Healthy Living

I am all about having my life be ever-changing, so recently I have decided to turn that up a notch within my life. I was talking to one of my close friends about what we are somewhat unhappy with in our lives and what we can do to change that. The conclusion to that conversation was that we are going to focus on our health and work on ways to improve it, because we all know as early-mid twenty somethings, it is very easy to fall into a pattern of unhealthy eating. What our health plan consists of is; eating better food with more nutrients and working out more and for a longer duration of time. The one key that sets this apart from a regular diet is that we are not cutting out foods, but more keeping in mind the idea of moderation. I try to resist the warm look of a snickerdoodle, but when that happens I just have to remind myself that for the beginning of this change I need to be strict with myself. This is not about completely changing my lifestyle, but more realizing I can't eat the same as I did when I was 18 years old. So for the first couple of weeks I am sticking with eating healthy and not veering away from my plan. This makes it easier for me personally because I learn healthy options for things I am craving like sweets or salty foods. When I was in high school and early college, I used to workout an insane amount, which is part of the reason I never noticed weight gain when I ate horribly. But now that it is easier to notice (I can thank my new metabolism), I know that I need to workout for longer periods of time and do different workouts to keep myself motivated. Instead of having a goal weight for ourselves in this challenge, we came up with having a target area to work on and measuring it. We gave ourselves a two week deadline to reach this goal, which I think makes it totally doable to get to that goal measurement. What's nice about doing these kinds of challenges with a friend, is that the friend you do it with will hold you accountable and make sure you stay on track. With my friend, I am constantly sending her snapchats of foods I am wanting to eat, but I should be shying away from during this duration of time. But that's what they are supposed to do! They are supposed to be like "hey are you sure you want to be eating that right now just because it looks good?". That is one thing I am really trying to work on is eating when I am hungry instead of eating because something just looks good or emotional eating. But I am slowly learning how to turn that all around! Look forward to follow up posts about my progress and recommendations of meals as well as workouts!

Here is a picture to make us all hungry and remind me of how much I love food! 

Life's Changes

So guess who is back to blogging! If you could see me right now I am pointing to myself, so that would be me! Plus singing that sentence along to the beat of Eminem's "Without Me" intro. I have had this growing desire to start writing, since it is the best way for me to express myself in a way that I am not overthinking every word I say, but more free writing. I have always been enthralled with writing and will always have a love for. As for Oregon, it is currently back to the typical weather of cold and rainy, but this is after three days of gorgeous sunny weather and it being in the high 70's. Needless to say, I want this weather back. A life update, in late February I took a trip with my best friend to Mexico, where I wish I was right now laying in the sun with a margarita in hand. Almost nothing is better, in my opinion, than reading a book by the pool, drink in hand, chips and guac next to me, all in the sun. If you can't tell, I am someone who loves the sun and warm weather, which is why it is somewhat comical I live in a city that has had only about 20% of the weather not be rain since October. Yes they actually did the math of how many non-rainy days Portland has had and that's what they came up with. It is depressing. In recent weeks, I have also felt the need to do some major life changes. This happens to me every few years where I just need to shake things up and do something totally different. These needs to do life changes also means a reevaluation of my life and what I am doing, compared to where I would like to be. To start this change, in the last week I have dyed my hair back to its original color. It might be a superficial change, but it is one that makes me feel better about myself and has given me more confidence. I have also gained a new scar on myself from my recent surgery, which was a lot tougher than I anticipated it would be. A few months ago I found a lump in my left breast that was causing me pain and was concerning to my doctors. I decided to have this lump removed which required me going through a lumpectomy, which I never thought I would have at almost 24 years old. Good thing though, because the results came back that the lump was benign and was larger than the doctor originally thought. Moral of that is that ladies and gentlemen you should always be on top of your health! Within my last post, which is ancient now, I mentioned a new boy in my life, who is yes, still in my life. I won't go on and on gushing about him, even though I know I could for hours. I have wrote about past toxic relationships, but it is so nice to be in one of the healthiest relationships that I know of. Being in this relationship has also brought new friendships to my life, and some of them are now some of my closest friends. Learning that I need to not put in majority of the effort in friendships, is something I am still working on, as well as learning which friendships I should keep closer than others. I have a tendency to allow toxic relationships to stay present in my life, but I am changing that. Life is all about learning experiences and growing from those experiences. An upcoming change is that I am kicking getting healthy and getting in shape (yes it is time to be summer body ready) into high gear, but also not depriving myself from things I love. Also so many trips with amazing people are planned for this summer, as well as little outings. Lots of good things will be happening and I am making sure to document them all so I can share them with all of you! Be on the lookout for at least a weekly post from here on out!

