dining room dreaming

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one room i can't wait to have ready is our dining room. we've never had a formal dining room so it's a little like christmas morning. it's on the back burner until some other things get finished, but in the mean time i've been pinning like crazy and storing up ideas. i am so in love with the rugs form amber interiors and am definitely planning for one in our dining room. let's be honest though, food and rugs - not the best combination. we discovered this at our previous house. we ate far too many meals on the couch while watching netflix [confession] and i felt like i was constantly having to vacuum. so...i'm preparing ahead of time and making sure to have a good vacuum, like the dyson dc59 motorhead, to keep things spiffy.

on another note, a lucky reader has the opportunity to win a dyson dc59 motorhead. to enter, simply visit the website, here, and leave a comment below with your favorite dyson feature and your dream space. good luck! :)

this post is sponsored by dyson, but all opinions are 100% my own.

how to keep your sanity during a move and renovation

whether you are moving across the country, or right down the road, any move can be overwhelming and can threaten your sanity. we have been in our new house for almost two months, and have been undergoing renovations ever since (and before!) we moved in. right now, we have no sink, no dishwasher, no washing machine, and no microwave. hopefully that will all be fixed by this weekend, but in the mean time all i want to do is run away and hide beneath an umbrella at the beach.

through these months, i think i've definitely learned what to do, and not to do during a renovation. here are some tips i've found to be extremely helpful:

1 // a barren room makes a perfect yoga studio. don't be so quick to buy new furniture, unpack every box, and furnish every room. there are some perks that come from taking your time. when else will you basically have your very own personal yoga studio? i mean, a completely open room with big windows and empty hardwood floors - a yogi's dream. take advantage of this.

2 // don't sweat it. each room will come together. i don't know how many hours i have spent scouring pinterest, stressing over what light fixture or art piece i should choose. then, one day i'm just piddling around the house - and bam, just like that my ideas come together. i think sometimes not thinking about decor and taking a break can be the best thing you can do for your brain, and your house!

3 // give yourself time. there is no rule that says you have to have your house unpacked, finished, beautiful, and perfect in 3 months...or 6 months...or a year! go at your own pace and try not to put unreal expectations on yourself. that's never good for any one.

4 // make exercise and healthy eating a priority. it's really easy to let these things fall to the wayside when your to-do list is endless, but fight the urge to neglect them. eating healthy and exercising will give you more energy with your renovations in the long run, and it will help to combat stress and anxiety you may be feeling. even if you feel like you don't have time to cook a meal, you'll get a lot more done with good, fresh energy than if you skip it for a quick fix and end up in bed at 9:30 from a sugar crash. note to self: oreo's do not count as dinner.

5 // have fun. i honestly want to punch people when they say this to me. but seriously - they're right. have fun with the process. no dining room table? no sweat. get creative and spontaneous and have a picnic on the floor. personally, i think floor picnics are kind of romantic. no dishwasher or sink (like us) due to renovations? using paper products never killed any one. and i certainly don't mind not having to do the dishes at the end of the day.

if you're going through a renovation now, or in the future, i hope you find these tips useful! also, remember, you're not alone. if you want to pull your hair out, i'm right there with ya!

cinnamon sugar plantain chips

i fell in love with plantain chips after buying them from trader joe's. they are a little pricey for a 'chip,' and you don't get much in a bag, so i thought i'd try to make them myself (and i'm so glad i did!). this recipe is seriously so quick and easy to make. just cut them up, pop them in the oven, and then pop them in your mouth!

cinnamon sugar plantain chips

ingredients: 

• 1 plantain, browned
• 1 tbsp. canola oil
• 1/2 tbsp. raw sugar
• 1/2 tbsp. brown sugar 
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

preheat the oven to 425 F. peel the plantain by using a knife to cut 3 - 4 vertical slits down the fruit. the peel should then easily pull down. using a knife, cut the plantain into small circles as thin as you can get them. put the plantains in a bowl and toss with the canola oil, sugar and cinnamon. once the plantains are completely coated, place on a baking sheet covered in parchment paper. cook at 425 F for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through. be careful not to burn them!

remove from the oven and let them rest for about 5 minutes. enjoy immediately, or store in an airtight container for 3-4 days. 

nesting: guest room inspiration

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i've been dying to incorporate pink into a room. scofield is all about keeping our home 'gender neutral.' i guess i can't blame him. normally we compromise pretty well, but the one thing we can't seem to agree on is painting a wall pink. i want a pink wall in our house so badly, but there's pretty much no chance i'll convince him. considering he really won't be spending much time in the guest bedroom, i'm determined to add a little pink somehow. oh, and polka dots.

our to-do list for the guest room:

• scrape popcorn ceilings
• peel wallpaper
• paint room white
• add a rug
• plants and painted pots
• picture above the bed
• add side tables, lamps, and a breakfast cart

he's an art kind of guy, so maybe i can finagle in some pink with a little art work. all in the name of art, right? ;)

we'll see how it goes...

