Friday Faves

Hello hello and happy Friday!

As any mom of a teenager will tell you, the best time to learn what’s really going on in their lives is in the car. It’s one reason I’m always willing to be the after-school driver to get boba tea or shuttle to and fro from mall excursions or basketball practices. But most of those times are spent with Ali Smudge and her pals, so when I get some one on one in the car with my girl, that’s when we really get to visit, especially when I banish the use of her phone.

I’ve become more and more aware of how much time we all spend on our phones. One study, commissioned by Nokia, found that, as of 2013, we were checking our phones on average 150 times a day. But we touch our phones about 2,617 times.

WHOA. That was way back in 2013. Imagine how it’s gone up since then.continue to the recipe… about Friday Faves

Hi there friends, and happy Friday!

Since I’ve moved my home office into a new room of the house, I’m finding myself working more consistently (the laundry can wait!) and being more productive with my head down and fewer distractions. Kudos for that! And while I enjoy the silence of a quiet house where the only sounds are the hum of the furnace and the click clack of my puppers paws on the upstairs floor, I’m also listening to more music as I work at my desk.

At first I was skeptical of the hype, but the more I listen to this album, the more I totally get lost in it. I can’t stop listening because it’s so easy to listen to. It’s her lilting voice but also the lyrics that drift into my consciousness without drilling them into my brain.

“Even if you got somebody on your mind, It’s alright to be alone sometimes, sometimes.”

That line begs the question I think of a lot: Why is it that so many of us can’t be alone?continue to the recipe… about Friday Faves

Hello! (Bonjour!) and happy Friday! (joyeux Vendredi!)

I’m writing from gay Paris where we are spending the week for my daughter’s spring break. Months ago I found cheap air fare thanks to this site I follow, so I jumped at the opportunity and my man and my baby jumped for joy too.

It’s the first time we’ve been to Paris and we have quickly become just as enamored of this city as everyone else who has ever visited. It truly is a special place and has captured our hearts.

Do you want to see a wrap-up of our visit so you know where to get these pancakes and more? If so, leave a comment below and let me know.

We have a lot more sight seeing and baguette eating to fit in so I’m going to go straight to this week’s list of faves. If you want to follow along on our adventure, follow me on Instagram and check out my InstaStories for daily updates.

Let’s dig into this week’s Friday Faves.continue to the recipe… about Friday Faves

Hello and happy luck o’ the Irish Friday!

Somewhere under that pile of veggies and pickling spices is a rump of corned beef waiting to be slow cooked with cabbage. Since we’ll be on a plane this St. Patrick’s Day (bonjour Paris!) I HAD to make my corned beef and cabbage before we left. Per usual, it was all a ruse for leftovers for my favorite rueben sandwiches. So. Dang. Good.

I updated my corned beef and cabbage recipe post this year to include instructions for both the crock pot and the Instant Pot, plus a link to a free download of my 10 Commandments of Slow Cooking. Sharing all the secrets and all the goodness all year long.

If you’re in need of a reminder, Sunday is St. Paddy’s day so don’t forget the green. And if you need some luck of the Irish recipe ideas, check out this post here.continue to the recipe… about Friday Faves

Hello March, and Happy Friday!

Today is the first day of March and all I can say is did February even happen? Sure it was a short month but whew, it flew by. The potted flowers sitting at the entrance to the grocery store have replaced the snow shovels and sleds.

I have to admit, I’m not all that sad about winter lessening it’s chilly grip. Spring skiing in the morning with golf in the afternoon? That’s what’s on my agenda this month.

Every change of season has me wanting to refresh and renew. It’s like I’m in a constant vortex.

continue to the recipe… about Friday Faves

Hello my friendlies, and Happy Friday!

And it’s a really good Friday indeed. Because I’m back! Not that I went anywhere, except somewhere in my head that I couldn’t quite pinpoint. But since the beginning of this grand new year, I’ve had a mild case of the blahs. I just haven’t felt quite right, in the groove, or on point. It may be the weather, cabin fever, or maybe just the monotony of mid-life. But I just haven’t felt in my jive.

I highly doubt I’m the only one to feel this way. And I’m extremely lucky to say this emotional slump doesn’t come round very often, hit very hard, or stick around too long.

