tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49755249967387216632024-03-13T03:12:25.889-07:00Green and GratefulDaily observations on whatever comes to mind. (Look for a lot of posts on food and gratitude. ;)Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358405545919383606noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975524996738721663.post-46752341905263586222011-07-18T10:52:00.000-07:002011-07-18T10:57:44.800-07:0030-Day ProjectsTwo of my friends have just inspired me to blog again... Thank you <a href="http://r3tta.com/">Retta</a> & <a href="http://clusterfreezone.blogspot.com/">Marilu</a>!<br />
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A while ago, I saw this video:<br />
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and was inspired to start my own 30-day projects. But I didn't... procrastination gets the best of me every time. And then I read Retta's most recent blog post - she was also inspired by this video & has started her 30-day projects, beginning with cleaning and fixing up her yard and house, taking baby steps one day at a time. So I'm inspired again.<br />
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I want these to be fun or experimental little goals. So that I enjoy doing them and possibly learn something about myself.<br />
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For the rest of July, I'm going to draw something every day. I've always wanted to learn how to draw, I even have a set of drawing pencils and a couple of sketch pads, but I haven't taken the time to do it. While at the book store yesterday, I looked at the drawing section and found a couple of how-to books that I think I could follow. On my way home from the gym today, I'm going to stop by the store again and buy one. Then tonight... my first sketch!<br />
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Some other potential 30-day project ideas: Saying "Hello" or "Good Morning" to everyone whose paths I cross, read at least 1/2 hour, take a picture, write a novel (see the video), meditate, and learn a new word.Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358405545919383606noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975524996738721663.post-12125757035584465472011-01-08T13:13:00.000-08:002011-01-08T13:13:43.809-08:00For Lunch: Chard & White Bean Stew<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Oh my YUM!</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;"> </span></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I just made a batch of <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i>Chard & White Bean Stew</i></span></b> from <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2011/01/chard-and-white-bean-stew/">smitten kitchen</a>'s food blog. I had planned on saving if for dinner and having my leftover veggie pizza for lunch, but after tasting a bit, decided to put the pizza off until dinner. This is that good. Soooooo good.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I love smitten kitchen. It's my favorite food blog out there and everything I've made from it has exceeded my expectations. I must have the same taste bud genes as Deb, the blog author.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I won't bother re-creating the recipe here...if you're interested, just </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2011/01/chard-and-white-bean-stew/">hop on over to her site</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. Here are the ingredients though:</span><br />
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<b><i>Enjoy!!</i></b></div>
</span>Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358405545919383606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975524996738721663.post-53802353592887167772011-01-05T21:00:00.000-08:002011-01-05T21:00:24.282-08:00January Book Club: The Invisible Man<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Book Club night! We discussed <i>The Invisible Man</i> by H.G. Wells.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My thoughts about the book were right in line with everyone else's. We agreed that for its time, it was an important book. It was one of the first to explore science fiction and therefore granted its permanent place in our literary canon. But we also agreed that it was a somewhat lackluster story. The characters weren't developed enough or likable enough and there seemed to be something missing. I felt that it could have done better in exploring the human psyche when faced with extraordinary situations, and was left feeling that there was a missed opportunity to do so. It was like a brainless action movie that just moves from car chase scene to car chase scene and the people are just the props. I'm glad I read it though. It's one of those books that help you understand the history and development of our literature and culture.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Book for February: <i>The Killer Angels </i>by Michael Shaara. I picked it up a few minutes ago to start reading only to discover that the first 13 pages are missing! Ai-ai-aiiiiii. It's a novel about the Civil War. I'm not a big fan of war fiction, but this won a Pulitzer Prize, so I'm hopeful this will be an exception. Has anyone read it? How did you like it?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358405545919383606noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975524996738721663.post-90061521736256466542011-01-01T14:37:00.000-08:002011-01-01T14:37:05.722-08:0011 Things for 2011<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Eleven things I'm going to do in 2011</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">They are not resolutions. Everyone knows what happens with New Year's resolutions. </span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />1. Travel to Australia.</span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My brother and I are spending two weeks in April there meeting family on our mother's side who we've never met before at a big family reunion. We'll finally meet our mom's twin, Uncle Terry, and all of our wonderful, loving cousins. This goal has been on both of our to-do lists since we were kids, and we're finally doing it! Our dad gave us the names of all the places that he and our mom went when they were dating, and we hope to visit those spots and walk in their footsteps. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /><b>2. Travel to Wisconsin.</b><br />I guess this is "Year of the Family" for me. I am long overdue for a trek to the homeland. I'm looking forward to visiting Wisconsin in the beautiful fall month of September and reconnecting with my dad, step-mom and my dad's side of the family.<br /><br /><b>3. Return to the<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> Clairemont </span></b><b>Library Book Club as a regular member.</b><br />Book for January: <i><a href="http://shellyfromholtz.blogspot.com/2010/12/clairemont-library-book-club-book-of.html">The Invisible Man</a> </i>by H.G. Wells. We meet on the 5th. I'll be spending much of the day today reading.<br /><br /><b>4. Write an entry in my Vintage Postcard Calendar Journal every day.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I got this cute idea from the website <a href="http://www.designspongeonline.com/2010/12/diy-project-vintage-postcard-calendar-journal.html">Design*Sponge</a>. Here's there's:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />And here's mine:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /><br /><b>5. Volunteer at least once a month.</b><br /><a href="http://volunteersandiego.org/">Volunteer San Diego</a> is an awesome resource in finding volunteer projects all around the county. They schedule many one-day volunteer opportunities on their project calendar, ranging from trail restoration to charity walks to tutoring to special events. It's a great way to explore San Diego and give back at the same time. My January project is with the San Diego Resolution Run...that is *registering* the runners and *not* being a runner. Baby steps.<br /><br /><b>6. Start and complete my "Thank You, Dad" project.</b><br />I won't go into details here, just in case my dad is reading this...<br /><br /><b>7. Move to a new apartment!</b><br />After pipes leaking from the ceiling and rain coming up through the floor, I've had my fill of living in this apartment. I'm excited to move in June to a waterproof apartment...<br /><br /><b>8. Get a pet.</b><br />...that allows pets. I can't decide if I want a dog or a cat. I like both. One of each?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>9. Get bedroom lamps.</b><br />I have an adult bedroom with a baby bedside lamp. Time for an upgrade.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /><br /><b>10. Put together an emergency kit to keep in the car; replace the spare tire.</b><br /><br /><b>11. Convert my VHS tapes to disc.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Gotta get my home videos watchable again!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Extra Credit: Get an annual Zoo membership and take regular walks there.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I can't think of better scenery while getting some exercise. (Okay, well... there are those Chippendales...)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Happy New Year, everybody!!</span></div>
