Spending any time with me makes it impossible for you to not know this. I think even if you scroll through the food tag of my blog you'll realize this right away. So for all my foodies out there! I will be reviewing various restaurants that I go to for all of you. I am not the pickiest eater, so I'm willing to try anything. I've found that even though I'm really good at predicting flavors, sometimes the dish is greater than the sum of it's parts.
I have been eating a plant based vegan diet for a while now, and honestly, it is not really that difficult. Though there are some places where it's just not convenient to be vegan, there are options for us at most regular restaurants (especially if you aren't like me and you like salads). With that said, it's still really fun when you go to a restaurant with an entire menu to choose form! That's why I was so excited to try out Three Carrots in Downtown Indy.
First of all.... I've been living here for years and I've never been to the City Market, so I didn't even know what to expect. For those of you like me... the Indianapolis City Market is a historic landmark located in the downtown area, that has an eclectic mix of booths, ranging form Jewelry to coffee to food to a brewery... but my reason for being there was definitely the vegan restaurant.
Three Carrots is a relatively young business, with a full menu (breakfast, lunch, dinner) including dessert, and is open from 8 am to 6 pm. They also support local business and source their ingredients directly from local farmers and bakeries when they can.
All of this sounds great in theory... but a taste test is the real judgement here.
I ordered the Pulled Seitan dish because it sounded divine! The dish came with a side, so i selected the chips and salsa and got a drink! The portion size was vegan-friendly (aka filling) and it looked and smelled delicious!
It was a little messy to eat (which is not a problem for me) but boy-oh-boy was it good! The flavors were just the right intensity and complemented each other well. While I would have liked it to be spicier since it is supposed to be, I acknowledge that I have high standards for spicy. The chips and salsa were also good and served as a wonderful accompaniment for the sandwich. To me though, the MVP was definitely the slaw in the sandwich, that cabbage was perfect, and I could actually eat a bowl of just that!
I give them a thumbs up, the food was good, the people were friendly, the prices were great, and the service was fast. What else can a person ask for?
...and even though I didn't get dessert... I could have and I'm sure it would have been great too!
So if you're in Indy and you're looking for somewhere new to try out, drop by Three Carrots!
I was recently invited to preview a new exhibit at the Indiana State Museum. The museum is celebrating 200 Years of Indiana Art, with an exhibit that is going to be open through October 2nd. The exhibit is huge, over 100 pieces by Indiana artists including some really great mixed media, modern and contemporary pieces.
Contemporary art is my personal favorite. I really love three dimensional pieces which use perspective to open up different interpretations of the pieces. My favorite though, are installations that primarily use light and sound. I was not disappointed with this exhibit because some of the new installations were simply sensational!
I really loved this piece. It's huge and it was also the first thing I saw when I walked in from the garage entrance. This three dimensional piece becomes more interesting and beautiful as you get closer and look into the lighted tunnels built into it. It made me envision diving underwater.
My favorite piece of the entire exhibit had to be this intricate light and shadow installation that I instantly wanted to take home with me. The patterns cast on the white walls, floor, and ceiling were beautiful, and gave the illusion of floating in space. This prize winning piece was definitely the highlight of the exhibit. Also.... as a huge sci-fi nerd, the laser-cut wooden box reminded me or a Borg cube (a pretty Borg Cube) and I was instantly smitten.
Like I said, the exhibit is huge, and there are a variety of pieces for the art lovers in all of us. These two were my favorite, but there were also some paintings that caught my eye, like this beautiful piece in the Indiana African American Experience exhibit in the Legacy theater.
Also, as someone who really hasn't visited the State Museum before, I really did enjoy spending some time looking at and reading through the African American exhibit, which I must admit was nicely presented. Here's a little clip I filmed for you:
If you're an art lover, a history lover, or you're simply looking for a fun thing to do here in Indy, I would definitely recommend checking out the exhibit when you can!
I've recently fallen in love with coloring for relaxation, and also doodling. So every Friday, I will be posting one of my hand-drawn images that you can print and enjoy for FREE!
I'm talking Sahara dry skin, Kalahari dry skin, should-I-just-try-calling-it-leather-now skin. When you have this kind of skin you know that all these little lotions and potions at the drug store are just not enough. If you haven't guessed by now... I have that kind of skin, and it can really suck (for lack of a better word).
Now, I know there are people with bigger problems than I do. In addition to my chronic dry skin I have mild eczema, and I have flare-ups now and then. I am not proposing that the products and tips I use will cure this condition ( I'm a scientist, there will be none of that non-sense here), but these are the tips I use to make my skin more manageable and to minimize the effects of my flare-ups.
