Gardein Chipotle Black Bean Burgers!!

I don't eat much processed food for two reasons, health and money. I feel best eating real food, and most processed vegan, especially organic is way out of my range. But about once a month, I let myself have some kind of treat, especially if I spot a sale. I do enjoy having something easy in the freezer for those times when cooking just isn't going to happen.
Well, I noticed a sale on Gardein products awhile ago, and decided to try the Chipotle Black Bean Burgers. That flavor was new to me, and I was surprised to see that they are gluten free, and also the ingredients aren't too funky.
When I decided to have one for dinner, I was impressed to see that there are whole black beans, and pieces of red pepper, and corn. I cooked mine in the oven, and it was quick and easy as convenience food should be. I stuffed my burger in a pita with some shredded romaine lettuce, and some Just Mayo mixed with some hot sauce. Wow, it was beyond my expectations. I've had other Gardein products so I knew I wouldn't be disappointed, but wow, these were everything I've ever wanted my homemade black bean burgers to be, and more. I love the pop of corn kernels  in veggie burgers, especially with the flavor of chipotle. I am a spice fan, so I didn't find these spicy, I found them to be more smoky. And they were a great texture, crispy but no too crispy on the outside, and soft but definitely not mushy on the inside. They are a little bit oilier than some other veggie burgers, but again, it is a treat, so to me not that big of a deal. It would be great with tomato and avocado, and if you were feeling really flush, some Daiya  pepperjack  cheese. But as I said, it was delicious in a more basic presentation as well.
All in all I think this burger is great to have on hand. It tastes great, and it's a nice balance of being not to healthy, but also not to healthy. And I know I will never make a black bean burger this good myself, so it's great to have this choice. And I think if you know a meat eater who is a fan of tex- mex  flavors, I think this would impress. You can't deny good flavor, and these burgers aren't trying to be meat, they are proud to represent the humble black bean.
Again I think it is important to support companies like Gardein, because they are making some delicious vegan foods, that just plain taste good, vegan or not. And at this point the vegan choices need to appeal to non- vegans in order to save animals. I think Gardein is doing that. This burger had bold flavor, and it was juicy in a way that other vegan burgers are not.
If you are looking for a great meatless option for Labor day, I say give these a try. The instructions say they are great for grilling, and they are great in an oven if you get rained out!

I Wanna Be Like Mike

I love those moments in life where you unexpectedly discover someone who is so amazing you can hardly believe you haven't heard of this person before. I had one of those moments two days ago. It was a mundane day of cleaning my apartment, and I found a video on YouTube to listen to. It was an interview on The Breakfast club, which is a radio program on a radio station, which is Power 105.5 in New York if anyone is interested. Anyway, the guest was someone named Killer Mike, who I had never heard of before. Well, my mind was blown. Killer Mike is a rapper, and his real name is Michael Bender, and he calls himself Killer Mike, because he kills the mike as in microphone obviously. Anyway they were discussing the events in Ferguson, MO and this man blew my mind with his very intelligent thoughts, and his feelings on how to change things. What was the most interesting to me was that he said he is a proud member of the NRA and I still like him! I don't mean to offend, but  I am not a fan of guns, and most people that I have seen who are pro gun types really piss me off. So that was also a cool reminder to myself that we are all individuals! Anyway, the interview is about thirty minutes, if you want to hear a really positive approach to fixing things, and if you agree that racism needs to STOP, I suggest looking this interview up. His father was a police officer, and I believe he said his cousin is a police officer currently, so he is actually more pro police than I am!
What was even more awesome was the same day that I saw him on The Breakfast Club, I started nerding out and looking up everything I could on him, and I came across a clip of him on a Fox news show talking about Ferguson! I can't imagine myself ever choosing to watch anything Fox news related. I think I'm somewhat allergic. The people remind me of bullies who never grew out of it, and why do they always yell? Anyway, wow it was amazing.
And as an added bonus, I found some of his music, and wow he is amazing. I have always loved rap music, and I don't think some of these guys and gals get the credit they deserve for how damn smart they are. I'm not really talking about the typical top 40 music, like everything else I;m talking less mainstream, that's where you find the smarts! I like his style of rap, and I like that I can feel his emotions in his songs. It is very real and raw in the best possible way.
Please look this guy up. He's been around for awhile, I am just really late to the show. I want Killer Mike in some position of power. We need to start solving issues as human beings. He spoke of us losing empathy as human beings, and I feel like enough of us feel that way also that we should be able to change something, right?
Please find his interviews, he is getting a lot of support on social media, so hopefully he is going to get more and more exposure on mainstream media. Lets get some thoughtful, logical, and most important, caring opinions out there, and actually change things.

