Hi Everyone!
I can’t believe the month October is already 2/3 gone! It’s almost Halloween!
Are you guys planning anything special this year??
I had a conversation with our WIAW host Jenn about Jack ‘O Lanterns and how we should cut or paint a pumpkin this year.. I think I will make my first Jack ‘O Lantern this year and I’ll show you the photo once I’m done carving 
I hope I’ll be able to keep all my limbs
I haven’t been posting a lot because I’ve attended a Salsa Dance Festival this weekend! 
It was amazing! It started on Thursday with a pre-party and we had workshops all day on Saturday and Sunday! I seriously have blisters on parts of my feet I didn’t even know possible!
–> One funny thing to mention is that I’ve never really taken basic lessons (which I’m gonna take a.s.a.p. now ) however one of the guys I met at the festival made me enter the dance competition which took place at the last party of the event – at random 1 guy and 1 girl got picked to dance together and compete against the other couples – I thought it was gonna be a huge disaster, but faith linked me to Nick himself which made me relax a little bit more and I just went for it.. So, this is what happened:
–>Second round: Play – we had to express ourselves to the music and tell a story – our story line was “we’re on a cruise ship, we meet and fall heavily in love, the ship sinks, we strand on an island, there’re cannibals who’re trying to eat us but we survive and live happily ever after…”
Easy right?! Anyway.. I had a brilliant expressive partner and with some love making on a hotel towel, swimming for our lives on the floor and other dramatic moves we WON the competition!!
For everyone who knows me as introvert.. you should have seen me going lol
–> Our price? Next year… we’ll be back because we’ve won free tickets for the whole festival of 2013!
I seriously can’t wait and this made me realize once again how much I love to dance!
I think I need to take this advice and get back into dancing – even if it’s just socially as a hobby instead of professionally which I’ve always strived to achieve before getting anorexic 8 years ago.. I haven’t accepted my loss (of a professional dance career) yet, but I think I’m ready to forgive myself. Life happened as it did, and I should be able to enjoy my passion without feeling hurt, guilt and regret. Life’s too short to worry about what could have been, we need to JUST BE 
As for now… back to food for this weeks What I Ate Wednesday
For breakfast I had mashed – leftover – sweet potato with coconut milk, cinnamon, shredded coconut, and one scoop of protein powder. It might look a little odd and unappetizing but it’s SO GOOD!! I love sweet – so I added some stevia, but it’s actually pretty tasty without as well! Please give it a go some day, I bet you’ll love it
These were carrot cake meets Dutch “speculaas” inspired protein squares – YUM – I made these on Thursday last week to last me all week long (I made 24 squares in total). It’s my go to protein-rich snack! I took 5 squares with me on both Saturday and Sunday to keep me fueled between Salsa workshops at the Salsa Festival Haarlem I had a blast this weekend! I danced my ass off and I’ve got blisters all over my feet, but it was worth it
Cooked broccoli, avocado-sauce, sesame seeds, olives, basil and a pan-fried egg post workout as my lunch — YUMMY
I made a few pictures… so here’s another one!
Close-up of the veggies!
This was my dessert sorta meal – one hour after lunch – a bowl of yogurt with seeds and walnuts and raspberries.
You know me… I need to have my yogurt fix every day
I bought my mum some basil yesterday – her favorite herb I seriously can’t make her as happy with anything else, lol – anyway… doesn’t it look super cute in this red pot? It makes me happy to have fresh herbs in the kitchen! I love the smell and sight!
Look at these cuties! They’re me + my mum’s fruit & veggie angels! They’re called Sonny Angels. Have you ever heard of them before? From left to right we’ve got an onion, tomato, carrot and lemon
Dinner was millet flake porridge and cooked carrots – blend together with some veggie broth to make a soup – I added some curry spices and fresh parsley. Super delicious! A girlfriend of mine who doesn’t like soup agrees with me on this one so if you ever want a thick and creamy soup – try adding some millet or quinoa flakes! It works wonders!
Photo # 2 – I served this with some toasted pumpkin seeds on the side for an extra crunch (yum-yum-yummmm)
I forgot to make a photo of my before bed snack – I had some leftover broccoli with olives, some walnuts and 8 oz. cooked chestnuts (I LOVE chestnuts! Mainly because I hardly ever eat them) + I added some hot sauce.. very plain and simple but super yummy and a great sweet ‘n salty combo!
I did make a picture of my recently bought teas. Have you ever tried this brand? I believe it’s from the UK(?) … I think… not sure… What I do know is that it rocks my world at the moment If you like herbal teas – give these a go! I really like the spicy – licorice one, but the fruity pomegranate is really refreshing!
