Nada Moo's Gotta Do Chocolate

I have told this story a thousand times, but it is the purest truth. My mom always made or bought me a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and chocolate ice cream on my birthdays. Occasionally, I got to choose chocolate chip or chocolate swirl ice cream to cut down on the overload. Thus, I never had the full courage to disclose to her that I didn't like chocolate ice cream.
Yet Nada Moo has definitely changed my mind.

Nada Moo has been a favorite ice cream brand for a while now. Their mint chocolate chip is pure heaven. I found Gotta Do Chocolate pint at the neighborhood grocery store (which is slowly churning out vegan products). At $7.59, it would be a rare treat, considering that at Whole Foods Market the ice creams are frequently on sale for $4.99. Still, Nada Moo is a great company, being one of several ice cream manufacturers on the Food Empowerment Project list.

From the first incredible bite, Gotta Do Chocolate embodies wonderful bliss. The delivery of sweetened chocolate and coconut cohesively mixed together creates tantalizing moments on the tongue. Nothing at all like the bland chocolate ice creams of past birthdays and other random special occasions. Maybe it is the organic cocoa or maybe it is the coconut milk base-- either way this perfectly nuanced chocolate ice cream brings pleasant thoughts wrapped in newfound happiness.

OBIA Naturals And Hair Goals

OBIA Naturals is helping a woman reach her hair goals this year.

For the past few months, I have been enjoying OBIA Naturals, an all vegan, cruelty free product line founded by chemist Obia Ewah. Although I was finishing off the rest of the Shea Moisture Shampoo, I started using the OBIA Naturals Coconut Shea Shampoo Bar this week. This amazing addition to my new routine took a while to find in stores (found at a Dayton, Ohio CVS for $9.99) and is a whole different experience using a soap bar as a shampoo.
The $35 Detangle and Seal Box came with the Babassu Detangling Conditioner, Argan Rose Oil, and Sweet Almond Heavy Cream aka the LOC (leave-in-conditioner, oil, and cream) Method. I love how soft my hair feels before, during, and after conditioning, the healthy sheen from the argan rose oil massage, and the extra oomph from the heavy cream. In using this line, I noticed and appreciated treasures my hair rarely experienced these past few years. Obia just really understands our unique hair texture and these products celebrate/enhance the beauty of it.
I will definitely continue incorporating more OBIA Naturals into my refreshing hair journey, for the goal is stronger, healthier, growing hair. In addition to these great products, I am using Jamaican Black Castor Oil on my edges and an apple cider vinegar/tea tree oil pre-shampoo scalp treatment (for dandruff) once a week.

OBIA Naturals gives a nurturing shine. Hair looks and feels good-- inside and out. 

Loving my braid. 

Here is to achieving all hair dreams in 2019.

Lip length in three months? Maybe sooner? 

New Products : Miyoko's Kitchen Butter, Chuao Sea Salt Surf Chocolate Bar, Parmela's Creamery Black Pepper Nutcheese, and So Delicious Toasted Coconut Key Lime Ice Cream

Breakfast time got a little better.

Vegan companies are pulling out glorious stops to bring incredible products to the kitchen table. 

This summer was no exception. 

I continue embarking on purchasing chocolate off the Food Empowerment Chocolate List and buying foods that do not contain palm oil. It has been a rough road with the sudden deletion of certain things. I am still dismayed over the Blue Diamond Almond Milk recall-- what a heartbreak. At the same time, life feels more pleasant, more natural these days. I hope these companies continue delivering their best to consumers and besting the dairy/meat industry one great product at a time. 

Miyoko's Kitchen European Style Cultured Vegan Butter is my vegan butter dream brought to life. Cheapest at Trader Joe's, I was fortunate to find a spread that contains no palm oil like the rest on the market. It melts beautifully, has a wonderful replicated flavor, and can be used in baking recipes.

Baked sweet potatoes smothered in butter with a side of Brussels sprouts.

Also great in pastry treats like Baked Apple Hand Pies.

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Chuao Chocolate is amazing! This Venezuelan imported chocolate has an incredibly rich flavor-- smooth and decadent. The Sea Salt Surf contains the right balance, playing on textural qualities whilst retaining sweetness.

The individual words on each square adds a nice, playful touch. I also love that this is sold at most CVS stores. With my ExtraCare bonuses, I often get these bars for either $2 off or 30%-40% off. It's a steal considering that this is a premium chocolate bar.

When I came into Mom's Organic Market for my usual Field Roast Chao, I spied a row of new nut cheeses from Parmela's Creamery-- shreds, slices, and spreads. I picked up this Creamy Black Pepper Nutcheese and enjoyed this in everything such as macaroni and cheese, tacos, etc. 

Yes, even cinnamon raisin bagels lapped up the mild flavors of black pepper nutcheese.

Run don't walk for this yummy So Delicious Toasted Coconut Key Lime Ice Cream. I found this last pint at Whole Foods Market, during a summer sale. This coconut milk based ice cream is light and airy with citrus key lime swirled into creamy vanilla and coconut flavor. Definitely a new favorite and the best summer vibes dessert hands down. 

