Fresh & Easy End of Summer Meals

Have you tried wearing sweaters and baking pumpkin muffins when it's still 80 degrees in September?  Me too.

As much as we look forward to the next thing, there is a challenge and a beauty in being present in the right now. Embracing the in between and the bounty it has for us is enriching.

That's what I'm aiming to do with meals lately- continuing to enjoy summer's produce, grilling, and meals out on the porch just a little bit longer. 

Here's some simple, easy, produce-forward lunch and dinner ideas to enjoy these last few weeks before it's really time for pumpkins. 

Grilling

Roasted garlic chicken sausage, bell peppers, and onions make a great kabob, a side of grilled zucchini makes it a meal. 

Kale and Cookies

I made a thin mint smoothie just the other day that had kale in it. And cookies.

It also had plain greek yogurt, ice, mint, and chocolate chips.

Food that Feels Good Monthlong Dinner Menu

Sometimes we just need a reset. After a few weeks that are packed with fun but lack structure, rest, and routine, what you eat can be a big factor in getting back to balance. 

At the start of the year after the craziness of the holiday season, Daniel and I always set out to eat in a more balanced way to bring some structure and normalcy back to our world. My goal was meals that feel good.

Albums that are Therapy

Music has always been a good friend to me, and a go-to for comfort and strength in rough times. Over the years I've developed several go-to therapy albums, which all have their own purpose. I hope you'll give a listen and find some healing and encouragement, but more than that I want to hear what albums are therapy to you!

5 Steps to Take Today to make 2019 Amazing

Happy New Year! I find January so refreshing and inspiring. Here's some tiny things to do today to embrace this fresh start with a whole heart. 

Affordable Amazon Gifts for the Wellness Minded

Over the past year I've gotten some gifts from Amazon that I have absolutely loved and would highly recommend for your loved ones this holiday season. This list is for that busy, active, and inspired person on your list who you want to gift a moment of peace, mindfulness, beauty, and rest!

I've been planning this post for weeks and was freaking out earlier today thinking that it's too late and maybe these items wouldn't ship, but GOOD NEWS, I checked and they all still will arrive in time for Christmas!

Workout Leggings Connoisseur

You can wear pretty much any leggings to lounge, but which ones are good for actually working out?
As a fitness instructor and enthusiast, I am constantly checking out different brands for workout leggings. I wear them for teaching Jazzercise, running, strength training, yoga, walking, and hiking. In my experience I've learned that there are some key facets that determine the quality of leggings worn for exercising. As a self-proclaimed workout leggings connoisseur, I want to share my reviews with you today.

I will be reviewing 5 different brands of leggings in 4 categories:

tips for going back to normal life when dealing with grief or depression

Today is World Mental Health Day, and I've had this post brewing in my mind for a bit.  A friend on Facebook shared her experience in a post, and it inspired me to get this post out there.

Mental Health is widely not talked about. We don't know how to deal with it in our society and culture. When I've struggled with depression or grief, I know my friends and family are trying their best but I still often find myself frustrated with our lack of skills around it, and not knowing how to cope with it myself. I want to be transparent and honest about mental health to help destroy that concept, and help those who are suffering and those who love someone who's suffering.

Sometimes when dealing with a mental/emotional struggle, we need to sit on the couch and cry and rest for a week. In other times, getting back to regular life is the most helpful thing for getting us to a healthy place again. I've realized some strategies that have helped me return to regular life in those fragile days, and thought I'd share them today.
These tips might be written in a weird tone that is sarcastic, humorous, and wholehearted all at once, but often that's how grief/depression is.

1. Find music that doesn't give you all the feels. I am a very music sensitive person and music that is too feely, sad, or hopeful can really set me off. Finding some music that doesn't make me emotional and just keeps me going throughout the workday is key. My favorites for this need are the Movie Musicals station on Pandora, Taylor Swift's most recent albums, and hits from the 2000's.

2. Let go of restrictions. If you are pretty restrictive in your life over how many Starbucks runs you make per week, how much Netflix you binge, how clean you keep your desk, or how often you yell the F word in your head, try to let that go for a little bit. You are showing great self-control just by going back to normal life. Let the other things slide and let those little things bring you the joy they can. For me, Starbucks runs and retail therapy are aplenty when I'm just trying to get by. Sometimes being fabulous is the best momentary cure for being sad.

Raspberry Topped Lemon Pie

Since getting married, I have noticed my husband has a variety of UK-sounding phrases such as "spot a car",  and traditions like playing cribbage and having corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick's Day. We've observed that the new phrases he's heard from me are things like "reckon", I introduced him to biscuits and chocolate gravy, and the song "I'm my own Grandpa".  I've realized that my familial Oklahoma roots show more than I thought!

My mom's side had a family get-together this summer and our desserts were Texas sheet cake and Tenessee pea-pickin' pie. It hit me again that, without a doubt, we have some Southern roots. 