Happiness is Attainable

This past year has been one of the tougher times for me, going through different events that really did contribute to shaping the person that I am today. I would not change those tough times though because I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason, and there is a purpose for every person in your life, as well as how they come through your life. I had become very accustomed to toxic relationships since throughout the years, that is what I seemed to attract. Since I am very much a helper, these people I would be in relationships with, would be people I thought I could help, when in reality, the situations were hurting me instead. Being able to recognize this pattern was quintessential to me growing as a person and knowing that some people can't be helped and I needed to just accept that. This is one reason I have never gotten into the spirit of Valentine's Day, is because this is the one holiday that was about showing love for the person or people you are around, but with romantic relationships, I was giving my whole self and getting nothing in return. I actually took a personality test this morning, and part of the results showed your weakness, and mine (no surprise) was being too selfless. I have known this since I was little because I always worried more about other people than I probably should have. But over this past year, I have learned that I need to start taking better care of myself mentally, and start putting myself first every once in a while. That is not to say that I am not still a very selfless person (as I have been told many times), or that I will stop trying to help people. With that being said, over all of these realizations, there have been some amazing things happening that have proven that happiness is attainable. Something that helped me grow my happiness is making a list of things that make me truly happy. This way, if there was something I was doing that doesn't make me happy but instead stressed me out or made me anxious, I would know that maybe I need to reevaluate what I was doing. The biggest change that has come from this has been in the love life department because I have met the most amazing man. I have not introduced my friends or family to a guy for a long time because I realized that I didn't want men to just be coming and going from their lives and mine. If they were going to meet someone I was dating, then it was going to be someone I see a future with and someone I am extremely excited about. That is what the guy I am dating is to me, someone I see a future with and a person I am insanely excited about to the point of it annoying my friends, how happy I am now. But along with that, a man should not determine your happiness, but instead help increase your happiness. Relationships should not be something that causes a lot of anxiety or stress; that is a good indicator that it is either not a healthy relationship or not the right one for you. That is one way I knew this would be a good relationship is because I am always excited to talk to him and see him. Date nights are something to look forward to because he will be there, and he helps contribute to my happiness. Clearly I cannot stop gushing about him so I will just cut myself off now. Since I am a huge planner (my actual planner is color coded and has my whole life written down in it) I have had to realize that not everything I plan out, is necessarily going to happen, and when it doesn't happen, I shouldn't stress out too much about it. That is one huge thing I used to do, is when things would not go as planned, I would get incredibly anxious and so upset because things needed to go according to plan. After realizing that this affected my happiness, I knew I needed to change how I viewed being this invested in things going the exact way I expected them to go. Letting go a little lets you grow your trust in other people and takes some of the weight off of your shoulders. Being able to trust people is something that has come to be difficult, because I am usually too trusting and then get burned in the end. But once you learn the traits a person you want to trust, should have, it is easier to know who to trust in your life. I was recommended a book to read that goes hand in hand with this topic called Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist. I plan to enjoy this book when I am in Cabo, on the beach with a margarita and tacos in 2 weeks. So the full review and my thoughts about the book will come in a future post. But I will be straight up about this particular thing; tacos make me the happiest in life. Just know what makes you happy and go do it!

Kristin Ess is a Hair Goddess

For quite some time now I have followed Kristin Ess on Instagram to see what amazing hair styles and colors she does on her clients. Honestly, it is a dream of mine to one day have my hair done by her, but for now I am more than happy using her haircare line from Target. While it was not easy to purchase them, it was well worth the wait in the end, because I love the products. The products I decided to start out with are the signature shampoo, signature conditioner, strand strengthening reconstructive moisture mask, leave-in conditioner, and the signature finishing spray. All products are link at the bottom of the post. Last night I used the shampoo and conditioner, which I am raving about now. Most women don't know that the only part they should be shampooing is their scalp and that conditioner should only go from the middle of their hair to the end, so all instructions are on the bottles and are worded perfectly. It doesn't sound like a robot telling you how to use the products, but it's like Kristin is there herself telling you how to use the products. Since I have color treated hair, it can be a little tricky to find products that provide enough moisture to my hair, but these definitely are perfect for my hair. After my shower I sprayed the leave-in conditioner, just as the instructions advised me to, 5-10 sprays all over. I have naturally wavy hair, and since it is process, I have to brush it after my showers in order to not wake up looking like an actual lion. The spray is ideal for this because it helps act as a detangle spray, and leaves your hair soft and glowing. All of the products I purchased have the same fragrance, which I absolutely love and as my mother described it, "it smells expensive". But what is great is that they really are not expensive, but you are still getting that same salon quality with them. I am a lady who does not wear perfume, so this allows me to smell fabulous without having to drench myself in a perfume. Tomorrow night I am trying the hair mask, and I am sure I will have great things to say about it as well. I highly recommend these products for anyone who has color treated hair, or even natural hair because these are made for all hair types. It's easier than having to look through all of the shampoo and conditioner options for many different hair types. This is a haircare line that I will be using forever. Run out to Target now and try these!

