Friday, January 16, 2015

January Favorites - Vegan Recipes

Black Bean and Quinoa Enchilada Bake
 

Ingredients:

1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
2 cups water
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeño, seeds and ribs removed, diced
1 red pepper, seeds removed, diced
1 orange pepper, seeds removed, diced
1 cup corn frozen kernels
Juice of 1 small lime
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 (15 oz) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups red enchilada sauce
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese (for this I used yellow cheese made with almond milk)
Toppings: Sliced green onions, avocado slices, sour cream, optional

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
2. Add quinoa and water to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil for 5 minutes. Turn the heat to low and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until water is absorbed. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork. Cover quinoa and set aside.
3. In a large skillet, heat the tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, and jalapeño. Sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add in the peppers and corn. Cook for about 3-4 minutes. Add the lime juice, cumin, chili powder, and cilantro. Stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
4. In a large bowl, add the cooked quinoa and black beans. Add the sautéed vegetable mixture and stir to combine. Pour in the enchilada sauce and stir. Add 1/2 cup shredded cheese.
5.Pour the black bean and quinoa mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining shredded cheese. Cover the pan with foil. Bake for 20 minutes, then remove foil. Bake an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and edges are bubbling. Remove from the oven, and let cool for 10 minutes. Garnish with toppings, if desired. Serve warm.
 
Note-this recipe freezes well!
 
I got this recipe from http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/black-bean-and-quinoa-enchilada-bake/ and altered it a little to make it vegan and gluten free by making sure the sauce and cheese were gluten-free and vegan.
 
Avocado Quesadillas
 
 
Ingredients
1/2 avocado, more if you prefer
1 small roma tomato, diced
1 green onion, sliced
Salsa (optional)
1 large tortilla

Directions
Smash avocado and spread out on one half of the tortilla. Sprinkle with nutritional yeast and any seasonings. Add tomato, green onions, and salsa. (Or save the salsa for dipping!)
Fold over the top half of the tortilla, and place on a skillet over medium heat.
Heat for a few minutes on each side until warmed through.
 
For this recipe, I used gluten free tortillas and baked it in my quesadilla maker. So, instead of using one tortilla, I used two to make a whole one. Original recipe from: http://www.thegardengrazer.com/2014/05/avocado-quesadillas-vegan.html?m=1


Blind Love by CNBLUE





Even though this song is in Japanese, it gives me a lot of inspiration for when I write my stories.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Vegan Diaries #5

November-January 15, 2015
 
During the entire month of November, everything was great. I learned how to cook several different new recipes from my new cook book. This book is amazing and has every thing in it. If you think of it, it's in the book. My favorite recipes are the different soups. If you are vegan and just starting out, I definitely recommend this book. Even if you are not new, I still recommend it.
Going to my relative's party was very frustrating. There was over 50 people there, and the only food I could eat was the vegetable appetizer platter and the small salad. Because there were so many people there, I wasn't allowed to eat as much as I want. I couldn't eat half. Same goes for the salad. I even brought a bunch of bananas just in case there wasn't enough food, but I pretty much ate them in 10 minutes while all of my relatives questioned me, asking me what was wrong with me. My one aunt tried convincing me that I was poisoning myself because "I was eating too much potassium." My favorite thing she said was "If you keep eating all of that sugar, you are going to get diabetes."  They made me feel like shit for eating the way I do, making it seem like I have a choice. But, I know as soon as I eat an animal product, I get very sick with severe stomach pains and have diarrhea, and vomit. Why would I want to suffer through that? I don't which is why I suffer through the criticism instead. Because I was so hungry, I became a raging bitch. It's what happens when I'm hungry. I know I'm not the only one who has a behavior change in that type of situation. And, it is not like I could go home to eat and come back. I live in Reading, PA; this party was somewhere in, NJ, a 2.5 hour drive. If I did have the option to leave, I definitely would not have come back because my relatives were so rude.
 

Thanks Giving was very interesting because this year it was at my house. My aunt and uncle were giving my parents "the look," basically the look of "what is wrong with her?" and "this isn't normal." I pretended not to notice. But, it was all because all I ate was "my" mashed potatoes and pretty much most of the green beans. Before they came over, I had made a Thai stir fry because I was not going to eat the Turkey or the stuffing. By this time, my parents had become more understanding and less critical, thankfully.
 
