As most of you know since becoming pregnant I have become addicted to citrus and I just can’t get enough. Lately, I’ve been wanting orange juice all the time, which is crazy for me because I hardly ever drink juice unless it’s a strong freshly squeezed green juice. Well I have been indulging my juice craving lately by allowing myself to buy a bottle every other week.
Since I am trying to be careful with my sugar intake I decided to use the coupon for a free bottle that Tropicana sent to me and I finally tried Trop50 Orange Juice which has 1/2 the sugar and calories of other orange juices. Currently I am really enjoying being able to indulge my craving without overdoing the sugar.
One of the other cravings I plan on indulging in the upcoming month is a prenatal massage, a much needed massage. The best part is Trop50 is offering one of you a chance to win a $50 Spa & Wellness Gift Cards by Spa Week® to get the spa treatment of your choice. You can also enter for a chance to win a $1000 gift card when you share your New Year’s Resolution on Trop50’s Facebook page!
To enter this giveaway, all you have to do is leave a comment telling me what your favorite treatment is to get at the spa! This giveaway will be open until Tuesday, January 31 @ 8pm EST. A winner will be announced Tuesday.
Vegan Pie in the Sky is the latest force in Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero’s baking revolution. You’ll find delicious and adorable pies, tarts, cobblers, and more—all made without dairy, eggs, or animal products. From fruity to chocolaty, nutty to creamy, Vegan Pie in the Sky has the classic flavors you crave. And the recipes are as easy as, well, you know.
Serve up some:
• Maple-Kissed Blueberry Pie
• She’s My Cherry Pie
• Chocolate–Peanut Butter Tartlets
• Salted Pecan Caramel Pie
• Pumpkin Cheesecake
Learn how to rock (and roll) the perfect pastry crust, whether buttery, graham cracker, chocolate cookie, or gluten-free almond. Luscious toppings transform your pie into a showstopper. And you’ll even find handheld treats, to make getting your recommended daily allowance of pie more convenient! With gorgeous color photos and Isa and Terry’s irreverent commentary throughout, Vegan Pie in the Sky is the modern baker’s bible for pie that’s out of this world. *Book description supplied by Da Capo Lifelong Books
GIVEAWAY:
Da Capo is generously providing TWO copies of Vegan Pie In The Sky for this giveaway. The giveaway is open to US and Canadian Residents ONLY. Open until 12p est on 12/6
To Enter: (please leave a separate comment for each entry)
Answer this question: What is your favorite type of pie?
Today I’m juicing and I’ll blog about that later but first head over to the Health & Wellness with Lindsay Blog and check out a few new things.
New Things:
Warm Wishes: I would like to give you the opportunity to send a friend a little fall treat (warm mulling spices) and a warm wishes message from YOU. Read more here.
Pumpkin Cookie Recipes: Yes you read that correctly- TWO pumpkin chip recipes for you. Which one do you like more? Get the recipes here.
A few weeks ago I was invited to participate in the Vega blogger campaign to Take the Vega Breakfast Challenge. Being a huge fan of Vega I decided to take the challenge. During the challenge I tried Vega’s Complete Whole Food Health Optimizers (WFHO) in a variety of flavors and ways. My favorite way to use WFHO is in smoothies or in my Banana Bread Protein Pancakes.
Post 3Miler- Choco-Banana Vega Smoothie
After trying the WFHO I then compared my everyday breakfast to only one single serving of WFHO using Vega’s online Breakfast Nutrition Calculator. I honestly had a hard time using the the Breakfast Nutrition Calculator because I couldn’t accurately find what I normally eat each morning which is on run days is a super cacao energy bite and then most days oatmeal with banana, nut butter, chia seeds and flax. Simply finding rolled oats on the calculator was a challenge and then when I found an item labeled “oats”, I was unable to choose the correct quantity. Additionally, when adding the chia seeds and flax to the list it did not accurately compare the two items because both include omega-3’s and they did not show up on the nutrition calculator. Overall I thought the Breakfast Nutrition Calculator was a bit flawed and did not accurately compare the WFHO with my everyday breakfast.
