Vegan Recipes: Homemade Almond Butter

I for one am not a fan of peanut butter (it is too oily for me and I just prefer the taste of almonds), but if you have been to health food stores you will know homemade almond butter is expensive! I'm talking 6 oz can cost you up to seven bucks. It is insane how much they charge. So I knew that there was a way to make my own. I searched online and all of my cookbooks, but all the recipes called for sugar, which is not all-natural and I'm not going to put white refined processed sugar in me. So here is the recipe I came up with for me. 

Here is what you need:

I use a magic bullet, but you can use a blender or a food processor. Also almonds, obviously, then a small glass jar. If you only have plastic that's fine, but glass is way better for you and the environment. For those who are like, "How does that help the environment?" Well, when it breaks or gets damaged and you throw it away it can actually break down back into sand, whereas plastic cannot break down. Then you will need some olive oil to soften the almond powder so it thickens into paste. 

Slowly blend a small amount into the bullet or food processor until it is powdery, then add more almonds until all the almonds are a powdery substance. Then add a tablespoon of olive oil and blend; do this until you get a thick paste. 

Add the almond butter into the glass jar and you are good to go!! It is so delicious. I didn't add salt or anything, but if you want to add salt or even cinnamon and vanilla to make it sweeter, go for it! It's so tasty this way though. My husband took some downstairs with him it was so good! I mean like half the container. LOL. Then add the lid and you have almond butter. 

If you try this let me know! Have a great Friday everyone! 

-Megan 

Vegan Recipes: Kale and Avocado Salad

Tonight for dinner I was running like a chicken with my head cut off trying to figure out what I was going to fix. I am one who is not too shabby in the kitchen, and I can whip something up from whatever is in the fridge and have it actually taste good. Tonight was one of those "see what you have" kinda nights. There was kale, tomatoes, avocados, almonds, and some of my favorite seeds: sesame, chia and flax. Looking at everything I knew it would make a great salad, so I de-ribbed the kale and diced the tomatoes, poured on the seeds and sliced up the avocado. For the dressing I did something a little... strange. I whipped up my Veganaise with some organic yellow mustard. It actually was delicious on the salad. 

(Sorry about the pictures, I took them with my phone so they are not the best quality.)

It was so delicious. On the side Jer had a bowl of strawberries and I had a nectarine. I love all this fresh fruit we are getting from this time of year! 

My whole reason to share this with you is to show you that you can whip up a vegan meal even in a few minutes. Keep the essentials on hand, do a little preparation before the week starts and you will never have to eat out and you will love your food! 

Have a wonderful week everyone! 

-Megan

My Tips on Becoming a Vegan

I love eating a plant-based diet for so many reasons, and recently there have been friends and family of mine that have wanted to dip their toes in the vegan pool. The only problem is that it can be kind of overwhelming to make that transition from a Big Mac to a tofu salad, so I have a few tips and items that might make your transition or even just your experimentation period much smoother and tastier. 

1. Read The Kind Diet, By Alicia Silverstone. Yes she is a nut job who feeds her kid like a wackadoodle, but she knows her stuff. Plus, that book has some amazing recipes! Her apricot chocolate coins are my favorite treat ever! 

2. Switch out your butter and milk for vegan alternatives. Earth Balance Original costs me four bucks and I only buy it every six weeks. It is way better then butter and won't stick to your booty. Then make the switch to coconut milk. My husband drinks the chocolate coconut milk for breakfast and loves it. You will be surprised at how yummy it is and how cheap. I buy these cartons for under two bucks and we go through it every week. Make sure you do the unsweetened or sugar free so that you only get the natural sugars from the fruit and not the other crap that will stick to your booty. 

3. Cut out red meats. All meat would be amazing, but red meat is terribly hard on your digestive system and is expensive. I tell my buddies who say being vegan is expensive that no, actually it's not. My food bill is the exact same and maybe even cheaper. When you don't buy a 4 dollar organic chicken breast per person or a 5 dollar log of beef you can do the four dollar butter and even make the steps to the vegan mayo called Veganaise. 

