Sprouts Farmer's Market - Heights Grand Opening Day

Sprouts Farmer's Market Heights is now open for bidness as of wednesday, march 11th!  i planned on being one of the first 200 shoppers at 7am to get 20% off my entire basket...and then i woke up. i wanted Frick and Frack to come with me so that we could all enjoy the grand opening samples and experience together, so i chose to go get my solo, early workout in instead. i posted this still shot via IG,

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but here's the vid so you can incorporate this med ball move that works your core into your leg routine too.

[wpvideo GWl0lc1G]

i'm so glad i chose to hit the gym cause i had no chance of going the rest of the day. that's usually how my days go though!  anyway, we met my mom and aunt there that gloomy day,

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and we had a good ol' time shoppin'

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and snackin'.

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a ton.

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of course i'll try some So Delicious strawberry dairy-free ice cream.

i have always loved the size of SFM.

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it's just right. neither overwhelming nor cramped.

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a sales associate saw how much we loved these roasted and salted okra chips (we kept going back for more samples) so she brought this over to me lol!  i put them back though as i would have finished the entire thing in the car on the way home.

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trying not to overdo it and get stuck in the matrix, i.e., that infamous bulk aisle.

almost done! what exactly did i bring home? check out the VLOG and seeee:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCCXitoqmnI]

a few of my faves:

YumEarth Organic Gummy Bears

Lisanatti Almond Cheese

Annie's Naturals Organic Dressings

La Tortilla Factory Tortillas

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i was looking for the new Arctic Zero flavors and i found'em!  just not key lime pie though:( they are 75 cals per serving and 300 cals per pint. love. this. stuff.  their new chunky pint flavors are fat-free, low glycemic, gluten-free, nut-free, GMO-free, and lactose-free.

here's that baby food recipe for ya:

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Maple Cinnamon Papplesauce (Pear + Apple = Papple ;) )

the stuff:

• 3 opal apples
• 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
• juice of 1/2 a lemon
• 2 tbsp water
• 2 tsp cinnamon

do this:

1.  peel, core, and chop apples preferably the same size so that they cook evenly
2. add all ingredients to your sauce pan set to medium high heat and coated with no stick cooking spray
3. saute apples until tender, about 5-7 minutes or until super soft to the touch. keep covered, but stir every so often
4. transfer mixture to your blender or food processor and blend until super-duper smooth

Q: what do you love about SFM? what do you buy there? what would you change?

le

oatmeal chocolate chip birthday cakes!!! - bday post

this year, my birthday fell on a monday. YIPPEEEEE :?

so Sonny started celebrating early (like i had hoped).  immediately after church service, we went to get our rings cleaned.

i promise we're only in our thirties. lol.  Chiso saw us placing our hands strategically on the display case for this pic and wanted part of the action.

over time, i have come to the realization that i'm a hint thrower.  what a lucky guy Sonny is.  rarely does one go over his head though, i gotta give it to him.  i forwarded him a Ruggles Green brunch email i received a few weeks earlier, you know, randomly.  high-five, Sonny.  high-five.

so that was our next stop.  only the Heights location serves breakfast / brunch in Houston, and i had been eager to check it out for months.  i chose the delish crab & avocado omelette and Sonny played it safe with the breakfast plate (sausage, pancakes, eggs, potatoes).  Chiso handled up on his turkey sausage, scrambled eggs, and pancakes too.  we love us some eggs.

the next day, my actual birthday, Sonny got up and rushed off to work like normal, so i hit the gym early, like normal.

but not before making this gorgeous stack of oatmeal pancakes! with the start of my cooking classes, blogging took a small backseat. obvi. but i believe i have a routine going now with my schedule. *crosses fingers, toes, and eyes*.  here's that recipe:

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Pancakes 

the stuff: (source)

• 3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/4 cup dry rolled oats
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (add more if needed- you be the thickness judge)
• 2 packets granulated stevia
• 1 tbsp agave nectar or honey (optional)
• dash of sea salt
• 1 tbsp melted coconut oil
• handful of dark chocolate chips

do this:

1. mix all ingredients except chocolate chips together in a large mixing bowl.
2. if ya need more almond milk at this point, add it a tbsp at a time.
3. heat your griddle or cast iron / no-stick skillet to medium heat and coat with no-stick cooking spray.
4. spoon the cakes onto your cooking device as large or as small as you'd like them.  when bubbles start to form on top, check the bottom of the cake to see how brown it is first before flipping.
5. you're looking for a golden brown color (bout 2-4 minutes).
6. eat'em up. sprinkles are optional but mandatory if it's your birthday.

or, you can do blueberries instead of chocolate chips!

 back to the birthday festivities.

little did i know that Sonny went right down the street to his mom's house to hide out.

i took a Barbell Strength class and worked my back a little more on my own in addition to some steady-state cardio on the elliptical. suddenly, i got a 'lunch?' text from Sonny, so i said 'screw this!' and sped home to get cleaned up.

 i opened the door and walked right into .. Sonny!?, fit gifts, and cake.

and a birthday song serenade from my boys!

 just one small piece before lunch.

   Sonny shocked our palettes and drove us to an Indian inspired restaurant in Upper Kirby called Ponidicheri.  he didn't know it was 'meatless monday' though lol. tasty  nonetheless and i appreciate the experience.

i got the Saag Paneer Omelette, Barley Salad, a piece of gluten-free, millet Roti, and one of their fresh, housemade juices, the Hari.

 Sonny got an omelette too.  They didn't really have a kids menu, but the guy taking orders suggested this concoction.  can you guess which two Chiso ate? yep, the fries and the Elephant Cookie.

i got a birthday nap back at home (YAAAAAY for daytime sleep) and we went back out for dinner that evening.  i was actually still full from lunch but went anyway just cause it was my bday and already on the agenda.

my cups runneth over :shock: ! literally and figuratively.  we concluded the evening with Italian food and Neapolitan gelato from Sapore Ristorante, right in our own backyard.  which was awesome cause i had to be up at 4:15am  to teach my class the next day.

i feel like i'm at the age where i forget what i'm even turning and that my birthday is even coming up.  thankful to God for another year though, no doubt, and for Sonny's impeccable planning skills year after year.

THANK YOU to my family and friends for the calls, texts, cards, gifts, and birthday wishes!!!!!!

and thank you for reading.

le