February 10 on 10: All the Love

February 10, 2017

February is all about the love, yeah? Yes. All the love. I feel like we all need a little more love given the state of world lately. So when I was home in Florida this week and my best asked me to snap a few maternity photos, I was honored and immediately said yes. And to me, there is no other type of love than a mama and her babies. So on this 10th of February, take a pause from the world and take in some love. Smile for yourself and smile for someone else. If nothing else, smile at this little Hailey bug, because this kid is cute! Also, this was my first "human" photo shoot. It was hard - but so much fun grabbing these moments for them to have forever.

Here's my February 10 on 10! And make sure you check out my very talented and lovely friend, Kelly over at Three Layers Deep for her version on 10 on 10. Share the love my friends.

January Life

January 31, 2017

Ahh, January. The month of the fresh start. The bright and shiny new year - among other insanely crazy things I try to not talk about on in this space. How did your month go? I finished my first Whole30 successfully. It was a rainy month and I took advantage of staying indoors and doing some self care AKA watching tons of movies and Netflix. It was nice for a change from my usual hustle and bustle and I didn't know I needed it until I had it. I posted my first 10 photos of January on my 10 on 10. Here's a bit of life in photos and words from rest the month.

Rosemary Sweet Potato Frittata

January 27, 2017

The end of January is nearing which means I'm wrapping up my first Whole30. Some might feel doing something like this is excess and stupid, but I really enjoyed the month! I've eaten such good food, not that I didn't before this, but it challenged to eat different things kinda think outside the box for various foods. Breakfast has been my favorite meal of the day. It actually always has been. When researching Whole30 recipes and ideas, there is a lot of talk around people hating eggs by the end because it is what most people eat for breakfast for the month, but truly, that didn't happen to me. I switched up how I ate them all throughout the month. I sdded veggies, scrambled them, fried 'em, put them onto sweet potatoes, onto of leftovers...you name it, I put an egg on it.

Homemade Taco Seasoning

January 17, 2017

Taco Tuesday is my jam! I love it. I live for it. It is on my menu (almost) every week. I like it because it is one meal during the week that I don't really have to think about. Except mayyyybe switching the toppings. And the meat. Ok, maybe I have to think about it a little bit, but I don't have to think hard. There are so many options for tacos, which I feel like makes it that much easier. Chicken, fish, beef, pork - all good choices. Hard taco, soft, corn, flour or a bowl with rice - each and every way is good. I wish more things were as versatile as tacos.

the first 10 on 10

January 10, 2017

Well, we are into 2017 like is it no one business y'all and my brain is churning trying figure out a few of my intentions for the year. One intention I know I want to work on is to focus a little more on my creative side. I feel it like it is so necessary to really make a conscious effort to engage in activities that are completely different from my job (and honestly don't involve talking to people very much since I do it for 8 hours a day 5 days a week). Self care 101 my dear friends. And working on my photography more this year is one way I plan on practicing more self care and working on this specific intention.

And I've decided to join in on a blog circle with a bunch of really talented lady photographers from all over who come together to post 10 photos on the 10th of each month. I am hoping it will help inspire me to keep shooting and to keep looking for all the pretty things around me in my every day life. So, for my first 10 on 10, here are some on my first photos of the year.

Check out the amazing Trine Lise Nilsen for another view on 10 on 10.

How's your month so far?

Cheers,

Erica

spinach salad with chicken, grapefruit, roasted fennel, and almonds

January 9, 2017

You guys, it is the new year! Are we all excited to being done with the holidays? And are we all eating salads this month to try and reset out systems??? YESSSS. All the yeses. I, personally, was in need of a serious sugar detox after Christmas ended. Somewhere between October and January, I swear I was impulsively eating candy, cakes, cookies, you name it and I did so whenever I saw it. I think I was having FOMO, like I am going to miss the best chocolate ever, so I had to stuff it in my mouth. Ugh, now that I think about it I get a little queasy. So welcome January and bring on the healthy food this month - please!

that one time in 2016

December 30, 2016

Hi! How are you holidays going? Are you ready for 2017? How are you preparing? I'm being a little weepy and reflecting as we wrap up this trip around the sun. I've have two conversations this week about how I felt about 2016. My first instinct was to say "blech...terrible." But in thinking that my mind really just went from the Election to now...but 2016 was SO MUCH MORE, than that for me. I had good a not so good days, but such is life. And that not so great times make the great times that much more sweeter.

I went through all my photos for the year yesterday remember each and every memory. All these photos has a story and made me smile, laugh, and cry a little in some way. So here's a little recap of that time in 2016...

Holiday Turkey Meatballs

December 19, 2016

It is the most wonderful time of the year - feasting time! And this whole holiday thing of course is pretty rad. My dental hygienist told me this week she loves the chaos surrounding the holidays. That she thrives in it and she feels it is all part of the holiday season. The crazy stores, the rush to wrap and send gifts, the holiday everythinggggg. I'm a little fascinated by this notion. I thrive in the chaos of my work-life being crazy, fast paced, and unpredictable, but to have that in my outside of real-life - ugh, no thank you. That life is all about trying to introvert and calming the frick down time. It is a super hard thing to do among the chaos of everything else, but I try really hard during this time year. It is truly about balance this time of year for me. Balancing the sweets and the salads. Balancing the workouts and holiday parties. Balancing the holiday movies and...wait no need to balance that! All Christmas movies all the time please! What are you doing to stay all zen during this crunch week?

And I'm sure you have a pot luck or two this week at work yes? Or a holiday party you need to bring something to? I have to tell you, when I have a potluck in my office, I always make food I know I'll eat. Because I never know what everyone else is eating. What is there is an abundance of chips and salsa or the table is overflowing with desserts? Which might not sound terrible, but when this is my lunch for the day, I want to make sure it is something that is going to sustain me and not make me crash at 3PM. Because seriously that is the worst feeling evvva. Don't get me wrong - give me all the chips and salsa along with that chocolate, but I'm just looking for some...wait for it....balance. The word of the week!

I've made these meatballs several times and they are always a solid hit and I don't feel terrible about eating them. I use one bowl to help eliminate dishes and I feel like they take a small commitment of time, but they are worth it in the end. I always double the batch for leftovers. Serve them with a side of roasted cranberry sauce or store bought cranberry chutney!

Holiday Turkey Meatballs

Adapted from Epicurious

1/3 cup slivered almond, toasted
1 pound ground lean turkey
1 large egg, beaten
1 cup fresh whole-wheat breadcrumbs, soaked in 1 ounce milk
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/3 cup packed arugula, chopped
1/3 cup dried cranberries, chopped
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh sage
3/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

In a small pan over medium heat, toast the almond slivers until they are lightly browned. In a large mixing bowl, add the breadcrumbs and milk together, let that soak for about a minute until everything is absorbed. Add all the rest of the ingredients and everything is combined, using your hands if needed, but try not to over mix. Cover and chill in the fridge for about an hour to an hour and a half. (this makes it easier to scoop and keep there shape when cooking. I've even mixed the meat in the evening and made these in the morning). Heat the oven for 400 degrees and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or spray with non stick spray. Scoop about 1 tablespoon of meat and shape into a ball and place on the cookie sheet spreading them out evenly about 1/2 inch apart. Bake for 12-15 minutes until they are browned and reach an internal temp of 165. Serve with roasted cranberry sauce or store bought chutney.

Cheers to balance and this crazy week ahead of us!

Erica