</div>Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358405545919383606noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975524996738721663.post-73973795878807317182010-12-30T12:24:00.000-08:002010-12-30T14:39:07.362-08:00Moment of the Day: A Word of Kindness<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Moment of the Day</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After finally using my Groupon for a facial today, I drove in a zen-like state to my <a href="http://www.sandwichemporium.com/">favorite sandwich shop</a> for a healthy Garden Delight sandwich (with a side of greasy potato chips... yin, yang). I walked right up to the counter and placed my order. As I turned around to take a seat, I was shocked to see a line of about 12 people standing behind me. They all came in at the same time and only two people were working - one at the register and one at the sandwich station. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As I sat in my zen-like state observing the situation, I became sympathetic to these girls and wanted to jump in and help. Both of them were efficient and quick which probably helped the attitude of all those waiting in line. No one seemed to be giving them grief, thank goodness. But no one was cheering them on either. They were pretty indifferent.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And here's where I wanted to step in again and suggest to these remarkably patient customers that they pay the girls a compliment on how well they were handling the rush. I've done my time in the food service industry and I've had my fair share of moments like this, and I gotta tell ya, when a customer notices that you're working your butt off to take care of everyone, and they say something positive to you about it, it makes your day. It gives you a boost and you somehow find even more energy and motivation to get the job done. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Moral of the Moment of the Day, the next time you're a patient customer being waited on by a service person who's obviously overwhelmed, just say, "Hey, you're doing a great job." It'll make their day. And yours. </span>Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358405545919383606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975524996738721663.post-55980450539759941092010-12-29T17:01:00.000-08:002010-12-29T17:01:23.836-08:00Freedom from Freedom!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I started reading this book oh, about 4 months ago:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Jonathan Franzen's <i>Freedom</i>.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I wanted to love it. And I did at first. But about half-way through, I started disliking the characters and stopped caring about what happened to them. It became extremely difficult to read the rest, hence the months-long trek. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I suffered through it though, because this book was heralded as the Great American Novel by just about every book reviewer out there and I figured by the time I finished, I'd get it. (And I must admit, that little <a href="http://theweek.com/article/index/206609/battle-of-the-authors-jodi-picoult-vs-jonathan-franzen">cat-fighting session between Franzen & Jodi Picoult</a> intrigued me.) But I don't get it. I was elated to say good-bye to the unlikeable Berglund family.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What am I missing? Did any of you read it and like it? If so, write me and tell me why. </span></div>Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358405545919383606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975524996738721663.post-19550929283900846282010-12-27T21:47:00.000-08:002010-12-27T21:47:51.919-08:00Clairemont Library Book Club Book of the Month...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TRlyhLvBCQI/AAAAAAAAC4U/ZYlxqtGLZec/s1600/180px-Invisible_man_cover_art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TRlyhLvBCQI/AAAAAAAAC4U/ZYlxqtGLZec/s1600/180px-Invisible_man_cover_art.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">...is <i>The Invisible Man </i>by H.G. Wells.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I received a phone call from a Maxine a few days ago passionately requesting that I return to the Clairemont Library's book club because numbers are dwindling and they're trying to keep it alive.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So I'm reading <i>The Invisible Man</i>. At first, I was skeptical and didn't think I'd enjoy it, but it's actually a very easy and pleasant read. The most significant thing about reading this book, though, is the way I'm reading it. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For the first time ever, I'm reading a book on my computer! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(And no, I don't mean that I have an actual book propped up on my computer, hee hee.) And it's actually enjoyable!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I don't have a Kindle or a Nook or an iPad or etc. (hint, hint for future birthday present.. ;) so I'm reading it on <a href="http://www.blio.com/">Blio</a> which is a pretty cool e-reader for folks like me who haven't bought the latest technology yet. Blio is a free e-reader program that you can download and install onto your computer and its library of books, both free and non-free, is pretty extensive. <i>The Invisible Man </i>was a free download.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here are a couple of (very poor quality... sorry!) screenshots:</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TRl5WwZ57dI/AAAAAAAAC5s/aC7hUhTPQvw/s1600/Blio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TRl5WwZ57dI/AAAAAAAAC5s/aC7hUhTPQvw/s320/Blio.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TRl5YXHuzLI/AAAAAAAAC5w/qpO6XT2uk84/s1600/Blio+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TRl5YXHuzLI/AAAAAAAAC5w/qpO6XT2uk84/s320/Blio+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> I like how it simulates actual page-turning.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If the commute to the Clairemont Library isn't too far for you, come on and join me on January 5th! The book club meets on the first Wednesday of every month at 6:00 PM at The Same Old Grind coffee shop on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard (by Keil's). </span><br />
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<br />Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358405545919383606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975524996738721663.post-38907408257665928942010-12-13T18:52:00.000-08:002010-12-13T19:41:08.983-08:00Wreaths Across America<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On Saturday, a friend and I, along with over 700 others, volunteered to help with "Wreaths Across America", a national event that took place all over the country at 12:00 EST. We placed wreaths on the headstones of fallen veterans at Fort Rosecrans Cemetery. Though I've driven by the Cemetery countless times on my way to Cabrillo National Monument and the tide pools, I've never once stopped there for a visit, until Saturday. It's a beautiful and sad place all at the same time.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TQbW4GlaD9I/AAAAAAAACus/bHlZp_z1rfc/s1600/compressed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TQbW4GlaD9I/AAAAAAAACus/bHlZp_z1rfc/s320/compressed.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As I get older and better understand life and mortality, I find myself becoming more and more in awe of people who voluntarily put their lives at risk for what they judge to be noble causes. These veterans signed up for a career that they knew full well would put them in harm's way. And when they went to war, their lives were literally in jeopardy every single day until they returned home. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Whatever is in their make-up is certainly not in mine and I admire them for it. I freak out for weeks after seeing a scary movie. I could not handle being in a war zone, and thankfully, I'll never have to find that out first hand thanks to the brave men and women who do handle it.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Think about your life. What are you doing right now? Probably sitting comfortably in your home reading this. Right now at this moment, someone just like you is in the middle of a war zone, sitting uncomfortably, hoping to make it through the day without getting shot or bombed on, miles away from everyone who cares about them.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I felt honored to place a wreath on a fallen veteran's grave:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On a lighter note. Extremely amusing that the wreaths came out of this truck:</span></div>
