thoughts on {life}

Doesn't the Holiday season bring on so many crazy emotions? So much time spent with family & friends eating and drinking and laughing and loving is so amazing this time of year but can be such a powerful experience.

 

On top of those overwhelming emotions you can't help but reflect at the end of the year and and try to remember everything that happened in the past 12 months. Its a whirlwind of memories and I find myself asking Did I do anything that mattered? Was I happy? Did I smile and laugh and play and love enough? Was I kind?

 

Its easy to get caught up in the day to day grind and to begin focusing on the negative. I can't tell you how many times I felt like I was just spinning in place wondering which was was up. I think that's why this quote resonates with me so much -

 

 

 {via}

 

 

I'm learning if you aren't your own biggest supporter, it's easy to get swept away in the mundane and easy and never experience anything really worth experiencing at all. I've been making a conscious effort in the past months to see the magic in life. To be truly thankful for everything beautiful in my life and to appreciate every trying moment as a chance to change and learn and grow and evolve. To be happy every single day, even when it's rainy and cold and things aren't going your way. To have a positive and kind energy that brightens other people's day. To be fearless and exciting and purposefully seek fun and new opportunities. And most of all to truly appreciate the little things in life - like a cozy sweater & a mug of hot cocoa! 

 

I couldn't have imagined I would be ending 2012 on such a happy note and I can't wait to see what 2013 has in store.

 

Happy Holidays to Everyone!

xoxo

 

 

{easy!} chicken & dumplings

I'm about as close to a chef as Lindsay Lohan is to sober. Most nights I opt for healthy {read un-intimidating} fare, but sometimes, I even surprise myself. I can count every dish {actual dish, not grilled chicken & steamed veggies} I can make on one hand...but those 5 are surprisingly tasty! Chicken and Dumplings is one of them and I thought I would share the recipe in case you're in the mood for something easy/fun/yummy/comforting -

 

Ingredients (for 4 servings):

12 oz chicken breasts, 1/2 box of Free Range Organic Chicken Broth, 1.5 cans of cream of mushroom soup (I use the healthiest version available and don't notice a difference in taste), 1/2 tube Bisquick frozen biscuits, 1 bag organic soup veggies, salt & pepper to taste

 

Directions:

1. Cut up chicken into bite-size chunks & boil. Drain when white throughout (do I even have to say this? Please DON'T eat pink chicken!) & mix with +/- 1 tsp. each salt & pepper & put back in pot on stove

 

2. Add chicken broth & cream of mushroom soup & bring to a boil. Drop in bag of vegetables.

 

3. Pull off bits of biscuit dough (about the size of a dime) & drop into boiling soup. Leave on for about 5 minutes or until dumplings expand & become golden colored

 

4. Turn stove to low, add salt & pepper to taste and let simmer uncovered for 20 minutes

 

Enjoy!

 

 

While the c&d was cooking, I went for a run with my sweet friend, Kristal. It was the first one I've been on since the Turkey Trot so it was much needed. Lucky for me it was perfect running weather since Houston decided winter = 70 degrees this year. We had a blast checking out the Christmas lights around the neighborhood and squeezed in 3.5 miles.

 

 

Anyone else overindulge over the past few weeks? I've eaten so many sweets I fear my dentist is going to just love me the next time I see him. I'm promising myself I'm taking a break from gluttony starting tomorrow until Christmas day. After all, its a holiday not a holi-two-months :)

 

 



Christmas Card Link Up!

I may or may not have made my holiday cards and failed to actually place the order for them this year...Cooper and I had a photo shoot and everything!  Good thing Kristen did a link up so I don't feel like it was a total waste. Pretend that you just walked out to your mailbox and are totally overjoyed to see your favorite puggle wishing you a Happy Holiday season, k?

 

 

 

 

{p.s. I promise to be more domestic/less ADD and actually print them next year!}

 

 



Weekend Re-Cap

Happy Sunday, Everybody!

Did you all have a happy/productive/relaxing/fun weekend?

 

Friday night my college roomie came to visit & we had such a good time! We grabbed sushi Friday night and enjoyed some much-needed martinis at Soma. Saturday morning we left the house early to volunteer at the Salvation Army Secret Santa Workshop and spent the morning sorting and 'shopping' for the families...such a great way to kick-off the weekend!

 

Most of the rest of the weekend was spent Christmas shopping & gift wrapping for family and friends. I'm so exhausted but, with the exception of a couple things, almost done. Thank goodness!

 

I was able to squeeze in a long, sweaty hot yoga class late this afternoon and it was very welcome and MUCH needed :)

 

I also picked up this gorgeous bag while I was shopping for myself for everybody:

I think we'll have a very long, happy relationship together :)

 

I'm off to make dinner & cuddle on the couch with J over Dexter and Homeland, and wrap my head around starting another long week tomorrow =/

 

 

 

{saving face}

Whoa, life has been busy lately! It's caught me by surprise and I haven't had a chance to (among many other things) post as much as I had planned! I guess that's par for the course, right?

 

Anywhoo, as I get older (ahem!) I'm noticing that my skin is really changing, so so is my beauty routine! I'll admit that I spent a few too many night sleeping in my makeup and too little attention paid to the quality of the products I used on my skin. We won't even mention all that time my younger self spent in the sun sans protection (tisk tisk!) So I've been making a big effort in my late-twenties to rectify the damage I've done.

 

Here's what my beauty routine looks like these days... 

 

 

Every night (no exceptions!), I use the following:

 

 

 Make-Up Remover / Cleanser / Brush

 

I've never used the Clarisonic, but I decided to buy the Olay Pro-X is ahhh-mazing! I don't think I could ever not use it. My skin feels squeaky-clean afterwards.

 

 

 

 

Peel / Moisturizer / Eye Cream

This peel is intense (read stinky and slightly painful), but it really makes a difference in how bright my complexion looks. The moisturizer is a new find and its like heaven in a jar...but much too heavy for daytime. I've been a long-time lover of Kiehls, and this eye cream is one of my all-time favs.



How do you keep your skin looking and feeling fresh and clean?