It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

Friday night was the annual St. John's craft fair. My mother and I have been attending since the little brother was in kindergarten (he's now a junior in high school. Where does the time go?!). I loved this craft fair, especially the years after I moved into my apartment. I found many jewels to add to my home. In recent years though I think we go mostly for the tradition and the time spent together. And the tamales. ALWAYS for tamales.


















I had wonderful plans to take pictures of the amazing tamales...but my appetite and the excitement got the better of me and I just dug right in. By the time i was half way through I remembered my intentions, but it was too good to stop mid tamale for photos. Sacrifices must be made. 

xxo

Preparation is Key

Day 2 Recap: did NOT like the chia pudding for breakfast. The lunch salad was amazing. However, if I make it again, I would put slightly less dressing on the finished product... Dinner was alright. It was the first time I've had ground turkey meat. The spaghetti squash was nothing like delicious pasta pretty good with the parmesan sprinkled over it. And somehow I missed getting swiss chard at the grocery store, so I didn't end up with any greens on my dinner plate...

Lunch time salad



Here are a few things I'm noticing while on this 14 day challenge...


  1. Prep EVERYTHING for the next day the night before. And then even look at the needs of two days out to make sure you know what's coming up
  2. It is far easier to do this plan on nights that I don't have class. Yesterday I brought some left overs from dinner with my mom to school with me, then made the challenge dinner when I got home
  3. Try everything, but don't make yourself eat it if you don't like it. Case in point: chia pudding. While it looks pretty, I just can't do the texture of it. There's another breakfast coming up that is another chia pudding recipe that I'm planning on substituting with gluten free oat meal                   
  4. I mainly miss coffee not for the caffeine (thankfully no headaches), but mostly for the morning ritual of hearing it brew, mixing it in with my vanilla creamer, and taking that first sip of the day

I felt really proud of myself for making the frittata for breakfast this morning. It looked like it would require far more work and time than it did. But it was really simple, and convenient enough to make before work. Plus, it combines two of my favorite foods: eggs and broccoli. 


I ate a quarter of the frittata this am, then another quarter for a morning snack. I ate the apple and almonds (plus a cutie tangerine) around lunch time, and am planning on eating the chicken and veggies closer to 2pm or 3pm in hopes that it'll hold me over until I get home from school tonight at 8pm...Wish me luck

xxo


It's a Challenge

This past Saturday I took a detox workshop with Jessica Micheletti at Zuda Roseville. She kicked my ass. Not just physically, but mentally as well. I found myself getting incredibly irritated, frustrated, and outright angry...with myself, with the woman in the class that wouldn't shut the fuck up (because obviously this whole workshop was all about me), frustrated with how difficult it was for me. I had moments of seeing myself as weak, but also moments of seeing my true strength and ability to stay, to feel, and to be.

Later that afternoon I was trying to suppress on Pinterest and saw an enticing picture about a food challenge. As a yogi, I am no stranger to the juice cleanses (that I have never done), or a fruit and veggie cleanse (which I have done...for the most part). But because of the antibiotics I'm on for my PLEVA skin condition, I've been weary of a cleanse.

This Buzzfeed challenge is all about whole foods-nothing processed, no gluten, no coffee (EEK), no alcohol. One day down. Thirteen to go.



Here's what I've learned so far:
1. I do not like fennel
2. Not all green smoothies are shit (see day 1 smoothie recipe)
3. Although it's far more time consuming than stopping by Whole Foods or my mother's for a meal, I felt a great sense of gratitude for the food that I had prepared

xxo

I'll Be Back

Today is this beautiful woman's birthday. I love you so much, mom. What an awesome adventure to go on with you, and to watch you fall in love with a city that I love. Happy Birthday!!


We started today on the High Line in Chelsea






Drink Up!





Then headed over towards Washington Square Park


















One last red door
Until next time, New York...

xxo