Let’s Set The World On Fire

Hello.  You may or may not remember me.  I won an award last year.  I believe it was in honor of an individual who was best at inconsistently posting.  Yep, tis me.

Let me update you.  In the past 6 months, I have:

• Moved to Seattle.
• Started a new job.
• Loved a new job.
• Been promoted. (twice – but who is counting?)
• Loved a new job more.
• Biked to work everyday.
• Had a bike stolen.
• Run to work everyday.
• Succeeded in spending a hefty chunk of every paycheck on vegetables.
• Forgot that there is rent to be paid.
• Worked more to pay aforementioned rent.
• Become a raw chef.
• Taught classes based around preparing raw food.
• Made new friends.
• Went to my first professional soccer game.
• Ridden a bicycle in below freezing weather.
• Ridden a bicycle to the beach in below freezing weather.
• Took a dip in the ocean in below freezing weather.
• Purchased a new jacket.
• Had conversations with my thermostat thinking it was a call box.
• Found the heat in my apartment 82 days into the fall season.
• Realized I spend more time at work than at my apartment.
• Realized I am totally okay with this because I don’t consider my job work.
• Survived two lay-off periods.
• Been thankful.
• Smiled more than I ever have before.
• Been homesick.
• Been sick to my stomach.
• Recognized a food allergy the hard way.
• Had my first and possibly only colonic.
• Experimented with a juice cleanse.
• Wondered what would happen if you put bread through a juicer.
• Ended a juice cleanse.
• Realized cleanses are for people who don’t like food.
• Purchased a 15 lb bag of chia.
• Purchased a vacuum.
• Purchased a chef’s knife.
• Walked myself to the hospital.
• Hacked a coconut.
• Hacked 1000 coconuts.
• Eaten a coconut in it’s truest form.
• Eaten 100+ coconuts.
• Debated moving to Thailand.
• Paid bills.
• Paid bills late.
• Worked.
• Worked late.
• Loved life.

I am sorry it has been so long.  I love all of you and I am going to try and catch up on all of your lives now that I have built up a life for myself here!  I realized that reading about ya’ll is just as important to me as my greens in the morning  Deane, Out.

Is it hot in here?

You know that funny feeling that you experience when you are edging towards the outside border of your comfort zone?  You know… It feels like your heart is creeping up into your throat and your stomach is on the spin cycle… Well, in the past, this is how I always felt whenever someone mentioned the word yoga.  I don’t really know what it was about yoga that I feared so much, other than the fact that it was new and I have never been a big “follow the leader – class” person in the first place.  Sure I can lead a spinning class any day, but mention the “y” word and I am out the door quicker than you can say Namaste.  (Did I just use a Yogi word? Who am I?)

So yesterday when my friend Alicia texted me while I was at work that there was a hot yoga class at Yoga To The People, which is a few miles from Thrive Cafe where I work, I immediately said yes for some reason… Little did I know that I had just signed myself up for a 90 minute 26 pose session.  Oh and “Hot” yoga does not mean that it is only for good looking people.  I realized this after walking out about five pounds lighter…

The class was in a few words: Amazing.  It exceeded, destroyed, and kicked my expectations’ butt!  I thought I was pretty flexible going in, but was completely humbled during the entire experience.  I thought it would never compare to my traditional strength or cardio workouts, but this is an entirely different league of activity.  I thought I would hardly break a sweat, but at one point there was a STEADY stream of sweat pouring off of my face.  I don’t lie.  I had to wring my towel out afterwards and drain my mat!  How is that picture for you guys?  If you are not entirely grossed out yet, I recommend you drop any notions or preconceptions of yoga that you have had or do have in your mind right now and TAKE A CLASS!  It will change your life and you will walk out feeling refreshed, drenched, and like a new person entirely!  Namaste.  -Deane

Is This Real Life?

Does it seem like it has been awhile?  To me these last few months have quite honestly flown by… It feels like someone came up behind me, hit me with a brick, stuffed me in a sack, sold my car, shipped me to the West Coast, got me an amazing job, equally terrific friends, a decent studio apartment, a vita-mix, bought me a bicycle and just woke me up this morning (albeit 2 months later).  Well, this is me thanking whomever did that… Thanks, dude.

What have I been up to the past month?

Well, for starters I am no longer part of the 200,000 million people in this world who own a vehicle… Which also means I have reduced my carbon footprint by about 80%!  I also have more muscle in my legs than ever before from bicycling everywhere.  Oh yeah, and I also eat like a horse (which I have always done, but now it is totally justifiable, right?)…

Did I mention I moved 3100 miles West?  Oh yeah, well I did… To a little town just north of Tacoma, Washington.  You guys may have heard of it, they say it rains a lot there…

I am also living alone for the first time in my life… and well, it is pretty interesting (to say the least).  Of the many things that I have already learned, I will share a few in order of importance:

1. Buy a shower curtain.  Seriously.  You may think you can get away with not having one, but you can’t.  The ten dollars is completely justifiable.  Your hardwood floor outside of your shower will appreciate it!
2. There is no point in having a dishwasher if you have 3 dishes.  Thus, dishwasher soap should no longer be an expense.  Though, if you do decide to use your dishwasher on the odd occasion; do not, and I repeat: DO NOT put dish soap in your dishwasher.  There is a HUGE difference between dishwasher soap and dish soap.  Once again, your hardwood floors will thank you.
3. 468 square feet of space is enough to sleep, cook, store a bicycle, or even lounge.  However, it is NOT enough space to touch-up your basketball skills.  Your neighbors will agree.
4. A vita-mix is a necessary investment.
5. Attempting to raw make brazil nut butter in a vita-mix will not lead to pleasant smells or a happy vita-mix.
6. Troubleshooting and brainstorming a brilliant alternative to your low capacity washer by utilizing your hands/bathtub is a great idea…
7. Until your water bill comes the next month and you are forced to cut your food budget in half for the following weeks to make up for your brilliant idea.
8. Confronting the people smoking outside of your window is an activity you should engage in at your own risk.
9. Confronting the drunk teenagers outside of your window is an activity you should engage in at your window’s risk.
10. Realizing that you are only in your apartment when it is dark out is both extremely sad and somewhat liberating all at the same time… Plus you will never actually see the true affects of not having a vacuum.
11. Realizing that you have never actually met your neighbor and you start to wonder if you are the only one on your floor… Until you hear a classical piano piece playing… Every morning… At 6:34… Every morning… I like to believe that I have the ghost of Beethoven living next door.  I think he has some of my mail…

