As of Sunday night, we now officially have TV again.
TV
I should clarify my first statement by saying we did have a television and could watch DVDs, but we did not get any channels (no, not even the basic channels) and couldn’t just “flip on the TV” for two years.
Whenever people found out that we didn’t have TV, the variety of responses were always quite amusing. Many people found it incomprehensible that we didn’t have television. Others thought the idea was fabulous.
What do you think about going TV-free for two years? Could you do it? Would you want to?
Not having television really wasn’t hard for us at all. I am not a huge TV person and only wished I had TV on a couple of occasions (like for the season finale of The Bachelor or during the Olympics). Being the sports fan that he is, the no-TV thing hit Ryan a little harder, but even he didn’t mind it too much.
The times we wished we had TV were when we had friends or company over because many people are used to having TV on in the background or want to be able to catch the end of a big game.
Now that we have TV again, it really feels like a treat! Ryan said that with the World Cup coming up this year and March Madness in full-swing, having TV was something he’d like to try out again.
To be totally honest, I’m excited to take in some wedding-related TV (like Say Yes to the Dress… which I’ve only seen one time at my parents’ house!).
Still, I know myself and I get bored with TV fairly quickly. While I think it will be fun to have TV again, I don’t see myself falling into the TV trap.
TV Facts
According to AC Nielsen Co.:
- The average American watches more than 4 hours of TV each day (or 28 hours a week, or 2 months of nonstop TV-watching per year)
- If the average American lives to be 65, they will have spent 9 years watching TV (Source)
How much TV do you watch every day?
Moving on from TV talk…
Lunch
Lunch today was quite random!
Yesterday a guy was eating a BBQ pulled pork sandwich and baked beans in the break room at lunch time and it smelled phenomenal.
I was determined to include BBQ in my lunch today!
Following a recipe for baked BBQ tofu that I saw on Meghann’s blog, I made myself a BBQ tofu, sweet corn and roasted cauliflower veggie bowl.
This morning while I showered, I roasted the cauliflower and baked the tofu. The house smelled like dinner at 7:30 a.m.!
Roasted Cauliflower
After adding several handfuls of frozen sweet corn kernels to the cauliflower and BBQ tofu bowl and microwaving the mix for about a minute, my lunch was ready for eatin’.
BBQ Tofu Veggie Bowl
This lunch was so easy to make and satisfied my desire for a BBQ-filled lunch. 10 points for PBF! 😀
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I made roasted cauliflower last night!! So delish. Its a veggie I can actually eat.
As for TV, we really dont watch shows when they are on, but we DVR them and watch later. I could do with out TV, because you can watch anything on the internet…lol!
I could never survive without TV, I watch way to many shows. I’m addicted to Say yes to the dress and I’m not even engaged, you’ll love it! It’s on from 6-7 every day on TLC 🙂
My boyfriend and I didn’t have any actual TV until a couple months ago either! We broke down and bought an antenna after going about 9 months without television. As of right now, we only get about 4 channels, which is fine with us. We got to watch the Olympics and we’re watching March Madness, which is what really mattered to us!
Your bowl kind of reminds me of those KFC bowl things that I’ve seen advertised! Much healthier though, obviously. 😉
I could definitely do without cable since so many shows are online anyway! Whenever I get busy, TV is the first thing I cut out and I never really miss it. If I do watch it at night, then I’m almost always multitasking and also reading blogs or blogging or reading a book on commercials or cleaning… etc. I rarely just “veg out” in front of the TV. That’s crazy the average American watches 4 hours!!!
i could totally go without television. i have before and i would again~ i would much rather spend free, lazy time cooking or blogging or something 🙂 your roasted cauliflower looks great, i LOVE roasted anything!
I don’t have time to watch a lot of tv with school and work. I probably watch about 5-6 hours per week. Honestly I’m usually multi-tasking while watching it anyway. We have Tivo and so I mostly just watch a few things at odd times while folding wash or blogging.
My husband could not go without tv. He’s much too interested in sports. So we have the large tv set up and will get a home theater system once we have a single family home. We’re afraid in our condo that it would be too noisy for our neighbors now.
Your tofu bowl looks really good. I will have to try something similar!
I love TV! Especially living alone, I rely on it a lot for something to do! I probably watch 4 hours a day, like the average said. After work, I am a lazy bum! 🙂
Keith and I don’t watch a lot of TV aside from sports. That is where we would NEED a TV…we are football, basketball, hockey junkies! 🙂
I can’t really follow shows, since I’m bad at remembering to watch them! In the past year, however, I don’t think I’ve missed an episode of The Office or 30 Rock! Other than that, I always have food network or HGTV on while I’m cleaning/on he phone with my mom/blogging/playing with Jack. I definitely need background noise. So I might skew the 4 hour number, but I’m not actively watching, if that makes sense!
