Dreamin Big!

I've had an odd-yet productive rest of the summer and time has not been kind to me when it comes to blogging. I've got a lot of things culminating though and I'm looking forward.

Growing my business is my main priority for the beginnings of fall and I've got a very LONG list of to-do's, mainly:

Finishing illustrations
Designing a new logo and business cards
Updating my site
Maintaining this blog!!!
More freelancing hardcore
Getting product ready for my Etsy shop
Incorporate my business!!! 
.....I know there's more and I'll add it to my list soon!

For now I'm ending this with an image that I found today on Design*Sponge and it's going to keep me moving forward with all of this. My "office" isn't set up perfectly, but it's mine and I have space of my own. However, someday I would love to have mine look like this:

It's just so bright and colorful!

True Friend

This may or may not become an ongoing post theme...I'd like to start getting more candid images like this one with other people I hold near and dear.

In the meantime, I had to share this photo of me and my best friend/main man Roberto, i.e., my amazing boyfriend Rob. He truly is my best friend and, on rainy days like today, he can wipe away any frustration or bad energy I may have had going on...and believe me, this week's been a rough one.

So this pic is a toast to all of us out there in the Universe who may, or may not, have that special someone out there who can make you laugh and allow you to be yourself. If you have someone in your life right now let them know how much you love them. And if you haven't found that person yet, don't lose faith! They're out there...

je t'aime 

All You Need is Love xoxo

Snack Thyme!

My life's been completely crazy lately and sincere apologies for the lack of posting going on. Snacking and cooking have been a huge role in my day time activities and, although I've just started a very demanding job that I'm still feeling out, I hope I will still find the time and never loose the passion I have to cook and create.

Here's a few quick go-to snacks/munchies (or lunchies) I've been fixated with as of late:

lettuce wraps!

Lettuce wraps are so refreshing and easy to make up in a small amount of time. I'll have them for breakfast if I'm not in a juicy mood or for and in-between filler. It's also really easy to change up the fillers depending on your mood:

My fillers as of late have included tomato, avocado, apples (I like Fuji), and a little mushroom. I also add shredded carrots and additional red leaf lettuce. I usually pepper them and drizzle a little Olive Oil and Balsamic on top.

Wrap them up in Romaine (my preference because they're so meaty and roll well) and enjoy!

Voila!

Another favorite of mine has been fried rice. It's so satisfying, filing, and filled with yummy, hearty, goodness for your bod. I first started experimenting with fried rice after I read a recipe in Alicia Silverstone's The Kind Diet. I've been adding and subtracting to it ever since. 

Yummy Vegan Fried Rice 

All it takes is a good serving of brown rice, (I usually make 4-6 cups), and any veggies you like! I saute my onions and garlic first in olive oil (or safflower oil if you've got it handy) along with grey sea salt, and then add carrots, peas, a little more salt, and then add the rice. Add diced bok choy and any other leafy green that suits your mood, drizzle with soy sauce, (I use organic gluten-free Tamari), and enjoy. I usually make enough for  three-four servings because it's always nice to go back the next day (or next meal) and chow down on it again! 

I usually pair my rice with a nice side of veggies. This week I made stir-fried green beans:

And this snack is truly a snack...and the perfect bite! I don't even really know what to call it but just talking about it right now is making me salivate.

Here it is; the ULTIMATE snack:

Super Snack!

Take an apple and slice it about 1/4 inch thick-this is your base. Top it with avocado slices, and tomato. Pepper and drizzle with Olive Oil and Balsamic to taste and there you have it! It's the most delicious thing to bite into and it's very satisfying :)

Inspiration...

 I think we all have our list of women that inspire us! I have a top three and I am always checking in and on what they've been doing in their loves and in the world. Whether it be in business, fashion, spirituality, etc., etc. 

These images not only inspire me visually, but also creatively...they help me focus and validate my drive and purpose. 

