Piña Colada Smoothie

Today is Hump Day (thank the lawd!), but already it's been one of those weeks.  One of those weeks where you're just over it.  You're over all of it before it's even started.

It's been one of those weeks when I really wished I was my own boss and I worked from home so I could start my day with a Bloody Mary then I could eat my lunch outside with a freshly blended piña colada and just, you know, continue that pattern all day.

So, I guess it's probably a good thing that I do have to go into the office where there are expectations of me.

Maybe someday, but for now I'm resigned to making the non-alcoholic version in the morning before heading off to my 9-5 (or rather 7-4).  It tastes really good and it serves as a pretty good consolation prize, but ya know, not quite the effect I'm after.

Kaleberry Smoothie

Some twenty-somethings really enjoy shopping which is something I just can't relate to.  At all.  I hate shopping.  I get tired and sore and whiny wandering around the store, and the mall is basically my worst nightmare.

I could never even imagine a world where shopping would bring me happiness or relaxation.

All I get from shopping is dread and regret.  And hopefully at least one material item, but oftentimes even that doesn't happen since I get too frustrated and have to leave the store before things get out of hand.

Grocery shopping is a different story.

I love to wander the aisles of a grocery store and look at all of the ingredients I've never tried before.  Especially the produce aisle.

When I see a different color of kale, I'll buy it, I'll be happy about my purchase and I'll even take pictures of it.

So yeah, I guess I am the weird one.

Vegan Raspberry Spinach Smoothie

In the mornings, I have no time.  I swear, every morning I am more rushed than the morning before.  While skipping breakfast is nothing new for me, I've even had to skip my coffee before!  It only took once for me to make sure that never happened again though.

I'd love to get up each day and start it off the 'right way.'  The healthy way.  But then I remember I really love to sleep.  And I really love that snooze button.

That's part of why I love the weekends so much.  Also because: the weekends.

On the weekends I can take my time.  I can drink my coffee out of a real cup instead of a travel mug.  I can make waffles and pancakes and smoothies.  I can feel good all day long because I actually feed my body (what a concept, I know!).

Yeah, I should really set my alarm earlier, but since we all know that's not going to happen, I'll just settle for 2 good days a week.

Cranberry Eggnog French Toast

For the past couple months I've really been enjoying a healthy dose of eggnog in my morning coffee.  I used to think I hated that, but apparently I was wrong because when I tried it again this year, I slurped it down.  Now, I'm already dreading the day they pull the nog from the shelves.

When I was a tot, I hated eggnog in general.

I really wanted to like it, mostly because my cousin, Beth (who I thought was the coolest person in the entire world), drank it.  And I tried.  I really did, but the stuff is pretty weird.  It's so thick that it feels like you're drinking straight whipping cream and the flavor is not exactly kid-friendly.

So if you're still on the fence about the nog, I get it.  I don't even blame you and I probably won't even make you try it again.

Even if you're not the biggest fan of eggnog, this overnight french toast recipe is pretty mild.  And because eggnog is already sweet, you don't have to add any extra sugar like other overnight french toast recipes.

Even though the taste of the eggnog is mild, that, in combination with the cinnamon and fresh cranberries, makes it a perfect dish for Christmas morning!  Did I mention, you can make it the night before?!

Peanut Butter Coconut Smoothie

At this point, I think I've posted about 8000 smoothie recipes.  But you don't mind right?

I don't ever get sick of new smoothie combinations personally and this particular one tastes like a candy bar!  Which is...amazing.

I have an insatiable sweet tooth so when I can get started with candy bar-like drinks first thing in the morning, you know it's going to be a good day!

Plus, since it's not actually a candy bar, you don't have to hide it in shame.  I'm not saying I would judge you for chowing down a Snickers first thing, but I think we all know that some people would.

Happy Hour: Tropical Dreams Smoothie

The leaves have already started to change color here in Utah.  Part of me really loves it.

