Veg is Sexy

parting is such sweet sorrow

2010-05-24T00:16:00.003-04:00

Darlings.

I've made the really hard decision to close up shop on Veg is Sexy. I had such a blast writing it the last 9 months and it's been such a great experience. However, I think I've learned what I needed to learn, said what I needed to say, and it's time for me to move on.

There are so many incredible blogs and resources out there that pertain to vegetarianism and veganism (check out my blogroll and Super Sites on the lefthand side of the page). I will continue to read all the sites and blogs I've come to love, I just think it's time for me to retire mine.

If you'd like to stay in touch, I'll keep my sexyveg@gmail.com account open for awhile. Feel free to contact me there! Please stay healthy and happy, not only for yourself but for the animals and environment as well. Lots of love to you all and thank you so much for your support and encouragement! I look forward to continuing to support you all on your work and personal journeys in the future.

Best,
Andria

The Quesapizza Returns

2010-05-14T05:56:00.000-04:00

Do you ever go through food phases? It happens to me all the time. You buy the ingredients to make one thing and suddenly you have to have it every day. Usually this lasts a few days, or maybe you even replenish your supplies at the grocery store (possibly Trader Ming's, perhaps?) and extend the phase an extra weekend or two. This recently happened to me for a second time with the Quesapizza (original recipe here). You may remember when I created basically the most gorgeous and delicious combination of Mexico and Italy into a quick and easy and oh-so-creative meal idea (yes, I'm loud and proud tooting my own freaking horn. TOOT TOOT).

With this one I used a whole wheat tortilla topped with Trader Jose's refried beans, peppers, onions, and Daiya. Pop it under the broiler to melt and crisp. Fold.

What are your favorite (or not so favorite because you're sick of it!) food phases? What would you put in your Quesapizza?

Skin MD Discount Code!

2010-05-12T12:57:00.003-04:00

Back in January I did a VERY POSITIVE review of Skin MD lotion, and also gave away a bottle! To refresh your memory, Skin MD is a really yummy, smooth, light face and body lotion that is entirely vegan and made in a green plant! Check out the review for more info.

Anyway, the awesome Amber at Skin MD has offered Veg is Sexy readers a 20% discount code off the products on the Skin MD web site!

So check them out at skinmdnatural.com...
Make your selections of which awesome, vegan lotions you want...
Enter coupon code "VEG" at checkout...
And receive 20% off your order!

The code is caps sensitive and will expire in 30 days, so hurry over now! You're going to be wearing shorts and bathing suits all summer, show off those smooth legs!

Amy's Soups

2010-05-11T12:19:00.002-04:00

I underestimate soup. I just do. I've never considered it a "full meal," and I like to chew my food, so soup has freaked me out in the past. But once I became veg, my eyes started to open. In her book, Alicia Silverstone talks about how good soup is for your body and digestive system, that soup is really healing and healthy. I also started to love Compassionate Cooks' recipe for Garlic and Greens Soup, which is great when you're under the weather and also just really hearty and healthy. Obviously, I've started to realize that soup a GREAT meal. Here are some Amy's soups I recently picked up for a quick fix when I'm running late or just really hungry.

Thai Coconut - I really wanted to love this one, but I only kinda liked it. Maybe it's because I'm still a little new to ethnic soups and the savory coconut threw me for a loop. I would highly recommend making your own decision though! I did really like the pieces of sweet potato in there, they were awesome.

Minestrone - I love that this minestrone has little pieces of pasta in it. Mmmm! This is really hearty and good, great if you throw in just a pinch of garlic salt!

Medium Chili - Ok, so obviously I love to toot my own horn about this stuff, so trying someone's else's chili was really going out on a limb. It had a way different flavor than mine, but in a good way. This stuff would be really good to pour over nachos to give it a chewy, spicy kick. But as far as eating it out of the bowl, I'll stick to mine.

Split Pea - MY FAVORITE! I tried this soup back in February along with some other goodies, and apparently I keep coming back for more. I never liked split pea soup, but this stuff is just SO SO GOOD! I love it.

What's your favorite soup?

TV News Snapshot

2010-05-07T01:18:00.002-04:00

I saw this and had to post it because it's hilarious. Smile, LAUGH, have a light and happy Friday!