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you can see more and follow along on pinterest here. 

some links for your weekend

image via

// love this article on networking for introverts. it's so helpful, especially for an introvert like me.

// have you seen colbie caillet's music video for her song, try? it's beautiful and inspiring. a must-watch.

// or how about john legend's video for you & i (nobody in the world)? this one could have made me cry. also... they played this song on an episode of grey's anatomy, which makes me love it all the more.

// this inspirational commerical for always. such an uplifting message for girls of all ages.

// this series of leadership talks from my church. it was part of a men's round table series, but a group of women and i have been going through it every tuesday night. i have been so motivated to grow and learn. these are talks i think any one could benefit from.

hope your weekend is lovely, restful, and... inspiring!

nutella mousse

i think it's pretty clear by now that i am in love with nutella. i've made nutella stuffed chocolate chip cookies, nutella brownies, and now this nutella mousse. the best part is this recipe is so easy to make. only two ingredients, and bam - a decadent dessert. don't worry, you don't have to tell anyone it's that easy ;)

nutella mousse

• 1/2 cup nutella
• 1 1/2 cups light cool whip

in a mixing bowl, combine the nutella and cool whip. use a hand mixer to whisk until the mousse is light and fluffy. spoon into dessert bowls and garnish with a little whipped cream and oreo crumbs. serve immediately, or store in the refrigerator.

because nutella is already so rich and dense, i reached for the light cool whip versus the real stuff - heavy whipping cream. with the strong flavor of nutella, the flavor wasn't comprised at all and it's makes the dessert just a little lighter and 'healthier.' 

weekend snapshots

 ^ we worked on the house a good bit this weekend. scofield and his dad tore down a wall in our kitchen, while i did a little work on the bedroom. have definitely made progress, but still have a ways to go!

 ^ "no experience is ever wasted. everything has meaning." nothing like some wise words over a cup of coffee. thanks oprah ;)

 ^ our church recently bought a new building. we've been meeting at a local civic center for a few years, tearing down and setting up each sunday. we finally have our very own, permanent building and we are so excited. so sunday we had a church gathering at the new building and celebrated with a frozen yogurt truck...which i thought was the coolest thing ever. i've seen ice cream trucks and food trucks, but never a frozen yogurt truck! it was amazing.

 ^ note our friend sean in the back ... ha!

hope you had a great weekend! 

Chocolate chip zucchini bread

finally, after what feels like a long hiatus, i'm back in the kitchen! i broke in the kitchen to our new house with this chocolate chip zucchini bread. i made some banana bread last summer, that to this day remains my absolute favorite bread recipe. a lot of things can happen in a year though... like the diagnosis of a banana allergy!? ... so frustrating, i know. so i did some tweaking of last year's banana bread and developed this chocolate chip zucchini bread. it is just what my sweet tooth was craving... with the bonus of a full fruit and vegetable serving. double score.

chocolate chip zucchini bread

ingredients:

• 1 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup dried dates, chopped
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups zucchini, shredded (about 2 zucchini)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour (or whole wheat flour)
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1 cup dark chocolate chips

preheat the oven to 350 F and pour the boiling water over the chopped dates. let the dates and water sit for about ten minutes. in the meantime, beat the eggs with a whisk in a large bowl. whisk in the zucchini, sugar, apple sauce, and vanilla extract. in a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Gently mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, stirring just until blended. 

After ten minutes, drain the dates and pat dry. [i did this with a paper towel.] Add the melted butter and dates to the mixture. fold in the chocolate chips. transfer the mixture into a 9x5 inch prepared loaf pan and bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes. the bread is ready when a toothpick comes out of the center clean. Let cool before serving.

pinalicious

just some pins i'm loving ...

you can follow along on pinterest here :)
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[images sources: 1, 2, 3, 4]

67 ways to know when you're addicted to coffee...

recently, i had to stay in columbia for two weeks for work.  the orientation for internship was great, but the days and nights away from my husband...not so great. to kill time, i spent a lot of time at this coffee shop, cool beans, every day after i got off. scofield went to school at usc, so it's a coffee shop we spent a lot of time at together when we were dating. so of course, being without him, that's the place i picked to hang out ;). it made me feel better, you know...

anywho, they have this sign above the cream and sugar station, which is hilarious, so i thought i'd share. in college, i lived off of coffee. maybe my system had such an overdose over those four years, that it started to reject all the caffeine, because now i can only handle maybe a cup a day. so in honor of my former coffee drinking days....here you go...

