While I have walked by Intimacy in Boston’s Copley Place Mall many times, I had never been inside, until now. Invited as part of a media day, I had the opportunity to learn about how bra fit styling differentiates Intimacy from other lingerie shops.
Browsing Tag
Splurge
Please allow me to introduce you to my newest obsession – avocado toast! Simple, yet decadent, avocado toast is an easy way to splurge a little at breakfast. Just toast your favorite bread (my favorites are Iggy’s or Pain D’Avignon), brush on a little extra virgin olive oil with a pastry brush and mash 1/4 avocado for each slice of toast and top with a little sea salt. One slice of avocado toast on whole wheat bread clocks in at about 185 calories, so I pair with an apple for a delicious, yet satisfying breakfast.
Apparently I’m not the only one rediscovering their love for avocado toast. Bon Appetit recently wrote a recipe for avocado toast on grilled bread that also includes a sprinkling of chili flakes. Check it out for more inspiration on how to dress up grilled or toasted bread.
For more of my recipes, click here.
With the temperatures increasing, I’ve been craving smoothies again. There are so many ways to craft a delicious smoothie, but for me it’s typically a mix of frozen berries or bananas, spinach, non-dairy milk, coconut water and protein powder. For my most recent smoothie, I went with a classic favorite. Jam-packed with frozen berries, banana, unsweetened vanilla almond milk and my secret ingredient, Vega One Vanilla nutritional shake, this smoothie is equal parts nutritious and delicious.
Vanilla Berry Banana Smoothie
Serves One
– 1 cup frozen mixed berries (raspberry, blueberry, blackberry)
– 1 medium banana, chopped & frozen
– 1 scoop vanilla Vega One nutritional shake
– 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
– 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water as needed for blending.
I have a regular blender and find that using the ice blend setting works very well. The trick to the creamy, frozen consistency is using frozen fruit and frozen banana. I actually peel and chop ripe bananas up and store them in sandwich baggies in the freezer for smoothies. I’ve never liked the slushy-like consistency of ice cubes in a smoothie, so this works perfectly for me.
Note: You can absolutely sub the unsweetened vanilla almond milk for any other milk, or coconut water. Vega One is sweetened with Stevia and has a nice flavor, so my preference is to not add additional sugar or sweetener to this smoothie.
Why Vega One Protein Powder?
In case you’re wondering, the stats on this smoothie are pretty decent. It clocks in at about 350 calories and 9 grams of fat.
For readers not familiar with Vega One Nutritional Shake, it’s a personal favorite. It’s a vegan protein powder that’s free from dairy, gluten and soy. I know what you’re thinking – why would I use a vegan protein powder if I’m not vegan? For me it’s two things – taste and nutritional stats.
If you look at the nutritionals, it’s pretty impressive that one scoop contains 50% daily intake of vitamins and minerals, 15 g protein, fiber, Omega-3, Antioxidants, Probiotics and Greens. At $39.99 for a small tub it’s definitely pricey, but the contents make it a great solution for me to get the nutrients I need while trying to manage my busy life. For my readers in Boston, I purchase Vega One locally at Whole Foods, but you can also order on their website, or Amazon (affiliate link) for slightly cheaper. I’m also a huge fan of the chocolate flavor!
What’s your favorite smoothie combo? Leave a comment and let me know – I’m always looking for good new ideas!
For more of my recipes, click here.
As an equal opportunity foodist, I’ve been hearing and reading about the health benefits of green juice for ages. While in Whole Foods, I stumbled upon BluePrint’s Raw Green Juice featuring a healthy-sounding mix of kale, apple, ginger, romaine, spinach, cucumber, parsley and lemon and couldn’t help but wonder….but how does it taste?
The answer – not terrible, but definitely not great. It tastes, well, like you might expect a healthy green juice to taste. It’s mild enough and the mix is well done so that none of the ingredients are overpowering, but I’m not sure it was for me. I actually found that adding a small splash of agave helped. But, at the $10 (yikes) price tag at Whole Foods, I probably won’t be hopping on the green juice revolution. I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing which is supplementing my frozen berry and banana smoothies with spinach, kale, Vega One and/or other green goodies. Not as nutritionally sound, but pretty darn tasty.
However, BluePrint also has other juice varieties that feature beets, etc., so I may have to try something a little less intimidating next time…
Entrance to the hotel
Following an incredible time in Paris, I spent five days in London. London is my favorite city in the world and I cherish every opportunity to spend time there. On this trip, I stayed at The Kensington Hotel, which is part of the Doyle Collection, in South Kensington. From the incredibly cozy lounge bar, to the charming Christmas decor and comfortable rooms, the hotel more than delivered. Here’s a peek inside.