The Hippie
Welcome! I guess if you’re clicking around these parts you’re wondering who I am…
To keep things simple:
- I’m originally from Northern California, and I love the Bay Area. I hope to live there again some day.
- I went to college in Southern California (UCLA), where I met my husband
- A few years into our relationship I made my way to the East Coast for nursing school…and not long after, he joined me.
- Although we spent 3 years living in Manhattan, I have always considered myself a California girl at heart, which is why we left the Big Apple to return to the West Coast. Sure, it’s hard to deny how fabulous NYC is and I certainly did my best to live it up while living in such an amazing city, but the intense lifestyle and harsh weather finally took it’s toll.
- I am a 20 something working girl. Some days I think I have the best job ever (I’m an RN) and some days are a real challenge (to put it nicely).
- I eat a mostly plant-based diet (no meat & no dairy), but occasionally I have eggs, greek yogurt, and chocolate. Those are pretty much my only exceptions (but I prefer not to be labeled by my food choices).
- I follow a LOW FODMAP diet which you can read more about here.
- My path to following eating low FODMAPs & semi-vegan is well documented on this site but I have a long GI history that you can read about here.
- I played soccer at a highly competitive level until I went to college, and I really miss it. Since I grew up being incredibly active, I used to get very frustrated when the crappy East Coast weather (see above) prevented me from getting out.
- Now I’m on the West Coast and loving the year round running weather (I don’t miss the gym at all).
- I LOVE doing all things active, running, cycling, hiking, tennis, golf, anything and everything.
- Fitness is a MAJOR part of my life. I do it for health reasons, but even more, it makes me feel good. Natural endorphins are the best high, and I’m addicted.
- I love food. LOVE it.
- I also have a passion for cooking, especially creating new recipes. I love dining out, trying new dishes, new flavors, and I feel so lucky to have lived in such major foodie cities (San Francisco, Manhattan, Los Angeles, etc.). These are without a doubt some of the best places to spoil your taste buds! Restaurants with dining variety aplenty.
- Here are just some of the fabulous places I’ve been.
- I try to be as green as possible (hence the “hippie”). I recycle, use energy efficient appliances, buy products that are all earth friendly, but know there is ALWAYS room for improvement.
- I was raised by the best parents. They provided (and still provide) inspiration on how to live in a healthy way, respecting yourself, respecting others, and respecting the planet. Along with the rest of my fam, they live in CA. They are the ultimate hippies…they compost all their trash in the backyard and use it as fertilizer for the garden. I have big shoes to fill, so I am continually working to reduce my carbon footprint.
- I have 2 younger sisters, and we are all very close.
- I love traveling. I consider Barcelona my second home (I studied abroad there).
The three of us in BCN.
Here are some additional photos, just for fun:
Feel free to ask questions and/or check out my FAQ page for answers.
{ 118 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve been wondering where you went! Of course I remember my fellow elise! How are you? I do miss your blog. Hope all is well.
You can email me at:
ediedenATgmailDOTcom
boo, it’s elise. can we delete this little thread? trying to remove my face from da blog world. still reading and loving HHH though
how in the f did i not know about this??????????? this is AMAZING elise!! i’m going to be sitting here for the next 5 hours explaining to the finnster all of the lovely dishes in his future. love you and hope you’re having a great trip.
xoxo
I just wanted to let you know how much I love the name of your blog! So cute! I can’t wait to read more!
Hey kiddo – thanks for the mention in Monday’s post. It was a pretty usual day – long day of work followed by some puppy love, but Mom and I did manage to get in a nice meal at Metro. Love, Dad
Love your story – I live in NYC, am almost-vegan, and have two younger sisters, too
Found your blog through the foodie blogroll.
You look so familar. Did you camp blue with your sisters and folks?
If so we were tent 4a.
Take care
hhaha i love the estimation of how vegan you are.
Bet that comes with working with numbers and measurements at the hospital all day huh? hehe
i totally HEART this!!! you have a new member to your blogging reading community…E, you’re my fave nyc-er for sure! besos!
Hi Elise
I love your blog! I know maybe you don’t like the idea that a stranger likes to read it, but its triggles me and chear me up!
We have alot in common:
I like crusli too
Something about myself
I did medschool in The Netherlands Europe
and like traveling a lot, Barcelona is one one my favourites too! But I also visit Toronto, costa rica, South Africa and the states.
