What a morning!

I woke up this morning so well rested. Gosh, I needed it. I woke up to a client texting me that she was down another 1.5 pounds this week. That always makes me happy. I am so glad that my plan works for her. I then put some music on (Regina Specktor) and then started to stretch and do some light yoga. This always makes me feel good. 15 minutes later and I was up and at em. Got ready and out the door I went. Stopped to get some gas and was at work right on time. Yesterday before leaving the gym I ran into one of the sweetest girls I know (Ok, I dont REALLY know you but I KNOW your a sweetheart.) Anyway, she tore her ACL and I just want to put some positive vibes out there for my girl. I know how hard it is when you are injured and I truly am here for you if you need me, for real. Sometimes you have to take a step back so that you can take a step forward. YOU WILL NOT LOOSE ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU HAVE OUT IN. Promise. I know that it feels so bad when you want more than anything to do things like run, jump, dance and your body is literally saying no. Think of it this way. This is a way for you to THANK your body for allowing you to work your ass off the past three years. Let it heal, so it that you are in control and go back to some of the things that you put on the back burner because of hours of exercise. Write, do crafts, learn an instrument, whatever you wanted to do before but didnt have time. (Gosh, I think that I even needed to write this). I wish you well and you will be ok. This too will pass and it will even faster if you just relax. Get in that tub!

So, here I am at 9:00 a.m. feeling a little hurt over the whole thing. Well, I am determined to have a good Friday if it is the last thing that I do. So, I am going to brush off and get back up. I will be giving the best possible customer service today for sure (not that I don't anyway, my customers come first no matter what). What makes a tough morning a little bit better?

Oats! I added a half of a banana and some fresh blueberries. Topped it off with some bran flakes and fiber one for some crunch. It was totally good. That paired with a HUGE cup of coffee and that my friends is what I call breakfast. I am in no way saying that I am completely better but I am getting there. Today as far as eats go will be a bit different. I don't have anything set aside for dinner and I am refusing to eat tuna again for lunch. I just cant do it. I am thinking that Earth Fare just may be getting a visit from me today. I want the strawberry Greek yogurt from Stoney Farms but we don't have it yet. Ahhhhhhh! The folks from Stoney farms sent me two coupons and I am holding out until I get the strawberry. Kroger or Publix here needs to get on it! After about tow hours I opened up this bottle of sunshine! Kombucha! I have contacted Synergy like 10 times and they wont send me even a reply back saying no to me...How is that for customer service? I mean, I dont get upset if a company wont sent me some product. We are going through some tough times but come one!!! At least tell me no! So nope, I will not be talking about this bottle of love. I will keep my lips sealed. I will however be honest and say that I drank the whole thing :) After all, I wouldn't be honest if I kept my eats (or drinks in this case) from ya!

So, I know that you all have been waiting for the out come of my give-a-way!!! Random number 27= Sonja. Sonja please send me your address and info to my e-mail address. I have no idea you guys why my comments are not working...I did get the e-mails though in my yahoo box (all 136 of them) I am working on this as we speak. What is up blog spot??? Anyway, Congrats!!! I think you are going to FREAK over these products.

I got something else in the mail yesterday and tried it out last night for the first time. Yes, this is kinda a Colonix update. The folks at Dr.Natura sent me this to help with the plumbing. It surely worked when I woke up this morning. So just to let you guys know what I am doing it is a colon cleanse (I just got done with my first month). I thought that for sure I would be seeing some of the gross stuff that I have seen on their website (don't look while eating your lunch). However the results so far hasn't been that great, sorry! I spoke with a wonderful women Korinna (talk about good customer service) and she was brain storming as to what would help me. Wells she sent me another month of the Colonix (sometimes this things take time) and the Flora Tabs. So right now I am drinking a tea every other night, ever morning having a fiber drink with 16oz of water and at night before bed taking the flora tabs. I have only taken the flora tabs once (last night) but this morning there was success! That made me feel better. I am sorry for talking about this but I have promised to give you guys (and Korinna) updates on the product that I am trying. I am giving (so far and will keep you posted) two thumbs up for the Flora tabs. Here is a little info on them.
8 Strains of Probiotic BacteriaHigh-Potency, Freeze-Dried8 Billion/Serving 100% Natural and Vegetarian 60 Vcaps
A high-potency, stable freeze-dried, professionally formulated probiotics supplement in enteric coated vegetarian capsules. It contains 8 different species of beneficial bacteria with a minimum of 4 billion cells per capsule. Designed to provide a balanced blend of the prominent species of resident intestinal bacteria. Suitable for vegetarians. So as you can see, this stuff is pretty good. Check out their site!!!

http://www.drnatura.com

So, I have no idea what I will be eating for lunch today and dinner so I will just leave you with my morning eats! It is just one of those days...I am more than likely going to have a apple with some almond butter, a Ezekiel wrap with some fresh tomato, avocado, lettuce, basil, tofu and onion. Dinner will more than likely be a salad with maybe fish or chicken and a late snack of frozen watermelon. Nature's Popsicle! I love it. I am loving the fact that it is FRIDAY even more. So sorry that this post is all over the place. I am all over the place today!!!

