perfectly pumpkin protein shake

it has been forever since my last post, as the past nine months of my life have been COMPLETELY consumed with wedding planning bliss! however, in a mere thirty days, I will marry the man of my dreams... leaving me with plenty of time to post about my favorite things, including fabulous recipes!

as any of my close friends would know, I FALL head over heals for the tasty flavors and aromas of pumpkin during this season! unfortunately, most of the fall treats that grace us with their presence at this time of year cause our waistlines grow and we find it increasingly difficult to squeeze into our "skinny" jeans. this year, I made it my mission to create a fall protein shake that would both satisfy my sweet tooth and still allow me to fit perfectly in my wedding dress!

perfectly pumpkin protein shake

- 1 scoop Jay Robb vanilla egg protein or Jay Robb vanilla whey protein
- 1 tbsp (heaping) canned pure pumpkin (always opt for organic when at all possible!)
- 1/2 frozen banana - I peel, halve and freeze bananas in bulk, so all you have to do is grab one from the freezer
- pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon to taste
- add ice & water as desired - amount will vary based on individual preference and power of blender
- blend & enjoy!

banana bliss protein shake - my all-time favorite!!

- 1 scoop Jay Rob chocolate/vanilla egg or whey protein powder

- 1/2 frozen banana

- cinnamon to taste

- ice & water

- blend & enjoy!

AB&J protein shake - perfect when you feel like satisfying that childhood PB&J craving!

- 1 scoop Jay Robb vanilla egg or whey protein powder
- 1/4 cup frozen strawberries, blueberries or mixed berries
- 1 tbsp raw organic almond butter
- ice & water
- blend & enjoy!

valentines favorites

looking for something sweet to get your special someone? Here are some of my favorites!

pink citron voluspa candle {nordstrom}

pour la victoire irina in burgundy patent {zappos}

personalized monogram pendant in rose gold {baublebar}

philosophy 'sweet on you' candy hearts shampoo, shower gel & bubble bath {nordstrom}

louis vuitton cosmetic pouch in pomme d'amour {louis vuitton}

tory burch foundation studded cuff in red {tory burch}

cupcakes from the primrose bakery recipe book {anthropologie}

purdy pastels

while much of the US is covered in powdery snow, it seems as if spring has sprung in Palm Desert. Though I absolutely love being cuddled up in oversized sweaters and scarves during the winter, I get very excited when spring arrives and bits of color start popping up in stores. One of my favorite trends this year has been the abundance of colored denim. Here are some of my favorites...

j brand mid-rise overdyed skinny leg jeans in coral

paige denim 'verdugo' stretch denim leggings in mint

current/elliott ankle jeans in mercury glass

lilblueboo

there are no words to describe the courage, beauty & strength of this amazing woman! she is an inspiration to me and because of her story, I have made a conscious effort to CHOOSE JOY every day! http://vimeo.com/35075246 & visit her blog - www.lilblueboo.com 

chunky paleo chili

one of our go-to meals is paleo chili - it's quick, easy, and most of all delicious! Davey and I usually make enough to feed a small army... then package it in glass containers for the rest of the week! Here is the recipe:
- sauté two pounds lean turkey meat (or beef, though I'm not a red meat person - poor Davey!) in bottom of sauce pan with olive oil
- add one large diced white onion and one 16oz bag of sliced white mushrooms, cook until soft
- add two large cans organic unsalted diced tomatoes & two small cans organic unsalted tomato sauce
- season to taste... I usually use garlic powder, cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper, himalayan salt, oregano and fresh ground pepper - I am a lover of spicy food so I add a LOT of cayenne pepper and crushed red pepper :)

enjoy! :)

made in USA gift ideas

Recently on ABC, there was a feature story on how if each American vowed to spend at least $64 of their holiday shopping on American-made products, it would create over 200,000 new jobs (read the whole story here). Below are some gift ideas that would make any girl smile...

... True Religion jeans. I LOVE them in this festive color (here)...

... Hanky Panky bras and panties (here)... 

... Frye boots, including the Campus boot (here)... 

... Dogeared LOVED charm necklace (here)... 

... Laura Mercier hand creme (here)... 

**Please note, many companies (including some of those listed above) manufacture some of their products in the US, while others are manufactured over seas or only assembled in the US. When purchasing, be certain that your product is truly manufactured AND assembled in the US.