Cookbook • BACON BALSAMIC BRUSSELS SPROUTS

Let me preface this post by saying that I am aware that I spelt brusselS sprouts wrong in my book. I will fix it. Promise. #noshame

While updating some recipes and tacking some photos in my cookbook this week, I realized I didn't have much in my recipe collection that fell under the category of "side dishes." So, in my grocery shopping pursuits this week I saw the store had some really good looking brussels sprouts, something I don't eat very often. I usually stick with my basic loves for broccoli, green beans, and asparagus. And so begins another recipe adventure...

BACON BALSAMIC BRUSSELS SPROUTS

INGREDIENTS: 

+ 1 lb brussels sprouts
+ 2 tbsp sugar
+ 2 cups balsamic vinegar
+ 1/2 cup of bacon, cooked, chopped
+ salt & pepper
+ EVOO

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1. Cut off the stems of the brussels sprouts and remove the outside leaves that might be discoloured or rubbery. Wash. 

2. Cut the brussels sprouts in half and toss them in a bowl with a generous drizzle of EVOO and a liberal shake of salt and pepper. Spread on a baking sheet and bake at 350°C for 30-40. At the half way point, turn over the brussels sprouts so they brown on the other side. 

3. While the brussels sprouts are cooking, make the balsamic reduction. In a sauce pan, bring to a boil the balsamic vinegar, sugar, and a pinch of salt. Reduce temperature and let simmer until the vinegar has become thick and reduced by half (approximately 20 minutes). Set aside.

4. Remove brussels sprouts and add the cooked, chopped bacon. Plate and drizzle with as much balsamic reduction as your heart desires. I'm generous with my drizzles. I like a lot of that tangy goodness!

I loved the crunchy bits of bacon in this dish. I also loved the crispy leaves on the outside of the brussels sprouts from roasting them in the oven. Next time, I'll definitely roast these with some garlic (like I do when I roast all veggies - still not sure why I didn't do this in the first place. Everything is better loaded in garlic! Am I right!?) 

Cookbook is coming along nicely. I'm edging on the 30 recipes marks. Goal is to be to 40 recipes before summer vacation! I've been experimenting with techniques and flavours I experienced in Italy. I haven't written any of those recipes down yet. Once I do, I'll be sure to share one on here!

PS - FOLLOW ME ON SNAPCHAT, INSTAGRAM, AND TWITTER: mel_dickinson 

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This is freaky...slash...I DID IT!

Woah, woah, woah!! 

Like I'm a little bit speechless right now. 

Goosebumps! 

Am I over-reacting? 

Ok, perspective. Yesterday afternoon I was sitting at my desk thinking about this blog and past posts. Sometimes I like to travel down memory lane and I'll pick a tag and read through those posts and reminisce and marvel at the growth and journey I've been on. 

So, while daydreaming, I vaguely remembered writing a post when I started this blog 6 years ago (SIX YEARS AGO!) about my travel goals in the future. And GUYS! I literally wrote THIS a little over five years ago. 

Re-reading it again now, my eyes well up with tears. I feel these emotions because tonight I'm taking flight and literally going on my dream trip for two weeks. Two weeks in Italy! First stop is Venice, then on to Florence, and finishing off in Rome. While in Florence, I'll be taking a day trip to Tuscany and Pisa. I'm sharing this journey of a lifetime with one of my greatest friends as well, Ken. It's a bit surreal, but the excitement I'm feeling is unreal!

At the end of that 2011 blog post, I wrote: "So here I am, declaring to you that in the next 5 years I will live my dreams and travel (through Europe)." Ok. So I'm not traveling ALL OVER Europe. But I am doing what I set out to do and I'm taking that trip of a lifetime. The one I've been dreaming about since I was 13.

Amazing where life leads you. Yeah, I wrote that down in my blog - but a small part of me did it half knowing that I'd probably never follow through with it. You know what I mean? One of those BIG goals you say "I HAVE TO DO THIS!" but is it truly feasible? It's a big world out there and 5 years ago at the time when I wrote that blogpost, little ol' small town me was quite comfortable in my little ol' Fredericton home living my comfortable and familiar life. In fact, I still experience a little anxiety when it comes to traveling and the unknown. That "knots in your stomach" kind of feeling when you think you might get lost, lose a passport, miss a flight, do something wrong and piss off the locals.

But, those feelings haven't stopped me yet! There's too much world out there to see for me!

"I often hear of friends and acquaintances travelling and seeing what the world has to offer. Why can't I be one of those people?" Dear 2011 Melissa: You are! 

Inked in Beijing.

On October 7th, I got a new tattoo.

This is something I've wanted to do now for about a year. I wanted to have a memory of these very important years of my life that I've spent living in China. I knew immediately that I didn't want anything in Chinese writing. Not my style. Too cliché. (Then again, I have a compass on my ankle. Soooo, who am I to judge being cliché!?) So, I started to think about things that reminded me of China, specifically Beijing. A lot of my thoughts, of course, went immediately to food. But, I can't say I was ready to jump at the commitment of tattooing a dumpling on my body. 

