I woke up this morning after a gloriously deep and restful sleep and shuffled into the kitchen for a scrumptious and filling green smoothie. After taking a few glugs this is what I saw:
This beauty has got a bunch of spinach, a banana, a dollop of peanut butter, a swig of soy milk and lots of water and frozen berries. My favorite way to start the day.
After spending the morning working on an article examining the unfortunately often overlooked but absolutely necessary relationship between feminism and veganism I headed off to the gym. I spent 30 minutes on the summit climber and another 30 minutes on the elliptical. An hour of cardio later I headed home where I saw this:
This wall of foliage is right inside my front yard, as soon as you walk in the door, isn’t it gorgeous? Most of Saudi Arabia is barren and bleak but on our compound the company pays big bucks to keep everything lush and green. How lucky are we?
After my scorching workout at the gym I was hankering for a fun snacky lunch so I got into the kitchen where I saw this:
These three pitiful faces stare me down anytime I’m in the kitchen, and since I love to cook and have my own bakery, you can imagine that I spend a lot of time in there getting guilted into giving my loves lots of treats. In this household, however, treats are good for you. Their favorite snack is baby carrots!
After fending off the scavenging horde I finished making my lunch and sat down to eat.
Yummy! A bunch of sliced zucchini and bell pepper with a big dollop of Kristen’s Raw Tuscan Sun Dried Tomato Pesto and a small pile of spicy cashews with an orange for dessert!After that snackfest I still wasn’t satisfied so I steamed up a bit of broccoli and topped it with nooch. And done!
After lunch I needed to fill some bakery orders so I headed back into the kitchen where I saw:
Aren’t those the most glamorous fudge cupcakes you’ve ever seen!?!
After a bit of baking I headed off to the stables to visit my sweet boy Ender.
The private stables (only for Aramco employees and their families) here on our compound are my favorite stables ever. We are so lucky! I pay a fraction of what I would pay in Europe or in the US and the facilities are miles better, the service is impeccable (each horse has their own round the clock groom!), the riding instructors are brilliant, and the horses couldn’t be more taken care of.
Ender spends most of his day out in the pasture with all of his friends but I decided to steal him away for some cuddle time.
I took him out to graze but he was much more interested in eating the dead leaves. He is a weird one.
I am so in love with this goofy boy.
You know how they say you should do something that scares you everyday?
Well, if you spend time with a completely green 5 year old 17hh thoroughbred I promise you that you will be terrified every day. He looks sweet enough in these pictures but just imagine trying to hang out with a thousand pound, very headstrong puppy and you’ll realize why I often come back from the stables a bit shaky! But I love it and wouldn’t have it any other way.
Then, Ender’s groom Suhail:
told me he had to show me something. This is what I saw:
The brand new Winter blanket that I bought for Ender only a month ago is already getting ripped to shreds. Well, when it is being worn by a crazy goofball of a horse, what else can you expect? So, time to stitch this one up and buy him another to have as a spare. Sigh.
After cuddling Ender and bribing him with carrots in exchange for kisses I came home to walk the dingos with my hubby and fix dinner.
Wraps are my favorite! This one was loaded up with a very spicy tofu garlic sauce, avocado, bacos, sprouts, spinach, bell peppers, and pickles. Yum! On the side I snacked on a bunch of salty edamame.
And no day would be complete if you didn’t see some sort of delicious dessert. And luckily, I did!
Aren’t they beautiful? Unfortunately I am slowly but surely running out of my Sweet & Sara vegan marshmallows. Hmmm…wonder if they ship to Saudi Arabia?
Well my lovely friends, I hope you saw many wonderful things today! As for me, I am off to spend some time looking at something else….the inside of my eyelids! Sleep beckons and I am off!
***
Don’t forget to enter my Zukay Live giveaway for your chance to win an entire case of raw, vegan salad dressing!
Subscribe to RSS Feed!
Ender’s sooo precious. And I am SO making s’mores tonight. where did you get your Sweet and Sara’s in Saudi?
Unfortunately I didn’t get them in Saudi! My dad recently took a trip back to the US and brought a few cartons home with him. But they are quickly disappearing!!!
