 We can't always run away to the ocean, sadly. Happy Monday! So how are things? I am finishing up a nice weekend off. #WIN I don’t know about you, but lately, I’ve been coming home from work EXHAUSTED! I promised myself I would stop complaining about how tired I was from work on here, but I was asked recently how I relaxed after a stressful day. Honestly, in the past I just sucked it up and keep going. I used to tell myself that this was my life and that I had to keep going, people were depending on me. End of story. But over the past few years, I’ve realized that if I want to continue to kick-ass at work, I need to make my health and well-being a priority. I have to set firm boundaries and build in downtime for myself. I stared by creating a routine to help me relax when I get home. This gives me time to unwind and de-stress and makes the rest of the evening so much better. Talking to other women it's the same. Let's face it, it hard to relax after work when you have so much to do at home or if you run a side business, and especially if you have a family. OMG! The work never ends!  OMG! The laundry never ends! I’d get home and think about the 10,000 different projects I wanted to get started on, plus all the normal day-to-day stuff like gardening and laundry that needed to be tended too and then stay busy until I fell into bed, sometime around 11:45. Relaxing wasn’t something I was totally comfortable with. So if that sounds familiar and you need some help in the relaxing department, I have put together a few easy ways to relax after a long day at work. Change Out of Your Work Clothes Begin the minute you walk through the door. There’s nothing better than getting home from work and changing into a comfy t-shirt and losing the bra! Changing out of my work clothes tells my brain that its time to relax, and that I can enjoy a few hours to myself, without the stress of work weighing on my shoulders. Turn off Your Phone I’m on my phone all day long, and if I’m not on my phone, I’m on my computer. I’m answering e-mails, returning voicemails, processing paperwork, so when I get home, my brain needs a break. I’m legit sick of my phone by the time I get home, so I’ve been making an effort to unplug for a couple of hours. I’ll leave my phone in my bedroom for an hour or two and I’ll go out to the family room to do anything other than check my social media. This has helped my sanity tremendously. #BIGWIN Meditate/Do Yoga After a long day at work, it’s so great to spend a few minutes meditating. I'm actually a meditating expert, (I teach meditation), and because of that I know that anyone can learn this simple form of relaxation. Begin by just sitting on the floor for five minutes, and do nothing other than focusing on your breathing. This is also a great time to give thanks for the day and just be still. But if you’re not a fan of meditating or you’re just not ready for it, do some yoga or at the very least, stretch. Chances are, you’ve been sitting on your butt all day long, and your body needs some stretching. Trust me, you’ll feel SO MUCH BETTER! Another great way to unwind is reading. Grab A Book It's no secret I am a total bookworm! I love to sit in the garden or my reading nook and just relax with a good book. Even if you can only read for half an hour it will help you relax.  Take A Bubble Bath I swear, I think my bath tub is my favorite part of my new house. If it wasn’t for the fact that you get all wrinkly after sitting in the tub for a while, I think I’d stay in there for hours at a time. After a super stressful day at work, there’s nothing like slipping into a hot bubble bath. I use two different kinds of soaking baths- eucalyptus/sea salt and lavender- both are amazing for helping me achieve a few minutes of pure relaxation.  And speaking of scents... Use Essential Oils Right before bed I turn on my diffuser. I keep it filled with essential oil and not only does it relax me, but it helps me fall asleep quickly. I have one in my bedroom, one in the guest room and a large one in the formal living room. Plus I'm thinking of adding one to my office. I love oils THAT MUCH. Light Candles After a long day at work, I love lighting candles. It really sets the tone for the evening and it helps me remember to take it easy. It signals my brain that the rest of the night is for unwinding and a gentler pace.  Herbal Tea
Unwind with a mug of soothing herbal tea. The feel of your favorite mug in your hand and the wonderful aroma of a soothing herbal blend work together to help you relax. There are so many different blends to try, just make sure you get an organic tea that is pesticide free. How do you unwind and relax from a stressful day? I'd love to hear your tips - leave me a comment below and let's discuss. Now I'm off for a long soak with a good book and a warm cuppa! Catch you later-
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 And the Blog Challenge continues... We are beginning to get a lot more personal, aren't we? Like most people I have issues that I need to work on... So its time for another random list!
