Celebrating in New York Part 3

Greetings everyone! This is the final recap of my multi-destination trip, and then we’ll jet down to Florida to see what’s been going on in the land of sunshine (and afternoon tropical storms that last five minutes).

Now where did we leave off?

Ahh yes! One rainy afternoon while I was in New York City, I had planned to go to The Met. I cheerfully walked down Park Ave. with my umbrella in hand because I knew exactly where I was going. I had been anticipating going to The Met.

A guest

Ancient Egyptian history use to be an obsession of mine back in grade school.

And it still fascinates me!

This sculpture’s beauty demanded me to stop in awe.

While I was at The Met I also checked out the Savage Beauty exhibit. It exhibits the late designer’s, Alexander McQueen, incredible creations. Photos were not allowed, but I wanted to share some of the collection with you. I remember waking up when I was little to watch runway shows and McQueen was my favorite out of all of them. His shows were theatrical and beautifully demented. When I was walking through the show I couldn’t help but cry. He did something with materials that transcended just an item of clothing… something only a master of them could do. Anybody that would look at his designs could see that fashion can be an art. Not just because of the skill, but as an actual expression. McQueen expressed a lot of his ideas on politics, culture, and identity through his collections. All done with such precision that only a mathematical fraction could match.

Source.

Source.

Source.

Source.

Source.

You can see more from the exhibition here: Savage Beauty.

I love that you can dine in elegance at the museum.

All the while live classical music is playing.

However, my stomach did not have anymore patience to spare to wait to be seated…

So I headed on over to the Whole Foods hot bar. I tried one of EVERYTHING!

The last day that I had time to go adventuring I checked out Chelsea Market.

Last time I had gone was during the middle of the day on a weekday. This time around I went on a Saturday, and it was so busy!

Row upon rows of baking racks at Amy’s Bread.

Hmm… an almond butter I’d never seen before.

I would love this!

Look at all of those sliced almond bits. Crunchy nut butters are my preference.

And I picked up some tasty chocolates as well: ginger, orange, and early grey.

If you’re looking for a new dark chocolate to try I suggest Dolfin’s Early Grey. It’s an interesting combination done well!  You also get a slightly gritty texture since the actual tea is laced in the chocolate. But it’s not too textural much, so the chocolate can also just melt on your tongue.

Before I headed out I stopped by my favorite store… Anthropologie.

I looked down an spotted a book of poetry by Pablo Neruda.

Chelsea Market was close to my picnic destination–the Highline.

I first came here during late fall when it was cold. The park definitely looked different this time around.

I used a Whole Foods container to bring my own salad.

I made a lentil salad mixed with avocado and herb-roasted potatoes all tossed with greens and other random veggies.

I love the contrast of concrete and plants that the Highline has.

Afterwards I made my way down a quiet street.

I wanted to check out the Antiques Garage Flea Market.

This flea market has so many vendors selling all sorts of things! If you are in the mood to just peruse with time to spare, then I suggest you go here. I love looking through old things. They even had stacks of old plant biology illustrations.

I actually didn’t know about this place’s claim to fame until after the fact.

 I was searching for tea places to go to, and when I saw pictures of The Russian Tea Room’s interior I knew that I had to go just to see it in person. Turns out they’ve shot Sex and the City and other New York City quintessentials like Woody Allen’s “Manhattan” and “New York Stories”.

Taking you back in time in all of its over-the-top glory.

Then something else caught my eye.

Macarons!

There were so many to choose from that I actually left empty-handed. Well, not completely. Seeing this colorful display instantly lifted my spirits. Feeling down? Just look at a rainbow made of macarons!

As with most of my trips to New York a lot of my time was spent alone. I didn’t realize this until now, but I guess in a way I was traveling alone. It was fun because I felt like I was in a game, hopping to the next space. I like imagining New York City as a game board. Do any of you like to be solo-adventurers? Ever thought of it?

A Dinner Guest

Hey there good lookin’ (you get into the gallery through the passenger door).

Richmond’s First Friday Artwalk was last Friday, and I stopped by my professor’s opening–“Passenger Position”

The exhibition really made me think about his own experiences of things around him.

A new grain for breakfast.

I was trying to look up breakfast recipes using buckwheat groats, so I just put my own twist on this one found on the Pure2Raw blog. This was my first time actually going on the blog, and all of the recipes looked so tasty and fresh–just what I’ve been in the mood for lately. Not to mention, they seem like such an awesome duo living in harmony with each other and life’s journey.

I love how nutty they tasted.

Leftover coconut rice revamped–inspired by rice pudding.

Finally got around to using the corn kernels that have been sitting around for who knows how long.

Cooked in coconut oil, and seasoned with cinnamon and nutritional yeast.

This is such an economical and simple snack. If you’re use to buying popcorn that you heat up in a bag, I suggest just buying some corn kernels and they will last you longer + it’s not hard at all. Not to mention, you aren’t exposed to the harmful chemicals found in paper-wrapped convenience foods.

This past week, I had someone special over for a three-course dinner.

I spotted a beetroot and goat’s cheese salad in a cookbook I was browsing through at the bookstore.

We also tried the first cucumber from his garden!

I also made baked polenta with wild mushroom ragout...

