Typically the last week in the month is a bit of a free for all when it comes to “good habits.” Meaning, I tend to put off working out… pour myself a second glass of wine… eat another slice of pizza… because there’s next month to start over!
I am the queen of fresh starts and clean slates. Usually- and I’m not exaggerating here – if I don’t start something on the first of the month, there is a good chance I’ll put it off for another 29 – 30 days.
I have a friend who did a 30 Day Yoga Challenge (which I’ve done a few of myself) and she just randomly started on like the 8th or something. When she told me this, my mind just couldn’t comprehend. I could never start something so abruptly. I need a “fitting” timeline (like starting on the first of the month!). Structure. An end goal.
I remember actually asking her, “how can you just start something like that so randomly?”
This friend is a lot more laid back than I am. I’m sure she is often entertained (and exhausted) by my complex – sometimes complicated – way of thinking about things. She stared back at me. “What do you mean? You just start!”
You.just.start.
Say, wha?
I’m not 100% behind these words yet but I am getting better at not letting the need for “fresh starts” to take such superiority.
Even if it is against my nature. At the beginning of each month I sit down with my planner and write down my fitness, writing, and personal goals. Surface level, I would say this is a good habit. It keeps me focused for the month but doesn’t result in boredom because I am constantly changing things up.
The trouble begins when life gets in the way. Which, of course, it is bound to do. For example, this week I had planned to do the classic cardio and strengthen training combination everyday.
And then I remembered I had a work dinner on Monday night.
And I was invited to a work event Tuesday afternoon/evening.
Two out of five of my workouts were already failures. Typically, at this point, I would have given up and resolved to start up again next week (or, next month).
But, I’m starting to recognize that consistency is best; not having a “perfect” month. So on Wednesday after work, I laced up my shoes, grabbed the trash (trying to save time and a trip down the stairs by taking it out on my way for a run), and headed out the door.
And then… AND THEN I dropped my keys with the trash in the dumpster.
Luckily my neighbor was home and helped me fish them out but by the time we got them, Mike was home and we had to go pick up my car from getting some routine maintenance before the dealership closed.
Dumpster diving
Three days in a row of life getting in the way of my perfectly planned workouts…
When we got home, I was getting hungry but I knew I had to do something. I headed outside again with the intention of running/walking 2 miles but by the time I was done with my 1st mile, I was ready to go in and start dinner. I figured 1 mile was better than nothing and decided to “make it up” on Thursday (today) and Friday. If I just did a 1/2 mile more each day, I would still come close to hitting my goal.
Today I set out for my 2.5 miles and was hit by an allergy attack after my first mile! I tried to continue but I was sneezing and snotting everywhere (not cute).
Another day of sub par exercise.
But the important part here is tomorrow is another day to do better.
Just start. Just go. Just do it. (#Nike)
Stay tuned and eat your greens.
** Note this blog went through a rebrand and is now veg vibes; which aligns better with the direction I organically gravitated towards. It’s all about your vibe**
It’s been gloomy in California lately and I decided to spend the afternoon at home “pampering” myself the other day. I think it’s important to realize you don’t have to spend a whole bunch of money to feel better about yourself. No matter how great I feel with fresh highlights and a new outfit, it would be a pricey habit to rely on spending all of that money to brighten my day.
Sometimes just spending a hour or so on yourself is good enough! I was feeling like a hot mess – with un-brushed hair and chipped nail polish – when I decided to go for a run/walk but right when I laced up my shoes, it started raining. I could have done another workout instead but I decided just to go for it. Oddly, running in the rain makes it more pleasant for me.
After my workout, I had one of my favorite protein packed snacks – snap peas dipped in hummus with hot sauce and a string cheese.
Then I took off that chipped nail polish! Typically doing our nails is thought of pampering but because of all the chemicals in nail polish, I feel better when my nails are bare. Scrubbing off my O.P.I. and cutting/filing my nails makes me feel best.
Next I took a hot shower and SHAVED even though it’s raining here and I won’t be wearing shorts anytime soon. Nothing gets you feeling like you brought your A game like smooth legs.
After I showered, I slathered myself with avocado oil – how California of me, I know.
I got dressed and, for once, avoided yoga pants or leggings, opting for jeans. (Full disclaimer: this was more for Mike than me;)
Next I dyed my eyebrows. Some people feel best when they’re having a good hair day, for others it’s all about their outfit, but for me? when my eyebrows are a tad darker than their natural state that I feel my best.
