Filling the Void
Hey 😀 Wow. I loved reading your insanely awesome comments to this morning’s discussion post. I know I can always count on you to be honest, classy and well-spoken ladies (and dudes). Thank you!
Here is the general consensus:
-OpenSky is helpful, but can be kind of annoying
-OpenSky is more annoying when bloggers promote things they wouldn’t use, and do so on a frequent and unnecessary basis
-When the temps go up, blog views may go down
-There’s a lot of redundancy in the blog world right now, which is causing some people to skim down their Google reader
I totally agree with you guys, especially about the redundancy thing. I always try to bring new and fun things into the blog world.. and when everyone and their mom is eating millet bread, maca powder and raw macaroons, I try to find something else to contribute so ya’ll don’t keep reading about the same stuff (thank you, mung bean pasta haha).
So for now, I’ll keep on doing my thang and will continue to keep the reviews and OpenSky promos to a minimum and not the focus of the bloggy. That’s not what this is all about anything. It’s about food, fitness and shenanigans. That is all 🙂
This morning, I made a green juice to take to the gym:
In the mix:
-1 green apple
-1 anjou pear
-1 cucumber
-1/2 lemon
-handful of spinach
-parsley
-1/2 t spirulina
Everyone else was chugging their water and sports drinks, while I sipped on a green sludge 🙂
After Ashley and I did a chest and shoulders workout, I came back to the casa for bfast.
Raw Protein Chia Oats
-1/3 C oat groats soaked overnight, blended up with
-almond milk
-1 small banana
-1/2 scoop Vanilla Sun Warrior
–mesquite <—not the brand I use, but has a great description of the taste and benefits
-cinnamon
-vanilla
Topped with 1 T chia seeds that soaked in almond milk overnight
Face was rocked.
Next, I busted out some of this stuff….
COFFEE!
The Fresh Market was tempting me, so I bought some.
1/2 Decaf Almond Amaretto and 1/2 Molten Chocolate
Gah!!
As ya’ll know, I gave up drinking coffee about a year ago. I’ll still have it every purple moon, but didn’t want to be dependent on it anymore (in college, if it were the night before an exam, I’d drink up to 16 cups. Terrible, I know).
Well, today’s moon is purple 😀
Productivity in a mug:
I may have been bouncing off the walls and rocking out to Glee as I cleaned up our vacation tornado this morning 😉
So crazy because ever since I gave up sweets for Lent, I’ve been hankering for things I wouldn’t usually want. Gum… now coffee… I’m thinking it would be better if I just started eating sweets again. Blah! 2 weeks to go. Easter Sunday I will have a Liz Lovely cookie in each hand and a giant shake made of vanilla vodka, Bailey’s and vegan espresso gelato. Yeahhhhhhhh.
I’m off to work!
xoxo,
Gina
Something to do: Make this super easy Vegan Pasta Primavera!
Pasta Primavera
Serves one hungry Fitnessista
Ingredients:
-1 zucchini, thinly sliced
-1 carrot, thinly sliced
-1 red bell pepper, julienned
-8 grape tomatoes, sliced in half
-1 serving pasta of choice (I used mung bean)
-garlic powder, sea salt, pepper, extra virgin olive oil
-parsely and nutritional yeast, to serve
1. Pre-heat oven to 450 and spray a cookie sheet with nonstick spray (or EVOO from the misto)
2. Spread veggies onto the cookie sheet in a thin layer, spray with olive oil, season with garlic power, sea salt and pepper, and roast for 25 minutes, stirring and re-seasoning halfway.
3. Meanwhile, cook the pasta until it reaches al dente –I like mine with a little bite to it- strain, and place into a large bowl. (Can drizzle or spray with a little olive oil so it doesn’t stick)
4. Add the roasted veggies to the bowl, toss to combine, and transfer to a plate
5. Top with nutritional yeast and fresh parsley
6. Feast
© 2010 The Fitnessista
61 Comments
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YUM! i love pasta primavera…where did you get the mung bean pasta? i’ve been searching high and low and got nothin’ 🙂 p.s. thanks for being awesome! i love how in tune you are with your readers 🙂
i got it at the health food store- love it 🙂
thank YOU for being an awesome blog friend <3
You shoulda picked up some SPRING BLEND from Fresh Market–that stuff is like dessert in a cup Mmmmm!! My blog views definitely go down on the weekends and this past weekend I’m pretty sure it was gorgeous everywhere (besides the midwest where it was snowing yikes).
i’ve had spring blend before– it’s SO good!
I feel like Lent sacrifices often backfire for me–like you said, if I gave up sweets I know I’d just totally overindulge when I got done and I’d start eating more bad-for-me salty snacks.
I haven’t given up anything this year, but I think next year I’ll try to do a “positive Lent” like my pastor in church talked about awhile back–instead of giving something up, add something healthy to your daily routine!
that’s a great idea. the sweets thing just didn’t work out for me
I couldn’t give up sweet this year- I crave them so much! I try to give back instead:) and I love to read about Ming bean pasta!