1. you answer the door before people knock.
2. juan valdez named his donkey after you.
3. you haven't blinked since the last lunar eclipse.
4. you grind your coffee beans in your mouth.
5. your eyes stay open when you sneeze.
6. you chew on other people's fingernails.
7. you can jump-start your car without cables.
8. you don't need a hammer to pound nails.
9. you've worn out the handle on your favorite mug.
10. you go to aa meetings just for the free coffee.
11. charles manson thinks you need to calm down.
12. people get dizzy just watching you.
13. the taster's choice souple wants to adopt you.
14. starbucks owns the mortgage on your house.
15. people can test their batteries in your ears
16 .your life's goal is to amount to a hill of beans.
17. you channel surf faster without a remote.
18. when someone says, 'how are you?' you say 'good to the last drop.'
19. you want to be cremated just so you can spend the rest of your life in a coffee can.
20. you want to come back as a coffee mug in your next life.
21. your birthday is a national holiday in brazil.
22. you just completed another sweater and you don't even know how to knit.
23. you're the employee of the month the local coffeehouse and you don't even work there.
24. you walk twenty miles on your treadmill before you realize its not plugged in.
25. the only time you're standing still is during an earthquake.
26. you're so jittery that people use your hands to blend their margaritas.
27. your taste buds are so numb you could drink your lava lamp.
28. your only source of nutrition comes from 'sweet and low'
29. the nurse needs a scientific calculator to take your pulse.
30. your t-shirt says, 'decaffeinated coffee is the devil's blend.'
31. you spend every vacation visiting 'maxwell house.'
32. you've worn out your third pair of tennis shoes this week.
33. you've build a miniature city out of little plastic stirrers.
34. you can type sixty words per minute...with your feet.'
35. you forget to un-wrap candy bars before eating them.
36. you've worn the finish off your coffee table.
37. you get a speeding ticket even when you're parked.
38. you'd be willing to spend time in a turkish prison.
39. you to to sleep just so you can wake up and smell the coffee.
40. you're offended when people use the word 'brew' to mean beer.
41. you named your cats 'cream' and 'sugar.'
42. you get drunk just so you can sober up.
43. you speak perfect arabic without ever taking a lesson.
44. you lips are permanently stuck in the sipping position.
45. you have a picture of your coffee mug on your coffee mug.
46. you have a conniption over spilled milk.
47. your nervous twitch registers on the richter scale.
48. you don't get mad, you get steamed.
49. your three favorite things in life are...coffee before, coffee during, and coffee after.
50. your lover uses soft lights, romantic music, and a glass of iced coffee to get you in the mood.
5 1.you can't even remember your second cup.
52. you introduce your spouse as your coffee mate.
53. you think CPR stands for 'coffee produces resuscitation.'
54. your first-aid kit contains two pints of coffee with an i.v. hookup.
55. you speed walk in your sleep.
56. you ski uphill.
57. you sleep with your eyes open.
58. you lick your coffeepot clean.
59. all your kids are named 'joe.'
60. you don't sweat, you percolate.
61. instant coffee takes too long.
62. your thermos is on wheels.
63. you don't tan, you roast.
64. you short out motion detectors.
65. you're so wired, you pick up AM radio.
66. you buy & by the barrel.
67.  you can outlast the energizer bunny.

number 22, 52, and 53...my favorite!

happy birthday scofield!!

yesterday was scofield's birthday - i know i'm a little late. but considering we planned on celebrating it tonight, i'm right on time!

so, because i can't help it, here are a few cheesy love lines to my man ....

scofield, our marriage has been one of the most rewarding and molding events thus far. you constantly push me to be the best version of myself, and you are my biggest cheerleader. as your partner, i know that no matter what, we can get through it because of your leadership, love, and friendship. i feel so lucky every day and i am constantly reminded that you are the best decision of my life. happy birthday! i love you!

p.s. i've never known anyone to look more adorable holding a chicken. i mean...could he be any cuter!?

nesting: bedroom inspiration

we have a lot of house projects to complete, and we decided to first work on our bedroom. at our last place, we never really finished the bedroom. i pretended i was going for a minimalistic look, but really... i just never got around to completing it. given, i do like a simple look, but i'm excited to focus more on the decor this go around and spruce it up a bit. 

here's our list of projects for the bedroom:

• scrape the popcorn ceilings
• peel wallpaper
• paint the walls gray
• repaint the closets white
• add shoe shelves in the closet
• add a new white bed spread and sheets
• make a wooden headboard for the bed
• rug for the base of the bed
• new light fixture
• new bedside tables

already making some progress. can't wait to share more!

