Fall time!

Me in the kitchen

I feel like this picture doesn't represent at all the kitchen I use. The sun was really freakin' bright when I was taking this with my computer's Photobooth feature and makes the kitchen look big and open.

Anyways, that day (sunny, crisp...so fall!) I felt like pumping out some food (normally I cook one dish and maybe- maybe!- a side of kale and then call it a day), so I made 5 Spice Delicata from Appetite for Reduction, a bastardized version Breast of Tofu, and a brand new recipe to me, Bee's Knees Pumpkin Potatoes.

Sadly, none of my food tasted like The Shit. The delicata wasn't as sweet and flavorful as I remember, the tofu was meh, and the potatoes weren't as divine as I had hoped. HOWEVER, this was all on my part: the tofu soaked up too much oil when I was frying it because I didn't let the oil get hot enough, I didn't use a 5 spice mix and I don't think I added enough of the separate ingredients nor enough of the maple syrup- I did add more syrup to my leftover half, and I didn't use just russets (I had one russet, 2 reds, 1 parsnip, 1 sweet potato).

What I did really enjoy was the Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Pecan biscotti I made. It's my friend Katie's recipe and I've made it several times. I like my biscotti to be more like cookies, so mine aren't cooked to crunchy. More like cookie-logs. Yum!

What I've Been Up To

Hanging with this guy!

Meet Travis, my brand spankin' new boyfriend. It's been a long, long while since I've had one of those and he's super sweet and cute, so I'm psyched. Unfortunately, he lives in Durham, North Carolina, so we're not going to get to see each other much the next few months (we're thinking he might return to Portland to live). Sad face. He just left yesterday morning after visiting for 6 days, so I've been mopey. But I'm hoping to see him in a few weeks, in October!

New shoes!

Finally used up my Delia's credit! These Rocketdog sandals were on sale and I thought they were mighty cute. Turns out they're even cuter in person! Currently, they're a bit on the uncomfortable side (which is why leather is nice in that aspect...though I suppose you have to wear leather in as well...), but I do hope they get better with time.

Happy August to you and yours!

It's August now. The weather here hasn't been the hottest, but you know what? I am not complaining! I hate hot hot weather. It's just amusing to me that I'm still wearing pants and hoodies in the morning and evenings here.

My mom left today after being here for a couple weeks. We had a good time. But now back to my regular day to day life. We did go berry picking on Monday with my sister and her pitbull, May. May was quite useful and helped pull the wagon.

Isn't she sweet?

She really is. I love her so hard. If only she wouldn't whack her tail on me when she's happy...which is often.

She also picked her own berries...

That there's my mom giving me her strainer of berries to put in our tupperware. Sadly we ended up with mostly raspberries, not Kim and I's favorite. The blueberries were pretty picked over. I love making the blueberry scone-like things from a cookbook that I have (the name of which I'm totally spacing on!).

Vancouver BC

Our time in Vancouver was all right. We mostly drove around a lot, either lost or unable to find any free parking. (It didn't help that we didn't get some Canadian monies right away...We just kept putting it off for some reason.) Seriously, Vancouver's a pain in the ass when it comes to park. PAIN IN THE ASS! Most of it is permit-only parking for people that live in there, which, ok, I get, but hey, have some love for the tourists! I've just never seen so much permit only parking. A lot of which wasn't in use...

We stayed with a friend of mine, who was out of town. He lives a few miles from downtown, where all the action is. We even got towed our first day there! It was great! Ugh. Yeah, that alone might have tainted our time there.

BUT we did eat some good food, saw pretty things, and saw the 5th (or was it 6th?) Stanley Cup Finals. It would've been awesome to be there if the Canucks had won that game (thereby winning the Cup), but alas, they sucked that game. (And you know what happened the final game.) There were reminders everywhere that the Canucks were playing the finals. On buses (see below), on signs hanging in businesses, on people's clothes...

See?

Capilano Reserve- where we went for a hike

Naam for breakfast- those sausages had the realest fake skin on them!

The waterfront. That stadium, I believe, was part of the Olympics they hosted.

View from Jericho Beach that we happened across. I liked the lined up logs.

Me and the view

More traveling...

So now I'm in Vancouver, BC. I've been here previously to visit a friend (and to go to Vancouver, of course!). My friend still lives here but he's currently on a long-ass honeymoon, so no hang out with him. It's nice to have a free place to stay. Especially when, on the first day, your car gets towed out of a spot that we thought wasn't reserved and you have to pay $100 for towing, $13 for a taxi to get to the car lot, and then plus a $60 parking ticket from the ImPark people. Yeah. Awesome sauce. But Corinn's working on getting at least the parking ticket taken off...Hopefully that works.

