Yesterday, as I was making the new buttons that you see on the sidebar (aren’t they gorgeous? I love them way too much.) I realized I had hardly any good pictures of my favourite books to use as a background image. So I went through and pulled a few tomes from my shelves and snapped some pictures. I realized today that this picture is also an opportunity to share a few of my well-loved books with you! These are books that I have read, enjoyed, and would recommend for a great read.
I have no idea why it’s taken me so long to jump on the DIY bandwagon – I’m having so much fun! For me, every stage of the process is exciting: scrolling through Pinterest for inspiration, going in search of the materials at various stores, sitting down and completing something that’s pretty, and finally seeing it around me in its finished state! It’s such a simple idea, to take some basic materials and recombine them into something beautiful. I love that.
I’ve been collecting lots of DIY ideas lately (see the board here), but one that really stood out to me was the simple hanging plant. I immediately loved the look of it (simple yet colourful) and it didn’t look too hard either – bonus!
One thing I’m learning from this project is how little I like winter. It’s sad to say, but true. I’ve been going for my snowy walks, but the subject matter outside doesn’t really appeal to me all that much. I’m trying to make the most of it, but I seriously LOVE colour, food and people and that’s what I enjoy photographing best. The problem is with these long school days is that I don’t encounter much colour, food or people (to photograph at least) in my day. Squirrels abound! I think I’ll love this project a lot more when it starts to get less yucky outside.
Since it’s January, I’m joining in with the masses and making some decisions that I hope will better my health. Actually I should say decisions that WILL better my health, because they already have – I’ve seen changes. Today, I wanted to share some of the systems that have been working for me, mostly because I find them either accessible, easy, or helpful (not necessarily all three!).
Diet
Note: cupcakes were eaten on cheat day! :)
First, my diet. This I would not put under the “accessible” category, because it is pretty difficult and requires quite a bit of willpower (for me, at least). But it is definitely helpful and I have seen results after only 2 weeks.
I am following the “slow-carb diet”, written about by Timothy Ferris in his book The 4-Hour Body. You can click the link to see a full explanation of the diet, but the gist of it is: you eat solely protein and vegetables 6 days a week, with a free-for-all day 1 day per week. No carbs (including fruit), nothing that could be considered “white”, no rice even if it’s brown (!), no dairy. Basically your meals should consist of protein and vegetables, and that’s it.
The more you think about this diet, the harder it seems (at first). No fruit! No rice! Unfathomable. And indeed, the meals are a little boring. It’s hard to think of meals that don’t include some kind of carb. But eventually if you think about it creatively enough, you can come up with some food that is yummy and healthy. No joke! Here’s what’s been working for me:
Shrimp stirfry, with peppers, onions and broccoli
Shrimp + avocado salad
Eggs, cottage cheese (allowed in small quantities) and broccoli
Black bean burgers (no bun) with guacamole and salsa
Panfried Korean-style tofu
Sweet potato fries and green salad with edamame, beans or avocado
Bean salad with beans, onions and a light dressing
Homemade chili with lots of kidney beans and veggies
Nuts or spoonfuls of nut butters for snacks
Big mug of tea with 1 sugar cube to fend of nightly sugar urges
Now, I’m a (quasi) vegetarian, which makes this diet a little bit harder for me. If you’re a full-fledged carnivore, it should be a breeze! Swap out different proteins with veggies on the side and you’re set. Personally, I love food, so I haven’t been satisfied to eat the exact same thing every day (except for breakfast). So I’ve tried to be really creative with my food without breaking the rules, and I’ve enjoyed most of my meals immensely.
Yesterday, as I was making the new buttons that you see on the sidebar (aren’t they gorgeous? I love them way too much.) I realized I had hardly any good pictures of my favourite books to use as a background image. So I went through and pulled a few tomes from my shelves and snapped some pictures. I realized today that this picture is also an opportunity to share a few of my well-loved books with you! These are books that I have read, enjoyed, and would recommend for a great read.
