Tag Archives: fashion

“The Perfect Fit”: A Fairytale Giveaway

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Good day to you! Hope you’ve been enjoying the weekend. I’ve been traveling for almost the past two weeks, so being back in New York… and with the beginning of a new season I feel like refreshing my outlook on things. And it’s also left me feeling a bit unresolved with my last post. It’s so strange how sometimes things you say and do will contradict each other at some point. That’s why sometimes (not so much now though) I have a hard time deciding if I should even say something at all. But a couple years ago I came up with a little reminder I like to tell myself:

There is a difference between contradiction and hypocrisy. It’s kind of like how all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares.

Contradictions are a part of life, and that’s partly why I don’t hold anyone to labels.

Anyway, after a bit of time to recollect in Florida and feeling more inspired and vibrant, I have an exciting post! Let’s just say I’ve been in a pink mood lately.

First off, I was invited to participate in the first ever e-cookbook put together by Foodie and the team of fabulous food writers. Since schools are back in session, that’s meant changing schedules for lots of people. So that’s why Foodie came up with the great idea to release a back to school themed e-cookbook. All recipes have a quick prep time, are made up of no more than 10 ingredients, and are taste-test approved by kids and adults alike.

“Family Flavors” features snack, side, main, and dessert recipes, so be sure to check it out over here. I’ve already highlighted some like tuscan hummus and checca sauce, Indian spiced roast potatoes, easy fish tacos, Greek zucchini potato and feta cake, and dark chocolate apricot truffles. It sounds like this cookbook is for everyone!

I’d love to hear if any of you guys try out some of the recipes!

In more Glam related news, they’re also hosting a wonderful contest that could be your fairytale come true.

Glam is in search of “The Perfect Fit” to receive a pair of Cinderella Slippers designed by the one and only, Christian Louboutin.

“Long heels, red bottoms”

To enter the Facebook contest for your chance to win a pair of these fantastically magical shoes, click here. Best of luck!

Here’s a fun picture that was taken of me for a little inspiration! It’s funny because I had this dress made for my college graduation, and it was inspired by one that I had seen, but was unavailable. My friend, fellow VCU-alumni and young fashion designer, Jess Timmons, helped me create this dress and she did a wonderful job at making my dream dress come to true–a dress that would have the power to express my essence. Then I realized, “which shoes am I going to wear with this dress?” I found a pair that were actually called “Katharina”, but I wanted to keep a modest budget and those shoes would’ve been tipping it. I ended up wearing these shoes that I had gotten for the first dance I ever went to with a boy–I flew to a homecoming in Virginia in 10th grade (and he didn’t even ask me–Prince Charming still hasn’t come into my life yet anyway). They were a pair of strappy bronze stiletto heels, but the heels were pretty much done for and my college graduation was the day I put them to rest. So I don’t actually have a pair of shoes to wear with this dress anymore, but at least that hasn’t stopped me from twirling around barefoot!

“A modern New York fairytale… just missing the shoes”–the musical featuring Pink Panther.

Now do you understand what I mean when I say I’ve been in a pink mood lately?

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Prix Fixe Menu: Fashion as a First Course

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Good evening, or afternoon, or even morning! How about good day?

I’ve been making some changes around my blog (I mentioned the page theme change in my last post), but there have been some more additions since then.

For starters I added a few buttons so that we can stay better connected.

 bloglovin

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

And you can also share on other sites with the buttons at the bottom of each post.

Some of you in the past have asked me to do a tour of my kitchen, and I figured what better way to share some of my picks than with a store. So I added a ‘store’ page as well which has a link to my Amazon Store. There are things that are also puppy approved, books, beauty, what have you.

And as an editor for “JENESEQUA” I’m extremely excited to share that our March 2012 issue launched yesterday! This month our cover and editorial features model, Elina Ivanova.


It’s a free app so all you need is an iPad to download. I’ve been anticipating this one for awhile, especially since I got to interview the creator and founder of STRANGEBEAUTIFUL–a concept driven nail polish line.

It’s got quite a neat motivation behind it, which you can read about here.

With that I’m going to take that and rewind it back as Usher liked to put it. Rewind. rewind. rewind back to my roommate’s fashion show.

There were lots of people with their own sense of style.

Grr baby... grr

And not-so-believable poker faces

Beautifully tailored clothes

With very inspired sensibilities.

It was a fun night and I finally got to catch up with my friend and Editor-in-Chief at “JENSEQUA“. It was so neat to see Daniella’s Fall 2012 collection come to fruition. From the beginning.. the source of her inspiration and seeing it all come together in the end, showed me again that fashion is more than vanity.

One of my favorite lovers of fashion, Brooke, has a motto: eat fashion for breakfast. What kind of day would it be if you had a bowl full of Alexis Mabille? To round out an almost complete meal of fashion shows and street style, there’s got to be a third course…

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What's Interesting?

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I was looking back at some posts… reminiscing… and I couldn’t help but notice how things have changed. I believe that everything changes, and that it’s just a part of life. But I’ve noticed that for awhile I seemed to have lost interest in myself in a certain regard. Or perhaps I got use to being so busy that I could only skim over things, not being able to share much of myself. I have had interests… in other things though. But I think it’s also important to wonder at yourself; to genuinely be interested in who you are, and the things you do. The saying goes “treat others how you’d like to be treated,” but don’t forget to treat yourself how you’d like to be treated as well.  To have interest in myself. So with that I want to reflect more of myself into my blog again. When I was going to school I was focused on finishing up, and I think that’s when my posts started to seem more like lists of things I’ve made in the kitchen. Every once in awhile I’d share what was on my mind, but I want to do that again more often because there’s a lot to write about. Not to mention, reading what you all have to say is the most interesting part!