Mushroom Parm

2010-05-05T00:45:00.003-04:00

Why stop with eggplant? This mushroom parm is much simpler, however, and so much healthier thanks to the absence of deep frying. Enjoy alone, paired with a salad, or even in a sandwich!

Ingredients:

Portobella mushroom cap
Marinara
Non-dairy mozzarella cheese (Try Daiya or Follow Your Heart)
Garlic salt
Oil or non-dairy butter (I prefer Earth Balance)

- Saute the mushroom cap in just a bit of oil or non-dairy butter until cooked through
- Top with marinara, mozzarella, and garlic salt
- Broil until cheese begins to melt and bubble.
- You're done.

This is also a great little meal to make when you're in a time crunch, and perfect to serve to non-veg friends and family. The mushroom is hearty and filling, and with the salt and fat of the non-dairy cheese they won't feel like they are missing out.

Like it, love it? You can also try this amazing portobella sandwich!

Yogurt . ! ?

2010-05-03T00:28:00.004-04:00

I was a huge yogurt fan growing up, but I think that's because I was eating the stuff loaded with sugar and thinking it was a healthy snack. While non-dairy yogurt is fairly healthy (full of probiotics, calcium, vitamins) and it's nice to have a cool creamy snack once in awhile, you really have to pick and chose your poison. Watch out for crazy sugars, high fats, hidden dairy ingredients, and don't get stuck with one that tastes like crap.

My go-to coconut milk-based yogurt in raspberry:

The chocolate one I tried (like but not loved):

Once upon a time I used to find one of these in a Cinnamon Bun flavor and it was killer!!! If you can find it, buy it up.

But now I think I have a cheaper, yummier, creamier standard:

Even though you're a racist, Trader Joe you still did me proud. This stuff is by far the best non-dairy yogurt I've had yet. The consistency and flavor are perfect - go for the strawberry, it was the best.

Do you like yogurt? Do you consider it a treat or a snack? Or a meal? What's your favorite non-dairy yogurt? How do you like to eat it (mix-ins, toppings, smoothies, etc)?

Photo Salad II

2010-04-29T04:00:00.000-04:00

Hey loves! I have a lot of random photos so I decided to toss together another Photo Salad (you can see the first one here).

Here's a delicious Simple Sexy Tofu Scramble with a few added veggies:

A gorgeous blossoming tree. Spring is here!

A strawberry-spinach smoothie made with soymilk:

A huge mixing bowl salad made with Chive Buttermilk dressing and a Gardein Scallopini:

A nice lunch I made for my non-vegan dad but loved in anyway - a Gardein Scallopini, kale chips, mixing bowl salad, green iced tea, and lit with a Scent of Scandal candle:

A tofu-sausage scramble - pretty much a scramble with added Gimme Lean sausage and Daiya!

And a little flash back to winter. Picking up the kids I sit for at school and these ten foot icicles are about to fall on and kill the children. Classy, Elementary School. Classy.

Trader Joe is a Racist

2010-04-28T04:00:00.000-04:00

It's gotten to the point where I can barely shop at Trader Joe's anymore because I walk the aisles doubled over in hysterics. Don't get me wrong, I love saving my pennies as much as the next sexy veg, but let's take a little look at Joe's ethics, shall we?

Here he is, just hanging out, shamelessly advertising some dark chocolate.

Sometimes Joe forgoes his Trader status in exchange for a Diner quality.

Oh and isn't he so clever and funny, naming his health and vitamin supply after a name associated with longevity?

Here Joe takes on a South-of-the-Border flair for this imported beer

But wait, like a chameleon, Trader Jose is staying festive for the Mexican foods as well...

...and the Italian...

...and the Chinese...

and, my personal fave...

Ok, do I really think Trader Joe's is racist? No. Do I think they are hilariously politically incorrect? One hundred percent. Anyone else? In college we just stopped calling it Trader Joe's and started calling it Trader Ming's.

If I've missed any Trader Joe-wannabes, let me know! Or feel free to make up your own! In Lithuania he would be Trader Jonas. I'm still debating between Trader Jean or Trader Pierre for the French, though. Thoughts?

