Virginia Bloggers

Category: VAis4Bloggers

  • #RVAVegFest

    Saturday afternoon was the 10th annual Richmond Vegetarian Festival, which was created specifically for people like Sarah and Me. Just kidding. But seriously. I went last year and the year before (pretty much as long as I’ve lived in Richmond) and this year was the best year, yet! There were tons of vendors and samples galore! It’s also awesome to be at a festival where you don’t have to ask “is there meat in that?”

    A few of my favorites:

    Kabab Grille was absolutely amazing. They were recently voted “Best Vegetarian Restaurant” by the Richmond Besties, and wow, did the earn it! I had a zucchini dish, with veggie rice, and it was seriously delicious. I can’t wait to go visit the actual restaurant. Maybe a future VAis4Bloggers meet up?

    The picture really doesn’t do it justice. It was seriously delicious.

    I also enjoyed the samples from Health Starts Here, (aka Whole Foods). The red quinoa salad was good, and the garlicky kale was awesome. They were giving out coupons for free tahini dressing (which is a blend of water, garlic, nutritional yeast, tahini, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice and liquid aminos), so I can’t wait to enjoy more kale! Normally, I just use kale for kale chips or green smoothies. This opens up a whole new world of veggie munching!

    Tahini dressing + Kale = side dish, done.

    I’m definitely going to keep this in mind, next time I find my self in need of a fast side dish. It was tasty and easy!

    Lindsay and Sarah got some of the vegan gelalto, which they graciously let me taste, and it was quite delicious!

    It was a great way to cool off in the 90+ degree temperature!

    We also got to sample a bunch of Simply Bar flavors. They’re currently only sold online (in the U.S.) but they are considering coming to Richmond… so hopefully they sold lots of samples at the festival! I really liked the cinnamon pecan flavor!

    Throughout the afternoon, I met Robin, ran into Brian, and unfortunately missed Lauren  and Brittany!

    Did anyone else get to check out the festival this weekend?

  • Fashionista for a Day

    I wonder if it was obvious when I walked in, that I’m not a fashion blogger. (Probably.) Thankfully, everyone was so nice they didn’t call me out on it. 😉

    While I’m not much of a fashion blogger, I am someone who enjoys meeting other local bloggers around the area!

    Larissa, the organizer of RVA Fashion Bloggers (and the brains behind From the Runway to RVA) allowed me to come to the meet up, even though I’m not really a fashion blogger. I was so excited to meet some amazing local bloggers! (And I finally got to meet Leney from A Girl Named Leney! Remember her awesome guest post about one of the RVA Fashion Week Events?)

    So what goes on at a fashion blogger meet up? Lots of laughing, and lots of picture taking! (I could totally get used to this.)

    It’s fun being somewhere where carrying a DSLR around is totally normal.

    The two gorgeous ladies behind Notorious Styles

    Shanon, Tiffany, Leney, Larissa, Brian, Bree, Me

    It’s a little blurry, but you get the point! (Somehow, I don’t have a picture of Tori, but she’s adorable!)

    I’m excited to add some fashion events to our events page, and expand our blogroll with some new local faces! Make sure you check back regularly for event announcements!

    Any fashion bloggers out there?

  • Navigating the Farmers Market

    Hi! I’m Brittany Mullins, a full-time online marketing gal and part-time holistic health coach living in Richmond, Virginia. I’m also the author of Eating Bird Food, a healthy living blog that features nutritious (and tasty) recipes, workouts and a glimpse into my daily life, which is currently being taken over by wedding planning.

    One of my favorite things about spring and summer is all the seasonal produce. Saturdays from May – October my fiancé and I wake up early to explore our local farmers market. We sip coffee, taste a few samples or have breakfast, buy produce and other locally made goods and give our dog, Olive, a chance to meet and greet some other pups. It’s something we look forward to each week.

    I love shopping at farmers markets. However, I can see how it could be a little intimidating for those who have never been. So, today I want to share some of my favorite tips for a successful farmers market adventure.

