Brea Getting Fit » Vegan

Vegan hair dye??

breefawn — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 02:22:45 +0000

All I can say is that I am IN LOVE!! I stumbled upon ACT Naturals, who makes PERMANENT, plant-based hair dye. Could I BE more excited?! The last time I went to the hairdresser…well…let’s just say my hair is NOT cute, and hasn’t been since I’ve been preggo! BUT, there are no harsh chemicals or additives in this dye (consequently it won’t strip out other color, so be careful), and I am SOOOO tempted to try it! The only problem is that it can only be purchased online…which in my experience is either really good, or really bad (depending upon if you choose a good color….). So, the question is…do I dare? I love the idea of being able to even out my color, but I am apprehensive to make a “permanent” choice without seeing the actual color in person. I suppose it helps that my household is putting a spending freeze into effect on May 1st. ONLY gas and groceries. FUN! LOL I have plenty of fabric, and lots of projects, so I should be able to last the month (crossing my fingers, anyway!!). I think I’ll wait until the baby’s born…I would love to hear from anyone who has used ACT, though!

A few of my favorite things (and a GIVEAWAY ended !!)

breefawn — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:06:08 +0000

I was thinking about those fantastic little items that no one should have to live without. I am a huge proponent of anything that makes life easier, faster, AND is environmentally friendly. Since I’ve done numerous product reviews, I thought that it was probably high time for me to share a list of favorites (many of which I have yet to review, but are amazing nonetheless). So, without further ado, my favorite things (at the moment):

1. True Blues Ultimate Household Gloves. Not only are they SUPER cute (come one, PINK and PURPLE dish gloves?!), but they’re affordable, WASHABLE, and will stand up to just about anything (even Ish and oil changes!).

2. Charlie’s Soap Powder – 2.64 lb Bag (80 Loads). At only about a quarter for a load of laundry, this stuff CANNOT be beat. Did I mention that it’s safe for baby AND sensitive adult skin??

3. Everholder FURemover Broom and Brush Combo. Not only is it great for pets, but it also gets all the little gritty ickies that get on your kitchen floor AND cobwebs off the ceiling! Did I mention that you can wash with soap and water??

4. Orka 12-Ounce Blue Silicone Steamers, Set of 2. I love having both of them, since I like lemon juice on my steamed veggies and Ish likes butter (EarthBalance, of course!). Not to mention that fresh veggies (or frozen) steam in about 1/3 of the time with about 1/4 of the water!

5. bungalow360 Natural Canvas Wallet. This is something that I simply cannot live without. SUPER roomy, functional, AND it’s funky! I get SO many compliments on my wallet. Everyone wants to know where to get one. And yeah, I’m over 20, but who cares? I’ve had my current wallet for over a year, and it still looks just as good as new (and if it gets dirty, I can WASH it!)

6. Deva Vegan Vitamins are absolutely the BEST vitamins I’ve ever taken. I actually NOTICE a difference when I forget to take my morning dose (like this morning!). I take the prenatals (and have been for the past few years), because my doctor had mentioned that anyone of child bearing age can benefit from them. I also take their algea DHA (direct from the source, unlike their fishy substitute) and sublingual B-12. I L-O-V-E their B-12!! I feel so much more energized after taking one in the mornings. It’s like going for a run (kind of…)! Did I mention that there are no icky animal products in any of the Deva Vitamins??

7. Cardio Fight Essentials DVD with Wally Holem!! If you know me (or if you’re a diligent reader) you know how much I absolultely HATE cardio that feels like cardio. I am drawn to things like dance, running, and fighting. This Cardio Fight DVD ROCKS. It’s a great workout, and I honestly forget that I’m working out (which is A GOOD THING!). While I’m restricted due to my preggie-ness, I cannot wait to get back into the swing of things (heehee) when Tater gets here. I plan to go back to my routine, which includes RUNNING, barre (which I’m still doing now), kettlebells and some extra Cardio! In fact, I love this DVD so much, I’m going to GIVE ONE AWAY to my readers! YAY for you!! A brief overview: this is a mid-to-high impact workout that incorporates total body. Yes, you can take it easy, but then you won’t get an amazing workout! This workout pulls from MMA/ Brazilian jiu-jitsu moves, and is SUPER challenging. You also get some core and flexibility (bonus!). BE SURE TO WATCH THE TUTORIAL BEFORE YOU BEGIN THE WORKOUT (I don’t want anyone to get hurt!). This workout is VERY different from anything else that I have tried, and I must say that the music ROCKS (which cannot be said of all of my barre workouts…sad.), which helps keep me going when I just want to keel over.

