A weekend in the sun…

Hey guys!

Hope you had a beautiful weekend and hopefully it was sunshiney like it was here!!

Today is a post with few words –So many amazing photos to share!   We spent Saturday at a friends Winery – SouthEnd Farm Winery.  We spent the day under cherry blossoms on picnic blankets, playing with babies and watching their silly animals run around!!  

Of course I brought treats to share!!

Averie’s Raw Cookie Dough Balls.

  and some bean salad…

Now enjoy our pictures as we headed over to the little island where the winery is!

Under the cherry blossoms…

Love these pictures…

Onto the animals…  This duck is one of my favourite animals of all times… 

His name was Duckie and he chased all the dogs around the property.  They weren’t allowed anywhere close to him…

 

The dogs and grumpy old goat…

Lovely day!!  Thanks Ben, Jill and Mewa for inviting us over!

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Sunday I got up early and headed down to the Farmers Market

The market is right on the water, so there are lots of boats!

I went here and bought a bunch of flowers for my grandma for mother’s day!

Then I went to test out Starbucks new soy Frappicinos.  

Not really a fan… It was just ok… sooo super sweet!

Next up a visit to G-ma’s (Mom is out of town)

We brought her flowers to plant in her flower pots and muffins… (mama pea’s muffins!)

She was a happy G-ma!!

Then we had friends over for a hot dog/smore roast!  I didn’t ask if I can share pictures on the blog, so I won’t.  But let me tell you, they have the absolute sweetest daughter EVER!! 

See it was a great weekend!!

How was yours?

Ps.  Don’t miss the giveaway.

Get to know you ~ Erin

Good morning guys!  HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to my mama, who reads my blog *love*  and to all my other mama friends ~ I hope your day is beautiful!

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Ton’s of entries into the Glass Dharma straw giveaway!!  Make sure you enter if you haven’t already!!

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And for today, another exciting “Getting to know you” post today!! 

Erin Coates RD.,LD from  www.thehealthyapron.com

How long have you been a reader of Dairy Free Betty and what keeps you coming back?

I discovered this blog about a month ago and was initially attracted to the bright colors on the homepage! I am a sucker for scenery ha. But I also enjoy reading because of the fun, upbeat attitude. It puts me in a good mood when I've had a bad day. :)

What inspired you to start blogging (if you have a blog)?

Well, after I moved in with my now husband, I really wanted to start cooking new and interesting foods. That's when I discovered baking and cooking blogs. I fell in love and got obsessed. I knew I wanted to create one myself, but I wanted it to be different by incorporating my dietetic knowledge. So I started blogging about how I would experiment with recipes to make them healthier, answering nutritional questions people have, and just give fun, easy tips for living healthier. I hope to create an online weight-loss program eventually !

Give us a quick bio of who you are?

I am a registered dietician and love all things wellness, health, food, and nutrition. I enjoy shopping (who doesn't) and I am more enthused about Bravo TV than I am about the local news (sad). I could eat hummus every day of my life and never get sick of it and oysters are the one food that I have only tried once and will swear off FOREVER! My idea of the perfect day is getting up a lazy Sunday  morning, making breakfast for my husband, and going grocery shopping in the afternoon. If we go to Whole Foods, you can bet I will blow my whole pay check ha. I love hearing from readers and interacting with others bloggers! I'm so grateful to Jessica for letting me guest post!

What are 3 foods that you always have in your house?

Hummus, whole wheat pitas, natural peanut butter

Favourite recipe? (provide link if you have it)

Lightened Up Fettuccine Alfredo by Cooking Light!

http://thehealthyapron.com/2010/04/21/lightened-up-fettuccine-alfredo/

Tastes just like the full fat version!

What is your food eating style? (Whatever I see; clean; veggie; vegan; etc)

I am mostly vegetarian but I cannot swear off any food groups!! Just chemically enhanced products!

If you could eat only one food for the rest of your life… what would it be?

pizza!! It's so versatile!

If you were a crayon, what color would you be and why?

