Highlights of the Week, San Diego Trip Recap

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Hi Friends! How’s Your Weekend Going?  I had a blast in San Diego yesterday.  I flew there for the day and met up with some old friends and bummed around a few of my favorite places.  It was a total whirlwind and it took a lot out of this soccer mom to jet-set for the day…haha!  More on the trip at the bottom of the post.

What’s going on for you this weekend?  I am going to publish this post, hit the gym to lift, and then spend the day with Scott and Skylar.  And maybe get some pool time in!

For Last Week’s Highlights of the week, Click Here

This Week’s Highlights of the Week

I am absolutely loving lifting and what it’s been doing for my body, and it’s really only been a month since I started Training for Fitness Competitions!  I love feeling that rush when I lift (heavy) weights.  But the other side to it is that I am doing something that just a month ago, couldn’t have imagined that I would love so much!   And it’s been great for my confidence because I love the way my new found muscles look and I have a whole different set of muscles that have popped out compared to my decade’s worth of yoga muscles.

Unlike athletes and competitors who have to “cut” or “diet down” or drastically manipulate their diets, I don’t and I won’t.  I also don’t take supplements, am not big on the Protein Powders as Discussed, and so really, other than lifting and training like a maniac, I don’t plan to make any other drastic day-to-day changes.

The Secret as Discussed in my Post

Do You Believe in The Secret?  If you’re not familiar with it, I will paraphrase it by saying that the author suggests that what you put out is what you will attract.  Meaning, if I really want to do well in my fitness show, then I need to put out, I Will Do Well. I Will Succeed.  That type of thing.

And that if we put out negative energy that that’s what we will get back.  i.e. I am ugly and no one will ever want me.  And if that’s the energy you put out, you’re probably right, no one will want you.

I do believe that the power of intentions and energy is huge!  I put out a few things to the Universe the past week, and although they are not “big things” in the scheme of life, I offered them up, with great intentions and positive affirmations and thoughts, and I had some very cool and awesome results.   The mantra, ask and you shall receive?  It happened big time for me which was great!

However, I believe there are limits with everything and sometimes outcomes are just outcomes.   They have nothing to do with anything else and you just can’t read more into it.   I have posted Here on Luck as well as This Post.

Averie in the mirror

 Gotta Check my Lipstick Abs on the Way out the Door
Averie in the mirror

I figure that since I am committed to taking care of myself and staying in great shape, so why not try to get paid in the process.  If I get paid work, great.  And if not, I would take care of myself anyway.  So it’s a no-brainer for me to give it a whirl.  Thanks again for the all the encouraging comments you all left me!

Dark Chocolate Coconut Snowballs

Dark Chocolate Coconut SnowballsDark Chocolate Coconut Snowballs
Dark Chocolate Coconut Snowballs

Stir with a spoon and no other appliances are needed.  And it’s a one bowl recipe that saves on dishes!

 Note: I usually Double This Recipe and Freeze Extra as Needed

 Scott loves the Dark Chocolate Coconut Snowballs..

Dark Chocolate Coconut Snowballs
…or the Regular Chocolate high Raw Vegan Chocolate Coconut Snowballs recipe
 Raw Vegan Chocolate Coconut Snowballs
 Raw Vegan Chocolate Coconut Snowballs

Either way, Snowballs are his favorite dessert and it’s a 5 minute recipe.  Truly.  Plus, the Snowballs taste a lot more “complicated” than they really are.  Maybe Scott’s impressed enough by the desserts I make to buy me a $500 bikini.  I mentioned competition suits are kinda pricey.

Green Food was an Edamame Salad

Edamame Salad
Edamame Salad

With Vegan Slaw Dressing using the Reduced Fat Veganaise

Vegan Slaw Dressing
Oh how I love a Good Flood!
Edamame Salad
Silly statement.
No, I prefer Chocolate & Coconut Oil Fat any day!

Raw Vegan Coconut Oil Chocolate

Raw Vegan Coconut Oil Chocolate

Chocolate For me…
Bars:
Chocomize with Dried Strawberries & Blueberries

Chocomize with Dried Strawberries & Blueberries

And Balls:
No-Bake Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls with Extra Protein Option

No-Bake Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls
No-Bake Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls

Goals

What are your Goals for the Week?  Do you set goals?  How often do you re-visit them?
I posted here about why I don’t set New Years “Resolutions”.  Rather, I set Intentions.  You can break a resolution easier than you can break an intention.  Subtle shift in thinking, but a nice one I find and it all ties in with that Power of Our Thoughts stuff.