View this video and post your thoughts for a chance to win: http://www.cardiofightvt.com/index.html?videoid=1

Now for the boring details: Contest is open to EVERYONE. One entry per person. Contest runs until SUNDAY, March 21, 2010 at MIDNIGHT EST. I will randomly choose the winner based on the responses that I recieve. Good luck and I hope that you enjoy some of my favorites as much as I do!!

THE CARDIO FIGHT CONTEST HAS ENDED. You can still purchase the DVD here: Cardio Fight Essentials DVD with Wally Holem
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And now the important information: Who won?? After a random drawing of names…it’s…APRIL!! Congratulations! Please email me your address so that I can get your workout shipped out to you!

Cookie cravings and other nonsense

breefawn — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:48:56 +0000

I’ve always had a bit of a sweet tooth (thank you Skittles!), but lately I’ve been craving some good homemade chocolate chip cookies….where to turn. Then I remembered that I have the most AMAZING cookbook on the planet: Vegan with a Vengeance : Over 150 Delicious, Cheap, Animal-Free Recipes That Rock. So I started flipping. Isa’s GOT to have some wonderfully delicious cookie recipe, right?? RIGHT! So, I found her chocolate chip recipe (which you can find HERE). Can I say AH-mazing?! And super easy. Yeah, the dough is a bit crumbly at first, but have patience (and KNEAD!), and you WILL be rewarded. Now if I could just stop eating them…. I am trying so very hard to be a good little preggie girl and eat all that is good and healthy for me, but those sweet cravings just seem to be getting worse. So, I have a plan. It looks like this: Kashi Go LEAN Crunch! with 1 cup of chocolate soymilk for breakfast (trying to kill that need for sweet early on!), grapes and celery with pb for snack, veggies and hummus for lunch, soy yogurt with pear or apple for snack, veggie garlic cream pasta over rice noodles with a HUGE green salad for dinner (SUPER YUMMY! Someday I’ll post the recipe), and fruit (LOTS OF FRUIT) for dessert. Sounds good in theory…but what’s a preggie girl to do when Tater REALLY wants Skittles (okay, okay, I’m a little obsessed, and since they’ve stopped using gelatin…EEK!)?? I will admit that on days like today I give in and have a few, but I make sure that I get my fruits and veggies (and legumes!! YAY for hummus!) in, as that is what fuels my body. Besides, I really dislike the annoying sugar crash that inevitably hits me broadside (and granted it’s an easy target lately) about 30 minutes later. I also find that when I stick closer to raw, REAL foods, I have more energy, which means a cleaner house AND more time to blog!! (I still have readers…right??) So, in the grand scheme of things, eating right and exercise need to stay my #1. Everything else just seems to fall into its own neat little place when I do this!

Baby on the brain

breefawn — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:24:18 +0000

Okay, I know that this blog started out as a fitness blog (and it still is…I am just not able to be as active as I would like), but lately I’ve had baby on the brain. As an update, Tater is a healthy little guy (yup, it’s a BOY!) and we’re quite excited. But now I’m faced with baby madness. Which pacifier, and what diapers (we’re thinking fuzzi bunz)…Oh! And will we actually NEED those teeny-tiny newborn clothes? AND, on top of that, I still need to find time to exercise. I am having better luck exercising (even if it’s only for 10 minutes) at night, but that means that I cannot use my videos. So, starting next week, I’m going to try getting up 40 minutes earlier (EEK!) to get back into my workout routine…so…wish me luck! I’ve also found that I’ve been eating far too many Skittles (yay for vegan junk food)…so I’m resolving to repace them with something healthier and far yummier…fruits and VEGGIES! I really do have the best intentions, but it’s hard wanting to eat ALL the time and being thirsty, oh…and constantly having to take bathroom breaks. I do LOVE being pregnant, but I think that I need to remember that taking care of me is JUST as important. Besides, I sleep WAY better when I eat right and exercise…so why not?