My absolute favourite time of the year at home in Canada is fall. No question! The colours, the smells, the feelings, the coziness, the flavours. I. Love. AUTUMN! However, Beijing's autumn isn't quite the same. My favourite season in Beijing is spring. The colours, the smells, the feelings, the coziness, the flavours. I. Love. SPRING (in Beijing)! 

After a lot of thought (like, almost a year of thought) I decided that I wanted to get something connected to my love for spring in Beijing. And I came up with Chinese plum blossoms. These beautiful pink flowers come out in full force around April/May in Beijing. They brighten the place up after a grey, smoggy, and dark winter.

There's also the symbolism that comes with spring: rebirth, new life, and growth. Which is exactly how I see the symbolism of my life (so far) in Beijing. I've discovered a lot about myself over these four years - I've grown as a person, as a teacher, as a traveller, as a global citizen. I've opened my mind to many different lifestyles, cultures, and ways of life. I've seen a lot of things I never imagined I would. I've been reborn as someone who is internationally minded and aware, as opposed to my closed minded, small town self from six years ago.

I asked the tattoo artist to design the image with closed buds at the bottom of the branch, opened flowers in the middle of the branch, and then closed buds again at the top. To me, this represents the transformations I've experienced while living in China. The bottom buds symbolizing the me I was before moving abroad, the flowers representing the change and growth I have experienced, and the buds at the top of the branch symbolizing the growth and transformations I will continue to experience later in my life.

I love my new tattoo and what it represents. I love that it's unique and original. I love that'll always be a constant reminder of how important it is to discover yourself, to grow as a person, and to experience all that life and the world has to offer.

Cookbook • CHICKEN TACOS WITH AVOCADO CREAMA & PICO DE GALLO

As promised, I'm making cooking a priority again in my journey to #bebetter and focus on what makes me happy. I'm really good at telling other people to take care of "Number One" that sometimes I forget to heed my own advice. 

Over the last two weeks since making my presence again on the blog, I've created three new recipes, documented some "oldies by goodies" in my cookbook journal, and brainstormed some ideas for future kitchen adventures. Most of the time, my recipe ideas come to me when I'm walking the aisles of the grocery store. I LOVE shopping...at the grocery store and fruit and veggie markets. I love looking at all the ingredients, trying to come up with inspirations and ideas, thinking about what food adventure I could go on next. 

Ok, so who doesn't love tacos?! Seriously though. Tacos are AMAZING. And very versatile. Hard shell or soft shell. Corn or flour. Chicken or beef. Or fish! Salsa or sour cream. Or dare I say BOTH!? The options are endless. These tacos came from...well...a walk through the grocery store. I knew I wanted to make a taco recipe for the book, but wasn't sure what direction to go in. I have had this pico de gallo recipe in my back pocket for a few years now. So I knew I wanted it to have that. As I walked the produce section of the grocery store I go to here in Beijing, I saw the avocados. And the rest is kinda, sporadic. I just grabbed ingredients and went with it. And this is what I came up with: 

SHREDDED CHICKEN TACOS WITH AVOCADO CREAMA & PICO DE GALLO

Avocado Creama

+ 2 avocados 

+ 1/2 cup greek yogurt, plain 

+ juice of 1/2 lime 

+ cilantro 

+ salt & pepper 

Pico de Gallo

+ 2 tomatoes, seeded, diced* 

+ 1 clove garlic, minced finely 

+ 1/2 red onion, finely diced 

+ 3 tbsp cilantro, chopped 

+ juice of 1 lime 

+ sugar

+ salt & pepper 

Shredded Chicken 

+ 2 chicken breasts

+ 1 tsp garlic powder 

+ 1 tsp chili powder 

+ 1/2 tsp paprika 

+ salt 

+ juice of 1/2 lime 

Other

+ 1 cup purple cabbage, julienned 

+ juice of 1/2 lime 

+ hard corn taco shells 

*If I had my choice of tomatoes for pico de gallo, they'd be roma tomatoes. Not as juicy, which means your finished product won't be watered down. I haven't found roma tomatoes yet in Beijing, so I opt for "hot house" type tomatoes. If you have access to romas and you are making this recipe, use 4 tomatoes as they are generally smaller in size than hot house.  

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1. Poach chicken in 4 cups of water for 12-15 minutes. Remove and shred with forks. Add garlic powder, chilli powder, paprika, pinch of salt, and juice of 1/2 lime. Mix with hands. Taste and add seasoning as needed. 

2. While chicken is poaching, assemble pico de gallo. Combine chopped tomatoes, garlic, red onion, cilantro, lime, pinch of sugar, salt and pepper. Mix together and let sit for 5 minutes. Taste and add lime or salt as needed. 

3. Now, assemble avocado creama. In a blender or food processor, add avocado, lime, greek yogurt, and a handful of cilantro. Pulse until the ingredients have combined together into a smooth mixture with no lumps. Add a pinch of salt and pepper and mix with a spoon. 

