Monthly Archives: December 2019

Decade Review

I cannot believe we are at the end of the decade. Before I begin my 2020 clear vision journey of being my own happiness guru, I must look back at the magnificent and sometimes sad decade. My husband James and I experienced a lot of change, travel, adventure, new opportunities, love and loss. It really began in 2010 with the intentions to leave NYC for a warmer climate. It was the winter of 2010 and a frigid one at that. We were ready to go, but at that moment we had no idea where.  

Here’s my quick recap of my decade.  A blizzard ushered in winter that year in 2010. I spent time with family in Cleveland, Ohio and we took a family portrait. I got to visit my best friend Melissa in Pittsburgh in the spring, and be in her wedding in the fall. We adopted our Siamese cat Rascal before we left NYC ( had wonderful moments with my dearest friends before the move) and we moved to West Hollywood CA.  We met new friends in California and traveled often, loving our new home in LA.  In 2013 we lost our beloved cat Stormy, adopted Spanky and I started this blog. I danced with  Richard Simmons in his video, and became friends with the family that was Slimmons. I wrote an essay about the remarkable Huell Howser, and because of that essay in December 2013 we had the best birthday dinner at the iconic Musso and Frank’s in Hollywood.  2014  we traveled a lot. I ran my first 10k and later that year we moved to San Francisco, and saw the beauty of Northern California, meeting new friends in the Bay Area.  My first book was published that year. I ran the Golden Gate Bridge and had dear friends visit. I also ran the Rock and Roll 5k in San Jose.  We saw the iconic sights of San Francisco.  I continued to write for magazines, online and print as we moved back to West Hollywood in 2016. We lived there for a year and I worked at the famous Canter’s Deli, writing about my experience in West Hollywood Magazine.  Before a move to Houston, TX. that summer,  my mother passed away  and after we lost Rascal. 2017 was a rough year so we began 2018 with a rejuvenating cruise to Jamaica, Cozumel and The Cayman Islands and I became Vegan. That year another loss, James’ Aunt Jan. We adopted our Siamese Max as well. 2019 was a bit unmemorable, except for ending it with another loss of my Mother’s sister Aunt Elaine. The decade really was an adventure of travel, live, loss and opportunities.

We met so many wonderful people who became dear friends and family. As I reflect on beginning this blog to be more self development centered with happiness and goal setting just as important as health and vegan weight loss, I remember we had one hell of a decade. Here’s to new beginnings and the gratitude and love for the foundation that brought us to where we are today. To our tribe who taught us so many wonderful lessons. To the good days, the bad days and the just ok days. The love the loss and the fact we are still standing, wiping our eyes with the clear vision of 2020 eyesight. Clear the dance floor and let’s dance into this brand new decade. Happy New Year to all, near and far. Thank you for being a part of my tribe. It’s a beautiful journey as long as we do it in togetherness, love and light.

 

 

 

 

 

WEIGH IN WEDNESDAY


It is Weigh In Wednesday and a few days before my Birthday, and a week before Christmas. I fell off the wagon the weeks after Thanksgiving, so I decided to start WW Green plan, which is the former weight watchers smart points plan revamped. For future reference WW is the former Weight Watchers, and they have three plans. The three plans are green, blue and purple. Green plan you count everything but most fruits and veggies, blue has free lean protein options added, and purple allows free grains and whole grain pasta. I’ve chosen green because it’s easier for me to be in control when I track everything, and tracking makes me less likely to binge and gain. I did that after Thanksgiving, my weight went up to 179 lbs.

Today I weighed in at 176 lbs, after being on green for one full week. My next weigh in day is Christmas, and I hope I can get through the holiday week with another loss. Going forward it’s all green for me, it just seems much easier to manage my life this way.

Speaking of life, in January 2020 I’m making some changes on this blog. I’m still going to be documenting my vegan weight loss and my fitness journey, and I plan to still be into philanthropy. I’m adding more categories though, things I feel are needed to better my life. I will post a blog how I got inspired to make this change. My blog will still be what it has been, but much more. I guess you can say it’s going to be a self development/lifestyle/wellness blog. I’m really enthusiastic about the change. At first I wanted to start a new blog and continue as us with this, but I decided to combine my ideas. I’m also planning a Youtube channel in the future.

All brand new for the new Roaring Twenties. In the meantime it’s Christmas, and I’m pulling myself out of a long melancholic mood and starting over by choosing joy. Happy Wednesday to all.
Let’s share sunshine and be happiness gurus together. Rose 

MAKING PLANS

The end is December is upon us and all I really want to do is to get a head start on my goals, and take it up a zillion notches in January. The holidays have not been an easy time for me, but I’m trying to chase light and be merry.

I realized a few changes are needed recently. I’m changing my ww plan from purple and blue to the green plan. It has less free food and more tracking and accountability. My sister Frankie is doing the green plan and she likes it. I feel with green I can stay in control always even when I’m out of control. I will track my chaos. So I’m weighing myself ( again) and going forward with weigh in Wednesdays. My cardio and workouts are good but I’m going to attempt more walking miles. My knee has felt a little odd so I’m sticking to walking for now. Running can happen when I get back into shape. 

Exciting news, I’m now a regular contributor for Dallas VegWorld Magazine. My first article will be in the January/ February issue. It’s all about my vegan beauty favorites. My mood have been up and down lately, but it’s so much better when I exercise. It’s not just for my body but for my mindset and wellbeing. This time of year I falter a little. Funny it used to be my favorite time of year. I miss those days, but onward and upward. Those of you who have followed me for years know that I don’t give up. I may stumble and sometimes I fall flat on my face, but I always get right back up and at it again. I’m going to start reading some inspirational self-help books. I have a few on hand and I’m always open to suggestions.

