One thing I do want to talk about is this great article I stumbled upon entitled Meat Alternatives Explained. It compares tofu, tempeh and seitan from calories to nutrients and everything in between. This is great information for veteran Veggies like myself, but also pretty invaluable for newbies or those who are thinking about becoming a Vegetarian. Of the 3 mentioned, I have never tried tempeh- I can’t believe it myself but it’s true. I’ve seen it at the stores but thought, ‘another processed mock meat. Do I really need ANOTHER one?’ and I turned the other way. This article though really explains it and almost makes me want to try it…After all, it’s basically just like tofu but the soybeans are fermented.

I recently entered the 21st Century and traded in my cell phone for an iPhone. Yeah, seriously. I was one of those people without one. How did I survive you ask? I never thought I wanted one…never thought I needed one! Now that I have the damn thing, I can’t seem to stop playing with it. What I’m most curious (and excited) about is the world of ‘apps’ and all that we can now see and do with the touch on the screen. For those of us trying to live healthy and happy, the possibilities for apps to help with that are endless. I’m still wading through many available but welcome suggestions on iPhone apps you have tried and love- that help you in every day life. Now I don’t mean the games…I mean a seriously helpful or handy app you think has somehow improved your life or helped in a significant way. I’d love to know! So far I’ve found calorie counting apps, pedometers, blood type diets and yoga to name a few! How is a person to choose what are really the good apps vs the junk apps?

So while I play around with my iPhone I’m also thinking of a friend of mine, Rebecca and her recent Gratitude Challenge. Each day I’m reading her inspirational posts on Facebook about the simple things in life she gives thanks for. It reminds me I haven’t sat down and looked at what I’m grateful in a very, very long time. It’s a sad fact I have to stop and think about this; instead of rejoicing daily on the ‘little things’. I was reminded of this the other day at work; one of our long-time Clients was talking to me and she passed on some advice: “Don’t sleep too much because life passes you by!”. She is 73 years old and commented that sometimes she wakes up late in the day and is sad she lost time because she doesn’t have much left…I personally think she’s 73 years YOUNG and has so much damn energy and fire in her, she will outlive me!

But her comment reminds me to stop and savour each moment, each day. I’m thankful I have a home and clean water to drink…I’m thankful I have treasured friends who all may not live close to me but are with me in spirit each and every day…I’m thankful I have My Guy to give me a hug when I need one and thankful I in turn, can brighten someone else’s day too…I’m thankful I have a job that pays the bills and allows me freedom to keep my options open…I’m thankful my parents are healthy and the sun shone today.

It’s the little things that make up the whole picture. One day at a time is all we can do, and all we can expect others to do as well. Don’t look too far ahead that you lose sight of today.

Love the ones you’re with and love them like there is no tomorrow.

Be strong and healthy. Make good choices in everything you do.

And finally, sleep well Dream big.

That additive is called carageenan and she first noticed it in her soy milk (I ran home and checked my beloved Silk Soy Milk and sure enough, it’s listed as an ingredient). Carageenan comes from algae or seaweed and is often used as a thickener in place of an animal product, such as gelatin. Its found in most soy milks to thicken and allow for a more “cow’s milk” like texture and mouth feel. I decided to do some of my own research and found this ingredient in the following items: beer, toothpaste, 4 brands of soy milk at the grocery store, pet food and diet soda. I realized at this point, I could probably look at almost every item in the grocery store and find carageenan.

So what’s the big deal you ask? So what if there is a natural additive in our food? When I think “natural” I think of MSG which is extracted from rice or good ‘ol asparatame from decayed plant matter…all natural baby!

When carageenan gets singled out in numerous articles and studies online, as well as from some personal sources, it makes me wonder. Digging a little deeper I found that since the 1940′s when it was discovered, carageenan has been used frequently in lab tests to produce inflammatory tumors and immunodeficiency related conditions. It has long been written about as a ‘toxin’ or ‘allergen’ and those with forms of colitis should steer clear of foods that contain it.

I feel I’ve only hit the tip of the iceberg here and want to explore the world of carageenan further. I wanted to get the word out now and hope that my readers may want to share their experiences. I’ve only found 2 soymilks that do NOT use this additive so far: 8th Continent and Vitasoy and neither of these I personally drink.

