Be Back on Tuesday!!!

The final count down....

Hellooooooo!!!!

I am in a great mood today and I will tell ya why. I will be packin it up and movin out! I know that I sound like a broken record by now but I am so excited. It seems like I have been waiting for months for this to happen....wait! I have! Have you ever had a event, vacation or occasion that you just couldn't wait to happen? It is like Christmas for me today. I bet you I wont even be able to sleep tonight (yeah right!). I am going to be waking up super early and getting started with boxes first. I have a friend that will be letting me borrow her van for about a hour at 4:30 and I am even going to be able to move the furniture tonight!!! Since I will be moving all of my belongings up 17 stairs and will be going up and down them a million times...I figure, that will be my workout for the day.

That means my friends that Saturday morning I will be waking up in my own place! I will be making my breakfast and taking a shower in the apartment that I have been dreaming about for the last two months! Lucky me! I already know what will be on the celebration menu!!! I plan on having FRENCH TOAST! Yes, you read right. French toast is one of my very favorite things in the world but never ever make it. Usually I am in a rush and want eggs and toast. Saturday morning however, will be french toast. I cant wait! I will be using MANNA BREAD to make it so it will be the best french toast in the world! I love using agave as syrup and that is what will be topping off the toast along with fresh fruit. I know what you are thinking..."Heather, YOUR eating unhealthy french toast. That is so unlike you!" Well...I have a secret...I know how to make it HEALTHY! The best part is, it tastes amazing. Wanna know how? Well, come along.

Easy Peasy, Healthy, French Toasty:

That title is WAY too cutesy...sorry, I just had to.

I used the Banana Nut Manna Bread variety.

Ingredients:

2 large slices of bread

4 egg whites

1/4 cup of Vanilla Unsweetened Almond milk

Cinnamon, nutmeg and Allspice

2 table spoons of chopped walnuts

1/2 banana chopped

First you get a bowl and add the egg whites and almond milk together. Then you whisk together. Add the spices and chopped walnuts and whisk more. Take each slice of bread and soak each side in the mixture. Once soaked place on pre-heated pan. Cook until brown on each side. Then you place your chopped banana on top and drizzle agave on top! That is it!

I like to use egg whites instead of eggs (you save over 200 cals here) and agave instead of maple syrup (another 200 saved!). Adding the spices really kick the taste up a notch. You can add vanilla extract or any other fruit to it to really make it the french toast of your dreams. I like mine fairly simple so I just stick with the banana. I also add peanut butter sometimes and have banana and Pb french toast. So good you barely need any agave! I did however put a big dollap of Greek God's vanilla greek yogurt on top (review on the 3rd of March!). I love french toast and after I have it again, I know that it will be made again soon. That is one of the great things about my new place. The kitchen! I can go in there and make whatever I want, whenever I want and don't have to worry about what my roommates will be doing. Cooking is one of my absolute favorite things so I am going to be in heaven! Yay!

I hope you dont mind but I gotta run. I have a million things to do! I didnt know that I was going to tell you about the french toast recipe but it just came out! I like it when that sort of thing happens!

I will have a wonderful review about the bread that I mentioned earlier so please come back Monday morning. I am going to start the first day of MARCH right! I can not beleive that we are just days away from March and weeks away from Spring. Thank goodness! I am ready.

Have a wonderful weekend! I cant wait to be able to report on Tuesday that I am in and settled!

xoxoxoxox!

-Heather

Spring is near!

Good morning my friends! I got some much needed replies last night and I appreciate it from you all! I don't know what I would do without you guys ;)

I am so excited because I am getting some amazing products in the mail soon. Things like GREEK YOGURT (one of my favorite things in the world) and MANNA BREAD. Prepare yourself for some great reviews. I already know that I am going to LOVE these products!

I wanted to let you all know that I may be M.I.A. for a few days during the move. Don't fret though, I will be back and so much better. I haven't figured out the Internet thing just yet and I am hoping that maybe the other person in the house will want to split the Internet with me. I will see. with this all being said, don't expect a post from me more than likely Saturday-Tuesday. You already know that I don't post on the weekends so you will really only be missing two posts! That is, if I can stay away! I like to get my reviews in as soon as I try the product out! That way it is fresh in my mind as far as what I think.

This morning I started out with a HUGE cup of coffee and this for my a.m. breakfast!

I had 3 egg whites with two slices (ok, ok, ok maybe 2.5) of Alvarado's multi grain sprouted bread with the Living Tree's (my all time favorite company) Coconut, Mango, Persimmon butter and a little Pb2 on top. Sorry no picture. I ate this so quickly that it was gone before I knew it. It was amazing. What I have been doing lately is 1/2 a banana with PB2 on one slice of toast and 3 egg whites. This week it will be ONE (not two slices like today) with the CMP butter/PB2 mix on top (this is at about 9:30 am). It is to die for!

Is there anything that The Living Tree makes that isn't good? NO! I answered for you!

About an hour before the gym (12:00) I ate these. Trader Joe's makes individual packages (you know I cant be trusted with nuts of any kind) that is only 200 cals. Karen being the sweetest person in the world picked me up a bag when she was in Atlanta. This is the perfect amount. I love RAW nuts (cashews being my fav).

I went to the gym on my lunch hour as usual and focused on legs and got a great workout in today. I tell you what, there is no better feeling than being productive on your lunch break. Especially because I sit most of the day. When I get back from the workout I eat my packed lunch at my desk and I am full of energy and really feel like I wipe the slate clean. This something that I will be continuing to do for the rest of my life. With the gym being around the corner it is perfect. I get about 45 minutes of intense work done.

