Favorite Things
Today I’m talking about broken bones, vegan eats in Minneapolis, a new headshot, and some self-coaching that has really improved my mindset recently! Let’s get to it!
Shawn is a nature photographer. This beautiful sunset is at Wagner Lake in Iowa.
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Broken Bones
Who knew that going off-path on a bike could be so dangerous!
I was on a concrete, secluded path when I noticed a walker in front of me. There is never anyone on this path, so I was surprised to see him! I was not prepared for what happened next.
Had the neighbor not stopped to chat with me before my bike trek, I would have beat the walker to the trail. Had I not stopped to take this picture, I would have beat the walker.
Definitely, if I crossed paths with the walker on any other part of the trail, my arm would still be intact.
I’m left with a certain feeling of inevitability about it all.
I called out, “Passing on your left,” as I veered off onto the grass beside the walker. What I didn’t realize was there was a separation between the ground and the path where I chose to re-enter. That separation caused my front wheel to come out from under me.
I don’t remember this, but I must have reached my arm out to brace myself from the fall. It’s a common thing we humans do when we’re falling. I know this because my palm was scuffed from the concrete.
I also knew it because when I got up beside my fallen bike, I couldn’t move my left arm.
“Are you ok?” the man asked, looking stunned. I answered with my knee-jerk response, “I’m fine.”
I picked my bike up with my right arm when my Apple Watch started buzzing.
A hard fall had been detected. Did I need emergency services? I tapped “no.”
Then the man walked on, and I stood in that very spot dazed. I was more than a mile away from home. What should I do? I didn’t think I could get back on my bike. I couldn’t extend my left arm, and it felt precarious to be on a bike.
Then I got another buzz on my Apple Watch. It was seeking data. I tapped on the button that said, “I fell, but I’m ok.”
But was I OK? I wasn’t sure.
I decided to walk my bike back home.
Yes, I should have called Shawn. He would have been there for me within minutes.
But I’m not a “call-for-help” kinda gal. Besides, I probably had some post-accident adrenalin coursing through my veins. I guided my bike with my right hand, held my left arm close to me, and walked home.
It was good luck for us that our local orthopedic office had a walk-in urgent care clinic where we got the x-rays that confirmed it was indeed a radial head fracture.
Believe it or not, it didn’t hurt all that much. They put it in a fiberglass splint, and we were on our way.
So, today, I am splint-free. It came off on day 13, and now I’m working on getting my range of motion back and building up strength in my puny left arm (2 weeks immobilized does a number on your muscles!).
I hope three-plus years of daily yoga and regular strength training over the last year will help get me back in action ASAP!
This is a common injury — have you ever broken your radial head? Tell me about it!
Minneapolis
Adee and I had already planned a trip to Minneapolis for July. Should we cancel it because my arm was in a sling?
This is one downside to AirBnB. You can get a full refund if you cancel in time with a hotel. But with AirBnB, we would forego 25% of the room reservation total. So, canceling wasn’t a great option.
Besides, Adee didn’t mind driving, and it was a fun way to pass the time as I waited for my cast to come off.
Here are some of the highlights from our trip:
- Lots of great vegan food in Minneapolis! The first morning we walked to Glam Doll Donuts, where they serve both regular and vegan donuts. We selected a dozen vegan donuts, and they were delicious. My favorite was the raspberry cream filled donut!
- My first ride in a Tesla! We got an Uber back because who wants to walk a mile with a box of donuts? Our Uber drove a Tesla, and it was beautiful. The entire roof was a sunroof, and it was magical!
- Herbivorous Butcher. Of course, we had to stop by HB while we were there. Adee ordered a charcuterie board that we munched on throughout the trip. Every bite was fantastic!
- Herbie’s Fried Chicken. The Herbivarius Butcher has a sister shop serving vegan fried chicken. We got a bucket to enjoy and bring back to our peeps. I highly recommend their blue cheese sauce. And, of course, we each got our own dairy-free malt; mine was chocolate (with peanut butter), and Adee’s was vanilla. Heavenly!
- Reverie. One of our favorite vegan restaurants was Reverie. We went there twice! The weather is much less humid in MN, so we sat outside and enjoyed dinner one night and brunch the next day.
- Minnehaha. I was surprised to learn that the Minnehaha Falls are within minutes of downtown Minneapolis. We were there on a Saturday, and it was packed with people, but we got a lovely nature trail walk in.