While my eyebrow dye sat and dyed, I brushed my hair (it is all too often that my hair defaults in a messy bun on top of my head) and fish tail braided it to get it out of my face. Braiding my hair is one of my favorite things to do – it’s so simple and really gives you bang for your buck because after you take it out, you’re left with pretty waves. Two hairstyles out of one? Sold.
Hair braided. Eyebrows dyed. …Chillin’ with no makeup on
After I felt like a human again, I hit the kitchen to try out a new recipe. I originally saw this recipe on the YouTube channel What’s Up Moms (which I am obsessed with, even though I’m not a mom yet). There are a few alterations but it was delicious!
1.5 c of your favorite pasta (I used brown rice and quinoa)
1 bag baby kale
1/2 avocado
1 Tbs olive oil
4 garlic cloves
1/4 c basil
1/2 c cherry tomatoes
Directions
Cook pasta according to package
While pasta is cooking, add kale, pealed avocado, olive oil, garlic and basil into blender and blend until smooth
Strain pasta but keep some of the water to thin out sauce (if need be)
Pour sauce (thinned out with pasta water, if needed) over hot pasta
Add sliced cherry tomatoes and mix together
Serve and enjoy!
So green!So creamy!So good!
Stay tuned and eat your greens.
** Note this blog went through a rebrand and is now veg vibes; which aligns better with the direction I organically gravitated towards. It’s all about your vibe**
A couple of years ago my friend told me about her new year’s resolution to read one book a month. I thought it was a brilliant idea! I love to read and had fallen out of the habit. In retrospect, I also love that this resolution focuses on our mind and not our body, like so many new year’s goals do.
I loved two recent reads and wanted to share some thoughts about them.
I started 2016 with Not THAT Kind of GIRL by Lena Dunham. Mike and I started watching Girls and I was pleasantly surprised that the show did not match my expectations. Hannah (Lena Dunham’s character) is a hot freakin’ weird mess just trying to make in through her 20s. This intrigued me. So I bought Lena’s book.
I plowed through this book! Lena tells different stories of her upbringing, of dating, of how weird the ‘biz is, and generally makes you feel like you’re not alone. There were so many things in this book that I should’ve highlighted for future reference. Lena is unashamed, unapologetic, and someone I undoubtedly want to have lunch with.
After Not That Kind of Girl, I ordered Yes, Please by Amy Poehler because it’s a book I’ve been wanting to read and I was on a girl-high from Lena’s book. Yes, Please was witty, truthful, funny, and gives you behind the scene glances into Amy’s life on SNL and Parks and Recreation.
As expected, Amy is hilarious! Like a I said, the book was good but (and this is just me being nit picky) I wasn’t really feeling the design of the book. It seemed to be a cross between a novel and a coffee table style book; among her block novel-style text, it was sprinkled with professional and personal pictures and catchy titles and taglines. The entire time I was reading it, I was both enjoying it and thinking, oh, Amy, why didn’t you pick a side, girl? Again, this is a stylistic thing and can very well be just me who feels this way but, since I do, I would recommend this book as a borrow not a buy.
** Note this blog went through a rebrand and is now veg vibes; which aligns better with the direction I organically gravitated towards. It’s all about your vibe**
Read about our first few days in Australia here, here, here, and here.
Day 15, 01/05/15 – Port Douglas
Our vacation was coming to an end and it was time for a road trip. After breakfast at a cafe nearby the hostel, we rented 2 cars and started the drive to Port Douglas, our last destination. About 45 minutes away from our rental, we were rerouted due to an accident. This meant we had to turn around and do a 2 hour loop to get to the house instead.
We were tired and hungry but – to put things in perspective -safe! So, the detour really wasn’t such a big deal. It was getting late though and we wanted to find a place to eat. We stopped at a small cafe off the road in the hopes of getting dinner. Unfortunately they were closing up. Fortunately they said we could still order tea and french fries. So there we were, eating an unconventional dinner WHEN WE SAW THIS HUGE MASSIVE SPIDER AND OMG.
