Posts tagged vegan
Mastering Makeup
11June 12, 2013
As I stated in my post about beauty, over the past few years I’ve made it a point to reduce my dependence on items that aren’t necessary to survive. One of those things would be the use of makeup. Ever since that post and the inevitable lifestyle change as I become a Rock Star Wife, I’ve been thinking about a lot of stuff lately….specifically makeup and fashion.
It’s safe to say I’m pretty darn comfortable in my own skin and thankfully my husband loves me just the way I am. However, I can’t be going to shows looking like a hot mess or hag, right? Enter my newest “project” for myself…attempting to master the application of make up. Keeping it real, I’m not doing this for anyone but me. (Remember D prefers me WITHOUT makeup) Even if I can make this happen, chances are 9.9 times out of 10 you’ll still find me without makeup. But we both agree that it wouldn’t hurt to spice things up a bit here and there. Not to mention, I’ll take any help I can get at fending off his admirers 
Au naturale
Makeup has never been my thing. As a teenager I was never one of those girls that would sit in her room applying makeup. The extent of my daily makeup routine would possibly be powder foundation, maybe blush, and a touch of eye shadow. I never touched eyeliner or lipstick. The first time I ever wore eyeliner was for my wedding almost 11+ years ago and someone else applied it. So as you can see I literally have no base when it comes to makeup application skill.
To add to the challenge I want all products I use to be cruelty-free. Thankfully there are companies that produce cruelty-free makeup. The downside: there aren’t many, they tend to be more expensive, and even if the brand is cruelty-free the parent company sometimes isn’t (big gray area but I want to try my best to avoid supporting those companies)
As of now I’ve turned to YouTube videos in attempt of learning some application techniques. It’s always fun to realize I’m learning to apply makeup by girls that are half my age. I swear no matter what technique I try it all looks the same too. Goodness, I need some serious help. What I need is a makeup artist to sit down and teach me one-on-one. Shoot, at this point I’d settle for the basics. Maybe one day we’ll have enough money so I can hire a stylist/makeup artist. Seriously, how rad would that be? Never say never….
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
What Happened To Real Blogging?
0May 5, 2013
in Simply Happy
I’ve already written about this but have since had further thoughts, hence why I’m sharing more….
It’s hard to believe that I’ve been blogging since 2006. With the exception of one major dry spell I’ve been writing since then. It wasn’t until a couple years ago that I transferred from my old blog to being BananaBuzzbomb. I didn’t transfer all of the blog posts during the transition because quite honestly I didn’t think they “belonged” here.
Old school old blog banner
I’ve said it before, but when I first started blogging it was to keep my family up-to-date on our day-to-day lives. You name it, I wrote about it. It was more like a journal and I held nothing back. My regular readers were family with the exception of a few strangers who would stumble upon my blog for various reasons. To this day I still have blog posts that have regular traffic and receive comments. I loved blogging. It was natural. It was freeing. I didn’t really have to think about it. I just wrote. I didn’t worry about who I’d offend or if topics would hurt my traffic or cost me partnerships with brands.
As I saw social media evolve I saw the opportunity to see if I could work towards making a living off of my blogging…or at least a supplemental income. I was already blogging, so why not? When I started BananaBuzzbomb I attempted to be more formal and business-like….or building my own “brand”. I worked on finding my niche and became associated with a network of individuals that helped share my content as I did for them as well. During that time I saw everyone and their mom creating blogs. I thought, “The more the merrier. Come join the party!”
Over the past several months I realized how commercialized blogging has become. As I looked around at my fellow bloggers I couldn’t help but think, “This isn’t really blogging.” Is anyone actually sharing their real story or are they just sharing bits and pieces that conform around their niche? Even more, are they even sharing any of their real life or just creating an image surrounding products that they receive for free or for compensation? Does anyone really care about their true voice and what they are writing? What ever happened to real blogging?
It wasn’t until I took a step back that I realized I had lost my authentic voice. Sure there was a bit of Heidi in those posts (I wrote them!) , but I was conforming to the change happening around me. I’m not a salesperson and I was literally trying to sell myself. And that’s why it seemed to take forever to write my posts.
