Lunch Spider

Today I had a lunch date with my favorite ninja fairy princess, at her very favorite place, JuiceLand.

Sadly, JuiceLand has removed the kids' play area that used to grace their patio, to make room for more seating. Olivia was bummed. But then she spotted a rubber spider laying on one of the tables, an attempt at minimalist Halloween decorating perhaps, and we had some fun with that.

Olivia got her usual orange-peach Clementine smoothie, I got an all-veggie Fountain juice, and we also shared a coconut-mango-chia parfait and some sour cream and onion kale chips.

For dinner we had Creamy 15-Minute Vegan Fettucine from Plant-Powered Families, with a side of garlicky roasted broccoli. It is a small miracle when Jackson and Olivia both love the same meal, but they both asked for seconds of this.

Summer So Far

Summer vacation is chugging right along. It is going great. Here are some random moments so far. Olivia was able to change out her earrings for the first time since getting her ears pierced. She was adamant about wanting "taco earrings." Thank you, Etsy.

Olivia is into making paper outfits for her dolls. Jackson is into drawing ingenious robot monsters, like Mechanical Werewolf here.

Juiceland lunch! We tried their raw coconut chia pudding for the first time. Chocolaty, rich and creamy.

Juiceland has my favorite floral, star jasmine, growing on their patio. Of course they do. Like I need one more reason to hang out there.

The very first garden harvest. Some serranos and banana peppers and one wee cherry tomato.

Lots of basil!

Taking a walk around our neighborhood pond, Mills Pond.

Duck friends.

Practicing sugar cookie decorating with mixed results.

Cherry season is here!

Building trucks at Home Depot.

Showing off the finished project.

Whole Foods goodies. Daily Greens juice for a quick infusion of veggie vitamins. Kickin Kombucha...my first time trying this brand, I was hooked by The Greens flavor with all its beneficial ingredients (matcha, wheatgrass, spirulina, chlorella, and kelp!) Also, a four-pack of Skull and Cakebones cupcakes: two chocolate with vanilla-beet frosting, two carrot cake. Gone in a flash.

And now I mustache you a question. How is your summer going?

Kindergarten Roundup

A quick breakfast smoothie: blueberries, banana, spinach, spirulina, RAW chocolate protein powder.

Off to the elementary school for kindergarten roundup! An emotional time for this mama. While Jackson is my big boy, Olivia is my baby. Besides the fact that she is physically more petite than Jackson was at age five, and I can still easily pick her up and give her cuddles, she did not attend pre-K like he did. So, for the past five years, she has been my little shadow and companion, 24/7. 

But, she is so ready. She is ready to learn to read, she is ready to make new friends, she is ready to spread her (pink sparkly) wings and venture out into the world independently. 

After turning in all her paperwork at the school, we treated ourselves to lunch at her favorite, Juiceland.

For dinner I made two recipes from Vegan Richa. I had been meaning to make her Mozzarella Sticks forever, and they turned out awesome! Can't wait to have them again. The Potato Cauliflower Chickpea Salad was great too, with its sour cream and onion dressing.

A new pack of Play-doh colors is a great investment. For $6 the kids were busy and creative all afternoon.

"We're making pizza. Dad, what would you like on yours?"

Random Eats

Just some meals that were too good not to record for posterity.

Taco Fiesta Potato Crisps from Oh She Glows. Tony and I both love these savory little bites of potato, walnut "taco meat," cashew sour cream, and salsa.

Lunch at Juiceland with Olivia. She had the Clementine smoothie with OJ, mango and peach. I had a Ninja Bachelor Party juice with pineapple, celery, kale, parsley, spinach...and jalapeno!  I prefer my green juices to have a strong green flavor rather than a sweet, fruity flavor, and this one definitely fit the bill! I loved it. We also shared some sour cream and onion kale chips.

Green Bean Casserole Pizza from Bake and Destroy blog. I made this once before using a store-bought crust and I wanted to try it again with a homemade crust. This pizza is completely ridiculous and totally awesome.

Tony brought me lunch one day, a quinoa, wheatberry and Brussels sprout salad from North. I've never eaten at the restaurant but the salad was fantastic.

Remind me to buy more coloring books! They tear through 'em.

Holla Pain Yo

Today Olivia and I were out running errands as usual and we stopped in at Juiceland for some liquid refreshments. The mural out front reminds me of Tony and his love of hot peppers!

Olivia loves to play with the family of vegetable animals while we wait for our order to be made.

Olivia had her usual watermelon-peach combo. I got the daily special, the Wundershowzen, which is surely Elvis' favorite smoothie, with almond milk, banana, spinach, hemp, and peanut butter.

While we were out we picked up some locally made kimchi.

I put it to use at dinnertime. We had the Kimchi Black Rice with Asian Pear Salad from Salad Samurai. It was great, so many complex flavors and very hearty thanks to the edamame and baked tofu.

Raw Power

I've switched out my usual rolled oats for steel cut oats, since they're supposed to be better for you, less processed. They do require a slightly higher alertness level in the mornings. Can't microwave them, as they will bubble over and make a mess. So I spend five minutes over the stove, whisking them. Then I stir in flax meal, maca, mesquite powder, peanut butter, and cacao nibs.

Olivia was a good sport about accompanying me on a boring errand (oil change that ended up taking an hour since I needed a belt replaced), so afterwards we treated ourselves to lunch at JuiceLand. She had a banana smoothie, while I tried the raw hot chocolate. It's made with cacao, almonds, coconut oil, vanilla and agave, and it's phenomenal. I'll be hooked on these all winter! We also shared a bag of Just Pure Foods raw onion rings.

Olivia and I both couldn't get enough of the onion rings! We quickly polished off the bag. The only bad part is -- holy onion breath! Good thing I had some gum in my purse!

Olivia always enjoys playing on the covered patio. It's a nice quiet place to chill and let her play.

After finishing her smoothie, she turned into a wild climbing monkey! She was full of raw power.

I had to take a pic of this drawing in the restroom. We have all been there.

For dinner I made a double batch of Appetite for Reduction's 40 Clove Chickpeas and Broccoli. We just had this a week or so ago, but it's so awesome, I want it all the time now.

You can never go wrong with some Iggy. (The original, not Azalea! Ha!)

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.

JuiceLand @ Spiderhouse Cafe

Another morning was spent having fun at the splash pad. 

Olivia loves the water. She stays in for so long that the skin on her fingers and toes get all shriveled.

Jackson prefers to take a quick dip, then move on to the playground.

Afterwards, we visited a place called Spiderhouse Cafe for the first time, were we were welcomed by a half-girl, half-griffin sculpture. This clues you in to what the Spiderhouse's decor will be like.

There was kitschy art and random junk displayed everywhere. I loved it. It's very eclectic and very "Austin." 

Two pianos...why not.

Even the bathroom mirror was decorated.

The little boy peeing into a bathtub was Jackson and Olivia's hands-down favorite. Naturally.

We ordered smoothies from the JuiceLand annex. Spiderhouse serves its own food, mostly sandwiches and breakfast tacos, but there are several little food counters and shops set up on the grounds, offering a variety of dining options. Besides JuiceLand, I noticed a creperie, a Japanese takoyaki bus, a t-shirt shop, and I believe there was even a tattoo parlor.

The kids both requested "strawberry" smoothies. I got Jackson a Home Run with strawberry, banana and apple juice. Olivia had a Berry White, with strawberry, raspberry and pineapple juice. I went with the Vegetable Kingdom, pictured below: carrot, beet, spinach, lemon, mango, cherry, spirulina, apple juice. 

And there's Olivia in the background, still hypnotized by the urinating marble toddler.