Living Life

Daiya New York Cheezecake Review

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daiya cheesecake

 

When I was at my local Sprouts store, I spied this new “cheezecake” from Daiya. Because I am dairy free, I have not had cheesecake in awhile, so this new product looked appealing.

My only hesitation was that the brand was Daiya. I’ve tried their cheese and I can’t really get used to the different taste. Would the cheesecake taste similarly? But, cheesecake is not made with cheese, so maybe that’s a plus. Since this is sweet, maybe it would mask any bad tastes.  The cheesecake was a little pricey, like most gluten free sweets, but I bought it anyway. I couldn’t resist.

When I opened up the box, I found that it is a small cheesecake. I guess that’s normal and ok since I don’t need to eat alot anyway. It’s packaged in plastic to keep it fresh.

daiya cheesecake

How did it taste? Yummy! It tasted like the real thing! It did not resemble the shredded Daiya cheese that I’ve tried in the past. I was definitely impressed. When eating it, I forgot that this was “fake” cheesecake.  This is something that I would buy again.

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Overcoming Fears to go on New Adventures

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Overcoming fears to gon on new adventures

This past weekend, I drove my 3 kids and I to visit a town in the mountains (Estes Park, CO). This is a huge accomplishment!

Why? Normally:

  • I am scared to drive too far for fear of falling asleep
  • I’m afraid to drive into the mountains because I get motion sick
  • I’m afraid of the possibility of scary narrow roads in the mountains
  • It’s too tiring to get 3 kids ready for an all day excursion
  • We can’t seem to get out of the house before 10AM, which limits our day.
  • I like staying home.

Now that I am a single parent, I feel more adventurous. I can’t be afraid or else I would do nothing.

Despite my thyroid still being off, I was feeling pretty clear headed for the first time in awhile and was actually able to get everything ready the night before. I printed the directions, got lunches ready, and packed bags.  Normally, I can’t think that far in advance. I used to be able to, but I have felt so brain foggy that it’s hard to think ahead.

We did get out the door around our usual 10AM time despite my goal of 9AM. Even though it was later than I wanted, I still plowed ahead with our plans. I wanted to get out and do something!

I think it took about 1.5-2 hours to get there. I made it! The roads were a little scary, but not too bad as long as I focused on the road and not the huge drops on the side of the road.

Rocky Mountain National Park was having a free day, which was the main reason for the trip. I braved the roads and drove quite far into the park. We couldn’t find any parking since it was so crowded, but I tried! Only on the way out did I happen to find one spot near a creek. My kids loved playing near the water, picking up sticks, running around, etc. I was surprised!

One good thing about the park on this particular day was the visitor’s center. It just happened to be Earth Day, so there were kid’s activities set up. My children loved it! Got some free homeschooling in!

We found a path near the Estes Park Visitor’s Center where my kids can ride their bikes. Next time we come, we will do this hike. I can’t believe that I’m thinking about a “next time”. I’ve always wanted to visit this area, but haven’t had the chance or nerve to. Now, I can’t wait to come back and explore more of Estes Park.

I figured I drove for maybe 4 hours. In light of that, perhaps I could do that 8 hour road trip I’ve been wanting to do sometime? 8 hours seems so daunting.

I’m ready to live life, explore, go on adventures and find the joy in living! I want to make memories with my children and for them to remember this time of life as fun.

Am I hurrying past Christmas by wanting my decorations down?

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I love Christmas. I love decorating for Christmas. I love watching the lights on my tree at night. I love the magic and miracle of the Christmas season. That said, once Christmas is over, my decorations begin to feel annoying. My living room feels cluttered with a tree. The mesmerizing tree lights do not mesmerize me anymore. I don’t feel the “magic” of the season anymore. All the Christmas “stuff” feels like clutter. I can’t think. I feel like my house is messy. I want to put it away and move onto other things.

I feel a little guilty by this. Shouldn’t I feel “Christmasy” after Dec 25? Does it mean that I don’t appreciate that Jesus was born on Christmas day? If I really think about it, Christmas has nothing to do with all the decorations, but the heart. So perhaps, it’s not that bad that my once loved decorations turn into mind clutter? I don’t know. I wish I could enjoy my decorations for one more day or week. After all, Christmas comes but just once a year. But, I’m ready to move on to the next thing – mainly thinking about the new year and the blessings it holds.

With that said, I do try to wait until Dec 31 before I take down my tree. It’s such a relief once everything is packed away. My mind is fresh for the new year.

The Countdown to Christmas

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In these last few days before Christmas, it feels like a wait game. You’re all ready for the big day, now it just has to arrive. It also feels a bit sad. The stores are already putting the Christmas decorations on clearance. The store shelves are bare. If you didn’t get whatever you needed weeks ago, you might be out of luck. If it’s an online purchase, it won’t make it here by Christmas without paying a huge fee. Stress!

Then there is the fact that stores are actually closed on Christmas Day. I feel a little anxious about this. What if I run out of an ingredient? What if I “need” something like wrapping paper even though I have gobs of it because you never know I just might run out??? The fact that I may not be able to get something when I want it worries me. That’s sad. I’m used to living in an instant society.

I asked when my local Walmart was closing. They close at 8 pm on Christmas Eve. Closed on Christmas Day. This gives me an exact time I need to aim for to make sure I’ve gotten all my last minute stuff.