4. In a small bowl, combine julienned purple cabbage and the juice of half a lime. Toss together. 

5. Once all components have been made, it's TACO TIME! 

6. TACO SHELL + SHREDDED CHICKEN + PURPLE CABBAGE + PICO + CREAMA

7. Serve with a side of creama, pico, and a lime wedge. 

I'm pretty proud of this recipe. The flavours work really well together. The tangy bite from the pico, the sweet & smooth flavour of the creama, the crunch from the cabbage and hard shell, the spice from the chicken. I ate three...and I'm drooling again thinking about the idea of getting to eat the leftovers for lunch! 

Something I'd like to try next time is adding cheese. Maybe crumbles of queso fresco (if I can find it in Beijing) would add another depth of flavour? I'm a woman on a mission for Mexican cheeses now! Watch out, Beijing! 

PS - FOLLOW ME ON SNAPCHAT, INSTAGRAM, AND TWITTER: mel_dickinson 

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Cookbook • UPDATE

May 18th. The last time I posted on this blog. 5 months ago. I don't feel guilty about it, but I also don't want to quit blogging. I love writing down my thoughts! I love being reflective. And I am in a very reflective mood this week. I need to hit a big ol' red reset button and get back to focusing on ME. And the one thing that never fails to make me happy - COOKING. 

Yes, I am still writing my cookbook. Not as often as I'd like to be. I've never stopped creating. I just haven't been writing down my recipes as promptly and frequently as I would like to be. 

I cooked A LOT this summer. I had so many amazing summer recipes I wanted to try. A lot of them I never got to, but some of them I did. I documented a few, but I also forgot to document a lot of them. But what I am certain of is I had a wonderful summer back home in New Brunswick (blog post coming SOON!) 

So, tonight I am sitting with my good friend Amanda at one of our favourite restaurants, Moka Bros, sipping wine by candlelight, writing recipes and blogposts. Getting back to working on me. Because that's what I need to do right now. For me. 

Stay tuned for recipes of some of my favourite recipes I'm making right now, including my homemade Greek Pasta Salad, Sundried Tomato Stuffed Chicken, and Mango Pineapple Salsa. 

Cookbook • ROSEMARY ROASTED POTATOES

I did a good amount of cooking last week, which made me SO HAPPY! I wrote in my "Still Here" blogpost about how busy work life had been in April. I foresee it getting busy again in about a week or so as the school year is quickly wrapping up around here. BUT, until then, I'm focusing at home on cooking and building up my cookbook. Last week I added three recipes to my cookbook: Pad Thai (which I learned how to make in Thailand 2 years ago SLASH I'm just looking back now and realizing I didn't write about my cooking class in Thailand. Sad face!), Chicken with White Wine Mushroom Sauce, and Rosemary Roasted Potatoes. 

The chicken recipe was good, but it needs some work and some tweaking. It wasn't QUITE what I had pictured when I drafted the recipe the night before. Notes that I wrote in my cookbook journal include: "Flavour is off. I added salt, but was afraid to add too much because my side of rosemary roasted potatoes were on the salty side. Other flavours that could be added next time: thyme? parm cheese? (maybe as a crisp garnish"?) ????") So, I'm not ready to share THAT recipe yet. 

However, the potatoes I made were brilliant. And they are so versatile. You could substitute so many different herbs if you aren't a fan of rosemary. Or if you are a fan of rosemary, but just like to try new things and explore, like me!

They'd taste amazing with thyme as well. 

And also, grilled on the BBQ. I mean, summer is just around the corner guys and nothing says summer like a BBQ cookout! 

ROSEMARY ROASTED POTATOES

+ 20-25 baby potatoes
+ extra virgin olive oil (appox. 2 tbsp)
+ 2 tbsp roughly chopped rosemary
+ salt and pepper

Rinse potatoes and dice them in to similar sizes (this is really important to make sure they cook evenly!)

Put potatoes on a baking sheet and coat with extra virgin olive. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and the chopped rosemary. Use hands to mix and make sure everything is coated evenly.

Bake at 350°C for 30-40 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender and crispy on the outside.

PS - Make sure you flip and turn potatoes over half way through the cooking time.

Let me know if you try out this recipe! And let me know if you substitute with other herbs or flavours. I think the next time I make them, I'll use thyme and garlic. Garlic on everything makes it so much better!

And also, thank you everyone for the amazing support and feedback about my goals and new journey! The messages and comments have been an amazing motivator and I'm beyond thankful for all of you who are reading this!

PS - FOLLOW ME ON SNAPCHAT, INSTAGRAM, AND TWITTER: mel_dickinson 
(Links to my Twitter and Instagram pages on the right!) --->

Still Here!

YAAASSS QUEEN!! Julia knows what she's talking about! I snapped this picture when I was in Ubud in February because I knew it'd bring me joy every time I looked at it.

It's been a busy couple of weeks in the life of this teacher. Besides the regular grind of being a teacher that includes lesson planning, marking, and instruction, I've been immersed in helping with the school musical. Last week and this past weekend I pretty much spent at school. I was home long enough to wind down for an hour or so, and then go to bed. While it was exhausting and a lot of work, I enjoyed every single minute of it! These students are extremely talented, and I had so much fun working with them. 

