Wow. Blogger's gotten super fancy since 2012, the last time I posted. Honestly I'm not even sure if this will work, as I'm fairly certain I no longer own the domain to which this redirects. Note to self: Figure that out.
Idk why I'm here. I'm feeling nostalgic, but more than that, I'm 1000% over my other blog attempt. My heart wasn't in it, and I was paying for it, which is just stupid since Blogger is free and super fance. Plus I'm kind of missing little tomato and all her spunk. Where did it go?
I just got back from a ~6 mile hike at the Purisma Redwoods Open Space Preserve. It hurt, my legs ache, but it wasn't even that hard. And well, after you've hiked the Sierras, nothing is ever quite the same. If anything, it depressed me. Depressed me that I wasn't at 9,000+ feet. That there weren't glittering alpine lakes all around and me too chicken to jump into them. Take me back take me back. I don't want to be here.
Afterwards I soaked in the tub w/ way too many epsom salts and contemplated life. Why am I so sad? Dissatisfied? Is this just my depression? Why can't it go away? Do I have to up my meds? Again?? Why do I feel like this? Why doesn't anyone else seem to struggle? How much longer can I keep up this facade?
It's only 1 pm, and all I want to do for the rest of the day is hibernate, read about Carrot's thru hiking adventures, burn a candle that makes me feel like it's way colder outside than it is, and be left alone. Yes, I think that's what I'll do.
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Friday, July 13, 2012
Permission
A friend recently recommended that I sign up The Daily Love, described as a "FREE daily e-multivitamin for your soul!" Some days have spoken to me more than others, but today's really struck a chord, so much so that I thought I'd share a blurb that is pretty much rocking my world right now. (FYI I changed "The Divine" to "God" because that's how it speaks to moi. Also fixed a major grammatical error - who's vs. whose = major pet peeve.) Merci, Mastin. I needed this.
"So whose approval or permission do you think you need to live your dreams? Make a list. And then realize that the only person’s approval or permission you need is your own. Give yourself permission to live your calling, your purpose and your dream. God gave it to you so express in this lifetime. Giving yourself permission to be yourself is the best way to let God guide your life – because that’s why He created you."
"So whose approval or permission do you think you need to live your dreams? Make a list. And then realize that the only person’s approval or permission you need is your own. Give yourself permission to live your calling, your purpose and your dream. God gave it to you so express in this lifetime. Giving yourself permission to be yourself is the best way to let God guide your life – because that’s why He created you."
Friday, July 6, 2012
Eat NYC
One of the best things about living in New York City is undeniably the food. The food here is so good. It's SO good. So unlike food I've had anywhere else. Seriously, the possibilities are endless, and the convenience is ridiculous. I honestly don't know how I'll ever live in a city where my quick and easy (and usually vegan!) lunch options are so limitless (Hale and Heart, Chop't, Pret, Organic Avenue - I'm looking at you).
Not that's lunch. Let's move on to dinner where the true magic happens (well, and brunch, too, but that's a whole 'nother post...). After a bit of hiatus, I'm re-embarked on my mission to taste as much good food as the city has to offer. In the last couple of months, I've been lucky to dine at:
I'm also taking a pie-making class at Havens Kitchen in a few weeks, which is beyond exciting because I've always wanted to learn how to make pie AND Havens Kitchen sounds like just my cup of tea (and is also in the 'hood).
P.S. I realize this is an absurd amount of eating out that I'm doing, and no, it's not my norm (nor will it be because there's only so much 3x weekly visits to the gym can do to counteract the ridiculous, buttery rich foods at this restaurants, and that's if I actually make it to the gym 3x a week which... yeah.). I have no doubt in my mind all this indulgence will end by the end of August, and then it'll be back to cooking simple, easy meals like Trader Joe's cappellini and roasted brussels sprouts. (And hopefully by then it won't be 150 degrees in my apartment, and turning on the stove/oven won't be the worst idea ever. Because right now? It is.)
Not that's lunch. Let's move on to dinner where the true magic happens (well, and brunch, too, but that's a whole 'nother post...). After a bit of hiatus, I'm re-embarked on my mission to taste as much good food as the city has to offer. In the last couple of months, I've been lucky to dine at:
- Birreria (lovely spot, delicious beer, but I wasn't crazy about the eats - I mean, how many fried mushrooms can one gal eat?)
- En Brasserie (very interesting and unique menu; cool space)
- Luke's Lobster (best lobster rolls I've had yet and DEF. the best deal)
- Cédric (fantastic French bistro - I can't wait to go back)
- Peacefood Cafe (seriously I could eat their dumplings every. single. day. and the fact that they're vegan is just plain ridiculous and ahmazing)
- Café Cluny (adorable adorable adorable - I'm going back for brunch this weekend)
- Todd English Food Hall at the Plaza (my new favorite space)
- Scarpetta (probably my favorite Italian restaurant in the city - I've been once with a dear amie who has since moved to DC and am going back tomorrow night avec une autre dear amie who's visiting from Austin)
- Candle 79 (stellar, albeit pricey, vegan restaurant; going avec Lauren - yay!)
- Salinas (I have high hopes, especially since this one's in the 'hood)
- Gramercy Tavern (a splurge for sure, but I've been dying to try it since moving to the city!)
I'm also taking a pie-making class at Havens Kitchen in a few weeks, which is beyond exciting because I've always wanted to learn how to make pie AND Havens Kitchen sounds like just my cup of tea (and is also in the 'hood).
P.S. I realize this is an absurd amount of eating out that I'm doing, and no, it's not my norm (nor will it be because there's only so much 3x weekly visits to the gym can do to counteract the ridiculous, buttery rich foods at this restaurants, and that's if I actually make it to the gym 3x a week which... yeah.). I have no doubt in my mind all this indulgence will end by the end of August, and then it'll be back to cooking simple, easy meals like Trader Joe's cappellini and roasted brussels sprouts. (And hopefully by then it won't be 150 degrees in my apartment, and turning on the stove/oven won't be the worst idea ever. Because right now? It is.)
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Life Lately
It's no surprise that so many of my original blog friends bid farewell to blogging (at least for now). It's more or less what I've done as well despite many half-hearted attempts and promises. The reality is that life is full and gorgeous, and although there are aspects of blogging that I miss (like the friends and connections!), it's just not the right time for me right now. That being said, I'm going to write now because I feel so compelled, and perhaps I'll drop by time to time (or maybe I won't).
Unlike my last summer in the city, this summer has been a blur. A chaotic, fun and somewhat exhausting mix of brunches, dinners, museum visits, long walks, old friends, new friends, a busy new job, jury duty (yes, I got picked!), oodles of reading, countless visits to Laduree, rooftop bar soirees and the like. Tonight was my first night off in awhile, and it was much needed and deserved. I came home and promptly fell asleep for an hour and a half. Since then I've been lazing about, enjoying having the apartment to myself, reading blogs, listening to Birdy's album (obsessed) and doing laundry. And since I have a little time to breathe, I want to fill you in on my latest loves, passions and pursuits...
Paris, je t'aime
I've been a self-declared francophile for quite some time, but after reading Amy Thomas' Paris, My Sweet, my love for this city is reignited and has pretty much consumed me. Sincereading inhaling her delightful memoir, I've been to Laduree at least four times and visited places like La Maison du Chocolat (ridiculously expensive chocolate; heavenly and better-priced eclairs), Levain Bakery (insanely good chocolate chip walnut cookie) and Lady M (famous for their Mille Crepe cake) for some sweet treats of my own. I've also dined at Cafe Cluny (absolutely adorable - the wait staff all wear striped Saint James tees, and the french fries and ice cream are to-die-for) and Cedric (ah-mazing gem in Harlem - merci, Tiffani!) in the hopes of recreating a little Parisien bistro magique in the City That Never Sleeps.