 10 points for reading a French book and making art, lol So that was random as fuck. Do you have anything you want to share? I see you reading this, but rarely does anyone comment. I do get personal emails from ya'll and I appreciate the encouragement very much. :D
If you missed any of this random challenge you can click here and see you tomorrow.  I know most ppl are like "OMG! WTF?!?" For the long time readers of the blog, (thank you both, lol) you know I’ve been a vegetarian since I was 18 and vegan for 5 + years now, but I still get asked questions like, “What do you eat?!”  So now that vegans and vegetarians are much more mainstream, chances are good you may find yourself invited over for dinner. What can you expect? Well, first off don’t panic! If a gourmet chef invited you for dinner you would expect to try some sublime foods that you had never tried before. If a specialty pizza chef invited you for dinner, you would expect to eat some incredible pizza that evening. You would probably even look forward to the bits of flair that would be added to the plates and table as you sampled this new cuisine, yeah? So what happens when your vegetarian friend invites you to dinner? Will it be a GIANT bowl of raw salad, sans dressing and heavy on the kale? Hardly, if you are lucky enough to be invited to a vegetarian’s home for dinner you can expect a culinary adventure! Now that being said, there are many different types of vegans and vegetarians and people are all different. I for one, am not a fan of curry. (Insert hate mail here, lol) Which is the one guaranteed vegetarian meal on all flights… #FML Anyway, enough about airplane food…If you yourself are not a vegetarian, you should be open to trying a couple of new and interesting foods at your *BVFF’s house. (*Best Veggie Friend Forever) Don’t be afraid to try meat alternatives, if they serve you any, most meat eaters love them, once they get over the “TOFU FEAR” that most people seem to have. Just come hungry and enjoy yourself in a new environment of tastes and smells. I have a few tips to get you ready for what you may encounter on a typical vegetarian table. Are you game?  Seasoning Adventures Vegetarians frequently use strong seasoning in order to bring out flavors more effectively in foods that don’t necessarily add their own flavor to a dish. There is a high likelihood of finding characteristic flavorings from other cultures. So expect to try some new flavors. Traditional vegetarian cultures have influenced American vegetarians quite a bit. Indian spices are very popular in combination with vegetarian entrees and sides. But as I said not everyone eats Curry. Spices, herbs and seasoning from Mexico, Italy, and of course Asian cooking, are popular in vegetarian cooking. Ingredients such as peppers, soy sauces and sesame oil are also quite common in most vegetarian kitchens. Depending on the individual, of course, but its a safe bet that you can expect richly flavored dishes rather than simple salt and pepper. Favorite Dishes for Non-Vegetarian Guests So, what is it that you will be eating that will be seasoned so beautifully? There are a few options. Protein source - could be beans, mushrooms, lentils, quinoa or Tofu. Tofu and tempeh are common soy products, that are now easily found in most US markets. They both receive flavor very efficiently and are easy to make fit any dinner mold. In addition to the protein portion of your meal, expect a colorful variety of vegetables. A spoonful of peas or corn would be insufficient for a nutritious vegetarian meal, so expect more varieties and larger servings. Finally, the carbohydrates will finish off your plate. Potatoes are a possibility, but it is more likely that you will find pasta, rice or risotto. If you are not accustomed to eating vegetarian meals, you will be surprised at the filling and satisfying results that an experienced vegetarian cook can produce. #WIN Now, that being said, of course there are many different types of vegetarian meals, way too many for me to list here.  Trust me, not every meal is salad, but if we serve you a salad it will be amazing! The important thing to do is to be willing to sit down at the table with an open mind. Get ready to enjoy something new, fun and delicious. Vegetarian foods are definitely unique as compared to typical American fare, but they make for an incredible dining experience.
Catch you later- 
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It's almost SPRING!
The official date for Spring, in the Northern Hemisphere is March 20, 2018, and I can't wait. I enjoy winter, but I'm looking forward to spring this year. I love flowers and of course all the fresh vegetables. I plan on planting another garden and expand my kitchen herb collection. 