The key to managing dry skin is to understand your body's largest organ as well as figure out what all of the various skin products do. Whatever your skin care routine is there are a few things you should do to optimize moisture retention:
1. Do not use harsh products to cleanse your face. This extends to both makeup removers and cleansers.
I am partial to the Cetaphil cleanser since it is the most gentle and inexpensive cleanser I know of. It is also easily accessible. A cleanser without harsh detergents is your best friend. Another product that you should be familiar with (if you wear makeup) is an oil cleanser. Makeup removing oils can be found everywhere now, but you don't even have to splurge on those because olive oil and coconut oil do a great job as well. The oil dissolves the makeup efficiently, and after rinsing it off and using your cleanser there will be no traces of makeup left. Not only will your face be clean, but it will still be soft and not dry and tight.
2. Balance the pH of your skin (slightly acidic) to return it to it's optimal condition.
Believe it or not, your skin's natural and optimal pH is slightly acidic. As seen in the chart below (from the lovely folks at Eucerin) the optimal pH for your skin is anywhere from 4.5 to 5.5. Think about that, the pH of water is 7. Which means that after cleansing your face hopefully not with harsh detergents because those are anywhere from pH 9-11) and rinsing with water, your skin is too basic. That is why toners exist, they are supposed to balance the pH of your skin back to acidic conditions.
Once again, these are products that you do not need to splurge on if you don't want to. Aloe vera juice is an easy fix. See the article linked below to read more about the importance of balancing your skin's pH.
Moisturising your skin is important. I know too many people who walk around with dry skin and even complain about it, and then tell me they do not moisturize.... don't do it... don't be that person..... It doesn't have to be an expensive $500 moisturizer, some of the drugstore brand are doing great things with their skincare and offer great options. Choose one, choose your favorite one and use it every time. Please, your skin will thank you. Not just now but when you get old (and it will happen) you will be happy you did this.
4. Seal your skin with an oil or a product that will allow your skin to retain as much moisture as possible.
Oils are your friend. Don't fall into the trap that others do to believe that oil is bad and that oil causes acne. Also, not every oil is good for your skin some of them are actually irritants and should be avoided (even as ingredients in other products). A good sealing oil will form a barrier between your skin and the air that prevents water loss and provides a bit of protection against environmental damage. Remember that moisturizers are designed to seal moisture in, not provide it. Moisturizers (whether cream or oil) should be used on moist/ damp skin, that is when they are effective. Otherwise, you may receive only temporary relief from them.
5. Always use sun protection.
I mean real sun protection. I mean go to the store and buy the best sunscreen you can. Many people omit this step entirely and I can't figure out why. I'm from the beautiful island of St. Lucia so I love the sunshine but I know that even with my lovely brown skin, sun exposure is damaging. Direct sun light will cause the majority of the signs of aging that will develop on your skin over time and contributes majorly to your skin's dryness. Always use sun protection.
I mean REAL sun protection. In today's world of natural remedies, it is easy to get carried away and read some random magazine article that says that coconut oil is sun protection. Be aware that though these natural oils and juices may provide a tiny bit of sun protection, you still need significant protection to keep you skin performing optimally. See the linked recent study below for their findings on natural oils and fruit juices/extracts as uv protection.
Every now and then, I come across a new online community on YouTube that I didn't know existed. The beauty of the internet and social media, is that there is something for everyone. Recently I came across a community of people dedicated to cleaning. You read that correctly... CLEANING...
Though this was not as strange to me as when I discovered the ASMR community ( a story for another day), I was still baffled. Videos upon videos of people showing their cleaning routines; bathroom cleaning, kitchen cleaning, morning and night routines...
This got me thinking. Does cleaning really play such a large role in people's lives that they need to look to YouTube for inspiration and ideas? Then I started thinking about minimalism and cleaning. Does owning fewer things mean that you clean less? Let's analyze this.
1. How much of your time is spent cleaning versus organizing? Many of the videos I saw featured women showing how they wipe down surfaces and do laundry, but a large portion of their work consisted of picking up after their families and putting things away. I personally think that most people spend more time organizing than cleaning. Moving the clutter around until it looks acceptable and buying new organizing storage are normal behaviors when you have too many things. I know this because I used to do that too. Minimalism helps you with this, because if you own fewer things, then there are fewer things to organize. It is also harder for your home to look untidy with so few things. Reducing your clutter should directly reduce your time spent cleaning, and free you up for things you actually enjoy doing.
2. Consolidate, consolidate, CONSOLIDATE!
Now there are some tasks that can only be minimized up to a point. Laundry is the perfect example of this. The amount of laundry you have to do depends on your lifestyle. Do you workout daily? What kind of job do you hold? These things determine how much and how often you need to do your laundry. Also, now that you've decluttered your wardrobe you no longer have an infinite number of options and you can actually run out of clothes. For tasks like this, finding the most efficient means of going about it is key. Think about the number of loads you actually need and combine some of them. If you're not washing your clothing by hand, then there's no need to block off 'laundry time'. Do your laundry while you're accomplishing other tasks. I will start a load and head of to get my groceries, or put a load in the drier and head to bed. I also limit the number of things that I buy that are delicates, or need special care.
3. Meal prepping saves lives!
Meal prepping is one of the activities I swear by. Not only is it ridiculously convenient and ensures that you are eating regular healthy meals (and that you save money by not eating out as often), it also reduces the amount of dishes you have to deal with! Every time you cook, there are pots and pans, spoons and plates, and all kinds of dirty dishes that need to be cleaned after. Cooking once a week eliminates the majority of that dishwashing time. Yes you will still have daily dishes, but they will probably be limited to a glass, a mug, and a couple of meal prep containers.
4. Cleaning supplies and tools can be clutter!
Believe it or not, because something serves the purpose of cleaning doesn't mean that it is not clutter. The cleaning supplies for each different type of surface in your home, the broom, mop, Swiffer, vacuum cleaner etc can also clutter up your space. We as humans like to get comfortable with certain ideas and feel like we need certain things, and that we need to do certain tasks because we grew up seeing them done. You do not need wood polish for your one laminate dining table... You can reduce clutter by getting rid of the thousands of cleaning accessories and products, and really fine-tuning your supply cabinet to one that is specific to your space and only has the essentials.
5. Are you cleaning your clutter?
Now... This is a serious question that I don't think people give much thought to. I know I didn't. As you go through your home on cleaning day and you dust your furniture, clean your mirrors, and wipe down your many ornaments, do you realize what you're doing? How many of these ornaments serve any purpose other than to collect dust? What about all that furniture? Do you even need that table in the corner to hold that vase?.... Do you need that vase? If someone broke into your house and stole that little statue of a cat you have on your bookshelf, would you even notice? Some of the things we own are for aesthetic purposes and while that is fine, there is a point at which you have to realize that some of them are clutter. If these thins are lengthening the amount of time you spend cleaning, maybe it's time you let them go.
I hope you find all these points useful as you continue on your journey to simplify your life.
In today's world where there's so much information at our finger tips, it can be overwhelming to navigate a new lifestyle change. I just wanted to point out some points that I think are important to remember when simplifying your life and becoming a minimalist.
Never lose sight of who you are. Remember that the goal is to be happy and not burdened by possessions and debt. When 'minimalizing', you are trying to rid yourself of the stress and anxiety that accompany maintaining a life of excess. This is a personal journey. You should not concern yourself with other people and their journeys and you should not aim to please some invisible standard set by someone to determine if you are a good enough minimalist.
Minimalism like any other movement, brings a group of like-minded people together. So it's definitely no surprise that generally, these people would have other things in common as well. many minimalists are vegan, and many enjoy more simple forms of exercise like running, cycling, and yoga.Do not feel like you need to be part of 'the club'. If these are not things you enjoy, then don't do them. do not begin to clutter yourself with activities and habits that do not bring you joy (I see that as a huge step in the wrong direction). Instead do things you enjoy, maybe it's art or it's reading. whatever your passion is, you should follow it, because it is part of what makes you YOU.
I have noticed some common themes among minimalists who share advice on their various social media platforms. Many suggest that getting rid of collections is an important step. books, music, movies, and art all take a hit from minimalists all over. People suggest audiobooks or ebooks over their physical counterparts, and the same goes for music and video libraries. It is my personal belief that the value of an item cannot be determined outside of yourself, it is a personal decision.
I grew up surrounded by books and I love reading. I am the type of person who will reread the same book once a year, every year, and thoroughly enjoy it. Physical books to me are a wonderful thing; they are a source of adventure, relaxation, intrigue.... not anxiety, stress, or any of the negative feelings I associate with clutter. To me, books are NOT clutter, neither are your favorite paintings, television shows on DVD etc. Now that's just me, you may feel completely differently about these same items. that's where individuality comes in. When deciding what to keep and what to purge, it is important to think of it as your own tailor-made journey and not just strive to reach a certain number.
Speaking of numbers.....
This brings me to another are of minimalism that I simply must address, and that is the capsule wardrobe.
