Part I: You’re Stronger Than You Think You Are

Credit: oursoleintent.com

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“You’re stronger than you think you are.”

 

If you’ve ever taken one of my spin classes, you already know that this is my motto. Whether I’m shouting it from the bike when we hit a round of Tabata (right after a monster hill climb of course), or gently encouraging the friend who wants to get her health and fitness back on track, it’s something I wholeheartedly believe. Each one of us is SO much stronger than we realize.

 

We have unlimited potential.

 

This idea of being “stronger than we think we are” has gotten me through some rather trying times in life. From making the conscious decision to enter eating disorder recovery to being confident enough to audition as a spin instructor and pursue my personal training certification, I had to remind myself that the possibilities were endless if I just tapped into that fire burning inside me. Everyone has had these moments in life–moments when they’ve doubted their strength or questioned their ability to succeed at something. These moments are driven by fear– namely fear of failure. In just these past few months alone, I’ve had the chance to apply this concept to my life once again in a new and scary way– both literally and figuratively.

As I started to write this post, I planned to go in a completely different direction before the words took a form of their own. All my writers out there know exactly what I mean :) . I read through the post at least seven or eight times trying to decide if it was even worth sharing such a personal account– after all, who cares about MY life story, right? Well, in the spirit of Eating Disorder Awareness Week, I decided to take a leap of faith– no fear, just truth. If I can touch one life, or motivate one person to believe they truly are stronger  than they think they are (eating disorder related not), well, my fears are unfounded and my job has been done.

 

And wouldn’t you know…

Here you are, reading my truths.

THANK YOU.

 

Once I hit 1,000 words and realized I was only halfway done with the point I was attempting to make, I realized I have two pretty distinct stories to tell about two pretty distinct times in my life. So in order to save you from reading a novel on your iPhone or tablet screens, and to best tell my story, I’ve decided to split the post into two separate parts. The next post will go up later this week. As we head into Part I, allow me to give you some context…

 

A little over 8 years ago I hit rock bottom.

HARD.

 

Rock bottom lasted for so many months that I started to give up on life as I knew it. I was suffering from a debilitating eating disorder–anorexia nervosa, lost touch with amazing friends–both old and new, drifted from family and loved ones, and was forced to take sophomore year off from college. Life was so miserable and lonely and at times that I didn’t even care to see the light of the next day. I felt like a failure.

When I looked in the mirror I saw a monster and when I looked inside, I saw the same thing. I was unrecognizable to myself in every way shape and form that one could be– physically, mentally, and emotionally. I was living a vicious cycle of starvation, weight loss, over-exercising, hospital admittance, back to home, starvation, weight loss, over-exercising, hospital re-admittance (etc…)– this cycle lasted too many times to count. I was trapped.

Occasionally, it would become too much for my family or doctors to take and the cycle would be peppered with inpatient/outpatient programs that sucked me even deeper into the secret world of eating disorders. Having come from a place in my mind where I thought I was alone with this eating disordered mindset to essentially living in a test tube with other people who’s irrational weight and body thoughts were just as crazy– if not crazier– than my own, well, let’s just say that could make anyone lose their mind.

The first few tries with these programs failed miserably. I had never identified myself with have an eating disorder before. Even after the first handful of times I was admitted into the hospital, I thought my medical team was crazy for putting such a seemingly negative label on me. In my head, I was trying to be “healthy” — I was just exerting more willpower and more control, than the average human being. Even in failure, in my mind I was still winning. Yet every time I entered one of these programs, my Type-A competitive personality got the best of me. If I couldn’t win anywhere else in my life, at least I’d win at this. So, instead of getting physically and mentally better, my disease fed of of the other girls’ illnesses. At my most vulnerable I learned how to be better at anorexia.

 

Then something happened.

I looked around, and everything was moving but me.

 

After months of living this deadly game I started to realize something. My friends were back in school. They were getting internships, dating new people, making new friends, living with new roommates, going on trips, studying abroad, and filling their Facebook feeds with silly, drunken photos of their weekend escapades.  ME on the other hand? Ashley, the straight “A” student who loved to run, dance, and write– the same girl who had big dreams to tackle, thrived off of success, and was always moving towards a goal– was completely stationary.

 

I was holding myself back from everything I loved and everything I desired to be.

I was my own worst enemy.

 

And THEN I was readmitted to the hospital. At this point in the game the doctors, nurses, and CNAs knew me too well and they all knew the drill (weight check, Ensure, blood work, Ensure, EKG, Ensure, bed rest, Ensure, IV fluids, Ensure, forced feedings, Ensure, vitals, Ensure, repeat). I felt like a nuisance– a stupid, stupid, girl who couldn’t get it together. Here I was chugging water before every doctor’s appointment so I could try to “trick the scale” into believing I didn’t need to go to the ER–and for what? For a few more days of “freedom?” Living this way was NOT freedom. It was a death wish. 

I truly never wanted to become “one of those ED patients” who spent years of her life in and out of the hospital because she couldn’t do the one thing every human is expected to do to survive– EAT. I felt bad for those patients, and a part of me felt so separated from them…yet I was becoming just that. But it wasn’t always about the food. It wasn’t always about the calories or the way my hip bones protruded “just so.” It was about self-worth and the high expectations I had set for myself. The one thing I had going for me in life was also the one thing that was sabotaging my recovery– CONTROL. If I could just harness that disciplined energy and use it for something good, deep down I knew I could beat this.

 

I HAD no choice.

At this point it was a game of life or death.

 

The real saving grace of this whole destructive situation was school. I WANTED to go back to college. I WANTED to succeed. I WANTED to make a difference in the world, and most importantly, I didn’t want to disappoint my family. Heck, I was the girl who needed to be 10 steps ahead of everything for my own peace of mind, and here I was 100 steps back. I knew I had to work towards a goal and I knew I couldn’t go back to UMASS Amherst where my eating disorder began (I was scared about what people would think of me, and the memories were too difficult to face–plus, it was way too easy for me to hide and slip back into old ways at such a big school). I also knew I was on a strict timeline– those transfer applications had to be IN. When my doctor (who specialized in THE toughest love around) told me there was NO WAY I’d be able to go back to school by the fall, the fighter inside me came alive. Miss another year of school. HELL. NO.

 

Tell me I can’t do something and I’ll prove you wrong– take it or leave it, that’s me.

 

And wouldn’t you know that was the LAST TIME I was ever admitted to the hospital :) . I was ready to try this recovery thing for real. So right there in my hospital bed I wrote my essays and filled out my transfer applications and just a few days later my parents were driving me to the renowned Renfrew Center for Eating Disorders in Philadelphia. I was committing to my recovery, and on my own terms.

Now, don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies from there. A few days into my stay I was celebrating my 20th birthday on bed-rest in a new home with dozens of people I didn’t know. I wasn’t allowed to use a phone or computer and I felt detached from the world around me (this is to keep you focused on recovery). Out of fear (due to lack of control) I started to revert back to my eating disorder minded ways. I’d secretly throw out or spit out any medicine I was instructed to take for the fear that it was some sneaky “weight-gaining drug” (for the record, they were just vitamins and yes, I understand how insane it seems now).  I’d pour out cups of Gatorade I was supposed to drink to balance out my electrolytes. I’d wake up in the middle of the night to silently exercise and I’d do squats during my morning shower– until I was caught for both and put back on bed rest for misbehaving (this poor behavior is a very big no no in ED treatment– especially as I was on strict exercise restriction). Clearly, I was still very sick in body and mind. I was scared. And I needed to be there for a while–and I was.

After a few weeks I started seeing young women who came to center after me leaving before I did, and once I started to feel physically stronger (no more bed rest or grounds restrictions) I realized I needed to focus on something deeper than how skinny or fat I felt or I wasn’t going to get anywhere. Now that I had the proper nourishment and brain capacity to start thinking clearly, I needed to find the root of the anorexia and heal my mind. Sounds simple, right? Hardly.

