{fresh Friday}

It's Friday....can I get a woot woot!!!!!!
I love Friday's but who doesn't?!?!?
As you could tell I was super happy this week....the weather was fabulous and I was able to do tons of yard work and just be outside:)

I love it when the weather starts to turn warmer...it always inspires me to eat yummy grilled foods....especially grilled veggies~ Grilled Portabella Sandwich

All I can say is YUM....this sandwich really rocked my face off:)
grilled portabella with balsamic vinegar drizzled on it
grilled leeks and red peppers
goat cheese
basil
tomato
Grill the bread and then make a super yummy sandwich with all the ingredients....food bliss:)

and then I grilled some veggieschop up any veggies you like..
I used
broccoli
zucchini
mushrooms
red peppers
fennel
Drizzled balsamic vinegar, olive oil and garlic on them.
Wrapped them in foil and threw them on the grill...
I topped them with feta when they were done!!!!
Healthy...tastey...simpleYou know I have taken the past week off of "formal" exercise...sometimes it's good to do that. At least in my opinion!

But when I am the full fitness swing of things...

I love to do P90X, in addition to my running or cycling, and the best thing is .......I can do it right from the comfort of my home while wearing whatever I feel like:)

I get all my weights out and just put them on the coffee table

pop in the dvd and then I get busy....Now if I could just get those darn hips to decrease just a tiny bit....
Baby got back:) Do you have any problem areas that just WON'T budge?!?!But really....see why I love working out at home...I don't care what my hair looks like...I don't care what i'm wearing and I don't have any make-up on!!!

So there you go.....get out there and get yourself a little workout dvd!!! Keep your fitness simple and just do a little something most days of the week!!! And do it at home if it makes you feel more happy:)

Hope you have a super fabulous weekend!! You already know what i'm going to be doing....

painting the fireplace!! yeah!! Wish me luck:)

"Fall in love or fall in hate. Get inspired or be depressed. Ace a test or flunk a class. Make babies or make art. Speak the truth or lie and cheat. Dance on tables or sit in the corner. Life is devine chaos. Embrace it. Forgive yourself. Breathe. And enjoy the ride." Unknown

{the fireplace}

Well Hello & Happy Monday to you:)
Hope your weekend was wonderful.

Today...I decided that we should enjoy dinner in our dining room! A place that rarely sees people.
I made a rather non-gourmet meal for myself...but it was delicious:)
blackened mahi mahi....roasted sweet potatoes {I eat those A LOT}, grilled asparagus and sauteed morel mushrooms!
I have never had morel mushrooms and they were super tasty except for all the dirt that I somehow failed to rinse out of them:(
Owell....I tried. Oh & did you notice the mustard?!?! {thought I was going to say wine didn't you.....but you know by now....I love my vino any day of the week}I LOVE mustard and would cover the world with it if I could:) I like to dip my sweet potatoes in it...nothin' fancy but oh so yummy!

Alright....now on to more serious business:)

I cannot stand the look of our fireplace for one more moment....These are random photographs from the holidays....but you get the idea!
Our living room is a sunken living room with very little natural light.
I think the dark poopy brown coloring of the bricks just sucks the life right out of the room....
Oh and also really screams 1979!

I am thinking of painting it a nice creamy white.
Like this.... The only problem I foresee is that the bookcases on either side of my fireplace are stained wood and I don't intend to paint them. I love, love, love white trim but it would take me years and years to repaint all of the trim and woodwork in our home...

Do you see the bookcases?!?In my dream world I would rip out the entire fireplace and do something creative ...like this.....
But don't think my husband would be such a willing participant in tearing out the fireplace. So I just have to make a little change that will make me happier right now! Maybe someday we'll tear it out....but not today:)
I just think it's soooooooo ugly right now...
And plus....if I do paint it and I don't like the solid color I can always sand it and scuff it up to look like this....

So what do you think!?!?!?

Will a creamy white fireplace look nice against the stained bookcases?!?!?

Do tell:)

{click on the images to see where they're from}

“When you're finished changing, you're finished.”
Benjamin Franklin

{Fresh Friday}

Well Hello and Happy Friday to you:)
Here's a little peek into my morning commute this week......
Yep....that's the sunshine:) Haven't seen that in a long while!! It's amazing just how good the sun makes you feel!
I definitely feel that all is alright in my world right now!It's even been warming up and now we are able to see the ground a little bit!! yippee:)

Now for the Fresh Friday Recipe
I have been wanting to tinker with spring rolls for some time now.
I finally gave it a whirl....... As you can see....they didn't turn out too good:(
All I can say is......those spring roll wrappers are CRAZY!
I tried with all my might to get those darn things rolled tight and it just wouldn't happen.The thought was there.
But those stubborn little wrappers would just stick to my fingers as I tried to eat the rolls... SOOOO....I just tore those little wrappers off......
spilled my dipping sauce in the process....but still decided to go ahead and eat it as a salad!I have to say it was pretty fabulous!
And even better after I threw some honey roasted peanuts on top:) sometimes even the best laid plans just don't turn out....so you have to improvise:)

But you know me....I WON'T give up on those wrappers! In case you want to give it a whirl yourself....