Makes me shiver every time I see it…
Day 16, 01/06/15
This was one of our lazier days during the trip. We ended up arriving around 11pm the night before so everyone slept in. This was my favorite place we stayed during our trip. Similarly to the other places we stayed in, the house had 3 bedrooms, a full kitchen, a living room, and a huge patio, but, unlike anywhere else, this place had a pool!
Brunching
After everyone was up, we made brunch and had a few coffees and Bailey’s. The rest of the day consisted of some shopping for souvenirs, swimming, lounging, and reading.
For dinner we found a place on the downtown strip and had really good pizza and beer. A perfect, relaxing day!
So burnt though…
Day 17, 01/07/15 – Great Barrier Reef
It was time to snorkel at the famous Great Barrier Reef! Remember how I’ve mentioned I’m not the biggest fan of the ocean? Well…. on the boat ride out there, Mike and his parents decided they wanted to try scuba diving. (Wendy was pregnant and Andy wasn’t feeling well so they couldn’t go.)
“Hey, Ashley, do you want to go scuba diving too?” They asked.
“Uh, sure.” I agreed, slightly hesitant but not all too worried.
How bad could it actually be? I thought as we sat through our Scuba Diving Lesson.
Ummmmmm, turns out tears were involved and I ended up bailing before I passed even one of the three tests you have to do before going down.
Snorkeling was next though, and I was an old pro at that.
Mike fully submerged snorkeling (I wasn’t brave enough)
Snorkel selfie
GBR coral
The coral was beautiful at the Great Barrier Reef (of course it was!) but the water was a little choppy and hard to swim in. Snorkeling here is a once in a lifetime opportunity though and I am so thankful I was able to do it (even if I thought the coral at the Whitsundays was better………. shhhh).
When we got back from snorkeling it was raining hard in Port Douglas. Perfect for nighttime swimming!
Day 18, 01/08/15
This was our last day in Australia before me, Mike, Barb, and Dan flew back to North America. We pretty much just swam, read, and packed this day before our final dinner. We specifically went to a place that served crocodile but disappointingly they were sold out. We still ate there and reminisced about our trip, drinking wine and beer before saying goodbye.
After dinner we got gelato and went back to the house to pack the rest of our things. Our flight wasn’t until 1am which gave us the full day and most of the night to soak up the last of Australia.
This trip was a once (maybe twice, since Wendy and Andy still live there!) in a lifetime adventure. I am so happy I was able to go and explore the land down under with my boyfriend and his family.
The only picture of all 6 of us!
BONUS FEATURES!
Day 19, 01/08/15 (again) – Hawaii
We technically left Australia on the 9th since our flight was at 1am and since we were flying back to the Northern hemisphere, we got to re-live the 8th. In Hawaii! Not too shabby…
The view from our hotel
Mike and I were able to book a 2 night, 1 day layover in Honolulu and it was a great end to a great vacation! We arrived around 7pm, went to the hotel to drop off our stuff, and then looked for a place to eat dinner.
When Mike and I first started dating, I went to visit some family on the big island. I had also just turned 21 and became obsessed with Mai Tais. I would order a Mai Tai everywhere Mike and I went in the beginning our our relationship and we now joke that I was an expensive date because they aren’t cheap drinks! I was excited to experience a Hawaiian Mai Tai with honey and, because of it, probably ordered a few too many rounds! The rest of the night was a blur of island music, live dancing, and a tipsy walk back to the hotel.
Day 20, 01/09/15
The next morning around 4am I woke up feeling terrible. I wish it was only a hang over that could have been cured with a greasy breakfast and a ton of water but… instead… it was… the… MAN FLU!
Andy had been sick the last couple days of our trip in Australia with the “man flu” and I’m positive I got it too. To make it worse, we were on the 20th floor or something in our hotel and I remember feeling the whole building swaying in the morning winds. So nauseating!
I eventually drifted back to sleep and then woke up again feeling slightly better. The hotel were we stayed in offered free breakfast and gave you a To Go lunchbox so you could eat breakfast on the beach. I loved this idea and we happily enjoyed our tea and pastries with a side of sea breeze that morning.
After breakfast we walked around a bit and then went for a swim in the ocean; staying in the shallow waters and loving each others company. Wading water with Mike in that tiny, walled off part of the Pacific Ocean is one of my favorite memories. We spent the afternoon talking and splashing and it was so lovely.
