"I Do My Own Stunts," Especially Around Christmas

 - it will be on my vehicle (;-) one day

An early dinner to be exact.  For the pictures above.  So, I wasn't that hungry, but it was pretty good and I had a flood full of ideas that could be added to this big, messy, overloaded, wrap.

Spinach Tortilla Bean Wrap:

Ingredients

1 Spinach Wrap

1/2 Cooked Rice

1 c Black Beans, slightly drained - don't keep all liquid, but just enough for a sauce

Tumeric

Cayanne 

Fresh Cilantro, roughly torn

Cumin

2 Long, Large-ish Carrots, broken

Lettuce (Optional)

Cut Tomatoes (Optional)

Directions

Lay out the tortilla.

In a separate bowl, mix rice with the amount of spices you want and cilantro as well and the carrots - if using lettuce, chop and mix, same with tomatoes. Then, put on tortilla and add beans with sauce.  Voila.  It really is a good, filling wrap.  Sadly, I overcooked the rice a little and I didn't think to add the bean liquid as a sauce - it was really nice when I had the final bite that did have it on.  It did change it completely.  

The only thing with my wrap, is that I couldn't wrap it together!  Too big! So, it was very complicated to eat.  Filling too.  I had a whole can of beans... Arghhh :) Lots of Protein and other stuffs... 

The wrap was also very hot.  It was, because I put the spices on the rice and mixed some with the beans.  I had a tall glass of Almond Milk, Crasins, some So Delicious Mint Chocolate Milk, and gum - still chewing... It hurt :( 

The carrots helped though too.

So why the "Stunts" sticker?

I really like it :)

I want it.  Badly :-)

Oh!  Also, the purple unicorn you see, which is also pink, is another gift from my friend Brandy!  Its name is Magical Unicorn.  Isn't that creative?  I got it right from the tag!  But maybe I'll name it Cake Dough :) That's what unicorns remind me of... Don't ask.  Brandy's boyfriend reminds me of waffles.

Today is officially the last day of school this year!  No school tomorrow!  :D  Exciting.
See ya tomorrow!

It is a success!

The Pumpkin Sage Pasta is still amazing two days later!  And it just keeps getting better!  Seriously, I think the flavors are definitely still coming together.  Yummm.  Today I had it for dinner with some bread on the side, and  I ate it with the pasta on top.  :) GRRRRRReat!  Hehe
So today I finished Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, and it was obviously sad.  Not a happy, "fairytale" ending like we all hoped the kid, Chris McCandless had.  It is a shame... Anyway, I very much suggest reading it and I plan to watch it over Christmas break.  :D
Ah, tomorrow is the last day of school for a whole week.  A week, which includes the following: cooking, reading, TV, computer/blogging ;), Christmas, Church, Family, MA, Boston...but no horse :(
Oh, wait!
Two of my amazing friends, Keira and I think I called the other one Cathleen...? gave me a combined Christmas present that contained 2 Now Or Later Candy Canes - the grape one made me look "evil" apparently or so claims another friend named "Mac," and it turned my lips, teeth, and tongue nice and purple!  They also gave me a Starbucks card, and probably the one gift that I truly wanted: A stuffed horse!
His name is Honeycomb and is a Palomino horsey.  AWWW when I went back to my locker, I was like to Keira, "This horse is like giving me a sugar-high." and she just rolled her eyes and said, "Wow."

That was like the highlight of my day.

Now, on the Yahoo! homepage, there was an article about Japanese Shirataki Noodles; the almost-no-calorie, low carb, easy fiber, noodle.  It looks delicious and I have found a Vegan-friendly recipe!  Oh, goodness, I really want to try it!  It is from Vegetarian Times and it looks easy, simple, and delicious!  I will try it after Christmas or get the ingredients after this next food shopping errand.

Next thing on today's agenda, is a new recipe!  You have probably already tried this, but I will post it anyway :) because it is so good.  This recipe has been my breakfast or snack the past few days.  I just threw it together and voila!

