New Foods, New Flavors

Thank you for all the feedback on my new layout! I think it matches my personality and blog perfectly.


I had to get up early today to workout because I had work from 10-5. My workouts are usually around 2pm so I knew I wouldn't be able to fit one in unless it was before breakfast. I actually really liked working out early. It was a great way to get the blood flowing and mind clear for the day.
After my workout, I enjoyed a big Cereal Mess inspired by Heather.
-Shredded Spoonfuls
-Kamut Puffs
-Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
-Naturally Nutty Vanilla AB
-1/2 a sauteed Plantain
As some of you may know, I don't eat bananas. They give me horrible belly-aches and major bloating. I was a little skeptical to try a plantain but I wanted to see if the reaction would be different. It was! I didn't get a stomach ache or anything. It was a nice, sweet addition to my cereal and I will be buying them more often as they're pretty cheap too.


On the way to work I had a delicious snack that I forgot to snap a picture of. It was a fresh, organic White Peach with Chocolate Abu for dipping. Mmm.

This was actually yesterday's lunch but it was so good, I needed to post it. First, I made Tempeh for the first time! It was a big fear food for me a while back so I always had it sitting in the freezer. Then I just forgot about it. After looking for more natural protein sources, I remembered it and made this Orange Pan-Glazed Tempeh. It turned out great! No weird taste to it and a very unique texture. Seeing that it is made from soybeans, I thought it might cause an upset stomach but I was fine. I think because its fermented because I can eat Miso with no problem too.

I paired it with some Brown Rice and Brussels Sprouts to round out the meal.

Coming home from work, I was super hungry! I threw together this salad right away...

-butter lettuce

-steamed broccoli

-corn

-carrots

-Pineapple Salsa

I also had 2 Homemade Super Charge-Me Cookies from ED&BV! These were so fun to make and all the ingredients are so healthy. I replaced the maple syrup with Chocolate Abu and they still turned out delish! Is there anything Abu can't do?! I'm already halfway through my second batch!

Now I'm off to watch a movie or two. I'm exhausted from the day and need to relax. Have a lovely night everyone! <3

My Angel

Yes, I am talking about my Curly-haired friend Emily! Besides being a wonderful blogger and friend, she came to me suggesting a makeover for my little blog here. Of course I agreed, seeing that she has so much talent...I knew she would make it beautiful. She was wonderful to work with...patient, open-minded, and she did a very good job of creating exactly what I wanted. I couldn't be happier with the end results, thanks again Emily!!!

But there's something else, now you can win a blog makeover from Emily too! Just click over to her gorgeous blog and check it out. Who would pass this up!?

My original blog post is below in case you missed it, or you were just too busy staring in awe at my beautiful new banner ;)

xoxo

Makeover

Do you like the new look? I am in love with it! <3

Get ready for another lengthy post!

On Friday I went grocery shopping. From left to right:

Frozen Pineapple Tidbits, Organic Gala Apples, Sprouted 7-Grain Bread, Organic Baby Carrots, Organic Red Bell Pepper, Organic Baby Spinach and Romaine, Shredded Spoonfuls, Organic Blackberries, and...

Raw Creamy Unsalted Almond Butter and Pineapple Salsa.

I was pretty hungry when I got home so I made something quick in my pretty new bowl from Target <3

All that's in there is...

-1/4 cup (dry) bulgar

-1/3 cup corn

-couple spoonfuls Pineapple Salsa

-scoop Homemade Hummus

-1/2 an avocado

Simple and very delicious.

Today's breakfast was so delicious. I've missed my Cereal Bowls!

-Kamut Puffs

-Shredded Spoonfuls

-blackberries

-Chocolate Abu (wait, what?!)

-hemp seeds

Yes, you read that right. Chocolate Abu! I took the whole jar of TJ's Creamy AB, 1 container of Unsweetened Chocolate Almond Milk, 2 packets of stevia, and blended until very creamy and frothy. After storing it overnight in the fridge, it thickened up a tiny bit while still allowing me to drizzle it on top of my breakfast. I also took a sip plain (just like Maggie, who I got this whole idea from) and it was like a thick, creamy milkshake! Yum!

Rice Crispies. One of my very favorite treats of all time. They are gooey, chewy, and sweet. A perfect afternoon snack or dessert. When I got a sample of Dandies Vegan Marshmallows, I just had to make some! I used the recipe from ED&BV, replacing the Earth Balance with Coconut Oil. The marshmallows melted perfectly and coated each rice crisp with a sugary sweet fluff. My little brothers devoured the plate before I could get any =( Guess they were good?

I also was lucky enough to sample some Temptation Ice Cream (also by the Chicago Soy Dairy, where I am now employed). The flavor was chocolate and the taste was sinful! Of course I liked it though, my mom said, I'm used to this stuff. So I gave it to my little brother to try it (okay, it totally sounds like I feed them so much sweets and that they are my guinea pigs but they eat their veggies too!). He tried to run away to his room to polish off the pint, but I caught him just in time. Hopefully we can make it last longer than 2 days!

I actually don't have any hair pics (sorry I know!) but I'll make it up to you with more cute lovie pics!

Seriously...Bloo's eyes were open, and then right as I pushed the button he closed them. What a dork.

Sweet Potato and I, being lovie. I may or may not have edited this photo.

Some of you know already, but just to remind everyone...my birthday is in 1 MONTH! I'm so excited!! What are you all getting me? Just kidding...or not. No really, I better be getting tons of boxes on my doorstep by the end of next month ;)

The Big Reveal

Hi everyone! I was longing to post last night but I had just gotten home from the movies and I was really tired, so I'll just make this an extra-long post ;)
Last night I went to see Transformers and while it was 2 1/2 hours long, I still loved it! I know some don't think it was as good as the first but I think its up there. The fight scenes were great and the storyline was very interesting. I highly recommend this movie! However, I don't recommend you bring your kids under 5! This man brought his 8 month old (I'm guessing) kid to the movie. Not that its too scary but its very loud and too long for a baby to just sit. She was yelling, crying, shaking toys around. It was very disruptive. I'm actually seeing it again today so my little brother can go (he's 7 and stays quiet haha) so hopefully they're will be no problems.


