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Yoga Teacher Training.
Happy Monday! In the event you haven’t seen me mention it here on the blog or on my Facebook Page, I wanted to take a moment to let you know what is going on here on Tasty Yummies this month. Beginning today, I am embarking on a month-long program to becoming a certified yoga teacher. It is Monday through Friday, for 4 weeks straight, at the end of which I will be a 200-hour registered yoga teacher!
How I Got My Start with Yoga.
This journey is something I have dreamt of and been looking forward to, for a very long time. I starting practicing yoga about 7 years ago. It began with a 6-week intro to yoga course at East Meets West Yoga in Buffalo in 2007. In many ways it was love-at-first-forward-fold, but in other ways it was a huge awakening and humbling experience. I struggled with many aspects of my practice, at first. For me, many of the challenges came from the mental and emotional responses of learning to quiet my mind and of course, the physical limitations of putting my body into positions it had never been in and that I never thought possible.
I didn’t dive right into a daily practice after the intro course, I would hit classes here and there, I would use sicknesses, injuries and busyness as excuses to take a month or two off. I was in a place in my life that I wanted to see instant results, I wanted to be better at yoga than I was and I wasn’t looking at the path of getting there, just the frustration of not already being there, like many of the seasoned yogis around me in class (who I now realize had likely been practicing for many, many years). If I had any element of sadness in my life, I would stay away from my mat, a result of being broken down to tears during savasana on a couple of occasions. I was later able to acknowledge that it was my own fear and my ego that wouldn’t let me fully give into my yoga practice. I guess I just wasn’t ready for all of it, quite yet.
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Resolve to Evolve
Hi Ladies! It’s Eliza from Embodied Emergence, I’m guest blogging today (thank you so much, Beth!).
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If you’re anything like me, you’re probably still cleaning up the bits and pieces of holiday madness and trying to get back into a schedule while also feeling slightly guilty that your new year’s resolution isn’t full steam ahead and wondering how you can pull off all of your amazing goals for 2014.
This happens to so many of us, every year. And often it’s only at New Year’s Resolutions that we feel we have a blank slate, a fresh start, and we push ourselves to re-create. As an owner of three businesses – holistic health coach, restauranteur, and DoTerra essential oils Consultant – I know all about about setting goals and the waves that come along with them. And I have also seen the AMAZING results that come along with having accountability and group support.
My goal this year is to reach more incredible women who want to “Become the change they want to see in the world” but don’t know where to start, or how to get out of their own way. I not only coach these women one-on-one but I recently created an incredible 6 week online mastery program for women that begins January 14th, 2014.
This program is called Resolve to Evolve, it’s not about losing 10 pounds (although that might happen) and then taking action. It’s about holistically empowering YOU so that you feel confident, energized, sexy. When that happens… Watch out world! You feel so good, it starts to spill out onto everyone around you, and you begin to “Become the change you want to see.”The way the program works is that each week over six weeks a lesson, or module, is released including 3 videos – one on empowerment, one movement video, and a cooking class with me. The cooking classes are 99% vegan and gluten-free, but I also demonstrate how to cook chicken perfectly. The movement videos feature 6 incredible yogi, dancer, and pilates experts, who guide you through 20 minute, fun, videos you get to practice as often as you like. And finally, the empowerment videos feature 6 amazing women who take us into a journey of self-care – from creating a skin care routine, dressing for your body, using EFT to release pain/toxin emotions, connecting with community, plant care, and how to “get out of your own way” to become the change you want to see.
On top of all this, you’ll be getting tons of recipes (including 6 from Beth of Tasty Yummies!), organizational tools for de-cluttering your life, meditation tips, weekly Q & A calls, AND online community connection via a private Facebook group.
Can you sense a theme here? It’s all about loving yourself… For many years I struggled with insecurities about shining my light. I felt bad or wrong buying nice things for myself, or even putting on make up because I didn’t want to draw attention to myself – I thought it was selfish somehow. I could see so many less fortunate people in the world around me and it didn’t feel fair for me to have so much abundance. But as it turns out, I ended up feeling depleted, lost, and lacking in energy to make the positive changes I so desperately wanted in the world, and I was unable to help those people I felt bad for.