After cooling down and all I sat plopped down and had some lunch. I love tofu! I have to say. I am really trying to eat soy protein once a day and animal protein 2 times a day (my egg whites in the morning and then 1/2 a boneless skinless chicken breast with dinner). That is it. The rest of my calories come from fruits and veggies. This was a good lunch!

I saw these ingredients and knew that this salad was to be made for the week. I didn't know that 1/2 a block of tofu had 22 grams of protein! Go me!

It is filling and wonderful to come back to the office and have a cool lunch. I have been eating a salad for lunch for two years now and I am glad that I do. I like something light for lunch and think that it is important to get some fast digesting protein in right after working out. This was perfect.

Of course I had to have two pieces of dark chocolate after my meal. I don't know what it is but I have got to have something sweet after my meals.

I went home and went for a walk with my roomie. When I got home. I showered and sat down to a big ol bowl of butternut squash soup. I topped off this simple soup with steamed chicken (1/2 only) breast and veggies. I LOVE this dinner and honestly (hope your not tired of it yet) but have been eating this for dinner almost the whole winter. It is just that good. I use a different base but always add the seasonal veggies and chicken. The butternut squash is so far my favorite.

I plan on having some hot coco before bed and not eating anything else. I am really trying my best to cut out the snacking. Spring is just around the corner and I got a little taste of it yesterday. I want to buckle down now.

Ok, so that is my post for today! I will be in and out this week but you better believe when I come back Wed I will have some wonderful news about the move and the new products that I tried. No worries though! I will be here tomorrow!

xoxoxoxo

-Heather

Where has this month gone?

Happy Monday Everyone!!!

I have 5 days and counting before I am in the new place. Ahhhhh! It is like Christmas or waiting to go on a vacation. I find myself lying in bed decorating my new place. Isn't that funny?

Anyway, this morning is a NORMAL post! No reviews! I just wanted to connect with you all again and let you know what and how I have been doing. Besides working and working out I have been great! I feel great and I am looking forward to Spring more than ever. Life is always better for me when the weather warms up! I am a Spring/Summer girl, for sure. I have decided that a new hairdo is in order! I am excited because I have no idea what I am going to get done to it yet but I am thinking about it a lot. What do you think? The pictures on the blog are pretty current (except the fat one!) so let me know if I should go shorter or let it be. I will not be changing the color really, I decided a long time ago that your natural color looks best! After all, it is what you were born with so work with it. Right?

This morning I woke up after a weekend of packing and more packing. I was a little sore honestly. Bending over can put a strain on your back. I decided that I should pair down my clothes before moving (one less thing to move) mostly folding clothes and hauling bags to donate to my local thrift store. After hours of packing and errands I was pooped! This morning I could feel it. I got up and stretched. A few minutes of moving around and I was back in action. When I got to work this morning I was COLD. I knew that one thing could help me warm up.... OATMEAL MADNESS.

1/2 cup of organic oats

1/2 chopped granny smith apple

2 tablespoons of dried cranberries

1/2 cup of unsweetened almond milk

a dash of cinnamon and allspice

This was just what I needed. I was so thankful to be the first one here and enjoy my amazing breakfast. Of course two hours later my stomach was talking to me. Does this happen to anyone else? I always eat a big breakfast and then within a few hours I am STARVING. Oh well...I went for these when the tum started to groan at me. Karen bought me a bag of Trader Joe's "Just a handful of raw almonds" for V-day

I also had a few squares of Orange and Spice Green and Black dark chocolate and read this blog.

After a few more minutes of work work work. It was errand time for the boss and then I headed to the gym for my lunch hour workout. I killed it today! I focused on Shoulders, quads and abs. I did about 40 minutes of intervals until I just couldn't move any more. Here is what my workout looked like. I do three sets of 20 reps.

Warm up for about 5 minutes before

Sumo dead lifts with bent over rows

runners lunges

stiff leg dead lifts with rows

runners lunges

Inner thigh machine

for taps

shoulder press

blurpee's

pull ups

side kicks

stretch!!!

This is what I did and I kicked my own butt. I was dripping with sweat when I was done. Luckily I was able to have some time to cool down and get myself together before heading back to the office. I ran in the door, clocked in and changed clothes. I knew one thing...Lunch was needed!!!

Protein baby, was on my mind. I went for a super simple steamed chicken salad. It was amazing. Something that I am giving up for Lent is salt. I have gotten back into the habit of adding salt to my foods (especially my salad) and I am not going to anymore. I figure once a month of this habit and I will be back in the clear! I never use to add salt and then I got this amazing pink Himalayan sea salt and I have been hooked ever since. Special occasions will call for the pink salt but not a daily occurrence anymore. It takes some getting use to.

I ate a few more pieces of dark chocolate and then was done for the day. Work wise that is...

When I got home I went on a nice long walk with K and jumped in the shower. Hot showers after a cold walk is heaven. By the time I get out I am ready for dinner and to crawl in bed. I ate a un-pictured bowl of butternut squash soup packed with more steamed chicken (I try my best not to eat meat twice a day but it happens) and veggies. After that was consumed hot coco went on the stove and was ready by 9:00. I LOVE to put a ton of cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice in my coco.

I got this package of hot cocoa mix (reviewed it here) and i must say...It rocks. I will be so very sad to see it go. It came to me all the way from Jacksonville Florida and it is so amazing. With 13 cals and only 2 carbs I can drink this cocoa with some stevia and feel like I am having the most decadent hot cocoa ever! Yummmm. It doesn't hurt that it is hot either. The weather here is COLD and this is the best thing to lull me to sleep.

Well folks!

There you have it, my day and my workout. I am so very glad that I was able to check in with you all. I hope you guys had a great weekend, let me know what you did! I want to leave you with a question...