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<br />Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358405545919383606noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975524996738721663.post-80544303059256711312010-12-08T22:04:00.000-08:002010-12-08T22:04:42.953-08:00Simple Pleasures<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The campus library had a Holiday Cookbook Sale last week. I went expecting to shop new books, but duh! It's a library! They were selling used cookbooks from their shelves. I was pleasantly surprised by this, partially because it meant I could buy more. That's always a good thing. Here's what I got for $9.00:</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TQBroZHJ0bI/AAAAAAAACqQ/fIcNk_BPXpw/s1600/Books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TQBroZHJ0bI/AAAAAAAACqQ/fIcNk_BPXpw/s320/Books.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Four of the books are by MFK Fisher. I hear she's one of the best food writers out there, so for $1.00-$2.00 per book, I figured I'd decide that for myself. I also got Isabel Allende's food book, <i>Aphrodite</i>. I loved her book, <i>Eva Luna </i>and <i>Aphrodite </i>had been on my to-read list when it came out, but I forgot about it somewhere along the way. A quarterly food journal and a book called <i>Apples & Man</i> round out my purchases. I bought <i>Apples & Man</i> for the title alone. Sounds like an epic battle or something. APPLES & MAN (read in a serious, doomed voice).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I made croutons tonight:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I don't know why, but I get a supreme sense of satisfaction when I make something that I always used to buy pre-made. All growing up, I never thought about where my food came from or how it was made. But now, with my interest in food and cooking growing with each passing year (pun oh so intended :) I'm discovering how everything is made, from potato chips to ketchup to croutons, and I'm absurdly fascinated by how easy it all is, and how much better it tastes and how much better it is for you. I think this will be a hobby that I'll never tire of (of which I will never tire?).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #20124d;">Today, I'm thankful...</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TQBvMyRX0lI/AAAAAAAACqg/0_37iXzvkCs/s1600/Walking+into+my+Apartment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TQBvMyRX0lI/AAAAAAAACqg/0_37iXzvkCs/s320/Walking+into+my+Apartment.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">...for one of my most favorite daily moments: The moment I walk through my front door after being out all day. I experience this feeling every Monday through Friday at about 4:35 PM. If I could capture that feeling in a bottle and rub it on like lotion throughout the day...smiles.</span>Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358405545919383606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975524996738721663.post-6316809811804978132010-11-15T20:35:00.000-08:002010-11-15T20:35:51.805-08:00Cocopeacans<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #990000;">Today, I'm thankful....</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TOIFP8n31gI/AAAAAAAACo4/NjScnhf2_5M/s1600/IMAG0245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TOIFP8n31gI/AAAAAAAACo4/NjScnhf2_5M/s320/IMAG0245.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #990000;">...for this new snack I invented today. </span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(Yeah, it's blurry, I was kind of in a hurry to eat it!) A couple of weeks ago, I very wisely decided not to keep anything sugary in the house so when I had a sugar craving earlier this evening, I searched my cupboards in desperation and grabbed three items: peanut butter, coconut, and pecans. I took a pecan, swooped it through the peanut butter, then dipped it in the coconut. It did the trick and saved me from a mad run to the grocery store for sugar cookies. Bonus: all three ingredients are healthy and good for you. Zippadee doo!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What should I call them? Cocopeacans? Albino Turtles? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358405545919383606noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975524996738721663.post-5164295249839371192010-11-14T19:10:00.000-08:002010-11-14T19:10:24.506-08:00Helpful Kitchen Tip of the Day<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #274e13;"><br /></span></span></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #274e13;">...that for whatever reason, magical or otherwise, running your fingers across a stainless steel surface under running water gets rid of garlic and onion smells.</span></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #274e13;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is a trick I learned recently from another blog that I read. I got my first "real" job when I was 16 at Little Caesars. If only I had known that trick then. Oh, the onions I sliced. Hundreds of them. Oh, the way my hands always smelled. (Maybe <i>that's </i>why I always had difficulty hanging on to a boyfriend!)</span><br />
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #5f497a; font-size: 12pt;">Floss my Teeth</span></i><span style="color: #5f497a;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #5f497a;"><o:p> <i>Meditation/Visualization Exercises</i></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 8<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Focusing & Performing your Best”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 9<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Healing & Recovering Quickly”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 10<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #5f497a;">-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 11<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #5f497a;">-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 12<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #5f497a;">-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 13<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Affirmations”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 14<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Breathing”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's the end of week 2 and November goals are sailing smoothly. I missed a few meditation days, but I'm okay with that. Since my new expectation is to complete the action more days than not, I'm still on target. I'm very happy about flossing every day and feel like it's back in my routine as a daily habit. (I had gotten out of the habit.) Next week's mini-goal is to exercise every day. That *definitely* needs to become a habit again.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358405545919383606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975524996738721663.post-66411930312321041062010-11-13T19:04:00.000-08:002010-11-13T19:04:52.262-08:00Home as Sanctuary<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I finally did it. I overcame the fear that I would once again mangle the threading on my poor sewing machine and made a super simple curtain that goes great with my new wall art. (Basically, just a rectangle of cloth hemmed on all four sides. ;)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Before:</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #134f5c;">Today, I am thankful for...</span></span></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #134f5c;">...the whole picture. </span></span></b> My little apartment is slowly coming together, piece by piece. A home should be a sanctuary, a place where you like to be, that makes you feel good and restores you. If you don't feel good or comfortable in your home, then something might need changing. Do you need to declutter, redecorate? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I once read that if something in your home doesn't bring you joy as it did in the past, then get rid of it. Your home should be filled with things that bring you joy. If that souvenir you've had on that shelf for years is just collecting dust and doesn't make you smile anymore... recycle it. This is a good rule of thumb to follow to make sure your home is always a place where you want to be.</span>Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358405545919383606noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975524996738721663.post-27671013972626335312010-11-12T22:26:00.000-08:002010-11-12T22:26:07.278-08:00French Toast Baked Tofu - Vegan MoFo Recipe #3<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #e06666;">Today, I'm thankful for...