I've also been going through Amy's blog archives, and by doing so, discovered the British delight that is Rachel Khoo. I've no idea how I've never heard of her until now, but I am in love (and full on stalker-mode). I've watched all her episodes of The Little Paris Kitchen and can't wait until her book is published in the States.
And I'm going to sign up for a French language course at alliance francaise this Fall.
AND I'm planning a trip to Paris and London for Spring 2013. :)
Art
I've always enjoyed museums and have made the requisite trips to the Louvre while in Paris, the Galleria delgli Uffizi in Florence and the Tate Modern in London. But since moving to the city and particularly in the last six months, I've been having a bit of a love affair with museums. The Frick, the Met, the MoMA... j'adore them all. Last Friday I got out of jury duty early, so I hopped on the subway and headed uptown to spend some time with my favorite European artists at The Met. I spent hours wandering around the galleries, spending quality one-on-one time with Manet, Monet, Degas, Renoir, Mucha, Vuillard and of course, my favorite Bonnard.
Tomorrow I'm visiting the Neue Galerie to see the Klimt exhibit and dine on some Viennese delights at the gorgeous Cafe Sebarsky. Still on the list? The Guggenheim, the Whitney, the numerous Chelsea galleries and a trip to the Bronx to see a recreation of Monet's Garden at the NY Botanical Gardens.
After reading Object of Beauty (a tres interesting book on the art world in NYC by Steve Martin (yes, that one), I've been more inspired than ever to take a course on art history. Regrettably I never took one in college and am hoping to find a continuing education course here in the city, one that actually works with my schedule.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It's not all Monet and macarons though. In other news...
- I've also recently developed a rather unhealthy obsession with The Vampire Diaries and all things Stefan/Paul Wesley. I mean, with a jaw like that, how can you not?
- My poor white craptastic macbook is on its last leg. I think a shiny new macbook pro is going to be my birthday present to moi this August.
- I have a new roommate, and I'm not a big fan. Our little friend (read: MOUSE) absolutely refuses to eat the delicious peanut butter in the fancy new traps I purchased and instead enjoys making random appearances in the kitchen and in the hallway (only, of course, when I'm looking) causing me to scream, shout, jump on the bed and generally act like a crazy person. Le sigh.
- I actually have another new roommate whom I adore who's subletting for the summer. She's a wicked smart Harvard and Oxford grad who is currently getting her MBA at Wharton, interning at Godiva. She's lived in London and Mexico City, is from the Bay Area and loves good food as much as I do. We have a date at the esteemed Gramercy Tavern in July, and I cannot wait.
Gros bisous, mes amies. I hope life is good.
Unlike my last summer in the city, this summer has been a blur. A chaotic, fun and somewhat exhausting mix of brunches, dinners, museum visits, long walks, old friends, new friends, a busy new job, jury duty (yes, I got picked!), oodles of reading, countless visits to Laduree, rooftop bar soirees and the like. Tonight was my first night off in awhile, and it was much needed and deserved. I came home and promptly fell asleep for an hour and a half. Since then I've been lazing about, enjoying having the apartment to myself, reading blogs, listening to Birdy's album (obsessed) and doing laundry. And since I have a little time to breathe, I want to fill you in on my latest loves, passions and pursuits...
Paris, je t'aime
I've been a self-declared francophile for quite some time, but after reading Amy Thomas' Paris, My Sweet, my love for this city is reignited and has pretty much consumed me. Since
I've also been going through Amy's blog archives, and by doing so, discovered the British delight that is Rachel Khoo. I've no idea how I've never heard of her until now, but I am in love (and full on stalker-mode). I've watched all her episodes of The Little Paris Kitchen and can't wait until her book is published in the States.
And I'm going to sign up for a French language course at alliance francaise this Fall.
AND I'm planning a trip to Paris and London for Spring 2013. :)
Art
I've always enjoyed museums and have made the requisite trips to the Louvre while in Paris, the Galleria delgli Uffizi in Florence and the Tate Modern in London. But since moving to the city and particularly in the last six months, I've been having a bit of a love affair with museums. The Frick, the Met, the MoMA... j'adore them all. Last Friday I got out of jury duty early, so I hopped on the subway and headed uptown to spend some time with my favorite European artists at The Met. I spent hours wandering around the galleries, spending quality one-on-one time with Manet, Monet, Degas, Renoir, Mucha, Vuillard and of course, my favorite Bonnard.
Tomorrow I'm visiting the Neue Galerie to see the Klimt exhibit and dine on some Viennese delights at the gorgeous Cafe Sebarsky. Still on the list? The Guggenheim, the Whitney, the numerous Chelsea galleries and a trip to the Bronx to see a recreation of Monet's Garden at the NY Botanical Gardens.
After reading Object of Beauty (a tres interesting book on the art world in NYC by Steve Martin (yes, that one), I've been more inspired than ever to take a course on art history. Regrettably I never took one in college and am hoping to find a continuing education course here in the city, one that actually works with my schedule.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It's not all Monet and macarons though. In other news...
- I've also recently developed a rather unhealthy obsession with The Vampire Diaries and all things Stefan/Paul Wesley. I mean, with a jaw like that, how can you not?
- My poor white craptastic macbook is on its last leg. I think a shiny new macbook pro is going to be my birthday present to moi this August.
- I have a new roommate, and I'm not a big fan. Our little friend (read: MOUSE) absolutely refuses to eat the delicious peanut butter in the fancy new traps I purchased and instead enjoys making random appearances in the kitchen and in the hallway (only, of course, when I'm looking) causing me to scream, shout, jump on the bed and generally act like a crazy person. Le sigh.
- I actually have another new roommate whom I adore who's subletting for the summer. She's a wicked smart Harvard and Oxford grad who is currently getting her MBA at Wharton, interning at Godiva. She's lived in London and Mexico City, is from the Bay Area and loves good food as much as I do. We have a date at the esteemed Gramercy Tavern in July, and I cannot wait.
Gros bisous, mes amies. I hope life is good.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Week in Review & Weekend Wishlist
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This week has been challenging, to say the last, and I'm glad the weekend is here. I'm currently sitting at my sister's kitchen island in sunny California, sipping some Awake tea and playing with my planner. Mom and Sis will be back from the doctor's office soon, and I'm looking forward to a day of running errands, getting last-minute stuff for the baby shower (see sneak peek of decor above) and just relaxing.
Week in Review
- 2 gym dates (4 miles, 2 miles + strength training)
- goodbye dinner avec Rachel at Red Farm (AMAZING and totally worth the wait)
- weekly a cappella rehearsal followed by din at Westville
- minor emotional breakdown (more on this later)
- one very long Virgin America flight from JFK -> SFO
- decision to take the month of April off from socializing
Weekend Wishlist
- have a lovely weekend in NoCal with Momma Park and Ma Soeur
- host kick ass baby shower for Ma Soeur
- get at least 8 hours of sleep every night
- re-read Hip Tranquil Chick (it's about that time)
- don't check my Blackberry
Monday, February 27, 2012
An NYC Weekend
[I've definitely been doing a lot of this lately, and it's made such a difference.]
Totes forgot to do my Week in Review post, but I had such a lovely, productive, NYC weekend that I will do a weekend in review and work week wishlist, if you don't mind. :)
Weekend in Review
- fabulous brunch w/ friends, old and new, @ Blue Ribbon Bakery (It was my second time there, and I've decided I'm perfectly okay with not going back. The place itself is adorable, but the food is overpriced and mediocre.)
