Yesterday was the best day we have had in a long long time. Why? Because we got to visit the BEST HOUSE EVER!
Our friend, Mary, came to pick us up and we went to her house for the very first time. Her gorgeous house outside of the city. YAY! The simple fact of being surrounded by trees was almost enough to qualify this for the BHE title. It has been so long since I have had anything but concrete and loud neighbours around me that I had forgotten what silence was like.
Well, almost-silence, because guess what else there was in the house. ANIMALS AND A BABY!!!! And not just any baby but a baby so adorable that every time a new photo is posted on Facebook, Melina and I both yell "Liiilllyyyyyy" with glee. Dainty little 10 month old girl with the bluest eyes and having of the longest lashes you have ever seen. I will admit that I am putty in her teeny little hands.
Angus
And are you ready to hear about the animals? You can never really be ready for this pure AWESOMENESS! Two big dogs, one of whom was an immense love sponge, seven cats and a wee little foster kitten. There were animals everywhere and it was the most amazing thing I have ever seen. Lily was sat on the floor the entire time we were there and played with toys, and her interaction with the animals was enough to make me cry. They were so comfortable with each other. Anyone who claims "I have to get rid of my cat / dog because I am pregnant and what if they hurt the baby" should visit this house.
Little wee Prince, but I think his name should be Jack
Sorry to invite people over, Mary!
I would show you photos of baby with animals but it is not my child so I want to be respectful. You will have to take my word for it.
Beautiful Ariel and Angus
In so many ways this is the life that we are working so hard for. The house may be further in the country, but the chaos and love of all the animals running around is a dream. It is THE dream.
~ Denise
I got permission for Lily pics!
As so many of you know, we have hit a block in making it towards our goals. Insurance companies SUCK and have led us to creating a bit of a debt and we are working on paying off every penny. We have had to find ways to make our money go a lot further. Cheap and delicious and healthy meals? Sure thing! Enter the Happy Herbivore.
We have recommended the Happy Herbivore to anyone who will sit still long enough to listen. The recipes are super easy, they are all healthy and rely on very easily found ingredients.
The first is probably our very favourite. Black Bean and Salsa Soup.
This
recipe looks so simple, but it is amazingly delicious. I have cravings for this soup. Cravings. Like, I-will-never-live-without-it kind of cravings. And it is so cheap! YUM!!!
Now, as we are vegan, beans are a big part of our lives. Love it! The next great, and cheap,
recipe we love is for Black Bean Burgers.
Now here is the thing about bean burgers - do not expect them to be the same texture as a faux meat burger. Make sure you cook them long enough, and I substitute the ketchup in the recipe for BBQ sauce. A nice bun and DEELISH! Who says vegans don't eat yummies?
And now for something completely different, or in this case without black beans, is this amazing
Chana Palak Masala.
This is super versatile. We usually have spinach and some other veg in the freezer. One time, I had already started cooking when I realized that we had no spinach but we did have some frozen asparagus. And you guessed it - DEELISH!! Seriously, these recipes are no fail!!
It makes me feel like we can do this. We WILL get out of debt and we WILL make it to every single one of our goals, and we'll be healthy doing it. Hells yeah!
** All photos come from the amazing
Happy Herbivore website. Do yourself a favour and check it out.
So, I'm trying to have more fun. And learning something new is always good, right?
Starting with something nice and simple, you know, not 'home rocket-making for newbies'. Manicures. I have hands. Two of them in fact.
If any of you have ever visited Pinterest, you probably have new hobbies now too. Mixing white vinegar and original blue Dawn is revolutionary. I laugh in the face of soap scum.
This is one of my favourite colour combos and techniques.
-Melina. : D
Between doing her nails and Skinnygirl Margaritas, she may never leave the house again.
~ Denise
