Toy Joy

Started the day with a green smoothie: banana, cherries, kale, raw vanilla protein powder, almond butter, maca, and spirulina, topped with raw chocolate granola. This was too much food. I guess nut butters are overload when you're already using protein powder. I'm a smoothie novice, still learning.

Our outing for the day was the grand re-opening of Toy Joy, a wacky toy store/novelty shop downtown.  Kid paradise. I couldn't get any quality pictures because Jackson and Olivia were in constant motion.

Back home, Elsa and Anna had a classy high tea with Olivia's new tea set.

I made individual pizzas. I need to do this more often! Everyone gets the toppings they want.

On mine: marinara, roasted garlic, artichoke hearts, black olives, fresh basil, and pepperoncini. I really need to do this more often.

Lavenderlicious

This afternoon after working up a sweat at the park, I treated the kids and myself to vegan ice cream at Sweet Ritual. Jackson and Olivia both ordered the same thing, a mint chocolate chip "monkey cone" (served upside-down in a bowl).

I was excited to try the lavender white chocolate chip flavor. I have a thing for culinary lavender, and its flavor was so strong in this rich ice cream. Isn't it pretty, with the tiny purple specks?

Afterwards, we stopped at HEB to pick up a few things. They have introduced a bunch of new organic items recently. I picked up some organic coconut oil, and I also used a coupon for a free bag of organic granola.

The kids also talked me into buying a seedless watermelon, which they polished off in one evening.

I had a couple slices of watermelon and sipped on my homemade kombucha. I tried to give this batch a mango lassi flavor by adding cardamom and pureed mango. It's fine, but the mango flavor isn't very strong. I think I may have better luck using a mango nectar.

Cooking Out

Today we invited my parents over for a cookout. Tony is always happy to fire up the grill.  He made various meats for them, but here is my veggie plate: grilled marinated portabello burger, corn on the cob, and salad with goddess dressing.

I made a batch of Thai basil lemonade. I just blended a handful of the herbs with the lemonade, then strained them out.

For dessert I made the Chocolate Zucchini Bundt Cake from Isa Does It.  I got a bundt pan for $3 so I had to try it out! The cake was wonderful, very moist. The chocolate ganache was a little too runny, though. I should've only added milk as needed, not the full amount. It mostly soaked into the cake. 

Jackson, proud of his cup stacking skillz.

Thinkery Fun

Another smoothie in a bowl this morning with frozen mango and banana, almond milk, a handful of kale, spirulina, and raw chocolate granola.

We spent the day at the Thinkery, doing some sciencing.

There's so much to do, and the kids are drawn to different areas each time we go. Today it was the machine that dribbles out hot wax, allowing you to make flat sculptures with it.

"T-Rex's Ghost" was Jackson's title for his creation.

"I made an L," Olivia added.

It was warm enough to enjoy the outdoor play area. We could not figure out what these green circles were. Turtle shells was our guess.

Back inside to cook up something good.

Taking a break for real-life nourishment.

We finished off with a visit to the lab, where we learned to play video games using fruit.

Each piece of fruit was a directional key. I can't explain it but it was cool!

For dinner I made quinoa bowls with steamed kale, tempeh bacon, sauerkraut made by Tony's coworker, and a dressing I threw together with tahini, mustard, smoked paprika and a few other things I can't recall.

Have a lovely weekend!

Solo Skaters

I've done it you guys...I've stopped eating cereal for breakfast most days. This was a small goal of mine, to have a less processed meal to start my day.  (I still eat cereal a couple of days a week, because I love cereal!) Today's smoothie in a bowl -- frozen bananas, almond milk, chia powder, raw chocolate protein powder, and peanut butter, topped with raw chocolate granola -- was basically a dessert. But at least it wasn't cereal. Haha!

This afternoon we got our skate on and we had the rink all to ourselves for a short time, as we arrived right when they opened.

Both kids are doing great at skating unassisted. Since receiving roller skates of their own, they practice around the house.

Dinner was Tempeh Giardino from Isa Does It, served over polenta. I loved the summery Italian flavors of this dish, made with fresh tomatoes and plenty of basil.

Sushi Lunch

The other day we treated ourselves to lunch at Kome. Tony and I loved our romantic dinner there and it was about time to return! We started off with edamame and tsukemono (pickled veggies.)

Kome has a great selection of veggie rolls. I ordered the Earth, Wind and Fire roll which included jalapeno and sunflower seeds, and also a basic vegetable roll. Both were enormous! There was no way I could eat them with chopsticks, without them falling apart.

My boys enjoying their lunch. I just liked the backdrop.

After lunch, Tony went home to mow the lawn and I took the kids to a birthday party for one of their little friends. Jackson really got into the band's music.

Olivia, too.

Pease Park and JuiceLand

We spent the morning at Pease Park. I've always felt stupid when I go to Pease Park because I get lost and drive around the neighborhood forever. Today I finally realized it's because Google Maps has been telling me the wrong exit. I felt like freaking Sherlock Holmes when I figured this out. I'm onto you now, Google Maps! 

Jackson and Olivia are getting good at pumping their legs and swinging without too much assistance.

Swinging works up quite a thirst (please don't take that out of context), so we decided on a liquid lunch at JuiceLand.  Clockwise from bottom left: Olivia's Clementine with orange juice, mango and peach; my Vegetable Kingdom with apple juice, beets, carrot, spinach, lemon, cherry and spirulina; and Jackson's Hydrator with watermelon, peach and lemon. We also shared a raw chocolate truffle, raspberry-rose flavor.

I love this particular JuiceLand location because of its sweet little covered patio, complete with play area.

Making their own "smoothies" in the play kitchen.