Ice Cream ~Sarah McLachlan at Massey Hall Toronto March 18, 2011 ..I was at this show!

I'm A Believer

I love Twitter. It's my 'Go To' for News and Networking. I don't use it as a social networking tool in the same sense as I use Facebook; it's more about connecting with like minded people who share the same interests as me but who I don't necessarily know. In fact I can count on both hands how many people I actually do know on a personal level from my Followers List. Today I saw a random tweet to the Twitterverse from @TaisonKrew : "Weird question? Does anyone believe in having a soul?" I responded with "I'm a believer" I received a tweet in return "@jennjam why do you think so?"
..There was far too much of an explanation behind this to try to cram into 140 characters and so this blog post was created :)

I  believe we are souls, not that we have a soul as such. And it's not something I think, it's something I feel. My ideas surrounding this probably differs from how others might answer the same question and I mean no offence to anyone. I should mention first off that I know @TaisonKrew. We used to work together and I want to say I know him well enough to think he believes we are soulful, but I'm not certain. I grew up in a religious free household. Neither one of my parents practiced it and so there is no religious influence on what I'm about to say here. I have always felt very connected to my world. I believe in the ability to create ones own happiness. I feel the various energies in my surroundings. I feel the vibrations of other peoples fear and anxiety, I feel the heaviness of their sadness. I feel the rush of positivity that runs though the air when something wonderful is said or done, and when something wonderful is done but unsaid, the rush has even more force. I love the knowing without saying. That soul to soul communication. There is meaning but there are no words. An unspoken universal language; it's felt not heard. And the people who 'get it', just know when someone else 'gets' it. It has nothing to do with race, gender or class. It's deeper than that feeling of your 'heart melting' over something that touches you emotionally. These energies run further than those feelings. You must be open to allowing them in to really feel them too. They dive through into your core being, or what I believe to be your 'soul'. Every experience that touches you this deeply is absorbed and taken with you from life to life. This core is connected to your subconscious and has the power to protect and guide you if you listen to it. At the right moments in our lives, the Universe will give us a glimpse of our destiny through a dream, a thought, a vision. It is up to us to follow those energies that lead us through the path to that particular destiny. This is no secret. People have been living life this way for ages and ages. It just needs to be recognized and trusted. It's why it's so important to think positively in every encounter. Although we are destined for some drama and negativity in our lives, it will have a purpose that we will learn and draw from at a later time. Maybe even in another lifetime. Not everything is meant to make sense in the moment. Not every experience needs to be analyzed and logically understood, but it should be recognized in order to balance the emotions that may come along with it and then simply accepted as being meant to be. Some people have a natural tendency to deflect these energies as they can be very physically and mentally draining but what they maybe don't realize is they are depriving themselves the opportunities these experiences provide for us down the road; it's unfortunate. Not everything in life is meant to be understood but everything that happens is for a reason. If we can learn to let go of certain experiences and take them for what they are, we will free ourselves from many of the anxieties that torture us. I feel as if I have an old soul; one with many impressions made on it. One that has absorbed many lifetimes of experiences. In the chaotic world I live in and the many roles I play to the many people in my life, I'm grateful for the days where I can acquire stillness from within and connect to my true being for inspiration. In those moments I accept myself for who I am knowing that my inner spirit has lead me to where I'm at ..and for good reason. I don't know if this actually answers the question @TaisonKrew posted, but it's the best way I can describe why I'm a believer.