What is your favorite clean food? I have been on a "clean" diet now for two years and it has changed my life. I have a new favorite clean food! I will not be sharing it with you though until later this week though. HA! Sorry but I am going to do a review of it and want it to be a surprise. I wanted to hear your thoughts though first. This new favorite will be on the blog and in my diet for a LONG time!

See you tomorrow ;)

-Heather

You're only as old as your connective tissue.

Goooood Morning. I am feeling great this morning and I think that it is partly due to something special I got in the mail! Check this out!



Intu-Flow® produces pain-free, energized results faster than you ever thought possible! Referred to variously as ‘yoga in motion,’ ‘tai chi without the fluff,’ or ‘hi-tech Qigong’, Intu-Flow® is a powerful Key, unlocking the door to:
-Deep Relaxation
-Whole Body Tension Release
-Increased Focus & Concentration
-Heightened Sensory Awareness
-Enhanced Joint Mobility
-Superior Athletic Performance
-Bio energy Amplification
As an easy to perform meditation, Intu-Flow® is available to everyone, young and old, men and women, without years of arduous study or injury producing excess. These exercises have helped thousands of busy people, from all walks of life, get Intu-Flow® every day.
A flowing, intuitive harmony of basic, biomechanically efficient movement, structural body alignment, and simple breathing, Intu-Flow® is an exquisite synergy of modern scientific health research and ancient somatic wisdom; an easy to learn, do-it-at-home, playfully fun way to superior health that does not involve weekly classes or regular expenses, year after year. The results are both immediate and profound; once experienced, Intu-Flow® helps you feel so good, your day will not feel complete without it.
Getting Intu-Flow® is easy, but far from superficial. Simple and user-friendly, nothing fancy or complex, it teaches you to maximize your health, throughout your day, with each breath. Combining the best from both Eastern and Western traditions, Intu-Flow® is a delightful daily journey into pain-free movement and healthy longevity. More often than not, the most effective approach is the simplest approach.
Intu-Flow® produces pain-free, energized results – without struggle, and with only a few minutes a day.
You’re as old as your connective tissue!



With this description I couldn't wait to watch these DVD's. I have suffered from multiple injuries and become extremely stiff and sore the next day after a workout if I don't do at least 30 minutes of yoga a day. When the package arrived at my door I couldn't wait to pop it in the DVD player. So after changing clothes and mentally prepared, I turned on the T.V. and was ready to get started. 2-DVD set
Running time: 125 minutes

I loved these! I did one DVD on Weds and One this morning. It was amazing. When I was done I felt energized and ready to take on the day. It was really great because there were moves that I had never done before (which is hard for a girl that has done just about every exercise ever!). I was able to do the entire workout with ease and the time flew by.



This companies has an array of books and DVD's. Check out their site!

www.rmaxi.com

I really appreciate Gary sending this my way. Part of the reason why I seeked out this company was because I want to try and focus a little more on companies around my area. This company is based out of Atlanta! Yay! I am so glad that I am able to report that this system really works and I look forward to going home today and doing it again. In a nutshell, Intu-Flow (two DVD set) is the joint health and mobility program that with daily or frequent practice enables one to"clean the slate" i.e. begin to overcome the effects of use, over-use,age & mileage that life and we ourselves inflict on us. Once you have the basics of the program, it takes from 15 to 20 minutes a day, is a great wake-up and way to prime yourself for the day, or for a workout. I feel so much better and really want the "Free to Move" book.

If you have any joint pain, movement issues, stiffness, soreness or just a active person that wants to PRESERVE their joint health and well being, You have got to get these DVD's. The site like I said has a ton to offer and a ton of information to back it up as well. I love a companies that has testimonial's and facts to back up why their system is better than the others. Believe me when I say....I love this system and could feel it right away.

Thanks RMAX! You guys rock!

If anyone has already tried this DVD let me know what you think!

Oh now on to even more exciting news!!!! I have a winner for the Seventh Generation Prize....Drum roll please for the random generator number.....

Sonja Keins!!! You won! E-mail me your info and I will let the kind folks know at Seventh Generation know which package you want!

I hope you all have a WONDERFUL weekend! It is my last roomie weekend and I am going to pack and enjoy it! I am going to be back Monday morning counting down the days to the new move. What will I do when I don't have to move to stress out about??? I am sure that something will come up!

See ya!
-Heather

Holey Moley!

I got a sweet surprise in the mail the other day! When I say sweet I mean SWEET!!! The kind folks of Holey Donuts really went all out! They sent me some of their favorites which quickly became mine!

Back in 1958, my father was literally one of the first franchisees with what is today the world’s most successful donut chain. Spending my childhood in the back of a donut shop eventually led to me running and owning my own donut shops. Always having a love for donuts, I set out to create a donut like no other; something that would elevate donuts to a new level; something more high-end, more gourmet, and really just the best donut you could make. Then one day, I walked away from the deep fat fryer and began to actually cook my donuts in a different way. Then at first bite, I said "HOLY $#!%, these are really good!" Thus, the name Holey Donuts!

Having a feeling that these donuts had to be very low in fat, we sent samples off to an FDA approved lab for testing… low and behold, they had less than 3 grams of fat. Wow, we were just amazed at the light, fluffy taste, texture and light color (which is the way donuts actually look before they are fried in that same dirty oil over and over again). From there, it was a story of dedication and perseverance to do whatever it took to succeed and bring these great tasting, guilt free treats to the world. After all, the Wall Street Journal put it best when they said "Food companies have been able to take most of the fat out of everything from cheese to Twinkies. But no one has succeeded in designing a marketable low-fat doughnut."