Love Letter to Garlic Salt

2010-04-27T04:00:00.000-04:00

Dear Garlic Salt,

I can't live without you.

You are so underestimated, but just hearing your name sets me off in a flutter of excitement. What can I put you on today? I just want to sprinkle you on my veggies, stir you into my soup, and cook you up in my casserole. Some people think that you're too easy, that this relationship won't last because I need to get out there and try other flavors. They don't understand that I've done my fair share of experimenting and am done wasting my time. I'm ready to settle, and I only have tastebuds for you. You're classic. You're strong. You're rich and flavorful and oh so yummy. You make any plain dish taste like a gourmet recipe, and just a dash of you takes me so far. Sodium schmodium, I want you.

I think my blog friends are starting to wonder if there's something going on between us, I talk about you all. the. freaking. time. I casually drop your name here and there, careful not to say too much. But the truth is, you're always there. In my heart and in my food.

You are the sexy to my veg.

I love you.

Always and forever,
Andria

Eggplant Parm

2010-04-26T01:31:00.003-04:00

Today we had what I like to call The Jerry Springer Show - otherwise known as Sunday family dinner. Every few weeks my mom's side of the family likes to get together for dinner (well, if you can call it dinner since it usually happens around 2:30pm), and a lot of times my mom will make her world-famous Eggplant Parmesan. I have to admit, this dish is the one thing I really really miss about being ignorant of the inner workings of dairy. And I will also admit that I have been known to sneak a bite or two. This time however I decided to come prepared and join my mom in the kitchen, only to make my own little dish of completely vegan Eggplant Parm using Daiya.

First you have to layer the fried eggplant with sauce and Daiya (a sprinkling of nutritional yeast is acceptable):

Then you're ready for some oven action:

Let it cool so you don't burn your mouth:

But as soon as it's ready you shove as much down your throat as humanly possible:

The verdict? Good. Especially when topped on a nice fluffy piece of Italian bread! But - I'd never thought I'd say this - way too cheesy. I would use more eggplant and less Daiya the next time, because the vegan cheese definitely has an overpowering flavor. But I would for sure make it again!

What non-vegan food do you miss the most? Have you veganized it?

Check out Andrea's giveaway at Celery in the City!

Grocery Store Adventure II

2010-04-19T22:45:00.003-04:00

I really enjoyed my last Grocery Store Adventure post, so after buying some fun treats from Whole Foods I thought I'd reprise.

Mango Kombucha . Delicious, cold, and healthy!

Purely Decadent Vanilla Almond Ice Cream Bars . These are such a great dessert to have on occasion. Sometimes I find that a lot of soy ice cream tastes really funky, but this is a great blend of creamy ice cream, sweet chocolate, and pieces of almonds. Perfection.

Amy's Vegan Mac and Cheeze . Need I say more?

Amy's Non-Dairy Pot Pie . Not bad! Not great, but not bad.

Ciao Bella Blood Orange Sorbet Mini Cups . Haven't tried it yet actually, the Purely Decadent bars have been fulfilling my frozen foods quota. But they look awesome!

Daiya Vegan Cheese Shreds . AHHHH I found it!!! Yay for it being nationally available at Whole Foods!!!

Wildwood Nigari Tofu . To be used for scrambles.

Bananas . Classic.

IT'S HERE!!!

2010-04-18T23:57:00.002-04:00

Hot on the heels of my last mac and cheeze post, I hope you're ready for a double dose. Remember I mentioned that I was waiting for the new Amy's vegan mac and cheeze to come to my Whole Foods? Well...

IT'S HERE!!! I literally gave a little leap of joy in the frozen foods section, which I have been checking religiously in the past months. Now if you're thinking to yourself, "wait a minute, Amy's mac and cheese isn't vegan," it is now!!! Ever since the miraculous creation of Daiya non-dairy cheese, Amy's has been working to create a vegan mac. And now it's here, being nationally distrubted for all of us to enjoy.

The only disappointing thing about this dish was the whopping calorie count, but for now I say psh. This was creamy, cheesy, and so yummy - everything you'd expect and more. This is definitely the closest I've found to standard-American-childhood-Kraft and I highly recommend it for all you hungry/nostalgic/mac-and-cheese-loving veg heads.

