tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19387820534683223042024-02-20T16:22:23.829-08:00Stepping to the Bright SideMadeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08914680848288806753noreply@blogger.comBlogger128125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938782053468322304.post-31612217300176221482014-04-03T10:03:00.000-07:002014-04-03T10:03:00.006-07:00When Life Gives You Lemons...Get excited!<br />
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While visiting the in-laws in Florida over the weekend, I was overjoyed to be back in my natural southern habitat, complete with 100% humidity, lush surroundings and warm, thick air.<br />
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Not only was the weather spectacular, but the local supermarket was teeming with so many fresh, organic produce options that I had all but forgotten about during the arctic tundra winter I'd been living through in New York.<br />
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I figured while in Florida, do as the Floridians do and feast on some citrus... ('cause all Floridians do that, right?)<br />
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I can't think of a happier-looking fruit than a lemon and if the bright color doesn't sunny-up your disposition, maybe a few of these lemony facts will get your juices flowing....<br />
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<ul>
<li><b>Citrus fruits are PACKED to the rind with important nutrients our bodies need to thrive</b>: vitamin C is the one we all know and love, but there's also: potassium, folate, calcium, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, thiamin, niacin, and the fibers pectin and lignan.</li>
<li><b>Over 170 different phytochemicals have been identified in citrus fruits.</b> These important naturally-occurring compounds are known to have antioxidant properties, making them both immune-boosting <i>and</i> anti-inflammatory. (inflammation=sickness FYI)</li>
<li>Eating more citrus fruit serves as possible <b>protection against heart disease, stroke, arthritis, asthma, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive decline, multiple sclerosis, age-related eye disease and diabetes.</b></li>
<li><b>Many of these beneficial vitamins and nutrients are found in the peel and white pulp </b>we tend to avoid in citrus. Be sure, in addition to juicing your lemons and citrus, that you're zesting those bright colored rinds! The zest makes an excellent addition to salad dressings, otherwise plain vegetables and, of course, baked goods. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.sharonpalmer.com/book.php">[source]</a></span></li>
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And that's where my area of joyous expertise comes in....</div>
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There I am, soaking up some sunny vitamin D while simultaneously extracting anti-cancer properties from a lemon rind. Modern day multitasking.<br />
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Staying true to <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2014/03/how-to-get-healthy-and-stay-that-way.html">my intention</a> of baking more health-conscious treats, I decided to try a twist on your standard coffee shop's sugar-laden Lemon Poppy Seed muffin... And so was birthed:</div>
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<b>VEGAN LEMON COCONUT MUFFINS:</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1 cup whole wheat pastry flour</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1 tsp baking powder</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1 tsp baking soda</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Pinch of salt</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1/4 cup almond milk</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1/4 cup apple sauce</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1/4 cup maple syrup</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">2 TBSP lemon juice</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1 tsp lemon zest</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1 TBSP poppy seeds</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees.</span></div>
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Combine your dry ingredients in one bowl. Combine your wet ingredients in another larger bowl. Add dry to wet, and stir but DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT go by my photo below and use a whisk. A wooden spoon works best. The trick is to keep the batter <i>just</i> combined- mixing too much makes for a liquidy batter and the beauty in these babies is the lumpy, hearty texture. Remember: lumps are your friend in this case.</div>
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Once your batter is <i>just</i> combined, pour into greased or lined muffins tins and</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">The recipe listed above makes about 4 regular sized muffins, so you can double, or even triple</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;"> it up if you're really in the muffin mood.</span></div>
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Sweetened with real maple syrup, unsweetened apple sauce, and forgoing the poppy seeds for unsweetened coconut shreds, these hearty muffins served as such a filling and satisfying snack, I enjoyed them pretty much all weekend long...</div>
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I loved them <i>so</i> much that by the end of the 3 days, I had made 4 batches. In the last batch, I decided to experiment with another Florida-in-March delicacy: organic strawberries.</div>
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I diced some up, added them to the regular batter, popped them in the oven and voila: two fruits in one bite!</div>
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With your leftover lemons, might I suggest making some delicious/nutritious lemon and mint-infused water? It's like lemonade, only without the sugar.</div>
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Simply juice your leftover lemons, add a little zest and some mint leaves to a pitcher, muddle with a wooden spoon to release the mint essence, fill the pitcher to the top with water and let sit in the fridge overnight...</div>
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If you're back in New York or some other northern climate like I am now, it might be a little while before you can enjoy this hydrating, alkalizing refreshment by a pool but keep on juicing (and zesting) those lemons, dream of the sun and I promise the warm weather will be here before you know it!<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">When it finally does arrives, your glowing skin and beaming insides will be thanking you :)</span></div>
<br />Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08914680848288806753noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938782053468322304.post-72232283796207201822014-03-28T11:10:00.000-07:002014-03-28T11:14:23.425-07:00How to Get Healthy (And Stay That Way)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
..... Anyone?</div>
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No, really- I'm asking you.<br />
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I've been there before, and maybe you have too:<br />
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You're on top of your workout regime; you're nourishing yourself daily with a plethora of fruits, veggies and superfoods; your energy is top notch; your desire to "party" late into the night has all but vanished. You'd rather go to bed before 10pm on a Friday in order to wake up refreshed for that early morning yoga class, followed by a calm, easy trip to the farmers market where you'll get first pick of all the best produce <i>and</i> miss the crowds (who are still nursing their hangovers in bed or bloody mary's down the block).<br />
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It's a good life, the healthy life. A rewarding life. A happy life.<br />
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To be perfectly honest: with all the pressure of a cross country move, compounded with the frigid stress of winter, I kinda fell off the wagon.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtS62DjOuaM8pZ0GIaHCPz4nF8Yj2aYo_7xMOWyYlWKFrIDrr48qpica1gOIsz9HaOHuPDh5zfoT7WhV0Hq8Qzcc-3PO3GO8AfTNZspdI92DDrgJjL9NGiNQq8IxBCttplDUsvx7g4NlYf/s1600/photo.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtS62DjOuaM8pZ0GIaHCPz4nF8Yj2aYo_7xMOWyYlWKFrIDrr48qpica1gOIsz9HaOHuPDh5zfoT7WhV0Hq8Qzcc-3PO3GO8AfTNZspdI92DDrgJjL9NGiNQq8IxBCttplDUsvx7g4NlYf/s1600/photo.PNG" height="320" width="319" /></a></div>
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Sure, I just say no to fast food and soft drinks, I avoid processed/ packaged <i>anything</i> and opt to grab n' go a little container of sprouted brown rice and quinoa from the corner deli instead of downing a large slice of pizza with extra truffle oil when I'm in a hurry... But have I been to yoga lately? Ummm, on and off. Have I been juicing daily? Not exactly.<br />
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What I <i>have</i> been doing (and what I suggest for you, if you're looking to remount the health horse) is finding ways to gradually implement a few <b>tried and true healthy habits</b> back into my life where it's convenient.<br />
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For example: I know <b>meditation</b> is an absolute game changer for me. While living in a cramped apartment overloaded with our bachelor subletter's accumulated possessions of 10 years has left my home almost completely void of any zen quality, enough became ENOUGH a few weeks ago, and I went to work carving out a little safe zone corner in my bedroom. I set up my favorite crystals, a candle, some incense and have been allowing myself 5 minutes of breathing/meditation in the morning.<br />
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Sure, it's not the 25 minutes I built up to in LA months ago and I skipped a couple sessions in the beginning but I'm now routinely doing that little bit daily. And that's a [re]start.<br />
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When it comes to my beloved <b>baking</b>, I'm getting back to the days of yore when I mainly experimented with "healthy" sweets, limiting the butter and white sugar-laden treats to special occasions.<br />
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Yes, I may still be indulging in one chocolate a night (someone's gotta finish that box of assorted Godiva truffles in the freezer), but the box will soon be gone and once it is: Sayonara sugar high! Hello again, you beautiful overabundance of sustained energy!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.bouldernaturalhealth.com/womens-health/">source</a></span></div>
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So, how do we get healthy... and stay that way?<br />
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I'm just restarting the journey myself and I'll keep you in the loop. For now, the best suggestion I have to offer is: <b>be nice to yourself</b>. Maybe you're not quite ready to devote yourself to daily gym visits (yet!), maybe those dessert or potato chip cravings are just too powerful to stave off at the moment. Relax. You'll get there. We'll get there. The first step to healing is truthfully acknowledging your current situation.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghM10PTeUz5mxw5ctiZfxNBiQ8U1WzrBLBU9H8FKFf-bFRSSo4WEqmvPjnnXTIghEbZLIWcGnF99mLFDCGcJHs8jJJjbq4Jwy3bLioYceXDuZ8A5eFPqf0yVLVZTk-wTGeGvwKHe40OPZq/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghM10PTeUz5mxw5ctiZfxNBiQ8U1WzrBLBU9H8FKFf-bFRSSo4WEqmvPjnnXTIghEbZLIWcGnF99mLFDCGcJHs8jJJjbq4Jwy3bLioYceXDuZ8A5eFPqf0yVLVZTk-wTGeGvwKHe40OPZq/s1600/photo.JPG" height="320" width="238" /></a></div>
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Do yourself a favor and <b>select a few healthy habits</b> you can start incorporating into your normal, everyday routine. Do you have a blender? Make a green smoothie for breakfast!<br />
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My current favorite:<br />
-a few frozen banana chunks<br />
-chopped pineapple (fresh or frozen)<br />
-a handful of greens of your choice (spinach or kale are my go to's)<br />
-half an avocado<br />
-1 tablespoon chia seeds<br />
-1/2 cup coconut milk<br />
-add a teensy nub of fresh ginger if you're feeling zingy<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4y4zHbR9JH8TFxw0UFwOJIOj0Pre36roE36bDDboj8U3CFkFGfi98IAMqqv9WwRu72vwr5yfVHjmfCyRdVHrx5H5CJu3dXWTjHEcVvwU2hcymNcSBKD_7HleThbWkxk_PDiiR_DLHfK5W/s1600/photo-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4y4zHbR9JH8TFxw0UFwOJIOj0Pre36roE36bDDboj8U3CFkFGfi98IAMqqv9WwRu72vwr5yfVHjmfCyRdVHrx5H5CJu3dXWTjHEcVvwU2hcymNcSBKD_7HleThbWkxk_PDiiR_DLHfK5W/s1600/photo-1.jpg" height="320" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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hit a button.... and voila:<br />
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a healthy, DELICIOUS snack.<br />
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Do it today and I promise you won't feel so bad at happy hour later tonight.... because you're back on the road to health and it feels so good.<br />
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<br />Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08914680848288806753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938782053468322304.post-1724858678058223702014-03-20T07:39:00.000-07:002014-03-20T07:50:33.556-07:00Shiksa in the City<div style="color: #333366; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
I always thought I would make a natural New Yorker. During my first visit to the city as a wee tween of twelve, I was fascinated by the quick pace, the gorgeous super models on the street and the cacophony of horns honking. So much excitement! So much action! Coming from South Carolina, this was all very novel.</div>
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After that initial introduction to the city, I visited many times, enjoying every New York minute, even staying in the area for a 3 month stint a few years back. But it wasn’t until I made the move permanently this January that I learned what it truly meant to take up residence in “the city that never sleeps.”</div>
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A few casual encounters have assured me that my ever-evolving and inconsistent attitude toward living in Manhattan is completely normal. The first two weeks I was here, I was on an unabashed HIGH! A horrible blizzard hit the area two days after moving in and I was stoked- snow!? Snow everywhere! This wind, the snowflakes flying into my eyes… it’s so exhilarating! This is what our grandparents must have been talking about when they bemoaned hiking miles in the snow just to get to school every morning. NOW I KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!! </div>
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It wasn’t only the high stakes weather and obvious delineation of seasons that thrilled me (after living in a utopian 75 degrees and sunny, day in and day out for nearly 5 years in Los Angeles, this mattered)- it went beyond that. It was the people, they were so cultured and informed, outspoken and they loved wearing black; I could take the subway almost anywhere or hail a cab in the middle of the night if need be. And the friends… oh, my long lost New York theatre friends that I hadn’t really truly bonded with since college and shortly thereafter… Now we had all the time in the world to reconnect. And we could do it anytime day or night because <i>everything is open 24/7</i>!!!!</div>
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After a few weeks of reveling in this seemingly limitless lifestyle… reality set in. My bank account balance began to dwindle; I realized a life of going out on the town nightly for dinner, drinks or both just wasn’t sustainable. Weeks without yoga, green juice and daily meditation- rituals I so lovingly established with ease in California- were starting to take a toll. </div>
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I started getting- surprise!- stressed out. I began wondering why I had moved here at all. Why was it so cold everyday? Why did we pay SO much rent for so little space? Many things that at first seemed charming- walking to the grocery store, waiting for the train, schlepping in the snow- were now just annoying inconveniences. </div>
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I needed to get back into my <b>truth groove</b>. Enough of this letting my environment get me down. Because here’s the thing: stuff is going to go wrong in life, circumstances are not always going to be ideal— many times those things are out of our control— and it’s how we <i>deal with</i> and <i>react</i> to those circumstances that will ultimately dictate the quality of our well-being. With this in mind, while clinging desperately to a warming cup of hot water with lemon in my teeny shoebox apartment as flurries swirled furiously about outside my window, I started thinking about when and how I feel the most happy and at peace.<br />
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… Being outdoors in a serene nature setting, relaxing at the beach, having dinner with family and friends, practicing yoga daily, relishing a warm and gooey chocolatey dessert, savoring stillness, conversing with interesting people, and baking. Always baking.</div>
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Since spending still moments outdoors and dining leisurely with friends at the beach was deemed a non-option in the hustle and bustle that is a New York City winter, I decided baking would do the trick. Yes, I knew I needed to get back to my yoga and green juice routine… and I would. But sometimes, we just need to allow for a little indulgence in order to restore and reset our stressed-out selves to a good <b>equilibrium</b> before embarking upon a new fresh n’ healthy journey. </div>
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So how could I indulge my baking self in a more New York-centric way?</div>
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I had to look no further than 4 feet across our 10’ wide studio to see my fiancé, J. Since being engaged to a not-so-standard but nonetheless, nice Jewish boy from New York, this South Carolina-California-hippie-hybrid Shiksa had recently been introduced to a whole new world of Jewish cuisine and culture. I decided to pay homage to my current dwelling in the historically immigrant-filled lower east side of Manhattan (and attempt to impress my future in-laws in the process) by trying my baker’s hand at the traditional Purim cookie: Hamantaschen. </div>
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I first learned of the triangular-shaped stuffed pocket of a dessert while chatting with the in-laws in their spacious and well-equipped (swoon) New Jersey kitchen. As we discussed wedding details around the kitchen island (which had been generously laden with a variety of fruits, popcorn and other “noshy” items by the indelible and in your face Jewish ma-in-law to be, Randi), I noticed a pamphlet about Purim they had received in the mail. As I am with all new Jewish facts, I was intrigued and began to inquire… Future pa-in-law, Big L, gave me the low down and upon learning there was a cookie associated with the holiday, I was sold on it.</div>
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After returning to our not-so-spacious kitchen in the city, I became determined to defy all the physical laws of science by using my 1’x2’ area of counter space to create a delicious dessert worth eating- from scratch. Having found a mouth-watering recipe from a fellow shiksa <a href="http://theshiksa.com/2012/03/01/how-to-make-perfect-hamantaschen/">here</a>, I got to work experimenting with both the butter and non-dairy varieties of Hamantaschen. </div>
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Two pairs of flour-laden sweatpants, an overnight waiting period and one burnt [trial] batch of cookies later, I had my end result. </div>
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... And they weren’t too shabby.</div>
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I had nothing in my past to compare them to, so I brought in my Jewish food experts, Randi and Big L, to be the official taste testers. We even paid a visit to the famed 100 year old New York icon of a Jewish deli, Russ and Daughters Appetizers, to buy the "real deal" in Hamantaschen to add to the <strike>pressure</strike> excitement.</div>
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Both were tasted… </div>
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Mine won by a long shot ;)</div>
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Now if that didn’t boost my New York state of mind, I don’t know what could have. </div>
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So yes, there are challenges to living in a city of this size, expense and intensity, but there are challenges in every sort of region. If I was living in the middle of nowhere, I could complain that nothing was walkable or that I was tired of eating at the same restaurant every time I wanted to dine out… The point is: it’s not <i>where</i> you are but <i>who</i> you are that determines your quality of life. You’ve heard the old saying “your problems will follow you anywhere.”</div>
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My hope is that you can take these little tales from my experience adjusting to New York City life- all the ups and downs inherent in that- and relate it to whatever you’re going through, wherever you’re going through it. When the going gets tough and you rashly decide, “I’m over this place” or “going back to school was the worst decision ever” or even, “I’m never going to land my dream job, I might as well just give up,”— instead of jumping to conclusions and ditching everything you’ve worked so hard for, take a step back, get comfortable, get silent, get back to basics and decide on something small and simple that will make you happy <i>in that moment</i>.</div>
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Maybe it’s indulging in a little fro yo, perhaps it’s going on a quick run around the neighborhood or it could be turning off your cell phone for an entire evening to enjoy the company of your favorite roommate. Whatever it is, allow yourself that quiet, focused moment of “me time” before to discover that special little nugget of a thing that’s going to bring you joy. </div>
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<span style="color: #333366; font-size: 17px;">By practicing this simple act of <b>listening</b> and <b>doing</b>, you’ll realize that life truly is what you make it. </span><br />
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Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08914680848288806753noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938782053468322304.post-70240209698246604602013-05-29T16:52:00.003-07:002013-05-29T16:52:55.765-07:00Coincidence? The jury's still out.<br />
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I woke up in the wee hours of the morning feeling SICK!<br />
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I use the exclamation point because this rarely happens to me. I take pretty good care of myself (abstaining from beloved milkshakes and bowlfuls of mac and cheese on the regular) to <i>avoid</i> that unfamiliar, unpleasant tickle of the throat. In addition to the foods I eat, I try to keep my thoughts positive and my routine anxiety-free.... which makes all the difference when you're lookin' to stay healthy.<br />
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All things considered, am I the only one who finds it sort of odd that 3 days after I stop drinking coffee, I start to feel icky throat sickness coming on out of nowhere?<br />
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Not to fear.... I went straight to Naturewell (an aptly named "wellness bar") and took a double shot of... The Face Melter:<br />
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Looks exotic, no?</div>
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Lemon juice, oil of oregano and cayenne pepper down the hatch.</div>
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I left with a couple of these bad boys... (2 gallons of water not pictured here)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXemG_0CzULRZztkH4Y6PoYqO6YnSj8CZu4bQRJbGWTOHRrqF92TPN9eOVBkX6Hb2cuB0YgfEOc8J4Z7Z4nZC7ZxbKOA4mLy0_PhQ6YlnTu0Nr0McPK8x8TMvucAsrnR0yv6KMnjpaP93h/s1600/photo-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXemG_0CzULRZztkH4Y6PoYqO6YnSj8CZu4bQRJbGWTOHRrqF92TPN9eOVBkX6Hb2cuB0YgfEOc8J4Z7Z4nZC7ZxbKOA4mLy0_PhQ6YlnTu0Nr0McPK8x8TMvucAsrnR0yv6KMnjpaP93h/s320/photo-4.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
And was on my way to start the day.<br />
<br />
Luckily, all my "day" consisted of was a quick read through for an upcoming short film.<br />
<br />
After which, I came straight home to chill. Like getting sick, just chilling- doing nothing- is something I don't allow to happen too often in my daily life.<br />
<br />
Maybe it's actually not the lack of coffee making me sick, but the universe calling out for a bit of stillness...<br />
<br />
Like I said: the jury's still out!<br />
<br />
Welp, 3 days down. Not feelin' great but stickin' with it nonetheless.<br />
<br />
Here's hopin' tomorrow I'm all better!Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08914680848288806753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938782053468322304.post-56446867290081397102013-05-28T16:43:00.000-07:002013-05-28T16:43:13.730-07:00ADDICTEDHi friends,<br />
<br />
Woah.....ummm.... so I haven't posted in over 2 years. It's pretty insane how time flies and things change.<br />
<br />
I'll spare the deets for now and get right to the point: I'm getting off coffee.<br />
<br />
It feels so official now. Good.<br />
<br />
<i>Why</i> am I kicking a drug that I'd hasten to bet MOST of the world uses and [sometimes] abuses?<br />
<br />
the FUN reasons:<br />
1. I'm bored and feel like challenging myself.<br />
2. J is out of town for a couple of <strike>mornings</strike> days at the moment, so he will be spared the wrath of coffee-less moi.<br />
3. It just seems like the right thing to do.<br />
4. I miss doing this ol' blogging thing and thought it'd be a nice way to get back on the bandwagon.<br />
<br />
the SERIOUS reasons:<br />
1. I'll admit it: Sometimes.... when I drink a strong cup of coffee in the morning.... I forget to eat actual food until, say, 4pm. NOT OK! It is speed to me and since everyone's body is different (as I've come to find during my 2 year hiatus away from forcing my way of eating down voluntary readers' throats), I'm going to experiment and see if maybe my body works more proficiently off the coff.<br />
2. I've been reading a good deal about <a href="http://kriscarr.com/blog/adrenal-fatigue-the-unanswered-illness/">adrenal fatigue</a> and while I don't necessarily think I'm suffering from it to a T, I definitely experience some of the symptoms pretty frequently. The most obvious one to my dear friends and loved ones being what I like to call GRANDMA SYNDROME. AKA, I can fall asleep as soon as I'm finished eating dinner. No problem- any night, anywhere, no matter how fabulous the company. Hel-lo! I'm still in my 20's and would like to have <i>some</i> fun past 9pm.<br />
<br />
Maybe kicking this whole coffee addiction will be the cure-all!<br />
<br />
Or maybe not.<br />
<br />
But a girl can try.<br />
<br />
2 days down.<br />
<br />
When will I know it's official? When I get through 21 days without a drop of coffee.<br />
<br />
Only 19 to go.<br />
<br />
Come along for the ride if you'd like. I'm pretty sure I'll be sharing some other fun tips and tricks along the way.<br />
<br />
HAPPY SUMMER!<br />
<br />
xo<br />
mMadeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08914680848288806753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938782053468322304.post-83491219454487636642011-03-10T08:38:00.000-08:002013-01-16T17:29:53.225-08:00Baking Spree<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Once my pantry starts looking like this...</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPoHZWJS6Al5adObJXKioYW30VPZKpafTur-q1NY0Wxz3dDU8SaRGS5O2LTY4J2GEI9UggwouEOdcEx9L8tcnkjtaMswLmS1gnY0E3WOhyphenhyphenzLTT1iaeua0mNhmJrUP68r_P9ExJLkUYnXwN/s1600/IMG_5196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPoHZWJS6Al5adObJXKioYW30VPZKpafTur-q1NY0Wxz3dDU8SaRGS5O2LTY4J2GEI9UggwouEOdcEx9L8tcnkjtaMswLmS1gnY0E3WOhyphenhyphenzLTT1iaeua0mNhmJrUP68r_P9ExJLkUYnXwN/s320/IMG_5196.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I know it's time to get back to work.<br />
<br />
And when life gives you expiring organic blueberries<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBtA2oiWIyLpex4WGgKG9GkW0isonDTGm7qVpxUboR1w4pUI_gl9n-ybPCPwWEJJ_2TbchTgoM-EKr1hdfJxFtQY4IO7iXkJI9FBLEqbsDR0fkHB84bbOTMrLllqDR8iYnq4Ex33R1eN2/s1600/IMG_5380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBtA2oiWIyLpex4WGgKG9GkW0isonDTGm7qVpxUboR1w4pUI_gl9n-ybPCPwWEJJ_2TbchTgoM-EKr1hdfJxFtQY4IO7iXkJI9FBLEqbsDR0fkHB84bbOTMrLllqDR8iYnq4Ex33R1eN2/s320/IMG_5380.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
and you're leaving town for a week-<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPsFwAhKcNxo1nQd0_QhmvMVIpYaohhNQkdR1PKHWoXyxrpX7i8Hw_X9BXkvU2WA99QhXZXUcijMsloVBGA0Okz1m61ePotPdsyk7gaL-fISzrlLuaTrl7_wUEU7vP__drjYzTVnaH0db/s1600/IMG_5398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPsFwAhKcNxo1nQd0_QhmvMVIpYaohhNQkdR1PKHWoXyxrpX7i8Hw_X9BXkvU2WA99QhXZXUcijMsloVBGA0Okz1m61ePotPdsyk7gaL-fISzrlLuaTrl7_wUEU7vP__drjYzTVnaH0db/s320/IMG_5398.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
is there really a question as to what to bake?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSety02-ZPEtsPuVWZZsottcU0Z4VGklEFp5Ks1M3Hyq9R-fHttdYokPEo6aMFQtkqirKdNMhP1311AJx1EHk1WfLMvITTtEHvzA66SgcoIlivKeGjtZf3ivQFeTSUKFJT8ZDQCyxKDEGI/s1600/IMG_5394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSety02-ZPEtsPuVWZZsottcU0Z4VGklEFp5Ks1M3Hyq9R-fHttdYokPEo6aMFQtkqirKdNMhP1311AJx1EHk1WfLMvITTtEHvzA66SgcoIlivKeGjtZf3ivQFeTSUKFJT8ZDQCyxKDEGI/s320/IMG_5394.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Why... Vegan Berry Muffins, of course.<br />
<br />
Admittedly, it's been awhile since I <s>heard the smoke alarm go off repeatedly</s> turned on the ol' oven to bake some deliciousness, but within 5 minutes of standing at the counter, I came to realize it's just like riding a bike.<br />
<br />
I adapted these to-die-for <b>Cranberry Blueberry Muffins</b> from <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/vegan-blueberry-muffins-123809">this recipe</a>,<br />
<br />
using:<br />
<br />
- 1/4 Earth Balance<br />
- 1/2 cup organic unsweetened applesauce<br />
- 1/2 tsp sea salt<br />
- 1 cup raw turbino sugar<br />
- 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour<br />
- 1 cup unbleached all purpose flour<br />
- 1 Tsp baking powder<br />
- 1 tsp cinnamon<br />
- 2 Tsp ground flax seed<br />
- 1 tsp vanilla extract<br />
- 1/2 cup almond milk<br />
- 1 cup fresh blueberries<br />
- 1 cup frozen cranberries (from Christmastime)<br />
<br />
You simply gather your ingredients,<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSlkMvninwe0Bcea8Jt-MzvGCdX9hjLqde87p5P8VmTDylbDj7xt7up86vjfcuwVhChXtpHEy889CuzeOU2y2AeG1SQveOP4Nxajs72PaiBGyPJwjLPPTtJfv14NjLdIwbE3cmStTe9ah/s1600/IMG_5382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSlkMvninwe0Bcea8Jt-MzvGCdX9hjLqde87p5P8VmTDylbDj7xt7up86vjfcuwVhChXtpHEy889CuzeOU2y2AeG1SQveOP4Nxajs72PaiBGyPJwjLPPTtJfv14NjLdIwbE3cmStTe9ah/s320/IMG_5382.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpsOByATCuhuli6_aq-OxQhkB9OiEcvfEzSDIM6Iy8A3ncUE4vQFBVA6u_ArCrX-n8j5x4O8SAQt7uagEJCz5QoyJmVe3ZXRtFnfin19oU1MBRQPukjj51ZNexGF-1S22GBCZB8ssVbaXT/s1600/IMG_5384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpsOByATCuhuli6_aq-OxQhkB9OiEcvfEzSDIM6Iy8A3ncUE4vQFBVA6u_ArCrX-n8j5x4O8SAQt7uagEJCz5QoyJmVe3ZXRtFnfin19oU1MBRQPukjj51ZNexGF-1S22GBCZB8ssVbaXT/s320/IMG_5384.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
put 'em in a bowl, and mix.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6IoLmrlXUFy4rGPJ72roXBzdX1iXEuL2HFxH2_xUv5oOsi6-yb08k6MGHAJcr1T2G8J3CfGfZVUWR6aRBnGL0g85zhmF2ihAgtNLTLaqBhkSCij0ksgdMuj4fkBYsYRBzacuRBm9SRfYv/s1600/IMG_5385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6IoLmrlXUFy4rGPJ72roXBzdX1iXEuL2HFxH2_xUv5oOsi6-yb08k6MGHAJcr1T2G8J3CfGfZVUWR6aRBnGL0g85zhmF2ihAgtNLTLaqBhkSCij0ksgdMuj4fkBYsYRBzacuRBm9SRfYv/s320/IMG_5385.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Add the berries last to avoiding heavy smashing,<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCKbOPuTXqaGohBtCDF1BKml4m7ynSZOny5vEEiM6ZoJBoXOspF7_xjcrbkHSRwrJo-mrcIIBhkUuowjhcEq1c4ZUSkzMBqNuPAOalvmNgMfk6kdNKeMGcMIm2WjU34ECq-5Vc8lYkcFW/s1600/IMG_5386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCKbOPuTXqaGohBtCDF1BKml4m7ynSZOny5vEEiM6ZoJBoXOspF7_xjcrbkHSRwrJo-mrcIIBhkUuowjhcEq1c4ZUSkzMBqNuPAOalvmNgMfk6kdNKeMGcMIm2WjU34ECq-5Vc8lYkcFW/s320/IMG_5386.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
plop the batter into muffin cups,<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXoUPMEYQE9aczFprBwiQkMzOoLNMi-UD_CAMuTsAx_njiE1x130c147qJxJHWNWa7P8bpCZwD7VLiFpRMJw5JurSV66ndG5QCARXmP9NoN72K5WUi9mwjnSDf__7Rs83AudRe1yRzhZ3/s1600/IMG_5387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXoUPMEYQE9aczFprBwiQkMzOoLNMi-UD_CAMuTsAx_njiE1x130c147qJxJHWNWa7P8bpCZwD7VLiFpRMJw5JurSV66ndG5QCARXmP9NoN72K5WUi9mwjnSDf__7Rs83AudRe1yRzhZ3/s320/IMG_5387.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
and bake at 350 degrees for 23 minutes (the original recipe calls for 35 minutes, totally depends on your oven)<br />
<br />