I know you are all dying to see where I work...so you will just have to wait a bit more and read it at the end of this post ;)
The goodie box I was talking about in my last post was this ginormous Newman's Own Organics box. I was so excited to receive this because my whole family loves the brand, yet can't find the products in our local stores. This box was full of cookies, pretzels, soy crisps, chocolate, mints, dried fruit, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil. Here's what I've tried so far...

High-Protein Pretzels-I love the fact that they have 5g of protein in them per serving! I feel much better about snacking when it has nutritional value. These were lighter in texture than most pretzels with the perfect salty flavor. I've noticed some pretzel brands to be way too salty, not these ones. I would definitely buy these from the store on a regular basis. I ate them here with Homemade Hummus on the way to work.

I've also tried the Dark Chocolate bar. Sometimes dark chocolate has a very bitter taste but this one was a nice balance of sweet and bitter. It was very smooth and rich and would be perfect on S'mores...or S'more oatmeal!

My mom has also tried many products (since some are not completely vegan). So far, she has tried the...

Chocolate Chocolate Champion Chip Cookies-this bag went by FAST, like almost gone in a day fast!

Orange Chocolate Champion Chip Cookies-my little brother liked these and they smelled really delicious

Chocolate Creme Newman O's-we used to buy these all the time but the store stopped carrying them. Needless to say, my family was so happy to see these again!

Peanut Butter Cups-When my mom tried these she said "Well, they aren't like a Reeses". I replied "Yes Mom, because that's actual PB inside!" She likes these frozen.

Caramel Cups-I see her sneaking these out of the freezer all the time! I think she might like them ;)

All Pretzels- These are gone. haha

Chococonilla Oatmeal. Even the name sounds good.

-1/2 cup oats + 1 cup water+ cinnamon

-small scoop Naturally Nutty Vanilla Almond Butter

-small scoop Artisana Cacao Bliss

-sprinkle coconut

A great big Salad for my first day of work.

-baby spinach

-confetti slaw

-carrots

-kidney beans

-avocado

-Baked Yam Falafels

-Zukay Red Pepper Cilantro dressing

This was so good! All the flavors were just perfect together and this kept me fueled throughout the day. The falafel recipe is amazing and so simple to make. Sweet Potatoes + Falafel = Love. The dressing was also delicious. I think this one tops the list as my favorite so far. The following being Sweet Onion Basil, Tomato Pepper Pesto, and Carrot Ginger.

To re-fuel at work I brought along a variation of Angela's On the Glo Granola Bars. I halved the recipe, used White Chocolate PB, 1/2 cup agave + some molasses instead of brown rice syrup, chia seeds instead of sesame, and no cane sugar. SO GOOD! I will be sure to make these again but with brown rice syrup. They didn't hold together very well but I know that would happen with the agave. Otherwise, I wouldn't change a thing, these are addicting!

Since I'm out of cereal, I had to make due with what I had on had. I decided to make Muesli.

-1/2 cup oats

-1/2 cup blueberries

-1/2 cup almond milk

-sprinkle coconut

-scoop Naturally Nutty Vanilla Almond Butter

I just combined it all and ate it cold. It was very refreshing.

It was about was 90* outside when I got home from work yesterday and I couldn't find anything to make. I wasn't about to cook anything, so I had leftover Nutty Sweet Potato and Kale Soup. I topped my serving with Newman's High-Protein Pretzels which gave it a nice salty crunch.

Now for the big reveal...I now work at the Chicago Soy Dairy! This is where they make all the Teese, Dandies, and Temptation Ice Cream. Yum! When I had come in contact with the company for some samples, they had asked me if I was looking for summer work since I lived so close. I had been looking for a job and working at a vegan company was just the icing on the cake. Its a lot of work, but I find it very interesting and fun to do. Everyone there is so nice and it's cool to finally know some vegans in person rather than online (not that I don't love you all!).

I will be posting pictures of the new hair in my next post since this one is so long already. Stay tuned =)

Pssh...Overachiever

Whew, I've just been so busy today! Sorry this post is so late. I have to cook for tomorrow so I can pack lunch for work...wait. Work, you say? Yes, its true. I am a working girl now haha. I start tomorrow...but I'm going to keep where I work a secret for now since I need to get on with this post!
Part of Monday's breakfast, a Quinoa Avocado Bowl.
-1/4 cup (dry) quinoa + 1/2 cup water
-parsley, Italian seasoning, black pepper
-1/2 an avocado
This was very different from what a usually have but it was oh so yummy. I love how the avocado was a little warm from the cooked quinoa. It made it that much softer and creamier. I also had a big Green Monster for some extra vitamins and protein.
Part of lunch (I also had a salad)...Cheetah Taters! With a mound of ketchup of course.

I tried two new workout videos Monday and I loved them! They were OnDemand Kim Kardashian Butt and Ab routines. I know all the celebrities do lame workout videos but this one also had her trainer who made sure to correct form and describe each move. They got my heart pumping and I felt so great afterwards....but I needed a snack! Inspired by Kailey, I made Coconut Slush. I used 1/4 cup almond milk, 1/4 cup coconut, and a huge scoop of Pbu. YUM!

Today's eats were just as delicious. I started off my day with a Green Monster and some Avocado Toast. I love Avocado Toast. I would eat it everyday if I could...actually I can, so I just might haha. Its like butter but oh so much better! I could totally be in an infomercial right now...

After I got ate, showered, and got ready, I went over to the salon to make an appointment to get my hair fixed. I asked for a Honey Blonde but I guess me and my stylist were thinking of two different things because while I wanted a darker blonde, she gave me a blonde with orange/red tints in it. Sorry everyone, but being a ginger...so not me! I made an appointment for after my job interview (which was at 3pm) and hoped she could fix it.

You didn't think I'd post without including my Hugh Jass now did you?!

