Holy Pepper Jack Cheeseballs!

All I wanted was to indulge in a veggie quesadilla, but instead I got worked by this seemingly innocent cheese that turned out to be the devil in my mouth! Ay Dios Mio!

Farmer's market cheese doesn't mess around, Folks. KNOW THIS!

...With a little help from my friends: salsa fresca, carrot sticks, and tortilla chips, I got the baby down! A little heat does the body good anyway.

Now that my tummy is satisfied, I can think clearly and provide another A+ / Top Notch / Head Honcho post for y'all! 

Today's W i L d C a R d post will be....dun dun duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun <<<queue foreshadowing music>>>

A RECIPE!!! ... BUT not just any recipe...

No! Today, I'm revealing my freshest creation:

The Chunky Chocolate PB Coconut Float!

Ain't that saucy?!?! ...

So the first thing you need to know is that I've been on a cooking kick recently, and have done my fair share of experimentation with new recipes (all MY OWN - thankyouverymuch!). 

The second thing you need to know is that ALL DD Original Recipes remain true to the integrity of the Daily Dubie brand! To me, it's never worth it to sacrifice our health, which is why I always keep things real! When it comes to cooking & baking, I will never use poor quality, processed or refined ingredients, and I do my best to avoid artificial ingredients at all costs (but that's not always a simple task, so I try my best!). 

This here shake was birthed late last night. I typically end my evening with some dark chocolate, but this option was not floating my boat. No, I needed something cold, creamy & chocolaty, so I took to the fridge and pantry to assess what I had to work with. The good news is I usually keep my fridge and pantry very well-stocked with *Daily Dubie Staples* - you know, raw cacao nibs and powder, almond milk, nut butters, frozen fruit, etc.

Here is What I Used:

• 3/4 Cup Cashewtopia Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Divided (half for blender, half to top with)

• 2 T Raw Cacao Nibs
• 1 T Raw Cacao Powder
• 1 T Earth Balance Chunky PB Coconut Spread (you can use ANY nut butter, really, but this is especially great because it's naturally sweet from the coconut)
• 1/2 Cup Almond Milk
• 1 T Enjoy Life Chocolate Chunks

Here's How I Made It:

• Add all ingredients to blender (except for other 1/2 of ice cream you'll use to scoop on top!) & blend!
• Pour into small bowl, add remaining ice cream and top with chocolate chips.
• Let set in freezer for 30 minutes!

and Voíla! 

Here you have yourself one SUPER delicious & nutritious treat that also happens to be...

Dairy-free 

Gluten free

Soy-free

RAW

VEGAN

Hooooooollllllllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh for a doooooooooolllllllllllllllaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!

That's pretty Bad-ACE if you ask me! But don't just take it from me...go on and try the bugger out yourself! I assure you'll be pleasantly surprised! 

Wham! Bam! Thankyouma'am! That's a wrap on today's post! I hope you enjoyed every last bite! 

Let's cheers to the freakin' weekend, People! 

Love & Besos

 xoxo

P.S.: If you haven't done so already, I would LOVE your feedback! Please TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT in my super quick survey! It will only take a hot minute to finish! All you have to do is CLICK HERE!

P.S.S.: I'm gifting my Top 10 Tips To Stay Slim & Sexy This Summer to everyone who completes the survey! Email me "completed" at LAURA@DAILYDUBIE.COM to claim your prize! 

And don't forget to PRESS PLAY ON SONG OF THE DAY!

I am finally sitting my buns down, having a delicious breakfast - I know, It's quarter to 12, but that's how I roll, so sue me -I experimented with a new pancake recipe today, which I'll be sharing with y'all soon, but right now...

I Need Your Help!

I try my best to provide the very best experience for my readers and clients, but in order for me to do that

I Need Your Feedback!

Would you please help a sista out and fill out my super quick survey below? It will only take you a hot minute to complete, promise! The more you tell me, the more I can help you live that healthy, kick-booty life you always dreamed of!

*SPECIAL BONUS* I'm giving away My Top 10 Tips To a Slim & Sexy Summer for those who complete the survey! Simply send me an email with "completed" in the subject line to claim your prize! Send to: laura@dailydubie.com

(In advance) Thank YOU bunches!

 xoxo

Love & Besos

P.S.: You have until Monday, May 21st to fill out the survey & cash in on your giveaway!

Listen to the SONG OF THE DAY while you fill out! Woop!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh <<<long sigh>>> feels good to be back in mah home-sweet-home (although I do miss my family + baby munchkins terribly!). 