Voila:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhLHgWWxQCq-2vTKtbaTN6rVrUbfd2kCq65QmbtvqRY3edlJILMKk6KbM58L2HoLdWj5jArJrXyP57mk7KO-KRgWDexKwdHYt2R955GmpcklPV7PvXiWo634fmq85TyFJuhNbCbKdiCin/s1600/IMG_5389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhLHgWWxQCq-2vTKtbaTN6rVrUbfd2kCq65QmbtvqRY3edlJILMKk6KbM58L2HoLdWj5jArJrXyP57mk7KO-KRgWDexKwdHYt2R955GmpcklPV7PvXiWo634fmq85TyFJuhNbCbKdiCin/s320/IMG_5389.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Hands down the best muffin I've ever made- vegan or not. Outrageously moist, just sweet enough and fairly filling thanks to the flax meal. (Though that didn't stop me from scarfing down my fair share...)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_8kFexi1Z8X-kIFpD0xzNQvC76J7hV2-LpwUcCHFXEe6KKLvedAo_q4v2LCwFPS7kOOiGMNZVV8gDEfqWkaHKd4Ze-6r0EO7wk2tWkNf2cyi7-ueNHAaBsnuOL9WAuyqQi-eN-2GmUV8/s1600/IMG_5395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_8kFexi1Z8X-kIFpD0xzNQvC76J7hV2-LpwUcCHFXEe6KKLvedAo_q4v2LCwFPS7kOOiGMNZVV8gDEfqWkaHKd4Ze-6r0EO7wk2tWkNf2cyi7-ueNHAaBsnuOL9WAuyqQi-eN-2GmUV8/s320/IMG_5395.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Seeing as I still had time to kill (a rarity) and wanted some sort of goodie to bring my parents, I decided on the <i>perfect</i> homemade California gift: vegan granola.<br />
<br />
One of the ingredients seemed wildly appropriate for this particular trip back down south...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0jinVBmA0R5xM5RDOHmuKfAySgR4e6ncWTaSSJHayDu-Ttssgg7VuOXSIfLrI8O7rUGem564_QAQ2xS8iBD61MfO_7XTFZnvlyfQtwG1OnauxYtl5LVrrIa7ayKDaqqgGUwNQmSciVl7/s1600/IMG_5388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0jinVBmA0R5xM5RDOHmuKfAySgR4e6ncWTaSSJHayDu-Ttssgg7VuOXSIfLrI8O7rUGem564_QAQ2xS8iBD61MfO_7XTFZnvlyfQtwG1OnauxYtl5LVrrIa7ayKDaqqgGUwNQmSciVl7/s320/IMG_5388.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The recipe for <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2010/10/my-date-with-jack.html">"Hemp-nola"</a> is seriously one of my favorite breakfast or anytime snacks. It can be found in <i>Eat, Drink and Be Vegan</i>.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdh1ZYA_dZNXKsTCuAtv1D0OaOjgSdk8fAkjeoyTv0p0F3dIXCpHbB-txCJnqUy5xePYiRC0TNU712oTJziNwf3uiTtyEogwIeCOvD7n_oUlrT-A7QAyA1YFcw6vJe0BKZ9v5evhHdUI5/s1600/IMG_5390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdh1ZYA_dZNXKsTCuAtv1D0OaOjgSdk8fAkjeoyTv0p0F3dIXCpHbB-txCJnqUy5xePYiRC0TNU712oTJziNwf3uiTtyEogwIeCOvD7n_oUlrT-A7QAyA1YFcw6vJe0BKZ9v5evhHdUI5/s320/IMG_5390.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Loaded with hemp protein and refined sugar-free, it's pretty much the bee's knees.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikw9KEk6wAK10vnYXpVKPmSE8MBxIPa-Anbfj3i_UTRRhUDn5v0fZNFVKP6g_IZfWpadsj10ci3P3xKlQ1nQ6xPWH64UUPcF01p_QbIxKIcDCE4-lsS_bZZcJcRnIgpjaBCZlN65i8peWQ/s1600/IMG_5396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikw9KEk6wAK10vnYXpVKPmSE8MBxIPa-Anbfj3i_UTRRhUDn5v0fZNFVKP6g_IZfWpadsj10ci3P3xKlQ1nQ6xPWH64UUPcF01p_QbIxKIcDCE4-lsS_bZZcJcRnIgpjaBCZlN65i8peWQ/s320/IMG_5396.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I'll be back in my west cost kitchen soon enough but for now, I'm enjoying a little trip down south...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhSuRljI-kYf2N1LK06UsIQMXIKcWZChIdt-3A9J7X0IAn_r2JgcAZMTXuTMszLcy5q2fNaOkwQ5DpJ16Vtymt5mbVFDbSsUEBxSBRX-ERqhSWKkMRapaYMB6PlndMZ7byjlYJiVve_34/s1600/IMG_5556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhSuRljI-kYf2N1LK06UsIQMXIKcWZChIdt-3A9J7X0IAn_r2JgcAZMTXuTMszLcy5q2fNaOkwQ5DpJ16Vtymt5mbVFDbSsUEBxSBRX-ERqhSWKkMRapaYMB6PlndMZ7byjlYJiVve_34/s320/IMG_5556.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Aa1CJ-w6UnVMJ-XB0A0Tco8JeB4QH8IT3MP9iIsS0K81DYoA-Qh8dGFBUVMAxM2UUmqCcYuYIQ_3DUFJz3VO1dE45QxSPSmSSXcVoSEZ5XQCahYWO4NdqOPpfENCcB2Hq2Zco4yT1rZz/s1600/photo-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Aa1CJ-w6UnVMJ-XB0A0Tco8JeB4QH8IT3MP9iIsS0K81DYoA-Qh8dGFBUVMAxM2UUmqCcYuYIQ_3DUFJz3VO1dE45QxSPSmSSXcVoSEZ5XQCahYWO4NdqOPpfENCcB2Hq2Zco4yT1rZz/s320/photo-3.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<br />
shooting a short film with some of my favorite people<br />
<br />
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and spending time with those I love the most!<br />
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Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08914680848288806753noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938782053468322304.post-36771559217604870042011-03-02T13:38:00.000-08:002011-03-02T13:47:07.107-08:00All Good Things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, hello there.</div><br />
Long time, no see.<br />
<br />
Let me go ahead and clear the air: I've been bad- very bad.<br />
<br />
In addition to my blogging negligence, I sort of fell off the wagon.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzZrfv6ftlXCfdKydnxEGd_d22tF5BrPcYOIQUVTxKLZrYA-1HhTAQldOPA8Ezh9WD5RdHdALxQ5Up-Ao1ojnBc2cE3HF-1h6hL6q90laGZDXq4cY-GJ9N2F16NJ1LYYX-40ZpWf0AZlP/s1600/weird-people-fat-guy-eating-huge-ha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzZrfv6ftlXCfdKydnxEGd_d22tF5BrPcYOIQUVTxKLZrYA-1HhTAQldOPA8Ezh9WD5RdHdALxQ5Up-Ao1ojnBc2cE3HF-1h6hL6q90laGZDXq4cY-GJ9N2F16NJ1LYYX-40ZpWf0AZlP/s320/weird-people-fat-guy-eating-huge-ha.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.healthandfood.org/category/diet/">courtesy of</a></div><br />
Ok, I wasn't <i>that</i> bad. I'm still off meat and have no desire for it, but...<br />
<br />
Let's rewind:<br />
<br />
It all started with <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2011/01/lets-totally-go-shop-ping.html">the cleanse</a>. Remember that little 3 week plan of mine?<br />
<br />
As I expressed repeatedly in posts from several weeks ago, <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2011/02/full-disclosure.html">I wasn't too gung ho from the start</a>.<br />
<br />
While the 21 days without gluten, alcohol, caffeine, refined sugar, animal products and drinking liquids 'til noon left my system cleaned out, it left my tummy RUMBLING!<br />
<br />
The first week and a half wasn't too bad and, to be honest, the only reason I was able to stay afloat all 21 days was because of Alex.<br />
<br />
Round about the start of week 3, my appetite started going stir crazy. I distinctly remember the breaking point.<br />
<br />
It came at about 7:30 on a Monday night.<br />
<br />
Alex and I were running an errand across town and we were hungry. He said he knew of a really great Indian place in the area. I suggested we stop in and grab a bite. He protested slightly, saying we probably wouldn't find anything to meet our dietary needs, but eventually gave in due to my ravenous, grump-meister attitude.<br />
<br />
We walked in. The place was elaborately decorated with Indian flare; a cheerfully colorful Bollywood flick donned the big screen TV in the middle of the dining room.<br />
<br />
It smelled of all things decadently Indian and I was excited.<br />
<br />
Until I read the menu... and there was practically nothing for us!<br />
<br />
Indian cuisine is arguably one of the most vegetarian-friendly, healthy types of food in the world!<br />
<br />
We couldn't even eat the complimentary papadum that came with the table.<br />
<br />
Now I was seething inside.<br />
<br />
Why was I depriving myself of something I <i>knew</i> was ok for my body? Something I <i>wanted</i> and had enjoyed plenty of times with no abysmal after effects?<br />
<br />
I expressed my discontent to my partner in crime, and we both decided we'd come this far and might as well finish the task at hand.<br />
<br />
******<br />
<br />
That's around the time that people who see me on the regular started commenting on my weight- how I was losing some. If you know me, you know that's no bueno. I am NOT trying to get smaller, I'm trying to get ripped- like Madonna, remember? ;)<br />
<br />
******<br />
<br />
Then the mad cravings started...<br />
<br />
While I used to ache for hearty salads with all sorts of fruits and veggies, homemade vegan chocolate granola bars and whole wheat toast with eggs, in the midst of intense deprivation, my yearnings shifted to things like:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVWvSHUGcjHJ2eJ1T_l17pKUiYQ8f_HDG4UtEmPb73dFt-tAhMpGJ3yMQ05x0Rdxgi07SzaFkFUP1n2BlAuyxbYhjY3kgVNU3Gha2aOTGTZ5FYbxFNZg4a7614bGVS1Y2_5dfFDXjog26/s1600/IMG_3922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVWvSHUGcjHJ2eJ1T_l17pKUiYQ8f_HDG4UtEmPb73dFt-tAhMpGJ3yMQ05x0Rdxgi07SzaFkFUP1n2BlAuyxbYhjY3kgVNU3Gha2aOTGTZ5FYbxFNZg4a7614bGVS1Y2_5dfFDXjog26/s320/IMG_3922.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
CROISSANTS<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieg_ITv4qbz0AFY1hHSMbjwuHXIlwz6hu0Q_NfcyNg63hmXIzjHb00A7WFTA8lNBILWucPvuqhAEXUXyXsz2DH7rR7F-xiuy3ET6EKy-d7FVQ4uvzjMBLWf_Q5HWC4hYV2EaxO8LEaT68/s1600/IMG_3800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieg_ITv4qbz0AFY1hHSMbjwuHXIlwz6hu0Q_NfcyNg63hmXIzjHb00A7WFTA8lNBILWucPvuqhAEXUXyXsz2DH7rR7F-xiuy3ET6EKy-d7FVQ4uvzjMBLWf_Q5HWC4hYV2EaxO8LEaT68/s320/IMG_3800.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">CUPCAKES</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI5J5i0pKjj0dag7r198utrQssxmtVnYA5QuX2Mb_uBhPSzpwWrLoPGhvl7iQzqlSct6ExTZj4jZj7IvS2lNs6K9TBGwszMuU_QeFcTzkRKfGgdW2EV9Wl8eKRaqzsVNlXYiH6KglvF-o2/s1600/IMG_3903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI5J5i0pKjj0dag7r198utrQssxmtVnYA5QuX2Mb_uBhPSzpwWrLoPGhvl7iQzqlSct6ExTZj4jZj7IvS2lNs6K9TBGwszMuU_QeFcTzkRKfGgdW2EV9Wl8eKRaqzsVNlXYiH6KglvF-o2/s320/IMG_3903.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
and WHOLE BLOCKS OF THIS STUFF<br />
<br />
I couldn't even satisfy my sweet tooth with a doctored up bowl of oats in the morning<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGlY5N0ax8mUKdiuCM7vYkiabBS4ueWOSd4fehkQE8meAvf9NJMwpunNyMygCHs57bnOIi6NdAFalx4YxXitwpu62pSwMHoWf0PftWi2OMlfoMhISXquOiwtY3wD6H2GFGKjN_ISq0G8hC/s1600/IMG_3386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGlY5N0ax8mUKdiuCM7vYkiabBS4ueWOSd4fehkQE8meAvf9NJMwpunNyMygCHs57bnOIi6NdAFalx4YxXitwpu62pSwMHoWf0PftWi2OMlfoMhISXquOiwtY3wD6H2GFGKjN_ISq0G8hC/s320/IMG_3386.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
because<br />
<br />
A: I couldn't <i>eat</i> breakfast (I had to drink it)<br />
<br />
and<br />
<br />
B: Oats weren't allowed on the cleanse!<br />
<br />
*****<br />
<br />
Finally day 21 hit and I was free. Free to indulge, free to run wild and eat whatever my heart desired.<br />
<br />
And that's just what I did.<br />
<br />
The first morning off the cleanse started innocently enough.<br />
<br />
I had iced coffee-<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwizuRvrDYETbUxwSGwOAjIoRN0p82wxGDqsXOqG2M6141OXuisRp4qw3cXW78Y7xBXnv4VGTf2dDQOTiiHZLnTy1IXM7Ruk2AiPmspppdq6qxasOIkFSFeOgVirVz6GvYeiYeDcFJcuSu/s1600/IMG_2000.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwizuRvrDYETbUxwSGwOAjIoRN0p82wxGDqsXOqG2M6141OXuisRp4qw3cXW78Y7xBXnv4VGTf2dDQOTiiHZLnTy1IXM7Ruk2AiPmspppdq6qxasOIkFSFeOgVirVz6GvYeiYeDcFJcuSu/s320/IMG_2000.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Ah sweet caffeine, how I'd missed thee!<br />
<br />
Oh, and 2 croissants- one of them plain and the other chocolate.<br />
<br />
From that moment on, a downward spiral reminiscent of my sugar, caffeine and simple carb-laden college days took over my life.<br />
<br />
Things got hectic, I didn't have time to meal plan, I'd stopped going to the gym at the beginning of the cleanse (since I lacked the energy to get my butt into gear) and I proceeded to live off coffee, bread products and ice cream for the week and some change that followed my 21 day "cleanse."<br />
<br />
Until this weekend.<br />
<br />
One of the most kindred of spirits in all the land traipsed into town and with that came a weekend of eating, drinking and being merry to my heart's content... But not so much my belly's.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4pKnTY2i6awEC815BQQiOyIoXoWfijlxEBwwjKYfB0r24c8esN9IScna8PIf58J5HVnTJW7MhyphenhyphenXSgGuXU2fTkQpnRmvk9ISK1y5ELcC0nporePHzUil9WfSQ1RxW4Z-ByLydm5egukNjV/s1600/leenhannah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4pKnTY2i6awEC815BQQiOyIoXoWfijlxEBwwjKYfB0r24c8esN9IScna8PIf58J5HVnTJW7MhyphenhyphenXSgGuXU2fTkQpnRmvk9ISK1y5ELcC0nporePHzUil9WfSQ1RxW4Z-ByLydm5egukNjV/s320/leenhannah.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">My darling <b>Lee</b> and the one and only <b>Hannah Banana</b> with the <b>Great Wall of Chocolate</b></div><br />
Come Sunday night, I was drinking wine solely because it was placed in front of me, not because I wanted it.<br />
<br />
I knew then and there that enough was enough. My skin was looking ragged, I was bloated, stopped up and lacking any semblance of energy.<br />
<br />
It was as if I'd put my body through some sort of insane science experiment: draining and clearing it of all toxins through a cleanse, then stuffing its new pristine emptiness with the worst possible products.<br />
<br />
I wasn't too happy with myself, but learned a <i>ton</i> about what my body can handle and what it can't.<br />
<br />
I also realized that in my "normal life" (what I consider my lifestyle before embarking on the cleanse), I'm a pretty balanced person and should be proud of that. I used to scold myself for indulging in a blondie sundae from <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2010/09/mini-miracles-abound.html">Milk</a> every now and again, but those days are over.<br />
<br />
The way to live a balanced, healthy and happy life is NOT by depriving yourself to prove a point. <i><b>It's about finding the pace at which you optimally operate and maintaining that. </b></i>Sure, you'll eat a brownie now and again, maybe even have one too many shots of whiskey on a Friday night but that's what life's all about: enjoying the little things.<br />
<br />
To be clear, this is not me poo-pooing all cleanses or detoxes. Kudos to those of you who can successfully live in such a way! I've found that 3 weeks is simply too long for my sanity and body to handle.<br />
<br />
The 21 days wasn't all bad. Alex's cleanse was a success! He still hasn't had a bite of meat since cutting it out about a month ago. (He's agreed to do a little write-up about his experience, which I hope to have posted in the coming days)<br />
<br />
As for life now, I'm making strides to get back to the mind and body space I was inhabiting while writing <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2010/10/change.html">this post</a>.<br />
<br />
It's all about baby steps.<br />
<br />
First thing Monday morning, I woke up, chugged a huge bottle of water and kept the hydration going throughout the day. I also made coffee- yes I'm back on the stuff but I love it, I want it and one cup a day won't kill me!! Life's too short.<br />
<br />
For breakfast, I dusted off my oats container and made a fiber-filled concoction from the Gods:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGkFEXIBclAkQSpVTWO3k1ouIMAwF2XWaZyO8R4pHsOfI7a0qDMof-y6OQVasSMq8bX0IYR8v2TRbw6rjPKjPFhmt6yY9uBFS53BIkAu3Tzi-xQY7KMAWUpfvmd_3HusslMu58TvV1mnp/s1600/IMG_5351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGkFEXIBclAkQSpVTWO3k1ouIMAwF2XWaZyO8R4pHsOfI7a0qDMof-y6OQVasSMq8bX0IYR8v2TRbw6rjPKjPFhmt6yY9uBFS53BIkAu3Tzi-xQY7KMAWUpfvmd_3HusslMu58TvV1mnp/s320/IMG_5351.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Rolled oats, almond milk, banana, cinnamon, ground flax, chia seeds<br />
<br />
I continued eating veggies for the rest of the day, along with tons of fiber and got back into my groove.<br />
<br />
As crazy as it sounds, I was already feeling a big difference half a day into my readjustment plan.<br />
<br />
Once the sugar cravings kicked in (because hey, it is a legal drug and those fiendings are legit), I got my booty in the kitchen and figured out a way to satisfy my ice cream craving in a healthy way.<br />
<br />
That's where these babies came in:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibw1ggXrGhHzEM7oPuNsHdsYUVwfKyN08r4e_A8UEdiMAp4BnIopG4EXD-QEXw9AvNhQFsrFNMn2yMzX9tn22NR2t_SonkOhc8rSZzyqswDHKr3lfbyeQJB62UQ23ugvQ09VA6pLssfd60/s1600/IMG_5355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibw1ggXrGhHzEM7oPuNsHdsYUVwfKyN08r4e_A8UEdiMAp4BnIopG4EXD-QEXw9AvNhQFsrFNMn2yMzX9tn22NR2t_SonkOhc8rSZzyqswDHKr3lfbyeQJB62UQ23ugvQ09VA6pLssfd60/s320/IMG_5355.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Guiltless good things abound! Organic instant coffee, light coconut milk, unsweetened cocoa powder and shredded coconut.<br />
<br />
All that, ice, banana and a blender<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjLvNuY-5c0Pevv3PTke0GFM_NnJfaoZYGG6qwF_AYmjQ8qC3HUFG3ujzu8OFwg-NYKLLSAA5lwt4I5liiyQm7VMeeQ5oRm-jcXw_5RY29gbClHjbQgLW02lNnVn4xypjXRy83X7i44e1/s1600/IMG_5361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjLvNuY-5c0Pevv3PTke0GFM_NnJfaoZYGG6qwF_AYmjQ8qC3HUFG3ujzu8OFwg-NYKLLSAA5lwt4I5liiyQm7VMeeQ5oRm-jcXw_5RY29gbClHjbQgLW02lNnVn4xypjXRy83X7i44e1/s320/IMG_5361.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
COME TO MAMA!!!!<br />
<br />
A refined sugar-free, healthy fat-filled milkshake.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6wXM0Iy32fI4XU4I1kRwhiBOkDKlIhnONbwglhWShVO79Wv7Kwl4ueFcBmZwbu-WksuRe8CHJRkibugZi_RXooqv1mkGbaG5J2BOuATKdBBsk4Hyxj3vKWxFk3SrGk4kRk4iHree2JctM/s1600/IMG_5364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6wXM0Iy32fI4XU4I1kRwhiBOkDKlIhnONbwglhWShVO79Wv7Kwl4ueFcBmZwbu-WksuRe8CHJRkibugZi_RXooqv1mkGbaG5J2BOuATKdBBsk4Hyxj3vKWxFk3SrGk4kRk4iHree2JctM/s320/IMG_5364.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Yes, please.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHPT2z6cDzxF8IFQcbA5j6G-um8hG2ux-t2GOemYwrlZVVfZz4PuDu_8AGG5bQhYO0J5qJqkFgz6Vg8hLg88bdTSIVDmOavaLL89BnNcT0Ho_ppOEOGsoG9rJtVV_yJC5roos7y90bWlu/s1600/IMG_5363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHPT2z6cDzxF8IFQcbA5j6G-um8hG2ux-t2GOemYwrlZVVfZz4PuDu_8AGG5bQhYO0J5qJqkFgz6Vg8hLg88bdTSIVDmOavaLL89BnNcT0Ho_ppOEOGsoG9rJtVV_yJC5roos7y90bWlu/s320/IMG_5363.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This morning, with a jar of light coconut milk to use up, </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhRS3-mvb5xuQ9eQNfuziusXG79KlZF5oPCtrxEl8KH873jBfHOevYDqt1TrbYfkRv0PqPDJn8xcepj6EM8eEuZ80VVQSGAWZs0thBk7p0JyZ-HHOZ97jBxEkLasXJfs5BZqPHuQgP7d9/s1600/IMG_5366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhRS3-mvb5xuQ9eQNfuziusXG79KlZF5oPCtrxEl8KH873jBfHOevYDqt1TrbYfkRv0PqPDJn8xcepj6EM8eEuZ80VVQSGAWZs0thBk7p0JyZ-HHOZ97jBxEkLasXJfs5BZqPHuQgP7d9/s320/IMG_5366.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">I wanted <b>pancakes</b>... And so it was.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQQ2I5livkH7Lm_xU5-WK8Ng7AXuPjW_qjOmr_4690Talhz6bMAMAjo7XWSv6OA3IXaoytG8-F4EATYcRBrh9JmD03U0M6UZPgnI7bDyctlqOy7LB28pASApK3Pk-4KfbNx_P9VFjms0V/s1600/IMG_5368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQQ2I5livkH7Lm_xU5-WK8Ng7AXuPjW_qjOmr_4690Talhz6bMAMAjo7XWSv6OA3IXaoytG8-F4EATYcRBrh9JmD03U0M6UZPgnI7bDyctlqOy7LB28pASApK3Pk-4KfbNx_P9VFjms0V/s320/IMG_5368.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I adore the creamy texture of coconut milk. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I adapted <a href="http://blissfullyvegan.wordpress.com/2010/07/14/banana-cream-pancakes/">this recipe</a> for one person.</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><ul><li>1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour</li>
<li>1 tsp baking powder</li>
<li>1/2 tsp cinnamon</li>
<li>pinch sea salt</li>
<li>1/2 cup light coconut milk</li>
<li>1 ripe banana</li>
<li>1/3 tsp vanilla extract</li>
</ul>Mix the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in a medium sized bowl. Set aside.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">In a blender, combine coconut milk, banana and vanilla.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Add wet mix to dry and whisk. (I added a touch more coconut milk to get the right pancake batter consistency)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_BYizwtdOqm7zKuXYcPuucS0oTiCUeBC9SHyG3xC-ivgZF0EIlJJrWRbiNWBJW4p9ytQ49OGx1OkQuv6svNAWkT_VytaqSBfOpHxkAVCV9QMYweXYd78SlY4MBt4-GJyEnYDoYvF2zWw/s1600/IMG_5369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_BYizwtdOqm7zKuXYcPuucS0oTiCUeBC9SHyG3xC-ivgZF0EIlJJrWRbiNWBJW4p9ytQ49OGx1OkQuv6svNAWkT_VytaqSBfOpHxkAVCV9QMYweXYd78SlY4MBt4-GJyEnYDoYvF2zWw/s320/IMG_5369.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Grease your pan and pour on the goodness. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbbPe4BzZ-lAcq29Q8nEwfzUBjtdTcf8KCJmh5ZWfBKNTjqTnbUSSyqB6hi5xW46xIRBEgUJLCa_tUexJbQRp8Jn431QrEzssbt-S3MPlIBrIfD25nUczo7Fz73ARK9n8NeaADzzj49FZ/s1600/IMG_5370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbbPe4BzZ-lAcq29Q8nEwfzUBjtdTcf8KCJmh5ZWfBKNTjqTnbUSSyqB6hi5xW46xIRBEgUJLCa_tUexJbQRp8Jn431QrEzssbt-S3MPlIBrIfD25nUczo7Fz73ARK9n8NeaADzzj49FZ/s320/IMG_5370.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Wait for bubbles to stop forming and flip.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMS1v5RhqQANu0zxZhCT-UdEdpYXGzuMd5DBZ1Vs4jxFcxVqUjSWOb_Gi2K4arMywjjSEyZ6J6EC1luIbCFQmFL554JLkBihyphenhyphenxLhLPuDiCXGO5ZHygMCAB6MGkf1c8kY17wRULTXh2_rEH/s1600/IMG_5375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMS1v5RhqQANu0zxZhCT-UdEdpYXGzuMd5DBZ1Vs4jxFcxVqUjSWOb_Gi2K4arMywjjSEyZ6J6EC1luIbCFQmFL554JLkBihyphenhyphenxLhLPuDiCXGO5ZHygMCAB6MGkf1c8kY17wRULTXh2_rEH/s320/IMG_5375.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Note to self: make smaller cakes next time.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">While they may not be the prettiest pancakes, they certainly are the tastiest.... </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GBMcilYeZd8JkRMIAPbc0fnqebuX-CecvPKGQ8kN_0p_NET3VIlJxVA3G2vmxp3YYPvapATB7sypUcHjMo2XhmgZeNJhIweMktTsSC9AKZcVWTf8GVy-p8OpMU8ZCeJ9Fhpi3c3tOKFp/s1600/IMG_5377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GBMcilYeZd8JkRMIAPbc0fnqebuX-CecvPKGQ8kN_0p_NET3VIlJxVA3G2vmxp3YYPvapATB7sypUcHjMo2XhmgZeNJhIweMktTsSC9AKZcVWTf8GVy-p8OpMU8ZCeJ9Fhpi3c3tOKFp/s320/IMG_5377.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">No lie: vegan, slightly sweet and creamy. Next time I'll add flax to get some extra fiber in the mix!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Lesson of the month: </b>All good things in moderation.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm so thrilled to be back in the kitchen free of restrictions, even the mess won't bring me down.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrQA8m_-uaMfIPdRlEkdFafgkzpEmWBMnxg1WndExfT8OJTqFmg_rS_Ax4wZ4cu27kg0f4hOa9WHk2f1wF5ohN5a44QLI6HVTBNhxfUBbnoQs60no3HQ1W-oXCrHKANZAidA9EPoooMLw/s1600/IMG_5374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrQA8m_-uaMfIPdRlEkdFafgkzpEmWBMnxg1WndExfT8OJTqFmg_rS_Ax4wZ4cu27kg0f4hOa9WHk2f1wF5ohN5a44QLI6HVTBNhxfUBbnoQs60no3HQ1W-oXCrHKANZAidA9EPoooMLw/s320/IMG_5374.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">And <i>that's</i> saying something ;)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08914680848288806753noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938782053468322304.post-6535949912839413482011-02-11T12:26:00.000-08:002011-02-11T12:41:51.227-08:00The [Real] Kings' Speech<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIHUFY5wXKIzvZg7eUkUH00hgz1DDY_bKYTQEXNoBNtteHd2_3Tnx-g2-2hk9CgoFn0-8Howo3Y7ZXRfze2lY5Pg8C8eHD1_MwvESXmCZRdSX9Fc1gRgybIX_YvZLI-udQy-G9eNYwm8n9/s1600/ALEX.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>On Wednesday night, something great happened!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5PY2Cv9lTHqX12Pmnbef_Xhe8zizjxf-7sohfDYVpQb5qgdTjR0wB3G4kbYvogx86VCjimSVyPa82yFNgvawjNLSP4zgATH_V_HwEk6Nx30DT0tU_LqlFt0JncCR4cSCoWI_Kum-n_Ys3/s1600/SHOW2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5PY2Cv9lTHqX12Pmnbef_Xhe8zizjxf-7sohfDYVpQb5qgdTjR0wB3G4kbYvogx86VCjimSVyPa82yFNgvawjNLSP4zgATH_V_HwEk6Nx30DT0tU_LqlFt0JncCR4cSCoWI_Kum-n_Ys3/s320/SHOW2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Michael Pollan, the journalist and author of such acclaimed books such as <i>The Omnivore's Dilemma</i>, <i>In Defense of Food</i> and <i>Food Rules</i>, along with Eric Schlosser (<i>Fast Food Nation</i>) shared the stage, and I got to see it. FOR FREE!!!<br />
<br />
I was so giddy walking onto the USC campus (University of Southern California), I felt like a kid again.<br />
<br />
Alex was starving after a long work day so we stopped into a little coffee house/food shack near the quad.<br />
<br />
Since embarking on our <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2011/01/buddy-system.html">21 day cleanse together</a>, we've become no strangers to the difficult task of finding something quick and easy to eat on the run. But throw a college campus' selection into the mix and it turns out to be nearly impossible! <br />
<br />
Walking into Trojan Grounds, I was slightly horrified by the lackluster array of edible goods offered to all the young, fresh, developing minds that fill the store every day. <br />
<br />
Not only did this canteen have every coffee drink and flavored syrup imaginable, they also had whole cakes for the taking displayed prominently in the case by the register. Finish a test you'd been studying for for a week? Why not reward yourself with a honkin' piece of chocolate cake for lunch? (hey, this really happened to me people)<br />
<br />
When we moseyed on back into the "market" section of the establishment, more junk food awaited us. Candy bars galore; a larger selection of Pepperidge Farm cookies than I've seen at some grocery stores; beef jerky; ramen of every flavor; sodas of all shapes and sizes; sugary "water" beverages and personal sized cereal containers with cartoons gracing the colorful labels.<br />
<br />
So far, Alex's snack options were looking pret-ty dismal.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMGufYD3ptE8d_rX5gOWcY9DQq_z9dcQ4_KKqibChhcuKt7aF3LxKB-k1ikyk27BxdGezUBZA0Lc2kzTneKmPGvHYNU7cUHrMn8jBiJB7tsijww-x2JEb8YJWhwUyjQvq2iHjaQyLRi5G/s1600/CROISSANT.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMGufYD3ptE8d_rX5gOWcY9DQq_z9dcQ4_KKqibChhcuKt7aF3LxKB-k1ikyk27BxdGezUBZA0Lc2kzTneKmPGvHYNU7cUHrMn8jBiJB7tsijww-x2JEb8YJWhwUyjQvq2iHjaQyLRi5G/s320/CROISSANT.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
With my eyes voraciously peeled, I finally noticed in the deep, dark far reaches of the snack section, a little area devoted to KIND bars. Sure, the boxes carrying the gluten free, sweet goodies had been knocked down and obscurred from view (looks like too many people were grabbing for the beef jerky), but they were there and I was happy.<br />
<br />
He ended up leaving with a giant cup of (non-organic) sliced fruit and a coconut and almond KIND bar to snack on while we waited in the standby line.<br />
<br />
As we rounded a well manicured corner, the theatre came into view and I was shocked at the number of people waiting out front. Students and all types of people from the community flooded the area around the front doors. How exciting to see so many people coming out in hopes of hearing these great thinkers and front-runners of the modern food movement speak!<br />
<br />
Now the only problem was getting in.<br />
<br />
Luckily, my dear friend Casey is a student and was able to procure one ticket for us. But the other- well, that would take some hustlin'.<br />
<br />
To spare you the gory details, Alex employed the same skills I remember him using on one of our first dates when he so seamlessly got us past a line of 20 eager (and belligerently drunk) people at a popular live music venue by swindling our way in. Luckily, he was able to work his unique magic at the Pollan/Schlosser talk, bypassing an 800 person wait list to wind up with a precious ticket in hand.<br />
<br />
Next thing you know, we're perched upon the best seats in the house.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGcYARekAMIGLy1ivZpe0jcbmK-VN0au9YImNheZizU5O9ODLJ3VzY8j-JkDswrK5kpY34oDVHbMpYBTWXT2EwKIQ1Cafw6DvOFawEtl4qBvFbz4n0QDIFJXvlXlmRBO8F3FzA4didQtS/s1600/SHOW1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGcYARekAMIGLy1ivZpe0jcbmK-VN0au9YImNheZizU5O9ODLJ3VzY8j-JkDswrK5kpY34oDVHbMpYBTWXT2EwKIQ1Cafw6DvOFawEtl4qBvFbz4n0QDIFJXvlXlmRBO8F3FzA4didQtS/s320/SHOW1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The moderator of the discussion was one of my favorite local public radio personalities, Evan Kleiman. She hosts a show on LA's public radio affiliate KCRW called <i>Good Food</i> every Saturday morning.<br />
<br />
They keep an archives of the show on their website and if you're in need of a quick pick-me-up at work or on the drive home, I highly recommend it:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.kcrw.com/etc/programs/gf">http://www.kcrw.com/etc/programs/gf</a><br />
<br />
Once the speakers hit the stage and introductions had been given, the conversation got underway and I was absolutely <i>glued</i>- eyes and ears- for all 2 hours of it.<br />
<br />
Much of what they talked about I'd heard at least a murmur of before, but they also divulged a number of things that literally made me gasp out loud. Facts like...<br />
<ul><li>40% of all US grocery sales occur at Wal-Marts across the country. (Talk about a corporation having total control over our food)</li>
<li>A mere 12-14% of all food grown in this country is actually eaten by humans. 70% (what?!?) goes to livestock feed and the remainder is thrown out.</li>
<li>27% of all military recruits are rejected due to obesity. It's becoming so bad that the Department of Defense has taken to lowering their physical standards. Great.</li>
<li>Legislation has just been passed to allow the unrestricted sale of genetically-modified alfalfa seeds in the US. Like Pollan pointed out, "Why does this matter to us? Who eats alfalfa on the regular?" Turns out, alfalfa is a grass eaten by much of the livestock raised for consumption in this country, which means any GMO present in their food will be passed onto us- either through the dairy products made from their milk or the flesh in our tacos. How politicians can still allow laws like this to fly is BEYOND me.</li>
<li>Spent hens- those poor female birds who've been doped up beyond recognition and made to lay eggs until they literally collapse- are in such bad shape that even fast food chains refuse to buy them. What a relief, right? Wrong. The companies who end up buying this abysmal cheap "meat" are the very ones feeding America's public school-going children in the cafeteria. Looks like there's never been a stronger argument for brown bagging it.</li>
</ul>While the three touched on many depressing, unfortunate truths regarding food policy in the US and around the world, they also talked about hopeful aspects of the future.<br />
<br />
For one, the food movement is starting to pick up speed- the packed audience and outrageous waitlist is a prime example. Pollan pointed out that the media seems to be picking up the story more rampantly than the people/voters- which is all fine and good, but, he warned, change will only happen beyond the flashbulbs and NY Times headlines.<br />
<br />
As we made our way out of the theatre (herded much like cattle, funny enough), the entire audience was abuzz with what they'd heard and discovered in the previous two hours. Alex and I even struck up a conversation with a stranger about her eating habits and decision to stop eating meat after seeing <a href="http://www.foodincmovie.com/"><i>Food, Inc</i></a> (just like me!).<br />
<br />
This whole experience showed me that if we as concerned citizens unite by boycotting the disgusting companies that are literally killing Americans by the thousands with their products and take the time to write our local government officials, we <i>can </i>make a difference. Like Eric Schlosser said, most politicians he's encountered aren't going to do anything until they see it will effect the number of votes they get come election day. Foodies unite. There is strength in numbers!<br />
<br />
And the good news: I think we caught a fresh one the other night ;)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIHUFY5wXKIzvZg7eUkUH00hgz1DDY_bKYTQEXNoBNtteHd2_3Tnx-g2-2hk9CgoFn0-8Howo3Y7ZXRfze2lY5Pg8C8eHD1_MwvESXmCZRdSX9Fc1gRgybIX_YvZLI-udQy-G9eNYwm8n9/s1600/ALEX.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIHUFY5wXKIzvZg7eUkUH00hgz1DDY_bKYTQEXNoBNtteHd2_3Tnx-g2-2hk9CgoFn0-8Howo3Y7ZXRfze2lY5Pg8C8eHD1_MwvESXmCZRdSX9Fc1gRgybIX_YvZLI-udQy-G9eNYwm8n9/s320/ALEX.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I'd like to hear from you! Do you remember your eating habits while in college? Or maybe you're in school right now and livin' it! How difficult was/is it to maintain a healthy lifestyle when faced with campus canteens overflowing with caffeine, sugar and junk?<br />
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I know I lived off coffee, pastries and questionable cafeteria food all four years myself...Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08914680848288806753noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938782053468322304.post-54966045083021941372011-02-08T09:33:00.000-08:002011-02-08T09:33:00.642-08:00Full Disclosure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETubE7b4phFzFu7SKUQLn0Rg7_7ckKAbfp9Z7l1UTi56KoCgYoMbKLnQ1RDNLMRGLURBHQwkWrckbtwCq6uRd4lgss2BJmUotmqb3loTef1tWzknmsdHOLyeDfp5Bf4lCrMdLQdNJrltL/s1600/Positive-Thinking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETubE7b4phFzFu7SKUQLn0Rg7_7ckKAbfp9Z7l1UTi56KoCgYoMbKLnQ1RDNLMRGLURBHQwkWrckbtwCq6uRd4lgss2BJmUotmqb3loTef1tWzknmsdHOLyeDfp5Bf4lCrMdLQdNJrltL/s320/Positive-Thinking.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.triathlontrainingisfun.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Positive-Thinking.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.triathlontrainingisfun.com/the-value-of-positive-thinking/&usg=__2FTwbkCpQgijIezcOuQi1foezSM=&h=400&w=400&sz=19&hl=en&start=0&sig2=f6NmkSJ452w17QzEVmgmMw&zoom=1&tbnid=oxnuFi7CA3BhvM:&tbnh=151&tbnw=190&ei=43tRTYvlAYGisQPE183TBg&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpositive%2Bthinking%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26biw%3D1158%26bih%3D600%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=782&vpy=102&dur=11543&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=67&ty=131&oei=43tRTYvlAYGisQPE183TBg&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0">courtesy of</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>As I sit here this morning, sipping away at my piping hot cleanse bev of water, cayenne pepper and lemon, I'm compelled to be completely and utterly honest with you all.<br />
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First off, I come to you with this update via Alex's computer since, le sigh, mine is staying a couple nights in that dreaded hospital known as the Apple Genius Bar <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2010/09/morning-dose-of-genius.html">once again</a>. Which means I won't be able to bring you news of my run-in with Burmese cuisine or favorite new pastry place until my computer and the photos on it are returned safe and sound.<br />
