Woman in Real Life

I am expecting a great day on this particular Wednesday, it being my birthday and all. You know you're getting old when people ask you what you want for your birthday and you can't think of a single thing. Well, I did think of one single thing. The same thing I always ask for - a vegan chocolate bar, preferably a Go Max Go Jokerz bar. In frustration, my husband said, "I'll buy you a whole box of them then!" If only he weren't joking.

I also asked for a candle, another gift I want on every occasion - because, frankly, with two dogs and two children, my house stinks...really bad. Fyi, if you own a candle company, feel free to send me vast quantities of lead-free, soy candles scented with natural essential oils.


I used to ask for new clothes, but nowadays I feel like it's just too tiring to try them on. And what if I have to return them back to the store? Exhausting. I've never been much into jewelry and, while I usually want books, I now have more than I could read in a lifetime.

As for my feelings on aging, I'm trying to focus on the positives - increased wisdom and all that s**t. Wrinkles speak of great moments in life, I'm more easygoing than I used to be, it's better than the alternative...whatever cliché you have handy will suit. Oh, and there will be restaurant food today, probably sushi. Maybe all-you-can-eat. That's a gift that always satisfies.


For this What I Ate Wednesday look at a day of food, I'll be honest, things didn't go so well. I forgot to photograph my lunch. Completely. And my dinner pictures just, poof, disappeared from my camera's memory card. I did manage to create a new recipe for the blog today, though. That's pretty good, right?

I started the day with some Nature's Path cereal flakes with dried strawberries. Head over to this post to enter to win some portable, tasty Nature's Path vegan Qi'a Superfood Snack Bars. Because you need some of those if you're going to the gym...or even, let's face it, if you just get hungry while sitting on your butt watching Cedar Cove.


I had some kind of packaged chana masala over rice for lunch. As I said, I forgot to take a picture. The kids are home and my brain is scrambled. While the kids were out, one at basketball and one shopping with daddy for my birthday gift (I'm assuming), I snacked on green grapes and worked on this recipe...


No-Bake Vegan Pep-in-Your-Step Bites. You whip a few things together - peanut butter, chocolate chips, oats, flax and some other goodies - roll the mix up into little balls and pop 'em in the freezer. And then, if you're like me, you quickly pop three or four of them into your mouth. Recipe coming up soon...possibly tomorrow.


Here's what I ate for dinner. Yes, my original photos disappeared, but I begrudgingly got up off the couch and slapped some more on a plate to take a photo in what by then was virtual darkness. Anyway, the meal was nice - Stewed Tofu and Potatoes in Miso Gravy from Vegan with a Vengeance, 10th Anniversary Edition: Over 150 Delicious, Cheap, Animal-Free Recipes That Rock. This dish was tasty and satisfying - I enjoyed it even in summer but it would also make a great warming, filling meal in winter. I'm going to be giving away copies of the book soon. Because it's awesome. And if you don't have it you really should.

By the way, pictures at the top of the post - hubby wanted to recreate submarine sandwiches from our fave takeout sub shop. He did a very good job - he even made a similar sub sauce. Another day he made falafels from a boxed mix and we had some quick and tasty falafel plates.

What would you like to get for your birthday?