Due to lack of RSVPs, the movie night has been canceled for tonight.
Enjoy the weather!
King Corn is a feature documentary about two friends, one acre of corn, and the subsidized crop that drives our fast-food nation. In King Corn, Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis, best friends from college on the east coast, move to the heartland to learn where their food comes from. With the help of friendly neighbors, genetically modified seeds, and powerful herbicides, they plant and grow a bumper crop of America’s most-productive, most-subsidized grain on one acre of Iowa soil. But when they try to follow their pile of corn into the food system, what they find raises troubling questions about how we eat-and how we farm.
Sunday, March 4 at 2pm
Happy Avocado Headquarters
3520 Jefferson Ave
Des Moines 50310
In this class we’ll be tasting 3 different smoothies, including an extra green one for St. Patricks day! Learn how to whip up yummy drinks that can be used as a snack or meal replacement. You’ll also learn how to incorporate greens into your smoothies without tasting them–sneaky, effective, and delicious! I promise you, these do not taste like salads!
The class fee is $10 and includes e-recipe cards and tastings.
Pre-registration and payment is required. Follow the link to pre-pay securely below, or contact me at happyavo@gmail.com for other options.
February is the month of love…and chocolate! Chocolate in its raw form is full of antioxidants. Learn how to make these treats that are both delicious and good for you.
In this class we will be tasting chocolate coconut haystacks and demonstrating chocolate chip cookie dough.
Both recipes are raw vegan, gluten free, and guilt free!
The class is $5 per person. You will get recipe cards along with tastings of both dishes.
I started dreading my hair on December 30, 2011. Tomorrow marks my one month of having them!
Why would I ever want dreads?
I am a gradual person, and this can be seen very well in how my eating habits have changed over the last 8 years. I am not an all-or-nothing kind of lady. I first cut out soda, and added in more whole grains and greens. I then cut out corn syrup. Then I ate raw until dinner. I added in more and more fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds until I was used to it and became completely raw. Now I have found my balance and am at about 50-75% raw a day. What was once a struggle before is now natural to me.
Much like my eating habits, my dreads have come from a step by step process. I am moving more and more towards natural products and natural living. I stopped wearing metal. I took out all my piercings. I went from using deodorant with aluminum in it, to natural deodorant, to nothing at all. (this really does prompt me to eat better, as you smell like what you eat, ha.) I’m now looking into natural perfume, lotion, and skin care as well.
So on to my dreads. I had been fascinated with them for a while, and had thought about it/researched it quite a bit. I love how unique they are to the individual that wears them. No two sets of dreads are the exact same, and there is something about the wildness of them that I love. A friend of mine combed hers out for her wedding, and that’s when I learned that they do not have to be cut out as the only way to get rid of them. I also learned through research that dreads are healthier and actually dread better with clean hair–the myth that all dreads are dirty is completely untrue.
I got the okay from work last August, but I was still waiting on it and researching. Early on in December, a friend of mine passed away. I decided that I didn’t want to wait anymore to do what I want, even if it’s something as simple as changing my hairstyle. I had permission from my job, and my friends and family were (mostly) supportive, even if some were hesitant. :]
There are many different methods to begin dreading your hair. I chose a method called twist and rip (tnr)–which is not painful or as terrifying as it sounds. It really should be called something else, haha. Other than leaving your hair alone completely, it is the least damaging method to create dreads. You do not get insta-dreads with tnr the way you do with other methods, but I wanted to do it this way for a few reasons.
For one, it’s my personality. I like to take things fairly gradual and enjoy the journey. (hi, 6 1/2 year relationship with the bf!) Two, the gradual formation of the dreads helps my coworkers get used to how I look. My manager was really convinced I’d come in the next week looking like Bob Marley, haha. Three, it’s cool to see my hair do its thing. It’s fun to find little knots and loops that weren’t there the day before.
