true food kitchen // mosaic district

Earlier this month, Jess and I had a girls' night and decided to try out True Food Kitchen in the Mosaic District. Since she's dairy free and I eat vegan, it was a great spot for both of us. It was a chilly night, but they had a great looking patio and the interior and atmosphere were great, though a tad crowded. True Food has a great philosophy about food and a rotating seasonal menu that we're going to be sure to check out.

I ordered the Teriyaki Quinoa Bowl and Jess had the Butternut Squash Pizza. Everything tasted fresh and both dishes were delicious. My bowl was filling and had a great mix of veggies. I'm not a huge avocado fan (gasp) but it went really well with everything else. It was a really pleasant meal and I'll definitely be returning!

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link love

I love American Eagle's entire Tennessee Volunteers line*.

Show your support for wildlife folks in Texas working diligently to help save bats from White-nose Syndrome.

I'd like to try this fall brussels sprouts quinoa salad.

Here's an interesting article about banana flavoring.

Guys!! There's a vegan loaf recipe generator.

I just discovered Blackbird Cosmetics and I really want to try the Dog Days and Atlas eyeshadows.

Ahh! Cookbook Village!! What! I'm eyeing this Hot and Spicy and Meatless cookbook.



Linda Xu
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jason // sea fresh strengthening toothpaste

I started using more natural toothpastes a few years ago and except for the occasional sample I somehow still receive, I've stuck with them. A while back I picked up Jason's Power Smile Gel Toothpaste and liked it, so when I started running low I went back to Marshall's and found this little tube of Sea Fresh Strengthening Toothpaste.

The great thing about Jason toothpastes? They promise no sodium lauryl/laureth sulfates, no preservatives, no artificial colors, no artificial sweeteners, no saccharin, no propylene glycol, no gluten. Holy moly. Not only do they not have all of those nasties, they're cruelty free and vegan!

Now onto the actual review:

I've been enjoying this toothpaste. Not like brouhaha partying enjoy, but I like the consistency and taste. It's got a tiny smidge of stickiness, but I think it helps it feels like it's working, and as a paste compared to a gel it foams and cleans a little better.

A problem I've had with more natural toothpastes in the past is that I don't feel my mouth is fresh enough. This one though? Minty fresh!

I think I'm going to keep this as my go to toothpaste. You can try it yourself on Amazon, iHerb*, and VeganEssentials.



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mini e.l.f. haul

Last week I took advantage of e.l.f.'s one day offering of free shipping and picked up the Moisturizing Foundation Stick in Ivory and the All Over Cover Stick in Apricot Beige. I've been growing more bored with my cream foundations, so I thought I'd try something new.

This was my first time trying a stick foundation and I have to say I expected it to be a lot drier. This foundation spread well, is buildable, and clearly has moisturizing tendencies. The cover stick was creamy and I think it'll work well on my undereyes.

Have you tried anything from e.l.f. lately? If not, join the Beauty Squad and use this  $5 coupon*!

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tennessee // plants & homecooked meals

This past weekend, N and I took a little trip out to Tennessee to visit my mother. We were caught up in traffic all day Wednesday and ended up on a dirt road with no cell phone service. That was...uh...fun? But we finally made it out, only about four hours after our original arrival time.

It was a really laid back girls' weekend. All of us slept in Thursday, hung around the house talking for a bit and drinking coffee (I actually ate every leftover in my mother's fridge, but that's besides the point), then we went out and picked up some plants at Lowe's. You can't beat $1 succulents! We stopped by the store for things for dinner, then headed home.

Dinner that night was great. Mumma made my favorite dish - potzuquash! A mixture of squash, zucchini, and potatoes sliced and cooked with a little oil and spices. N and I prepared a fresh salad and even had some Tofurky chick'n to top it.

We settled in to watch some tv and catch up before we headed back the next morning. Mountain views and time with your mom always make things better. ♥


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