Lately I seem to be obsessed with succulents...
But look at these little babies! How can you not love them?
And look!
Many people have cactus plants in their yards and gardens in New Mexico. I really love these. It amazes me how they last through the winter temps and snow.
(Last year we had a good crop of Yuccas, too.)
So I have already started looking for pots, seeds and any/all tools to get a jump on the growing season. I found this 3 Tier Stackable Garden - for indoor/outdoor use. I like the fact that it is self watering and I can expand the number of fresh herbs I can grow NOW and I don't have to wait for warmer weather. It's not too big so you can use it in the kitchen or on the patio. Best part it's under $25USD on Amazon!
Also by growing in my kitchen I have the fresh herbs handy when I need them, plus I keep bugs and critters out of the pots.  Remember last year I had help from the neighbors in my herb pots?
It should also help keep the locals out of my pots. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind a toad in the yard on or the patio, but not so much in the oregano.
Garden Buddy :D
 I love all the blooming plants in the neighborhood too. You would think he could find somewhere else to play?
I also really like this Earth Box kit. (It has wheels! How smart is that?) Plus it comes with everything you need- I know I hate driving into town for fertilizer or planting mix. Each trip I find more things I "need" and end up spending $50 when I went in for a $5 item. This kit is a little bit more pricey at $57 but I figure it paid for itself by eliminating all those extra trips into town. You can grow vegetables, herbs and flowers on windowsills, on your deck or even the balcony, or take it inside - with our unpredictable weather I like that I can easily bring the box inside quickly. Plus container gardening means no weeding!
And if you are just starting out gardening and are unsure about which supplies or tools you need this kit has got it all including non gmo seeds. It comes complete with:
I'm ordering one for each of my nieces and nephews so they can start gardening, too. Have you started planting yet? Nothing beats a early Spring garden full of fresh, homegrown vegetables. MMMMM I'm already looking forward to being over run with squash and strawberries!
I will update you on the garden process over the next few weeks and also don't forget I'm planning that BIG Pacific trip - so any advice on where to go/stay/see/avoid would be appreciated. Speak soon~  Hey! I really was thinking about editing my subscription boxes. On the one hand I love them! Its like Christmas every time they arrive! New, fun goodies and surprises! But on the other, this is more stuff I may or may not use and sometimes I feel that for the price you don't get much more than samples, you know? It's such a dilemma! So how come I'm opening a new box then? Well, as I was having this very conversation with a buddy of mine, she recommended this box. "If you're going to cut down on boxes, I'd keep this one." Keep it? I never even tried it! She looked at me like I was living under a rock! Turns out this company is so much more than just a beautiful subscription box. I went over to their website and ordered after reading and seeing all the value you get for the money.  And then my box arrived.... Did I mention everything is FULL SIZE no samples here! Use my link to save and Get your box! (We both win!) Here's the details: They ship out seasonal. so 4 boxes a year. But you can get Editors Boxes (like I did) anytime - plus they also have sales and add ons and oh so much more! This is what was in the Editors Box:  Nice! A good amount of info about the contents.  Nice attention to detail.  Looks pretty full! You also fill out info about yourself so that get products designed for you. Which seems like such a good idea, rather than making it a "one size fits all" box.  I really thought there would be more than one mask?  But look at all this cool stuff!  Love the salt!  Pink Himalayan table salt! How cute this that? Grab your box here and join the Fab Fit Family! The details: Boxes cost $49.99 (including shipping) Use the link to save on your box. They are very highly rated and loved by so many people! They do ship to Canada and Puerto Rico! But Shipping is an additional $8 for seasonal boxes and $10 for shop orders for all Canada, Puerto Rico, Alaska, and Hawaii orders.  Ethical, I like that a lot.  I was just about to buy a jump rope! Great timing!  French Lavender -This smells really nice! Not overly perfumed or like chemicals.  I will be donating this....  I know I will use the VEGAN bag!  Nice, right?  This may have been the reason the box had the oil spot! But it looks contained to the bag...  But I think it might have been this one.  The verdict? I'm going to try the regular seasonal box before I pass judgement. I liked most of the items but that mask valued at $36 is crazy! I actually wrote them to see if it was a mistake. No answer yet... but I will keep you updated.  Especially when I can get a set of 6 from Anthropologies for the same price. What do you think?
