How to Make a Smoothie Station

Posted on by

0

Smoothie StationI take my smoothies seriously. So seriously that I wrote a college admissions essay about them. And got in. If I applied myself with so much enthusiasm to anything else, who knows where I’d be today.

Anyway, after years of refining, I’m ready to share with you some smoothing making best practices:

**Opt for frozen fruit instead of ice; that way, your smoothie won’t become diluted**

**Add natural sweeteners like honey and dates instead of sugar**

**Buy frozen fruits and mix-ins in bulk from Costco**

**Mix frozen fruit with fresh, in season fruits (and vegetables)**

**Add super-foods like spinach and flax seed powder that have no taste but up the nutrition**

Enjoy!

A+

 

 

Maui Maxis

Posted on by

1

Maui Maxis1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9

Aloha nui loa everyone!

I just booked my ticket to Maui for July to go visit Christian and take care of some wedding business. Now I have an excuse to spiff up the summer wardrobe for some engagement photos!

Some Maui-musts concerning fashion:

**be able to wear a bathing suit under EVERYTHING (you’ll find yourself spontaneously jumping in the water frequently)**

**get ready to SWEAT (you’ll want to stray from synthetic fibers, opt for cottons and linens)**

**wear WASHABLES (sand, Sand, SAND)**

**prepare with LAYERS (it gets cool at night, especially upcountry)**

Given this list, you can’t go wrong with a cotton maxi.

At least, that’s what I’m telling myself.

A+

Wedding Wednesday || Grab a Groomsman

Posted on by

0

Groomsman IdeasAsking your bridesmaids and groomsmen to participate in your destination wedding is a lot to ask of them. Fortunately I have a full year to spoil my ladies rotten out of gratitude.

But better not forget the men!

Christian and I are about to unveil the groomsmen, and we’ve found a pretty clever way to do it:

GroomsmanThese cards are available on Etsy, complete with customized envelops and address labels. Just add cigar.

Other cute ideas we’ve seen:

GroomsmenWill You Be My Groomsmen? Beer Labels

groomsmenSuperhero Cufflinks

groomsmenCoke & Spirits Kit

GroomsmenGifts via GroomsmenGifts.com

A+

Gluten Free Banana Spice Pancakes

Posted on by

1

Gluten Free Banana PancakesComing home from Beans in the Belfry yesterday proved to be a bit of a nightmare. My girls and I were rear-ended on the interstate during stop-and-go traffic. No one is too hurt, but we’re all feeling some whiplash. Somehow, we dragged our stiff selves to the kitchen this morning to whip up what turned into some amazing, albeit gluten free, banana pancakes.

Something good from something bad?

Gluten Free Banana Spice Pancakes (serves 4)

  • 1 cup rice flour blend
  • 1 tbl sugar
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp cloves
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 cup rice or almond milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 tbl canola oil
  • 1 mashed banana

In a large bowl, use a fork or whisk to combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and the salt. Mix well.

In a medium bowl, use a fork or whisk to combine the milk, egg, melted butter and the mashed banana. Mix well.

Heat a large skillet or griddle to medium heat. You know when the pan is ready if when you splatter a little water onto the pan surface, the water dances around the pan and eventually evaporates.
Make a well in the center of the flour mixture, pour in the milk mixture and use a fork to stir the two mixtures until combined. It is okay if the batter has small lumps, in fact you want that – it is important not to over mix the batter.

Lightly spray hot skillet or griddle with non-stick cooking spray or lightly brush with melted butter. Then, use a 1/4-cup measuring cup to spoon batter onto the skillet or griddle. When you begin to notice the edges of the pancake look dry and little bubbles start to appear on the top surfaces of the pancake, turn over. This takes about 2 minutes. Once flipped, cook another 1 to 2 minutes or until lightly browned and cooked in the middle.

Long Distance Loving || Secret Messages

Posted on by

0

A Wedding in SpringtimeIt’s been a while since I’ve posted anything long-distance-dating related! I certainly don’t intend to stop now that Christian and I are engaged. Actually, I think the pressure’s on. I have to keep coming up with this stuff the rest of my life now.

Inspiration for this latest idea struck when I went book shopping with my sorority sisters. We collectively have a morbid fascination with absurd romance novel titles, so we skipped down to the romance section. There, I stumbled upon the cringe-worthy cover of A Wedding in Springtime.

And it hit me.

What man would not hate this?

Read the back cover if you’re not convinced by the front cover:

Her Timing Couldn’t Be Worse…

Miss Eugenia Talbot’s presentation to the queen is spoiled by a serious faux pas—the despicable William Grant made her laugh, right in front of Her Majesty. Now Eugenia is ruined and had better marry—someone, anyone—at once…

And His Couldn’t Be Better…

Roguish William Grant has never taken anything seriously in his life. Until he meets Eugenia Talbot, who makes him feel and do thing he never thought he would.

Now Eugenia’s great sense of humor and kindheartedness may be her undoing, unless William can help her find a husband. To his surprise, that’s the last thing he wants to do…

I blazonly plopped it on the sales counter, daring the cashier to judge me (he so did).

Page1

Later, I devoted countless hours highlighting letters on each page. The letters, once strung in order, reveal a secret message. Alas, Christian will have to turn through the entire book to collect the letters. Quel dommage.

Did I mention the message is in a foreign language?

Let’s hope it takes him a while to guess.

A+