</span></span></b></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TN4qf7E_26I/AAAAAAAAClI/AWn44x7PJRA/s1600/IMAG0240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TN4qf7E_26I/AAAAAAAAClI/AWn44x7PJRA/s320/IMAG0240.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #e06666;">.</span></span></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #e06666;">..French Toast Baked Tofu.</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> I got the recipe from Tina's </span><a href="http://carrotsncake.com/2010/10/french-toast-baked-tofu.html" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Carrots 'n Cake</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> blog and made it today. If you want to see pretty pictures of all the steps, visit her blog. Warning: You need a *LOT* of prep time for this. I had intended for this to be my breakfast, but it turned out to be lunch instead. Guess I should read through the recipes first before deciding when to make them. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The ingredients:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">a package of extra firm tofu</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1-1/2 Tbsp. vanilla extract</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1/2 tsp. cinnamon</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1/4 tsp. ginger</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1/8 tsp. nutmeg</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1/4 cup brown sugar</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1-1/2 cups shredded coconut (unsweetened)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(in lieu of the 3 spices...I used 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice)</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Press water from tofu for about an hour. (HUH? I had to google "press water from tofu for an hour" to figure out how to do this. If you need to learn like I did, click <a href="http://www.suite101.com/content/cooking-with-tofu-part-3-of-3-a13316">here</a>. I used a 5-pound weight.)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Then, cut it into cubes and marinate in a mixture of soy milk, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg for two hours. Yep. Two hours.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When half your day is gone and the tofu is done marinating, preheat the oven to 375 degrees, spoon the cubes out with a slotted spoon and put in a bowl with the coconut and brown sugar. Toss to coat. Bake for 15 minutes, then stir, and bake for 15 minutes more.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After it cooled off a bit, I ate it as is. It was super yummy - the perfect amount of sweetness and the tofu cubes actually did resemble bread a bit. You could dress it up a little with maple syrup or fruit toppings or something else yummy.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If you make it, I hope you like it. Let me know...</span></div>Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358405545919383606noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975524996738721663.post-3125470629313249282010-11-11T13:00:00.000-08:002010-11-11T13:06:03.454-08:00Veterans Day<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Today, I am thankful...</span></span></span></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">...that my dad survived his two tours of Vietnam and was therefore able to reunite with my mom and make our family.</span></span></span></b></span></div>
<br />Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358405545919383606noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975524996738721663.post-52326558647498245852010-11-10T05:26:00.000-08:002010-11-10T05:28:46.632-08:00Weighs and Measures<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A friend gave me some great advice regarding my goals. It's something I already knew, but had forgotten, and am grateful for the reminder. This thing of setting a goal to do something every single day is expecting perfection from myself. And we're not perfect. I'm not even close. Plus, life happens and sometimes you just can't get to that goal on a particular day. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As soon as I read that, I felt a weight lifted. How could I have forgotten that? I'm setting a new expectation. I will complete the goals more days than not. A simple majority. The whole idea is to make little improvements in my life, and I certainly don't need to do something every single day in order to do that. Going from meditating 0 days during a month to meditating 20 days during a month, for example, is an improvement. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I don't have to hit all 30 days in order to be successful. I'm still going to aim for 100%, there's nothing wrong with that. But when perfection doesn't happen, I won't feel like I failed.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Thanks, Mitch!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #351c75;">With that said, November Goals Status:</span></span></b></span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Mini-Goal<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Meditate/Visualize</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #5f497a; font-size: 12pt;">Walk at Lunch<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 1<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – Bridge/Gilman Route<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Opening the Energy Centers”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 2<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – Inside Stairs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Affirmations”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 3<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – Inside Stairs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Meditation Journey”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 4<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 157.5pt;" valign="top" width="210"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – Buildings Tour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Meditation Journey”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 5<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 157.5pt;" valign="top" width="210"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – Bridge/Gilman Route<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Breathing/Meeting with Advisor”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.9pt;" valign="top" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;">
<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 6<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 157.5pt;" valign="top" width="210"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #5f497a;">n/a - Saturday<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Energizing your Mind & Body”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 7<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 157.5pt;" valign="top" width="210"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #5f497a;">n/a - Sunday<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Creating Confidence & Motivation”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #5f497a; font-size: 12pt;">Floss my Teeth</span></i><span style="color: #5f497a;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<br /></div>
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<td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.9pt;" valign="top" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;">
<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 8<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 157.5pt;" valign="top" width="210"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Focusing & Performing your Best”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.9pt;" valign="top" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;">