Now the question to you moms…what are some of your MUST HAVE, LOVE IT, CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT IT baby products?

Quesadillas…er, kind of.

breefawn — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 03:19:12 +0000

The more pregnant I get, the hungrier I get. I suppose that isn’t a terrible thing, but it means that my normal large (read: HUGE) salad isn’t cutting it for dinner anymore. I’ve found that I have to move my salad to my lunchtime eats, and have something more substantial for dinner, or risk waking up in the middle of the night and raiding the refrigerator. So, I’ve been experimenting with quick and easy meals, especially since I’m usually ravenous by the time I get home from work. My new favorite is veggie “quesadillas”. They’re less than traditional, but WAY more filling and yummy. Did I mention better for you? You will need to find some Daiya Cheese to make them fabulous. If you can’t find Daiya, try Cosmos. They ship quickly, and are great people. Without further ado…

Quesadillas a’la Brea

4 whole wheat tortillas
2/3 cup Daiya vegan cheese (half cheddar, half italian)
1/4 cup red bell pepper
1/2 c mushrooms
1/2 can green chilies
1/4 cup onions
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp chili powder
3/4 cup black beans, smashed
guacamole & sour cream for garnish
1 clove garlic, crushed (will be removed later)
Coconut oil (for frying)

To make: heat a pan over medium-high heat, add a small amount of oil, and the mushrooms. Cook them until they start to lose their juice, then add the rest of the veggies, except the chilies. Stir constantly until the onions are *almost* translucent. Add the chilies and seasonings, and remove the garlic. To assemble the quesadillas, spread 1/2 the beans on a tortilla, follow with 1/2 the veggies and 1/2 the cheese. Put the quesadilla into a lightly oiled pan, heated over medium-high heat. Cook until the cheese starts to melt, then flip (I suggest 2 spatulas-I have the MIU Flexible Pancake Spatulas, Red (Set of 2), which ROCK for this AND pancakes!) cook for another 3-5 minutes, just enough to finish melting the cheese and brown the tortilla. Remove from pan, and repeat. Allow your quesadillas to cool for about 5 minutes, then slice into wedges. Serve with your favorite toppings. Can serve 2-4 people, but I like 1 with leftovers.

….also, I promise to post a belly pic just as soon as I can get pictures to load on the site!!

Daiya ROCKS!

breefawn — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 02:23:34 +0000

I finally found something better than Teese: DAIYA vegan cheese. It is gluten and soy free, and Ish couldn’t tell the difference!! I’ve made pizza and stuffed shells with the Italian blend, and quesadillas, nachos, tacos…you get the idea…with the cheddar. It is FANTASTIC stuff. It melts without outrageously high temperatures AND has the taste and texture of REAL cheese (as best I can remember). It’s heaven. Tater Tot (yes, that’s what we call the baby…lots of cravings for tater tots the first month) LOVES it. I find myself LOOKING for food to melt it on. I was even tempted to melt some on celery just to eat it (hey, it is NOT any more strange than pickles and ice cream). If you haven’t had the chance to try Daiya, it is well worth the higher price tag. You can order your very own bag of heavenly goodness from my favorite vegan shoppe, Cosmo’s HERE. The ONLY thing that I haven’t tried yet is mac and cheese, but if you have a good recipe, I’m game!

Gotta love pad thai and salted pecans

breefawn — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:00:24 +0000

So…Ish is always saying how much he despises Thai food. I happen to L-O-V-E it. So, when I found a pad thai kit at Kroger that was…VEGAN!…I had to try it. AND IT WAS COMPLETELY DELISH! Instead of the 2 eggs that the recipe on the package called for, I added 1/3 of a block of crumbled extra-firm tofu (frozen and thawed for a better texture). I also added green bell peppers, broccolini, cauliflower, mushrooms AND onions. OH! And topped it with scallions and some chopped peanuts, of course. It was absolutely to DIE FOR! AND I think that I may have cause Ish to eat his words…literally! He went back for seconds! I would normally just make a stirfry with soba noodles, but there’s something about pad thai that I just can’t place. I don’t have it very often-and maybe that’s why. It feels like SUCH a huge treat when I DO have it! Now I want some vegan fried rice tomorrow and some vegan lo mein on Tuesday and I’ll be SET!

