Links, Love and Moments

February 15, 2015 | agilot

The countdown my 30th birthday has started! Eek! And while I will be starting on epic birthday decorations soon (with pictures, bien sur), I’ve been enjoying copious amounts of family time and self love time the last couple of weeks.

We’ve gone to lots of birthday parties, watched some good movies, played with our new favorite puppy, Boogie, gone on hikes and made Valentine cards. I’ve started going to the gym again, got my hair cut and styled, have been doing yoga daily and writing daily. Happy to report there’s been a lots and lots of family and self love going on. Below, is a few highlights…

I love roasting cauliflower. This recipe is a pretty good sounding. I like the addition of fennel and turmeric.

My new mantra: food is medicine (This also includes herbs, duh).

I’ve been reading up on Ayurveda a bit lately. Pretty certain I’m a Vata. What’s your take on this healing method?

Made these delish banana chocolate bites for itty bitty’s preschool Valentine’s day party. Hard to believe these are a good healthy candy alternative!

I got my hair did at my new favorite salon, Ananda salon, with the fabulous Laura.

Until next time, y’all…(adios amigos!) ❤

Moments: A Three Month Wrap Up

January 16, 2015 | agilot

So it’s been a heck of long time since I’ve written or posted anything on here. My last post was around Halloween with the details of Elise’s last minute knight costume.

The holiday rush has finally settled and I’m really finding my groove, my place, at my new job (going on 5 months soon!). So now I think it’s an appropriate time to start writing and posting again.

What has happened in the past 3-ish months? Well, for one I have not stopped writing, that’s for sure. I’ve been writing pretty dedicatedly in journals, scribbling away ideas, daily reflections and plotting ways to save the world (or at least the ones around me ;)). And I certainly did not stop taking photos of my irresistible little Elise, who has been going through a “3” stage (3 years old, 3 feet tall and still not quite 30 pounds).

Here’s a visual recap of the highlights of the past three (there it is again!) months:

Apple picking at Justus Orchard with Tata Alexandra

Corn maze walk at the Eliada Corn Maze

Elise’s first day of preschool+the beginning of a crocodile obsession/fascination

Preschool Halloween party

Tree decorating+kitty pjs

The countdown to Christmas illustrated by Tata Lucie

New Years Eve with toddler Elise=Frozen dance parties, cuddles & bed jumping

Elise’s hair is finally long enough for her first braid

A mother-daughter-granddaughter day filled with painting fun at Fired Up, a delish vegetarian lunch at the Laughing Seed and some shopping at Elementality

Weekend Wrapup Wednesday: Virginia is for Girls Trips

August 20, 2014 | agilot

What happens when you get 3 long time friends together? That’s right – a girls trip!

This time the trip was filled to the brim with activities – the beach, DC, baseball game, the Smithsonian and lots of delicious food, food, food.

The Highlights:

•Virginia Beach – We arrived there late Thursday night and took a beach walk to the pier. The moon cast a beautiful, eeiry glow on the water and the laughter of teenagers enjoying the last of their summers filled the air. When we arrived back to the hotel, we were disappointed to find out that a very large portion of the beach was “banned” from wading and swimming due to higher than normal levels of bacteria. After we got over the ick factor, we realized we would need to go only a few blocks south to be able to swim in the safe areas of the water.

The next day, we spent our time lounging on the beach, talking about weddings and sipping on some crazy vodka-coke concoctions.

•DC: Saturday morning we ventured to DC, checked into our hotel and made our way to the metro. I somehow become the metro guide (probably because I was carrying the metro map, but I’d like to think it was because I have so much experience navigating the Paris metro) and landed ourselves right beside the Nationals baseball stadium with a fair amount of ease. We made it to the stadium with lots of time to spare so once they opened the gates we did a couple laps to explore our food and beverage options. Let me just say, the beer was absurdly expensive, but, dear me, there was so much time to kill – and come to find out, I really can’t concentrate on baseball, like not.at.all. So I may have had one or two too many overpriced drinks by the end of the night. And oh yeah, the home team won in the 9th inning, just by a hair.

The next day we visited the Smithsonian Musuem of American History. My fave had to be the Emancipation Proclomation exhibit that gave a brief but inspirational history of slavery, emancipation and the march on Washington in 1963. The original Star-Spangled Banner was also on display and a very large, seemingly endless exhibit on transportation in America. Afterwards, we had lunch with a college buddy of mine and her husband at the Elephant and Castle, which had the most fluffy, salty, perfect pretzels ever.

But eventually the fun had to end and we had to make our way back home. Good times were had, good stories were told and new ones were made.

❤

Note: During much of our “down” time we ended up playing this ridiculously fun game called Heads Up. If you haven’t played it, download it now, grab a friend and get ready for a ton of tears-inducing laughter.

Eating Healthy & Saving Moolah on Vacation

August 14, 2014 | agilot

Today I head to Virginia to hang out with some high school buddies and have a fabulous ladies trip to the beach and DC. While I’m totally psyched to have this time to hang out and catch up with old friends, I’m also a wee bit nervous about my spendings since I’m unemployed and starting to feel the financial crunch. I would’ve tried to reschedule it but we’ve been planning this trip for months and so it just didn’t feel right.

But in an effort to cut down on my spendings (which will mostly be gas and food), I’ve decided to make a bunch of food that I can take with me so that I will be able to order less food when we invariably go out to eat.