<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 9<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 157.5pt;" valign="top" width="210"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Healing & Recovering Quickly”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 10<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #bf9000;"><s>Today</s>, Yesterday, I was thankful for...</span></span></b></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNqcZ0ce4bI/AAAAAAAACjY/IOAErpl2K4A/s1600/1289365920935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNqcZ0ce4bI/AAAAAAAACjY/IOAErpl2K4A/s320/1289365920935.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #bf9000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">...these cool measuring glasses.</span></span></b> They're so easy to use and I love them. I use them for every recipe. You can measure any increment you need in any form... cups, ounces, teaspoons, tablespoons, etc.</span></div>Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358405545919383606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975524996738721663.post-88168924661796917242010-11-09T05:23:00.000-08:002010-11-09T05:23:11.495-08:00Clouds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Yesterday, this was the view from my walk to the car (that's the building where I work). The clouds and the color of the sky gave quite a show. This was my moment of gratitude for yesterday.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNlKln2-doI/AAAAAAAACiw/qVW4K-dBtTk/s1600/IMAG0234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNlKln2-doI/AAAAAAAACiw/qVW4K-dBtTk/s320/IMAG0234.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358405545919383606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975524996738721663.post-76587208252306391192010-11-07T21:00:00.000-08:002010-11-08T12:08:31.100-08:00Orange-Scented Quinoa & a little Skype on the Side<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's Sunday and as promised, I made Orange-Scented Quinoa in honor of Vegan MoFo. Dee-lish!</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNd-EbCWoRI/AAAAAAAACh8/wpoVrF59gD4/s1600/HPIM7038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNd-EbCWoRI/AAAAAAAACh8/wpoVrF59gD4/s320/HPIM7038.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #f9cb9c;"><b>I resisted the very strong temptation to drink this!</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is another recipe that's really easy to throw together and you can modify it in endless ways to suit your taste. I got it from one of my favorite food magazines, <i>Clean Eating</i>. The ingredients:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNd-lE186sI/AAAAAAAACiA/f8MbrWrvV1w/s1600/HPIM7042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNd-lE186sI/AAAAAAAACiA/f8MbrWrvV1w/s320/HPIM7042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1-3/4 cup vegetable broth</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1/2 tsp. salt</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1/4 cup orange juice</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1 cup quinoa</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1/4 cup dried cranberries (soaked in hot water for 5 minutes)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1/3 cup chopped pecans, toasted</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1/4 cup chopped parsley</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Cook the quinoa in vegetable broth with salt and orange juice. Then just toss everything together & eat. Tada! That's it. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNd_w6F3DGI/AAAAAAAACiE/8lGYzxkOJfA/s1600/HPIM7056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNd_w6F3DGI/AAAAAAAACiE/8lGYzxkOJfA/s320/HPIM7056.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So easy.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNd_7WY4LvI/AAAAAAAACiI/KZFS3rEIero/s1600/HPIM7046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNd_7WY4LvI/AAAAAAAACiI/KZFS3rEIero/s320/HPIM7046.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I really need to figure out a better organization system for this mess.</span></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #20124d;">Today, I'm thankful for...</span></span></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNeBHj3Kn8I/AAAAAAAACiM/ai0nonlEVnM/s1600/Terry+Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNeBHj3Kn8I/AAAAAAAACiM/ai0nonlEVnM/s320/Terry+Cropped.jpg" width="183" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #20124d;">...Skype. </span></span></b>This is a picture of my Uncle Terry, my mom's twin brother (not the cute blonde kid, the old man ;). I cropped this picture from this one:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNeBlhr3N7I/AAAAAAAACiQ/zpJR7N5-_Jw/s1600/all.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNeBlhr3N7I/AAAAAAAACiQ/zpJR7N5-_Jw/s320/all.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I think I'm related to all these people, but I've never met any of them in person. My mom was from Australia where my dad met her, proceeded to court her, and then whisked her romantically away to live in the far-off land of America. I've never been to Australia, but I've kept in touch here and there with some of my mom's family over the years . I bow down to Mark Zuckerberg and his Facebook for making it possible to connect with my Australian family in a way that wasn't possible before. Tonight, I went a step further and video chatted with my Uncle Terry via Skype for the very first time. It was pretty incredible.</span><br />
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<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">November Goals Status Update:</span><br />
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableLightShadingAccent4" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #8064A2 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent4; mso-border-top-alt: solid #8064A2 1.0pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent4; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: -1;">
<td style="border-bottom: solid #8064A2 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: solid #8064A2 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent4; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent4; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.9pt;" valign="top" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 5;">
<br /></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid #8064A2 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: solid #8064A2 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent4; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent4; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 157.5pt;" valign="top" width="210"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 1;">
<b><span style="color: #5f497a; font-size: 14pt;">Mini-Goal<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #8064A2 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: solid #8064A2 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent4; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent4; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 1;">
<b><span style="color: #5f497a; font-size: 14pt;">Meditate/Visualize<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.9pt;" valign="top" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 157.5pt;" valign="top" width="210"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #5f497a; font-size: 12pt;">Walk at Lunch<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.9pt;" valign="top" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;">
<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 1<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 157.5pt;" valign="top" width="210"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – Bridge/Gilman Route<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Opening the Energy Centers”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.9pt;" valign="top" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;">
<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 2<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 157.5pt;" valign="top" width="210"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – Inside Stairs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Affirmations”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.9pt;" valign="top" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;">
<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 3<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 157.5pt;" valign="top" width="210"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – Inside Stairs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Meditation Journey”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.9pt;" valign="top" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;">
<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 4<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 157.5pt;" valign="top" width="210"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – Buildings Tour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Meditation Journey”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.9pt;" valign="top" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;">
<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 5<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 157.5pt;" valign="top" width="210"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – Bridge/Gilman Route<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Breathing/Meeting with Advisor”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.9pt;" valign="top" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;">