Since discovering yoga, cleanses, women’s groups, health coaches, & retreats I’ve experienced massive transformation in my business growth, relationships, health, inner peace. Choosing to invest in myself has shaped the the person I have become. I am now able to help other women by empowering them with tools that not only keep their bodies healthy, but also make them feel alive, loved, creative, sexy, silly, and FREE!
I so dearly want to share that with you. Please check out my video here for more information on the program. And if you have a girlfriend who might be interested, please forward this post to them!
HOW TO SIGN UP: Read the rest of this entry »
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Sweet Green Smoothie (Banana Broccoli) – Gluten-free and Vegan
I seriously cannot get enough green stuff right now. I am just craving it. This smoothie is something I threw together with what I had on hand, after we got home from our weekend in Big Bear.
It is creamy, green and healthy plus it tastes super good, too. Please don’t let the broccoli throw you off, it brings a really nice texture and a unique taste. Though broccoli can be bitter at times, the sweetness from the banana and the honey offset and mask that, so it’s a great way to sneak your greens into a smoothie. (you can always pre-steam your broccoli too, but I don’t find it necessary) If you practice rotating your leafy greens, which is important, broccoli is a nice change of pace from kale or spinach in your green smoothies. Read the rest of this entry »
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Photo Fun Day Friday
Wow, it has been a very long while since I have put together a Photo Fun Day Friday post. It has really been a whirlwind of a few weeks, the holiday season seriously flew by, in a blink of an eye it went from Thanksgiving to New Years, it’s insane. So much going on! OK enough chatter, here’s a glimpse of the last few weeks. This might be the biggest Photo Fun Day Friday, yet!
Hope you all had a lovely holiday season and are excited for all that lies ahead in 2014! I know I am.
Our Thanksgiving Day early morning beach walk.
A boy and his mother!! Seriously, how cute are Jpeg and Indie? This is a rare site to see these two so sweetly lying together.
Sometimes, you just have to have chocolate for breakfast.
Old-timey Christmas Carolers on the beach right around the corner from our house.
The floating Christmas trees in the lagoon by our house. These make me so happy.
Took a fun holiday trip to Disneyland with Meg and her adorable fam. Such a fun day! I love this girl!
Yoga on the beach, in December. I still cannot get over how amazing this is!
Gettin’ wild on my mat with my Teeki pants.
Had a little holiday cocktail party at our house in early December. Of course Lucy was invited.
Ran into Kelly from The Spunky Coconut at the Renegade Craft Fair in LA. Such a lovely surprise.
How amazing is this sky? A regular occurrence during the winter months out here. It is magical.
A view from the christmas lights boat tour in Newport Beach. So amazing.
Our little Seri girl got sick, which meant I had to skip the road trip to San Francisco for our last holiday show of the year. I stayed home, nursed my baby back to health and we cuddled and watched Christmas movies together. Not a bad deal, afterall. Read the rest of this entry » -
New Year’s Detoxifying Juice
Happy New Year!! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. I decided to take a step away from the computer and online for the last week and a half and enjoy family, friends and to celebration all of the goodness of the holidays!!
It has been a busy two months and the last two weeks have definitely been no exception. Though I do my best to stick to my clean and healthy eating, I do also like to indulge a little at the holidays. Everything in moderation, is how I choose to look at it. That said, by the time New Years rolls around I am tired and not feeling like my usual self.
However, come January 2nd – every year, I am ready to get back to super clean eating, tons of fruits and veggies and wave goodbye to the sweets, cookies and cocktails, for a while.
I am taking extra special care the next couple of days to get in lots of detoxifying and cleansing foods to help get my body ready for my month-long yoga teacher training program that I start next week!! I want to be in tip-top mental shape, ready to take in all that I am about to learn. For me what I am eating and consuming has a direct reflection on my mind and my ability to focus.
This juice was the perfect way to start the day today and I have a feeling many days to come this month. Ginger, beet, lemon, apple, celery, cucumber and parsley together for a bright, fresh and cleansing juice. Read the rest of this entry »
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Gingerbread Cookie Cocktail – Gluten-free + Vegan
I was supposed to be in San Francisco for the weekend, our final show of the holiday. Sadly, the dog got sick which meant I had to stay home, since we didn’t feel comfortable boarding her. Hubby had to go to the event without me, so that equated to some unplanned time off this weekend. I actually didn’t know what to do with myself, we have been going non-stop for the past month and a half or so. I seriously actually made a list Friday night of what I wanted to do to relax. That’s how tightly wound I was.
