Things you can learn from Albus Dumbledore

“Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, when one only remembers to turn on the light.” - Albus Dumbledore 

It shouldn't be hard to be happy but sometimes it is.

Someone asked me a while back, "when was the last time you were truly happy with every aspect of your life?" 

I couldn't give her an answer because I didn't know.

That isn't to say things don't make me happy; my family makes me happy, my friends make me happy, beautiful fall days make me happy, freshly baked cookies make me happy, the LA Lakers losing makes me ecstatic....

Happiness comes in waves, and it appears in moments. I don't think you're supposed to be happy with every aspect of your life, not if you have dreams and aspirations to do more and to be better. 

So do the things that make you happy and welcome the moments that make you sad. Be afraid for the future but appreciate your past, it got you to where you are today.

Bake cookies and heckle Lakers fans (( please?? for me??? )), hug your mom and take a walk with someone you love. Relish in happiness until you feel like your heart is going to explode! 

Speaking of exploding organs .....

My good friend and fellow crunchy mama took some maternity pictures of me April 2012. Two weeks or so ago we went to the same locations and she took more but this time with my chubby treasure at my side. I am so thankful for people like Nancy who are in my life capturing moments of happiness in tangible forms; photos, videos, etc.

I'll share them with you because I like you. 

Best friends until the end

 

Joe the plumber

Remember that guy? Vomited into fame in 2008 thanks to the Obama/McCain presidential campaign. Turns out he is a total outspoken conservative racist and recently got in trouble for posting racist comments on his blog. Good job guys!

I hate politics.

They could learn a thing or two from my toddler. 

While you may scream, kick, thrash your body around protesting something you don't like, you can always get over it with a hug, a kiss, and come to agreement over a cookie and some almond milk.

Picture credit ABC

 As much I would like to elaborate my thoughts regarding the political tantrum going on in Washington DC, I won't. All I will say is you fools should have voted in Ron Paul when you had the chance 

"She's kidding... right?"  No, no I am not.

This is a blog post about food and making something that I'm sure Joe the Plumber hates; healthy, well rounded, nutritious, meat free, sustainably harvested food. I dub thee THE SLOPPY TOM, sloppy Joe's meat-free, healthy and liberal minded cousin. 

What you need

Tempeh- crumbled
BBQ Sauce
avocado
mixed lettuce (the more colorful, the better)
red bell pepper- chopped
yellow onion- chopped
a spritz of ketchup 
2 garlic cloves- chopped
coconut or olive oil-- 2 tbsp

What you need to do

Crumble tempeh and marinate in the BBQ sauce -- pick a good bbq sauce to really soak up the flavor into the tempeh. Let it marinate for 20 minutes or longer

Heat up a pan and melt oil 

Add onion, garlic and let the flavor soak out for a few minutes

Add pepper and cook for another 2 minutes while stirring

Add tempeh and cover for 5-10 minutes

Add a spritz of ketchup on the final product, slap between two or one piece of bread, add lettuce, avocado and any other topping you want.

ENJOY!
 

 

Do you know the muffin man?

Know what I love about fall??

Everything.

I love the way it smells, I love the way it feels, I love the way it looks...

Get the picture yet? 

Last week Nolan and I joined up forces with our Mommy and Munchkin group and made our way down to McDonald's pumpkin patch where we were able to pet some friendly goats, admire sweet little piglets and roll around in some grade A hay. I think the animals liked us most because they secretly know we don't eat them 

Are your ovaries melting yet?

So back to the point of this post. Muffins....pumpkin spice muffins.

And for the record, I don't follow the sheep flocking to Starbucks for their pumpkin spice latte, I prefer my coffee black, like my heart.

What you need

Muffin tin

• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp ginger
• 1/4 tsp allspice
• 1 cup pumpkin puree (fresh or from a can)
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 8 tbsp coconut oil -- in semi solid form
• 1/2 chopped pecans 

What you need to do

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees

Grease up the muffin tin

 Sift the dry ingredients together, throw in the pecans too

In a separate bowl whisk or mix "wet" ingredients together until fluffy and blended

Pour wet into dry and stir well

Pour the batter into the muffin tins 2/3 of the way

Stick 'em in the oven for 20-30 minutes but make sure you watch it starting at the 20 minute mark. No one likes dry muffins.... no one.