Five ways to explain "real food" without driving your family insain.

This morning is going to be a NORMAL post! I have been reviewing so many products here of late! I hope that you don't mind (I know that I don't!).

The weather should be gorgeous today and I cant wait for a beautiful weekend. I plan on getting out and enjoying every moment. My mom is coming to see me this weekend! I am so happy because I can count on one hand how many times she has payed me a visit. I have no idea what we are going to do yet but I know that we will enjoy ourselves. One of the things that is talked about as soon as a day and time is set for her to visit or for me to visit is food. I know that sounds weird but is something that comes up right away. You see, I come from a SUPER southern family and the way that I eat doesn't match the way that they eat (this photo makes my tummy hurt just looking at it). They think that my food is "different". Which is my mom's way of saying "your health food is weird and I don't like it." When I cook a meal (and don't think that when I cook for my family I don't down play every course) I try my best to keep it simple and use ingredients that I are familiar to them.

For example, last time I came home I made dinner. I made something so simple (almost too simple in my book) and they still turned there noses up. What did I make? Brown rice tossed with chic peas, corn and fresh herbs, Feta stuffed Chicken smothered in a red wine marinara sauce with olive oil infused garlic spinach and carrots. Fresh rosemary bread was served as well. This meal to me was so easy, so simple and didn't have really any frill. Yes, it does sound fancy but in reality, it wasn't. I put the meal together and had it ready in less than a hour. They ate it, but slowly and none of them finished it. My sister, grandmother and mother just kinda laughed throughout the meal and made me feel like what I had prepared was some foreign food from another planet. It hurt my feelings but I just shrugged it off.

Do your parents poke at your eating habits? Do they make fun of your exercise regiment?

Mine do.I cant even count how many comments I get a day..."Did you bring your workout clothes?" "can YOU eat that?" "Did you bring your health food with you?" These are all questions followed by laughter and really meant to make me feel like my lifestyle is "weird". I get it at work and at home. Even some of my friends don't get me. I have over the years found ways to get around the questions and allow myself to be comfortable in settings that are not what I like to call "healthy". It took some time and with the heard head that I have on my shoulders. I never settled. I have been know to bring my own food. In fact, you better believe that when I visit home or go on vacation, I have a cooler stacked with goods. My home town doesn't have a health food store so I like to bring my own food. Usually when I get to the house I slip my food in the back of the fridge or a drawer. Once placed out of sight...I feel at ease. If I should arrive and the kitchen is full of people, I just wait. If I were to get the cooler out and start unloading fresh fruit, Greek yogurt, oatmeal, protein powder, raw food bars and probiotics I would get it. Big time. Something else that I am known for is getting a workout no matter where I am. Vacations, holidays or even having guests doesn't stop me. I can always say "do you mind if I take a thirty minute run?" Even when I went to New Jersey to meet my boyfriends parent for the first time I woke up extra early to sneak in my workout before everyone was up and moving. I always get the most flack when I visit home. Holidays are the worse. I always (for the last three years anyway) go for a nice long run. Christmas and Thanksgiving Day to me are two of the best! I love running on those days because it is dead outside and no one is out. I have found myself being "poked" at as I leave the house. "There goes Heather, she's gotta go run off that turkey she is going to have later." Even when I am sitting at the table and having a nice slice of pie or something I hear "Ooopps! Heather just ate some pie. Better go run it off." Then the laughter comes and I loose my appetite. So with all this being said...Food came up and it came up quickly. My mom will be bringing her fiance' with her and I want to make sure that they have a good time. Last night my mom said the dreaded words to me....

"Heather, I want to go to that restaurant that I went to that one time." "What restaurant Mom?" "I think it is called...OUTBACK." AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I paused and calmly said "Well, don't you want to go to a restaurant that you cant go to where you live?" I want to go to OUTBACK, I want a strawberry daiquiri." I didn't know what to say....Outback and strawberry daiquiris are not in my vocabulary...I didn't know what to say. So I just went with my gut. "Mom, I am sorry but I cant eat there." Well, why not?" She asked. I have been poked at, laughed at even yelled at because of sitting at a restaurant with the request "No oil, no salt, no butter please...STEAMED only." I had flashes of sitting at Outback with the two of them with a 10 dollar salad picked apart and bland as hell. Iceberg makes me want to kill myself. The thought of my mom paying 10 dollars for some iceberg makes me want to even more. I could suck it up and just go. Order what she wants me to and literally get sick. I could, but I wont. I said "Well, if we are going to be drinking (which did I tell you my mom can throw em back?) we should just pick a restaurant downtown and then have drinks downtown. That way no one has to drive. This was my plan...My mom is responsible so the thought of me wanting to be responsible I thought would work. I told her "I tell you what...you and I will take a stroll around downtown, look at menus and you can pick any place you want and we will eat there." Most of the restaurants are ok with me downtown so this makes me feel a little at ease. We went back and forth for almost 30 minutes on this idea. Finally I just broke and said "Mom, I respect that you want Outback but the truth is, I cant eat there, it will upset my stomach and I don't want to routine the whole night." "Ok, fine." She was ok with that. I then said "I could cook!" "Oh no....I will pick a place downtown." That got her.

