Love and Loss

Today is a somber day. I have cried until my heart hurt. I was prepared to do a long post all about TONS of stuff, but I have to go now and make donuts for Kennedy's class Valentine's day party.

A friend of my family--- a friend of mine-- died at age 32. Diabetes. She was so funny, so beautiful and a mother of 2 very young girls. She had an amazing husband and was an all aroubd awesone human being.

I am sodeeply saddened by this and promise to be back tomorrow with the love post that I intended for today.

Just know thi: LOVE yourself. Be so grateful that you have the CHOICE to be healthy.

Here are sone recent random food pix. I am going to post the cooked/ raw post TOMORROW promise. I certainly hope that it helps some people ...

Cold tea nites



Patty the Pressure cooker.



Huge green smoothies



In Winter citrus is my best friend



Look how gorgeous



Kay outside "meeting squirrels"


Look at this snow.


My neighborhood



A driving snowy pic. Soup tonite!


Soup and salad= classic


Fruity lunch= 4 bananas 4 oranges


Moreeeeee


Kay this morning with some of her gifts!


I love you...Please love yourself

Black History Month- Black Fitness

Alright... every month is Black History month over here, but I thought I'd throw some things out in honor of the American celebration of Black History.

Look at this adorable Disney video that is airing on the Disney Channel everyday this month. Kennedy LOVES this and so do I. Really watch it. It's short.

 Anything is Possible


Okay onto fitness!! This post is to shine light on African Americans in the raw movement and African Americans in fitness. Obviously my focus is on women (duh), and this isn't meant to be an exhaustive list by any stretch of the imagination, but it is set to shine light on the amazing things being done by a few! Feel free to google and email me with anyone else that you find. I'd love to check em out!

Be inspired....I certainly am....

Black Fitness Blog- Okay. I have a new fav destination. This blog is crazy awesome. When I get emails from people who ask me how they can get a "black girl's butt" (I am directly quoting), I give tons of advice and suggestions, but this blog has a great focus on the Black female body. I LOVE this blog. :) Read this article on how junk is in the trunk isn't a bad thing. I certainly like my junk in the trunk lol

Black Girls Run- This site is so cool! As much as I fucking despise running, I know the benefits of it. This site makes me want to run again. Or at least have a brief affair with running. They even talk about juicing and have some vegan recipes!

Beautiful Athlete- A cute blog about a girl's journey from fat to fit. I love her honesty and her realistic look on things. And her hair rocks!

Black Girl's Guide to Weight Loss- Wow...is all I can say. This girl's transformation is outstanding. Such a healthy, REALISTIC vision for her body and life. And of course I have to mention that she rocks because she has a vegan recipe section-I scout out the low fat recipes or look for ways to lower the fat on others.

Determined to Be Fit- Her blog is about running...her life as a mother, wife, and running athlete. I am seeing a theme in fit Black women...hmmm running, shall we date again? :)

Madame: The Journey- This is one of the cutest sites ever! She keeps you up to date on all the celebrity weight loss stuff too. And if you are like me and willing to admit you are interested in it you will love her scoops on celebs and weight loss plans. Also, she chronicles her story. A super inspiring one here!

Run Wifey Run- Love how her kids are runners too. Crazy cool mom who is a running fanatic. Geez with the running already people. lol

The Life Lessons of Rachel Wilkerson- Without a doubt, this blog is JAM PACKED with information and inspiration. From playlist to links to her fav recipes. I loved visiting this site and poking around. Lots to get back to. I love her post on being biracial. While I am not half White and half Black, I do have American Indian heritage and have had people tell me that I am not "all the way Black"...oh my

Thin Thighs and Sweet Potato Fries- Blog by and about a flexitarian diet. Some readers may vibe with her. So I wanted to share!

It is easy to get wrapped in this raw world and forget that BALANCE is the name of the game. You can be 100% raw or 10% raw, be 100% balanced and in alignment. Trust me...that will serve you far better than stressing over every morsel of food you ever eat (so long as it's vegan and cruelty free of course :)

So, over this month, I'll add more blogs I like or have found, but you have enough to get your started and keep you inspired. Now go GET FIT!

