Homemade Apple Crisp

Awhile back I made homemade apple crisp with some apples from work. Rather than throwing them in the garbage. I've also brought bananas home and made banana oatmeal cookies too.

Here is the video I made.

After making my video, I felt bad that I didn't look for a more organic way to make my apple crisp. So I searched for a healthier version to try in the near future. So I'm going to be trying this one soon.

Electrical Overload

Photo Credit

I recently moved to New York for a job relocation and while I'm still getting situated, I'm staying in corporate housing. I am grateful for the benefit of corporate housing. It ties me over until I find a home. It's close to work and pretty much at the center of everything. The apartment comes fully stocked since most of my belonging are in storage and so I am able to survive until I find my future home in Brooklyn.

The first thing I noticed when I arrived was all the things plugged into the walls.

 

This is a partial view of the kitchen. It's pretty nice. Lots of room and counter space. But let's count what's plugged in.

1. The fridge

2. The stove.

3. The microwave

4. The dishwasher

5. The toaster

6. The can opener

7. The coffeemaker

SEVEN THINGS! Just in the kitchen. Remember my old lovely apartment?

 

 At any given moment throughout my ENTIRE apartment only THREE things remained plugged in. The fridge, the stove and my internet router. Even the lamp featured in the photo was only plugged in when in used. Which was rare because you see how much light i get in my apartment!

So seven things for just the kitchen. Well, I immediately put the can opener, toaster and coffee machine in the cabinet. I haven't used any of those things since I moved in.

Now what you can see in this picture...

8. Floor lamp

9. Table lamp

10. Ipod/Radio player

What you can't see...

11. Flat screen television

12. DVD player

13. Cable box

14. Router

15. Desk lamp

16. Telephone

17. Heater/Air conditioner

Oh, I forgot to mention

18. Telephone in kitchen

19. Telephone in kitchen (yes there are two. One that connects me to the doorman)

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!

Now on to the bedroom.

20. One nightstand lamp

21. Another night stand lam

22. Heater/Air Conditioner

What you can't see.....

23. Another television. (A television in the bedroom. AAAAAHHHH!)

24. Cable box.

25. Yet ANOTHER telephone

And while its not plugged in there is a hair dryer in the bathroom.

25 things plugged in at all times! Are you serious! I can't even imagine what the electricity bill is! This isn't even counting the other things that you plug in every now and then. My phone chargers. My laptop charger and such! WTF!

I was excited to have received a $15 electricity bill in my old apt and now...holy crap. Luckily I don't have to see the electricity bill.

I've unplugged as many things as I can and have even considered moving the television in the bedroom into the closet but since its not my place I'm a little hesitant to make changes like that.

I find that its challenging to live a sustainable life when you don't have control. Like when I go home to visit my family, I eat what's presented to me. I'm not going to impose my lifestyle on them and change how they shop. And since this isn't my own apt, its just challenging. But I do what I can.

For the first few weeks I had a great deal of trouble sleeping. Part of me believes is due to this electrical overload. I can't wait to have my own apt again where the only things that are plugged in will be my fridge, stove and router.

How many things do you have plugged in?

Sunshine Award

 

 I was recently given the Sunshine Award by Shelagh at Every Small Thing. Her blog is one my inspirations for sustainable living on a personal level. I think she is very articulate, creative, and amazing! And while I can explain how to live a life of a single person in the city with a sustainable approach, Shelagh shows how to do that with a family. She has so many practical steps and I like her writing voice. I read her daily!

The purpose of this reward is to highlight bloggers who bring sunshine into your life. A little sunshine is needed right now when most of the US has been or is still covered in snow. My google reader is full of blogs that I read all the time and these are some of the  people who bring sunshine into my life.

Brooklyn Green Team. -This blog consist of a team of volunteers who do pretty cool stuff around Brooklyn. Long before I moved to New York I was following their blog for inspiration, ideas and support. Now that I'll be moving to Brooklyn soon, I'm glad to have a resource for my new york life.

Green Girl Meets All American Boy - She doesn't update her site any longer but its still worth looking at her post. I loved her blog and it served as inspiration for my relationship. 

Her Green Life -I love reading about individual's efforts towards leading a sustainable life and she does a great job towards documenting her efforts.

Edible Aria -His food and recipes and pictures...oh my goodness..it makes me want to lick my computer screen or fly to Austin just to try his food.

Maura. Life After -This is my dear friend Erin's blog and she used to write about her daughter's struggle with cancer and now she writes about life after Maura. And while the subject might seem difficult, it is a beautiful blog full on inspiration. I hope she writes a book one day!

  

 Joel, Sly and Erin

Jantira K -This is another friend of mine. She's one of the best artist that I know. I don't even know what else to say about her. She was featured on Granola Tendencies. 

 

Sly and Jantira K

A Survivor's Thoughts on Life - She is one of the few people I have found who write about abuse and those who survive it and thrive after it. Her post are insightful, difficult, honest and encouraging and I think she is simply amazing. 

The 365 Project - My friend Hannah is an amazing photographer among many other things. I love her daily photos especially ones with lots of color or ones about her cats.

Sly and Hannah

Chelsea Does 101 Things - This is an artist I've worked with on a couple different theater productions and she does all sorts of wonderful things but this blog of hers is SOOOO amazing. It makes me want to do similar things.

EcoMama's Guide to Living Green - Eco Mama has already been nominated but she gives me sunshine so I'm still featuring her too. I love her reviews and reccommendations. I love the foods that she tries. I like it all. Most of the sustainable things I've purchased recently have been because they were featured on her site!

Every Small Thing -  And Shelagh. She's received it already but still I think she shoul receive it again. I LOVE LOVE LOVE her blog. I wish she were my neighbor. We'd be great friends! I know it.

