Say What You Need To Say

2011-09-08T13:40:00.003-04:00

Please update your readers to receive feeds from my new site
www.saywhatyouneedtosayblog.com

2011-09-07T21:50:00.003-04:00

Please head over to my new site and update your readers…..
http://www.saywhatyouneedtosayblog.com/

NEW SITE: UPDATE READERS

2011-09-04T21:46:00.001-04:00

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Friday Happenings

2011-09-02T20:41:00.001-04:00

Let's take a quick look at some of the notable happenings this week:

Around SWYNTS ~

I realized I am working 3 jobs right now and feeling a little overwhelmed about neglecting some things in my personal life. {Catch Up Here}
I immediately rectified this by having an emergency lunch date with my beloved dad. {Catch Up Here}
I set a new set of mini goals for a new month. {Catch Up Here}

Around the Blog World ~

Lisa wrote an deeply honest but prevailing post on her final thoughts about the HLS and her stance on blogging. {See It Here}
I want {THIS}, and wash it down with a little of {THIS}, okay a lot of this.
Happy Birthday to one of my favorite (and longest) blog friends, Erica. (Who also happens to be a brand new mama)

For Your Entertainment:

Rocking out to this song right now- {OAR, Heaven}
Saw {THIS} the other day and was inspired.
If you want to check out my presentation slides (Budgeting for a Healthy Lifestyle) from the HLS, you can do so {HERE}. I had a few requests to post these but I kept forgetting. Sorry about the delay.

And finally, I've saved the very best for last.

Starbucks DOES have Pumpkin Spice back on the menu!!!!

Here is the deal: I heard a rumor that it was back but not being advertised for a few more weeks. You have to go and specifically request it and they are obligated to give it to you. I heard some people had trouble, but I tried it today and it worked. I was the very first order of the season at my S-Bux and the barista even told me on the box, it clearly states, "only give out if a customer requests."

Fall is officially here with the welcome of PSL's back at The Bux.

Other fun finds:

Found this at Target of all places. They also had a few other flavors but I've always been partial to their Poppy Seed.

On the back of the bottle, there is a recipe for Panera's Summer Fruit Salad. I decided to make my own.

Lettuce, Berries, Broccoli, Cabbage, Tofu, Sesame Almonds, Poppy Seed Dressing

I also killed a HUGE sushi craving today. During my outings, I needed to swing into Wegmans to grab something and the sushi case called my name.

Brown Rice Spicy Lump Crab Roll

I split this with Toly but it was just enough to curb my desire.

Lastly, the best thing I've made/ate all week:

Sweet Potato Black Bean Burgers

adapted from: Ashley's Sweet Tater Black Bean Burgers

15oz black beans, drained + rinsed
3c cubed sweet tater, cooked + skin on [~1.5lbs]
2/3c finely chopped onion [1/2 medium onion]
2 large garlic cloves, finely minced
1/2c cooked quinoa
6T rolled oats, partially ground
2T salted pumpkin seeds
1/2t salt
black pepper
1t cumin
1t oregano
1t chili powder
1/4t cayenne
1T olive oil

Preheat your oven to 375* once you finish cooking the quinoa + potato.
Mash half of the beans in a bowl until paste-like.
Add in the rest of the beans and give a very light stir/mash to combine.
In a large bowl, mash the sweet tater. Each cube should be mashed, but you don’t want it creamy.
Stir in the salt, pepper, oregano, chili powder, cayenne and olive oil, until combined.
Mix in the onion, garlic, black beans, quinoa, sunflower seeds, and ground oats, until just combined.
Taste, and adjust seasonings to your liking.
Form into balls, between your hands and flatten into 1/2”-3/4” thick patties. This should make 8 medium/large patties.
Place on a pan lined with parchment paper [or lightly greased pan] and bake on each side for 15min, flipping once, half-way through. (I threw mine on the grill for the last 5 min of cooking to get that authentic BBQ taste)

Burgers + Beer….just a good match.

Time for bed soon! These 7am Saturday RPM classes kind of kill my Friday nights but let's face it, not much has changed from before. I like to save the "partying" for Saturday. And by "partying" I mean staying up until 10pm and watching a movie. I know, I live on the edge.

Setting September Goals

2011-09-01T19:34:00.000-04:00

I woke up this morning feeling a little refreshed. Possibly it was because of the sense of a new month and new season.

As sad as I am to say goodbye to summer, I like the start of every new month, as I see it as a chance to give myself a new set of goals.

I know many of you do this too, which I think is just grand. Reevaluating yourself on a consistent basis is what overall wellness is all about. How is one ever supposed to improve, grow, or become stronger if they have nothing to reach for? You simply can't say you want to be better at something or change something without setting a specific aim.

I am a big fan of mini goals. I think too many people set themselves up for failure by setting their intentions too high. It's good to be ambitious but keep it realistic.

With that said, here are my own personal mini goals for the month:

1. Floss every day- This is something I've been trying to be more conscious about but I want to develop the daily habit.

2. Complete a taping of my RPM training- I need to have my finial taping in by November, but they suggest completing a few takes before I send in the final one. I still have a few areas of technique that I need to perfect first.

3. Drink more water- I usually drink plenty of water but I tend to slack when the weather isn't as warm. I hate being cold and cold water just makes me colder.

4. Clean/Organize my closet- I noticed the other day that I've held on to quite a few items of clothing that I have not worn or even looked at in years. I need to do a serious rundown of the closet and get rid of some unwanted things.

I may have a few more but they are kind of personal. It's good to keep some things to yourself just make sure you remind yourself of these goals too.

Breakfast

1/4 C Kashi Go Lean Crunch, Peach, Blackberries, Peach Chobani, Granola, Almond Butter

Local peaches are rocking my world right now!!

Lunch

I am going to cheat a bit because I never did post about quite an epic lunch I had the other day. Besides, today's lunch wasn't all that exciting so you're not missing much.

I had some meeting with a few of my favorite colleagues a few days ago which lead right into a wonderful lunch date.

Meet my handsome dates….

Bryce

Zach

Both of these guys are like brothers to me. I know I say this a lot but I'm very lucky to work with such great people.

We went to Devon, an upscale seafood restaurant, and enjoyed quite a feast.

After debating a thousands things on the menu, I finally went with one of their most popular lunch dishes.

Lobster Cobb Salad- No bacon, subbed goat cheese for the cheddar and with balsamic on the side

The lobster was bigger than my appetite. I didn't quite finish this beauty but I came close.

