5 ways to simplify your vegan diet

A vegan diet is naturally simple.

The way most people talk, you'd think it was a super huge struggle to get everything you need, nutritionally and taste-wise, from a vegan diet. It's not. The hard part of a vegan diet is getting used to a whole new way of doing things. Still, even that isn't so hard once you have a little input from someone who's been there. So, how can you simplify your vegan diet?

1. Keep it raw or mostly raw.

A raw food diet is very simple to follow. It keeps the house cool in summer. It makes recipes almost entirely unnecessary. Just keep a wide variety of veggies, fruits, nuts and legumes on hand. Mix and match them, balancing your nutrients as you go. For instance, adding nuts or beans to a salad gives you protein. Sprinkling nutritional yeast on top gives you B-12. But what if you don't know your nutrients?

2. Do it by color.

You may have to study up a bit at first. But honestly, you should do that with any diet plan, even a conventional one. This trick makes it simpler. Each color of vegetable represents a different nutritional value. There are exceptions of course. Some things are higher in nutrition or contain special nutrients. If you're new to going vegan, familiarize yourself with these. For the most part, though, if your plate contains a wide variety of colors, it contains a wide variety of nutrients. Easy breezy!

3. Simmer some soup.

Beans or bean soup are served one or two times a week in many vegan households. In the soup, use a bean base for protein, then add assorted colorful veggies. Soup can be started in the morning and simmered all day. Eat it that night and refrigerate any leftovers. It's simple, nutritious and usually counts for at least two meals to reduce time in the kitchen.

4. Freeze ahead.

Speaking of leftovers, why not make them on purpose? Soup isn't the only cruelty free meal you can make ahead. Try making vegan chili, spaghetti sauce and other similar foods to freeze. That way, if you're sick or just plain don't feel like cooking, you can check the freezer and heat up a meal. It's like TV dinners, healthy vegan style.

5. Toss it in a blender/juicer.

Juicing and blending is the easiest thing in the world. It's also one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself. You don't need a recipe to juice or blend. Just choose fruits and veggies you think would go well together and toss them in. You may get a few weird results as far as taste goes. Still, those are minimal. Let's face it, even if you mess up, it's still good for you. Plus, you'll get better as time goes by.

5 Family themed Halloween costume ideas

Halloween is great family fun. Why not take that a step further? Dress the whole family in a single costume theme. Get inspiration from fairy tales, super heroes and more. Consider dressing up as famous families or famous music groups. The possibilities truly are endless. Put on your thinking cap or use one of these 5 ideas to get you started.

1. 80's musicians

Peruse old music videos for inspiration. Picture dad in skin tight pants and a ragged t-shirt. Mom could be a big-haired backup singer or a Madonna wanna be. Kids might not be familiar with the music, but they'll get a kick out of the wild costumes of 80's rockers. What a crazy Halloween night that would be. Don't forget the guitars and microphones.

2. The family zoo

After all, people say your house is a real zoo sometimes. Might as well come as you are. Moms, dads and kids can pick their favorite animals to dress up as. Or, you could all dress alike. Hey, hey, you could be the monkeys for Halloween. Not the music group. Just a whole family of monkeys, apes, orangutans or whatever you like.

3. Goldilocks and the three bears

This one is perfect for a little girl with a baby brother or sister. Mom and dad dress as Momma Bear and Papa Bear. The baby becomes baby bear. The little girl is Goldilocks. Don't forget the ringlets! Props might include porridge bowls and spoons, or that famous broken chair, cleverly attached to Goldilocks's behind.

4. Batman's crew.

No matter how big your family is, you can pull this one off. Family members can dress as Batman, Cat Woman, Robin and assorted villains, like the Joker. Kids could choose their favorite villains while mom and dad dress as Batman and Robin, Batman and Cat Woman or Robin and Poison Ivy. There are so many clever combinations with this theme.

5. Zombie family

Your entire family was attacked by brain eaters. Now they've come back to life as a whole family of zombies. How fun would it be to show up at a party or go trick or treating as a whole zombie family? Better yet, get all the kids' friends and yours in on the action. Imagine the faces of homeowners when 30 zombies show up at their door for treats. I hope they have a lot of candy.