I don’t usually write my goals down but I have a huge laundry list of things I need to do and get done and things I want to do.  I posted here about Always Having Goals.

I desperately need to do my Personal Trainer Studying & Reading and that is my Mission Critical Project this week and going forward.  And of course, now that I have a Show Date, it’s balls out at the Gym!

Leader or Follower

Do You Follow Directions & Rules?  Do you consider yourself a Leader or a Follower?
I can follow directions, and on things like putting together furniture or filing my taxes, I of course follow directions precisely.  Rules of the road?  Sort of follow those.  But in things that are subjective, shades of gray, and opinion-based, like what would taste good in a recipe or how to sculpt the perfect physique or how to be a conscientious parent where everyone has an opinion on the matter, I definitely march to my own tune and don’t “follow the directions”.   As I mentioned in This Post, I am no stranger to making non-mainstream choices and for standing up for what I believe, even if it Isn’t Popular, and that’s fine!

Tuesday: Mango Desserts, Pumpkin, Mailbox Finds, Memory

For Dessert There was Mango x 2:
1. Mango & Pineapple Chocomize

Mango & Pineapple Chocomize

2. And I made a Batch of Mango BananaVanilla Softserve

Mango BananaVanilla Softserve
Mango BananaVanilla Softserve
Totally Refreshing and Naturally Gluten/Soy/Dairy/Nut-Free and it’s Raw and Vegan

I always tell people who are struggling with food allergies or trying to get to the bottom of their food intolerances or random symptoms that they should stop trying to “re-invent” the wheel, i.e. buying Gluten-Free Pizza Crust with Dairy-Free Cheese with Soy-Based “Pepperoni”.  No!!!!!   That’s a smorgasbord of allergens.  A food-intolerance nightmare!

Instead, Eat foods that are found in nature, grew on trees or in the ground.  Simple foods.

Think Mangoes and Bananas!  If it doesn’t grow in the ground or you can’t pick it from a tree, and you have food allergies, don’t eat it.  And even if you don’t have food allergies, keep on reducing the amount of processed foods you consume because I don’t believe any of us need to eat highly processed foods.
Mango BananaVanilla Softserve

Pumpkin Butter from TJ’s that I stockpiledpurchased around Thanksgiving.

Pumpkin ButterPumpkin Butter

 The Pumpkin Butter is great for jazzing up Raw Fruit & Veggies.

Skylar
Skylar seems to be impressed
Skylar

Or in Banana Pumpkin Pie Oats

Banana Pumpkin Pie Oats
 If I run out of TJ’s brand, I use the grocery store brand of Pumpkin Pie Spice in The Oats and all is pumpkin-spiced nicely.

I should swap it into my Peanut Butter Coconut Oil Popcorn

Peanut Butter Coconut Oil Popcorn
Peanut Butter Coconut Oil Popcorn

Or Into Pumpkin Pie Spice Coconut Oil Popcorn

Pumpkin Pie Spice Coconut Oil Popcorn
Pumpkin Pie Spice
Coconut Oil

 

Chocolate Chips and Pumpkin Pie Spice popcorn
I love how the cloves in the Pumpkin Pie Spice work really well with the chocolate chips!

I think I need to make Pumpkin Butter Pumpkin Spice Popcorn.  Now, that’s an idea!

Pumpkin Butter Pumpkin Spice Popcorn
 
Green Food: Asparagus, Sugar Snap Peas, Mixed Greens, Tomatoes, Cukes
Asparagus, Sugar Snap Peas, Mixed Greens, Tomatoes, Cukes

Dressed with Homemade Vegan Slaw Dressing

Homemade Vegan Slaw Dressing

New Cookbooks

Cookbooks
If you missed my previous Cookbook Review Post, Check it out Here

In that post, I reviewed other books from Book Publishing Co
A Few of the books in that post Included…

Cookbooks
Cookbooks
Cookbooks
 And Many More!
Cookbooks
Now if only I had as much time as I have books, I’d be all set!

