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Happy November! As much as I regretted to see summer end, I have thoroughly enjoyed early autumn. Here in Atlanta my street is lined with gorgeous hues of yellow, orange, and red. And the cooler weather has been a welcome reprieve from 5 months of humidity and heat. I think fall may be my favorite season!
What’s New
After a month of travel, I am home with no travel plans for the rest of the year. As much as I love to travel, I also love being home and sticking to my routine of parenting, playing tennis, practicing yoga, and working. I’m also looking forward to the holidays! I’ll wait until Thanksgiving to pull out the Christmas decorations, but I’m planning my displays now.
During October I was blessed with travel to D.C and Maryland, New York City, Huntsville, and Mendocino California. Every stop was magical and meaningful. Perhaps my favorite stop was to Mendocino, where I visited The Stanford Inn, and all-vegan eco-resort (highly highly recommend). It was my first time in Mendocino, and I was brought to tears at its raw natural beauty. Reminds me of one of my favorite modern classical albums, The Dharma at Big Sur by John Adams. Have a listen here.
Recipes I’m Loving
With travel behind me, I’m trying my best to get back to my routine of very basic meal prep. It’s honestly difficult to do because I’m constantly testing and shooting recipes for the blog, and they often aren’t meal worthy. For example, today I shot a delicious Apple Smoothie, and a Pecan Pie. By the time I’m finished cooking, shooting, and cleaning up after work, I’m in no mood to cook. Most days I only want to make super easy meals. Right now my daughter and I are loving:
Instant Pot Veggie Sausage Pasta
Wellness Tip
For better sleep, limit exposure to blue light before bed. This is a color of light produced by the sun, and is a signal to your body that it is time to be awake. Blue light is also emitted by electronic devices like the television, computer screens, and smartphones. At night illuminate the home with warm low light, and use a blue blocker on the computer screen. I recommend Flux, a free computer app that will remove blue light (adjustable) from your computer. When watching TV, you may want to try blue blocker glasses (Amazon, Walmart). And when reading in bed, I swear by my red light reading lamp (Amazon). For more on the effects of blue light on the circadian rhythm, read this. Of course, the quality of your sleep is contingent upon much more than your exposure to blue light. In my previous “Beyond the Kitchen” post I mentioned the importance of getting outside and into daylight first thing in the morning as another way to regulate your circadian rhythm. Managing stress, eating healthy, spending time outside, and exercising are also part of the equation for optimal sleep.
Work These Days
In October I attended a plant-based medicine conference in Huntsville, AL hosted by Dr. Helen Powell-Stoddard. In her medical practice Dr. Helen specializes in helping her patients reverse type 2 diabetes through diet and lifestyle change. Her Reverse It conference was a testimony to the power of plants. I taught a cooking class (on the menu: Oyster Mushroom Alfredo Pasta and Mango Avocado Salad), and had an incredible time connecting with the other speakers and attendees. If you, or someone you love is interested in reversing diabetes, contact Dr. Helen, or buy her book, Reverse It (Amazon).
Also, the trip to Mendocino last week was a bit of a team retreat for Sweet Potato Soul. My amazing editor of nearly 4 years, Jess, joined me for this incredible trip. That’s us in the second photo standing on the rocky beach in Mendocino. Stay tuned for the video we filmed there 🙂
Upcoming events
My new cookbook, Vegan Vibes, comes out February 4, 2025, and I will be doing a few events to celebrate. The following are the dates I’ve already booked, more TBA in the coming months!
February 6, 2025. Atlanta, GA: Book signing and discussion at Eagle Eye Books. Pre-order your book now!
March 8-15, 2025. Holistic Holiday at Sea Cruise. I will be teaching multiple vegan cooking classes, and doing book signings. Sign up during the fall promotion to Book your spot before the Last Chance Sale ends on November 15 to save $100 per person. This vegan vacation will sell out, so secure your Voyage to Wellness today.
Listen to this podcast
Lovers of theology and ancient history will enjoy the The Ancient Tradition podcast. I discovered it just two months ago, and listened to every episode (and there were many) within just 7 days. It’s about the similarities, “the stubborn bits”, that link ancient religions from all over the planet. The host’s hypothesis is that these similarities are remnants of an older tradition that spread around the globe, and has since been lost to time. Whether you are religious, spiritual, or just interested in history, you will love this fascinating show. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.
In closing
The holidays are basically here! Please let me know how Sweet Potato Soul can assist in making your holiday cooking or health goals come to life. Leave a comment below to request recipes and ask questions. And make sure you’re signed up for my weekly newsletter, so you don’t miss delicious recipes and updates.
Order my first cookbook, Sweet Potato Soul (Amazon, Target, Walmart), for plenty of holiday recipes, and stay tuned for recipe roundups!
Thanks for reading!!
I loved this post, Jenne! It lifted my spirit and brought me joy! Thank you! When I have a little more time, I am going to explore all the links in this post–especially the Ancient Tradition Podcast. I have already googled the Stanford Inn in Mendocino, CA.
Thanks again, Jenne, for brightening up my day and lifting my spirit!
Blessings.
Hi Rebecca. It makes me so happy to hear that I could help lift your spirits. And you’ve brightened my day in return. Thank you
Enjoy that podcast. So interesting!!
Jeanne, will you be highlighting the holidays with vegan recipes, and are you planning to participate in a vegan cruise in 2025?
Hi Marty! Yes, I will be sharing even more holiday recipes.
Yes, I will be on the cruise. Will update this post to share that too. Thanks!