Thankfulness Project Monday

"If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul."

-Rabbi Harold Kushner

Awesome quote, isn't it? We so often focus on the negative in every situation that we can easily miss the good in the situations. I try to be intentional about trying to acknowledge the good, but sometimes it can be tough! That being said, here are a few of the good things I've noticed in different situations recently. I'm feeling thankful for:

• Good Quotes: I just finished quote week here on the blog, and I think I fell in love with quotes just a little bit more. They're Just. So. Good. 
• Thought provoking books: I love a good book, and enjoy reading "for fun" books. However, books that make me think, provide information, or give me new ideas for my job are always winners in my book. I'm thankful for books!
• Clementines: I've been enjoying clementines for the last few months, but I don't think I've ever put it on a thankful list. This is unfortunate because I really love them and get excited when winter hits and they are back in season. Yummmmmm.
• Fresh Air: I live in an area where I don't breathe in constant pollution and smog, and it's never really something I stop to think about when I walk outside. However, I'm very thankful that I can walk outside and breathe in relatively clean air. 
• My Little Lifesaver: Allergens have been much worse this winter then in previous winters (probably because we haven't gotten much in the way of a good freeze), and I've been battling with a lot of sinus migraines because of this. My little lifesaver has helped decrease the strength of my headaches, and has allowed me to keep functioning throughout the day. I love this thing! 

And those are a few of the things that I'm feeling thankful for right now. 

Now it's your turn!

What are you feeling thankful for today? How do you handle allergies (if you have them!)? What's one of your favorite books? 

Friday Favorites

Favorite Tiny Delight of the Week

The weather hitting 70 degrees this week! How's that for a little delight? (i'd actually call it a pretty big delight) I whipped out some dresses and sandals and enjoyed not wearing a coat to work in the mornings (or having to scrape my windows)! 

Favorite Quote of the Week

"I find that it is not the circumstances in which we are placed, but the spirit in which we face them, that constitutes our comfort." -Elizabeth T. King

Favorite Post By Someone Else

Raw Protein Energy Snack- I haven't personally tried making these yet, so I can't vouch for their taste. However, they LOOK delicious and they sound healthy too. The perfect mix. Check it out.

Favorite Past Post

I am only one, but I am still one.- This was posted March 9, 2011, and I love the quote that this post is about even more today then I did a year ago. Check it out! 

Favorite Search Term

• breakup messages to encourage you
• how to help a friend through a breakup
• funny pics of waking up
• guinea pigs cooking (how many people search this? I'm getting multiple hits a week on this search term. funny. )
• catastrophizing

Now it's your turn!

What's one of your favorite joys from the week (it can be big or small)? 

Thankfulness Project Monday

"Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy- because we will always want to have something else or something more." - Brother David Steindl-Rast

An interesting quote to get you all thinking this morning. So here are some of the things I'm feeling grateful for on this Monday morning.

• The Oscars! I've been a fan of Oscar Sunday for many many years. I love the anticipation when I wake up that morning, as I begin to prep food for the little get together I host every year, when people are walking the red carpet, and during the actual show itself. It's a little thing to look forward to, but adds a bit of excitement and joy to my life. It's the little things, right?
• My work schedule: I'm a fan of my work schedule right now. Not only do I have a full load of clients, but I have some free time to work on other things, such as researching and writing. I've found a great balance at work, and I like it!
• Chips and salsa. Delicious. Absolutely delicious. I love sweet things in life, but I REALLY love salty things, and this does the trick. I eat a little bit of chips and salsa at least half of the days of the week. 
• Pictures from vacations: Sometimes when it's cold, gray, or I'm having a bad day, it really lifts my spirits to go through some pictures from some of my favorite vacations, and remember the good memories from that time. 
• Old episodes of The Office. I have most of the seasons on DVDs, and sometimes I really enjoy whipping them out and watching a few episodes. I always laugh, and they bring a smile to my face. Plus, I enjoy watching awkwardness happen, and Michael certainly is awkward!

Now it's your turn:

What are you thankful for today? Is there a TV show you like to watch when you need a good laugh? Did you watch The Oscars? What were your thoughts?

Thankfulness Project Monday

"There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy."

