Halloween Happiness: Pumpkin Picking

Fall hasn't come yet to Southern California, but that didn't stop us from embracing Fall traditions, one of my favorite being visiting a pumpkin patch.

Tanaka Farms didn't disappoint - there were rows of pumpkins as far as you could see, a cute corn maze, and fun crafts and games for kiddos.

Admission is $2 to get into the pumpkin patch area, I feel this is worth it. The pumpkins are decently prices (by weight) and there are a lot of fun activities and photo-opps once inside.

We spent only a few hours here, mainly because it was over 100 degrees, but it was just what I needed to get myself into the Fall mood to kick off pumpkin season! Oh how I wish I was cozy in boots and a sweater while picking my pumpkins.

They also have a gift shop area with fresh pumpkin breads, and cookies, as well as home decor and carving kits.

Later, on Halloween we carved up our pumpkins and I even roasted the seeds, something I've always wanted to do but never got around to doing in the past and I can honestly say it will be a new Halloween tradition.

Its amazing when it works out that a fun Holiday like Halloween falls on a weekend and you have all day to enjoy it and create new traditions and spend time with family.

From mine to yours I hope you had a very Happy Halloween!

Halloween Happiness: Dinner Menu

I love holiday's; all of them really. I think it came from my grandma always having the house fully decorated for whatever holiday was coming next, and that carried onto me - my house is always decorated with festive nik-knacks or mantel decor. It's also a great excuse to make festive foods and try things you otherwise might not. This Halloween we carved pumpkins and watched movies while handing out candy to trick-or-treating kiddos, so I created a Halloween menu to go along with this night that was of course; all things pumpkin.


Pumpkin Pasta

This is the splurge for the night as it is most definitely not clean, but it's also much better than going out to a restaurant and ordering a similar dish.

Pumpkin Raviolis, Butternut Squash Raviolis, and Pumpkin Pasta Sauce come together to make a delicious, cozy, Fall, meal that was just what we needed.

Chicken Stuffed Peppers

Since I kept the pasta portions low I got our meat and veggies in with stuffed peppers. I began with carving the faces in each that was easier than I anticipated it being. Next whipped up the stuffing the "lazy girl way" by browning 1 lb ground chicken and chopped zucchini, draining the fat and then adding 1 jar of Fall Harvest Salsa (or pumpkin salsa), mix and let simmer then transfer to your cleaned peppers and bake at 350 for 30 mins. Delicious, healthy, and so festive.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

My whole family loves snacking before meals so I roasted seeds from the pumpkins we carved while the carving was happening and they were the perfect healthy snack for the movie night after!

Clean seeds well, like really well, then transfer to pot of boiling water and boil for 10 mins. Drain and pat seeds dry then transfer to mixing bowl and toss with olive (or avocado oil) and seasonings of your choice (I just used sea salt here). Next transfer to baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper and bake for 30 mins at 10 min intervals, stirring between, and keeping an eye that none blacken. Such a delicious healthy treat to snack on!

This meal came together perfectly and with all the time consuming parts prepped the night before, it allowed me to make a beautiful meal while still enjoying the night and company. Happy Halloween everyone!

Pumpkin Patch Perfection

For me Fall means crisp weather, cute sweaters, chai tea lattes, and Pumpkins! Though the crisp weather is still evading us in Southern California, it didn't stop our adventure to a pumpkin patch to select a perfect pumpkin!

In the past I always went to small local stands that pop up or my local grocery store to get pumpkins but I recently heard that a local college, Cal Poly Pomona, has an annual pumpkin festival and I knew I had to go!

Rows and rows of pumpkins is clearly an understatement!

Though it was over 85 degrees it didn't stop the hundreds of people who showed up to enjoy the food, vendors, and pumpkins.

This kick-started the Fall Season for me and I couldn't imagine a better way to do so! I encourage everyone to check out local Fall festivals and events, you never know what could be going in right in your home town.

Happy Harvest Season!

I loved autumn, the one season of the year that God seemed to have put there just for the beauty of it.

~Lee Maynard

The Oinkster

While watching a marathon of Diners Drive-Ins and Dives on Food Network I decided it was about time I visited one of the "best places to eat" near me. After a quick Google search I stumbled upon The Oinkster, and after a quick look at their menu I knew I had to try it!

I went with a friend who had been before and loved everything he tried. I opted for the BBQ Pulled Pork Sand-which (a favorite of mine that I typically order everywhere I go) and he had a salad and pastrami fries.

The "best pulled pork sand-which I have ever had" does not even begin to describe how amazing this sand-which was! There was no BBQ sauce on the sand-which unlike most I have had, but trust me I doesn't need any! This was the best pulled pork I have ever tried (I have yet to visit Texas though) and I would order it again in a heart beat! So much flavor in the meat along with the cabbage and grilled onions made it a perfect sand-which.

I went on a Friday night and it was packed with a line out the door, but well worth the wait! I will definitely be eating here again!

WeHo Bistro

Over the weekend I discovered an adorable bistro in West Hollywood called, WeHo Bistro. I was in West Hollywood for the first time and could not decide where to eat, so I checked Yelp and found the closest place with the highest rating (this place has 4.5/5) and headed over.