Minimalism

Minimalism is a topic that has been on the forefront of social media for quite some time now, but I am now finally looking at it and watching the documentary about this topic with the same name; Minimalism. This isn't something I would have thought to describe myself or anyone in my family because I have noticed that we all just have a lot of "stuff". Growing up, I always knew my grandmother was a hoarder, not quite as bad as the ones you see on tv, but she was still pretty deep into it. She was a woman who liked to collect a lot of different things and find different hobbies, but once she found a hobby, she was all in for it and had to buy everything to do it. When she passed away about two and a half years ago, my household were the main people who were in charge of going through her things. While there was a lot of sentimental items and ones we decided to hold onto, but a lot of the items were truly just "stuff". While having a lot of items can mean different things about the person, from being financially well off to needing to fill a void in their life with this "stuff". I make it a point to put the word "stuff" in quotations because it has a different meaning for everyone, since some people find more meaning to the items than other people. So when I started to think of minimalism, this was the first thought that came to mind was growing up around someone who was the complete opposite. In the documentary, they discuss "fast fashion", because this is a very current problem, especially in America. People used to buy clothes because theirs were simply too torn and used to continue wearing. Now, people buy clothing to keep up with the fashion trends, instead of investing in clothing that will last them for a long time and are more staples in their wardrobe. I do not consider myself a minimalist by any means, but I do think that changing some of the ways you view things in your life, is beneficial for many people. In my opinion, people definitely do not have to go to the extreme and only own things they could fit into one box. I have known people who will say "I can fit my entire life into this one box", but I don't think this is necessarily something that needs to be done and going to the extreme level of minimalism. If there are things in your life that all have meaning and bring you joy, but is not in excess, then they are alright to own. The problem is when things are bought in excess and are bought for no reason because that is when they just become "stuff". My favorite sentence that was said in the entire documentary was "Imagine your life with less". This resonated with me because it caused me to imagine my life with less stuff than I have no, which was surprisingly not hard to imagine. Having too much in your life, can cause unnecessary stress and anxiety, because there is a certain amount of worrying that makes sense, and a certain amount that does not make sense. Just ask yourself "is this useful?". This was pointed out by a Good Morning America new anchor, who suffered an anxiety attack while on television. It is simple things that can be done to reduce the clutter in your life, and while this documentary shows a lot of different angles to the idea of minimalism, is creates a realistic lifestyle change for people. It is a personal choice if you want to go to extreme minimalism, or you can change little things in your life to reduce the clutter, but not throw out everything you own. Live deliberately instead and have meaning to everything in your life. I do highly recommend watching this documentary right now, especially while it is still on Netflix!

Snow Morning

There is yet another snow storm in Portland, but this one is nothing like the previous ones we have had. Thankfully I left work last night just when the rain/sleet started to turn into snow, but once I was closer to getting home, it was a complete white out. Last night we were averaging an inch of snowfall per hour, which is insane to have happen in this area. Plus most people here do not know how to drive in the snow (few people are trained for it), so what's scarier than driving on possible ice is driving on the road with everyone else. But I do enjoy snow days where I know that I have no responsibilities to take care of or work to worry about. Therefore, I am sitting here writing this post while eating some Joe's O's (Trader Joe's version of Cheerios which happen to be extremely addicting for me and still are healthy, plus gluten free). On snow days we tend to take full advantage of the weather while we still have it. There is a lot of cooking/baking, movies and sledding. Since my family is all getting older (but I am still the early riser), I thought I would make brunch since in my opinion it is the best meal and there really is no wrong way to do brunch. The first item on the menu was a frittata, which is odd for me to want because I don't really like the taste of eggs, but will eat them if there is a bunch of other stuff mixed in with it. My mom recently went back on the Whole30, so the recipe needed to be diet approved, but not bland because my dad and brother would not eat it. After skimming through the cookbook, along with a couple of my own cookbooks, which included Pinterest, I found an acceptable recipe to try out. My mom also bought a cast iron skillet set, which happened to be one of my dreams to own, so I knew I would be using one of those to cook the frittata in. Now onto the actual recipe: below is the recipe all nice and neat for you to follow. Ingredients: 6 large eggs 1 cup diced tomatoes + a few slices to top frittata with 3/4 cup chopped white mushrooms 2 handfuls of roughly chopped spinach 1/2 diced onion 2 TBSP cooking fat (I used olive oil) 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp black pepper zest and juice of 1/4 lemon Preheat oven to 500 degrees Heat skillet on the stove with cooking fat Add in onion, tomatoes and mushrooms until onions are translucent: about 2-3 minutes In a separate medium bowl, whisk eggs along with the salt and pepper Toss in spinach to skillet and cook until wilted Slowly fold in eggs into the skillet until veggies are mixed evenly Let mixture cook without stirring until the eggs are still wet, but firm Once firm, add the sliced tomatoes on top along with zest and juice from the lemon Transfer to oven and cook until the top is golden brown: about 6-8 minutes

On my piece I added grated cheddar cheese and hot sauce also. To go with the frittata I just cooked some diced potatoes in olive oil, and had some mixed berries to go on the side. The berries add a fresh and lightness to the meal so it's not a bunch of heavy dishes. This was a great brunch option because it didn't feel like it was just sitting at the bottom of my stomach when I was done eating, and even now. It is filled with protein from the eggs, as well as nutrients from the veggies that were added to it. But now it is time to enjoy the snow!

