Hello 2014

who said new year's resolutions have to be practical?

5 Things You Need To Make This Christmas

with christmas right around the corner, many of us are scrambling to find new recipes to impress the ever looming relatives. we all know tradition can be drab, so go ahead, be brave and throw aunt ethel's special green stuff recipe to the wind. i have found these are some perfectly acceptable replacements. 

can't get enough? my new favorite place to find sophisticated and innovative recipes is right here. thanks for saving my xmas day menu food52.

top to bottom
chocolate caramel shortbread bars
caramelized onion, squash and ricotta tartines
daube provencale
timpano 
gingerbread eggnog pumpkin pie

Get Up To Speed: My Current Spotify Playlist

"music is what feelings sound like"




playlist highlights:

silver screen
other side of the sky
elliot

December Mood Board

what i'm wearing this cold weather season. can't help but take advantage while it lasts.

Cozy Up.. Don't You Know It's Winter?

yes, it is true. i am back. 

Daily Dose of Inspiration: Kiss the Sun

"don't stop imagining. the day that you do is the day that you die."

listen: 

What I'm Listening To: Remix Edition

i discovered alt-j a little while back and really enjoy the low-set vocals and drawn out melodies. ellie goulding recently released an extension of her album halcyon, halcyon days, and one of the bonus tracks is an artistic remix of the alt-j song "tessellate." i instantly fell in love.




craving more new music? 
check out these recent releases (or soon to be) that are sure to be a good listen.

arctic monkeys- AM
arcade fire- reflektor
dr. dog- b-room
mgmt- mgmt 
grouplove- spreading rumors 

Shady Lady

     check out this new shades trend to get you through fall.
     must-have mirrored aviators.

5 (healthy) Things I Need to Make. Now.

1. avocado and egg breakfast pizza
2. summer veggie rolls
3. salmon with sriracha & lime
4. spaghetti with lemon, garlic and kale 
5. vegan oatmeal cookies

5 Ways to Utilize Hanging Lights

What I'm Listening To: Rhye

for when you need something calming.



i fell in love with the jazz undertones after seeing him live at outside lands. definitely a good listen.

Lazy Days: Saturday Morning

5 Remedies to a Summertime Cold

Wildfox Couture track suit/ Relax Throw pillow/ Emergen-C Vitamin Drink

getting sick during the summer can be a real downer, especially when the sun is going strong and your friends are off at the beach getting their tan on. the best thing you can do is take a few days of r&r...and try to stay cool. 

cold season decided to hit me early, so while i am stuck inside, fever and all, i thought i'd share with you some of my tried and true cold remedies, tailored towards the summer heat. take it from experience, drinking tea when it is 95 degrees outside is not enjoyable. 

• emergen-c: when you are sick, vitamin c is the best thing you can put in your body. it not only strengthens your immune system but gives you a boost of energy. emergen-c is my go-to drink when i feel a cold coming on, but if my body gets the better of me, i continue a strict regimen of two a day to keep myself sane and on the fast track to recovery. tip: i only add about a 1/4 cup of ice cold water, it is more concentrated, fizzy and easy to get down. 
• netflix: will be your best friend. when your whole body is aching and you can't move, fall asleep to your fav tv show, marathon style; or discover the endless selection of throwback movies from your childhood. being sick is a great time to reminisce. 
• comfy pjs: nothing softens the blow of a sick day like your favorite pair of pajamas. find something soft and worn in to make watching those netflix movies that much more fun.
• strawberry orange smoothie: eating while you are sick can be a struggle. with the flu comes a loss of appetite, but neglecting your body will delay your recovery! because of the hot weather, i tend to avoid tea, but whipping up a frosty strawberry orange smoothie gives you a healthy dose of vitamin c and feels great on a sore throat. oh, and it is easy to make too. 
• sleep: the best cure to a cold is sleep. if you are anything like me and have a million things running through your head at a time, being sick can really stress you out. i absolutely hate sitting around doing nothing. but take this time to appreciate that is something you need to do for yourself and it is perfectly acceptable to sleep from the hours of 11am to 5pm, trust me, it will help. 

Daily Dose of Inspiration: Live Fearlessly

do something this weekend you have never done before. 

My Current Obsession: Geographer

electro and indie-pop rolled into one? you can't get much better.

kites is by far my favorite. check it out below. 