Other than everything I have learned, I have also made some truly amazing friends, met some ridiculously wonderful people, and have hacked into more young thai coconuts that I ever thought I would in my lifetime… Did I forget to mention I am the newest supervisor at a Raw Food Cafe in Seattle called Thrive?  Well I am.  And I couldn’t be happier!  I would also like to take the time to thank everyone there for welcoming me with open arms and open minds… It takes a lot to handle my poor humor sometimes (As my family and friends know, whom I would also like to thank for always fully supporting me with all of my crazy ideas)…  Not to mention this is one of my first times working in a kitchen.  I am thinking of tattooing the words “watch out, I don’t really know what I am doing with this knife” to my right arm, but I like to think I am getting better.  Practice makes perfect, but not without a few mistakes, right?

Stay tuned for some excellent news from the world of raw, dishes, stories from the kitchen, and Seattle adventures.  Deane, Out.

BeepleNut Burgers

That’s right!  I combined the following to make these awesome sweet/savory dinner/after-dinner treats!

Deane’s BeepleNut Burgers (Beet, Apple, Coconut)

-4 Finely Chopped Organic Granny Smith Apples

-4 Large Finely Chopped Organic Beetroot Bulbs

-1/2 Cup Shredded, Organic Unsweetened Coconut

-1 1/2 Cups Pureed Organic Sweet Potato

-2 Tablespoons Organic Cocoa Powder

-4 Tablespoons Raw Coconut Flour

-2 Tablespoons of Raw Honey

-3 Tablespoons of Organic Almond/Walnut Butter (Your Choice)
Just mix and form into patties!

 

Don’t knock them until you try them… And you have to try them!

[DISCLAIMER: Consumption of raw beets may lead to unusual colors of bodily fluids, this is perfectly normal but a little alarming if you aren't used to it!]

Deane, Out!

Is Someone Getting The Best Of You?

Tomorrow, I challenge all of you to be conscious of the way you treat everyone who crosses your path!  Ask them details about their lives, tell them how much you love their outfit, tell them how much you appreciate them (and mean it)!  I am certain that this would trigger a wave of happiness that would eventually find it’s way back to you.  When you wake up, repeat the following:  I am happy.  I have a great life.  I will make a change for the better today.  My problems can be put on hold for 24 hours.

I know it seems delusional and counterproductive to push your problems onto the next day, but I am also convinced that if you allow yourself to enjoy just 1 day to it’s fullest potential, the next day’s problems will seem slightly more insignificant.  Try it.  Don’t just tell me you will and forget about it.  I will know if you are lying in the comments section!    So just be honest and SMILE… I hear it is good for you.  And while you do that, listen to these oldies but goodies, they are sure to bring a fresh start to the day.  Make sure you listen to them in the morning; some will get your blood running, others will just make you appreciate the beauty of life!

Deane’s Feel Good Playlist (Just F*cking Smile!)

Foo Fighters – The Pretender

Foo Fighters – All My Life

Foo Fighters – Learn To Fly

Foo Fighters – Best Of You

Coldplay Feat. Jay-Z – Lost

Coldplay – Clocks

RHCP (MY FAVORITE BAND) – Can’t Stop

RHCP – Tell Me Baby

Outkast – The Whole World

Adele – Make You Feel My Love

Dashboard Confessional – Remember To Breathe

Jack’s Mannequin – Bruised

Jack’s Mannequin – Dark Blue

Yellowcard – Breathing

Enjoy!  And don’t forget to enter my giveaway.  Winner will be chosen tomorrow!  Deane, Out!

I’m Back.

On the 18th of April, I will be able to say (with confidence) “4 years down, 4 to go”.  Yes, I will have finished my last semester of undergraduate studies and can officially set my status to “Westward Bound”.  2 weeks from tomorrow, I am embarking on a road trip.  Though, this is not your everyday road trip.  In the past few days, I have made more crazy financial decisions than I have in my entire 4 years of studies at the University of Windsor.

9 Days – 5004 Miles – 15 States – 5 Major Stops – 2 Jars Of Coconut Butter – A Sleeping Bag And A Nissan Xterra

There might even be a few surprises along the way — aka hikes, awesome meet-ups, and a visit with Papa N8ture to help move him out of Colorado to South America (and by move him I most certainly mean I will be taking notes from the Grinch and ransacking the place for all that he can’t take with him and would be useful to me in my apartment)

I will start in Detroit, MI.  I will pass through Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Oregon, Washington (Look for an apartment in Seattle), Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin!  It will be a round-trip, 77 hours in total and I could NOT BE MORE PSYCHED!

Stay tuned.  I will be documenting every bit, and upon my return you are going to see some major changes to my blog and my posting schedules! Talk to you guys soon.  Let me know if I am passing you by!

Ever wondered what Mother N8ture actually looks like?

Books You Need VLOG!

Hey Guys!  Just wanted to check in with a few book recommendations that I know you will love!  Hope everyone is enjoying their January as much as possible!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oezTfJBLM54