This thing Called Life- Healthfood Junkies Series

Kennedy has been sick :( And as you know,...when she is ill, my world HALTS to care for her. Show her love and affection and heal her little body. So, I missed 3 days of my workout. Gag...But Tuesday I got back on it and have been blazing through ever since.


Actually, I'll note that on Monday I was so overwhelmed and stressed that I stress ate for the first time in live ever. Of course it wasn't junk food or anything crazy, but I had 3 servings of dinner. I wasn't hungry either. I had to go and grab my journal, get Kay settled and take a "time out" to see what emotions were coming up for me that I was trying to stuff down. What I figured out was that this lingering, "Kay gets sick and you must STOP EVERYTHING in order to care for her, so what's the real point" idea was at the root of it. Lightbulb!! Hello...OMG... So the very next day (full belly and all), I got my ass up and in gear and grabbed my My Soulmate Workout TurboFire and did it low impact. My stomach was a mess. UGH... I had eaten too late as well. All of that is a can of spilled beans.


Today for example, I rocked it out at the gym. They may be sick of seeing me. I am NOT fan of going in there, but if they won't let me cancel the membership, I am going at least twice a week. I do my at home workout in there and then hit the sauna and I'm out! I'll make the best of it until my contract expires. I can see the benefits of a membership, I truly can...and I do love the gym, but I'm a single mom and I hate taking time away from Kennedy. UGH..hate it. Sometimes she asks to go...lol.


Okay, here are just some random pics of food I've been eating and below is a fun video series called Healthfood Junkies. Be sure to watch Parts 1, 2 AND 3. I actually really liked it. People say that "these people" give the raw movement a bad name...but whatever. People will take bad away from anything these days. I say be true to whatever philosophy YOU believe and don't worry about what someone else thinks is right. Oh yea, I haven't forgotten the cooked/raw post. I'll get to it promise. I have TONS to say about it. :)

Healthfood Junkies Series

Healthfood Junkies Series Part 1

Healthfood Junkies Series Part 2



Healthfood Junkies Series Part 3

Pix of Eats and Sunday Cooking

Heyyy Pineapple Poptarts!

I have had a long weekend. Kennedy was off school on Friday and began getting sick. I have opted out of workouts this weekend as I am feeling the beginning of an "itch" in my throat. Ugh. A good nite of sleep
and I will be ready to go.

I have gotten so many emails about eating fruit and eating cooked food. So much so that I will be writing an entire post on it tomorrow. I am sorry if some will find it redundant, but others are struggling. I do not pretend to be an expert on anything, but I have been successfully vegan and into raw for what feels like ever.


Crazy big green ice cream smoothies- using frozen bananas


Big fruit lunches (4 oranges kiwi strawberries blueberries)


Lonely green smoothie in my locker at the boring gym


Ready to go out on the floor!


Soaking strawberries


Soaking blueberries


Omgoddess


And this is ALL the trash it created!


Creamy green smoothie (spinach, blueberries, pineapples)


Fresh pineapple. Only $2.99 rite now! Way more than buying frozen


Juiced all these bad boys today. I have been drinking grapefruit juice every morning with tangerine or orange juice


Marinating mushrooms in hickory smoke and tamari


Fry in marinade


Other mushrooms soaking for marinara


Made lasanga burgers for the week. One day I need to do proper recipes but this is:
-1 c GF oats
-1.5 c black beans
-1.25 c daiya cheese
-oregano, basil, garlic powder
-3/4 c marinara sauce
-mix, shape, bake 375 for 35 minutes


Yummy


So delicious


Chopped pressure cooked apples


In processor...


Applesauce dessert add cinnamon


Meatballs sans meat (brown rice, black beans, garbanzo bean bean flour, all kinds of seasoning)


Add to fire roasted marinara


Take other soaked mushrooms


And minced garlic


Sautee'


Satee' covered


Add marinara


Then add brocolli


Added defrosted frozen spinach ---always add extra veggies to dishes.


Put ot over quinoa and it was so goodddddd


While cooking I grew hungry


Enter : ice banana strawberry- classic


Now I am off to hang with Kennedy and will be getting in bed eay with a book or a movie. Relax time before this big week ahead.

I hope that you are using some of your free time- whether weekend or otherwise- to do things that help your days run more smoothly so that you can focus on what matters: EATING PLANTS!!!!

I love you...