I hope you all have a day and I will be updating you on Monday with some new product reviews! I am going to be trying out some amazing looking sparkling beverages! Oh yeah and the best news all year....WERE GETTING A TRADER JOES!!!! I am so freakin excited and it should be here by the end of the year!

See you my lovey's!

-Heather

Take me away...

I found a great company with some amazing products! Calgon is something that I have only heard about, now I've tried it :D

This company has a time line! I have never been to a website that actually broke it down for you. Here's the stats:

For over 50 years, Calgon has been dedicated to creating uniquely exhilarating bath and body experiences that stimulate the senses, restore the spirit and take you on a special, fragrant journey to the place you want to be.
Calgon has always been about taking you away on your journey. But, along the way, it has taken quite a journey itself. To find out more about it, check out the timeline and trivia below.
Our History
Let the following timeline and trivia quiz take you away on a little journey through our history—in both business and pop culture.


1933
Calgon, Inc. puts Calgon water softener on the market in 1933. The water softener combines with calcium to reduce unwanted salts in water. It's name comes from Calcium Gone. Hence, Calgon.
1946
Calgon launches its first fragrant bath product.
1960s
Calgon begins advertising its bath oil beads as an essential indulgent, luxurious experience. Here are some classic commercials from that period:
“Limousine”
“Love the Skin You’re In”
“If he doesn’t feel the difference”
1970-1980s
“Calgon Take Me Away” iconic TV and print advertising begins. Here are two of these iconic and beloved commercials:
“Lose Yourself in luxury”
“Let Calgon Take you away”
1989
Reckitt Benckiser acquires Calgon and changes the “Calgon, take me away” tagline. (To find out what it was changed to, check out the trivia section.)
1995
Calgon is acquired by Coty Inc. “Take Me Away” advertising resumes.
1995
Calgon launches body wash—the first significant expansion from bath products into bath and body products.
1997
Calgon becomes the #1 brand in the specialty bath category and launches bubble baths, shower gels and body lotions.
1998
Brand launches takemeaway.com website.
2000-2002
New advertising focuses on skin benefits. Calgon launches Silky Skin Shave Mousses and a new line of products targeting girls age 7-13 (For the name of this tween line of products, check out the trivia section.)
2003
Calgon adds new collections including Blossoms, Brazilian Beauty, Mmmmm and Get Juic’d.
2007
Ascendia Brands buys Calgon.
2009
Ilex acquires Calgon.
2010
The fresh new Calgon and the all-new takemeaway.com website are launched!

I was asked which product I wanted to try and I said that I would love the body cream or body mist. I recieved the body mist, I should have asked for the body cream. Fall will be here before you know it and I am going to need some body cream to keep my skin hydrated! The body mist however was light, refreshing and the perfect scent for after a shower. I absolutely LOVED the way it smelled. The actual name of the scent that I picked was: Perfect Bliss. "A clean crisp world. A fresh new inspiration." How could I not with this description?!?

This fruity floral fusion highlights top notes of pineapple, red apple and juicy mandarin. Plum and magnolia add distinction while the aroma of lily and rose and undertones of warm musk fuse the diverse elements into blissful perfection. For $4.69 (no kidding) you can feel like you went to the spa!!!!

They carry a ton of different scents and I have to say...the one that I got to try lived up to it's name!!! Smooth, creamy and the most delightful scent ever! You must try these!!! Go to:

www.takemeaway.com

see for yourself! I bet you wont be able to look at the site without wanting something. They have fragrance sprays, body creams, bath salts, bubble bath, shower gel, you name it! A world of beloved fragrances in vibrant new packages and exciting new forms. A world of wonderfully enhanced formulas and inspiring new products. A world which combines the joy of the familiar with the thrill of the new. Let Calgon take you away!

Let me know if you have ever tried Calgon, I was told about the company from a friend and once I went to the site I knew I had to try something. Thanks so much to the great folks at Calgon it was made possible!

See you tomorrow!!!

