Well, I guess it’s Valentine’s Week

I find it a bit odd that people (and by that I mean the media) seem to be using the term “valentine ‘s week”.

Most men people I’ve spoken to seem to ignore this occasion entirely, describing it as “American” and “consumer”, another excuse to have to spend money.

I don’t agree with that assessment, after all you don’t have to spend a penny to express your feelings for someone and it doesn’t have to be dodgy plush toys and heart galore.

This year I’m taking part in the Tumblr Armitage Army Valentine’s Gift Exchange  (can’t wait for the postman to come with something other than a bill or stuff I bought on ebay…) and Guylty’s RAworld Secret Valentine.

I’ve already finished my post/gift for the lucky/unlucky (depending on how you look at it) recipient and I’ve promised myself that I’ll send it to Guylty long before the deadline.

That’s my Valentine gift to her 😉

Anyway, nothing says the season of love, be it a day or a week, than some beyond creepy vintage Valentine’s Day cards:

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Have I creeped you out enough?

Have a good errr…. Valentine’s Week…

Want to lose weight? Have a cigarette!

As you may have gathered, I was a bit naughty with the title of this post because, like a mentioned earlier, I have given up smoking.

Nevertheless, I simply adore the Lucky Strike vintage advertisements that encourage you to smoke to lose a little weight.

My favorite slogan is: “your throat protection against irritation, against cough.”

I haven’t had a cigarette in a while and I still have a dry smokers throat.

Maybe I should have smoked Lucky Strikes instead of my usual favorite brand.

Back to the ads.

I actually had two authentic “It’s Toasted” ads framed as a present for my sister, and they are hanging in her study.

Enjoy!

Lucky Strike cigarettes are perfect for keeping that happy mood too!

By the way, the reason why I’m confident I’ll never smoke again is I understand the lie used as a slogan in the following ad:

Just one more means going back to a packet a day.

No thanks!

A Mixed Bag on a Whining Wednesday

I can’t believe this is already my 3rd Whining Wednesday.

I’m still going strong, although I’ve decided to ditch the scale, as it’s bringing me down!

I’ve really taken to this healthy lifestyle, so you can imagine how it feels when that bloody scale tells you you’ve gained 0,5 kg!

I feel I’m losing weight in my clothes, and I don’t need a stinkin’ machine to tell me otherwise 🙂

I’ve also introduced small changes like drinking a glass of water with 2 tablespoons of apple vinegar in the morning (through a straw as not to damage your teeth enamel) and walking to the shops instead of taking the car.

Today I wanted to share with you my absolute favorite vegan dinner.

I know some people feel like they are carnivores therefore can’t imagine dinner without meat.

I think this dish will prove that even vegan food can be very satisfying.

Avocado Pasta

It’s actually our Sunday treat and I hope you enjoy it.

It’s so easy to do, and I guarantee it’s mouth-watering!

This is a great dish for people who’d like to cut down on their meat intake and need a healthy but hearty dish.

For 2 people you will need:

Pasta

I go for whole-wheat penne and I only cook a handful for 2

An avocado or two

As I’m cutting down on out fat intake,  so I’ve reduced the avocado to 1, but you can use more…

I like my avocado ripe

Onions

I use 3 large onions, but you can adjust this based on your taste buds

Garlic

I’m a firm believer in garlic,  so I add 3 or more cloves

Instructions:

Heat a few drops of olive oil in a pan.

Throw in the sliced or diced onions.

I only use a tiny bit of oil, and add water until the onion softens by cooking it on medium heat for about 10 minutes.

It’s a wonderful way to avoid using too much oil.

Salt to taste.

In the meantime dice the avocado.

I usually cut it in half, take the stone out and then scoop small bits using a teaspoon.

Dice the garlic (I like it a bit chunky).

Start cooking the pasta al dente.

Once the onion softens, and the water has evaporated from the onions, add the avocado and garlic and cook for until they soften (just a few minutes).

Add the pasta and combine all the ingredients.

You can add seeds or nuts to give it a crunch.

Enjoy!

By the way, here are some vintage ads that make me wonder why I bother losing weight!

