Look Ma....No Meat!!!

That's right!  It's official!  I have been meatless since December 15th, 2010 and I feel great!  No really,  I feel like a million bucks!  I turned 40 on January 17th and I was determined for the next 40 years to be better than these last 40.

I mean don't get me wrong, I have a great life but I 'm still trying to get it right.  Many things have happened this past year.  Well, I got my hair locked.  Not dreadlocks, but sisterlocks...and no, they are not the same.  That's one less thing I have to worry about because I wake up and my hair is done.  I shower, dress, and roll out in less than 45 minutes each morning.  I used to wake up at 6:00am and spend 30 minutes doing my hair, so now I sleep that extra 30 minutes.  I guess I could get up and workout, but that would be to much like right.

Anywho, after the hair thing, I really began to think about changing many of the things that cause me to stress daily like my diet for example.  I, like most women I know, have been struggling with my weight for many years now.  People always say, "Girl, what are you trying to do?"  My response is always the same, "I am trying to be comfortable in my own skin...not yours."  Aren't I the judge of whether I am satisfied with how I look or not?  My goal has always been to be in single digits and right now I am, but I absolutely refuse to buy any clothes larger than a size 10...period.  That may be vain, but it is what it is.

I have pushed myself to try new foods. Like asparagus, mushrooms, and even tofu!  I have even been drinking wheatgrass each morning before I go to work.  It smells much stronger than it tastes.  I want to live a long and healthy life and most importantly, set good examples for my children.  I've been working out more and eating a lot less junk food.  I'm not ready to give up cookies yet, but I am eating more fruit.  I started taking my vitamins everyday like I am supposed to and I feel grrrreat!

Stir Fried Tofu...Yummy!

This is my latest creation...Stir Fried Tofu!  It was really easy to make and it was absolutely delicious.  If my 13-year-old son liked it, trust me, it was good.  He said the tofu tasted like chicken.  I am making better choices for him as well.  I didn't take a picture of the 1st tofu dish I made and my husband loved it so much, he took it for lunch the next day!  My daughter is 18 and a freshman in college, so I don't have much control over what she eats, but we talk frequently and I tell her to try to eat more fruits and veggies and of course she says, "Yes, Ma'am."  I will be able to tell when she comes home if she has been listening to me or not...her hips and thighs won't lie.

My mom has been buying the veggie products too and so far, so good.  She's 65 and cooks everyday and eats well.  She takes care of my dad and everybody else.  I want to be healthy so I can be around to help take of her for a change.  I told my 71-year-old dad that I was going to make him some tofu and he said, "What the hell is tofu?"  I just laughed and he later said that he would try the "Kung Fu" if I said it was good.  At least he got the "fu" part right!

Natural Beauty is...trying new things and cherishing the old!