Demand Reality

I believe it's time.  It's time the fashion, movie, advertisement, {insert here} industry to start believing that women who are not a size 0,2, 4 are beautiful.

When I was in college I decided I wanted to be the first designer to have a runway full of only size 6s and above.  I felt so strongly about it my bones ached.  Only, problem?  I don't actually make clothes. Nope, not a designer.  Just someone who is so obsessed with Project Runway in a previously life I must have designed for royalty or something.  

So, as I came to grips with the fact that I would never show with Versace, Gucci, and Chanel, I worked to calm my heart while I waited. waited for someone who saw the world in the same way I did to make the statement that things need to change.

I enjoy the rising awareness of the blond plus size model.  I love that Jennifer Lawrence loves the way she looks (and, yes, she is skinny!), and I love that the high school girl petitioned Seventeen magazine to only show women with real sized figures.

But then I turned on E! and saw Giuliana Rancic and just wanted to feed her a peanut butter sandwich through the TV on the spot.  Sweetheart, Holocaust-like bone structure is so not attractive.  Seriously, Bill, feed your woman something with some fat...and on a regular basis.  Seconds after I had that thought, I saw Kelly Osbourne.  She is gorgeous.  If we, the world, could work on celebrating real-size beauty (shape differences, size differences, healthy realities) we would be in such a much better place.  ...and I don't mean going to the "My Big Fat Fabulous Life" size either, which suggests to viewers you're either going to be skinny and happy or you can be super fat and heavy.  No.  I'm talking putting a spotlight on health, and sizes 6-12 that are represented by healthy, curvy, true-sized women.

That is all.

The Double Sided Edge of Procrastination

Sometimes you know what to do and do it.  Other times you don't have any clue what to do so you do nothing.  The one, though, that makes you walk on a very sharp edge is when you know what to do and you don't do it.

That, my friends, is procrastination.  And if you're not careful you can fall down the wrong end of that blade!

Procrastination is the voice that says, "Just check Facebook again" or "Maybe I should go get the mail" or "I should probably see if I have more emails..."  That, my friends, is procrastination, and it can be like the black hole of TV and just cause people to waste away.

Some will argue that procrastination can cause you to produce your best work.  I'm not disagreeing ... when you have a hard deadline.  Procrastinating on a paper knowing it's due Friday at 5 is different because you have to produce something by Friday at 5 or risk a zero, so whether you start it three weeks early or the night before.  Knowing there's a final day and time can sometimes make people who procrastinate produce their best work.

No, I'm not talking about that kind of procrastinating.  I'm talking about your WISH LIST.  The things you wanted to do with your life, or day, or month, or year....but had no hard deadline nor had to get done for any reason.  Those are the ones where procrastination can snatch your list and make it disappear while making you think you're enjoying your days.  These are the times when procrastination turns into regrets 10, 20, 30 years down the road.

Want to work on alleviating that regret and working to fight against procrastination?  Start by giving yourself just one item to accomplish today, big or small.  Then another, and another every few days.  When you can do them for a week, reward yourself!  Take yourself for another cup of coffee or a mani-pedi.  Just make sure it's a reward you don't usually treat yourself to "just because".  Otherwise it won't feel special and you won't feel like you really are taking your life back!

So here's to living for the now...not for the now and easy.  Because, let's face it, you're 10-year older self will love the new stories those life choices create.

Happy New Year! Happy Eating!

It's 2015!! WOOT!  Happy New Year all!

First I want to give a big THANK YOU to all my amazing readers out there.  You are the most amazing people, and I hope you know that you inspire me to continue writing.  I hope that your 2015 has started off full of smile, wonder, and laughter.

And, if you're in the midwest, sadly, a LOT of cold!

So, for those of you stuck in the cold, it's a bit more challenging to get your outside "workout" in.  I put it in quotes because it's always best to do your moving in normal clothes doing everyday things, like taking the stairs, going for a walk on your lunch break, parking further away, taking your dog an extra block, etc.  However, in the cold, if you're like me, your entire thought process is OMG GET BACK INSIDE! :)  Therefore, you may find yourself a little more sedentary than normal, and after the holidays, it's important to think about ways to stay healthy.

