17th Birthday: Part 3

Hey lovies! So while the video post didn't work out, I have tons of delicious food to show you. My birthday dinner was at Borrowed Earth. It is an all-raw restaurant and it has phenomenal food! My co-workers decided to take me there as a birthday treat because its so close to work and they know I love raw foods. The restaurant was small but very cozy. Everyone was very friendly and they also had a little bookshelf of items for sale. I was so excited to sit down and eat...

We started off with an appetizer, Cheese Perogies! From the website "Deliciously thin bite-sized crescents of jicama lovingly wrapped around a blend of nut “cheese” flavored with garlic, nama shoyo (raw soy), lemon juice, and bell pepper." I could have just eaten the nut cheese straight up! It was so creamy and tasted kind of like the cheese you get in a can and squirt on crackers.

For my main meal I ordered the Earth Sampler that came with "a kebab, falafel, stuffed mushroom, two dolmas, and three tasty side salads". The falafel was delicious, a little heavy on the nama shoyo but otherwise very good and a great texture. The filling for the mushroom was amazing and while I thought I wouldn't like raw mushrooms, it was very flavorful. My favorite was the kebab! I can't really describe the flavor but it was amazing, as were the salads. I believe they were a Kale Salad, Beet Salad, and Cauliflower Salad and the dressing was so creamy and definitely avocado-based. I ate about half what was on this plate and took the rest home for leftovers One ordered the Planet Pizza that was so spicy and satisfying. It came with 3 side salads as well.

Another meal was the daily special of Ravioli. While I didn't get to try this, my co-workers tell me the Perogies are much better but the curry sauce was a nice unexpected twist.

My meal was filling, but of course I had to get dessert! They had so many things to choose from...cheesecake, brownies, truffles, it was so hard to decide! I ended up with the Brownie a la Mode with Cherry Chocolate Ice Cream. The brownie was more like fudge and very thick and rich. I LOVED it. The ice cream could have been better as the flavors weren't as bold as I would have liked. I also got to try the Macadamia Nut Raspberry Cheesecake which was very light and airy, considering it is nut-based.

I think this was the best dinner I've ever had! I felt not one bit of guilt eating all of that food and when we left, I didn't feel like I had to waddle to get out to the car. I felt very light and energetic. By the time I got home, it was only 9pm, but I stayed up until 12! Now, I'm such a granny I go to bed at 10:30ish every night. Last night, I was wide awake. Not hyper, just awake. I definitely think it was the raw foods. Isn't it crazy how a year ago I wouldn't touch fats with a ten-foot pole and now I can't get enough?! Trust me, I'm not obese by any means! I actually feel leaner and longer now that I eat more fats. So do your body good and eat those healthy fats!

This morning I woke up and was craving fresh fruit. I'm glad I had whipped up a batch of Gena's Cashew Cream to top them with. I bought these Cherries and Blueberries from the Farmer's Market on Wednesday and I just adore them. The color just gets me every time.

Before leaving for work I had 2 slices of sprouted grain toast and...
A Tropical Fruit Tart Larabar. Its one of the new flavors and though I don't buy them often, a great snack. This bar was like the coconut cream pie flavor in it's texture but the sunny citrus flavors made it taste like summer. It was a little heavy on the pineapple (I can't have more than a tiny bit at a time or my tongue gets really inflamed) so I wouldn't buy it again but it was delicious to try.

All I wanted when I got home from work was a Hugh Jass Salad. So after snacking on a little apple and digesting that, I began throwing everything I could into a big bowl...

-butter lettuce

-carrots

-cukes

-raw corn

-broccoli

-Zukay Cucumber Mint Dressing

-Pizza Cheese

-Pizza Crackers

The Pizza Crackers were from Borrowed Earth and well worth the $7.95 I paid for them. They were very intensely spiced and crisp yet chewy. They would be delicious spread with Pizza Cheese or just used in salad.

I will be posting every night for a while because I have some major goodies to show you all! Reviews for new products, more birthday presents, and maybe a video if I can get it to work! 'Night sweets xoxo

We Interrupt Your Scheduled Programming...

My post will be a little early tonight because I wanted to reveal the surprise...and I will be going out for my birthday dinner tonight. Full recap for sure! The surprise you ask? I was going to upload a video post but could not get it to work! Any advice? I'm taking the video with my camera but can't seem to upload it onto blogger. I'm so frustrated!!!


Now some daily eats:

Green Smoothie...
-frozen pineapple and strawberries
-1 scoop Sun Warrior Vanilla Protein
-water
-baby spinach
Pineapple and strawberry is one of my favorite fruit combinations. They just complement each other so well and are very refreshing.

Alongside my smoothie I had some Toast spread with Hazelnut Butter. The hazelnut butter was a little dry, but otherwise very flavorful. I could really taste the roasted flavor of the nuts and there was a very rich taste to it. Delicious of course!

For lunch I had a really Hugh Jass Salad! I'm talking monstrous! This was filled with...
-butter lettuce
-carrots
-broccoli
-beets
-raw corn
-Pizza Cheese
-cucumber
-homemade dijon dressing
It seriously took me about 45 minutes to eat! But it was so tasty that I kept wanting more (TWSS!). This didn't leave me too full, but rather very comfortable and satisfied.


Sorry for the short post, I hope to have a video up for you soon! Now I'm off to dinner, enjoy your evening!

17th Birthday: Part 2

Thank you all so much (again!) for the birthday wishes!!! I wish I could hug every single one of you. You have brought me such joy and really made this one a special birthday. Now I do have some bad news: the exciting surprise will have to wait until tomorrow. I didn't have time to put it together today since I had to work, but tomorrow is the day, I promise!

Continuing with yesterday...

After I had my birthday "cake", my mom wanted her birthday treats! I made her Whoopie Pies from My Sweet Vegan (a delicious recipe I have made before, she loved it so much she requested them!).

My momma with a little brother. I only put one candle on because I didn't want to start a fire...just kidding! She knows I love her =)

A cookie almost the size of her head!

The birthday girls looking pretty in pink...and yes, I am taller by 3 3/4 inches!

Getting a picture of all of the boys together is a struggle. This is the best we got. Oh and the baby is missing from it too!

Now let's switch gears to review time!

First up: my first Beauty Review! Please excuse the bloodshot eyes, I wasn't on any substances...I swear! Oh and check out that funky eyebrow! I think I hit my head there once so the hairs always separate. I have to wet it down to make it stay put. But enough of that, I will be reviewing Maybelline's Lash Stiletto Mascara in soft black.

Pros: As you can see, this stuff really lengthens your lashes! I love how it separates them too because I usually have to do that manually.

Cons: It doesn't do much in the volume of my lashes. I was expecting them to look thicker and more full but that didn't happen. It also smells horrible and the smell lasts about an hour after I use it. Bleh.

Final Verdict: I wouldn't buy this again, I'm sticking to my Great Lash!

Next I will be reviewing my new Cybershot Camera. This is a picture I took with my old Canon Elph camera. I didn't use any special features or adjust anything. Usually I will change it to macro, adjust the light setting, and have to take pictures over and over because of the blur. Don't get me wrong, its a great camera...just not for food.

This is the same shot but with my new camera. It has a special FOOD FEATURE that when you press one button, it automatically changes to a mode that is specialized for gourmet shots. I love it because I didn't have to pay more than $200 for it and it does such a great job.

Just to throw in some more yummy shots, are some of my eats from today. Breakfast was a Rhubarb Smoothie a la Heather.

-1 cup almond milk

-1/2 cup frozen strawberries

-1/4 cup frozen rhubarb

-1/4 tsp stevia

-1 scoop Jay Robb Vanilla Protein

-1 tbsp Chia Seeds

This tasted like strawberry pie! It was so luscious and sweet. Topped with almond butter, it made the perfect breakfast to fuel me for the day.

Mmm, and dinner was excellent as well. I made up another batch of Oatgurt over the weekend and finally had some today. My favorite part is the crispy crust that forms on the top, so good.