Christmas was pretty smooth. I ate what I wanted while my family ate their Christmas ham. I was feeling a little sick, but that was because I had gotten my Depo shot on December 22, 2014. From that day to January 8, 2015, I felt so sick. Everything I ate made me feel sick to my stomach, and even when I didn't eat I felt the same way. I had no energy and slept most of the day. I was completely miserable. I never had that reaction before, so I thought it was weird. After I did some research, I read some of the side effects. What was happening to me one of them. I also learned that this type of birth control makes it extremely difficult to lose weight and messes up your thyroid. I came to the conclusion that I did not need this medication anymore. I originally took it to stop my stomach aches and bad cramping, and before this diet, the stomach aches never went away. The severe cramps went away completely, so I know if I stop getting the shots, they will probably come back. I'm just hoping that with this diet, they won't be as bad.

Lately, I haven't been following RawTill4 most days because good fruit during this time of year is extremely hard to find. My only options are oranges, dates, and bananas. A lot of the time, the bananas aren't as good. I found that eating a lot of raw food has been making my stomach acidic and is very painful, so I am going easy on the raw food. I still have a banana or fruit smoothie for breakfast, and everything after that is cooked. I have been sticking to more simple foods like rice and potatoes to keep the acid low. So far, it has been working.

Gothic Lolita Wigs Review - Gamine in Honey Milk Tea and Duchess Elodie in Burgundy Mix

Shipping and Packaging
 
I ordered these wig on a Monday and got it on Thursday the same week. The packaging was standard; it came in a plastic USPS envelope that contained my two wigs. Each came in a plastic bag with cardboard around them. They both were contained in a black hair net, and they were stuffed with tissue paper to protect their shape. I didn't take a picture of it because those who buy from dolluxe.com/gothiclolitawigs.com/rockstarwigs.com know what I am talking about. If you don't, there are plenty of YouTube videos that show you. In addition to the wigs, I received a business card and a beige wig cap.
 
Gamine (Honey Milk Tea)
 
 
 

 
When I saw this wig on the website, I knew I had to have it. The style is so adorable, and it's perfect for when you don't want to style your own hair or you just have a bad hair day and don't have time messing with it. This color is also the closest to my natural hair color.
 
Pulling the wig out of it packaging, I noticed it is exactly the same as the stock photo on the GLW website. The only thing I did not like is the part on the top of the head. It looks noticeably fake. To fix that, I wear a hat to cover it up. By doing that, it is impossible to tell. I actually got a ton of compliments when I wore my pink hat with it.

 
The bangs are very long and have to be styled to get them out of your eyes. If you shake out the wig, the style becomes more poofy and crazy, which is also cute. For me, that style doesn't work well with my face. The more natural flat style works with my round face much better, which is great. Not many short wigs go well with my face shape. Thankfully, this wig does. Lastly, this wig does come with adjustable straps and combs to keep the wig in place on your head. In conclusion, this is my favorite short wig, and I would recommend it to everyone. I rate it a 9/10.
 
Duchess Elodie (Burgundy Mix)
 
 
 
At first, I was nervous about buying this wig because of the color and how curly it is because of my face shape, but it turns out that it goes well with my complexion. As I took it out of the package I noticed that it was very tangled. While I was untangling it, a little ball of  tangled hair fell onto the floor (and that was while combing through it carefully with my fingers). I'm not going to lie, I was a little mad, but once it was completely detangled, everything was fine. The color is gorgeous. It definitely reminds me cranberries. With that said, the wig is exactly the same as this stock photo. It seems more vibrant in person though. The skin top part on the top looks realistic, making it easy to get away with if you wear it in public. No one will think its fake.

This picture shows the wig as redder than it really is. It has a trace of purple in it, I think, anyway. I do not have any complaints with this wig. It's perfect. I hope to get the black plum version of this wig some day. It is absolutely gorgeous. I rate it a 10/10.

 


Sunday, November 2, 2014

Vegan Diaries - Post #4

10/31/14 - 11/2/14 
 
 
10/31/14: Halloween is the time where most people gorge on candy, and they will continue to do so until their left over candy is gone. For some people it will take a few months. For others that might take only a week. Halloween is my favorite time of the year because you can dress up and be whom ever you want. The candy part isn't so bad either. Well, it used to not be so bad. July is when I started my vegan diet, and I wanted to continue strong. I wasn't going to let candy control me.
 