Quite honestly the last thing I want is to be known as is an authority on something ( I even say that in my About Me that was written well over 2 years ago). Yes, I want people to trust my words, but authority? No. I simply want to share my life. Losing my authentic voice also meant I didn’t use certain words or share my thoughts on topics that I had an opinion on because I was too scared to hurt my own personal “brand”. In other words, more often than not I was holding back.
I’m not hating on the situation because I was doing it as well. I’m also not saying that people shouldn’t make money off of blogging. There are people out there that are masters of their creation, weaving true blogging and making money off of it. I’m also not against working with brands. However, two important questions I’ve started asking myself when asked to review/promote products are: “Do I already use this product/brand?” and for new products “Would I be willing to spend my money on this if it wasn’t given to me for free?” I’ve quickly found that I needed to pass on more opportunities that I wouldn’t have in the past…but that’s okay. I have and will always be loyal to the promise I made myself. As time goes on I’ve found that I want to be even more conservative.
I want to get back to the basics of blogging. When I read my friend Carey’s blog the other day it confirmed what I’ve been feeling over these past couple months. Her posts are refreshing. They are legit. She doesn’t hold anything back. True life experiences with emotions and all. I’m not saying that I want to hear about every waking moment of someone’s life by reading their blog, but I want to know about them. If they’re a runner. Great. But doesn’t their life consist of more than running? Tell me about that stuff too.
I’m not saying that all the other blogs are crap. On the contrary, there are many great writers out there…but my hope is that they stay true to their voice and are sharing their real-life stories and not some facade in order to get more page hits. Because that’s not what real blogging is about.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
4/25/13: I Am Grateful For….
0April 25, 2013
You know, I could actually plan out my blog posts, like I used to…something like every Friday write my “grateful” posts. But that never felt right and let’s be honest, that sort of planning actually works against my whole “Be Here Now” plan. I’m over it. I’m going to write what I want to write, when I want to write. For those that are regular readers I’m sure you’ve already picked up on this transition since I used to post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, which is no longer happening.
Although I’ve always had control over my blog, (hello, I write it.) taking this thought and actually living it has felt empowering. I also have to say that my blogging voice is coming through much easier . My posts may not flow all that well (not that they ever did), but lately I’ve found that when I sit down to type there’s a much easier flow from my brains thoughts to keyboard.
So, with all that being said, it’s been several weeks since I’ve posted about things that I am grateful for I figured it’s time to share.
Mobile banking. Since we have direct deposit that last time we stopped at our bank was months ago. Direct deposit is awesome given that we bank with a credit union and there aren’t locations on every street corner. I recently received a check in the mail to be deposited but kept putting off depositing it because it wasn’t convenient to make my way over to our bank. However, I just happened to check if they offered mobile deposits, like Bank of America shows in their commercials, and sure enough they do! I simply downloaded the app, took a few photos, submitted, and within 24 hours the deposit was accepted. Now, I gotta admit, the whole thought is a bit scary but given that it’s not something I’d be doing regularly it’s a rad option to have.
Swanson Vitamins. After mobile banking and now reading this next one you may think I’m lazy. I swear, I’m not. It’s all about convenience! Coming from a small town I often had to order vegan products to avoid making hour-long trips to Whole Foods and such. Living in Phoenix has made things a lot easier, but heading to the store or mall drives me bonkers (can you believe D loves shopping way more than me?). So from clothes, food, and other odds and ends, I’m all about online shopping. The friendly folks at Swanson Vitamins contacted me and asked to see if I’d like to check out their products and services. Free goodies for trying them out? Why not? I must admit I was pretty blown away not only by the prices (the vitamins I normally order on Amazon are actually cheaper from Swanson) but they have so much more than just vitamins. I was thrilled I could purchase so many of the things I regularly use all from one source.
I also decided to order some Justin’s Nut Butter, which I had never tried. That may or may not have been a good idea. I’ll let you decide.