And a secret ingredient–Idiazabal cheese–baked into the polenta.

The original recipe calls for pan-grilling, but since I was making the polenta in a cast-iron skillet I had the option of baking it as well. I love things roasted, baked, what have you.

Yum!

After dinner we went to take Matilda out for a nice walk. Then when we got back it was time for the last course…

A raw vegan apple crisp for dessert.

 My favorite kind of desserts are the raw vegan kind because you can just really taste the flavors. The sweetness comes from a fruit usually, and I just love how simple the ingredients are–just using things that have been around for thousands of years. You can find the recipe for the raw vegan apple crisp here.

And he brought over the creamiest ice cream made by a local creamery.

Creamy chocolate goodness–had to stop myself from eating too much since I know my tummy would have its woes otherwise.

 It was a delicious dinner, if I may say so myself, and I got to share it with someone! I’ve been so use to making single-serving dishes, or ones with leftovers, but intentionally making a meal for more than just myself is such a nice feeling. I’ve been making meals for more than just myself a lot lately though. The weeks leading up to my move from Richmond, I just wanted to spend as much time with my close friends as possible, which included lots of meal sharing.

Speaking of my move. I’m down in Florida now, but I’ll be recapping my last few days up in Richmond. Hope everyone is doing well, and staying hydrated!

Friends, Food, and Family

Good morning everyone! I wanted to give you all a heads up that from now on I will be answering your questions in the comments section, so don’t forget to check back if you asked one! I use to do that, but somewhere along the line I stopped. It’s a lot easier to reply right on the post rather then sending out e-mail, especially because I want to get back to you guys. But if they are in-depth or personal questions, then of course an e-mail would be sent.

Last weekend my step-dad and I paid a visit to a place we hadn’t been to in years.

The Jefferson is a historic hotel in Richmond, which also has beautiful dining rooms.

I’d like the Southern Comfort spiked brioche French toast, please.

We take our food seriously…

but only for a minute!

Sherried Winter Squash Bisque

As some of you may know, thick soups are my favorite! Especially ones involving butternut squash. This recipe caught my eye awhile ago and me oh my, my taste buds saw fireworks! Imagine your grandma’s most comforting specialty soup… times ten!

Me thinking “mmm this is the best butternut squash soup ever!”

Serve with a dollop of Greek yogurt and some thyme (and coconut oil if you’re so inclined).

With my lovely friend and curator of a show this past First Friday.

And a video of mine was a part of it–I was so excited!

As part of Foodbuzz’s Tastemakers program I was generously sent a loaf of Nature’s Pride Hearty Wheat with Flax to try out.

The bread was great for sandwiches!

Especially ones filled with homemade hummus, Vegenaise, and veggies.

It can also be enjoyed with banana slices and chocolate hazelnut butter.

You can go sweet, savoury, or simple with this bread–say if you’re just in a toast and butter mood. I also think it’s neat that they thought of incorporating flax into the bread, a good way to get in some Omega-3’s!

In other news, I went to the Hispanic Gala that my friend helped organize.

I glamorously biked to the event in this gown… just this gown. It was quite a liberating and exhilarating experience, and that’s not counting actually being at the gala! I met a lot of wonderful people from all over the world, and I was so proud of my friend for playing such a vital role in making it all happen.

Picture courtesy of my dear friend’s cell phone!

And a pro one from another friend!

Another blue moon came around and I went to the hot bar at Whole Foods.

I love that hot bars let you get a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Now if only everything were as light as lettuce then I think blue moons would come around more often.

I finally got my hands on purples potatoes!

I’ve had a very peculiar ingredient sitting in my kitchen forever, but I hadn’t used it until recently. One day I decided to look up recipes that called for pomegranate molasses. That’s when I came across this recipe on one of my favorite sites for cooking: lentil hummus wrap with pomegranate molasses. I also made the red lentil hummus that went along with the recipe, and loved the idea! I have been cooking a lot with red lentils lately, but it was a nice change to what I usually make out of them.

I got a special treat for my step-dad and I to try…

This was a vegan version of one of my step-dad’s all time favorite candy bars: Almond Joy.

I don’t think he’s had one in awhile, so I thought it’d be interesting for him to try a vegan version. We both thought these were delicious, and had just the right amount of coconut with a bite int0 a crunchy almond to top it all off.

Speaking of coconut…

Remember I mentioned the new Super skincare line in my last post? Well, I’ve been trying out their products and seeing how they make me and my skin feel. First up. Lush Lips. Can you believe they got their inspiration for soft skin from coconut oil? Finally, a skincare line that catches on to that! This lip moisturizer has a subtle coconut smell, and doesn’t leave your lips feeling sticky. Last thing I want is to be eating my own hair because it gets stuck on my lips.

The Face + Eye Cleanser

In my last post Allison asked me what I thought about the cleanser, so I thought I’d share my thoughts. Since the product uses the famous superfood, açaí, it has a bit of a sweet smell, and it feels soft and milky on your skin as your washing it. The cleanser was gentle enough to use on the eyes to remove any makeup. Actually, the smell and texture made me want to indulge in the whole experience of washing my face. Yes, it actually felt like an experience! So how did my skin feel afterwards? It felt hydrated, fresh, and soft. A wonderful feeling to have at the beginning of the day and at the end don’t you think?

