I found this email correspondence really interesting. If the left and right could discuss openly more like this (well, more towards the end of these emails) I think we could get a lot farther than we are now. Just because you don’t agree with someone’s spiritual beliefs, political stance or the way they order a hamburger does not mean that you have the moral right to degrade them. Opinions and beliefs formed this great country of ours, and if we were all the same- life would be terribly boring. 

I made this last night and it was amazing last night, but even BETTER as lunch today. I treated my coworkers to the leftovers because I only made half a batch,  but it was gynormous. 

I’m for one am a huge fan a pasta with lots of sauce, but this recipe has so much flavor and texture that you just don’t need sauce at all. 

I served it with fresh grated parm and a little salt and pepper to taste.

I start the next-to-no-processed food (gotta have my greek yogurt!) diet in 2 days and did some meal planning. I figured I’d make enough to have left-overs so I only chose 3 main dishes and some snacks, because who doesn’t love snacks:

Penne with Sun-dried Tomato Pasta and Veggies (I will try to find the best pasta I can, gonna hit up the ole’ T. Joe’s)

Baked Chicken with Spinach and Pine Nut Pesto with Sweet Potato 

Baked Fish and Homemade Baked Rosemary Potato Chips (Fish and Chips!?)

Curried Zucchini Soup

White Bean and Roasted Eggplant Hummus

Dark Chocolate Covered Frozen Bananas (takes the idea of a popsicle to the next level)

Homemade Quinoa Pudding (like rice pudding, but with way more protein)

Frozen Green Grapes (I don’t really have to do much here, yay!)

I still need to start my herb garden and have not yet been to the farmer’s market, but I have high hopes. It’s open tomorrow and I intend to stop by and hopefully buy yummy yummy treats.

Before I go full swing in August, I’m giving myself some small stepping stones.

1. Begin an herb garden. 

I’ve already gotten some new plants for my new apartment. So this one shouldn’t be too hard. I want to have rosemary, thyme, oregano and dill.

2. Go to the Farmer’s Market.

I here great things about the farmers market in Athens. It’s better, fresher produce and meats and usually at a better deal than the organic grocery section.

3. Coconut Oil

Google it, it’s supposedly great for you and better for cooking than EVOO.

Ya’ll I haven’t Tumbled in like a year. 

I’m sorry. 

Anyway, I’m setting some new goals for myself. As probably none of you know, I’ve been working out lately to lose a little weight and gain super human strength. So far, it’s been a slow start. As probably most of you know, I am a food lover. LOVER. I come from a large family of food lovers. These things don’t really go hand-in-hand. So I am committing to start a non-processed foods diet for the month of August and hopefully more months after that(little goals first).

Why August, you ask? My darling boyfriend who can eat whatever he wants and still be 3% body fat will be gone for some ass-kicking Army training. We usually try to eat dinners together and I am the only one with cooking knowledge and he is super picky. SUPER PICKY. I love him, but it’s true. This way I can eat all the yucky veggies and quinoa I want without him going “Ewwwwwwwwww what’s that….” and then ordering a cheeseburger.

I’m going to take this time to turn some things around. No more fast food- that love has forsaken me, mostly in my belly region. No more frozen dinners packed with addicting salt, no more boxed dinners, no more canned sauces and no more soda. I’m not a huge soda lover, but nothing goes better with a fast food meal then a fountain coke. 

So I’ve been doing some research and came across some great blogs to help me along the way. Pantomime Papers and Mommypotamus. I don’t know these people, but they seem to be lovers of good food and healthy choices. Also, Penny from Pantomime Papers is quite funny and super adorable. Heather from Mommypotamus is a little on the “crunchy” side, but I kind of like that and her recipes for busy moms is great for busy non-moms too. Also, I love a good natural remedy. 

Sharing is caring, so I am sharing my goals with you internet folk as a means of accountability and maybe these healthy gal blogs will inspire some of you guys too. But mostly, it’s to help keep myself in line and out of the drive-thru. 

XOXO

Emma

• guy checking out in front of me, like mid-40s or something: do you have a mother?
• me: um
• guy: yeah, all this is for my mother. that for yours?
• me: yeah
• [guy bounces his basket and bumps me in the ass]
• guy: sorry! that was me. i mean, it wasn't me [makes ass-grabbing gesture], but it was me. ha! it's publix though, right? so shopping is a pleasure. a plea-sure.
• me: oh yeah
• guy: "oh yeah."
• check-out man, to guy: will that be all for you?
• guy: [to him] "oh yeah." [to me] ha! have a good mother's day. [leaves]
• check-out man, like mid-70s or something with deep Chahhhhlston-esque drawl: that boy was hitting on you.
• me: pardon?
• man: you didn't even give him a chance.
• me: oh
• man: you're a little uptight, aren't cha?
• me: i guess.
• man: you guess. well here. i'll make it easy on you then. now i'm hitting on you. what are you going to do about that?
• me: ...
• man: i'm serious.
• me: well, you're a little old.
• man: ouch. that was blunt. no free coupons for you.
• me: sorry
• man: no, now it's out there, and you can't take it back. [winking at girl behind me] hey there, how are you doing?
• me: ...
• man: go on now, dahhlin, you've had your chance.
• I love everything about this.