Why is that miniature things are almost always cute and adorable?
Exhibit A:
Mini bananas. The perfect one-biter.
Or how about…
Okay, how is it July already? I thought I just graduated like last week. And yet here I am, looking at the calendar saying it’s the week after July 4th! Speaking of July 4th, did you check out the sale at J.Crew this weekend? Ridiculous. Seriously though, with an extra 60% off, how could I say no? I think I almost bought the entire store. Summer sales, in general are the best. I did a bit (a lot) of damage this weekend, but it’s all for a good cause (just nourishing my closet, I’m kind like that). Words of a J.Crew addict. But c’mon, these shorts.
Anywho, no complaints as I am fully enjoying summer before I start a new job – and soaking in it’s good vibes and vitamin D in the process!
Strawberry shaped firework – do you see that or is it just me?
Here a few things I’ve been loving lately this summer:
1. Monogrammed Clear Camelbak from White Elephant Designs
I hoard Camelbaks. I never think I have enough bottles, mugs, or anything that vehicles liquids – but hey, hydration is important! I switched up the look this time and ordered this one from White Elephant Designs on Etsy. Love the mint monogram with a clear base!
2. Summer Fruits
I love basically all fruits, but cherries and watermelon are two fruits I can only imagine eating in the summer – it just doesn’t feel right any other time of the year! Peaches and nectarines, too. I find these summertime gems my local Farmer’s Markets for the best price!
3. Smoothies
Hot weather = cold smoothies. Have you checked out my sweet potato smoothies yet?
4. Summer Reads
I love reading anything that deals with nutrition, science or food in general.
And I’ve got two Michaels on my reading list this time – Michael Pollan & Michael Moss. Great reads about the inner workings of the food industry or if you’re looking for some insightful reading to make you rethink a little bit of some of the nation’s popular food choices.
And two fun reads: Sophie Kinsella & John Green. I’ve read the entire Shopholic series (fitting, I know) from Sophie Kinsella….but like back in middle school. For some reason, I was really feeling it again! Fun, easy & entertaining reads..gotta love em’. Oh, and a good John Green novel made the list too, because sometimes you just need a good sappy heart jerker. Justin’s dark chocolate peanut butter cups included.
5. Summer Shows
Big Brother. So freaking addicting. It’s like the CBS version of the Real World, you would think you hate it because the cast can be somewhat annoying but I cannot steer away! So you know where to find me Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday evenings around 8-9ish.
Orange is the New Black. Enough said. Everyone and their mothers talk about it for a reason. The reason I finally am putting my Netflix account to good use – so please, go Netflix it ASAP.
6. Summer Veggie Grillin’
Families who grill together…well, eat grilled foods together.
7. Yogurt Makin’
Coconut milk yogurt, that is! I adapted the instructions loosely from Nom Nom Paleo. Crumble some granola from Purely Elizabeth and fresh fruit, and you’re golden. Oh, a mountain of cinnamon, duh.
And, if you haven’t heard – Purely Elizabeth granolas are now in Target stores! Now I get a wholesome snack as I put the entire store into my shopping basket. Case in point:
Went in for granola. Out with granola and two new bathing suit tops. Hey, they were buy one get one half off!
9. Summertime Packages
Alright, I can’t fool anyone – packages in general. A few favorites from last week though: Everlane Tees, glasses from Warby Parker, and a new Kate Spade agenda for the year. The mailman is like the grown up Santa Clause. Beards not included (sometimes).
10. Recent Trader Joe’s finds
You know how I feel about good ol’ Joe. I frequent Trader Joe’s so much the manager knows me by first name. Story of my life. They really need a frequent buyer program!
My jaw dropped when I saw that Trader Joe’s started carrying coconut flour – for $2.99 a pound! Such an incredible price – I often bake with coconut flour, so I was one happy camper!
I also tried these new fruit bars – literally just apple and mango or apple and banana. Not my favorite from Trader Joe’s – I prefer just eating a fresh apple or banana by itself!
Need I say more? Green tea and coconut. Trader Joe’s ya did it again.
11. Gardening
My parents have a green thumb and I always look forward to the fresh produce from our garden every summer. Currently, we have tomatoes, cucumbers, blueberries, and fresh figs coming in, as well as this —
…it’s beautiful, am I right or really right? Yep, it’s kabocha squash! We planted the old seeds from a kobocha squash we ate back in late April and this baby came in a few weeks ago. It’s cute and all, butttt I’m ready to eat it. Green thumb, orange hands. Oh, yeah.
And quite frankly, nothing is better than fresh salad with produce picked right from your garden. Power green mix with carrots, strawberries, red onions, grape tomatoes & cucumbers (from the backyard) and honey roasted sunflower seeds for some crunch.
Bonus:
Currently fawning over: THIS.