Well just to let you know
Take care
Antoinette
are you kidding? i love readers, regardless of how they found the blog. are you still living in the netherlands? thanks for reading
ummm how have I not found your blog until now? you are freakin’ fabola girl! adding you to my google reader stat!
ditto!! adding you as well
Ahhh I’ve been lurking here for so long, time to come outta the woodwork and say it – I love your blog! Probably my faveee
Seriously, I always knew I loved hummus but I hadn’t had it in ages, and when I started reading your blog I was like “Hmm, I should buy a tub and have some on my lunchtime salads at school!”
Yeah, now I’m totally hooked. Gee thanks, hahaha.
Anyway, just figured it was high time I said hello!
Love, Liz xx
hello liz!! thanks for reading. im glad ive reawakened your love for hummus
elise, i am STL, via PB & Jenny. love your blog, (just found it
and I think we have a lot in common and i love your eats. i will definitely be back!
thank you bekah
great blog, can’t wait to read
!
thanks!
I love your about me! Wow. So lucky to have lived so many amazing places.
Yay! I love finding NY bloggers! Doesn’t it seem like all the food bloggers are from the South?? I just spent a whole hour of my work day reading your blog (er, I mean, working hard), and I definitely just added you to my reader!
yay, i love finding other NYers too…cant wait to check out your site (and by that i mean stalk you in a totally non-creepy way)
you’re great! just came across your blog today, love it!
aww…thanks so much!
I am a west coaster trapped in the east as well. Oh, the weather. I’ve been in CT for 2.5 yrs now and I’m still not use to it. I long for the Cali sun!!
Hi, Elise! I adore your blog! I’m fairly new to it but there’s plenty to keep a person glued to the monitor in the spirit of catch up so thank you for that.
I came across your place here when I was doing some all natural detox research around the time I did the GOOP 7 Day Plan about a month ago. Been following you on Twitter, as well! I see ya don’t have a Facebook but if you ever open one, plz let us know. Would love to add ya!
I’m in the beta stages of planning my own foodie blog with a general focus on health & fitness woven into that, (not to mention drizzles of the pop-culture & fashion I’m obsessed with!). Yours is SO inspiring! I’m a Private Chef, artist, photographer & soon-to-be first time novelist from Texas and just wanted to say “Nice to meet ya!”
I documented my whole GOOP thing on Facebook and am currently gearing to do the same with something I’ve been wanting to try for awhile now – a Raw Vegan diet. Have you ever gone down that road? I’m thinking of giving it a week’s go and see how it is. Fruits & Veggies and I are BFF as it is so I don’t feel there will be any culinary shock to be had. I was just wondering if you had any insight into this sort of thing?
Regardless, ADORE your blog! Read it religiously. Your photos and recipes are gr8 and you just seem like a bunch of powdered sunshine; perfect for adding to smoothies! :p
Nice to meet ya again, Elise. Keep up the good work!
~Charlie
Charlie – what a kind comment! It’s so nice to hear from readers, especially when the feedback is so wonderful! Please let me know once your blog is u[ and running because it sounds like it’s right up my ally
I’ve never gone full raw, but I have gone for periods of time in which I increased the raw foods in my diet significantly…I love fruits and veggies too, so it wasn’t too hard for me. It’s harder in winter when I want warm dishes though…I wish you the best of luck. And again, thanks for dropping by to say hi!!
Girl, I’m just loving your blog. So glad I came across it. I’ll definitely be following =)
hi gracie!! glad you stopped by and enjoy the blog
Hi Elise,
I just found your blog from Meals & Moves and I love it! I like to live in NYC vicariously, so I’ll be following along.
I just found your blog and I’m really loving it so far! I can really relate to your views on health/fitness/food. Can’t wait to read more!
Thanks so much!
I just found your blog and love it!
I also love NYC, so look forward to reading about the lucky life of someone who gets to LIVE there. I hear ya about the weather, though. I’m used to heat here in Texas so it would definitely be a hard transition.
i’m so glad you found me! and thanks for the comment…i’ll do my best to live it up in NYC for the both of us
Ah so jealous you live in NYC…and from N cal?! Two of my favorite places! I too am ~94 percent vegan, ‘cept with an occasional fro yo or scoop of ice cream ha :]
i got mad love for the west coast! i think those are totally legit exceptions to veganism
but then, im all about being flexible (rules are for suckers!!). anyways, thanks for the comment!!
I recently found your blog and it’s my new favorite thing to do online! You’ve given me a lot of great ideas as I transition into the vegan world.
Keep doing what you’re doing, girl! Why stop something you’re good at, right?
