Author Archives: Sarah Goode

Tomorroats: A Quick, Simple & Healthy Breakfast

August 21, 2012 By in Heaven to My Taste buds Tags: , , , , , , 4 Comments

I saw this recipe on one of my favorite blogs, Can You Stay For Dinner?, and I had to share. I love the idea of mixing your breakfast together the night before with a few simple ingredients, putting it in the fridge then voila, you have breakfast when you wake up. The only mistake I made was using Steel Cut Oats instead of Old Fashioned Rolled Oats…use the rolled oats, it will result in a less chewier experience!

When I pulled the oats out of the fridge the next morning I just topped them off with a drizzle of honey, blueberries, a sliced banana and a dash of cinnamon! Delish!

Tomorroats

  • 1/2 cup dry old fashioned rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup plain nonfat yogurt
  • 1/4 cup water

At night (before bed), mix all ingredients well in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, stir and serve. No need to heat them, no need to dirty another bowl. Simply mix in your desired toppings. I went with honey, blueberries, banana, and cinnamon!

Serves 1

Nutrition (for oats, yogurt, and water only): 200 calories, 5 grams protein, 5 grams fiber

Bon Appetit!

Song of the Day: Joss Stone “The High Road”

August 17, 2012 By in Song of the Day Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

I am happily swimming in music these days. Between getting ready for my big opening gig on September 29th and writing for my new project I am a happy girl. So for today’s Song of the Day I wanted to showcase one of my biggest musical inspirations.

Joss Stone is one of my favorite blues/soul artists. The passion and emotion that comes out of her every time she steps up to the mic is beyond inspirational to me. Her style and influence will definitely be showcased along with the fabulous Black Keys, another one of my favorite artists, in my new music.

So for today’s Song of the Day I’m going with her amazing, and of course…soulful, cover of the Broken Bell’s tune, The High Road, off her new project, The Soul Sessions Vol 2. I can’t wait to start playing the new music for you guys!!!

Happy Listening!

Image Source: Highline Ballroom

Don’t Make Excuses for Who You Are! Own Your Shine!!

August 17, 2012 By in Ramblings Tags: , , , , 1 Comment

I came across this blog post today from a follower on Twitter and it spoke to me so much that I had to share. I have always fought a level of insecurity my whole life when it came to my dreams, my looks, my craziness, my loudness…I could go on and on. I always get asked, “when are you going to stop going after your dreams and focus on your career”…”when is enough enough”….”ummmm that’s really hard to accomplish”…”what are you doing all of this for”.

For years I bought into all of this and really held myself back. Scared, insecure, and afraid to completely be myself and give-in to my dreams. I’m not 100% there yet, but I feel more complete then I ever have. After I started really going after my dreams doors started to open and a friend of mine said the truest statement I’ve ever heard,

“When you start doing what you’re suppose to do, the universe will align and things will start to happen in your favor”….or something like that. 😉

Don’t suppress who you are because you’re afraid people may not approve. Be you, do what you love and don’t let anyone take away your shine. No-one deserves that kind of power.

Thank you to all of my amazing followers, fans, readers and people in my life that truly get and support me. You make all of this hard work worthwhile!

Song of the Day: The XX “Angels”

August 10, 2012 By in Song of the Day Tags: , , , , Leave a comment

Ahh The XX. Once again they have delivered a beautiful tune with Angels, the new single off their upcoming album, Coexist, out this September! Romy’s vocals paired with the haunting bass and guitar lines blend to make a passionate love song that only The XX can deliver. Love it!!! So much in fact, this might need to be my next YouTube cover. We will see.

I’m trying out a new restaurant tonight with a girlfriend of mine who’s coming into town, Sfuzzi’s. Pizza, wine, summer patio time and good friends….TGIF!!!!

What’s everyone up to this weekend?

Angels:

Happy Listening!

Image Source: Words for Music

A Little Inspiration for Your Monday Morning

August 6, 2012 By in Ramblings Tags: , , , , 3 Comments

A quick thought to ponder on this beautiful Monday morning! Thank you The Simply Luxurious Life for sharing!

