why i love working from home

the top ten reasons why i love working from home.

10. client's don't know that you haven't changed out of your pjs.
9. you can still wear you pjs even if you are in a web cam presentation (waist up baby!)
8. the commute is less than a minute.
7. i can forward my office phone to my blackberry and still keep up on calls/emails while i'm running errands.
6. no temptation to go out to lunch.
5. my office assistants are my cats.
4. no annoying "drop bys" from people i don't want to see.
3. i can yell, sing loudly, or pass wind without bothering anyone else (except my office assistants)
2. on my breaks, i can take a nap in my own bed.

and the number one reason?

1. i can compose lists like these as long as my work is done.

amazing veggie stew

i've been having a hankering for some type of veggie stew and came across this recpie and decided to try it out with a few variations:

• added zucchini and mushrooms


• did not use the turnip or celery


• substituted leeks for the onion


• browned the veggies (except peas) before adding any liquid


• used no-chicken chicken broth (no tomato like most veggie broths)


• added about 6 cups of the no-chicken broth and 2 additional cups of water


• made a bouquet of sage and added it with the bay leaves (tied a bunch of sage together with a long green part of the leek


• did not use the tamari

verdict: omg was this delish and EASY! the hardest part was cutting all the veggies and not opening the lid after the dumplings were added. eric and i could not believe how tasty this dish was and he didn't miss the chicken at all. i served it with a pinot grigio and it was perfect.

this made about 7 large servings at a measly 4 points a serving. so worth it.

soy pudding (vegan friendly)

last night i was craving pudding like crazy. after looking up a few recipes, i put together a few of them and came up with the following at only 3 WW points for a serving. not bad for a yummy, guilt-free dessert!

vanilla soy pudding
3 cups light vanilla soy milk
1/3 cups sugar
3 tbsp corn starch
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 tbsp vegan cocoa mix
1 large banana

1. Mix sugar and corn starch in pan. Turn heat to medium and slowly add 1 cup of soy milk at a time (to avoid lumps).
2. Stir constantly until thicken (about 5 minutes)
3. Mix vanilla extract, cinnamon, and cocoa mix until blended.
4. Cut banana and place in four bowls.
5. Ladle pudding mixture over bananas (roughly 3/4 cup per bowl). Cover with plastic (if you don't like pudding skin).
6. Chill in freezer (20 minutes).

Verdict: Rockin' vegan dessert that tastes like a chocolaty horchata but better. I like the banana, but might try it next time without.

Counting calories on fast food menus

Finally. I hope more states follow New York's lead! As Sue points out in the comments -- hopefully this will lead fast-food chains to pursue more healthy options for their patrons.

CNN.com - Paging Dr. Gupta Blog

jamie at home

i'm so excited for the new series jamie at home which shows how to take "real" food from a garden and prepare it to make delicious meals! at first i thought i was a vegetarian show, but looks like he will be incorporating meats.

either way, i hope it inspires some people to start a garden of their own or buy locally grown produce.

experimenting with food

i've experimented with two new recipes and they are delicious!

the first is tzatziki sauce which is a greek sauce that is served inside of pitas and gyros. after reading a few recipes, i came up with the following:

• 1/2 cup low fat sour cream


• 1/2 cup of fat free/plain yogurt


• juice of two lemons and zest


• rough chopped cilantro


• 1 cucumber (seeded)


• tsp of dill weed


• handful of cooked spinached


• diced onion and garlic

i mixed this up and served it with a pita stuffed with soy sausage and soy chicken patty (cut up and heated in a frying pan) and lettuce. Eric said this what he ate most of the time Eastern Europe, but with real meat of course! It was pretty darn tasty and the left overs have been great for snacks.

the second is i made taco "meat" last night with yves ground round (fake beef) and taco seasoning. it was darn delicious and is going to become a new staple in our home.

happy healthy new year!

in the spirit of all things new years, i'm going to resurrect this blog as my personal journal to continue improving on my passion to live a healthier life style. thanks brian martin (aka bm) for the inspiration.

2008 is full of personal goals:

• complete master's degree (project, written component, and defend)


• continue to develop training skills with mentors at work


• move to washington, dc by the end of the year with eric


• raise money to cycle in the 2008 AIDS life cycle ride


• keep writing in my blog/journal/reflection space for more than two weeks

and of course...

• continue defining what a"healthy" lifestyle means to me.
  

*virtual clink* here's to 2008.