getting serious about blenders (plus a sunny green smoothie recipe!)

This post contains affiliate links to products or services I use, enjoy, and wholeheartedly endorse. Should you choose to make purchases through these links, not only are you supporting the companies or products I believe in, you are also throwing a little support my way. Thank you! 

Hello again!  Well, now that my blogger's block has seemingly been remedied (at least for now), it's time to get back to work!  And what better way to start than with a recipe for a smoothie that says SUMMER! (Goodness knows we need to look for the sun wherever we can find it - the weather surely isn't cooperating these days!)

But first...a word about BLENDERS. (Now don't get TOO excited!) ;-) Until I really started to pay attention to what I was nourishing my body with, I'll admit, smoothies weren't something I ingested on a regular basis. Part of that was not being a "smoothie person" - the idea of a meal in a cup just seemed uninteresting to me - and part of it was the fact that I've never had a blender that did what it was supposed to do properly and consistently.  At one point, my daughters introduced me to the now ubiquitous Magic Bullet - and yes, I'll admit, there's no arguing with the price point, the ease of use and clean up, and the fact that it did what it was supposed to do - make a decent single serving smoothie in under a minute. But then the problems began - when a family of four was using it regularly, it buckled under the strain - and what we basically had on our hands was a disposable blender.

By the time our Magic Bullet had decided to give up the ghost, I was starting to pay closer attention to the amazing nutritional benefits of the simple smoothie - and felt the time had come to up the ante in the blender game.  It was also around this time that I started to hear more about the Vitamix blender - how it was so much MORE than just a smoothie blender - you could use it to create everything from fresh fruit sorbets to flavourful soups (that actually warmed during the blending process).  On top of that, they're pretty much standard equipment in the kitchens of the world's best restaurants, not to mention your favourite smoothie bars and coffee joints.  At the time, I worked part time for Crate and Barrel, and had a pretty sweet employee discount, and yes, C&B carried the Vitamix line. So I was ready to go for it - but then I learned that even WITH my discount, a Vitamix would set me back for about $500.  Whoa, Nelly!!!  This is just a blender!!  Who pays $500 for a BLENDER???  Try as I might, I just couldn't justify it, even though a good friend of mine had just purchased one, and was already telling me how it was changing her life.  Still, I was skeptical.  Uh-uh.  No way.  Not me.  So I decided to use my discount to buy a top of the line (and well-reviewed) Kitchen Aid blender - which set me back for just over $100.  I was going to prove the Vitamix enthusiasts wrong!! You don't need to spend a King's ransom to produce a decent smoothie!!

Feeling rather smug, I loaded up my shiny new Kitchen Aid for its inagural green smoothie, and pressed the button.  And heard a sort of sputtering, clunking, TRYing sound from it - not a promising start.  Okay, so most blenders don't sound all that great - it's the end product that matters, right?  Well, the end product in this case was a big, icy, chunky, strawberry-seedy, disappointment.  This just wasn't the creamy, well, SMOOTH smoothie that it was supposed to be.  I wasn't going to be making creamy soups and silky smooth sorbets with this blender.  And in that moment, I had to admit defeat, and the old adage "you get what you pay for" - came glaringly to mind.

I'm sure you can guess the rest of the story - I decided the time had come to make an investment in my health.(As corny and cliche as that may sound, it's 100% true).  I bit the (magic) bullet :), found a buyer on Kijiji for my Kitchen Aid to help absorb the cost somewhat, and bought a Vitamix!   I can honestly say, without a word of a lie, that this is one kitchen appliance I've used on a consistent, almost daily basis, for the year since I've purchased it. And true to its billing, not only does it produce the smoothest smoothies, but I've also created delicious sauces, and nutrition-packed, warming soups.  Feel in the mood for frozen yogurt?  No need to head to your local fro-yo joint anymore - you can produce the same (or better) thing at home - with less sugar, and fresher fruit.  It's fast, it's fresh, it's a powerhouse.  And it should last long enough to hand down to my (future!) grandchildren.  So although you do lay down a fair amount of cash at the outset, you will likely NEVER need to replace it.  (That said,  in the unlikely event that something does go wrong with a Vitamix, they've got customer service second to none).  Honestly, once you try it, you'll understand - some people even travel with their Vitamix, they find it such an essential part of their lives - check out one of my all time fave musicians, Michael Franti, rocking his Vitamix (with the added bonus of his recipe for an awesome salad dressing!):



Now, all that said, while this is definitely an investment in your health, I concede it is still quite a serious financial investment as well, and that it may not be in everyone's budget.  However - if you, like me, have reached a point where you think a Vitamix would be an essential tool in your kitchen AND your health and wellness regimen, I'm here to offer you a small reprieve.  As a proud Vitamix affiliate, I am authorized to offer you free shipping if you order direct from their website. To lose the shipping costs, you can click on the Vitamix graphic on the sidebar to the right to order online....(I love the look of the newest addition to the Vitamix line - their S30 personal blender - so adorable!) 