Have you tried Amy's Vegan Mac and Cheese yet?

Road's End Mac and Chreese

2010-04-16T04:00:00.000-04:00

After yesterday's incredibly heavy topic, I decided to post about something light, fun, and AWESOME. Mac and cheese, obviously.

I've been waiting waiting waiting for the Amy's frozen vegan mac and cheeze to arrive at my Whole Foods, and I didn't have the time to make my homemade version, so when I saw this Road's End Organics (Kraft-like) vegan mac out of a box I had to go for it. And yeah I bought the 1 2 3's and I'm not ashamed. Mac and cheese tastes way better when it's in shapes.

I also had some of this Rice Vegan cheese left over. It's not great but it's not bad, and it's fun and nostalgic because it comes in slices. But I ended up ripping it up anyway and melting it into the mac for an extra cheesy kick.

Of course I added broccoli, as always, and voila! A yummy yellow bowl of kiddie goodness. Road's End Mac and Chreese is really great to keep in the house for those days when you just want to throw something together. And I'm not gonna lie, there's something about adding in that powdered chreese that brings me back to the 90s. This is best eaten while watching cartoons and/or Full House.

What's your favorite vegan mac and cheeze? What's your favorite kiddie meal?

.

Veganism + Abortion

2010-04-15T04:00:00.003-04:00

I know I'm stirring up a bit of controversy with this post, but I'm genuinely curious about how you all feel on this issue. I got into an argument with my mom the other day on the topic of abortion and she was surprised that I considered myself Pro-Choice. She made some comment like, "But you're vegan!" It made me laugh a little bit, but she did have a point! If I'm so against taking the lives of animals, why am I for taking the life of a human?

First of all, let me clear that right up - I am not against taking the life of anyone! However, I believe that a woman should ultimately have the option open to her should she be in a situation where she does not want to bring a child into the world. I'm not saying that it's the right thing to do by any means, but it's important to legally have that option available to you. As a vegan and someone who cares about all living beings, of course it saddens me that a life would be ended before it began. But is it any more responsible to unwillingly bring a child into the world? And is abortion really a "vegan" argument?

So yes...big topic, big question, a lot of different ways to answer. I am just curious to see how other people and veg*ns view this topic. Thanks for humoring me and discussing! And please keep it clean, I know this is a passionate topic but let's be nice and hear each other out.

..........................

THANK YOU so much to everyone who shared their truly personal insights on this topic. At the end of the day I think that abortion is not necessarily a vegan issue but one that runs parallel with vegan beliefs, and therefore there are a lot of heartfelt and carefully thought out responses here. Please continue to add your thoughts, but I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who took the time to comment today!

.

Veg is Sexy tees!

2010-04-14T04:00:00.000-04:00

When I first decided to start a web site, I wanted to have a slogan that I would be proud to wear on a t-shirt. When I decided to name it "Veg is Sexy" I thought, well I could wear that! Loud and proud, I don't eat meat and I'm HOT!

And then I thought...why NOT make a t-shirt?

Introducing the Veg is Sexy Boutique!!!

I know I'm not the only one who is proud of their choice to live a meat-free lifestyle, so here's a chance to spread the message of how awesome it is. You can read up again on why I think veg is sexy, decide for yourself, and share it with everyone else!

There are several different colors and combos you can chose for t-shirts, but I chose the black and green for myself. I got it in the mail today and couldn't wait to try it on! (I know it's backwards on the Mac Photobooth, but it doesn't make it any less cute)

In addition, there are some other fun items for you to choose from! Such as...
These cutie booty boy short undies! I bought a pair but decided not to photograph my ass for the world to see.
So there. But I hope you enjoy the fun treats! If you have any requests for color combinations or other items you'd like to see, just shoot me an e-mail at sexyveg@gmail.com and I'll make it work!

Special thanks to Keri for her expertise!

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

2010-04-13T13:50:00.004-04:00

Last night I stayed up for hours watching the first four episodes of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution on abc.com. There's been a ton of press about this show as well as quite a bit of controversy in the blog world, so I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. First of all, let me give you fair warning that this show is 100% NOT veg friendly - there are slabs of meat and chicken bodies flying all over the place. However, I still support the show and the revolution, and here's why.