Dinner

I tend not to eat two big salads in one day because I wouldn't be the most pleasant person to be around after all off that hard raw digestion, but remember, yesterday's lunch and tonight's dinner were two separate things.

Salad with Zucchini, Avocado, Tomatoes, Broccoli, Veggie Burger, Honey Mustard/Balsamic Dressing (homemade)

What is one goal that you've set for yourself this month? - You know what mine are, now I want to hear about yours!

Not Enough Hours in my Day

2011-08-31T21:10:00.001-04:00

Is it really Wednesday already?

I never understood why people used to say the phrase, "I wish there were more hours in the day." When I was growing up, hearing these words would make me cringe. All I wanted to do was to make time speed up so that I could get out on my own, be an adult, and live my own life.

Well now, I'm grown up, being an adult, on my own and let me tell you…I would give anything to go back to those carefree adolescent years some days.

So trite, but true.

Breakfast

1/4 C KAshi Island Vanilla, 1/4 C TJ's Twigs, 1/4 C Kashi Honey Sunshine, Granola, Berries, Banana, Almond Milk, Almond Butter

As busy as I've been, I still made it a point to have a VERY important date with a VERY important man.

Ahhh, yes! My dad! It's been forever since he's been on here and that is because it's been forever since I've spent quality time with him.

Sad, I know. But today, we had a quick little catch up lunch and it was wonderful.

We met at Juice n' Java so I'm sure you can guess what my lunch was by now…

Lunch

Strawberry, Banana, Pineapple Smoothie

1/2 Veggie Wrap (no cheese)

I left the chips but devoured the rest.

After ~~chaos~~ work, I literally ran home to change and head to the gym to meet with my RPM mentor to do some practicing. I'm teaching the majority of the class on Saturday so I needed to get in a good practice before my debut.

When I got home, I was STARVING. It's funny because last week, I had such an off appetite and this week, I've been ravenous.

Dinner

Wednesday night BFD came to the rescue. It's quick and it's always so delicious.

Scrambled Egg, Dijon, Avocado, Tomato, Spinach, Zucchini

This corn was bought on total impulse today. A little farmers stand I passed was selling it with a big sign that said "The Best of the Season." You know my rule when it comes to someone taking triumph over a certain food…I have to try it.

And for good reason. They were not kidding, this was the best I've had all season.

But let me just go back to this sammie for a second.

Bliss.

I'm done for the night. I feel a little out of place this week but I promise to be back tomorrow with a more deliberate post.

If you could have more hours in a day, where would you add them? - I would definitely add in more time in my evenings. I feel like after dinner, I have nearly no time to relax. I try to get it all in before my bedtime but I never seem to ever have that feeling where I am doing absolutely nothing.

Night Off

2011-08-30T20:07:00.000-04:00

Hey guys!

I don't have a real post for you all tonight because I'm knee deep in blog work, work work, and other exciting things, but please take a moment to head over to Andrea's site and check out my guest post on how I found healing and strength in foods and my experience with accepting a diet that went against every thing I stood for in order to heal my body.

The Downside in Doing What You Love

2011-08-29T19:56:00.000-04:00

I realized something today.

I currently have 3 jobs!

I have my full time job which usually has me working 50+ hours a week. I have my blog, which takes up around 15+ hours a week. And I have my gym job where I teach about 2+ hours a week but spend another 3-5 hours practicing.

There are 168 hours in a week. I am working almost half of them.

Now please let me preface, I am in now way complaining. I absolutely love what I do and feel I have the best job in the world. I absolutely love blogging and can't imagine my life without it. And I absolutely love teaching and helping others reach levels of fitness they never dreamed they could. So definitely not complaining, more just taking note that although I'm 100% happy with my life and all that I do with it, I can see why I get overwhelmed so often.

Today, Beth posted about being an "all or nothing" person and I feel I fall into that category as well. When I go for something, I put my whole heart into it and if I don't feel like I am giving it everything, I start to stress, worry, and feel an overwhelming sense of guilt.

Breakfast

1/4 C Natures Path Flax Plus w/Strawberries, 1/4 C Natures Path Multigrain Flakes, Strawberries, Banana, Blueberries, Granola, Sunflower Butter

Lately, I haven't been feeling the guilt when it comes to my work, but I've been feeling it when it comes to the neglect it has caused me to show towards my family and friends.

I know they support me and I know they would never make me feel this way, but it's more of my own blame.

Lunch

Leftover salmon over greens with zucchini, red pepper, peach, almonds, goat cheese

Drizzled with Raspberry Balsamic

I feel I'm rather good at balancing my life, but sometimes the plates get too heavy on one side. Before I add on another plate to my "career" hand, I need to stop and think about what I would be giving up on the other.

I am pretty darn blessed and I don't take any of that for granted. At least I try not to. As much as I love what I do, I don't want that to be the only thing that defines who I am. I am also a daughter, a sister, a wife, an aunt, a friend…..these roles are just as important if not more.

Just wanted to get that off my chest.

Dinner

Smoky Refried Bean Soup

Adapted from Fat Free Vegan Kitchen

Ingredients

1 large onion, chopped
3 – 4 cloves garlic, minced
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
1 14-ounce can diced tomatoes (I used fire-roasted)
15 ounces fatfree refried beans
15 ounces black beans, cooked
1 cup frozen corn kernels (I used fresh)
1 teaspoon cumin
1 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/8 – 1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder (to taste)
1 teaspoon hot sauce (or to taste)
salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

Spray a large, non-stick pot with cooking spray, and sauté the onion until it begins to brown. Add the garlic and bell pepper and cook for one more minute. Add all the remaining ingredients and cook until the flavors blend, 20-30 minutes.
Serving suggestion: Garnish with fresh tomato, sour cream and avocado.

This is one of my favorite soup recipes. It reminds me of tacos in a bowl.

In other news:

I was just contacted by a reader who is a yoga certified teacher and currently organizing a wonderful retreat in Sri Lanka, India in December.

Alexia and her friend will be teaching Vinyasa Flow and some restorative classes, meditation and also have the opportunity to learn about Ayurveda, get massages and enjoy the freshly prepared Sri Lankan vegetarian cuisine.