I was going strong for the entire day until my parents brought out the candy around 7pm. I failed within five minutes of seeing that candy. It was impossible for me to resist the skittles. They are my favorite candy. I ripped open three miniature bags and shoved them in my mouth without a care. After they were completely eaten, that's when I felt the guilt. I had failed. Reluctantly, I straightened out one of the wrappers and checked the ingredients. Everything on there seemed to be okay. It was just sugar, and it was gluten free. But then, I saw that they contained all these different types of dye and remembered that red dyes are made from beetles. So, yeah, I really did fail. 
 
I realized that there is no reason to hang on my mistakes. I am human, so I'm bound to screw up once in a while. A few bags of skittles isn't going to kill me. All I need to do next time is resist harder, and get back on track. And, one method is to separate myself from the candy--put it some place where I cannot get to it like in high places since I am short, and because I am a lazy person, I won't attempt to get it. So, I gave it to my mother and brother. My brother constantly locks his door, and the key is always placed somewhere high. Problem solved. As for my mom, she just puts it on my dad's dresser which is so tall that I would need a chair to stand on top of to get it. No thank you.
 
This probably sounds childish to some people, but when it comes to skittles, I can't help myself. It's horrible. I know.
 
11/1/14: Saturday, I was able to get up and eat a 6 banana smoothie. My stomach felt yucky, and it was probably due to those stupid skittles. I still craved them too. I really hated that. It was hard to eat anything during the rest of the day because of how much my stomach hurt. Well, I guess it is good that I learned my lesson now instead of on Monday when I have school. Somehow, I managed to get four papers done for school in 9 hours and 50 minutes. Not bad if I say so myself.
 
11/2/14: Today started out great. I woke up, and ate a 10 banana smoothie, and didn't crave any skittles. This was probably because I received enough carbs for the time being. On Friday, I don't think I had enough carbs, which is why I reached for the skittles. I wasn't able to eat the 10 banana smoothie for breakfast like I usually do because I was in a rush to get to school. I accidentally spent too much time preparing my Halloween outfit for the day, and I wanted to get there early to study for my cultural geography test.
 
But, anyway, that was the cause now that I look back. If I don't eat enough carbs, I will look for other shortcuts to get the sugar I need like vegan breakfast bars, which are not the best thing because they are very fatty and are not made out of simple foods. Also, they are not very good for you. And, obviously, skittles are not an adequate source for energy because it will quickly burn out. Bananas keep me going strong all day.
 
Around 3pm I went grocery shopping with my dad, and let me tell you how frustrating it was. I know what I want, and I tell him. Usually, it is not a problem, but today it was for some reason. All I wanted was a thick vegan soup, but no, I wasn't allowed to get it because he just assumed that I wouldn't like it. I haven't even tried it yet, and I only picked one. Or the freaking sweet potatoes, I just wanted three of them to hold me over for the week; but, no. they were 30 cents more that what we usually get, and I offered to pay. Then, he just yelled at me and acted like I was stupid.
 
As we get to the car to load up our stuff, he starts yelling at me, saying how I can't live on this lifestyle for the rest of my life. Yeah...Um... I'm 21 years old and can do whatever the hell I want. It has been about five months and except for the skittles thing on Halloween, I haven't completely failed, and I am not going to because I know if I do I will go back to severe stomach issues, bad mental health, and just overall bad health. No thank you. I plan to be healthy and live a strong life for a very long time.

 

Monday, October 27, 2014

Monday, October 13, 2014

Vegan Diaries Posts 2 and 3

October 11, 2014
 
So, it has been about two months since my last post. Diet-wise, nothing has really changed. I still have my banana smoothie for breakfast. For lunch, I usually eat huge salads now because mangoes are out of season. My apple tree finally produced ripe apples, and I did get a ton off of it. The rest are given to the wild animals or added to my compost heap behind the fence.
 
I did learn a few new recipes. I learned how to make vegetable rolls, guacamole, and banana bread.
 