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Secondly, I want to talk <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2011/01/lets-totally-go-shop-ping.html">cleanse</a>.<br />
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This <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2011/01/head-in-game.html">Crazy, Sexy Diet</a> Adventure Cleanse is admittedly my first foray into detox territory. While I've heard many a good friend, celebrity and random on the street talk about the "cleanse I'm on won't allow..." or "how great" their detox feels, I'd never officially tried one for myself.<br />
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Until 11 days ago when <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2011/01/buddy-system.html">Alex agreed to step up to the plate</a> and serve as a Clyde to my Bonnie in this hijacking of our bodily systems. (Ok, maybe hijacking's a <i>little </i>harsh ;)<br />
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I went into this thing straight off a high in life- <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2011/01/little-night-tennis-anyone.html">our show had just opened</a>, I was feeling great about all the things going on, I couldn't wait to get to blogging <i>and </i>make strides in my acting career. Hence, I went into the cleanse a little reluctantly, with countless other things occupying my mind. I just assumed the positive feelings about this period of deprivation would fall into place, especially having a dedicated partner by my side.<br />
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Wrong.<br />
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Here we are 11 days in and all I feel is deprived.<br />
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I keep asking myself, "How could this be?! Kris Carr essentially cured herself of cancer this way- why am I finding it so difficult to enjoy a heightened mood while living this lifestyle?"<br />
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A few possible answers include:<br />
<ol><li>Lack of gym going and exercise. Granted my schedule has not been the most flexible, but that is the worst excuse in the book. Since I'm more of a morning exerciser, this whole "liquids 'til noon" thing has been the culprit. I can barely muster the inspiration, let alone the appropriate caloric intake, to hop on a spin bike and get those endorphins flowin'</li>
<li>Not residing in the proper head space. Lately my mind has been almost completely focused on getting my acting career off the ground. For this reason, I haven't devoted the time necessary to meditation, reflection and all the lovely feel good, spiritual components prescribed in this cleanse. My bad.</li>
<li>Lack of variety. I'm the sort of person who gets bored pret-ty easily. If you remember before this cleanse, I'd be posting a recipe for <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2011/01/lets-go-to-movies.html">carob-dipped pretzels</a> one day and <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2011/01/buddy-system.html">vegan alfredo</a> the next. We've all heard variety's the spice of life... well, on this cleanse, the sparse options, along with my spotty schedule basically allow me gigante salads at lunch, smoothies in the morning and brown rice veggie bowls for dinner. There's only so much repeat a girl (and all you lovely readers out there) can take.</li>
</ol>In a nutshell, this is <i>not </i>how I invisioned the cleanse going. I thought all my problems, low energy levels and less than favorable tummy growlings would fly straight out the window, leaving behind a perfectly energized vessel for my invigorated soul to thrive in.<br />
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Now I realize it's not just the food choices that cleanse your body, but also the mind. When I think about it, my normal diet is pretty damn healthy. It's the mindset one takes on during a detox that's key. This cleanse has shown me that you can munch on organic produce, beans and legumes all day long but if you're head's not in it, there's [almost] no point.<br />
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Don't get me wrong: things haven't been all bad.<br />
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Alex and I have had a great time figuring it all out together! My skin is looking great, I can't remember the last time I was bloated or uncomfortably full, I've learned tons about gluten free living and going without alcohol has been an eye-opening experience in every sense of the word.<br />
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Not to worry, I don't plan to abandon the cleanse altogether. Instead, I'll be making a slight adjustment by allowing myself small solid food breakfasts to get daily exercise back into my life.<br />
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I'll also be devoting more time to meal-planning in order to add more flavors to our palates and nutrients to our organs.<br />
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With that in mind, I'm off to whip up some cleanse-worthy breakfast... Ah, the possibilities!<br />
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Catcha later :)<br />
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Question: Have you ever done a cleanse and made adjustments after seeing it wasn't doing great things for your body/psyche? It's a tough tough thing if you don't know what you're in for!!Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08914680848288806753noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938782053468322304.post-82483869164206042472011-02-03T17:11:00.000-08:002011-02-03T17:16:35.039-08:00A Light<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you're new to this blog, I should probably tell you now: I've got a huge crush on <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2010/11/ode-to-oats-and-other-musings.html">oats</a>. </div><br />
Flavored oatmeal, oat-based cookies, oats in yogurt, anything and everything involving the grain, really.<br />
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Just about every morning since starting this foray into gluten-free living, I find myself fiending for a bowl of the heart healthy stuff. I end up begrudgingly resisting the urge, knowing full well that not <i>all</i> oats are technically gluten free.<br />
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But the other day, after seeing Ashley's recipe for <a href="http://edibleperspective.com/2011/01/breakfast-lovin/">Pumpkin Muffin Buckwheat Bake</a>, I saw a potential light at the end of my oatless tunnel.<br />
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Turns out, buckwheat <i>is</i> gluten free! (despite the word <i>wheat</i> in the name)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxYRkCmU7cVLYcG-FI4YFKS_79vu-hyTrmN6v9hFo_1IT3v_f05jZdg_JNc94nOTQiatHfAFIcNQr0ECf6imtvMKCKlblT1vZHxJlLhYON04eAd1fKlV8cXqddUUtaPnpmih6UhSGiMBz/s1600/IMG_5134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxYRkCmU7cVLYcG-FI4YFKS_79vu-hyTrmN6v9hFo_1IT3v_f05jZdg_JNc94nOTQiatHfAFIcNQr0ECf6imtvMKCKlblT1vZHxJlLhYON04eAd1fKlV8cXqddUUtaPnpmih6UhSGiMBz/s320/IMG_5134.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><br />
The nutrition facts aren't too shabby either:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMauv4rDJIp7eRV6YU4z5JBFn02C7BYNpfG1lbAg2eP6PJHGs_lCTdgzlVaB7RBcVwZqyIFi0a007HDcnCIkS0NcF-d_P7OmlQ7xsBT18SCnYbCMM5KQxPnm5JW22YuD8XGxJtBVRiYIj/s1600/IMG_5135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMauv4rDJIp7eRV6YU4z5JBFn02C7BYNpfG1lbAg2eP6PJHGs_lCTdgzlVaB7RBcVwZqyIFi0a007HDcnCIkS0NcF-d_P7OmlQ7xsBT18SCnYbCMM5KQxPnm5JW22YuD8XGxJtBVRiYIj/s320/IMG_5135.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
I got to work on the recipe...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8h8Kiajc0uJOFQj7DcoD7aQCZ9eXM6AzrbhhX2IP5xxcJYeqapLZo_o0QTaOY4H5Mqk_4epaclACqj_W-Cgoo9QLy0EJgDTI3ukg6_KqjalGNJv4kR0Mvdyu9xUJQ42p2KPYoxVr85xk/s1600/IMG_5137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8h8Kiajc0uJOFQj7DcoD7aQCZ9eXM6AzrbhhX2IP5xxcJYeqapLZo_o0QTaOY4H5Mqk_4epaclACqj_W-Cgoo9QLy0EJgDTI3ukg6_KqjalGNJv4kR0Mvdyu9xUJQ42p2KPYoxVr85xk/s320/IMG_5137.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9_Yd0eLFTeLugzD3JYtEWJWO2G3_m7nFaLfxDzTwFZVb-oiQm4XFt4dYBBBjGCj0mJrGsMJXdUv5MWKqhbtUJ-Q70sSOxXNSp3s-jVrcuMrJmytpUdnYfBFTRzKiR1Mei5hyA6BNE1k1/s1600/IMG_5141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9_Yd0eLFTeLugzD3JYtEWJWO2G3_m7nFaLfxDzTwFZVb-oiQm4XFt4dYBBBjGCj0mJrGsMJXdUv5MWKqhbtUJ-Q70sSOxXNSp3s-jVrcuMrJmytpUdnYfBFTRzKiR1Mei5hyA6BNE1k1/s320/IMG_5141.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHRPW3Gk5KzpIVMIDfNeeO-kYtUwI6c4ef13PIny2WY2M1fTd69dreqD7GXilBJuzI8Wnpqr1Qq_VmxC2AqvTPqW1b1spjjGOnTLSV0aTBCh_yHpyNAEvmDPyPXrT35ac5rgMX-mnf4jK/s1600/IMG_5145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHRPW3Gk5KzpIVMIDfNeeO-kYtUwI6c4ef13PIny2WY2M1fTd69dreqD7GXilBJuzI8Wnpqr1Qq_VmxC2AqvTPqW1b1spjjGOnTLSV0aTBCh_yHpyNAEvmDPyPXrT35ac5rgMX-mnf4jK/s320/IMG_5145.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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Chia seeds are a <i>requirement</i>, as they keep the mixture from turning out too liquidy.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNyfguA0PHRDbC-7H_hr-pGsNzeRBmhnjJYk5Aspnigskp4VnkJpnTVj3uEeWQmgXYG9M-s_IpM2telN-duIucKao9_5EcLWGjtCYFSJl3HvqyyH3LsHVOMUqGZ3TUj5_LxAf3fDFgqnb/s1600/IMG_5146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNyfguA0PHRDbC-7H_hr-pGsNzeRBmhnjJYk5Aspnigskp4VnkJpnTVj3uEeWQmgXYG9M-s_IpM2telN-duIucKao9_5EcLWGjtCYFSJl3HvqyyH3LsHVOMUqGZ3TUj5_LxAf3fDFgqnb/s320/IMG_5146.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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(Those little sprigs of green are more or less a permanent fixture on all my cutting boards and counter tops. I clean them up and they just keep. re.appearing.)<br />
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I brought my <b>decrepit</b> oven out of hibernation and, after the smoke alarm went off five times in 20 minutes (due to the old/ disgusting/ practically useless oven- not my cooking), the muffin was done.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuV3yBcfZ-gnKt4SkyBX-lfML8tdjwpbP2IeVd4bkTQsvKysaUQfHySBKFatfP1jcUAl-2Pnf_ptPvPIXC0ges4tCL0g7Nu4ZwOWNnQxNtY__QfQpLe3HsdQwyVuw3qjMQKDgRMQ656r0/s1600/IMG_5155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuV3yBcfZ-gnKt4SkyBX-lfML8tdjwpbP2IeVd4bkTQsvKysaUQfHySBKFatfP1jcUAl-2Pnf_ptPvPIXC0ges4tCL0g7Nu4ZwOWNnQxNtY__QfQpLe3HsdQwyVuw3qjMQKDgRMQ656r0/s320/IMG_5155.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Just in time to serve as dessert to my gigante luncheon salad of the day:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvZDmkg7sIsiBnv5Ggq-B5uCAB_-uqPm3415emHKlVuNpA6xDTa-UFECXFR4fgu4S7FTFOIjjTrh041-Z-IAVm4K3D3Jz9ToLqgElbCG4q7DXp3Rr_QdYIrWr1OtO8TWZ14gybFuFBuFl/s1600/IMG_5148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvZDmkg7sIsiBnv5Ggq-B5uCAB_-uqPm3415emHKlVuNpA6xDTa-UFECXFR4fgu4S7FTFOIjjTrh041-Z-IAVm4K3D3Jz9ToLqgElbCG4q7DXp3Rr_QdYIrWr1OtO8TWZ14gybFuFBuFl/s320/IMG_5148.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
spinach, red bell pepper, cucumber, celery, black eyed peas and vinaigrette<br />
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After adding some blueberries and a touch of maple syrup to the lump of goodness, we were talkin'...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3wr0e8kc_-wq_Nw6l0R4_6U10g7QZY87acTG7Z4S1jc4zJbuTflkCGr9WHoRQfS93A9Zfuv0AVDb-Yenepvb_19FnLp0m4XlRsp70Dh4MrLfMH_aMQOo0s5SjLQa9qtMDFRU10ddqSXo/s1600/IMG_5154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3wr0e8kc_-wq_Nw6l0R4_6U10g7QZY87acTG7Z4S1jc4zJbuTflkCGr9WHoRQfS93A9Zfuv0AVDb-Yenepvb_19FnLp0m4XlRsp70Dh4MrLfMH_aMQOo0s5SjLQa9qtMDFRU10ddqSXo/s320/IMG_5154.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Pure delicious.<br />
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Be warned, this is not your standard oat-laden treat. If you like things on the sweeter side, I'd suggest adding a little stevia extract to the mix. Also, the final product is extremely dense and fiber-filled (fine by me). Just know you'll be full for a good couple of hours.<br />
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Pre-work dinner was a new creation from <i>Crazy, Sexy Diet</i> and something that I crave pretty regularly!<br />
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<b>Pesto Pasta.</b><br />
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This gluten-free, vegan version is far too easy to make to be passed up.<br />
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All you have to do is gather your FIVE ingredients (olive oil and salt not pictured)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_sV1zSEUEXLuAOrt8Rnbn1IbgmQN95gQG2CjTvS6_iuNpxDrHpV2RNVpif-5v0SfYaSmE77y4VZGintX3lomR9cSbHQVnuCNeboz-0Cd4kNLkqxHJxK-aRoJxx6wq1-HNKgUbszuuLtG/s1600/IMG_5151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_sV1zSEUEXLuAOrt8Rnbn1IbgmQN95gQG2CjTvS6_iuNpxDrHpV2RNVpif-5v0SfYaSmE77y4VZGintX3lomR9cSbHQVnuCNeboz-0Cd4kNLkqxHJxK-aRoJxx6wq1-HNKgUbszuuLtG/s320/IMG_5151.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
That's:<br />
<br />
-2 garlic cloves<br />
-2 cups of tightly packed basil (made me long for <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2010/12/rip.html">my former baby plant</a>)<br />
-1/2 cup of pine nuts<br />
-1/2 cup olive oil<br />
-1/2 t of sea salt<br />
<br />
dump them into your blender<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZBBdTGfuQkxUU70PPxLkQcQoq6ddaBq_-o8xOyxvpndmLOmuHSQsakSO4iYEycUO2M3f5KsLFrESkEAQp_ytIaB2jDFO_Rh4HkmwUevHC-8MYLAINODe1q8CdJfoYNYDoVWmU3y-diOU/s1600/IMG_5153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZBBdTGfuQkxUU70PPxLkQcQoq6ddaBq_-o8xOyxvpndmLOmuHSQsakSO4iYEycUO2M3f5KsLFrESkEAQp_ytIaB2jDFO_Rh4HkmwUevHC-8MYLAINODe1q8CdJfoYNYDoVWmU3y-diOU/s320/IMG_5153.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><br />
And within 2 minutes, you've got a [gluten-free] pasta dish fit for a fancy menu (minus the tupperware, of course).<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6z5K5ApBWrEklJ6FCmO25QfS4AQ-PTE9aoMwGivDOLR6Wacmln5YPCMwUVcYvk7R5Vou5SaSfdUG_mvvZ-NJDXD6HmsZDfPnVWKNovi0gz8OwglfG02RUKcoVYcx7BDNfMr49IbnZjvn9/s1600/IMG_5156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6z5K5ApBWrEklJ6FCmO25QfS4AQ-PTE9aoMwGivDOLR6Wacmln5YPCMwUVcYvk7R5Vou5SaSfdUG_mvvZ-NJDXD6HmsZDfPnVWKNovi0gz8OwglfG02RUKcoVYcx7BDNfMr49IbnZjvn9/s320/IMG_5156.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I used quinoa rotelle pasta for its protein content, but any gluten-free option will do.</div><br />
The taste was a thousand times better than any pre-prepared pesto you might find in store-bought jars or cans. It'd be great on pizza too!<br />
<br />
As for that frozen gluten-free veggie patty competition I mentioned the other day, the results were mixed.<br />
<br />
The contenders in question:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdc4wv-O6EtMZ3iuvtLTIfl50RJfz79k2IkyzEHuCRWN2174PUlZ2ttc3YMtFrxwg7fA3tMXdKAtztUMaSQiB_93E3E5_TBMLbWaJDWYfYnPVhhyP5tVOAlRQP7XYXbckoDu8lkGhupsBG/s1600/IMG_5124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdc4wv-O6EtMZ3iuvtLTIfl50RJfz79k2IkyzEHuCRWN2174PUlZ2ttc3YMtFrxwg7fA3tMXdKAtztUMaSQiB_93E3E5_TBMLbWaJDWYfYnPVhhyP5tVOAlRQP7XYXbckoDu8lkGhupsBG/s320/IMG_5124.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBh0qk3rMlXVSXg9pSAMTO4LFy_4NTYGVDl3hz78oEPc5W2qALcTVCSsTOpC8QmfYkUMgm-8IACrOtBli0YA5WUjANlkSkWTJH3nUaEDcXr8_dhtwg1Y0VAmyyR3XcQPQJ_E9jPPgz5ZlF/s1600/IMG_5125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBh0qk3rMlXVSXg9pSAMTO4LFy_4NTYGVDl3hz78oEPc5W2qALcTVCSsTOpC8QmfYkUMgm-8IACrOtBli0YA5WUjANlkSkWTJH3nUaEDcXr8_dhtwg1Y0VAmyyR3XcQPQJ_E9jPPgz5ZlF/s320/IMG_5125.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">and a more popular brand we all know and love:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsrpogzkF3pslkEVdTAdTu6gGcnrqdC4ra4lD-sNBXmaI6cZTOk5UcPMVAu5Q-3GRQER6grYSy6zihqQvlTQ9i153vtC6zo3J8Y3toNyfeK-GJzPC9DIryN_sHh3qf_Ng4Zgcat6Tumgu/s1600/IMG_5126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsrpogzkF3pslkEVdTAdTu6gGcnrqdC4ra4lD-sNBXmaI6cZTOk5UcPMVAu5Q-3GRQER6grYSy6zihqQvlTQ9i153vtC6zo3J8Y3toNyfeK-GJzPC9DIryN_sHh3qf_Ng4Zgcat6Tumgu/s320/IMG_5126.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><span class="nutritional_noborder" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><strong>INGREDIENTS</strong> :</span><span class="nutritional_noborder" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"> <b>NO TRANS FAT � NO ADDED MSG � NO PRESERVATIVES</b>(VEGAN): ORGANIC MUSHROOMS, ORGANIC ONIONS, ORGANIC BROWN RICE, FILTERED WATER, ORGANIC TOFU (FILTERED WATER, ORGANIC SOYBEANS, NIGARI [MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE, A NATURAL FIRMING AGENT]), ORGANIC CELERY, ORGANIC CARROTS, ORGANIC SWEET RICE FLOUR, SOY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, ORGANIC PINTO BEANS, HIGH OLEIC SAFFLOWER AND/OR SUNFLOWER OIL, SEA SALT, ORGANIC TOMATO PUREE, ORGANIC TAMARI (WATER, ORGANIC SOYBEANS, SALT), ORGANIC CORNSTARCH, ORGANIC GREEN BELL PEPPERS, ORGANIC GREEN ONIONS, ORGANIC EVAPORATED CANE JUICE, ORGANIC GARLIC, ORGANIC APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, ORGANIC BLACKSTRAP MOLASSES, ORGANIC GREEN CHILES, SPICES*, BLACK PEPPER, GRAIN VINEGAR (DISTILLED FROM CORN), MUSTARD SEED, NATURAL HICKORY SMOKE FLAVOR.<b>CONTAINS SOY.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><span class="nutritional_noborder" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><b><b><br />
</b></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><span class="nutritional_noborder" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;"><b><b>**** </b></b></span>This ingredient list was taken from <a href="http://www.amys.com/products/category_view.php?prod_category=1">the website</a>, as the side of </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;">the box was nearly impossible to read when photographed.</div><br />
<br />
They <i>look</i> pretty similar pre-cooked:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vHZQdIYu3uKN0inB5RecNAiTZIRhNkqcySKMpc_TeLNrrXVSAvn-DOErj1d3Cn41ccKuhckHqF1vk6enIoOf-mOgMIXL0xXIZp2ZDd9GGSTxupcE8Fcyj73N9iepxSzG7GDRtn99Ew9b/s1600/IMG_5128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vHZQdIYu3uKN0inB5RecNAiTZIRhNkqcySKMpc_TeLNrrXVSAvn-DOErj1d3Cn41ccKuhckHqF1vk6enIoOf-mOgMIXL0xXIZp2ZDd9GGSTxupcE8Fcyj73N9iepxSzG7GDRtn99Ew9b/s320/IMG_5128.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Annie on the left, Sunshine on the right</div><br />
I prepared them both on the stovetop (Annie's required an oiled pan and less time on each side, while Sunshine could go without oil and took about 7 minutes longer overall)<br />
<br />
The final spread<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpYzWhE4-0zw7nlGO1zsM0AWX44WQRY3F3h-mQ7INk5-JL-RadWLcKcH7fQHqpdHhiqapkmo-CbuvkDd65_tbeAS2YcWDoGo7kTBny7psFCd1nufF6KaguR1rt-5lfpkMVT4HnBlkUXH0/s1600/IMG_5129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpYzWhE4-0zw7nlGO1zsM0AWX44WQRY3F3h-mQ7INk5-JL-RadWLcKcH7fQHqpdHhiqapkmo-CbuvkDd65_tbeAS2YcWDoGo7kTBny7psFCd1nufF6KaguR1rt-5lfpkMVT4HnBlkUXH0/s320/IMG_5129.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
(that's brown rice tortillas on the side, along with sweet potatoes, steamed broccoli and a little avocado for good measure)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsrM97i9b0XNV6FE0dcWYQy-PHd3jjuA2TurYFVj0unTS_wRGjpiZ-JcIhoxilNW2WnyMTTkz_7dawVt97z-zJeOStJMsGThw95hu_SoNHZqiKqyAg_WtNEly387Jn1QgsAxLrDIhUnJG/s1600/IMG_5131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsrM97i9b0XNV6FE0dcWYQy-PHd3jjuA2TurYFVj0unTS_wRGjpiZ-JcIhoxilNW2WnyMTTkz_7dawVt97z-zJeOStJMsGThw95hu_SoNHZqiKqyAg_WtNEly387Jn1QgsAxLrDIhUnJG/s320/IMG_5131.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
We bit in, our palates ready to discern good flavor from great, and came up with two different conclusions.<br />
<br />
I <i>loved</i> the Indian spice-like flare of the Sunshine breakfast patty, but Alex really dug Annie's bistro version.<br />
<br />
Annie's texture was a little grainier and crunchy while Sunshine had a potato, almost samosa-like feel. Note: there are no potatoes in the mix.<br />
<br />
You can't really go wrong with either, unless you're watching your soy intake or cash flow, in which case I'd say Sunshine is the way to go since a box of 3 goes for $4.69 and Annie's pack of 4 Bistro burgers is a whopping $7.29.<br />
<br />
OR... If you want to try something completely out of the box (pahaha), you can always go the safest, healthiest and most satisfying route possible:<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1194400523"> </a><i><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1194400523">homemade</a></i><a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2010/11/childs-worst-nightmare.html"> veggie burgers</a>.<br />
<br />
Yum!<br />
<br />
Alright, I'm getting hungry.<br />
<br />
As for tomorrow's post: Christian and I <i>finally</i> caught up with the <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2011/01/its-all-in-pinky-dahling.html">World Series of Food</a> earlier today after a brief hiatus due to our hectic schedules.<br />
<br />
On the menu? Burma!<br />
<br />
Followed by a solo trip to my newest obsession in town.<br />
<br />
Want a hint?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSas3O2jd_G7xNLINEYJ5KGTXDKhK2hH9XEnOf2oYM4MYleGBV0SYCtNC9ql0znHAuYVsPTE_zkCuGar-hW8IS5bWFo3W2zK2UKPiMjoQjL9P5J5VhQ_uwRF6X4wKebvhqZcFyQEqGf88/s1600/IMG_5172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSas3O2jd_G7xNLINEYJ5KGTXDKhK2hH9XEnOf2oYM4MYleGBV0SYCtNC9ql0znHAuYVsPTE_zkCuGar-hW8IS5bWFo3W2zK2UKPiMjoQjL9P5J5VhQ_uwRF6X4wKebvhqZcFyQEqGf88/s320/IMG_5172.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Stay tuned for full disclosure :)Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08914680848288806753noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938782053468322304.post-26918281123526694952011-01-30T16:15:00.000-08:002011-01-30T16:15:35.156-08:00Two Days Worth...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ha9cu5a4BodDSaycNDwXzm1zIjUD81hYiC5R-QttGvwUKu3NhLI-ipjY_utvv5i2HlMeSJIJ-zZXV9FR5BYRByaU5Y3Fq3S4o7VrrWEXll7oD78ijWnJp1GcEULlD3EYOgAuEn9rvkgb/s1600/IMG_5121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ha9cu5a4BodDSaycNDwXzm1zIjUD81hYiC5R-QttGvwUKu3NhLI-ipjY_utvv5i2HlMeSJIJ-zZXV9FR5BYRByaU5Y3Fq3S4o7VrrWEXll7oD78ijWnJp1GcEULlD3EYOgAuEn9rvkgb/s320/IMG_5121.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How these scrumptiously healthy green juices <i>finally</i> came to be is a lengthy and <u>complicated</u> tale that stretches all the way back to Saturday morning, when Alex and I began a long postponed DIY project.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To be clear, this wasn't your typical home craft project involving glue guns and glitter (if <i>only</i> it were that simple and marginally toxic)...</div><br />
No, this one involved harsh chemicals, an electric sander and good old fashioned elbow grease.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GieEX09Lm5j98mZBT_oQAhbvPQftb0d7cgV1WHeJZJpzPAhJHmkNU530UVMO8ZrdVUrqg1R6579zvV67PVwyNLJ8qsMoEdfKEFRyXam-AmQKmUUfO4MYOoHl9d5dOuCiDouRPS99WBKZ/s1600/IMG_5095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GieEX09Lm5j98mZBT_oQAhbvPQftb0d7cgV1WHeJZJpzPAhJHmkNU530UVMO8ZrdVUrqg1R6579zvV67PVwyNLJ8qsMoEdfKEFRyXam-AmQKmUUfO4MYOoHl9d5dOuCiDouRPS99WBKZ/s320/IMG_5095.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1pHaG_Y-0dE4H7OQ0QW_adKCGh8CcmGE2dsU8LTW6pvKOZAm6KH888qSnmH2cSX5udDqqrcXOaJH7p_LBC09ANS_3V799DUPCSG41CATmULPteoCqr9s6BZGG2hfubMR5MUiD2gd0x9Y/s1600/IMG_5075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1pHaG_Y-0dE4H7OQ0QW_adKCGh8CcmGE2dsU8LTW6pvKOZAm6KH888qSnmH2cSX5udDqqrcXOaJH7p_LBC09ANS_3V799DUPCSG41CATmULPteoCqr9s6BZGG2hfubMR5MUiD2gd0x9Y/s320/IMG_5075.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5BOPISCX-K-Rz-s5FJGWsundsvcWQtPZHRpI5n_A1Uycrm-1mBCifqmOnW4KtjkdD7bbVngfWf4EuDOv4hGx0ZqqRje9lVoVcJITjzNEkt9E-VX6SQPJ_mL1K1jtJtGZ_TR2jyQWF_4y/s1600/IMG_5077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5BOPISCX-K-Rz-s5FJGWsundsvcWQtPZHRpI5n_A1Uycrm-1mBCifqmOnW4KtjkdD7bbVngfWf4EuDOv4hGx0ZqqRje9lVoVcJITjzNEkt9E-VX6SQPJ_mL1K1jtJtGZ_TR2jyQWF_4y/s320/IMG_5077.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><br />
Our fascination with redoing unloved furniture came about several months ago when Alex found this big, sturdy table on craigslist for DIRT CHEAP:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBjCBo3RpuLXWnJVqODkvSP0vPsDm5vBOGD9RYjyxQE1eL5A2pJMyT_fM-Y_-T9JJa5VUpRwdnvCqckjA0Qh7skKznbmPIQu2AlOG0wR6KjkLdoY44-4nzhTSvrFPL4DL2IzJhVpaL6iy/s1600/table3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBjCBo3RpuLXWnJVqODkvSP0vPsDm5vBOGD9RYjyxQE1eL5A2pJMyT_fM-Y_-T9JJa5VUpRwdnvCqckjA0Qh7skKznbmPIQu2AlOG0wR6KjkLdoY44-4nzhTSvrFPL4DL2IzJhVpaL6iy/s320/table3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
After some solicited advice from knowledgeable strangers, numerous trips to Home Depot and living in a sawdust-filled home for around 2 weeks, we were table to turn it into this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43K1TacZyOteYRSOo-H2BZKHvAsbZfD_gcmYp8dtI7poHG0M3KvF7Hj47Mg1AQLGAJlLHnSGFXKSZAmoLZf0DD-JhsR_eHB_OSNlGbRtZv_CIsZ8uicYkYD77Ue1PQfhwImzGnaeEPPtO/s1600/IMG_4711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43K1TacZyOteYRSOo-H2BZKHvAsbZfD_gcmYp8dtI7poHG0M3KvF7Hj47Mg1AQLGAJlLHnSGFXKSZAmoLZf0DD-JhsR_eHB_OSNlGbRtZv_CIsZ8uicYkYD77Ue1PQfhwImzGnaeEPPtO/s320/IMG_4711.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Now anytime we spot cheapish furniture in need of some tlc, we can't really turn down the challenge.<br />
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That's why yesterday, with our beach plans scrapped due to the waning daylight and insurmountable traffic, we decided to put the warm sunlight to good use in our own back "yard" and get started on our latest project:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pJyln4Of1nnjmyPCVVM4X3-CfWcAzlffgLCgrfYTOHg5rMwZhPzyVLkhyBY6hh8scEouxYCIjAYqCQqDbDPqC-eXK2vh4Rz_oO8csqDNZRjpTE_SVtfVfHsGIDbWWlh8Qc_2ulTqkIqe/s1600/IMG_5056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pJyln4Of1nnjmyPCVVM4X3-CfWcAzlffgLCgrfYTOHg5rMwZhPzyVLkhyBY6hh8scEouxYCIjAYqCQqDbDPqC-eXK2vh4Rz_oO8csqDNZRjpTE_SVtfVfHsGIDbWWlh8Qc_2ulTqkIqe/s320/IMG_5056.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
the book shelf we found at a yard sale for a measly $10 and the secondhand dresser you might remember from <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2011/01/like-locals-do.html">this post</a>.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIakWk1eK1wlzT6A-rwk4_MJbYlhy-UVjv4xNjHDbmWXN2Y-lMl_oeP79yJifplUCFr2XAbKeXsOHrzV3AI3ZkADCVsBYZXQ4FLw3GIeRfxXEu8rgW0oouqGHPmxUhz6OJeeqjzXPREyZx/s1600/IMG_5059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIakWk1eK1wlzT6A-rwk4_MJbYlhy-UVjv4xNjHDbmWXN2Y-lMl_oeP79yJifplUCFr2XAbKeXsOHrzV3AI3ZkADCVsBYZXQ4FLw3GIeRfxXEu8rgW0oouqGHPmxUhz6OJeeqjzXPREyZx/s320/IMG_5059.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I've got big (one might even say <i>unique</i>) plans for the insides of these shelves which will be revealed, along with the completed final product, in the coming days.<br />
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All this arduous work did a number on our grumbling tummies, since our pre-noon strictly-liquid caloric intake was wearing thin.<br />
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I opened the crisper draw to find it completely empty- without a shopping moment to spare!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1j9Lyitw6lf6DQDo8foimJfHANAVV35mx2qgHZTOp56qvQpXzv6QZTTfrg_QAWVp881AB9EOIzCxloqTB1AZ5YjF41GC2FkKlhck5CFxCD_4YLOJGvWBB8ARtQnwvFB1hX17k-lX8_hyB/s1600/IMG_5073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1j9Lyitw6lf6DQDo8foimJfHANAVV35mx2qgHZTOp56qvQpXzv6QZTTfrg_QAWVp881AB9EOIzCxloqTB1AZ5YjF41GC2FkKlhck5CFxCD_4YLOJGvWBB8ARtQnwvFB1hX17k-lX8_hyB/s320/IMG_5073.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
That's when animal products came to the rescue.<br />
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I grabbed my new gluten free bagels,<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzJO7bEQucUbSy9Z7kb_nP_ADUYxAOW7yHI8cOaJS0H3WBn8q44OqmSi1Qdw4tDVKmeinGD5dPz3hk-L5yfaRSkLBxOEAaLr0Aiq0da-ceAfada4j34juFL5gz6YbJLkeEQpUgoOIdeq0/s1600/IMG_5070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzJO7bEQucUbSy9Z7kb_nP_ADUYxAOW7yHI8cOaJS0H3WBn8q44OqmSi1Qdw4tDVKmeinGD5dPz3hk-L5yfaRSkLBxOEAaLr0Aiq0da-ceAfada4j34juFL5gz6YbJLkeEQpUgoOIdeq0/s320/IMG_5070.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><br />
some TJ's goat cheese slices (a mini-miracle),<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9eXQ5CKMYec6vouyzWVtDH2jFQ1IgNGjAwa80y2nktAw5JoKRMkeivH09J1wk8H-a470J_KFJUxH8qdGVVdPzb8zoLuhzcR8WMnYTja4j74zlL32LAi_1ViHBdgc3urEMoYPKfHRzMBX/s1600/IMG_5071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9eXQ5CKMYec6vouyzWVtDH2jFQ1IgNGjAwa80y2nktAw5JoKRMkeivH09J1wk8H-a470J_KFJUxH8qdGVVdPzb8zoLuhzcR8WMnYTja4j74zlL32LAi_1ViHBdgc3urEMoYPKfHRzMBX/s320/IMG_5071.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><br />
eggs and onions, and got to work on a much-desired and appreciated hearty lunch.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YHq51MRnx_o4H9yIGdEbvKLfT6Bo7CwfzkYDq48Q1z_UmTOxt-7q0z_MrirlYx7U42lDTS5YAg4Vs3KEX3eUP9sWRqhjgmmc_myEPrYeY1mpfxLWDRUsQSJEfLm3TCp5kFDzFy4bUiEo/s1600/IMG_5074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YHq51MRnx_o4H9yIGdEbvKLfT6Bo7CwfzkYDq48Q1z_UmTOxt-7q0z_MrirlYx7U42lDTS5YAg4Vs3KEX3eUP9sWRqhjgmmc_myEPrYeY1mpfxLWDRUsQSJEfLm3TCp5kFDzFy4bUiEo/s320/IMG_5074.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The bagels were impress.ive. Couldn't really tell them from the real thing <i>and</i> they've got 7g of protein + 3g of fiber taboot!<br />
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With our bellies comfortably full, we got back to the grind 'til the sun left us<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UM7YT03Qf0laHV64MG9vpmGwOWSGppi4Xww6Xjt9AhpFGcIaHy7fmdMbI5-BlFfGY8H1VGVSbBVcZ_lBKXY-i6YwWh84y9kIAWvLPHwliEDtBI1pLwFVAgBav6cqm-hQMdwA7GGfQDhD/s1600/IMG_5065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UM7YT03Qf0laHV64MG9vpmGwOWSGppi4Xww6Xjt9AhpFGcIaHy7fmdMbI5-BlFfGY8H1VGVSbBVcZ_lBKXY-i6YwWh84y9kIAWvLPHwliEDtBI1pLwFVAgBav6cqm-hQMdwA7GGfQDhD/s320/IMG_5065.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsRlo6JgKBoOTT0WNlBqkac027_PoONK5EFfcpbUU5PlXksYBt5cZOCuUSVXg4XIjh2QzbIPjkDqSTc3pirEKQNClhQ-xS4yHx80q3rM6l6OKW1b4g23QT18WgFJc_l1n4pLkAqa7XsTT/s1600/IMG_5069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsRlo6JgKBoOTT0WNlBqkac027_PoONK5EFfcpbUU5PlXksYBt5cZOCuUSVXg4XIjh2QzbIPjkDqSTc3pirEKQNClhQ-xS4yHx80q3rM6l6OKW1b4g23QT18WgFJc_l1n4pLkAqa7XsTT/s320/IMG_5069.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">... and hunger set in once again.</div><br />
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We showered and headed to a west side movie theatre to catch what we thought would be <i>The King's Speech</i>. On the way, we stopped by The Vegan Joint...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPT5bxq3hZ_qdvY0hDmc8LIX9pVrc9bAkOCJ1dDmIVdueAlw-JgQhyphenhyphenbSVsmwXixKn15woPqBS9GURIrcE1r2yID3Xo0NRhlcacbm5TSDVqcMG-qP7I0jl1M3UNe3teYeVAvltoqYVYf-w/s1600/IMG_5096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPT5bxq3hZ_qdvY0hDmc8LIX9pVrc9bAkOCJ1dDmIVdueAlw-JgQhyphenhyphenbSVsmwXixKn15woPqBS9GURIrcE1r2yID3Xo0NRhlcacbm5TSDVqcMG-qP7I0jl1M3UNe3teYeVAvltoqYVYf-w/s320/IMG_5096.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
and took a little longer than expected on our respective dinners-<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5qNbjyqcJ1vsNxm4vHVxuPWa8HyRDfpP6Fgghf6gGm-SQNVQGRtJfbLTCFlvaejAZIjORpiA4taG1JWuJYgvEs5YetZ7CEj-Job27vTFI4EE0vNpPx1_kS04nk1ViVDgQ_koEH56JUsB/s1600/IMG_5102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5qNbjyqcJ1vsNxm4vHVxuPWa8HyRDfpP6Fgghf6gGm-SQNVQGRtJfbLTCFlvaejAZIjORpiA4taG1JWuJYgvEs5YetZ7CEj-Job27vTFI4EE0vNpPx1_kS04nk1ViVDgQ_koEH56JUsB/s320/IMG_5102.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
mine a lentil loaf with brown rice and veggies,<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0r6A5f66TdMshDpHvUrFaQKGepyvRJExMQTWC500NZNrf0e28CmRQt5krMBF5INEi7zg_WLyRqG9Lt7GuCzwd7TMiZIRppHctftxRI5e21p_YGfPvNTR4IH-B8mci9b8th-3TER-B6dK/s1600/IMG_5101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0r6A5f66TdMshDpHvUrFaQKGepyvRJExMQTWC500NZNrf0e28CmRQt5krMBF5INEi7zg_WLyRqG9Lt7GuCzwd7TMiZIRppHctftxRI5e21p_YGfPvNTR4IH-B8mci9b8th-3TER-B6dK/s320/IMG_5101.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
his a [decidedly boring] veggie wrap- made with corn tortilla.<br />
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Seeing as our chances of making the 7pm showing were nearing impossible, we decided to see <i>The Fighter</i> 20 minutes later but arrived at the theatre on time only to discover they were completely sold out!<br />
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Since we'd driven all that way and I was <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2011/01/lets-go-to-movies.html">in the mood for a movie</a>, we headed to the Borders nearby to knock out some productive reading in the meantime.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3aMrO5JaFrKVLlvq8LxvdqeDgzHjKzoOCJsoKrETH7N6vLX-tT4bpA64Qpc0LjefmnU44XGzWdLS82eAT7fNmyrUlVJc3-e7C787_mVGraQvqGCCiqm1EQA4ooYtNXUWEh8xMR1kvjlA/s1600/IMG_5105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3aMrO5JaFrKVLlvq8LxvdqeDgzHjKzoOCJsoKrETH7N6vLX-tT4bpA64Qpc0LjefmnU44XGzWdLS82eAT7fNmyrUlVJc3-e7C787_mVGraQvqGCCiqm1EQA4ooYtNXUWEh8xMR1kvjlA/s320/IMG_5105.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJso3UdJ5iHxKMEclkMSaQGno6tmHVJlr9eDqJmnOdMjPFt-SjnvjDSmjXOQAbdEx3YulIwMBt1CBUwhGbFikWiS93fkbflQXJYCwf_XXRpguxNS82TpwFEVtuZHdr9JxcOLL4I0IiWILy/s1600/IMG_5107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJso3UdJ5iHxKMEclkMSaQGno6tmHVJlr9eDqJmnOdMjPFt-SjnvjDSmjXOQAbdEx3YulIwMBt1CBUwhGbFikWiS93fkbflQXJYCwf_XXRpguxNS82TpwFEVtuZHdr9JxcOLL4I0IiWILy/s320/IMG_5107.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Of course, no trip to the bookstore would be complete without a stop in this section.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFNnfB52UZmVKLHpyJaZtZVOJ_KwT5MnaNRhYuc2YHMnfmfTe8IMBARldYDU82Ze4SGyMzu0k_KV_hmiUCYo5mwUdf-dezQz0o-o7jIIb0aLBF916Lyi3KQL19q9wcXrIzgVHrsmpassI/s1600/IMG_5108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFNnfB52UZmVKLHpyJaZtZVOJ_KwT5MnaNRhYuc2YHMnfmfTe8IMBARldYDU82Ze4SGyMzu0k_KV_hmiUCYo5mwUdf-dezQz0o-o7jIIb0aLBF916Lyi3KQL19q9wcXrIzgVHrsmpassI/s320/IMG_5108.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
