Birthday Party, Grocery Finds, Vegan Sweet Treats, Gratitude

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Happy Hump Day!  We’re halfway there and I am really looking forward to the weekend!  I’ve got some cool yoga classes lined up, but we are also going to throw Skylar’s 3rd Birthday Party

Large number 3 birthday candle

Birthday Party supplies on countertop

When I say party, I should really define that as an intimate celebrationWhy?  Because we’re new in town and don’t know too many people, so it will just be the three of us, and that’s totally fine by me.  More desserts for us…haha!  Thanks to everyone who chimed in with all your special memories about the parties you had as kids!  The birthday girl has requested cupcakes so that’s what it shall be and other than that, I am in girly-girl birthday party planning mode!  Any more tips??

Up close of young girls face smilingYoung girl leaning toward countertop smiling

I’m glad you enjoyed yesterday’s post about my Yoga Class with the Yoga Master Dharma Mittra & the words of wisdom he had that I shared.
Woman standing with Dharma MittraDharma Mittra addressing crowd

And of course I know you loved the Raw Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls, too!

Overhead of Raw Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough BallsClose up of two Raw Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls
Melts in your Mouth, Not in your Hands!
Stacked Raw Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls in clear container

And Thanks for Giving me your Perspective on PatienceAnd what’s easy and what’s challenging for you to be patient with.  I like hearing everyone’s take on topics like that!

Moving on to a few grocery finds…
I picked up these little crackers that were on sale for $1.99 in the organic section of the regular grocery store.  Michael Season’s Baked Multigrain Chips.

Baked Original Multigrain Chips in bag

They are wheat and gluten free, although Skylar and Scott don’t have to be gluten-free, as I mentioned before, wheat & gluten are inflammatory and harder to digest for everyone, so I try to keep it to a minimum around here.

Chips showing Wheat and Gluten Free
Overhead of chips in hand

And while I was at the grocery, I stocked up Sale-Priced Fruit

Grapes

Red grapesGreen grapes

Cherries!  I love cherries and haven’t had any in about 6 months!  

Hand holding cherry
Cherries in bag

They still weren’t exactly cheap, but they were on sale and that was good enough.  And they were perfectly crunchy & juicy…ewww! to mushy fruit!

Close up of hand holding cherry

Strawberries were on sale for $1.88 for 2 pints!

Sliced strawberries

Skylar Loves Her Berries!  Yay for Strawberries!  
Still sick, but happy nonetheless!

Young girl standing in front of wall with arms up
Close up of sliced strawberries

And Greenery.  Not on sale but essential!
Brock & Sugar Snap Peas

Heads of broccoli in bagBag of sugar snap peas

TJ’s lettuce mix, organic peas, and a yellow pepper

Lettuce mix, peas and yellow pepper

And a red pepper

Diced up red pepper in bag

I also love gum.  I know, classy to be chomping away, but there are worse things, right!  Anyway, these are my newest obsessions.  The Extra Family Fruit Sensations. 

Various packages of Extra Fruit Sensations gum

The lowdown:
The Mango Smoothie tastes like an Orange Creamsicle, more orange than mango, really good
The Island Cooler is faint, pineapple/mango-ish, and is very light in flavor, and is the most subtle of all four
The Watermelon is a big Pop! of Sweet Watermelon flavor
And the Strawberry-Banana tastes more strawberry than banana and is also a pretty “big” flavor like the watermelon.  
Nothing worse than bland gum!  Or gum that loses it’s flavor in 30 seconds!  For the gum chewers and connoisseurs, what’s your fave these days?

Here was a bowl of greenery I savored:
Everything was raw except the Brussles Sprouts which were steamed for 1 minute.  Brock, sugar snap peas, carrots, tomatoes, yellow peppers, romaine, cukes

Mixed salad with Vegan Slaw Dressing

Dressed With a Fresh Batch of Vegan Slaw Dressing that I made yesterday

Overhead of jar of Vegan Slaw Dressing
Side view of lidded jar of Vegan Slaw Dressing
Close up of salad topped with Vegan Slaw Dressing

Oh, Remember the Tempt Ice Cream from my  Grocery & Mailbox Finds Post?