So sorry for the rant but this is my life....This is the stuff that I have to go through when I visit or someone in my family pays me a visit. I get this question about 5 times a day when I go home or get visits "Heather, what can you eat?" "Can you eat this?" It makes me feel at times like I am a outsider. The truth is....I am. Today I have tips for you and your diet, even when you go home to visit Mom....

I have so many friends that when they go home to visit there families, everything goes out the window diet wise. I tend to lean towards my Mom's comfort food myself. I get stressed out and even grab things in the cupboard. If you’ve been making some big changes to your diet recently, a couple things are probably going to happen — you’re gonna struggle with all the food served at big traditional gatherings, and — if you’re anything like us — you’re probably going to be telling people about some of your new approaches towards eating.

This is great — especially if you’ve started to really get in shape, people are going to ask, with legitimate interest: “what have you been doing?”
‘I Have Discovered the World’s Greatest System and You Absolutely Must Follow It’
Yep, there’s one particular problem with this — people often call it the ‘convert’s zeal’, and it manifests itself in a kind of ultra-high enthusiasm for a recently-adopted system — an enthusiasm that can often turn into serious evangelism.
How come? Well, for one thing, it’s difficult to explain all the great changes you’ve been making, both in your eating and in your activity level, without coming across as though you’re selling something, or maybe even being too pushy about it. Usually this happens without you realizing it, either.
With that in mind, we put together 5 ways to help you out this Christmas (and anytime) — with any luck, they’ll save you from going on a 2-hour rant at the dinner table, and hopefully they’ll help you win over a few ‘converts’, too.
#5: Whenever You Can, Take the Positive Route.
This is an obvious point, but no matter how conscious you are, it’s still remarkably easy to forget — people just respond better to positive suggestion rather than negative criticism. Sometimes this requires you to spin your thoughts around in your head, before you speak them aloud.
An example: if someone offers you a Diet Coke, don’t put your hands up, shake your head, and say “no way, I never drink that stuff — it’s full of hideous crap!” Yes. I know it’s loaded with crap, the person offering it to you probably knows the same thing, but in general, this approach doesn’t really stick.
Try something different — less “hell no” and more “no thanks. You know, I read a really interesting thing about diet drinks recently…”
#4: Start Small, Start Small, Start Small.
I have a little theory. Some of these fad diet books gain so much popularity in North America because, lacking the same grounded food culture of many European countries, we’re more susceptible to full-on, 100% revamps of everything we eat.
When you’re unsatisfied/confused with almost everything you eat, the idea of a magic little book coming along (Grapefruit, South Beach, whatever’s popular this year…) and promising to solve the what-to-eat headache is extremely tempting. But the fad diets keep selling because none of them really work, as none of them are really sustainable. The key, it turns out, is starting small — but it’s hard to sell a diet book with that kind of pitch.
And, coincidentally, the philosophy behind the ‘Real Food’ movement is exactly that — if you’re going to start being conscious about the food you put in your body each day, it’s got to be done gradually. The same goes for telling someone else about your exciting new discovery — if you unload 4 hours of information about feedlot beef and processed corn on your poor Uncle Mike over Christmas, is it going to stick?
But if you suggest a couple easy replacements instead, and then follow up at your next family dinner, your new found evangelism will have a bit more staying power.
#3: Be Ready For Skeptics.
The ‘additives are bad’ argument doesn’t always convince everyone — it’s helpful to have a few facts about why eating 15-ingredient bread or crackers isn’t the best idea, as just saying “it’s bad!” can appear somewhat ill-thought-out.
The context of the food, the lack of history when it comes to ‘food-like products’, the way additives change how our body breaks down particular foods — all these things can help you make your case.
#2: Have An Easy, Convenient ‘Way In’.
So — despite all your sales acumen and sly charm, you’ve failed to sell your gathered family on the true benefit of unprocessed, real food. No worries — sometimes we have to rely on tried-and-true pieces of content to make the case for us.
There are four that work wonders. In order of easy digestibility, they are:
Mark Bittman’s TED talk on Real Food (a short online video)
This Time magazine cover story about the food system (a great, clear article)
The wonderful, well made documentary Food, Inc. (a super-watchable film)
Michael Pollan’s fantastic The Omnivore’s Dilemma (a top-shelf book)
#1: Remember — You Can’t Convert Everyone.
Don’t get down if it feels like your pleas are falling on deaf ears. In the end, the evangelism comes after you’ve taken care of your own food needs, and those of your immediate family.
Sure, there’s something about reading this ‘Real Food’ literature, and really starting to learn how the food system works, that is alternately infuriating and inspiring — the perfect recipe for wanting to spread the word. But convincing people of something as big as ‘your entire diet is wrong’ will never, ever be an easy task, so don’t take it personally if your friends & family aren’t rushing to the farmer’s market after your impassioned celebration.
Keep at it, do all you can for yourself, and let the benefits to your body and lifestyle keep making the case for you.

