How are you doing today? Friday, at last! I thought it would never come!
Today I went to the dentist to get my teeth cleaned. I go to the dentist 3 times a year for cleanings. I know that may sound a little excessive, but I like to keep my teeth scrupulously clean, and I’ve never had a cavity! It was my first time going to this dentist because it’s my first dental visit here in Phoenix since moving from San Diego. It was fine but not super friendly or even that thorough so may have to keep shopping around. Has anyone ever moved to a new city and you find yourself either getting lost on simple trips to the post office because you don’t know where anything is? Or feeling clueless when it comes to health care practictioners like new dentists and doctors?
Saturday morning I am going to do yoga, specifically the Primary Series, with my guru and teacher who’s supervising me with my 500 Hour Teacher Training that I had mentioned I embarked on! I have been certified since 2001 at the 200 hour level, and have been teaching since 2001, but just as a personal mission, I wanted to reach for the highest level and that’s why I embarked on my 500 hour training program!
I’m glad the Raw Vegan Chocolate Peppermint Donut Holes sound good to you! Thanks for all the great compliments and feedback!
And I pity the poor soul who doesn’t like peppermint because this week has been super minty on my blog…
Holiday Peppermint Chia Seed Pudding
And yesterday’s Raw Vegan Chocolate Peppermint Donut Holes.
But I think I’m done with Mint. For now.
Today’s eats included a fresh batch of kale chips. (that’s the big batch of kale chips link, and then there’s a link to a smaller sized batch)
For detailed and step-by-step kale chip recipe instructions, check this post out.
Making the Coating for the Kale
Slathering it On and Getting ready to put the kale chips into the Magic Box
Close Up Before Dehydrating…And Note: Many readers have successfully made kale chips without a dehydrator. 200F oven, check and flip, check and flip, every 15-20 minutes. Try it!
And then smelling the savory delights of cashews, red peppers, and nooch wafting though my house. I finally got to remove the kale chips from the Magic Box and indulge.
Perfection.
Love these things!!!!
Get a load of that cheezy noochey goodness baked right in. (For all new readers: nooch = nutritional yeast. See WF or Health Food Store for your next Must Buy Item)
Skylar begs me for kale chips.
We are the cloth napkin using, re-usable stainless steel non-BPA sippy cup drinking, yoga doing, crunchy kinda crowd…
…that stuff our faces with kale chips!
Also found a few new products at the grocery store.
Pina Colada Gum. Oh yeah baby! Wonder if there’s any rum in it? After my beloved Sangria Fresca is no more, the Pina Colada is an awesome find! Tastes just like I am drinking a bottle of Hawaiian Tropic, and I mean that in the best possible way!
Mary’s Crackers in Black Pepper Flavor. Normally I get the Originals, so this was a nice treat. That’s not full of onion & garlic, two flavors I happily do without.
I also love to do without my Sun Dried Tomatoes coming to me in jar vat of oil or loaded up with sodium.
I was stoked to find these at a new grocery store I checked out. No oil, only a trace of sodium. Perfect.
And this bar, we’ll do without these in the future. A Think Thin Bar from TJ’s. I was attracted to the 20g of protein and the Gluten-Free Status.
But the ingredient list is a mile long…
….and the taste. Well, it’s dry, chalky, super fake, bland, and generally not so hot.
Never fear, there’s no shortage of bars around here. And these bars are awesome!!!!!!! I was Thrilled Beyond Belief to find a care package from Bora Bora Foods!
An organic t-shirt
And this tiki-man mug. Who’s face looks like mine if I can’t get to my coffee in the morning. Grrrr!!!
Things that rock about Bora Bora
And a certified Vegan symbol. Right next to the Gluten/Wheat-Free and the Organic Symbols. Is that not cool, or what?!! Thanks Bora Bora for the great stuff and the early field report is that the taste of the bars is awesome, two Tiki Torches Up!
So after all those kale chips, all that grocery shopping, and my lovely post office surprise, this green plate included: mustard greens, cukes, tomatoes, brock, and cauli. Slathered with my Vegan Slaw Dressing.
This green plate was mixed field greens, cukes, tomatoes, red peppers, dulse flakes and dressed with my Holiday Orange Spice Vinaigrette Recipe
And for dessert, medjool dates stuffed with dark chocolate chips and TJ’s sunflower seed butter which I pop in the freezer a half hour before spreading it. Thickens it up perfectly.
And then a couple Raw Vegan Chocolate Peppermint Donut Holes.
And More Kale Chips. I kid you not.
Yoga today is Parsvottanasana (Intense Side Angle Stretch)
This is a very active pose. As you are folded over your straight, strong front leg, make sure to keep your quads engaged, and your back leg strong and engaged, too. Chin to shin. Drop your neck. No tension in the head, neck, and shoulders. Looks like you’re just flopped over, but there’s alot more going on. Enjoy the deep stretch!
Tip of the Day: My Kay’s Natural’s Give Away for 2 Lucky Readers!!!!
And My Chocolate Amazing Grass Give Away!!!!!
Go Get Entered, Now!!!!!!!!!! This is an awesome Give Away, and Santa is definitely coming early for someone!!!!
