Juice craze or just plain crazy?

I suppose I am late to the game here, but how does everyone feel about the whole juice/smoothie craze?  I've been reading lately that it is much healthier to "drink" your breakfast and I was curious to see if that is how any of you roll in the morning!  I'd love to give that a go in 2014 (which is super weird to write) and would be so appreciative if you all had suggestions!  Feel free to email or comment!

I loved this recipe that I found from Verily Magazine, definitely made the skeptic in me happy!  Check it out below (if you click the picture it will lead you to their website, which you should all check out!)

Homemade crock pot hot chocolate

I've wanted to make homemade hot chocolate for quite some time now.  This time of year, when it is way too cold for comfort, it makes cuddling under a heap of blankets that much better.  Have I mentioned that it is super easy? Just grab your crock pot!

Ingredients:

• 14oz can of sweetened condensed milk
• Dash of salt
• 8 cups of water
• 1/2 cup of dry baking cocoa
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Directions:

• Combine condensed milk, water and vanilla extract
• Add dry cocoa and salt and whisk until all ingredients are combined
• Cook on low for 4 hours or until the hot cocoa is very hot

Serve with some marshmallows and whipped cream!

Here's a picture of the finished product in the crock pot! (Not the best photograph but it does it justice I suppose)

Sweet things I'm loving right now

It's beginning to feel like fall around here and I couldn't be more excited.  To ring in the chilly weather I've taken note of a few things I'm absolutely loving these days!

1.  Sweet Leaf Tea: I've loved this tea for quite some time and I tend to hold onto their bottle caps for a few reasons.  Not only do they make cute decorations for a dorm room (this picture doesn't do the amount I have justice) but they also provide some daily wisdom.  I take a look at them once in a while and it's a fun way to stop and think.  Recent favorites: "Turn the world on with a smile" and "If you didn't know your age, how old would you be?"

2.  This adorable fall print from Jones Design Company!  I can't wait to hang this in my room.  It's everything I love about this time of the year...minus the antlers...I love animals a little too much to hang em' on my wall.  

3.  This lipstick:  I have been wearing it every chance I can get (actually every time I go out, see below) since it showed up in my August Birchbox!  Rest assured, I'll be buying a new one when my sample runs out!  

 

4.  The Lumineers, Mumford & Sons and Good Old War.  There's nothing like a good fall playlist to cozy up too.  I am fan of a ton of different bands and genre's of music but The Lumineers, Mumford & Sons and Good Old War always tend to make it feel more like fall.  I have such fond memories attached to their music.  Its feel good music for me and thus all three play quietly in the background all day long.  

5.  I've been sorta kinda dying to die my hair.  But not all the way, maybe just a subtle ombre... I am currently loving the idea of putting in warm red highlights!

6.  This picture: seriously I can't stop laughing...

7.  New restaurants!  My girlfriends and I have been trying a few new places lately and I've gotten to try some fabulous food...below are my favorites:

Crab cake wrap, crab nachos and smores cheescake...yum!

8.  My family and friends: I wanted to throw them all a little shout out.  They've truly been a blessing <3

What are you guys loving right now?!

My life lately

Well I'm home and it feels bittersweet.  I am a mix of emotions with an overwhelming sense of exhaustion. Work this past two and a half weeks has been phenomenal and while I really miss my friends, It's nice to have a home cooked meal ;)

This year I moved back to school for work incredibly nervous.  My friends had graduated and aside from Tim and a select few others, I felt like I had no one.  Gosh, I was wrong.  In general, it helped me open up and foster new relationships, all the while learning so much about myself.  It was my favorite year doing this job by far.

The job itself is a weird environment, almost like camp.  We all move in to a dorm and spend 24/7 together and for a relationship that can be tough.  Not because spending 24/7 together is hard, it is because we can't. In front of our bosses we keep it professional and outside of the job we pay careful attention to creating new friendships.  Despite, what can be a difficult environment, Tim and I had a great time and I think the highlight of my time with him this past two and half weeks was this past Sunday.  We went to church in the morning and then went out for brunch.  There's nothing I love more than going to church with Tim and a close second would be just sitting and talking to him.  I got a two in one deal that day and I couldn't help but feel on top of the world.  Having him in my life is the most phenomenal thing and watching him work and interact with others make me so proud of him.  I love him more than life itself.

Overall, work this year taught me to expect change, to open my heart, and above all else to love myself.  A couple of weeks ago I talked about some things I wanted to accomplish this summer and making myself a better person was one of them.  I think these past few days I have really started to hit the nail on the head...although I would really still love to work on my anxiety but that will be an ongoing project.

Here are a few pictures!

Some of the PA's at beach day!

Ronnie and I!  I'm wearing a name tag here that took me 4 days to realize it was spelled wrong...

