H.A. Larson's Blog, page 61
October 11, 2016
It's a Tuesday Kind of Post
Brown Lady of Raynham Hall, a popular ghost photo taken in 1936.
Good morning, and Happy Tuesday. I have to admit, Tuesday is my least favorite day. You know Monday is coming, Wednesday is the middle of the week, Thursday is Friday Eve, and Friday is the start of the weekend. Tuesday, however, is just there. Nothing exciting about it, it's just there. It's kind of like my Friday this week though, as I have the next couple of days off. What will I be doing? A ghost hunt.
Yep, my husband, a few friends, and I will descend upon a haunted locale in Iowa and investigate overnight on Wednesday. I'm looking forward to it. You know from previous posts that I like to dabble in it, for fun. I haven't really caught anything on tape, per se, but this should be different and I will definitely be making a large post about it this coming weekend.
I hope you all enjoyed the teaser from "The Box" that I put up the other day. You should let me know what you think of it in the comments!
I've been in a bit of a funk the past week or so. Mainly hormones, but maybe it's seasonal too. I hate periods of funk because you have to internally fight with yourself several times, and it's exhausting. I'll be glad when the funk works it's way out.
I have to say, though, that I'm sure glad Fall is here. It's my favorite time of the year, and just seeing the leaves begin to change really puts a smile on my face. Now, if I could just get outside more like I was hoping....
October 9, 2016
Alice Cooper!
Last night was a fun night. We got to see Alice Cooper live in concert! He was great live. His backup band is composed of an incredible set of musicians, and, even though he's a year older than my dad, has no problems running around on stage. His stage show was just as cool as I'd always heard it was, and included dead nurses, pyrotechnics, and a guillotine. He played a couple of his eponymous hits, such as Poison and School's Out.
A view of the stage as we waited for Alice Cooper to come out. The drop was a painting of Cooper's face with spiders for the irises of the eyes. Unfortunately, my cell phone camera--as well as my husband's--couldn't filter out the light enough to see them.
A shot of said pyrotechnics and the band.
The shock-rocker in a cape.
Alice Cooper in the middle, flanked by his backup band.
The guillotine and the dead nurse (on the right).
This was my clearest, best shot of the night, and it's of the man himself. I think he changed costume about four times. Very cool!
A photo of yours truly, my best friend, and my husband (the one with the beard).
If you ever get a chance, go see Alice Cooper live. He's puts on a fantastic show!
A view of the stage as we waited for Alice Cooper to come out. The drop was a painting of Cooper's face with spiders for the irises of the eyes. Unfortunately, my cell phone camera--as well as my husband's--couldn't filter out the light enough to see them.
A shot of said pyrotechnics and the band.
The shock-rocker in a cape.
Alice Cooper in the middle, flanked by his backup band.
The guillotine and the dead nurse (on the right).
This was my clearest, best shot of the night, and it's of the man himself. I think he changed costume about four times. Very cool!
A photo of yours truly, my best friend, and my husband (the one with the beard).
If you ever get a chance, go see Alice Cooper live. He's puts on a fantastic show!
October 8, 2016
The Adventures of Mom and Nature Girl #2
Last Sunday, Nature Girl and I spent our afternoon at Platte River State Park (PRSP). Situated near Louisville, Nebraska, this state park straddles the edge of the Platte River. We spent a wonderful weekend at one of the cabins there back in February, but I hadn't gone there specifically to hike in a few years. Being tired of the usual places, I figured it was high time that we went. They have some interesting things to see along the trails, and I made sure we took some trails that we hadn't before in order to see something new.
Here's a view up one of the trees in the park. I love the viewpoint from the ground looking up towards the canopy with the sun just peeking through.
PRSP has a creek that runs through, and feeds back into the Platte River. About midway though the forest trail is a not-very-tall, but nonetheless pretty falls. We've been here when the falls are a powerhouse after the spring rains, but now that it's fall, it's just lightly falling. Come winter, before it freezes solid (we've seen that too), it will just trickle.
A stone's throw from the falls are some of the rock terraces that this area of the state is known for. I've shown you some before from my hikes at Schramm State Park, which is only a few miles across the Platte River from here. Nature Girl decided to dig a bit in the dirt underneath with a stick.
