Lately...

...I've been traveling a lot. Dallas, Philadelphia, and Austin. They were all awesome
...I can't get enough of Trader Joe's turkey meatballs
...Work has been going really well, and I'm thrilled to say I've been enjoying my job
...I've been trying to crack down on studying the real estate stuff (my apologies for my absence on here)
...Sausage, egg, and cheese hotpockets are my guilty pleasure
...I've been grateful for my roommate and our long chats
...The combination of yoga and kickboxing has me feeling like a million bucks
...Bon Iver and Naked and Famous are on frequent rotation on my Pandora
...I drink a lot of hot tea... green, white, rooibos, herbal... I'm an equal opportunist really
...TV doesn't appeal to me much
...My favorite alcoholic beverage is Jameson + Ginger
...Mastin's The Daily Love is always a treat that I really look forward to reading everyday
...I try not to spend too much time on facebook. It gives me anxiety
...I've been frequenting the Brentwood Farmers Market on Sundays
...My bucket list and 2012 resolutions have been under construction
...I eat spinach everyday. And I love it. And I think I have my Dad to thank for that (still addicted to this of course)
...I've missed my blog, and plan to write on here more

 What a treat it was to get a glimpse of fall on the east coast

A very relaxing sunset over Lake Austin before heading to the airport to come home

 

New Glasses

I've been wanting new glasses for a couple years now, but since my insurance only covers either contacts or glasses once a year, I've just been opting for contacts. I've considered splurging on glasses but of course I lust over all the expensive designer frames, so after you add prescription lenses I'm easily looking at a $300+ dent in my pocket. Enter SpexClub.com. They have tons of super cute options to choose from, a virtual mirror that allows you to try out your choices, and each pair is only $88 including your prescription! My glasses were on my doorstep in about 2 weeks and I'm really happy with them!

Pumpkin Spice Muffins

Last night it occurred to me that we are almost halfway through October and I haven't consumed anything with pumpkin yet! I wanted to feel festive with a yummy smelling apartment and treats to share with co-workers but I didn't want to spend hours in a hot kitchen since the fall weather hasn't exactly found it's way to LA yet. Enter the easiest muffin recipe ever:

• 1 box spice cake mix
• 1 15oz can of pumpkin
• Mix well, drop in lined muffin tins and bake for 20-25 minutes at 350 (yields 12)

That's it! They were a hit at work and I was impressed with how moist they were, but next time I definitely think I'll experiment with adding chopped walnuts, chocolate chips, or even a bit of a crumb topping. The best part is that these are pretty healthy since there is no need to add oil, butter, or eggs. I'll definitely be making these again before the season is over. What are your favorite sweets for Fall?

TX

I'm heading to Texas again this weekend and I guess my Mom figured it would be a good time to hand down these babies. She had the red and turquoise pairs made years ago and they fit like a glove! The middle pair are extra special to me because my Grandma (who was a feisty Texan herself) wanted me to have them when she passed away. I'm not exactly sure why, but I have a feeling it's because she always said I was the 'sassiest' of the 3 grand daughters, and she knew I'd make her proud in her boots.

I'm really looking forward to a quick weekend away and the Texas State Fair which of course means tons of yummy food, beer, and live music.

Fitness

It occurred to me recently that here on my blog I rarely ever discuss something that I consider a significant element of my lifestyle. Fitness. I've been pretty active since I ran track in high school, but after college I found that I had a lot more time to make exercise more of a priority. The last few months I've been doing a combination of kickboxing and yoga 4-5 times a week and I've been feeling amazing. The intensity of the kickboxing has also motivated me to clean up my diet a bit because I notice a huge difference in my energy level and ability to keep up with the fast paced, high impact classes when I have better fuel in my system.

The yoga is of course a slower paced routine that provides flexibility, strength, and a number of other physical benefits, but it also gives me mental clarity. At the beginning of every class we set an intention; either something we want to work to improve and motivate us through the class, or something we want to let go of that is effecting our lives. Another huge benefit of the classes is the fact that they are heated 95-105 degrees so we sweat out all kinds of toxins that do damage to our bodies over time.

I'm going to try to incorporate fitness and exercise into more of my posts because most people who know me well know that when I have free time, exercising is something I really enjoy. What are your favorite/most beneficial forms of exercise?

photos via

Homemade Pesto

Last Friday I bought a basil plant at Trader Joes and decided there was obviously no better way to utilize my new purchase than with homemade pesto. This delicious recipe yielded plenty of pesto for paninis with friends, and a creamy pesto shrimp pasta dish with leftovers that I'm still working on finishing.

Ingredients

• 2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• 2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil divided
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1/2 cup freshly grated pecorino cheese

Directions

Combine the basil, garlic, and pine nuts in a food processor (I used the magic bullet)  and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add 1/2 cup of the oil and process until fully incorporated and smooth. Season with salt and pepper. If using immediately, add all the remaining oil and pulse until smooth. Transfer the pesto to a large serving bowl and mix in the cheese.

Fall Lust List

Fall is on it's way and although it rarely gets much below 70 dgrees here in LA, I'm looking forward to chunky sweaters, boots, maxis, and fun fall shades of denim. Here are some items on my lust list. Click on the set for more details. What are your must haves for Fall?