a healthy post workout smoothie

this month i have been working on a 30 day workout challenge.  so far its been 12 days of lots of crunches, squats, and cardio. i always find it easier to workout in the mornings so i needed a quick, healthy breakfast before heading to the gym. it also doesn't hurt that it's incredibly healthy and delicious!

~ soy milk or rice milk can be used instead ~ 

~ and frozen bananas can be used for a thicker consistency ~

an indoor garden

i've tried growing plants indoors on a number of occasions. there was an herb garden or two that in just a couple weeks turned into a sad, dried up mess.  i'm embarrassed to say that at one point i couldn't even keep an arrangement of succulents alive...yes, the ones that are supposedly "plants you can't kill." i partially blame it on our previous house where those poor plants never saw natural light, and probably partly on the fact that in fear of them dying i watered them to death. 

a couple months ago we moved across the country and into a new apartment with PLENTY of natural light all day and so i decided to give plants another try. so far so good! my small plant collection is slowly growing out of control and filling all available window sills in the house. a few weeks ago i even got brave enough to acquire one of those gorgeous fiddle leaf fig trees! it's still alive too! (fingers crossed)

~ succulents from a local nursery ~

~ different sized clay pots painted with white paint ~

~ lots of bright light ~

~ here's to hoping they look just as pretty in a month ~

Roasted Vegetable + Lentil Salad

its the perfect fall day today, even though it is a monday. the morning is gloomy, chilly, there is a thick fog over the mountains, and the leaves are finally starting to show autumn colors. these are the kinds of days i missed most during our four years in california. it also felt like the exact morning i needed to sit down and finally post my first blog post in over a year, and give this blogging thing one more try!

~ fresh thyme, salt + pepper, french lentils ~

~ red + golden beets, cherry tomatoes, and carrots ready for the oven ~

i came across this recipe on pinterest and instantly pinned it. it combined three of my favorite things, lentils, goat cheese, and beets. it works perfectly as a salad or as an entire meal. 

Recipe: White Peach and Blackberry Crumble

i was so excited to find time to bake this week! i find baking and cooking so relaxing and such a good stress reliever, especially when i am making something new and it ends up being delicious! 

lately i've been obsessed with crumbles. i found this one here and it was so yummy!

DIY: Succulent Garden

i've wanted to add little succulents to our house for a while now. last week i finally had a free afternoon and decided to give it a try. Things you need: vase (i used pots from anthropologie and mini mason jars), small rocks, soil, succulents. Add a thin layer of rocks to the bottom of the vase, fill half way with soil, arrange succulents, add more soil and you are done!  

Recipe: Peach and Creme Fraiche Tart

desserts with peaches are one of my weaknesses. i loved this tart because the peaches are kept fresh, if fact there is no baking involved at all! and it doesn't even feel like eating a dessert, but more like a fresh, healthy breakfast! the crust tastes like a lara bar and the cream with the peaches is to die for! everyone should make this! :)

Trip to Europe...Part 3

old town bern, switzerland

i can't believe that is has already been over two weeks since we got back from europe. it all seems like a dream now. (part 1, part 2)

interlaken, switzerland

the most picturesque little town in the alps 

lauterbrunnen, switzerland

the sound of music?

of course every day involved pastries

paragliders in the alps

glacial lake in interlaken, switzerland