Hi friends! Hope you that you had a great weekend. Mine was pretty low-key: did some schoolwork (got 100% on my second test!) and stuff around/for the house, went hiking, got some beach time in and just enjoyed the summertime weather. And speaking of summer, today's recipe is most definitely seasonally appropriate. I came up with this salad after having recently eaten a strawberry basil Greek yogurt. I loved the flavor combo, and when I picked up strawberries during my next grocery store run, I started thinking about pairing local strawberries with basil from my backyard for a dish. In general, I like to switch things up in the kitchen, but this just isn't the case when it comes to salad dressings. My go-to dressing mix is extra virgin olive oil + fresh lemon juice + balsamic ... [Read More]
Archives for June 2014
Veggie Pappardelle Bolognese
This lovely Friday marks what would have been my grandma's 80th birthday. Before last month, I had never lost a person I was really close with. On one hand, I feel blessed to have lived nearly 27 years before experiencing the loss of a person that was so dear to my heart. I'm grateful that when I did lose a person so important to my life, it was one who had led a pretty long, happy life. But on the other hand, it still hasn't been easy by any stretch. As anyone whose lost someone close to them can probably relate, I think it may be the worst feeling in the world to have this aching that can never be satisfied, a hole in your heart because someone you loved has passed away. You wish you could talk to them and just hear their voice again. I look for signs of her everywhere, ... [Read More]
KIND Healthy Snacks Giveaway
Happy Hump Day! Boy, do I have a fun giveaway for you guys today! I love it when I discover a brand that I instantly am a big fan of, and I felt that way when I started eating KINDSnacks. Not only does the company makes bars and clusters that are delicious, they're also wholesome, containing all-natural whole nuts, fruits and whole grains. KIND products are made with ingredients I can pronounce and am familiar with. KINDSnacks was named so with purpose, as the company's focus is on making the world a kinder place, one act at a time. Their message of holistic kindness makes me like them even more. So when KIND reached out and asked if I'd like to try some bar and cluster flavors I hadn't gotten my hands on yet, I was more than happy to oblige. I was already hooked on their peanut ... [Read More]
Fruit Bowls, Bird Poop, Tennis, Oh My! Weekend Recap
Hi friends! You can probably tell from my post title that I'm lacking some wittiness at the moment, but I keep having such fun weekends, so I'm back again this Monday sharing a recap of my last few days. My weekend kicked off with my cousin Michelle coming into town to stay at my place on Friday night. First we went for a short yet sweaty evening hike with Harley.... ...and then went to a Mexican restaurant called Norte to grab some dinner. I ordered a plate with a veggie tostada, rice, beans and an avocado taco. It was my first time dining at Norte, and I would definitely go back sometime. I thought it had pretty good food and a nice outdoor dining area, plus it's right next to the beach in Carlsbad. Now that I've moved to the northern side of San Diego County, Michelle (who lives ... [Read More]
IIN Chat: Deconstructing Food Cravings
Hi friends! Want to hear something wild? I'm already halfway through my health coaching certification course at IIN! Time flies when you're learning about topics that you're super interested in and really passionate about, huh?! If you aren't familiar with IIN, here are previous posts I've done about the school and its teachings: IIN Chat: What's a Health Coach? IIN American Health Facts IIN: Month 1 Recap Taking the Plunge: Why I Went Back to School Pretty soon I'll be looking for clients to work with as a health coach, and I am really looking forward to it! An aspect of being an IIN student that I've really enjoyed is connecting with likeminded people who share my passion for healthy living. I met some great people when I was living in Northern Cali, and now that I'm ... [Read More]
Dinner at Seasons 52 Fresh Grill
If you're anything like me, you get excited when you receive gift cards. I'm all, "Sweet, I get to ____ for free!" However, this excitement usually wavers by a lot when that gift card is to a big chain restaurant. With the exception of Panera Bread, Chipotle, and PF Chang's (whose food I enjoy, but want to croak on the food in my mouth when I check out their menu's nutrition content!), I just do not like chains. If they've got more than a handful of restaurants, chances are I don't care to eat there. I'm typically all about the local joints. That's some brutal honesty for my loved ones who keep giving me Applebee's gift cards. ;-) What tends to happen is that gift cards that I'm not crazy about will sit in my wallet for a couple of years before the right day comes around to use ... [Read More]