Let me take a selfie

Posted on June 5, 2014 | Leave a comment

A few weeks ago, I heard a 10 year old recite a few strange lines and promptly asked the source-the Selfie song. I must admit I live under a rock in some ways, and pop culture comes to my consciousness in interesting ways. I finally looked up and heard the Selfie song for the first time today. Perhaps I’m of a different generation, selfies are not my thing. I did notice last year my new iphone camera could reverse easily for a selfie. I tried a few times and could not create an image with the frame I wanted, so I abandoned taking self portraits with my phone.

The question of the meaning behind a selfie has always been in my mind. What is the message behind this image? (which is a question that can be applied to any art we experience). Is there a sense of validation when an image (especially of ourselves) is taken, shared and seen by others? Self-portraits are a longstanding form of art, and selfies can be an instantly gratifying self-portrait.

I love art and photography. As much I love capturing a frame of an amazing moment in life as a photo, I notice that if I spend too much time taking photos, I take away from enjoying the moment I am trying to capture. The vast majority of the photographs found here on this website are taken by myself or friends with some care and the intent of Making Life Good. Somehow, a selfie even to inspire people to exercise, eat or live well has not crossed my creative threshold, as I seem to prefer creating an image within a larger frame. Prior to ‘let me take a selfie’, I invite the questions: what am I trying to say? what is the frame of reference?

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Posted in Making Life Good Recommends, Vivian Law

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Recipe: Chia Pudding

Posted on May 22, 2014 | Leave a comment

I have tried a few chia pudding recipes and found them to be lacking in the taste department and wondered how the name pudding could be applied to the recipes. While in London, my great friend K bought me a coconut chia pudding from Le Pain Quotidien despite my reluctance. This pudding was delicious!! We looked up the recipe and I tested it as soon as I returned home. There are only 2 ingredients to work with to your liking, canned coconut milk and chia seeds. Coconut milk contains healthy medium chain fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids are found in chia seeds. In addition, this pudding feels like a dessert without any added sugar.

For one serving (use a ratio of 1 part chia seeds to 4 parts coconut milk to make your desired quantity)

1 tablespoon chia seeds

4-5 tablespoons canned coconut milk (full fat tastes best)

In a small bowl, stir together chia seeds and coconut milk. Refrigerate overnight or for at least an hour. Stir, add water if needed, for desired consistency. Top with chopped strawberries, shredded coconut, fruit of your choice, or passion fruit butter for an ultimate rich taste. Enjoy for breakfast, as a snack or dessert.

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Posted in gluten free, Healthy food, healthy recipe, Healthy snack, Making Life Good Recommends, Vegan

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Famous or Infamous?

Posted on May 7, 2014 | Leave a comment

Through an interesting synchronicity of events, I was inadvertently photographed shopping with Dr. Blessyl Buan at lifestyle clothing retailer Lole recently. The article featured in the Globe and Mail is quite interesting: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/montreals-lole-takes-aim-at-struggling-lululemon-market/article18116318/ 

A close friend joked that I was famous and my response was I would prefer to be infamous with her for having ridiculously positive, kaleidoscopic vision to share expansive energy. Later that week I unknowingly met someone famous at a fundraiser and the question of famous and infamous came to me again. I feel that fame is what you are known for and infamy despite the negative connotation (perhaps a bit of mischief is good!) is the effect you create.  Would you prefer to be famous or infamous-is an interesting philosophical question to consider for what you may wish to create in your life.

Ps. It is possible to be famous and infamous at the same time, like the current mayor of Toronto, who is so notorious that there is no need to name him or his many spectacular deeds.

 

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Posted in commentary, Vivian Law

Recipe: Banana Oatmeal Cookies (vegan)

Posted on April 21, 2014 | Leave a comment

In light of declaring love for the Cookie Monster, I must share this new discovery for a vegan oatmeal cookie (Cookie Monster’s second favourite cookie after chocolate chip). These cookies are made with unprocessed, whole foods and are delicious enough to feed the cookie monster inside any one of us. Oats are naturally a gluten free food, but may come into contact with gluten during processing. Purchase gluten free oats (they are more expensive) if you have that degree of sensitivity. I tend to have Bob’s organic rolled oats in my kitchen most of the time.