Anyways, when I left you last post I was still in Seattle for a couple more days. I went to the Victrola Coffee shop on 15th for another French Toast donut and coffee. I also went to Sage (former Hillside Quickie II or something??), which was only a few blocks from where I was staying. I got it to go so I could eat it in our apartment/hotel with some Dr. Pepper. I ordered their version of the Philly, called the Fremont Philly. It's made with seitan, which is my favorite "meat" to use for a Philly (though the tempeh version at my former workplace, Paradox Cafe, was my kryptonite for awhile). The menu said it was going to be $10, but it ended up as $11. Taxes? But why an even $1? I don't know. I do know it was the most costly sandwich I've ever gotten. Anyways, it did come with a side of rice. Not plain rice, but I couldn't tell you what exactly it was. It was all right. The sandwich itself was hella messy to eat, very saucy and sadly, not a lot of seitan. (DC Vegetarian kicks it's ass in every department) Mostly bell peppers and onions. Yeah. I wouldn't get it again and it's not awesome enough for me to tell you to even try it once. I want to hope that all of the ingredients are organic, so at least that's why it's so costly.

The disappointing Fremont Philly

That reminds me, the bread was damn tasty. But onwards!

That evening we went stopped at Grim's, a Capital Hill bar nearby, for Happy Hour. We had drinks in cute little mason jars and I got the Cauliflower and Hummus Crostini (it might have been cauliflower hummus...), which during Happy Hour is only $4.75 (instead of $7.50 or something). It was a great price for the 5 large crostini's we got. I'm not the biggest cauliflower fan, but it went well with the hummus and pickled/carmelized(?) red onions and cute chives atop.

After that, we stopped at Bimbo's Taqueria, which isn't worth much mention, and we went on to Moe's, which is venue Nuemo's attached bar. We were going there to see Campfire OK play at Neumo's. If you haven't checked out Campfire OK, you should. The Oddfellows Cafe video is the best. Moe's played great hip hop, I really enjoyed it, Corinn...not so much...

Saturday morning, we went to Wayward Vegan Cafe for breakfast before driving north to Vancouver. Again, no pictures...I got 3 sides: tofu scram, grits, and garlic greens. The greens weren't cooked enough for my liking and by the time I got them, they were about room temperature. The tofu scram was almost inedible because the amount of turmeric on them, I barely touched them. The grits were good. Nothing crazy good about them, just grits with Earth Balance, a little faux cheddar, and some salt & pepper. Corinn got the Monte Cristo, a huge French Toast sandwich with fake ham and turkey and served with some jam. It also came with homefries. If Wayward does anything, it gives the largest portions I've seen. I just wish the food came out of the kitchen better. The French Toast wasn't cooked long enough, a little soggy. Too much faux meat. The latter wasn't a huge deal, but the sandwich just was lacking in general. We did leave full though.

I'll talk about Vancouver on the next post...

Seattle

I am currently in Seattle for a few days. There are a lot of Portland-Seattle comparisons, but the two cities are very different. I would say that I would never move here (oh, when I say never, I'm just saying if I had a choice between our two fair cities and I wasn't in a relationship with someone in Seattle...I wouldn't hate it, I'd prefer it to Asheville or Chicago or small towns...), just as someone here would say the same about Portland. Seattle is too city for my tastes. Too large, not as residential. The steep hills kill me (you would *never* find me on a bike here, you can barely find me on my bike in Portland). And the busses take your fare after you've ridden, not when you get on it...which ok, that one isn't a big deal, but for some reason I find it annoying. Also, the two bus drivers I came across were the least friendly bus drivers I've come across. It's population is definitely more diverse than Portland. You'll find a lot more older people here and it's more racially diverse. The feeling here in Seattle is less like you're on a college campus with your peers, which is what Portland usually feels like to me.

I'm here because a friend of mine has a work conference in a town nearby, so free hotel and gas. Tomorrow we leave to go on to Vancouver, BC, where my friend Corinn has never been. We'll be staying a friend's house, though he's out of town on his forever-long honeymoon (2 months, people! Turkey!).

The first day I spend taking my friend to her conference, then dropping her car off at Stingray Auto, to get her brakes fixed (p.s. right now they have a special where you get 10% off if you mention Yelp), walking back to the apartment/hotel where we're staying so that Qwest could fix the problematic wifi (which was stupidly just plugged incorrectly), going to Victrola Coffee on Pine, then getting lost when going back to Stingray to pick up the car. We had dinner at In The Bowl on E Olive Way, then hung out on Broadway and drank and ate sweet potato tots at Highline using my Groupon, and finding the bar 22 on 15th St. Good night. Here's some pictures of some of my happenings:

The Berkeley Vegan (minus tomatoes) from zPizza, I should've also gotten no zucchini, too raw for my tastes! Good pie though, better cold when the Daiya didn't stick to the roof of my mouth.

Mighty-O French Toast donut and coffee at Victrola's.

"Sweet Tots" from Highline. Corinn writing postcards in the background.