Bulgarian yogurt?

It’s slightly more sour-tasting than other yogurts, and in Bulgaria it’s known as “sour milk”. It’s made using just these two different strains of bacteria: Lactobacillus Bulgaricus and Streptococcus Thermophilus. So since there are no other chemicals you can easily “grow” your own yogurt just by pouring some more milk in the jar.

A tasty way to wake up: Bulgarian yogurt, raisins, raw oats, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, and cinnamon.
Another electrifying breakfast!
I made Brendan Brazier’s “Banana Chocolate Pancakes” recipe…
Toppings of choice were sunflower seed butter and maple syrup.

These weren’t like your average light and fluffy pancakes. These were dense and rather moist, with so much chocolate flavor!

Another one of Brendan Brazier’s recipes (I’ve been making them a lot lately): Toasted Apple Cinnamon Cereal
A cereal that actually kept me full!

I loved the crunchiness from the seeds, the graininess, and how it tasted very wholesome. My taste buds recently have become very sensitive to saltiness and sweetness, preferring earthier flavors.

I haven’t posted anything fashion-related in awhile, but I recently got a top that I absolutely love!
Even though it’s very effortless looking, there are small details that make it special.
The front has various textures.

I bet you can guess where I found it!

Awhile ago I was contacted by Rudi’s Organic Bakery to try out some of their breads. I’ve enjoyed their breads before, and I recommend them if you’re looking for a store-bought loaf of bread (great gluten-free options as well).

“Honey Sweet Whole Wheat”
So good with almond butter and a sliced Asian pear!

This bread has little bit of honey that makes it taste extra satisfying, especially with Irish butter.

Sunflower seed butter + sprouts + hummus =  a surprisingly tasty combination

I also got to try out “7 Grain with Flax” which was great for sandwiches! You get a little crunch and nuttiness from the seeds, and it tastes different than whole wheat bread since they use seven different grains. Have you guys tried Rudi’s bread?

 A little bread for dipping into soups?

I know soup may be the last thing on some of your minds, but this one is still delicious even slightly warmed.

Vegan Cream of Broccoli Soup

Ingredients

3 1/2 cups water

1 1/2 cups carrots, chopped

1 1/2 cups sweet potato, chopped

1 cup yellow onion, diced

1/2 cup raw cashews, soaked

4 cups broccoli florets, chopped and steamed

salt, to taste

Directions

1. Bring the water to a boil in a large pot.

2. Put the carrots, sweet potato, and onions in the pot and cook for about 10-20 minutes depending on how small you cut the pieces.

3. In a blender throw in the cashews, salt, and a bit of the cooked veggies + liquid. Make sure it’s only a little bit of the cooked mixture because at first you really want to blend the cashews well to get that creamy consistency.

4. Once that is blended, pour in the rest of the cooked vegetables and liquid and blend. Then blend in the broccoli as well to a smooth, creamy consistency. This may take a couple minutes.

I sprinkled it with Bragg’s Sprinkle Seasoning and voila! There’s a delicious soup.

So to begin this reconnection I would love to know if you guys have any blog recommendations. I haven’t ventured out on to new blogs in such a long time, and it’d be nice to see what different people are up to. I have two for you! A great style blog, and another one about all sorts of things written by a beautiful lady.

Celebrating in New York Part 3

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Greetings everyone! This is the final recap of my multi-destination trip, and then we’ll jet down to Florida to see what’s been going on in the land of sunshine (and afternoon tropical storms that last five minutes).

Now where did we leave off?

Ahh yes! One rainy afternoon while I was in New York City, I had planned to go to The Met. I cheerfully walked down Park Ave. with my umbrella in hand because I knew exactly where I was going. I had been anticipating going to The Met.

A guest
Ancient Egyptian history use to be an obsession of mine back in grade school.
And it still fascinates me!
This sculpture’s beauty demanded me to stop in awe.

While I was at The Met I also checked out the Savage Beauty exhibit. It exhibits the late designer’s, Alexander McQueen, incredible creations. Photos were not allowed, but I wanted to share some of the collection with you. I remember waking up when I was little to watch runway shows and McQueen was my favorite out of all of them. His shows were theatrical and beautifully demented. When I was walking through the show I couldn’t help but cry. He did something with materials that transcended just an item of clothing… something only a master of them could do. Anybody that would look at his designs could see that fashion can be an art. Not just because of the skill, but as an actual expression. McQueen expressed a lot of his ideas on politics, culture, and identity through his collections. All done with such precision that only a mathematical fraction could match.

Source.

Source.

Source.

Source.

Source.

You can see more from the exhibition here: Savage Beauty.

I love that you can dine in elegance at the museum.
All the while live classical music is playing.
However, my stomach did not have anymore patience to spare to wait to be seated…

So I headed on over to the Whole Foods hot bar. I tried one of EVERYTHING!

The last day that I had time to go adventuring I checked out Chelsea Market.

Last time I had gone was during the middle of the day on a weekday. This time around I went on a Saturday, and it was so busy!

Row upon rows of baking racks at Amy’s Bread.
Hmm… an almond butter I’d never seen before.
I would love this!

Look at all of those sliced almond bits. Crunchy nut butters are my preference.

And I picked up some tasty chocolates as well: ginger, orange, and early grey.

If you’re looking for a new dark chocolate to try I suggest Dolfin’s Early Grey. It’s an interesting combination done well!  You also get a slightly gritty texture since the actual tea is laced in the chocolate. But it’s not too textural much, so the chocolate can also just melt on your tongue.

Before I headed out I stopped by my favorite store… Anthropologie.
I looked down an spotted a book of poetry by Pablo Neruda.
Chelsea Market was close to my picnic destination–the Highline.