Moving on to really discuss how I felt the mornings that I ate the WFHO- I felt great. The WFHO is 100% plant-based, it’s gluten-free, soy-free and dairy free and it’s super low in calories. According to Vega only one single serving guarantees:
· 100% of you daily vitamins and minerals
· 60% daily intake of fiber
· Healthy weight loss
· Maintaining optimal health
I did felt more energized, full and ready to take on the day after having a smoothie or the pancakes with the WFHO. I love that it adds the edition of:
A Full Serving of ChlorEssence (High CGF Chlorella)
Rich in protein, chlorophyll and nucleic acids DNA & RNA
Cleanse, nourish, rejuvenate cells and activate, support immune system
Special cell wall fiber binds to and removes heavy metals and other toxins from the body
A Full Serving of MacaSure (Organic Gelatinized Maca)
Rich in alkaloids, glucosinolates, minerals and sterols
Gelatinization enhances potency and ease of digestion/absorption
Two things I do not get enough of regularly and both are great for active people and non-active people.
Overall I felt that the challenge was a success because I felt a difference in my energy levels throughout the day. I am, and have been, a fan of the product for years and will continue to use it. The only downfall in this challenge really was the Breakfast Nutrition Calculator, however there is no debate that the added nutrients in WFHO is a great addition to any breakfast. Additionally the recipes that Vega offers on the Breakfast Challenge Page are really great and include smoothie, pancake and cereal recipes all using WFHO.
Q: What is your favorite flavor of WFHO? Mine is the chocolate!
*Giveaway*
I am giving away one single serving size of WFHO to one lucky CVL reader- all you have to do is tweet “I want to win @cookveganlover @VegaTeam Whole Food Health Optimizer giveaway http://wp.me/pFVWo-2yl #vegabreakfastchallenge” and then come back here and leave a comment letting me know you did so BY September 10, 2011.
Not enough time spent working out. Over a 7 day period I only averaged 23 minutes a day. That is way less than I should be doing.
No yoga this week. One of my goals is to do yoga at least once a week. I find that it improves my running, my mind and keeps me balanced.
Poor fueling before runs=not so great runs. This is one thing that is going to be fixed starting now, yes right this minute. In the last week I fell off my normal workout routine because our gym was closed, hurricane Irene came for a visit and because I chose not to put as much dedication into my workouts as I should have.
Goals for this week:
Spend an average of 45 minutes per day working out even on passive rest days.
On passive rest days do yoga, go for a walk or do a gentle swim.
Get back to meal planning and work on eating foods that will benefit my health, my running and my body.
Hydrate. Drink more water, more frequently. That is one thing that I haven’t been doing well enough lately and I know I should.
Conclusion. I see the improvements I need to make and I know I have the power to do them, we all do really. I will take the time this week to support my body and mind so that it is at it’s healthiest.
Moving on…
Since I started running I have been on the lookout for running gear that fits well, is comfortable to run in and of course it needs to look cute. I have been slowly accumulating new items, some that work really well and some that are not so great and have resulted in chaffing or just don’t fit correctly. One of the newest tops I have tired out is from Be Seen the creators of active gear for those who enjoy outdoor activities such as running, biking and walking.
Be Seen is the vision of Eric and Lisa Fenstermacher. As dedicated age-group triathletes living in Dallas. TX, they appreciate the need to be safe and aware on the roads. Unfortunately it seems everyone involved in an outdoor lifestyle knows someone that knows someone with a tragic story. Eric and Lisa want to help these stories change to tales of accomplishment. The most effective mechanism to achieve this is through education and awareness. They firmly believe that awareness is the precursor to change. Be Seen out there and stay safe.[1]
Eric and Lisa have created a fashionable and effective way to improve the safety for outdoor activity lovers with their Been Seen athletic tops. The large designs on all sides of the garment brightly reflect vehicle headlights and other ambient light. They are made from sweat wicking fabric, moisture moves quickly to the surface where it evaporates.
Reminder: Don't take photos at 5am.
My thoughts:
As soon as I received this top I tried it right on and headed out on a early evening run on the bike path. The things I love about this top:
– The Length. I have found that my biggest issue with woman’s running tops is that they are many times too short or way too long. I was happy to find that this shirt was just the right length, hitting at the hips and it was perfect because it didn’t ride up while I ran (my other huge issue).