- baby shower for my NYC big sis on the Upper East Side
- The Met's member preview weekend for "The Steins Collect" gallery
- a surprisingly lovely impromptu Italian dinner with my roomie post-Met (we may have split a bottle of wine... yes, it was that kind of week)
- viewing (my first) of Shakespeare in Love
- a wonderful church service (minus the loud, annoying kids sitting behind us)
- a haircut and delectable brunch @ The Roebling Team Room (My second time, adn I will definitely be returning.) in Willamsburg
- solo Oscars viewing party whilst working in my planner and munching on my newest fave - Trader Joe's roasted veggie frozen pizza
Work Week Wishlist
- 3 runs
- goodbye dinner avec dear friend moving back to TX
- black tie optional party at which I will not be wearing a ballgown
- weekly a cappella rehearsal
- potential TV appearance
- comfy Virgin America flight to San Francisco
- host fun and fabulous baby shower for Ma Soeur
- spend quality time in NoCal w/ Ma Soeur and Momma Park
- easy breezy redeye flight back to NYC
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Le Weekend (in pictures)
I managed to squeeze in not one, but two nights of art journaling. Voila my Springspiration collage and fitness goals for the next 3 months:
My guy BFF and I are doing a book swap for February. He's reading a book of my choice, and I'm reading one of his. My choice for him is Eating Animals (bien sur), and his for moi is Anna Karenina. Admittedly I'm surprised at how much I love it and have found myself unable to put it down lately. Thank goodness for my new Kindle Touch - the hard copy is HUGE!
I've decided that fresh flowers are a new "must" for moi, particularly now that Spring is right around the corner. My room gets very little (read: ZERO) sunlight, so I need something to remind me of the beautiful outdoors. I picked up these babies at a corner bodega yesterday afternoon and felt very SATC-esque whilst doing so.
I hope your weekend felt long, luscious and full of creativity. Gros bisous!
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Week in Review & Weekend Wishlist (merci, KW!)
J'adore when Kimberly does her Week in Review and Weekend Wishlist. The practice of reviewing all I've done/accomplished during the week is satisfying and helps me see the bigger picture. And putting into words what I hope to accomplish over the weekend, particularly a long weekend like this one, helps me stay focused. And so, I begin my first WiR and WW post!. Merci, Kimberly, for the inspiration!
Week in Review
- 3 runs (4, 3, and 2 miles respectively)
- 1 upper body strength training mini session (must get better about incorporating these)
- 1 a cappella rehearsal (we are holding auditions and finally decided on our group, after hours of deliberation)
- 1 apres-work drinks celebrating my promotion (adore my coworkers)
- 1 dinner date with bestie coworker Pallas and bestie roomie Annika @ Serafina (surprisingly delicious - had a YUMMY strawberry basil martini)
- 1 lunch date @ L'Oreal
- 1 real date @ Kuma Inn (Date went surprisingly well, but I don't think I'm interested. Still, it was good practice!)
*Weekend Wishlist*
~ Saturday Cookshop brunch (it's my fave/easiest brunch place within walking distance), hopefully followed by a long walk around the city
~ 4.5 mile run on Sunday
~ Oodles of sleeping in and laziness
~ Art journaling artist date avec me, myself and I
~ Catch up on my personal email (it's appalling)
~ Send out a few snail mail notes
~ Make spicy three bean chili & vegan cornbread
~ eye doctor appointment
~ yoga! (preferably of the hot variety)
Monday, February 13, 2012
Life Lately: Springspiration, Dating and Bonnes Amies
Alas, I am here many, many days later. I am here to give you a quick update on my little life that I am loving so dearly.
Springspiration: I am itching to buy spring clothes! So much so that I may have popped into the ginormous 4-story Forever 21 in Times Square last week in between social engagements, and one of the first things I found is the blouse below. How cute is that?? Love the bright orange pop of color. After spending less than $20 on it (less than $20!!), I wore it to work the next day and received a record number of compliments. Now all I want to do is shop for bright-colored sheer delights, among a number of other things. What's on your Spingspiration wishlist? Mine is forever growing, but I know it includes LOADS of pinks, corals, oranges, tangerines, aquas, emeralds, and yes, even some nudes. :)
Dating: Yes, so I signed up for Match.com. And I have a date this Friday. My first date in... well, in a long time. I'm not keen on dating (and have this thing against straight, unmarried men - I know, it's bizarre), but I think I'm finally ready and willing to open myself up to it. Any dating tips?
Bonnes Amies: Since the start of the year, my social calendar has been jam packed. And since reading this book, I swear, I'm making new friends left and right. I even picked up the sales clerk at the Calypso in Soho last weekend (she just moved here from Austin and is this adorable artsy type; note to self: text her)! Most recently I got together with my dear amie Lesley who I met years and years ago at Kimberly's yoga and creativity retreat in upstate New York. We went to a pre-fashion week Nivea event where we ate blue cotton candy, hung out with Rebecca Romin and Jerry O'Connell and picked up many a tube of free lip gloss.
I miss y'all. A lot. Gros bisous.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Book Review: MWF Seeking BFF
I'm writing this book review, and I'm not even done with the book - that's how much I dig it. MWF Seeking BFF: My Yearlong Search for a New BFF is nonfiction gold for 20-/30-something women who love having girlfriends. Don't believe me? Read below.
"When Rachel Bertsche first moves to Chicago, she’s thrilled to finally share a zip code, let alone an apartment, with her boyfriend. But shortly after getting married, Bertsche realizes that her new life is missing one thing: friends. Sure, she has plenty of BFFs—in New York and San Francisco and Boston and Washington, D.C. Still, in her adopted hometown, there’s no one to call at the last minute for girl talk over brunch or a reality-TV marathon over a bottle of wine. Taking matters into her own hands, Bertsche develops a plan: She’ll go on fifty-two friend-dates, one per week for a year, in hopes of meeting her new Best Friend Forever.
In her thought-provoking, uproarious memoir, Bertsche blends the story of her girl-dates (whom she meets everywhere from improv class to friend rental websites) with the latest social research to examine how difficult—and hilariously awkward—it is to make new friends as an adult. In a time when women will happily announce they need a man but are embarrassed to admit they need a BFF, Bertsche uncovers the reality that no matter how great your love life is, you’ve gotta have friends."
I bought this book on my kindle (my first actual kindle purchase!!) last week before I hopped on a plane to New Orleans for my law school bestie's, Pony's, wedding. After reading about it in several magazines, I knew I had to get my hands on it. After all, I know exactly how Rachel feels/felt. After law school, I found myself in an ah-mazing city (Austin - duh) lacking in the true friendship department. I had my other law school girl bestie, Jenny, and I had a couple of other friends I'd see semi-regularly. But the rest of the time, I found myself canceling plans with so-so friends with whom I felt little to no real connection. Quite frankly, I would have rather stayed home with Lola. So that's what I did.
Fast forward one year and a half, and I was not happy. I found myself constantly finding reasons to leave Austin, whether for the weekend or just the day, and sooner or later I found myself craving a different life altogether. Hello, NYC!
Now my life is a series of social commitments, and I can hardly keep up. Reading this book, I find myself paying a lot more attention to my social calendar. Take yesterday, for example:
11:30 a.m. - Coffee shop catch-up avec my boys (Will and David) @ Grounded
2:00 p.m. - Brunch avec old boss/dear friend Megan @ Five Points
6:00 p.m. - Art journaling play date avec new friend/fellow art journaling enthusiast Tiffani @ her incredibly decorated apartment (more on this later - I am INSPIRED, y'all!) Psst - I was introduced to Tiffani via Valerie, another blog-y friend. Merci, Val!