I would pick purple...I look good in it lol

If I gave you a million dollars, and I told you that you had to spend it in 1 week – what would you do with it?

I know the RIGHT answer should be to donate it in some way...but let's be more fun (and honest)...I would buy my hubby and I a house, take a vacation across Europe, help both my husband and I's parents, pay off their houses, and go on a serious grocery shopping spree. :)

If you could have one super hero quality – what would it be, and why?

I would love to be able to read people's minds (especially when I was younger and wanted to know if certain boys liked me) but I would want to be able to control it so that I wouldn't hear people all the time.

List 3 of your favourite blogs with links…

Besides "Dairy Free Betty..."

Smitten Kitchen (www.smittenkitchen.com): She has AWESOME recipes!

The Edible Perspective (www.edibleperspective.com): She's so fun to read!

Brown Eyed Baker (www.browneyedbaker.com): She is hilarious and helped me make my first homemade brownie from scratch that tasted GOOD!

Erin

www.thehealthyapron.com

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Thanks so much Erin!! 

I hope you guys get a chance to check our her blog!

I can’t wait to share my blog post with you tomorrow,  I spent Saturday at a pretty little winery near here, and took tons of beautiful pictures!! :)

Glass Dharma Giveaway!

I am in love… about 4 months ago I bought a 4 pack of Glass Dharma straws from their website.  I bought the “Beautiful Bend’s smoothie size… 

It’s very lovely!!   And it was nice not to have to throw away a little plastic straw after every glass of juice, every smoothie… (and every glass of wine?  haha j/k)

It came with a great little cleaning brush too, which is very helpful and makes for quick easy clean up!

It’s a step in the right eco friendly direction for sure!!

The best part?  These little babies have a LIFETIME warranty… So it’s perfect for your cute little kiddies, or your friends after a few too many boozy blender drinks ;)

Quoted from their website…

Lifetime Guarantee Against Breakage

If, for any reason*, your GlassDharma Drinking Straw breaks, you may return the broken straw for repair or replacement. If we cannot restore it to its original condition, we will gladly replace it.

Ok… so you want do get some right??   Guess what?   The lovely people at Glass Dharma have a $25 gift certificate for one (VERY) lucky Dairy Free Betty reader….

Here’s the deal-io (remember you can enter even if you don’t have a blog)  ONE ENTRY PER COMMENT ONLY!!!

#1 – Mandatory entry - Go to the Glass Dharma website, and let me know what you would use your $25 gift certificate for.  (1 entry)

#2-Become a fan of both Glass Dharma AND Dairy Free Betty on twitter, or let me know if you already are (1 entry for each)

#3-“Like” Glass Dharma AND Dairy Free Betty on facebook! (1 entry for each) or let me know if you already are!

#4 – It you tweet about it, it’s good karma – and a good way to get Dharma ;)   How do you like my rhymes??

#5- Add me (and them) to your blog roll!!!

Contest ends Wednesday May 12th.  Contest open to Canadian/US residents. 

 

Keep your eyes open tomorrow for “Get to know you”

Jess

yum!!

Gooooood Morning!! :)   Creative title hey???

Wow… thank you all so much.  I have so many guest bloggers I don’t know what to do with them! hehe   There is going to be awesome stuff coming your way, I can’t wait!! :)

My eating has been all over the place the last few days!!  I’ve been having lots of green monsters… (and cornbread).  This green monster is full of banana, strawberries, spirilina, 1/4 avocado, spinach, dates and almond milk!!  So great!

Dave cooked dinner the other night too and it was fabulous!!  BBQ Chicken, potatoes and I made a quick little salad…

There has also been some comfort food cooked!!  - More chicken, asparagas and Israel Couscous – which is amazing!  I cooked it up risotto style with onions, garlic, nooch, salt and pepper… The end result – Cheesey Couscous!!… Fabulous!

Then yesterday, I had a stressful day… one of those days that every thing that happened was frustrating…  All I wanted when I got home was banana soft serve, made with coconut milk.

