sarahfae | Entries tagged with life

AtV Brown "Rice"

Hi guys!
In case you haven't been over to Addicted to Veggies in the last few days, I've been working on a new category of posts that I'm calling "AtV Staple Recipes". These are super yum, and almost always going to be quick and easy too. The reason for the name "Staple" is because you'll be seeing them again in the future in all types of different forms. The recipe in this entry is the recent Staple that I just put up and I'm SOSO excited to finally be able to share it. It even fooled my very skeptical husband into thinking it was the real thing (Short Grain Brown Rice). He still wouldn't try it, but smelled it, and by the look of it he said he wouldn't have thought it was raw. That's a success in my book!

Hope you all are doing well. Things have been so so busy, and after the last two weekends of camping I'm really excited at the prospect of finally getting my new work schedule up and running solidly. Wish me luck - I need it!!

(Lipstick --- don't go camping without it!)

The view from my kitchen window...and what I see most days when I'm not looking at my cutting board trying to avoid slicing my fingers and thumb for the umpteenth time!

No "Weekly Veggie" this week. Instead I've decided to something a little different:
Leftover Week!
Aka: Lazy Leftovers!
To read more (and to see another photo of the INSIDE of my house) go here...

xoxo!!

I'm certain that there are good days for flowers, but on most days my heart melts for uncommon romantic gestures...

Today marks the kick-off for a new project, and a lot of future work involving the marrying of three very important components:
Food, Addicted to Veggies, and AtVdailyfix.
I'd be lying if I said I'm not excited - to be honest I'm ridiculously giddy right now. Giddy is even an understatement.

Moving forward my Sundays will begin to look a lot like this:
Get out of bed by 8:30, shower, do my hair and make-up, put on a cute (but comfy) dress, and get to working in the kitchen. Today I spent a total of five and a half hours in the kitchen doing "food prep" and it was WONDERFUL! The more time I spend in my kitchen the happier I am. There is something really magical to me about spending lengthy amounts of time with the food you eat --- getting it cleaned/prepped, thinking about the nutrients, listening to good music and bouncing around...it only deepens the value of food, at least in my opinion.
Granted, it does feel really nice to sit down in the sun room and enjoy a big mason jar full of sun tea with the puppies joining me of course...

So with that, I beg you:
Please stay tuned to Addicted to Veggies and/or AtVdailyfix. I'm about to announce the first "Weekly Veggie" which will spark a whole bunch of veggie-related web activity on my part. It's going to be so much fun, I can barely contain myself!

xoxo~
Sarahfae

Current Mood: chipper

Hi.
I miss you livejournal.

All is well in the wacky land of Sarahfae.

I've been wrapped up in:
Girl-time, Housekeeping, Health up-keeping, Familial prioritizing, Twilight nerdiness, Birthday celebrations, Holiday decorating, Buffy the Vampire Slayer marathon planning, Christmas shopping, and all the while trying to stay "in touch" with myself.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tired. I'm kind of exhausted. Thankfully I have some pretty amazing people in my life, not no mention my obsessive hobbies that keep me grounded and in the clouds all at the same time...

Raw Tacos...om nom nom

See you soon...
xoxoxoxo

Current Mood: awake

(Just a simple Salsa Salad)

I'm not going to deny it - I've been doing a good job of creating a lovely bit of chaos for myself...and in lieu on the chaos (it's really just busy life stuff and me being an anal planner) I've let myself eat things that my body has had some pretty gnarly adverse reactions too.
What does this mean?