After two and a half hours of reading about everything Prague has to offer and more, we made our way back to the 10:20 pm showing of <i>The Fighter</i>.<br />
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3 hours past dinner and I was hungry once again... Going against every fiber in my being that was screaming for a cookie, I opted for a $6 salad. At the movie theatre! I was grateful for the option...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0zVP4hnc0QjQl_NZiA7TV8VgpsUMXoiqfnRz_pwpbdm1RsxzOXVC2wpFO8vLptON_lWhn0GcW_8KUs_eBg3v6uexofRqm8PEzu6uFXvNF5joMeiHNK1-lp1Sjic5oeXTvYnM-HK8f0fz/s1600/IMG_5109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0zVP4hnc0QjQl_NZiA7TV8VgpsUMXoiqfnRz_pwpbdm1RsxzOXVC2wpFO8vLptON_lWhn0GcW_8KUs_eBg3v6uexofRqm8PEzu6uFXvNF5joMeiHNK1-lp1Sjic5oeXTvYnM-HK8f0fz/s320/IMG_5109.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The film was fantastic- I'm not a huge fan of boxing movies, but this one was above and beyond my expectations. Christian Bale: you amaze me!<br />
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We finally got home around 1:30 am and stayed up talking for another 2 hours (despite our intentions to hit up the Hollywood farmers market early the next morning).<br />
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9 am came around and, needless to say, neither of us budged when the iPhone church bells went off.<br />
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Knowing I had a meeting at noon and would definitely need some fuel beforehand, I pushed the warm covers off around 10:30, only to be greeted with a supremely sorry sight.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgMI-kII3tDbIa29MLTRRu7b82bCWRdqsb0n5zTIKWs1ybc828oRRUsWMbxAI5vZZ4_0Zk19qRO2AmilzzRTjDxDalk1kUKcdXxMG5-_cBDsofebH7Qf53jEV8lAk9JI2S6_jvJpuMnLP/s1600/IMG_5111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgMI-kII3tDbIa29MLTRRu7b82bCWRdqsb0n5zTIKWs1ybc828oRRUsWMbxAI5vZZ4_0Zk19qRO2AmilzzRTjDxDalk1kUKcdXxMG5-_cBDsofebH7Qf53jEV8lAk9JI2S6_jvJpuMnLP/s320/IMG_5111.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
After weeks of 70 degree temps and sun, it was RAINING!<br />
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AND our furniture project that required a dry outdoor setting was only halfway done!<br />
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Ah well, I suppose it's all part of Mother Nature's plan.<br />
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The crisper drawer problem had yet to be solved and I needed breakfast! All I wanted was to mix up a batch of banana pecan pancakes and call it a day. But self control was called upon in the end and I managed to mix up my cayenne pepper and lemon tonic to get me through.<br />
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Original plans to hit up the farmers market were scratched- call me a wimp but I had no desire to walk about in the cold rain this morning on an empty stomach.<br />
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We headed out to hit up 3- yes, 3- different grocery stores to remedy our empty kitchen situation.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiEvK9Ug6gI8nz5EGVCw7GhCLrPDfk8IiWzlLyjNMhvMA-xHHHQ81fmNkvhF8auHMdNvgKe32O4bd_17fjkN3Vf72tk5RvMlkVxx0rn1ra2cmYSejXqBnZZ3sIEWg3Pb3LEI9hcbTrRN_/s1600/IMG_5117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiEvK9Ug6gI8nz5EGVCw7GhCLrPDfk8IiWzlLyjNMhvMA-xHHHQ81fmNkvhF8auHMdNvgKe32O4bd_17fjkN3Vf72tk5RvMlkVxx0rn1ra2cmYSejXqBnZZ3sIEWg3Pb3LEI9hcbTrRN_/s320/IMG_5117.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(gah, didn't <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2011/01/lets-totally-go-shop-ping.html">I JUST buy</a> a ton of groceries?!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>First stop, Trader Joe's, next was Gelson's for some kale, and when we didn't find a worthy gluten free veggie patty for Alex, we made our way to my favorite Whole Foods of all time and were greeted with a little corner of heaven.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMI7ulta7VuPiVHnADt_8oeNCLd2125yu75lVM9ILi0-tdiD_sbCHrtvCNkjqSZbjX7v1kicgVryPVJobcyzywqLeLuW-3MvnaVFRiCbkF7wMWrz6-_kJbyqMgmF_hLmswEjs-9anAdoWR/s1600/IMG_5114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMI7ulta7VuPiVHnADt_8oeNCLd2125yu75lVM9ILi0-tdiD_sbCHrtvCNkjqSZbjX7v1kicgVryPVJobcyzywqLeLuW-3MvnaVFRiCbkF7wMWrz6-_kJbyqMgmF_hLmswEjs-9anAdoWR/s320/IMG_5114.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
A completely gluten-free section!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3grx8aZeUHpMtkhBVDaEOlTBUG56D-HpL3SKYspTbJjT2ifeecpmOK6cFMYenbm3FJBt9Qqm3c9PGMG0LEKj1Lrx-c2ovlLwKzWzdwamdCvfmNY7jIygjt8blOgYOMpfakEwH5L_RLrK/s1600/IMG_5113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3grx8aZeUHpMtkhBVDaEOlTBUG56D-HpL3SKYspTbJjT2ifeecpmOK6cFMYenbm3FJBt9Qqm3c9PGMG0LEKj1Lrx-c2ovlLwKzWzdwamdCvfmNY7jIygjt8blOgYOMpfakEwH5L_RLrK/s320/IMG_5113.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Obviously, this has been one of the toughest battles to fight during the cleanse- finding good food SANS gluten.<br />
<br />
Before leaving, I grabbed a couple munchies for the road home:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WVbbbOyTPFvf3F4B1F2ZBk8WzTHLsUs152YsTUmKhWcWk-CgjssgGGL-OWP44feN-VsKgU-tdhXCtYEyx1KaXi0yZO-3tYWH00hjt8Ljir7i107RaSKTzM7KALgbQRRp4LbOlODuho2o/s1600/IMG_5115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WVbbbOyTPFvf3F4B1F2ZBk8WzTHLsUs152YsTUmKhWcWk-CgjssgGGL-OWP44feN-VsKgU-tdhXCtYEyx1KaXi0yZO-3tYWH00hjt8Ljir7i107RaSKTzM7KALgbQRRp4LbOlODuho2o/s320/IMG_5115.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
a little cup of lentil soup<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiph55CzJDjNTU4IsZZWYToZJ-PX3Wj7SMa_gaRDf4t0Th7-EMCzulImQsANAYsyCJ3mYZrNKzU_WbkTEqtSWFnxuNOOX2wOdHsMo0qt8B9S1aDqKBMWZRZHxZXXxJMI__lh4WaFqS-HhhO/s1600/IMG_5116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiph55CzJDjNTU4IsZZWYToZJ-PX3Wj7SMa_gaRDf4t0Th7-EMCzulImQsANAYsyCJ3mYZrNKzU_WbkTEqtSWFnxuNOOX2wOdHsMo0qt8B9S1aDqKBMWZRZHxZXXxJMI__lh4WaFqS-HhhO/s320/IMG_5116.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
and a chocolate crunch gluten free cookie I shared with the boy.<br />
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Both were delish and held us over 'til we were able to unload the groceries and get our green juice on. Finally!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ixQNR4FnGEkIcHFevMWOJ72-bFOSyqCVKfVRnE90nU9W5MiYwNuq1dj346DuwMqYd9b1Ym8rKdnM3jImZXtPOhqXQSw9XilUvDYs8U1LIQz1RWF7vZ7-e-I-_gn4CLFcrkecbxr39CsZ/s1600/IMG_5122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ixQNR4FnGEkIcHFevMWOJ72-bFOSyqCVKfVRnE90nU9W5MiYwNuq1dj346DuwMqYd9b1Ym8rKdnM3jImZXtPOhqXQSw9XilUvDYs8U1LIQz1RWF7vZ7-e-I-_gn4CLFcrkecbxr39CsZ/s320/IMG_5122.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Now it's well past 2 pm and time for lunch. Today's adventures in the kitch will consist of a frozen veggie patty competition.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79CJW_nUA0jH2VTdeggCuZCdR4_5QkVuIfoUYSVbZmexFTbNS5XMvsQjtdf72atiSPwLl_vxhAvYPEDLQXLHw-hMYxRcnlbm-7QBGUZfEAtkqEuuLAEEk4Z9RaSQqz0cYlM85CqM4Muid/s1600/IMG_5123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79CJW_nUA0jH2VTdeggCuZCdR4_5QkVuIfoUYSVbZmexFTbNS5XMvsQjtdf72atiSPwLl_vxhAvYPEDLQXLHw-hMYxRcnlbm-7QBGUZfEAtkqEuuLAEEk4Z9RaSQqz0cYlM85CqM4Muid/s320/IMG_5123.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The results of which will be posted on the 'morrow.<br />
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See ya then!Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08914680848288806753noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938782053468322304.post-78688565076107809082011-01-28T11:17:00.000-08:002011-01-28T11:27:39.481-08:00"What Gives?"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I distinctly remember the kind fellow in an obscure South Carolina casting office asking me over my Christmas vacay.</div><br />
We were discussing our interests outside the field of entertainment. When I mentioned nutrition, he jumped at the chance to ask a question that'd obviously been plaguing him for awhile...<br />
<br />
"What's the deal with all these people that don't eat gluten? I mean, is wheat <i>really</i> that big a deal in the health world?"<br />
<br />
I too was intrigued by his question, seeing as I am by no means a gluten-free follower myself.<br />
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No traditional bread, oats, rye or barley [aka beer]? No thank you.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg02Ep3Xkry9siiymr-has7WAFo5i4tfmTB0CFc-r49xqQOd2wW4ey5rLaGb9_fcOiUaX3MkZBueghyphenhyphenpsdVDPaFbo5POwIH4Xq8cX0_e6U2iVovNHrF1YPvZfRwBeUtPfPZIPwddcP2jdv/s1600/gluten-free3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg02Ep3Xkry9siiymr-has7WAFo5i4tfmTB0CFc-r49xqQOd2wW4ey5rLaGb9_fcOiUaX3MkZBueghyphenhyphenpsdVDPaFbo5POwIH4Xq8cX0_e6U2iVovNHrF1YPvZfRwBeUtPfPZIPwddcP2jdv/s1600/gluten-free3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://thepostsd.com/imagesWP/2010/12/gluten-free3.jpg&imgrefurl=http://thepostsd.com/2010/12/01/gluten-free-in-sioux-falls/&usg=__IDIOdUwZvJesRGBP-Vun2nNxZAA=&h=251&w=250&sz=24&hl=en&start=3&sig2=gsO7PO7RG2QtXfgRQjpTKg&zoom=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=hfb--ctzPwuOdM:&tbnh=111&tbnw=111&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgluten%2Bfree%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Den%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=9hFDTaLRLYSqsAPM7sWZCg">courtesy of</a></div><br />
Since the <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2011/01/lets-totally-go-shop-ping.html">cleanse</a> I'm currently embarking on suggests trying the gluten free route to "test the waters," I thought now would be a perfect time to address the question.<br />
<br />
During my research, I found <a href="http://blog.pennlive.com/naturalliving/2007/03/whats_the_deal_with_gluten_fre.html">one article</a> (written by a gluten allergy sufferer) that deemed the gluten free "lifestyle... tortuous." And after learning of the "do's and don't's" required, I must admit: I feel her pain.<br />
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To all of you who live with gluten intolerance or allergies: I'm truly sorry for your loss and humbly commend you for being a far stronger person than I!<br />
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For the sake of simplicity, let's break gluten issues into 2 basic forms: (click <a href="http://gluten-intolerance-symptoms.com/gluten-allergy-symptoms/">here</a> to see the full article)<br />
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1. <b>Celiac disease/ gluten intolerance*</b>- a chronic autoimmune disease that takes months and years to develop. Your body essentially overreacts to the presence of gluten in your GI tract. Over time, ingesting it puts too much wear and tear on the ever important <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intestinal_villus">villi</a> of the small intestine, in some cases <i>destroying them</i> altogether if the problem is not nipped in the bud.<br />
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Some forms of celiac can be "<b>silent</b>," meaning the person suffering on the inside is completely unaware due to the lack of externally manifested symptoms.<br />
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*You can technically be gluten intolerant and still test negative for celiac disease, though the bodily reactions are more or less the same.<br />
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2. <b>Gluten Allergy-</b> this problem is marked by more acute symptoms like rashes or hives on the skin, gastrointestinal issues or shortness of breath directly after eating gluten or wheat products. While Celiac disease gets a worse rap and an actual name, severe allergies are nothing to be taken lightly.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><br />
</span><br />
If you're curious as to whether your body's got a problem digesting gluten, try cutting it out of your diet for a month and see if you notice a difference. A co-worker of mine did that very thing and he now lives completely gluten free.<br />
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Which brings us to question: What exactly does this gluten free lifestyle entail?<br />
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I got the following info <a href="http://www.csaceliacs.org/gluten_grains.php">here</a>.<br />
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For starters, all products containing <b>barley</b>, bulgur, <b>couscous</b>, <b>spelt</b>, durum, einkorn, emmer, farina, fu, glaidin, <b>gluten</b>, glutenin, graham flour, <b>kamut</b>, <b>matzo</b>, mir, <b>rye</b>, <b>seitan</b>, semolina, triticale, and pretty much anything with <b>wheat</b> in the name are out.<br />
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(Looks like those spelt tortillas <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2011/01/lets-totally-go-shop-ping.html">I bought the other day</a> are goin' in the freezer 'til February 15)<br />
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<a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2010/11/ode-to-oats-and-other-musings.html">OATS</a> are also a questionable product on a gluten free diet- seems you have to thoroughly check the label or call the manufacturer to find out if they fit the bill. That fact made my heart hurt a little.<br />
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Ingredients that get the gold star?<br />
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<b>Amaranth</b>, <b>millet</b>, <b>quinoa</b>, surghum, taro, teff, flours made from beans, nuts, potatoes, rice, tapioca and corn among others.<br />
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Phew, I almost collapsed from "rule overload."<br />
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When I think of all the people who come into <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2010/09/bringin-home-veggie-bacon.html">the restaurant</a> asking for gluten free options and my response is, "Um... this one [mediocre] item, but you'd have to do it without the x..." Ah man, my respeck just grows and grows.<br />
<br />
With all this newly discovered info in mind and a desire to see just how difficult it would be, I hit up <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2010/10/celebrity-encounter.html">the celebrity-laden Whole Foods</a> for some wheat-free snacks.<br />
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Even while scouring the shelves of the largest health food chain in the country, I was shocked to discover the limited amount of wheat free options. (Though I suppose they're far better than they were a decade ago and assume it gets easier the longer you live it and the more you understand.)<br />
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Luckily, with a little time, patience and keen eyesight, I was able to scrounge up some of the good stuff.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHL_IoFdT7dLVZdHDPoAVmMP9po7sKIzOrxz_0x7Vs2RwHMEzcnxC_BuRyEdN1YL8WYig0pU0cnbfc9i7YyHMH3aCvGj_Gj2pKKBH6AJTPX7eJmMYoBs-M9C3b78zqpFklvZsqvc-VS4o/s1600/IMG_5034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHL_IoFdT7dLVZdHDPoAVmMP9po7sKIzOrxz_0x7Vs2RwHMEzcnxC_BuRyEdN1YL8WYig0pU0cnbfc9i7YyHMH3aCvGj_Gj2pKKBH6AJTPX7eJmMYoBs-M9C3b78zqpFklvZsqvc-VS4o/s320/IMG_5034.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">As I dive into these packages, I'll be sure to let you know how they measure up on the flavor scale ;)</div><br />
After the shopping trip, it was time for a cleanse-worthy, gluten-free dinner on the fly.<br />
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Well, I hope it was gluten-free.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11RJJeAkw899zMSFxKyGrn4mHIMBWwBC7eOF8PIifg7AhexrSRVJc0Ue5yPQ8WzHOdOJvDgV44uUh0ncUQzBuR-tB3w3jBlhGvrxptqqfEZhN_JegqpqF7_kv6XOlzuwYSN8Qwl6HcYnB/s1600/IMG_5036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11RJJeAkw899zMSFxKyGrn4mHIMBWwBC7eOF8PIifg7AhexrSRVJc0Ue5yPQ8WzHOdOJvDgV44uUh0ncUQzBuR-tB3w3jBlhGvrxptqqfEZhN_JegqpqF7_kv6XOlzuwYSN8Qwl6HcYnB/s320/IMG_5036.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><br />
You see, <b>miso</b>, like oats, is one of those things on the "questionable list." But after checking the ingredients and seeing rice and soybeans listed, rather than anything from the ix nay list above, I decided it was safe...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OYDsTG1LwnL7kcFZGU3Db_ozmeOGe6jz8zBafEugdud5zQBOzd0QGH-YqgofqMcLjq5qC9DxBFYmrhXNZmK9-uz09qM8RWsOynt4WlLUCgcV3S3Xa7LQMrPnunCPaVDXGDYeB9enB1Ig/s1600/IMG_5038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OYDsTG1LwnL7kcFZGU3Db_ozmeOGe6jz8zBafEugdud5zQBOzd0QGH-YqgofqMcLjq5qC9DxBFYmrhXNZmK9-uz09qM8RWsOynt4WlLUCgcV3S3Xa7LQMrPnunCPaVDXGDYeB9enB1Ig/s320/IMG_5038.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><br />
I needed this dinner to be hearty enough for Alex and flavorful enough for me... Not to mention packed with nutrients and protein.<br />
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I was feeling a pilaf sort of deal and decided to create my own using lentils as the base.<br />
<br />
It came together quite nicely, to my utter surprise...<br />
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First, I got 1 cup of lentils and 2 cups of water + 1 Tbs of Earth Balance going in the rice cooker.<br />
<br />
Gathered my veggies of choice<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KDzB_ucja6vTL1Ao-jqpgUfBHMAXzleJ3rFKMkgpTTJB2ymi1s4lTxxu4xKov01jjrpp0RoqQJWdx9AYjA_FUeP1yxtnT5EIKnVsa9HR2L4ULCC6emIahseAocKsajf5JsK9yGUSNuv2/s1600/IMG_5039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KDzB_ucja6vTL1Ao-jqpgUfBHMAXzleJ3rFKMkgpTTJB2ymi1s4lTxxu4xKov01jjrpp0RoqQJWdx9AYjA_FUeP1yxtnT5EIKnVsa9HR2L4ULCC6emIahseAocKsajf5JsK9yGUSNuv2/s320/IMG_5039.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Added the chopped green and red onions to 1 cup of veggie broth + .5 cup of water, covered and brought to a boil<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7C8S23iuky69WJ2Ib2y6sifTzyWqFnWvRf8LOKg99GidK5zHbMCt1II9C6e-0miEysWxK-j0iA15jZ2eZjbIx_tfl2l4rpvjgTfOZkEqNcR9IQ_-Xrv3eDPWJvZ-eV1cGXIGZZPW8D4C/s1600/IMG_5040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7C8S23iuky69WJ2Ib2y6sifTzyWqFnWvRf8LOKg99GidK5zHbMCt1II9C6e-0miEysWxK-j0iA15jZ2eZjbIx_tfl2l4rpvjgTfOZkEqNcR9IQ_-Xrv3eDPWJvZ-eV1cGXIGZZPW8D4C/s320/IMG_5040.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Once it was nice and bubbly, I added the miso packet (which was just enough flavor to leave out any additional salt)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">In went the carrots...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY9dILPoHsYn_8kq_CSyWMzvaCNL9ibOAqTE0rFaZUx8to7tMKvGj7WIYiBY4qLAEq_61GUDWyw6GvgNMK-oq-LTuOiimpudDSYh2IIaLyuvNrrnXnlX54M0NgokTplKIiE-97m_PGPO6o/s1600/IMG_5044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY9dILPoHsYn_8kq_CSyWMzvaCNL9ibOAqTE0rFaZUx8to7tMKvGj7WIYiBY4qLAEq_61GUDWyw6GvgNMK-oq-LTuOiimpudDSYh2IIaLyuvNrrnXnlX54M0NgokTplKIiE-97m_PGPO6o/s320/IMG_5044.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">And another new ingredient to me:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2BAYXKJwjCF0rrKicREai-umcHBgBmyEuEkiahpcVJ96aXhHvYRtYzQeqkXYWovOLdjZQ15tTRKRpLHTWbkZ3teHUNDT8sZ6tf4ip-hjSRLQiYL82-i2kMDFH2sZNyRyKQqOdlbbh7KDo/s1600/IMG_5043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2BAYXKJwjCF0rrKicREai-umcHBgBmyEuEkiahpcVJ96aXhHvYRtYzQeqkXYWovOLdjZQ15tTRKRpLHTWbkZ3teHUNDT8sZ6tf4ip-hjSRLQiYL82-i2kMDFH2sZNyRyKQqOdlbbh7KDo/s320/IMG_5043.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Arrowroot</b> is essentially the healthier, more digestible form of cornstarch- both are thickening agents for sauces, gravies and the like. I really wanted my broth on the ticker side and thought merely sprinkling this into the mix would do the trick. Apparently not.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">While the broth didn't thicken as much as I would've liked (more arrowroot trial and error will be done in the future- I keep seeing conflicting guidelines on the subject), the dinner turned out pretty perfectly if I say so myself.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnA90vR0Hrx8N949ozOteTHj80WnrtCuiMnVahXRwQRnVY25AktEJ0YIiGHJFd7HAOlpvKP99_6Gl4rCnLzv5HXX-DpLUYuVF4LNjJWpscHQErwUVPj2nkfjylEUjLwB7Y_6K_s-P4Iox/s1600/IMG_5046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnA90vR0Hrx8N949ozOteTHj80WnrtCuiMnVahXRwQRnVY25AktEJ0YIiGHJFd7HAOlpvKP99_6Gl4rCnLzv5HXX-DpLUYuVF4LNjJWpscHQErwUVPj2nkfjylEUjLwB7Y_6K_s-P4Iox/s320/IMG_5046.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Protein from the lentils, nutrients from the veggies and miso, flavor from the broth.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Quite a treat.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">And speaking of treats: several of you mentioned wanting the recipe for the chocomole I made the other day. You can find Gena's original recipe <a href="http://www.choosingraw.com/rainy-day-chocomole/">here</a>, but I've outlined how I made it in my own kitchen below...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I used:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">-1 ripe avocado</div><div style="text-align: left;">-4 large pitted medjool dates (depends on how sweet you like it)</div><div style="text-align: left;">-3 Tbs organic cocoa powder</div><div style="text-align: left;">-splash of vanilla extract</div><div style="text-align: left;">-1/2 cup chocolate almond milk (watered down a bit)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">All you have to do is put the ingredients in the food processor (the little bowl will work for one serving), turn the puppy on and leave it until everything's blended into one glorious mush of healthy chocolate.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I put mine in the freezer for about an hour to give it more of a frozen mousse/ ice cream sort of vibe, but room temperature works as well!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Also gluten free ;)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Alright, I'm off to get this day goin'!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Alex and I are venturing out to a raw vegan restaurant in Santa Monica tonight- stay tuned for a full recap tomorrow.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><b>Question: </b>Are any of you unable to eat gluten? Was it hard to adopt the lifestyle at first? I'm curious to hear about the experience firsthand if you'd like to share... And any tips are greatly appreciated!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08914680848288806753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938782053468322304.post-58627244796563110742011-01-26T23:53:00.000-08:002011-01-26T23:57:14.284-08:00The Buddy System<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yes, the same policy so ferociously enforced on primary school field trips can also be applied during adulthood.</div><br />
That's if you've got a willing partner.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-ar-60C8jZv2u01ns3Yo94dyZ1EcwrykHykky1EWkMREmJ8o0lI-ZUvCkO-_hVW7d9jrZ0SjxFVql0hrq4NfuHoaIhyiKUpA-Va6vpVStlauS89F6sgWHtNXLJZaJd3voYNhQcVJLBw9/s1600/alc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-ar-60C8jZv2u01ns3Yo94dyZ1EcwrykHykky1EWkMREmJ8o0lI-ZUvCkO-_hVW7d9jrZ0SjxFVql0hrq4NfuHoaIhyiKUpA-Va6vpVStlauS89F6sgWHtNXLJZaJd3voYNhQcVJLBw9/s320/alc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And luckily: that I do ;)<br />
<br />
It all started with the cravings I got around 11am today.<br />
<br />
After my obligatory tonic, green juice and smoothie, I couldn't stop thinking about... real food!<br />
<br />
While the cleanse <i>technically</i> allows a little solid food before noon, I figured splurging on day 2 would be a tad on the lame side so I pushed through the pain and stuck with the plan.<br />
<br />
After a tumultuous, but in the end GLORIOUS acting class, I met up with Alex at home for a walk around the 'hood.<br />
<br />
Along the way, I confessed to him the difficulties I was facing in sticking with the cleanse- how I'd already committed to it and would feel silly backing out after day 2, but <b><i>man</i></b> was it tough!<br />
<br />
Then, to my utter surprise, the chicken-loving, half-Mexican steak burrito-eater that is my boyfriend said he'd do the cleanse with me.<br />
<br />
My mouth fell open.<br />
<br />
"You know you'd have to give up meat, right?"<br />
<br />
"Yep."<br />
<br />
"And drinking."<br />
<br />
"No problem... Wait! The superbowl...[thinks]... nah, nevermind, I can do it."<br />
<br />
Turns out all this borderline vegan talk and health food errand-running he's endured over the past several months is starting to take root.<br />
<br />
Honestly, I'm pretty excited to see how he feels after living without meat for a month, and knowing I've got someone along for the ride makes this journey seem far more doable!<br />
<br />
After our talk, I made a bee line to the kitchen for dinner prep.<br />
<br />
On the menu tonight?<br />
<br />
Angela's <a href="http://ohsheglows.com/2011/01/03/quick-and-easy-vegan-alfredo/">Quick and Easy Vegan Alfredo</a><br />
<br />
I've made the Vegan Yum Yum version once before and while every fiber in my being wants to squirm in distaste over a faux alfredo sauce, I can't help but really enjoy the flavor of every. single. bite.<br />
<br />
It's so easy to make, too.<br />
<br />
Put everything in the blender....<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1QdjQ2T3D53PyAayLrketFb1XHAJc6YNOcBlKa2wxf_17_XslFE0q3UbAlK-cI6p_3IwyUzca1TFwvkoazAsOJs_sRfu8A7AsLvEqucG00tAoZqlrkWaZUktK2yRNYGr0boceMJ3xIIq/s1600/IMG_5019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1QdjQ2T3D53PyAayLrketFb1XHAJc6YNOcBlKa2wxf_17_XslFE0q3UbAlK-cI6p_3IwyUzca1TFwvkoazAsOJs_sRfu8A7AsLvEqucG00tAoZqlrkWaZUktK2yRNYGr0boceMJ3xIIq/s320/IMG_5019.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Prep your (gluten free in this case) pasta,<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMU4ldpgs7QYSCfg0OvsGlIFY6Or-p5nBwPMj8h3evnR57iEPsQ-CXq-L_w5f3xgbQlQAh19ZL7V9f2N7Ll4l5jSPuoxEBqBTqIvMt-ZoozGZVoS4RpxGrXzbPLEEfAwc6GsiyZVvhNioc/s1600/IMG_5018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMU4ldpgs7QYSCfg0OvsGlIFY6Or-p5nBwPMj8h3evnR57iEPsQ-CXq-L_w5f3xgbQlQAh19ZL7V9f2N7Ll4l5jSPuoxEBqBTqIvMt-ZoozGZVoS4RpxGrXzbPLEEfAwc6GsiyZVvhNioc/s320/IMG_5018.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Heat the blended sauce, adding veggies of choice (be careful not to get it too hot- the mixture hardens rather easily)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9os9nf3lsXUTLTHbJlkGxiXdYVvI0WGR3_WyivZSIgZOV_xAneL_2_yQ8WoK02RTHgwdlCKqKXE88XVTxhIQBdLRjMoonYqH1BQEATJrvYv0xEcMHin3BLK7wAdTwIi3g96GV6DajO2f/s1600/IMG_5020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9os9nf3lsXUTLTHbJlkGxiXdYVvI0WGR3_WyivZSIgZOV_xAneL_2_yQ8WoK02RTHgwdlCKqKXE88XVTxhIQBdLRjMoonYqH1BQEATJrvYv0xEcMHin3BLK7wAdTwIi3g96GV6DajO2f/s320/IMG_5020.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And voila:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6zANu9S8mtuGZRefnNYtAKgVyZnxaafwSecBLxXN3ZV5Djxu0ObY4UJ9Q7-cDqmEYbC5pdmzGCtsVmFZKXb-mklEISuin_odW6P_NSEcXNJPwuHwSi4qqcIs7ZECwurwk335ydGwFVp-/s1600/IMG_5021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6zANu9S8mtuGZRefnNYtAKgVyZnxaafwSecBLxXN3ZV5Djxu0ObY4UJ9Q7-cDqmEYbC5pdmzGCtsVmFZKXb-mklEISuin_odW6P_NSEcXNJPwuHwSi4qqcIs7ZECwurwk335ydGwFVp-/s320/IMG_5021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pQY2qPT7pY5eG9XAMVJgfDd21tflLDcJh49HFN5GCZDTfNvc7aOW5rNID8tiU5gvK72vMZ7WuTh-bHC-Gpb3mocfOB0LafaDcs8BHAs5AHD4izcjvizyTpvDVE2H81_ZQp_7KGNE4-tG/s1600/IMG_5022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pQY2qPT7pY5eG9XAMVJgfDd21tflLDcJh49HFN5GCZDTfNvc7aOW5rNID8tiU5gvK72vMZ7WuTh-bHC-Gpb3mocfOB0LafaDcs8BHAs5AHD4izcjvizyTpvDVE2H81_ZQp_7KGNE4-tG/s320/IMG_5022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
A gluten free, vegan dinner fit for a cleanse.<br />
<br />
<i>Maybe</i> I'll get used to this?<br />
<br />
Sitting at the table over the last couple bites of broccoli, I noticed the remnants of a perfectly ripe avocado.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCXdzGN_Wer89uxDzi3tEzbZnuNtI2JN-CrOJJDZd-cVKLXs4XXTKsZcg0boivA3B6yCfNlZbjw82bBlGYJIIsvq0q_xKgdP3mZTUQtU71Tp2hVuvMVj6Uq8I9bny8DeBH1XmWedc1MvAq/s1600/IMG_5024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCXdzGN_Wer89uxDzi3tEzbZnuNtI2JN-CrOJJDZd-cVKLXs4XXTKsZcg0boivA3B6yCfNlZbjw82bBlGYJIIsvq0q_xKgdP3mZTUQtU71Tp2hVuvMVj6Uq8I9bny8DeBH1XmWedc1MvAq/s320/IMG_5024.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
That's when a divine thought came to me ,)<br />
<br />
Gena's <a href="http://www.choosingraw.com/rainy-day-chocomole/">Chocomole</a>!<br />
<br />
Not only do I see the recipe all over the blogosphere, but it's included in the recipe section of <i>Crazy, Sexy Diet</i>. I decided then and there: What better time than now?<br />
<br />
And so it was:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaQWIykpI6GmqCFqDzuusng6h_AdFhR_nnapcmTK7IIqn68qsfxpVjDUKgKjLjfTddlVIc72B4kBjDWVRI6xMwjW5CIK_Mu6D7i69xVrnReEFj3UcW16FK1adN83YNmDtT_1do9QksAPC/s1600/IMG_5025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaQWIykpI6GmqCFqDzuusng6h_AdFhR_nnapcmTK7IIqn68qsfxpVjDUKgKjLjfTddlVIc72B4kBjDWVRI6xMwjW5CIK_Mu6D7i69xVrnReEFj3UcW16FK1adN83YNmDtT_1do9QksAPC/s320/IMG_5025.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Seeing as I like my desserts cold (hello self-proclaimed ice cream addict!), I popped this puppy into the freezer for about an hour after blending and bam:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkI_votmDrmGF5fBUY9249Peg_ACBb4_2X56J9B-cPsqMxhAC05SMTVUlz3TC7LT-B8vIRVmRNWFtT8-10dmEEI3518OYK4dX0caypmi3CH-s_TyXF5PQFGoNVpAVgMKMPso1f1Ktd_IfU/s1600/IMG_5026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkI_votmDrmGF5fBUY9249Peg_ACBb4_2X56J9B-cPsqMxhAC05SMTVUlz3TC7LT-B8vIRVmRNWFtT8-10dmEEI3518OYK4dX0caypmi3CH-s_TyXF5PQFGoNVpAVgMKMPso1f1Ktd_IfU/s320/IMG_5026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
"Healthy chocolate pudding" + coconut = Heavenly livin'.<br />
<br />
Speaking of heaven, sleep sounds pretty grand right about now!<br />
<br />
<b>Question: </b>Are you a "buddy" person or do you prefer to fly solo when it comes to healthy endeavors? I for one am not the best at going to the gym with friends, but dietary experiments- bring on the partners in crime!Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08914680848288806753noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938782053468322304.post-39476063773675445402011-01-26T00:04:00.000-08:002011-01-26T00:10:21.135-08:00Let's Totally Go Shop-ping!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Those are four words you'll rarely hear come out of my mouth.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Unless I'm referring to a flea market, Target or.... the grocery store.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAOoOMPP7DwE8R3K3RTD09DS9Pda3WzF_92_cRCnhmMzEQFJqJzZ58Gk5xgRduqDYPcTUGBSVEfjReUkYGRPdg3Jy2tYjgcrhhiP8tSMD41K-H6EA6nFrhrjyXJM4SAyzgJw7SSz6d2MZ/s1600/IMG_5004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAOoOMPP7DwE8R3K3RTD09DS9Pda3WzF_92_cRCnhmMzEQFJqJzZ58Gk5xgRduqDYPcTUGBSVEfjReUkYGRPdg3Jy2tYjgcrhhiP8tSMD41K-H6EA6nFrhrjyXJM4SAyzgJw7SSz6d2MZ/s320/IMG_5004.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>I'd say a cleanse isn't really be a cleanse without a healthy trip to your local produce section.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Which is what a large chunk of my afternoon was dedicated to. </div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGHclbyG3_FPBE4L-iqlx4c7wg3nnNpf3AXlsQFIf0NAYKLyMDfOU405ZBChT_eNvGj1ftonW-UHHtMfHLcWLkFugtp9toVSesSSXeRngDhfDSZkMLf2GOHRL63MKJAchLctGGBMCTlBV/s1600/IMG_5003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGHclbyG3_FPBE4L-iqlx4c7wg3nnNpf3AXlsQFIf0NAYKLyMDfOU405ZBChT_eNvGj1ftonW-UHHtMfHLcWLkFugtp9toVSesSSXeRngDhfDSZkMLf2GOHRL63MKJAchLctGGBMCTlBV/s320/IMG_5003.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGa1Z-9ZjPH-LsB54kCm4DadlzYaFSE6g_VNIvJ0X72AJnFD8mSbJXKo1eKoebnKkbGnBleAhWwo3zN80gRUXjTR8JHD1E1RzObx3WkKVm6OW_ST05YGUmT-7egZpAF_c6meJYggIx850/s1600/IMG_5008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGa1Z-9ZjPH-LsB54kCm4DadlzYaFSE6g_VNIvJ0X72AJnFD8mSbJXKo1eKoebnKkbGnBleAhWwo3zN80gRUXjTR8JHD1E1RzObx3WkKVm6OW_ST05YGUmT-7egZpAF_c6meJYggIx850/s320/IMG_5008.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>Something that caught my attention while going through the necessary "out with the old, in with the new" pantry sorting was how very little "bad stuff" I had to toss. In fact, there wasn't one thing in my kitchen I'd be ashamed to show <a href="http://crazysexylife.com/">Ms. Carr</a>- well, maybe that bag of grated cheddar and the mini twix bar from Halloween I keep in the freezer for catastrophic emergencies.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Generally pleased to find there wasn't too much going to waste, I got to thinking about all the glorious <i>new</i> things I'd get to try in the coming weeks.</div><div><br />
</div><div>The food component of the cleanse asks that you:</div><div><br />
