The Big Apple!

There are really wayyy too many to name, however, I experienced some of the best music ever in NY. Jazz - Lenox lounge, Fat Kats, Smalls, Apple Jazz in Harlem. Reggae - Brooklyn! World music! Yeah!



There is a veggie buffet in Brooklyn that is the freshest food ever!

You haven't lived if you havent had the lemon pound cake at Apple jazz cafe in Harlem.



There is a Roti restaurant on near 129th and Adam Clayton Powell that is crazy good!

IM HAVIN A COLTRANE NITE

Im on my 8th day on the detox! WHEWHOOOO!!
I was pretty tired today. I decided to try my hand at cooking eggplant. I very quickly found out it is actually not as hard as I thought. Very simple actually, you cut it up, wash it, place in pan, add about a tablespoon of olive oil, onions to taste, and other veggies if desired, salt free seasoning, place top on pan and go get busy with something else, let simmer for about 15-20 minutes. YUMMY! I ate the entire pan in one day. I’m really not a pig, its just that when your only eating fruits and veggies and you find something you like, you love it.

I also went to a veggie place Saturday afternoon called kalachandjis, www.kalachandjis.com. I’d been there before, however, it was about 6 months ago. But when you’re eating nothing but veggies and fruit, you quickly learn how to become very creative with what you eat and also find good, delicious creative places to eat out to suit your diet. This was my first restaurant eating out since I’ve been on my fast, next was spiral dinner the very next day, however I actually didn’t find much at Spiral I could eat other than steamed veggies and salad, I can make that at home. They have a lot of “bready” dishes on their menu.
Actually the whole foods salad bar had a lot more options for me to eat other than Spiral diner :( Tues nite, I mixed some carrot ginger soup from WF, fresh Kale and roasted beets together and ate that for dinner. It was easy and tasty. I think I’m doing good on this detox. OMG! I can have chicken or fish tomorrow for the 1st time in 19 days!!! WHEWHOOOO!!! I so excited! What shall I eat????? Already thinking about it. I think I have dance rehearsal tomorrow nite, in which case, everything will be closed by the time I finish…………and, I wont be able to celebrate my 1st day of chicken.

Im trying out new fonts.

4/10/09 5:30pm

Ok, I totally forgot about Easter this weekend……...(eyes rolling). My mom is in town buying a new car and she will be here until Sunday am. I KNOW she’s going to want to do mother/daughter/girlfriend stuff….. I need to try my best to stay away from restaurants, family gatherings and outing!!! I’m on a fast dammit!! Especially my eatin friends. I had lunch out today. It went ok; I enjoyed a greek salad with a side of sautéed zucchini, yummy! Today is the 1st time I’ve eaten out all week. Im Still working with my energy levels being down, I think the no caffeine is tougher than the restricted diet. L:

My Detox Journey - 4/6/09

Today is the day before my 10 detox. I had great intention to cut back and start eating lite today. Ok, that didn’t happen, all I could do was think about the food I would be restricted to eat for 22 days. Soooooooo, I went to today around 1;30 to brunch and had an egg scramble, fresh fruit, and a variety of different breads at breadwinners café on McKinney. Later in the day I then headed to whole foods to get my favorite cake slice, which consists of a very delicious white cake with a very very lite, almost whip cream like, (but not whip cream cuz I hate whip cream icing) icing, with strawberries, blueberries and blackberries in the middle (OMG!) to eat at mag’s house. Omg, this cake is my favorite, thank you whole foods for making slices of this cake, cuz, If they made full cakes (which they probably do, I just refuse to look for it) I would soooo eat half of that dam cake with not problem. I’m soooooo glad I thought to have that cake before I detox. Then, later that evening, yes more food! after leaving mag’s house around 830 I stopped at popeys chicken and got a 2 piece and a biscuit and a sprite. Ok, I normally I don’t eat fried food or soda. I very rarely go to brunch because I’m usually at the gym around brunch time. Needless to say, I did nothing today but wake up at 12 and eat until 10…………yes, all day. Sad I know, but worth it for one day. I had such great plans to eat light today.