She is looking to bring 2 people with her for a very low rate. The cost of this 8 day retreat is about $1,070 (US) but Alexia is going to bring 2 people for only $700. (includes accommodations, meals, pick up from airport, meditation and yoga, and a surprise excursion)

Ummmm, can you say AMAZING!!! That is what I said. If anyone is interested, please email me so that I can contact Alexia. You can find out more information here….http://namasteyogaretreats.weebly.com/

Namaste!

Have you ever felt like your job or social life was interfering with your family? How do you balance out your career with your personal life? I try to never assume that they are 100% okay with me ignoring them. My family is amazing and would never make me feel that way, but sometimes I take their silent support for granted.

Sweet Summer Endings

2011-08-28T19:51:00.000-04:00

A few notes from the weekend…..

Summer is winding down but the fruit is still going strong. For that reason, I will continue to consume mass amounts until further notice…

Some of my favorite fruit combinations-

Blackberry Banana

Tropical

Raspberry Nectarine

With the end of summer near, the need for as many summer cookouts as possible is a must.

Quinoa Tomato Cucumber Corn Salad with Feta

Veggie Sliders

And finally, crisp summer whites must be enjoyed while the air is still warm and the sun sets just into dinner time.

In my opinion, wine goes with just about every meal, but tonight, it really brought the flavors of this salmon to life.

Grilled Peach, Asparagus and Salmon Salad with Avocado, Cucumber, Almonds, and Honey Goat Cheese

Cheer to an amazing summer!

Napa Recap: The Final Day

2011-08-28T08:41:00.000-04:00

This is the final post recapping our Napa vacation, I promise.

Day 5: August, 17

With all of the excursions, sight seeing, and wine tasting we had been doing all week, we decided that our last day should be spent with one goal in mind…relaxation!

Most of the morning was enjoyed by the pool.

We actually got luck and had most of the pool to ourselves. I guess these resorts get busy on the weekends but seem to clear out significantly during the week.

Towards the afternoon, it was time to think about how we wanted to spend the rest of our day. After doing some contemplation, we finally decided to engage in one last taste of the valley with a few more wine tastings up north of Napa.

Before that, a quick stop for lunch….

Food is a very important factor before engaging in the sport of wine tasting…trust me.

Our frist stop was a well-known winery that attracts many tourists for their elaborate vineyards and elaborate tours.

Robert Mondavi Winery

They offered two different kinds of tours, one lasting 90 min and one lasting 30 min. We opted for the shorter one.

The tour was a walking tour that allowed us to taste and drink throughout.

We were led into the actual cellars where the wine is made and stored.

(The red stripe on the barrels indicates a red wine)

After Mondavi, we stopped at two more wineries but I don't seem to have any pictures.

St. Supery - known for their incredible Sauvignon Blanc
V. Sattui- one of a kind and not sold anywhere outside of Napa

Our final dinner in Napa was simply amazing. We chose a restaurant that had been on my list of recommendations and were 100% happy with the choice.

Brix

Brix is known for having contemporary French inspired California cuisine that sits directly in 16 acres of prime Napa Valley gardens and vineyards. The views were outstanding and dining on the patio was an incredible experience.

The problem with wine tasting all day is that by the time you eat dinner, you really can't drink another glass. I originally stuck with water, but then I remember that it was my last night in Napa and I needed to go out the right way.

The food was unbelievable!

I chose the Strip Bass which was lightly cooked in a simple olive oil and lemon seasoning along with fresh squash, zucchini and tomatoes. I swear it tasted just as they picked these vegetables right from the garden.

Toly went with the chicken.

Fulton valley chicken . heirloom tomato panzanella salad . tomato vinaigrette

We both enjoyed our meals so much.

Finally, no world class dining experience is complete without a sweet ending…

Our waiter raved about the apple tart that was served with a vanilla gelato and blackberry sorbet.

His raving worked. It was the perfect way to end the night and our entire trip.

And that concludes our 5 day dream vacation in the Napa Valley. Coming home was hard for several reasons, and after living and breathing the valley for a week, I had a strong urge to leave my job and make wine for a living. I can definitely see how this happens to people and why it's such a tempting offer.

Although living there might be more of a dream, at least I have a case of memories to drink that will bring me back with every sip.

Guest Post: A Local Day in South Central PA

2011-08-25T19:44:00.000-04:00

My dear friend Audi, who has just recently become introduced to the blogging world, is one of a kind. She's full of life, incredibly artistic, and fully passionate about the local food movement. When I asked her to write a guest post, I knew she wouldn't disappoint you all. Local readers, pay close attention to this one….there just might be some useful information for your local purchasing.
__________________________________________________________________________________

A local day in South Central PA.

Hi friends, my name is Audi and I am a friend/coworker of Lauren. I was stoked when she asked me to do a guest post but seeing as I have never blogged I hope I don’t bore you.

This opportunity couldn’t have come at a better time! My cousin (Tori) is in town from Indiana so I had a partner in crime for this adventure. Plus I didn’t have to feel like a loner taking pictures of my finds (some people don’t get it or maybe they are jealous of my camera - not sure which).

1st stop: Fitzgerald Pottery - Mark and Wynn Mai are 2 of the sweetest people I know and they welcomed us into their business with open arms. I went to school with their boys so it was great to catch up with them.

This is me - posing with their sign

Meet Tori - she was so intrigued by this place being a potter herself

How cute are these piggy banks with a cork nose!?

These are on my hit list with a bottle of wine from Napa (hint hint)!

My buys for today - a spoon rest & mug. I can’t wait to show off my new mug.

2nd stop: Oak Grove Farms - This local farm is one of my favorite places for so many reasons!

Look at all this goodness

Tomatoes galore!

Check out this green bean mountain - you know we got some of these!

So colorful and nutritious

Mmmm fresh fruit!

We scored so many goodies and couldn’t leave without walking through the wild flowers.

My favorite shot. I love chasing butterflies.

If you look really close there are 2 people out by the truck picking produce.

3rd stop: Rosemary House - I have never been to this place but I have heard my family buzz about it. They sell everything from tea & spices to soap & gnome statues.

We bought 3 different blends of loose tea and French Herb Biscuit Mix. Stoked to try these finds.

4th stop: Juice & Java I had to show her my favorite café! We eat got a bite to eat & coffee treat.

Yum!

Things I loved about today: spending some QT with my cousin, sharing my local hot spots, supporting small business owners and reaping the rewards of their hard work!

What did you LOVE about today?

Do you stay local and support your local artisans? If not, give it a try!

