I want...

I want to live in a cute little yellow house with my cute little family! I want a big backyard for our future dogs and children to play in. I want a little bit of that backyard to be dedicated to a little garden where I can grow vegetables, fruits, and herbs. What do you want?

[www.iwantproject.com]

Clean as a Whistle!

I don't think this apartment has every been THIS clean, lol. I did all the laundry, washed all the blankets, vacuumed every room, swifered the kitchen/bathroom, did all the dishes, cleaned the stove/every counter top, cleaned the bathroom, organized and took out the recycling, took out the garbage, etc. etc! It's actually kind of beautiful, hahaha.

After all the cleaning, I took a shower, put on my comfy jammies, ate dinner, and watched the Soloist :)
I'm actually in a really good mood! These past few days went by so quickly! Kyle's flight comes in tomorrow at 12:40pm! :D yyyyaaaaaaaayyyyy!! I have a big bag of lemon/orange flavored fruit gummies, lol (they're my least favorite flavors, I only like the strawberry/cherry/blueberry/apple ones)

I've got a bunch of assignments due this week, and then finals next week...but then spring break! :)

So, lately I've been thinking about our apartment...I really love it, the layout, the amount of space, the rent, the amenities, the neighborhood! Just down the street on 85th they're remodeling the Fred Meyers, and basically that entire area. A bunch of new stores are going to be opening up :)

The only downside is that pets aren't allowed :(
I miss my kitty cat! Also, I want a puppy!! lol I'm not gonna lie, I look at adoption ads all the time (yes that makes me a dork) and I found the cutest pup, an Australian Shepard mix, and her name was Honey (you have no idea how perfect that name is, lol). So, I started looking at other apartments near by...and there are a lot of really good options...for 2 bedroom places. There's this adorable townhouse in Ballard that's only $800 a month, and it's gorgeous! It even has a fireplace :)  It's too bad we don't know another couple up here (or a couple willing to relocate, lol) because it's a great deal! Oh well...too be honest, Idk if I even want to move, lol Like I said, I love our place, and moving would be such a hassle, haha.

Anyway, I'll stop rambling and start doing homework! Goodnight! :)

"Tuna Fish"

When I was little, peanut butter and jelly sammiches were my favorite! But, on the rare occasion that I couldn't have PB&J, tuna sandwiches were my second favorite! I haven't had a tuna sandwich in years but every now and then, when I'm in the mood for a sandwich, I think back on those tuna sandwiches that I haven't had in forever. Thanks to this recipe, though, I can relive an old favorite sandwich!

"Tuna" Sandwich

You will need:
1 can of garbanzo beans
About 1 tablespoon of veganaisse (or mayo)
About 1 tablespoon of relish (or you can chop up some pickles)
A pinch of pepper
A pinch of salt
2 slices of bread
Lettuce

Directions:
1. Drain the can of garbanzo beans, put them in a bowl and using a fork, mash them up a bit.
2. Add all the other ingredients to the bowl and mix well. Add the about a tablespoon of the "mayo" or a little less, or a little more, depending on the consistency that you desire.
3. Toast your bread, spread the mixture onto one piece of bread, top with some lettuce, and then the other piece of bread.

Tah dah!

(This can also be a "Tuna" Salad recipe, minus the bread, add more lettuce!)

Just some thoughts...

So, my revelation that I don't want to work with 1-5 year-olds was kind of enlightening...I began to question why I wanted to be a teacher at all. Yes, ideally, I'd work with students grades one and up because I really like working with kids in that age group. I enjoy helping kids learn how to read, spell, learn simple math. I like the fact that if/when I became a mom, it'd be a profession flexible around that. Although I'd want to be a stay at home mom for my children's early years, and hopefully I have them sequentially, I know that once they're old enough and going to school themselves, I'd like to go back to work. (Yes, I over-think stuff)
 
BUT
(Now keep in mind that the following thoughts were products of me being awake around 3am last night)

I began to think that maybe I think I want to work with kids so much because I know I'm really going to look forward to being a mom. Also, while I would enjoy teaching...I started doubting that teaching was something I'd want to do forever.

So then I began trying to think about other things I passionately care about. While doing this I was browsing some of my favorite vegetarian/vegan recipe sites. I discovered a local vegan/organic doughnut shop (they're also incredibly environmentally conscious! ) http://www.mightyo.com/ ! I started making a mental grocery list...(in addition to attempting to make my own vegan doughnuts, I found this great vegan alfredo recipe that I just HAVE to try for old time's sake (old times being when I could eat dairy))

And then it hit me. Ever since I became vegetarian my sophomore year of HS, I've spent a LOT of time in the kitchen. My mom didn't exactly approve of my lifestyle change, so she told me that if it was something I really wanted to do, I'd have to be able to cook for myself, while maintaining an adequate diet (she even took me to a nutritionist!). I love cooking as much as I love eating what I've made! Cooking is such a large part of my life! I truly enjoy it (even when it's frustrating) because while I use a lot of recipes, I enjoy branching off the main recipe and making something special. Some creative experiment of my own that is usually better than what the original recipe would've produced.

So after all of this thinking...and after joking with friends (Sarah) about opening my own healthy restaurant. What if I were to make that a reality? I'm in between schools right now, so what if I just finished my schooling at a Culinary Institute? There are so many vegan friendly restaurants up here...but not so many in San Diego (which is where we'll probably (maybe) end up moving to eventually). Plus the fact that healthful eating is on the rise! More and more people are trying to eat better and healthier. I can name you all the vegetarian/vegan places in SD on my hands! And when I was living there, we were regulars at all those places because there's only so many to choose from! What if I opened up my own place? Or started a catering business (not too many vegan catering businesses)?

Obviously that's not where I'd start right out of school. I'd work at someone else's restaurant until eventually I started one on my own...but still...I can picture myself doing this. I can see my cute little place where my friends enjoy stopping by and hanging out (so many of my friends don't eat meat!) and enjoying the food. Brightly colored walls exhibiting art from local artists (maybe a few of my photographs). Using locally grown produce, making everything from scratch, supplying recyclable silverware, and ensuring that every main entree is well rounded nutritionally speaking. Maybe I'll even put together a cookbook one day!

Instead of joking about how much fun it would be...why don't I just do it?
(Obviously this is another session of late night thoughts, but I munched on the idea all day, and it still sounds good. So, I think I'm gonna sleep on it for a little while longer. Talk to people about it and hear what they have to say. I already sort of told my mom about this earlier, poor lady's always the first to hear about my most recent change of heart, lol. She likes the idea, which is a good sign. But my mom will support whatever I choose to do, haha)

A Lazy Lady's Vegan Single Serving of

Rosemary & Garlic Mashed Potatoes

1 baking potato
3-4 cloves of garlic (finely chopped)
about half a handful of rosemary (fresh or dried, your choice)
1/4 cup of your vegan butter of choice
1/2 cup of plain soymilk
1 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of black pepper

1. Thoroughly wash your potato, then wrap it up in aluminum foil and put it in a toaster oven or a regular oven.

2. Get a small pan and put it on a low-medium heat. Put half of the "butter" in the pan and add the garlic to the pan. After the garlic is slightly brown, add the rosemary. Add the rest of the "butter" and let it simmer on the low heat.

3. Once your potato is cooked (you can poke a fork and it falls right apart) get out a relatively large bowl. Using your fork smash up the potato a little bit. Then add the "butter"/rosemary/garlic in addition to about half the soymilk. Mix it up, and add more soymilk to your preferred texture of mashed potatoes. Add the salt & pepper and you are ready to go!