But I think I’m over the hump. Just like the little engine that could, I’m trying to be patient with myself, and those around me, and work on what I can to improve my mood. And I’m feeling like I’m back into my chugging groove.

To get out of the slump, I’m making sure I’m doing a few small things for me instead of just for others, to make me feel whole, focused, and happy.continue to the recipe… about Friday Faves

Hello hello and Happy first Friday of February!

Re-entry into real life has not been easy. For 10 days my husband and I were beyond fortunate to spend some much needed one on one time thanks to Viking Cruises. We languished, explored, ate ourselves silly, and met some wonderful people while ocean sailing through the Caribbean and West Indies.

Our trip ended on Monday when we tried to fly home from Puerto Rico, but the airline had a hiccup due to a fight on board our inbound plane that had to be turned around and sent back to Orlando, causing us to miss our connection, so our one travel day turned into two.

No big deal, until…continue to the recipe… about Friday Faves

Hello, and happy Friday!

It’s been a great week. A really great week. And I don’t know how to tell you how wonderful it’s been because I know so many of you are in the cold and snow while I’m soaking up the sun in the sand. And to those of you who’ve been affected by the government shutdown, I’m rooting for you!

This week we’ve been on a Viking Cruise through the Caribbean and it has been such a good break for me. As a solopreneur, this blogging thing is a hard job to leave at the office, because the job is always with me, and always at my fingertips. There’s always something I feel I should be doing, even when the day is done.

But I must admit, I’m surprised at how easily I’ve been able to disconnect from work. I’ll be going home on Monday and when I do, I’ll be refreshed and ready to dig back into work.continue to the recipe… about Friday Faves

Hello hello and what a happy Friday it is!

We’re here. We’re alive. We have money for food on the table and an internet to scan for the links we love. There’s so much big, heart wrenching stuff going on out there that focusing on the little things that matter are a real source of joy.

We’re nearly two weeks into the new year and I’m still committed to my NY resolve and eating more plants (this avo toast has been breakfast every.single.day), getting more sleep, and keeping my inner and outer critic in check.

Life is a work in progress. Last week I talked about how I’ve always believed I was a good multi-tasker until I was called out as simply being a procrastinator.

Well, yesterday I read this article that is 100% how I feel 99% of the time. Decision fatigue, where “people’s brains get worn out by the necessity of being decisive and exercising restraint, usually at work.”

Is decision fatigue a real thing? I 100% think so, because I live it, and too often I feel just like Gloria who is quoted about completing personal chores, “Instead of doing it, I’m thinking about all the times I should have been. So I end up kind of catatonic over not doing stuff instead of doing that stuff.” Hand to heart, that’s me.

It’s another supporting reason why I chose my word of 2019: DO IT. 

continue to the recipe… about Friday Faves

Hello there 2019, and Happy Friday!

The Christmas tree is still up, with half of the lights burned out. Frigging tree. I didn’t get any of my over-the-vacation-clean-the-clutter projects completed. Too much crap not enough time. And I’ve yet to figure out what my word is. You know, my word of 2019. The word I set to define and guide the next 12 months ahead.

I’ve set an intention word for the the past 5 years and they’ve been:

• Focus
• Enough
• Present
• Thoughtful
• Nourish

Have I delivered on all of them? I tried. I put my best effort out there. They definitely gave me a mantra to work toward. Isn’t that really what it’s about in the end?

This year my intention word(s) is: continue to the recipe… about Friday Faves

Hello hello and a Ho to the Ho Ho Ho!

I’m feeling all nostalgic. Yesterday I updated and re-shared my mom’s famous fudge recipe, I found this pic on my phone from when Smudge and I baked my childhood Christmas sugar cookies before she grew into a too-busy-to-bake-with-her-mom teen, and today we are only four days away from that jolly old elf making his way to slay on his sleigh … and whaddya know? It’s another week of Friday Faves!

The more things change, the more I crave the familiar.

It’s so weird. These Friday Faves posts make me realize just how quickly time flies. Each week I sit at my computer to compile my list of weekly favorites and every time it feels like just a day ago I was doing the same exact thing, but it’s actually been a full week.