If you're a regular reader, you know I'm all about baby steps. Every little step that can be made to make the world a better place counts. And it all starts with education. In my own case, I grew up never paying attention to nutrition or good food. In fact, I thought being "healthy" meant being on a diet. Luckily I grew up with a mom who cooked good, nutritious food, but once I started feeding myself in high school and college, I was a mess. While I didn't suffer from obesity or diabetes, I definitely was gaining weight and was sick with a cold/flu/headache several times a month. When I made the effort to get educated about food and health, that's when I started to care about myself, and then I began to care about the world and the animals, and that's when I was introduced to vegetarianism and veganism.

Jamie is working on a much more extreme level, finding people who only eat processed pizzas and chicken nuggets and don't know what cauliflower is. Especially when it comes to the school system, the food they eat can be absolutely disgusting - to the point where it's not even real food! So what I support is Jamie's mission to educate. Once these people, including the children, become concerned with their health and wellness, doors will open and they will start paying attention to what is happening in the food industries. So while it's not a direct path to vegetarianism, it's only a short detour away. And after all, Jamie encourages more veggies which eventually means less room on the plate for meat, which is a baby step all in itself. At the end of the day, here is a man who is encouraging people to eat better, healthier food. You can't argue with that.

Watch the show Friday nights on ABC at 9/8c, or check out Jamie's web site. And in the meantime, feel free to head over to these Sexy recipes and cook up something healthful and delicious for dinner!

Have you seen the show? What are your thoughts and opinions about what Jamie's doing?

Don't forget to check out Nelly's yummy giveaway!
Photo source

K-K-K-Kombucha K-K-Kombucha

2010-04-12T04:00:00.003-04:00

(Post title to be sung to the tune of Lady Gaga's "Poker Face")

Once upon a time, before my days of healthful eating, I was walking home from class in NYC's East Village and decided to stop off at Sei Tomoko to get my hair trimmed. I only had my debit card and they needed a cash tip, so I ran to the deli across the street. I decided to break my twenty by buying a cold beverage and somehow my eye got caught on a bottle of GT Kombucha - and why wouldn't it? The bottle claims to help aid in digestion, weight loss, illness...a billion other things. I had to try it. Unfortunately it exploded all over my hands when I opened it on the street and tasted like vinegar. The rest of the bottle sat in my fridge for about a month before I gave up and poured it down the train.

Cut to now, when kombucha is one of my all-time favorite healthy treats. Sure it's an acquired taste, but it's so worth getting used to. Kombucha does in fact aid in our immune and digestive systems, replenishing our bodies with antioxidants, probiotics, and organic acids. It's cold, it's fizzy, it comes in tons of flavors and it's fun to drink! And now there are several commercial brands! Imagine my surprise and delight when the Kombucha fridge at my local Whole Foods featured two new brands!

Celestial Seasonings and Honest Tea now have Kombucha brands! In addition to the old favorite, GT's:

I was happy to try some of the fun new flavors with the new brands, however there was something that really sealed the deal for me as to which I'll be buying in the future. GT's brand has three ingredients: kombucha, juice, love. Honest and Celestial Seasonings had several, a few unpronounceable, one being sugar. And we all know that after Super Sexy Sugar Cleanse, the point is to eliminate added sugar whenever possible. So enjoy tasting the new flavors if you'd like, but for me I know which I'll stick with at the end of the day...

...and continue drinking it out of wine glasses, obviously. If you're new to kombucha, I highly recommend the GT Mystic Mango flavor, it's the sweetest one.

Oh, and how much do you love this quote from the GT web site: "If you think about it, the body is a living thing; why would you feed it something that is dead?"

Anyway, I'm going to light some scandalous candles, eat some sweet potato chili, and catch up on some reading. Did you get a chance to click to help animals today?

.

Black Out Goodness

2010-04-11T12:33:00.003-04:00

I hope everyone is having a great weekend! I'm looking forward to a relaxing Sunday that may or may not include a short, much-needed trip to the gym. I met up with some old friends from high school this weekend for drinks, one thing led to another and the next thing I knew I was stumbling through the door at 5am Saturday morning and immediately began stuffing my face with Gardein chick'n tenders. I forgot - or blacked out - what it's like to drink heavily and definitely paid for it in the morning. But thank you Gardein for being my rock during hard times.

