The First Snow Fall

I made the comment to someone the other day about how mild winter has been for us.  I spoke a little too soon though because the snow is falling hard right now.

I'm not one who enjoys playing in snow and I don't like the inconvenience it can cause, but I do love the cozy feeling I get watching it fall.  I open the curtains in each room and stop and stare out for a few minutes every time I pass a window.

There's just something about falling snow that forces me to reflect, be still, and be thankful for everything that I have.

I often feel that my dreams are bigger than myself but as the snow falls I don't worry much about that.  I just want to take time for gratitude, lie near a window with a cup of tea, a good book, and listen to my boys play nearby.

Have a beautiful day :-)

Getting Clutter Under Control

Even though my house may show otherwise, I despise clutter.  Seeing piles of papers, laundry, shoes, or anything else out of place gives me anxiety and clashes with my productivity.  

Now that we're gearing up to move closer to DC, I'm feeling motivated to get this house in order.

I reduced my wardrobe, gave away some furniture, dishes, and other items, but still feel like we have a lot of stuff we don't need in our home.

Here are my plans to get it together....

1 Item In 2 Items Out-I drove my family crazy last year when I started this up.  My kids often complained about not having 2 items to add to the Goodwill bag and my hubby kept shaking his head at me. Due to the resistance, I started enforcing this rule for myself only but I'm going to bring to back for the whole family. Hopefully, they will be more receptive this time around. *Sigh*

Active Goodwill bag at all times- I keep a bag for Goodwill in my closet but haven't been very good about making sure that I add to it.  My plan is to put at least one item in the bag each day.  It can be as simple as a DVD no one watches or an extra calculator in a drawer.

Will I still use this in 5 years?-I don't shop at big box stores very often but when I do, I'm going to ask myself, "will I still need/use this item in 5 years?" This will force me to be honest about what I buy and whether or not it's a true need. I hope to cut down on impulsive purchases by doing this.

How are you handling your clutter?

You should connect with me on Twitter and/or Facebook.

Talk to y'all later. I have 3 day old laundry to put away. *Otis scream*

Happy Birthday to Me: Gifts and Fudge Cake

The day has finally arrived! Hello, Thirty!

The older I get, the more I see value in experiences opposed to physical possessions. I like vacations, good food, movies, and true friendship. Sure, I still like the newness of getting things (like a car or clothing), but once the luster has worn off, it’s hard for me to connect the item to the person who gave it to me. It just becomes stuff.

I received an amazing birthday gift when I volunteered in Theodore’s 1st grade class this morning.  I usually sit in the teacher’s lounge and file paperwork, sharpening pencils (the most annoying task ever), prep for their math and language activities, etc.

When I came back into the class, the students sang happy birthday to me and made me a crown (everyone signed it). Sooo sweet! I didn’t even realize my little guy told the class about my birthday.

THIS is my favorite kind of gift! The type of gift that stays with you forever and doesn’t need to be replaced or maintained.

The Hubs said he would pick up a vegan cake at Whole Foods for me, but I decided to make my own instead (and save him a 30 minute drive).

I made Ani Phyo’s Raspberry Ganache Fudge Cake a few days ago and it looked like this…

I made another one after returning from school this morning….

I didn’t use raspberries this time and it was still very good. 

Ingredients:

Fudge cake

3 cups dry walnuts

2/3 cup unsweetened cacao powder or carob powder

¼ teaspoon sea salt

1 cup pitted Medjool dates

Frosting

1/3 cup pitted Medjool dates

¼ agave syrup

½ cup ripe avocado flesh

1/3 cup cacao powder

Filling

½ cup raspberries

Instructions:

To make the cake, combine the walnuts, cacao powder, and salt in the food processor and pulse until coarsely mixed.  Avoid over processing. Add the dates and pulse until well mixed. Shape into 2 stackable cakes of desired shape and set aside.

To make the frosting, combine the dates and agave syrup in the food processor and process until smooth.  Add the avocado and cacao powder and process until smooth.

To serve, frost the top of one of the cakes with half the frosting and top with raspberries. Stack the second cake on top and frost the top and sides.

Cake is good for up to one week in the fridge.

I’m off to enjoy this cake, some tea, and a few hours of silence.

Thirty never tasted so good!

Recipe adapted from Ani's Raw Food Desserts: 85 Easy, Delectable Sweets and Treats

Make Your Own Vegetable Broth (VIDEO)

I like using vegetable broth in place of water to bring out more flavors in my recipes.  I often pick up a few boxes at the grocery store, but it can get quite expensive at nearly $4 each.

While at DC VegFest this past weekend, best selling vegan author, Isa Chandra Moskowitz mentioned she uses vegetable scraps to make vegetable broth.

I chop vegetables daily, so I thought it was a great idea to reuse the scraps and save money.

I saved my veggie scraps (including onion and garlic skins) in a plastic container for the last few days.

I filled a pot with water on medium heat until boiling.

Added the scraps, covered and boiled for 30 minutes. You can also add herbs and spices for additional flavor.

I then drained the liquid and cooled it on the counter.

Store in glass jars (or other containers) for up to a week in the refrigerator.

I love simple ideas!

Watch me make the vegetable broth in the video below.

Simplify Your Life: 5 Ways to Get In and Out of the Grocery Store

As much as I love cooking and learning about food, I can’t say I feel as enthused about grocery shopping. With planning my menu, too many indecisive people in the aisles, and long lines at the register, I would rather just outsource this chore. 

Since this isn’t a reality in my world, here are some methods I use to make it easier:

Come prepared with a list- There was a time when I NEVER shopped with a grocery list.  I used to figure out meals as I walked around.  Not only was this method time consuming, but also it became expensive because I picked up more impulsive items. Try to at least have a list handy for dinner planning and stick to staples like oatmeal, toast, and smoothies for breakfast to keep it simple.

Avoid the middle aisles-In my experience, those aisles are more congested and overstocked with highly processed food.  Stick to the perimeter of the store to take advantage of produce, grains, and nut milks.

Leave the kids at home-I do like taking my kids to the grocery store because it’s such an educational experience.  I enjoy letting them choose healthy food and getting their input on meals, but overall, they bust my budget.  On more than one occasion, I‘ve spent about $50 more than expected dealing with those little crumb snatchers. lol

Shop early morning (on the weekends) or mid-week at night-These times work best for me because it’s less crowded and you’re more likely to see what you want, grab it and go.

Stay off your phone- I'm guilty of this tip the most. I had my list, went at the right time, and still spent double the time in the store because I chose to chat on my phone.  

Those are my tips, what about yours?  Let’s talk about it in the comments section below.