"Laugh as much as you breathe, and love as long as you live." ~ Swedish Proverb
Are cupcakes be beautiful? I say yes!
I found these Rose & Vanilla cupcakes on the the Williams-Sonoma food blog and haven’t been able to stop thinking about making these for Easter. Given the fact that I seem to be mastering the art of cupcakes, I just might give these a whirl.
Source: blog.williams-sonoma.com via Alexis on Pinterest
I’ve received the Athleta catalog for years–since living in San Diego for sure, which was approximately two years ago. How many items have I ordered? Nada. For awhile I wasn’t working out enough to justify any new gear. Then, even once I got into a routine last year, I relied on a combination of Lululemon and Target because I pretty much hate shopping online.
But Lululemon is cost prohibitive and I also need to think about clothes for hiking, biking, running and other activities I hope to enjoy this summer outside of my typical gym classes during the week. So when the newest Athleta catalog arrived this week I sat down with it, and read it cover to cover.
Where do they find those models? I love that they aren’t stick thin and I would kill for any of their arms. I think the catalog inspired me to trade yoga for kettlebells on Wednesday. I also talked to a few coworkers (and Twitter friends) about the clothes and everyone raved about the fit and quality. Now I am super intrigued.
Here are a few items I’d like to purchase soon…
Source: Athleta.com
Source: Athleta.com
Source: Athleta.com
Have you ever ordered from Athleta?
Confession. I am a bad blogger who forgot to take pictures of the cupcakes I made for Mike’s 30th birthday party. In the moments leading up to everyone descending upon our house, snapping a few photos never entered into my mind. Sad.
What is not sad is how the cupcakes were devoured by all in attendance. Luckily, I was able to send a few leftover strays home with my two girlfriends who are expecting, because every pregnant woman should be allowed to enjoy Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cupcakes via the brilliant Our Best Bites site.
I found the recipe by doing a Google search for “semi homemade chocolate and peanut butter cupcakes.” Don’t you just love Google? Mike is a fan of all sweets, but peanut butter – in addition to cheesecake – rank top on his list. The best part of the recipe? The peanut butter frosting. Mike actually “yelled” at me when I threw away the leftover pastry bag of frosting, as I later found out he was piping it onto leftover Costco cookies. Wow. That boy loves sweets.
So even though there are no pictures on this blog post, take my word for it, click thru to the recipe link about and MAKE THESE CUPCAKES!
If you do, be sure to come back and let me know what you think!
Excuses, excuses. I have plenty of those for why the Sunday Blog Love series has fallen by the wayside. Those aside, it is one of my favorite posts to write so since I’ve found myself with a moment of “me” time, I thought I’d bring it back.
Enjoy…
Have a lovely Sunday!
No, not veggies…PLANTS!
Succulents are quite trendy right now but I’ve loved them for a long time, mainly because most (I think) do not attract bees. So while I love a gorgeous flowering garden as much as the next person, I am partial to plants that do not attract those frightening, furry, black and yellow little monsters.
Currently we own zero succulents but I am hoping that changes when we find a little budget and time to start paying attention to the outside of our house. Winter is finally over and it was sorely neglected by the previous owners.
In the interim I’ve been noticing that we also have no living things INSIDE the house other than Mike, Kona and myself. Not a single house plant. Not a single planted flower. Nothing, and that is sad.
Ever since making that discovery I’ve been thinking about these cool, modern hanging succulent planters from West Elm. They are simple and clean. I think they would look killer by our back door entry area as well as in one corner of our dining room. Totally unexpected.
Source: West Elm
On Pinterest I also have a “Green Thumb Envy” board that has been enjoying a lot more attention as the temperatures rise in Denver and ski season gives way to flip flop season.
Overall I am a huge fan of gorgeous pots and planters because they are a lot easier for me to manage compared to an entire garden. Plus, if my blooms look less than stellar, the pot is still gorgeous. Take these beauties for example from Pottery Barn.
Source: Pottery Barn
Greens aside, I hope our spring — particularly May and June — are filled with peonies. I plan to set aside a little extra “splurge” budget just to keep fresh peonies in our house. Ever since having them in our wedding last year, I have become obsessed. Peonies have become my favorite flower, if only for the sentiment.
Welcome spring, and the greens you will bring.
What are you dying to plant or see sprout out of the ground from your fall garden prep?
It has been gorgeous in Denver and the warm weather is making me peek at my spring and summer clothes hidden in the back of my closet. And, I am already finding a few “holes” in my wardrobe that I hope to be able to fill through some smart saving strategies.
One such missing closet staple are long, breezy skirts and dresses that can be dressed up or down all summer long. This beauty is no steal, but it has stolen my summertime fashion heart. It is so effortless. It is boho perfection.
Thank you Sequins & Stripes for discovering and sharing such a gem!
