Life’s A Beach

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So do you like it?  Huh? those of you reading in googlereader are asking. 

I decided to change the background and color scheme on my bloggie.  In case you can’t remember what it was because I know some of you, like VeggieGirl, subscribe to like 10 million blogs and always is the first commenter no less, I love ya girl! 

Anyway, the former bloggie background was an orangey, coral middle section with a semi-bright floral patten on the side.  Think cantelope, sunny days, and summer.  Well, it’s nearing fall and I wasn’t feelin’ the color scheme.  I really am not an orange lover.  Not to mention, I felt the orange background made all my food photos look a little off.  So, I am diggin’ this one much better.  What do you guys think?

I hope everyone’s been having a great weekend!  We just got back from the beach.  Well, the bay.  Mixed bag with a toddler.  Great for awhile, but then when we told her we had to go, All. Hell. Broke. Loose and MEGA tantrum ensued.  One of those tantrums that as a mom you wonder why you even tried to embark on this “oh-so-fun” actvitity?  That’s the price of being a mom to a little pumpkin just two and a half and on the bright side, it was still fun for most of the time. 

I’m going to try to keep the commentary to a minimum today because I want to spend time with my family before the weekend is sadly, sniff-sniff, over.

Remember in this post when I mentioned I have a container garden?  Well the Little Engine That Could, aka my strawberry plant that has yielded about 4 strawberries thus far in it’s short existence appears to be turning the corner.  And my harvest total will be at a whopping 7 berries this season.  Baby steps, I tell ya.

Strawberry plant with some growing strawberries

Here’s a sampling of some of the eats of the past 24…

Raw Oatmeal.  I just soaked 1/3 c dry oats with 2/3 c almond milk for about 18 hours in the fridge with a banana that I diced.  Result:  Creamy oats, no cooking.  Who needs that darn radioactive box, I mean microwave, anyway?

Homemade raw oatmeal close up

Last night’s dinner was more of the Sweet ‘n Tangy Chicken-Less Chicken Salad, served open-face taco style in romaine leaves, garnished with dulse flakes, cukes, zukes, yellow peppers, and some crack black.

Sweet and Tangy Chickenless Chicken Salad on romaine leaves

And no dinner is complete without even more veggies:
*B.S.
*Zukes
*Cukes
*Yellow & Orange Peppers
*Juice of 1/2 orange, Agave, & Crack Black

Mixed vegetables with dressing

Here were some of the beach shots, not stunning, but my butt was comfortably parked on my blanket and this was the best I could muster from that comfy vantage point.

Sandy beach showing calm water
 

Walking hand in hand.  I like this one alot.

Man and child walking along beach wading in water 
 
 

I want to go swimming by myself, Mommy.  Did I mention that I used to run away from my parents at the beach?  Payback’s a bitch, isn’t it.

Little girl playing in the water 
 
 
I really cannot believe I am posting this, but what they heck.  I mean, I have posted some shots of me wearing not much more doing my yoga.  So here you go.  Modesty and shame out the window I guess.  Also it’s for Justine who mentioned that she is not comfy in a two-piece in some situations and since she has a rockin’ bod, I have no idea what she’s talking about but I think it’s a girl thing…I mean, who loves the way they look in a swimsuit?  Surely not I!
 
Woman in swimsuit on beach with little girl wading in water behind her
 
 
 

Speaking of yoga, here’s one of me in Marichasana C on the New Yoga Mat! Which in case you missed it, I gave the lowdown on the mat in this post.  Cliff’s Notes: I gave it a Two Namastes Up.

Woman doing Marichasana C yoga pose

:)
Averie

Tip of the Day:  When things are not going well, try to take some deep breaths and remember, This Too Shall Pass.  We all know this, but in the heat of the moment when there is sand getting all over the car, bare feet are walking on hot pavement, a kid is screaming bloody murder, your boss is chewing you out over something lame, your significant other just told you something even lamer…you get the drift.  Just take a few deep breaths, don’t freak, and remember it will be over soon.  

What’s your In-The-Heat-of-the-Moment Stress reducing tip?

P.S. Stay tuned for some chocolate tomorrow.  And guess what…it’s NOT the raw vegan brownies.  Somethin’ new!

About the Author

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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Comments

  1. How funny that you put dates w/ PB on here. I just commented on someone else's blog that dates with sunbutter are a favorite of mine!! YUMMO!!

    That vegan store is impressive! I live in the country and would flip out if there was a store like that around here–not that I could afford any of it though:)

    All your raw treats look yummy–oatmeal cookie made my mouth water! I need to get 'un'cooking:)

    I saw my ND(natureopathic Dr.) yesterday and was telling her that maybe I needed more cooked food because I am not feeling satisfied. She quickly disagreed and informed me that she doesn't think I am absorbing nutrients well enough to eat much cooked food. So, I guess I'm stickin' with more raw:) I need to try some new recipes! It's just a little tricky because I am the only one in the family that eats this way. Sorry to write a novel–see ya later:)

  2. I just saw that "chaturanga" was highlighted so I followed the link. There is a LOT more involved in these moves than I thought! No wonder why it's such a good workout…

  3. My favorite quick raw dish is definitely spiralized "noodles" made from zucchini and/or cucumber, carrots, etc. I top it with either marinara or Gena's raw peanut dressing. YUM!!