Since I’m on a quest to find out as many triggers I can for my own tummy and bowel issues, I thought this was a topic worth mentioning. Stay tuned.

He then countered with, “What about our trip to Kelowna? Maybe a picture? What about the loss of your favourite restaurant there and if anyone knows what happened? Happy memories and sad losses…write about that.” Boom. An idea was formed. He’s right. I do have *something* to say. It may not be super interesting or appeal to everyone, but I do have some words to write down at least. Writing is usually relaxing for me because I get so excited when ideas form and I can’t seem to get them down fast enough…I want to share. But lately I have been feeling as if I have nothing ‘interesting’ to say so therefore I shouldn’t say anything at all. My faithful readers reassure me this isn’t so, but one is allowed to have self-doubt and worry at times and this is my time…perhaps if my hockey team brought home the Cup my mood might be somewhat lightened.

This past Saturday we all got up fairly early and as we were enjoying a leisurely breakfast and wondering when summer would come, it hit me: road trip. I suggested we get ready and be on the road within the hour with a destination of Kelowna, B.C.

The view from Knox Mountain, Kelowna BC

It’s always warm in Kelowna in the summer and the city is surrounded by a huge lake and sandy beaches. I figured it was the perfect place to spend a Saturday with the people I love. We piled in the car, told Moops to bring at least 4 books for the drive, and headed off into the mountains! Aside from the one teeny issue of forgetting my CD’s in the house, the trip went off without a hitch. We stopped for breakfast in Hope at My Guy’s fave truck stop diner and then drove in earnest totally enjoying the scenery and playing silly word games. Once upon a time I lived in Kelowna and have always liked the city; it’s not too big and not too small. It’s known for it’s wineries and diverse landscape that goes from tumbleweeds in the summer to dry snow in the winter.

We window shopped up Bernard Street and I recognized maybe 2 shops in all the ones we saw! So much change…so much time has passed really. Moops wanted a playground so we walked to the City Park where it seems time stood still. Jewellery vendors, craftsman and henna artists lined the pathway selling what looked like the same wares of years ago. The sun was shining, everyone was smiling and the lake was dotted with lucky boaters. We then headed up to Knox Mountain for views that literally left My Guy and Moops speechless. Knox Mountain is the PERFECT place to sit and reflect on life…the view is never tiring and there are no sounds of the city to be heard. We came face to face with a deer and only had the music of thousands of crickets to keep us company. Life was good.

Then it shattered. In a million little pieces. My favourite Vegetarian restaurant Lake Thai was gone- vanished without a trace. We drove into the Mission area to go to Lake Thai; I’d long since told My Guy and Moops endless stories of this tiny restaurant known for it’s vegan and vegetarian fare unlike anything I’d ever had before. I had planned to treat them to the BEST sweet and sour ‘pork’ in the world. My eyes couldn’t comprehend that the restaurant was gone. I was unwilling to believe and had to call 411 for information. When the operator told me there was no Lake Thai in Kelowna I said he was a liar. OK not to his face…to My Guy. I insisted he MUST BE WRONG. I didn’t bother checking before we left because Lake Thai was always there…I’m still shaken by it. I researched it more when we got home and of course, same old story you hear everywhere nowadays- lease runs out on a small business, condo developers sweep in and buy out the block so they can build more 500 square foot tiny little apartments to sell for half a million dollars. If anyone in Kelowna knows where the folks went who owned Lake Thai, or if they plan in re-opening somewhere else please let me know.

I have some good info ready for another ‘Things I’m Excited About’ post so I hope you check back soon.

Our Boys have one more chance on Wednesday to bring it home- GO CANUCKS GO.

Something else that is extremely noticeable is the fact I can have (and enjoy) a 2nd cup from the same pot. Usually we make small pots because the 2nd cup of most coffees tastes burnt, hot and stale. I’m not kidding when I say the 2nd cup tastes damn fine. It’s amazing and we’re both quite surprised over that fact.

We’re drinking it right now. Check out this cool brew- it’s worth a sip or two. My heartfelt thanks to the great Folks at The Antioxidant Cafe for sending me some beans. My Guy and I are really enjoying this stuff and so are our co-workers! We’re not sharing it all though!!