I love it for a lot of reasons.  First of all, I hate to sweat.  So lower temps are an obvious plus.  Second, I'm getting married this fall, and I'm ready to be done with the planning and the thinking about wedding stuff.

I know I'm supposed to want to do all of this, and I did.  For a while.  But now, I'm ready for the day to just be here.

I'm ready to start relaxing on weekends, watching football, going for hikes, reading books.

On the other hand, this summer was unbelievably hectic and I feel like I missed the whole thing.  So I kind of want to hold on to the last little bit of summer we have left.

Superfood Smoothie

Last week, I started a new job.  So now, I'm pretty much a professional blogger, tweeter, and facebooker for a health and wellness company.

I really like to eat healthy foods and feel good and have energy and all that good stuff...but I also like hamburgers and milkshakes which unfortunately don't make me feel so hot or give me energy.

Actually, on my second day of work, I left to get a Crown Burger (basically a cheeseburger topped with a ton of pastrami).  Nothing's felt quite so wrong as sneaking out of a health and wellness company to get a pile of grease topped with more grease.  I did resist the shake and fries though, so that's something.

All smoothies feel like you're doing your body a favor, but this particular concoction is so good for you it almost feels like you can undo that cheeseburger...almost.  It's loaded with fresh fruits that boost your immune system, probiotics to help with digestion, and flax seed oil for joint health and circulation.  In a few words: it's good for you.

Strawberry Overnight Oats

For the past few months, I have been working in retail.  That meant that the earliest I have to be to work was 10 a.m. and more often than not, I was working evenings so I really had no pressing reason to jump out of bed in the morning.  On Monday, I started a new job and now I have to be to the office at 8 a.m. with a 40 minute commute.

I've mentioned before that I'm a morning person and that's true.  It's just that the transition is tough.  Now, instead of choosing to get up early and go for a run, or get a head start on my chores, I have to get up.

And in the mornings, I feel like I'm scrambling.  The type of scrambling where you run out the door with a coffee mug sloshing all over your hand and you throw a granola bar in your purse and call it breakfast.  Not exactly a breakfast of champions.

So, during this transition period, I'm thinking overnight oats are going to be my saving grace.  They are exactly what the name suggests: you make them before you go to bed, wake up and eat them.  I get easily bored with foods and like to mix it up, so I'll be switching out the toppings (think: almond butter, nuts, bananas, Nutella, cookie butter, sunflower seeds, honey, ....), but the base ingredients stay the same.

Blackberry Coconut Smoothie

Last Friday, I surprised Austin by driving out to California with him and staying for a week while he starts his internship.  I've only been to California once before for a wedding.

Because I know really nothing about the state, I just have to go off of stereotypes.  I thought that everyone in California was perfectly tanned and drank fresh juices filled with wheat grass.  Turns out, that's not really the case.  I'm quickly discovering that not everyone's the beacon of health I had in my head.

That's what happens when you only have stereotypes to go off of, but in the scheme of things, those aren't bad preconceptions to have.  In Utah, everyone assumes you're a polygamist and live on a compound :/

I guess my point is that I drink more juice and smoothies than the Californians I've come across so far.  You can pretty much throw any fresh fruits and vegetables into a blender and it'll taste good, but some combinations are better than others.  The combination of blackberries and coconut milk in this smoothie make it sweet and tropical tasting.  I added the banana to give it a little creaminess to the texture and enough ice to make it thick.

Lemon Scones

I imagine myself sitting out on a patio someday with a group of girlfriends, talking about books, drinking tea, eating scones.  It will be lovely.  Problem is I don't technically have a patio, or a 'group' of girlfriends.  I have tea and scones though!

Maybe I should start bribing people with my baked goods to be friends.  Still doesn't solve the patio problem - but that will come in time, I'm sure.