I’m off for the day, love and light to all. Rose

Selfless Saturday

When I began this blog in 2013 I had two intentions, to lose weight and get as fit as possible and to help charities with each ten pounds. I accomplished much in the time between July 2013 and May 2017. My hiatus and weight gain after 2017 was the result of a few personal losses.

Here I am approaching 2020 and beginning again like it’s a brand new journey. I still have some personal struggles I’m dealing with, but the point is I’m getting through and getting back on track. Life happens to all of us, it’s how we react and take action that shows who we really are. I’m first navigating through the holidays then really setting my intentions on my goals for 2020.

I want to start Selfless Saturday’s beginning today, so here’s my first contribution to my weekly Selfless Saturday. Feel free to join in and let me know how you are celebrating paying it forward on Saturday, this one has a bit of a backstory.

As my weight loss journey evolved coffee is still my non-negotiable. People have said to me, now you must stop drinking coffee. That didn’t happen in 2013 and it’s not happening now. I also believe in kindness, giving back and paying it forward; all while fueled on my delicious morning java. One cup is usually my limit, with an occasional second cup when I visit book stores and coffee shops.

Of course sometimes disaster strikes in the form of a broken down coffee maker. This happened back when we first moved to San Francisco in November 2014, my new co-worker Alba sold me a brand new coffee maker for just ten bucks, and she put what seemed like a years worth of coffee in the bag for me.  That coffee maker made delicious coffee and kept me going for a few years.

The dreaded broken down coffee maker moment happened to me again last week. I woke up and my coffee maker just stopped working. We are on a budget and a new coffee maker was not in the cards. Cue my dearest friend Kristen who happened to have two coffee makers she never uses. Do you believe Kristen doesn’t like coffee? Yes, neither did I, but her wonderful qualities outweigh her lack of coffee love. The one coffee maker I chose to use is working perfectly and it turns off automatically, which is needed because I tend to be just a slight bit neurotic. The other coffee maker is a two cup single use coffee maker, a black and decker.

I was at work this week and one of my co-workers was brewing coffee and I mentioned how delicious it smelled. He told me he agreed, and how his coffee maker recently just stopped working. I, of all people understand the horror of a broken down coffee maker. I mentioned the extra coffee maker Kristen gifted me with, so today I’m taking it in for him so he doesn’t have to purchase a new coffee maker. I’m sure he would rather spend the extra cash on Christmas gifts for his daughter. The beauty of the ricochet effect. That’s what I call when people share kindness and pay it forward, it comes back to you ten fold. I’m grateful to Kristen for helping me fuel my mornings with my much needed cup of caffeinated joy. This is my first Selfless Saturday and it wasn’t even planned. Kristen started it and I’m just paying it forward.

My hopes for you this Holiday season is that people share their kindness with an open heart, and you go forward doing it for someone who may need an extra smile or just a cup of deliciousness found in coffee. It warms the heart and soul. Happy Selfless Saturday. Love and light Rose 

 

 

 

 

Chick Pea Salad Sandwiches

Happy Friday to all. I cannot believe it’s December 6, 2019. Time is truly flying by. I’m totally inspired for 2020 and my goal for the holidays is to try my best to lose but still enjoy some vegan holiday food. This time of year is the hardest time to try to get back on track,  but here I am. I convinced my hubby James to eat clean Whole Foods plant based in January. We will be eating clean vegan six days of the week with one day with vegan fun foods (within reason). As someone who had eating disorders this gives me the balanced and healthy lifestyle I’ve been striving for. I usually eat this way but my hubby does not as often. After the holidays we will be on the same page. Through the holiday season I will be posting some vegan fun holiday recipes as well as the healthy meals I eat most of the time.

Chick Pea Salad Sandwiches are a staple in my house, and so easy to make. We eat them on Food For Life Ezekiel Toast or whole grain crackers. They are delicious served in an avocado or over leafy greens. This is my version of the popular recipe.


You will need three cans of no salt Garbanzo Beans, drained and rinsed and mashed with a potato masher. I cup chopped celery, one large yellow onion chopped or a handful of scallions chopped. Two tablespoons of Dijon mustard. Two tablespoons of dill relish. Ground pepper. Paprika. Three tablespoons of vegan mayo. Mix all ingredients together and Pepper and add paprika to taste. You can switch up the vegan mayo with vegan yogurt and or mashed avocado. I am generous with my paprika. We like to build our sandwiches with leafy greens and big slices of beefsteak tomatoes. Sometimes we use roasted rep peppers, and add kalamata olives to the mixture.

You can really personalize these sandwiches. They are delicious on crackers with a bit of vegan cream cheese for a pate like appetizer. A wonderful meal and completely budget friendly. I’m on WW blue plan. I thought I could change to the purple plan but I feel blue works for me. I may change back. If you do WW and count points the garbanzo beans are free on blue and purple plans. Count the vegan mayo and the Ezekiel bread through the app. All the vegetables are free except the avocado. Crackers and vegan cream cheese must all be counted on the app.

Let me know if you try the sandwiches. Oh, fun fact, our cat Max was meowing like crazy when I made these sandwiches, apparently he thought I was making tuna sandwiches. Happy Plant Based Eating.

Happy Weekend to all. Love and light, Rose