Mindful Monday: Customizing Your Life

You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success if found in your daily routine. The difference between who you are, versus who you want to be, is what you to. Pick up some motivation.

How do you create a routine? (and stick to it?)

I am no master, or expert in this subject. This is merely stemmed from a personal experience. When you begin your day with self care, you’re putting your needs before everyone else. A morning routine is saying YES, and allowing yourself that time to blossom. I’ve come to find that morning routines help with: creating an energetic space, allow for more clarity, invigorate intentions, maintaining positivity and an increase in productivity.

Hal Elrod wrote a book called, “The Miracle Morning” and broke routines down into an acronym, “S.A.V.E.R.S”

(S)ilence 10 mins: I have an app on my iPhone called “Breathe” and use it for guided meditation every morning.

(A)ffirmations 5 mins: I always say my affirmations out loud and in front of a mirror.

(V)isualization 5 mins: Create the life what you want in your mind, including the people and experiences to ensure ultimate fulfillment.

(E)xcercise 10 mins: I’ve been enjoying yoga these last few months. Do what makes you happy, and invigorated.

(R)eading 10 mins: Immerse yourself in an inspirational read. I’m currently reading “The Gifts of Imperfection” and “Eat Like You Care”.

(S)cribing 10 mins: aka, journaling. This has been part of my routine for years. Use this time to write what you are most grateful for. This works wonders.

If you want to direct your life, take control of consistent actions. Want to write well? Write everyday. Want to tone up? Fit in exercise frequently. What we do once will never shape out life. Remember, what is done in love is done well.

Good luck. xo, T.

 

Plantiful Sunday: “But.. How do you eat sushi as a vegan?”

You can’t buy happiness, BUT, you can buy sushi and that’s basically the same thing.

As a non-vegan, sushi was literally, life (plus I’m asian, so I’m biased towards all and any forms of asian cuisine). When I transitioned into becoming a vegan, a lot of the people who know my eating preferences questioned how I was going to live without beloved seafood? Especially, sushi. Get this..

Scary fact: If we continue the consumption of seafood at our current rate, there will be NO more cutesy, adorable, fun-loving marine animals left in the ocean BY 2048. Saddening, right? Not to mention, seafood is (now) HIGHLY contaminated with pollutants and irritants AND.. SO many of them are endangered and facing extinction. You don’t want to contribute to that anymore, right? Right. You’ve got a good heart.

On a lighter note: AVOCADO IS THE ANSWER. The creaminess and fatty-like texture mimics that of sashimi-grade fish. Which makes sense as to why there are like 57631 recipes on vegan sushi focusing on avocado. SO LET’S DO THIS.

What you’ll need:
1) White rice in (yes, white, not brown. Texture issues..)
2) Seaweed paper
3) A delicious and perfectly ripe avocado
4) Rice vinegar (seasoned meaning it’s got salt & sugar in it already)

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How-to set up this bad boy:
1) Once your white rice is cooked and cooled, pour 1/4C of the rice vinegar and mix well
2) Place seaweed paper (rough side down) and carefully, place rice on half on the paper
3) Place toppings diagonally on top of the rice
4) Roll diagonally, and use warm water to wet the ends to make them stick! AND..

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YOU HAVE A HAND ROLL. They see me rollin’, they hating.. Okay, I’m done.

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Good luck, and enjoy. xo, T.

Plantiful Sunday: Blissful date balls

Does anyone else laugh at the term “balls”? I’m so mature, I know. IN OTHER NEWS..

Who doesn’t want to snack on complete, delicious goodness which also happens to be raw, vegan, easy to make and packs the most nutritious punch ever? Not to mention, these taste SO naughty, but are totally guilt-free. These bliss balls are 3 ingredients.. YES. That’s it. No, I’m not lying.

3-ingredient bliss balls include:
1 cup of dates (pitted, duh)
1 cup of nuts (I used peanuts for that peanut butter flavor because… it’s life)
1/2 cup of raw cacao

How to:
1)Dump everything into a food processor until it all blends together like a paste
2) Roll into bite size balls
3) Coat in toppings of your choice (I used coconut sugar, coconut shreds and raw cacao) or not. It’s up to you. Your balls, your decision.

BOOM. Literally, the easiest things to make. Naturally sweetened by dates, bursting with that peanut-buttery flavor and packed with absolute nutrition. Health IS wealth. They’ll last in the fridge for atleast a week but trust me, they won’t hang around for that long. YOU’RE WELCOME.

Enjoy. xo, T.

