Sakara Detox II Program Adventure

Sakara Detox Adventure

For so long I have wanted to try a Sakara program, much like Ariel I wanted to be a part of Whitney and Danielle's world. I wanted to walk in their shoes and hopefully feel the benefits of Sakara nutrient rich foods. As far as detox programs go, it was a little pricey but I really felt that you received a lot for your money and after much pleading I talked Craig into letting me try the Sakara Detox II Program.

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So what drove this land mermaid to try a detox, besides the lure of Sakara glowing skin, well curiosity and a long struggle with loving my own body. As simple as that statement may be there are many layers to that onion. To keep it brief I have never felt comfortable in my own skin, be it physically or mentally. Anxiety and depression is a part of who I am and often its led to my own downfall. So I wanted to see what would happen if I tried to reboot my body, reset my habits. Would it help out my mind...my sleep, my SELF. Either way I needed to push my body and Sakara was a start!

When I saw their white box sitting on my porch I could not wait to open it! As I peeled off the tape a glowing light appeared and angels sang out...okay not really but I couldn't have been more excited. Each meal was boxed up and labeled for each day. Perfectly portioned out. Plus some light Sakara reading to better help understand the detox process.

Day 1-3 and 5 included a whole-food breakfast, lunch and a medicinal broth dinner. Plus digestive tea, a kefir coconut drink, detox and beauty water concentrates and daily supplements. Day 4 is soup day, including (you got it) soup and greens detox blends.

Each piece to this detox puzzle had been thought over. So many details to enrich your body. I have never detoxed before so I knew it would be a challenge. I was not afraid of the food, as I already don't eat meat but I was concerned about giving up sweets. My usual day consists of light snacking instead of big meals, I found that this worked best.

For first-timers Sakara mavens added a dry brush, for sweeping away the old you each morning and night. Dry brushing was kind of magical and actually made me think less about my anxiety picking compulsion. My skin was a part of this detox and it needed to be healed. 

Day one: 

For the first day of detox I started off with a High Fitness class at 6:00 am. I knew that detoxing might make me sluggish so I wanted to start off strong! After class I savored my first beauty water and morning supplements while packing for work. The Sakara lined tote was perfect for taking my meals to work. Breakfast was a lovely Root Veggie Detox. 

Could have been because it was my first Sakara meal, but I really loved the black beans and sweet potato! It seemed strange to eat such a rich proper meal but with each bite I was more and more satisfied. After breakfast my snack was to be digestive tea. Honestly...it tasted horrible but I kept at it ha ha ha! It was nice to have something warm to drink while dreaming of my go-to snack of almonds and Lara Bites.

Lunch was a Nori Wrap with Super-Food Wasabi for dipping. I didn't like the wrap as much and saved the wasabi for Craig. I don't enjoy the burn lol! It may have been the mushrooms or nori that got me but I ate as much as I could. Lunch came with a light salad and tangy sauce that I used with my wrap instead.

After some more tea, to tide me over I got to enjoy a Probiotic Coconut Kefir drink. The kefir boost was a dream after not having anything sweet all day. Even if it was really coconut water it had the tiny bit of sweet I was looking for and it was pretty refreshing as well. I was a little sad when it was gone!

Dinner was a Medicinal Broth. This was the scientifically designed Sakara component that I was most curious about. As instructed I heated up the broth and began sipping. It was much more enjoyable and filling than I thought it would be and felt like something my mom or a witch would stir up to help me feel better.

The day concluded with detox water, supplements and a dry brushing. I was introduced to the beauty and detox concentrates awhile ago but they remain one of my favorite wellness weapons. So simple yet effective. A few drops of beauty concentrate in the morning, a few detox at night in your water. Essential for travel as well! Sipping a glass of green chlorophyll water before bed felt cleansing and mentally I felt that it was preparing my body for rest.

Day Two:

Much like the day before, minus the High Fitness, I brushed away my sleepy skin, rinsed off and prepped for the day ahead. Breakfast was a Deep Forest Detox. The fennel and burdock root was different and tasty, it powered me through the day. I loved how there was a real richness and flavor to these seemingly simple ingredients!

Breakfast was interesting on day two, I fully enjoyed it but my stomach was done with strange food by the time lunch rolled around. I chose to have my teas and kefir boost instead. I hope that was okay to do? Plus since I had lunch at home, I could heat and plate it properly, as all Sakara dishes deserve! Lunch was more enjoyable than the previous day, sorry ladies, but my taste buds preferred these Falafels and Lemon Herb Pesto! Yum! 

