Monday, February 16, 2015

Manic Panic Featured me on Facebook! Pink and Purple Hair

Manic Panic Pink and Purple Hair:
Hot Hot Pink, Cotton Candy Pink and Purple Haze
 
At my last appointment with my talented hairstylist, Chelsea, I told her that I wanted to have a mix of Hot Hot Pink, Cotton Candy Pink and Purple Haze - Manic Panic colors.  Chelsea worked her magic and the end result was more than I expected... absolutely LOVED it and so did Mark!   
 
A few days later I was overwhelmed with excitement, to say the least.
 
Okay, so it's not like I made the top news or anything like that, but on February 3rd Manic Panic featured little 'ol me on their Facebook page!  Not like a big cover story of course, just a little share with very kind words that made my day!  But... MANIC PANIC FEATURED ME!  I can't tell you how excited I was when they asked if they could share my pic on their page along with what colors I used, etc.  I was floored by all the likes, comments and shares and simply speechless.  As of today there are 1,823 Likes, over 100 comments, and 84 shares. 
 
O.M.G.!


Manic Panic Facebook Feature of me and my pink and purple hair
 
I'm loving playing with colors and not stopping any time soon.  My next appointment is a few weeks  away.  Not sure what color I'll do yet, but I'm pretty sure it's going to be another blended color. 
 
 
Peace,
Rocki
 



Monday, December 29, 2014

Colorful Hair

Purple Haze Hair
Just a quickie post of my colorful hair over the past several months.  I'm totally addicted!

I started out with Hot Hot Pink, then different shades of pink and now I'm purple.  Purple Haze to be exact... with a little cotton candy pink mixed in for lighter shade in crown area.  This is the darkest I've ever gone and love it, but next appointment I'm going with a little lighter shade.


Hot Hot Pink Hair
The pic above is from the very first time coloring it pink earlier this summer.  Mark REALLY loves the hot pink shades and now loves the purple too.  

Hot Hot Pink Hair with Highlights
I'm sure I'll try more variations of purple and most likely mixed with other complimentary colors.  Have I mentioned I'm addicted? ;)

Cotton Candy Hair
We both agreed that, even though we love the color itself, the lighter shades of pink are just too light for me.

My hairstylist is the one coloring my hair and she's awesome!  I'm using a vegan color by Manic Panic - all their colors are vegan. 

Why am I doing this?  Because I can.  Because I want to.  Because I've been stepping more and more out of my box and loving every single adventure of it!

How's that go?  Life's too short for boring hair ;)

Peace,
Rocki

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Raw Rocki - new blog for all my raw vegan recipes!

http://www.rawrocki.blogspot.com/
Raw Vegan Recipes blog - Raw Rocki
 
 
Hello and happy day everyone!  This is just a quickie note to let you know that I have started a new blog for all my raw vegan recipes and am very excited about it!  You can read more of my move below and over on my new blog: Raw Rocki

Oh and yes, I'll still be posting on this one from time to time on other life events as I can.

Peace,
Rocki

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Moving Forward

Buddha Blessings - Beet of my Heart Green Smoothie, recipe below

Life truly takes us on an exciting journey with twists and turns abound.  My life, so far, has been filled with many of them - from good to bad to WTF... and everything in between.  And now, another one begins.

This is going to be an exciting journey!  One that I've been waiting to happen for many years, but just didn't know exactly what it was going to be.  Let me briefly explain...

For many years I worked in the corporate and medical world, then ended up horribly sick with CFIDS and could no longer work, let alone function at home.  Food, holistic medicine, Mark, family and my own perseverance (aka: never give up) is what got me well - even though it sneaks up on me sometimes.  Out of that sickness I discovered a talent I didn't know I had, which ended up as my successful metalwork career for the past 7 plus years.  I've had other medical blows and other crappy things happen in my journey, with the most recent one of early breast cancer (1 1/2 years cancer-free this month!) .  With each one of the blows, I eventually got back up, became stronger and continued on with life. Hence my nickname Rocki - as in Rocky Balboa which one of my docs had tagged me with years ago.

Moving forward.  The past few years I've told Mark how I wish I could do something more profound with my life that would help others in some way or another.  I had no idea what I wanted to do, but something that was close to heart.  He suggested for me to take the same nutritional class that he took as he loved it and said I would too.  While I thought about it, no bells went off.  Another thing to mention is that due to my wrists and arm issues, metalworking is not going to be a lifelong career for me. 

Sometimes when you stop looking for something, it appears right before your eyes.

It's going on two years since I became a raw foodist/raw vegan and I cannot express enough I very much I LOVE eating a clean diet and creating recipes.  My head spins sometimes with thoughts of what to make next!  I think I actually eat, sleep and dream it.  Mark sure isn't complaining, especially since he's my official recipe taster.  Well, so are our friends at SKW (his office).

I've always enjoyed learning about healthy eating and treating food as medicine. I have several books that I've read cover to cover, more than once and cannot seem to get enough knowledge.  In fact, my dad is the same way - not a raw vegan, but he sure loves his raw veggies!  We used to talk for hours on end about nutrition, healing with food, etc.  Now we share recipes too.