I am very happy with the maintenance aspect of having dreads. I don’t have to use or buy any hair product anymore. My products went from 6-7 in my arsenal, to none. I have soooo much more space in my bathroom now! I wash my hair every 2-3 days with either a residue free shampoo called Dr. Bronners, or a mix using baking soda and essential oils. I also won’t have to spend money on haircuts, though I’d like to do something fun with my bangs once my hair calms down a little more.
By accepting my hair on a daily basis, I am also accepting myself. I don’t worry about my appearance as much as I did before.
I’m looking forward to the months ahead and seeing how things go!
I started a personal challenge on November 20th to incorporate more raw and whole foods. Almost every day, I documented what I ate with photos. I chose November 20th because that was 40 days from the new year.
My weight at the start of this challenge was 165. I’m 5’9”, so 165 is well within my weight range for my height. By the end of the 40 days, I lost 6 pounds (159) and my jeans are extremely baggy!
The important part of this challenge isn’t what I ate. It’s what I did NOT eat that counts.
The following I didn’t eat, or had very minimal amounts of during these 40 days:
-Candy, pastries, and other desserts at my office. Think of all the times you are presented with an opportunity to snack on fun size candies, a free doughnut, mini muffins, etc. These choices add up. Keep your bag or work drawer stocked with alternatives like trail mix, dried fruit, popcorn, clementines–whatever strikes your fancy.
-Soda. I had one mixed drink with soda in it this last month, and half a bottle of Pepsi Throwback on Christmas Eve Day. I avoid soda that contains corn syrup and also diet soda.
-I still had dessert at Thanksgiving and Christmas, and some other events in between. It wasn’t every day, though. When I did have dessert, I went for homemade goodies over things that were purchased at a store. Though homemade can be just as unhealthy as store bought, there is definitely something good about enjoying food that was made for you, from someone you know and care about.
What I wanted to show you all through this challenge is that it’s possible to maintain and/or lose weight through November and December without deprivation. Keep in mind that Thanksgiving and Christmas are only two days out of the year. Depending on the size of your family, it can add up to maybe four or five days max of celebrating. That’s only five days out of a month and a half. Stay on track the rest of the time, and you’re set.
You do not have to be in the mindset that you’re inevitably going to gain weight over the holidays. You don’t have to eat until you hibernate. Enjoy holiday food in moderation, and remember you’ll have it again next year—or any other time of year, for that matter, if you really want it. The same goes for all the other food-oriented holidays out there.
I also wanted to show you that it does not take a drastic change to see results. Just by adding in more of the good stuff, I lost weight. I had some slip ups throughout the 40 day challenge. I had pizza, cheese, and pie, but not every day or every week. Making gradual changes with common sense and persistence will add up to results.
I hope this helps as we go into the new year with our resolution guns blazing. Make realistic goals, stick with them, and you’ll get there!
Dino donations have been rolling in for Dex. THANK YOU SO MUCH! I know he’s going to love it.
I have an update on Dexter and his family, and I need your help.
If you aren’t familiar with Dexter’s living situation, he lives with Jeff, Amy’s father (Dexter’s grandfather). As long as I have known Amy, he’s lived in Knoxville with his family there so Amy could work and go to school in Des Moines.
With unexpected funeral costs right before Christmas, Amy’s friends and I would like to also raise money for this family. We are now asking for monetary donations alongside Dinosaurs for Dexter to help Jeff with raising Dex. I know that money won’t bring back Amy, but it may help ease some worry in an already stressful time.
Amy volunteered for the homeless and was actively involved in Occupy Des Moines and community organization. She would have done anything for anyone, and her son was her number one priority. I know money is tight for everyone–especially around this season. If you feel that you can donate even a little to this cause, it would mean so much to Amy’s family. Not only should we give Dex the best Christmas that we possibly can, we also need to ensure that his home life stays as normal as possible, especially after losing his mother.