This stuff is beyond amazing.  Freeze some bananas, then whiz up in the food processor with a little bit of coconut milk and vanilla!! Whom ever though up this one was brilliant I tell ya!! 

TO DIE FOR (and guilt free)!  Perfect for people with dairy/soy allergies too!!

Last but not least some OIAJ (Oats in a Jar) was eaten!!

Bye bye Barney Butter – you were good, but not good enough for me to want you again…   

*licks lips*  yummy….

Note… This was not all that has been eaten the last few days… but just my highlights!!

Have you tried OIAJ or banana soft serve yet??!!?

Hope you guys have a great weekend, and keep your eyes open tomorrow for another “Get to know you” post by one of my lovely readers!!!

Looking for guest posters!

Hey guys,

I am going to be away for almost 3 weeks and while I will be still blogging, there will be day’s when we are traveling and I would love some guest posters.   I am open to pretty much anything, as long as it’s healthy living and dairy free!! :)   I could probably use about 10 guest posters!!!  Fun fun!!

Message me on facebook

Or on twitter

Or send me an email

Looking forward to hearing from you!!!  

Sorry for the lame-o posts lately, but I’ve been super busy working lots and wedding stuff!! :)

Ciao lovelies!

Exciting News!

Howdy guys!

So I have some SUPER fun news…

One of my very favourite bloggers (and friend) – Robyn, just finished 4 weeks at RAW CHEF SCHOOL!! I was excited for her, the stuff she made looked so amazinly fabulous!

Awhile back I emailed a local lady about her Raw Chef school training, and last night I got an email back and after a few back and forth emails I am officially doing the basic raw food class in June – I asked her if I could document the process to share with my lovely readers, and she said YES!. YAY!!! :)   After that I have the opportunity to do 2 other courses to become a Raw Certified Chef!

It’s within driving distance and goes from 7:45 (because I am the helper) until 8:00pm for 4 days.   SO EXCITING!! 

I don’t plan on going 100% raw, but I really enjoy raw recipes and have always wanted to do cooking classes!!  Especially ones where I know I don’t have to worry about their being any dairy!!

If you are close and want to come with me email me!!! I would love to have a partner in crime to come with me!!  

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Also, I have wedding dress photos, but because I don’t want random people checking them out, shoot me at email blogname (at) that hot place dot com, and if I know you, and you know me I’ll send you the link!!  (Ps. I already emailed a few of you that I email with regularly!)

No pictures today from this little lady… you’ll have to email me for the good stuff! 

What are your thoughts on Raw foods???

Massage your kale…

A few weeks ago I read a blog post about massaged kale salad with avocado dressing… I have been dreaming about it ever since…  Then of course when I went to find it, I couldn’t remember who the brilliant lady was behind the salad…

So I created my own…

Wash kale and put in a large bowl – add in chopped (small) onion, 1/4 avocado, nutritional yeast, salt, pepper and lime juice and start massaging… (yes, I realize this sounds funny, but just get in there and use your hands!! )

Check out the size of the pit of this avocado – I was a little sad, because my avocado ended up being teeny tiny!!

After I was all done, I went onto twitter and realized people had sent me the link to the lovely Healthy Ashley’s salad (the source of my inspiration)!!!  I was close, but her sounds a bit better… will have to try it!!

It was delicious!!   I topped it with tomatoes!!!

What are those delicious looking sweet potatoes you ask???

I got the recipe from here!  And she got the inspiration from here!    They are originally Oh She Glows “These fries will change your life” fries!! haha   “Nut butter encrusted parsnip fries”  Wow was that confusing or what?

End verdict both things were delicious and amazingly kept me full for hours!

Angela @ Oh She Glows originally made them with parsnips and I think I might give it a shot!!

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I’ve also patiently been awaiting the arrival of the bridesmaids dresses…. and guess what… they are here!!

I know you guys saw pictures yesterday, but now that I have them I am just so happy!! They are beautiful and very light fabric, so the girls won’t die in the heat!!    I bought myself one too, possibly for a Gala we are going to in Newfoundland!!