But now the show is over, and I am back to focusing on me (and the piles of marking and planning I still have to do/catch up on!) I have some recipes sketched out and planned in my journal, and I'll be doing some heavy cooking this week and next. Except a new recipe in the very near future!

PS - Home in 50 days!!

The Beginning of a New Journey.

Guys, I'm writing a cookbook! A book full of my own original recipes. Cooking has always been a big passion of mine. I can't remember a time where I didn't love to cook. My dad shares this passion with me, so maybe it's in our genes?! But since moving to China, I've lost some of that passion. Partly because my kitchen isn't ideal (toaster oven and a hot plate have proven to be challenging at times), and it has become so easy to just order food at the end of a work day. But, still, when I do cook, I remember how much fun I have and how good it makes me feel to create. 

If I'm being completely honest, I feel like my life has been in a rut lately. I haven't felt any spark of passion for anything in a long time. I just go about my daily routine, and at the end of the day, I sometimes feel lonely and lost. A lot of that passion came from creating in the kitchen. I love entertaining and cooking for other people, and I love messing around with flavours and ideas. I love going to a grocery store and spending hours (seriously, HOURS) going up and down the aisles, looking at the produce, the cheeses, the meats, the spices, the possibilities! I'm literally grinning from ear to ear thinking about being there just a couple of hours ago! I truly do believe that a part of my life is meant to be devoted to creating delicious, feel good food in the kitchen. 

How did I come up with this idea? As most of you know, I'm a teacher. Last week, our grade ten students presented their personal projects to the school; a year long project they've been working on. They decided on something they wanted to create that they were interested in learning more about. Kids created stop motion movies, haute couture gowns, and pixel art. I "jokingly" said to a fellow teacher: "Man, I'm leaving here seriously motivated to create something of my own!" Little did she probably know, I honestly WAS motivated. That night, I thought about it more, and I decided that what I need to do is make a cookbook. I can explore my interest more, learn more, and ultimately decide if I want the culinary arts to be a hobby or more of a career-type thing. This is what I hope to get out of this "personal project" of my own. I'm on a mission, a journey, to find my passion and love for cooking again!

So tonight! The journey began. I went out, I explored the grocery store, and I came home the ingredients to make my first entry into my journal that will one day become my cookbook. I intend to blog some of my recipes, and others I'll keep only in my journal. I'll be Snapchatting my journey and posting on Instagram. You should follow me! My handle for both is mel_dickinson. Come find me!

So here it is. My first recipe!

SUNDRIED TOMATO, BACON, PESTO PASTA BAKE

Pesto Sauce:
+ 2 cups fresh basil leaves
+ 1/4 cup pinenuts, toasted
+ 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
+ 2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
+ extra virgin olive oil

Put basil, pinenuts, cheese, and garlic into a blender or food processor. Begin mixing on low and slowly add oil to the blender. Continue to add oil gradually while mixing until desired consistency.

Pasta Bake:
+ 1 package of your favourite pasta (I used large elbow macaroni. Penne would also be great!)
+ 8 slices bacon, cooked, choppped
+ 1 small onion, diced
+ 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
+ 1/4 cup sundried tomatoes, chopped
+ 1-2 cups of spinach, roughly chopped
+ 3/4 cup of heavy cream
+ 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
+ salt and pepper to taste

Cook your pasta in heavily salted boiling water according to the directions on the package. Drain and set aside, saving 2-3 tablespoons of the cooking water.

Cook bacon in a frying pan until crispy. Set aside and chop once cooled. Use the leftover bacon grease to sauté the onions and garlic together. Once the onions become softened, add the spinach to the pan and cook until wilted. Add the sundried tomatoes and cooked bacon to the pan. Mix.

Add all of the pesto sauce from the blender or food processor to the pan. Mix. Stir in cream and mix until combined. Remove from heat. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.

Mix sauce with pasta in a baking dish. If it's difficult to combine the sauce and pasta together, add some of the reserved pasta water to the dish to loosen up the sauce. Top with parmesan cheese. Bake at 350°C for 20 minutes.

That's it folks! If I served this to my friends, I'd maybe add some chopped basil and a few crumbles of goat cheese to the plate. Eating myself, I just threw it in a the bowl and it was DELICIOUS with a glass of red wine.

When the timer on my toaster oven dinged after 20 minutes, and I took this dish out of the oven, I literally cried a little bit. I had to step away from the counter once I set it down and compose myself. I created this! I took things I knew from watching others, from reading cookbooks and recipes, and from my own palate and I created this dish! I tried something I've always wanted to, and I made homemade pesto. SO EASY! This is the result. Feel good food, and I'm feeling so full of passion and motivation, I can't wait to try my next recipe. I think it's going to be something sweet using inspiration from a family cookie recipe.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. For being interested in me and what's going on in my life. And if you try this recipe out, let me know!

PS - FOLLOW ME ON SNAPCHAT, INSTAGRAM, AND TWITTER: mel_dickinson 
(Links to my Twitter and Instagram pages on the right!) --->

Inked in Thailand.

A few weeks ago I posted about my trip to the Philippines and Thailand in February. In my post, I promised that I'd write about my tattoo adventure with my friend Elspeth. And an adventure it was! 