Finding Your Own Self

As usual, there has been so much going on in the past month, but also just the past year in general. Most of you already know that I live just outside of Portland, Oregon where it has been insane weather recently. It has been a balance between amazing sunny yet cold weather, and a mixture of snow and ice. That is the worst weather in my opinion because it leaves everyone in a bind, plus people in this area are just never ready for that kind of weather. Along with some extreme weather, work has also been insane. I work in retail, so the holidays is always a very busy time for me, but I love it regardless. The coworkers I have could not be better people, I always look forward to working with the, because we make work fun. In past posts about it being a new season of life, or a new year with lots of changes, those were just small changes that have been made. Honestly looking back at the past year, I still am amazed at the amount of positive changes that have happened and where they have lead me to today. To start with, school has always been a somewhat difficult area for me. From being in the right learning environment, to having the motivation to finish, it has not come easy to me. But recently I have transferred to a university who is more willing to help me finish, but also it is just a much more positive environment for me personally. The learning style is right on track with how I learn best (small discussion based classes), but I have also decided to follow through with this passion of mine, which has always been writing. I cannot count the amount of journals that I have gone through over the years, and somewhat wish I had kept some of those said journals. That is a huge reason why I am getting back into blogging because it fills that creative space in my brain that I adore so much. This year I already know that there will be so much to share in my life, from traveling to recipes and everything in between. Another major change that I made this year was ending a serious relationship that was very toxic in my life. This person was very controlling and manipulative, which I was blinded from for a long time. When I realized I was not able to be my true self with him, and saw how much he was negatively influencing my life, I knew that this was not the relationship I wanted to be in. After I broke up with him, further events proved to me that I had made the right decision in my life by ending things with him. Once I ended the relationship I went through a period where I was not really sure who I was or wanted to be in life because I was so heavily influenced by my ex. This could really not come at a better time in my life, because it allowed me to decide an entirely new direction that I wanted to go. That was the time when I decided what school I really wanted to go to, what my religious belief is (I was recently baptized), and what really made me happy in my life. This sparked me to make this new year about doing what makes me happy, and not just following what another person thinks is best because I want to please them. Knowing this has also greatly helped my anxiety, which I have always had since I was 5 years old. But now I know what triggers me and if it is something negative that triggers me, I know that it is something that I don't need in my life. If there is anything in your life that causes you negative stress or that you are not excited about, then they could potentially be something that should not be in your life. With relationships, you should be excited to see the other person, instead of dreading it or having to come up with made up excuses to not see them. That's when you know for a fact you should not be with that person, and is something that I have learned. The last major change of the past year has been my health. It has not changed drastically but I have learned more about it, like the fact that I am gluten sensitive, so the gluten free lifestyle has been introduced to me. I still occasionally eat gluten if I really feel like it is worth the stomach ache afterwards, but I have learned that I cannot do that too often. This has actually been enjoyable to find new recipes that are gluten free or alter current recipes that I have to make them gluten free. Any of you who have dietary restrictions will hopefully be satisfied with future recipe posts that will be on here. Some have considered this almost a quarter life crisis, which call it what you want, it was something that helped me in my life and I am glad I went through. Everything I have gone through has been a for a reason and has made me stronger. As cliche as that sounds, it is really the case for me. This is the best point in my 20's so far, and I cannot wait to see what else is in store for me!

Life's Changes

As I go through all of my pictures of the leaves changing colors, it got me thinking about how much my life has changed over the seasons. Most people take New Years as a time to think back to what has happened over the past year, but for some odd reason, I have always looked back at my year towards the end of fall. It must be something to do with the leaves changing, that gets me thinking about everything that has changed for me as well. This is also the time I usually make changes with my hair (chopping it off or tweaking the color), but that will not be happening this year. Over the past year, I have matured, ended toxic relationships (both friendships and a relationship), and found a new pathway to go down. I have never been one to really talk about religion, it just kind of scared me if I am being completely honest. Throughout the years I have been pulled every way, when it comes to religion, some of my friends are quite devoted in their faith, and then I was in a relationship where he was completely against organized religion. After ending that relationship, a few months later I was thinking, and came to the conclusion that I needed to accept God into my life and that was what was the missing puzzle piece was in my life. The first time going to church, I expected to be intimidating, but once I entered, I could feel this weight lifted off of my shoulders. My entire life I have had major anxiety that goes from extreme to minor, but it is always there. What was amazing to me was when I went to church, all of my anxiety was gone. That is when I knew I was where I belonged. If you are looking for a new church to go to, or even just to start going to church, that is the feeling you should feel when you are at the right one. Feeling comfortable and at home, is the best feeling in the world, especially for someone with anxiety. After going to church, I have made friends with some amazing people who are just as excited as I am to see where God is taking us in life and have accepted Jesus in their hearts. It has also allowed me to deepen friendships with people I have known for years. Having this major change in my life has also lead me to look at other aspects in my life, but it is slowly all coming together. Different changes are being made, that are healthier for me in my life. I am a person who has focused on other people, which is great, but it has been hard because I then never think about myself and what is best for me. This is the start to a new year for me, even though New Years is still a little over a month away. But I am beyond excited to see what else is to come in my life!

Field Trip to the Tree Farm

About a week ago, one of my dear friends asked me if I wanted to take a little road trip. Of course I said yes because I am always up for road trips, and once I looked at the pictures of where we were going, I knew I could not miss out on going. The tree farm we went to is called GreenWood Tree Farms, and it is about two and a half hours from Portland. What is unfortunate is that soon the beautiful trees at this farm are going to all be cut down, and we will lose this picture perfect place. I had to dress according to the season because I knew that we were going to be taking plenty of pictures while we were at the farm. My go-to jeans at the moment are the Wedgie Levi's, which happen to be the best fitting jean I have worn in a long time. If you try these, I recommend sizing up since these are very fitted jeans, and mine did not stretch out very much. A turtleneck is very appropriate for the season, and black is my color that I always wear. This is definitely a staple to have in any wardrobe. Pairing the turtleneck with a scarf, is something that is easy to complete the outfit and tie it all together. I was not sure what I wanted to do with my hair that day (per usual), so I threw on a floppy hat and called it good. Since it was going to be a little muddy at the farm, motorcycle boots were an easy choice. If anyone has the chance to road trip out to this tree farm, I HIGHLY recommend it, especially before they cut down all of the trees.