Photobooth at Highline. It takes credit cards only, which is kinda handy.

Failure

Well. My goals for the past 30 days were to post more and go on a date. Both of which I have failed, y'all!! I did sorta ask someone out, but it wasn't clear that I was asking them out and they said they couldn't go that night and didn't mention going out some other time, so I'm going to take that they're not interested in me like that. Which is fine. I did initiate contact with someone on an online dating site that I normally wouldn't have because the guy didn't see like someone I would normally go for. We wrote back and forth a couple times but then contact stopped when he never responded to my last message. Good times, y'all! I don't even have any good crushes right now. Well, not any that are in my town. Life is kinda sad when you don't have the fun of running into a crush...

I recently got a new job at Blossoming Lotus! For those who don't know, Blossoming Lotus is an all vegan restaurant here in Portland. They're on the pricier side since they use a lot of organic and whole foods. We sell raw cheesecakes from Freshly Wild that are amazing! At $8 a slice, it's not cheap, but so freakin' good! I've tried only messed up slices and so far have had Pomegranate, Key Lime and Chocolate Orange. The Key Lime was superb!

Blossoming Lotus makes their own vegan soft serve (which I heard they'll stop making when their machine dies, so get it while you can!) and it's so good! It's soy based and it's by no means is it good for you (sugar!).

I'm looking forward to a trip to Seattle and Vancouver, BC in a couple weeks. Let me know if you have any specific recommendations of where to go/eat!

A belated Day 29 & 30

Day 29: Goals for the next 30 days

To post more

To go on a date

Day 30: Your highs and lows of this past month

Highs:

Meeting a new friend (Hi, Hudson!)

Sitting in the sun

Getting a new job

Having a magnificent view of Mt Hood

Feeling a lot of support from my sister and brother-in-law

Gettin' love from my niecedogs May and Tilda

Lows:

Having those moments where I feel very alone

Day 28

Day 28: Something that you miss

I miss being a child with all that not worrying about money and jobs and food and not thinking about someone to love, romantically.

Day 25-27

And I was on such a roll...

So, Day 25: Someone who fascinates you and why

Celebrities, all of them, big (Alicia Silverstone) and small (you know, that one girl who played that one small part in that one movie a few years ago?). If I recognize you from tv, I will most likely be interested how you're 'Just Like Us!' Why? Well, I wish I knew.

Day 26: What kind of person attracts me

Physically: Red hair. Plaid button ups. Cute shoes (Vans, Converse, MacBeths, of that nature.)

Nonphysically: Being kind to others, thoughtfulness, humor, vegan/vegetarian food habits.

Day 27: A problem that you have had.

My main problem in life is a lack of a goal. More specifically, what kind of job I want to aim for.

Day 24

Day 24: Your favorite movie and what it's about:

As mentioned in Day 21 post, it would be hard to pick just one favorite of most things. So here are some favorite movies.

Anchorman

Amelie

Pride & Prejudice (the 6 hour one with this dude)

The Princess Bride

Say Anything...

Sixteen Candles

Wayne's World

Scott Pilgrim vs The World

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist

Buffalo '66

So I Married an Axe Murderer

While You Were Sleeping

I'm not going to tell you what these are about, most likely you already know. Buffalo '66 is maybe the only one you wouldn't know, and you should totally know it! Watch it! A couple times! It really grew on me. It's weird and funny. It made me like Christina Ricci.

Day 23

Day 23: Give pictures of 5 guys who are famous that you find attractive:

Updated to include Kip "Half-Sack" Epps from Sons of Anarchy (redhead!):

James McAvoy- dreamy Scot

Ryan Gosling

Johnny Depp- here is a Benny & Joon still

Michael Cera- cute one.

James Franco

Teese Mozzarella Sticks

Picture Source

Chicago Soy Dairy came out with vegan breaded mozzarella sticks using their vegan cheese called Teese. Teese is probably my favorite vegan cheese, so I was psyched to try these out. I work at a mostly vegan restaurant and my boss was able to get samples of the cheese sticks from a distributor for me to try.

I tried one of them by themselves and the rest I dipped into our homemade marinara sauce with a bit of Sriracha in it as well. My general consensus on them was: meh. They're not bad, but they're not something I imagine myself craving. The most disappointing part of them was the "cheese." It tasted like nothing. The breading on them was really good, but it didn't make up for the blah middle.

It's fried, so, yeah, if a plate of these were put in front of me, I'll eat them with gusto. I just wouldn't go out of my way for them.

Day 22

Day 22: How have you changed in the past 2 years

I no longer work full time and I've been even more appreciative for the support my older sister and her husband give me. I have experienced more of life, which has changed or strengthened my opinions on certain things and has matured me a bit as well.

This is another one of those questions that I feel I can't really answer because it's way more personal than I want to get on a very public webpage.

