Have no fear, 2013 is almost here!

Hello, my lovelies!

I know, I know, it’s taken me FOREVER to write another bloggy blog, and for that I offer my most sincerest “I sowwie’s”.

Truth is, I just needed a little break from it all and some much needed, me time. I like to believe that you all were crying in your pillows on a daily basis, refreshing my blog page every 5 minutes thinking WHYYYY? Although I may be that conceded, I assure you I’m not that deluded. You probably didn’t even realize I was gone. And that’s totally fair 😉

First of all, Merry belated Christmas and to those who are easily offended, Happy belated Holidays! I hope you all had a wonderful time being with your loved ones and made the best of being around the ones you’re not too fond of. I know I did! I’m fortunate enough to be around people I love and adore most of the time, so yay for that. This year, my boyfriend and I drove to Calgary to be with my family and then drove back Christmas day to Edmonton to be with his. We had a lovely time and everyone totally spoiled each other. He got me a beautiful ring, filled with tiny diamonds that I just adore. And I got him a rockin’ pocket watch that was engraved with sweet nothings on it. There was more too, we did each others stockings and like I said, totally spoiled each other. The most important thing to me that we did though, was waking up next to each other on Christmas morning. We didn’t get the chance to last year, as I was living in a different city. So I was so happy to have been able to do it this year. Also, there was a card plan! I have ALWAYS been one who’s loved to receive cards. They are favorite. Mike knows this. So last year, he showed up with like 6 cards at Christmas, it was very sweet and I didn’t think he could top it. Well, this year he managed to surprise me with random cards from the 23rd until the 25th, in the most random of places. And it was wonderful. It’ll be hard for him to top that next year! But I’m sure he will 🙂 He’s good like that.

Also, my 27th birthday is January 3, and for it I got an early gift… A Tassimo! Oh sweet chai tea lattes, how I love you. It’s one of my favorite new toys.

Now, it’s New Years Eve. Unfortunately, Mike has to work until midnight tonight and everyone else already had plans, so I plan on ringing in the New Year with our cat, Harley. At the present time, I’m watching the documentary Super Size Me. And it’s totally making me want to vomit. THIS is why I’m vegan people. This is why. I also had a Dawson’s Creek marathon and bawled like a baby at the series finale. *SPOILER ALERT* How dare they kill off Jen! Heart condition, pfft. If anyone was going to have any kind of condition it should have been Dawson. I never liked him. Pacey was always favorite in my eyes. Side note, Jensen Ackles was in the final season of the show too, which is probably why I had a marathon of it the last few days.

Ok, I’m getting wayyyy off track here. Where was I? Ahh, yes. New Years! Well, 2012 was for sure one of the most dramatic years in my entire life. It’s also been one of the best though. Mike and I have an amazing and healthy relationship and he means more to me than anything. We’ve been through so much together that I know whatever happens, we’ll have each other. And that’s deep down, all I care about.

Christmas morning, 2012.

So, I dedicate this New Years Eve post to the one I love! Mike, you really mean everything to me and I love you so, so much. All the much infact. I can’t wait to see what 2013 has in store for us. I thank you for all of the happy times and even all of the sad ones. Because although it’s impossible for most to light a candle in the rain, you always manage to do just that. I love you sweetheart. My midnight kiss will be sent via Jedi mind trick tonight until you get home for the real thing. Wink.

Happy New Years everyone!

Peace, love & sarcasm,

Becky

 

Recipe Time: Vegan Ginger-Gentlemen & Ginger-Ladies!

So dapper.

One of my favorite cookies are of the gingerbread variety. Whether you’re dipping them away into your coffee or tea or just gobbling them up on their own, they are a real treat. This recipe is sure to flatter those sexy little taste buds of yours and impress all of your lovely friends. If you’re into decorating your cookies, may I suggest putting top hats on the men and hair bows on the ladies. That is what makes these cookies so classy, after all 😉

Enjoy!

Peace, love & sarcasm,

Becky

Ladies & gentlemen, it’s vegan ginger ladies & gentlemen!

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon powdered ginger
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup molasses
• 1/3 cup soymilk
• 2-1/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour

Preheat oven to 275°F. Mist two or three baking sheets with vegetable oil spray, then dust with flour.

Mix the sugar, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Add the molasses and soymilk and mix well. Add 1 cup of flour and mix well. Mix in enough of the remaining flour to make a very stiff dough (if mixing by hand, knead the dough to thoroughly mix the flour).