This bowl included Oatgurt, almond milk, almond butter, and shredded coconut. Simple yet decadent and satisfying.

Stay tuned for Part 3 tomorrow, and maybe even a part 4! Maybe I'll just make it a birthday week!

17th Birthday: Part 1

Hey lovies!!! Thank you all so much for the messages, comments, and presents...I think you babes are so amazing and I'm so thankful to have met all of you. I've decided to split this post into 2 parts so you can see my exciting surprise tomorrow and because I have so many pictures I didn't want to make this post a mile long. So here is part 1:

My day started with presents!

I received exactly what I wanted for my birthday...

-A Pink Sony Cybershot Camera

-Living Raw Food Cookbook

-iPod Car Converter

-Transformers DVD

Along with these things, I got birthday cards and love<3

For breakfast I had a Green Monster with...

-frozen pineapple and blueberries

-Sun Warrior Vanilla protein powder

-water

-baby spinach

I loved the pineapple and blueberry combo. It was sweet with a little tang which I loved combined with the vanilla.

And some Avocado Toast. My favorite breakfast at the moment!

Lunch was amazing and filled with some of my favorite foods. It was the Curried Sweet Potato salad I had made in this post, plus 1/2 an avocado. The avocado just added a smooth, creamy flavor that made the curry really pop.

When checking the mail this morning, I saw a little envelope with my name on it...it was a Whole Foods Gift Card from Emma. This was the PERFECT gift girl! I love it, of course! And yes I spent it all today....

From left to right: Dinosaur Kale, Collards, Organic Carrots (1.99 for 2 lbs!), chia seeds, pumpkin seeds (can you guess what I'll be making with these?), Hazelnut Butter, and the 3 new Larabars!

German Chocolate Cake Jocolat, PB&J Larabar, and Tropical Fruit Tart Larabar...hmm, I wonder what I'll try first.

The brand of Hazelnut Butter I got was Futter's Nut Butters. I've ordered from them before and was super impressed! VeggieGirl also loves this brand, which is how I found out about it. I also had a lovely chat with her while shopping, gotta love her!

It was dinnertime when I got home from the store and I wanted my cake!

Wait, that's not cake!

Did you really expect me to have a huge slice of cake? I made Carrot Cake Oatmeal instead!

-1/4 cup oatbran + 2 tbsp rolled oats

-1 cup water + 1/4 cup almond milk

-cinnamon, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, salt

-1 grated carrot

-1 tsp coconut oil

-Abu "frosting"

-Coconut "sprinkles"

Mmm, this was the best birthday cake EVER!

It was fun being 16, but I can tell 17 is going to be an even better year!

Blowing out my candle, with my little brother's hair in the way of the picture =)

Part 2 is set for tomorrow, so stay tuned! It will include more fun treats, family pictures, and a big surprise! xoxo

Would You Like Some Almond Butter with your Almond Butter?

I am so glad you liked the random facts yesterday! I might just do more every once in a while to spice things up a bit. I decided to do a post tonight because I want tomorrow's post to focus on my special day. I'm planning something new and exciting so make sure to check it out!

Another lovie sent me a birthday card in the mail, this time from Emma! The card put such a HUGE smile on my face and it is so me! Thanks girl!

Saturday's Eats: Green Monster for breakfast.

This most delicious meals are the unplanned ones and this one was just thrown together on a whim. I was going to make a huge salad but I was really craving warm veggies. So I put together a little Mexican Stir-fry.

-1/3 onion

-1 carrot

-1 Gypsy Pepper (it's a very light yellow with a sweet crunch)

-1/3 cup frozen peas

-1/2 a plantain

-1 clove garlic

-cumin, chili, paprika, black pepper, red pepper flakes, Tabasco

-1/2 avocado

This meal will be repeated again and again. The spicy heat from the pepper and Tabasco, the sweet and soft plantains, the crunchy vegetables, and the cool, creamy avocado made this one of my favorite stir-fries to date! I highly recommend making this if your a fan of spice. If not, just leave out some of the spices, but I'm telling you...it's worth the fire in your mouth!

Today's breakfast consisted of a Green Monster (not pictured) and a small bowl of Raw Oatmeal. For the oatmeal I just soaked the oat groats overnight in water and blended them up nice and thick in the morning. I then added cinnamon and Raw AB. It was very creamy and delicious, however I really wasn't that hungry. I finished about half until I couldn't eat anymore.

A little while after breakfast I did about 20 minutes of yoga. I was super tired after that though so I went back to bed. I didn't fall asleep until 1:30am last night and waking up at 7am didn't help. My body just won't go back to sleep unless I eat something though. I find that getting up, eating, digesting a bit, then going back to sleep works for me best. I woke up around 11:30am and felt so much better.

I wasn't too hungry for lunch so I had a Simple Polly-Inspired Salad. First, I washed, dried, and ripped up some fresh bibb lettuce from the farmer's market. Then I topped it with homemade seitan and Abu. I was going to make wraps but then decided that was too much work and just put in all in a bowl. Then I realized I needed dressing so I made a bit of Abu and that worked out perfectly. I LOVED this salad! It was so delicious and filling, yet so simple and light. The ingredients may look a little different but just try it and see for yourself! I bet some dried cranberries would be delicious in there too.

After showering and making myself look presentable, I was off to Trader Joe's. I only needed a couple things including raw corn, cilantro, frozen strawberries, lemons, sprouted bread, and Raw Crunchy AB.

For dinner I was craving oats so Oatbran in a Jar it was! For the oatbran I used...

-1/2 cup oatbran + 1 1/2 cups water

-1 scoop Chocolate Sun Warrior

-cinnamon, salt, and vanilla

The chocolate sun warrior is SO much better than the vanilla! I absolutely love it. It was wonderful paired with the almond butter and while it was pretty hot outside, nothing can deter me from enjoy a hearty jar of oatbran. Yum.

I'm off to finish baking my mom's birthday present, so have a great night and make sure to check out my post tomorrow night! xoxo

Stuff You Never Knew

In honor of my upcoming birthday, I decided to share some things about me that you may not have known. If you want pictures of food, proceed to this post.



25 Things About Me:

1. I've never broken a bone.

2. I have a scar on my arm from the time I was attacked by a pitbull and had to get stitches. I was at a family friend's house when their dog freaked out from all the company and bit whoever was in sight. They kept in out in the shed for the rest of my visit but he got out once and came to where I was sitting and put his head in my lap. I found that to be his apology and didn't hold anything against him.

3. I've never been stung by a bee.

4. I have no known allergies, except I do have a sensitivity to soy and bananas.

5. I was named after Julia Robert's character Shelby in the movie Steel Magnolias. A favorite movie of mine.

6. I've never been able to relate to kids my age. When I was little I would sit with the grown-ups and join in on their conversation instead of playing with the other kids.

7. My hair was literally white blonde when I was a kiddo, then it just had to turn a dishwater blonde color...I was so upset. Thank god for highlights!

8. I was a redhead for a while when a member of the family passed away. She had dark auburn hair and so I dyed my hair in honor of her. It took a while to get blonde back, but it was fun experimenting.

9. Ever since I was little, I've been stealing my mom's high heels out of her closet. I've been able to strut my stuff since I was 5 and it baffles me seeing girls who can't walk in heels! I guess that started my shoe obsession.

10. I was obsessed with the Spice Girls. I would sing their songs nonstop and I was ALWAYS Baby Spice.

11. For Halloween one year I dressed up as Cher. My grandma totally got me into her music so I had the long black wig and everything.

12. I went to see Titanic with my mom 3 times in the theater. It is still my favorite movie of all time.

13. Reading is one of my favorite things to do. I couldn't tell you my favorite book because there are so many!

14. The only reason I was a cheerleader is because I was horrible at all other sports.

15. My favorite kind of music and anything I can dance to. I also listen to lyrics. The singer might not be amazing but if I can relate the the lyrics I'll listen to it.

