This is one day I can totally get down with. Reach out and touch someone!
I have two amazing people I participate in phone calls with, once a week or once every other week — my sister and my uncle. Since we’re all so very busy, we let each other know when it’s the best time to call. It’s awesome and it feels like home! I like to kick back with a cup of herbal tea and have laughs and great conversation. Life is good!
A few days ago I was raving about Misfit Foods/Imperfect Foods, an online grocery service that tackles food waste by sourcing “misfit” produce directly from food producers. Packaging is minimal and eco-friendly. They use recyclable containers and minimal to no plastic at all.
You also pay 40 percent lower than a traditional grocery bill, which I noticed immediately. They also have sales on name natural vegan brand items like Chia Smash, which is one of my favorite treats. They also have natural Simple Mills crackers (many are vegan), Miyoko’s vegan cheese and butter, hummus, and vegan meats including Beyond Burgers.
I still have to run into a regular supermarket (or indie health food store) because they don’t carry nut milks without guar gum yet. (This week I’ll be making my own hemp milk for the very first time!) But with the bulk of my food shopping coming from Misfit Foods, I spend much less time in a grocery store and that makes me very happy. I can check out quickly at self-service and don’t have to wait on long lines — giving me a free extra day to do whatever I want!
All the Misfit Foods produce comes from local farms in your area and it’s so much fresher than what comes from a grocery store.
I get my box on a Thursday, then by the following Tuesday I’m pretty cleaned out. Between fruit and veggie smoothies, raw/cold soups (which my husband loves!), snacks, etc. you go through a box of fruits, vegetables, extras pretty quick.
Then comes the fun part. I get to be creative with the stuff I didn’t get to use!
This week there was leftover mint. I asked my husband what I should do with it. He offered the obvious — water! A pitcher of filtered water + fresh mint + lemon = a very refreshing drink.
My next shopping window is at 4 p.m. today. This is not only great for the environment, but it’s working out great for me!
I took a big one 11 years ago when I wrote my very first book, “On the Guest List.” And here it is on “Good Reads” right under Joe Perry’s book, for a giveaway. I help other people write (and publish!) their books. If you’re interested, contact me and who knows where your book will land; maybe next to one of your favorite rock stars too!! JUST DO IT!
(AND NOTE, all my other books are listed below — traditionally published and available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble stores, and in many other venues).
Yesterday I worked the front desk at Record Riot (https://www.recordriots.com/), which I do from time to time. It’s just so much fun talking music with people all day long. When it slows down near the end of the day, I get to shop.
My three big finds for the day were:
1. A Bow Wow Wow EP with “C30, C60, C90” and “Work.” I had this as a 45 when I was a teenager and it got lost in the shuffle. But I never worry because records always seem to find their way back to me.
2. A Dean Martin CD with “Everybody Loves Somebody” … For some reason I couldn’t find a record or a CD with that song on it. Now I did.
3. A CD compilation with Lucille Bogan. Blues so old (and naughty) I didn’t think I’d ever get something on CD or vinyl unless I paid top dollar. But, no, this CD was a steal to begin with and the vendor gave me an additional discount for working the door.
Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta can be reached at: maryannechristiano@gmail.com.
She is the author of the following books:
“Be (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Hero” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit:Be (Extra)Ordinary
“I Don’t Want to Be Like You” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Don’t Want To Be Like You
Her fiction book “Love Cats” second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/
Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.
Not only will I be record shopping later today, but tomorrow I’ll be working the front door for Record Riots, as they will be in Clark, New Jersey. Check out their website for the location if you want to stop by and say hello: https://www.recordriots.com/
Interesting side note, cover model, Pleasant Gehman, is the girlfriend of Coyote Shivers, who played Berko in Empire Records!
Keep the records coming! Sending love to all vinyl lovers today!
Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta can be reached at: maryannechristiano@gmail.com.
She is the author of the following books:
“Be (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Hero” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit:Be (Extra)Ordinary
“I Don’t Want to Be Like You” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Don’t Want To Be Like You
Her fiction book “Love Cats” second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/
Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.
Viktoria Seiz raw vegan desserts (Photo by Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta)
Yesterday afternoon my husband and I went back to Viktoria Seiz for some raw vegan desserts.