The only beautiful night we got when we went to camp...it poured the next two...

Just the greatest roommate :)

Date night with these three boys!  Clearly I am the fourth wheel...

Two of the girls at work surprised me and bought my Saint's medal...so overwhelmed and blessed to have them.

I just can't handle this photo....

 Seniors <3

What I'm watching

I'm about the head back to work so for the past month that I have had off to do next to nothing I have picked up a few favorite t.v. shows.  I think by now you all know that I have a deep love of food and so I typically gravitate towards cooking related shows.  If you are looking for something great to watch on t.v I highllyyyy suggest these!

1.  The Chew

It's no secret that Tim and I love this show.  We've been twice and while I totally love it for all the awesome food and stuff I really love it because I love the people on the show.  To break it down, Michael Symon and Mario Batali are my favorite Iron Chef's, Daphne Oz is phenomenal (go buy her book Relish), Carla Hall was me and my mom's favorite Top Chef and I have been watching Clinton Kelly on What Not to Wear since I was a kid.  It airs at 1 p.m. on ABC.

2.  Master Chef

Gordon Ramsey scares the crap out of me but I also love him at the same time.  Master Chef is a cooking competition for untrained chef's which I think is so fascinating to watch because they all have such a natural talent (well some of them, not all).  I would love to go on this show at some point so he could scream in my face but Tim tells me that I'd cry a lot...which is true.   

3.  The Great American Baking Competition

This show is brand new but I still think it's great.  After the first episode the woman who cooks with bacon is for sure my favorite because she's basically precious.  These bakers are also untrained which is totally after my own heart since I've never had training.  Essentially they give them different challenges to see how well they do on more crafty recipe's without much prior knowledge.

4.  Hell's Kitchen

So this is Gordon Ramsey's other cooking show that is on right now and these people are trained but also always seem a little bit like idiots.  I love it nonetheless because I really like Gordon Ramsey, especially when he's yelling.

5.  Eat St.

If I'm obsessed with any show in particular it's this one.  It's about the food truck frenzy that is taking over our nation and I just loooveeee to see some of the creative trucks out here.  Makes me want to hit up the city and go eat at my favorite trucks!  Never underestimate a food truck guys...the secrets they hold...oh man.

6.  Unique Sweets

Last but not least this show is all about desert but unique ones at that!  I love to watch it because it gives me such great ideas.  I think sometimes people are afraid to be bold with their cooking or are afraid to try new things because they could fail.  Sometimes it's fun to just cook what you feel would taste amazing.  Cook from the heart like these restaurateurs do!

Holy crap they are all about food.  Thought for sure I'd have one in there about singing or something!

What are you watching these days?

In other news, I'm sick

I feel like I have been missing in action this week and I sincerely apologize for disappearing for a bit but guys...I.am.so.freaking.sick.  Tim was sick earlier last week and he really didn't seem that bad (I know some women say that men are wimps when they are sick, but Tim is a champ.  I never can tell when he's feeling particularly awful.)  Anyway, I was convinced that I would beat whatever Tim had and then, just as I feared, last Sunday I started feeling sick.  We were out at the hitting range on a little date and I started to get a sore throat.  Well...it's Thursday now and I have no voice, an awful cough, a stuffy nose, body aches..the works! I feel awwwfffffullllllll.  Maggie came over last nice since I'm home house sitting and as a nursing major/best friend she did her best to keep my spirits high.

In other news, I experimented this morning with a new pancake recipe and it was yummy but still missing something.  I added vanilla this time around to give it a little kick but they still feel like they need more!  Do you guys have any suggestions for great pancake recipe's?!

In other other news, I want to take cooking classes for my birthday this year and have been trying to do some research online to find the best place.  Have any of you taken a class in the city and recommend a good place?

So sorry that this was such a random post, but I didn't want to leave you guys hanging while I try and beat this cold!

Guest post: Chickpea Flatbread!

Hey, friends! Claire here. I'm so honored to appear on Hair Bows and Smiles; Ashley and I used to share time at the world's greatest radio station, and it's pretty cool to now be sharing blog posts.

In continuing the sharing trend, this chickpea flatbread would be a perfect contribution to any summer BBQ or potluck dinner with family/friends. With a texture that balances the chewiness of traditional flatbread and the thickness of cornbread, it tastes fantastic dipped in sauces or smothered in gravy (I particularly loved it with a generous drizzle of barbecue sauce). Plus, the use of chickpea flour provides a huge punch of fiber and protein without any saturated fats or added sugars; no need to feel guilty going back for seconds!

The recipe is super simple, and I can't wait to start adapting it--maybe with a few herbs thrown in, or thinned out to use as sandwich bread, or perhaps with a swirl of chocolate or cinnamon? The possibilities are endless.

