soup hack

There comes a time towards the end of the week (or two) when you are left with scraps of vegetables. What better way to not let those go to waste than to make a soup. No recipes, no rules. All you have to do is (1) pick a base to make your broth, (2) add in your cut up veggies, (3) bring to boil and then simmer on low for 30 minutes.

My go-to base would be tomato if the soup is going to be vegetarian. I usually keep in stock canned tomato sauce and use a 1:2 ratio of sauce to water when making the soup. Other options include vegetable, beef, and chicken stock. You can also just drop in a bouillon cube in some water.

I add in potatoes and onions to every soup because, as most people do, I always have it on hand. Frozen corn and peas are also easy to drop in. If you wanted to make it a carnivorous soup, I suggest you cook the meat separately and then add it in. To make the soup a little more hearty, you can add pasta or beans.

The suggestions go on and on. And the possibilities are endless. Making your own soup is a good way to limit your sodium intake as store-bought soups can contain almost 1000 mg of sodium - that's almost 50% of your recommended daily value. Home-cooking keeps your eyes open to what you're putting into your body. Happy soup making!

SP

...listening Rise Up by Andra Day

Comments? Questions? Leave them here or shoot me an email.

bachelorette card

Love is beautiful. And it's a wonderful thing to witness. Need I say more?

succulents & cactus

I have been meaning to add some life to my apartment for a while. Thought I'd take advantage of the beautiful weather and finally do some "planting." You can easily go buy succulents and cacti but what's the fun in that? This project was cheap, easy, and quick.

I purchased the bowls at Target for $1.99 each and the plants from Home Depot for around $3.50 each. These low-maintenance indoor plants are just want I needed for some peace in my busy schedule. 

SP

...listening to Can't Stop by OneRepublic

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squash spaghetti

    

Cooking doesn't have to be hard. This meal prep idea is getting me excited for lunch this week. Packed with more than 20g of protein and three raw vegetables (because raw vegetables are more nutritious but no one wants to eat a salad everyday), it is sure to keep you full and feeling good. 

Ingredients:

• 1 yellow squash
• 1 zucchini squash
• 4oz baby bella mushrooms
• 1/2c pasta sauce
• handful of baby spinach
• 8oz ground turkey
• 1/4c onion

Directions:

1. Thinly slice all squash into long strands (although I used a knife, a spiralizer would probably be much easier)
2. Saute onion in olive oil for 1 minute
3. Add in ground turkey and cook until fully browned
4. Add pasta sauce and spinach to the turkey and cook until spinach has wilted
5. Top squash and mushrooms with meat sauce

SP

...listening to Castle on the Hill by Ed Sheeran

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mini egg quiche

Although I consider myself a morning person, I still find myself running around in the A.M. I try to prep as much as I can the night before like packing my gym bag, picking out my outfit, and laying my shoes out by the door. Recently I've started meal-prepping my breakfast in addition to my lunches for the week. When I'm feeling sweet, I usually cut up some fruit in plain greek yogurt and sprinkle some walnuts with a drizzle of honey. Most of the time, I'm feeling savory so I make these mini egg quiches. The word "quiche" is misleading because there is no flaky crust involved; however, recipes are for editing so you add in that pastry if that is what you want!

Ingredients:

• 5 eggs
• 5 mini breakfast sausage links 
• 1 c thinly chopped spinach
• 1/4 c thinly chopped mushrooms
• 1/4 c diced onions
• optional: uncooked oats

Directions:

1. Beat eggs until yolks are fully incorporated.

2. Mix in spinach, mushrooms, and onions.

3. In the cupcake tin, pat down a layer of oats (if you decide you want some additional protein and a crust-type texture).

4. Spoon in egg mixture into the cups. You will want to fill up 10 standard cupcake tins.

5. Layer the cut up sausage links on top.

6. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes & broil for 1 minute to get a nice char on the meat.

Once they are cool, stick them in the refrigerator until you are ready to eat. In the mornings, I pop two in the microwave for about 25 seconds and top with some salsa. Enjoy!

SP

...listening to Daylight by Matt and Kim

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christmas cards

This is my first Christmas to explore my card-making hobby and I couldn't be more excited. With only a few materials, design ideas are endless. Here's a quick tip: Black Friday and after Christmas sales are the best time to get holiday specific ribbon, stickers, and cardstock to make cards for the following year. 

Happy Holidays!

SP

...listening to all Christmas radio stations

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chile

  

SP

...listening to Final Song by MO

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kale & white bean salad

3-4 carrots, chopped
1 c mushrooms, chopped
1/4 white onion
1 small potato
3-4 c kale, chopped
1 16 oz can of cannelloni beans, drained 
1 tbs garlic powder
1 tbs thyme
Salt and pepper, to taste

1. Saute carrots and onions in olive oil over high heat until al dente
2. Add in mushrooms and seasonings and cook to preference
3. Add in cannelloni beans (or any other white bean that you like). I usually rinse my canned beans before consuming them.
4. Add in kale a cup at a time to the covered the pot to steam the kale.