We are continuing the Dinosaurs for Dexter project–so if that works out better for you as a donation, that is definitely encouraged and awesome. I can take/deliver any donations, or I can arrange for an address so monetary or toy donations can be sent directly to him and his family.
If you cannot give, help me out by reposting this all over. Spread the word.
As some of you know, Amy Degoey, a good friend of mine, passed away last week unexpectedly. The love of her life was her son, Dexter. She was so proud of him, and talked about him constantly.
This Christmas, we’d like to start a Dinosaurs for Dexter campaign with all of you. We’d like to gather as many dinosaur toys as we can, wrap them up and give them to Dexter.
I’d be glad to pick up any donations and get them to the family. If you would like to help, please get in touch with me by commenting below or sending me an email at kelseyblessman@gmail.com.
If you can, please post a plea on your facebook, twitter, etc. asking your friends for donations of toys or money. Even $1 helps–we can pool the money and buy the toys ourselves.
Dexter needs an awesome Christmas–please consider donating a toy to him this year.
I just thought I’d make a post about my eating habits as of late. I’m doing a 40 day personal challenge where I’m trying to incorporate 75% raw and whole foods. I’m also documenting this with photos each day. Let me tell you, this time of year definitely makes it a challenge!
When I first became interested in raw, I started out with a “raw until dinner” approach. That way I knew at the end of the day I could have the cooked food I craved. For a while I upped it to 90% raw foods only, and then did about 50% raw foods, 50% regular foods until this challenge. That’s what I love about the raw food community. It doesn’t have to be this huge, all or nothing commitment. Even if you incorporate just a few raw ideas into your eating habits, you will see a positive change.
Although a high raw diet is ideal, let’s face it—we live in Iowa, with not-so-great produce during the winter. We also live in a society that revolves around food (helloo, every holiday). It’s how we tend to interact. I jokingly call myself a Polite-atarian. If someone took the time to make something for me or it’s at a social event, I generally eat it—maybe not all of it, but I do eat it. When I’m by myself I eat higher amounts of raw and whole foods (cough, tons of Brussels sprouts for dinner last night), but I don’t have any food allergies, and I’d rather spend time with my family and friends than worry about what I’m eating.
Now that I’ve been doing this for a while, my eating habits are second nature. I am by no means 100% all raw or vegan. Yes, I still have cooked, non-healthy food, but it’s in moderation. Some days are better than other, some WEEKS are better than other, but it’s all about persistence, not perfection. My labs are fantastic every year since I’ve been doing this, and I’m in the weight range I should be. I don’t count calories—I just focus on nutritionally rich foods, and try to incorporate those into my life as much as possible. I keep a food journal, which has helped me pinpoint what makes me feel great and what makes me feel awful. I know what my body can handle, and what it’s asking me for.
If you think you would love to try this lifestyle but can’t give up _____, don’t worry about it! Keep that in your diet, but in moderation. I love pizza, but did I have pizza every day even before eating healthier? I had it maybe once a week. So sure, eat well, and then have your treats once in a while. If it’s a daily thing, phase it out slowly. Your cravings for it will go away. Get started, even if it’s just by adding a daily bowl of fruit, or replacing one meal with raw or whole foods each day. If you need help, I’m here for you.
I hope that helps you all understand a bit more of where I’m coming from and what my goals are with Happy Avocado as we go into the second part of this holiday season.
Learn how to make healthy holiday desserts to share with your friends and family. They won’t know that they’re vegan, gluten free, and raw–my family didn’t!
In this class we’ll be demo-ing Pumpkin Spiced Cheezecake and Spiced Apple Crumble. Class fee is $10 and includes tastings and recipe cards for both recipes.
Saturday, November 12, 4-5:30pm
At the Happy Avocado Headquarters in Beaverdale (address given upon RSVP)
RSVP via phone: 515-490-3912 or email: happyavo@gmail.com
There are only ten spots, so please let me know if you’re coming ASAP! See you there!
