15 Habits for a Keeping a Tidy “Vegan” Kitchen  

tidy kitchen
(this is not my kitchen but a lovely one from Pinterest – author unknown)

Neatness Counts

I admit that I’m a little OCD at times (OK — mostly) and I feel best when my house is neat and clutter-free. Not only does clutter have it’s own energy (that weighs you down) but excess “stuff” makes house cleaning more burdensome. This is especially true in the kitchen.  I like my counter tops free of gadgets (no bulky coffee machines or mixers). If I can’t find storage for it under the counter, then I’d rather live without it. My refrigerator is also neat and clutter-free. I avoid buying in bulk by shopping more frequently. Not only for fresher vegetables, but for a less crowded fridge that’s neatly organized.

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How to Make Celery Juice without a Juicer

celery juice at home

You KNOW celery juice has gotten trendy when the local health food store charged me $8 for a 16 oz cup.…um….no thanks!!! I think I’ll make it at home!!! Problem is…..I don’t have a juicer!!!! I considered buying one on Craig’s list until I learned how EASY is is to make celery juice at home using my ol’ trusty (barely working) blender and a nut milk bag……Yippee….

Since I believe drinking celery juice is one of the healthiest habits you can have, making it at home is a huge TIME and MONEY saver (although I saw organic celery priced at $4.99 a bunch…how crazy is that?).

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Walking El Camino de Santiago in Luxury

camino de santiago

I recently walked 200 miles of El Camino de Santiago in Luxury. Many pilgrims lug (I mean carry) their belongings and sleep in albergues (hostels). Instead, I used RAW travel to transfer my luggage and pre-book the nicest hotels for me. Hard core pilgrims may feel this way is “cheating”, but the Camino is about spiritual contemplation, and I do that better when I’m well rested and wearing clean clothes.

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Raw Applesauce from Liver Rescue Cleanse 3:6:9

liver cleanse 369 applesauce

To be perfectly honest, when I first saw this raw applesauce recipe, I thought it couldn’t possibly taste good…I mean celery and raw apples???? Weird!!! I’m naturally skeptical so my “we shall see” attitude kicked in….. Well, I am happy to admit that I was WRONG!!! This simple raw applesauce recipe turned out delicious and not just because I was doing the liver cleanse. Nope!! I’m still whipping up this delicious applesauce after a workout or for a nourishing snack.

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Hydrating Wild Blueberry Smoothie and Chronic Dehydration

In his amazing book Liver Rescue, Anthony Williams suggests that most people are chronically dehydrated which affects the liver.  When I read these words, I was sure he was talking to ME!!!  As a runner and avid exerciser, you’d assume I drink a ton of water, but I don’t!!!  I forget to hydrate because I don’t get very thirsty. I also embarked upon a low carbohydrate diet last year and dehydration is a known side effect. Therefore, I’m probably adding additional stress to my thirsty liver. This book has motivated me to hydrate better with water and this tasty light, coconut water based hydrating smoothie.

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DALishious: Vegan Dal Makhani

Indian food has always been a comforting staple in my life. I was raised on 6th St and 2nd Ave across from “Indian Row” in NYC. On special nights, my mom would take us to our favorite dark restaurant 3 steps below street level. I remember walking through the jingling bell door, hearing the exotic music and smelling the foreign spices. There’s more:

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Rooftop Bars, Cool Restaurants, Yoga and More in San Miguel de Allende

If Disney created a “Mexican city”, it would be San Miguel de Allende! The colorful colonial buildings, blooming Jacaranda trees, immaculate churches, narrow cobblestone streets, and spotless parks — it’s so pristine that it almost feels fake!!! The weather was perfect in early April when we arrived. We couldn’t help but slow down from our normal pace. We poked around, lingered in cafes, sat on park benches, napped in the afternoons, sipped cocktails at beautiful rooftop bars, and listened to mariachis swoon beneath the moonlit sky. Aside from taking in the city itself, San Miguel is known for it’s talented artists and musicians. This means you can find vibrant cultural performances, live music and inspiring art. It’s no wonder San Miguel de Allende attracts so many expats!

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The Encinitas Half Marathon: My Toughest Race Yet

Encinitas Half Marathon warm up 2019

On March 31st, I ran the Encinitas half marathon for the third year in a row. I have a strong connection to Encinitas, so when they started half marathons three years ago, I couldn’t resist. My first two races were euphoric but this year was a bear!!! I struggled not only with the training, but failed to get that race day “adrenaline”. I broke the cardinal rule and started out too fast only to lose steam around mile 8. By mile 10, my mental energy plummeted and I feared my body would collapse. I was really struggling!!! What happened??? These races were always a high point of my year.

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From Meh to Yeah: Show Stopper Salad Toppers

There was a time when I’d get deja vu browsing a restaurant menu and seeing the SAME grilled Romaine wedge with blue cheese dressing every place we went!! Ugghh..it was like salad groundhog day!! I was frustrated by the complete lack of inspiration.…and missed the times when I’d order a salad that was so inventive I couldn’t wait to replicate it at home!

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How to Start a Plant Based Diet

People ask me many questions about eating a plant based diet because they are intrigued! Some smile and say they could never do it while others seem genuinely interested. Then there are those who actually want to start a plant based diet, but don’t know how. In this post, I’m sharing ways to get mentally prepared to start a plant based diet along with my favorite resources that take the mystery out of plant based cooking  to make this a fun, empowering and easy experience. If you, or someone you know, is considering a plant based diet, then please continue reading…

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