-baby spinach

-confetti slaw (like broccoli slaw but with cabbage, they were out of the former)

-1/2 an avocado

-kidney beans

-carrots

-BBQ sauce

-Zukay Sweet Onion Basil dressing (the last of it!)

I don't even have to say it was good do I?

After coming home from the interview, I left to go to the salon. She said sometimes people have different perceptions of ash colors and warmer golden tones and that the blonde I wanted was more beige. Now that she knows what I like (I lean towards the ashy shades of blonde, which are cooler), she fixed it and it looks just perfect. I admit, it still looks a bit gold to me but that's because I've been a bleach blonde for a while and my hair was basically white.

For dinner, some Pumpkin Oats.

-1/3 cup oatmeal + 1 cup water ( I used less because I wasn't too hungry)

-1/2 cup pumpkin

-spices

-Pbu

-Pumpkin Butter (from TJ's)

It twas delicious.

I'll leave you with this awesome award I got in the mail today. Outstanding Effort in Mathematics...yeahhhh! ;)

Preview of what's coming up: Goodie Box full of amazing stuff, New hair, where I work now, and maybe some facts about me. Be prepared!

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day!!!

I don't have a fancy dedication post like most do (which haven't failed to amaze me, there are some great Dads out there!). The truth is, I'm not close with either of my Dads. I no longer talk to my biological father and my step dad (now Dad since he adopted me) and I do not see eye-to-eye on anything. We don't spend time together and we don't talk about anything really important. I guess we just don't click well. While I'm sad I don't have a special post with pictures and memories with him, I'm just happy to have him in my life. He always supports me with everything I do and I'm so thankful for that.

I'm still going strong with the Green Monsters! This one included
-1 cup water
-1/2 a mango
-1 scoop Sun Warrior Vanilla Protein
-3 large handfuls baby spinach
With my smoothie, I had some Coconut Rice. To dress it up, I added shredded coconut and Artisana Cacao Bliss on top. It was amazing.
About a half hour before lunch I had some fresh Watermelon! Watermelon has to be my favorite summer fruit. I could eat pounds of it at a time. My family and I always had a Seed Spitting contest to see who could spit their watermelon seeds the farthest haha.

This was literally a Hugh Jass salad! I had to upgrade to a bigger bowl!

-butter lettuce

-broccoli slaw

-steamed zucchini

-1/2 an avocado

-Ballpark Italian Sausage

-Homemade Hummus

-Zukay Sweet Onion Basil dressing

My favorite part about this salad was the avocado. I love how it makes the whole thing so creamy. Mmm.

It was a pain waiting for this all day long but these Crock-pot Pumpkin Oats were so worth it! Topped with a little Pbu, oh gosh this bowl was heaven! It was super creamy and thick, rich in flavor, and the perfect end to my day. Sure, its hot and humid here...but you could always eat it in front of the A/C! ;)

You wanted more kitty pictures? Here ya go!

I love catch them mid-yawn. They make for the best pictures!

Okay, serious now. How cute is Sweet Potato?!

Bloo, doing what he does best...sleeping!

I could not get him to wake up for a picture! Oh well, babies need their sleep =)

I had my hair done on Saturday but I really hate the color. Its darker and warmer tone than I normally have. I tried to like it, but its just not me. Hopefully I can can get it fixed without paying another $80! School pictures are Tuesday, eek!

Inspirational

Hey loves <3

Its still rainy and dark outside so all I've been doing is reading, sleeping, and watching trashy TV. I also went to get my haircut today and I'm going tomorrow to get it colored. Can't wait! I wanted to get it done before Tuesday because I have senior pictures. Tell me why they insist on doing pictures so early?! I'm not even a senior yet...let alone tan ;) Mmm, nothing like Blueberry Chia Muffins smothered in Pbu to end the night, too bad they're already gone! This Strawberry-Mango Salad was inspired by Sarah. I used
-butter lettuce
-baby spinach
-1/2 a mango
-fresh strawberries straight out of the garden
-Peanut Roasted Chickpeas
-almond clusters (crushed)
-Cumin Cinnamon Vinaigrette from ED&BV
It was phenomenal! The fresh fruits were great with the sweet, crunchy lettuce. The chickpeas and almonds added a great nutty contrast to the sweetness, and the vinaigrette was the perfect light dressing that didn't disappoint in flavor.


For the chickpeas I used the Pro Flavor of FitNutz PB and they turned out very tasty! I could snack on a whole batch in one sitting (but I controlled myself). Seeing as that was my last FitNutz sample, I would definitely order the full sized container of this stuff. It was delicious!
Part of my breakfast this morning was Ezekiel Toast w/ Pumpkin Seed Butter. This was such a great combination and with the Green Monster I had (which contained Sun Warrior), this breakfast was packed with protein and healthy fats to get me through the morning.
Taking more inspiration from bloggers, I made this lunch of Fresh Mango and Avocado with Coconut Rice, inspired by Courtney aka The Hungry Yogini. This was such a fresh, delicious pairing, and one that will be repeated over and over again.
As I whipped up some Blueberry Pudding (a la Heather), I thought to myself...am I really hungry? I took a bite and even though the stuff was heaven, I wasn't hungry at all. Sometimes I still struggle with this. I feel I should eat when I'm not even hungry, just so I can make sure I'm getting enough food. I need to realize that I don't need to finish every bite if I'm full, or make food if I'm not hungry. My body knows what it needs and when it needs it. Part of this is still the time thing. I must eat at this certain time or else...um I actually don't know what would happen. Today though, I skipped the snack and felt much better for it. I just put it in the fridge for some other time. Not everyday needs to be the same and not everyday will you need the same amount of foods. I'm learning people!
Oh my Hugh Jass, what would I do without you?! ;)
-butter lettuce
-carrots
-broccoli slaw
-steamed zucchini
-Peanut Roasted Chickpeas
-Ballpark Italian Sausage
-BBQ sauce
-Pizza Cheese
The best salad I've had this week. Absolutely finger-licking good! Yum!