I hope that these tactics help you. It took me a long time to figure it out.

Have a WONDERFUL day and I will see you with the last post of the week!

-Heather

Zadies knows best.

When Janice Freed started making her own granola she wasn't thinking about starting her own business, she just wanted to eat some granola that was good tasting and good-for-you . Her interest in good- for-you foods is the real thing (you can tell at first bite).

It's always fun to see a passion turn into a profitable business, and that is exactly what Janice and Shelley Freed are doing with Zaydie's Granola.


I was lucky enough to get these two wonderful bags of granola from Zaydie's Granola!

This company makes homemade granola out of Richmond Virgina. I have to say. I got this spoon out and tried the Walnut Cranberry first. One spoon became another which turned into this.

I decided that instead of dipping my spoon into the bag (I knew that if I kept on half the bag would be gone) I would just go ahead and have 1/2 cup of granola with 1/2 cup of greek yogurt. I thought at first "I should add some cinnamon, maybe some fresh fruit to the mix." I didn't and was so glad that I made that decision. It was perfect! Just like the bag says, it was sweet but not too sweet. Just the way I like it. I am totally addicted to this granola. So many times when you see granola you see these HUGE chunks of oats and dried fruit held together by sugar, oil and butter. Not the case with Zadie's! There are plenty of "chunky goodness" it is more of a loose mix. I like that because I could tell that it was just simple ingredients and wasn't they weren't going for a sugar laden cereal of sorts. What I also like about this granola is because it is not so bulky I can use it in more ways that just to top my yogurt. I can make homemade power bars, have it as a cereal, top my yogurt, mix in my pancakes, have on fruit or even eat alone.

I opened the other bag (Blueberry Almond) and of course was just as delighted! After I opened both huge bags of granola I realized..."Heather, you now have two huge bags open and ready for you to eat." Ahhhhh! I was scared for a second (don't leave me with granola...it's gone in minutes). I had a idea though! After a few seconds of thinking I decided, why not put them in a jar so that they could last? Well that is just what I did. As you can see above, I got a jar and filled it with my precious granola. I was going to mix the two together but decided on having two seperate mixes! The more the better, right?

I have been eyeing this granola recipe and decided that I would just make my own using one of my favorite bloggers ideas!

Easiest Zadie's Granola Bars Ever

INGREDIENTS:
- 1 1/2 cup Zadie's Granola

- 1 tbsp flour

- 1/2 cup tbsp Agave or Honey

- 2 egg whites

DIRECTIONS:Preheat your oven to 325 degrees. Mix all ingredients together in a large mixing bowl until evenly distributed. The granola should stick together but no liquid should pool at the bottom (if there is excess liquid, add another tablespoon of Zadies granola).
Pour the granola out into a small baking pan lined with parchment paper and mold it into the shape you want (I used my fluted tart shell because it was nearly the perfect size, and the fluting wouldnt show through the parchment paper).


Bake for about 35 minutes, or until granola is lightly browned on top and no longer feels wet. Allow to cool, and cut into bars.
I stored these in plastic wrap and it ruined their texture. Eat them within a day or two, or store them in an airtight container, not too close together, unrefrigerated, for up to a week.
Makes 8 small granola bars.