Guess what… you’re going to get to see them tomorrow on my blog WITH my wedding dress!!!  Because I am going to try it on in 3.5 hours and pray it comes in white!! :)

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Before I leave… a question that I have been chuckling about since someone asked it…

How do you keep your house so clean?  haha I have to laugh at this one… Those pictures were taken for our real estate agent, for selling our house.   It’s typically pretty clean, but not as clean as this! :)  

 

Anywhoo… that’s all from me, I’m going to sit outside in the sunshine for awhile!! 

Question of the day for you -

How many hours did you have your photographer for at your wedding… Any tips/thoughts about it??

I am looking into a 3 or a 6 hour package – and will probably only have about 30 guests!! :)

 

XOXOXOXOXOXO

J

Weekend Recap!

Howdy!

Hoping you guys all had a fab weekend!!

In case you missed my weekend posts check out:

Dairy Free Betty’s Crib

Get to know you – Valerie!

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The weekend started out with

Thanks hunny!! 

Then it was off to wings with friends – I had 10 salt and pepper wings and a bowl jam packed full of veggie/wonton soup.  Fun night!! Sadly they are moving away, but we love them anyways! :)

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Saturday  started off with an egg sandwich…

Egg and spinach on a whole wheat bun…

It was delicious until I realize (at my last bite) that the bun was moldy…………………    grosssssssssss

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Then it was wedding dress shopping for another one of my friends getting married this year!! (Have I mentioned 2 of my best girlfriends are getting married in the next year too!)

Then we went shoe shopping for my bridesmaids… these are the shoes we picked out (remember the whole wedding is on sand)

to possibly go with these dresses!

Hopefully these dresses go with my dress!!  (Will know tomorrow!)  because one of my bridesmaids found them for $19.99!!! WOO HOO!  She said they are gorgeous fabric too!

After we got home from wedding mania it was dinner time!

Sunday morning I had some beautiful oatmeal!

 

and made some of Mama Pea’s peanut butter and jelly cereal, I have been so inspired by her recipes lately!!  And she is now writing a book!!!  Congrats Mama Pea!!

This stuff is awesome!!

After all this food, I decided I needed to hike it off… So I convinced my friend Ang to come for a hike with me!!

It’s such a beautiful place… it starts off at a hyrdo station

then you hike up to this gorgeous bridge with an amazing view!

Lance wasn’t a fan of the bridge – he needed some bribing…  isn’t my bobble head doggie cute!?! haha

Thanks for coming Ang!!

After this… I’m not going to lie… I laid on the couch and watched chick flicks – aka – DEAR JOHN… so good… and let’s just point out Chatum Tanning is so super dreamy.. *drools*

 

(Sorry Dave, I’m add him to my list)

I also ate some yummy chocolate

This was sent in my huge package from Global Health – it’s DELICIOUS!!   With just a hint of Earl Grey Tea… sooo good!!

Anyways, that’s all from me, I’m sure you are tired of reading anyways!! :) This turned into a massive post!!  haha

Have an awessssssssssome Monday!!!

xo Jess

ps. I haven’t told you guys lately, but you are all so fabulous!  I love being able to write you back when you ask me a question too, so try to add your email address when posting!! 

Ciao,

Get to know you ~ Valerie

Good morning guys!  I really enjoyed the “get to know you” last week, so here it is again!  With a lovely reader that I didn’t even know was reading my blog!! 

I hope you enjoy her entry and her photos!!  Make sure to check out her blog too!  

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What is your name? Valerie

Give us a quick bio of who you are? I live in Washington, DC and am 31 years old. I have been married for almost four years, which seems fairly unbelievable considering it feels like we just got married yesterday.  I started blogging in April 2007.  On my blog, I do not discuss my professional life as a lawyer, but instead focus on all the things I enjoy in my personal time - like exploring museums and neighborhoods, yoga, cooking, eating, green beauty products, reading and sustainable eating and living.  
  
