Hellooo everyone! ItsNichelleB, back with a recipe! This is a quick, simple, tasty meal that only takes about 45 minutes total to make. If you have never heard of soba noodles they are Japanese noodles made from buckwheat flour. Soba noodles resemble a spaghetti noodle, but they are gluten free and can be served hot or cold.

I am all about simple, yet delicious meals. Recipes that involve more than 10 steps to cook it or more than 10 ingredients to make it are not my thing. lol (just kidding) There is this idea that to eat “healthy” you have to spend an excessive amount of time prepping and cooking your own food and that is just an excuse! lol I know because I am probably the most lazy, picky, pescatarian, plant based, eater ever. lol I wouldn’t say I “love” cooking, but I love knowing exactly what I’m eating and I know cooking is the only way to be sure of that. It does take time to get your research on, meal prep, make a new grocery list, and try new foods but its a fun journey that is very rewarding!

This meal is great if you want a light lunch or dinner. It came out of a magazine, I just took a picture of the page and posted it below.

*Disclaimer  I am not a chef, nor I did not study culinary arts. I have only researched food and studied the body in my leisure time for my benefit. I don’t offer advice on what is most healthy and what you should be eating simply because I am not a nutritionist and do not know EVERYTHING there is to know about food. I just want you to do the research on the foods you consume for yourself!

Hope you try this meal!

Hello and welcome back or to my blog! Today I’m sharing a recipe courtesy of Pinterest.

Before I became plant based I used to eat “Orange Chicken” from Panda Express occasionally. When that no longer was an option for me, I looked for alternatives and stumbled upon this recipe on Pinterest. It’s taste test approved, I’ve made it about 3 times already. Lol I love it. The recipe is easy and it tastes just like orange chicken to me! lol This is a vegetarian dish because you do have to use an egg. You dip the cauliflower in the egg, then the breadcrumbs, then you bake it, toss it in the orange sauce and eat it over rice! The orange sauce is spot on and tastes better then Panda Express to me. This orange cauliflower is best when served immediately and not reheated in the microwave. If you want to reheat it, I would advise putting it back in the oven for a few. The link to the recipe is below!

http://kirbiecravings.com/2015/06/baked-orange-cauliflower.html

Helloooo everyone, ItsNichelleB! This is just a quick post to let you know a little more about my plant-based lifestyle. A lot of people ask me things like how I stopped eating meat, what do I eat, and did I notice a difference in my body since becoming plant-based? Below I will answer all those questions and more.

I’m not really into all the labels like vegan, vegetarian, lacto-vegetarian, etc. The few times I did say I’m pescatarian people were like what is that? Smh So I simply refer to myself and my eating habits as being “plant based.” That means besides seafood, all the foods I eat are derived from plants including vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and fruit, no animal products. Saying I’m plant-based is simple and most of the time saves me from having to explain further. 

I’ve done research in my spare time for almost a year on the food, ingredients, agriculture, etc. in the United States. Some of the things I found out were disturbing but I always tell people when converting to a plant based lifestyle that you MUST do the research for YOURSELF! Then armed with your knowledge you make the decision on what type of diet or lifestyle will work for you. I decided to stop eating meat almost overnight after spending hours one day reading books and watching vegan documentaries. Lol It’s been about 3-4 months so far and I have not looked back. I used to think I could never live a life without meat, but I was miseducated and uninformed about animals and foods, I am also a very picky eater but it’s fun finding and creating meals I like. Since giving up meat my body feels amazing! A lot of people think you will suffer from “protein deficiency” if you stop eating meat! lol That is simply not true. 

Most major health problems start in the gut and are affected by the foods one eats. The saying, “you are what you eat” is not to be taken lightly. I am not on a “diet” nor am I “watching my weight” being plant based is a lifestyle and I just want everyone to adopt a healthy lifestyle.  A healthy lifestyle doesn’t mean you must be vegan (although it is the best option) or vegetarian or even pescatarian. Adopting a healthy lifestyle is about doing the research, healing yourself from the inside, and cultivating healthy habits. Food is life!! Eat to live!!