Scones are about the easiest thing you could bake.  They have so few ingredients, you only use one bowl and there is no waiting for the dough to rise.  That's why it always baffles me that coffee shops all over the place serve dry scones every morning.  I don't get it.  Those won't win you any friends.  These lemon scones will.

Apricot White Chocolate Biscotti

Yesterday, I had such good intentions for getting stuff done.  I was going to do my homework for my programming and mapping classes.  I was going to apply for jobs.  I was maybe even going to go to the gym.

Instead?  Instead I watched hours of makeup tutorials online.  It was one of those YouTube time warps where you start out one place and then just keep going deeper into the rabbit hole and end up in a totally different area of the internet.  I don't know how it happens but I know YouTube is really good at it.

And I'm really not even that into makeup.  I mean, sure, I wear some...sometimes, but I wouldn't say I need to dedicate hours out of my day to learning new techniques!

Maybe it's ok to waste some time every once in a while.  I just hope next time I do that, it's over coffee and biscotti instead of vlogs.

Cheese Danish

Around Christmastime every year, we make these cheese cookies.  They have cheddar cheese, a lot of butter, and rice krispies in them.  I know they don't sound good, but they are.  Actually they are tied for my favorite Christmas cookie.

I know this post is not about Christmas or even cookies.  My point is that sometimes things that don't necessarily sound like they go together, most definitely go together.

Whenever I hear "cheese" followed by "danish," I think, "those 2 things together would be disgusting."  But then I remember that cheese danishes are possibly my favorite pastry out of all the pastries and there's no sharp cheddar involved.

It's weird how you can just forget how much you love something.  There have been quite a few foods from my childhood that I've rediscovered in the past few years and for the life of me I can't remember why I don't eat them every day!

I can honestly say that I'd never had a homemade danish of any sort before I made these a little while ago (even if they are only semi-homemade), but I promise you cheese danishes, I'll never forget about you again!

Going Green Smoothie

Going green is really cool right now.  It should have been cool a lot earlier, but now you can collect your reusable grocery bags without shame, you can ride your bike to work and look like a hipster (say what you will, but 'hip' is in the name), you can shop at fancy grocery stores and try new foods you've never heard of before.  Basically, the door is open.

There are drawbacks to doing your part of course.  Now you have to store all your reusable bags.  You show up dripping with sweat everywhere you go.  You're spending more on groceries than rent.  But you should do it anyway.

There are a lot of things you should do that aren't always convenient.  Like exercising.  Like eating healthy.  Part of our problem is that we think these things are hard.  'It's hard to remember my bags when I get to the checkout.'  It's not that hard, just put them in your car.  'Exercise is hard."  Find something you like, it feels less like a chore.  'I don't have time to make healthy meals, I'll eat out instead.'  You do have time.  You just do.

This smoothie takes about 30 seconds.  It will give you energy all morning.  It's full of things that are good for you: protein-packed spinach, fresh pineapple, grapes, and banana.  You also get to feel cool when everyone asks you what you're drinking.  Another perk: it tastes really really good!

Aloha Smoothie

When I flew back into Salt Lake City on Sunday night after spending 9 days lounging at the beach, I was greeted by snow!  I really do love snow.  In the winter.  On Mother's Day, it's a different story.

You'd think that the beach would be the thing to motivate me to eat tons of fresh fruit and sip on smoothies all day, but for some reason all I eat when breathing in the salt air is more salt and junk food.  I ate more potato chips in those 9 days than I will the rest of the year.  I ate burgers and fried chicken and lots of ice cream.  Besides a couple pieces of watermelon one morning, I don't think I saw fresh fruit.

So, when I got back, I was walking through the grocery store and immediately drawn to everything bright and juicy.  It's nice to be able to channel some of the beach into my daily life in the mountains too.  And until the rest of the snow melts, I'll just have to keep pretending.

Carrot Pineapple Smoothie

When the weather starts to get nicer, I naturally start to gravitate towards bright, fresh foods and away from heavy, bulky foods.  I think everyone does right?  I'm not so sure that this is just because more fresh vegetables and fruits are coming into season.  I think it really has to do with me wanting to pretend like winter is over.  