I’ll be honest, this piece is still a work in progress– even close to eight years into recovery. For me, my eating disorder wasn’t always just about being skinny. Yes, of course a large part of it was about this, but again, it all came back to wanting control. During my freshman year of college I felt pressure– mostly from myself–to be the best, look the best, and feel the best. I wanted to have it all– the brains, the beauty, and the body to match– and I feared I wasn’t good enough. In my mind, you were supposed to go to college to find yourself. You were supposed to leave that high school persona behind and MAKE something of yourself. I wanted to be extraordinary, and I wanted people to take notice–because anything less than the best just wasn’t an option in my book. And guess what? I’m still that same control-driven girl today, but in a different (healthier!) way.

 

I want to be successful,

I want to be happy,

I want to be healthy,

& I want to make a difference.

One day I hope I will :) .

 

When it came time for me to leave Renfrew a few months later, I certainly wasn’t 100% ready and the work wasn’t done (unfortunately insurance dictates this piece of the puzzle) but this time, I was on the right track. With the love and support of a few friends and family, and with my incredible Mom by my side, I was recovering beautifully enough to go back to school at Roger Williams University that fall. A fresh start with a new environment, new friends (who I’m lucky to call my BEST friends), a new, supportive boyfriend (who I’m still madly in love with :) ), and a new beginning was JUST what I needed. And while life was far from perfect (I still had to attend class, drive to the doctor once a week, and visit the campus health center for weigh-ins twice a week until I could prove I was stable), I was far from where I started.

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Credit:www.positiwitty.com

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The next 3+ years looked pretty perfect on the outside, and for some time they were. But I was so fearful of my past and so adamant about it never happening again that I often wouldn’t check in with myself to see how I was really feeling inside. I tried very hard to hide my past– I never mentioned a thing to my boyfriend until well after we both graduated, and I didn’t fill in all my roommates until we practically became sisters.

 

I wanted to keep moving forward and never look back– constant motion made me feel best.

 

The next part of my story highlights my journey through recovery from then to now. Even all these years later, I was recently shocked to realize that some of those same self-destructive behaviors were still living in me in an entirely different way and continuing to hold me back from being my best self. Be sure to check back here in a few days for the next piece to my story –Part II: You’re Stronger Than You Think You Are :) .

 

Healthfully Yours,

Ashley Michelle

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Hey 2014…WHERE Did You Go?? (A Pre-New Year Reflection)

 

WOW.

Another year gone by– just like that.

 

I know I say this every year, but as I get older, time really does seem to fly. I mean, it feels like just yesterday I graduated from college, moved to the city, went vegan, and started this blog. Now–4 years later– so much has happened in my life (both good and bad), but I feel like I’m finally on the right path and taking the right steps to become the person I want to be.

 

“Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be.” –George A. Sheehan

 

Isn’t it funny how much things change?

 

People change. Relationships change. Priorities change. New friendships are forged, old friendship are revisited,  and sadly some friendships just fizzle away. As time passes, it may be hard to remember why certain things seemed so important to us and why other things didn’t seem important enough. Regardless, no matter how much change takes place in our lives, it’s vital to recognize one little fact– when transformations take place, we’re not giving these parts of our lives up…we’re gaining something else much bigger. We’re unearthing a deeper connection to ourselves that will hopefully take us one step closer to realizing our dreams.

 

“We do not grow absolutely, chronologically. We grow sometimes in one dimension, and not in another; unevenly. We grow partially. We are relative. We are mature in one realm, childish in another. The past, present, and future mingle and pull us backward, forward, or fix us in the present. We are made up of layers, cells, constellations.” – Anaïs Nin

 

This year has been quite a year for me– and my life has changed a bit since my last New Year’s blog post. On the upside, I’ve had the chance to visit some wonderful places and see some wonderful things. I traveled to California and celebrated my 27th birthday at a delicious vegan restaurant outside of L.A., I enjoyed a sun-filled, tropical, Aruba vacation with my loving boyfriend, spent time with family and friends over the summer in beautiful Cape Cod, and enjoyed the “City that Never Sleeps” in all its holiday glory. I also had the chance to see four of my closest friends walk down the aisle and marry the loves of their lives (there really is no better feeling in the world than knowing that the people who you hold so near and dear in your heart now have their hearts taken care of for the rest of their lives :) ).

On the fitness front, this year has been extra exciting. I became a Spinning instructor at my gym, Healthworks Fitness Center for Women, and I finally took the plunge and am in the middle of pursuing my NASM Personal Training Certification. For a time I was diligently studying for the GRE, as I plan to pursue my Master’s degree in a health/fitness concentration at some point in the near future, but until I can decide 100% what field I want to be in (and seeing as I have none of those pesky science requirements completed before I can actually apply to any of the programs I am interested in) this chapter of my life is still a work in progress– something I am still learning to be okay with :) . I love nothing more than expanding my knowledge and constantly learning new things, and I am lucky that my passion (health and fitness) is an ever-developing field. This means I’ll always have something new to discover and share with all of you!

On the downside, this year has also had its challenges (but we’ll keep it light for today :) ). For starters, I have not devoted half of the time and energy I want and need to devote to this blog and my other writing prospects. My full-time job has changed quite drastically and while more responsibility and new challenges are privileges I gladly welcome, I have found that after stressful day at work and long hours on the computer, my creative energy starts running pretty dry (as I write this post, I am on my first real vacation since April– and those creative juices are finally flowing again! Woo hoo!). The funny thing is, this blog makes me pretty damn happy, and once I just sit down and start writing, I feel at home and I quickly forget about any stress that may be wearing on me. In actuality, I should probably be writing MORE to de-stress after a yucky day.

 

One of my goals for 2015?

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Credit: http://www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk

 

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KEEP WRITING BABY!

 

There are so many things I want to share and so many things I want to accomplish– including trying out and reviewing a variety of fitness classes in the Boston area (so far these past few weeks I’ve conquered BODYPUMP, SoulCycle, and Turnstyle Cycle!). I also plan to tackle some other group fitness certifications. I’d love to teach a variety of classes at my club and/or other local gyms. But most important of all, I want to challenge myself.  Sure, taking on more responsibility at work, studying to become a NASM-CPT, and working towards graduate school are challenges in themselves…but I want to challenge my mind and body in a few different ways in 2015.

 

First, I want to push my body to be stronger and fitter than ever before– and I want to do it the healthy way.

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Yes, I workout like crazy and eat healthy, but I certainly don’t get enough sleep and I certainly don’t always give my body all the recovery it deserves and needs (this personal training certification is teaching me so much already!). So this year, I vow to check-in and listen to my body and give it what it needs when it needs it a little more diligently this time around– I have a feeling the results will be surprising :) .

 

Second, I vow to be at peace with where I am now.

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It’s so easy to get caught in up everyone else’s lives– who’s coming, who’s going, who’s accomplishing what and when. The truth is– NONE OF THAT SHOULD MATTER! Facebook and Instagram (of which I both use and love!) make it so easy to compare yourself to the rose-colored life presented by others– to worry about who’s buying a house, who’s getting married, who’s having kids, who has a kick ass job, who’s losing weight/gaining weight, and who’s making more money. The fact of the matter is, life isn’t a race– and for someone like me who is VERY competitive…I can easily get caught up in the whole “Keeping up with the Joneses”  thing. But when I really step back and think about it– I realize what’s the rush? I’m on my way to becoming the successful, happy person I want to be and as long as I’m reaching my goals…I see no reason to want to be like anyone but myself :) . Everything is going to fall into place exactly when it’s supposed to.

 

Third, I want to bring a whole lot more LOVE into my life this year.