  

Day three:

Waking up on day three I felt good and started to get used to dry brushing. It helped shed the old me, creating a stronger yet currently lethargic self. I drank my beauty water thoughtfully and prepped breakfast which was a Magic Mushroom Detox! I really enjoyed this meal. The taro-root mash and Chinese broccoli was delicious, I wanted more of it! 

But I still felt a pull toward chocolate he he! It was kind of funny taking notice of how many times I swung my chair around to where my snacks would have been LOL!

Lunch was equally yummy! Sakara prepared Purifying Cabbage Dumplings and Broth. I went home during my lunch to warm up this meal and tried to really enjoy each bite. The broth was a little too gingery for me but it was a nice touch with the dumplings.

Such a good lunch helped me through the rest of the work day and I was able to hold out on my kefir boost until I got home. Good thing too...evil work people brought in pastries!

 

That night for my Medicinal Broth I took the Sakara mavens advice and after heating up the broth I blended it. This made it a bit more frothy and complete. 

Thanks guys!

I sat back and enjoyed dinner contemplating the detox so far. I was more tired than normal, I could feel a difference. My body was definitely processing the detox...and it was a bit confused. I was still feeling a bloated too, so I consulted Annie with Sakara and she gave me a pep talk. She said all of those feelings were normal and to stick with the program! I had to remind myself that this wasn't a weight loss program, it was a body reset. A way to reduce bloating sure but also changing the way I look at food. Annie was so supportive!

Day Four: Soup day on a plane!

I felt like an idiot at first, thinking that the last detox day was Saturday. But I took this as an opportunity to push myself. Only being able to have liquids on a travel day was a blessing in disguise, saved us money and my tummy from buying packaged processed airport food and I got to get creative about taking liquids on the plane. I felt like a little clean food addict...sipping my little 3.5 oz bottles, savoring the coconut. I did bring some Sakara detox bars and a few Lara Bites just in case! Craig still got himself a burger during our short layover as I pounded little bottles of Greens. The Greens were hard to swallow LOL! After the first few bottles I had to take breaks to prepare myself to drink the rest. I was not used to this level of clean smoothies. Their...um...results were effective as well LOL!!

The rest of Day 4(one more greens blend, the Carrot Ginger Soup and Medicinal Broth) had to be packed, along with Day 5 meals. They all fared well on the trip and the hotel helped me heat up my soups! So nice!

There is no easy way to say this but the carrot  ginger soup was intense! I made Craig try some and he had a hard time with it and that says a lot! I wanted the full detox effect so I ate as much as I could. But it was not fun.

That night we walked around New Orleans a bit before retiring to our room for dinner. I could smell the beignets...their warm sugary dough called to me....it was so hard to not give in. After the carrot soup, the Medicinal Broth for dinner was a DREAM! It was comforting and healing. Adding to that, night supplements and detox water and I was set for slumber.

 

Day Five:

 During the first four days I still felt a bit bloated and tired but when I woke up on Sunday I felt magical. I felt light and amazing! Sure I was on vacation but my body and mind really felt good. That Annie knew what she was talking about! This inspired me to keep going on my body journey! After beauty water and brushing I nibbled on squash frittata in bed like a queen ha ha ha. That was a special morning!

After breakfast my appetite was a bit gone at that point. Maybe my system wasn't really craving anything crazy? The funny thing about it was that I didn't mind and I didn't feel like I was missing out either. I even took my lunch salad and dinner on the road. My last Sakara lunch was a light Kale Salad. Perfect in it's simplicity. Saraka chefs really come up with some yummy dressings. I'll have to check out the Clean Boutique and see what options they have. Side note, the Sakara Clean Boutique has amazing snack! My favorites are the Super-food Granola and Dark Chocolate Cardamon Cookies!

My last Sakara dinner was a Macro Bowl with Japanese pumpkin! How cool! This dish was packed with so much flavor and included a light salad. I love that I got to try so many different combinations of plant based dishes. It really broadened my savory world! After dinner I followed the last steps... took my supplements, drank my green detox water and brushed my body down. Just like that the 5 Day Detox II was over and while this bittersweet window closed, it opened beautiful french doors...and that was inspiring!

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I learned a few things about myself in the process and gained a new perspective on food and health. I now know that if I eat quality food I will be more empowered through the day. For example, one surprising thing that happened (or really didn't happen) was that I did not get shaky between meals. I really expected it to happen...usually I eat a little throughout the day and I avoid that drop in blood sugar. It makes sense that Sakara's specialized meals would impact my body in this way. Obviously I have been doing something wrong in my nutrition ha ha ha! I have so much to learn!