I got a box of three different assortments and I couldn't wait until I tried them. I am not kidding when I say that. The box was un opened for about 3 minutes before I couldn't take it anymore! The first one that I tried was:
Jumbo Reduced Fat Blueberry Cinnamon Rolls!!!!

They begin by mixing their batter, then two bakers roll large pieces on our baking tables, roll out the dough, cut the pieces, hand fold in the apple filling mixture, then apply a generous amount of the finest imported ground cinnamon. After these decadent looking cinnamon buns go through our special computer controlled cooking process, each cinnamon bun gets a coat of rich, fat free glaze, then a delicious ribbon of homemade vanilla frosting is elegantly draped over the top of each hand crafted, fresh baked treat. Finally they flash freeze our cinnamon buns to lock in that homemade goodness and just baked fresh flavor, before we hand pack and ship them to you in our special thermal coolers via FedEx.

Jumbo Reduced Fat Gourmet Cinnamon Buns have 80% less fat and fewer than half the calories of the 700 to 1100 calorie ones you
find at those sweet smelling shops at the mall. Holey Donuts! Jumbo Reduced Fat Gourmet Cinnamon Buns not only taste delicious and
wonderful, but have only 5 grams of total fat compared to the 24 to 50 grams of fat you could be wearing home after a "traditional"
cinnamon bun snack at the mall! Many people actually cut our Jumbo Reduced Fat Cinnamon Buns in half because they are so large, which
would give you a snack with less than three grams of total fat.

Check out Holey Donut's Cinnamon Rolls Vs Cinnabon

What is the best way to serve and eat the donuts once they arrive?

Answer: We want you to love our donuts as much as we do. Please follow our suggestions so that you have the best possible Holey Donuts! experience. Place in freezer upon arrival and keep frozen. Do not refrigerate or leave donuts exposed to open air for long periods of time. Our donuts are best served slightly warm and moist.

These were amazing! I LOVE blueberry and I have to say. It wasn't that fake blueberry taste that you get with most pastries. No way...It was a real blueberry taste that was divine! I popped mine in the microwave for about 1 minute and it was the sweet warm bedtime snack that I needed. I couldn't help myself the next morning and open the next box:

Low Fat Cinnamon Strudel Assortment #14
Price $11.95

Cinnamon is a close second favorite for me. I literally eat cinnamon on about three different things a day. I love it in my soups, yogurt and hot coco. This was like a cinnamon coffee cake. It too warmed up a bit was heaven. Thankfully I had some friends over for the weekend and on Saturday morning I surprised them with these! I love to share my gifts and they were so happy to see what was inside the white box when I opened it. Even I was a little surprised to see how pretty these donuts were!

In the box:
Reduced Fat Fudge Boston Cream

Reduced Fat Raspberry Vanilla Truffle

Reduced Fat Caramel Apple

Reduced Fat Blueberry Crumbcake

Reduced Fat Lemon Graham Cracker Low Fat Vanilla
Price $11.95

I had the Lemon graham cracker and the rest was had by roomies and friends. I asked them to give a brief description on what they thought. Here are some of the answers!

"These taste like they were just baked this morning..."

"Oh my GAWD, these are good!"

"So moist and light, I can tell these are way better for you than D&D or Krispy Kreme."

"I think that I am in love!"

This were just a few comments but you better believe that they kept on coming. I had a ton of questions like "where do I buy these?" I told them where to go and even posted it on my facebook so that they would all know right where to go. If you would like to know where you can experience the Holey Grail of Donuts, please go to their site!

www.holeydonuts.net

Holey donuts get a 10 from me and I have to say, BEST DONUT EVER! I am enjoying every last bite! I hope that they keep me on their list of bloggers to send new flavors! I am in love with these and it does not hurt that it is a donut that I can actually feel good about eating. I am so happy to tell you about them and hope that you will get a box for yourself. They have so many to choose from. I bet you wont be able to decide on just one flavor. Please tell me what you think about these if you order them for your self and if you tried a flavor that I have yet to taste. I am interested in the others!

I wanted to remind you all about my give-a-way!!!

http://www.foodnfeelings.com/2010/02/new-generation.html

I am announcing the winner on Friday morning so you better get on it!

See you all tomorrow....By the way...I have just 9 more days before I move into my very own place! I am so excited!

-Heather

V-Day re-cap.

I spent V-day with my best friend Karen. I tell you what. A girl knows how to treat a girl on Valentines. We went to our favorite restaurant and I must say totally went all out. Ceviche, ginger seared scallops, Spanish cheeses with french bread, fried plantain chips, sangria and CAKE. What more could I have asked for? MMMMMMMMMMMM!!!

We decided to get all dolled up and this is the outfit that I chose. I know it is a little over the top but when will I ever get away with wearing a red velvet dress and gold belt? Only on Valentines (maybe Christmas) can you get away with this ensemble! I loved Karen's sparkling dress too! I haven't had a better V-day in years. It was low key and no pressure. If there is only holiday that makes a couple stressed out it is Valentines. Not the case for us! We just sat back and relaxed.
I just wanted to give you a re-cap on my Valentines, I hope you all had a special day as well. See you tomorrow! I have a sweet review that you will not want to miss! By the way....you better get on the give-a-way bandwagon....I will be announcing the winner on Friday morning!!!
http://www.foodnfeelings.com/2010/02/new-generation.html
-Heather

Died and gone to heaven...

