blackberry milk

vegan chocolate chip banana muffins + recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 20:52:00 +0000

I don't make muffins that often. Well... never, actually. I guess if I'm going to go through all of the tedious work of making the batter, filling the pans with cups, then filling said cups... I might as well just make cupcakes. I always keep bananas in my freezer, though, and instead of making chocolate banana bread I was craving muffins. I guess there's just something about cutting them in half right out of the oven and smothering them with butter. Or peanut butter. Or nutella.

vegan chocolate chip banana muffins

1 1/2 cups flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 T baking powder
1 t. baking soda
pinch of salt
1/2 cup pure cane sugar
2 ripe bananas
1/4 cup almond milk
1/3 cup melted coconut oil
vanilla
chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin pan with muffin cups or grease with oil. 2. In a bowl, sift flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, soda, sugar, and salt. 3. In another bowl mix bananas, almond milk, coconut oil, and vanilla. 4. Add to dry ingredients and stir until combined. 5. Stir in chocolate chips (I used carob for these). Scoop into muffin pans, about half full, and bake for 20-25 minutes.

vegan peanut butter chocolate overnight oats + recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 23:59:00 +0000

Happy 50th post to me! Wow, 50. That seems like a lot. Maybe not. Well, it's at least an accomplishment for me. I love having this blog and taking pictures for it. My next project is to fix the layout and make it a teeny bit more appealing to the eye.

That being said, lets talk about this mess right here. They're goopy. And soggy. And deeeelicious. I'm talking about... overnight oats. Why have I never tried these before? Is it the anticipation? The restlessness while trying to go to sleep, dozing off dreaming about the peanut butter goodness in the fridge....

These are packed with protein, so they make a great post-workout meal. Or dessert. I use steel cut oats in mine, but you can use rolled oats if you prefer. I like steel cut oats mostly because it takes longer for your body to digest them versus rolled oats, and the longer it takes to digest, the longer it takes to convert to sugar. Plus I swear that they taste yummier. I also used Califia Farms almond milk which is literally the greatest almond milk of all time. I found it at whole foods months ago and would buy it as a 'treat', seeing as how its a dollar and some change more than the brand I usually buy. It's so much richer, and flavorful than, say, Silk or other non-dairy brands. They just came out with a line of iced coffees that I really do have dreams about (salted caramel mmm). I haven't tried their juices yet but I'm greatly anticipating the warm summer night I get to kick back with some limeade.

vegan peanut butter chocolate overnight oats

1 cup steel cut oats
1 cup almond milk
4 T chunky peanut butter
2 T cocoa powder
1/4 t vanilla
pinch of salt

1. In a small saucepan, melt peanut butter over low heat and stir in vanilla, salt, and cocoa. 2. Remove from heat and add almond milk and oats. Stir until smooth. 3. Drop into a mason jar and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or until oats are soaked. Top with bananas!

painted terra cotta pot + diy

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 16:44:00 +0000

I love succulents. I love succulents more than regular plants because if I forget to water them for a few days, you wouldn't even know. I have a plant that I keep on the top of my fridge that's gorgeous, with vines trailing down the front and reaching longingly towards the window. If it doesnt get water, it shows, which reminds me of how bad of a plant-mom I am, which makes me a bad person, and who needs all that negativity anyway. Succulents are much better, happier plants. Needless to say I am still growing chamomile and lavender on my windowsill and have plans for all kind of porch veggies this summer.
I grabbed one of these pots from work, as well as the panda plant. But I'm not a huge fan of that peachy-orange color so I wanted to give it a mini-makeover. I searched to see if there was anything special I needed to do to prep it... or mod podge it.. or something but, nope. Just plain ol' acrylic paints will do.

All you will need is a couple of different sized paintbrushes, acrylic paint, and your pot. If you would like, you can finish with a coat of clear acrylic spray paint. You can spray the inside of your pot with it also to help protect the pot from moisture.

1. I used a dry brush and lightly brushed white paint over my entire pot, leaving some brush strokes light enough to see the terra cotta underneath. The white was just... regular and turned out matte. For the colors I used semi-gloss. If you want, wet your brush and apply paint heavily and in layers, letting each layer dry before adding the new one. You could even paint one layer of another color (ooh.. like kobalt blue) and then dry brush white over the top of it.
2. I chose a southwestern design. As you can see... I'm no artist, and no perfectionist at that. I was uh... keeping with the messy look of it all. The hardest part is keeping your design symmetrical.

The possibilities really are endless, and the whole painting process took maybe 30 minutes. I can easily seeing it done in 10 if there wasn't a specific design involved. I'm already dreaming of the next pots I could paint.. like metallic gold on gray, or red and white stripes. I just might have to get a large one to put on the porch :)

sweet and spicy kale chips + recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 19:38:00 +0000

I know. You're probably over kale chips by now. You've had them spicy, sweet, plain, lemony, and salty. Well... I haven't. I've seen them in the store but they never seemed appealing because it made me think of those 'veggie chips' which is really just... batter that's baked/fried into the shape of vegetables. No thanks. I tried to make kale chips a couple of years ago, but tossed them in far too much lemon and oil, which resulted in a wilted and chewy... chip. The other day I had a hankering for something sweet and salty and since we've been (kind of) detoxing, I also had an overabundance of kale in the fridge that I had been using for salads. These turned out light and crispy with notes of sweet brown sugar and a spicy kick. I'm using curly kale but any variety will work!

sweet and spicy kale chips

one bunch of kale
olive oil
1 1/2 T brown sugar
salt to taste
1/2 t. lemon juice
cumin
smoked paprika
cayenne flakes/powder

1. Preheat oven to 300. 2. Separate kale leaves from ribs. 2. Toss in a bowl with lemon juice, salt, and brown sugar. Add in 1 tablespoon of olive oil. You want the leaves to be lightly coated, but not drenched. Add more if necessary. 4. Toss with spices. The amount is up to you, did about 1/4 a teaspoon of cumin, a shake of smoked paprika, and a scant teaspoon of cayenne powder. You can use flakes if you want but, I prefer powdered here. 5. Arrange on baking sheet and bake for 12-16 minutes. They can burn easily so keep an eye on them. You can lightly dust with a little more smoked paprika here if you'd like. Enjoy!

vegan matcha coconut bars with dark chocolate drizzle + recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 17:23:00 +0000

These. Are. Delicious.