Alex Chacon, holla at ya girl.
What are your summer time favorites?
Say hello to Elli Quark!
It’s hot here in the South. 90 degrees at 8am makes for one sweaty run!
After a good morning sweat fest, I love to cool down with a good cold smoothie. Typically, I like to refuel after a workout with a good 3:1 carbohydrate to protein ratio. Protein would be a little bit higher on days after weight training. Most of the time my post-workout meal involves sweet potatoes and eggs! I’m all for fueling with nutrient dense foods – they work for me the best.
If it’s anything I have learned from the past 22 years of life (besides how to concoct Jell-O shots of champs and make cookies out of chickpeas) it’s that no matter what birthday it is, the best feeling is surrounding it with the ones you love most (and birthday breakfasts).
Birthday post-workout breakfast, made by my adorable mother: Coconut flour blueberry pancakes & eggs with runny yolks (my loves!). My mom is the cutest. And she still cuts my pancakes into hearts. Hi, my name is May and I’m 22 going on 5.
Having a significant support system is something that helps me stay inspired to pursue my goals. People who are there for you at the end of the day and still believe in you and your somewhat (lofty) dreams. Because come on, who is going to bail you out when the going gets tough? And you know as well as I do, that the going, gets realllyyyyy tough – life happens! People who love you for your quirkiness and weird habits, who put up with you despite the fact that you talk their ears off about the origin of cacao nibs and how to blend up green smoothies that taste like chocolate.
Yolk action, duh.
I like to think that the beauty in having such an awesome support system is that everyone in your group is celebrating YOU. The fact that you always pick the red M&Ms or the fact that you always put your right shoe on first. I love that no two persons share the same little quirks that make us distinct!
Birthday burpees happened. More room for cake!
I cannot express enough the amount of gratitude I have for the support I received in just the past year alone. And thank you, for embracing my quirks and random ramblings. There’s beauty in everyone’s individual habits – and that’s what makes them lovable and unique to us – isn’t that something that should be celebrated?
Birthday Tiramisu > _____________
Since I just celebrated my 22nd birthday a few days ago, I’d like to share today a handful of my quirks with you. One of my goals for this blog is for you to get to know me a little bit better. (Nutritious) food is always included, I promise. And if you make it to the end, for the love of random, you do love me – cause there is 22 of them! (Feelin’ the 22 theme? Taylor Swift would be proud.)
1. I originally wanted to be dentist. I obviously decided to pursue Nutrition instead, but I still am absolutely 100% on top of my dental game. Pearly whites, that’s where it’s at. And healthy gums. Floss yo’ teeth, kids. Smiles are one of the first things I notice when I meet someone!
2. I have one younger brother – he’s 15 going on 16. Just like that to the tune from the Sound of Music, minus the fact that he won’t (ever) watch the movie.
3. I LOVE mornings. I need that quiet time for myself to stay sane. If I’m not getting my workout in, I’m off somewhere reading the news, eating breakfast, and sipping tea. I’m a total early bird – I can never sleep in! Which also means I’m pretty much Grandma status and can fall asleep on you by 10:30pm.
4. Sometimes I have multiple outfit changes during the day. Gotta have options. And I like my options.
5. I shower before I go to bed, every single night. Doesn’t matter how many times I have showered earlier that day, I still have to hop in and rinse off before bed! I also NEVER leave on any makeup before sleeping – I am so adamant about it!
6. I’m 5’6. So amazingly average.
7. Celebrity gossip…is my guilty pleasure. I’m an avid E! News fan and go through issues of US Weekly like no other.
8. I love snail mail. Seriously, postcards make my day like no other! Oh, and packages (literally, any package)…..be still my heart.
9. I’m actually the worst at social media. No, really. To this day, I believe I’ve uploaded on average 5 profile pictures on Facebook and refuse to get on unless I’m procrastinating. It’s a work in progress.
10. I love oranges, but can’t stand orange flavored things.
11. Birds freak me out. Seriously, why do they fly so close to my car these days? Have they no decency to yield?!
12. I journaled a ton growing up. I still have stacks of old journals in my basement from writing throughout elementary, middle, and beginning of high school. I’m still no good at writing – I’m more of a rambler!
13. I played volleyball throughout middle & high school and miss it so much – setters, where you at?
14. My collection of Nike Tempos is out. of. control. Damn you Academy for having those $21.99 sales. I’m a sucker for sales!
15. I won a Teen Vogue sweepstakes when I turned 16 and now am the proud owner of 25 different colored solid Lacoste polos. I wore a ton of polos growing up. Yep, so that kid. (Still wear them on occasion!)
16. Love, love to read. Embracing my bookworm status since 92′. Current reads: anything Michael Pollan. J.Crew catalogs also count. (C,mon!)