<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 6<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 157.5pt;" valign="top" width="210"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #5f497a;">n/a - Saturday<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Energizing your Mind & Body”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-bottom: solid #8064A2 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent4; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.9pt;" valign="top" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;">
<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 7<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #8064A2 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent4; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 157.5pt;" valign="top" width="210"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #5f497a;">n/a - Sunday<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #8064A2 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent4; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Creating Confidence & Motivation”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358405545919383606noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975524996738721663.post-162540213178272072010-11-06T19:48:00.000-07:002010-11-08T12:08:54.461-08:00Bean Dip and Wall Art<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNYJ7D5S-MI/AAAAAAAACdw/CM43X29uCTU/s1600/HPIM7009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNYJ7D5S-MI/AAAAAAAACdw/CM43X29uCTU/s320/HPIM7009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Just look at all those good, healthy ingredients. Mmmmmmmm.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Tonight, as promised, I made one of my favorite standy-bys which qualifies as vegan - White Bean Dip with Pita Chips. I got the recipe from the Food Network's web site, but of course, modified it to my taste. It's super quick & easy to make. All you do is throw these things in a food processor & pulse until smooth:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #ffe599;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>can of white beans (rinsed & drained)</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #ffe599;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>some garlic</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #ffe599;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>2 tablespoons of lemon juice</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #ffe599;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>1/3 cup of olive oil</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #ffe599;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>1/4 cup Italian-style parsley</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #ffe599;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNYLH7L9pHI/AAAAAAAACd0/uj97VTS7-pU/s1600/HPIM7005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNYLH7L9pHI/AAAAAAAACd0/uj97VTS7-pU/s320/HPIM7005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #274e13;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">before</span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNYLe5dWNgI/AAAAAAAACd4/-OiqHOCVYwg/s1600/HPIM7013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNYLe5dWNgI/AAAAAAAACd4/-OiqHOCVYwg/s320/HPIM7013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #274e13;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">after</span></span></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Tasty Magic</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You can buy pita chips to go with it, or, if you're like me and enjoy being the maker of your food, you can bake your own. Just cut as many pita breads as you want into any size, shape you want, put them into a big bowl & drizzle with olive oil; add salt, pepper and whatever other seasoning you like and mix it all around until the pita breads are good and covered with everything. Bake at 400 degrees until desired crispness... about 8-12 minutes.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNYMhZ8LcbI/AAAAAAAACeE/2PKG0sSDSnk/s1600/HPIM7019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNYMhZ8LcbI/AAAAAAAACeE/2PKG0sSDSnk/s320/HPIM7019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Eat together.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNYMwSUSjWI/AAAAAAAACeQ/7ZuFwE-WkDE/s1600/HPIM7024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNYMwSUSjWI/AAAAAAAACeQ/7ZuFwE-WkDE/s320/HPIM7024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #134f5c;">Today, I'm thankful for...</span></b></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNYTL49RkcI/AAAAAAAACek/tmrF7mK-niY/s1600/Wall+Art+(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNYTL49RkcI/AAAAAAAACek/tmrF7mK-niY/s320/Wall+Art+(5).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #134f5c;">...Wall Art.</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #134f5c;"> </span> After living here for about 4 years, I finally found the perfect wall art to hang above my couch. Yay!!! I want to hang them up right now, but I don't want to give the nice old lady next door a heart attack from the noise. She might be in bed already. I'll have to wait until tomorrow. Here's a close-up:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I LOVE it!</span></div>Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358405545919383606noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975524996738721663.post-56838415022644691712010-11-06T11:30:00.000-07:002010-11-08T12:07:24.840-08:00Seabreeze Organic Farm Farm Visit - San Diego Local Farm Fans (San Diego, CA) - Meetup<a href="http://www.meetup.com/table-sd/calendar/15319327/">Seabreeze Organic Farm Farm Visit - San Diego Local Farm Fans (San Diego, CA) - Meetup</a><br />
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I just signed up for this. Looking forward to it and I'll definitely write all about it here.</div>Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358405545919383606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975524996738721663.post-91648896214536089722010-11-06T07:48:00.000-07:002010-11-06T07:48:36.935-07:00Small Victories<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Friday was tough. My motivation to do anything always seems to be the lowest on Fridays. I almost rationalized my way out of the lunch walk & didn't do the meditation until about 9:00 last night, and truth be told, I think I slept most of the way through it. ;) But I did manage to actually do both, so I'm still at 100% for November. That makes me happy.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have to confess something here. People who know me well know that I'm always setting goals, I always have these grand plans of change, and I usually stick with them for a while, but inevitably, I always seem to quit. It's one of my biggest flaws & ranks up there in the top three that I dislike about myself. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I try to cut the negative self-talk, I try to avoid thinking of myself as weak-willed or a quitter, but after repeating this behavior over and over, it's sometimes hard to resist feeling that way. So, any little victory is enormous to me. I purposely set my November goals pretty low on the difficulty scale. I'm hoping that by starting small, I can build a foundation of successfully achieving goals that will help me when I get to the big ones:</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNVkOLm9V2I/AAAAAAAACXY/w1U7hVaCslU/s1600/Working+Out+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNVkOLm9V2I/AAAAAAAACXY/w1U7hVaCslU/s320/Working+Out+(3).jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #a64d79;">Friday, I was thankful for... </span></span></b></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #5f497a; font-size: 14pt;">Mini-Goal<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 1<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – Bridge/Gilman Route<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Opening the Energy Centers”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 2<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – Inside Stairs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Affirmations”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Meditation Journey”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 4<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – Buildings Tour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Meditation Journey”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 5<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – Bridge/Gilman Route<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Breathing/Meeting with Advisor”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 6<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #a64d79;">...acting in my best interest even though I didn't want to. Plus, it was finally "cool" enough to walk outside again (83 degrees). </span></span></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><b>Vegan MoFo'ing for the Weekend</b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">This weekend, in honor of Vegan MoFo, I'm going to make and share two of my favorite vegan recipes: White Bean Deap with Pita Chips and Orange-Scented Quinoa. Yum!