I've been thinking of ways to spruce up the blog. Any ideas? What would you like to see more of?
Facts about me? Kitten Pictures? Let me know!

Make sure to enter CCV's Jay Robb contest! I love this stuff =)

Fine and Dandie(s)

Its been humid and gloomy here today but no rain! I've been keeping myself busy with books, music, workouts, and reading the blogs of course =) What's your favorite thing to do on a gloomy day?




I actually can't remember when I had these meals so they're all out of order, oh well.




I wanted to try out the Dandies Vegan Marshmallows I got in the mail the other day and what better way then to add them to oatmeal? S'More Oatmeal that is.
-1/2 cup oat bran + 1 1/2 cups water
-2 large scoops Pbu
-1 scoop Artisana Cacao Bliss
-1 Vegan Marshmallow
This combination was delightful! Everything was so creamy and sweet, I nearly licked the bowl! Dandies Vegan Marshmallows are AMAZING. They taste just like 'regular' marshmallows and would be great on oats, sandwiches, s'mores, or just eating plain! I had another one by itself and it was like a little pillow of love on my tongue ;)

Green Monster...
-1 cup water
-1/2 cup fresh strawberries
-1 scoop Sun Warrior Vanilla Protein Powder
- 3 huge handfuls baby spinach

...Along with some Almond Butter Toast. I tried out Justin's Maple Almond Butter that I got samples of from my local Farmer's Market, and it was delicious! I didn't really get a strong maple flavor (like Might Maple PB) but it wasn't bad. I would buy this again, maybe even a jar of it next time, since I had to basically turn the squeeze packet inside out to get all the delicious stuff out!

Hugh Jass Salad.

-butter lettuce

-steamed broccoli

-carrots

-steamed b-nut squash cubes

-avocado

-Zukay Sweet Onion Basil dressing

I really liked this flavor dressing. It was definitely more sweet than tangy, with a pleasant hint of basil in every bite. I think its my favorite so far.

This was part of tonight's dinner. A Ballpark Italian Sausages from HH's e-book Backyard Vegan. These were super-simple to make and very tasty! I liked the fennel and italian spices, which made it taste very identical to a sausage. Another winner from HH...can she do no wrong?!

With the hotdog, I made Coconut Basmati Rice and steamed Zucchini. For the Coconut Rice I just combined 1 cup brown basmati rice with 1 can lite coconut milk and 1/2 cup water in my rice cooker. After it did it's thing, I had fluffy, sweet rice that cooled my mouth after that spicy sausage. Yummy.

I'm a Celebrity is on tonight! Woo! I'm so addicted to this show...and not afraid to admit it! haha

Then I think I'll watch Waking Up in Vegas, I hope its funny. Have a great evening loves <3

LoveGame

Let's start this post off with some muffin love...

Or should I say Love Muffins? These Strawberry-Rhubarb Muffins are based off the Love Muffin recipe in My Sweet Vegan. All I did was replace 1/2 the amount of strawberries with chopped rhubarb and replace the oil with applesauce. Mmm, they were really good. I never knew strawberries and rhubarb were so good together but I'm loving this fresh, summertime pairing.

Yesterday's breakfast was somewhat non-traditional (for me anyway). Sweet Potato Toast sounded really good and since I had leftover fries from the night before, I just couldn't pass it up. I toasted 2 slices of Ezekiel Bread, spread it with Naturally Nutty's Vanilla Almond Butter, and topped the slices with hot sweet potato fries. Oh. My. Gosh. This was heaven! The sweet AB just blended beautifully with the sweet p's and the whole meal left my tummy full and happy.

I tried to snap a picture of my lunch but my camera died...rest assured a Hugh Jass salad was made and devoured.

I was a little bored during the afternoon so why not bake?! I took the same pie recipe I used a couple days ago and made a Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie. I was so tasty but what is that on top?
A GENIUS invention that comes from Miss Curlytop, Pbu! I had accidentally bought my mom the wrong PB (unsalted) at the store about a week ago and its was just staring at me from inside the cabinet. I remembered this recipe and got to work right away (read: stirring, stirring, and more stirring). It turned out wonderfully! It made about double the amount in the PB jar which is awesome because it will last longer (maybe). Perfectly smooth and great for drizzling on anything you can imagine. Or, you could do what I did...and lick it right off the spoon!

Seeing as I didn't have my normal bowl of oats in the morning, I made some Muffin-Topped Oats for yesterday's dinner.

-1/2 cup oats + 1 cup water

-2 tsp chia seeds

-1 Blueberry Chia Muffin

-cinnamon

-2 large scoops Pbu

I'm totally loving this combination right now. The muffin gets very soggy and full of flavor while sitting in the oats. And the Pbu is just the most amazing topping, drenching everything in PB goodness. Yum. Okay Shelby...where is today's breakfast? This is it! I decided to go the savory route (somewhat) this morning and made Avocado Toast. All I did was spread 1/2 an avocado on 2 slices of Ezekiel bread and munch away. This dish will be on rotation with my main breakfasts from now on.

With my toast, I had a Gree...or rather Brown Smoothie.

-1 1/2 cups water

-1 scoop Sun Warrior Vanilla Protein Powder

-3/4 cup frozen cherries

-3 huge handfuls baby spinach

I drank it slowly this time and I didn't end up too full like I usually do. I guess I was just drinking them too fast before. Another Hugh Jass Salad for lunch today. This stud contained...

-baby spinach

-carrots

-sun-dried tomatoes

-lightly steamed broccoli (I was trying to keep it raw but I despise raw broccoli)

-Pizza Cheese

-cucumbers

-Zukay Tomato Pepper Pesto Dressing

The dressing was very good! It tasted fresh, simple, and I liked that instead of being full of oils, it was full of healthy probiotics.

After a long, sweaty workout, I was craving a cool bowl of Granola.

-1/2 cup Enjoy Life Foods' Very Berry Crunch Granola

-almond milk

-scoop Pbu

I also began reading a hilarious new book I found at the library called The Center of the Universe (Yep, that would be ME!) by Anita Liberty. Even if you are an adult you will appreciate this young adult book because its all about how much your teenage years sucked! I have laughed out loud at many parts of this book because I can relate so much to many things she says. A great summer read while lounging by the pool, tanning, or munching on granola.