The ever-fabulous Nicole Richie. She may have been obnoxious and snooty in her earlier days of Paris and The Simple Life! but her dynamic evolution and business success, along with her "somewhat" quiet life she leads now with her children and husband, (a good boy from Maryland). She's a pure fashionista and I think she's incredible! 

 

 

On top of fashion sense she's devoted to charities like UNICEF, The Art of Elysium, and her own charity,  The Richie Madden Children's Foundation. A happy family, successful clothing line, compassion, and life on the go is all I ask for!

My Mentor...even though she hasn't officially agreed to the personal commitment yet! I'm ever-grateful to have her be mine from afar for now. Diane Von Furstenberg is everything business and lifestyle savvy that I aspire to become.

"To Help, Give, and Inspire is a Privilege." DVF

I can't even begin to explain in too much detail how heavy of an impact she and her foundations have made on local and international communities. The following is a rundown of this funds she serves on the board of, has created herself, or is heavily involved in in some way, shape, ore form:

Vital Voices
Women for Women International
White Ribbon Alliance
Susan G. Komen
St. Jude Children's Hospital
Love Heals
amfAR
KIPP NYC
Teach for America
Village Care of New York
Friends of the High Line
MAS
CFDA
The DVF Awards
Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation 

 

Please visit  http://www.dvf.com/Philanthropy/philanthropy-landing,default,pg.html for more information.

Femme Fatale! I hope to have seen the success, love, passion, and commitment on some level closer to what she's been able to achieve when I'm rockin' stilettos at 64! 

And finally Rosario Dawson...her natural beauty, brains, and talent are unsurpassed in my humble opinion.

On top being an incredibly talented actress and singer, she has founded or supported the following charities:

Amnesty International
Artists for Peace and Justice
Declare Yourself
Global Cool
International Rescue Committee
Lower East Side Girls Club
Make-A-Wish Foundation
ONE Campaign
Oxfam
Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
Peace Over Violence
V-Day
Voto Latino

Late Nights and Lots of Catching Up!

Welp...it's been about two weeks and with summer and lazy, sunny, or even jam-packed days, it's been a bit hard to keep up with ze blogging. But I've got a lot of new recipes, exciting news and so on.

Cooking has been my form of "relaxation" as of late and I don't think there's any better way to get the ball rolling than with awesome, quick recipes and some pretty pretty pictures to go along with it all.

Sweet Pot Fries...pre-baked

So...I know I know. We all know how to make our own fries. And I'm sure you've probably made a stab at sweet potato fries before too. These however were way too delicious to not share and they're a perfect snack to make on those "what should I do with these sweet pots I've had in my fridge for the last three days?"

Slice them to your liking, (I prefer mine a bit more meaty as they tend to shrink down as they cook), sprinkle with olive oil, sea salt, and pepper and pop them in the oven. 400f for about 20-25 minutes but monitor closely because they cook down quickly and everyone's oven heats a little differently.

I chopped up two medium potatoes and I still had two thirds of a container left afterwords to store for the next day or so. And believe me, they were so good I definitely threw the second half of the batch in to cook the next day!

Left over-every ready delicious goodness for later in the week!

The final results turned out to be one of the best snacks I've had in a while (I think one tends to forget how easy and delicious sweet potato fries can be!). Serve with some organic ketchup and enjoy!

Crunchy but not overdone!

Not too shabby!

Oh the Summertime!

What a crazy, fun-filled, two weeks that have passed! I know I haven't posted in that amount of time but the kids and I went on vacation, and I Just got back and dove into life as soon as I pulled up in the driveway.

We had such an incredible time at the beach and none of us wanted to come back. We stay at the same place every summer and this year did not disappoint. We're always right on the beach and it's great because it allows me to wake up early, (preferably before the kids), and go claim a spot on the beach at 8am! I can run right back upstairs, read a bit of my book on the balcony, and then, once they're up and functioning little beach bums, I make breakfast. Then we head down with the cooler packed for the day!

View from our place!

