A little love this season

Hey out there world! I've taken a leave of absence while my man in uniform was back in town for a brief period- but I'm back! I hope you are all getting ready to have a fun, fattening, and cheer filled holiday season. :) I've been thinking a lot about forgiveness these days and of course had to share my thoughts. As we come into the holidays we are sure to encounter reunions with family and friends. Of course we all want the holidays to be smooth sailing events, but how can we ensure that this is the case? There are no guarantees in life of course, but what can we all do each day in our daily lives to contribute to this "smooth sailing," especially during the holiday season? When it comes to forgiveness- I am the first to raise my hand in saying that it is no easy task. When you really think about the root of forgiveness- why it is so hard to give and receive it- I think it all a comes down to control. When we have such strong opinions about a situation- we hold them tight, sometimes too tight- like Elmira holds her pets in the Looney  Toons- and don't want to give up that control. Sometimes because we've been holding on so tight for so long, we can suffocate the situation or feeling. Releasing the iron grip and finally letting go can lead to all things relieving and great. And releasing the grip allows us to forgive others and ourselves. When we are held up with resentment, anger, and begrudged inside, it certainly doesn't make for a pleasant holiday season, or help with those wrinkle lines coming in around the eyes. :) Releasing someone from your clutches after a disagreement or a hurt feeling will not only make them feel better- but you too! Forgiveness all around for everyone this year- that's what Santa's putting under your tree!! But seriously people- when we let go of the bad feelings- we allow all of the good feelings back in. The key here too is not only to forgive others- but also yourself. Don't get hung up on the grudge you've held or how you "could have handled the situation better." Instead, take a deep breath, move on, be real and just spread the love. I am sure that your grandmother will be overjoyed to see that shiny smile on your face from across the dinner table- and what better way to begin the new year with a fresh start. :) So my message in all of this to you today? Let go- forgive- and love. Sometimes we get so hung up on the details we forget how good it feels to just love- especially this season. :)
xoxo AA

Day 3: That's Juice Wrap!

Day 3: I finally made it! This was definitely not a bad day in the cleanse because the end was in sight and I knew it was fast approaching. I juiced very similar to the way I did on Day 2, and had veggies at night. By this point,  I was pretty damn hungry and agitated from not eating for days- so I called it another early night in preparation to consume WHOLE foods the next day- wahoo! Word to the wise- take it SLOW the day after your done cleansing. When I say slow, I also mean simple. You have to understand that your body is not used to eating complex foods (i.e. foods with more than a few fresh ingredients) or rich foods (such as those containing spices, heavy fats, etc.) so be careful and be kind to your body- it has been a through a lot in these past few days! My final thoughts on the cleanse? If you are looking for a way to clear out your system because you feel like you have years of, well...crap in there- then I think this is a great solution! Sticking to my version of the cleanse below helped me to make it through 3 full days of work, and even half of a yoga class. I know that most cleansers will tell you to stick with it- but my belief is to always listen up. If you feel light headed, dizzy, or nauseous, I would eat something. This of course is a personal choice and I highly recommend that you consult with your physician to make sure that your body is healthy enough to endure a cleanse. Also please note that all opinions found on my blog are merely that- my goal is to share my experiences with you in hopes that they assist you in making the best health and wellness decisions for your life. There is NO ONE diet for everyone- please remember that.

If you're looking to take a deeper dive into transforming your everyday life to one of happiness, health, and wellness- this is your time to work with a heath coach...ME! Email me at: amandaalimo@gmail.com to schedule your 1st free health consultation and get those buns in motion to your best life.

GirlInTheHealthyCity Juice Cleanse recipes- inspired by the Blueprint Cleanse. Happy Juicing! :)

1. Green juice:

• ·      5 Ribs of Celery
• ·      1/2 Cucumber
• ·      2 Large Gala Apples or Peaches
• ·      3 large Kale leafs
• ·      1 Ounce of Lemon juice
• ·      1 Handful of Parsley
• ·      3 Romaine leafs
• ·      1 (BIG) Handful of Spinach

2. P.B.M:

• ·      1/2 Pineapple
• ·      1 Large Beet (golden or red!)
• ·      1 Large Gala Apple or Peach
• ·      2 Large Carrots
• ·      1 and 1/2 Tablespoons of Ginger
• ·      A few pinches of Mint, to taste

3. Green juice

4. Spicy lemonade:

• ·      16 ounces of Filtered Water
• ·      3-4 juiced medium Lemons
• ·      A few Dashes of Cayenne Pepper (only if you are feeling daring!)
• ·      2 Tablespoons of Agave Nectar

5. Dinner:

• ·      1 serving of lean protein the size of your closed fist
• ·      OR 1 serving of mixed uncooked veggies, the size of your closed fist

