Product Review Post!

Long time no post huh? I’ve been super busy with school and everything that I’ve just not had time. Things that have been going on…Halloween was a blast. I went to a party, hit up McDonalds, then my friends slept over. I didn’t eat anything at McDonalds…except a fry *hides head in shame*. I haven’t had anything from that so-called restaurant in about 2 years, but I don’t feel guilty about it. I was living in the moment and one fry won’t kill me.   

I got accepted into California State University Los Angeles! I’m beyond excited to go out there and while I’m still applying to other colleges, I’m so happy I got in. That just makes me one step closer to getting out there!

While I’ve been away, I’ve had multiple new products to try. I thought I would just combine them all into a monster post to make everything a little easier. First up…ice cream :)

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This is Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss Ice Cream in Vanilla Island. Bliss is right! This stuff is just perfection. Rich is the first word that pops into my head. It tastes just like dairy ice cream! The texture is spot on and the flavor was full of sweet vanilla. Since I haven’t had store-bought ice cream in a long time, this was almost too sweet for me. But I quickly got used to it and enjoyed every last bite.

Here is my favorite way to eat the ice cream...on top of oats! The ice cream melted into a pool of luscious tropical cream and paired with the pecans and dark chocolate, it tasted like a decadent s’more.

Up next is a product I just bought today, Trader Joe’s Smooth and Creamy Classic Hummus. I have seen this brand around the blog world, but only found it today. The consistency was definitely smooth and creamy and it has a pleasant lemony undertone.

I put it on top of a Salad for lunch today. Included in the salad was a grilled portobello mushroom cap and Tasty Green Beans. The green beans recipe was fabulous. I have never had leeks before, but they will be part of my weekly grocery purchases from now on.

The next product I sampled was from Nutridel, which makes crunchy, gourmet, vegan cookies. This company is great and I was smitten from the first time I laid eyes on their website. Nutridel’s products are 100% natural, contain no additives, preservatives, artificial colorings, flavorings, or sweeteners. They are packed with seeds, grains, nuts, fiber, and sweetened with molasses. They are also low in calories. They are vegan and come in four flavors: oatmeal, flaxseed, almond, and pecan. The flavors I was so lucky to receive were almond and pecan.

The first flavor I tried was the Almond. First off, the texture is glorious. Now, I’m not a fan of crunchy cookies, but these were thin and perfectly crispy. I absolutely loved the chunks of almonds and the almond extract really made this cookie special. It just gave it that little oomph that almonds alone couldn’t have done.

The Pecan flavor was my favorite out of the two. It was a little less sweet, and had a nuttier flavor the the almond cookie. It had the same great crunch and was easy to break apart without getting crumbs everywhere. I would definitely buy these cookies again and I can’t wait to try the other 2 flavors. I would give them two thumbs up!

The final product I will be reviewing is Matter of Flax, Flax Crisps in Italian flavor. I absolutely love flax crisps and haven’t been able to buy them from the usual restaurant I go to. I saw these at Whole Foods and immediately placed them in my cart.

These chips were delicious! A nice crunch, just the right amount of seasoning, and a decent amount of crisps in each bag (I hate when you buy chips, only to find the bag half full!). I ate them plain most of the time, but also used them in salads, as seen in the picture above.

Hopefully I can get back to posting regularly soon. I’ve been having some trouble with food lately but I’m getting through it and staying healthy. I need to get out of this food rut and start cooking again!

Enjoy your weekend! xoxo

Edit to add: Chocolate-Covered Katie is having a “Your-Choice Giveaway!”. You could win a magic bullet..or a spiralizer! Click here to enter. Also, check out this post and spread the love <3

Straight From the Garden

Trader Joe’s Garden Patch Veggie Soup.   

How I love thee. Let me count the ways.

With baked potato and carrot fries.

With roasted asparagus (which was tossed in coconut oil, s&p, and roasted at 425* for 15 minutes) brown rice, and red pepper flakes.

With sautéed kale (tossed with olive oil, and s&p) and a hummus (3-layer from TJ’s) + spinach sandwich dipped in ‘til the bread gets soggy.

I finished 3/4 of the carton by the end of yesterday and today my lovely mother bought 3 more cartons for the rest of the week. I’m officially obsessed with this soup. It’s not too tomato-y and it has a pleasant green taste that is not overpowering in the slightest. It’s high in iron, low in calories, and has 2 servings of vegetables per serving. I highly recommend this soup when you’re not in the mood to make your own. Though I have to admit…this is better than any vegetable soup I’ve ever made!