I first came here during late fall when it was cold. The park definitely looked different this time around.

I used a Whole Foods container to bring my own salad.

I made a lentil salad mixed with avocado and herb-roasted potatoes all tossed with greens and other random veggies.

I love the contrast of concrete and plants that the Highline has.
Afterwards I made my way down a quiet street.
I wanted to check out the Antiques Garage Flea Market.

This flea market has so many vendors selling all sorts of things! If you are in the mood to just peruse with time to spare, then I suggest you go here. I love looking through old things. They even had stacks of old plant biology illustrations.

I actually didn’t know about this place’s claim to fame until after the fact.

 I was searching for tea places to go to, and when I saw pictures of The Russian Tea Room’s interior I knew that I had to go just to see it in person. Turns out they’ve shot Sex and the City and other New York City quintessentials like Woody Allen’s “Manhattan” and “New York Stories”.

Taking you back in time in all of its over-the-top glory.
Then something else caught my eye.
Macarons!

There were so many to choose from that I actually left empty-handed. Well, not completely. Seeing this colorful display instantly lifted my spirits. Feeling down? Just look at a rainbow made of macarons!

As with most of my trips to New York a lot of my time was spent alone. I didn’t realize this until now, but I guess in a way I was traveling alone. It was fun because I felt like I was in a game, hopping to the next space. I like imagining New York City as a game board. Do any of you like to be solo-adventurers? Ever thought of it?

Let’s Get Toasted

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Good morning everyone! I hope you all are doing well in your corners of the world. If not then I’m sending my energy your way. I can’t explain why I’m feeling this way right now, but who’s questioning? Even a completely flat tire on my bike couldn’t get me down. No, instead I was excited that I finally had a reason to replace my old one, and that would just mean a smoother ride. Not to mention, while waiting for my bike to get fixed I learned a few tips from the cute guy fixing it!

She wanted to cuddle longer, but I had to get ready for class!
I had a package of hemp seeds waiting to be used.
Toasting them with a bit of sea salt gave my breakfast sweet and salty flavor a lot of us like.

It tasted so good! After reading about hemp in one of Brendan Brazier’s books, I became even more interested in this fascinating plant. It’s crazy to think of why it was probably made illegal to grow this crop in the United States anyway. Let me just mention that the Rockefellers had a lot to do with this decision, and they are synonymous with crude oil. Henry Ford actually intended for his cars to run off of hemp seed oil. See a connection? Anyway, this plant has a lot of health benefits. It contains the protein, globulin edistin, that’s found in our DNA and it contains the highest amount in the plant kingdom. “More importantly, they are responsible for both the natural and acquired immunity a person has against invading organisms. The body uses globulin proteins to make antibodies which attack infecting agents (antigens) that invade the body. Globulins like gamma globulin are absolutely essential to maintain a healthy immune system. They neutralize alien microorganisms and toxins.“

Trying to figure out which veggies taste good with this ginger vinaigrette.

Do any of you have suggestions? Maybe I should try putting it on some vegetables and grill them!

The other day I checked out this interesting exhibition featuring South African artists.

I haven’t been to this art center since its renovation.

The exhibition made me think of all of the changes South Africa has undergone. Especially because it presented artists from that part of the world from four different generations. It was interesting to see what kind of work came out during the apartheid and after the era. It also made me think about how I would feel if I was living in a country where my ancestors came from, and then my rights were taken away by a group of people that settled there. I find it empowering that despite the circumstances, some people were able to manifest their struggles into something greater by trying to change things. Although some of those tactics were violent, it’s incredible to see a human spirit holding on and not being broken. On a much smaller scale, this is why I think it’s important to hold on to your beliefs, but still keeping an open mind. Knowing where you stand gives you confidence, but being able to listen I think also leads to a better understanding of each other.

I came home and I made a poor man’s paella!

Poor Man’s Paella

(for the spices I didn’t measure, so it’s up to your taste)

1 1/2 cup brown rice

Turmeric, (I used turmeric since I don’t have saffron, but you guys have saffron threads)

Spanish smoked paprika

Ground cumin

Dash cayenne

A couple splashes of hickory smoke sauce

4 medium tomatoes, chopped

1 red or yellow bell pepper, chopped

3 cups red kidney beans, cooked

2 3/4 – 3 cups vegetable broth

2 medium zucchini, sliced

1 cup fresh or frozen peas

1 can artichoke hearts, rinsed and cut into quarters

Extra Virgin olive oil

Sauté onion and garlic in a deep non-stick skillet. Add the rice and turmeric and cook, stirring, for another 2 minutes. Add paprika, cumin, cayenne, tomatoes, peppers, and 2 3/4 cups vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to very low, and cook covered for till the rice is cooked.

Check to see if more broth is needed. If it looks dry, add the remaining vegetable broth. Throw in the beans, and place the zucchini on top of the rice and re-cover. Cook for about 5 more minutes, until rice is done. Remove the cover, stir in the peas, and cook uncovered until peas are warm and all liquid is absorbed, about 5 minutes. Arrange the artichoke hearts on the top and serve. Add salt at the table, if necessary. **And drizzle on some olive oil at the end.

Makes about 6 servings.

And I tried the pepper one of the vendors at the farmer's market gave me--no turning back!

It actually wasn’t spicy, but maybe it’s because I took the tiniest bite. I’m such a scaredy cat when it comes to spicy things!

I decided to give the hemp protein another go with my oatmeal.

Mixed with honey, peaches, dates, banana, and coconut milk it wasn’t bad!

Oh I will definitely be making more of this dish during the cold seasons!

