So remember about my Summer in Spain as an au pair? Yes, it was a fun, eye-opening experience. I gave you the skeleton of the story in that post. You know, deciding to go, meeting the family, etc. but today I’d like to tell you more about my time there (and show you some pictures)…
I lived with a family with two children, ages 3 and 5. So while the parents worked, I swam, colored and chased around two little kids, getting frustrated when I couldn’t say “put those scissors down now” in Spanish and they didn’t understand it no matter how many times, or how loud I said it in English. Now you’d think that it was these experiences that taught me Spanish. Or the time I took the bus all the way to the last stop never knowing I missed my stop, was forced to wait inside the bus while the driver got outside and took his break, only to stay on the bus until we got back to where I started, missing the stop again (maybe I got on the wrong bus??…something I’ll never know for sure), got off and just walked home. Or maybe when I when I saw my first movie alone in a theatre that didn’t have subtitles (the movie ended up being Lost in Translation…but I didn’t know that until I returned to the states and could understand the title).
I’m sure all these uncomfortable, new experiences helped me learn the language, but what really taught me the language was spending time with their full-time Peruvian housekeeper; we’ll call her Siliva. Not only would Silvia cook incredible Spanish foods, but also mouth-watering Peruvian dishes. When the parents where at work and the kids were taking a siesta, Silvia and I would sit in the kitchen together drinking instant coffee and talking about the two vastly different worlds that brought us under the same roof. That is when I was forced to learn Spanish.
It was also Silvia who helped open my eyes to the effects of “pure” eating. Although many typical Spanish foods may be fried or include things like white bread, during that summer I rarely ever had processed foods. I was able to have fresh-squeezed orange juice with my breakfast, produce from the garden outdoors for lunch and a small piece of fruit for dessert. I like that part of Silvia’s passion was filling our bodies with delicious, simple and wholesome ingredients. The same mission as Pure Bars.
Pure is dedicated to helping people live a pure, healthy life and does so by offering delicious bars that are made with bars full of fiber, protein, antioxidants, and Omega-3′s. They are gluten-free, vegan, made using only certified organic ingredients and are 82-92% raw.
I was sent their Pure Organic Bars in the following flavors: Cherry Cashew, Apple Cinnamon, Wild Blueberry, Chocolate Brownie and Cranberry Orange.
First, I tried the Cherry Cashew Bar. I love this combination of flavors! The complete ingredient list is: “Organic dates, organic cherries, organic walnuts, organic agave nectar, organic almonds, organic cashews, organic brown rice protein.” I think if you just take a second to imagine those sweet, nutty and tart flavors together you quickly understand how good this bar is! I’ve also tried the Chocolate Brownie bar and definitely enjoyed knowing that this was one “brownie” I could feel good about eating!
In addition to what I was sent, they also offer more flavors in their Pure Natural Bars. To find out where to buy them, click here.
I definitely wish I had a Pure Bar with me the day I missed my bus-stop.
~Don’t forget to enter my giveaway!
~What experiences have shaped the way you eat today?