Speaking of Gardein, I also found these Marinara Chick'n Good Stuff patties:

Wait for it..wait for it...

Oh yeah. A deliciously stuffed totally vegan meal of goodness. And it uses Daiya! They were really good, but I still think I like the plain Jane crispy tenders better. Let me know what you think if you've tried them!

My mom is currently obsessed with her new Caponata recipe and made a big batch for the weekend. I had some on toast for breakfast the other morning. If I'm lucky maybe she'll let me post the recipe in the future ;)

And I was so excited to come home the other day to my new Scent of Scandal candles that I ordered!

I just love these names so much. Stoner (grass), Walk of Shame (early morning dew), Original Sin (fig leaf), and D-Cups (melons). So clever, so fun, so vegan! I highly encourage you to check them out!!!

In other somewhat disappointing news, after doing a celebrity spotlight on Zooey Deschanel last month, I just read her interview in April 2010's issue of Health magazine and she is unfortunately not vegan anymore. She mentioned something about buying "lean meats" and I just about stared at the phrase for a full minute. Then, later in the interview, she confessed that being vegan was too hard for her with all of her food sensitivities and allergies. So...I understand what it's like to have a limited diet, but I'm still a little sad. Not gonna judge, but I felt like I had to mention it.

Anyway, have a great Sunday darlings!

Celebrity Spotlight: Emily Deschanel

2010-04-10T04:00:00.002-04:00

Last month I did a Celebrity Spotlight on Zooey Deschanel after her appearance on Top Chef. I knew that her sister Emily is vegan, so I just couldn't do one sister without the other! Especially since Emily Deschanel appeared on The Ellen Degeneres show on April 7th and talked a bit about her veganism! (Ellen is vegan too, check out her spotlight here!) Emily has been vegan for a whopping 17 years! When she was in school her class watched the documentary of Diet for a New America, and immediately Emily went vegetarian with a 2-year plan to become vegan. Now she does a lot of charity work with Farm Sanctuary, PETA, and the Humane Society. Rumor has it one of her favorite treats going to Babycakes in NYC for vegan cupcakes with her sis.

Emily is best known for the title role in the hit TV show "Bones," which just celebrated its 100th episode. She has appeared in the films My Sister's Keeper, Boogeyman, Spider-Man 2, and Cold Mountain. But I think my favorite thing is that her very first credit on her IMDb page is The Paint-Throwing Fur Activist in the 1994 movie It Could Happen to You! Ha, amazing!

Click here to watch Emily's interview on The Ellen Degeneres show!

You can also check out this super sexy interview with Emily about being green on Ecorazzi!

Check out Averie's amazing giveaway! But don't enter because I want to win ;)

Click for Animals

2010-04-08T20:54:00.006-04:00

How much do you love this little doll:

Or this perfect couple:

Or take a look at all of these cuties!!!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and I think these little guys speak volumes about why we shouldn't eat our friends the animals. Now, if you have a second, maybe we can help feed them. The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble fulfilling its quota to help buy food to feed rescued animals. If you're unfamiliar, The Animal Rescue Site has a ton of sponsors who give them money every time they get a click on the site. So all YOU have to do is hit up the site, click the button, and it's done. You've helped donate and it doesn't cost you a single penny, just ten seconds of your time. And the best part is that you can donate every day! Please help this wonderful organization, and while you're there you can also click for a few other charities such as The Hunger Site and The Rainforest Site. Thank you so much in advance for your help!

Please pass on this link or the one to The Animal Rescue Site to your friends and family!

And thanks so much to Nelly for notifying me of what's going on! xoxo

Roasted Cauliflower Soup

2010-04-06T18:00:00.003-04:00

My mom's friend gave her this recipe for Roasted Cauliflower Soup from surefoodsliving.com. It was absolutely fabulous and I wanted to pass along the link!