I kind of followed this recipe for roasted sweet potato salad with warm chutney dressing. I didn’t have pepitas on hand so I used my curried sunflower seeds instead. Oh my goodness this was brimming with flavors from the sweet potato, sweet dried cranberries, onions, the seeds, rosemary, and the dressing of course!

I've also taken some time for personal reading before the semester gets busy!

And Matilda is a smart pup peering over my shoulder.

I think I'm also fascinated by hemp protein's green color!

I think it looks so cool with different berries like blueberries and strawberries, then contrast it with something white like coconut milk. Yeah, this is my thinking process sometimes when I put meals together.

First day of my last year in college, looking like I came straight out of the 70's.

As Conan O'brien would say, "keep cool my babies."

It’s Friday–enjoy!

And don’t forget about your chance at winning some Kroeger Herb goodies!

1. Go to their site and comment on this post telling me something you learned.

Additional entries (don’t forget to comment on this post telling me you did these things):

2. Sign up for their newsletter.

3. Follow them on Facebook.

4. Follow them on Twitter.

Make sure to get your entries in by today, Friday, August 27. Best of luck everyone!

From My Heart to Your Belly

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It was so interesting reading about some of your doshas! Laury had mentioned that one of her clients sees an Ayurvedic doctor who can tell what their patient ate simply by touching them. Wow! Imagine being that in-tune! I thought I’d share a link that you may find interesting, and who knows… it may help fill in some blanks: Ayurveda Info-center.

“The whole person-and the whole field of interpersonal behavior-can be spontaneously enhanced by the process of self-referral, or looking within to experience the Self. This is analogous to the natural process by which all the branches, leaves, flowers, and fruit of a tree can be simultaneously nourished and enlivened by watering the root.“

I had some prepping to do last Friday, as we were having guests all the way from Germany. I didn’t want to stress out about it because first off, I didn’t have to! As I was cooking I made sure to have a clear mind, and good intentions. I just wanted everyone to be able to relax and enjoy when they ate. Not to mention, the whole house smelled divine!

Pain D’Epice or French honey-spice bread
This involved egg whisking.
Anise!
and other delicious spices and citrus zest.
I also made a well for the whisked eggs and soy milk.
Finger licking
Oh that’s right! This has to go in the oven.
Et Voila!

A deliciously sweet and aromatic bread–a bit burned around the edges but tasty nonetheless. I don’t think that many of you know that I’m quite the honey afficianado. I have honeys ranging in flavors from lavender to almond, as dark as molasses, local variations, and even artisanal raw honeycomb squares from Savannah Bee Company. It’s funny because most of these were gifts from friends.

Then a mysterious package came in the mail.
I have been eyeing these shoes all summer!
I saw this as a sign to dress up and play hostess.

The guests would be arriving soon!

And a goofy one for the heck of it!
Our guests!
Ivy’s sesame-coconut rice, yellow split pea dhal, and a spinach salad with avocado, blueberries, and lemon-balsamic vinaigrette.

This meal was so flavorful! My mom also made a coconut chicken curry with pineapple. The rice was my favorite though. I cooked some basmati rice with ghee and salt. Afterwards I fried the dried coconut and sesame seeds in more ghee. Once that was golden I mixed it in with the cooked rice. Wow! The ghee did so much for this dish. One of the guests said it was one of the best meals he’s ever had. Perhaps my good intentions really did work!

Yellow Split Pea Dhal

Spinach Salad with Avocado, Blueberries, Feta and Lemon-Balsamic Vinaigrette (I omitted the feta since I’m avoiding cheese for the time being)

I made mango lassi for dessert!
Cheers to a great meal m’lady.
The next morning involved the French honey-spice bread topped with ghee + a bowl of Greek yogurt, fruits, and ground golden flaxseeds.

The bread reminded me of one of the Christmas cakes in Germany. Deliciously nostalgic.

We also bought pan de bono, which is a delicious Colombian cheese bread.
And one of my other favorites: arepa de choclo

Our guests fully enjoyed the breakfast! Actually, everyone did.

Beans, beans…

“Soaking reduces excess dryness, calming the air element in foods and enhancing the water element. The added moisture supports the action of agni, digestive fire, on food, making foods easier for the body to break down. This beneficial Ayurvedic practice of soaking is used with beans, peas, nuts, some seeds, and dried fruits. Soaking is most often done overnight by simply covering the food with pure water and letting it sit, covered, until the morning.”

After soaking the beans for many hours, I cooked them with bay leaves. Once they were cooked I fried some onions, garlic, ginger, cumin, and turmeric. Then added the beans and some sea salt. Simple, delicious, and very helpful for my liver.

More legumes

I steamed some edamame, then sprinkled on some sea salt. I love eating them out of their shells.

A bowl beaming with green!

This was a mix of kale and mustard greens. I massaged the greens with flaxseed oil, as Neela had suggested. This was very tasty and helped lessen the bitterness of raw kale. Speaking of kale, I found a really great recipe for kale and chard salad with blue cheese. Check it out!

“Kale contains sulphorane…which only becomes apparent when cruciferous veggies such as kale, cabbage and broccoli are chewed or chopped. But it’s what sulphorane does that’s important. It encourages the liver to produce enzymes that detoxify cancer causing chemicals, especially those connected to chemically-induced breast cancer and colon cancer.“

I also massaged watercress and green cabbage shreds in flaxseed oil as well.

Watercress is in the same family as kale and mustard greens, so they have similar health benefits.

“Watercress juice is so concentrated with so much cleansing goodness that it activates the detoxifying enzymes in the liver for detoxifying a hangover.”

Watercress juice could be a party girl’s best friend!

