Vegan on a Budget (Recipes, Review & Giveaway)

You know I love my vegan cookbooks. I have shelves full of them to prove it. I'm a little more discriminating now when buying or reviewing cookbooks because I've run out of room to store them. But I jumped at the chance to review Olivia Biermann's cookbook, Liv B's Vegan on a Budget: 112 Inspired and Effortless Plant-Based Recipes. Why? For one, I like the vegan on a budget concept. (It's a common misconception that vegan eating has to be expensive.) But my favourite thing about this plant-based cookbook is that the recipes are super simple to prepare.

Despite being the creator of a popular vegan YouTube channel, Liv B doesn't want to spend tons of time in the kitchen. I completely understand - I love food but I opt for dinners that take less than an hour to prepare. The recipes in Vegan on a Budget - from breakfast to dessert - don't call for fancy or expensive ingredients and they are quick and easy to make. This cookbook is perfect for students, beginner vegans, busy parents and anybody who enjoys everyday plant-based meals that are simple to put together.

Girl's Teen Bedroom Decor Updates (With A Brunswick Mattress Review & Giveaway!)

It's been over four years since we changed my daughter's bedroom from very pink to very purple. Now that she's in high school, she's once again ready for a whole new look. She's thinking a mix of boho and vintage, with lots of white, will be just the right fit. We'll probably paint the walls this summer when the inertia of winter lifts, but in the meantime we wanted to make her bedroom look and feel more cozy for this extremely cold winter.

Instant Pot (Pressure Cooker) Maple Pecan Oatmeal & 6 More Amazing Vegan Breakfast Recipes

Oatmeal is oatmeal is oatmeal. Yes? With the resurgence in popularity of this classic grain, we know that's not so. Oatmeal can be thick, cold and clumpy. (My granny used to make it early in the morning and leave it on the back of the stove for my mom and her brothers to eat much later. Eek.) Oatmeal can also be creamy, warm and delicious, with lots of flavourful and healthy toppings. I vote to eat it that way. With that in mind, I'm sharing my simple recipe for steel-cut oats cooked up in the Instant Pot. There are endless ways to flavour your oatmeal - in this case I'm going with maple pecan. Because I'm Canadian. So maple syrup.

Plus, I've joined together with some vegan blogging friends to share six more amazing plant-based breakfast recipes. Trust me, they are mouthwatering. You'll want to get together with friends and make all of these recipes, for a fantastic vegan brunch.

Quick, Healthy Vegan Coconut Tahini Freezer Fudge (gluten-free, nut-free)

I know that the tahini freezer fudge trend has been going strong for a while now, but I nevertheless wanted to share my own variation of this delicious, addictive, healthy dessert recipe sensation. If you have not yet heard of tahini fudge, it might sound just a little bit odd. Tahini is for making hummus, right? Well yes it is. But it turns out you can also make some very nice fudge with it. Will it taste like tahini? Kind of. In a good way. Read on for the details.

Après-Ski Party With Vegan Chocolate Fondue

An après-ski party is just what it sounds like - a party after skiing. Because, while we ski independently, it's also nice to hang with friends and family on a ski day. That "we" should be in quotations because I do not ski. Ever. I went skiing once in high school and it wasn't for me. I kept throwing myself down on my butt on purpose to avoid picking up speed.

Fortunately my husband and my kids like to ski. (I have a few characteristics I'm happy my kids didn't inherit, like cowardice.) I'm always open to going along on a skiing excursion, so long as there is some sort of ski lodge with abundant hot beverages and maybe a liqueur or two. I'm certainly willing to join in for a little chocolate fondue party at any time as well.

Après-Ski Blog Hop

My thanks to Ariel from PMQ For Two for arranging a blog hop around all things après-ski and winter fun. At the bottom of this post, you'll find links to other bloggers' lovely ideas for après-ski happenings. There will be new posts each day until Thursday this week, so come back daily for new additions.

Top 5 Vegan Recipes of 2018

If you are a lover of good old-fashioned carbs, head right this way! I have rounded up the five most popular vegan recipes on the blog from last year and it looks like muffins, bread and desserts came out on top. Of course, these are also my favourite types of recipes to make and create, so there are more of them on the blog.

For those on a New Year's health kick, don't fret. These homemade, natural goodies fit into a healthy diet. Four of these recipes incorporate fruit or dried fruit and all are made with simple, wholesome ingredients. Instead of eggs, I use healthier chia or flax "eggs." As with anything, moderation is key. Weight loss (if that's your goal) is achievable with a plant-based diet that includes carbs. Just eat less and move more! So read on. Carb-lover's heaven awaits.

How To Get Comfy When You've Got Your Period

*This post is sponsored by Natracare. All opinions are authentic and my own. Thank you for supporting the awesome companies that partner with Woman in Real Life.*

As a woman, you can expect to get your period about 450 times over 30+ years. With a long list of potential monthly symptoms such as muscle aches, headaches, bloating, tender breasts, fatigue, acne, digestive upset and the dreaded menstrual cramps, periods aren't for the faint of heart. Good thing women are so strong.

As much as we try to ensure that our menstrual cycles don't interfere with our jobs and routines, we can certainly benefit from some extra love and care when we're on our periods. Don't feel guilty if you need to take a time out from the world. I know this can be hard to do if you're working a lot or if you have small children, but try to get some rest when possible. With this in mind, I'm sharing suggestions for 10 simple ways to nurture yourself when you have your period. Go ahead and get cozy!