The brownies are GLORIOUS looking as is the nooch dump on the brock. We think alike, I also do it with cauli! The vegan marshmallow sandwich cookie creation looks divine! I take it that’s a homemade vegan GF cookie you whipped up in all your spare time?!
YUM!
Couple things…first loved your comment about being one of the most headstrong people but also extremely sensitive. ME TOO! You may be interested in the work of Elaine Aron http://www.hsperson.com/ I adore her works and identify totally and completely with being a HSP. Write me if you wanna chat about it. She explains sensitivity in a way that doesnt pathologicalize it nor make it a “bad thing”. Rather it’s normal for 15% of the population. Knowing what a smart cookie you are, you can obvi read her works for yourself and come to your own conclusions but wanted to mention her.
Next read your comment re your family and your sister’s wedding on ENJar’s blog. I have a very parallel relationship with mine and have blogged just a tad about it but then deleted some of those posts. Anyway though, again, we are living a parallel life on that front.
xoxox
Wow, I had no idea we had so much in common, Averie! That is crazy!
Except, no, not a homemade gluten free cookie! A run of the mill store bought oat cookie! Perfect for s’mores though, subtley sweet and simple.
I so hear you about writing about your family relationships and then deleting them before they get published. I always wonder if people will understand how complicated it can be or if they will just not get it. Now I see that you would totally understand!
Thanks for the link to the work of Elaine Aron, I’m going to check it out now! I’ll definitely get back to you and let you know what I thought.
Your daily green smoothies have me inspired! I’m totally going to get back into green smoothies for breakfast when I get home from vacation!
Yay! I love them so much, glad to know others do too!
I bet that article you worked on would be really interesting! Is it something you are writing for print or an online source?
Hopefully an online magazine! If I have any luck with it I’ll let you know.
Reading about where you live is so interesting, thanks for posting that wiki link! Ah I’m so jealous you have a horse, every little girl’s dream! They are sooo expensive to have in the US, but i would love to be able to ride.
Glad you liked reading more about Aramco! Yes, definitely every little girl’s dream. I grew up with horses and can’t imagine my life without my sweet boy Ender, which is one of the reasons we’ve been happy to stay here in Saudi Arabia.
Mmm, feminism and veganism = sounds like a really intriguing topic for an article! I’d love to hear more about it
Your dogs are totally adorable – love the pleading expressions! Saudi Arabia looks much more beautiful on your blog than I previously imagined. 
Have you read any of Carol Adams’ work? She is the expert on the correlation between feminism and veganism, definitely check her stuff out! Well, Saudi Arabia is only really pretty in a few places, other than that it probably looks like the bleak rocky desert you were imagining!
Green smoothies really are beautiful. They make you feel beautiful when you drink them too!
Love your cute doggies!
Love the sad looks your puppies happen to guilt-trip you with, I get that one all the time. And yes, those are definitely some of the most glamourous cupcakes I have ever seen.
Ender looks like such a handsome boy. I can relate with you on the scary yet exciting aspect when it comes to a young, green horse. Until a few months ago I had a 4 year-old, 16.1 hh Standardbred. Loved him, miss him but had to give him away due to money.
Oh man, those smores at the end have me CRAVING some now. It’s 11:21 p.m. here and I should be going to bed soon, but there are some Dandies marshmallows, dark chocolate, and graham crackers in my pantry … hmmmm …
what a fun post! your blog is so awesome! My doggies and my cat are also all experts at the poor-baby-eyes-in-the-kitchen routine. I secretly love it! How’s the bakery business going?
What a blessed life, VV. Thank you for sharing a day in the life with us. As usual, the food gets my tummy rumbling and it is all so lovely. I’m excited to see your article. You rock my world!
Ender is so beautiful! I miss having horses! My last horse Indy was an appaloosa..so much fun! Wow..your goodies look yumm!
Enjoy and Happy Holidays!
oh man that GM does sound like the perfect way to start the day!
wow its so pretty outside for you – wish I could say the same for me!
enjoy your tuesday
From your food photos, I can see why your little friends are always hanging out in your kitchen hoping to get a little snack! I would too!!! Like the others, I would like to hear your thoughts on the relationship between veganism and feminism too – especially as influenced by life in another part of the world. Would be interested in reading your article and / or any other comments you would want to post!