Warning: Venting Ahead, Proceed with Caution

For as long as I can remember, the powers that be push the Christmas season down our throats pretty much as soon as Halloween is over. Now last year I noticed a few stores just said screw it let's go for the gusto, and put out Christmas stuff at the same time as Halloween. But let me tell you something, we have reached an all time low people. On Tuesday when I was at the grooming shop, my boss had some home shopping network type show on as she does, and they had a whole Christmas scene set up and they were hawking Christmas stuff! I seriously almost had a heart attack. And Maureen (the owner) was so  calm about it, and when I expressed shock, she seemed shocked that I was shocked.
I have accepted that we are over consumers, and I have felt for awhile that we pay no attention to the moment, but COME ON! It is still August for the love!!! And the worst part is that they were hawking decorations for outside and inside the home. At a certain point doesn't everyone just have Christmas stuff for the home? Even I have some crap, and I'm not even that much into buying Christmas "stuff"! It's not as if  we outgrow decorations, or they go out of style right? Santa is Santa, Baby Jesus is Baby Jesus, Rudolph is Rudolph, and so on and so forth. I am so disgusted, and if I see Christmas candy before Halloween candy, heads are going to roll!
I also think it's hilarious that Christmas is a religious holiday, yet crap is being pimped out in August. Jesus is so proud of his little angels right now. ( eye roll, tooth suck)
Will people ever just have enough? Will we ever take a second to appreciate a moment? Will the selfie  trend ever die? So many questions.
Off to another amazing morning with Robin. It is so cute to see his little face, and I can see the fear, and when he chooses to be brave, it's the sweetest thing. He sometimes chooses to be in the same room as me, like when I'm in the kitchen cooking, and he will keep his distance, but watch every move I make. I cannot recommend taking in a wild kitten enough. I know there are tons out there. It is very little work, with a huge reward!

Where the H am I going with this Thing?

Where am I going with this blog? I ask myself that every day. And I still don't have an answer. Every single vegan blog I read has beautiful pictures, and most have delicious recipes. That was what I thought my blog was going to be like also. Obviously that is not the case with my blog. I was starting to get that dorky feeling again, and starting to think why am I even doing this. But yesterday I was thinking about it when I walked to work, and I realized that I don't have to go anywhere with my blog, and I don't have to have a plan or a storyline, it's a blog. And everyone is different, and everyone is on a different journey.
My journey is currently very lonely. I have been blessed in my life in that I have always been able to find some kind of connection with someone pretty much everywhere I have lived, except now. And while by nature I'm very much of an introvert, I've come to realize the value of connecting with other like minded people. Truth be told I cry more than I would ever admit to anyone, wondering how I ended up here. But sitting in front of my laptop and writing/venting/ranting about what I'm feeling about whatever I'm feeling has been very therapeutic for me. There are days where I feel physically lighter after I'm done ranting. So this blog is my friend, and my therapy right now. I also realized yesterday that I might even help someone. Weirder things have happened in life.
Maybe giving some of my tips I've learned along the way to be earth friendly and have a non toxic life on the cheap will help someone else. I know that I used to let money stop me from healthier things, until I learned that life isn't so black and white, there is this whole amazing grey area! So now I might still live below the poverty line, but I'm non toxic and as organic as possible! So maybe someone else will find that useful.
So for the time being, my blog is my therapy, and I think making myself continue even though I have so many doubts, and no pretty pictures, is helping me more than any therapist I've ever been to.
Small kitten update: Robin is becoming more open to me. This morning I got a few full body pets, including the tail! He is a big fan of his head being rubbed. It continues to be very heartwarming, and I am so happy that he is safe.