As far as me personally here is what I eat and don’t eat. Now that you have an idea you can expect some recipes and meal ideas to be posted soon!  

MEAT- None. No chicken, turkey, beef, or pork. No other animals like rabbit or lamb. 

DAIRY- The only source of dairy I consume is cheese on pizza. I tried and and fake cheese is something I can’t do.  I normally buy organic pizza from the grocery store and just put it in the oven. I really don’t like to order pizza from places anymore. The only time I eat eggs is if it’s baked into something like my grandma’s sweet potato pie or her cornbread. I can’t turn down my grandmas pie now.. lol I never really ate or liked things like mac & cheese, cream cheese, ricotta cheese, whey, mayonnaise, yogurt, or milk so giving that up wasn’t hard. I use vegan butter and eat dairy- free coconut ice cream.

SEAFOOD- Now I’m slowly cutting out fish and shrimp, having it once or twice a month. I’ve heard about seafood and how harmful it can be so that just made it a little easier to cut out. lol As for crabcakes, I eat those about once a month, if that. 

SOY- Soy is a tricky product to me. It’s one of those foods that have mixed opinions on it’s actual health benefits. Some say it’s the absolute last thing you should eat and some say it’s super healthy. I personally do not like the taste of soy. I don’t like tofu, soy milk, or edamame. However, many foods have soy in them so you have to just read the ingredients on everything if you are watching your soy intake, which I recommend.

GLUTEN- I just look out for gluten and try to be mindful of what foods I’m eating with gluten in it. I try to get the gluten free version of whatever I can.

MOCK MEAT- I eat meatless meatballs and chickenless chicken tenders. Another food people argue about because that are essentially soy. Some say it’s so horrible you should only feed it to your dog some say it’s the best alternative to real meat. lol Personally, I don’t see anything wrong with them, IF EATEN IN MODERATION! Mock meats are still processed in some way so again they are eaten in moderation. There are some great, clean versions of mock meats out there, you just have to read the ingredients on EVERYTHING. 

JUNK FOOD- NONE. I don’t do soda, ice cream, candy, snack cakes (like honey buns, twinkies, zebra cakes) no packaged noodles, no fast food, and nothing canned, except beans.

 If you have been thinking about going plant based but don’t know where to start, below are some ideas. There are some great presentations and documentaries on Youtube and Netflix about veganism.

Some of the most popular Netflix documentaries are Cowspiracy, Food Inc., What the Health, Forks over Knives, Food Matters and Vegucated.

On Youtube there are sooo many videos that can help from meal plans, to workout plans, to documentaries. Gary Yourosfky is a great speaker about veganism he has videos on YouTube.

Books- Go to the library or thrift store and see what books on food are there. You may be surprised what you find. Most of the books I read on veganism came from the thrift store. lol I do think its necessary to buy books or even food magazines just so that you can have something tangible to refer to when you need a pick me up.

Social Media- Before I became plant based I didn’t follow any plant based people but there is a whole world of vegan and vegetarian yogis, chefs, youtubers, athletes, and regular people like me on Instagram and social media. They are really inspiring and helpful to follow because they give you ideas and info about everything. My favorite vegans or plant based people on Instagram are @vegantakeover @chefahki @veganfoodspot and @massyarias

*And just remember making a big lifestyle change, moving from animal-based to a pescatarian or vegan diet, may take some time to adjust to. If you slip up and eat an animal product by accident or in a moment of temptation don’t be too hard on yourself. Just get back to it and you will still be able to meet your goals!