Ingredients:
Vegan Chocolate Chips
Uncooked/Raw Rolled Oats
Cinnamon
Banana (1) - assuming this is a good sized banana

Directions:
Mash banana in a bowl.
When done, add the amount of cinnamon you want and mix together thoroughly.
Then, Put in the amount of Chocolate Chips you want, and do the same.
Now, finally, add the amount of oats and mix.
Eat and enjoy!

It really is good.

                                                              Honeycomb <333

                                    This was the best picture I could take yesterday of the oatmeal

Oh my goodness!  So today is a very good day for both my mom and I.  The food and friends for me, her job and other stuff...?  :)
Anyway, she just said that she met someone who knew someone who works for a local horse therapy.  My mom told her that horse therapy might be something I want to do one day.  Now, even though not with disabled kids and stuff - since that makes me a little uncomfortable, I am still wanting to give it a shot.  Maybe I will like it :) I hope so.

Oh yeah, so she said that I could help out there.  So there are three different jobs: Fund raising, walking beside the horse, or leading the horse.  Ahhhhhhhh this is very exciting.  As much horse experience as possible!  Psychotherapy is one of the things kids have here; seems to be the thing I want to do.  Cool.

:D Also, my dad's turkey blind and box caller came today.  So cool.

Anyway, have a good night!
(BTW "My horses are my friends, not my slaves."

     "In riding a horse, we borrow freedom."                                    "Horses change lives.  They give our young people confidence and self esteem.  They provide peace and tranquility to troubled souls - they give us hope!"

I Can Very Well Argue...

Now, and I have said this before, but I wanted to keep reading up about this argument about horses and vegans.   Is it the Vegan thing to do?  That blog didn't say so.  That post they wrote kept saying how it wasn't right even if the horse asked you to ride it.  How getting pleasure from it was okay, but still not right.  The example, "while horses enjoy running, it's not at all clear that they enjoy hauling a sack of human fat around on their backs while they do so." And, "they're also perfectly capable of running themselves and don't require human involvement to do so."
Furthermore, what they don't say, is that the horse might actually enjoy this activity of riding.  They might enjoy the other presence.
Seriously?
How could you miss the horse's pleasure?
When I ride Phantom on Sunday's, I am the first person to do so during that afternoon or day, so Phantom is all warmed up for the next rider.
Horses can feel how you feel and feel your body moving and twisting on their backs.  This is why if you look in one direction, and your hands don't exactly steer the horse's head in the same way, the horse will naturally feel the way you are looking and go that way.  Horses feel your emotions.  They can feel your nervousness, your confidence, happiness, and sadness, and all those feelings you think you aren't letting others see past your facial expression.  He can feel it though.

For example, these past few lessons I had with Phantom, I have been getting so giddy/happy/excited and confident during the trots, that when I finally need to let him cool off at the end, he has a hard time stopping because he wants to keep going!
You can ever truly speak for an animal, no vegan or "whisperer" can.  What we say are just observations maybe, thoughts, or even hopes that they might feel this way.
What if an animal was suicidal?  If humans are, why can't animals?
Animals can be depressed.  Humans and animals can be happy and share all the same feelings, right?
Suicidal Animal Study

Now, as you must have observed, I said that Phantom really enjoyed trotting.  So animals don't really have that clear of facial expressions, but their body language shows it, their eyes show it.
I could feel it in Phantom.  You could see it in his gait, muscles, and his eyes - big brownish-black, liquid-warm eyes.  How could you deny the happiness?
If he nudges you, answers your questions with nods and leaning into a kiss on the forehead, how could you not see his happiness?
You can tell a horse is: --- article about horse expressions

Song for the Post  

<'\__~
--//\\--
--------
                                     

"Happy Herbivore" and Stiff Legs

Greetings! 

I bring you a few pictures and reviews from Middle Earth! :)

Yes, I did watch Lord of the Ring: Two Towers yesterday.