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That means I’m focusing on what’s really important– relationships. Family and friends bring color to your life, and when you start to let those loving relationships fade away, the color fades too. I know it’s impossible to stay connected to everyone (and not every relationship is a positive one that deserves your time and attention) but it’s important to hold on to the people in your life who make you want to be a better person — both inside and out. I for one know I’ve (unintentionally) lost touch with some pretty spectacular and special people over the past few years. Life gets crazy, careers take precedence, people move, and time flies by. That’s why I’m making it my goal to fill my heart up with as many family and friends  (and memories!) as I can this year. (Hey friends, wanna hang?! Reach out to me! :) ).

 

So what’s my plan for 2015?

Sit back and enjoy the ride!

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Well… maybe we won’t sit ;)

 

I have plenty on my plate to keep me busy, and of course I’ll keep you all informed about new developments along the way. But like I said earlier, time isn’t getting any slower and I intend to live and love every moment to the fullest. So cheers to 2015 everyone! Let’s hit our goals and make some great memories. You’re going to see (and hear!) a heck of a lot more from me this year ;) .

 

Healthfully Yours,

Ashley Michelle

 

 

Hey prettyfitlifers! I LOVE to hear from you!

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What do you want to see on Pretty Fit Life this year?

What kinds of articles/recipes/fitness tips?

Let me know!

The content on this blog is for YOU!

 

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Build a Better Smoothie: A Step by Step Guide

CONFESSION: 

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I have a dangerous addiction…

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To smoothies, that is.

 

Okay…so “dangerous” might seem like too strong a word, but that’s exactly what my smoothie concoctions are…dangerously delicious :) . In fact, I’ve rarely met a smoothie I haven’t liked. I mean, it’s pretty hard to make a mistake preparing something that gets pulverized into a drinkable form– no boiling, baking, sautéing, or julienne-ing necessary. Seriously. It’s pretty much the easiest snack, meal, or treat you can (quite literally) whip up!

 

Pressed for time? Make a smoothie!

Hungover? Make a smoothie!

Looking to revamp your diet? MAKE A SMOOTHIE!

 

Okay, okay. I know what you’re thinking– I understand how booties, baubles, and a killer pair of heels can make a girl go wild, but can a smoothie really be that exciting? In one word, YES! And after taking a quick trip to the grocery store you’ll be creating healthier, tastier smoothies while increasing their nutritional value in no time at all. JUST BEWARE– not all smoothies are created equal! If you’re not careful, your “healthy” beverage can quickly become a sugar and fat trap. But don’t worry! With a little guidance you’ll be drinking your way to heath and wellness. Thankfully, I’m just the gal to show you how it’s done :) .

 

Step 1 : Choose your base

(Ready to have your mind completely blown? THERE AREN’T ANY SPECIAL HEALTH BENEFITS OR NUTRIENTS EXCLUSIVE TO DAIRY MILK! You can easily get vitamins, minerals, protein, and healthy fats from a variety of non-dairy milks– and YES– this includes calcium. But buyer beware– make sure the milk you purchase is fortified, and ALWAYS choose the unsweetened version to avoid excess sugar).

  • Almond milk
  • Cashew milk
  • Coconut milk
  • Coconut water (coconut water contains a decent amount of sugar– take care to cut back on high-sugar fruit like bananas, mangos, figs, tangerines, cherries, and grapes when incorporating a base with high sugar content). 
  • Hazelnut milk
  • Hemp milk
  • Oat milk
  • Soy milk
  • Water
  • Pretty Fit Note: Stay away from juice! If you are already adding fruit to your smoothie this will cause it to have wayyy too many grams of sugar and carbs (and not to mention calories)  for one drink.  

Organic nut, soy, hemp and oat milks are fantastic alternatives for those  trying to cut dairy from their diet. Personally, almond milk is my favorite smoothie base. The creamy texture and nutty taste give my smoothies just the right consistency and flavor I’m looking for. Plus, almond milk is super low in calories (only 35 to 40 calories per cup in the unsweetened brands) and contains the calcium and vitamin D my vegan body needs! With any of the milks mentioned above, be sure to buy the unsweetened versions or you could find yourself unknowingly drinking over 15 grams of sugar before you even add anything else to the blender. Yikes! I also suggest taking a look at the ingredients list and aim to avoid purchasing milk with the ingredient carrageenan– a seaweed-derived texturizer found in meat, dairy, toothpaste, processed foods (even some organic products and infant formula!) which can lead to severe gastrointestinal inflammation among other health risks. My favorite (safe!) brand is Whole Food’s 365 Plain Unsweetened or Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk. (Research regarding the side effects of this controversial additive is still new but growing. I encourage you to do some research on your own, or check out some helpful links in my Sources List below).

 

Step 2 : Pick your greens

(Leafy greens –full of vitamins, minerals and disease-fighting phytochemicals– are some of the healthiest foods you could ever eat. Their high water content keeps you hydrated, while their high fiber content fills you up, lowers your blood-pressure, and lowers your bad cholesterol. For more detailed information about the specific health benefits of the greens below, visit this link).

  • Collard greens (rich in calcium!)
  • Cucumber
  • Dandelion greens
  • Kale (rich in calcium!)
  • Lettuce
  • Mustard greens
  • Spinach
  • Sprouts (Sprouts can contain up to 100 times more enzymes than raw veggies and fruit– this helps your body to extract more amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and essential fats from foods you consume– so eat up!). 
  • Swiss chard
  • Turnip greens
  • Watercress

 

According to the latest dietary guidelines, the average person should aim to consume at least 2.5 cups of vegetables a day (Pretty Fit Note: For lettuces and other raw leafy greens, you would need to eat 2 cups to get the equivalent of 1 cup of vegetables). Now, for someone like me who eats veggies with every meal, hitting 2.5 cups doesn’t seem like much trouble, however, the majority of Americans don’t reach the recommended daily dosage–and that’s where I come in :) . Adding greens to your smoothie is the easiest and most painless way to help get proper the nutrients you need in one quick and easy swoop. I go through bags upon bags of spinach in one week alone– I find it’s the easiest to blend. Still weirded out by the green tint in your drink? Don’t worry! You’ll be adding so many other tasty ingredients to your smoothie you won’t be able to taste a thing– I promise. So don’t go holding back on me now! This is your chance to get a little nutrient crazy. Your body will thank you.

 

Step 3 : Get fruity!

(Fruit is full of fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients that ward off disease and keep you healthy! The bonus? It will satisfy your pesky sweet tooth too! The natural sugar is a better alternative to the unhealthy, refined stuff.)

  • Apples
  • Apricots
  • Bananas
  • Blackberries
  • Blueberries
  • Cantaloupe
  • Cherries
  • Guava
  • Honeydew melon
  • Kiwis
  • Lemons
  • Limes
  • Mangos
  • Oranges
  • Papaya
  • Peaches
  • Pears
  • Pineapple
  • Raspberries
  • Strawberries
  • Watermelon
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Now it’s time for the fun part! The fruit you add to your smoothie really sets the flavor profile of your beverage– so don’t be shy…get inspired! If I’m craving something tasty and tropical, I’ll throw half a cup of pineapple and a few chunks of banana in the blender. If I’m feeling sluggish and run-down, I’ll make an antioxidant-rich smoothie with a cup of mixed berries and watermelon. If I want to detox my body and improve digestion, I’ll whip up my Green Superstar Smoothie using half of a pear and half of an apple. Just take care not to go overboard– fruit is full of fiber, minerals and nutrients that are good for you, but too much fruit can equal lots of extra sugar, carbs, and calories! According to the latest dietary guidelines, the average adult should aim for 2 cups of fruit in a day (if you exercise less than 30 minutes each day). I try to use no more than one cup of fruit in my smoothies since I often have fruit for a snack during the day. However, if I’m feeling extra fruity on a particular occasion (ha-ha-ha ;) ) and one cup just won’t do it, I aim to pick fruits with a low sugar content like raspberries and blackberries. Check out this helpful link for more information about the sugar content of popular fruits.

