Things I need to learn

1. How to get freelance clients. I'd like to work on some of my own work with my own clients on my own time.
2. The history of typography. I learned a lot in school, but I've forgotten most of it over the last 10 years. Knowing about typography won't make me a better designer, but I think it'll make me a different kind of designer.
3. Stock investments. I finally started an RRSP and chose the self-directed route. I know nothing about stocks or investing, but now's the time to learn. Um... help?
   
4. How to use my camera properly. I have a decent camera that can take great shots. All I need now is to figure out how to use it.
5. How to organise my time so I can accomplish all the things I want to. I have many things I enjoy doing, but there are only so many hours in a day. And my creative outlet activities seem to be slipping further down my list - unintentionally.
6. How to just freaking relax and stop being so awkward/angry/sad/preoccupied.

I'm sure there are lots more things for me to learn, but these are top of mind right now.

Camping season begins! Let's eat!

This weekend will be the first camping trip of the summer. And that means that I'm starting to think of one of my favourite parts of camping - cooking and eating outdoors!

I'm hoping to not bring too much food this time. When I start figuring out the food list, it's like I'm shopping for an army instead of just 2 people! This is my list so far:

• pre-marinated scrambled tofu: crumbled tofu, marinated in lemon juice, soy sauce, garlic and mixed with sun-dried tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms, nutritional yeast
• (maybe) premade potato salad: potatoes, vinaigrette, broccoli, asparagus
  
• premade quinoa salad: quinoa, red lentils, sun-dried tomatoes, leafy greens, lemon juice
  
• 1 can of baked beans in tomato sauce
• 1 package of veggie bacon
• package of whole wheat bagels
• 1 box of Lick's Nature Burgers
• burger buns
• burger toppings: tomato, onion, lettuce?
  
• potatoes, carrot and onion pouches (vegetables, foil)
  
• Earth Balance, canola oil
• ketchup, dijon mustard
• bannock mix - flour, oil, salt
• peanut butter
• apples
• V8, water, pop
  

We know a couple who went on a camping trip with nothing but trail mix. Just to see if they could last eating nothing else! I think they lasted 2 days before they started trading trail mix for their friends' food.

What veg-friendly food do you using bring with you on camping trips, car trips and picnics?

It's not you, it's me. Okay - it's you.

Today marks the first day of trying to get my caffeine addiction under control.

Step 1 - admit that those 2 mornings this week when you were grumpy and tired were, in fact, due to not having fresh ground coffee available those mornings

Step 2 - decide if you want caffeine to have that affect on you

Step 3 - make a plan to reduce caffeine intake. It doesn't have to be severe. No need to release the grumpies on everyone in your path.

Step 4 - buy a decent coffee substitute and start diluting morning coffee. Teeccino gets great reviews!

Step 5 - try hard not to scrap previous steps.




The thing about coffee is not so much the caffeine kick, but the deep flavour and the ritual of making it. Teeccino is designed to take care of both those things. Upon opening the canister, I found it full of "grounds" made up of herbs, grains, fruits and nuts. The smell is a bit coffee-orange-spice. I like my coffee medium to dark, black and unflavoured, but the smell of Teeccino wasn't unpleasant by any means.

I scooped 2 tablespoons into the coffee press, added my just below boiling water and stirred. Hmm - a lot like coffee. After 5 minutes, I pushed down the plunger and poured my cup. It tasted just as it smelled, with a little sweetness. Again, I drink my coffee black (including no sugar) so I could have done without the sweetness. But the flavour was good. Definitely not coffee, but a good, deep and complex flavour. I gave the boy a sip, and he thought it was okay as well. But he takes sugar.

I finished the cup. And I didn't feel deprived of my morning ritual the way I feel when I just make tea. Not to mention, tea upsets my tummy in the morning sometimes. I'll have it again tomorrow, but this time I will dilute with coffee grounds. I definitely want to avoid any possible headaches or crankiness.

There is also still the excellent coffee at work that I need to deal with. One step at a tme, I guess.

A focus on the positive.

This week, several good things happened that I'd like to share and take joy in.

1. I was accepted for a volunteer position on the newly formed Communications Committee at the Toronto Vegetarian Association. I will be part of a 6 person team that reports to the Board of Directors, making recommendations and implementing ideas for upcoming advertising, marketing, branding and general communications of the Association. Yay!
   