As you all know from my last post, I’ve been sick since Saturday. It’s been miserable. I was going to go to school today because we had a field trip to the Shakespeare Theater but I woke up feeling gross so I had to miss it. I hate missing out but I’m glad I stayed home, ate my soup, and rested because I feel a lot better now. Not 100% but getting there. Thank you all for your well wishes, and seriously…go buy that soup!

The First of Many Lasts

No captions of the food today, I have something else to share at the end of this post. Just enjoy and if you have any questions about my meals, don’t be afraid to ask! :)

Last night was my last high school football game. It was an away game, and it was pouring rain. The temperature had to be below 40* and in addition to the amount of rain coming down, it was coming down sideways. I had on 4 layers…a tank top, underarmor, a t-shirt, and a big hoodie. I also had gloves on and a my hood up. It was beyond freezing. The rain did not stop all night and I looked like a little blonde ninja with only my eyes showing. We hid in the bathroom during halftime, cheered on our boys, and watched as our team ended in defeat one last time. I might have complained, but I was not leaving. I wanted to see them play up until the last second. Afterwards the boys high-fived the other team and came around to the chain link fence to be congratulated on their great effort one last time. As all the guys fist-bumped or high-fived their fans, we were there offering encouraging words of support while their faces showed signs of pain and sadness. Afterwards we went to a favorite restaurant, cured our empty stomachs, and enjoyed this event for one last time. There were no grumpy faces anymore, only smiles and loud laughter.

Sure I’m sick now, with an achy body and a sore throat from all the screaming I did at the game…but I’m not complaining anymore because those are the memories I will remember forever. Now I’m going to sleep and sleep some more, enjoy your weekend everyone!

~S~

Bloggers: What Would I Do Without You?!

Oh my lovies! What a week it has been. I’ve had some good things happen, some not so good things happen, but all in all I’m enjoying myself. The fall weather is not something I want to jump up and down for, but I’m dealing with it by bundling up as much as possible. My school still hasn’t won a game and yesterday was our last home game. For us seniors, our last home game ever. I don’t really know how I feel about it, I’m sad because I’m having so much fun…but I’m happy because I’m closer to getting out. Right now I’m trying to live in the moment and stop worrying about everything that might happen later. Tonight I’m going out again with some friends, probably to see a movie. The Stepfather anyone?! Penn is adorable!

My eats have been nothing special, although I am trying to start cooking again. I’ve also had to start taking my iron supplement again, I’m not a fan of the raccoon eyes and the miniscule amounts of sleep I’ve been getting. I’ve just felt so lethargic lately and I don’t know why, but I’m craving TONS of fruit. Like, I could just make a meal out of it, it’s that bad. I have no idea what that is though, any ideas?

Starting off with some yum…

Eggplant Fries! Idea is from mah gurlll Erin :) What a brillant mamacita she is, these things were so delicious. Crispy, creamy on the inside, and no bitterness at all. Love them!

A HEAB original, Asian Fusion Oats. I made a serving of oats topped with Tahini, Agave, and Miso stirred in. It was so delicious and a very unique flavor combination.

Something arrived for me in the mail the other day that I was extatic about! Averie (she has the prettiest name!) sent me a box-o-goodies straight from her kitchen.

Macaroons! These were delightful! Perfectly balanced between sweet and nutty, these coconut treats would be perfect any time of day. I literally ate them in 2 minutes flat.

As you can see on the list, I got Donut Holes too…but I was a bad blogger and ate them all before I could snap a picture! Trust me though, pure deliciousness!

I’ve been getting baby sweet potatoes from TJ’s for small side dishes and snacks. This was part of my dinner, and in a true VeggieGirl fashion, I smothered my baked sweet potatoes with coconut oil and cinnamon. I swear it was just like buttah! Sweet but not overly so, and a little spicy from the cinnamon. Yum!

Bloggers have been inspiring my meals almost all week, this morning I enjoyed a Breakfast Salad a la Gina. I never thought to have a salad that early but I LOVED it. I forgot what was included in the salad but the dressing on top is the Lemisoni dressing I love so much.

After lounging around all morning, I decided I wanted a little snack. I cut up a Fresh Pear from the farmer’s market and topped it with Almond Butter. The pear was juicy and sweet, and the earthy, roasted almond butter made it the perfect combination.

I’m going to go get ready to go out, but enjoy your weekend sweets!

xoxo

Stuck in my Head

Hello loves! How has your three day weekend been? Mine was okay. I wasn’t allowed to go out because I had to fill out college applications. I have 2 done so far, which I’m excited about. My mom is freaking out more than I am though! I’m pretty confident and I really do believe everything happens for a reason. I did get to go out Friday though. I went to see the game and we were totally dominated. I think the final score was 49-0…yikes. I still love going though and showing my support. I’m really going to miss the games, next week is my last home game, ever! :( I’ve also been filling out cap & gown orders…crazy! I’m so ready to get out of here, but at the same time it’s sad.