I've had a jar of matcha powder sitting in my cupboard for... oh, maybe 6 months. Other than putting it in smoothies (and maybe milkshakes), I haven't had much use for it. Rick and I went to the Sacramento flea market over the summer, and there is a woman there who has a booth set up with jars and jars of herbs and spices. I don't remember if she grows most of them herself, but she has strange spices and her tea blends are amazing. Matcha is a powerful antioxidant, as well as a weight loss supplement. It also detoxifies, which is helpful while Rick and I are on our 'diet'. He has quit smoking so we are on a whole-foods, liver and kidney healthy, lots of fruit and veggies diet. It's been challenging, to say the least. I've already comprised a long list of healthy desserts to help curb my sweet tooth cravings when I have them. There's also a dark chocolate stash somewhere. It's comforting, you know. To know it's there if I need it. Anyway.

The bars. They're chewy. Sweet and just a little salty. Rick says they're healthy versions of almond joys but pft, please. These are way more decadent. And they take maybe 20 minutes to make!

raw vegan matcha coconut bars with dark chocolate drizzle

3/4 c. rolled oats OR almond flour
3 t. matcha powder (iherb.com)
1 T. flax seed meal
1/4 t. salt
14 oz. shredded coconut
3 T. coconut oil, divided
5 T. agave (or honey for non vegan), divided
dark chocolate

1. You can either use a loaf or tart pan, or you can use an 8x8 for thinner bars. I've done it both ways but prefer the 8x8 pan. Line pan of your choice with plastic wrap.
2. In a food processor, pulse oats into a fine meal. Transfer oats (or almond flour) to bowl and stir in matcha powder, flaxseed meal, and salt. Add 1 tablespoon of soft coconut oil and stir until combined. Add 3 tablespoons of honey and stir.
3. Transfer to prepared pan and stick in freezer to harden.
4. In a food processor, pulse coconut into small flakes. Stir in 2 tablespoons of coconut oil and 2 tablespoons of agave. Spread over frozen oat mixture and place back in freezer.
5. Melt dark chocolate in a double boiler. I melted about 1/2 a cup's worth. It helps to add a tiny amount of coconut oil so it drizzles a little bit easier. You can also melt coconut oil, then add honey and cocoa to taste if you'd like to keep this entirely raw. Drizzle (or completely cover like I did) over coconut mixture and place back in freezer.

I take mine out and let sit for 10 minutes before cutting into bars. You can also cut them into bars first, and then keep them in the fridge, they will just be a little soft.

adventures // mt. rose snow

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 14:00:00 +0000

I just recently bought myself the canon 50mm 1/.4 lens and... I think my life can never be the same. I'll never use my 1.8 again. I don't even want to use the kit lens ever again. It is so clean and crisp. I felt like a little kid when I clicked the 'confirm purchase' button on ebay. Last year I used my whole tax return for school, this year I decided to treat myself. I also got a new battery and car charger for it which I'm super excited about. For maybe... a year (eek) the battery has been completely drained so on a 'full charge' it works for an hour max. You can imagine how annoying that is. It made me bummed and not want to take pictures at all. For some reason I thought that batteries were super expensive but I found my new kit for under $20.

I dragged (not really) Rick out to the snow with me so I could try it out, and it did not disappoint. I've taken some pictures of the puppies with it but haven't ventured outdoors. I wanted to take some smoking-a-wood-pipe-in-the-woods photos but we ended up snapping only a couple of shots because it was freezing, and we hadn't intended on traveling into Tahoe. I was in a light sweater and he had boat shoes on. I was imagining myself hiking and doing a lot more... rigorous activity, but with Monday being a holiday, everybody and their Uncle Bob was out in the snow. I don't like being around crowds of people and they love to gawk at you when you take pictures like you're some kind of sideshow freak, so we kept driving around to the south side of Tahoe.

That last one is super grainy, but I just love him.

xo

DIY puppy milk + recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 19:06:00 +0000

My house has been full of puppy yelps and puppy smells and I wouldn't have it any other way. I've become so attached to these little creatures. It's going to be hard to let them go, but at least we know that Rontu will have one to keep company with at home and she'll see two of them often. Rick's cousin is taking one (who has the baby daddy), and his brother is taking another. Their personalities have really developed this past week and ones that I thought were calmer actually aren't, and vice versa. The 'sweetest' little girl has turned out to be the feistiest! My little one is still really calm and sweet and I've been prone to taking naps with him on the couch lately, even though I shouldn't. It's been said that it's not good to handle them so much still because it will make them too attached to you, but I can't help it. I'll walk into their room in the morning and start talking to them and they'll all turn their little heads and try to lick me. They are 3 weeks old as of yesterday and are starting to be fairly stable on their legs and playing often with each other.
They all have little baby puppy teeth now and that's part of the reason why I wanted to start them on home made puppy milk and try to wean them off of Rontu. Her poor nips and sore, raw, and scratched and she's not feeding them on her own as often as she should. She'll wander in maybe 3 times a day but in between then, I take a bottle in and feed them too. This is a simple recipe that I read would be a great supplement and help wean them off of mom, but as always please check with your vet beforehand. I was recommended Esbilac, but seeing as how I'm not totally loaded, I went with a cheaper and more natural milk. They also have been feeding well since birth until now, so I'm using it solely for weaning purposes, not as a milk substitute. In a couple of days I'll be blending in wet puppy food, which is the same brand the mom is currently eating, to make a 'puppy smoothie'. Mmm. The goal is to have them lapping soggy dry food soaked in this milk from a bowl by next week. This yields about 12 ounces, and I use half of the mixture for each in-between feeding. The puppies will usually stop on their own when their tummies are full.

