“I love your donut holes”

Hi everyone! Happy Sunday! Thank you so very much for all of your lovely comments on the graduation post– ya’ll definitely know how to make a girl smile! Also, I added the recipes for my final to the Raw Recipes page for those of you who’d like to start (un)cooking 🙂

Yesterday morning, I had my last vinyasa class at The Yoga Room

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I can’t even explain how much I’m going to miss this place and my yoga friends. Thank you again Laura, for teaching me to stop, breathe and be in the present and for taking Michelle and I under your wing. We loved your classes and would be so happy if you did podcasts one of these days 😀 Thank you <3

After yoga, the pilot and I went to IHOP so he could get his french toast fix.

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And I had a bowl of fruit that came in a package that had some type of chemical coating.

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I didn’t eat very much of it. Eating only organic produce for the last month has made my taste buds a little more keen when it comes to foreign food substances.

I met one of my raw food heroes yesterday…

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ANI PHYO!!! Isn’t she so gorgeous?!? In all honesty, I had no clue what to say to her as I walked up to get my two cookbooks signed. What do you say?!? I felt like an awkward goober but she was so kind, bubbly and wonderful. We talked about school and what I made for my final, and about her upcoming cookbook –Spring 2010 and it’s supposed to be HUGE, I can’t wait- and my love for her raw donut hole recipe 😀 My life is complete.

She had just done a demo in the Academy in which she prepared a raw chocolate cake and a blueberry crumble:

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I got to taste some of the crumble, and it was glorious:

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I’ll definitely be re-creating that little joy at home 😀

Next, we watched The Raw Model speak about eating for optimal health and beauty.

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I really enjoy looking at him listening to him speak about how nutrition can have such an impact on how you look and feel. An interesting story he had was about how he started to get into eating more greens and the raw lifestyle: one of his friends owned a restaurant and had to get rid of the slightly-icky produce each day. Since Anthony was living on a low income in NYC –as huge modeling gigs don’t happen overnight and it takes a while to build your portfolio- he started taking the produce since it was free and throwing it into the blender as it was the only way he could manage to eat it all. It sparked his love for smoothies, enabled him to intake high quality nutrients and he felt amazing.

The pilot thoroughly enjoyed Anthony’s talk as well… he spent it by slyly watching football on his iPhone. Classic 😀

After enriching our minds, I enriched my belly with my favorite Spice-C smoothie

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and some Summer Rolls

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Not an interesting pic, but here’s one of the un-boxed version that I’ve frequently feasted on:

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So delicious.

Yesterday’s event at 105degrees was seriously amazing. The collection of people with so much knowledge to share, the way it was set up (one speaker in the Academy and one in the restaurant, pre-made smoothies, sushi and meals that you could easily grab and pay for, book signing in the shop), everything was flawless. I also couldn’t believe how PACKED it was. When we got to the event, we had to wait for someone to leave so we could get a parking spot. It makes me so happy to know that people want to learn more about raw foods and nutrition, they just need an avenue to learn about these subjects. Events such as this one are a great way to get the word out about healthy living! Thank you so much to Matthew and Dara for organizing such a fun and successful event.

After our day at 105degrees the pilot and I lounged at the hotel-casa before hitting up Sushi Neko for dinner.

I started with the obligatory glass of red 🙂

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And we shared some edamame:

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Next, I proceeded to end my month-long vegan streak by sharing a plate of raw fish with my love

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Is the fried shrimp head really necessary??

And the pilot got two additional rolls, because he’s a machine 😀

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What a scrumptious dinner—everything was so fresh and wonderful.

The thing is, I didn’t feel so bueno with a belly full of raw fish. I didn’t get sick or anything, but I could definitely tell I ate something out of the ordinary. Guess I didn’t feel too bad though, because at about midnight the pilot at I were at On The Border drinking and eating chips and salsa 😀 Back to our usual shenanigans 😉

Time for one last Sunday breakfast with Michelle and Lori and then we’re hitting the road for the drive back to Valdizzy. See you from Little Rock!

xoxo,

G

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31 Comments

  1. Brittany on October 4, 2009 at 10:48 am

    The event looked amazing and it’s awesome that the place was packed. I can see why the raw model was so intriguing to look at, I mean listen to. And Ani is too cute- I love her style.