Hellooo everyone, ItsNichelleB back with another D.I.Y jacket I’m in love with! I ordered this fabric when I ordered the colorful fur fabric. It’s warm, easy to sew with, and I love the print. I love texture and print in a fabric, so as soon as I laid eyes on it I knew I wanted it. lol I was inspired to make this jacket after seeing a similar version on Etsy for about $250 and you all know by now I don’t like to buy things I can make. lol

To create this jacket I used the same pattern I did to create the colorful fur jacket, McCalls 7257. The only difference is I made a little change in the pattern to create a small flap in the front. I didn’t use a lining fabric for the front, instead I used the fabric, so that you can see fabric on both sides of the flap in the front. This also adds extra weight to the jacket making it pretty warm. This jacket is really easy to sew because it’s only 5 pieces. It doesn’t take long to create these type of jackets because the silhouette is simple and the pockets are hidden.

The only thing I may go back and do is take the arms in a tiny bit more, I  think they are a little too big for me. I had fun with this shoot even though it may not look like it! lol It was cold outside and I guess I forgot about smiling! lol

Do you ever go to bed at night or wake up some mornings with tons of random thoughts running through your mind? I’m sure you’ve experienced your “mind racing” at some point but what about when your mind is racing with negative thoughts? Thoughts like “Ugh I hate my life or I hate my job, I was stupid for doing that, I’m so fat, etc.”  Ever had one thought send you on a downward spiral of negative thinking? Next thing you know you’re having a whole conversation internally highlighting all the negative or undesirable things about your life. Even if you know in your heart what you are telling yourself is NOT true, the mind is so tricky and powerful it will still try to convince you otherwise.

That is why it’s so important to tame your mind and thoughts! A few years ago, after I graduated college and before I started yoga, I had a lot of negative self-talk going on in my head. During that time I was really unhappy, slightly angry, and borderline depressed.  This was before I started my blog and my business, that negative self-talk I had delayed the process of me even starting my website and blog because it turned into fear and doubt that I could even do anything successfully! smh

So how do I silence my inner critic?? 1 word. Meditation.

Most of my sadness and frustrations stemmed from me having this picture in my head of how my life was supposed to be and go. Things weren’t going the way I envisioned and it discouraged me. Another reason I was so unhappy is because I always had thoughts of comparison and perfectionism. In this digital age, it’s so easy to pick up your phone and scroll through someone else’s life that seems perfect… So perfect that you wonder why can’t my shit be that perfect? Why can’t I vacation like that??? Why can’t I have a job like that?

Back then I felt so empty on the inside, however even with this dark cloud that seemed to be over me I always searched (and still do) for ways to heal myself. I knew that no matter how I felt on the inside NO ONE OR NOTHING would ever make me truly happy.. I knew happy was a “state of mind” I had to decide to be in. I kept looking for ways to heal myself and that is when I got into deep breathing and meditation and ohhh man what an AMAZING feeling it is to meditate and elevate. Controlled mindful breathing is the only way to check in with your restless or subconscious mind.

Until you learn to tame your mind, you will not have peace of mind.

Through meditation I learned a lot about myself but I also learned how to quiet that little negative voice in my head. I learned to look at the success of others not with jealousy, envy or a feeling of defeat but with motivation! Social media is cool to me because it’s just like a big ass field of never ending inspiration (if you follow the right people). You can get on your phone or computer and literally scroll through someone else’s life! However, you simply can’t compare yourself to that person, because you only know what they’ve decided to show.  No one thinks “ohh I’m having a breakdown on my bathroom floor let me take a selfie and post this real quick” lol but that’s the real shit people may go through you won’t see. That is why social media is all perception, it’s what you make it to be.