-Heather

SUNPOWER CAFE

Just the other day I was thinking...Why cant I just have fresh raw veggies anytime without the worries of it wilting or going bad?

Well, I found a company that has made Kale Munchies!!! I was super excited to hear back from the snazzy cafe based out of Los Angeles.

Not only were they going to be sending me a box of Kale Munchies....some raw cookies were on their way as well! I was jumping for joy that some healthy goodies were coming all the way from California, my favorite place on earth! Sunpower Cafe just made my day! It doesn't get better than raw foods from California...You know that by now! I have always boasted about The Living Tree Community in S.F. (still my favorite) and now I found a Cafe in Los Angeles that makes raw goodies too! If you are in the L.A. area (and if I am ever in the area too, I will be sure to stop in) you should go to Sunpower Cafe. If your not in the LA area currently, that's ok...


Go to SunPower Cafe at: http://www.sunpowernatural.com/


I got ahead of myself, let me explain about the fab company first!

SunPower Natural Cafe organic restaurant introduces a fresh, new outlook on food to the culinary landscape of Los Angeles. They always provide their customers with the healthiest and tastiest organic, all vegan cuisine. (Dude, you should see their menu....drool). Joseph Waller has an impressive chefing pedigree. He worked at the famed Inn of the Seventh Ray in Topanga Canyon, as well as serving as lead chef at gourmet vegetarian restaurant Fattys in Eagle Rock. With his classical gourmet training at Johnson & Wales University, we look forward to many exciting dishes from his hands.

SUNPOWER CAFE restaurant doesn't fry it, kill it, or overcook it, they just give you really tasty food that's really healthy for you!

Wanna see the two products I got?


Raw Cacao Chocolate Cookies.
$6.95
If you're looking for a chewy, yummy raw chocolate chip cookies you've found them. SunPower Cafe has made organic chocolate cookies (gluten free) use a cashew base with cacao powder and vanilla for a very rich flavor then sweetened with raw agave nectar, which is low-glycemic. AMAZING!!! This totally hit the spot. A girl needs her chocolate.
What I really liked about these cookies were that they were small but packed with flavor. I only needed one and I completely got my chocolate fix. I actually kept my package in the fridge and they were a cool sweet treat after lunch. I am going to miss them when they are gone for sure!

The other item I received was:

Kale Munchies!

$10.95
Looking for a delicious, truly healthy snack? You've found it with SunPower Cafe's Kale Munchies!

Seasoned with a mouthwatering blend of garlic, onion, tamari and spices, these crunchy morsels have a slightly sweet taste derived from agave nectar, a low-glycemic sweetener made from cactus.

Curly Kale, a member of the cabbage family, is one of the most nutrient-rich, foods available. The vitamins in kale help prevent free radical damage, which can lead to diseased cells.
A one ounce serving of these delicious Kale Munchies provides 199% of the daily requirements for Vitamin A. which helps to prevent cancer, promotes lung health and prevents cell damage. In addition, Kale also is an excellent source of fiber, Vitamins C, E and K, Manganese, and Calcium.
Ingredients: Organic kale, organic agave nectar, organic tamari, organic olive oil, organic onions, organic garlic, organic cayenne pepper, organic spices. These rocked my world!

Jeez, yet again another company that has totally blown me away! I didn't want either one of these boxes to go empty :( I also kept this box after opening in the fridge. Goodbye potato chips, hello Kale munchies! I am in awe of how good these really were. Crunchy, salty (but not in a bad way) and packed with vitamins and nutrients, just the way I like it!

I LOVED both products and the customer service was outstanding! Thank you SunPower Cafe for being the greatest and sending me some amazing raw nutritious food! My body is thanking me!

Hope you go and check them out! I think that the price is totally worth what you get and you can tell that this is food they care about. Well packaged, quick shipping and great tasting healthy food you can feel the difference. You can bet ya that I will be stopping by SunPower Cafe if I am ever in the LA area.

Go get your raw on!

-Heather

Why most people (and myself included) LOVE Fridays.

It's Friday!!!

If you are like the "typical" American worker you get up everyday at 7:30 in the morning, stumble your way through the laundry pile, over the kid's toys and around the pile of bills on the table to get to the coffee pot. After you stand there in a sleepy haze while waiting for the coffee to percolate, you then proceed to consume your usual two cups of coffee, which you need just to stay awake and make it through your day. This is the morning routine of the average person working the Monday through Friday nine to five shift. While everyone needs a job, this type of toiling away is extremely monotonous and leads to the FRIDAY ITCH. The Friday itch is when you spend the entire work week wishing it was Friday so that you would have the entire weekend without having to go to work. Those two days are the highlight of your week. Besides the obvious have you ever wondered why everyone loves Fridays so much? Here are some of the little known reasons as to why people love Fridays.

