Day 6

One of the challenges I am facing is the fact that I have to share my kitchen. My in-laws moved in last year and took over my kitchen. It was fine with me because I had a new baby and didn't spend any time in the kitchen anyway. I was actually thankful that they were there when my daughter was born because mothers of newborns could use all the help they can get. But now I know that I can't ever meet my kitchen goals as long as we have to share the kitchen, unless my husband's parents go vegan with us, which I don't see happening.

For now, I'll just dream of my vegan kitchen where no animal products could be found and everything is organic. I'll have space for my dehydrator, blender, and other kitchen gadgets. There will be no more boxes of sugary cereal and all of my daughters snacks would be full of nutrition, unlike the Teddy Grahams, Oreos, and other candy and chips that's cluttering my kitchen today. Ah...a woman can dream!

Growing up, my mother always told me to be thankful and to always make do with what I have and not demand more if it's not within reach. My dream kitchen is not within reach, but I will work with what I have. This will be the first year that I am excited about Spring cleaning and I will actually have the energy to do it!

I honestly feel that I'm permanently on the vegan wagon, but now I'm trying to get everyone else to hop on. It seems like my husband is a home vegan, only because he doesn't cook and he's been eating everything I've made this past week. I'm not sure what he eats during his lunch hour. I've been making my daughter Tofurkey sandwiches for lunch, but today she asked if she could have Lunchables for lunch. We had them in the refrigerator, so I threw one in her lunch box. For the baby, I told her caregivers at daycare that she is now a vegan. At least it will be easy for the baby to go vegan!

Speaking of the baby, my breast milk is flowing better and it's more creamy now that I'm a vegan. Just a few weeks ago, I was struggling to pump milk. The milk that I did manage to extract was very watery. I'm so happy that I can make my "liquid gold" more valuable by going vegan!

My next goal is to find time to exercise. I'm hoping to dust off my bike and start commuting to and from work. Then eventually I'll start running so I can build up my bone density. Right now I feel wonderful and I know that exercise will make me feel even better!