Are you like me and do you wait until the last minute to prepare, print and send your holiday cards? Rushing around like a crazy person trying to get it all done? This year, I’m determined to start early – which means starting now! AND, this year, I’m going to be using Shutterfly to create […] Read more…
Wordless Wednesday – Butchart Garden
A Moment to Brag a Bit
Today I’m going to take a moment to brag a bit about my oldest daughter, Libby. A couple of weeks ago she mentions to us, “I’m getting an award at a ceremony in November 8th, would you guys like to come?”. Well, of course we do. She mentions it so casually – which is so […] Read more…
Meatless Mondays – Vegan Pumpkin Cupcakes
Yes, I love “pumpkin” everything!! Especially at this time of year. So, of course, I made a vegan pumpkin treat – CUPCAKES! Because, who doesn’t love cupcakes?? (If you don’t, then let us prepare in intervention). This recipe makes 12 delicious fluffy cupcakes. Ingredients & Instructions: 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and […] Read more…
Sunday Sock Monkey Fun
Westly just received a birthday gift from his awesome Grandma Pat…this amazing SOCK MONKEY! The boys just love it…especially because it’s taller than Westly is. Taller now, that is. I’m sure we’ll watch him pass up the sock monkey (and us) over the coming years! Oh, why do they have to grow up?!?! […] Read more…
Vegan Fish?
Yes, though that doesn’t quite make sense – there is Vegan fish to be had from Sophie’s Kitchen. And the verdict you ask? DELISH! Not only do they have vegan fish, they have: and and vegan prawns – you can get them gluten free too! Truly, when I became primarily vegan, I thought my seafood […] Read more…
Halloween Thriller
I’m still in recovery mode….Halloween was AMAZING!! Our costume theme was Zombie High School. From left to right our team is Azi Afifi (Mean Girl), Nima Adelkhani (Nerd), Me (Cheerleader), Ray Klopp (Football Player), Don Fox (Prom King) and Kathy Koga (Prom Queen). I’ll post more photos and movie clips as I get them…for now here’s a […] Read more…
New Vegan Love – Sprouted Rye Bread
I really felt the need to share this delicious bread I recently tried. As you can see by the label, it’s vegan, and made with organic sprouted wheat. Also, there’s no added sugar, no added oil and the loaf contains no flour. Better than all of that though…. it’s DELICIOUS!! and my new all time […] Read more…
Meatless Monday – Beans, Beans & more Beans
I’ll admit it…I’m all about the beans lately. Bean soup, bean stew, beans, beans, beans! They’re just so easy to make and also so very tasty to eat!! And I’ve been making them in some form pretty much every weekend in my crockpot. Here’s what I’ve been up too – easy, yummy, aaahhh. I found […] Read more…
Friday Fun – Puppy Halloween
I love our little town of Los Gatos!! We have family friendly events for EVERYTHING! My favorite is the Halloween celebration for Dogs!! It is absolutely amazing how many people participate and how many stores and businesses support everyone who does. Here are some photos from last Saturday’s fun: The streets were packed with costumed […] Read more…
Meatless Monday – Vacation Foods
Happy Meatless Monday everyone!! I’m still (yes, still) getting organized at home after our vacation. Are you wondering what’s taking me so long?? Well, I decided that it was time to get organized…especially with my photographs. So, I loaded Lightroom (for the first time – btw, I also use Aperture) and ordered yet another external […] Read more…
Vancouver Chinatown & Chinese Gardens
When we were visiting and being tourists around Vancouver we couldn’t resist visiting Chinatown and Dr. Sun Yat-Sen’s Classical Chinese Garden. Upon entering Chinatown you first cross under a beautifully ornate gate. I just love all the bright and fabulous colors and details in this gate!!! Next stop…the gardens! I took so many photos here!! […] Read more…
Vancouver from Up High
Back from our amazing trip to Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia. I have lots to share, but today, I’ll simply start with these photos taken from the Vancouver Lookout Tower – one of our tourist stopping points. We enjoyed a 360 degree view of the city from the 430 foot high tower. lots […] Read more…
Wordless Wednesday – Halloween Village
This face makes any decorating at all….worth it! BOO! Read more…
My Latest “Green” Commitment
For my next movement towards being more “GREEN” I’m going to be giving up buying new clothing (aside from underwear) for a whole year. There, I’ve said it…now I feel even more commited. I’ve been giving this “green” commitment some thought for a while now. A year sounds like a long time, but I’ve realized […] Read more…
Happy Fall!
Oh the joy of Fall! I simply love this time of year. The chill in the air, the leaves changing color, the warmth of a toasty fire in the fireplace. I know Spring is supposed to be the season of re-birth, but to me I feel revived in Fall. I love the scents of Fall, […] Read more…
Giveaway – Riceworks!
Hi. I’m Jen…. and I’m a chip addict! That sounds kinda crazy, huh? Well, that’s my current snacking confession. No, I don’t eat them every single day and certainly not at every meal…though if someone invented healthy, nutritious breakfast chips, I’d probably be tempted to try them, but, like most people, I like to have […] Read more…
Meatless Monday – Zucchini Muffins
I’ve picked exactly 2 zucchinis from my garden this year. Yes, that’s them in the photo above. Given the cooler weather we’ve had this summer, it’s not surprising, but it is disappointing. Instead of getting too down about it, I decided zucchini muffins were in order – vegan ones at that. Here’s how I made […] Read more…
How to “Be”?
We’re away from home right now. Visiting one of our “happy” places the Ranch. Usually there are a lot more people here when we are here, and I’m busy socializing, visiting and catching up with them. Today, however, I found myself alone (except for Bubba) for quite a few hours. Free! When I never feel […] Read more…
Loving the Loving Hut
I’m not often out and about without a good plan for eating healthy meals, but a few weeks ago, I was up in San Francisco for an event with a friend of mine, and we found ourselves looking for a quick bite to eat before the evening began. She suggested the local mall’s food court. […] Read more…
Green Giveaway – Misto Spritzers
Yes, though I haven’t written much about it lately, I’m still always looking for ways to “GREEN” my home. Recently, I’ve been working on getting rid of any and all aerosols I have. I know CFCs were banned from aerosols in the 70s and aerosols (in the US anyways) are nowadays considered more earth-friendly because […] Read more…
Scenes from Monterey, CA
Oh how I love Monterey! Luckily, it’s less than an hours drive from my home. There are actually so many gorgeous places – all different and unique – within an hour or two of my home. I feel so lucky and also always wonder why I don’t visit them more often. I suspect that work […] Read more…
Meatless Monday – Vegan “Meat” Loaf
I was looking for a recipe to use this package of TVP (textured vegetable protein) I’ve had sitting in my cupboard. What is TVP? Well, the ingredient list says “defatted soy flour”. It kinda looks like small cut up croutons though. The label also describes it as “a highly nutritious soy product” and says it […] Read more…
Inspiration Thoughts for your Week ahead
Here are some quotes that caught my eye from Terri Trespicio at Whole Living magazine this month. They’re just simple thoughts that, this week, fit in with what I needed to hear. By sharing, I hope they might inspire or motivate you too. “Changing the way you eat may be the most transformative action you […] Read more…
Wordless Wednesday – Garden Bounty
Ok, so one word….YUM! Read more…