I hate sleep. There. I said it.
I don’t get people like my brother, who crawls into bed for a “sweet nap” whenever he’s bored. If I’m bored, I damn well wouldn’t be sleeping. Wait—that doesn’t matter, because I’m never bored. I always seem to have something to do.
And that’s precisely why I detest sleep. Because it is just a waste of time. 24 hours in a day is already not enough…so why would I want to be motionless with my eyes closed for hours when there are so many freaking things to do? But unfortunately, God designed humans so that we need to take a rest for 7-8 hours a day. If anybody knows why He did that, please enlighten me. I would really like to know.
That said, I have been sleeping 8 full hours for consecutive days. It’s a miracle! I usually get only 5 hours a sleep. Strangely, that has not messed up my productivity time. I still got things done. I still manage to have time to slip in a movie at night, and perhaps some blogging. So what does this say? Perhaps I’ve been sacrificing sleep for nothing. I need to experiment on this more…
Part of the reason why I’ve been able to sleep so much is because I’ve been dreaming a lot. Strange, but good dreams:
Yesterday, I dreamed that one of my friends who is struggling with an eating disorder called me up asking me to eat a Wendy’s burger with her.
Another day, I dreamed that I got a 99% on my final essay for my writing class (what bullshit)
I also dreamed that I became best friends with a popular blogger (not telling who) and she taught me how to hip-hop dance.
Sigh. If only all these dreams were true…
But I suppose that’s precisely why they are called dreams. They are wistful wishes that come true without any effort from our part. You know, I’ve always been a dreamer…but what do I actually do to achieve them? For example…
I wish I was a better Christian…yet I don’t communicate with God, or read His words as much as I should…
I wish I had better grades…yet I skip classes all the time, and rarely do my readings…
I wish I had more time…yet I waste a lot of the time I already have doing frivolous stuff…
That’s it! Time to stop wishing and to start actually doing something about it! I only get dreams when I’m sleeping anyway…when I’m motionless! Time to get moving, time to take action!
But first, let’s fuel myself with some food…
I have to admit, I’ve been extremely lazy these days, and I’ve been turning to the same stuff over and over, for the main reasons that 1) it’s fast and convenient; 2) it tastes good and is pretty nutritious; 3) I can get most of the ingredients from my school dining hall, which I now frequent daily like a kleptomaniac…
Anyway. Here’s what I’ve had for several days now:
Spicy-PB Vegetable and Cottage Cheese <“Mix-it-up” Bowl
>
Base Ingredients:
- onions, diced
- bell pepper, diced
- mushrooms, diced
- zucchini, chopped
- tomatoes, diced
- bean sprouts
- kidney beans
- spinach
- Soul Food Seasoning (from Biz)
Dressing Ingredients:
- 2 spoonfuls soy sauce
- 2 spoonfuls peanut butter
- 2 spoonfuls Habanero-Lime Salsa (from Christina)
- 1/4 cup almond milk
- pinch crushed red pepper flakes
Topping Ingredients:
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 4 yukon gold potatoes
- hot sauce
Okay, first the potatoes. I roasted them hasselback-style, by slicing numerous slits down the center of each potato, but not all the way through. And then I sprinkled them with this amazing seasoning:
Biz, thank you SO much for this. I’m obsessed with this seasoning now. I practically sprinkle them on anything and everything!
And then roast the potatoes in 425 degree oven until cooked through:
Nice and crunchy!
For the dressing ingredients, just mix everything together until smooth.
And the base ingredients: Mix everything together with plenty of that incredible Soul Food seasoning (or just salt and pepper if you don’t have it). Cook it with the dressing.
Ladle the cooked ingredients into a dish. Top with cottage cheese and potatoes. Sprinkle with hot sauce. That’s it!
Now wasn’t that the easiest thing you’ve ever heard! Well, next to pouring cereal in a bowl, of course. But this is much better. It looks more impressive!
Everything should be topped with something golden and crunchy…
Wheee! Look at it do a back-bend! Potato doing yoga!
Creamy, crunchy, spicy, peanut buttery…mmmm…
Now, isn’t this the perfect college student’s meal?
