Broadway in the Park

This past Monday I went to Millennium Park with my friend Heidi to go see Broadway in the Park.  It's all Broadway in Chicago's musicals that are currently on stage or are coming up this theatre season (October to May). 

I had so much fun watching the show!  I love musicals, but I can't afford to go to see shows at the moment.  It was so great to see a free concert full of musical theatre!  I'm glad I brought towels because we couldn't get actual seats and sat on the grass.  But we had a decent view of the stage.  I wish we brought a picnic.  I saw so many people who brought small tables to set up a picnic.  It was such a great idea.  I wish I had it!  Next time!

We saw songs from the following shows:

We Will Rock You

 

 

Flashdance

 

 

Evita (I ignored this one since I hate the show)

 

 

Once (this sounds like a wonderful show and I'd like to see it)

 

 

Wicked (this is a classic that I've seen three or four times)

 

Elf the musical (the actor who plays Buddy is simply perfect!)

 

 

 

 

It's hard to see but that's Sam the Snowman on stage, the narrator of Rudolph. The costume is actually very comical because the body of the snowman is huge but they used the actor's head as the head of the snowman.  It just looks weird.  Makes you laugh though.

Santa is in Chicago!

Santa!

Santa!  I know him!  I know him!

Buddy the elf and Santa

 

 

Ghost the musical (I didn't understand where the song was supposed to be in the show...maybe you need to see the whole thing)

 

 

Million Dollar Quartet (I really want to see this)

 

 

Motown (They had the "Jackson 5" sing and the kid who plays Michael Jackson sounds almost exactly like him!  It's amazing!  I want to see this.)

 

 

They handed out free stuff, like this awesome mustache promoting Peter and the Starcatcher (which looks amazing and I want to see it).

A fan

And a Flashdance snap bracelet!  It's pink!

 

 

I had so much fun with a good friend.  Definitely something to do again in the future!

Sometimes you just want junk food

You know the days.  You had a rough day at work or you're just craving something salty.  So what do you eat to fill your cravings as a vegan?

My go to for saltiness are Terra Chips.  They have a variety but I'm a sucker for their original.

The ingredients are simple: a variety of vegetables (or one depending on the kind you get), canola/safflower/sunflower oil, and salt.  Simple, readily available in any grocery store, and full of salty yumminess. 

They also don't make you feel like crap after you eat them.  I don't know about you, but after I eat a bag of chips, like Lay's (which actually are vegan - the original), I feel gross.  Like I just ate a bag of grease.  Terra Chips, however, don't make you feel like that.  Probably because you're eating actual vegetables, which is a huge plus because you get a serving of vegetables in while you fill your salt craving.

If I'm in the mood for chocolate instead of something salty, I go for dark chocolate (the higher the cacao the better).  Or for some good old-fashioned Oreos. 

Yes!  I did say Oreos! 

Oreos actually have no dairy in them at all.  It's still not a super healthy option.  However, if you do want chocolate and something sweet, these are convenient.  The ingredients list on an Oreo package is long.  Let me sum it up for you.  The entire cookie is basically made of soy, oils, flour, and lots of sugar.  The type of sugar is questionable.  So if it's 100% vegan, we don't know.  In the meantime, I'll sum it up as being vegan.

I've been eating Oreos since I was little.  My mom and my grandmother would pick me up from my babysitter when I was in elementary school on their way home from work.  My grandmother always brought me four Oreos, without fail.  I'd give her one, per her request, and eat the rest.  It was a simple gesture, but I loved it.  Whenever I eat an Oreo now, I think of my grandmother.  I, for one, am super excited that Oreos are vegan.

Rethinking my Staples

Every person has their own personal staples that they keep in their cupboard.  They're not always the same.  It changes depending on their daily diet. 

Let's talk about the word diet for a second.  I might throw that word out there in my blog.  However, it does not mean dieting to lose weight.  When I use the word diet, it means a person's daily diet...how they eat on a daily basis.  Society has turned the word diet into an ugly word when it really has a simple meaning.  I am trying to lose weight but I'm not "dieting."  I am changing my eating habits and making a lifestyle change.  I am deciding to eat a vegan diet.  It's a choice and a habit change. 

Back to my point...

I am rethinking the staples in my cupboard and refrigerator.  Some items I've had as staples for years, but now I'm adding to it for my health and to balance out my diet.  So what are my staples?

 

Have a variety of vegetables, both fresh and frozen

 

 



 

Have a variety of fruit, both fresh and frozen

 

*Unsweetened applesauce also comes in handy since its delicious to eat and also can replace eggs in baked goods

 

 

 

 

I love brown rice...it can be paired with anything.  Plus if you mix black beans and brown rice together, it makes a complete protein.

 

Black beans!!  Love them...use them in practically everything.  I always have about 5 cans at all times in my cupboard.

Garlic and onions have to be put together.  They are a great staple.  Just sauté garlic and onion and add whatever you like and you have a great meal.

 

 

Salt and pepper...no need to really explain.  Add it to any meal and it adds flavor.

 

I love diced tomatoes.  You can add it to anything or make a sauce from them.  They're wonderful to have on hand.

Nutritional yeast.  This I have not tried yet, but am determined to make it a staple in my kitchen.  Nutritional yeast gives vegetarians the B12 they need that they're missing from not eating meat.  It also gives a cheesy taste when you add salt.  You can put it on popcorn or practically any meal you want.  I've asked around and there's mixed reviews on nutritional yeast.  However, experts vouch for it (i.e. the amazing Kris Carr).

 

Popcorn!!  This was a last minute addition to my list because of my comment about it above.  I love popcorn!!  I eat it all the time.  It's such a great snack.  I didn't eat it for the longest time because I don't have a microwave.  My dad was so great and bought me a popcorn maker.  It makes a lot of popcorn for such a tiny machine.  It's just plain popcorn.  So if I want to add spices, that's my decision.  I do eat it plain a lot.  I did try it with curry powder, but I didn't like it.  Maybe someone reading this might.

 

These are my staples.  What are yours?

 

"Keep Moving Forward"

50 States

I challenged myself to find all 50 quarters of the states.  I DID IT!!

I get quarters for laundry and some from tips at work.  So every time I got quarters, I checked to see if there was one I was missing.  Last week, I got my final quarter in my tips!  I was so excited.

Today I put them in the best map shape I could and took pictures.  Now I can use them for laundry (I know I'm a dork, haha!).

The map I used as a model.

 

 

 



"Keep Moving Forward"