But the show must go on, right?!?

I am thrilled to share that I'm feeling more motivated than ever, which is super fabulous & exciting! I think it's due largely to the fact that I was okay with taking it easy on the emails & work while I was sunbathing my life away in Californ-i-a...

Hee-hee, you know I didn't really sunbathe my life away-right?! Although I did manage to score myself a delicious golden tan. Woop! Vitamin D in tha house!  But really, in all sincerity it has taken me quite some time to really be okay with letting go of "the work stuff"  from time to time, because when we are able to willingly unplug, the worry and stress also diminish, which truly allows for

Real Rest + Relaxation & REINSPIRATION...

...Which promotes the evolution and change we NEED to thrive and succeed in this world!

Hoooolllllllllaaaaahhhhhh!

The time we take to disconnect is *sacred* for our mind + body & soul, because during this time there is a shift in perspective, which allows us to reflect, learn, grow and become inspired to make change that will benefit our lives, as well as the lives of those we love. Because after all...

What we DO doesn't define us. How we treat ourselves & others does! It's who you ARE that matters most!

...And if that gets clouded by your every day tasks and responsibilities, it's time to reevaluate what you're doing, so you can really step into the person you want to be. My advice? 

Take a vacation! 

Even if it's just a day, you'll find it refreshing and reinvigorating...but in order to reap the benefits, you have to genuinely WANT it, not force yourself to want it. We clear? 

Here's What's Coming This Week...

• Thursday: "What You Want" Survey + Giveaway for those who participate! 
• Friday: Wildcard! Video? Sound Bite? Recipe? Stay tuned to find out! 

Now, since I have all of this to unpack and organize

I'm going to have to call it a day, Lovers.

Wishing you all beautiful, healthy eves filled with love + hugs & besos!

 xoxo

Check out my FRESH NEW FEATURE: SONG OF THE DAY!

Directions: Press Play & Dance Your Pants Off!

Did y'all do something special with or for your Mamas? I sure hope so, because Mommies make the world go-round! 

As I tweeted less than a minute ago, I will be taking what I'm calling a "mini Daily Dubie hiatus" until I touch back down in the NYC on Wednesday...HOWEVER, I did want to share some photos we took over the weekend & remind y'all to continue to

SEND IN Your Favorite Healthy Summertime Recipes! 

Here is why debuting on the Daily Dubes is soooooooooo amazeballs:

You get to showcase your cooking skills! (or efforts in the kitchen!) 
Provide readers with the motivation to get their buns IN the kitchen, cookin'! 
Inspire readers to experiment with food in a different, yet healthy way! 
Introduce the World Wide Web to your beautiful self! 

Heck yeah!

Now...since I'm lacking deep, informative & lengthy material the next few days, why not just look at the pictures, instead? I know you're always game for that - who isn't?!

What not to give your babies for breakfast...unless it's a special occasion 

Ells & Auntie Lola Poolside 

Buddyman!

Gracers!

The Boys

Mommy with her girls

Mama J with her Girls!

...And that's a wrap Buttercups!

Make your Monday BEAUTIFUL, Happy & Healthy!

MUAH!

 xoxo

P.S.: Email recipes & photos to LAURA@DAILYDUBIE.COM

...It's a rare occasion that I post on a Sunday, but

HEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOO!!! 

...Today's holiday absolutely called for one, BIG, WHOPPING shout out! Without further ado, I'd like to dedicate this post to all of the hard-working Mamacitas of the world! 

Wishing all the Mommies the most special + happy + healthy Mother's Day FILLED with Love & Their Munchkins!

And to My Beautiful Mama...I love you, admire you, and hope that I can be just like you when I'm blessed with little burritos of my own...in a few YEARS! 

I Love You Madge, Mamacita Senorita, Mama J!

...and I can't forget my "other Mama"....

Mama Podes!

Happy Mother's Day Mama P! I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful, loving, fun, & sassy Mama-in-law! Love you! 

My Two Mamas Together!

...And last, but certainly not least, to My Beautiful Older Sis...a Mama 3 times over!!!!

Happy Mother's Day Sister! I love & look up to you so much, especially as a Mommy! You were blessed with three of the most beautiful babies on earth & I love them like a Mommy! 

Let's give it up for all the Mommies & Mommies-to-be on this special day!!! I'm sending each and every one of you all my

LoveHugsKisses

Muah!

 xoxo

It's Friday! It's Friday! It's Friday! It's Friday! It's Friday! It's Friday! It's Friday!