6. Cashew Milk:

• ·      64 ounces of cashew milk
• ·      1 Tablespoon of Agave Nectar
• ·      1 teaspoon of ground Cinnamon
• ·      1 teaspoon of vanilla extract 

xoxo AA

Day 2: The Yogi and the Juicer

Day 2 was yesterday- the midway point, the day in the cleanse when you wake up thinking, "Oh I've totally got this." Confidence, though great, sometimes gets me in a ton trouble- this instance being a great example. I woke up without an alarm on juice cleanse day #2 at 5:57AM....frankly because I had gone to bed at 9:30PM the night before from being so exhausted from not eating my normal diet. As I lay awake in my bed I figured, I could either stay laying here or, on my mat at 6:30AM yoga. Feeling confident as ever, I had a few sips of my morning green drink (which was by the way much improved on day 2 thanks to a splash of cashew milk and some ice cubes all blended together) and headed out the door. Again, I got myself caught in thinking I was a total Californian, feeling super earthy as I sat on my mat in the heated room. Little did I know I'd spend most of the class there. About 30 minutes in I realized why the class seemed so hard- my body did not have the energy it normally would to commit to the movements and postures. I thought because it was yoga it would be less intense and therefore an acceptable workout on a cleanse! Needless to say while everyone was doing dancer and tree pose- I was basically sleeping in child's pose. Word to the wise, take a few days off from exercising while on a cleanse. Lesson learned. There were of course residuals effects to my morning yoga over confidence that stuck with me throughout the day. Because I had started my day earlier than normal, I was hungry earlier than normal. I started the juices about 3 hours earlier on day 2 than I did on day 1. And because I worked out, I was twice as hungry after. By 3:30PM I had made it through 4 juices and was feeling hungry but not sure where to turn. I cracked and had carrots and hummus- and don't feel an ounce of guilt about it. I needed those crunchy snacks- and damn they were good! I skipped the dinner smoothie and had a plate of veggies instead and finished the night off again with the delicious cashew milk "juice"- which by the way tastes delicious warmed up. I also made another modification to the juices- because I was skipping the dinner beet juice and replacing it with either a piece of protein or plate of uncooked veggies for dinner, I didn't want to miss out on the nutrients of these beautiful beets. So I modified the pineapple juice (#2) to be half pineapple, half beet. The citrus pineapple taste almost completely overpowered the gardeny beet taste. Also, as you know from my adventures with the beets, I could not let a vegetable that decided to spray itself all of my walls, go to complete waste. And again, recipes to follow tomorrow, I promise. So lessons learned from day 2? Don't try to be superman or superwoman on a juice cleanse. I recommend treating yourself to a few "rest" days from your typical workout routine- or just go take a walk if you really need to circulate the old legs. Another lesson- modification is ok! If you are on a cleanse and cannot get the juices down because your palette so highly disagrees with them, try modifying by mix and matching! At the end of the day, all of those juices are going to the same place anyway. And if your body is screaming at you to eat- I am of the opinion that you need to listen to it. Rules and goals aside, our bodies are very smart and will always find a way to tell us what they need. So if that's protein or veggies- please hear your body out, it is speaking up for a reason. That's all for now- early bed time for this juice queen. Be sure to come back here tomorrow for my final thoughts on the cleanse, how day 3 went, and the recipes you've been waiting to get your grubby little paws on. :)
xoxo AA

Day 1: juice and the EGGS

I have made it through an entire day of juicing! And of course have so many thoughts to share. I will be sure to share the recipes I found online with all of you when this is over so you can juice for yourself if you are interested! I started the day yesterday with juice #1- what I'd like to now call the green monster. I am sure this is an acquired taste (that I may never obtain) but the taste was nothing short of potent and no where near pleasant. The overwhelming taste of parsley and celery (which I do not even enjoy in their whole forms) made me wonder how I was going to get through green juice #2 at lunch! When you're hungry, you'll eat anything (I've now learned) so I got that puppy down and made plans to add almond milk and agave to tomorrow's batch. Juice #2- pineapple and apple, was amazing. I have never been so grateful for the sweet taste of citrus fruit after debacle juice #1. Quickly gulped through green juice #2 shortly thereafter and finished off the afternoon with a nice fresh lemonade "juice." I will say that is 1 thing a juicer is good for- fresh lemonade! You may just need 20 lemons to make 1 whole batch... Anyways, by the time I made it home for dinner, the thought of sitting on my couch with a cup of beet juice seemed less than inspiring, and less than tasty. So I made myself 3 fresh farm eggs...and they were...the best...damn eggs...I've ever had!! I will never again take for granted these little protein packed buddies. Saying no thanks to eggs in the future? NEVER AGAIN! I toasted the night off with a cashew milk "juice" which was like heaven in a glass. My final thoughts on day 1? Not too too hard. I wasn't that hungry most of the day, I was actually pretty full of liquid. The taste was probably the toughest part for me. And something I learned- eating and enjoying meals is such a wonderful life experience for me. Times when I would normally eat, I felt confused, as though I was missing out on a pivotal part of my day. And for me, to come home after a long day at work, the idea of being able to exert my creative energy and love into creating a delicious meal, is something that I truly cherish. Certainly some food for thought. :)
xoxo AA