In between was catching up with my roomie, another unexpected dear amie Annika. By the end of the day (around 12:30 a.m.), I realized I had been talking for about 12 hours straight. Phew! I was exhausted, but also feeling quite accomplished. All my conversations had been by choice, AND, more importantly, deeply satisfying on many levels. Throughout the course of the day, I had discussed, in no particular order: politics, interior design, goal-setting, boys, boys and more boys, hair color, fashion, self-confidence and affirmations, food... the list goes on and on. I wanted to whip out my iPhone and text Rachel about my successful day (that is, until I realized, we're not BFF's in real life - such a shame).
That is yet another reason I enjoy this book - because Rachel is totally and completely the kind of BFF I would want, so I can relate to her wants/needs/desires when it comes to bestfriendship.
I highly recommend this book. It's funny, it's endearing, but it's also wicked smart and insightful. What more can you ask for from a BFF?
P.S. Also? I'm feeling so ridiculously, stupidly, blissfully grateful for the friendships in my life. How did I get so lucky? Note to self: Be a better friend in 2012.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Day 3: Two and a Half is Better Than None
Based on the title alone, I'm sure you can see where this post is headed. Oui, I broke the fast before the 72-hour mark. Et non, I don't regret it at all! To be honest, I'm impressed that I lasted this long. Could I have made it until tomorrow morning? Probably. But my night would've been miserable, and well, I get it. I get what a cleanse is supposed to do, so I really don't care that much about finishing this last half day. :)
Day 3 Recap:
Difficulty: 9 - It wasn't as hard as yesterday because I was at work and was therefore preoccupied at times. That being said, when I smelled my coworkers' lunches, I almost fainted with desire (yes, I was a bit melodramatic at work). Then when I went up to the cafeteria to get some hot water and lemon, and saw these yummy cheesy pizza bites that the cafeteria sometimes makes (and that I used to get), I swear I stood in front of them for about 5 minutes debating with myself as to whether it would be the worst thing in the world to grab a few and eat them in the bathroom. (For the record, I didn't do it.) What also made the day easier to get through was the knowledge that I would allow myself to eat in the evening.
Physical: After sleeping all day yesterday, it's no surprise that I had tremendous difficulty falling asleep last night. That being said, when my alarm went off this morning, I wasn't tired. I had a good amount of energy and felt it all day. My coworker commented immediately on how "great" I looked, and how my skin was glowing. I honestly don't think I looked that different at all, except that I was minus a lot of water weight.
Emotional: Mmmm... I basically b*tched all day about how hungry I am. So yes, I was a treat.
Pounds Lost: Down another 1.5 for a total of 5.5 pounds. Not bad for just 2 days! I'm curious to see what my weight will be tomorrow morning now that I've reintroduced solid food to my diet. I will say that when I got dressed this morning, I put on a skirt that's normally a bit tight on me, and it was very loose. Now that, I will miss.
I'll tell you what I won't miss though... those damn juices!! I now officially hate the Blueprint green juice - it's way too freaking sweet. And the pineapple, apple, mint one is delicious but also very sweet. I do, however, love the spicy lemonade and the cashew milk. Mmmm.
So, are you dying to know? What did I eat? How did I break this infamous fast? Not with a piece of fruit or lightly steamed veggies, as suggested. Nope, I knew exactly what I wanted...
Creamy avocado on Ezekiel sprouted bread. Delish. I hope my tummy doesn't hate me for it. So far, so good!
Now for the real questions re: the cleanse:
1. Was it worth it?
Monetarily? No. I'm actually pretty pissed that I have 3 of those darn green juices left in my fridge. I would never buy Blueprint's green juice again - it's so not even close to the best I've had. Also, one of the things that drove me the most crazy about this cleanse was the lack of variety. I think if I were to do another cleanse, I'd do it when I had my own juicer and could therefore pick and choose my own combos. Or I'd try Cooler Cleanse, which has more variety (watermelon + lime and coconut? yum!).
For the experience? Absolutely. I wanted to do a juice cleanse, and I did it. And I understand the benefits - de-bloating, quick weight loss (albeit water weight loss), a chance to give your body a break. These are all really good things. That being said...
2. Would you do it again?
I don't think I would not do3 2.5 days again. This girl is just not meant to go that long without solid food. I would, however, consider a 24-hour one, or even a juice-til-dinner type situation. That way, you still get a lot of the benefits of a cleanse, but sans the absolute agony of knowing you don't get to eat for a really, really long time.
3. Would you recommend it?
Eh, this is tricky. Here's what I would recommend: if you want to reset and give it a try, go for it. But try a 1-day cleanse first just to see what you're getting yourself into. And then maybe splurge and go for a 3- or 5- or 10- day one (who can do 10 days?!?!!), if you think you can handle it. I personally could not (and don't really want to).
4. What have you LEARNED from this 2.5 days of misery?
I've learned that I love how my body feels when it's 5.5 lbs lighter. I've learned that I absolutely cannot go without solid food for more than 24 hours without wanting to kill someone. I've learned that when you're truly hungry, you don't crave pizza or burgers or beer, you crave things like brussels sprouts and lentils and kale soup. I've learned that I'd rather eat really healthy and in moderation for 4 weeks than go more than 4 hours without food. I've learned that you can lose an astonishing amount of weight when you just drink juice. I've learned that your mouth really does fill with saliva when you see delicious food in the Food Network that you absolutely cannot eat.
Day 3 Recap:
Difficulty: 9 - It wasn't as hard as yesterday because I was at work and was therefore preoccupied at times. That being said, when I smelled my coworkers' lunches, I almost fainted with desire (yes, I was a bit melodramatic at work). Then when I went up to the cafeteria to get some hot water and lemon, and saw these yummy cheesy pizza bites that the cafeteria sometimes makes (and that I used to get), I swear I stood in front of them for about 5 minutes debating with myself as to whether it would be the worst thing in the world to grab a few and eat them in the bathroom. (For the record, I didn't do it.) What also made the day easier to get through was the knowledge that I would allow myself to eat in the evening.
Physical: After sleeping all day yesterday, it's no surprise that I had tremendous difficulty falling asleep last night. That being said, when my alarm went off this morning, I wasn't tired. I had a good amount of energy and felt it all day. My coworker commented immediately on how "great" I looked, and how my skin was glowing. I honestly don't think I looked that different at all, except that I was minus a lot of water weight.
Emotional: Mmmm... I basically b*tched all day about how hungry I am. So yes, I was a treat.
Pounds Lost: Down another 1.5 for a total of 5.5 pounds. Not bad for just 2 days! I'm curious to see what my weight will be tomorrow morning now that I've reintroduced solid food to my diet. I will say that when I got dressed this morning, I put on a skirt that's normally a bit tight on me, and it was very loose. Now that, I will miss.
I'll tell you what I won't miss though... those damn juices!! I now officially hate the Blueprint green juice - it's way too freaking sweet. And the pineapple, apple, mint one is delicious but also very sweet. I do, however, love the spicy lemonade and the cashew milk. Mmmm.
So, are you dying to know? What did I eat? How did I break this infamous fast? Not with a piece of fruit or lightly steamed veggies, as suggested. Nope, I knew exactly what I wanted...
Creamy avocado on Ezekiel sprouted bread. Delish. I hope my tummy doesn't hate me for it. So far, so good!
Now for the real questions re: the cleanse:
1. Was it worth it?
Monetarily? No. I'm actually pretty pissed that I have 3 of those darn green juices left in my fridge. I would never buy Blueprint's green juice again - it's so not even close to the best I've had. Also, one of the things that drove me the most crazy about this cleanse was the lack of variety. I think if I were to do another cleanse, I'd do it when I had my own juicer and could therefore pick and choose my own combos. Or I'd try Cooler Cleanse, which has more variety (watermelon + lime and coconut? yum!).
For the experience? Absolutely. I wanted to do a juice cleanse, and I did it. And I understand the benefits - de-bloating, quick weight loss (albeit water weight loss), a chance to give your body a break. These are all really good things. That being said...
