Four Things I'm Loving Lately: LifeArt Glasses, Orgain, Flying Embers Hard Kombucha, and City Views

So much time has passed since my last time logging onto my little corner of the world-wide web. I have tons to share and little time to spare, so let’s just get right to it. Here are four things I’m absolutely loving lately!

Orgain

The only reason I hesitate to call my breakfast my favorite meal of the day is because, to me, saying I love a protein shake this much sounds… you know, stereotypical? Basic? Fitness-freak-ish? All of the above. Really, though! Over the last few months, I’ve gotten back into making post-workout protein shakes (or smoothies, whatever you want to call them) and I absolutely love them. I searched the web for the highest quality, best reviewed, and most cost-effective whey protein powder to add to my protein shakes and Orgain Clean Whey came out on top. The flavor is strong enough and just sweet enough that, if you’re into it, you can just shake a couple scoops with water or milk and have yourself a simple post-workout fuel source to sip on. OR, you can be like me and blend it up with frozen banana, spinach, avocado, and a spoonful of cacao (for extra chocolatey-ness) and have yourself a thick, creamy, milkshake-esque protein smoothie to enjoy.

Click the link below AND use the code “hungryhaley” to get 30% off your order. I’ll do the math for you - this code gets you a whole tub of Orgain Clean Whey Protein for around $20, which is the most competitive price around. Do it!

Flying Embers Hard Kombucha

I’m kind of a wine person (I like white wine). I’m barely a beer person (I like two specific beers). And I am rarely a liquor person (vodka ew tequila ew rum ew). But hard kombucha? THAT’S my kind of alcohol. My favorite brand is only sold in California, which made the move to Minnesota that much more difficult, but after months of tasting a couple local brands here in the land of 10,000 lakes (and like 2 bottles of kombucha), I’ve found one that I LOVE - Flying Embers Hard Kombucha. The black cherry is innnnncredible, definitely my favorite. It’s low in sugar, which I appreciate because I’m not into super sweet drinks (or hangovers). After two of these - okay sometimes three - I can wake up the next morning and not feel like I… got hit by a bus. You know?

It isn’t widely distributed throughout the state yet, but there is a store locator on the website that you can use to find it at a store near you. Lucky for me, a liquor store just down the street from my parents’ house in the suburbs sells it, so I make sure to grab a pack or two when I visit.

LifeArt Glasses (blue-light blockers)

After my first two weeks at the new job, I’d spent about 80% of my hours staring at a computer screen. Yikes! One of my coworkers rocked her blue-light blocking glasses each day and recommended I give them a try. I found these LifeArt glasses on Amazon for the most affordable price (for a girl who just spent way too much on brand new furniture for her brand new apartment), wore them everyday at work for a week straight, and noticed a significant improvement in headaches and eye fatigue throughout the day, and most importantly for me, SLEEP. For the first time in a long time, I slept all the way through each night without waking up and had no trouble at all falling asleep.

I bought two pairs - one to keep at home and one to keep in my work bag so that I don’t forget a pair when I head out the door - and I’ve been encouraging family and friends to try them out because they’re SO helpful!

City Views

The minute I stepped foot into this apartment unit and took a look at the view from the patio, I was sold. Living in a big city has always been something I’ve wanted to do for a period of time in my 20’s - call it what you want, but yes, I’m kind of a city girl. The tall buildings and bustling streets and bright lights send excitement pulsing through my veins. I’m so grateful I have the opportunity to live here, work here, and gaze out my windows at Downtown Minneapolis every morning, noon, and night!

PS if you’re looking to move to the area and might be interested in any of the units in this building, send me a DM on Instagram or an email and I will happily share more details with you! I’ve had such a great experience here so far and would love for anyone interested to have this opportunity, too.

The first and second photos are from my patio. The third photo was taken at the Stone Arch Bridge - one of my favorite spots for a summer-night stroll.

Thanks for reading about my favorite things lately! I hope you’ve taken something from this - be it a pair of LifeArt glasses or a tub of Orgain protein. Some of these links are affiliate links and I will earn a small percentage of any purchases made through them, which helps support this blog, so thank you again!