DIY home made puppy milk

1 1/4 cup goats milk
6 oz. whole fat yogurt
1 raw egg yolk
1 teaspoon condensed milk (optional)
2 T mayo (optional)

1. Whisk all of the ingredients together over low heat. Don't heat it too quickly or the yolk will cook and the mix may curdle. I don't keep mayo in the house but if you have some, it won't hurt. The condensed milk adds a little sweetness to it but you can also use clear Karo syrup. You want the mixture to be the puppy's body temperature, so no more than 100 degrees.
2. I bought regular newborn baby bottles from the store. The nipple holes were a little small, and there will be tiny solids from the yogurt in the mixture, so you'll need to make the hole bigger, especially if you'll be using it to feed your puppies the 'puppy smoothie' i mentioned above. Sterilize a safety pin or needle over a flame before using it to enlarge the hole.
3. I try to feed them while they're laying on their sides or tummies, just like they do with mom. Each puppy drinks anywhere from 2-3 ounces each time but depending on your breed, they may drink more or less. And yes, I do burp them like you would a human baby. Partly out of necessity, partly because their little puppy burps are hilarious.

chewy vegan blondies + recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 19:04:00 +0000

I love cookies in any form and to me, the blondie is the ultimate cookie experience. These served warm with ice cream on top is one of my favorite desserts. I'm always wanting to try new cookies and bars but most of the recipes I come across call for absurd ingredients, and take a little more time than I'm willing to spend when the cookie urge hits. Even though these have a cup of sugar, they're slightly more healthy than the ones I'm used to making.

chewy vegan blondies

2/3 cup dark brown sugar
1/3 cup raw sugar
1/2 cup vanilla almond milk
1/2 t vanilla
4 T melted earth balance/margarine
1 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
2 cups unbleached flour
1 cup dark chocolate chunks

1. Preheat oven to 325. 2. Combine sugars, vanilla, and almond milk. Add melted earth balance. 3. Mix powder, soda, salt, and flour, then add to wet ingredients. 4. Stir until combined, then stir in chocolate chunks. 5. Press into greased or lined 8x8 glass dish and bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.

life + PUPPIES!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 16:46:00 +0000

Can I just say how wonderfully excited, scared, and in awe of our new furbabies I am? I didn't think I would be a puppy mom again but I am so blessed to have these five little creatures in my life. They soothe my need for quiet and calm, soothe my anxiety, soothe my need to feel needed. I mean... Rontu needs me to feed her and throw her the ball, but beyond that she's past the cuddle-me-and-pet-me-always stage. She would follow you from room to room and once you sat down, attack you with licks. Now she's claimed the far end of the couch. Which is fine, I still miss her cuddling with me in bed in the mornings though. Sometimes I have to coax her over with the ball, which doesn't always work out because then she's more interested in when I'm going to throw it.. or where I hid it (under the covers). I think what I'm most excited about, is learning about how to care for pups when they're newborns and seeing how their little personalities are going to develop. The one that I picked out is the largest boy, but he's very mellow and sleeps a lot.. when I picked Rontu out, she was the one yelping and escaping from her pen. (Rontu just hopped up on the couch with me and put her head on my lap, she must've known I was writing about her.)

So... Rontu's pregnancy was an accident, obviously. We had issues with our landlord at our old places, and after everything was said and done, we had less than two weeks to move out, right before Thanksgiving. We were told we could go month to month, then 'Oh, my friend wants to move in, so I'll need you out' happened.. instead of fighting it, we left. We had to pack everything and stay with Rick's cousin for two weeks while our new apartment was cleaned and getting ready, and they happen to have the sweetest pitbull ever, Bradley. He's a huge, wide-grinned, muscular blue nose pitbull who we knew wasn't neutered, so we kept them separated. Given the circumstances, we had to take our chances. He's used to Rontu because we let them play all of the time, but for the first week he would immediately run to her whenever we got home, and wouldn't leave her alone until we separated them. I've had so many people ask me why she wasn't spayed, and I stopped googling questions I had because people's comments to other people's questions were so rude, careless, and downright awful. "Backyard breeder" was one I heard a lot, and most people couldn't give solid advice, they just groaned and complained about idiots breeding dogs. Rontu's spaying was simply planned for a few weeks out, and then she went into heat. I know you can get dogs spayed while they're in heat, but I didn't want there to be any complications. It didn't seem right to me. It would be like if I was on my period and then wanted to get a hysterectomy. Wouldn't you want to... wait? Until your cycle is finished? I don't know, I wasn't too worried about Rontu having puppies in the first place. We have the means, funds, and time to take care of them, and almost all were already spoken for.

There were days when we both would have to work at the same time, so we would have to leave Rontu with someone else who lived there 24/7 and he would take her out, play with her a little bit, let her out. I'm almost positive he let them both out to potty... and then fell asleep. All of a sudden Bradley wasn't interested in Rontu anymore. We didn't really put two and two together until we felt that her tummy was hard. There was a fleeting moment of panic, and then excitement.