On one of our nights in Thailand, Elspeth, Ken and I ventured to Patong to do a little "partying" if you will. Patong is definitely known as the party island on Phuket. Lots of bars, loud music, lights, dancing, and LADYBOYS!  We had some dinner and scoped out the Ladyboy Shows that were happening that night (think cabaret meets drag queens). We found a decent one, got a seat and a drink and enjoyed the show A LOT! I don't think I've laughed that hard since leaving Thailand. 

All week, Elspeth and I had been joking about getting ridiculous henna "tramp stamp" tattoos. I won't tell you what we were going to get because it is extremely embarrassing and maybe even a little offensive. It's an inside joke, we think it's funny, and I'll keep it between the two of us (and the other select people we told who would maybe think it's funny, or just think we are stupid). So, after the show, we were on a high and started looking for henna tattoo parlours. We found one, and when I saw that the henna could stay on for up to 3 weeks, I was out! I didn't want to go back to China with some stupid henna tattoo on my lower back for people to possibly see. I also had an irrational fear that my fair skin would take differently to the tattoo and it would leave a permanent tinge on my skin. No thank you! 

So, we found a perch at a bar and got some tequila shots. You know what they say: "One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, LETS GET A REAL TATTOO!" Yes, that makes complete sense. I was afraid to get a henna tattoo of some stupid hashtag (yes, it was a hashtag...but I won't tell you what of, sorry!) but let's get real, permanent tattoos of something I actually want. Makes sense, but at the same time doesn't. Elspeth was on board, but we both agreed we wanted to go somewhere clean and not sketchy. 

We got our phones and started researching tattoo parlours in Patong. We found one that was owned by an Australian with nothing but positive, rave reviews. Turns out, it was just around the corner from where we were sitting. We assured Ken we would "be right back," that we were just going to check it out and make an appointment. We assumed it would be busy and they wouldn't be able to take a walk-in. Surprise! Once we found it, there was not a soul inside except for two of the artists. Mind you, it was after 11pm at night and most people were half in the bag by then. We timidly walked in and asked if we could get tattoos. They asked what we wanted and how big they were. We got the okay to do them then and there. This is where I started getting some cold sweats and my knees started to shake a little bit. I'm not one to be spontaneous on this level. Elspeth said she would go first and I could think about it some more. She promised she wouldn't be mad if I backed out, but we both agreed it would be a much better story if we BOTH came back to China with tattoos. 

While Elspeth got a beautiful elephant tattoo on the back of her neck, I hummed and hawed, messaged my best friend Sara at home about my crazy idea, and then finally decided to just DO IT! I had been thinking about this tattoo idea for a little while and figured it was a good time to do it. Especially with the meaning behind it. 

During my fourth year of university, I started developing this desire and want to travel and see the world. My whole life I've always wanted to travel, but I think I was too much of an introvert to follow through. But something happened in my fourth year; this drive appeared within me. It scared me at first, mostly because I didn't like the thought of being so far away from my loved ones. But what scared me more was the thought of living a life where I didn't know what was outside of my comfort zone. A life where I was jaded and blinded to different cultures, to history, to the "other." This world is so big and there is so much to see. How could I go through life only knowing my little corner of the world? Ultimately, in my mind, life is so unpredictable. We are ever changing and growing. Who knows where I'll be in a year, 5 years, 10 years? What I do know, is that if you had told 18 year old Melissa fresh out of high school that this would be her life at 26, I'd have laughed in your face. 

This is my tattoo. It's simple and it's on my right ankle. It's perfect and exactly what I wanted. It symbolizes my drive to explore. It represents the unpredictability of life, and it reminds me that there is still so much of this world left for me to see. 

So, while the decision to get the tattoo was quite spontaneous, I'm beyond happy that I did it.

PS - HOME IN 13 DAYS! 

My 21 Day Fix Experience.

At the beginning of the year, I made a deal with myself to be better. What I mean by this is that I wanted to stop stressing about things I can't control and to be more patient. I also wanted to take better care of my body by eating healthier and being more active. January went by, and February, and there went March and I hadn't made any valiant effort at being better to my body. My biggest fault - snacking. Chips, chocolates, and sweets. In the afternoon, before bed, and any other time I felt bored. Before moving to Beijing, I had lost almost 40lbs on Weight Watchers. Over the last two years, Im embarrassed to admit, I've put it all back on. And then, I got looking at pictures one day on Facebook and stumbled across this one from the summer: 

I can see how my shorts are to small. My cardigan is being worn not because it's cold, but because it's covering my flabby arms. I also have a great muffin top going on. I know I am sounding very harsh about my appearance, but it's the truth. And if I didn't make a change, it would only get worse and I would only become less confident in my own skin. I want to look in the mirror again and see the reflection of the person who moved to Beijing two years ago. The person who was healthier and as a result, happier.

Before going on vacation in February, I tried on my shorts. Only one pair fit properly. The others I had to squish myself in to and they felt very uncomfortable. Jeans that I brought to Beijing with me that fit when I arrived are impossible to put on now. It's not only that my clothes don't fit, I just don't feel comfortable in my own skin. I had to stop complaining and making these bold statements about changing (soon), and I finally needed to do something about it. 

