Vote for ME!!! (YU 30 Challenge video)

Hey all!

I just made my video for the YU 30 challenge. This is a summary of my adventure of eating plant based foods for the month of February. This is an image of my month before and after the challenge.

Please find me and click "vote" everyday for the next month. The person with the most votes wins a Vitamix!! xoxox

http://www.yumuniverse.com/2013/03/09/the-yumuniverse-yu30-plant-powerful-challenge-4/

Day 2, Workout

March, 7th 2013

Oh I love ASL so much! This morning I was able to see kindergardeners through 2nd grade sign poetry. It was so cute. Agh!! I wanted to squeeze each and every one of them. ahah. Later, I had an opportunity to interpret with one of my colleagues. She is AMAZ-ING! I learned so much in our half of an hour session. I took Ched for a "walk." Whenever it is sunny outside, he walks for a second and then plops to rub his fur in the ground. ahah. The sunshine is beautiful. Today is a good day. Now to figure out my workout routine! Ha! Day two of working out everyday. Perhaps an other 4 minute workout again? Naw. I need to step it up with The All-Cardio Challenge! Woah! I am so sore. Lol. I chugged a lot of water. 

Bay surprised me with a made up smoothie when I came home! The smoothie included: kale, banana, black berry, peaches, parsley  and honey. Also we made another Hempster smoothie as seen to the right. We didn't have frozen banana's, but I think it tasted great!

Today I had some leftovers from yesterday, the Black Quinoa Sweet Potato Cakes. I used my homemade ketchup too. Yum! I added a whole bunch of vegetables: butter lettuce, tomato, sun-dried tomato, pecans, and avocado. It was really good.

For dinner I made a salad with the leftover Black Quinoa mix with tomato, avocado and an orange bell pepper. I made a avocado sauce too! I added a whole lemon with an chopped avocado, tossed it in the blender, and added to the salad. I really like lemon. Start off with less lemon when you make it!

Also I made rosemary, garlic, french fries for the first time!! Ye-ha! I learned from the first batch to keep it a little below medium and cover the pan. I added the garlic and rosemary too soon to the first batch. I now know to add other toppings after one side is ready. I paired it with my homemade ketchup too.

Bay: "takin' a break from jucing today to give my body some fiber. today's smoothie is: frozen kale, peaches, banana, parsley, honey and bee pollen" (image right)

Cheddar: Meow!

Day 1, Workout

March 6th, 2013

Hello all!! Today I did my first workout. ahah. I did the famous Four Minute Workout. I was surprised this time I wasn't as much out of breath as the first time I did it a few months back. I have not been working out. This makes me think it is related to what I have been consuming- nothing but organic goodness. Lol. One of my amazing friends joined me in the four minutes of joy.

Bay- "today's goodness has fuji apples, carrots, ginger with bee pollen and spirulina.(image left)"

Today I made my black quinoa "cakes" into a salad. I added "ranch dressing" and pecans. It was really good. 

I also made a smoothie too. It included: a lot of kale, frozen: pineapple  blackberries, & celery, a little bit of honey and a banana (image bottom, left.)

Tonight I finally put together my Black Quinoa Sweet Potato Cakes. I noticed that it was really sticky. The sweet potato would be stuck to my hands which made it difficult to for the cakes. I added a lot of flour to make it stay together. Ha! This is what it looks like when I try to make the "cakes."(image bottom, right)

hahah!

For some reason I have been craving, Ketchup. I made my own from this recipe. I used a 6oz can of tomatos with 1/4 cup of water and no dried mustard. I know cans are bad for you. But right now I am on a budget until my taxes come it. Btw, DELICIOUS!! 

Motivation Tuesday.

March, 5th, 2013

Today I felt energized. I woke up with a heightened sense of motivation. I knew today everyone in my class would receive their Q.E. (Qualifying Evaluation) results for Interpreting internship. This term I was really sick for a full week, which just happened to be the week before QE test. I opted out of the test since I knew I wouldn't be up to snuff. 

I'm going to make a picture of me passing the Q.E.and add it to my dream board. Some people call a dream board, a vision board. You put it where you see it with all of your hopes and dreams. It's like advertisement but for yourself.  I learned this from my friend Leo and watching the movie called, "The Secret." Since you see this constantly, you start taking steps in the right direction to accomplish your goal. I am going to pass the Q.E. I have already asked a few people in the interpreting community for extra support. I getting my butt in gear people!! ahah. 

