This month has been a long one but a slow one. I know that is quite the contradiction but maybe that is just life in general: long and slow. Ooh look at me being all thoughtful. š Anyway, I thought Iād just whip up a post going over some favorites as far as things I tried and notable moments for me in this month of May.
First up, FOOD.Ā I received a package of some new product releases for 2017 at the end of April and have been slowly making my way through them. Iāve had the pleasure of trying some really inventive foods but here are a few standouts:
bRAW bars
Healthy bars can be hard to find so when I checked out the ingredients label on the bRAW bars, I was blown away. They are plant-based superfood bars filled with nuts, seeds, and gems like cacao nibs and gogi berries. They are soft, yet crispy from the texture of all of the goods inside them. These bars do need to be stored in the refrigerator but I found they were fine to carry with me in my bag if I consumed them within a few hours. Their store availability is limited but, fortunately, they are available online from their website.
Rolling Greens Millet Tots
The brand Rolling Greens has put a creative, healthy spin on the classic tater tot without sacrificing the texture and flavor that I grew up loving in traditional tots. Instead of white potatoes, the tots are made from the ancient grain millet. So far Iāve tried the Poblano Chili and Sweet Potato flavor, along with the Garlic and Basil flavor. There is also a plain sea salt one but I was too excited about these two flavors so I havenāt touched the plain yet. Iām sure it is as great as the two Iāve tried! You can check out their gluten-free, soy-free, and vegan-friendly tots here. The Rolling Mills millet tots come frozen and are ready to eat after just 15 minutes in the oven! They make a fun addition to salads, roasted veggies, homemade hamburgers, or simply as a snack/appetizer with some zesty dip.
And I’ve got a couple of non-food favorites…
Love Real Food Cookbook
After over a year of reading Kate from Cookie and Kate talk about writing, revising, and developing recipes for her cookbook, Love Real Food, the pre-order finally happened in January. These past few months of waiting were brutal but, now that it is in my hands, I love it! The book perfectly captures the simplicity of her blog and the clean, plant-centered cooking method I love.Ā I predict each of the recipes will become favorites of mine because all of the dishes look so good! It’s not a cookbook just for vegetarians either–there is much to enjoy even for omnivores, gluten-free eaters, and vegans alike š
Follow me on Instagram to see what I cook up from Love Real Food and find more details about the book here.
Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me by Lily Collins
Another book Iāve been into this month has been Lily Collinsā new release. Earlier this week I published a blog post on my thoughts about the book so I won’t overdo it with the review–see my post for that. I just love that each chapter has a positive and inspirational message. I did not relate to each one but many of the messages did touch me on a personal level.
TV favorites: Riverdale
This is the show I didnāt know I was missing! The neat thing about this CW show is that the characters are based on Archie Comics characters. Though, you donāt need to have read the comics to understand the show. The first seasonās plot circles around a crime committed during the summer before the teensā sophomore year of high school. The Archie gang is hot on the case trying to figure out who did it but anyone in town can be a suspect. At the same time, the tangled web of romantic relationships between the Archie gang and the Riverdale adults keeps viewers on their toes.Ā The show was just added to Netflix so catch up over there!
Yoga for Days
Iāve been practicing yoga on a daily basis for around 6 months now. Majority of the time I start my day with a video from Yoga with Adriene but occasionally Iāll practice in the evening, try another yogiās video, or simply do my own thing. Thereās lots of wiggle room for when, where, and how you can practice yoga. Notice the keyword: practice. Iāve long let go of the idea that I need to ādoā yoga and instead I let my body be. That has allowed me to slowly build up to bakasana, or crow pose.
This was a really hard one for me back in December when I first started practicing. It has been my favorite to practice because it is so challenging! I couldnāt even lift a toe off the ground and now I can actually balance. My form is definitely not perfect but Iām proud of how far Iāve come. This little victory makes me really appreciate what my body can do.
Moment of Reflection
I spent the past few months feeling like I was in some kind of rush to get the right job, push my body to look a certain way, and overall be at a place Iām just not at yet. Iām not giving up on anything but I think the more I focus on what I donāt have, the more stressed I feel. And I donāt need that. Instead, Iām working on being present and taking care of myself right now. I quickly get caught up in a plan that I have/want for myself in the future but I donāt want to sacrifice enjoying the now to get there.
What have you guys been up to this month? Have you discovered some new favorites? Made any realizations? Heck, even if you just ship Bughead from Riverdale (no, especially if you ship Bughead) then I want to hear from you. Drop me some comments down below and I hope we can all leap into a happy month of June!
Earlier this year, in March, Lily Collins published an autobiographical book on what she calls her deepest unshared secrets.Ā Collins presents a number of both unique and relatable experiences from her childhood in Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me.Ā She encourages readers to follow in suit and open up about their own struggles, quirks, and stories.Ā The sooner we can do that, the sooner we can live life with a better, more loving version of ourselves.
What I Knew Before Reading Unfiltered:
I have always viewed Lily Collins as the epitome of elegance, class, and free-spirited perfection.Ā While she certainly is, there is much more about her life and story that I didnāt know.Ā Just like Anna Kendrick, whose self-written book Scrappy Little Nobody I also reviewed here, Collins is a young Hollywood actress who has made a mark on the millennial generation, to say the least. Ā Collinsā list of acting gigs is short but I knew she would have something meaningful to say beyond actor life.
