Ramble on a Grey Day

Hey peeps!
Sorry i've been mia for a while. I think I'm still recovering from holy week at church. I promise to update my walk to mordor soon and I have my April empties post about half done.
This year my allergies have been awful and it's hard to feel like doing anything when my head hurts a lot and I constantly carry Ricola and Kleenex with me in my purse.
My ballet recital is in less than a month, so I'm getting excited about that.
I've been pretty down recently. Two teachers from my college died recently and I'm having some trouble working through my feelings about it.
I haven't even made any cool foods recently, so I can't give you any fun recipes.
Let me know if there are any posts in particular that you want to see.
Ttyl

Vegan Grilled Cheese Recipe

Recipe: Vegan Grilled Cheese

 

 

It's Good Friday, y'all! This is my favorite church service of the year, so I woke up feeling super excited and ready to face the day. But that can be a later post. This is a recipe for grilled cheese.

I know, I know, who needs a recipe for a grilled cheese?  Well I was bored, so here you are.

 

Ingredients:

bread

vegan cheese (I used Daiya Mozzarella Shreds because they were what was available to me at the store, but I recommend the vegan Go Veggie Slices or Daiya slices instead so they won't fall into the pan as you are cooking)

vegan butter substitute (I used earth balance)

 

Directions:

 

1. Slice the bread

2. Melt the earth balance in the pan on medium heat

 

3. Place the daiya on the bread in the pan

 

4. Place the other piece of bread on top and cook until the cheese melts, turning over halfway through. Serve with a salad or a fruit smoothie (pictured is orange juice in my old Nalgene bottle).

 

 

I hope you enjoyed this super simple recipe. I will be posting more once Easter is over and I don't have to be at church every single day singing.  

Rambles and Such on a Rainy Day

My acne is much better!

Rambles and Such on a Rainy Day

So, I've been doing the same things I normally do. Ballet, church, reading. My brother came home for spring break a few weeks ago, and then I got sick. I've had a sinus infection that is slowly going away.

 

I pretty much gave up on trying to get away from the fandoms for lent. It was nearly impossible with all the posts I would see on facebook. 

 

This lent has been really strange. I've really had some ups and downs. Two weeks ago, my former conducting teacher passed away. I was distraught and confused and angry when I learned that he was dying. I knew he was sick and I knew he didn't have much time left, but I didn't know that it was going to be so immediate and that I would never get to see him again. I cried and moped and hid away from the world. This is how I deal with grief. Because of this, I didn't go on the computer for about a week, so I didn't update my posts at all.

This little guy sometimes hangs out in our mailbox! Isn't he cute!

It's Holy Week now. I'm super excited about the upcoming services and the music we are going to sing. I am a little sad that lent is almost over, but I'm excited for all the Easter music we get to sing for several weeks.

My baby plants from my friend Katie

I haven't been going to the gym much because of being sick and I missed a week of ballet. I feel super weak and I haven't made it through a whole class in two weeks. It's super frustrating and I hate feeling sick and useless.

Some Miso Tofu Pasta I made... yummy!

On a brighter note, I've been watching tons of YouTube videos recently. I watched some cool vids about using hair oil and I've been trying that out. I've also been watching lots of videos about herbal remedies for sinus infections... not so helpful.

Today is one of those days that started out gorgeous: the sun was shining, the azaleas were in riotous bloom, the squirrels and mourning doves were chowing down by the birdfeeder, and all was right with the world. Then it started pouring! I thought I was going to drive off the causeway it was coming down so hard! There was lightning and thunder that shook the walls! (It's still raining at the moment, but not as much thunder in the immediate vicinity.) I love this kind of weather as long as I don't have to drive in it. It makes me feel content and homey, like I could curl up with a book and a throw and a mug of Earl Grey and be happy forever.  That's actually sort of the reason I named my blog "Healing Rain on a Sunny Day". These days have a healing quality to them that can't be replicated by artificial means. It reminds me of the first stanza of the poem "Song of the Lotos-Eaters" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

THERE is sweet music here that softer falls
Than petals from blown roses on the grass,
Or night-dews on still waters between walls
Of shadowy granite, in a gleaming pass;
Music that gentlier on the spirit lies,	5
Than tired eyelids upon tired eyes;
Music that brings sweet sleep down from the blissful skies.
Here are cool mosses deep,
And thro' the moss the ivies creep,
And in the stream the long-leaved flowers weep,	10
And from the craggy ledge the poppy hangs in sleep.

 Isn't that just gorgeous! Here is the full poem. I urge you to read it and revel in the imagery Tennyson is able to evoke in a relatively short poem. I sang a beautiful arrangement of the stanza printed above in high school women's chorale. Here's a pretty good recording I found of the arrangement by D. Gawthrop.

 

 

So anyway, I'm getting over my sinus infection and I can mostly go through the day without coughing my lungs out. I am getting tired of blowing my nose. I've been through two bags of Ricola and a huge box of Kleenex in the past week... not fun!