On a floured surface, roll a portion of the dough with a flour-dusted rolling pin to 1/16-inch thickness. Cut the dough into shapes with a flour-dusted cookie cutters or a flour-dusted knife.

Carefully transfer the cookies to the baking sheets. Bake until the edges are dry and the centers give just slightly when pressed, about 20 minutes.

Allow to cool on a baking sheet for 5 minutes. Once cooled, store in a container or put them out and watch your friends and family flock to them!

Gasp! A New Page!

I made a new page so you all can have quick and easy access to my fashion blog, The Feisty Fashionista 🙂

It’s at the top of this page, right next to the other pages. Don’t really know how much more I can help you find it. You guys are pretty smart though, you’ll get it 😉

Peace, love & sarcasm,

Becky

Need A Giggle? Here, have mine!

Don’t ask. Just laugh.

Space Whale

You.Are.Welcome.

Peace, love & sarcasm,

Becky

Poorly Drawn Lines

The Side Effects Of Yoga

This was taken just after one of my hot yoga sessions. So peaceful
(And back in my brunette days too!)

I came to yoga years ago, the same way a lot of others do. I was drawn to the physical practice. I would sweat, stretch and twist. Then, when 90 minutes was up, it was as if I was rolling the experience up right along with my mat, to be tucked away until the next time I came to class. Or so I thought.

I had been practicing a few months when ‘magic’ began happening.

I started the shower and began brushing my teeth at the same time. Very quietly a voice inside me gently nudged me to turn off the shower until I was ready. Not much of a revelation but suddenly I was conscious of an instilled habit. Could this be the beginning of mindfulness? We all have to start somewhere.

I walked into my beloved Starbucks at the same time as someone else. Instead of feeling competitive to get to the counter first, I let him go in front of me.  Rest assured my day was not negatively affected by getting my latte one minute later than I would have. Maybe this was the first inkling of patience?

I already felt more centered, connected and capable of dealing with the chaos life sometimes throws our way. I had awareness and the ability to come back to the present moment, any and every time.

I’m a pretty laid back lady, but on occasion I have been known to get slightly… passionate, during heated arguments with loved ones. But I soon began noticing that I was more so listening to myself more. I now know what bothered me in these situations, why I react the way I sometimes do and I learned not to judge myself with the fierceness that I’m so prone to do. Kindness was at play in my own heart.

We often assume that what we will get from yoga is toned arms, stretchy hamstrings and the ability to stand on our heads. But the practice is so much greater than the physical. I did not set out with the intention of becoming more mindful, patient, aware or kind. But yoga found a way to give me these tools and so many more. As my practice has evolved so have the side effects and I couldn’t be more grateful.

All of these things were already instilled in myself well before I began my relationship with the mat, but I’ve noticed that as my practice grows, all of these qualities I take great pride in seem to have shined a little brighter.

Namaste.

Peace, love & sarcasm,

Becky

Candy Canes? Yes Please!

Happy December 1st everyone! Only 24 days until Christmas, and like me I’m sure you all love a good candy cane. Or two. Or ten. These days, it’s my boyfriends most favorite treat. Our kisses have been extra special and minty too. Wink.

In honor of this lovely treat, I decided to do a bit of research on the subject! I found out some interesting things actually, of which I shall share with all of you lovely people. Most every site I searched, had the same story.

Birth of the Candy Cane

Around the seventeenth century, European-Christians began to adopt the use of Christmas trees as part of their Christmas celebrations. They made special decorations for their trees from foods like cookies and sugar-stick candy. The first historical reference to the familiar cane shape goes back to 1670, when the choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral in Germany, bent the sugar-sticks into canes to represent a shepherd’s staff. The all-white candy canes were given out to children during the long-winded nativity services.

The clergyman’s custom of handing out candy canes during Christmas services spread throughout Europe and later to America. The canes were still white, but sometimes the candy-makers would add sugar-roses to decorate the canes further.

The first historical reference to the candy cane being in America goes back to 1847, when a German immigrant called August Imgard decorated the Christmas tree in his Wooster, Ohio home with candy canes.

The Stripes

About fifty years later the first red-and-white striped candy canes appeared. No one knows who exactly invented the stripes, but Christmas cards prior to the year 1900 showed only all-white candy canes. Christmas cards after 1900 showed illustrations of striped candy canes. Around the same time, candy-makers added peppermint and wintergreen flavors to their candy canes and those flavors then became the traditional favorites.

May all your kisses, taste of peppermint 😉

Peace, love & sarcasm,

Becky