“One final paragraph of advice: do not burn yourselves out. Be as I am – a reluctant enthusiast….a part-time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it’s still here. So get out there and hunt and fish and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, the lovely, mysterious, and awesome space. Enjoy yourselves, keep your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to the body, the body active and alive, and I promise you this much; I promise you this one sweet victory over our enemies, over those desk-bound men and women with their hearts in a safe deposit box, and their eyes hypnotized by desk calculators. I promise you this; You will outlive the bastards.”

–Edward Abbey

With summer winding down do you have any exciting last minute travels coming up?

Don’t forget to take the time to travel, see the world, or just to take a break on your favorite park bench to soak in the beauty around you! Have a wonderful week!

Scenes from an Advocare Diet

August 4, 2012 By in Ramblings Tags: , , , , , , 2 Comments

Oh the things Matt and I get ourselves into. It’s been quite the physical/health conscious/mental journey for us since we met nearly 10 years ago. When I was waiting tables in my early 20’s being “healthy” was the furthest thing on my mind. I’ve never been athletic or ever worried about the food I put in my body.

I fell into the typical college lifestyle of cheap beer and fast food. Since I was on my feet at the restaurant 40+ hours a week it didn’t really affect me until I got out of college and started my desk job. The no exercising, inhaling food like a dumpster routine resulted in a quick 30 pound gain and shock that I no longer could fit into my usual tank tops and jeans.

Since Matt and I both put on the “love weight” we’ve gone back and forth between diet after diet, workout after workout. It hasn’t been until the last year or so that I’ve really started to grasp the concept of healthy living.

Now don’t get me wrong, food is my crutch, it’s one of my favorite pass times. But the older I get the more I realize the importance of living a consistent, healthy lifestyle (so I keep telling myself).

When I heard multiple people in the office talking about Advocare I immediately felt sorry for them. So sorry in fact that I told my husband how much it must suck to do a cleanse and I’m glad it’s them not us. Well, that was my first mistake. Matt loved the idea….so here we are. Three days after the 10 day Advocare Herbal Cleanse (no this isn’t an advertisement just a reflection) and shockingly…it’s not hell after all.

Partaking in a liquid cleanse that deprives you of all solid food is not my thing, sorry, I can’t just completely eliminate my favorite pastime. So I was thrilled to hear you actually get to eat on this cleanse, and it only lasts 10 days.

All the veggies and fruit you can eat became a bit daunting the first few days but now I can say I feel lighter, more energized and just healthier over all. The key now is keeping it off and turning this into a healthy lifestyle. Balance is key [inner pep-talk].

The Challenges

  • Giving up caffeine – C.O.F.F.E.E addict!!!!! Enough said
  • Giving up carbs [the good stuff] – I didn’t realize how addicted I was to things like tortillas, chips, pasta, etc until I had to give it up
  • Having a social life – we tried to pick a week where nothing was going on because nothing is worse then going out with your friends and eating salad and drinking water….boring!!
  • Fighting the mundane – grilled veggies, chicken and salad started to get old really fast…I definitely had to put my cooking skills to the test!
  • How do I cook without olive oil – this one took some getting use to. I love me some olive oil!
  • Fighting the sweet tooth – sometimes you don’t realize what you have until it’s gone…

The Solution

  • If you depend on caffeine in the mornings like I do, do yourself a favor and buy the Spark!! It saved me
  • Giving up carbs 100% I just can’t do. I actually fell in love with Quinoa during this cleanse. Mix in a healthy amount of complex carbs to satiate the craving
  • Just be a hermit for 10 days – seriously! It’s easier to succeed on this cleanse if you shop ahead, cook at home, and resist the urge to go out with your friends
  • Be creative and use the internet! The world wide web has a plethora of healthy cooking tips if you get stuck in a rut. Trade off between fish and chicken and experiment with different types of veggies
  • Non fat olive oil cooking spray!!! Oh and chicken broth!
  • Eat fruit – lots and lots of fruit! I’ve actually fallen in love with Kiwi now!!!