So where do you turn first when looking at your health?  Your FOOD!  Yes, your food is the majority of everything: weight, health, physique, emotions, energy.  You name it, it stems from the food you eat.  So how do you take back your life?  Take back your food choices.  Think clean, whole food options.  Think colorful.  Think NATURAL (i.e. the non-GMO version, the wild-caught, the organic fruits and veggies).  Opt for the whole food options such as an orange instead of orange juice, a full chicken breast with skin and bone vs slices of chicken "breast" deli meat, real asparagus vs anything from a can or freezer.  The more you can find it like it would come in the wild, the better it is for you.

And, as I like to fondly remember from a book-mentor of mine, 3 meals, only snack if you are so famished you'd literally eat your arm, and make sure you eat in a quiet area.  NO TV.  Pay attention to your food, and it'll reward you.

*hugs* and Happy New Year!

Bday Dinner Yumminess

Yesterday was my dad's birthday, so he came over and enjoyed a lovely home cooked meal, compliments of me, with the family.

So in order to make it special, I had to be sure to cook some truly yummy plates.

What did the menu include?  Let's take a look.

Potato Leek Soup:
Potatoes, Leeks, vegan chicken stock, garlic salt, water, rice milk

Pot Roast:
Pot roast, Cream of Mushroom soup, French onion Dip (slow cooker)

Mushroom Risotto:
Shitake mushrooms, kale, 1/3 onion, 3 cups vegan chicken stock, 1/4 cup vegan parmesean cheese, water, coconut oil, olive oil

Chocolate Cookie truffles
Oreo substitutes, vegan cream cheese, protein powder, cinnamon, dark chocolate

It was so delicious.  I highly recommend all of the above.  :)

Happy Dining!

Facebook Remembers

Now, I'm not the biggest proponent of Facebook, nor am I a big proponent on living in the past.  Neither focus you on the future and on creating the most of the here and now to build the accomplishments in life you want for yourself.  However, part of growing is reflecting.  In order to determine who you want to become you need to understand who you are now and from where you've come.  Given the fact that Facebook save well, everything, it's a good place to start.

I went through my last 4-year history when I asked myself, "Who was this girl four years ago?  Have I changed much into the person I thought I would be?"  It was a fun little exercise.  Some of the posts made me laugh, others brought me joy, some reminded me of things and events I had completely forgotten, and a few even reminded me to hope.  If you use Facebook strategically, and not as a platform to word-vomit all of your unhappinesses and complaints, then Facebook can be a tool for good and for informing those you don't see often about your life.

If you are said word-vomiter....maybe it's time to re-evaluate your life.  How is it going?  Are you bringing into your life that which you wanted?  (I'm going to guess probably not, since you output into the universe is negative).

So take a few minutes and browse through your own history.  See where you've been and if you're on the path you had set out for yourself originally.  It's okay if you're not, but this'll give you a chance to re-evaluate which path is the right one for you: the one you had envisioned a few years ago, or the one you are on now.  Reassessing can help you decide how to best realign yourself and create the life you want.

....so that when you look back again in another four years, you'll see the footprints of a person with a vision.  :)

Relationship Advice Sources

Have you ever vented to someone about relationship problems?  Of course!  We all have!  We've probably run to a friend or a co-worker and said "OMG.  You'll never believe what ______ did?" or "I'm so mad that s/he _______".

If you're a woman, you do it because you need to vent.  You need to get it off your chest and out into the universe so that it won't fester inside you.  That seems pretty normal too!  However, you have to remember to be careful.  Maybe you only vent to this co-worker.  How do you think they view your significant other?  Pretty badly, because that's all they hear!  So, part (1) is to remember that every time you say something about your other half, good or bad, that is how that person will always view him or her.  How do you want others to view your husband or wife?

I don't mean to create this ideal person who doesn't really exist because you only ever say the positive things or you pick and choose to create this story that isn't real.  But what I do mean is that he or she isn't there, only the stories you tell are, so heed how you speak about him or her.  Would you want to be negatively viewed by someone you had never met because your significant other only ever vented about you?

Part (2) is where you gain advice.  Let's say you are venting, because, after all, that's pretty normal.  Do you want advice?  If you don't BE SURE TO SAY THAT because everyone will think they have the "perfect" advice for you!  Suddenly you'll be bombarded with absolutely ludicrous "fixes".  If you DO want advice (because, let's face it, usually the venting is b/c we don't know what to do or what we're doing isn't working), be careful who you vent to.  If you want advice, here's the thought to always live by:

Only take advice from people whose ______________ you admire or wish to have.


Would you take financial advice from a broke person?  Of course not!! (but guess how many times you have!....think about that one)

So why would you take advice from someone who's relationship you don't admire or wish to emulate?  You shouldn't.