Having worked up our appetites we ordered giant salads and iced teas from a little beach front hut. I was feeling mostly better by this point (probably all of that vitamin D) so it was time for happy hour! Mai Tais round two. We ended up back at our hotel, sitting outdoors at the bar, enjoying the last few hours of daylight.
For dinner we really wanted to go somewhere authentic but that’s hard to find when you’re staying in the most touristy area in Honolulu. We walked the strip for a while and finally settled in at a rooftop Cal Mex restaurant. By this time my (wo)man flu was on it’s way back with a vengeance. I remember ordering a jalapeno margarita, thinking the spice (and tequila, maybe?) would help me feel better. What a mistake! After 2 sips, I realized I was $12 out and still feeling terrible.
Sadly, my sick-self cut our last night short. We went back to the room, Mike poured a drink, I made tea, and we watched TV.
Last dinner in HI
Day 21, 01/10/15
Our official LAST day of vacation. I woke up still not feeling great but what can’t the beach cure, right? Mike swam in the closed off section from the day before while I sat on the beach, toes in the sand, tea nearby, talking on the phone with my mom and then my grandma and then my grandpa and probably my dad too. I had only emailed and texted my family while I was out of the country so it was nice to hear their voices and fill them in on all of the adventures!
A cup of tea and the beach. I’ll take it. Any day.
After Mike got out of the water, we ate breakfast on the beach again and then went back to the hotel to pack. We took a shuttle to the airport, had lunch and a Kona Brewing Company beer, and were on our way home again. Three weeks later, with a ton of stories, a lot of pictures, and probably a few more wrinkles (from both the laughing and the sunburns).
Read about our first few days in Australia here, here, and here.
Day 12, 01/02/15– Airlie Beach
After experiencing Melbourne, we flew north to Airlie Beach. Here we stayed at the Magnums hostel and I was impressed yet again. This hostel had a little bit more of a party vibe than the one in Apollo Beach but still surprisingly great. It was on the main strip of a down town and had a bar + pool tables on the property. It felt a bit like you were camping out in the jungle because of all the tress surrounding the rooms.
For dinner, Wendy found this amazing place called Fish D’Vine that was both a restaurant and a rum bar. Suffice to say, we found our spot for the evening. After chowing down on fresh fish we headed to another part of the restaurant to sample different rums. It is a joke between my dad and Mike that I (the girl) never gets to drink the “man’s drink” (whatever they are drinking). I told Barb about this cruel game and she was sure to include me in the boys sampling of every rum which was (pricey for Mike haha) appreciated!
After we were well and buzzed (except Wendy, mom-to-be!), we went back to the hostel where Mike and Andy played pool for a bit.
Ashley and the boyz
Mike joking around, me clearly entertained…
Day 13, 01/03/15
We woke up early this day to go on an overnight sailing adventure. Remember how I mentioned I have a fear of the ocean? Yeah, I was feeling pretty anxious about being on a sailboat for 1.5 days.
The weather was pretty raining the first day we were out there but despite all the clouds, Mike and I got epically sun burnt. Like the worst sunburn of my life. There were also these wretched little things called March flies that only hatch like 2 weeks of the year, and of course they were there when we were sailing; biting all of us. But there also breathtaking scenery and some good laughs too!
Really contemplating this whole sailing thing… (just prior to this I got a text from my dad telling me about the time he threw up fruity pebbles all over the deck from sailing as a kid. I was sure I was going to puke at some point.)
The captain and skipper of our sailboat were entertaining and well versed in weathering the waters from years of sailing. On the first day out at sea, they dropped us off at Whitehaven beach to explore and relax for 2 hours. This beach was INSANE! Like, the most gorgeous, picturesque beach I have ever been to. Like, if I was rich, I would fly (and then sail, I presume) everyone I loved here for my wedding.
I couldn’t believe how pretty it was except that, while we were there, it was raining – which obliviously put a damper on the experience. So, if you can imagine all of us sitting on this immaculate beach, in our sting suits (which are wet suits but made of lighter material to protect you from deadly jellyfish #nbd), trying to take cover from the rain in a few bushes way up shore, eating Tim Tams and drinking beer. Pretty comical! Eventually we decided to go for a walk up and down the beach instead of just sitting and stewing in our own gorgeous misery.
In a weird way, I was glad I was so sun burnt and tired that first night because I fell asleep fast and hard.