I’ve been enjoying really simple meals lately. I bet you’ve noticed I’ve lost my cooking mojo, hopefully it will be back soon. I feel so lazy! The picture above is a Stir-fry Salad filled with fresh romaine lettuce, sauteed broccoli, zucchini, peas, spinach, and brown rice. The dressing on top is the Lemisoni Dressing I saw on HEAB’s blog. I’ve never had tahini before (except in hummus), and I love it! The roasted taste is a little bitter so maybe I’ll try to find raw next time, other than that, the dressing was the perfect balance between sweet, tangy, and creamy.

A simple dinner I enjoyed the other night was my first B-Nut Fries of the season! I still prefer Sweet P fries (which reminds me, I must get some soon!), but these were a great stand in. Ketchup was a must and I also had 1/2 of an avocado on the side.

I know, I know. I haven’t baked in MONTHS! It was really weird baking again since I prefer my desserts raw, but once I saw VeggieGirl’s Banana B-Nut Pecan Bread, I knew I had to make it. It was really simple to put together and the smell coming from the oven was just over the top. The only change I made was to use the NuNaturals’ Stevia Baking Blend. I couldn’t wait to try it in…

My oatmeal! This bowl contained 1/2 cup oats, 1 cup water, cinnamon, 2 tbsp applesauce, 1 slice of Banana B-nut Bread, and 1 scoop Cashew Butter. Wow. The flavors of this breakfast treat were sweet and rich. The nutty bread, the cool applesauce, and the smooth cashew butter made my taste buds swoon! But then again, anything covered in Cashew Butter is scrumptious.

Here is another Stir-fry Salad. Basically I just put lettuce on the bottom, filled the bowl with stir-fried veggies, and topped it with more Lemisoni Dressing. Yum.

My breakfast this morning was a bowl of Pumpkin-Coconut Oats. I used 1/3 cup oat bran, 1 cup Gingerbread Cookie tea, pumpkin pie spice, lots of cinnamon, 1/2 scoop Sun Warrior Vanilla Protein Powder, 1/3 cup pumpkin, a sprinkle of coconut, and a large handful of pecans. It was the perfect way to wake up on this chilly morning.

I just want to say THANK YOU for all of your sweet comments on my last post. Ya’ll are too kind! ;) My face literally looked like this after reading each comment…

:)

Do you ever have those days where you just can’t get a song out of your head? Well, that has been me for the last 2 weeks. I always have a song stuck in my head and these are some of my latest obsessions…

Whatcha Say- Jason DeRulo (my favorite song)

Wop- J. Dash

White Houses- Vanessa Carlton

Replay- Iyaz

Hide and Seek- Imogen Heap

What are your song obsessions?

Homecoming Recap!

Good evening (or morning or afternoon). How are you?! It’s been a while but homecoming was phenomenal! Definitely the best homecoming I’ve gone to. We went to On the Border at around 5pm, went to the dance from 7-10, then back to my friend’s house to watch movies. Has anyone seen The Descent?! SCARY! I couldn’t even finish it, I’m such a big baby. Anyway, I know you are dying to see pics so…

 

The top left is me in mah dresss. The top right is me and my best friend (check out my shoes!). The picture on the bottom is of the whole group we went with, I’m 3rd from the right on the couch.

Just to clear up any confusion…I went solo. I actually loved it because I could dance with my friends and whoever I wanted.

I haven’t been eating as many good foods as I’d like (I’ve been eating easy and quick foods such as apples & nut butter, or carrot sticks and guac. A substantial meal that I have been eating is oatmeal…and lots of it!

Here is my Banana Brulee Oatbran with Pecans and 70% Dark Chocolate. So yummy!

More Banana Brulee Oats, this time topped with almonds and shredded coconut.

And Pumpkin Oats have returned! This time topped with AB and Dark Chocolate. I’m going to try and limit myself to 1 can a week to prevent from turning completely orange!

