No, it wasn’t from Fresh Market, but another product that I had actually seen at the store during that trip.   I had noticed Snackle Mouth by the checkout but didn’t really take much time to investigate what it was.   Honestly, good packaging had grabbed my eye.  Perfect timing!  The convo continued

I’m all for “something special” when it comes to food (and vegan at that) so the next time I was at Fresh Market I picked up a box, snapped my pic, and enjoyed Snackle Mouth:

The Almond Maple Pecan was amazing.   Not too sweet, not too heavy, it’s a great snack.   If I wasn’t so greedy (aka had better portion control) I bet I could make a box last a few days.   This one lasted an afternoon.   Awesome.

Anyway I had forgotten that I had sent a pic to Snackle Mouth and was so excited to discover my little package from them for taking the pic, it showed up last Friday:

Mmmmmm.    This was some serious snacking.   I wanted to take a pic of the delicious clusters, but my offer to co-workers meant the Snackle Mouth was gone pretty quickly.   The top 2 faves were the Salty Chocolate and Almond Berry.    Great office snack.

I’m stoked to have found Snackle Mouth.   Sure they sent me some freebies but I’ve purchased several boxes (about $3.50 for a 5oz box) and can honestly say I’m a fan.  It’s just good.   When I’m trying hard at my vegan experiment, it’s great to know that there’s a yummy snack I can turn to.   And for my non-vegan bacon loving fans, check this out:

BACON SNACKLE MOUTH.   Wow.    Bacon Snackle Mouth pic via The Daily Bacon

Happy snacking!!

I love nature, but I’m kind of an indoor girl most of the time.  I don’t hike every week, I don’t swim a ton (but would love to) I like wearing platform pumps 75% of the time.   The other 25% I dream about living in the Adirondacks and wearing flip flops forever.   Love it there.

Manfriend, kiddo and I headed up north for the long weekend and as soon as we arrived we were put to work helping finish a chicken coop.   I honestly never thought I’d help build a coop, but never say never!   Those chickens have a lovely place to roam now.

After my Bob Villa moment we went off to visit some of the most beautiful horses I’ve ever seen.  Amazing, and intimidating.

There’s always fun discoveries to be made.  We found this little cabin (complete with a bed) in the middle of the woods.

It was the perfect weekend for fires, wine and flip flops.

There are so many bodies of water to take advantage of in the Adirondack Park.   I got to swim a decent amount, and just be lazy with my toes in the water.

We hit up lower and middle Saranac on an awesome boat trip.  I got to open and close locks, again, I never thought that was something I’d do/be excited about.

We had a pretty easy going boat captain.

Wrapped up our long weekend in an old growth forest.  300-400 year old trees?  Hello.   This was also a mosquito buffet zone, but it was cool, we got to see this!

So there’s my Adirondack snapshot.   I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again.  I love living in the Capital Region, there’s tons to do, but when you’re looking for a quick getaway you’re in the perfect location.   2 1/2 hours south – you’re in the greatest city ever (NYC.)   2 1/2 hours north and you’re in the most awe inspiring nature in the country (in my opinion.)

I discovered this jelly gem today today and it was too bizarre not to point out.  If you’re all up on the Louis Vuitton jelly bag from 4 seasons ago, apologies for late notice, but for real?

Let me preface my rant with a love for all things jelly.   In the 80′s, when I was 5, I was the jelly movement’s biggest supporter.   I guilted my parents into buying me every jelly bracelet

I had jelly sandals, AND jelly flats (thank you Caldor.)

I was a jelly believer.   Fast forward, ummm many years, and I was excited to read that jelly fashion was making a return this spring.  Who doesn’t love a jelly flat?   Who can’t love something jelly?

Enter this:

That is the Louis Vuitton jelly bag for the low, low price of $3,150.00.  It reminds me of the beach bags my mom used to pick up at Fay’s (when we weren’t at Caldor) but I’m pretty sure she was paying about .99 for them.    I’m no fashionista, I think I’m usually pretty on trend, I just don’t understand this bag, or the price.  It’s a LV jelly bag, with a LV sack inside.   For the cost of rent for a studio apartment on the UES.    I don’t know if I’d even pay $19.99 for this at Target.   How about you, are you obsessed with the Jelly Bag?

I can explain the chubby part.  Snacks.  I really try hard to stay away from sweets but when I fail I fail hard.  I tried a bite of a Cadbury Cream Egg BAR that someone sent to the station.  Yes, a whole bar o’Cadbury Egg, that’s how they roll in the UK.   I’m pretty sure this bite sized piece had about 2,000 calories, and totally not vegan.   It was amazing.

When the circus came through we checked it out from the nosebleed section at the TU.  Seriously if you ever want the best seat in the house, go upper level, it was awesome.

I celebrated my birthday, so lucky!

I discovered a crazy, yet functional moss purse.   The ultimate spring accessory. 

Of course I sparkled more stuff. Here’s some color blocked frames

Made some delicious vegan meals.   Arugula, squash and mushrooms.   Awesome!

Made a quick trip to the city.   Managed to find the beauty in cabs.

Bought a rock bracelet, made me feel like Shera, Princess of Power.

Discovered a delicious vegan snack.  Housed this

Fit into an 8 year old t-shirt.  No really, that’s amazing that it still fits.  My metabolism was on warp speed 8 years ago.

