Gratitude Tuesday: The Positive Side of Social Media

These days, we hear a lot of negative press when it comes to social media.  Whether it's bullying, unrealistic expectations caused my media messages constantly bombarding us, or just plain ole spending too much time behind a screen rather than outside, it seems everyone has something bad to say.  While these concerns are definitely founded, I'd like to take a moment to highlight a side of social media that I've found to be incredibly helpful.  

I don't get out much.  I'm the mom to a very energetic toddler, so I'm limited when it comes to venturing out.  Making friends isn't a priority right now.  When it comes to leaving the house, my requirements are that Charlotte must be welcome, and I have to be home before bedtime.  That isn't exactly conducive to parties and social gatherings. As a vegan and a raw chef, I love making my own food and knowing what's on my plate.  This, however, complicates social gatherings.  I am pretty good at finding vegan options in non-vegan restaurants, but sometimes it's very difficult.  Being one who doesn't like to make things too complicated, I just try to stick to places I know are veg-friendly, but some folks aren't too keen on my choices.  I've been amazed, though, at the outpouring of support for vegans and raw foodies online. It's been wonderful to see the number of people eager to offer recipes or answers to questions.  The sense of community is so uplifting.  I can ask a question in the comment section of a favorite blog, and within minutes, there are ten people all offering help.  Without the online community, I wouldn't even know another vegan.  With Meetup.com, I've found many other raw vegans in my area with whom I'm able to share meals and experiences.  These folks seem to be some of the most upbeat and positive people I've ever known, too.  Since connecting with them on Facebook, my news feed is filled with positive messages and beautiful photos.  It's truly inspirational!  

Thanks to Instagram, I'm building my own little group of healthy eaters, as well as finding and sharing delicious recipes.  I've even had "likes" from some of my favorite bloggers, a few who are following my little ole page.  Finding others who share your interests is so much easier this day in age.  I'm currently doing a 9-day Raw Celebration with the community at More With Dara, a forum set up by Dara Dubinet (check out YouTube.com/daradubinet for info) to connect her fans.  The group is absolutely amazing!  These people are so supportive and just sweet, loving souls.  During this celebration, we are all consuming 100% raw vegan foods and sharing our experiences.  It's such a blessing to log in and see everyone's colorful meals and their health improvements.  I get ideas and inspiration daily from connecting with these other health-conscious people.  And I know, if at any point in my journey, I start to doubt whether I can do this, or even if I just have a tough day, they'll be there to offer wisdom and cheer me up.  

Personally, I've made a choice to use my Facebook and Instagram, as well as this blog page, as a force for good.  I try to post positive messages or something to make people smile every single day.  It's important to me that I'm contributing something happy to a sometimes sad and scary world.  My hope is that it will inspire others to do the same.

Maybe, instead of cursing social media, we use it as a source to do good and connect with others doing good in the world.  There's a plethora of nastiness on the internet, but we can choose what we see and do with it.  And of course, we can always just turn it off when things get too negative.  So, this week, I'm grateful for online communities who make the world a less lonely place for this hippy mom.

Gratitude Tuesday: Mothers's Day Edition

My little slice of heaven. 

This picture is perfect.  Not because I was having a good hair day, cuz, well... Look at it.  Yikes.  It's not that we all look super fit and sexy, cuz I certainly don't.  (I think my hubby looks pretty damn good, though.). The lighting could be better.  Our putfits don't really coordinate. But it's perfect because it was taken on the perfect day.  Those smiles are genuine.  The weather was warm, not too hot.  It was sunny, with just enough clouds to keep sunburns at bay.  We were all happy and having fun.

We woke up early, I made breakfast for the family, and my little brother came over with my sweet niece.  We enjoyed our pumpkin pancakes smothered in maple syrup along side tempeh bacon, bananas, and strawberries with a healthy serving of laughter.  It was a great start Mother's Day 2014.

Last year, Charlotte was only about six weeks old and we were still getting to know each other.  It wasn't a bad day, but it was stressful, to say the least.  My loving husband decided to take me to lunch at my favorite restaurant, The Wild Cow, for a wonderful vegan feast.  I ended up spending the entire meal with a nursing cover around my neck because I couldn't figure out if the baby was hungry, tired, or just crying because of the new scenery.  I was new to the whole "mom" thing and my solution to every cry was to stick a boob in her mouth.  Surprisingly, this worked 99% of the time.  After lunch, we went shopping at a huge, overly-crowded mall where I purchased two pair of jeans in my pre-pregnancy size.  Yay!  That was definitely a win.  But, when Charlotte started crying, we had to head home.  She screamed the entire 30 minute drive while I begged Jimmy to stop and let me soothe her.  I was convinced she'd been mauled by a bear in the back seat when I wasn't looking, but he assured me we'd make it home without her dying.  We did.  (Thank God for rational daddies in those first few weeks.)  This year, as you can imagine, I wanted things to go more smoothly.

