Cooking Close- ups

Before I get to the good stuff (pictures of some yummmmy food), just a little disclaimer. Not that anyone really cares, but just so that I’m not too much of a hypocrite! 😉 Since my last post I have in fact been staying away from instagram and it’s been great, but I realized that with some pretty exciting plans to travel the world in my near future, I will be taking a lot of neat pictures and I will want to document my adventures and keep in touch with friends. So while it has been a welcome break, and definitely a most- needed wake- up call when it comes to prioritizing, I am not going to be deleting/ refraining from one of my only means of communicating with loved ones in a little while here. So like I said, just wanted to make my point so I’m not acting like I’m above certain social networking sites while I still continue to use them… just a little follow- up on what was on my mind the other evening. 🙂 

If you can’t tell, 90% of this blog is food. Namely vegan, plant- based, whole foods, and often desserts & treats. I’ve been spending a decent amount of time in the kitchen recently so I snapped some pictures of some yummy recipes- in- progress. If nothing else, this is a sneak peek into the world of “what vegans eat” 😉 

First off: Time to give credit where credit is due! My all- time favorite blog is deliciouslyella.com. I am in love with every single recipe on there.. and I am so impressed at the nutritional value of everything on there! So fabulous. 

The other night I wanted a little treat, and of course for me that means, a treat that tastes like a treat but is, in fact, very healthy. So I made deliciouslyella’s apple/ pear/ raisin cake. Yum! Topped with frozen banana soft serve and a dollop of crunchy natural peanut butter? The perfect way to get away with eating dessert for breakfast. Or as a midnight snack. Or every hour… 

I put the pears and apples in a saucepan with some cinnamon before adding to the batter… this on it’s own would make a wonderful treat! 

pecan and almond flour (gluten free say what?) 

Raise your hand if you have a special place in your heart for the Vitamix!

 

into the oven… 

link to the original recipe is right here: 

http://deliciouslyella.com/apple-pear-and-raisin-cake/

 

the Social Networking Disease

More like Epidemic. Not that I am qualified at all to lecture others on the dangers of spending excessive amounts of time on Facebook or Instagram… I’m sure I am so guilty of that myself. Which is why this post is happening. Having moved a lot, with great friends literally all over the globe, I absolutely love the ability to connect with these people who I haven’t seen in years, and get a glimpse into their lives, within a few clicks. But it bothers me when I find myself spending way too much time browsing listless news feeds (killing brain cells to the max), getting irritated with pictures that I feel don’t accurately portray what I look like (ever happen to you..? Un- tag…), and especially when I start to feel the need to post pictures any time I hang out with cute friends/ eat a good meal/ do something interesting/ exciting. Of course it’s fun to take pictures of fun times (m e m o r i e s) and like I said, show far- away friends and relatives what you’re up to, but there just comes a time where too much is just too much, ya feel? I was thinking about this while folding jeans during a dull 9- hour shift at work today, and I decided that it’s really just stupid and a waste of time right now if I’m choosing to spend my time this way, but in a little while, it could become dangerous. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I really believe that silly, seemingly minor distractions like social networking sites can, and often do, get in the way of relationships, new experiences and opportunities, and simply living and loving life to its fullest! So I’m 99% sure I want to delete my instagram… time to go out and have fun #keepinitreal #nobutforreal, and instead of seeing how many friends/ followers/ whatever liked a picture, the only person’s “like”/ approval I really need is my OWN, because it’s MY life and I’m the one livin’ it! (If nothing else, I’ll at least have a little insta- fast for a bit just so I’m not on my phone all the time… having grown up without cable TV/ Netflix/ video games/ anything of the like, I pride myself on my childhood abstinent from technology, and I’d like to hold on to some of my wholesome childhood values;)) . Plus, I like blogging better anyways. 😉

** I am not trying to make an argument that blogging is more wholesome than instagram or whatever, just sharing my thoughts on how to cut back on screen time in my own life and do things just for the sake of doing ’em.

 

Here’s me excited to take a break from my phone and internet and errthing… JK, this is me thinking about plucking my eyebrows soon and capturing the moment to prove that my eyes definitely are not brown. 😉 (wait huh did that just make any sense haha!?) Oh and check that cr!mped ha!r… 

me being k00l and @rtsy and all that

and, liked this picture because I spy my hairrr! Can ya find it..? 

and lastly, all you need is L O V E 

we cute right? 😉 

Work today.. Wait, wut?

Due to a slowing of business, when I arrived at work this morning I was told I would not be needed for my day shift, so I was good to go until later this afternoon. Not about to waste precious gas money on a trip back back home, not to mention the good ol’ bridgetoll fee, I decided to take advantage of living in such a beautiful part of the world and soak up some sunshine! After a very successful mini- shopping spree (college wardrobe just got 10x better), I headed over to the pool. So lucky to have an awesome coworker who lives in a resort and let’s me use the pool whenever I happen to be in the area;)
80degrees, not a cloud in sight, jammin’ to some Chili Peppers… Ya girl was straight CHILLEN.
After about 2648493 attempts, I finally got a few pictures that accurately portray my favorite pickup of the day: a new seaside- print one piece to add to my collection:) {I had seen and loved a very similar suit from Topshop, but wayy outta my price range! F21 comin’ through for me!}
>>coming soon: quickie, at- home workout plans, recipes of my own, and links to my go- to vegan recipe blogs!!
Thanks to my few, but still appreciated, followers;)
Question of the day… Have you ever had an unexpected change of plans, and how did you make the best of that new situation? Comment it up!;)

leave it to AH

Going right along with the previous post, Audrey says it best!

PS- do these 2 short& sweet posts compensate for a few lengthy ones before?;)

Beauty Rest: ever- so vital

Sweet Dreams to all you princesses out there!
Try and get some sleep…

Inspiration via WordPress

If you were suddenly independently wealthy, how would you spend your time? What positive change would you bring to the world?

 

Hmm. Not to be too cliché and/ or cheesy, but I would absolutely spend my time in developing countries, working with children, doing my small part to make a difference in an impoverished community.

First stop: Uganda. I’ve been actively involved with the Invisible Children program and ever since becoming a part of that community, it has been a dream of mine to not only go to Uganda one day, but to adopt from this beautiful country as well.

Since I’m now “independently wealthy”, I would have the means to open up orphanages/ schools/etc., thus creating jobs for the locals who, given the post- civil war circumstances of the area, are generally in desperate need of employment! While I’m at it, I would love nothing better than to open up a vegan café adjacent to an orphanage; nourishing the bodies as well as the souls of these kids! 😉 Not to mention this would be a win- win for me, seeing as I love all things cooking& baking (fruits, nuts, & veggies for days!), and love, love being around kids.

 

Well, solid first post right here! Now for the good stuff. As in, foodporn rated PG, plant food style.