Beat the Heat With These Treats!

Wow, I really need to get better at this blogging thing. For the last two(ish) months, things have been so crazy! From my sister's graduation from high school (and her graduation party), my cousin's graduation from UT Austin, to my own trip to Indianapolis, plus everyday work exhaustion ... I have been spending all my free time laying on the couch watching Gossip Girl on Netflix. (If you haven't seen gossip girl, you must! Just be prepared to say goodbye to doing anything productive for the next few weeks).

Regardless, it is now July, summer is fully here, and the weather in Austin is making me want to move to Alaska. I really need a pool. But I have thankfully found a few (somewhat unhealthy) ways to beat the heat!

Behold:

 Shaved Ice. So delicious! This trailer in Austin has a huge selection to choose from, and my personal favorite is the Mojito flavor. Shaved ice spots have been popping up all over this summer!

Speaking of Mojitos, this is a (non-alcoholic) drink called the Moj-tea-to. It's sparkling iced tea with a hint of mint, and perfect for a hot day.

These are frozen bananas, dipped in chococolate, and then covered in toppings such as m&m's, granola, oreos, and graham crackers. They are as amazing as they sound. But are also very rich, so it's something I let myself indulge in every once in a while. These are also a treat you could easily make at home with minimal ingredients.

Frozen yogurt is always a go-to for me. I like making mine relatively healthy with vanilla yogurt, strawberries, and just a spoonful or two of crushed andes mints. 

You can never go wrong with a frozen margarita. Especially in Texas ;)

Stay cool,

D

Feeling the Love

 Having a special someone (whether it's a significant other or your best friend) to share your biggest dreams and successes with makes life that much more meaningful and worthwhile. I've been blessed to have people in my life that I can experience life's little pleasures with, and I hope everyone is able to have that at one time or another!

D

High School Nostalgia - PROM edition

A few weeks ago, I was deemed the official chauffeur of taking my younger sister to her makeup and hair appointments for her senior prom. Can I just say, girls these days have MUCH better fashion sense than when I was a senior. All her friends had gorgeous dresses, impeccable makeup, and hair to die for. If only I could go back and do mine all over again...

First stop was blo blow-dry bar to get her hair done. This was my first time here, and I'm glad she chose this place. The decor was awesome, and there were tons of girls getting all glammed up for prom. Plus, my sister got her hair washed, blow-dried, and then curled all for just $35! I mean, that just can't be beat.

 Next stop: Sephora. The makeup artist who did her makeup was great and really knew what she was doing. She was hilarious and had us both laughing the whole time. (Which makes it really hard to put makeup on someone).

 I had to get a corsage picture. The colors she picked out worked perfectly with her and her date's outfits.

I used this picture on an earlier post, but I am obsessed with those sparkly blue shoes! I really need to figure out where they are from. Everyone looked so gorgeous!

During my prom *ahem* 8-ish years ago, I remember obsessing over what dress I should wear and dragging my mom to a million different stores, before just settling on something. My hair was way too curly, and I don't even remember if I wore heels or not. Thank god I've matured since then and I like to think my fashion sense is a whole lot better now. 

:)

D

Small Stuff: Part 2

I got this adorable postcard in the mail earlier this week that just made my day. It gave me a great idea of sending postcards with cute sayings or inspirational quotes to friends/family as a little pick-me-up.  

I saw this gorgeous bird with the brightest blue feathers yesterday at a pet store. No, I'm not planning on getting a pet anytime soon but I was in there killing time looking at the cute animals before a dinner reservation.

This line of wine is a recent discovery of mine, and it has quickly become my favorite. The label is my naturally the best part since I am a middle sister, and middle sisters are the best type of sisters! :)

Have a great week!


D

Lunch Favorite: Avocado Grilled Cheese

Whenever I find a new recipe or come up with a new meal idea, I tend to overdo it and eat it multiple times a week. My new lunch obsession: Avocado Grilled Cheese. It really is as amazing as it sounds, and so incredibly easy to make.

You will need:
1. Two slices of multi-grain bread (Any bread can work but multi-grain just adds so much to the flavor)
2. Butter
3. Avocado
4. Jalapeno Jack sliced cheese

First, slice the avocado into about 8 small pieces, or enough to fill up the length of your bread.

Then, put a very thin layer of butter on one side of each bread slice.

Place cheese on the non-buttered side of one bread slice, and then lay the avocado pieces on top.

Put the other slice of bread on top, (with the butter side up) and then place the whole sandwich on the pan on medium heat. Flip it every minute or so to make sure both sides get grilled. 

Cut in half and enjoy with some sliced strawberries or a smoothie!

D

Small Stuff: Part 1

This marks the beginning of what I hope to be a weekly recurring post, containing things I encountered during the week that are small reminders to savor the small stuff.

Rows of palm trees in southern California from a trip I took earlier this year. Palm trees just give a sense of summer, beaches, and good things to come.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am officially obsessed with Peet's Coffee. They really need to open up some shops in Texas. Actually, maybe it's a good thing they aren't in Texas yet because otherwise I would spend all my money on their soy vanilla lattes. 

This ring that I got from Madewell is one of my all time favorites. It's small enough to wear everyday, and also just the right amount of girly-ness for my taste.

Birthday margaritas: the best kind of margaritas. This one is from Chuy's, where I had my birthday dinner with my family a few weeks ago.

This is a picture from my younger sister's prom last night. Notice the abundance of nude pumps. (I really need to invest in a good pair). I absolutely adore the blue sparkly shoes in the middle!

D

Pray for Boston and West

From the unfathomable bombings at the Boston Marathon, to the explosion of a fertilizer plant in West, Texas, it has been one extremely tough week. We really need to savor every moment and cherish the little things in life. Live every moment to the fullest and without any regrets. Life is too precious to do otherwise. 

Stay Safe!

D