It’s one reason this weekly post—more than any of the recipes or round-ups—drives me to be more accountable with my time so I can be more adventuresome too. It’s why I try hard to be more efficient at work so I can get out and do the things I really love, read up and research random stuff I find interesting, and to really enjoy life, and actually create the moments to have something to share here :)

Life goes by even when you aren’t noticing. And nobody wants to look back on their memories and see themselves sitting at their computer all day.

Plus, it keeps me connected with you!

Last week I received an email that totally made my day, and it read:continue to the recipe… about Friday Faves

Ho Ho and Hello! And happy Friday Faves!

This post is brought to you by Pamela’s Products

Holiday entertaining is in full swing and this weekend our dance card is FULL. Between games for Ali Smudge’s high school basketball tournament we’re fitting in dinner at a friends house tonight and hosting friend’s for dinner tomorrow night, and then trying to fit in quick family Soup Sunday to finish out the weekend. ‘Tis the season to pack in the social obligations!

Entertaining can give me a case of the dreads if I let it. Only because I tend to overdo and make it harder on myself than it should be. Friday night will be easy since I’ll just be providing a bottle of wine and a simple hostess gift (this is always a fave).

On Saturday I’m thinking we will do either my favorite holiday lasagna (love that it can be made ahead) or a big seafood shebang with our easy king crab legs, the BEST steamed clams, plus oysters on the half shell and steamed shrimp. The only downside to this one is it requires some last-minute throwing together when I might rather be relaxing with my guests by the fire than stuck in the kitchen.

Either menu I choose, I’m making it easy on myself in the final act of dinner and picking up store-bought cookies to serve with lattes and whiskey drinks for dessert.

Smart eh? That’s my pro tip for you today.

One of my friends is gluten-free so I’m making sure she doesn’t feel left out and creating a gluten-free cookie platter for everyone to enjoy featuring Pamela’s limited edition Buttery Sugar Cookies and Pepperminty Chocolate Cookies.continue to the recipe… about Friday Faves

Hello and Happy Black Friday!

If you’re reading this now, you’ve survived all the turkey, all the stuffing, and the endless family discussion debating all the reasons why millennials are a complete and utter disgrace to the world (it’s an entertaining read.)

I hosted again this year and I have to say, I’m pretty proud of myself. Not because the turkey was juicy on the inside and crisped skin on the outside (because it was), or because the three pies I baked were utterly scrumptious (because they were.) No. lI’m most proud of myself because my stress level stayed at an even 5 out of 10 with just a peak of 7 when we were about to eat and I realized I forgot to put the stuffing in the oven. Other than that, for once I was just about in even keeled, and it made for a much happier holiday I was very thankful for.

I’m so thankful you’re here! Because your eyeballs could be so many other places. Apparently the internet hasn’t yet exploded thanks to the droves of Black Friday shoppers, so welcome to another Friday Faves.

But then, Cyber Monday is still ahead for the internet-pocolypse to go BOOM.

On that note, my 2019 Nourished Planner is Black Friday-ing too, with the only discounts you’ll see this year.continue to the recipe… about Friday Faves

Hello, hello, and Happy Friday!

Why is it that the only years I get a flu shot are the ones I get sick within the next two weeks of getting the shot??

Last year I didn’t get a flu shot, and I didn’t get sick. The year before that, I got a flu shot and I got sick.

This year, got the flu shot last week, and I yesterday I woke up with a sore throat, coughs, aches and pains and tired and grouchy. GRRR. What’s a self-care enthusiast to do?

That’s why I’ve been triple dosing on this immune booster, and why I ordered another batch of this homeopathic remedy we preached about back in my health food magazine designing days. And yes mom, I’m washing my hands.

But instead of boring you with my cold and flu symptoms, I’m gonna get right to the Friday Faves point, and then snuggle up in my bed and hit the hay to dream of reaching for last Friday’s burger lunch at SLC’s Lucky 13 instead of reaching for another tissue to blow my snotty nose.

So let’s do this, and start clicking away.

continue to the recipe… about Friday Faves

Hello, hello, and happy Friday.

The candles have barely gone out from the innards of the old jack o’lantern, and already Christmas bells are ringing. I was shopping for recipe ingredients at Smith’s yesterday and the holiday reset was in full force. Christmas trees with lights. Paper whites and amaryllis. Wrapping paper and bows. Transformers, Barbies, and board games galore.

The holidays are here folks. Embrace it.