So next time you feel frustrated about something at home, remember pieces 1 & 2.  And I'm not fully advocating that you should hold things in, but what you speak about is what magnifies.  Do you really want this 'issue' to amplify?  If you don't, then why would you speak about it all day long?  Just be careful.  You deserve the best relationship.

A Big Reader THANK YOU!

I want to take this time to say THANK YOU to all of you.  You inspire me every day to be better, do better, and bring you information and pieces that have meaning and are empowering.  Your feedback means so much, and I love seeing it!

So when I saw on amazon.co.uk the brand new feedback for Quotes in Spanish that said "EXCELLENT", that was the greatest compliment I could have received.  Thank you, readers, for letting me know how much you appreciate the works you read.

I hope you and yours have the most amazing weekend and holiday season!

Great Healthy Dinner Ideas

Need a dinner idea that feeds a lot but doesn't require much prep?  And it should be healthy?  You've come to the right place.

At home, my husband and I are vegan.  I am also gluten free when we don't order out pizza.  (which also means we're not vegan when we order out pizza).  So how to do mend that technicality?  We have agreed to be vegetarian when we are out (fish, cheese, and eggs), but at home we're really good about being vegan.  This is going on year two!

So, sometimes, we are in a pinch to eat something that's not stale or redundant.  If we don't keep it interesting, the same flavors repeatedly can become very boring.  And after a weekend of vegetarian eating at a family's thanksgiving weekend affair, we really wanted to eat clean today!

So here was our list for today:

Fruit in the AM

Kale chips - baked in the oven for 30-40 min drizzled in olive oil with garlic and salt
Dolmas (from trader joes - they're g-free and vegan)

Cauliflower baked (tried to make the buffalo cauliflower recipe I've seen, by it was an utter failure!)

Almond butter spoonful

And then we got to dinner.  My husband and I, after eating clean finally all day, were definitely hungry by dinner time, so I wanted to ensure we had enough food in case my husband could eat dinner and his left arm.  So I made:

Sauteed whole onion and 2 bags of broccoli (get them from trader joes or whole foods in a pre-cut bag)
Baked Potato (4 large)

SO YUMMY!!!! lots of seasoning and some Earth Balance butter to finish off the potato!  Highly recommend it. Plus it could make a good "take to work lunch" meal!

Gift for Spanish Teachers!

Have a Spanish teacher on your list of teachers to buy for this holiday season?!  Here's a GREAT idea to give them a gift that they will love.  How do I know?  Because as a former Spanish teacher I used it regularly!!

http://www.amazon.com/Quotes-Spanish-Grammar-Stephanie-Caprini/dp/0615859909/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1417040020&sr=8-3&keywords=stephanie+caprini is by Grammar Topic

http://www.amazon.com/Quotes-Spanish-Theme-Stephanie-Caprini/dp/0615859933/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1417040020&sr=8-4&keywords=stephanie+caprini is by Theme

Show your teachers they have helped you and give back to them what will help them.  They will remember how special it was.

Summarizing Movies

So recently I was having a discussion with a co-worker about movies, specifically, The Hunger Games, and he was convinced it's a critique of America after the 2007 recession.  We took that thought further and decided that it was also a marriage of 2007 and the Vietnam draft, being forced to send boys (albeit not actual children less than 18 years of age) to fight.  It was an interesting concept, to look at the bones of the movie and the social critique it may represent.

We also took that idea to Harry Potter, and it quickly went to an ID and EGO / Freudian take on relationships and marriage.  Nonetheless, it's a fun way to theorize about movies and could even be a great exercise for teaching students about thesis writing and finding proof to back up an opinion.

..just a thought ;)

Now on to seeing the newest Hunger Games!!  Can't wait to see how our Vietnam War / Recession America theory turns out!

A New Standard

I was talking with a few friends this weekend about models.  You see, I'm obsessed with Project Runway.  However, having been a former eating disorder sufferer, I have this abhorrence for the models...

That's a loaded statement I know.  And here's the thing: I get it!  I get that you want a skinny model so that the clothes stand out and the perfection of the vision is shown.  But that's also where I have a problem.  NO ONE LOOKS LIKE THAT!  And the eating disorder in me taunts and mocks and screams at me to work on looking like those girls.  that's where the clothes "look best" so that's, therefore, how I should look.