OR, if online shopping isn't your thing, call Vitamix toll free at 1-800-848-2649 and use this code: 06-009805 - to get free standard shipping ($25US/$35CDN).  I know it's not a huge amount, but hey, every little bit helps!  If you're not ready right now, the offer on free shipping is indefinite - feel free to come on back if and when you're ready. :)

Okay.  So much for my little sales pitch - if you've gotten this far, thank you for reading - but please also know that I will NEVER endorse a product that I'm not 100% passionate about - I truly BELIEVE in this product.  As your reward for sticking with me, here's how you might put your Vitamix to good use if you already have one - or when you get one.  (This recipe will work in a regular blender...it just won't be as smooth a smoothie as a Vitamix smoothie!)  So without further ado, (and hopefully a refrain from using the word SMOOTHIE any more) - here's my recipe for a tropical, sunny, summer.....s-word ;-) that will not only taste AHHH-mazing, but will boost your nutrition levels to the max! 

Pineapples and mangoes top the list of fruits that have potent anti-inflammatory properties - pineapples for their active enzyme bromelain, and mangoes for their polyphenols (organic micronutrients) - so slurp up the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant goodness in this delicious, easy to make smoothie and enjoy the added benefits!  (Remember, strive to use organic ingredients wherever possible!) 

Ingredients

1 c. almond milk (you can use store bought, but with a Vitamix, you can make your own - which is always the best choice.  Tutorial to come...) :)
1 c. chopped fresh pineapple chunks 
1 c. frozen mango (or a mixture of mango and strawberries)
1 handful spinach
1 tbsp. hemp seeds
1 tbsp. chia seeds (for protein and to help thicken)
1 tbsp. goji berries

Instructions

Place all ingredients in the blender in the order as listed. 
Blend. 
Enjoy! 

blogger's block, taking risks, and unexpected blessings

Hey there! It's been a little while since I've posted anything - NOT that I think anyone out there is waiting with wild anticipation to see what I'm going to write about next - but I'm aware of a lapse in blogging, and it seems that during my little hiatus, I've developed my first case of blogger's block.  So in an effort to try to break through the wall, I thought I'd just share with you my thoughts on this first month or so of "real" blogging.

I'm not really sure what compelled me to decide to blog on a more regular basis.  Oh, there's no question that I enjoy writing - and I've mentioned previously that blogging is, of course, a wonderful outlet for ALL the frustrated writers of the world (regardless of how many may actually end up reading your blog - the point is just to write).  I also enjoy that more regular blogging has rekindled my interest in photography - I'd forgotten just how satisfying it can be to set up a shot in your head, and have the real thing turn out exactly as you'd envisioned it.  So that answers the WHY...but again, just WHAT exactly compelled me to ramp up the blogging?

Well, I know it may sound crazy - but it was just one of those intuitive "gut" feelings that told me the time was NOW to take a deep dive into the blogging pool.  It was something I'd tried on several previous (and unsuccessful) outings - but THIS time, I really felt there was an intangible something pushing me forward.  I had no idea what, but that little voice was telling me the time had come to take a RISK, ignore all those warnings not to disclose too much of myself, and to stop worrying about what any potential readers might think of me.  To just blog in my own "voice", and let it flow naturally.  And so that's exactly what I did - and what I have continued to do for almost two months now.....aaaaand, so far, so good (aside from this hopefully temporary case of blogger's block).  I almost even have a whole $5.00 in my AdSense account - woohooooo!  ;-)

Okay - so now on to those unexpected blessings...