The more I eat raw the better I feel. But I haven't exactly been able to stay in the "hardcore raw food zone" with all of this chaotic craziness as of late...
I hate to make excuses for my behavior and poor choices - so I won't. I guess this means that I'm human. And sometimes I don't want to eat kale, even though I KNOW damn well my body will be much happier than if I ate a baked potato.
My gluten sensitivity has gotten SO much worse - this should be a sign that raw food is good for me right? Silly Sarahfae. I let myself eat wheat products very recently, and the effect that it's had on my body and health have been pretty scary...instantly making me sick, tired, grumpy - you name it.
I feel like I've hit another speed bump on my journey to a committed rawfood lifestyle. This whole way of eating is so much like a relationship. One minute I'm madly in love with the food, and the next minute I just want to throw it out the window and binge on cooked starch (baaaaaad for my belly!). I'm really learning a lot about a new part of myself the deeper I delve into this lifestyle. I want to stay here - I have every intention of staying here...but it is difficult. Hindsight is 20/20 though - and eating this way has gotten so much easier for me over time. Raw food is not something (I feel) anyone can jump into head first, never looking back. Because cooked food is like a drug. Maybe that's why I'm so hell bent on creating raw versions of cooked comfort foods. It's not always easy to satisfy those cooked cravings...but as my taste buds (and digestive tract) change, it does get easier.
So while what I'm aiming for may seem like an extreme lifestyle to some, I am bound an determined to do this, to stay in love with raw food and let it be good to be in the ways I know my body needs. Raw food is really taking care of me in ways that cooked food never has and (I truly feel) never will.
While I would never stand on a pulpit and preach at others to eat the way I do (that's just not my style - never will be) I do want to encourage my friends, family, and anyone out there who reads my lj or blog --- by posting easy to make and approachable raw food recipes (with pretty pictures).

It's really been an amazing support system to have an avenue where I get feedback about the food I love, and to also vent about the difficult stuff too. From the bottom of my heart - thank you.
I'm really grateful to be here. Even if those naughty little french fries pull me down sometimes.

Current Mood: thoughtful

Somehow I've found myself, sitting in the middle of an enormous valley
The open sky could swallow me whole
The hills have been kissed with every color known to the universe, and my simple little eyes
I'm alone with the possibility to fall in any direction
It doesn't matter which way I go, it all leads to the same place
I haven't started to move, and I'm right where I'm suppose to be
Or maybe I've been going a million miles per second and haven't noticed

Change.
It's here.
It's staring straight at me - and it's so beautiful.

I just can't wait to share it with everybody! I hate keeping secrets.

Coming soon: A real blog

First off, it's been a lovey weekend. But there was something especially magical and enlightening about today. I kept catching myself heaving big deep sighs - taking everything in. It was all just wonderful and nice.
I love Sundays.

- Old town Eureka, Book stores, and Many Hands Gallery (oh the treasures we found!)
- A top secret photo shoot with the Sis
- Flying around my kitchen in a messy creative flurry, as usual
- Rain, rain, rain, the smells and colors of rain
- Opening windows throughout the entire house - letting the sound of the rain inside
- 49er's win!
- The Bing Crosby Radio show (my Sunday ritual)
- Puppy love
- Sunday food prep
- Cole Porter tunes while I become lost in my domesticity

But I digress...here's some stuff to look at:

My current FAVORITE food. The Orange. Stay tuned to see lots of recipes that include this magnificent fruit.
It just chimes: "Holidays are coming!"

One of many new and exciting vintage cookbooks that have recently been added to my growing collection. While it may look silly, this book is full of fun inspiring concepts that I'll be sure to note in future recipes (minus the copius amounts of gelatin that a bulk of the recipes call for).
I seriously can't get enough of these relics!

Elmer interrupts a "top secret" photo shoot...I can't turn down his sloppy little kisses.

Current Mood: bouncy

I've been SO busy with the crazy goings-on that life has been presenting to me...good, bad, and ugly stuff. I won't go into detail, but I will say/write, when life (viciously) throws lemons at you - rotten, slimy, un-organic lemons - stop for a minute and gain perspective.
I'm really happy with how I've handled certain recent situations, the icky ones, and managed to brush them all off --- my long-time personal motto for un-important negativity withstanding: "I'm a duck! It's all just water, baby!"
For every yucky dumb little thing there seems to be a million wonderful little things all around me - and I'm managing to not focus on the negative, but see right through it - right to the positive.
No, I'm not drunk or high...just trying to maintain the mindset of "making the most of every moment".
I think this sort of effort in positive conscious thinking really trickles into other areas of your life, and starts to work like a filter for everything that you start to come into contact with. I don't really subscribe to the concept of karma, but do think that a strong positive attitude attracts positive things and strong negativity = negative.