Xtend Barre

On a Sunday morning in Oregon, when it is grey outside and raining, there is nothing better than staying snuggled in my blankets watching Netflix with a cup of tea. But I have found something that is equally great, if not better than that! this is something that I will recommend to everyone I know because it has seriously changed the way I look at working out. Xtend Barre is different from other Barre classes because it incorporates more dance-like movements that include faster pace movements. This works particularly well for me because I do better with a faster pace workout, as opposed to something slower like yoga. There is a studio down the street from where I live, so it was perfect for me to try out. Below I will have a link to their website.

Having done a little bit of ballet when I was little, some of the key formations were familiar to me, but if someone was completely new to the class, it would not be difficult to jump right on in. At the beginning of the class, there was written on the mirror what things we needed to grab for that class. For the class I was taking, all that was needed was; weights, ball, and a resistance band, which are all provided by the studio. What I found interesting was that the weights they had were one one pound and two pound weights, since you are mostly using your own strength during the workout instead of relying on weights to help your workout. The first about 10-15 minutes of the class were warmup, which definitely warmed me up. I was already sweating after just the warmup, which was a good sign since that's my indication that I am getting a good workout. The music that accompanied the class was upbeat, and honestly not the music I would have expected to hear during a barre class, which is not a bad thing at all. It was a great mix of classic Lady Gaga and Ke$ha throughout the class. After the warmup, it was time to jump right into the class, and start learning what this workout was all about. As the class continues on, the instructor would make sure everyone knew the ballet moves that were incorporated, and that everyone's formation was correct, so that they would not injury themselves. I personally find this very helpful and a benefit of taking a class, because at the gym, there really is not anyone there to tell you if you are doing something wrong, which is why it is not uncommon to hear of people injuring themselves at the gym or tweaking something. I have been to workout class before, where if I was doing the movements wrong, the teacher made me feel like the odd man out, but this instructor was very caring about it and made sure you did not feel like you were an outsider. Halfway through the class, I already felt where I was going to be sore the next day, but I love feeling sore after a workout. By the end of the class, I knew for a fact that a good majority of my body would be sore, since you are using muscles that you didn't even realize you had. This is also coming from someone that works out about 5 times a week. I would highly recommend this workout class and studio to anyone looking to tone up their body, but have fun while doing it. My workout goal is to tone up everything, instead of gaining lots of muscle or focus on losing weight. i used to focus on the number a lot, but realized that for me that is not healthy because I become obsessed with the numbers. That is also why I cannot get caught up in counting calories. This studio promotes a positive body image and is all about empowerment of women. For anyone able to find a studio near them to take a class at, I would suggest to try it. It is also the most adorable little studio, so just being there makes you feel great!

Peanut Butter, Caramel and Chocolate Drizzle Popcorn

If that title does not make your mouth water, then ignore this post. I was watching one of my favorite cooking shows a few days ago, Dinner at Tiffani's, when I saw she was making this great concoction. Since my little cousin spent to the night a few nights ago, I showed her the recipe and she immediately wanted to make it. This was no surprise because this little girl has the biggest sweet tooth. It was also a great way to teach her how to read the measurements since she is now in first grade. The recipe is really simple and does not require a ton of ingredients. I will have the step by step instructions below! I just took the recipe from the actual website! To see it entirely, here is the link! Ingredients: 1/2 cup corn syrup 3/4 cup sugar 1 cup peanut butter 1/4 cup honey 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped (The recipe calls for cashews also to be added, but I opted out of using them) I have a hot air popcorn maker, so I used one scoop of kernels for this recipe. Spread out the popcorn out on a baking sheets. In a saucepan, combine the corn syrup and sugar. Bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes; remove from heat. Carefully, add the peanut butter and honey. Stir until the peanut butter is melted, then add the vanilla. Working quickly, pour the mixture over the popcorn, and use two rubber spatulas to evenly coat the popcorn. Set aside to cool completely. Fill a saucepot halfway up with water; set over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Turn the heat down to medium-low. Add the chocolate to a glass bowl and place the bowl over the pot of simmering water. Melt the chocolate, stirring occasionally. Using a spoon or spatula, drizzle the popcorn with the chocolate. This mixture, when left out, will harden like a caramel corn, so make sure it doesn't clump up too much! Your teeth will thank you!