I had seen a few people from home posting on Facebook about the changes they were making to their lifestyle through the "21 Day Fix." I read their comments and posts, and finally decided to approach someone about it and learn what it was all about. I reached out to Sam. I've known Sam pretty much my whole life. She and I grew up together, went to Elementary school together, my Mom babysat her, and when she moved to another town we kind of drifted apart. But through social media, we've always been connected in a way. Sam told me about her experience, walked me through the program, and answered all of the MANY questions that I had. After much thought and research, I decided to take the dive. It sounded like this program would fit my lifestyle, and ultimately, it would teach me how to treat my body properly. 

Essentially, the 21 Day Fix is a program that teaches you how to eat clean, whole foods at appropriate portion sizes. You are given 7 coloured containers that help you to measure the correct serving sizes for the different food groups (green = vegetables, purple = fruits, red = proteins, yellow = starches, blue = healthy fats, orange = nuts, seeds, and dressing). Depending on your body weight, you are allotted a set number of containers of each colour you can have each day. In addition, there is a workout program. The workouts are 30 minutes long and you do one a day. The combination of the eating plan and the workouts will help you to lose weight and inches off your body. 

I was extremely excited to start the program. I went through the fridge and pantry and gave away all of the food that I was eliminating from my diet: meals in a box (AKA: Kraft Dinner, Sidekicks, Hamburger Helper), white rice, prepared salad dressings, processed meats, white pasta, potato chips, chocolate (which I may have eaten all of it prior to the morning of my start day...), and anything with added sugar or salt. I then went grocery shopping and stocked up on A LOT of fruits and vegetables, chicken, brown rice, whole grain bread, frozen fruit and plain greek yogurt. Day one started, and I was ready! 

I found difficulty in meal planning during the first week. I started the week by planning what I would eat EVERYDAY to ensure that I'd met my allotted containers for each day. This took me a long time to do, and as the week progressed, I found it very daunting. I veered away from the meal plan, and started doing my planning the night before. I found this much easier for my lifestyle. 

I've discovered that I am a woman of routine when it comes to my breakfasts. I've never been a breakfast person, and I was a frequent breakfast skipper growing up. So, I'm not very spontaneous with my breakfast choices. I've found something that I like, and I'm gonna stick to it. At the beginning of the program, my breakfast usually consisted of cooked rolled oats with cinnamon and blueberries, or banana and peanut butter. Then, when my Shakeology arrived in Beijing, I switched to having a Shakeology shake in the morning with banana and peanut butter. Then, around 10am I had my FAVOURITE snack of the day - plain greek yogurt with mixed berries and granola with cinnamon. YUM! And very filling. 

When I made my dinner on Sunday nights, I'd make extra protein to have for lunches during the week. One week I made extra chicken, one week it was lean ground beef, and another it was pork meatballs. I found that with planning and preparing the night before, I was more likely to eat the food in my fridge then opt out for the easier option of eating in the school cafeteria or buying instant noodles at the convenience store in our school.

Struggles I had during the 21 day's: Sometimes I had a hard time meeting the daily quota for each container. Usually I was short 1 protein or 1 vegetable. It wasn't until the last week that I figured out how to spread my containers out over the day properly. However, once I got my Shakeology, I was able to tick an extra protein off my list for each day.

Speaking of Shakeology! I love it! Shakeology is a protein shake that I drink once a day. Currently, I'm using vanilla but will be very excited when I get my hands on the chocolate. You can blend it up with a variety of things, but as I have been learning about myself over the last 21 days, I am a creature of habit. I love peanut butter! So, most mornings I have a Shakeology shake made with 1 banana and a teaspoon of peanut butter. It's gone in no time! It tastes like I'm cheating, but I'm not! And it's a superfood-protein packed with a multitude of vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and all things good for your body. It's proven to help with weight loss, the building of muscle, and to cut cravings.

So now my 21 Days is officially over. I am so pleased with the results I'm seeing and feeling. I've lost 6lbs and 6.5 inches off my body. I am more energetic, motivated, and aware of what is going in my body and how I'm treating it. I am making better decisions about how I treat my body, while at the same time not depriving myself completely of some of the foods I love. I still go out on the weekends with friends to our favourite restaurants. In fact, every weekend since starting this journey I've eaten out. I've just made better decisions - I get grilled chicken with a side of mixed vegetables instead of a burger and fries. I have a salad and add cheese on it instead of nachos. I've had a few beers, and (to my surprise and happiness) I am still allowed to have wine on the fix! It's all about moderation and making wise choices.

I've decided to do a second round of the fix, which I will start next week. I'm going away to Hong Kong this weekend, and while I am going to be wise about my food choices, I'm also going to treat myself a couple of times. But once I'm back in Beijing on Monday, it's back to the routine that I have grown to love.

*This is not an advertisement for Beachbody or the 21-Day Fix. This is only my notes and personal experience on the program. Photos of the program and Shakeology were taken from the Beachbody website. I do not own these photos. 

Twenty-Six.