ANYways,
BIG apologies for being absent with my food postings as of late. I have a ridiculous amount of food photos and recipes stacking up all around me, and I'm really dying to share them with you all! So please don't go anywhere! I promise to come back in full force very soon...no more excuses! I miss you guys!

xo~

Current Mood: energetic

Another fabulous painting from Janet Hill.

What a weekend.
Full of ups and downs, and as always I'm left to ponder, pick apart, and over analyze my behavior in the negative areas.
I strongly dislike being a grump, so when this happens (and it does) I try to take a good look at myself and the situation, and move forward with the proper tools to avoid getting into the same unattractive, and unhealthy position again. I really began practicing this mindset after reading "The Art of Happiness", and I have to say that it's hugely impacted my life, my relationships, the health of my marriage, and just the all around quality of my every day.

So with that...
We had a wonderful Saturday, until the bag that carried my favorite vintage cookbook, my little sisters new "Dexter" book, and my very new and ONLY camera got submerged in the river.
I was pretty beside myself after this, and naturally it put a bit of a damper on the day trip to the river
I'm sad, and a little distraught at the fact that we might not have a camera for a little while. At the moment it's sitting on top of our dehumidifier, and we're hoping by some random miracle of science that all of the moisture will be drawn from the camera and it will function properly after a few more days of "dehumidifying".

Thankfully I have a few recipes with pictures already uploaded that will tide me over until we figure out our camera situation.

Current Mood: cheerful

Summer is here, the weather has noticeably been getting warmer (hopefully it will last - but you never know in Humboldt County).
I've been thinking more and more about my bikinis, and actually wearing them in public.
The trip to Tahoe is right around the corner, and of course the bathing suit and short dresses will inevitably have to be dusted off...
I have been busting my ass to get in the best possible shape, for my mind, body, and day-to-day healthy living.
I've switched my running "route" so that it's mostly an uphill run --- through a really pretty and safe neighborhood. However, in spite of all my efforts I still haven't been able to break the 3 mile mark. I could make excuses for this, but that's not my style.
I hate excuses.

So today, when I got home from work I made up my mind: I was going to run 4 miles. I was going to do it, keep up a steady pace, and just fucking DO it.
At the top of the 3rd mile I hit a really big hill, and man did I start to doubt myself. The voices in my head were not encouraging: "I don't know if I can do this. Man this sucks ass."
Once I made it to the top of the hill I noticed a woman getting out of her car, she looked at me and shouted: "Have a good run!"
My energy level suddenly exploded from hearing her encouraging words and I shouted back - "Thanks!! I'm trying to break four miles!"
"Wow!" she said - "You can do it!"

And I did!
Actually I ran 4.3 miles, just to be on the sure side.
On the last quarter mile I kept repeating to myself: "Four mother-fucking miles, mother fucker! Four mother-fucking miles!" And when I got home I almost started to cry. I could feel my body accepting the distance, and I wasn't tired or winded. I know I could've kept going too. This is just such an amazing personal accomplishment for me - so I have to bask in it for a little while. The doubts that I had about running a marathon are all out the window now. I know I can do it. Did I mention that my asthma is pretty much non-existent at this point?
Damn, I love running!

Okay enough of that. How about some cute puppy pictures?
( Puppies in the sun, puppies on the beach... )

Current Mood: ecstatic

Painting by Janet Hill, My new favorite artist! You can track her beautiful work here.

Wow.
What a busy week it's been. Here's a sad attempt at an update.

Family is still in town - their last night is tonight, so we'll be doing another "final" family dinner at my Pop's house.
This week has really just been packed full of "hanging out" with the family. Lots of barbe-ques, nephew time, going to the park (yesterday), bowling (last night), and laughter --- the general bulk of our "hangout time" revolves around all of us being silly and laughing together. I seriously couldn't have wished for better siblings. The love and bond that exists between all of us seems to grow with our own individual growth, and long lasting friendships are simply inevitable.

