Carrot Juice

Can I introduce you to one of my very good friends?

Odwalla's organic is my favorite brand, but Boathouse is a good (read: cheaper) alternative.

People of the internet, meet Mr. Carrot Juice. Good Sir Juice has been my very tasty and healthy companion over the last few weeks. My colonics doctor recommended this to me over winter break for the health benefits, and though I'd never had it straight carrot before (as a child I loved Vruit's carrot-apple juice) I immediately stopped by Whole Foods and bought a half-gallon of Odwalla's organic carrot juice.

It helped that my sweetie hometown bestie, Liz, had recently bought a juicer and was already raving about the fresh carrot juice she'd been consuming by the barrel. Liz and I have extraordinarily similar tastes.

So I dove in, confident I would like it.

I love it. Carrot juice is so smooth but not thin, with a refreshing natural sweetness. Give me a cup and it's gone in minutes - I can't help it! It's truly a fabulous drink, with so many benefits, including:

• Improvement of the function/detoxification of the liver & digestive tract
• Rich in vitamins & minerals such as vitamin E, vitamin A, potassium, and beta-carotene
• It is a very calorie-light juice that needs no added sugar
• It is good for the skin and has anti-aging properties
• It's delicious!

It's also a great addition to my favorite banana apple smoothie!

Delicious. A perfect pick-me-up while doing homework, as you can see in the background...

Well, I'd better get back to that, I suppose! Happy healthy drinking!

Sonja

Nut Butters: Nature's Gift to Me

PB & Co's White Chocolate Wonderfall Peanut Butter

Or is it George Washington Carver's gift? Is that a myth? (I don't know, Mythbusters doesn't do that kind of stuff and that's where I get my reliable myth-related info) Well, whoever invented nut butters, they're like...my hero.

My current Nut Butter collection. Please excuse the naked Barney almond butter on the end - it recently got cleaned out ;)

I love nut butters. All kinds. Almond's my particular favorite, but I'm also addicted to Peanut Butter & Co's line of amazing flavored peanut butters. I've also tried soy butter (err...not for me) and sunflower seed butter (good!). There's a "grind your own nut butter" machine at my local health food store that I am itching to try it out - maybe make my own first taste of cashew butter?

Seriously though, this stuff is goooood. I love putting it on my gluten-free toast for breakfast or a snack, or stirring it into my morning bowl of oats (PB & Co's Cinnamon Raisin variety is heavenly in oatmeal). Occasionally I will just eat it straight off the spoon. It's one of my little indulgences, aside from a serious case of chocolate lovin' every now and then.

Because let's admit: while I eat my nut butters gluten-free, vegan, and as all-natural and sugar-light as possible...they're not exactly your typical fruits et legumes (fruits and veggies. Gotta find some way to use my college French!). I strive not to make this a daily indulgence, since I could easily overeat this stuff. Still I believe that once in awhile...you should make your tongue happy! 

What are some of your favorite indulgences?

Sonja

Tea

Picture found on Pintrest.

Just the word makes me want to start singing "these are a few of my favorite things..." at the top of my little lungs. But I won't, because I am in general a respectful roommate.

I'll just wait until I'm in the theatre building.

Anyway, we're here to talk about tea. The wonderful beverage that inspired the name of this blog. Some people are 70 % water. I'm 70% tea. I drink at least six cups a day. And not just straight black tea for the caffeine my friends, oh no. 

Would you like to see my tea collection?

From before Christmas:

And after:

I know, I know. I'm dangerously low.

Seriously, I love the stuff. Especially in the colder winter months, but honestly I could have it any time. I like it iced too - there was a period when I'd ask every single waiter whether the restaurant had raspberry iced tea when I went out to dinner. This was before I was a cheap college student and only ordered water, of course. 

And I love nearly every variety too - chai, green, English breakfast, peppermint, chamomile, an array of herbal creations...you can't disappoint me with tea. You just can not. I carry emergency tea packets in my purse.

Tea is the food to my soul. And yes, I'm drinking some right now.

So, what are some of your favorite kinds of tea?

Sonja