♥ Paleo and Cross Fit

Although I have several posts comin' atcha, in the works, I wanted to share a little tid bit of what's been going on in my brain.

So, I am on my third week of cross-fit/boot camp training with Coach Katy at Move Austin Outdoor Fitness and I'm loving it! I was really looking to change up my work-out routine and she's definitely challenged me, not to mention the biggest challenge of all; waking up at 6am! It hasn't been too bad, in fact, quite rewarding! I'll share more about some of these workouts soon.

These morning classes have really got me thinking about my personal goals as far as my physical self and mental self and even my dietary goals. Since I have been introduced to these Cross-Fit style workouts, I have also been introduced to what is known as the Paleo Diet.

Now, I don't know much, but I'm learning more and more. And it is starting to sound like quite the challenge... a challenge I'm willing to take. So far, I know the Paleo Diet is short for Paleolithic, which means you basically eat like a caveman. Think: hunter-gatherer. No gluten. No dairy.

I'm always up for a challenge... but maaaayyyybe I'll start after ACL Festival :)
(^^That's a shameless plug of my personal ACL picks. Have a look if you're interested)

Anyway, after my boyfriend cooked up some AMAZING portabello mushrooms last night, I was scouring for more portabello recipes. This Portabello Caprese Tower salad comes from the Austin foodie blog called ATX Gluten Free. Chef Jess's gluten-free recipes have really got me thinking that I might be able to let go of my long term relationship with bread. (Oh how I love thee!) If you are looking for some healthy and tasty alternatives to every day meals (pasta, pizza, you name it!) Check out her blog!

Although this recipe doesn't follow the Paleo Diet. It looks very VERY tasty and still quite healthy! I think I will give it a try this week. As for my attempt at the Paleo Diet, you will have to wait and see!

ATX Gluten Free: Chef Jess' Portabello Caprese Towers
Serves 2
Approximate time: 15 minutes

• 2 Portabello mushrooms
• 1 small ball of fresh mozzarella, sliced into 4 thick slices
• 1 tomato from the vine, sliced into 4 thick slices
• 12 fresh basil leaves
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp onion powder
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Olive oil
• Balsamic vinegar

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 300
2. Pull out the stem of the Portabello mushroom. Place upside down in casserole dish and drizzle olive oil over top. Sprinkle garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper over mushroom. Bake until warmed through, about 5-10 minutes.
3. Slice tomatoes and mozzarella into thick slices.
4. Place Portabello mushroom upside down on serving dish. Layer starting with one tomato slice, 1 mozzarella slice, 2 basil leaves, repeat once more and top with fresh basil. Drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar over top of tower. Sprinkle salt, to taste.

Enjoy,

♥ Mellie

♥ Austin Loves of Lately

When Summer fades and Fall rolls around, most people around the country enjoy the changing of the seasons and possibly miss their sunkissed skin. When rain hits their window they wait inside reminiscing about the sun-filled play days.

 Not us Austinites... Fall is a distant memory and rain... well, I don't even remember what that is. And we wait inside all day cause its just too damn hot to go anywhere.

I heard on the news yesterday that Texas has seen 73 consecutive days of 100 degrees (or more) and 22 consecutive days of 105+.

Thats plain absurd.

Here are a few pics I took of things I love lately, yet can't enjoy at the moment cause...well...I would melt. 

Lounging at Zilker Park

Tasty Sno Beach

Backyard afternoons while sipping French champagne

Hiking up to Mt. Bonnell at sunset

Kayaking on Town Lake

Watching the bats at the South Congress Bridge

 Cheers to the breeze today!

♥ Much Love,

Mel

♥ The Blue Hit

The Blue Hit is an Austin musical group that has increasingly been scaling my Top 5 List of 'Get Ur butt Up and Check out' Austin music and if I haven't convinced you by the end of this post to listen to their music and see The Blue Hit Live (next chance you get), then just chalk it up to a dare. C'mon I dare ya!

This girl's got pipes. When I first saw Grace Park perform alongside David Moss on the cello and John McGee finger picking meticulously on the guitar, I was stuffed into a tiny room in Flipnotics Coffee Shop with about 30 other people. Without any acoustics or even a microphone, I was in absolute awe at the immense silence amongst this large group that was given in order to catch every beautifully, trickling drop of sound drip onto our eardrums.

Grace's mannerisms are what keep you enthralled in her performances. With her hands clasped behind her back, she tends to grin sheepishly or mysteriously... (you will have to decide). Often she bring her hands in front of her to wave them around magically only to add to her lyrical story. Her toes continuously make a seemingly nervous tip toe motion, yet shy, she is not.  She belts with the bravery of an army of men from the depths of her belly to produce a beautiful velvety voice that chants to the women (and men) in the audience of power, pride and humility. A true Austin delight.

This trifecta is a testament to the saying “less is more”. The combination of David's intimate instrumentation and expertise with the cello adds a hint of jazzy captivation to John's alluring guitar skills, all underneath Grace's edgy vocals make for a free-spirited, folk-swing performance.  