But on to the perfect college student’s snack…
I once said I hate bars. Okay, not just once. Several times, in fact. Well, I put my foot in my mouth, because I’ve decided that I do like bars. Love them, in fact. It just depends on what bars they are.
Perfect Foods Bar sent me two of each of the following bars:
- Carob Chip
- Peanut Butter
- Fruits & Nuts
- Cranberry Crunch (Lite)
Here’s what they say about their bars:
“Perfect Foods Bars are made from a delicious creamy blend of organic peanut butter and honey. The organic honey provides quick balanced energy and the added omega-3 “healthy fats” increase endurance. There’s also plenty of easy to digest, alkaline forming protein for immediate tissue repair. Enjoy this innovative approach to consuming over 30 different high nutrient foods not readily available in today’s fast pace society.”
Okay, peanut butter and honey. What’s not to love? Plus they’ve got 30 different high nutrient foods. But what about the taste?
Well, all I can say is: I’m not sure if Perfect Foods Bar is the perfect food, but it is the perfect bar indeed. Oh Em Gi. So. Freaking. Good.
They just completely melt in your mouth like fudge. I store them in the fridge, so when they enter my mouth it is cold and firm, but then slowly dissolves in my tongue…a delicious blend of pure peanut butter and intense honey…
The only thing is that it isn’t mixed with all the artificial crap, so the taste is pretty strong, bold, and intense…not a bad thing at all, but you just don’t want to finish the whole bar in one sitting, or it does get rather cloying.
I think I’ve waxed enough poetry about Perfect Foods Bar. My conclusion is this: Larabar, bye bye. You guys really got to check this stuff out!
Another bar that I’ve really enjoyed was sent by my freaking sweet friend Natalie from Eating to Live Life After ED:
They’re called Spring Hill gourmet bars, and they were amazing. Once again, I chilled them in the fridge first. And they’re incredibly crumbly, buttery, and exactly like a shortbread cookie.
Here’s the Wildberry & Nougat one:
And the Chocolate & Oat one:
And my personal favorite, the Muesli bar:
Sorry, I don’t know where to get them here in the States. Of course. All the good stuff has to be somewhere else! Sigh. Well, we can only dream that they’ll sell them in U.S. stores someday…
>Speaking of dreams…Here’s today’s question of the day:
Had any good dreams lately? Is there a dream that you are actively going to pursue instead of wishing for it to come true?
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Those potatos, cut up like that are awesome! I love savory dishes like that.
I can’t ever remember my dreams, but I do wish/day dream I would stop being a procratinator and get Iowa license plates after living here for almost 4 months!
hahah cute taters. YAYAY someone else who can’t ever get a massage because they’re ticklish! i ‘m CRAZY ticklish.
yeah, depends what day- i think i’m doing something friday midday to early afternoon. you sure you got time- aren’t finals coming up?! hahha. i’ll get back to you STAT when i ask moms what’s up.
My, you’ve had an eclectic set of dreams lately! The last dream I remember is the one when my Mom randomly got pregnant. Yeah, she’s way too old for that to be possible anymore…makes me wonder what brought it on?
There’s new studies that show our body needs sleep to actually problem solve and process stuff, giving a whole new meaning to “sleep on it.” We work through things in our subconscious that we are otherwise distracted from, or try to influence when we are awake.
If you’ve been dreaming a lot lately, you might be having longer, lighter sleeping habits. I usually am a really deep sleeper and don’t have or remember dreams. If I sleep lightly or am disturbed a lot (sometimes J snores) I have wild dreams!
Those potatoes are freaking AWESOME!!!!!! I don’t really like white potatoes, but I have just got to try that! I’ve never seen anything like that, they’re great!
As weird as it sounds, I woke up early this morning and fell lightly back to sleep. In my dream I was composing a few essay questions I had due for school tonight over and over. Finally I realized I should take advantage of this brain power, got my butt up, and cranked out two essay questions in 30 minutes!!! I wish that would happen more often, because it was great!