*Disclaimer: I almost didn't post this because I thought it was TOO personal. I thought people would get the wrong impression or the wrong idea from this post. Let it be known that I am very happy and enjoying my life. These are just thoughts I've been having lately leading up to my birthday and I wanted to share them with others who may be feeling the same, and I also wanted them down somewhere so I could reflect in the future. 

I am 26.  

You know how when you're a kid and you play dress-up, or grown-ups, or whatever you chose to call it? You pretended to have a job, a husband, children, and all the money you could ever want. You know how you made names for your unborn children? (I went through many phases of names: Erica, Emma (mostly because of Rachel on Friends), Carmen, and Ryan for girls. Dylan and Oliver for boys). How you fantasized about what it'd be like to be an adult in the "real world." Ya...can I have that fantasy back? 

Now, don't get my wrong. I like my life. In fact, sometimes I love it. But in the days of being 10, 11, 12 years old, of the awkward preteen and early teenage years, where I fantasized with my friends about what life would "be like" in the future...26 was always my age. 26 was the age I'd get married. I would have found the man I was going to love for the rest of my life and we would be getting married when I turned 26. 

So, over the last few months as my birthday loomed over me, I started to get this anxious feeling inside of me. What was I doing with my life? I have been single for a LOOOONG time. There have been a few short relationships here and there. There's been flirting and dating and interest and intimacy. But nothing that's stuck. And I'm starting to wonder if it has to do with me? Do I WANT all of those things I fantasized about so long ago? I mean, I change so much in a year. Think about how much I've changed since I was 12 (let me help you...I've changed A LOT!) And I know I've become VERY VERY independent. But that doesn't mean I don't want someone to share my life with...

I have these moments of anxiety, sadness, and longing and then I look at my reality. I am 26 and have been living in Beijing for a year and half. I've got a career. I am making enough money that I can pay off my student debt, but also take long trips to exotic and wonderful places. I have friends who I can confide in, who listen to me, and who I can trust. I have a family who supports every decision I've made and always has my back. I many different forms of love surrounding me. I'm living this life that is so much more than I had imagined at 12. I'm seeing and doing things that not everyone gets the chance to do. All at 26.

So it's not the life I imagined while playing on the trampoline with my friends in my backyard after school. There's no man sitting beside me at the end of the day to share stories with. There are no kids on the way. There's no money growing on trees or a big white house and a red door to come home to. But I'm okay with that, because I have different things. I have adventure.

I fear of being alone, but I am far from it.  

On Christmas Spirit.

My second Christmas away from home. Home and family which is kinda, in my opinion, what Christmas spirit is all about. One of my favourite Christmas quotes: 

"It came without presents! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes, or bags!" He puzzled and puzzed till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. "Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps... means a little bit more."

It's so interesting being a teacher in another country teaching students who have never really experienced Christmas, Christmas spirit, and the gift of giving. When trying to teach these students about what Christmas is and why it's so important to their Canadian teachers, it's hard not to emphasize the packages, boxes, and bags. I love telling them about the beautiful decorations, the lights and colours, and the atmosphere of people bustling about buying presents, seeing family and friends, and having Christmas parties. 

I think it's important to tell them about those things, because they are a part of Christmas. But it's not what Christmas is ALL about...

For me, and what is most difficult about being away from home during the holiday season, is missing out on the family time and the warm feeling of being surrounded by the people who love you unconditionally. I don't feel homesick on a regular day, but this week there is a homesickness shadowing over me. 

A few weeks ago, my students did an interview project with my cousin Rebecca back home in New Brunswick. Their task was to find out how life for Chinese students is the same and different from that of Canadian students. During the interview, the students had a period of time to ask Rebecca questions that weren't related to the topic. Students were very curious to learn about what Rebecca had for traditions during Christmas. As she answered the questions, describing the events that take place in her household on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, I sighed, pretended to cry (putting on a show for the kids), but in actuality, I teared up and had to hide it from the kids. Rebecca was quick to apologize, but I assured her I was fine. But my heart hurt a little bit. Because all of those traditions, events, and moments she spoke about - from eating cannelloni's on Christmas Eve at her house, to opening the box of gifts from Uncle David labeled with their jokes and one-liners, and playing Taboo after dinner - are things my family is involved in, and things I'm missing out on when I am here. They are the things, that when Christmas is approaching, I remember and cherish the most, and make me feel warmest. Because they are embodied in the Christmas spirit. It's what Christmas means to me - being with family. 

These are the things I try to teach my students about during the Christmas season. That Christmas is much more than presents and the amount of money you spend. It's about giving and being with the ones you love the most. About being thankful for the things we have in life and the things that can't be wrapped in beautiful, shiny paper and bows. 

The thing I've been finding myself saying the most this December: I can't WAIT for my first Christmas back home! 

Being a Teacher.

This week has been quite a week at work. It's challenged me and it's made me so grateful to be in the profession I am in. I love my job. I've said it time and time again. I am one of those lucky people that always knew what I wanted to be. And that's being an educator. Working day in and day out with some amazing students who continue to inspire me and confirm that I'm doing exactly what I was a meant to do. I can't imagine having any other job. 