For vegetable rolls, you need to make sticky rice, nori paper, and finely chopped vegetables.
Recipe for sticky rice: http://www.tablespoon.com/posts/how-to-make-sticky-rice-at-home/8109b0e4-ac06-4a0a-aa7f-50d5bcfe3cb9 (I used the steaming method because it was easy).
Sweet Potato Rolls
 
 
If you follow the directions on this site, it's easy to make the rolls: http://makemysushi.com/How-to-make-sushi/maki-roll.html. Also, with these instructions, you can put whatever you want inside them.
 
Recipe for guacamole: http://m.californiaavocado.com/m/recipe/31469/?platform=mobile
 
Recipe for banana bread:
Vegan/Gluten-Free Banana Bread
 
http://dairyfreecooking.about.com/od/breadsbakery/r/vegan_banana_bread_recipe.htm
For this one, I use rice flower because I am allergic to gluten, and vanilla almond milk. It just tastes amazing that way.
 
During this time, I did a lot of reflecting. I have been trying my hardest to stay in tune with nature and other people. My goal is to become more selfless, think of ways in which I can help others, and act on it. I have also been able to change my way of thinking. I used to feel like "the victim" all of the time, but now I feel like it isn't about me. That old mentality kept me in a bad mood 99% of the time, and I realized that's not how to live. Now, I am even happier, and I am able to thrive. The most important thing is to be grateful and appreciate all the things you have in life because most people don't have the basic necessities. Be happy for what you have. 
 
October 13, 2014

 
While searching for new people to follow on YouTube, I found three people that I really like: izzy .davis, Simply Vegan, and Rice And Raw. I really love their attitudes about life, and I think they are really worth following. These guys are also vegans, and I love seeing them spread the vegan message with their own methods. They also share some really awesome recipes.
 
One recipe that I really like is Izzy's guacamole recipe. It's so delicious. In addition, I find her combination of collard greens/veggies/guacamole salad combination amazing. It is my favorite thing to eat now. I literally ate a whole bag of spinach in one sitting today by just combining that with veggies and guacamole. I can finally say goodbye to the massive sodium dressings now because I don't need them anymore. I have guacamole! Whoo hoo!  

Saturday, October 11, 2014

DressLink Haul and Review #2

Since the weather is changing and becoming colder, I decided to get a few warmer clothes from dresslink.com, a Chinese-based online wholesale store. If you want more information about this store you can check out my first haul from them, or you can go to their site and read all about it.

I will also note that if you do decide to buy from here, measure yourself and check the sizing chart. I wear a medium in U.S. sizes, and on this site I wear between a Large and an X-Large depending on their measurements. If you are not sure about an item, read the reviews. They help A LOT. Also check to see how many items are in stock. If there is an item that says there are 5 or lower in stock, I tend not to buy them because a lot of times the site forgets to update its in stock number. This method has yet to fail me.

This is everything I got and my description:

                  Item
Qty.
Unit price
Price
·         Color - Watermelon red
·         Size - Asian L (US M(8-10),UK 10, AU 12)
*     Because this dress was practically free, I thought why not and bought it. The dress matches the website's picture exactly, and it is made out of a thin chiffon material. It's gorgeous, light weight and perfect for the summer. One thing that made me nervous was the metal clasp that held the straps together in the back because it feels fragile. Also, putting on the dress at first is a little challenging because all of the straps make it confusing by getting in the way. In addition, this dress is a bit sheer, so you can see through it.
 
1
US$ 0.01
US$ 0.01

 ·         Color - DR
 * These leggings are very stretchy  and fit perfectly. The only problem I have with them is that they are shiny. For the design, it looks stupid. In addition, these leggings are a bit sheer, so you can see through them.

1
US$ 5.89
US$ 5.89
·         Color - Light Blue
*     These leggings are very stretchy and fit perfectly. These leggings are a little shiny, but that is okay because it works with the jellyfish design. The jellyfish look so cool on these. In addition, these leggings are a bit sheer, so you can see through them.
 
1
US$ 5.89
US$ 5.89
·         Color - Black
·         Size - EU 39 ( US 8, AU 8 , UK 6)
 
*    The sneakers look exactly like the website's picture. For me, the shoes fit snugly on the sides since I do have wide feet. I did get the right size though because length wise they are okay. The material of these shoes is pretty cheep and thin, but that's okay because I only bought them to wear to special occasions like parties and whatnot. I will note that it is nearly impossible and quite dangerous to wear these on carpet because the platform part of the shoe will sink, which will cause you to trip or twist your ankle. Be very careful with these.
 