Latest Events and the Rising Moon Vegan Butternut Squash Stuffed Ravioli Review

I tested out Rising Moon's Vegan Butternut Squash Ravioli with a side of asparagus and mushrooms. 

It's been a rather busy week.
I am back to working the museum on weekends. Yet I have managed to see Black Panther twice (a regular, albeit complimentary ticket on Friday night and then in IMAX 3D on a late Sunday night), attended both a Black Panther themed afterparty (which raised funds for the Black Lives Matter Philadelphia Chapter) and an Audre Lorde birthday party, and added in the darks on my litho stone-- all this whilst performing laundry duties and packing up for Toronto.

Black Panther posters that really had my heart soaring. I have always wanted to see Lupita Nyong'o and Danai Gurira in a film together-- dream come true. Read my film review here.

At the Black Panther afterparty, during a round of difficult Quizzno, I used my offered ink pen for drawing and a the same time, engorged on this amazing vegan Wakandan cupcake. 

At Audre Lorde's birthday party held at the Institute of Contemporary Art Philadelphia, Phila Prints' brought a silkscreen (not actual silk-- polyester) station. They printed "Praise the Lorde" in white ink on BYOT's (t-shirt, tank top, tote, whatever). 

Class number 5 out of the twelve week lithography class and still working hard on my Augusta Savage montage. 

As one can see, exhaustion and excess activities have kept me awake as of late. I have barely made the time to create a decent meal. Thankfully, I was happy to find Rising Moon's Organic Butternut Squash Ravioli at Mom's Organic Market on a recent shopping excursion.

I found Rising Moon for $4.99 in the frozen foods section. They have a wide variety of pant based varieties and the ingredients are pure and simple. 

The Butternut Squash filling is light and creamy, not too heavy with a hint of sweetness (maple syrup is an ingredient and that always works well with squashes). I coated them in a mirrored "butter sauce" comprised of almond milk, nutritional yeast, turmeric, garlic, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper. The side component is boiled and pan fried asparagus with chopped mushrooms and garlic as a side dish component.
This is a good ravioli if you're too tired to make your own. I am looking forward to trying the other flavors.

A simple, fulfilling dinner. 

Leftovers.

Still good.

Violife Blueberry After Dinner Cheese Review

Pockets of teeny tiny blueberries are packed tight into a block of creamy mild vegan cheese.

Remember that time so long ago that I visited the all vegan grocery in Paris, Une Vegan Monde?

Well, I finished the cheese off weeks ago and find myself craving this unique treasure. I didn't believe that fruit in a cheese would taste as amazing as Violife crafted. This is a soy, nut, and palm free cheese, which is great considering that most vegan cheeses do have palm oil.

Months prior, I had tried Violife's original block, a purchase from Vegan Marks the Shop. Violife's Blueberry After Dinner Cheese combines a burst of sweet, irresistible berries with the original recipe, letting flavors mingle along, not making it a sugared, unruly mess. This is an exceptionally delicious creation, definitely in my top favorites. I wish that I could have more. Sadly, through my research of various online vegan stores, the Violife Blueberry After Dinner Cheese is seemingly impossible to get shipped to the states-- only available in the UK.

For now, I have the pleasant memories, still sharp in mind and tongue, dreaming that one sweet, kind friend will mail me a package or two in a care package.

Or maybe, I'll find some yummy Violife Blueberry Goodness in Berlin....  

I had packed cheese, Dave's Killer Thin-Sliced Bread in 21 Whole Grains and Seeds with Clearbrook Farms Blueberry Preserves. The banana, although good and super brown spotted, has nothing to do with the sandwiches. 

On one side of bread, I generously spread on the blueberry preserves.

Sweet, sophisticated sandwiches.

Perfect. (with banana).

Vegan Mofo Post #13: Putting Fair Trade Chocolate In Painting

Chocolate girls with chocolate.

I have a great stash of chocolate just to enjoy for this beautiful birthday month-- delicious gifts to myself of course. In the meantime, when I'm not devouring my tempestuous abundance, lately the chocolate bars have been incorporated into painting practice.

Chocolaty brown inspiration from Lashana Lynch (Lady Rosalind Capulet) and Sterling Sulieman (Prince Escalus).

This latest project combines glorious splendor of dark and brown skin tones that were featured in Shonda Rhimes produced Shakespearean show, Still Star Crossed, which had sadly been canceled over the summer. Lashana Lynch, the actress who played strong, brazen, independent lead, Lady Rosalind Capulet is in every painting. I wasn't super invested in the characters. I purely thought about their time, slavery, and chocolate, desperately trying to bridge this romantic period with contemporary plights about the damaging industry that barbarically exploits children, children and adults who have never tasted chocolate, but carry deep seated scars from having to pick the seeds that make it.

Alter Eco's Salted Almonds for Lady Rosaline. I haven't tried this one yet. My willpower has been very, very strong.

