Happy New Years!

It's finally 2012! Happy New Years everybody!

The night before and ON New Years I spent time with family friends BBQ-ing and chatting and well, just having a great time. We talked and laughed. As night came we set up the BBQ and the bonfire, blaring some background music and going crazy (in a clean, non-booze way; which is kind of upsetting, because I love me a glass or two of wine at New Years--but this was my father's side of the family and they are very religious, Christians, which I am not and there was no alcohol or rock-music in sight).

We all set up camping chairs around the bonfire and began chatting. My brother and I actually TALKED, without getting into a single argument! It was fun and nice. It got rather chilly and being kind of ditzy earlier in the day I forgot my jacket, so my father lend me his when I got chilly (don't you just love men's huge clothes that always hangs from your body? It's comforting and much warmer). After eating a rather unhealthy but oh-so-freaking-delicious meal smothered in cheese (uh, YUM!) I fell asleep on my camping chair.

I slept for about an hour and a half when my father woke me up at 12:27 AM, telling me the party was at a close and everyone was going home. I said my goodbyes and went home where I quickly brushed my teeth and made myself a Herbal Infusions Honey Tea with a stick of sugar before bed.

And I swear when my head hit the pillow, I was gone.

Not the most interesting New Years I've ever had, but nice and comforting and I have to admit: damn exhausting.

So what did you do New Years? Did you do something crazy or something mellow and nice (like me)?

Hope you all had fun though!

Happy New Years babes!

Smoothie Semi-Detox Fast!

I'm doing a Semi-Detox Smoothie Fast for about three days. The smoothies consist of fruits and vegetables blended. This morning I had a rather not-so-healthy milkshake consisting of Chocolate Ice Cream, peach slices, a scoop of vanilla yogurt and milk.

I usually start a detox or fast with a milk-based product that's sweet because it enables me to go through the whole detox more smoothly without many slip-ups. Now this milkshake is ONLY taken as a breakfast for THE FIRST day, the rest of the days I will drink a complete health smoothie instead.

Now this is only a SEMI-DETOX meaning that in cases such as my family coming over (which they regularly do) and they bring dishes to eat, I might have a BITE of something to please them. When I tell them I'm on a detox or fasting they think I have an eating disorder and they will stay with me, continuously forcing me to eat. So, it's really complicated and quite frankly stupid, because I can really make my own decisions. Not that they think so...

Also, I'm not going to give up my coffee and tea (with milk). I just refuse. So basically it is just obtaining from solid food and unhealthy drinks (except for the coffee, of which I don't drink too much and milk, which I should really cut back on and will).

So far for the day I had the milkshake and a huge glass of a fruit smoothie. I also had a cappuccino coffee. But that's about it so far and it's now 2:11 PM.

I'll try updating regularly though, throughout the day and everyday if I find the time.

Be healthy, Live long!

Peace babes!

Cookie Dough and Cake Batter! Random, Pointless Post!

 Suddenly as I browsed the web today, searching for new and innovating recipe ideas to cook tonight, I stumbled upon a cookie recipe. Suddenly I had the craving for cookie dough. 


For me cookie dough is my favorite snack, my favorite sweet.


You know when some women curl up on the couch watching a chic flick with a tub of ice cream? I make myself a bowl of cookie dough. Cake batter is just as good, as long as it's sweet and sticky it's like heaven.


BUT, I usually make my batter without butter and milk (you know, to cut down on fat) and i use minimum flour. It's amazing that even without the eggs, milk and butter, it still tastes exactly the same (with the right recipe that is)


Here is a yummy recipe (totally vegan, meaning no dairy or eggs). Guilt free, fun and satisfying!

Vegan Oatmeal Cookies

 Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 mashed bananas (which is really yummy, but you can use any kind of fruit or just skip it all together, it will still taste perfect) 
• 2 Tbsp. Honey
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 dash salt (Though I never put salt in mine, I hate it, I always taste salt in every kind of food and it ruins the original taste for me)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup raisins or 1 cup dried cranberries  (I only use it if I have it in the house, any other fruit is just as delicious really)
• 3/4 cup oatmeal 

  Directions:

1. Blend first 4 ingredients.
2. Add dry ingredients.
3. Drop onto greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes.

Now all I do is skip step number 3.

Yummy! Enjoy!

 

 

Merry Christmas!

To all of you!


For me on the other hand, it's not so bad, but definitely not so great.

I woke up, having to clean my house before joining my family for Christmas. Then my father called saying I should come a bit later because blah! blah! blah! (they were fighting and he was ranting about my mom this and my brother--who was there early--that)


Anyway, after hanging up, I felt so sad that I ate Vegan Banana Muffins (1 and a half). So, having some more time before having to go I had nothing to do but sit around. It was too early to begin getting ready, so I did some aerobics for 38 minutes and then went on a run for another 10. 


I came back home and showered (which was like heaven on earth after all that exercise). As soon as I was out of the waterfall that is the modern shower, feeling clean and refreshed (and hell of a lot happier). I got ready to go to my parents.


Arriving there I greeted my brother who proceeded by rolling his eyes, looking very unhappy, nudging his head to my parents who were silently glaring at each other standing at the kitchen door. I took a deep breath, braced myself, trying to ignore that they were fighting on this rather nice day and went to greet them. 


It went a little something like this:


"Mom! Dad! Merry Christmas!" 

Mom grinned, gave me a hug and as she was pulling away she just had to say it. "Merry Christmas, darling. You're father is an asshole."


Okay....


I turn to give my dad a hug. He smiles, gives me hug back (the usual, me and my dad weren't chatty with each other). He turns around and walks. "I'm going out for some fresh air."


Alright then...cue the knife-cutting tension...




That's basically how it went. Then a some of their friends and some of the family came (not everyone since I had a Night Before Christmas with those in my family who had plans on Christmas. Snacks were put out, Christmas music blaring and the barbeque was firing up. Great, the party made me feel a bit better.


As I mingled I mindlessly began snacking on chips, marshmallows, cookies, etc. Then came the dinner, but I only ate a bit of it, feeling kind of stuffed from the snacks (and quietly thanking my early-morning boredom for making me exercise), so I only ate a few tiny bites of white bread (so greasy) and a few (big) bites of melted cheese.


After relaxing a few minutes out came the dessert of which I only ate a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream and about 2 tablespoons of chocolate sauce. There was a choice of some cinnamon swirl cake, but I hate actual cake (for some unknown reason), so I skipped it.


My mother has a planned a Good Night Tea Thing (whatever it's called) with some Chocolate Whipped Cream cake (of which I'll probably just eat the icing on top) and tea (Uh, yum!).


So, so far, I'm keeping my calories in check--which is awesome since I'm prone to go nuts over food on Christmas (and New Years, yikes, I have to prepare for that one soon). But I'm proud of myself for not going over board.


I think I need a standing ovation, haha:D


Okay...so today is actually a Merry Christmas...


How about you guys? How are you handling the pressure and the utter joy of family and this holiday?


Merry Christmas!




(P.S. I'm actually stealing some time away from the crowd to write this before I'm too tired to actually write it tonight:)