One thing recently that hit me is that life doesn’t have a pause button. I have goals and dreams I want to pursue, but I always thought I’d get to them in the future. That’s why I applied for school this summer and am now actively pursueing the career I want. I realized it’s not going to fall in my lap, I need to chase it down and hunt it to make it mine!
hehe…these hassleback potatoes are definitely look better than mine. Good combo
I love sleep. I could snuggle up in bed all day if I could. lol. I’ve been dreaming quite a bit lately, too. But I can never seem to remember details when I wake up. I did dream one that I was being attacked by a large humbold squid. It was a weird dream. Don’t know what that meant.
I love your yoga potatoes!
They are SO gorgeous and look so perfectly crispy and delicious!
Ah, I too have longed to be able to go without sleep… When I was in college I slept 2 hours a night, max! Now I love getting a good night’s sleep – I think I just used up my quota of pulling all-nighters! :-p
I’ve been dreaming about writing a cookbook for years… Maybe it’s time to start working on the dream!
i have dreams all the time where i am SO MAD at my fiance and I wake up pissed off.
it leaves him very confused.
ohhh! we hv many things in common then!
;p
I find sleep a waste of time too!
I sleep at 11pm and wake up at 4am to read blogs! LOL. then surfing away..
then start fixing brekkie…
then 7am to the gym or go runnin (tho nowadays i’m gettin really lazy!)
Then its off to work!
Dreams?
yeahh.. lots!
I’m movin to my new room (rented) , and its way neare to my workplc. Also I will hv the kitchen to myself!
No prize for guessing wht i will be churning out! ;p
Bake bake bake! Cook cook cook!
I cant wait!
I can see that u lovveee PB! I been eatin PB from the bottle these days!
Will try bake a PB loaf soon ;p
As for bars, here in Msia their range kinda sucks and its really expensive!
Even more costly for those imported ones!
However, i saw during on the food fair in KL that u can make your own!
cool eh? Maybe i’ll google and try doing that! Oh..all that after i move into my new plc!!
Whoa!!!
omg!!!:D Your back-bend yoga potatoes look sooooo awesome. (I am a big fan of chips) My mouth was watering just looking at the pictures… especially the last one with everything in the bowl….yum, yum…where do u get ideas like that!?? @_@
Actually, talking bout sleep… I am a little different… I am most reluctant to go to sleep at night, and MOST reluctant to wake up in the mornings…
I think I’m not getting enough sleep because of my uni, I don’t have time, so I’m tired all the time. And I often have some awful dreams, which are pretty strange and I hate them. Sigh. But a cup of warm milk and a slice of home made bread before bed makes sleeping actually great
I’m going crazy! I still can’t seem to find those Sprinhill bars. What’s worse is that I’m in Singapore which makes it so close yet so far…
thanks SO much for the blog roll advice..what would i do without you!! loved this post for a few reasons..
1. i HATE sleep too..id rather be on the go or doing something..maybe that has something to do with the eating disorder..because i used to love it. however, i LOVE waking up
2. dont get down on yourself for not being a “good enough christian”..we can never earn Gods love, it’s a gift we dont deserve and never, ever will..we will fall and stumble on this earth but it’s the worst it will be for us now..because heaven is 100% perfect..YOU are saved, as long as we keep striving towards the goal of being Christ like and obeying Him, thats all we can do..dont let satan discourage you!
GAH. I was drooling as I scrolled down through your post. Sophia, totally get how you’re never bored..and how sleep just doesn’t fit in your busy busy schedule…I know with such exciting things and yummy food to occupy me, I’d be as awake as you:)
I think you’re great just the way you are. Maybe I’m in no position to preach to you, but I do think that you are a wonderful role model to follow, when it comes to dedicating yourself to Christ. Go easy a little on yourself, sweetie.
xoxo
ok those bars look awesome! i am so incredibly jealouss
you seem like usch a great person and i hate to hear you downn
& it’s great you are getting enough sleep.. i actually love sleeping! i want you to feel better about yourself
& that meal looks amazingly good!!
xoxo
shelley
http://findinghappinessandhealth.wordpress.com
i havent had any dreams lately. which is weird. I have a lot of wishes… wishes that i shall accomplish.. or strive to accomplish. because why not race to your goals?
actually I had one dream the other night about makeup.. i was at work… but i think it was more so my day in repeat as I slept…
your meal looks so delicious, sophia! yum!!