16. I go grocery shopping just for fun, sometimes I don't even need anything!

17. Even though I love traveling, I've only been to California, Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Missouri, Florida, South Carolina, and Mexico.

18. I desperately want to travel to Italy and the Galapagos Islands.

19. You don't want to be in the car with me when driving. Not because I'm a bad driver, I'm actually really good, but because of how much screaming I do at the horrible drivers around me

20. I was homeschooled 3rd-6th grade. Again in 8th, then for half of 10th because I was so sick.

21. I've never gotten a grade below a "C" before...except for gym. Why is Illinois the only state with a mandatory Gym program?! Not fair!

22. I don't want any kids. I have 5 brothers...there is a 50/50 chance it will be a boy. I'm not taking that chance.

23. My first kiss would have been perfect...I was in Hilton Head with my best friend, we met cute boys, on the 4th of July, under the stars,on the beach...but I had to literally WIPE MY CHIN afterwards. Sick.

24. Without the sun I don't know how I would live. Winter is the most depressing time ever and I look forward to summer from the moment it ends. That's why...

25. I plan on moving out to California to go to college. I haven't decided on one yet, but I'm working on it.



Hope you enjoyed those awesomely random facts about me! =)

Summer, is That You?

Upon waking this morning, I saw the sun shining the birds singing and the flowers blooming (well, not really the last two but you know what I mean). I was super excited because it has been rainy and gloomy all week and I want to get outside and stretch my legs! After I ate, showered, and did my hair…I look outside. What do I see? Clouds covering all the sunshine. Darn! I was going to go out and tan too! Summer just isn’t happening this year, which is really ticking my off because that’s my favorite time of year! Hopefully I’ll get some sun on my birthday, which is in 3 DAYS!

Because I wasn’t feeling 100% yesterday morning, I made myself a little bowl of Fresh Sweet Cherries and Frozen Blueberries. This flavor combination was just too delicious. I gave these about a half hour to digest, then ate something a little more substantial.

Avocado Toast, do I even need to describe how good it was?

For lunch I wanted something a bit lighter so I made Gena’s Carrot Bisque. I juiced a pound of carrots, put the juice in the blender, and tossed in 1/2 an avocado, tamari, lime juice, ginger, and black pepper. The flavor was so rich that it was hard to believe it was a raw soup! While the tamari and avocado provided a deep, full bodied flavor, the lime juice and ginger pepped it up. To all those who don’t think raw food could be filling, I was only able to finish half of this. I did had a slice of toast and some dark chocolate though. Because one always has room for chocolate ;)

This is one of the best salad’s I ever made. It may seem weird at first, but the flavors are absolutely amazing together.

Curried Sweet Potato Salad

-1 small sweet potato, roasted

-1/2 red bell pepper, chopped

-1/3 cup steamed broccoli

-1/4 cup green peas

-juice of 1/2 a lime

-curry powder, cumin, and black pepper

If you hate corn, avert your eyes! This morning I made Corn-Topped Oats (inspired by Heather) and it was delicious. I used…

-1/2 cup oats + 1 cup water

-1 scoop Sun Warrior Vanilla Protein Powder

-cinnamon, vanilla, salt

-raw corn

-TJ’s Raw Almond Butter

The corn tasted so sweet on top of the oatmeal and gave the bowl an interesting texture. Don’t knock it till you try it!

Around lunch time I was feeling much better so I decided to try something new and different. I went with the Tuna Pate from Ani’s Raw Food Kitchen and steamed broccoli. I had saved the carrot pulp from the soup and was looking for a recipe when I found this one. It was so simple to put together (I just threw it all in the processor) and tasted great! A little dry, but still good. I can’t wait to try it in a wrap or salad.

Just looking at this picture makes me want to go “Ahh”. I got the idea for this Watermelon-Lime Slushie from Zestycook where he had made Watermelon Lemonade. For my drink, I used lime juice and didn’t add any extra water so it would stay thick. I also added a sprinkle of stevia to sweeten it up a bit. Perfection.

I was craving carbs for dinner so I made a Grilled Italian Vegetable Sandwich. After grilling the zucchini and eggplant, I spread toasted Hemp Bread with Gena’s Pizza Cheese. The rich raw cheese, hearty bread, and warm vegetables made this sandwich amazing. Put together it was like eating a delicious and healthy pizza.

After dinner I had some 90% Dark Chocolate. I didn’t think I would like it because I’ve always hated really bitter chocolate…but this stuff was so good! I find that it was less bitter than the 85%.

You all know by now how I love my nut butters. I’m getting rather bored though with the same ones. Do you have a favorite nut butter you recommend? I was leaning towards Sunflower Seed Butter but don’t know the best brand, any favorites?

SubLIME

Hola chicas (and chicos)! Today was a rough day. I've been feeling sick, overtired, and just weak. I think I might be getting a little something something, hopefully nothing too bad because my birthday is in 5 days! You're not supposed to get sick in the summertime! Ahh!
Anyway...I've been trying to keep up positive thoughts and eat healthy foods. Hopefully this is only a 24 hr. thing and I will be better soon. Fingers crossed!
Tuesday Morning: I had the most delicious Green Monster I've ever made...
-1 pkt. Amazing Grass Chocolate Superfood
-1 scoop Sun Warrior Vanilla Protein
-1/2 cup blueberries
-1/2 an avocado
-water
-handful of baby spinach
It looked like a health drink, yet tasted like a decadent milkshake. The chocolate-vanilla flavor was so creamy and rich, while the bloobs added a hint of fruity sweetness. I know that the Amazing Grass had tons of greens already in it, but I like adding more baby spinach for bulk and volume in my smoothie. Served in my favorite Amazing Grass Shaker, this was a winner.


On the way to work I enjoyed 2 slices of Hemp Bread, plain. This bread is so good, it needs no topping! Need I remind you it has 13g of protein per serving? Amazing.
Lunch was terrific and so fresh tasting. I made a Hugh Jass salad (in honor of Sarah) filled with...
-butter lettuce
-carrots
-broccoli
-raw corn (!)
-green bell pepper
-1/2 an avocado
I am in love with raw corn! Its so crunchy and sweet, a much better flavor that cooked corn. Its also got a buttery texture to it which makes the perfect addition to salads.

Last night's theme for dinner? Lime & Coconut! First I made Quinoa using 1/4 cup (dry) quinoa, 1 cup water, 1/4 cup coconut milk, 1 tsp coconut oil (!), salt, pepper, lime juice. Then I grilled a Portobello Mushroom that was marinated in lime juice, coconut oil, and pepper. I also grilled up some Green Bell Pepper slices. The addition of Pineapple Salsa really made this meal complete. I was so proud of myself for using coconut oil. Even though I consider myself mostly recovered from my eating disorder, I rarely use oil. I would just rather have something I can chew for my fats and calories. But a little coconut oil never killed anyone, and it made the dish all the more delicious.

A little bit after dinner I had some chocolate...but which one did I choose?! I chose the 85% cocoa this time and it was a little bit bitter but still delicious. This brand had been my favorite for a while because it only had 4 ingredients, none of which are soy (like most chocolate brands) and all of which I can read and understand what they are. I had gone to Target the other night for a couple veggies and I saw the sale 2 for $4 so I had to get more chocolate. You can't pass up a deal like that!

You must be thinking...what is that?! A weird loaf of bread? Nope, its Heather's Oatgurt! I measured out 1 cup of oat groats in a ceramic bowl and soaked in water overnight. Make sure not to use too much water, just enough to cover it plus a little more is good. In the morning I blended the whole thing together until I got a very creamy consistency. I poured it back into the bowl, covered it with a paper towel, and stuck it in the oven with the light on. I was going to put it outside but its been a very rainy week (WTF?!). It was in there for a little more than a day and came out looking like this!