Lauren: Thank you for this opportunity. Next time you can be my partner in crime and we can visit some of Dillsburg’s finest places (The Blossom Shop, Dill’s Tavern, Maple Shade Barn and the farmers market).

California Dream: Napa Vacation Days 3 and 4

2011-08-24T20:23:00.000-04:00

In case you missed Part 1 of our Napa Valley Vacation….

Part 1

Continuing where I left off from our Napa dream vacation…..

Day 3: Monday, August 15

We knew when we planned this trip that we wanted to reserve a day to spend in San Francisco. That is one of the main reasons why we rented a car. Since San Francisco is about an hour south of Napa, we decided to make it a full day excursion.

First was breakfast. Before we hit the freeway, we grabbed something to eat at The Sunflower Cafe, which sat right in downtown Sonoma.

The Sunflower Cafe Espresso & Wine Bar

Our hotel kept recommending this spot to grab breakfast so we figured it had to be good.

I had a hard time choosing, but eventually stuck with what I knew best…oatmeal.

I was so impressed by the fresh local made Kefier on the menu and asked for this on the side.

We found a quaint little table outside and filled our bellies before the long day ahead.

Before San Francisco, we made a stop in Mill Valley for a glorious morning hike in Muir Woods National Monument.

Muir Woods is known for their breathtaking views and the massive redwoods.

We did the moderate Ocean View trail that lead us right up to the top of the mountain.

On the way down, I took the ideal opportunity for an impressive photo shoot.

Plank that!!

After a vigorous morning hike, it was time for lunch. We cleaned up and made our way into San Francisco.

Lunch was the first thing on my mind and luckily the first place I saw was exactly what I was hoping for…

Authentic San Francisco Clam Chowder in a Sourdough Bread Bowl.

I fully believe in taking advantage of each cities most well known fare when visiting and Boudin's sourdough is definitely one of them.

Toly apparently feels the same.

We spent the rest of the afternoon walking around Fisherman's Wharf and taking in the sites….

For you Kath!

Later in the day, we moved north to Sarasota.

Another gorgeous town.

With a full day of sightseeing behind us, it was nearing dinner but we were both pretty full from lunch and the many samplings we partook throughout the day.

We contemplated eating in the city, but figured it would be better if we waited a bit and made the drive back into Sonoma. That way we would be hungry and wouldn't have to drive back tired.

This ended up being a fantastic decision because we stumbled into an incredibly authentic and charming Italian Restaurant that was probably the closes to Italy I'll ever get.

Della Santina's

This restaurant was actually one of Rachel Ray's features and has won numerous awards.

I knew I was in the mood for fish and after the waiter convinced me that the salmon would be the best salmon of my life, I couldn't pass.

He was right, this was salmon perfection.

We wasted the night chatting for hours, sipping on cappuccino, and taking in each other's company.

But what would this authentically delicious Italian meal be without the icing on the cake….

Or Tiramisu for that matter.

Day 3….Success!

Day 4: Tuesday, August 16

Happy Anniversary to us!!!

Tuesday was our 3 year anniversary and clearly the best day of the trip.

When I did research on wine tours in Napa, I found a few that seemed a bit sketchy. I then remembered when Jenna posted about an unforgettable experience she had with Platypus Tours and decided to look into it.

The Platypus Wine Tour is known for creating a unique and exclusion tasting experience that goes to 4 different wineries. The bus picked us up at 10am, where we were greeted by a few other couples.

Our first stop…

Whetstone Wine Cellar

Whetstone was formed by a young winemaker and his wife. They nestled their tasting room in a small italian inspired villa that was remote yet unbelievably breathtaking.

Whetstone is most known for their one of a kind Viognier, originating from the Russian River Valley and this quickly became my new favorite wine.

By 11am, we set out for our next tasting….

William Hill Estate Winery

Another gorgeous estate that came equipped with a view.

We were served lunch at this point.

By this point, we were starting to feel good but still had 2 more tasting ahead of us.

Third stop….

Razi Winery

Probably the least favorite of the four, but still notable. After the tasting, things started to get silly.

The fourth and final stop on the tour…

Dominari

All I can say is, thank God we had a driver.

We had such a blast on the tour and were completely impressed by the service and the entire experience. Well worth the money!

I'm not sure how people do this for a living because after a full day of wine tasting, I ended up like this…

Apparently it's a sport and I need more practice than I thought.

I was so thankful we made 9pm dinner reservations although I probably could have slept right through the night.

Good thing I didn't though because I would have missed out on quite possibly the best dining experience of my life.

Bottega

I knew Chef Michael Chiarello's restaurant sat in Napa but I almost forgot until someone at our tastings told us that we had to go here for our anniversary dinner. It is one of the most well-known ristorantes in the valley and will leave you speechless.

True fact: I have always loved Michael Chiarello and used to watch his show almost every day. I didn't actually expect him to be at his restaurant but wouldn't you know, he was there, cooking my dinner!!!

I wanted to get a picture but I chickend out. Just take my word, I was star struck.

To begin this journey of food delicacy, Toly and I split a starter.

“Succotash” forno roasted summer squash & sweet corn, cherry tomato, ricotta & chili stuffed squash blossom, arugula leaves, corn pudding

And after much debate, I finally made my choice….

Mediterranean Seafood Brodetto mussels, Gulf prawns, clams and Monterey calamari, forno-confit tomato broth, olive oil crouton, paprika saffron rouille

The picture simply does not do this justice. Hands down one of the top 3 best meals of my life.

As stuffed as we were, dessert could not be passed….

I can't remember exactly what this was, but just think a crumbled lemon almond cookie with a carmel and sea salt gelato over a shot of espresso.

I died!

What a remarkable way to spend our anniversary and one that I will never forget. (Okay, so parts are fuzzy but that is why we have cameras. ;)

Day 4 and 5 will wrap us this series and will be coming shortly….

Shake, Rattle, Roll

2011-08-23T20:31:00.000-04:00

I know I posted yesterday about it being my first official day back from vacation, but today was my first official day back to work from a long but wonderful vacation.

<<< Insert sad face here >>>

Actually, it wasn't that bad. I thought I would feel more overwhelmed with a full inbox and a thousands tasks to get to, but surprisingly, I was more at ease just knowing my month of chaos was over and I could focus on the things ahead of me.

Breakfast this morning included a souvenir I found in San Francisco.

source

With all of the hype that revolves around Biscoff and its glorious spread, I knew this was making it back with me.

