Today's Vegan Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies are crinkly, flat and oh so chewy.
They have a slightly underbaked texture which lends to that supreme chewiness. Studded with melty chocolate chips, a few rolled oats and crunchy, buttery walnuts to bring some texture contrast.
These cookies are decadent and easy to devour. So if you have a craving for some to-die-for crowd-pleasing vegan cookies, give these a spin...
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Between my blog and my first cookbook 365 Vegan Smoothies, I have written a lot of smoothie recipes in the past ten years, plus. But even though I love how fun it is to try creative recipes, new ingredients and spins on classics - the truth is - the old-school, classic recipes are usually famous for a reason. They are just that good! They stand the test of time and trends. And this Strawberry Banana Smoothie is an absolute classic to crave.
Here is the BEST way to make it. According to me....
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Well I'm rounding the corner of my second trimester and I have made it to 26 weeks pregnant! Craziness. Happy craziness.
Less than 100 days to go! About 96 or 97 now .. even though we all know babies never come right on schedule, so I'm ready for anything at this point.
I hadn't taken my formal pictures in a good few weeks, so it was time to pull out the tripod and my handy little remote control and snap some shots...
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I whipped up this BBQ Tempeh Kale Bowl for lunch the other day and it was so satisfying and yummy that I knew I wanted to share it here on the blog.
Relatively fast and easy when you have the right prep in place, this bowl is perfect for a busy day lunch or dinner - or as we have been eating a lot of lately - linner! Anyone else into dinner super early lately?
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These days, I rarely include my name in a recipe title. But this one hit my taste buds so brightly that I just had to label it my own. This 'Kathy's' Ultimate Green Goddess Salad is the green-goodness salad of my dreams.
Curly kale is coated in the yummiest green goddess dressing, and then tossed with avocado, kalamata olives, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, cucumber (or zucchini) cubes, celery and green pepper.
The combination of this dressing with the greens and fresh veggies and that pop of saltiness from the kalamata olives makes every bite end in a loud "Yummmmmmmmmmm." Really.
So if you love a good marinated kale salad, give this one a try! (And if you don't have time or feel like DIY-ing your dressing, I have a few options for you!)
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The first words out of my mouth when I taste-tested these fudgy, vegan Crinkle-Top Brownies...
"I'm not usually a brownie person, but oh my God these are GOOD."
And yeah, it's true, I'm actually not a brownie gal. I remember at high school sleepovers everyone would be devouring box-mix brownies and I was just like... meh. They were too sweet, too rich or just not my thing.
These day, I normally prefer the bite of a buttery chocolate chip or peanut butter cookie. But oh my goodness -- these rich yet pleasantly buttery, totally fudgy vegan crinkle brownies may change my mind.
Need a chocolate fix? Try these!! Bonus, these are ridiculously easy to make...
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I'm not even a mom to a birthed baby yet, but I already feel the Mom Shaming vibe. While I'm not out in the real world just yet (thanks pandemic) mom shaming is alive and well online. From Instagram to Facebook groups, articles and social media in general.
I've seen it happen to others and I've experienced a bit myself (from IVF to pregnancy), so I wanted to speak out about it.
Mom shame / mom guilt / mom shaming is a thing. I have often heard from experienced mom friends that mom shaming and judgement is one of the harder parts of mom-hood. That shame can come from outside sources or bubble up internally. I think it's often a combination of both.
I knew it was coming. But during a pandemic pregnancy, can't we all try to give each other a break?
Sharing my experience thus far, and how I plan to deal with it..
It is all around us. And the online presence of it can be pretty sharp, blunt and insensitive. It's so easy to hide behind a screen. Sometimes it comes from a blatant bully - a stranger or someone you know in real life - and other times - probably more often - it comes from a well-meaning person who has no clue the pain they inflicted.
And it feels even more intense when it bubbles up from an internal source. Our own negative talk, mom guilt. Yes, we each carry shame around in some way, but luckily internal shame is the easiest to stomp out in my opinion. Working on creating self-esteem around your mom choices may be the best self-care act you can do for yourself. I mean...
Science Says Motherhood Tanks Your Self-Esteem for Three Years - Slate
...Really? Time to start building yourself up - NOW! You got this mom or mom-to-be or wannabe mom or child-free-by-choice non mom!