We variated from the normal trails we've taken in the past, and found ourselves along the end of the creek as it's making it's way into the Platte. You can just make out the Platte in the back where it's really bright. The sun was reflecting off the river and shining back to where we were.
At the point where the creek opens up into the Platte River, there's a train trestle up above. We climbed up the embankment and came out at this spot. What a gorgeous view, on a lovely day, overlooking the mighty Platte.
We took a snack and drink break on the river side of the train tracks. When I took a picture of me and Nature Girl, the sun's rays show just so, making a cool picture of us. What do you think? We got up from the spot when we heard a train off in the distance, and went over to the park side of the train tracks. We stood back a safe distance, and waited for the train to pass. We waved at the conductor, who waved back, and Nature Girl was very excited to see a train up close.
We had a lovely day together, and we collected a few things for our scrap book. There will be many more Sundays like this while Fall is here. It's my favorite season to hike and be outdoors.
Have a great Saturday my friends.
Here's a view up one of the trees in the park. I love the viewpoint from the ground looking up towards the canopy with the sun just peeking through.
PRSP has a creek that runs through, and feeds back into the Platte River. About midway though the forest trail is a not-very-tall, but nonetheless pretty falls. We've been here when the falls are a powerhouse after the spring rains, but now that it's fall, it's just lightly falling. Come winter, before it freezes solid (we've seen that too), it will just trickle.
A stone's throw from the falls are some of the rock terraces that this area of the state is known for. I've shown you some before from my hikes at Schramm State Park, which is only a few miles across the Platte River from here. Nature Girl decided to dig a bit in the dirt underneath with a stick.
We variated from the normal trails we've taken in the past, and found ourselves along the end of the creek as it's making it's way into the Platte. You can just make out the Platte in the back where it's really bright. The sun was reflecting off the river and shining back to where we were.
At the point where the creek opens up into the Platte River, there's a train trestle up above. We climbed up the embankment and came out at this spot. What a gorgeous view, on a lovely day, overlooking the mighty Platte.
We took a snack and drink break on the river side of the train tracks. When I took a picture of me and Nature Girl, the sun's rays show just so, making a cool picture of us. What do you think? We got up from the spot when we heard a train off in the distance, and went over to the park side of the train tracks. We stood back a safe distance, and waited for the train to pass. We waved at the conductor, who waved back, and Nature Girl was very excited to see a train up close.
We had a lovely day together, and we collected a few things for our scrap book. There will be many more Sundays like this while Fall is here. It's my favorite season to hike and be outdoors.
Have a great Saturday my friends.
October 6, 2016
Teaser Time!
Good morning! I think it's high time you got a teaser from "The Box", right? Great, I'm glad you agree. Here you go, and if you like it, don't like it, or whatever...feel free to comment. Thanks!
Heidi glanced down to the floor next to the edge of the bed. There was a gap between the box spring and the floor that allowed the strong morning light to penetrate. From underneath, she could see shadows flitting around. With her mouth open and her heart pounding, she got down on her knees and bent over to look under the bed. She shadows were gone, but she found a source of the humming vibration. Staring at her from under the bed was a box, not the box, but another, larger box made out of cardboard. She pulled the cardboard box out from under the bed, and as she did so it vibrated in her hand. She held her breath as she opened the cardboard box to reveal what was within. Gran's old diary and the box. The box looked no different than it had the day before, but this time it was vibrating and humming. She picked the box up in her hands and felt mesmerized the sound it was making. She felt the vibration begin to move up her arms from her hands, and she felt compelled to put her ear against the box. As she did, she could faintly hear what sounded like a voice. She strained harder to hear until she finally made out what was being said. 'Let me out.' As if in a trance, she nodded solemnly. She set the old, wooden box down on Gran's bed and ran her fingers along the outside, looking for a way in. As she did, the box seemed to speak in whispers, urging her to find a way to open the box. The shadows in her periphery danced and wended their way through each other to either side of her. Even though she was completely absorbed in what she was doing, she could, for the first time, really see the shadows.