I couldn't resist...I had to have oats for dinner again. Its just too good to pass up! I used the same basic recipe for my Muffin-Topped Oats featured earlier in this post but I'd like to call this bowl Peanut Butter Coma. You'll see why...

-1/2 cup oat bran + 1 1/4 cups water

-1 pkt Chunky FitNutz PB

-cinnamon

-1 Blueberry Chia Muffin

-2 huge scoops Pbu

Both sources of PB added so much rich, delicious flavor to my oats. I kind of want to go make another bowl haha...

Okay everyone, I need some help. I've been getting bored with the same old yoga routine and I'm looking to mix it up. I actually want to try to incorporate a bit more strength training into my routine but I have no idea how to go about it. I'm not sure how often to do it, what groups to work, or even what exercises to do. I mean, I know some but I'm just confused. My main thing is that I'm not looking to bulk up. I want to build lean muscle and look toned, not muscular. Sometimes when I do squats for a while, I notice my legs getting too bulky. How can I get a lean, toned look without getting too muscular? Any tips?

Oh and I watched The Dutchess last night, LOVED it! Although, I love anything with Keira Knightley in it and I love films set in that time period. Summertime is my favorite time to catch up on movies because I can stay up as late as I want and not have to worry about missing any sleep. What have been some of your favorite movies this year?

I'm Fallin'

Wow. I had a BLAST at Six Flags. We went on all the rollercoasters despite the crowded lines. For some I had to wait an hour! Oh well, I hardly ever go and it was a lot of fun. I even went on the Giant Drop! Every time I go to Six Flags I see that ride looming high above me. Being terrified of heights, I never dared to go on it. I told myself that this time too...but for some reason I just had to go on it! I guess I was fearless for the day or something haha. Climbing up the 227ft. tower, I was in awe of the magnificent view. When we got to the top I quickly muttered to myself "why did I do this?!". Then I counted 4 seconds (the time it takes before you drop) and plummeted at 64 mph to the ground. At first it was fun, then around the middle, it's truly terrifying. Your stomach is in knots, you lose your scream, and it really feels like a free fall. I've had dreams of this stuff...and its not fun! Yet when you're on the ground all you can do is smile and announce to everyone how amazing it was and that you're glad you're still alive. I'll admit it...I wanted to go again =)


I didn't get any pictures because they won't let you carry bags on rides now (you used to be able to set them in cubbies on one side of the rides) so you'll just have to look at the website to see the rides.
To get myself awake and alert for the ride there, I made a bowl of Strawbery-Rhubarb Oats.
-1/2 cup oats + 1 cup water
-1/4 cup frozen rhubarb
-2 sliced strawberries
-scoop White Chocolate PB
-Carob Chips
I've never actually had rhubarb before so I thought why not just put it into oats? I bought 2 bunches from the Farmer's Market, chopped, and froze them. I really liked the tang it added to the otherwise sweet oats. It was a nice change and of course I love the deep pink color of it.
I also bought these babies at the Farmer's Market. Justin's Maple AB packs. Can't wait to try them out! I've never been to the Farmer's Market before and I liked what I saw. Everything was organically grown and priced low. There were only a couple veggies but that's because its pretty early in the season here.
While I was at Six Flags I received 2 packages in the mail. The first one was a sample of Dandies Vegan Marshmallows from the Chicago Soy Dairy! Even though I don't eat much soy anymore, I am willing to try these out and see how they stack up to the gelatin-filled ones I used to eat.

Also included in the package was 2 samples of Teese! Nacho Sauce and Mozzarella. Look out for some product reviews on these!

The second package contained the Zukay Salad Dressings I won from HH's giveaway. After downing a whole bottle of BBQ sauce on salads this past week, its time for a change. The flavors I'll be trying out are Carrot Ginger, Tomato Provencal, Red Pepper Cilantro...

Sweet Onion Basil, Tomato Pepper Pesto, and Cucumber Mint. I swear I didn't mean to color coordinate these pictures haha! Thanks Lindsay!

After sleeping in until 9:30 am (I was so tired from all the walking!), I drank some green tea and watched TV for about half and hour. Then I when back downstairs to make Muffin-Topped Oats.

-1/2 cup oat bran + 1 1/4 cups water

-cinnamon

-1 pkt Pro FitNutz PB

-1 Blueberry Chia Muffin

-1 scoop Artisana Cacao Bliss

I loved the FitNutz powder in the oat bran. It gave it a subtle flavor and great consistency. I like that the Pro has more Omega-3's in it too, so you're getting more nutrition.

I re-heated some Enchilada's for lunch and topped them with 1/2 an avocado and some fresh basil. I think they're even better as leftovers as the flavors have all melded together. Mmm.

For dinner I was really craving some Sweet P Fries...but also some more avocado. I also wanted some protein. What to do? I re-heated some leftover Snobby Joes, topped it with avocado, and had 1/2 a batch of Sweet P fries on the side. Perfection.

Hopefully the sun will come out this upcoming week. Its been rainy, sunny, cloudy, and just not June weather! I want a tan! =P I hope you all are getting more sun than I am!

Restless

I'm counting down the hours until we leave for Six Flags Great America! I'm so excited! Tonight I'll be packing lunch and some snacks so I'm not stuck with the gross food they sell there.