To my serving of Oatgurt this morning, I threw in a splash of Coconut Milk and 1/2 a fried Plantain. It was so delicious. A little sour, but after a couple bites I got used to it and finished it with a smile on my face.

Before heading off to work this morning, I went to the Farmer's Market. I bought beets, lettuce, zucchini, gypsy peppers, sweet cherries, and these loves...

Peaches! The first of the season! I was so excited and needed to eat one right away. Topped with TJ's Raw Almond Butter, this truly is the the definition of summer. It was sweet and I got a couple bites where the juice was just running down my chin. Got a stain on my shirt, but it was so worth it. Mmm.

Despite feeling gross, I wanted to get some good foods into my belly. I settled on Veggie Lasagna. Between layers of roasted eggplant and zucchini, I spread Gena's Pizza Cheese nice and thick on almost every layer. It wasn't completely raw, but it was comforting and hearty which is my favorite kind of food to eat when sick.

I'm going to bed early tonight, Sweet Dreams!

First Times

The past couple days have been good ones. I've been having fun, eating great food, laughing...but let's start at the beginning.
Sunday's Eats:
A Green Juice was on the menu and I finally found a combination I like!
-2 kale leaves, stemmed
-1 orange, peeled
-1 small apple
-1 stalk celery
It was just sweet enough and I could hardly taste the kale. I like greens, don't get me wrong, but drinking them straight up just doesn't sit well with me. I need something to cover up the flavor and this did the trick.

I also had 2 slices of Hemp Bread for the road/train. I wanted to get a close up because I love all the little seeds inside! They give it a great crunch.

At around 10:30, I left for the train station. The ride into the city was horrible. I sat next to 10+ half drunk people going to a Sox game and they were SO LOUD. I tried cranking the iPod up but that didn't work. Good thing I had a bowl of Brooke's Oaties to make me happy. I didn't snap a picture but they were so delicious I will for sure make them again.

I arrived at the Pitchfork Music Festival wearing my Chicago Soy Dairy T-shirt ready to work. It was a little slow at first because of lunch but after that it got busy FAST. We sold out of Cookie Dough the fastest, then Mint Chip (which we re-stocked later). After he returned with the Mint Chip, the chocolate sold out, then the vanilla...until we got more vanilla. When I left though we only had about 5 boxes left. Crazy! If you haven't tried this ice cream, you are so missing out! I've tried the Chocolate and Cookie Dough which are both fantastic, and I also got to sample the Vanilla...tastes like cake batter!

Around 7pm I was getting a ride home when I was asked if I wanted to go to the Chicago Diner...um yes! I've never been there before and wasn't about to pass that up. I had brought food with me to the festival but I could squeeze in a little something.

I decided on the Raw Tostadas! I've never ordered raw in a restaurant before so I was so excited to get it. Sorry for the lighting in the place, I tried to get a good picture but the lights were red and I couldn't fix it. The website describes this dish as:

"Corn-flax tortillas, cashew-sunflower chorizo & sour cream, miso cheese, lettuce, guacamole & salsa, with lime-cilantro corn salad."

They were out of the corn salad so I just got the Kale Salad instead which was so delicious. The tostadas were phenomenal! The miso cheese was my favorite part because it was tangy and rich. The chorizo was very spicy, which I loved, but the flames were put out with the very flavorful guacamole. I can't wait to go back there and order something else, the food all sounds amazing and the atmosphere is just lovely.

Today's Eats:

Despite going to bed late, I was up bright and early at 7am. I guess I'm stuck as an early riser! I made a delicious breakfast using a favorite new recipe that I've made before. Gena's Lime-in-the-coconut Smoothie. I topped it with a little Wheat Germ for kicks and had some plain toast alongside. Yum.

Dessert after breakfast is a must! Especially when its dark chocolate, my new favorite food.

For lunch I had leftover Raw Tostadas. I took the greens on the side and topped them with Zukay Cucumber Mint Dressing. I forgot I had this in the fridge and just opened it now. The flavor is very clean and refreshing, this one is my very favorite of all the Zukay dressings I've tried. A close up shot of the Tostada...see all that nut meat, and miso cheese? Heaven!

Speaking of nuts, I went to see Bruno today. Oh my gosh. This movie was insane! Sex, nudity, and more sex...wow. I thought the movie was hilarious though! This guy is a genius because the reactions of some people = priceless. I brought along some Popcorn seasoned with Curry Powder and Sea Salt (idea from Nicole!) which was such a pleasant combination...my fingers are stained yellow though!

When I got home it was dinnertime and I was super hungry. I decided on Gina's Raw Sloppy Joe's, a small side salad, and some steamed broccoli. The Sloppy Joe's with simple to make and the taste was terrific! I can see myself making these for easy lunches to take to work with me.

Onto the birthday news...first of all my birthday is in 7 days! Second of all, I received some birthday gifts in the mail from 2 of my favorite bloggers.A stunningly gorgeous homemade card from Miss Curly Top. This girl is so talented! I love how she put a pink candle in there as well, so cute.
I also received some Jay Robb Brown Rice Protein in Vanilla and a sample of Chocolate Sun Warrior from Heather.

Thank you sweets! You both are such amazing friends and it means a lot to me that you sent me some lovin'. <3

Also in the mail was the Vanilla Sun Warrior I ordered. I ran out and was without for a few days! The horror! But now its back and I can enjoy some sweet goodness.

I have to work for a bit tomorrow so I'll be going to bed early. Sweet dreams xoxo

Something Old, Somethings New

Hey babes. Right now I'm doing some college research because its getting close to that time. I want to be prepared and not have to make any last minute decisions. I'm looking at a couple schools in California and I like what I am seeing. The campuses are beautiful and the schools have the classes that I want. I just want to get a little more information before fall comes around. By the way, it totally feels like fall right now. Its chilly, rainy, and gloomy out like it has been all week. Where is summer?! I need some sun right now, pale is not my favorite color.
As you know, yesterday I went to the Field Museum with my family. We took the train into the city and then took the bus right to the place. I have always loved the grand architecture of the buildings and the huge columns and stairs are just breathtaking. Here is my little brother looking small next to the majestic stonework.

My 4-year old brother is obsessed with dinosaurs. He watches documentaries about it, knows the words to the DVD by heart, and knows tons of facts about dinosaurs. His favorite is the T-Rex (which I think all little boys love), and he was so happy to see Sue, the most complete T-Rex skeleton to date.

Here he is with the skull of Sue, which was much to heavy to place on the full skeleton. We had so much fun learning about all the dinosaurs and seeing the exhibits. I'm glad we're only a train ride away...

When we got home from the city, I was starving! I made myself a bowl of Oatmeal with...

-1/2 cup oats + 1 cup water

-cinnamon, sea salt

-Gena's Cashew Cream

-TJ's Unsalted Creamy Raw AB

-Fresh Raspberries

It was just what I needed to wind down and relax after being on my feet all day.

This morning I was feeling a little tired so I gave myself a boost with Avocado Toast. The protein and carbs from the Hemp Bread, fats from the Avocado, and delicious flavor left me content and happy. After about an hour, I worked out for a bit then took a shower. After freshening up, I made a loverly salad.

Yesterday I was looking through my pantry when I found Dulse (seaweed)! I was so excited to see it because I was reading about it on Gena's blog and thought I would like it. Little did I know, I had bought it for another recipe but never used it all. So I thought today would be the perfect day to make a Giant Salad.

-butter lettuce

-dulse

-yellow squash

-roasted beets

-carrots

-broccoli

-hemp and sunflower seeds

-BBQ sauce

It was terrific! The salty dulse was the perfect touch to the creamy sunflower seeds, crunchy vegetables, and smokey BBQ sauce. I was glowing after eating this! After eating, I decided to hit up the grocery stores for some goods.