Kat – thanks for such a nice comment
I am so glad you found me, and I hope you continue to enjoy my vegan eats/musings
I’ve been a vegetarian for 13 years (never been great at going vegan, however) and am always on the look out for great meal ideas.
I hope my site helps give you ideas…if you want to try, maybe start with one meal a week thats vegan and then experiment with more and more…
you have been BLOGROLL’d
Hey Hippie! I can’t wait to keep reading this blog! I have so much respect for how you hold to your principles 94% of the time but realize your still human. To say the least, your inspiring!
adding you to my blog roll!
<3
You are so kind!! Thanks for such a sweet comment
Love the faq! Where in NorCal did you grow up? I’m from and still live in Northern California. I grew up just outside of Sacramento, went to school at Chico State, moved to Newport Beach for a year, and now reside (oh-so-happily) just south of San Jose.
I grew up in a small town in the East Bay, the closest city people recognize is Berkley. I know all the places you mentioned well though.
Great blog – my in-laws are hippies from the old San Fran settlement who made their way out to TN. It makes being a pseudo vegan super easy. I like all the recipes, it gives me good ideas on how to shake things up!
Hi! I just found your blog and am pretty excited about that! I’m an LPN now going for my RN.. nice to see another nurse blogger!
Hello to you, fellow (almost) RN
Me too – almost teared up looking at those first few photos of today’s post
Congrats again on the job! love, Dad
Hey!! Obv, I’m a huge fan! My bf has Crohns, so I love to pick up tips for both of us from your blog. I was just wondering if you graduated from UCLA or transferred to nursing school on the East Coast? I have a bachelor’s in Comm, but am considering nursing, so I wanted to ask, since it sounds like you might have been in the position as me. What made you decide on nursing too? Thanks!
GORGEOUS!!!!
Loved reading your story! You are absolutely gorgeous! I look forward to reading your posts
just found your blog!!! I love your About Me and how you’re a Cali girl at heart.
Your story is really relatable! I’m moving to NYC in a month, but will ALWAYS be a FL girl.. i definitely would love to have a home on the beach in a few years.
can’t wait to read more of your blog!
Hi Elise, just found your blog through choosingraw.com. I love your ideas for packing a healthy lunch to work and look forward to reading more. peace,
hi matsya. thanks for stopping by and introducing yourself
How is it I just found your blog when we probably live right down the street from one another? I live near UCLA!
It’s great to “meet” you and maybe we can organize another meet up with Lynn?
Hi! I am so happy I just found your blog. I look forward to being inspired by your delicious looking recipes in 2011! I am already inspired to get my toosh back in shape after having 2 baby boys in 2 years!
Although I am never one to go on a diet. But the Hungry Hippie sounds like it was made for me! (we have a lot in common) xo Samantha
ps. I would Love for you to visit my blog sometime . . .
Thanks for saying hi! Glad you found me
Hi! Just found your blog and I think it’s so inspiring and fun! I would love to go to California, it’s one of my dream destinations…
I will definitely be “coming” here regularly
We share a very similar diet, but I only wish I were as creative (and as organized) as you in the kitchen. I just wanted to let you know that your blog has been inspiring me for about a year and a half now
You may hear this regularly, but you should definitely create a healthy vegan survival guide (as opposed to cookbook, yawn).
Thanks Amber. You’re sweet to say that. Definitely worth considering…
Hi there! Just ran across your page and I’m so glad I did! You are super adorable, girl! You and your boyfriend-turned-fiance-turned-husband are adorable together!
Loved reading this and am so looking forward to reading some of your posts! 
Aw!! Thank you so much. What a sweet comment
Hi Elise, I knew your great blog through Gena’s post(Choosing Raw). I am looking forward to reading your blog every day. I am Japanese, and living in Tokyo as a vegan since last Octorber, and also have been to stay at NYC for two monthes. I will come here every day to to learn many things. See you!!
Hi Akiko! Welcome and thanks for reading
I found you via twitter and your blog seems awesome and so do you! can’t wait to read more
thanks megan!
Hey there, thanks for following me on Twitter! I love your blog – I allready feel healthier just by looking at it
Greetings from Germany!
I LOVE your blog! You cover so much great info, and the fact that you’re a cardiac nurse is awesome! I’ve worked in cardiac rehab and am working towards getting into PA school and I want to specialize in cardiology. I could talk for hours about cardiology (I’m such a dork) but I’ve recently started my own blog and plan to cover many different “heart health” topics. Your blog is great, and very inspiring!
thank you thank you thank you! its great to know there are others who are just as passionate about heart health
Hey! I have been vegetarian for almost 6 months now, and I am slowly working toward becoming 100% vegan! I adore your blog and wanted to say thanks for the helpful recipes, advice, and of course, laughs!
