(no heat) jalapeño hummus.

Sunday




Hummus is by far one of my favorite things to make because it's easy, healthy, and you can pretty much make whatever kind you want.

Heat-less Jalapeño Hummus:
1 can garbanzo beans
2 tsp olive oil
1 lemon wedge, squeezed
3 garlic cloves
1/4 no heat jalapeños from 12oz jar

Toss all the ingredients into a blender and that's basically it! Make sure to save the juice from the jalapeños and garbanzos as you might want to add a bit to get the right consistency. I also threw in some black pepper and basil to mine....and an extra clove of garlic since we're huge garlic lovers in this house :) 

Pro Tip: Since mine's already half gone...consider doubling up on ingredients.

Enjoy!

kale chips.

Saturday






Today I tackled something I've been wanting to make forever: kale chips! I don't know why it took me so long since it's literally the easiest thing you can whip up in the kitchen. Even if you're a lousy cook, it's pretty hard to mess this up.

Kale Chips:
1 bunch organic lacinato kale
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp sea salt

- Preheat oven to 350
- Spray cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray (unless you're using non-stick sheets)
- Tear kale off stems and into bite sized pieces
- Drizzle olive oil over kale and mix with sea salt
- Bake 10-15 min or until edges are browned

I made one sheet with plain garlic salt, and another with cayenne pepper since I like a little heat ;) They're a lot better than you think they would be - we've been munching on them all day. I really want to make more using different seasonings.


By the way, that's my handwriting in the first photo. Usually bloggers are able to write on their photos by using a wireless bamboo pad, but I figured out how to do it for free. I wrote on a regular piece of computer paper, scanned it to my computer, uploaded it to Photofiltre, and was able to copy and paste my writing as masks on the photo........pretty darn proud of myself.

If you decide to make the kale chips, leave a comment and let me know how it went!

shoot.

Thursday

















My friend Seamus is launching his own photography company, Lookswell,  and the other day he asked me to come shoot in his studio. It was a just for fun kind of thing- he wanted to add to his portfolio (trust me, I know I'm not a model). I made him play Beyoncé the whole time but I assure you I did not wake up like this.

Check out some of his other work here.

Heartlines by Florence and the Machine on Grooveshark

*None of these photos were touched up. The only editing was the use of VSCO presets.

behind the scenes.

Thursday


Working hard or hardly working? Moll and I took a break after working on a side project and captured some gems... I tried making this one long photobooth strip but my programs weren't cooperating. Enjoy these extra large versions ;) we always have too much fun no matter what we're doing. Can't wait to share everything!

The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul.

going raw.

Monday



...til 4 that is. I heard about this "raw til 4" thing from youtube's Banana Girl. I gotta be honest, I don't really like her that much...but that's a story for another day. The idea behind raw til 4 is that for breakfast + lunch you're restricted to eating ONLY foods that are raw, and then you're allowed to have a cooked dinner. The reason I'm taking part is not because I'm going vegan, but simply trying to start getting into better eating habits. Starting today, I'm going to challenge myself to stay raw until dinner for the next week. 

Let the raw begin :)

Strong minds make strong bodies.


this song has been on repeat for DAYS.

exfoliate.

Wednesday




If there's anything you ever do, use your coffee grounds to exfoliate. I had heard that coffee grounds were great for exfoliating (and reducing cellulite), but until this morning I was skeptical. My skin has never been so soft. I'm not kidding... the mess is worth it. Next time you brew a pot of coffee, make sure you save the grounds. Just try it.

Another great decision I made today was to go running on the trail by my house, since it was finally warm enough. It felt amazing to be able to run outside again, although I brought home a runny nose and a nasty cough. I also had a business meeting with Molly at Starbucks tonight. The end result was a ton of new ideas for the blog and some surprises from Miley's BANGERZ tour... thanks Moll ;) I can't wait to share everything we've been up to.

Because you are alive, anything is possible.

breathe.

Monday


Trying to remind myself of how lucky I am for the little things tonight.  I have good health, a job, an education, food on the table, somewhere to call home, and sweet friends + family. Not to mention I have a lot to look forward to in the upcoming months. But finding happiness in the present moment is something I'm struggling with. I find that I have to constantly tell myself to take a deep breath and slow down. Focus on what's important. Focus on what matters now, and deal with everything else as it comes instead of letting it overwhelm me. Be thankful for today. I truly am a lucky girl, but sometimes I wander off my path and fail to realize everything I have rather than the things I can't yet reach. I'll get there...until then, just breathe.

It's the little things that make life big.


*photo taken in Fort Collins, CO

beatles + bananas.

Wednesday








I've spent the majority of today listening to old Beatles records + satisfying my sweet tooth. Last night I put a banana in the freezer so I could make this *semi* healthy alternative to a regular chocolate shake.

1 frozen banana
3 pieces sea salt olive & sinclair chocolate (or chocolate of your choosing)
1 tbsp peanut butter or almond butter
1 cup of milk (I used 2%, but almond milk would be best)
* blend until smooth

and that's it! I was actually amazed at how delicious this was. It was gone before I even finished cleaning up the mess. If you find your sweet tooth giving you a hard time, try this. I recommend using the healthier alternatives, but I just used what I had on hand. No regrets. It's too freaking good. Seriously.

Magic is something you make.

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