</div><div>1. C<b>ut caffeine (mostly) </b>It's acceptable in the form of green tea, yerba mate and small doses of dark chocolate</div><div>2. C<b>ut gluten</b> This one's especially tough for me, seeing as I adore all things bread and don't really think I have a gluten intolerance/allergy, but I'll roll with it and see if I notice any glaring differences within my belly</div><div>3. <b>Watch out for whites and other processed starches</b> No white bread, white flour, white rice, white potatoes, white pasta</div><div>4. C<b>ut out all refined sugars and artificial sweetners </b>Looks like I gotta find a new chewing gum.</div><div>5. <b>Eliminate animal foods or reduce to no more than twice per week</b> Mmmk, this is the one I've got the biggest issue with. Because:</div><div> a) I'm not really feeling a 100% vegan lifestyle just yet (though trying a vegan month <i>is</i> on my <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2011/01/power-of-action.html">2011 resolution list</a>)</div><div> b) I can't live without goat cheese!!! </div><div> c) I want to keep eggs as a source of protein in my life, considering I have big plans to get pretty shredded in the near future. </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkA-AVCt8pJ003s8WRmjXdnOJU9yzOTwXZehlMAogQrJBl-rMbkP2lvxtKd1CFjY2e1L8EzJHOKf2HA203on0JRQWUCU81fJnw0tA6Efk-pkMql_CUG24A9RMh4SoLmCmUDb1F9xL6YKeo/s1600/madonna-and-guy-6306342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkA-AVCt8pJ003s8WRmjXdnOJU9yzOTwXZehlMAogQrJBl-rMbkP2lvxtKd1CFjY2e1L8EzJHOKf2HA203on0JRQWUCU81fJnw0tA6Efk-pkMql_CUG24A9RMh4SoLmCmUDb1F9xL6YKeo/s320/madonna-and-guy-6306342.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2008/10/18/va1237336218713/madonna-and-guy-6306342.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/life-a-hell-for-mr-madonna/story-e6frg30c-1111117788287&usg=__qDxvfHmA7bjmjfWQe3jlKi49bJs=&h=400&w=350&sz=16&hl=en&start=61&sig2=skvH1oshohsaes7aDkUOzQ&zoom=1&tbnid=Fp9fI8ZIn2cRkM:&tbnh=133&tbnw=109&ei=WGI_TZvnNoa-sQOAia2fBQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmadonna%2Bmuscles%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1042%26bih%3D558%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C1150&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=211&vpy=228&dur=189&hovh=240&hovw=210&tx=135&ty=167&oei=UGI_TcuiCY68sAOp8P3gBA&esq=4&page=4&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:61&biw=1042&bih=558">courtesy of</a></div><div><br />
</div><div>Okay, not <i>that</i> shredded-gross. I'll save the workout deets for another day...</div><div><br />
</div><div>We'll just call the abridged version of this vegan stipulation in the cleanse: <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">"</span>watch and log your animal food intake</b> to see where unnecessary consumption can be cut out and replaced with plant protein sources."</div><div><br />
</div><div>The program advises a liquid diet until noon, including this cleansing tonic to drink first thing in the am. (I'll spare you the gory details- if you want to know what happens, try it yourself just after rising)</div><div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggbACS7qpcZE3hCf6rnkk-F1YJhSmSUOJ9pbzmF7CuY16oLQ0JQu2kOIJCr0zD7hKrs5cf7Qe_RkN6Vi1n2G0-PJrhXoltXg9kuhFHM6GlB4vlHdXox0yidF-vwhUWYADXO937IJIrAEYE/s1600/IMG_4987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggbACS7qpcZE3hCf6rnkk-F1YJhSmSUOJ9pbzmF7CuY16oLQ0JQu2kOIJCr0zD7hKrs5cf7Qe_RkN6Vi1n2G0-PJrhXoltXg9kuhFHM6GlB4vlHdXox0yidF-vwhUWYADXO937IJIrAEYE/s320/IMG_4987.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>warm filtered water + a little cayenne pepper + juice of half a lemon</div><div><br />
</div><div>Activate system-flushing.... NOW!</div><div><br />
</div><div>Seeing as I had a cardio workout planned for the morning, I made as heaping a breakfast as possible while sticking to the liquid plan:</div><div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidGxLO14JdwplrLWRf4MEQP0q4aa2pYNxVzgLABUxOCLrBrZUSFIQZuszFQXqFk9KZgb0exCVTe450EJ4B7FW9oB8Kw8elsj4dC7T2WnMDAti7YNP3XaT_-E4NhSmqB9mDC3JFXfkbHYdd/s1600/IMG_4988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidGxLO14JdwplrLWRf4MEQP0q4aa2pYNxVzgLABUxOCLrBrZUSFIQZuszFQXqFk9KZgb0exCVTe450EJ4B7FW9oB8Kw8elsj4dC7T2WnMDAti7YNP3XaT_-E4NhSmqB9mDC3JFXfkbHYdd/s320/IMG_4988.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>1.5 frozen banana</div><div>1 scoop Sun Warrior natural protein</div><div>1 packet stevia</div><div>.5 cup of almond milk</div><div>.5 cup of frozen mango chunks</div><div>2 handfuls of spinach</div><div><br />
</div><div>I was [surprisingly] able to get through 35 intense minutes on the elliptical with that smoothie alone. (The true test will be doing justice to a 50 minute spin class)</div><div><br />
</div><div>I got home and squeezed a little green juice</div><div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDxDmwrd0m2sLiJZk1EsYKr8GrtRdMYugKFfXwdoYWHzIk8e44dapwSS7QtKnCLRehdWOECbSnvabUnOb4mkzmcy7-RD2x8Yib8eM_yqVsUJcSk0n09XYs97Bv-DHdrPLCamKpMPiJo3V/s1600/IMG_4995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDxDmwrd0m2sLiJZk1EsYKr8GrtRdMYugKFfXwdoYWHzIk8e44dapwSS7QtKnCLRehdWOECbSnvabUnOb4mkzmcy7-RD2x8Yib8eM_yqVsUJcSk0n09XYs97Bv-DHdrPLCamKpMPiJo3V/s320/IMG_4995.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>1 bunch of kale</div><div>1 medium cucumber</div><div>1 medium green apple</div><div>1 lemon with rind removed</div><div><br />
</div><div>Lunch was the last of the veggies in my fridge before trekking to Trader Joe's</div><div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PuZwXWrwHAoA7daJKlRwxM-sT_JVxtBZsr5ekGPEs3pV2wAJ1yCU_EUhGY_Ef3w57-CiyJaOjStch2hhDgTHi2oJ0epcG8QWy84xkd7J9kU41G4sdnH3Idi0LLx2x34dFcWHl-ueTH2b/s1600/IMG_4996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PuZwXWrwHAoA7daJKlRwxM-sT_JVxtBZsr5ekGPEs3pV2wAJ1yCU_EUhGY_Ef3w57-CiyJaOjStch2hhDgTHi2oJ0epcG8QWy84xkd7J9kU41G4sdnH3Idi0LLx2x34dFcWHl-ueTH2b/s320/IMG_4996.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>a sh*t ton of spinach</div><div>1 heaping handful of shredded carrots</div><div>1 cup of steamed green beans</div><div>.5 a goat cheese medallion</div><div>.5 can of cannellini beans</div><div>+ balsamic vinaigrette</div><div><br />
</div><div>With my body fueled properly, I got to perusing <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2011/01/head-in-game.html">the book</a> for shopping tips and went along my merry way.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Now I'm home with a fridge full of old classics,</div><div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVP1DX3P-mrHvp_nr1nG4RTKLmGvLhRSdCeaNCEEEmdj302i3h26zvUvnZXKFSp4vY5Vwt4q-Y0TxVTIGkK8d1lGHq8MCcGvw6xcsDgOjrPK7xN41m_1masejpBon66lC4Whx00b_eD382/s1600/IMG_5006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVP1DX3P-mrHvp_nr1nG4RTKLmGvLhRSdCeaNCEEEmdj302i3h26zvUvnZXKFSp4vY5Vwt4q-Y0TxVTIGkK8d1lGHq8MCcGvw6xcsDgOjrPK7xN41m_1masejpBon66lC4Whx00b_eD382/s320/IMG_5006.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>along with some new treats to try</div><div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0jaLnE7y_Mn7XkbgGDrIhqOSjNEWHehM3qn4HxS-C1iEtA2QPMsybkGAuR0zxln63RKTtn9fJQywuk6DPgfwzC2mPqP6K-mZMTF35nDwvgs4rU2upRtXIjlWdnrkV9UYf4ge1fiFgFEI/s1600/IMG_5007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0jaLnE7y_Mn7XkbgGDrIhqOSjNEWHehM3qn4HxS-C1iEtA2QPMsybkGAuR0zxln63RKTtn9fJQywuk6DPgfwzC2mPqP6K-mZMTF35nDwvgs4rU2upRtXIjlWdnrkV9UYf4ge1fiFgFEI/s320/IMG_5007.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>All in all, cleanse day #1 was pretty painless. I'm happy to report that most of my standard eating habits already fall within the realm of protocol for this endeavor- green juice, smoothies, gigante salads. The hardest part will be staving off those refined sugar cravings and watching my dairy/egg intake.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Something I didn't mention in this post, but plan on discussing in the coming days is the spiritual component of the cleanse. In a nutshell: it's a lot to do with meditation and positive thinking.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Two things with which I'm VERY down.</div><div><br />
</div></div><div>Alright, I'm off to hit the hay.<br />
<br />
Catcha tomorrow with some tasty new treats!</div><div><br />
</div>Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08914680848288806753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938782053468322304.post-33141903151019530482011-01-24T22:36:00.000-08:002011-01-24T22:40:41.256-08:00A Little Night Tennis, Anyone?<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAXhUYTAWD9elMpeSZfFdXCtPxpd3V9dx5T89OS1ciak9FKC6TzgXs7PbTD4oZlkbaurycX2MIKK-k9mwxgXPeGqGsYlhJLEn60vgGd29u3JeshePNSWI_hRUIRpzJqrJQvs0jqsHhBdd/s1600/IMG_4980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAXhUYTAWD9elMpeSZfFdXCtPxpd3V9dx5T89OS1ciak9FKC6TzgXs7PbTD4oZlkbaurycX2MIKK-k9mwxgXPeGqGsYlhJLEn60vgGd29u3JeshePNSWI_hRUIRpzJqrJQvs0jqsHhBdd/s320/IMG_4980.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>After spending the better part of several hours prepping and editing a thorough post on my foray into less than stellar eating habits over the past 2 weeks, my computer ate it. All.<br />
<br />
Around the time I was pounding on said computer in frustration, Alex got home from work and suggested we head to the tennis courts. Oddly enough, the <i>last</i> thing I felt like doing was exercising. I really wanted to get a post up after so many days away, but seeing all my hard work go to waste was terribly disappointing. I decided to take a break.<br />
<br />
Nothing like <s>running after</s> hitting a few tennis balls to get the blogger in me back on track.<br />
<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRElDKb3L-CGwoA6e7uV7M0X36eVwcJ9hOpar-RHT6Iw2-uKRCyiw1sHg9zQ_1Qw7Dbr8_wO9hmpqUyORA0NEyifpDBialBm92CkawECSHTGf61YLKwPXvsndRxAGWJJsj2rWxPnj2kRU/s1600/IMG_4981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRElDKb3L-CGwoA6e7uV7M0X36eVwcJ9hOpar-RHT6Iw2-uKRCyiw1sHg9zQ_1Qw7Dbr8_wO9hmpqUyORA0NEyifpDBialBm92CkawECSHTGf61YLKwPXvsndRxAGWJJsj2rWxPnj2kRU/s320/IMG_4981.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><br />
The lost post from earlier outlined my plan to jump back on the healthy bandwagon after 2 whirlwind weeks of rehearsal, work, granola bars for lunch, performance, repeat.<br />
<br />
To make the long and frightfully honest story short-<br />
<br />
My unhealthy downfalls of the past 10 days include:<br />
<br />
-<b>multiple meal skipping</b>.... running between home, rehearsal space, work and other obligations left me constantly <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2011/01/life-on-road.html">on the road</a> or occupied. I barely had enough time to run into Subway to pick up a sandwich, let alone prepare something of value in my own home.<br />
<br />
-<b>the corner store diet</b>... I probably consumed at least 12 Nature Valley granola bars over the past 10 days. Though considering my options on the next shelf over (snickers and twix bars galore), I could have done a lot worse.<br />
<br />
-<b>countless sips too many of beer and/or whiskey</b>... 'nuff said.<br />
<br />
-<b>lack of proper exercise</b>... don't get me wrong, this show was a <i>workout</i> in itself- tons of singing, dancing and running around. But with a lack of adequate fuel, I doubt my body appreciated the push.<br />
<br />
-<b>carb intake > veggie intake</b>... this is to be expected whenever you're searching for the fastest thing to stuff your face with. When I'd get to work in the evenings and hadn't had a meal since mid-morning, I'd go straight to the bread oven in the kitchen. That, or order the overly processed veggie burger offered on our menu.<br />
<br />
Things weren't all bad. I made a point to load up on veggies by drinking green juice as often as possible.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZIzrCtwT6xevoO9QBVlcI8S4fxOwPZ4talaUk2iy-OnIdk_cb2n3GkRFmY57ZsHXs0-TMzLD4lCvFi8EQelH-sypjLzgqK-oLPW2nCiFMw7eYy3PBfs1SaX5X1JQSYJrEkeYvIvtUDdr5/s1600/IMG_4962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZIzrCtwT6xevoO9QBVlcI8S4fxOwPZ4talaUk2iy-OnIdk_cb2n3GkRFmY57ZsHXs0-TMzLD4lCvFi8EQelH-sypjLzgqK-oLPW2nCiFMw7eYy3PBfs1SaX5X1JQSYJrEkeYvIvtUDdr5/s320/IMG_4962.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
And while I admit to making some not-so-great eating choices, am currently suffering a terrible bout of post-show withdrawal, and likely won't be able to rid my eyes of semi-permanent black liner for another week or so, this show was <i>totally</i> worth it!<br />
<br />
Below are photos from a rehearsal:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaz4n5FPoeCtY39PKxAVcfJZRBAUAw56chU4artoz7l8dND2d0b8p8VECE6QO-knpBUB0EPNzAxjZZJb2lL7AruMHxy9wSyY_7nshuF0K3rka3UsKJu5P1kLWBeJsUuCRIWbfthXKYyQa3/s1600/cyclop1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaz4n5FPoeCtY39PKxAVcfJZRBAUAw56chU4artoz7l8dND2d0b8p8VECE6QO-knpBUB0EPNzAxjZZJb2lL7AruMHxy9wSyY_7nshuF0K3rka3UsKJu5P1kLWBeJsUuCRIWbfthXKYyQa3/s320/cyclop1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7LkG2Vr7AiVX2jRJwHKyDIuWXU9Xi9WwMf4Si7Dyssr6TmvCFm0h1V24sG29hQ1DGkbnPoiCMUeQtMJKNqdXNLruy4dtEaZkZFsEOWxZ9F6CAWWvLlD0g-8Zf7HtV1isiimuv7fSGv1x/s1600/cyclop4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7LkG2Vr7AiVX2jRJwHKyDIuWXU9Xi9WwMf4Si7Dyssr6TmvCFm0h1V24sG29hQ1DGkbnPoiCMUeQtMJKNqdXNLruy4dtEaZkZFsEOWxZ9F6CAWWvLlD0g-8Zf7HtV1isiimuv7fSGv1x/s320/cyclop4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMz6UQkoSiN7106UTii1h4a3QS91xwCP2CLgpX504GmtOilrNg3Er-uO7tg_dgzBsESeNehyphenhyphengtJaUwYK6imI_qVh0Ymob4RczC0xFw55asvXBFj8UDC9UAy10MkvgqpDJhGJHMw9ll1I8/s1600/cyclop6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMz6UQkoSiN7106UTii1h4a3QS91xwCP2CLgpX504GmtOilrNg3Er-uO7tg_dgzBsESeNehyphenhyphengtJaUwYK6imI_qVh0Ymob4RczC0xFw55asvXBFj8UDC9UAy10MkvgqpDJhGJHMw9ll1I8/s320/cyclop6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I've been looking for an acting project to kick my creative booty into high gear for awhile now.<br />
<br />
Thanks to <i>Cyclops: A Rock Opera</i>, inspiration abounds- not only within my actor self, but the kitchen as well.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow marks day one of my attempt at <a href="http://crazysexylife.com/">Kris Carr's</a> adventure cleanse!<br />
<br />
After successfully <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2010/12/slave.html">kicking coffee to the curb</a>, it's time to live a life free of alcohol, refined sugar, processed foods and gluten for 21 days. Will there be missteps? Maybe... maybe not.<br />
<br />
But rest assured: I'll be blatantly honest about <i>everything </i>I experience throughout the process right here on the blog.<br />
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Be back tomorrow with a more detailed rundown of the cleanse and a recap on day one.<br />
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**Have you ever fallen off the health wagon? If so, was it easy to jump back on or did you have to take extra care to discipline yourself?Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08914680848288806753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938782053468322304.post-28471842111959557112011-01-19T12:29:00.000-08:002011-01-19T12:35:47.645-08:00Like the Locals Do<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sandwiched between all the rehearsal and work that's consumed my life over the past two weeks, Alex and I have been constantly thinking, talking about and planning our trip to Europe coming up this April.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If food in all its many forms is my true love, I'd deem travel its gorgeous twin sister who's twice the fun, and adds <i>substantially</i> to the fantastic flavor!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One thing I've never been a huge fan of while traveling is living like a tourist. By that, I mean limiting my exploration of a place to the monuments and parts of town highlighted in guidebooks or posted in high traffic areas on the internet as "THE TOP 10 PLACES TO SEE IN CITY X!" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Shoot me: I think that's why I couldn't bring myself to love Venice, Italy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">BUT... Put me with a <b>local</b> who knows the ins, outs and secret dive bars of a place, and I'll show you some city love!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Venice natives, anyone? ;)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A few of my favorite instances:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In Paris, an unassuming young native man took a group of us [literally] underground to a maze of secret caverns dating back to the French Revolution. In the 18th century, they were used as a top secret means of traversing the city. Today, they've been transformed into a private party lair.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvEKMoodMIk77kYIyno_B3JM8A7lnyLzxZAkMSlRj9d3n2NOGb8Lc0_DBDWfF3IV97_T0mucFKHNvcrRCTH-v5HTwh19kBHtOBCXNINkb1F9Mxkwl4Yl-YCmyQerYEZiZ_hMU3RL4WmZ6/s1600/paris2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvEKMoodMIk77kYIyno_B3JM8A7lnyLzxZAkMSlRj9d3n2NOGb8Lc0_DBDWfF3IV97_T0mucFKHNvcrRCTH-v5HTwh19kBHtOBCXNINkb1F9Mxkwl4Yl-YCmyQerYEZiZ_hMU3RL4WmZ6/s320/paris2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtWiY0v7Sm9jt-11SnCqvq2ooTt3Z7A5erlPLDOuhvM3bAhwox1UrzAJmbRjlqTKzx5BveQPM6gCG67XClXuIlvBoeXTx1oMttlIns7WwcZFlMNAV5JlgSJmN3cXvKJmhSDTc4oi5KcOh/s1600/paris1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtWiY0v7Sm9jt-11SnCqvq2ooTt3Z7A5erlPLDOuhvM3bAhwox1UrzAJmbRjlqTKzx5BveQPM6gCG67XClXuIlvBoeXTx1oMttlIns7WwcZFlMNAV5JlgSJmN3cXvKJmhSDTc4oi5KcOh/s320/paris1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the same jaunt across the Atlantic, we visited my hip n' awesome aunt and uncle in Istanbul, Turkey, where VIP treatment was on the agenda. Despite being unable to comprehend a <i>lick</i> of Turkish, Istanbul sits proudly on my list of top 3 cities in the world.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnHRLJB0-lsvj33EOwqFqcSosJvKCazZ-kzszsYSTcEp2s-1GjolJJmvxgUZBIlO3gV-MQchRJelSTXSJ8GZww8TNRpLO-tS2lsI-bF7RQIueDGl6chpEGlxjQbCvI_KvryQnH7WnCy8a/s1600/istanbul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnHRLJB0-lsvj33EOwqFqcSosJvKCazZ-kzszsYSTcEp2s-1GjolJJmvxgUZBIlO3gV-MQchRJelSTXSJ8GZww8TNRpLO-tS2lsI-bF7RQIueDGl6chpEGlxjQbCvI_KvryQnH7WnCy8a/s320/istanbul.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks to the locals' tour, of course :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZnZsqAIk6_lxU-MTPNKe0It5ULBrfOMfRorbJBov0ApO87rqW2gdsLYfUzXQNySfUlYUWJHtur0LaK_Fi9kjH9mKUSr0r8sfFiTgmkyXFcsaCqmUJRqeMlEn9AHKKYyQ7hFnf5yx9OjFV/s1600/istanbul3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZnZsqAIk6_lxU-MTPNKe0It5ULBrfOMfRorbJBov0ApO87rqW2gdsLYfUzXQNySfUlYUWJHtur0LaK_Fi9kjH9mKUSr0r8sfFiTgmkyXFcsaCqmUJRqeMlEn9AHKKYyQ7hFnf5yx9OjFV/s320/istanbul3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When Alex and I took our first trip to Guadalajara, Mexico, we were hosted by his childhood buddies who were- you guessed it- natives through and through.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfKsvHJ7CDC7Q2QuB7mz-ODTUZh0Kpe1dNWyH0wLhVCngsvEa-UqBIcPz3gwpvNVbwSw9WHnGhIni4NYb2zxli-b0KHdV0dJc8PTFIQ5Nuxsso58u_AtCigs1SuimJeV9L0UWBZeQOkF2/s1600/mex+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfKsvHJ7CDC7Q2QuB7mz-ODTUZh0Kpe1dNWyH0wLhVCngsvEa-UqBIcPz3gwpvNVbwSw9WHnGhIni4NYb2zxli-b0KHdV0dJc8PTFIQ5Nuxsso58u_AtCigs1SuimJeV9L0UWBZeQOkF2/s320/mex+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Though I wish I could have communicated a little better with the group (I should really learn Spanish), we had a ball nonetheless and saw some really amazing sites!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKbbR0rwjK0PiGpjIla_RoZgy2o4RjYy0Owc-J6BQ83RzWBjuGym8g4LEBuzfKKoi2Czpk6h6wZ4qHUZfENIEA0JLC7Ug59zhWe7tn_fjzjqD2r2OgYIa-m7F0s6S09d24HlNz2RGnBJW2/s1600/max2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKbbR0rwjK0PiGpjIla_RoZgy2o4RjYy0Owc-J6BQ83RzWBjuGym8g4LEBuzfKKoi2Czpk6h6wZ4qHUZfENIEA0JLC7Ug59zhWe7tn_fjzjqD2r2OgYIa-m7F0s6S09d24HlNz2RGnBJW2/s320/max2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEita8JW9AE5vAibzonNRcIwyPcPk-I_U6ZVVLY5I3dhQDmkIRoB4R0Jm8_g6LzzjZhBfnQtCYPHo9skDRG4oXUUihyMISl4RIOe8jLjrhIEweIuLEWEP8EL8I7ShJHEz7tQ24DaEq4PmZnv/s1600/max.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEita8JW9AE5vAibzonNRcIwyPcPk-I_U6ZVVLY5I3dhQDmkIRoB4R0Jm8_g6LzzjZhBfnQtCYPHo9skDRG4oXUUihyMISl4RIOe8jLjrhIEweIuLEWEP8EL8I7ShJHEz7tQ24DaEq4PmZnv/s320/max.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">(yes, bars count)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGHrSuT-VhoEIc7wiTALMOPk_sgf3TpuuYYW1P971iFE5d4CT2843Qa1tuh-f272gamsyt5JWnca8wUYIigxAFwePl_UL8q7uxsL-geNFhXvSH7yX2dMQRdivmI4EojHhubc9SHiQ7WP6/s1600/mexico.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGHrSuT-VhoEIc7wiTALMOPk_sgf3TpuuYYW1P971iFE5d4CT2843Qa1tuh-f272gamsyt5JWnca8wUYIigxAFwePl_UL8q7uxsL-geNFhXvSH7yX2dMQRdivmI4EojHhubc9SHiQ7WP6/s320/mexico.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All these thoughts about natives and locals got me thinking about life in Los Angeles.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are plenty of preconceived notions about this place- the glitz of Hollywood, rows of palm trees, bronzed beauties, spotting Lindsay Lohan on every corner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sometimes the stereotypes are right on, but more often than not, people wrongly see LA as a diamond-encrusted celebrity playground. Sorry to crush your dreams (hey, mine were), but 87% of the city is far from it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Which is why I'd like to set the record straight and show you an example of a typical day lived like a local in the City of Angels.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If any of you are planning a trip soon: a, you should let me know and we could meet up for lunch- I'm always looking for excuses to break my newly-imposed "no dining out" rule. And b, by checking this page, you might find a of couple ideas <i>off</i> the beaten track.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">HOW TO LIVE LIKE AN ANGELINO:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First, wake up, open the window (if it's not already) and revel in the sunshine and 70 degree morning temperatures you're enjoying in the "dead of winter."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After throwing on some workout garb, dash off to meet the bff or honey at your favorite neighborhood spot for a little brunch al fresco.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZoAcUYaL-M6r6isdmDRtPP-K72xsQwvjYOfwabiN6QhZNY6x-ufQ8zSwcKTAgRQi4O3hhDvm7Mqym89kfpdVtyWLzhudhmcRi894QP_A1-jjv-bEG1Yub29vEyo9vUezdhzlbchebaKg/s1600/cafe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZoAcUYaL-M6r6isdmDRtPP-K72xsQwvjYOfwabiN6QhZNY6x-ufQ8zSwcKTAgRQi4O3hhDvm7Mqym89kfpdVtyWLzhudhmcRi894QP_A1-jjv-bEG1Yub29vEyo9vUezdhzlbchebaKg/s1600/cafe.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://losangeles.citysearch.com/profile/81676/los_angeles_ca/king_s_road_expresso_bar_cafe.html">courtesy of</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since many of us are health conscious out here on the <s>best</s> west coast, maybe opt for a chai tea latte over coffee...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTsR2rHMXNaIGAv_ZdhozMfxkuZ6XgNJRLVOTozPXVi00i0bXInZKEqXbFgOydwfKz218-R9AETU00MkszAvK0mvSpZ-vJyYqfrbuGvLYnu9_rNOgJ5PsVUNpgwL2O7YNLiwx9J8gIJJa/s1600/IMG_4891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTsR2rHMXNaIGAv_ZdhozMfxkuZ6XgNJRLVOTozPXVi00i0bXInZKEqXbFgOydwfKz218-R9AETU00MkszAvK0mvSpZ-vJyYqfrbuGvLYnu9_rNOgJ5PsVUNpgwL2O7YNLiwx9J8gIJJa/s320/IMG_4891.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Might I suggest, however, straying from your generally healthy ways when it comes time for the main course (you <i>are</i> on vacation after all) by ordering the homemade garden burger florentine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWV_FowA-tCb6R0ttmbE6EfjsRGuarc0QUzt19kj_ZYwW6y-t1NY7jMMYpzHDl-i6OTkv5Od_55khkY0CwKeFZzaMmVsRJscyR7tsS_2xT0dEWRcEbOYUuPq4lSD0F06C-_49bVEtDYLz/s1600/IMG_4893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWV_FowA-tCb6R0ttmbE6EfjsRGuarc0QUzt19kj_ZYwW6y-t1NY7jMMYpzHDl-i6OTkv5Od_55khkY0CwKeFZzaMmVsRJscyR7tsS_2xT0dEWRcEbOYUuPq4lSD0F06C-_49bVEtDYLz/s320/IMG_4893.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After brunch, decide to live dangerously and take a hike. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8QhF5hQi3zWAwk5G0HHma0tgvzu62bc2-SPjpJQLqsdQbYKxYTYdd1gGdsm5xL0f_i9RZB8CTEZmxzY149nSiaPXo9SEWBl6cTA8U384CnbsNkbfq8uXO52uMuTEFUPHmxy8ZtWwhRlDR/s1600/IMG_4898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8QhF5hQi3zWAwk5G0HHma0tgvzu62bc2-SPjpJQLqsdQbYKxYTYdd1gGdsm5xL0f_i9RZB8CTEZmxzY149nSiaPXo9SEWBl6cTA8U384CnbsNkbfq8uXO52uMuTEFUPHmxy8ZtWwhRlDR/s320/IMG_4898.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Your trail options are <a href="http://www.latrails.com/hike/">endless</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxiu-kckfHVF_GSxu0q-NifqyssovYiUNkMI6cPROllu5-ZEW7oVn2lpSV_iIF6FjY2BZbCSmGpq0rlUogRMx1Yhk2FpRcuR2FPHKJQrx9dCUxSZG5qlRiUOR-KdPCiilVHnH0pmJna03i/s1600/IMG_4900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxiu-kckfHVF_GSxu0q-NifqyssovYiUNkMI6cPROllu5-ZEW7oVn2lpSV_iIF6FjY2BZbCSmGpq0rlUogRMx1Yhk2FpRcuR2FPHKJQrx9dCUxSZG5qlRiUOR-KdPCiilVHnH0pmJna03i/s320/IMG_4900.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbizTNp_mss2-n_3hRQsRnZHsojNv5ehXEpBw_KiVZrZwJ61SgTeiO2yGb6nTXgs7a8D8j-Uov_JcRQ39VuzEBPwATZ4cirRgERl4o5EprsbrXjsROqhXbAOKAKkC2GqAPeVOYOu7Oc2u/s1600/IMG_4901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbizTNp_mss2-n_3hRQsRnZHsojNv5ehXEpBw_KiVZrZwJ61SgTeiO2yGb6nTXgs7a8D8j-Uov_JcRQ39VuzEBPwATZ4cirRgERl4o5EprsbrXjsROqhXbAOKAKkC2GqAPeVOYOu7Oc2u/s320/IMG_4901.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAeUWFyC9GpE-11s9W2cyx45Z3byiYJv4mOSOQX3Kk2g4JtwpCp1iQCXFxdEOyKfbSm1gZeUtkbuVko907iyi2B-w9Ica3ju6z8Pnr2w-BBC1L9Yq5fFb7RdjxwSG2otxJDDdadZ8oyWHk/s1600/IMG_4910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAeUWFyC9GpE-11s9W2cyx45Z3byiYJv4mOSOQX3Kk2g4JtwpCp1iQCXFxdEOyKfbSm1gZeUtkbuVko907iyi2B-w9Ica3ju6z8Pnr2w-BBC1L9Yq5fFb7RdjxwSG2otxJDDdadZ8oyWHk/s320/IMG_4910.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuiCITfn5LyaIQ2paHmWTu1p_9TnZh7emxPW_P6dU-ASvGJC8n4-kb5bBHB-tpsH5XruMbFd3CdPvj2pOvPDH40GrBzMp4r3RW1Jglx3JnBdyzCfn93SZS1yuJJmtfH0nWN5Pihfko5DV/s1600/IMG_4913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuiCITfn5LyaIQ2paHmWTu1p_9TnZh7emxPW_P6dU-ASvGJC8n4-kb5bBHB-tpsH5XruMbFd3CdPvj2pOvPDH40GrBzMp4r3RW1Jglx3JnBdyzCfn93SZS1yuJJmtfH0nWN5Pihfko5DV/s320/IMG_4913.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_4wCcWBaoeN6-ywoliEZ10CNSmhl4TrnJsWaMKolM3np-U3-fDOQL7sCU_8f9fcg7VTrA3llnte5SVZ39HnIU8b7JMau6TKnzXlVcg_bth5y8wUV53YWIbdSDQLd8oeNqvE-kNZmTRGw/s1600/IMG_4932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_4wCcWBaoeN6-ywoliEZ10CNSmhl4TrnJsWaMKolM3np-U3-fDOQL7sCU_8f9fcg7VTrA3llnte5SVZ39HnIU8b7JMau6TKnzXlVcg_bth5y8wUV53YWIbdSDQLd8oeNqvE-kNZmTRGw/s320/IMG_4932.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnYAdV0xoMXmKUcMYy9mhRo7_hMKLb2s9cvoJm4OR-K2wALTjxGZYcgFGc1ZqizOz5gufFUHd6LB-f8J5fPeAkdUZQQDnCq9_Ai0cgbvazoUQlWy14CDRqW1z5ZYvZ5Z_ipJpUao1lxun/s1600/IMG_4934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnYAdV0xoMXmKUcMYy9mhRo7_hMKLb2s9cvoJm4OR-K2wALTjxGZYcgFGc1ZqizOz5gufFUHd6LB-f8J5fPeAkdUZQQDnCq9_Ai0cgbvazoUQlWy14CDRqW1z5ZYvZ5Z_ipJpUao1lxun/s320/IMG_4934.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4AlLq6YYhDYvFXZ_TyaK6A2U_704Av_Fx5Hp7TxKz0PoNQIQHTHfOrUrwu2f1fSv3YxPRrxqWGo3Ybb5tLh8w0zX_4eeo9fik89u86UiHqW0ZVzG5C6SGWZv_wIHAt4dD28pxgoZDv3d/s1600/IMG_4939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4AlLq6YYhDYvFXZ_TyaK6A2U_704Av_Fx5Hp7TxKz0PoNQIQHTHfOrUrwu2f1fSv3YxPRrxqWGo3Ybb5tLh8w0zX_4eeo9fik89u86UiHqW0ZVzG5C6SGWZv_wIHAt4dD28pxgoZDv3d/s320/IMG_4939.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Seeing as we're trend setters out here, you should always take the path <i>less</i> travelled.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWZDS-g8Paao6c46tOCpMjaXlTAgjLN4q5CNmD3rWQwXTfPzivhVK4BxXvt9ChKEV2V4zCAIltYa1Q08Nlmm6vha9oCv5doieiqVUH0Nfn6JGRKND2Er6M1csIsODsx7e2D65t-P-BIf8/s1600/IMG_4903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWZDS-g8Paao6c46tOCpMjaXlTAgjLN4q5CNmD3rWQwXTfPzivhVK4BxXvt9ChKEV2V4zCAIltYa1Q08Nlmm6vha9oCv5doieiqVUH0Nfn6JGRKND2Er6M1csIsODsx7e2D65t-P-BIf8/s320/IMG_4903.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And never, ever give up 'til you've reached the top.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8HNX-vod4tNCSgw7U4uO7dwc0NzueU8k9Z7p9PI3TrHjfuRMxACFQT8fhyphenhyphenA19rTSU41RQd6B809ycHkzhEHFJz1Sv-qbxAao_bnGbuv-wzELxoQplajOMJg26324SRdKrDmZVftsWB5B/s1600/IMG_4916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8HNX-vod4tNCSgw7U4uO7dwc0NzueU8k9Z7p9PI3TrHjfuRMxACFQT8fhyphenhyphenA19rTSU41RQd6B809ycHkzhEHFJz1Sv-qbxAao_bnGbuv-wzELxoQplajOMJg26324SRdKrDmZVftsWB5B/s320/IMG_4916.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you're lucky, the smog won't obscure your view too much but regardless, you'll like what you see!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmq1_IbIsLVXdptFzcZO1EXC51kYBiBrBtDj0waRKkIhIrA4_UsUihmkksm6m6rFRj_XaWQGawKTH3Z-6WGQ1g0av0wZf4-F3l7CSyTRuFPfuY2q1GRoPInRddFFR8a01nM5wPUWghDXH/s1600/IMG_4907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmq1_IbIsLVXdptFzcZO1EXC51kYBiBrBtDj0waRKkIhIrA4_UsUihmkksm6m6rFRj_XaWQGawKTH3Z-6WGQ1g0av0wZf4-F3l7CSyTRuFPfuY2q1GRoPInRddFFR8a01nM5wPUWghDXH/s320/IMG_4907.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOM-m72qcES9O86aVrQm9OLAzoyKMPbZZxdCfSwxXrQ1c_oqqcsJv0cL9OYjtcHj_VRop743Bq11btFovll6DpfIugEDGfCL1rYRqXUUwNyX8jYTFMvEdfHo9b9h4aFGWs8rx7Mw90eaSF/s1600/IMG_4919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOM-m72qcES9O86aVrQm9OLAzoyKMPbZZxdCfSwxXrQ1c_oqqcsJv0cL9OYjtcHj_VRop743Bq11btFovll6DpfIugEDGfCL1rYRqXUUwNyX8jYTFMvEdfHo9b9h4aFGWs8rx7Mw90eaSF/s320/IMG_4919.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6e0zay6WpMfZlgtUX28OjmFgltqH9lbabJsYGwaYTM4xRbk34u9alhD1KDw-t7mJ-U8N7Kg5-_T69IToMKTDtXThliYqJIum7gbkjcJNgQzVXNmkbHhvoh-q_eNZV38mpyV5Ew3JWOns/s1600/IMG_4918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6e0zay6WpMfZlgtUX28OjmFgltqH9lbabJsYGwaYTM4xRbk34u9alhD1KDw-t7mJ-U8N7Kg5-_T69IToMKTDtXThliYqJIum7gbkjcJNgQzVXNmkbHhvoh-q_eNZV38mpyV5Ew3JWOns/s320/IMG_4918.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Maybe do a little yoga for Zen's sake.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jXUv3cd8vX_XapdsUDVGTnO5G0deK8XyGoiBqQ2hcQ-gf2Vgj_X-gzANMo8YghkvfirOrj-oyFbmBXquA9NRvueYVD0XCnZIUkk1MlvzXeG2hserz0yKsGppLfEa2-INopmov9GSesYF/s1600/IMG_4925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jXUv3cd8vX_XapdsUDVGTnO5G0deK8XyGoiBqQ2hcQ-gf2Vgj_X-gzANMo8YghkvfirOrj-oyFbmBXquA9NRvueYVD0XCnZIUkk1MlvzXeG2hserz0yKsGppLfEa2-INopmov9GSesYF/s320/IMG_4925.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUV8pcOfLGCYzdOKApr1UVdLoGuvEOkB1bftRvL02z_7FP5uuGuVAN6P5gPsXGdO8HT7xKiPz0XhCPFEW0x9Nw_ne4SYFtstE-Zld-9d6fCfcVoVXGqiymIPsHNDBhZi-QpnWclq75MrZC/s1600/IMG_4923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUV8pcOfLGCYzdOKApr1UVdLoGuvEOkB1bftRvL02z_7FP5uuGuVAN6P5gPsXGdO8HT7xKiPz0XhCPFEW0x9Nw_ne4SYFtstE-Zld-9d6fCfcVoVXGqiymIPsHNDBhZi-QpnWclq75MrZC/s320/IMG_4923.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Practice makes perfect ;)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After the hike, drive on over (while obtaining involuntary sun burn on your left arm)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpNJHN1vk6Dh6XdrnvpQuG8R6xxrwKuUSSHWfG2m55Ybd9lq3hZ-E-YD16QT9Jy8iHpED7bWITUfEr0oTiBBEeZrSG16g-uCB3nb6Co27j5-D35rEIcREL3rHl-kZj-cxGl_CcNj8Le2O/s1600/IMG_4895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpNJHN1vk6Dh6XdrnvpQuG8R6xxrwKuUSSHWfG2m55Ybd9lq3hZ-E-YD16QT9Jy8iHpED7bWITUfEr0oTiBBEeZrSG16g-uCB3nb6Co27j5-D35rEIcREL3rHl-kZj-cxGl_CcNj8Le2O/s320/IMG_4895.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">to the local grocer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL563A1mk4SeaYh8hTk_BunT_SrzBpy8f_NOKZ9oujuywDkCHJgpzNAtzhynS26KdphANfleFDdyqpRPVur7ULIhg0asvWsKgkH6caeOUgMEcwL_7_r2v3uLEC4-q4Jv0Tv3-S3GwJfcXQ/s1600/IMG_4944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL563A1mk4SeaYh8hTk_BunT_SrzBpy8f_NOKZ9oujuywDkCHJgpzNAtzhynS26KdphANfleFDdyqpRPVur7ULIhg0asvWsKgkH6caeOUgMEcwL_7_r2v3uLEC4-q4Jv0Tv3-S3GwJfcXQ/s320/IMG_4944.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Though a <a href="http://www.farmernet.com/events/cfms">farmers market</a> is ideal if you know of one.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stock up on some healthy produce and goodies for a casual dinner at home later.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzuOSoqTNRaDqG3xg7w-AO2D8v-AKj2CdBMkHnJG9zh4S3sqPB8kTvNj_6gDxfePIdtTklZZNrDHxZeGQURPvi8ysPYtIw6S6WglvFIMpuYnMtfqGkNgSZ4m6zfB5jY1TCuf2TywqWglw/s1600/IMG_4946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzuOSoqTNRaDqG3xg7w-AO2D8v-AKj2CdBMkHnJG9zh4S3sqPB8kTvNj_6gDxfePIdtTklZZNrDHxZeGQURPvi8ysPYtIw6S6WglvFIMpuYnMtfqGkNgSZ4m6zfB5jY1TCuf2TywqWglw/s320/IMG_4946.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since traveling is all about it, try something new:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2yK8esTcoR-U4fWM9_iZjqj_rgLK4q0ML9thM6E_sEjqOiUPOwBhOhBlMRTPB9N-Xp9LpUMMgPdbqAekHRPdxWDuVsBQAfi2MR6E7ROkJ95JzwY0y7TDYoe7uKoOsnAewWcpoAoNH3vu/s1600/IMG_4947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2yK8esTcoR-U4fWM9_iZjqj_rgLK4q0ML9thM6E_sEjqOiUPOwBhOhBlMRTPB9N-Xp9LpUMMgPdbqAekHRPdxWDuVsBQAfi2MR6E7ROkJ95JzwY0y7TDYoe7uKoOsnAewWcpoAoNH3vu/s320/IMG_4947.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Maybe you'll like it, maybe you won't- but at least you'll know you stretched yourself outside your standard comfort zone! (I thought the coconut juice + lime was pretty tasty)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you're lucky enough to be staying with a host who owns a juicer, go straight to the kitchen upon arriving "home" and squeeze out some of that green.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5dlTgL3ICOXjTfBmFZEGT1nhOuKDfRZkV0jIbbIQobPW2ySn-tDq5OTTH0JCQhf4Dvp3YV4aoF_SQCWHFH0CVZFxMTWBvVA7YwFho7YCqdmXixcE2ZbFjWqQdgYnpq1bSOx-2gYHOcGvu/s1600/IMG_4959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5dlTgL3ICOXjTfBmFZEGT1nhOuKDfRZkV0jIbbIQobPW2ySn-tDq5OTTH0JCQhf4Dvp3YV4aoF_SQCWHFH0CVZFxMTWBvVA7YwFho7YCqdmXixcE2ZbFjWqQdgYnpq1bSOx-2gYHOcGvu/s320/IMG_4959.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Drink it like a classy lady (or gentleman)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yfx028D31PXrY5wGsOlCjPJYa4Ku27TJbRyEaVN8EH28LQfqqsYMUYDAX92TMV8NNPc2mW5OCPegD9Xh1GWnRk_B9BXRBSqGBq2e1G0DP7Wpzr4zUjocibjIZS-2IqcALS0AAsLYa_uv/s1600/IMG_4960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yfx028D31PXrY5wGsOlCjPJYa4Ku27TJbRyEaVN8EH28LQfqqsYMUYDAX92TMV8NNPc2mW5OCPegD9Xh1GWnRk_B9BXRBSqGBq2e1G0DP7Wpzr4zUjocibjIZS-2IqcALS0AAsLYa_uv/s320/IMG_4960.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">while lounging with the windows open, a breeze blowing in and the sun shining.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmm_jSgo3u-1eSmMDSc6_47KBY1A-Xhhbk_4n280IF_zRwJWp4boy9-MwaGzXg54DtpzPjjXBgS8vU4h_XIzhuJrAiUJTqLu9pg-tthcGbn6ufvrR1rqXGJZeL6Zg1xbOSckcqoeAGUj2T/s1600/IMG_4961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmm_jSgo3u-1eSmMDSc6_47KBY1A-Xhhbk_4n280IF_zRwJWp4boy9-MwaGzXg54DtpzPjjXBgS8vU4h_XIzhuJrAiUJTqLu9pg-tthcGbn6ufvrR1rqXGJZeL6Zg1xbOSckcqoeAGUj2T/s320/IMG_4961.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you've still got time to kill in the daylight, head to your local thrift shop for some secondhand furniture shopping.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaI1sVI7VUtrGPYPQuop5ZzrYMlrNfec16oGVQBCtPaSPvSahihUf_86Xje22AqPaBK0OzlqbznIa1hY9lRbdj12a_2NJjpI_DG0I7cwW-4MjwuOB3GSXvST3rRBvO7FIwzNzO6MZl1Gvh/s1600/IMG_4950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaI1sVI7VUtrGPYPQuop5ZzrYMlrNfec16oGVQBCtPaSPvSahihUf_86Xje22AqPaBK0OzlqbznIa1hY9lRbdj12a_2NJjpI_DG0I7cwW-4MjwuOB3GSXvST3rRBvO7FIwzNzO6MZl1Gvh/s320/IMG_4950.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I suppose you can't fit a bureau in your carry-on luggage, but I'm sure your host would greatly appreciate the excellent taste and input you have to contribute to <i>her</i> purchase...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxj1aJks4p7C4Vy3XtkikpO5sEQAlmp-ajX22vezPj_GvJ8Hu3EfhGmma89yLzgW81BYXOrOl379OPh6JmNhTKhvsZylIvgwCczg1Gr2bZVpvd1sIWYcDyq0V2Fcqu9bksMTbWS8Gntjyk/s1600/IMG_4954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxj1aJks4p7C4Vy3XtkikpO5sEQAlmp-ajX22vezPj_GvJ8Hu3EfhGmma89yLzgW81BYXOrOl379OPh6JmNhTKhvsZylIvgwCczg1Gr2bZVpvd1sIWYcDyq0V2Fcqu9bksMTbWS8Gntjyk/s320/IMG_4954.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If the weather's just as nice the next day: GET THEE TO THE BEACH!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RCP8E-P_R9j1hnoehpXKOirvW2xZB0Lzjt_Pb8toOk1usQbmgU0Rbh0SWLwXFpFSEQalnQXSnozQpzqB3Dw-zH8QFIrJTfsyXMxwuciM0P3HgUj4k2iu1c4U3o5ZbGpImgiB8q5t66CY/s1600/IMG_1190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RCP8E-P_R9j1hnoehpXKOirvW2xZB0Lzjt_Pb8toOk1usQbmgU0Rbh0SWLwXFpFSEQalnQXSnozQpzqB3Dw-zH8QFIrJTfsyXMxwuciM0P3HgUj4k2iu1c4U3o5ZbGpImgiB8q5t66CY/s320/IMG_1190.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And that, my friends, is how the locals do it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm curious about the town you live in. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What off-the-beaten-track activity would you suggest to someone visiting? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The more obscure, the better...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(If you've been to Prague, Budapest or Dubrovnik, Croatia, Alex and I are actively searching for suggestions there!!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Alright, I'm heading out to check off my grossly backed-up to do list.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">*** I know my updates have been somewhat sporadic lately, but don't you worry: once the show opens this weekend, I'll be back in full blogging force with <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/">cleanse updates</a> and new recipes come next Monday :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08914680848288806753noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938782053468322304.post-88961632793471651842011-01-17T09:23:00.000-08:002011-01-17T09:23:50.384-08:00Green v Brown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sunday morning started off with his and hers restaurant-inspired breakfasts.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-a_M69xWLWp-YHW_lpFMgzxLYese2cZ5i7obzBYDJjKeXEW48ALocq4iRNh-QmDkxujMKMsy9yn6pDfOXJtAhz4D2g025wsvJnzfAXkXSfbCKHVb8P4l680as2EuQVM60L8FkM2UKc3F/s1600/IMG_4872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-a_M69xWLWp-YHW_lpFMgzxLYese2cZ5i7obzBYDJjKeXEW48ALocq4iRNh-QmDkxujMKMsy9yn6pDfOXJtAhz4D2g025wsvJnzfAXkXSfbCKHVb8P4l680as2EuQVM60L8FkM2UKc3F/s320/IMG_4872.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
