Ben and Jerry's go Vegan!

Since the day I saw Preity Zinta eating Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie in Salaam Namaste, there isn't anything I've craved more!

Just look at that!

Sadly though, I never satisfied the craving as the ice cream contained egg. Every time I would pass the ice cream section in Tesco I would look at Ben & Jerry's ingredients to see if the Chocolate Fudge Brownie still contains egg. I even wrote to them, and wished that somehow, just somehow they create an eggless version of this ice cream.

AND OH MY GOD!

They've done it! Ben & Jerry's decided to go eggless! And not just eggless, they've gone full on dairyless aka VEGAN! Excuse the exclamation marks, I'm just so excited! The dream has come to the bowl! They've used Almond milk and vegan brownies from Greyston Bakery to make this goodness. And beyond chocolate fudge brownie, they've also launched three other vegan flavours; Chunky Monkey, Coffee Caramel Fudge and P.B. & Cookies.

   

Unfortunately, there's still gonna be some wait for the rest of the world as these have just been launched in the US for now. But patience! They've launched them in US, they'll launch them soon in UK and everywhere else too. Can't wait. While we're waiting, check out their dairyless video:

Unbelievable. Thank you Ben and thank you Jerry!

#LaughingAnanas

iAm Loved ..

.. and Blessed.

I didn't know how it would go when I first started penning my thoughts down in this alter-ego-avatar-blog of mine, aka Laughing Ananas. My sole aim was to encourage a healthy lifestyle and express that it doesn't have to be that difficult to be incorporated in our same ol' day to day lives. And now I wonder.. how's it going? Big hit, big fail? Readers healthy, readers unhealthy? Well, me no know.

But, when I get whatsapps and inboxes, from the most unexpected, asking when the next Ananas post is scheduled for or saying they can't wait for more posts and that the Ananas should keep writing ..

And then I see those who religiously like, share, comment their words of motivation on every single post inspiring the Ananas to laugh even more ..

And those anonymous friends, who probably follow the Ananas by mail just so they can, by default, post their feedback under every post as soon as it comes out ..

And of course those who are completely nonexistent when it comes to social media, and too busy to even shoot a hello once in a blue moon. But, when the Ananas first spoke, they revived their close-to-dead accounts, and spread his word of mouth on, oh yes, la social media!

And the others who actually walk the walk of the Ananas by practicing his suggestions habitually as an everyday thing - eating the avocados, singing to their plants and going as far as hula hooping at the dinner table! Not to forget, getting back to the Ananas to inform how much they enjoy their daily avocado ..

And then some other newly-mets, who don't just keep an eye out for the 'coming up on Ananas', but compare his words to that of the Grand Master Osho's!

Makes the Ananas feel blessed. Feel loved.

So loved, that there are so many genuinely interested in what a random, high-on-life Pineapple has to say.

Thank you for supporting and keeping the Ananas in your kitchen :) You know who you are.

#laughingananas

51 fun things to do this Spring

Want to have not a single dull moment this spring? Read on!

Instructions for the List

Print it out. Put it in your pocket. Do it. 

The Springler's List

1. Go jogging

2. Wake up with the Sun

3. Re-dream your dreams

4. Write your dream on a piece of paper

5. Laminate your dream paper

6. Look for a seed

7. Plant the seed

8. Find out what plant the seed grows into

9. Make a smoothie

10. Feed a dog

11. Burn your jacket

12. Burn your coat

13. Burn your hoodie

14. Paint a sheep

15. Drink aloe vera juice

16. Write a story

17. Dance in the streets

18. Learn to play violin

19. Make your own band

20. Get a gig for your band

21. Play in your band

22. Make your own game

23. Build a sand castle

24. Do the rain dance at a signal

25. Enact Superman

26. Make your own cartoon

27. Name your cartoon Schindler

28. Go on a picnic in your backyard

29. Camp in your local park

30. Ride a tricycle to a club

31. Play a flute in a restaurant

32. Sing to a flower

33. Plan a sleepover

34. Print your own book

35. Name a vegetable after Spiderman

36. Name a flower after Spongebob

37. Name a star after Pinocchio

38. Cut your own hair

39. Cut other people's hair

40. Spin a hula hoop at the dinner table

41. Make your own paper boat

42. Eat all kinds of berries

43. Swing

44. Run a marathon 

45. Eat Avocado Toast

46. Master the art of french cooking

47. Write a message in a bottle

48. Find a message in a bottle

49. Grow tomatoes in your garden

50. Go to Spring Break

51. Bake malteser cupcakes

1 down, 50 to go

iEat Avocado Toast

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Simple but Genius!