Now that's a creed to live by! :) 

I believe that one VERY positive aspect of my increased presence online actually led me to be involved in a MOST exciting project over the past month.  Meghan Telpner, my teacher, mentor, and director of the shiny brand new Academy of Culinary Nutrition, approached me to ask if I would be interested in assisting her team to prep food to be photographed for her upcoming UnDiet Cookbook (release date TBA).  Wow!!! Would I???? YOU BET!!!  So for nine days in April, over a three week span, I headed down to Meghan's famed pink kitchen on Mondays to help prepare the most delicious array of healthy goodness you can imagine - which would have been good enough on its own - oh, but there was more, much more!

Where the magic happens - in the famous "pink kitchen"! 

On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, we headed to the studios of uber talented food photographer, Maya Visnyei, to assist food stylist extraordinaire, Ashley Denton, to prepare the food he would be turning into incredible, edible, works of art.  An aspiring food stylist/food photographer's dream, to work with two of the best in the business! NEVER in a million years did I think that one day I would be involved (in my own small way) in such an exciting creative project - and with such absolutely lovely people to boot.  I can't stress enough how much I enjoyed working with each and every one of the people involved in this project - Meghan, of course, but also Ashley, Maya, Sara, (the hardest working prop stylist in the business!), and my co-preppers (and fellow bloggers) Alina and Sofia.  It was a true honour and pleasure working with ALL of you.  Thank you again Meghan for offering me this amazing and unforgettable opportunity.  Get ready world - the UnDiet Cookbook will be beautiful - and will knock your socks off!! :) An added bonus - sampling all Meghan's scrumpdiddlyicious (and let's not forget nutritious!) recipes after their glamour shots had been taken! YUM.

I photo-documented this awesome experience in this little Instagram/Flipagram video - (I tried for an hour to embed it here, with no luck)...but in its place I offer you a look at that time I was almost a hand model...George Costanza would be so proud! ;-)

With Maya and Meghan

Hey!!! Guess what?  I think this little exercise actually has helped me push that big blogging boulder out of my path...and perhaps also helped me realize that one really should have faith in that little intuitive voice. Without this blog, I don't think I would have been offered the opportunity to work with Meghan and her team on the cookbook shoot, so I've already reaped benefits beyond my wildest imagination due to this little blog 'o mine.  So throw those intentions out there to the universe, people, and take a risk every now and then - you just never know what the universe will throw back at you!

walking on...garbage?

Good Saturday morning and happy Easter weekend to you!  I spent my Friday off yesterday doing absolutely NOTHING - which was quite lovely given the busy week I had.  The weather yesterday was rather gloomy though - but today the sun is shining, and it's a...



(Yep, I'll take any excuse I can to fit music into my posts...) :)

Anyway, it IS a beautiful day, so I started off my day today with a LONG overdue walk.  I've never been a gym type of person, and although I enjoy the benefits of yoga and the practice in general, my joints aren't what they used to be - so it's not really an option for me at the moment.  That leaves me with my old go-to - walking.  It's not the most exciting exercise, but it's the one I can stay most consistent with, and as the main thing is just to keep moving, it works for me.  I'll be honest though - with the winter we've just endured, walking outside was simply not appealing, and yes, I also confess my treadmill sat mostly idle during the winter of the polar vortex - and so did I.  :(  But here comes the sun, and hopefully with it, early morning walks, long cycling excursions, and kayaking in cottage country.  I'm just going to DO IT - no excuses.

But back to today's walk.  So the sun is shining, the birds are tweeting, people are out and about.  There's an air of general positivity in the atmosphere, Katy Perry is telling me I'm a firework through my headphones, and my pace is brisk. I've almost completed my 3 kms (baby steps, people, it's my first walk in a while!) and I'm into the home stretch, and then I see this on the ground in front of me:

A few steps later, and this is in my path:

Turn my head to the right, and look what I see:

Wow, if those disgusting warnings aren't enough to turn you off smoking... 