And the weekend will be spent celebrating this little lady’s birthday!

She’s been one of my best friends since the days of… peculiar fashion whims. Who am I kidding? We still have those! The point is that she’s a true blue friend, and I’m so happy to be able to be right there with as she adds one more year to her repertoire as Soul Sista!

I hope you all enjoy your weekend. What are you looking forward to?

A Friend is One of the Best Things You Can Be

Pardon my belated wishes, but I hope everyone had wonderful holidays! Usually the holiday season means a time for more reflection, and being surrounded by people that I love. Take family for instance. Sometimes they get on your last nerve, but at the end of the day you love them so much that you could just burst! In my last post I talked about how meaningful friends are. Well I thought it would be nice to dedicate a post to just that!

Back in mid-November I had a very special friend stay with me for the weekend.

Many of you may recognize this special friend of mine as the lovely face behind The Collegiate Gourmande. Awhile ago she recounted her visit in this really sweet post right over here. Anyway, her and I have “known” each other for awhile now, and we got to meet up for the first time over the summer in Miami. Now she was staying at my place in Richmond for the weekend. It wasn’t just any weekend though! We were running the SunTrust half-marathon. When she arrived a stranger beat me to a proper greeting with a kiss on the cheek haha!

The first night here, we cooked up a storm!

Voila! A homemade naan pizza topped with spinach sauce, okra, and chickpeas with a side of yellow curry spiced lentil soup

The idea for the spicy spinach sauce came from Emily, and Maya already had it bookmarked! Actually, she had a list of things we could possibly whip up in the kitchen. I love this girl and her enthusiastic spirit! The naan bread was actually from a batch I made earlier that week.

Naan bread is so easy to make at home--next time I want to make it with a hint of cilantro and garlic--topped with ghee and you're ready to bite in!

To go with an appetizing bowl of Thai-style lentil and coconut soup

Coconut milk? Check.

Scallions? Check.

Now back to Maya’s visit!

We ended the meal with a special treat...

the ever-popular Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Balls! These were so so SO so good! We went to bed “early” since the race was bright and early in the morning. Since I was fighting a cold at the time I had been taking care of myself the week prior to the race–Mucinex works wonders! We ended up running to the race to make sure we got there in time… you know just warming-up.

Maya had a picture taken of us with her phone after the race!

Look what I found! Tissue in hand to blow my runny nose.

It was my first race and it was such an incredible feeling. There was this force inside me that made me feel like I was on top of the world. It really made me feel positive of my capabilities despite the struggles that were very present in my life at that time. Plus, it was awesome to celebrate with a dear friend! We made our way home with those silly shiny “capes” that resemble foil a bit. After the race we took it easy for a bit, and made our way to a charming part of town in Richmond called ‘Carytown’.

That night we made a dinner fit for champions!

We roasted some green beans, and had mashed sweet potatoes with coconut milk topped with cajun chickpea cakes from Eats Well With Others. And that salad you see on the side there is Maya’s wonderful creation! A spinach salad with dried cranberries, honey crisp apples, pomegranate seeds. She even made the dressing: almond butter balsamic dressing! Oh my goodness this meal had so many flavors, and it was all divine! Just what we needed after a race.

How we do!

Aha! I found you!

We spent the rest of the night laughing and talking into the morning. She had to leave early the next morning, but she left me so many beautiful reminders. I mentioned her post earlier, but I really have to say it again. It truly touched my heart. I guess that’s just her way! A true friend you can count on? A friend that is understanding and doesn’t mind one bit? A friend that lets you know that it’s alright. That’s Maya for you, and she’s so much more.

She also left me this tasty reminder!

Which I have been enjoying on just about everything! Thank you, Maya!

I also went on a trip to NYC with my class (the bus actually belongs to one of my classmates).

The captain of the ship!

I saw NYC in a different light on the High Line.

Beautiful, isn't it?

Since this was a class with art students, naturally we scoped out some galleries and museums.

Even a gallery for the homeless to submit their art.

The sleek New Museum.

On one of the nights we all got together at our professor's friends' giant shared studio and...

Played music...

and had a delicious homemade feast!

Man, his friends sure can cook and bake! There was roasted ham, stew, pasta, vegetable dishes, best banana bread ever, pies, cakes, garlic bread, hummus… gosh so many things! The trip was a lot of fun. It was nice to see some friends up there, and also getting to know some of my fellow classmates a little better. By the way, in Williamsburg there’s a place called The Alligator Lounge that has a great deal: buy a beer and you get a free pizza! Not just any pizza, but a personal pan! So if you’re in the Brooklyn area, make sure to hit that up!

I had another special visitor for Thanksgiving!

On Thanksgiving we headed to the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains.

I packed us a bag of yummy things to take with us!

For me: a sandwich with smoked gouda, sauteed spinach and onions, apple slices, and honey.

For my mom: spinach, egg, honey, apple slices, and goat cheese.

Do you think she liked it?

It's such a big world.

It felt so nice to be breathing fresh air.

Coming through!

As we headed back the sun decided to come out. Doesn't this look like the cover of Big Fish?