It's almost like my new tradition. I fall asleep after a big long day, go to the nicest places in my dreams - up the mountains and under the water of course, wake up when my alarm starts screaming at me, get myself on a Yoga mat to burn off my totally unnecessary carbs and run straight to the kitchen bewitched by the thought of my Avocado waiting for me to crack it open and destroy it. 

My Cracked Open Avo :)

A Recipe for Blessing

Key Ingredients:

A pinch of sea salt
A dash of black pepper
A drop of lemon
A slice of bread
A hint of excitement
And a very questionable Avocado

The Avo-Tomato Duet on my Chop Board

There's a lot you can do to this fruit to make it yummy in your tummy, I generally like to dissect it into thin, long strips for starters. 

You might also want to chop a tomato for your toast (optional), I like to.   

The rest is really a personal choice, some hand mash the Avocado while others like them in strips for their toast. I have phases - at times mashed, at times shredded pieces. Whatever you do, don't forget to sprinkle some salt, lemon and lots of black pepper. And drizzling some olive oil on top of it all, is always a good idea.

I've started to realize that a nice healthy breakfast in the morning really defines the rest of your day. My new Avo Toast tradition leaves me feeling fresh and energetic for the rest of my day! In fact, Leo Widrich, the Co-founder and COO at Buffer, points out How your Productivity is Determined by What you Eat in his blog. And especially eating Avocados is believed to lower bad cholesterol, and improve learning and muscle function. See for yourself!

In the meantime ..

PRESENTING MY AVO TOAST!

Type A - Long pieces with sprinkled black pepper et al.

Type B - Mashed Avo with grilled Halloumi

Type C - Mashed Avo with an evil smile

Try it, and let me know how you liked it. Stay healthy, wealthy and wise. And, for more Avo experiments and recipes, check out The Scoop Avocado Blog.

Bon Appétit! :)

iSing to my Plant

That's right!

It's soon going to be two years to that day when my dad bought me my very own Aloe Vera plant from a flea market that did a lot more than selling used, old rags. It sold life.

That's what he looked like when he was born to me

I'd take my Aloe everywhere, to the swings, on walks, underground tubes, and of course, supermarkets.

Spotted: Chilling in London with my friend :)

And most importantly, iSing to it. You may call it strange, but it's just a way of showing love. And my Aloe likes it like that.

Plants like music - FACT

There are a lot of studies in the market that have spent a lifetime in proving this instance. A beautiful snippet of this is presented by Sanjay Sharma in The Effect of Music on Plant Growth and Pests, for all those of you who are interested in learning more. 

Question. So plants like music, but how does that help you?

It helps your Attitude. Plants react to the attitude with which they are nurtured. And to raise a brilliant child plant, the parent aka YOU, must also have a brilliant attitude. An attitude of Love, Care and Patience. These are the key rules of life that raising a plant will teach you and fill your life with. Do you like that? So go for it! Improve your own life by raising another life with the right kind of attitude. Really, that's all it takes - One Good Morning Song a day :)

As for my Aloe, he continues to breathe, grow and live ...

Take 1

Take 2

New Life: Baby Pups beside Big Daddy

In fact, he's started having his own children. Just recently, I potted his baby pups in a different pot, so they don't overcrowd :) It's a beautiful feeling. I have enjoyed it and I know you will too. Try it! Keep living, keep loving! 

I'm a virgin blogger, naturally not knowing much about how stuff works around here. I'd really appreciate all the comments, advice and feedback. Gracias. 

Love life!

The Aloe Life