And finally:

Okay, I know I said I didn't want this blog to get all preachy, or focus on the negative...but I might make a teeny tiny exception to that rule for just a moment.  But first, full disclosure - at one time or another, I've ingested (the contents of) every one of the above discarded items - in fact, that was even "my brand" of cigarette way back in the day (I never smoked heavily - was probably what was considered a "social smoker".  I haven't touched one in almost 20 years - but still, I smoked, and I'm not happy about or proud of it).  I've never been a big coffee/tea drinker, but on occasion I will drink a Tim's coffee.  Today though, I was struck with a myriad of thoughts when I saw all this fast food/cigarette litter - all within 10 paces of each other:

1. It's LITTER.  Where did the people who tossed these things think this stuff would end up?  Did they even care?
2. It's litter from containers that held things that are the cause of major health issues - diabetes (sodas); cancer, heart disease (cigarettes); high blood pressure (coffee); cancer and who knows what other assortment of diseases (processed, fried, GMO-laden fast food).  
3. I know the winter/melting snow leaves a LOT of flotsam and jetsam on the streets of the city - but I sure didn't see any discarded packages of say, chia seeds or spinach on the street - so not only is there definitely a HUGE volume of this so-called convenience food being consumed - but its packaging is also not being responsibly disposed of.  Double negative. 

And those messages were all rather instantaneously overwhelming to me.  A not so cheery epiphany, if you will.  

So...I'll step down off my soapbox now - but I hope I've given you a little "food" for thought on this sunny Saturday without being too much of a bummer.  Oh - one last thing.  Did you hear the news last week about how KFC is marketing chicken corsages to young prom goers in the U.S.?  Yes, I said CHICKEN CORSAGES.  And some people actually think this is a good thing.  Discuss amongst yourselves...

But back to the good news.  Until my litter diversion today, I was...

And I hope you get a chance to do the same this weekend.  Enjoy your time with friends and family, and get out there and MOVE! :) 

spring cleaning and snowballs

An appropriate title, given that I did some MAJOR spring cleaning over the weekend, and today, after being teased with summer-like temperatures for the past week or so, we're being plunged back into SNOW. Ugh. Enough already!!

But back to the subject at hand.  You know how it is.  You start a spring cleaning project thinking it will take you an hour or two max - a little power dusting here, fluffing the sofa pillows there - and before you know it, you've rearranged/organized ALL your kitchen cabinets, and you find yourself at 11 p.m. on a Saturday night building Ikea furniture you just made an emergency trip to pick up because the way you've just rearranged the furniture needs a sofa table to tie it all together.

Oh...you don't know how it is?  Really, is it just me?  Okay, well, maybe the scenario isn't exactly the same, but what I'm getting at, is, we've all started projects that have snowballed out of control.  And I'm lucky that this particular one didn't break the bank (gotta love Ikea!).  Anyway - what started out as this:

Ended up as this:

Check out my story on Apartment Therapy  to read how I hacked my Ikea Lack coffee table :) 

Maybe not the most dramatic difference, but the most important thing is, the floors are clean, the dustbunnies are gone (for the moment anyway), and the place does feel lighter, and fresher. (And let's face it, every room looks better with a cat sitting in a sunbeam). :)  I even ended up with a few things that might find their way to Kijiji, to cover the cost of the new sofa table, so, bonus!  (Simplify, simplify, simplify!)

So that was the den - but what was that about the kitchen cupboards?  Well, about a year ago, when I decided the time had come to buckle down and get serious about eating healthier, I did a complete pantry overhaul - I tossed anything that was processed (goodbye KD!, farewell, Chips Ahoy!) - and restocked with whole ingredients - a variety of nuts and seeds, gluten-free flours and pastas, raw honey - basically all the GOOD stuff.  I also invested in one of these:

...and I L.O.V.E. it.  I wanted to label anything and everything in sight.  (Seriously, I would label my cat if she would let me). :)  But it does come in especially handy when you're doing a pantry overhaul - because a lot of the ingredients I named above are bought in bulk - and there is nothing worse than a cupboard full of plastic bags with missing labels that have you sniffing out the contents to try to guess what it is exactly that's inside.  Over the past year or so, some of those plastic bags with mystery contents were starting to creep back into the cupboard, so I had a bit of a mess on my hands:

Enter the ever versatile mason jar, and the aforementioned label maker - and before you know it, your pantry is pinterest-worthy organized!

These wide mouth funnels are great - get them at the dollar store! 

But then THAT led to cleaning out my appliance cupboard:

It's embarrassing, and neither is all that beautiful - but hey, at least now it's clean and organized! 

And the bottom line is....I'm STILL not finished my spring cleaning.  But I'm getting close.  And since today we'll be having a temporary "winter", I'm not going to panic.  I'll just finish it up in a few days - when it's spring again. :)

clap along if you feel...

