back to basics ~ trail mix

The Fall is an incredibly beautiful yet busy time for me- between work and fitting in all the amazing Fall fun it can be hard to keep fueled throughout the day. To save the day and to keep from getting HANGRY I tend to keep a container of trail mix with me at all times. It really is the best for everyone involved - a Hangry Heather is not a Happy Heather. 

The easy way out is to purchase a big bag of pre made trail mix, however I like to throw together my own in a mason jar, seriously it is just as easy as buying a bag but better. The mix varies week to week depending on what I have on hand. I like to toss in the lat bits of nuts or seeds, the bottom of the bag so to speak.

Daily Routine Essentials

Today I am veering off the normal path to share with you a few products that Justin and I have fallen in love with over the course a the past year. It is important to us that not only we nourish our bodies with plant based wholesome foods, it is also equally important that the product we use on the outside of our bodies are just as pure and natural as the food we enjoy. We are not perfect by any means, but NOW Solutions has made it easier than ever to find natural products that actually WORK!  

blueberry pie // shortbread crust + oat crumble

Blueberries are in Season- yeaaaaaaah! We have the sweetest little blueberry stand right down the the street from us - the blueberries are on the honor system and grown by a little old couple, the Murphys. We like to think the Murphy's eat Blueberries all day everyday. I know Justin and I would if we could. 

During the short month's the blueberries are in Season we load up. Not a day goes by that we don't stop at the stand. We freeze as many as we can fit in the freeze for the winter pancakes,  make blueberry jam for preserving and eat them by the handful.

I made this pie with the first of the season blueberries from the Murphy's - it didn't disappoint.

shortbread cookies // coconut + macadamias

These cookies, THESE cookies are so freakin' amazing. Before posting I ended up testing this recipe about 5 times and they were spot on 4 out of 5 times.....the first time around, I attempted a gluten free version and that was a total fail, it didn't even make it to the freezer phase of the recipe. Then I moved onto the good ol' all purpose flour and there was not turning back- they were perfect.

triple nut butter // pecans, cashews + almonds

We loooooove our nut butters - no lie. Between Justin, Brody and I we probably go through about a jar a week. Overnight oats, farina, celery and peanut butter, waffles and nut butter, english muffins with nut butter and banana...the list goes on and on.

When I have the motivation I like to make my own. It is super simple, and every time I whip up a batch I think to myself why on earth I don't do this more often.

A quick roast and blend and you have yourself a nut butter. A nut butter where you control the ingredients, texture and amount.

kitchen IQ + So Delicious Brunch! // Banana Pancakes

At our house breakfast or brunch is a favorite. For us, a breakfast that includes a Mimosa automatically becomes Brunch.

This post combines my two favorite things: Banana Pancakes + Mimosas.  

This my friends, is the perfect start to any Sunday.

Who actually needs an excuse to day drink, I didn't think so.

nightly rituals // relaxing before bedtime

I love routine, I love rituals - they keep me grounded. 

Every morning I make our bed, each night it is impossible for me to go to bed with the dishes in the sink, dirty counter tops or an un-vacuumed floor. I actually get really anxious, to the point I can't relax until the above tasks are completed. It's the same with clutter, clutter and I do not get along but that is a story for another day.

a book review: a plantiful table // sweet potato pie + giveaway!

Does anyone else read their cookbooks like a novel or am I the only one?

The Plantiful Table has been one of the Cookbooks of 2015 that I have been waiting for - when the opportunity to review the book was presented I jumped at the opportunity. I have been following Drea's blog for a couple of years now and fell in love with her approach on feeding Marlowe and how her family treated meal time and food in general.

book review: Super Foods 24/7 // bonus recipe + giveaway!

Within the past couple of years we have seen a major upswing in creative vegan cookbooks on the market that totally hold their own and are finding a home on vegan and non vegan's bookshelves across the country. It has been amazing to witness veganism becoming more accepted and mainstream, it is no longer viewed as a hippie crunchie diet full of beans, sprouts and tofu - which of course I love all those things but way back the word vegan had a stigma attached to it.

Super Foods 24/7 offers up a variety of accessible, non intimidating and creative recipes that evolve around vegan super foods- let me just tell you, this book is pretty amazing.

chocolate chia smoothie // avocado + cinnamon

I'm a goal-setter, a list maker and definitely find myself relating the type A's. Rather than setting "resolutions" at the start of the new year I like to create a Life List. This habit started years ago, a girlfriend of mine hosted a Life List Party at the start of the year. The idea was two sided; goals for the upcoming year on one side, on the other, long term goals and aspirations. 

Some of my past lists have included creating a blog, become debt free by the time I turned 30,  purchase a home, learn to can from the garden, start a book club, become a more active participant within the community. Throughout the year I reference my list and cross of the goals that have been achieved. Looking through past lists to see what long term goals have actuated and revisit those that have fizzled is pretty therapeutic too.

book review: Happy Healthy Vegan Kitchen // recipe + giveaway

I remember the very first time I came across Kathy's amazing blog, I was researching Macro Bowls and her gorgeous vegan macro bowl was among the search. I clearly remember how gorgeous the photos were and it was the first time that tempeh ever looked tempting.

Kathy has this warmth that just exudes from every post she writes, this warmth and happy living is also super evident in her latest vegan cook book - Healthy Happy Vegan Kitchen. This cookbook is for everyone, however she has an amazing section in the book that focuses on Kitchen Tools + a Vegan Pantry, along with some pretty awesome wellness tips. When I first started in the Kitchen I always found these sections to be incredibly useful.