Happy Friday and Happy April (fools)!
My parents are en route to So Cal at the moment, which thrills me to no end. I’m so excited that the weather has finally decided to cooperate when my family is visiting. Almost every other time the hippie clan visits, the rain clouds roll in. No me gusta.
On the contrary, me encanta MUCHO these babies.
If you’re not looking to brush up on your espanol, allow me to translate: these Mitica Spanish Cocktail nuts (from Whole Foods) are legit.
Too legit to quit, in fact.
Like the energizer bunny, my appetite kept going, and going, and going. It’s the combo of the fava beans and garbanzos (they are fluffy not hard), and the crunchy corn nuts that kills me. Oh, and the salt. I love.
If I’m being perfectly honest, there’s another unsung hero that I’ve been chomping down on the reg too. [And yet, for some reason I have neglected to photograph any of the times I’ve eaten it]
I’m one of those people who NEVER (ok, rarely) eats food that is brought in by coworkers to share. Usually it’s not remotely close to being vegan, but also, my GI tract is so sensitive, I just stick to what I know I’ve brought in. That said, a fellow RN had a big party at her house and there were lots of leftoevers including a few of these massive sesame flat breads. I happily took a few off her hands 🙂
I’ve been caking them with everything from nut butters to hummus and I am now on a state-wide scavenger hunt to find out where she got them.
Speaking of work…
The spread.
A salad of randomness.
A Jonagold, a Gala, and a baby Larabar.
A pretzel, roasted almond, dried fruit mix and a tupperware of blueberry oats.
The oats had blueberries and NuNatural’s vanilla stevia in them, which I then topped with Galaxy Granola. The crunchy top layer of granola made my breakfast like a blueberry crisp. It was so good.
Speaking of NuNaturals (weren’t we?)…
I think this company is able to read my mind (or has video cameras set up in my pantry) because the second I run out of something, the doorbell rings and there’s a package with my name on it.
I go through the vanilla stevia like crazy because I use it in my coffee every single day…and since we all know I have approximately 5 cups of coffee on any given Tuesday afternoon, you can see how this stuff flies off the shelf.
If I’m not their biggest fan, then they have a really good following.
Since I’m on a roll with my current obsessions, I may as well just acknowledge this one.
Dom Perignon! [It was a belated wedding present] I’m a lush for champagne. Seriously. I adore it. Bubbles are so delicious.
I’ve also found Nana’s cookie bites to be pretty flipping fantastic.
The only “problem” is that I let the miniature nature of them act as an excuse to eat ten in one sitting.
Sample size? Ok, then YOU try eating one bite and calling it a day! Not possible! Yum yum yum yum yummmmmm.
Current obsession number sixteen (I’ve actually lost count) is the Brazilian Blowout. It sounds like a lot of you have been or are considering going to get one. DO IT!!!!
I’m the kind of girl who hates putting effort into getting dolled up. I do it, but I don’t like it. [For the record, the phrase “dolled up” for me means using a hair brush and mascara]
I normally have curly/wavy/frizzy/messy hair.
Then I got the Brazilian Blowout. It;s basically applying a keratin treatment to your hair and then straightening the bejeezus out of it with the formula in your hair, which leaves it straighter than straight (and miraculously lasts 3 months).
Here it is right after I showered (at 5 am before work – so don’t judge).
And then here it is after I’ve eaten breakfast and gotten dressed (nothing but air drying involved). My hair straightener is currently collecting dust in the bottom of my bathroom drawer. I’m still in shock. I couldn’t stop touching my hair all day. It was silky and straight and I just shaved an HOUR off my AM getting ready time. Had I let my hair air dry before this, I’d look like a (more) hideous version of Joan Cusack circa 1986 (Working Girl). So yeah, I’m pretty much a convert.
Finally, I have to show off my morning mug cup.
After my last night shift, I left both my klean kanteen and my travel coffee mug at the hospital. That goes to show you just how brain dead I am at the end of night shifts…so anyway, I figured this would allow me the opportunity to try out the XPress by SmartCup.