The first step is roasting the cauliflower, carrots, and onions - and let me tell you, I've tried to make this soup several times but only succeeded once. Why? Because the roasted veggies are so good that they never make it into the soup. But the soup is equally as delicious if you finish off the final steps of the recipe! Obviously I used vegetable broth over chicken broth to make it vegan. We also made the soup a bit chunkier, but you can make it as smooth as you want using the immersion blender. This soup is a hearty and filling meal on it's own, but you can pair it with a salad and warm bread too!

Also, I recently went for a walk around the creek near my house and saw these two ducks. What a gorgeous couple!

Sun, Water, and SPF 50

2010-04-05T21:34:00.002-04:00

Hey darlings! I'm back from my super relaxing Florida vacation! Here's a little wrap up of my trip:

Lounged in the sun. (Used 2 bottles of SPF 50+)
Walked in the sand.
Slept in. Every day.
Watched 7 movies.
Read 3 books (thanks, paperbackswap!)
Ate some yummy veg food
Dodged my grandmother's questions about why I'm not yet married and having babies.

Tough trip, eh? I'm a really big water person (Aquarius holla!) and so being around that kind of oceanic nature really calms me. I'm actually really excited to move to the west coast this summer, I honestly think that being near the ocean will make me a much more peaceful person. Here are some pretty pics that my mom and I took on our cell phones.

And my favorite...DOLPHINS!!!

These were taken right off the dock of a restaurant we were eating at. Who needs Sea World? I think dolphins are show offs naturally, in their own habitat! There was a huge crowd of people and all these dolphins swam in to jump around and make us smile - the more people that came, the more dolphins showed up! They were happy to put on a show without being caged up in a tank.

Do you consider yourself a water/fire/earth/sky kind of a person? Does one make you happier over the others?

Sunrise

2010-04-02T19:10:00.004-04:00

Hey friends! I just had a little something I wanted to share with you today.

So, I don't consider myself religious although I was raised (and my family is) Catholic. While I have my doubts about the church and their teachings I do consider myself spiritual, and while I'm not quite sure what I believe in, I believe in something.

Today is "Good Friday" for Christians (Sunday is Easter), and yesterday was two weeks since my grandpa passed away. Early this morning my mom was on the balcony watching the sunrise, thinking about Papa and saying a little prayer. She pulled out her phone and took this picture of the horizon and the sunrise.

She looked at it later and started freaking out. Doesn't that look like the Madonna/Virgin Mary on the water? Even for those of us who aren't quite sure about exactly what's out there, it's chill-inducing. A beautiful, eerie but wonderful photo. It makes me think that we're all gonna be ok. Lots of love.

Florida Treats!

2010-04-01T23:35:00.002-04:00

Helloooo from the beach! Oh my gosh, this week in the sun is exactly what I needed. The ocean, sand, a ton of books, and some yummy veg food. Perfection. I found some awesome new treats (well, new to me!) and couldn't wait to share!

Naked Juice Chai Spiced Cider -- A brand NEW Naked juice?!?! Yes, please! I'm a huge fan of Naked already, and Green Machine is one of my faves especially when I can't get my hands on any fresh juice. Obviously I had to try the new flavor. It tasted like a bottle of cold Christmas, which clashed a bit with my summery beachy surroundings but I still enjoyed it. I think this would be even better hot, and in the winter.

Coconut Curry Tempeh -- I rarely ever cook tempeh because I can just never get it to taste good on my own. But OH. MY. GOODNESS. This stuff is incredible!!! It is pre-cooked, pre-sliced, and pre-seasoned. Blow-your-mind delicious. I sauteed it in a little bit of olive oil and then ate it on rye bread with a little Earth Balance.

Gardein Crispy Tenders and Chick'n Scallopini -- I honestly think that you could fool a meat-eater with these. They are so awesome I am nearly speechless. I've heard about them a lot on the blogs and finally decided to go for it. I am going for it again and again and again.

Amy's Roasted Vegetable Pizza -- This one is an old favorite but I had to add it in. It's been perfect to heat up and bring back downstairs to eat poolside. If you're veg and have yet to try this pizza, stop waiting and go get one right now.

And speaking of all the books I mentioned that I've been reading, you guys have to check out paperbackswap.com. It's a free book-swapping site (you just pay for shipping, like $2-$4) and it's amazing. Leslie from Pixiepine got me hooked and I am completely obsessed! Recycling at it's best, guys! I highly recommend it!