Simple Pleasures: Listening to the Wind

Simple things that have made me happy lately:

• Toasting to nothing other than a quiet night at home

• Sitting in my backyard listening to the wind

• Packing surprise snacks in my brother's lunch bag for work

• Sipping on water with frozen berries and lime juice

• Writing down my completed workout on the calendar

What simple things have made you happy this week?

Reasons to be Fit

I must have been hiding under a rock. Only recently did I discover the "Reasons to be Fit" tumblr. I love checking up on it every so often to remind myself why health and fitness is important. Some are silly. Some are serious. All are important. Here are some of my favorites of the moment:

 

 

 

 

 

What are YOUR reasons to be fit?

I Confess: Jillian and Lucky Charms

Time for the next installment of the "I Confess" series! First one is here in case you're curious.

I confess... I have a slight obsession with Jillian Michaels. Missing from this photo: Making the Cut, Unlimited, and my podcast collection.

I confess... that as much as I try to eat clean/healthy, sometimes I just need some Lucky Charms in my life.

I confess... I could never be a vegetarian. My sanity is often delivered in the form of an occasional burger.

I confess... I love office supplies, and about freaked out when I found this highlighter trio.

Any confessions for you this week? Don't worry -- no judgement here! ;-)

Wednesday Wishlist: It's My Party

Currently coveting these fun, celebration-worthy items from Etsy:

Sparkle & Shine Tissue Tassel Garland (EverlyLaneDesign)

Rock Candy Centerpiece Topiary Tree (HollywoodCandyGirls)

 Fancy Frills Fan Tissue Garland (EverlyLaneDesign)

 

Rainbow Plantable Heart Confetti (PlantablesAndPaper)

What's on your wishlist this week?

The Natural Switch

The endless array of products that are supposed to make you "better/prettier/smoother/softer/more energized" is incredibly overwhelming. And I'm convinced many of them (food, drinks, beauty products, etc.) are loaded with chemicals that actually have the opposite affect on your body in the long run. But that's a lengthy conversation for another day. Here are a few natural items that have made their way into my routine in place of their more processed counterparts:

• Coconut oil (preferably unrefined) as moisturizer

• Brown sugar as body scrub (mixed with some coconut oil)

• Apple cider vinegar as energy booster (1 Tbsp mixed with a few ounces each of cranberry and pineapple juices)

What natural products do you use on a daily basis?

Simple Pleasures: Birthday Pancakes and Open Tulips

Simple things that make me happy lately:

• The most delicious birthday pancakes to ever grace my lips

• The way one rosebush in our front yard creates different shades of red blooms

• Making up recipes (especially when they turn out wonderfully)

• The mixture of a cold house and a warm, soft blanket

• Seeing what a tulip looks like completely opened up

Sugar Cookie Milkshake

Now if that post title didn't catch your attention, I don't know what will. That is, if I still have an audience. [Enter poor excuse for lack of blog posts here]. You know what they say -- onward and upward!

This moderately healthy milkshake was the product of a cupcake craving. But with no cake batter in sight, I grabbed a box of sugar cookie mix from the darkest corner of my pantry and got to work. In about five minutes, I had in my hands one of the best things I've ever sipped through a straw.

I laughed. I cried. I scraped every last drop out of the blender.

The sugar cookie flavor of this shake was so spot-on that I excitedly text messaged my husband and two sisters before I even finished slurping my way to the bottom of the glass. My youngest sister rode her bike to my house that night so I could make her one. A few seconds into her shake, and she quickly became a devoted fan. And if she likes it, then chances are you will too.    


Sugar Cookie Milkshake 
(serves one)

• 6 oz. almond milk (I use unsweetened original)
• 2 oz. half and half
• 1 frozen banana
• 1/4 c. sugar cookie mix, dry
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract (I use a non-alcohol version)
• 1 tsp. rainbow sprinkles, plus more for garnish

Blend all ingredients except sprinkles. Gently mix in sprinkles with a spoon (note: if using larger sprinkles, you may want to blend on low for a few seconds). Pour, garnish and drink!

 

 Tell me friends, what have you been up to?