Running mojo. After several months off of running it may be back. I attribute this to listening to my body, taking a break from my daily runs, and adding in yoga. As you know over the past several weeks I’ve added in Zumba and Total Body classes to the mix. I have slowly pieced together all of this cross-training and am back to working out on a daily basis. I am no longer running everyday (like I used to), but I still workout everyday, with the exception of rest days, and still manage to practice yoga. It feels good and more importantly I’m having fun.
Amande Yogurt. I was never a big fan of yogurt prior to going vegan so it wasn’t something I missed. Several months ago I just so happened to see yogurt at Sprouts Farm Market that was made of almond milk. I was intrigued and grabbed the the coconut flavor. Delicious! I have since tried their other flavors, which are tasty as well, but coconut wins hands down. Unfortunately the closest Sprouts doesn’t carry the coconut flavor nor do they carry the large containers (hence, why David went on the hunt). I have since found the flavor and size at Whole Foods, but it takes a bit of a drive, so I stock up whenever I’m in the area.
Grateful Jar. Speaking of gratefuls. Just like many people we chose to start a Grateful Jar at the beginning of the year. Although I’m not great at putting something in each day I usually make up for it the rest of the days and the jar is slowly filling up. I look forward to reading them at the end of the year. Should be fun!
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
My Journey Through Blogging And Life
8February 21, 2013
I have a bit of a confession to make. I’ve been debating a hiatus from blogging. With everything that’s been going on in my life, with all of the changes, I almost feel like it’s time to step back. I talk about “be here now“. I really believe in it and yet I’m not living it because I get so caught up in everything…including my blog.
Over the past year my blog has taken many twists and turns. I’ve dabbled in video, attempted to find my “niche”, and even done work with brands on sponsored campaigns. For every experience, I am grateful. But ultimately, I’ve found that road isn’t really for me.
It’s no secret that I have a history of over analyzing almost every aspect of my life. I’ve gotten much better at accepting things as they come and going with the flow. However, I think it’s also very important to ask questions and assess myself, my journey, and my surroundings. In other words, greet everything with curiosity Looking at my blogging situation is no different. As I questioned whether I wanted to continue blogging these are the thoughts and questions I found swirling around in my head….
I love documenting what I’m doing but compared to many people my life isn’t all that exciting. I get up at 4:30a, do yoga, work, come home, make a simple meal, blog, and then go to bed. Some days I may mix up my workouts/activity, but that’s about it.
Weekends tend to be more adventurous, but I feel that I cannot appropriately put into words all that I’ve experienced because the words don’t seem to come to me or the emotions I experience are too hard for me to express. I feel like I’m not serving my experiences justice.
Lately I’ve had the same thoughts/experiences going round and round me but who wants to hear about the same blogs time and time again….even if they seem important to me.
I’m spending too much time thinking/mulling over my posts that it’s been causing me stress and anxiety. Whatever happened to simple blogging? Now I link back posts, make sure there’s some sort of photo, or even add video.
Video is easier for me but I have an even smaller following to my vlogs and most people who read my blogs have no interest in watching vlogs. I myself am not a vlog watcher. Not to mention, I have a hard time doing only video as I feel I still have to supplement with writing.
As an athlete I’m mediocre at best and have no speedy or high mileage achievements. I’m not one to post workouts or give advice, with the exception of some basics. How can I be a “fitness blogger”?
As a vegan I’ve also covered some of the basics, but I’m not one to preach from the rooftops. When it comes to cooking and eating, I’m real basic. Sure, I’ll eat out, but I rarely post recipes because I hate to cook and 95%+ time I eat whole, raw foods, or keep it VERY simple.
What about my connections with brands by taking a break, walking away, or changing things up? No doubt, I’ve had some amazing experiences and connections all because of my blog, and it’s great to get “free” items, but really, what are those things worth?
Where does this leave me? What do I have to offer? Myself. I’m not a world-class athlete or chef, but I am a student of life. I’m a lover of adventure and trying new things. Someone that’s willing to try something new, even if it means stumbling, falling, or taking a few steps back.
As for finding my “niche”. I’ve never been one to fit a stereotype or label so why force myself into something now?