"We are spiritual beings, having a human experience" ~Oprah Winfrey

Happy Daddy's Day

My husband is so much more than just the 'father' of my children. He's a Daddy. He takes pride in his family and is a super Dad. He's hard working; he provides a very full and enriching lifestyle for us and doesn't often complain. He puts up with a lot but handles it all in a masculine laid back sort of way. I can't really describe him , he's like no one else I've ever met. He's the Dad who goes to every Swim Lesson, Soccer, Hockey, Basketball, Baseball Game and helps out with the team where needed. He knows all of the kids by name.
He cooks, he does laundry, empties the dishwasher and occasionally will even mop the floor. He is a mentor to our children and shares what fascinating facts on nature he knows. (and he knows a lot!) He's the Dad who does homework with the boys at the kitchen table while dinner is cooking and helps them to better understand the complexities of mathematics and science that I could never begin to teach them. His mind amazes me; he's a smart cookie.
He's creative too. He's the Dad who helps the boys to build castles out of cardboard boxes and paints them for school projects. He encourages them to add more detail in their drawings and gives them tips on learning to draw; again, something else I myself could not teach my children! He kicks my ass at Draw Something every time.
He takes us on family vacations, camping trips, bike rides, movies, batting cages, mini putting, waterparks, and so much more. He has dreams for what we'll do and where we'll go in the future.
He makes sure that we are all well taken care of. Today with it being Father's Day, you'd think he'd take the day off and sit back but so far thats not the case. He made my morning coffee, wants to take us out for breakfast and then is coming home to get dinner ready for his own father.
He's a good man, this Charlie Brown of mine! <3 Happy Daddy's Day, Christopher <3
"Anyone can be a Father but it takes someone special to be a Daddy" ~Proverb

Mom, We KNOW!

It's a weekday morning ritual. Most days it's up to me to get my boys and my two nieces on the school bus. The girls come over just as my boys have finished packing their belongings & brushing teeth. They sit and watch TV and as soon as Pokemon is over, they know they need to hustle and get out the door. When I heard the show was over this morning I said as I always do "C'mon Kids, let's get going!" and Carter responded with such certainty "Mom, we KNOW that when Pokemon is done we need to go, you don't always have to tell us!!" In that moment I realized that they are that independent, that they don't need that cue call anymore ..they understand routine and time lines. For years it has been my job to keep things in order and without even realizing it, I've trained my successors. I took a minute to think about other small things that they do on their own and felt a sense of Mommy accomplishment; a sense of Mom pride for the things you don't intentionally teach them but by setting a good example, they learn. Those things.
As I stood there internalizing all of this Carter called me out of my trance and says "Coming Mom?!" Oh, right! The school bus! With my usual pottery mug full of coffee in hand we did our usual walk to the stop, waved to the same usual neighbours and met up with the other Moms and Kids as we always do. I like this routine but wonder how much longer it too will last as they all go and grow up on me. As the bus approaches all four of them gather around me, their lips pursed for smooches and one by one I get to kiss them them all goodbye for the day, thanking my lucky stars they are not so grown up that they want to give that up just yet. It makes me smile inside and out.
And as for the next day I get them on the bus, I'm just going to stand back with my coffee and watch them finish their TV show, get their things together on their own without telling them what needs to be done and wait for my "Coming Mom?!" cue.

Pointless Pinterest

So my friend sent me an invite to join Pinterest awhile ago and a few times I've gone on and added a few things. I put one photo on there and twenty-seven days later (twenty-seven days later!!) someone decided to make a negative comment about it and it exploded. There are so many Haters hating my Pin! I've had this blog for a long time and have generated thousands of hits from my posts on vegetarianism. I post things on my Facebook page and I've been on Twitter for a few years now. I have 2200+ people following me; yet I've never experienced negativity on anything like I have on Pinterest. I considered deleting my account but instead have just taken my last name off it for now. Maybe that will alleviate some of the bad vibes they are all sending my way! Here is the link to one of my photos on Pinterest if you want to check it out but please don't hate all over it; it's taken all it can handle.

In My Life ~The Beatles

I want this song played at my funeral ..and I hope that every person who wants this song to be about them, makes it about them. "In my life, I've loved them All"

Veggie Chicken Enchiladas

In spirit of Cinco de Mayo I'm posting what I believe to be an awesome Veggie Chicken Enchilada Recipe. Change it up; there's so many ways to do it. I throw in bell peppers when I need to use them up. I'll serve it to my fam usually with some spanish rice and avocado :) A quick fast variation of this is to just wrap up refried beans and cream cheese in a tortilla, cover with enchilada sauce and salsa, smother it with pizza mozzarella and bake until the top browns. Literally a 20 minute meal from start to finish done that way!

