Cat Lady: Part Deux

Thank you SOOOO much for the incredibly nice comments on my last post! Wowza! Holy comments! I know that I've come a long way, but y'all made me feel like a model or something! I'm not doing anything special here, people. I'm just doin' the tried and true stuff: eat well most of the time and exercise regularly. But really, you're too too kind :)

http://icanhascheezburger.com/

October 1 is World Vegetarian Day!!! Today kicks off Vegetarian Awareness Month, and, although I am a vegetarian, I'm not about to push it on you or anything. HOWEVER, there are many benefits to eating just one meatless meal a day/week/month/whatever. Maybe you didn't know that? Some benefits are listed HERE and HERE. Take a lookie :)

I've tried many new foods and began REALLY enjoying some oldies since becoming a lacto ovo vegetarian on January 27, 2009. I CRAVE the huge salad I make myself at work a few times a week. I prefer veggie burgers to beef burgers, and I might never have known what I was missing! I finally started liking cottage cheese again after a 20-year hiatus, and I recently discovered how high in protein it is. I never would have chosen veggie pizza before because I would always pick pepperoni and pineapple if I had the option. Now I love veggie pizza! Even with mushrooms! (Which I'm learning to like.) I don't feel famished without meat in my meals like many people think. Fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts and many other meatless items are totally filling foods.

http://www.nataliedee.com/

A very nice fellow made me dinner recently, and he was completely out of his comfort zone. He's a total meat guy. (Not to mention he works in the meat department of a grocery store. Not kidding.) He rarely if ever eats vegetables. He mentioned that he doesn't even remember the last time he ate a meatless meal because it had been years. Years! Every time he makes a meal it's meat meat meat, but he planned a completely veg meal just for little ol' me :)

He made three types of vegetables! The asparagus was my fav by a longshot, but he also whipped up some peppers and cucumbers. (Can you believe he'd never even tried a pepper or cucumber before?! Who are these people?!?!) He also made penne alfredo and garlic cheese bread. We made the alfredo sauce from scratch! A first for both of us. The penne alfredo was A-MA-ZING! The scotcheroos for dessert weren't too shabby either! (Not an incredibly healthy meal, I'll admit, but soooo tasty. And it was the evening of my 5K day, so give me some slack.) I wish I had taken pictures, but we were having such a great time goofing around in the kitchen that it slipped my mind. Oops.

The point of my going over this entire meal that happened nearly two weeks ago is that even a major meateater can enjoy a meatless meal every once in a while. I didn't really think I could totally give up meat either, but here I am more than eight months later and I've never felt better :)

It's kinda funny that World Vegetarian Day falls on October 1 because it's also another special day ...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NORMAN!!!!!!!!!

Less than two weeks after I went veg, I adopted my second cat. My vegetarianism is a huge reason why I got him. Also, Edwyn needed a buddy. I JUST LOVE ANIMALS!!! Norman turned one year old today, and I can't believe it. Time sure flies when you're a cat lady ;) If you've been reading for awhile, you might remember seeing Norman lying next to my scale in the kitchen.

(Yes I keep my scale in the middle of my kitchen floor. It's cool.)

Wanna see more Norman pics??

OK!!!

All snuggled up

Senior pic

A couple of my fav things:
Norman and my bookcase

The first time I saw Edwyn and Norman be friends
My favorite Norman picture EVER!

Best friends now :)

Now that you had your dose of Edwyn a few weeks ago and your fill of Norman today, I probably won't go wild like this for another year. It's soooo weird to be obsessed with your pet like THIS GIRL ;) Hahaha! OK OK I might be obsessed, too.

Before I sign off, are you gonna try anything new during Vegetarian Awareness Month?

Like I said, I'm not about to push complete veggieness on you, but it really is fun to experiment with new meals! Honestly, I'm not that creative with my meals at home, but I've decided to actually utilize my cookbooks this month. I'll probably make two things I made at Morgan's in January and haven't eaten since: Penne with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Feta Cheese (tastes just like a Noodles & Co dish) and Spinach and Black Bean Enchiladas (loooooooove Mexican food!). When I make them, I'll be sure to take pictures are share the recipes. Stay tuned!

Peace, friends :)