Coffee, Coffee…Buzz, Buzz

I am totally obsessed with coffee. It is just one of the most amazing and delicious things in the entire world and I most likely could not live without it.

My mom is also obsessed with coffee and drinks it all the time. We could both drink it up until the moment before we went to bed and it would never, ever keep us up. We also both drink it black. You see, we used to drink it very, very light and very, very sweet. Then we went on this cleanse and had to cut out sugar and dairy, but there was no way that we were cutting out coffee all together. Thus, we started drinking it black and realized it isn’t all that bad! Plus, it’s much healthier that way.

That isn’t to say, though, that I don’t occasionally throw in a splash of cream and one Splenda into my coffee on a long day!

Anyways, coffee is just something I have been obsessed with for a while and probably always will be. I’m a big Dunkin’ Donuts lover especially for their iced coffee (coconut) and I also like Starbucks. I will drink coffee from most anywhere, really. It’s just that good and that important.

I am trying to break the habit of having coffee first every morning and substituting with two bottles of water before I get coffee to encourage good hydration. It is working out pretty well, as long as I don’t wait to long for that caffeine fix.

As mentioned before, coconut coffee is my favorite. It is so tropical and…um, delicious! I am also a big fan of coffee flavored ice cream and used to love the Ben & Jerry’s coffee flavor with chocolate chips mixed in but now I can’t find it anywhere! Huge bummer!

To sum it up, I love this drink no matter what way it’s served!

What’s your favorite way to drink coffee?

he loves coffee too!

Baking Bonanza: A Delicious Combo

The other day, I was in a mood to bake (what else is new!?) so I tried a new recipe I’d found on Pinterest.

I was really excited about it, as it combined two of my favorite desserts: chocolate chip cookies and brownies. Doesn’t that sound so delicious?!

So, I used this recipe and followed the exact directions. The recipe was really simple and quick and I had a lot of fun baking, like I always do. Here’s what they looked like before being baked:

When I put my creation in the oven I was so excited to see how it would turn out.

When I took it out of the oven, although it didn’t look as great as it did on the site, it still smelled really great. My family was excited to try it and after dinner, I cut each of us a piece.

It turned out well and tasted good. I will say that the brownie part turns out very fudgy, so you do have to eat it with a fork. Keep in mind that for that reason, this isn’t a treat to bring somewhere like to work where you’re going to have to worry about forks and plates and all that.

But, one major bonus of making this is that there was extra cookie dough, so not only did we have brownies we also ended up with yummy cookies!

Overall, though, it was yummy! Something I’d definitely make again when looking for a double whammy of desserts smooshed into one!

Do you have any crazy combo recipes that turn out well? Tell me about them!

Baking Bonanza: Staple Goodies

This past week, I had the craving to do some baking. This is definitely not unusual for me, since baking is one of my favorite activities.

It was weird, though, actually. Because usually, when I am anxious and excited to bake, it is to bake something new and exciting that I discovered on Pinterest. This time, however, I was looking to bake some of the most classic and staple recipes in my book.

My sister wanted to bake Peanut Butter Blossoms all week, so we finally made them. We use a recipe given to us a while ago by a family friend and make them from scratch. They always turn out so well and I love the creaminess of them and the chocolate-peanut butter combination (surely a match made in heaven).

Another staple is chocolate chip cookies. There are several great recipes I use for these, and they almost always turn out so great. I also have some tips and tricks up my sleeve for making them come out certain ways, for example extra soft. In my opinion, chocolate chip cookies are highly underrated and a food staple, not just a baking staple.

I did try one new recipe that I found on Pinterest, in the hopes of it turning into a new signature piece. They are double chocolate cookies with M&Ms in them. Easy, simple, and pretty good. I see many of these in my future.

More of my favorite baking staples are banana bread, the famous homemade Oreos, Italian Anisette cookies, belly buttons, and iced sugar cookies.  I’ve also been a big fan of making homemade cornbread lately. What are your go-to recipes?

 

Beauty Blitz: Detox Foods

As the holiday season is officially over, I am definitely feeling the need to diet and cleanse my system.

