Wednesday, July 31, 2013

If only heaven had a phone

Or does it??
Over the weekend I received a call from my college roommate who told me she had just gone to a psychic. The lady told her she knew two women who had passed away and one of them was quite young. This was true. She said the girl had died from loss of control. She then said this spirit was trying to channel to my friend and wanted her to tell her friend that she is okay.
Five years ago while living with my college roommate I lost my sister in a car accident. A loss of control one could say. My sister and my friends older aunt are the only two females my friend knew who had passed. How could this woman have made this up? It brought me to tears and gave me a sense of peace that day.
Grief begins as an open wound and over time the wound starts to heal but there will always be a scar serving to remind us of our loved ones, the storm the hit us, and the person we became when the storm was over.
To everyone who has lost some one, I commend you for keeping going and finding reasons to smile. Xo

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Get Your Vegan On


Meet JOSHUA
Joshua is a Toronto based pharmacist, vegan, organic grower of goods, and style enthusiast. Here he shares his favorite recipe for vegan mac & cheese and a dessert to boot!!



Best Ever Vegan Mac & Cheese

 
Prep time                         
10 mins
Cook time
15 mins
Total time
25 mins

Serves: 3-4

Ingredients

·        ½ cup + 2 tbsp raw cashews

·        ¼ cup nutritional yeast

·        1 tsp onion powder

·        1 tsp salt, to taste

·        ½ tsp garlic powder

·        1/16 tsp white pepper

·        1 + ¾ cups nondairy milk

·        1.5 tbsp cornstarch

·        ¼ cup canola oil

·        2 tbsp light (yellow or white) miso paste

·        1 tbsp lemon juice

·        6-8oz pasta, cooked (use gluten-free if needed)

·        1 tsp truffle oil (optional, but highly recommended)


Instructions

1. Place cashews in a large-sized bowl of the food processor and finely grind–just don’t let the cashews turn to a paste. Add nutritional yeast, onion powder, salt, garlic powder, and white pepper. Pulse three more times to blend in spices.

2. In a heavy saucepan, combine milk, cornstarch and oil(s). Bring to a simmer over high heat. Decrease heat to low-medium, cover and simmer, stirring occasionally for 10 minutes, or until cornstarch dissolves.

3. With the food processor running, gradually add milk/oil mixture to cashew/nutritional yeast mixture. Blend for 2 minutes or until smooth and creamy. Next blend in miso and lemon juice.

4. Combine cashew cheese with macaroni noodles and serve. You may also bake it: Preheat oven to 325 and place macaroni mixture in a 8 or 9″ square baking dish. Cover and bake 20 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with ½ C herbed bread crumbs. Continue baking, uncovered, for 15-25 minutes until topping is golden brown.


Josh's Tips: Use extra nutritional yeast & top with with Pepper Jack Daiya vegan cheese  and bread crumbs
 

Coconut Tapioca Pudding
 

Serves 4
2 cups almond milk, divided
1/3 cup tapioca pearls
1 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup agave syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water mixed in
1/4 teaspoon salt
Smoked sesame seeds (for garnish)

In a large bowl, soak the tapioca overnight (or for at least 4 hours) in 1 cup of the almond milk. When you're ready to cook, add the other cup of almond milk and warm the tapioca and almond milk mixture over medium heat. Wait until the pudding is boiling, then add the coconut milk, vanilla, and agave. Cook for another 10 or 12 minutes, stirring continuously.

Finally, add the cornstarch-water mixture and salt, cooking and stirring for five minutes. Cool in a Tupperware or glass bowl for at least an hour before serving. Or eat a little warm, it's wonderful! When serving, sprinkle a few smoked sesame seeds on top.
 


ENJOY!!!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 







Sunday, July 21, 2013

Saturday's Wedding Adventures


My husband and I went out of town last night for our friends wedding and had the best time dressing up & mixing new friends with old friends. There was some time to kill between the ceremony and party, so we decided to stop in at a local pub for a drink to kill time and were a little taken back that the local pub was called Swamp Donkeys..

But we stopped in anyways and to our surprise it was actually a really cute little place despite its name and the numerous motorcycles parked out front.
 
I hadn't done anything besides work and hang out at home for so long that I was so excited to get out and get dressed up and I love any excuse to sport my fabulous Zara print shoes I posted about here, curl my hair, and I even painted my nails mint green (of course) to match this necklace from spring! We had such a great night! 

 
 
 
 
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Friday, July 19, 2013

Our year in Europe: Part 5 Prague, Czech Republic

Prague was one of the last places that Kyle & I went to stay in during our year in Europe. I think it was the start of April, so it was still a bit chilly in Hungary where we were living, but it ended up being perfect weather in Prague and we were stoked to be able to enjoy the first patio of the season in such a neat little place! Prague has the most interesting architecture and art, and as an art lover, I fell head over heels for this place. In my books its a must visit!



 This is a view of the gothic bridge which we ended up walking across and is so busy and amazing in and of itself!


This moving statue is hilarious. The penises of these fine two men move back and forth while water trickles out to make it look like they are urinating and it spells poetic quotes. Too funny!

                   First patio of the season equipped with pretzels and dark beer!

We had lunch on the restaurant in the background that looks like a boat and it was so tasty and that's when we spotted the swans and walked here to take some pictures!

           This is the John Lennon wall which I just love, so fun and free spirited!

Aydah, our puppy, and I hanging out downtown Prague




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Thursday, July 4, 2013

Our Year in Europe: Part 4 Rome

My husbands parents, his sister, and her boyfriend came to visit Kyle & I at Christmas in Hungary and we decided to take the short flight to Rome and see all its great wonders. Kyle couldn't come because he had hockey, so we left him behind to take care of Aydah and off we went! There is so much to see in Rome, so we got two day passes for a Hop on Hop off bus and stopped at each spot. The Coliseum was a lot bigger than I had ever imagined and so cool to see and I loved the Trevi fountain, especially at night. The only annoying part is how crowded everything is and how many people are trying to sell you roses, purses, paintings.. you name it.








Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Our Year in Europe: Part 2 Venice Italy

From where we were living in Hungary, Venice Italy was only a six hour drive away. So, one on of Kyle's breaks we hopped into our little Skoda with our puppy and rain boots (Venice was flooding at that time) and off we went!

 
We found the most amazing quaint little restaurant that had been passed down by many generations of Italians and discovered the most amazing lasagna ever made, so we went back the next day to have more!
 

 
 
 
We had been told that the best thing to do in Venice is to walk around and stop in every little café to try their wine and pastries so that's exactly what we did and these are some of the things we found on our way...