After our breakfast and visit with my family, we met his mother, father, and sister for a gorgeous country drive to a nearby state park where we enjoyed a lovely picnic under the shade of huge oak trees, and hiked some of the prettiest trails I've seen.  There were waterfalls and cliffs, caves and flowers.  It was just about the most beautiful scenery one could wish for on a warm spring day.  The company was enjoyable, and other than a little fussiness due to extreme tiredness, the kid did great.  She was quite the trooper on our long hike along the river.  All in all, it was a perfect day spent with the people I love.  

So on this gratitude Tuesday, I'm thankful for my loving husband, my sweet and spunky daughter, my immediate family, and my awesome in-laws, who are all avid outdoors people even with my mother and father-in-law being in their late sixties.  They set such an amazing example of aging healthfully.  

My second Mother's Day couldn't have been more special.  My own mom got a hot, healthy, gluten-free, and vegan breakfast with her two local kids, and I was fortunate to spend hours in nature with my family.  I'm so blessed!

Now, enjoy some gratuitous nature photos from my iPhone:

Nothing sexier than a great daddy.

Waterfalls!

Another waterfall!  (I'm kind of obsessed with waterfalls.)

Hubba!  Hubba!  More hot guy pictures.  Oh, wait, that's my man.  ;-)

I took this shot while resting on a rock and nursing Charlotte.  There's something so relaxing about nursing in nature.  It brings me total joy.  

Someone was getting sleepy but still wanted to eat dandelions.

If you live near Manchester, TN, you should definitely check out Old Stone Fort.  It's a hidden gem. 

Gratitude Tuesday (and a recipe too!)

It's FINALLY my kind of weather!  Here in middle Tennessee, it's been sunny and 80-degree temperatures for the past few days, and it doesn't look like that cold mess will be making another appearance any time soon.  Thank goodness!  I was ready to pack my bags (with nothing but flip-flops, bikinis, and sundresses) and move to a tropical island.  This was the coldest winter I can remember, and if it's the new weather pattern for Tennessee, I'm definitely moving south.  But now, with the blue skies, light breeze, and hot sun, it seems like a distant memory.  With that in mind, I give you this week's gratitude list:

1.  Beautiful weather!!  I waited (not so) patiently for it to arrive, and now that it's here, I'm taking full advantage.  Stroller rides for Charlotte and long walks for momma, weekends spent in the garden or back yard, eating big beautiful salads on restaurant patios... These are few of my favorite things.  

2.  Spring flowers and greenery.  This area of the US is one of the most beautiful, but ONLY in spring and summer if you ask me. Our falls bring a week or two of pretty colors, but then make way for a blanket brown, dry, crisp leaves.  I understand the need for seasons, blah, blah, blah, but that doesn't mean I like the change.  However, when spring arrives in full force here, it's truly worth the bitter months of frigid rain.  Pink dogwoods and white Bradford pear blooms abound, and I'm reminded of why I've lived here so many years.  It's incredibly beautiful.

3.  Babies!  No, I'm not pregnant.  Charlotte keeps me busy enough without having to wonder if she's trying to smother a younger sibling with "love".  I'm talking about the new additions to my employers' "nature preserve".  The landfill where I spend my days is a no-hunting zone, so every spring we are blessed with fawns and goslings, too many to count.  They are a sign that winter has finally gone and spring is here to stay.  I love driving slowly in or out of the gate while watching the momma geese swim with four or five tiny gray specks following her, or the mother deer leading her clumsy offspring into the tree-line to find berries.  Watching other species demonstrate the same caring and loving attitude toward their children that I feel for mine is just one of the many reasons I stopped eating animals.

4.  Clover.  I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm kind of on a roll.  I've found no fewer than 15 four-leaf clovers in the past two weeks, and 3 five-leaf!  I didn't know that was possible!  I don't think they really equate to luck since I'm still a full-time employee and not sipping margaritas on a beach somewhere while my handsome husband drives around in a brand new Aston Martin, but it does make my inner 5-year-old giddy.  I've always been good at finding them, but this year, I've set a record.

5.  Rain.  I know, I know... It sound contradictory after my whole "I hate the winter" rant, but once it's warm and green, the light rain can feel so calming.  It seems to clear the air of negative energy (and pollen), and give way to brighter, sunnier days.  Plus, now that my garden is planted, I'll need some help getting that gorgeous food to grow.  Lord knows I don't have the greenest of thumbs.  My cactus in my office is barely clinging to life.  True story.

 

6.  Green smoothies!  After juicing my breakfast for a couple of months, I'm back in my smoothie-phase.  It's just quicker, and things have seemed rushed lately.  (The rush seems to have coincided with a certain little girl mastering the art of walking.)  I love the variations I can come up with in a hurry, and knowing that I'm starting my day with a big boost of nutrition keeps me focused throughout the day.  Charlotte has even been enjoying them on our way to grandma's house.  I'm so thankful that my health was challenged before I ever became pregnant so that I could learn how to raise a healthy child.  She will eat almost anything!  The kid loves veggies, and for that, I feel truly blessed.  