I remember first seeing Lily Collins on Nickelodeon (back when Nickelodeon and Disney Channel were the only channels I would watch) reporting on the presidential election of 2008.Ā From Unfiltered, Iāve learned her journalism interests go much further than that.Ā As a young girl, she wanted to see others her own age represented in media and writing.Ā During teen years, she used her skills to report live on TV for Nickeloden and in writing for magazines like Elle Girl UK.Ā With this in mind, Unfiltered targets an audience of similar age to her.Ā More on this later.
What I Like About Unfiltered
Unfiltered is inspirational as it starts each chapter with a quote pulled from the chapterās content.Ā Each chapter takes on a different topic or lesson.Ā Put together, they have helped shape Lily Collins into who she is today.Ā It is not the most original concept for a celebrity-written book but it is full of fun facts about Collins.Ā She touches on her childhood, life in the UK and LA, and reveals details about the eating disorder that she kept well-hidden all these years.Ā It means so much to read her thoughts on surviving her most challenging times growing up.
Collins’ book reads like a girl friend or older sister comfortably talking about obstacles that teens and young adults face.Ā She takes on a mentor-like role to explain the lessons she has learned and the advice she wishes to provide.Ā She genuinely hopes to touch others with what she has gone through and offer helpful suggestions as well as a glimmer of hope that things get better.Ā Such moments are conveyed in chapters like My Battle For Perfection or Food As Fuel, Not Punishment.
Who Should Read Unfiltered:
While her book seems most appropriate for teens to young adults, adults beyond her age could still enjoy it.Ā It is fascinating to read Collinsā stories and recollections about notable moments in her young life–including an “unfiltered” look at her relationship with her dad.Ā Iām only a few years her junior, so I could relate to some experiences she had growing up.Ā The ones that I couldnāt relate to still shed light on a new perspective for me.
Celebrity news junkies, movie buffs, fans, or casual observers of Lily Collins could enjoy this book.Ā I think Unfiltered offers a valuable perspective about someone’s life that may appear picture perfect but isn’t.Ā Though, there is no pity involved, only empowerment.Ā A glimpse into Lily Collins’ reality is one worth checking out.
If youāve been following celebrity news, then you might be aware of Anna Kendrick’s memoir titled Scrappy Little Nobody.Ā Alternatively, if you do not follow celebrity news then, perhaps, you might be like me and randomly stumble upon the above mentioned book at a local library or book store.
Hereās how it happened: I caught a glimpse of Kendrickās sly smile from the shelf of the New Arrivals section at my public library.Ā I read the first page.Ā It seemed tolerable.Ā So, I checked out the book thinking that, at the very least, it would be mildly entertaining and make me laugh (at her or with her, whoās to know?).Ā I really think I must have been desperate for new reading material because I am not a fan of Anna Kendrick.
To my pleasant surprise, Scrappy Little Nobody has got to be one of the most hilarious and enjoyable celebrity-written books Iāve ever read.Ā Thatās not to say that Iāve read many butā¦well, letās get to the point.
If you are curious about what you can get out of this book, there is: drama, anecdotes from her youth, awkward adventures in dating, a voyeuristic look into awards shows, musical theater, and what goes into filming a movie, and much, much more!
The unexpected part about this book was that, even though the life Anna Kendrick has lived so far is not the life of the average person, it is still relatable.Ā She describes her stories and thoughts in a way that make you feel like she is right there in the room with you, having a one-on-one chat.Ā Iām not saying sheās the nicest person to chat withā(sheās not)ābut she does have a unique perspective and insight.
I do not want to give too much away because whatās the fun in reading the book if I do that?Ā I will, however, state my 5 favorite things about Scrappy Little Nobody:
Anna Kendrick looks much younger than she actually is.
Iām in the same boat so I can empathize!Ā It is a curse that also brought her a multitude of advantages, particularly in the acting world.
She tells things as she sees them. No holding back.
I have always gotten the impression that Kendrick was a girl with a bratty attitude.Ā After reading this book, I now know Kendrick is a woman with a bratty attitude.
She knows what it means to rough it.
Iāve got to hand it to her.Ā Even when fame seemed to be picking up for her, she was still living in a crumb of an apartment with roommates.Ā It was eye-opening to learn that not everyone from Hollywood lives in a mansion and owns expensive shoes (okay, Iām exaggerating, but the latter does describe herāsee book for complementary story).
The woman knows she isnāt āniceā and is completely okay with that.
She does not expect you to like her.Ā Though, in her defense, there are a number of characteristics that she does value and hope to improve.
The Scrappy Little Nobody has as many talents as she does hang-ups.
I say this in a kind, joking manner because I feel like Kendrick and I are almost, kinda, sorta friends.Ā I did read her book after all.Ā She has mega vocal chops and has tried her hand in a number of roles but she has also gone through some challenging times to get there.Ā So, maybe itās the rocky climb to the top that has made Anna Kendrick a feisty little squirrel or maybe she is just naturally gifted with those traits.Ā We may never know….
I learned a lot about Anna Kendrick and have a newfound admiration for her.Ā Thatās not to say I would go up to her if I ever spotted her in public.Ā Heck no!Ā Iāll just keep my admiration to myself and here on this blog.
Have you read Scrappy Little Nobody? If not, have I piqued your interest? Let me know in the comments.
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