Skinny Bitch

Here's another must-read!  Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin somehow manages to combine bust-out-loud laughter with thought-provoking facts about the American diet that will leave you with a smile on your face, and a new-found determination in your mind to lead a healthier lifestyle.  This book is perfect for those who may not feel ready to tackle the all-comprehensive Food Revolution by John Robbins, but would like to get some info on and reasons to become vegetarian or vegan.  It's a quick read that is well worth your time.  Loved it! 


http://www.skinnybitch.net/

Musical Obsessions

On a lighter note (pardon the pun), here are a few random songs I cannot stop listening to as of late.  Enjoy!

Food Revolution

The Food Revolution, by John Robbins

I cannot stress how highly I recommend this book.  It is a must-read, particularly for my fellow Americans.  The old sayings of “Ignorance is bliss” and “What you don’t know can’t hurt you”, have overruled American thinking when it comes to the food we put into our bodies for far too long.  Not only is the food we are consuming hurting our bodies, but it is also destroying our precious planet Earth.  

It’s time to wake-up, America.  It’s time we all open our eyes and become aware of the consequences of our decisions that we are making on a daily basis.  It’s time for all of us to take responsibility for the state we are in and to vow to be a part of positive change rather than be part of the problem.  It’s not all too difficult to do; it just takes a change in perspective and a will to make things right. 

Lead by example, and know that others will follow, each in their own time.  If you are conscious enough to make the change now, then good for you.  What are you waiting for?  There’s no time like now to take action.  Hopefully, in doing so, you will inspire another. 

Following in the footsteps of many others, I have finally been awoken, and I have changed my dietary habits.  The incredible joy, excitement, and pride in myself I feel is all the reward I need.  The fact that my new consciousness is, even in the smallest amount, contributing to healing the world is just a big fat delicious organic cherry on top of it all.

http://www.foodrevolution.org/

http://www.johnrobbins.info/

I'm a Vegetarian??

Today, right now, in this moment, I feel….good.  I feel alive.  I feel hopeful.  It has been a good evening and night.  The day was not all bad either.  I am excited for new adventures yet to come.  I feel happy.  And hopeful.   Most importantly, hopeful.   I can feel the anticipation of new.  Of change.  Of moving on to whatever fits “me” better.  I have grown and I have changed.  My needs have changed.  My wants have changed.  Never did I expect to become a vegetarian.  Never did I expect that to turn into leaning towards becoming a vegan!  (As long as I can be a vegan who occasionally eats salmon and ahi tuna).  But I am as sure of it as I am of anything.  It is certain.   There is no turning back.  It has been well over a month since meat or poultry of any kind has passed my lips, and I haven’t felt a single temptation or a lack thereof.  A switch has been flipped, and for me, that is that.  When the tide takes a turn, there is no stopping it or persuading it to change course.

My senses have been heightened.  I am acutely aware of energy levels of places, people, and situations.  I have an aversion towards anything containing artificial, harmful, or toxic ingredients.  I now wish to eat organic (solely organic) and desire only to use organic products on my body and in my home.  Only the most natural and organic.  Before, I preferred organic anyhow, but now I refuse to use anything that is not.  The bar has been raised.

I have a new desire to grow my own food and to learn how to can and preserve my harvest.  I can’t wait to have my own home to have a garden and cook delicious vegan meals topped with fresh herbs also grown by yours truly. 

Back to the veganism thing, I say I am leaning towards a vegan diet, since unfortunately, dairy has been a turn off to me lately as well.  I say unfortunately, because I LOVE cheese.  Hello, after all, I am from Wisconsin, and I have cheese running through my veins! (Probably quite literally, although more like clinging to my veins rather than running through them.  Anyhow…)!  So today, I bought one of my absolute favorite treats.  Saint Agur blue cheese.  St. Agur is a special treat, because one: I do not gorge on fine cheeses every day, and two: I have only ever found this cheese at Whole Foods, and in our travels, we are not always near a Whole Foods.  So today, I am in Whole Foods and I buy my cheese, with visions of me sitting down later with my pecan Nut Thins crackers, local wildflower honey, and St. Agur cheese for a delicious, lip-smacking treat.  Fast-forward a few hours later, and there I am with my spread laid out before me.  Anticipation is running high as I pop the first honey and cheese slathered cracker into my mouth, and....wait for it.  Wait for the savoring, the yum, the ooh and aah.  Wait…..eh, hmmm.  Not sure what I think.  I try another.  My, this cheese is stinky.  One more.   Hmmmm, it really smells like milk barn (yes, I HAVE been in a milk barn- I grew up on a farm in WI, come on).  Not too appetizing.  Ugh, it tastes like one too.  Eew.  But it’s my favorite cheese!  This is a favorite treat of mine!  No, not this.  I can’t have cheese taken away too, surely?  After about 5 crackers of having to, let’s face it, force them down, I gave up and I gave in.  I may not be having cheese again for some time.  What a total bummer.  Deep down, though, I know this is a good thing, but in my head, I am saying, “What the?!”. 

I swear, over the course of a month and a half, it’s like I am a different person.  What happened to the, “ I love all food (other than foie gras and veal- otherwise, truly, anything goes). “ I pride myself on not being a picky eater.  I am adventurous.  I see food as one of the vital experiences of traveling; to eat what the locals eat.  Heck, who am I kidding, food is one of the vital experiences of life!  How will this affect me now?  I’m not sure I am ready for this.  But as I said earlier, there is no conversation to be had, no wiggle room, and no compromise whatsoever.  Meat is off the menu for me.

Tonight, the chef onboard made BBQ ribs.  Now, let’s be serious, I love me some ribs.  They smelled divine, but the thought of actually putting one to my lips, taking a bite and…..eh.  No, can’t do it.  So, no.  No ribs tonight.  Whaah whaah, right?  Cry me a river (you’re welcome J.T. reference).  I‘m not looking for sympathy here.  In fact, it is just the opposite.  I am very excited about all of this.  I just am trying to stress how truly involuntary this has been, and how never in a million years would I have guessed I could so drastically change my eating habits, and so suddenly.  But that just shows you how much we really don’t know.  How anything, big or small can change in an instant.  (Don’t worry, I do realize in the realm of life, THIS is on the smaller side).  But it is when you least expect it. That‘s when life really happens.  When you are just going about, minding your own business, life comes a-calling.

Brrrring- bbbrrrring-bbbring.

“Hello?”

“Hi, It’s Life.  I’m a-calling.”

“Oh, LIFE!!!  Hey, what’s up?”

“Oh not much, just giving you a complimentary wake-up call.”

“Oh, hey, cool, Life.  Thanks.  I’m still a bit groggy, so give me a minute or two to let this register.  Once I wake up a bit more, I’ll be ready to roll with whatever you’ve got…”

Let’s roll.