I think later tonight I’ll take a little walk or a bike ride. These past couple of weeks with the non-stop rain that has hit the city, really took a toll on me. I was struggling to stay awake; it’s amazing what a little sun can do for my spirit though. It shone today in a perfectly cloudless blue sky. Heaven. I was inside the clinic working, but I did manage to find little reasons to wander around outside and soak up some precious (and much needed) Vitamin D. It feels as though Vancouver never really got Spring, and now summer is a month away! I have so many hopes and plans for the summer; we’re not going anywhere, but my goal is for us to be outside in the garden or out on our bikes making the most of it.

Hopefully this warm weather is here to stay because it’s so much easier to get, and stay, motivated to exercise. We all know exercise is crucial to our well being, our self esteem and our outlook on life- and when we forget to do it the effects can be debilitating. Isn’t it so much easier to go for a walk after work in the sun, rather than to trudge through the rain? When it’s sunny maybe you want to walk to work, but if it’s raining? Not so much. I’m not making excuses, I’m just being real. Sunshine and warm weather makes me want to get outside, and if I’m out there I will exercise. I can’t stress how important exercise is. We all have to make an effort to get out each day and move our bodies. One of my ideas was to go out for a bike ride BEFORE work. I thought it might be a nice way to begin the morning with the fresh air and few cars on the road. Part of me isn’t quite ready to ride to work, only because I’m having trouble overcoming my fear of riding in busy traffic and since I’d have to go through the downtown core…I couldn’t possibly avoid the traffic! I got dinged by a truck 2 weeks ago on a ride and I’m having trouble shaking that…

I’m feeling very thankful these days. I absolutely love My Guy and when I look at him I think, “I waited years to meet you, but I’m so glad I found you.” Do you know that feeling? I get a little thrill when I receive a silly text message from him…or when he rubs my shoulders for no reason. I don’t need a man in my life for it to be complete- but it’s certainly a lovely life to have when you’re with someone you love. The only thing that is missing is a job that pays me what I’m worth for what I do, and for the care we all put into animals. It’s a shame Animal Health pays so little…we all do it for the LOVE and the desire to help those who can’t ask for it…but it’s sometimes a thankless job. I love what I do, I truly do…but it doesn’t pay the bills necessarily every month. I wrestle with that; the need to move on in order to survive. I’m just weighing the pros and cons…

Are you happy where you are? Are you doing what you love and surviving? If so, my heart is happy. There’s no better feeling.  Hold on to it.

That’s it tonight. No reviews and no “things I’m curious about” etc. Sorry to disappoint! Just me and my evening rambles and I thank each of you, as always, for reading.

Now go pull your bike out of the garage or storage area, clean it up and make it road worthy…and join me in MOVING YOUR BODY.

The site claims, “One of the worlds great food science teams has spent the last 7 years perfecting a patented method of replacing the valuable antioxidants that are lost from the premium brand coffees during the roasting process.” I’ll be damned. I NEED TO TRY THIS COFFEE. I’m curious and who wouldn’t be? My question is; is the roast still good? Is the actual coffee still good? The antioxidant claim is only a bonus IF the coffee TASTES good. I have a feeling this stuff is only available online though…I’ll keep ya’ll posted.

My Guy discovered the coolest mammal today online. I can’t believe I don’t know about this creature.

It’s called a Fossa; and is closely related to the mongoose family. I love the lines on this animal! He’s sleek, cat-like but also very lithe…it’s easy to see the mongoose family in his features. Native to Madagascar (home to those cool lemurs of course) and is on the endangered animal list…Such a beautiful creature.

That’s it for now- My Guy’s mom is about to Skype us so I must run

Once we got back from the ride, I traded the motorcycle helmet for MY KICK ASS NUTCASE bike helmet and took off for a ride. I thought I’d take a new route and basically, well, got lost. I went farther into the East side and then turned south…but couldn’t find a bike street to take me back west so ended up almost down by the river…but it was an awesome ride nevertheless! I was actually HOT with the sun beating  down on me, and as I cruised around taking it all in I wondered at the amazing vehicle a pedal-bike truly is. I felt like my legs would take me anywhere I wanted. It was all in my power, I could go anywhere…

The helmet rocks by the way. Totally unobtrusive. Fits like a glove- not too tight and not too loose of course. The strap is wide and comfortable- it’s very light weight…and hell it looks good.