Oh! I also got my final grades from school..."A"s in everything except gym (I got a B). I'm so proud.
Yesterday's breakfast was SO good! I made Strawberry Shortcake Oat bran which included...
-1/2 cup oat bran + 1 1/2 cups water
-a boatload of strawberries (I think I used most of the pint)
-carob chips
-White Chocolate PB
While this bowl was unbelievably good, I almost couldn't finish it! I was so full from all the berries! My appetite was very off yesterday though because I wasn't really hungry all day. I did eat the rest of the strawberries though =P

Today for breakfast I had a Yogurt Bowl w/ Cinnamon Crunch Granola.
With homemade Coconut yogurt! I used Celine's recipe (which is SUPER easy) and it turned out great! It was creamy, thick, and perfect for a morning treat. I can't wait to experiment with different fruits and flavors. I also added a packet of Regular FitNutz PB! I received these samples in the mail (x2) yesterday and I was so excited to try them. The flavor was great and the texture was also pleasant. I don't think I would eat it on it's own though, just for mix-ins. I also tried the Crunchy kind this afternoon in cereal and really liked it. It was saltier than expected (which I liked) and mixed in very easily. I'm looking forward to eating the rest of the samples, this stuff is good!
Here it is all mixed up, yum! I did think the bowl in general was a tad too sweet but that's just me.
I was craving a big Avocado Salad for lunch today so that's exactly what I made.

-baby spinach

-steamed broccoli

-carrots

-avocado

-BBQ sauce

-Backyard Burger

It was one of the best salads I've ever made! I love how the avocado makes everything so creamy and delicious. Mmm.

Let me end this post with a little heaven...a mountain of Sweet Potato Fries! Seriously...this thing was as big as my size 9 foot! haha

I also got the new Vegan Brunch Cookbook today in the mail! My mom is so sweet to order it for me. Breakfast food is my favorite and I have a feeling I won't just be eating this stuff for brunch!

I'm going to go watch I'm a Celebrity (yes I watch that show, its addicting!) then get a good night's sleep. Have a great night everyone!

Tutti Fruity

Hey loves! I finally woke up past 7am today! I can never sleep past 7 (even though I want to) so I was pretty shocked. I guess it's because I was up until 1am with my cousins watching Pineapple Express. Funny movie. I have a favorite line but it can't be repeated here...I've been laughing about it all day though. haha


Let's rewind back to yesterday's eats, shall we?

I'm in love with TJ's Whole Wheat Bagels! They are so good with nut butter and fresh fruit. They also keep me full until a little before lunch which usually only happens with oatmeal. The combo I used was Cinnamon Raisin PB and Apples. Because we all know cinnamon and apples is one of the best combos out there. For lunch I had leftover Nutty Vanilla Sweet Potato & Kale Soup. Mmm, even more amazing a couple days later! I topped this bowl of heaven with some cranberries and coconut.I felt like making something special after dinner so I went with this super-healthy Apple-Raspberry Pie from Maggie's blog. I did sub frozen cherries for the raspberries because I didn't have any on hand. It was delicious! I absolutely loved it...so much that I ate half! No guilt here though, this pie is like eating a bowl of fruity oatbran. Yum!This girl can only go a day without oats, I missed them so much yesterday! When I woke up (at 9am) I was pretty hungry so I made a bowl of Cherry Pecan Oats to quiet the growls.
-1/2 cup oats + 1/2 cup water + 1/2 cup almond milk (forgot how creamy this makes it!!!)

-1/2 cup frozen cherries

-cinnamon

-Artisana Pecan Butter

-few carob chips

Wow, this is my favorite nut butter from Artisana so far! It was so smooth, rich, and creamy. I didn't want it to end! I would definitely buy this one again. My simple lunch consisted of a Backyard Burger (recipe from Backyard Vegan) on a bagel with mustard, ketchup, and baby spinach. I also had a side of baby carrots. I love cereal! I finally found Kamut Puffs at the Health Food Store and couldn't wait to eat some. I topped a bowl with some carob chips and my most recent batch of Holiday Chia Pudding. This stuff is addicting!

I'm so excited for this week. We're going to Six Flags on Friday before they leave and I haven't been there in a long time. I love rollercoasters! Are you scared of rollercoasters? I used to be and I have a bad fear of heights but I love the rush. I have to close my eyes going up and open them going down...weird huh? What is the scariest coaster you've been on?

Bloggiversary!

Hello everyone! It's my 1 year Bloggiversary today! I cannot believe it's been a whole year already, crazy. You all have been absolutely amazing to me. Especially through my worst times. Its hard to express my thanks to you all for being there for me and treating me so kindly. I can't tell you how much a value these friendships and how much your comments mean to me. On yesterday's post, the sweet comments almost brought tears to my eyes. I feel like I wouldn't be the same today if I hadn't taken the step and started a blog. One of the best decisions of my life! Yesterday's Strawberry-Pineapple Oats were just as delicious as they were pretty!
-1/2 cup oats + 1 cup water
-cinnamon
-1/2 cup frozen pineapple
-fresh homegrown strawberries
-sprinkle coconut
-white chocolate PB
Mmm, take me off to a tropical island please!

I wanted to make something elaborate for lunch so I looked through my trusty V'Con and found these Potato and Kale Enchiladas! I've never made enchiladas before but I had just bought whole wheat tortillas from TJ's (they are excellent btw) and I had the exact amount of kale needed. It was meant to me. I used steamed, mashed cauliflower instead of potatoes (I don't like white potatoes) and they still turned out great. I have lots of leftovers in the fridge too and I just know they will taste even better after a couple days.

Snack of the day was Cranapple Crunch Granola from Enjoy Life Foods. I just can't get enough of this stuff! It's so good.

For dinner I wanted something different from a salad. I still wanted veggies though so I went with Miss Gliding Calm's Refried Beans. Easy to make, full of flavor, and nutritious. Loved it. I also have a lot of this leftover. Do I even need to cook next week?! haha

I'd been craving muffins all day so I went with these tasty Blueberry Chia Muffins from Nicole's blog. I used Gluten-Free flour, wheat germ instead of flax seed, and 1 pkt stevia instead of sugar. They were fabulous! I think the best blueberry muffins I've ever made! Moist, soft, and the blueberry flavor was perfect. I will make these again!

Orange Vanilla Oats was today's breakfast of choice.

-1/2 cup oats + 1 cup water

-cinnamon & vanilla

-1 orange, chopped

-Naturally Nutty's Vanilla Almond Butter

Absolutely scrumptious.