Have you tried this box before? Was it worth the $$? I'd love to hear about your experience! *This Post is continued here* Catch your later!  Happy August! It's that time again - time for a raw month to cleanse and detox! Are you ready? To be honest I try to eat at least 5-7 raw meals a week, so this isn't that big of challenge, it is much more challenging to give up the coffee!  So I'm mostly upping the greens and cutting out the vegan "junk food" lol  Good bye Morning Store (for awhile) It is now Day 5 and I feel soooooo good! Don't get me wrong, I don't think Morning Star foods are bad for you - especially compared to the "real" burgers out there. But you don't want to live off them either. It's a good idea to give your body a break from everything, once in a while.  My shelf is going down quickly though-   New addition to my local market. :o If you are unsure as what to what to eat...   And remember you want your fruit to be actually ripe...  Soft frozen banana nice cream with blue berries and cacao for the win! #BestBreakfastEver I will attempt to post more of what I'm eating this month...
I'm taking a week off from work for my birthday, although the fun has already started, lol and so many good things are happening! Look for more blog posts soon! See you at the airport~     Let's dive in!  So much goodness!  OMG! Where to start??  Some old fav's + new snacks to try!   Yum!   Hmmm - This looks pretty cool.   You had me at coffee....  Very, very Yummy!  Can't wait to try this Cajun dish- made Vegan. :D I think the boxes are getting better and better! They are definitely worth the small price of $23.18USD #OMG! How do they deliver so much for so little?? Why haven't you ordered yours already? It's Vegan and you gotta admit it's nice getting snacks in the mail, lol.
Catch you later-  I have been subscribed to VeganCuts monthly Snack box for years, (see?) But this was my 1st Beauty Box.    :D      Love it!  I promise this post will be more than just Cliff bars!  I realize there is a Cliff bar in yet another photo, but lets not dwell on it, okay? I usually only take photos of my "Fake Baking" and chocolate concoctions, but I do cook (create) a lot of dishes. My food is pretty random and rarely beautiful to photograph. I also don't style it up, so if you are looking for styled photos of succulent berries or colourful smoothie bowls, sorry to disappoint! But people seem to like my cooking, they keep coming back for more and also asking for recipes. Lately I have been making Hummus, raw zucchini noodle dishes, nut burgers and of course, Vegan deserts.  I did "fake bake" Easter Candy. And of course I make "Vegan Reese's Peanut Butter Cups" every few days. Recently I have been experimenting with different hummus recipes. I have been purchasing the beans already cooked and adding fresh ingredients and varying the spices. There are so many good recipes online, with many delicious variations, I doubt I will buy prepared hummus ever again.  It is super quick to prepare too!  The rich color comes from fresh red pepper.  OMG! This stuff is really, really good!  I love a hearty breakfast...when I'm not eating Vegan Nice Cream, lol  Chocolate, peanut butter, coconut, walnut and strawberry Nice Cream bowl. □ My son is not a fan of tofu. I personally like it. I routinely prepare stir fried tofu and my son picks around it. I bake with tofu and he passes on desert that night...you get the idea. Not a fan. I was wondering what I could make for a hearty, but fast Saturday morning breakfast before we ran away on an adventure. Not eating eggs makes for a more limited breakfast menu. Don't get me wrong, I do not miss eating eggs at all, not one bit. But with Vegan pancake mix being so crazy expensive and few options left I was stumped for ideas. I turned to versatile and affordable tofu. But getting my son to eat tofu...  Tofu Migas! And to be honest the smell of eggs cooking used to turn my stomach, so I rarely ate them years before becoming Vegan. But that said, one of the all time best breakfasts I have ever had was a 'Migas Plate' at a hole-in-the-wall joint, on the wrong side of I35 in Austin. I think it was as much about the company as the eggs, but DAMN that was an amazing breakfast.  (Austin, Texas) After much deliberation I recreated that breakfast using firm tofu. I chopped a bit of red pepper and onion and sautéed in a tiny bit of extra virgin olive oil. I then added the drained tofu, and proceeded to "scramble" it about. I used a wooded spoon to help break it up and added turmeric for the golden color. From there I added a few chopped grape tomatoes, pepper and organic corn chips. I mixed it all up to warm, and then added about a cup of chunky picante sauce.  No Eggs were harmed in making this kick ass dish! The sauce was extra spicy and chunky and I made sure to not over work it in the skillet. It was a HUGE success! It probably took all of 10 minutes, including chopping the pepper and onions. My son ate 2 plates! We have a winner and I have a new fast Saturday morning breakfast! #PatsOwnSelfOnBack We are also drinking Vega Protein Mix on busy mornings.  To be honest I do not think we need it as we eat a ton of greens. *Next Vegan food Diary I will post just greens, lol  It is super filling, especially with Cashew Milk.  I also prefer to cook with Cashew Milk as it seems richer and thicker.  And is really tasty in hot tea. □  Also what do you do when your chopping garlic and see a green sprout? Well, you can still use it, just cut the sprout out and be prepared for the garlic to be a bit bitter. Or you can plant it!