    I just left a comment on Deb's blog about Jazzercise. :) I'm all for it because I teach it! Teehee..

    Is that a chaturanga? Sorry if I mis-spelled that. I need to Google some of these yoga words. I plan on trying a class at 10:30 today after I teach this morning. I'm very excited!

    That date/PB/choco chip combo looks decadent…my mouth is watering!

    I'm finishing off some of my current products right now before I go buy some Burt's Bees stuff. I don't know much about natural products, but I'm trying to switch.

  4. That store is awesome! There have been a couple like that cropping up near me, too.

    I want Ani's dessert cookbook SO badly.

  5. My fast meal? Easy- winter squash soup in the vitamix. Cut hunk of squash of choice but I include the skin, hunk of onion, hunk ginger, S&P, curry powder. Put in V-mix- run 4-5 min til hot (cooks in the Vmix b/c of the heat generated from blades). You can also nuke/steam squash first while you're cutting the other two veggies and shaking the seasonings on. Sooooo good and filling.

  6. My fast meal? Easy- winter squash soup in the vitamix. Cut hunk of squash of choice but I include the skin, hunk of onion, hunk ginger, S&P, curry powder. Put in V-mix- run 4-5 min til hot (cooks in the Vmix b/c of the heat generated from blades). You can also nuke/steam squash first while you're cutting the other two veggies and shaking the seasonings on. Sooooo good and filling.

  7. Michele, glad you thought my post was creative. Yeah, since I'm workin' on mommy sleep deprivation, I thought I was pretty damn creative too. LOL. Then again, when you don't get out much, you tend to think your own jokes are funny :)

    Kristin-Thanks for the Osea feedback and for your link. Off to check that out! Dear lord I need something that works, is not full of SLS and parabens and garbage, but is not too many steps and stages and of course, cheaper than like La Mer would be nice. The ants on a log-stay away at midnight, they are really addictive!
    P.S. I am going to be moving to your hood next week. I'll try to email you offlist…

    Hi Shannon-glad the b'fast cookie post reinspired you to reignite the missing cookie flame. I hope you enjoy yours…been rockin it out for the whole family over here.

    Big XOXO to everyone!!! :)

  8. i need to get b'fast cookies in my life again–it's been way too long :) i have been putting a couple hazelnuts in my medjools… *heaven*

  9. I have tried OSEA years ago…. it was nice. Lately I've been using 100%Pure (100percentpure.com). They have vegan, vegetarian, and organic products.

    Love the ants on a log mixture you posted. I'll bet those are addictive! And, I have a box of those GF crackers in my cupboard, too. They're so crunchy! :)

    Cheers, XOXO,
    Kristen

  10. First I have to say I read the above comments and you're wrong, Averie: I don't own a spiralizer either! Are you thinking what I'm thinking? ;-D

    And about this post. Girl, I LOVE it!

    First, it's so creative and fantabulously FUN!

    Second, I'm so envious of that Vegan store! Awesome!

    Third, those yummy ideas you shared with us are just RAWsome!!!

    And last, I'm off to enter that honey contest. You see, this is why I don't consider myself a Vegan. Honey is such sweet bliss! :-P

    *smiles*
    Raw Juice Girl

  11. Might I suggest trying Zevia. Zevia is the first all natural, 0 calorie stevia sweetened soda in the world. No aspartame & no Splenda. It tastes very good and its at Whole Foods. Six delicious flavors including Cola, Twist, Root Beer, Ginger Ale and Black Cherry.
    – Margaret
    PS If anyone wants to try ZEVIA to review it on their website please feel free to email me at margaret at zevia dot com.

  12. Girl on Raw–I think I am the only person left in the raw food movement who doesn't own a spiralizer. I am planning to get the one Gena (Choosing Raw) recommends, saladaco or something to that effect. I need it pronto! Thanks for your link. And yea, I used to live in a really backwards part of the USA where there was nothing remotely vegan oriented. Mail order is better than nothing, carbon footprint and all :)

    VG-Great minds think alike with the chaturangas. And yeah, medjools do taste like carmel. Great to see you back!!!! xoxo

    RunToFinish-Thanks for the shout on and yeah I only recently discovered dates too. What was I thinking?! Funny I probably just had nasty ones which is why I never was that into them.

  13. mm I love dates, only discovered them this year! KC is a little behind on the vegan movement, but I'm getting us there

  14. Medjool dates = ONLY dates worth eating. They're like caramel :)

    Once again, we "yoga-ed" alike – I started my morning with lots of chaturangas.

  15. OMG I am soooo jealous you have a store like that so close to you. I have to make do with the basics and hope for a work trip to a place that has stores like these…or else rely on mail order (which I don't like to always do as it contributes heavily to my carbon footprint and my desire to shop locally most of the time).

    Hmmm fast dinner…I love my Easy Raw Zuchinni Pasta here https://www.girlonraw.com/2009/08/swiss-chard-chips-and-quick-easy-raw.html. Always a favourite…

    :D