Shoppin and Choppin- Day 0.5

Day 0.5- the night before the cleanse. I am going to be completely honest with you, at the expense of sounding like the genius author of the recent popular Huffington Post article about her adventures in Whole Foods...I must have been nuts for getting myself into this one. The supermarket shopping wasn't all that bad- I mean I did essentially buy out the entire organic produce section in my local supermarket, which was awesome. And I did learn a lot about different types of produce (for example, I bought a mint plant because the market was out of fresh cut mint!) and how inexpensive it is to do your own cleanse. I left the store with 5 bags of fresh produce and $63 less in my pocket- most 3 days cleanses I have seen are about $199 total. I do however own a juicer which was also an investment. And when I say investment, I mean TOTAL mess producer. Sometimes I really think I have assimilated into the Cali lifestyle, going to yoga and telling myself I am "just going to juice" after. Who the hell was I kidding? Yoga kicked my buns (but was great) and juicing turned into some serious personal time between me and the juicer for almost 2 hours. By about 1130PM when I found myself cleaning beet juice off of the walls (yes, walls) I thought to myself, "this better be freaking worth it." I will say I also did learn a lot about how certain veggies and fruits juice! For example celery and cucumbers yield a ton of liquid whereas ruffage (kale, spinach, mint) doesn't produce much liquid. Another thing I learned, the more time you spend prepping and cutting, the easier your juicing is going to be. I found myself in a real life fruit ninja situation (now is not the time to be jealous) when my knife was not sharp enough to cut through a whole beet. Why not yank the knife out of the beet in mid air? Scored 2 points chopping that beet- and I am now realizing this is likely why I had beet juice on the walls....Anyways- my final thoughts on Day 0.5- have fun with it! I definitely learned a lot and was committed to my cause so I couldn't help but laugh. How will Day 1 go? Stay tuned! The goal of my documentation is that this will help you better decide if a juice cleanse is right for you- yes that's right, I am doing this for all of you! What kind of heath coach has never done a juice cleanse? :)
xoxo AA

Homeward Bound

Hello out there world! I wrote this post sitting in Newark airport at the tail end of my trip and am just getting around to posting it now. I am so grateful for the amount of time I was able to spend with friends and family on the east coast. As my 10 day trip came to a close, and a left the land of fat bagels, salty pizza, and loud streets behind- I oddly enough felt refreshed and rejuvenated. I discovered a very odd concept on the trip that I felt the need to share with all of you. I moved to the west coast to have a life with my man by the beach, and to transform my life into a more relaxed, slower paced, paradise-like, daily oasis. Sometimes when we move to new places, we don’t realize the affects it may have on us. When I moved, and came back home- I started to realize how unsure of myself I actually felt in my new home out west. Having taken the past 9 months to find a new apartment, a new job, new friends, a new means of transportation to work, and even a new wardrobe, I realized that the part of me that I knew was confused. When everything is new, nothing seems to be familiar or feel the same. This was a great way to venture outside of your comfort zone, but sometimes you just need to, well…go home. This trip home not only gave me back the sense of confidence of who I really am and want to be (regardless of whether or not that is the norm on the east or west coast) and feel re-energized in my mission in life: which ultimately, is to serve others. This big city visit also re-ignited the fire inside of me to bust my butt for what I am truly passionate about. And this trip reminded me of my top priority: spending time with friends and family that I love. I know in my last post when I had first arrived to NYC, I mentioned my curiosity for whether or not I would be perceived as different and if I would feel like I had changed. Oddly enough, I realized that   I am more flexible, I go with the flow more often,   am way more health conscious then over before, am more calm, and no matter what...  I still love NYC bagels…and that will never, ever change :)

I want to thank all of my friends and family for making this trip so special, for allowing me to have almost no schedule, and for experiencing all of the beauty and joy that NYC and New England have to offer with me. I miss you dearly and am signing up for my Jet Blue frequent flyer card now :)

xoxo AA

Oh how sweet it is

Hey out there world! I am SO SUPER excited to let you know that I am blogging live...from NYC! Good old Girl in the Big City is back....for 10 days. :) I am here on vacation with my man in uniform to visit family and friends in one of the most vibrant places on the planet. It has been 9 whole months since I last experienced the bright nights and long nights...I for sure left my beach shrug behind in preparation to enjoy every moment of this trip. Though I do love my man, he is fully aware of the fact that NYC and myself have been in a very serious relationship, for a very long time. So when I arrived in lovely Newark this morning at 5AM, freezing my buns off and groggy from the red eye flight, I was unsure of how my reunion with the Big Apple would feel. As soon as we drove over the bridge and I could see the lights and scrapers reaching for the skies, I found that I was almost brought to tears. I love this place so much and was reminded of all of the things I learned here in my early twenties, all of the amazing memories I had, and all of the truly real life experiences I was able to encounter. I found myself wondering, 9 months later, since I had left- had I changed? What had I learned in my 9 months away that was different from my experiences in this big city? What had I tried to make as my contribution to this huge world when I was so far from what I believe to be its epicenter? Though inspiration came rushing back into my veins (which is most likely why I am writing day 1 into my vacation)- I realized how how happy I was to be in the place that I am in. I realized I was glad to be a visitor and not a resident this time around. I was relieved to know that I could in fact enjoy the city and not let its sometimes ever present grind fall upon me. I could take the calm, yoga, and meditation practices I learned on the west coast and apply them here. To make my experience more enjoyable. I realized another thing- which may have nothing to do with my move but rather my own transition. I am finally finding myself at a place in life where I am truly dedicated to living out my life's passions- whether or not that fits into a size 0 Nicole Miller dress. I realized, I had learned so much about what it was to be a passionate person during my time living in NYC, that I was now capable to go out into the the big world and apply it to what I believe in my heart, I was put on this earth to do. So my message through all of this? Leave, live, learn, and come back. To see the city and people that raised you allows you to have a better appreciation of your upbringing as a 20 something, and a better understanding of who you are becoming. :)
xoxo AA

