What the Heck is Coconut Flour?

If you remember about a month ago I started the Whole Living 'Cleanse'. It basically focused on eating a lot of, easily digestible fresh fruits and veggies and thats about it. No dairy. No carbs. Nothing processed.

After spending a day in the kitchen preparing my meals for the week, it was fairly easy to maintain and very filling! I felt great, still had energy, was full and felt a whole lot 'cleaner' than I had been.  My cleanse week was immediately followed by the Denver Girls Weekend which, although I gave it my best shot, wasn't exactly cleanse approved.

The 'cleanse' was great, but is very limited in food choices and recipes. After some chatting with friends and further internet investigation I've decided to give Paleo a whole hearted shot. Being dairy free really helped my digestive system, and avoiding carbs is always a good thing right?
I ordered Practically Paleo on a recommendation, but to get a head start I went to the website for the book and found a recipe for a great, paleo friendly, grab and go breakfast. Breakfast is the hardest for me, because I don't want to get up 15 minutes earlier to make a smoothie or an omelet. I want to sleep that extra 15 :) These Apple Streusal Muffins looked like a delicious and convenient option.

ingredients:

• 3 large green apples, chopped into 1/2 inch pieces (approximately 2 cups) – peeled if you like
• 3 tablespoons warm water
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon, divided
• 1 1/2 tablespoons butter or coconut oil (to make it dairy-free), melted
• 9 eggs
• 3 tablespoons coconut milk
• 1 1/2 tablespoons coconut flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

preparation:

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• Preheat oven to 350F.

• In a medium skillet, sautée the apples, water,  1 1/2 teaspoons of the cinnamon, and butter or coconut oil until the apples are the consistency of chunky applesauce or apple pie filling. Allow the mixture to cool before combining with the egg mixture.

• In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk the eggs,coconut milk, coconut flour, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, baking soda, and salt until well combined. Add the cooled apples, reserving 1/4 cup for a garnish.
                                           
• Spoon egg and apple mixture into parchment cup lined muffin tins—1/4 cup each. Gently spoon about one teaspoon of the remaining apple mixture onto the top of each muffin.
• Bake for 40 minutes.

                                             

Love Day

Valentine's Day is coming up! I like Valentine's Day in the sense of its a fun day to celebrate the love you have for all the people in your life. However, I don't think its the greatest for relationships. If you're both Valentine's Day people, GREAT but if you're not it usually ends up with a lot of this:

To avoid the pressure of Valentine's, I think it's better to take most of it away and promise eachother to just be a little more loving and appreciative when it's needed. It means a little more with less of a "Here's some flowers. It's Valentine's Day." and more "Here are some flowers. Thank's for doing that favor for/thinking of/being there for me /just being you."

I think it should be recognized, but cute and cheesy, yet relevant. Stick with the basics. Flowers, chocolate, candy, jewels if you're feeling generous. Something that represents your relationship is even better. Dinner at your first date restaurant, picture of you together in a nice frame. More of a "Yay we love eachother, it's Valentine's Day" and less of a "Here is a tree of roses on top of a champagne mountain crusted in diamonds!" situation.

Here are some of my favorite gift ideas:

1) Printstagram
I did this for Sweetest Day, which unbeknown to me no one celebrates on the West Coast. I wanted something that was representative of things we've done together and he loved it.

2) Kate Spade Valentine's Day Bracelet

Guys, Kate Spade really did all the work for you here. Encompasses sparkles and meaning in one little gift for your lady. You can't really go wrong with any jewelry.

3) Good Chocolates

No, not Russell Stover or Godiva, something nice. I love Chocolatier Blue, their boxes are so elegant and chocolates so unique (and beautiful)!

4) Fancy Under Things

I love lingerie. Silk and lace and bows and extra padding! Even though it usually doesn't stay on very long, there is something about being out to dinner, all glammed up and having a little secret underneath your clothes that the world (and, even better, your Lovely) doesn't know about. 

Shopping for this is a sensitive subject for some people in terms of size, coverage and body image so maybe offer to take her shopping for some and pick out something you like for her to try on. Let her pick without telling you and it's still a surprise for you ;)  Just a heads up Victoria Secret doesn't let gentlemen in the dressing rooms so you'll have to hit a department store or boutique shop.

I've been swooning over this color blocked set from Fleur Du Mal!