4. Eat out less. I know that's hard; we all got crazy lives, I get it. So what I do is make bulk Sunday and Mondays so that I have food that lasts till Friday, then Saturday we shop and then the cycle repeats. You honestly need to just get organized if dinnertime is crazy. Plan a few days ahead and maybe just cut your veggies up that night and eat an apple while you are doing crap. 

5. Cut the crap. Go through your cabinets and pantry and throw away everything you know will cause a heart attack. I mean those Twinkies and Tastykakes are not doing you any good. I suggest giving the food to a shelter or food pantry so it's not wasted, but get it out of your house. Then DON'T BUY IT! It's easier to walk by it at the store then to walk away from it at home. It is hard, but after awhile the word "no" becomes your friend. 

6. Snack healthy. Potato chips may fill that craving, but they make you feel like crap about yourself after. So if you are like my dad and I and need to be snacking, choose better snacks. I eat almonds like they're crack. Almonds and apples are my go-to snack, but any nut and fruit mixture will do. Then choose a crunchy veggie like carrots or snap peas while you're watching TV that will give you the satisfaction of eating and the crunch without the nasty chips. Then again my kale chips are amazing and I eat them just as much as the almonds. 

7. Make goals. If you are not accountable to yourself you won't do it. If you are like, thanks but being vegan is not my thing, then at least you really tried it. I first set a goal to cut out all dairy (easier than I thought); then there was eggs (a little trickier), then all meat. If you slowly make steps to your end goal you will be better off than quitting cold turkey. Most times when someone just quits they mess up and eat a Big Mac or down a pint of ice cream. So make goals. 

There are so many more tips I would give you but it's late and this blog is long enough! Haha! I hope everyone has a great Memorial day! Have a great week everyone! 

-Megan 

Another Photo That I Love

Photo Blast from the Past

It is not often I get to look through my mom's pictures. I found some great ones of me, my family, and my husband! I figured I would share a few with you.

Jer and I 4 years ago! We were a few weeks away from getting married and took a break from all the wedding crazy. I love him! 

Again, weeks before the wedding 4 years ago at the zoo, he always gets food I think is nasty! 

Me in high school showing off my new peacoat. 

When we where engaged, doing one of my favorite things. Carving pumpkins! 

One of my favorite wedding shots. We look so weird, but I love it. 

Sophomore in high school on my trip to England and France. 

I hope you all enjoyed some funny blast from the past pictures of me!! Have an awesome Memorial Day weekend everyone! 

-Megan

Eating Organic and Staying Clear of GMO's

     I have a friend who said to me, "All 'organic' means is that the food is dirty and goes bad in three days." To be honest I laughed so hard. Then I explained that non-organic farmers use pesticides and waxes on their food. Her face was priceless. I continued, explaining that farmers also genetically change a fruit or vegetable so that it will grow faster. She asked how they change the genetics. My answer was simple: through harsh chemicals. There is a study where they left an organic corn stalk and a GMO corn stalk outside for a few days, and by the time all the organic corn was all gone not even a third of the GMO corn was gone. If crows who eat roadkill won't eat it, then we definitely should stay away from it. GMO's have been linked to cancer and to infertility. What a lot of people do not realize is that there are no regulations for most of the food industry. If it can be sold they let it through, so we honestly can't even begin to grasp all the chemicals going into our bodies that can have all sorts of side effects like headaches, and sicknesses. She was shocked. Then I talked about the meat industry: the awful living conditions, the animals being stuffed with food that their bodies cannot eat which causes them to get sick, then pumped with antibiotics until they eventually die. With the sicknesses inside their tissues they cut them up and package them and add more preservatives to them. Then people eat them, with all of those chemicals and sicknesses. There are tons of studies actually linking the preservatives and sicknesses in the meats to humans getting sick and even dying from them. I am a vegan, so meat and I are not cool, but please: if you are going to eat meat at least eat organically. If you want to be even better, stay away from beef entirely, because scientists have tested and proven that humans cannot actually digest beef, pork, lamb, and other red meats... That sounds yummy.... NOT! But if you cannot give up your meats, at the very least realize organic is not a joke or a way to get more money from you. It is an honesty-driven thing to help your food be the best it can be, because after all: you are what you eat. 