Memory.  How Good is Yours?

(I talked about Childhood Memories and How Far Back Can You Remember in This Post)

As I mentioned above, my memory is great if I concentrate on the task or item at hand and “commit” it to memory, and sometimes certain things I read just really stick.  But I also am like most people that I can go to the grocery store wanting to buy something very specific and I go, shop, buy tons of things, but leave without purchasing the item I needed the most!  So my memory is not perfect.

Thanks for sharing your Childhood Memories!

I Asked if you prefer blunt even if it’s “tough love” or do you like things sugar coated?
The results were overwhelmingly: be blunt, tell it like it is, and don’t hold back!!!!
And I didn’t in My Abs Post!

 

Coconut Oil Chocolate Covered Strawberries, Commenting Glitches & the Full Moon, Brutal Honesty

Coconut Oil Chocolate Covered Strawberries

strawberries
2 pints for 88 cents each!!
I got 4 pints of strawberries for $1.76
strawberries

I put them to Great Use:  Coconut Oil Chocolate Sauce Covered Strawberries!

Quick Raw Vegan Coconut Oil Chocolate Sauce Recipe

Quick Raw Vegan Coconut Oil Chocolate Sauce Recipe
 Feel free to play around with the Ratios in the Recipe.  You really can’t go wrong with cocoa powder, agave, vanilla, and coconut oil!
No Sugar Added Berries
Chocolate Math sent to me by Earth Mother
chocolate math

I’ve posted before about the Full Moon and How it Effects Us

Everything from insomnia, sleep disturbances, heated interpersonal exchanges, to computers and tech-related things going all glitchy and malfunctioning.  Click Here to Read Up On It!

I also posted a Full Moon List of Things to Do or Try, In This Post Here

Green Food: Brussels, Sugar Snap Peas, Tomatoes, Carrots, Mixed Greens

Brussels, Sugar Snap Peas, Tomatoes, Carrots, Mixed Greens
Maple Ginger Dijon Vinaigrette
Maple Ginger Dijon Vinaigrette
There’s something about the flavor of the maple and dijon with the raw veggies that works wonderfully well for me.
veggies

Here are some Aruba Pics I was looking atfrom my Christmas trip

Aruba
Aruba

For Newer Readers who Missed My Trip, Enjoy Pictures Here or Here or Here.  And for Older Readers who just want to torture yourself with gorgeous beach scenes, have at it!  haha!  It was an awesome trip and I am sooooo grateful to have spent the holidays with Scott and Skylar there.

Brutal Honesty vs.  Sparing People’s Feelings.  Do you Tell the Whole Truth?:  Thanks to everyone who told me yesterday that you want Brutal Honesty in This Post.

Also from Here:
Is there anything that you’ve been brutally honest with someone about even though you didn’t know if you should be or not? How did it play out?  Was the person resentful, hurt, happy, relieved?  How did you feel afterward?
In general, I try not to give unsolicited advice but there have been times I have been brutally honest, but only after I was asked.

 
 

First, Books & TV:
Skylar had to find some things to do.  I don’t put on the TV or videos for her.  Books baby.  Open them.  Read.

SkylarSkylar
I’m not anti-TV but she watches one 28-minute DVR’ed episode of Barney, tops, per day.  And that’s it.  Guess that’s another of my Non-Mainstream Choices.  That’s clearly working because she’s happy and has a vocabulary to beat the band!  She’s 3 and asks me if I’ve created my blog post for the day.
Thanks for sharing your TV vs Books Thoughts

Thank you to everyone who wrote in and commented on my Abs Post!  IT WAS THE MOST POPULAR POST IN LOVE VEGGIES AND YOGA HISTORY TO DATE!

The comments are amazing to read, I responded to tons of you in the comment field, and I am so glad that the post that I cringed about publishing actually was such a “winner”!

And thanks for telling me that as bloggers, you’ve had cringe-before-hit-publish posts, too!

I am not a Personal Trainer…yet.  But I’m Studying!  However, I am living and breathing physical fitness with my Bodybuilding and Fitness Show training.

And the proof is in the 6-pack
Averie in the mirror

 No, I didn’t always have ripped abs.

 
Pregnancy and childbirth does not leave one with a 6-pack.  It leaves you with…lots of work to do!