4/7/09 3:00pm

I woke up a bit tired this am due to no caffeine. Actually my dr didn’t say I couldn’t have caffeine, but I thought I’d go totally clean today after eating nothing but junk yesterday. I will have green tea later in the week with no agvae in it. But at least I will be getting some green tea. I had my protein shake and headed to the gym. After gym I had my lemon water and a very delicious salad with pears and blueberries. I’m moving a bit late on the lemon water, but, trying my best. After lunch I was too exhausted to do anything, so I laid down and rewarded myself (for eating the way I should be eating anyway) to a nice 1 ½ hr nap. After my nap I made myself a delicious smoothie with fresh strawberries, banana and my protein powder (here is where im getting my protein for the next two weeks). I also made me a homemade veggie soup with nothing but cabbage, French style green beans, celery, carrots; I am on my way to get tomatoes and will add a bit of corn probably. My dr said I could have any fruit or veggie I want, cooked or raw, so I’m assuming potatoes are included in that so I may get 1 small potato and add it. Oh yes, I also made myself a homemade salad dressing :)). I took a bag of mini carrots, 1 root of fresh ginger, 2 capfuls of apple cider vinegar with the mother, 1 apple and blended all that together, I guesstimated myself thru my ingredients, but it came out DELICIOUS!! Ok, why haven’t I been making my own carrot/ginger dressing!!! OMG! I so will now!

11:00 pm
I’ve just finished prepping and packaging all my veggies for the week, which takes a loooooooong time, depending on what veggies and fruit you buy. I chose to buy my fruits and veggies in non prepared cuz it’s cheaper. I went to Sams wholesale and bought, cabbage, green beans, carrots, strawberries, blueberries, tomatoes, watermelon and celery. My god, I think that was it……. I also made a simple veggie, sodium free soup. The soup consist of: Cabbage, French cut green beans, 1 large onion, spinach, 1 small sweet potato. Mrs. dash seasoning (it’s the best because it has no salt or sodium in it). Now rest…………… My homemade soup My frig after prepping all my veggies and fruit

4/8/09 – 10:55 pm - I’m still battling with being exhausted, I am barely getting up in the am. Again, I think its from not having any caffeine, although I made a cup of green tea this am and forgot it on my counter top and when I arrived at work, I was fine, totally not even thinking about the green tea. I’m still not sure if I can have green tea, but, if I want a cup of green tea, I’m gonna have it dammit!! I gotta draw the line somewhere. I didn’t write last nite, I got in too late and was too tired. my body is still getting used to not having any carbs, let me rephrase that, not having much carbs at all. Some, if not all fruit has carbs. So, I am getting some type of crabs, but just not the type that fills you up :/. I’ve lost 3lbs, but its just water. Nothing significant. I’m going to give the scale a break for a few days and not weigh again until Sunday. I’ve had to reduce my cardio at bit, just slightly. I’m actually still trying to continue my cardio routine. I’ve not yet got up before work and worked out, however, I’ve been going after work. I aspire to change that starting in tomorrow. I’m going to put this out in the universe right now…….. I’m going to get up in the am and do the cycling class. I love working out in the am, you get your workout out the way, I hate to say it like that, but you do. You don’t have to worry about it anymore unless you want to do more. I do, I usually have a Pilates, spin, yoga, or dance class in the pm. I try to keep my pm classes’ low cardio, with the hope that working out wont keep me up at nite. So far, I see no changes in my body frame……….the same. Surprisingly my taste buds are changing. Tonight I had brussel sprouts with an organic sodium free tomato chutney with a big salad (with avocado!! I’m not sure if avocado is on my list to eat, but, hey he said any veggie or fruit and avocado is very filling) and a tiny bit of red pepper dressing drizzled on top, mixed with my homemade carrot ginger dressing. It was yummy! And I’m actually full and satisfied. I need to get my lunches together, I’m finding that im getting hungry about 2 hrs after lunch and needing a good snack. But I’ve been snacking on fruit. I’m learning more about my taste buds and likes everyday, I’m assuming this is how parenthood is………..everyday is a adventure. Overall, I think I’m going to make it thru the week (thank god for the cheat day Sunday :)………….. Ill see what tomorrow brings l:

I LOVE shoes!

I could eat nothing but Caribbean food for a year.........ok, and maybe sneak in some pasta.....

Afro-Caribbean Food Stall

Caribbean food

Reading 'Eat, Pray, Love' opened my eyes

What a great time in my life to have this book enter into my life.

Tells the story of real life events in a humorous way. Divorce, depression, lust, emptiness, self journey with spiritualness and then of course love. I cried when the author cried, laugh when she laughed.