more beautiful than we think

love this new campaign from dove.  so true.  

Oh, Monday

My weekend looked a lot like the pictures above, and I'll be honest, I'm pretty sad it's over.  Today is all about work, working out, and hoping it doesn't rain anymore.

But in the interest of optimism, here are a few things making my Monday today.

Cooking dinner has been pretty fun lately, since most of my favorite things are back in season.  The Honest company put up a great list of the best that's available now.

It has been consistently warm enough to have the windows open for a week now.  Enough said.  

I've been wearing this perfume ever since I picked up a rollerball last week, and its smell literally puts a smile on my face every time I catch a whiff.

This quote describes my work really well.  Also, I think it's incredibly true in general.

Okay, I know it's far away, but I'm already thinking about making this drink on Friday!

now playing

park walks

When spring rolls around, evening walks are just the thing.  We have a labradoodle (ridiculous name I know, but he's incredibly smart and doesn't shed!)  He needs walked BADLY or otherwise he goes a little insane in our living room, so the warmer weather is making him a very happy puppy.  We moved into the Shaw neighborhood of St Louis in November and obviously didn't get much time to spend outside around the neighborhood, so we have been loving finding out how awesome it is.  We have a gorgeous park 4 blocks from our house and tons of amazing restaurants nearby.  When we went on our after dinner walk to the park Monday night I ditched the cell phone and took my camera to get some better pictures than my usual iPhone snaps.  

deceptively decadent

I've never been the world's best at the whole "don't eat after dinner!!" rule.  Instead, I usually end up craving something sweet a few hours after dinner.  Knowing myself well enough, I keep a few options around the house to make my late night snack something that adds goodness to my diet rather than ruining it.  

A single glass of wine, a piece of dark chocolate, or a chobani yogurt are all standby treats, but the other night I made this "ice cream" and it is absolutely my new favorite!  

salted banana peanut butter ice cream sundae

(adapted from HERE)

what you'll need

for the topping

2 tbsp brown rice syrup (available at whole foods or health stores)

2 tbsp unsweet cocoa powder (dutch process would be best)

1 tbsp chopped peanuts

for the ice cream

1 1/2 banana, frozen and chopped up

1 tbsp unsweetened sea salt peanut butter (get it at trader joe's!)

1/8 - 1/4 tsp sea salt

directions

First, take the bananas out of the freezer, and wait about 20 minutes for them to thaw out.  No fun, I know, but think about how you're going to want this snack anyways and maybe start it ahead of time.  In a double boiler, heat the brown rice syrup and cocoa powder.  If you don't have a double boiler, like me, just put a metal bowl on top of a saucepan filled with boiling water.  

In a REALLY good food processor or high quality blender like a vitamix, blend the bananas, peanut butter, and salt until it looks a lot like frozen yogurt.  

Scoop it out, pour sauce on top, and sprinkle with peanuts (and maybe an extra dash of sea salt.)  Enjoy!  

ps another awesome thing about this is that the banana ice cream won't "melt" per say, it just gets creamier.  so good!  

april inspirations

April is maybe my second favorite month - May wins in my eyes because the weather is always so perfect.  I hate the rain!  But I love the promise that April holds - getting those first spring days where you get to finally (FINALLY!) wear some new spring clothes, finding the best flowers (daffodils!  ranunculus!) at the grocery store, heading to the farmer's market for strawberries & hopefully some early watermelon.  Mostly, I'm just hoping to seize the energy that comes with the beginning of spring and really be my best self.  I feel like we all improve a little bit with the extra time we can spend outdoors.  

I plan to spend every exceptionally warm day reading outside for a few hours, and I'm hoping to have at least one outdoor dinner party a la the photo above.  

What are you favorite things about April?  Anything you're hoping to accomplish?  

in the photo: clogs - swedish hasbeens, top - madewell from last year, but still a favorite, other photos - pinterest