Review: EOTO Metronome Burlington, VT 4/29

When I arrived at Metronome on April 29th to see EOTO, there was a huge line out front. The show featuring Travis and Jason from String Cheese Incident was sold out and there were tons of kids under 21 looking for a ticket to get in so they could shake their groove things. When I walked into the newly designed Metronome it was perfect timing...the two men were just about to take the stage. The crowd was fabulous! Everyone was very into the music and you could tell they were letting it take them away to far away lands. That is just where Travis and Hann want them to be. I saw people twirling glow sticks, hula hoopers, and tons of people rockin out like there was no tomorrow. That is what EOTO does to you. You can't help it. It doesn't matter if you have class at 8am or have to work in the morning. It was all happening at Metronome and being there was the best place on earth at that moment in time.

Thank you EOTO for sharing your passion with Burlington, VT!

EOTO's Website

Review: Bassnectar Higher Ground Burlington, VT 4/21

I was on Facebook on Wednesday and I realized by reading many excited statuses about Bassnectar coming to Higher Ground that I forgot to get tickets for the show...and it was sold out. I accepted that I might not be going. That afternoon I was walking into town to meet Dan for lunch when I saw this huge bus that said "World Sustainability Tour" on it. I knocked on the door and a guy came out and invited me on. I said, "How do I not know about The World Sustainability Tour in Burlington?" The man told me that it was Bassnectar's bus. He showed me around and informed me of all of the changes they had made to the bus to make their tour more green. The bus was equipted with solar radiant heat, bamboo floors, solar hot water, etc. I set up an interview with Bassnectar and left the bus with 2 passes to the show. Woohoo!

I am now a huge Bassnectar fan. Not only is he awesome because of his eco-consciousness, but he is awesome because of his music. The way he plays with sound and the crowd's energy is amazing. At one point I heard 8 different tracks going at one time. Everyone in the building was going crazy from start to finish. We were all going crazy obviously because of the sounds Bassnectar was mixing and also because watching him make music is so fun. His energy is soooo contagious! Get your ass to a show asap and make sure to save your hearing and bring ear plugs.

http://www.bassnectar.net

Video: How to Green Your Shower

Review: The Chocolate Conspiracy Mint Chip

We had another party and decided that it would be the perfect time to sample the Chocolate Conspiracy Mint Chip Bar. Here are our reactions...

Taraleigh: I love mint and I love this bar. It is very raw and natural tasting and that is why I love it so much. I would have to say that have a piece of this bar is the perfect after meal treat. My stomach is happier now that I have eaten this.

Dusty: First, I've never had raw chocolate before, so I was not sure what to expect. So, to be honest, it was a little rough for me. However, that could be because I was expecting a little more sweetness (like milk chocolate). The mint favor was good though, and I did not mind the overall flavor. As someone who is just growing to tolerate dark chocolate, this is probably as close to a thumbs up as you're gonna get. Nice work.

Melinda: I really enjoyed this yummy chocolate. I have never had raw chocolate and I loved the texture and the balance between mint, honey and cocoa. The first taste was somewhat overpowered by the bitterness of the cocoa but the few bites after that were perfect. My one request is that you try to source Fair Trade Certified cocoa, vanilla and any other ingredients you can - whenever possible. I love the packaging and logo so much too.

Dan: It definitely takes some getting used to eating raw chocolate but once you do it tastes really good. It is a bit gritty. The mint isn't too overpowering which is nice. With each bite it tastes better and better.

Get your own!

http://www.eatchocolateconspiracy.com

Healthy Hippie Tip 4/21 Superfood Smoothies!

Video: Healthy Hippie Tip of the Day for 4/20

The Chocolate Conspiracy Maca Bar Review

I invited a couple of my friends to taste the Chocolate Conspiracy Maca bar and here are their reactions.

Tim: Powdery and yet melty, many flavors but not overly complex, tastes a bit fruity even though no fruit inside, feels like its roots are in superfood though it is not the raw zing that cacao brings usually. It makes my heart race but the high isn't very long lasting. I feel like it has potential for vitality but it's not quite enlivening yet.

