breakfast + dinner

an organic gluten free waffle with caramelized cinnamon bananas.

last night i couldn't decide what i wanted for dinner. definitely something easy and quick - that was for sure.

roaming around my parents kitchen, i opened and closed the fridge, freezer, and pantry a hundred times, i just couldn't decide. after sitting back down with a grumbling tummy, i decided i wanted something warm. and sweet.

i saw some organic gluten free waffles in the freezer. popped one in the toaster. spotted a banana - pulled out a pan, added the tinniest bit of butter, sliced the 'nana in the pan, and sprinkled with cinnamon. by the time the waffle popped, my banana's were caramelized, warm and gooey . . .

not only did i have breakfast for dinner. i had dessert too! yum.

topsy + turvy

do you remember the topsy turvy hair tool from the 90's?! i thought that thing was so cool - it just made the most perfect smooth inside out flipped ponytail. what was not to love?!unfortunately i don't think they even sell them anymore. although fortunately, nowadays i like my twists to be a bit more organic and natural looking. definitely not what was achieved with that weird red device…

but i am currently so into braids, twirls, and twists. no matter how fun your color or style is, hair can get a bit boring day in and day out. adding a simple braid or twist somewhere can really liven up your hair. and i love that it adds a certain individualistic approach to your look.

pulling your hair back with accessories is really perfect right now, when it’s time to pull out the chunky sweaters, bulky jackets, and full scarves.

whatever you choose to do, remember there is no right or wrong and that winter is definitely the time to pull out the experiment card because the options and trends are endless during this season.

 

marcel + youtube

monday! today i'm beating the monday blues with marcel.

marcel the shell, that is.

she is sure to cheer anyone up - even if you don't need cheering, she is certain to put a smile on your face.

click the video below. you'll be happy you did…

los angeles + december

my first winter living on the west coast.

so far, i haven't gotten tired of looking at all the happy palm trees . . .

or wearing sunnies and t-shirts . . .

and i'm just in love with the occasional drizzly evenings and slick downtown streets . . .

especially when you stumble along majestic, winter wonderland lights like these:

yeah, so far, i'm digging LA in december.

green + juice

Q. what's worse than finals week?

A. the week before finals week.

you're busy trying to get all your projects done, in the library all day and night, and physically and mentally exhausted. caffeine seems like your best friend but in actuality, it's doing you no favors.

listen to this - within a half an hour of drinking just a cup or two of coffee, there is 10% - 20% reduction of blood flow to the brain. ummmm, excuse me, but i need all the blood to my noggin that i can get it!

it also raises cortisol levels (cortisol is responsible for storing fat in your body). yeah no thanks, i do just a fine job storing my own fat.

caffeine also spikes your blood sugar and as it plummets makes you crave sugar. sooo, you feel hungry when you actually aren't.

in the end - caffeine results in body fatigue (even though you get that high off of it for a little while). and exhaustion makes it a little hard to exercise (how you really should be getting energy anyway). yeah yeah, exercising is a little over-achieving for finals week but a good brisk walk around the block wouldn't hurt.

okay, so now what to drink when you roll out of bed?! well, trade in that cup of joe for a cup of green.

green juices or smoothies look scarier than they are. i promise. fresh pressed juices are definitely the way to go to pump up your energy but can be a bit messy and time consuming. and i need every dear second of my time on some days (although i adore my breville juicer).

any easy substitute is taking a bunch of spinach and your favorite frozen fruit (acts as ice cubes and masks the taste of the greens). my favorite is mango - they are so flavorful and in the end, i can basically only taste the fruit. two ingredients doesn't sound like a lot but it's a little powerhouse drink. be creative and blend to your palette. (word of advice though - i love berries but the spinach over powers their flavor, so if you add them in, add them with another fruit as well.)

one more thing. to make this super easy and quick - invest in a mini single serving blender. you can twist off the cup and take it with you - how neat! and it's extremely easy to clean.

this hamilton beach personal blender i carried in my suitcase while i was on tour. it's super light weight and works really well. even now that i'm home, i use it most days instead of pulling out my big guns.

sometimes you just want that warm, smooth, coffee flavor to flow over your taste buds. i get it. all i'm saying is to try to switch it up - you might like it :)

winter + waves

yes, waves sound like the natural beach feel we often see during the summer but I think waves are here to stay a while longer. loose, flowing waves are so appealing to those who are all about the sexy bed head, not trying too hard look. no matter what color or texture your hair is, loose waves can easily be achieved with the right tools. deepening blondes to a richer, golden, caramel blonde can really transform beach bum waves to casual boho chic winter waves. this is definitely one of my favorite looks. anything where it looks like you aren’t trying too hard, is right up this winter's alley.



my go-to product for the perfect care free wave is John Frieda's Brilliant Brunette Starlit Waves Enhancing Spray. yes, it's in their 'brunette line' and i have blonde hair but it doesn't alter your hair color whatsoever. i dry my hair until it's about 50% dry, add a few pumps of this spray, scrunch, and voila - a perfectly kissed sea salt look.