Driving Slow on Sunday Morning & I Never Want to Leave

This Sunday is powered by experimentation in the kitchen! Today I woke up with my coco-banana-coffee drink from yesterday's post AAAAAAND Paleo pancakes!

1/4 cup almond flour
~1/4 cup coconut milk
1 egg white

Cook in a little coconut oil until golden brown in a frying pan!

I topped with fresh strawberries, honey & chia seeds!

Gluten-free, grain free, refined sugar free! You can fuel yourself up with no guilt with these beauties :)

Have a wonderful day <3

Happy Spring

Good morning world,

It has been quite some time since I've written, and while I do apologize for that... it has been an incredible last few months. I've been LIVING again, which is an incredible feeling.

Spring is a funny thing in Florida, because it only gets hotter. There is no transition from bleh & grey to fresh & green; I can see why people have always talked about wanting to living here. Seasonal depression must not happen down here! With all that, I have been enjoying the beach and of course, if you know me, I am going on my random walks! Here is a story from yesterday, feeling blessed:

So luckily we had the day off from work yesterday, and I used it to FINALLY go get my oil changed. I drove out to the Kia dealer in Hollywood at 10:15, expecting to only be out for an hour or two at most. As per usual, people that work at Kia dealers are CRAZY friendly, I felt welcomed and comfortable as the associate got to know a bit about me & what I'm doing down here in Florida. I explained my role with City Year and he said his mother was a teacher, he thanked me for the work I do... amazing feeling. ANYWAYS: They take my car away and maybe about 15 minutes later, they call me up and they say that they did the free inspection and found that... I needed to replace my brake pads and rotors... oh man... I'm all about driving a safe car so I say alright... I can charge it, go ahead and replace both the front & the rear.... a $400 penny. BUT! The lovely associate said that he'd pay for my oil change & throw in a free car wash. The world is truly my oyster. <3

He estimated that it would take 3-4 hours, so I headed off on another Emily adventure. I walked across the street to Walgreens, contemplated dying my hair red... decided against it. I saw a nail salon across the street, so I hopped over there thinking why not, this will kill some time... I sat down... didn't quite feel like waiting, so I got up and walked the opposite direction. It was nearing lunch time, so I got on my phone and looked at nearby restaurants. A little bit up the road there was supposedly a Caribbean restaurant so I said that I'd give it a try... I walk out there, and no go... it was closed... So I continued walking down a road where there were very few businesses.... I stumbled across a tiny little place called CooCaRoo's, which was an organic juice bar and cafe... So in I walked!

They place was brightly colored, smelled lovely and had a great vibe. They sell organic juices, smoothies & fish dishes, they steer towards vegetarians. This was the first restaurant I've seen like this since I've been down here in Florida! I asked them if they accepted cards... and I was so sad when they said they didn't... They opened in December and were still working on the technical aspects of the business... so I said I'm sorry, I have no cash, I'll have to find somewhere else to eat... but the owner, a friendly guy named Maxwell says, "Oh no no, it is destiny that you walked in here today... sit down and I will make you a smoothie." The universe was truly looking after me yesterday. He made me a delicious and beautiful fruit smootie, gave me a warm & delicious gluten free veggie patty (like a Jamaican beef patty) AND a bowl of conch soup.... an entire meal, completely free... all because I walked in that day. I swore up and down that I would go to the ATM and pay him back after my brakes were done being fixed... but he said, "I don't need your money, as long as you come back."

So so so blessed I am! :) Of course, I will be going back.... TODAY! And bringing Karen. :) Such a wonderful experience.

 Last night, I celebrated my 3-week binge free celebration by spoiling myself to a self-care night. Face mask, pedicure, long hot shower, sparkling water, candlelight & multiple episodes of Parenthood (MY NEWEST NETFLIX OBSESSION. I may slightly be in love with Michael B. Jordan)

And this morning, I spoiled myself with an amazing, super-food breakfast :) scrambled eggs, strawberry paleo muffin & cocoa-banana coffee! I have had several requests from people that I start making a cookbook... and I will let you know now... I am looking into it, patience please :)

Today, I will leave you with this quote, "You cannot hate, argue, reason, fight, complain or yell at a dark room to illuminate it-only by shining a Light is darkness overcome. Be that light."
So let love in beautiful people, you'll be surprised how it can affect your overall being. 

Welcome Back

Good evening beautiful people!

I am back in sunny Miami, Florida again after two wonderful weeks at home with my beloved family & friends. I truly had the greatest time running around with everyone! I feel like all I did the entire time I was home was ... eat & drink, so as a start to the new year, I'm doing a vegetarian detox! I'm on day 3 right now, and the plan is to go for a week, although it's been pretty easy so far, so I might challenge myself to two. My body really needs the break. Haha.

Here's what I'm eating tonight!
Veggie stir-fry!

1 sweet potato
1/2 white onion
~1/2 cup mushrooms
1 stalk broccoli
2 servings of tofu

All I did was throw all that in a frying pan with ~1 tbsp olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, sriracha, cumin & a little water. Cooked it on 6ish for about half an hour. Made 3 servings! So I'm good for lunch for the next few days :) It was mighty tasty & totally healthy. I am feeling so much better already!

If you've read my blog before, you know that I really am on a quest to heighten my sense of internal happiness, as well as finding love in everything I encounter. Wellllllllllllll folks, I've been a little off as of late. With a few hardships with my car, wallet, etc... I was very stressed & pretty bitter. I realized that while I was at home. As I was leaving Columbus, though, on Saturday morning, it was still dark & what do I see as I drive up to the Columbus skyline? A shooting star... it was as if the universe was saying "Hey, you got distracted... it's ok" ... Bam. Just like that. I realized I had stopped looking for the happiness within myself & had begun looking elsewhere. Wrongo... Hence why things weren't quite going my way. I wasn't going about things the way I had been.

Even better; as I crossed the Florida border & approached Jacksonville (again it was dark), fireworks started going off... how random! But it was a welcome back to my goals & my own true happiness. Obviously there are going to be off periods, but it's always nice to be reeled back in.

So my friends, go out and find that love... no, I'm not talking romantic love... you can't find that, eventually it finds you. I'm still waiting for that day, but until then, I'll be finding love in hopeless places (Thanks Rihanna), making my life more beautiful & putting in the work to get there... wherever that may be :)