Matilda let out a roar that the whole world could hear!

I wanted my mom to taste how special honeycrisp apples are.

Pooped and heading back home to make a low-key Thanksgiving dinner.

I made a special recipe that night from an e-cookbook that was sent to me to review.

The e-cookbook is titled “The Flexitarian Cookbook” and features many recipes from various contributors that can be adjusted to fit your dietary needs or mood whether you vegan, vegetarian, or an omnivore. The recipes sound so appetizing and the pictures that are featured are so beautiful and drool-worthy. I’ll be featuring more recipes I’ve tried from this e-cookbook, and a more detailed review.

The recipe that stood out the most for me, with ingredients like pumpkin, peaches, and pecorino.

Not even finished and it smelled delicious.

And Thanksgiving dinner was served!

Sauteed collard greens, onions, and garlic, with fruit & nut chutney.

Interesting

Our tastebuds and bellies were in for the best thing we had eaten in awhile.

Almost forgot the pecorino!

Oh my goodness. My mother and I kept exclaiming how incredible this dish was. It’s suppose to be served in a small pumpkin, but I made do with what I had (butternut squash) and it still turned out to be a phenomenal dish. The mix of ingredients (the peach being the most surprising) was spot on!

Lebkuchen filled with as much love as a cookie can handle!

This is probably the most nostalgic food and smell from Germany for me. Lebkuchen is a traditional German treat that’s similar to gingerbread. At the Christmas Market you will see tons of heart-shaped cookies hanging up, ready to be given to someone’s beloved one.

Photo taken from here

Stay tuned for the next post since it’s a continuation on the topic of friendship and also catching up! I hope you all had a wonderful week, and a great start to a new year. Until next time, much love!

Sometimes Things Can Look Like More Than What They Are…

And there can be beauty in that. In a way that’s what makes the seemingly simple and little things stand out. Recently, I’ve been noticing that the food I’ve been putting together has some sort of rustic or “very much like the land” look to it.

Pumpkin pie spice roasted chickpeas, Greek yogurt, banana, dried dates and pineapple.

Dates, hazelnut butter, banana, dates, pumpkin pie space, and raw cacao nibs

A mountainous landscape or just a new combination for my secret oat-bar/muffin recipe: dried apples, dates, dried cranberries, walnuts, cashews, chocolate chips, and a blend of tea masala and pumpkin pie spices.

Notice anything by now?

I don’t know if you noticed it, but I realized that lots of my foods have been resembling landscapes. Perhaps it’s been coming from the time I’ve been spending outside recently. Observing the seasons in their transition phases is always something interesting, and beautiful to witness. And now that my time with technology isn’t as readily-available (laptop situation still up in the air, but thank you to a dear friend of mine for letting me borrow his!), more time has magically appeared for me to enjoy these things.

The other day in my sculpture class, my professor took us on a field-trip (haven’t been on one of those in awhile) to a foundry and an art collectors’ private collection.

I was transported to another era and sometimes what looked like a destroyed city.

Things that look like they’ve just taken in a lot…

Afterwards, we went to the private collection of a very dynamic husband and wife. It was such a refreshing and reminding visit to see people enjoying art on their own time. There are people who support and find beauty in what artists make. Oftentimes, some get caught up in the “joke” of being an artist, and don’t see that it can be a reality. This is sort of random, but as an artist I believe; I have faith that a person can make it. Of course, I also understand that a person can very many different routes. Some sculptors sometimes make those molds you see at dentist’s office. Who knows! Anyway, the thing going on in my life have really gotten me to reflect on the idea of beauty, and what it can bring out in us. I recently went over Confucianism. One of the points brought up was that the human spirit can feel uplifted if surrounded by beautiful things. This can nature, the arts, whatever you may find beautiful. Off the top of my head I find this in nature, fashion, food, art, parallels in our universe, and people. What do you find beauty in?

There's some to be found in the smile that leaves a dinner party with a sweet reminder.

 

Or in the beautiful friend that greets you with a thoughtful bouquet of flowers!

 

Finding beauty in nature that led me to finding a beauty in food.

Toasted hemp seeds with sea salt, pumpkin pie spice, and shredded coconut

And the nice thing is that you don’t have to look too far.

 

Frame of Mind

Halli hallo! I hope all of you are doing well, and enjoying the last day of July. The last day of July? Yep! In two weeks I’ll be going back up to Virginia to settle in to my place (yay for not having to actually move this year), and then starting my final year of college. Yessssss! I’ve been doing wonderfully with taking care of my liver. It really hasn’t been hard. If anything, it’s been relaxing and rejuvenating. Ayurveda doesn’t just cover the topic of food (although it is key), but also helps us take notice of how our environments may affect us. For instance, what we smell can be aggravating, calming, or what have you. For my constitution sandalwood is suggested to pacify the excess Pitta. I’m a combination of doshas, and that’s quite common actually. What exactly does dosha mean? “It’s an essential biological energy or structure in Ayurvedic anatomy. There are three primary doshas, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, which sustain all life. They move cyclically on a daily basis, and act as transporters and communicators between the essential tissues, and the bodily wastes. Their balance is a key to health. They also determine our physical constitution at birth.” Vata-Pitta is mine, and I benefit from oils; so it’s even recommended that I rub coconut oil on my feet and legs before I go to bed. Am I reading correctly? Treat myself like an Egyptian queen? Why, of course.