How to Protect Your Self-Esteem After Having a Baby - Offspring
People love to give their opinions just by nature. We all know that. And we all deal with it in LIFE. I'm 39 and I have basically acquired a thick enough skin to deal with random negativity in my everyday life.
But when it comes to being a mom, your kids, your pregnancy, your emotions around motherhood (or lack of it), your choices as a mom - it can feel especially sensitive.
A few topics that you may feel it from...
...That last one hits home because I received it yesterday on Instagram. I was being pretty open and honest and vulnerable about my grief surrounding not being able to have a baby shower. Such a trivial thing, YES, but also something that so many pandemic-pregnant moms are feeling.
And those 'just be grateful' vibes really stung. Especially since I wake up everyday and rub my tummy and smile feeling insanely grateful in so many ways. I try so hard to express that publicly, but also -- I'm human. And being pregnant during a pandemic kinda sucks. Complaining doesn't mean you don't have complicated feelings and sway back and forth from gratitude to being human and feeling grief.
I think about those students without proms or graduations. Missing their friends or just feeling sad because they can't go to their fave park to play. TRIVIAL things, but also - real feelings that are 100% ok to have and share.
"From small losses to giant ones, the world is grieving.
For many of us, facing this level of grief is unfamiliar and overwhelming, and we’re unsure how to process the intensity. Our “work hard, think happy thoughts” culture is great for a lot of things, but it makes talking about grief really hard."
- Megan Devine, therapist + author -- 'Navigating this epidemic of Grief'
To cope, I self-soothe: Positive self-talk. Use my backbone of self-esteem and confidence in myself. But that doesn't always work. Some days are more tender than others.
So when that isn't enough, I seek out my people! So a few days ago, I went into one of my many private pregnancy Facebook groups and asked about mom shaming and referenced the comment that hurt a bit. Luckily, I received 55+ comments agreeing with my emotions and response. It made me feel so much better to know I wasn't alone. And my feelings were totally valid to share.
Some people just don't get it -- and that's ok.
Anyone who tells you to 'just be grateful' - after an infertility journey, and during a pandemic where you haven't seen literally ANYONE except your OB and cats and husband your entire pregnancy - probably doesn't know where you are coming from when you say you are sad about no baby shower. And don't get the symbolic nature of what the 'baby shower' represents in this whole pandemic pregnancy. And I know that.
Some articles + videos + interviews chatting about this...
For me, mom-shaming goes WAY back. Three years back when I decided I was going to make an appointment at a fertility clinic and investigate treatment options - and eventually start my treatment journey.
Most people were supportive and just curious about IVF. But there are always the mom-shamers. The people who cannot keep negative opinions to themselves.
For infertility moms, we've heard it all..
I chatted more about my What Infertility Feels Like moments in this post.
It's funny, we watched the new Seinfeld comedy show on Netflix last night and there was a segment on how people just love to give their opinions - it's human nature. They will say just about anything just to give an opinion - even if their opinion makes no sense. Jerry explains it much better than me, lol. It was a really funny show if you need a laugh. The very last part about movie theaters had us roaring. I was crying tears it was so funny to me. But anyways...
It will happen. Especially with the nature of my career and passion for sharing. But I'm ready. I am so excited to share this journey. Sharing and connecting online is a BEAUTIFUL thing.
But when the online bullies chime in....
I will feel it pretty deeply for a moment. (Sensitive person problems.) Then I'll take a deep breath and either respond or delete.
Unfortunately, you can't delete people in real life. So my usual response is to just smile and move on. Remove myself from the situation. You can do that online too!
It may be human nature to judge. But it's not human nature to be mean. IMO.
Hurt people - hurt people.
I will always believe that people are intrinsically good and kind at their core. Gossiping doesn't make you a bad person. From a good distance, it's totally normal and maybe even healthy - maybe even good for you! I mean, we all make silly comments when watching reality TV or The Oscars red carpet, etc...
People are fascinating! It's impossible to not have reactions to other people. To analyze. Even compare a little. Why do you think Instagram is so popular? Humans love to see what others are doing. I think the entire Real Housewives Series is built around drinking and judging. (Ha.) And people love it!!
I 100% agree that this world can be a serious place and we all need to have a healthy sense of humor about ourselves. But..
Some things just feel more sacred. Motherhood being one of them.
And there is a fine line between fun and socializing and being mean.