Another interesting tid-bit I found from an article I read by Brendan Brazier about stress-reducing foods:

“Alkaline forming – leafy green vegetables, chlorella

Enzyme rich – raw fruits and vegetables

Hormone balancing – maca (Peruvian root vegetable)

High quality, complementary protein – hemp, yellow pea, brown rice

Rich in essential fatty acids – flax seeds”

Check, check, and check! I’ve actually been adding maca powder to my oats once they cool down due to my hormone imbalance; I struggle with too much testosterone. Right now, for me, I’m trying to eat most of my vegetables steamed or lightly (3-5 minutes) pan-fried with ghee to keep the nutrients. If I eat them raw, however, I massage them in oil so it’s easier for my dosha to handle. And it looks like I’ll be enjoying more yellow split pea dhal in my future!

Without further ado, here’s my video!

Who Does Your Future Belong To?

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Hello hello! Greetings with another post–a much anticipated one at that. I haven’t been on the computer much lately, but you know what means. I’m brimming with things to share!

Lately I’ve been feeling like my pumpkin kabocha has turned into a carriage.

I’ll explain what I mean later…

Because a steamed carriage just doesn’t make sense, but it definitely tastes good!

I steamed it with thyme, and ground all-spice. I didn’t know that you could steam herbs! I guess in reality, you can really steam anything, even nuts.

This may explain why my palms and the bottoms of my feet are rosy.

I was inspired by Averie’s sweet-and-sour honey lemon tofu. However, instead of baking the tofu I fried it, but I followed her cue and used mango chutney and lemon. I sprinkled on some sesame seeds and cilantro for the final touch.

A great idea!

I took Mel’s advice on spreading Nutella on the brötchen. Although this wasn’t Nutella per se, it was close enough as it was, after-all, chocolate hazelnut butter. This was so delicious and went perfectly together! I decided to simply spread a date on one of the halves.

Alongside came a bowl of Greek yogurt with chia seeds and a medley of fruits.

Getting ready to go out for Wednesday ladies' night!

The dress...

The shoes...

And a picture courtesy of my iPhone hehehe

I think I may be one of the few people who drinks a glass of wine and doesn’t get sleepy, but instead dances their butts off long enough to get some blisters. Anyone care to join me? I guess you don’t have to get blisters though!

A delicious breakfast to revive me sounded really nice at the time.

Actually, when does that not?

In the mix: overnight oats with dried cranberries and chia seeds, a diced pear, cinnamon, chocolate almond butter, and puffed millet

Another bar variation!

I can't believe that this bar tasted like a delicious, fruity wine!

I used a mix of oats, puffed millet, and puffed corn for the grains in this bar. I also added some grated chocolate, dried fruits, pecans, and more mixed nuts to the continuously evolving secret recipe.

And a pick-me up lunch!

I made a sun-dried tomato cauliflower mash, since my mom has never tried this vegetable in that form. Eating anything mashed is such a comfort food for me. Maybe because it’s like baby food… but tastes way better!

I highly recommend this recipe!

I recently received a newsletter from the Vegetarian Times and saw they had a recipe for smoke baby portobello sliders. The picture looked appetizing alone, and I happen to get some portobellos on sale at the market. This was sweet, smoky, juicy, savoury, and just wonderful to bite into. The herbes de Provence gave it a great sweet, flowery, and Italian flavor. I love how portobellos really suck up the flavors of the rubs and marinades because otherwise they would be too earthy for me on it’s own. I actually prefer my mushrooms cooked unless I’m dipping raw ones into hummus or my favorite BBQ sauce. I also suggest that if you try this recipe, use a bread that isn’t whole wheat. Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t imagine these flavors going well with a grainy bread.

I also thought that maybe a smoothie with some leftover pulp from juicing + the usual ingredients would make my lethargy go away.

Unfortunately, I was feeling under the weather pretty much the whole day, until I took an afternoon cat-nap.

Another portobello recipe!

I found a great recipe in the Veganomicon, Portobello Salad with a Spicy Mustard Dressing. This was delicious, and I don’t think I can ever get over how great the texture of this mushroom is.

So this is how my Friday started out...

A nice but very wavey day at the beach--perfect for the surfers!

The waves here are just good for simply riding… unless there’s a hurricane. That’s another story! A lot of people get arrested because they’re not suppose to be out there when the weather is that bad. Their dangerous, but their probably the best that Florida can get!

Then it was time to continue the dancing from the other night!

We went to go see a new talent signed to one my favorite DJ’s (Steve Aoki) label, Dim-Mak records. It was so much fun and so many things went our way that night.

While trying to find parking in South Beach and as soon as I said "someone please pull out just for me".. reverse lights came on and we had a spot!

That’s when I knew that things would go my way. We headed over to this place…

Got there, got through the ropes no problem

We payed, but then somehow one of the doormen knew we payed called us back and had the cashier give us our money back because “we were with Norman”. Whoever Norman is…(?) thanks! After dancing our feet off we headed back to the car and met a friendly stranger. Actually, at that late hour… almost everyone is friendly. I can’t tell you how many people I walked by that put their hands out for a high-five. I loved it! Anyway, friendly stranger encounter brings me to the next day.

First I had to get refreshed with this perfect summer breakfast.

Somehow I managed to wake up in time for my favorite yoga class.

Overnight oats topped with Cacao Bliss banana "soft-serve", macadamia nut butter, coconut shreds, and sprinkles of course.

I love the crunch those little sprinkles add!

After yoga class and lunch, I got ready and dressed!

It’s about time I made a debut with this blouse! Oh my goodness, this top is insanely vibrant and a new favorite. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten so many ooh’s and ahh’s from a single item of clothing. It was funny because at one point when we were heading up to the W Hotel, I saw these women looking at me, and making the motion around the shoulder and literally gasping with a smile. Which makes sense because guess what was going on this past week? Mercedes-Benz Swim Fashion Week! I headed to the W Hotel to catch some of the action.