-Ralph A. Blum

I'll be honest. I'm tired tonight (it's Sunday night as I type this). I've had a really busy and excitingly fun weekend, and it's worn me out. This weeks list of what I'm thankful for will be short and sweet, but it doesn't mean I'm feeling any less thankful! 

• Sleep: This week was busy and fun, but it included a lot of late nights and early mornings. I'm feeling really tired right now, and looking forward to my nights of sleep over the next couple nights. I'm thankful for sleep, and how it allows us to be a healthy, well functioning individual. 
• A time to think about love: I know some people get frustrated if they are single this time of year. You know what? It's OK! This time of the year is a great reminder to focus on those you love, and how you love them. This includes friends, family, AND YOURSELF. Although I don't love the hallmark holiday so much, I do enjoy the reminder of loving those around us. 
• The opportunity to do what I love to do: While I was originally thinking about this in terms of my job, I guess it reaches much more then that. I'm thankful for my job, as well as getting to engage in hobbies that I enjoy.
• Sports games on the weekend: FUN! It's a chance to get out and cheer and enjoy time with others. I love watching them:)
• Good food: I had quite a bit of that this weekend too. Yummm. 

Simple list, but I'm still feeling thankful today. 

Now it's your turn!

What are you feeling thankful for today? Do you catch up on sleep on the weekends, or do you usually find yourself more sleep deprived by the end of it?

Thankfulness Project Monday

"It is greatfulness which makes the soul great." -Abraham Joshua Heschel

There was something about this quote that really stood out to me, and I've been saving it for a couple weeks for a thankfulness posts. So, here you go:) The more I practice regular thankfulness and gratitude, the more I believe this is an important component of being a healthy individual. I continue to challenge each of you to add this to your daily or weekly habits!

That being said, here are a few things I'm feeling thankful for today:

• Time with someone I dearly love: This past week I got to spend time with someone that I deeply care about and don't get to see very often. Time with people like this is so precious to me, and I try to live moment to moment in the days I have. 
• Exercise: Throughout my day I look forward to pounding everything out on the treadmill, elliptical, or bike. It's time to process my day before I get home, and I'm almost always in a better mood when I'm done. I'm thankful I have access to equipment to work out in the winter months. 
• Twitter Chats: There's numerous twitter chats for just about any subject you can think of on twitter. It's a great way to connect with people who have similar interests, and gain some knowledge or be challenged in different ways. Take some time to figure out if there are any twitter chats that might be fun for you to participate in throughout the week!
• Almond Milk: Lactose free and full of calcium, this is quickly becoming one of my favorite drinks. I'm not a fan of drinking milk, but I actually look forward to a cup of this milk. Have you ever tried it?
• Salsa: LOVE. If it's mango or peach, I'm gonna love it even more. I crave this almost every time I work out, and absolutely love eating it. Salsa is a constant exercise in self control for me!

Now it's your turn: 

What are you feeling thankful for today? Have you ever tried almond milk? What twitter chats do you participate in throughout the week?

Thankfulness Project Monday

"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has." -Epictetus

Happy Monday! This has been a really enjoyable week, and there's quite a few things that I'm feeling thankful for today. Today for my Thankfulness Project post, I'm choosing to rejoice in the things that I have been given in life:

• I'm thankful for puppies: They are cute, fun to play with, and incredibly cuddly. And it's hard to not smile and laugh when I'm around them! And pets are generally healthy to have around too, so that's a big plus!
• I'm thankful for running: I can pound out some stress, have some time apart to clear my head and process the day, think about what I want to do with my clients, and get some endorphins! Plus I know I'm doing something to benefit my body for the future. 
• I'm thankful for friends around me: There's very little I feel like I need to say about this. I'm thankful for the love, support, and laughter I get from the people in my life. 
• I'm thankful for fresh baked bread: Give me some olive oil with pepper and/or garlic to dip it into, and I'm a very happy camper. Not only is it delicious, but it is a comfort food as well! Yummm. 
• I'm thankful for hot showers: I try to be responsible and take as short of showers as I can. However, in the winter there's little that feels better then hot water and a steamy bathroom around you. Have you ever wondered why showers seem to be such a great place to think?
• I'm thankful for foods covered in chocolate: Raisons, fruit, nuts- it's all delicious, and when it's dark chocolate, there are health benefits too:) 
• I'm thankful for quotes that allow us to refocus

Now it's your turn!