Pumpkin Patch Take 1

Every year, I take my little cousins to the pumpkin patch to experience all it has to offer. We try to go to a different pumpkin patch every year, so this year I decided to take them to The Pumpkin Patch on Sauvies Island. I am not sure how I have lived here my entire life and not been to Sauvies Island, but even after going there, I don't feel like I was missing out on too much. If you are taking little ones here, make sure to pack them a snack and something to do if you are driving over 30 minutes. I made sure to pack a water bottle, but forgot granola bars, which was a mistake. We played the license plate game in the car and jammed out to music to help the time pass by. It was raining the entire drive there, so it was a regular Sunday in Oregon. Once we parked, we headed over to the main area to see where to go for our hay ride to the field. In the main area, there is a market with produce from the fields, an animal barn where you can see a variety of farm animals, and gift shop. If you are looking for food to eat there, they have the typical kettle corn, hot dogs and caramel corn, carnival kind of food. Since I have dietary restrictions, there was not anything that I could eat or that looked appealing to me at the time. Both girls had a hot dog, which was a sufficient snack while there. After looking at the animal barn (we have chickens and live semi close to the country, the girls were not too impressed with the selection of animals), we got in line for the hay ride. The hay ride was only a couple of minutes long, but takes you through the field of huge leafed lettuce. Out in the field of pumpkins, it was completely covered in mud. We all had thick layers on mud on our shoes, and both girls slipped in the mud. Eventually I had one on each side and held their hands to try and help them from falling in the mud again. The rule since I was little, was you can only choose a pumpkin that you can carry yourself. So once we were out looking for pumpkins, the girls could not find any smaller ones that they could carry. Back on the hay ride we went to head back to the main marketplace to find smaller pumpkins that the girls could carry. All in all, this was a great first trip of the pumpkin patch season! I am going again Saturday morning with my best friend to then get my own pumpkin finally.

Lazy Girl's Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread

On my most recent trip to Trader Joe's (aka heaven), I came across one of the best things I have ever seen there. Gluten free pumpkin bread/muffin mix. I didn't think that was something that would ever happen, finding a gluten free pumpkin mix. But thank goodness I found it at Trader Joe's because that meant it would be guaranteed to be delicious. It is also great for the person who doesn't want to make something from complete scratch, or the person who isn't the world's best baker. I have known people who just don't have the touch for baking, which is more than ok. The recipe only required three ingredients that most people already have in their kitchen; vegetable oil, eggs and water. I have to admit, I made sure not to get my hopes up about the bread because gluten free baked goods can be super hit or miss, so I have learned to just wait and see how it is. BUT this bread was absolutely amazing! It was fluffy and honestly if you didn't already know it was gluten free, you would never guess it. Even the mix itself, before baking, smells great! You are able to smell all of the wonderful spices in it, then once it is in the oven, the aroma just fills the house. This boxed mix is HIGHLY recommended for everyone out there!

Feeling Like A Gilmore

A few days ago, back when it didn't look like the end of the world outside, it was a gorgeous day in Portland. So I decided to take a little trip down to Reed College with one of my friends. Ever since the first time I discovered this magical place, I have been obsessed with it ever since. What is so special about this campus though, aside from being tiny which I love, is that it looks exactly like the scenes of Yale in Gilmore Girls. As you all have figured out, I am obsessed with Gilmore Girls, so much that I was rematching the show to quickly and needed to force myself to take a break. I started rematching Friday Night Lights to slow me down from finishing Gilmore Girls too quick. The funniest part about gushing over a college campus, is doing it with actual students of that college around. It was interesting when people would see us just sitting on a bench drinking our coffee (my friend's drink) and my chai. We got lots of interesting looks, most likely because we stuck out in the sea of Birkenstocks and hemp clothing. Reed College has always been known for being very granola campus, so I always know going there to not dress too "city like". The outfit I chose to wear was a very toned down fall little ensemble, but I didn't think that I stood out THAT much. Now you can all admire the pictures I took while there!