Of course I brought one of my partners in crime!

A glorious hallway filled with beautiful swimwear.

A suite with a great view is the perfect environment to get work done, right?

As soon as we got there, they generously offered to make us some drinks.

I’m not the biggest fan of tequila, but one of the guys promised that it would be the best tequila I had ever tasted. He was actually right! No foul face was made, and I was happy with my slice of sweet orange dipped in cinnamon to have afterwards. Then a very handsome (that’s an understatement people) gentleman offered to make me another drink. Uh… you had me before hello!

The view from the balcony was so nice.

See you soon!

It was a really nice evening, and I got to meet a lot of new people! I think the best part was that it encouraged me even more to pursue my dreams. Whatever it is, whatever I want… I can make it happen! Oh gosh I’m biting my tongue right now because I still have lots to share! Until next post, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” Yes, I think Henry David Thoreau had the right idea!

Within Yourself

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I’m going to start off this post with a little piece of my mind. Lately, I’ve been thinking about where my life is going, and where I want it to go. Sometimes I let my ideas sit in my head, but I’ve been getting them outside of my head by discussing them with others and taking action. It’s very rare that the things you want just magically appear in your lap, so what are you waiting for? Rather than just sulking around, wishing for anything but now, do yourself a favor and look around you. Then look inside of yourself. Most likely, you have what it takes to make your dreams come true. Think of your qualities as bridges. Bridges that will help you on your journey, of course! And if you find yourself sounding like a broken record, well isn’t it time that you flip the side? The side that plays the beautiful tune called “believing in myself”.

A bowl of peculiar colors for breakfast.

I made my regular bowl of oats and let it get cold in the fridge overnight. In the morning I whipped up some banana soft-serve, and threw in some diced mango. While making the banana soft-serve I also blended in some Cacao Bliss since it hardens on contact. I topped this all off with some pumpkin seed butter, crunchy peanut butter, and sprinkles. I loved biting into the chia seeds, crunchy peanut bits, and sprinkles. This breakfast bowl kind of reminds of a desert scene with its colors.

Something else frozen and delicious to cool off on hot summer days.

Kiley generously sent me a couple of vouchers to try out Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss ice cream. I’ve heard so many great things about this ice cream, and I was so excited to see what all of the fuss is about. I went to the store and chose the cherry amaretto flavor–one of my favorite flavor combinations.

I also received a vibrant storybook of sorts!

This was such a fun way to read about the beginnings of this ice cream and health benefits of my beloved coconut! The booklet made my desire to get an ice cream maker even stronger. I want to have ice cream taste-testing parties with my friends and family as well!

So it was time to taste and test...

Oh my goodness! The first things that popped into my head when I tasted this, “creamy, coconut, flavor, delicious, rich, yum yum yum, bliss!” Next spoonful!

And I found the cherries!

Now I know why people can easily finish a pint of these ice creams in one sitting. I’ve had ice creams made with coconut milk before, but none have been as rich as Coconut Bliss. And it’s not short on flavor by any means. I can imagine how satisfyingly delicious the other flavors must be.

Fashion tip: dressing up simple things is easy with colorful statement accessories.

I tend to have atleast one thing in my outfit that stands out, and often gets comments from strangers. In fact, when I wore this outfit the other day the woman at the store marveled at my necklace and then said to me, “Oh wow what a beautiful necklace, actually, everything is cute! The whole thing!” Thank you! It makes me smile when people can’t help but comment on how much they like something. There’s enough stress going on in the world, why not make it a bit more pleasant by saying some kind words, you know?

I stopped by the library the other day and picked up some books and a movie.

I love that I can leave the library with two arm-loads. I picked up Ani Phyo’s book on raw food desserts since I had seen it on so many blogs–curiosity was sparked! There are definitely some recipes I really want to make, like a raw version of tiramisu. I am so picky when it comes to what I consider a good tiramisu, so I’m eager to see how it will turn out. I also got “Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life” to get some ideas for me and my dad. None of us are intentional vegans, but we’ve found that most of what we eat is vegan-friendly. I also got some bread recipe books, and I can’t wait to make some loaves using rye flour. I’ve mentioned Ayurveda a few times on my blog, and whenever I come across anything related I like to read about it. This book explains a lot about this concept and includes some recipes as well. The ideas behind Ayurvedic cooking are so fascinating. I also picked up “The Single Girl’s Manifesta”!

Here's a recipe I've been eyeing on Averie's blog.

She has so many incredible recipes on her blog, and it’s about time that I recreate one of them! So what recipes is this? Her “Spicy Doritos” Cheezy Dip. It definitely doesn’t look as smooth as hers, but it’s the taste that matters!

And I could definitely eat this by itself, but having something to dip is fun!

Do fingers count?

I organized a little basket with some of the things I use to make my oat bars.

I was going to buy chocolate chips at the store, but then I thought about just grating my own chips by using a chocolate bar. A chocolate bar with a love poem, that is.

While we're on the topic of bars...

My dad created his own! He remembered that I told him how easy it was to make your own Larabars, and with that he attempted to make his own! I was sitting at the table reading, and next thing you know he comes to the table with a beautiful, homemade bar. Am I rubbing off on my parents? Although, they were the ones to introduce me to Larabars! He told me he just crushed a mixture of nuts and basically “glued” them together using medjool dates. Then he grated in some ginger root as well. It’s that easy folks! And you can get creative with flavors too. Go ahead, try it, and recreate some of your favorites!

I realized I hadn't had plantains in awhile, and I missed them.