What are you feeling thankful for today? Where's your favorite place to think and process the day? 

Sweet Potato Cauliflower Soup

As I was scanning through pinterest a few weeks ago, I stumbled on a recipe for Sweet Potato Cauliflower Soup on Manifest Vegan. I'm not a huge fan of sweet potatoes or cauliflower, but the soup looked good, so I decided to give it try. I did make a few slight modifications on the Ingredients list, but you'll need to head over to Manifest Vegan to see the actual recipe!

Ingredients
1 head of cauliflower
3 sweet potatoes
1 sweet onion
1 can of Chickpeas (I added this for some extra protein)
Garlic powder
6.5 cups Water
Lots of pepper

The Cooking Process:

You'll definitely want to check out her original post, because her pictures are so much better then my own! For not really liking sweet potato or cauliflower soup, I actually really liked this one! It's warm and filling for a cold, winter day! I made a big batch and was able to freeze half of it for later! This soup was very easy and quick to make, which I enjoy! My only complaint was that it used a few dishes to cook, but really, that is such a small thing that this recipe is still WELL worth your time!

Now it's your turn!

Do you make a lot of soups in the winter? What are some of your favorite ways to add protein to your favorite dishes? 

Gingerbread Oatmeal

By now you should all know how much I love oatmeal, and I'm pretty sure my only creativity in life involves creating different variations of it! After making the gingerbread pancakes over Christmas, I knew I needed to make gingerbread oatmeal as well. It's still winter, so gingerbread oatmeal can still be consumed:)

Ingredients
Oatmeal
Milk/Water
Molasses
Brown Sugar
Cinnamon
Ginger
Nutmeg (optional)
Cloves

All the spices added to the bowl and molasses drizzled on top

All the spices mixed into the oatmeal

This oatmeal is REALLY delicious, and is a little more wintery then some of the other oatmeal that I've posted. Oh, have you checked all of them out? If not, here they are:

• Candy Cane Oatmeal
• Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal
• Apple Cranberry Oatmeal
• Peanut Butter & Jelly (with chocolate) oatmeal
• Tropical Oatmeal

After a few breakfast recipe posts, I promise that next week I'll be back at you with a dinner recipe, just to mix it up a bit! 

Now it's your turn:

Are you a fan of gingerbread, or would you rather pass by it? What are you most creative about making in cooking? 

Christmas Survey

I saw this on Heather's Blog a few days ago, and thought I'd participate! It really doesn't have to do with anything health or counseling related, but that's ok...right? I've always found it interesting how different people celebrate the same holiday. Traditions are fascinating:)

Eggnog or hot chocolate?
Absolutely Hot Chocolate! I love hot chocolate, and now that I have a lactose free recipe, I can make it as often as I'd like! I love putting peppermint in it to add a little extra zing to it!

Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
ALWAYS wraps them. I actually never realized until a few years ago that some people got unwrapped Santa gifts. Ours were always wrapped and under the tree, in the stockings, and on the fireplace.

Colored lights on tree/house or white?
White goes on the main tree and colored lights goes on the "kids" Christmas tree (the tree with all our old ornaments and things we made growing up). Colored lights are acceptable outside, as are white:)

Do you hang mistletoe?
No.

When do you hang your decorations up?
The weekend before Thanksgiving. That way, when I return home after visiting my parents for Thanksgiving, it's all decorated. I don't turn on the lights until after Thanksgiving.

What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
This is difficult. I REALLY look forward to creamed onions at Thanksgiving and Christmas every year. And this amazing strawberry jello with strawberry chunks in it. I only eat these two foods at Thanksgiving and Christmas, so they're special.

Favorite holiday memory as a child?
I have so many fantastic Christmas memories from growing up that it is really hard to choose. We weren't allowed to make any noise on Christmas morning until 8 am, so my cousins and I woke up early and played card games quietly in our rooms. The anticipation was so high, and when we were finally told we could come downstairs, it was amazing:)

What is on your Christmas wish list?
Amazon Gift card to buy a few books as I think of them throughout the year. That way I don't have to feel the pressure of coming up with books on the spot!

