Kale me Maybe!

I think we've gathered over the months and years that I love me a good cooking show, cooking YouTube channel, and those who have a deep knowledge and appreciation for whole and pure foods etc etc.  I've been reading up more and more on not just vegan cooking, but also reading into the raw vegan lifestyle.  It isn't something I necessarily think I want/could do daily, but I would say it definitely peaks my interest.  Here are a few vegan/raw vegans that I can't get enough of lately.  And by can't get enough of, I mean watch their videos in bed for a few { 60+ } minutes.

Fully Raw Kristina.  Much love to this teeny tiny woman who after posting on any of her social media sites gets a lashing out of criticism.  She handles each of them so gracefully and poses questions to the critics which support her lifestyle and really make you think!  I love watching her recipe videos and get so much inspiration for our daily juices/smoothies.  This girl is who she is, and doesn't ever apologize for it.  YouTube//Facebook//Instagram

Banana Girl!  What I love most about her isn't just her excitement over eating 10-30 bananas a day { whaaa?! }, but I love just listening to her talk and her enthusiasm for spreading her knowledge and busting all the myths associated with a raw diet.  I also really love that she includes squat challenges in her videos knowing we are all sitting down and probably slouching over computers all day!

YouTube//Facebook//Instagram

Megan Elizabeth Really, really great and easy raw recipes here, too.  Something about watching these people make their raw meals makes it far less intimidating to me!

YouTube//Facebook 

The Fitchen  Sometimes Raw, Mostly Vegan, Always Delicious.  I really freaking adore their tagline and would love to someday fit that bill.  Lovely photos and easy to follow recipes.  Facebook//Website//Instagram

Sidesaddle Kitchen I most def saved the best for last on this one.  I found Sidesaddle Kitchen's Raw.  Vegan.  Not Gross. segment on Tastemade through a YouTube ad before one of Fully Raw Kristina's videos.  I love this girl, you guys.  Love her.  Her humor, her attitude, her outfits, her love for vegetables, her love/hate for eating raw, her humor and her humor.  I sent her to my Vegan BFF Lindsey, and she writes back "She reminds me so much of you!  Especially her sense of humor."  Which brought her like 47 notches up on my Vegan BFF list.  Who am I kidding, Linds is already #1 on my Vegan BFF list.  Okay we are talking about that fake list for too long.  CLICK THROUGH TO SIDESADDLE KITCHEN.

YouTube//Facebook//Website//Instagram

I've done a few 100% raw days, I've done a few eat-raw-until-dinner days and I really love it.  I feel so light, energized and quick on my feet.  Something Sidesaddle Kitchen talks about is how she isn't trying to convert any of her followers into being a raw vegan, rather think about incorporating more and more raw plant based meals into our days.  Something else I always get from these videos/posts is HYDRATION.  I always go and drink like 3L of water after watching these beautiful people.  *Thanks for putting up with my love story for vegan/raw eating even if it isn't what you believe in or chose to practice!

*KEEP ANY AND ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS TO YOURSELF, PHILIP WANG.  TOFU.

Pitch Perfect :: On Repeat!

I watched Pitch Perfect last week, and though the movie in it's entirety kinda fell short for me, there were a few songs/parts that had me frozen in awe and rewinding the movie a few dozen times over.  I love when actresses magically surprise us with their incredible singing ability, and my Twilight girls have been nailing it lately { first shinning example }.  Anna Kendrick was really fun to watch in Pitch Perfect and the inner cynic in me was trying to bust her lip sincing to find a flub in the voice over, because surely that couldn't have been her real voice, right?  The next day I was talking to Mary about it and trying to find some clips on YouTube, when I came across this clip and just like that I was a believer!!!

Chills, right?  So that just fueled my obsession with her and this song.  Pretty cool music video for it, too.

A few other favorites from the movie!

And those who have seen the movie understand why this clip is strictly lyrics, no video!

Daily Pick Me Up Grace.

What does one do when struck down with a really ugly, painful and nasty flu for 24 hours while actually IN Denver { for the first time in over a month! } to see friends and family?  Well I don't know what you do, but I re-watch my favorite Daily Graces for a pick me up.  #judgeme  Here are a few of my favoritessss:

4:30 on the middle video is my most favorite.  Gets me each time.

