Harmony, our new kitten
OK, I realize it's been six months since I last posted to this blog. I'm rather embarrassed. BUT, there are a handful of factors that kept me from finally writing this long overdue update.
This past Spring I was working towards finishing my plant-based nutrition certificate through Cornell University. I successfully completed it but whatever time I had leftover after work/commute/exercise went to going through those lectures. I couldn't cook as much as I had hoped. But it was a fabulous course and I would strongly recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about a wholistic plant-based lifestyle.
Second, just as I completed my certificate, I was traveling for work for a week when I was offered a new job in communications with Ernst & Young (EY). Not only would I be leaving journalism, but my husband and I would be packing everything we had and shipping up to Boston. This all happened in May.
Once I accepted the new position, it was full speed ahead in packing, cleaning, and going through everything we owned in our one bedroom condo in Arlington, Virginia. You may not think two people can really have that much in a tiny 632 sq. foot condo, but it's amazing what you can accumulate over the years. Just arranging for how we would relocate, pack all of our furniture and belongings proved to be time consuming. Actually, what was most time consuming was giving away and selling our stuff on craigslist. I don't recommend that and will never do that again. Next time we move, we are just donating to the Good Will.
So we packed a U-Haul and drove up to New Hampshire over Memorial Day weekend to my parent's house. Jon drove the U-Haul while I drove the pickup truck all while fighting off a cold. We unloaded all of our belongings with my parents and then drove down to Massachusetts where we would stay with my Aunt and Uncle for a few weeks until we found our own apartment.
We finally signed a lease for our own apartment on the South Shore of Massachusetts. But the moving never seemed to end all summer. We had stuff in various locations. (And as I write this, we still have the majority of stuff in boxes.)
We attended three weddings over the summer (our last and 5th wedding this year is in a few weeks) and got into our new daily routines, learning the public transit system here and the highways. Jon still has his job and can work remotely but he goes into his company's Cambridge office and I go into my office almost everyday. We often commute into the city together along the Red Line from Quincy.
On top of adjusting to a new city, new job, new career, and new living situation, our family grew by one. We adopted a kitten who we named Harmony and she is absolutely the light of our lives. We spend our evenings playing with her and cuddling.
In between all of this, I have been eating fairly healthy, maintained my plant-based diet and cooked some pretty damn tasty dishes. I displayed my vegan creations and new food discoveries with pictures and short blurbs on Instagram.
So that brings us to today. We are finally in Fall. I used to not appreciate Fall as much as I do now. I love fall and I'm obsessed with pumpkin flavored everything. Maybe it took living away from New England for six years in Washington, D.C. and Virginia for me to appreciate it.
I added a splash of Trader Joe's pumpkin spice almond milk into my black tea this morning with breakfast and immediately fell into a warm and cozy place. I'm told it is a delicious addition to coffee as well.
Enough non-food discussion, I will post again soon with a mouth watering recipe for a vegan butternut squash sweet potato soup that the whole family is guaranteed to love. It's easy, budget friendly, and will keep you warm as the days are getting cooler.
Thanks for reading!
This past Spring I was working towards finishing my plant-based nutrition certificate through Cornell University. I successfully completed it but whatever time I had leftover after work/commute/exercise went to going through those lectures. I couldn't cook as much as I had hoped. But it was a fabulous course and I would strongly recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about a wholistic plant-based lifestyle.
Second, just as I completed my certificate, I was traveling for work for a week when I was offered a new job in communications with Ernst & Young (EY). Not only would I be leaving journalism, but my husband and I would be packing everything we had and shipping up to Boston. This all happened in May.
Once I accepted the new position, it was full speed ahead in packing, cleaning, and going through everything we owned in our one bedroom condo in Arlington, Virginia. You may not think two people can really have that much in a tiny 632 sq. foot condo, but it's amazing what you can accumulate over the years. Just arranging for how we would relocate, pack all of our furniture and belongings proved to be time consuming. Actually, what was most time consuming was giving away and selling our stuff on craigslist. I don't recommend that and will never do that again. Next time we move, we are just donating to the Good Will.
So we packed a U-Haul and drove up to New Hampshire over Memorial Day weekend to my parent's house. Jon drove the U-Haul while I drove the pickup truck all while fighting off a cold. We unloaded all of our belongings with my parents and then drove down to Massachusetts where we would stay with my Aunt and Uncle for a few weeks until we found our own apartment.
We finally signed a lease for our own apartment on the South Shore of Massachusetts. But the moving never seemed to end all summer. We had stuff in various locations. (And as I write this, we still have the majority of stuff in boxes.)
We attended three weddings over the summer (our last and 5th wedding this year is in a few weeks) and got into our new daily routines, learning the public transit system here and the highways. Jon still has his job and can work remotely but he goes into his company's Cambridge office and I go into my office almost everyday. We often commute into the city together along the Red Line from Quincy.
On top of adjusting to a new city, new job, new career, and new living situation, our family grew by one. We adopted a kitten who we named Harmony and she is absolutely the light of our lives. We spend our evenings playing with her and cuddling.
In between all of this, I have been eating fairly healthy, maintained my plant-based diet and cooked some pretty damn tasty dishes. I displayed my vegan creations and new food discoveries with pictures and short blurbs on Instagram.
So that brings us to today. We are finally in Fall. I used to not appreciate Fall as much as I do now. I love fall and I'm obsessed with pumpkin flavored everything. Maybe it took living away from New England for six years in Washington, D.C. and Virginia for me to appreciate it.
I added a splash of Trader Joe's pumpkin spice almond milk into my black tea this morning with breakfast and immediately fell into a warm and cozy place. I'm told it is a delicious addition to coffee as well.
Enough non-food discussion, I will post again soon with a mouth watering recipe for a vegan butternut squash sweet potato soup that the whole family is guaranteed to love. It's easy, budget friendly, and will keep you warm as the days are getting cooler.
Thanks for reading!
