Toto, we’re not in Ontario anymore.
We’re visiting the Phoenix area with my mom and John this week. It’s our first time in Arizona and we’re pumped to be here!
and a bit scared…
We booked an evening flight, since it was our only option. It’s really strange waiting until almost 5pm to leave the house on the day of a flight! I actually started to go stir crazy waiting to leave.
The flight was only 4.5 hours, but felt incredibly long due to some nasty turbulence. The plane kept dropping and dipping like crazy and I actually started to feel nauseous which never happens to me. At one point, I just closed my eyes, gripped Eric’s arm, and prayed I didn’t lose my dinner. The last 30 minutes ticked by in slow motion.
We arrived around 12:30am…sleepy, dazed, and hungry! Mom brought us some homemade vegan blueberry muffins and walnuts to save the day. I got my appetite back, miraculously.
When we finally got to bed around 2:30am Toronto time I was so tired I couldn’t sleep for the life of me! Does that ever happen to you? If I get too tired, it’s actually harder for me to sleep. I passed the point of no return, so my body did the logical thing and stared at the ceiling for most of the night. Awesome.
A sunny, green breakfast helped with the 4 hour power nap.
I opened the fridge, saw some gorgeous raspberries and dark chocolate almond butter, and knew I had to make a chocolate raspberry Green Monster to save the day.
With fresh raspberries, banana, dark chocolate almond butter, almond milk, ice, and wait for it….Dinosaur kale! Yes, come to me my little kale.
Note: I just found out this dark chocolate almond butter is NOT vegan. I blame the sleep deprivation for that error! For a vegan version, try my homemade Dark Chocolate Almond Butter recipe!
Cover your ears, my mom said, this thing is small but loud!
As I sipped my Green Monster, I could feel my tired, lifeless body revive itself almost instantly as kale pumped through my veins. I swear a GM is worth at least an extra hour of sleep!
I also had a whole wheat blueberry muffin with Earth Balance.
and a herbal tea…because breakfast wouldn’t be the same without a hot drink.
Ok, make that two!
My mom and I had a lovely chat over tea while the boys waited for the rental car.
Later on in the day, Eric and I stopped into Whole Foods to pick up some groceries. I picked up some brussels sprouts, red pepper, spaghetti, kale, blueberries, corn chips, salsa, asparagus, and some nori sheets, kombu and kelp granules that I’ve been looking for forever!
and a fun salad!
Layered up for lunch.
This will be the first thing I make when I’m on Canadian soil, mark my words.
Poured into a bowl.
and topped with orange ginger dressing and hummus. Blew. my. taste. buds. off.
I said I wouldn’t be able to eat the entire thing, but I was wrong.
Plump blueberries for dessert in this fun strainer/bowl duo.
For dinner, we all pitched in and whipped up a yummy spread.
…featuring 15 Minute Creamy Avocado Pasta!
and a tomato-basil salad, sautéed asparagus, and roasted fingerling potatoes.
Oh, it was lovely.
I had seconds of pasta and potatoes! My body just yearns for carbs when I’m tired.
Now we’re watching American Idol, eating chocolate, and I’m trying to stay awake while typing this. I hope I’ve kept you up!
I want every. single. food. morsel. posted!
I love AZ, because of the grand canyon, will you be visiting??
We’re not sure yet, but hopefully we can make it there!
I hope you enjoy Arizona! It is a totally different land and culture and there’s lots and lots of cacti and dirt! :)
My friend thought she saw you in Whole Foods and she text me right away! I told her to go take a picture with you but we didnt think there’d be a reason you would be in AZ! We were wrong! We make lots of your recipes on Monday nights! Are you in town through the week? Come over and cook with us! :). -Steph
LOL omg that is hilarious!!! I wish she came up to me! I’ll shoot you an email. :)
Maybe I am showing my lack of traveling here, but I cannot believe the size of that cactus!