I hope I didn't offend anyone and I'm sorry this is a book. I hope everyone has an awesome Friday! 

-Megan

Family

I know I am not the only person who believes this, but family is everything! I am so very lucky to have such wonderful family all around. My newest goal is to spend more time with my family, to talk more to the ones that live far away and to be more involved with my family. One of my many flaws is that I don't send letters or packages. I stuff them and even put a stamp on them, but for some reason it is to hard to get it in the car and to the post office. I will get better 

at this! I hope you are all having a lovely week. 

- Megan

Choosing to Be Happy

A lot of people will disagree with me on this topic, but I believe that in life there are trials and hardships to try and test us to see who we really are and help us grow. That does not mean we have to dwell on them. Yes, take the time you need to mourn a loss or take a few days to bounce back from a personal hardship. Then you move on with your life, never forgetting what you have been though, but never letting it define you. I do not define myself as just barren. That is a factor in my life that haunts me and might for the rest of my life. I am also funny, smart, and freaking awesome. I feel the pain of my empty arms from time to time and I let myself feel it, but I do not wallow in it. I live everyday with the thought process of: "I believe in miracles." I have hope, and laughter, and most of all love. What I am trying to say is that we are all like a good novel; we have so many chapters, and like every book we have a rise, a climax, and a fall. It's how we deal with those things that defines us. Who you are is not what you have been through; who you are is how you choose to be. There are so many situations we cannot control, but the ones we can, let's control them. I can't control it that kids may never be in my future, but I can control the love and joy I find in the little things each day. Yes I have to search for them, it's hard work, but nothing that is easy is usually worth it. 

I really hope I didn't offend anyone. This was just on my mind a little today and so I figured it would be today's topic. I hope everyone is doing well. 

-Megan

Going To The Dentist

I am one of those crazy people who actually like going to the dentist. I have just never had a problem with it. My husband on the other hand hates it. Poor guy spent most of his childhood in one of those chairs. I have to get some fillings done in the morning and I am as calm as can be. Jer has some coming up and is not to happy about it. If my face looks like a chipmunk I will take some pictures and share them with you! What are you'r thoughts on going to the dentist? 

I hope everyone has a great week! 

-Megan 

Garden Update: Landscaping and Planting

My dad and I have spent most of our Saturday gardening. We worked our butts off! We went to the farmers' market and got organic soil and a few organic plants, because sadly ours did not do very well. We planted corn, zucchini, bell peppers, spaghetti squash, and carrots. 

Then we got home and did the landscaping; we put soil down with bricks and mulch. We were out there for five hours. Then we planted everything. 

The plants look so amazing! I'm so excited for them to grow and for us to get yummy veggies out of them! 

Then when I pulled the carrot plants apart I saw the tiniest little carrot ever! 

I love seeing the plants grow! 

After we were finished planting and working, we picked up everything and admired our work! It looks so good, and guess what?! I didn't take a picture of it. I'm such a space case... luckily we will finish everything on Monday as a family activity and I will show you then! We did add two little ones to watch over the garden though. 

I love to garden! Have a great weekend everyone! 

-Megan 

Yoga and Meditation

One of my favorite forms of exercise is yoga. To me it is the best combination of cardio, strength training, and mental, physical, and spiritual balance. I have serious anxiety issues, which it makes it hard for me to relax and give my body a break from being so wound up all the time. With yoga I feel active, yet there's a calm that I don't get with running or other workouts. I still do the others because I like mixing it up or else I'll get bored. I try and do yoga six days a week. It is not always very long, but I love doing it. My arms have never looked better and I have never felt more balanced in my body and mind. To achieve the mind balancing part I do my best to meditate for a few minutes each day. I do this mostly to calm myself down. I get so freaked out and anxious during the day that I need a few minutes to bring down the crazy building in me. I always picture the scene in Kung Fu Panda where Po's master is calming himself down saying, "Inner peace." I get a good laugh at that because let's face it: some yoga poses look crazy, and if any one saw me meditating they would think I was a freak... and there is a big possibility that it may be true. Haha. This might not be everyone's thing. I get it. I have a good friend whose running does the same thing for her. Running makes me want to punch someone; needless to say that's not my stress-free activity. My point is that everyone should find time in their day to just chill out a little; we get wrapped up in the crap of life and we need to take a step back for a minute and relax. We will handle crap situations better if we don't freak out, and you will feel so much better throughout the day if you find what gives you a few minutes of blissful peace. We all need it! 