I'll carry some sandalwood around, and Matilda can carry her skeleton leaf with her.

Now this was a real treat for my taste buds!

Remember when I tried the Coconut Bliss pint of ice cream? Specifically the cherry amaretto flavor, m’mmm! Anyway, I was also kindly sent a voucher to try their ice cream bars. You can choose from two flavors: dark chocolate or naked coconut. Oh gosh, speaking of flavors I just looked at their list of retired flavors. Ah so sad! Maybe a Dr. Frankenstein move can be pulled and some of these flavors can be revived! It’s ALIVE!!! Okay okay, so time to turn this frown upside down by giving my review for ze bar! Guess which flavor I chose? If you guessed naked coconut then you know me well hehehe. Ah yes, the review. Well, I LOVE COCONUT! So now that that’s clear, I also want to make it clear that these are the bomb.com. I loved the flavor; and the texture was so awesome because it was creamy, melt in my mouth (but not in milliseconds), and I spied the shreds of dried coconut too. Imagine a hot summer day (that is going to take little imagining as I just have to step outside) and all you want is something refreshing, tropical, and creamy. Yes, this bar would be my answer. “The pure coconut experience on a stick.” Couldn’t have said it better myself.

Sweet potato and yellow split pea dhal + flax seed oil & ghee

Watercress is a new vegetable I’ve been incorporating into my diet. I’ve had it before, and I use to just think of it as more of a garnish. Now I see that it can also make a delicious salad! Speaking of salads, I found a helpful guide on how to make a great salad with lots of side tips: salad days. “Try and get all the tastes at each meal, even if it is a salad: carrots/beets for sweet, greens for bitter, cilantro for astringent, fresh ginger for pungent, lemon juice for sour and rock salt for salty.“

Munching like a goat is easier

One of my favorite foods.

I think many of you can agree with me on this one: sweet potatoes are delicious… and happen to be very nutritious. They are a great source of beta carotene, which may explain why my palms and the bottoms of my feet look the way they do. The beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A in your body, and may help slow the ageing process and reduce the risk of some cancers. And did you know that it has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties as well? I’ve been having mine with a combination of flaxseed oil and ghee.

Last week I did some major re-organizing and decorating around my parents house.

It’s pretty cool that the black-and-white photo is of me with my film camera, and I’m in the mirror with another one!

Remembering vacations in South America.

Frames galore!

Rather than painting a wall.

Different colors for frames as well.

A diptych of little Matilda going on an adventure.

Some call this a pampering room, but for some reason ever since I was little I've called it "the emergency bathroom".

My "office" area.

I also decided to take out something I got when I went to London.

A fireplace in Florida? Indeed.

A combination of something I made, nature, and a thrift-store find.

Another fitting thrift-store find--except change the 'c' to a 'k'.

And one of my favorite thrift store finds!

I left a note by writing one of my favorite quotes.

Stay tuned for next post! I’m finally going to make a video, and share with you all that even while taking extra care of my liver, I was able to cook wonderful meals to share with my family’s guests.

I Can Almost See Clearly

So ladies and gentlemen, this chicka completed a philosophy exam today that took over 7 hours. Whoa mama! I just have to finish up an essay and then I’m done. Finito.

But let’s begin!

Oh how I love thee homemade granola!

I loosely followed this recipe by using things I had on hand, and instead I did half maple syrup and half apple-maple syrup. I also added in some coconut extract, raisins, sultanas aka golden raisins, white chocolate chips, and shredded coconut. Note for next time: bake at a lower temperature. Also, I loved the mix pre-baking as well! Seriously though, one of my favorite combinations during the warmer months is granola + Greek yogurt. And there’s something extra satisfying about having granola you made yourself. Doesn’t that go with everything?

I can't wait to make my next batch! Any suggestions?

Starting off the day by choosing a cute outfit!

I had my last Amy's Texas burger alongside some sweet potato wedges.

For the sweet potato wedges I just cut up two potatoes, tossed them in canola oil, then doused them with Old Bay Seasoning. Then I baked them in the oven till they were done.

I also got to try out something new!

The people over at Bone Suckin’ Sauce contacted me after seeing my love for their BBQ sauce. I had never tried their mustard so they sent me a package with a jar of their sweet hot variation and their classic mustard. I had no idea that they had all these other products like salsas, teriyaki sauces, seasonings, and rubs.

Check out the bits of jalapeno peppers!

The sweet hot was definitely hot with a hint of sweetness. The classic flavor was similar but not as hot. At first I was thrown off by the color, but not to fear because all of their sauces are all natural. And if you like thick sauces then this is great! Since I don’t eat things with bones in them I’ll just say that these mustards were “finger lickin’ good” just like the BBQ sauce.

Let’s rewind to last Friday. Since it was the first Friday of the month that meant that Richmond’s monthly art walk was taking place. I love it because not only do you get to check out galleries, but I’m always bumping into friends, vendors, and good food.

This isn't just any old bus.

They bring the farm to you!

