Happy December, friends!

To kick off the start of the holiday (shopping!!) season the right way, I’ve got a fun giveway for you today – featuring Lush Gourmet Foods.

I’ve talked about Lush Gourmet before here so you know I’m already a huge fan of the company. I’m still swooning over their coconut lavendar almonds. I mean, seriously, coconut and lavendar? The perfect combination.

The company hand crafts gourmet almonds and peanuts that are 100% natural, and free of all the preservatives and aritificial ingredients that you often find in many packaged nuts. The ingredient list is super short (as it should be!) – consisting of only nuts, sugar, spices and no added oils. The flavor combinations are some of the most unique pairings I’ve seen around.

But, my friends, when the owner and my friend, Bisera, rolls out the new gift packaging for the holidays…it’s a game changer.

Because take a look –  it’s absolutely ADORABLE.

Each box is adorned with the Lush Gourmet stamp (with either a red or orange ribbon, you choose!) and inside you find mini packs of the most perfectly portioned packs of peanuts. If you are looking for some great (wholesome and delicious!) stocking stuffers, these are perfect.

Oh, and the flavors – can we talk about the flavors for a hot minute? I loved their dark cocoa chili almonds, but the peanut equivalent are amazing as well. I also loved the coffee flavor – it’s got a nice kick! I loved how the sampler pack caters to a little bit of every craving – from sweet (cinnamon spice) to savory (hot curry!)

The mini peanut sampler pack comes with the following flavors:

Original
Salt and Pepper
Cinnamon Spice
Hot Curry
Coffee
Dark Cocoa Chili

The company makes it their mission to handcraft each batch of nuts with the highly quality ingredients around. I love supporting local companies that always strive to provide the best for their customers. It’s nice when I can connect with companies in different ways, whether it’s sharing the passion for using local ingredients or caring to fuel our bodies with wholesome foods.

And Bisera, the owner of the company, still handcrafts each batch herself – using her very own, secret family recipe. How awesome is that? Bisera…you are really the coolest. If you aren’t following them on Instagram yet, you should at @lushgourmet – her feed is beautiful!

To enter the Lush Gourmet giveaway, check out my Instagram and comment under the Lush Gourmet post for a chance to win a mini peanut sampler, just in time for the holidays.

For an additional entry, just leave a comment below about which flavor you are most excited to try.

Giveaway ends Sunday, December 7th at 11:59 EST.

Good luck and happy shopping!

In terms of nut butter, I’m almost always an almond butter kind of girl. However, I don’t discriminate my other favorites either – like cashew or sunflower seed butter! Peanut butter alway seems to be at the end of my nut butter lists, but lately, I’ve been reaching for this particular peanut butter –

Spread the Love Peanut Butter is a company created by Valerie and Zach Fishbain in Los Angeles, California.

The ingredient list is very simple, with 4 ingredients. Many of us are aware that the best nut butters are actually ones with nothing added, but the agave nectar added to this peanut butter gives its uniqueness by adding just a slight sweetness – not overwhelming at all. Plus, the little touch of cayenne gives the original flavor a little something special.

One of the best things about this nut butter is the texture – no oily residue to spill! (Good for a klutz like me…I almost always tend to be wearing silk when I do!) Although oil separation is common in natural nut butters, freshly made nut butters don’t separate that fast – so you know that this jar was freshly ground out of the kitchen! I was surprised by how creamy and fresh the jar was – no mixing required.

I love supporting up and coming companies with a good passion, such as this one created by Val and Zach. To read more about their story, click here.

I just wanted to help my friends Val and Zach spread the love – with nut butter! (Which, in my humble opinion is one of the most flattering forms of love.)

Since they are still a fairly new company, they need a little more support kickstarting the company. To support Spread the Love Peanut Butter, check out more details on their Kickstarter page – and get some nut butter action in the process!

And one of my favorite ways to eat peanut butter? On top of an english muffin with bananas. You know it.

I’ve finally finished moving and am currently in the process of getting settled into Charleston – so things have been a little hectic! In terms of meals, I’ve really just been winging it.