This morning I dropped Elmer off at the vet where he will be undergoing *gulp* a puppy vasectomy. He wrapped both of his little furry paws around my neck and gave out a cute little whine when the vet assistant took him from me. We'll get him back this afternoon, and I'm sure Lucy will be dying to see him by that time. Talk about sibling bonding - sheesh - those two LOVE each other! I couldn't be happier to have two little pups that get along famously, and thankfully are all very healthy.

My attempt to create a large list of new raw foods last week didn't go off as well as I'd hoped - I'm working on doing better under pressure while in the kitchen. I did however manage to pull through with a few pretty awesome *new* food items that I'll be posting as soon as the family functions come to a close. One of those items is a really exciting raw savory almond cheese!
Oh man, that cheese, it's my brand new craving!
..Kinda neat when you get to create food that you then start to crave like crazy.

In other raw food news, I've been asked/invited to come teach some of my recipes to a local Zen group! I'm SO excited to do this, and thankfully it won't be until at least late Summer, which will give me ample time to prepare some new yummy/easy raw food recipes. While I don't practice Zen I've formed a wonderful connection with one of the local group's members, and I'm really excited to make more connections with the zen community.

Current Mood: awake

I've never been the kind of person who plans out their meals weeks in advance, or lays their clothes out the night before in preparation of the coming work day. I usually wing it when I go grocery shopping, and decide on what to wear while I'm standing in my closet still wiping the morning sleep out of my eyes.

Preparation, I'm learning, is very important if I want to commit to a healthy way of eating. Yes, I recently had a nice reminder of this --- when I found myself suffering very bad tummy pains after being too lazy to make anything for dinner, no "quick and easy" raw food snacks available, and ended up munching on way too many of D's potato chips.

Preparation.
Say it five times fast.

Okay, so back in my little non-cooking/kitchen world I took a deep breath and told myself that I HAVE to plan ahead if I'm going to eat right and stay in this wonderful happy healthy place that I'm still so very knew to.
Yep, that's my simple little realization.
While I may not be able to see the future of my daily fashion statements, I know I'm getting better at daily meal planning.

So in staying on course, tonight I'm dehydrating an enormous batch of what I'm calling "The Ultimate raw Veggie Burgers" (recipe and photos to come - very soon), a ton of crimini mushrooms (my favorite "meat" substitute"), and a bunch of bell peppers.

Oh, and here's what I had for dinner on Thursday night...

( Nori wraps, raw veggie burger & avo with sweet and spicy mustard dip... )

Current Mood: creative

I often go through phases throughout the day/week where I fall totally in love with being in the moment, and the small details that come along with it.
In these moments I almost never have a camera, and always seem to see the most beautiful things that weave perfectly into whatever else is happening at that time. Enjoying the moment --- this has truly become one of my favorite past-times.

Sitting in my car, listening to Ben Folds "Bruised", the rain coming down on the sunroof above my head.
Some songs just fit perfectly with rainy days.

(cell phone pic)

Current Mood: chipper

Another weekend has flown by. I'm sad to see it go because it's been so nice.

This morning we headed over to the Flea Market (my favorite monthly event!) and I found a few really great treasures. I added to my growing collection of vintage figurines, as well as my collection of fun vintage books, and a few really pretty vintage scarves (I've been wearing them in my hair a lot lately).

( Treasures... )

At the moment I'm resting with my foot up and an ice pack wrapped tighly beneath my arch. No more pain, but just taking a precautionary move because I ran today for the first time in two weeks. It was SO wonderful, I seriously almost cried because I was so happy to be on the pavement again. My lungs didn't freak out (surprising because I'm still such a newbie runner), and I'm sure it was the adrenaline rush, but I didn't want to stop, and after one mile I felt like I could keep going forever. But I didn't because that would be dumb, since my foot (while almost back to norm) is still on the mend.
It's really incredible how different I felt in the absence of running every day. I definitely needed a break to properly heal my foot, but I also think it was beneficial for me to see how important the activity of running truly is, and it's affect on my day-to-day life. In spite of the fact that I've still been working out daily I knew that the cardio I was missing was so valuable. I found myself with a lack of energy, didn't sleep nearly as well, my motivation to be in the kitchen was totally slumped, and I just didn't seem to care as much about what I was eating. Weird.