I talked to Mark, the guy who helped start Farm to Family about a few things. One of the things he mentioned was their plan: they want to make a documentary of a year they’re going to live off what the things they sell on the bus. Not only do they sell produce, but cheese, eggs, milk, and meats as well. They want to emphasize that a person can live healthily off of local, sustainable, and seasonable foods. They’ll be doing monthly doctor check-ups to make sure they’re in tip-top condition. He also said that this is open to anyone else who is up for the challenge. Not only would it be an experience, but you also get to write a chapter in the book with your personal account. They plan on starting next month and I wish them the best of luck!

Saw lots of art of course!

And showed some support to some friends that were playing in a courtyard on a perfect night.

With some of my ladies and Matilda before she left.

Afterwards we went to Ipanema for the second time that week!

No complaints because the food, the service, the atmosphere, and the company was amazing!

The thing I love about eating out with people I'm close to is that I know that nobody minds sharing.

I just ordered the mulligatawny soup since I already had dinner and some snacks not too long beforehand.

Eventually we had to move inside because there was a drunk guy with a knife standing right behind me and he wanted to start a fight with some random guy. Luckily, the man was arrested. I guess he forgot the school’s police station was right across the street. After this meal we dubbed this the new place to go eat and then Cous Cous as the bar we frequent, since we headed over there afterwards.

Now remember how I left off my last post with a see you later to Matilda? Well here are a few things in my life that have made it more bearable. I know I may sound like a crazy dog lady, but I just love her! Everytime I walk into my bedroom I’m expecting to see her lounging around on my armchair.

Vintage hair accessories

It's all in the details.

Waking up to broken pipes that erupt through the asphalt and cause flooding!

Friends helping friends with their fashion lines!

One of my old professors/friends has been needing some extra helping hands to make things for her fashion line, Thief & Bandit. Also, she recently had the most adorable son! She was so nice to offer tea, coconut macaroons, and I just loved the smell of toasting raisin bread wafting through the air as we worked. She’s actually going to be featured on Etsy’s front page so definitely keep an eye out for her!

And banana "soft-serve" with Cacao Bliss.

So ending on that delicious note, I hope you’re all enjoying your week so far. The end of my semester is so near I can taste it. And it tastes divine!!!

From Yours Truly

Happy middle of the week everybody! Isn’t it funny how time just seems to fly by once Wednesday rolls around? You know what else has been rolling around besides the days? I noticed on some blogs that there has been this incredible message being spread. Recently, I’ve come across some incredible posts that just really resonated with me. Rebekah gave us a piece of her mind last week, Jessica is stepping a foot forward towards some wonderful changes, and Jenny has been posting a great series of LIFT posts. I find most blogs to be really inspiring and I love how they are glimpses of how wonderful some people in this world can be! I’m definitely a person who sees the goodness in everyone. What can I say? Anyway, a lot of posts that have been floating around recently have provoked my thoughts–in a good way. Recently, I’ve been thinking about acceptance, willpower, and rooting for yourself. I’ve had my fair share of of Chicken Soup for Whatever Soul moments in my life, but I’m still standing… with both feet on the ground. There were times when I did fall. In fact there were times I hit rock bottom. But who hasn’t? During those times it was hard to see or even fathom the idea that things would get better. I was blind to the fact that things could get better, but it was up to me. Of course, the love from friends and family helps, but at the end of the day… it’s only you that sees the world through your set of eyes. For the most part, we know what things are best for us. So why is it that sometimes we don’t do those things? Sometimes we do the complete opposite! Looking back on the times I hit the pavement hard, I am astounded by the wasted energy I put into not doing what I knew would help me. It was almost as if I wanted to stay in the black hole because at the time it just seemed like “too much” to deal with. Well guess what? One miserable day I was sitting down and I looked at the people around me. I thought to myself, “I want that. I want to be free like they are and not worry about these things anymore. I deserve to be happy!” I was right! We all deserve that. Eventually, I started taking steps towards getting my spirit back. I knew I was not the empty shell I decided to make my home a couple years back. At first, everything felt so scary and foreign to me, but overtime I saw that the more I did these things that were actually good for me, the easier they became. And eventually, it felt natural. I didn’t even think twice about it! I was starting to see that I should have more compassion towards myself, which led to self-acceptance. By working through the storm, I am now able to appreciate so many aspects of life, this world, and beyond. Maybe the child inside of me will never die. I really don’t mind seeing the world through the same set of wide eyes for the rest of my life. I believe people can still keep that innocence and simultaneously learn from their “mistakes”. Just live and let go. Anyway, you see, after you’ve picked yourself up, brushed off your knees… that’s when you realize that scrapes and bruises are only temporary, and that aching hearts do heal. But it’s up to you! And you’re wonderful.

And so are these granola bars!

Breakfast on the go!

I finally used the forgotten tempeh that was sitting in my freezer for months!

I made some maple-ginger grilled tempeh with coconut oil and tarragon.

Perfect for sandwiches as well!

Inside an olive roll + mayo + creme of dates and almonds + onions + romaine

Pumpkin seed butter + maple syrup sandwich

Remember how I said that I wasn’t too keen on the taste of pumpkin seed butter? Well that was the case until I tried the Futter’s pumpkin seed butter that Liz sent me. Whoa! Second chances can be a good thing. I also love the color–it makes me feel like a kid again. Remember when they came out with green ketchup? Green eggs and ham? But of course there are foods that are normally green… like beautiful artichokes!

