breakfast time

our planet makes such beautiful food

without a doubt my favorite time of the day is breakfast time. it's a time in the morning (sometimes later) when we get to fuel ourselves for a journey out into the world. this week has been a good example of what i wanted to eat, what i needed to eat, and when i'm out the door and eating.

what i wanted:

gluten free pancake breakfast at watercourse after a 3 mile run with friends

what i needed:

breakfast salad with avocado, banana and romaine.

dressed with blood orange juice and coconut.

when i'm out the door:

morning pick me up

(makes 2 16oz servings)

28oz distilled water

1 cup chopped and frozen pineapple

2-3 bananas chopped and frozen

1 large handful of kale

1 heaping tablespoon of raw hemp seeds

1/4 teaspoon red cayenne chili flakes

drizzle of raw agave nectar (optional)

pinch of pink himalayan sea salt

Blend all of the ingredients together. Enjoy!

room to grow

goofy post yoga glow

we all need to laugh a little. and at ourselves is what i mean. in the last few yoga classes i found myself intently focused on postures (heavy face) that i wanted to go deeper into, and when i fell out of them (literally on my butt) all i could do is laugh! it's such a great feeling. to just laugh out loud and reset our mind. my philosophy is: if you can't laugh at yourself, then you are taking life to seriously.

we internalize so much crap in our daily life, sometimes it's hard to find laughter or happiness inside of ourselves. all of the built up stress and self conscious, where does it go? all i can say is nowhere safe if it never comes out. i think when we can just smile at things that drive us crazy we are able to let go of so much pressure we build up. how simple of an exercise. but it works! it's hard work to get to that point though. breathing and a little patience go along way.

with that said, we have to be patient with ourselves. to give ourselves the time to grow and to learn our own lessons. i find that we can ruin progress simply by wanting more, or rushing to get to our 'finishing' points. there is no finish. everyday is a new day, and a new set of challenges. the challenges that move us emotionally, align our passions or give us the room to grow into better versions of ourselves. we have to acknowledge our progress in the present moment first though.☺

gt's synergy: trilogy and sale produce!

after leaving yoga this early morning, i rode over to work early and had a bit of breakfast. gt's kombucha finally came back into the stores here in denver! i really love this product it always has the perfect amount of flavor and carbonation.

this was not part of my day, but i've been making these yummy shakes when i've been craving chocolate. which has been a lot... this shake is not to disappoint. it's so creamy and delicious. i love it when it gets a little frothy at the top. ☺

banana cinnamon shake

(makes 2 16oz servings)

4-5 frozen and chopped bananas

28 oz distilled water

1 tablespoon raw cacao powder

1 heaping tablespoon raw hemp seeds or chopped walnuts

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon allspice

pinch of nutmeg

pinch of pink himalayan sea salt

blend all of the ingredients together and enjoy!

mind

my new ukulele/ best friend

once you've set your mind towards something and have free and willing intention the easier things become. a year ago i tried to play guitar and i expected to much that i really didn't connect to it because of my lack of faith in myself. growing up and just a lot of different situations i've been in, i've realized that being self conscious definitely is the biggest road block between us and what we want to accomplish. it's not something new, but something never really acknowledged to often.

coming home from my trip with tons of magic and inspiration i set my mind to new things. i've picked up this instrument and really have been focused on chord work and practicing songs, and i'm really starting to strum along. it's amazing how much progress i've made just in a few days. the difference between the years is black and white. i care more about having fun then being great and thats a whole other lesson in itself.

what if we could have this focus for everything in our life. i think we can! really i do! just imagine if we stopped doubting ourselves and just kicked it in to gear! a lot of vibrant things would get done.

now for a sweet and sour concoction i whipped up a few times this week:

three berries in mind

(makes 2 16oz servings)

3 frozen and chopped bananas

28oz distilled water

hand full of raw cashews

3 tablespoons goji berries

1/4 cup frozen strawberries

1/2 cup frozen cranberries

pinch of pink himalayan sea salt

1 tablespoon acai powder (optional)

start by pulsing goji berries, cashews and acai powder (optional) alone. one pulsed into a powder add the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth consistency!

