Reflecting on April

Welcome back, my lovelies!! First, I want to say THANK YOU for the amazing response I received on my last blog entry! Wow! It really gave my blog a terrific opportunity. Muah. Personally, I think y'all just like knowing about my personal life...ha ha! I'm ok with that =)

Back to now, though. I absolutely ADORE this time of year. Spring. Newness. Beauty. Go outside and take a deep breath....ahhhh..smell that intoxicating elixir of life. If you have allergies like I do, take your meds first =/

I have always had a (healthy) obsession with the month of April. I'm sure, depending on where you live, many of you can relate to the joy that comes with the onset of spring once winter breaks. Every year I relate this to having another opportunity to renew and improve myself.

Years ago, I worked with a young lady named April. At first, she rubbed some of us more "seasoned" nurses the wrong way. She had an air of "expectancy" about herself. We often reminded her that she had to earn the place of seniority that she was seeking. Years later, I realized that she was only living up to her name. Wordiq.com says "the name is derived form the Latin aprilis...which means "to open". April the person was attempting to open doors in her life. She was a new nurse, young, and full of expectation and excitement. Just like what April the month means to me.

So...my bad, April. I'm sure you're still out there somewhere doing your thing and shaking people up =)

I couldn't leave you guys without sharing a few of my spring finds, right?


1. Flirty lace orange dress by ark & co.

You probably can't see the gorgeous green lining underneath as well as in the back view (next). This dress is knee length, fitted through the top and flares out at the waist. Cost me about $40

So pretty! I haven't worn it yet, but when I do, I'll take some pics!




2.  Earleen sand colored slingbacks by levity

Also comes in black and blush. $69.99 at DSW
5 inch heel, size 7

 

 

*DISCLAIMER* I searched the shoe and box to determine the material, and it didn't state "leather" anywhere, just synthetic sole. Until I went online to search for a detail...and found they are indeed made with leather upper material.

I am NOT a happy woman right now. My shoes are like my babies, and I loved these girls. I've worn them 2 or 3 times only. I will be giving them away. Let me know if you're interested. My loss is your gain.

 3. Ceramic black and ivory cuff, $24

I found this online at LuxeYard They have a ton of beautiful variety there from furniture to men and women clothing to jewelry. The one downside I would mention is that I have to wait 14 days before my order is received! What?!!



4. Japanese Cherry Blossom candle, Bath &Body Works

    $10 (sale)

Candles and incense are a staple in my house. I had a hard time choosing just ONE in the store, but this has a beautiful fruity, floral, and vanilla-type scent to it that is so soothing. It has 3 wicks, and the candle itself is white.

As you can see, most of my finds were not very pricey. I'm still on my financially free course, so I'm being very responsible with the spending. It's tough, but worth it!!!

Oh, last but not least, April is Autism Awareness month in the US. A lot of people are affected by this disability (myself included; my youngest son is autistic). As of March 2012, the latest statistics show that 1 in 88 children are diagnosed with autism. Please educate yourself if you're not familiar. Sadly, it will surely affect you, or someone you know. Go here  or here for more info or to get involved!!!


Happy Birthday if you were born in April!!!! Your birthstone is a diamond. Lucky girl.

Until next time...


Love & Happiness,

<3 Nikki

Date Night

Welcome back to the madness! Hope you all are enjoying your lives and living it as honestly as can be. That's my goal everyday...it's so freeing!!! Some people may resent you for your non-conformity and brazen mentality, but so what? They'll get it eventually.

So Friday night was much fun.  Almost too much. My original plan was to stay in and get the finishing touches on my book done (Rainbow Trout is coming...I promise. Politics had me at a standstill!). However, I gave in to fun-shocking; I know...and went out with Mr. Thomas on a friend-date. You're probably thinking "big deal", but it turned out to be very revealing! Read on.

Surprisingly, we didn't take any pictures, but I'll tell you what I wore. All cruelty free fashion, of course. Use your imagination and make me look hot in your mind, because child, I was! Yep. I wore an above the knee black, fitted and strapless lace dress with black lace peep toe "shooties"... my name for ankle boots/shoes. The dress looks a lot like this one, except the lining is black, not nude, and it was fitted all the way to the bottom:

This one is by UjENA, and can be found online for as low as $38.95 I purchased mine at Vista Ridge Mall in Lewisville for about the same price.