I ended up buying a hard case for my ukulele last week when I noticed it was on sale on Amazon. I got it for less than $30 including shipping when it usually costs $60 plus shipping, so I felt like I really got a deal on it. Isn't it cute! It is pictured next to my dad's full size guitar case if you wanted a size reference. I also redeemed some of my birchbox points on a fantastic candle and ordered some sheet music by Samuel Barber. I somehow even had them all delivered on the same day, so I was full of package opening joy.

A candle I made two years ago

A baby palm cross I made after church

I've been really trying to use up my non-cruelty free and non-vegan makeup and beauty products recently. I've been discovering some fun products I had forgotten about and trying new products and samples from the elf beauty bundles and birchbox, respectively. I absolutely adore some of the elf products and I'll do full reviews of them later (the mineral eyeliner is fantastic and I think I've found a lip gloss I actually love).

 

That's about it for now, folks! I'll attempt to update my walk to Mordor either this week, or the week after Easter. Until then, ta ta!

Awesome palm arrangement at church

Me with Meagan's cat that thinks he's a dog... Look how much fun he's having. Courtesy of Meagan!

Makeup Products I Have Used Up in March 2014

Product Empties March

Good Day Everybody!

I decided to make these monthly posts so you all can follow along with me as I use up products in my makeup collection. I also realized that I should probably take some pictures of the products so you can know what they look like. The numbering is a continuation of last month's products since I am still in the same no-buy/ project ten pan/ project however-many-it-takes-to-use-up-stuff pan.

Since I did a lot of traveling in the end of February and beginning of March, I used sample sized products more often than I normally do. I also used up a whole heck of a lot of non-cruelty free products and non-vegan products, so I'm making good headway in my goal to purge my collection of non-vegan products.

* denotes cruelty free
** cruelty free but parent company is not
v vegan product
Bold denotes product I will repurchase


13. Juicy Couture: Couture LaLa Malibu Eau de Toilette Spray .05 Fl oz (sample)

Couture LaLa Malibu and Journey Packaging

I used this sample (from a Birchbox, I think) while I was in NYC visiting Sara. I love the scent of most Juicy Couture products and I really wish they were vegan because I would wear them all the time. This eau de toilette smells like "sparkling mandarin" with "sweet pink sugar" that is supposed to embody the playfulness of Malibu. I will not repurchase.

14. Archive Relaxing Revitalizing Conditioner Green Tea and Willow 1 oz (sample from hotel)

 

I had trouble finding information on this brand since it seems to be sold exclusively to hotels and is no longer sold in retail. This conditioner was super thick and smelled great, but didn't do too much for my hair. Because my hair is long, there was only enough product for two uses when I stretched it by adding water to the bottle. From what I read, these products seem to be made with the goal of full recycling ability for the packaging and wrappers. I have no idea if they are cruelty free or vegan.

15. Journey by Harvey Prince (sample fragrance)*

 

I really liked this fragrance. It has notes of Indonesian Clove Bud, Australian Sandalwood, Moroccan Rose, French Bergamot, Indian Tuberose, Japanese Orange Flower, Lebanese Cedarwood, Turkish Cyclamen, South African Freesia. The website claims the products to be cruelty-free. I'm not planning on repurchasing this fragrance because it is too complex a scent for me for everyday.

 



16. L'eau Serge Lutens  Eau de Parfum .03 Fl oz (sample)

 

I got this sample about three years ago in a birchbox and I fell in love with the scent. It is a really romantic clean linen scent that clings to your skin for hours. One spritz of this is really all you need. I saved it for special occasions because it was so decadent and too expensive for me to justify buying a full size version of this product. Serge Lutens is owned by Shisedo, a company that condones animal testing.

17. CVS Lavender Epsom Salts

 

I use Epsom salts in my baths after strenuous ballet classes or workouts. They help me relax and soak my sore muscles. I like the lavender scent well enough (it is much  better than the chamomile green tea scented salts in my other product post) but it fades almost immediately.

You can see the giant rip in the bottom of the pouch... not a good thing when the packaging rips!

 

18. Bausch and Lomb Biotrue Contact solution 10 fl oz

 

 

Again, I am still using this product even though it is not cruelty free or vegan friendly. I have only found one or two brands of cruelty free contact solution online and I'm worried about trying something new that may not agree with my contacts and have to pay a bunch of shipping costs for a product I won't like. Maybe I'll become braver in the future and try them out.

 

19. Organix Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Intense Moisturizing Treatment *

 

 

This is one of my favorite brands of intensive treatments or hair masks that I've ever used. It makes my hair super soft and silky and leaves my hair smelling wonderfully for several days. I only used this product once every week or two and it lasted for several months. I love the argan oil scent in this line of products. I will not repurchase this because it is not vegan.

 

20. Secret Scent Expressions Invisible Solid in Ooh-la-la Lavender

 

 

I've been using this scent or other scents in the scent expressions line of Secret Deodorants for several years. I like the smells of these deodorants and antiperspirants and they really help keep body odor away throughout the day. They also do not stain clothes like some other solid deodorants I've tried in the past. These are made by Procter and Gamble, a company that tests on animals, so I will not be repurchasing this product.