Okay, I'll just say it. You've been living under the proverbial rock if you haven't yet been exposed to Pharrell's infectiously happy "Happy". In fact, I'd even venture a guess that there are those of you who feel you've been waaaaaay overexposed to this giddy celebration of feel-goodness and are ready to say enough already to Pharrell AND his HAT (now that is a hat, my friends, that deserves all caps!)  ;-)  Like people the world over however, I fell almost immediate victim to its charms (the song, not the hat), and found myself wanting to dance-walk my way along the street, or break out in a happy dance in the middle of a mall - or wherever and whenever I heard it playing.  (To my daughters' eternal gratefulness, that hasn't happened - yet). :) I still love it, and will no doubt continue to turn to it for those times when I need a little extra jolt of exuberance.

Before Pharrell's ode to jubilation, however, there were a host of other songs that made me happy - you know what I'm talking about - those songs that fill your heart with unadulterated JOY when you hear them - that make you want to turn to the stranger next to you and give them a big HUG.  I continue to be in awe of the power of music - it can soothe us in times of sorrow, and lift our spirits out of the depths of misery. In fact, did you know that the "happy hormone", serotonin, is known to elevate when listening to music?  Of course, one person's auditory exultation may be entirely different than the next persons - but I thought I'd share with you a small sampling of songs that make me feel, well.....happy!  Some you may be familiar with, some may be new to you - but hopefully they'll all put a smile on your face, a spring in your step, and fill your heart with joy! :)

I'll start with one my MOST favourite musicians, a literal force of positive energy,  Michael Franti.  I was first introduced to Michael's music about six years ago when he opened a concert for John Mayer in Toronto - and I don't believe I've ever witnessed anything like it.  Without a word of a lie, he had an entire arena of pre-concert goers on their feet and jumping - most of whom were not there to see him.  Although I'm a huge John Mayer fan, I'm not lying when I tell you I was sorry to see Michael's set end - and since then, I've made a point of going to see him whenever I can.  This is a man with a HUGE heart, and it comes through not only in his music, but in what he does off stage too.  Check out his Do It For The Love Foundation when you have a moment - and enjoy I'm Alive (Life Sounds Like) right now:

You heard Michael Franti's little rap bridge in the song above, right?  Where he talks about Jay Z and Beyonce?  Well, next up, none other than Queen B herself - singing Love On Top.  You may remember her performing this song at the 2011 VMAs as a precursor to her mic dropping announcement to the world that she was expecting...

...and even though she can be WAY over the top sometimes, the sentimental me ate it up.  I love the graduated changes in octave in this song - and just watching how B fabulously coordinates her costume changes (and an ever-increasing curl in her windblown hair) with each one is enough in itself to make you happy:

Next up, a few from probably my most favourite musician, Sting.  First, the closing track from his 1993 Ten Summoners Tales album, Nothing 'Bout Me.  A perfect jazzy little pick-me-up that never fails to elevate my mood:

Next a classic from his days with The Police, Every Little Thing She Does is Magic:

Ah, they were so young.  (And so was I).  I've seen Sting perform this song countless times in person, and it never fails to throw a little burst of joy into my heart - especially near the end when you can sing along with those "eeeeyooo's" (or whatever he's saying) at the top your lungs.

As long as we're back in the 80's, how about Space Age Love Song, by A Flock of Seagulls?  This a a great happy "car song" - one of those you can play at full volume with the window open or the top down on a hot summer's day (still patiently awaiting such an opportunity, but it's coming!).  And if the song itself doesn't put a smile on your face, those classic 80's hairdos sure will:

Jumping back into something a little more recent, here's one by another of my very favourite musicians, Mr. A to Z himself, Jason Mraz. It's a bit tough trying to choose just one of his songs that make me happy - he's got quite a few that elevate the old serotonin levels - but this one in particular, Gypsy MC/Mudhouse, never fails to amaze:

Well, that's probably enough for now...but I'll finish where I began - with Pharrell.  I don't know what was up with Pharrell this year, but he had the Midas touch when it came to feel-good songs, and it paid off for him BIG time when he collaborated with Daft Punk on their recent Grammy winning Record of the Year - Get Lucky:

(Honestly, the video isn't all that exciting, but all you need is a pair of ears to understand why this song was so immensely popular - and why it's hard to sit still when you hear it). :)