On my ladies trip to the beach a month ago, I got some pretty good practice at making travel-worthy, healthy, easy food. My advice? When in doubt, cook some meat that is yummy cold (like pork tenderloin) and prep some hard veggies and fruit. Here’s what I’m taking on this go round:

•Massaged Kale salad
•GF bread for sandwiches
•Bell peppers (red are my favorite for snacking!)
•Homemade black bean hummus
•Apples (Granny Smiths are great!)
•Almond butter
•Yogurt + granola
•Mango+banana bars from Trader Joes
•Lots of water

What kind of healthy, whole food fuels you when you’re on the go? Do you have any tried and true tricks that you use? I’d love to hear about them!

See you on the road!
❤

Reflection Friday: On Ideas, Creation & Showing Off

August 8, 2014 | agilot

I have been struggling with the process of idea to action to publication. Does that ever happen to you? You have a great idea (or what seems great in your head) and you know you’ve got to do it. You even have the energy to make sure you have all the tools to make the idea a reality and so you start making it.

You think – awesome! I’m doing it!

But then you get stuck. You’ve thought of it, created it, maybe even taken pictures of it and now you’re thinking – what now?

Maybe you start jotting down a few lines of text that would go along with this creation, but your flow just doesn’t seem right or your written voice sounds more robotic than what you actually sound like. Sound familiar?

I think a lot of writers, bloggers and makers go thru this, but don’t talk about it enough. To us, those other bloggers seem to create awesome, relatable, yet aesthetically pleasing content on the daily (or what feels like daily) and you’re left feeling like a poser – like how in the world can you create some awesome stories? Why does it take you so long and why do you struggle so much with getting these awesome stories and ideas out of your head and out for the rest of the world to see and be inspired?

No? Yes? Sometimes? Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t believe that. Or maybe, reader, you’re just a reader, or a creator, and not a look at me, look at me person who feels like they should be showing off to the world what they are doing, making and loving on the regular.

Well, that’s how I often feel, dear reader, like I’m trying to show something off the world, but I’m not so certain what I should be “showing off”. Sometimes that feeling is stronger than others, and sometimes it’s just my ego making me doubt myself.

How do I get to the other side? By simply working through those feelings and start writing. Write, write and write a little more. Look over it. It may not be perfect, but no one is, so to at least some extent it is reflective of you. Accept it and move and continue to create and write. Keep on doing it and you’ll get to the other side.

My mantra to myself and you for today, friends: Accept, continue and you’ll get there.
❤

Weekend Wrapup: Girls Beach Trip

June 23, 2014 | agilot

Last week I went with a good friend on a mini vacation to the beach! It’s so good getting away sometimes, ya know?

Here’s a little Instagram recap of the trip:
We went to Hilton Head Island for a few days with a very simple and straightforward plan: go the beach, lay on the beach. Period. No sight seeing, no clubbing, no running around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to fit in a ton of things. Just beach time, pure and simple.

And that’s what was done. Laying in the sun, we read books, magazines and our kindles (have you read #girlboss? If, not – do it now). We sipped on simple gin+sparkling water+fruit drinks and ate wraps filled with roasted pork and kale+quinoa salad I had made beforehand. We floated in the ocean, meditating as we hung out with the waves. And repeat.

Simple, no?

It was a little slice of heaven (despite the crowds and the sun-burnt skin). And we never wanted to leave.

Are you planning a vacation like this? Where the to do list is short and the relaxing is long?

I hope so. 🙂

❤

Petite Famille Update

May 28, 2014 | agilot

This weekend was packed full of fun. Not only did the hub and I have a three-day weekend, but my sister in law and her tribe came for a visit. Top it off with hanging out with some great friends who are leaving us for the big city, and it was one non-stop weekend!

It started with a potluck and swimming…

And then a hike with #toddlerelise, two crazy dogs & 3 couples (and a thunderstorm) + so.many.ribs

And lastly, a lovely lazy day with lots of walking and a trip to our local nature center.

It was a truly eventful, yet lovely long weekend. One of the bests we’ve had in a while.

❤

Summer is Here Already

April 16, 2014 | agilot

Here in the mountains of WNC, we’ve been having some beautiful weather, followed by some get-back-in-your-pjs-snuggle-up-and-watch-a-fire kind of nasty weather. If you’ve ever visited Asheville, you know what I’m talking about. The weather here is more indecisive than I am when picking out pretty dresses to wear on a date night. Yeesh.

Nevertheless, we cherish our bright, sunny days here and make the most of it by cramming our evenings and weekends with as many activities a normal person can handle. This past week I:

•Went to the park with little E and my 15 years+ bestie where we had a picnic and played on slides (pictures 2 & 3).

•Celebrated a sweet, special friend’s 28th at some of the best joints in Asheville, including Wicked Weed (where we had beers with a party squid #squidattack) and Ben’s Tune Up (dance party, what-what!) (picture 4).

•Said “a tout à l’heur” (see you later) to one of our favorite double date buddies who are moving to the big city (aka Raleigh) to get real jobs (sorry, Asheville!) with none other than herring, cheese, wine, roasted peppers and pbr (picture 1).

And these pictures don’t even include the triple-trouble birthday party we went to on Saturday where little E got a crack at her first piñata! (There’s a video!)

With all this activity, it’s already feeling like summer when there something happening all.the.time. in Asheville.

Whew! Just thinking about this weekend is tiring me out!

What about you? Are you already obsessing over spring/summer plans? I know I am! ❤

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