First stop: Whole Foods. I really don't go often because I can find anything I need elsewhere for cheaper...but I was bored and wanted to browse the aisles a bit. I ended up only spending $15 dollars on Fresh Corn (for raw salads!), Oat Groats, Quinoa, and Lindt 85% Dark Chocolate. I think I deserve a pat on the back for that one ;)

I also got this creep-tastic Crystal Deodorant I saw on Sarah's blog. She said is worked well so I thought I would toss the Degree (and the chemicals) and try this one out. Plus, I think putting this on will put me in a good mood everyday because I get to stare and the sensual pit-rubbing picture on the front. Ooo-la-la!

I also went to Trader Joe's to get some essentials like Frozen Pineapple, Organic Fuji Apples, Portabella Mushrooms, Avocados, Limes, an Orange, and Green Bell Peppers. All in all, I spent $33 dollars today, which should last me about a week if I plan it right.

After watching a bit of Mamma Mia!, I made some Oatmeal for dinner. This time I used...

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

-cinnamon, sea salt

-TJ's AB

-Artisana Cacao Bliss

-Fresh Raspberries

It was scrumptious. I love the juicy berries paired with the creamy butters. Tastes like heaven.

Now I'm going to go finish Mamma Mia!(which is okay so far), do some laundry, pack meals for tomorrow, and get to bed early. I'm taking the train to the city for the Pitchfork festival where I'll be selling Temptation Ice Cream. If you're in the area, come get some Ice Cream!

Oh and a little reminder, only 9 more days until my birthday!!!

Rolling in the (Avoca)Dough.

Let's begin with a little green...
Wednesday's Green Monster had...
-pineapple
-kiwi
-Amazing Grass' Berry Green Superfood
-baby spinach
-water
It was a little tart but I liked it. It woke me up and got me energized for the day.
Of course I had to have some Avocado Toast with it! Do you not know me at all?! ;)

On the way to work, I munched on this Amazing Grass bar. Again, it was okay...not my favorite, but I ate it anyway for some energy.

Lunch was so yummy. I made Sunburger Wraps with romaine lettuce, sunburger crumbles(recipe in Ani's Raw Food Kitchen), and chopped carrots. I left me full and my belly happy.

I also made sure to pack a snack for the way home from work. I get off at five and like to snack on something before I get home to make dinner. This time I had fresh watermelon with Gena's Cashew Cream. Simple but scrumptious.

After letting the watermelon digest, I made myself a truly decadent bowl of Carrot Cake Oats. Let me see if I can remember all that when in this one...

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

-1 shredded carrot

-cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice

-flax

-Artisana Cacao Bliss

-Coconut Abu (equal parts coconut milk and AB)

-2 dried apricots

Wow, this bowl was fantastic! All the flavors and textures were just what I was craving. The coconut Abu was to-die-for and perfect as a topping to oatmeal.

After a terrific night's sleep I woke up later than usual to enjoy this Raspberry-Chococonut Bowl. It was sweet, tangy, rich, and filling. I was satisfied all morning until I left for work.

I like to eat in the car before I get to work so I can keep up my energy until lunch. Today, I made Avocado Toast but on this Hemp Bread instead of the usual TJ's Sprouted Grain. I really liked the flavor of this bread. Nutty and crunchy from the pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds. It was pretty expensive so I won't buy it often, but it was a nice little treat. Oh and did I mention it has 13 grams of protein per serving?! Amazing.

Wraps are such a great lunch to pack when traveling. I keep mine in small tupperware so they don't move around and then pack them in a cooler to keep in the office. Today I made Cucumber Wraps. I filled 3 of them with carrots, yellow squash, and avocado. You would think that this tiny meal wouldn't be enough for anyone to be full but I was full after just 2 of them! I managed to get the 3rd down (just because I don't have another break and would get too hungry during work) but it wasn't hard. They were delicious.

By 5pm I wasn't too hungry but could use something refreshing to perk me up. I had this Watermelon Oat Smoothie packed away to drink on the way home. It had

-1 cup frozen watermelon

-1/2 cup almond milk

-1/4 cup coconut milk + 1/4 cup water

-1/4 cup oatmeal

I had never thought to put watermelon in a smoothie before but I am so glad I tried it. It had a mellow, sweet taste to it that was complemented by the nutty oats and dollop of Cashew Cream on top.

When I got home I made a Salad, with a Key Lime Larabar and some Dark Chocolate. Now I have a happy, full belly and I'm ready to shower, get ready for bed, and sleep! I'm hitting up the Field Museum tomorrow so that should be fun. Full re-cap for sure!

This Post is Brought to You By...

Gena! 4 out of 5 pictures in this post are her recipes and delicious ones at that. Starting with yesterday's breakfast...
I made Berries with Raw Whipped Cream. In the bowl are fresh blackberries and frozen bloobs and strawberries (thawed). For the whipped cream, I cut the recipe in half and used a couple shakes of Maple Sugar instead of agave (its the only sweetener I have in the house since I don't buy sugar anymore...more on this later). It came out so light and fluffy! The taste was beyond ridiculous as well. Much better than the fake stuff!


Mid-morning I made myself a Green Smoothie. I only drank half of it though because I used cantaloupe in it instead of the usual fruits I use. My mom bought some and I thought I would like it but the truth is...I hate cantaloupe! Ever since I was little I just can't stand it. Any other melon is fine (give me a whole watermelon anytime!), but bleh no cantaloupe for me!
A much more scrumptious meal included Gena's Guacamole! This is my favorite guac recipe and so delicious over sprouted grain bread. Kind of like my morning Avocado Toast...kicked up a notch. I added some baby spinach just because I love it.


After dinner I've been having Frozen Blueberries as a snack before bed. I love them! Seriously try it because it is so good!


For breakfast this morning I had one of the best smoothies I've ever made thanks to Gena's Lime-in-the-Coconut Smoothie. I used frozen pineapple and omitted the ice cubes, omitted the added sugar (it didn't need any), and the lime juice only. I was heaven! The tang from the lime was cut by the creaminess of the avocado and the sweetness of the pineapple. It was thick, smooth, and so refreshing. The perfect summer drink.

Last but not least, I made Gena's Zucchini Marinara. The sauce was so simple to make and had the freshest taste that isn't even comparable to store-bought. I also added a scoop of TJ's Raw Unsalted Creamy AB a la Heather, to make Marinutta sauce! It was so satisfying and tasty, I loved every bite.

For dinner (both yesterday and tonight) I made Sweet Potato Fries. Nothing beats the taste and I've been craving them like mad. Too bad I just used my last one, I'll have to get some more soon. Sometimes I go through phases like this where I make one food everyday for a couple weeks...but its been more than a couple weeks with these babies so I think they are here to stay.

You may have noticed that I am moving towards more raw, whole foods. I have decided to go med-high raw with minimal processed foods and sugars. After a couple days with minimal added sugars and no processed products, I feel great. My energy is up, I feel much more confident in myself and my body, my skin is clearing up...I love it! Don't get me wrong, I won't be denying myself anything (in fact, I had a bite of Temptation Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream today...which is TO-DIE-FOR) but I want to eat much more simply and reduce the amount I spend on groceries. I will still be buying sprouted bread, nut butters with no added sugars, and a couple canned goods...but I feel great with what I am doing now and choose to stick with it. I'm also going to start eating smaller meals throughout the day like I used to. Ever since starting my job, I've been eating 3 meals a day with no snacks. I hated it and my body would get so tired and lose energy without me fueling frequently. Let me just remind everyone that this is what is working for ME! It may not work for you or you may like the food you eat now, do what is best for you.

Mega-Post

This is going to be a long post, get ready.
First up, Amazing Grass review. Saturday morning I mixed one Berry Green Superfood packet with...
-1/2 cup blueberries
-1 kiwi
-1 cup water
-handful baby spinach
The verdict? I actually really liked it! It didn't taste earthy to me at all and I loved the berry tang. It blended up very smoothly and the nutrition stats are awesome. It wasn't too sweet either...which is what I was expecting. Would I buy this? Sure, why not. It has tons of superfoods in it and a flavor that I like. I think these products are either hit or miss with people. You either love it or hate it but I think you have to try it before making your decision.
Alongside my smoothie, I made a Granola Bowl with Pbu as my milk and a crumbled Lydia's Cocoa Crunch bar as my granola. I liked this bar a lot better than the Tropical Flavor. It was softer but still crunchy, and had a rich chocolate flavor that paired perfectly with the Pbu.