Mine turned out just like hers! I was sooooo excited to make my first batch of the easiest granola bars ever! The best part....knowing that they were made with Agave and had absolutely no added oil or butter! YAY! I used a mix of the Blueberry and the Cranberry Granola and couldn't of made a better batch. I am so happy to that I STILL have some left over for topping whatever I want with the wonderful mix!

Zadie's Granola is amazing. If you want sweet but not too sweet granola that will knock your socks off, you want Zadie's. Please go to their site to see for your self. They have a list of stores that carry their mixes and I would seriously look for them if I were you! You can buy Zadie's Granola here:

abesmarket.com

I give them a 10! Thanks Shelly for being so great and sending me some of the best granola I have ever tasted! You guys totally know what you are doing!

Hope you all have a great day!

-Heather

leathers, granola and sprouted seeds...

Let me tell you about kaia foods: Kaia foods was founded with the belief that our health is best supported by eating an abundance of minimally processed whole foods. We sprout, mix and dehydrate our organic foods at low temperatures so that they remain 'raw.' No baking, frying, bleaching, or weird processing steps!
They keep it simple: That's their philosophy towards food and their philosophy towards life. Eat whole foods for great health. Exercise daily. Laugh and smile often. Hug everyone. Be mindful of your choices and their impact on the earth. The keys to health and happiness are really that simple.

Their story: Kaia foods was born in the summer of 2006 when Nick was hiking in the Weminuche Wilderness of Colorado with his friends Nina and Billy. Somewhere just below the tree line on a sun-drenched day, inspiration struck. I decided to leave behind the world of finance and follow my dream to make minimally processed, truly healthy food more readily available to everyone and have fun doing it. Fifteen seconds later he passed a horseshoe on the trail (no joke!) and he interpreted it to be a good sign for the journey ahead. I loved reading this! People that follow their hearts make me smile. No matter what it is! I am so glad that I found Kaia Foods...I got this in the mail!

Here's a run down of their product list:

organic buckwheat granola: Made with sprouted buckwheat, sprouted walnuts, sprouted sunflower seeds, sprouted pumpkin seeds, coconut, ground flax seeds, and agave nectar, plus dried fruits and seasonings - our innovative buckwheat granola is delicious as a snack or as a cereal!
organic sprouted sunflower seeds: All we do to our sunflower seeds is sprout, season and dehydrate them at low temperatures instead of roasting them. The nutrients and great taste stay intact and aren't processed away.
organic fruit leathers: To make our fruit leathers we puree whole organic fruits and dehydrate them at low temperatures, without adding sugars or concentrates. Yum!

I they sell a variety of amazing granola. Cocoa Bliss Buckwheat granola was the one they sent me . This bag of granola was dipped into several times once opened.
OMG!!! OH SO GOOOOOOOD!

Check out the nutritional facts:

I like that I can have a whole half cup of granola! Usually a serving of granola is 1/4 cup and has just as many calories. All flavors of the granola look amazing. I am totally going to try the others out.

I also got a variety of sprouted seeds.

Take a salad and sprinkle it with some of these...

Sprouted seeds!

This is a fairly simple wheat berry salad that I saw and knew that the garlic sea salt sunflower seeds would be the perfect topper. I LOVE wheat berries and I LOVED these seeds sprinkled throughout this salad.

Kaia sunflower seeds really turned my simple (sometimes boring) salads into awesomeness! With flavors like Garlic & Sea Salt, Teriyaki, Sweet Curry (my Fave) and Cocoa Molé you seriously can turn something bland into grand. Loved. Them. So. Much.

The sweet curry flavor was amazing with this dinner!!!

When I read the words "sweet curry" for some reason jasmine rice came to mind. Just knowing that sweet curry sunflower seeds were sitting in my cupboard was driving me crazy. It was so cold (where the heck is Spring?) and I thought "I better get all my cozy winter foods out of my system". So to the kitchen I went. With my comfy rob on and knowing that I was in for the night (yes, curry Saturday's alone with a bottle of red is how I roll) I started pulling items that I didnt even know that I had! I used things like coconut oil and coconut milk (mmmmmm). I used a twist with my usual green bean curry and subbed them for okra. I saw this on another site and thought "this could be the answer to my fried okra craving!" I love okra but I must say, picked or fried is usually the only way that I eat it. You have to really know what you are doing in the kitchen to have sauteed okra that doesn't turn into a gooey mess. Luckily, I know my way around. I blenched these to perfection and with crunchy carrots, Yukon gold potatoes, chick peas and sweet curry sunflower seeds. I. was. in. curry. heaven. Curry's make my heart skip a beat (I seriously can make mine hotter than hell) and so very glad to have this meal with the best sprouted seeds ever!