Don't get me wrong, I love the idea and have given it serious consideration. However, I've seen it done beautifully and also seen the exact opposite. The internet is overflowing with similar (practically identical) monochromatic capsule wardrobes that boast smaller and smaller collections. Like I mentioned, this can be done beautifully and is perfect for certain lifestyles. It is NOT a must have for every minimalist. If you are someone who enjoys pulling from their entire wardrobe every season, then maybe a capsule would be too restrictive and actually add stress to your life. Maybe you need some color, maybe you need a separate capsule for work and personal time, maybe you need a special events capsule. You know yourself, take the guidelines handed to you by your favorite blogger and adjust it to fit your life and your style.
Remember that it is always fine to see something, admire it, and respect it from a distance. To many minimalists, there is value in experiences and not possessions. I can respect that point of view, but maybe the most valuable experience to YOU is owning a nice home, the car you always wanted, and decorating it nicely. In this lifestyle you get rid of the excess things that are weighing you down, and you determine what is in excess.
I think that minimalism is less about the things you give up and more about the things you value and keep.
If you want to hear (and see) me talking about these points and more, click the video below.
I'm going to start of by stating that I do not follow trends, I'm highly educated (formally), I'm a researcher so I'm used to finding out information in the work or science and research, and educate myself daily.
Why the disclaimer? That's just to detract from anyone assuming that I made an ill informed decision. I made this choice much as I do every other important decision in my life, and obsessively researched the topic before I started.
Now onto the actual post.....
Even a year ago I would have laughed if you told me that I'd be vegan one day, my response would have been "Cheese and eggs though..." yet here we are.
I'm writing this post because I seem to have the same conversation over and over. People always ask if I'm 'still doing the vegan thing' and when I tell them yes, they look at me with pity in their eyes and respond with some variation of 'it must be so hard!' Then they go on to tell me how they are somehow 'proud' of me for doing this, but they can't do it themselves because they love food too much...
I'm here to tell you that it really isn't hard at all and no, you probably don't love food more than I do.
I LOVE food and I'm constantly stuffing my face with foods that I absolutely love. I eat a high-carb, high-protein, planet based diet, and I've never felt better. No I do not miss animal products in my diet, in fact I hardly ever think about them at all. I do not have cravings, I'm also never hungry because I eat an abundance of delicious fruit and veggies all day long.
What does a typical food day look like to me? See below: Breakfast banana smoothie, fruit all day, and dinner of rice, roasted veggies, and beans.
Benefits of my current diet:
I'm always full and satisfied because I don't have to 'watch what I eat'.
I have lots of energy. I keep my blood sugar levels up and constant, so I don't crash at any point during the day.
The more you eat healthy things, the more you crave those same things. So cheese cravings... nonexistent.
When eating high-fat and calorie dense animal products, you normally experience lethargy following your meal. Now, I don't feel like I need to take an hour nap after every meal, because my food leaves me feeling energized.
I eat as much as I want (about 2500 cal) and I don'[t worry about weight gain.
I hope this information helped you to at least consider a vegan diet. If you're interested in how I transitioned to a vegan diet (I did transition gradually) see my video below!
Realizing that you've crowded your life with clutter and deciding to do something about it is only the first step...
It's hard enough visualizing ridding yourself of 70% of your belongings, but do you know what's even harder? Looking at each item that you own, and deciding if you're going to keep it or not. When you look at an item that you own; whether your bought it or were gifted with it, it can be hard to figure out if this is something you should hold on to or find a new home for. As humans we get attached easily to our possessions and most times our 'reasons' for keeping certain things are nothing more than excuses.
You need to visualize the end goal and dedicate yourself to it.
Here are some questions that I think will help you cut through the excuses and make your declutter more effective. I literally have this inner dialogue when I look at every single item, and it hasn't failed me yet!
1. Do I currently use this regularly?
This is especially important for items that you consider staples because you've had them for a long time and you've worn them a ton in the past. While that may make you feel some sort of sentimental attachment to the items, it really is important to think about your current relationship with the items. If you no longer use them, then it's time to let them go.
2. How long have you had it and how much have you used it in that time?
This is somewhat related to the first point. If you've had an item for a long time and gotten lots of use out of it, it should not feel like a betrayal to get rid of it if it no longer is part of your daily life. In fact, if it is something that you've used a ton in the past, then you should be happy that you got your 'money's worth' out of the item and you can move on.
3. Would you buy this exact item again if you saw it in stores now?
This is a great way to determine the value of an item. Many of us tend to hold on to things because we already own them and don't want to waste money. After all, what if you need it a week after you give it away? Let's be honest here, the chances of that happening with an item you haven't touched in months or years is slim to none. Think about the item as something on a shelf in a store, and think about you current lifestyle. Would you go to the store and buy this item today? If not, then it's probably not something that you're likely to miss.