Tales of Dry Brushing and A Kitten

I have been dry brushing my skin on and off for well over three years, and very consistently for about the last year and a half. I first heard about dry brushing from the amazing Kris Carr.
If you have never heard of it, I'll give you the CliffsNotes version. Dry brushing is a technique of exfoliating skin using a natural bristle brush. However those can be pricey, so I bought two organic shower mitts that work wonders, and were much more affordable, and can be washed very easily. You start at your ankles, making circular motions towards your heart. Dry brushing has a myriad of health benefits that include increasing circulation, shed dead skin cells, unclogging clogged pores, and helping release toxins from your skin which is by the way our largest organ!
Once again this was something that I thought I couldn't afford to do, as some of the brushes suggested are a little too pricey for this girl. But I feel that I am getting results using my method as well. Truth be known, I have also used a dry washcloth also, and continue to use a dry cloth to do my face. I dry brush three to four times a week, however some people insist it should be every day. Truth be told, I don't shower every day, and sometimes I don't have the extra time, so I find three to four times works for me. And boy have I seen results! Moving from the mild weather of Seattle, Wa. to the much harsher east coast temperament did a number on my skin. Especially in the winter! And I was noticing some lumpiness on my thigh area that looked like it could possibly turn into the dreaded c word! ( cellulite) ha. I feel like my skin not only looks softer, but it feels so soft! And I remember about a month after I had started dry brushing, my thighs seemed smoother. And it kind of helped set the stage for stepping up my eating and fitness game. I really recommend it. I would not still be dry brushing if I didn't notice a change. And I notice a difference in how my skin looks and also I feel more sluggish if I fall off the wagon. It is recommended that you brush for ten to fifteen minutes, which I do take the extra time on my detox bath days, but on a normal day, I spend maybe five minutes. It is really worth it, and you don't have to invest tons of money on a brush, and you don't have to invest a ton of time on days when you are rushed. You do want to do this before you shower, so you can wash away all the dead skin and funk you've just brushed up. As I said I only gave the CliffsNotes  version of the benefits, if you do a quick Google search, you will be amazed at how beneficial and healing dry brushing is.
And because I know that the world is waiting with baited breath, Robin the kitten rubbed against my leg before breakfast, and let me rub his head, and I got in a few more full body pets. So we are making progress, and trust is slowly being built! It feels amazing and it has been really wonderful to witness and be a part of. For as long as I can remember, animals are always able to lift my spirits when humans have broken them. I think overall Robin is pretty thrilled with life being indoors, and having food and friends!

So Fresh and so Clean Clean

So I had my detox, rejuvenate day yesterday. I do feel better, and darling my skin looks gorge, but emotionally I am still feeling a little blue. Considering the ugliness of the city I live in, and how homesick I am for anywhere other than here, a little blue is not bad.
I want to talk about the detox bath, and how you can detox and pamper yourself without having to find a lot of  fancy, expensive specialty items. As a side note, I totally appreciate that there are vegan companies that make what I'm sure are some amazing products, however they are so far out of my budget that I personally can't use them. But you don't have to look gray and toxic my friends, Beauty and pampering are now for everyone! My bath was 3 tablespoons of powdered ginger, which I buy in bulk at the local co-op, I buy about one or two dollars worth, and it lasts me quite awhile. Then I added a handful of Miracle sea salts, which I also got at the co-op for under two dollars. I sat in the tub and sweated out those toxins for about twenty or thirty minutes. When I got out of the tub my face was so red, it looked like I had just run a ten mile marathon!! I let myself cool off for awhile, then slathered myself with coconut oil. Today my skin feels so amazing! Over the winter I came down with a little cold, and I stumbled across an article about ginger baths, and I feel like it helped me get rid of my cold much faster, and I have been taking one a week ever since. I feel like it helps keep me on the right path. Especially yesterday, I needed to take that time to do some self care and love. And to keep myself as healthy as possible. The way I see it, I'm struggling emotionally, so my body has to step up a little to get us over this hump. The worst is when you are struggling both physically and emotionally, and you just are really stuck. I know, I have been there.
I hope my little cheapie tips help someone. It makes me very angry that certain organic non-toxic things are so freaking expensive. So I hope people like me know that we can still pamper and feel good, which helps us do good!
As a little p.s. you can use Epsom salts if you can't find the Miracle sea salts. I use Epsom salts often and you feel just as good.
I was listening to a podcast yesterday morning, and I heard a quote that I wanted to share. " What happened in Ferguson didn't just happen to Ferguson, It happened to America". I could not agree more, and I think those of us who believe in equality for all need to let it be known that Racism is just not allowed anymore.

