Palm Springs Weekend

This weekend my dear friend, Jen-Jen, and I packed our bags and spent a few days bonding, pampering ourselves, and absorbing the sublime radiance of the desert. We stayed at the Aqua Soleil Hot Springs and Spa in Palm Springs. Friday we checked in, delivered our luggage to our room, then headed to a fabulous Asian meal.

Jen and I ate at Wangs in the Desert—I know the name is a little silly—but the food was amazing! We enjoyed a appetizer of seared ahi and garlic roasted edamame. For the entrees we ordered vegetable chow mien and kung pow tofu. The chow mien was made with crunchy noddles underneath a bed of roots and onions, which were sauteed in a creamy, white sauce. This dish was much different and much tastier than I expected. I am not traditionally a huge tofu fanatic, but let me tell you—this combination rocked!!!! The kung pow tofu entree was made with breaded and fried tofu pieces, diced peppers, onions, and peanuts. It was all tossed together and sauteed in a sweet and savory teriyaki sauce. This food was delicious, but the best part of the meal was the dessert. We devoured a pumpkin, cranberry cake concoction that was mind-blowing. The moist and flavorful layers melted in my mouth. The top was somewhat of a cream-cheese frosting. All of the flavors worked marvelously together and complimented one another. It was the perfect combination of October flavors!

This restaurant is pretty rad because running through the middle of it is a coy fish pond—or stream, you might say. There is a small bridge to cross over from one side to the next. The atmosphere is fun and lively without it being overly loud making it difficult to talk. Friday night was "boys night out", so Jen and I enjoyed the lovely, gay eye-candy that surrounded us.

Saturday morning we rise(d) and shine(d) early so we could attend a free yoga class courtesy of the hotel. We were a bit surprised when we arrived and the teacher was a 70 year old man. I immediately knew I would be out yoga-ed by an elderly man and I wasn't sure if I was prepared for that. And sure enough—for an hour—he kicked my ass. His name is George and he lives across the street in a 55+ mobile home community. He had surgery only 5 weeks earlier to remove build-up in his right hip due to arthritis, but he was still more flexible, balanced, and graceful than myself. He spoke of his trips to India to study yoga and shared the hows and whys of how yoga changed his life. He seemed like such a gentle soul with so much wisdom and life experience. When the class was over Jen and I invited him to breakfast with us, so we could thank him for such a fulfilling hour. George settled for a cappuccino, while I got some scrambled eggs, fruit and yogurt. Jen got huevos rancheros that were paired with zesty roasted potatoes. (George was very confused as to why I was taking pictures of our food...)

After lunch we bid adieu to our new friend George. He was a social butterfly who has never been married or had any children (I referred to him a as player). At noon Jen and I had an appointment to get a couples massage at the hotel spa. We arrived and met with our masseuses, Nina and Linda. Linda was my massage therapist who was very sweet and polite. She was probably in her late 50's or early 60's and was I curious if she would have the strength to really dig in and relieve my discomfort. Our massage was 60 minutes and when it was over I wanted nothing more than for it to start over again. It was THE BEST massage I have ever received—and I have enjoyed my fair share of massages over the years. She focused on my muscles and pressure points while using long, firm strides that I hadn't experienced before. She would contort my limbs in unique positions that allowed her to better access my problem areas. When it was finished I was sad, but completely relaxed. 

After our massages Jen and went back to the room and lounged around, girl-talking (literally) for the next few hours, until we got ready for dinner. Saturday night we went to dinner at Kobe Japanese Steak House. We enjoyed a drink at the bar while our table was being prepared, then sat at the sushi bar and enjoyed an assortment of rolls and sashimi. For dessert we ordered cheesecake which was very basic, but tasty nonetheless. 

After dinner we got back to the hotel and watched Shallow Hall by the pool. The hotel uses a projector and a large inflatable screen to play movies by the pool on the weekend nights. It was a really fun experience! You could swim in the pool or sit in the Jacuzzi and still see and hear the film. We swam around in the pool with our strawberry margaritas and finished the movie. Once it was over we made our way to the spa and relaxed for another hour or so. Then it was off to bed. 