KlepperGrey

I saw this ENGAGED: The Invitation on one of the blogs I read, and cracked UP thinking back to Jaime and my, well technically Jaime and Ryan's wedding, but Jaime and my wedding invite designing days.  After watching that one, there is a chance I clicked through and watched all 11 videos from their YouTube channel.  Not all of them are as funny as The Invitation, but as juvenile as it might shape me up to be, I laughed even harder at Klepper and Grey: Poop Brunch.  { Favorite part :: 1:40 for some disgusting reason. }  Between you and me { and the entire interweb }, I laughed.........and wept a little at ENGAGED: The Couch when I realized how ridiculous her commentary over the couch was, and how even more ridiculous it was that I could relate to over-analyzing, obsessing and blowing things out of proportion along the likes of The Couch to Hunter.  Sawwryyyyy Hunter.  

Capturing good, too.

Watch this and don't smile.  Don't feel good about random acts of kindness, and most certainly don't let it encourage you to go out and help a stranger.

I dare you.  Just let me know how that works out.

Creative Zone

One of the serious pros and serious cons I've grown to love about being a graphic designer, is you really have no idea when the design inspiration mood will hit.  Sure, I can sit down and bang out a logo, or page layout any hour of the day - but that doesn't mean my heart is in it 100%.  Back when I was in college, I remember starting on a project at 6pm, and with zero exaggeration, working straight through the night until 6am on the project.  And before you ask, no - it wasn't because I left the project until the night before to finish yes it was, but that's not the point.  The point was the Creative Mood struck at 6pm, and I'd be damned if I let sleep take that and a completed grade away from me.  This all can pose as a challenge working a 9a-5p job, considering my motivation typically strikes late at night.  My boss has even made mention to me he can tell on the projects I work on when I'm in the Creative Zone, and when I'm in the Work To Get It Done Zone.

This past Friday after work, I went for an awesome bike ride, rode to the store to pick up groceries and a few movies.  Came home and worked on some freelance projects while my dinner was cooking, then eventually migrated over to the tv to watch one of my movies.  About 3/4th's into the movie, I had the itch to get back to my computer so I simply paused the movie, slipped in my headphones { Yes, I use headphones when I work even at home in an empty apartment.  Backupoffit. }  and designed my little heart out.    

It didn't matter I had a 6am alarm set to meet Jaime and Ryan for an early morning hike.  It didn't matter I could/should have been packing.  All that mattered was my PMS palette, my Spotify playlist, and { let's be honest } my glass of wine...all bringing me to my happy place - my Creative Zone.

When I started drifting out of The Zone around 11:45pm, I started getting a little....well - because I have no shame don't take myself too seriously, I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.  Maybe listen to the video for what was playing in my earbuds while looking at the photos as they will make more sense you will judge me less.

You are welcome.  And for anyone wondering, the microphone shots are when Sia sings.  She deserves a mic.

Happy YouHappyTube Friday!

I think I've talked before how my friend Jimmy sends music videos every Friday for Hot Hit Friday.  My lovely friend Tim has tacked onto that and also sends out a Weekend Warm Up video.  Between these two videos they sent, plus one Mary shared with me this morning, and my girlfriend Daily Grace, my YouTube tank is very full!

Hot Hit Friday:

Weekend Warm Up:

Mary's Magical Video:

Daily Grace Love:

Playing over, over and over again in the background is my favorite band right now, Gin Wigmore.
Here's my favorite of hers!  Well...for today anyway.

Enjoy!!!  Any fun weekend plans, Hakuna Matata friends?  I'm going to try and sell my current bike tomorrow, and immediately turn around to buy one I've been crushing on for a few weeks now.  I'll give you a hint, it rhymes with "Bruiser bike bith ba bakset."

Maybe by the time you figure that out, I'll have and pictures to share.

Happy Weekending!

Happy Sunday/April 1st/80 degrees/April Fool's Day!

I gave myself a list of chores must be completed before taking my book, my crochet and a blanket to the park to waste the day away today!  It's going to be 80 degrees, and I can't wait ring in April in style!

But before I do, a few videos to kick off you Sunday.

I woke up smiling with this song in my head:

I grabbed a drink with a friend last night, and it was playing while we were at the bar.  Hunter has this song on his Spotify, and has sang it to me a time or two.  It makes me smile.  Know what else makes me smile?  After searching it on YouTube, finding out who else has done a version of it:

Uhhh yeah.  Obsessed.  Then it prompted me to search for this song to sing along:

It's a very musical morning in the Summerfield Casa.  I'm certain my neighbors are thrilled with me right now.

And one last song to bring this post full circle.

You are welcome, Mary.

Aight!  I'm off to my chores then the park.  

Heyyyyyyyyy, momma rock me.