I ordered the Oh She Glows cookbook on the based on the inspiring appeal of this oatmeal cookie recipe http://ohsheglows.com/2014/01/17/banana-bread-muffin-tops/. I made them right away, repeated the tasty success several times over, so here is my adaptation of the recipe:

3 ripe bananas

1/2 cup pitted dates, packed (soak dry dates, and a mixture of medjool and other pitted dates is nice)

1/4 cup coconut oil

2 cups rolled oats, separated into 1.5 and 0.5 cups

1 tablespoon shredded coconut

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg (optional, freshly grated is best)

1/4 cup currants

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor, mix together dates, bananas, and coconut oil to a fairly smooth consistency. Add 1.5 cups of oats, shredded coconut, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, pulse until oats are ground. Power off food processor and remove the blade. Stir in remaining 0.5 cups of oats and currants into the bowl of the food processor.  Spoon batter onto a baking sheet and flatten slightly with a spatula. Bake for 12 minutes, remove and rotate tray, bake for 12 more minutes or until the desired level of browning is achieved. Makes 12-16 cookies.

Enjoy fresh or within 2-3 days or freeze for a week in an airtight container.

Enjoy vegan banana oatmeal cookies warm off the baking sheet!

Enjoy vegan banana oatmeal cookies warm off the baking sheet to indulge your cookie monster-

 

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Posted in gluten free, Healthy food, healthy recipe, healthy treat, Making Life Good Recommends, Recommendation, Vegan

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Cookie Monster-love him and cookies!

Posted on April 10, 2014 | 3 comments

A friend had this on her facebook the other day shortly after the topic of memes came up in conversation around the dinner table (it was a nice surprise I knew what they are!)

Cookie Monster's Trainer

Who is Cookie Monster’s Trainer? Making Life Good recommends Vivian Law

I love this photo and I instantly realized that I would love to be Cookie Monster or Alistair Cookie’s trainer, happy to be at ‘fault’. Cookie Monster is a such a lovable and funny character-I fail to see how human weight ideals apply to him, as he is a furry blue monster! I would join him in shoveling vast quantities of cookies towards our faces and making a big mess in general-we could do lots of speed, endurance and clean up training specific to…cookies!!

When the question of Cookie Monster’s potential negative influence on the eating habits of children arises, I feel we are forgetting that children have inborn appetite regulation we can foster and the appeal of the character is his outrageousness. Apparently he has been changed to enjoy some healthy foods in addition to cookies-watch this hilarious interview where we learn much about his preferences: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssoSiZAqN98

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssoSiZAqN98[youtube_sc url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssoSiZAqN98″ title=”Cookie%20Monster%20interview%20″]

Cookie Monster has a singular love for cookies and we can learn from his enthusiasm. We are constantly around messages of ‘this or that food is bad’, ‘we should not be eating this or that’…and we end up eating the foods in judgement at some point anyway. Becoming aware and letting go of our internal conflict around our food choices creates a more harmonious relationship within ourselves and food. Let’s take a cue with a ‘C’ from Cookie Monster and eat delicious food we love with clarity and enthusiasm. ‘C is for cookie, that’s good enough for me’

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Posted in commentary, Vivian Law

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Recipe: Chickpea Salad (sandwich)

Posted on March 31, 2014 | Leave a comment

The Oh She Glows cookbook by Angela Liddon and blog www.ohsheglows.com recently came to my attention through my sister. I found the vegan recipes to be inspiring, so I ordered the cookbook, then made some oatmeal cookies from the blog the next day. I have enjoyed the cookbook so far and particularly liked a recipe for chickpea salad. I must admit that I used regular mayonnaise. However, you can purchase vegan mayonnaise at the health food store or make your own with a blender and Angela Liddon’s recipe in the cookbook.

Here is my version of the Oh She Glows chickpea salad. A delicious vegetarian alternative for a classic ‘salad’ sandwich. I much prefer home cooked chickpeas. The Old Bay seasoning really adds a great flavour.

2-3 cups cooked chickpeas (canned is alright if you wish)

2 stalks celery, diced

2 green onions, chopped

2-3 tablespoons mayonnaise (vegan if you prefer)

1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill (optional, but tasty)

Old Bay seasoning, lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste

In a medium bowl, mash chickpeas with a fork until half are mashed and half are still whole. Add celery, green onion and mayonnaise to the chickpeas, mix well. Season with dill, Old Bay seasoning, lemon juice, salt and pepper to your taste. Enjoy as a sandwich or over a bed of greens as a salad.

Delicious chickpea salad on rye toast

Delicious chickpea salad on rye toast

 

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Posted in Healthy food, healthy recipe, plant food, Recipe, Vegan

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Balanced Physical Activities

Posted on March 10, 2014 | Leave a comment

I often enter into conversations on what are the best forms of exercise and physical activities to engage in? The answer is individual to each person and their intents. An important consideration is always taking care of yourself and your body. At Making Life Good, we believe that a healthy lifestyle is being well and active to the best of your abilities while thoroughly enjoying life.