Two containers of Tempt Ice Cream, Mint Chip and Vanilla Bean

Scott, the resident ice cream connoisseur not to be confused with me the gum connoisseur, says that it’s “Amazing!”  I don’t throw that word around lightly.  This is a man who used to enjoy his full-dairy, full-fat, Green & Black’s Organic Dark Chocolate ice cream and tons of specialty high end ice cream before I transformed him into a non-dairy guy, so for him to give this 2 Thumbs Up, that’s really saying something. 

Open containers of Tempt Ice Cream
I am not the best judge of ice cream because I prefer balls, any day.
 Chocolate cookie dough balls
 Close up of cookie dough balls in container
For Dessert, for Scott, because that ice cream is long gone, I got busy with a batch of Raw Vegan Chocolate Coconut Snowballs
Raw Vegan Chocolate Coconut Snowballs in white bowl
I generally make a batch fill up 4 bowls with the chocolate snowballs
Four bowls of Raw Vegan Chocolate Coconut Snowballs
And then he can grab out of the freezer, as needed.
Close up of Raw Vegan Chocolate Coconut Snowballs in bowl
Which is kinda dangerous because these are delish!
For my dessert, I snagged a No-Bake, Gluten-Free Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bar
 
Overhead of Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bar
Side view of Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bar

Shoutout to Danielle who made these and so did Tess and so did…hmmm.  Ok, having major Alzheimer’s Moment here.  There were at least a couple other people who made these…I swear to you, once upon a time I was magna cum laude.  Now I can’t remember everyone who made these.  I apologize!!!!!  My excuse: playing nursemaid with not enough sleep to a sick kiddie!

Close up of end of Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bar

Yoga Today is Camel (Ustrasana).  Open your heart chakra, let the love in.  And give extra special thanks & gratitude to the Universe this week for all the lovely blessings you DO HAVE in your life today!  Even if life isn’t perfect, there’s always something to be grateful for.  What are you grateful for today? 
Woman doing Ustrasana yoga pose

Tip of the Day:  Be Grateful!  I am grateful that I have an awesome little girl, who still happens to be sick boo-hoo but we’re rockin’ the natural treatments for colds like extra vitamin C, zinc, ginger, and extra antioxidants, I’m grateful for my husband, and all the new friends I have made in the blogosphere since I started blogging!  I am so grateful to all you guys who are always reading, leaving supportive comments, and encouraging words!!!!!  Thank You!!!!

Also if you’re into Vega, here’s a way to Save:

Save 15% on all Vega Sport
products at the Sequel eStore.
Enter promo code VNEWS-SPORT
at checkout. Offer valid through February 14, 2010.
Click here to Shop Now!

Have you tried Vega?  Do you like it?  Do you like their Bars? Or their other products

What’s your Favorite Gum if you’re a gum chewer?  I’d like to get more into mints, tooAny recommendations on mints?  Before I walk into teach a yoga class, which I need to hustle because I have to go teach a 5:30pm heated power flow class, it’s nice to have a mint, ya know?  But, I don’t like anything too strong and overwhelmingly pepperminty though.  I don’t want my eyes watering or anything!

What are you Grateful for Today?

Stay Tuned For Yummy Eats…

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Comments

  1. Those white PB cups are GORGEOUS! And I sooo can't wait to see more pics of Skylar's birthday!! :) Have a great evening darlin'!

  2. that picture of skylar with the cupcake is precious :) sounds like a fabulous bash!

    and those pb cups?? my my, fantastic!!!

  3. Oh man I hope I'm your secret valentine!!!! I'm sending mine locally-made gifties but not homemade – no time for that (she says just having taken a two-hour nap).