Saturday morning I got up bright and early headed to a yoga class to start my unwinding and relaxing. I really cannot think of a more perfect way to kick off a weekend of no plans. By Saturday afternoon I found myself getting a relaxing pedicure with Meg and after that I curled up on the couch with my furry baby, watching Christmas movies and I decide I should whip up a quick seasonal cocktail. Gingerbread felt appropriate given that we are just a couple days away from my favorite day of the year.
This cocktail is spicy and has a strong molasses flavor, it tastes just like a traditional gingerbread cookie. If you want it sweeter add a bit more maple syrup or honey, or use a smidge less molasses. The fresh ginger is optional, but I personally love the little bits of it floating in the cocktail, such a great taste. Read the rest of this entry »
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Spiced Maple Roasted Baby Carrots with Toasted Coconut – Gluten-free + Vegan
*The following post is sponsored by Grimmway Farms. All content and opinions are my own.*
It is a rare thing that I serve carrots as a side dish with meals around here. My hubby Mark tends to be quite vocal about his disdain for carrots, if they are served any other way than raw. However, I have been on a mission to get him to enjoy carrots other than just being dipped in ranch, blue cheese or hummus. So, when Grimmway Farms contacted me to create a simple holiday side dish with their amazing baby carrots, I was very excited for another opportunity to win my hubby over with this nutrition-packed veggie!
Carrots are a nutrition powerhouse and they are just so darn good for you, which is why I am always trying to get Mark to eat them. Carrots provide over 15 essential vitamins and minerals along with phytonutrients and fiber that are important for good health. One serving of baby carrots (85 grams; about 9 medium baby carrots) provides just 35 calories and is a source of over 15 vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals, including vitamin A, vitamin K, vitamin C, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and niacin. Read the rest of this entry »
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Pomegranate Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies (Gluten-Free and Vegan)
Can you even believe that Christmas is less than one week away already? Where did the time go? Are you all ready?
I had to get in one last special cookie recipe for the season!! For as much as I enjoy traditional holiday cookies, I also get so excited about creating fun new flavor combinations. These cookies make me both happy, because of how great they taste, and bummed, because I haven’t been pairing pomegranates with chocolate up until now. What an amazing combo! You have to try it.
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Gluten-free Christmas Cookie Exchange
This year I had amazing intentions of organizing a gluten-free Christmas Cookie Exchange with some of my favorite gluten-free bloggers. Ya know the kind, where you each make one or two types of cookies and you make one dozen for every person participating. Then you exchange cookies with everyone in the group (we were just going to mail them off) and then you each end up with a few dozen different types of cookies for all of your holiday entertaining. Or just to eat yourself, if that’s your thing!
Well, life happened and I have barely had time to finish my Christmas shopping this year, so we’ll have to save this idea for another year. Instead we decided on a little virtual cookie exchange or sorts. A bunch of my very favorite gluten-free bloggers came together to share some of their favorite holiday cookies recipes. Check out this amazing round-up below of 15 gluten-free holiday-worthy cookie recipes!
Oh and I’d love to hear from all of you, what is your favorite Christmas cookie recipe? Feel free to post a link in the comments to a recipe on your own site (or a favorite bloggers’) that you would bring to the cookie exchange party!
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Holiday Gift Guide: D.I.Y. Gifts
Hey all!! This is the final week in my 5-part Holiday Gift Guide series. I hope you have been enjoying all of the goodies I have been sharing with you! This week it’s all about DIY, handmade gifts! Just a small selection of some of my favorite how-tos and recipes for you to create a beautiful, thoughtful gift! I hope you enjoy. To see the other gift guides from this series head over here.
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Tiny Devotions – Boho Daily Feature
For those that have been following along with my Holiday Gift Guides, I am sure the beautiful Adventure Mala I featured in the Yoga Gear gift guide, a few weeks back, for sure had to catch your eye. That beautiful mala bead necklace that I so lovingly wear nearly every day, comes from this amazing company Tiny Devotions.