Sunday morning we slept in an extra hour or two then went down to the cafe for breakfast. Jen ordered tofu and peppers. It appeared to be tofu sauteed in onions, broth, and a variety of bell peppers. Jen—a bit of a tofu conosour—felt the it was a bit too watery for her taste. I ordered a Denver omelet full of veggies and cheese. The potato slices they Incorporated into the dish were wonderful! We also ordered a side of pancakes and fruit to share. The pancakes were warm and fluffy, so I can't complain. After breakfast we packed up our stuff and headed home. Luckily there wasn't much traffic, so we were able to get back into town by the early afternoon. We had so much fun getting away, relaxing and focusing on ourselves for the weekend. Spending time like this with good people really makes you grateful for the special relationships we have. I am incredibly thankful for the supportive group of people I surround myself with. It really makes life a whole lot easier (and happier)!

Anti-Animal Testing Protest

This blog post is about this article: Anti-Animal Testing Protest
A good friend of mine tagged me in a Facebook post saying, "this article reminds me of you".
It is from a couple years ago, but this is something I have grown increasingly passionate about over the past year, so here are my thoughts.

First, I think it is unfortunate that something this dramatic has to be done in order to raise awareness for such an archaic, outdated practice. I also find it unfortunate that protests of this caliber are not held in places (like the US) where animal testing is happening EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Many countries around world have banned or put laws into place restricting the testing of chemicals on animals for cosmetic purposes. Although we continue to make strides in this seemingly never ending battle, we are far from becoming a cruelty-free country (with regard to cosmetics). With all of the resources we now have, testing on animals is completely unnecessary and just plain depressing...

Second, I admire Jacqueline for going to such great lengths to stand up for what she believes in. The treatment she endured is similar to that of caged and helpless animals who are abused and tortured daily for no other reason than to perfect a cosmetic solution or discover new, less expensive ingredients for household items. People often turn a blind eye towards situations that make them feel uncomfortable or sad. I praise her for shedding light on this issue and bringing its sadistic nature into the streets for people to witness. If more people were aware and forced to recognize what is truly going on behind the closed doors of a laboratory, policies would change and people would be more concerned with animal rights. Animals are not humans, but that doesn't mean they don't deserve to be treated with respect. They are innocent, defenseless, and don't have a voice or free will to speak up and put an end to this.

Yes, there is a difference between her and the animals this is happening to. She has the power of free will. She is choosing to do this protest and allowing her fellow artist to conduct these experiments on her, BUT that is what makes this even more sad for animals—they don't have the option and they often die a painful, horrifying death (which is probably a relief to them after everything else they've been exposed to).

My hope is that some day we will live in a country (or even a world) that has more respect for the humans and animals that inhabit it. 

September Petit Vour Box Product Review

This month I received my first EVER Petit Vour Beauty Box! Each month the cost is $15 and you'll receive 4-6 cruelty-free and vegan products.The items featured in the Petit Vour boxes are "higher end" and usually made with natural ingredients. In the October Petit Vour box I received lip gloss, nail polish, leave-in conditioner, and face scrub. 

Two of my favorite things: cruelty-free and vegan products & my fur-baby. 

 Here is the contents of my Petit Vour Beauty Box for September!

This is Yarok leave-in conditioner which is supposed to "protect ends with this nutritious, leave-in spray, packed with vitamins, minerals, and essential oils that nourish hair prior to blow drying and heat styling". This is a full-size, 2 oz. bottle which retails for $13.20. I do not typically use heat on my hair, but on the bottle there are instructions for using this product as a detangler. I have very long, fine, curly hair, so tangles and knots are something I am far too familiar with. I washed and towel dried my hair, then sprayed this throughout my hair from root to end. I let it sit for about 15 minutes and then separated and brushed through my hair. I did notice my hair begin to separate with an ease that most likely would have not been present had I not used this spray. I can see myself purchasing this product—in a much larger volume—because I used nearly 1/3 of this bottle in one application. For someone with shorter, thinner hair (than myself—which is probably most people) the smaller bottle should last a while. The scent is a very refreshing citrus. It smelled clean and didn't leave any residue in my hair once it dried. 