 

21. Hot Topic Black Glitter Eyeliner 

 

I bought this eyeliner the first time I ever went into a Hot Topic when I was a freshman in college. It is probably the best and blackest pencil eyeliner I ever had and I got it on sale. They don't make these anymore (the eyeliners they sell now are harder and almost painful to apply to the eyelid) so I can't find information on whether or not this product was cruelty free or vegan. I don't believe it was.

 

22. Ulta Legendary Lengths Lengthening Mascara in Jet Black

 

 

This mascara was given to me by my teacher who didn't want it. I liked it enough to keep using it, but it wasn't my favorite mascara. It made my lashes super long, but dried out really quickly. Once it dried out, it made my lashes clumpy instead of lengthy. The brand is not cruelty free, so I will not be buying from them any time soon,

 

23. Bath and Body Works Sweet Pea Shea Enriched Shower Gel 3 fl oz (sample size) **

 

 

I LOOOOOVE sweet pea scented anything. This shower gel was savored until the end of its life because it was such a great scent. I won't be buying it again because B and BW's parent company is not cruelty free.

 

24. Bausch and Lomb Sight Savers Pre-moistened Lens Cleaning Tissues

 

 

 

I'm pretty sure I got these when I got my first pair of glasses in fifth grade. The copyright date on the box said 1999. Yeah, moving on. I found these in my bathroom drawer when I was cleaning it out and decided to use them up since I've been using my glasses more now that it is pollen season and my contacts have been bothering my eyes. They are individually wrapped pre-moistened little pieces of paper that are supposed to make your glasses cleaner. They work mostly, but aren't the best lens cleaners out there. B and L test on animals so I will not be buying them again.

 

25. Tresemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo for oily/ straight to normal hair 2 oz (sample size)

 

I can truthfully say that I hated this dry shampoo with a passion and only used it once all my other ones were gone. It smelled horrible (like cleaning supplies mixed with rest stop bathroom air freshener and baby powder) and the smell never went away. This product is not worth it at all! Don't buy it! (I think I got this in a birchbox or beauty army sample box). Tresemme is owned by Unilever which tests on animals. I will never buy this again.

 

26. Colgate Luminous Enamel Strengthening Crystal Clean Mint Fluoride Toothpaste 

 

 

I have five or six tubes of toothpaste all being used simultaneously and this is the first one to be used up. It was probably one of my favorite toothpastes because of the taste and how it made my teeth feel. It didn't make them luminous, but they did look clean, which is the point of the product. Colgate-Palmolive tests on animals. I will not be repurchasing this product.

 

27. Bausch and Lomb Biotrue Contact Solution 4 fl oz (sample size) 

 

And my last product is a travel size of the Biotrue contact solution that I took with me traveling earlier this year.  

 

Look out for next month's product empties. I hope you enjoyed this post. Please comment down below if you have any vegan and cruelty free alternatives to the products mentioned above.

Recipe: Vegan Lasagna

Recipe: Vegan Lasagna

It has been some time since I did an actual recipe here on the blog. I made this a few weeks ago when I had some time and I finally got the pictures to upload from my phone. I hope you enjoy!

I got the urge to make some lasagna when I was at the store to buy some tofu, so I randomly grabbed some ingredients and made this without consulting a cookbook or recipe. I had several people ask me for the recipe when I posted the photo on facebook, so I thought I might as well post it here on the blog. It tasted super yummy and both my parents enjoyed it and ate it for several meals.

Ingredients:

Lasagna noodles
1 can tomato sauce (seasoned or unseasoned to taste)
Baby Portobello mushrooms
1 can low sodium diced tomatoes
2 containers of Garlic and Herb or Chive and Herb Tofutti Cream Cheese
1 Large can tomato paste
Daiya Mozzarella Shreds
oregano

basil

Instructions:

1. Place a layer of dry noodles along the bottom of the dish. Don't worry about covering up all the bottom, the noodles will expand when they cook.

2. Pour the can of tomato sauce over the noodles.

3. Add another layer of dry noodles on top.

4. Wash and slice the mushrooms. Make sure to cut off the end of the stem because it is tough.

 

5. Spread one container of Tofutti cream cheese over the noodles.

6. Cover with half of the mushrooms.

7. Cover with can of diced tomatoes.

8. Add another layer of noodles. Add vegan pesto. Add another container of cream cheese.

9. Add another layer of noodles, then a large can of tomato paste.

10. Add the rest of the mushrooms.

 

11. Add the last of the noodles. Pour 1 can of water over entire dish and cover. Place in refrigerator for several hours (or cook at this time and add a little more water).

12. Cover dish with foil and bake for 1 hour on 350 to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

13. Top with oregano, basil, and Daiya mozzarella shreds. Bake another 5 to 10 minutes. Serve with a salad..

 

Salad that accompanied the lasagna