Will I lose opportunities with brands? Time will tell. Something I pride myself on is the genuine sharing of brands I believe in. Sure Columbia Sportswear, Mizuno, and Road Runner Sports have been great to me but I was a supporter of them prior to my connections. More importantly, I really do love and use their products. My promise to you and myself is that I only align myself with brands that I actually use and/or that fit my life.
One thing about life is that we are constantly evolving. Oftentimes I feel like my life is evolving faster than I can keep up. If you’ve followed along, even for a short time, you probably have witnessed this. I wouldn’t change it for the world. That idea alone is one of the main reasons I began blogging…to share my journey.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
Buzz: What Do @Macklemore, @Oakley, and Avocados Have In Common? They Make Me Happy!
8January 27, 2013
I made it through my first week in corporate America. Cubicle setting, badge required to enter, computer-focused….yep, all of that. Not only have I lived to tell about it but I’m ready for more. Blame it on the newness of it all but I’ve never been in this sort of work setting before so it’s pretty exciting. To add to the fun D and I now only work about a block away from each other allowing us to commute together. We are unsure how long this will last due to his schedule after training, but it works right now. Together time + saving on gas = win/win situation. I guess you could say things are rolling right along. We make it a point not to take things for granted and are beyond grateful with the recent turn of events.
Hooray for HOV lanes
Since I’m already buzzing about our new job situations I figured I could buzz about other things that I’m digging lately. Things that bring a smile to my face.
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. I’ve already referenced them before and think they’re worth an actual mention. Unless you’re living under a rock, most everyone has heard the song “Thrift Shop”. There’s no doubting I love the song and that’s what drew me in, but after further research I’ve found his album to be too awesome for words. I know it may not be the style for some but from his lyrics to the beats, it’s beyond rad. I find myself jamming out to them repeatedly. My recent fave is “Can’t Hold Us”.
Oakley Sunglasses. Let’s keep it real. I’m minimalist in my needs and am also frugal due to our lack of funds. It should come as no surprise that I’ve never spent more than $15 on a pair of sunglasses and owning a pair of Oakley sunglasses has never been on my radar. When I received word a month ago I won Heather’s Sunglasses Shop giveaway I was stoked. I literally ran around our house jumping for joy. Not knowing what frames would work, I guessed by choosing the “Ideal” frame, and lucked out BIG time. I’ll admit I’m still deathly afraid of scratching them but I’m in absolute love with these sunglasses. They don’t move an inch when I run and feel so sturdy. Now I get why people will spend money on good quality sunglasses and rave about them.
Healthy lunch options. Growing up I never understood why people liked guacamole. When I went raw vegan I gave avocados another try and haven’t looked back. It’s definitely an acquired taste/texture, but they’re a special treat for me. I’ve packed them for my lunch salads this week to add a bit of a twist. Knowing I had an avocado to add to my salad revved up my appetite for my lunch. I love having an easy healthy fast food option. Easy transport, affordable, healthy, and yummy. When I don’t haul a salad to work steamed veggies are my second in line.
Supportive, loving husband. D has held my hand through this work transition as I try to gain back some sort of fashion sense that I seem to have lost over the past 10 years. That girl who made it a point to dress up at least twice a week is somewhere in there and he’s helping me to find her once again. So much that he gives me his honest feedback when it comes to my daily outfits and even went shopping with me this weekend to add a few different tops to my wardrobe. All a bit different than I’ve ever worn. Of course all from the thrift store or clearance rack. Baby steps, ya’ll, baby steps. My wardrobe is becoming a bit more well-rounded yet unique.
Breakthrough moments. Due to money and schedule I have yet to make it to a yoga studio but I am still practicing regularly at home. I am grateful for the little steps of progress I notice with each session, but on Thursday I had a major breakthrough in a couple asanas. So much that I found myself smiling yet confused thinking I must be doing something wrong. ”Why was that so easy?! I’ve never been able to bend that way….”Reinforcement that I thankful for. Yes, I have photos of myself doing yoga for my own purposes to critique myself and make adjustments. Someday I’ll have the guts to share them with you…
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
Not So Double Decker Vegan Knox Blox Dessert Recipe
7
There aren’t too many dishes that I miss since going vegan. If I really want something I can usually figure out an alternative. For instance, my mom’s party potato recipe. Over the past few years I’ve had the craving for Double Decker Knox Blox.