Source: calypsostbarth.com via Alexis on Pinterest
I came back from Austin with the dreaded tickle in my throat. I went to bed early, took NyQuil, drank tea and thought by last Friday that I had outsmarted the bug. I proceeded to enjoy the weekend as usual, with a little extra St. Patrick’s Day excitement, and have come to realize that the little bug outsmarted me.
Colds are the ultimate annoyance. You aren’t sick enough to justify a day in bed, but sick enough to feel like total crud. Everyone has their go-to cold cures. Mine include questionable doses of DayQuil, NyQuil and Claritin-D to relieve the pressure. I combine that with tea, Emergen-C and super hot showers to again, un-stuff my miserable head.
Between my 5pm – 7pm “nap” and 9pm NyQuil bedtime last night I aimlessly trolled the web for healing inspiration. I mean, if you have to be sick, wouldn’t it be nicer to be sick in style?
Some under-the-weather inspiration…cozy PJs, soup in a beautiful bowl and plenty of cozy throw blankets.
On March 20, three years ago today, I said a final goodbye to my sweet Grandma Lorraine. I was living in San Diego and while I had spent many important days with her in the months leading up to March 20, there just wasn’t time to get up to Los Angeles.
But I still remember the day and the days that followed so vividly. I received a call around 10 a.m. from my mom. I knew in my heart it was the call. She told me to say whatever I wanted to my grandma and held the phone to her ear. I told her as much as I could choke out, all while huddled in the most private place I could find on such short notice in our office. I am confident she heard every word. Two hours later, while I mindlessly ate lunch with a few coworkers, I got the second call. The call.
I’ve written about my grandma quite a bit on Lex & Learn since then and am amazed at how much has happened since those days.
Last week I was reorganizing my jewelry and was so excited to come across one of her rings. She had no money, so I am sure it was from Target or something similar. But she loved her jewels regardless and I strung it on a plain gold chain along with a tiny ring from my childhood. I love the way they both feel against my chest. Like how her hand felt holding mine for 27 years.
Today is a tough day. There are countless memories where an empty hole isn’t fully healed. But it is that hole that reminds me to be more patient, more kind and more loving–her very best, impossible to ever fully live up to qualities.
We love and miss you grandma.
My colleague Ramonna let me borrow a few of her favorite vegetarian cookbooks for inspiration. This delicious dish comes from The Fishes & Dishes Cookbook ~ Seafood Recipes and Salty Stories from Alaska’s Commercial Fisherwoman.
Shrimp & Orzo Salad with Pesto, Roasted Tomatoes, and Snow Peas
Ingredients
Pesto Sauce Ingredients
Heat oven to 450 degrees.
Place the cherry tomatoes in an oven-safe dish and toss with EVOO, sea salt and garlic. Roast for approximately 20 minutes, tossing at about 8 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.
While tomatoes are roasting boil a large pot of water and cook 2 cups orzo according to directions. While water is boiling also steam the snow peas in a colander over the boiling water for approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Rinse orzo and snow peas under cold water to avoid over cooking.
To make the pesto, blend the pine nuts, basil, garlic and Parmesan cheese in a food processor. Add the olive oil to the pesto sauce in a slow drizzle, then add the lemon juice.
Toss orzo, tomatoes, shrimp, snow peas and pesto together in a large bowl.
Put on stretchy pants because you are going to want seconds and thirds! Mike was working on a project in the basement as I got dinner ready and when he walked upstairs exclaimed, “it smells amazing!” I love that validation in the kitchen. Despite the dish being pasta based it was very light yet still filling. Because it was getting late I didn’t even make a side salad, and it wasn’t missed. I forget about how nice the crunch of a snow pea can be in a dish so I want to use them more often.
Got a Meatless Monday recipe for me to try? Let’s swap!
Yoga is not my passion yet. Passion is much too strong of a word. But we’re flirting, a lot. We might even be getting a little serious. I miss yoga when “he” (gotta go with a guy or it sounds weird) is not around and can’t get enough when I am in a great class.
Which is why I hit purchase on a somewhat expensive one-day ticket to Colorado Wanderlust this July.
Wanderlust looks like a mix of Woodstock and Burning Man for people who shop at Lululemon. There are countless yoga workshops, DJs, hiking, cooking and more. If I had more vacation time (we have a lot of weddings to attend this year) and a little more free cash I would have bought a ticket to the entire festival. But, I also need to remember to start slow with these things. Yoga and I haven’t been together all that long.
I will embark on my one day Wanderlust adventure with three other friends. We actually plan to camp the night before and after, so we will really get into the experience. Maybe we will roast kale chips over the open fire instead of s’mores?
Nah, I really like s’mores.
I am so excited to have friends who broaden my horizons to new experiences like Wanderlust. I think it is going to be amazing.
Have you ever attended a yoga festival or anything similar?