These are the shoes that I just slipped on to take these pics. They are by Chinese Laundry and I purchased them for about $60 on sale a few months ago. They have a peep-toe front, and you might be able to see my silver toenail polish from the side. The heels are about 5 inches.

I get a lot of compliments on these babies. They are very comfortable also. LOVE them!

Accessories were minimal: brown and gold studded cuff bracelet (purchased at the mall last year-forgot the price-sorry!), smoky quartz and diamond ring (Mother's Day gift last year), and pink diamond earrings from Juicy Couture (birthday gift 2 years ago from my eldest son Mychal).

I smoothed my hair with shea butter and sweet almond oil and flat ironed it into loose waves. One beige faux-leather clutch later, I was out the door!

He greeted me with a crisp white dress shirt, dark wash jeans and a nice pair of kicks. Sexy.

Ok, so now that you're caught up on the fashion, you can get a peek into the date =)

First, we went to Pappadeaux in Dallas. As most of you know, there are NOT many vegan options on their menu! However, he was so handsome and gentlemanly that I let it slide. I had a glass of cabernet sauvignon, and he started with a mojito. It must have been good because he ordered another with his appetizer of jumbo coconut shrimp. He asked me if I "could eat shrimp" as a vegan. Here we go again. Explanation time.

Our conversation was pretty good, and a man always scores points when he tells his date how beautiful she is (even as I spotted other women looking over at us...heifers). I tried to order red beans and rice for dinner, but when I asked, alas, they prepared it with meat. I ended up ordering plain rice and zucchini ribbons, which turned out to be really delish. Somehow he was able to look me in the eye and talk about our lives while simultaneously chowing a steak, asparagus, and mashed potatoes. Talented!

I found myself wanting to stay in his company, which worked out because he said we were on to "part 2 of the night." Hmmm.

He took me to Buttons in Addison, which is a jazzy/live band bar and restaurant-type spot which is exactly what I was in the mood for. The band was singing an Earth, Wind, and Fire song as we walked in, and the place was packed...but not annoyingly packed.

.

I had been there before and had a good time. As the drinks flowed, he became a lot more open about his feelings for me...and surprised me with an amazing confession. I'll have to keep that private and see what happens =)

Unfortunately, I did openly flirt with a couple of guys who approached me while we were sitting at the bar. By openly flirt, I mean engage in conversation and lingering hand holding. Oops. Blame it on the Patron? The vodka tonics? Glasses of cab I'd had earlier? Before you boo me, I  acknowledged my lack of manners, apologized and smoothed things over with my friend-date. He said he understood that I am a social butterfly, "but that sh*t had better not happen again". Woo hoo! Loves me a strong man who will not put up with my ish. Most of the time.

There you have it. Great night and potential for more great nights? We'll see.

Until next time...

Love and Happiness,

<3 Nikki

I'm Leaving

I don't know if it was the horrific tornadoes (2!) that touched down in Dallas yesterday...or the concurrent hail storm that pummelled north Dallas (and blew out my bedroom windows), but I am ready for a VACAY!!!! By looking at some of my friends' Facebook posts today, I'm not the only one.

So about 3 years ago, I promised myself that I would take at least 2 trips annually to places I had never been before in order to expand my mind and cultural intelligence. I've always loved travelling and meeting new and different people. Mainly because I'm a bit of a misfit myself. I don't really fit into anyone's "box", so I love running into other cool, badass misfits!

In anticipation of my outings this year, I scoured the net to find out what are the top 10 places to visit in 2012. First, let me throw out a few places that are left on my list:

1. Kenya
2. Paris, France
3. Venice, Italy
4. San Francisco, California
5. Tokyo, Japan
6. Bangkok, Thailand


To my surprise, NOT ONE of my dream destinations were on CNN.com's "World's Top Destinations for 2012"! Chicago? Burma? England? Eh...what do they know? See for yourself, then get down with my list =)


1. KENYA

To be sure, there are definitely some travel warnings to US citizens form the US Department of State in light of terrorism threats and high rate of violent crimes in some areas, BUT it varies throughout the country. The key is to be aware, and smart! Now, on to the good stuff.
Kenya's beautiful aquamarine beaches of the Indian Ocean and lakes dotted by pink flamingos can take your breath away. It is a country located in east Africa. I remember as a teenager seeing commercials about travelling to this seemingly magical place, and I've been hooked ever since. Kenya is also noted for its wildlife roaming around the savannas, game parks and reserves. I can't wait to go on a Kenya safari. The official language is English, and the national language is Kiswahili. Get your passport, visa (required if you're from the US and certain other countries), and make sure your immunizations are up to date. Do yourself a favor and buy bottled water!