2. Would you do it again?
I don't think I would not do
3. Would you recommend it?
Eh, this is tricky. Here's what I would recommend: if you want to reset and give it a try, go for it. But try a 1-day cleanse first just to see what you're getting yourself into. And then maybe splurge and go for a 3- or 5- or 10- day one (who can do 10 days?!?!!), if you think you can handle it. I personally could not (and don't really want to).
4. What have you LEARNED from this 2.5 days of misery?
I've learned that I love how my body feels when it's 5.5 lbs lighter. I've learned that I absolutely cannot go without solid food for more than 24 hours without wanting to kill someone. I've learned that when you're truly hungry, you don't crave pizza or burgers or beer, you crave things like brussels sprouts and lentils and kale soup. I've learned that I'd rather eat really healthy and in moderation for 4 weeks than go more than 4 hours without food. I've learned that you can lose an astonishing amount of weight when you just drink juice. I've learned that your mouth really does fill with saliva when you see delicious food in the Food Network that you absolutely cannot eat.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Juice Cleanse: Day 2 - Why Am I Doing This?
Day 1 Recap:
Difficulty: 8
Physical: Great, minus hunger pangs.
Emotional: Not so great. Being hungry makes me uber cranky. In retrospect, I don't think I was hungry so much as I missed the ritual, excitement, comfort, etc. of eating.
Pounds Lost: 4 (Wow - a lot more than I anticipated after just one day.)
Moving on to Day 2 - yes, it's been harder than Day 1. Today is the first day I've seriously considered giving up on this stupid cleanse. I've spent nearly the entire day in bed, either sleeping or complaining. I was supposed to go to the gym and run today, but there was no way that was happening. Running makes me extremely hungry, and I knew, I knew, I'd break down and eat something on my way back home.
It's only 8:24 p.m., but I'm already drinking my cashew milk because I intend to go to sleep after finishing this post. I have to be up really early for an eye doctor appointment anyway, and I just don't have the energy to do anything else besides lay in bed and sleep. This cashew milk is the only thing that keeps me going, to be honest. It's so thick and delicious, and last night I found myself attempting to get every last drop out of the bottle. A new low, for sure.
Also? I skipped Juice 5 (green) again today. Honestly, the idea of drinking yet another one of those makes me want to vom.
I have nothing else to say except that I'm glad tomorrow is Day 3, and I'm glad I have work to keep me busy for most of the day. I also have to say that I am seriously considering breaking this cleanse tomorrow before dinner. Would that be awful?
How the HELL do people do this for any longer?!?!?!!
Day 2 Recap:
Difficulty: 10
Physical: Low energy, but no other detox symptoms evident.
Emotional: Miserable. Angry. Annoyed at myself for doing this.
Pounds Lost: Will report tomorrow...
Difficulty: 8
Physical: Great, minus hunger pangs.
Emotional: Not so great. Being hungry makes me uber cranky. In retrospect, I don't think I was hungry so much as I missed the ritual, excitement, comfort, etc. of eating.
Pounds Lost: 4 (Wow - a lot more than I anticipated after just one day.)
Moving on to Day 2 - yes, it's been harder than Day 1. Today is the first day I've seriously considered giving up on this stupid cleanse. I've spent nearly the entire day in bed, either sleeping or complaining. I was supposed to go to the gym and run today, but there was no way that was happening. Running makes me extremely hungry, and I knew, I knew, I'd break down and eat something on my way back home.
It's only 8:24 p.m., but I'm already drinking my cashew milk because I intend to go to sleep after finishing this post. I have to be up really early for an eye doctor appointment anyway, and I just don't have the energy to do anything else besides lay in bed and sleep. This cashew milk is the only thing that keeps me going, to be honest. It's so thick and delicious, and last night I found myself attempting to get every last drop out of the bottle. A new low, for sure.
Also? I skipped Juice 5 (green) again today. Honestly, the idea of drinking yet another one of those makes me want to vom.
I have nothing else to say except that I'm glad tomorrow is Day 3, and I'm glad I have work to keep me busy for most of the day. I also have to say that I am seriously considering breaking this cleanse tomorrow before dinner. Would that be awful?
How the HELL do people do this for any longer?!?!?!!
Day 2 Recap:
Difficulty: 10
Physical: Low energy, but no other detox symptoms evident.
Emotional: Miserable. Angry. Annoyed at myself for doing this.
Pounds Lost: Will report tomorrow...
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Juice Cleanse: Day 1 (Almost) Over
This. Sucks. No, really, it sucks. Need evidence? The photo above depicts my lunch today and my roomie's lunch today. Hers? A portobello panini. Mine? Juice.
As if I needed any confirmation (and I really didn't), being hungry does not suit me. I get really cranky and at times, borderline tearful. I just want some freaking food! Sigh. I guess I should start at the beginning. I planned to start my juicing at 10 a.m. so that I could one every two hours (10, 12, 2, 4, 6, 8). But a very late bedtime meant that I didn't get rockin and rollin until around 11 a.m. this morning. And when I woke up, my mind and body instinctively thought: "BAGEL." Because that is, after all, what Saturday mornings used to be. Bagels or brunch or, at the very least, avocado toast (mmmm avocados). But this morning? Just juice.
Mistake #1: Starting a juice cleanse on the weekend. Unfortunately, I had to because I have a work lunch on Tuesday at which I absolutely cannot be drinking juice.
Moving on. I had Juices 1 and 2 before leaving the house. Blueprint's green juice is very easy to drink, but I agree with many others who say it's a bit too sweet. Like sickly sweet. I don't normally find this to be the case with green juices so they must add a lot of apple juice. Juice 2 was the gold juice - pineapple, apple and mint. It was very sweet, but very refreshing. Delish.
Today my roomie, Annika, and I made plans to have an NYC day of fun. First stop was the Museum of Modern Art - one of my favorite museums of all time. My firm has a corporate membership so Annika and I got in for free. Holla! I brought along Juice #3 (green) knowing that we'd be out for awhile. The weather today was snowy and frigid - PERFECT weather for a juice cleanse. ...
Mistake #2: Starting a juice cleanse on the coldest, snowiest day of the year. I swear if it were summer, this whole thing would be a whole lot easier.
After viewing several galleries, our hunger led us to the Cafe on floor 2. My sense of smell was on fire - I wanted to eat everything. But instead, I busted out my green juice while Annika ate the most delicious looking and smelling portobello panini. See photo above.
We spent the rest of the day shopping along Fifth and Madison during which I didn't feel hungry, exactly, just a bit empty. We ended our extravaganza at Starbucks where I ordered a green tea. The hot liquid definitely helped, but was it the same as a soy misto? Absolutely not.
By the time we got home, I was full on cranky. And full on hungry. Time for Juice 4 - spicy lemonade. This was surprisingly delicious! Perfect balance of tart and sweet, and the cayenne is barely noticeable. LOVED it.
But as much as I loved it, I still wanted food. I honestly can't tell if I'm hungry or if I just don't know how to handle not having solid food in my tummy. I'm super pissy. I pitched a massive fit while sitting in my roomie's bed (we watched Friends With Benefits - highly recommend). I just. want. some. FOOD.
I haven't had Juice 5 (another green) yet, and I don't think I will. It's already 10 p.m., and I think I just want my cashew milk and my bed. Honestly, I can't bear the thought of drinking another juice juice anyway. Le sigh. I really hope tomorrow's easier.
Day 1 Recap:
Difficulty (1 being easiest, 10 being hardest): 8 - As tough as it's been, I haven't really been tempted to break the cleanse and eat something.