</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358405545919383606noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975524996738721663.post-35365584920531335222010-11-04T21:52:00.000-07:002010-11-08T12:07:16.082-08:00New Campus Tour?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Another 90+ degree day led to another building tour at lunch. This time I walked up, down, and through two other buildings next to mine; the 5-story Basic Sciences Building and the 4-story Leichtag Building. This might be an interesting way to get to know my campus better! Pick a different building every day. If the weather stays as hot as it is, I will accomplish this ad hoc goal, no sweat (pun intended).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #8e7cc3;">November Goals Update:</span></b></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #5f497a; font-size: 14pt;">Mini-Goal<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #8064A2 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: solid #8064A2 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent4; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent4; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 1;">
<b><span style="color: #5f497a; font-size: 14pt;">Meditate/Visualize<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.9pt;" valign="top" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 157.5pt;" valign="top" width="210"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #5f497a; font-size: 12pt;">Walk at Lunch<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.9pt;" valign="top" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;">
<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 1<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 157.5pt;" valign="top" width="210"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – Bridge/Gilman Route<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Opening the Energy Centers”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.9pt;" valign="top" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;">
<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 2<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 157.5pt;" valign="top" width="210"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – Inside Stairs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Affirmations”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.9pt;" valign="top" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;">
<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 3<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 157.5pt;" valign="top" width="210"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – Inside Stairs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Meditation Journey”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.9pt;" valign="top" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;">
<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 4<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 157.5pt;" valign="top" width="210"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – Buildings Tour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Meditation Journey”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-bottom: solid #8064A2 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent4; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.9pt;" valign="top" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;">
<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 5<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #8064A2 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent4; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 157.5pt;" valign="top" width="210"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #8064A2 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent4; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</td>
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</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #f1c232;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Today I'm thankful for...</span></span></b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNOIzcVjFNI/AAAAAAAACW0/GF4RQwREZDI/s1600/IMAG0228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNOIzcVjFNI/AAAAAAAACW0/GF4RQwREZDI/s320/IMAG0228.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #f1c232;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #f1c232;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">..my morning walks to the office.</span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #f1c232;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">I park off-campus about 3/4 of a mile away and walk the rest of the way. Why? I could lie and say it's purely for the exercise, aren't I so good? But the truth is, it's because I'm cheap. On-campus parking permits are around $80 per month. Per month!! That's almost $1000 a year!!! That's insane, I tell you, insane! I refuse to pay that much when I can park for free just a little further away and get a great morning (and afternoon) walk in the process. These walks have turned out to be a wonderful way to gear up for the day. I think about what's on my calendar, what order I'm going to do things, etc. By the time I get to my office, I'm ready to go!</span></span></div>Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358405545919383606noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975524996738721663.post-52502049018399210852010-11-03T21:06:00.000-07:002010-11-08T12:06:55.419-08:00Done, done, and done!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">November goals are good.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: -1;">
<td style="border-bottom: solid #8064A2 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: solid #8064A2 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent4; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent4; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.9pt;" valign="top" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 5;">
<br /></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid #8064A2 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: solid #8064A2 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent4; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent4; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 157.5pt;" valign="top" width="210"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 1;">
<b><span style="color: #5f497a; font-size: 14pt;">Mini-Goal<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #8064A2 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: solid #8064A2 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent4; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent4; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 1;">
<b><span style="color: #5f497a; font-size: 14pt;">Meditate/Visualize<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.9pt;" valign="top" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 157.5pt;" valign="top" width="210"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #5f497a; font-size: 12pt;">Walk at Lunch<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.9pt;" valign="top" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;">
<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 1<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 157.5pt;" valign="top" width="210"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – Bridge/Gilman Route<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Opening the Energy Centers”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.9pt;" valign="top" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;">
<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 2<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 157.5pt;" valign="top" width="210"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – Inside Stairs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Affirmations”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.9pt;" valign="top" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;">
<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 3<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 157.5pt;" valign="top" width="210"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – Inside Stairs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #5f497a;">Done – “Meditation Journey”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background: #DFD8E8; border-bottom: solid #8064A2 1.0pt; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent4; mso-background-themetint: 63; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent4; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.9pt;" valign="top" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;">