Who inspires you and brings sunshine into your life?

Fruit Loops has Fiber

Back in October I wrote about Kellogg's latest commercial where they spoke of Poptarts containing real fruit. I was slightly enraged with their lies and marketing scheme geared towards children to endorse their product in a greenwashing manner.

I recently saw their latest commercial.



I wrote before.....
First off, it always annoys me how so many toys, snacks, and all around products are geared towards children and not the adult who's buying the item. The commercial above is for a child to see and then beg their mom in the grocery store for.

Now the kid will say, "But mommy, it has fiber!"

How about giving your child granola and adding a spoonful of ground flaxseed with mixed berries. Or giving them granola with organic milk topped with blueberries or raspberries.

I acknowledge that it is uber expensive for a typical family to feed their children on an organic diet. I know. The part in Food Inc, featuring the family who had to decide between fruit or chips was heartbreaking. I get it.

But its just annoying.

A friend of mine babysits for a family that only feeds their daughter real food. She grew up eating avocado mashed up rather than McDonalds. One of her favorite foods is squid and not hot dogs. I'm sure she even knows what flaxseed is. :) Her babysitter told me the story of how when she was about two, her and her friends were talking about what they were going to eat for a snack. One kid said, "A hotdog." Another said something else just as blah. And then she said, "Noki."

What do you feed your children for breakfast?

Organic Natural Breakfast

A few months ago I watched Food Inc. To say that move shook me to my core is an understatement. Watching that movie reminded me of when I watched Friends of God and Rosie O'Donnell's Gay Family Cruise. After seeing those two documentaries, in addition to having some life changing experiences, my "religious" perspective was shook to its core and I went on a two year journey of self discovery and spiritual enlightenment. Watching Food Inc, also reminded me of when I read and saw The Laramie Project and Angels of America. After experiences those two pieces of art, in addition to having life changing experiences, my paradigm of thinking of same sex orientation was forever changed.

Watching Food Inc, altered my view of food. I felt it in my gut! For a few years now, I've "wanted" to change my eating habits. Its pretty healthy but I could stand to be vegetarian/vegan/raw. I could stand to be more intentional about consuming only organic or natural foods. I could stand to eat more fruit. I could stop snacking on certain foods which have no nutritional value. I even bought a lot of cookbooks on eating raw, vegan and vegetarian. I even once dated a raw foodist! But nothing worked.

Then I saw Food Inc. Have you seen it? It's available to watch instantly on Netflix, if you have a subscription. Shoot, even if you don't have a subscription, I'd give you my login info just so you can watch it. It's that important. I started taking notes while watching it. I'd post those later. I bought the book too. It's next on my reading list. I had my entire family watch it over Christmas too. At some points, my mother cried. I understood the sentiment too. But I'll talk more about Food Inc. later.

Because of Food Inc, I've changed a lot of my eating habits. But I still have a long way to go.

My daily breakfast intact now consist of one of two things.

 

 On the weekends, I eat cereal.

Right now I haven't found a specific brand of cereal that I like but its always some form of granola. I'm really liking this AgavePlus Granola right now. I then add a spoonful or two of ground Flaxseed. And I've completely switched the milk that I consume to almond milk.

I'm not a heavy milk drinker. I only consume it when adding it to something. Before Almond Milk, I drank 2% milk. I have a homemade recipe for almond milk that I will start making. I plan on doing that when I move into my new apartment. (I'm in temporary housing right now as I continue to transition. Just recently moved to New York!)

So when I'm home, this is what I have for breakfast. And i tell you, I feel like a treehugger eating it. But its good. And I notice that my body feels better. I respond better to almond milk than any other kind. Plus, I DO NOT like soy milk. Ugh!

When I am at work, my breakfast is something completely different. One thing I lack in my daily nutritional intake is FRUIT. I don't like fruit, except mango. So I hardly eat it. But I've found a creative way to get me to consume fruit.

 

Smoothies!!!

Yum. Yum. I love smoothies. Jamba Juice has received too much of money. And the fraps at starbucks receive too much of my money too. And I doubt either is as oganic as it could be.

Just about every morning I make a fresh smoothie at work. It consist of...

Fresh and Frozen strawberries

Frozen mangoes

Half a banana

100% pomegranate juice

sometimes a splash of orange juice

Ice

Half a container of vanilla yogurt

 

Mix it up and drink up!

Yummy. Natural. No extra sugar. Just fruit, yogurt, juice, and ice!

I have no clue how many servings of fruit I add to my intake by drinking it.

I usually have half a banana and half a cup of yogurt left, so I eat that too.

This is a great way to start my day.

 Sometimes I make way too much so I freeze the rest and later on I have a homemade sorbet and its just as good too!

What do you consume for breakfast? Do you have suggestions on various fruits I could add to my smoothies? Have you seen Food Inc?

In Lieu of My Absence.

I KNOW!! I'm sorry. I have been gone so long! Part of me enjoys it. But part of me knows its not fair. To tie you over while I continue editing post and...videos, visit me on Youtube. Maybe that will be the appetizer before my soon to be return.

I have a video on Homemade Apple Crisp, Homemade Face Wash, Natural Hair Care and Styles, and Part One of my Corn Chowder. Watch some of those and hopefully it will make my absence a little less severe!


http://www.youtube.com/user/sheenalyoung

On a Break

Where did Sly go? Well, I went to New York for Christmas. Texas for New Years. Chicago to pack. And then I moved to New York. And now its been a week and a much needed break from facebook, twitter, blogs, email, cell phones and I am enjoying it. I realize by pausing those things I've spent the last few weeks spending quality time with family, friends, my lover and myself. And it has been wonderful. Tomorrow, I've made a date with myself, Crumbs Bake shop and my blogs and I will be back.