Aidee Douglas

I am officially done with my second week as a vegan, free of sugar, alcohol and coffee. This second week was a bit harder than the first one. Before I keep writing this post, I want to get something off my chest. I have a confession to make. Nothing to freak out about.

There was one day when I went to a gallery opening and I had a piece of fresh goat cheese. It looked really good, it was in the middle of a silver plate between a lot of grapes and strawberries and very well presented. Extremely well presented. I even think the lighting was manipulated so it looked  irresistible. So yeah, I did it. I had a piece. It was weird because it was like I was possessed by  some kind of cheese lover (me, two weeks ago). I just said to myself: I am going to do it; I am going to have a piece.

Of course, I am not proud about that. And you know what happens when you fall off the wagon? You get back on it! Oh yeah baby! One piece was enough for me to know that I didn’t want anymore, and truly it didn’t taste good at all to me. I think my taste buds are all ready changing. How exciting is that?

I can’t wait for the day that cheese becomes unsexy to me.

To balance things out, the next day I had an amazing arugula salad made by my lover. It’s a really simple salad but full of flavor.

Back in track now, oh oh oh no wait, not so fast. Also, on Saturday I had a love affair with a cookie. But it was a Vegan chocolate chip cookie from Whole Foods. It probably had tons and tons of grams of sugar. The amorous man and I shared the cookie over tea while we watched the Packers win. Actually, while he watched them win. I crocheted a scarf.  It was nice and I don’t regret the cookie because we planned it. And we needed to have something for dessert when everybody else was eating pie, ice cream, and brownies. Besides, I really enjoyed the cookie. I even closed my eyes when I was eating it. Yum!

My energy this past week wasn’t as high and hyper and I even had moments where I craved coffee and creme brulee. My mind seemed not to be as strong and focused. I feel a bit guilty for craving dairy and sugary crap when I can eat amazing organic Vegan food and be completely satisfied and feel amazing. I know the only reason that I craved coffee and creme brulee was because I didn’t have enough sleep the night before. I was okay with the craving feeling, nothing that an English tea with Silk vanilla soy milk and a Amy’s pop-tarts couldn’t fix.

Family has been great in this process. Especially my precious mother-in-law. Every time she has us over she arranges her meals so we can have our Vegan meal. It’s pretty wonderful of her; she’s total rock star!

Tomorrow I am going to go and have a Vegan brunch at one of the local stores here in town with one of my friends. She decided to go full on the whole Vegan diet, too. She also stopped smoking. WOW! I know, right? She is a kick-ass woman. Shout out for her! I love hanging out with her. She is definitely a forward thinking kind of girl. It’s a huge positive when you have friends that support your decisions. I know some other friends that with the start of the new year have made some positive changes in their eating habits as well. Things to be proud of, like eating just organic, eating a clean diet, being vegetarian, eating seasonal, etc. I am so proud to have people around me that are opening themselves to a better world and a better them.

I can’t wait for week numero 3 to start. I know it’s going to be even better. Maybe, and I am just saying maybe, you will joining me for it. Maybe for one day, or one meal. Or maybe not.

The Sexy Man’s Arugula Salad

about 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil.

juice of one whole fresh lemon.

salt and pepper.

4 cups arugula.

you can add some pine nuts or nutritional yeast for some parmesan flavor.

In a small bowl whisk the juice of the lemon, the extra-virgin olive oil and the salt and pepper. Then drizzle over the arugula and tada! You got the most tastiest salad ever!