Our market haul this week. So much more stuff now that it’s summer!

My bread! It rose! I hear it tastes good! Yes, each sentence of this post will end with an exclamation mark! Because I am thrilled!

Okay, I’ll stop. But SERIOUSLY this is so exciting. I’ve seen more failed bread in the last week than I can even bear to tell you. First, I obviously wasn’t using recipes that could accomodate freshly milled flour. Then I maybe didn’t deal with my yeast properly, because my poor dough didn’t rise. But finally, FINALLY, last night everything went perfectly. And this morning as I left for work I had three beautiful loaves baking.

This is great news, because the recipe I used actually makes six loaves (I halved it while experimenting) - which means I can make one batch at the beginning of the month and have bread for weeks. It’s definitely less expensive than the six dollars a loaf we pay at the farmer’s market, and I love the idea of making it myself from freshly ground flour. Yay! Could not be happier this morning!

I’m not sure if this post belongs here or on my main blog. That’s but one of the many problems with trying to maintain multiple blogs! The biggest issue, of course, is finding time to update them. A few years ago blogging was, very truly, my life. The times I was away from my computer I was either mentally composing posts or stewing about reactions to previous posts. I thought about Tumblr constantly, and almost everything I experienced was considered fodder for my blog. Now, I find I have to really push myself to post each day.

The blog in particular has become tricky to keep current, because I simply don’t have constant updates to share. I go to the Farmer’s Market every Saturday and pick up, with a few variations, the same things each time. I wash my face with honey now. It works amazingly. I take hot yoga classes twice a week. I feel great. How often can I possibly update the status of these things?!

More than that, though, I find myself (oh man please forgive me I do know how this will sound) wanting to just live in the moment. I want to experience my world, my life and just…leave it there. I don’t want to record every minute detail of my existence. Why should I? Isn’t it enough to make a beautiful loaf of bread and then quietly savour the fruits of my labour? Must I then blog about it? I don’t really want to anymore.

I like the idea of sharing my experiences, in the interest of giving other likeminded individuals tips on achieving our goals for living differently. And certainly, as I have new things to share, I will. But barring that, you can expect this blog to be fairly quiet.

In terms of updates….

For now, my weight loss goals are totally on track. I broke 140 last week, weighing in at 139 for the first time in eons. I’m still trying to get to about 130 in the next 4-6 weeks, and then (I hope) I can just relax and try to maintain that weight and gain strength. Outside of one shampoo and condition at the spa for Mother’s Day, my hair hasn’t been touched by nasty chemical laden products since March 1. It looks and feels amazing. Using honey on my face has not just cleared my skin, but actually given me that smooth, soft, glow that drugstore products promise. That means I can wear less make-up, which may be the closest I get to giving it up. I still haven’t found a great bread recipe, but I won’t give up until I do. I have, however, started milling my own flour.

And that’s that. Still living better, still loving it – just not needing to blog about it ad infinitum. Okay? Okay! And that’s that.

1. My response, in picture, to people who say they “can’t tell the difference between the food they buy in conventional stores and food from the farmer’s market.” JUST LOOK AT MY BACON!

2. Last week’s haul from the Wychwood Farmer’s Market. We purchased our first steaks this week and we’re cooking them tonight. I so cannot wait! Also stoked to make a coleslaw from cabbage, celery root and beets. Yum yum yum!

Lentil soup and yummy muffins. Pics as promised! The soup is pretty much the easiest thing ever to make. I got my recipe from The Stop cookbook, which I totally intend to post here eventually!

Sigh. As I was putting on mascara this morning I was asking myself how much longer I can pleed ignorance about the shit I know is in my cosmetics. I guess not long…

I made the most delicious lentil soup (will post the recipe and pictures tomorrow when I have a moment!) and then some muffins to go with and then some yogurt. Eesh! Gotta remember to keep things DOABLE and not throw everything into one night.

Even though the muffins were from a mix (hold on now, an organic mix from the farmer’s market, using freshly ground ancient grains!) I’m still totally exhausted now. And the original plan was to try and fit in another hot yoga class at 8:30!

That’ll have to wait until tomorrow night. This girl needs to rest!

I’m really, really hoping that at some point soon I can go make-up free. Okay, well, foundation free at any rate…I’m always going to need eye make-up!

The biggest thing keeping me from this goal, outside of just being used to wearing make-up, is difficult skin. When I have blemishes and uneven skin I rely on foundation to make everything look a little better. So far, I haven’t found a facial cleanser that does what I need it to. That is, keep my skin consistently clear.

I loved the feel of the olive oil/castor oi/tea tree essential oil cleanser, but after a month of use I realized it was definitely the cause of my breakouts. So now I’m trying…honey! Just honey. From what I’ve read, it works for a lot of people and because of its natural anti-bacterial qualities and mild skin bleaching effects, it keeps your skin clear and glowing.

Admittedly, it seems strange. When my sister told me about it I was pretty skeptical. But I tried it last night and I really liked it! And I’m cautiously optimistic…because already, my skin looks better this morning than it did yesterday. I’ll keep you all posted!

I love our new Wii Fit a little too much. I want to use it obsess about using it for at least an hour every day. Except! I already work out every morning. Plus hot yoga once a week. Plus spinning once a week. JL, JL. Addiction is never okay…even if it’s an addiction to a good thing. Le sigh. In positive news, I’m down six pounds!

If I’m going to make bread every week (and I want to!) I am going to need a good bread recipe. I’ve never found one. I want a recipe for whole wheat bread that ideally has some grains and seeds for texture, but could be used for sandwiches. (A lot of the breads I’ve made crumble easily or are just too dense for a sandwich bread.) Also, one without sugar. Is that so much to ask?!?