I mashed one plantain and tried to make… pancakes? Inspired by tostadas which are twice-fried plantains. I fried these then drizzled on some coconut oil, coconut shreds, sesame seeds, and hemp seeds.

And look at what we have here!

I made something else inspired by another blogger. Sweet Potato-IAJ a la Katie! I used up the last of the homemade cashew-macadamia nut butter. I guess this means I’ve got to make another jar!

Well, this chica is off to straighten up a bit because I’ve got a friend coming over for dinner. I’m so excited because we are both going to be taste-testers, and you’ll see what I’m talking about in my next post! What does Friday mean to you? Whatever it means, I hope you enjoy it!

A Million Reasons to Celebrate

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How to survive a summer of days where the mornings are also steaming hot…

A medley of fruits: blueberries, peach slices, and banana chips over a crumbled homemade bar, Greek yogurt + peanut butter swirled in.

And all of my bowls of oats lately have been cooked and then put in the fridge to cool down. It’s funny how I crave different foods, textures, hot/cold depending on the seasons. Sometimes it really varies from day to day, or meal by meal. Like lunch for instance, I don’t mind having something warm, but I’ve noticed that I’ve been letting my food cool down for a bit just in general.

Perfecting these bars still!

These are way better than my first batch. I made some changes like using macadamia nuts and cashews, dates, banana chips, and a flaxseed mixture.

When in doubt, go with egg noodles!

I couldn’t decide what to serve with the chickpeas and mushrooms with mango chutney, so I opted for these noodles. Not only are they super quick to cook, but you get to bust out the chopsticks!

My mom was curious about spaghetti squash...

I was so delighted when she asked me about it! Each time I cook spaghetti squash I’m wowed by how this vegetable can really look like that stringy, long pasta! I remembered seeing a recipe in the Veganomicon that used this squash: spaghetti squash Mexicana with tropical avocado salsa. This alone sounded yummy! I opted to take them up on the suggestion of using papaya for the salsa. Afterall, we had a whole bunch from our backyard.

This is a recipe that you can adjust to your likings

I accidentally let my hand go with adding the spices–oops! I loved all these flavors though. It was so fresh (perfect for summer) and you can use the salsa for other dishes or even just as a dip for chips! And now my mom knows why a spaghetti squash has its name.

Another fresh idea... like a banana pie

Inspired by raw desserts--I love how flavorful they usually are.

This isn’t completely raw, just inspired. But if you do want to make it raw you can omit certain things or use vanilla bean instead of vanilla extract, for example. I made a crust by mixing medjool dates, cashews, walnuts, cinnamon, and unsweetened coconut shreds in a food processor. Then I whipped up some cashew cream and mixed in the banana, honey, a bit of lime juice, coconut milk, and vanilla extract. Then I started layering: crust, filling, and then topped it with banana slices, coconut shreds, and cinnamon. You want to let it sit in the fridge or the freezer so it solidifies. You pull it out when your patience has dwindled down to nothing, and enjoy!

This plate of food may be mistaken for a palette of vibrant paints!

I baked some sprouted tofu with leftover herbed bread crumbs, olive oil, and soy sauce. I sautéed some squash, red onions, mushrooms, and dates. Served it with jasmine rice, sliced sun-dried tomatoes, chopped scallion, and avocado slices! This was so random, but delicious and awesome to look at before I dug in.

Now this dish isn't nearly as nice to look at.

But it doesn’t mean that it tastes bad! Hey, Indian food doesn’t always look the most appetizing, but in my opinion I think it’s the most delicious cuisine out there. Anyway, I cooked some amaranth in a chipotle broth, then added black beans, sliced mushrooms, onions, garlic, spices, hickory smoke, brown sugar, vegan Worchestershire sauce. I also added some flax oil in the end since I’m trying to incorporate more omega-3′s into my diet. After seeing my mom’s amazing glow and all of the salmon she eats, I want that too! I’ve also started sprinkling toasted hemp seeds on to some things (today it was on some nachos), and chia seeds as well.

The girl with the goods!

Remember when I tried the ChocoVine way back when? Well I saw it at the store the other day and it was on sale! I mentioned it to my dad, and he actually confessed that he had been eyeing it for quite some time but wasn’t sure if he would like it or not. Uh Dad… they’res only one way to find out, duh!!! And if it so happened that he wouldn’t like it well there’s a little young lady that would happily finish the bottle off for him! Oh and we can’t ignore that jar of peanut butter. It’s my favorite peanut butter in the whole wide world and it just made sense to get the “big-as-my-head” size instead of the regular one. I definitely look like the happy bear that found the jar of honey whenever it’s opened!

No I didn't finish that big jar quite yet!

This was another jar of the same peanut butter that I had. Instead of using oats though I used a 10-grain hot cereal mix. So would this be called 10G’s-IAJ? Aka 10-grand in a jar? This sounds like something Jay-Z would enjoy, oh and me too. Jay-Z, care to join me for breakfast? Oh, and I found a book the other day called Extreme Beauty in Vogue. It’s so inspiring and wonderfully bizarre. You can find out more about it here.

Speaking of Vogue… here are some recent purchases I made that I can’t wait to wear out and about!

I love the neckline.

And let's talk about the back...

Perfect for the summer when the last thing I want to wear is... clothes haha!

A breezy silk top... weakness.

And a beautiful scarf marked down from $100 to $9--clearly that deal needed to be taken advantage of!

These are called "Broken-in Boyfriend Shorts"... I can pretend.

The "Hello! I still have arms in the winter" top.

And this shirt for the win!

I think my style overall is pretty eclectic, and I can’t quite pinpoint it because I just get what I really like. One thing that I have noticed though is that I’m a sucker for sheer things, silk, beautiful detailing, uniqueness, and I unintentionally don’t own a single pair of jean pants. Someone once asked me where my style comes from, and this is what I said, “My style comes from different past eras, nature, and what I think the future would look like.” I guess this is why I consider it eclectic–all over the place! I’d like to know how you would describe your style!