Who is Tiny Devotions?
We’re bohemian beauties & yogi fashionistas who love our mala beads; sacred pieces that inspire their wearers to live more inspired, peaceful & intention based lives.
Tiny Devotions is a hip, fresh and inspired company that creates mala beads and accessories for the bohemian girl.
Our mala beads represent the free spirited lifestyle of living your dreams, following your passions and looking good as you do it.
Tasty Yummies on Boho Daily
I am super humbled and proud to be featured on the Tiny Devotions blog Boho Daily today – talking about inspiration, intentions, malas and more!
Head over to Boho Daily now to see the full post!
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Grain-free Spiced Molasses Cookies – Gluten-free & Dairy-free
It has been a very busy few weeks for us, we have had shows every weekend, we have been trying to get our Christmas shopping done as early as possible since we have to ship ALL of our gifts this year. On top of all of this I have had a lot of work to do and I just can’t seem to get it all done. It’s been madness. I am looking forward to Christmas eve when I think all of this craziness will be over and I can truly just enjoy the holidays. My favorite time of year.
We had a bunch of friends over last night for a little Christmas cocktail party thing. Nothing fancy, just some mulled wine, spiked egg nog, a hot cocoa bar and lots of snacks and treats! Sooo much food, as always! Mark ran to the store and bought a big tray of various gluten-filled Christmas cookies for everyone else, but I wanted to make a fun holiday-inspired cookie that both me and my friend Debbie (who is new to eating gluten-free) could enjoy! Read the rest of this entry »
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Giveaway: Teeki. Fashion Created from Recycled Plastic Bottles
As part of my ongoing series of Holiday Gift Guides, created to help all of you with your holiday shopping this year, I also wanted to make sure you, my lovely readers, received some fun gifts, yourselves! Just a fun way for me to say “thank you!” So, I am super excited to have another amazing giveaway to share with you guys today from Teeki!
:: teeki is an eco-conscious activewear line ::
Teeki takes water bottles and turn them into clothes, giving them purpose again through an eco-friendly process. They encourage and step forward with the fashion world, empowering it to become one with the mother. Teeki supports you with your active lifestyle and adventures; yoga, gym, workout, surf, sports, dance, flow and constantly moving forward with your body, mind, and spirit.
I’ve had the pleasure of receiving a handful of Teeki’s amazing patterned hot pants, to try out and I absolutely LOVE them!! I literally want to live in these things. Besides being eco-friendly, and so amazing looking, they are totally comfy, too. They move with my body, staying put in even the most rigorous of sweaty power yoga classes. They are soft and silky and they fit and flatter my curvy body well. As someone with thighs and hips, I have to admit I was a tad worried about how there pants would look on me, but I was pleasantly surprised. I find the wide waist band that sits higher than many trendy yoga pants, to be flattering and totally appropriate for my body. My favorite part is, if I plan my outfit accordingly, layer and add some jewelry, these pants easily transition off the mat into something I can wear throughout the rest of my day, not feeling like I am wearing the typical workout gear!
I won’t bore you with photos of me in their pants, none of my photos will ever do them the justice that Teeki’s professional photos can, but I wanted to show you at least a couple, so you can see how they fit my non-model body. I am wearing their Clouds Hot Pants in these photos. But, I also have their Space Love, Awakening and Star Dust Hot Pants. I honestly love each one more then the next!! I could live in these pants, you guys!
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Fairly Modest Mule Cocktail made with FAIR. Quinoa Vodka – {Gluten-free and Fair-trade}
We are all very aware of the well loved, super-food, quinoa, by now. How could you not be? It could nearly have it’s own section at a Whole Foods now and we certainly can’t eat at a trendy healthy restaurant without seeing it on the menu somewhere, if not in multiple places. I am personally a big fan of quinoa and it appears I am not alone! The United Nations actually declared 2013 the International Year of Quinoa. I love that! Quinoa is the mother of all grains and is an ancient power food used by Incan warriors 5000 years ago. The popularity of the seed, (which is commonly referred to as a grain) has grown exponentially over the past few years, I’ve seen it in everything from savory dishes, cookies, cakes, breads and now VODKA!! I mean really, does it really get any better than this?
