HEARTY CHOCOLATE OAT SMOOTHIE

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First bevvy post of 2019! It’s a gooooooood one, friends. I enjoy VERY thick smoothies and after drinking freezing cold shakes with a ton of ice in them (or upwards of 2 whole frozen bananas lol), I eventually figured out that you can use a scoop of oats and it gets just as thick, but it’s also not like eating a snow cone. I know that in Ayurveda and other health traditions, cold and raw foods are a no-no in the Winter, but I just can’t seem to give them up! I love big living salads, fresh juices, and of course smoothies all year. If my body craves it, why deny it right? I feel like adding the oats is my attempt at meeting in the middle, so let’s just go with that. It makes the smoothie super filling too. Of course I made it chocolate-y and of course I gave you a load of options for customizing. Get this hearty chocolate oat smoothie in your life!

I am very excited for a calm weekend of absolutely NOTHING. Haven’t had one of those in a bit, and I really feel like I need it. We’re gonna drop off a bunch of clothes and household things we’re getting rid of to donation centres. I’m going to finally take down my outdoor holiday decor even though I still think it’s beautiful and would keep it forever if I could. We’ll take the dogs for some long hikes (and they’ll probably still be so hype when we get home). I’m going to test some blog recipes and maybe make some pizza too. Laundry, reading, sweatpants, nice long baths, snuggling by the fire. Can’t. Freakin’. Wait. Hope you all have a great weekend! Here’s some links to check out if you’re bored :)

The Portland Trailblazers drink a highly precise version of bulletproof coffee on game days. NBA stars! They’re just like us :D I have an excellent vegan bulletproof coffee right HERE.

Beyonce and Jay-Z are doing it. Have you thought about trying Veganuary yet? :)

How badly do I wanna try this LED light therapy acne mask? Pretty badly!

What causes salt and sugar cravings?

Personally, when I enjoy things with sugar, I really enjoy them. I’ve even cut down on things like maple syrup and coconut sugar in the last year or so (I mean it’s all sugar to the body, right?). This NYT piece on how to stop eating the sweet stuff is thorough for anyone else with this on their mind.

Courses on how to be a successful influencer/blogger run rampant this time of year. I’ve never taken something like this, but feedback that I get from others is that the courses are either amazing or a total rip off. This particular one profiled by The Cut sounds disastrous, opportunistic, and honestly anything that has a whiff of multi-level marketing makes me cringe. This kind of stuff riles me up because pitching the idea that you can grow your following, quit your day job, and travel the world doing whatever you want–of course this would appeal to pretty much anyone. Why wouldn’t you hand over your hard earned money for implied total economic and lifestyle freedom? I’m a bit curmudgeonly, but man, please be wary of these self-deigned experts! Most of this stuff can be googled and surmised by way of observation *shrug*.

More on multi-level/pyramid marketing scams on my new fave podcast The Dream. I get enraged listening to it, but it’s a productive kind of rage lol.

“A red-robed monk effortlessly leapt up and shattered the backboard.”

When a 15 year old condemns the world’s inaction on climate change: “You are not mature enough to tell it like it is. Even that burden you leave to your children.”

In stuff you probably already knew: “…scientists warned that huge reductions in meat eating are required if the world is to stave off dangerous climate change, with beef consumption in western countries needing to drop by 90%, replaced by five times more beans and pulses.”

Same climate warnings, different packaging from Bloomberg: “Ultimately, if people worldwide who heavily rely on meat switch to a more plant-based diet, they could potentially decrease food-related greenhouse-gas emissions by almost half by 2050.”

My Canadian queen of song Celine Dion going OFF at Lady Gaga’s Vegas show. I love them both, always and forever.

Cannot wait to start reading Circe! Of course, Gwyneth’s Paltrow’s new cookbook is at the top of my list too. What books have you been enjoying lately?

An otter rubbing its face for your daily dose of cuteness.

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HEARTY CHOCOLATE OAT SMOOTHIE RECIPE
Print the recipe here!
SERVES: 1
NOTES: Feel free to add a pitted medjool date to this mix if you prefer your smoothies a bit sweeter!
-Other additions that are great in this smoothie: your favourite chocolate-flavoured protein powder (Sprout Living’s Epic Protein is my absolute favourite!), handful of mild greens like baby spinach, chia seeds (1 teaspoon), even a handful of an alternative smoothie thickener like frozen zucchini or cauliflower is amazing. Chocolate fixes all!

1 cup non-dairy milk
¼ cup rolled oats
2 tablespoons almond butter (or other nut/seed butter)
1 ½ tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon flax seeds
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large ripe banana, preferably frozen
pinch of sea salt
pinch of cinnamon
handful of ice, optional

In an upright blender, combine the non-dairy milk, oats, almond butter, cocoa powder, flax seeds, vanilla, banana, salt, cinnamon, and ice (if using). Put the lid on and bring the blender speed up to high. Blend until the smoothie is totally smooth and frothy. Enjoy immediately!