Breakfast

1/4 C Natures Path Flax Plus Strawberry, 1/4 C Natures Path Multigrain Flakes, Berries, Banana, Almond Butter, Biscoff

And my thoughts….good, but super sweet. A tiny bit is really all you need or else I think it would be a little too overpowering.

Lunch

All day yesterday, I had a major craving for eggs. I was thinking of having them for lunch, but then opted out last minute. Then, when Courtney posted her egg lunch, I was envious and craving them even more.

It had been far too long…

2 Egg Whites, Broccoli, Pepper, Tomato, topped with hot sauce

I made a quick frittata that took no more than 10 min, start to finish. I also had roasted brussels sprouts and some melon.

Dessert was my latest love….

I've been swooning over these for months. Apparently, they are not sold around here anywhere, so when they appeared in my HLS swag bag, I melted.

The rest of the afternoon was eventful. I'm sure most of you heard about the earthquake on the east coast. Well, here in PA, we definitely felt it. It was frightening but I'm sure even more alarming in VA and DC.

Even more eventful was RPM tonight. I went with the intention of just practicing because it had been a few weeks but the instructor asked me to ride on stage and teach 1/2 of the class.

Totally unprepared and a little sore from a 12 mile run, I managed to kill it.

I'm teaching again on Saturday and can't wait! Nothing is more thrilling than coaching a group of people to kick butt on a bike.

Dinner

I got home quite late from spin and thankfully asked Toly to start dinner.

Amy's Roasted Veggie No Cheese Pizza with added veggies, basil, and nutritional yeast

The leftover strawberry orzo pasta salad was a perfect accompaniment and required no prep at all.

I practically inhaled dinner.

If you notice a difference in my photos, you are not seeing things. Although I'm no photographer, I am using my dad's extremely nice DSLR Cannon Rebel T2i and I'm clearly obsessed. I'm kind of hoping he forgets he lent it to me. :)

Did you feel the earthquake today or have you ever felt an earthquake? That was the first time I had ever felt one and it was definitely quite scary. I can't imagine what its like to feel them all the time. We apparently have no idea here on the east coast.

Strawberry Basil Orzo Salad with Feta

2011-08-23T19:41:00.002-04:00

This summer, I seem to be enjoying more and more grain based salads. I've noticed that with my Chron's, eating the amount of raw vegetables that I used to was not working so well in the process of digesting. The solution, I discovered, was to pair the vegetables with a grain based carb and that seemed to aid in the break down of raw veggies.

So that is when my passion for coming up with grain based salads amounted. I've been playing around with ingredients such as quinoa, millet, and wheat berries, and my most recent addition…orzo.

Strawberry Basil Orzo Salad with Feta

1 C cooked Orzo Pasta
1/2 C sliced strawberries
1 cucumber, diced
1/4 C crumbled feta
2 T Almonds (I used sesame coated)
1/2 C fresh torn basil
2 T Lemon juice
1 T Olive Oil

Combine first five ingredients into a large bowl. Add the basil and lemon juice. Stream in olive oil and stir. Add salt and pepper to taste.

This salad serves as a perfect summer side dish. You could also add a bit of protein like I did last night and make an entire meal out of it.

Enjoy!

Winner of Joss & Main Shopping Spree

2011-08-23T12:48:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the delay….

The winner of the Joss and Main Shopping Spree is…..

Traci· 4 days ago

signed up! they have such cute stuff!

Congrats Traci! Please email me your contact info to claim your $75 store credit.

First Day Back

2011-08-22T19:58:00.000-04:00

Today was my first official day back to reality.

When I planned this week, I knew there was no way in hell I would be able to go back to work in a functioning manner so calling off was practically the best decision I have ever made.

I slept an entire nights rest, something that had not occurred in far too long.

When I did roll out of bed it was already 7:30am so breakfast was decided on before the workout.

Rudi's Organic WW English Muffin, Sunflower Nut Butter, Mashed Banana and an Orange

I have been obsessed with Sunflower Nut Butter for weeks now and it has quickly become my new nut butter of choice; however, my obsession became an infatuation when I discovered this….

Sunflower Nut Butter + Honey + Sea Salt = a fabulous take on Dulce De Leche.

It's mind blowing.

Shopping was a task today. We had zero food in the house so I knew I had to be strategic about it.

I received some questions on how much I spend on groceries for the week and although it varies, I try to never let it go above $150. I know that sounds like a lot, but lets break it down.

I planned out some meals for the week, browsed the circulars, cut coupons and set out. My damage wasn't as bad as I thought…$140 with $24 saved in coupons. We should be set for the entire week with all breakfasts, lunch, and dinners so that comes out to a little over $3 a meal per person. See, it's not bad when you break it down.

Lunch included a random craving, sweet potato. I can't remember the last time I had made myself a sweet potato and they looked so good as I passed them in the store.

I wasn't sure how I wanted to eat the potato until this came to me…..

Sweet Potato, Honey, Almond Butter, Granola

Guess breakfast really stuck with me today.

I also threw together a strawberry/peach smoothie and enjoyed it in my new lovely mug from my lovely friend, Janetha.

It made me miss her all over again! :)

After working on blog issues, checking emails, cleaning the house, and organizing my life again, I felt even more exhausted than before, but productively accomplished.

I wasn't sure how I would be able to cook again after a week of incredible eating in CA and Philly, but I didn't do too bad.

I grilled Cod that I had marinated in a strawberry balsamic sauce. I also created a strawberry, basil, feta, orzo salad along with grilled asparagus.

Not quite Napa quality, but it worked.

Work is waiting tomorrow. I feel like I am going to be chained to my desk all day tomorrow so I'm enjoyed these last few moments of peace.

Do you have any shopping tips to bring down the weekly bill? - I swear by coupons. One of my points I made in the presentation last weekend was that coupon cutting can work to your advantage. Most places will take them, even if you don't buy the allotted amount. Just find the nice looking cashier and be sure to be polite and ask how her/his day is going. Works every time! ;)

Napa Recap Take 1

2011-08-22T16:09:00.000-04:00

A few months ago, Toly and I started to think about planning our vacation. During this time, I remember it was cold, we were living with my parents, stressed about the house, and both unbelievably sick. The thought of a vacation was the only thing that got us through.

We started brainstorming ideas and while mindlessly roaming around resorts in California on the internet one day, I came across an incredible deal for a 5 night stay in Sonoma (Napa Valley).