I could go on.  (And probably will in future installments).  But I think you get where I'm coming from - in today's world, we need happiness wherever we can find it - and music is a pretty fine place to start.  How about you? What songs make you want to "clap along if you feel like a room without a roof"?  I'd love to hear - feel free to leave a comment below - and have a HAPPY day! :)

the inconvenience of convenience (or, a few more favourite things, wellness edition)

Hello again!  Whoa, last week was a BUSY week for me!  But definitely busy GOOD as opposed to busy bad - I will hopefully be writing a post in the not too distant future to fill you in on what I was up to last week. (In the meantime, you can check out the latest photos in my instagram feed if you want to go looking for clues). :)

Well, as I told you a few weeks back, there was a very good possibility that you hadn't heard the last of my "favourite things" - I just didn't think I'd be back this soon with another installment.  This time, however, rather than fashion accessories, I'm going to wax enthusiastic about some very functional items that are near and dear to me - because not only do they do what they're supposed to do SO well, but they assist me (and possibly you!) on the road to wellness.

Yep, you heard me, wellness.  Sorry, I know it's one of those terms that you're probably sick to death of hearing - but if you've been paying even the slightest bit of attention to this blog, you've read my story, and you know that after many years of unconscious consuming (food and otherwise) the proverbial lightbulb went on, and I realized that the time was NOW to start taking positive action towards a more healthful way of living.  While I learned that for me, a primarily plant-based diet was key, I also came to learn that the things I had typically been using to prepare, store, and eat/drink my food could potentially be contributors towards ill health.

Now is probably a good time to say that I prefer to take a positive stance in this blog - so hopefully, there won't be too many doomy and gloomy posts about why you shouldn't be doing certain things, and more about the GOOD stuff.  However - sometimes you do need to know the bad in order to emphasize the good, so I might have to be a Debbie Downer once and a while.  Also, I'm not being compensated in any way to endorse the items I'm about to sing the praises of - I'm truly just writing about them because I use them, I believe in them, and I love them!

So let's start with the lovely Jennifer Lawrence, shall we?

Jennifer Lawrence in "American Hustle"

Have I got your attention? :) Who saw American Hustle?  I did, and I LOVED it.  (Maybe you had to have lived through the '70s/early '80s to fully appreciate it, but I thought it was brilliant).  Anyway, if you've seen it, you'll recognize the above clip in which Jennifer Lawrence's character defies her husband's instructions to NOT put "metal in the science oven" (i.e. microwave oven).  Of course, when she does what she was instructed not to do, the oven explodes, and in her defense, she retaliates by telling her husband that she doesn't want something in her house that causes fires and "takes all of the nutrition out of our food".  Now, I'm not so sure that would have been something people were concerned with back when microwaves came on the scene - as I remember it, the first microwave that came into my house was hailed as a miracle oven, doing everything from melting butter in a split second to cooking a roast in a fraction of the time a conventional oven would - all in the name of convenience.  In fact, I distinctly remember my mother once cooking an entire roast in a plastic dish pan (!!) - before the advent of "microwave friendly" cookware.  We were in awe!!  Yep, nutrition (or lack of it) was the last thing on people's minds.  

As it happens though, Jennifer's character was spot on - microwaving food can deplete food of its nutrients. For example, when broccoli is steamed conventionally, it loses about 11% of it's beneficial antioxidants. However "nuke" your broccoli (seriously, just the fact that microwaving food coined the term "nuking" should be enough of a deterrent) - and your broccoli loses up to 97% of its antioxidants.  So you're left with...essentially empty, flavourless,  food.  And then there's the practice of heating pre-packaged foods in a microwave that are usually sold in plastic containers (Healthy Choice, Lean Cuisine, anyone?)  Of course, this is decidedly NOT a "healthy choice" at all - it leads to the release of a myriad of known carcinogens into your food.  Even if all you use your microwave for is to pop popcorn, this has been known to release an extremely harmful chemical called diacetyl into your lungs. (Click here if you want to read more about that). But enough with the doom mongering!!  What you really want to know is, how am I supposed to heat up last night's leftovers at work, when all I have in my office kitchenette is the (now dreaded) microwave oven?  

Well, fear not, because I'm here to tell exactly what you can do!  Any guesses?  You think I'm going to recommend this, right? 

