Happy New Year!

Sparkler from our wedding-photo by bobbi + mike

I can't believe it's 2014! I have to admit, it was a little hard to let go of 2013. It was a great year, I married my best friend, moved into a new apartment, and I really feel I began to come into my own as a young adult. Today I sat down to write out my resolutions for 2014, and while I have a few ( very exciting!) aspirations and goals, I really want to make sure I experience life this next year. And that's what it’s really about, isn't it? When a year is over, we don't remember the checklists we accomplished, we remember how we felt.

I am going to embrace this next year in a way I never have. I am going to spend less time checking off lists and worrying about bills and futures and 401k's. I am going to act my age ( I am only 24 for goodness sake) and spend less time trying to be a "grown up" . This year I am promising myself that I will spend more time exploring, loving, laughing and listening to my inner self. I will spend more time enjoying the little things in every day and not get bogged down by the big picture.

You’ve been great 2013, but I have a feeling 2014 just might be the best year yet!

Happy New Year everyone!  

How My iPhone Sees My Life

A little something to warm you up on this cold day, enjoy a few pictures from Brian and I's trip to the Bahamas last week!

Best Day Ever

One of the best days of my life was my wedding day in October. Our amazing photographers Bobbie and Mike, captured our day perfectly! Check out the amazing blog post they did about our wedding.

Below is one of my favorites...

Power Puff

The minute I get done with a workout, I am always looking for something to eat. Typically, I will have some raw veggies and hummus, but most times I want something bad for me, like a giant piece of chocolate cake or a cookie or that oooey goooey brownie staring at me in my companies break room. Heck, if I am really desperate, those nasty powdered donuts start to look pretty appetizing!

This was my life every time I would work out until I tasted these incredible power puff balls. They hit all of my cravings, sweet, salty and gooey. I can eat one or two of these without destroying the work I put in during my sweat fest.


If you are looking to splurge a little, I would highly suggest adding Nuttella to these bad boys. Pure heaven.

Recipe and picture from here

 

Vegan Power Puffs Recipe

4 cups puffed millet cereal
2/3 cup raisins
2/3 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup peanuts, chopped (or nut of choice)
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup sunflower seeds

1 cup peanut butter (or other nut butter)
1 cup brown rice syrup
1-2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
salt if desired

1) In a medium bowl mix the cereal, raisins, cranberries, nuts, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds.

2) In a small saucepan combine the peanut butter and brown rice syrup. Cook over low heat for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring occasionally until warm and bubbly. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and salt if desired. Pour over cereal the mixture and stir until thoroughly coated.

3) Wait until cooled slightly, the peanut butter mixture can get very hot, then mold into balls (the size of golf balls). Transfer mixture to a cookie sheet to continue cooling. Tip – it helps to dampen hands, this mix can get very sticky.

This recipe makes 36 to 40 Vegan Power Puffs.
Nutrition Facts for 36 Power Puffs: Calories: 112.8, Total Fat: 5.5 g, Total Carbs: 14.5 g, Protein: 2.8 g

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone has a wonderful day remembering what they are thankful for! I know I have so much to be thankful for this year, the wedding, my amazing husband, health, family and happiness!

How cute would this look with any outfit today?

What I Am Cooking For Thanksgiving

Every holiday/birthday or general family assembly since I was a teenager, I am always asked to make my deviled eggs. You might say they have a cult following within my family.In an effort to achieve perfection, I have experimented with so many different ingredients (anchovies anyone?) and techniques that I feel I can confidently say, I have mastered the basic deviled egg! Below is my base recipe.

From Food Network

Ingredients 

 

12 eggs
4 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 teaspoons yellow mustard
2 teaspoons sweet relish
Salt
Pepper
Paprika, for dusting

Directions

Place eggs in a large wide saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil for 12 minutes.* Remove eggs and and cool in refrigerator. Remove shells from eggs and slice in half lengthwise. Separate egg yolks and place into a bowl. Place whites on a separate plate. Add mayo, mustard, relish and salt and pepper, to taste, to yolks and mash together with a fork until creamy and smooth.* Using a large star tip and resealable plastic bag, pipe the yolk mixture back into each egg, enough to fill yolk holes completely. Dust tops with paprika. Refrigerate.* 

*Tip 1-To get the perfect hard boiled egg, boil them for one minute at a rolling boil and then remove from heat. Let them sit for 45 minutes until cool.

*Tip 2- Use about 2 tablespoons cream cheese in the mixture, this will make the consistency smooth.

*Tip 3-Chop up real pickles for the relish, using the pre-chopped neon green stuff makes your mixture way too runny!

*Tip 4- Adding a dash of garlic powder makes all the difference.

*Tip 5- Ideally you will want your eggs to sit in the fridge for about 45 minutes before you serve them to give them time to set.

*Tip 6- Use Miracle Whip, not mayo. Trust me.

Fun fact-Did you know that the deviled egg can be seen in recipes as far back as ancient Rome?

What I Am Wearing To Thanksgiving Dinner

1. Tights 2. Boots 3.) Sweater 4.) Necklace 5.) Boot Socks 6.) Head Wrap