I think one of those ways those roots show is through love of pie. This recipe is a classic in my mom's recipe book, and I remember it from my childhood. It's a quick and easy pie that's perfect dessert for a hot August evening playing banjo on the porch.

My Soft, Round Tummy

I have had a soft, round tummy my entire life. The closest to flat it has ever been was in sixth grade, when I was living on toaster strudels every morning and ice cream every night (a growth spurt seemed to even it out). I remember learning that during the Renaissance if you were pale and a little bit chubby it meant you lived a fabulous life, and thinking man, that should have been my time!

A Restless Girl's Guide to Being Lazy

This seems like one of the more ridiculous posts I've written, because in our society laziness is generally not seen as a good thing. But a little rest, a little bit of doing nothing, and a little bit of relaxed head space is so necessary! 

Sometime around the beginning of college I forgot how to relax. I was constantly doing, moving, and working, and when time came to be lazy I had to fight hard to let myself chill. Now that summer break has arrived I feel like I am finally learning to embrace rest and relaxation. Whether you have an entire summer to rest, just an afternoon, or a week's vacation, here's some tips and steps that have helped this restless girl learn to slow down and enjoy being lazy. 

Blackberry Lemon Crepes for Two

We love lazy, quiet Saturday mornings sitting on the couch together and reading with the window cracked and hearing birds singing outside. On these lovely Saturdays I often throw together an impromptu special breakfast, and that is how these blackberry lemon crepes for two came along. 

Our favorite games & snacks for game night

Daniel and I love hosting game nights. We have an eclectic, hilarious, and competitive group of friends and getting people together to play games always turns into a great night. 

And because snacks are always a priority in my life, I like to go all out for game nights. 

But I also like to make it a little bit healthy, of course. 

Treat Yo Self, Love Yo Self

If you've had the pleasure of enjoying the show Parks & Recreation, you know what I mean when I say 'Treat Yo Self'. Just in case you haven't watched it yet, 'Treat Yo Self' is a tradition between some of the characters where they spend a day buying, doing, and eating whatever fabulous things they feel like.

Without a doubt I have 'Treat Yo Self' days where I spend too much at the mall and have seconds (or thirds) of ice cream. However, I've found that I feel my best when I include those moments throughout each week. 'Treat Yo Self' really means to love yourself, treat yourself with kindness, and take care of yourself.
We are all so different in what makes us feel our best. As I discover more about myself, I find that there are some rituals that really help me to be my best and 'Love Yo Self'.

Green Power Veggie Frittata

Do you need something green and nutrient dense to start 2018 right after piles and piles of Christmas cookies? 

I got you. 

When there's no answer to "is there anything I can do?"

This morning I read about the importance of bearing one another's burdens. It got me thinking about times that loved ones have supported me in dark times, and how much that meant to me.

I am a person who has emotional ups and downs. I share this because it is my reality, but also because I, like many, believe there is a need for greater awareness and destigmatization of mental health issues.

Cozy Fall Lunch & Pumpkin Patch

Today we hosted a festive lunch and pumpkin patch get-together. It was a wonderful time to gather, adventure, and relax with family who are friends, and friends who are family. 

Salted Caramel Cashew Butter

When it comes to fall flavors I am somewhat of a pumpkin girl, but I am a major salted caramel girl. I remember when Starbucks first released the flavor when I was in college. I had many a salted caramel mocha and hot chocolate that year. 

For the last couple of weeks I had an urge to make some cashew butter, and thought I could add in some extras to give it that addicting sweet and salty flavor. 

Brunch Menu: Mini Pancake Skewers, Frittata, and Fruit Pizza

Not gonna lie, I am totally eating the leftovers from this delicious brunch as a I compose this post.

On Sunday, we had several of Daniel's friends from high school over for brunch. One of the things we have loved the most about moving closer to home is being able to host loved ones much more often. It brings both of us joy to make our home a place of gathering, good food, comfort, and laughter for others.

I'm sharing all of the recipes I used for this brunchy gathering.

Brunch Menu :

Fruit Pizza
Bacon & Sausage Frittata
Mini Pancake Skewers
Drinks :
Orange Juice
 Simply Peach Juice 

Quick tip: I baked all of my bacon in the oven before beginning any recipes. Just place the bacon on a baking sheet and bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes. It's a major time saver. Do you ever prepare bacon in the oven? It's a great and less messy alternative to stovetop frying. 

My favorite part to make was an original idea of mine, the mini pancake skewers!

Red Quinoa Thai Curry Bowl

You know when you have a night to yourself, and you dream up all these fun things you will do? For me, the plan consists of watching a girly show I never make time for (Switched at Birth), doing some yoga, and making an adventurous dinner I wouldn't want to force on my husband. 

Most often, that last item ends up taking my whole time!