life is busy, and i am 20.

Completing 20 goals by my twentieth birthday was easier said than done...

just  'cause I can say them, doesn't mean I was able to finished them. but I'm glad I had things to work on throughout the year. These past 12 months have definitely been crazy ones: from having the mindset of doing dental hygiene school in Washington State to moving cross the country with my brother to go to a university in North Dakota. From receiving an associates degree to also being blessed with another baby brother. When I look back on this year, I can see God's hand in it all. He has blessed me so much. My heart can hardly stand it. His ways are not my ways- and I am glad.

(I actually copied this from a facebook update I did around new years.)

Here are the goals I did and didn't accomplish:

Spiritual

1. read the Old Testament

2. read the New Testament

3. fast for 48 hours: this was probably one of the hardest things I've done. I was so weak and tired, but He is strong.

4. fast for 36 hours: Technically, I completed this one when I did the 48 hour one, but my intensions were to do them both on separate occasions.

5. "pray in the spirit on all occasions" (Ephesians 6:18) I prayed more this year than any other year, but it doesn't stop now that I'm 20. Oh no, it's just beginning. My job allows plenty of time for me to either talk to myself or talk to God, and I'm pretty sure talking to God is a little more rewarding and beneficial. :)

Physical

6. do 20 pushups in a row: I was able to get to 20 girly pushups. Ha!

7. run 3 miles in 25 minutes: Nope. didn't complete this one.

8. do a Sprint Triathlon: I wasn't able to do this one either. This year it's gotta happen!

9. eat only vegan food for a week

10. Stretch: palms to the ground while knees are locked: on a good day, I can do it.

Personal

11. visit Hawaii: Didn't happen, but I'm looking forward to going this summer!

12. Read the Help by Kathryn Stock

13. Read Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis: I was finally able to borrow it from the library 2ish days before my birthday, so this goal is half-way complete.

14. fill another journal 

15. smile more: maybe I did, maybe I didn't. who knows.

Social

16. Make cookies for someone

17. write and send 20 letters

18. be an unofficial mentor to younger girls: As humbly at I can say it, I hope younger girls are able to look at my life and see Jesus shining through. It's not me; it's Him. He's protected me and kept me from making decisions I would regret later on in life.

19. get 20 people to follow my blog: woohoo! 26 people:) haha

20. Meet someone new:  I've met many amazing people here in North Dakota! :)

 Yesterday I played I Spy with parasites for three hours. Fun stuff.

(sorry, this picture has nothing to do with my 20 by 20

but I hate when my posts don't have pictures in them. You'll probably NEVER see one without a picture fyi.)

I might start a 21-by-21 list or just finish up the ones I haven't done for this year. I'll let you know what I end up doing.

In the mean time, any goal suggestions? I'm open to ideas.

vegan week

This week I did the whole vegan thing.

I tried my hardest to stay away from meat, dairy, butter, etc etc. 

It's difficult! 

So much stuff has animal parts in it. 

I know I messed up a little bit here and there; 

I ate some cookies that I'm sure had eggs, butter and granulated sugar in them (yes, most sugar is processed with bone char. crazy, isn't it?!) 

I also started working at a coffee shop, and I couldn't refuse taste-testing the drinks. :)

But all in all, I'm pretty happy with myself.

I can't see myself as a hardcore vegan anytime in the future, but a majority of the food I make at home will be vegan. When I'm out & about, I'll try my best, but there are no promises.

For breakfast, I ate cereal with almond milk, toast or no-cook refrigerator oatmeal. This oatmeal is SO good. You make it overnight and eat it cold! :D All it has in it is: 
-1/4 c raw old fashioned oatmeal 
-1/3 c almond milk, 
-1/4 c apple sauce, 
-1/4 c finely chopped apple
-cinnamon 
-------
other things you can add: sweetener, chia seeds, flax seed, different fruit, peanut butter, cocoa powder. The possibilities are basically endless. :)

mixed it all up, and it's ready to be eaten the next morning/day.
*When I make food, I usually eyeball ingredients, so those measurements are kinda guesses. sorry.

cinnamon apple no-cook refrigerator oatmeal

 

 

 tofu stir fry

 cinnamon baked sweet potato chips.

and bread for toast!

I made a couple other things, but didn't get pictures of them like a soup and chocolate coffee truffle things. I don't really know what to call them, but they tasted great with or without a name. :)

vegan

Remember that 20 by 20 post? Well, the deadline is coming up very soon!! In two weeks, I'll be 20! I need to step it up and finish strongly, because the other months this year were kind of lacking in determination to finish these goals.

I’m embarking on my vegan journey today. It’s where the knowledge is put into practice- where the rubber meets the road. 

I’ll be running around town later today like a crazy person trying to find things like tempeh, vegenaise, earth balance etc etc.

I have a few reasons why I haven’t started sooner.

1. Family and friends. When a dear one makes something with (fill in the blank), of course I’ll be thankful for it, try it and eat it. I’m not saying vegetarians/vegans are snobs, but I kinda feel that way when I say, “no thank you”.

2. Convenience. I eat at the dining places at school, and although they have a good amount of options, their vegan stuff (mostly steamed veggies) is lacking.

3. Money. I don’t like spending money. Last semester, Nate and I bought bread, cereal and milk. Yeah, that’s pretty much it. The school dining centers provided the rest.

4. Many things in our pantry aren’t vegan. Example: chicken stock. I feel bad buying vegetable stock if we already have stock. See what I’m saying? Should I bring stuff to the food bank? Save it? I don’t think Nate will find a need for most of the stuff. Also, the can of refried beans, we have, has lard in it…  It’s quite amusing what you’ll find when you look on the back of food labels. I dare you.

So with all that being said, I’m trying to figure out where to draw the line. When it’s too much over kill, and when I should push this new diet (oh, how I HATE using that “d” word)…

This road will be bumpy, imperfect, and probably quite humorous- laugh with me; it might be fun.

I’m challenging myself for a week. 21 meals. Seven of which will be cereal and almond milk and maybe oatmeal (no surprise there). The others will have to be a little more creative. After this week I’ll probably try to use up pantry stuff and slowly replace it with animal free ingredients. I’m basically doing this because it’s healthier (to reduce/eliminate saturated fats) on one’s body and more sustainable to the earth.

I know this is a controversial topic, and I’m not here to argue with people. I’m just saying what I think, and what I’ll do. God said that animals were for man’s use; I’m not bashing anyone who eats meat.

I pray that whatever I eat, I will be thankful to God for it, and I’m also thankful I CAN choose what I eat. Many people don’t have that luxury. :(

If I find (and make) any good recipes, I’ll post them here.

Ok, now excuse me while I go on my hunt to find these ingredients.