Just one quick question for you: What website did you use to create your blog? Do you find it easy to edit? I am using Tumblr right now but am in search of something new!
Much love!
Michelle
Nova Scotia, Canada
hey michelle! thanks so much for the kind feedback. im glad you are enjoying my blog. i am self hosted (using bluehost) and i worked with savvy services to design the look of the blog using wordpress and thesis themes (see the link at the bottom of the page for more info).
I just came across your blog and love it! Beautiful set up, beautiful philosophy. I am in nursing school currently, and interested in healthy vegetarian/ vegan food and being active. Its great to hear your perspective on these things!
thank you so much! im glad you found me. best of luck in nursing school.
Just found your blog and fell in love at first sight (site?)! I think there are a few of us hungry hippies out there
yes! hello fellow hungry hippie
thanks for reading and saying hi!
Hello, I was wondering your thoughts on the lacto-ovo vegetarian diet? Is that a good place to start for an aspiring vegan? Thanks again
Cedric
in my opinion ANYwhere is a good place to start working toward a more plant based diet. keep it up!
Just stumbled upon your blog recently– love it! Nice to find another fellow bay area foodie (i’m from Santa Cruz, CA!)
hooray! so glad you found me.
I just went to Europe for the first time. Although I didn’t go to Barcelona, I can see how you fell in love with life over there. I’ve been back one week and I’m dying to go back. I miss it already!
its so amazing! i definitely live to travel now
Really glad I stumbled across your blog!! =]
me too
Hi Elise! I absolutely LOVE HHH and have been a loyal reader for a long time now. I recently stumbled across your wedding photos, and I adore your dress! Where is it from? I am getting married next July (!!) and am still searching for my dress. I would love to know where you got your beautiful gown! Thanks so much!
congrats!! my dress was by paloma blanca. i called the store i was going to ahead of time to make sure they had the dress. i saw it in a magazine and knew it was the one i wanted. it was the first one i tried on
I just ran into your page and I love it! I’ve subscribed to your blog and I can’t wait to read more!
I just stumpled upon your blog from Jess’s blog at In My Healthy Opinion! Super cute! Can’t wait to continue following you!
thanks nikki!
Hi Elise! I’ve been reading (and loving) your blog for a couple of months now, so time to come out of hiding and introduce myself
I know travel is a passion of yours, so if you ever feel the need to travel to South Africa, let me know. Moi lives in Johannesburg, but I’ve lived all over the country, work in the travel industry and also Vegan. I’ve done some counseling with the wonderful Gena, so she can vouch for me that I’m not some crazy stalker 
Have a great day!
Elise we have so much in common! =) I am an ICU nurse who is also very passionate about exercise and diet. I am in my last year of grad school at Purdue and hope to eventually get a masters in nutrition as well. My love is holistic and integrative medicine. I just came across your blog and I love it! My food habits are exactly the same as yours, I too occasionally have organic greek yogurt or eggs cooked in things but for the most part avoid all dairy. I have been meat free for 17 years. Thank you for this fabulous blog! You should check out mine sometime, it has a mish mash of health related topics, fashion, art and recipes. I would love to re-post some of your recipes, with credit of course =)
hayley!!! i am SO glad you found me!! i cant wait to read your blog – we have so much in common! (ok i have to stop with the exclamation points, haha)
Hello
)! My mom ran across your blog and insisted on me reading it! I’m new to the blog world so this is new for me. This was def a great one to start with. I have wanted to be a doctor since I can remember and have just recently decided that nursing school will be a better route for me at the moment. When I moved off to college I had very similar health issues as you, now an aspiring vegintarian (one step at a time). Also, I have decided that once I’m done with nursing school then NYC here I come! I’m so glad I came across your blog! So very insipiring! I will def be reading often!! 
)
hi laney! glad your mom passed on my blog to you
LOVE your blog! We have a lot of similar passions!
My sister is in nursing school, second semester and as an occupational therapist, I work with a lot of nurses and I tip my hat to you…what a job!! I can identify with some days being great and others…well, enough said!
I also studied in Barcelona…but only for a month during a summer program (undergrad).
We recently visited CA for vacation..loved Santa Barbara…my fav!!! And, then headed up towards San Fran, stopping in the Pismo Beach area to stay with fam for a night. I love Fort Collins (CO) where we live, but if I moved anywhere, it would be to California!!!