As I mentioned a while ago, I'm <i>attempting</i> to save money- which means cutting back on the unfortunate dining out habit I've acquired over the years.<br />
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Whenever I <i>do</i> give into the overwhelming urge and eat out, I always order something I could not, would not or should not make at home.<br />
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While soaking up the sun in Venice on Saturday, I chose a California omelet not because I can't or shouldn't put eggs and veggies together in a hot pan, but rather I knew breakfast potatoes and croissants were goodies I should keep to a minimum (aka out of my kitchen- because if it's there, I'll eat it).<br />
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Before deciding on said omelet, I'd been extremely tempted by the restaurant's delicious-sounding chocolate chip pancakes and breakfast quesadilla.<br />
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I bragged to Alex that I could easily replicate the two at home. In an attempt to simultaneously save face and please my hombre, I did exactly that upon rising yesterday (with some added health benefits, of course).<br />
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For the pancakes, I doused the whole wheat mix with almond milk and tons of ground flax + dark chocolate chips- 3 means of healthifying I seriously doubt most brunch places think about...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0M_G2Gjj9tZhaFWbLepDWMGLKnwTFRC-4RlMQ75UWgQsBYQVGtWRC1HDVs2oOrPVY2Ij_jMP5551EZww0ztm8_2-nfhKT6kzhYO4Ai2biJlibq95J52tY5Rk4mTiZQS0jinURgI2X-ZEP/s1600/IMG_4869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0M_G2Gjj9tZhaFWbLepDWMGLKnwTFRC-4RlMQ75UWgQsBYQVGtWRC1HDVs2oOrPVY2Ij_jMP5551EZww0ztm8_2-nfhKT6kzhYO4Ai2biJlibq95J52tY5Rk4mTiZQS0jinURgI2X-ZEP/s320/IMG_4869.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: right;">Plus banana, pecans and 100% pure maple syrup</div><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghao2FQoo4oeztA11volI_I8Rb_6uevtXTUT7gYqDWi7iFOfpHAvw7QoDHI8nOOmIvPIozKjtQ3YPYzmR9j4a1b-L93Vr41ZWKUsEaXB3nPUpRw4g_4EWiVWq96FbPWS5L9HYNIRH5VNVg/s1600/IMG_4876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghao2FQoo4oeztA11volI_I8Rb_6uevtXTUT7gYqDWi7iFOfpHAvw7QoDHI8nOOmIvPIozKjtQ3YPYzmR9j4a1b-L93Vr41ZWKUsEaXB3nPUpRw4g_4EWiVWq96FbPWS5L9HYNIRH5VNVg/s320/IMG_4876.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The quesadilla- well, I used a whole wheat tortilla and earth balance to grease the pan... that's about as healthy as I could make scrambled eggs, leftover Spanish rice and beans from Saturday night and shredded cheddar cheese.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinF_gjMI2XbXsgs7EX70H0wioM2tkTt2D4XHBIRULI_iCpLrNAJ51wi-0JQJUBWDu_yiIteSkigV4UhQn6onzOrKqAMUKV7yvEv0qZin7Yjto92igtCb1qfc5kC2D2qMRoHw0E1oZRgz8F/s1600/IMG_4875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinF_gjMI2XbXsgs7EX70H0wioM2tkTt2D4XHBIRULI_iCpLrNAJ51wi-0JQJUBWDu_yiIteSkigV4UhQn6onzOrKqAMUKV7yvEv0qZin7Yjto92igtCb1qfc5kC2D2qMRoHw0E1oZRgz8F/s320/IMG_4875.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
But dang, it sure looked and smelled divine!<br />
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My pancakes served as wonderful fuel for an afternoon of rehearsal in a dark, dark room.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7nvE65mljMH6FJyEfrYDwSYcIn2Meab330MMfJywvOhImNk2o_0GtULoMOY7clBT4bDQCpe2eVaKCREd97Eko7EBQOMoYCXdiPJESyzHwjXt6kEFshuvVx9POSPV9n-NIz7NumA8-gyL/s1600/IMG_4880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7nvE65mljMH6FJyEfrYDwSYcIn2Meab330MMfJywvOhImNk2o_0GtULoMOY7clBT4bDQCpe2eVaKCREd97Eko7EBQOMoYCXdiPJESyzHwjXt6kEFshuvVx9POSPV9n-NIz7NumA8-gyL/s320/IMG_4880.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Void of any fresh air or windows.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Hm8SUU4vIDIjKpP3OuCPURiUw2yOkQAibe-E9nKS8AYkai0aXL3MLjSXXMv50nmb02x4c5z6wB3lik5FvvfDAVXDfvduU7DzF7SeuMG5gON_xOEVHuHIfe4z0eVeKvuuYV_flg9BMicu/s1600/IMG_4879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Hm8SUU4vIDIjKpP3OuCPURiUw2yOkQAibe-E9nKS8AYkai0aXL3MLjSXXMv50nmb02x4c5z6wB3lik5FvvfDAVXDfvduU7DzF7SeuMG5gON_xOEVHuHIfe4z0eVeKvuuYV_flg9BMicu/s320/IMG_4879.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Despite it being day 2 of absolutely perfect January weather in Los Angeles.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTkyEq5Fsir7jHloMEw4As1HgcvrDBbJvircZJwMS77iIzAI5ppOxBR0Cr_fzUycAlFkKNwocKx-zCFwZ76HDGEWr1T1cMXBODyVucWkY2CwivPGU8ZUPS34nsjE5e9K738QymExCo_Xf/s1600/IMG_4816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTkyEq5Fsir7jHloMEw4As1HgcvrDBbJvircZJwMS77iIzAI5ppOxBR0Cr_fzUycAlFkKNwocKx-zCFwZ76HDGEWr1T1cMXBODyVucWkY2CwivPGU8ZUPS34nsjE5e9K738QymExCo_Xf/s320/IMG_4816.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Before work last night, I downed this gigantic portion of <a href="http://ohsheglows.com/2010/12/28/back-on-track-wheat-berry-and-bean-salad/">Angela's</a> <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2011/01/breaking-point.html">back on track wheat berry salad</a> + spinach.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOv3fBFrSUmCHa3UxSO8Om-DWjJYGua_3IxK-8tWtM6ImGHQ-Y815j5ZydEcODvP4H3xfjCkf4tEpaJyAimkuwp6EXfthTdmf2fVecl7uBSn2LOcz7oubp3QnYMO19a8Hu8JyxnbWmf5Gv/s1600/IMG_4881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOv3fBFrSUmCHa3UxSO8Om-DWjJYGua_3IxK-8tWtM6ImGHQ-Y815j5ZydEcODvP4H3xfjCkf4tEpaJyAimkuwp6EXfthTdmf2fVecl7uBSn2LOcz7oubp3QnYMO19a8Hu8JyxnbWmf5Gv/s320/IMG_4881.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I'm up and at 'em early this morning since I'm staring a 13 hour day at the theatre in the face. <br />
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And so begins tech week and the push to opening night.<br />
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Since this show is quite draining, meal planning will be of the utmost importance in the days ahead.<br />
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Here's a <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2010/12/slave.html">coffee</a> update for ya:<br />
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I've officially made the switch to one cup of pure decaf in the morning and, on days when I lack the extra time to make it, I don't feel shabby in the least.<br />
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I admittedly suffered through a week and a half of icky low moods and sadness, but all that seems to have passed.<br />
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In fact: the <i>thought</i> of drinking the brown stuff this morning made me want to gag. I was instead craving something green, and so it was:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HFGw_8Y0jyaI14kH0c9zp6XKM5P4tzFGzjbgkPKo8v4u2XNxX-DFwYHrAz7hRAaVT9l658vOQZ2eBpwq6IvRyEAT5MsQkJJhtyBgRbXadqtJSja0oJUeWE6S4SETY9WIUGJeEqfiw5nW/s1600/IMG_4884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HFGw_8Y0jyaI14kH0c9zp6XKM5P4tzFGzjbgkPKo8v4u2XNxX-DFwYHrAz7hRAaVT9l658vOQZ2eBpwq6IvRyEAT5MsQkJJhtyBgRbXadqtJSja0oJUeWE6S4SETY9WIUGJeEqfiw5nW/s320/IMG_4884.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not sure if it's the <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2011/01/head-in-game.html">Crazy Sexy Diet</a> having a profound impact on my head space or the sizable amount of ice cream/ not so bueno goodies I've consumed in the last week, but I honestly can't remember the last time I chose a green smoothie over coffee.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Maybe never?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Still suffering through the natural flavor of Sun Warrior (that stuff's 'spensive and I just can't bring myself to waste it), an old sweetener friend of mine came to the rescue</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2p8WkAPptvF2Ln_FEZ9t7ENawzRF1JglyvHZ5UR5lAxO7UrILzy6uH06bfvXjw8uEd6tIiXfzA7o8O6wqrOaeS6onGSl699Gj6jhAaQWOO9qyM7-GxlZM-viFxOr80n5VMOepkqZT6oHy/s1600/IMG_4882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2p8WkAPptvF2Ln_FEZ9t7ENawzRF1JglyvHZ5UR5lAxO7UrILzy6uH06bfvXjw8uEd6tIiXfzA7o8O6wqrOaeS6onGSl699Gj6jhAaQWOO9qyM7-GxlZM-viFxOr80n5VMOepkqZT6oHy/s320/IMG_4882.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thank the Lord.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The rest of the mix was frozen banana and mango, almond milk, water, and spinach.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Don't be surprised if you see the occasional cup o' Joe pop up in the coming week: I plan on using the remainder of my bag of decaf beans, then it's onto the strictly herbal tea and green juice phase of the weaning.<br />
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Since we're talking all things green and herbal, I've got some pretty exciting news to share.<br />
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It means great things for the blog, as well as my bod!<br />
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Next Monday the 24th, I plan on embarking on the <b>21 day cleanse</b> outlined in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Crazy-Sexy-Diet-Veggies-Ignite/dp/1599218011/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1295283699&sr=8-1">Kris Carr's book</a>! Since reading only the first couple of chapters, I've already been convinced to give her "adventure cleanse" a go. Seeing as I've already kicked caffeine for the most part, I've just got to get past the alcohol-soaked festivities lingering in my near future.<br />
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Our show opens next Saturday night- which most likely means mega-doses of partying over the weekend. I'm not trying to kid myself here, which I why I'm waiting to begin the cleanse <i>next</i> Monday.<br />
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I still have to live a <i>little</i>, right?<br />
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I'll be sure to outline it all- the ups, downs, recipes and effects- <b>here</b> :)<br />
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Alright, I'm off to the theatre.<br />
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Have you ever tried a detox/ cleanse? If so, which one? Did you like it or see any lasting effects?Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08914680848288806753noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938782053468322304.post-12168081996155562672011-01-15T21:45:00.000-08:002011-01-15T21:45:44.833-08:00Who I Am, Really<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Guess where I went today?</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0Eb7s_pjlVqQ9UCGTBbddV4aBVMQ7RtSSGNL-xpG2omYNJlhOmu3VaP0IDAOXmzfYgfDIn3dkra33OzfEnU-4Lck8WpBeDWgnpb6f2hCP9sN-UKupMgSAFgWc5yaa8wvDUvDMSbrP0Ol/s1600/IMG_4825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0Eb7s_pjlVqQ9UCGTBbddV4aBVMQ7RtSSGNL-xpG2omYNJlhOmu3VaP0IDAOXmzfYgfDIn3dkra33OzfEnU-4Lck8WpBeDWgnpb6f2hCP9sN-UKupMgSAFgWc5yaa8wvDUvDMSbrP0Ol/s320/IMG_4825.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Yep, that's right.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYAZqkPKJd-7tVGiCrZ1bk4_lzX5j_G70vL7NcIbPGnsuCyJ3OpMkhGY49ul3mmxUy2_lai-Lm5OHJ-Z_ARv6-y0XnLrhCVqMgEvQpWwnNnJKe17F_hiL9IpDyxto14l0_O510JAi80_L/s1600/IMG_4828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYAZqkPKJd-7tVGiCrZ1bk4_lzX5j_G70vL7NcIbPGnsuCyJ3OpMkhGY49ul3mmxUy2_lai-Lm5OHJ-Z_ARv6-y0XnLrhCVqMgEvQpWwnNnJKe17F_hiL9IpDyxto14l0_O510JAi80_L/s320/IMG_4828.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgki9lFCh0C2U5Gx0wU9hiQJAqr7h5fnSMzgMSdVi60YaccZxeszBEN7aRJJG4AfmeTgkQUojymO-NNCesttQEMBt-Jm9ki2fABVXImMOxXG9T6gPstZH-SKrLmy7vym3AVO_ICeVG35NMM/s1600/IMG_4815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgki9lFCh0C2U5Gx0wU9hiQJAqr7h5fnSMzgMSdVi60YaccZxeszBEN7aRJJG4AfmeTgkQUojymO-NNCesttQEMBt-Jm9ki2fABVXImMOxXG9T6gPstZH-SKrLmy7vym3AVO_ICeVG35NMM/s320/IMG_4815.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
The beach. In January.<br />
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Not to rub it in for the many of you currently suffering in sub 20 degree temps, but what we LA residents lack in reasonable traffic and good air quality, we make up for with amazing weather.<br />
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Since it was a day off for us both, Alex and I headed to Venice to take advantage of the gloriously warm sun.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRt3OOzHjnOtr5hv-XmS0zIUvp6tK5grpAHwLsp_HsZl5D2xJmxUEddA6L_Dz2lp5Yqjsdv-LDPhj50yjW6SqjWUiTjG9ky57pNaY9oQit6RGqlvCjutJ0LV-7uuNpntSI8RD9ahoUWCs6/s1600/IMG_4804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRt3OOzHjnOtr5hv-XmS0zIUvp6tK5grpAHwLsp_HsZl5D2xJmxUEddA6L_Dz2lp5Yqjsdv-LDPhj50yjW6SqjWUiTjG9ky57pNaY9oQit6RGqlvCjutJ0LV-7uuNpntSI8RD9ahoUWCs6/s320/IMG_4804.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5wbyKkQsm037_EQSBOSEVDiAXXr9wuy45osHnezezegHl-_RShnLNj4zdvyyTwlWpG8LmjTMUCX-kU7hdhoDMyO4s3BQmlitk5-7XKMusTlfij6nZdle88_rulsxi-9EgYycCERrYr0M/s1600/IMG_4807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5wbyKkQsm037_EQSBOSEVDiAXXr9wuy45osHnezezegHl-_RShnLNj4zdvyyTwlWpG8LmjTMUCX-kU7hdhoDMyO4s3BQmlitk5-7XKMusTlfij6nZdle88_rulsxi-9EgYycCERrYr0M/s320/IMG_4807.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6N7FhyphenhyphenwxNrbdgpqavzcTQ11MwMz5WM4T7_gw9JaAswFx1FxaHyeHlqgx1rdMomqjQ-yutQnrE72KqJQFRmh6LqeHA1VnWAT0HW8_SAWQbgDPzwR9AyrJt2IVYrlU5e-N9rmBk-_Cst72J/s1600/IMG_4810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6N7FhyphenhyphenwxNrbdgpqavzcTQ11MwMz5WM4T7_gw9JaAswFx1FxaHyeHlqgx1rdMomqjQ-yutQnrE72KqJQFRmh6LqeHA1VnWAT0HW8_SAWQbgDPzwR9AyrJt2IVYrlU5e-N9rmBk-_Cst72J/s320/IMG_4810.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">We walked the infamous boardwalk,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUwAGu7xn7P1TyaK03zaMXRCI9vvkQLTNx3eAULXW_smdEPd9PH25Nb2iiga_jZV-ndksLDFksDI6RGOQWM0G4JE8O5msEMD1DHa71-cxuTVf1OxOe8WH4iQfom5q4LKxglfuCoKJzVQP/s1600/IMG_4801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUwAGu7xn7P1TyaK03zaMXRCI9vvkQLTNx3eAULXW_smdEPd9PH25Nb2iiga_jZV-ndksLDFksDI6RGOQWM0G4JE8O5msEMD1DHa71-cxuTVf1OxOe8WH4iQfom5q4LKxglfuCoKJzVQP/s320/IMG_4801.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPGOdhMYEJngxBcpo85f6mZfT9DYzQtAbzqfVEBrWdGmM-IAx57USvd3t-D_kPShixJ8pjAKpIabIWnOuFAixwS2h9xoByvKqbKYRNZsfWV_YkR2kBsUZJal8XDmcR7_9RAtoeanzgRhT/s1600/IMG_4822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPGOdhMYEJngxBcpo85f6mZfT9DYzQtAbzqfVEBrWdGmM-IAx57USvd3t-D_kPShixJ8pjAKpIabIWnOuFAixwS2h9xoByvKqbKYRNZsfWV_YkR2kBsUZJal8XDmcR7_9RAtoeanzgRhT/s320/IMG_4822.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
saw the picturesque canals,<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvn9zen41eWmS2lNnlM8LQRQDBzgUWT4ampf8w1MK9yeuEdiRC-tLOiT3KAh3nE33cNn0uehadpped_7T9dO8oihBqX21B8DH6ipo-kasRKP7oOpKVxZl2wSk2R2Wl1JKSGA_qrPbzKdM_/s1600/IMG_4811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvn9zen41eWmS2lNnlM8LQRQDBzgUWT4ampf8w1MK9yeuEdiRC-tLOiT3KAh3nE33cNn0uehadpped_7T9dO8oihBqX21B8DH6ipo-kasRKP7oOpKVxZl2wSk2R2Wl1JKSGA_qrPbzKdM_/s320/IMG_4811.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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and couldn't resist a little time on the sand. Though we came without anything customary to sit on like towels or blankets, we found a way to make it work.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-qPxGBGecF0NqKZVTfiqkB2HZ6G0vBhiRi7iCgE6alvActGvLfgu4ZKBG6uWKAutcQUqFw4-GfGy0LFxh9edqHKQb-Pw3b3uz0-j47xYbpwSZncAyS__oG2Gjo6g0zTcd8m_0XtGqmNQ/s1600/IMG_4826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-qPxGBGecF0NqKZVTfiqkB2HZ6G0vBhiRi7iCgE6alvActGvLfgu4ZKBG6uWKAutcQUqFw4-GfGy0LFxh9edqHKQb-Pw3b3uz0-j47xYbpwSZncAyS__oG2Gjo6g0zTcd8m_0XtGqmNQ/s320/IMG_4826.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
See, sometimes it pays to keep a mess in the trunk of your car ;)<br />
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We stopped into one of the many sidewalk cafes for brunch where I enjoyed a mimosa (that's Alex's cheeseburger in the background)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxjkFppmLP_ORdNZjOGx8LoJOSHAAYr9ZeFeB0YYNnlHEyoye3dxjMVl17DwTjQwhGMTiTkvupRzdHuCb-lwxbRXV8e8Mo3LUbHKvcHR53rEbz0ZCjxYrD2WIR-7077Tx2KXSqX05k1Bs/s1600/IMG_4821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxjkFppmLP_ORdNZjOGx8LoJOSHAAYr9ZeFeB0YYNnlHEyoye3dxjMVl17DwTjQwhGMTiTkvupRzdHuCb-lwxbRXV8e8Mo3LUbHKvcHR53rEbz0ZCjxYrD2WIR-7077Tx2KXSqX05k1Bs/s320/IMG_4821.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a><br />
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and a California omelet- since I was feelin' the love- with cajun potatoes and a croissant. Pure carb delight!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Once the sun started to go down and the breeze rolled in, we headed back east to a Mexican bakery to pick up a birthday cake for Alex's mom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4PN3GBfeKZPWJVeZP8fNqZUKwJbteIiZ9khmsBC7FBNN1N2TuzBPqw_ejoX-PaWpUYxn84XcN8HONtfVzNpkJ93pi3GKhrzr5Gxq8FWJpFJov4qU7BofP5FOalm9wIBpvuACdXe9bn9i/s1600/IMG_4831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4PN3GBfeKZPWJVeZP8fNqZUKwJbteIiZ9khmsBC7FBNN1N2TuzBPqw_ejoX-PaWpUYxn84XcN8HONtfVzNpkJ93pi3GKhrzr5Gxq8FWJpFJov4qU7BofP5FOalm9wIBpvuACdXe9bn9i/s320/IMG_4831.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Soon after we got home and straightened up, the <s>tornadoes</s> kids arrived</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTk5jgRdfFS4JB_l9lyrtCZxCxWyawxY2mAWz6FPCiHdCbnvI1Vfkf5Cj3b1bSWl9ovZJWIMbGGaGXRcVlZLuoKIxJmbEWmAm2vscqho0iwFkZBbqxymX89ExUBls3NhRo9kS5dhDuChZL/s1600/IMG_4859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTk5jgRdfFS4JB_l9lyrtCZxCxWyawxY2mAWz6FPCiHdCbnvI1Vfkf5Cj3b1bSWl9ovZJWIMbGGaGXRcVlZLuoKIxJmbEWmAm2vscqho0iwFkZBbqxymX89ExUBls3NhRo9kS5dhDuChZL/s320/IMG_4859.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">and dinner was served....</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1RsH5u8QX7XkSkx1vjHvN4zLqa7cCLpDG8_KpqJTV8Fsw-VeMosNMQn2ZuHUpDvk_9wVVQHBjTpF9byvUiHnPcWM4kXOmuLI-49IOCyld-R1t6fo96niLOUrrKla5_3wzzUo_co1iw_x/s1600/IMG_4833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1RsH5u8QX7XkSkx1vjHvN4zLqa7cCLpDG8_KpqJTV8Fsw-VeMosNMQn2ZuHUpDvk_9wVVQHBjTpF9byvUiHnPcWM4kXOmuLI-49IOCyld-R1t6fo96niLOUrrKla5_3wzzUo_co1iw_x/s320/IMG_4833.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">His family is so considerate of my vegetarianism- there were rice, beans and tortillas galore!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJaI_kBusZ5jNIaAPM_79OvTOgKI-j7aLjIywVz_HbKkV3OeoiFnnB7RMaVAa_D5EX0iOWr5BNa3NRKt0U9nb0NolEADMoJms1jVpqExzlxl5NLCSiJF5DAxVnKZ85UhhQtaPrZpsJBDB/s1600/IMG_4834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJaI_kBusZ5jNIaAPM_79OvTOgKI-j7aLjIywVz_HbKkV3OeoiFnnB7RMaVAa_D5EX0iOWr5BNa3NRKt0U9nb0NolEADMoJms1jVpqExzlxl5NLCSiJF5DAxVnKZ85UhhQtaPrZpsJBDB/s320/IMG_4834.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Then 'twas time for cake.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WzYi51K6jXNP_vq5cod8LpMwSCQ7ud6IphPXhVHqC04qxQc-8ezNnDkL_BTaOwI1CRDlwSIETVqOrQwbc2IUBjYwWxvaUZpngGdSGnKWHd3aAg5iH0Q5a6x1YyLxQ03FKEE0Y67hSJX7/s1600/IMG_4864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WzYi51K6jXNP_vq5cod8LpMwSCQ7ud6IphPXhVHqC04qxQc-8ezNnDkL_BTaOwI1CRDlwSIETVqOrQwbc2IUBjYwWxvaUZpngGdSGnKWHd3aAg5iH0Q5a6x1YyLxQ03FKEE0Y67hSJX7/s320/IMG_4864.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Tres Leches to be exact.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcshpPgKlZ_wkUANzALIfOMULxkKROs7LlBf-6j6mBDLP-CZX8s65qNf-47yTRhGwSSTdRx_oYUmy2wxlCuyeS2XTbl3mUeBn8PABs9EEI7dUwY4A8wlDZ7TSGnroZ9oXOHsqteeOyEl8C/s1600/IMG_4865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcshpPgKlZ_wkUANzALIfOMULxkKROs7LlBf-6j6mBDLP-CZX8s65qNf-47yTRhGwSSTdRx_oYUmy2wxlCuyeS2XTbl3mUeBn8PABs9EEI7dUwY4A8wlDZ7TSGnroZ9oXOHsqteeOyEl8C/s320/IMG_4865.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I thought it was delicious- the kids thought it was soggy. Who knew a cake existed that children would dare refuse?!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">After a little Disney Channel watching, the fam took off, leaving Alex and me to chillax on the couch after a blissful day of love and enjoyment.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Speaking of love and enjoyment, my life was changed by the musical <i>Hair </i>last night.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSV04P6sJVpi7yeVp1xYlu3XTv5-4-5TmeFoiFpimVbE7s80eCGdPeLkPUdbHfie8gR_gge1KF4HiFPpteZtUE9fmcQ1fDbLLHgB8A4KUf02MExZUDn2IyuKUHcCjVEv1RwXHh8yQDQv8M/s1600/hair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSV04P6sJVpi7yeVp1xYlu3XTv5-4-5TmeFoiFpimVbE7s80eCGdPeLkPUdbHfie8gR_gge1KF4HiFPpteZtUE9fmcQ1fDbLLHgB8A4KUf02MExZUDn2IyuKUHcCjVEv1RwXHh8yQDQv8M/s1600/hair.jpg" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.savvysocal.com/hair-at-pantages-discount/">courtesy of</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Now my theatre friends will tell you: I'm not usually one for musicals, but this one, with it's crazy fun riffing and daring nude scene changed my mind.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">AAAAND, turns out: <b>I'm a hippie!</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I always sort of suspected, but last night after Nicole, Liz and I walked into the heart of Hollywood post-rehearsal,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdCav39Fx_EufaV-XBwYgeHomxtYDgSGGEWZpcv-Y_CeoPtWkspkO6N0uMjk4sY8q1RtNnXMi3CdbdKSqC4P6wwSyP_ka9_RYWBFYR4TBKIrQiOGrmEo6p5WN887GoAnw5sF3eVUAhUT5/s1600/IMG_4798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdCav39Fx_EufaV-XBwYgeHomxtYDgSGGEWZpcv-Y_CeoPtWkspkO6N0uMjk4sY8q1RtNnXMi3CdbdKSqC4P6wwSyP_ka9_RYWBFYR4TBKIrQiOGrmEo6p5WN887GoAnw5sF3eVUAhUT5/s320/IMG_4798.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">enjoyed a couple sushi hand rolls- a first for me-</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUQvLIBuwKzJ4eGdaPuU2Sjb_5SMuTioJaj7wNPdM6emJEjPFToaEjU7iU_BjqyBrfEq2gyZW9RL9AzNDt-JaTrExtxJlf36DVeCe-R8JPVLnZT-NQT-BT1coLVvmfg9IaOEc8cFA9x_a/s1600/IMG_4794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUQvLIBuwKzJ4eGdaPuU2Sjb_5SMuTioJaj7wNPdM6emJEjPFToaEjU7iU_BjqyBrfEq2gyZW9RL9AzNDt-JaTrExtxJlf36DVeCe-R8JPVLnZT-NQT-BT1coLVvmfg9IaOEc8cFA9x_a/s320/IMG_4794.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNaoux6nquoWPe-it6uEkuM20i8ZyqI-fbzOl-hDdyCfD_opScnonFQ1ukk1tROHhcLoOlD2L3Ms9qUs05lAjei_pNAlURUAu8kFmboY9uKEBLKFb_4vrlQMv7mwIH7-nbwkGGoEJW2Oh/s1600/IMG_4795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNaoux6nquoWPe-it6uEkuM20i8ZyqI-fbzOl-hDdyCfD_opScnonFQ1ukk1tROHhcLoOlD2L3Ms9qUs05lAjei_pNAlURUAu8kFmboY9uKEBLKFb_4vrlQMv7mwIH7-nbwkGGoEJW2Oh/s320/IMG_4795.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">and headed to the Pantages to see the energetically bold show, it was confirmed.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfpW3eI8OiyQ94kiFCNfgyfaUxJCAieCiz4zfTCuBornGyr0RUk94PH_NzCe0giBxfzkMzvqVJQfJw50YSNTeoJhc4Xp8ZZLnGmFncmKVQh4U8ZHMVJp2Xdf65kZISvp_Z1IfFajIbaB9/s1600/IMG_4800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfpW3eI8OiyQ94kiFCNfgyfaUxJCAieCiz4zfTCuBornGyr0RUk94PH_NzCe0giBxfzkMzvqVJQfJw50YSNTeoJhc4Xp8ZZLnGmFncmKVQh4U8ZHMVJp2Xdf65kZISvp_Z1IfFajIbaB9/s320/IMG_4800.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Peace, unity and oneness is where it's at. Love is all you need.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">With that in mind, I'm going to go spend some time with mine.</div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXa4KxVIjIyV2XBXoRKUXCa2qik1FvvA4xxXwjtpBDK4UwCUignjBvfG4MouNnYJTk9S007e7CkZ4am9UbwVx6qYuRRfiaJzc8vkI9sqAt3Trj3giXaHpcpXOkLcO_7Tj1H74OaKwXi9sK/s1600/IMG_4829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXa4KxVIjIyV2XBXoRKUXCa2qik1FvvA4xxXwjtpBDK4UwCUignjBvfG4MouNnYJTk9S007e7CkZ4am9UbwVx6qYuRRfiaJzc8vkI9sqAt3Trj3giXaHpcpXOkLcO_7Tj1H74OaKwXi9sK/s320/IMG_4829.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I don't know about you, but I'm already dreaming of summer. Too soon?</div>Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08914680848288806753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938782053468322304.post-52984437354935563992011-01-14T23:56:00.000-08:002011-01-15T00:49:54.792-08:00Head in the Game<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Two things I <i>am</i>: CRAZY and SEXY (sort of like TLC, minus the cool ;)</div><br />
So how could I <i>possibly</i> resist buying healthy lifestyle extraordinaire and cancer survivor <a href="http://crazysexylife.com/">Kris Carr's</a> new book as soon as I found it in stores?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZNTE5vAbBbKWJD0Dd4zFwYT_gl6muk6XeKtqD9jMhBHF42voxedRyo6me1h99JmLv9pi2B48rz4VW8LUPoZRNxQuBZuMHPldyZcjXkuf0dOrjzpBwMj-Ain5TfhOaW6sM30kPqVLQZSj/s1600/IMG_4763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZNTE5vAbBbKWJD0Dd4zFwYT_gl6muk6XeKtqD9jMhBHF42voxedRyo6me1h99JmLv9pi2B48rz4VW8LUPoZRNxQuBZuMHPldyZcjXkuf0dOrjzpBwMj-Ain5TfhOaW6sM30kPqVLQZSj/s320/IMG_4763.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Though I've only done a semi-quick perusal (thanks to my hectic schedule these days), I'm already floored- in a great way- by what I've read and can't wait to get through every. single. page.<br />
<br />
Whenever I find a new book about ground-breaking health ideas, I get overly pumped and inspired.<br />
<br />
The first time it happened was after reading Dr. Perricone's <i>Clear Skin Prescription</i>. It was in those pages that I discovered the many magical ways to cure acne from the inside out.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhilcxb0KOxe2RkafUkQj6skpPTKKDdkKZS4u7adZXxtdScJhEFOB4qYnMgXeamKdESaF1JEsBXulmjBusgf9UGPadzshYqYHDnT7vC_qL4MNrf9Z-AKvgK6MKthPZ-v0DwicjRTWk6OwIT/s1600/perricone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhilcxb0KOxe2RkafUkQj6skpPTKKDdkKZS4u7adZXxtdScJhEFOB4qYnMgXeamKdESaF1JEsBXulmjBusgf9UGPadzshYqYHDnT7vC_qL4MNrf9Z-AKvgK6MKthPZ-v0DwicjRTWk6OwIT/s320/perricone.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Clear-Skin-Prescription-Perricone-Eliminate/dp/0060934360/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1295037581&sr=8-3">courtesy of</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Then again when I read Natalia Rose's <i>Raw Food Detox Diet</i>,<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzFI-JTeUVYRUL5lFQHabkv_lYpOmoCA1UoKPAe2ESy_zbs5QPmoJ6HktK9-Ui3dstzwhu84f0gV8BtUEQjoHUAU5lWRcngGubSFSzzF2cT0e_DbgAs_uQkofe_vrNmI7W_Rxwz3hJW6RF/s1600/detox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzFI-JTeUVYRUL5lFQHabkv_lYpOmoCA1UoKPAe2ESy_zbs5QPmoJ6HktK9-Ui3dstzwhu84f0gV8BtUEQjoHUAU5lWRcngGubSFSzzF2cT0e_DbgAs_uQkofe_vrNmI7W_Rxwz3hJW6RF/s1600/detox.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.detoxtheworld.com/books-the-raw-food-detox-diet.php">courtesy of</a></div><br />
<i><a href="http://kristensraw.com/">Kristen's Raw</a>,</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8RIKagykvW7IEhPjMk0-LXgHKtoevJ2RMwm9k0KNqXXHzGScUSye8X335t5BfMqkXT_5W3LbzgOrXtV0hUFvu4KgmRT6xvydBLFsfyo9MyamJO-CgoD02V4vfLrh2o5OlV9_0JrnbGW1/s1600/IMG_4786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8RIKagykvW7IEhPjMk0-LXgHKtoevJ2RMwm9k0KNqXXHzGScUSye8X335t5BfMqkXT_5W3LbzgOrXtV0hUFvu4KgmRT6xvydBLFsfyo9MyamJO-CgoD02V4vfLrh2o5OlV9_0JrnbGW1/s320/IMG_4786.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><br />
and <i>Raw Food Real World</i> by Matthew Kenney and Sarma Melngailis<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4b3BouP2r0jRLXbDxdW78oKR_K3ohjLuGmC2heNWaeyOJlBImjnZIy6oHB-srP3uCUYrnMDbPf6p5tKytQZpn1q4Z1vh0SdivPBVfhzwkTJqDv5mZ_BVNrysZ6S0coZ9_J_N9WPooMG0/s1600/IMG_4785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4b3BouP2r0jRLXbDxdW78oKR_K3ohjLuGmC2heNWaeyOJlBImjnZIy6oHB-srP3uCUYrnMDbPf6p5tKytQZpn1q4Z1vh0SdivPBVfhzwkTJqDv5mZ_BVNrysZ6S0coZ9_J_N9WPooMG0/s320/IMG_4785.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><br />
... though the raw food inspirado died rather quickly when I realized how difficult (and expensive) it was to carry on a high raw diet.<br />
<br />
I kept my head in the health game last fall by taking <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2010/09/nourishing-mind.html">a weekly nutrition class</a> at Pasadena City College, where I learned the basic ins and outs of how our bodies process food- the good, the bad <i>and</i> the ugly.<br />
<br />
Ever since class ended and I headed <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2010/12/back-down-south.html">home</a> to indulge in some mayjah deliciousness over the holidays, I'd had a bit of a problem mustering that old "eat healthy and whole 96% of the time" mantra once again.<br />
<br />
Until yesterday.<br />
<br />
When Kris Carr's book entered my gigantic purse<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUmW7fWgb8ClyS_pg_iV7thqaL1j_9WjHE5F_ErUNZRnE-pXJ2r-JYhBf4Rzcnqv5oNqyXBDl09gG6rq9dpY7PVF72-MKvKW9XdIzcUh53aawCAEeEh6Y3fvl9tql_gMpqtxUfGnFWQhT/s1600/IMG_4768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUmW7fWgb8ClyS_pg_iV7thqaL1j_9WjHE5F_ErUNZRnE-pXJ2r-JYhBf4Rzcnqv5oNqyXBDl09gG6rq9dpY7PVF72-MKvKW9XdIzcUh53aawCAEeEh6Y3fvl9tql_gMpqtxUfGnFWQhT/s320/IMG_4768.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
and has been weighing me down ever since (you never know when a spare 5 minutes'll come upon me and I can pull it out).<br />
<br />
With inspiration finally summoned, I spent the free hours before rehearsal today reacquainting myself with an old love: the kitchen....<br />
<br />
To make <a href="http://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/">Averie's</a> <a href="http://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2010/01/vegan-peanut-butter-choc-chip-protein.html">Vegan No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bars</a> with a few changes/additions, including:<br />
<br />
-subbing cashew butter for peanut butter<br />
-using ground flax seed rather than whole<br />
-adding goji berries<br />
-adding hemp seeds<br />
<br />
The protein powder differed from the old standby, Sun Warrior Vanilla, since I'm out of it and their "natural" flavor in my pantry's stock tastes horrifically like chalk.<br />
<br />
Hoping to grab something <i>tasty</i> in a jiffy, I headed down to the natural foods store (a block away!!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6S7ZS45OHyyb_OIyHOvHjBGg55-2SjBbXebGTgI5nEEwn4xfYLni_waJuWp9NRuErhaikRpz6_bjIKfRs2jsxuTWgNOtzY1qxKUj3ZBC7YMdBVdoOwOeq7Lk-eFjNhWa8JGb-116O2OW/s1600/IMG_4760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6S7ZS45OHyyb_OIyHOvHjBGg55-2SjBbXebGTgI5nEEwn4xfYLni_waJuWp9NRuErhaikRpz6_bjIKfRs2jsxuTWgNOtzY1qxKUj3ZBC7YMdBVdoOwOeq7Lk-eFjNhWa8JGb-116O2OW/s320/IMG_4760.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
and picked up the only protein powder they had:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1KxhwPxBb6B1dDugeo-wrmMnAB3ag_CX28zB1jDgjUnxIdhUT5fpXreL2Yh1d_OdPlYwBcrpjrD406L5VXYcHo_tbppcxHrDSTY2xoifa0Mg-MS-_CmBBCVsiIanzmbSe4tPkGqi-aZ-p/s1600/IMG_4764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1KxhwPxBb6B1dDugeo-wrmMnAB3ag_CX28zB1jDgjUnxIdhUT5fpXreL2Yh1d_OdPlYwBcrpjrD406L5VXYcHo_tbppcxHrDSTY2xoifa0Mg-MS-_CmBBCVsiIanzmbSe4tPkGqi-aZ-p/s320/IMG_4764.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Which is how hemp protein powder has come into my life- I used one packet for this recipe and plan to use another in a smoothie later.<br />