One of the many National Parks in Kenya

Beautiful

Diani Beach, south coast of Kenya



2. PARIS

 Another city that has called my name for many years...I pretend in my mind that I am French. After all, my maiden name is Nicole Antoine. Don't ever repeat that.
Getting back to more factual info, Paris is called home for more than 10 million people. It is often called the capital of fashion (my biggest draw to this city), and also known for its art culture and food. Despite my addiction to heels, I would imagine you would need more practical shoes to walk around the city to see all it has to offer. The Louvre, beautiful parks such as the the sculptured Jardin des Tuileries. The museums, the river Seine on the Left Bank, and of course the Eiffel Tower which lights up at night and is open until midnight. Parisians apparently are in no rush when it comes to their food. A meal, or just a drink can last for hours. It's really about the company and the conversation more than rushing through lunch hour.
For upscale shopping, the rue Saint-Honore is where the high-end labels and ginormous department stores are. Boutique type stores are found in Marais. There are also weekend flea markets such as the Port de Vanves. I can't wait.

Eiffel Tower

Les Deux Magots restaurant

Image source: http://imi-paris.org/ 

Paris Fashion Week for Spring 2012

3. Venice

Being from New York, I became fascinated with a city where cars are banned. Venice, Italy. All their forms of transportation floats...water taxis, ambulance, public "bus" ferries, and garbage "trucks". You either walk or you float. Simple. Not to mention the gorgeous architecture of the old decaying buildings! How could this sound so archaic yet be so stunning? You can take a 2 hour gondola and walking tour for about $50 US. There are also other private tours available. What to do? Art galleries, opera palaces, cathedrals, restaurants, wine bars, theaters...the list goes on.

I'm definitely excited now. I'll continue my travel series in a later post. I hope you enjoyed!  Where should I go? Let me know where you're thinking of going...or where you've been that should be on my list!!!!


Love and Happiness,

Nikki

Listen Up!

Happy April!!! I hope all is well with you all. If you've hit a bump and a slump, allow yourself time to release the pain and then press on.
Have you ever just allowed yourself to be HAPPY, no matter what? If you have, kudos to you. If not, you should try it...life opens up so many new opportunities when you do.

Soooo, what have I got for you guys today? I did a YouTube vid yesterday to answer the ongoing question of the "mystery" of what I eat as a vegan (see vid below, to your right).

I know I've posted some vegan recipes and foods that I enjoy in past blog posts, but I thought I would review some of my staples today and extrapolate on the video a bit. Fellow vegans, feel free to share you faves and suggestions as well. I'm always looking for new and fun foods to try!

Like I mentioned in my video post, I tend not to eat breakfast during the week. I usually have a cup of java with Splenda, or unsweetened herbal tea. On the weekends, I love me some Kashi cereal!!! Lunch is usually a big salad of some sort, or veggie soup if I'm not really feeling too hungry. Lunch is pretty much the bulk of my calories during the day. Dinner may be some hummus and veggies or crackers, or bean salad...maybe salsa and blue corn chips, etc. Depends how I'm feeling. I do usually have a glass of red somewhere around 8 or 9pm. Hey...don't judge me!

Here are my top 10 staples and/or faves:

1. Almond Milk

I love Blue Diamond's Almond Breeze brand, but in a pinch, I will use another kind. The taste is so much smoother and lighter than soymilk (for me). I use it in my cereal, to cook with, and drink it straight as a snack. Yum!

Usually $2.50-$2.99 for 1/2 gallon, but I buy so much that I usually have a store or manufacturer coupon for 50-75 cents off.

2. Kashi Go Lean Crisp

My favorite is the Berry Crumble. What I love besides the taste, is that I can get 9 or so grams of protein per serving! Who needs eggs? =)   There is also regular Go Lean, which tastes a bit bland, but the protein count per serving jumps to about 13g. Costs anywhere from $2.50-$3.50 per box, but check out the web or in store for coupons.

3. Perrier

You will never NOT see this in my fridge. Not sure why, but the taste is the MOST to me. Lime is my favorite, and I found a new flavor yesterday--Pink Grapefruit. Heaven.
$1.50-$1.89/bottle. Kroger had a sale for $1 each last week and I stocked up like a fiend. Ha!