WRONG!  Clothes should look good ON ME or I should keep looking until I find something that does - not force myself into unhealthy habits just to fit an industry desired norm.  That's what I challenge.  I had this vision a few years ago that if I were to be a designer, my models would be a minimum size 4 and up to a size 8, because THAT's what people want to see.  They want to see clothes that reflect the curves of a healthy woman.  And those are standards that give hope and real reflection, not self-deprecating enhanced self-hatred.

The fashion industry would tell me I'm crazy and that if I want to see a "plus size model" I should look to plus sized fashion.  But why is it one or the other?  Why is it size 0-2 or size 12-14-16?  Why can't it be size 6 is a new norm and everyone can work to feel better about clothes and themselves upon seeing the clothes reflected in magazines?  How terrible of us as a society to say "well, if you're not the size 2 then you better start reflecting yourself in the plus sized people."  Shame on you, fashion industry.  That's not how women's bodies exist. 

And is it the fashion industry's responsibility to promote good self-images?  There are those who would say "No, far from it.  That's on you," but I challenge that and say "Yes, yes it is."  It's not SOLELY their responsibility, but it's wrong to think it should play no part.

So here's to the real-woman, who knows how to be healthy and loves herself for it.  You are beautiful.

A Few Good Reads

Maybe you've heard the adages that go something like "A lifelong learner" or "be a student of learning", or something to that affect.  Maybe you didn't pay them much heed at the onset, but they have powerful messages of i you think about it more closely.  It's been said that nothing is ever stagnant, that there is never a time when something isn't moving.  If that's true, then you're never "just existing".  It's more like, because you're in constant motion, you're either always improving, or you're declining.  Which do you want to be?

So how to you work to regularly improve?  Regularly read. 

And I don't just mean the NY Times best-sellers.  I mean books that help you grow and develop as a person.

Here are my current top 3:

Think and Grow Rich - Napoleon Hill
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership - by John C Maxwell
How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie

If you can't get them all at once, any of them is a good start.  I'm excited for your growth and forward movement in life! 

Bank Account Gratefulness

I remember once hearing a story about a genie who granted wishes.  One person asked for a million dollars, and "poof", he was rich.  Quickly, though he spent all his money on extravagant things and wound up broke. So the next man asked for 10 million dollars and "poof" he was also rich, and while he had more money than the first man, he spent it rapidly.  Therefore, the third man said to the genie "I always want to have enough in my pocket to pay for whatever it is I need or want" and "poof" he had his wish.  From then on, the third man always had exactly enough money in his pockets for whatever it was he wanted.

When I was younger I didn't understand the story.  I thought "Sure, it's great to always have enough, but why wouldn't you want the big amount and then just not be stupid about it?"  And yet, the story stuck with me.  After my mom died and I was basically 22 and learning to fend for myself, working at any given point 2-4 jobs, I always felt like I was grappling.  Gasping.  Barely breathing at times.  I stuck to my saving budget: 10% to long term savings (ROTH IRA, etc), 20% to long-term bills (health insurance deductibles, car fixes, insurance, etc) and the rest to my bank account for what I actually needed that month.

And there were times I wondered how I'd do it.  I didn't carry credit cards until about 2 years ago, having had the blessing of mom's life insurance paying down what was racked up while she was sick and in and out of hospitals, so I had an innate and true fear of them.  I felt like if it didn't directly come out of my debit account or wasn't there the minute I needed whatever it was I was going to buy, then I wasn't supposed to have it / didn't really need it.  Luckily, that worked well to keep me in check.

And there was a time I had $5.36 in my debit account that needed to stretch 4 days.  I remember not driving AT ALL if I didn't absolutely have to.  And I think I must have scrounged whatever food was in the pantry and at work that week, but somehow I made it.  At the end of that week, I remember reflecting back on that story.  I didn't have much, but it was exactly what I needed.

I wouldn't say I'm rolling in dough now.  I don't think anyone ever feels completely "secure" unless they have passive income in the six and seven digits coming in on a regular basis, but I may be wrong there too.  All I know is I'm not 29, and seven years have passed since I was more or less completely on my own.  Since then I have paid off a car, paid down some student loans, bought a house, helped pay for a wedding, gone to Europe twice (living there for 4 months at one point), started a business, and enjoyed numerous little life perks in the between times.  And although I've never had a surplus of "EXTRA" - I'm not the man who wished for 10 million dollars to find it "poof" at my feet - I've always found I'm the third man: the one who always had just enough.  (long term savings aside). 

But you know what?  While surplus brings with it the sense of comfort and is important for planning retirement and "what if" scenarios, the reality is if you need $150 in groceries and you have $151 or $500 in the bank account, you can afford the groceries and eat for the week.  Having enough is sometimes all you need. 