Yup, it actually does. FAIR. Quinoa Vodka is an ethically sourced, one-of-a-kind spirit made with unique ingredients that is certified gluten-free and fair-trade, too!! FAIR.’s long list of boast-worthy qualities won me over, before I had ever even tasted it. Then, in a moment just like those in blockbuster chick-flicks, with a slow move in towards my lips, it was love at first sip! OK, who am I kidding, I am not that dainty, it was first a sip, then a good ‘ol fashioned vodka gulp. This stuff is really good, guys. It’s clean, smooth and fresh, no strange aftertaste like many vodkas can have. It’s full flavored while still being delicate with a slightly warm fruity finish. I have been loving it paired with a homemade coffee liqueur on the rocks, but it is also incredible in a simple dirty martini. Read the rest of this entry »
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Holiday Gift Guide: Living Well
Hey all! I am super excited to be partnering with some really great brands this season to bring you the first-ever Tasty Yummies Holiday Gift Guide. This 5-part series will go live every Tuesday until the week before Christmas. Each week, I will be featuring a different theme with products from some of my very favorite companies. I have been working very hard to bring you some really great stuff! So please, click over to their sites and show these wonderful, mindful companies some love this holiday season and if you buy, please tell them that Tasty Yummies sent you. Also, stay tuned for some amazing features and giveaways with a few of these great brands throughout this holiday season. To see the other gift guides from this series head over here.
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Dairy-free Peppermint Mocha or Hot Cocoa (Gluten-free with Vegan Option)
This time of year, I am all about the familiar comforting flavors of the holiday season. Gingerbread, cinnamon rolls, egg nog and of course, chocolate and peppermint, etc. The Starbucks Peppermint Mocha used to be one of my favs, but I just really don’t love all of those sugary syrups and other junk, plus since I prefer to avoid dairy, my only option there is soy milk, which I really don’t like drinking, either. That said, those flavors are the perfect way to get me in the holiday mood. We have been known to go out of our way to get peppermint mochas, just to sip on while we pick out our tree or check out the holiday lights. It’s holiday perfection in a cup!
Though I am not a regular coffee drinker these days, I do enjoy a cup of joe – now and again. It’s a nice treat once in a while, but I love not being a slave to the caffeine like so many regular coffee drinkers. I only drink it when it sounds good, not because I have to. I find I enjoy coffee and coffee drinks so much more since I tend to indulge only about once a month or so.
This holiday season, I was determined to recreate the classic Peppermint Mocha, so that I could enjoy it without the junk. Dairy-free, refined sugar-free, made with high-quality ingredients! I am super happy with my homemade version, I like it better than any that could come in a cardboard cup with snowflakes on it. It’s thick and creamy, rich in chocolatey goodness and it has just the right amount of peppermint flavor. Read the rest of this entry »
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Beth’s Holiday Lust List + a $500 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway
With the gift guides I have been posting each week, I have been sharing some of my very favorite products. Now, here’s a quick little peek into my own personal wish list. A collection of some of the things I am lusting over this holiday season, most all of them are things I will likely continue drooling over, long after the holiday season is over. These are definitely the products I would treat myself to, if I had some extra money to spend on Amazon.
1) Excalibur 9 Tray Deluxe Dehydrator 2) simplehuman Stainless Steel Compost Pail 3) Vitamix 5200s Blender 4) Ohio Stoneware 2 Gallon Fermentation Crock 5) FitBit Force Wireless Activity & Sleep Wristband 6) Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast-Iron 9-Quart Round French Oven 7) SodaStream Soda Maker 8) Hand-Carved Olive Wood Cheese Board 9) KRUPS ZX800 Silver Art Collection Citrus Press 10) Bean Yoga Organic Cotton BolsterIf you had some extra money to spend on Amazon this holiday season, how would you treat yourself?