I shared my Diet Tips

And my response to The Number One Thing I Hear from Friends and Readers:

“But I feel like I’m doing everything right.  I eat right, I exercise, and I still can’t seem to see my abs.  Why and What Can I Do?”

My Tough Love Response: Click Here

Exercise Tips
Such as

Pull Ups and bring your legs up and down, and side to side

woman doing pull ups

And What I Do to Get my Abs to Pop.  It’s All in This Post!

Averie at the gym

Take Home Message:
I hope this was helpful.  It’s what I do, and it’s what works for me.  I don’t expect all of it to work for you or be 100% applicable for you.

Our physical bodies are just one aspect of our total being and self.  For me, I am competing and being judged based entirely on what I can sculpt my body into and for me, at this time, this is important.

Thank you for all your encouraging words, compliments, for telling me I inspire you, for telling me you can see my enthusiasm and zest for life.  Your words and comments were super kind and sweet, and wonderful to read!    It’s posts and comments like the ones I received on my Abs Post, keep me blogging, help keep me keeping on documenting, sharing, giving, and being part of this awesome community called the blogosphere!

We also Talked about Airbrushing, and Your Thoughts
No Tattoo on the Cover

womens abs

 But on the interior spread and article, she has a Tattoo

womens abs
womens abs

And I asked What Body Parts You Love, and are Learning to Love.  And Why!  Thanks for telling me all this great info, gang!

I am so glad The Abs Post was such a hit, was well-received and if you want to read some really friendly, fun, happy comments that will put a smile on your face, check These Out.

Saturday: San Diego Trip Recap!

In This Post, I told You I was Going to San Diego for the Day on Friday
Beach with cliffs over water
San Diego Beach with palm trees and walkway
Since moving to Phoenix 8 months ago, I haven’t been back and I miss San Diego dearly!

I didn’t take tons of pictures because quite honestly, I sometimes need to take a break from whipping out my camera incessantly!  See This Post for What Blogging Really Entails!  And yes, bloggers are slaves to the camera, at all times!  So I kept it tucked in my purse for much of the day.

But I did take a few Pics of my Old Favorite Shopping Plaza complete with Regular Grocery, Trader Joe’s, and a Starbucks and Two Blocks Away is the Whole Foods.  All within walking distance.  Miss that!

San DiegoSan Diego

 And I went into American Apparel and tried on a few Tshirts but didn’t buy anything

American Apparel

And drove by my old house.  Ahh the memories I have of when Skylar couldn’t even crawl when we first moved into that house.

 
Old house they used to live in
Close up of old house

Then I met up with some friends and had a ball and then it was time to come home.  It was super fun day despite being a whirlwind!   But in a great way!

Yoga Today is Letting Go of Feeling I “Have To” Post a Picture

Gym & Weights Workout Today: A Few New (from a few days ago) Pictures in My Gym Workouts Tab!

Here’s One of Them

And I just came in from a Workout Session and the Pool.  95F outside.  Excuse the heat stroke look.

Woman showing off abs in mirror

And I will do a Full Body Workout as soon as I hit Publish!

Tip of the Day:  My NuNaturals Stevia Give Away for 4 Winners!!!!

 
On the Entry Form I Gave You Some of My Recipe Ideas Using Stevia
Liquid Stevia Bottle
Thanks NuNaturals!!!
 
Click Here to Enter Now!!!!

Questions
1.  What’s the best thing you’ve done or ate so far today?
Me = kissing Skylar and giving her a huge big hug when she woke up today!

2. What’s something new or unique that you’re doing this weekend?  Challenge yourself to do something new, fun, unique, or out of your comfort zone!
I am more than likely attending a Raw Vegan Potuluck and Picnic tomorrow with 100 people I’ve never met!  I have to think of something fast, easy, and delicious to bring to share with some of them!

 

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Welcome to AverieCooks! Here you’ll find fast and easy recipes that taste amazing and are geared for real life. Nothing fussy or complicated, just awesome tasting dishes everyone loves!

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Please note: I have only made the recipe as written, and cannot give advice or predict what will happen if you change something. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info.

Comments

  1. It sounds like it was a great trip! Thanks for sharing! Those photos of your recipes look almost good enough to eat. How delicious!