Thursday, June 30, 2011

Check It Out!

Hi Everyone!
Notice anything different?
I do! I've added a new Blog Header and I'm so excited about it. Look up to the top of the page. Scroll over if you have to, in order to see the entire header. I think it is so cool!
I wanted a header that would capture the essence of the blog. Something that says "Atlanta, GA", and "Smart Woman". Okay, I couldn't resist. I had to post it so you could see the entire header without having to scroll over.

I wanted a woman that dressed smart and looked smart. My woman is all that and a bag of chips! Doesn't she look chic, sassy, sexy and all about business? She certainly has her stuff together. She's ready for any and everything that positively comes here way!
I wanted a peach to represent the Peach State and I wanted a cityscape of Atlanta. Say hello to my Georgia Peaches. :)
So, the above is what we (my Graphic Designer and I) came up with.
What do you think about the new header?
Do you like it? Would you change something about it?
Please let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

Have a great holiday weekend. I look forward to posting more often once the holidays are over. I have a ton of stuff to share with you. It's all about Food, Fitness, Fashion and Fun...and let's not forget about Business/Career.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Almond Milk & Green Smoothies

Hi There! I've been missing in action for a while, but I'm back now.
I'm working on a really cool header for the blog. I should have it up within the next week or so.
I'm still trying to find my voice...my niche for the blog. I think I've narrowed it down now to
Fashion, Fitness, Food & Fun. Of course I will still keep the Business features in there so we can all network and support each other.

So today's post is about Almond Milk and Green Smoothies, just as the title says.
During my quest to get healthier, I discovered Almond Milk.  I'm one of those people that cannot drink regular cow's milk without wreaking havoc in my tummy, so I decided that all of the pain and discomfort is just not worth it. I've tried a couple of different brands of Almond Milk, but I like the Blue Diamond Almond Breeze brand the best. To me, the original flavor reminds me more of regular cow's milk. The texture and consistency is very similar. I've tried the Silk brand, but it is just way too thick for me. I can pour the Almond Breeze over a bowl of cereal and I honestly can't taste a difference. I love this brand of Almond Milk! As you can see, it come in both sweetened and unsweetened with original, vanilla and chocolate flavors. If you just want an afternoon treat, you can pour yourself a cold glass of the sweetened vanilla flavor and enjoy it all by itself. It is just that good! Also, if you are one to count calories, the calorie counts aren't that bad either. They are displayed right on the box so you never have to worry. The products displayed can be found in the healthy section of your local grocery store or you can also find jugs/cartons in the refrigerated section where regular milk is sold.
On to the Green Smoothies... I love these things! I discovered Green Smoothies(GS) during my "Get Healthy" quest too. This discovery was the best thing to happen to me...ever.  :)
If you are not familiar with GS, let me tell you a little about them. GS are very delicious & healthy drinks that are made with fruits, greens, milk and/or water. I like to make mine with a base of bananas, apples, spinach, almond milk and water. Then I usually add a nut butter (either almond or cashew butter) and another fruit such as a mango, strawberries, peach or whatever type of fruit I have on hand. I also add a small piece of fresh ginger or a splash of lemon or lime juice from time to time to give me some variety. Besides spinach, you can also use kale, romaine lettuce and any other green leafy vegetable that you like. It is good to rotate the green leafy vegetable, but I have to admit, I do not.
There is no set rule when making GS. Just use whatever fruits and greens you have on hand. Blend them up and enjoy.  I usually make a big carafe full (64oz) every morning and it last me all day.  Drinking GS helps to control my cravings for other unhealthy foods or drinks, provides me with plenty of fruits & vegetables servings, increases my energy and helps me to stay on track and maintain my weight loss. Nothing but goodness comes from drinking these babies!
(PS) If you decide to make GS and you carry them around with you (to run errands, to work or wherever), don't be surprised if you can't strange/funny stares and you may even get asked, "What's  that green gook you're drinking?".  Is gook even a word? LOL! I guess so.

Let me know if you decide to make yourself a glass of Green Goodness. If you have any questions about how to make Green Smoothies or any other questions, just leave a comment below and I'll be sure to answer immediately.

Thanks for reading. Look for more "Healthy Alternative" products that I've began to eat/drink since I've started my quest for a healthier lifestyle in future post. I'll also be sharing some simple, yet healthy recipes that helps me maintain my weight loss and helps me to feel better overall.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Sweet Auburn Festival & Vendors

Crowd Shot @ the Festival - so many people!

Another crowd shot - it got really packed around 2pm.

Delicious looking food. I loved this vendor table setup because of the pineapples. :)

These t-shirts were very cute. Love them!
Hello! How are ya? It's a little late, but I still wanted to share with you my outing to the Sweet Auburn Festival in Atlanta. While at the festival a few weeks ago, I came across a couple of food vendors that I really liked.


Rumtastic Cakes had the most moist & delicious rum cakes I've ever tasted. Personally, I would have preferred the cakes without the rum since I'm not a drinker (I don't like the taste of alcohol), but even so, these cakes were super delicious. The niece & nephew agreed. 6 Thumbs Up! The owner of Rumtastic Cakes was very nice. I loved her personality. Check out her website if you ever need some delicious desserts. The prices are reasonable and these little cakes were the perfect size. Larger sizes are available. Check out her website at www.Rumtastic.com for more information and to place an order.


Polish Sausage (beef)

Just in case you are wondering, I didn't eat any of this sandwich, but it looked so darn good! I really wanted to take a big bite, but I was afraid that since I hadn't eaten any beef...or pork for that matter, in quite a while, that tasting this yummy looking treasure would not be a wise decision. So, I persuaded the Niece & Nephew to order it. They gave it 4 thumbs up! I can only image! They shared this sandwich and an order of fries. After walking around for a while, they actually wanted another one, but by that time, we were too tired to walk back to find the vendor.
This sandwich had everything on it: beef polish sausage, ground beef, peppers & onions and some type of sauce. Just look at it. Foodgasmic!!!! The vendor who prepared this sandwich was Time To Eat Kitchen out of Birmingham, Alabama.  They are willing to travel to different states to cater at your events. Check them out on Face Book.
What a huge turkey leg!

I'm not sure who the vendor was for this huge turkey leg (I think it was from the vendor pictured above), but it was delicious. I took 2 bites off of it and had to pass it along. It really was delicious though. To me it tasted a lot like ham...no kidding. Of course the Niece&Nephew happily took care of it for me. :) I wrapped it up in foil and took it home. Once we got home, they demolished it. It was really that good.

I love going to street festivals to try out the food. For me, the food is the best part. I had a lot of fun. I even shared a funnel cake and ate a pickle. It's okay to splurge every once in a while. One vendor had some delicious lemonade according to the Niece&Nephew. We all had a great time and we can't wait for next year's festival.

Question(s): Do you like going to street festivals? What's your favorite part...food or shopping?