October 4, 2016
Making a Simple Budget
We all know that I'm a late bloomer and that I readily admit to it. I was very sheltered growing up, so it seemed to take me longer than others to figure things out. Finances are no exception. Just the mere mention of the words "finances", "budget", or "money" used to incite a sense of panic and some hyperventilating. A few years ago, however, I finally stumbled upon one of the greatest things to ever happen to my household 'budget', and it's this:
You are probably saying, "huh?" and scratching your head in perplexity. It's just a little notebook with birds, flowers, and butterflies on it. Well, it does have a pretty cover, but it's what's inside that is special. Well, at least as far as money, budgeting, and bills go. Here's the inside:
Ta da! I know, exciting, right? Genius, right? It's a pretty little binder notebook with columned pocket-pages that have a page for each month of the year. I've blurred this one out so you can't see my personal stuff, but still allows you to get the gist of the notebook. From here on out it shall be referred to as "the folder" because that's what I've been calling it/them all this time.
Here's an unobstructed view of a blank month (Taken from one of my future folders. Yes, I have a stockpile for the future. See: last photo.):
As you can see, there are four columns that have mirror images on both the left and right sides of the pages. The first column says, "Due Date", the second says, "Expenses", the third says, "Amount", and the last says, "Paid."
If you find budgeting hard and need something simple, listen up. If you don't have the kind of finances that allow for the kind of budget you read about in articles, listen up. If you need a simple way of making sure you pay all your bills in full and on time--in other words, keep track of what you need to be paying--then listen up. It's simple.
I found this folder a few years back, like I mentioned, at the Dollar Tree. Yep, you heard that right, the Dollar Tree. That bastion of cheap, essential, and non-essential items. I saw it and thought, "Hmm, I wonder if I can get my bills in order with this thing?" A few years later, and, yeah, I can say that it did. If you can't find one at the dollar store or any other store, you can buy them online. This is one option at Current, and another at Amazon, where you should be able to find a wide assortment to fit your tastes. Just don't pay tons of money for one.
Now, here's what you do. First, sit down and write down every single bill that you pay, excluding food, gas, and household supplies like toilet paper. After you're pretty sure you've got every bill written down, next write down next to each bill their due date (or approximate due date). Then, write down how much each bill is, if the bill isn't the same each month, no worries. This isn't a standard budget, but rather an organized bill paying method, and I will share what to do there in a moment.
Give yourself a day or two before writing in the folder--trust me on this, I speak from experience--in case you forgot a bill but remember in the next day or two. Then, you're ready to transcribe. So, going in due date order, write in the due date, name of bill, and amount owed. The amount owed on some is static, but for the ones that flucuate, write the due date/approximate due date and name of bill, then wait to put in the amount due until you know.
Towards the end of the month, around the 20th or so, I fill in the coming month's information. Don't fill out all the months in one fell swoop. This is another mistake I've learned not to do. Why? Because bills fluctuate, and if you have to remove or add something later, it can really get messy in your folder. Messy is what we're trying to avoid too much of because it doesn't help you stay organized! ;)
Then, I jot down on the pages, next to the month name, the dates of all incoming money (paychecks, child support, royalties, whatever) so I know what days to open up the folder. Now, to implement your hard work!
1. Don't spend your paycheck before it comes. Ever. Just don't.
2. One of those expenses should be savings. Even if you can only start with $5 a month and work your way up, make it a part of your regular bills. You'll thank yourself for this one day. You can always open an online savings account where you either put the money in on payday yourself, or have it automatically withdrawn. I love online savings accounts because it's "out of sight and out of mind" so doesn't get dipped into or spent like money in your home bank.
3. When payday rolls around, pull out your folder and see what bills need to be paid. These are the ones that will be due now or before the next check comes in.
4. Pay the bills that are due, and then jot down in the "Paid" column the date you paid them. For example:
Due Date: 10/01Expenses: RentAmount: $900Paid: 9/29
5. Keep any receipts or bill paying slips in the pockets. I also keep papers with running balances of my credit cards and savings in there as well, so I can keep track of everything and have it at my fingertips.
6. Close your folder, and put away until next check.
7. Smile knowing you got this under control.
When I've paid the last bill for the month, I make a notation at the bottom like, "Closed: 03/30." That way, I know the month has been taken care of, and when it was.
Here's a photo of 2017's pretty folder:
I'm no financial expert, but I know what it's like to try and keep money-organized on a paycheck to paycheck scenario. People living this way can't always budget like people with more disposable income, so, in my opinion, this is a great way to make sure you pay your bills on time and in full. This is very important and leads the way for good credit scores, saving money, knowing how you're spending your money, and, most importantly, paying bills first before blowing money on wants.
