sip on this

While you’re sipping on your morning cup o’ joe, tea, hot cocoa, smoothie, OJ, water, prune juice, or what have you, here are some things to check out.

1] This vegan recipe for apples with salty caramel from V.K. Rees Photography, looks 100% devour-able.  Medjool dates are magical.

2] Check out this edible sculpture garden, a community in Ethiopia is constructing from old plastic water jugs.

3] 5 Things You Should Buy at Costco – chocolate truffles here I come!

4] Health Benefits of Coconut Oil – I am coconut oil obsessed.

5] Cholesterol & Eggs: How Many Eggs Can You Eat Per Day? – I’ve been trying to research this topic a lot lately, as you know I am an egg fanatic.

6] This social media comparison using donuts is amazing.

7] Two blogs I can’t get enough of: My New Roots + Roost

8] Remember my friend Heather, from this post??  She had her twin boys and everyone is healthy, happy, and most likely extremely tired. 

9] And in case you need something to sip on, try this!  It’s my go-to nighttime beverage.  Well, it’s either this or wine.

If I don’t make my own, this is my almond milk of choice.

Local, raw honey is where it’s at.

If you know what’s good for you, you’ll stay outta’ my jar!

Seriously.  Raw, unfiltered, honey is good stuff. 

• 8 Health Benefits of Honey
• WHFoods: Honey
• Can you fight allergies with local honey?

If you live by an Ikea, or know someone who does, you should own this frother.  It works like a charm and costs $2.99.  I use it almost every single day.

Hot Cocoa

• 1 cup milk of choice
• 1.5 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon raw honey

1. Heat the milk until simmering.
2. Whisk or froth in the cocoa powder + honey.

Done!

I like mine super chocolaty and slightly sweet.  Adjust as desired.

10] Goodnight!

• twitter: so #sleepy going to bed
• facebook: i’m sleepy, time for bed
• foursquare: this is where I sleep
• instagram: doesn’t my bed look comfy?
• linkedin: i’m totally skilled at sleeping
• pinterest: here are my favorite pajamas from anthropologie

Ashley

Like recipes, posts can be inspired by people too.  So, this post was inspired + adapted from Jessica.

blood orange smoothie

I’m not the best at planning recipes for upcoming holidays.  I think about it the day before or the day of, leaving you with no time to run to the store to buy ingredients, for whichever holiday it may be.  Not that Valentine’s day is really a holiday, but you know what I mean.  This year, you’ll see at least 2 recipes themed for V-day, that were completed in January.

I’m as shocked as you are!

4 things that were important for the this recipe:

• feature a seasonal ingredient
• no pink food dye
• fresh
• simple

Enter the blood orange.  The orange that has hot pink juice inside, which can be used as a natural food dye.  And citrus is most definitely a winter fruit. 

I don’t typically drink too many smoothies during the winter, but with the 2-week cold I just got over, I was constantly chugging smoothies rich in vitamin C.  The burst of citrus is unexpected, especially when you see the pink color.

No strawberries or cherries inside!

An orange flavored smoothie that’s PINK!

I must admit I am a huge fan of the color pink.  Both in my closet and in my kitchen.

I’m also a fan of super wide straws, like this one below from Glass Dharma.  They sent me a pack of straws last year, and I just love them. 

Blood Orange Smoothie

yields 1, snack size smoothie

• 1 blood orange, peeled
• 1/2 frozen banana
• 1/2 cup 2% plain Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup orange juice

1. Blend until creamy + smooth.  Add ice if desired.

tips/substitutions: A medium sized orange will instead of a blood orange, or 3 clementines.  Feel free to add the following: 1 Tablespoon chia seeds, 2 Tablespoons unsweetened coconut, 1/4 cup of oats, protein powder, and/or 1/4 avocado if you’re looking for something a bit more substantial.  Add more milk to thin out if needed.

Seasonal.

Pink.

Fresh.

Simple.

Check, check, check + check.

Happy early Valentine’s Day!

Ashley