Pumpkin Spice Everything

As you could all tell, I have a slight obsession with pumpkin, as well as pumpkin spice. That makes fall one of my favorite seasons because that is one of the main events, is being able to indulge in them! In the past couple of days I have done a mini grocery haul, to find all things pumpkin spice, but that are also gluten free. This ended up not being as difficult as I thought it would be. I had assumed that I would not find hardly anything that was gluten free, but to my surprise, most everything was! The best place to find a fair amount of gluten free items, that isn't going to break the bank, would be Trader Joe's. Trader Joe's just happens to be one of my favorite places ever, it brings me much excitement to go shopping there. Some women are excited to go to the mall to shop for clothes, and then there is me, who gets excited to go shopping for food at Trader Joe's. I am definitely one of a kind. I will admit, I did a rare thing and stepped foot inside the mall a couple of days ago to go to Bath and Body Works, to stock up on a couple fall candles. Let's all take a wild guess at what scents I got. The first is one of my all time favorites, leaves, and the other was of course, sweet cinnamon pumpkin. As I write this post, I just happen to have the sweet cinnamon pumpkin candle burning, and let me tell you, it smells fantastic. But let's get back to the food. A couple of days ago I was hanging out with one of my good friends, and it was a torrential downpour outside, along with huge gusts of wind. It basically bordered looking like the apocalypse. That being said, we wanted to stay in an make lunch, that included something seasonal. What we decided to make was a pumpkin sauce with gluten free pasta. I will do another post about this one and give you all the recipe that we used. Back to today's shopping adventure. After work I rushed over to Trader Joe's (conveniently 5 minutes away from my work), to see what they had to offer for my pumpkin obsession. I follow the Trader Joe's Instagram account so I have been keeping tabs of everything they have been getting in, and making a list of what I wanted to for sure buy. First and foremost, was the pumpkin O's cereal, since I am a huge fan of the Joe's O's cereal. When I am having breakfast at home, I either want something simple and healthy when I work early, or something I can eat in the car. When you wake up at 5am or 6am for work, you don't have much energy to put into something to eat for breakfast. The cereal is something healthy and easy to have in the morning, along with my coconut almond milk in it. As if regular Joe's O's couldn't get better, they did it somehow! What I like is the cereal is not sugary, but you still get the taste of the pumpkin, which happens to be real pumpkin. That is rare now to find in anything at the grocery store, so I greatly appreciate it. Next on the list was the pumpkin soup crackers, which caught my eye right away. I was intrigued by the fact that they looked like a sweet cracker but were named to go with soup. What is even most incredible, is these little crackers are actually filled with soup. I know you are asking yourself how that could be. But what they did was infuse the crackers with pumpkin soup, giving it that wonderful pumpkin taste. You can be eating this cracker and tell people that you are having soup and crackers, but don't have the actual liquid soup. It is clear genius. Pumpkin spice caramel corn was the next thing to catch my eye. I don't know how someone could pass up caramel corn, let alone caramel corn that has pumpkin spice in the name. Basically the deal with this caramel corn is that it has pumpkin seeds in it, as well as the pumpkin spice. I mean what more do I need to say. With that first bite comes a burst of cinnamon and nutmeg, then you get the subtle bite of the pumpkin spice within the caramel mix. For anyone with a tooth that desires sweet and salty, this should be your go to snack. It comes with rave reviews, along with everything else. I wouldn't suggest anything ghastly to you guys. The last pumpkin themed item that I picked up at Trader Joe's they harvest blend herbal tea. I am a sucker for tea, I drink it every night. This tea is perfect for a chilly fall night, when it is pitch black at night and you want to wear a face mask, fuzzy socks, and watch a Rom Com. There is a nice aromatic eruption of cinnamon and ginger, but you can also definitely taste the apple in it. While it may not have pumpkin in it, it is a great fall drink to have. The last item I just had to get were these dahlias I had seen when I walked into the store. My favorite color since I was 4, has always been black. I know, it is very strange for that to be a child's favorite color, but it was and still is mine. These dahlias were the one of the only flowers I have ever seen that are as close to black as they can get. They are this gorgeous dark purple color that is just mesmerizing. So I had to leave with them in my bag.

I bought one other pumpkin item at Target since I knew for a fact that they would have it, pumpkin spice Hershey's Kisses. Little known fact, Kisses are actually all gluten free! We can all rejoice in that fact now because so much chocolate contains gluten! I have been snacking on these like crazy because they are honestly so addicting. So keep that in mind and it might encourage you to buy more than one bag of them. Now I can let you guys know, I have accepted the fact that I am obsessed with pumpkin spice and encourage you all to be as well!

Flourless Pumpkin Muffins

It is officially fall!! Yay!! As you all know I have been waiting for this to happen, and it is finally here! That being said, I stocked up on pumpkin puree, and put it to good use this morning by making flourless pumpkin muffins. You can definitely make these muffins with flour, but since I am gluten free, I did that version of the recipe. It is one of the easiest recipes since it is basically a dump of everything. There is no science to it or really strict instructions. Below I have the recipe link and pictures of the batter and the finished product!

First Farmers Market Finds

This last weekend I finally had a Saturday morning off, which meant I was able to head to the farmers market. Honestly, it is one of my favorite places to go for the simple fact that it is always such a great environment. Since my dad was off that day as well, I asked if he wanted to join in on the fun. Keep in mind, it was one of the first rainy days in Portland, which was much needed for us all. Once we got there, I did my typical route, I go around the market once to take a look at all of the stands, then go back around to buy the items that stood out to me. Having samples are always a must as well, because it gives you the chance to try the different vendors' items to see which ones you actually want to buy. The first stand that I bought from was of course my flowers, since my favorite thing is to have fresh flowers in my house. I asked the vendor if she could make me a custom bouquet, that included eucalyptus leaves, as well as the darkest flowers that they had. I am not really one for really bright flowers, and especially pink. Roses have also been a huge dislike for me, my entire life. The bouquet that they made could not have been better, it was filled with dark purple dahlias, which were perfect since they are in season. That is another great thing about the farmers market, you only get things that are in season. The next stop was to get artichokes, which are actually cooking in a pot right now. What's funny is I have never cooked artichokes before, until I went over to one of my really good friend's place where she and another friend, showed me how to make them. Since I now know how to make them and they were a really good price, I thought that I might as well get them! Last but definitely not least, was the distilleries there. It is easy to go to the market, try every sample there and definitely feel it afterwards. If you do decide to do that, definitely eat breakfast before or you will be grumpy and not feel good. Trust me, I have taken people there before who did not eat before, and I had to deal with the aftermath of that. There are so many different types and flavors of alcohol to try and see while there, but my favorite by far is Wild Roots. They have a tasting room downtown, which I need to still go to since I have a free tasting. But the next best thing is their stand at the farmers market. They have all different flavors of vodka, which is funny because I am more of a tequila girl myself. What's nice about their flavors are they are not too sweet (I cannot stand sweet drinks). and they taste more natural. They don't taste like the typical ones you buy at the store and taste like processed stuff. The flavor that caught my attention was the apple cinnamon infused vodka. I am not kidding when I say that this is one of the best drinks I have ever had. You know your re having a good alcohol, when you can mix it with something simple like club soda or ginger beer, and it still tastes excellent. That is exactly how this one is, I could sip on it with ease and enjoy every last drop of it. If you are able to get your hands on any Wild Roots vodka, I highly suggest you get it.

