No Coast Craft Fair - Mia Sorella

So cooking in the kitchen can sometimes be a drag! What if you were wearing a vintage inspired apron? Well, that changes everything. Doesn't it? I think so, but I like to act on stage. Seriously if you want to dress up to cook and make it classy why not? Maybe the apron can be a little sexy - whatever strikes your fancy.

Cooking should be fun. I know that. I try to make it fun. I make quick, easy, minimal ingredient meals - this is one of the many areas I help my clients gain confidence in. Of course sometimes you still need to mix things up. You could even have MadMen playing in the living room to get you in the mood. Have a cocktail hour. I'm not saying I want to be a housewife from the 50's - that would truly be a mess, but adding a bit of pizazz didn't hurt no one. :)

Mia Sorella features:
Cotton Aprons
Cocktail Aprons
Party Dresses
Accessories

No Coast Craft Fair - Grovecraft

I'm sure you can see right off the bat why I wanted to showcase this lovely proprietor - Holly Magner! I had such a hard time deciding on the beet & carrot set - when there were peas, asparagus, and apples to consider as well as Minnesota State mittens (cuter than you think!).

I love my fruits and veggies and now I can wear my adorable mittens to prove it. Watch out.

Grovecraft recycles! "I make things out of other things. Hats out of pants, mittens out of sweaters. I make beautiful things out of clothes and things that would otherwise get thrown away."


Check out all her various styles at Grovecraft and pick out a unique gift for someone special.

No Coast Craft Fair

This morning I had plans with my dear friend to have tea. We decided to travel to the Midtown Global Market. I wasn't quite sure why, but I knew there were several coffee shops and that we were bound to find some tea somewhere and have a nice chat (secretly I thought I might see if the Salty Tart had any gluten-free/sugar-free treats, but never got around to it). However, I failed to remember that there was a HUGE craft fair going on called No Coast Craft-O-Rama. I am not usually the type to attend craft fairs and so I had no plans to hit up this event - usually I would run screaming. But, it was very hip and happening - it ain't your typical old school craft fair held in a grade school or church basement. In fact, the place was busting at the seems there were so many people!

What is awesome about this event is that it celebrates local artists some using recycled materials and making their products with pride & infusing what they make with style, love, and a bit of sweat! I wanted to showcase a few of the crafters at the event. Each of them will be checking in on the post and add a little blurb to the details of what they sell. Overall, all the booths offered high quality, ascetically pleasing "crafts".

Just a picture of my loot (see the gloves with the beet & carrot?). Yay

Healthy Cookie Recipe

My husband had an opportunity to sample holiday treats at his office's holiday bake off this week. While he was looking around at tempting treats he came across a lovely cookie that is gluten-free & dairy-free (woot woot). He was so happy! In fact, he smuggled a few to me in his bag and produced them from a napkin - isn't he great? Anyway the baker, Kimberly Kershak was kind enough to share her recipe with us so here we go:

Banana Oatmeal Health Cookies by Kimberly Kershak

• 2 cups mashed ripe bananas
• 4 cups oatmeal
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 2/3 cup chopped peanuts or pecans
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• cinnamon to taste (about 1/2 - 1 tsp)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl till everything is uniformly moist. 
3. Drop dough by tablespoonfuls on an ungreased cookie sheet.
4. The dough will not spread, so flatten it to the desired cookie thickness.
5. Bake for 15 minutes.
6. Eat warm or after cooling.
7. Store in an airtight container.

Kimberly says that these are awesome snacks, and don't get much healthier (I agree!). They are gluten-free/dairy-free, with no added sweetener or butter. For a variation, you can substitute the nuts with just about anything: raisins, dates, or if you want to be less healthy maybe some chocolate chips (she added 2/3 cup of chocolate chips).

Thanks Kimberly! These were tasty snacks.

Oh and I want to make a plug for my new facebook page - Minneapolis Health Coach. Become  a fan and suggest it to your friends! Thanks

On the go breakfast ideas

Have you heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day? Sure you have. Of course sometimes you get out of bed in the morning without a moment to spare and are off running to work without breakfast or worse without brushing your teeth (I know all about this). So knowing that you need to eat breakfast isn't the issue - its being prepared. But, that doesn't make it any easier to deal with right? Here are a few ideas for healthy, quick, easy, tasty breakfasts.

Make your breakfast and then pack it and eat it at work so you won't be late:

• Eggs + Salsa + Guacamole+ Whole grain/gluten-free tortilla
• Eggs + Mixed Greens + Brown Rice
• Cup of cottage cheese + sliced fresh fruit
• Greek yogurt + walnuts + granola
• Make a smoothie of coconut milk + bananas + strawberries
• Try brown rice cereal (make it the night before)

Make food the night before:

• Hard boiled eggs + whole grain wheat toast/gluten-free toast 
• Whole grain wheat/gluten-free toast + organic PB 
• Make your oatmeal in the crock-pot so it is warm & ready in the morning
• Make a nice mixed greens salad + sliced almonds + drizzle of olive oil + balsamic vinegar + 2 chopped hard boiled eggs & pack a side of toast
• Package some leftovers and have them for breakfasts - there is no such thing as "breakfast foods" 
• Make a tortilla de patata  or a frittata or quiche and eat throughout the week

Just grab something:

• Lara Bars
• Handful of raw nuts + greek yogurt
• Handful of raw nuts + dried berries (unsweetened like Goji)
• Grab 2 brown rice cakes + PB + brown rice syrup/raw honey
• Apples + PB
• Celery + PB
• Bananas + Nut Butter (peanut or almond butter)
• Drink an oz of NingXia Red to tide you over it has 19 amnio acids, beta carotene, EFA's, Vit C &E, plus B complex so it will boost your energy in the AM

When you are thinking about breakfast think about what fuels you. Ask yourself - How will I feel after I eat this? Try to use common sense when choosing something. Something that someone else loves eating and makes them feel good might not be right for you (I'm thinking waffles - I am not a fan). Try not to eat foods out of packages, but if you do try to select items with little sugar.

Every morning load up on water. Drink at least 8 oz of water to cleanse your body. Try squeezing half a lemon in your water to help your body continue to detox. If you are running out the door drink some water then eat and then have coffee if you so choose. Drinking coffee on an empty stomach can send your body over the edge and convince you that eating is unnecessary as you aren't feeling hungry after you drink it. Don't be fooled into this game. What you are really doing is sabotaging your metabolism.

Share your thoughts and ideas on this topic! Share your super simple breakfast ideas with us.