4. What things do you truly value in your possessions?
maybe you love your status designer pieces, maybe sentimental value is of utmost importance, or maybe you value practicality above all else. Regardless of how you chose to identify value in your possessions, hone in on that and get rid of things that have little or no value.
5. Do I actually love this thing, or do I use it just because I have it?
This is a distinction I know that changed my life on this journey. I would buy an item of clothing because I thought it looked great, and it would hang in my closet for a while. I still think it looks great, but it doesn't really go with anything and I really don't have anywhere to wear it to. It's mine, I own it, and so I'm going to find a way! So I wear it... I don't love the outfit and I don't think it's necessarily appropriate for the venue, but since the piece is beautiful (and MINE) I will wear it. When I'm going through my closet, I now see it as a great piece that I wear. Don't fall into this trap. Get rid of those items that you force yourself to use, your belongings should not be in charge of you.
I'm not the kind of person who goes out and buys 500 things at once, but that doesn't mean that my possessions do no eventually overwhelm me.
I grew up in St. Lucia, which is one of the MOST beautiful places on the planet, but is also an expensive place to live. Fashion, beauty, and home-wares are extremely pricey there, so we were all taught to take care of our things growing up. Now I live in the US and everything is much more affordable so I generally shop more, but I still take care of my things and they last forever...
The clutter crept up on me gradually. I gained some weight in college which I have since lost most of so my body is completely different. This means that I have been gradually shopping for a whole new wardrobe, but since my old clothes were in such great shape, I never got rid of them. I also moved from the east Coast to Indianapolis where the style is more casual ( if you can even call it style...) and so the types of things I wear on a regular basis have also changed. This resulted in a walk-in closet, and four draws that were bursting at the seams with clothing. That's not including the other drawers that held workout clothing, socks, leggings, lounge wear, and lets not forget shoes.....
Some of you might not see what's wrong with having this much stuff... options are good right?...
Well here's how this affected me. Whenever I had to get dressed or ready for something it would take FOREVER to figure out an outfit. I hated looking through my stuff, and the majority of my things went unworn and I forgot some of them existed. It was also hard to keep neat and I always experienced anxiety when I had to get dressed, and guilt for the stuff that I wasn't wearing.
So I went ahead and downsized in a major way. I probably got rid of 75% of all of my clothing and shoes!!!
This is now all of my clothing besides underwear, workout clothes, and basics. All of my basics fit in one drawer of my dresser, and I got rid of the drawers that previously held loungewear, workout clothes, swimsuits etc.
This shoe shelf used to hold three pairs per section, but I got rid of all the shoes that I simply didn't love anymore and didn't need to hold on to.
I even went ahead and applied this to the other parts of my life like my office space (aka desk) you see here.
Check out my video below for more reasons to simplify your life and stop being held down by your possessions.
I must say that PIYO was not one that I'd heard of before....
This is a workout system developed by Beachbody, that incorporates aspects of Pilates and Yoga in a fast paced, hour long format. Though the movements and combinations are reminiscent of the other two well established and well known formats, it is a completely different animal.
When I took my first PIYO class I was expecting to stretch a little and do some crunches... boy was I in for it! The speed alone is enough to let you know that the class is no joke. Now I'm not talking HIIT speed, but you move between positions that require balance and flexibility, while incorporating strength movements, all to a 3 count! There's no time to stop and adjust, its go go GO!
And some of these positions... well they look nice on the posters....
What To Expect:
Expect to test the limits of you flexibility, balance, and coordination. The class is not easy, but the more you go, the more comfortable it becomes, and the better you get. It is a calorie burner! Don't think that you've escaped all the typical workout moves because the class is called PIYO, there's cardio in that program. Burpees and pushups will show up more times than you're probably expecting, so go to class ready to work.
What You Will Need:
A yoga mat or two. This class is best done with bare feet or yoga socks, and you will need comfortable workout clothes. Make sure whatever you are wearing does not restrict your movements, and as with a yoga class, there are quite a few inversions, so ensure that you don't wear loose fitting pieces that may show your classmates a little more than they were expecting....
Pros:
Nice alternative to strength training, and uses only body weight.
Suitable for all ages and levels of fitness.
Group classes are best, but the DVDs for at home workouts are available.
Really nice stretches at the end.
Cons:
The moves do take a while to get used to and to execute accurately.
Summary
I actually loved this class more than I initially thought I would. This is a great addition to a workout program, because it is a strength training class that keeps your heart rate up, and it also includes flexibility training that you won't find in other strength classes.