The Result – my husband lost 10 pounds, I lost 4. I know it doesn’t seem like a lot but I feel so much cleaner, lighter and my taste buds are honestly craving fruit and veggies constantly now. If you train your body to eat healthy foods you start to crave them. I will definitely do this again in 90 days!

And yes…we did reward ourselves…

Oh Starbucks how I missed you!!!!

Have you tried Advocare? What was your experience? Let me know in the comments below.

 

Song of the Day: Friendly Fires “Paris”

August 3, 2012 By in Song of the Day Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

Happy Friday everyone! The weekends are always so bitter sweet for me. Another week has flown by in my life in a flash, reaffirming the fact that our time is fleeting and we should live every moment to the fullest! But then I tell my self…..it’s Friday! A time to relax, sip a glass of wine and enjoy the company of my hubby. Tonight we’re headed to a “Contemporary Mexican Food” restaurant, Komali, to quench our craving for a little Tex-Mex after our 10 day cleanse. Yes, I owe you guys a post and I’ll deliver on that tomorrow…I promise!!! 😉

I’m in an adventurous mood today. Ready to hop on the next plane to Paris to eat and drink under the Eiffel Tower. Unfortunately Dallas and it’s 104 degrees will have to do so instead I’ll settle for a little musical homage to the city of love. So check out today’s Song of the Day, “Paris” by the Friendly Fires.

What’s everyone up to this weekend?

**Side Note: I’ll be opening for Monica at the House of Blues Dallas, September 29th! Tickets went on sale today. If you’re in the area head over to Live Nation and pick up your ticket. I would love to see everyone there!

Happy Listening!

Paris:

Image Source: Creative Loafing

Shrimp with Tomato, Basil & Peppers

August 1, 2012 By in Recipe Experimentation Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

Matt and I made the brave decision to tackle the Advocare Herbal Cleanse for 10 whole days. Now at first, I have to admit that I didn’t really see it as that big of a challenge. Unlike the dreaded liquid cleanse you actually get to eat whole food on this one. What’s not to love about fruits, veggies, chicken and fish….fast forward to day 9. My palette is screaming for variety…a sip of wine…a slice of cheese smashed in between a loaf of bread. Le sigh.

The good news is I survived and feel pretty damn good. A full recount of our last 10 days will go up tomorrow. Until then, I had to post this ridiculously healthy, simple and delicious shrimp recipe!

Now excuse me while I go steam some more veggies….

Shrimp with Tomato, Basil & Peppers

Ingredients

  • no fat olive oil cooking spray
  • 1 small yellow onion, sliced
  • 1/2 green bell pepper, sliced
  • 1 large garlic clove, julienne style
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt, divided
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper, divided
  • 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper, divided
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme, minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice, plus extra for drizzling
  • 1/4 cup chicken stock
  • 1 pound peeled and deveined shrimp
  • 1 small tomato, seeds removed and chopped
  • 1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped

Heat a large dutch oven over medium high heat and lightly coat with the olive oil spray. Saute the onions and peppers until soft. Add the garlic and saute an additional 30 seconds. Add 1/4 teaspoon of the salt, black and red pepper, all of the thyme, lemon juice and the chicken stock. Saute until the chicken stock has slightly reduced.

Season the shrimp with the remaining salt and pepper and drizzle with some of the fresh lemon juice. Add the shrimp to the onion mixture and cook until nice and opaque. Stir in the tomatoes and basil and remove from the heat.

Serve along side a crisp romaine salad with creamy chunks of avocado, tomato, sliced onion, red pepper, fresh lemon and a drizzle of olive oil.

Bon Appetit!

GoodBAMMSho’s Coming Out Party at the Live Oak Music Hall & Lounge [Review]

July 31, 2012 By in Concert Reviews Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Friday night the Live Oak Music Hall & Lounge hosted the GoodBAMMSho launch party with 4 talented Texas bands, and a whole lotta rock and roll.