Stay Committed

Hey there world! I told you that you would hear from me again soon- I guess the iPhone calendar reminders definitely help to get my tush in gear- but hey, it's happening :)
Anyways, this week- the idea of commitment has been heavy on the mind and is also in part what inspired this post. Have you ever felt like you wanted something so badly that you were terrified to just do it? The past 9 months have certainly been a time of awesome change for me- change of jobs, changes of coasts, change of lifestyle. So I allowed myself to abide by the excuse of, "well, I've changed a lot this year, maybe there will be room for some more next year" and remain comfortable in my small bubble. I knew there was something tugging at my heart but I just kept trying to quiet the feeling. Until recently I realized how badly I wanted it. How badly I wanted to spread my love of food, health, nutrition, and life with the world. I realized doing this didn't have to feel like work and that it didn't have to be scary- hell I didn't know what it needed to be...but I do knew that I just had to freaking do it! And I'm not talking about building a gluten free bakery over night (though that would be utterly fantastic). I am talking about taking the small steps to create the vision you have for your life. Once you remain committed to yourself, you finally become committed to your dreams. This week I launched my 1st ever Girl in the Healthy City newsletter and video! Big deal the outside world? Not really. Big deal to me? Heck yes! The thought of even compiling the emails for my newsletter was crippling for months until I finally asked for 1...and 56 email addresses later, my newsletter was dropped! Did I seem carefree and completely scripted in my 1st video? Awesome- I had you completely fooled! I literally had to give myself a 2 minute pep talk to just hit the record button and had nothing written down prior. And holy crap I did it- small steps for man, HUGE steps for Girl in the Healthy City. Now that I've taken these steps, I'm out there...I am committed to them, and to feel committed to something you are so deeply passionate about (besides of course a wonderful romantic relationship- which I am so blessed to have) is one of the best feelings in the world. To wake up before your alarm with eyes popped open to see how many hits your video has gotten overnight- is unlike anything I've ever experienced. During the past month, I have chosen to abide by a motto that I will now forever hold close to my heart. This motto not only continues to carry me closer to my dreams, but got my 1st newsletter out and my 1st video up.



So my message to you? If you have a passion TUGGING away at you- stop ignoring it, and start giving it some attention. Instead of being intimidated by building your passion into a mountain over night, consciously and continually be COMMITTED to it- once you take that first step, you'll have no choice. Your heart, like in love, will be whisked away and taken forever :)
xoxo AA

The Big, Fat...Picture

Hello world! Putting myself on a newly instated blogging schedule so I hope that you will be hearing from me more often these days :) I wanted to share a little experience that I had this morning that really helped me get the kick in the pants that I needed to move on with my day. Sometimes it is so easy for use to completely zone in and focus on the 1, 2, or 256 things we want that we lose sight of where these things that we truly want will ultimately take us in the end. Especially when we feel as though someone is threatening to take this oh so precious thing we want so badly from us- we want to hold it even tighter and never let go in hopes that this will actually help us to secure it. What I am talking about here is not a new pair of Prada shoes (though these days with life on the West Coast, I'd be more apt to hold on tight to my surfboard)- but rather experiences, big life changes, moves, etc. When we take a moment to look up and realize the minute influence that 1 small thing we so hoped for might have on the grand scheme of things (or even just the next 3 years down the road), we are truly able to grasp the concept of its influence. And in the grand scheme of things...that influence of the little things is next to nothing. After getting some good news that my baby brother will remained stationed in our new home here on the best coast, I came to the realization that holy crap- it worked out. I didn't mule over it, freak out about, or try to control the situation. Luck and grace? Yes I am most likely certain that these 2 contenders had something to do with it. But really taking a step back and thinking about the small minute details that can happen each day within those next 3 years that my brother will be here (and completely unrelated to him) make all of the little details in life seem well, that much more insignificant. In due time I truly believe that all things that are meant to be can and will happen :)
GOSH it feels OH SO good to be back :) I hope you all have a wonderful day!
xoxo AA

