The Need to Hibernate

I don't know what it is about this late fall, but I am fighting a strong urge to hibernate.  All I want to do is stuff myself with carbs and then curl up in bed.  I imagine it has something to do with the lack of sun, SAD does start this time of year, after all.  It's been unusually dreary since we've been having rain instead of snow, which reflects the light.

I am well aware of light therapy, and treatment for depression, the latter being a staple in my life.  I've read up on the science.  But honestly, When you think you're going to die without a doughnut, you don't care about what some article says.

So what to do?  Take my D, Bs, EFAs and Chromium, move everyday, make my super-filling-oatmeal-cookies for the cravings and get outside in the sun whenever possible.  Be with people; My family is coming down for Christmas (Yay!). I know I need to make ways to see my friends more often. Other than that, I pray and keep an eye out for those little love notes God sends me on the rough days.  My husband is wonderfully supportive, so I can ask for nothing more.

Do you have a hard time in the darkest season of the year?  What are your strategies?

My favourite Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe; Healthy and Yummy!

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie with Agave Nectar

1/2 c almond milk
1 Tbs ground chia or flax meal

 

2 cups organic rolled oats
2 cups oat, spelt or whole wheat flour

2 cups almond four
1 cup shredded coconut
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cocoa nibs
1/2 tsp cinnamon

3/4 C* agave nectar (or pure maple syrup)

3/4 cup* canola or grapeseed oil
1⁄2 tsp. vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1.    Add chia/flax to milk in a small bowl. this will thicken and act as a binder

2.    Mix all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.

3.    Mix the wet ingredients together in their own bowl, adding the chia/milk misture last.  Then stir into the dry ingredients with a wooden spoon.

4.    Form balls and place on a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper. Press the balls down with your fingers.

5.     Bake for 12 minutes or until crispy.

*You can up the Agave and oil up to 1 Cup each if needed.

'Vegg Nogg' Recipe

I have been looking for a good vegan egg nog, or 'vegnog' recipe for Christmas.  I don't like using eggs, let alone raw eggs and I thought it would be worth while finding something that wasn't pumped full of sugar.  Anyhow I found this one and think I'll give it a try.  I'll be using store bought almond milk as I haven't quite gotten  to the 'making my own milk' phase of life.

here's the one I'll be giving a try:

½ cup raw almonds + 1 ½ cups filtered water OR 1 ½ cups homemade raw almond milk

2 frozen ripe bananas

1 pitted date soaked for about an hour

¼ tsp natural pure vanilla extract

¼ tsp ground nutmeg

¼ tsp ground cinnamon

pinch ground cloves

pinch of Celtic sea salt

1. Place all ingredients in your blender and puree until smooth and creamy. Add more water to achieve desired consistency.
   **I just blended whole almonds with 2 cups of water as I liked the rustic consistency. But you could use homemade strained almond milk.
2. Sprinkle with cinnamon and serve immediately.

http://healthyblenderrecipes.com/recipes/raw_vegan_eggnog_recipe/

Godsend

Godsend

Though it is the days of sunshine that the heart longs for, 
It is in the darkest night that the brilliance of the stars are clearest, 
Bringing succour to the soul whose gaze is skyward.

Godsend by Erin Asher is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License.