 

Step 4 : Mix it up!

  • All-natural extracts (almond, anise, chocolate, cinnamon, coconut, hazelnut, peppermint, vanilla).
  • Almond meal (for when you need a dose of healthy fats and extra protein!)
  • Avocado (this ingredient creates a silky, smooth, indulgent smoothie!)
  • Bee pollen (not for strict vegans– bee pollen is said to enhance energy, boost the immune system, and support the cardiovascular system).
  • Canned pumpkin (full of vitamin A, iron, and fiber)
  • Chia seeds (blend or mix these in at the very end and let you smoothie sit for 20 minutes or so– the chia seeds will expand in size and thicken your beverage right up. Plus they’ll give you a healthy dose of Omega-3 fatty acids to boot!).
  • Coconut oil (full of medium chain triglycerides that have the ability to raise HDL– good cholesterol. Coconut oil may also help to encourage weight loss).
  • Dates (a heathy alternative to sugar)
  • Flavor-infused liquid stevia (you can find this at Whole Foods or online– I love the SweetLeaf or NuNaturals brands). 
  • Flax seeds (always choose ground flax– this allows for better absorption).
  • Honey (in moderation! Not for strict vegans).
  • Maple syrup (in moderation!).
  • Molasses (in moderation!).
  • Powdered stevia
  • Powdered peanut butter (100% organic, 95% less fat, and 45% fewer calories than regular peanut butter– perfect for when you’re craving that peanut taste without all the extra fat calories!).
  • Protein powder (I stick to organic, raw protein powders like Garden of Life RAW and limit protein powders that contain soy protein isolate-- a genetically modified type of soy that resembles estrogen). 
  • Shredded carrots
  • Spirulina
  • Sweet potato (gives your smoothie great texture).
  • Tofu (preferably mori-nu silken tofu– it comes in a small cardboard box and lacks the aftertaste present in your typical water-packed tofu).
  • Vanilla beans (enhances flavor BIG TIME).
  • Yogurt (plain soy or coconut-milk based–sometimes I like to use a few tablespoons to thicken up my smoothie. Just keep an eye out for sugar content on those nutrition labels!)
  • Xanthan gum (a thickening agent that will make your smoothies more pudding-like–but BE WARNED! A little pinch goes a long way!).
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Now here’s where the real danger begins. Pump up the nutritional value and play around with flavor, sweetness, and consistency by adding some unique ingredients to your smoothie (I gave a little more commentary in this section because some of these ingredients might not be as well-known to everyone). Some of my favorite healthy add-ins are almond extract, canned pumpkin, chia seeds, dates, ground flax seeds, raw protein powder, and vanilla flavored liquid stevia.

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Step 5 : Get spicy!

  • Cilantro (a powerful, natural cleansing agent).
  • Cinnamon (regulates blood sugar, lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol, contains natural anti-infectious compounds).
  • Nutmeg  (aids in sleep, strengthens your immune system, acts as an anti-microbial, helps ease digestive troubles, keeps your brain sharp/may help protect it from degenerative diseases).
  • Cayenne pepper (boosts your metabolism, fights inflammation, prevents stomach ulcers, and reduces bad cholesterol levels).
  • Ginger (eases digestion, eases nausea, reduces inflammation, and protects against certain cancers such as colon and ovarian).
  • Parsley (protects against rheumatoid arthritis and is a rich source of anti-oxidants and folic acid).
  • Raw Cocoa Powder (cocoa is one of the highest polyphenol-containing foods!).
  • Turmeric (turmeric is a powerful, natural anti-inflammatory– I take turmeric pills every day).

 

Spices have incredible health benefits–some  have the ability to curb inflammation, detox the body, boost flavor, curb appetite, and lower blood pressure. They’re also the perfect addition to any smoothie! I adore the combination of cocoa powder and cayenne pepper (spicy chocolate is one of my FAVORITE flavors) as well as nutmeg and cinnamon (it reminds me of the cozy holiday season!). For my water-based green smoothies, I’ll throw in a handful of cilantro and parsley to help balance my body and get it back to an alkaline state. (For more information about transitioning your diet and body to an alkaline state, check out this link).

 

Step 6 : Ice, ice baby

This one’s easy. Toss in a few ice cubes to make your smoothie extra cold and creamy :) . I wouldn’t have mine any other way!

 

Step 7 : Blend it up

If you are lucky enough to own a Vitamix, you can blend any and every ingredient under the sun in one of those babies. While I don’t personally own a Vitamix (yet!) I do own a Ninja blender (which I use on the regular) and it’s pretty amazing. I’ve also used the Magic Bullet and Nutribullet in the past– they can blend most things pretty well, but I prefer to make big batches of smoothies at a time so I can prepare/freeze them for the whole work week (therefore, upgrading to a blender-style Ninja was the best option for me). Now, all that’s left for you to do is blend up all those crazy ingredients you pulled together and let the magic begin!

 

Step 8 : Top it off

  • Almonds
  • Chopped walnuts
  • Coconut butter
  • Coconut cream (stick a can of full-fat coconut milk in your fridge overnight, pour off the liquid that has risen to the top, whip it up in a bowl with some vanilla and stevia, and you have thick and creamy coconut whipped cream! Perfect for a dessert smoothie). 
  • Dark chocolate shavings (in moderation!).
  • Hazelnuts
  • Hemp hearts (increases satiety, prevents spikes in blood sugar, acts as an anti-inflammatory, improves digestion, and is full of amino acids, Omega-3 fatty acids, and metabolism-regulating Omega-6 fatty acids). 
  • Honey (not for strict vegans).
  • Goji berries
  • Granola (watch out for too much sugar!).
  • Macadamia nuts
  • Nut butters (almond, hazelnut, cashew, peanut butter…).
  • Peanuts
  • Pecans
  • Pistachios
  • Raisins
  • Raw cocoa nibs (a healthier, lower-sugar alternative to chocolate!).
  • Sea salt (just a pinch can create a tasty flavor profile).
  • Sesame seeds
  • Soyatoo (soy-based, canned whipped cream– you can purchase this in the milk section at Whole Foods).
  • Soy nuts
  • Spices (see above)
  • Unsweetened coconut

 

I just can’t deal with a naked smoothie! As soon as I pour the final product into a big tall glass, I have this incessant need to get all fancy smancy– I MUST make my smoothies pretty after they’re done (hence why my Instagram is filled with #smoothie pics ;) #sorryimnotsorry). Aside from looking lovely and tasting great, many of these toppings have a variety of health benefits that can also boost the health benefits of your beverage. Some of my favorite toppers are hemp hearts, raw cocoa nibs, and unsweetened coconut.

 

Well. There you have it folks! For all of you who thought smoothies were boring…THINK AGAIN! If these lists don’t get your imagination going, I don’t know what will :) . And don’t be afraid to get a little crazy— after all…that’s where the fun begins! I’d love to see all the creative combinations you come up with, so feel free to tag me on Instagram @prettyfitlife, or use the hashtag #prettyfitlifeHAPPY BLENDING!

 

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Healthfully Yours,

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Ashley Michelle

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Sources:

Is Carrageenan Safe?

Doubts surface aboutsafety of common food additive, carrageenan

Harvard– Vegetables and Fruits: Get Plenty Every Day

MyPlate Food Groups: Fruits 

8 Healthiest Leafy Greens 

Is Coconut Oil Healthy? 