Mr Langley

A few Saturdays ago I was lucky enough to spend a little time with Mr Langley in his home. I was able to meet this inspiring man through 'Repair Core.' A special group formed through the San Diego Habitat for Humanity that goes into Vets homes and does necessary home repair work that they are physically and monetarily unable to do. The repair I was tasked to for the day was dry-walling the walls of the home's recently gutted bathroom. This may sound crazy, but there is something about the constant flow of spreading and removing the creamy drywall mud from the barren wall as it begins to cover and harden the once tainted area...that is truly therapeutic. As much of a peaceful environment as I am describing this to be- there was our project leader- a little (excuse my french) ball buster who was constantly ragging on me and the other 3 female volunteers for having zero skills on the craftsmanship level. With each tile that my female companions laid in the newly gutted shower in the same bathroom as I, Dale, our project manage (check out his pic below), secretly became more and more proud of us.



Mainly that's because he realized the girls were going to start ganging up on him and his sarcasm. Oddly enough, after spending 6 hours together in the bare, windowless, tiny bathroom- we all somehow bonded. Sharing unique personal stories about one another's lives, we began to have a better understanding of each other, and for me, a better understanding of how humans work. Why they do what they do- the common trend with this group was doing things out of love. Which brings me to Mr Langly- the homeowner.  A Navy Vet, he was a Seabee on the 1st ship to make it down one of Australia's largest canals. The Seabees are the US Navy construction forces who open and maintain bases that allow combat soldiers to be successfully housed and fed during wars. Mr Langley was active duty for a few years and then in the reserves for the remainder of his 30 years in the Navy. He spent most of his adult career working for the San Diego electric company, and even spent a brief stint of his career in highway patrol. Married once, then divorced, he found himself living along in a home that need a lot of garden/lawn maintenance but little money or time to do it. His new neighbors, who had just moved to San Diego, were looking for work and luckily hooked up with Mr Langley. 1 day, the neighbor's daughter came over, asking if she could work on Mr Langley's garden in the front yard. He explained to the woman that he had no more money to pay for the maintenance, and she offered to do it for free. Days later, the woman came back, with her cousin, asking if she could work for free on Mr Langley's rose in the front yard. He of course obliged and the roses began looking beautiful in his front yard. Curious, Mr Langley went out front one day to meet this mysterious woman that had so tenderly cared for his beautiful roses...and that was it. The 2 started dating and were married shortly thereafter. Now, with children (3 of which still in live in their home with them) they were a big happy family. Or so it appeared. Mr Langley shared the many struggles he and his family had faced- from serious health issues to finance and housing for their children, now grandchildren, and mother from Mexico (who was at least 95 and spoke very little English)- they had been through it all. But somehow, seemed to have it all. Mr Langley continued to explain how grateful he was for everything he had in his life. To an outsider, it might seem like he had very little, or just a ton of strife. But in fact, this man had everything- because he was grateful for the one thing he believed God had given him. And that was just the life he had with his beautiful life. To see an elderly man portray such an attitude of grace and presence was truly inspiring to me. As I slipped away from our conversation to finish my wall in the bathroom, I continued to place each stroke of drywall with love and sincere appreciation. I knew that even this small task could effect the strength and hold of the bathroom walls. Those walls, were in Mr Langley's home- something he was so grateful for. And I didn't want to let him down. I knew this bathroom would serve his family in some context for years to come- and even this small thing, was something that he was so grateful for- so I had to make sure they were perfect :) With all of this said, drywalling (though an extremely useful skill) was not the greatest thing I learned stepping away from the day. It was a lesson in gratitude. It was how someone who on the surface seems to have nothing, had it all. Because of his attitude of grace, Mr Langley was able to share his life in such a compassionate way with me that I was truly moved. I am so blessed to have had this experience and plan to stay in contact with this amazing man :)
xoxo AA

Spreading the Love

Excellence

Hey there world- it has been a while and I hope you've been well. In the past few weeks I have been exposed to and gone through what I consider to be some pretty awesome life challenges both with others and on my own. Since that time, I have let all of my thoughts boil and of course wanted to share.