    Have a save drive back to GA!

  2. Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) on October 4, 2009 at 11:02 am

    From 105 to IHOP to Sushi to On the Border at Midnight….I love it! I love how you embrace all aspects of food, life, and fun. Because having fun while you’re eating, and sharing good times with your loved ones over food is what it’s all about! I cannot tell you how proud of you I am and I wish I was the one “being a goober” getting my cookbook signed by Ani. And yes, she is flawlessly gorgeous. Wow. And the male model. Guess it’s a requirement you have to be a hottie to give talks at 105 🙂 Anyway safe travels home Gina and don’t try to unpack, go thru your mail, your laundry, or anything else crazy right away when you get home. Not saying you would, but I do and I drive my own self nuts LOL.

  3. Mara @ What's For Dinner? on October 4, 2009 at 11:03 am

    What an amazing event, and OMG that sashimi!!! Drive safe and be in touch 🙂

  4. VeggieGirl on October 4, 2009 at 11:06 am

    ANI PHYO!!!!!! Too freaking cool 😀

  5. Katie on October 4, 2009 at 11:08 am

    What a cool event! I think people really are interested in eating more raw or at least understanding it more. Blogs like yours help that for sure! You make it look like so much fun and your experience at 105 is only going to make your recipes that much cooler! 🙂 It’s been so fun following along with you as you went on this journey. Can’t wait to see what the Fitnessista is up to next!!

  6. simpledaisy on October 4, 2009 at 11:38 am

    What an awesome event!! That’s awesome that you got to meet Ani Phyo!

  7. Abby on October 4, 2009 at 11:40 am

    Amazing that you got to meet AND get a pic with Ani. I would been speechless. Your food looks fab.. and Ps.. im surprised IHOP even has fruit at all..lol. 🙂

  8. Jessica @ How Sweet It Is on October 4, 2009 at 11:44 am

    Have a safe trip back! What a wonderful experience. 🙂

  9. Ada on October 4, 2009 at 11:50 am

    OMG I can’t believe you met Ani Phyo!!! How awesome:) I know I’m a tad late, but congrats on doing so well on your final exam. All of your items looked amazing:)

  10. Sarah @ The Foodie Diaries on October 4, 2009 at 11:59 am

    Omg she is SO gorgeous!! So is HE 😉 The event looks like it was wonderful!

  11. cjbrownsc on October 4, 2009 at 12:13 pm

    Wow, wish we had some place like that here in SC!
    It would really be wonderful to be able to go to an event like that.

  12. Erica on October 4, 2009 at 12:30 pm

    I’m so happy that you enjoyed your time there! It just sounds like your experience was AMAZINGGGGGG. Josh loves IHOP! I can never find anything there (they don’t even have oatmeal!). Glad you got to meet Ani

  13. Shari B. on October 4, 2009 at 12:31 pm

    Gina, huge congrats!! What an experience you’ve had, and thank you for sharing it with us!

    So just to put things in perspective for you, if you were the ‘special guest’ at an event – you’d be my Ani Phyo! 🙂 I’d be all a-blubber about meeting the famous Fitnessista!

    How exciting that you’re officially a raw foods cheffer! Can’t wait to buy YOUR cookbook someday! 😉 Well done, G$…

    Have a safe drive back!

  14. sue on October 4, 2009 at 12:47 pm

    omg! so jealous that you got to meet her AND taste her food!! you are BOTH gorgeous and the raw model ain’t so bad to look at either 😛

  15. Chloe (Naturally Frugal) on October 4, 2009 at 1:25 pm

    What a wonderful end to an awesome experience. I was wondering if you were going to feel sick from the sushi, but I’m glad you didn’t!

    How cool you got to meet Ani Phyo – I definitely need to get at least one of her cook books and start experimenting.