Even if you absolutely love your job, you probably still look forward to the weekend. It is not because you cannot wait to leave your job but because everyone needs a break every now and then. It is nice not to have to get up early sometimes. The weekend gives you a chance to relax and rejuvenate for the workweek to come. It also gives you time to spend with your family or do those errands you were unable to do because you are too busy during the week. Now if you really do hate your job, then the weekend is a chance to get away from what you hate. You then spend the entire weekend wishing it was not going away so quickly.

Another reason people love Fridays is because it is a closing day. Friday signals the end of the typical workweek so everything that happened in that week stays in that week. Say you had a customer that was just really rude to you and made you hate your job and feel bad about yourself. After that week is over you get to forget about it and start clean. This is in direct relation to another reason people love Fridays: Mondays. I know people generally hate Mondays because it is the beginning of the workweek and it means that you have five days until the next weekend but when you think about it Mondays are the beginning of a new week. It is a chance to wipe the slate clean and to set new goals for you to accomplish and new things to learn. Mondays are a brand new chance to do things you did not do the previous week.

Fridays are just a day that allows people to unwind after a long week at work. You do not have to get up early the next day, you do not have to deal with difficult work situations, and at the end of the day you do not have to come back to work for two whole days.

This is why I like Fridays (other than the reasons above)! Fridays allow for more casual dress while at work. This is very interesting to me that most dress down on Fridays naturally. I however usually dress up on Fridays. I noticed this about a year ago when I would get comments "Heather, why are you so dressed up, you should be wearing loafers and slacks with a sleeveless top or something." I didn't realize then that it was a trend that I had started. I became aware that Friday's I always dressed up more! I then asked myself "Why is this?" Well, my answer is this. I feel my best on Friday's (as far as work goes). I think that subconsciously I know that it is the end of the week and so happy that it shows through my clothes. When I feel good, I look good. I have been doing this unintentionally now for years. This goes without saying that I always try to look my best (some may disagree but you can stick it!) but Friday's are usually my best of the best shall we say. I like it and take this opportunity to do so also because I think that it is a great strategic way to stand out and be noticed! Yes, you heard right. I realize now that this was thought about and now understand that I may just have been doing this for a reason... Hmmmmm, interesting right? I say, if you work in a place that allows you to "dress down" (I work at a bank so dressing down is still very conservative) dress it up! You will bring attention to yourself and make people take notice. Friday's are usually meeting days here and so I take the opportunity to really show my efforts through my clothing, hair and make-up. There is nothing better than on a casual Friday to walk into a meeting with important people and stand out. Clients will take notice of you and will steer towards you, co-workers will strike up conversations which can allow you to build a stringer relationship and managers will take note. I say, when everyone is doing something, do the opposite. I know that this is a little thought out but this is the business minded person I am.

Next time you have the opportunity to dress down....maybe you should dress up! Here's the "up" version of my Friday!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend and I will see you with more news and reviews on Monday!

-Heather

Greenware for Baby.

Hello babe's! I am excited to share some really cool Ecofriendly tableware!

I recieved a box just the other day and it had baby tableware! (No, I am not pregnant nor do I have a child BUT there is nothing wrong with supporting or reviewing a company that has great green products!) This isnt just any table ware....It is made of CORN!

I contacted the company after going to a baby shower and the topic of conversation was "is there a company out there that makes green ware for babies?" I didn't know but the question of course was directed towards me. All my friends know that I am a food blogger/product reviewer and so I get questions all the time. I did a web search and found:

http://www.buygreenware.com/

Here is a description of one of the cutest companies I have seen for baby!

Mother’s Corn: Eco-friendly Corn Tableware for Babies and Kids
The corn plastic tableware of Mother’s Corn is made from the PLA (Poly Lactic Acid) which is a biodegradable, thermoplastic, aliphatic polyester derived from renewable resources, such as corn starch. Kid’s friendly and quality designed Mother’s corn products draw the attention from young moms who are conscious about environmental issues. Mother’s corn was born in S. Korea and is already popular in S. Korea, Japan, and China.

Mother’s corn tableware products are safe for kids and environment. It is Non-Toxic, Anti-Bacterial, No Environmental Hormone and most of all it is Biodegradable.

Another notable fact is, unlike other corn plastic containers which are disposable, Mother’s corn has excellent durability.