When judging / shaming creeps (or lurches full force) into someone else's life and relationships - that is a problem....
The difference between analyzing people for fun and creating something negative really comes from what you do with your opinions. How accurate they actually are. And where they end up. Who they affect - who they influence. Directly or indirectly.
For me, I have noticed that when I feel most confident about myself and HAPPY, I tend to judge less. And it feels GOOD. Don't want drama. Don't feel like I need negativity. I am more apt to celebrate others and cheer people on in my thoughts and words. And it becomes this lovely cycle of positive energy. And THAT feels so much better than anything happening on Housewives. However entertaining they are, ha.
It doesn't matter if you are a mom, wannabe mom, never-want-to-be-a-mom, pet-mom, aunty, surrogate mom, grand-mom or somewhere in between. Women have so much power when they come together. They can hurt and heal together in powerful ways. So I hope the next time I think something judgemental for whatever reason, I come back to a place of love and understanding on this truth:
Women have enough shit to deal with, mouths to feed, people to take care of, work to get done, bills to pay and dreams to conquer. I just want to build women up - and hope you will join me too in that goal.
And when all else fails, realize that you have to love yourself first. Be confidant in who YOU are. And realize all the badass things you have done in your life so far. And walk right past anyone who doesn't see all those things too.
Love you all and sending so much support to women, moms and non-moms everywhere.
My very first mom's day flowers EVER from my sweet friend Cat.... Women supporting women is one of my fave things ever.
pps. To the boys reading this who made it this far. I hope you take some time to appreciate this whole concept of mom-shaming. I don't think guys and dads get it as much. (Do they?) And just acknowledging that you know it happens could really help the women in your life.
Looking for more pregnancy journey posts?
Find them in my BABY section.
Get kitchen-inspired - quick hop to ALL THE RECIPES.
Wait, hold up. Why? Why put chickpeas in banana bread? Well this Chickpea Vegan Banana Bread is crazy good and bakes up fluffy yet dense in real banana flavor. I love that every bite includes a healthy secret ingredient... beans! Don't tell the kids. Or the bean-phobes in your house...
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Looking for dinner inspiration? These Vegan Casserole Recipes have you covered!...
One of my favorite meals to make for dinner is anything using a casserole dish! I love the ease of tossing everything into a wide baking dish, then serving it for dinner, and for us, we always have leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day. Easy peasy.
So I asked the talented and uber-creative bloggers in my Finding Vegan Bloggers group to contribute their favorite easy vegan casserole recipes and here is what they came up with.
48 Vegan Casserole Recipes...
This whole work from home thing has me eating larger lunches and earlier dinners. It also has me craving more big and fresh salads. But a simple salad, all raw and lovely just isn't a "meal." So today I am sharing 14 tips on How to Turn a Salad into a Meal.
I'm also sharing my recipe for this Fresh and Crunchy Vegan Salad, which is one of my fave salad meals to make right now!...
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Everyone is on a baking kick right. Comfort food. Dough. Buttery flavors. Caramelized sugar. Chocolate. Oh yeah. And Babka is a recipe I have been seeing pop up lately. Looking for a baking challenge, I decided to dive in. This Cinnamon or Chocolate Vegan Babka is insanely delicious. Plus, I try a few Mini Babkas too!
If you love dough, baking and yummy things, keep reading...
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One of my favorite homemade vegan pizzas is this Green Pepper Olive Pizza. Vegan sausage optional, salty capers, fresh basil on top.
The homemade crust, using my pizza dough recipe is super easy to make and bakes up light and bubbly with crisp edges. I dust the bottom of the crust with some corn meal and the edges with vegan parmesan.
Vegan pizza is such a fun and easy eay to DIY a family meal! I hope you can give this recipe a try...
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One of my favorite meals is the simple combo of beans on toast. And while I have played with baked beans recipes here on the blog many times, I wanted to showcase a recipe that is insanely easy, delicious and fast! These Fast + Easy Stovetop Baked Beans take under ten minutes to make and contain only five main ingredients...
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It's April, and that means it's NIAW, National Infertility Awareness Week. So today I pulled out an old draft of a post on infertility. A list of collected thoughts, experiences, emotions sharing What Infertility Feels Like.
I've already shared my infertility journey, but today I'm digging a bit deeper. By sharing my thoughts on what my own experience with infertility depression, grief and isolation look like to me now - more distant from it all - as I sit in a happier space...