Nib Mor's All Natural Superfruit Cherry flavor is by hands my favorite. It's incredibly pleasing to a cherry chocolate fiend, with bursts of cherry goodness in every bite. I'm a little broken up-- haven't been able to find this in months. One store carries it, but the bar is white due to mishandled temperatures and doesn't taste as good if stored properly. Once winter hits, I'll be ordering from the website.

In progress painting of Prince Escalus and Lady Rosaline Capulet with the Nib Mor cherry bar. I was obsessed with this mentioned (never shown rendezvous) of the young lad and the beautiful lady caught by his father in the stables. Thus, I painted what could have happened-- with a cherry bar included.

In progress painting in Theo Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup. I ate this immediately afterward. How could I not? It trembled in my hands, melting, pleading sweetly.

At this rate, maybe these three works will be finished this week.

Vegan Mofo Post #1: Daiya's Limited Seasonal Edition Pumpkin Spice Cheezecake

Daiya's dessert arrived in the nick of time to start "Happy Birthday to Me" just right!

Happy Vegan Mofo everyone!

I'm monstrously excited to share a host of exciting treats and tricks for the best month, the special tenth month called October. Be prepared for a glorious tribute that includes celebrating autumn, Libras, Friday The Thirteenth, Halloween, and my birthday! That's right! My Mofo theme is all things birthday. I will be posting about restaurant visits (including an upcoming Saturday night reservation for one venture to Modern Love Brooklyn), yummy new product reviews, and favorite recipes with colorful sprinkles and inflamed candles on top.

The other day, on a rare excursion to Whole Foods Market (things have changed since Mom's Organic Market opened in Center City), I found the brand new Daiya Pumpkin Spice Cheezecake, on sale for only $5.99.

Immediately, I grabbed it out of the freezer, smiling happily, knowing that my night would end on binging "Girlfriends" episodes and eating dessert.

After a timely thawing and mildly impatient poking, I finally tried the cheezecake. Daiya has another A+ effort here. The pumpkin flavor is alive and kicking swirling intimately with noted hints of cinnamon, ginger, and possibly ginger and cloves. Every creamy, titillating bite held rich, moist decadence.

No comment on how much delicious celebratory cheezecake was eaten on a single night, but know that it wasn't wasted.

Pacifica's Devocean Deeply Devoted Natural Lipstick in Firebird

Flossing at work with a chic "new" vintage style dress and popping vegan lipstick color.

Happy National Lipstick Day!
To celebrate the coveted day, Pacifica is offering a special buy one, get one free promo! The cruelty free, all natural lipstick brand is definitely has plentiful must haves for your purse, especially since lipsticks and glosses are a reasonable $10 each. Hurry hurry! Sale ends tomorrow at 11:59 PST time.
I came to the museum, feeling glam and beautiful in a rare showing of boldness that seemed to have everyone talking. I only intended to make a fashion statement, but I suppose when a balm and tinted gloss lady arrives with a zesty red lip, someone is going to talk about the switch up.

I tested out Pacifica Devocean Deeply Devoted Natural Lipstick (love their gold and white ode to Art Noveau package design goes with the overall sleek, slender stick). This is in Firebird, a warm, rich inviting red color of tulips.

The lipstick is matte and smooth. I put balm on first before putting this on and it didn't against the extra lip protection. The color is absolutely great on my skin tone. To think, I was so hesitant...

My pleasantly sophisticated Firebird survived lunch breaks (I reapplied of course), a book shop fair, and an opening reception at Traction Company. I also really loved how the color matched so well with this embossed collared dress (a $5 steal at Buffalo Exchange) as well. All in all, great product for sure! For the buy one, get one free, I purchased the Power of Love Lipstick in Nudie Red and the Plushious Mineral Lipstick in Velvet Kiss. Stay tuned for reviews on those sassy hues.

Aya's Natural Treasures Organic Whipped Shea Butter & Vegan Lip Butter

Natural beauty products purchased from the Vegan Pop Up Philly Birthday Bash in June.

Based in Edison, New Jersey, Aya's Natural Treasures is a beauty line that uses "ethically harvested ingredients." Pleasing and nourishing from head to toe, Aya's offers massage oils, body lotions and body butters, lip balms, and more. Sulfates, parabens, and petroleum are nowhere in sight among wonderfully scented gems like Strawberry Lemonade, Lavender Kiss, and Exotic (a blend of mango, papaya, pineapple and pomegranate).

Aya and her line of treasures. 

I bought the Organic Whipped Shea Butter ($15) in Nag Champa. Nag Champa is an Indian originated fragrance that joins plumeria and sandalwood together. The smell is light, not overpowering. This thick, luscious butter quickly and smoothly absorbs into skin and leaves behind glistening shine and that pleasing fragrance. Why bother with perfume when Nag Champa is both?

When room temperature is too hot, the butter does melt. Still, it retains moisturizing properties.

The Superior Lips Vegan Lip Butter ($5) is unscented and slickly glides on with a touch of moist conditioning. However, acts more like a balm than a butter.