For lunch I had a great big Salad filled with

-butter lettuce

-radish

-broccoli

-yellow squash

-carrots

-Apricot BBQ sauce (recipe from V'Con)

It was so colorful and pretty, I almost didn't want to eat it...almost. I also had some toast on the side for some carb-y goodness.

I've been craving oatmeal for dinner this past week so that's what I've been making. This Blueberry Chocolate Almond bowl was just what I was craving.

-1/2 cup oats + 1 cup water

-cinnamon + pinch of salt

-1/2 cup blueberries

-1 square Lindt 70% Dark Chocolate

-the last of my Blue Diamond Creamy Homestyle AB *cries*

I've have been obsessed with the last two ingredients. I never crave chocolate but this week has been weird. I like to eat in cold out of the fridge but it was just as delightful in oatmeal. Same goes for the AB, good in oatmeal...even better right out of the jar. This stuff is saltier than most nut butters I've had but I really loved it. It made a perfect pairing with sweet foods as salty/sweet is a favorite combo of mine. I must get more of this ASAP!

What event requires glow jewelry...

Cute children...

Staying up past bedtime...

And sitting in strollers that are way to small for you?

Fireworks of course! Our town has fireworks a little later than the 4th to celebrate Heritage Days. We have a carnival, parade, and other activities to keep busy. I was so glad to finally see them since I didn't on the 4th. I forgot how pretty they are.

Love this picture.

The finale is my favorite part. So many colors and sounds. I love the ones that whistle. It was fun spending time with my family as we don't do much together. There is such an age gap that its hard to do things everyone likes. I was dead tired when I got home that I didn't want to do anything but collapse on the couch. But like a good girl, I took my makeup off, washed my face, and brushed my teeth. Then I feel asleep within 5 seconds of hitting the pillow.

You had to know this was coming. Avocado Toast. My favorite breakfast at the moment. I don't even have to add seasonings or anything...its good just like that.

I also had a Green Smoothie using the Original Green Superfood powder. I used the same combination of fruits, just the plain packet and it was still good. A little more bland but not horrible.

For lunch I made something new, Sunburgers from Ani Phyo's Raw "Cookbook". They are really easy to make and I just put mine out in the sun for a few hours. They were totally dry but the outsides were nice and crispy. I put it in a lettuce "bun" and topped it with ketchup and mustard (not raw, but whatevs). I highly suggest this recipe. The flavor is just perfect and the texture is great. Plus, its way cheaper (and healthier!) than most processed veggie burgers. With it I had some...

Sweet Potato Fr...

I mean, Sweet Potato Fries. Cut thin and cooked until crispy. You better believe I whipped out the ketchup after snapping this picture. Fries without ketchup is a tragedy!

Today was my little brother's 8th Birthday! He loves it because every year the parade falls on this day and we always say the parade is just for him. He really is an amazing kid. So smart and funny. He is a little obsessed with wrestling but I love him anyway.

Oh and he almost NEVER wears a shirt. What a guy.

Gotta share the limelight with the other brothers. Here's my 4 year old brother, only blond boy :)

And my 3 year old brother, the Devil. No, he is really evil, don't be fooled by the cuteness.

As I'm sitting watching the parade, this man sits in front of me and looks straight at me. It took me a bit but realized it was my Uncle, home from Iraq!

He is done there and going to be home for two more weeks until he goes to Alaska where he was originally stationed. No one knew he was coming and we were all just freaking out when he got here.

Time for cake!

For all you non-vegans in Illinois, I highly recommend Portillo's Chocolate Cake. Not at all healthy, but we get it for almost every birthday. When I wasn't a vegan, it was a favorite of mine.I had something just as decadent, but much healthier for dinner. Oatmeal, this time with blackberries. So yummy.

Pictures from the parade...

My favorite part is the Horses.

I'll leave you with this cutie, have a great night!

Just Call Me Grandma

Hey chickadees, sorry I went missing and didn't post. I have been working all week and was exhausted. I just wasn't feelin' it. I also need something new on the blog...something fun, but I have now idea what yet.


Last night I went to the Chiropractor for the first time. My dad got a free coupon for a massage and consultation with the doctor and since he was working then, I got to go instead. I just told them about my lower back pains and neck pains and then the doctor took some x-rays. I was told to come in the next day (today) to discuss treatment and if they can help relieve some of the pain. Then I got my first massage....it was so nice! I could feel the kinks being worked out and I feel so much better. Today, I went back to see what was causing my pains. First off, my right hip is tilted higher than my left. This is causing my spine to curve to the side. Then, she showed me a picture of my neck. It had almost no curve to it and the discs were pretty spaced out. She wants to have me come in 3x per week for 8 weeks to get it fixed. I don't think I will though. I know its important but I just don't have the time or money to do that right now. Maybe sometime soon. It was comforting to hear that they could help me though. I feel like such an old lady with back problems...just get me my cane and diapers now guys.


On Wednesday I took a break from the normal Green Smoothie and made some Vanilla Protein Oats.
-1/2 cup oats + 1 cup water
-2 tbsp chia seeds
-1 scoop Sun Warrior Vanilla Protein
-large scoop Once Again Omega-3 Peanut Butter
I won the peanut butter through An Apple a Day's giveaway and I am so glad I did! It had the consistency of Almond Butter, creamy with a little grittiness. It was roasted perfectly and I love the fact that is has tons of healthy Omega-3 Fatty Acids in it.
For lunch I made a batch of Gena's famous Guacamole. Avocados are a favorite of mine to eat during lunch because the seem to give me the most energy. Perfect for when I'm working.

On Thursday I made some Juice. I used

-1 beet

-2 apples

-1/2 a cucumber

-butter lettuce

While I wanted to like it...I don't think I'm a juice person. First it was too bitter so I added another apple. Then it was too sweet. Maybe I just need to try a different recipe.

Since the juice didn't work out, I made a bowl of Granola using this bar (I received in my b-day package). It was SO GOOD! I loved the crunchy clusters of whole nuts and the sweet, chewy blueberries. It was very filling too, which I didn't expect without the addition of a nut butter ;)

I wanted to incorporate more avocado into my lunch so I made another batch of Creamy Zucchini Noodles. This time I skipped out on all the spices and just added lemon. For variety, I threw in chopped cucumbers and radishes from the farmer's market. It was fresh, simple, and very tasty.

When I got home from work I saw a little package on the back porch. What could it be?!

Samples from Amazing Grass! I've been hearing very mixed reviews on the stuff and just wanted to try it out myself. I haven't tried any of the smoothie mixes (planning on that tomorrow!), but I did take a bite out of each flavor of the bars.

Whole Food Energy Bar-this bar wasn't inedible but not very good. It was good at first bite but had a very strange aftertaste. I'm not sure if it was the peppermint or any other ingredient but I didn't finish it. The bar also had a very high sugar content, which I hate. I know they are natural sources and its necessary to cover up the green taste...but it was way too high for me.

Chocolate Whole Food Energy Bar-this one I actually liked. It had a nice, smooth chocolaty coating on the outside and a sweet (sort of green-y) taste on the inside. I don't think I would buy the bar but I will finish the rest of it. Again, too high of a sugar content.

I think I am drawn to these products because of all the greens. Its an easy way to fit more in to your diet if you are on the go or just don't like greens as is. Hopefully the smoothie mixes will be better.