<br />
With all ingredients in place, the insanely easy prep got started...<br />
<br />
Basically, put everything in a bowl and stir/mash.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmyo-w6fox5B7DhgaFUeQerk-UI9ehyPBd4gfqrvWjY1hjaQc5gdqY5e9uOBKiw-VI9d1XrTfbREu5o9UTCsCsXqEzA6XVu4b5JX_Q6OuCnO3BvYn0ZWXiMeIw-mUoJ1HLhKh-VSKnAJzZ/s1600/IMG_4770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmyo-w6fox5B7DhgaFUeQerk-UI9ehyPBd4gfqrvWjY1hjaQc5gdqY5e9uOBKiw-VI9d1XrTfbREu5o9UTCsCsXqEzA6XVu4b5JX_Q6OuCnO3BvYn0ZWXiMeIw-mUoJ1HLhKh-VSKnAJzZ/s320/IMG_4770.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vF03nmW8n0DeFSTC4fLSEHYDKAbD0Zkli_h-XtZewUx-i2yIARWa46OdkqtHkrgV7Eiht3NGZ3Q_IEdhHUzuPgNwQmQhrTcIq1oAQWeUsE306SQF08kCr1EHMV5UUX0km77HrPCAwnOl/s1600/IMG_4771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vF03nmW8n0DeFSTC4fLSEHYDKAbD0Zkli_h-XtZewUx-i2yIARWa46OdkqtHkrgV7Eiht3NGZ3Q_IEdhHUzuPgNwQmQhrTcIq1oAQWeUsE306SQF08kCr1EHMV5UUX0km77HrPCAwnOl/s320/IMG_4771.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieK-i4eaXcfG-WFcMBRX3eb5XYF6Q1FaRjNDLiAIFRrDXp8uJQCjiKClXx3YB2uwK8uId15zsIM-BOmNYZDW9q-hrvhE1QLVzs_DpUVW5NnUnQh0O7_9t42nONjGoMa_5cz9k3wGqrdQst/s1600/IMG_4774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieK-i4eaXcfG-WFcMBRX3eb5XYF6Q1FaRjNDLiAIFRrDXp8uJQCjiKClXx3YB2uwK8uId15zsIM-BOmNYZDW9q-hrvhE1QLVzs_DpUVW5NnUnQh0O7_9t42nONjGoMa_5cz9k3wGqrdQst/s320/IMG_4774.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqIpiNu5OL93rW2DjjsoJ0g8gs6e0YSKYWXy9hVb01aqL7zPM4XcTkpxcJJYMUmma_LhPVoDmcvTJbJgYfCmLMeM0Pfl5d5h1XaFNA9Dlx_vlxekexfTlg5bPRJDEnsXGsTE2cC6tN9XI/s1600/IMG_4775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqIpiNu5OL93rW2DjjsoJ0g8gs6e0YSKYWXy9hVb01aqL7zPM4XcTkpxcJJYMUmma_LhPVoDmcvTJbJgYfCmLMeM0Pfl5d5h1XaFNA9Dlx_vlxekexfTlg5bPRJDEnsXGsTE2cC6tN9XI/s320/IMG_4775.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbuuHUW_CtKqPLNdkAXEd1UsCAmrui5AvXfqU4hoVGVwmtBKvMHQ2xBtXl-axj3bJNbAQD_4gPVqVPBre2FVAlMjc5_bghNnV_tN-oDdiLIo_0kN7diWEvoCcbWwxkKBiy-LVHzBK54lx/s1600/IMG_4777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbuuHUW_CtKqPLNdkAXEd1UsCAmrui5AvXfqU4hoVGVwmtBKvMHQ2xBtXl-axj3bJNbAQD_4gPVqVPBre2FVAlMjc5_bghNnV_tN-oDdiLIo_0kN7diWEvoCcbWwxkKBiy-LVHzBK54lx/s320/IMG_4777.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9vCyEhSwM7YG_U7mDtQVwB3x9nVayew63kKdL1F0sKIPfGlAKZKUoq7FdfXlBKi0x_fiukQVBSmHCoUL3NFlSKoWkOwU1HrfRhG4wT6E9GN-3JMIUeA7pLj9-zJwlaBf_uoBsx6tGxKw/s1600/IMG_4778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9vCyEhSwM7YG_U7mDtQVwB3x9nVayew63kKdL1F0sKIPfGlAKZKUoq7FdfXlBKi0x_fiukQVBSmHCoUL3NFlSKoWkOwU1HrfRhG4wT6E9GN-3JMIUeA7pLj9-zJwlaBf_uoBsx6tGxKw/s320/IMG_4778.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;">It felt so good to be using elbow grease in the kitchen once again- it'd been too long...</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcriyKq4Cb5vSn84gm2wMhdLcYzbUCjijBzHz1k8rM0K7Yw918kB4EvcnJplsyzMYOr121XQTGoBAO-16580J2R-8rtMJdGQqGxUhqsMXlt52vQn7ATrcUUqxwCT9cz44A1vzOwvr5OrI/s1600/IMG_4781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcriyKq4Cb5vSn84gm2wMhdLcYzbUCjijBzHz1k8rM0K7Yw918kB4EvcnJplsyzMYOr121XQTGoBAO-16580J2R-8rtMJdGQqGxUhqsMXlt52vQn7ATrcUUqxwCT9cz44A1vzOwvr5OrI/s320/IMG_4781.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><br />
Spread out on plastic-lined dish/pan of choice<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWoB3vGXibT0kresbn9KbDgjji3URRdkS1zPXxQRMWx4szyXhriX7-fTHpge3PuZ_6LuiZJCzone9-HwQCrKYTILa_QmsOpS-9z0DWbQYWIplm9yfW8rE_hLCT8DY6GEZCrOoRa0wJ1RB/s1600/IMG_4782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWoB3vGXibT0kresbn9KbDgjji3URRdkS1zPXxQRMWx4szyXhriX7-fTHpge3PuZ_6LuiZJCzone9-HwQCrKYTILa_QmsOpS-9z0DWbQYWIplm9yfW8rE_hLCT8DY6GEZCrOoRa0wJ1RB/s320/IMG_4782.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjauRhN0bSjOJqQ5z97CRdtP0mARF_QIdmzpswlsMcfL85FMqdW_AAvqCqJ_Hjy_N4GtE9IrAlKX-K6Ez6VYGSvEm2xzAUC3q47DG7FPjjK8N2yFUhVp8-cyvcAP8LV6dAQJQypgd8X6I/s1600/IMG_4783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjauRhN0bSjOJqQ5z97CRdtP0mARF_QIdmzpswlsMcfL85FMqdW_AAvqCqJ_Hjy_N4GtE9IrAlKX-K6Ez6VYGSvEm2xzAUC3q47DG7FPjjK8N2yFUhVp8-cyvcAP8LV6dAQJQypgd8X6I/s320/IMG_4783.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><br />
Pop in the freezer and voila:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLuvNckslD9RNAjHGY-PjDE6E8JGkoLvHNAV6J80B4R7hxLJ8pKJfLHWm2AiEXjz2N4iM6IgaQibt-ddIpgm_NxSQz70wwG63cj9Am3KJL82v0lz-WDvuDI-rI0y4-jbuIzq9h0iXtlwH/s1600/IMG_4788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLuvNckslD9RNAjHGY-PjDE6E8JGkoLvHNAV6J80B4R7hxLJ8pKJfLHWm2AiEXjz2N4iM6IgaQibt-ddIpgm_NxSQz70wwG63cj9Am3KJL82v0lz-WDvuDI-rI0y4-jbuIzq9h0iXtlwH/s320/IMG_4788.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Sweet protein heaven...<br />
<br />
And a perfect rehearsal pick-me-up.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4cEMXNbR6MnewIUhg8qf2kVBiSfahs5r3ni9_r-91m4C4lpN2f9ZlBinWobMYjTZcahk_1o3xTeFdcqFzIwh8FMnV2VWW1GsDN8s-nlFkW-s_V7DK0_q0IOOS3flktURVLUJ_YHOwtGz/s1600/IMG_4790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4cEMXNbR6MnewIUhg8qf2kVBiSfahs5r3ni9_r-91m4C4lpN2f9ZlBinWobMYjTZcahk_1o3xTeFdcqFzIwh8FMnV2VWW1GsDN8s-nlFkW-s_V7DK0_q0IOOS3flktURVLUJ_YHOwtGz/s320/IMG_4790.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I'll definitely be making another batch of these bars in the future- sans raisins.<br />
<br />
I'm off to see the musical <i>Hair</i> tonight, followed by a weekend of 80 degree temps and sun soakage.<br />
<br />
Do you have any food/nutrition/fitness books that changed your perspective? If so, I'd <i>love</i> to hear about them :)Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08914680848288806753noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938782053468322304.post-60459651729433639032011-01-12T22:35:00.000-08:002011-01-12T22:40:15.752-08:00"It's all in the pinky, dahling."<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjeVBzr7yg-w4F2zudNX8umn9aYywsrOhc_6yq3wD3Vlmx9HJGSxptya1I6er_Kv4itHWMgP-03vfwu_BT9d2MFz6OB-imRpOGXv-khLjC8-antyLbROPkGQWMSN8XYzMrzxfAwhOYz69/s1600/IMG_4751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjeVBzr7yg-w4F2zudNX8umn9aYywsrOhc_6yq3wD3Vlmx9HJGSxptya1I6er_Kv4itHWMgP-03vfwu_BT9d2MFz6OB-imRpOGXv-khLjC8-antyLbROPkGQWMSN8XYzMrzxfAwhOYz69/s320/IMG_4751.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">...At least that's what <i>I've</i> been saying ever since my first brush with English High Tea earlier today.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was, hands-down, the best meal of the <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2010/11/day-out.html">Food World Series </a>thus far! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(must be the latent Disney princess in me- so many frills!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This morning, Christian and I made the long trek to Woodland Hills. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And when I say long, I mean 50 minutes with traffic. For high tea. But boy was it worth it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We met at this adorable little cottage off the beaten track,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDp7HVUqpdQOpRGvI3sTlYBk4ql3TvRHupZo0EOUq_3-mab6F4m1_JdyXVH96DcMT8ndH7cEVpF1jvsA4lfFl16geyj87vB8NYvoepPKozRIy-tlHMI6rwauM8NVr5WMW3xzoF-vuAC9g/s1600/IMG_4722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDp7HVUqpdQOpRGvI3sTlYBk4ql3TvRHupZo0EOUq_3-mab6F4m1_JdyXVH96DcMT8ndH7cEVpF1jvsA4lfFl16geyj87vB8NYvoepPKozRIy-tlHMI6rwauM8NVr5WMW3xzoF-vuAC9g/s320/IMG_4722.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmGQgKhYxzABzqwQ3juSZDDI3MPvqc3xT23_2anHXedtc4h0nddcp1eizwizg7ruS518Le5M5y5qAGeTKwyDIF1caTF7I5Q76FallEi8boaMGSqg6jPHmRCm5YXHIjcMENwmW4k7dng3g/s1600/IMG_4724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmGQgKhYxzABzqwQ3juSZDDI3MPvqc3xT23_2anHXedtc4h0nddcp1eizwizg7ruS518Le5M5y5qAGeTKwyDIF1caTF7I5Q76FallEi8boaMGSqg6jPHmRCm5YXHIjcMENwmW4k7dng3g/s320/IMG_4724.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">where were greeted by a lovely married couple, Jenn and Hus (I can't remember his real name for the life of me). They showed us to our cozy table by the window, beyond shelves and shelves of tea and matching goodies for sale in the entry way...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjtGT1cJ3Pp3Ht7Z8gAkH-UF_ORmdJuwvA8iH0WU4LWacWlT8TfZxSEVo2G8vDJeq2PjAusy-32g3UEAfvgV5OutE-2IQhPpDE4q34K4TSJCJjzo3vEFC1f-I-Jk-uul5Mo73KMvKRnIR/s1600/IMG_4723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjtGT1cJ3Pp3Ht7Z8gAkH-UF_ORmdJuwvA8iH0WU4LWacWlT8TfZxSEVo2G8vDJeq2PjAusy-32g3UEAfvgV5OutE-2IQhPpDE4q34K4TSJCJjzo3vEFC1f-I-Jk-uul5Mo73KMvKRnIR/s320/IMG_4723.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As soon as we were seated and the pretty young assistant placed a green cloth napkin ever-so-delicately across my lap, I knew this was the real deal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First up was the menu... which was more like a how-to guidebook on tea service, tradition and etiquette.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj5WIeF6RARLGmFBCSlT777j1HO3FklUl6mL4UxpsDmW8F3stA_-b3n0bl15maSkqjBT49BYg-0Oe54uO2nn2DKIggdOH9f0c7f4yzyVvvsCTSIDHnZZOiHo1PQ-VIkh9KSv1yuPqVRY3L/s1600/IMG_4734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj5WIeF6RARLGmFBCSlT777j1HO3FklUl6mL4UxpsDmW8F3stA_-b3n0bl15maSkqjBT49BYg-0Oe54uO2nn2DKIggdOH9f0c7f4yzyVvvsCTSIDHnZZOiHo1PQ-VIkh9KSv1yuPqVRY3L/s320/IMG_4734.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZqpZz369XYu0TVACyhFnYKT5Eu1aPzkpSX7ZuIGtYn_YM8ozIIuQhCy8h0hTELuhGvec2RWVgj5E3pE2n6oAGyY9PaQFjgIdrioY6T9npXZBmjkIPnvGpE4FYwRYZOPw4R0wmlBdj5Gj/s1600/IMG_4729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZqpZz369XYu0TVACyhFnYKT5Eu1aPzkpSX7ZuIGtYn_YM8ozIIuQhCy8h0hTELuhGvec2RWVgj5E3pE2n6oAGyY9PaQFjgIdrioY6T9npXZBmjkIPnvGpE4FYwRYZOPw4R0wmlBdj5Gj/s320/IMG_4729.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the welcome page, it read "When invited to High Tea or partaking in Tea Time, take the chance to pause in time, a moment to forget the trials of one's worries and simply rejoice in the moment at hand."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Which is exactly what I did...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">starting with the tea selection, assisted greatly by the amusing and knowledgeable Brit, Hus, and his overflowing cart of unique tea leaves from around the world.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGeQjYvwEq53bI95fPmE1pARBkNTqcdBcYko83fJVG9ciLd5y_x1etHPX7f7xD0VZoCFokmh1BmYrFTYj_nQwbz5naunrYCCiAhtkxHOO2qhFmB-pi2WU2Nj8ZGGxifVxk6nML0_ELr9Oc/s1600/IMG_4727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGeQjYvwEq53bI95fPmE1pARBkNTqcdBcYko83fJVG9ciLd5y_x1etHPX7f7xD0VZoCFokmh1BmYrFTYj_nQwbz5naunrYCCiAhtkxHOO2qhFmB-pi2WU2Nj8ZGGxifVxk6nML0_ELr9Oc/s320/IMG_4727.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">His first utterance upon approaching the table was telling us we should "step out of our comfort zone" and leave the teas we usually drink "at home."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I told him I tend to drink green tea for the health benefits, he responded, "What if I told you there was a tea 25 times more powerful than green tea in its healing properties?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'd say UM- SHOW ME! SHOW ME!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And he did.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUW8TFn-FmV0j9P5fcZewQR32AD209m4SWBXBNPYZ6CY1GJOdImOQbZiiZEUG2TAoHutXjpx5tfaStpFSlJlsf7XIVpOvKaempHYoaAqrSokB8ZeDVNBRuxwO12PLkLZr7rAVuly-7fm9/s1600/IMG_4750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUW8TFn-FmV0j9P5fcZewQR32AD209m4SWBXBNPYZ6CY1GJOdImOQbZiiZEUG2TAoHutXjpx5tfaStpFSlJlsf7XIVpOvKaempHYoaAqrSokB8ZeDVNBRuxwO12PLkLZr7rAVuly-7fm9/s320/IMG_4750.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Turns out, naturally caffeine-free <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooibos">rooibos tea</a> is only grown in a small part of South Africa. Its cleansing power is so superior that lovers of the precious leaves for leisurely drinking are worried over talks of pharmaceutical companies buying up all the land on which they're grown.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Wowzas. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Figured I better drink a pot while I still can.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTLQqMPNm-rOyh7dTSpJ-fZDv_qh7x7DYYj9UrKgS3jVrsFs-dIVuRoK-TDRtNrriDFxPPdn1C4kDhvHoCuaxXvp4taPtLzDLFwZLmdmRd9S0cVIvPSnYpATzWm7iPFMC27okyiAB_HjE/s1600/IMG_4735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTLQqMPNm-rOyh7dTSpJ-fZDv_qh7x7DYYj9UrKgS3jVrsFs-dIVuRoK-TDRtNrriDFxPPdn1C4kDhvHoCuaxXvp4taPtLzDLFwZLmdmRd9S0cVIvPSnYpATzWm7iPFMC27okyiAB_HjE/s320/IMG_4735.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I opted for what Hus called "a lady's drink"- a rooibos tea called <i>Provence</i> that sweetly pops with lavender and orange blossom. No added sugar cubes or milk necessary.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMGJh6fTm1m-vB68HS4A1cAG2QbDQtEhveI7w6ZoHjrwK9WDmsBoFJ5AX9amwc_dd9xGi5LlKQPmR-kdDjHdExhxNHlc3ezan5Mdbp1LwD06_iTWEGNtX-P9pnioNAQJoTVBnJS-GFQxu/s1600/IMG_4733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMGJh6fTm1m-vB68HS4A1cAG2QbDQtEhveI7w6ZoHjrwK9WDmsBoFJ5AX9amwc_dd9xGi5LlKQPmR-kdDjHdExhxNHlc3ezan5Mdbp1LwD06_iTWEGNtX-P9pnioNAQJoTVBnJS-GFQxu/s320/IMG_4733.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Christian went for a more traditional black tea, only <i>super</i> caffeinated... over <b>5 times</b> the caffeine in a standard black tea.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hus left us to our pots, saying his wife Jenn- the Courdon Bleu chef of the duo- would be right over to help us with our food options.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was pleasantly shocked to see that in addition to "American Tea Time" and "Elegantly French," they offered "Graceful Tea Time for Vegans." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvJ8SsHSD20y254_Zxu-y8TDUIi5hIoPqBX7Jh990hF6XHKP6Ms9rb1WeQFeM8I9ozWNctpuywBubAaLF1Iw2zU4M0nMFiJNunB_KiuEkM1MDouiI4PF9N44zgZ8uZ-TKXNLf72gahvTh/s1600/IMG_4730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvJ8SsHSD20y254_Zxu-y8TDUIi5hIoPqBX7Jh990hF6XHKP6Ms9rb1WeQFeM8I9ozWNctpuywBubAaLF1Iw2zU4M0nMFiJNunB_KiuEkM1MDouiI4PF9N44zgZ8uZ-TKXNLf72gahvTh/s320/IMG_4730.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Only in California... ;)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As intrigued as I was to see how the chef could transform such a traditional repast, I decided to save veganism for my next visit and start off with "Traditional Tea Time" to get the <i>true</i> experience.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The first of 3 courses was a sandwich platter...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And did it <i>ever</i> exceed my expectations of simple cucumber and cream cheese...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXv79On8ud-bE5TBnSsNxASzFs2WHcsXI1WRXIbWuC1wINq50dj7Ux3nhlOLeZMj8kGtE2NWVMqqIdLx8vFLx5obpYMEHnq2IZ8HHmClARLhsr46ULZC6eg-XMDXbaYotPDNNI73qzaCuM/s1600/IMG_4736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXv79On8ud-bE5TBnSsNxASzFs2WHcsXI1WRXIbWuC1wINq50dj7Ux3nhlOLeZMj8kGtE2NWVMqqIdLx8vFLx5obpYMEHnq2IZ8HHmClARLhsr46ULZC6eg-XMDXbaYotPDNNI73qzaCuM/s320/IMG_4736.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jenn graciously subbed out the chicken and ham options with vegetarian ingredients- including the standard cucumber, curried egg, cheese + apple chutney, and my personal fav:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwesOaSun8m7P0n-VtAjPVhUwGNtLytO9rLqJodyE38vCWxR6aRwzb2TO-GIMUum1NfcfNZBw0BWq041bBx-fS2ve0mjilep4N7fcRX9O8DGjBZVTPaBt7nJuJiuC5Uv4r65u04IyFiVY/s1600/IMG_4739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwesOaSun8m7P0n-VtAjPVhUwGNtLytO9rLqJodyE38vCWxR6aRwzb2TO-GIMUum1NfcfNZBw0BWq041bBx-fS2ve0mjilep4N7fcRX9O8DGjBZVTPaBt7nJuJiuC5Uv4r65u04IyFiVY/s320/IMG_4739.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">cranberry, to-mah-to and parsley... Seemingly odd combo- but so delicious!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After polishing off each one of the triangles myself, it was time for Jenn's famed scones.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26i19CRXt3u4UwVLaquH6lqrR0qMgSnK-Hou5McKmn-pZ-cxWWAiaJW3Rt9DeToRYf6mKzpxgiiRfIhNFSWIAZ3p53k8xY465ChGRJlITFQnWTxnhYX0SpJgglgxG4BROr7IR4JoigLsn/s1600/IMG_4745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26i19CRXt3u4UwVLaquH6lqrR0qMgSnK-Hou5McKmn-pZ-cxWWAiaJW3Rt9DeToRYf6mKzpxgiiRfIhNFSWIAZ3p53k8xY465ChGRJlITFQnWTxnhYX0SpJgglgxG4BROr7IR4JoigLsn/s320/IMG_4745.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fresh out of the oven, might I add.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The young assistant came over to present us with the jam and curd options:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_XKjK7kRqRR2Osra5p6VptCUNxogMbzwx4RCV0XhAzH5A_xKgeCOQIRDVB57x5YtCP0aucrwSMWvIIK7H1xcmyRyGuh2nYIBdR6ZAmn0rWWEBQAu7QpGCskacX54Xi5rYy6-UYI2L0gZ/s1600/IMG_4742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_XKjK7kRqRR2Osra5p6VptCUNxogMbzwx4RCV0XhAzH5A_xKgeCOQIRDVB57x5YtCP0aucrwSMWvIIK7H1xcmyRyGuh2nYIBdR6ZAmn0rWWEBQAu7QpGCskacX54Xi5rYy6-UYI2L0gZ/s320/IMG_4742.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since we each got 2 selections, we made sure to try 4 different spreads- apple fig, apricot ginger, cherry and lime (+ 2 dollops of Devonshire cream, of course)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDV4vGbP3bRMGkzfx9W29hVZAXW1ybX5lQN_uWsXQf-hG3VvAZd1qislUSZrFrFZFWS99-Cnjwt5AL_ps2M_Dkrl-7qYsqOILo_IA3Q7mP-9Y-6dsSVPY_Rvlwixjcqmu0brPAaRGHdeZ/s1600/IMG_4744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDV4vGbP3bRMGkzfx9W29hVZAXW1ybX5lQN_uWsXQf-hG3VvAZd1qislUSZrFrFZFWS99-Cnjwt5AL_ps2M_Dkrl-7qYsqOILo_IA3Q7mP-9Y-6dsSVPY_Rvlwixjcqmu0brPAaRGHdeZ/s320/IMG_4744.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Um, hello heaven.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovUFipANitd4kKrRXbDFinJZJ7co-TYYKqR7yDp3LBVOQ0iMDYMR8MLUV2y5p-GH2DHRhXE0NaLG0sYTQiWXJVKZ3aI9_Y5L9CM7FYZASSkKuhb72Wr6I402l1kB9jNQXXUjVXNYIxcHt/s1600/IMG_4748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovUFipANitd4kKrRXbDFinJZJ7co-TYYKqR7yDp3LBVOQ0iMDYMR8MLUV2y5p-GH2DHRhXE0NaLG0sYTQiWXJVKZ3aI9_Y5L9CM7FYZASSkKuhb72Wr6I402l1kB9jNQXXUjVXNYIxcHt/s320/IMG_4748.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I polished those two off in a jiffy.</div><br />
Which brought us to the grand finale: dessert.<br />
<br />
Just when I thought I'd had my fill on scones, I went straight to work on this lovely assortment of goodies:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_RiO3aAWAYz601QkJLMygCR2HU0SOhy8ArEi-8z-4BVrFkyEgVLwAdfKfSrjDacJnlwidggJZjZIBO2GKxccfOdWYabKMj1_0oI5tY9b3l0WLhNEI285AqonBgohtf3n-K08QCzf6fgl/s1600/IMG_4754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_RiO3aAWAYz601QkJLMygCR2HU0SOhy8ArEi-8z-4BVrFkyEgVLwAdfKfSrjDacJnlwidggJZjZIBO2GKxccfOdWYabKMj1_0oI5tY9b3l0WLhNEI285AqonBgohtf3n-K08QCzf6fgl/s320/IMG_4754.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaHL3SFGviTl0TNumx2CTwJxNrTUsOH53A4gMn6xDW0vFE5y9aqFz73eWx0eJk_5sUAeB1LyybwGA31GzT6Vq8uWLRrKdOWvgD1yXY5bDKtanSterlBQpM71bDZKZK9w_iR1IqSuQq79y/s1600/IMG_4756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaHL3SFGviTl0TNumx2CTwJxNrTUsOH53A4gMn6xDW0vFE5y9aqFz73eWx0eJk_5sUAeB1LyybwGA31GzT6Vq8uWLRrKdOWvgD1yXY5bDKtanSterlBQpM71bDZKZK9w_iR1IqSuQq79y/s320/IMG_4756.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">The plate suffered a <i>slow</i> demise...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFd42SCo2Nt_QZI_pRfmx96Yps2dLmaR_wei1yYjJ_TIlgMQtlSfUTKDF9vVQH4PNlj5i8wjzHdybp8rl_kr0RCrRFjisKssY25Th34An0lV2R2NXwn32Q7wRfoo9Bxk9BL3hSk1oYnM3/s1600/IMG_4757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFd42SCo2Nt_QZI_pRfmx96Yps2dLmaR_wei1yYjJ_TIlgMQtlSfUTKDF9vVQH4PNlj5i8wjzHdybp8rl_kr0RCrRFjisKssY25Th34An0lV2R2NXwn32Q7wRfoo9Bxk9BL3hSk1oYnM3/s320/IMG_4757.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3J4-DRylo9eKCrSCRl35jAAWkfrQmQ2jM8VfR5o6cNaInFbjieOW8A1YIUnRKCx9d3qCwLpQwexPMWRuBEEOw2h9cUTDG2qCBjYGvdIk6kupa4hMWV4vBhJ2k6f2LwY_2O6TcxhSYApN6/s1600/IMG_4758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3J4-DRylo9eKCrSCRl35jAAWkfrQmQ2jM8VfR5o6cNaInFbjieOW8A1YIUnRKCx9d3qCwLpQwexPMWRuBEEOw2h9cUTDG2qCBjYGvdIk6kupa4hMWV4vBhJ2k6f2LwY_2O6TcxhSYApN6/s320/IMG_4758.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">How anyone can down those little delicacies in one bite is <i>BEYOND</i> me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">I like to savor the flavor. Always.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Which is exactly why I think I enjoyed this experience so much. Everything was done with such precision and attention to detail, it's nearly impossible to <i>not</i> revel in each moment and astounding new dish.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Hus came up to us as I swallowed the last chocolatey bit of my petit four and pointed out that we still had an entire pot of tea left (they'd refilled) and we should enjoy the rest of the afternoon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">While it would have been a true delight to stay in the warm and welcoming cottage, sipping and chatting the hours away, we both had prior commitments to get to...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Next time, next time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY22qaIJ-D370ffMAaM54ioDnDhnWBWeh2S0NZzhw12LjocGgDVmVeCc1WIeNTJOVJE6sbcaXrcov1T8k19yWbDZ1ObqHMY1MLzeAv7gYuXc6Eik_hc60UWuMd8epB9Yimztw7tu-TRs9S/s1600/IMG_4759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY22qaIJ-D370ffMAaM54ioDnDhnWBWeh2S0NZzhw12LjocGgDVmVeCc1WIeNTJOVJE6sbcaXrcov1T8k19yWbDZ1ObqHMY1MLzeAv7gYuXc6Eik_hc60UWuMd8epB9Yimztw7tu-TRs9S/s320/IMG_4759.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Now that British has been checked off the list, it's time for Burma next Wednesday...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Have any of you experienced high tea?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://rawrunnerbean.blogspot.com/">Emma</a>, I know you've done it- was this one much different?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div>Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08914680848288806753noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938782053468322304.post-50304161862704971152011-01-12T01:01:00.000-08:002011-01-12T01:04:46.151-08:00Breaking PointI don't know about you, but I <i>thrive</i> on order.<br />
<br />
To be clear: there are most definitely occasions when I can allow my life to fall into disorganized chaos and still get by, but if it's not a holiday or warranted vacation, I <i>must</i> have my habitat clean and organized in order to keep it [as in my sanity] together.<br />
<br />
To spare you the gory details: our house has not lived up to these standards over the past couple of days. In addition to the recent <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2011/01/life-on-road.html">drain problem/dishes piling up</a>, Alex and I have either been running around or vegging on the couch to recover from said running around all weekend- leaving the house's cleanliness a troubling afterthought.<br />
<br />
That is, until today-<br />
<br />
cue sigh of relief.<br />
<br />
After enjoying a scrumptious breakfast- two boiled eggs and maple granola toast (yes, it's as good as it sounds),<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqH1bkAT7nujnSgpHFgCKOYGIETLv9DfEWuQTyVYVFPfMhumIALvXaQbW6lL1bV94Ph2L32Xh10dXXwI3TQv8QwvLDC8aYO3TAa8vYUOVvIaMgSA-mpogaFTM7XxvLqFWXchy4pBVeub8/s1600/IMG_4704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqH1bkAT7nujnSgpHFgCKOYGIETLv9DfEWuQTyVYVFPfMhumIALvXaQbW6lL1bV94Ph2L32Xh10dXXwI3TQv8QwvLDC8aYO3TAa8vYUOVvIaMgSA-mpogaFTM7XxvLqFWXchy4pBVeub8/s320/IMG_4704.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I decided to take matters into my own hands and buy a bucket to wash the dishes in.<br />
<br />
Well, technically a kitty litter pan<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLILcGgdg68TbhA2vRPivkzXAWWVB4ti-dSomKYJwykUdaP0W0DmpxL9x16POxaq7ZjTYXWY9dwLYIKjquz_ABksdo7OBZeqS9oYJCeqjOQwosaAC6eWfpd9DzXQ9hcdIzUdP7Qim0UtAP/s1600/IMG_4708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLILcGgdg68TbhA2vRPivkzXAWWVB4ti-dSomKYJwykUdaP0W0DmpxL9x16POxaq7ZjTYXWY9dwLYIKjquz_ABksdo7OBZeqS9oYJCeqjOQwosaAC6eWfpd9DzXQ9hcdIzUdP7Qim0UtAP/s320/IMG_4708.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
but sometimes you gotta play the hand <s>CVS</s> life deals you.<br />
<br />
After several hours of intense sweeping, scrubbing, laundry, dusting, polishing and music blasting, I feel sane again.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5M3hQ73G-9YtZLwSyp2t4Kry7P1MZZDZ8VMEOz9mJGO1S70f1qkxSmPJVpjumNXY5nNnnQ3EjNwEzdhOeURPYn8OUxCGPc6TvdnHug0eKAGuSItsR7mOSJMSoEvFrD6_bJ9oUF1dOGODo/s1600/IMG_4711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5M3hQ73G-9YtZLwSyp2t4Kry7P1MZZDZ8VMEOz9mJGO1S70f1qkxSmPJVpjumNXY5nNnnQ3EjNwEzdhOeURPYn8OUxCGPc6TvdnHug0eKAGuSItsR7mOSJMSoEvFrD6_bJ9oUF1dOGODo/s320/IMG_4711.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">(See that pile next to the computer? That <i>never</i> goes away....)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5B6IT-4AHqwv-NzgjwNRkn7sBWPR7sxxTa-48-KtYDS_hUz77qdZghawF-owmpMOFp4TTeHLGbhRc3SbhrItB1c9oOMkSerkm3-PtbRMgwVHP4rZ2vqNM1DGU8bgaamPqodb2OF4S1t9H/s1600/IMG_4712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5B6IT-4AHqwv-NzgjwNRkn7sBWPR7sxxTa-48-KtYDS_hUz77qdZghawF-owmpMOFp4TTeHLGbhRc3SbhrItB1c9oOMkSerkm3-PtbRMgwVHP4rZ2vqNM1DGU8bgaamPqodb2OF4S1t9H/s320/IMG_4712.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1sOM0rWZ8UX3YD0Ii-jRdqEKIYa2J0DAxrfTTRkhgeGJp2dtYUArpJpTMc0ISmcavgzAqdQ0D4vlwAthnDqb7Oz48JxJv-hbJnrNnqig2O05djuZr4rl5m9wARriyOE0ioWe_ASiMOf_3/s1600/IMG_4713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1sOM0rWZ8UX3YD0Ii-jRdqEKIYa2J0DAxrfTTRkhgeGJp2dtYUArpJpTMc0ISmcavgzAqdQ0D4vlwAthnDqb7Oz48JxJv-hbJnrNnqig2O05djuZr4rl5m9wARriyOE0ioWe_ASiMOf_3/s320/IMG_4713.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"> (Alex's bike is the newest addition to our living room)</div><br />
<br />
Finished just in time to make it to rehearsal!<br />
<br />
In the spirit of getting <b>back on track</b>, I attempted <a href="http://ohsheglows.com/">Angela's</a> protein-packed salad of the same name:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://ohsheglows.com/2010/12/28/back-on-track-wheat-berry-and-bean-salad/">Back On Track Wheat Berry and Bean Salad</a><br />
<br />
I never realized how valuable a draining kitchen sink was until I had to prep something without it, but things came together nonetheless.<br />
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<div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8dJcWXozJg6pHJe-C52N2iJsWKxOyQF8cRw9ftBrGl9Dn6NKG-yq5VWZ9X6wuLAbLeXA54KT2xZZN0y9aiyXc8Ets4r8SW5hyphenhyphenXEw8Pb6S0X1_PF0fpXOtN5GYLeSkRDdC6SEpvXdC2SaZ/s1600/IMG_4707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8dJcWXozJg6pHJe-C52N2iJsWKxOyQF8cRw9ftBrGl9Dn6NKG-yq5VWZ9X6wuLAbLeXA54KT2xZZN0y9aiyXc8Ets4r8SW5hyphenhyphenXEw8Pb6S0X1_PF0fpXOtN5GYLeSkRDdC6SEpvXdC2SaZ/s320/IMG_4707.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Beautiful!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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Tomorrow is British High Tea day as part of the <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2011/01/back-in-action.html">Food World Series</a>- be back then with a recap!<br />
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How long do your wits last with your house in a shambles? ;)<br />
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</div>Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08914680848288806753noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938782053468322304.post-65578783797002511412011-01-10T22:59:00.000-08:002011-01-10T23:04:00.379-08:00Life on the Road<div style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Before I get to that, I'd like to give a HUGE shout out and </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>thanks</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> to Lisa at </span></span><a href="http://www.thrive-style.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thrive Style</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> for nominating little ol' me for a Stylish Blogger Award.</span></span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It brings me such great pleasure to write, and is always a wonderful surprise to hear that people actually enjoy what I have to say/show.</span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">There are 4 duties to perform to accept this award:</span></span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1. Make a post + Link back to the person who awarded you this award.<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />2. Share 7 things about yourself.<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />4. Contact these bloggers and tell them they’ve won!</span></span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">7 Things about Me:</span></span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1. My first role onstage was at the age of 5- I played the Virgin Mary in a kindergarten Christmas pageant. I was stoked.</span></span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">2. In my younger years- probably 9-12, I was </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">obsessed</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> with Martha Stewart. Begged my mom buy her magazine for me every month.</span></span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">3. I met Alex at a house party. And I </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">don't</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> go to house parties.</span></span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">4. I studied acting abroad in London for 4 months- was probably the best stretch of life thus far.</span></span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">5. I get told I look like Heather Graham at least once a week. (The joy of working in restaurants)</span></span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">6. My first waitressing job required me to dress like a Catholic school girl- plaid skirt, knee high socks and all.</span></span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">7. I cannot kick stage fright when it comes to singing in public, but give me an empty car or shower and I'll show you Mariah Carey 2.0 ;)</span></span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">15 Bloggers Tagged:</span></span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://eatspinrunrepeat.wordpress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Angela @ Eat, Spin, Run, Repeat</span></a></span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://healthandhappinessinla.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Erika @ Health and Happiness in LA</span></a></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://thefitacademic.wordpress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Ashley @ The Fit Academic</span></a></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://bloggingoverthyme.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Laura @ Blogging Over Thyme</span></a></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.iheartwellness.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Kris @ I Heart Wellness</span></a></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://picky-nicky.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Nicole @ Picky Nicky</span></a></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://froyolover.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Gabriela @ Fro Yo Lover</span></a></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://rawrunnerbean.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">RBG @ RawRunnerBean</span></a></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://thefruitpursuit.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Sabine @ The Fruit Pursuit</span></a></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://paijeisamonster.wordpress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Paije @ Veggie Monster</span></a></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://leftcoastcontessa.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Katherine @ Left Coast Contessa</span></a></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://splifeinthesetimes.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Sara @ Life in these Times</span></a></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://libertysparklehearts.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Sumner @ Liberty Sparkle Heart</span></a></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://monica-newtonewyork.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Monica @ New to New York</span></a></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://makingitafterall.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Kelly @ Making It After All</span></a></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">All of these females are absolutely fabulous (!!) and completely worth the time it takes to click on over and peruse.</span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">********************</span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So you might be wondering what I've been up to lately... Cooking has obviously not been a priority.</span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">To be honest, I've spent a lot of time on the road. And not the travel-the-country-woooooo-road-trip sort of jaunt- more like the LA freeway, never ending traffic jam kinda thing.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYAJznwnbeKkJoSk2c3-3EwANGqnsxPnkOndrReKWJwm4uIzZV_W7zQMuYUzfgF25BxXm375RDhMixw_bzB0OIFM5REdcCrzOpv-6huV7ZCoER28HiZBINSR5Ac4KaF1gYAODyj94-10Xt/s1600/IMG_4693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYAJznwnbeKkJoSk2c3-3EwANGqnsxPnkOndrReKWJwm4uIzZV_W7zQMuYUzfgF25BxXm375RDhMixw_bzB0OIFM5REdcCrzOpv-6huV7ZCoER28HiZBINSR5Ac4KaF1gYAODyj94-10Xt/s320/IMG_4693.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I don't know how people in New York City </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">live </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">without a </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px;"><s><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">second home</span></s></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> car.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </span><br />