On Sunday the 26th she was getting very restless and started panting a little bit, so I was sure it was going to be that night. We went to bed crossing our fingers that we wouldn't wake up to a litter of puppies. In the morning there were no puppies to be found, and Rontu was still very restless. Luckily it was my day off, so I watched her carefully and let her nest - although when she started to pull my clothes out of my closet I had to figure out what else would make her comfortable besides my sweaters. I grabbed an old sheet and put it in her whelping box, hoping our scent would make her want to birth in there - and she hopped right in! Rick came home for lunch around 10:30, but left me alone with a kiss and a good luck. We both were bummed that he couldn't be there for the birth, or that he couldn't leave work a little bit early. After lots more panting, moving around, and confused looks from Rontu (especially after her 'water broke'), she started having contractions and at 11:58am, after massaging her belly, out popped the first little one. He wasn't moving or breathing, which I wasn't entirely sure was alright or not. I knew that once the sac comes, that it should be broken very soon so the puppy can start breathing. She delivered him still in his sac, but there was no movement for about 30 seconds, and she was looking at me just confused and tired and I realized she didn't know exactly what to do. I broke the sac for her and let her lick her puppy, but still no movement or breathing. Her whole pregnancy I feared her delivering a stillborn, so my heart sank a little. I teared up and started massaging his chest and hoped for the best. After about 10 seconds, his little arms moved and out came the biggest little cry! Rontu frantically started licking his face and I frantically started taking pictures and videos. He is the one that I'm keeping.. I will save you the gooey, gruesome birthing pictures.

The darker one is the second one that came, a girl, at 12:44. She's the one that looks most like the daddy, and Ricks cousin is keeping her. She's also the one that makes the most noise and shoves the others out of the way for mamas milk. At 1:30, the third one was born, a fawn colored girl with a white stripe on the right side of her neck. The vet said she could feel three, but there was probably one more hiding, and I could tell that Rontu wasn't done just yet. At 1:43, the fourth one came, another boy. Rick was texting me nonstop, asking for pictures and videos, and I'm sure he was crying on the inside that he couldn't witness something so magical. I was a little nervous at first, especially when the first one came and wasnt moving, but once the second came Rontu was a pro and knew exactly what to do, all I did was throw on some gloves and move them out of the way so she could get comfortable for the next one, instead of sitting on them. I've been present for human birth and now dog birth and I will never get over how amazing our bodies are, and what a blessing new life is. I'm a very emotional person, I can start crying at commercials or even when I see a ballet or concert, so I'm surprised I only shed tears when the first one took his first breath. I think I was in such disbelief and awe of my baby Rontu, and how all five of the puppies fit inside of her.. oh yeah! Puppy number five came at 1:55. She sort of just, fell out, and she's the tiniest of the bunch but she came out screaming. She's not really a runt anymore, I think she's even getting bigger than her big brothers. It's been so much fun to see their little bodies grow these past 6 days, and see them start to have their little personalities. I can't wait until their eyes open! They make little growling and yelping noises now, and their puppy dreams are the cutest thing I've ever seen. I don't know how I can even function at work when I have these little babies at home.

lentil tacos + recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 05 Jan 2014 19:20:00 +0000

I hope I'm not the only one that scrolls through Pinterest trying to figure out what to do with lentils other than make... soup. Or stew. Or crockpot mush. After awhile all the green soups end up looking the same and soon my lentils dont look all that appetizing. Neither does this 'taco meat,' but it sure is yummy. I'll be fair and admit that I've made shepherds pie with lentils before but other than that, I haven't been very adventurous. The lentil taco 'meat' is mushier than regular beef of course but gives in flavor what other substitutes lack, tofu for example.

lentil taco meat

2 c lentils
5 c water
1/2 c white onion, chopped finely
3 T tomato paste
olive oil
salt
pepper
cumin
cayenne pepper (optional)
hot sauce (optional)

1. Begin by rinsing the lentils and then bringing them to a boil, along with the chopped onion. I used mostly green but added a handful of red 'cause they're pretty. 2. Once they're boiling, reduce heat to low and simmer for about 30 minutes until soft. 3. Drain and set aside half of the lentils. Take the other half and process in a food processor along with the tomato paste and about a tablespoon of oil. 4. Once pureed, add to a heated & oiled skillet along with the whole lentils. 5. Season with salt, pepper, & cumin to taste. I also added a sprinkle of cayenne and a couple of shakes of hot sauce :)

snow day + pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 19:58:00 +0000

Well, we've moved. I would take pictures, but we don't have any furniture so... another time. We do have a fireplace! Our space has a hard time warming up and staying warm, though, so I think some weatherstripping for our windows is due soon. We can feel the cold seeping in through the cracks, brr. I can't complain, though. It's a thousand times nicer than the old place we were living in, and no nosy or rude neighbors (yet, anyway). It's always odd, I think, living so close to other people but not really interacting with them at all. I haven't met our next door neighbors yet, but Rick has met 'the guy'. No name exchange or friendly conversation, apparently he's always in a hurry? How odd. And I've seen his lady friend but never been passing close enough to introduce myself. Whatever happened to bringing over a plate of cookies and saying hello? We are an upstairs corner unit, so there's someone below us that I've never seen, or heard.. and the people under our neighbors have a small dog that really, really doesn't like Rontu. There are a lot of other dogs here though, so maybe when it warms up a little she can meet a puppy friend. We actually met three on our snowy walk this morning, and all three wanted to play with her! She only ever gets to play with Rick's cousin's pitbull, so I couldn't stop laughing as she played with two retrievers and a cattle dog. She immediately surrenders to them hoping they won't be 'scared' of her enough to not want to play. Ive had people see her, put their dogs on a leash, and then ask if she was friendly.. which is fair, I guess, but they look at her like she's a vicious killer. No.. just a 9 month puppy. It was refreshing to have owners ask me to take her off her leash! She also has never fully experienced fresh snow, so we had fun kicking snow around. She kept trying to dig to see what's underneath, and then trying to chew the ice.