It was too good to be true, and with a few clicks, we had booked ~~our~~ my dream vacation.

Fast forward to last week and after months of waiting patiently, the time finally arrived.

Day 1: August 13

The flight out was without flaw. We were both too excited to be getting away to let the 5 hour plane ride bother us.

We landed in San Francisco, picked up our rental car, and hit the road north to Napa.

The resort we stayed at was gorgeous! It was a branch of Marriott and was located just less than a mile from downtown Sonoma.

As soon as we checked in, they told us we had been upgraded to one of their cottage suites. Score!

After we checked in and threw our stuff in our room, we both set out to grab dinner. It had been hours since we ate and with a granola bar inspired lunch, real food was more than needed.

We drove downtown and practically walked into the first restaurant we saw.

The Red Grape

This charming little pizza shop sat on the corner and revealed fresh scents of dough and wine from the outside.

I ordered the special pizza: Fig, Goat Cheese and Arugula.

Toly was more than happy to be eating.

After dinner, we walked down the street and grabbed fro-yo.

We don't have self-serve fro-yo in PA so this concept was entirely new to Toly.

Needless to say, he was a fan.

We ended our first night with a glass of wine in the cabana by the pool. A perfect ending to a long day.

The next morning, we awoke (early thanks to the time difference) and decided to make our way to breakfast at the hotel restaurant.

Day 2: August 14

As soon as we sat down, the waitress arrived with free samples.

I had the homemade granola with berries and soy milk.

Delightful.

Toly went with the french toast and let me steal a bite. Quite delicious!

After breakfast, we decided to lay low all morning and play by the pool.

The morning was nice and relaxed and lead us right into a late day wine tasting adventure.

Our first stop was Gloria Ferrer. This one came highly recommended from our hotel. It's known for it's sparkling wine and incredible views of the valley.

Next stop, Jacuzzi.

I was first drawn by the olive oil tasting.

But in the end, the chocolate port shots was what won me over with this one.

Final stop for the day, Cline Cellars.

We ended up purchasing from each of these. All of the wine out here was significantly better than any wine I've ever had.

Feeling a little tipsy at this point, we were ready for dinner.

I had read reviews for The Girl and the Fig and had this top of my list for places to try.

The Girl and the Fig

We started with a watermelon tomato salad to share and licked the plate. The tomato was incredibly fresh and paired with the sweet watermelon, I couldn't have been more pleased.

For my entree, I choose the polenta with summer vegetable and a carrot puree.

Toly went with the sirloin burger.

Loved every single bite. The Girl and the Fig was a pure delight. The ambience, the food and the service were all top notch.

After dinner, we headed into Napa and walked around town for a few hours.

That was only two days and it feels like so much. I have so many more wonderful things to share about this trip so stay tuned….

My (Brief) Reflection: HLS 2011

2011-08-21T17:01:00.002-04:00

I can't really express how overwhelmed I am right now. In a good way of course. The Healthy Living Summit 2011 was an incredible experience and I felt honored to not only be a part of it, but connect and meet some of the most amazing women.

I am sure many of you are inundated with post after post about the conference, so I'm simply going to share a few thoughts, more for the purpose of preserving my memory.

It started on Friday when a large group of us all started off the weekend by meeting for lunch.

A kick-off cocktail party Friday night was an excellent way to meet and greet with some familiar and new faces.

MaryAnne, Karen (my traveling buddy) and Me

Me and Allie

(Allie and I have been virtual friends for a very long time and felt united when we finally meet in real life)

Anne, Me, and Megan

(Both ladies I've had the pleasure of hanging out with in the past and loved seeing them again)

Me and Monica

(I adore this girl for her heart and her humor)

Me and Clare

(Instant BFF's. I feel like this girl could be my sister)

Saturday morning, the bulk of the summit took place and conveniently, I was up first with my session on Budgeting For a Healthy Lifestyle.

The presentation went very well. Aside from a few tech mishaps, the turn out, the interaction and the feedback were all so positive. I was a little nervous that the audience wouldn't be as interested in the topic of budgeting at a healthy living conference, but I was truly blown away by the amount of people who said they were so excited to hear this. Afterwards, I had many people ask if I would share more information so I've been thinking of doing some more caveats on the blog about managing finances. Apparently, it is much more popular than I imagined.

The food was wonderful as expected and I finally had the opportunity to dive into some Great Harvest bread.

I met so many new friends and even a few new local bloggers.

Me and CJ

My roommates were all fabulous!!

Janetha, Emily, Callie and Me

Again, I could go on forever about every heart felt moment I experienced this past weekend, but I won't. I'll just say that being in Philly for the HLS not only gave me understanding and appreciation for blogging, but it provided a truly groundbreaking realization that this aspect of my life is something I am honored and blessed to be a part of.

I have been so far removed from the virtual world for a week. I have so much to share from our trip, some more fun posts, giveaway announcement and more. This will be an exciting week on SWYNTS!!

Middle of The Craze {WINNERS}

2011-08-19T10:25:00.000-04:00

Hey guys!

Quick pit stop before I'm out for round two of this crazy vacation. We had some major traveling mishaps yesterday and I almost didn't even make it home in time but miraculously, I managed to get home last night around 2am. I was up this morning, re-packed, and now I'm on my way out the door to Philadelphia for the Healthy Living Summit!!!!

I'll be back to update and recap on the entire week but for now, here are the winners of the NuNaturals Giveaway.

kbwood62p· 3 days ago

I would def use it in my oatmeal!!! :)

Ambi· 3 days ago

I would use nunaturals to not only improve my overall health and well-being but also my families' health. It would be great to try in my coffee and baking recipes as well! I would love to have the opportunity to try it as they don't sell it near me!

Andrea· 2 days ago

I would use NuNaturals in my coffee and oatbran!

Jillian· 1 day ago

I'll admit, I am a Sweet 'N Low addict - I will *only* use the "Pink Stuff" in my coffee, iced tea, or any other unsweetened food/drink that I sweeten myself. I would LOVE the opportunity to discover a new alternative to Sweet 'N Low that tastes just as good and is much better for my body. I know the artificial stuff isn't good for me, but I was raised on the "Pink Stuff" and have been looking for a substitute since I started my journey to health and wellness last fall!

Thanks for the opportunity!!

Congrats ladies!! Please email me your email addresses asap and NuNaturals will get your prize out right away.