Now, let me address why I didn't add food, gas, or household supplies to my bill folder. Those of us who can't budget like those with more disposable income can't budget in these items, in most cases. After all my bills are paid, I look at what's left in the bank and determine how much I can spend on these three items before next payday. I then sit down and make a list for food and jot down household items I can afford. I also try to put aside a few bucks for fun money for the family, but not every paycheck with allow for this.
Notes:
A) I cannot reiterate enough, MAKE SAVINGS A BILL. You might not be able to go out for pizza this week, but your bills will be paid and you will have some money set aside for the future.
B) Be disciplined. Pay your bills first, savings next, and everything else thereafter. It makes a difference.
C) You don't have to write down paydays or "Closed: This date" on your folder, that's just what I do, but you're welcome to if you want!
Lastly, these are all suggestions from a non-financial-professional. I'm just a chick who's struggled with money and finances in the past and found an easy way to get myself organized in those areas. If you try this out let me know, somewhere down the road, how this worked out for you.
You are probably saying, "huh?" and scratching your head in perplexity. It's just a little notebook with birds, flowers, and butterflies on it. Well, it does have a pretty cover, but it's what's inside that is special. Well, at least as far as money, budgeting, and bills go. Here's the inside:
Ta da! I know, exciting, right? Genius, right? It's a pretty little binder notebook with columned pocket-pages that have a page for each month of the year. I've blurred this one out so you can't see my personal stuff, but still allows you to get the gist of the notebook. From here on out it shall be referred to as "the folder" because that's what I've been calling it/them all this time.
Here's an unobstructed view of a blank month (Taken from one of my future folders. Yes, I have a stockpile for the future. See: last photo.):
As you can see, there are four columns that have mirror images on both the left and right sides of the pages. The first column says, "Due Date", the second says, "Expenses", the third says, "Amount", and the last says, "Paid."
If you find budgeting hard and need something simple, listen up. If you don't have the kind of finances that allow for the kind of budget you read about in articles, listen up. If you need a simple way of making sure you pay all your bills in full and on time--in other words, keep track of what you need to be paying--then listen up. It's simple.
I found this folder a few years back, like I mentioned, at the Dollar Tree. Yep, you heard that right, the Dollar Tree. That bastion of cheap, essential, and non-essential items. I saw it and thought, "Hmm, I wonder if I can get my bills in order with this thing?" A few years later, and, yeah, I can say that it did. If you can't find one at the dollar store or any other store, you can buy them online. This is one option at Current, and another at Amazon, where you should be able to find a wide assortment to fit your tastes. Just don't pay tons of money for one.
Now, here's what you do. First, sit down and write down every single bill that you pay, excluding food, gas, and household supplies like toilet paper. After you're pretty sure you've got every bill written down, next write down next to each bill their due date (or approximate due date). Then, write down how much each bill is, if the bill isn't the same each month, no worries. This isn't a standard budget, but rather an organized bill paying method, and I will share what to do there in a moment.
Give yourself a day or two before writing in the folder--trust me on this, I speak from experience--in case you forgot a bill but remember in the next day or two. Then, you're ready to transcribe. So, going in due date order, write in the due date, name of bill, and amount owed. The amount owed on some is static, but for the ones that flucuate, write the due date/approximate due date and name of bill, then wait to put in the amount due until you know.
Towards the end of the month, around the 20th or so, I fill in the coming month's information. Don't fill out all the months in one fell swoop. This is another mistake I've learned not to do. Why? Because bills fluctuate, and if you have to remove or add something later, it can really get messy in your folder. Messy is what we're trying to avoid too much of because it doesn't help you stay organized! ;)
Then, I jot down on the pages, next to the month name, the dates of all incoming money (paychecks, child support, royalties, whatever) so I know what days to open up the folder. Now, to implement your hard work!
1. Don't spend your paycheck before it comes. Ever. Just don't.
2. One of those expenses should be savings. Even if you can only start with $5 a month and work your way up, make it a part of your regular bills. You'll thank yourself for this one day. You can always open an online savings account where you either put the money in on payday yourself, or have it automatically withdrawn. I love online savings accounts because it's "out of sight and out of mind" so doesn't get dipped into or spent like money in your home bank.
3. When payday rolls around, pull out your folder and see what bills need to be paid. These are the ones that will be due now or before the next check comes in.