We're broke and poor and exhausted, but we have a home and food in the fridge. My mind is overwhelmed with all of the decorating opportunities I have here, but one thing at a time. I don't want to get things off of craigslist just because they're free or cheap, but not quite what I want. I'd rather take my time to find the absolutely perfect desk or couch, even if it means spending a little more money. I want to make my coffee table, which is going to be $20 tops. The fact that most of my craft supplies and things are still in boxes bugs me a little bit but I'm sure I can find some bookshelves soon. Or even a tutorial to make some! Rick always has pallets behind his work we can use. I think my largest dilemma is figuring out how I want to paint.. I want bright kitchen walls and a striped ceiling in the bathroom, or maybe two tone walls in the bathroom.. I just can't handle all of this white ahh. Soon enough. :)

vegan christmas coffee shake + recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 19:26:00 +0000

I call this a 'christmas' shake because cinnamon & chocolate remind me of christmas, okay. The coconut adds something special too. You can just as well drink this in the summertime and call it a summer shake. Whatever. When I worked at a coffee shop, we had a 'white christmas mocha' that had a secret ingredient (coconut) & it was beyond yummy. We had to say it was a secret ingredient because most people would turn their nose at any coconut & coffee flavored drink, but no. Coconut, chocolate, and cinnamon = yummy perfection. Plus I've been on a coconut kick lately, I dont know. I've recently rediscovered how delicious it is in almost everything, plus a lot of my favorite recipes include it in some form or another. Since I left my coffee job earlier this year I haven't been able to be quite as creative with my coffee beverages, but I do like a good shake once in awhile.

vegan christmas shake

1.5 cups coconut ice cream
3/4 cup chocolate almond milk
8 coffee ice cubes
handful dark chocolate chunks
cinnamon

1.Simply blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth. I used coconut cookie dough ice cream that I had made, but any coconut ice cream will do honestly. Mine had bits of dark chocolate in it so I omitted the extra chunks. The coffee cubes are basically my favorite thing ever and during the summer we always had a tray full. Mine does have regular whipped cream on it because, well, I havent quite mastered coconut milk whipped cream quite yet.. soon though :)

vegan coconut chocolate no bakes + moving (!)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 17:19:00 +0000

Pardon the random forthcoming posts, but we had to move suddenly (I never would have guessed it'd be so suddenly) and I've been so stressed and tired and all the other things that come with packing and moving. I almost pulled my hair out when it came to searching for a new place, with barely any money to give for applications. I have come to realize that Rick and I are not the best budgeters, so after this storm of cardboard boxes and emptying our pockets dies down, I must figure out a way to create some type of budget. I barely buy things for myself anymore, I've come to spend more money on baking and cooking food. Which is perfectly fine with me, but my love of all things coffee has me spending almost $15 a week. That's crazy to think about. Also, disgusting. Who really knows whats in those starbucks jars I get while I stop to get gas. I think I need to invest in a large cold to-go cup and a giant french press. I'm sure they make those. Anyway, between moving out and our apartment 'getting ready' we're staying with family. Our new place has lots of light, which is a huge change from our previous 2-windowed apartment. I can just feel the drafts already. And there's a walk in closet and (wait for it)... a fireplace! Granted, it's gas, and probably gives off no heat whatsoever, but it'll still be perfect for marshmallow roasting. I have 3 days off after surviving black friday retail hell, so I finally have a chance to breathe. Unfortunately I'm nursing a sore throat and achy head, but I get to look out at the snow swirling and sip hot chocolate. Not too shabby. In the spirit of the peppermint bark I'm going to make later, here's another recipe for a quick, chocolatey treat.

I freaking love no bakes. The ones that I used to make would consist of butter, sugar, peanut butter, oats, and not much else. They had so much sugar in them they'd make my teeth hurt. But I love how they melt in your mouth and the possible variations, and I think I thought putting oats in them somehow made them good for me. These are 1000x better than the sugar-packed ones of the past, and they have Ricks three favorite things in them (peanut butter, coconut, chocolate) soo it was a win-win for both of us. The coconut oil helps them solidify better than butter, and the cinnamon adds a nice spice.

vegan coconut chocolate no bakes

1 1/2 cups carob chips (or dark choc for non vegans)
2/3 cup peanut butter (i used chunky)
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/3 cup honey
2 T cinnamon
1 1/2 cups shredded coconut
1 cup oats

1. Turn oven to 400 and toast coconut until lightly brown. Set aside to cool. 2. In a saucepan, melt peanut butter, carob chips, and coconut oil and combine well. 3. Turn heat to low and add honey and cinnamon. 4. Remove from heat and add oats and coconut. 5. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and drop heaving tablespoons of mixture onto sheet. I place mine in the freezer for 20 minutes to help them set, then put in fridge to keep.

w i s h l i s t (!)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 14:00:00 +0000

I always thought the idea of having an amazon wishlist and the like was kind of... lame. Maybe I'm just deterred by those who post theirs on their facebooks before their birthdays and are like 'here's the link if you're feeling generous!' I don't know. It seems sorta cheap? I mean, I have an amazon wishlist but it's more of an organizational tool, haha. I have things on it that I want to bookmark as gifts for other people and not just myself. That way my bookmarks don't get too crowded and I can have it all in one place. The items above are some things I've been lusting after for awhile (hellooo modcloth dress) and some things I'm fairly certain are necessary, like those minnetonka boots. I mean, Rontu chewed up my classics but it's cold now anyway so I might as well invest in some booties, right? So, 'tis the season and I love to internet-window shop, so I put a few of my favorite finds together.