Remember, for those who didn't win but still want the chance to try NuNaturals, you can try a sample for FREE by sending a self addressed, stamped envelope to…
NuNaturals, INC
2220 West 2nd Ave. # 1
Eugene, OR 97402

Be back soon!!

Shopping Spree Giveaway

2011-08-18T12:00:00.000-04:00

I like to think I have good taste when it comes to decorating; however, if I had to be honest, most of my inspiration comes from things I see right in the store or online.

I don't really have the ability to think of an idea in my head and picture how it would look in the actual setting. Thank goodness there are wonderful companies out there who not only offer high quality designer home good items but offer them at incredible prices.

Joss & Main stands as the 3rd largest online retailer of home goods in the U.S. They provide exclusive, members-only events that feature a broad array of premium brands and categories for the home offered at discounts of 25 to 70 percent off retail. New sales launch daily, but last for only 72 hours. Past Joss & Main events have featured Tone Fitness, Le Creuset, Cuisinart, All Clad, Natural Fitness, Crescent Moon Yoga Gear, Kitchen Aid, The Tea Spot, and Fagor among others.

1. large pie dish in lemon / 2. prague 3. origo orange storage bowl / 4. storage bench in gerber surf / 5. rectangular dish in cherry / 6. seaside 13″ charger / 7. zen wall cock with pendulum / 8. daisy vases – set of 3 / 9. 2 pairs of chopsticks with rests

(Image credit, The Healthy Everythingtarian)

Now here comes the good part….

One lucky Say What You Need to Say reader will have the chance to win a $75 shopping spree on the Joss & Main site.

All you need to do is….

1. ) Visit the Joss & Main website and sign up for the member only access to view the daily deals. It's completely free and only takes a few seconds.

2. ) Leave me a comment on this post letting me know you did.

The word Joss actually means good luck! How fitting. :)

I'll choose a winner Monday, August 22nd.

Featured Blogger: Amanda

2011-08-17T12:00:00.000-04:00

While I am wasting the days away in wine country, I asked some of my wonderful readers to take over some of the posting for me.

Amanda from, Let Me Be Whats Underneath, is a very inspiring young woman who has some profound things to share. She writes on her experience and voices her opinions on health and happiness and everything in between.

Thanks Amanda for sharing some of your passion with us all!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi everyone! :)

My name is Amanda and I blog over at http://letmebewhatsunderneath.wordpress.com. My blog is about a little bit of everything, including- dealing with everyday stressors, finding happiness and maintaining a positive attitude, running, friendships and relationships, work, and more. I am somewhat new to the blogging community and feel absolutely thrilled to be doing a guest post for Lauren. I love reading her blog-- her healthy lifestyle and positive attitude truly inspires me!

****************************************************************************************

Today, I'd like to talk about a topic which I consider to be a huge part of healthy living-- self-confidence. Up until recently, I have been reluctant to talk about my struggle with self-confidence, but I'd like to share my story with all of you.

Growing up, throughout middle school and high school, I really struggled with my self-esteem and feeling confident in myself and my abilities. I felt awkward...and uncoordinated....and nerdy.....and unpopular. I was involved in almost every community service club/activity you could think of and ranked 4th in my class, but couldn't recognize my strengths. I couldn't see all of the positives. I couldn't feel proud of myself.

As a teenager, I constantly questioned myself.

Am I pretty enough?

Am I smart enough?

Am I good enough?

This mindset lasted through middle school, high school, and even throughout part of college. I was successful in college, though-- I went to a small liberal arts college, and I excelled in academics and elsewhere in campus activities. Bit by bit, I soon started to recognize my sucesses. I began to proactively recognize my negative thoughts and work to counteract them.

Instead of always saying to myself: "I could've done better" or "I should've worked harder," I've learned to cut myself some breaks from time to time. I've learned to say to myself: "That was good enough" and "I'm proud of myself and my successes." I've learned to realize that there are mistakes and blunders, but there really are no failures. I've started to realize that I can learn from my mistakes without feeling bad about myself. Counteracting my negative self-talk has really made all the difference for me.

Despite my progress, though, this doesn't mean that I don't still have days or moments that I struggle with self-confidence. Sometimes, I blame myself for things over which I have no control over at work. Other times, I become disappointed that I am not in a long-term relationship and wonder what I'm doing wrong. The difference between who I am and who I used to be, however, is that I am now able to have these thoughts and get past them. I do not focus and perseverate on these negative thoughts. I work myself through them- I look at the positive side of things, I exercise, I talk to a positive friend, I write (or blog) about my feelings.

I have come to realize that I shouldn't rely on anyone for my self-confidence but me.

Kodak Keepsake Photo Book

2011-08-16T19:43:00.003-04:00

Being a part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program has its perks.

I love being able to take part in the latest and greatest new products that companies roll out and although it's usually food, there are times when a unique promotion comes along.

Kodak teamed up with Foodbuzz to offer a free medium sized photo book.

I had an immediate need for this too. I've been meaning to put together our house build in an album so when the thought of having someone else do it for free and more creatively than I would have ever been able to, I didn't miss the chance.

The process couldn't have been easier. You simply upload your photos and place them in a layout that you design. Kodak does all of the work for you, you just tell them how you want it done.

Overall, I was very pleased with the end result. It's so nice to have our house pictures in an actual album that we can easily share with our friends and family.

Kodak is also providing a great deal for you all! You can receive 40% off any Medium Hardcover or Large Photobook at this link only: www.kodakgallery.com/creativity Offer valid until 8/31/11.

Thank you Kodak and Foozbuzz for offering a great way to preserve our memories.

PS- Don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY for NuNatural Products.

NuNaturals Sweet GIVEAWAY

2011-08-15T12:00:00.000-04:00

A few years ago, I vowed to nix artificial sweeteners from my diet. Fake sugars, as I like to call them, just never sat well with me. I couldn't digest them and they often made me quite ill.

I know there are a quite a few health concerns with using sugar substitutes, and even though I'm pretty sure they blame anything on cancer these days, I wasn't always concerned with the side effects until I started to notice a significant difference when I didn't use them.

I won't lie. I still liked the fact of using a zero calorie sugar substitute to replace sugar. To me, sugar just seemed like empty calories and I had a hard time using the "real" thing.

About the time when I cut out splenda, I was introduced to an alternative by my manager of a coffee shop where I worked at the time. Stevia he called it. We offered this to add to some of our drinks and I became interested in learning just what it was all about.