plans

my good friend leah

this week i've been busy planning my trip to burning man. this will be the third time i'm attending the festival. i could go into detail, but that would take me forever to explain. so in short its an annual arts festival in the nevada desert. i will be camping from august 3oth - september 6th under the most gorgeous stars in a post lake remote location. its a pretty radical place to get inspired and be part of a very magical community.

part of going on trips is planning ahead of time. it's something i value and helps organize the agenda. the majority of the time i go with the flow because you never know what life throws at you, but preparation is a very important part of making healthy goals happen in general. i'm grateful to go with a group who have the same intentions and are just as excited as me to experience the festival.

i just have to say, i have been blessed with spectacular friendships!

now for two very simple, yet delicious recipes!

happy tomato salad (lebanese inspired)

(serves 2)

1 small cucumber (i peeled the skin of mine, but not necessary)

1/2 cup chopped parsley

1 cup halved cherry tomatoes

1 medium onion chopped

6 basil leaves, or mint. (i used purple basil form the farmers market)

Juice from half a lemon

dash of pink himalayan sea salt

black pepper to garnish

combine all ingredients and toss in a large salad bowl. this is very quick recipe to throw together and features a large array of vegetables.

sweet and summer smoothie

(makes 2 16oz servings)

2 bananas chopped and frozen

1/2 cup frozen chopped pineapple

1/2 cup frozen strawberries

2 heaping tablespoons raw shelled hemp seeds

6 basil leaves (i used purple basil)

30 oz distilled water

drizzle of raw agave nectar

pinch of pink himalayan sea salt

shredded coconut to garnish (optional)

yum! the hemp seeds are a good addition not only for the protein, but for the essential amino acids which make it a complete protein. they are also a good source of iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc. every time i add the seeds i feel a good energy within myself.

simple things

keeping the fridge full of fresh veggies is key to having good lunches for the day

today i woke up refreshed, hearing all of the beautiful insects chirping outside my window. in the summer time i like to keep my windows open because the breeze feels so nice while your sleeping.

green smoothie that consisted of kale, hemp seeds, cucumbers and pineapple

i got to work pretty early, enough time to think to myself before starting my shift. giving yourself some time to stretch or calm your mind makes the biggest difference in the world.

blueberries and an avocado

spinach salad with almonds, gypsy peppers, green onions, and cucumbers w/ raw coconut vinegar

i've been eating cucumbers in everything lately. the taste is so refreshing! packing a lunch ahead of time is a good way to keep yourself from grazing at work. i always choose to bring a big salad and some fresh fruit. the blueberries were ripe and juicy. i think they would have to be my favorite!

heirloom and cherry tomatoes

but today was great. although work was long and tedious something happened that i didn't expect. my friend's mother came in and brought me all of these beautiful tomatoes from her garden. although cliche, the simple things in life really matter the most. like when people share their love even in the tiniest ways! the tomatoes were a very good surprise! needless to say, they taste vibrant and will be put in almost everything i'm making this week since she gave me such a large amount.

people make me smile.

Cacao Plum Intention

organic red plums, only $5 for 5lbs. buying in season produce is always the way to go.

one of the first things i did today was go to yoga at the earliest hours of the morning. it makes you feel so strong and the dedication you give to yourself that early in the morning are the gears that turn the rest of the day. it's a great feeling to be part of a community all sharing one goal. to better yourself and breathe consciously for even just an hour. our instructor talked a lot about setting intention and using it as a power to gain control of your life positively.

It's something said a lot in yoga, but really diving into that intention can be easier said then done. How often do we assume the worst case scenario? Well, from here I will better myself by being thankful and letting my assumptions go. It truly helps a lot. Now for the yummy part of the morning.

Cacao Plum Intention

(makes 2 16oz servings)

2 Frozen and cut bananas

1 avocado

1 large red or black plum

1 tablespoon of Garden of Life Raw Protein Powder

1 tablespoon raw cacao powder

Pinch of pink Himalayan Sea salt

28 ounces of distilled water

chopped almonds to garnish

This smoothie is rich in flavor. I added the Raw Protein Powder for my post yoga protein. The plums add a nice sweetness and actually blends well with the creaminess of it all.