60| LIFESTYLE CHANGE

The last few weeks of 2023 were dedicated to my nutrition. I am now living a plant based lifestyle and have been enjoying the ride.

“I’ll probably stop eating meat altogether”, is something I have said more than once throughout my life. My relationship with eating meat has been unique. Meat is something that I just didn’t eat when I was younger. My poor mom. She went through it with how picky I was. Imagine raising a child that didn’t like/want to eat meat, and was also a very picky eater. Maybe this is why when I made that decision, it wasn’t as difficult. I think I’ve been ready for this change but didn’t know it until I made the decision.

One of the reasons why I made the change is because I don’t trust a lot of the food products out there. I also have a medical history and I know and feel that I can benefit from this change. So far I’ve noticed a difference in my energy levels (higher), which I am pleased about as this had been a complaint of mine. I will let you know what else I notice as time passes.

I was aware that the transition had potential of becoming overwhelming for a newbie like myself. Which is why I started off small by removing one meat item at a time. The first meat product that I eliminated was pork. And then beef and then everything all together. This took me less than a month to do. Just pulled the bandaid and dove in.

Another way that I kept myself from getting overwhelmed was that Id plan and cook meals that would feed me for up to three days. I’d make two different meals at a time to switch things up. I am able to make more than one meal with the ingredients used. It helps prevent me from getting bored. *Apps like Pinterest, Tasty, and Note have been great during this transition.

I’ve been taking a hard look at my pantry and have been researching online and in books for proper substitutes and where I can make my purchases. Everything from what I consume to what skin care products and toothpaste I use have been and will continue to be changed. I will share more on this in future posts.

Let me share some of my favorite finds so far:

These cookies are very good. A teeny dry but they’re delicious! I found these at my local Walmart but they can be ordered via Amazon as well. They’re “limited edition” and I hope that changes.

First pancake mix that I have tried since making the change and I really enjoy it. The boxes are small and I had to order a few boxes (thanks to Amazon for their bulk deals). The recipe calls for milk but I substituted it with almond milk. I can see myself in the very near future opting out of purchasing this and just making it from scratch at home. I find that the mix becomes thicker if you let it sit. I prefer it less on the thick side to get more pancakes out of it. I eat it with a small amount of 100% Maple syrup and I add some…

Vegan version of Nutella. I won’t even lie, I had to get used to it lol. Nothing like good ol’ Nutella. But this does the trick. There’s another brand that I want to try. But until then, this one will suffice. I got it from my local Walmart.

Here are some pancakes that I had yesterday. A little burnt haha but they were delicious!

Let me tell you… I’ve been enjoying preparing my meals, and one of the things that I love and brings me joy the most is how colorful my meals are! I am also happier and more confident about what I am putting into my body. I’ll try to be more mindful and take pictures of my meals as I go along to share what I’ve been eating.

Thanks for reading!

Love, light, the shadow too—-Cin.


If you’d like to donate or support me and my blog: Cashapp $cincimma , Venmo @cincimma funds go towards learning materials, and monthly website domain fees.

59| HIDDEN GEMS

Back with another random photo dump. Enjoy!

My look this year for 12/31/2023 and an outfit that I liked from this past week.

I’ve been journaling almost daily in December. Journaling helps me put my thoughts down and out of my head. It’s also a form of meditation and I often get answers to my own questions while writing. Also, it’s been nice being able to read back on great days. And to see the days that didn’t feel so great after having overcome them.

Treated myself to dinner the other evening.

Some reads I’ve been enjoying.

My friend’s dogs. Polo and Luna.

Glass blown pumpkin, made by yours truly.

Thanks for stopping by!

Love, light, the shadow too—- Cin.


If you’d like to donate or support me and my blog: Cashapp $cincimma , Venmo @cincimma funds go towards learning materials, and monthly website domain fees.