Stevia is a genus of about 240 species of herbs and shrubs in the sunflower family (Asteraceae), native to subtropical and tropical regions from western North America to South America. The species Stevia rebaudiana, commonly known as sweetleaf, sweet leaf, sugarleaf, or simply stevia, is widely grown for its sweet leaves. As a sweetener and sugar substitute, stevia's taste has a slower onset and longer duration than that of sugar, although some of its extracts may have a bitter or licorice-like aftertaste at high concentrations.

Thank you Wikipedia!

NuNaturals is a fantastic company that makes a multitude of stevia based products. I've purchased their products before, but they recently asked if they could send me some of their latest….

I was excited to see some new products in this mix.

And some old favorites.

Sweet X, Xylitol Crystals is a naturally-occurring 5-carbon polyol sweetener found in many fruits and vegetables. Xylitol is even produced by the human body during normal metabolism of glucose. Xylitol is the sweetest of all the polyols.

(From Website)

Quick Dissolve Tabs contain our NuStevia White Stevia Extract and fiber. These marvelous tabs are a pre-measured serving. The tabs are very easy to break into halves or even fourths so that you can use as much as you want or as little as you want. NuStevia Quick Dissolve Tablets contains absolutely no calories or carbohydrates.

(From website)

I am a big fan of NuNatural products and now you can see why too.

The fantastic people from NuNatural have graciously offered to give 4 of you the chance to try some of their products.

What you'll receive:

One box of our NuStevia Packets, 50 ct. Box, AND one bottle of our NuNaturals Vanilla Stevia Liquid, 2 oz. bottle. (this stuff is like crack!)

To enter: Simply leave a comment as to one way you would use NuNaturals if you won.

I will pick the winners on Thursday, August 18th.

Wait, there's more!!

You ALL can try a sample of NuNaturals for FREE! Simply send a self addressed, stamped envelope to the address below and NuNaturals will send you a sample of their stevia to try. (US only)

NuNaturals, INC
2220 West 2nd Ave. # 1
Eugene, OR 97402

So you really can not loose here.

Good luck!

Vacation Starts Now

2011-08-12T20:00:00.000-04:00

I did it!

I got through the past few weeks of ~~hell~~ craziness and made it out alive.

Tomorrow, we leave for Napa and I can't tell you how thrilled I am at this point. I plan on spending the entire week eating amazing food, relaxing, seeing the most beautiful sights, and of course, drinking glorious wine at all hours of the day. Bliss.

Breakfast

1/4 C Natures Path Flax Plus Multigrain Flakes, 1/4 C Kashi Island Vanilla, 1/4 C Kashi Honey Sunshine, Granola, Banana, Blackberries, Almond Butter

I had one more day of work to push through and thankfully, I managed to survive. The day before vacation is always the hardest. You feel overwhelmed to get it all done but have little motivation to actually do it.

Lunch

Thankfully, I had a nice lunch opportunity to look forward to that averted some of the workday. A few of my co-workers decided to take our intern out for her last day.

(Lauren is our intern in the middle)

We went to Brewhouse which is a great little restaurant/bar that happens to have a gorgeous deck and great food.

I ordered the Tuscan Tuna Wrap

Pan Seared Tuna with capers, parsley, olives, tomatoes, arugula, cucumber with a lemon herb vinaigrette

I was practically skipping out of work today and came home to start packing. Surprisingly, it didn't take me nearly as long as I imagined to pack but I still have that feeling I'm forgetting something. Never fails.

Dinner

We managed to kill most of the produce tonight with dinner. The best way to clean out your veggie drawer is to make a huge jass salad so that is exactly what I did.

Salad for Toly...

Grilled Chicken, Romaine, Tomato, Cucumber, Feta, Grilled Corn

Salad for me…..

Romaine, Tomatoes, Sun dried Tomatoes, Feta, Grilled Eggplant and Zucchini, hummus, balsamic

We also starte pre-gaming…..

Do you know what happens when you open an expensive bottle of wine the day before you leave for vacation…..

You drink it all! :)

Toly and I killed the bottle and now we are feeling fully prepared to enter wine country.

I have some very exciting posts lined up for when we are away. I'll try to check in from time to time but I'm not sure on the internet situation in our hotel. This week is all about relaxing, unwinding, and spending time with my number one squeeze. We'll be celebrating our 3rd anniversary next week and this trip is all about each other. We both agree that lately, we've been so busy and going in opposite directions that we both need this time together more than anything so we fully plan on doing just that.

Have a great weekend and week and I'll catch up with you guys later!

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry!!!

The Summer Wind Down

2011-08-11T19:24:00.000-04:00

I was walking through the store the other day and noticed something on the end display aisle…

Candy Corn.

Seriously? When did fall happen? Now with football starting, the back to school craze underway, and clothing stores starting to display their autumn collections, it's finally starting to hit me.

Summer is fading away…..{Insert deep sigh here}

I know one thing is for sure. I'll be holding on to this summer produce as long as I possibly can.

Breakfast

Raspberry Chobani, Peach, Raspberries, Granola, Raspberry Vegan Bran Muffin Crumbles, Almond Butter, Chia

Today the air felt cooler. Not that it was cold, just a sense of crispness that we usually don't get due to Pennsylvania's awful humidity.

I spent the entire afternoon running around in my car, thus lunch was portable.

Lunch

Strawberry, Banana, Pineapple Smoothie with Protein

There is just something about the smoothies at Juice n' Java. I like making my own but their's are always 10x better. I'm not sure why I can't achieve this at home because I use to make them all the time when I worked here in high school.

A little while later, I ate my favorite Larabar.

And washed it down with this DELICIOUS beverage.

Have you ever had Starbucks Passion Tea? Well this tastes exactly like it and is significantly cheaper. This bottle was on sale for a dollar but I'm pretty sure they usually run less than $2.

In my attempts to still eat down the fridge, I managed to work with what I had…

Dinner

Spinach, Strawberry, Avocado, Sesame Cashews, Cucumber, Balsamic

Egg, Avocado, Cream Cheese and Jam on Blueberry Breakfast Thin

I was thrilled to come home to this little jem on my doorstep…

I know, I'm behind because I'm sure most of you already have Mama Pea's work of art but better late than never. :)

Are you looking forward to saying goodbye to summer? - Me, absolutely NOT!!! I love summer so much that I wouldn't hate having a summer year round. I need to move to south.