Kitchen Organization: A Guest Post from Get Clarity Out of Chaos

Please welcome my girl Kelsey of Get Clarity Out of Chaos... She helped me organize my kitchen, though this picture above is my handy work...  she helped me get rid of so much shit I just didn't need and may have seen my cry over parting with pint glassses... Here are some tips from Kelsey.

What skeletons do you have in your kitchen cabinets? A shot glass collection?  Maybe you went on a "tea kick" once and have 40 different types of (unopened) teas to prove it.  Or is it possible that you, GASP, haven't checked the expiration dates on your condiments since you moved into your house and have mustard that is older than some of the summer interns at your office?  I used to work at an advertising agency that only had book publishing clients.  Which means I have more cookbooks than anyone could ever possible need, ever.  But books are my vice and everyone has a vice.  Whatever you are hiding away in your cabinets, a little de-cluttering can make it feel like you have a brand new kitchen.  You'd be surprised by how amazing it feels to get rid of those skeletons.

5 Reasons You're Not Achieving Your Goals & What You Can Do About it NOW!!

Today I bring you a guest post from Laura Allahverdi of Laura's Life & Biz Coaching. She's become a friend of mine since reaching out to me when I lamented about not making money from my blog. Well in just a few messages this woman turned me from I can't to I CAN! She amazed me with how she was able to get to the heart of the issue so quickly. 

If you have never heard of life coaching, it is like therapy, but more goal oriented. This person will guide you and help motivate you and even educate you on achieving your goals.
 
I have always intended this blog to be about more than food. Even though the title is NY Foodgasm, I believe NY Foodgasm is a brand based on living life loud! Well Laura helped me turn up the volume on my ambitions. Here is just a little taste of her expertise!

Then & Now - from bullied to beautiful

Most of us have struggled with being bullied. This is my story and the story of how I moved past that struggle. If I had the courage, this is what I would have said to them.

This is my most personal post to date. It's hard for me to write, yet I come to it with some sense of ease. Everyone has a story about a bully, most of us have been teased at one time or another.

This is my story...

I was overweight since age 10. At first I was blending in well, then middle school hit, and maybe it was the hormones..., we all started changing. That's when it started for me. At first it was more or less innocent, a little teasing about my weight or my teeth but nothing too harsh. (I had bad teeth too!) Not sure when exactly, maybe 7th grade, I realized I was heavier than the other kids and I became a target. A big fat target.

Comments followed as I walked down the hall. Kids yelled "Boom, boom, boom" because I was heavy. Others called me sofa instead of Sophia, referring to my size. One kid threw gum into my hair in English class. I actually yelled at that kid but besides that one time, I usually suffered in silence. I let them get the better of me.

These comments they made- they became my story. They became the person I told myself I was. Not good enough, not pretty, not cool, someone without value.

It reached the most horrific point when I received a letter in the mail. It had a picture of a sexy naked lady from a nudie magazine folded inside. Written over it in black sharpie was something to this effect:

"You wish you looked like this. You're fat, you're ugly and no one will ever love you!"

Just writing these words make me wince in pain and embarrassment. What I've just told you, I've never even told my own parents. I threw that letter out and sobbed alone. I think I was 13.

Now here's the thing, if I was a jerk and made enemies I can understand receiving such a thing in the mail, but I was peaceful. I just wanted to be friends and never made an enemy at school. Someone went out of their way to hurt me. Someone put effort into choosing a picture, writing on it, and mailed it to me. Still don't know who it was.

All through high school I didn't fit it. Guys asked me out as a joke. Popular girls laughed at me. Once I was invited to a sleepover so that the cool girls could do mean things to me when I fell asleep, but a funny thing happened. They realized they liked me when they got to know me.

Now, I've done some shit I'm not proud of. I wanna admit it right here. Prime example; this guy I had a crush on asked me, dared me to pull another girls hair, I'll call her V. I did it and I was disgusted. How could I? I became the kind of person that made me suffer for so long.

(In fact, I took a break from writing to tell her that I was sorry. I think I may have already apologized, but I wanted to be sure. I'm friends with her now on social media.)

For years after I got that letter, the names people called me was what I believed of myself. I was fat, ugly and no one would love me. It haunted me still and I didn't realize it until, as an adult, I was able to see that it was all all just a story I was told. Inside, I believed that I was amazing. With the help of a close group of friends in college, I started to realize that I was cool, people liked me and I was fun to be around.