5 Crazy uses for cayenne pepper

Think you've heard everything about cayenne pepper? Maybe you have and maybe you haven't. Sure, cayenne pepper is delicious in guacamole and awesome on spicy fries. Most people know that, right? What they don't know about is the unconventional uses for this miracle spice. How about using cayenne pepper to keep your feet warm in winter?

1. Keep your feet warm.

You know cayenne is hot, right? Did you know it can warm your feet in cold weather? Just sprinkle a bit into your socks before venturing outdoors. The cayenne will heat up your feet to ward off frostbite. You can do the same if you get cold feet at night. Remember one thing, though. Make sure you use old socks. Cayenne can combine with perspiration and leave a stain.

2. Heal small cuts.

Next time you get a paper cut, give this cure a try. Stop the bleeding and help your cut heal faster. Sprinkle a bit of cayenne on it. You might think that's a bit like rubbing salt in a wound and you'd be right. Why? Salt has healing powers as well. Don't use cayenne for large or deep wounds. It could sting and cause infection. See a doctor for those.

3. Cure a headache.

Mix a bit of cayenne pepper with olive oil. Now massage it into your temples. The cayenne will warm your skin and increase circulation. Cayenne in your food will have the same effect. Cayenne increases blood flow and opens capillaries, just like caffeine. It will also open your sinuses to ease headaches caused by congestion.

4. Soothe a sore throat.

Mix a crazy concoction of salt water, a clove of garlic and a sprinkle of cayenne pepper. Don't drink it. That would taste horrible. Instead, use this solution as a gargle. Don't worry, it won't sting. In fact, this gargle will take pain away instantly. It'll heal your throat quickly too. Garlic, salt and cayenne are all powerful antiseptics.

5. Cure tummy troubles.

You wouldn't think such a spicy food would help a stomachache. In fact, you might deduce the opposite. Still, cayenne is supreme at cleaning out the digestive system. It also kills bad bacteria that lurk in the nooks and crannies of your intestines. What else? It gets your digestive juices flowing to flush toxins. Eating cayenne regularly can keep you regular.

5 alternatives to kids' lunch box plastic

Plastic is hazardous to your health. Plus, it's not just about BPA anymore. There are at least 700 studies on the dangers of different plastics. Plastic is everywhere. It's even in your water supply. Most kids that pack lunches for school use waterproof plastic containers, plastic bags and plastic water bottles. Is there another way? What other materials can you use to pack kids' lunches in?

1. Start by brown bagging it.

Skip the cutesy little plastic containers with all the nifty compartments. They're not as cute as you think. They can give off toxins, especially if scratched or worn. Why not go old school? Brown paper bags are cheap and contain no plastic toxins. It's not about what the food comes in. It's about what gets in the food.

2. Wrap sandwiches in brown paper or aluminum foil.

Both are recyclable. Plastic is recyclable to a certain extent, but it's toxic to begin with. Boycotting it sends a clear message. Manufacturers can use alternatives or go out of business. With a little practice, you can wrap sandwiches airtight. Skip the plastic containers. Skip the plastic wrap. Skip the plastic baggies.

Note : Did you know they now make cloth bags and baggies? Sweet!

3. Skip prepackaged fruits.

Isn't it nice how they package convenient sizes of cut up fruit in cute little plastic cups? Don't be so sure. Any plastic container can leach chemicals into your food. How long has that fruit been sitting in that plastic? You're better off cutting up your own fruit or placing whole fruits in kids lunches.

4. What about drinks?

How can kids carry drinks to school without plastic containers? Well, no offense, but what did your grandparents do? They used mason jars or other lidded jars. Yes, they're breakable. Kids would have to be cautious. Still, mason jars are quite thick. It takes some effort to break them.

5. Check the grocery or department store for eco-friendly alternatives.

Did you know there are newer plastics made from natural products, not petroleum? Some contain paper pulp. Others are made from food starch. All are biodegradable and safe for food content. They do no harm when they break down. If more purchased green plastic alternatives for kids' lunches alone, think of the difference it would make to the environment.