So you all already know how I feel about The Living Tree out of California right??? Well, if you are new to the blog let me tell you about one of the most fantastic companies that sells the most fantastic products that I have ever had IN MY LIFE. Not kidding. Not at all. I have already tried out a few items and if you remember....I freaked out! Over and Over and Over about the things that I have tried from them. Jesse Schwartz is the nicest man ever! Never in all my years of blogging (since 2006 mind you!) have I gotten a direct phone call from the President of a company just wanting to chat...No reason other than to "say hello" and find out more about me! I felt honored to say the least and when he told me that he was going to send me some more goodies I freaked. If you click on one of the links above (I think the second Over) you will see that the evening I spoke with him was shall we say, not the best. I was so stressed about the health of my mother, moving and it was one of the coldest rainiest days I had been through. I was not feeling well at all and then the phone rang. After speaking with him and just knowing that some really really amazing things were coming my way I perked right up. I thought right then and there "there is abundance!" It is so funny to me because the day that I got the package was not exactly one of the best days of my life either. I was feeling d0wn. I felt drained and honestly when I pulled up into my driveway I felt like I could barely make it in the house. I did though and when I arrived. I was surprised!!! I got a box with some things that would knock my socks off. Literally!

I did just that. I came in opened the box (gasped) and went straight to my room, changed into my pj's and decided that my day was done. No running around, no exercise, no more work. I wanted to play with my new products! I knew what I was going to try first. You know I LOVE chocolate so this was a no brainer.

Dream of Paradise:

By combining raw cacao with lavender flowers, mint leaves, honey, agave nectar, Living Tree Alive Olive Oil, sun dried raisins, nutmeg, cardamon and cayenne we have brought you a uniquely sophisticated taste.The Macao is for energy and the dash of Royal Himalayan Pink Crystal salt gives it a clean finish. I put it to the test!!! For real! How in the world could I not try out a product that said "Dream of Paradise"on it first??? I mean, really? I saw this and knew that I had to replicate, with the Paradise Dreams! 1/2 cup oats, 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk, 1/2 cup water, 1/3 cup ff cottage cheese, 1/2 a banana, cinnamon, flax, pecans & and the most amazing chocolate spread ever!!! It was paradise in a dreamy state.

I didn't stop there, no way.

I put it on some whole wheat fresh baked bread just like another blogger as well. You know...you gotta try this spread on different textures right? Yeah, that is what I was telling myself. The truth was, I couldn't stop eating the stuff. I put this little piece in the oven to warm it up a bit. It was divine!

Needless to say...Once I start with chocolate...why stop? I immediately saw them when I opened the box but I honestly wanted to see what was in the jars I got! Pitty me now...After indulging in the Paradise Dreams spread I had to stop for a little while...Chocolate covered things was my dinner and when 8:00 p.m. rolled around I wanted more... It was a little weird. Usually when I have a bite of what I crave it goes away. These products are addicting, be warned. Anyway, I pranced to the kitchen and grabbed one of the truffles out of the fridge (I saw that you should keep them cold for them to keep their life!) When I pulled it out I thought..."these are HUGE truffles!!!" I was going to just dig in but because of the paradise fest I had earlier I thought "Ill have a half of one." I cut it in half and off I went back to my room to nibble at the truffle while on the computer. While walking to my bedroom I already couldn't contain myself and started eating it. It kind of crumbled in my hand as I but into it so I basically had to pop almost the whole half in my mouth. I started to chew it and realized..."This is no ordinary chocolate." It tasted like nothing I have ever had. It was bold. It was not overly sweet. It was well, freakishly amazing. I was actually on the phone when I decided to go for the truffle and by the time I got back to my room and swallowed the truffle....my head was spinning. Seriously, I got this BURST of energy, my cheeks turned red and I was talking like crazy. My friend was like "are you on something??? You are wired..." I said "Ummm, I ate this Maca filled chocolate spread earlier and just had this 100% cocao truffle from California..." Silence on the other end...Then he said, wow...Maca gives you a ton of energy and 100% cocao is amazing for all sorts of things including energy too. I got up and walked (hazy and flushed) to the fridge to get the package out and read it. This is a bit about the truffles.

They began with their black sesame tahini. They introduced it in 2003 at the Natural Products Expo in Anaheim,California.(Others have attempted to copy it. Let them try!) they then added 100% raw cacao, carob, vanilla, mesquite, lucuma, sun-dried Medjool dates, sun-dried raisins, cacao butter and alive honey. They have also added maca for energy. Most raw chocolates out there use sugar in one form or another. I’m glad to say that instead of sugar they use honey. Alive honey has powerful antibacterial properties and is even effective against antibiotic resistant bacteria. It is a complex substance containing over 800 compounds, little understood by conventional science. They hand-craft these alive chocolate halvah truffles in Berkeley, California. It is a wellspring of the human spirit. It has a rich tradition of Americans who have dared to stand up and speak their truth. It is a center of original and creative thinking, over 21 Nobel Prize winners have taught here.For best flavor, please keep refrigerated.

Ok, so I kid you not....I got high off of this food. It made me energized and felt like I was floating! I have yet to eat something from this company that didnt make me feel amazing right away.

I should be more careful next time gulping down seriously fine crafted alive foods. Tisk, tisk. This is not to scare you....This is to make you go to the site right now and ORDER ANYTHING FROM THEM. You can profusely thank me later ;)

www.livingtreecomminuty.com

Needless to say, I was done for the night. A few days later I was itching to get this jar open and try it out. I now am savoring every single bite of all the foods from now on. Sorry, but a girl has gotta learn some how!