Day 21

Day 21: One of your favorite shows

How can they ask you to only talk about one of your favorite shows? Doesn't everyone want to talk about more than one? But this is probably the only time when I would be able to tell what my very favorite of something is. When asked my favorite food or movie, there's no definitive answer, but favorite show ever? Arrested Development, hands down! I have watched all the episodes several times and don't ever tire of them and they make me laugh so much.

But a few other favorites:

Freaks & Geeks

Chopped

Modern Family

30 Rock

What Not To Wear (I *love* makeovers!)

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

Cougar Town (for reals, y'all, it got really good)

Home Movies

Dr. Katz

Seinfeld

Day 20

Day 20: How important you think education is...

Well, as someone who only went to one semester of college, I apparently don't think college is necessary to survive in this world. I have never known what I wanted to do for a career and I went to college mainly because I realized working full time kinda sucks. I also wanted to have the college experience, which wasn't a party experience for me. I went to a religious college and, though I hung out with kids who drank, they weren't getting drunk or partying it up. It was responsible, conservative drinking.

I sometimes wish that I would go back to school, but I still don't know what I want to do with myself and I don't want to pay off a loan for years and years to come. Especially when most of the jobs I go for don't need a college education. (I've been trying to get back into the natural foods type grocery store business for the past couple years, the ones around here pay pretty well and have benefits.)

My sister was like me in that she didn't know what she wanted to do, but she enjoys learning a lot more than I and so went and got a degree in Social Sciences.

Neither of our parents finished high school and they've never demanded we graduate from college. I'm glad I was never pressured to finish college, though I think perhaps I might feel/be more mature if I had gotten a degree. Tests and papers were never my strong suit and that's what makes me fear college, for that is all you ever seem to do. I was a straight B student -without really trying- in high school, in college I got 1 B, 2 C's and 1 D. Blah.

I think education is definitely important, the main purpose is so that we can make better decisions, improve our life and learn about the past so that we don't repeat it in the future.

Day 19

Day 19: Disrespecting your parents

My sister and I were good kids, we didn't get into trouble and we weren't the rebellious type. We didn't get into drugs or drinking. After a certain age I did argue with my dad a lot. I disagree with him on many things and I have a hard time keeping quiet. We weren't perfect, but I think we were pretty respectful.

Day 18

Day 18: Your Beliefs

I believe the rich need to be taxed more, or at least as much as everyone else (I recently heard that they pay 3% less than everyone else, perhaps that's only state by state? I don't know.)

I believe that gay couples should have the same rights as hetero ones and should be able to use the word "marriage."

I believe that factory farming should be illegal. Animals are not treated as they should be in a factory farming environment. It's disturbing. As a human being, you have the responsibility to know where your food is coming from and if you don't care how that meat you're eating was treated when it was alive, it's just sad. Americans eat way more meat than is necessary and healthy.

I believe that marijuana (and growing hemp!) should be legal.

I believe we should all have access to affordable health care and that health insurances should stop being such assholes about stuff. (see: Sicko)

Day 17

Day 17: Your highs and lows this past year

Highs:

I turned 30!

I had several good make outs.

I learned something new about myself.

I ate delicious food.

I had good times with my awesome friends.

Lows:

The moments of feeling rejected and the inexplicable feelings of sadness.

I turned 30!...and I still feel like I don't know what I'm doing.

I had a mysterious health issue.

Doing these lists aren't easy because most of the stuff is pretty personal and I don't want to put everything online for everyone to read.

Day 16

Day 16: Your Views on Mainstream Music

I like it a lot more than I probably should, but it's formulated to be catchy and it definitely sucks me in and I don't mind. Lots of fun music to dance to.

Day 15

Day 15: My favorite tumblrs

When I first read this one I thought they were referring to these tumblers.

1. Are You My Ghost- I'm pretty sure this is the first Tumblr I ever looked at. Or, at least, it's the first one I looked at on a regular basis. Renai has great style and has a great blog. I enjoy having her as my Twitter friend, as well.

2. you can have it all- recently started looking at this one.

3. fuckyeahredhair- because FUCK YEAH, REDHEADS! If you know me at all, you know I have an affinity for the gingers.

4. fuckyeahryangosling- These are usually pretty silly, but there's plenty of amusing ones. The best is when Ryan Gosling reads them though. You must click on the link if you haven't seen it yet.

Day 14

Day 14: Your earliest memory

I have a hard time knowing what is memory and what is from seeing pictures or dreaming stuff. I feel like I have a memory of knowing there was poop in my pants. Great early memory, right? There's a lovely half naked picture of me outside and my mom is hosing my lower half off. The question is: who took that picture?? Who thought that was a great time to photograph a moment?

I remember being at the beach eating a pb&j sandwich and seagull swooping down and taking it.

I remember David Higgins chasing me around the playground in kindergarten.

I remember pretending to cut my hair, or was it my dad's hair, and him getting mad and telling me to go to my room.

