Gratitude

So long 2011, hello 2012.  I hadn't really thought about it, until someone pointed out to me that this has been a big year in the life of Hilary.  Since then, I've been adding up all the changes and momentous events.

1. changed jobs (February)
2. quit my second job of 12 years (February)
3. moved to the valley (via living with Dad for a month)
4. landed my dream job (July)
5. quit my old job (July)
6. went to a family reunion (Aug)
7. went to my first gay wedding (Sept)
8. changed work locations (Sept)
9. went camping by myself (Oct)
10. changed work locations again (Oct)
11. totally changed my diet (Nov)
12. got in a pretty bad car accident (Nov)
13. bought a car (Dec)
14. lost 15 pounds (and counting)

Hmmm, I hadn't realized there had been so many changes.  Especially funny because I was feeling like I'm in a bit of a rut, and I was looking for a way to make some changes in my life.  (nothing drastic, just something to make like interesting) Maybe I don't need more change, maybe I'm just used to there being a lot of change in my life.  I'm grateful for change. 


I'm grateful for all the good things that came to me in 2011.  It kind of felt like all the things I was trying to accomplish for the last few years came together job-wise.  I'm grateful to have learned that I love the drama of prison, and the adrenaline rush of being in the environment.  I liked meeting people that I would be absolutely terrified of on the streets, but getting to know them for who they are instead.  I know having met the biggest, baddest mo-fo's out there that I can handle anything.  The rest of the job was total shit, but I'm grateful to have learned that about myself.  I'm grateful that I had the opportunity to repair a damaged relationship with a client, it had always bothered me.  I'm grateful that I was lucky enough to get the job I have wanted since college.  I'm grateful that after I got the job, I actually still liked it.  I'm grateful that my extended family has become more connected because of the family reunions.  I'm grateful to have another awesome niece.  I'm grateful she's not a monster.  I'm especially grateful that I didn't die in a car accident.  I'm even happier that the insurance claim worked out and I was able to buy the car I had originally wanted to buy 2 years ago.  I'm grateful that I stumbled upon the raw vegan lifestyle and online community.  It has simplified my life so much and I have never felt so good in all my life.  

Lots to be grateful for!  Hoping that 2012 brings more good things and is kind to you too!

Expensive?

This is the other comment I've been getting a lot.  Fruits and vegetables are so expensive.  At first I agreed with this, but now that I'm in my second month, I can see that this is totally wrong.  Each week I go the veggie store and spend between $20 and $30 that does me for the week.  This is the usual list:

• 2-3 bags of apples
• 1 bag of oranges
• a bag of ginger
• 6 lemons or limes
• 2 heads of celery
• 2 bags of carrots
• 1 big bunch of kale/chard
• 2 broccoli
• 2 bunches of parsley/cilantro
• 1-3 cucumbers
• 1 bunch of bananas

On top of this, I spend about $10 per week on almond milk and maybe $5 a week on something else like tamarinf or raisons.  About once a month I stock up on nuts, vegan protein powder and treats like fresh coconuts, persimmons and vegan cheese, maybe $50 a month on miscellaneous items.  I never totalled up what I was spending on food before.  The gluten-free bread I used to eat was $6 per loaf, so I don't think it's an exaggeration to say I spent between $75-$100 per week in food before.  How crazy is that?  For me this is a huge motivator to keep on going.  Not only do I feel better, but I'm saving money.  I think it would be hard to justify eating raw vegan if it was crazy expensive. 

What Hilary Eats

I thought I would do a post on what I ate today because I keep getting asked this all the time.  Now keep in mind, I'm sick and ate a little less than usual.  I'll do another post on this when I'm not sick.

Breakfast:

• coffee and almond milk
• gluten-free no sugar corn flakes, 1 tablespoon each of raisins, walnut pieces and unsweetened coconut and 1 banana

Snack

• 1/2 of a flax bar (flax, molasses, raisins)
• green juice (parsley, celery, kale, cucumber, lemon, ginger and apple)

Lunch

• about 1 cup of green grapes
• about 1 cup of broccoli

Dinner

• 1 carrot
• 3 olives
• a tablespoon or two of hummus
• 3 or 4 almonds
• grande 1/2 sweet vanilla soy no-foam americano

Bedtime Snack

• neocitron -yuck!

Normally, there would be more veggies for dinner, but I'm just not hungry today.  The rest is pretty typical.  It doesn't sound like a lot, but it's surprisingly filling.  I used to eat so much more in volume before.  But I'm eating a lot more nutrient dense now.  It really does make sense, you gotta eat a lot of garbage to equal the same amount of nutrients. 

Off to bed, to hopefully sleep this cold away!