I hope everyone's week was awesome, and that your weekend is equally awesome! 

-Megan 

Jurassic Park Adventures

Something I value greatly in my husband is that he is always open to try new thing. One of my loves in life is films. One thing I have come to find as a great blessing is that growing up my husband didn't get a chance to see most of my favorites. One of my favorites was Jurassic Park, though I think that was and is one of everyone's favorites. I have been bugging him for such a long time to watch it with me and we just never got around to it. Then tonight we were at the store and decided to buy them. I think this should go without needing to be said, but he loved it!!! I cannot wait for him to watch the other two. We had an awesome date night in! If you are not familiar with Jurassic Park, it is pretty much a movie about exactly the title. A man creates this amazing theme park where scientists have actually cloned dinosaurs and made enclosures for them so that all can come see these amazing creatures. With most grand and out-there ideas things tend to go wrong, and things went terribly wrong. I won't give anything else away! You have to go watch it if you have not already!! 

I hope everyone is having a great week! Tomorrow is Friday!! YAY! 

-Megan

Having Courage

I came across this today. To me this says it best that everyone goes through trials and everyone has hard decisions to make, but it is how we handle them that shows our true character. Having enough courage to stand up for what you believe in or courage enough to get up and play an active role in making your life better is amazing. There are not many women in the Bible, but almost all that are mentioned had amazing courage. We should look to them as examples. 

I am so grateful for all that I have in my life. I am extremely blessed. My biggest blessing by far is my husband. For me getting married at such a young age took courage, but I knew it was the right thing for me. I could not have found a person more perfect for me. He is the other half to my soul. 

Sorry for getting so deep on ya! I hope you're having a great week. 

-Megan

Spring Thunder Storms

I am not a fan of thunderstorms because of the crazy winds and the load thunder hurts my ears. The one thing I do love about the storm is the smell. It reminds me of my childhood, and my home. Playing out in the street even when it was raining and once Jer and I where dating an got caught in a storm. the smell of rain brings back such good memories. Not to mention the rain will help out garden be awesome this year! 

The storms are also beautiful. I hope everyone is having a wonderful week!! 

-Megan 

I Suck At Cleaning House

           It has been hot here for the last few days, and that is when I like to get my "spring cleaning" done. The only bad thing about that is the fact that I suck at cleaning. Everything from bathrooms to windows. I hate laundr the most but thats a weekly fail. I know i am not the only one who sucks at cleaning but i am trying to get better. So I made myself a little chore chart, and like a small child I will reward myself when I do my chores. I think that it will help keep me in check. I hope everyone had a nice Monday and that you all have a reat week! 

-Megan 

Gratitude

This Mother's Day I want to thank all the amazing women in my life. I have an amazing mom and I am so grateful for all she has done for me all my life. I hope all the moms out there realize how much they are loved and appreciated this Mother's Day! Have a great Sunday and Mother's Day everyone! 

-Megan

Mother's Day

One of the best and worst days of the year for me is Mother's Day. One of my heroes is my mother, who has always been on my team and is one of the only people who I fully trust. I have so much love and respect for her and all that she has been through. I love to celebrate her being my mom and that, though now she is done raising kids, she will always be my mom and always be needed. Then there is the selfish side of me that wishes on Mother's day I could just simply sleep though it. Jer and I have been struggling to have children, and with the obvious lack of success Mother's Day stings a bit. So this year I have decided only to honor those strong women who have impacted me and not focus on myself at all. I feel this year I need to give everything I have that day in being grateful. I think that is something we miss from time to time: letting go of our needs and being able to focus on someone else. I love my mother and could not have picked someone better to raise me. Thank you mom for all you are and all that you do. I love you!

I hope everyone out there has a fantastic Mother's Day and that we all are so grateful for the strong women in our lives. 