Check out The Wild Frontier Fest in Austin on September 10th & 11th at Emo's to see The Blue Hit play with several other incredible Austin-bred favs like Octopus Project, White Denim, Zeale and Equals -- to name a few of MY favs!


♥ Much Love,

Mellie

♥ Friday Jamz and Out on the Town Austin!

Hello reader! Yippeee it's Friday! 

The saddest part is that I have at least 4 partially written posts about my week in music, fun events, food and exciting things to come! Guess I'll be writing a lot this weekend and try to catch up.

I hope to not overwhelm you all with a big burst of randomly awesome Mel-News. All you one person who may be reading this! ;)

Anywho, please enjoy this song that I re-discovered on my iTunes from a few years ago. I downloaded it for my sister who reminded me how awesome it is, then I went on a run and jammed it and I too was reminded. So I thought I'd share! Hope it pumps you up!

If you know me, then you know I enjoy some hip-hop intertwined in most of my electronic musical choices. **See Gramatik post to come soon (yum!)** So who wouldn't love Grammy winner and world renowned Italian DJ and producer Benny Benassi combined with also world renowned hip-hop artists, The Fugees!?

We all thank you Voidstar for this awesome remix!

Benny Benassi vs. Fugee - Ready For Satisfaction (Voidstar Remix) by DjAbag

If you liked it, download it HERE!

If not, thats okay! More fun, new and different music to come!

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If you're out on the town in Austin this weekend, here are some events I suggest you check out:

FRIDAY 8/19:

CLASSIXX w/ Learning Secrets at The Parish

Dead Prez at Red 7

Grooveland Music Festival (all weekend) at Camp Ben Mculloch

If you are attending this, definitely try to check out TOAST, Metranohm, Funkotron
Dimitris Ascent and Green Mountain Grass- to name a few of my favs!

SATURDAY 8/20:

Austin Farmer's Market Downtown at Republic Square Park

  Griz, Posh and Abboriginal at Firehouse Lounge -FREE!

Eye in the Sky Collective presents: STEREO IS A LIE, Saints of Valory and Pop Pistol at Frank's

EL TEN ELEVEN w/ The Globes at The Mohawk

Check back for more food, music and living!

♥ Much Love,

Mel

♥ Friday Jamz!

Whew! Thank goodness it's Friday! Leaving you to start your weekend off with a new song! Big Gigantic's debut remix of Kanye West - Get 'em High. Big Gigantic is one of my all time favorite bands. Their music is guaranteed to make you want to get down and please excuse my lack of better description (it's Friday) Dominic Lalli on sax is pretty damn sexy! This song already makes me anticipate some fun times to be had this weekend!
Big thanks to the blog that's always up on the new new ThisSongIsSick. Here's a little blurp about the song, hope y'all enjoy!

"...There’s been some stolen web rips of this surfacing, but we’re happy to have worked with the group and give you the full high quality version to jam to. It’s got a nice chill buildup and then drops, but not as heavy as some of their other tracks. I can’t get enough of this remix, turn it up and enjoy!..." -ThisSongIsSick

Kanye West - Get Em High (Big Gigantic Remix) by Thissongissick.com

♥ Much Love,

Mel

♥ Artist :: LEBO

My mother is Cuban.

My Father is Jewish.

To say that I am familiar with the city of Miami is an understatement. Growing up we traveled to Miami a lot.

I had heard about Ultra Music Festival for several years, but it probably wasn’t until 2009 when I started recognizing a lot of the artists. And in 2010 I remember feeling particularly bummed about missing that year’s events.

While rummaging through photos of the event, I caught a glimpse of a live painter on stage with the Disco Biscuits, and even amongst the haze of the crowd and the bright lights of the stage, I could see what colorful bursts were blooming on his canvas. I had to find more.

The artist was David LeBatard, also known as LEBO and to this day I'm still a huge fan. As a Miami native, I (correctly) assumed LEBO was also Cuban, making me even more of a fan of his. His bursts of saturated color are contrasted by striking linear movements in his paintings. I especially love his unique style of expression through cartoonism. He may even throw in a line or two of some very inspirational phrases that help guide his creative ideas.

This first pic is the one that initially intrigued me about the artist a year and a half ago:

LEBO also made a pit stop in Austin for SXSW in 2010 for some live painting with Chico Mann. But what I love most are the INCREDIBLE Gibson Guitars he painted at the Gibson Guitar Center in Austin that several artist played while on a bus/mobile recording studio. Check it out!


LEBO+SXSW+Gibson+AOL Lifestream - 2010. from LEBO STUDIOS on Vimeo.

Here are some pics of his amazing artwork:

And last but not least, some fairly recent street artwork done by LEBO:

 A lot of times you can find LEBO painting on stage with some of your favorite artists like, previously stated Disco Biscuits, Michael Franti or Thievery Corporation, but I love that he is now contributing his amazing art to city scapes.

Hope you enjoy and find some happiness in the colors! :)
♥ Much Love,
Mellie