Vegan Shopping List Trial #1

OK, went to the grocery store tonight to prep for my vegetarian/vegan lifestyle...

Things I bought:

Earth Balance buttery spread (better than real butter IMO)

Collard Greens (never tried, but I have a good recipe)

All natural peanut butter

Rice cakes

Amy's Organic soups and Soy Mac & Cheese (the mac & cheese was amazing, I had it for dinner)

Silk Light soy milk (my favorite soy brand)

Celery (for a recipe)

Cabbage (for a recipe)

Raisins (for a recipe)

Pine Nuts (for a recipe)

Unrefined Sea Salt

Brown Rice Vinegar

Anyway, it is a start for now! I want to make one or two recipes at a time... I will be trying a collard green recipe and a noodle recipe over the next few days and will let you know how those go! Wish me luck! :)

This was supposed to be our Christmas card picture, but for some reason I couldn't make the Kodak creator work properly! Anyway, Merry Christmas to all! Peace, love and happiness from Ron and me!

I'm Baaaaack!

I am back on the bloggin wagon as of today! A lot has happened since Easter (my last blog), but I am back to report the happening of the holiday season and the beginning of 2010!

The good things that have happened since....

I lost 60lbs to date

I began working for weight watchers as a part-time receptionist on Saturday mornings

I started a new job

Ron and I are still holding strong

I got to see my family quite a bit over the last year (mostly for good reasons :)

Riley is losing weight!

I am sure there are others, but that's a brief overview for now!

I also haven't eaten red meat in a year! And I am prepping myself to go vegan... I read a book that changed my life and my outlook on the FDA and animal cruelty and I just can't bring myself to continue to eat animals. I know it sounds corny, but if you want to continue eating meat, DO NOT read The Kind Diet (although I do recommend :) I will be reporting on new vegan recipes that I am trying and will post updates on here as well. As I did with my weight loss journey, blogging has helped me stay true to myself and focused on my goals!

More Easter pics!

EASTER!

Tricia

HAPPY EASTER! I spend Easter with my aunt and family in upstate NY! It was so great seeing everyone and I am really glad that I was able to visit! I posted some pics of our egg dying/blowing lesson! Apparently (I learned) that my mom's family "blew out" eggs as an Ukrainian tradition growing up... so, my cousin, Tricia, and I decided that we'd carry on the tradition by blowing out the eggs and then hand painting them!  I painted the striped egg and Tricia decorated the more "fancy" aka "artsy" egg, LOL (above).

I had a great time and I really enjoyed seeing everyone, especially my aunt! My little chicklet! She still cracks me up! Love you Bon Bon! 

I have more pics that will follow of us cousins! 

Florida!

Here are some pics that I took in Florida!  It was so good seeing my family and friends! Definitely worth the week of unemployment I endured!  I was laid off on March 24th from my job that I was at for the last two years... not fun, but everything happens for a reason and I knew at some point, I needed to get out of there, because instead of growing, the company was shrinking fast! So, I interviewed for a Media Planner position only two days after my lay off day and a week later, they offered me the job! I will continue as a Media Planner, working on a variety of accounts, but my main account will be Equinox gyms.  I am very excited! I start tomorrow! Wish me luck! 

Anyway, enjoy my FLORIDA PICS!

Hiking up Bear Mountain!

Ron and I went hiking this past Sunday up Bear Bear in the Hudson Valley of NY.  We took the bus from Port Authority and spent the day hiking.  Of course, we had no map, but I looked back online afterwards and realized that the trail we took was marked "strenuous" and it was 2 miles up and 2 miles back down! It was SUCH an accomplishment! Ron and I packed a lunch and ate it on the top of the mountain! 

Here are some pics... the view was gorgeous! Don't mind the pics of Ron adn I.. they aren't the best... remember, like I said, the trail was marked "strenuous" LOL..

WANTED

I forgot to post this, but as Ron and I were walking in Chelsea, we found a Wanted sign posted in a corner deli of Ron.  Who knew he was wanted for sex abuse, LOL...

(It doesn't REALLY look like him, but as we were walking past it quickly, at a glance, it looked awfully similar...) 

Killer dog.. watch out!!!

This is a funny picture I took of Riley when he was sleeping on his back... he is so weird!  

My 24th Birthday!

Since the St. Patty's Day parade landed on the same day as my birthday, Ron and I had a little get together with some friends at our new apartment.  It was such a good time! And the weather was gorgeous: the high was 65! This is crazy since we had a massive snow storm a few days ago! We grilled, went to the parade and had a lot of fun.  Most of the friends there were UF friends or work friends... Thank you to everyone who came and made my birthday so special! And a special thanks to Ron, who organized the whole things and surprised us with a platter from Arther Ave, and my Mom, who send a fruit bouquet! 

Here are some pics! Enjoy! 

I heard it through the grapevine...

Wanted to mention...

I heard that some people I never thought read my blog actually do! 