♥ Please leave me a comment below to let me know about your Halloween plans or to tell me if you’ve ever danced Salsa before! I’d love to know! ♥
Enjoy the rest of your day!
salsa dancing? how fun. I miss taking dance, especially just for fun and not for a true commitment type schedule
It was so much fun indeed! I’ve never really done much partner-dances; like salsa or latin and ballroom, but I really enjoy this form of dancing! If you ever have a change, you should give it a go! I bet you’d love it!
Salsa dancing sounds so fun! Love the story line.
It’s the one type of dance I’ve never done.
That was me as well before getting introduced to Salsa 3 years ago – I’d never done partner-work, but it’s absolutely wonderful! Unfortunately I always work during the evenings, so it’s very hard for me to take lessons. I think however I’m going to try to find the time to take some lessons this year, just to get the basics down
Either way I can highly recommend Salsa! 
Oh wow, salsa dancing sounds like so much fun. And congrats on winning! That is so freaking awesome! I always wanted to take dance, but never could. I think you should definitely try dancing again, even if its just for no reason at all. I’ve never had sweet potato for breakfast, but maybe I should try!
Thanks Bec!!
I had a blast, and I bet I must have looked ridiculous (and therefore hilarious) on stage, haha – I wonder if someone made a video.. Sweet potato for breakfast is very filling and a satisfying start of the day – at least that’s what I think 
Enjoy experimenting with it 
Love the Sonny Angels! The tea you’ve got looks delcious , I haven’t tried it yet, where id you find it?
Thanks for the comment Marisa! I found it at a health food / supplement store (called “De Tuinen”) but I live in Holland so I have no idea where you’d be able to get it in other countries. I bet stores like Whole Foods will carry them…
Your Salsa weekend sounds like such a lot of fun! Congrats to winning and especially being able to get your move on despite being an introvert! I know how hard it is from experience. I’ve never danced Salsa before but my parents are huge fans and my sister’s getting into it, too.
Aww, the Sonny Angels are cute. Do you have a favourite
?
All of your food looks tasty. Speculaas protein squares sound really good. The recipe does include eggs, though, doesn’t it? They still look yummy
.
Hey
thanks for the comment! Unfortunately the recipe for those squares does contain eggs indeed.. and a lot of eggs!! I think it will be challenging to make them vegan / egg-free. You could try though! I will also give it a go some day soon and if it works I’ll let you know. My favorite Sonny Angel is the Lemon one 
Just because yellow is my fave color and a Lemon is my fave fruit 
I wouldn’t have been able to decide because they’re all too cute.
And yes, let me know once you’ve tried a vegan version! How did you make them Speculoos squares? By adding speculoos spices?
Yeah you’re right… they’re actually all very cute indeed
I made them taste like speculoos by adding speculoos herbs, yes. I added a lot of cinnamon, fresh ginger, coriander, nutmeg, black pepper, cloves and a little orange zest + almond extract — it worked really well because they actually did taste like speculoos. Not your regular kind, but in a healthy and subtle way
Mmmh, sounds so good – and healthy versions can really be just as good! Maybe I’ll try adding your spice combination to my favourite brownie recipe. That could be tasty.
Oh yeah that would be a great idea! I just made a chocolate-pumpkin pudding tonight for dessert and I added the same spices I mentioned above along with some raw chocolate and it tasted super delicious! So adding them to a brownie recipe would make those brownies nice and spicy I’d say
I’ve never really made brownies before… I think I should!
Definitely do! Brownies are awesome if using a good recipe – fudgy, moist and simply chocolatey. I really like Mama Pea’s recipe using Ashley’s (edible perspective) version (subbing sucanat and agave for the sugar).
I will look up that recipe
thanks!
I really enjoy seeing what you eat. I always know I’m in for something a little different!
I have never ‘salsa-ed’ in my life! I grew up a ballet dancer, and have always kind of hated dancing any other way. I’m actually a really clumsy dancer when I have a partner. My husband and I will be taking our daughters trick-or-treating this year for Halloween…I just look forward to the scary movies on TV that day!
Thanks Lauren! I’m glad to hear you like my posts!
I grew up a ballet dancer just like you – it’s definitely something different to dance with a partner indeed! My first attempt was really clumsy as well 
haha!
Ohhhh how cute you’re taking your daughters trick-or-treating for Halloween! Do you have a costume for them?
Everything in your post sounds just great, but I truly LOVE those Sonny Angels
+ a big Congrats on your Salsa Dancing 
Thanks Lady
+ I wouldn’t have found out about those Sonny Angels if it wasn’t for you! XO
I’ve already told you how I was no good. Salsa dancing is definitely something I’d love to get better at though