Physical: I feel great. Just fine, really, minus the really-pissing-me-off pangs of hunger. No caffeine withdrawal. No low energy. I feel fine.
Emotional: To be honest, I felt pretty good for most of the day until we were sitting at Starbucks, and I thought about going home and curling up in bed with a good movie. Because along with PJs and a good movie, I also wanted some Thai takeout. By the time the movie was over, I got REAL cranky, and my mind started saying all kinds of nasty things about myself and my body to myself. No bueno, my friends. I'm feeling a little better now. Am going to get my cashew milk and watch Vegucated.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Juicy - My Attempt at a 3-Day Juice Cleanse
My diet over the last month has been... less than ideal. Needless to say, the number on the scale is not what I hoped it'd be by this time, and I'm feeling a big slow, sluggish and bloated (and don't even get me started on my conscious). Who's to blame? Well, I am, of course! An endless number of holiday parties, plus my sister's visit to NYC for her birthday (hello, Babbo!), and a nasty week-long cold that left me unable to go to the gym and unwilling to cook my own food, have reminded me of a fact I absolutely know to be true - when you eat crap, you want crap. And it's really tough to break the cycle.
Fast forward to now: I'm in a wedding next weekend for which I hoped to be about 5 lbs lighter. Also? I have lost that lovely vegan glow, both inside and out, and miss it desperately. Now, I have no illusions that I'll be able to follow a perfect vegan diet while I'm in New Orleans (for, by the way, what is guaranteed to be the wedding of the century). But nonetheless, in an effort to revive my pasty, lumpy bod, I've decided to embark on a 3-day juice cleanse a la Blueprint, an NYC favorite.
I've never done a juice cleanse. Heck, I've never even fasted (I once attempted a 24-hour fast and gave up about 3 hours in). But I've heard wonderful things about them (and I've also heard not-so-wonderful things about them), and I'm willing and ready to give it a shot.
Blueprint offers three levels of cleanses: Renovation, Foundation and Excavation. I chose the Foundation level since I wanted a little more variety than the Excavation, but I also wanted at least half my day to be green juice goodness. Here's what my daily menu looks like:
1 - Green juice (a mix of greens + apple + lemon)
2 - Gold juice (pineapple + mint)
3 - Green juice (repeat)
4 - Yellow juice (a spicy lemonade)
5 - Green juice (one more time!)
6 - White juice (cashew milk + vanilla + cinnamon)
Basically I'm just supposed to drink a juice, in the order shown above, every 2 hours. The last juice is actually a milk, a heavenly thick and delicious cashew milk that tastes like a really healthy and good-for-you milkshake. I'm really excited about ending my day with one of those babies.
I've read several reviews, and everyone says the same thing. Day 1 is kinda cool. Day 2 blows. You're never hungry, but you desperately miss chewing. And by Day 3, you will be thinner, glowier and have a sugar ton of energy. Now, I know me, and I know what I'll miss is the savory. These juices are all sweet, and I have always preferred savory over sweet. The smell of baking bread, a sizzling hot pizza, a steaming bowl of chili... those smells will be tough to ignore. Also? It's supposed to snow tomorrow. Who wants to drink nothing but juice on a cold, snowy day?? Le sigh. The things I do...
Anyway, I plan to blog about the cleanse because well, I'm sure I'll have a lot to say (or scream). Feel free to juice cleanse with me! ;)
Fast forward to now: I'm in a wedding next weekend for which I hoped to be about 5 lbs lighter. Also? I have lost that lovely vegan glow, both inside and out, and miss it desperately. Now, I have no illusions that I'll be able to follow a perfect vegan diet while I'm in New Orleans (for, by the way, what is guaranteed to be the wedding of the century). But nonetheless, in an effort to revive my pasty, lumpy bod, I've decided to embark on a 3-day juice cleanse a la Blueprint, an NYC favorite.
I've never done a juice cleanse. Heck, I've never even fasted (I once attempted a 24-hour fast and gave up about 3 hours in). But I've heard wonderful things about them (and I've also heard not-so-wonderful things about them), and I'm willing and ready to give it a shot.
Blueprint offers three levels of cleanses: Renovation, Foundation and Excavation. I chose the Foundation level since I wanted a little more variety than the Excavation, but I also wanted at least half my day to be green juice goodness. Here's what my daily menu looks like:
1 - Green juice (a mix of greens + apple + lemon)
2 - Gold juice (pineapple + mint)
3 - Green juice (repeat)
4 - Yellow juice (a spicy lemonade)
5 - Green juice (one more time!)
6 - White juice (cashew milk + vanilla + cinnamon)
Basically I'm just supposed to drink a juice, in the order shown above, every 2 hours. The last juice is actually a milk, a heavenly thick and delicious cashew milk that tastes like a really healthy and good-for-you milkshake. I'm really excited about ending my day with one of those babies.
I've read several reviews, and everyone says the same thing. Day 1 is kinda cool. Day 2 blows. You're never hungry, but you desperately miss chewing. And by Day 3, you will be thinner, glowier and have a sugar ton of energy. Now, I know me, and I know what I'll miss is the savory. These juices are all sweet, and I have always preferred savory over sweet. The smell of baking bread, a sizzling hot pizza, a steaming bowl of chili... those smells will be tough to ignore. Also? It's supposed to snow tomorrow. Who wants to drink nothing but juice on a cold, snowy day?? Le sigh. The things I do...
Anyway, I plan to blog about the cleanse because well, I'm sure I'll have a lot to say (or scream). Feel free to juice cleanse with me! ;)
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Tis the Season
{photo from weheartit}
I hit a wall Friday night. A day that began with a glass (or two or three) or champagne at 1:30 in the afternoon (party #1) and ended with a late night karaoke shindig (party #3), Friday showed me that I'm not cut out for all that drinking and partying, no matter what the occasion. I came home that night tired, sad and quite pissy to be perfectly honest. I had to slow down. So Saturday night? All mine.
After a financing planning session (more on this later) avec my NYC big sis, I picked up some Indian food and a vegan whoopie pie a la the Vegan Goddess at Cafe Indigo at the Whole Foods in Columbus Circle and went home to enjoy a night of solitude. I can't tell you how happy I was to crawl into bed at midnight. Although I didn't fall asleep for a couple of hours, I woke up something like 9 hours later and felt completely and totally rested and ready to tackle the day and week ahead.
Opening my filofax, I see my week ahead is a big one.
- Monday - Holiday party #1
- Tuesday - Holiday party #2 (at Buddakan!!)
- Wednesday - Traditional Union Square Holiday Market and Wined Up date avec fave roomie
- Thursday - first a cappella group rehearsal (more on that later)
- Friday - ALL MINE!
- Saturday - 4 Course Vegan dinner (so excited!!)
Happy Holidays, y'all!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Life Lately (In Pictures)
*homemade cranberry sauce*sweet potato casserole a la Oh She Glows*
*wild mushroom stuffing*roasted brussels sprouts*
*my go-to breakfast in Cali*
*admittedly, I did have some fries, but they were tres mediocre*
*merci, Nordstrom in San Jose*
*taking this pic to my hair appt on Sunday*
Friday, November 18, 2011
Vegan Tomato is Back!
Bonjour, friends! TGIF - am I right?? Just wanted to let you know that the Vegan Tomato is back, baby! So if you're a fan of food (and particularly a fan of food and the animals, as none were harmed in the making of this post), you should definitely head on over for my latest restaurant review. It's yumtastic! :D
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Easy Peasy Pumpkin Pancakes
Forgive me in advance - if you are one who likes recipes for their specificity, then you probably won't like this one. But I urge you to try making these pancakes with a lax attitude, as that is the best way to start a lazy Sunday.
