i LOVE food...

a couple of years ago when i met my partner, we made a decision to go Organic with our diet. it took some time to get the hang of shopping, and where to buy things in a more cost effective way. One thing i have learned to love is shopping for items in bulk - i normally save all my glass jars, wash and refill them with dried goods adding new labels i created. It's actually worked out well, and it definitely decreases the amount of garbage that we throw out each week. Packaging, although cute and attractive is also pretty wasteful once you get it home... don't you agree?

i don't know if i have mentioned this before, but i LOVE to cook - especially on Sundays when i have more time. i was worried when i started this new diet i would be losing a lot of my great recipes in fear of them not fitting in - but i am finding so many more fun things to create. tonight i made a killer Mexican style casserole with all veggies - and we practically licked the plate. it's pretty easy to keep yourself healthy and still enjoy the flavors that you love.

this past week a good friend of mine turned me on to a website called, "Oh She Glows" - it's about cooking clean food and doing so vegan-style. at first i was a little hesitant to try, but the first recipe was short of a miracle. i made the "Roasted Tomato, Onion, and Coconut Milk Soup"... Oh Man, i practically smeared this all over my face! i can't wait to try more of these delicious recipes, and one in particular i will be using is for her Hummus, and Veggie Burgers.

i Love Food...

Pre Planned Life...

it's been one week since the initial diagnosis, and getting the ball rolling toward my new ending. since last week i have been eating a regular meal plan, joined the gym and started swimming again, and learning to live without... it's amazing how quickly you can turn your life around when forced, and although i don't know a single person that likes to be told what to do, it's humbling to fall into place and watch the progress.

The eating plan (cause i hate saying diet) was a bit tough, i'm the kind of person that considered Brunch as my breakfast and that was usually on the weekends only! normally i didn't eat a healthy b'fast, if at all.. i always claimed friday's as "Fast Food Fridays"when we, my office co workers, would go to McDonalds for breakfast, and then for lunch order in something bad. i always knew that when i went home i would be eating something healthy, and most of the time i broke the rules and ate out for lunch a couple times a week.. Now it's a different story, i am packing a full menu for work including Breakfast, snacks and Lunch - this past week my breakfast consisted each day of 1 Organic Boiled egg (eating the whites only), Greek Yogurt with Fresh Blueberries, and a very small piece of Smoked Salmon. i had iced coffee to wash it all down, but instead of the flavored creamer, i opted for fat free milk, and black iced coffee (no sweetner). i normally had fruit for my first snack, being careful not to have much after lunch, and for lunch it was always something small.... so sad.... for my afternoon snack i opt for cashews and then a nice dinner. my friend Heather Neely Dixon would be so proud!

the doctor recommends working out 4/5 days a week, and since i used to swim in college, i found a YMCA close to my apartment that has a HUGE pool. i have to admit that going at first was a bit intimidating but i made some acquaintances and it's becoming more exciting. my friend Andrew calls me the Mayor of NY cause i make friends everywhere i go - it's always been in my nature to talk to strangers... it's just what it do. More about swimming in a later post....

this new ending is about pre-planning, and making sure that you have all your ducks in a row. for those of you that know me, you know that i am OCD. i take pride in a clean orderly place - and the same goes when thinking about my lunches i take to work - they must be thought out and ready to go. overall this was a pretty good week, i had a few hurdles but learned to jump those. Hope you have a wonderful week and thanks for stopping by to read. 

MELTDOWN

So i've done pretty good keeping up with the gym, and keeping active - i think i am seeing results. The only hard part for me is staying FULL! it seems like every time i eat i leave the table more hungry, and before you ask, yes i am drinking plenty of water. i think it's going to be a while before i feel completely comfortable with this whole thing.

i went to a friends beach house this weekend for our annual "Beach Bum Weekend" and i ate pretty damn good! i decided that if i stick to a routine during the work week - eating balanced meals, and taking my lunch - then i can kinda be bad on the weekends. Although it's tough to cook at home every night and pack lunches for the next day, it's fun to try new recipes and finding a new path is not so bad.

the other night i had a complete meltdown, the 'Woe is Me' thing would have been the perfect title to that performance. After things didn't come together for dinner, i threw myself on the bed and thought about what i could be eating.... Dinner in Chinatown, my favorite Peruvian place, or hell, my Bean Enchiladas with Mole' sauce. i laid there thinking/feeling sorry for myself, but then i thought about all the other people/friends i have in my life struggling with much bigger problems...when in doubt, think about those folks. i got up, finished the performance and got busy with dinner. Ha!

i guess the old saying is true, "the grass is always greener on the other side.... but it's probably fertilized with Bullshit.."