I also got another birthday present in the mail (17 more days!!!) from the lovely JB. I love how she decorated the box with Bloo + Sweet Potato =)

Inside was a wonderful selection of bars and an Eco Lips lip balm (which is all vegan = Love!). The 2 bigger bars were from Lydia's Organics (a company I have never heard of) and came in Cacao Crunch and Tropical Mango. I also received a Key Lime Pie Larabar, a flavor I think almost everyone adores! Thank you so much JB! You are such a sweetheart!

With a Green Smoothie alongside...

I tried out the first bar that caught my eye. The Tropical Mango bar. With Pbu for dipping (made with Once Again PB), I enjoyed this rather hard bar (TWSS!), and loved the tropical flavors.

More Newman's Own Organics Reviews:

Dried Apples-These are so moist and chewy with the perfect amount of sweet. I would buy these from the store to have on hand regularly.

Dried Prunes-Soft and juicy, but a weird aftertaste. The Sunsweet One's taste much better.

Dried Cranberries-Too sweet! The sugar is completely overpowering the tartness of the cranberry. I felt like I was eating another type of berry or something. Good for people who don't like tart flavors though.

Soy Crisps-I actually gave these to my cousin who is learning to eat healthier. She LOVED them! She said they were light and crispy with the perfect amount of flavor in each bite. I hope she can find them where she lives!

Fig Newmans-My dad loves these types of cookies so I was glad to give him a healthier version. He typically won't try anything "healthy" so to see him eating these until they were gone made me happy.

Hermits-I was expecting a bigger cookie but after eating one I realized it wasn't needed. These squares are the perfect after dinner treat.

I followed this link when I saw it on The Broccoli Hut and have been addicted ever since. If you watch the Food Network, you will laugh hysterically at this website! So funny! Enjoy your night everyone xoxo.

Working Girl

This post will be pretty brief. I need to shower and get to bed early because I have another long day at work tomorrow. It is so worth the money though and I got my first paycheck (ever!) yesterday! My mom wants to copy it and save it forever haha.

Monday night before I got in the shower, I had this bowl full of juicy, Organic Cherries. I usually don't eat huge bowls of fruit but they were just so delicious! My belly and taste buds were very happy after that!

Yesterday for breakfast I made my first Juice! It was a small glass to experiment and it was a Cucumber, Carrot, Apple combination. It turned out really tasty! I can see myself drinking these everyday, as long as I stock up on produce! I figured out an easier way to clean out the juicer as well so that won't be my excuse anymore.

Since the glass of juice was so small, I had some Avocado Toast on the side. I think this is my favorite breakfast ever. So creamy, rich, and filling. I love the taste of the sprouted grain with the avocado. Its heaven.

Here is the lunch I brought to work.

-brown rice

-leftover Orange Glazed Tempeh

-broccoli

-yellow squash

-carrots

-Homemade Apricot BBQ sauce

It was really yummy and kept me full until about an hour before dinner.

On the way home, I got to sample some of these Nutrilicious Sugar Free Glazed Donut Holes. I've seen this brand at Whole Foods but never picked any up.

They are so scrumptious! A little more dense than a regular donut but the same flavor and light texture. I had 2 with dinner. They also sell some other amazing flavors such as Pumpkin and Carrot Cake!

Today's breakfast was so decadent. I made a Pineapple-Cocoanut-Almond Bowl alongside my Green Smoothie. It was the perfect cooling combination of flavors that awakened my taste buds and got me ready for the day.

My lunch today was even better than yesterday's. I made Creamy Zucchini Noodles (based on Heather's recipe) but just used the noodles, avocado, and lemon. After I took the picture I added baby carrots and black pepper but that's all I needed to make this dish delicious. I felt so awake and energized after this..plus the fact that its so good makes me want to have it everyday for lunch.

After lunch I wanted a little something sweet, luckily I packed this Chocolate Cherry Macadamia Nut Cookie from my birthday package to indulge in. This tasted just like a brownie! Not too sweet and very chocolaty. I didn't want it to end!

Now I know you're not supposed to combine nuts and avocado but I honestly felt fine. It didn't give me an uncomfortable feeling at all. Maybe it was because it was a small amount of nuts, who knows?

I was super hungry when I got home so a Hugh Jass salad (not pictured) and the leftover Tamales from the potluck were made in a flash. The tamales were so good, even reheated. I'm all out though...I should have grabbed more ;)

Alright well I'm off to the store to get Baby Spinach (I just realized I was out), shower, and sleep! Hope everyone is having a great week!

xoxo

First Vegan Potluck

Hello sweets! I hope you all had a good 4th of July! or if you don't celebrate...a fun Friday! I'm not going to bore you...let's get on with the food!
After seeing this post, I had to make the Chocolate Coconut Cherry concoction Heather made. Frozen cherries, coconut milk, and 70% dark chocolate are all that this bowl contains yet it manages to taste absolutely spectacular. Sometimes its the simple things in life...

For lunch, I just wanted a bunch of veggies. Naturally, I made a Stir-fry. This is my go-to meal when I have tons of vegetables in the fridge and nothing to do with them. This dish included...

-rutabega

-carrots

-yellow squash

-broccoli

-Homemade Apricot BBQ sauce (recipe from V'con)

-1/2 an avocado

Again, simplicity is beginning to take over my meals. Summertime is a time where I never want to cook much so anything quick and easy are my favorites (TWSS!). I've made the BBQ sauce before last summer and its just as amazing as I remembered it to be. Smokey, sweet, and tangy are the main flavors in this sauce and I feel great knowing I spent way less to make way more BBQ sauce.

Around 5pm I arrived at my boss' house for the 4th of July Potluck Party. The group was so much fun and I met a lot of nice people there. It was raining for most of the night, but that was okay since it was nice and cozy inside the house. We started eating around 6pm and I was hungry! Everything looked so good!

Tomatillo Salsa. This was the best homemade salsa I've ever had! It was not too spicy, not too chunky (I'm not a fan of chunky salsa), and never having green salsa before...very delicious.

There was also a fruity salsa made with either pineapple or mango (I can't remember) which was a huge hit. Served with tortilla chips, it was the perfect appetizer to our meal.

First up, Tamales! I've never had tamales before so I wasn't about to pass these up! Let me just tell you I am so ashamed that I've never tasted one before. They are so good! The filling was just spicy enough and it was cooked to perfection. I had 2 and even brought some home with me.

Someone made Homemade Tempeh Burgers, Black Bean Burgers, and Sausages. I didn't have any of the burgers but I heard they were delicious. I had 2 sausages in lettuce wraps with ketchup. I brought some of these home too, I loved 'em. There were also many salads to choose from. I had the one of the left and it was, of course, delicious.

More salads that just scream summer.

I was too full for dessert but I wanted to bring some Red, White, and Blue Cake home to my little brothers since they didn't get to do anything for the 4th. The fireworks in our town are next week because that's when we have Heritage Days for our town. The cake was layered red and white and the generous blue frosting on the outside made us all feel so patriotic. My brothers had it for breakfast and they absolutely loved it. I don't really enjoy cake or frosting but I had a little nibble and it was so moist fluffy. Yum.

After dinner we all talked and digested, then we went out to the bonfire to make S'mores. Many of you have asked me where I get the vegan marshmallows from. They are called Dandies Vegan Marshmallows and currently you can get them from different vegan online grocers. I'm not sure if they are in Whole Foods yet but I know they should be soon! I work for the company that makes them, Chicago Soy Dairy, so of course we had to enjoy a nice sweet S'more by the fire. A perfect way to end the night.

Skip forward to today's lunch...

Inspired by Polly, I made Seitan Wraps. Inside some green leaf lettuce, I globbed on some Blue Diamond Creamy Almond Butter and topped each with a slice of homemade Seitan (recipe comign soon, I promise!). I was a delightful combination of flavors and full of nutrients. I felt very satisfied after this meal but still had room for a square of dark chocolate. I will admit...I almost started measuring out the AB thinking I didn't want to go overboard...but then I realized, so what?! Its nutritious, yummy, and if Polly can do it, so can I. So worth it.

For dinner I wanted a comforting bowl of Oat bran.