And that means it's time for the Daily Dubie's very first Guest Blog Spot. This is a fabulous opportunity to highlight other hard-working professionals in the health & wellness field, so y'all can get in on some tips & tricks that the Daily Dubes wouldn't otherwise provide for ya! It is my mission to expose you to a well-rounded variety of info to keep things fresh, fun and engaging! Hollah!

Now, without further ado, I give you good friend and fellow Health Coach to busy working professionals

Missus Danielle Santoro

.....................................................................................................................................................................................................

I’m Danielle Santoro, a health counselor and self-proclaimed foodie with a passion for helping stressed out, busy professionals get their health concerns cleared up so they can continue to go after big goals in their life and spend more time with family and friends.

I am honored to be a guest blogger on the Daily Dubie, as I have known Laura for quite a while. We  both grew up in the same So Cal city and ended up moving to the East Coast.  We reconnected while we were attending The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Now, Laura and I have a lot more in common than being 2 California girls living in the Big Apple!

Vital Dish’s Countdown to Memorial Day Weekend

Summer is almost here! Which means you are probably running on overdrive trying to crank out all of your to-do’s at work so you can take some time to enjoy yourself over the holiday weekend. Soon enough things will be winding down and I want to encourage all of you busy women to use the long weekend to decompress from your hectic work schedule.

Below is my list of do’s and don’ts to ensure you get some R&R and feel refreshed when you head back to the office.

Do splurge. Going to a BBQ? Go ahead and indulge in your favorite dessert or have a drink or two. You work hard everyday, you deserve to let loose. Restricting yourself too much, could lead to a binge later on, which is no good. It’s all about balance!

Do tap the breaks for the weekend. You don’t need to be going 100 MPH all the time. Take a moment to smell the roses and have some down time. Catch up on your reading or how about try taking a nap!

Do spend some time outdoors. Take in the fresh air and find a physical activity that you enjoy. Go for a bike ride or a hike, play tennis or chicken in the swimming pool. Bring out the inner kid in you!

Don’t check your blackberry. There’s nothing happening on it anyway, except for BBM. So I advise you to turn it off and spend some quality time with your friends and family. Give them your full attention, sans the electronic devise distraction. I guarantee you a conversation with them is more interesting than what’s happening on your phone.

Don’t beat yourself up if you fall of track. The main goal of the weekend is to enjoy yourself. So what if you had 2 desserts and one too many margaritas? Tomorrow is a new day to start fresh.

Don’t think about what you have to do when you get back to the office. Enjoy the moment, be in the present. It’s OK to have nothing to do for a few days! So bask in the feeling of nothing to do and no where to be. 

Have a happy Memorial Day!

That’s all the dish I have for now! XO

P.S.: For more tips on living a balanced life free of stress and worry check out my website:  Vital Dish

I'm on FULL TIME Auntie duty and relishing in the California SUNSHINE, so I cannot promise an involved post today...<Sigh>...

BUT, I WILL leave you with these precious photos I took of my Munchkins when I arrived home yesterday afternoon. Brace yourself for a massive load of

*. * . * . C u t e n e s s . * . * . *

Enjoy!

LoveHugsKisses

 xoxo

P.S.: Get ready for the first Daily Dubie GUEST BLOG SPOT tomorrow! Woo Hoo!

It's pouring rain here in NYC, but my day couldn't be BRIGHTER! Today is the day I head back to WARM + SUNSHINEY 

CALIFORN-I-A!

Hollaaaaaa for a dollaaaaa! Heck yeah! I can hardly stand waiting to squeeze my precious little munchkin lovers! The anticipation is driving me bananas - fingers crossed my travels go smoothly. 

Today we're getting back into the swing of things, and resuming RECIPE WEDNESDAY! I've already given y'all my two cents, so it's time for me to take a backseat, and hand the wheel over to the lucky Daily Dubie reader who was selected for this week's

Daily Dubie Debut!

Meet Howard

Who is Howard? He's a hard working, kick-booty, beyond AMAZEBALLS Pilates instructor (who also happens to be my instructor)! Howard owns his own studio One Body Pilates in Union Square NYC. He loves good people, good food & working out.

Howard's favorite dish to cook?  He doesn't claim to be the "best of cooks," but he admits to making a pretty awesome turkey burger! 

Why are turkey burgers his favorite dish to cook?  Because they're not dry! Instead, they're juicy and full of flavor, thanks to his secret ingredient: feta cheese!