INGREDIENTS: vitamin aqua (water), Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) oil, Olea europaea (olive) oil, Vitis vinifera (grapeseed) oil, Prunus armeniaca (apricot) oil, Oenothera biennis (primrose) oil, plant sourced kosher vegan xanthan gum & potassium sorbate; essential oils of: Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) & Litsea cubeba (may chang)

I am a huge fan of nail polish, so when I saw this super cute, bubble gum pink color, I squeeled. It is described as a "creamy, dreamy, cotton candy pink". LVX products are formulated without using Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, DBT, Toluene, or Camphor. Their products are cruelty-free and vegan. It doesn't get much better than that! This is a full-sized bottle in the color Lolli, which retails for $16.

All I have to say is, YAY FOR ELLOVI!!! I have been a huge fan of theirs ever since I first used their body butter earlier this year. You can read my review right here. I do own several of my own Ellovi lip butter sticks and I have replaced my previous stock of EOS with them. However, I have never tried the tinted variations. And once again, they did not disappoint! This lip butter goes on smooth and creamy with a subtle hint of color. I was impressed by the soft pink hue it left behind. I might actually prefer this over the clear lip butter. I am not one who typically uses lipstick or wears color on my lips, but I do really enjoy the simplicity and hydration this tinted butter offers. One tube retails for $5 and the best part is: it is made with ONLY 6 ingredients!!! I adore products that are all-natural, especially when they actually work! 

INGREDIENTS: Macadamian Nut, Coconut, Marula, Hemp Seed, Shea, and Alkanet (a Medditeranian flower used for tint).

I have heard many great things about Root Science, but I have never used it myself. I received a half-sized RS Face Scrub. This full-sized item (3.8 oz) retails for $40. This gentile exfoliating powder claims to "renew, resurface, and brighten" skin. I was definitely intrigued when I took the cap off and revealed the grainy powder inside. I didn't notice much of a smell and I was curious how this powder would exfoliate my skin. My go-to face scrub contains salt crystals and feels more like it is buffing my skin, but after I rinse it off my face often feels stripped and raw. This Root Science scrub surprised me! I poured the powder in my hand and mixed it with some water to create somewhat of a paste. I rubbed it over my face as directed and once I rinsed it off I couldn't believe how soft my skin felt! My face was smooth without feeling dry. I can see myself purchasing this product and only using it about once a week to prolong the shelf life. 

INGREDIENTS: Sodium Bicarbonate**, Prunus Dulcis (Almond) Meal*, Mentha Spicata (Spearmint) leaf*, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) leaf*, Kaolin Clay**, Maranta Arundinacea (Arrowroot) Root*, Bentonite Clay**, Citrus Sinensis (Orange) Peel*, Azadirachta Indica (Neem) Leaf*, Ulmus Rubra (Slipper Elm) Bark*, Althaea Officinalis (Marshmallow) Root*, Vanilla Planifolia (Vanilla) Bean*.

The Eagles

It was about 20 years ago when I was first introduced to the Eagles and I have been hooked ever since. 

I would describe myself as a music addict. From as early as I can remember, music has spoken to me and moved through my veins with an ease similar to breathing. In college, I studied English Language and Comparative Literature, but still I find myself at a loss for words when trying to verbalize how a song makes me feel internally. 

My first memory of music involved my father when I was about 8 years old. Our family had recently purchased a fancy new contraption, called a computer, and you could put Cd's in it and play music! I thought this was the greatest invention since Barbies. We would sit in our den almost every night and play around on the small, fuzzy screen with a playlist consisting of James Taylor, Nat King Cole, The Doors, and the Eagles. I couldn't tell you what drew me to this music with such rich history that I couldn't even begin to comprehend at such a young age, but I knew I loved it. Every week I would do chores to earn money so my dad would take me to the local second-hand CD store and I would buy a new album.

Needless to say, I own every Eagles record and know every Eagles song. My father and I have seen every Eagles concert within a 300 mile radius over the last several years.  For the past 20 years, the Eagles have become part of my life, part of my family, part of my marriage, and part of me. I experience something new every time I hear one of their songs, even if I have heard it a million times before. My husband and I danced to Love Will Keep Us Alive at our wedding. Life in the Fast Lane has kept me motivated to keep up the pace while I am exercising. And Hotel California has been played at every party I have ever had. 