Now, before I continue, I need to make a disclaimer. I am in NO WAY writing this post today to toot my own horn, to make myself seem like some almighty human being, to be self-righteous. And if you think otherwise, than I suggest you don't read any further for you will only become angry and annoyed (haha!). You should know, I'm writing this today because I experienced something I want to remember. Because when I started this blog, I started it for me. So that I would have a place to write down my thoughts and experiences, to look back and see how I've grown and remember the things I've had the joy of doing. And that's why I'm writing this post today. 

At our school, the students in grade 10 take part in an english speech competition. This year, four of my students were of the five chosen to represent our school in the competition. For almost two months now, the students have been writing, rehearsing, and practicing their pronunciation in anticipation for the competition. Some of them have been coming to see me twice a week for extra help on their speech. It's easy to say that they have been working diligently and meticulously. They were motivated. 

Tonight was the competition. I was so proud of them as they stood up there and did their speeches. They listened to my advice, were poised and spoke so eloquently! As a teacher, I've honestly NEVER felt so proud. In the end, two of my students tied for third and two of my students got honourable mentions. 

Afterwards, I went to them to give high fives and congratulations. Three of them looked and me and said, "I'm sorry." My heart dropped to the floor. I said, "Don't be silly! You did awesome! And I'm extremely proud of all of you." Their heads dropped and they walked away. 

My heart broke. Into what felt like a million pieces. We took pictures and the smiles on their faces were so forced. I tried again to cheer them up by saying, "Way to go! I'm so happy." And they again said "I'm sorry." 

I was so dumb-founded. Why were they sorry? So I asked. And the response I got will forever be engraved on my mind. "I feel like a disappointment. That I am a shame to the school. Because I didn't win." I could have cried. I still want to cry. I felt like it was a reflection on my teaching. I racked my brain trying to figure out how they got the impression that if they didn't win that I would be so angry or disappointed in them. Whenever we rehearsed, I was sure to tell them all of the things they did well with before offering my suggestions for improvement. I high-fived, told them how much they had improved, and commended them on their hard work. I honestly can't think of a time where I ever displayed any other emotion. 

What I have learned over the last year and a bit is that the culture of the Chinese education system and Chinese students is very, very different from that of the western lifestyle. Much of the classroom culture here revolves around competition and being number one. It's engraved in their minds that if you're not first, you're last and you've failed. And I know that these pressures are felt in students and children all over the world, I've just never experienced it within such a large number of students in one classroom. If nothing else, this pressure and mindset makes the students highly motivated, involved, and conscious of their grades and progress. This is a refreshing attitude to see in students as a teacher and in most cases, makes my job very enjoyable. But today was not one of those days. 

I also know that at age 15 or 16, you can't always see the bigger picture and look on the positive side. That ability comes with growing up. However, once I got the three students out of the auditorium and in to a more private area, I spoke to them about how it's okay for them to be upset, angry and frustrated with their performance. I've been there. I've gone in to something confident and aiming to win and didn't achieve my goals. I've been upset with myself and beaten myself up about my performance. I still do it. But there has to come a point where you look at something and say "Okay, I can't go back and change it. But I can move forward and decide how I can be a better person because of the experiences I've had."

And this is what I (attempted) to teach those students tonight. I gave them examples, spoke to them about how to be grateful for the experiences you get to have, and what they can do to move forward. I know they listened, because they nodded and responded with their own opinions. I told each of them how I thought they had grown over the course of doing this assignment. And I ended by challenging them to go home tonight and think of at least one thing that they can be thankful for because they got to have this experience. 

And as they walked away, one student turned around and said to me "Thanks for being my inspiration, Melissa..." Two of the other teachers were standing there as he said that to me, and I turned to them and fought back tears. They patted my back and said, "You are such a great educator with special talents when you talk to the students. They respect you." I never thought that as such a young teacher would I ever impact any students the way some of my teachers did in high school. 

I had the word "Inspire" engraved on the inside of my T-ring for many reasons. But the most important one was that I wanted the idea of inspiring to motivate me to grow and to impact others the way some of the most influential people in my life have inspired me. I want someone to look back years after graduating high school and remember that they had me as a teacher because of the way I inspired them to follow their dreams. And tonight, when that student said those words to me, something sparked inside of me that's hard to explain. Something that makes me want to grow more, do more, see more, and be more. Those words made me proud. Of him, for being so brave and standing up in front of over a hundred people and saying a speech in a different language and doing it so professionally and confidently. I was also proud of myself, of the work I do, and of the profession I get to share with so many others. Teachers are such influential people in a young persons life. For some, they see their teachers more than they see their parents. We need to lead by example, inspire them to be the best version of themselves, and shape them in to well rounded human beings. Being a teacher is so much more than the curriculum, tests, and grades. It's also about the morals, values, and lessons you teach them about life, love, successes, failures, and the world. Teachers inspire. 

I love my job. So, while today was difficult, I can use it to reflect, grow, and motivate myself to continue to inspire these students to go out in the world and be the best possible version of themselves as they can be. I get to be a teacher. And I am so lucky.