I never had a boyfriend and I was still a virgin all through college, and even some time afterwards.

I'd like to say it all changed in college, but I didn't. I had a Scarlet O'Hara obsessed roommate Freshman year, she used me to get close to a guy she liked, she pretended to be a guy to ask me out and generally made my first year sorta hellish. But I did meet an awesome group of girls I am still friends with to this day. The liked me the way I was, they encouraged me and made me feel I was the amazing person I thought I could be. (Love you Marie, Jamie and Megan!! XOXO!)

This was where I started to love myself....

After college I met the best dude in the whole fucking world, just when I thought I would never find love. He fell out of the sky and saw the awesome inside me: saw the person I hoped I was, the person I wanted to be and he loved her despite her size. He loved everything about me and no change was needed. It was his love and unconditional support that got me where I am today.

I made the choice to lose weight after we were married. My choice was based on my realization I was becoming physically unhealthy. I tried and failed a couple times at losing weight and then I actually did it. I lost 73 pounds and kept it off. My weight was the one thing I wanted to change. I didn't want to be skinny, just to fit in a straight size, but I never thought I could do it. I heard those voices in my head. You're fat, you're ugly, no one loves you was whispered to me all along. When I realized how horribly I spoke about myself, to myself, I replaced the voices. I replaced them with you're worth it, you want this and you have every right to it!

I was conscious of my thoughts and my inner voice for two weeks and turned it around. That was when I really started dropping the pounds.

By conquering this beast I knew I could do anything! So I started this blog and I feel like I shoulda shared this with you sooner.

 

So if I ever found out who sent me that horrible note in the mail I would tell them,

"I'm fucking fabulous & loved by many especially myself!"

My calling is to make a contribution, to inspire and to help others be happy.

Through food, through fitness, some encouragement and with a nice pint of beer!

But mostly I want you to know... you are amazing, you are beautiful and you can make a contribution to the world!

By turning your mean girl voice into a supportive friend, you can accomplish ANYTHING!

I would like to hear YOUR stories here in the comments or email them to me if you feel uncomfortable.

What mean things have people said to you in your past & what would you say to them now?

How have you overcome bullying?

2015 Goals: To do and not do in 2015!

Resolutions are really just goals in my mind, Like Yoda says, "Do or do not, there is no try." Here is what I want to accomplish and to not do in 2015!

Like Yoda says, "Do or do not, there is no try." I am a BIG believer in this. Work hard, play hard, all that jazz. It works for me. I have done well with my goals from last year. I shared in a previous post I accomplished ALL my goals from last year. ALL! But I didn't completely finish one. Either way this writing shit down makes it REAL!

The Writing Process- A Blog Tour

Learn a little about me and my process and what makes me tick.

So what is the deal with this? Like what the hell is a writing process blog tour? Well it is a way to learn about me and my process, basically what the hell goes on in my crazy train brain...  Hmmmmm are you sure you wanna know?

Well Debi from Life Currents invited me to do this, so I guess she was brave enough to ask how I work and what makes me tick.

I met Debi over a year ago, she was one of my first blogger friends and a fan. We share a love for bourbon and were considering a bourbon joint post sometime. Well anyways, I didn't even notice for a while she was vegetarian... that is because her food just looks delicious and filling like a complete meal. She is like a totally cool, non-preachy vegetarian.


Check out some of her work....

Maple Brown Sugar Bourbon Blackberries      Bourbon Banana Walnut Bread

Over this past year of knowing her she has been the most supportive blogging friend ever. She always shares, likes and comments... but like really awesome enthusiastic comments that will make you feel REALLY good if for some reason you're dragging that day. The first month I met her she sent me a thoughtful gift in the mail. Like seriously, so sweet, so supportive and generally a beautiful soul! So THANK YOU Debi for inviting me to join you in this!

OKAY here we go..... MY Writing Process

1- What am I currently working on?

Lots of stuff! I always have a bajillion ideas and time for only a couple.

I may have my first recipe published what should be a very popular book. Fingers crossed, but I must keep mum.

I write for a couple local Edible publications so I always got something brewing... I am the their chick beer writer and photographer.

