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
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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…
My favorite way to use nut butter is to top sweet potatoes and oats!
I like to put nut butter on apples, bananas and just eat it plain :)
I looooove white chocolate(just bought straight cocoa butter offline
I'd go all white! Seriously, those look uh-may-zing. They are absolutely picture PERFECT!
UMMMMMM why didn't i make YOU have your valentine be ME?! haha~ i should have! THOSE DOUBLE DIPPED ONES?! to die for. i love love love the double choco. and that is coming from me, who doesnt LOVE chocolate but dude.. those are gorgeous!
skylar is, as always, the cutest little bug in blogland.
i love you! sorry to be MIA~ not sure i will be back to commenting until after the trip.
MWAH!
So glad your girl had a great bday!!! Shes so adorable, and it looks like you had a blast as well!!!! <3
Your so talented your eats just look so yummy! Have a great day! <3
Oh my Lord – I WANT those "inside-out" cups!!! They look amazing!! Wow. You are genius :) Skylar is beautiful as usual as are you – this post is just full of goodness ;)
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Oh Averie you are the best! I've made the "traditional" pb cups many times (which my boyfriend LOVES and requests frequently), and he was recently talking about a white chocolate version! I wasn't sure if pb and white choc. would "go", but your vanilla/cocoa solution sounds divine!
Thank you, and really, we are never buying those chemical filled reeces ever again!
I hope I'm your secret valentine!!!!!!!!
Averie, Happy Birthday to Skylar! I am going to go and make those coconut snowballs RIGHT NOW for my Dad! And the peanut butter cups, WOW! :) Hope you had a great day celebrating!
Jessica
All your goodies always look soo yummy!
I have a question for you. :) What "power" do you blend your raw ball dough on? I tried making some in my Vitamix and I am not having as good of luck at it. The nut powder comes out great but after adding the dates/sweetner, it just isn't working out right.. I even overheated my Vitamix.. oops! I am thinking I just don't have the speed high or low enough or something. lol You make it look so easy with the blender. I don't want to have to get a food processor if I don't have to!
Happy Birthday to Skylar!!! Looks & sounds like an amazing party!!! I love the pink…
We don't really "do" Valentine's Day. It's a bit too commercial. I rather try to celebrate every day in a small way…
Have a great week!
Awww, I'm so glad the party went well! And let me just say that those peanut butter cups look AH-MAZE-ING! :)
xxoo
Heather
OMG girl, those cups are fantabulous!!! I would definitely take BOTH since Im a sweetaholic ;) – BUT i must say, ive been off the raw sweets for 7 days, boooyah.
Whoever gets them in a lucky duck!
you and HEAB keep posting pancake pics and that is not helping! I have been craving them for days but haven't had time to make any!
Party looks so fun! I am glad she had a wonderful birthday!