5 Surprising Health Benefits of Hemp 

Cocoa Powder Health Benefits 

Health Benefits of Cinnamon 

Health Benefits of Cilantro 

Health Benefits of Ginger

Health Benefits of Cayenne Pepper

Health Benefits of Parsley

Health Benefits of Sprouts 

Difference Between Non-Dairy Milks


Eating Vegan in Spain

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” — Saint Augustine 

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Beach umbrellas in Malaga

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This year has been pretty incredible. I mean–ME–the same girl who was once afraid of planes and never used to take vacations or go anywhere exciting–has been to Italy, Aruba, and now SPAIN all in just nine months. So allow me to let you in on a little secret…

 

I finally caught it.

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My plane to Madrid!

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I’ve got the TRAVEL BUG.

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First and foremost, let me offer my sincerest apologies for being missing in action this summer. Thank you Prettyfitlifers for being so understanding during my brief hiatus. I’m beginning to realize that blogging is pretty darn close to a full-time job, especially as I find myself getting pickier and pickier with the content I aim to feature on my page. I promised myself when I started this blog that I would never put up a post just to put up a post. Everything that I publish is carefully thought out, written, photographed and edited until it’s ready to be put out there for all of you :) . Unfortunately, this means that each post can take quite a bit of time to go live! Writing for Pretty Fit Life is my true passion, however, seeing as I already have a full-time (paying!) job–and a new one at that– when work calls, I must answer :) .

 

And thank goodness I do…or I never would have been given the opportunity to go on this amazing trip to Spain!

 

You see, Spain wasn’t soley for pleasure (though I still enjoyed every second of it). I actually had the opportunity to go on an EF Tour for work. What does that mean exactly? Well, for 11 beautiful days I criss-crossed my way through Spain, hitting Málaga, Granada, Seville, Córdoba, Madrid and Barcelona all along the way. And I wasn’t alone on this action-packed adventure–I was accompanied by a group of middle school students, a handful of teachers, another EF staffer (known as a tour consultant), and one awesomely patient tour guide.

 

Crazy? Probably.

Educational? Absolutely.

Amazing? Yes. DEFINITELY.

 

Unfortunately I didn’t have enough room in my luggage to pack my computer on this little trip–YEP…this girl packed for 11 days and only brought a carry-on. BOO-YA! (Those of you who know me understand that this is an INCREDIBLE feat—I once brought a hairdryer camping for goodness sake). I did, however, have my phone. So even though I couldn’t blog in real-time (as much as I’d hoped I could), I managed to Instagram my way through all six cities.

 

And I don’t think I missed a beat…

I took almost 1,000 photos.

 

Okay, so I was definitely “that tourist” who took pictures of anything and everything (a rock Ashley? Really??). But I was just so memserized by every little piece of this gorgeous country that I wanted to document it all (thankfully, by the end of my trip I had become much more selective with my picture-taking). I’m equally embarrassed to admit that I went to Spain not really knowing much about the country’s incredibly rich history. But all that changed the moment I met Laura–our EF tour guide. This incredible lady knew it all! I would never be able to fit everything I learned into just one blog post (and don’t worry, I won’t turn this into a history lesson) but just so you can see exactly what I was up to while on tour, here’s a little breakdown of my trip day by day:

 

Experience Spain

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Photo Credit:

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Day 1: SPAIN!

Fly overnight to Spain

 

Day 2: Málaga & Granada

Meet my Tour Director and student group at the airport. Relax on the beach in Malaga before traveling to Granada.

 

Day 3: Granada

Take a guided tour of Granada, visit the Alhambra, visit a Moroccan tea house, attend a traditional flamenco show.

 

Day 4: Granada & Seville

Visit an olive oil farm, travel to Seville, take a walking tour of Seville, attend a classical flamenco show.

 

Day 5: Seville

Take a guided tour of Seville, visit the Seville Alcázar, visit the Seville Cathedral, visit the Seville Bullring, enjoy free time in Seville, take a salsa dance lesson, take a boat cruise along the river at night.

 

Day 6: Córdoba & Madrid

Travel to Córdoba, visit the Mezquita, continue on to Madrid, try vegetable paella.

 

Day 7: Madrid

Take a guided tour of Madrid, visit the Royal Palace, take a walking tour of Madrid, visit the Prado Museum.

 

Day 8: Madrid

Visit a local school, visit Dali exhibit, enjoy free time (aka shopping + sangria :) ).

 

Day 9: Madrid & Barcelona

Experience an AVE train to Barcelona, take a guided tour of Barcelona, visit Parque Güell, take a bike tour around Barcelona.

 

Day 10: Barcelona

Take a walking tour of Barcelona, hit the beach and explore the city on my own.

 

Day 11: USA

Depart for home :(

 

Yep. Our days were pretty jam-packed. And thanks to our knowledgeable tour director, they were pretty awesome too. Laura guided us through each day in each city perfectly. She also guided us through breakfast, lunch, dinner and every meal in between–YES–she even managed to help little old vegan me not go hungry. In fact, Laura made me feel like quite the VIP, calling restaurants ahead of time and speaking to the chef to ask (en espanol of course) whether or not certain meals were made with (or could be made without) dairy, eggs, beef stock, chicken, fish (etc…). Now, I successfully ate my way all through Italy as a vegan, so I figured Spain would be pretty similar. And while Italian food is still my favorite (helloooo can you say soy gelato??) Spain proved to be a pretty manageable place to maintain a plant-based diet– it just meant getting a little creative every now and then.

 

The fantastic thing about Spain and Italy is that they rarely use butter in their cooking (unlike traditional American fare). Instead, olive oil is the product of choice– this makes perfect sense given the fact that these two countries are the leading olive oil producers in the world (Spain accounts for 43.8% of the world’s production while Italy accounts for 21.5%). This took a lot of the guess work out of ordering food since I wasn’t left wondering whether or not butter was used to cook my veggies, rice (etc…).  And even better? Where there’s olive oil, there are bound to be plenty of olives!

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"Aceitunas" (olives) + sangria = the perfect afternoon snack :)

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And olive trees…

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Unripe olives on an olive tree in Seville

 

And hanging out near those olive trees also happen to be plenty of orange trees (just my luck! :) ).

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In addition to olive oil, did you know that Spain is one of the world’s foremost exporters of oranges?  Orange are everywhere (especially in Seville). I was amazed by the amount of fruit dotting the public trees.  One afternoon after lunch I reached up and plucked a big, juicy orange from one of the many trees lining a busy street in Seville but our tour director quickly shooed my hand away and informed me that the fruit was not for eating. Turns out there was a reason why all of those oranges were still sitting pretty in their branches. You see, in Spain there are three main types of oranges– sweet oranges (Valencia oranges), blood oranges, and sour oranges (Seville oranges). Turns out all of those oranges I saw in the trees were the sour oranges, and they were still up there because they’re too bitter to eat as a piece of fresh fruit alone. Instead, sour oranges are used to make marmalade, liqueurs, spices, and teas. I actually had the opportunity to try some fresh marmalade at a Spanish olive oil farm and it was pretty tasty– much more bitter than the sugary stuff we have here, but yummy nonetheless.

 

I also had the opportunity to taste test some of the farm’s fresh olive oil and learn some fun facts about the oil. For instance, olive oil should always be stored in a dark container because the light can putrify it (so all that olive oil in clear glass bottles? Don’t buy it!). We also learned all about olive oil production (it’s quite tedious, so I won’t get into it right now but feel free to read all about it here!)  Instead, let’s focus on the important stuff…

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Olive oil tasting in Seville

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Like sangria…

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And “cerveza” (beer)…

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And “alimentos” (food)…

 

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And more sangria…;)

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(Okay. So clearly you now know my weakness…)

But naughty drinks aside…let’s talk about the food! Since this trip was essentially an all-incusive tour, most of the meals were already planned out. This meant that we had set menus at area restaurants or ate set meals at the hotel restaurants. Now, I’ll be quite honest and admit that not every meal was a hit on this trip– for the first couple of nights at our hotel in Granada I was served a plate of soggy and bland canned green beans, artichokes, carrots, cauliflower, and white asparagus (not exactly the tastiest meal in the world)– but thankfully the food situation got much better, especially when we went out to eat.