Reguvenate

I am still feeling emotionally drained, as I was already feeling blue, and working in a toxic environment on Friday night kind of did me in. I allowed myself to really just wallow in my feelings yesterday, a lot of crying, and general all of the things that go along with wallowing. Today is the day that I plan on working to pull myself  out of the funk. I don't like it. I like the sun to much to be in such a dark place.
Since I am still feeling all that positive, I will keep this post rather short, and hopefully sweet, because I have a great development in my feline family! So Friday marked a week since Robin has been roaming freely in my apartment, and while all is well on the feline front, Robin is still not that into me, which I understand his fear. However, about an hour ago he let me pet his head two times. And he didn't run away afterwards! He just kind of backed away a little bit. So that made me feel really great, like I'm slowly earning his trust. Overall this has been a wonderful experience, and I am so glad that I was able to save him. Humans could really learn a lot about co-existing from animals.
Today is my detox, recharge day, I am going to pull myself out of this funk one way or another!
I hope you're able to do something you find rejuvenating today!

Non-Toxic Calgon Take me Away!

Have you ever had one of those days where you just can't shake the blues, and the universe seems to take a certain amount of joy in messing with you? Well I have had one of those weeks. I have had a couple of things happen which while not horrible tragedies, they kicked me down a bit. And not really having any kind of support system has made things a bit more challenging.
What gets to me the most is that along with the couple of bad things, I did have one personal goal that I met, and it pulled me out of my funk, but it didn't really sustain me, because I had no one to celebrate with, no one who would say something encouraging.
I tend to hold my true feelings very much to myself, especially about certain more painful parts of my past. I think that a lot of people sometimes hold in their sad feelings for various reasons, even people who have a support system. So for the most part, I'm okay keeping my sad feelings inside, what is kind of killing me is not knowing one person who will say anything nice about any accomplishment I might have made.
I guess this reminds me of one of my very early posts where I wrote about The Shame of Happiness. I feel ashamed for doing anything to take care of myself, or anything in the pursuit of happiness. It can be challenging for me, as I have been known to douse my feelings with alcohol and nicotine in the past, and sometimes I do get that screw it feeling. I haven't even touched alcohol in months, and I don't even want to drink, but damn at least a couple of beers would celebrate with me.
I have to work at my serving slop job tonight and I can very safely say that it will be an energy drain. But I've already planned a detox weekend. I plan on taking a detox bath with ginger and Epsom salts, which by the way is amazing if anyone is curious. You can use freshly grated ginger, or powdered ginger, I use 1/4 cup of freshly grated, and 2or 3 tablespoons of powdered. And I use about a handful of Epsom salts. If you feel a little something coming on, it will really help. And, your skin will feel so amazing I promise. It's a cheap healthy way to pamper yourself. In addition to my bath, I will be making my favorite face mask involving a turmeric, spirulina paste. I had some powdered spirulina that I just could not tolerate the taste in my smoothies, and I didn't want to waste it so I found a great recipe for a mask, and I love it! It is a very scary color when on your face, but it makes your face glow! And I am going to do lots of yoga, and playing with kitties, maybe I'll even get Robin to let me touch him! HaHa.
I hope that I am able to reclaim my happiness, and I hope I can learn to be stronger, and not let negativity bring me down. And today I am going to compliment and encourage anyone I can today. We all need a high five every now and then.