Of course the best picture I was able to take in the moment of getting these treasures, was on snapchat.

Put Forth The Effort

In the recent weeks, I have discovered that I have been putting my efforts in life, in the wrong places. People who I shouldn't give so much attention to, had been getting it, and I had not been putting myself first (shocker). That is something that I have always been known to do since I was little, is not put myself first and ALWAYS worry about other people way too much. There are a handful of things that have sparked me to realize that this change needed to be made, and I have tried lots of different things to figure out what works for me and what doesn't. First and foremost, do not put more effort into relationships, than the other person in the relationship. That goes for friendships as well, which is where I have realized I have been going all wrong. There are friendships that I put about 90% of the effort into keeping in touch and getting together, but the other person puts in about 10% of effort in. The problem with that, is friendships, along with relationships, are a two way street. It can't be one sided or else it will fall apart once the person taking on the entire relationships realizes it. How I have decided to change this in my life, is to distance myself from friendships where I realized I am putting in much more effort than I thought the other person was to keep in touch. It has definitely proven that I was putting in much more to keep in touch, because we either rarely talk, or it has forced the other person to get ahold of me. So I have kept in mind and know now, which friendships I should give me effort to. As for myself, I have recently started doing more things for myself, and have ironically found out more about myself. I know that is super cliche, especially for someone my age to say. Being 23 and finding yourself, is basically the title of that chapter in the book of life. But I am more than ok with it happening now because I am able to do it without being dependent on other people. I know plenty of people who have become completely dependent on other people, which is not what this time in our lives is about. This is the time where we can finally figure out who we are and what we like. Going through this journey, I have realized that I like being in bed by 10:30, waking up at 7:00 in the morning, and working out daily (it helps me decompress. Gardening and flowers are something that comfort me, which explains my newest addition, my little baby succulents now sitting in front of my window. I am more than content being on my own, in fact I enjoy it most of the time. This is finally the time in my life where I have realized that I am completely content with being single. Yes, I was always that girl who needed a guy in my life, and went through lots of different frogs over the years. So now, I am waiting for my Prince Charming, but not constantly searching for a guy who will semi fit the mold, instead of just being patient and coming across someone who completely fits the mold. This goes hand in hand with being independent and not having to rely on another person. I know people who definitely have a dependency on guys, and once one doesn't work out, they are moving right on to the next guy. Instead of realizing that even though they might want a guy, they do not need a guy. They will survive and be perfectly ok without a guy in their life. Some other things I have been focusing on more now, are my health since I have discovered health problems, and making sure I am the healthiest person I can be, physically and mentally. Here below, are my new babies!

Hello Gluten Free!

Recently my mom found out that she is gluten free, aka I am now gluten free. I have now not eaten gluten for so long, that when I do eat it, I feel sick. But good news for all of you gluten free people out there, all of my posts will now be gluten free! Wooooo! 

One of my best friends is in town, and is also gluten free, so I had to show her one of my favorite vegan places which also is mostly gluten free. Canteen is the best if you want something healthy and fresh. I get the same thing literally every time I go there. To eat is always a parfait, which has granola, fresh fruit and cashew cream. This will seriously fill you up on its own. My go to smoothie there is the apple ginger greens, which has exactly that in it. If I could drink it everyday I would. But I highly recommend anything and everything on the menu. 

After breakfast, I wanted to show her and our moms (they were with us) Portland nursery to get some succulents. I have been wanting to jump on the bandwagon and get succulents for a while now, so I got three. I will do another post to talk more about my new babies. 

Later in the day, my mom and I decided to go into Lake Oswego to go to Kyra's Bake Shop. This bakery only makes gluten free dessets and she won Cupcake Wars, so you know you have to try one cupcake. But I was a rebel and got three cupcakes which included, strawberry cream, citrus cloud, and a pumpkin spice latte cupcake. There was no way I could pass up the pumpkin spice cupcake, being that I am obsessed with pumpkins and pumpkin spice. This cupcake could not be made any better, it was fluffy and not dense, which tends to happen with gluten free dessets. I highly recommend a stop here even if you do eat gluten. 

Plus, it is finally going to start consistency feeling like fall here in Portland. So everything from here out will be fall!

Mind Your Own Biscuits

One of my best friends is finally visiting Portland, and I always take her out to somewhere new when she is in town. Since she has dietary restrictions, it can be a little more tricky to find a place we can go to. BUT I always find somewhere, and this time we ventured to Jam on Hawthorne. Ever since the first time I came across this glorious place, I look forward to each time I am able to go back. The funny thing is, I get the same thing every time, and that would be biscuits and gravy. Finding a place with good vegetarian biscuits and gravy is hard, but Jam on Hawthorne does a great job on theirs, and it doesn't leave me with a stomach ache afterwards. Another plus to it, is the leftovers still taste so great, and that is another rarity, is finding somewhere that has good food that makes good leftovers. My brother claimed it was too early to start having cocktails (it was 10am, but I really wanted a Bloody Mary) so I opted out on having one this time. Just a disclaimer, I am currently eating my leftovers from this morning. But here is a picture so you all can drool while I sit here and eat it.