4. Pay the bills that are due, and then jot down in the "Paid" column the date you paid them. For example:
Due Date: 10/01Expenses: RentAmount: $900Paid: 9/29
5. Keep any receipts or bill paying slips in the pockets. I also keep papers with running balances of my credit cards and savings in there as well, so I can keep track of everything and have it at my fingertips.
6. Close your folder, and put away until next check.
7. Smile knowing you got this under control.
When I've paid the last bill for the month, I make a notation at the bottom like, "Closed: 03/30." That way, I know the month has been taken care of, and when it was.
Here's a photo of 2017's pretty folder:
I'm no financial expert, but I know what it's like to try and keep money-organized on a paycheck to paycheck scenario. People living this way can't always budget like people with more disposable income, so, in my opinion, this is a great way to make sure you pay your bills on time and in full. This is very important and leads the way for good credit scores, saving money, knowing how you're spending your money, and, most importantly, paying bills first before blowing money on wants.
Now, let me address why I didn't add food, gas, or household supplies to my bill folder. Those of us who can't budget like those with more disposable income can't budget in these items, in most cases. After all my bills are paid, I look at what's left in the bank and determine how much I can spend on these three items before next payday. I then sit down and make a list for food and jot down household items I can afford. I also try to put aside a few bucks for fun money for the family, but not every paycheck with allow for this.
Notes:
A) I cannot reiterate enough, MAKE SAVINGS A BILL. You might not be able to go out for pizza this week, but your bills will be paid and you will have some money set aside for the future.
B) Be disciplined. Pay your bills first, savings next, and everything else thereafter. It makes a difference.
C) You don't have to write down paydays or "Closed: This date" on your folder, that's just what I do, but you're welcome to if you want!
Lastly, these are all suggestions from a non-financial-professional. I'm just a chick who's struggled with money and finances in the past and found an easy way to get myself organized in those areas. If you try this out let me know, somewhere down the road, how this worked out for you.
October 1, 2016
Omaha's Un-Meat Eats Festival #1
On Monday, my husband and I went to Omaha's first Un-Meat Eats Festival, a treat for vegans. It was held at the House of Loom (a bar that sits across from the famous Durham Museum), and sponsored by Yelp Omaha. I didn't even know they had a division of Yelp here, huh, go figure.
Anyway, for a suggested donation of $10 to Homeward Bound in the Heartland, a no-kill shelter, we got to sample vegan foods from a handful of vendors and restaurants here in town. Some I had eaten at before, some I had not, and one I had been dying to try for quite some time. I wasn't disappointed in anything. Let's get started.
When we arrived, we first got samples of Nacho Kale Chips and vegan cheese sauce with carrots from the High Vibe Cafe down in Aksarben. Those kale chips were to die for, and the cheese sauce was a perfect cashew cheese with a kick. I devoured mine instantly, as I was hungry and it was the first table, so I wasn't able to get a picture. What's wrong with me? ;) For more info, click here .
The picture you see actually depicts half a Currywurst Brat and some Cucumber Slaw from Blatt Beer and Table on the left. I love BB&T! The Currywurst Brat and a heavenly Beet Root Burger are permanent fixtures on their menu, and I've had both. They have a main location, and then another one at Flagship Commons, which is a modern-kind of Food Court at one of our Malls that has vegan options at each restaurant. For more info, click here .
On the right is a sample of a Veggie Burger from B&G Tasty Foods. This was another restaurant that I had no idea had a vegan option. It's a standard veggie burger, nothing special, but if you are out with friends/family at this restaurant and you're vegan/vegetarian...you have an option. For more info, click here .
Here's the Fauxmaha Hot Dog stand. This was the one I've been dying to try. I got a third of a dog that I slathered with onion, relish, jalapenos, and sriracha. Yum! If you go to their cart on a regular day, you can get a Banh Mi dog, one of a couple of standard selections. For more info, click here .
This is a shot of the Cantina Laredo tent, a restaurant located in Midtown Crossing. I have eaten here before, but when I say eat, I mean eat their awesome chips and salsa while chugging down some cervezas. I knew they had some vegetarian items, but since I'm a vegan, it had never been a viable option for me before. They served chips with guacamole, and small tacos filled with black beans, sauteed mushrooms (I believe they were reduced with either brandy or wine, but I can't remember for sure), sauteed green onion, and toasted pepitas.