    1. Do a little research. Visit localharvest.com to find farmers markets nearby. Check their days/hours and visit a couple to find out which ones you like best based on the location and vendors. We have quite a few in Richmond, but my two favorites are the South of the James Farmers Market and The Market at St. Stephen’s. Both of which are open on Saturday mornings from 8:00AM-12:00PM.
    2. Try to arrive earlier rather than later. Popular items often times sell out fast so head to the market early – you’ll beat the crowd and get the best selection.
    3. Bring some reusable bags and definitely stop by the ATM before heading to the market. Some vendors take credit cards, but most of them only accept cash.
    4. It’s fun to come hungry – often times farmers markets have coffee, food trucks and samples. If you come hungry you’ll be more likely to try something new.
    5. Talk to the vendors/farmers. If you’re interested in natural, organic produce ask how their produce is grown. Often times, small farmers adhere to organic growing principles but can’t afford the official certification.
    6. Try at least one “new-to-you” item. Farmers markets have some obscure items that you might not know what to do with. Pick one out, ask the farmer about it and then research recipes online. Who knows, you might just find your new favorite fruit/veggie.
    7. Go beyond produce. Some of my favorite items to buy at the farmers market are flowers and freshly baked breads but you’ll also find meats, eggs, cheeses and other tasty delights.
    8. Most markets also have vendors that sell crafts and baked goods. Handmade artwork, jewelry, candles and sweets make great gifts!
    9. Shop around before deciding to buy. Nothing is worse than buying produce at one stand and finding the same item is cheaper or fresher from a vendor two tents down.
    10. Bring a list with a few ideas of what veggies you need, but also be willing to compromise once you see what vegetables are available and look the best that week.
    11. Make a date of it! Go with your hubby/boyfriend/best friend and enjoy yourself. It’s fun just to walk around and explore what local farms are producing in your area.

    Do you shop at your local farmers market? What are some of your favorite items to buy?

  • Eating: Wholesome Goodness

    First off all, we want to give a huge thanks to Wholesome Goodness for sponsoring our “Mock-tail” party this afternoon!

    We had a great turn out of Virginia Bloggers, with quite a variety of dips! I can’t wait to try some of those recipes!!

    We had tons of chips, including:

    If we’re playing favorites, I’d have to say the Multigrain and Flax Tortilla Chips are amazing. They pretty much go with ANY dip, in my opinion… but some of my favorites included Mollee’s pesto dip, and Gabby’s salsa! Wholesome Goodness also sent us some of there salsa, and it’s delicious as well!

    We sampled both the Pomegranate juice as well as the Pomegranate Blueberry & Acai juice.

    I think my favorite mix was 1 part part club soda, 1 part lemon lime soda, and 1 part Pomegranate Blueberry & Acai juice!

    And just in case our bloggers didn’t get enough Wholesome Goodness at the party, we were able to send everyone home with a some trail mix! The Tuxedo Mix is one of my all time favorites!

    You can follow Wholesome Goodness on Twitter, and they’re have been a fantastic company to work with! (Thanks again, Kathleen!)

    Thanks again to Wholesome Goodness and all the bloggers that were able to make it to the party! Keep checking the events page for summer announcements, and make sure you follow us on twitter, for all the updates!

  • Eating: Wholesome Goodness

    First off all, we want to give a huge thanks to Wholesome Goodness for sponsoring our “Mock-tail” party this afternoon!

    We had a great turn out of Virginia Bloggers, with quite a variety of dips! I can’t wait to try some of those recipes!!

    We had tons of chips, including:

    If we’re playing favorites, I’d have to say the Multigrain and Flax Tortilla Chips are amazing. They pretty much go with ANY dip, in my opinion… but some of my favorites included Mollee’s pesto dip, and Gabby’s salsa! Wholesome Goodness also sent us some of there salsa, and it’s delicious as well!

    We sampled both the Pomegranate juice as well as the Pomegranate Blueberry & Acai juice.

    I think my favorite mix was 1 part part club soda, 1 part lemon lime soda, and 1 part Pomegranate Blueberry & Acai juice!

    And just in case our bloggers didn’t get enough Wholesome Goodness at the party, we were able to send everyone home with a some trail mix! The Tuxedo Mix is one of my all time favorites!

    You can follow Wholesome Goodness on Twitter, and they’re have been a fantastic company to work with! (Thanks again, Kathleen!)

    Thanks again to Wholesome Goodness and all the bloggers that were able to make it to the party! Keep checking the events page for summer announcements, and make sure you follow us on twitter, for all the updates!