Yesterday I made the appointment with Dean to start finishing the bottom half of my right arm in July. I really want to keep what I'm getting a secret, but I'm SOO freaking excited about it --- and when I'm excited I can't keep quiet! My Buster Keaton tribute tattoo...*sigh*...it's gonna be my favorite.

I still have a lot of food pics to post...I haven't forgotten, I'm just lazy. Soon, I promise.

Current Mood: content

Things have been very busy since getting back into town last weekend.
Busy: good
Busy: blech
Busy: busy

I've got a lot of food things to share, including raw ravioli with a cheezy-corn filling! Hopefully I'll have some time to post a good amount of pics this evening.

At the moment I can't seem to get enough of Ben Folds.
He stirs up feelings and emotions inside of me that I liken to Christmas time when I was a little kid.
The Sis and I listened to him on our drive to and from Oregon, and neither one of us could get enough.

I'm hugely anticipating getting more ink on both of my arms, and hopefully finishing my sleeves by the end of this year! My most recent ink "thought" has to do with a tribute piece to Buster Keaton (Squeeee!!). I can't say anymore though...I'm too excited!
After going to the weekly silent movie night at the Arcata Theater Lounge (every wednesday - for free!) it's become quite apparent that my love for Buster runs very deep. Thankfully my wonderful husband isn't threatened by this.

Okay. Enough about nonsense. I'll write again soon about more important matters.

With all of the changes I've made to my life over the last month[plus] I've been thinking about changing the name and face of my lj (not something I do too often).
I gave some thought to moving to an actual real blog --- but given my lack of information on the "good" blog sites, and my commitment to LiveJournal, I just don't think I'm ready to leave yet.

So, in addition to changing the format of my journal, I'm also thinking of a new Header/Journal name...
I'd like it to be something that relates directly to my "quest" for personal daily growth --- maybe a play on words, tying in my love of food, music, adventure, and health.
I've only got one idea so far - feel free to pipe in with any of your own:

"Where My Feet Take Me"

My knee is really bugging me today --- old injury that hasn't acted up in quite awhile.
While I was running I kept repeating over and over in my mind: "Run through the pain", eventually I just felt like I was running "to the pain" so I stopped after one mile. Boo. Thank goodness for pilates...it's become my "other" addiction, akin to running.

P.S. Come visit me in Arcata this Friday. I'll be at Mosgo's, and my set starts at 8:30 [All Ages]. Stick around afterwards to hear Stirx Vega. I'll be sitting in with them on "Decay", a song that I also recorded back up vocals to for their new album. Those boys have really evolved into quite an amzing band.

Current Mood: energetic

Last night's show was really amazing, in spite of some incredible, almost paralyzing self doubt leading up to the gig. Where other people get nerves before a show, I get really hard on myself. It's awful what I let my mind get away with - I'm really good at beating myself up.
But I prevaled, and the outcome was probably my best set ever.

Friday is looking really good so far.
Lunch with my Dad this afternoon will be nice.
After work D and I are going to a little Mardi Gras celebration, and after that I think we'll try to catch up on our non-extistant social life and pay a visit to the Shanty --- it'll be the first time being there since I've stopped drinking. Should be interesting.

Current Mood: good

Sitting in my car this morning as the engine warmed up, the rain clouds made the sky a lovely yellow gray, and I felt so incredibly serene and happy. Happy with my life, my health, and the choices I've been making over the last few weeks. I am totally feeling (and beginning to see) the affects of this new commitment to a better lifestyle...and it's really exciting.
The results thus far:
Running everyday:
A huge jump in my daily energy, an increase in my happiness factor (I feel so cheery all the damn time), an increase in my desire to eat healthy *all the live long day*, better (uninterrupted) nights sleep, and already noticeable weight loss. Everyday that I get home from work I'm seriously craving a run...I think I'm borderline obsessed --- I've heard and read that this is normal for most beginning runners.
Not Drinking (I'm sure the absence of alcohol in addition to running every day goes hand in hand with most of the following):
I feel lighter. I don't know how else to put it...my entire body feels lighter, and clean. My thought process seems to flow so much more clearly, and I'm articulating much more easily ---this is good because I love having a sharp wit. My over-all complexion has improved; face, arms, and back (yay to this). I've developed an odd love for Blue Sky Ginger Ale with lemon juice...this has become my "special treat" drink - poured into a fancy glass garnished with mint, or a piece of fresh fruit.