Look up how to prepare spring roll wrappers...

Fresh Spring Roll Wraps

then add....

avocado

bean sprouts

carrots

cucumber

pineapple

green onions

chop it all up and roll it up in the wrappers.

FRESH AND SIMPLE!!! except for the wrapper part:)

Pineapple Ginger Dipping Sauce
pineapple juice

ginger {I use the stuff in a jar}

sesame oil

lime juice

rice wine vinegar

mix it all together in any amounts you like!!!

It also makes a fabulous salad dressing:)

I also made Tofu Dippers with Peanut Dipping SauceIt has taken me a long time to perfect these so that they taste like the fried ones that I get at my local Thai place!!!! But they are baked instead of fried! And they ROCK...if you like tofu that is:)

Put them on a cookie sheet sprayed with Pam or something like that and heat the oven to 450.

Put them in for 8 minutes then flip and cook the other side for 8 minutes, then flip to their sides and cook for 6 minutes, then flip to the other side for 6 min. By now they should be just about done depending on your oven.

But keep flipping and cooking if they don't look like this....

I love them!!!

For the Sauce {inspired by a friend's recipe}

Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce

Peanut Butter 1/2 cup

Cooking Sherry 1/4 cup

Soy Sauce 1/4 cup

Lime Juice 1/8 cup

Water 1/8 cup

Ginger {to taste}

Cayenne Pepper {just a titch...it's HOT}

Microwave it and mix!! You won't be disappointed:)

Hope you have a super happy weekend with whatever you are up to!!!!

“Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow.” Mary Anne Radmacher

{Fresh Friday}

Good Morning and Happy Friday to you.
Thanks for all your uplifting comments on my "being in a funk post"!! As always I really appreciate them and I will hopefully answer your questions this weekends!!!

One of my friends listened to a program on NPR that suggested we should try to describe our life in 6 words.....now I don't know about you but there is no way I could sum my life up or who I am in 6 words...but here are 6 words that I think are important to keep in mind!


That is so true and even in the midst of a funk it's good to remember this!!

Which gets me to thinking........
While at work the other day....I was complaining of crawling out of my skin because of the ongoing COLD and she said "this happens every year."
Well....clearly it does! And I need to remember this and just accept it! You don't get to do life over again {at least I don't think we do} and it's important to accept the lows just as much as I enjoy the highs!! They are all parts and pieces of our life!!!
So there you have it!!!
Just try and go with the flow of life.....there will be ups and there will be downs...
And during the down times....stop and appreciate all that you have!!!

Now for the the food:)
Trust me I desperately want to move into fresh and springy recipes...but I am still cold and so am still making lots of soups!

Oh and here's a thought...

Even when your in a funk and maybe not working out like you should....don't beat yourself up but do try to keep healthy in your eating!! It will make you feel better! At least I think so:)


Tuscan White Bean Soup

Inspired by a recipe from Live..Love..Eat!Chop up...
garlic
white onions
carrots
celery
thyme
I used about a 1/4 cup of each
Then saute it all with a little bit of olive oil....
While that's sauteing...chop up some kale and rinse it...Then open up 2 cans of white beans and throw them in a crock pot with the kale, sauteed veggies
and vegetable broth.
I used Smart Life Italian Soy Sausages chopped up as my sausage but your could use whatever you like and trust me.....

This soup is healthy, filling and was DELICIOUS!!Even though I more than ready for some salads and grilled veggies.....soup is all that will warm me up .....oh and can't forget about the vino!! That always makes me feel warm and fuzzy!!

Have a happy weekend!!!! It is a weekend of love after all:)

"Happy people roll with the punches. They know from experience that
everything changes. Today's good fortune may vanish tomorrow,
today's crises may turn out to be tomorrow's good fortune." Unknown

{A food philosophy}

So...it's the day after Christmas and who's ready to talk about food?!?!

HA...if you're like me your still stuffed to the gills!! Throw in a vacation and I think i've gained another 5 lbs.
You know i've been vegan for awhile and that's been going pretty good.....but on vacation I broke down and had lots of this.....Mahi Mahi!! YUMMY! You Florida people are SOOO lucky! The funny thing was...I ate lots of Mahi with extra veggies and no starches and my tummy felt great and I had tons of energy!!! Hmmm.... Plus, I was so happy because we rented bikes and rode all around the island. You know I love exercise too!