Well, actually, that's not a half bad idea...it's definitely a step in the right direction.  Buuuut...you still have to warm up your food at home in the morning before you run out the door to work - and I don't know about you, but I've never packed anything in a thermos jar or mug that's supposed to remain piping hot that didn't open up to reveal my food/drink at a tepid temperature at best.  Talk about lunchbag letdown. :( So what's my solution you ask? The brilliant little Crock Pot Mini!!

I was introduced to these adorable little wonders by a classmate from my CNE program (thanks Melanie!), and it has been something I've used consistently ever since the day I bought it.  I've used it for breakfast - just throw in some oatmeal, a little almond milk, frozen fruit, cinammon, honey or maple syrup, and plug it in - and in less than 30 minutes, you've got a delicious (and fragrant) breakfast that'll make you the envy of the office.  Got a delicious homemade soup or chili that needs reheating for lunch?  Plug it in at 11:30 a.m., and by noon, you've got a piping hot, flavourful, but most of all, healthful lunch, ready to enjoy - no nukes needed!!  All in one compact container.  Well actually, it's two containers - the outer shell that actually does the heating, and the inner container, that fits inside the outer one - just like the normal size crock pot:  

Bonus - the inner container has a separate lid - so you can store your lunch in it in the fridge the night before, and pop it in the main compartment to take to work the next day.  As easy as grabbing one of those toxic pre-fab freezer meals on the way out the door, and SO much better for you. 

Yes, it does take about a half hour to heat to optimum temperature - but as long as you don't find plugging something into a wall outlet 30 minutes prior to lunch an arduous task, this is as easy as it gets, people!  And you don't have to be an office worker to enjoy its benefits either - I've used it at home to warm up small portions of food as well.  I LOVE it! (P.S. - I've also seen these for sale in Canada at Kitchen Stuff Plus - but the cheapest I've seen them is at Target for $16.99). :) 

In keeping with the movie theme....do any of you remember this famous scene?

Dustin Hoffman in "The Graduate"

It seemed so innocent (and humorous!) at the time.  But unfortunately, the advice being given to Dustin Hoffman's character in that scene from The Graduate was sadly prophetic, and not funny in the least - and today, only 10% of the roughly 300 millions tons of plastic that is produced globally every year is recycled, and seven million tons of it ends up in our oceans.  Steps are being taken to to begin to solve this problem - did you read the news lately about the bylaw passed in San Fransicso, outlawing the sale of plastic water bottles on city property? It may be a small step towards combating what is an GARGANTUAN problem, but it's still a positive step towards eliminating the buildup of plastic on the planet that will take eons to decompose, if ever. And then there's the effect of actually drinking the water that's in the plastic bottles - I won't reiterate the reasons why you should avoid drinking out of plastic here, you're probably more than aware (but in case you're not, here's a good place to start).  The only alternative, in my opinion?  Good old fashioned glass. There are several options out there - sometimes I like to use the ever-versatile and inexpensive mason jar to transport my beverages and snacks:

But one of my favourite re-useable glass bottles is made by LifeFactory:

They come in a virtual rainbow of pretty colours, and are available as baby bottles, right up to a 22 oz. adult size. The (removable and washable) silicone sleeve makes them all but indestructible, but they are still glass, so take reasonable care.  You can get them with sipper lids (on the left, above), or there are also some with built-in straws. They're fun, pretty, and functional, and you guessed it, I love them!! :)

Last but not least - for all you fellow smoothie drinkers out there...what's the easiest way to drink your nice thick green smoothie?  Through a straw, right?  But what are most straws made of?  Yep, you got it - plastic. (I can't remember the last time I saw a paper straw, come to think of it).  Well, never fear, because there is (literally) a mom and pop company out there that is saving the world, one GLASS straw at a time!!  They are awesome, and their name is Strawsome!

If you're craving a green juice right now, you can click here :) 

(Also available in Canada through Upaya Naturals - and I've also seen them for sale by the checkout at the Organic Garage).  I know, some of you are probably thinking "whoa, she's taking this glass thing a bit TOO far now...." (believe me, I thought the same thing when I first learned about them) - but think about it - plastic straws are only contributing to the environmental plastic problem - they're polluting the planet too - AND, where's the health benefit of drinking anything out of a glass vessel if it's only being delivered into your body through a piece of plastic?  Wouldn't you rather have your very own, pretty, re-useable glass straw to slurp up your favourite bevvy? (I'm  talking ANY kind of beverage people - these look great in a margarita glass too!) I even use mine to drink my water with (I find it easier to get in my recommended 6-8 glasses a day that way). Yes, sometimes I get strange looks, and even once, I was told it looked like a crack pipe (which probably says more about the person who made that observation than me) - but I can assure you, although I live in the GTA - (Greater Toronto Area), I have absolutely nothing in common with Rob Ford. :)

So there you have it - hopefully I've introduced you to some new products that might be of interest to you, without bumming you out in the process.  (That said, if you actually want to be bummed out, by way of making some informed opinions about the products we use without thinking of the consequences, I would highly recommend reading Slow Death by Rubber Duck, by Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie).