1. Asos satchel bag. I've been admiring these satchel bags for awhile but haven't really found one I liked until now. I like the huge buckles, and the scalloped edges make it slightly less masculine. 2. Canon 50mm 1.4 lens. Okay, this may possibly be on the 'need' list, especially since my 1.8 is seeing it's final days. 3. Taxidermy Fox. I lovee taxidermy, especially vintage taxidermy, and this fox is just so cute! Look at that face. 4. Rad to the Bone dress. It glows in the dark! Need I say more? 5. Raw quartz ring. Midwest Alchemy has some of the coolest rings made out of raw gemstones. Definitely inspiring for when I finally learn how to make my own jewelry. 6. SOTBM Moonshine Oil. Ive followed Sisters of the Black Moon since they first started their ebay shop and when I saw this on their site I think I screamed a little. Grapefruit and juniper will always be some of my favorite scents to wear. 7. 'S' by jj abrams. Technically I think this book is called Stranger. I saw the teaser for it (which you can watch here) and was hooked. It didn't come in Nook form so on the list it went. I am a huge Lost & Fringe fan so I can barely even contain my excitement to start reading! 8. Instax 90 camera. Little pictures that print instantly and I can basically put anywhere? Yes please! 9. Delancy flats. Ive been keeping my eye out for a cheaper version of these, but again with the buckles.. love them. 10. Minnetonka boots. Like I said, these are a need. Definitely will be wearing these through spring and summer. 11. Hair pins from Thistle & Fox. Aren't these the cutest? I think they'd look just lovely in my red hair :)

vegan pumpkin bread with crumb topping + recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 22 Nov 2013 15:35:00 +0000

This bread will change your life. I'm fairly certain I've started off a post like that before but no, no.. really, this bread is extraordinary. I almost want to call it a cake because it's so moist and flavorful, I don't even feel compelled to top it with butter. Not to mention it has a delicious crumb topping that melts and crisps perfectly and even seeps into the middle a little bit. I may or may not have made this twice in one week.

vegan pumpkin bread

3/4 cup pumpkin
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup pure cane sugar
1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
2 T agave or honey
1 T vanilla
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. ginger
3/4 t. cloves
1/2 t. nutmeg
1 1/4 cup flour
2 t. baking powder

crumb topping

1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter (or earth balance), softened
about 1/2 cup flour
sprinkle cinnamon

1. For the crumb topping, mix all ingredients and set aside.
2. In a bowl mix pumpkin, sugars, oil, milk, agave, vanilla, and spices.
3. In a separate bowl mix flour and baking powder, then add to wet mixture.
4. Grease a loaf pan with coconut oil and lightly flour.
5. Pour mixture into pan, it'll be slightly thick.
6. Sprinkle crumb topping on top and bake at 375 for 40 minutes! My ovens a little weird with temperatures so I use a toothpick to check. It's okay if the topping falls into the middle. Actually, it's preferred. Enjoy :)

what i wore //

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 16:43:00 +0000

sweater // my sister's closet | skirt // cotton on | tights // target | shoes // blowfish

I love this skirt but I haven't had the right occasion to wear it yet. When I moved I packed it away and only recently re-discovered it again. It's a little short on me (what else is new) but I think it works with the tights and sweater. I love this sweater, it reminds me of when my sisters and I would curl up in comfy sweaters and watch old movies on rainy days. Its soft and flattering and my favorite color. I keep waiting for the rain and wind and snow to come but I'm looking out the window right now and it's nothing but clear blue skies and sun. Its supposed to be 19 degrees tomorrow night so I'm crossing my fingers:) Rick and I are both feeling sick and yucky lately so maybe the weather is changing after all. Usually when I feel sick I just want to lay in bed and read or watch movies but I think today I will take advantage of the (hopefully) last sunny day for awhile. My puppy is in heat, which is another post in itself, so I think going to the park while cheer her up. We had to break down and buy her doggy diapers and I think she's depressed from all the giggling I do whenever I look at her. We had been debating breeding her and I suppose we were a little late with deciding! Rick mentioned all of the health benefits but all I could think about was puppies running around everywhere, and come on, who wouldn't want that.

chocolate donut holes + recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 18:19:00 +0000

Every once in awhile I get some otherworldly, disgusting craving for something full of chocolate and sugar. I like ice cream a lot (a lot) and I keep a bag of expensive chocolate bars in my drawer for emergencies; for some reason the fact that they were almost $5 a bar keeps me from eating the whole thing in one sitting. I just like to know it's there when I need it. And I'm not a huge chocolate lover, I usually turn my nose up at milk chocolate and am picky when it comes to truffles, but some chocolate pastries and desserts I can't say no to. Thus came fried balls of chocolate cake. Call them donut holes if you want. Cake, donuts, whatever you want to label them as - they're delicious. I may or may not have had to bring them to work and pawn off on my fellow employees to keep myself from eating all of them. I had slaved over them all morning, gleefully thinking how surprised and delighted Rick would be when he got home to find me sweating in the kitchen, flour in my hair, chocolate on my arms, with a giant plate of donut holes waiting for him. It was a lot less climactic, in reality he gingerly picked one up and said "What...is this?". I'm fairly certain those are the three worst words you could ever say when your lady makes you food (or your gentleman). Come to find out... the man hates frosting. I think my heart sank and I stared at him open-mouthed trying to process what he had just said. No cinnamon rolls? No donuts. No cake. No scones. Nope, not even frosted sugar cookies. If it has powdered sugar in it, he won't eat it. Pfft how boring, right. I'm still determined to sneak it in something so irresistible he'll overlook his hatred for ooey-gooey sugary things. I recommend eating these straight from the wire rack while still warm.

glazed chocolate donut holes

1 c cocoa powder
2 1/2 c flour
2 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
1 c sugar
1/2 t. baking soda
3/4 cup milk (or buttermilk)
1/2 stick unsalted butter, melted
2 eggs
2 t. vanilla
veggie oil (i used coconut oil)

for the glaze:

3 c powdered sugar (this might be overkill but uh i actually really like frosting sooo..)
couple drops of vanilla
5 T milk

1. Sift cocoa, flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a bowl. 2. In a different bowl mix sugar, eggs, vanilla, milk, and melted butter. Add to flour mixture and mix until it becomes dough. 3. Roll dough into golf ball sized balls and place on a plate. 4. Heat oil about 1/2" deep in a pan over medium heat. Once it becomes hot enough, drop a couple of balls into the pan (i used a cast iron skillet). I used a wooden spoon and turned them around and over until cooked through. It didnt take quite a minute for them to be finished. Keep in mind the dough will expand slightly so dont crowd the pan. 5. Drain on a paper towel. For the glaze, just whisk all ingredients together. Drop your balls in glaze and let cool on a wire rack.

what i wore

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 10 Nov 2013 15:37:00 +0000

dress // from sheinside | tights // target | shoes // kenneth cole

I am in love with this dress. I normally don't wear things that are so... tight fitting, all over. I'll wear a tight skirt and drape a sweater over it but I knew when I saw this dress I had to have it. And wouldn't you know, I actually dont mind how tight it is. Just because I'm a full-figured lady doesnt mean I can't wear whatever I want. It is a little short but I tend to have that problem anyway, so I've learned to deal with it. I may try and wear this with some thicker leggings, we'll see. The material is thin but still warm enough to wear with just a coat, and I love the lace details. It's the first time I've bought something from Sheinside, and although the shipping took awhile (okay, it took a month) I'm pretty pleased! I also bought one of those claw rings that you wear over your nail, let's just say I keep snagging it on things and haven't gotten used to it yet...

vegan butternut squash soup + recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 23:16:00 +0000

I suppose it's no secret lately that I love squash. I made butternut squash mac and cheese and since then, I've been hooked. It has such a full, distinct flavor yet is very versatile. I usually eat squash with butter and brown sugar, so it's been fun trying out more savory recipes. Acorn squash has been a long time favorite of mine and zucchini too, of course. There's spaghetti squash in the fridge right now and I'm already trying to think what sort of dish I can make for dinner next week. This soup is soo yummy and filling, and perfect for when we needed to warm up one of these recent chilly afternoons. I'd love to try it with apples and gorgonzola next!

vegan butternut squash soup

2 T coconut oil
1 diced carrot
1 diced stalk celery
1 chopped small onion
1 medium squash, cubed
1 t chopped thyme
salt and pepper
about 6 cups vegetable broth

1. Heat oil in soup pot and add carrot, celery, and onion. 2. Cook for about 4 minutes, then add thyme and squash. 3. Cook for a couple of minutes, then add broth and salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Squash should be easily mashed. 4. Puree with an immersion blender (or if you're poor like me, you can blend in batches in a blender). I garnished mine with a little bit of thyme and nutmeg!

what i wore // the most perfect pumpkin dress

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 02:10:00 +0000

dress//vintage | heels//kenneth cole

This is one of those dresses that you find in the store and carry around with you the whole time you're shopping. I had sold a dress similar to it on etsy a couple of years ago and it's haunted me ever since. Its a light velour type of fabric with perfect buttons and a belt. At first the sleeves were just a little too puffy but once I wore it for a little while, I fell in love. The salvation army here has a weird 'vintage' section with items by different vendors, and ever since I found a crocodile head there, I try to visit now and then. I usually bypass the rack of vintage clothes because there's never really any new items, but this time I looked and found this dress. I keep hoping I will find more taxidermy items but it's hit or miss. There was a giant moose head at Savers a couple of months ago for $400 and I've been kicking myself ever since for not having a separate savings account just for my odd impulse buys!

cemetery adventures

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 16:44:00 +0000

These photos came out a little grainy/out of focus. I dropped my 50mm lens that I've had for years and now it won't auto focus for me, so I have to manually focus everything and when I turn it a certain way, it gets 'stuck' and I have to almost force it to turn. I bought it for $50 off of Amazon a couple of years ago but for some reason I can't seem to find one for under $90. It's one of those things that you don't really want to drop a hundred bucks on, especially before Christmas, so I've put off replacing it and have just dealt with it's issue. Rick tries his best for outfit photos (although theres a slight grumble sometimes:) ) but I think with the combination of it being dusk & my poor lens not working properly I'll have to redo the outfit I wore. I wasn't totally in love with it either so maybe thats a good thing :)

