Blogging Helps Mental Health

I've been blogging for almost 5 years now. I never got into it for money 

or fame, and never expected a single comment. I did it for a hobby which 

turned into a passion. As the years went on I found less and less people

 following but it never stopped me from doing what I love. Because simply, it

 made me feel better and has connected me to others who share the same passion.

You may remember my post here talking about my personal struggles with 

mental health. Well I can tell you a few things blogging has done to help. 

First it made me appreciate life and others who share this big wide world.

It connected me to crafting and learning new ways of being creative....

I can make things and inspire others to make things too.

It allowed me to post about my love of muffins

 and find amazing recipes you share on muffins too!

It made me learn that being a homebody can be a good thing, and 

sitting in front of my computer can be productive, not just a waste of time.

I could share in my passion for sweet potatoes and learn to 

spice things up with cheese, making for more enjoyable mealtimes.

And its a better cure than wine (hard to believe)

 It helps me to unwind, destress, and rejuvinate.

Question: How has blogging made

 an impact on your own mental health?

Breakfast and Coronas

Normally I don't put this much effort into my breakfast

...but thankfully I did!

Scrambled eggs and oven roasted potatoes/sweet potatoes, and salsa

It took about 40 minutes, enough time to 

make a coffee and catch up on some reading

It's a little superfluous adding so many pictures of one meal, 

but as you remember here, it just goes with the territory

And finally, I did what every recently graduated student would do...

Enjoy a Corona! Happy hump day!

The Coup Restaurant

Yesterday I met up with one of my best friends back

 home who happened to be in Calgary this week visiting

She took me to The Coup + Meet Restaurant & 

Lounge, a popular vegetarian eatery on 17th Ave

The menu: Small Bites and Appetizers

Salads

The Coup is dedicated to providing customers with quality organic and 

local food, all made from scratch. They compost, minimally use recycled 

paper products, and features plenty of gluten-free and/or vegan options

We decided to share a couple dishes that our lovely waitress suggested for us

Starting with their full-sized Organic Rainbow Greens Salad

Shredded carrots, beets, pea shoots, rainbow greens 

and seeds with a light Tomato, Leek & Herb Dressing

It was so refreshing and crisp

After tasting a couple different organic wines from their menu we 

decided to order a glass of our favourites; Forbidden Fruit Pearsuasion

 Dry White Wine for my friend and Castelmaure Red Wine for myself

Our shared entree was the Dragon Bowl with a Green Curry and Coconut Sauce

Steamed and fresh seasonal veggies with stir-fried tofu on quinoa, 

topped with cilantro, seeds/nuts, with a Green Curry and Coconut Sauce

And after our incredibly scrumptious and healthy dinner, we

 headed to the mall to take silly photo booth pictures together

Jess and myself (on the left)

Care Package #3

It seems the trend of receiving care packages from my mom 

is catching on with the other members of my family as my oldest 

brother just sent me one after his vacation to the Dominican Republic

Before you make assumptions on what the box possibly contains, I will 

warn you that Lee is a humorous guy and this is not your typical care package

It's a box of gag gifts that have a funny story to them, 

which I'll explain to you the way he explained it to me...

So what do bags of rice, boxes of curry, beer and toilet paper have in common?

Step One: Prepare a box of curry

Real Thai Red Curry Packets

"Ready with or without meat added"

Step Two: Pour curry over cooked brown rice

Sawat-D Healthy Grain Organic Jasmine Brown Rice

Step Three: Wash the meal down with Labatt Wildcat Strong Beer

Step Four: Grab the roll of toilet paper and run to 

the washroom to prepare for what will happen next...

Don't worry, my brother didn't actually recommend I use any of these 

products. I kept the rice and curry though, which will come in handy 

whenever I am stumped for dinner. I poured the beer down the drain

but kept the toilet paper...because we all need toilet paper, right? Haha

Question: Do you like giving people 

funny gag gifts and/or receiving them?

Friday FWD: Christmas Cake Recipe

"Dear Friends:


Since the Season is upon us, I thought I would share one of my favorite
recipes with you. Feel free to share it with your friends and loved ones. 

Christmas Fruit Cake

1 cup of water 

1 tsp baking soda 

1 cup brown sugar 

1 cup sugar 

1 bottle Jose Cuervo 

2 cups of dried fruit 

1-2 cups nuts

4 large eggs

1 tsp lemon juice

1 tsp salt 

Directions: 

Sample the Cuervo to check quality. 

Take a large bowl, check the Cuervo again. 

To be sure it is of the highest quality, pour one level cup and drink. 

Repeat. 

Turn on the electric mixer. 

Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. 

Add one teaspoon of sugar.

Beat again. 

At this point it's best to make sure the Cuervo is still OK.

Try another cup .... just in case 

Turn off the mixerer thingy.

Break 2 leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit. 

Pick the frigging fruit off floor. 

Mix on the turner. 

If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers just pry it loose with a drewscriver. 

Sample the Cuervo to check for tonsisticity.

Next, sift two cups of salt. Or something. Who giveshz a crap. 

Check the Cuervo 

Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. Add one table.

Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find.

Greash the oven. 

Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over.

Don't forget to beat off the turner. 

Finally, throw the bowl through the window, 

Finish the Jose Cuervo and kick the cat. 

CHERRY MISTMAS!" 

Note: Above is a copy of a forwarded chain email and is in no way affiliated with the

 views or opinions of Snacking Squirrel. That said, please enjoy with lighthearted humor

Mommy's Sippy Cup

Happy Birthday to my Mom who turns 53 23 today! 

Because our family is notorious for giving unique gifts and

 my brothers and I love to joke around, we bought her an extra

 special birthday gift. Inside this "OUR Name is Mud" box is...

MOMMY'S SIPPY CUP

A goblet for adult drinks, you know, apple juice, soda, water? haha

Fun polka dot shapes and spiral designs

My Mom proudly holding her new sippy cup... 

hmm I'd say it's better than last year's gift, no?