4. Baby Spinach

I typically use this in my salads in place of lettuce (great source of vitamin K, A, C, protein, the list goes on). I prefer raw to cooked, unless I cook it myself. Some places will cook the heezy out of veggies and destroy the nutrients! I buy the prewashed bag/carton, or if I'm cooking for a group, I''ll buy in bunches. Usually $1.50-$2.00 per bag.

5. Fruits

No need for explanation really, right? My favorites are grapes, pineapple, berries, grapefruit, oranges. Pomegranates are good too...albeit time consuming to eat!
I have a sensitivity to apples, so I can't eat them =(
I either fruits as is, or make a fruit salad.

6. Couscous, brown rice, roasted potatoes, rice noodles, pasta, sweet potatoes

I have to admit that I eat these foods sparingly just because starchy foods tend to trigger me to eat more. I used to have a TERRIBLE carb addiction, so I have to keep it in check. The good thing about these grains are they tend to be whole grains, and have a low glycemic index (less blood sugar spike). Couscous is almost like a nutty rice flavored grain. If you haven't tried it..do so! I love it with roasted veggies or stir fried tofu.

7. Tofu

I know...most of you who are not vegan/vegetarian are thinking "yuk". However, tofu is truly versatile! It basically takes on the flavor of whatever you cook/season/marinate it with. My main source of protein is tofu, which is really just soybeans!
 You can choose from silken (for baking) firm, or extra firm. I buy the silken to make vegan cheese cakes and other desserts. I use the extra firm for stir frying with veggies or making curry dishes. Try a tofu scramble recipe if you are transitioning and miss scrambled eggs. Here's a recipe to get you started. I buy the organic option. Cost is $1.00-$2.00, depending on where you shop. 

8. Beans/Lentils

My obsession! Another good source of protein if you're vegetarian/vegan. I eat some type of bean daily. Chick peas (or garbanzo beans, depending on where you're from!), red (kidney) beans, lima beans, butter beans, black beans...oh man! Delicious. They are inexpensive (you can buy a can for as little as 50 cents on sale, $1.20 at the most), and versatile. I make 3 bean salad with red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper, onions, cilantro and a dash of sweetener-so easy! Or add beans to corn and salsa for a dip with nacho chips. #hungry

9. Fresh Herbs

I add these to my stir fry recipes, or my roasted veggie dishes. Thyme, cilantro, rosemary, oregano, and dill are my faves. Nothing like fresh herbs to add great flavor! About $1.50-$2.00 per package. Keep refrigerated.

10. Veggies

Come on...I'm vegan! Veggies are my foundation. I LOVE them. So many to choose from. The ONLY one I would say I don't get down with too well is okra. Blech.
I also marinate veggies such as green/red/yellow peppers, garlic, onions, tomatoes, etc in vinegar and a touch of brown sugar and add seasonings, dijon mustard, olive oil , and a non-dairy based dressing for a bomb ass vegetable salad. Get familiar!

My marinated veggie jar

Bonus:

My (not so) guilty pleasures...

Teriyaki Tofu and Veggies from Pei Wei Restaurant, about $7.00. I drank water with lemon.

Cabernets and Malbecs are my faves, then Pino Noir. I love dry wines. Prices vary according to your taste and pocket book =)

The DEVIL!!! LOL...I could eat an entire bag of these if I didn't pay attention. Add salsa (hot and spicy, please) and it's a damn party. I had to chill on these for a while. I haven't bought any in about a month, because this was becoming all I'd eat on the weekends =/

When I get it together, I will resume buying the plain flavor...the other flavors have milk ingredients...CHECK LABELS! Don't hold me responsible if you chow down on the Hint of Lime flavor and realize there's a milk situation involved =)

$1.99-$2.50 Tostitos
$2.50-$3.00 typical price for salsa


AND NOW A MOMENT OF SILENCE.....

<--Goodbye, my <3

I just found out that Morning Star Farms have added EGG and MILK ingredients to their veggie crumbles!!! WHY????? DAMN DAMN DAMN! This was my go-to for pasta and taco dishes.
I'll have to see for myself.
Just goes to show...READ the DANG LABEL...always.



Guys, thanks for stopping by and spending time with me. I am challenging myself to post at least every other day this month! Pray for me. My schedule is ridiculous, but I love a challenge!!!


As always,
Love and Happiness!
Nikki