On another note, I have found a new love of salted pecans. Before today, my only experience with pecans was in pie (and sneaking them out of the pile that was about to go into the food processor…. But I was ambling through the aisles in the grocery and there I found some magical words: dry roasted, salted pecans. I thought that they sounded too good to be true, so I checked the ingredients…and NO ANIMAL PRODUCTS! WOOT! So off I went with my treasure and popped open the container as soon as I got in the car (yup, I’m one of THOSE people…and darn proud of it!)…one word: HEAVEN. I’ve always liked the sweetness in pecans, but paired with the salt and roasting…they are OUT OF THIS WORLD!! You absolutely HAVE to try some.

Ah-mazing omelettes

breefawn — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:49:52 +0000

This morning, Ish surprised me by waking up early and asking if I wanted to go on a WALK. I had to think about it for all of 2.5 seconds: OF COURSE! We went for a nice 3 mile stroll and got home…that’s when he asked me what I wanted to breakfast…OMELETTES! SO, I looked up a recipe that I had seen on Fat Free Vegan Kitchen, and we decided to try it out. (you can find the recipe here) We made the filling first by sauteing 4 oz of sliced crimini mushrooms, 1/2 a red onion, frozen chopped spinach, 1 diced green bell pepper and a diced tomato (added last so it wouldn’t break down too much). I also added some mozzarella Teeze, which was also AH-mazing. I must say that the omelettes turned out beautifully. I did season the filling with some Organic Fajita/Taco Seasoning. I finished the omelettes off with some salsa and devoured mine. Ish devoured his. They were SUPER delish. Thank heaven that someone invented silken tofu!!

Portabella mushroom burgers

breefawn — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:01:46 +0000

There’s really nothing quite like a good grilled portabella mushroom cap smothered in guacamole, salsa and some Veganaise. I can’t think of anything more delicious at the moment. Then, when you add in fresh sweet potato fries and some Better Than Sour Cream ranch dip…well, let me just say that it’s heaven. Seriously. I know that I’ve been away from the blog for a bit, but I had to get my life caught up. I’m not quite at that point, but I missed my fans, my blog…all of it. I also thought that y’all might enjoy hearing about my amazing dinner tonight! I would post a picture for y’all but I’m still having trouble getting them loaded onto the website, so I’ll just post the (super, super easy) recipe.

You need: portabella mushroom cap(s), cleaned and de-gilled; hamburger or kaiser buns; guacamole or avocado slices; pico or salsa; Veganaise; red onion slices; and lettuce.

To make your burgers, heat a grill on high, or get your bbq heated up pretty good. Spread a little bit of vegetable oil (higher smoke point) on your ’shroom and put it on the grill. Grill for 3-5 minutes, until grill marks appear on the cap, then flip and grill for an additional 2-3 minutes. Slather on the toppings and enjoy!!

Vegan MoFo: Vegetable Samosas

breefawn — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:17:07 +0000

Okay…beyond the irritation that I still cannot upload photos, I am very excited to report that I found a NEW favorite vegan food: vegetable samosas. I must say that they are absolutely DELICIOUS! I went to the farmer’s market this morning and was SUPER excited to discover that there were 4 (yes, FOUR!) vegan booths!! I picked up vegetable samosas, eggplant goulash, raw pumpkin pie, vegan pesto dip AND some Naan bread. I am SO very excited! I had so many samples that I couldn’t eat more than a banana for breakfast, AND I cannot WAIT to go back to the market next week! Tomorrow I’m having samosas for lunch…I can’t wait! I also picked up some AMAZING salad vegetables that I’m going to chop up for dinner tonight. I’m so VERY excited! Some good veggies, microgreens AND viola! Delish. I can’t wait until NEXT weekend!!