On the physical side, I was proud of myself for sticking to the detox plan, especially with vacation looming and that made me so happy! I'm really happy that I got the chance to end the detox here in New Orleans and challenge myself! I wasn't feeling as anxious either. My skin did feel brighter and less blotchy, plus I felt sexy (see Frog Princess costume below). That was an added bonus!

 After the Detox: 
My body was craving healthy foods, so that was good. Sure I wanted a beignet but moving forward I took things slow. Our hotel gave us some complementary champagne which I did have but only a little. I wanted a change...I wanted to think of food differently and this program pushed me in that direction. I was now not only conscious of what I was putting into my body, but I felt good about it. Eating a leafy green salad was not a punishment and some of the guilt I held around food was gone. My body craved whole, nutrient rich foods. Honestly, yes I will always love chocolate but that OKAY. Everything in moderation.

Sakara helped me get more in touch with myself and it put me on a path toward change. 

Thanks for readin!

Xoxo Bunny

Get You Some Wings and Fly Away - True Blood Style

Howdy!
Guess who got a mini deep-fryer for Christmas! This lady!! Now I can properly make ANYTHING fried! Muahahaha! Which is kind of funny because we rarely eat fried food but it was one of those...I need this is my tiny kitchen items he he! Ok let's be honest...I knew it might elevate my beignet game and I was all for THAT! 

The True Blood Cookbook has a great recipe for wings and for a long time I had wanted to make fried chicken for Craig. The man deserves some meat!  
First thing was marinating the chicken in some Tabasco for about an hour, refrigerated of course. Then pouring in more veg oil than we would have thought into the fryer and letting it heat up to 350. While we waited for the oil to heat up, it was time to get the chicken ready. Mixed up the flour with some salt, pepper and garlic powder and then in a separate bowl whipped eggs and milk together.

Craig was helping me prepare the chicken legs and it wasn't until I took one of the little cold thighs into my hands that the realization hit me...I am not okay with this. Not to bring down the True Blood magic but my vegetarian nature was coming out and handling the chicken bits was so unappetizing. I've never been super picky about touching meat if it meant helping someone else. Other people eat meat and I have accepted that...so like a champ I battered those thighs....flour to egg to flour but after three I was done. It hurt my heart. Okay...back to the yummy.

Craig finished battering the rest of the legs/wings while I worked on the sauce! And nothing says southern comfort food like fried chicken with blue cheese sauce! This particular wing sauce included: crumbled blue cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, minced shallot and fresh lemon juice. 

It was fun plopping the chicken into the basket and letting it work it's magic. I could only dream of the beignets...fries...funnel-cakes....who knows! We let the chicken fry until golden brown, about 5 mins really. This little cooker is freakin amazing!

 Once cooled and drained of excess oil these babies were ready to serve. Obviously I have no idea what they tasted like but Craig likened them to a picnic in the park. They satisfied that need for fried meat and took him back to younger days, siting on a checkered blanket and scarfing on homemade chicken. The blue cheese sauce was a nice touch and definitely elevated their flavor.

Even though it was touch and go for me, I was really happy to try out my new fryer! It works wonderfully! I can't wait to try other recipes now that I have this new weapon in my kitchen arsenal he he!

Thanks for readin!

Love, Bunny

Blue Apron Love

Happy Friday!

While I have taken a small break from cooking/baking, I have been receiving scrumptious meals from Blue Apron. Each week I opened my door Monday morning to find a huge Blue Apron box. Inside the items are kept in insulated wrapping and on top of two huge ice blocks. All meat items are kept closest to the ice. The box contained three recipes for the week (which you can pick/swap on their website) and each item needed to prepare the meal. We mainly did vegetarian options and two that included fish. Craig always adds some more meat to his portion if needed. It was fun to match all of the ingredients together with their respected receipt card and then pick which to try first. I was always excited about the ones with cheese! he he

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I was working late the day after our boxes arrival and came home to a rich and flavorful home. Either driven by hunger, curiosity or love, Craig surprised me with our first Blue Apron meal. It was the sweetest thing! The Indonesian-Spiced Salmon was delicious. It's something that honestly I would have never tried. I didn't know if my tummy or taste buds would be able to handle it but they did. The flavor was light but well seasoned. The freekeh paired well with the salmon and was indeed sweet, spicy and sour!

The Fettuccine with beet, goat cheese and poppy seeds quickly made it's way to the top of my love list. The noodles were so deliciously homemade and the added beets and chard turned them pink! The addition of the veggies and cheese took this seemingly simple meal to another level! I must recreate this he he!

The Za'atar-Roasted Broccoli Salad was another dish I would have strayed from but was pleasantly surprised. I really liked the Fregola Sada paired with the broccoli. Plus the egg brought in more flavor and the roasted almonds a bit of crunch! Good call Blue Apron! 