Although this isn’t something I’d eat on a normal basis, this dessert was one of my favorites at our family holiday gatherings. With the ingredients being Jell-O, Knox gelatin (both containing animal products), and heavy whipping cream (dairy) it’s no longer an option for me as a vegan. Due to my craving I recently set out to see if I could “veganize” my recipe.
I replaced the Jell-O and Knox Gelatin with Natural Desserts Jel Dessert. And with the help of Ari, I chose to try full fat coconut milk to replace the heavy whipping cream. 
The result?
As you can see, my jel/cream didn’t separate like typical double decker’s do when they set up. Alas, they were still just as tasty and a terrific vegan-friendly alternative.
Want to make your own? Here’s the recipe!
Not So Double Decker Vegan Knox Blox
3 Envelopes Unflavored Natural Desserts Jel
3 Packages (3 oz each) Flavored Natural Desserts Jel (any flavor)
2.5 Cups Boiling Water
1 Cup Full Fat Canned Coconut Milk
In a large bowl combine all envelopes and packages of Jel Dessert. Add boiling water. Stir in Coconut Milk (don’t whip it). Pour into shallow 9 X 9 pan. Chill until firm.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
@NatureBox Review and Giveaway
51
I’m pretty excited to have a couple giveaways lined in the coming weeks. Who doesn’t like free stuff? When it’s healthy, it’s even better, right?
So, let’s get to it!
Recently I was contacted by NatureBox and asked if I’d like to try out some of their products. Having had a taste of one of their mixes at Inspiration and Perspiration along with having seen many rave reviews, I was pretty stoked at the opportunity. For those that are unfamiliar with NatureBox, let me break it down….For $19.95 each month you will receive a box via mail. Your box will include 15 to 20 servings across 5 different NatureBox snacks. Each month your NatureBox will be filled with different tasty treats.
Pretty simple, eh? But it gets better. NatureBox focuses on healthy, natural ingredients that are minimally processed. None of their products contain high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils, trans fats, or artificial sweeteners, flavors, or colors. Even more, many of their products are vegan and are clearly labeled if so.
When I received my box the hardest thing was not eating it all in one day! I immediately dove into the Carrot Chips but I made sure I shared with the pups. Ooh, did they love the them too.
The Cinnamon Spice Granola and Roasted Garlic Pumpkin Seeds were the perfect flavor for getting in the fall mood. I have to admit, when I received my box I wasn’t sure if I’d care for everything in the box. For instance the Country Ranch Peas and Chipotle Maple Almonds. I saved those for last. Alas, those were my 2 favorites. Go figure! The peas tasted so much like ranch that it was hard to believe they were vegan. I have no idea who came up with the Chipotle Maple Almonds but whoever did needs to win a prize. I’d buy those in bulk if I could. Yes, they were that good.
I really think NatureBox is onto something here. They have some pretty amazing tasting snacks at a reasonable price. Some may balk at the price but have you ever seen how expensive regular ol’ trail mix costs at the store. This is more natural, healthier, unique, and brought right to your door.
Because I loved my NatureBox so much they have offered to help me spread the love to my followers by offering a free NatureBox to one of my readers.
Here’s how to enter:
-Leave me a comment below. What’s your favorite healthier snack when you get the munchies?
-For an additional entry, tweet about this giveaway and leave a separate comment here letting me know you did. Something along the lines of “WIN a box of healthy goodies from @NatureBox & @BananaBuzzbomb!!” or just click this to tweet.
-For TWO more extra entries, find the photo of my NatureBox (above) on my instagram (@BananaBuzzbomb), and comment that you want to win. Remember to leave another comment here that you did it.
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST January 13th, 2013. The winners will be chosen at random using Random.org and notified by the following Monday. Sorry international friends, this giveaway is open to followers with US shipping addresses only.
For those wanting to give NatureBox a try, head over to their site and use the promotional code CARROT to receive 25% off your first month’s subscription. Get snacking!
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
Pizza That’s Good For You? – Naked Pizza
1
Ya’ll already know I LOVE pizza, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that I’m reviewing yet another pizza restaurant here in Arizona. What’s even funnier? I already have another to review after this one!
While driving around our new location here in Arizona I came upon a place called Naked Pizza. Unfortunately it was not yet open but I was intrigued enough to do some research.
The concept behind their pizza is that it’s all natural. For instance, their Ancestral Blend dough contains prebiotic agave fiber and probiotics. There is no added sugar, high fructose corn syrup, or hydrogenated oil. With that being said, they are forthcoming and say it is not a “diet pizza”.
Sadly the location near us had already opened and since closed. The good news: there’s another location within 45 minutes our home. Even better: they offered Daiya cheese. I definitely wanted to give it a try.
We decided to head to Naked Pizza on a Friday night and found the location to be in a strip mall. We soon found that the restaurant wasn’t really a restaurant but more of a storefront where you placed and picked up your order, with the exception of several small tables just outside the door.
Upon entering the location was open and bright with their menu posted largely on the wall.
Basically you choose the size of the pizza, crust thickness, choice of sauce, choice of cheese. and additional toppings. As with most pizza places there are “specialty” pizzas to choose from too.
Within 15 minutes of ordering our pizzas were ready and we chowed down.I definitely noticed a difference versus regular ol’ pizza in the crust alone. The ancestral blend was definitely grainy in texture and different than what I was used to. With that being said, it was pretty darn delicious. As always, when vegan cheese is an option I’m pretty happy about it.
I think Naked Pizza could grow in many ways if a few ideas were considered. Have a more spacious area for dine-in eating and provided plates and utensils for those interested in dining in. We literally had to eat out of our boxes since no plates were provided. Lastly, nothing to do with their food….I’m not sure what the deal is with their website being a “.biz” instead of “.com” I’m sure there’s a valid reason for this but I would say this cannot help with their exposure.
Considering their location is so far away from our home I highly doubt we’ll make any special trips to visit Naked Pizza, but it is nice to know that I have one more vegan friendly pizza option in the Phoenix area.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
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Looking for more vegan food in Phoenix? Check out the rest of my adventures.
Weighty Issues
28
Like 99.9% of women I have issues with the scale.
Our janky scale. Nothing fancy for us.
My sister and I are separated by two years. I’m the youngest. Growing up I was always the “chunky” sister and most often people thought I was older due to this. I wasn’t in denial of my weight, I just accepted that I was the chunky one. I was an active child, always on the go, but will readily admit that I had poor eating habits and was quite stubborn. My mom and dad beat their heads against the wall when it came to feeding me. I went through the “only peanut butter and jelly stage” followed by the “only hot dog stage”. No matter what they tried I wouldn’t budge. It’s really no surprise that I was diagnosed with high cholesterol at a young age.
My horse showing days.
6th Grade. Quite obvious that I was responsible for doing my hair. Needless to say my hair styling skills have yet to develop to this day, hence why I have short hair.
It was then that I started reading packaging labels on all foods. As I entered the 7th grade my baby fat started to fall off. I attribute this to the controlled diet I had while spending a month in the hospital when I fractured my femur and my body working overdrive to heal itself.
Me and my seester as I head into my freshman year of high school.
Although thinner, I was still the larger sister but didn’t pay much attention to what I was eating and really had no worries. As I went through high school and on into college I still didn’t worry about my weight. When I married D in 2002 I weighed 115 pounds without even trying.
Like so many, within a year of marriage I started packing on pounds. Within 3 years time I gained 20 pounds. D also struggled with his weight.
Happiest place on Earth. Also, us at our unhealthiest.
In 2005 I started to unhealthily limit my carbohydrates and lost some weight. By 2007 I started running. Initially I didn’t start running to necessarily lose weight but to be healthier. However, once I started to see the weight melt off I started paying attention to what I was eating. I didn’t count calories per se but I limited my food intake and I’d weigh myself 10 or so times a day. That’s not a typo. It was at this time that I became obsessed with the scale. With my obsessive tendencies this is no surprise. In no way did I have a eating disorder but I did have issues.