It was delicious, and I asked the manager (who was running the stand), "I didn't know you served vegan options!" He said, "We have vegetarian options, but we can make you vegan food." He was nice and serious about it, so I found that really cool. It's nice to see that there are more options out there for when I want to dine out. For more info, click here .
Here we have Vegan Mouth. She makes cheesecakes that I can say from my sample is delicious. She also took our trash to recycle and had her two cute sons with her. She sells her wares at Natural Grocers in Omaha, and I believe she's available for events as well. For more info, click here .
Stickalicious Pops are frozen sweet treats, kind of like a popsicle, or is a popsicle. I'm leaning towards the latter. We didn't have any, because we were pretty full at this point, but if you want to know more, click here .
Oh looky! It's me chowing down on my Fauxmaha Hot Dog. You can actually see the backside of me a moment before in Yelp's blog about the event. Click here to see me behind the standing men in the grey and black striped sweater! It's also a good place to read about the event.
Overall, we had a great time eating yummy vegan food and drinking some good drinks. We wished it were a Friday as opposed to a Monday, but, hey, that's the plan for next year! Have a great weekend.
Always, H.A.
September 30, 2016
The Meaning of Roots
If you look in any dictionary, you'll see numerous definitions for the word "roots". These definitions all fall under two categories: those that have to do with plants, and those that have to do with place.
While this post is centered around roots of place, the meaning of that is deeply entwined with that of the roots of plants. In fact, there are numerous quotes and references to just that.
How many times have you heard the expressions, "We're going back to our roots," or "The root of all evil"?
Some famous quotes about roots are as follows:
"The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness." -Dalai Lama
"A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots." -Marcus Garvey
When I think about roots, I think about where I grew up and where I live now. While I live a good three hours from where I grew up, I still live in the same geographical area: the Midwest. It's always been my home, and I feel deeply rooted here...or do I?
Ever since I was a kid, I've dreamt of faraway, exotic locations, as well as ones closer to home, and how much I'd love to visit them. This is nothing new as I've talked about it quite a bit here on my blog. Indeed, I've shared with you my adventures in traveling, whether it was to a foreign country or a domestic location. I have a deep wanderlust that consumes a large chunk of my thoughts.
Over the last couple of years, because of this wanderlust, I had begun planning for the ultimate in travel: the year-long backpack tour of the world. I had decided that I would save my money, and that, after my last child had grown up and moved out, I would take a year off and see as much of the world as I could.
Honestly, this is more than wanderlust, it's a burning desire that has a heartbeat of it's own and occupies a space in my head. I can feel it call to me like a wolf howling through the forest. It's so palpable that I can almost touch it with my fingers. It's real, and I've thought about it a lot.
Recently, I began to think, "What if, I take the money that I save for this year-long journey around the world, and, instead, use it instead to move to another country?" It was the proverbial light bulb going off in my head, and I've thought about it often since then. Yes, why don't I move to another country someday? My only argument against it, at the time, was--yes, you guessed it--roots.
I said to myself (yes, I talk to myself), "But, this is your home! Your roots are here." Well, yes and no. I was born in Alaska, grew up in Iowa, and have lived in a multitude of places (different towns, cities, and states), before landing in Nebraska, where I've been for nearly fourteen years of my life. I feel more at home here than I have anywhere else in my life, yet I feel ready to expand, to spread out my wings.
I love my adopted home but I've outgrown it in many ways. It seemed so huge when I first moved here, but fourteen years later, and I know (just like the locals know) that it really isn't. I've done all I can do here, and I've found every nature place there is to hike and explore. And I've done them all several times. Deep in my heart, I need a place with more variety, more to explore, and easier access to the rest of the world, or at least a larger chunk of it.
So, yes. When my youngest is ready to leave the nest, I will be too. Where will I go? I have a couple of ideas, but I have some time to figure that out. I know, I know. Maybe my roots will prove too strong, and I won't be able to uproot myself. No, just like a hearty plant, my roots can be pulled from the ground, and replanted somewhere else. And with some TLC, do just fine. I'll be ready. I am ready.