– Safety First. I really love that the large design that is both on the front and back is not an eyesore. I am all about safety first but I cringe at the though of florescent orange and neon green tops. This top is great because it’s cute and promotes safety.
– Overall fit. I know I mentioned above that I like the length but the overall fit is also worth noting. I was told in advanced that the shirts tend to run a little big so when ordering one you probably want to go a size smaller, I had to. I also loved that it was fitted but not tight or hugging and the sleeve length was perfect.
–The fabric. I thought the fabric was perfect. I went on a hot run in the top and I felt great. The fabric breathes and doesn’t chaff. I did find that fabric to be a bit heavy though especially for 75F+ and 50%+ humidity (welcome to VT summer), however I do think that it will be perfect now that it is cooler in the mornings and evenings but not cold enough for long sleeves (although Be Seen has those too).
Overall. Overall I love the top. I would recommend it to anyone especially those who are avid bikers, outdoor runners and walkers. It is comfortable, cute and of course promotes safety first.
{Giveaway Time} Closed
Winner:
Guidelines: Giveaway for your own Be Seen top is open to US residents only. Giveaway will close at 8pm on 9/6/2011. You must do the mandatory question, for additional entries you MUST leave a separate comment for each entry.
Mandatory:
1. Visit the Be Seen site here and complete this sentence: Been Seen is ______
Over a twitter discussion over my absolute favorite tea- Mighty Leaf’s Orange Dulce I came into contact with Mighty Leaf about doing a review of their new iced teas. They sent me their four new iced tea flavors to try and let me tell you they don’t disappoint. These teas are just like Mighty Leaf’s small tea bags in giant form; so not only do they make delicious tea but what isn’t fun about a giant tea bag?
The Mighty Leaf Iced Teas flavors:
o Ginger Peach Iced Tea: A blissful and lightly sweet black iced tea infused with sun-swelled peaches and delicate ginger.
o Calypso Mango Iced Tea: A sweet and cooling black iced tea with an indulging blend of South Indian black tea leaves, luscious mango, and tropical fruit.
o Organic Black Iced Tea: A flavorful black iced tea made of refreshingly rich and smooth South Indian organic black tea leaves hand-picked on the dewy slopes of the Nilgiri Mountains.
o Sunburst Green Iced Tea: A cool and vibrant iced green tea that delivers mountain-grown Chinese green tea leaves brightened with the crisp taste of ripe oranges and sweet citrus. The lowest in caffeine among all four flavors.
Iced tea is my favorite summer beverage however I don’t often make it at home because unless I have loose tea it is no fun to try to make tea from a handful of tiny tea bags. Well Mighty Leaf makes things so much easier by having their giant iced tea bags. All you have to do is steep the tea bag and then add ice. It’s never been easier to make iced tea at home.
I really enjoyed all of these flavors and once we started making them we haven’t been able to stop. My favorite is the Sunburst Green Iced Tea because it is fresh and crisp and perfect on a hot day. Neil’s favorite is the Organic Black Iced Tea it is wonderfully dark and refreshing.
Summer might be coming to an end but it’s never too late to enjoy a nice cold crisp glass of iced tea.
*CLOSED* GIVEAWAYS: Mighty Leaf is offering a giveaway of their Summer Brewing Kit. One person can receive a box of each of their new teas, as well as the Bodum Iced Tea Pitcher which makes fresh iced tea in minutes. The kit’s total value is approximately $60. US Residents only. Giveaway open until August 25th at 4pm EST
Mandatory: What is your favorite summer drink?
*Additional Entries* Leave a separate comment for each
DISCOUNT: Mighty Leaf is offering CVL readers a 15 percent site-wide discount on www.mightyleaf.com. The unique discount code is: coupon code: summertea15
I was looking back on my last few posts and well honestly they have been lacking in quantity and quality. My excuse isn’t that I have nothing to write about or don’t feel like blogging because I do…it’s just I have been strapped for time. This has been one of the craziest months for me between training, traveling, health coaching and other new adventures. I hope to get back on track in September when things quiet down (a little). I have been cooking a lot lately, we currently have a no eating out until Philly rule, but most of my meals have been quinoa or brown rice with steamed veggies. Now I think it’s kind of boring but if that interest you I can post- just let me know.
So the other thing is although I have not been blogging has much here you may have seen me around a few other places such as:
