It’s that time once again! Here some things I’m loving lately.
1 + 2. Current Fav. Snacks
Honeycrisp or Gala apple sliced up and drizzled with raw almond butter and cinnamon or a semi-frozen banana (peel and stick in the freezer for about 45 minutes to chill) drizzled with sunflower seed butter, chia seeds, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Absolute bliss! I’m already excited for my snack today…
3 + 4. Himalayan Pink Mountain Salt & Vegetable Broth Powder
I’ve never been one for “fancy” salts, but this pink salt definitely won me over when I picked it up many moons ago. My go-to salt is iodized fine grain sea salt, but I’ve incorporated this pink salt too. It’s so flavourful (seriously, you have to try it to believe it) and contains several trace minerals. I use it for seasoning mostly, but I also use it in some baking recipes occasionally too, just to mix things up.
Not only are broth cartons much more expensive than the bouillon cubes or powder, but they create a lot of waste. I finally ditched the cartons earlier this year in favour of vegetable broth powder. The cost savings are HUGE. I estimated this container will make about 20 litres (edit: 10 litres) of broth and it lasts forever. Given that this container is less than $5 a pop, I’m saving myself a ton of money. I really wish I made the switch sooner!
5. Photography hikes
Eric and I love going on summer photography hikes, but this year, we decided to challenge ourselves to go all fall and winter long, even when it’s blistery cold and gloomy outside. We’re committing to go once a week throughout the winter, inspired by my in-laws who recently formed a photography club. Bring on the one-piece snowsuit, I say! bahaha.
[this shot was taken at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton, Ontario]
6 + 7. iphone + squash and sweet potatoes
After a couple good years with my Android (Samsung Galaxy II), I finally made the switch to an iphone a few months ago. When Eric started developing our vegan recipe app we needed the iphone for testing purposes. Well, little did I know that I would fall crazy in love with this phone! Now, I can’t imagine myself without one. Funny how things can change so fast.
My favourite app (next to Instagram!) is the VSCO cam app for editing photos (thanks to Dana for the tip!). Here is a shot I took of Sketchie with some light editing in vsco cam. I love all the different filter options you can download.
[For a cute story about this pic, see my Instagram upload]
Also, squash + sweet potatoes. I’m hoarding them. Seriously. I can’t walk past a pumpkin pie squash in the grocery store and not buy one.
8. HOCKEY SEASON! Obsessed. We finally ordered Leafs TV this year and I’m so darn excited to be able to watch all the games. If the pre-season craziness is any indication of what’s to come, this could be one wild year.
9. The Social. Have you seen this new Canadian talk show on CTV? I’m not a big talk show person, but I love this new show. Melissa, Cynthia, Lainey, Traci always have me laughing and I love the current topics/social media interaction from a Canadian perspective. Two thumbs up!
10. National Kale Day
Did you know today is National Kale Day? Exciting! I celebrated last night and I plan on celebrating again today. Show that kale some lovin’.
11. For the animals: Today is also the World Day for Farmed Animals! So many exciting things on October 2nd. It’s also the last day of the What Did U Do? Farm Sanctuary fundraiser (see my post here). Thank you so much for your support. We’ve raised over $2500 together (and the fundraiser itself has raised over $41,000!). Truly amazing. I’ll be announcing the winner of the draw for my cookbook very soon.
12. Blast from the past: All Natural Homemade Pumpkin Butter from Scratch
I made my first batch of the season last weekend. I froze half the batch for later so I’ll have some for later in the month. Yes and yes.
Ok, that’s all she wrote. Time to start a new list on the side of the fridge. Tell me what things you’re loving lately? I need to know.
Until next time!
xo
I have got to try that semi-frozen banana!
Going to have to try the iPhone VSCO app, the picture of your cat is amazing.
Excellent article and beautiful photos.
Jay
I love your recipes. So tasty! Thank you for making it so easy to convert to a vegan lifestyle.
Apple slices, raw nut butter and cinnamon are a match made in heaven! My clients have been known to add a sprinkle of raw cacao powder too for a healthy chocolately treat.
Just have to comment that I’m a Buffalo Sabres fan! LOL
I use that broth powder too instead of cartons of broth – I was getting so sick of having to throw out so much unused broth after I opened a carton!
