I feel so scattered right now. Please forgive me for being away so much lately! The longer I’m pulled away from the blog, the harder it is to sit down and write something meaningful. I don’t know why, but nothing feels right lately. There’s so much on my mind and so much to say, but I just draw a blank when I finally sit down to type. I’ve written 3 draft posts recently and scrapped each one of them. Eric, the stater-of-the-obvious, looks at me and says, “Well, why don’t you write about how you’re having a hard time writing then?”
I’ve turned into a 90 year old woman who goes upstairs only to forget why she went up the stairs in the first place. This is mildly concerning at my age. The other day, I found a new jar of almond butter in the freezer. Scary. Shifting from cookbook mode to blogging mode has been more challenging than I anticipated and my best work seems to result from the days when I totally step away to saturate myself in one thing. Multitasking can be a double edged sword – trying to do everything at once often gets me nowhere, but when I only focus on one thing I have guilt about the other things I’m leaving behind. To this Eric says, “Well, don’t feel guilty about it then.”
This right here is the difference between men and women.
All of this self-indulging talk today is for me to say: it’s not you, it’s me. This long-distance thing has been a drag and I’m counting down the days until I can run to you and twirl you around in a big bear hug. Until then, I’m doing my best each day and trying to forget about the word balance because sometimes that just doesn’t exist. Let’s be real. The good news is that I finished shooting all 100 photographs for the book. Twenty-five of those photos were shot in the last 7 days alone. Yes, it was insane and no I don’t ever want to do that again.
Currently, I’m knee deep in the editing process which probably won’t let up until August. Even though it’s been a crazy time, I’m so grateful to be able to do the kind of work that makes me feel excited when I get up in the morning. No one said the worthwhile things in life would be easy. I’m trying to be mindful each day and not worry needlessly about the future. These are the moments I will look back on with fondness…even the days when I spill milk all over my photo.
Plus, there’s always coffee.
Featuring all new, protein-packed salads, hearty toppers, flavour boosters, and dressings you'll want to drink, my new cookbook will transform the way you think about salads. Oh, and be sure to flip to the back for a surprise dessert chapter!
Iced Mocha Green Monster Smoothie
Yield
2 servings or 3 cups
Prep time
Cook time
0 minutes
Total time
This icy drink is a hybrid between an Iced Mocha Coffee and a Green Monster Smoothie. I snuck in a handful of greens, but you can’t taste them one bit.
Ingredients
- 1 cup coffee, room temperature
- 1/4 cup almond milk
- 1 small handful spinach
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 3 large Medjool dates, pitted (or sweetener of choice)
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 10 large ice cubes
Directions
- Blend until smooth. Gulp. Cool down. Enjoy summer!
Nutrition Information
(click to expand)I’ll leave you with one of my photo set-ups (Jared this one is for you!). I was cleaning up yesterday and turned around to catch this angle. I had to laugh at this hot mess. There’s an antique, beat up baking sheet for the background, and old wood slab for the base, and a white board to reflect light coming in from the window. The baking sheet is from a garage sale. The poor lady looked at Eric with great concern and said, “You aren’t going to cook with this are you??” Once she knew it was for photography she was relieved. Oddly, enough the photo turned out quite nicely despite its apparent shortcomings!
Many of you are asking about the date of my cookbook release and I don’t have an official date yet, but it’s slated to be released early in 2014. My publisher is hoping for a January/February release to kick off the New Year. Yay! I’ll be sure to keep you up to date as soon as I know for sure. As always, thank you for your excitement and support. It means the world to me.
If you’d like to sign up for my cookbook newsletter, you can do so here. I haven’t sent anything out yet, but I hope to send some juicy tidbits as the date gets closer.
By the way, happy almost summer! Bring on the fruit and veggies.
I’m stoked for your cookbook too! You are amazing!