Something else I’m pretty excited about? Netflix. We finally got it. We stopped our cable TV a few weeks ago because honestly, the prices you are expected to pay here by the one major cable provider…starts with an S….ends in a W….are outrageous. Plus we have little choice here in Vancouver…so we decided we’re not going to pay those prices and besides, maybe cancelling cable TV will get us out more. And there is Moops to think of…we all need to BIKE MORE! Anyway I digress. (So excited I  forgot my train of thought…) Netflix. $7.99 a month. Movies. Good TV shows…movies…$7.99 a month. We’re stoked about it and this next month will be a test since it’s the FREE TRIAL and if all goes well, we like it….hey $7.99 is the cost one bloody new release almost at the video store! My Guy is seriously pumped about the documentary selection available…

If you’re like me, the Seal Hunt makes you sick and disgusted. Please check out this amazingly cute, and informative video about the Canadian Seal hunt. Yeah so I’m personally invested a little in it, but put that aside, and watch it because you support those who are against the Seal Hunt. Watch it because you think, and feel, that animals should be the only ones wearing their OWN FUR. Watch it because all life is precious. My heart thanks you…

Now that Spring is really here, get out and ENJOY IT. Seize each day like it’s the dawn of a new beginning. Feel the wind in your hair, get your legs pumping and don’t forget to EAT FRUIT. (oh and your veggies.)

Now go out there. Enjoy. Be. Move. Live.

I had an awesome bike ride through my beautiful Mount Pleasant neighborhood the other night. It was so nice to just coast along the flat parts of Ontario Street and watch life go on around me. The green spaces were full, front yards had children playing, bikes were whizzing past me and runners out as well. Everyone was out and the feeling that Spring is finally here, was palpable. It’s been a great week for exercising for me; I ran farther than I’ve run before at the beginning of the week but I also paid for that act by a throbbing knee! No worries. I’m resting it up and using my bike until I’m ready to use it again…This is a perfect time to begin an exercise program or to get back out if you’ve gotten a little lazy over the winter. There is nothing better than a spring day, with the fresh smell of grass, earth and leaves upon a slightly brisk wind…you can feel the warmth of the sun and know that soon it will be summer and it’s full strength will blast down on us! I feel energized at this time of year and have no desire to visit the gym. I want to feel the air and see others out and about, moving and celebrating the moment.

Grab a friend and go for a walk. Or pull out your bike and do a little tune up. When was the last time you rode it? Is it road-ready? Spring is meant to be enjoyed and savoured. It’s a time for new growth and new beginnings. Maybe you slipped on your New Years Resolution…so what? Spring is re-birth so make a new resolution and jump right into it!

My spring day involves waiting on the seitan to bake…a bike ride…a stop at Michaels for some stuff…and who knows what else?

What does YOUR spring day involve? Oh and yes, for those inquiring minds emailing me about the sietan, I WILL post pics of the baked stuff once it’s done!

The seitan is simmering. I have no idea what to expect. I was going to document the whole thing with pictures and provide a step-by-step guide on making it, and tips and tricks…but thought I better actually wait to see if this recipe and this method actually turns out! It’s cooking now, and I won’t lie to you, it looks like beef! I’m a little put off by that; but it’s due to the soy sauce in the recipe. I may omit it, or substitute something else for next batch because I would prefer something a little lighter in colour. Even though I’m vegetarian it’s hard to look at the dark seitan and not see “beef” whereas if I had a lighter colored piece, I would look at it and see “chicken”.

But regardless of the actual COLOUR, I need to wait and see if this is edible first. This is my 3rd attempt at making seitan- the other 2 were well over 3 years ago and I never thought I would try again. I just think with the rising grocery costs, and the often too-expensive veg specialty products we rely on, this may be the next best thing for us.

Just checked in on the seitan and I literally gasped, and called out to Moops “It looks like boiled beef!” She didn’t believe me and was adamant it couldn’t look like beef….so she came and took a look. Her words, “Eww we’re having beef for dinner??!!” I thought I was going to lose her and she might not want to try the finished product so I had to remind her how much she loves gardein’s Beefless Beef tips! Disaster averted. (Pretty sure I have never used the word “beef” so many times in one paragraph IN MY LIFE.)

Simmering gently...no boiling!

