Life Update and Healthy Vegan Friday Recipes

Life Update:

Good morning and happy Friday to you! These past several weeks have been too busy for me. I’m working on my final project for my master’s degree and it’s scary, difficult and overwhelming. The hardest part is doing something I’ve never done before which is a huge literature review and feeling pressure to do it really well. Truth be told, the most pressure I’m feeling is coming from myself and I’m trying to do my best to take it one day at a time, to realize I will make mistakes and to ask for help from my advisors. I’ll get through it, though, and I’ll be stronger and more skilled because of it.

I suppose that this giant project is not unlike other tasks I’ve tackled in the past, whether it be my first master’s degree in business, creating my app, facing cancer, adopting a plant-based diet, taking control of my health, etc. The most comforting statements I’ve come up with are that I don’t have be perfect and that the only person I have to satisfy is myself. I also try to remind myself just to enjoy the journey and think less about the end result.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Things in my life that are making me happy include finishing ten speeches with Toastmasters and earning my “Competent Communicator” award (is there something slightly back-handed about the name of that award or am I just being overly sensitive?), spending Tuesday afternoon at the salon getting my hair(s) beautified, obsessively watching House of Cards on Netflix in my free time, going on winter desert hikes before Alan and I leave this weekend, and making another batch of Almond Pulp Goji Cookies.

Oh yeah, today is the 4-month anniversary of my thyroid cancer surgery. Here’s a picture of me, my scar and my hair (ha ha, that’s a joke) for ‘ya:

I’ll see my endocrinologist next week for some routine blood work. I’m very curious to know where my thyroid levels are now and if I have to adjust my medication again.

Healthy Vegan Friday (HVF):

There were 55 entries in last week’s Healthy Vegan Friday recipe link-up party!!!

The top three most clicked-up ones were:

1. Raw Chocolatey Caramel-Flavoured Brownies from Rachel @ Almonds & Avocados:

2. Raw Banana Walnut Bread from Vicky @ Sweet & Healthy Living:

3. Snickers Squares from Sift, Stir & Savour:

My Favorite HVF Recipe Submissions:

1. Most Nutritarian-Friendly – Eat to Live Bolognese Sauce from Chef Amber Shea:

2. Best Easy Dinner Recipe - Sinquesadillas from Rock My Vegan Socks:

3. Best Use of Kale – Easy Kale Lunch Wrap from Vegans Eat Yummy Food Too:

I LOVE your submissions and can’t wait to see what’s in store next week. To add your recipe to the party, just use the link below this post. Thank you to everyone who participated!

Chia Seed Giveaway:

Don from Chiaseedsdirect.com offered to send two lucky readers each a 2-lb. bag of chia seeds to celebrate reaching 2,000 likes on my Facebook page. I used the random number generator to select the winners from everybody who posted on Monday and Wednesday’s posts. The winners are:

Angie (commenter #82):

“I really love the recipes you post on the blog. They are innovative and creative, without being too complicated.”

and

Michele (commenter #8)

“Hi,
I love your recipes. I would not change anything. Thanks for your honesty.”

Enjoy your chia seeds, ladies! I am thinking I need to make another batch of this pudding ASAP. Note: don’t miss two chia seed pudding recipes on Vegan Delish.

Until Monday, I hope you have a stress-free, healthy, happy weekend. I’ll do my best to do the same.

Tweet