After consuming endless peppermint mochas, Dunkaccinos, cookies, pies, chips, candy canes, champagne, soda, and everything else that was placed in front of me…I feel so gross.

One of the best ways, in my opinion, to get rid of that gross feeling after eating all of that food is detoxing.

This time I am definitely not going too crazy with the detox, still eating some real food. I am, however, making small changes to my diet to cleanse my system.

I am trying to add foods that are strong detoxers to my diet. For instance, lemons are one of the best foods for this, so each morning I have been drinking iced or even hot lemon water when I wake up.

Other good foods to detox you naturally are fresh fruits (stay away from bananas, though), fresh veggies (especially cucumbers), garlic, ginger, green tea,  and leafy greens.

The other very important aspect to detoxing is drinking lots and lots of water. I have been running to the bathroom about 10 times a day at work (embarrassingly) because of all the water I’m drinking! But drinking all this water is a great way to flush your system of toxins and impurities and it has tons of other health benefits, too – clear skin, boosted immune system, and so on.

What ways do you cleanse your system after the inevitable holiday binge eating?

Winter Comfort Foods

Even though it didn’t particularly feel  like a winter day today (helllooooo 55 degrees in December!), that doesn’t mean the season isn’t upon us!

Since it is, in fact, winter, that means many things. From Christmas carols to candy canes, from scarves and mittens to Frosty the Snowman, it is a time for many, many fun things that can only be celebrated this time of year.

Another great part of this year is winter comfort food. There is really nothing quite like snuggling up by the fire in front of a good movie or with a good book eating something delicious that encompasses the taste and feel of the season.

Here is my perfect winter comfort meal:

1. Broccoli cheddar or French onion soup with crackers – I am usually not a soup lover but these are perfect for the winter!
2. Green bean casserole – yum! Green beans are one of my favorite things to eat and I love this classic holiday dish!
3. Pudding pie – what could be better than pudding, pie, and whipped cream all blended into one to top off this decedent meal?! Nothing!!

What are your favorite winter comfort foods that taste like the season to you?

Thanksgiving Baking

I had a great Thanksgiving and I hope that everyone else did too! It was such a beautiful day outside and I was lucky enough to be surrounded by great family and friends this holiday.

I am so lucky to have a mom that would do anything for me, and I don’t think that I could get through many, many things without her. I have an amazing father who has instilled lifelong values in me, like hard work and passion – just to name a few. I have a sister who I am lucky enough to call my very best friend, who is there for me every second of every day. And although I never blog about him, I have a boyfriend who makes me happier than I ever could have imagined. Not to mention I have friends and sorority sisters that I am thankful for every day.

Anyways, it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without lots of food. Like…my mom always makes so much food that afterwards, our fridge is absolutely stuffed with leftovers. It’s kind of crazy, and always reminds me how we are lucky to have so much when others have so little.

My favorite part of the meal is always dessert. This year, I did a lot of baking.

I made:

Turkey cupcakes (inspired by Pinterest)

Pumpkin whoopie pies with cream cheese frosting filling

Peanut Butter chocolate bites

Classic chocolate chip cookies

Butter balls

Belly Buttons

My mom and sister also made an array of baked goods, including pies, cakes, and brownies. Needless to say, we had a ton of delicious desserts at our table.

I am definitely very lucky and very, very thankful this holiday, and I hope I can be as lucky for many years to come.

Happy Thanksgiving!

pinterest inspired, obviously!

dessert table, yum!

Swanky Press Printables

With Thanksgiving just days away, I know my house is beginning to prepare for all the festivities. I love the holidays, and especially Thanksgiving because it is the kick off to Christmas time.

We also always have so much amazing food at my house on Thanksgiving. From appetizers to desserts, my mom always goes a little overboard, cooking and baking enough food to feed an army (but really).

Anyways, I’ve been looking for ways to decorate for the special day and make everything look perfect.

Luckily, Swanky Press has provided me and my blog readers with some irresistable food tents (shown below) to print and fill out for the holiday!

Swanky Press has so many awesome products. I love all of the luggage tags, they are so cute and preppy and would make a great gift for any avid traveller!

I hope you enjoy these food tents as much as I know my family and I will this Thanksgiving! They are the perfect detail to add to this special day.