I got two flavors of these sweet treats in the box as well.

Fruit Leathers was a nice surprise!

I had never tried fruit leathers before. I have seen them in stores but never bought one. Kaia Fruit Leathers are like fruit roll-ups but all natural.

Why didn't they have these when I was a kid???
Vanilla Pear and Spiced Apple are the two that I received.
I really thought these were fun! I loved that I could throw one in my bag and have it for a snack whenever I wanted. These will be in my life for sure from now on! Lime Ginger, Spiced Apple, Goji Orange and Vanilla Pear are the flavors that they offer and they all look great.
Pretty good facts if you ask me!

As part of their mission to improve quality of life through proper nutrition they invest 1% of sales in fighting hunger. They currently donate to The Hunger Project and to the United Nations World Food Program. I love it when I hear of a company that gives back! They rock!

PLEASE go to their site!

www.kaiafoods.com

You will want to try something as soon as you click the link ;)

They also have this amazing recipe down loadable booklet!

http://www.kaiafoods.com/simplicity.pdf

I LOVED Kaia Foods and THANK them so much for allowing me to try out their truly amazing products! Heidi, you rock!

You guys get two thumbs up from me!!

-Heather

I had twins....Did you know?

My stomach has not been feeling very well the last few days :(
I have done some research to find some all natural remedies to ease my upset tummy and found that fennel is extremely good for soothing a stomach ache. I paired three of my favorite ingredients to make a simple but most divine loaf of bread for breakfast or pre-dinner nibbles. The bread itself is 50% whole wheat, so in addition to the figs, the loaves end up packed with fiber and nutrients. With the added health benefits, this combination of sweet figs and roasted hazelnuts is slowly becoming my fruit and nut bread of choice. I will say this. I am not a baker. Nope! I get the itch to bake a pie or a cake every once in a while but honestly I love to cook, not bake. I have a extreme love for all things crusty, pastries and fluffy but I am not one to say "I gotta get my rollin pin out and bake something or I am going to go crazy." I feel at ease if I have some lean meat, fresh herbs, in season veggies and some grain of sort. Salads of course are a forte. I can make a mean salad....Beets, goat cheese, lemon juice, avocado, mango...you name it, I have paired it. Today however is a different day. I wanted to bake and I wanted to bake bad. Bread is something that I dont "do" often as I dont like processed breads and unless I got to the bakery itself and pull the loaf out of the oven myself, it aint goin in me. I want bread and I wanted something that my tummy would thank me later for eating. That is when this baby was born...
Hazelnut and Fig Bread with Fennel Seeds and Rosemary

Ingredients:

whole wheat flour 2 1/2 cups
bread flour 2 1/3 cups

salt 2 tsp

instant yeast 1 tsp
water, room temp 1 3/4 cups + 1 tbsp

fennel seeds 4 tsp
fresh rosemary leaves 4 tsp (2 to 3 sprigs)
hazelnuts 2/3 cup

dried figs, stems removed 2/3 cup

Notes:
You can chop, quarter, or leave the dried figs whole.
Directions:Roast the Hazelnuts
Preheat the oven to 375°F / 190°F. Place the hazelnuts
on a sheet pan and roast for 12 to 14 minutes, until
lightly browned. Let the hazelnuts cool completely.
Rub the cooled hazelnuts between your hands to remove
the papery skins.
Mix In a large bowl, whisk together all of the flours, salt,
and yeast. Add the water and mix until the dough is
thoroughly hydrated and a shaggy ball is formed.
Knead 6 to 8 minutes, until the dough is stiff and no longer
sticky. Add the fennel seeds and rosemary towards the
end of kneading and continue kneading until evenly
distributed in the dough.
Add the hazelnuts and figs. Fold the dough over itself
gently until the hazelnuts and figs are evenly
distributed in the dough.
Bulk Ferment #1 60 minutes at room temperature
Stretch and Fold
Bulk Ferment #2 60 minutes at room temperature
Divide 2 pieces
Preshape loose rounds
Rest 10 minutes
Shape tight round or oval loaves
Preheat Oven 450ºF / 230ºC
Final Proof 60 to 90 minutes at room temperature, or until about
1 1/2 times its size
Score (optional)
Steam 1 cup of boiling water poured in a heavy steam pan
(preferably cast iron)
Bake Bake for 20 minutes at 450ºF / 230ºC. Rotate the loaves
and immediately lower the heat to 435ºF / 225ºC. Bake
for another 20 minutes.
Hazelnut, Fig, Fennel Seed, and Rosemary Bread Crust.Oh SO gooood!