SP

...listening to Closer by The Chainsmokers, Halsey

Comments? Questions? Feel free to leave them here or shoot me an email. 

i am a warrior

Maybe it was Xena who was the Warrior Princess, but I'm close enough. Ever since I started having problem skin, I started trying all types of face washes and masks. I realized the simplest of ingredients on my face was the best. I like using LUSH products because they provide you with skin care products that are all natural. And I'll be honest, they are super fun to use.

The product does have to be refrigerated since it is made with natural ingredients and expires in about two weeks. I use it a week or two after and it seems to be fine.

Featured tubs:
Don't Look At Me (fresh face mask) - $10.95/tub
Cosmetic Warrior (fresh face mask) -  $7.95/tub
Ocean Salt (facial scrub) - $21.95/tub

One of my favorite facial cleansers is the Herbalism facial cleanser which goes for $15.75 per 1/4 lbs. I like it because (1) it's green and I will always be biased towards my favorite color, (2) it contains almonds and kaolin, two ingredients said to be good for your face, and (3) it smells so good - if gentle, humble, and relaxing had a scent, this would be it.

And look at LUSH doing some good in the world. If you bring back five pots, you get a free mask! Three down, two to go.

SP

...listening to Scar to Your Beautiful by Alessia Cara

Comments? Questions? Feel free to leave a comment or shoot me an email. 

sweet potato & squash hash

For a girl who loves eating her veggies, salads can get a little boring. That is why I like to sometimes switch it up and take a hash to work for lunch instead. This is a super quick and easy meal to make.

1 sweet potato, cubed
1 zucchini squash, cubed
1 yellow squash, cubed
1/4 white onion, diced
1 16oz can of black beans, drained
1 tbs crushed red pepper
1 tbs rosemary
salt and pepper, to taste

1. Saute sweet potato and onions over high heat stirring frequently in some olive oil until potato is al dente. Cover the pot to allow the steam to help in the cooking process.
2. Add in squash and seasonings and then cook to preference. I leave the pot covered and toss the veggies every minute. Depending on the size of your cubes, the squash will cook very fast so be ready. If your hash becomes too watery, leave it cooking uncovered on high heat.
3. Add in black beans. I wash the beans with water before adding to the hash so they don't stain the dish.

I like to sprinkle some pepper jack cheese on top for added flavor but you could throw on a spoon of salsa, olive oil, or anything else your heart desires. I added cherry tomatoes to the hash while it was still hot because they are super yummy when cooked through. You can make this a carnivorous dish by adding in ground beef or shredded chicken but I like to keep it vegetarian. This recipe makes about three servings. I currently have one in my refrigerator and two in my freezer for later lunches! Hope you enjoy.


SP

...listening to The Greatest by Sia

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ireland / england

SP

...listening to Sweater Weather by The Neighbourhood

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green smoothie

Many people say they would rather eat their calories than drink them. I am one of those people. Very rarely will I replace a meal with a shake or a snack with a drink, as I take every opportunity I can to put food in my mouth. Having said that, I think a green smoothie is a great addition to your diet because it helps you get nutrients that you may not get otherwise.

I've been making green (sometimes purple or red) smoothies for a while and have perfected the trade. You are probably thinking, what trade? All you do is blend up fruits and veggies, it's about the easiest thing someone can do. Yes, but here are some tips to make it go a little more smoothly.

You can add greek yogurt, almond milk, coconut water, etc. if you'd like but I keep it simple and use water. Also, if you want some extra protein you can add a nut butter. Chia seeds are a good source of protein, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids so I save the PB for my apples. Although there are a lot of greens going into it, my green smoothies taste pretty sweet. Here's what I throw into my cup (and the order I throw them in):

1. fresh fruit 
2. spinach or kale
3. frozen banana
4. cucumber
5. celery sticks
6. frozen fruit
7. chia seeds, fiber supplement, and ground flax seeds
8. choice of liquid 

I've tried frozen fruit from the grocery store and the taste is not so great. I recommend buying fresh fruit during peak seasons and freezing it for times when apples and bananas are about all you can get. I have countless bags of fresh frozen bluberries, mangos, and strawberries ready for the winter.

To save me time during the week, I put everything into cup ahead of time and add in the water to blend when I am ready to drink. I'm a big believer of planning ahead so everything you can do to avoid the morning rush or late night chore on a weekday, I say go for it!

SP

...listening to No Money by Galantis

Comments? Questions? Leave them here or shoot me an email.

happy first birthday

In honor of my first post, I wanted to show y'all a card I made for my niece's first birthday. Every card I make is different, despite my mom telling me I should mass produce common holidays. I like each one to be special to the recipient.

My most common craft supplies I use when making cards are:

1. Cardstock
2. Washi tape
3. Fine point permanent markers
4. Stickers

This card cost me about $1.50 to make.

Michael's is my go-to for craft supplies. They usually have a sale going on and often have 40% off coupons in the paper. Taking advantage of their Labor Day sale, I was able to snag 36 sheets of multicolored cardstock, two sticker sheets, and a 50 pack of envelopes all for under $10. Talk about a good deal!

Hope my cards encourage you to make your own for your friends and family. Made with great effort and love (yes, I said it), homemade items will always hold a special place in my heart. 

SP 

...listening to Sit Still, Look Pretty by Daya

Questions? Comments? Leave them here or shoot me an email.