Janetha hooked me up with these, and I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to try them. Well, I can actually, since they aren’t exactly the most recyclable (read: hippie friendly) item, I haven’t had a reason to give them a try…until now! [I didn’t want to have to bring 4 different reusable beverage containers home from work – I’m already that girl when it comes to trying to improve the hospital’s green practices]
So yeah, this was crazy simple to use. You just let the coffee grounds/tea leaves steep and once it was ready (just like a french press), you pushed the filter down and voila! A ready-to-go cup of joe. 🙂
Tofu salad dinner.
Those are my favorites of the moment.
Random questions:
What are you loving right now? Any April obsessions developing yet?
Do you eat food coworkers bring in to share?
How long do you spend on your hair?
OMG! Fell in love with that WF Spanish cocktail nuts when I found them at the Arcadia WF when I was house sitting a year and a half ago and haven’t found them at any of the WF by me. WHERE DID YOU FIND THEM? Jealous!
Still jealous of the blow out. And hurray for the fam bam coming to SUNNY southern cali. Que bueno!
I am loving pancakes atm! I went through a 20yr phase of hating them, and suddenly they’re all I can eat. It’s wonderful 🙂
Ha, I spend next to no time on my hair – it looks better if I go au natural and don’t straighten it or even brush it! Soo if that’s what it wants, that’s what it gets. No complaints from me!
Your hair looks AMAZING, but I am a curly girl through and through. When I try to straighten my hair, it looks diva-tastic. No thanks. Usually, I spend about five minutes on my hair and “makeup” (i.e. chapstick and eye liner) combined. Right now, I’m loving swiss chard sauteed with LOTS of garlic and lemon juice, Siggi’s yogurt (vanilla was delicious this morning!), and peppermint tea. So delicious and soothing!
the one on 23rd and wilshire. near the back of the produce section as you go around the wall to the prepared foods section. LOVE THEM!!
well thats a nice system then!
My current obsession is fresh mango. And hot pink nails.
My previous office was full of vegan and raw foodies, so our kitchen was stocked with smoothie ingredients (and Vita-Mix), coconut kefir yogurt, raw nuts/bars/trail mix, raw chocolate. So I definitely partook 🙂
I just wash and air-dry, but I usually blow dry the bangs (which takes all of two minutes). My hair is super straight and fine, so it dries on it’s own in no time. Also, my hair is super straight and fine, so it refuses to hold any kind of “style”. All efforts are futile, so I don’t waste the time!
Have fun with the fam!!
You and your hair look so pretty! Btw can I hitch a ride down with your parents next time lol?? I’m in the East Bay but wish I was in LA for the weekend! Right now I am loving that the sun is out!!
Jealous of your NuNaturals loot! I’m loving Nu stevia too as I gave up sweets/sugar for lent and stevia is my loophole getting me through! I totally feel like I’m cheating. 🙂
I don’t usually eat food from work as it’s generally junk, but there other day there were some “oatzels”–huge pretzels made from oats. Super tasty!!
Have fun with your parents!
Your hair is so cute! That sesame flat bread looks delicious. Gluten free cookie bites? How yummy 😀 And for the most part when I had a job I wouldn’t eat food that co workers would bring in since it was usually cookies or donuts
I’m currently obsessed with Iced Oatmeal Raisin Luna Bars.
My hair sounds the exact same as yours and I HATE straightening every day. Gotta try that treatment! How much?
And I rarely eat what co-workers bring> mostly because I’ve brought my own stuff that I’m more excited about.
haha you should have!
holy crap – i wanna work in your previous office!!!
with the groupon it was 150, normally its in the 350 range. i know it sounds steep, but its so worth it.
oatzels? i need to find this.
I got that nunaturals stuff too and it is taking up a LOT of room in my pantry. Maybe I will send it to you….
I am loving these hi protein pitas I recently found. I double toast them and fill them with triple fruit blueberry fruit spread. They taste like blueberry pie! Great, now you made me want to go make one…
I am dying to try the Nu Naturals but can’t find it here in Canada. Is it only available online? I’m so jealous of some of the things available to you guys in the US.
Your hair looks fab! Have a great family visit!