Seriously, spread some goat cheese on a chunk of this amazing bread and you have a piece of warm, sweet heaven. I loved this loaf and will be making it again and again. This is the perfect combination if you ask me. Figs are one of my favorite and the fennel will fill your house with the most delicious smell ever. Next time you are thinking about baking. Please try this recipe. You wont be sorry you did!

-Heather

Painted on pants

I got the most amazing workout gear EVER in the mail the other day...

Gordon sent me these wonderful Sub Zero pants from SUGOi to try! He's the president of Outside PR, which he started in 1995. He began his career in San Francisco as Business Manager of the San Francisco Daily Journal. Prior to starting his own firm, he was vice president of EvansGroup San Francisco, a 45-million dollar advertising and public relations firm. Gordon also served on the board of directors of the Public Relations Society of America’s San Francisco Chapter. He is an active surfer, rugby player and adventure racer, having competed in races such as the Cal-Eco Kernville, the Appalachian Extreme and the Hi-Tec Series. I knew that he was not playing around when he said that he was going to be sending me this pair of pants! I love getting something from a active person because there are so many products out there that I have never worn or tried before. These babies really made me feel like a "real" runner/biker...I just loved the way they look and feel.

Built to repel:
By design, the SubZero Tight is intended for cold weather biking, and they are particularly well-suited to this purpose. I’ve used plenty of bike/running pants that absorb sweat like a sponge. Though the SubZero Tight is not waterproof, it is obviously water repellent, far more so than any other tight I’ve used. With the SubZero Tight, sweat was kept at bay.
Base layer or stand alone:
In the same way the SubZero repels road moisture, keeping my legs feeling dry, I also found these tights to be adept at actually wicking away sweat. Given this, the SubZero Tight works perfectly as a base layer when temps are in the serious negative digits. It is almost Spring here but I had no problem wearing these at the gym and outside in about 60 degree weather. I already know that when it gets super cold again these will be my go to tights!

Bottom Line: Great tight warm enough for extreme conditions but lightweight and elastic enough for a high performance fit—a true pleasure to wear. Water repellent fabric make them particularly well suited for sloppy winter biking/ running while wicking action makes them a great base layer choice as well. Very diverse. I LOVED them. I cant rave enough about these pants! I seriously think that Sub Zero pants should be in every one's workout attire. They are super comfortable too!

Go to their site to see all that they offer! You wont be sorry you did!

www.sugoi.com

From shorts to tops, they have it all. I looked at the size chart and when with what they suggested and the pants fit perfectly! Thanks Gordon for changing the way that I will look at running/biking pants again. I have got to get me another pair to rotate in my workout wear. The shorts and tops look amazing!

If you are looking for something new to wear and something that is so comfortable that you wont even want to take them off. PLEASE check them out.

You wont be sorry you did!

***The winner of the Chobani give-a-way is Shelly! Shelly please send me your shipping info and I will let the kind folks at Chobani know!***

Have a great day, I gotta run!

-Heather

On-line shopping at it's finest!

The winner of the Gluten Free give-a-way is....

PETER! get me your info and the goodies will be on their way!

You already knew that I was getting this new item from Csnstores.com and it came just when I needed it most!




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Stick vacuum cleaner
Bag less design
Converts to a handheld vacuum cleaner
Standard filtration
Standard grip handle
Lightweight easy to carry
Included accessories: Build in crevice tool

I opened the box and had this small, lightweight vacuum put together in 5 minutes flat! I loved how light it was and that I could pretty much store it anywhere. I also love that it is bagless! I hate buying bags for a vacuums. This small unit really did the job. I wish that it had a little more suction but hey....it was 24.95 and what more can you ask for?!? I thought that it was great. It is not something I would solely use around the house but if you are in a hurry and dont have time to sweep, this is the unit for you!