Howard's healthy cooking tip?  Keep it Simple & try to  eat more greens and vegetables!

Howard's favorite indulgence?  He loves all desserts! He believes that if you have good daily habits-your everyday diet is healthy and you work out regularly-then you can eat whatever you want as long as it's not all the time. He believes It's all about balance! He goes on to say that this idea of balance goes for everything in life-working out, diet, love, and work!  Holla! He adds "We're all trying to find balance in our life and it's ever changing but you have to keep trying!"

WORD UP, Howie! I LOVE that! And what a PERFECT recipe to share, with Summer on the horizon and BBQs in FULL SWING! YUMMY! So let's bring on the... 

TURKEY BURGER!

*Note: quantity is estimated*

INGREDIENTS:

1 lb of Fresh Organic Spinach

3-4 Cloves Garlic

1 lb Organic Ground Turkey (don't get fat free - a little fat adds flavor!

1/2 Cup (more or less depending on pref.) Feta Cheese (try to get 100% grass fed organic)

1-2 T Dijon Mustard

1-2 Eggs

1/3 Cup Breadcrumbs

4-6 Buns

Lettuce, tomato to top *optional*

DIRECTIONS:

Saute spinach and garlic in a pan until wilted. Let cool for 10-20 minutes. In a large mixing bowl, combine turkey, cooled spinach, feta cheese, Dijon mustard, egg(s) and breadcrumbs. Mix ingredients well. Using your hands, form burger patties. Salt & pepper to taste. Throw them on the barbie for a few minutes (or broil them if you don't have access to a grill!).

Daily Dubie Tip: Use Food For Life Sprouted Grain Burger Buns! You can also scoop them out a bit, to remove excess bread and make room for your juicy burger patty! Another tip would be to use whole wheat breadcrumbs for added fiber.

Click here for link to buns!
 

Well these have my mouth watering for a turkey burger at the ripe young hour of 9:38 a.m....fantastic recipe Howard! Let's give it up to him for sharing! And remember...

To get your chance at a Daily Dubie Debut, just send your favorite recipes (and photos if possible!) to laura@dailydubie.com. It's your chance to...

Showcase your cooking skills! 
Provide readers with the motivation to get their buns IN the kitchen, cookin'!
Inspire readers to experiment with food in a different, yet healthy way!
Introduce the World Wide Web to your sexy self!

On that note, I need to skedaddle into the shower and get my buns ready to head back to the WEST COAST, Baby! Woop!

Wishing you all GORGEOUS & SLAP HAPPY DAYS!

Beso Beso

 xoxo

Happy TEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWSDAY!

...There's no time for chatter, I've got errands to run, bags to pack and a whole lotta 'ish to do to prepare for The Big C-A, so let's DIVE RIGHT IN, shall we?!  

Yesterday, one of my clients asked me

"Which fruits are good, and which are bad?"

ANSWER: ALL FRUITS ARE BENEFICIAL TO OUR HEALTH, and therefore should never be avoided.

The question is an oxymoron in and of itself. Any person who will tell you otherwise is filled with hogwash. I don't want to get off topic, so I'll save my lengthy explanation for another time, but I will leave you with this:

When processed, artificial energy bars, cured meats, or dairy products are considered "better options" than a piece of fruit, I would venture to call it bullsh*t. There is no logic in that. NONE whatsoever.

So, here's a rule of thumb you can keep handy when you're in a pickle about what the healthier option is: You can never eat too many fruits or vegetables. EVER! EVER, EVER, EVER!

Holllaaaaaahhhhhh!

We clear? Fabulous! Let's move on...

Now, let's talk about something we are all guilty of doing... I call it:

FOOD JUDGMENT!

You know, those times when you think to yourself, "gosh I really want that piece of pizza, but I'm going to be "good" and have some grilled chicken breast instead." That stuff! 

But let's break it down even further... 

What does "good" or "bad" really mean to you? Are you judging the food? -Nutritious? Low in Calories? Low in Carbs? High in Fat? High in Calories? Or, are you judging yourself? 

Ding! Ding! Ding! ...If you answered: YOURSELF!

This is really sucky because when we judge ourselves based off of what we eat, we fuel a self-destructive cycle that makes it more and more difficult for us to reach our goals and get to that happy, healthy, kick-booty life we all want AND DESERVE! 

When we eat something we deem as “bad,” it triggers feelings of guilt, frustration, self-defeat, weakness, sadness...you know all those nasty emotions that make us feel like useless pieces of you-know-what! You can see how doing this eats away at your self-esteem and buries you deep into a cycle of what is essentially self-abuse! You're playing mind games with yourself, don't be fooled! 

