Meeting the Garden of Life Team - Part 1

When I was in West Palm Beach about a month ago (I can't believe it's already been over a month since we were on this amazing trip!) I met a bunch of the Garden of Life Team in their new main office and it was amazing!

I have TONS of photos and I might share those down the road but for today I thought I would mention just a few things off the bat!  I was so thrilled to meet Rhonda Price who I am pictured with in this first photo.  She was so nice!  I met DOZENS of people throughout the office, too!  Everyone was so great!  So many smiles! 

Rhonda told me that they moved their offices to this new building at the end of last year.  The windows and paint colors made everything so bright and cheery!  Rhonda took Dale and I on a tour and spent LOTS of time with us showing us the facility, taking photos, introducing us to everyone, and telling us all about the history of the company and even the area!

In the back ground of these two photos is a vertical wall garden that Garden of Life has in the middle of their office right across the hall from their kitchen/break room.  It was gorgeous!  If you stood back far enough you could see that the different colored plants spelled out G - O - L for Garden of Life.

Also in their kitchen area was a recycling center.  Employees were encouraged to recycle everything they were able to.  The 'wallpaper' for the kitchen was custom - copies of printed letters from employees - as to why they left their previous places of employment to come to Garden of Life.  It was really unique and just one of the many ways they showed just how much they valued their employees! 

Another part of the Garden of Life Office tour I really enjoyed was seeing some of their 'wall of fame.'  They had plaques and trophies but also some of their older products and labels on display.  It was neat to see how their labels and visuals have changed over the years. 

Rhonda told me that she recently went to a Jason Mraz concert and he is being featured in a future issue of their magazine, too! 

This display section was across from their board room.  They were meeting while we were there and she introduced us to them as well!  It was truly amazing!

Another room I really enjoyed seeing was one of their brain storming rooms!  It was set up like a grocery store.  Rhonda told us that they set up their products to see what they would look like up against other products and displays.  I told her that I recently saw an end display at the Whole Foods Co-Op in Erie, PA, and I would try and start taking some photos for her next time I was there.  I took so many photos while we were at the Garden of Life offices.  I had so much fun meeting everyone!  I will probably be doing more posts of my trip in future blog posts, too!

Blissful Journey - Fun, Family, Food

I have been mentioning some of the differences I have noticed since dropping dairy from my diet.  The main reason I decided to FINALLY make the switch for good was for my digestive health.  I know 'we all know what's good for us' but most people really need that 'last straw' or that 'wake up call' to really do anything about it.  Last year was mine.  I went my whole life KNOWING I was unable to properly digest dairy.  I just 'dealt with it' until I couldn't 'deal with it anymore'.  NOW...there is NO looking back!  I NEVER want to feel that way again...so...I won't!  But, like, I said, I have noticed LOTS of things since going vegan  including the BLUENESS of my eyes!  I've always had blue eyes but I think the hue or shade and/or depth of the blue has changed quite a bit.  I know I am not the only one to see this difference.  Even more drastically I have heard of Raw Foodists eyes changing from brown to blue in some cases!  I find this AMAZING!

Another photo I didn't post last week is this one of  Paco and Suzie who have been 'buddying up' more lately.  It kind of cracked me up that Suzie was sitting this way for like 2 hours while we watched a movie in the evening!  Paco decided to join her but on the sofa seat itself! 

The last several days I have been feeling pretty good and I think I am going to start some gentle yoga once again.  I have been wanting to do this for MONTHS but have refrained until I got to the root of the problem with my arches and sciatica.  I think I have learned some tips and tricks along the way and I am hoping I'm almost finished with my Chiropractic Adventures!

In other news I came across this photo on Instagram and REALLY WANT this mug now!  Many of you know I am a HUGE Tea Fan!  So much so that I am one of the co-founders of Sororitea Sisters.  Check it out if you have time!  I'm also a fan of Lionel Ritchie!  So this works well!

Not only that I enjoy 'play on words' and 'dry humor'.  I think that is also why I enjoy Jason Mraz and his music...the 'play on words', I mean.

Things are turning around at work lately and I am starting to get excited about it again.  It's still going to be HELLA busy but in a good way!

 And finally...here's a little food tidbit I would like to share with you!  I've posted about Dreena Burton's Hummus Quinoa Casserole before but I did it a bit different this time around.  It's one of my all time favorite dishes and it's so versatile!

Since it's Dreena's recipe from one of her cookbooks I won't post it here but I will tell you this time around I decided to make Black Bean Sweet Potato Hummus for the middle layer.  I just used 1 Sweet Potato, 1 C of Black Beans, Juice of 1 Lime, 2 heaping teaspoons of Tahini, 1 Clove of Garlic.  The bottom layer is cooked Quinoa - then the hummus for the middle layer - on top I did various veggies including Onion, Zukes, Colorful Sweet Peppers, and then I sprinkled mixed dried herbs and Fennel Seeds on top...as well as Balsamic.  I'll tell you...this hummus...is AWESOME!