Journey: (disclaimer: I'm addicted to chocolate) This is a dark chocolate lover's chocolate. The taste starts with an earthy bitter chocolate, and melds into a bitter berry (like unripe raspberry) and finishes very dry and bitter. I'm not sure of the health benefits of all of the ingredients of this chocolate bar, but I would recommend it for a simple melt-in-your-mouth treat!

Dan: Very different taste. Takes some getting used to. Has a slight gritty feel probably from the maca. At first I found I wasn't sure i if I liked it but after a few bites I found myself wanting more. It is definitely one of those foods that as you eat more of it you want more of it.

Taraleigh: Honestly I didn't like the first bite. It kind of tasted like dirt, but in a kinda good way. Then I had a second bite and it was a little better than the first bite. I took a third bite and I was sold. I loved it. It is amazing how when you are having a food that your body wants it starts to taste delicious and you want more and more. That is how it was with this chocolate. I am now I huge fan and am excited to finish typing so I can go eat more!

You can order your own at http://www.eatchocolateconspiracy.com

Recipe: Nutty Monkey Banana Bread (Gluten-Free)

Nutty Monkey Banana Bread

Gluten Free!



Try this favorite from the Holistic Health Coaches of Monkey Business Retreats!



What's a Monkey Business Retreat? It's a fantastic Costa Rican vacation for coaches and counselors who want to create a wildly fulfilling and successful wellness practice, all while causing the preservation of the monkeys of Pacific Costa Rica.

Ingredients

1/2 cups of ripe mashed bananas (3 bananas)

2 cups of Pamela's Gluten-Free Baking Mix

1/3 cup ground flax seeds

1/2 cup raw honey

1/3 cup organic butter or coconut oil plus 1 tsp extra to grease the pan

1 tsp vanilla extract

3 eggs (free-range organic)

1/2 cup chopped walnut

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease pan with butter or oil

2. Warm butter or oil and raw honey in a double boiler to a liquid consistency

3. In a large mixing bowl, combine all wet ingredients (honey, egg, vanilla, butter/coconut oil)

4. Add in flour, ground flax and walnuts

5. Beat all ingredients vigorously until blended together

6. Pour contents into greased loaf pan

7. Bake 55-60 minutes

8. Insert toothpick into center of bread. When it comes out clean you are done!

Enjoy!

Pretty Lights 4/4 Higher Ground Ballroom Vermont

Let me start this review by sharing that I am no longer a spring chicken. When I found out that Pretty Lights weren't taking the stage at Higher Ground Ballroom in Burlington, VT until eleven at night I was concerned that it was past my bed time for a Sunday night. Usually on Sunday night I am curled in bed reading Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants on my way to dream land. This Sunday night was different. Pretty Lights was in town and I was excited to find out what all the buzz is about.

I walked into the venue just as Pretty Lights started their set. I looked around and I've gotta say, I felt pretty old. It was an all ages rager where most of the people were under 21 and sporting a new style of high top sneakers, flat brim hats, skinny jeans, and cut off t-shirts. Wait...actually that isn't a new style. It's kinda how I dressed in the eighties. I didn't know it was back! It didn't matter if you were eighteen or eighty, this was a show you were going to enjoy and for the next 3 hours you weren't going to stop dancing even if you tried. One bonus of all ages shows is that there is never a line at the bar. One downside is that there is always a line for water.

What Pretty Lights does to music and to the crowd is an amazing thing to hear and to watch. They have this amazing back drop that is made of millions of pretty lights that change into cool designs and images. It really ties the whole thing together. Add in the way they mix beats, choose unique songs to sample, dance around, add in live drumming and feed off the crowd and you've got something really special and we all felt it. We felt lucky to be there and to be part of the show. It really felt like the crowd was another member of the band...and we showed up and played our best show to date. I'm pretty sure Pretty Lights did too.


If you get a chance to see Pretty Lights on their tour or at the many festivals they are booked at this summer do it!

By Taraleigh