Filming a video for my final piece.

Guess what this is!

When the lovely Katie posted a recipe for a breakfast pizzert (pizza + dessert), I bookmarked it right away! Since I didn’t have pastry flour I opted for a mix of corn meal and whole wheat flour. I wanted to make something reminiscent of a shortcake, so strawberries were obvious. I plan on making another one soon and I know the perfect fruit to use for the corn meal and whole wheat flour combo. You’ll just have to wait and see!

What a lovely breakfast, don't you think?

Topped it with a sliced banana, more strawberries, coconut oil, and chocolate hazelnut butter + a side of Greek yogurt

I've also recently whipped up my own batch of refried beans!

I spiced mine up with some freshly ground up dried chipotle peppers. Also since I didn’t have any avocados on hand I opted for something I did have: avocado oil! I “borrowed” this from my parents’ kitchen, and have just decided that I’m never giving it back! Sorry guys, but atleast you’re always loaded with actual avocados (avocados are so cheap in Florida).

We now interrupt this post with some fashion!

My friend taught me that in the fashion department they call this "naked clothes". I love it!

My what long handle you have!

Perfect for OIBAJ (oats in a BIG ASS jar)

The other day when I was putting some burnt coconut butter on my sweet potato I realized that it was that time again! This time I did things differently. I made my bowl of oatmeal the night before so they would cool down–as I’ve shared before I tend to start sweating like a mad man when the weather gets hot and I have warm oatmeal–and I mixed in the protein powder after I cooked the oatmeal. Anyway, in the morning I mixed in the oats with the coconut butter little by little. I also  sliced a banana and mango in there, and then topped it all with some shredded coconut. This was the perhaps the creamiest oatmeal breakfast I’ve ever had! No lie! On that note, I’ll leave you all with my last piece of this semester for my advanced sculpture class.

I loved that I made something that was larger than me!

Much larger! I made a “raft” and sewed a patchwork sheet to project my short film up on to it.

Detail shot of the mica flakes + paint on the raft

I think knots in wood are beautiful.

Here’s a question for you: when you find it hard to believe in yourself, what do you do?

Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah

Yum

These were Dr. Kracker‘s Apple Crisps. Verdict? Awesome! These are probably my favorite flavor out of all of them. They have just enough sweetness from the caramelization of the brown sugar. Yes, you can really taste the dried apple! I tried them with cheese and…

Delicious with almond butter as well.

The other fruity cracker is the Cherry Semolina flavor. It was too tart for my liking, but once again, those are just my taste buds. My dad tried them and he really enjoyed the crackers. To each his own, right? Let me note though that all of these crackers are perfectly crispy. All the ingredients seem to be toasted, which just brings out the flavor a bit more.

Refreshing bowl of overnight oats with a twist!

I’ve seen Averie make overnight oats with protein powder and I wanted to give it a try myself. I soaked the oats with the protein powder, water, cinnamon, and NuNaturals vanilla stevia. In the morning I topped it with a sliced banana and a couple scoops of almond butter. After mashing and mixing the bananas and almond butter in, I was a very happy girl and so was my tummy. When it starts to get hotter I can’t stand warm bowls of oats. I start sweating like a mad man and I keep sweating for a good hour afterwards.

On another note…

Recently I did a performance piece to go along with the video and accessories I made.

Part 1

Part 2

Shout out to one of the sweetest hearts out there!

One evening I decided to make myself a banana hammock, inspired by Katie. One side had coconut butter and the other side was topped with granola. Then I put the two sides together and ate each bite with a scoop of almond butter. I also had a marzipan made by the company that makes them right, Niederegger! Since the weather is warming up, I think all of you should put on your shades and make yourself a yummy banana hammock.

I let the red lentils and rice cool down to avoid any sweating.

I made my usual lentil recipe with coconut oil, and I cooked up some brown basmati rice. I love the fragrance basmati rice gives off. Anywho, I mixed the lentils and rice with the salad ingredients. Delish! After that I headed out to check out the annual student art show put on at one of the gallery spaces at my school.

Performance piece done by some friends.

This was like a laboratory filled with art. They even had crazy sounds playing.

It was nice to see the work of some friends and peers. There are so many wonderful ideas floating around and I love to see them come to life!

I also met up with one of my favorite people!

He had a little gift for me! Delicious heart-shaped cookies with homemade icing. Actually, he wants to open up a pastry shop. He totally should because those cookies were amazing! I loved washing them down with a glass of creamy almond milk.

Pretending to be a shorty so he could fit in the picture with me!

Lotta Apricota

Awhile ago I was contacted by Nature’s Path to review some of their new products. Have you checked out their granola bars? When I was looking through that flavors it was so hard to choose! All of them sound delicious. But I managed to cut it down to three:

Lotta Apricota: I loved the bits of dried apricot and almond pieces, and the overall chewiness of the bar. One thing that could be toned down is the sweetness. This granola bar was the sweetest because of the yogurt “icing”. It didn’t taste bad, just a bit too sweet for me since I tend to be sensitive to that.