Enjoyed Mother’s Day with the cutest cake ever (I only had a taste.)

Discovered some radio audio gems in my desk.  FLY92 from the early 90′s.  Listen here.

Discovered my new favorite beer (and I hate beer) Shipyard Applehead (apple beer!!!_

Frightened a Starbucks drive-thru peep with this crazy ass knot I got stuck in my hair while trying to rearrange my ponytail.   I know, I know, I shouldn’t be a lazy drive-thru user.

Fell more in love with my orange mani.   Tangerine Tango may be my favorite color of the year yet!!

Became more obsessed with this song.   Watch the video.  Love love love it.

Rocked my 7th grade basketball jersey during dropoff.   I’m too sexy for real grown up clothes before 9:30am.

Aand re-embarked on the summer spray tan.  The foot positions always remind me of a dance chart, now you’ll think of it to the next time you’re nekkid in a Mystic booth.

So cute!  Make sure you watch it.   Love the song too, Carly Rae rolled through the radio station a few weeks ago, sweetest girl ever!  Loved her hat.

1) Favorite Color: Gotta love the green!

2) Favorite Animal: I’ve also had a soft spot for penguins, I blame a trip to the Boston Aquarium (that’s what I call it) when I was 5.

3) Favorite Number: I don’t have a favorite number, I’m just not crazy about 13, trying to dial that down a bit.

4) Favorite (non-adult) drink:  Metromint water (try the lemon) or Diet Dr. Pepper

5) Facebook or Twitter? Twitter.   Short.  Sweet.   Not too many pictures of uteruses, I’m down.

6) Passion:  Other than that whole manfriend or mother thing I suppose spotting celebs before they were famous in Sex and the City.   I should really keep a journal on this.

7) Giving or receiving presents?  I love giving gifts that people love and receiving compliments, wrong but true.

8) Favorite Pattern:  Is paisley back in yet?  I love a unique plaid.

9) Favorite Day: Saturdays or Sundays, not too much work and lots of family time, and Mad Men

10) Favorite Flower:  the kind that come in a large bouquet that make other people jealous.  Like this one, manfriend.  Or this one.   (I also like lilacs.)

Into this:

It’s super easy.   Frame + glue + paintbrush + sparkles = sparkly things.   Done.    Now I’m not saying I’m amazing, but I think this looks pretty cool.   If this was sitting on a shelf at Pier One you know there are some ladies who would pay $ for this.  Not saying I’m selling anything, I just thought it looked pretty decent.  Anyway,  I decided to put this up at work (still need to find a good picture to put in it) and tossed this sparkled up wreath thing too:

Hey, you can’t have too many crystals!  I started on an unfinished wood mirror too, decided to jewel tone that out.  One color sparkles look way better, but it’s given me a few ideas:

I’ve got a whole tub of shine here so who knows what I’ll sparkle up next:

mushroom burgers

heat about 1/4 c of organic vegetable broth in a large pan on the stovetop.

Add 1/2 small onion and one chopped garlic clove. Heat on high for 2 minutes.

Add 3tbsp balsamic vinegar, dash of thyme, dash of basil, turn heat to medium and add 2 portobello mushroom caps (stems removed.) heat for 5 minutes covered.

fries

Heat oven to 425. Wash 2 large potatoes. Chop to desired thickness. Mix potato sticks with a a a tbsp of olive oil and sea salt and cracked pepper as desired. Bake for about 30 minutes flipping the fries during the last 10 minutes.

I inadvertently tricked Manfriend with the pic of this meal. He rolled in expecting burger burgers, you know, the kind with meat. Oops. He still enjoyed it.   He ordered a pizza later.

I’ve driven past Sally Beauty in Latham Farms a million times but always assumed it was for salon owners, I totally thought I needed a VIP salon pass or something to go buy stuff there.  Nope!

I stopped in over the weekend and this place has so much great stuff.   From straighteners and coloring supplies to makeup and shampoos, polishes, skin care, extensions…seriously everything beauty.

I grabbed all this (SPF moisturizing lotion, firming lotion, tea tree lavender shampoo, travel makeup brushes, 2 nail art thin brushes and polish, magnetic polish and some thin non latex rubber gloves for sparkling) for I think about $70.

That price was after I had signed up for their Beauty Club (for $5) all of the savings terms and discounts can be found here.  Oh, and I got a free bag, this was the only one they had left but I’ll totally use this for the beach:

I wonder where else I can go to save some $$?

Oh, and I used some of those nail art brushes and polish to attempt (I stress attempt) a cute nail polish thing.  Watermelon nails.  Amazing?  No…but a good first try:

Seriously, the skies the limit for cooking when it comes to vegan meals, but I always seem to return to my old faves.   Chickpeas and edamame for snacking (top pic.)   Homemade organic salsa (middle left.)  Chickpeas (again) and arugula (middle right.)  And lemon mint tomato and kale pasta (bottom.)   Tastes amazing!

I’ve also been trying really hard to keep a food journal, but I suck at writing that stuff down so I’ve turned to instagram and twitter to chronicle what I’m shoving in my mouth.  If you’re a follower and it’s annoying – sorry!    At least the vegan food journal will prevent you from seeing me with a big ole zit on my face, attractive I know.