Mike swatting at the March flies
IS THIS REAL!?!?!?!?
Below deck #mate
Day 14, 01/04/15
We woke up the next day to much better weather and had breakfast on the deck with a disappointing side of annoying March flies. Not the best way to start the day… Luckily, we did some amazing snorkeling shortly after in bathtub warm-water. MmmMmm..
Our first snorkeling stop was the best. It was in this (safe-feeling) little cove with gorgeous coral and so.many.fish. I had never been snorkeling before but I really enjoyed the experience. And I only saw myself getting attacked by a shark (or an alligator as the skipper so nicely informed me that alligators are actually more dangerous than sharks) a handful of times.
The second place we went wasn’t as good but still had some pretty nice coral to look at. After snorkeling we had a tea break back on the boat and then did some REAL sailing. (The first day we mostly traveled by motor because the winds weren’t strong enough to sail.)
Actual sailing was a lot of fun …just sitting on the side of the boat – letting the men do all of the work – and enjoying the sensation of your toes dipping ever so slightly into the water when the boat leaned on it’s side enough.
Obliviously a natural
Our skipper in his “bed” (he really did sleep in there!)
Casually sailing and taking it allll in, especially Dan the party man
When we got back to land (I wanted to kiss it!), we headed to the hostel to shower and get ready for dinner. We went to a place where there was $15 meal + drink deal (a steal in Australia, ok!?) but weren’t all too impressed with the food. I specifically remember I ordered nachos and they were terrible.
After eating, the boys left us to play a few arcade game while we stayed at the table and chatted until a bachelor party came and basically fell in love with Barb. Wendy and I were chopped liver.
Read about our first few days in Australia here and here.
Day 9, 12/30/14 – Apollo Bay
It was nearing the end of the year and time for us to explore a new part of Australia. We drove along the Great Ocean Road to our next destination, a small beach town called Apollo Bay.
Australia – even though it is a whole other country on the other side of the world – reminded me a lot of home in California. Which can be nice for a homesick lady like myself! The Great Ocean Road was as beautiful as the Pacific Coast Highway back home. I remember feeling like I wasn’t away from home at all on that drive. Could that mean I appreciated the Great Ocean Road less? Possibly. But I don’t think that’s a negative thing. It just means I’ve experienced great beauty and great beaches in my life. And who doesn’t want that?
Great Ocean Road
#photobomb
We stopped in Lorne for lunch to eat beachside and it was pure bliss. A glass of champs, the warmth of the sun, the scenery, the company. It was all good.
After lunch we set out on a quest to spot koala bears. Wendy and Andy knew of a place where they just hang out in trees and you can see them up close and personal, in their natural habitat. There were a lot of koala bears to see and, naturally, even more people trying to snap pictures of them. We were probably there for 15 minutes when we decided it was time to continue on to Apollo Bay.
A wild koala bear taking a midday nap
In Apollo Bay we stayed in a hostel. This was my first time staying in a hostel and, no lies, when we were planning the trip, I thought nooooooo, I want a hotel but it was a lot cheaper than a hotel (obviously). When we got to the Apollo Bay Eco YHA we were all pleasantly surprised with how great the hostel was. Each couple stayed in their own room that had a queen size bed, some hooks to hang your towels and what not on, a small desk, and a patio overlooking the downtown area. Not too shabby for a hostel, I’d say! There were shared bathrooms – that is never preferred – but wasn’t bad at all. YHA also had a huge kitchen, large common rooms, a TV room, and a giant deck. Luckily we were able to snag a common room every night we were there to hang out in.
Mike and I stole away for a date at this cute little tapas place across the street, where we ordered a bunch on small plates and sangria.
Day 10, 12/31/14
One of my biggest fears is the ocean and up until this point I didn’t have to worry about it too much. Don’t get me wrong, I love the beach and enjoy swimming, as long as it’s in a pool or a lake – a “controlled” body of water! The ocean’s massiveness freaks me out so I was hesitant to try stand up paddle boarding in the ocean on new year’s eve.
Actually, hesitant is an understatement. I was downright scared to do it but, here’s the thing about traveling with a family that isn’t your own (or at least for me), you can only complain or say “no” so many times… SUP in the ocean it was!