While my daughter is such a Type A personality, she loves her naps!
So glad you love the soul food seasoning!! It’s actually .99 cents at my dollar store – just send me the word and I can send more – stat!
Man, I used to have the weirdest dreams ever. And they were always, always nightmares. Ugh
Nowadays, I can’t even remember my dreams, but I know they’re super random. I don’t “like” sleep necessarily (and I definitely don’t get enough!), but I’m a pretty deep sleeper. A little deep sleep > lots of light sleep, I believe. I slept through an ambulance that came to my house once. O_o ‘Twas just a tad embarrassing…
Oh~ lovely potato fans! We just bought this gigantic load of potatoes from Costco. You’re giving me ideas
I’ll buy a Perfect Food bar if I ever find it, lol.
I hate falling asleep because I always want it to hurry up and be morning so I can start the next day! I get so excited for the next day! At the same time, I dream vivid symbolic dreams on a regular basis, and I love them. That’s the reason I do love sleep. I just ADORE dreaming! How cool is it?! I mean, we get to lie down, close our eyes, and watch a movie created by our very own subconscious!
great eats! love the mix it up bowl!! cottage cheese = heaven. i wish i could relate – but i love sleep! its one of my favorite things to do! lol.
i haven’t had any good dreams though lately…
hopefully soon!
lots of love,
lexi
I dont like sleep either. Well actually I love it and thats what makes me not like it (I dont make sense) I am with you on the not wanting to waste time. I wish my body could run on only 2 or 3 hours of sleep so i could be a lot more productive.
Your bowl looks amazing girl. Have a great day!
I used to think that sleep is a waste of time, but as I’m getting old, I need and enjoy sleep now, without 7-8 hours a day, i feel not functioning well (that happened this last week pretty often). I don’t usually dream or remember dreaming, but last night I dream with a child friend and it was nice! I’m glad I”m going to see her soon!
I feel the same way about sleep – it wastes my time!!
I love sleeping! Not a waste at all: relax, ‘fuel my body’, think about unrealistic things (like you! loved your dream about the hip hop dancing with the blogger)…mmm
I make hasselback potatoes often too, love them! Nigella L. gave me the idea and had the best advice: put them in a spoon before cutting. That way you can’t cut them all through:)
xxx Julia (Taste of Living)
Those potatoes look awesome!! I’ve never roasted them that way before. I keep all my bars in the fridge for the same reason, makes them kinda fudgy
I don’t really know what my dream is, but I feel like I’m finally on the path to it. Baby steps
Sophia, that yoga-ing potato looks just elegant! Too beautiful to eat!
I have been having some rather odd dreams myself. Just the other night, I dreamt that Caitlin of Healthy Tipping Point was bloggin on my couch. So weird……
Don’t worry I dream of Bloggers too!! See, I guess we are all just so connected even in our dreams.
Your bowl looks freaking amazing as always! We need to have a Bowl Cook Off (like Bobby Flay). You and I could do some serious creations if we put of minds together!
Have an amazing day love!
thanks for the comment! the bar looks lovely hehe… have a nice day girl!
Sleeping is my favorite thing to do… I didn’t use to think that way until i was sleep deprived w/ a newborn. Now… I cherish sleep
whoa! I love that PB veggie mix it up bowl! great presentation and I ‘m sure it take amazing!
I like the way you cut it, very interesting:-D
I used to think of sleep the same way. It would drive me crazy when my roommates took naps in the middle of the day. How did they have time for that!? Now I see that everything I was doing wasn’t terribly important. I need to get my 7 hours a day or my body hates me.
yay for bar reviews! I have never heard of these…they look great!!
and those are the prettiest potatoes I have ever seen atop the cottage cheese bowl! I love cottage cheese with ANYTHING so this recipe looks awesome!!
I am SOO not a napper either!! I think I have taken 3 naps in my whole life and thats just if I had gotten very little sleep the night before it is not out of boredom. I would so much rather just get in bed early taht night rather than take a nap in the midle of the day!
Why do your meals always look so artistic and mine so blah? I have lots of dreams…some superficial some not. One I’m working on is starting the next chapter of my life in a new city as soon as I graduate with my Masters in May. Working on it!
