28 Highlights of 2012!

1. Visiting a friend in Calgary, Canada! BUUUURRRRRR!

2.  Vegas for a Bachelor reunion & meeting a couple OF COO' East coast Gurrrls!

3. Casted for a Snoqualmie Casino commercial!!

TEE HEE

This is my gurl, Maka!

4.  Thank you Molly Johnston, for putting me on the MS Advertisement.

5. Road trip with my SELBEE & ASHBOO!
From Seattle to Hollywood, no radio.

6.  Hawaii with my parentals and little Sisssssss!

7. Lava flow. 3 OF THEM back to back. Will never forget this stomachache.

8.  Happy you're back...

9.  Mama's 60th birthday in Leavenworth!!!

10.  Dancing to oldies music at zeeee club!

11.  Mother's Day @ 1 of my favorite restaurants, CAFE FLORA in CAP HILL!

12.  Steph & Steffy

13.  Another Snoqualmie advertisement
w/the slick Rick...right, Michelista?

14.  Helping at Yoga for UW Students for my love and president of the club, Miss Alysha.

15.  Living on Selima's couch for 4 nights in Laguna Beach. Iloveher.

16.  Celebrating my longest friendship.

Kelly Maureen Stovin Snyder :)

17.  Ballard Farmer's Market with my Sis.

18.  A month long stay in California!  For a job training.  Job didn't work out but living in the sunshine did!

19.  Eating at Cafe Gratitude 5 times this year.

Favorite restaurant in Cali.

Ya gotta check it out if you live in San Fransisco,

Hollywood/ Manhattan Beach.

20.  Hanging out with Belle n' Jack!

21.  Meeting the love of my life.

This kind of takes the cake.

22.  Institute for Integrative Nutrition

23.  28th birthday.

24.  Working for a weekend long promotion for Tough Mudder!

Crazy ass athletes!

25.  Fairy Dust

26.  Disney Land and Santa Maria!!!

27.  Apparently, Yahoo used a stock photo!

28.  Kelly's Wedding!!!!!!!

I loved putting these highlights together because at the end of it I felt really grateful!!!!

Great family, soul-enriching friends, a healthy romance and cooking more wholesome meals.

Still so many great things to come!!!!

BONUS LIST:

Teaching yoga at Hot Yoga Laurelhurst!

Mosaic promotion via Anthony Gomez!

Meeting Rachel Feldman. A woman who has left footprints on my heart.

Jo Jacobs. Saved my emotional well-being :)

A Mom who listens.

A Dad who encourages.

A Sister to laugh with.

A Brother who challenges.

Aunt Deb who inspires.

A boyfriend who builds me up.
Walks with Gingy.
Yoga @ HYQA.

All friends who follow their heart and stay out of the box.

The beginning of this year started a little rough but with girls who listened, a mother, father, aunt and sister who checked in constantly and a new love, this year became one of the most fulfilling.

Buh Bye Vegan Lifestyle!

Being a "fregan" (eats vegan diet + fish) as I like to call it, was a challenge for more than 4 years.  I brought my own food to parties, gobbled meals before work knowing there would be limited options and slowly stopped having enough energy to get out of bed.  In 2009, I became allergic to peanuts, but as time progressed the peanut allergy expanded to every type of nut, besides coconut.  Before 2009, I discovered I had a severe allergy to dairy and eggs.  I was growing tired of eating salmon salads for lunch and started reaching for crackers, bread and sweets.  I had this insane craving for sugar all the time and it would be one candy after the next, the craving wasn't satisfied.  Finally, I'd had it.

Sugar cravings are uncontrollable when you lack protein in your diet.  And since eggs, dairy and nuts were all cut out and meat wasn't an option, I existed on carbs and sweets.  After keeping a food journal, working with a digestive specialist and a team of doctor's, we all concluded that adding a little bit of meat in the diet was necessary.  For the first couple of weeks, I added some chicken.  I felt exhausted and constipated.  "Alright, let's take some steps back self."  Chicken broth it is.  Over 2 months of eating limited amounts of non-gmo, organic chicken, I can digest the protein a little quicker, but I'm still not a huge fan.

Eggs.  After almost 4 years of eliminating eggs, I slowly re-introduced these protein packers into my breakfast.  Insane.  2 eggs with some veggies and turkey bacon and I am happy and full for the next 4-5 hours!  This hasn't happened to me in ages!  On my "fregan" diet, I was hungry all the time and had sugar cravings non-stop!

If you find yourself craving sugar and bread, watch your diet and see if you are getting enough protein with every meal.  Protein portions should be the size of your palm with every meal.

Protein with every meal, water with lemon juice and tea throughout the day will curb your cravings and send your bloated belly into the flatlands!

Sugar Free PUMPKIN PIE!

Pumpkin Pie.

Sugar free. Gluten Free. Vegan. Low Fat & High Fiber.

The smell of cinnamon and holiday baking are wafting from the kitchen to my room.  I find myself staring at the oven as the time ticks away…

8 slices.

80 calories per slice.

Less than 1 g of natural sugar from pumpkin puree

Here’s the list:

o  1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

o  2 tsp cinnamon

o  ½ tsp salt

o  2 tsp baking powder

o  1/3 cup coconut flour

o  10 packets stevia

o  ¾ + 2 tbsp cup non-dairy milk

o  2 tbsp coconut oil (liquefied)

o  1 tbsp chia seeds

o  2 ½ tsp pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 400 F, and grease a 9-inch round pan. In a large mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients.  Then pour wet into dry, stir to combine, pour into the pan and bake 35 minutes. Have a warm slice/refrigerate for around 5 hours and slice.

Slice into heaven. Feel free to top with cinnamon/sugar free whipped cream/your choice.

Adapted from: http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2012/11/08/crustless-pumpkin-pie/

Simplicity!

Theme of the month:

Simplicity.

Smile at strangers.

Make simple, clean meals.

Drink coffee with no syrup.

Enjoy a warm/hot water with lemon and cinnamon.

Wear clothes that make you feel good.

Make plans with friends who build you up.

Love being single.

Love being in a relationship.

Love being engaged.

Love being married.

Love being divorced.

Love being you.

Love today.

& if there's something you don't love, change it so you can love that too.