Look at the cuteness I received!
Eco-friendly, non-toxic, anti-bacteria, biodegradable CORN PLASTIC products for babies and kids. 8oz corn cup.

Eco-friendly, Non-Toxic, Anti-Bacteria, Biodegradable plate for babies and kids. 9"x10.75"x1"

and last nut not least I got:

Eco-friendly, non-toxic, anti-bacteria, biodegradable CORN PLASTIC products for babies and kids. 7 oz cup w/ holder

How adorable are these products? I just LOVE them! I dont have a child but I am using them anyway and feel good about doing so because they are made from corn! What a great idea! Here are some Q& A's about Mother Corn:

1. Are the environmental hormones found in the containers of Mother’s Corn?
No, since the plastic of Mother’s Corn is made from the natural resource of corn starch, the environmental hormones, carcinogens, and heavy metals are not found in our products. It is totally safe when babies chew the container or when it contains hot foods.

2. Can we eat the Mother’s Corn since it is made from corn starch?
No, although the main material of Mother’s Corn is corn starch, you can not eat the Mother’s Corn because it takes several processes to make the final products.

3. Does Mother’s Corn decompose when they are being used?
No, It will not disappear while you use it. Mother’s Corn begins decomposing after you buried in soil.

4. Is Mother’s Corn microwave and dishwasher safe?
Tricky but we should say No, you can use a home microwave up to 3 minutes and a dishwasher for cleaning. However, we do not recommend using either microwave or dishwasher and it will shorten the life of Mother’s corn.
Good news is that all Mother’s corn has self anti-bacterial treated; therefore it is not necessary to use either dishwasher or boiling water for cleaning. Hand washing is good enough.

Mother Corn has been kind enough to issue a discount coupon for my readers!!!

Everyone that orders will get a 20% discount coupon if they use the code : sccblog02 and it will expire on Aug. 31, 2010. So get your orders in now!

All in all this is the place to go if you really want a great gift for an expecting mom, or if you already have little ones. OR if you are like me and just like that there is corn ware out there! I love it really. Please go to there site and let me know what you think!

I hope you enjoyed my review and see you tomorrow for more!

-Heather

Icelandic yogurt.

In case you haven't noticed I have been eating a lot of greek yogurt lately. Recently I recieved a TON of greek yogurt from Greek Gods and then Chobani sent me over a 12 pack to review as well. I LOVE greek yogurt and could possibly live off of it in the warmer months with fresh fruit.

I contacted Skyr.com to see if I could try out some of their yogurt since I have been eyeing the pretty package at EarthFare for weeks now. Since I have been trying different varieties of grek yogurt, I thought...what is one more?

I am so glad that I found Siggi's. Simply put, it is by far my favorite!



What is skyr?
Skyr is the traditional yogurt of Iceland. It is made by incubating skim milk with live active cultures. The whey, the water naturally found in milk, is then strained away to make for a much thicker, creamier, concentrated yogurt. So to make just one cup of skyr, with all that water going out, you need 3 - 4 times the amount of milk required to make a regular cup of yogurt. As a result of this process skyr comes out with 2-3 times the protein count of standard yogurt.

The history of skyr:
According to the Sagas, the original stories of the Norse Vikings, Icelanders have made skyr since settlers from Norway first arrived on the island in the 9th century. The word skyr is probably derived from the Icelandic word skera, which means to cut or slice–– a reference to the ideal thickness perhaps? The modern word for regular yogurt, jógúrt, didn’t exist in Icelandic until the 20th Century. Before then, regular yogurt was sometimes referred to as Búlgarst skyr, or ‘Bulgarian skyr,’ because of its popularity in Bulgaria.
Skyr was always, and is still, made from skim milk after the cream had been floated off to make butter. The skim was incubated with cultures and the resulting yogurt strained to take out the whey. Traditionally, the whey that subsequently came off the skyr was then used to pickle various foods in the summer to help last out Iceland’s long, arduous winters. Thus, skyr was part of a process that historically was centered on maximizing the yield and storage time of milk.
Skyr is a big part of the modern diet in Iceland. It has enjoyed a resurgence of kind in the past decades, in particular among athletes and the nation’s prominent musclemen as a highly coveted and convenient source of protein for them muscles!
Today, all Icelandic skyr is made from cow’s milk. Up until the 19th century, however, skyr was made from both sheep and cow’s milk. Siggi’s skyr is made solely from cow’s milk. Look at these ingredients! I decided to pick blueberry and the plain variety.