I'm not a big pancakes person. Eating them? Sure! But making them? Augh. Just as I detest baking, I detest making pancakes for the same reasons - messy flour, multiple ingredients and measuring cups. But when this time of year comes around, I can't resist the siren song of pureed pumpkin. And so, this year I was determined to find an easy way to whip up 5-minute pumpkin pancakes whenever the urge hit, and I can confidently say (after several batches), that this is one of the easiest pancake recipes (if you can even call it a recipe) on the planet, and it's pretty healthy to boot! (And duh, it's vegan.)
- pancake mix of your choice (I use Highland Sugarworks' Organic Multigrain Pancake Mix because it's vegan and includes simple ingredients - whole wheat flour, corn flour, rye flour and sea salt)
- almond milk of your choice (I prefer Silk or Almond Breeze - both the plain, unsweetened variety)
- pumpkin pie spice
- pure maple syrup (get the good stuff here - I brought mine back all the way from Vancouver!)
- Earth Balance (or butter)
- pureed pumpkin (yes, from a can)
So you've got all your ingredients. Now you just combine until you get the desired consistency (which can vary depending on what you like - I like mine a bit thick). I usually start by adding the pancake mix, pureed pumpkin (use about 1/3 of the amt of pancake mix you use) and some almond milk until I find a decent consistency. Then I add a generous sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice and a drizzle of maple syrup (which I swear makes the pancakes ever-so-subtly sweet from the inside without using sugar, which is a big plus for me).
Then just heat a skillet over medium heat (you can use a griddle if you are fancy like that and have one), coat it with nonstick spray and Earth Balance (this is KEY to making your pancakes goldeny brown and delightfully crispy around the edge) and use a 1/4 cup measuring spoon to make each pancake. Easy peasy!
Note that you can store any leftover batter in the fridge and use it the next day or maybe even the day after that. I usually just put plastic wrap over the mix and the bowl (as in directly on the batter so a weird film doesn't develop) and keep it in the fridge. When I'm ready for another pancake, I just let it sit out of the fridge for about 5 minutes and then fry that sucker up.
Serve with warm maple syrup (and Earth Balance, if you so desire, but I don't find it necessary since you're cooking them in it). Enjoy!
I'm not a big pancakes person. Eating them? Sure! But making them? Augh. Just as I detest baking, I detest making pancakes for the same reasons - messy flour, multiple ingredients and measuring cups. But when this time of year comes around, I can't resist the siren song of pureed pumpkin. And so, this year I was determined to find an easy way to whip up 5-minute pumpkin pancakes whenever the urge hit, and I can confidently say (after several batches), that this is one of the easiest pancake recipes (if you can even call it a recipe) on the planet, and it's pretty healthy to boot! (And duh, it's vegan.)
Easy Peasy Pumpkin Pancakes
- pancake mix of your choice (I use Highland Sugarworks' Organic Multigrain Pancake Mix because it's vegan and includes simple ingredients - whole wheat flour, corn flour, rye flour and sea salt)
- almond milk of your choice (I prefer Silk or Almond Breeze - both the plain, unsweetened variety)
- pumpkin pie spice
- pure maple syrup (get the good stuff here - I brought mine back all the way from Vancouver!)
- Earth Balance (or butter)
- pureed pumpkin (yes, from a can)
So you've got all your ingredients. Now you just combine until you get the desired consistency (which can vary depending on what you like - I like mine a bit thick). I usually start by adding the pancake mix, pureed pumpkin (use about 1/3 of the amt of pancake mix you use) and some almond milk until I find a decent consistency. Then I add a generous sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice and a drizzle of maple syrup (which I swear makes the pancakes ever-so-subtly sweet from the inside without using sugar, which is a big plus for me).
Then just heat a skillet over medium heat (you can use a griddle if you are fancy like that and have one), coat it with nonstick spray and Earth Balance (this is KEY to making your pancakes goldeny brown and delightfully crispy around the edge) and use a 1/4 cup measuring spoon to make each pancake. Easy peasy!
Note that you can store any leftover batter in the fridge and use it the next day or maybe even the day after that. I usually just put plastic wrap over the mix and the bowl (as in directly on the batter so a weird film doesn't develop) and keep it in the fridge. When I'm ready for another pancake, I just let it sit out of the fridge for about 5 minutes and then fry that sucker up.
Serve with warm maple syrup (and Earth Balance, if you so desire, but I don't find it necessary since you're cooking them in it). Enjoy!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
The National Conference to End Factory Farming: Day 2
{photo courtesy of Farm Sanctuary}
Read my recap of Day 1 here.
Day 2 of the conference began at 8:00 a.m. at, yes, the Starbucks on Dupont Circle. The day was frigid, rainy and pretty miserable. Despite my 7 hours of sleep the night before, I felt my energy levels nosedive during the drive to Arlington. Luckily we got to the conference in time for a hearty breakfast spread - surprisingly delicious tofu scramble, crispy breakfast potatoes, and bagels. I filled my plate high and got ready for a pretty stellar Day 2 opening. The focus today, the final day of the conference, was on building solutions.
First up was David Wolfson, a partner at the NYC office of Milbank Tweed and an adjunct professor at NYU. {Note: All photos in this post are courtesy of Farm Sanctuary's FB page.}
I was more than surprised to see his name on the program the day before. A partner? Of a big law firm?? Very interesting. Well, Mr. Wolfson did not disappoint. He is an adorable, British lawyer who is passionate about animal rights and has been doing legal work in the field since the mid-80's. He teaches Factory Farming and the Law at NYU School of Law (I wish UT had a class like that when I was there!) Oh and his wife is the mastermind behind Get Vegucated - how cool is that?
Some key points from David's presentation:
- There are no federal laws that deal with how farm animals are treated. As such, the only laws that exist re: the treatment of animals are state laws. The problem with state laws are that they are: (1) written in a way so that farm animals are excluded and/or (2) rewritten by those in the agricultural industry (as they are often also the people with the power to make those laws - conflict of interest much?).
- The Humane Slaughter Act is lacking - athough more than 168 million chickens (excluding broilers) and around 9 billion broiler chickens are killed for food in the United States yearly, the Humane Slaughter Act specifically mentions only cattle, calves, horses, mules, sheep and swine.
- In November 2002, over 2 ½ million Floridians voted to prohibit the cruel confinement of pregnant pigs in factory farms. It was the first time that a farming practice had been banned because of its inherent cruelty in the United States. After a six year phase-out period, this initiative took effect on November 5, 2008. The vote sent a powerful message to the pork industry, and motivated animal welfare advocates across the country. Since 2002, six states have followed Florida in banning gestation crates. The intensive confinement of pregnant pigs was banned in 2006 in Arizona after a ballot initiative effort. In 2007, the governor of Oregon signed a measure prohibiting gestation crates. In 2008, Colorado's governor signed into state law a ban on gestation crates and Californians overwhelmingly passed a ballot initiative. In 2009, new laws were enacted in Maine and Michigan which will prohibit gestation crates. (from the ARFF website)
I later attended a breakout panel with Mr. Wolfson and introduced myself to him afterwards. I told him I would've never expected there to be a partner at an event like this, and that it was incredibly inspiring as a young lawyer to see that.
Next up to the plate - the one and only John Mackey, co-founder and co-CEO of Whole Foods Market.
John was a bit awkward at first, but he quickly found his rhythm and was awarded afterwards with a standing ovation. Some key points from his presentation:
- Diseases of affluence (heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, etc.) are killing Americans.
- More Americans will die of cancer in the next 24 months than died in all the wars in America's history.
- We're spending less and less money on food and more and more in health care. Coincidence?
- He thinks olive oil sucks and that we shouldn't be eating it - I found this to be interesting and need to get more info. Thoughts?