Tomorrow I have a football game, then Saturday I’m going to Chicago. Sunday and Monday should be good for relaxing…or doing homework. Oh and I almost forgot! At school we have this group called The Squad. The upperclassmen all come out and support the football team by gathering in a group and starting chants. We get t-shirts every year except I thought the design was ugly and didn’t buy one. I am so glad I didn’t because…

This is what was drawn on the shirt. Can you see what I (and every other kid in my school) sees? I guess no one noticed it when it was chosen. But I do wonder if the girl who drew it knew what it looked like. I’m baffled by the stripes on the “arm”…we’re the wildcats, which don’t even have stripes! Oh and I crossed out the letters in the middle just for privacy. Don’t want any creepers coming around my house! haha

I’m off to do homework and watch Project Runway. I just had a snack which consisted of 2 carrots, 1 Brown Rice Wrap, and 1/2 a container of hummus. Tell me I’m not crazy for consuming that much hummus in one sitting…

Have a fabulous weekend loves!!! xoxo

Oh Baby!

Hello my loves! How is everyone’s week going so far? I’ve been blessed with almost no homework these past two days, except for studying. I took the essay portion of my AP Bio test today and I’m pretty sure I rocked it, hopefully I can do the same on the multiple choice portion tomorrow.

I know I don’t usually post in the middle of the week but this weekend is going to be insane. Friday = Football Game, Saturday = Dance + Sleepover, and Sunday = Six Flags. I can already tell Monday will be hell at school. I’m going to be so tired! But it’s all worth it :) I’ll make sure to snap some pictures too!   

Over here at mi casa, I’ve been eating Banana-Coconut Soft Serve like it’s nobody’s business. It’s just that good. Here I topped it with Pecans and Dark Chocolate. I don’t care how cold it gets, I’ll put on 50 sweaters just to eat this stuff! Mmm.

I made a lovely lunch the other day, which I am also eating for dinner right now because it was so tasty. First I roasted some Carrot Fries, Asparagus Spears, and a Portobello Mushroom in Coconut Oil, S&P. Then I heated up some leftover rice to go with it. Can you believe I’ve never roasted veggies (or anything in the oven) in oil before? What was I thinking?!

The coconut oil gave the veggies a pleasant, light flavor and made them extra crispy and delicious. I will never use cooking spray again.

Another new meal I have tried this week was an idea from Gena, Sprouted Grain toast with coconut oil and cinnamon. I added some stevia to mine and it turned out scrumptious! Just like the Cinnamon Toast I remember as a kid, but way healthier!

Oh, and some big news! My older brother (he’s 20) just had his first baby with his girlfriend. You all didn’t really know about it since I’m not close with my brother at all. I won’t get into it, but we don’t like his girlfriend either…she’s a bit (for lack of a better word) trashy. But I am happy for him and his new baby girl…it’s so weird to think I’m an aunt!

I’m off to go study, enjoy your night! xoxo

I’ve Gone Bananas!

Hello beautiful readers! How have you all been? I’ve been doing fabulously thanks for asking :)

School has been going good, a lot of homework but it all pays off. I got the highest score in the class on my AP Bio Lab Report. I was totally shocked because a.) I have never written a lab report before and b.) I didn’t do it until the day before it was due. I guess procrastination pays off! I went to the game last night which we lost…37-0. Yeah, it’s pretty embarrassing but whatever, it’s fun to just hang out. I got home around midnight and almost just passed out on my comfy bed, but I was a good girl and washed my makeup off and brushed my teeth. Then I crashed and slept until *drum roll please* 9:30am! I know, big deal right? But I haven’t been able to sleep past 7-8 in a really long time. I was so proud.

Today was pretty chill. I went to the store with my cousin to find my homecoming dress. I found the dress in less than an hour. Now I don’t know about you, but it takes me AGES to find the perfect dress. I guess I just had luck on my side today. I know you all will hate me for this but…I’m not going to show you the dress until after homecoming. I just want you all to see it with the shoes and hair and accessories. So just hold your horses until October 4th, which is the day after the dance.

FOOD! and why I choose that post title…

I love bananas. I LOVE them. I’m so glad I got to start eating them again without stomach problems because for breakfast everyday this week, I have had Banana Softserve! I love Gena’s recipe, but I tweaked it a little by adding cold coconut milk (which was inspired by this recipe). This stuff is amazing. I could eat it everyday and not get sick of it, which is what I have been doing actually. It’s creamy, light, sweet, refreshing, and filling. Perfection, even on those cold, crisp mornings. Here I topped it with TJ’s Dark Chocolate w/ Almonds…

And here I topped it with raw pecans. Today I combined both dark chocolate and pecans on top and it was insanely delicious.

I’ve also been eating bananas in my oatmeal! Katie’s Banana Brulee Oats are my new obsession and I eat them for dinner frequently now. The banana gets so melty in the microwave that whenever I take it out I say “Smooth like buttah”. No really, I do. It gives the oats so much flavor and sweetness. Topped with coconut and almond butter, this bowl has made my favorite oatmeal combinations list.