Pumpkin Sage Pasta p. 199

Notes: Sadly, the beautiful, good-smelling dish had too much vegetable broth in it :( so that kind of ruined it for me.  I could smell it while it cooked and tasted it with each bite; completely took away from the pumpkin flavor. But I did try to cover it up with red pepper flakes that were called optional - I highly recommend it and use as much sage as possible :) Even though, this might have added to it, I only had enough sage for 1 tbs. that is used for one serving and I doubled it.  So!  I tried to use ground sage but that just wasn't the same.  Anyway, I would use less vegetable broth next time.  And don't fret!  This dish was probably going to be great if I hadn't put so much broth in - try it w/o my mistake please.  Otherwise, 4 1/2/5 stars :)

Now, it has been at least 45 minutes since I started this post, I had piano, but I came back into the kitchen and took out the Pasta from the fridge.  Who would have known?  It tasted great cold!  Yummmy.

                                                The Lemon Basil Pasta

                                                    Pumpkin Sage

                                               A little better picture; I was having a lot of trouble with the stupid lighting.

                                     
       
So why are there the words, "and Stiff Legs" in this post's title?  The saddle left bruises on the insides of my legs.  Ouch :) Oh well.  Plus, my thighs are nicely sore.

One can get in a car and see what man has made.  One must get on a horse too see what God has made. - Author Unknown

The love for a horse is just as complicated as the love for another human being...if you never love a horse, you will never understand. - Unknown Author


Riding is a partnership.  The horse lends you his strength, speed, and grace, which are greater then yours.  For your part, you give him guidance, intelligence and understanding which are greater then his.  Together you can achieve a richness that neither can alone. - Lucy Rees


He knows when you're happy.  He knows when you're comfortable.  He knows when you're confident.  And he always knows when you have carrots. - Author Unknown


No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle. - Winston Churchill 


Stay away from a horse long enough and you'll start tapping your fingers to the beat of a trot. - Author Unknown 


When riding a horse we leave our fear, troubles, and sadness behind on the ground. - Judi Carlson 


A Horseman should know neither fear, nor anger... - James Rarey


I hope I left you with a lot of good words today :)

"Happy Herbivore" Another Review

Lemon Basil Pasta p. 203


Notes:  I would suggest using half a lemon for two servings, and one lemon for double.  Also, 1 tbs. Capers for two servings, and 2 tbs. for double.  But, I might not even put 1 tbs. because of how acidic the whole meal was! I mean, it was great, and better the next day heated up because the liquid in the microwave was able to evaporate a little, but it really was a little too liquidy and acidic.  How sad, but I will want to make the meal again because of how simple it really was!

Now, I can't post a picture now because I really need to get in the shower and read, but I want to make either the granola bars, Pumpkin pasta, or ...there was another real simple one, but I might need to save it for tomorrow.

Went riding again today.
Two weeks - 14 days - has really been too long.
It felt like an eternity since I had ridden last; sigh.
Well, when I got onto Phantom, and started warming him up, I talked to my little buddy telling him how cold it was, asking if he'd be my Christmas present as I had been hoping for a lesson that can't happen on Christmas Eve - my instructor's b-day is on Christmas; my cousin's on Christmas Eve, and I told him that how much weight he had on his back that added to his ton or so, and asked we'd have a good, fun day today and if he could sing.
I was such a spaz today!  It was unbelievable!
I posted too high.
I felt I was like... I don't know... trying to fly!
My posts were way too high today even though, after a while it got better thankfully.
But it doesn't end there!
When I got on the lunge line, after I thought I could do the ring alone but my spazziness was too much, my instructor told me to take my feet out of the stirrups and I would do a sitting, no-stirrup trot.
I shrieked.
I felt I was going to fall at the same point each time out of the three times I tried to make it around the circle without falling.
I kept falling to the left of the saddle :(
Then, when I tried to get my feet back in the stirrup, my left foot found it right away, but it took five circles for my right foot to FINALLY get back in.

....
Phantom and me are good buddies. Love him :)
When the lesson was over, and as my parents talked to my instructor about the next lesson, I asked Phantom if he'd want me to bring him a treat next time I came.
What did he say?
He nodded multiple times and nudged his head against me.
My little beast is awesome!

We were both spazzes today.  With me flying everywhere and him tripping, we were a pair.

But, boy, is that beastie dirty!  Getting my fingertips all brownish-gray as I hugged him!  ....

Anyway, I will try again tomorrow for a recipe.  Laziness and business. Sheez.

Here's the Deal:

What am I going to eat for Christmas?
OR
Am I going to have to starve?