Great news because sometimes I wonder why I am writing to myself on here, lol.

It gives me more of a reason to post more often! If you read this, comment once in awhile! I'd like to hear from everyone!

What breaks in a moment may take years to mend

I thought this was a good quote to explain my now "bum" quasimoto-looking finger.  I went to the orthopedic  doctor today for a follow-up on my broken finger.  It is healing well, but still has a few more weeks for the fracture to go completely away. The doctor said that the break was one of the worst he's seen for the stupid way I broke it! I told the dr. that although it feels much better than before, it is still crooked compared to the other fingers.  He (in so many words) told me to get used to it, because it will look like that forever! LOL. GREAT!

I also found this lump on my wrist and got that checked out today too... just a cyst, which does need to be drained or removed, just monitored. 

The snow was crazy today! We had about a foot here in Hoboken, which never really happens that close to the city.  Riley prances through the snow like a reindeer- so funny! Riley was hilarious during his morning walk today-- the snow was up to his face and since the snow was touching his "man area," he didn't know which leg to life while peeing, so alternated lifting each leg over and over again... I swear, he is the weirdest dog!

For anyone that's wondering, I did go to church this Sunday, but with my luck, the Mass was in Italian! Go figure! Now I know that the 10:30 Mass is not for me! 

This weekend is my birthday, so I am pretty excited.  I am having a few friends over for drinks/lunch, followed by the Hoboken St. Patty's Day parade!  For anyone that is not familiar with the city of Hoboken, it is pretty much know for three things:

1. Being Frank Sinatra's hometown

2. Baseball originated here

3. the St. Patrick's Day parade (which, ironically, is never actually on St. Patty's Day)

This year, the parade lands on my birthday, so it should be a good time and will give my friends in the city more of a reason to venture over to Hoboken... The St. Patty's celebration in Hoboken is pretty much like Mardi Gras on Bourbon St. (not kidding)! 

Lent

Well today is the first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday.  I was a good Catholic girl today and I went with some of my co-workers to get my ashes.  Before today, I can't even tell you the last time I got my ashes.  This year I am giving up Facebook for Lent! I also vow to go to church every Sunday during Lent and I hope to continue church-going past Lent as I'd like to become a more spiritual person (as much as I can, lol)_).  

Last week I started back doing my strict WW routine, following the points system, exercising at least a 1/2 hour 5x/week, etc.  In addition, I gave up red meat (I am going to try to do this forever) and I'd like to slowly cut back on my dairy intake.  I started this by replacing milk with Light Silk soy milk, which I love! The chocolate one tastes like Yoohoo, its great!

Being in the new apartment, I'd like to make these changes and set these goals and start living a more healthy lifestyle... both nutritionally, mentally and spiritually. I will be sure to blog my progress with this.  I even got a new haircut to kick it all off! I got 4 inches cut off, so now my hair is the length of my collarbone.  I will post a picture or two once they are uploaded. 

Love is Like...

This video is so cute! It's a must see! 

Happy Valentine's Day to all!

Ron and I will be laying low at home but I'll be baking and relaxing... I will post some pics too! 

Marlei and Skylar

Ron's nieces, Marlei and Skylar...  at Grandma's house celebrating post-Christmas! Since we were in FL this year for the holidays, we celebrated Christmas again in January.  It was actually kind of nice to do this in old January where there's nothing really to look forward to! 

Skylar is about one and a half here; Marlei is about 1 and a half months. 

A house is made of walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams

I thought this was a cute quote! So, Ron and I found a new apartment and we're finally MOVING! We signed the lease last week and move in on January 31st.  The apartment is very nice... has a washer/dryer, gym, pool, etc.  This is really cool for us since its very hard to find these amenities in the city! Oh what we take for granted in Florida! Here are a few pics of the new place! We purchased most of our furniture today from Rooms to Go-- a bed, 2 nightstands, a dresser, a sleeper sofa and loveseat.  Since our current apartment is furnished, we had to buy this stuff.. Oh, thank God for tax returns! 

I'll be sure to re-post more pics after we move in! 

The average dog is a nicer person than the average person

A little shrine to my doggies... Gia Louise Lincoln and Riley McFarland Lincoln-Fillman.

They had so much fun together at my Mom's in Stuart when they were reunited after a year of being apart! Riley hasn't been the same since we got back to Hoboken- he loves his Gia and misses her (so do I). If only Riles were trained as well as Gia! 

Sisters are different flowers from the same garden

So, Sam got a JOB! AND a license! Well she's had both for awhile now, but my visit home was the first time I drove with her and saw her hard at work!  She works at Regency movie theater.  She even had to work on Christmas and Christmas Eve- what a busy bee hard at work! I am so proud of her and I know she will do great after high school!  These pictures are of Sam and I, Sam at work (because Ron and I had to embarrass her on the job), and some of her dance team at their Christmas party! So cute! Love you Pot!