All the ingredients came together for your happiness: alive pistachios grown by family farmers in the rich, alluvial soil of California's great Central Valley, sun-dried black olives and sun-dried tomatoes, sesame, aromatic spices and herbs and sea salt, all blended with Living Tree Alive Olive Oil- unfiltered, unheated, UNPRESSED.
Serve on freshly, crunchy vegetables or crackers. Mix one TBS per serving with your favorite pasta, alive soup or finely shredded zucchini or carrots. Go ahead--surprise, delight, and nourish yourself!
We are delighted to bring to you this, our newest and original creation.
The pistachio is the most nutrient dense of all the nuts, containing high quantities of B essential nutrients, thiamine, vitamin B6, potassium, and lutein, an antioxidant for eye health. The pistachio is an anti-oxident powerhouse, containing more cholesterol-lowering phytosterols than any other nut (and more than a cup of green tea!). Pistachios are also among those nuts with the highest fiber--supplying 12% of the daily recommended amount in just one ounce--which aids digestion and management of blood sugar levels. In addition to all these benefits, the pistachio is a low fat and low calorie food compared to other nuts, containing just 3 calories each--and you won't be able to eat too many since each one must be shelled.

I was going to make pasta but I wanted to make a little appetizer for some friends and share this love. After all, I am out to spread the word of The Living Tree Community here in GA myself if I have to. When I love and believe in something, just go ahead and call me crazy.

One by one, I called my friends over to watch a movie. While watching, we ate these! I did have other snacks but who cares! These were in the spot light! I mixed the pesto with some goat cheese and wow they were amazing. Honestly, I wish I would have never even messed with the stuff. I will not next time. It needs nothing at all. In fact, I am glad that I had my friends over because this jar would have been half gone. I know that I would have just dug in with a spoon! I can not wait to have it with whole wheat pasta!!!

Oh wait....I DID!!!

HAHAHAHAHA!~!

How could I not? I love this shot because you get to see all the little pieces of nuts and how wonderful this pesto truly is alone, this is a great representation of as close to the "real thing" as possible.Of course you would have to actually be at my house (or go to the site to try it yoruself) to get the whole experience. I added absolutely nothing to it and it was p.e.r.f.e.c.t. I can not believe that a little jar is packed with so much flavor. I can have a simple whole wheat pasta or bread and turn it into a fancy Italian fest!

Do I even need to rate this company? Do I?

Well if you insist....10! If I could, I would sell their products door to door (don't worry, I already have a appointment with our Co Op here in Athens to get these products in the store a.s.a.p!). If you want some ALIVE, organic, vegan products that are so good for you and made with so much love that you can FEEL. Go to the site now. Once again!

www.livingtreecommunity.com

Mr.Schwartz, thank you again for completely blowing my mind! I am sharing them with the folks here in Georgia! I am spreading the word! You should be proud of what you are doing. I am!

Hope you all return tomorrow to read more. You know that I will be talking more about The Living Tree in my upcoming posts. I have some recipes that I am dying to try out with the Paradise Dreams!

See ya!

-Heather

A new generation.

A few days ago I got a box full of things that I NEEDED so badly. You wouldn't believe it! I got a box filled with just about everything that I need for my new place as far as cleaning supplies!!! I am so happy to report that Seventh Generation came to my rescue and sent me some amazing goodies to get me started! You had no idea SG but I am moving into my own place in a matter of days and boy did you just save me, big time. The only problem is....now I will never be able to buy just any cleaning/detergent....I am truly hooked! Let me tell you a bit about the company that saved my butt some cash! You know, you forget how the little things to get you started in a new place can really add up! I am so grateful (and you might be too if you read the whole post ;)

Here we go!

About Seventh Generation
Seventh Generation is committed to becoming the world's most trusted brand of authentic, safe, and environmentally-responsible products for a healthy home. For 20 years, the closely held Burlington, Vermont-based company has been at the forefront of a cultural change in consumer behavior and business ethics.
One of the country's first self-declared "socially responsible" companies, Seventh Generation is a business that operates according to a new and different set of principles and values that in many ways are a marked departure from those long considered "traditional." Its business practice is focused on offering people avenues to express their idealism, passion, and commitment to causes larger than themselves at every point along its supply chain—from suppliers and partners to shareholders, customers and its own staff.
The company derives its name from the Great Law of the Iroquois that states, "In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations." Every time you use a Seventh Generation product you are making a difference by saving natural resources, reducing pollution, keeping toxic chemicals out of the environment and making the world a safer place for this and the next seven generations.
Educating This and Future Generations:
Seventh Generation is committed to helping consumers make informed choices.
Seventh Generation provides information in several formats: on packaging, on this Web site, in 7Gen News (look in the upper right corner on any Seventh Generation web page to sign up) and in booklets and presentations by Chief Inspired Protagonist Jeffrey Hollender, company co-founder and Executive Chairperson as well as other members of our community.
A complete line of non-toxic household products:
Seventh Generation brand-name products include: non-chlorine bleached, 100% recycled paper towels, bathroom and facial tissues, and napkins; non-toxic, phosphate-free cleaning, dish and laundry products; plastic trash bags made from recycled plastic; chlorine-free baby diapers, training pants, and baby wipes; and chlorine-free feminine care products, including organic cotton tampons.
Our donations program:
We dedicate 10% of our profits to non-profit community, environmental, health, and responsible business organizations working for positive change.

I am going to go straight down the list of products that I got and tried. 1 being hated and 10 being LOVED it. Ok, ok, ok. Get ready to see the word LOVE a lot. You knew it was coming! I love green company's and this one rocks! First up,

Free and Clear Glass Cleaner:

Cleans without streaks and uses no harsh chemicals. Excellent for effectively cleaning glass, mirrors, chrome, and other hard surfaces around your home. Truly free and clear of fragrances, dyes, and masking agents. Loved it, give it a 10. Totally did exactly what it said!