Okay, so let me get to my next journey in this life that I'm going on or else I'll just keep writing and writing about how much I love my raw vegan life!  Two things that I'm extremely passionate about and are close to my heart (besides family of course) is my Buddhist path and my raw vegan healthy lifestyle.  Well, this could not be any more perfect for me as I'm now enrolled in the Body Mind Institute to get my Raw Nutrition Certificate!  After that, I'm going to take a course to become a Raw Vegan Chef!  After that, I don't know.  I'm leaving the door wide open.

To manage my class and studio time, I'm going to work only part-time in the studio as that is the only way I can achieve my goal.  Yes, I do actually have a goal in mind as to where I want to be in a couple years and with perseverance, I will get there.

Moving forward.

Peace and love,
Rocki

*******************************************

Here's the smoothie recipe that is in the picture with Buddha:

Beet of my Heart Green Smoothie
2 handfuls baby spinach
1 small beet
2 bananas
1 cup strawberries
1 cup hemp milk (or milk of choice - adjust as needed)
1 Tbs flax meal (optional)
1 Tbs maca powder (optional)
1 Tbs raw vegan protein powder (optional)
optional ice if you like a cold smoothie like I do :)

Blend, pour, be thankful for the little things, and enjoy.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Raw Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Cookies and Bliss Balls

Raw Vegan Oatmeal Cookies

My grandma made the best oatmeal molasses raisin cookies.  I can still smell them!  Lots of fun was spent in the kitchen at my grandparents house.  Sweet memories.

My Raw Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Cookies are guilt-free, gluten-free, healthy and very tasty.  They go pretty quick too, so next time I'll make a double batch... maybe even triple. 


in the dehydrator - smells so good!

No worries if you do not have a dehydrator as you can eat these cookies completely raw!  You can form them into cookie shapes or Bliss Balls (see below) - they taste like oatmeal cookie dough! 


Raw Vegan Bliss Balls - Oatmeal Raisin

For this batch I did a little of both and Mark took them to work to share.  I rolled some in hemp heart seeds, some in coconut sugar and the rest I left plain.  Shredded coconut would be a nice topping too... so many choices.

Here's my simple recipe for a yummy healthy treat.  You can adapt to fit your likes.

Raw Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Cookies and Bliss Balls

1 heaping cup of soaked steel cut gluten-free oats (rinsed and drained) - or regular oats
1 cup flax meal
1/2 cup walnuts (soaked and dehydrated - optional)
2 Tbs hemp heart seeds
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp Roasted Saigon Cinnamon
1/4 tsp sea salt

Put into food processor and pulse to combine.

Add in:
1/2 cup packed medjool dates (or dates of choice), process until well combined and can hold it's shape when rolled into a ball.

Add in 1/4 cup full of golden raisins and pulse a few times to mix in.  You can leave the raisins out if you like.

For dehydrated cookies:

Form into balls, sprinkle with a tiny bit of coconut sugar (or sugar of choice) and flatten.  Put onto mesh dehydrator sheet and dehydrate at 115 degrees for approximately 4-6 hours or until desired doneness.  Time will vary due to weather, location, dehydrator, etc.

For bliss balls:

Form into round balls and if desired, roll into coconut shreds, hemp seeds, coconut sugar... or leave plain.  I love them plain.

Store them in the fridge or freezer - if they last that long. 

Peace,
Rocki

Monday, February 10, 2014

Goji Berry Green Smoothie - Raw Vegan Recipe

Raw Vegan Smoothie

I've been having so much fun creating a variety of smoothies lately.  Many of them are ones I've been making for a long time, but never thought to layer them or be so creative!

This one is my antioxidant rich Goji Grape Green Smoothie, garnished with coconut shreds, blueberries and pomegranate.  The Goji Berry (also known as the Wolfberry), are delightfully tasty little berries known in Asia for over 2,000 years as one of the most nutrient rich foods on earth. This superfood is packed with protein, antioxidants and over 20 vitamins and minerals.  You can add them to smoothies, oatmeal, salads, brownies, a variety of recipes... the options are endless!  They make a quickie out of the bag snack too. 

Let's get to my recipe.  Oh and just to note that I use a Vitamix so the texture may be different if you are using a standard blender.  But no worries, it will be delicious just the same!

Goji Berry Green Smoothie

Purple layer: 
1 handful of grapes (about 1 cup)
1 large frozen banana
1/2 cup blueberries
1 heaping Tbs goji berries
1/2 cup coconut water (adjust as needed)

Blend, pour into large measuring cup and set aside in fridge while you make the green layer.

Green layer

1 large handful kale
1 large handful spinach
1 large frozen banana
1 Tbs flax meal (or seed, I grind my own)
2 Tbs protein powder (I use Sunwarrior's Warrior Blend Raw Vegan Protein)
1 tsp Matcha green tea powder
Coconut water - enough to blend.

Layer as you wish and top with garnish or not.  Or, pour both mixtures into a large glass (or 2 small) and swirl together or blend all of the ingredients together and enjoy!  I've done all 3 and it is delicious either way.

Peace,
Rocki