The seitan after 1.5 hours; seconds to go from being turned off and allowed to cool down in the broth (I tasted it and it’s got that dreaded RUBBERY texture! This is exactly what happened before. Grrr) I will have to be as patient as possible and wait….until it’s finally ready. I’ll admit, I’ve nibbled a few elastic-y pieces…and the taste is good at least….

So the seitan is cooling in the pot and I stole another piece…I *think* the rubbery texture is disappearing and the actual taste is great! I think that is all to do with how well you flavour the broth since that is what the seitan will ‘soak up’ as it cooks. I sauteed onion, garlic and ginger and then used a Veggie broth, adding some sage, bay leaves, oregano and black pepper to the mix. It was a dark, intensely flavourful broth; definitely not one you would want to use alone in a soup- I made it extra flavourful for the sole purpose of cooking seitan.

1.5 hours, almost done!

Well the finished product is….drum roll please….TASTY…if not a tad rubbery….but tasty! Consensus from Moops? “DELICIOUS!” I fried it up quickly in a pan to brown the seitan.

 More to come as we experiment with seitan over the next few days…and we still haven’t gotten My Guy’s verdict! Stay tuned!

Crispy, tasty goodness on a plate...

First things first- cereal. I recently read about this company, Ambrosial Granola Cereals and my first thought was ‘Wow. This is granola at it’s finest.” The ingredients are all ones I can not only pronounce, but ones I know…this is a huge plus. I don’t want a cereal with a bunch of crap in it! Cereal is meant to be savoured…and this product looks amazing. I’m still holding out for Holy Crap cereal; I seriously want to give this stuff I try but the price point at my local IGA just isn’t feasible right now. I’ll content myself with reading product reviews…

I’m about to embark, again, on making seitan. For those not familiar with this “wheat meat”, it’s basically just that, a meat-sub made from vital wheat gluten. I’ve had it in so many tasty dishes at Chinese and Thai Buddhist restaurants in Vancouver and love the versatility of it. I tried my hand at making it a couple of years ago, but it was so tough it was inedible. I’m not sure what I did wrong because I followed the recipe exactly and was so crushed at all the wasted product…I’m determined to try it again. With the rising prices of groceries and the constant high price of vegetarian items like gardein and tofu products, I feel I have to try again. I’ll keep everyone posted! If you have a tried and true recipe, I’d love to see it…(personally speaking the mock duck stuff makes my stomach turn…)

I was away last week and got the opportunity to visit with a dear old friend. We took a stroll through an old town filled with stone houses and a covered bridge catching up on time gone by. My friend is a photographer and insisted on snapping some pics of me against backdrops of antique doors…I realized when I saw these pictures how old I look! Maybe it was because I was wearing my glasses and hadn’t yet seen any pics of me in them (I’m usually in contacts)…or maybe it’s because my hair is a boring mousy-brown. Whatever the deal is, I look old. And it’s my birthday in 2 weeks. 15 days to be exact. I’m not really looking forward to it this year; I think as more years go by the idea of another birthday loses the charm it once had. I’m not ready to be approaching the year I’m approaching- I feel I’m too old now to achieve my desires and wants. The rational part of me KNOWS this is silly; women are achieving so much later in life these days but to say I’m not scared, would be a lie. I think it’s time to find the money in the ‘ol budget to colour my hair again and maybe cut off about 4 inches or so while I’m at it. Of course this is only a temporary, physical fix but sometimes that little push is all we need…

My friend and I also discussed some website and blog ideas as well. I got excited from his enthusiasm and felt the first twinges of hope again, over what I wanted this blog to truly be. So stay tuned for some really exciting changes and developments in the very near future. Really.

Right now Moops and My Guy are watching my favourite movie of all time: Imitation of Life with Lana Turner and Juanita Moore. I have loved this movie since I was 12 years old and first saw it on TV. I’m not sure why it made such a deep impression on me, but it did. I still cry every time I see it…Juanita Moore’s character “Annie” is of such a pure spirit that it makes my heart ache. Her face and eyes smile even through the roughest moments of the movie when all the odds are against her; she never loses faith. An added bonus? The adorable Sandra Dee plays 16 year old Suzie. If you haven’t seen the movie, check it out.

Home is where my heart is. When things at work get my down and I wonder why I am where I am there…I think of those who love me and realize I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

Sure this post was supposed to be about what was getting me excited but looks like I went in a slightly different direction…