The Healthy Everythingtarian

You guys are cool.

Like, way cool.

I mean, just go and read all the comments from my last post. I promise if you do, you’ll realize the only thing that defines who you are is YOU – not your relationship status, age, job, how much money you have or any of those trivial, unimportant details. That’s cool, if you ask me. Because let’s be real – single or not – we all need that reminder sometimes.

For all your lovely comment, I’d like to share me treasure with ya…

PIRATE’S BOOTY!!!

The lovely people over at Pirate Brands offered to send me free samples of this crunchy, puffed snack to review for the blog and accomplished their mission with style and panache.

Seriously, how cute is this?

Anyways, I love a good snack just as much as the next gal. So, when I opened my treasure chest of foodie love to find these six unique flavors, needless to say aye knew I’d be hooked.

• Sour Cream & Onion
• Aged White Cheddar
• New York Pizza
• Veggie
• Barbeque
• Sea Salt & Vinegar

These bootylicious bags (all-natural, gluten-free and NO trans fats) are a great grab + go snack option or yummy addition to a good ol’ brown bag lunch. At roughly 130 calories, they aren’t going to fill your belly up but sure make for some fun eating.

After spending my week taste testing the waters, I can officially reveal to you my Pirate’s Booty flavor ranking, starting with my #1 favorite…

My name is Holly; I live in Wisconsin; and I love cheese.

The aged cheddar flavor, which actually uses real Wisconsin cheese, was hands down my fave. It had the perfect hint of cheesiness to go with the light crunch of this puffed rice snack.

Here’s how the rest of ‘em stacked up…

1. Aged White Cheddar
2. Barbeque
3. Sour Cream & Onion
4. New York Pizza
5. Veggie
6. Sea Salt & Vinegar

Sadly, my least favorite was the flavor I made Brett taste test with me for the blog…

The smile was pre-taste, FYI.

For some reason, the Sea Salt & Vinegar lacked a lot of flavor. The salt wasn’t strong enough and neither was the vinegar. In Brett’s words, “It kinda tastes like cardboard.”

I agreed.

I am making it up to him by cooking Caramelized Onion & Heirloom Tomato Flatbread on Monday. I think that should take care of any lingering residual cardboard flavor.

Tonight, I finally whipped up something I’ve been meaning to make all week: Red Curry in a Hurry.

So easy, you’ll scoff at the fact I’m even touting this as a recipe.

• 1 T canola oil
• 1 T minced garlic
• 1 medium zucchini, sliced
• 1 medium yellow zucchini, sliced
• 1 (8-oz.) package tempeh, crumbled
• 1 (14-oz.) can coconut milk
• 2 T red curry paste
• 1 small packet NuNaturals Stevia
• soy sauce
• ground ginger
• salt + pepper, to taste

Saute the zucchini in canola oil + garlic over medium heat. Add the tempeh, coconut milk, red curry paste, stevia, a couple shakes of soy sauce + ground ginger and salt + pepper, to taste. Mix well.

Go to Target and buy this awesome rice packet from Archer Farms…

Heat it in the microwave for a minute.

Pile rice high in a bowl, add your red curry mix, make a POM + sparkling water mocktail and devour…

When your finished, you should probably eat two of Madeline’s cookies.

You know, to settle your stomach.

Then, you should probably do your 4-day old dishes, clean your apartment, pack a suitcase, write a recommendation letter and squeeze in a workout before you pick up and leave for the weekend.

Where to, you ask?

I’ll give you three clues: Gandhi Mahal, Haute Dish & the home of Wire-Haired Griffons.

You’re cool…you figure it out.

This weekend, I’ve come to four realizations.

First, the month of August is halfway over.

Honestly, I kind of forgot it even began.

Second, I’ve officially been working at my job one year.

Does this also officially make me a grown-up?

Third, my littlest sister moves to college in Colorado on Wednesday.

She also just texted me it is going to 95 degrees on move-in day. It’s a good thing I’m getting a free vacation from Mama + Daddy Everythingtarian out of this.

Fourth, I’m crazy.

I’ve decided to run the Chicago 1/2 Marathon in approximately 27 days, 8 hours and 6 minutes.

Yeah, about that…one of my BFFs Megan registered for the race but can’t run it anymore. She offered her registration to me. I want to visit her in Chicago. I said yes. This decision is still sinking in. More reflection on this spontaneous act of athleticism to come.

Meanwhile, in the midst of all this realizing, I’ve been obsessed with eating LIFE cereal + raisins.

I don’t know what it is about the combination, but it tastes so good.

I’ve also been obsessed with carrot fries.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut carrots lengthwise into 4″ strips. Coat lightly with coconut oil (canola would work as well). Add a generous sprinkle of salt. Roast for 15 minutes. Turn the carrots over. Roast another 15 minutes. Devour.

This morning, I had the fortune of going to brunch at some place I’ve been dying to go to for ages…

Sardine.

I walked in the door, and before I knew it, my friend Curtis placed a Bellini in my hand.

I graciously accepted.