-1/2 cup oatbran + 1 1/4 cups water

-1/4 cup lite coconut milk

-cinnamon

-1/2 Chocolate Brownie Purebar, crumbled in

I totally forgot I had those Purebars in the cabinet! While I do enjoy them, they are a little too sweet for me now. It nice to enjoy a treat once in a while though.

More kitten pictures? Alright.

Butt shot! I thought it was so funny how Bloo was sleeping with his legs behind him like that. He is a sleepy boy but so much fun when he wakes up. He loves to play with my hair, which is okay with me...as long as he doesn't scratch the mug.

Annnnd, who could forget the darling Sweet Potato? She is such a lovie but kind of a brat (what, I didn't say that...). I just love her speckled belly.

Now I'm off to Trader Joe's for some goodies (mainly Almond Butter!), have a great night!

For Me?!

Hey lovers. Nothing but half-assed sunny weather here. What do I mean by that? Its nice and warm...but the sun isn't out long enough or bright enough to tan. I'm in such a pickle <---How did this phrase come to be?!
As most of you know, my birthday is in 24 days! I received my first birthday present in the mail from the amazing VeggieGirl! She is one of the sweetest bloggers I have ever known and one of my dearest friends, thank you Liz for the spectacular gift!

What could be inside? I don't know but as soon as I saw the One Lucky Duck label, I almost cried...not really, but I was pretty excited.

Included was a Honey Bunches Grawnola Bar...

2 sample bars (I think they were the Chewy Almond Crunch Bars).

And a sample pack of raw cookies, flavors are Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin, and Chocolate Cherry Macadamia. That just sounds like heaven.

I can't wait to finish tasting them all! Yes, I've already started...review later in the post.

Thursday's Breakfast consisted of my version of the classic Black and White Cookies. Seeing as I couldn't have cookies for breakfast, I made a healthier version that was just as, if not more, delicious. I used 2 slices of TJ's Sprouted Grain Bread, spread one with Artisana Cacao Bliss, and the other with Artisana Macadamia Nut butter. Oh my gosh. I need to buy that Macadamia nut butter because it was absolutely phenomenal! I found it to be a lighter tasting nut butter, with a little crunch, and creamy consistency. Perfection.

Green Smoothie on the side of course.

I didn't know what to make for lunch so I just threw together a random Stir-fry.

-brown basmati rice

-leftover Orange Glazed Tempeh

-broccoli

-corn

-curry powder, pepper, more spices

-scoop Hot n' Spicy PB (recipe here)

This was amazing! I love spicy meals and this was just the right amount of heat. It was also the perfect size to leave me comfortably full with a little room for dessert...

Newman's Own Organics Orange Dark Chocolate Bar. I didn't think I would like the citrus in the chocolate but it was really good! Not too overpowering, light, and it complemented the chocolate nicely.

I also had some Newman's Alphabet Cinnamon Graham Crackers. Took a while, but I finally found my initials! I'm such a dork haha.

Thought I would share this yummy afternoon snack. A slice of TJ's Sprouted Grain Bread, 1 sliced Peach, and Almond Clusters. It was so satisfying and tasty.

Seeing as I was at the end of the AB jar, I decided to pull a HEAB...

Oatbran in a jar! I used lots of cinnamon and topped it with 1/2 a sauteed Plantain. Mmm.

I was out of nut butters this morning and while I nearly had a panic attack (this time I'm not exaggerating), I thought yesterday's snack and based my breakfast off of that. I call it the Apple-Almond Crunch. On 2 slices TJ's SGB, 1 sliced apple, and a bunch of Almond Clusters were piled high. This was so fun to eat and filled me up just like nut butter does.

Another Heather-inspired meal...Creamy Zucchini Noodles.

-zucchini noodles (I just used a veggie peeler)

-1/2 an avocado

-1 clove garlic

-pepper, 1/2 pkt stevia

-chopped carrots

I mixed that all together and added some toast and ketchup because I'm classy like that. It was so good...I'll probably make it again this week sometime. Its definitely worth repeating.

As a little after-lunch dessert I had a Raw Oatmeal Raisin Cookie. Wow, this is heaven right here. Natural, healthy ingredients...fabulous flavor than rivals the baked version. Yum!

A little snacky after a yoga session.

-1/4 ish cup oats + 1/2 cup water

-cinnamon

-freshly purchased (this afternoon) Blue Diamond Almond Butter

I really liked the saltiness of the AB, I bought it on a whim because all the other brands were so expensive and I know I'm getting some from TJ's later in the week. It was on sale but I would buy again for sure.

Yet another blogger-inspired meal! Chili Cheese Fries a la Meghann. I used 1/2 a rutabega to make fries, 1 serving of Snobby Joes, baby spinach, and a small bit of Teese Mozzarella. I can't believe how much the Teese tasted like real cheese. The flavor was so good. I won't be using it often because I'm not a big cheese person to begin with, but maybe I can get my family to convert ;)

Before this post gets any longer, I want to wish you all a Happy 4th! Enjoy the food, fireworks, and family time. I'm going to a BBQ at my boss' house...vegan potluck, yum! Full re-cap for sure!

Size Isn't Everything

Hey lovebugs! Now that's a TWSS title if I ever did see one! Its officially July which means only 26 days until my 17th birthday! =) The 4th of July is coming up too, which should be a lot of fun.

Let's start off with Tuesday's Eats: Green Monster.
-frozen pineapple
-water
-Sun Warrior Vanilla Protein
-baby spinach
With a bowl of Cereal and Chocolate Abu drizzle.

Gena's Amazing Guacamole recipe! Sans tomatoes although next time I might add them. I used the toast to scoop it up with the baby spinach. It was very messy but oh so delicious!

Rutabega Fries with ketchup for dipping and Pumpkin Seed Butter. I didn't use the nut butter for dipping, I just ate it on the side for some healthy fats. =)

Of course I had a salad with that.

-baby spinach

-broccoli

-corn

-red bell pepper

-TJ's Pineapple Salsa

-Zukay Carrot Ginger Dressing

As my little brothers and I sat down to watch Moulin Rouge (LOVE THIS MOVIE, I could watch it over and over), I needed a snack. I grabbed some Newman's Own Organics Super Dark Chocolate and made...
S'mores! Actually they were mini-s'mores made with Newman's Own Organics Alphabet Cinnamon Graham Crackers, Dark Chocolate, and Dandies Vegan Marshmallows. I made a bunch of them and we gobbled them all up. Everyone thought they were delicious and I loved how the dark chocolate was smooth with no bitter taste to it. The graham crackers were also amazing, I could eat handfuls of those things! So sweet with the perfect hint of cinnamon...my kind of cracker! Oh and before you ask why my little brothers would be watching such a racy movie, they love all the singing! I was watching it on TV once and the 4 year old just came up was enthralled by the whole thing.

Today's Eats:

Green Monster (same as yesterday's).

Super Charge-Me Cookies topped with Naturally Nutty Vanilla Almond Butter. I never thought such a small meal could fill me up (I'm such a volume eater) but this meal did!

Returning from the Farmer's Market, I snacked on this tiny Apricot. They are getting some good stuff now (tons more produce is in season) and I'm getting great deals on the stuff.

Its hard to see but there are some Snobby Joes (V'Con) under there. I wanted to eat it more as a chili and it was still just as amazing. Toppings included baby spinach, avocado, and faux-zekiel toast.

I sampled some new mints today. Its always hard for me to find good mints because they all have such gross ingredients in them. I was excited when I saw that these contained 5 real ingredients! They tasted really good too. I mean, you can't really judge mints on flavor because they all taste the same but I believe they tasted better because they are better for me.

I wanted a simple dinner tonight so I stuck with some favorites of mine. Rutabega Fries (with ketchup) and 1/2 an avocado. Yum.

One of my favorite bloggers Kailey is having an amazing giveaway to celebrate her 6 month Blogversary! Fingers crossed!!