- I just had to share that with you all even though it has nothing to do with this post. 

Anyway, I am planning on the following:

Dessert First :-)

Some Fantastic Looking Cookies

A warm, cozy, drink from one of my favorite blogs; I swear I could eat everything on there!

These go with that cozy drink

Dinner/Appetizer 

Now, my extended family doesn't exactly take me into consideration in the dinner planning; only my mom, so I am to eat a good-looking-not-so-exciting-to-me salad

As for an actual dinner, I had the idea that I could make the Pumpkin Sage Pasta from Happy Herbivore because it looked fantastic and it has pumpkin!  That is like a signature ingredient to these fall/water recipes right?? 

Well, anyway, I might make it tomorrow after my horse lesson even though I wanted to make the granola bars but my mum had to throw the unsweetened applesauce yesterday and I sadly forgot to get it today when my dad and I went food shopping! GRRRRRRR 

Sigh. And guess what!

Whole Foods, once again, has failed to have peppermint extract that I am dying to have :( 

I hope they give it to me for Christmas!  And if they don't, that means Santa never got my letter! 

                                           I'm hurt Santa.  Real hurt.

So what book are you reading now?

Actually, I think I am reading a book that is super, uber, goober, good!  It is called Into the Wild by Jon Krakauker who tells the depressing, most informative, story of the young man named Chris McCandless. Or also known by, Alex Supertramp.  

I am determined to finish it this weekend; it's just so good!

I was reading The Scarlet Letter before by Nathaniel Hawthorne (remember, or didn't I tell you? I stayed at his hotel in Salem, MA!) and it took me at least three months to read the 213 (?) paged book and two weeks to get to page 100.  Sadly, the S.L. didn't become interesting until the last three chapters :( BUT, in Into the Wild, I am already on page 76 and I started it only three days ago!  That has to say something.  I can usually read faster, but I've been too lazy even though I love it like crazy.  

I told my dad that we need to watch the movie when I am done, but he was like, "No, I don't think so..." 

"Why not?" I whimpered.

"That movie was just too sad and depressing.  I got it before I read the book."

"Well, why did you buy the movie?"  

"I didn't know it was going to be that sad." He mumbled.

-_- Must I watch it alone?  Maybe I'll have a friend over or something... :) Eh, I'll suck it up :-)

I am really sorry I haven't put up the picture or review yet of the Lemon Basil Pasta yet.  Tomorrow!  I will or I will... I don't know.... But I will :)

So what's your favorite kind of apple?

That's a hard question.

I had a Pink Lady Apple for the first time today!  It was so exciting!  I loved it!

But I can never forget my first experience with a Fiji apple that I got at Mount Washington Hotel at the counter... That was amazing too.  

They should come out with a Pink Lady-Fiji Hybrid Apple... That'd be nice :) and good for the best of both worlds... - no, not Hannah Montana... must I cry again?

I am going to explode!

BOOM!  and there I am.  All over your clothes and screen.  Pity.
For me, my small appetite just stuffed down a whole "buffet" for me.  For you, it was normal.
I do have a small appetite, and that's okay, but right now, I have just stuffed myself to the point I feel sick... and I have a Christmas party to go to in an hour and a half at a friend's house... Sigh.
So what did I eat?
Well, it all started with two candy canes, (btw, this is starting from 4 o'clock this afternoon) four huge chunks of bread - probably half a loaf (long wise), a few Saltine crackers, a banana, a granola bar, a tiny bit of peanut butter with oats and chocolate chips, and then, finally, just moments ago, I ate a potato with salsa... ugh my innards aren't pretty on you... Sorry.

Anyway, I have another recipe that I did try, but I can't post it now.  :( It wasn't my favorite, but I don't think it deserves anything under 3/5 stars.  It was a pasta dish.

Here's a little snack that I came up with and you probably have two but you just didn't feel like sharing it with me and forced me to find it myself...Thanks:
A spoon with a little clump of smooth peanut butter
1 1/4 teaspoons raw rolled oats
4 (vegan or dark) chocolate chips

Now eat it alllll together!  :D Doesn't that just put a smile on your face? :) Merry-Very Early Christmas!

Sorry about that...