The more you meditate, sit quietly, and ask yourself questions the more you find out about yourself. I had to let go of previous ideas of how my life and career was supposed to go and accept that I’m writing my OWN book. My life story will never be the same as someone else’s.  It was kind of hard for me to accept the present circumstances and be happy and grateful during my personal storm, but I keep ENCOURAGING MYSELF. Which is also a gospel song that inspired this blog post! Lol Encourage Yourself by Donald Lawrence.  I don’t look to other people, to social media posts or tweets, not even friends, for encouragement because at the end of the day sometimes you just have to encourage your damn self! lol Especially in the world of being an artist, a designer, entrepreneur, singer, actor, stylist, just an overall creative person you may experience self- doubt but you won’t dwell there, you will overcome it and end up speaking victory over yourself! NEVER give up on yourself! Keep cheering even if it’s just you cheering for yourself. Look in the mirror and tell yourself you can do it! Pat yourself on the back! Show up for yourself!!!!

It’s 2017 the first month of the year is almost over! Quit having negative self- talk with yourself this year! You’ve heard the phrase “change your thinking change your life” or “what you think you become.” Negative thinking only leads to stress, depression, anxiety, doubt, and fear. It is not too late to make the decision to be happy, to heal, to let go, to move on, or to just simply live! There are so many activities that can help you on the road to cultivating positive thoughts and thus, a positive life. Things like meditation (of course), yoga, dance, group fitness, church, book club, volunteering, anything you feel that gives your body, mind, and breath a happy feeling. Change your activities, change your thoughts, and finally your behaviors will change.

Your mind and thoughts are powerful, if you don’t control them they will control you!! Once you learn to control your mind, body, AND your breath then you will have reached inner peace. You will turn all those negative thoughts into positive ones. Sit in a quiet place, with your eyes closed for about 5-10 minutes if you have never meditated before, and just deeply breathe through your nose. While your breathing feel free to encourage yourself and tell yourself some positive things like “I am beautiful, worthy, and content at this present moment. The present moment is a gift and I am grateful to have breath!” NAMASTE.

Helloo everyone! I hope your “New Year” is going amazing and as planned so far! I’m back with a D.I.Y that I’m so in love with! lol I first saw this colorful faux fur type of jacket (pictured left) on nastygal.com a couple weeks ago for $168 and my first thought was “damn.. Can I make that??” lol It wasn’t the price so much that turned me off, I just didn’t care for the collar and the arms looked a little short. I have long arms, which is another reason I like to sew my own clothes..

As soon as I saw it, I went to search for the fabric and found a fabric that was pretty similar! Mines is just more of a stripe and the other one is more like patchwork. I got this fabric and another surprise fabric I’ll be using for my next D.I.Y to make a cardigan! So exciting!

Now I do want to apologize, because I started sewing this jacket at night and the flash on my camera is broken right now. So I didn’t take any pictures of the cutting/sewing process.. However, I did use McCall’s pattern M7257 for this jacket. I did not want a collar on mines, I followed view D for this jacket.

The decision to make this coat was pretty impulsive. Sort of like an I see it, I like it, I make it type of thing.. lol I have never sewn with faux fur at all. lol I just figured I could do it and truly when I get in that mindset and “figure” I can make/do something I ABSOLUTLEY MUST figure out how and most of the time I do! lol I already had this pattern on hand, I bought the fabric, did the research on how to sew with faux fur and just made it. Thank you to all the blogs and people that made posts and videos about sewing with faux fur!

According to my research, when sewing with faux fur the most important rules are:

• never cut it on the fold and cut pattern pieces from the backside of the fabric
• make small snips when cutting to eliminate fur everywhere
• use pattern weights
• make sure the fur is laying in the right direction when cutting it
• tuck the hairs inside while sewing, and always pin.
• Pluck hairs out of the seams when done sewing to make them invisible
• if you want/need to press use medium heat because the fur can melt

This particular faux fur was a short pile fur which means the hairs on it aren’t very long so it wasn’t as difficult as thought it would be.. My one hassle was the sleeves! I did read not to do a set in sleeve, when sewing faux fur somewhere online but that’s what the pattern said to do, so I figured it would be easy. For me it was just too bulky to sew the armhole all the way around on my machine. So I sewed what I could and did the rest by hand. The other thing I learned when sewing faux fur is to always cut your lining a little bigger or very precise otherwise you will have problems when trying to flip it out. Learning mishaps aside I really like this jacket, its colorful, its fun, it didn’t take forever to sew, it has pockets, and you can dress it up or down! Now go get you some faux fur and D.I.Y.