(TW - trigger warning - mention of pregnancy + IVF.)
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Last weekend I was so happy to participate in my friend Sydney's photography + interview project... the Bloom Social Distancing Project -- inspired by the coronavirus pandemic and #stayathome lifestyle we are all experiencing.
Today some life + art + creativity conversation featuring my interview with Sydney on the inspiration behind her project. Plus, she share her tips for photography + how YOU can get inspired to create something too!....
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This Vegan Southern Soul Bowl -- or plate -- depending how you serve it, is plant-based comfort food at it's finest! Cheesy pasta, garlicky apple cider-doused collard greens, fluffy cornbread and sticky-sweet baked BBQ tofu cubes, all mingled together on one cozy plate.
And don't think that you need hours in the kitchen to bring this meal together. I had my cornbread prepped, but after that, everything came together in under thirty minutes. Get excited for some soul on your plate tonight!...
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When in quarantine, you end up doing random little projects like this 365 Brand Vegan Barbecue Sauce Review..
I was all set to do my southern soul bowl meal, but I needed BBQ sauce. To make things easy, I decided to skip my usual (and all time favce) DIY BBQ sauce and choose bottled. During my Whole Foods grocery delivery ordering, I was faced with three options of vegan sauce - all from 365 brand. Memphis, Kansas City and Texas. Hmmm.....
What's the difference? Which one is the best? So many questions...
So of course, like any good food blogger, I put all three in my cart and decided to do this little review / taste test...
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I'm excited to bring you guys another Healthy Happy Leaders Interview! This one features my talented friend, Stephanie Dreyer, aka Veegmama.
I met Stephanie at a Vegan Ladyboss meeting last year and loved chatting with her about her amazing creations including recipes, meal plans and the cutuest children's books ever. Stephanie Dreyer Interview on the way...
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These fluffy, berry-loaded, vegan Double Berry Crumble Muffins taste kinda like the best buttery berry pie - only in muffin form. Two types of berries: fresh strawberries and wild blueberries load up fluffy layers of lemony muffins. Buttery crumble topping on top. If you are craving some homemade muffins this week, give these a try!...
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Sometimes you just want cake. Chocolate cake. Chocolate Layer Cake. And today was one of those days. Not only is eating chocolate cake a delicious addition to any day - actually making chocolate cake also gives any day a cheery lift! From the silky chocolate batter to the whipped chocolate buttercream frosting and slathering it over the fluffy layers of cake. Yup, if you are looking for a fool-proof, crowd-pleasing, happiness-inducing baking recipe, this is it!...
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This is an absolute quarantine type recipe! These Mushroom Kale Pitas came together when I didn't have much else in the fridge for a hearty lunch other than some mushrooms I wanted to use up and some leftover kale. I knew that a regular sandwich presentation wouldn't hold these hearty warm filling all that well so into my freezer I went, and found some pita bread.
Add some garlic, pepper, hummus and some fresh crunchy lettuce too and a new fave meal was born! These were SO GOOD I will absolutely be making them again...
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This Easy Cheesy Pasta Bake with Spinach and Vegan Sausage was the perfect easy and satisfying meal yesterday for an early dinner. Layers of tender pasta are marinated with tomato sauce, clustered with loads of wilted spinach and melty cheese shreds. A sprinkle of vegan sausage on top for added flavor and protein.
This recipe literally takes about 15 minutes to prep (including pasta boiling time) and then another 15 minutes to bake. Serve and wait for the swoons...
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I ventured into making a batch of Homemade Bagels by setting my expectations pretty low. I mean, I am absolutely a bagel snob, having lived in NYC for a good number of years. Some of the best bagels ever can be found there. But I was so excited when this recipe actually turned out beautifully! There are in fact some of the best bagels I have ever eaten.
Chewy and more crispy when toasted on the outside and fluffy and light, spongy, yet dense enough to be a bagel, on the inside. If you are a bagel lover like me, take a few hours out of your day to try this simple recipe...
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I posted about my fave super easy ice cream last week on Instagram and received a lot of questions about it! SO even though I already have a whole bunch of cashew ice cream posts up, I wanted to share the most basic recipe for Vanilla Cashew Ice Cream. Plus, my little spin on it: Cake and Ice Cream Cashew Ice Cream -- made using the leftovers from my chocolate cake recipe.