Angela, I love pretty much everything about your blog and your food. But I believe the thing that really sets you apart above all else, that shines through always, is your exceptional energy, passion and enthusiasm. You’ve gone and set that bar so high girl ;-) You go missing for 5 minutes and we’re like, “hey, what’s going on, where’d she go?” Keep on keeping on. We’re not going anywhere x
You are so sweet, thank you! It’s funny – I’ve felt anything but energetic over the past several months, but I can feel it coming back now that I’m getting over the hump. Thanks for reading :)
Love your blog! I remember your allergy post and your description of scatter brain today reminds me of my old mental fog days when I still ate gluten…sometimes that can be a sign of gluten intolerance or celiac…my gluten intolerant colleague also had the same issue until she went totally glutenfree…damn you gluten!
This is one of the best websites/blogs I have come across in ages! I cannot stop reading….. You are inspiring! Thank you…. and can’t wait to try out the recipes. Don’t even know where to start :)
what are those bars in the photo?? my mouth is watering just looking at them!!!
Lovely post – thanks for checking in!
I quite enjoy reading your blog :) And i cannot wait to try the smoothie!
Just wanted to say what all the others are saying…miss your posts but don’t beat yourself up…take a breath and focus on your book because we’re all so excited to get it:) I love the one comment about going back and looking at old posts…there’s a wealth of wisdom to look through! Take care and thanks for checking in!
I too can relate to the memory loss/multitasking issues…they say that multitasking is not good for the brain – it is not how we are wired.. so no wonder we struggle with it so! Unfortunately life in the 21st century seems to require it. And you nailed it on the men/women thing…sounds like me and my hubby!
Went strawberry picking – all set to make your strawberry oat bars which is one of our all time favorites! Cannot wait for the book – so many more good recipes to look forward to :)
Relax and focus on whatever you need to each day…we will be here whenever blogging is part of your day!
So proud of you dear heart. For getting the photos done, for taking a step back to focus on it, for listening to Eric (if only it were easy to simply “not feel guilty”, my life would’ve been much smoother sailing these past ten years) but, most of all, for writing the truth of your heart, just like we talked about.
Sending some of those great big squeezy hugs now, in advance, just in case you need one.
We miss you too but it’s wonderful to hear what you’re up to. I can’t imagine doing a blog and cookbook. You are such an inspiration and I know your cookbook will be worth the wait!!!
I love the idea of a coffee/green smoothie.
I totally have those 90 year old lady moments. I march into a room and stand there slack jawed wondering why I came in, or I do something stupid like I did this morning and pour coffee all over my oatmeal. Yup. Your Classic VOO with blueberries and coffee in one bowl. I need a vacation…..
I tried this Iced Mocha green monster this morning and it was quite good, I’d definitely try it again. I added flax seeds to give it a little extra protein. Thanks! :)
Wow. thats a load of work sone int he last few days. cant wait for your book Angela!:)
i dont know how you took that extra few seconds to take the picture of the spill :).
all the best for the book and finding the blogging mojo. Have a fun weekend
I know what you mean about not being able to focus. Its an everyday struggle for me. I can’t wait to buy your cookbook!
Hi Angela! Just started reading your blog a few weeks ago and everything I’ve made has been amazing!! Loved your idea for a caffeinated green smoothie – I tried it with adding some left over avocado (minus the dates) and it gave it a creamy frappuccino- like texture! yums! I added more spinach and still couldn’t taste it….though mine did turn out bright green. Looking forward to your cookbook!
Good call on adding avocado :) Thanks for your kind words by the way!
Love the spilt milk picture :)
Angela, I can soooo sympathize as I help build our website and add images! But I always remind myself that the only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time (hah!). Love what you do, but I’m wondering…what’s the burger in the picture??
Keep on doing what you do – you inspire us all to create and to keep it real!
Hi!!
I was just wondering if the receipe for those delicious looking granola bars (first photo) were available on your website? I’m somewhat new reader to your blog but I love what I’ve seen so far!!
Thanks in advance!!
Sarah
Hey Sarah, They are my Glo Bars (from an online bakery I owned prior) and I will be sharing a couple recipes in my cookbook!