Starting a New Ending..

it's been a while since i've blogged - i have to catch you up on so many things that have happened in my life. 2012 was deemed a "New Beginning" by my aunt, and little did i know how potent those words would be. 2012 is the year to take a strong hold on my mind, body & spirit, This is the last year i will be in my 30's - i will be 40 in April of 2013 - and i have already started noticing my body making changes. it's interesting really, i can see my head of hair, and facial hair turning grey... my physique is changing, and my idea of a "good time" usually consists of good Food, and good Company.

gone are the days of staying up till 3am during the work week, partying till the cows come home, and now Eating all the things i want. This Month i found out that i am a Type 2 Diabetic - this is mainly genetic, however i can say that i haven't had the best routine when it comes to my overall health. i was told once, "Do what you have to do now, before someone tells you you Have to.." and now that time has come. Turning 40 for me will be about making a "New Ending". What does this mean? - this means making better choices for myself, and thinking before i put something in my mouth...

So here is the Good News - this means i get to experiment more in the kitchen. most of you who know me know that i LOVE to eat! i am learning that i can still have all the flavor i Love, but in a healthier way...

Here is how it is going to work: Herban Nomad will be about my life, my challenges, and my success. i will talk to you about what is for dinner through the week, and i will store my recipes on Herban Flavor. Most of my recipes will come from other blogs, and books that i find - but rest assured, i will give you all the links you need.

Here is to 2012, my New Ending....
xo
D

2011: Looking Back...

Another year down, and a lifetime to go - 2011 was the year of new beginnings and the end of an Era. All things considered, this was a wonderful year - i learned a lot about myself and about others (good and bad). Although it's easy to focus on the negative, it's more productive to keep looking at the positive and let's make 2012 the Best Year we can....

Here are some photos of My 2011:

Alvina Garza

(My Memaw)

1920 - 2011

Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Mathieu

My First time in Bama'

Gassaway W.V.

Turning 30

Sunnyside - Washington Irving's Home

Friends

Closer Friends

Family Visit's (Coney Island)

Phina turned 6

Apple Picking Upstate NY

Accomplishments

AB turned 4

'Breuckelen & Honey' was born

Storm King

Parker was born

Halloween was not overlooked

Sinterklaas was celebrated

Mia got her Share

Cruz turned 1

NYE in Times Square...

Make those memories in 2012!

Chloe's Hell's Kitchen

when you live in NYC your friends become your extended family - many of us that live here are transplants from other states/countries, in fact there are 800 languages spoken here at any given time - much like most of the US when you leave town and have a pet, sometimes your only option is to ask a friend to dog sit. Our friend Emily left town recently and left us in charge of her dog Chloe, so for the next week we are living with Chloe in her and Emily's place.

Lucky for Chloe she lives in the Dirty Thirties (that's on the West side of Midtown), right on the outskirts of Hell's Kitchen. The neighborhood is perfectly preserved with all the classic NYC brownstone's (with a few high rises going up close to 10th). Hell's kitchen is one of the last neighborhoods to still have the local Butcher, Seafood Shop, Farmers Market, and Spice Shop - all the shops are on the same avenue and it's impossible not to stop by each at least once a day to find something new.

the first few days we have spent with Chloe, i've been sick. My throat is swollen, my nose faucet is on, and i feel lousy. the only thing that seems to have helped is sitting around watching Chloe, having her here has made me laugh, and she must know i'm sick cause she likes to be near me all the time. Once i get to feeling better i can go on down to the Spice Shop and find something to get into. Until then you can comment on how cute Chloe is....

Keep Inspired

inspiration is something i collect every single day of my life. it's part of my occupation, it's part of my sanity, and it's part of being a Creative Person. As a designer, i think it's very important to always keep, and surround yourself with various inspiring objects/things - these can come in several different forms. i tend to keep several collections hanging on my walls at home, and keep interesting pieces of jewelry, clothing and hats in my reach at all times.

Recently i was talking to a close friend at work about creativity, and the possibility of our profession being a side effect of our ever working minds. He agreed that most fashion designers usually have other, stronger talents with different types of media than fabric, and accessories. with this in mind we agreed that inspiration should be sought after daily, and even seasonally - i mean without it, how else do we evolve?

here are some photo's of my inspiration for Spring:

Enjoy Life!