I've started juicing again (not steroids). I've been trying to rise early and make juice for breakfast. This time of year I always feel a little downtrodden because I'm ready for fairer weather. Every time it snows is like a slap in the face. All I do is daydream about camping and running outside and swimming and friendship bracelets. Something about drinking fresh juice makes me feel like it should be warm outside. Maybe I can fool myself into thinking it's springtime.
Orange Carrot Beet Juice
2 oranges
4 carrots
1 beet
Fresh ginger, to taste (I use around two inches)
Peel your oranges, beet, ginger. Carrots only need to be peeled if they aren't organic. The outer layer will contain pesticides in conventional carrots that should be removed. Juice and enjoy.
Last week I tried Bikram yoga for the first time. I had previously done hot yoga, which was just a Vinyasa flow in 95° heat. I had only heard rave reviews from my sister and friends who have taken Bikram, so I was excited to finally try it.
Here's how I like my yoga. The instructor is a little on the hippie dippy side. We listen to calming music. Hell yeah I wanna hear Bon Iver while I'm doing sun salutations, so what? The instructor makes corrections so you know you are doing the postures without fear of injury.
Here's Bikram yoga. There's no music. The instructors yell into microphones to push harder into poses. You are in the personal space of a very sweaty old man, who is only wearing tiny shorts and is better than you at Bikram. You feel like you are going to vomit, faint, or both. The instructor stands at the front of the room and does not make any corrections.
Yikes!
I had to leave my third class because I was pale, cold, and seeing stars. I want to give it another chance, but perhaps Bikram and I are not made for each other.
When you're sweating all over your yoga mat, it needs a serious cleaning after class. In lieu of buying expensive mat cleaner, I decided to try making my own. I was pleased with the results.
DIY Yoga Mat Spray
1 cup water
1/4 cup vinegar
10 drops tea tree oil
20 drops essential oil of your choice (I used a pine wild scotch oil)
Mix all ingredients in a spray bottle. To use, spray your yoga mat liberally and allow to sit for a moment. Wipe down your mat with a damp cloth. It will take 5-10 minutes to dry completely.
Now that I'm living in Hamtramck, I have the pleasure of hearing CBC Radio when I'm driving. I have a long history of love for Canadian music (think Sloan, not Barenaked Ladies). I heard Dan Mangan performing live the other day and it made me cry.
The last week was overwhelming. On Thursday, we picked up the keys for our tiny house. I spent the weekend painting, cleaning, and moving things in. There have been some surprising problems with the house, such as a bathroom light that does not work. But, other than putting on my make-up in the dark, living in our own house seems to diminish those little flaws.
We haven't had the internet set up yet, so no blogging for me. I went through serious withdrawals. It was sort of an eye opener to see how "plugged in" I have become. I still can't wait to have internet again, but maybe I will look a bit harder at how much my life revolves around it from now on.
On Monday, I started my new job as an interactive graphic designer. I'm finally using the skill set I went to school for. It's exhilarating and scary at the same time. When you're doing something creative for a living, it's difficult to detach yourself from the work you're making. You don't have complete artistic control and you may be asked to do things that aren't aesthetically pleasing to you. It's a challenge every day, in a way that I've never experienced in a job before.
This weekend, I'm back in Brooklyn, watching my mom's dogs while she's on holiday. We are taking a day trip to Allen, the antique capital of Michigan, to look for some furniture for the tiny house.
As of today, I'm moving out of my mother's house. There are so many things I'll miss: television, sleeping in, ice skating, playing with my nephews, etc... What I won't miss is all of the junk food. It's been a constant battle between trying to be healthy and eating with the family. I'm looking forward to having complete control over my kitchen again.
For my last lunch with my mom, I made these Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce. They were easy and relatively healthy.
Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce
Sauce:
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 tablespoon minced shallot
1/3 cup water
2 tablespoons natural creamy peanut butter
4 teaspoons soy sauce or Braggs
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
Filling:
1 package of faux ground beef crumbles
1 tablespoon olive oil
6 thinly sliced green onions
3 tablespoons soy sauce or Braggs
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon Sriracha
1 cup matchstick-cut cucumbers
1 cup matchstick-cut carrots
1 cup matchstick-cut red peppers
2 cups hot cooked quinoa
8 lettuce leaves
To make the sauce, heat olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add minced shallot and saute for 2 minutes. Add water, peanut butter, soy sauce, and red pepper and whisk until blended. Bring to a boil. Cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat and whisk in lime juice.
To make the filling, heat olive oil in a large skillet of medium heat. Add the green onions and saute for 1 minute. Add the faux ground beef and saute until cooked. Add soy sauce, ginger, sugar, and Sriracha and saute for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in cucumbers, carrots, and red peppers.
Fill each lettuce leaf with about 1/4 cup of quinoa. Top with about 1/2 cup of the filling. Drizzle with peanut sauce and serve.