This birthday outfit almost drove me so crazy I thought I was going to have to wear my real “birthday suit”! lol I don’t know why I always pick my birthday to experiment and try to make something I’ve never made before! lol This was a bit challenging for me but in the end everything worked out! I honestly don’t know why I wanted to wear a suit, it just seemed like a classy, sexy birthday look and I think part of me wanted to be challenged and try to make a blazer.

I am a visual learner which is why I utilize Youtube when I don’t know how to make something. So I was very excited to find that this blazer (Simplicity 1167) was from sewing Youtuber Mimi G. She designs patterns for Simplicity but she also does “sew alongs” so you can make the item at home, while following along with her making the exact same item. I followed her tutorial to construct this blazer, which helped a lot. This blazer is partially lined and has pockets on the side.  The pants are McCalls pattern 7098. I like this pattern because the pants fit great, are easy to make, and easy to alter. This fabric is another one I bought from Hancock Fabrics before they closed and I am so in love with the color of it!

Overall I’m pleased with how the outfit came out and I thank all of you for the Birthday Wishes! Xoxo

Hi everyone! This D.I.Y top is the same as the “off shoulder denim top” except the sleeves are longer and the fabric is different. When Hancock Fabrics was going out of business about a month ago, I was able to get some fabric at really great prices. Prior to going there I had read an article in a magazine about gingham and madras print and how designers were using it in 2016 shows. After I looked online some more, I was inspired and decided I wanted to make something using gingham print. So when I went to Hancock Fabrics to get some gingham fabric it was like 70 or 80% off so I paid about $2-3 a yard for it!

Gingham Print

Now let me just say I don’t own any madras or gingham print clothing! I have always thought these were tricky prints, until now! lol After researching these fabrics more, I found out they both have a unique history and have been around since the 17th century! Also, while researching I found out there are people called “fabric historians” who study the history and origins of different fabrics! Who knew?! lol

I actually love the fact that gingham is cotton, it’s lightweight, and it has no wrong side! That makes gingham a super easy fabric to work with and perfect for summer. I’m still on this off shoulder trend, like seriously there are soooo many ways you can transform this top. This is the 3rd version! So anyway here is my gingham off shoulder top, I did mines in black and white. I’m also rocking a piece of bias tape around my neck as a choker! Resourceful huh! Lol

I had the amazing opportunity to teach Fashion Design at a really great camp this summer! I had so much fun teaching these young girls who ranged from ages 9-13. The fashion design portion of camp was 2 weeks long, and I taught at 2 different camp locations. The first week of camp was super fun and I got to learn a lot about the girls as we went over many different topics and aspects of fashion like inspiration, sketching, brainstorming, hand sewing, using the sewing machine, trends, color theory, and textiles. The second week of class the campers were put into groups of 3 or 4 and were instructed to come up with their own company and create an outfit out of recyclable materials. These girls were so creative and full of life!

By the second week of class we were pretty comfortable with each other. I let them listen to “Disney Channel Stars” station on Pandora while they created their outfits so they could zone out! LOL!  I know I was getting on their nerves while they were creating their outfits! Every hour or so I would come around and ask what they were doing and give my critiques. Most of the time I would say things like “I feel like you can do more with this, push yourself, take this outfit to the next level.” Lol! Sometimes they would say they didn’t want to or ask if they had to push themselves?? To which the answer was always YES. lol Afterwards, they would say things like “I’m happy I pushed myself, I love this top so much more or I love my purse!” I totally felt like Tim Gunn during those times!

If they didn’t leave with anything I at least hope these girls learned how to sew, and how to express their creativity and individuality through fashion! Pictures of the outfits they created out of recycled materials are below! They even made their own backdrops to go with the outfits!