It still fascinates me that as I grow older I am continuously able to relate to each song in an entirely unique way than I was 1,2, even 5 years prior. Eagles music is timeless and evolves and matures much like its listeners. Whether it was listing to a song for pure enjoyment, to overcome a stressful situation, to deal with the loss of a loved one, to gain to strength after a tough break-up, or even to bond with my dad in my elementary years, Eagles music has helped mold me into who I am today. 

Over the weekend my dad and I went to see the Eagles in concert once again. They were playing at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA. Our seats were the best they've ever been (although you can't tell from my atrocious camera) and we were so anxious to soak up every minute of it. We started off the night at a restaurant called The Ranch near the venue. It was pricey and a bit fancy, but the food was delicious.

We started our dinner with their infamous popovers. These are large, hollow bread pastries that flake like a croissant, but taste like a warm loaf of honey wheat bread. They're served with a chunky cinnamon apple jam and butter. 

We knew we were going to be spending a few hours at The Ranch, so we decided to indulge and order a second appetizer. We ordered ceviche and they brought out three different kinds. The first was traditional shrimp, the second was lobster, and the third was mango. All three were surprisingly unique, yet equally tasty. 

We each ordered a bowl of their house soup of the day, which was a broccoli cheese with potato chunks. The soup was thick, creamy, and rich with a burst of hearty flavors. 

There weren't a large variety of meat-less options, so I opted for a plate of roasted veggies. I learned that The Ranch owns their own local farm and all of the produce on the menu comes fresh from their neighborhood location. My vegetables were served with a beet puree that was divine. The garden fresh veggies included green beans, mushrooms, leeks, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, carrots, and more. 

Since everything at The Ranch is served A la carte, we ordered a side dish to share. My choice was lobster mac and cheese. This was made with large shell pasta, generous chunks of lobster, and a subtle, yet rich cheese sauce. 

My dad ordered the prime rib with a side of baked au gratin potatoes. I obviously did not taste any of his meal, but he was definitely not complaining. 

For dessert we went with a treat that resembled a Milky Way candy bar. We were skeptical when we laid eyes on the dish, but after one bite we were hooked. This decedent treat was the most rewarding and high-quality Milky Way I have ever experienced. 

My dad had been growing out his beard for close to a year (since my wedding) and planned to chop it off the night after the concert, so he told me to braid it for him... 

For whatever reason, we were not able to take photos or video of the Eagles preforming. I tried to sneak a couple different pictures, but my camera is terrible and they had to be quick so, unfortunately, they aren't impressive. This was one of the best nights I have had in a while. My dad and I enjoyed ourselves immensely. We had so much fun dancing around and singing for hours. The Eagles sounded amazing and did not fail to impress their attentive audience. 

A Bearded Man Cooks Me Dinner

In our house I do most of the cooking—not because Mark is terrible, but because I enjoy it. However, there are some nights when I just don't feel like cooking... Luckily, he is there to save the day and whip up something tasty.

Last week Mark barbecued these delicious skewers on our Hasty Bake. He boiled the potatoes and corn on the stove. Then he stuck corn, potatoes, shrimp (and sausage on his) on wooden skewers, before seasoning them and grilling them on the BBQ. He served them over brown basmati rice. This meal was pretty simple and quite yummy!

Last night Mark created a veggie tikka masala Indian dish. He chopped cilantro, zucchini, squash, mushrooms, potatoes, and onion. He sauteed them in a large pan on the stove and once they were no longer raw, he mixed in a tikka masala sauce packet from Sprouts and a large handful of raw cashews. Once everything had simmered together for about 30 minutes he served it over tandoori rice and garnished with more cilantro. I have never been much of an Indian food lover, but Mark is a huge fan! I figure since he is—ever so-lovingly—putting up with my vegetarian dishes, it is only fair to branch out into his neck of the woods. I actually really enjoyed this dinner for a change! It was flavorful and zesty, plus it tastes identical to the way it smells (which I find uncommon for most foods). 

So grateful for this man! Thank you for being so supportive and encouraging during this time of change and exploration in my life. You are more than I could have ever hoped for and I appreciate your constant involvement as I strive to be the best woman, wife, and person I can be.