Since I'm honoring my love of green smoothies, I figured I'd share one of my favorites.  I don't use a "recipe" per se, but these are more like suggestions.  Feel free to alter it in any way to suit your taste buds.  Besides, a green smoothie is only good for you if you actually DRINK IT.  

Banana Strawberry Basil Breakfast Smoothie

1 cup almond milk

1-2 frozen bananas

1 cup frozen or fresh strawberries

1/4-1/2 cup loosely packed fresh basil

1-3 stalks celery, chopped

2 dates

1 tsp vanilla

Dash of cayenne pepper

Optional toppings:  dried mulberries, sprouted buckwheat, cacao nibs, dried coconut flakes

Add all ingredients to a blender and blend away.  I love the taste that fresh basil adds to this smoothie, and it pairs so well with strawberries.  It's a very cool and crisp tasting drink that's perfect for hot days.  If you don't have or just don't like celery, use a cup or two of spinach, or even kale.  If you don't have dates, use a tablespoon of maple syrup or some stevia.  It's a great basic recipe to start adding some green into your mornings.  I like to add my vanilla protein powder and a scoop of Perfect Food Raw for an extra boost.  Give it a shot and see what you think.

Until next time, give thanks, eat green and live lean!

Gratitude Tuesday

Today, as every day, I have much to be thankful for.  But this week, I want to focus on one major blessing in my life:  My mom.  

We grew up poor, but I had an amazing childhood.  I always felt loved.  I had good food, all cooked from-scratch, every day.  She taught me to grow my own food and how to prepare or cook it.  It's because of her that my vegan meals are so tasty today.  She raised me to be compassionate and always give people the benefit of doubt.  She's not perfect (I mean, she was a child of the 60s and 70s), but she raised three very responsible, healthy, socially-conscious, giving, yet completely different children.  My brothers and I were fortunate enough to be brought-up on a large plot of land, mostly hills and woods, where we could play free from the threat of random violence.  We ran barefoot, climbed trees, swam in creeks, "rescued" lizards and turtles, threw darts at each other (thanks Jeff!), and never had to come home before sunset.  I am sure that it's because of our parents that we all have such an appreciation of nature as adults. 

After our parents divorced, mom worked her ass off to provide a safe, clean home for us, even moving Matt and I to Nashville to provide us with more career opportunities later in life.  I've seen her work 80-90 hours per week when her second husband was laid-off from his construction job, just so the mortgage wouldn't be late.  She's been through so much and taken some hard hits over the years, but she always gets up, brushes herself off, and takes on the next challenge, all while sporting perfectly manicured nails.  I'm sure there have been times when she's questioned "why me?", but if she hadn't had the opportunity to set such a strong example, I don't think I'd be the person I am today.  

Because of her, I know how to be a hard working woman.  Because of her, I know how to cook amazing meals with the simplest ingredients.  Because of her, I know how to be a caring member of society.  But most of all, because of her, I know how to be a great mom.  

I love you, mommy!

Gratitude Tuesday: The Beginning of a New Habit

I'm starting a new habit.  The plan is to take time every Tuesday to post a short blog of things I'm grateful for that week.  The world can be a depressing place at times, and I hope that by writing down what brings me joy, I can make my world a little brighter each week.  It's been said that giving thanks is a great way to invite more positive forces into our lives, so why not give it a shot?  I love happy things, so why not invite more of them?  

I think I'll start with ten (in no particular order).  Here it goes:

1.  My beautiful little family consisting of a sweet, handsome husband and a funny and wild little girl.  They make me smile just by thinking about them.  

2.  Two precious fur-monsters who leave dog hair all over my house.  I wouldn't trade them for anything.

3.  My job where I'm able to earn the money to buy organic food to feed my little family, along with the other necessities that present themselves.

4.  Gorgeous spring weather!  The walks after work and the time spent gardening while Charlotte buries herself in mulch are some of my favorite ways to spend an evening. 

5.  Whole Foods and Trader Joes.  Even though I can't get them to open stores in my town yet, I'm thankful that they're close enough for me to shop them on the weekends and find the unique products that aren't available here.

6.  Evenings with Charlotte watching great educational programs like Cosmos and Blue Planet.  I hope that I'm instilling in her a love of science that I only discovered as an adult. 

7.  My amazing in-laws who care for our daughter as much as we do and who take excellent care of her when we can't be there.  She's already incredibly smart, and I'd like to think they've had a great hand that.

8.  Green and black tea.  Drinking tea throughout the day is one of the small joys I have the opportunity to experience on a daily basis.

9.  Chamomile tea.  To help bring me down after having too much green or black tea earlier in the day.  ;-)

10.  My home.  We are so fortunate to live in a nice home where I have room to garden and a big bay-window where the sun streams in every morning, and being close to the city-center is a welcome change after our time spent living in the wilderness.  

Why don't you make a little gratitude list for yourself and see if it changes your outlook?  It can't hurt.  Feel free to share yours in the comments.  I think sharing in each other's positivity is a great way find more joy in life.