- Outdoorsy. There are bike paths on almost every street and lakes surrounded by bucolic parks sprinkled throughout the city. I can see why so many people love this area.
New Headshot
You’ll see me on this site and my social feeds with a new headshot. It was time for an update!
Taking photos can be so anxiety-provoking, but it was well worth the discomfort. I wanted a picture that reflected how happy I am to see y’all coming to my site!
Self-Care
- Rest — I am healing a broken elbow, and a big part of that was rest. My arm was immobilized, but I still walked daily. However, it’s so humid here in Missouri, and the doc didn’t want me to sweat, so taking breaks was built into the process. I held my arm high (propped up on pillows) for the first week. Good news! My bone has healed just fine, and now I’m working to get my range of motion back!
- POV — I had a huge AHA moment recently – I realized much of my life has been focused on external validation. Wow, was this huge. I wanted people to like me. Of course! We all feel this on some level! But my “want” was really a “need.” So, I’ve been changing my focus lately to be more intrinsically motivated. Good news, I really like people, and I enjoy chatting and getting to know (most of) them, so it’s not as if I’m going to turn into a curmudgeon. At least not anytime soon! But, I’m finding this new POV (point of view) to be a big help in my state of mind. Read more about my change in internal dialog on this Instagram Post.
- Balance — I heard this quote recently and loved it: The goal is finding a balance between self-compassion and self-discipline. So true!
Home
I always have home projects on my list. These are the ones I’ve been planning or dreaming about.
- Biquinho Peppers —I’ve got little peppers growing on my plants. I’m so excited. This has been such a fun project this year, and I’m happy I took it on. I will share some pics with you next update.
- Popcorn Ceilings — We’ve tackled several rooms with popcorn ceilings in our house, but there are still more to go. I think going after them one by one is the way to go. This project can be hard on the neck, but it looks so good when it’s done. We have a high, vaulted ceiling in the living room so if we go after that ceiling, we’ll probably have to hire it out.
- Hanging Chair — I have my eye on this Rope Hanging Chair to go up in my office. Of course, I could use a stand, but I’m thinking of asking my hubby to install it using this DIY hanging chair tutorial.
Reading
I have three or four resources I use for reading audio and e-books on my phone. My favorites are Libby and Audible. I also use Apple Books and Google Books. Obviously, I enjoy reading! Here are some books I am reading this month:
- Ready, Player One by Ernest Cline. Fiction. This book is one I’ve mentioned before, but Adee and I listened to it on our road trip, and so I’m mentioning it again. It is a long read, but it is read by Wil Wheaton (the actor from Star Trek), so it really is an entertaining listen!
- Fiber Fueled by Will Bulsiewicz, MD, Non-Fiction. Well, this was a surprising book because I didn’t realize the author was plant-based. That was a nice bonus! Loved this book and his personal and scientific understanding of how the gut microbiome is influenced by fiber. I can speak from personal experience that adding fiber to my diet has helped me in so many ways. This book is a great read and very informative!
Watching
We made time for TV this month, and here are some favorites:
- Fired on Mars. HBO Max. This is an odd series, to be honest, but it has been just enough enjoyable that I stuck with it. With Luke Wilson reading the lead character’s voice (this is an animated show), I figured it had to be good. I also enjoyed that Leslie David Baker (from The Office) had a voice character too.
- The Last Run. HBO Max. We watched the mini-series about skateboarder and snowboarder, Shaun White. This is a perplexing show to watch when recovering from a broken bone! They have a lot of footage of Shaun’s injuries over the years, but also from his heights of success, too. It’s a great documentary, and I learned a lot about this talented athlete! I love that his family union is involved in his business and development as an athlete.
Kitchen
There’s no end to the food I’m passionate about, but here are some recent favorites I want to share with you:
- Protein — Your diet matters all the time, but especially when you’re healing. So, I made a big emphasis on protein these last few weeks, and my favorite source of protein? Tofu. So, you can imagine I made a lot of lemon pepper tofu. I love that stuff!
- Turmeric Latte — Some inflammation is to be expected with an injury, but I did try to minimize inflammation naturally by using turmeric. My favorite is this golden dairy-free latte, and I use soy milk to add more protein to the beverage. Win-win!
- Kitchen Scissors — When cooking with one hand, kitchen scissors are a lifesaver! I used them to chop my salads (with some help from my honey, Shawn, too). I used them to chop green onions, cut salad greens, and more! These Kitchenaid Scissors are my favorite.