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A disappointing meal...

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An amazingggg meal! :)

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I already mentioned that the Spanish love their olive oil, so no need to worry too much about butter– but the Spanish also love their pork…which meant I had to be extra careful about asking for things  ”sin carne” (without meat) when it came to ordering food. Thankfully the most popular type of Spanish cuisine — tapas– provided me with plenty of veggie options to choose from.

 

Tapas are a variety of small appetizer plates (both hot and cold) and snacks that can be shared with friends or combined to create a full meal. This was perfect for me because all I had to do was order a few veggie plates and I’d have a complete dinner. Plus, I loved being able to sample and taste a few different things rather than order just one main course off the menu.

 

Some of my favorite things to order were “pimientos de padrón” (small, sweet, green peppers roasted in olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt), “aceitunas” (olives), “verduras asadas” (roasted vegetables), “espinacas con garbanzos” (spinach, olive oil, garlic, and garbanzo beans), “humus” (hummus), “champiñones salteados” (mushrooms sauteed in olive oil and white wine), and “pan con tomate” (bread topped with tomato, olive oil, and garlic).

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Roasted pimientos

 

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A bowl of olives is a tapas staple!

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Roasted veggies never get old. I could eat them every day.

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Looks terrible...tastes delicious! You've gotta trust me on this one...

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Hummus is yummy in any country :)

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Bad lighting, good mushrooms!

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"Pan con Tomate" is the perfect snack after a day of touring

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Soup, better knows as “sopa” in Spain, is another typical menu item I was thankful for. Almost every restaurant has some sort of veggie-based soup to choose from which made eating out much easier for me. The most common soup I came across in every city was gazpacho. To my surprise, however, traditional gazpacho soup is not the same kind of gazpacho we have here in the United States. Spanish gazpacho is a cold, tomato-based soup made by blending tomatoes, soaked bread, cucumbers, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, and salt in a food processor until silky smooth. The first time I saw the soup, I was convinced there had to be dairy in it because it seemed to have a creamy consistency. Nonetheless, the waiter assured me gazpacho is dairy-free and the smoothness comes from blending the oil and bread (I Googled the recipe later and confirmed the waiter’s explanation was the truth :) ).

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Silky smooth gazpacho

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Oh…and did I mention it tastes amazing??

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Another popular soup on many menus is “sopa de lentejas,” or lentil soup. I  would order this option over gazpacho when I felt I needed to get an extra dose of protein in my veggie-heavy diet.

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Hearty but healthy lentil soup

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As popular as tapas are in Spain, this wasn’t my only option for every single meal. I was actually able to enjoy a few well-rounded vegan dinners here and there as well. Couscous, lentils, grilled veggies, salad, and the popular Spanish rice dish known as “paella” were all fair game. I even found a couple vegan restaurants– one in Madrid and one in Barcelona. Sadly, the Madrid restaurant was closed when I finally had a moment to slip away and venture out on my own, but I was able to test out the vegan restaurant in Barcelona :) (pictures below!).

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Couscous mushrooms blood orange salad

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Marinated veggie taster plate-- Spain goes "simple vegan" :)

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Saffron gives this vegetable paella a beautiful golden hue

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Simple salad with white asparagus-- I found this to be a salad staple in Spain

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Roasted peppers, peas, asparagus, tomato, and rice plate-- drizzled in olive oil and sprinkled in sea salt...perfection!

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More roasted veggies...

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Pecan couscous with curried carrots and eggplant

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This meal was SO good...I asked for it again! Peas, tomatoes, rice, peppers, lettuce (with less olive oil this time). Simple!

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Pineapple carpaccio for dessert-- looks unimpressive...tasted INCREDIBLE!

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Assorted melon for dessert. The yellow melon is a Spanish melon and is quite possibly the most sweet and tasty melon I've ever had!

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Even a tea girl like me had to have some Spanish coffee...or "espreso" in this case :) .

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Believe it or not, aside from enjoying amazing vegan Spanish food, I also enjoyed some amazing places!  So, I wanted to leave you with some fun photos in addition to food photos that I snapped over the course of my trip. Enjoy!

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Famous Flamenco show in Granada-- the studio is built into a cave in a mountain!

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Yes, even in Spain I found my bubbly water :)

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Rioja-- a delicous Spanish wine and newfound love

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Street in Cordoba

I found my knight in shining armor in Spain!

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A beautiful sunny day in Barcelona (plus my attempt at an artistic "selfie"...)

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More dried fruit

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On a boat cruise in Seville

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Fountain in Barcelona

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The 1992 Olympics Barcelona Fish sculpture

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The Sagrada Família in Barcelona

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Enjoying sangria in Madrid :)

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A view from my morning run in Granada

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Ceiling decor in Barcelona

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Gorgeous flowers in a Seville garden

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Original Roman bridge to Cordoba

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Bullring in Seville

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Flamenco cave in Granada

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The Barcelona shoreline

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Overlooking Barclona

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Fancy Spanish melon

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Flamenco dancer in Granada

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Biking in Barcelona

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Church tower in Cordoba

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A little friend I made during my morning run in Madrid :)

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At the Park Güell in Barcelona

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Park Güell in Barcelona

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Even the doors are pretty in Spain

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The streets of Malaga

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Beach in Malaga

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Plaza de España in Seville

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Mezquita-- the Mosque-Cathedral in Cordoba

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Enjoying the marina in Barcelona

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Driving between cities we saw lots and lots of sunflower fields. Absolutely gorgeous!

Olive trees at an olive oil farm

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Entrance to Alcazar-- Seville Palace

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Cake from a (wait for it!) VEGAN restaurant in Barcelona!

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Veggie and bean burgers also from the little vegan restaurant in Barcelona

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Fancy ceiling lamps in Granada

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Striking a pose in Barcelona

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Not all those who wander are lost.” — J.R.R. Tolkien

 

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Fabulously Yours,

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Ashley Michelle

 

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Sources:

Olive Oil Production

Experience Spain EF Tour 


Best Ever Oatmeal Cookies (with chia seeds!)

 

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When I’m bored, things can get pretty dangerous.

Particularly if I’m anywhere in the vicinity of a kitchen…

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You see, I don’t do well with being “bored.” I’m the kind of person who feels the need to be in a constant state of motion–always doing, creating, and working on something.

 

The bonus?

 

Boredom is pretty much an open invitation for some serious recipe experimentation– no matter what the hour (and you can’t put a time cap on inspiration people!). When I’m bored, I will literally rummage through every one of my cupboards and every inch of my refrigerator and try to create a masterpiece out of whatever I can find. And believe me, when you stock the kitchen like I do, It’s a Christmas miracle if I can pull a decent dinner together! But what can I say…I love  a challenge. “Chopped” has nothing on me.

 

Thankfully, what often starts off looking like a dangerous experiment typically turns into a delightful surprise – I’ve actually come up with some of my best recipes during these random bouts of boredness. So it’s a good thing I got a little ancy last weekend…because inspiration struck around, oh, 11:00 on a Saturday night when I suddenly found myself hell-bent on creating this quick and easy vegan oatmeal cookie recipe…

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You see, the boyfriend and I had just gotten back from watching the Red Sox game at a bar down the street when I decided it has been far too long since I’ve put up a recipe post (I know, I know. Please forgive me :( ?). Originally I had the idea to whip up some overnight oatmeal (don’t worry, recipe to come!) so that breakfast would be all set and good to go pre-spin class the next morning…but I had a little hankering for a midnight snack ;) .

 

Cookies and milk anyone?

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So.

There I was. 

11:30 at night. 