Car snacks. Coconut things. Great little bite for on the go!

Busy happens. But I try to stay focused and really get back to basics when things get a little crazy. I’m not perfect and my diet is certainly not perfect – no matter how much of a health nut I am. Every person has a different lifestyle – therefore their choices are completely different, so don’t ever let someone else’s food choices make you feel bad about your own!

A peak into some of my first grocery store trips. Tempeh, broccoli, and some sweet potato gnocchi from Trader Joe’s. It was my first time trying the sweet potato gnocchi, and I have to say it was pretty good! The tempeh and broccoli are a few of my grocery essentials (grocery essentials post to come!).

And a few random finds at Whole Foods. Coconut chocolates included. This is by no means how I usually grocery shop. But ever since moving, I’ve really been focusing on condensing my shopping list since I’m just shopping for one! I LOVE grocery shopping (I admit, I treat it like a hobby!!) so this took a little bit of willpower for me.  At home, I will usually pick up my essentials but also anything (and everything!) I see interesting – knowing some else will finish it if I don’t! So like I said, I just have been adjusting my shopping habits a little bit. Changes just take a little bit of time to adjust to, but I’m getting into the swing of things! Oh, and the Glee gum was 99 cents that day. So I popped that sucker into my basket. I’m still a work in progress!

How my meals look most of these days: a pretty random mix! This is tempeh, sweet potato gnocchi, and broccoli.

I have been eating out a lot more than I usually do – but I’m alright with it. Charleston offers such widespread array of awesome eats that I have many nutritious options to choose from. And being the traveling foodie I am, you know I had to jump right in it! (but first, you know I had to pay [multiple] visits to the J.Crew on King Street).

Ginger Palmetto Wrap from the Black Bean Company – chicken + avocado + tomatoes + cucumbers + mixed greens + sprouts + ginger vinaigrette. Side of cranberry & almond cous cous.

Banh mi from Bon Banh Mi – with their Five Spice Tofu!

Things that are still the same: a good coffee fix. My stomach can only handle so much coffee, so I definitely don’t make it an everyday thing. Big shout outs to Caviar and Bananas and Kudu’s Coffee for keeping me alert and sane! I love the widespread options of local coffee shops. And gingerade kombucha…always.

Shopping, and rarely without a kombucha in hand…you know how I usually like to roll.

Other than that, I started prepping a few items again in the kitchen on the weekends just to help me out during the week with my new schedule. I’m guilty of getting a case of the hangries literally all the time – so having food ready for me when I get home is a lifesaver!

Typically, I just like to roast an assortment of vegetables and batch cook some quinoa and some hard-boiled eggs so I can always have a few options to choose from. This week, I roasted some brussel sprouts, butternut squash, red quinoa, hard boiled eggs, and some Japanese sweet potatoes.

A few prepped meals…I even bought new tupperware!

And as far as breakfasts goes, I’m really digging this lately:

Mashed avocado and a hardboiled egg over an ezekiel pita. Simple but so, so delicious and satisfying. (and HIGHLY portable!! And takes literally no time.) I love a good nutrient dense combo of avocado and eggs. And maybe one day I will stop using paper towels as plates…..but for now, one less dish to wash!

As you can see, my meals are pretty simple – and honestly really reflects how my typical food choices goes. I know I post often on Instagram, but you don’t see every single piece of food I eat. Quite frankly, I haven’t had the time lately to be creative with meals – but they always go a little something like above and are just as delicious! Just simple, wholesome eats – the way I like it!

Also, here is a good ole Target find – pumpkin chips!

I was actually shocked by how good these are since I’m not much of a chip fan. But these were great! They also make sweet potato, coconut, and mango versions. Check out a full list here.

As far as workouts goes, I have been guilty of gym hopping (helloooo free day passes!!) – I’m still trying to find a good one I like! There are so many different yoga studios around as well, so I am very excited to try them all out! I would love to hear some good recommendations if you have any! And I still can’t believe I can stroll King Street on the regular these days. Thanks for being patient with my slacking posts lately (per usual, you guys are the best!) I have a few really great things coming up, so stay tuned!