PS: I’m a college grad now, so I’ll be around more. Adulting is real.

Mindful Monday: Risk or regret? You choose.

On particularly rough days, when I’m sure that I cannot possibly endure, I remind myself that my track record for getting through bad days (so far) is 100% and that’s pretty damn good. You fall, you rise, you make mistakes, you learn. You’re human. You’ve been hurt, but you’re alive. Think about what a precious thing is it to be ALIVE – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, and to chase the things you love. Sometimes there is sadness in our journey, but there is also SO much beauty. We must keep putting one foot in front of the other even when we are hurt, for we will never know what’s waiting for us on the other side of fear.

To clarify, there are no (and haven’t been) dark clouds in my days recently, but I have been surrounded by loved ones dealing with dark days. A lesson in learning in that when someone you love swims in deep water, you need to be with them. We can throw stones, complain about them, stumble on them, climb over them or.. we can build with them.

A valuable piece of advice to those going through hard times: Growth is painful, and so is change. But nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere where you don’t belong.

Herein lies the power of mind. Everything begins and ends in mind. What you give power to, has power over you.. If you allow it. Instead of saying “I’m not good at this” try saying, “What am I missing?”. Instead of saying “I give up” try saying, “This may take some more time and effort”. You can’t get much done in life if you only work on days you feel good, right? So, it’s OKAY to suffer the pain of discipline, or would you much rather suffer the pain of regret? Your choice.

Good luck. Xo, T

Plantiful Sunday: Raw Brownie Bites

So, everybody LOVES Ben and Jerry’s Fudge Brownie ice cream, right? Well, I’ve come up with a healthier, guilt-free version that honestly, beats the hell out of the Ben and Jerry’s brand. Yes, I’m tooting my own horn. TOOT TOOT! That’s why I love being a vegan.. I can STILL eat comfort foods & old faves without supporting unsustainable methods.

Brownie dough:
1) Soak 2 cups of dates in warm water for a few minutes, then add to a food processor. Add a few heaping tablespoons of cacao, 2 cups of almond flour/oat flour/coconut flour – whatever flour to a food processor and blend that baby up!
2) Once you get that flour-like texture, place wax paper into a baking dish and press “brownie dough” into the dish & pop into freezer to set.

Chocolate ganache:
1) Place 1 cup of dark chocolate vegan chips, a fourth cup of non-dairy milk and 2 TBSP of coconut oil into a bowl.
2) Microwave until all is melty & chocolatey goodness.
3) Place in fridge for 15 minutes to cool off and thicken.

AND THE REST IS HISTORY! Top your brownies off with some ganache, nuts, seeds – whatever you like, cut them into spares/circles/rectangles & nosh.

Top these on top of chocolate nice cream and seriously, HEAVEN. You can’t really beat dessert for breakfast. Let’s be real here..

Eat well. Xo, T.

Fortunate Friday: Does your mind control your life?

Until you cross the bridge of your insecurities, there’s no way that you could even begin to explore possibilities. Put on your positive pants! My mind is always at a constant race – overthinking situations – the root cause of past unhappiness. Generally, I’m content but I’m also not a robot, I’m human and I’m continuously “filled with feelings” for people, for the world, for the environment, for the animals..

Too often, we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, a compliment, or a small act of compassion – all of which have the potential to influence an abundant life. I’ve come to realize that talking about our problems is our greatest addiction. Break the habit, let’s focus on joy & blissfulness.

I’m a firm believer in intention & mantras, both of which have been scientifically proven to influence perception. Think about this: Everytime the sun sets, luminous colors are left. These colors give promise to a new day. A new day brings new intention – choice, change, chance. I’ve learned (and still learning!) that energy introduces you even before an exchange of words.. because faith & doubt cannot exist in the same mind.

So, I’ve stopped apologizing for being “sensitive” or “emotional”. You should too. I’m no longer afraid of revealing my heart & letting others bask in its infectious nature. You should too. Showing emotions is a sign of courage so go ahead, acquire some strength & seek adventures to open your mind. The world needs it.

Good luck. Xo, T.

Choose Meaningful Friendships

2016 has brought a plethora of changes – mostly positive, but some negative – boy, have I found myself in the deepest depths of reflection when it comes to all my friendships.

 Sometimes, we need someone to simply be there. Someone to just BE. Not to fix anything, or to do anything in particular but just to let us know that we are supported when we are scared. That’s when I’m reminded of the true meaning of friendship; someone to love you – the imperfect you, the confused you, the wrong you – because that’s what people are supposed to do.