  16. Jacqueline on October 4, 2009 at 1:35 pm

    I’ve been following your 105* adventure from the beginning, and just wanted to thank you for posting about it. Although I’ve never been into the raw lifestyle, you have inspired me to dabble in it. Thank you!
    Have a safe trip home!
    http://chickfood.wordpress.com

  17. Tina on October 4, 2009 at 2:00 pm

    It looks like you’ve had such a great experience in this past month. I’m so happy for you and all the fun you’ve had! Can’t wait to see you recreate everything you’ve learned 🙂

  18. angieinatlanta on October 4, 2009 at 2:02 pm

    I would have loved to hear the Raw Model speak! I don’t eat raw but I do remember when I started drinking Green Monsters that my skin was out of control clear and glowing. It’s not looking so great right now; maybe I should delve into raw food!

  19. Erin on October 4, 2009 at 2:32 pm

    Congrats Gina!! That is such an amazing experience. Kudos for challenging yourself and doing something that you really love!

    I literally snorted at the listening/looking at the Raw Model sentence. He is certainly a testament that raw foods can do a body good. 😉

  20. Jenna on October 4, 2009 at 2:43 pm

    glad you had a fun time at 105 chica!
    jenna

  21. MarathonVal on October 4, 2009 at 2:54 pm

    Oh my, the Raw Model definitely needs to keep doin what he is doing!! Although I have my suspicions that he was gorgeous even before going raw…

    I felt your misery when you described your breakfast at IHOP. I’ve found my transition to veganism to be pretty much easy and effortless, EXCEPT when dining at “traditional” restaurants such as IHOP, Applebee’s, those types of less progressive establishments.

    I’d love to hear any advice you have about this… usually I’ll just ask for a salad minus the ingredients I don’t want, but as I’m sure you’ve experienced, it’s not a joy to pay money for a salad comprised of iceburg lettuce or a fruit bowl made from thawed out frozen fruit….

  22. Emily on October 4, 2009 at 4:13 pm

    whoa, Ani!! you both look gorgeous and glowing in that pic!

    congrats on your accomplishments! what an amazing experience. I’ve enjoyed reading about it 🙂

  23. K on October 4, 2009 at 5:20 pm

    What a great finale to your raw culinary school experience!! I wouldn’t mind sitting through a lecture staring at that gorgeous man 😉

    Have a safe trip back!!

  24. Sarah (LovIN My Tummy) on October 4, 2009 at 5:27 pm

    Unbelievable! I have loved enjoying every second of this experience with you. Thank you so much for taking us on your journey!

  25. Shelby on October 4, 2009 at 6:43 pm

    ANI PHYO!!! You are so lucky! My boss met her once and said she was insanely gorgeous when she met her. I totally believe it.

    That crumble looks bangin’!

  26. Kaitlyn on October 4, 2009 at 7:44 pm

    I’m confused, before you left for school you talked about how much fun you & Megan would have. But the whole time you were in school, you talked about Michelle constantly and barely mentioned Megan at all.

    What’s up?

    • Fitnessista on October 7, 2009 at 12:50 am

      hey kaitlyn,
      michelle and i were hotel neighbors and megan didn’t stay at the hotel, so michelle and i hung out a lot more since megan was working as a server at the restaurant at night. also, she told me she doesn’t like being on the blog so i haven’t been mentioning her as much

  27. Whitney @ Lettuce Love on October 5, 2009 at 9:27 am

    Omg ANI PHYO! I am seriously jealous that you got to meet her and eat some of her amazing food.

  28. ani phyo on October 5, 2009 at 1:46 pm

    it was lovely to meet you!! thank you so much for making saturday such a fun, amazing day of celebration. wow, indeed. you are the gorgeous one! keep up all your amazing work, and may our paths cross again soon lovely. xoxo
    Ani

  29. Katharina on October 5, 2009 at 10:16 pm

    Hi! I’ve never commented on here (I think) but maaan that is so cool that you got to go to this. You and everyone in this post is gorgeous (AND HANDSOME)! The food all looks delicious and so fresh as well.

    • Fitnessista on October 6, 2009 at 12:53 am

      thanks so much for saying hi and for your sweet comment! i assure you, the food was extremely delicious 😀

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