After accomplishing my "30 Yum Universe Challenge" I have decided to do my own challenge of working out for 30 days. It's all about routine. If you can do it past two weeks, you can do it forever. I usually workout for three days, stop for a week or two and start the vicious cycle again. I am going to look over "Get Fit Faster" on Facebook and try their work out routines!

Breakfast: 

Today I made a smoothie (picture left.) It included: maca power, hemp powder, banana, kale, blackberries, blueberries, water,  and almond butter.

Lunch:

Plus I had a sandwich with the Black Quinoa Sweet Potato Cakes on it with butter lettuce and ranch dressing. 

Dinner:
I ate some organic granola from People's coop with fresh almond milk! I love breakfast for dinner.

Night y'll. xo

Chill Monday.

March, 3, 2013

Bay-Bay:

"a rough morning. but nothing like good work out at the gym and a fresh juice can't cure! :) carrot, pink lady apple, cucumber, meyer lemon, ginger, spirulina power and bee pollen. happy monday!! xo" (image left)

This morning I made the Chia breakfast and a smoothie. For the Chia breakfast, I didn't have any dates so I added raisins and cranberries along with everything else in the recipe (image left bottom, imagine this in a mason jar and that's what my breakfast looked like.) My smoothie was really good and I made it up myself. It included: frozen: pineapple, black berries, blue berries, a cup of water, two bananas, a huge handful of frozen kale, and a little bit of honey. I also brought along two avocado's that were ripe.

I practiced a lot of interpreting and transliteration today. I felt like something clicked. I was able to convey meaning through my signing. Success! That is always an interpreters goal. Ah! I love interpreting.

Also, today I've been going over the past month's accomplishments and trying to figure out what to say for the YU 30 challenge video. I have two minutes or less explaining everything I've done. Ha! It's like my own mini commercial. I think I have figured out what to say. Now I just need to video myself and edit it. Bam! Don't worry, I'll keep you posted.

For dinner I had left over Jerk Wrap mix with Ranch dressing. It's my bed time. Off to catch some zzz's cheers! xoxo

sunday. sunday. sunday.

March, 2, 2013

Hello all!

Bay & I have continued our challenge. That's right. Our thirty days is continuing. Why stop when we feel this great? This morning I brought my leftover BLT sandwich and Torte to work with me. I of course had everyone working try it. The all hesitated when they heard the words"vegan and plant based." Ha! Once they tried it, they all wanted more. That's right, healthy and delicious.

When I got back home, Bay made a delicious smoothie off the top of her head. The smoothie is called Sweet Tooth Smoothie: peach, banana, blackberry and local honey (image left.) We ventured off to get our taxes by our friend Amy. I can't wait for our refunds. For Spring break, we are going to go to Washington D.C. Sqweee!

After going to the Alberta coop to pick up some quinoa and soy curls, we made more BLT sandwich mix (so good) and Black Quinoa Sweet Potato Kale Cakes. After eating the BLT made into a salad we were both full. We made the mixture for the Black Quinoa but, felt we should make it tomorrow. Plus we are ready for bed. I can't wait to cook them up tomorrow!

YU 30, Day 30 (Last day!!)

Saturday, March, 2nd

Over the past month, I've been able to use my cute apron. The apron is used for real cooks. ahaha! Bay is usually the person who wears it. I have been afraid to cook things on the stove. I don't like burning things. I allowed fear to control making a change until February 1st. 

She has supported me in the rule of thumb, "practice makes perfect" and "if you never try you will never learn." I have learned to laugh at myself while cooking and in life. I was too intimidated to cook and made the "well my mom never taught me to cook" excuse. 

I've managed to make some amazing meals over the past month. I know this is just the beginning. After doing the same thing (i.e. shopping, looking up recipes, prep, and making the food), the process becomes a habit. You get used to making healthy foods and avoiding bad processed foods. I feel great. I wouldn't accept feeling anything less. Cheers to the upcoming adventures of new recipes and the new Kim & Bay!! 

hi. this is bay. kim wanted me to write a little something on here. i'm more of the quiet one, who likes to take photos of pretty things we make to eat, including all of the smoothies/juices we drink. lately, i've been very impressed with kim's cooking, she's trying out new recipes that are not just sandwiches and salads. it's a nice change for me to just kick back and enjoy, since i am the one that mostly cooks. cooking together now has been much better than before since we both kick ass in the kitchen!! :) kim is eager, much more excited in the kitchen now than ever! 