Healthy water infusion recipes inspired by cocktails. Next is 5 smoothies with 5 ingredients or less... I am getting inspired by buzfeed and thrillist.

I will also be having guest contributors in nutrition and fitness. Experts in their arenas to give you guys some awesome info on how to live a NY Foodgasm lifestyle- living out loud!

Planning on entering the video arena soon. I want people to get the full effect of Sophia up in their face.

Then I also wanna redesign the blog... but let's not talk about that beast just yet.

2- How does your work differ from others in your genre?

I pride myself in my originality. I guess I would consider myself a healthy food blogger with some crazy ass decadent eats in between. So my working tagline is "Healthy food with an attitude!" I think that pretty much sums me up.

I live a healthy, yet totally realistic lifestyle. My 80% healthy and 20% bacon and beer is how I do it. What also sets me apart is my street cred. I lost a lot of weight, over 70 pounds and kept it off. But you won't find any boring healthy shit here. Life is about fun and I want to enjoy every damn meal and be fit as a fiddle.

I am a natural entertainer, as my husband says... so I like to keep my posts short and really fun.

3- Why do I write what I do?

You are gonna call me a cheese ball... but this is how I will make a difference in the world. As fun as I am... I am inside totally dead sober serious about this blog, the pictures I take and the recipes I make.

This blog started as a way for me to share my healthy recipes with friends, but from there I realized I can reach the world- I can touch, move and inspire people to live healthier, happier lives. To bring happiness to others is really what I aim to do.

I worked REALLY hard to completely change my lifestyle and live life in the drivers seat... (NOT the passenger seat). I want to help others do the same, but have FUN doing it. It doesn't have to be a drag... or totally serious and boring.

4- How does your writing process work?

First off I still feel really weird calling myself a writer. A writer to me is some dude in a room locked up in his attic using a typewriter and words like "dubious" or "incredulously" LOL. Someone that writes about politics or world issues that has some fancy degree and sometimes wears a smoking jacket.

So I am totally NOT that and I ain't gonna win a Pulitzer prize... and I am finally growing into this new "title". I write my thoughts, feelings and I entertain with words.


OKAYYYYYY- but back to my process. As you can see I get off topic VERY easily and have a hard time focusing.

Recently I have become more organized. I plan posts now a few weeks in advance to help myself stay on task. (I still change my mind though sometimes, so it's flexible.)

My ideas are inspired by other blogs, pinterest and the world. Sometimes ideas are sparked in conversations. I find myself having food planning conversations with my friend Will, he like for real worked in a restaurant and kitchen and knows the "real" and "proper" ways to do shit.

I am very intuitive about my shoots, I run fast and loose and all over to find the best light.

I make a HUGE mess, my husband isn't too fond of that part... I am like the Pollock of the kitchen.

Summer Weight Loss Challenge- Week 4

This week's tip: Show yourself some LOVE

Have you ever noticed how you talk to yourself? That voice in your head? Take a good listen, chances are there all sorts of negative mean spirited bullying going on. We are, often, our worst critics. So this week I want you to take notice of how you talk to yourself... then try and imagine what you best friend would say to you!

I had this revelation when talking to a friend a few years ago. We were talking about weight loss and often how you think in terms of black and white and expect perfection from yourself. We were talking and I realized I always tell myself... "You're not good enough..."

So for a week a consiously listened in on this dialogue to myself..... the very first day I will never forget what I noticed.I was at the gym- I was about 40-50 pounds heavier than I am now and this is what was running through my head.

"What the hell am I doing here, these people probably think I am hopeless and look disgusting... how did I get this heavy? I look like a joke." (that is the basic jist)

I then realized what I was doing and I turned it around on myself- I thought where is the positive in this situation? Okay I could see it, like a best friend would tell me.

"Actually Sophia you are fucking brave and you DESERVE to be here more than anyone, you need this, you want this and you DESERVE to be healthy. You are taking charge of your health, good for you!"

So this week I implore you to listen to your voice and show yourself some much deserved love. You have the power to change and do ANYTHING you set your mind to, if you're on your own side.