I used this photo in a recent post and received a comment from Heather on how great I looked. Little did she know that this was when I was severely watching my food intake and exercise.
Soon enough I was down to my wedding weight and yet I never felt thin or fit. At that time I flirted with the idea of going vegetarian and decided to give it a go. This had nothing to do with my weight. Unfortunately complex carbohydrates tend to be a staple for vegetarians, specifically those just starting out, and I gained a little weight. Not tremendous, but some. After more research I decided to try living a low fat raw vegan lifestyle in hopes of reducing my weight gain and living the healthiest lifestyle I could attain. I gave up the scale without looking back.
Initially I did fantastic and felt great. I didn’t lose weight but I wasn’t gaining. However, as I stated previously, it was tough for me to maintain. I continued on with the lifestyle even if I could only maintain it part time. Fast forward to now. I’ve noticed my body changing and not for the better. I’ve decently maintained my running and activities so I can only guess this is from my body going into a tailspin trying to figure out what and how much I’m feeding myself (remember, low fat raw veganism calls for large amounts of calories).
I’ve avoided the scale knowing that it could open a can of worms for me…and then something occurred last week.
Long story short I had to step on the scale last week at work and I was not happy with the number. I knew I wouldn’t be. What’s more frustrating for me is that I tout the idea that “It’s not about the number but if the pants fit” and here I am focusing on a number. But I gotta be honest with myself, my pants aren’t fitting as well as they should.
Do I love low fat raw veganism? Yes, I love it. The problem is I can’t be 100% and obviously that’s causing problems. Will I totally give up raw veganism? No, but it’s time for me to move forward in my life journey of finding what works for me and take with me many aspects of what I’ve learned. My hope is to tweak them to my needs. My biggest fear? Relapsing to basically starving myself and returning to my scale obsession. I can’t let that happen. Thankfully at this point in my life I think I’ve realized that thin doesn’t mean healthy.
Why am I writing this? I’m not real sure. I think it just proves that although I pride myself on being a person that is health-minded, I’m still human. It’s also a reminder that we all need to find out what works best for us and that just because it worked before doesn’t mean it will work now. And lastly, our health is an ongoing process. One that must be revisited and assessed often.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
Tasty Tryst Cafe
3
After repeat recommendations on twitter to check out Tryst Cafe, I finally had the chance to do so a couple weeks ago.
Tryst Cafe is easily accessible as it’s right off of 101, but I’ll admit that it’s slightly hidden as it’s in a strip mall across from the Desert Ridge Shopping Center. Their goal is to serve tasty locally and organically sourced foods. In addition they have several vegan friendly options on their menu.
When I arrived I was pleasantly surprised by the upscale, yet relaxed atmosphere. With the ability to sit at the bar, sit inside at a table, or even outside, you have multiple options to choose from.
Per their website wine and beer tasting is available along with a daily happy hour. In addition, live in-house entertainment is provided on Monday nights. I could definitely see myself chilling out on a Monday night, eating some food and listening to relaxing music in an atmosphere found at Tryst.
Having conversed with Tryst Cafe on Twitter I knew exactly what my vegan options were and decided on the Hummus Trio, Desert Ridge Spring Rolls, and GTs Kombucha tea.
Traditonal, Cilantro, and Red Pepper Hummus with Fresh Pita
Daikon sprouts, shredded carrots, celery, cabbage, red onion and mango wrapped in rice paper accompanied by a sweet and spicy chili mango dipping sauce
Each portion was beyond tasty. If you like hummus, you’ll love the trio option. As for the rolls, I’ve never had anything like it but REALLY like them. With the mango they had a slight sweetness but the dipping sauce provided a tiny kick that was complimenting to the rolls.
With prices ranging between $6.25-$10 for lunch I found it was affordable and worth the price for the portions we received.
The downside for me is that it’s a half hour drive to get to Tryst. A bit of a bummer but I think it was well worth the trip and will plan to return.
Keep Smiling and Be Grateful =)
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Looking for more vegan food in Phoenix? Check out the rest of my adventures.