Through each challenge I have seen some very similar main themes. Firstly, when presented with a challenge, we are most likely going to have to push ourselves into a zone where we feel least comfortable. For some reason, in our culture, giving up our comfort seems to be one of the least desirable things of all. Oddly enough, it is during that moment of discomfort, that horrible feeling where we just want to throw the towel in and quit- where all the work is done. Once we experience the discomfort and somehow manage to pull ourselves through it, we have grown. Looking back at it, it doesn't seem all that awful and we are confident that a new challenge won't seem as daunting. All of the work has now been done because we forced ourselves through it. Another common theme I have noticed with each challenge is passion and heart. The minute we don't have the heart or passion for something, the farther and farther we are from attaining any sort of goals. But, when we drive through the challenge with a passionate heart for what we are doing, there is no choice but to succeed- and all other options and unfathomable. Attitude was another common theme I've noticed in each of the challenges I experienced. Coming from an attitude of success, an "I deserve to succeed" stance on life will so much more enable us to achieve our goals. When we come from a place of failure, fearing the what-ifs and worse case scenarios, we are setting ourselves up for the 1 thing we are trying most to avoid. Knowing that we deserve the success and coming from that place in our attitude through everything we do, enables us to show up already expecting to succeed. And finally- giving up the control. This has been a HUGE lesson for me- but one that has really helped me in my daily life- with of course continually daily reminders. We can try with all of our might to push through the uncomfortable zone, have a passionate heart, and show up with an attitude of success (and though I believe all of these to be key components in overcoming any challenge) at the end of the day, the control is out of our hands. If we get hurt, if we slip, if we fail, or mess up- we ultimately have no control over these unforseen circumstances. So, the moment at which we are able to fully accept this- and charge forward with full confidence- saying to the universe (or whatever God you follow) "This one's for you- I 'm not taking the control on this one" we are able to remain focused and continue on full forced.
I hope all of these challenge lessons are able to help you in your daily life as much as they have helped me :) Challenge, though unpleasant in certain times, can be one of those life experiences that not only change our lives, but can make us grow into the bigger and better things life has waiting for us :)
xoxo AA

This Girl is on Fire

This past week, I was lucky enough to be apart of a team building/bonding experience that enhanced my world and altered my perspective. After motivating meetings and speeches throughout the day at a work conference, we all knew what was coming that evening: Fire Walking. Our expertly trained Fire Walker also happened to be a motivational speaker, originator from South Africa, and former Military Special Forces member. With a lot of value to share, and little to be bashful of...we knew we were in for a treat. We all headed out to the beach around 7PM and were met with the scene of firemen taking hot coals from a...fire...and laying them along 2 grassy lanes, spanning about 8 feet long each. Our motivator explained to us that if we used his technique, we should have great success and no issues walking across the fire. Channeling our inner focus, we were told to confidently and briskly walk across the fire shouting "cold ice, cold ice, cold ice." This tactic would keep our focus and keep us moving. Considering backing out a few times, it was finally my turn to step up to the plate. The motivator's female helper asked me if I was ready to which I replied "I'm not sure; I'm scared." She grabbed me by the shoulders, looked me directly in the eye and said "I believe in you and I know you can do this." That was all I needed. I was on my way and 6 steps later, greeted with a bucket of icy cold water, and it was over. I made it! And then the thoughts started rolling.

If this 1 woman, who I had never met before, told me she believed in me and that I could do it...and I BELIEVED HER...why is it sometimes so hard for us to say this to ourselves AND believe it? It was as if some sort of divine intervention was shouting at me in the face "you've got this, and I've been trying to tell you this along." My friends said that I apparently ran across the coals. The craziest thing is that I only remember that 6th step, and that my focus was so high, I completely blocked out the world around me, and all of the 1st 5 steps down the firey coals. I am sure that you're wondering if the coals were hot (totally not the point here, I'll tell you anyways- but pay attention!)...they were, extremely hot. But when forced with a challenge of mind over matter, when we let our bodies do the work for us, they do, and they do a great job. After I cooled my feet down in some ocean water my mind was scrambling: "If  I can accomplish this, what else can I do?" It is amazing how 1 experience, which you thought you might not ever be able to accomplish or have the opportunity to try...can change your whole thought process. Things that once seem to be difficult now just seem like another great challenge. And you begin to think, if I can walk on fire, that other stuff can't be too difficult.

This experience also led me to another great realization. Many times, we play experiences or situations out in our minds to be miserable, difficult, or awful. But it is our perception of these experiences/situations that we've actually never been through, that are usually more difficult than actually going through them. Here is a perfect example: we may build up in our minds the 1st day of a new job to be scary, awkward, and maybe even awful. Thinking about this, going through the possible scenarios in our mind, and worrying about it feels terrible. But the next day, once we have accomplished that small feat we never thought to be possible, it some how seems so much easier than we initially perceived it to be. So what is my point in all of this, and the thing that has really helped and changed my life? Let the "big, scary thing" happen. Go through it and fully feel all of the emotions associated with it. Not only do I promise you that you will make it through, but that it won't be as bad as you thought it was going to be, and that it can be life changing.

Remember, "We can't choose our obstacles, but we can choose what we do with them." :)

xoxo AA

Brown Rice Pasta with Chicken Sausage!

Hey there people! Looking for a quick and easy recipe? This dish was super fast, delicious, and loaded with nutritional benefits. Here are the details:

Ingredients:

1 cup of brown rice pasta

2 handfuls of fresh baby spinach

1/2 can of kidney beans

2 links of chicken sausage (can usually be found in your grocers meat section)

3 tablespoons of olive oil

Dash of salt/pepper

Boil a pot of water and cook the pasta for about 10 minutes over medium heat. Strain and put aside. In a separate pan, cook bite sized pieces of chopped sausage links in a skillet over medium heat. Be sure to flip each pieces every few minutes to ensure all sides are golden brown. Cook sausage completely through and put aside with pasta. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the same pan and toss in all of the baby spinach over medium-low heat. Stir often and cook until spinach has decreased in size. Then add the kidney beans. Allow the ingredients to cook for an additional minute and add them to the pasta/sausage that was set aside. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the mix, dashing in salt and pepper. Mix and enjoy!

xoxo AA

Kelp Noodles and Tofu!