Champagne + peach nectar at 10:00am? Yes, please.

We patiently waited almost 1/2 hour for a table outside.

Trust me, it was worth it.

The weather was 80 degrees, sunny and completely devoid of humidity.

I celebrated with coffee (and a splash of skim milk).

Although if that’s the case, I technically celebrate every morning.

I took one look at the menu and knew exactly what I wanted: Buckwheat Belgian Waffles.

Served with cinnamon-orange butter, fresh fruit and maple syrup, twas’ perfection.

I realize now I am out of realizations and attempts at witty commentary. I realize this is very unlike me but also realize my bed is calling my name with its sweet nothings and realizations of a long night’s sleep.

I just had a realization that last paragraph made no sense.

Realization realized.

In the modern era of all things media, staying true to yourself is hard.

Really hard.

In fact, I happen to think it can be downright exhausting.

Sometimes I yearn for the good ol’ days when communication consisted of actual words said face to face between actual people, not screen names like StarAngelStacy37 or Way2Sexy4U. Now, instead of meeting up in person or talking over the phone, I have approximately 1,437,879 ways to get a hold of someone.

I could call their work phone or perhaps cell phone, although a text message or e-mail might be more convenient. Then again, I could log-on to the Internet and browse their Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn page to see their status message and if they are busy. On the off chance they still have a MySpace, AOL Instant Messenger or – gasp! – MSN Messenger, I could check that too.

Don’t even get me started on what this can do to one’s dating life. Trust me, you don’t want to know the embarrassing mistakes I’ve drunkenly made at 2am when I thought it would be a good idea to Facebook a guy I studied abroad with in Europe, message him inappropriate things and appear to be his #1 stalker.

The weirdest part? He actually accepted my request.

Hmmm, maybe I am on to something…

Lately, it seems as though media has pervaded my life. From magazines to television to blogging (and all that it entails) and now, social media, I can’t keep up. But I try. I try, I try and I try, because I think this is what I need to do to be cool, popular and successful.

I mean, I was at The New Pornographers concert last night having an AMAZING time with friends, and what was I thinking? “OMG, I need to Tweet a pic 4 realz!”

But I didn’t.

I forced myself to put my phone away and enjoy the concert, which I did (albeit the fact it was about 90 degrees in the venue and thought I was going to pass out the last 10 minutes of the show).

Lately, all this media has me acting like a bit of a nutjob – comparing myself with others and putting undo pressure on my Everythingtarian self.

I need to post funny Tweets!

I need more Facebook friends!

My blog isn’t getting as many comments as hers!

Why didn’t he respond to my text message?

Maybe I should make a LinkedIn page…

Ahhh…my Internet crashed! How can I ever continue to live?!?!

The last one might be a big of an exaggeration. Kind of. Quite frankly, I just don’t have enough damn time in my day to worry about these things. Social media has its advantages – don’t get me wrong. Facebook is a godsend for keeping up with family & friends, Google is my BFF, and you all know I would be completely lost without my tech-savvy iValentine.

But its become a bit much.

I can’t enjoy breakfast without simultaneously checking my e-mail.

Lunch is usually accompanied with a side of reading blogs.

Snacktime is often the perfect time to send a quick text or GChat with a friend.

Dinner may not even get photographed, because I could be too busy already blogging.

I don’t have an innovative solution to this 21st century problem. All I can say is studies prove we are indeed bombarded with media. In fact, in an article in the NY Times, I read young people consume media practically every minute they are awake.

That’s scary.

My solution is just to take a step back.

Go for a walk. Read a book. Talk with a friend. Doodle. Have a handstand contest. Run a race. Grab a beer. Go shopping. Host a watermelon seed spitting contest. Hula hoop. Make out with somebody random. Listen to music. Dance. Go on a Pedal Pub. Cook.

Because maybe by doing something active like this, you will see that you are indeed one-of-a-kind and have your own talents to share with the world (the real one…NOT the cyber one).

Remember this recipe for Sundried Tomato, Spinach and Goat Cheese Mini Quiches?

It’s in Posit Science’s, a leader in brain training interactive software, new ThinkFood cookbook! Designed to help people think faster, focus better and remember more, this cookbook is all about the brain and fueling it with ingredients proven to keep your mind sharp.

It’s available for ordering online and features 50 recipes from 50 different food bloggers – including yours truly. Get the recipes for free by signing up for this free e-newsletter featuring a new recipe every week!

“To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else – means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.”

Maybe with more E.E. Cummings and less social media, just being ourselves would be a bit easier.

And less exhausting.

Getting rid of the Way2Sexy4U screen name might help too.

Trust me, your Facebook friends will thank you for it.

I have a lot of pet peeves.

Mama Everythingtarian likes to say it’s because I always think I am right. So when people disagree with what I believe, I immediately and subconsciously get pissed off, hence the large amount of “peeves.” Personally, I think she’s being a bit of a drama queen, but apparently I am not one to talk.