I hate naps too! I think it might be a perfectionist quality that I always have to be doing something productive…
However, sounds like you’ve been having good dreams, at least. Mine are SOOOO bizarre and most of the time make no sense whatsoever, haha.
What a great post! And yes I agree with you about the thinking and not doing. I am extremely guilty of that…and then I mope and whine that ‘i wish i had that’ or ‘my life sucks’ – in order to get what we want, we have to work for it – it doesn’t just fall into our laps.
In my Yoga training this weekend, one instructor said:
“To know and not do is to not know”
- (an old saying,or something like that!) – but you get the point…I can’t complain that I want a writing career and yet not start writing …although my blog is a BIG step for me (in expressing myself…)
So if anyone wants to read – PLEASE DO:)…AND ADD ME TO YOUR ROLLS – I ADORE NEW READERS AND FINDING NEW SITES!!!
Hey Darling… hope you were able to get my e-mail, I had to change my domain and move my blog away from some bullies and blogzillas… here is my new addresss..
As for your post, I love that you put yourself into each and everyone one of them. I do before I think… a lot… hence all my rants…
I’m not gonna lie, I’ve had a lot of dreams about other guys lately!! IT’s weird. No one in particular, but just other men
Don’t tell Nick! haha
Sophia, you NEED to read the book Slowing Down to the Speed of Life. It makes me sad that you are never bored, because I used to be like that, until I realized it’s a bad thing to never be bored. Now I look forward to being bored and I allow myself to relax. Please, read the book, seriously.
Your veggies look awesome, and I’m CRACKING UP about that soul food spice! I bet it’s great.
Good for you for getting sleep. I agree with you that there are soooo not enough hours in the day. Glad you are having good dreams. I don’t think I have had any recently. I think it is too cold in my house to sleep! Good thing I have an electric blanket. Oh, and I love that dish…that potato looks so cool!
Thos Perfect Foods Bars look amazing.. thanks for that review!!! I also love your potatoes.. beautiful pictures!
Haha “potato doing a backbend”!
Eight hours of sleep is currently my dream… I’m lucky if I get six!
<3 <3
I’m lucky if I get 6 hours of sleep per night. I hate naps too. I do like just sitting on my butt though.
I’m dying to know who taught you to hip hop dance!
Ahhh, sleep. I’m a lot like you though, there’s ALWAYS something to do–I’m never bored. I just don’t understand when my friends status’ are BORED or REALLY BORED. I’m just like: HOW?? I’ve got SO MUCH to do. I enjoy the time I do get to sleep
Great mix it up bowl! Those potatoes look delicious!
<3 jess
xoxo
I am so intrigued by dreams — I’ve been having some crazy ones as of late as well. There must be something in the air
those potatoes look phenomenal!
Dude that “college student meal” has to be one of the best food porn pics I have seen on your page lol. I think my belly cried a little lol
and hey I love naps! I am like an 80 year old woman lol
awesome looking dish! I love your food photos. They always look so fantastic!
Thanks for sharing those bars, Ive never heard of them before but they look pretty good. I’ll have to be on the lookout for them!
Congrats on getting a full 8 hours sleep! It really does help your body out big time. Its not an easy thing to do to find all that time. So Keep on rockin girl! You are doing great=)
Sleep is a very important part of life. Not more not less… but in balanced way.
ooh, those perfect foods bars sound great! i’m jealous of your sleeping, sometimes i have issues getting enough…
I love sleep. Not oversleep…but just enough to get 7-8 hours worth. Sleep is not a waste, it is restorative I think.
Yay for sleep! Sometimes I agree, that it is a waste to time, but I’m an early riser, and I usually thrive so much more with 7-8 hours. Preferably 8. Lol.
OMG- you’re dreams made me laugh. I dream all the time too, and its so interesting how it reflects our thoughts, constant mindset, etc. Like for a while, allll I dreamt about was blogging/blogger meet ups. haha, I too have met “certain bloggers” in my dreams.
Love your mix-it-up bowl! The potatoes are so pretty.
I love to sleep, but sometimes I feel guilty about it if there are things that need to get done.
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