Totally Cheated, Totally Rejuvenated

I don't really like to say "cheated" because I see more of what I and others are doing as a lifestyle change - becoming more health conscious, eating more locally, choosing organic when possible, eating and living as kindly as possible, and encouraging community building. My goal this month was to get rid of the white sugar I had become so terribly addicted to, and I must say - I don't eat candy bars every day, so I have greatly improved, and I do make better choices.

I threw all that out the window last night to go out to dinner with a friend (part of my commitment to building community AND some taking time for self - all you moms go do this!!) It was really my first time out since having my little guy, and I am happy I went!

Was I totally vegan - NO

Was I sugar free - Absolutely Not!!

BUT, because of this outing I found a great restaurant and an AMAZING website that is going to really help you eat locally.

First of all, we went to Abby Park in Milton (www.abbypark.com) for very yummy food!! They have great salads such as - arugula, cranberries, beets, and an amazing hunk of blue cheese with a nice balsamic. We followed that up with a really fresh plate of babaganoush, hummus, tabbouleh, and warm pita bread. I could eat that for every meal!! My favorite part though, was the very non-vegan part - A flat bread pizza with Golden Delicious apples, Super Sharp cheddar cheese, and perfectly crisp bacon. SO GOOD!! It was just the perfect combination of tastes - tangy, sharp, salty, and sweet. To go with it I had a very lovely glass of Riesling. I know zilch about wine, I ordered it because it was called "Kung-Fu Girl" and I happen to obsessively play Rhythmic Kung-Fu on our Wii (I kind of rock at it).

To end the meal, they had an amazing selection of after dinner drinks, coffees and teas, as well as big desserts and mini desserts. My friend had a very creamy looking cappuccino to go along with her mini Peanut Butter Cup (chocolate shell with peanut butter mousse) and Meyer Lemon Creme Brulee - All of which she raved about! My Rooibus tea came and smelled so amazing that it kind of overshadowed the cappuccino - it was creamy without adding anything to it and it could have been dessert on its own - but come on, I wasn't going to get dessert???? Oh I did!! Mini Sliders (mini whoopie pies on a skewer - I sent a pic by phone to my husband who wanted to know what Buffy the Vampire Slayer was doing in Milton), and then a mini Key Lime that was heaven in a mini cup and served with a mini graham cracker. Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, we realized our desserts had come with mini spoons!!! The spoons were super cute and perfect for the size of the desserts. Similar to standing while eating, if you eat dessert with a mini spoon it has mini calories (HA!).

So where is the healthy part of this? Well, I went on Abby Park's website and clicked on the section to see who their "friends" are - one friend is the Milton Fruit Center Marketplace. I clicked on their site, and that is where I found the most amazing information!! From Kale recipes, to local foods, they have GREAT information!!! So I highly recommend checking their site out www.fruitcentermarketplace.com. If you do check out their site, make sure you look at the "Just Picked" Blog where you can find out about local foods and shops and check out tons of recipes.

So, after a fun night out, realizing my husband is perfectly capable at taking care of our child, and appreciating that dessert and wine are better in moderation, I am back on the Toodles Sugar Wagon. I did bid it adieu with a sweet local goodbye - a peach strudel from Sweet Tooth in South Boston (www.sweettoothboston.com) Amazing!!! And not really a dessert since there were like 2 whole peaches in in it! and an Oreo cupcake from BabyCakes (www.babycakesshop.net) in Quincy -I only had a bite of it, it was soooooooo good, I would have eaten 10 if I had kept going...

I never realized how crazy my sugar intake was until I started writing this. It is probably a bit concerning to some....like my dentist!

Well, I am off to the Fruit Center in Milton tomorrow to explore myself. Until then, if you are looking for some yummy local food, try out Abby Park, Sweet Tooth, or Babycakes - All super great with super friendly people to help you choose what delicious treat to try!

The Candy Minefield and a GREAT Local Company

Awesome day! Really!! I started off with oatmeal, walnuts and blueberries, had a wonderful Amy's organic Samosa burrito, an apple, some carrots, 2 waters, and then..... I ran out of paper at work and needed to go to CVS to buy a notebook. I knew I was doomed. Whenever I go to CVS, a convenient store, anywhere that has treats, I HAVE to buy one for myself. In I walked - the peeps cried out to me "We come in pink, purple, AND yellow." The mini-eggs taunted me, "No one will know! Just have a little bag." And the Cadbury Creme Eggs seemed to follow me around the store peeking out at me wherever I turned!

But

Alas,

Success!!! I walked out of the store with just a notebook!!! Good for the body AND the wallet!

I did relatively well for the rest of the day, I did have a coffee in the afternoon with sugar, but I only drank a third of it and it actually seemed too sweet. AND I kept thinking of the poor cows who are not milked in a very nice way and it made me sad. I need a few more days of caffeine but I will go without the dairy and keep cutting down the sug!

I kept my sweet tooth at bay this evening by eating my favorite chip/cracker - Sweet Potato Tortilla Chips by Food Should Taste Good. I went to their website tonight to check and make sure they really were a local company and they are! Not only that, but also all their chips are certified gluten free AND vegan!! So if you are in the market for something that is pretty kind, try these chips out - I can vouch for the deliciousness of the Chocolate and Multigrain as well!!

http://www.foodshouldtastegood.com/

They are located right in Needham Heights! Pretty fun!

One trick I definitely learned today is to pack enough food at work - food I can grab easily and prepare quickly!

No exercise for me today :( Maybe I can squat in my office tomorrow....

Frazzled Friday and Tasty Treats

Actually, today wasn't as frazzled as I thought it would be. I was swamped at work, but got a lot done which always makes me feel very accomplished and proud of myself. I don't know that anyone else really cares so I have to give myself some props. Sometimes, when I do something at work - like call someone back or finish some notes - I write it on my to do list after the fact just so I can check it off!! I get so excited when I can check things off my to do list!! It is very exciting. I think I liked that when I was in school too and had my little homework notebook. Crossing off an assignment once it was finished was very exciting!! It is funny, people have so many systems of writing their to do lists - some have a separate notebook, some incorporate it into their planners, some keep it on their phone or computer. Some like to check off completed tasks, some delete them, and some scribble them out. Funny.

Eating Local and Supporting Local Businesses

So my goal is to support local businesses and try to eat more local foods, while also easing into a vegan/vegetarian lifestyle. For now, I am going to start with supporting local eateries, but as time goes on, I plan on researching restaurants to find out where they get their ingredients and if they are being as kind as possible to the planet. I have GOT to finish my book by May 1st so until then I can't fully commit to the Kind lifestyle without being disappointed in myself when I fall short. I seem to have breakfast under control as far as eating vegan. The rest of the day is still a challenge and often filled with M&Ms and coffee.

Local businesses I supported today include PS Deli - fabulous coffee in South Boston - so good in fact that it could potentially keep me from going vegan. It is right in Perkins Square - hence the PS - right at the crazy intersection with Broadway and Dorchester. The coffee is delicious - the Almond Joy Mocha is heaven in a cup.

Babycakes is the other local business - a wonderful cupcake shop in Quincy. Pumpkin Spice cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, chocolate with peanut butter - both amazing!!! I highly recommend them! I am trying the vanilla and chocolate cupcakes tomorrow, and maybe the lemon coconut - yum. Maybe she can make a vegan cupcake....

http://www.babycakesshop.net/