One of my BIGGEST pet peeves is when I see a good lookin’ bar like this ProBar…

…then proceed to rip it open in utter blogger’s excitement before discovering this…

Seriously?!?! I don’t care if you are free from my parent’s house, organic, vegan, 70% raw and a good source of Omega 3 AND 6. You should never ever be 1/2 the size of the wrapper. Not only is that a total disgrace to our lovely Mother Earth, but it just really pisses me off.

Like, a lot.

And when I say “you,” I promise I mean the bar.

Because pet peeves aren’t deserving of my time and energy (much like rude boys, negativity and meanies), I am moving on. Tonight involved a special delivery sent from the lovely people over at Campbell’s Soup…

In an effort to spice things up in the kitchen, Campbells Soup is encouraging peeps to experiment with their soup to find new ways of enjoying a warm bowl of goodness – which is why along with two of their Healthy Request soups, they sent along mashed potatoes and rice.

Soup over ‘taters? I’m in.

I decided there was one person I needed to share the love with: BRETT!

He makes such a darling Vanna White, no?

And he cooks!

Shake it like a garlic powder shaker…

Or polaroid picture.

Whatever you so choose.

I got the easy part.

Hold the pots and look cute.

Done and done.

When your apartment is 87 degrees and atrociously muggy, you can’t expect too much. If you take away the frizzy afro-puffed hair, layer of perma-sweat on my face and general hot weather disheveledness, I am lookin’ pretty cute. Plus, I am in love with my new chambray tunic.

Dinner started with a classy drink in the form of an uber-strong vodka + pineapple orange banana juice made by Brett himself…

…continued on with the beef vegetable stew over mashed potatoes alongside a cheese quesadilla…

…and ended with a side of Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List.

While Ms. Griffin might be a pet peeve to some, I kinda love her over-the-top, shameless obnoxiousness. In fact, when filling out our Amazing Race applications, one of my BFFs, Megan, told me that the celebrity I am most like is Kathy Griffin. At first, I am not going to lie, I was kind of offended.

But deep down, I love her crazy.

Probably because I relate.

And dinner, you ask? Brett + I both gave it 4 out of 5 stars. It was good but definitely not great. Surprisingly, the mashed potatoes were my favorite part (I think the secret was the crushed red pepper flakes Brett added).

And now, here I am sitting at a cute coffee shop, blogging and GChatting (even though I am supposed to be “freelance writing”) because my aforementioned apartment is indeed 87 degrees and retaining every ounce of mugginess from this horrendously gross Wisconsin weather.

Ummm…can you say ultimate pet peeve?

Stay tuned tomorrow for a Reader’s Request post AND a giveaway!

Greetings from la casa de Mama y Papa Everythingtarian!

I’m here kickin’ it with the fam for the weekend, but first things first: I totally forgot to thank you all for showing my dear Uncle Tom some love on his guest post earlier this week!

And I suppose I should also just thank y’all in general for just being cool and reading my blog. Seriously, all the e-mails and comments I get really do brighten my day. When people show you such unexpected love and support, pull you up when you need it and continue to read your crazy ramblings, it’s a warm feeling I can’t describe.

Much like the warm feeling I get when I wake up in the morning knowing a jar of overnight oats is ready and waiting for me in the fridge…

1/2 cup rolled oats
1 container Chocolate Oikos + 1/3 cup milk

~ soaked overnight ~

1 mashed naner
sprinkle of coconut
1 T dark chocolate chips

Delish.

Honestly, I think I like the Chocolate Oikos Greek yog best mixed in with something – whether that is in overnight oats or a smoothie. When I ate it plain with some granola, I didn’t *love* it.

This morning, I had my first bowl of hot oats in forever…

1/2 cup rolled oats
1 cup water
1 egg (whisked in while cooking)
1 sliced frozen banana
cinnamon + apple pie spice
sprinkle of maple sugar
sprinkle of ground flaxseed
sprinkle of coconut
1 T dark chocolate chips

Normally, I don’t do hot oats + hot coffee on a hot day – I mean, that’s the quickest equation to create one hot mess. However, somedays I just don’t care.

Almond Joy Oatmeal?

Yes, please.

I also received the most lovely package from my homegirl Katie. The plethora of Carrot Cake Clif Bars alongside a Luna protein bar and one hidden Nature Valley granola bar were nice…

But this absolutely stole the package show…

She stole this picture of M.F.H. (ahem, my future husband) from a magazine at her dentist’s office and sent it to me. That is blogger love right there. When someone is willing to commit a crime for you, you know you’ve found yourself a friend. Thank you SO much Ms. Katie – this absolutely made my day!

I ate a lot of the bars today.

C’est la vie! That’s what happens when the only things left in your fridge are one onion, one egg, two banana peppers and puff pastry dough.

Now, I am going to continue the warm feeling.

And just to clarify, that does not mean peeing my pants.

The warm feeling I speak of now is laying on my parent’s couch wrapped in our old family blanket, watching Say Yes to the Dress, knowing I can sleep in tomorrow morning and waking up to spend quality time with the fam.