That coffee look so good Gina! Well deserves, I am sure ;)! Didnt post in the last post but thought I just say it here, KEEP ON GOING,yourblog rocks my socks! 🙂
Your green juice looks delicious! Question for you… do you find that using fruits and veggies in juice feels wasteful kind of? I don’t know but for some reason using so many carrots, apples, grapefruits etc and only getting a bit of juice out of it makes me feel like I’d get more bang for my buck if i ate the produce fresh.. not sure if that makes sense. I usually tend to use veggies when they’re kind of on their last leg for juicing so that I don’t let them go to waste, but just curious on your thoughts on this. Thanks!
Looks amazing! Can’t wait to try it:)
Ha, I’m sipping on coffee this morning, too! It is definitely a sweet replacement for me at times, though I usually prefer to avoid it.
That pasta primavera looks AWESOME! I’m going on a mission to find mung bean pasta this afternoon! 😀
Totally agree on a lot of the points about “blog-mercials”. Honestly I usually try out the things you blog about everyday (i.e., pasta primavera, millet bread, etc), rather than going out and buying the products you review or have on open sky–but i do like hearing about them sometimes 🙂 And i really like giveaways, even though i’ve never won 😛
I’ve always thought Lent was a religious thing, right? I’m not really religious so I don’t really understand the whole Lent concept, but if you give up/add something to make you healthier then go for it! If it’s just gonna backfire on you, then forget it… Like you always say– do what works for you 🙂
I could never give up coffee (ok maybe i could if i tried really hard), because i love the taste of it so much! Kudos for kicking the caffeine habit!
You tweeted about not being able to exercise for 2 weeks… are you ok? injured? Hope everything is ok!
Gina, just wanted to add my thoughts because didn’t have a chance to post this morning. Your blog is so thoughtful and intelligent and interesting and varied. You are an inspiring, generous person, and the fact that I get all this content for free is mind-blowing (and feels a little unfair!). I don’t have any problem with you unobtrusively and tastefully trying to make a little extra money through OpenSky. It’s the least your readers could do given the amount of amazing free content you provide. And i really appreciate your obvious care and concern for your readers. I think I would venture to say yours is consistently the best health and fitness blog I read. Please keep it up.
Lent is killlllling me. I am also eating things I normally wouldn’t eat!
I’m dying to try that mung bean pasta! Haven’t seen it around these parts yet….
I love your blog because you always bring something NEW to the table. You’re the reason why I’ve tried things like chia seeds and Maca, so I have no doubt that you’ll continue to introduce me to more awesomeness in the future!
I love rocking out to Glee! It comes back so soon!
I agree that a lot of people are paring down their google readers lately. But even if you are posting the same thing as other bloggers (although usually they got it from YOU), you still present your posts in a way that makes them unique. You have a fun voice and your posts are fun to read, even if it’s the same ol’ typical food journal post. You make your posts great!
That Easter shake sounds incredible…Baileys + espresso gelato? Count me in!! I love reading your blog because it ISN’T redundant! It’s hard to always find new foods and ways of using them, but I love that you’re creative in the kitchen 🙂
I can’t tell you how ridiculous this lent season has been for me…the MINUTE I remove something from my diet by telling myself I cannot have it- MY MIND FREAKS! Restriction is such a mental thing!
Love your posts – they always pick me up! …and who doesn’t love a purple mom 😉
I meant moon! I don’t know anyone with a purple mom!!! lol
Those are some great points about Open Sky. I really just find it repetitive and skim past it all. : )
The pasta primavera looks wonderful!
I keep hoping that one day, people guzzling green drinks with floaty things in them (chia seeds) will be the norm 🙂
What does mesquite taste like? I recall eating mesquite bbq chips and associate the flavour as a smokey and warm but from reading the description, I may be wrong.
it tastes sweet like carbo. the link has a lot of info on it 🙂
PS. My blog views have gone down too.
Yeah, I don’t think your pageview decrease is unique to your blog–same here, though I thought it was because I’ve been busier with less time to blog and comment on others’. I wouldn’t sweat it–nobody’s gonna quit ya anytime soon. 🙂
The next time you are coffee-less and back at the Fresh Market…Chocolate Cherry Kiss is a MUST, sista.
So glad you’re going to carry on as is. It’s a fun blog you have, and I love visiting. You post at around my 2-3pm and I flick over and take a sneaky peak from my office desk 🙂
Thanks for the recipe. I really do have to find some nutritional yeast. Til then, I live with a toe in goat cheese land!
Hi Gina,
I have a question about the breakfast cookie. This has been my #1 go to thang in the AM…esp when I am in a rush. Lately, I my cookie is somewhat soggy in the morning and the texture thing has me not wanting to eat it in the morning. Am I doing something wrong? I followed your how to video to a T. Am I doing something wrong?
i’d use less milk and more nut butter
xoxo
A giant shake made of vanilla vodka, Bailey’s and vegan espresso gelato? You’re a genius. Plain and simple. Can I have mine before Easter??
