Things I Love
My favorite things to eat, drink, and do
Brighten Your Day
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I'm always looking for new accounts to follow on Instagram, especially since the majority of my feed is food related; a little diversity wouldn't hurt. I recently found @beigecardigan, a fun, witty, and sarcastic account by Jessica Anteby that always brings a smile to my face. Just trust me on this one and follow her. Looking for something a little less sassy? Check out the Transportation Security Administration's page. You will be both alarmed and amazed at what TSA agents collect from passengers every day, plus they are happy to answer your "can I bring?" questions. While you are at it, you can follow me too!
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Experiment in the Kitchen
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Wanting to know how to take your culinary skills to the next level? The Flavor Bible: The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity is the perfect sidekick for learning how to mix, layer, and compliment flavors and textures to develop new and delicious meals. This book was recommended to my by one of the chefs at Culinaerie, and I am so glad I listened. Since getting my hands on this book, I have used it when working with new ingredients, trying to update a favorite recipe, and even bought my brother a copy as a birthday gift.
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Take a Deep Breath
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Life causes stress...fact. Whether you feel stressed from work, school, too much laundry, family concerns, etc., we all know the feeling of tense muscles, shallow breathing, and exhaustion. Finding ways to manage this stress is key, but in my experience, easier said than done. I have written before about some of my own coping strategies; coloring, and walking, but I want to recommend a new strategy I recently found helpful - yoga. Yes, I know, many of you discovered yoga long ago, but I have always struggled to stay focused in class, or find a style that works for me. A few weeks ago, after months of sore muscles, back aches, and constant worrying, I decided it was time to try again. Paying for classes is out of my budget, so I searched on Youtube, and eventually found Yoga with Adriene.
Please give her a try. She has hundreds of videos, most of them under 30 minutes. She provides tons of diversity with video titles like "Yoga to get the juices flowing" and "Yoga for mood swings". Over the past few weeks I have done one of her videos almost every day, and it has made a huge difference in how I feel physically and mentally. |
Read This
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I've been a little lazy in the reading department this year, but The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue is a book I'm glad I decided to pick up. Perfect for summer poolside, or winter couch reading, this Young Adult novel will take you on an exciting adventure.
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And This
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I usually do not have the attention span to read an entire long-form journalism piece, but this story, by Christopher Goffard, in the LA Times is just as suspenseful, detailed and mind-blowing as any great mystery novel. Trust me, eat your lunch at your desk today, and ignore everything else for 30 minutes.
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While Drinking Some of This
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While I did say my recommendations would stay clear of food, I would kick myself for not recommending this product. I happened upon a free sample of Choffy a few weeks ago; the company ran a promotion on Facebook. I love coffee, and I love chocolate, so I anxiously awaited the arrival of the sample in the mail. To be clear, Choffy does not have any coffee in it, so the company promotes itself as an alternative for people who do not like coffee, or choose not to drink it for other reasons. Since I do not function without a little caffeine in the morning, I chose to mix a little coffee with the Choffy when I tried it. The chocolate flavor was less pronounced than I expected, but it filled my kitchen with amazing aromas first thing in the morning, added a smooth and rich texture to my mug, and basically filled my daily desire to have chocolate for breakfast.
Important note: Choffy is expensive, and not something I would buy often. However, I am planning on adding it to my mental Gift List; great gift ideas for myself or others - I recommend you do the same. The best place to buy it is through Amazon. |
Weekend Netflixing
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There is so much great TV available these days, it's difficult to decide what to watch next. Even with well curated recommendations from friends and family, it often feels like information overload when I finally sit down to enjoy something. If you are feeling the same way, maybe some of my recommendations will help narrow your list.
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