- If you want to promote a vegan diet, then you need to be a healthy example! Don't live on pasta, bread, french fries, sugar and processed food - eat green leafy vegetables, whole grains, beans and legumes and fresh fruit.
- Processed grains are continuously linked to breast cancer "so thank you to the conference organizers for providing those white bagels!" - I just about died when he said that.
- Eat a HUGE raw salad every day.
- Women who ate mushrooms every day reduced their risk of breast cancer by 64%.
- Add green tea and leafy greens to the mix, and that percentage goes up.
- Green veggies have an extremely high percentage of protein per calorie - more than poultry, meat and eggs.
- Eat GOMBBS every day - Greens, Onions, Mushrooms, Beans, Berries and Seeds.
I rarely pay full price for books these days, but when I saw that Dr. Fuhrman was signing books, I picked up a copy of his latest, SUPER IMMUNITY, and had him dedicate it to my Uncle Mel, who is fighting colon cancer. (I'm also reading/highlighting The China Study for him and plan to send both books to him at the end of the month.)
Next I attended a breakout panel on Consumer Awareness and Activism. Along with Mr. Wolfson, the panel included a presentation by Dena Jones, the farm animal program manager at Animal Welfare Institute who discussed food labels and marketing claims. Key points from her presentation:
- "Humanely raised" is the hot claim right now. Unfortunately, it's the "humane myth" -
- There is no regulated definition, and label approval decisions are made inconsistently and on a case-by-case basis.
- The terms are misleading.
- Enforcement of what it means to be "humane" is inconsistent.
- There is NO ON-SITE VERIFICATION (same is true for "free range" claims)
- Companies essentially submit an affidavit claiming to be humane, and that's about it.
- "Natural" means no artificial ingredients and minimally processed. It says nothing about how the animal was raised.
- "Organic" -> there are no standards for animal welfare; up to each certifier.
- "Free range" = access to outdoors. Problem is there are no specific requirements tied to that definition, and again, there's NO ON-SITE VERIFICATION. (In other words? It doesn't mean a thing.)
After breakout panels and a break, the conference ended with a session on building coalitions for change. Paul Shapiro, senior director of farm animal protection at the Humane Society of the United States spoke, and he was fantastic. Full of energy, very engaging, funny and obviously very passionate about what he's doing.
Farm Sanctuary President and Co-Founder Gene Baur: “The best way to end factory farming is to make the system transparent and accountable, and to align agribusiness practices with our citizens’ values and interests. The cruelty of industrial animal agriculture is an affront to basic human decency. It is inefficient, unhealthy and unsustainable, and costs our nation hundreds of billions of dollars every year.”
Whole Foods Market Co-CEO John Mackey: “The best way to end factory farming is to first create more humane alternatives to it in the marketplace. The great majority of people are very unlikely to become vegans for the foreseeable future. It is therefore essential to create more humane alternatives that help raise peoples’ consciousness about what factory farming really does to animals by providing strong contrasts to compare against. Until there are widespread humane alternatives to choose from most people will prefer to remain wilfully ignorant and very little is likely to change.”
Food & Water Watch Executive Director Wenonah Hauter: “Factory farming is a threat to public health, the environment, and the rural communities upon which our food system desperately depend. The next farm bill must urgently reverse the policies that have given all of the advantages to intensive farming operations while pushing out the small and mid-sized farms that are the backbone of a system that provides us safe, healthy and sustainable food."
Sierra Club Water Sentinel Lynn Henning: “The best way to end factory farming is to eliminate government subsidies, incentives, and tax breaks for CAFOs [Confined Animal Feeding Operations]. CAFOs are NOT sustainable. We must rethink agriculture to teach the next generation to farm. Family farms have fed this country for generations.”
Farm Sanctuary National Shelter Director Susie Coston: “The best way to end factory farming is to show people that farm animals are intelligent, emotional beings who possess just as much desire to enjoy life as the dogs and cats who we know a bit better.”
John Ikerd, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Economics at the University of Missouri, Columbia: “Factory farms are not necessarily more economically efficient than smaller-scale independent family farms. Factory farm operators use their political influence and their ability to manipulate market prices to drive more efficient family farmers out of business. Food prices are no lower with factory farms than with independent family farms.”
Jim Motavalli, contributor to the New York Times, Audubon Magazine, Mother Nature Network and NPR's Car Talk, and author of the forthcoming book High Voltage: “Since the popular image of farms is of old-time barnyards populated by happy pigs and chickens, most people don't even know that factory farming exists. They'd be horrified if they knew how their food is produced, but the industry does an excellent job of keeping them from that reality.”
International Fund for Africa President and Co-Founder Dr. Anteneh Roba: “The one thing most people don't know about factory farming in Africa is that it even exists. The one thing most people don't know about factory farming in the USA is how extremely cruel it is.”
Greenpeace Senior Legislative Representative Kyle Ash: “Public health and animal welfare are inseparable. Forever, industry has tried to divide communities over factory farming, with false claims that industrial food production reduces the need to destroy our air, water and lands. The truth is that factory farming makes every public health problem worse. Shutting down factory farms is a common solution to some of our greatest animal and environmental abuses and we should work together to shut them down.”
Farm Sanctuary President and Co-Founder Gene Baur: “Most people don’t know how terribly animals are treated on today’s factory farms, and that they are legally excluded from basic humane protections.”
John Ikerd, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Economics at the University of Missouri, Columbia: The biggest single problem with factory farming is that it shows no respect for the sanctity of life — either the life of farm animals or human life. Factory farming treats feedlots as biological assembly lines, where the animals are simply machines that produce meat, milk, or eggs for nameless, faceless consumers, with no respect for the people who work in them or live in the communities where they operate. This lack of respect for life undermines the ethical and moral fabric of society.
International Fund for Africa President and Co-Founder Dr. Anteneh Roba: “It causes environmental disaster.”
Jim Motavalli, contributor to the New York Times, Audubon Magazine, Mother Nature Network and NPR's Car Talk, and author of the forthcoming book High Voltage: From an environmental point of view, the worst thing about intensive animal agriculture is it's huge inefficiency. It takes five pounds of grain to produce a pound of meat, and a 10-acre farm that could feed 60 growing soybeans would support only two people raising cattle. Reducing American meat consumption by just 10 percent would free up enough grain to feed 60 million people.
Greenpeace Senior Legislative Representative Kyle Ash: “The unnecessary torture and abuse of other animals is one of the worst human atrocities of our time. Humanity's self-aggrandizing misconception that humans rule the world with no moral responsibilities to those with whom we share this planet is reinforced by how we treat other animals, and this ironic view is facilitating destruction of the planet even for ourselves.”
Michael Greger, M.D.: "When we overcrowd thousands of animals into cramped filthy football-field sized sheds to lie beak-to-beak, or snout-to-snout atop their own waste it can present a breeding ground for disease, a perfect storm environment for the emergence of new strains of influenza and other animal-to-human diseases. These so-called factory farms are a public health menace."
And last, but not least, my top five takeaways...
CAROLYN'S TOP FIVE TAKEAWAYS FROM
THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE TO END FACTORY FARMING
- It's worth being a little uncomfortable to live my life in a way that aligns with my values. In other words? Veg For Life, baby.
- If I ever thought it'd be impossible to find a hot veggie boy, I was WRONG. There were some seriously fine, intelligent, and compassionate vegan men at this conference!
- Change is happening. The movement has begun. We are beginning to make some noise. The road ahead is long and daunting, but make no mistake, we are making progress.
- Vegan mushroom ravioli is delicious - I must get the recipe and recreate.
- For my 29th (ACK!) birthday, I want to take a trip to Farm Sanctuary in upstate New York with my friends, stay overnight in one of their awesome cabins and spend some one-on-one time with those gorgeous animals.
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