See you again soon for more favorites 🤗

I Like Big Buns: Isles Bun and Coffee

I like lists, so I made a few to keep me sane and organized while I packed to move from California to Minnesota - clothes, kitchen things, books, and the like. My favorite and fastest growing list is still the one I couldn’t fit on a piece of paper and needed to write up on a Google Doc - the list of restaurants, bars, cafes, and coffee shops to visit in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas. At the top of that fourth section, for reasons to be detailed ahead, stands Isles Bun and Coffee. 

From some in-depth social media research (read: Instagram- and Facebook-stalking), I gathered a few observations. The first is that this is a spot well-known for both its coffee and its baked goods, namely, the giant cinnamon buns blanketed in cream cheese frosting. The staff is thoughtful enough to set an additional tub of frosting out near the utensils and coffee add-ins for those of us who adore cream cheese frosting, ya’ know, just in case we need another slather or two. Good people. My people. And the second is that this is a neighborhood kind of coffee shop, one that welcomes dogs inside (see, good people!) and knows the guests by name, greeting everyone with a smile as warm and sweet as the homemade buns I can’t stop talking about. It’s the kind of place with rustic colorful chalkboard menus and t-shirts you can’t resist buying because you love the place the minute you walk in and inhale the sweet scent of cinnamon buns and espresso.  

This little coffee shop - a neighborhood favorite - sits humbly at the corner off a bustling street in Uptown Minneapolis, between the lively bars and restaurants and the quiet, quaint Lake of the Isles. Merely the size of three glass windows, Isles Buns appears tiny from the outside looking in, but they’ve squeezed a surprising number of tables inside. It’s cozy, warm, and sweet, just like the buns. The 80’s music bumps a little louder than one might expect or prefer in a coffee shop, but somehow it works here. I let that slide because the coffee and cinnamon buns are so damn tasty. 

Its in the name - Isles [Cinnamon] Buns and Coffee. They’ve simplified the decision-making process. How sweet of them! Cappuccino, mocha, chai, drip coffee - I’ve tried them all, and they’re all are delicious and without question prepared carefully and intentionally. You won’t make a bad decision. Just pick something. The cinnamon bun is waiting! While you’re at the register, peek down and to the left for a glimpse at the most pillowy and tastefully sweet, buttery, and cinnamon-spiked bun around town. That mesmerizing swirl of love is the reason you’re here, and according to the bakers, these buns are as “sweet as Grandma”. You should also know about the array of other fresh-baked goodies offered: scones - traditional and vegan, puppy dog tails, cookies, brownies, and carrot cake. Everything is made right behind the barista, in plain sight and without any structure blocking the flow of the heart-warming, mouth-watering scent of said goodies to float through the shop while you’re sipping coffee in good company, whether you brought a friend to share the bun with you or not. 

I would recommend inviting a friend because not only in this bun far too large for a single stomach, it’s far too good to be eaten alone. You won’t be able to shut up about it and that looks a lot less weird when you’re talking to a friend instead of the wall. It’s an uncontrollable reaction as a result of consuming perfect cinnamon buns. It’s physically impossible to eat one of these without smiling, and it’s difficult to focus on writing this piece with one staring right at me. Trust me. 

If you order a fresh bun, you’ll pay $4. For a day-old bun, which are wrapped up and nestled in a basket near that tub of velvety cream cheese frosting I wish I could order on its own, you’ll pay just $1. Go for the fresh bun if you’ve got a friend with you because you can and should devour the entire bun, and then after doing the math, you’re really only paying $2. If you’re solo, however, I’d suggest the day-old bun because you will find it difficult to finish an entire thing on your own. Unwrap the day-old, slather on a little frosting, and dig straight into the center. You’ll be satisfied, not stuffed. You’ll smile at no one in particular, just beaming with overwhelming joy because you get to cherish that buttery bun spiked and swirled with cinnamon all for yourself. It’s great, I promise. 

Every coffee shop has something unique to offer, and I’ll discover what that is at each of the coffee shops on my list. Isles Bun and Coffee is a small coffee shop with a big personality and big buns. Which I like. And I cannot lie.

California Lavash Whole-Grain Flatbread

This post is sponsored by California Lavash - all opinions stated are my own. Thanks for reading and supporting my blog!

It’s no surprise I love to bake. And if it is a surprise to you, well, it must be your first time here, so welcome! Anyway, I love to bake, but the thought of baking bread kinda’-sorta’-really terrifies me. I’ve tried once before, and instead of a beautiful, fluffy, golden brown loaf, I think I pulled a football made from flour out of my oven. I haven’t tried anymore homemade bread since then.