The top 5 easiest things to feed a vegan at a BBQ

Oh no! Vegan food is so weird. And there's a vegan coming to your BBQ. You've never fed one before. What on earth do they eat? Don't panic. Chances are, they will eat a lot of the food you're already serving, as well as some you might like to try.

5. Grilled Portabella Mushrooms

Most “regular” people like these too. It's a giant mushroom shaped like a burger. You grill it and slather it with spices, sauces or whatever you like. Goes great as a guacamole burger. Do remember to keep it away from the blood and gore, though. Vegans have a thing about that. Can't imagine why.

4. Salad Without the Meat and Dairy.

A vegan's worst nightmare is a yummy, perfect, green salad that has been desecrated by loading it with meat and cheese, topped with buttermilk ranch dressing. Why? Because there's good stuff in there. It's just buried in nasty. SO frustrating. Talk about a dangling carrot. Just stick with the veggies and vinegar and oil, please.

3. DUH! Watermelon

It's a fruit. You eat it on the 4th of July. It makes an appearance at nearly every BBQ you've ever been to in your life. Best of all, it's vegan and great for seed spitting contests. Yay!

2. Grilled Corn on the Cob or Sweet Potatoes With.....Not Butter

Vegetables are vegan. Who knew? Slap some sweet potatoes or corn on the grill. Drizzle on some olive oil and yummy spices, wait for the optimum texture and you're done. So simple and so very vegan. Thank-you!

1. Did Someone Say Guacamole?

Oh right, that was me. Vegans put guacamole on everything. They slap it on veggie burgers. They serve it in salads. They wrap it in.... wraps. They even put it in their Mexican food. Yum, yum, give us some!

Final Thoughts

So there you go. Vegans are not difficult to feed. There are thousands upon thousands of combinations of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and whole grains. Now if you could only get your vegan friends to tolerate that giant dead carcass you have on the grill. Hey, I know. Why not go to a vegan BBQ instead? Aw, come on, you know those ideas sounded delish! Why not have a try at some other great vegan foods? Be careful. though. We might just turn you. LOL 

5 Ways energy impacts your life

Tired of what life is throwing at you? Try throwing around some good energy, rather than dwelling on the negative things that happen to you. We all know those people who are constant complainers, don't we? And doesn't it seem sometimes that they are right about their crappy luck? Well, they probably are. But maybe not for the reasons you think.

5. Whatever you wish for and focus on in life, will come to you.

Oh yes, it's true. Whether you dwell on negativity or positivism, you will surely get what you believe you will out of life. Somehow, when we focus on the good, good comes to us naturally. It's not magical or mystical. It's just how it works.

4. Your kids will become exactly what you tell them they are.

Oh, ya. I've seen it happen both ways and many times, even when my own kids. Kids who are told how great they are and whose parents place less emphasis on the “bad” things they do and more on the “good' are usually very well rounded and happy.

3. Negativity is contagious.

When you treat others badly, they are not as apt to send out the good vibes, as it were. They go on to spread more negativity to even more people until the world becomes a big ball of yuck. Emitting negative energy toward others impacts everyone.

2. Energy is everywhere.

It's what we're made up of. In fact, everything in the universe is made up of energy. Energy is made up of positive and negative currents. So, whether it's directed at another person, or a bad day, bad energy will naturally intensify/spread from one terminal to the next, just like an electric current. Luckily, good energy has the same effect. So, put it out there. It will come back to you.

1. There is another worldwide web.

There is a web that connects us all and acts like a distribution system for the energy mentioned above. The web doesn't care what kind of energy it receives. It's just there to pass it on. The great news is that if we all concentrate on the good vibes, they spread out far and wide over the web. The bad news is that negativity can do the same.

So throw that good energy out there, everyone. It will come back to you, I promise.

Top Ten reasons I don't write about celebrities

Seriously? They're just human beings, you guys.

If you're expecting the usual witty, short and sweet top ten list here you may or may not be disappointed. There will be a certain amount of wittiness because I am somewhat of a witty person. There will, however be no undue overabundance of wittiness as this is a rant of sorts. So here we go then, the top ten reasons why I don't write about celebrities. With a tinge of witty embellishment for entertainment's sake. My entertainment, anyway. I'm not that witty. Remember, I told you that.