Last week, I finally had the opportunity to experiment with the kelp noodles I picked up at the Gluten Free Fair! That's right, kelp noodles, as in sea kelp. Kelp is a type of seaweed that is packed with more than 70 minerals and 21 amino acids. They aid the body in digestion and increase metabolism as well as work to strengthen bones and teeth! They are relatively flavorless and if eaten cold offer a crunch whereas when warm offer a more typical noodle like consistency.
Here is the dish and the quick simple steps/ingredients to success!



Ingredients:
1 bag of kelp noodles
1 whole red pepper, chopped
1/4 cup of kalamata olives
1 container of firm tofu, chopped into eatable pieces
1 can of chickpeas
1 tablespoon of sesame seeds
3 tablespoons of rice wine vinegar
3 tablespoon of tamari

Cooking:
Combine the kelp noodles, chopped red pepper, kalamata olives, and chickpeas in a bowl. Mix in 2 tablespoons of rice wine vinegar and 2 tablespoons of tamari. Set bowl aside.
In a pan over medium heat, cook pieces of tofu in sesame seeds and remaining rice wine vinegar and tamari until tofu pieces are golden brown around the edges.
Add tofu into the bowl set aside, mix and enjoy!

Hope you find this to be as tasty, nutritious, and delicious as I did :)
xoxo AA

Robin- the Free Bird

Last week, I had the amazing opportunity to interview a new friend. I have been sitting with this post and the things I learned in my conversation with this awesome girl because this post is very special to me. Having had the chance to hear her stories, I wanted to ensure that I was able to accurately share them and make this one of my best :) Robin is her name- adventure is her game. This tough southern chick with a big heart and a funny accent, was visiting from Ole' Miss to see my friend Paige for the week. When I 1st met her, I thought she was a pisser and awesome- hence my desire to interview her. As our interview progressed, I came to realize how much more awesome this girl was than I had previously understood before we began. Here is a pic of me and my new bud post interview:



A few quick facts before we dive in:

• Inspired by: her Dad- he is a single dad raising 3 girls, never babied her, and refers to her as the "broken child" (I will explain later)
• Craziest thing she's ever done: went sky diving 2 Sunday's ago and would definitely do it again
• Greatest Quality: isn't scared of "almost anything"
• Studying: higher education, considering law school for immigration studies (already rocked her 1st LSAT attempt)

OK now down to the nitty gritty. What lit Robin's eyes up the most, and she seemed to speak so naturally about, was her willingness and passion to help orphan and disabled children abroad. Thus far, she has been to Belize three times and Peru once. In Peru, Robin stayed with a host family and worked at the only orphanage in the country for disable children. There, she met a little boy that she told me she hopes to go back and adopt from the shelter later in life. Through her experiences in this country, she came to realize of her gift of helping others- whether that be to care for the children or help them to see new, positive experiences, it was a gift she knew she wanted to share. On her trips to Belize, she worked on a small island with a program that helped to build a road to a school where children were able to learn a variety of subjects; the only one of its kind on the island. Due to the way land was formed around the area, a small ditch began to form yards from the school. On more than 1 occasion children on their way to school  had tripped and fallen into the water that had gathered in the ditch. Because of the stagnant nature of the water, a few children passed away after having come into contact with the ditch's contaminated contents. Committed to changing this, the organization that Robin worked with used the mud-like substance around the ditch as cement to create the 1st legitimate road up to the school. After 3 visits and many other helping hands- the ditch was completely covered up and the road finally complete, strong, and enabling more children than ever easy access to education. This was one of the most amazing personal stories I had ever heard, and I could see the level of gratitude and love in Robin's eyes as she explained every minute detail of the project. And don't think Robin didn't also whip these kids into shape on her down time! Offering to stay in what she referred to as a "box" (square cement room with a door and a bed)- the children came over to visit and hangout with her many times throughout her visit. Although it was recommended for each volunteer to spend a certain amount of time alone in their rooms because of the taxing emotional nature of the trip, Robin consistently kept an open door policy with all of the children. On a night out to dinner during her trip, Robin and another volunteer offered to treat 10 special children to a big meal. This being a very special occasion for the kiddies, Robin had hand selected the ones who had earned their special treat. 1 little guy snuck his way into the group and right into the middle of the table. "Let him stay!" you might be thinking to yourself, but this was a privilege for the other children that had been selected for dinner, and Robin immediately said "I see you there man, you were not invited to our dinner, please leave." She explained that situations such as this one were frequent, because unfortunately, many times, children tried to take advantage of American visitors.