All purpose cleaner:

Effectively cleans and degreases hard surfaces both inside and outside your home. Excellent for wet mopping. Not recommended for use on wood floors. Truly free and clear of fragrances, dyes, and masking agents. Gave this product a 10! Loved it! I really liked the scent. I know that it is unscented and all but for some reason I felt like it really had a super light clean smell. It could just be me....I will always have this stocked for sure!

Natural Dish Liquid:

Our new improved formula cleans more dishes than ever, and comes in a new 25oz bottle made from 90% post-consumer recycled plastic. Everyone can pitch in on the dishes thanks to our safe, non-toxic formula. Loved it! 10, 10, 10. Didn't dry out my hands and made my dishes sparkle. Gosh, I know I am beginning to sound like a broken record but seriously, loved it!

Natural Laundry Detergent:

A unique combination of plant-derived cleaning agents and enzymes to power out even the toughest stains. Truly free and clear of fragrances, dyes and masking agents. Again, I know that it says no fragrances (even my roommate said that she could smell nothing) but I still feel like it has the best light clean smell. Loved it. 10.

100% Recycled Paper Towels:

Buying products made from recycled paper helps reduce the need for virgin wood pulp, which means more trees are left standing. These hard-working paper towels absorb spills quickly, even when wet. Our white paper towels are now available in Right-Size half-sheets, so you can match the towel with the job. I liked that it was obvious that it was recycled! I like the brown color and feel of these paper towels. They were way sturdier than I has expected for sure.

All in all, well you already know what I am going to say. I GIVE THEM A 10! I don't always rate companies and their products a 10. I don't say that I LOVE something unless I truly do. I am honest. Truth is...I am the one contacting most companies so it is hard not to love the things that I have already heard such great things about. I want you to go right now to their site and just look at all the products that they have to offer. They have an abundance of wonderful things. Even for baby!

www.seventhgeneration.com

If my review is not enough to make you skip right on over to their site I bet you this will be....

Seventh Generation is willing to give one of my readers a change to win one package of their choice!!! How sweet! If you win you can have your pick of:

LIVING HOME STARTER KIT
Glass Cleaner - Grapefruit
All-Purpose Cleaner - Green Mandarin
Toilet Bowl Cleaner - Emerald
Shower Cleaner - Green Mandarin
Tub & Tile Cleaner
Kitchen Cleaner
(2) Natural Paper Towels - 120 Count
Reusable Tote
FREE & CLEAR STARTER KIT
Free & Clear Natural Glass & Surface Cleaner
Free & Clear Natural All Purpose Cleaner
Free & Clear Natural Dish Liquid
Free & Clear Natural Laundry Detergent, 50 oz
(2) Natural Paper Towels - 120 Count
Reusable Tote
NATURAL BABY STARTER KIT
1 package of diapers/training pants - DESIGNATE SIZE….
Tub Chlorine-Free Baby Wipes
Chlorine-Free Baby Wipes Refill
Natural Baby Laundry Detergent
Reusable Tote

Ok so they are the best right??? How do you win the chance to try out some of the best cleaning products around? Well I will tell you! There are three things that you can do to earn a point. If you do all three you get three points entered in the drawing.

1. post a facebook link to my blog.

2. Link my blog on your blog

3.Go to their site and tell me which one of their products (of more if you want) that looks appealing to you!

Easy peasy! You better hurry, this contest will end on February 19th!

A special thanks to Meghan for being just the sweetest person in the world and get me started at my new place with products that I can trust. If it wasn't for Seventh Generation, who knows what my pantry would be stocked with until I could save up! You guys rock and now I am hooked!

Ok guys and gals, get to commenting, facebooking and linking. Ready. Set. Go!

-Heather

Mind of Man.

Yes, I apologize in advance. THIS IS A RANT...If you are single, not in a good mood, in a relationship and hopeful that there is a such thing as a "great guy" or if you are already IN LOVE. Heck even if you just hate complaining!!!

DONT READ THIS POST....Please just click the little x on the top right corner, this will be the worst 2 minutes of your life. I will say this...I never really complain. I use this blog to actually KEEP myself positive. To feel like I am maybe helping by telling you all about training tips, nutrition and give you a glemse of my life as a single upper 20 something living in a college town. Today I will say....I am not positive. I am not happy and I am not going to fake it. I love you guys and you have been very open and honest with me and I promised myself that when I started this, I would be real. Even on the days that I didn't do a very good job of sticking with "my plan" for the day, you saw it. I don't lie and I don't try to act as though I am perfect. Truth be told, I am not perfect at all. I have problems just like the rest of us. I try to remember though that how I feel at the moment wont last forever (thanks Pete!). I try to remember that is abundance. That there is more than enough to go around. I try to remember that even though I dont have what I want now, it will come. I am what they call hopeful. This morning I am confused and quite frankly pissed off.

Losing the battle of his heart even before I had a chance to really fight.
About six, maybe seven or eight, months ago I was dating a guy I was… let’s just say, Obsessed with. God, he was adorable. And he had this crazy calming, yet so exciting effect on me. It was thrilling and amazing and I loved every minute of it.
Every time I saw or even sensed his presence in a room with me: My legs would start to go numb. My heart would race too fast. My head would lose all sense of time. My body would go cold and hot at the same time. And I would just shake from the sudden change. I am naturally level headed and secure in myself and Men don’t effect me, but I was different around him. He would rock my boat by just being there. And I was “obsessed” with him in my own way.
By the word Obsessed, most people think, She stalked him. Always called his phone. Texted him all the time. Asking where he’s at. What he’s doing… Blah, Blah, Blah. Practically suffocated the life out of the poor guy no wonder he just disappeared.
Well, I never did much really. Honestly I don’t think I did enough to keep his attention and he got very bored with me. It was that simple. What could have been, never was. In an attempt to shrug off years of feeling that thin, smiling and pretty was the way a girl should be, I spent my late teens turning my back on girly magazines that offer hypocritical lip service to feminism (page 17: why men love the your curves… page 54: how to lose 7 lbs in three weeks - and eat all the chocolate you want!!!). I surrounded myself with friends who didn’t conform to standardised notions of gender and sought out female role models who went out of their way to condemn a patriarchal definition of femininity.
Despite the bombardment of media messages explaining skinny is good, make-up is needed (come spend your hard-earned money - it will help you get that promotion you think you’ve always wanted), and men like us to be sexy, sexual, demure, undemanding, affectionate, cute, caring, attentive, easy, ice-queenish etc etc etc etc etc, I finally realised that most men actually are interested in more than what women look like and how we can be of benefit to them. So I packed away my insecurities and finally decided that I was enough, to date that is. I am 28 years old and already divorced. This my friends is a hard pill to swallow and an even harder pill to pass on to a "potential" boyfriend. Usually, I wait to tell them. I try and wait for the right moment or even better, I wait about a week after dating them and by that time they have already moved on. Then I don't have to even worry about the embarrassment or feelings of being a loser. Usually this works. However, this time I just got it out there, said it and moved on. Big deal, right? I am not going into the details of the split but lets just say...wrong timing. I have no earthly idea if this is the reason why the last one hung out with me and made me feel like I was something special only to go home and "unfriend" me on facebook (I am hating that thing by the way). How second grade is that??? Then he proceeded, left me a e-mail saying "he wishes me luck in all my endeavors". Just like that. Dumped. Again.

How many times can a girl get dumped by a guy that she thinks is nice? Well I will tell you. In less than a year....5. That just so happens to be my lucky number! What do you know...My favorite kind of dump (and this is what 3 of the 5 did) is just disappear. That is always great. You sit there for weeks telling yourself things like "well...maybe he went on vacation, maybe he had a family emergency, maybe he is just busy." Well Heather, the reality of it all is, he really didn't like you and took the easy way out and vanished. This is what I like to call "the coward". Men that don't even have enough energy to say, you know what...I just don't have the time right now or "Heather, I think your great but I just don't think it's a match." Ignoring someone is the absolute worst thing that you can do to someone. I would rather someone say "I hate your guts, I don't think that you are hot enough, you don't do it for me" then to just vanish into the "oh....I thought he was nice but it turns out a flake" world. The guy that says "I'll call you on Friday and then we will hang out!" actually calls on Friday only to tell you that "something came up" and that Monday would work better. Then you get a text on Monday saying Wednesday is the night that he promises to make it up to you for having to reschedule. Then you get the call..."I am just going to have to REALLY make it up to you but not until the weekend, something came up." By Saturday your pissed and give up. Done deal.Chances are the reason he hasn’t called you back is because he doesn’t want to talk to you. Maybe he can’t talk to you. Maybe he’s fighting pirates, composing an opera, shampooing orphaned kittens.
If he hasn’t called you back, don’t hemorrhage. Don’t instant message your bestie to bitch and moan. A dude not calling you back will snowball into ridiculousness. The simplest, most reasonable answer is the right one. His phone could have been turned off, his grandmother could have died, he could have been hit by a truck and has amnesia. Simple, right? I think that a man that is interested in knowing more about you and ready for a relationship should call between 24h-72 hours after the evening.
The average is 48 hours. Beyond that, his interest is not strong enough for you. Deal with it. This quote sums it up. Of course...it came from a man.

"Women are so fatalistic when it comes to interpreting male actions or inaction's. We’re not tea leaves, financial data, or post-modern fiction. Odds are if they haven’t called you back, it’s not because we think you’re a loony bird fatty who smells like olives and is crazy."

Sigh, there are just so many reasons why mean suck. I would list them all but I just cant. Now, I know....women can be just as bad, I know. However, this is MY rant and I am sticking to "I hate men and this is why post." Sorry.

So lets just keep on going shall we?
Yep, there are so many of them floating around in there. The other end sometimes can be pretty bad too. How about the infamous e-mail! This one to me really is what I like to call "the copoutter." Someone that wants to feel like they are doing the right thing by telling you that it isn't a match but doesn't go all the way through with it. Something like "hey! Heather, had a great night! I am sure we will see each other around..." This of course comes after hanging out for hours, me buying crap to make it a nice evening and them kissing me and making me feel like I just might be cool, nice or interesting enough to get to know better. Here's the thing dude...It's not good enough to be vague. It only leaves the other person thinking..."what did I do wrong?" Again, I would rather you just say it. Your not really what I thought you were. I wanted to sleep with you right away but you are take things to slow. I found someone else. Don't e-mail a girl (or a guy) and dump them, barely. Just do it completely. Tell us what we did and move on. We would think that you were way cooler if you just did so. Better yet, just come over to the house, sit us down and just say "I am just not ready to date" whatever your reason is....Just tell us so that our brains don't take over and make ourselves out to be monsters. Were not.

Ahhh, I am already feeling MUCH better. Thank you! All in all, I think that what these funny stories are meant to say is, it's not you...It's them, their loss. When you least expect it the right one will come along. Blah, blah, blah. No. The truth is, be ok with yourself and enjoy ever moment of being single even if it does suck because you too will one day be married and wishing that you were single again. That is all that I have to say and I am glad that I am saying it on a Saturday so that if you don't read blogs on the weekend or actually have a life you will maybe be able to by pass this one. Monday's post will be much better, promise!

-Heather