My husband probably could have done without the exercise on vacation but I was in bliss!Somewhere along the way, I got involved in a few too many of these....and maybe too many of these....

{Yes, I wore black dresses more than once on vacation. I love simple black dresses!}

And you know I love my vino! Just look at how happy it looks:)
But after a few too many one evening....I ended up eating all this the next day....

I did NOT feel good after eating fries, bread and a large black bean burger! I am still learning more and more about what foods make me feel good and which ones don't!

Protein and veggies make me feel GREAT and starchy carbs...not so great! I definitely drive myself crazy with all this...vegan, not vegan, whole foods, fruits, not fruits....on and on!! Really like i've said before "keep it SIMPLE." I need to remember not to make so many rules for myself. If I want egg whites for breakfast b/c they give me energy then I should have them! If I want grilled fish for dinner then I should have it. I know I am a healthy eater and a mostly whole foods eater....but while on vacation...I realized pumping up the protein kept me full and happy for hours!!! It's good for me!

And I definitely cannot do "anything in moderation"....if I have one fry...i'll eat them ALL! If I have one piece of warm bread...i'll eat the WHOLE basket!! Geesh!
So....Now I am going to focus on eating a little more protein and a little less starchy carbs to see how I feel!! Life really is a journey and you do really have to take the time to see what works for your body! Everyone is DIFFERENT!!

Hope you had a fabulous Christmas!!

"Live in rooms full of light
Avoid heavy food
Be moderate in the drinking of wine
Take massage, baths, exercise, and gymnastics
Fight insomnia with gentle rocking or the sound of running water
Change surroundings and take long journeys
Strictly avoid frightening ideas
Indulge in cheerful conversation and amusements
Listen to music."
~A. Cornelius Celsus

{party time}

Good Sunday Morning!!
Last night we had our annual Christmas party and it was SUPER fun.
Do you ever plan something that you stress about and then when it happens you are just so proud and happy that you did it!?!?!
That's how I feel about my parties....
I love to entertain and I love to have parties...but I STRESS....STRESS...STRESS about them.
Yet, when the day finally comes and the people start to arrive...I am in PURE BLISS:)
It makes me feel so happy in my heart to have such wonderful friends and family in my life!
Let's see....
I made these simple and tasty little cocktails.It's just...cheap champagne and pomegranate/cranberry juice! I pour half and half in a sugar rimmed champagne glass and add in a couple fresh raspberries. They look so festive and they don't cost a million dollars!
I think it's nice to have a signature cocktail to offer people when they arrive, even if the party is bring your own cocktail.
It makes me happy and it makes my guests happy:)

Now...I personally like to glam it up when I have a party... I think it's fun to get all glammed up.
But I always tell everyone...wear whatever makes you happy and you can come in your p.j.s....I just want you to come:)No one really does come in their pajamas. In fact, I think we all look pretty nice~ Even my husband glammed it up! Any party I have ALWAYS includes dancing! For this...we clear out the living room and use whatever we can find to sing and dance:) My friend, Michelle, chose a lamp {minus the shade} as her microphone. She cracks me up:) I just think it's so nice to have a *fun* holiday party!! At this time of the year everyone is so busy attending work parties, shopping and just plain running around like a mad person. I like to give people the opportunity to just let loose and have a good time:)
And boy do we know how to let loose! just look at my kitchen at the end of my party:) Now....of course...we had some yummy food!! I made pork tenderloin for the meat eaters:)
And I made a couple healthy options! I think it's important to have healthy options when you're at a party! Parties make it SOOOOO easy to overindulge! It helped knowing that my friend Jamie {she's a personal trainer} was coming.

She has definitely helped me a TON in getting fit and healthy!! Just look how cute she is. I still have a little more to go and will get right back on track AFTER the holidays. And I know she'll be right there to help me out:)
Anyway I made....cous cous with chopped up veggies! Simple and definitely healthy!
I also made tropical salsa! I love this salsa. Canned tropical fruit, chopped onions, fresh cilantro, lime juice, cumin and chili powder and wala...a healthy and tasty salsa!

Ok....well I better get to cleaning up the mess!! Have a Happy Sunday!!

"Live life fully while you're here. Experience everything. Take care of yourself and your friends. Have fun, be crazy, be weird. Go out and screw up! You're going to anyway, so you might as well enjoy the process. Take the opportunity to learn from your mistakes: find the cause of your problem and eliminate it. Don't try to be perfect ; just be an excellent example of being human." Anthony Robbins