Do you open up gifts on Christmas Eve?
Don't even get me started on this one:) We do NOT open our gifts on Christmas Eve and I don't think that I ever will open them on the 24th. Growing up, we were allowed to open up one gift on Christmas Eve.

How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
At my house my tree is pretty simple. White lights with differed colored balls. Simple but beautiful! At my parents house, we decorate the "kids tree" with our favorite ornaments, and the various things we made at school growing up. It's fun to look back at old crafts and school pictures attached to ornaments.

Snow? Love it or dread it?
I love the snow, but really dislike the cold. I would like snow from December 1-January 20th or so, and then I'm pretty much over it.

Real tree or fake tree?
I have a fake tree right now because I don't actually spend Christmas at my place. My parents have always had a real tree, but the "kids tree" is also a fake one. I love the smell of fresh pine trees!

Do you remember your favorite gift?
I definitely don't have a single "favorite gift" that I've gotten. One year I really wanted a blanket from one of my favorite places, and asked my mom for it every day from October until mid December. I still use that blanket on a daily basis, and it reminds me of so many fantastic memories from growing up. It's a sentimental and practical gift all in one.

What's the most important thing about Christmas for you?
Amidst all of the parties, gifts, and celebrations, I remember that we are celebrating the birth of Jesus. It's also important for me to spend time with my family.

What is your favorite holiday dessert?
This is a tough one because we don't have one traditional holiday dessert. I love the Christmas cookies that we make each year though!

What is your favorite tradition?
Last year was the first Christmas that we did something different, so we're a little bit trying to create some new traditions right now. Every Christmas Eve we go to church, then drive around to look at Christmas lights, and then come home and eat cake (it's Jesus' birthday, remember?), read the Night Before Christmas, and Luke 2. On Christmas day we try to drag out the gift opening all day. We slowly open gifts, talk, play games, and go on a walk throughout the day. The entire day is spent together as a family.

What tops your tree?
An angel that we've had since before I was born.

Do you prefer giving or receiving?
Buying gifts for people makes me really anxious, unless I know that the person has asked for that specific item. I've never enjoyed buying gifts, but it's not because of the time it takes or the money spent. I just get nervous. However, if I know someone has wanted that item, then I love giving gifts! I like getting gifts, but part of me always feels a little bad about the entire thing.

What is your favorite Christmas song?
I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day- I linked it here so you can check it out. I'm all about a good story behind the song, and this song has a fantastic story. Until a few years ago, however, it was either O Holy Night or The First Noel.

Candy canes, yuck or yum?
I really like the fruity candy canes. I don't normally go out of my way to eat a plain peppermint candy cane, but I do love putting them in hot chocolate.

Favorite Christmas movie?
Another tough one, because I try to watch so many every year. I really love It's A Wonderful Life. I think the concept of us reaching out and touching more people then we realize it a fantastic idea, and one that we generally don't think about. It's interesting to think what life would really be like for our loved ones if we hadn't ever been born.

What do you leave for Santa?
Nothing now. Growing up it was always milk and cookies.

Do you have a Christmas morning tradition?
oops! I already answered this. We had to sit quietly in our rooms until 8 am, so we played card games and whispered excitedly amongst all the cousins. We would then line up on the stairs and take pictures, and could hear the Christmas music playing downstairs. We would then all run downstairs into the living room and grab out stockings!

Do you prefer to shop on-line or at the mall?
Mall.

Christmas letter or Christmas card?
I know sometimes the Christmas letter can be a brag fest, but whether it is informative, bragging, or completely ridiculous, I LOVE the Christmas letter. I love reading them!

Christmas is one of my favorite holidays, and it's certainly interesting to see how traditions change as we get older and as the family make-up changes. I've packed in at least one Christmas movie a week, and listen to Christmas music many times a day. Basically, I just love Christmas, and I love watching movies at night with the fire going, Christmas lights on, and my family around me.

Now it's your turn!
Answer one or some of these questions! What's your favorite holiday tradition?

