Friday Musings

From game-changing weight training to zero-waste groceries. What I'm loving in my world this week!

Happy Friday, fellow compassionistas. Here is this week’s note where I share a couple things I’m loving right now — books, movies, food, music, podcasts. (Inspired by all of you who ask me for my recommendations.)

I’m back from three weeks in France hosting our all-inclusive trip from Paris to the Dordogne, during which time I neglected to share my weekly musings. I’m sure you coped just fine without them. 😊 But I’m back—rested, inspired, and eager to reconnect. I’ve got stories, reflections, and ideas to share, and I can’t wait to dive back in with you.

Zero-Waste Solution

I’m not sure you are aware of my obsession with blueberries. Actually, not just blueberries—frozen blueberries. Give me a bowl and three cups of those plump, icy blue gems, and I’m in heaven. (In fact, I would never eat that many non-frozen blueberries.)

Now, if the thought of eating frozen blueberries makes your teeth hurt, feel free to skip ahead. 😊 But if you—like me—always keep a stash of frozen blueberries in the freezer for smoothies and smoothie bowls, keep reading.

But several years ago, when I started my zero-waste journey, I hit a conundrum! How could I justify buying frozen blueberries in those 10-ounce plastic freezer bags from Trader Joe’s when I knew those discarded bags would sit in a landfill for eternity?

In response, I very tragically swore off my favorite food and pivoted to the seasonal flats of strawberries I got at the farmers market for smoothies. But my beloved frozen blueberries? I stopped eating them. 😢

But, I never stopped looking for a solution. One was to get fresh blueberries from the farmers market during their (very brief) season, but my goodness—a single pint was prohibitively expensive, and it would never support my blueberry habit without breaking the bank.

Enter: Azure Standard, a wholesale distributor that makes it possible for individuals (rather than just grocery stores and restaurants) to get produce and pantry items in bulk. Volunteers offer to host a drop-off site, and on delivery day, we meet an Azure truck—literally on the side of the road off the highway—and pick up…wait for it…our 30-pound box of frozen blueberries.

Yup. We have an entire drawer in our freezer dedicated just to them.

Now, yes, they come in a large plastic bag, so you might be wondering—isn’t that defeating the purpose? But a) no, b) it’s a thick bag that we reuse over and over for other purposes, and c) when it finally reaches the end of its life, we can toss it in our Ridwell box. Boom.

Check out Azure; they have a huge selection of items, they’re a fabulous family-owned company, and buying in bulk is better for the environment as well as less expensive!

Now tell me—am I the only freak who goes to great lengths for a favorite food, or do you have something you obsess over, too? 😁

Game-Changing Weight Training

It’s SO good to be home and back to my daily workout routine, which I jumped into immediately after returning from three weeks in France. (I travel with resistance bands and try to walk as much as possible when I host trips, but it’s just not the same.)

I don’t talk much about my workouts. I don’t know why. Maybe because part of me worries that saying “I work out” sets up expectations—that people might look for proof or assume I should look a certain way—and I don’t want to feel like I have to live up to anything.

That said, I’ve been interested in health and fitness since my early 20s. I wasn’t the athlete in the family (that was my sister, who earned a college basketball scholarship), but I’ve always cared about being strong, healthy, and fit. I used to lift weights at the Y, run regularly, and cycle, and while I haven’t always felt fully at ease in my body, I’ve never stopped working at it.

Now, at 55, I’ve stepped things up. I’ve always done strength training, but this past year, I got more serious. Really serious!

I hike, walk, and spin most days (and use the 10,000 step count as a handy barometer), but I’ve never liked going to gyms—so I work out at home. I’ve had dumbbells for ages and a spin bike for years, but last year, my good friend and colleague Brighde Reed (yup, the Brighde from World Vegan Travel with whom I host vegan trips) inspired me to invest in adjustable dumbbells so I could continue increasing my resistance instead of plateauing.

I did my research (thank you, NYT Wirecutter!) and chose the Core Home Fitness Adjustable Dumbbell Weight Set: Total game-changer. (I also got myself a pair of weightlifting gloves, which really help my hands and also make me look like a badass.)

I’ve long been a member of Studio Sweat on Demand—mostly for the spin classes—but when it comes to strength, my favorite YouTube channel is Cheryl Coulombe of Lift with Cee. There are countless personal trainers and instructors out there (find one that works for you), but I really like her approach and variety.

Sometimes I’ll mix in a split routine (focusing on different muscle groups on different days), but I tend to prefer full-body workouts, of which Cheryl has dozens. They hit every major muscle group, they’re efficient, and they fit better with my every-other-day rhythm. I work out for about 30–40 minutes, and I feel amazing when I do.

I’ve always liked feeling strong, and who doesn’t like feeling toned. But now, at 55, I’m more committed than ever—not just for how I look, but for how I age (god willing).

The truth is: bone density and muscle mass naturally decline as we age—especially for women—and the sooner we build and maintain them, the better. You don’t want to wait until you're 55. Start now. Your future body will thank you.

A New Review!

A huge thanks to Paul Hormick of The Green Dispatch for his lovely review of my new book!

In fact, thank you so much to everyone who’s purchased A Year of Compassion and taken the time to write a review. It means the world to me.

If you haven’t had a chance to get yourself a copy or review it yet, please consider this a gentle nudge. 😊 You can leave a review anywhere—your own social media (feel free to tag me on Instagram (@joyfulvegan) or Facebook (@colleenpatrickgoudreau), or on a bookseller’s site—but if you’d like to help amplify this book’s reach (and by extension, help the animals), an Amazon review makes a big difference.

HEAR ME OUT!

You don’t need to buy the book there to leave a review! In fact, if you’d prefer to support independent bookstores, you can order a signed copy from my local shop, Mrs. Dalloway’s, or from your favorite local bookseller. 💚 I have a full list of stores for you to choose from here.

THANK YOU!

Books and Podcasts

Now that I’m back home, in the garden, and taking long walks, of course I have already listened to several podcast episodes.

• Richard, the Lionheart (Dan Snow’s History Hit)

• Rise of Nero (The Ancients)

• Paul von Hindenburg (In Our Time)

• How to Learn from Your Ancestors (10% Happier with Dan Harris)

• Civil War in the Holy Roman Empire (Dan Snow’s History Hit)

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Before you go, here are some more resources for you.

👉 Work with me 1:1 – Get personalized guidance whatever you are looking for. (One one-on-one consultation is also a perk of the Founding Member/VIP level here on Substack.)

👉 Listen to Food for Thought – Inspiration for living compassionately, sustainably, and healthfully (18 years strong!)

👉 Travel with me! I host animal-friendly, luxury, all-inclusive vegan trips around the world, specifically curated to ensure high-quality, high-touch premium experiences. Check out our upcoming trips, and let me know if you have any questions.

👉 Check out my Recipe E-Books and my library of On-Demand Cooking Classes for recipes.