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!
When I say party, I should really define that as an intimate celebration. Why? 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??
And of course I know you loved the Raw Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls, too!
And Thanks for Giving me your Perspective on Patience. And 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.
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.
And while I was at the grocery, I stocked up Sale-Priced Fruit
Grapes
Cherries! I love cherries and haven’t had any in about 6 months!
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!
Strawberries were on sale for $1.88 for 2 pints!
Skylar Loves Her Berries! Yay for Strawberries!
Still sick, but happy nonetheless!
And Greenery. Not on sale but essential!
Brock & Sugar Snap Peas
TJ’s lettuce mix, organic peas, and a yellow pepper
And a red pepper
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.
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
Dressed With a Fresh Batch of Vegan Slaw Dressing that I made yesterday
Oh, Remember the Tempt Ice Cream from my Grocery & Mailbox Finds Post?
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.
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!
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, too. Any 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…
Oh my word, those peanut butter cups looks AWESOME. Is it wrong that I want one even though it's breakfast time? I love anything that's gluten-free, vegan, and homemade, espec if it's dark chocolate themed.
Happy birthday little Skylar!
Valentines day will be spent with the inlaws. But I'm going to bake some heart-shaped cookies for everyone to share.
Hmm, I've never been a big white chocolate fan, but I think halfing it with dark chocolate would be delightful!
I think a big box of homemade goodies would be wonderful! You could also consider some specialty ingredients, like nooch, chia seeds, liquid flavored stevia, etc.
Valentines plans… don't think of anything special in the works. Not too exciting, huh?
Awh, what a lovely birthday for such a cutie pie. :)
Your peanut butter cups look divine! What kind of peanut butter do you use? It looks so light in color and creamyyyy.
Happy Birthday, Skylar!!
WOW they are so perfect!!!
We will be in Portland with a dear friend and her hubby and brand new baby for V-day. Ironically we spent last year with that same couple (sans baby) in Palm Springs! Perhaps starting a tradition :-)
Chocolate please. I can only hope I'm your secret valentine. :-)
Glad Skylar enjoyed her first ever cupcake!
Happy Happy Birthday to my favorite 3 year old in Phoenix! I don't have a day off until I get back from NYC, but I will be dying to catch up when I get back!
Your desserts always look so delicious!! I want! I covet! Congrats about the yoga training teacher program. Someday that's something I'd really like to try. You'd be happy to know that my yoga practice has only increased since coming to school…I go 4 times a week now, as opposed to one or two. I'm addicted!! :-)
I am dying for a peanut butter cup right now! I may just try to make them if I can dig up some cupcake liners. Awesome recipe!!
Glad Skylar had a great b-day party! She looks adorably eyeing the desserts. I don't even like white chocolate, but I could totally go for your half-white/half-dark cups. They look wonderful Averie!
And I may be young, but alas, I have no V-day plans. Any nice single men in NY wanna take me out?
I used to fall into the "young things" age group, but sadly, I think I am no longer a member…
I am a dark chocolate all the way girl. Did you know that white chocolate isn't really chocolate. Heard that on NPR. I soooo need to make those pb cups.
And, yes, the applesauce I posted about definitely reminds me of my grandmother too! What is it about midwesterners and making their own applesauce? I was thinking that a vitamix would work much faster as I was typing away! Lucky you… :D
Happy birthday to Skylar!!!! I haven't forgotten the apron (*blushes*).
Based on all your recipes, I'd say a stash of your baked goods would be an awesome gift! I've got to stop making so many of your desserts…they're stocking up in my fridge and I can't eat 'em fast enough! I would love to have one of the dark chocolate/white chocolate peanut butter cups – I love my dark chocolate!
We are celebrating Valentine's Day a little late because we are booked that weekend. Jon just booked us a hotel in Dallas and we're going to just spend time together for two days straight. I can't wait! It's not until March, though.
averie you are a goddess…all of your creations are super fabulous!!!
happy birthday to princess skylar…
MMM everything looks great as always. I just bought some new bags of chocolate chips, so I may have to make those pb cups. And for the record, I think I'd have to go with one of each. Shh ;)
I FINALLY made your chocolate chip cookie dough balls yesterday. Those are the one thing I've wanted to try the most since I first found your blog a month or two ago. So good! Tonite I'm trying out the chocolate snowballs. Can't wait!
Happy almost birthday to Skylar! She's a smart girl for requesting cupcakes :)
I think homemade goodies are perfect with a nice note/card attached. Maybe a nice little piece or soap or a bath bomb or something too? But I definitely wouldn't be disappointed with just a homemade stash! Yum. Yum.
Holy mother! I must make these cups! Can you please fly to LA and make me yummy raw desserts? We have great weather!
And your daughter should win the Cutest Blogger Baby award. I say that as one who has no inherit soft spot for kiddos.
Your desserts always look so delicious! I need to start making them! Thanks for the recipes!
I'm not sure what I'm doing for Valentines Day yet…might make the bf some cho truffles!
xo
Jocelyn