Maybe you don't need it but I felt the need to create it. I envision this blog to be the self serving ramblings of a creative-minded vegetarian chick who is obsessed with food as fuel to live life to the fullest. That doesn't always mean making wise eating choices which is probably why I'm a size 12 to 14!
I chose the title based on my vacation mindset. Last summer, my husband and I traveled to Montreal for a week and by the time it was all over, both of us were delighted to find that our clothing fit us better despite the fact that we ate croissants almost every single day! We didn't worry about dieting, we were just enjoying ourselves. Of course, we also walked several miles a day in order to explore the city! I don't usually make a habit of eating croissants. About ten years ago, I was watching a cooking segment on a morning talk show and I saw how they are made! Basically, the guy was folding a sheet of butter into the dough! You don't have to be a nutritionist to know that can't be good for you! I didn't really eat very many of them after that. It wasn't a difficult sacrifice. I mean, most of the ones that were available to me were limp and pathetic. When we were in Montreal though, something in me snapped! I couldn't get enough of them. These were unlike any I'd ever had growing up in the southeastern U.S. They were crisp and flaky on the outside and moist on the inside. My favorite ones contained a delectable almond filling! Sometimes I'd jazz it up and go for the ones that were filled with luscious chocolate. When my cajun grandmother gets finished describing something especially yummy, she always punctuates the sentence with the same expression....you talkin' 'bout good!
This isn't just the case with Montreal. Anytime my husband and I travel, we eat like pigs. I usually seek out vegetarian restaurants online to hit up and we never hesitate to get dessert! We always lose weight because we actively explore each place and have lots of fun! This summer, we are going to Paris and Vienna so I have already started joking with some of my friends that I will be embarking on the Croissant Diet once again. This got me to thinking about my everyday life....that is, the time that I am not on vacation! I enjoy my food but I'm not nearly as active so I am far from svelte. Dessert usually comes with a side order of guilt. Despite the fact that I am enjoying it, my mind keeps telling me that I shouldn't be eating it. It's difficult to balance my you only live once attitude with my desire for my time here to be long and healthy! I cut out meat from my diet several years ago and I don't drink soda. We also don't eat a lot of processed food. My weakness is sweets combined with a lack of consistent activity. I've tried several diets but have a difficult time maintaining anything for longer than a few months. I'm trying to come up way to have my cake and eat it too. To make subtle changes that satisfy my lust for enjoying life while maximizing my health and happiness.
I plan on tying this in with a few other things. The fact that I am trying to raise a happy and healthy little girl is a big factor. So far, that's going pretty well! She would much rather play outside that sit in front of a T.V. and she also will happily sit down and eat whatever I cook for dinner (even if it's green!). She is not vegetarian but her diet is about 85% meat free. I had her when I was relatively young (23) and so now that she's almost 8, she is much more independent and I have a lot more time to focus on myself. This has been a blessing and a curse! I am trying to find some fresh new inspiration and focus. I think this is a good start.
Some of the things that will be covered in this blog are the meals I prepare at home, my job, the recent public garden plot that my family just scored, my love of thrifting and crafts and some restaurant write ups. I work at an independent bookstore in Princeton. My boss wants me to help open up a small cafe in the back. We're working on updating our equipment and workspace while developing and testing some recipes that are nutritious and reasonable easy to prepare while staying in line with what we are permitted to do according to our food license from the health department. It's been a lot of fun coming up with new ideas. Running a small restaurant has always been a dream of mine so a lot of the baby steps will be documented here.
I'm ready to rock this.
Cheers!