Baking…

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I starting tossing together a whole bunch of ingredients (eyeballing rather than measuring them) and in about 10 minutes, a dozen soft and chewy oatmeal cookies emerged on a plate ready for the boyfriend to taste-test…

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After a moment of hesitation and the “look” — that “how on EARTH did you bake something in 10 minutes?” look– he took a bite and declared “These are the BEST oatmeal cookies… EVER!” And the best part of all? Aside from being 100% delicious and 100% whole grain… these vegan cookies are lower in sugar and lower in fat than your traditional oatmeal cookies. Plus, the added chia seeds provide a healthy dose of omega-3s for good measure!

 

Betcha wonder where I got the name, huh? :)

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Comfy pj’s, ice-cold almond milk, and warm and cozy cookies?

Go ahead.

Tell me that’s not heaven.

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Needless to say, the first batch of oatmeal cookies didn’t last very long. And to be honest, since I tossed the ingredients together without doing any measuring, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to replicate this amazing recipe again…

 

But don’t worry!

EVERYONE REMAIN CALM.

Here it is :)

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Cookie on.

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Best EVER Oatmeal Cookies

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Ingredients:

  • 1 cup whole-grain oats
  • 1/3 cup whole-wheat pastry flour (regular flour will also work if you don’t have pastry flour. Looking to make these gluten-free? Sub extra oats for flour)
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar (for a lower-sugar version, feel free to cut back on the sugar and sub in a little stevia. Just be sure increase the applesauce by 2-3 tablespoons so the batter isn’t too dry)
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional, but are a healthy way to get your omega-3s!)
  • 1/2 (heaping) teaspoon cinnamon
  • slightly over 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 (heaping) cup of applesauce
  • 1 & 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil (you can try to cut this out for fat-free cookies, but I cannot vouch for the taste/texture without it…plus, a little healthy fat is perfectly okay!)
  • 1-2 individual boxes of raisins
  • Optional: try adding in 1 tablespoon of maple syrup, 1 tablespoon of shredded coconut,a small handful of chocolate chips or a few drops of vanilla stevia (for extra sweetness)

 

Directions:

  • Pre-heat the oven to 350°.
  • Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside.

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  • Mix all the wet ingredients in another bowl and add to the dry ingredients– mix well.
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  • Grease a cookie sheet with all-natural, non-stick spray or coconut oil.
  • Spoon batter into little balls (slightly smaller than a golf ball) and place them on the cookie sheet.
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  • Bake for 8 to 10 minutes (or until they start to brown around the edges).
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  • Note: The cookies will be very soft when you take them out of the oven and may not look done– don’t worry–they will firm up as they cool.
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  • Serve with an ice-cold glass of almond milk :)
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  • Store cookies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days (if you don’t eat them right away that is!)
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Go on.

Show those late night munchies who’s boss!

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Healthfully yours,

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Ashley Michelle

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Eating Vegan in Aruba

 

Bon Bini Aruba!

 

For those of you who aren’t up on all things Aruban, that means “Welcome to Aruba!” in the local creole language  known as Papiamento. The historical origins of Papiamento are still not 100% known, but their roots have been traced back to Portuguese, Spanish, and various African languages. All I know is, I can say “Mi por a hanja un glas di biña?” (can I have a glass of wine?) and that’s all that matters…right??

 

Right ;)

 

Have you ever been to Aruba? Well, if you haven’t been to this happy little island yet…GO RIGHT NOW.  Seriously. Get on a plane and fly away. Just beware…you will never, EVER, want to come back.

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I mean, COME ON….really?  This is real life. And some people actually get to live here. I know. It’s crazy.

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Crazy lucky.

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See, I’ve never been on an island or vacationed anywhere remotely tropical (aside from Florida back in the day) so there’s a chance I mayyy be overreacting a bit– but I’m pretty sure that if there are places BETTER than Aruba, I’m sending in my application to be a tiki bar girl NOW and I’m never coming back.

 

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Just 17 miles off the Venezuelan coast, Aruba is one of four constituent countries that form the kingdom of the Netherlands– meaning Aruba’s primary nationality is actually Dutch (Dutch is widely spoken on the island due to this tie). So aside from the sun, sand, and serene beaches, Aruba is also known for having some pretty diverse food.  Since the climate and land in Aruba are both pretty dry, the island isn’t able to support much farm land–therefore, most goods (including food) are imported. Aruba does have a booming fish industry however (shocker, I know being an island and all), and they’re able to raise livestock for export and for food.

 

Sooo… what did that mean for little old vegan me?

 

Well, I didn’t know much about Venezuelan, Dutch, or island food, but something told me that the combination of the three wasn’t exactly screaming “vegan-friendly!” Just check out these examples of traditional Aruban dishes below:

 

Appetizers include “sanger yena” (“Aruban sausage”) and “scabechi” (“marinated fish”).

Soups include “giambo” (“Aruban style okra bouillabaisse”–fish-based) and “sopi mondongo” (“tripe soup”).

Main courses include “keri keri” (“grated stewed fish”) and “keshi yena” (“filled cheese shell”).

Side dishes include “pan bati” (“Aruban pancake”) and “funchi” (“Aruban polenta” or “cornmeal mush” often made with chicken stock).

Snacks include “bolita di keshi” (“cheese balls”).

 

Oy. Not exactly my cup of tea. But I wasn’t about to let a little thing like food get in the way of an amazing vacation or fun, fancy dinners! Plus, I always find a way to figure it out  no matter where I go. (It’s pretty much like a vegan superpower :) ). This time would be no different. And who knows! Maybe I’d be pleasantly surprised– I mean, look at how great Italy turned out.

 

Of course, in the end, everything did work out quite perfectly (as predicted).  My boyfriend and I stayed at the Marriott Surf Club timeshare, which meant our room amenities conveniently included a small kitchen. So as soon as we were all settled into our temporary home, we went straight to the grocery store down the road and loaded up on fruits, veggies, hummus, edamame, rice cakes/crackers, peanut butter, jelly, pita bread and healthy snacks. We made breakfast and lunch at the resort everyday and then in the evening we would head out to explore the island and find a tasty restaurant for dinner. There was free wi-fi in the hotel lobby so occasionally we’d try to search for popular restaurants online before venturing out for the night, but most of the time we just ended up winging it and stumbled upon bars and restaurants as we walked by the high-rise hotels or explored the bustling Aruba strip.

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On our very first night, we were still feeling a bit tired after the flight, so we decided to stay close to the resort for dinner. As we walked towards the water hoping to find something in a neighboring hotel, we happened upon a beautiful restaurant (Hadicurari Restaurant) with tables right in the sand on the beach just steps away from the ocean.

 

Perfect.

 

The hostess gave us the best seat in the house– a cozy, romantic table much further from the other customers and the bustling (but super fun!) Moomba bar. I ordered a nice cold glass of chardonnay and salad with a side of guacamole and yellow rice to put on top of my salad. The boyfriend got a tall glass of beer with ribs and fries (opposites attract after all :)).

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Here’s a not-so-great picture of Moomba Bar –located right next door to the restaurant. We spent a lot of time here throughout the week :) . I wanted to show you the cool setup anyway. My apologies for the yucky quality…

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On our second night we decided to do something a little more fun and exciting, so we headed to the Westin Resort (located about a mile down the beach from our hotel) and went to a hibachi restaurant called Blossoms. My boyfriend and I absolutely love, love, LOVE hibachi, so I was excited to try it out and get a good hearty meal in me. The staff at the restaurant were fantastic and extremely accommodating when I told them that I was vegan. The chef made sure to prepare my meal first, and he cooked up my veggies and rice separate from everyone else’s. He also used a little bit of oil to cook my dish instead of oil and butter. The chef was very friendly and outgoing and had all sorts of typical hibachi tricks up his sleeve, but he had to tone it down a bit when the little girl across from us got scared of his onion volcano and cried through the rest of dinner– poor thing!