-Megan

Benefits of Coconut Milk

People who do not drink cow's milk are always on the search for a great milk alternative. I have tried soy, which has too much estrogen for me. Then almond milk, which is delicious but it didn't really satisfy my taste buds. Then I tried coconut milk. Oh my heavens it is delicious. The best part: it is also so good for you! 

I just wanted to give you some reasons to switch to coconut milk from any milk you may be drinking. 

1. It helps keep your blood sugar levels stable.

2. It's filled with vitamins and minerals that help keep not only your insides healthy but your skin, hair, and nails healthy as well. 

3. You can use it as a makeup remover and even as a moisturizer. 

4. Helps with arthritis. 

5. Tastes better when you are cooking or baking than any other milk. 

6. You can use it as a hair deep-conditioning mask. 

7. Helps keep your cholesterol in check. 

Those are just some of the reasons that you should make the switch. For me it is essential to my plant-based diet. Almond milk is awesome too and I will still drink almond milk when I need more nuts in my diet, but I'm a coconut milk lover now! It has so many health benefits and awesome other uses. You should go and do your own research; you will be shocked when you see how amazing it is for you, and then read up on cow's milk. I promise you will not only want to make the switch, but it tastes so great and the biggest benefit is how inexpensive it is!!!!! All in all coconut milk is great! 

I hope everyone's week has been great!! 

-Megan

Crazy, Beautiful Life

I already know that when I wake up it is going to be one of those days. I have pretty much every minute of the day planned out!! It is a good thing I enjoy what I do or I would be pulling my hair out by this time tomorrow. Life may be crazy, but there is beauty all around us this spring. From the flowers to the trees, there is always the little things in life that make it beautiful.

I hope everyone has had a beautiful week so far! 

-Megan

The First Spring Thunderstorm

Thunderstorms and I have a love-hate relationship. They give me such peace and anxiety,

 all at the same time. When there is a light thunderstorm it is so calming. I live in Colorado, so these are tornado months, and if you know me at all you know my biggest fears are natural disasters. So my brain go from A to Z, from "It's so nice out," to "We are going to die." Yes it is a bit dramatic. Tonight we had our first thunderstorm of the spring and summer seasons. It was calm and wonderful... until the hail came. I only freaked out a little. I know there has to be others out there who fear natural disasters like I do. I don't let it control my life; I still go on with my day, I just have an exit strategy wherever I go and I always feel the need to be prepared. What are your biggest fears? Almost everything I fear involves things that I cannot control, and I am pretty sure that is why I am afraid of them. I would not call myself a control freak; I just think I am a little quirky. On the other hand it is so nice to be done with snow for the season. I love snow and would live in it all year long, it is just hard when one day it is 70 degrees and the next there are two feet of snow on the ground... but that's what we get when we live in Colorado.

I hope everyone is having a nice week! 

-Megan  

Review: Cirque du Freak Book Series And Movie

I just recently finished all twelve books in the Cirque du Freak series and loved them. I think he is a wonderful writer and wonderful story teller. My only quip with the entire series was the ending. I do not know if I am the only one, but this tends to happen with me a lot. I fall in love with a series and cannot wait to read the next installment, and when you get to the last book everything about the series has been fantastic so you are ready for this epic ending, and flap. It was a decent ending. The writing was fine and even the story was well rounded and the ending was complete and nice, it was just simply not what I was expecting. It was not bad or good; I would just have liked something else. I guess I will just have to get over that. I loved them and I cannot wait to tell my friends to go out and read them with their kids. 

The movie on the other hand was crap. That is really the only way I can say that and not completely insult the people involved in the movie. All the actors were great and I was so pumped to see it; my mom owned it and I came over to watch it with her. Come to find they stuffed parts of all twelve books into one movie and the parts they put in were wrong and not at all what the book was about. I do not recommend seeing it. I hate writing a bad review. I'm usually the "glass is half full" person. This movie just let me down so bad that the only thing good about it was that the actors did a good job acting. I just wished the writers and directors would have actually stuck to the story. We are talking Happy Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban messed up. If you like the movie I am so happy for you. It is just not the story in the books. But I always have the books to go back to when I want to get the real story and I will most likely watch it again once my husband is done reading them. Maybe I will have a different view the second time. I hope so. 