On that cheery note, if you're still with me, thank you for reading!!  Happy Monday, all, and have a wonderful week! :)

there is good in this world wide web

Well it's been a while since I've posted anything specific to going grey (or silver, as I prefer to call it!) - but as this blog was originally born out of an attempt to document my transition from dyed to my natural silver hair, I think it's about time to pay a little attention to the "roots" of this blog, so to speak. :)

If you aren't aware of my transition story, and are interested in reading it,  it's all up there under the tab "Grey Matters" - just scroll to the bottom for the first post and work your way up (apologies for the somewhat unpolished nature of those early posts - they are what they are!) I know you won't believe it, but I'm going to attempt to keep this post short and sweet - but I make no promises. ;-)

I'm not really sure how to say what I want to say here without coming off as all maudlin and treacly, but I'll give it my best shot - and I'll start with this:

Yes, that's me as the first featured transition story in the above video.  And when Louise*, the lovely woman who created this video, shared it with me today, I was overcome with emotion. (I know, I know, I'm well into maudlin territory already, but hear me out!) You see, Louise lives in England.  I live in Canada.  And we have never met.  I know in today's highly technological world, that's not all that earth shattering, but to me - well, I was floored.  By so many things.  That Louise, a woman I'd never met, would take the time out of her undoubtedly busy life to produce such a beautiful video featuring three out of four women she'd never met; that I was featured in the company of  three gorgeous women from various points on the globe whom I have also never met; by the power of the internet to bring us all together. And I've gotta say, my eyes welled up.  (Okay, guilty as charged, maudlin and treacly!)

But seriously - I'm aware that since its inception, the world wide web has created literally millions upon millions of human connections - through dating sites, social media, chat rooms, you name it. I also know that some of those connections can be super creepy and unwanted (yes, I'm talking to YOU James Franco) - but thankfully, I've never had to deal with any such thing.  In fact...I count among some of my dearest friends today people who I met almost 10 years ago via memberships in online fan clubs for a few of my favourite musicians.  (I joined to get good tickets to concerts, and I got FAR more than I ever bargained for in the process).  Just last week, I was invited by my teacher and mentor in all things nutrition, Meghan Telpner, to assist with food prep to be photographed for her upcoming cookbook - a position I am quite certain I never would have been in had it not been for taking her online CNE program.  Perhaps most significantly, I met the man I love, and who I have happily been with for almost 10 years, on flickr, through a mutual interest in photography. So I know first hand about the power of the internet to connect people, and to create lasting, fulfilling, relationships.  But I think until today, when Louise sent me that video, I had been taking it all for granted. And it just hit me. This world wide web of ours is a mighty powerful tool for positive human connectivity. And today, I'm feeling VERY grateful for all the positive connections that I have made because of it. :)

As Louise messaged me today, "...the whole going grey thing has turned out to be about so much more than hair colour, so many wonderful connections have been made in the process!"  I would wholeheartedly agree. Thank you again Louise, for taking the time to make that lovely video, for including me, and for indirectly reminding me that, in the words of Max Ehrmann's Desiderata,  "... for all it's sham and drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world."

Well, hopefully I haven't overpowered you all with a sugar rush - but as promised, I did manage to keep this post rather short, (albeit sweet!) ;-)

How about you?  Have you formed any lasting and/or fulfilling connections through the internet?  I'd love to hear your stories too - feel free to share in the comments below, and have a lovely Saturday! :)

* For those who are curious, I met Louise through the Facebook group, Gray and Proud.  G&P is a group of wonderful women (and men) who I turned to for advice and support when I decided to transition to silver hair - and I would highly recommend this group to anyone who is considering a grey hair transition.  It was, and continues to be, even after transitioning, nothing but a positive experience for me. :)