My friend and I were met at the door by the owner who welcomed us and seated us on the patio. It was exactly what I was looking for that day, it was sunny and beautiful out and this was the perfect lunch spot!
After bringing us complementary cups of their famous mushroom soup and bread we ordered their signature mimosas. (it's 5 o'clock somewhere right?) All of which were incredible! I cannot wait to go back for a bowl on a cool Fall day.

I ordered the croque monsieur and my friend tried their BLTC (bacon, lettuce, tomato and chicken sand-which). Mine came with the most delicious side salad that I think I've ever had and his with fries. I fell in love with croque monsieur's when I was in Paris, and order it every time I see one on the menu, but this surpassed all my expectations! It was utterly amazing, and must be tried by everyone who eats there.

The owners and staff were so friendly and helpful and made the afternoon so enjoyable, after all atmosphere is what makes the meal. It was the perfect  afternoon in Southern California.

"I have been blessed, with so much more than I deserve" 

-Martina McBride

Surviving the Office

I spend my work week in an office with 10-15 colleges, depending on the day. Working in an office environment definiently has its perks, (a set schedule, air conditioning, and co-workers near by to chat with, just to name a few) but also has its downfalls. For me the largest downfall was learning to adjust to spending 8 hours a day with so many people, and in front of a computer. In doing so, I've found some helpful tips to survive office life and avoid the ruts and pitfalls that so many fall into.

1. Hand Sanitizer is Your Friend

It is crazy how quickly a cold or flu spreads in an office. I fell victim to one of the illnesses that traveled from co-worker to co-worker and after that week I realized how important it is to stay sanitized! I wash my hands every time before I eat, and in between I sanitize after being away from my desk or using common items such as the fax, copier, or envelope sealer. That is my daily routine, but when someone is actually sick in the office I step it up by using sanitizing wipes on all the machines and wiping down my desk daily. So far it's been working for me, I have avoided the last three bouts of illness going around.

2. Literally Pick Yourself Up

Get up! So often I find myself half asleep at that 2-3pm slump and I crash. This is when I wish I liked coffee, sadly though it's not my thing. After sitting and working for so long, you hit a wall. I used to fight this by snacking on chips, cookies, popcorn, or whatever I had. Do not fall into this trap! Get up! When I start hitting that wall now I stand up, stretch, and take a short walk around the office. This wakes up your mind and has the same effect having a snack or soda would (for me anyway). Another perk: you don',t feel guilty for consuming the extra calories at the end of the day. I also try walking on my lunch break near my office, after I don't feel the slump hit me quite as early as if I just sit at lunch or run errands.

3. Make Plans

Having something to look forward to during the week really impacts my outlook at work that day. It could be dinner with friends, trying a new recipe I found, or meeting up with people and working out, any plans help me perk up! Knowing you will be out later helps you stay focused and the day pass quicker. Don't wait for the weekend to have all your fun, space out events throughout the week so you have more to look forward to!

4. Avoid the Drama
The most surprising thing I noticed my first week on the job: an office environment is high school for adults. Spending so much time with one another, with so many personalities, seems to breed gossip. College, my experience at least, was completely different and I was not expecting these high school situations to relapse into my life. My best advice in dealing with this? Stay out of it...as best you can. No matter how tempting it is. This is not to say avoid it entirely. The social scene is vital in an office environment, people help people they like. Just be careful not to invest too full in what others are saying about one another. And always remember: if they talk to you about someone, they are probably talking about you to someone.

5. Set Daily Goals

These goals can be work related or in your personal life. I try to set work goals at the start of each day once I evaluate my work load for that day. When I want to finish things, how much I want to accomplish, and so on. This helps me stay on track and avoid becoming overwhelmed. I also set goals for accomplishments outside of work. Typically these are small such as walking my dog, cleaning up my room, laundry or knocking out a goal on my "must organize" list. These small attainable goals make me feel accomplished and keep me motivated.

I hope these tips help, let me know some things you rely on to survive your work week!

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters" 

Colossians 3:23

Idaho! Here We Go....

This past week I was blessed to visit my cousin, Sarah, at her new home in Idaho, along with her sister, Jess, and spend it with both of their 2 month old girls. Going from no babies to two babies in one house, who are only 11 days apart was quite the adjustment, but I loved every minute of it! 
Though catching two babies while they were both having a good moment was rare, we were able to gather them, and the forty pounds of things that come along with them, enough to get out of the house a few times.We visited the Shoshone Falls, the waterfall that gave Twin Falls it's name. 

But we spent the majority of our visit at home holding, cuddling and playing with the reasons we all came together, the two newest additions to our family; Aubrey and Addison. 

Very few things can put life into perspective the way a new baby can, let alone two! There are no words to describe the feelings you have when they wrap their chubby little hands around your finger while they're laughing or fall asleep snuggled in your arms. I am so blessed to have such a close relationship with my cousins, and that I'm able to share this exciting time, and new chapter in both of their lives.

 Our week was filled with long talks, all day marathons of Parenthood, laughing at the crazy situations that came up everyday, baking and consuming a ridiculous amount of cookies, and all the duties that come with babies. I am so grateful to have spent the week with these two beautiful new mommies and cannot wait to see them again this summer!

"From the fullness of His grace we have received one blessing after another."

  John 1:16