So take a moment to be grateful for all the times you maybe didn't feel rich but had enough to take care of what you needed.  Smile, and send out a big thank you to the universe or God, because that, awesome readers, is the best gift of all.

Ein Turns One!

Happy update from Ein!!! We are almost 1, about 11/12 inches off the ground, about 33-35 inches long (I kept moving so mom couldn't measure) and 27.8 lbs.

I love looking out the front door and moving the curtain so I can see, or running out the door when dad forgets to tell me to "stay" or I'd rather pretend I don't hear him (but then I get in trouble so I usually listen).  I talk all the time, and am an awesome guard dog (sometimes mom and dad don't realize how dangerous wind can be! So I let them know).  I love talking to the neighborhood dogs, even if they aren't as awesomely social as I am.   If I could just talk all the time I would.  I want one of those collars like the dog is "UP" has! 

Fetch is my favorite, but so is snuggling when I'm tired. I have a fave toy (the dead blue lion in the pic) and he's always wet with slobber and in my mouth when I'm not in the crate or sleeping.  I don't like when mom washes him because then all the awesome smells are gone, so I have to go right back to work.

Rolling is also super fun. I roll on the cement patio and rugs and carpets, and it's awesome.  I have mom and dad pretty well trained but I'm really good at listening and can do sit, down, stay, over, up, speak, and when I feel like it, quiet.  I don't understand their obsession with Paw/shake, so I'm holding out as long as possible.

I have a buddy, Charlie- my cousin the mini schnauzer. I love him but then get really sad when they leave. He's my size which is so fun and he loves to play!

That's all! Yay for birthdays!!!

Build an Oasis

Sometimes offices are fun.  Sometimes offices are sterile.  In which do you work?

I've always found when offices host their employees in cubicles, it tends to feel impersonal and distant.  Even grating (on your sanity that is).  People thrived for thousands of years in nature, and the work cubicle seems to defy all of those things that we evolved to appreciate.  So it's no wonder that many people often feel drained, stale, and agitated from sitting in a cubicle all day.


Well, it's time to fix that.  After all, many people rely on their jobs for their livelihood, so the question becomes, can I deal with my cubicle?   Or, if not, how to I modify it to bring me more joy and peace?

(Please note, there are some offices that do not allow modifications to their cubicles.  You should understand your office's policy before proceeding)

Here are some tips:
1)  Make it comfortable.  Add things like a heating pad or back / lumbar support to your pillow.  Buy a workout ball and store it under your desk to alternate with your chair to change up your posture and even invite a little office based exercise in.  Buy a footstool or footrest of sorts to help elevate your feet to a level that is comfortable, or to, again, change up the posture of your 8 hours.  I've even had a coworker stow work-appropriate slippers/moccasins and tennis balls at her desk to massage her feet and even double as a back roller.

2)  Don't forget your wrists.  If you can't request a laptop that is ergonomically designed for constant typing, (and/or a mouse for that matter) invest in a wrist/forearm rest.  It'll help alleviate some of the constant stress from resting your wrists on the desk while typing and navigating.  You can also elevate or tilt the keyboard to make it more suitable for your hands.

3)  Bring in the outdoors.  Maybe it's a bud vase for a new flower or set of flowers every week, maybe it's a fluorescent light ok plant like lucky bamboo, or maybe it's just a picture of the ocean, beach, mountains, river, waterfall, etc.  Either way, make sure it's not sitting somewhere cramped or hiding behind anything else.  The less stifled or hidden it is, the more it will have a positive effect on you.

4)  Go for feng shui.  Not sure what that is? This is a super quick overview or this one is more detailed.  There are also certain colors and themes associated with different areas of the bagua map to help bring the best energy into the space.  Keep photos and colors in their rightful place to help circulate the energy in your (probably) 5x5 space.

5) Make it personal.  This should feel like a reflection of you.  If you love animals, then find some animal print stickers or post-its, some neutral colors, or your favorite animal picture to keep around.  If you're a sports person, sport themed pens and pencils or a calendar with your favorite team will welcome you to work every day and start you off with a great smile.

Remember, you spend 8-10 hours here every day.  This should be as much of a sanctuary for you as your favorite place in your house.  If it's not, work on it pronto.  Don't wait.  Happy and positive people tend to get more done!

Have a few great ideas from how you've decorated your workspace?  Share them with us!