17. One of my life goal’s is to run a full marathon – circumstances have prevented me in the past, but oh, it is so, so happening.
18. My parents have a green thumb and it makes me incredibly giddy to watch them in our backyard, gardening and harvesting almost every morning. And what’s better than fresh tomatoes and cucumbers in the summer? Oh, and figs. Fresh figs!!!
19. Groceries. One trip or bust. My dad is the same way. The apple never falls far from the tree!
20. As much of a health nut as I am, when Grandma makes bakes a homemade pie from scratch, you can’t say no to a slice (or two).
21. When my mind is set on something, I make it happen. Excuses happen when you don’t want it badly enough. I never just settle – I like to dream pretty big!
22. Favorite way to unwind? A good long run followed by a smoothie & a Netflix binge. Been there, done that, times a million. And it never gets old.
What are some of your most distinct habits? Share them down below!
The theme lately in my life involves a whole lotta “C’s.”
Which is fine, because some of the best things in life start with the letter C. In addition to the three mentioned above, coconut, Chris Pine, and Christmas are included. Which in my most humble opinion, are indeed some of the best things in life.
Cold Brew.
Newsflash: My caffeine coffee IV drip is nonetheless still injected into my veins, but since it’s summer time, it’s mainly through iced cold brew.
You can very easily make your own cold brew, but the Whole Foods cold brew coffee is actually one of my favorites. Not only do they make you feel sort of cool by giving you a refillable growler for only $3.99, but the fact of the matter is, it’s really the sweet nectar of the coffee prodigies.
Plus, it combines fabulously with the So Delicious dairy-free coconut hazelnut creamer.
Another caffeinated item I’ve really been into: the “brew over ice” K-Cups. Easy, iced coffee to go! Repeat after me guys, I will save money this summer by making my own coffee. I will save money this summer by making my own coffee…repeat repeat repeat.
For these brew over ice K-Cups, if I’m not adding the So Delicious coconut creamers, I like to add Trader Joe’s soy creamer. I like the soy creamer mainly because it adds creaminess to the coffee without the sweetness of added sugars – I like to be able to taste some the natural bitterness of the coffee! I keep these creamers on rotation depending on what I feel like drinking different days.
And if I feel like more of an iced latte (aka almond [or coconut] milk, splash of coffee) I freeze the coffee into cubes and add unsweetened almond milk + 4 stevia drops + splash of vanilla extract for a great afternoon pick me up!
I also tried the Trader Joe’s cold brew —
And while I prefer the bitter tones of the Whole Foods brew more, the Trader Joe’s cold brew comes at a great price — $7.99 for a quart – which is around 12 cups of coffee concentrate! Keep in mind that the coffee concentrate is pretty strong – so diluting it with milk or water is recommended, even for the most seasoned coffee drinkers!
Recipe for success: 1/2 cup cold brew + 1 cup almond milk + 2 tbsp creamer + ice.
Extra K-Cup Lovin’: This pomegranate raspberry black tea is pretty good too and a great alternative to coffee – very summery! Anything that says “brew over ice” immediately catches my eye…especially in this heat!
Chips.
Oh my goodness for the love of PLAINTAIN CHIPS. It’s another one of those Trader Joe’s impulse buys that you don’t regret. Such a great alternative for those of you looking for a potato chip alternative – I promise you won’t miss them after having these bad boys!
Ingredients: Plaintains, sunfloweroil, salt.
I love it with the spicy edamame-guacomole dip from Trader Joes. How do you guys rethink the classic chip and dip?
Also, have you checked out those Buzzfeed articles about Trader Joes? You can find them here and here. Nailed it! Worth those hours I spend surfing Buzzfeed, just to read these. So guilty – but c’mon – tell me you’ve at least taken all a handful of the quizzes they post? Are they not the most accurate things in the world?
Costco.
I don’t know of another place where you can find hummus tubs the size of mini soccer balls (or where you can feed yourself an entire meal out of samples) but I really don’t question things when chickpeas are involved. Not going to lie when I say at first, I wasn’t sure whether I was completely in awe of the hummus tubs I saw or in shock that I could feed a family of 7 with just one tub. By family of seven I mean me, me, me, myself, May, and I.
But clearly, as you can see, my family and I had no problem finishing off the tub. I even saved a dish to wash in the process by eating a meal straight from an almost empty tub. Efficient, I know!
Can we also talk hummus toppers for a minute? So on the bottom is just plain ol’ hummus, but attached to the tank is various toppings to add on, like garlic or roasted red pepper. Great concept and even though I am a fan of toppings (over anything) – I felt like hummus is better left alone, in this case!
Non-food related, but also at Costco, I can find 5 pack boxes of my favorite makeup remover. It’s the little things. Or Costco’s case, the big things. Either way, this is my favorite makeup remover and I get a ton of it. Win-win!