The kids has such an amazing trip and I'm glad I was able to get them up there this year. With so much going on with setting up shop, the house, the illustrations for Busy Butterfly (images to come later after copyright); on top of the daily grind, (cleaning, cooking, laundry, etc., ) it really was a much needed, relaxing breath of fresh air.

The Kids-plus one! 

That plus my tan was AHmazing! 

So...needless to say, going to the beach for a week AND being a seafood lover definitely could have thrown me off; which it did but not entirely. Even if it's just me trying to reason with myself that's fine right? lol

Luckily for us we have a full kitchen in the place and I had it stocked with good healthy food options. I didn't go on a binge or anything like that: Ok. I had one ice cream cone the whole week and it was on the boardwalk so cut me a little slack ;)

Overall though, I did pretty ok! This was my breakfast from Tuesday and another morning I was still making a big 'ole salad.

Beans with Toms mixed in and a side of spinach! All of which I bought from a produce stand on the way down.

*It was delicious and hearty and filled me up so I could stand to sit in the sun all day.


Since I've cleverly shifted this into the food direction I'll just run with it. I had an awful 4th of July weekend; food-wise that is. I got back from the beach and had too many bbq's and temptations in my face. Paired with a few drinks, my reasoning goes out the door when my tummy needs carbs.

C'est la vie right? Kind of? Well, regardless of what's happened I am very proud to say that I am back on track, stocked up, and am a chopping, juicing, creating machine! I've got a few recipes and favorite items of the moment to share with you:

Lemon Water

While this isn't anything new to anyone and thanks to this month's issue of Whole Living, I've dusted off my pitcher that used to hold hand towels and am keeping lemon water on hand at all times. It's so refreshing, especially after the long days of clearing out the garage and yard work I've had going on since I've been back.

Another chilled beverage I've been keen on this week is my Red Rooibos Tea. I've been brewing four or so cups at once and then throw it in another pitcher to cool and drink throughout the day!

Iced Tea...Red Rooibos Style

I've been starting my mornings off with a big fat juice. Yesterday was a good 'ole green one, today's was a blend of Beets (1 med.), Straws (1/2 cup), Spinach (three handfuls or so), a pear, an apple, 1 tbsp honey, and 8 oz. of h2o. I originally saw a similar recipe on A Grateful Life, but have since been adding this and/or that to it. What I listed above is what I had today and it was good, hearty, filling, and the perfect mix of sweets.

Sweet Green Beet Juice!

 
I mentioned Whole Living a few paragraphs back but I must say they had the most delicious looking raw zucchini on the cover. I of course took the recipe and ran with it and added/omitted a few things (mainly the walnuts). My version includes:

1/2 large zucchini
1 vine ripe tom
1/4 c green bell pepper
2 baby bella mushrooms
1/4 c red onion
1 tbsp olive oil
1-2 cloves garlic
salt/pepper to taste
dash of balsamic vinaigrette 

Shred the zucchini and set aside. Mix all other ingredients in large bowl and pour olive oil in. Mix well. Let stand for 30 mins (I actually left mine overnight...it was amazing). Add the sauce to the "pasta" and enjoy.

With all of the ingredients listed above I was actually able to get three servings worth of pasta.

Zucchini Pasta 

And my lovely serving that I had. Plenty of it left for a snack or next meal!

Voilà !

I think it's safe to say that I'm back on track and am loving that I'm able and excited to create beautiful meals on a daily basis.

This week is all about creativity as well (when is it not?). I've got to get these illustrations completed because they are holding me  back from diving into opening up my Etsy shop and I'm itching to get it up and running. I haven't even felt comfortable touching it yet as a vendor because I've still got to get my logo together; once I have that I can keep movin' forward!!!

Positive thoughts until the next time! Peace and Love...

A Little Bit of Style...

Happy Treasures!

I couldn't just leave my post for the day with all talk about food and my diet and not feel like I had a proper bit of fashion and art involved.