I am super excited to be teaming up with some lovely bloggers to bring one lucky winner an amazing early Christmas present! We are giving away a $500 Amazon Gift Card! Perfect for finishing your holiday shopping or for treating yourself to something you have been lusting over! Read the rest of this entry »
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Grain-free No-Bake Gingerbread Cookie Balls {Gluten-free & Vegan}
Gingerbread is one of my absolute favorite holiday flavors. It’s right up there with dark chocolate and mint anything and of course, nog-flavored goodies. I don’t always have the patience to make a full batch of gluten-free cookies, especially not the kind you have to roll and cut out, then decorate. These no-bake cookie balls are an amazing way to enjoy the unique flavor of gingerbread cookies without the work and the guilt! I love a sweet treat that not only satisfies your cravings, but doesn’t leave you feeling bad about what you just ate. Plus, between the protein from the nuts and the iron from the molasses, one could even argue these cookies are extra good for you! Read the rest of this entry »
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Gluten-free Cinnamon Rolls (with Dairy-free options)
After making the (huge) move from New York to California earlier this year, I knew that the holidays would be an especially hard time of year for missing my family. When the first signs of the season hit, I was instantly an emotional wreck (crying in the decorations aisle at Target, at the tree lighting ceremony at Disneyland… you get the gist.) Since we wouldn’t be making the trip back home this first year, I quickly realized how important it would be to bring my family’s holiday traditions to our new home.
Every Christmas morning for as long as I can remember, my mom would form a batch of her homemade cinnamon rolls into the shape of a Christmas tree. Some years, she would get creative and decorate the tree with sprinkles or color the icing green, but no matter what, they were always in the shape of a tree. The sweet rolls served as a final gift to enjoy together after every other present from under the tree had been opened. It’s the little things like this – 34 years of the same Christmas traditions – that I’m going to especially miss this year.
Since being gluten-free for almost a decade, my Mom and I have attempted GF versions, but it’s been tough to get the recipe exactly right. But even if I didn’t have any to eat, it was enough just to see everyone enjoying them around the table. Read the rest of this entry »
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Holiday Gift Guide: Yoga Gear
Hey all! I am super excited to be partnering with some really great brands this season to bring you the first-ever Tasty Yummies Holiday Gift Guide. This 5-part series will go live every Tuesday until the week before Christmas. Each week, I will be featuring a different theme with products from some of my very favorite companies. I have been working very hard to bring you some really great stuff! So please, click over to their sites and show these wonderful, mindful companies some love this holiday season and if you buy, please tell them that Tasty Yummies sent you. Also, stay tuned for some amazing features and giveaways with a few of these great brands throughout this holiday season. To see the other gift guides from this series head over here.
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Gluten-free Soft Pretzel Bites (Dairy-free with Vegan option)
We go to Disneyland a lot, we have season passes, it is just up the road and it’s magical – so duh, why wouldn’t we? Disney is super gluten-free friendly. I can always find multiple options there and no matter which restaurant I select, they send the chef out to speak with me directly about my intolerances and allergies, to tell me what my options are. It’s so comforting to feel so safe with my food outside of my home. Of course, if you know me, I always want more. Those carts that sell the Mickey Mouse shaped pretzels, they just kill me. Disney doesn’t have gluten-free soft pretzels and I don’t blame them, it isn’t a simple feat. My hubby loves getting those tempting hot pretzels and it has created a nearly year-long craving for me. I had plans of making pretzels in October some time for Oktoberfest, but that month somehow got away from me. The craving however has only got stronger.
I finally had an entire day alone in the kitchen to play with a gluten-free soft pretzel recipe. However, rather than fight with a gluten-free dough to make traditional twisted pretzels, I have done that before, it just ends in me being angry and frustrated, I decided the shape is less important than the taste and texture! I just wanted that traditional yummy soft pretzel taste to shove in my face, no matter the shape or size. So, soft pretzel bites became the clear winner!
Please trust me when I ask you not to get overwhelmed by the ingredients and instructions on this recipe. I know it seems like a lot, I am sure it seems like many steps, but the moment they come out of that oven and you bite into one that’s still warm with it’s both soft and chewy inside a slightly crispy outside, you will forget how much time you spent making them. The day I was working on this recipe, I made them THREE times! THREE. In less than 8 hours. I was in the kitchen all day making pretzels and it was never that bad or overwhelming, I got into a bit of a rhythm and it never felt like too much work. The hardest part for me was getting the measurements just right, and that work has been done for you already, after that – they are surprisingly easy.