The last four are from my phone, overall we didnt take very many pictures. I was hoping to go back soon, hopefully before Halloween, since it's currently snowing and I think snowy cemetery pictures would be 1000x cooler. Virgina City is a sleepy little town once you get away from the main street. I had been there when I was a kid and only remembered once I saw it again earlier this year. Rick took me when we were seeing each other, before I moved here. It has it's charms but on this particular day there were all sorts of people out and about for pre-halloween 'festivities'. I'd love to have a drink and mill around the town, but most people were hovering in and outside of the casino and I do not do casinos, at all. There's nothing appealing to me about losing my hard earned money and being surrounded by loud, drunk people. I went to Vegas for the first time in January and my anxiety skyrocketed. I know not everybody who goes to Vegas is going to get absolutely trashed, I had a couple of drinks myself, but I know my limit plus I have a fairly high tolerance to it. Anybody who took me out for my birthday can verify that it took quite a few drinks for me to get buzzed. And once it gets past the warm fuzzy feeling, it's not much fun for me anyway. I hate everything that city had to offer and couldn't wait to get away from the noise and people stumbling into me. The lights, noise, people, aura... just aren't for me. Reno is much quieter and the parties stay in the casinos, for the most part. I'm not particularly fond of this town either, but it has it's perks. I've only been in one of the casinos and couldn't seem to find entertainment in the 18 year olds dancing for old men, or the stomach for the smells coming from further inside. It just seems so juvenile to be 30 and completely wasted when there's so many cooler things you could be doing. Maybe I'm an old maid before my time, but I went clubbing when I was younger and got as close to drunk as my wallet could afford and those days are long over. I walk into the casinos and it's like nobody grew up. Maybe I'm just partial to the days my sisters and I would grab drinks at The Goodfoot in Portland, and dance to James Brown and Queen. Either way, it's hard to be invited to events that are centered around drinking and tons of people and have to find a nicer way to tell your friends you're just not interested. It sounds like I'm a prude, but honestly, it's not healthy. I don't have a lot of extra money to spend, so spending it on a couple of beers and a cool show in an intimate venue is way more appealing to me. Unfortunately cool shows here are few and far between so my options are limited. Rick and I had a date when we first started going out at one of the casinos in Tahoe, but it was pretty small and it was nice to people watch, have a beer, and enjoy the band. That memory is much fonder to me than any time we've spent in one of the larger casinos. Even when I was in Vegas, I much rather enjoyed sitting in the quieter, darker part of the floor with my aunt and drinking wine. Maybe it's just testament to the fact that I enjoy simpler things and am a huge hermit!

what i wore

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 13:30:00 +0000

tights, boots, dress//target | sweater//forever21 | scarf//world market

I'm like a walking advertisement for Target. I don't opt for the bright patterns or dresses from Target (or ever really!), but when it comes to basics, they're my go-to. I don't like having the same recognizable dress or sweater as everyone else in town, but if I need tank tops or nylons they never fail. I have a hard time spending $25+ on jeans but if the fit is perfect, I'll buy them. I have to have a high waist; my jeans always fall down because of my hips. It's much easier to throw on a dress that fits nice and nylons like in this outfit, but for work I need jeans that are durable and wont fall down when I lean over! The search continues..

coconut macaroons with chocolate drizzle + recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 15:30:00 +0000

Can I just say that besides the pumpkin, cinnamon, and spices, I crave foods that are completely inappropriate for fall. It's okay though, I'm sure I'm not the only one. Do people really eat foods that are 'supposed' to be eaten seasonally anyway? I'm all for buying veggies when they're in season, but I have no objection to making thanksgiving dinner in summer. I made these a couple of weeks ago but have been dreaming about them the past few days. They're moist (ugh I hate that word), chewy, and the chocolate drizzle is perfect. I suppose if you want to make them 'autumn appropriate' you could add nutmeg and cinnamon, maybe a pumpkin drizzle instead. Or pumpkin ones with white chocolate drizzle?!

coconut macaroons with chocolate drizzle

1 can condensed milk
2 egg whites
2 t vanilla
salt
2 bags coconut (14 oz)
chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 300. Whisk egg whites with a pinch of salt until foamy, 2-3 minutes. Stir in vanilla, and condensed milk until combined, then stir in coconut. 2. Drop 'dough' into table spoon-sized mounds onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake about 15-20 minutes. I did larger sized ones and baked for about 25, so adjust time accordingly. You want them golden brown. 3. Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler, in in the microwave. If you're doing it by microwave, heat for 30 seconds and then stir every 15 seconds after that. Wait until your macaroons are completely cooled before drizzling!

snowy walk + what i wore

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 01:23:00 +0000

plaid blouse//thrifted | sweater//thrifted | coat//charlotte russe | pants//old navy | combat boots//guess

I really cherish the moments and days that I can spend outside with Rick and Rontu, especially since our work schedules have been opposite lately. It snowed last week on the mountains so we decided to see if there was any left to play in. There was, in the shadows of the mountains that the sun seldom touches. I love the cold, the snow, rain, fog, so this made me even more excited for the upcoming snowstorms and thunderstorms. I dont get too many of these days with him so it was nice to be able to enjoy the little things, absorb the smells and sounds, and pay attention to nature's tiny details. I'm easily amused as it is, but I'm fascinated how getting outside and touching snow and leaves, listening for animals, and watching Rontu go absolutely crazy in the snow can so easily lift my spirits. I think I would have stayed up there all day if possible.

butternut squash mac & cheese + recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 00:55:00 +0000

Now that it's getting darker earlier, I have to take pictures under the harsh yellow glow of our one light in our tiny kitchen. Which is fine, I don't see myself making dinner at 4 or so. I just don't have the greatest camera for low light conditions but I'll do what I can. Anyway, with fall here I thought it was suitable to make something with squash in it since the prices are so cheap right now, but I don't necessarily like eating it by itself unless it has brown sugar on it. I've had butternut squash in ravioli before, so I was hoping this would be just as delicious. It was. And then some. And it's healthier than traditional mac & cheese, plus more flavorful.

butternut squash mac & cheese

3 c pasta shells
1 small butternut squash, cubed, uncooked
2 T coconut oil
1 t pepper
1 t salt
1/2 t nutmeg
1/2 c vegetable stock
1 1/2 c milk
2 T butter (i used smart balance)
1/4 c plain nonfat yogurt
1/2 c parmesan
1 c roughly chopped spinach
breadcrumbs
herbs

Prepare pasta shells and set aside.

1. Preheat oven to 400. Toss squash with coconut oil, nutmeg, pepper, and salt. Add stock and cover. Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring until the squash is soft. 2. Reduce heat to low and mash squash, smooth until creamy. 3. Add milk, butter, yogurt, and cheese. The first time I used parmesan, but you can use white cheddar or any cheese really. 4. Add pasta shells and spinach to mixture until coated, and place in 9x9 baking dish. Top with breadcrumbs and herbs (and maybe a little more cheese) and bake for 15 minutes.