Honestly, I’m not doing promotions for them, I just love their desserts and can’t stop raving about them. I’m now on a once a week schedule where I’m either dining there or picking up treats to bring home.
In other healthy news, let’s talk about food waste. You can read all about it on the Imperfect Foods website: www.imperfectfoods.com
During the pandemic when it was hard to shop for food, I signed up for Imperfect Foods. Fresh groceries come to your door every week. I decided to do this again. I realized when shopping at chains like ShopRite and Whole Foods, they are not as supportive of local farmers as they should be.
And, yes, here in the Garden State, we have plenty of farmer’s markets, but they are often so crowded you can’t shop peacefully. (Though I do my share of supporting them by writing about them in the local newspapers). No judgement. We all do what works for us.
Speaking of what works for us, I’m loving the home food delivery service because yes it is a little bit cheaper, including your tip to the driver. BUT, also, you can have your list right by you at the computer, along with cookbooks. You can directly order everything you need. And if Imperfect Foods/Misfit Foods doesn’t have it, there’s Vitacost and other companies that support small businesses.
Another issue I’ve been having with going to supermarkets as a vegan — nuts. Too many nuts are processed on the same machines as milk products, meaning cross-contamination and not vegan.
I want to support total vegan nut companies.
Then there’s time. I was flabbergasted two weeks ago when I went food shopping and realized I was in there an hour!! I’d also make plans around my food shopping schedule because, hey, I live as healthy as possible and I don’t want to resort to take-out or going to a restaurant just because I didn’t have enough to eat in house. (Mind you, my husband also shops and cooks meals. He does the cooked vegan and I do the raw vegan, for the most part). It just gets crazy with both of us running to stores all the time. He doesn’t mind it as much as I do. He has more patience. But STILL!
When shopping online at Imperfect Foods (and again, I’m not doing promo for this company, I just love it!) there’s a “vegan” section. They also have clean vegan burgers that are absolutely the best and I haven’t seen in any stores. It’s called The Actual Burger. And you can get Chia Smash for $3 cheaper than Whole Foods or Shop Rite.
And I will always support indie health food stores as well as farmer’s markets from time to time. I’m just talking about the regular weekly grocery store run, which is so much easier via Imperfect Foods.
I am grateful!
Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta can be reached at: maryannechristiano@gmail.com.
She is the author of the following books:
“Be (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Hero” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit:Be (Extra)Ordinary
“I Don’t Want to Be Like You” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Don’t Want To Be Like You
Her fiction book “Love Cats” second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/
Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.
Hello fellow self-employed people! Who is with me today on National Work in Your Pajamas Day?!
The above photos is when I modeled for Ellery Curtains back in 2011, truly working in my pajamas. It was a 3-day photo shoot.
Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta can be reached at: maryannechristiano@gmail.com.
She is the author of the following books:
“Be (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Hero” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit:Be (Extra)Ordinary
“I Don’t Want to Be Like You” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Don’t Want To Be Like You
Her fiction book “Love Cats” second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/
Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.
A vegan lentil salad I made with cucumbers, red and orange bell pepper, Kalamata olives, parsley, and homemade dressing.
Today is National Make Lunch Count Day. It’s all about leaving your work desk to eat (yes, many people work on Saturdays).
Can you believe that in my early days of being self-employed, I actually ate lunch at my desk?!
I thought I was being more productive, but it actually made me more antsy. Then a few years in, I read somewhere that it’s not good for your eyes to work and eat at the same time. I quickly changed my ways.
I give myself enough time to make a healthy lunch and enjoy it. Sometimes I’ll even leave my home office to grab a bite with a girlfriend or my husband. Or even close shop early to take a long drive and have lunch somewhere special, not watching the clock.
Many people think good health is about what you eat. No. It’s more about how relaxed you are when you eat. A vegan nutritionist told me this a long time ago.
It makes sense. And it’s no wonder that when you’re stressed you may pig out on comfort food, or have no desire to eat at all. That’s why sometimes you may eat hardly nothing, yet gain weight. Stress turns to sugar. I was bloated the whole time I was mourning my mom’s passing. Then several months later, I lost weight without even trying!
Also, ever notice that sometimes you’ll be having a super fun time, and there’s a lot of food, yet you don’t get bloated? That’s because you’re happy.
Eat in a most relaxed, happy state. Your body will thank you.
Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta 
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