I remember running over my younger male cousin with his 4 wheeler. No harm done, by the way. What can I say, he told me to follow him and I was driving the 4 wheeler...

Day 13

Day 13: Somewhere you'd like to move or visit

There are too many places I'd like to visit, but here's a few:

Australia

Hawaii

New York City

San Francisco

Spain

Return to Italy, Ireland and Scotland and see more of them

Iceland

Greece

Move to:

hmm...I really liked Edinburgh. When I was there I wrote down that I wanted to go back and live there for at least 6 months. I would consider Vancouver, BC, as well. I enjoyed my time out of the States when I was gone for 13 months, but I was excited to be back, I feel at home here.

My other option besides Portland was Philadelphia and I wouldn't mind living there. I really love the architecture there and I LOVE the pretzel place that sells fresh pretzels for about $0.40/a piece at midnight...

Day 12

Day 12: Bullet Your Whole Day

6:10am My alarm goes off, I snooze for another 15 minutes.

7:20am Arrive at work. Traffic wasn't too bad, yay.

10:30am-ish Had to kick out a disheveled man because he came in a second time without money. He tries to barter with stuff that he's brought with him. He claims his money was left in his other jacket. He's very homeless looking and incoherent (like he's on drugs, he is constantly shaking and moving around in an odd manner.). Last time he left a cell phone while he "went to go get money", this time he had a bike and a bright yellow Jeep stereo. I told him to not leave anything, but he left the stereo. I hate kicking out people, it makes me uncomfortable. But at least he had some food in his belly.

2:52pm Leave work for the drive home, sad because I should've left work right when I got off at 2:30 because carpool lane starts at 3pm and it gets busy even before then. So sleepy on drive home.

Hang out with dogs a bit, change the chicken's water and left them out of their chicken mansion for a bit to poke around, then try to sleep, but dogs are playing on my bed and being annoying. Finally get to sleep when my sister gets home...

8:59pm Wake up after 4 hours and hang out with sister for an hour before she goes to bed since she has an early morning.

Hang out with puppy Tilda and watch Pulling on Netflix Instant in my bed.

I'm not good at bullets since they're usually very nondescript and I can't tame my words sometimes...

Day 10

Day 10: Put Your iPod on Shuffle & Write the 10 Songs That Come Up

1. S.O.S. by Abba- such a good band. Can anyone stay in a bad mood when they come on? My at-work experiences with it says no.

2. Chariot by Page France- i really love this cd (Hello, Dear Wind), this song is one of the best.

3. Obstacle 1 by Interpol- i own 3 songs by Interpol. they're all known as "Tracks", this one being Track 7, but i looked it up for your knowledge.

4. The Dress Looks Nice On You by Sufjan Stevens- i love Sufjan.

5. I Can't Stay by The Killers- this is off their newer album that I don't know.

6. Come on! Let's Boogey to the...(something, I can't see the rest.) by Sufjan Stevens- his Christmas album is lengthy and good. I love his version of the not-very-Christmasy song Come Thou Fount.

7. Adam's Song by Blink- 182- I shall never tire of this band.

8. Whyyawannabringmedown by Kelly Clarkson- wow, never listened to this song before. It's not her usual sound. I have a soft spot for Breakaway (it was playing on the radio a lot when I was making the big move west) and Since You (i refuse to spell it "u"!) Been Gone.

9. Untitled 9 by I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business- it's the solo project of the singer from The Early November, which is band I haven't listened. I believe my friend Becca is the one that put a couple icmamlnb songs on a mix for me.

10. The World Has Turned & Left Me by Weezer- such a good song to end this on! This is my favorite off their most famous album.

Day 10

Day 10: Discuss your first love and first kiss.

Well, since I have yet to be in love (unless I just didn't realize it, but I'm pretty sure I haven't), I'll go straight for the first kiss. I was almost 18, I had been dating my boyfriend for about a month, and we were in Winter Haven, where he lived. (We lived an hour and a half away from each other. He was in a band that came to my church to play and that's how I met him.) We were walking around after a show and he kissed me. I was so freakin' nervous about it and so I was happy that my first kiss was over with. (I still am happy when the first kiss with a new person is over...Some people love that first kiss, I just find it awkward.) Oh, I just remembered I had braces. Aw.

Day 9

Day 9: How You Hope You're Future Will Be Like

I kinda feel like this is a repeat to Day 2. Right? Or, at least, my answer will be the same. Yeah, it seems pretty similar. They totally just needed to fill in a day :o)

Day 8

Day 8: A moment you felt most satisfied with your life.

Hm. That's a hard one to pinpoint for me. My memory isn't as good as it used to be. You'd think you'd remember the most satisfied you'd ever felt though, eh? I would say that I felt very satisfied whilst romping around Italy, looking at amazing cathedrals, eating gelato (what's strange is that i don't remember eating pasta, other than gnocchi, which isn't pasta...), seeing amazing art, walking a ton. I felt pretty satisfied when I made the big move out to the Northwest. I have moments of happiness, but they aren't cemented in my mind of where and when.