I mean, what's better than cake and ice cream, guys?...
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If you pay attention to internet type things, you have probably heard of or seen Dalgona Coffee -- the fluffy, whipped coffee trend that is all over TikTok + Instagram. Well my friend Cat made the most ah-mazing version of Dalgona in her stories - and she challenged me to try making a Dalgona Matcha, and so here are my results. What worked and what didn't!...
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Get ready for some cozy.. These Vegan Cinnamon Rolls are just like the classic I remember buying at the mall when I was a teenager. Fluffy, buttery, rich cinnamon flavor and a buttery, cream-cheesy frosting or glaze on top. Craving some classic cinnamon buns? Here ya go....
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One of my favorite casserole-style meals has always been lasagna. And this vegan Spinach Mushroom Lasagna with homemade cashew ricotta is a total comfort food win. One dish meal, and loaded with good stuff...
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I've posted so many variations on the beloved chocolate chip cookie that every time I post a new one, I have to try really hard to pull out what exactly makes it special or different. And for today's vegan recipe, it is absolutely the maple syrup sweetener. these Maple-Sweetened Chocolate Chip PEanut Butter Cookies bake up soft and fluffy, with enough rich denseness to make these a satisfying treat.
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I asked my blogger friends to chime in on their very best Quarantine Cooking Tips + recipes -- and here is what they had to say....
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Made it. Halfway there. Twenty weeks pregnant. Month five. I am really excited to share my (first ever!) pregnancy bump photos with you.
20 Week Baby Bump Photos, here we go...
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Yesterday, I whipped up these vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake Bites when I was craving a special treat. And oh my goodness did these deliver! Rich chocolate cheesecake tops fluffy peanut butter cheesecake. A nutty peanut butter swirl on top and buttery graham cracker crust on the bottom.
If you are cheesecake fan and want to give yourself an extra special treat right now, give this crazy-good recipe a try!...
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Yesterday I whipped up a vegan lasagna and this Cashew Ricotta Cheese was definitely a featured ingredient in each bite! The richness of the cashews lends so much oomph to the flavor and heartiness of a plant-based lasagna.
You could also try a store-bought ricotta or a DIY tofu ricotta, but I think cashew ricotta is my fave...
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Making this Coziest Bean Soup didn't come naturally to me today. Soups and stews are usually recipes I like to make when I come home from a long day, when the weather is chilly and crisp. Or when I'm just needing some warming up of sorts. And being inside 24/7, toasty and warm, missing the crispness of fresh air, soup wasn't on my mind.
But I grabbed whatever I had in my pantry and fridge - the perfect things for my fave stew - and whipped this up in under thirty minutes. And yup, like usual, soup delivered!
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A new normal. A little COVID-19 diary for you today...
Right now, it's Monday night. I'm in bed early. Lights off, just the glow of my laptop and sunset-pink salt lamp on my nightstand. Sochi was curled up by my feet, but has since abandoned me for his dinner. The cats are effortlessly clueless and happy right now, which definitely helps the energy of things around here.
Unfortunately, us humans, with our phones and LIVE everything and responsibilities to survive .. are much more painfully aware of things.
Today, specifically, felt like a lot. I was up at 5am waiting on our Amazon Fresh grocery delivery. A 5-7am time slot in my pre-quarantine life would have been a no-go, but these days I'm thrilled to snag absolutely anything. Want to deliver me some flour and toilet paper at 3am? I'll set the alarm!
My alarm beeps at 5am. But I was already laying in bed, wide awake. I scroll social media while monitoring my driver on my AmazonFresh account. Two hours later, I buzz the driver into our building. A few minutes later, the familiar clomps to our doorstep, then the sound of rustling bags being plopped outside. The cats jump to the windows and investigate. "Just more groceries, guys." I tell them.
My husband brings the grocery bags inside, carefully handling them as if they are coated in lethal poison. As usual now, we set up two sides of the kitchen counter. The clean side and the 'corona' side, aka mysteriously, possibly unclean. Everything that comes into the kitchen starts on the corona side and gets some sort of wipe down, rinse or removing of the outer packaging.
This wasn't the case even a few weeks ago. But hey, everyone is doing it now. (Positive or pointless..)