More Reasons that Animals Rule, and People Drool

Yesterday marked a week since I grabbed Robin and brought him inside. I have to be honest, when my neighbor said that she couldn't take him, I was feeling very stressed and overwhelmed, and scared. And if I am being 100% I was a little pissed too, although I wasn't sure who I was pissed at!
Well, a week later I still feel a little overwhelmed, but the stress and irritation for the most part are gone. And I have no one to thank except my lovely cats. Robin is so smart, teaching himself to use the litter box, and he is so brave to face this hostile environment all alone! And my adult kitties have gotten over themselves, and there has even been a little bit of play here and there, so all is good in my cat hood.
I feel very warmhearted about this experience because seriously, that first morning was very scary, and I wondered if my cats would ever warm up. And I've come to realize that I also needed this experience as I have become a much more cynical person, and I very much needed this positive experience, and a chance to see kindness, and acceptance.
In my opinion the human race has become less and less kind, and less and less sensitive, and I happen to live in a city that is abnormally insensitive, and intolerant, and it really has had a negative effect on my attitude towards people, and I have to really fight to have any optimism. And to me, that is a very dark place to be. So once again, how amazing are animals!
And as a sidenote, I am living proof that you can have multiple animals in a home, and if you are willing to accept that you will have to be doing some extra scooping, and vacuuming you can still have a clean and fresh smelling home. And, you don't have to use fake smelly, harsh toxic cleaners either, I promise.  You do need to have a constant supply of lint rollers on hand for clothes, as most of mine come out of the dryer somewhat furry. Ha ha.

Not just for the Bourgeois

So I have been loosely following the Raw till 4 lifestyle, and I do feel great! And I do feel like my body responds very well to a high fruit diet. On those end of the week days when I'm running low on fresh produce, I notice a difference in my energy levels when I haven't eaten fresh fruit for breakfast.
My dinners vary in what I eat, but needless to say my diet is 95 percent unprocessed foods. Because of my economic status, and also my love of cooking, that has been the way I've eaten for years. That is one positive thing about being on the underpaid side of life, eating out, or premade is just really not an option. This summer I have been eating a lot of Bibimbap, and lots of chopped style salads. For the most part, my dinner is often at least half raw also. It has been pretty easy so far. In the past when I would look into a more Raw lifestyle, it seemed very intimidating to say the least. Some of the videos I have seen on YouTube seem to devote every minute to either eating, or preparing food. For me, it has always seemed unrealistic, and not only that, but as someone who comes from an eating disordered past, I am not going back to a place ruled by food. Another issue I had was of course finances. I cannot afford to buy mass quantities of organic produce. I live in a city that doesn't even have a farmers market! And the few farm stands I've come  across use pesticides. In terms of organic, I don't have the luxury of buying all organic, however I definitely try my best to follow the dirty dozen. So I say all of that to say that I have to make a pound of organic strawberries last for at least two meals, or two to three smoothies. So for all of those reasons I always thought of a raw diet as not realistic, and like many things in life, not for us poors.
Well thanks to Fit on Raw, and Freelee the Banana Girl, two awesome YouTube channels, I learned that I too can eat Raw foods, and it just felt more comforting to have the option of eating a cooked dinner, especially here on the east coast,because, well winter. I discovered both channels around the same time, and it was within that same week that I started doing Raw till 4. Both channels are inspiring, and are great examples of the lifestyle, as they both glow with health, which just radiates a certain natural beauty that no pill, lotion or surgery could ever give you. Neither one of them use a dehydrator, and they don't have such high maintenance eating/preparing food habits.
In the end, to sum up my babbling, I am so happy that through the interwebz I learned this new lifestyle, and a relaxed way of looking at it. It doesn't always have to be all or nothing. Sometimes I can't eat Raw till 4, sometimes I eat Earth Balance cheddar squares for lunch, but I am a)doing my best and b)eating more fruit at a time than I have ever the majority of the time and I feel great!
We are all different, and so a high carb diet may not work for everyone, I am certainly no where near being a doctor. But a lesson I have learned is whatever kind of vegan someone needs to be, it is attainable. There is information for anyone, any income, and any dietary restrictions. There is no reason to feel obsessive about food. And when you find what clicks with your body, well it is pretty amazing!