Wedding Wednesday

As I'm in my (eh hem) late twenties, my news feeds are filled up with all things weddings. "Ask" gifts have always baffled me a bit. I understand to desire to get creative and be a little different, but flowers seem a bit ordinary, a custom cookie a bit tacky or a custom wine bottle unnecessary {can I drink it or do I have to keep it forever?}.

If you're able I love the idea of an "ask" brunch. These are your closest friends and you want to be there to see the look on their face when you ask, you want them to know they'll be appreciated and, quite often, you'll need to introduce them all to each other. What a great way to experience that all together!

I saw a similar post on the Glitter Guide (?) I think, but when I came across this one on Style Me Pretty I had to share.

Love Letter to Kate Spade...or maybe Pink & Turquoise?

Words cannot describe how excited I am about Kate Spade's newest collection! Maybe the abundance of pink and the approaching Valentine's Day, but oh my goodness I love it all!

These items have headed straight to the top of my wishlist!

Roset Dress. Enough Said

Bon Voyage Travel Wallet reading 'Anything to Declare?'

Basket Pave Pendant in Pink

Adorable BFF Clutch in Grace Blue

Bows for Your Toes!

Baxter Jacket {in pink of course}

Dorothy Coat 

I love this bag, but really want it in a Luggage Brown!

Taken Bracelet

Secret Garden Pave Studs

Delicate Pave Watch

Girls Weekend in Denver

2014 is off to quite an interesting start.  Started a brand new project at work, neck deep in Junior League adventures, 6 months to find a new apartment....it's a little overwhelming. Perfect time for a girls weekend away!

MLK weekend I headed to Denver for a mini-college reunion with some girlfriends. I'd never been to Denver (well outside of the airport) and honestly, I quite remember why it was chosen. It was great to see everyone and explore a new city...also I'd be lying if I didn't say I was excited to put my new, Christmas, cashmere to use! Lots of good food, vintage shopping, microbrews . absolutely gorgeous snow covered mountains in the back drop. Can't wait to go back!

Rocky Mountain Backdrop

Some of the girlies and I on the gondola up the mountain in Breckenridge

So not a skier on any level

Cashmere and Fur

12 carat sapphire in a vintage jewelry shop on Larimer Square

Whole Living

I spent the wonderful Christmas holiday back in the midwest for a week! It was beautiful, but freezing white Christmas. The only real complaints I had were a gross, flaky, dry face and no appropriate product to help  and all the heavy cream/egg/sugar/carb based foods that were consumed. I even spent 2 days sick on the couch from richness, and probably dairy overload.  In an effort to get back on track I did some investigating and  have decided to try the 2013 version of the Whole Living Action Plan to Kick off the year.

A few years ago I found the 2011(?) version on Pinterest.  Back then it required a juicer and I wasn't about to go out an buy one. It also had new recipes every day for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. A single, working gal on a budget just cannot swing that much shopping and cooking. I tried doing it with smoothies and rotating recipes, but it was still expensive and time consuming.

They've updated and cut down their meal plans and really focused on making them user friendly/make-ahead-able. Per their website:

How This Cleanse Works
1. Go Step By StepWe built this plan around a simple base diet of lentils, fruits and vegetables, and nuts and seeds; these (plus oils and seasonings) are the only ingredients allowed for the first week. The subsequent weeks introduce variety, including fish and gluten-free grains in Week 2 and eggs in Week 3.  

2. Devise a StrategyWe realize that making all of the plan’s recipes is no easy feat. So we’ve streamlined things this year with weekly meal-by-meal plans. To ease prep, some recipes have a make-ahead component, and most recipes make big batches, so you’ll always have a selection of leftovers in the fridge. 

3. Make It Your OwnWhile there are 45 recipes in the cleanse, you can certainly improvise meals; simply follow the ingredient guidelines for each week. You can also carry over your favorite dishes as you enter a new week. Do keep in mind that while you should keep portions modest, counting calories is not part of the program. “This is not a calorie-restricted diet,” Blum says. “This is about food choices.” 

 I took a trip to Whole Foods (in an effort to go completely 'clean') and only spent $45 on everything for the first week! I couldn't believe it. I'm starting today so I'll keep you updated on how it's going and how I'm feeling a long the way.

This year I will....

.....travel more

.....worry less

.....budget better

.....find a new apartment

.....blog more

.....start a 5-year plan

.....own it!