<div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The past several days have started with what has become a semi-morning staple, since I've been greeted by this situation in the kitchen:</span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh067eVJ5IqYnCqHJ2S64mfQIn3UshT3xjEG3Mit4ezU-i3bvcDcTx_pl2xuNuO2z1ip94zIw8jFaPf3cjMVO4qOiTZlHImDNpx1vOfMz0hFWxDz_qGwPyNruyVzapZctMAysFVVToJQUPn/s1600/IMG_4686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh067eVJ5IqYnCqHJ2S64mfQIn3UshT3xjEG3Mit4ezU-i3bvcDcTx_pl2xuNuO2z1ip94zIw8jFaPf3cjMVO4qOiTZlHImDNpx1vOfMz0hFWxDz_qGwPyNruyVzapZctMAysFVVToJQUPn/s320/IMG_4686.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></span></a></span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I know... it's a sad, sad day when dishes can't be washed, there're coffee grinds piling up in the sink and you dread entering the room which holds the refrigerator and pantry.</span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">But due to our troublesome clogged drain problem as of late, Starbucks has been my savior. And not for caffeine reasons...</span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">For under $3 + additional fixin's from home, you can make a pretty nutritiously delicious breakfast on the run.</span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Just load your bowl or tupperware with protein powder, banana, chia seeds, stevia, flax seed, cinnamon- whatever your heart desires, and add:</span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoL4n62j31LrH4D1qO0897B69ue8sfDSFGwBKdnx8HmT63BIdsD1VpMCdOwqf8zhoHjjZOW9Bx4F8uxISqQ1zsVKoOsoBy28dHmA5PQLf1Myzh_xpXtK03PZjmibwsiXKPIv1CQYy-njID/s1600/IMG_4650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoL4n62j31LrH4D1qO0897B69ue8sfDSFGwBKdnx8HmT63BIdsD1VpMCdOwqf8zhoHjjZOW9Bx4F8uxISqQ1zsVKoOsoBy28dHmA5PQLf1Myzh_xpXtK03PZjmibwsiXKPIv1CQYy-njID/s320/IMG_4650.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></span></a></span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Perfection.</span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> particular morning was a blast to the past.</span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJ13h9OlNeBTp7rqO8Y9QOQOJr4ygTab199ZNDQgdgya77C8u6oVN8BvRVQ30hhQGreNMGlGV1rFMYy1z0ATIhV0lHZK3Eby8ZKhiDO0E2I1waUV7I9kFHYWpSlJviUELtW0fa9NlU7GM/s1600/IMG_4688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJ13h9OlNeBTp7rqO8Y9QOQOJr4ygTab199ZNDQgdgya77C8u6oVN8BvRVQ30hhQGreNMGlGV1rFMYy1z0ATIhV0lHZK3Eby8ZKhiDO0E2I1waUV7I9kFHYWpSlJviUELtW0fa9NlU7GM/s320/IMG_4688.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">A high school auditorium.</span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Where my comrades and I presented a small assembly pitch to hundreds of high schoolers for our after school Shakespeare program.</span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7M4KHtDInqD-M9VRHb8Nx5RMokR4d-A-mAD9NPDgLSGzB2NHPOhh9RPPSjodHZbcRQpybvdAZ5MhxbWLHgHbkruAbvHRnv5Le0FKcOrBvMYKO-PrsuhDGhmDMamGBG3XPLuwvcbyUIpz/s1600/IMG_4691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7M4KHtDInqD-M9VRHb8Nx5RMokR4d-A-mAD9NPDgLSGzB2NHPOhh9RPPSjodHZbcRQpybvdAZ5MhxbWLHgHbkruAbvHRnv5Le0FKcOrBvMYKO-PrsuhDGhmDMamGBG3XPLuwvcbyUIpz/s320/IMG_4691.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></span></a></span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Hope it worked... we'll find out how many kids signed up later this week.</span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">After the assembly, I made a quick stop by an old standby for lunch...</span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKBoDltFUre438GBwiJ7bMjvXqjY7Jzc6ymvpo2-cFoXrWwKIASxZ-NW69L6kJRkki8bdYYvo5IEgUEi-NW2w47XPXay2vNJndQWsqUqlAx1iTU9jcMGePOU_gbaxEDd_JZ6cmpGHIe7Nv/s1600/IMG_4695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKBoDltFUre438GBwiJ7bMjvXqjY7Jzc6ymvpo2-cFoXrWwKIASxZ-NW69L6kJRkki8bdYYvo5IEgUEi-NW2w47XPXay2vNJndQWsqUqlAx1iTU9jcMGePOU_gbaxEDd_JZ6cmpGHIe7Nv/s320/IMG_4695.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></span></a></span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Yes, Subway. Fast food with veggie options...</span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Then it was onto a whole lotta rehearsal/singing/playtime.</span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_sun9dpIO0rxnli5iVvaFdtjrvHnigbsqpc-8jHylr1U9HgISFSxmTDfa0o6ssUsVIHigwoVRTMHDEpCsQc2I0HUJefV70h7SseiXVHfvhT9mv6px3f5KK-YIP-TF5m4JqzGEemr5xmk/s1600/IMG_4697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_sun9dpIO0rxnli5iVvaFdtjrvHnigbsqpc-8jHylr1U9HgISFSxmTDfa0o6ssUsVIHigwoVRTMHDEpCsQc2I0HUJefV70h7SseiXVHfvhT9mv6px3f5KK-YIP-TF5m4JqzGEemr5xmk/s320/IMG_4697.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></span></a></span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">That's what I've been up to for the last week...</span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In between belting (ha!), I ran to the corner store down the street to grab a little pick me up.</span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTG-87qGo5KWaEdGwbSq_2P6nLhILaYwO6Sb8kL3bf24uYfyTCyfWiHqfmiadmQNfXV01xkB8N3dYwwaaFMVgfaGavCNgvLW6ZfdmAedFHRtIfdaea_Y5mdZZN58hHXX__XprXwxgMNTl/s1600/IMG_4699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTG-87qGo5KWaEdGwbSq_2P6nLhILaYwO6Sb8kL3bf24uYfyTCyfWiHqfmiadmQNfXV01xkB8N3dYwwaaFMVgfaGavCNgvLW6ZfdmAedFHRtIfdaea_Y5mdZZN58hHXX__XprXwxgMNTl/s320/IMG_4699.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I was </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">dying</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> for something sweet.</span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Rehearsals are going well. We open in a little less than two weeks. I wish you all could see it- this crazy rock opera we're putting together.</span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Once the show is up, I'll be back to my old trials, tribulations and success in the kitch- don't you worry.</span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">'Til then: I'll keep filling you in on life as I insanely know it ;)</span></div><div style="color: #111111; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">...Is there a staple snack </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">you</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> tend to go for when faced with convenience store options?</span></div><div style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Though it takes </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">great</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> self discipline to ignore the oreos, I usually go for nuts and granola bars.</span></span></div><div style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.571em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div>Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08914680848288806753noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938782053468322304.post-81815654252720637562011-01-09T16:33:00.000-08:002011-01-09T16:34:33.121-08:00The Truffle Shuffle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last night was just what the doctor ordered- an absolutely fabulous time devoted solely to fun, friends, dancing and delight.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Starting with Sarah's <a href="http://firstdatesthemovie.com/">short film premiere</a>- which was great and left me wanting more than the 15 minutes of action- and moving onto a great after party full of drinks, dancing, music and laughs, it's no wonder Alex and I woke up a little bleary-eyed this morning ;)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Number 27 in my book of life rules states: There's no better hangover cure than a brisk walk with a rewarding brunch at the end...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Which is how we found ourselves seated in this cozy little French place down the street-</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zFHnu4ovKGOtYsISI4GWo8b8-v14KnkQCXQ5IJHR00na5_fdZ4D3avUmwtDFxDfjyYZhFn70dhy7n-hvYzfyJBr_gwJdIHcln2vPQ1XGh6W6qKgASVPesJm9C_4t-kMxIzhFpC9y07gQ/s1600/IMG_4655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zFHnu4ovKGOtYsISI4GWo8b8-v14KnkQCXQ5IJHR00na5_fdZ4D3avUmwtDFxDfjyYZhFn70dhy7n-hvYzfyJBr_gwJdIHcln2vPQ1XGh6W6qKgASVPesJm9C_4t-kMxIzhFpC9y07gQ/s320/IMG_4655.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Madame Matisse.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Throwing caution to the wind, I decided to enjoy a real cup of <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2010/12/slave.html">coffee</a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8x_adT6KGrfoe_Z_ftylyOdODf4dWHiUxZOq9IhYsdazaA2tAfSkjDbqehtRehHSl0Z90im5fFMvzH95uUKOtqIuJnxvmE6l7ri-fMJbf2zoa8CA_mTvkLVbqZ_mjkyuqW3omzUG3615U/s1600/IMG_4664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8x_adT6KGrfoe_Z_ftylyOdODf4dWHiUxZOq9IhYsdazaA2tAfSkjDbqehtRehHSl0Z90im5fFMvzH95uUKOtqIuJnxvmE6l7ri-fMJbf2zoa8CA_mTvkLVbqZ_mjkyuqW3omzUG3615U/s320/IMG_4664.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
and one of the daily specials:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqaQi2v-viSxxNMwpat3fyGXQjRAmAnNRM0OhiMGZNhTMvY0XnuQ8OTasKEIl4Tk3GmZAb5_HZyCa4srB16BJumYT4I_CLxljADQKPi6DHsxBK8YvwMg4SvCg0XBHNC15rpZ9RHVCiF4U/s1600/IMG_4667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqaQi2v-viSxxNMwpat3fyGXQjRAmAnNRM0OhiMGZNhTMvY0XnuQ8OTasKEIl4Tk3GmZAb5_HZyCa4srB16BJumYT4I_CLxljADQKPi6DHsxBK8YvwMg4SvCg0XBHNC15rpZ9RHVCiF4U/s320/IMG_4667.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Truffled Eggs Benedict.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPA71eibOn-OmU6z3gE_GRtjEo17ufwP2SJMWMxRMifSCIfdZc1w7_DMTA_xePz9xh6We203x8QbcK07NgT1s2f6toJe_0FsRW_2xxkpeqF1tjaDazRNedPO1LfmXI2uFFsFc-W2szqal6/s1600/IMG_4665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPA71eibOn-OmU6z3gE_GRtjEo17ufwP2SJMWMxRMifSCIfdZc1w7_DMTA_xePz9xh6We203x8QbcK07NgT1s2f6toJe_0FsRW_2xxkpeqF1tjaDazRNedPO1LfmXI2uFFsFc-W2szqal6/s320/IMG_4665.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Anything with mushrooms as the star is not usually at the top of my "crave list," but I've been hearing a lot about the many health benefits associated with the fungi lately (though I'm pretty sure the decadently gooey brie and hollandaise sauce cancelled them out in this case) so I'm trying to learn to love 'em.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTkgrU53joOroJ7Lh4QIx23mwZAUAILZVFckJawxgkbHAhg29uNoEPozmRkXR4GIlWmL1P5r9cnS08oD6YuamjqScE-4lm9hm6fIM0wsv13V-3DedT2c7jfnh-gWGZiw_4dX1gzaxL4rk/s1600/IMG_4666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTkgrU53joOroJ7Lh4QIx23mwZAUAILZVFckJawxgkbHAhg29uNoEPozmRkXR4GIlWmL1P5r9cnS08oD6YuamjqScE-4lm9hm6fIM0wsv13V-3DedT2c7jfnh-gWGZiw_4dX1gzaxL4rk/s320/IMG_4666.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>It wasn't a <i>total</i> party in my mouth (I'd probably stick to the sweet predictability of belgian waffles if given the choice again), but I'm glad I tried it.<br />
<br />
It's nice to wander off the beaten track of menu items and order something new every once and awhile.<br />
<br />
Also, in a conscious effort to tighten the proverbial belt, I've been keeping restaurant outings to a minimum. Whenever I do treat myself, I tend to order semi-crazy things I wouldn't attempt at home.<br />
<br />
After the satisfying meal and even better conversation, I was feeling 65% better and knew just the thing that'd propel me to 100:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlma6Qr9qoLmBnF76r7H8bN4MBy044nVtMLQUgDwhU1sq7cKdvczZkg2dWAgcD4MSoAObdEej0O0Izwk5noeU6RyzxvMqPhMYJGmjOz27ZmaV21tiSkqopdEPciL319GMzGMyMZAEBx3T/s1600/IMG_4668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlma6Qr9qoLmBnF76r7H8bN4MBy044nVtMLQUgDwhU1sq7cKdvczZkg2dWAgcD4MSoAObdEej0O0Izwk5noeU6RyzxvMqPhMYJGmjOz27ZmaV21tiSkqopdEPciL319GMzGMyMZAEBx3T/s320/IMG_4668.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Ice cream.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksNpwbabcQMS4G4LB69GFXN63WnD5nkzhHuNdy8i_sI9Up36nl2S11xQ0sUOUNsOyDAm83plrC4Xb79hLTCwXLAu6GRjxynvwKNSP84pM1kSQir9R30rEqXOFRjHj9M3Pxp1BqGswK66Z/s1600/IMG_4672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksNpwbabcQMS4G4LB69GFXN63WnD5nkzhHuNdy8i_sI9Up36nl2S11xQ0sUOUNsOyDAm83plrC4Xb79hLTCwXLAu6GRjxynvwKNSP84pM1kSQir9R30rEqXOFRjHj9M3Pxp1BqGswK66Z/s320/IMG_4672.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><br />
A scoop of jamocha + a scoop of mint chocolate chip will undoubtedly cure what ails ya. (Unless you're lactose intolerant, in which case <a href="http://www.coconutbliss.com/">Coconut Bliss</a> would probably do the trick ;)<br />
<br />
Ice cream in hand, Alex and I shuffled home<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxuh1i4onCDskVx2Pjh-jdNWkOP5HgjcCFvXYKId7lGczoH9TYg_FFEsA0gzKUOS-M5Wb2FFNAezPwmwzn6kNmfNq0TsXKWreyTWJYKFhsuq70_ycfKtD3zz10rEZpIhvEmhzfOvDnCl_I/s1600/IMG_4632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxuh1i4onCDskVx2Pjh-jdNWkOP5HgjcCFvXYKId7lGczoH9TYg_FFEsA0gzKUOS-M5Wb2FFNAezPwmwzn6kNmfNq0TsXKWreyTWJYKFhsuq70_ycfKtD3zz10rEZpIhvEmhzfOvDnCl_I/s320/IMG_4632.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
admiring a couple of gorgeous facades along the way<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHbXAyKOec_hhXfoPM0n4N80r8CwFsAYaDe04Z8VdlpR1jKg9Y0eG1KjMOpCU5Parm_UAQoDBH-5FLKn_tmfl0n1izqhwBW5WsgLTbXuRagFZeDLRiYldTu4eKA0Ev9Bc8GJ4M4A80fucJ/s1600/IMG_4678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHbXAyKOec_hhXfoPM0n4N80r8CwFsAYaDe04Z8VdlpR1jKg9Y0eG1KjMOpCU5Parm_UAQoDBH-5FLKn_tmfl0n1izqhwBW5WsgLTbXuRagFZeDLRiYldTu4eKA0Ev9Bc8GJ4M4A80fucJ/s320/IMG_4678.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguyJ6OgFrY5yDrqVSsZJtjnJUJi6Ypff9hPPq3fV7bcmqbgweih12OwvjLTDf2jvpJotlsoRj8ewgD9EsvvMbsLOA68VW_lePthbFOVct4R4lFXPk27cvIpi3CxQwYJEhDchfx7J13lYpe/s1600/IMG_4627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguyJ6OgFrY5yDrqVSsZJtjnJUJi6Ypff9hPPq3fV7bcmqbgweih12OwvjLTDf2jvpJotlsoRj8ewgD9EsvvMbsLOA68VW_lePthbFOVct4R4lFXPk27cvIpi3CxQwYJEhDchfx7J13lYpe/s320/IMG_4627.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div>and a roadside vegetable garden recently started by a local elementary school :)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNc8b20Wev4ytSmm3gfHmtYW132DQ-Is0sFvdhUDRrQ7JOw38T-Y2dONzfCM3wW7Sv0KiiMFedmBPEyJBFSaXNFJOSyMujBWarkzNyjUu_2JCywZ2PWNY5-68rItg8Pvugno2nOWUmwOi_/s1600/IMG_4675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNc8b20Wev4ytSmm3gfHmtYW132DQ-Is0sFvdhUDRrQ7JOw38T-Y2dONzfCM3wW7Sv0KiiMFedmBPEyJBFSaXNFJOSyMujBWarkzNyjUu_2JCywZ2PWNY5-68rItg8Pvugno2nOWUmwOi_/s320/IMG_4675.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">All this is in the middle of a completely urbanized area- a juxtaposition that makes me smile.</div><br />
Now I'm back home, resting up for my shift tonight and planning the week ahead.<br />
<br />
Short term goal: STRESS LESS!<br />
<br />
Since the recent start of this new year, I've been putting way too much pressure on myself. While a little bit of pressure is healthy and necessary for success, the amount I've been piling onto my own psyche is completely counterproductive and seems to only lead to negative thinking, along with an unavoidable decline in healthy eating choices for want of a "quick fix."<br />
<br />
No more of that, my friends.<br />
<br />
This week I'm planning ahead to make sure my eating is back on track and my head's screwed on correctly ;)<br />
<br />
Also be expecting a post on fitness goals in the coming days!<br />
<br />
Do you have a meal you always order when going out? I'm personally a total sucker for pancakes or French toast whenever I go to a breakfast/ brunch place. It's the sweet tooth, I tell ya!Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08914680848288806753noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938782053468322304.post-23989002183067656082011-01-07T23:27:00.000-08:002011-01-07T23:27:22.019-08:00Soup Off<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This week's long list of obligations has unfortunately kept me far away from my kitchen love.</div><br />
Meaning my meals have generally consisted of things from tupperware,<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdY4opAM52iwfT6IIoPkFHB2uaIUNaevNmNyji6N1zChGvj20YgnZu04S1yc_vMS-KuC0SctI2d48cfZNovn16-5y7oRghCtq2qRC78dqfAROcHD6A0uAgHmKFKTtC5iVZowEjsnqz_2Q/s1600/IMG_4620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdY4opAM52iwfT6IIoPkFHB2uaIUNaevNmNyji6N1zChGvj20YgnZu04S1yc_vMS-KuC0SctI2d48cfZNovn16-5y7oRghCtq2qRC78dqfAROcHD6A0uAgHmKFKTtC5iVZowEjsnqz_2Q/s320/IMG_4620.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
wrappers,<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TY-GRdq3WgAhBOOzMsWtXPi-bttUT03b4lsBTSDoVdNV_g2d9PrT9rKyiUQyM4mS57IelcI73vyVqK-q1HGCmfWIIgu_BJZ19ojLPQAECt-MhnRvh6-ZjdD-0XGfyznRr7IBFaNPph2N/s1600/IMG_3350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TY-GRdq3WgAhBOOzMsWtXPi-bttUT03b4lsBTSDoVdNV_g2d9PrT9rKyiUQyM4mS57IelcI73vyVqK-q1HGCmfWIIgu_BJZ19ojLPQAECt-MhnRvh6-ZjdD-0XGfyznRr7IBFaNPph2N/s320/IMG_3350.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
and work.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fanQS11sJ-biEtERsRwqSojXKMG5Az0rSFk5AX_FwCrDveTEG9SH70a0NVjiz7rhNvjneRlApshGjS3DKLI4WQPRfKhMRhpsFbWLDIn4y3RLNBiy5VzDMtSwANcRXO8KKndyrcMjAXmM/s1600/IMG_2135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fanQS11sJ-biEtERsRwqSojXKMG5Az0rSFk5AX_FwCrDveTEG9SH70a0NVjiz7rhNvjneRlApshGjS3DKLI4WQPRfKhMRhpsFbWLDIn4y3RLNBiy5VzDMtSwANcRXO8KKndyrcMjAXmM/s320/IMG_2135.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
So on this, my first night off and in since last week, I couldn't wait to spend some quality time in front of the [warm] stove.<br />
<br />
What better way to kindle an old flame than by stirring the controversy pot? ;)<br />
<br />
When scouring the aisles at TJ's for some warm, quick and easy dinner satisfaction, something in the soup section caught my eye.<br />
<br />
Or rather: some<i>things</i>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCgK3GQCL1m9iyMxpGaKz2MEI7viN6q1XFgmuJMJJKXAQ0QtbSDlCIlJuMa31HPG7RCnsDa6CMr7z8wiCApsHwHWuqlOUkzrmsgoJPzfl7KWK1vg0x-SAKL1OpZAYp0YEmD-Jp6Jqmqs-2/s1600/IMG_4634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCgK3GQCL1m9iyMxpGaKz2MEI7viN6q1XFgmuJMJJKXAQ0QtbSDlCIlJuMa31HPG7RCnsDa6CMr7z8wiCApsHwHWuqlOUkzrmsgoJPzfl7KWK1vg0x-SAKL1OpZAYp0YEmD-Jp6Jqmqs-2/s320/IMG_4634.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzAyPcx_UdOJRt4lNAhN4-f_oQvv-gb5_64vUpQYBKq5Fp3tB-MCgXh0U0i5Jl_nYexAhAfDr4rn_2S0oGTR4O_eHLPdotS0LUIgWKnvQfHQ7qK8fhCm98lzWaR_POxCzp8ZVO3H87fJe/s1600/IMG_4637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzAyPcx_UdOJRt4lNAhN4-f_oQvv-gb5_64vUpQYBKq5Fp3tB-MCgXh0U0i5Jl_nYexAhAfDr4rn_2S0oGTR4O_eHLPdotS0LUIgWKnvQfHQ7qK8fhCm98lzWaR_POxCzp8ZVO3H87fJe/s320/IMG_4637.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
But which one was better?<br />
<br />
You <i>could</i> base it on nutrition facts...<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAh4gyV_1DDUDJs_FlYghm50GjSQ8Ex97o0gFMUpW76lMrghsM5eRonDO9IucGCZaSAYpWwaDgucgSp158nVp7RMRqhS_bp0syfdO5WE8dboDDI1SmXTFAyg4QH4UUS6EkLjJmRmmVDR7q/s1600/IMG_4638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAh4gyV_1DDUDJs_FlYghm50GjSQ8Ex97o0gFMUpW76lMrghsM5eRonDO9IucGCZaSAYpWwaDgucgSp158nVp7RMRqhS_bp0syfdO5WE8dboDDI1SmXTFAyg4QH4UUS6EkLjJmRmmVDR7q/s320/IMG_4638.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicE8emJY7lOK94odNvJTezz6t9eUJGptdO5iKGRJKWV7ADPffgLQX0aTYSWeqtRrHlSd1g3Fzu2KBAmcAA3Q1Ye8xN_UDO0tZkogW44pKtQ_s8zGXcwDD7yaSWkxmgmuFDtg-328t4KMr5/s1600/IMG_4639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicE8emJY7lOK94odNvJTezz6t9eUJGptdO5iKGRJKWV7ADPffgLQX0aTYSWeqtRrHlSd1g3Fzu2KBAmcAA3Q1Ye8xN_UDO0tZkogW44pKtQ_s8zGXcwDD7yaSWkxmgmuFDtg-328t4KMr5/s320/IMG_4639.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><br />
But the taste aspect is essential.<br />
<br />
I walked out of the store, both products bagged, along with something that hasn't seen the light of my kitchen for awhile now....<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45uKwwaHEzkdroDQ1qZT15PzIq9qEpZhNP0CuedUTL22Vq4-j8IK4ky0oGd4qIK09BCUcVsGyKPiFxqQJ1tYOmTAlGpTuKbTguCCM0KNXa2npI6hlEEWvPXumymr6hJgy1xyhmc7lGpw8/s1600/IMG_4644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45uKwwaHEzkdroDQ1qZT15PzIq9qEpZhNP0CuedUTL22Vq4-j8IK4ky0oGd4qIK09BCUcVsGyKPiFxqQJ1tYOmTAlGpTuKbTguCCM0KNXa2npI6hlEEWvPXumymr6hJgy1xyhmc7lGpw8/s320/IMG_4644.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><br />
It was just one of those nights.<br />
<br />
As soon as I got the soups out of their respective containers and into the pots, I had a pretty good idea of which one I'd prefer...<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3LxE4-zsuW9rX2UIEauEZvRYCdMYwmMrk43REKP1H5E4zeT_aXMzo-X_xXR-xiaBdWnQqPt7wZ0GO464DpZj5Lga9-5jYKHLMRqntJvsw-IWQ8LzX4pIbEjaxhs5a0rxoFI7JhtM9_dw/s1600/IMG_4640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3LxE4-zsuW9rX2UIEauEZvRYCdMYwmMrk43REKP1H5E4zeT_aXMzo-X_xXR-xiaBdWnQqPt7wZ0GO464DpZj5Lga9-5jYKHLMRqntJvsw-IWQ8LzX4pIbEjaxhs5a0rxoFI7JhtM9_dw/s320/IMG_4640.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Organic Black Bean Soup</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKCN6IKhjPBNXpYMM4EXYK39l-Z6YKS6609OIvTjpYeaitTzz9ROYpIk4d2diI2I45TfF9gF9_h_rcVFMFI16xQI7kFnf-2zA5ZBgsSaqQTtG5z4fYkQgmUOWCMTZts9O54LnXhZxe2aN/s1600/IMG_4641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKCN6IKhjPBNXpYMM4EXYK39l-Z6YKS6609OIvTjpYeaitTzz9ROYpIk4d2diI2I45TfF9gF9_h_rcVFMFI16xQI7kFnf-2zA5ZBgsSaqQTtG5z4fYkQgmUOWCMTZts9O54LnXhZxe2aN/s320/IMG_4641.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;">Latin Style Black Bean Soup</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">I bet you do too.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1aTRook34MCBOkIYLBNzanz6NmDzmp17OH2-Y9b55-Kcn-fsJwmcs6ks1gX93LHdECr43zVPlmL1xDpXs5CMle-F6PaSEKfjGaxGdxl6Aue0ovjLxzCCKSXWvaorT7qO0Qc-PtUO_5HtP/s1600/IMG_4642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1aTRook34MCBOkIYLBNzanz6NmDzmp17OH2-Y9b55-Kcn-fsJwmcs6ks1gX93LHdECr43zVPlmL1xDpXs5CMle-F6PaSEKfjGaxGdxl6Aue0ovjLxzCCKSXWvaorT7qO0Qc-PtUO_5HtP/s320/IMG_4642.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">When given the choice between smooth and chunky, I almost <i>always</i> go for the chunk.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Not only was the texture of the Organic Vegan Soup more satisfying, but the flavors were all over the place- in a good way. Veggies, spices, beans- yes please. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Latin Style soup did have a little more of a kick to it, but was much too oily and one note for my taste.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwJXkXBWPYajWH9ggatkT3lkPP-bquMUXsFEjLrNgam4qZeMbPe33vkt4lP8mNfEG-UsqTrNyErgCjc_WuCTjQOncgyXjvBfNgKjWb9k40A4bJR3tXuUniyakqztAd-ETEdQ7EpAyLMuM/s1600/IMG_4645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwJXkXBWPYajWH9ggatkT3lkPP-bquMUXsFEjLrNgam4qZeMbPe33vkt4lP8mNfEG-UsqTrNyErgCjc_WuCTjQOncgyXjvBfNgKjWb9k40A4bJR3tXuUniyakqztAd-ETEdQ7EpAyLMuM/s320/IMG_4645.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The cheddar cheese quesadilla on whole wheat tortilla wasn't half bad either. ;)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Now it's onto a relaxing evening of movie watching for this girl and her beau.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Idiocracy</i> is in the blu ray player tonight. Anyone seen it? I hear it's a wacko comedy that hints at the nature of society today. Should be interesting... </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Catcha later!</div>Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08914680848288806753noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938782053468322304.post-90306031246197463182011-01-06T10:40:00.000-08:002011-01-06T10:40:05.067-08:00Back in Action<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ah, 'tis a lovely sunny morning here in LA, with highs in the upper 60's.</div><br />
Last night was a much needed break from the non-stop go go go of the past 6 days, so I appreciate you sticking with me.<br />
<br />
Yesterday also marked week 5 of the World Series of Food.<br />
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In case you're new to the blog: every Wednesday, my friend Christian and I go to a restaurant in Los Angeles that serves a different type of regional cuisine. Since we both love learning about other cultures, but lack the budgets and time to actually <i>travel</i> the world, it's a great way for us to experience various countries' cooking without ever leaving LA.<br />
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We try our best to go in alphabetical order and yesterday just so happened to be <b>Brazil</b>.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvIhNz9OH0HRUVYUz9vrWApJ6gPvbvYDg8pRN6PIHOqfPoQj2vp1lNo7ZBG6Azma0-Yq40jaTXamjrhr5afOGFPb9PKt0mZI8uPUcn6B8zYE31vj1FMUvD_0BFzfrrzrlJGX0noclKW1J/s1600/IMG_4593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvIhNz9OH0HRUVYUz9vrWApJ6gPvbvYDg8pRN6PIHOqfPoQj2vp1lNo7ZBG6Azma0-Yq40jaTXamjrhr5afOGFPb9PKt0mZI8uPUcn6B8zYE31vj1FMUvD_0BFzfrrzrlJGX0noclKW1J/s320/IMG_4593.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Which took us to a cute little restaurant/market called Taste of Brazil.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfRNraXKJJITSbx8HXET7BU7Wm0uFdo82NhPdum44aN9IUXVjUtte2gJRPi3Woe8gj_aEcyp25CNzXffXRSkbdP1myBYdnvfHRrE-HBTpyLKHrz4Owj5GPv4z1Bo_jKN3ThVVcu1YvvihK/s1600/IMG_4594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfRNraXKJJITSbx8HXET7BU7Wm0uFdo82NhPdum44aN9IUXVjUtte2gJRPi3Woe8gj_aEcyp25CNzXffXRSkbdP1myBYdnvfHRrE-HBTpyLKHrz4Owj5GPv4z1Bo_jKN3ThVVcu1YvvihK/s320/IMG_4594.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Our waitress was an absolute sweetheart and seemed very happy to have us there, answering our innumerable questions and laughing at our lame jokes (yes, they happen).<br />
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I started with an acai juice (hello antioxidants and bitter grape flavor)...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_Qahuing4dtR9-LjDIn98dLBlndbHrnTIYK01k6Mh1GAeCrtkRv1I3HPkV84H8fmRAn1zNQbVkNgX76l1m0LmESpS5a63QjzBEjfuK890YpFg_VX7ib4b1MxV_zJM5wnmAC1m4Kpndj4/s1600/IMG_4595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_Qahuing4dtR9-LjDIn98dLBlndbHrnTIYK01k6Mh1GAeCrtkRv1I3HPkV84H8fmRAn1zNQbVkNgX76l1m0LmESpS5a63QjzBEjfuK890YpFg_VX7ib4b1MxV_zJM5wnmAC1m4Kpndj4/s320/IMG_4595.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Since Christian had already decided before we arrived (thanks to the internet) that he'd be splurging on an $18 meal, we decided to skip the appetizer and save our hard earned cash (and bellies) for dessert.<br />
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Much like <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2010/12/circumnavigating-los-angeles.html">Argentine day</a>, I figured Brazil wouldn't be the <i>best</i> country to showcase meatless options, but I wanted to get a sense of their flavor palette and staple ingredients, so I opted for the vegetarian platter.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiQBoxnmaCUvTFuV3P_HcuubdAMeZ7zN1eB8fkscYEmv4dSqV6hN5NIYKTDPNoccapVSok2E6fUv4l42u99kkyPsVCVXGcFEDkQW3h9s68w1qRpn9XB-cug5iKmaSGpkfmHPap42Xtpq9/s1600/IMG_4599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiQBoxnmaCUvTFuV3P_HcuubdAMeZ7zN1eB8fkscYEmv4dSqV6hN5NIYKTDPNoccapVSok2E6fUv4l42u99kkyPsVCVXGcFEDkQW3h9s68w1qRpn9XB-cug5iKmaSGpkfmHPap42Xtpq9/s320/IMG_4599.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And what a spread: rice <i>and</i> mashed potatoes, black beans, plantains, delicious veggies sauteed in what I guessed was garlic and a little side salad.<br />
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Christian went all the way and chose the "plate of Brazil":<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2KEZHECITfBUDJMK-n27soNDQALCo2yM5zdUseBaNziJuzeCtXssDuWYi-__DZAHKtafjD-iM_nSH60DAHQCtlrrXnA995BbUoacGEA7unklwF6gV18j4QsA7V-HrY4jAxfW9aE9nFn-/s1600/IMG_4597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2KEZHECITfBUDJMK-n27soNDQALCo2yM5zdUseBaNziJuzeCtXssDuWYi-__DZAHKtafjD-iM_nSH60DAHQCtlrrXnA995BbUoacGEA7unklwF6gV18j4QsA7V-HrY4jAxfW9aE9nFn-/s320/IMG_4597.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<b>Feijoada Completa</b>- Brazilian stew (sausage, beef and pork cooked with black beans) + sauteed collard greens, white rice and orange slices.<br />
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How decadent ;)<br />
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The most intriguing thing on both our plates was the <b>farofa</b>-<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixB6plzFGZ7QcG-utQGPA-Db2Eeiu68zlKWgidNLYCjIt8pmUSNMwcuySLm5Z0Gt_1IQVCejeYhmL_hUPjjpiHxMTqLbz-MBeIKc4KHPl0hhQAG-TP418-dJyvH7QQ-Gk5Mumfh_2bKf_t/s1600/IMG_4601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixB6plzFGZ7QcG-utQGPA-Db2Eeiu68zlKWgidNLYCjIt8pmUSNMwcuySLm5Z0Gt_1IQVCejeYhmL_hUPjjpiHxMTqLbz-MBeIKc4KHPl0hhQAG-TP418-dJyvH7QQ-Gk5Mumfh_2bKf_t/s320/IMG_4601.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">essentially, ground yucca:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGD7CfLhyvosOzboLlgTnVu6b1KcqeuZ2fsTv1BtUFURsYMbZnQy6NPbt23tN1y993tG_3_CjhdWH1b7Z84lgfQeAGqg8o1UggKb1nrCTyujUrZuzUHhG4PhKjRR56p2mLh3xnFm4k4vfs/s1600/yucca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGD7CfLhyvosOzboLlgTnVu6b1KcqeuZ2fsTv1BtUFURsYMbZnQy6NPbt23tN1y993tG_3_CjhdWH1b7Z84lgfQeAGqg8o1UggKb1nrCTyujUrZuzUHhG4PhKjRR56p2mLh3xnFm4k4vfs/s1600/yucca.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thehungrycyclist.com/blog/brazilian-recipes/">(courtesy of)</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">I've been seeing yucca fries in restaurants and across the blogosphere for a while now, but yucca flour was new to me. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">It seemed like the farofa on my plate had been dressed up with a little garlic and possibly salt- it's used as a seasoning for meats and beans, after all. <a href="http://froyolover.blogspot.com/">Gabriela</a>, thoughts? ;)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Another curiosity I couldn't leave without trying were these super hot peppers:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrmPzTUWa_H_xz7dkKdIupdAYvnF-shEr2IBJIYCrwtb0nce8xg_CWsMIiDSZy5LcnWkYsJENvKwUy13RbBpluaZfmMfoRNFYDpZphk2aKIlnZTokiWKtIixBzVHPM0NBMtnh1ntxLpcCm/s1600/IMG_4596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrmPzTUWa_H_xz7dkKdIupdAYvnF-shEr2IBJIYCrwtb0nce8xg_CWsMIiDSZy5LcnWkYsJENvKwUy13RbBpluaZfmMfoRNFYDpZphk2aKIlnZTokiWKtIixBzVHPM0NBMtnh1ntxLpcCm/s320/IMG_4596.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">While Christian was talking away, he suddenly stopped mid-sentence, tilted his head and jumped in his seat a little. The peppers he'd innocently sprinkled on his plate had come back to bite him in the mouth.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I tried one whole, thankfully having been prepared for its spiciness level by my friend's reaction. Phew! But I love the burn!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Then came time for dessert. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I had to try the coconut flan, since our waitress told us it was "unique":</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqtcEZTI-1fWHnSIZop4XNphrxseJVefhW_6M_ToaugN5AeEWI-hLJLBOE08NTT6mCMRvlQV8W2SsAqOuMhRsCugvdF9J54Em6i1up6m8udqvCiMMZNL2pYrYQVZuQvmTF339QJTckezs/s1600/IMG_4602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqtcEZTI-1fWHnSIZop4XNphrxseJVefhW_6M_ToaugN5AeEWI-hLJLBOE08NTT6mCMRvlQV8W2SsAqOuMhRsCugvdF9J54Em6i1up6m8udqvCiMMZNL2pYrYQVZuQvmTF339QJTckezs/s320/IMG_4602.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">That's a caramelized prune on top (not my fav part)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-eYVMO9OIAQVf2JsNFD907r-eWp3KGCKRI5SuNTyjXSHR3EypDBNyWIdjuNTpa58fQWD-R0mBNvaTTHK_UQuTRqOn-SmZHq9tZwItjl25K0R7Fdg8KCrYLGJ_0nvE6R9b9eKftOdM1TJa/s1600/IMG_4603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-eYVMO9OIAQVf2JsNFD907r-eWp3KGCKRI5SuNTyjXSHR3EypDBNyWIdjuNTpa58fQWD-R0mBNvaTTHK_UQuTRqOn-SmZHq9tZwItjl25K0R7Fdg8KCrYLGJ_0nvE6R9b9eKftOdM1TJa/s320/IMG_4603.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Christian insisted we get the chocolate mousse, though I think that was straying a bit out of the realm of authentic Brazilian cuisine:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhmzsBZdyg0UQDs3R5spksC21e0U9vJ5Z3Uat411B_gN7UeoBNwn9ES1Kl6g1-x7WmR_A2vhD679CYAQ4j85VGqHzFTbV1TlNQdw10fMqSL43uUWuZNGh6DOXK5ZraybxBVhLMEKIac72/s1600/IMG_4604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhmzsBZdyg0UQDs3R5spksC21e0U9vJ5Z3Uat411B_gN7UeoBNwn9ES1Kl6g1-x7WmR_A2vhD679CYAQ4j85VGqHzFTbV1TlNQdw10fMqSL43uUWuZNGh6DOXK5ZraybxBVhLMEKIac72/s320/IMG_4604.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Especially since it tasted an awful lot like chocolate pudding out of a box. But who am I to complain about chocolate?!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Throughout the meal, our background music and viewing was an <i>insane</i> concert by a well known singer down in the country of Order and Progress:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDP-rrs1Vw-cXEfbAFX32mCnLqpQxjH1FcIvTxOOhUdDmoMNC7o6zs6Mb_jSmQx8E_KmwpryXyFZYH9VdebcTQ705gkKmPUjSZ0hhIlL-rCMd91OYJdEZKyvQLlGosRU9VTVUfgDtrJIQ/s1600/IMG_4607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDP-rrs1Vw-cXEfbAFX32mCnLqpQxjH1FcIvTxOOhUdDmoMNC7o6zs6Mb_jSmQx8E_KmwpryXyFZYH9VdebcTQ705gkKmPUjSZ0hhIlL-rCMd91OYJdEZKyvQLlGosRU9VTVUfgDtrJIQ/s320/IMG_4607.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I believe our waitress told us her name was Isetta.... Wow, could she move. And sing. Nonstop. In front of a crowd of what looked like tens of thousands.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">It sure beat the soap opera playing on full blast in the empty restaurant we visited on <a href="http://steppingtothebrightside.blogspot.com/2010/11/day-out.html">African day</a>, that I can assure you.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Next week we plan to attend a British high tea. I'm looking pret-ty forward to some scone and fancy tea cup action.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Alright, I'm off to get this day going!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">What's your favorite type of non-American food?</div>Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08914680848288806753noreply@blogger.com5