Now that you know all of these amazing things about my new friend Robin, I am going to share with you the most unnoticeable part of her personality. Robin is in a wheelchair and has been ever since her family's vehicle was hit by a drunk driver when she was 7. Paralyzed below the waist, she was able to gain movement in her thighs through therapy. Now if you re-read my story above...you will be more than amazed by all of the wonderful, giving, daring, selfless acts Robin has already accomplished in her 20 some years of life. I am so inspired by this girl's soul and hope this story inspires all of you to get up, give back, and put a smile on that face. I am so grateful to have had the chance to sit with this amazing young woman and spend some quality time with her on her trip to the West Coast. I hope to see you again very soon- and wish you the best of luck in all of her amazing endeveors!

A few final notes:

• Cool Fact 1: she gets her tires at the bike store...because they are cheaper- and is currently sporting a pair for mountain biking wheels! 
• Cool Fact 2: she loves to go bike riding- either on her own bike or when our friend Paige pulls her from behind (apparently they have some great video footage).
• Cool Fact 3: she loves swimming and being by the water but hates the sand!

xoxo AA

Gluten Free Fair!

This weekend I had the awesome chance to attend a gluten free fair. To me...this was Mecca!! Walking into the rather small banquet hall, I had my reservations. Those reservations completely vanished when I hit up my 1st booth for a free sample. Chocolate chip cookies? I think yes :) Not only was the food delicious, but the people were wonderful, and for me, I think that was the best part. Because I am so new to the vegan/vegetarian/gluten free/dairy free/nutritionally packed world- I was overwhelmed with the friendly feeling and willingness of others to share their experiences. 1 of my goals at the moment is to learn how to make delicious gluten free, dairy free cupcakes. Luckily, many booths were geared towards just that. Each representative gladly shared with me the types of flours they used, what xanthium gum was, and what tasted best- after sharing my goal with them. At 1 booth, I encountered an older couple who had discovered how to make gluten free bread mixes with almost no loss in taste from a typical gluten filled loaf. I immediately supported their efforts after tasting an amazing buckwheat loaf and I am excited to bake my 1st loaf of bread! I was also able to find some kelp noodles- delicious clear noodles made from sea kelp and high in minerals. They are great in salads- and I will be posting a recipe once I am able to use them :) Hint- chickpeas, hot peppers, and tomatoes go best with just a little olive oil and salt! My favorite part of the day- seeing a fellow School of Integrated Nutrition member- on the main stage, teaching a class of people how to cook! Not only was she confident, cool, and collected, but also inspiring and cooking a wonderfully delicious and nutritious meal. I was able to snap a photo of her in action.



She kicked some serious gluten free butt! I will be sure to share my new food learnings and recipes from this fair here soon and encourage all of you to get out there and try something new! I am so grateful for the experience I had today with the wonderful and supportive community within the nutrition world and I so look forward to my many more experiences with others here on the West Coast who have a love for delicious food and a happy life :)
xoxo AA

Poly Italiano

For some reason this weekend, I have been repeatedly reminded of my Italian roots and travels in the beautiful country. On Friday night, me and my man in uniform went to one of the most authentic Italian restaurants I have been to yet here on the West Coast (to be fair, we haven't been to many Italian restaurants in SoCal yet). Caffe Calabria immediately sucks you in as you walk over the threshold. Located in the hip neighborhood of North Park, the restaurant is decked out with fake alley way windows, stringing lights, and legitimate Italian men bantering by the wood burning stove as they pop their fresh made pizzas in. Made to look like an old street in Calabria, the restaurant brought me back to all of my wonderful memories when I was lucky enough to explore 1 of my native country's (technically, I am 25% Sicilian, but who's counting). We ordered ourselves up some of these bad boys and delighted in their savory flavors and delicious toppings.



I will admit, this gluten free girl did indulge in a little gluten filled pizza dough last night- but you will notice that my pie still has no cheese! As we bantered with our Italian waiter, I was brought back to the Italian lifestyle. No reference of time, talking excessively to strangers, and eating for taste not for fullness. The food felt like a delicacy and I felt at home- but I think that is how the Italian culture makes most everyone feel.

In an effort to work off my calories this morning, I hopped on the bike and glided away in spinning class. To my surprise, today's teach just also happened to be straight off the boat. Giuseppe took us on a mild ride, cranking the Italian club jams complete with a disco light show on key...the entire class. Trying to understand his accent over the blaring music was nearly impossible, but I did understand 1 thing he said that I love: "Come on people, love your bodies." Why is it that so many times in our culture that we forget to love our bodies? We've only go one and so many folks in our culture either don't give it enough nutrients, or give it too much fat. It is so easy to get lazy with our workout routines and head straight to the freezer for our favorite jug of ice cream. When we take a moment to think about it- loving our bodies is quite possibly 1 of the most important aspects of life. A- because it's the only one we've got and B- because before anyone or anything can love our bodies, we must love it 1st! In digging up my Italian roots these past 24 hours, I remembered to give my body some love. The Italians have taught us so much about wine, cheese, bread, and olives- but they also have a clear understanding of a lifestyle that enables them to love on their bodies :) Ciao bellas!
xoxo AA