Bread is one thing I’ll leave to the experts, like the bakers of California Lavash. This family of bread-makers, located in the town of Gilroy in Central California, uses traditional baking methods and simple ingredients to produce whole-grain lavash, naan, and pita the way their family has done so for years. All ingredients are vegan, non-GMO, and free of artificial preservatives.

If you didn’t already know, I’m kind of a nerd when it comes to nutrition, so you can bet I check the ingredient list on most packaged foods when I’m grocery shopping. Several store-bought breads are made with whole-grain flour (one of the first ingredients on the list, where it should be!), but several of those also contain different modified versions of sugars, gums, and other preservatives to keep them on the shelves for longer periods of time. These won’t kill you (at least I think they won’t?), but it’s best to consume as few of these as possible and as many whole foods/ingredients as possible, don’t you think? I’m not exaggerating when I say I was amazed when I looked at the ingredient list on the California Lavash package - just whole-wheat and wheat flour, water, oat fiber, yeast, oil, and cultured yeast. Each of those ingredients serves to produce the flavor and structure of this flatbread, and because the grains are in their whole form, the ingredients also serve nutritional benefit. Win, win.

Lavash is a bit different from other breads - it doesn’t boast many air bubbles and isn’t shaped in a loaf form. Instead, it’s… well, flat, as the name “flatbread” implies. I’m a firm believer in fluffy, yeast-risen bread, but lavash deserves some love, too. Though it doesn’t rise, it still comes out of the oven light and airy and yields itself to several possibilities for both the creative cook and the quick-and-easy eater. Keep it as is fresh out of the package for a veggie-packed wrap with hummus, or bake it with your favorite sauce and toppings for a twist on thin-crust pizza. Slice it into smaller squares and bake those into chips (sweet or savory!) or taco shells.

Because it’s free of preservatives, the flatbread is best stored in the fridge for immediate use, and in the freezer for longer-term storage. Click here to visit the website, and select “store locator” to find them near you, and stay tuned for a lavash-chip recipe coming later this week!

Best Breakfast in SLO

Welcome to San Luis Obispo! It's time for breakfast, so we're going to skip the small talk and get right to it.

Sally Loo's Wholesome Cafe

This cafe was one of the very first I tried in SLO when I moved here for college. My mom and I shared two of the scones - if you could get me to eat and enjoy a scone during that rigid-eating time in my life, you were doing something right. Sally Loo's, you got it right. Walking into this space feels like walking into both a home and a restaurant at the same time. Pick up a menu for the items always served, but don't miss the specials board - that's where you'll find some of the most delectable dishes in town. If the definition for hand-crafted could be told through food, it would be a Sally Loo's special. 

I ordered the Big Al's Avo Toast special this time, after much contemplation over that versus a burrito, and now I know - if I'm ever stuck between a special here and a regular menu item, I should probably go with the special because 1) it's only offered for a limited time and 2) DANG it's good. The avocado toast was piled high with... well, avocado - there will be no skimping on this creamy favorite toast-topper. And because I was in a treat-myself/why-not mindset, I added the optional smoked salmon on the side. I'm still here actually, at Sally Loo's typing this up (because this is a study-friendly spot!) and I'm tempted to never leave, so that I can order something for lunch later and keep absorbing the light-hearted, community-centered atmosphere. It's one of a kind here and you will regret absolutely nothing about coming here and ordering anything on the menu. 

If you aren't in the mood for avocado toast or come when the specials menu has changed, my other recommendations include the Breakfast burrito (veggie for me), the San Louie Bagel, and anything from the bakery case - it's all made in house! And don't forget to grab some coffee, too, while you watch the barista craft your drink. It's just cool to watch, and the drinks here beat those at some of the other coffee shops in town (that good!). 

Louisa's Place

My first thought when walking into Louisa's: "my dad would love it here." And he does! During my freshman year, I brought my parents here for breakfast, not knowing at the time that it was voted one of the best breakfast spots in all of SLO county. To this day (three years later) I hear locals talk about Louisa's with more genuine adoration than many restaurants I've visited. Each weekend, when I'm outside walking or riding my bike during the quiet mornings, I see locals perched inside Louisa's at the counter reading the paper, sipping some coffee, and digging their fork into omelettes and pancakes and breakfast burritos I can smell from outside. And then I drool. 