“I’m still in shock. I couldn’t stop touching my hair all day. It was silky and straight and I just shaved an HOUR off my AM getting ready time.”–
I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU! I feel the same way about my hair! I loveeeeee my Braz Blowout!
And those cups from Janetha, have em, dig em.
And Dom P. Ummm, yeah, what’s not to love about that?! 🙂
seriously i go through it at ridic speeds. superman-esque. oh and its not because im a good wife and i bake all the time…in case you were thinking that. its because im a stevia-aholic.
Elise, you can get that sesame bread from Payless Intl Market on Venice. It’s yum.
— umbreen (kaizar’s wife)
What is in your tofu salad, what is the dressing- looks tasty!
I’m pretty sure I NEED to get that done to my hair. You should see it when it air drys- total afro!!
Where do you find the mini larabars?! They look like the perfect portion size to satisfy a sweet tooth, but I’ve never seen them in stores!
After seeing them oodles of times as a tasty addition to your packed meals, I finally decided to come out of lurking to comment. I love reading healthy food blogs, but your’s is extra special to me because I’m in nursing school right now. 😉
Great questions!
1. I am really into strawberries+coconut these days.
2. I have one fellow grad student who is always bringing in food–I happily take nibbles from her chocolate bars that she brings in to share:)
3. I spend about 10 minutes on my hair tops–as long as it takes to blow it dry.
I’m loving smoothies made with fruit, dates, and nuts!
I second the mini lara bar question. I have been looking for the cookie dough in a mini but have only been able to find the original flavors in the minis (cherry, apple pie, etc). I’ve actually found those in Target.
Ugh, no. I usually don’t eat coworkers’ food. Especially not on donut day.
I hate doing my hair, I have so much of it. Now that hotter weather is coming I hate doing it even more… so this would be a life saver for me, haha
Your hair looks perfect!
I am currently living in Madrid and I can tell you first hand you will find those corn nuts all over! But I’ve never seen the fava beans 🙂
Since moving to Spain I spend less and less time on my hair. Air dry is the way to go! Wavy is in! These are the things I tell myself 🙂
thank you!!!! (and hi) 🙂
i have heard they are starting to sell the mini larabars in whole foods (in variety packs), but these were ones i got at expo west. the only places ive seen them are at races and events like those.
the base was just a mix of romaine, cabbage slaw, and alfalfa sprouts the dressing was a mix of olive oil (kinda a lot), soy sauce, bragg’s liquid aminos, lemon juice, garlic powder, tahini and then i just added in plain tofu (cubed)…when i tossed all the ingreds together some of the tofu crumbled a bit…it was excellent.
yessssss…do you have any good restaurant recs for me? (we will be in madrid and sevilla mostly…maybe day trips to toledo or segovia…
your hair looks GORG! I’ve down the Brazilian twice, and I’ve been so happy with it — it makes taming my hair so manageable! (which is saying a lot)
p.s. whenever I tell people that I got a Brazilian treatment, I always feel the need to follow it up so quickly with “on my head!! on the hair on my head!!”
haha, i know, ive gotten a few raised eyebrows, too.
too legit to quit. i remember that in 5th grade with the sideways peace sign. am i dating myself?
I’m kind of shocked that you got a Brazilian Blowout! Doesn’t that involve some crazy dangerous chemicals??
I’m currently on two different kicks: ginger kombucha (from G.T.) and Amport Food’s Veggie Crunchers. I’m digging the kombucha because it’s finally warmed up outside (I don’t want it when it’s cold), and the Veggie Crunchers are just awesome. They’re like chips, only they’re a mix of sweet potatoes, squash, taro, and green beans. They’re all salty and crunchy. I’m totally digging them!
As for that cocoa stevia, that sounds intriguing! I’m gonna have to try some of that!
LOVING the hair!
I am currently obsessed with PB and marmalade on toast (or rice cakes). Seriously obsessed.
I try to spend a minimum amount of time on my hair. Probs about 10 mins topse then I get bored. I don’t even blow dry it. x
ahhh! just found your blog and love it! i also love champagne! everyday’s a party with something to celebrate!
thanks!! glad you are enjoying reading 🙂