I LOVED both and in fact want to try out some other flavors, the orange ginger looks amazing! I should have went for a flavor that I have never had before but blueberry has yet to fail me.

If you want yogurt like none other with flavors that will burst on your taste buds try Siggi's. Go to their site! Just look at all they have to offer! They have a very fine selection of Greek yogurts. Out of all the yogurts that I have tried (and this is saying a lot) they win. So sorry to the others that I have tried recently but this company stands alone. I was out to find the best of the best and found it. I will continue to try others out but I must say....YOU had me at first bite.

With only 120 cals and more protein than carbohydrates I was sold. Just by the label. There are so many yogurts out there that is are filled with sugar. Even Greek Yogurt that is known to be higher in protein and lower in the sugar department I have found brands that were not so healthy. It was a hard to swallow when I looked at the back of one of the companies creamy yogurt to find that it had a whopping 310 cals and over 40 carbs for a cup. "I mean...I could eat pasta instead".

When I looked at the packaging, I was pleased. When I looked at the label, I was pleased. When I contacted them and within four days I had coupons in my hand, I was pleased. Most of all, when I took my first bite, I was pleased.

10 out of a 10 is my rating! Go to the site, if you don't believe me!

www.skyr.com

Thanks so very much to Virgina for being the sweetest and sending me in yogurt heaven! I am so in love with this stuff and shouting it from the roof tops! I work in a huge place and I have been telling everyone about this yogurt! You have to taste it to believe it! If you want food that you can feel good about....the perfect macro nutrients even....Go to Skyr!

Hope you all have a great day and thanks so much for the up lifting words to last weeks post! I dont know what I would do without my readers.

See you tomorrow for another review. This one will be sure to make you smile!

-Heather

Heya!

Hello all! Today is going to be a regular post! No reviews, just me! I cant believe that we are already in the middle of July! I feel as though this summer is passing me by. I have been trying my very best to take advantage of every summer activity possible. Swimming should become a part of every one's daily routine (I wish!). When it is 90+ degrees out you just don't feel like eating much. I am glad that I have been able to review some kick butt products because honestly, my food is pretty basic. I have been living off of fresh fruit, salads, raw nuts and yogurt. I know that is not a bad thing but when your a food blogger you kinda feel bad for food that lacks in the "wow" department. Non the less, I am pleased with my eats and I do want to share a few with you! Best breakfast in a LONG time!
Fresh Papaya, mango, lime and pom seeds with a drizzle of agave. DROOL!!! I am in love with Papaya and tomorrow's post will be devoted to the lovely berry. Did you know that Papaya is a berry? Well, I didn't either! Anyway, you are going to be amazed at the recipes that tomorrow's post will bring, trust me on this one!


I am loving fresh fruit in the mornings and honestly I am just listening to my body and giving it exactly what it wants, when it wants. A few hours later this beauty was consumed:

Avocado Soup!


Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 cups chicken stock or Veggie stock (I used vegitable stock)
6 ripe medium avocados, peeled, pitted, and diced (reserve pits)
5 tablespoons fresh lime juice, plus more if needed
Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce, plus extra for the garnish



To make soup: Heat oil in a large, heavy nonreactive pot set over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened and translucent, for 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute more. Add stock, 2 cups water, avocados, lime juice, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon Tabasco; bring mixture to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Purée the soup in batches in a food processor, blender, or food mill, and return soup to the pot. (Or use an immersion blender to purée the soup in the pot.) Don’t worry if the soup is quite thick at this point. Add reserved avocado pits to soup, then cool, cover, and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight. After soup has chilled, you can thin it with cold water, using up to 1 cup (or more if needed), if soup is too thick. Taste soup and season with more salt and additional lime juice, as needed. (Chilled soups often need extra seasoning to intensify their flavor.)When ready to serve, remove and discard pits from soup. Drain the excess liquid from the salsa and stir in cilantro; season salsa with additional salt, if desired. To serve, ladle chilled soup into 6 bowls. Garnish center of each serving with some salsa and a dash of Tabasco. Serves 6Cooking Tips: The avocado pits come in handy in this recipe. When they are added to the puréed soup, they prevent it from turning a drab green.


It was amazing and I made a ton! I love chilled soups in the summer. I had to add something else to my diet besides nuts, berries and yogurt, I was starting to think that I would never eat anything else! I munched on some amazing un-pictured cherries throughout the day and decided that I needed some more veggies today. I needed a monster salad, pronto.



Of course my salad was packed with fruit. I don't know what is up with the massive craving for fruit lately but I am going for it. I added some tofu for protein and balsamic vinegar (the best dressing to go with fruit in my opinion). This was perfect. Cool eats in the summer heat makes me happy. I decided to end the day with something even more delightful. Dark Chocolate Covered Ginger and a organic beer that I have never tried before.
I am telling you folks, things are getting weird. I don't drink beer. I mean seriously, I don't. I prefer wine, sake or a light mixed drink. I LOVE beer more than all three combined but it doesn't usually agree with me. I can just look at beer and gain 5 pounds. I was at EarthFare the other day thought that this brand looked interesting. This beer was light but still had a bold taste. I loved every sip. Just one was enough. I am like a coffee drinker when it comes to beer. I love the taste and the smell of it. I don't drink for the buzz at all. This beer was like a fine cup of coffee. Smooth, bold and the perfect amount of spices. Loved it!

There you have it, my day in eating form anyway. Tomorrow's post will be chalk full of papaya recipes, get ready it is going to be GOOOOOOD! Hope you all had a great weekend. Mine went WAY too fast!
-Heather

Blackberry Muffins
(based on this recipe from www.recipezaar.com)

I made this SUPER healthy!
-2 cup whole wheat flour
-3 teaspoons baking powder
-1 cup blackberries (fresh or frozen)
-1/2 cup soymilk or almond milk
-1/2 cup applesauce
-1/4 cup egg whites
-2/3 cup brown sugar or agave

Mix dry ingredients (flours, baking powder, and berries) in large bowl.
Mix wet ingredients in separate bowl.
Pour wet ingredients into dry and mix until just moist. Spoon into large muffin tins and bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Two things baking:

1)Don't replace *all* of the oil in a recipe with applesauce - your baked good will end up chewy (the ratio here was just right), and

2)Let breads cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before removing them.

Every muffin I made held up perfectly!

Have a great weekend! See you Monday with more great food and reviews!

-Heather

You say Tomato, I say Tomahhhhhhto.

How would you like to take a tomato adventure with me?

I decided to enter a photo contest of best tomato. I think for my first time shooting tomatoes they didnt come out too bad. Lete me know which one you like the best!

Only I, would build a little tomato "tree house" to get the right shot... You have no idea how hot I was while balancing on a chair to capture the tomato maddness that was going on.
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This one is my personal fave!

How do you like to make your tomato sandwich?

It could be a Southern thing, who knows...All I know is I look forward to tomato season all year =)

-Heather

Grass Goddess!

Let's start this Wednesday off right shall we? The winner of the Yantra Mat is.....


Sarita! Sarita, please email me your address and phone number (for shipping only!) and I will get this mat right out to you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I am!

Do you know what my favorite color is?

GREENNNNNNN!!!!!!

If I have said it once, I have said it 40 million times....I LOVE AMAZING GRASS PRODUCTS!

Now, you know that I am a smoothie ahololic and I almost always use some amazing grass powder of some sort in my liquid meals. I was reading a blog that I love and saw that she was drinking a new product from the wonderful green company. I immediately contacted Terri and begged for a sample of the new energy filled green superfood! She, being the sweetest (and I must say quickest customer service women alive) got right back to me and said that she would be happy to send me a sample to review! Yippy! I have been known to put a cup of coffee in my smoothies to give me that extra boost in the the mornings and now I dont have to! I present to you thier New Product - Hold On To Your Hats!

Amazing Grass Green SuperFood just got an added kick of energy. Featuring Yerba Mate from Guayaki and organic Matcha green tea. These plant ingredients are loaded with polyphenols that support energy, vitality and clarity. Blended to perfection in a delicious tasting lemon lime powder that mixes well with juice, water or your favorite beverage. One serving gives you the antioxidant equivalent of 7 servings of fruits and vegetables and helps you hit your daily quota. A full spectrum of alkalizing green superfoods, antioxidant rich fruits, and support herbs unite with Acai and Maca to provide a powerful dose of whole food nutrition along with that extra energy kick. Complete with pre & probiotics and digestive enzymes to ensure rapid nutrient absorption and healthy digestion. What more could you want in a smoothie? I am telling you...go get it now! Need more of a nudge? Ok, you asked for it.

Green SuperFood Energy: All natural and organic ingredients include organic wheat grass, organic barley grass, organic alfalfa, organic spirulina, organic spinach, organic chlorella (cracked cell-wall), organic broccoli, organic yerba mate extract, organic matcha green tea, organic acai, organic maca, organic carrot, organic beet, organic rose hips, Organic pineapple, acerola cherry, organic flax seed powder, apple pectin fiber, F.O.S. (from chicory root), L. acidophilus, alpha and beta amylase, protease, lipase, lactase, cellulase, stevia leaf extract, natural flavors, citric acid, peppermint leaf and silicia. Soy free and Vegan.