The sun barely peeking into the hazy sky, we do our habitual grocery-washing routine. In my old life, I'm used to giving my produce a good cleansing -- I love my fruit and veggie wash -- but washing containers of soy milk, bags of chips, jars of pickles, bags of rolled oats, jars of peanut butter and bottles of pomegranate juice is a whole other level of 'clean.' Or crazy. I'm not totally sure yet.
'Better safe than sorry' is the general consensus to all our seemingly 'extreme' preventative measures going on. Also included in that: hand sanitizer in every room and hands being bone dry from washing them all day long.
It takes us about a half hour to wash and dry and put away the mish-mash of groceries -- I always seem to forget what I threw in my cart at the last minute, just trying to snag a time slot. Somehow, we have five cartons of soy milk, about five jars of pickles in our fridge, and an overflow of Beanfield's chips right now. Better safe than sorry, right?
After the groceries, I feed the cats, take a steamy shower - complete with calming essential oils per usual right now - make some rooibos tea and change into some "daytime PJs."
I sit down at my computer, chug my tea, grimace at the bright screen. But lethargic and barely able to keep my eyes open, I make the decision to go back in bed.
I pull the fluffy covers over my body and scroll on my phone a few more times, until my heavy eyelids force my head to the pillow.
I actually slept for a few more hours which I'm sure was greatly appreciated by the little human hanging out inside my belly.
Second waking up. I linger in bed for an hour or so, groggy, emotionally exhausted. Yawn. I reach for my phone, pull on my glasses, make sure Sochi is still sleeping at my feet - he is.
I pull up the PrimeNow App on my phone, remembering that in a few hours, we have another small grocery delivery on today's schedule. Wash, rinse and repeat.
Later that day, I made a late breakfast. Big foamy decaf latte. Big lunch. Tiny dinner. I posted a recipe, did a few website things and emailed my OB doctor about a question I had. Per usual, I didn't get outside. I know a walk would give me a huge boost, but the sidewalks are empty, everyone is staying in for everyone else. And that's a very good thing, I think.
That was Monday. Today, Tuesday, there are no deliveries - thank goodness - and I'm still in bed at 9am, getting quite used to my stay-in-bed-and-laptop-writing routine. I'm listening to the Cuomo, Governor of NY, on my phone as I type away. Watching constant LIVE reports reminds me so much of 9/11.
Sochi's curled up at my feet, peacefully purring, so with that, I feel ok, even good, in this fluffy quarantine cocoon.
I think the hardest part to this COVID-19 new normal reality is the day-by-day of it all. The uncertainty is overwhelming.
Sometimes I think this could all be over in a few weeks, a month maybe. Other times, I listen to the scariest reports and predictions and think the peak is still coming. And that this could actually be our new normal for months. That thought is too much for me right now.
I read in The Atlantic, that the next generation could be called 'Generation C' - post COVID-19 kids born in a whole new world.
I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Like everything else right now.
I think the best thing I've read in regards to coping and stress and managing feelings is this article on grief. One part of the article describes how feeling your feelings in full, naming them instead of judging them, is important. I've been trying to practice this daily with all the mixed emotions.
Even the sad, grieving ones that, when I'm not paying attention, I tend to judge and label as selfish or ungrateful or small or trivial.
But just like my gratitude -- daily sadness and grief is so real right now -- and it doesn't mean I'm not grateful, just human.
I hope you are finding some tiny comforts, joys and deep renewals in your own new normal, whatever it looks like.
And I hope that with the quiet time we have been given, we come out of this with a positively shifted perspective. An appreciation for how impactful 'everyday things' actually are in our lives. Things like hugs and eye contact, laughter and movies, fresh air and sunlight, travel and lazy walks.
The grandeur and fragility of literally everything.
Or maybe, just find the humor in all of this madness, chaos, tragedy, I guess...
Like one meme I saw said, "I can't wait to go back to taking everything for granted."
Going back to basics today with this classic Ants on a Log Snack.
This old-school snack recipe is favorite of kids of all ages. I definitely remember eating this when I was still in single digits!
The Goods. Rich in creamy peanut butter, a hint of chewy sweet raisins and of course a base of crunchy celery. But don't stop there! I have a bunch of variations for you today!
I made this yesterday when I was craving something salty and sweet but still crunchy. And crackers just were not going to do it for me. Celery it was! And I loved it so much, I decided to post it here to remind anyone else about how lovely this recipe is.