Are you going to brave the malls this weekend and do any holiday shopping? Are you planning on purchasing gifts? Or will you be cutting back at all this year? Or, are you a smart kiddo and doing your shopping online? I am not going to be doing any holiday shopping other than a few online gifts this year but sadly I need to brave Target this weekend for random items. What’s on the weekend agenda for you? Shopping, or not so much?
Stay Tuned For A Weekly Recap of Recipes & Highlights…
Gosh we have a lot in common! I grew up in MN as well. Where did you live?
I used to be able to tolerate the cold, but after 13 summers where it is 100+ for 4 months, I cannot exercise outside when it is cold or rainy.
I'm going to try a Hot Yoga class this afternoon, because it sounds toasty. ;-)
omg, i made the EXACT cocoa drink last night. literally. exact. haha.
(it was basically the nonmilk version of the recipe on my cocoa tin)
Ahhh! Your cookie dough balls are soo incredibly tempting! I may have to try to recreate them when I get home!
I also need to recreate that Tahini Ceaser dressing! It looks divine upon that colorful salad! :D
Too much goodness for one post!! Love the clothes, love the hot chocolate, love the reviews! Love it all!!! :)
yoga for h1n1? i'll take it anyday ;)
i'm sad that the cliff bar had a not so oomfy pumpkin flavor! all they would have to do is drop a can of libbys into the machine haha
love. those. pants.
I'm very new to yoga and I really like your daily poses. But I don't have access to a real yoga class here in belgium and I think the yoga download classes go way to fast. I was wondering whether you could post a routine someday, with a number of exercises to do consecutively. I'm esp. interested in yoga exercises that are hip opening. I'm a runner and I have troubles with unbalanced hips.
Thanks a lot!
I must try your salad dressings – Your salads always look so creamy and yummy! Mine have been very plain lately with just lemon juice on them….sigh….
You got me inspired on yoga again! I am setting up a yoga plan for myself! WOO HOO!!
The daily detox drops are amazing -The wonderful thing is, I tried all of these products from a friend here, and I met with the formulator of the products – he was one of the formulators for Vega! Anywhooo I fell in love and I signed up so now I am a distributor for these wonderful prods!! I am so happy! These products are 100% natural and all Plant Based. look at me learn my stuff ;)
Have a great night Doll!!
it is so so cold here too! :(
Those pants. are the best. ever.
i love them!!
this recipe looks awesome!!
i bought some NUTS today to make the gingerbread cookie dough balls! Hurrah!
Your gingerbread balls look amazing! Love the 4 variations on the recipe. I'll try the dehydrator cookie version and report back to you after all my little cookie monsters gobble them up :)
Your salad is crisp and gorgeous! How'd you get your cucumbers to look like that? The edges are rippled and so fancy. I want fancy cucumbers too :)
Love the way you pack for your trip…making sure you've got all your favorite foods. Bound to be a good trip with all that goodness packed along :)
Your tattoo is awesome and your new yoga pants are groovy. You are such a cool yogini :)
Happy packing, travel safe xox
Love your workout outfit! :) isn't shopping fun! Working out in the rain is tough… we sometimes do it depending on how bad it is raining. Otherwise we stay in and do workout in house or drive up to the gym.
I make the SAME hot chocolate. Minus the vanilla. But now I will have to try making it with vanilla. I've had 3 cups already today :)
I have been eying those Clif bars so I'm glad you assured me that they weren't worth going out of my Raw box for : )
Okay, I could totally go for a cup of cocoa and some of those gingerbread cookies right now! I must go make them but I will have to wait until tomorrow to eat them it's a little late for a sugar rush ; )
Is yoga a workout? What kind of crazy person asked that? I suppose the kind that doing sissy yoga, lol! I am going to do Bryan Kest's Power Yoga again this week because it made me so nice and sore last week, nice!
I absolutely do NOT workout IN the rain! I actually avoid working out outside anyway. I have become a closet exerciser. Well, my living room is the size of a closet so you get the picture ; ) My BFF runs in the rain, snow, 9 months prego, you name it. She's crazy like that : )
LOVE the card, thank you! You are SO fast!! Hugs sweet lady…..
Nicole
I LOOOOOOOVE your sweet new yoga clothes…oh So comfy!!!!!!
bad weather….the treadmill…good weather…the treadmill..ha jk
my biggest issues was consistency and weather was always getting in my way…so treadmill it is. I do need fresh air though too so it isn't a perfect solution.
love that you talked about the different yoga practices.
thanks!
I like to exercise outdoors. Running in the rain is so liberating! Well, unless it's a torrential downpour than not really lol. I like to practice mindfulness, finding balance, and non-judgment towards things :) I hope all is well, beautiful!
p.s. Those gingerbread donut holes look so incredibly good!
I just discovered Carob, so I'm going to have to try it with Carob Powder instead of Cocoa!
Ooo love that OM tree shirt. Did I mention that when I do my teacher's training they give us a uniform to wear? So I won't have to worry about picking out exercise clothes YAY (and less to pack too).
BTW I used to have a teacher who made us hold the poses for a minute also (holding bow for a minute – yikes!)