will be very challenging schedule-wise with rehearsals, trying to get in as much Bikram as possible, squeezing in a few additional rehearsals for a fun late night performance I will be doing, and of course working a full time day job, so I have to be on top of my game with good food choices and lots of hydration. Once I hit the second week of October I will be able to be an exercise fiend, but until then I will just have to do what I can. I only have about two months before I will go on vacation and sport my scandalous bikini (amongst others), so I have to keep my eye on the prize!!

Scandal Courtesy of Express

This is my warm sandy beach! Dreamy, no?