First, I feel I should explain the photo above. I'm in the process of cleaning out my home (and my life to be honest) and I came across these items while I was going through my grandmother's old dresser. Great leather gloves, a wristlet clutch, a really great long simple chain, and an old antique clock. My fave by far is a bottle of my idol, Diane von Furstenberg's first perfume! It has a bit of an aged smell to it and I'm sure I'd rather covet the bottle than actually use it...but I'm very excited with this, and all, of my finds!

Food for Thought and an Annual Update!

Nanners, Straws, and Rice Milk alongside a healthy dose of Bee Pollen

I'm trying to get back into eating Vegan again...I know I was on a roll here for a while but I definitely fell off of the RAW train and hopped onto the Dairy tugboat! I even started back up on poultry and the occasional burger too but I won't sit here and go down a list of all of the vice's I gave in to. Point is, I'm back on track and am trying my darndest to stay here and not stand on a soap box shouting outcries and lecturing family and friends every time they bite into something bad.

Today I started off with a bowl of bananas, strawberries, granola (a handful), and rice milk. I also charged up with two tsp. of bee pollen (an incredible source of proteins and vitamins!).

For those of you who haven't tried it or need to try it again, Rice Milk is a great milk/dairy alternative and it really does taste like regular milk!

Summer Spritzer

I also had a really great juice for my mid-day meal! I juiced two super-juicy oranges, five carrots, and about ten strawberries. I had half a mango left over from some AMAZING Guac I'd made yesterday and I threw that in there as well. I'm sure you're already picturing it but it was Super Delicious. It made about 16 oz. worth of juice and I mixed sparkling water in with it so it had a bit of a "spritzer" feel to it.

Oh yeah...speaking of the Guac I mentioned, I had that too. No picture because I was too hungry and just ate it before I took a snapshot but it was so perfect. For my Guac here's what I usually throw in:
2-3 avos
1-2 ripe roma vine tomatoes
1/2 a sweet yellow onion
handful chopped cilantro
1 lime (squeezed of course)
2-3 cloves of garlic
diced mango and/or pineapple (just eyeball it)
Salt and Pepper to taste (and please use sea salt and fresh cracked pepper!)

And presto! There you have it...the best guac you may have ever had. I like mine a little chunky but you can mash and mix away if you want to.

I've also been snacking on baby carrots throughout the day. I had those with an incredible serving of Albacore Tuna. Yes. I'm still eating seafood. I don't think there's anything wrong (health wise or ethically) about fish. It's another good source of protein and I eat it sparingly.

I've been either starting or finishing my day with a BIG salad filled with romaine, spinach, cucumbers, green peppers, toms, carrots, and a few organic croutons. The croutons help me not miss cheese and curbs my carbs cravings. Some days I throw  beans in it, or an egg, and always fresh cracked pepper...but no cheese!

A green juice is definitely in the near future and before I go to bed! I'll let you know how it goes and what's in it.

Peace and Love!

What’s Goin’ on with the World Today??

I wrote this excerpt for a friends blog during the elections in 2008, just about two months before election day, when things had become so heated and I was so turned off that I came up with this. I just recently rediscovered it and my love of writing so I felt this was an appropriate way to get things geared up here: 

In response to all of the obvious political convo's we all, or aren't, or should be having; I felt inclined to follow in my Dad's suit and play some meaningful music as of late.

Every year when I was living with my parents, and before the invention of the ipod, you could always find a handful of KT's cd's in my car. (For those that don't know, KT's my one and only incredible, amazing dad!). He'd approach me each February, specifically looking for his Marvin Gaye ("What's Goin' On"), album. Of course I had it and wanted to listen to it for the same reasons he did; but I always gave it to him without a peep.

So...I just put it on as well as other music that gets me in that politically empowered mood. I'm listening to "Living for the City" on repeat right now and it inspired me to write this. You don't have to read all of this, that's fine. It's Friday and I'm sure you're all ready to go enjoy your weekend without any heavy undertones but; I had to finally say something.