I feel better about myself already!

 

Habits go up in Smoke on a Whining Wednesday

Things have been hectic in my neck of the woods and I’m still going strong.

I’ve been exercising regularly and taking in nutritious food, which in turn has given me a huge boost of energy.

I think I’ll leave food and exercise for another Whining Wednesday 🙂

I have some very interesting things happening.

I guess hell has officially frozen over as….

I’ve quit smoking!

Yup, ladies and gents, this girl has gone over to the other side.

People in RL will understand how odd this may be.

I grew up in a house where both parents smoked,  both indoors and in the car.

I started experimenting with cigs when I was about 13, then starting smoking seriously when I was about 17.

I’ve never been one of those people who downplayed the amount they went through.

Although I didn’t smoke indoors or in my car, I’d go through a packet a day.

During the summer, as I’d sit outdoors all day with a cup of coffee puffing away.

In January I came across a book by Allen Carr titled Easyway to Stop Smoking.

There must have been some thought behind seeking out the book and the time invested in reading it is the best I’ve spent in a long time.

For many years I wouldn’t feel any consequences of my addiction.

There’d always be enough dosh to buy them, I was always as healthy as an ox, I’d never had a smokers cough.

Smoking in social situations was generally accepted.

There was something magical about sitting at the bar having a nice vodka martini, pulling out a slim sexy cig from a cute cigarette case, like I did in my NY days.

Smoking would be something done after a pleasant activity, like a tasty dinner, with a good cup of coffee, during a 5 minute break at work etc.

When I turned 30 things started to change.

I’s have a dry throat all the time, I’d start smelling of smoke, and the environment started being quite hostile towards smokers.

Carr says there are two types of smokers:

Those who don’t quit because they know they can easily at any moment

and

Those who are too afraid to fail at quitting that they continue smoking.

I was shocked to realise that I belonged to the latter group.

I just couldn’t fail at yet another thing in life.

I felt like dealing with my weight should always take priority and I couldn’t imagine taking on yet another battle.

It was easier to not try than to fail.

There’s no magic or voodoo in Carr’s method.

His approach is very no-nonsense and makes you realise how the tobacco industry has turned smokers into dumb muppets who keep pouring their hard-earned cash into an industry that is doing everything to kill them.

He explores various myths and dissolutions about smoking.

He is against using any nicotine substitutes, and believe me, it’s lovely to quit without having to spend the equivalent of a packet of Vogue Menthol sin gum or electronic cigarettes.

Today I went to the supermarket and bought a few boxes of my favorite Clipper Tea, which is quite expensive, but I used my non-smoked money 🙂

Bless the life of a non-smoker!

It certainly is cheaper!

All that I had read in January stuck with me, but I could never really think of the perfect moment to stop smoking.

I’d literally have a semi-panic attack (well, as much as I can actually have one…) if my cigarettes where running low and the shops where about to close.

One morning I had coffee with my sister, we puffed on a few sticks, then I told her she could take the rest as I wouldn’t be smoking anymore.

And that was how it went.

If you are a smoker or a loved one smokes, I recommend this book.

People swear that it’s a life-changer, and I have to agree.

You have nothing to lose by picking it up, and Carr encourages you to smoke while you read, so no need to panic.

How do I feel?

Like I’ve never smoked in my life, and this is no lie.

I feel like a non-smoker.

I fought with the odd impulse of reaching for a cig with my coffee, but this was a behavioral knee-jerk reaction.

I promise I’ll never become one of those pricks who give up smoking and give other smokers a hard time.

Like with any other addiction, we all need to make our own decisions, and bullying a smoker just to feel better about yourself is a low blow ex-smokers!

On a sad note, Allan Carr died of lung cancer a few years, probably as a result of the heavy smoking for so many years.

I suggest you watch BBC Horizon (I recommend any documentary from this series) titled We Love Cigarettes.

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Smart Pin-Up Girls

 

June is a tough month, both as a teacher and a student.

I have to wrap up the semester and get through exam season.

I can’t wait for summer to start.

Oh, the sweet bliss of laziness!

Until then, here are some Pin-Up Girls to brighten your day 😉

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