And today, I'm sharing a few ways that you can give this healthy snack recipe a bit of a spin. Including raisin-free, celery-free and peanut butter-free variations...
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Over the past few weeks of COVID-19 / coronavirus / global pandemic chaos, one thing that has saved my sanity is... food! Keeping my family nourished and healthy, happy and satisfied. So also during this time, my side gig has become ordering grocery delivery either online and on via Apps.
I've been ordering our own family groceries and making sure my mom is well-stocked too. And I've acquired a few tips that have helped me lock in time slots and get items that have been hard to come by. Hope these tips can help our your family grocery ordering needs as well...
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Aglio e Olio, which means garlic and olive oil has always been one of the fave pasta sauces in our house.
And this two-ingredient sauce comes in super handy when you are running low on pantry items. Today I'm sharing my favorite vegan Aglio e Olio Pasta with a creamy light sauce, rich garlic flavor and lots of vegan Parmesan to bring everything to another level of yummmm...
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I sit here typing this, happily in my second trimester, but oh boy that first was a doozy. Of course, now, (re: coronavirus) -- trimester two could be just as crazy. Eesh.
Looking back on a more normal pregnancy time, here is my first trimester recap...
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I haven't made Oatmeal Raisin Cookies in years. Mostly because my husband hates raisins and so anything with chocolate usually wins in our house. But yesterday, with pouring rain, coronavirus stress in full force and just feeling really anxious,, I wanted to spend some time in the kitchen. And nibble some warm-from-the-oven cookies. Baking to the rescue!
These vegan Oatmeal Raisin Cookies turned out better than I could have hoped. I'm nibbling one right now as I type and in a blissful cloud of cinnamon, oats, butter and vanilla. These are tender and slightly fluffy, with loads of chewy raisins and chopped mixed nuts studding the softly textured insides.
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If you are in need of a cozy, warm hug via a soup bowl, this Potato Cauliflower Soup is it.
This simple-ingredient soup can be whipped up in under thirty minutes and offers a satisfying way to add some veggies to your day. It is also a very pantry-friendly meal which is perfect for the times we are living in right now.
If you have some potatoes and cauliflower, you can swing this soup!...
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I've finally announced my happy news. And even shared about my infertility journey to get here. Well, today I'm sharing a bit of my experience with being pregnant during coronavirus chaos...
It's been a long rainy week here in Los Angeles. Thank goodness. I think the gloom is actually keeping people indoors.
I'm currently hunkered down, ready to not leave my house - for a few weeks, some say months. I was lucky to squeeze into an important scan a few days ago, but an appointment I have next week has already been cancelled. Playing on my OB's office voicemail, an announcement that all offices are closed due to Covid-19.
The fresh news that all of California is basically on lockdown, certainly wasn't helpful. But I'm trying to stay positive and grateful. I'm grateful for local grocery delivery workers, being with my amazing husband and my cats who are sweetly oblivious - their fuzzy faces and soft purrs keeping us sane and happy.
At my scan this week. So glad I got in before places shut down. And yes, I wore a mask...
Masks and Lysol, CDC briefings and cancelled baby showers. The pregnant women I chat with in private groups, texts and DMs are all feeling pretty low right now.
Some women are being told that they will have to delivery ALONE because hospitals cannot allow guests. So many important appointments and scans are being cancelled. (The Atlantic - birth plans being upended.) And while it makes so much sense, I feel awful for any women having to cancel IVF cycles -- or wait months to even start them.
This already naturally anxious time has been pressed to limits, beyond what we could have ever imagined. Pregnancies are scary. The possible complications are vast, but a brand new global epidemic virus? Nope, didn't guess that one.
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Get cozy. This is a long one! I am so excited to share my happy news. And today, I am digging a bit deeper into the 'how' of my pregnancy by sharing my Infertility and IVF Journey with you guys.
- 1 in 8 couples will struggle with infertility
- Resolve.org
Thirty-five is the average age of females when their natural fertility begins to show a marked decline. By age 40, a woman’s natural chance of pregnancy is less than 5% per cycle.
- fertility answers
As of 2014, almost one million U.S. babies have been conceived via in vitro fertilization (IVF) since the procedure was developed in the 1980s.
- fertility answers
It’s been three years since I wrote this blogpost, chatting about my desire to be a mom - and touching a bit on my struggles. And since then, I have kept pretty quiet about this topic. Well, I am finally ready to share..
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