The good folks at GoodBAMMSho have been kind enough to post my musical ramblings of some of the best shows coming through the DFW area. So, of course I wouldn’t have missed out on the opportunity to check out some great live music at one of Ft. Worth’s newest venues. First things first, the venue was a perfect choice for the festivities. Equipped with a rooftop patio and enough beers on tap to keep you occupied all night, some sleek decor and a spacious music hall, I might have to add this to my list of places to play soon!

Starting off the night was Dallas’ own, The Red 100’s. The 2011 “Best Blues Act [Dallas Observer]” definitely came to put on a show. The high energy trio made up for the lack of energy in the audience onstage with broken guitar strings & heart pounding tunes. These guys played their asses off.

Drummer Kyle Scheumack started things off vocally before passing the torch to the remaining members throughout the course of the set. Unfortunately the crowd seemed perfectly comfortable in their seats until guitarist Robbie D Love reminded everyone this was a rock show. When you thought they couldn’t get any more energetic they rose to the occasion once everyone decided to stretch their legs and come to the front of the stage.

Meshing a unique blend of blues and rock, even throwing in an ear busting cover of Johnny Be Good, these guys might not be at the top of my list of vocal stewards, but damn they sure can play.

Shifting the night to a more rockabilly/classic rock vibe were Dallas based rockers, The Roomsounds. The first time I saw these guys was at the La Grange in Deep Ellum, opening for Morning Teleportation. I liked them then and I really like them now.

Everything about these guys is in sync. From the opening song, to their denim and boots, you can really feel the synergy of the group down to the last tune. With a new album available for download and a slew of performances scheduled throughout the remainder of 2012, you’ll definitely catch me at another Roomsounds show soon.

What’s Ft. Worth without some country music? The third band of the night, The Will Callers, definitely brought an interesting twist to modern day Americana/Country music. By no means am I an expert on the subject but I will say, these guys had me intrigued from the start.

Once I got past the amazing 50’s inspired look of the band my eyes went directly to guitarist Justin Elliott. From his straw hat to his flaming shoes this guy wins the prize for most animated. Aside from being an amazing musician you could feel the energy he was putting out from the stage.

Not to take away from the rest of the group, this band was magnetic. Finally getting some people out of their seat, lead singer Jake Murphy’s classic voice was laced with the perfect amount of country twang. It’s exciting to come out to local shows and see the massive amount of talent we have in this city, and The Will Callers were no exception.

Closing out a night full of some very talented musicians was Canadian/Austin duo Black Pistol Fire. There’s really no other way I can describe these guys other then simply…amazing.

It’s impossible not to make an immediate comparison to Rock’s favorite duo of the year, The Black Keys, with their gritty guitar and hard pounding drum beats…these guys were something else. In an industry mired with over-production it’s refreshing to see two musicians completely turn a venue inside out with a guitar and set of drums.

Guitarist and frontman Kevin McKeown lit up the stage alongside drummer Eric Owen. Playing so hard to the point Owen knocked over his drums, these guys owned the night. Tearing through a slew of garage rock/blues tunes, remnants of Dan Auerbach and The White Stripes could be heard in McKeown’s vocal chops.

I couldn’t have chosen a better band to close out a great night of local music. Even coming back on stage for an encore these guys knew what the crowd wanted, and they delivered 1000% percent.

Congrats to GoodBAMMSho on their official launch and thanks Mac for putting on a great event! Until next time.

Happy Listening!

 

Guess Who I’m Opening for at the House of Blues Dallas?!

July 30, 2012 By in Music to My Soul Tags: , , , , , , 1 Comment

I am so excited to announce I have the amazing opportunity to open for a Grammy Award winning R&B artist at the House of Blues Dallas, September 29th! I’ve been hard at work writing some new material and I can’t wait to perform it for the first time. I’ll be doing a meet and greet after the show so if you’re in the Dallas area come out and say hello!

Click on the video below to find out who I’m opening for!