I have tried, tried, and tried again… I can not give up coffee forever. But I save it for weekends and special occasions, only. It’s so delicious!!
And yum to that recipe! I am going to need to search out MB pasta in Toronto!
xo
K
I usually don’t drink coffee either but sometimes a cup of decaf is all I need to hush my sweet tooth at night. I feel like I really get to enjoy it more now that I don’t wake up needing it every morning.
I love reading your blog! It’s food, fashion, fitness, puppies and a hot pilot. Keep it up 🙂
Sara
i think your blog is very honest and genuine….not comercialed at all! have a good day.
What is so special about your blog is that you actually ask your readers how they feel about spondored content instead of just presenting it, you show a great deal of integrity in doing so.
I have a question for you: One of the wives in my husband’s squadron is going to have a baby soon but due to the nature of my work I won’t be around on the big day. However, I’d like to make and freeze some meals ahead of time. Do you have any suggestions for freezer friendly meals that would be delicious and nutritious for a recovering and nursing health-conscious momma (no special dietary restrictions, just healthy) that Dad won’t feed to the doggies? Thanks for your help <3
Your feasting looks yum. But that coffee is what I’m talking about!
BTW I just had to order me some cacao coconut butter and cacao nibs from opensky!
i saw that! wahoo!!! thank you- i think you’ll love them 🙂
Have you seen this yet??! http://www.rawessentials.com/products I am researching animal byproducts in cosmetics for a nutrition class and ran across this new product that Carol Alt launched! It sounds super exciting…who knew there was so much toxic crap in our skincare and makeup products. I guess I had an inkling, but have been trying to ignore it…glad we have more options now. And I am a faithful reader of your bloggie…and I enjoy being able to look at products you use and recommend on OpenSky…that’s my 2 cents!
Missed the discussion this morning but I would just like to say that I absolutely love your blog!
Your coffee made me want coffee right now!
hey! first time ever commenting- just wanted to say that I love your blog. There are so many food ideas and I like that you post often.
on a different note, I noticed that you said in one of your comments that the idea of oatmeal and egg whites seems scary. trust me. its absolutely delish. think of the oatmeal as a type of risotto or sticky short grain rice. then its easy to eat it as a savory meal :]
…do shirtless pics of your pilot spike your numbers??!
love you girl!
HAHAH! i wish… he better get over and pose, then 😉
Hi! I’ve been following your blog for a bit and love reading it! i recently bought 2 things (that I think you’ll absolutely be excited about). 1) nutritional yeast— i love this stuff! i make your egg white puff, add some soy sauce, some chili sauce, and sprinkle/dump the nut. yeast on top. it is soooo yummy. 2) grounded chia seeds– now, to be honest with you, it tastes sort of funky to me. I added it to salads(bad idea), I added it to tea (weird). I haven’t tried any smoothies yet or juice, but i was wondering how else do you incorporate chia seeds to your meals? thank you!!!
can I just say that while there may be redundancy in the blog world, you are the one who introduces everyone else to things like millet bread, raw macaroons, etc? So you should never feel like you’re one of the pack – you’re leading the pack! i’m not a blogger, but i do read yours and about 5-7 “top” food blogs, and anytime i see a breakfast cookie or millet bread, I know where it all started 🙂
so keep up the awesome work. i love that you’ve been posting more recipes lately as well! this blog always has been a breath of fresh air – thank you for that!
I meant to comment this morning but I like looking at open sky accounts. I think its great and would love to support all my buddy bloggers! Now just get some Sun Warrior up there and I will be buying like crazy, haha.
That smoothie looks like the one I wanted to make. It had ginger, cilantro, pineapple, and other goodness! Check it out. http://www.elanaspantry.com/ginger-cilantro-green-shake/
Is there anyway you can sell the mung bean spaghetti at your open sky shop? I’ve tried to get them in my area but I am having a difficult time–I even tried to find them online to order but they are all from Australia (I’m from PA). I would love to try them–if you can let me know and I’ll be online to order in a jiffy:)
i’ll have to check out and see if opensky can work w the supplier. i would love to have it in the shop!
I wish everyone and their mom was eating raw roonies! That would mean I would have had one!!! LOL
LOL
Your doing so good with Lent! You can do it, it will be over before you know it!
I gave up TV on the weekdays for lent and I really like it at first because I was getting to bed earlier, but now I’m missing vegging in front of it. 🙁
catching up on your posts! agreed gorgeous weather=less blog time! there is redundancy in the blog world but your blog of fitness plus raw is the reason i read (one of them anyway:).
what is that glass tumbler thing you have our green juice in? how many oz. does it hold? i want one. but i need a big one.
i think it holds about 4 cups 🙂
I made your pasta primavera last night and it was AWESOME! Even the hubby loved it. Thanks Gina!
i’m so glad you liked it!!
xoxo
that green juice looks delicious!! did you peel your fruits before you put them in or not?
nope, i just put the whole thing in 🙂