 

The Taste of the Season

Now that the holiday season is beginning, I am so excited about the return of Starbucks holiday drinks, mainly peppermint hot chocolate and peppermint mocha.

As per my mom’s request, I’ve always held off on much of the Christmasy things until after Thanksgiving – aka music, decorating, and so on. However, I cannot resist these sweet treats.

I’m usually must more of a Dunkin girl, but over the holidays I’ve always gravitated towards the Starbucks peppermint treats. They are just so good.

And this year, Dunkin has added peppermint mocha to their menu, which I’ve tried and it is also very delicious. Furthermore, I’m a big Dunkaccino fan, and if you’ve never had one I highly recommend them. Thus, this year I will have to start rotating between the two coffee chains.

I also am really excited to make some peppermint treats I found recipes for on Pinterest this year. Most of all, I’m excited to try this peppermint whipped cream recipe for when I make my own hot chocolate for those cozy, snowy nights where I’m home playing Monopoly.

Peppermint is one of the best flavors of the season and I plan on taking full advantage of it while I can.

5 Steps to a Productive Sunday

Sundays are frequently a day of relaxation and even laziness filled with TV and snacking. However, sometimes it is quite useful and rewarding to use one of these lazy days to actually be productive and get a lot of work done to kick-start the week.

Here are 5 steps towards doing just that:

1. Wake up early – one of the biggest causes of not getting anything done over the weekend (especially in college) is sleeping the day away. Set an alarm and get yourself out of bed, have a good breakfast, and get a jump start on the day!
2. Get some fresh air – even if you just sit outside for five minutes, getting fresh air can help clear your mind and refresh you, allowing your head to be fully ready to get stuff done.
3. Set a schedule – even if you don’y follow it exactly, it can be useful to set a rough schedule of the day so you can manage time easier. I find it useful to always jot down a quick one on a piece of scrap paper or post it note and leave it somewhere in sight all day so I don’t lose track of time.
4. Take time to yourself- taking breaks is not only a good idea but is totally necessary if you want to be productive for a whole day! Taking a quick break to read an old favorite book or give yourself a mani will really refresh and revamp your mind.
5. Be goal oriented – always think towards the goals you want to accomplish during the day and how happy you will be once you reach them. After a productive day I know I always feel proud of the goals I achieved that night as I go to bed.

While some may see Sundays as a day of rest, they are also a great chance to get a lot done. Having a day full of productivity not only makes your upcoming week easier but makes you feel good about yourself!

Weekend Snacks

Ahh! The weekend! A great time to kick back and relax, have fun, catch up on sleep, and get stuff done (if, and only if, you so choose).

The weekend can be described as a time of indulgence, since it’s the best and most common time for everyone to eat, drink, and be merry. It is a break from work, school, and obligations.

So, when would be a better time for a delicious snack? Half the time during the week we are all too busy to eat meals, let alone snack, so on the weekend we should take full advantage of this leisure time and dig in!

Here are some of my favorite weekend snacks to indulge in:

1. Goldfish – these baked crackers come in so many flavors and I find myself so addicted to them. My favorites are the original, cheddar, and parmesan flavors, and I also love the 100 calorie packs.
2. Granola bars – granola bars are a great snack when you’re on the go or just lounging and looking for something quick. I’m a big fan of the Quaker Oates 100 calorie bars which come in several flavors, ranging from peanut butter to chocolate chip.
3. Microwave popcorn – Popcorn is one of the greatest snacks of all time, especially when you’re relaxing watching TV or a movie. There are tons of different flavors and variations of this treat, from the low fat ones which surprisingly taste good to extra butter. I’m a big kettle corn fan!
4. Chips and salsa – this snack doesn’t only taste good but is filling and has health benefits. Spicy foods like salsa can raise your metabolism, and not to mention this tastes great!
5. Froyo- Like the rest of the world, I love froyo. It seems like a million frozen yogurt shops have opened around Quinnipiac, and I can’t say I’m mad about it! The great thing about this snack is that you can add healthy or not so healthy toppings to it and you’re getting the taste of ice cream but being healthier.

What are your favorite snacks to nibble on when you’re feeling indulgent?