Chickpea Flatbread
Barely adapted from In Pursuit of More
Makes one 8" or 9" pan

1 tbsp olive oil (for oiling the pan)
3 tbsp olive oil (for the batter)
2 1/2 c chickpea flour
3 1/2 c water
1 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and oil your 8" or 9" pan (square or round will work) with the first tbsp of olive oil.

Place chickpea flour in a large bowl, then gradually stir in water, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Add the salt, additional olive oil and whisk until smooth.

Pour batter into prepared pan and bake until golden, about 40 minutes. Remove bread from oven and allow it to cool for a few minutes before slicing. Serve immediately, or refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container (a napkin or paper towel placed directly on top of the slices will absorb any excess moisture, preventing sogginess).

Becoming my biggest fan

I have always had really bad self-esteem, ever since I was a little girl.  I always wanted to be thinner, to look like the other girls, to fit in the clothes that they were wearing.  It never happened for me and it caused me to really lack self-esteem.  I didn't like a single part of me for a really long time and until recently I accepted that as my situation.

When I met Tim I was overwhelmed with how wonderful he was to me.  There's not a day that goes by that he doesn't tell me how beautiful I am.  I fight him on it all the time and let me tell you, he fights back.  He is determined to show me how beautiful I am.

It got me thinking..."I wan't to see what he sees."  Lately, I have been feeling like I need to find a way to become my own biggest fan.  I need to wake up in the morning with good thoughts about myself otherwise I am going to be my own worst enemy.  How am I ever going to get healthy if I wake up with negative thoughts every morning?!

A couple weeks ago I professed on the blog that I am going to lose weight again and then I didn't, I didn't even try!  I began to self-wallow and as always I ate because of that (I am an emotional eater if you couldn't tell).  When it came time to think about my summer goals and what I wanted to see from myself, I decided there was no better time to start getting healthy than right now.

I want to become my biggest fan.

Losing weight isn't so much about fitting into the clothes that other girls wear like it was when I was younger. Now, it's about feeling good about myself and having a healthy outlook on life.  Right now, it's my number one goal.

Since being home, I have been following my Weight Watchers plan and working out daily.  Sometimes I wake up and fight myself all day about working out, but I eventually do it and it makes me proud.  It's time to feel good about myself and I hope that I will inspire some of you to do the same.

How do you all stay healthy and build good self-esteem?

The night diner food changed my life

Diner food is just different than food at another restaurant.  When you go to a diner it is because you expect and want diner food.  This is exactly what I was thinking when my girlfriends claimed they were taking me to the best diner in the entire state of New Jersey last night.

Although it wasn't in the best of areas, Tops Diner in Newark N.J. was immediately a friendly and fun environment.  I couldn't get over how cute of a place it was and how huge it was inside!  Anyway, I was totally not expecting anything more than the typical, greasy, delicious diner food that I get at my usual place in Somerville.  Boy was I wrong!

When the waitress sat us and put the menus down I was blown away!  So many options, so much more than you would generally get and they were all creative and fantastic sounding. I had no idea what to get and eventually settled on a chocolate milkshake (my friends all raved about them) and red velvet pancakes.  Yes I ate like crap last night, sorry diet.  

First of all, the milkshake was delicious and the red velvet pancakes were sinful.  The food was nothing like typical diner food and I think my mind was blown.  Seriously, Tops Diner will forever set the bar way too high for any other diners I eat at...sorry in advance.  

The true test will be to take Tim and see if he loves it.  

In other news, I am now a yogurt snob?!  I bought yogurt that was on super sale over the weekend and it isn't as expensive as the yogurt I usually buy, but hey I wanted a good deal.  Well....I totally hate it.  Which is stupid, but I do. 

A little break

If feels like I haven't blogged in a while even though it's only been a couple of days.  If you all have checked in and were disappointed to not see something new, I am so sorry!  I've been taking a couple of days to read a new book called Blog, Inc. that I am hoping will help strengthen this blog and make it a whole hell of a lot more interesting for all of you!   Other than that, the semester is winding down so it's gotten far more busy that I had imagined.  Between homework, papers and events, there is hardly time for Tim and I to spend together on the weekends which sucks a lot.  I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to the summer.

Because I love pictures, here's a few from this weekend!

Charlotte and I had a huge presentation on Friday...so this is us very nervous

On Saturday night, Tim and I went to a barbecue for our friend who just beat cancer! It was a great night with friends!

Fresh strawberries in my favorite Crate&Barrel fruit crate!

Panera with Charlotte to finish off our Sunday food shopping spree! Um, their green tea is AMAZING. Go.Buy.Now

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!  Doing anything good?