I adore hiking around this time of year, but I’m running out of new places to hike around here! I would love to swap ideas for places to go. Mind if I shoot you an email?
Funny–we’ve never met yet I’ve been meaning to tell you about what I simply CANNOT do without these days. It’s the Tahini Sauce recipe from the restaurant (and cookbook) “Fresh”
I used to go there all the time and would order their Goddess bowl (which is brown rice covered with gorgeous greens and some grilled sweet potato slices). On top of all that, I would pour loads of the tahini sauce and then sprinkle with sunflower seeds. It is heavenly!!!! Similar to your cashew dressing I would imagine. I’ve also used it with grilled chicken and salads too! So divine! The recipe is on page 98 of the cookbook. Yum!!!!
Mashed up bananas mixed with a splash of vanilla and pumpkin pie spice and then adding in chopped up apples. SO sweet and delicious.
Costco has a good deal on a pink sea salt grinder. I only use that now!
I’m loving Butter London’s new purple mascara and eyeliner. You can build up the color and it looks amazing when it’s subtle because as someone gets closer they can see the color! I’m also loving the reed diffuser I got with my pop sugar box last month. It smells SO GOOD! It’s a milk, oatmeal, and vetiver scent I think? Either way it smells like heaven and I keep it next to my salt crystal lamp on my nightstand. So Relaxing!
OMG! Now that you have an iPhone you MUST get an Olloclip 3-in-1 lens…I cannot live without mine…here is the link http://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-5627157-11294155 – you will wonder what you ever did with out it! I am a Pro Photographer and love the instant creativity that the Olloclip brings me…….it is a fisheye ( I LOVE THIS) and wide angle and a macro….oh and they just also made a telephoto lens…and a super handy Quick-Flip case….all you do it slide the “clip” right over your iPhone (4-4S-5) lens and start snapping….you will LOVE It…..:)
OMG what! This is so amazing. thanks for sharing!!
I cant wait to try the simple and interesting banana and apple desserts, would be a great treat for the sweet cravings.
I love this post as well, I have to drive 1 1/2 to work and I have been looking at how beautiful the trees are while sitting in trafic. Love the products you found and the sweets and cant wait to try them!!! HAPPY FALL
I can relate to so much of what you wrote in this post! First of all, I CANNOT believe that it’s already October. When did that happen?? And I switched to an iphone last year and I swear I’ll never go back. Also, those snacks look delicious! Great ideas to spice up your afternoon.
In honour of Kale Day yesterday, I snuck it into chili so my picky husband and daughter would eat it! I chopped it finely and let it simmer with everything else. No one suspected a thing….
:)
Loving hockey too ;) GO LEAFS GO!!
Record breaking 2 opening wins on away games!!
Love it. Not enough hockey love on blogs haha. Do you get NHL network??
Also I bought a delicata squash that I finally saw after seeing it in your salad recipe! I’m excited to try is but scared I won’t like it.. I love sweet potatoes/yams though so hopefully it’s a winner!
I’m loving pears and apples with cinnamon heated up with some honey “melt”, this new vegan honey butter (they had a plain too) I found a few weeks ago. Oh, so good!
I always buy chicken/veggie broth in liquid, b/c I can never find it in powder form without MSG’s. I will have to look for this brand. AND that pumpkin butter looks heavenly!! That is definately on my to do list for this fall…make homemade pumpkin butter. Thank you for the great recipe!
I’ve been using buillon and broth powder for years and agree it saves so much money (and less waste). My boyfriend is just as excited about the start of hockey as you (if not more so – he is hockey OBSESSED lol) but he’s sad that we’re still travelling and so he has to get up at 4am to watch his beloved Blues ;)
I love this post. I was just wondering how much powder makes 1 cup and if it’s low sodium. I think it would be a much cheaper solution for me since I use vegetable broth for somany things. I love your site btw.
Hi, Angela. Thanks for the post. It’s always fun to hear what others are excite about. A couple of questions: is the GoBio powder low sodium?And how much powder does it take to make 1 cup. I am thinking the powder would help me a lot since I use a lot of veggie broth. Thx again,
Shannon
Hey Shannon, 1/2 teaspoon makes 1 cup broth and it has 377 mg sodium. Hope this helps!
Thank you so much for the veggie broth powder recommendation. No more lugging cartons of veggie stock on the TTC! My shaky arms thank you.