We watch 1-2 hours most nights. But I am always doing something else at the same time. I can’t just sit and watch TV usually. I’ve never thought about going without it.
I DVR shows and rarely watch anything live except for Sports. I do like having a tv as it is the only way I can veg out and I like falling asleep to the news. Bad I know!
I lived without TV (like you, watched DVDs) the last two years of college to save money… I didn’t miss it. Although, I love it now that I have it.
Its probably better not to ahve channels–it is REALLY easy to get sucked into really dumn (but fun) shows.
I hate to admit it but I’m totally a TV junkie. I’m obsessed with Grey’s Anatomy & The Bachelor (probably equals 2-4hrs/per week when they are airing) I swear my roommates are worse than me though!
I lived without tv before my boyfriend moved in. We mostly watch The Daily Show, Colbert Report, No Reservations, and NBC’s Thursday night comedy lineup. We play board games (Jenga is our obsession right now) after dinner so that takes up most of what would be our “tv time.” Oh, I should confess that I dvr General Hospital. I love my soap!!
Your lunch looks great. I can only imagine how yummy it smelled and tasted!
I can DEFINITELY go WITHOUT TV!!! I never used my TV in the dorm when I was in college, and I don’t use it now. I head straight for the computer and radio/CDs/iPod. My lovely boyfriend,on the other hand, is a complete tube watcher! DRIVES ME LOONIE BIRD!!! 😀
We have always had a TV, but just recently got rid of cable (it was hard, but financially needed to be done). But, you know what? I don’t miss it that much. What shows that I watched before, that aren’t on ABC, NBC, or CBS, I simply watch on the internet after our baby goes to bed. So, all in all, not a bad choice! BUT…come football season, I’m not sure what I’m going to do.
Oh man, I love Say Yes to the Dress! I so wanted to go gown shopping at Kleinfeld’s, lol.
That is really impressive to me– I am a television lover, but I’d love to try and go without it. Hmmm…maybe one of my next challenges?
I don’t watch TV at school, but I definitely make up for it at home!! So many shows are online now, I never feel like I’m missing out on much. Sometimes I wish I could just veg in front of some trash TV though!! Enjoy your evening!
The tofu sounds fabulous!!! I loooove tofu but I only recently discovered it. I have not, however, fallen in love with cauliflower.
As for TV, I’m a tad bit addicted. I used to not be but I have so much down time right now that it’s a nice convenient distraction.
Thanks for commenting on my blog, I’m so glad that I discovered yours!
Have a great afternoon dear!
ahh I have NO TV and I love it. The only thing I do miss though is the Today Show. That is all really.
I guess I get my tv fix.. aka ESPN.. while at the gym now or at work where …ESPN.. is also featured.
We only watch Lost and the Office and the hubby watches sport. We could go without a tv. We are that boring old couple that likes to read in the evenings 🙂
I think I could live without TV…. I don’t really watch it. However, I wouldn’t be able to live without dvds!! I love watching movies and if I do watch a tv series, its on dvd. I can’t seem to get into tv programs because i don’t want to feel obligated to watch tv at a certain time or day just to keep up with a show…. I did watch some of Dancing with the Stars last night though..
I’m one of those people who always has the T.V. on in the background…however the only time I really “sit down to watch T.V.” is at nighttime before I go to sleep. But I tend to have the T.V. playing just for some background noise while I’m doing other things like running on my treadmill, cooking, or doing homework. I think it’s cool that you didn’t have T.V. for so long…when you stop to think about it watching T.V. is pretty unproductive.
is it sad to say that I think I couldn’t live without a TV for 2 years?! even if I didnt have one , I would watch shows on ABC and HULU 🙂
YUM I love roasted cauliflower!!
Wow, I can’t believe you lived without a TV for 2 years?! I definitely admire you and Ryan for this — why did you guys choose this lifestyle? I’m one of those people who always has the TV turned on for background noise. However, I admit that it is addicting, and I frequently find myself sucked into my couch staring at the TV for hours (iick!). It has definitely made me unproductive, and I would love to be more like you and watch TV less!
Hi! I just found your blog, and I have to comment here to say I could so do without a TV in my house anyday! I wish we could do it but I think hubby would implode. He is a big crime scene drama, and Real TV, fanatic. Have fun though. I am a sucker for some reality trash every now and then!
We don’t have a TV either, and I love it! You can watch all of the shows on websites, which are still great (we watch a few shows every night) but there is no more “mindless watching” of re-runs and commercials.