Ok, I know that you are sold right? Just look at this and you just may get in the car and come right over to my house. I would make one for you but you would have to do some work though. I am very greedy with my amazing grass goodness.

Take this and make it into this! (what you see here is what my smoothies usually look like I have the powder in there, you just cant see it!) OH BUT YOU CAN FEEL IT! I didnt get the canister but I did get a handfull of on-the go packs. I love them because they fit right in my purse and I can always have my amazing grass with me. I have to say....the wheat grass canister is empty and just stares at me sadly. I love every product from amazing grass. So far all have impressed me and this one doesnt fail. My favorite though is the chocolate amazing grass, it truely is amazing that chocolate super food can taste so darn good! You should look in your local health food stores and see if they have the packs and or the canister. Earth Fare in the past have had samples of amazing grass when you go to the HBC counter! It has made my visits more frequent! Keep an eye out!

1 cup of mixed frozen berries

1 handfull of fresh spinach

1 cup of vanilla almond milk

1 scoop of Amazing Grass Superfood Energy powder (or one on-the-go pack)

and 1 tablespoon of bee pollen.

I added a little bit of water to the mix as well as 3 egg whites (I know, I know, I know, raw eggs??? Yes, please.)

Blend until smooth and what you get is the most AMAZING smoothie with enough punch to get you through your workout and then some. I have been taking my HUGE smoothie and dividing it into TWO. Not because I want to share with somone, nope. Because I want MORE! I usually drink one before going to the gym and then the other after. I love freezing my smoothies and then about a hour before I know that I want to drink it I transfer it to the fridge. By the time I get home it is just sitting there waiting for me! I am telling you, there is nothing better than a rich in vitamins, protein, probiotics, superfood smoothie after sweating your brains out in the gym. Nothing compares.

Thank you Terri for being the best, once again! I am thrilled to try this new product out and I must say, everytime I wear my amazing grass goddess t-shirt I always get comments. I wear my shirt with pride!

I kid you not folks! If I could, I would work for this company and travel around the world promoting it! It is my dream to have a company and products that I am passionate about and be able to blog about my experiences while traveling to health food stores across the country promoting, sampling and spreading the good word. Amazing grass...hire me!!!!

If you are in the market for one truly AMAZING product go to:

www.amazinggrass.com

I can bet you almost anything that you will be shouting from the roof tops about this product. They dont just have powders. If you are not a smoothie person (even though you can just mix with straight water) they offer an array of products. There food bars are amazing, they have capsules (which I havent tried but I can pretty much vouch that they are great) and even travel size options! Go for it, you will thank me later!

Hope you enjoyed this post...Let me know which amazing grass product you like most.

See you tomorrow with another review, this one is going to be very interesting -Heather

New to me!

Hello my peeps! Tuesday I think is the new Monday... I am so tired this morning!When I woke up this morning I made an espresso shot, that tells you right there how tired I was. I think I may have a slight coffee obsession...That is another post all together though. This morning is a review post! I have been seeing this product all over the blog world for months! I finally decided to try these babies out for myself and one question came to mind... Why oh why did I wait so long???

I love falafel. I love the creamy sauce that comes with falafel and when I saw that we were getting a Falafel King, I was so excited. Wait! One thing though....I dont eat falafel. Why? Didn't you just say you love falafel? Well, yes but lets face it folks...I dint like fried things. I would like to introduce a old friend to a new one.

The Old:
Looks good right? (Not to me...this actually hurts my tummy just looking at it!) Well, what if you could take this and make it into this?

The New:

Go to : http://flamousbrands.com/

To find amazing falafel chips! Yes, that's right! A chip made from falafel! And that's not all!!!

This company makes them , ,,,,!


I LOVE that I can feel great about eating these!

Flamous Brands, Inc USDA Organic Falafel Chips

When I saw the nutritional info I was sold! Chips that are loaded protein, good fats and low carbs...What more could you ask for?

A successful chef, an expert nutritionist, and a master CEO; are the three best friends and partners behind this first of a kind Falafel Chips:

For A Healthy Tasty Snack… Anytime go buy a bag!

They are the perfect side to salsa, dips, salads and sandwiches! I love em!

Thanks so much for letting me try them out! I am hooked! I am sharing them with everyone I know and you better believe that it is on my table when watching the world cup. Everyone so far is a raving fan!

See ya tomorrow!

-Heather