We ordered omelettes - Vegetable Medley for me and Guacamole & Bacon for my friend. Of course, we both chose the homemade biscuits (did you hear that? homemade biscuits) on the side and could not stop talking about them alllllllll day. The omelettes were large, but large and delicious! Omelettes are a breakfast dish I always appreciate because I just can't make them well enough at home, and Louisa's made them beyond well enough to convince me that I don't need to learn how to make them - I'll just head down to Louisa's when the craving hits. And as for the homemade biscuit... it is a must. An absolute must. 

This is a spot I would take my dad. Diners are his favorite - those people I see when I pass by on weekend mornings would be my dad everyday at Louisa's Place if he lived nearby. The portions are big, so come hungry, with friends, and/or ready to bring home leftovers. Don't expect green juices and refined-sugar-free paleo breakfast pastries here - come for home-cooked meals made with real food and served in an atmosphere that feels like a home away from home. 

Mint + Craft

This is a relatively new spot in downtown SLO, quaintly nestled in between between a couple of my favorite stores on Monterey Street. Since the day it opened, it's been calling my name and drawing in several other customers, too. Mint + Craft screams downtown SLO... in a really good way. If you're feeling like a light, vegetable-forward breakfast Mint + Craft is your spot!

Grace and I spontaneously chose this for breakfast one day and could not wait to get our hands on some toast, which seems to be the focus of their breakfast menu. And, like, I'm cool with that. We walked in and ordered at the counter immediately, but if we hadn't been so hungry, we probably would've spent some time browsing the shelves stocked with anything and everything that could distract me (again, in a really good way) - from cookbooks to homemade jams and jellies to cute linens to artisan chocolates. Oh, and if you aren't looking to sit down and eat, you can head over to the refrigerated section for packaged wraps and salads, bottles of juice and kombucha and even wine and beer! Or, grab something sweet from the bakery case - might I suggest the lemon bars or caramel brownies or giant chocolate chip cookies? 

Anyway, onto our breakfast - The Obispo for Grace and The SLO Market for me! We ordered and chose a table outside, and our food came in under five minutes, which was good on their end because, my goodness, were we hungry. First things first - the flavors. So many of them, and they all worked together to make an incredibly tasty and unique slice of toast. Grace certainly enjoyed hers, too. She's picky about her bacon and wants it exxxxtra crispy, and they delivered to her liking. We recommend both! One more thing - Grace ordered a cup of coffee, for which they offer free refills, and she grabbed another cup to go because it was so darn delicious. 

Big Sky Cafe 

It's time to introduce you to a favorite since my year in college here - Big Sky Cafe in downtown SLO. Most of my meals here have been for lunch or dinner, with the occasional happy hour/appetizer hangout with friends, so after looking at their breakfast menu and holding their food and service in high regards, I knew this was a must. We spent a fair amount of time reading through the menu because everything - e v e r y t h i n g - sounds good. Eventually, I went with the Greek Spinach, Feta, Mushroom & Tomato Omelette. 

Oh my word. It was unbelievable. Served with breakfast potatoes and sauteed peppers and onions, this plate filled me to the brim, so I was glad I came extra hungry, especially for the complimentary basket of cornbread as an appetizer (ask for some to-go!). 

Big Sky Cafe doesn't skimp on anything. Flavors are abundant, freshness is impossible to miss, and seasonal, local produce are a main component of each dish, so they're clearly speaking my language here. This is a place I can bring anyone - when Mom and Dad come into town, we come here for drinks and a food we know will be delicious and service that welcomes them into town. When my friends and I can't decide where to eat, Big Sky offers a variety of options to satisfy each of our cravings - whole-grain pancakes or shakshuka, omelette or beignets, breakfast burrito or crab cakes benedict. 

Lido at Dolphin Bay

And last but most certainly not least, take this recommendation as encouragement to treat yo'self. Lido at Dolphin Bay (yes, I brought Grace again because she is my partner in all things, especially eating, if you haven't noticed) is everything I want for brunch and then some more. We have a friend who works here and suggested we come in, and he definitely knows what she and I like when it comes to food - most importantly brunch - so we trust him. A Sunday morning at Lido is a stunning view of the ocean + friendly, welcoming service that makes you feel like royalty + food that might very well be my ideal definition of brunch - and by that I mean kinda' healthy, kinda' not, and completely whole-platedly delightful. 