My Weekly Fitness Routine

go do something that makes you sweat

* * * * * * * * * 

finding a workout schedule that works for you is 3/4 of the battle of getting and staying in shape. especially in a world where your day to day activities vary, the lack of consistency can make it difficult to stay committed to your workout goals.

to help, i thought i would share what i have found to work for me. it is not much, but paired with a healthy diet and a little dedication i have stayed one happy & healthy girl. 

my advice to you would be to set aside at least 30 minutes a day to focus on yourself and fitness. you will be surprised how well the two mesh. whether it be a run to starbucks and back or a circuit of leg busting exercises in your apartment, that 30-minutes os sweating will keep you sane through the week. just knowing you are doing something to help your body not only clears your mind but boosts your confidence as well and with the added rush of endorphins, you will be glowing inside and out!


my week in workouts: 

monday: 20 minute run, arms & abs

tuesday: 20 minute run, legs & abs

wednesday: leg circuit, arms, abs & stretching

thursday: 20 minute run, arms & abs

friday: 20 minute run, legs & abs

weekend: outdoor activity, i try to either go on a hike or do yoga at the beach. 


fit tips and tricks:

• always warm up with some stretching or walking. you don't want to sprain any muscles!
• when running, interval training is the best way to lose weight fast. especially because i can only take 20 minutes on the treadmill, i run at higher speeds, alternating often. 
• in order to see long term results, slowly increase the intensity of your workouts over time. you should feel yourself getting stronger so do not be afraid to pick up the 7 lb. dumbbells instead of the 5 pounders or push yourself a little harder on the treadmill a few times a week. 
• stay hydrated! especially during the summer, it gets HOT. try drinking water with lemon and ice to change it up. 
• workout with a friend, getting off your bed is the hardest part, so if you have someone holding you accountable there should be no excuse. plus, it will just be more fun. 
• change it up and workout outside. take advantage of the resources around you and check out your local running clubs and donation-based yoga programs. it is also a great way to make new friends. 

when you're looking for some motivation (or just become a health-nut):

• fitsugar
• this fitness blog
• reasons to be fit
• my healthy pinterest board!

Style Muse: Pretty in....Black

"black is the new black." 

3 Foods You Should Grab Instead of a Pastry

"train your mind to see the good in everything." 

in order to prevent that post cinnamon swirl regret, try keeping these 5 health-ified sweets on hand as an alternative. trust me, your waistline and conscience will thank you. 

* * * * * * * * * *

we all know how delicious a blueberry muffin or piece of coffee cake can be with your morning coffee, especially when you are late and rushing out the door in the morning... sans bfast.

1. strawberry nutri-grain bar: only 120 calories and containing 11 grams of sugar, this sweet treat hits all the right notes without sending you into a sugar coma
2. fruit smoothie: try whipping up a sweet, creamy blend of frozen berries and soy milk to curb your morning sweet tooth. you will get all that sugary goodness without the carbs and the added bonus of antioxidants
3. peanut butter & honey pita: you cannot get much better than smearing pb and honey on a piece of whole wheat pita bread. it is a sweet and satisfying treat full of protein to keep you energized and focus until lunchtime. the only real hesitation involved is creamy or crunchy? 

E. A. T.: African Style Stewed Kale

i always buy kale with the intention of using it to do great things, try new recipes and jumpstart my healthy diet. but for some reason the poor bag always ends up left in the fridge, half full and wilting. this time i was determined to get creative. and this is what resulted. 

a spiced, creamy and rich stewed kale with an incredible depth of flavor. and even better, it took me all of 15 minutes to whip up. the keys to this recipe are the spices and peanut butter in the sauce. they are both easy ways to create dimension in a dish with only a few ingredients.

served over quinoa this african style stewed kale is a punch of flavor that will keep you healthfully satisfied. 

thank you to bon apetit magazine for the delicious recipe and delectable pic ♡

Heat 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter in a large sauté pan. 

Add 1 chopped onion and 3 minced garlic cloves and sauté until soft. 

Stir in 1 Tbsp. ground cumin and 1 Tbsp. ground coriander, then 1 28-oz. can of crushed tomatoes and chopped stemmed leaves from 2 heads of kale. Cover and cook until kale is just tender, about 15 minutes. 

Stir in 1/2 cup peanut butter and 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves and simmer for 10 minutes; season with hot pepper sauce, if desired. Serve over couscous or quinoa.

Too Big to Fail

just a little something to get you through the work day. 
your on your own for the weekend though.