Another "Herbivore" Recipe of Goodness

Mojito Smoothie!  Page 13

Five stars :)

Next announcement, one of these days, since I have all the ingredients, I am going to make the Granola Bars and the Lemon Basil Pasta.  Yummmm - hopefully :)  

So yesterday was my Profession of Faith, and after, I feel different.  I don't know what or why, I just do.

First of all, when I was up there, I said "I will, God willing me."  But I was supposed to say, "I will, God helping me."  

My friend, lets call him Blain, has an extremely deep voice so I heard him clearly as he said the correct words the first time as I said the wrong thing... How sad ;( 

 These are soooooo good!  

The Salad

From Savvy Vegetarian

Notes: We did not cook the black beans.  Also, we used basil.  Another thing, I don't know what they mean by this country in the Cooking tips because Savvy Vegetarian is in Canada - I think... yeah?  We also used jalapeno, not ginger.  We used green beans not yellow.  We used garlic cloves not garlic powder.  

So today was Family Shopping day that we did for the first time... It was fun.  We went to a Vietnamese restaurant for lunch where I discovered I am really having soy in moderation; not once a month.  We had tofu battered with rice flour and spices and served with a really fantastic sauce.  Next, I had a bowl that contained food (will try to post picture) that would normally give me two meals a day!  :) It was mixed vegetables with vermicelli noodles and more tofu.  The waitress didn't hear me say the other similar option with no tofu, but it was great either way.  I also had Lemonade and Strawberry Lemonade.  Yummm...  Now, as for what we bought, we went shopping mostly for ourselves :) My dad got a Scent Lock Camo Jacket, my mom running shoes, and me a perfume from a local tack shop called Eau de Toilette that came from Goode Rider - it smelled really good.  Sadly, we didn't find any new riding pants there for me since my old pair is shockingly too big everywhere and my oldest pair almost fit but was a little small.  Me being picky, couldn't find the same brand as my most-recent pants from Kerrits or something Carrot-like.  

(My mother is very jealous of my new scent and is sorry that we can't have the same scent :) 

Ok, that's it.  I am going to explode and die.  But, before I do, I will finish my very first bottle of Fiji water of 15 oz. 

Very Bored...

Catching onto how miserably bored I am?  My parents are watching Christmas movies and I don't like Christmas movies... Sad, isn't it? :) Anyway, I could have posted another fantastic recipe (not from Happy Herbivore) from Savvy Vegetarian.  It was great!  Ah, I have been choosing really great recipes, yeah? ;) It was a Quinoa salad my dad made.  I was going to a few days ago, but I was too lazy...and busy!  So to explain the pictures,first, I wanted to find a possible new background for the blog, the dancing banana, but I found the decaying-looking flowers and chose that instead.  Next, the Saltines, I have the craziest craving for them!  Now, as for the cartoon, I loved it and found it on another blog that I didn't linger looking at too long... By the way, about the burgers I made - Quick Burgers - they are also fantastic when it is just the raw mix and it was really good as a chip/tortilla dip... same with the Quinoa salad I will hopefully post tomorrow.

Oh my goodness!  I am craving Tacos too!  Thank God Happy Herbivore has them!  Ugh I just need to get through the next recipes I planned... Grrrr...

"Everyday Happy Herbivore"

                   Someone heard me try to open the door for a better picture.... he had been sleeping and on his back... Thanks a lot Cole.

First of all, I just want to say how good my tummy feels right now.  It's great.  Yesterday, I think, yeah, I had the very first recipe from the cookbook called Cinnamon Bun Smoothie and then today, just an hour ago and a very moments, I made and cooked five bean burgers and ate two Quick Burgers. They were great! GRRRRR :) Besides the greatness of the recipes, I don't have dance again till January 7, 2012 :( but that gives my heel some time to heal!  Hehe Anyway, here ya go:


Cinnamon Bun Smoothie - Serves 1 page. 13


Notes: I used Oat milk and added no extra milk.  Also, "whiz" means blend :)



Quick Burgers - makes 4 burgers page 81


Notes: I cooked 10 minutes on each side and it still wasn't cooked all the way through.  I didn't have instant oats so I used rolled oats and soaked them in hot water till I was done smashing and mixing the rest of the ingredients.  I also used Dijon mustard.