i have to admit that i have not felt this great and amazing in such a long time! i feel lighter, happier and much more positive about everything in my surroundings; even on the darkest rainy cold day here in portland, i still feel upbeat and alive. i no longer struggle with depression like i used to before. 

eating good wholesome food, drinking juices/smoothies and finding new things everyday to make have really changed the way i look at food that i put in my body. i only want to eat good things and know what's in it. none of that processed, fried, added chemicals crap. 

i look forward to the day in a few months where kim and i move in together with an awesome kitchen and a place to invite our friends over for dinner parties, show off our mad cooking skills.  and of course, take more photos of everything we make. :) 

Today we did a lot of errands. We went to a garage sale and got TONS of vintage mason jars for legumes, nuts, dried fruit, etc. and an awesome pie knife. I love garage sales because they are so cheap.  We went to People's again to get some ingredients for our food.

Breakfast:
We went to sip and ordered: Two wheat grass shots (image middle), Maca beverage (image bottom: maca, almond milk, banana, almond butter, dates, vanilla and ice ), & Super Veggie (bottom left: kale, celery, cucumber, carrot  beet and garlic.)


Lunch:
We went to Por Que No for taco's. Remember to ask for everything vegan and preface you don't eat dairy or meat. They put cheese on everything, even though it is not stated on the menu's. I had to send my food back, twice. The taco's were okay. Nothing compares to what I have made recently. Lol.

Dinner:

Bay's Facebook "tonight's feast. 'B'LT with local gluten free vegan bread with 'bacon' soy curls, soy free ranch. vanilla torte with chocolate 'buttercream' frosting and maca shavings. made with all natural ingredients. :)" 

While making dinner, I cooked up a whole bunch of legumes: from left to right top shelf: spilt pea, black beans, kidney beans, and leftover Chickpea Jerk Burrito mix. I used BPA free plastic bags and measured everything with a cup measurement, put down date, and what was in the bag. I did way too much kidney beans,  14 1/1 cups later. lol. Lesson learned. Then I put everything in my freezer, picture below.

Dessert:
The  vanilla torte with chocolate "buttercream" frosting & maca slices  (last three images) was AMAZING and so easy to make. I would recommend getting two cups of dates because it doesn't specify how many in a cup. Also I would recommend a smallish pan. The pan we used was too big as you can see or draw an outline for yourself. Either way, it'll look and taste great. 

Chia drink:
We made this Chia Fresca drink before we went to bed. 

YU 30, Day 29

Friday, March 1st

Something I wanted to talk about today was the "You are glowing" comments from friends and family. I was whiter than white. My body doesn't see the sunlight, nine months out of the year due to weather, my skin is blinding. You needed sunglasses to look at me, seriously. 

Over the past 29 days, I've started noticing the "glowing" look. I finally figured out what to call it, the natural tan. The awesome part is my "tan" is through out my body, even the places that never see the light of day. I think it is fascinating that our bodies are telling us it's happy. I am in agreeance with my body. 



"today marks a special day for me. to celebrate it, i did some self-care, as you should everyday. 

i did a 2 hour work out at the gym and made this rawkin' out of this world juice. blood orange, orange, apples, fennel, with crushed ice, chai seeds and bee pollen (image above.) much gratitude to all the wonderful, true people in my life. xo"- Bay

Ched's being so cute! If he hears any assortment of plastic bags, no matter the size, he sprints to jump inside and nest. 

Breakfast:
This morning I had left over Chai Blueberry pudding. Delicious!! I also had some vitamin water. Guess what? I remembered to take my vitamins without my granny vitamin container with the days on them, score!

Lunch:
I ate my leftover salad I made a few days ago. I had a little bit of the ranch dressing left over and used my hummus too. The hummus mixed with salad is an excellent substitute dressing. Hahah. I brought my salad to school and one of my classmates said, "look at Kim's picnic she brought." I had three containers: salad, little bit of ranch and hummus. 

Snack:
I ate an apple to figure out what I would like for dinner, so many possibilities.

Dinner:
I ate leftover Chickpea Buckwheat Jerk goodness  with inajri. Since I didn't make more of the ranch recipe, I used my leftover hummus as a nice contrast with the Chickpea mixture. The hummus progressively tastes better every day. The spices mix together and become more intense. Yum! 

Tomorrow, Bay and I are going to tackle this recipe. I am so excited! I LOVE vegan- Plant Based desserts.