Inspiration: Oh She Glows

I have come across many blogs, documentaries, and cookbooks that have lent their share of inspiration to both my weight loss journey and my adventures with veganism. However, I have yet to come across something that has got me back on track to eating well, and has motivated me to create in the kitchen, quite like Oh She Glows!

Through social media I have seen posts from her (author, Angela Liddon) blog but never gave it much thought. It wasn't until, I was lacking both motivation and inspiration and walking around Sprouts, that I saw the cookbook on a revolving display stand. I am not sure why I decided to pick it up, maybe it was the brightly colored cover, or my obsession with buying cookbooks that I end up never using, but I did.

See what I mean about the cover?!

As I flipped through the pages, many recipes caught my eye which finally led me to awkwardly nod to myself and think, "I could make use of this." With that, it was purchased! Of course, the thought of it joining the rest of my cookbooks on the shelf, collecting dust, crossed my mind (and definitely my husbands mind as well) but I vowed that I was going to make effort with this one. Again, I don't know what it was about this book that struck me, but something clicked.

Well, wouldn't you know, 3 days into buying this book, it sat. I would walk passed it, on my counter, and thought, "Oh, ya...I really should look through that for recipes", and then go back to the couch. Finally, one night, after power reading for an English assignment, I reached for a pen and paper and got to work with extracting the recipes I wanted to try first. I think this was partly because I could not bear one more minute reading that Stephen King novel but at any rate, I got started. 

I jotted down seven recipes to try within the upcoming week (which will end tomorrow) and as of this afternoon I have tried five. Mostly breakfast type items but all have been AMAZING! I even made my first juice (without a juicer) which she calls "Beet-utiful Power Glow" and consists of: cucumber, beet, carrot, apple, and some lemon juice. All I did was blend, strain, and I had a "beet-utiful" crimson juice, that I actually used to wash down my (well, her) chickpea salad sandwich. I wish I would have gotten a picture of both of these but, in the moment, I was starving and went in for the kill versus worrying about where my phone was. I did however get some shots of the other three things I have made for this book: Maple Cinnamon Apple & Pear Baked Oatmeal, Overnight Oats, and Tropical Beauty Green Monster (smoothie)

My apologies for the lack of attractiveness in these pictures

I also was hoping to link the recipes for all five of these items but I am having trouble locating them through her blog. 

I am so happy that whatever drew me to this book, did so, because it came at exactly the right time! I am still on Weight Watchers and still plan on tracking whatever it is I chose to eat but choosing to be more plant-based can, sometimes, rack up your daily points. I am okay with that! I know my body feels so much better when I am more focused on a whole foods, plant-based diet. Of course, I am not perfect, but I am going to try and hold on to the inspiration this book and blog has brought me as long as I can!

Until next time...