Everything from home bars to shoes, Csnstores.com has it for you. They Are Based in Boston, CSN Stores LLC began in 2002 and has grown rapidly into a Top 3 online U.S. retailer of home and office goods with 400+ employees. See our Facts at a Glance and Industry Associations. Beyond providing unparalleled customer service, selection, and savings to our U.S. customers, CSN Stores has opened its doors to online shoppers from Canada, the U.K., and Germany. Recently named to the Hot 100 List of online retailers for 2009, CSN Stores continues to grow.


With almost anything you can imagine go to the site!



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You wont be sorry you did! I loved this site and the customer service was awesome! I was so happy that they let me have the little Dirt Devil. I really needed a small around the house vacuum and this one is perfect. Thanks James for being so great and providing me with a wonderful experience! I give them two thumbs up! If you are a on-line shopper I have no idea why you would shop anywhere else. You can get all your needs in ONE place! Trust me on this one ;)


On to eats! I feel like I have been reviewing non-stop and haven't had the chance to show you my eats for the week. They are different than usual! YAY! I have tried a new dinner menu for this week and I have to say, this one will be making more appearances!

I have been going back and forth with tofu and boneless skinless chicken breasts. Let's face it...If there is a way to cook it, I have done it. On Sunday however I decided that lean fish was going to be on the menu. I made a very interesting dish for my dinners this week (yes, I am single and make one dish and eat it Monday through Thursday at home.) I change it up nightly but what I do is make a "meat" and veggies of some sort so that it is ready to go and I don't have to think about it. It is tough to cook for one...It makes you either eat out all the time (which I cant afford) or eat things like cereal for dinner (which I have been known to do.) I prefer to have a healthy meal so cooking in bulk allows me to no think and just do...

Tonight's (and frankly the whole weeks) meal is:




Grilled Tilapia! I bought a fresh 5 fillet pack and put it to work! I pair the lean fish with black beans, green onion, roasted tomato and quinoa! I added this pesto to the quinoa and OH MY GAWD was it sooooo good! The Living Tree Community has yet another wonderful product! I LOVED this living, raw pistachio pesto! It is so flavorful and a little goes a LONG way!

Simple but packed with protein! I mean this dish has over 30 grams! Can you say muscle building meal?!?





That is the dinner for the week and I bet you can guess the other items that appear on my daily menu:
Greek Yogurt, fresh fruit, egg whites, Manna sprouted whole grain bread, steamed veggies, tofu and Vita Coco! I tell you what...Spring is almost here and I am lovin it!

See you Monday!
xoxoxoxo
Heather

Going nuts for Coconut Water!

Did you know that coconut water has 15 times more potassium than that found in sport drinks? It's also naturally loaded with the five key electrolytes: potassium, magnesium, phosphorous, sodium and calcium. It's what you need to stay hydrated. On a diet? No sweat! Vita Coco is also fat and cholesterol free.
Sure, you may not be a marathon runner, a football player or Tour de France winner, but your every day life is hectic enough—you should be hydrated while you live it. Go ahead, get hydrated and remember that life is a sport! Here is a list of other things coconut water can do for you:
Helps keep the body cool and at the proper temperature.
Translation:Now when you get noticed it's not 'cause you're sweaty and gross.
Promotes weight loss.
Translation: You still have to cut back on the fried chicken and hit the treadmill, but we’re there for you to enhance your diet program.
Helps carry nutrients and oxygen to cells and boosts poor circulation.
Translation:See, everyone needs a boost from time to time.
Regulates the function of the intestine, helping promote smoother skin.
Translation: Doing something good for your insides can make you prettier outside! But you still need to wash your face properly, exfoliate and moisturize (don’t forget the SPF).
Helps replenish your body's fluids after exercising.
Translation:Your body needs plenty of fluids after the gym. Fluids free of barley and hops. Go figure.
Helps detoxify your body and boost your immune system.
Translation:Keeps your immune system tough. Grr. And, yells at viruses to back off. "Back off viruses!"
Helps ease stomach pains.
Translation:Calms your stomach, unlike your in-laws' chili cookoff.