Grace and I ordered two plates and split each one - eggs scrambled with spinach and white cheddar and served with sweet potato fries (which we asked for instead of the home fries) and a half-order of the thickest, fluffiest French toast I've ever tasted. Bottomless mimosas were most certainly involved here, too. Duh. We left feeling like princesses more happily satisfied than we can ever remember, and not just because of the mimosas. 

I will, without a single doubt, be back to Lido for more. Like I said before, it's a place treat-yourself-kind-of-place, so plan accordingly. Most importantly, enjoy every minute and every bite because this is a special restaurant with unmatched service, unbeatable food, and a breath-taking view. 

And that's a wrap (or should I said breakfast burrito? or should I not because maybe that would have been a weird joke?) for my favorite breakfast spots in SLO! As you may have noticed, I prioritize restaurants and cafes that emphasize local food and community, and offer some nutritious options as well as some... well, some other more (let's just say) "fun" foods. I hope you have the chance to try each of these places, and when you do, tell them Haley sent you :) happy eating!

Purity Coffee

This post is sponsored by Purity Coffee. Everything stated is my own opinion. Thanks for supporting my blog and making the healthiest, most delicious coffee around town! 

Let this be the debut of my inner coffee-lover. I've been drinking the magic stuff for almost three years, but not until I discovered Purity Coffee did I really begin to educate myself more on the drink we all know and love! 

What is it? 

Coffee... duh. I'm not trying to sound like your favorite salesperson here, but Purity Coffee really isn't the same stuff as what's on most grocery store shelves nowadays. Their whole process - from harvesting to roasting to packing - ensures that buyers receive the healthiest version of coffee available. It's also:

• organic: uses methods that recycle, conserve biodiversity, and balance local ecology. 
• almost defect-free: "speciality coffee" is the highest standard of coffee, and therefore contains the fewest defects. 
• mold-free: is frequently lab-tested to ensure no traces of mold and/or mycotoxins exist in the beans. 
• sustainable: "an integrated system of plant and animal production practices that will last over the long term" (according to the website).

My opinion:

I'm no "coffee-snob", so I've never really been one to toss a cup of coffee because I didn't like the taste (that only happened once). A medium-dark roast is my go-to, simple as that. When a representative from Purity Coffee assured me I'd taste and feel the difference most just by drinking it, I felt unsure, but I went with it. 

Aaaaaaand she was certainly correct. It just tastes... cleaner, fresher, richer, more robust. The biggest difference I noticed was feeling way less bloated after drinking it, a side effect I always ignored after drinking other coffee. I'll be honest - the taste didn't convince me that this is a life-changing cup of coffee (like I said, not a coffee-snob over here), but I felt mentally and as a result physically better drinking it, knowing what is going into my body is pure (pun intended), boasting maximum health benefits and reaping no potential consequences. 

Why Purity?

I don't buy into the "coffee is bad for you" campaign. Sure, it can raise cortisol (aka stress hormone) levels, but that only becomes harmful when stress levels elsewhere in life are through the roof and sleep is not happening like it should. I've got my stress under control, for the most part, and I get enough sleep. I enjoy coffee. Up until recently, I've never seen it as a "superfood" or a "bad food"... until now. 

I researched Purity Coffee and had no idea that coffee beans have higher levels of antioxidants than my favorite fruits - berries! Say whaaaat? Think about how many Americans drink coffee regularly - quite a few, huh? A cup of coffee is much more convenient and sometimes easier to get our hands on than a cup of berries, aaaaaand it's packed with many more antioxidants! Purity Coffee has the highest antioxidant level of all coffees at a roast level that produces the lowest level of acrylamide. Some coffees compared may have a higher level of antioxidants, but they also had a higher level of acrylamide. 

HALLELUJAH.

Aside from providing the body with antioxidants, coffee has also been shown to boost physical and brain performance, as well as metabolism, and decrease the risk for depression.

Where to buy?

Online! When you checkout, be SURE to use "hungryhaley" to receive a discounted price on any order. Here, you can purchase by the bag or subscribe and receive a shipment size of your choice and frequency. 

Thanks for reading, and I hope you found this information helpful in making your next coffee decision!