With our last dish done we felt so accomplished, so adult. We had put meals together before but none so simple yet intricate LOL!  I love that Blue Apron comes with everything you need, even if you still have to chop, slice and season yourself, it's fun and teaches you to try new things. I wasn't really sure how some of these would taste...I am always weary when it comes to spices but was pleasantly surprised. Each ingredient combination worked perfectly. 

Unfortunetly Blue Apron is a bit pricey, at least for us, but we still have a few recipes to try this week! I can't wait to share! 

They have shown us a peek into the amazing flavors the world offers. I would definitely recommend! 

https://www.blueapron.com/pages/sample-recipes

Thanks! 

-Bunny

Sex on Safari

Tarzan is here! 

The movie surprised me...I liked it a lot more than I thought I would! Plus who doesn't love them some sexy Skarsgård! Margot Robbie was a great Jane and Christoph Waltz always plays the perfect villain! 

I was so excited to see the movie that it only seemed right to pair it with a new cocktail! So as Tarzan (John) belongs to the Jungle I also loved the way the movie chose to highlight the safari and the other creatures and tribes he loved and belonged to. 

Playing off of a recipe for Sex in the Jungle I used:

1 1/2 oz. Vodka

1 oz Rum

1 oz Midori

1 oz Lime Juice

3 oz Orange Juice

3 oz Pineapple Juice

This mix was sweet, thanks to the pineapple and a tad sour. I really liked how the different juices added some depth to this zesty cocktail. So refreshing!

For a Sex on Safari Sunrise add in 1 oz of grenadine and top with cherries! Such a perfect gradation of colors. Nice and sweet too. Yum!!

Ok...one more ab pic!! he he

Love, Bunny

Totally Surprised Birthday Cake

Howdy! 

I was missin True Blood somethin awful, plus I just got my new "Cake" dress in the mail so I thought how perfect!! Check out the link below to Amourdress. Now let's make a delicious cake to celebrate! 

In the True Blood Eats Drinks and Bites Cookbook there is a recipe for an awesome vanilla cake with lemon filling...OMG it was just begging to be made! This is the cake that Maryann, Karl and Eggs surprise Tara with for her birthday! Now I have never really made a cake from scratch...so it was a long process but completely worth it.

To start I made the lemon filling by combining the sugar, cornstarch and salt in a medium pan. I gradually stirred, bringing it to a boil over medium heat. After about a minute I removed the pan and stirred in the butter and lemon zest and gradually whisked in the lemon juice. Then set it aside to cool. I found that one good sized lemon made just enough juice and zest! After it had cooled I had a small taste and it was just like a lemon square...one of my favorite desserts!

Quickly I made the berry topping by slicing up strawberries and raspberries and sprinkling them with sugar. For the cake mix, I first preheated the oven to 350 degrees and greased/flowered two round pans. 

In my large mixing bowl I blended the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt then slowly added in the shortening, 2/3 cup of milk and vanilla. 

After mixing for about 2 minutes I added the remaining 1/3 cup of milk and the egg whites. Making sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl I mixed for a few more minutes and then the batter was ready to go into the pans! Jack was so interested but don't worry I didn't let him have any he he!

After pouring in the batter and placing the pans in the oven (for 30 mins) I started on the frosting. 

First I beat the egg whites until they formed soft peaks, then in a pan I heated up the sugar, corn syrup and water bringing it to a boil. Using a thermometer I made sure the mixture reached 242 degrees. Once it was ready I slowly poured it into the egg whites while the mixer was running. I kept mixing until the frosting held stiff peaks, then added in the vanilla! This frosting was probably the most difficult task in making this cake...we had some trouble with the sugar hardening but that's what this is for, to learn! I think I might have to try it again sometime he he.

After the cakes were done baking and had cooled I took one layer, flipped it, and spread the lemon filling on, almost to the outer edge. I placed the second layer, right-side up, on top of the filling. I took the frosting and started with the sides of the cake and moved to the top, evenly covering the cake. Once the frosting was on I added the yummy berries, letting their juices flow down the sides of the cake. 

The frosting was a bit melty he he! but it tasted so good! The cake itself was hardy and rich and definitely tasted home-made. The lemon filling was really tasty...the bit of tart helped to cut the sugary frosting, complimenting it. Absolutely the most perfect birthday cake...very much a good old-fashioned strawberry shortcake! I had to make myself stop eating it he he! SO GOOD!

My awesome dress is from Amourdress on Etsy: LINK

Thanks for readin!! 

Cheers, Bunny