A thought that runs through my mind on occasion, and more often now because of the recent life changes I've made, is fad dieting. This is an awful American trend that needs to stop. No fad diet is meant to last forever - and that's where ONE of the biggest problems lies. In order to make a permanent change in your life you need to first have a good foundation upon which change can happen. No amount of money, pills, prepackaged food, fizzy neon-pink-colored water, or info-mercial is going to give you the foundation that you need. For me it all comes down to quality of life - that's where my foundation starts. After that the commitment begins.
The problem with fad dieting and commitment, well...there just isn't any. How can someone properly commit themselves to the promise of "weight-loss salvation" when that promise is not coming from the MOST important place: you.
If you commit to yourself then you're committing to a life change - like a marriage or serious relationship - it's not easy, it's hard work - and it's SO rewarding. I don't know why so many people subscribe to the fad diet, but my only guess is that the level of commitment to a "real" life change isn't something they're ready for.
Don't get me wrong though - I know that some people can totally commit themselves to a diet and make it work (every *body* is different), I guess I'm more or less ranting about the people (I've been guilty of this too) that jump on board with a new diet every few months, see results, and then fall off the wagon - only to jump back on again further down the road.
Permanent lifestyle change is the key for me I guess...and in all of my new found excitement and zest I can't help but *squee* about it. I'm sure it'll subside sooner or later, and the hard work, commitment and discipline will really need to kick in.

Current Mood: giddy

Hi.
Things have been very busy in my world over the last couple of weeks. This is good - busyness makes me feel productive and happy with myself.

With that said - I've decided to go back to mostly private/friend only posting. The exception to this will be food posts, non-personal informative posts, and the occasional picture of my cute furry family.
To the wonderful friends and family of mine that do not have a livejournal account and will miss reading my thrilling posts, you have two options:
1. Get an LJ account!
2. Let me know if you want emails - if the post isn't too crazy/personal I might email them to you. Otherwise, pick up the damn phone and give a friend a call!

Happy Friday~xoxo

Merry Xmas ya'll!
I am relieved that the holiday is over, but sad in a small way too.
Family was wonderful tonight: bonding with the not-so-lil'-sis, Wii bowling, stinky-dog petting, stuffing my face with yummy food, laughing to the point of snorting, smiles, memories, and tons of wonderful affection from my awesome hubby. Cheers!

My favorite gifts (from the hub) are as follows: the most' perfect porcelian elephant (40's era), old-school canvass vans (the feet kind), and a verrrry thoughtful book titled "The End of Faith" by Sam Harris --- I can't wait to sink my eyeballs into it!

At the moment I've got a very sweet little Kona sleeping at my side --- her parents are on an Xmas holiday in Ashland, so D and I are doggy-sitting until tomorrow. We are very happy to have her, and I think Lucy is too. Lots of cute doggy/holiday pics to come.

For now, how about a cute snap of me and my adorable sister?

( This-a-way... )

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sarahfae

Addicted to Veggies

November 2011

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My name is Sarahfae and I'm a Veggie-holic

www.addictedtoveggies.com

Entries tagged with life

Staple Recipe: Brown "Rice

Lazy foods time

Better than a bouquet

Oh wait...

My own personal chaos

Change

Favorite Sunday moments

Apologies, and it's really all about perspective

Weekend blues

Health Update, and puppies too

I'm back...

Planning ahead

in the moment

Good, great, awesome

Busy

Change

Friday, I'm in love

Fad diets vs Permanent lifestyle change

NEWS FLASH

When we finally say goodnight...