Enjoy!  

Novice Speaking Herbivore

I have found another dress!  It is more traditional then the other one and my teacher approved as we looked through page, after page, after page, of dresses.  She took my measurements again and told me what to look for - I am very happy with the dresses we found.  My heal has a huge! blister on my right foot; my left foot is getting there too.  It burns!  But I am used to it...stupid open calluses.  Next big news is, I tried the first recipe from the Happy Herbivore. It was a smoothie titled Cinnamon Bun Smoothie.  - Big thing is, I have never had a Cinnamon Bun before, and if I ever do, Veganized of course, I would be greatly disappointed if it didn't taste like how that smoothie did.  It was delicious!  Now, I can't give you the recipe now, or show the picture because I still have homework to do, but I will tomorrow.  I am so desperate for a Friday.  I have woken ever morning, asking myself, Is today Friday?  NO it isn't. I wanted to cry, but thankfully, tomorrow is finally Friday!  Also, I might make some simple black bean burgers tomorrow that look short, easy, and most importantly, I have all the ingredients it seems.  Anyway, with a bleeding heal, tired mind - my freakin' dog just licked the heal!  ARGH!, I need to share with my mum the pictures I found.  OH!  I forgot to tell you, I learned the Black Bird step tonight - mostly... I wanted to cry at each hop.
I can't show you the picture of the dress yet!  Just in case you're looking for one too!  ;)

"Everyday Happy Herbivore"

First of all, I am feeling extremely sick to my stomach because I just received news that the dress I became stupidly attached too, is not acceptable... My teacher will tell me why and show me more tomorrow, but I do have another choice as well (will have picture tomorrow).  Anyway, I am very broken hearted about that -devastated, but guess what?  I couldn't find the 30 Day Vegan Challenge book I wanted, so I got Everyday Happy Herbivore instead.  It looks delicious!  I can't wait to start, and I will try to next time we go food shopping.  The first recipe is a Cinnamon Bun Smoothie.  

Speaking of smoothies, I made a new one today, but it needs some modifications...

Recipe:

2 Frozen Bananas

1 Cup Frozen Strawberries

1/2 Cup Frozen Spinach

1 Cup Chocolate Chips (Dark, Vegan)

Non-Dairy Milk

Blend together while adding a non-dairy milk (I used Oat Milk).  Also, let bananas soften for 20 seconds in microwave before blending (My blender gets too hot and melts somewhat... I don't think that's safe or healthy).  

Anyway, that's it.  It needs some tweaking because it wasn't my favorite... I still don't know why... maybe vanilla is needed? No spinach? :(

Anyhow, good night people...

The History of the Dance

Ya know, it has been almost four years since I started dancing and I have never once went to the trouble to learn the history of the dance I love so much.  Well, now I did :) Just a few minutes ago, and boy, Irish dance has a history.  Since what I found was a lot, and since I don't really know how to summarize all of it, I decided to give you the links:
 http://www.irelandseye.com/dance.html

http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/00374/history.html

http://www.socalirishdance.com/Irishstepdance.php

http://www.bbc.co.uk/irish/articles/view/741/english/

Keep On

We all feel overwhelmed
At one time
Or another

We all think it's impossible
Sometimes

But the key to not letting it destroy you

Is to keep dreaming

Keep imagining

Keep reaching to a star

Keep believing in your ability to shine


Keep dancing


Keep dancing,

And you'll get there

Someday

Someday soon

-http://irishdancepoems.blogspot.com/2011/03/keep-on.html

"Congrats Novice"

La la la la la la la Tonight Tonight!

$800 -----------

So today was also my official day of December or the Christmas month.  11:15 A.M. - 7:30 P.M for a dance show.  All three.  Painfully long day, but good in the end.  Also, my dance teacher decided to suddenly congratulate me on being a Novice :D I was like, "Really?" - I could barely speak.  I am still waiting for my results from the last feis but I now obviously know I got in the 80s or 90s or this.  I am sooooooooooo excited now!  I have $575  and still have dolls for sale.  I should have a dress, if not this dress, by June 2012. Wish me luck!