I have finally decided what my favorite recipe is...Snobby Joes from V'Con. I have made these countless times and they never fail to turn out delicious. I have leftovers from this too. Maybe I will do a couple days of just leftovers and see what creations I can make. The freezer is running out of room! haha

I actually have to go clean the kitchen (I hate a messy workspace) and bake some Cheetah Taters. I have one last Sweet P left and it's just calling my name.

Edit to add: Check out Katrina's 100th Post Giveaway! Looks like some good stuff in there, I've been craving some PB2!

Wild Week

I apologize in advance for this super long post! I hope you find the time to read it because I have so many fun pictures to share. Starting with Thursday morning...
Since it's June, I am done with the grocery challenge and I was ready to buy my 3 "special items" from the store. This time I chose TJ's Whole Wheat Bagels. You don't know how badly I was craving a big bagel and I was so glad to finally have one in my hands. For breakfast, I slathered my bagel in Walnut Butter and topped it with sliced Gala Apples (one of my very favorites).

This Artisana Organic Walnut Butter was delicious! I never expected a walnut to make such delicious butter but it was creamy, fresh, and flavorful. I'm not the biggest walnut fan, but this would convert me for sure.

I was glad I picked that breakfast because I needed to eat something that would keep me going until lunch. My cousin and I were off to Chicago! It's funny how I live so close to the city yet I hardly ever go. The train only costs about $5 one way and then we walked to out destination. Where did we go?

Karyn's Cooked! My first vegan restaurant, can you believe it!? I was so excited to go somewhere that I could order anything off of the menu. It was a 2 mile walk there, but so worth it. It was a cozy little building decorated with rich golds, deep browns, and modern wooden accents. I loved the decor, right down the the shimmery salmon-colored menus. We were hot, tired, and hungry when we got there so everything looked delicious. It took us a while to decide but eventually I decided on this...

The Meatball Sandwich (sans soy cheese). The website describes it as "Spicy lentil meatball with our marinara sauce and soy cheese on a toasted whole wheat bun". All sandwiches come with potato wedges and coleslaw (which I didn't want). The sandwich was spectacular! It had a very nice mild spicy flavor, the marinara was delicious and very light, and the toasted bun made it all hold together very well. I would order this again...but I want to check out the rest of the menu!

I also got a side a broccoli, which was like half the whole head! I brought the rest home to add to a salad.

We are already planning on going again since my cousin is staying another week. She does not cook at all which makes it hard for her to stick with a vegan lifestyle. She is more of a vegetarian right now but she said this was the best restaurant she has ever been to. She ordered the steak sandwich (she used to be a huge steak fan) and she loved it.

We were going to order dessert but the slices are always huge and I didn't want to carry more boxes. It was torture though because someone seated next to us had a huge hunk of Carrot Cake. My favorite! As I was walking out, my cousin saw samples and I immediately grabbed the carrot cake with almond butter frosting. Oh gosh. It was delectable! One of the best desserts I've had. It was very spicy, moist, and carrot-y. Not too sweet and the frosting was perfect...I didn't even mind that it wasn't a cream cheese frosting! We thought about going back and stealing seconds but we somehow convinced ourselves to keep walking.

Beautiful day.

Tall buildings.

After getting a good night's sleep and resting my feet, I was ready for the day. I made myself some White Chocolate Blueberry Carob Oats to wake me up.

-1/2 cup oat bran + 1 1/2 cups water

-cinnamon, 1/2 cup frozen blueberries

-2 tbsp Chia Seeds

-scoop White Chocolate PB

-sprinkle carob chips

Last night I had made some food because I had plans to be out all day. These Backyard Burgers from HH's Backyard Vegan (get this cookbook!) were easy to make, easy to transport, and absolutely amazing! Very meaty, hearty, and perfect for summer. The only thing I changed was to used 1 cup quick oats instead of the breadcrumbs. I also cooked them longer so they would be extra crisp. Yum.

Why this portable lunch you say? I was off the the Brookfield Zoo! This is my favorite zoo in the world and I love going there. Most of the animals are in very natural habitats instead of behind metal bars and they have a couple secluded areas for each animal to hide in if they are not feeling the crowd, making it very animal friendly. I've been going ever since I was born and its one of my favorite places.

We saw Lions (my favorite animal)... Monkeys...
And Giraffes.
This is for you VeggieGirl ;)

We also saw...Dinosaurs?! Yes, Dinosaurs! The zoo has a new exhibit full of LIFE-SIZED animatronic dinosaurs. Believe it or not, my little brothers were terrified! They play with toy dinos all the time at home, yet when they see the real thing, they freak. Too bad, it was a great exhibit.

Oh no, a T-Rex!

What a cutie.

Don't ask...

I also rode the Carousel! Dork.

Summer Has Begun!

Hello everyone! I've got a busy week planned so I'm not sure about posting...I'll just see how it goes and if I have time I will. Tomorrow I'm planning a train ride to the city with my cousin. Then Friday the whole family is going to Brookfield Zoo (my favorite!). Saturday, I'm still figuring it out. I'm so glad school is out!


Speaking of school, I got the results of my JRP! I got 248/250...only 2 points off! It was for a couple tiny grammatical errors which pretty much means I aced it. I also saw the score of my math final and I got 105/110! *does happy dance*
To fuel my brain for the upcoming math final yesterday, I made a bowl of Granola.
-1/4 cup oats (soaked overnight in water)
-3/4 cup Enjoy Life Food's Cinnamon Crunch Granola
-scoop Cinnamon Raisin PB
-almond milk
This bowl was so delicious and satisfying. I loved the cold, chewy oats mixed with the crunchy, sweet granola. The PB tied all the flavors together and gave it extra staying power. A perfect breakfast for the upcoming hot weather.
This recipe has been on my "to-make" list for the longest time. I finally got around to making it and I nearly kicked myself for not making it sooner. This Nutty Vanilla Sweet Potato + Kale Soup was phenomenal! It was creamy, thick, rich, and the flavors were insanely delicious. I topped my bowl with shredded coconut and almond clusters for an added crunch.