Thanks so much! We’ll see how the article goes, I would love to share it with you all. Stay tuned for my next post, I will share some of my favorite feminist/vegan links since there has been so much interest.
You are welcome in my kitchen anytime, although my dogs might not be happy with the competition!
I have said it before but, I just love that you share your experiences in Saudi…I just read your link about your compound. I find if fascinating!
I love your beautiful pictures today (well, always) and am sipping my own green smoothie as I catch up with you!
your horse is sweet! and I could so go for some broc and nooch!
Happy New Year!
Awesome Awesome post! Love all of the pictures… I’m such an animal lover, and horses have a very dear place in my heart. They are so mystical.
Glad you’re still loving the dip.
Cheers XOXO,
Kristen
Thanks Kristen! I’m going to tell Ender that someone thinks he is mystical….he will probably try to eat my hair and then blow a snot bubble on my shirt.
I’m almost embarrassed how much I love your dip. I make it constantly, you have created an addict!
i really loved this post, Tasha. it was so much fun “following” you through your day! starting off your day with one power-packed smoothie is most excellent. i think i’m gonna start my tomorrow off with one as well; thanks for the fantastical idea! i love a good snacky lunch – especially one that includes broccoli. yum! your fudge cuppins cakes look marvelous (and absolutely deeeeeeelish!), and i always love pictures of the pooches! i always forget about Ender – he’s such a handsome man! my mom rides too and has a horse as well – his name is Zoloft (she named him that because he makes her most happyfaced!) and he’s a bit goofy, too. i’d be a bit scared around such a big (and young!) horse, too – but i bet Ender = the best! yay for one tasty wrap and the yummist way to end a day. i looooove sweet ‘n sara marshmallows. the dandies are okay, but my heart (and tummy) loves the sweet ‘n saras the most! mmmmmm!
I’ve never had dandies, Sweet & Sara vegan marshmallows are the first I’ve had and I am already a lifelong fan. They taste better than omni marshmallows, more real and old fashioned, not so sugary sweet and fake, you know?
Zoloft is a PERFECT name for a horse! Pure genius! Being with horses is the only time my mind is completely focused, it is so relaxing. Whenever I’m doing anything else working/cooking/reading/watching tv my mind is always in at least 3 different places worrying about other things. But when you are around horses you HAVE to focus only on them at all times because while it is crazy fun it is also potentially dangerous. So, focus I do! It is like meditation, I love it.
I love your cupcakes… they look divine!! I noticed that your black dog looks a lot like mine! Do you know what kind of dog she is?! Hydro is Boxer/lab!
Hyrdo is such an awesome name for a dog! Jack is part lab part pit bull….but he thinks he is a tiny lap dog.
i love your dessert photographs
yumm. and adorable dogs! your etas all look very deliciouss. your experiences are so interesting to read about as well
xox
shelley
You can NOT go wrong with Smores of ANY type!!
that’s awesome that riding Ender is a form of meditation for you, Tasha. i find it kinda funny that you say that it’s the only time when you are 100% focused and that at the same time you find that relaxing, because that’s TOTALLY how i feel with running. when i’m running it’s just me (no iPOD, no distractions, nothing!). just me. i can’t do anything else when i run so i just focus on my body and my movement – i just listen to myself. i’m like you in that when when i watch a movie or try and sit still (or even when i’m cooking), i’m always multitasking. having something that you’re 100% on is the best & it really is relaxing and meditative and awesome! yay!
I love that you said this Jessy, you totally get exactly what I mean! I’ve just started jogging this month and I am loving it for the same reason! It kind of transports me, you know? I thought it would seem mundane and boring but the simple act of moving my body a little bit faster than normal totally lets me zone out! I never would have thought that, but I am loving it. Yay for running!
[...] we headed to the tack store so I could buy a few things for Ender. Remember how I told you he needed a new blanket? Well, I got him a new one, plus a snazzy new halter, and a [...]