 

(Side note: Not sure if this is typical of most hibachi restaurants–none that I’ve been to at least– but LOTS of butter went into the regular fried rice at this place…so much in fact that one of the male diners at our grill told our chef “Please, No more butter!”).

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Please forgive me for not taking a photo of my food, but you see…my meal was so delicious that the moment the plate was put o the table in front of me… I couldn’t wait another second before scarfing it down. I did, however, manage to take a photo of our chef in action and another of our tasty mai tais before we tossed those babies back as well :) .

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On our third night (per my boyfriend’s request) we went to–are you ready for it?–a Brazilian steakhouse called Texas de Brazil. Now, I had no idea what a Brazilian steakhouse was before experiencing it myself, so for those of you who also aren’t familiar with this style of an establishment… let me clue you in. These types of steakhouses are called “churrascarias” and the meat is cooked “churrasco style” –which roughly translates to “barbecue” in Portuguese. Passadores, or waiters who serve the meat, come to your table with knives and large speared skewers displaying various kinds of meat such as beef, pork, filet mignon, lamb, chicken, duck, ham, sausage, fish, or any other sort of local cut of meat (the boyfriend might as well have died and gone straight to heaven. You should have seen his face).

 

Thankfully, my thoughtful, meat-eating guy knew not to bring me near such a place without checking to see if they served any vegan-friendly options first. He assured me that they had an amazing salad bar and low and behold…there was! Now, when I tell you this was quite possibly one of the BEST salad bars I’ve ever seen, I mean it– I couldn’t put enough food on my plate! I wanted to taste a little bit of everything, so I settled on a sample of marinated veggies, meaty mushrooms, tabouli, olives, rice, beets and pasta salad over a bed of arugula with some homemade dressings on the side.

 

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Now, if you’ve been following my blog for a while, most of you know I love a nice bottle of wine or a fancy cocktail when the occasion is right, but I do try to limit my drinking for overall health and wellness reasons (after all, I got plenty of that out of my system while in college ;) ). Sure we casually sipped drinks on the beach during out first couple of days on the island, however, I was ready to let loose a little bit. It was vacation after all! And I think that qualifies as a special occasion, don’t you? ;)

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Let’s just say I quickly realized that I am SO not in college anymore :( . I’m actually slightly embarrassed to admit, that our fourth night was a bit of a blur– and it all started right here at a pier bar with a little sign that read “Happy Hour from 4:00-6:00!” …

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You see, beach bars are tricky little things. Every hour is essentially happy hour, because every bar runs a different drink special at a different time! You could go from bar to bar starting at 10:00 AM and you’d easily find a different happy hour special at a different bar straight through to midnight (not that I suggest anyone try this). And with a view like THAT why would you ever want to leave? As you can imagine, after not having a single adult beverage for close to three whole months happy hour qualified as a little bit of a dangerous activity for me– especially when the drinks are two for $8.00…(oops!)

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After a few (too many) delicious drinks, we headed over to an incredible restaurant called  Amuse Bistro which was located right along the main boulevard in Aruba by all the shops, vendors, and other restaurants. I had the bright terrible idea to order a bottle of wine (really Ashley?) and for my main course I ordered the “Chilled Smoked Vegetable Salad”– a variety of smoked veggies (mushrooms, peppers, onions) tossed with lettuce and herbed vinaigrette. The salad was amazing (or so I was told) and the presentation was lovely. My boyfriend ordered a “fish of the day” special that he quickly proclaimed was “the best meal of the entire vacation.” I think we have to go back to Aruba just so we can relive this night again…(sans the happy hour this time ;) ).

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On our fifth day, we ventured into town to do some shopping after hitting the beach and found an adorable gelato shop. Nostalgic from Italy, I took a peek inside on the off chance that there’d be soy gelato like the kind I found in Rome. And wouldn’t you know…there was! I chose the hazelnut flavor (keeping with my Italian tradition) and my boyfriend settled on a Nutella flavor.

We took our gelato down to the beach just as the sun was setting…

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Watching the sunset in Aruba is like watching a movie– it’s the evening’s feature presentation. Everyone stops what they’re doing, congregates to the beach, sits down in the sand, and turns their eyes to the sky for 20 beautiful, peaceful minutes. I think this is what I miss most about the island–it reminds me how truly amazing Mother Nature is. Who needs all that technology and TV that clutters our lives when real beauty like this exists in the world?

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After watching the gorgeous sunset, we walked back over to the main strip in time for our reservation at an Italian restaurant called Gianni’s . We had heard nothing but wonderful things about the restaurant from other vacationers, but we must have caught it on a bad night because neither of us were impressed with our meals and the service was pretty terrible. I didn’t even take a picture of my dinner that night–and honestly, now I can’t even remember what I got. We did enjoy the steamed artichoke I ordered as an appetizer however (Nooo wine/drinks with this meal…after the happy hour festivities the evening before, we needed a break ;)).

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The next day, we vowed to pick a better place for dinner, so after our daily routine of tanning on the beach, lounging in the hotel’s serenity pool, and relaxing in the lazy river (please, don’t hate me!), we headed out to watch the sunset and find a prime dinner location.

I had a hankering for sangria and I really wanted to eat at a restaurant on the beach so we were on a mission to find a place that fulfilled both requirements. That’s when we walked by the Hyatt and spotted this beach-view restaurant (The Palms) surrounded by tiki torches, palm trees, and a stylish-looking bar crowd. As we lingered outside and checked out the menu two couples leaving the restaurant came up to us and raved about how absolutely fantastic the restaurant was.

 

Sangria was also on special for happy hour….

BINGO.

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I swear to you, this was the BEST SANGRIA OF MY LIFE. Life changing. Seriously. It puts all other sangria to shame. Oh, and it turns out the food was pretty incredible too :) .

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I ordered a yummy tomato-basil wrap spread with an herbed hummus and filled with roasted peppers, asparagus, onions, tomatoes, and radiccio. My boyfriend ordered a small plate of nachos for an appetizer and fish tacos for his main course– both of which he said tasted fantastic. I ordered a couple glasses of sangria (obviously ;) ) and the boyfriend ordered Amstel Bright– his favorite beer of the trip.

 

After dinner, we walked the beach and happened to pass a couple of beach weddings that evening. We were even lucky enough to catch an impromptu performance by a group of local dancers at one of the ceremonies!

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On our very last day of vacation on the island, we decided to give a different Italian restaurant a try since the last one we went to wasn’t so great. We saw a promising place called Azzurro overlooking the beach at the Playa Linda Hotel just few days before so we decided to give it a shot. I really wanted to have dinner somewhere that had a nice view of the sunset, but without reservations I wasn’t sure if we’d get in. Luckily a table for two opened up just as the sun was going down…

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Aside from the gorgeous sunset and the delicious food, the best part of the night was listening to the amazing violinist who played throughout dinner. It was a perfect way to end our trip! I kept my meal pretty simple — I ordered a plate of grilled veggies and a filling bowl pasta fagioli (not pictured because I couldn’t get a decent photo and didn’t want to annoy my fellow diners with 1,000 flashes from my camera). My boyfriend ordered chicken parmesan and pasta.

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This trip was everything I could have asked for and more–And it was even better because I could easily adhere to my vegan diet along the way. I’m thinking I should make this a thing…the whole traveling around the world and documenting my vegan eats along the way. Seems like a pretty great gig to me!

 

Thoughts? ;)

 

Anyways, for the time being I think I’ll go plan my next dream vacation thank you very much. But for now, I’ll leave you with a few more of my favorite photos…

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Mi Stima Aruba! (I love Aruba :) )

 

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Fabulously Yours,

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Ashley Michelle

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Sources:

Brazilian Steakhouse

Food In Aruba

Cuisine in Aruba

About Aruba