What’s shaking friends? Anything exciting happening on Tuesday for you? I’ve been a busy girl running errands, whipping up a few things in the kitch, and trying to find myself a yoga teaching gig in Phoenix. I think I just may have found something, but we shall see. I’ll keep you posted! I am super duper excited!!!! I’ve also started working on a new professional website for myself, so that’s keeping me really busy. Can you say screentime overload between that & this blog?
So the response on the 5-Minute, 3-Ingredient Dark Chocolate Fudge Balls was pretty awesome! Thanks to everyone who said they were loving the looks of those! Give ’em a whirl because they are really yummy and easy and when you just want something chocolaty and nothing else will do, well, those will more than do.
And I totally, thoroughly loved everyone’s comments about whether you prefer to workout alone or in a group, and why. I loved the feedback and your thoughts and I feel like I get to know you better when you share that kinda thing with me which is awesome!
So for today I thought I’d show you a recent TJ’s shopping trip: Dark Sumatra coffee, carrots, cauli, taters, bananas, apples, red peppers, romaine, spring mix, poppyseed salad dressing, bag of pears, you get the idea. Nothing earth-shattering until…
…You hone in on this little section with the Mango Chutney (which will get turned into a salad dressing base soon), Pumpkin Butter (seasonal & awesome on anything from apples to oats to ice cream “syrup”), Premium EVOO with a cool bartender’s nozzle thingey so the EVOO doesn’t just come flooding out, Maple Syrup (Grade B, which actually has a nicer flavor than Grade A, smoother and richer), and TJ’s Bourbon Vanilla Extract.
Moving along to Today’s Eats…
Well from the TJ’s trip, I scored a bag of cute little purple, red, & white potaotes so I quartered the mini-taters and sprinkled them with S & P, Ground Ginger, and EVOO (I didn’t use new EVOO from TJ’s, and had an EVOO flood, just the way Scott likes his taters). Then I roasted them covered at 375F for 20 minutes, uncovered and flipped them, and then roasted uncovered for another half hour.
Perfectly crunchy on the outside
Soft & Tender on the Inside (just like me)
(sorry can’t help myself)
And for dinner I tossed together a huge plate of greens, cukes, tomatoes, carrots, peppers & added in the pretty purple, red, & white taters. Taste-wise the purple taters are pretty much the same as other colors of potatoes but what do you think if you’ve had them?
Then for dessert. Well remember that TJ’s Bourbon Vanilla Extract I bought? Well, I put that to use with a Batch of Banana Bourbon Vanilla Softserve. Never fear, Gena, I have gotten a buzz from the ‘Nana Softserve. If you don’t have access to the TJ’s Bourbon Vanilla, any vanilla extract will do, or just a shot glass full of bourbon probably wouldn’t hurt, either.
Scoop the luscious softserve into a bowl.
And try not to devour the whole thing at once. It will tax your skills, trust me.
And as long as I had the VitaLove out, I figured I’d make Strawberry Protein Softserve for Skylar. She’s ok with whey protein and I had this sample from YouBars so I took it plus added…
…1 frozen banana, 3/4 c frozen raspberrries, dash of agave, splash of almond milk and blended.
And 45 seconds later, my toddler was in Strawberry Protein Softserve Heaven
And then, I decided to throw some Dark Chocolate Fudge Balls Into the Bourbon Banana Vanilla Softserve. Sorry, I ate it before I took a picture. Use your imagination.
and their Pure Oxygen Whitener (a Green Version of OxyClean for the laundry)
both work wonderfully!! As they say on their website, “Free of any synthetic chemicals, your family and the planet will appreciate it.”
Here’s a little more from their site:
Yoga Today is Kukkutasana (Cock Pose). Yes, really that’s the name, as in PeaCock. Ahem…moving right along….
Tip of the Day: My EcoStore USA Give Away!!!!!
Your chance to win a $25 Online Shopping Spree! You really need to get on this one to help green up your life, so go Get Entered Now!!!!!
Holly’s also got a Give Away Going On!
What Green thing do you do, or what would you like to start doing that’s a little more green? A few things that come to mind for me are: Using cloth grocery bags, and at least once a week not driving anywhere and walking where I need to go in order to reduce my carbon footprint. I cloth diapered for half Skylar’s diaper days as to not put 500 years into the landfill for each plastic diaper thrown away. I re-use plastic baggies and save all my containers from nut butters, jelly, hummus, etc and re-use them for food storage or for car snacks. I use nontoxic and eco friendly cleaning products when possible. I am vegan, and although it’s largely for health reasons, that choice also reduces my carbon footprint. What do you do that’s Green or Eco-Friendly?
Stay Tuned For A Creative Fresh Veggie Salad & Dressing Recipe…
I'm so glad that you enjoyed teaching!! I teach "Vinyasa" haha as you said- people get scared when I even say advanced!! But I am NOT a basic teacher! Sure I try- but it's really not who I am.. you know? I really don't like heated yoga at all. I think that its something that only advanced students should do. Mostly because the muscles get way to lucid, and those who don't know what their bodies can/can't do will just push themselves too far and pull muscles and just injure themselves. Of course everyone is different- but I can't stand it!!
I can't imagine having to pay for child care on a yoga teaching salary.. I have to waitress now- I could only imagine the hours I would have to work to afford that! But its nice to have a husband who is supportive of the process.. I've been working on cutting down my hours from the day job and adding more classes. Unfortunately I am going to school as well- so I'm trying to pay for that! But like they say yoga is a lifelong process!! I wish you the best of luck with your new teaching spot! Please keep us updated with your progress!!