2. On Monday I attended, with a good friend, a How To Start a Food Business workshop. Because I am always thinking about opening a vegan café.
3. The workshop also helped me think a bit more about another side project I've been planning. A small business, not related to food.
4. I got to hang out for a few hours with my good friend, her husband and their incredibly cute and intense 4 month old son.
5. Also on Monday, the same friend gave me belated birthday gifts - two of which will, coincidentally and unintentionally, help greatly with the small business idea mentioned above.
6. I bought a great pair of non-leather shoes, second-hand, for half price at Value Village. They are in really good condition so I'm not worried about contracting any weird foot diseases.
7. 2 large rush projects have been almost completed at work. We are just waiting on production, which we have no control over, and we'll ship next week. The client is extremely happy with the pieces and our work.

What got me thinking about and appreciating these good things is one big awful thing that happened to two people I adore. Their mother was just devastatingly diagnosed with incurable blood cancer. I can't imagine what they are going through, emotionally. My thoughts and heart are with them.

As petty as it is to consider a great bargain on thrifted shoes a good thing in light of my friends' mother being sick, I am reminding myself to take joy in what I have. Because at least I am here to enjoy it.

Avoiding numerous things

1. finishing hair colour
2. making 2 1 batches of vegan cupcakes for party tonight (gingerbread, and peanut butter)
   
3. washing dishes
4. making hummus for party tonight (chickpeas are still cooking anyway)
   
5. cleaning bathroom
   
6. washing clothes, and bedding for possible overnight guests
7. work that must be done and sent to client before Monday

Sick Day

I finally took a sick day. I really need it - my cold/flu/? is really getting me down. I'm achey, cranky and emotional. So, now that I have a day to take care of me, what will I do?

1. stay on the couch all day
2. watch a movie or two
3. knit my friend's scarf that I promised her. I am using the same yarn that I used for Oscar and I'm thinking of calling it "A hug from Oscar."
   
4. I am blocking my Pixie hat now but I am worried that I did it all wrong. It's very strange looking. See end of post.
   
5. sleep, sleep, sleep.

My napping companions today will be played by:

Pekoe
(yes, she's sitting in my pasta bowl. She looks so cute I couldn't make her get out.)


Tetley
(the suckiest suck that ever sucked. But she's my suck.)

The end of the post. Here is my weird looking, huge Pixie hat, pre-blocking:

One a day knitting goodness

I love getting excited about a new knitting project. I have a wedding to go to this Friday, for which I bought a gorgeous but simple brown dress. I also have some soft earthy green yarn, with which I just decided to make a capelet (pattern from www.fuzzygalore.biz) so my shoulders won't be cold.

I have only a few days to do this:
- tonight
- tomorrow morning and evening on the subway
- Thursday morning and evening on the subway
- maybe Friday morning before we head out to Georgetown
… wish me luck!

See more progress on: identify one good thing each day

Things I gotta knit

All from knitty.com
Grace
Arisaig
Tubey
Lolita Legs
Hush-hush
Very Tall Socks

One a day Rawsome goodness

Last night I went to dinner with a good friend who I do not see often enough. I always have a good time when we go out for dinner and we’ve vowed to make it a more regular thing. We have also vowed to try all the vegetarian restaurants in the city.

We have already been to:

1. Fressen
2. Vegetarian Haven (have we gone here together…? I forget)
3. Le Commensal
3. Pulp Kitchen
4. Live Organic Food Bar
5. Juice for Life
6. The Buddhist Vegetarian Kitchen
7. Udupi Palace
8. Cafe 668

Still to visit:

1. Simon’s Wok
2. Annapurna
3. Hey Good Cooking
4. King’s Cafe (I've been here, but we haven't been together)

Last night, we went to Live Organic Food Bar and I wish I had brought my camera! The food was beautiful and pretty tasty. Though I couldn’t bring the boy there for a full meal because he would not be full :) I had never had a “raw” meal before (I mean something other than salad) and it was a great experience. We had salad (or course), paté, lasagne, pizza and a falafel ball - it was a sampler combo. And insanely rich chocolate cake. And the white sangria kicked ass.