I've been trying to keep my mouth shut when a lot of people around me want to discuss politics. As passionate as I am about how I feel, I find it exhausting and pointless to argue with someone; especially during this heated time in our country's election season. I can't change your mind and you definitely will not change mine. But, I do find it oh-so very heartbreaking to hear and see how people, some of whom are my friends or friends of friends, defend one side and shoot down the other.

I'm not going to make this too long because I could honestly go on forever and I'm not going to pound you with facts or he said/she saids either. I just think, with the state that our country is in, what with a recession; a health care system in shambles; an education system that's failing our children, and lack of concern for our environment, it's incredibly heart breaking and disappointing that anyone would even consider one person over the other. Forget track records...Forget years served in the Military, (though it's very very honorable, respected, and appreciated)...Forget everything other than what's going on in our country right now.

Listening to "Living for the City" always gets me this way and I do apologize if you're not in the "mood" to hear this today, but I'm not standing on a soapbox shouting or bashing anyone or their opinion. Yes, our history sucks and the way we formed and built this country was rotten, but being an American allows me to say just that. I can say, "The way my country was stolen and purged from its indigenous people and built for free on the backs of a stolen population of people sucks"! And it does. But, I can say it none-the-less and I don't take that freedom for granted. That's why we are blessed to live in this country and one of the things I find humanly beautiful about it...(off on a tangent; sorry).

So anyway, back to Stevie and Marvin, (and all of the other extremely important artists like Johnny Cash, Donny Hathaway, Curtis Mayfield, Bob Marley, Nina Simone, Dylan, Lennon, etc., that spoke from their hearts and minds about freedom and life and love). If you haven't had the opportunity to listen, and really listen to this song, please do so. If you don't own a copy of "What's Goin' On" (shame on you...lol), I'll make you a copy.

The saddest thing to me is that its 2008...2008! And the lyrics to this song are still oh-so very true and just because you can't relate or want to say "It's their fault"...doesn't make it any less important of an issue.

*And on one final note: The most unselfish thing I've heard this week was today when I spoke to a good friend of mine. He makes six figures at his job and when I asked him about who he was leaning towards he told me he wasn't leaning at all and then said, "I'm gonna get screwed with Barack's tax break...but it's for the better good and I wouldn't think of voting for anyone else".

"Living for the City"

 A boy is born in hard time Mississippi

Surrounded by four walls that ain't so pretty

His parents give him love and affection

To keep him strong moving in the right direction

Living just enough, just enough for the city...

His father works some days for fourteen hours

And you can bet he barely makes a dollar

His mother goes to scrub the floors for many

And you'd best believe she hardly gets a penny

Living just enough, just enough for the city...

His sisters black but she is shonuff pretty

Her skirt is short but lord her legs are sturdy

To walk to school she's got to get up early

Her clothes are old but never are they dirty

Living just enough, just enough for the city...

Her brother's smart he's got more sense than many

His patience's long but soon he won't have any

To find a job is like a haystack needle

Cause where he lives they don't use colored people

Living just enough, just enough for the city...

His hair is long, his feet are hard and gritty

He spends his life walking the streets of new york city

He's almost dead from breathing in air pollution

He tried to vote but to him there's no solution

Living just enough, just enough for the city...

I hope you hear inside my voice of sorrow

And that it motivates you to make a better tomorrow

This place is cruel no where could be much colder

If we don't change the world will soon be over

Living just enough, stop giving just enough for the city!!!!

~Peace, Love and Infinite Possibilities....now go hug a tree and enjoy your weekend!

No More Cheese?? Say Wha?!