September 26, 2016
Weekend Haul
It's been awhile since I've bought myself anything splurgy. Last winter I got myself some clothes, and over spring/summer I got myself an item of clothing here or there, but I hadn't really gone out and just bought myself some things. This weekend, I decided that I would.
One of my favorite stores carries a nice selection of beauty products that are always earth-friendly. I have been in need of some good face/skin care items and so I got a set of coconut-inspired items by the Everyday company. From left to right: face lotion, body lotion, face toner, face wash, and face scrub. I used the scrub and toner yesterday, and I really like them. I have gotten their shampoo and conditioner before, and they weren't bad, but I think they've improved their line since then.
I have been in dire need to some bras and underwear for so long, that I'm ashamed to say that several of them had holes. Why do we always put those off until we can't wait any longer? I'm not showing you those, but I finally have decent undies. Anyway, last winter when I got myself some clothes, I noticed that Target has a newer line (at least to me) of clothing geared towards bigger women (which I am one of). It's called Ava & Viv, and I just love their clothes.
If you're a bigger woman too, get in there and check them out. Good prices too! From left to right: I got myself a couple of t-shirts (one camo and one black) and a grey tank to wear under shirts; an emerald green v-neck long-sleeved shirt and rolls up to a button at the sleeves if one prefers; a long purple shirt with frayed sleeves and hem; a long button-down black plaid shirt; and a long-sleeved black and grey-striped cover up sweater. I'm really liking the trend of super-long shirts. I have a large collection of jeggings, and these will all go great with those. Finally, I got a pair of Merona black flats, and a new black purse.
I'm set for cool weather now!
One of my favorite stores carries a nice selection of beauty products that are always earth-friendly. I have been in need of some good face/skin care items and so I got a set of coconut-inspired items by the Everyday company. From left to right: face lotion, body lotion, face toner, face wash, and face scrub. I used the scrub and toner yesterday, and I really like them. I have gotten their shampoo and conditioner before, and they weren't bad, but I think they've improved their line since then.
I have been in dire need to some bras and underwear for so long, that I'm ashamed to say that several of them had holes. Why do we always put those off until we can't wait any longer? I'm not showing you those, but I finally have decent undies. Anyway, last winter when I got myself some clothes, I noticed that Target has a newer line (at least to me) of clothing geared towards bigger women (which I am one of). It's called Ava & Viv, and I just love their clothes.
If you're a bigger woman too, get in there and check them out. Good prices too! From left to right: I got myself a couple of t-shirts (one camo and one black) and a grey tank to wear under shirts; an emerald green v-neck long-sleeved shirt and rolls up to a button at the sleeves if one prefers; a long purple shirt with frayed sleeves and hem; a long button-down black plaid shirt; and a long-sleeved black and grey-striped cover up sweater. I'm really liking the trend of super-long shirts. I have a large collection of jeggings, and these will all go great with those. Finally, I got a pair of Merona black flats, and a new black purse.
I'm set for cool weather now!
September 25, 2016
Turin Prairie Dedication
Good morning! Yesterday, I had a chance to drive up to Turin Prairie (located east of Onawa, Iowa, in the Loess Hills) where we met up with my dad and stepmom for a dedication.* Turin Prairie is part of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, and they've recently acquired 467 acres to add to the Prairie, courtesy of a purchase partially funded by donors. Yesterday they had their dedication ceremony where we got a hayrack ride through the fields where we were dropped off at the bottom of the Loess Hills.
From there, we hiked up to the top where we were greeted by other attendees and the fine folks of the INHF, where we were given some snacks, water, and coffee. We then went up the rest of the way to the top of the ridges of the Hills, where we heard speakers who talked about the addition. It was an incredible moment. Afterwards, people collected seeds or hiked. We did the latter. My stepmom went back to the car, and my husband had to leave about half-way in (bathroom breaks can be a bear when hiking amongst others). That left me, my dad, and Nature Girl. We followed the ridge line, walking in deer trails, until the state land ended. It was a gorgeous day for a hike, but it was good we stopped when we did, as it got warm...and then it rained.
I'm excited for the INHF, and for all the rest of us. We get to enjoy the raw beauty of the Iowa Mountains whenever we wish to do so. You couldn't ask for a better setting. Look at these views!
Nature Girl and my dad, hiking along the ridges.
A shot behind us to the seed-gatherers behind us. Some people hiked as well, but we were one of a few groups that actually hiked a good distance.