It is important to aim to be active on a daily basis, as your body is made for movement. Choose activities that you enjoy and encompass these elements of performance, movement, and well being:

1. Challenging-Your body is constantly adapting and needs physical activities that challenge your current capabilities to be fit. Long, steady state activity, higher intensity activity and sprint activity are all needed to challenge the energy systems of the body.

2.Strength-Your muscles are use it or lose it. Your strength needs to be challenged and trained on a regular basis to maintain a strong and lean body. Physical challenges such as chinups, step ups, lunges, squats, pushups and plank need to practiced on a regular, weekly basis.

3. Movement and flexibility-Once you challenge your cardiovascular system and strength on a regular basis, maintaining your movement and flexibility is important. This can be any form of co-ordinated movement and/or stretching you enjoy such as dance, yoga, pilates.

4. Novel-Trying new movements and sensations on a regular basis (at least once a week) keeps your physical activity routine fresh, so your body can create new connections and adaptations. This could mean listening to different music, exercising in a different locale, trying a movement you have never tried before, or getting moving if you’ve been inactive!

5. Attunement/Breathing/Introspection/Meditation/Reflection/Relaxation-A balance between doing and being is needed and taking time to tune into our breath, bodies and ourselves is important. A clear mind united with a relaxed body is optimal health, performance and well being.

Challenging, strength, movement/flexibility, novel and attunement

Challenging, strength, movement/flexibility, novel and attunement 

 

 

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Posted in Making Life Good Recommends, Meditation, Vivian Law

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Greens at breakfast, lunch and dinner

Posted on February 28, 2014 | Leave a comment
Eating greens at breakfast, lunch and dinner is dietary advice I recently discussed at an all inclusive resort in Jamaica.  I believe that having the intent to put greens on your plate at breakfast, lunch and dinner helps to create the lifelong healthy habit of eating greens daily. I will admit that having greens for breakfast is not a daily habit I have, however, I have eggs and greens whenever I can. Callaloo and eggs are one of my favourites.

Eggs and callaloo with plaintain

Eggs and callaloo with plaintain

I have noticed that lots  of people do not like greens, and my suggestion is to keep trying until you find some green vegetables you like to eat. There are so many green vegetables to choose from that there must be some that you will like. Try to see eating greens as a culinary adventure-Making Life Good recommends to try a green vegetable you have not eaten in the past week, every week.

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Posted in Greens, Healthy food, Making Life Good Recommends, plant food, Veggies, Vivian Law

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A most important posture

Posted on February 15, 2014 | Leave a comment
Easy pose, meditation

Easy pose, meditation

Sitting crossed legged is a posture that I choose often, on the ground, on a couch, in an office chair and for meditation. I find the position to be most comfortable for me to stay still for a period of time. I realize the posture is not available or comfortable for everyone (it does improve with practice, I promise), however, getting down, sitting on and getting up from the ground are movements we want to cultivate for healthy spine, hips, knees and ankles.

In addition, I have learned through my studies in yoga that siddhasana (essentially sitting crossed legged on the ground), as referenced in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and Light on Yoga is one of the most important postures we can practice. The posture allows us to have a long spine with optimal relaxation throughout the rest of the body. Sitting tall gives us better awareness and alignment to our subtle energy, so we can be a meditative state. Taking a few minutes to sit cross legged on the ground, on a block, on cushions and bringing our attention to our breathing is a meditative break we can practice daily.

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Posted in commentary, Making Life Good Recommends, Meditation, Relaxation, Uncategorized, Vivian Law

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Recipe: Polenta

Posted on February 10, 2014 | Leave a comment

Polenta is a dish I have not always loved. However, it is always good to keep an open mind to trying different foods. Like children, we need to try a new food a few times before we can learn if we like it enough to make have it more regularly. I tried making polenta for the first time this week to a great result using a recipe from the Eating Italy, cookbook. The secret is to allow the polenta to brown at the bottom of the pan , which adds (a cheese like) flavour.

5-6 cups water

1/2-1 tsp salt

3/4 cup polenta

butter and chopped fresh herbs to taste

In pot with a wider circumference, bring water to a boil, add salt. Swirl in polenta slowly, bring back to a boil and reduce heat to simmer. Simmer without stirring until the polenta is the desired consistency, this will take 45min-an hour. Season with butter and fresh herbs, stir and scrape browned polenta from the bottom of the pan. Serve and enjoy with your favourite pasta sauce, stew or as a grain side dish.

 

 

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Posted in gluten free, Healthy food, Making Life Good Recommends, Recipe

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