Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Holiday Hangover



Smoothie recipe: 1/2 avocado, 1/2 banana, 1/2 cup blueberries, 1/2 cucumber, a palmful of spinach, coconut water, Stevia to taste. Blend til smooth.

Visit the post from last week to see some of the best hydrating pampering products. Sunnies are here and lipstick is here.

Friday, December 22, 2017

Santa Land Table


Christmas is right around the corner and I've been thinking about how I'll doll up my dining table. This year, I want to go pretty classic and really incorporate red accents. For a bit of whimsical, various sized red trees will create a little forest, paired with some sprigs of greenery. My Santa is all white so he stands out among the trees. These plates from Pottery Barn are so classic looking so they would make the perfect addition.

table runner | trees | santa | flatware | plaid plate | tree plate

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

hydrate yo self


With winter two days away, and the wind already nipping at my nose here in the Midwest, it's time to up my hydration levels in ALL THE WAYS. This year I'm determined to keep my skin feeling soft like a baby's bottom - which is obvious #goals. Links below to a few of my favorite products. Don't forget the best way to hydrate is H2O, which is the top of my resolution list for 2018!

hair mask | hair towel | eye mask | lip balmbody butter | hand cream | foot peel

Friday, December 15, 2017

Stay-at-home Date Night

The hustle and bustle of the holiday season makes this introvert want to bundle up in her cocoon at any opportunity.While I love spending time with family and friends, there's something about curling up on the couch and watching a Christmas film in the glow of the Christmas lights. (Plus, going to the movies can get so expensive!) Today I thought it would be fun to pair up a few of our favorite holiday flicks with a few of my favorite snacks - and these snacks leave you feeling far less guilty than that tub of movie theater popcorn!




Home Alone with Popcorn and Flavored Water
This one is a classic in my opinion, so no better snack than another classic- popcorn. Recently I have become obsessed with Skinny Pop popcorn because the microwave version pops up into the coolest box turned bowl. Sea salt is my favorite. And opting for a flavored water gives you the carbonation to combat the salty snack without a bunch of harsh ingredients like in soda.

Elf with Apple Nachos and Hot Cocoa
Since Buddy would accept nothing but candy and syrup, I'm suggesting a sweet treat. Apple slices drizzled in melted peanut butter and a few mini chocolate chips. Along side my favorite hot cocoa recipe, it's the best combination for a sweet tooth.

Hot cocoa recipe:
2 cups coconut milk or almond milk (my preference)
2.5 tablespoons of raw cacao powder
2.5 tablespoons of maple syrup
1 teaspoon raw maca powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Heat your milk in a saucepan and add each ingredient in order, one at a time, whisking away any clumps.

White Christmas with Hummus and Pretzel Crisps
There's not necessarily logic behind this pairing, but hummus is my go-to snack for any day or activity. I prefer a flavored hummus, like roasted red pepper. I have made my own, but honestly, I like the convenience of picking it up at the deli! And pretzels add a great saltiness that I really enjoy in my snacking.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas with Guacamole and Veggies
This pairing seemed only right, considering the Grinch looks like a big ol' pile of guacamole anyway. I could dip anything in a bowl of cilantro-y flavored guacamole, but I love the crunch of celery especially. It's super easy to make too, mash up a ripe avocado, a splash of lemon juice, onion, garlic, cilantro and jalapeno if you like it spicy.

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Fizzy and Fruity


For your next posh party, stir together this refreshment, which is the best combination of fizzy and fruity. This very simple recipe is great for all ages but can be turned up a notch by adding a cup of your favorite vodka. I love the idea of floating fresh cranberries and orange slices in the punch bowl or adding a few to each tumbler before serving. Cheers!

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

C U R R E N T L Y


Reading...
I finished up Lauren Graham's Talking as Fast as I Can a couple of days ago. Listening to celebrity audiobooks has become a really good way to get through the work day. I can easily listen to the stories while working on my current project. Now I'm reading the novel My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella. Her books are such a nice, light read and I always enjoy them. I also recently read about a quarter of a book that was supposed to teach introverts how to open up in public/social situations and it was straight garbage so I moved on. My mom gave me a great holiday story to read that is burning a whole on my nightstand waiting to be read. But I want to wait until the first of December so I can truly enjoy the holiday-ness of it.

Watching...
My watch list is shamefully long. I don't think I've ever watched so many series at one time.

-How I Met Your Mother, seasons 1-8. I was trying to get all the seasons in (again) before it was removed from Netflix but only made it through season 8. But it ended with Barney proposing to Robin, so I'm going to pretend that's really the end of the show, even though I've seen the actual ending before. I like this ending better.

-Blue Bloods, season 8. I started watching this and I'm so furious with what they did with Linda's character that I'm boycotting the rest of the season. Donnie Wahlberg, I still love you but I can't watch your show any more.

-DWTS, season 25. I'm two episodes behind but I've really enjoyed watching this season. Completely adored watching Lindsey Stirling and Jordan Fisher especially.

-The Good Doctor, season 1. YOU GUYS. I'm super obsessed with this show! If you haven't seen it and you enjoyed watching House, you'll enjoy this too.

-Gracie and Frankie, season 1. I'm only a few episodes in but I love the quirky characters but the realness of what they are dealing with.

-The Nightmare Before Christmas. This Halloween I decided to branch out a bit and try a new movie. KJB loves this movie so I decided to give it a go. It was just okay in my book. 

Feeling...
Unfortunately, I had quite a bit of pain the last six weeks. Back pain has bothered me off and on for the past couple of years, but I just couldn't shake it this time, so I made a visit to a chiropractor. I've been skeptical of chiropractic practices in the past, but a friend recommended me to this office, and I was in enough pain that I just couldn't not go. Thankfully, it gave me so much relief and the past week or so has been much better.

Wearing...
I have two repeat offenders - both earrings that have been taking turns back and forth. The first is a pretty pair of studs from Stella and Dot & Rebecca Minkoff in the prettiest jewel tones. They have become my favorite for the fall and I know they will continue to be regulars for winter as well. The second pair is from Bauble Bar and they are the opposite of the pretty, feminine studs. They are bold and attention-grabbing and I absolutely love them.