7 Yoga Tips for Pregnancy

Posted on May 18, 2013 by The Soulicious Life

There’s no doubt in my mind that yoga helps improve the overall pregnancy experience. I did it consistently throughout my first pregnancy with K-Bear and whole-heartedly attribute my natural (and quick!) labor and delivery to both the physical and mental benefits it provided me. I only wish I have been as dedicated this time around!

Creeping up on the third trimester, I’m determined to practice more regularly. Yoga allows the body to better cope with the inevitable changing hormones and creeping scale. Many yoga practicing, mothers-to-be report that it helps alleviate common discomforts and aches that come with pregnancy. It also helps you learn to let go, listen to your body, and breathe, attributes that come in extremely handy during labor and delivery!

As I embark on a more regular practice in the next three months, I thought I’d share some yoga tips to motivate myself, as well as other prego mammas out there. Continue reading →

An Eco-Friendly Way to Prevent Moldy Berries

Posted on May 14, 2013 by The Soulicious Life

It’s that beautiful time of year when our family starts to overdose on berries, yes berries! Those little blue, black and red pints of delight are everywhere in stores and will be popping up at your farmer’s markets before you know it.

Although berries don’t usually stick around in our fridge long enough to grow mold, occasionally it happens, and usually more quickly than I anticipated. But not anymore! Continue reading →

Virtual Vegan Potluck: Raw, Gluten-Free Chocolate Brownies

Posted on May 10, 2013 by The Soulicious Life

Welcome to The Soulicious Life and the bi-annual Virtual Vegan Potluck. I’m thrilled to be participating once again! There are 169 awesome recipes full of inspiration here today. Simply use the forward and back buttons at the bottom of this post to navigate your way through the virtual buffet line and get ready for your mouth to water!

Chocoholics unite and yes, make a better brownie (in six easy steps)! This recipe is inspired by one I found in Oprah Magazine of all places and it’s a definite keeper. All guilt is replaced by the healthy fats of avocados and the antioxidant power of raw cocao and raw honey! An OMG, are these tasty! Continue reading →

How to Tell if an Egg is Still Good

Posted on April 13, 2013 by The Soulicious Life

Eggs have always been a staple in our refrigerator, and getting through them before the question came up ”Are they still good?” was never an issue. Until now. With our new, mostly vegan diet, those dozen eggs I pick up occasionally for SoulDaddy are sitting in the fridge longer and longer.

This morning K-Bear surprised me by asking for a Bird’s Nest for breakfast. Since the eggs were dated “Sell by March 28,” I was a bit skeptical to use them but I hate to waste. So I turned to this handy test, one I’ve read about in the past here. It’s so easy I had to pass it along! Continue reading →

The Extended Plant-Based Family

Posted on April 10, 2013 by The Soulicious Life

In the word of plant-based eating, camaraderie is a beautiful thing. Though my own extended family has been supportive of my family’s diet over the years (thanks Mom and sister [seen at left]!), it’s always a pleasure to meet others in the world who share my same vision and passion for a meat-free and now, dairy-free, lifestyle. Holly at My Plant Based Family is one of those people!

Holly’s blog is focused on feeding her family of four a whole-foods, plant-based diet on a budget. She always has an inspiring recipe on-hand, as well as great reminder on gratitude and appreciating the simple things. My kind of gal! Continue reading →

Avoiding Hexane-Extracted Soy in Meat Alternatives

Posted on April 8, 2013 by The Soulicious Life

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As vegetarian, vegans and just plain health and environment conscious individuals, many of us opt for “meat alternatives” instead of that which came from a sad, factory-farmed, hormone and antibiotic laden animal. Think fake bacon, sausages and chicken from well-known brands such as Morningstar Farms, Boca, Tofurkey and Gardein.

Part of me thinks I’m lucky that I entered the plant-based diet well before many of these came onto the market – or at least before they blossomed into the mass retail lines they are today. Though they’ve never been a staple in my diet, I’d be lying if I said my guilty pleasure wasn’t a Tofurkey Sun-dried Tomato and Basil Italian Sausage hot off the grill drenched in pickles, onions and mustard. Or if I denied that my recent pregnancy craving was a BLT made with Morningstar Farms Bacon (extra veganaise, please!). Continue reading →

Green Your Spring Clean

Posted on April 4, 2013 by The Soulicious Life

If there’s ever a time of year to open your windows and let the fresh air in while de-cluttering closets and cleaning often overlooked places, spring is it! Unfortunately, we can’t read the labels on so-called green cleaners and trust they are eco-friendly. Therefore, similar to our bath and beauty products, we must do one of two things: (1) make our own or (2) do our research. Continue reading →

Roasted Red Pepper & Olive Bruschetta

Posted on April 1, 2013 by The Soulicious Life

With our recent jump into a full-on plant-based diet, I was in search of a new appetizer to bring to this year’s Easter weekend celebration. Since I gravitate towards uncomplicated and healthy, I settled on this simple but delicious bruschetta. that brings together some of my favorite Mediterranean flavors. It’s easy to prep and doing so a day ahead of time really allows the flavors to meld. Continue reading →

On the Moo-ve with Stonyfield: K-Bear’s 1st Day Skiing

Posted on March 12, 2013 by The Soulicious Life

SoulDaddy and I are skiers. In fact, I moved to Colorado 15 years ago specifically to ~~ski bum~~ live in Steamboat, and we met one day four years later while I played hooky from work in exchange for a free lift ticket at Vail. He watched me ski – and snowboard a week later – and, well, he was smitten.

So it was inevitable that we got our first child on skis quickly. The alternative - to wait until age 14, fall getting on the lift, fall getting off the lift and walk down the mountain – wasn’t an option. Or rather I wouldn’t wish my fate on anyone. Baaad memories there folks.

So last weekend when we trekked the whole fam damily, Nana and all, up to Wyoming to visit my sister, Mountain Kait, who lives just 30 minutes from Snowy Range Ski Area. Continue reading →

A Change in Eating Habits: Going Dairy Free

Posted on March 7, 2013 by The Soulicious Life

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Let’s get personal today folks and talk eating habits. It’s such a delicate subject isn’t it? I mean, you never dare (or at least I don’t), criticize what others choose or don’t choose to eat. Unless of course it’s my mother who needs a good reminding now and then that Cheez Its are not an acceptable snack to keep in the pantry. Yikes!

Looking Back

As many of you know, I’ve been a vegetarian for many years now (Approaching twenty I think, but who’s counting). SoulDaddy and I are also raising K-Bear vegetarian too, a gift I don’t I thank SoulDaddy for enough. I feel so strongly about a meat-free diet that I’ve been carrying around a book with me since my college intern days called “The Vegetarian Mother and Baby.” The first real article I ever wrote that I tried oh-so-hard without success to get published, was called “How to Raise your Child Vegetarian.”

I like to think I was simply way before my time. Or a fresh out of college, never-been-published twenty-something. Continue reading →