Q & A With Michael Kirban
Vita Coco’s "Q&A with…" speaks with Michael Kirban, the co-founder of Vita Coco, and one half of the team responsible for creating the fresh coconut water category in the beverage aisle. Now, almost five years after a breakneck schedule putting Vita Coco onto grocery shelves, he answers a few questions.
Why do you think Vita Coco has been so popular?
MK: It’s an authentic brand that delivers what it promises. Consumers have connected to the simplicity and purity of the beverages, and have seen its efficacy as a hydrator. It all lends to strong word-of-mouth and brand loyalty.
Vita Coco is almost five years old. What’s next for the brand?
MK: We’re still focused on creating drinks in new flavors (we’ve got six, and counting) as well as exploring new food and consumer concepts that incorporate fresh coconut water. In the fall, you’ll be seeing the “beauty” of Vita Coco in a new product! I can’t say much more now.
What’s Vita Coco’s most popular flavor?
MK: Pineapple… still! It’s been our best-selling flavor since we created it. The Acai & Pomegranate flavor is becoming quite popular too, but nothing outsells our original, 100% Pure flavor.
What are the big trends today in beverages?
MK: Consumers want function, flavor and simplicity. This has been the ongoing trend since carbonated beverages peaked a few years ago and we’re still seeing it. Consumers want to know a beverage is good for them, and see the positive results of that goodness. Flavor is personal, of course. Simplicity has been one of the big secrets to Vita Coco’s success and the success of other beverages that have sold well: consumers want cleaner, better tasting beverages with fewer ingredients and additives.
You’re in so many stores now… are you exploring any other channels?
MK: We’re always looking to grow the brand, organically, and sell it or serve it where our consumers “live.” This could mean we sell it in a retail environment, in a restaurant, in a yoga studio or at a resort. We’re a cult brand and want to stay that way, and we always want people to “discover” I tried the coconut water with tangerine! Here is the nutritional info: 70 cals, 17 grams of carbs and a whopping 740 grams of Potassium!
Vitamin A 0%
Calcium 5%
Phosphorous 5%
Vitamin C 230%
Iron 0%
Magnesium 10

I was so happy to read the label on this product.

My initial thoughts on taste were, "this is sweet!" I mean really sweet! Vita Coco only uses green coconuts! Most people don’t realize there is an enormous difference between green coconuts and the brown coconuts we’re used to seeing at the grocery story, and in most pop culture imagery. Green coconuts have all the nutrition and healthful benefits. We harvest green coconuts in the north of Brazil, in a farm near Fortaleza. The average age of the coconut is about 7 months, the best age to extract sweet coconut water that is fat-free (before the coconut ages, turns brown and the water turns to hardened “meat” – fat city!). Vita Coco comes in a ton of flavors! I LOVED the pineapple flavor and look forward to the rest. I will be blogging more about each flavor as I go. It really is the most satisfying drink after a long run! It is SO hydrating and having something sweet but with no sugar added makes you feel like you are having a treat without sabotaging your diet.

I saw some other bloggers making these so I did it as well! Popsicles!!! Man...you know that you are itching for Spring/Summer when you want a Popsicle. When I get this cool craving usually I go buy some grapes and freeze them. Frozen grapes are like mini Popsicles to me and great instead of ice. Well, not anymore! I found my new love! Vitasicles!

PLEASE go to their site! You will love what you see...

www.vitacoco.com

All in all I absolutely loved this product. I did some digging and found that so many celebrities love this stuff too! Madonna drank the water almost every day after a sweaty show. She invested in the company because she loves it so much. Hey...you know how I feel about Madonna. If a woman can look that good at her age, I will take her advice. I am sure at a concert she can shed some sweat and what better way to re hydrate than with Vita Coco! I have already found it at Kroger so it should be available to you at your local grocery store.

Let me know what flavor is your favorite!

Question time! I must say...Your gettin a bit personal! That is ok though just keep it nice and I will continue to answer! Here we go!

This question made me blush...Several times.

How many times have you truly been in love in your life? do you ever act spontaneously and have encounters with people?

4 times I have been in love and yes, I would be open to a spontaneous meeting of sorts.

What is it like to be a twin?

Awesome! I LOVE my sister and have no problem with people saying that we look alike, she's hot! We are completely different though. I mean COMPLETELY different. I think that is one reason why we get along so well!

Ever been sky driving?

Nope and I wouldnt! HA! I am afraid of heights and I just dont take risks like that. Heck, you are talkin to a girl that has never ridden a roller coaster!

Also check out one of my favorite bloggers give-a-way!

http://www.pbandjenny.com/2010/03/pretty-pretty-pumpkin-and-giveaway.html#comments

Ok, that was fun! See you tomorrow!

-Heather