Reader Spotlight
Here’s a review of my Coffee Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Reader Reviews
★★★★★
Mel
Delicious, served to guests and they all commented on how tasty they are.
Recently On Namely Marly
Here are my recently published recipes.
Avocado Green Goddess Salad Dressing
Vegan Coconut Balls
Easy Tiramisu Overnight Oats
Biscoff Truffle Balls
Five Most Popular Posts This Week
- Vegan Condensed Milk — If you need sweetened condensed milk for your recipe, this is my favorite because it’s so easy to make!.
- Plant-Based Pineapple Cake — If you like pineapple and whipped cream, you will love this cake! It’s a rich, butter cake with pineapple baked right in. It’s served with dairy-free whipped cream on top. So good!
- Onion Confit — Add tender, slow-cooked onions to all your favorite dishes, such as veggie black bean burgers.
- Easy Elderberry Pie — I can tell it’s the end of summer when this recipe starts trending. Elderberries are in season, and this pie is a natural option this time of year!
- Vegan and Gluten-Free Donuts — This recipe is a favorite, especially if you have gluten-free folks around. I love a sweet treat in the morning, and these donuts hit the spot!
Meal Plan
Monday — I like to make this Garlic Confit Pasta early in the week so we can enjoy the leftovers for lunch and dinner throughout the week. Don’t forget the garlic breadsticks on the side!
Tuesday — This day gets busy around here, so I like a simple meal like this Sticky Chickpeas served with simple brown rice and microwave-steamed broccoli.
Wednesday — We love having meatloaf around here, and that’s why I turn to this Vegan Impossible Meatloaf. Serve it with some vegan scalloped potatoes for a delicious mid-week meal. The next day you can serve meatloaf slices on bread or buns for the perfect lunch.
Thursday — I love making this Vegan Mac and Cheese Casserole because it makes a big batch! Then we freeze half for later and have plenty of leftovers for the week. I like to bake it with small broccoli florets and some veggie crumbles to make it a complete meal.
Friday — Ready for pizza night but don’t have a lot of time? These vegan pizza bagel bites are perfect! Ready in minutes, you’ll love these plant-based pizza treats!
Saturday — The weekend is all about comfort food here. It’s one reason I head to this Jackfruit Vegan Pot Roast. It’s made with carrots and potatoes. You can serve it with some broccoli casserole on the side for the ultimate meal!
Sunday — Sundays = sweets. It works because you get a nice treat and maybe some leftovers to enjoy throughout the week. These Coconut Bounty Overnight Oats make Sunday sweets healthy and tasty! If you’re in a hurry but looking for some fudgy treats, these Boxed Vegan Brownies are divine and so easy to make!
What are the dishes you’re planning to make this week?
I’m wondering if monk fruit ‘sugar’ (not drops) can be substituted in the Vegan Condensed Milk recipe.
Hi Linda. I haven’t tried this myself but I think it’s a good idea to try! Because monk fruit is sweeter than sugar, you will only need around 1/4 cup of it at most.
I am sorry to hear about your accident. When one is as active as you are it must be dreadful to be immobilized. I am 82 and thankfully have never broken or fractured a bone, fingers crossed I never will.
Hoping your elbow fully heals soon and you keep on giving us those wonderful recipies.
Deridre.
Thanks so much Deirdre! I’m so glad to hear from you and so happy for you to be free of any broken bones! This is now my second broken bone (although I suspect a broken toe or two as well!). I fell off a swing and broke my collarbone, but it is sort of a love story because Shawn moved in to help care for me. He is quite the caregiver! Thanks for your encouragement. It really means a lot. Sending you hugs!!
Hi Marly.
I loved reading this post on so many levels.
Whilst I haven’t broken any bones recently, so many points of your post resonated.
Firstly, I love your new headshot. You look so naturally happy and balanced. The original that i saw looked fake – sorry, it’s like the photographer said laugh, but you didn’t feel comfortable doing that – this one looks real.
I have made several of your recipes and although not a vegan myself, I still love the recipes.
Keep up the great work, get well soon, get stronger and keep being you.
Love from a Greek island xxx
Hi Paul! You know what? I agree with you on the headshot feedback. I like to think of myself as more naturally happy and balanced so this new headshot reflects who I am. I’m so glad you like the recipes you’ve tried! And thanks so much for your encouragement – it means a lot! I have a good friend from Greece. He is in the states now, but he grew up in Athens. Wishing you many sunny days!