And Voila A new garlic plant in the making! 💖 I know I really didn't show that much food, lol. I shall strive to be more vigilant and take more pictures in the kitchen on the next Vegan Food Diary Post. See you at the airport!  Hi, How are You? It's been awhile since I reviewed a new product, so I was thinking, since I'm always hungry (true story) and always excited to try new things, I thought I should share my findings with you today. But first the Disclaimer - I'm not a food blogger. I'm a hungry vegan.... If you are expecting glorious food pictures, decorated with flowers and tiny bits of glitter, move on..you won't be happy here. I'm just a girl who likes to travel and eat. I bought this item and decided to cook today. Perhaps my experience will be different from yours, perhaps not. Okay, so who wants pancakes?? Here is what happened next:  I bought this some time back. I'm not sure where, but I checked and Amazon US has a 18oz box for $14.95USD  I have heard of this brand before, but never tried it. Have you?  My Vegan attempt - replace the eggs with this, replace butter with OEVOO and No Milk I used water.  (Still thought that was a lot of oil, but okay) It says to let set for 10 minutes..  It did rise...  Now I'm wishing I had only used 1/2 of the box. (Directions sounded like this was the way to go...so we will see.)  Very thick and lumpy, did not form many "cooking holes" like normal pancake mix.  But did rise in pan. I cooked with OCO. They smelled good...  Yes, they are not "perfect" shapes. But we can still eat them. (Thanks for noticing.)  Much thicker than traditional pancakes...(Like these)  WOW  Mmmmmmmmm They were a HUGE Hit. I served them with Organic Maple Syrup and wow.
Just wow! I can also report that I had no heavy or bloated feeling afterward. Everyone ate their fill and we still had a few left and when asked, all voted this to the "buy again" list. #score Now remember, I didn't use eggs, I replaced them with the Neategg. I didn't use milk at all, it was replaced with water. The butter was replaced with olive oil and the pancakes were fried in coconut oil. So I barely followed the instructions at all, lol! Pros: Flavor was good, the mix was easy and everyone liked them. I think these would be great for a day when I have company and they want a more "traditional" breakfast than Vegan Nice Cream, which is my personal "breakfast of choice". This, plus veggie sausage, fruit and fried tofu would make a huge, traditional breakfast that would please anyone. I recommend this as a staple to keep on hand for guest or for when you want a breakfast change. Cons: I would not eat them often, as I do not consider them particularly healthy. Also even if I could get two or three meals out of a box.....that's a lot of money for pancakes. Have you tried them before? Or do you eat them regularly? I'd love to hear what you think. I will buy another box and keep in pantry for guests or that odd breakfast. I'm gonna try some of the other products this company makes and will report back on them. Catch you later I still have pancakes to eat~ |
Author Welcome to my travel blog, my healthy Vegan lifestyle blog and my life! It's a lot, but it's my passions and I just love to write about it. Here I share tips, stories and photos from my adventures and life. This is the place where people can find daily inspiration to travel and motivation to live healthier lives and laugh a bit too! 
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