Catching a wave! …almost
Practicing in the bay
Thankfully we started in a little bay and then made our way out to the ocean. I caught one wave (with some major assistance of the instructor) and every time I feel off the board I desperately scrambled back onto it as quick as I could, seeing an image in my head of a giant shark’s mouth coming right for me, but, aside from a few minor panic attacks, it was fun and I’m glad I did it.
Beach bums reading
After our lesson was over, we just hung out on the beach for a while and soaked up the sun. Then we went back to YHA to get ready for a fancy new year’s eve dinner. Here we tried kangaroo (which was sugar glazed so, sweet and a little chewy) among other good food. After dinner, we settled into a common room for games and to celebrate the new year on the deck with champagne and fireworks.
Kangaroo!
Day 11, 01/01/15
New Year’s Day! I don’t remember making any specific new years resolutions last year (unlike this year), probably because we were still traveling and I knew it would be a feeble attempt to work out and drink less.
Our stay in Apollo Bay had come to an end and we were heading back to Melbourne to pack for the last leg of our journey. On the way back we stopped to see the 12 Apostles, which are quite amazing to see in person!
Then it was on the road again to get back, roadside makeshift picnic included.
On our first full day in Melbourne we explored the Botanical gardens. It was summer and I remember this being really nice day. We had a picnic by a little pond and walked around for a bit. Then, on a whim, we went to a soccer match. By this time it had cooled off a bit and it didn’t help that we were sitting in the shade.
After the game we went to one of Wendy’s friend’s house for a BBQ or “shrimp on the barbie” as we kept joking. When in Rome, right?
A picnic in the botanical gardens
Soccer!
Day 6, 12/27/14
I’m pretty sure this is the day we went to brunch (which Melbourne is well known for!) and I got this amazing bruschetta with poached eggs. I also got a green juice here and fun fact, everything is more expensive in Australia except the green juices and smoothies. A pleasant surprise for a California health nut.
After brunch we took a 3 hour free walking tour of Melbourne which was interesting and fun. Plus, I’m always game for a good, long, walk. There are these hidden alleyways in Melbourne with hole in the wall bars and restaurants. We didn’t go to any of them so, another reason to go back! Most of these alleys are also filled with graffiti.
Alleyway graffiti
An afternoon spent lawn bowling
Next up was lawn bowling, something I was hesitant to try but turned out to be fun. It is similar to bocce ball but the balls are weighted, which makes it a bit harder in my opinion. After lawn bowling we went across the street for dinner and I remember getting a huge burger, fries, and a salad.
Day 7, 12/28/14
This day was gorgeous – all sunny skies and warmth – and after a lazy morning, we went to the conservatory for afternoon high tea. At tea, there was an all you can eat buffet with mini sandwiches and …other stuff that I wish I could remember! We each had 2 pots of tea and then it was time for drinks and an outing to go see little mini penguins at St Kilda pier.
I have to say the wildlife sightings on this trip remains one of my favorite things! Little penguins live in the rocks at this pier and at night people gather around to watch them come in from the ocean. We were lucky to see a few and they are still some of the cutest things I’ve seen in my life.
Green juice sippin’
High tea #pinkiesup
Little penguin at St. Kilda pier
Day 8, 12/29/14
On our last full day in Melbourne we rented a car to do some final exploring, that included both wine tasting and enjoying hot springs – two of my very favorite things! I remember we stopped for lunch at this cute little Greek restaurant and I was able to get my falafel, hummus, and pita fix while everyone else noshed on delicious pizzas. We also saw wild kangaroos which was crazy for me since I’ve only seen them in the zoo.
Wild kangaroos
We went to this place called Peninsula Hot Springs in the evening and it was my favorite part of the trip! This place is gorgeous, with all of these natural hot springs scattered throughout the grounds, a Turkish bath, small pools to do cold plunges in (more on that later) and a cute little cafe to eat at.
We started our hot spring escape at that cafe. I ordered a roasted vegetable and quinoa salad with an earl gray tea. I remember feeling totally in my element at this place. It was so relaxing and clam. After eating, we started to try out the different hot springs which ranged from really hot ones to lukewarm pools that you could do light stretching in.
There was a reflexology walk that Mike and I loved and did at least five times. There were also these deep but relatively small in diameter pools of cold water that you could jump in between hot springs called “cold plunges.” These were supposed to help with circulation among other things and, while it was freezing(!), it was also invigorating.
VEG VIBES 