Day 7

oh, hey, it's been a week!

Day 7: Your Zodiac Sign and If It Fits Your Personality

I'm going to go with the old zodiac signs though. Astrology-online.com tells me that these are signs of a Taurus:

Patient and reliable

Warmhearted and loving

Persistent and determined

Placid and security loving

But, on the "dark side" there's also:

Jealous and possessive

Resentful and inflexible

Self-indulgent and greedy

I've never put stock in astrology. It seems like I could match up to any of the other signs without much difficulty. But, yeah, I'd say most of the above descriptions fit me. Taurus's are also known for being stubborn and me and my friend (a fellow Taurus) were quite a match when we were both being stubborn/inflexible about something.

General: Astrology doesn't matter to me.

Day 6

Day 6: Write 30 Interesting Facts About Yourself

1. David Higgins was the first boy who ever liked me. It was in kindergarten and he would chase me around the playground, which I didn't like.

2. Most people find my Mennonite background very interesting. Probably because they think of the horse and carriage kind.

3. I lived in Germany for a year und Ich kann ein bisschen Deutsch sprechen.

4. I wasn't allowed to cut my hair because of my dad. I cut it within a week of my 18th birthday. It wasn't a good haircut, but my goodness it felt good!

5. My first piercing was an upper cartilage piercing when I was 19.

6. My first tattoo was when I was 26.

7. I was a fat baby with lots of dark hair.

8. I really wish I could draw or paint.

9. My favorite country that I traveled to is a 3 way tie: Scotland, Ireland, Italy.

10. My favorite food growing up was Chick-Fil-A nuggets.

11. We were a Pepsi family. But, ick, gross. I prefer Coke now, but I rarely drink it.

12. That's because one of my favorite things is Dr. Pepper. My one roommate and I bonded over our love of Dr. Pepper Lipsmackers.

13. My well drink of choice is currently: Greyhound

14. Favorite Show of All Time: Arrested Development. I watch this repeatedly. It never gets old.

15. My first crush was around age 16 (I was a late bloomer) and his name was Trent Sexton.

16. I played sports when I was younger. Lots of softball and a couple years of basketball. My basketball career was horrible, I made one basket.

17. I could not tell you how many, or all the names, of my first cousins on my Dad's side. He's got many siblings (I can never remember the official number...10?) and they sure can reproduce.

18. One of my favorite artists is Jen Corace.

19. Niff Nicholls is another favorite of mine. She's also my friend. <3

20. I almost moved to Philadelphia instead of Portland.

21. My only celebrity sighting (besides glimpses of Jerry Springer, who has a house in my hometown, and the girl who played Alex Mack, who was in my hometown promoting a film at a film fest) is Tom Green. He said "nice shirt" to me, I was wearing an old school NKOTB shirt. Weird times...

22. I have one sibliny. She's older and has taken very good care of me.

23. I've been auntie'd 4 times now. All dogs. I don't have favorites. Not because of my equal love for them, but for their equal 'meh' love for me. Though I have to say May and Tilda seem to be able to pull at my heart strings like Daisy and Mosie (both R.I.P.) never were able to. The faces, the cute pathetic faces...

24. I hate hoppy beer. Give me a fruity hefeweizen any day of the year!

25. Photobooth pictures are the best, aren't they?

26. I was in a 4 wheeler accident when I was about 14 or 15. It's the only time I've gone to a hospital-like place (I can't remember where I went, maybe an Urgent Care? I was in Ohio visiting my cousin.) I got 9 stitches and one funny looking (but very smooooth feeling) scar under my right knee.

27. I went to private school 4-8th grade. I believe that it made me a more introverted person because I went into a new school where I didn't know anyone and most of the 40 kids in my grade had been together since kindergarten. Then I chose to go back to public for high school and though I recognized some kids from my public elementary school, I hadn't seen them in 5 years and they had already formed cliques and knew each other well. I was lost in a sea of 250+ classmates (let alone a school of more than a 1000). It took me a long time to make friends.

28. I wish Junior Mints were vegan.

29. I love very old cathedrals.

30. I look like my dad, Elmer.

This was not easy. One tends to find most facts about themselves not very interesting.

Day 5

Day 5: A Time You Thought About Ending Your Own Life

Thankfully, I've never been that depressed. Death scares me more than living does.

Day 4, y'all!

Day 4: Your Views on Religion

I was raised Mennonite. My mom is from Ohio and my dad, from the land of Mennonites & Amish, Lancaster, PA. They met in Sarasota, Florida, which is where a lot of northern Mennonites and Amish go to retire or for the winter.