Peppermint Cookies Recipe

A few weeks ago, I saw this recipe for Peppermint Cookies and just KNEW that I had to try them out. Heather has some fantastic recipes that are absolutely delicious, and the pictures she included looked great. You'll have to head over her site to get the actual recipe, but I thought I'd share a little snippet of my attempt at her recipe.

Ingredients
Butter
Sugar
All Purpose Flour
Baking Powder
Almond Milk
Vanilla
Peppermint Extract
Crushed Peppermint Candies or Candy Canes

According to Heather, the dough was supposed to be crumbly and be fashioned into a log and refrigerated. I went over the recipe multiple times, but it was not crumbly, and didn't get solid while refrigerating it (I wish I knew what went wrong!) I clumped it into balls instead, so they aren't shaped nearly as well as Heather's turned out to be. I also ended up cooking it for almost double the length of time that she suggested, and I'm guessing that's because of the different consistency of the dough.

Despite it not turning out exactly like Heather's cookies did, they were still DELICIOUS and well worth the amount of time it took to make them.

Crushed up candy canes. I put them in a plastic bag and smashed them with a meat pounder. 

See? Not at all the consistency they were supposed to be...

But all turned out well because they were DELICIOUS! 

Ok, so they don't look nearly as appetizing as they did with the original recipe, so make sure to check it out. But trust me, these little guys are worth your time to make. I'm planning on making them again soon:)

Now it's your turn!

What's your favorite Christmas cookie to make? Feel free to share your link below! 

Thankfulness Project Monday

We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.  ~Cynthia Ozick


Isn't the above quote so very often true? We can often remember to be grateful for the big things in life, such as a vacation, new car, or something we've long awaited for. However, sometimes we forget to be just as grateful for the little things in life. Besides, don't the little things often become the big things in life?


With this in mind, here are a few of the "little things" that I'm grateful for right now:

• Christmas movies: OK, I know that I put this on my list last week too, but I'm using it again because I'm equally as thankful for them this week. I've watched a Christmas movie a night this week, and I've loved that! Some of them have been busts (A Princess for Christmas, anyone?), and some of them have been great (Miracle on 34th Street, Christmas Vacation, Elf, Love Actually, The Holiday, & Christmas in Connecticut, to name a few). It's such a relaxing way to end the day. 
• My Space Heater & Blankets: These things keep me WARM and cozy in the winter. I don't like turning my heat on too high because I think it's a waste of money, so it usually hovers between 64 and 66 degrees, but sometimes lower. The space heater warms up the room I'm in, and is much cheaper. Of course blankets are a HUGE help as well! Cozy and cheap- that's the way I like it. 
• Luna Bars: Easy and convenient, these guys are a great way to boost my energy towards the end of the work day, and before my evening work outs. They are delicious, unlike many protein bars I've tried, and are easy to throw into any bag I choose to take with me. 
• Lotion for the winter: I use much thicker cream lotion for the winter, and I'm so glad they invented this stuff! My face and body gets SO dry and uncomfortable in the winter, and I would feel pretty miserable without this stuff. It's a little thing that is easy to pass up when thinking about "gratefuls" for the day, but I'm very glad that I have found something that makes the winter a little more comfortable.
• Scarves: They're a fun accessory, but can also have a very practical use in the winter as well. I love adding a scarf to my outfit for the day:)

Now it's your turn:

What are you feeling thankful for right now? What's your favorite Christmas movie or favorite way to get in extra protein in the day?

Candy Cane Oatmeal

Last weekend I wanted to make a Christmas sort of oatmeal. If you've been following this blog for long, you may know how much I love making all sorts of varieties of oatmeal, and especially love making them for the season! As I paced about my living room and kitchen trying to come up with what to do to my oatmeal, my eyes landed on a box of "Candy Cane Lane" tea. I immediately knew what I wanted to make: Candy Cane Oatmeal!

Ingredients
Water
Candy Cane Tea
Oats
Brown Sugar
Raisins
Cranberries
Almond Slices

I started out by bringing the water to a hard boil. I then pulled the pan off the stove and put 1 candy cane lane tea bag in the water. For a stronger tea flavor, put in more tea bags! I let the bag sit in the water for about 5 minutes, and then pulled the bag out of the water.

