August in Photos

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It has been one of those months where I feel like I never have enough time to do anything! My work life, home life, blog life, and not to mention my applying-to-grad-school-life (help!) have really gotten the best of me and I feel like I’ve been dropping the ball in all areas 😔 Since I graduated college, I’ve really come to embrace time with friends and time alone as essential contributors to my well-being but during months like this, I struggle with choosing between sacrificing my performance at work for some much needed self-care!

One concept that has really helped me come to terms with the constant struggle that is work-life balance is trying to be the best version of myself I possibly can be. I’m human. I make mistakes, I’m not perfect, and I’ll never be able to do everything I want to do - but as long as I try my best that day to be the best version of myself I can be, that’s all I can really ask of myself! And I’m okay with that 😃 

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May in Photos

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This month’s photos feature our latest vacation! I am so excited to share these beautiful photos with you guys. This was the first time in over two years that I’ve taken a vacation simply because it wasn’t something I’d ever needed to consider in the past. When you’re in school, your breaks are handed to you. You are free of school and work and get to spend a month doing absolutely nothing while enjoying the summer or winter! After graduating, it didn’t even cross my mind that I might need a vacation but boy did I need one. 

These past couple of years have definitely taught me a lesson in carving out time to practice self-care. I used to beat myself up about not doing enough and as an introvert, this just resulted in a cranky, burnt out me! Nowadays, I’ve learned to say yes to as many breaks as I need so that I can be the best that I can be during all the other times 😃 What were your favorite moments of May? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Oh and more on our cruise experience will be up on the blog soon! 

New Favorite Snack: Kale Chips!

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I never thought I’d be saying this, but I am in love with kale right now! I’m a somewhat healthy eater but I’m not one to keep very good tabs on health trends. More than anything, I try to eat a balanced diet but I don’t always make the healthiest choices in every situation - especially when it comes to restaurants that serve brunch and pasta 😃 Since my eating habits are more about balance, I always try to incorporate easy-to-make veggies in all of my meals. 

When I came across a recipe for kale chips (and heard that they tasted almost as good as regular chips) I knew I had to give it a whirl - and boy am I glad I did. Kale chips are incredibly easy to make, provide tons of nutrients, satisfy my junk food cravings, and taste delicious to boot! So today, I thought I’d share with you my extremely simple kale chip recipe! 

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Ingredients:

  • Kale (one bunch)
  • Salt (to taste)
  • Olive Oil (2-3 Tbsp)
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Directions:

  • Keep kale away from hungry kittens! ♡
  • Chop or rip kale into bite size pieces
  • Mix kale, olive oil, and salt in a big mixing bowl making sure to cover all kale evenly in olive oil. I typically put 2-3 Tablespoons of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt, adding more salt at the end if needed. I’ve accidentally put too much salt a couple of times so err on the side of caution! 
  • Bake for 10-15 minutes at 350 degrees
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Voila! Yummy, healthy, kale chips! ♡ Have you tried kale chips? Let me know what you think! Do you have any favorite healthy snacks? I’m always looking for new ideas and I’d love to test them out!