10 - Everyone else does it and I'm a rebel at heart.
I follow my own path, march to the beat of my own drummer and all that metaphorical stuff. I'm stubborn and narrow minded and I won't budge on anything I believe in. I'm proud of myself, my life, my children and grandchildren and everything I stand for. I know who I am and I don't need to justify that or play follow the leader with anyone. Besides, I'm an adult and it would look pretty silly if I ran around playing follow the leader all day, wouldn't it?

9 - I don't want to perpetuate the stupid and pointless American fascination with them.

My heroes are my Mom and Dad and all the other tangible people in my life that I care about and who care about me. Angelina Jolie doesn't give a rat's behind about me. I could care less what she does either. I don't know her. Now if I met her, got to know her as a person and then admired her, that would be different. Then I would feel justified in writing about her. That would be what we writers call first person experience rather than unwarranted hearsay, right?

8 - Their lives are of no interest to me.

I could care less what religion Tom Cruise is or how many kids the Duggars have now or how perverted any of them are. Geepers, don't people have enough problems of their own, without worrying about the rich and famous? I know I do. I don't have time to keep track of how many mistresses Tiger Woods has. I have a relationship of my own to nourish.

7 - I'm sick of bone thin crack addicts dictating the female body image.

Yes, I'm overweight. Even if I wasn't, this would bother me. How many kids out there are dying from anorexia, bulimia and other eating disorders caused by the silly notion that we aren't sexy unless we're skinny? How many kids have taken their own lives because of poor body image? Maybe they couldn't afford designer clothes or fancy cars like their classmates. Maybe people picked on them because of it. Who personifies this crazy myth more than celebrities? It's completely unrealistic but people still buy into it.

6 - I come from a time when people were ashamed of gossip and indiscretions.

Have you noticed a change? I certainly have. Cheaters used to be a minority. Now you will hear people actually bragging about how many people they've slept with or describing intimate details of their sex lives that are nobody's business but their own. Well, guess what? If it looks like a pig and oinks like a pig, it's a pig. While I'm at it, could both sexes please stop talking about each other like a piece of meat hanging in a butcher shop? It's ugly and completely disrespectful and does nothing to help anyone's self image.

5 – Celebrities already have way more attention than they need.

If one of these people eats an egg salad sandwich for lunch everyone knows about it before the last bite goes down their throat. No wonder most of them are self centered snobs who think the world revolves around what they say and do. It does! If Jennifer Aniston shaved her head all except a lock in the front that looked like a unicorn horn and braided that lock and dyed it purple, I guarantee it would be the latest trend for several months or longer. I don't have to write about these people. It's already well covered.

4 - I'm sick of young people emulating celebrities.

To be sure, there are probably some celebrities who are worth emulating but for the most part, not so much. Plus there are so many different stories out there, who knows what the truth is any more? We don't know these people personally, so why would we want our kids learning life lessons from them? You wouldn't let a complete stranger babysit your children would you? Yet, that's exactly what you do when you allow them to be caught up in celebrity worship.

3 - They already have enough of my money. I go to their movies. I buy their music. I do appreciate their talent. That's enough. Constantly writing about celebrities just brings them more and more money. It's free advertising and promotion for someone who can easily afford a publicist. I can't even afford to advertise my own business, why should I advertise theirs?

2 - I'm just not that into them.

My grandchildren are way cuter than their babies. My boyfriend is way hotter than Brad Pit in my humble opinion. My awesome youngest daughter is a fantastic yoga instructor! My son plays the guitar like nobody's business. My oldest daughter is a computer whiz and a great writer. My whole family are a bunch of certified geniuses as far as I'm concerned. I'm just not that into celebrities. My own friends and family are much more diverse and interesting to me.

1 - I'm not all sugar plums and rainbows.

My Mom always taught me if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. Well, I guess I've pretty much blown that one! If I wrote about celebrities, I would have to tell it like it is, just like always. I'm not perfect either, but I'd be bashing and trashing these people like nobody's business and probably do nothing but make myself look bad in the end. Plus, chances are, most of them wouldn't deserve it. They could be perfectly nice people. We just don't know them, that's all.

So, there you go, that's why I don't write about celebrities. How about you?