Chococonut: Once again it was a bit too much on the sweet side, but the dark chocolate chips helped bring it down a bit. Maybe more dark chocolate chips will do the trick, hehehe! This bar had the same chewiness that I like from the previous bar. Oh and you all know how much I just love coconut, so this was my favorite!

Pumpkin-N-Spice: Okay, I hate to sound like a broken record but this was too sweet as well. Other than that though, this bar was yummy. However, this was a yummy treat, especially to have towards the end of the cold season.. comforting flavors: cinnamon, pumpkin, and raisins!

I think all of them don’t need all that sweetness because there was enough of the actual flavors… and they could stand up taller without the extra sweetness. A little positive sidenote:

“….All our bars now come in the EnviroBox, which is 36% smaller box than a standard 6.2 ounce box.”

I hope all of you are doing well. I’ve been wrapping the semester up and I’ve got some projects and good news that I’m looking forward too. I’ve also been loving just hanging out with my friends and my dad who was in town this past week. I can’t believe my visit with Liz was only a week ago though. I already miss her! What do you all have in store for the next week?

Living In a Daze, Part I

Hi everyone! As the title suggests, I’m going to break up the recent days in to more than one post. I still feel like my two feet have yet to hit the ground. Yes, I am feeling overwhelmed, but that isn’t always necessarily a bad thing. Why am I overwhelmed is the question. Over these past couple of days I’ve had many triumphs, adjustments, and realizations. I just feel like I’m about to start walking on new territory, but at the same time branching my roots out into familiar ones as well. It might sound confusing, and I admit it feels that way for me too! But whatever may be in store, I’m ready! And on that note, let’s jump in!

Spiced cottage cheese oats with coconut oil and peanut butter.

Ayurvedic recipe

This chili smelled divine while cooking it. The thing I love about ayurvedic recipes is that they include an array of spices that awaken different tastebuds. Star Anise & Cinnamon Black Bean Chili with Molasses & Chipotle, but I also added some diced sweet potato and coconut oil to my liking. Check out the description on the site for the chili: “smooth molasses with pungent cinnamon and smoked licorice black bean chili feels like a campfire in northern New Mexico under a new moon.” Imagine that…

Can you spy the Chinese star anise?

Operation Sneaky “Snack” cont’d included dried cranberries, butternut squash, Greek yogurt, and…

Betty Lou’s Cranberry Crave Harmony Bar; Success!

I wanted to show you all what this Betty Lou’s bar looked like. Check it out! Every time I open the wrapper I can’t help but think that it smells homemade. You know when you’re baking muffins and the sweet smell just puts you at ease? M’mm good.

Anyone ready for Florida?

That morning I had the juiciest, sweetest mango ever! Oh my gosh, just thinking about it is making me want go back to this. I had it with Greek yogurt, Udi’s Hawaiian granola (ginger-toasted macadamias, dried pineapple, and coconut flakes), and drizzled with coconut butter. Okay, so the mango alone was delicious, but all of this together… where do I begin? Ah yes, sitting on a hammock basking in the sun. But before we continue, let me put my ice cold pina colada down.

My re-worked sculpture.

Pressed mesh wire into thinner wire to make these.

This one is my favorite; it’s just so sturdy.

This looks like I'm in prison!

Alas, I’m just stylin’ the pajamas my grandma gave me, and about to enjoy OIAJ!!! Now that doesn’t sound like prison to me. Sunland’s banana peanut butter… you were so good to me!

Mixed in with a melted banana, last of the "best mango ever", crumbled honey graham, and shredded coconut.

Glorious spoonfuls of banana peanut butter with my oats.

However, OIAJ wasn’t the only exciting thing happening that morning. No, I had to get ready to pick up my mom!

The look: slouchy button-up leg warmers with boots and tights

And not your grandmother's black turtleneck dress.

For a splash of color, I pinned on a vintage flower brooch to my coat.

We came home and I quickly put together our lunches

For myself I had a Garden Herb Sunshine Burger on a bun + ketchup + pepper jelly + onion + tomato, with butternut squash and sliced pear with cinnamon and coconut butter as well.

Nom nom

And for my mom...

This almost looks like a face! She had Ezekiel toast with fried egg whites and green “stuff” on top. The green “stuff” is a quick thing I whipped up: 1 avocado + nutritional yeast + soy sauce + turmeric + a bit of water for consistency. She also had some butternut squash on the side.

My dad picked up some goodies from a nearby local Jordanian restaurant.

Everything is made fresh, and they even grind their own spices and herbs weekly. In fact, they also make a Lebanese pita bread which involves garbanzo, barley, and other flours. My dad got a vegetarian sampler for all of us, and a spiced chicken gyro for them. The sampler included hummus, baba ganoush, tabbouleh, and dolmades.

I also got to take my mom to her first First Friday Artwalk!

It was very cold for her, but she loved all the life going on. She also got to meet some friends I’ve made in college, which is really nice! Now she has a better idea of who I’m talking about when I tell her things that are going on in my life. Anyway, this is it for Part I! Stay tuned for Part II (THE FASHION SHOW!!!) I hope you all have had a wonderful past couple of days. The sun is shining so brightly–I’m ready for the warm weather to stay!