Have a great day!
so great that you found me – we do have a lot in common. you hit up some great spots when you visited CA!
Nice to see another California blogger and Bruin alumna!! =P
Hi! I just came across your blog. I like it. I am excited to check out your vegan recipes. I just came off of 46 days trying vegan. I am eating cheese and some lean meats again. Anyway, I look forward to reading more.
have a happy day!
Hi Elise! I just wanted you to know that you really inspired me to start my own blog and really be accountable for what I’m putting into my body.
The changes I’m trying to make are not a “diet” it’s a lifestyle makeover that I want to dictate the rest of my life! I really found a starting spot by reading your blog, so I just wanted you to know that.
Not only that, my boyfriend has IBS so the recent posts you’ve made about FODMAPS I’ve been sharing with him. I can’t thank you ENOUGH for those because I really want to help him in anyway I can!
I just began my own blog and just tried hummus for the first time!!! (YUM) I’m really excited about this food adventure I’ve started, so once again thanks Elise! What you’re doing is amazing.
hi alex. it truly warms my heart to know ive had an effect on your positive life changes. congrats for putting your health first and i hope you stay inspired and continue to thrive. i wish you all the best!!
Love your page! I’m a freshman living in a dorm room, which means: tiny refrigerator (that I share) and a utility room with a stove and oven that is shared with 30 other girls. Getting adjusted was kinda stressful since I’ve always had a healthy kitchen to walk into for all of my life. However, I’ve got a big container under my bed full of quinoa, flax, chia, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, sunflower butter, steel cut oats (gf), lentils, tahini, amaranth, beans, cacao nibs, shredded coconut, coconut oil, vega protein, and some sardines, tuna and salmon. My fridge is re-filled every weekend with just enough swiss chard, kale, spinach, humus, mushrooms, onion, carrots, avocado, celery, sigi yogurt, egg, aloe vera, black bean burgers (made in advance) and what ever fruit was lookin’ yummy at the supermarket. Needless to say, my room mate probably hates me because I’m a refrigerator hog and all my food is foreign to her. ANYWAYS, I lovelovelove your page because you eat most all of the things I do. I have tried/am trying some of your recipes this week, so keep em’ comin! Btw could you add some more without gluten, cane sugar and soy ? I’m allergic
kinda sucks because I feel like soy is a staple in most vegan lifestyles… take care!
hi deanna! thanks for such a kind (and encouraging!) comment. you have such fabulous foodie tastes – i wish i had had the knowledge of such superfoods when i was a freshman!!!
Hi! Such a cute blog and a great story. Thanks for sharing
I just randomly found you after typing in these keywords into google: black bean, quinoa, banana. A picture of your delicious looking brownies showed up, and there you were! Just stopping by to say hello and I’ll keep browsing…
thank you so much dana…how hilarious that those were the search terms that led you to me…but then it DOES make sense since i basically live off of those exact ingreds
You inspired me to start my own food blog ish type thing lol (2 days ago) ! It’s http://cookingquinoaintheutilityroom.wordpress.com/ please give me some feed back!
congrats deanna
Hi Elise! I’ve been reading for a while now, but have never commented before. I just wanted to tell you that I absolutely love reading your blog. Out of all the blogs I read, yours is definitely my favourite.
I truly admire all your balanced and delicious eats, and also your positive and humorous personality. Basically, just keep doing what you’re doing, because your blog is awesome!
hi allie! thank you so much. it makes me so happy to hear from readers, especially such sweet feedback!
Hi Elise,
I’m the editorial director of a health blog and I came upon your site. Love all the information. How do I get in touch with you about having you as a guest blogger for us?
John
hi john. my email is on the sidebar. feel free to contact me through that.
Elise, we share the same name (spelled slightly different), a love for being active (running!) and especially of love of whole foods and cooking. I look forward to following your blog! – Alise (Vogue Vegetarian)
so much in common!!! i love it. cant wait to check out your site too
Hey young hippie girl! I love how you’re integrating photos with your text. I’m hoping to do the same with my new site, Thank A Hippie, on hippie movement history. Just getting started with it, mainly have laid out extensive navigation structure, various images, and done several “About” pages and blog posts. Would love to have you comment. Curious why you like the “hippie” designation and what you think about the successes and failures of the hippie movement.
just found your blog via mealsandmove.com and i love what i’ve read so far! can’t wait to read more !
hi kate! glad you found me
Your blog is really inspiring
thank you
thanks elisabeth!
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