1
US$ 8.65
US$ 8.65
 
·         Color - Wine red
*    These leggings are very stretchy  and fit perfectly. They are also shiny, but that is okay because it works with the dragon/fish scale design. In addition, these leggings are a bit sheer, so you can see through them.
 
1
US$ 5.89
US$ 5.89
 
·         Color - Skyblue
*     This dress is gorgeous. The dress is exactly like the website's picture. It is also made out of the same material as the leggings. It's shiny and stretchy. One thing I didn't like was that it was a "one size fits all" dress, which is a little problematic because it is too big. It fits my chest nicely, but from my waist and down, it doesn't hug my body, leaving a bit of extra material.
 
1
US$ 6.01
US$ 6.01
 
·         Color - Khaki
*     This fox purse is super adorable, and I received a ton of compliments. The faux leather material feels super cheap, but you can't tell when looking at it.
 
1
US$ 3.25
US$ 3.25
 
·         Type - 11
*     I just had to have these Lord of the Rings leggings because I am a huge fan. They fit great and are a bit shiny. They are also sheer in the back. One thing I was really fed up about was the image on the leggings. It isn't clear; just extremely pixilated. So not cool. You can only see them decently from far away. I'm kind of sad about that.
 
1
US$ 5.89
US$ 5.89
 
·         Color - Black
*     This watch is cool for guys even though it says unisex. The multiple LED lights are pretty. It was too big on me, and that's saying something because I don't have small wrists. One thing that EXTREMELY pissed me off was the fact that it did not come with any instructions.
1
US$ 4.30
US$ 4.30

                Item
Qty.
Unit price
Price
 
·         Color - Blue
*     I love this sweater so much. It's a gorgeous baby blue, and the rips on the sleeves and bottom make it look even better. The sweater is super thin and see-through, but I knew it would be just by looking at the website's picture. One thing I will mention is that it isn't as long as it is in the photos, which I wish it was. That is not to say that it is short. It comes to just before my pants' pockets.
1
US$ 7.65
US$ 7.65
 
·         Size - Asian XL (US L(12),UK 14, AU 16)
*     This jacket is made with real denim, and I do really like it. It's not too warm though. One thing that did annoy me was the hood. It is buttoned on (when you get it, it's not attached), which is good if you like to wear it without the hood. Personally, I will never take it off. It wouldn't be so bad if the stupid hood stayed on, but no. It keeps falling off, which means I am going to have to sew it on. Size wise, it fits perfectly.
 
1
US$ 12.44
US$ 12.44
 
·         Color - #3 Pink& Green
·         Size - Asian L (US M(8-10),UK 10, AU 12)
*     There is nothing bad I can say about this hoodie. It's cute and soft. It is also a light to medium thickness. The colors also match the website's photo.
 
1
US$ 7.14
US$ 7.14
 
·         Color - Light gray
·         Size - one size
*     This hoodie is pretty thin, and the sleeves are even thinner. The faux leather sleeves give it an awesome look. The pockets are really small, but the website's picture does show that. One thing I will say though is the inside is soft. I still like this hoodie regardless. For being a "one size fits all," it fits perfectly.
 
1
US$ 6.88
US$ 6.88
 
·         Size - one size
*     This top is pretty cool. I have never seen anything like it before. It is thin, and there are mesh cutouts on the shoulder parts.For being a "one size fits all," it fits perfectly. I have no qualms about this top, and it matches the website's photo. 
 
1
US$ 7.60
US$ 7.60
 
·         Color - Red
·         Size - one size
*     I love this top even though it is a bit thin. I usually wear this over something thicker, and it just looks great. The material is very soft too. For being a "one size fits all," it fits perfectly. It matches the picture exactly.
 
1
US$ 7.70
US$ 7.70
 
·         Color - Green blue
·         Size - Asian XL (US L(12),UK 14, AU 16)
*     This shirt was one of my better buys. It was perfect in the fact that it was soft and thick. The sewing job was nicely done too. It matches the picture exactly. I am definitely buying more of these.
1
US$ 8.06
US$ 8.06