Week 3 in review

My lowpoint - Tuesday eating a small hot fudge sundae at Carvel. Yeah I ate that bitch right up. I had a hard day and was feeling pretty crappy about myself from work. An old friend of mine got a promotion and is now giving me orders on a project. It reminded me that I am exactly at the same job that is totally beneath my skill set. I felt like an utter failure. But to see this from the bright side I got the sundae in a SMALL and I got nonfat ice cream. So I am proud of myself for that!

My high point- Thursday Dinner out with a friend- ordered some gourmet meatballs and a side of bacon risotto. I did NOT finish my meal. I knew the risotto was full of fat and calories and I had a weekend ahead of me. I knew I was gonna want to eat something extra or have some beer. So I didn't finish my food and silently did a happy dance. I am damn proud I didn't finish all that food, even though I wanted to!

The bottom line my last weigh day I did not gain or lose, I stayed the same. I'm hoping for a loss of .5 on Tuesday when I weigh in.

Summer Weight Loss Challenge - Week 3

We all think in extremes... to lose weight I have to work out 5 days a week and stop eating junk food and start eating salad like every day. Then to make matters worse you try and do it all at once... Does this sound familiar?

The truth is your setting yourself up for failure, no one can make those changes overnight and you would hate living. Then honestly WTF is the point?!

Do not try and start with these HUGE lofty goals. Start with stupidly simple goals. Like seriously idiot proof. Something that you absolutely KNOW you can achieve.

For example: Say you don't work at all, just the sight of a gym makes you cringe. Well can you take a walk around the block once a week, just once? Totally!

Another example: You're obsessed with soda, you drink like 4 a day. Well maybe you cut it down to 3 a day.

The point is when you set a completely attainable goal, you achieve it. That makes you feel good about yourself, then you can move to the next level of that goal. That positive reinforcement gives you confidence and makes you feel great that you did something you wanted to do for yourself, more importantly you kept your word to yourself!

Conversely when we set goals too high and are unable to achieve them we think negatively about ourselves, making our self esteem plummet and that causes you to fall off the wagon and jump into a pile of twinkies.

So even if you think it is dumb... humor me and try it out.

Sign up to join in the summer weight loss challenge here and here. 

Let me know YOUR small goal for this week in the comments below!

Pina Colada Pound Cake

Why is this a Foodgasm? 

Piña Colada is the stuff summer is made of and I don't know about you, but I could use a slice of summer. If you're in the part of this country where you experience the bitter cold...I know you are sooooo done with all of this. I have the answer here! A lowfat easy and delish  piña colada poundcake. 

Loaded with not only fresh pineapple and coconut milk- it also has coconut oil and is covered in toasted coconut. This dense and delish cake is a treat you don't have to feel any guilt for at all! 

What you need

1 cup sugar
1/4 cup coconut oil, warmed up in microwave to become a liquid.
3/4 cup crushed pineapple
1 egg + 1 egg white
1 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup Greek yogurt
zest of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups white whole wheat flour
 1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

How to make it

Preheat oven to 350º
1- In a mixer with paddle attachment, cream together sugar and coconut oil.
2- Add in the egg and egg white with the Greek yogurt, coconut milk and vanilla extract, be sure to scrape sides if you see the sugar and coconut oil sticking to the sides.
3- With the mixer on low, slowly add in your dry ingredients and mix until well combined.

4- Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Will be very moist!

#HolidayDetox Part 2- Start your day off right!

You know how if you have a bad morning it can ruin your WHOLE day. Like you wake up and the dog has chewed one of your shoes, it's raining outside and you ran out of coffee?! Well a bad start to your day can give the rest of the day a nasty outlook. Similarly if you start your day with an unhealthy breakfast or no breakfast at all it can have a negative impact on all food choices that follow. So that is why the second post in the #HolidayDetox series is about healthy, easy and delicious breakfast choices. Sophia tested and approved. Me and Jennifer from Peanut Butter and Peppers gotcha covered!! She makes some of the BEST healthy breakfasts I have EVER seen!! Go to the bottom of the posts for some pics and links to today's recipe!

In the beginning of my weight loss journey my breakfast either did not exist or it consisted solely on carbs, even sugary carbs. Skipping breakfast seems like a great way to save calories, but you wind up being so hungry at lunch you not only consume what you missed for breakfast and would each for lunch, you usually eat more than you would in those two meals had you not been "hangry". LOL! It took me a long time to realize this. I also realized if I started the day with sugar I craved it the ENTIRE day! So, when I started my weight loss journey, I knew I needed a meal that would fill me up for hours, but not break the bank in calories or WW points. 