I didn't really know what being Mennonite meant, like what their doctrine was. Because we're not as conservative as some other Mennonites, I dressed like other kids (though my dad is on the conservative side and didn't want us girls wearing pants -unless we were horseback riding- and we weren't allowed to cut our hair, though my mom cut hers anyway). My mom wore a covering for many years, but by the time I was about 10, she had stopped wearing one. So I didn't feel like we were any different than the Baptists, Lutherans, and other denominations. As I got older, I learned about how Mennonites are different for their pacifist and anabaptist beliefs (anabaptist means you don't baptize your babies, you let them get baptized when they are old enough to decide for themselves.). I have come to really appreciate my background. I compare Mennonite to Jewish, it's a culture as well as a religion, so no matter if you're a practicing member or not, you still consider yourself one.

I do consider myself a practicing Mennonite and I am definitely on the very left leaning side of the Mennonite spectrum. Like any denomination or religion, there's going to be people you disagree with. I was happy to find a great Mennonite church here in Portland and the church is welcoming of everyone (Though under the Mennonite conference we aren't allowed to marry gay people...which I hope is changing...).

I consider myself tolerant of other's religious beliefs. I want mine to be respected just as much I respect yours. I do not wish to force it onto anyone. I think it's impossible to change people's minds so easily.

Day 3

Day 3: Your Views on Alcohol and Drugs

I drink at least a couple times a week and I have a really hard time dancing in public without it. I was raised in a conservative Christian home and I don't remember being told not to drink, it was just assumed (like smoking and premarital sex) that you don't do it. What I found out much later was that my Dad thinks it's okay to drink wine occasionally. Not beer, which is only drank so you can get drunk (what? you didn't know that?). I didn't drink at all until I was 21 (okay, once I took a sip of my friend's drink, which I thought was just soda and I was, like, dude, your soda's flat! Apparently that's what vodka can do to a soda...), I hung out with rule-following Christian kids, so I never was around any sort of peer pressure to drink. It was in college where I met Christians that drank and then when I went to Germany, where beer is king and almost everyone drinks. (Germany is also where I started to use "bad" words. It's not seen as a big deal.)

I wasn't around drugs at all until I went to Amsterdam when I was 23. Since then the only other drug I've been around was cocaine at a party of someone I used to work with. That drug kinda freaks me out. Oh, I mean the thought of it, I've never tried it! I've not even tried pot. I hate the smell of it and just haven't been very interested in trying it. I feel like I'll be one of those people that gets really paranoid. I do think marijuana should be legalized. If alcohol is legal, marijuana should be even more legal. Have you ever heard of an angry pothead? I can't imagine someone high beating their wife or child. (I could be naive, maybe that actually happens, but you sure don't hear about it.) I read Eric Schlosser's book Reefer Madness and it made me mad of how much money our gov't wastes on locking up people caught with some pot. Meth and the like that actually ruin a person's life, sure, keep it illegal. (And why is hemp illegal to grow in the States??? It is such a damn useful plant and people don't smoke it!)

Time for a nonrelevant picture:

These be my sister's chickens. They were suspicious of the snow, but eventually left their Chicken Mansion.

Day 2 of 30 Day Challenge

Day 2: Where You'd Like to Be in 10 Years

I am horrible at planning ahead. Even 6 months is hard for me to plan for. Actually, strike that, make it 2 months. When I was in high school I had a hard enough time accepting that I would even graduate. It just seemed like something I would never get to. I'm not sure if it was because in youth group it's always pounded into your psyche that you could die at any time (and if you died "do you know for sure you'd go to heaven?").

So, in 10 years...I have no freakin' clue. I would like to be happy. I would like to be in love. I don't have the American dreams of owning a house (it sounds kinda like a pain in the ass) or having kids, they're not goals of mine. I may change my mind, I find that happens often. I want to find a job that I get some joy out of, or at least, doesn't completely suck.

And I hope these two niece dogs of mine will still be alive and well:

Isn't May (the Pit) the best at the Pathetic Puppy Dog Eyes? She breaks my heart every time I leave her at home. She was a rescue, she had been left in a parking lot and had saggy titties from the several litters she had already had. She also had been obviously whipped with a belt (she cowers when my brother-in-law takes off his belt...not to whip her, by the way). I just don't understand how people can do that to animals.

30 Day Challenge

Steffers, a PPK friend, fellow Portlander (if I consider myself a Portlander...which I do even though I don't technically live there right now) and blogger colleague, is doing this 30 day challenge on her blog, so I thought I might as well do it too.

So :ahem: Day 1...

Your Current Relationship, if Single Discuss How Single Life is:

I'm a singleton. Single life is...not the worst thing ever, but I do long for a partner-in-crime. The single life isn't something I enjoy. What I enjoy: cuddling and holding hands. I don't meet new people very easily and online dating is lacking in guys that I would be interested in. Cute boys are a dime a dozen here in Portland, but me and my girlfriends have noticed they aren't big on making the first move. The feminist in me says I can make a move, but, dude, I am sick of initiating stuff, I already initiate conversation, most of the time. I want to be pursued, I'm old fashioned like that.

