Unfiltered Awakening

We recently had a livestream on living the Vegan lifestyle and plant based diets. There are so many reasons why a person chooses to be a Vegan or eat a plant diet, but one of the important things we wanted everyone to hear was just how delicious Vegan food can be. Many people also enjoy a plethora of plant based dishes in their diet without being a Vegan.  During our livestream, we started to get excited about holiday food. And of course we would! We love food, we love cooking, and Thanksgiving is right around corner! We got so excited, that we wanted to share some of the classic recipes that Sheree has prepared for the holidays for years. A few of these recipes are new, such as a creamy pumpkin pie, that newbie plant based chef Alexis cannot wait to make next week. Alexis is a fabulous baker and this is the recipe she is the most looking forward to... These are primarily side dishes and desserts. Both Sheree and Alexis are addicted to Pinterest and it is our go to for most recipes...

 Winter is approaching, and what's better than a nice warm soup when it's chilly outside? Now granted, I live in Florida where "winter" sometimes means 70 degrees, but nevertheless this soup is still a hit in my family! Being Vegan sometimes requires creativity, but luckily there's a ton more options now more than ever when recreating a classic dish.  Here is a "copy cat" recipe that is inspired by Olive Garden's classic Zuppa Toscana soup. This sub out recipe is super delicious, healthy, easy to make, and picky eater approved! My recipe is not only a plant based take from a classic restaurant menu item, it was also inspired by  The Yummy Mummy Kitchen . Her recipe is also vegan but I made a few ingredient changes in my recipe including using white sweet potatoes rather than regular white potatoes. I also like to top my soup with  Violife vegan parmesan . I also really want to recommend  Beyond Meat Beyond Sausage . Vegan meat alternatives can be hit...

You know that feeling. Something feels off in your gut and you just know it. Your instincts are telling you something is wrong. Sometimes it's even screaming to run like hell! There are also people that give you a bad vibe. It might not be immediate, but at a certain point you feel your energy consistently being drained when you spent any amount of time with that individual. They may even be a friend or family member and you dismiss your gut because you feel guilty. This is someone you have known for a long time and you care about them. Or maybe you only know them casually but they seemed so nice at first. I wanted to share this topic with you all because as of recently I made the decision to actively listen to my gut or intuition regularly. I have always considered myself to be really good at sensing and sizing up situations. My gut instinct on many situations has often been exactly on target. When I was a younger women it was part of my essence to live my life based on using my i...

  This is not the easiest topic for me to write about. It's perhaps because there is an admission of guilt. A realization and an admission that I let my guard down with my children. My husband and I, in matter of mere months, somehow allowed our daughter to become addicted to technology. In fairness to us, we can fall back on the 2020 excuse. Covid-19 upended society. Our children lost school, friends, playdates, and after school activities literally overnight. In attempt to make up for no social outlets, we allowed our daughter to spend hours connecting with her friends online. Specifically, entering the virtual world of Roblox everyday. She and her friends (friends she does know IRL) to meet up with their characters they have created houses and shops they have built, and play together in their little town. They even earn and collect adorable pets to care for. Sounds harmless, right? Well it CAN be harmless if it's monitored and regulated. Children aren't meant to be onlin...

  This is a topic near and dear to my heart as I have been experiencing the effects of a dysfunctional pelvic floor for about a year. Luckily, I discovered fairly quickly just what the problem was and got an accurate diagnosis from my doctors. Treatment protocols began for me in January of 2020 and I am doing so much better. I even experienced 4 months completely free of symptoms. I am in a minor flare now, but I feel confident my healthcare team will get me back on the road to being pain free again soon.  Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (PFD) is a chronic pain syndrome that a patient will deal with most of their lives, however, you can manage it and have long periods without symptoms. Once you do have a flare, you know exactly what you need to do to get it under control. We recently had a 2 part livestream series on our Facebook page in which I first discussed what PFD is and my story. In part 2, I showed everyone all of the treatment options that have been available to me and what ...

Boy oh boy, we have been in a Latin food kinda' mood! And who can blame us? Latin American dishes are sooo yummy and some of the best comfort foods around. Alexis'  Yummy black bean and sweet potato tacos  reminded me of my own tasty black bean recipe. Instead of using tostones as a side dish, mine are incorporated right into the main meal. These are so very easy to make and a quick and delicious dinner when you have had a busy day. And it gives your family a chance to enjoy something a little out of the ordinary from traditional American dishes. And you do not have to be a Vegan or follow a plant based diet to fall in love with this recipe!  Everything in the recipe is naturally plant based, including the Just Like Feta  vegan cheese that my family uses. If you prefer non-vegan cheese, just substitute for traditional feta cheese. But you may want give it a try; it tastes great! Here is the recipe for my Vegan Black Bean Tostones! VEGAN BLACK BEAN TOSTONES Prep Time:...