I then put in the appropriate amount of oats for the fluid I had, cooked, and added toppings. 

Voila! DELICIOUS and healthy oatmeal that is perfect for the Christmas Season!

I stopped myself before adding crushed up candy canes to the top of it, but I'm a little tempted to try it out next time! Of course you could make this with any type of tea, but the Candy Cane tea made it more Christmas-y! 

If you're looking for other "fun" types of oatmeal, here's a few others to check out:

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

Apple Cranberry Oatmeal

Peanut Butter & Jelly {with Chocolate} Oatmeal

Tropical Oatmeal

Now it's your turn:

What are some of your favorite extras to add to oatmeal? Have you ever tried Candy Cane flavored tea? 

Squash & Bean Pita Sandwich

The last few weekends I've been posting fall related and recipes, and decided to continue the trend today. Last week I wasn't feeling well, and needed to throw together a healthy dinner quickly. I had a number of leftovers in my refrigerator, and threw them together on a piece of pita bread. What resulted was SO delicious that I've made it for 2 more meals since then, and knew I needed to share it with you all. Here it is:

Ingredients
Refried Beans
Squash (or sweet potato)
Red Pepper
Onion
Red Cayenne Pepper
Pita Bread
Olive Oil or Coconut Oil

Assembly
1. Heat stove to medium temperature. Put small amount of olive oil (or coconut oil) in frying pan and heat. Place pita bread in pan and cook until lightly brown, then flip and cook other side.
2. Heat the refried beans according to instructions on can and warm up the squash (or sweet potato).
3. Spread refried beans so they completely cover one side of the pita bread.
4. Spread squash (or sweet potato) on top of the pita bread and refried beans
5. Place red pepper and onion on top of other ingredients (can include whatever other fillings you desire).
6. Lightly sprinkle the cayenne pepper on top of the pita for an extra little zing to the meal (and a little extra health too!).
7. Fold pita in half and eat. Yum!

 Pretty much everything about this is healthy and delicious:)

 Looks delicious, doesn't it? 

Oh my! Despite not having much of an appetite, I devoured this and it satisfied my hunger for the rest of the night! Of course you can add whatever you'd like to the pita! This is just what I had available. I've since eaten this for 4 lunches in the last week, and it gets better every time!

Now it's your turn:
Do you often throw random foods together when you're rushed for dinner? What do you think of the entire Penn State situation?

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

Oh how we love pumpkin season.  You did know this gourd-ish squash has its own season, right?  Winter, Spring, Summer, Pumpkin.... We anxiously anticipate it every year.  ~Trader Joe's Fearless Flyer, October 2010

Are any of you sick of the fall recipes I've posted yet? No? Good- I'll keep posting away then:) Today I have a delicious little recipe for you: Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal! I'm sure you all know that I'm a fan of oatmeal, and am always looking for fun ways to mix it up a bit. So, while I was grocery shopping and saw a can of pumpkin, I immediately knew what I needed to do! I grabbed a can and some pumpkin pie spice, and came home to get to work on my masterpiece. I don't really measure out specific amounts of each item, so you can make it according to taste!

Ingredients
Oats
Water (or milk)
Canned Pumpkin
Brown Sugar
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Pumpkin Pie Spice
Vanilla
Dried Cranberries

*Cook Oatmeal according to directions. Portion out pumpkin, about half the amount of oats you used, and mix in to oats while heating over low. Mix in a dash of sugar and spices, to taste. I put in some vanilla, but this certainly isn't "typical pumpkin pie" so it's not needed. I decided to throw on some dried cranberries the second time I made it just for something different!

While oatmeal is typically a filling food, adding pumpkin into it added to how filling it was! This was a healthy breakfast that kept me full for hours. This could also be a great evening snack, if a smaller portion was made! YUM:) 

Now it's your turn:

Do you try to tailor the foods that you make to the season? What's your favorite way to spruce up your oatmeal? 

