Day 1: easy peasy light and breezy

Homemade Pumpkin Ice Cream

You guys.

On a scale of 1 to awesomeness...today was so so good.

I don't think I've ever been so excited to make such a significant change in my life.

Minus Andrew and Elle because that was easy...somehow Love just makes new things a breeze.

So when I tell you how much I love chips and salsa or Tillamook ice cream, you should know that when I thought about beginning this journey I imagined myself crying outside of Kneaders or something.

And although I don't "love" the idea of shunning a few of my favorite things, the idea of feeling really, really great for the rest of my life just seemed too good to pass up.  This is me learning to sacrifice good things for great things.

I'm ready.

I went to Sprouts (formerly Sunflower Market) to pick up the essentials.

They always have great produce and it's better than a bigger chain and cheaper than a smaller grocery store.  I heart that place.

If you were to take a gander at my cart this is what you'd find..

-Berries
-Tomatoes
-Alfalfa Sprouts
-Raw Almond Butter
-lots of veggies
-Organic Butter
-Almond Milk
-Peaches
-Agave Nectar

-Sprouted Wheat bread
-Almonds
-this and that

Lucky for me, I have the kind of husband who knows that support is crucial to being successful with such a big change in lifestyle.

So he bought me this!

And I can't even begin to tell you how awesome this has made my life. Within the last five hours at least..

It's a dream come true.

All I had to eat this morning was an apple..mostly because I wasn't really hungry and also I wasn't a hundred percent sure what I could eat other than fruits and veggies.

So I made myself a snack of toast with raw almond butter and fresh peaches with cinnamon.

It was even better than I imagined. The peach was perfection.

Seriously it was bomb.

For dinner I made Tortilla Soup..minus the tortilla. Maybe you're just supposed to imagine the tortilla is there.

Tortilla Soup:

2 C. warm water

2 roma tomatoes

1/2 large carrot (I used four snack size carrots)

3 mini red pepper or 1/4 slice of a regular size pepper

1/4 avocado

1 onion wedge

3/4 tsp. sea salt

3/4 tsp. garlic powder

3/4 tsp. onion powder

1/2 tsp. cumin

1/2 tsp. chili powder

1/4 tsp. garlic salt

Blend together! Add lime juice to taste. Add corn and slices of avocado if desired.

 

  

Delicious and sooo easy. Ellie loved it. Seriously she kept asking for more.

And finally, because Fall is the most wonderful time of the year, I decided to make some Pumpkin ice cream.

It was literally the best ice cream I've had in a long time. No refined sugars. No fillers. Nothing but pumpkin-y goodness!

Pumpkin Ice Cream:  

3/4 C. unsweetened chocolate almond milk 

1/8-1/4 C. raw agave nectar
1 med. banana
1 1/2 tbs. vanilla extract
3 C. ice
1/2 C. pure pumpkin puree
1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

Blend together (any blender will do) and then try not to eat the whole thing in one day. Ellie and I shared some and it made so much that I put the rest in the freezer for another day when I'm craving something sweet.

I feel:
Pretty great. No really I do. Surprisingly I've had a lot of energy today and I don't feel hungry or deprived. One friend who just went Vegan reminded me the other day to focus on what I'm "adding" to my diet and my life instead of what I'm taking away.  Brilliant advice. 

There is a lot of satisfaction that comes from finally doing something that you know is good for you. Deciding to do it was actually much harder than the actual process. 

Tomorrow should be challenging though..I'm at school for 12 hours and I'm definitely a social eater. Mind over matter mind over matter mind over matter. My plan is to be prepared, have back up plans, and stay positive when people find out what I'm doing and make discouraging remarks. 

It's cool. I got this.