So, WHY then do we do this? Well, to begin with the act eating is an extremely emotional experience because it taps into all of our senses. Eating is everything! It's tradition, family, relationships, celebration, health, life, death, happy, sad-you name it! Our life depends on food for Godsakes! This is a reality we cannot change. HOWEVER, we can and must change our perspective on the matter if we want to feel fulfilled and happy in our lives. This might sound like a bunch of hoo hoo, but by putting an end to food labeling, you will feel liberated and tap into what your body really wants and needs.

AND this has not a gosh darn thing to do with what's "healthier, lower in calories, lower in carbs, or lower in fat!"

Sometimes having that piece of pizza IS the "healthiest" option for you!

For example, you're at a delicious Italian restaurant with a group of your friends, everyone is sharing pizza. Now on paper you know that pizza isn't the healthiest option, but you love pizza and want to enjoy it in the company of your friends. And that's the essence of eating = ENJOYMENT, not TORTURE! The moment it becomes a decision you think you "should" make, is the moment you should recognize that you are not making the best decision for YOU! It doesn't make sense. It's like dieting on a trip to Paris. It doesn't make sense!

On the flip side, I also don't mean that just because 'everyone else is doing it' you should too. No. If you truly don't want pizza, and know it will make you feel unpleasant, then listen to your body and get what you know it needs. Likewise, if you eat something unhealthy when you don't really want it, those same negative feelings will resurface.

I'll leave you with this. We're not perfect, so of course there will be moments we overeat, or shove something down our throat that we wish we hadn't, HOWEVER, BE OKAY WITH IT, and know that you'll make the better decision next time. Dwelling also adds fuel to the fire, so move on, and move on quick!  

That's all I've got for ya today Petunias! 

Love & Hugs

 xoxo

P.S.: Calendar Update: Recipe Wednesday will be returning TOMORROW (on it's usual day)! Guest Blogger to come Friday! Woop!

Ohhhhhh my goodness sakes...I'm still coming down from the "Juice Cleanse Trauma," annnnd Cinco de Mayo festivities-Had my fair share of Skinnygirls-so bear with me.  But how about YOU?!...

How You Doin'?

I hope everyone's feeling *schnazzy, *dazzly and ready for a dose of the Daily Dubes, because I've got some seriously exciting juice coming your way! -no pun intended 

Let me break-it-down for ya!

This week I head out West to the Golden State / C A L I F O R N - I - A! Heck-to-tha-YEAH!

• Sunshine, check.
• Warm weather, check.
• Handsome Husband, check.
• Fabulous Family, check.
• Beautiful Babies, check.
• Bobby D's home cookin', check.
• Mama J's Sunday suppers, check.

It doesn't get much better than that, and boy am I looking forward to it!

I neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed it like I need to breathe! 

California and Family alike keep me grounded, calm and always seems to put the 'what's really important' into perspective. The West coast is the Yin to my New York Yang.

While I'm away, you can expect to hear (and maybe see) some SoCal shenanigans go down, so keep those eyeballs peeled! I won't disappoint ...

On that note, now is the perfect opportunity for us to take a look at 

What's In Store This Week!

• Tuesday, May 8th: We're digging deep! I'm going to tackle the omnipresent "food judgment" problem- i.e.: "I was bad last night because I had pizza, but tonight I'm going to be good." With explanation and analysis of this behavior, I hope the mere awareness of the fact will help stop us from judging ourselves for what we eat! Food judgment is the fuel to a self-destructive fire, people! It's time to put that fire out, and Mrs. Daily D is here to extinguish!-(that was totally cheesy, but again, had to say it).

• Wednesday , May 9th: The Daily Dubie will feature it's first surprise Guest Blogger while she's travels cross-country! Get excited! She's hot, young & healthy and has some fabulous tips and tricks she'd like to share with you, so listen up! More information to come! ...

• Thursday, May 10th: Recipe Wednesday will be today! Will you be the lucky one??? To submit, send recipes & photos to laura@dailydubie.com

• Friday, May 11th: It's a WILDCARD! Video? Interview? Food? Exercise? Family? Mindless Chitter Chatter? Show & Tell? ...You'll have to wait and see! 

Okie Dokie...that's a wrap on today! 

Wishing you all *STUNNING EVES*, filled with Love, sweet, love! 

Muah!

 xoxo