BIG change starts with a single baby step, and then several after that!

So I started making my own healthy breakfasts. I started with Greek yogurt, the pre-flavored ones, then eventually moved to plain and added in my own flavors. I learned I could make my own flavor combos that would cost me less WW point and calories, since the pre-flavored ones usually have lots of sugar added. It is all in baby steps. You gotta do what you a comfortable with. So having breakfast at all is a good step and one that may take time to become a habit. This stuff doesn't happen overnight so be patient and kind to yourself. There is nothing wrong with you! Start with a SMALL commitment. For example if you don't eat breakfast at all, start by committing to eating breakfast twice a week. If you eat breakfast that isn't so healthy, commit to a healthy breakfast twice a week. You see where this is going.  

My breakfast evolution went something like this
Farina with Chocolate Chips
Honey Nut Cheerios
Instant Oatmeal Packets
Pre-Flavored Greek yogurt
The cheesy grits phase!
Plain Greek Yogurt with fruit and Stevia
Plain Greek Yogurt with Cheerios
Instant Oatmeal Packet with Greek Yogurt Added
Chocolate Smoothies
Fruit Smoothies 
Green Smoothies with no added sugar

This is over the course of like 2 years! So this stuff takes time and I understand if you don't jump right in to the Green Smoothie, I get it. It seems weird and intimidating and like a "health food" LOL.

 Now for my first round of recipes!

Triple Toasted Coconut Oatmeal Bars

Why is this a Foodgasm?

You like coconut? Well this not only has shredded coconut inside the bar, but is also made with coconut milk and coconut sugar. New to cooking with both? Me too! But it gave it an even more pronounced coconut flavor. This has the texture of a really soft granola bar. It is kinda cakey in a way. I love the texture and I LOVE that is tastes so good I wanna go back for more! The nice thing is it is not too sweet, just sweet enough to make it feel like a treat, without that gross feeling after you eat a muffin.

Why is it healthy?

This baby is PACKED with protein and whole grains. It is also VERY low in fat and sugar. Compare the stats below with your favorite granola bar or breakfast bar. Plus you made it yourself with ingredients you can pronounce!

What you need

2 cups steel cut oats
1 cup 0% fat Greek yogurt
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
1/3 cup coconut sugar
1/3 cup pecan pieces
1/3 cup coconut flakes plus 1/4 cup to toast on top

How to make it

Preheat oven to 350º
1- Mix together all ingredients except 1/4 cup coconut flakes for the top.
2- Grease a square 9"x9" baking pan and pour in batter and add coconut flakes to the top
3- Bake for about 35 minutes.

Nutritional Information

Happy Green Smoothie

Why is this a Foodgasm?

I discovered this by accident. I did an online challenge called The Live More Weigh Less Challenge. The second day's challenge was to make a green smoothie. It was basically a way for you to start the day right, thinking of your health. So I was like, you know what I am gonna give it a go. I was committed! I totally thought it was gonna taste gross. I thought okay what sort of greens do I have, well I had my FAVE arugula. I am basically obsessed with the beautiful peppery taste of arugula! I knew I had to cut the bitterness with something sweet- another fave honeycrisp apple! Only the best and sweetest apples EVER! Most smoothies then add water, ummmm ewwwww. I wanted my smoothie to be creamy and provide some protein so I also added some nonfat Greek yogurt and low fat milk to loosen it. You know what.....I was shocked I actually liked it and found myself craving them and it was good for me too! YAY! Score!

Why is it healthy?

Did you hear the part about the arugula and apple...non fat yogurt. It's a win all around. Antioxidents, protein, vitamins and minerals. It is also a pleasant happy green color. Not a scary deep green.

What you need

1 1/2 cups Arugula
1/2 cup Non Fat Greek Yogurt
1 cup diced Honeycrisp Apple
1/2 cup low fat milk (I used 2%)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

 How to make it

1-Put everything in a blender and blend on high until completely combined and liquified.

Nutritional Information

Jennifer's Recipes from Peanut Butter and Peppers

Get them ALL here!

Bircher Muesli

 Oatmeal Pumpkin Breakfast Smoothie

Strawberry Shortcake Pancakes