Blog addy if you have one? I blog at City|Life|Eats - the address is http://www.citylifeeats.com/

How long have you been a reader of Dairy Free Betty and what keeps you coming back?  I discovered Dairy-Free Betty right after you left a comment on the food wishlist blog post I wrote in early March, so I have been a reader for coming up on two months.   I remember being confused why I had not found your blog earlier, because we read several of the same blogs, including some of my very favorites for healthy eats inspiration like Meghan Telpner's blog, The Whole Life Nutrition Kitchen, Girl on Raw, Loves Veggies and Yoga and the Voracious Vegan.   I keep reading Dairy-Free Betty because it's a fun blog about healthy eats and life.  I love that all your recipes are dairy-free as I am very intolerant to dairy myself.
What inspired you to start blogging?   I was thinking about that when I recently celebrated my third blog-birthday.  I started blogging as a creative outlet - I am a lawyer, and like many lawyers, love to write.   I thought blogging might help the frustrated writer inside me.  I initially wrote a beauty blog (with a focus on green beauty products)  the first few months I blogged, but soon enough, I found myself wanting to include other things about my life, and over time my blog has evolved into a reflection of all the things I love, namely city living, my life and food.  I started blogging when I lived in New York City, but kept the focus on city living when I moved to Washington, DC. In the last year, the food part of my blog has evolved to focus on allergy-friendly eats as I worked to figure out food intolerances that have affected my health.  My blog has allowed me to connect with several other people who have food intolerances, which has been really valuable on several levels.  Ultimately, blogging has been so much more than a creative outlet for me and I am very grateful for all the people it has allowed me to meet, whether it is because of shared interests or food intolerances or both.

What are 3 foods that you always have in your house?  Quinoa, spinach and unsweetened almond milk.
Favourite recipe?  Picking just one is so hard! Instead I will tell you about my favourite meal lately, which is vegan homemade pesto atop warm steamy quinoa with a side of kale salad.  The last time I made this was with a pesto made of ramps, but it works with any pesto.



What is your food eating style? (Whatever I see; clean; veggie; vegan; etc) The short answer is gluten-free, dairy-free and heavily plant-based.  In practice, this means I eat gluten-free vegan meals most days, with the occasional addition of wild-caught fish or some grass-fed chicken breast. I focus heavily on whole foods, avoid corn and eggs, and also avoid all refined sugars and most natural sugars too. I do  have a bit of a weakness for Daiya vegan cheese though.   

If you could eat only one food for the rest of your life… what would it be? Probably hummus. It is one of my absolute favorite foods, ever. 

If you were a crayon, what color would you be and why? A bright pink crayon. I love pink, but never wear enough of it in my life (I wear mostly black clothing with occasional bit of color).

If you could have one super hero quality – what would it be, and why?  The ability to heal quickly.  I have had enough health issues that, while I appreciate the benefits of working towards healing, I still would love the ability to heal quickly. And also to bestow that ability to others. 

If you were having a “themed” dinner part – what would be the theme, and what would you cook?  I love tapas and mezze, so it would be a spread of small plates.  I often do those for myself - I call them snack plates, and they a great way to make a meal fun (see picture).  A dinner party of mezze would be an excuse to make lots more dips and small plates and eat a variety of things.


What are 3 of your favorite blogs (with links)!!!!I have so very many favorite blogs, so I am going to tell you about three blogs  I am really loving as I figure out how to eat gluten-free and with multiple food allergies and restrictions:   Diet Dessert and Dogs, Affairs of Living and Gluten-Free Goddess but I also wanted to mention Gussying up the Tuttle, Blisschick, Hang on Little Tomato, Pencils Skirts and Pearls, Bleeding Espresso, My Bella Vita, Kaileen Elise .... ok, clearly, I read many blogs.  I am in the process of updating my blogroll to reflect the many blogs I read. 

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Thanks so much Valerie!!   I look forward to checking out all your links!!

Hope you guys have an amazing Saturday!!

Are you doing anything exciting this weekend?

I am going wedding dress shopping with my friend (not for me, mine is postponed for Tuesday), and then a mellow movie day most likely tomorrow!!

Ciao for now!

Jess