When I drink a bright, fruity smoothie, I can easily pretend like I am sitting on the beach somewhere, digging my toes into the sand with the sun on my face.  When I eat chicken noodle soup, it's harder to make that dream feel realistic.  

Drinking smoothies with vegetables in them makes me think for a second that I might actually be able to successfully complete a juice cleanse.  Then I remember that I like bread too much.  But for a second, the thought is there!  

If you're turned off by a smoothie that has a carrot in it, please don't be.  It is still sweet and fruity from the pineapple and you'll look really trendy sipping on it after your hot yoga class.  Trust me on this one.

Red Velvet Pancakes

Maybe it's because we were never allowed to have bright, food-coloring-loaded foods as kids, but I am not a fan of red velvet cake.  I can pretty much guarantee you that I will never purchase a cake or cupcake that's chocolate flavored but somehow red colored.  Especially not with cream cheese frosting.  It might be one of the very few desserts I would flat out refuse.

However, Austin really likes it.  And in an effort to be nice, I made him some red velvet pancakes for Valentine's Day this year.  See, I can be nice.

To my surprise, they were actually really good.  Granted, I left out about 2/3 of the red food dye, but you can make them the way you like.

They are really chocolatey which I personally have no problem with first thing in the morning, but you could even make these for dessert if you like your sweets later in the day.  I don't think I'll be making these all the time, but every once in a while...maybe special occasions or when I feel like being extra nice :)

Beet Bloody Mary

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about what society deems acceptable.  Mostly in terms of drinking.  Maybe this is just because I've moved back to Utah - a state notorious for it's whacky liquor laws - but really, everywhere has arbitrary rules about what's allowable and what's not.

Like, why is it ok to drink a beer in the middle of the day if you're on the mountain skiing but not at you kitchen table?  Unless it's a holiday, then it's ok.  And why can you drink vodka in the morning or champagne but not beer or wine?  What's so magical about 5 o'clock?

I may not understand the reasoning behind it, but I do know that you can drink a beet bloody mary in the morning or early afternoon with brunch.  You can even have a few if you want!

If you like the flavor of fresh beets, this is for you!  It still has the signature tomato juice to it, but it's much more muted in combination with the beets.  Adjust the amounts of other ingredients as much as you like to make it spicier or milder and drink up!

Baked Raspberry French Toast

Are you dressed up right now?  What are you?  I want to see a picture.

I don't have a costume this year, but guess who does?!  That's right the Dingo does!  She's going as a giraffe this year.  It's pretty adorable and she loves wearing it...as you can imagine.

Halloween is a pretty fun holiday...I guess.  I just kind of lost interest when people stopped giving me free candy just for ringing their doorbell.  Once you're older, you're expected to dress up like some sort of themed slut - not only not my style, but also, it's cold the last day of October.  In the past, we have done some Halloween climbing competitions, we have gone to Halloween parties and we've carved pumpkins with spiked apple cider (actually, we did that last weekend).

It's all good stuff, but what I really like about Halloween is that it means we're getting dangerously close to the "holiday season!"  It's that time of year for lots of sweets and carbs...and big sweaters (coincidence?).

I love to start my day out with sweets and carbs and then just continue that trend right on into bedtime.  Don't judge me with your smoothie.

This french toast is definitely sweet.  It's also got raspberries, so it's, um, healthy.  You can make it the night before, let all the custard soak in and then bake it in the morning.

If you are a weirdo and you don't like sweets for breakfast, then you could just swap out the words "french toast" and plug in "bread pudding" and you can have dessert!  Problem solved.  You're welcome.  What I'm saying is, there's no reason you shouldn't be pinning this recipe maybe for Christmas morning or Christmas dessert...or a lazy Sunday morning.  Just pin it.  Just eat it!