So glad your yoga class went well! I would be SO nervous to do something like that in a totally new place. What a great way to meet new friends:)
Can I just say you mentioned/linked to your coconut snowballs THREE times on this post?! With a picture on each mention. That cracked me up, but I can see why- because they are that darn good!
I am hoping you'll be my first blogger meet up- just because I'm not planning on going anywhere other than Phoenix until I leave for school, so we will see. Hopefullyy.
Also- we see so much of you and Skylar, is Scott camera shy?! I think we'd all love to meet him. :)
Dream celebrity blogger meet up: Jenna of Eatliverun or Kath of Katheats. Those two gals were the first I think anybody read of blogs, and their friendship with each other is enough to make me want to meet them. Also, HEAB, she would be awesome to meet. But anybody I read/who reads my blog would be so so awesome. There are just so many! I want to meet everybody.
The headstand has to be one of my favorite, if not favorite, yoga poses. The rush of blood to your head is so…invigorating? I'm not sure if that's the right description, but either way, I love the feeling!
I KNEW the teaching would go well!! Fabulous news – keep it up :)
Hope your Sunday has been relaxing!!
love the recaps and love how you always re-show pics and link recipes to make it easty for your followers to find and print them out if they so choose!
did you teach another class this morning?? howd it go? i am sure you are a fabulous teacher and I would love to take a class with you!
as Skylar gets older are you brining her up vegan? or will you let her choose?
xoxo
Averie, I just LOVE these weekly highlights! All your scrumptious eats in one juicy post :)
Glad the yoga teaching went so well! And yay for new in-real-life bloggy friendships.
Have fun with Skylar! Stay sane while Scott's away :)
GREAT week of eats! I still think the apple crumble looks the best but…honestly, I'd happily eat any of your meals/desserts! So cool that you lived in the Carolinas! We live just outside Charleston and LOVE it. We need to have an email chat!
I'm so glad I am following your blog now…you are absolutely amazing!! I am planning on trying out those lovely coconut snowballs very VERY soon. ;)
I have yet to have a blogger meet-up but definitely hope to in the future!!
OK what does Om Shanti mean? I just realized I have a friend who has "omshanti" as her email address – and uh, yeah, she's a yogi. This all makes so much sense now.
SO glad the yoga class went great! I was thinking about you yesterday morning and sending you tons of +++ vibes! I'm so happy for you!
I'm pretttty sure you should fly to NY for a meetup :) We'll go shopping for TJs cawwwfee together! haha
I'm so glad the yoga class went good! I hope you get more classes soon and then a job and then you can open your own studio..
haha I'm getting a little ahead of myself.
I heart your re-caps.. I wanna meet up!!! lol Maybe someday if Im in the Southwest!
Enjoy your Sunday Averie!
Just stopping by to say Hi! Have fun teaching class and meeting up with a fellow Blogger!PS- I GOT A SPIRALIZER FOR MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!! SOOOO EXCITED!
Awesome, that you're teaching classes again! I'm sure it was a fabulous class. I haven't been to any blogger meet ups.
I can imagine you'd be a great Yoga teacher, I certainly love your poses you post about.
Taylor
What a great round up of your week! I'm hoping that once my crazy life calms down next week, I'll be able to whip up some of your luscious looking creations.
Have fun with your blogger meet up!! Bloggies are like long lost friends, it's kind of weird when you get together with one. I've met with one and I'm HOPING to meet with another over Thanksgiving :)
I have a feeling your Raw PB cup recipe is going to be the death of me. Those candies were my ULTIMATE favorite (hello, Reese's oats) when I was a kid!
I met 2 people last week at the booth I had that blogged, but never really had a blogger meet up. I so wish I could!
So glad to hear that yoga went well for you. I knew you'd make one heck of an amazing teacher! I'm just jealous I wasn't in your class! *Note to self – must travel to AZ ASAP to take Averie's yoga class* ;)
Try to think of some "girlie" activities that you and Skylar can enjoy together this week. Paint each other's nails, rent a girlie (and age apropriate) movie, go out for a "fancy" dinner, bake something together, etc! Starting out early with mother-daughter activities will only create a stronger bond between you and Skylar as she gets older.
xxoo
Heather
Yay your new yoga class went great! So happy for you!
I like what you said about RAW choosing you. Makes perfect sense.
I am super sleepy tonight. gonna go chill!
Can't wait to see you tomorrow!
all of your food looks SO GOOD and so creative!! the weekly recaps are awesome. i love those yoga poses! of course-you do them wayyy better than me
I bet you are a fabulous yoga teacher! That'd definitely be a fun yoga class :) The softserve looks great, and so do those pretty potatoes. Ohhh we need to meet up soon! Maybe sometime on a weekend? I'm so crazy busy with school during the week, but weekends are usually chill. OH and if you still can't find the holiday tea at your grocery store, I saw it at the Tempe whole foods (and got some!) today. They might have it at the Phoenix WF?
I love your weekly recaps! Thought I'd let you know that I posted about your raw chocolate chip cookies on my blog today (www.taleoftwovegans.wordpress.com)… definitely the third time I've made them – they're just so good!
I'm jealous of people that live in areas where it's possible to meet up with other bloggers! There are so many people that blog that seem so awesome!
-Eve