                                                                   Ingredients

• 2 veggie chicken breasts cut into 1/2 inch strips or use Gardein Chick'n Strips instead
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed tomatoes
• 5 small chile peppers, diced (optional)
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can vegetable broth
• 1 bunch green onions, chopped
• 1/2 pint heavy cream
• 6 (6 inch) corn tortillas
• 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 cup shredded stretched pizza Mozzarella cheese
• 1 (10 ounce) can enchilada sauce

Directions

 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute veggie chicken and onions until veggie chicken is evenly brown. Stir in diced tomatoes with green chile peppers, stewed tomatoes, chile peppers and broth. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, cover skillet, and simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Remove veggie chicken from skillet. Meanwhile, allow skillet mixture to simmer and reduce to about 2 1/4 cups. In a medium bowl, combine veggie chicken and about 1/4 cup skillet mixture (just enough to make a paste like mixture). Mix together with half the chopped green onions. Pour remaining 2 cups of skillet mixture into a 9x13 inch baking dish.
4. In a second skillet, heat cream over low heat, being careful not to boil. Dip tortillas in the warm cream to soften and coat. Spoon about 1/3 cup veggie chicken mixture onto each tortilla. Top veggie chicken mixture with half the shredded cheese, and roll up tortillas. Place rolled tortillas in baking dish, seam side down, and drizzle with enchilada sauce. Cover with remaining shredded cheese, and sprinkle remaining chopped green onion over cheese. Bake uncovered in preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbling.

RIP MCA ..Love Carter

I was at work last night when I heard the news about the death of MCA. My kids were asleep when I got home but my husband told me he had mentioned it to the Boys. Carter was kind of weirded out by his death when he brought it up to me this morning.. and said it was really odd that I didn't leave him a Star Wars Shirt out to wear yesterday.
I know why. I always leave my kids clothes out for the week and the outfits reflect the type of activities they will be involved in for the day as well as coordinate with what the weather forecast has predicted. (yes, I'm that damned organized) May 4th was Star Wars Day. My kids have a few different character shirts I could have laid out for them but for some reason at the time of sorting their laundry, Star Wars Day had slipped my mind. Instead I had left Carter's loved, well worn Beastie Boys Shirt out for that morning..
When Carter mentioned this coincidence to me today I could see his heart through his eyes and I understand that he gets what I get. He feels that sense of connectedness and notices that even small coincidences should not go unnoticed. It's not about him relating in any way to this band personally; it's about realizing the awareness that we are all connected in some way or another. He was born with these instincts but is just beginning to recognize the wonder behind them all. It's pretty awesome to watch and see.

RIP MCA

Starbucks, This 'Bugs' Me

I've heard of companies using cochineal beetles before and I know to look for it on the ingredients of what I buy in the grocery store but I wouldn't think to look for it in a Starbucks drink. The beetles are used as an alternative to artificial flavourings but it's not a good alternative! Seventy thousand beetles are killed to produce just one pound of the red dye. Here's my idea.. for a cool drink on a hot day, drink REAL drinks like Water and Lemonade made with real lemons. I do love a Starbucks Coffee once in awhile and appreciate the company's interest in providing products that are Fair Trade. This one ingredient probably won't make me stop going there but it does make me want to spread the word to fellow Vegetarians. A drink that was once Vegan is no longer and of course I know now to never order these items. Most people freak out at the sight of an insect, ..now imagine drinking up the crushed bugs AND paying $7 for it. Regardless if you live an ethical lifestyle or not, it's just gross! Read this article I saw today on Yahoo Shine about the Starbucks Strawberry Cream Frappuccino and Strawberry Smoothies.

Animal Ingredients

I've referred to this PETA Animal Ingredient List  on many grocery shopping excursions over the years but I've come to recognize many of them without it now. There is also a great app on iTunes called Animal Free that is an awesome resource when out and about (..What did we do before iPhones?!) and gives a description of how the ingredient is animal derived.