We couldn’t either :)
Hope u love your time here as much I love your posts.!! Must.Start.Green.Juices
xo
(in glendale az)
What are you up to in AZ? Do you have relatives there? Enjoy! & I definitely recommend trying to make it to the Grand Canyon :)
You two are just jet-setting all over the place the last few months and that’s awesome. ENJOY it, enjoy your trip, and if you get sick of the desert, come back to San Diego and the beach :)
I get too tired to sleep, too. It is the worst feeling! Glad the GM helped you feel better. PS: I made your butternut squash mac ‘n cheese yesterday for the first time and both my bf and I thought it was *amazing*. And, he loves actual cheese. Thank you!!!
I’m happy you both enjoyed it Erin!
I can’t believe you are in AZ! I live in the Chandler area. I love your blog so much! I am slowly transitioning to a vegan lifestyle and you inspire me so much!
Hey Delia, So awesome you live here…nice to meet you! Thanks for your kind words :)
Your raspberry dark chocolate GM looks amazing! Do you remember approximately what you used? I just got some fresh raspberries at the store and would love to try it. Healthy food really does wonders to soothe an upset stomach and tired body. I hope you enjoy the rest of your visit! (&I look forward to you recreating that WF salad :D)
Hey Mandiee, I didn’t measure anything but probably used 1/2 cup raspberries, 1 spoonful almond butter, 1 large banana, 3 leaves kale, 1 cup or so almond milk, and ice. just a guess!
WOW – All of your food today looked amazing! And I am in love with your white coat – so sharp and elegant looking! I always stick to black coats but white looks stunning!
Enjoy AZ!
Thank you Tasha! The only prob has been keeping it looking white. ;)
I’ve been a loyal daily reader for probably over a year now and LOVE YOUR BLOG, I just haven’t commented. Way to stay healthy while you travel! That’s my biggest struggle… especially when there’s no health food stores nearby, or the people you are visiting eat the complete opposite foods and you can’t just whip something up in their kitchen! You should definitely try recreating that salad… I will be the first one to try it out! I always am looking for new salad recipes.
Speaking of new salads… I found a golden recipe you might like to try out: yumm bowls (served at Cafe Yumm! which is a chain in Northern Oregon). Here’s the link: http://bit.ly/wgiwp2 Vegan and meat lovers alike will scarf an entire bowl down AND want seconds. The kicker is in the sauce (almonds, chickpeas, garlic, lemon, curry, oil, and nutritional yeast)… it’s super easy, I think you would like it. If you look at my site, don’t let the pictures fool you, I am just not blessed with food photography skills haha.
Enjoy your trip!
Thank you Alyssa! I will certainly check that out :) Thanks for your support with my blog too!
Welcome to Arizona! it’s been a little warmer than usual lately, but that is probably a welcome change for you. Hopefully, this hazy cloud cover will clear off tomorrow and you can enjoy some of our famous sunshine!
I see the sun out this morning, hopefully it stays :)
If you have time, I’d highly recommend the Camelback hike! :)
Thanks, I will look that up…we def. want to go hiking.
right after your hike at Camelback, go to Tru Foods at the Biltmore. Amazing food and organic wines (you are on vacation, right?)
mm thanks!
Looks like you are having a great time so far! All your food looks super yummy. I can’t get enough fresh berries at the moment. They are the best when the just pop in your mouth right?!?!? I miss whole foods so much…wish we got it here in sydney! Hope you sleep better tonight! xox
That salad sounds incredible! I can’t wait to hear your recipe for it.
Hope you have a wonderful trip and get some sleep soon!
~Emily~
I laughed out loud at this title when thought you were going to a yoga training a la Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy!
How fun! Do you have family there or are you renting some sort of condo? Either way, I love having a full kitchen when I go on vacation!
yup, we’re staying with my mom and John…cheap trip! heh
Im going to Phoenix for work tomorrow, and have never been either! Cheers to new adventures!