Got a secret, can you keep it?

Oh, I don't have an actual secret. I've just been watching Pretty Little Liars...

I haven't posted in along time because...well, I am a great procrastinator.

There's a new pizza place in town called Sizzle Pie. The former owner of the delicious super-vegan friendly bar Tube has opened a late night pizza place with a lot of vegan options. Toppings include Daiya cheese, flavorful soy curls, vegan pepperoni, and creamy basil cashew spread. I've gone several times now. I usually get the $6 slice and salad deal.

This here is a New Maps Out of Hell slice (soy curls, basil cashew spread, 3 veggies- which this time was black olives, green peppers and onion) and the Caligula salad, which is just their name for a Caesar. Their Caesar dressing is made vegan and it's quite yum. Currently they only have bottled/canned beers, but when their bar (Quality Bar) opens next door, I can only assume there will be draft beers.

The pizza isn't the best ever (my favorite crust is still Hot Lips Pizza), but it's tasty. Normally, the two vegan slice options are New Maps and Spiral Tap (carmelized onion spread swirled with marinara sauce...good, but boring- i want toppings!), but occasionally they have others, such as Thunder & Lightning (vegan cheese with pepperoni!). They're open until 4am (I can't remember what the weekday hours are), so if you're out late downtown or at Rontom's on Burnside, it's a great after hours place to go. I just wish they had Dr. Pepper on their sode fountain...

I just made myself the yummiest boozy milkshake. I was mixing Silk Chocolate with some Kahlua when I remembered I had Coconut Bliss ice cream. Delicious combo, y'all!

Meat is for Pussies, the book

Before I get into that, I just wanted to comment on my last post regarding Nature's Path. After I reviewed that I was emailed soon after to inform me that they were going to reconsider their packaging when sending to get reviewed. So happy to hear that they are doing that!

Ok, on to the book! I was given the opportunity to read a copy of John Joseph's book titled Meat is for Pussies. Honestly, I am not a fan of the term "pussy" when used in this way. Not because I'm someone who thinks political correctness is absolutely necessary all the time. I just don't care for it and it reminds me of douchebag guys that call their friends pussies if they can't do something well and would also say shit like "you throw like a girl." So, yeah, I didn't have high expectations that this book is something that I would like for myself.

Before the book's foreward there is "acclaim" by several well known vegans, such as Chef Tal Ronnen, Moby and Rory Friedman (writer of Skinny Bitch). The book is written by 47 year old John Joseph, known for his punk rock back The Cro Mags, and has been vegan for over 30 years. With chapters (and sections within the chapters) titled Beat the Meat, Diets are for Jerk Offs, and Kick Cancer in the Nuts, you know that you won't be getting this for your parents (unless your parents are the opposite of mine). I suppose you could say it's the masculine version of Skinny Bitch, which is a book that is written in a style I don't care for.

Joseph goes through all the different reasons one should go vegan (environmental, health, etc) and then gives you a week's menu with exercise plan. There are recipes (which I wanted to try out, and why it took me so long to blog about this, but I still have yet to make anything. Sad face!) included. I would really like to try the Veggie Chicken & Rice Casserole and Sweet & Sour Tofu Balls Over Quinoa.

This book is not made for the likes of me, but perhaps there is a young lad or butch in your life that would be changed by this book, and for that reason, I'm glad it exists.

If you are like me, might I suggest The Food Revolution by John Robbins or Meat Market by Erik Marcus?

Nature's Path Ancient Grains Granola with Almonds

Nature's Path sent me their new Ancient Grains Granola, which was a collaboration with Kirkland Signature. I was confused about this, but what I've read around the Internets is that this was done so that the product would be more widely available and that Nature's Path was still independently owned, so whatever, good for them.

They sent me the Costco-sized box of the cereal (it was 2 separate bags in one large box) in the mail in a huge box that was supposed to look like an old suitcase/wooden box. I thought maybe there was a good reason for the huge size

My cute niecepup Tilda to show size comparison.

but no...

There were some papers on top of that blank space (recipes and info on the cereal), but really it was just a bunch of hay-type filler. I just thought it was a ginormous waste, it seemed like something that would've been the idea of a Kirkland rep. But it's their money, I suppose?

Anyways, on to the cereal...

The grains involved are spelt, kamut, quinoa, amaranth and oats. The almonds are a tasty inclusion for those of without an allergy to them (like my poor sister). The flavor is good and I enjoyed it with soymilk or my yogurt. It was also nice not to have to deal with an annoying vanilla flavor. With 5 grams of protein and 9 grams of sugar per serving, it's a pretty healthy choice as far as granolas go and I would definitely eat it again.

Have y'all had it?