What can I say…I love cheese! Or at least I used to. I think back to before my Raw foodie came alive and I used to consume two to three string cheese’s every day. I ordered a small Ledo’s pizza at least once a week and if I could put cheese on it I would and I always had bags and blocks of cheese in my fridge. I'd take it any way...mac 'n cheese, grilled cheese, cheese pizza, cheese sauce for broccoli or potatoes, fondue, nachos, if it had cheese on it and minimal meat I'd eat eat! lol

Even when I first transitioned to this point, I spent at least $25-$30 at Wholefoods on raw goat cheese and I made sure I took some with me every day to work and ate some in the evenings too. Last week I finally threw out three blocks of molded cheddar, mozzarella and swiss. The only regret I had was the money I put in the trash can.

I've only been transitioning to Raw for about two months now and I've never felt better! It's amazing to see how cravings and addictions can go away so quickly. My sister actually turned me onto Raw. She lives in LA, works for Bikram Choudhury and every time she comes home to the east coast to visit, she always has some new kind of green food/mix/elixir with her. Her influence on me was incredible; I saw her go from the "fat sister" to being the smallest one out of all four of us! (yes…four girls!). But more important than her weight loss is her health. She began to suffer from severe Colitis in 1998 and was in the hospital a few times because it was so extreme. Around that time as well she broke out with severe acne. I can honestly tell you that she no longer suffers from either and is looking so healthy and glowing.

It was enough for me. Just going to the gym and working out, even doing Bikram, wasn't going to change the INSIDE of my body that I was poisoning. I ALWAYS had a bottle of Vodka in my freezer and would pour a glass everyday when I got home. I was a heavy drinker in social settings as well. And I thought I was the healthiest one of my group because I didn't eat meat or pork!! lol I was/am a smoker as well and had cheese one everything I ate. It took me two years to gain 30lbs...the majority probably all in early 2008. I was out way too much, eating bar food, drinking cider beer (with a whopping 200 calories a bottle!!! so times that by 6 and do the math!). I was so frustrated with myself and was always coming up with some new idea to get in shape and lose my fat stuck to my belly that my family is cursed with.

My highest point was 175lbs (even in September 09) and to be honest I wasn't even that high when I was pregnant with any of my kids! My sister has been forwarding me information since Labor Day weekend, when she was last home, and her friend Nwenna Kai is one of the blogs I began reading and following. I finally sat down and evaluated everything (for about 5 minutes because it didn't take very long) and I made the investment I needed.

It wasn't weights or a new yoga cd, but a juicer, books, and fresh organic produce that I had to commit to buying on a weekly basis. I feel alive! I feel happy. I am obsessed with Green Lemonade in the morning and must drink at least 32 oz of it before anything else goes in my tummy. Well...scratch that because I am also obsessed with bee pollen and take a tbsp of that in the morning while I'm juicing. Juicing is almost orgasmic to me and I appreciate the benefits especially since I don't like smoothies in the least. Never have. In fact, I still have a HUGE tub (vat even) of protein powder under my kitchen sink that I thought would help me drop pounds and feel energized. I made MAYBE one.

What's been important for me so far is my love of "cooking" I've never minded being in the kitchen and I love making food every day. I enjoy cutting and chopping everything I'm taking in to work with me the next day. My coworkers may look at me funny, or friends may (they have and do) tell me that it's not healthy to lose so much weight so quickly and every time I try to explain WEIGHT=WASTE they just look at me like I'm an Alien.

I've currently lost 15lbs since I began and I am only moving forward from here. I'm not 100% yet. With my addiction to cheese I'm weaning off with Raw goat cheese but I love it too so we'll how I do. Other than that I'm sticking to mostly Alkalizing foods and I'm good :) I hardly want a Camel Light these days and when I do give in it's so gross I don't finish it...I haven't bought a bottle of Vodka in over two weeks and I went to the Farmer's Market yesterday and my favorite item for lunch was still there and I swear it made my nose turn up! I know I just wrote a book but fingers weren't listening to my head!

Thank you to Bunny, my sister Colleen, Nwenna, and everyone on RawFu for the support, advice, recipes, photos, etc. I don't think I would have lasted this long without you all.