Another view of my surroundings from the top.
I never get tired of this view.
No matter where you look, there's always something new to see.
Nature, in all it's glorious splendor.
This mushroom was quite large, and nearly perfect-looking.
I like this view as it looks down onto a farm and it's small lake. Quaint.
*For more on Turin Prairie, follow this link!
From there, we hiked up to the top where we were greeted by other attendees and the fine folks of the INHF, where we were given some snacks, water, and coffee. We then went up the rest of the way to the top of the ridges of the Hills, where we heard speakers who talked about the addition. It was an incredible moment. Afterwards, people collected seeds or hiked. We did the latter. My stepmom went back to the car, and my husband had to leave about half-way in (bathroom breaks can be a bear when hiking amongst others). That left me, my dad, and Nature Girl. We followed the ridge line, walking in deer trails, until the state land ended. It was a gorgeous day for a hike, but it was good we stopped when we did, as it got warm...and then it rained.
I'm excited for the INHF, and for all the rest of us. We get to enjoy the raw beauty of the Iowa Mountains whenever we wish to do so. You couldn't ask for a better setting. Look at these views!
Nature Girl and my dad, hiking along the ridges.
A shot behind us to the seed-gatherers behind us. Some people hiked as well, but we were one of a few groups that actually hiked a good distance.
Another view of my surroundings from the top.
I never get tired of this view.
No matter where you look, there's always something new to see.
Nature, in all it's glorious splendor.
This mushroom was quite large, and nearly perfect-looking.
I like this view as it looks down onto a farm and it's small lake. Quaint.
*For more on Turin Prairie, follow this link!
September 22, 2016
Comfort Food
I'm a Midwestern Girl. I've spent the majority of my life living in the Midwest, and if there's anything we love the most, it's comfort food. Even though most of us aren't farmers, nor live on a farm, we grew up around them or were descended from them. Farm work, especially a few generations ago, is very hard work, and the womenfolk would make hearty, rib-sticking, meals for the hungry men who worked the fields. Even if you weren't a farmer, you grew up in little towns surrounded by farms, and had the benefit of homegrown food right at your doorstep.
I've been a City Girl for a long time now, and I love the food variety living in a city offers me. I love eating Indian food, authentic Mexican food, Asian foods, French food, fine-dining, and all the specialty food places to grab a bit to eat...you name it! Sometimes though, I really crave a good meal of hearty comfort food.
I've been a vegan for a year and a half now, but that doesn't mean I'm going to give up eating my favorite things. It just means that I've had to learn to "veganize" them all. One of my favorite comfort food meals is the Midwestern Full Monty, as I like to call it, consisting of a "meat", mashed potatoes with gravy, stuffing, and a veggie side, particularly "buttered" corn.
Last night was definitely a comfort food night, so I decided I *needed* the Midwestern Full Monty...vegan-style. I decided on a loaf (Like meatloaf, but without the meat. There are many vegan varieties out there.) using Isa Moskowitz's Double Chickpea Cutlets made into a loaf instead of cutlets and then I veganized my sides. I use margarine and almond milk in my mashed potatoes; I used a vegan stuffing (like Pepperidge Farm's Herb stuffing) made using margarine and veggie stock; gravy made with veggie stock, chickpea flour, and coconut oil; and then corn cooked in margarine.
It was just as amazingly delicious as it looks! Give it a try one night for a meatless meal.
Notes:
1. The chickpea cutlet recipe is amazeballs, seriously. The cutlets, all fried up crispy, is reminiscent of southern-fried steak, and is easy to make. The recipe is here. You can press it all into a loaf pan, however, and make it a loaf by baking it for 45 minutes or so.
2. For veggie stock, I stand by Better than Bouillon's Vegetable stock. This stuff is jam-packed with flavor and makes everything taste so good. It's much better than the veggie stock you buy in cans or hermetically sealed containers.
3. For gravy, I've found the best combination to be:
2 T. coconut oil1/3 c. chickpea flour (although any flour will work, chickpea is nice)1.5-2 cups veggie stock (depending on how thick you like your gravy, I like mine thick)
Warm up the oil, add the flour and whisk until smooth. Whisk in veggie stock a bit at a time and keep whisking for a smooth consistency.
4. Do not be afraid to try this meal. It's delicious and you won't even miss the meat!