Friday Favorites

Favorite Tiny Delight Of The Week
I just HAD to choose something fall for this week's tiny delight, so I chose the Pumpkin Spice Coffee I posted last Sunday. I made it every single morning this week, so I think it definitely "wins" as the tiny delight! Drinking it slowly over my first hour at work, I can smell the scent of pumpkin spice and cinnamon, and it brings a smile to my face multiple times at a time of day when I wouldn't naturally be smiling:)

Favorite Quote of the Week
"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain" - Maya Angelou

Favorite Post By Someone Else
I'm Not A Gym Member- from Cara at Eat, Pray, Run. Especially going into winter, it's easy to give up on fitness because it's cold or the weather isn't ideal. Maybe we don't have money to pay for the gym (come on- some are REALLY expensive), and that's our excuse to not work out. Check out this link for one tip to staying fit all year round!


Favorite Past Post
A Bad Chapter Within A Very Good Book - this post is based around one of my favorite quotes of all times!


Favorite Search Terms
*click on the search term to be directed to its corresponding post

• relationship with someone with OCD
• counselor boundaries (we can all use a good refresher on boundaries every few weeks!)
• 4 r's of OCD
• thankfulness
• examples of black and white thinking

Pumpkin Coffee

I know I've mentioned this multiple times on this blog, but I really love almost all things fall. I try to make foods I currently am consuming into something that falls under the "fall" category, and my coffee is no exception. While I love Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte, there's no way that I will be shelling out money for it on a daily basis. I decided to make a little variation of this at home.

Mix for the perfect pumpkin flavored coffee!

I put pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon into my coffee grounds and brewed as usual. The hint of fall that this mix produced was delightful, and the perfect start to any fall morning! I just bought some nutmeg, and I'm planning to try a bit in it at some point this week.

A variation: take a small spoonful of pumpkin from the can and stir in to hot coffee. This of course made it taste much stronger of coffee, but it mixed in easily and tasted great! I wouldn't choose to do this on a daily basis, but it added something fun and extra. 

Either way, pumpkin coffee is the perfect start to any beautiful fall morning:)

Here's a recap of my posts from the last week. Make sure to check them out if you missed any of them!

• Friday Favorites! - a recap of some of my favorite things this week!
• Roasted Acorn Squash With Apples & Sausage - I cannot encourage you enough to give this a try! 
• Help! Someone I Love Has OCD part 1**
• Help! Someone I Love Has OCD part 2**
• Medication for OCD

** While both these posts are tailored specifically towards supporting someone who struggles with OCD, these posts included many suggestions that are helpful for any mental illness or issue in life. Check it out, educate yourself, and brainstorm steps you can take to support those in your life who struggle with various forms of mental illness! 

Now it's your turn:

Do you have any fun ways to tailor coffee to the season or holiday? 

Roasted Acorn Squash With Apples and Sausage

While perusing blogs a few weeks ago, I stumbled on a recipe for Roasted Acorn Squash with Apples and Sausage on Melissa's Blog at Hungry, Healthy, Happy. While I'm not a huge squash fan, my mom had given me an extra acorn squash that I needed to use, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity to try the recipe out. I used a few ingredients because I used what I had at home, and didn't shop specifically for this recipe.

Ingredients
Acorn Squash (cut in half)
Butter
Brown Sugar
Chicken Apple Sausage (2, cut into pieces)
Large Red Apple (1, cut into pieces)
Sweet Onion (1, cut into pieces)
Water (used this in place of broth in frying pan with sausage, apple, and onion)
Olive Oil (to caramelize onion)
Oregano (used this to replace the thyme)
Sea Salt
Pepper

 2 halves of the acorn

 Butter, Brown Sugar, and Salt in the Squash

 Caramelized Onions, Apple, Sausage, Salt, Pepper, and Oregano slowly cooking

 Squash immediately out of the oven

Final Product! 

For someone who isn't a fan of squash, this was absolutely DELICIOUS! It took a lot of self-control to save on half for another meal. It held up well after it was reheated, and it was just as good the second day. Every bite I took tasted like I was eating a little piece of fall. 