I think you can guess where we went for the recent Argentina vs. Germany match.

I love going out to watch the games because everyone around you is as into the game as you are! Lots of hands flailing, cheering, clapping, and thinking out loud… very out loud. Oh! And I can’t forget plenty of chocolate cappuccinos and black forest cake with fresh whipped cream m’mmm.

I believe this game is going to go down in the history of soccer!

I tried to capture the cheering, but really... the entire restaurant was filled and I could only remember to take a picture after the outbursts.

Auf gehts Deutschland!

Oh my goodness, I am still so happy about their victory. I can’t wait till Wednesday when Germany plays Spain! I hope you are all enjoying your weekend and celebrating in one way or another. So many reasons to celebrate, right? Happy Independence Day, America!


In summer, the song sings itself

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Words by American poet, William Carlos Williams. Usually summer for me means lots of relaxing and “me” time. I’ll admit that I’m not totally use to all the me time, and sometimes I find myself trying to push it away. There are things I wish I could be doing… especially when I see a lot of my friends that stay up in Virginia have those get-togethers on perfect summer nights. But you know what? Then I stop for a moment and look around me. During these long breaks I usually set up little projects for myself to keep me occupied. Usually they involve the kitchen, house decorating, spending more time practicing yoga and dancing, and making some art. I also take this time to read, learn about different subjects, and trying to watch television. Yes, I said trying to watch television! Up at school I don’t have a tv (I prefer it this way, plus I think they’re ugly to look at when they’re not on). So whenever I’m down in Florida I get a dose of pop culture and I finally get clued in on what and who everyone else is talking about! Anyway, I really went off on a tangent! This summer I came up with another project: compiling a cookbook! That means I’m actually going to look back on my entries, and from now on I will take notes as I conjure up spells… I mean recipes in the kitchen. Tomorrow I am going to see if I have any extra notebooks lying around the house! Does anyone out there have any advice? I would greatly appreciate it!

Another great thrift store find--a bowl fit for a king cost me only fifty cents!

Irish steel cut oats again.

I let them cool down in the fridge for a bit and mixed in some banana slices + for topping along with crunch peanut butter and chocolate almond butter. My mouth was very very happy.

This time I fried the bananas in ghee with cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger.

Then I added some cashew-macadamia butter and sesame seeds to my bowl of oats. Either of these breakfast bowls would be great to get me going and ready for a…

A shopping adventure with my little nugget

Lounging around in my favorite store!

That harness makes her look like she was a gift sent from up above!

We took a food break.

Have you guys ever heard of Maoz?

“Maoz Vegetarian is an international, quick service vegetarian restaurant chain, which brought to the world the delicious Maoz sandwich: FALAFEL.
Our menu is strictly vegetarian and is based on simplicity, freshness and care.”

They only have 12 locations in the United States, but more worldwide. I’m lucky enough to have the only location in the southern United States right in my backyard… in a mall food court of all places! I love their sweet potato fries dipped in their garlic sauce. Yum!

I dressed it with their garlic sauce and cilantro dressing.

Another great thing is that you can choose your fillings!

I opted to fill mine with carrot salad, beet salad, cole slaw, and the falafels automatically come in the pita. After we finished our delicious sandwiches we checked each others teeth to make sure there were no random green things. All good!

And of course I did not leave my favorite store empty-handed.

I fell in love with the vibrant blue and asymmetric cut.

My new shirt is as vibrant as beets.

This was my first time roasting golden beets. I can’t explain how excited I was! Something about beautiful foods just gets to me. I roasted the beets and tossed them in olive oil, sea salt, and black pepper. Then I whipped up a honey-dijon vinaigrette and sprinkled on some goat cheese. Next time I will make some candied pecans to go with this!

Also a very colorful bowl: sweet potato and butternut squash soup with coconut milk.

I almost always prefer thick soups to broths.

With this post I can see that the artist in me never disappears.

I am just naturally drawn to colors! I cooked some rotini, and simmered zucchini, red onion, cannellini beans, red bell pepper in a tomato sauce with balsamic vinegar. Then I garnished it with fresh basil, sliced sun-dried tomatoes, toasted pine nuts, goat cheese, and a drizzle of white truffle oil. Later on I also threw in some parmesan and the taste just made sense. Don’t forget the ground black pepper!

Very very appetizing.

How appetizing?

Buon appetito! Ne voglio ancora?

“Are there any seconds?”

For dinner I wanted to do something special...

Matilda was of course included!

This was the star of the show that night.

I cracked open a book of mine that I have unintentionally been neglecting, The Conscious Cook by Chef Tal Ronnen!

Very Green Salad with Cucumber, Kohlrabi, Sweet Onion and Herb Vinaigrette

This salad was perfect for eating outside and cooling down our bodies. Making the herb vinaigrette was so pleasant, and I couldn’t help but breathe in the sweet aroma of all the herbs and other ingredients. Eating the raw kohlrabi brought back memories of having it so many times when I was still living in Germany. Do any of you have any familiar tastes that make you nostalgic?

After eating our dinner we just sat around in the backyard and listened to the soothing sounds of bossa nova and a rain storm. It was incredibly relaxing and perfect for unwinding on a Friday evening. I believe summer is here and this oh-so chic little lady explained the feelings of this sweltering season perfectly: “I love those days when you actually prefer to ask for frapuccinos or something that has to do with ice or ice cream, and when the only “hot” thing allowed… is YOU. (all of you, not just me).”

And one more thing I’d like to share to mark the days of more sun