Don’t you think for one second that I’ve been skimping on the veggies though! With school and everything I’ve just been throwing together salads and stir-fries so my food is ready to eat, fast!

Tonight’s stir-fry included…brown rice + quinoa mixture, broccoli, carrots, zucchini, corn, and tons of spices. It was so full of flavor and oh so delicious. I also had 2 slices of TJ’s sprouted grain bread with AB on top. Now my belly is happy and I am ready to get started on yet another lab report. I’m such a party animal ;)

Enjoy your weekend loves! xoxo

I've Been a Bad, Bad Blogger!

Hello my loves! I have missed you so much! I'm so so very sorry I have been missing, but the truth is...I totally needed a break. Not that I don't love you all, but it was just too overwhelming with everything that was/has been going on in my life. I've been going through some drama (which is all good now), getting ready for homecoming, and studying. I still don't have my dress! Any ideas where I could get a cute, original dress? I'm not sure I want one from the mall since I might risk seeing someone else in the same outfit! That would be a tragedy.

We had a football game Friday which we lost (what else is new), but it was so much fun. It's weird how much things have changed in the span of a year. I lived in AZ at this time last year! I'm so happy that we moved back though because I couldn't be more comfortable where I am right now. Sometimes change is definitely for the better.

I don't have any pictures tonight since I've been super busy, but I want to get back into blogging regularly again so starting this week I'll have some delicious goodies to show you all. Oatmeal is back with a vengeance! :)

Oh and for some reason by Google Reader totally blanked and all the blogs I followed are now gone! If I used to comment on your blog and you've noticed me missing, tell me in the comments so I can add you on again. I've got some back up but not everyone yet.

I hope you all have a wonderful night! xoxo

Let Me Hear That Crunch!

Hey loves, remember me? Sorry I have been gone so long, life happens. AP Bio has taken over my life, Spanish 2 has proven to be a little hard for me to follow, and Friday night football games have me out late. But hey, I’m not complaining. I’m having an amazing time so far. Homecoming is in three weeks, which means dress shopping soon! Any idea for moi? I’m not sure if I’ll have a date (I’m waiting for someone to ask me), but if not I’ll just go with friends. I only have 2 hard classes where I really have to devote myself to every night but the rest are easy peasy. I hope that everyone who has started up school again is having just as much fun as I am! I have to refrain myself from thinking about graduation, because even though I always say I want to get out as soon as I can, I’m really going to miss it.

So I promised a product review on my last post and finally got my computer to connect to the internet. About 2 weeks ago, I got a package from Kathy at Raw Crunch. I was so amazed at what I found! A whole box of assorted Raw Crunch Bars, The Raw Crunch Diet book, and The Raw Crunch Workout DVD. Spoiled much?   

The book is just awesome. It’s simple, to the point, and not confusing like some raw books can be. I love how personable Kathy is in her writing, which makes the lifestyle seem to easy. I learned a bit more information about nutrition and fitness from her book, and I love how she backed up her theory on the diet with facts. I have not tried the DVD yet (I need to get an exercise ball!) but I did run through it and it seems like a great workout. I love working my bootay ;)

The flavors of the bars I received were Organic Dark Chocolate, Organic Goji Berries, Organic Wild Blueberries, and Organic Cranberries. I didn’t get many pictures as they disappeared, FAST.

My favorite by far was the Dark Chocolate. It was just sweet enough, with tons of chunky chocolate pieces. The crunch of these bars is really unbelievable. Not like you are going to break your teeth on it, but a really nice snack-y bar to satisfy that craving.

I don’t buy them because they are too expensive, but I LOVE goji berries. This bar was the perfect balance between sweet, tart, salty, and nutty. I love how the bars contain a bit of sea salt because when I can taste just that tiny hint in each bite, it sends my tastebuds over the edge!

Here is a closer look at the bar itself. Full of heart healthy nuts, seeds, and dried blueberries. I’m sad to say these bars are now long gone, but I hope to order more soon! I hate to diss all the other bars out there, but these are my favorite bars of all time. You really have to order some, they are just that good.

Just letting all you vegans know: These bars contain honey. I don’t usually eat honey and I never cook with it, but I made an exception for these bars. Kathy told me that “our honey is hand harvested and our bee keeper is passionate about the wellbeing of the bees and does not smoke them out”. So I feel a bit better for consuming a tiny amount of it. Thank you so much for sending me these samples Kathy!

I hope you all are having a fantastic weekend and that your upcoming week goes well. Remember: Gossip Girl starts up again TOMORROW NIGHT! I’m so excited, you have no idea. OMFG.