This weekend also heralds the unofficial start of winter: Don’t forget to set your clocks back from Daylight Savings Time. With a flick of the clock’s switch (or more likely automatic reset), we have a legit excuse to light the fire, cozy up to a good book, and hunker down with some comfort food. BTW, did you see my list of 30 recipes to make in November?continue to the recipe… about Friday Faves

Hello, hello, and hip hop Happy Friday!

Why I referred to hip hop I have no idea, but just like Brittney Spears, there I go again.

Today I’m feeling all the tenseness that comes with anticipation of travel, to-do lists, and keeping everything afloat begin to release from that nagging crag between my shoulder blades. Long-time projects are coming to fruition, work travel is nearly over for the rest of the year, and good news has been traveling fast.

I know it isn’t November yet, but I feel I should be acknowledging my gratitude to life no matter what time of year it is.

That’s why this week I am thankful for:continue to the recipe… about Friday Faves

Hey, hey, hey! Happy Friday!

The sights of fall are settling in. The drizzling rain has kept the sun from shining all week, the farmers markets are winding down, we had our first mountain snowfall, the back-biting of the mid-term elections is in full-swing, and I seriously need to get busy prepping my garden for next year because a freeze is in the forecast.

Ah fall, I love ya.

And just like clockwork, as the leaves begin to turn the baking bug bites me in a big way. I am totally craving comfort food, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, getting into the kitchen, and never wanting to leave.

As part my work of creating habits that stick, I’m making it a point to cook just for fun, not just for the blog. I love cooking, but when your passion is your work, keeping the creative juices flowing is a challenge. But this time of year, it always inspires me again.

continue to the recipe… about Friday Faves

Hello and happy Friday!

I’ve whipped my change-of-seasons cold thanks to generous doses of my favorite cold-fighting weapons: mega doses of these Vitamin C-loaded fizzy drink tablets, this once a day OTC medicine, and most importantly, my man’s recipe for matzo ball chicken soup with my homemade broth.

Take that you whipper-sniffer, you.

I nearly stepped in it this week. Literally. My cold appeared the first day of touring the lush, green, only-manure-fertilized fields of two of the organic dairy farms that supply milk to Stonyfield for their organic yogurt. It was not only lovely in Vermont, it was fascinating.

I love farm tours. I love petting cows and nuzzling the babies, like the baby below who was born just hours before we arrived.

I love learning where our food comes from. I love quizzing the farmers for tips to make my own vegetable beds better producers and learning that no matter what the scale of farming  you do.

And what I learned is it all starts with the health and quality of the soil.

I’ll be sharing more about the farm tour and what I learned in a later post, but what I will say now is I came home with a renewed appreciation for farmers, and a commitment to eating more organic when I can.continue to the recipe… about Friday Faves

Hello and happy Friday!

I’ve been proofing and re-proofing every date, every word, and every letter in the 2019 Jan-Dec Nourished Planner so in my mind I’ve already moved on to next year. (and for those of you who’ve asked the pre-sale for the 2019 planner starts Oct.1, more info to come.)

But today it’s official. It’s the last day of summer which means tomorrow we officially welcome in fall. See? I CAN do math. Wow.

Not that you’d know it by the weather around here in Utah. It’s been hot hot hot. So hot the leaves are changing but look so bleh because they haven’t had the cold snap to get those sugars juicing the pretty colors.

Indian summer. Welcome to it.

It’s just one reason I’m looking forward to leaving for Vermont tomorrow. I’ve always heard it’s so amazingly gorgeous in the fall so I am ready to hunker down and cozy up and learn a thing or two about the area. I’ll be sharing on the Instastories so if you’re curious, follow along there.

So once I get back I’ll be taking advantage of all the fall produce (and make ALL the stuffed peppers) before those cold snaps hit. Real good real food. I’m in.

In case you missed them this week, I shared:

• This one-pot chicken dinner that feeds four under $10 (plus a good cause to go along with it!)
• And these no-bake cookies that are the gateway recipe for beginner cooks that veteran cooks still love too.
• And sign up for my email list because I’m going to be doing some email only giveaways you’re gonna want to be part of for sure.

But enough about me. It’s time to dig into all those frigging Friday Faves. LET’S DO THIS!continue to the recipe… about Friday Faves