  4. aw the birthday princess looks beautiful as usual :) I love Target .. it's my go-to one stop shop place. I could literally get lost in there for hours (read: days)

    I have actually never been a fan of white chocolate (gasp!) but you may have converted me. Those PB cups look killer!

    keep on keepin' in with the yoga grl — 500 hours?! woo-wee.. you're amaze!

    hugs and kisses <3

  5. The white chocolate chip cups look sooo good. I saw your older post on these and I tried to make them..but didn't really follow the instructions that well…they definitely did not come out as pretty as yours. I am going to have to try them again. I like how detailed you make the instructions and the pictures are so nice. Your daughter is such a lucky girl to have so many tasty (and healthy) treats around the house :)

  6. hey averie! oh my gosh once again you have got me drooling at your amazingness. those pb cups look delicious! aww happy birthday to sweet little skylar(: i did yoga with my mom today & tried some poses you have posted! so thank you for that(; xoxo soph

  7. Skylar is adorable- She is a lucky girl!
    I think a big bag of your homemade goodies would be the perfect present.
    I've never really celebrated valentines day, so no plans over here. I'm thinking it's a good excuse to make some chocolate treats though ;)

  8. So glad Skylar had a fun birthday party! Sounds like she deserved that cupcake, though all your vegan goodies are even better in my book!

    Homemade goodies are always the best! I'd rather eat something delicious that I know someone put effort into then get a whole slew of storebought stuff. Plus, those cups look DANG good! I can't decide between white and dark, so I'd go with both!

    BF and I still don't have solid V-Day plans, but we've agreed to do something stupid and funny rather than sappy and romantic. Of course, I'd love sappy and romantic, but the guy took me to a vegan restaurant this month, so I can't complain :) It's the time spent together that counts, right?

    Have a great week and happy birthday to Skylar!

  9. Skylar looks so excited! fun!!!

    I'd grab up both, the white and mixed goodies. Yummy!

    As for receiving something in the mail for valentines day; I've always thought that homemade gifts were the sweetest kind. =)

    We don't usually do anything for Valentines day. However, this year Chinese New Year fall on Feb. 14…so we'll be having our big ol' Chinese New Year bash. =)

  10. omg a big bag of homemade goodies would be the best gift ever!!! but if u want to do a gift card, target or starbucks would be useful! you are so talented- those pb cups look beyond amazing! loveee them. i would want white and dark! and idk what me and the boy are doing for valentines day yet!
    xoxo
    shelley
    oh, and you are such a great mom! Averie will for sure read thsi one day and looove every post!

  11. Happy Birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Skylar………Happy Birthday to you!!!! Skylar, I hope you are having a very happy birthday!!

    Thanks for the coleslaw and pnut butter cup recipies. Yummie is all I can say!! The coleslaw dressing is THE BEST…wish I had the talent to make a ranch dressing that tastes a good as this.

  12. Ohhhhhh, Averie. It is going to be so hard for me to read your blog during my sugar challenge. Talk about being self-masochistic!!!! Oh well…it will be part of the challenge, I suppose :-)

  13. Local and homemade food is the best gift to recieve in my opinion
    Omg where did this weekend go? Homework homework homework!
    Happy birthday to Skylar! Gotta love a good cupcake.
    I just placed an order from iherb. All I got was Nunaturals vanilla stevia but all it cost me was 5.99 so I ain't complaining woot woot!
    What else… Oh. I need to add those peanut butter cups to my to-make list. And now I need to go because I leave things in the dorm oven for wayyyy too long

  14. Holy….wow do those look good Averie. Just perfect. I haven't seen that chocolate before, I'll have to keep an eye out. In the past I've ordered the chips online, but it was such a hassle.

    I can't get my arms far enough through my legs to lift up in that pose yet. Yet! I'll get there :)

  15. Those peanut butter cups look devine!! I would use sunbutter instead since I can't have peanuts. I think I might like to try one with white and dark chocolate! Happy Birthday again to your little cuttie! Three is such a wonderful age! So fun to hang out with!

    We don't do anything for Valentines day although I usually make a little gift to send with my son Jupiter to school for his classmates and teachers and we always have some candy hearts!

  16. A big bag of homemade goodies from you would put the biggest smile on my face! I don't know anyone who would think otherwise. ;)