Today

Today has just been one of those days.

One of those days where nothing seems to go right.

Where you realize you accidentally made plans to work on the same night as your best friend's birthday dinner.

Where you are really discouraged that none of the jobs you've been applying for have worked out.

Where you are really confused about someone you think you might have a crush on.

But you're not sure.

And you know you're getting way too ahead of yourself.

Where you are torn between crying and telling yourself to be a big girl and suck it up.

Where you almost buy a one way ticket out of this town.

Where you need nothing more than a good dose of Will & Grace DVDs, but you have no time to relax.

Where, just to cap off your already bad day, someone comes dangerously close to spilling a latte on your laptop.

And then you realize...in a few hours, tomorrow will be here.

And it'll all be okay.



Baby Blossoms

Sings of Spring? Yes, please!

I hope everyone had a lovely Easter yesterday. Mine was filled with sunshine, veggie risotto, herbed garlic bread, Easter egg hunts, and sitting on a porch with fresh brewed iced tea, listening to old family stories. And of course celebrating that He is risen.

Wake- Up Smoothie

Before the 28-Day Challenge, I was never a big smoothie person. To me, they were more of summer treat- something you made when you were tired of iced green tea and needed something cold while sitting on the deck with a magazine or book.

But now, I cannot imagine life before smoothies. I have at least one a day, because when you can turn a simple drink into something so delicious and healthy, why wouldn't you?! I really should've been blogging about this amazing smoothie long before now. I've been making it for almost two months now. It is truly the perfect start to a good day (which yes, sounds like an ad where I'm trying to convince moms across America that this is what your kid needs in order to stay happy and healthy all day long. But it's true.)

Who knew a little orange juice, vanilla soy yogurt, frozen blueberries, a banana, and flax seed could be soooooo good? Kim did, of course. I completely axed the wheat germ from this recipe. Let's be honest, no matter how healthy it is, it's gross. (Yes, it's true- even us insane health buffs have things on our "I don't care how good it is for you, I won't eat it" list.) I was seventeen last time I had wheat germ though, so maybe I should give it another shot....

Anyway, wheat germ thoughts aside, this smoothie is amazing. Whenever I wake up and realize I forgot to make my green smoothie the night before, I make this instead. And you should too.

Struggle.

I struggle sometimes with what to write on here.

I struggle with how honest I should be. Cuz I worry. I worry I might offend whoever is reading this thing. I worry, cuz I don't know who may find it (an ex, a long lost friend, my family and so on) and what they'll think of it...and think of me for writing what I write.

I struggle with how much I should share. How real I should be.

But I suppose you should know...

I'm probably the only girl you'll ever know to wear a motocycle jackets and pumps in the same outfit.

Outside of Brooklyn anyway.

Absolutely nothing makes me happier than sipping coffee and reading a good book.

I dream of a day where I no longer wear a uniform to work, but a dress and blazer.

A lot of people think I have a mouth like a Hallmark card. But I don't. I have a mouth like a sailor.

(Thank you, Miranda Lambert.)

Before I am a photographer, I am a writer. And to be honest, I want a job in writing more than anything.

Cooking is the only thing that truly calms me down.

I cry. A lot. Like over semi-sentimental commercials.

I'm not perfect, but this is me.

Take it or leave it.

Banana and Cinnamon Muffins

Oh, muffins.

Of all the wonderful baked goods in existence, muffins hold a very special place in my heart. Growing up, my mother would always buy those big variety packages of muffins from Costco and freeze them. We always froze them with the intention of saving them and always having a quick breakfast. Though, quite honestly it often turned into us grabbing them out of the freezer day after day. We never had a reason to freeze them in the first place.

Most of my memories of muffins may have come from a commercial bakery, but absolutely nothing beats homemade muffins- especially when those muffins are vegan!

The simplicity of this recipe was the best part. Kim makes it easy by giving us a very traditional recipe. The only way this recipe differs from a "normal" muffin recipe is by using soy yogurt in place of eggs and almond milk in place of dairy milk. And that nutty brown sugar topping? It makes this muffin! After all, isn't the best pat of a muffin the top?

Blame Ice Cream Makers and Food Processors

{Photograph by Jennifer Causey, via Simply Breakfast}

Ok, so I'll admit it. I've been a bad blogger.

I haven't posted anything new in for.ev.er.

Please forgive me. I don't suppose that I have any real excuse other than loss of momentum. The Skinny Bitch project isn't something that I've given up on. However, if I'm honest, I'm at a breaking point.

It all started when I wanted to make a soup that required a Vita Mix. Now, I don't own a Vita Mix, nor do I have the $500 it costs to buy one. Soon after, I discovered that I also don't have an ice cream maker vital to another recipe. Oh, and I don't have a food processor. I know what you're thinking, What kind of vegan doesn't own a food processor?! (For those of you who don't know, food processors are necessary for an untold amount of vegan recipes. The same is probably true of non-vegan recipes as well, but I never once had a need for one until turning veg.)

Anywho, I hit a rut. A big How in the world am I going to afford all of this? and What the heck did I get myself into? rut. So, it was back to me making up recipes on the fly with whatever happened to be in my fridge. Which, If I'm being honest, usually means covering everything in avocado. It's a wonder I'm not 100 lbs heavier from all the fatty avocados I eat, but that's another story...

Something happened two days ago. Something wonderful.

Erin McKenna, owner of BabyCakes NYC, came out with her second cookbook, BabyCakes Covers the Classics! This is wonderful because, BabyCakes was the reason I was able to go vegan. As much as I love cooking, a love baking a million times more. And fresh baked muffins are just about the greatest thing in the world, are they not?. Erin helped me go vegan by showing me how to bake without dairy or eggs. Her first cookbook is what sent me to the bookstore where I happened upon the veg cookbook section for the first time!

Now, whenever I get a new cookbook, I devour it. I sit down and read all of the introductory information right down the types of equipment needed and brands recommended. (Yes, I am a full blown kitchen dork.) Once I'm done obsessing over my new cookbook, I start pulling out every other cookbook I own, marking every recipe I wan to try with bright pink Post-Its. This is exactly what happened to me after purchasing BabyCakes Covers the Classics.

So here I am again with a new fire lit.

Watch out bitches.

It's about to get real skinny up on Tea & Audrey.

Posts on FOUR new recipes coming next week!