I wish everyone a wonderful week!! 

-Megan 

Happy Cinco de Mayo

Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone!! I hope everyone had an awesome and safe night. As for me and my family, we are not drinkers or partiers, but we do enjoy games and movies. My awesome brother came into town and we had a blast. For anyone who has siblings that are close to you, you know it is so much fun to tell childhood stories and poke fun at the other person. I wish my brother lived closer; at one point it was me who lived far away, so for the past three years we have not seen much of each other. It has been so nice having him here. Tonight we had burritos; they all had root beer in honor of the holiday, and I had bean and salsa dip with blue corn tortilla chips. We then topped the night off with one of my all-time favorite movies: Pitch Perfect. What did you all do for the fourth of May? I hope everyone had a fun night and that for those who got a little tipsy, your hangovers won't stop you from heading to church in the morning. Just kidding! lol 

Have a great night everybody! 

-Megan 

Top 10 Summer Date Night Ideas

My favorite season is the fall, but my favorite time of year is the summer; yes, there is a difference. I love the summer because there are tons more date night activities for Jer and I to do. I wanted to share them with you guys so that if you are looking for some fun dates this summer you might get some new ideas. 

1. Mini Golf: You might not want to do this with me; last time I played mini golf I whacked my mother in the nose so hard she fell over a trash can. It was a accident, but that didn't make it hurt any less. 

2. Zoo: It is awesome to go for a walk, see the animals, and get an ice cream cone to share ( I don't do that, but it seems that others might). 

3. Amusement Park: Who doesn't love going to the amusement park? 

4. Baseball Game: It is baseball season, so grab a pair of tickets and spend a beautiful summer night at the ball park. 

5. Renaissance Festivals: I have to say that this is my favorite thing to do during the summer. Jer and I are both huge nerds and it brings us so much joy to be amongst our own kind, haha! 

6. Concerts in the Park: Bring a blanket and a picnic and listen to some awesome music. 

7. Outdoor Music Festivals: ...are so awesome. Great food and fun for all. 

8. Rock Climbing: f you are a couple who are more outdoorsy then you will love going rock climbing, and if you really want to be adventurous, go to the mountains to climb the real peaks.

9. Go Camping: This one may not be your cup of tea, but there is nothing like roasting marshmallows under the stars.

10. Water Balloon Fight: It may be the cheapest, but come on! Who doesn't love a water balloon fight? Get some other friends and couples and you will have a blast! 

I hope you are all having a great day and share with me some of your summer date night ideas!! 

-Megan 

Dealing with Infertility

I am about to get deep on ya guys, so if you are anything like me and try to avoid real emotion at all costs this may not be the post for you. I have mentioned here and there a tidbit about how my husband and I are not able to have children. We have not really openly shared this with most people; frankly it is a bit embarrassing. I just felt that I have been going through this for 3 years now and I know that if I can just help one person feel that they are not alone in this that it is worth talking about. We have had 5 miscarriages. Yes, 5. Each more heartbreaking then the last. I will not lie; I sob like a small child. I allow myself time to move on and heal, but that is exactly what I do: move on. It is awful and unfair, but we cannot let it control our lives. So go out with the girls, take a trip with your spouse, or go for a day at the spa. You need to get away; trust me, it helps to remove yourself for a little while, even if it's just for a night. I want a child more than anything, but I have come to the realization that children may never happen for us. For others there are so many ways to achieve this goal; adoption is wonderful and brings so much joy and happiness. Surrogacy does the same. I feel the best thing for us is to enjoy our life together. That does not mean we will stop trying; it just means that we will not let it control our lives and we'll still find the joys in life. My heart is broken for anyone who ever has gone though or will go through this. I would not wish this on my worst enemy. But we all have the strength to do this. I get mine from my Heavenly Father. Whatever your strength may be, find it and hold on to it and walk ahead. There are so many joys in life. I love and wish nothing but the best for all of you. 

-Megan

Photo: over 4 years ago

I came across an old picture of Jer and I from when we where engaged. It made me laugh so hard that I just had to share it!! I can not believe this was over 4 years ago. Its been the best 4 years! 

I hope your weeks have been going well! 

-Megan