If I’ve learned anything about this topic, it’s to consistently make an effort to hang on, stay connected, put in effort, fight for them & never walk away or be distracted, don’t be too busy or too tired and don’t take them for granted. Friends are a part of the glue that holds life and fate together – powerful stuff. With gentle honesty, close friends are truly one of life’s treasures to offer us a presence to remind us that we are never alone.

BUT..
If you have to force it, leave it.
Relationships, friendships, yoga poses, top knot.
Let that shit go.

When connections are real, they can never die but they can be buried or ignored. If you’ve found deep resonance with another being, connection will remain despite distance, time, situation or circumstance. If you’re doubtful, revisit to see if you can make sense of the spaces between. If it’s true, you’ll instantly find yourself being swept back into the moment with the same wonder, hope, comfort & heartbeat.

Q: What have your experiences with friendship been like?

Xo, T.

Red Lentil Dal with Rice – OBSESSED!

Midterms are now finished & I can finally do what I do best, make my way into the kitchen to create (and share) some recipes with you. SO excited about this.

Ever since I transitioned into becoming a vegan, I made it my mission to follow a few rules:
1) Never give up any ingredients I love (Sorry, but I love EVOO & fats like avocado!)
2) Learn to tweak the recipe to making palatable for myself
3) Keep it simple, easy & convenient

I came across the delicious combination of basmati rice and dahl. This has seriously become a staple in our house because of AMAZING it tastes.. And who doesn’t like indian food? Seriously, we can’t be friends if you can’t hang with indian.

Set up is simple:
1) Cook 1 cup of basmati rice in a rice cooker or whatever you have handy
2) In a large pot, sauté 1 diced onion, a few minced garlic cloves and a small piece of ginger
3) Then add 2 cups of red lentils, 5 cups of water, 1 cup of veggie stock & some spices

Allow to simmer for 30-45 minutes (keep an eye on it!). Then serve some for yourself and satisfy your hanger pangs. I LOVE adding lemon/lime/coriander to everything. Literally.

Eat well. Xo, T.

Plantiful Sunday: Healing Mung Bean Soup

Staying warm in Ventura this week with this incredible, delicious and healing bowl of mung bean soup. A perfect plant-based addition to your cooking repertoire.

Green mung beans are filled with amazing healing properties. They’re easily digestible, anti-inflammatory and unlike other beans, they don’t cause any gas or bloating. Most importantly, green mung beans are one of the few tridoshic foods in Ayurvedic diets that can be eaten to balance all three dosha’s (energetic forces) in the body. LOVE THAT.

Set up is simple:
1 chopped onion, a few garlic cloves, 1 chopped zucchini, half cup of sweet corn, 1 cup of green mung beans, 7 cups of water, 1 TBS of turmeric, 1 TBS of cumin, s&p. Sauté onions & garlic until fragrant, add everything else and allow to cook between 30-45 minutes.

Customize this dish with whatever spices and veggies you want & make it as flavorful as you desire – Serves for mindful eating. This is what works for my palate.

Eat well. Xo, T.

Fortunate Friday: Discovering my health

In 2012, I had no balance. I found myself binging on late-night McDonalds and relying on processed foods to fill my nutrient and calorie deficiencies. Until one morning, I woke up with an awful outbreak of eczema on my thighs, my stomach, my hands and my face. With a shattered self-confidence, I made my way into a dermatologists office in which I was offered steroids as my course of treatment. I declined.

I obsessively researched ways to cure control my eczema and fell deeply engrossed with the mission of homeopathy. I found myself investing time to cook, create recipes and soon realized that I felt contentment in the kitchen. I found myself truly savoring every bite of my whole-fooded meals and realized that buying groceries was more satisfying than anything materialistic. I fell in love with the process of choosing to prioritize my health. Three months later, my eczema completely disappeared.

Not only did my physical exterior change, so did my quality of life. Holistic health addressed my mind, body and soul. I decided to treat my body as a system instead of compartmentalizing myself into symptoms or parts. Most importantly, I learned (and still learning!) that nutrition does not mean low fat or low calorie. It’s a nourishment of your being so you can feel energized to live life to it’s true potential.

So here’s my doctors orders: Sometimes a small step may be the biggest step in the right direction. Tip toe if you must. Eating crappy food is not a reward, it’s a punishment, remember that! Lastly, fall in love with taking care of yourself.. Mind, body and spirit.

Good luck. Xo, T.
PS: Shoutout to my friend, Shireen, who inspired me to blog about this. Thanks girl!