A few notes about the recipe: Squash can be very difficult to cut through. I put the squash directly in the microwave for about 2 minutes to start. This helped with the ease of cutting it! I didn't have broth, but just threw in a bit of water into the frying pan and that did the trick, and tasted just fine to me. I didn't have thyme, so I just threw in a tiny bit of oregano. To check out the entire recipe, click here. Melissa has a number of fantastic recipes on her blog, so make sure to check it out!

Now it's your turn!
What's your favorite way to cook squash? What taste or smell reminds you completely of Fall, no matter what time of the year you experience it? 

Blueberry Greek Yogurt Banana Bread

A few weeks back, I decided to try a recipe I had saved for weeks, waiting for the perfect moment! Emily at Daily Garnish posted a recipe back in June for Blueberry Greek Yogurt Banana Bread. Sounds delicious, right? It was so good that I decided to share it all with you!

Ingredients
Flour
Baking Powder
Salt
Brown Sugar
White Sugar
Bananas
Vanilla
Eggs
Greek yogurt
Blueberries (fresh or frozen)

Bananas

Nasty looking mashed up bananas

All mixed up and ready to be cooked!

Fresh out of the oven! 

YUM!

This was absolutely delicious! I ate it for a number of breakfasts, and was also the perfect thing to bring to a brunch I had! I cooked the bread a few minutes too long the first time, so it was too burnt brown on top, but it didn't taste burnt at all. The prep time was minimal and it was easy to make, which is the way I like it. For the entire recipe, click here (Emily's pictures make it look much better then mine do too!). 

*I'd also like to mention that Emily has many fantastic recipes on her blog, and it'll be well worth your time to check them out. Remember the Mediterranean Quinoa Salad I posted a few weeks ago? It's from her blog as well! 

Now it's your turn:

What's your favorite thing to make for breakfast or brunch? 

Thankfulness Project Monday

"Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” — William Arthur Ward

Most days in life aren't really exciting and great or really boring and bad. Most of our life tends to be made of average days. This is why the quote above stood out to me. The regular practice of thankfulness and gratitude can transform a life from ordinary to extraordinary.

That being said, here are a few of the things I'm thankful for this week:

• October: I love fall, and october is full of all sorts of fun fall activities and foods! Give me some pumpkin, apple, cider, cinnamon, and spice (although not all together) and I'm a happy person!
• A weekend with family: I got the chance to see a few family members this past Saturday, and we had a great time together. 
• Movie nights with friends: relaxation, laughter, food, fun, and friends all mixed together, and I'm definitely game for it! Every week I have a "movie night date" with some friends and enjoy the time we spend together (and having something to look forward to throughout the week). 
• Greek Food: For those of you who've been reading for awhile, you know that I LOVE Greek food. I made it for the first time in a few weeks, and every bite of it was delicious and savory. 
• A great run this week: This week I had a really wonderful run in this perfect fall weather that we've been having. I love the feeling of a good run, and knowing that I've accomplished something out on the road. 

Now it's your turn:

What're you thankful for today? 

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Over the last year or so I've grown increasingly interested in quinoa, especially after hearing how healthy it actually is! This year, Emily at the Daily Garnish posted a recipe for Mediterranean Quinoa Salad. I knew I had to try it! If you've read this blog for very long, you know how I love Greece and almost all things Mediterranean, so i thought this would be the perfect opportunity to try quinoa!

I switched the recipe up a bit so head over to her recipe for the original.

Here's what I used:

Ingredients
1 cup quinoa
2/3 of a cucumber
2/3 cup grape tomato
1/2 cup red pepper
1/3 cup sweet onion
Feta Cheese
1 tablespoon olive oil
1.5 tablespoons lime juice
White Wine Vinegar
Sea Salt

I followed the directions on her post, so check out the recipe here.

This meal turned out fabulously, and I'm glad I made extras so I will have another few meals. This was incredibly easy and quick to prepare. I made the quinoa in my rice cooker, and it turned out great.

The pictures on the Daily Garnish look much better. It was dark outside and I was using my phone. Not very good lighting. 

The pictures might not be beautiful, but the taste is absolutely delicious

I could've eaten 3 bowls of this for dinner. I controlled myself though. 

Now it's your turn:

Have you ever tried quinoa before? Does the look or consistency freak you out at all? What's one new food you'd like to try in the next week or two?