<b><span style="color: #5f497a;">November 4<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's amazing how much more motivated I am to walk at lunch now, knowing that I want to check it off as "done" later. I've been trying to get myself to do this for a couple of months, but every day I talked myself out of it and just stayed at my desk catching up on all my Facebook Scrabble games. Yesterday and today I walked a snaky loop up, down and through four floors of my building. Inside. Because it was %#&! 95 degrees outside today. Huh? November?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The meditations/visualizations are a struggle to get through. I know that with practice, I'll feel more comfortable with them, but right now it's very difficult to stay focused and the time seems to take forever. I'm quite the fidgety gal and not moving for even just 15 minutes at a time is outside of my comfort zone. I'm hoping that with practice, I can learn to relax more and not be so restless.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #b45f06;">Today, I'm thankful for...</span></span></span></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNIuoOQegfI/AAAAAAAACWY/LaJ3Uiq81Uc/s1600/1288842420373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_L3dFxWqqgwo/TNIuoOQegfI/AAAAAAAACWY/LaJ3Uiq81Uc/s320/1288842420373.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #bf9000;">Fruit! (Which happens to be vegan. ;) All of this from my CSA, <a href="http://www.bewiseranch.com/index.htm">Be Wise Ranch</a>, on Monday - persimmons, pears, plums, apples. I brought a big bowl into work and filled it with fruit, it's just above my desk. So when I'm feeling like something sweet, I just reach overhead (prepping for January 1!).</span></span></span></span></b></div>
<br />Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358405545919383606noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975524996738721663.post-42087589576235289322010-11-02T21:05:00.000-07:002010-11-08T12:06:30.895-08:00Vegan MoFo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I learned today that it's <a href="http://veganmofo.wordpress.com/">Vegan MoFo</a> (Vegan Month of Food). Over 500 food blogs have committed to blogging about vegan food for the month of November. And while I'm not a vegan, I think it might be kind of fun to revisit some of my favorite recipes that I haven't made in a while and that happen to be vegan. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Up first: Roasted Vegetables (I can hear the collective... "mmmmmmmmmmmm!")</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is one of my all-time favorite "gotta empty the crisper" dishes and it's sooooo easy. Basically, anything that's roastable can go in here. Tonight, I used a zucchini, an onion, green beans, and 4 beets.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Chop everything up into bite-sized pieces and toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Bake at 350 degrees until veggies are as tender as you want them to be, anywhere from 30 to 75 minutes, depending on the thickness and size of your morsels. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Eat as a side dish, or throw in with some pasta, couscous, green salad, etc. EnJOY!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cc0000;">Today I'm thankful for...</span></span></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #073763;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0b5394;">I'm grateful to live in a country where I get to vote. I'm grateful for the many men and women who suffered, devoted their lives, and died in order for me to have this right. I'm especially grateful to the women who fought for the 19th Amendment; their stories are seldom told, but they suffered a great deal at the hand of the general population for their efforts. A large part of why I vote is because of what they sacrificed. I can only hope that I would have had the courage to stand up for what was right as they did.</span></span></b></span></div>Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358405545919383606noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975524996738721663.post-34408028856754237792010-11-01T19:28:00.000-07:002010-11-08T12:06:02.058-08:00November Goals<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Well here we are at November 1st. I feel the need for <s>speed</s> goal-setting. The sugar thing is gonna have to wait until January, which makes much more sense. Plus, a faithful and fearless friend has stepped up to take the sugar-free challenge with me, but only if we start January 1st.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">Sucrose Scrappers Unite!</span></span></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(January 1st)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Learning from past mistakes, I realize now that I <a href="http://shellyfromholtz.blogspot.com/2010/10/october-is-new-january.html">took on way too much for October</a>. I did, however, manage to instill two great habits into my daily routine from that mess:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #a2c4c9;">1:</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: #a2c4c9;"></span></span>I'm writing every day, not just in my blog, but on the <a href="http://750words.com/">750 Words</a> site as well, and I'm loving it.</span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #a2c4c9;">2:</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: #a2c4c9;"></span></span>Every day, I'm consciously and keenly aware of things for which I'm grateful and sharing those moments here.</span></blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Since I succeeded in establishing two October goals that have now become habits, I decided to set two November goals as well:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #f9cb9c;">1:</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: #f9cb9c;"></span></span>Listen to a meditation/guided visualization every day for the month of November. I figure, if I start with my head first, and brainwash myself into believing I'm already a naturally, healthy person who doesn't like sugar, then that gives me a head start for later. ;)</span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #f9cb9c;">2:</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: #f9cb9c;"></span></span>And just to make it complicated, because I seem to lean that way (either that or I'm just trying to avoid exercising for the whole month), I set four mini-goals for #2. <b>Week One</b>: Walk at lunch every day. <b>Week Two</b>: Floss every day. (No. No, I currently do not do that. I know.) <b>Week Three</b>: Exercise every day. <b>Week Four</b>: In bed by 9:00 PM every day (I get up at 5:00 AM). </span></blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Wish me luck!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(P.S. November 1st gets recorded as successful on both counts... On my way! :)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">MMMmmmmmm.... Fresh-squeezed *organic* orange juice. That's what I'm grateful for today.</span></span></b></span></div>Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358405545919383606noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4975524996738721663.post-79443730332891082152010-10-31T19:25:00.000-07:002010-11-08T12:05:25.549-08:00Go Chargers!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I went to my very first NFL game today. WOO HOO! I can't believe the *craziness* that is tailgating. It was like driving through a circus to park except there weren't any fences to keep you separated from the animals! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Thanks to the advent of the cell phone and texting, it didn't take me long to find my friend, Nancy, who invited me to the game with her and her friends.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">Love Ken's apron!</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"><b>Yes, yes. It was also Halloween today. Alex didn't forget.</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"><b>You can't really see them, but all the Chargers girls wore costumes and, of course, were cute as hell.</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"><b>Nancy on the left, with Chris and her sister beside her.</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"><b>Today, I am grateful for many things, among them:</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"><b>I got to see my first NFL game without a TV around it.</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"><b>Nancy's friends were very friendly and made me feel right at home with them.</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"><b>The CHARGERS WON!! Let the winning streak begin!</b></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>Shellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358405545919383606noreply@blogger.com0