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[photo source: 1, 2, 3, 4]

our weekend in black mountain

last weekend, scofield and i headed up to black mountain for a relaxing weekend with family. after having just moved into our new house and doing renovations for a couple of weeks, we were excited to get away for a bit. we ate great food, shared laughs, and celebrated scofield's grandfather's birthday. on saturday we headed into town and enjoyed all the cute shops and happy weather. we found an adorable little handmade pig pillow in one of the shops that i am so so excited about. it's already made it's debut on our couch :)

 ^ we stopped into a sweet shop and admired all the goodies, but decided to pass up this go around. i still couldn't help but snap a picture or two ;)

 seriously, so much character in this little town. can't wait to visit again!

a little something for your friday

well, i didn't mean to take a hiatus for a week. i told you things were crazy around here. but, in the middle of unpacking, painting, and and scraping ceilings, i did manage to sit down and watch this hilarious video. i think i probably laughed for five minutes straight. so funny, and so so cute.

happy 4th of july!

the state of my life right now...

lots have been going on lately, and this picture pretty much sums it all up! we bought a house. we've been doing insane amounts of construction on that house. i got a dietetic internship [yayy!!], which means in t-minus 8 months i will be able to take the RD exam to become a registered dietitian. these past two weeks i've had orientation in columbia, so i've pretty much been commuting to and fro' - partially living out of my car. i mean, how am i suppose to pick out an outfit if my clothes are all packed up!? solution...half of my closet is now in my car.

so basically...all aspects of my life are a mess.

our new house. our old house. my car. my brain. i just keep reminding myself it is all going to be worth it. i am going to make it to the end of these 8 months and be an RD, our house is going to be wonderful, and so homey, and so worth the construction process. not to mention we are so so blessed to have all of the help we have had on the new house. and i can't really complain... i've done pretty much none of it from being in columbia. my father-in-law and my husband are both rockstars...and so selfless. so for that i am extremely grateful.

here's to taking a deep breath, and taking it day by day...

around town || popcorn parlor

every time scofield and i go downtown, we always past this cute little popcorn parlor. i've always wanted to go in ... and after becoming obsessed with trader joe's flavored popcorn, i knew it was time to give it a try. so we rented a movie one night, and headed to amanda henry's popcorn parlor to grab a snack for our movie date. there were a million flavors to choose from, so of course it was so hard to decide! they had both sweet and savory - cookies and cream, chocolate, toffee, salt and vinegar, caramel cheddar, and the list goes on. we mixed the creamy dill and parmesan garlic. heavenly combination! 

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amanda henry's popcorn parlor

18 augusta street

greenville, sc

cup o' hope

coffee comes by many names - cup of joe, java, jamoke, mud. but I've never heard it called by one of my favorite names - cup o' hope. mornings often come with a hurried start.  i enter the kitchen in the early hours before i'm fully awake and quickly prepare my coffee only to exit the kitchen in order to shower and get ready for the day. the pressures soon find me as i pour a travel mug and scurry out the door - only to make my coffee a means to an end.  then there are those other mornings...the ones where i sleepily enter the kitchen to prepare the coffee as usual but refuse the temptation to exit as quickly as i've entered. rather, i allow myself a few minutes to listen to the water drip and take in the aroma.  it's in those few moments I have the opportunity to prepare for what will meet me as i leave my front door.  It will come soon enough, but for now i sip my coffee and am slowly filled with hope that whatever comes my way, i can carry.  those are my cup o' hope mornings.

 lately, i've been enjoying seattle's best coffee® house blend in the morning. we are big seattle's best drinkers in my home. we love our coffee dark, rich, and robust, and seattle's best provides just that. when i heard about the new house blend, available at publix until july 4, i knew i had to give it a try before it was too late.

whether i'm pushing through that afternoon slump, or getting up and going in the morning, seattle's best® gives just the boost i need with the taste profile i love. be sure to grab your bag of seattle's best® house blend at publix, and share it via social media with the hashtag #greattaste. i'd love to know how you enjoy your 'cup o' hope'!

this post is in partnership with seattle's best coffee® blogger campaign. all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.