Today's oats were cooked on the stove-top and can I just tell you how excited I am to be able to cook them like that every morning for the next 3 months?! Pumpkin Seed-Carob Oats was the delightful combination today, using...

-1/2 cup oats + 3/4 cups water + 1/2 cup almond milk

-ground flax

-scoop Pumpkin Seed Butter

-sprinkle carob chips

I was craving some more Chickpea Cutlets (recipe from V'Con) but this time I made them on the stove. Ehh, I really didn't like them as much as I like them baked. They were too chewy and soft, while the ones I bake in the oven are crispy and more hearty. On the side I had 1/2 an avocado and Chili Almond Asparagus from VeganYumYum. This whole meal was wonderful! I loved the Chili Asparagus because it was spicy (just how I like it) and I love roasted asparagus.

Now for my May Goals re-cap and my new June goals.

1. Drink a green smoothie or eat a spinach salad everyday.

-This was easy to do because I eat spinach salads almost every night for dinner. I didn't do too many green smoothies so I'll have to keep working on that one.

2. Eat 1 raw meal and 1 raw snack on Wednesdays.

- I kind of called it quits during the last 2 days of the challenge. I was just a lot busier with school ending and I wanted something hearty and warm. I think the summer is a better time to start because I will have more free time and a lighter appetite.

3. Do Yoga 5 days a week with minimal cardio.

- Like I said before, I'm not going to push my body to do something I will hate doing the entire time. That said, I didn't do yoga 5 days a week sometimes. It would either be more or less, depending how I felt. I will say that my body has completely changed and I rarely have negative feelings about it. I'm confident, strong, and comfortable in my body now. I believe I never would have accomplished this without yoga. I've become so aware of what my body can do and without the strain of running, I can do everything more efficiently. I will be sticking with this and hopefully I can find some classes now.

4. Only buy produce and other necessities when grocery shopping.

- This was hard to do! I kept seeing things I wanted to buy but I knew I was spending too much on groceries so I cut back. I'd say it went very well. I cleaned out some of the pantry, made new recipes, and ate more natural foods. I'm going to be keeping with this idea, allowing myself only a couple new items a week instead of buying whatever.

5. Go Outside More Often.

- I accomplished this some of the month but for some reason, the stupid weather is being lame. I took more bike rides, sat out and tanned, and played with my little brothers outside. It was only 65* today (WHAT?! It's JUNE!!!) so I wasn't really able to do anything. Hopefully it warms up soon and stays that way.

Now my goals for June...

1. Drink a Green Smoothie everyday

-In addition to my salads. Maybe I'll even try it with a variety of greens for more nutrients.

2. Buy fresh, organic produce from the Farmer's Market every Wednesday.

-It just opened up today but I forgot to go. I'm so excited for this because I got through tons of veggies and I've never really even been to a farmer's market before =0

3. Challenge myself more with Yoga.

-I've been sticking to the same DVD's over the past month and it's time for a change. I'll either try more videos OnDemand or find a fun class that's close by.

4. More raw foods.

-Summer is coming and it's time for fresh produce full of sun and nutrients. I'm not going to make it a certain day, only when I feel like it. I find that I'm less likely to crave a raw meal when it's planned out so now it will be just when I crave it.

5. Stick to natural, simple foods.

-No more processed junk. I want to eat as simple, delicious, and nutritious as possible. That means more whole grains, veggies, fruits, nuts, and seeds. I don't need a fancy meal to make my belly happy, only good foods.

Happy Humpday!

Love Those Veggies

Ahh, life is good. I only have 1 more final (math...easy!) and then I'm free! =)
Yesterday morning I was craving a Sweet Potato (pssh, when am I not?!) so I made one for breakfast. I had actually baked one the night before so I wouldn't have to wait an hour. In the morning I just heated it up and added...
-1/2 cup Enjoy Life Cinnamon Crunch Granola
-scoop of Naturally Nutty Vanilla Almond Butter
-dash of almond milk
Wow, this was delicious! A little too filling (or maybe that's just because the SP was as big as my head) but a tasty treat I would love to enjoy again and again.


A little bit into the day I started getting stomach pains. They were on and off all day so I rested a bit and took it easy.

For lunch I wanted to try out a new recipe. I used Happy Herbivore's Spicy Chickpea Spread from her new e-book Backyard Vegan. I highly recommend this book as it has many delicious, interesting, and creative ideas for summer eats. The spread was yum, anything with chickpeas and nooch is a winner to me! I also had a side of sauteed veggies and kale chips (not pictured).

Today's breakfast was back to the oatmeal. Cocoa-nut Oatmeal that is.

-1/2 cup oats + 1/4 cup almond milk + 1/2 cup water

-1 tbsp Artisana Cacao Bliss

-shredded coconut

Oh wow, this stuff is beyond amazing. Artisana really outdid themselves with this one. The coconut and chocolate is perfectly balanced so one doesn't get too much of one flavor. Its not heavy or oily, and has the perfect consistency when heated a bit. I'm so glad I have a larger jar because I have a feeling this stuff will be used often!

I knew I would need a snack in between finals to keep the brain going so I brought a serving of Enjoy Life's Very Berry Crunch Granola. If anything, the smell alone will sell this stuff. It's incredible! I've been eating this stuff in small increments throughout the week and I still can't decide a favorite flavor, they're all too good!

While I did have my snack, I didn't know what time I was getting out of school and ending up getting home at 1pm. I needed food right away so I searched through my freezer to find something easy to make. I found...Green Monster Pancakes! I toasted the last three, topped them with agave, and ate them with a side of avocado (weird mix but I was craving greens!). I also had an unpictured side of steamed broccoli, yum!

More veggies for me! I was craving them like mad today. A Hugh Jass salad was in order...

-baby spinach

-carrots

-corn

-brown rice

-chickpea spread

-BBQ sauce

Along with a generous portion of Sweet Potato Fries...of course!

In my next post I'm planning to re-cap my goals for May...along with some new goals for June, how exciting =)