Surprise!

I have told people closest to me but now that the clock has officially started to tick, I wanted to tell you all!

 I am going on my first solo tour all over Europe in only 10 days (almost 9!) I am so excited and ready to get back into the world and begin to explore all that it has to offer.

Until then I'm off to explore the playa and experience my first Burning Man! Hehe surprise again! 

                           

         
                                                                         XOXO

Early week blues.

Hey guys!

I know how the early week blues can totally affect your moods and feelings. When I was working Monday through Friday, Monday and Tuesdays were by far the hardest! It felt like my soul was being drained sitting in traffic for hours on end. The beginning days of the week felt like staring up at the workweek mountain, knowing that you had a while until you would reach the top. On extra bad days I would MAKE (yes I mean force) myself to write down three reasons why the day was nice, or what I was grateful for. 

I did a quick watercolor for you guys to remind you to do the same! I hope this can help you take the time to at least find three beautiful things about today. Each day brings something new and special.

I saved this on my iPad so that I could open it up and write on it in my Sketchbook program whenever I needed a reminder myself. :)

Use the hashtag Owbblog if you decide to post it online. I love seeing what beauty everyone finds in the day.

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, wait until friday and add excess amounts of vodka!

Food Fridays: Low calorie cashew mexican mocha

Food Friday is back...BOOM!!

Okay, okay, I know this is technically a drink but with food comes drinks and drinks, food plus... COFFEE!

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a coffee addict. Sorry, but for real I am not sorry, coffee is the nectar of the gods. I have recently been trying to find areas in my life that I can cut out some excess calories. Don't get me wrong, if someone hands me a delicious flavored iced latte... I will drink it, and drink it fast; but when I found that a cup of this Cashew milk was only 90 calories I was hooked! Since I have picked up Silk chocolate cashew milk, I had constantly thought it would be delicious in coffee. 

I was right, so here is a low calorie option to a Mexican mocha:

(P.S. Its super quick because we all know, No talky before coffee)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 to 3/4 cup of any brand of chocolate Cashew milk (I used Silk)
• Your coffee of choice, I used a K-cup and made my Kicking Horse coffee in the Keurig
• 1/4 tsp. Vanilla extract
• 2 Dashes of Ground Cinnamon
• 1 Dash of Cayenne Pepper ( I mean a tiny bit unless you want it spicyyyyyy)
• Optional: Some creamer if you want it to turn out thicker. When I use creamer I use Trader Joe's Coconut Creamer
• Milk frother, I picked mine up at Cost Plus but if you don't have one no worries.

Step 1: Brew your cup of coffee into your mug or pour yourself a cup of coffee a little over half full.

Step 2: In a separate microwavable mug combine 1 dash of cinnamon, vanilla, cayenne pepper and cashew milk. Heat for 45 seconds or until hot.

Step 3: Once hot, if you have a frother use it until the milk becomes a little frothy. If you don't have one no worries it will taste just as good.

Step 4: Combine all ingredients into the mug with the coffee, stir and dash with cinnamon, see super easy.

 ENJOY!

But wait, there's more!!! (God I love watching those infomercials.)

"What if its super hot out and I don't want hot coffee because then I will melt and probably die!?"

Dude, relax I got you... Make it iced! *head explosion* 

Okay, maybe that's a little dramatic but this drink tastes SO good iced! I used some coffee that I had in the fridge to make this. Just add all the ingredient directly into your cup I used a dash of creamer in mine, add some ice and heaven.

Now you can double enjoy! 

Sacred Spaces: Alters

Hey guys! I hope everyone is having a kickass day today. I wanted to share one of my Sacred spaces that I have around the house, a few of my alter spaces.

I have always been an avid collector of things that make me feel good. For as long as I can remember I have always had little alters around me. From my childhood room and clearing out bookshelf space to my current room which has much more space to work with. I love these little sacred spaces, they help me to reflect on myself and have constant reminders to smile and love the natural world around me.

One of my favorite things to do as a child was to collect all different shapes and sizes of rocks. No matter where I was I would walk looking down between my feet, not because I was shy, but because you never know what little treasure you would find. Well, I have no shame in saying that I have not outgrown this, but instead added to it!

CRYSTALS, dude crystals have a special place in my heart. I could just stare at different types of crystals for hours. To know that mother nature created these beautiful things is beyond me. Crystals are one of my staples when creating one of my alters, they not only add so much beauty but also so much spirituality to my alters. Each crystal has a different look, meaning and color. Auh-ma-zing. 

I also like to add different types of earthy things that I find in my travels. I have shells from Hawaii, rocks from Greece and Turkey, lonesome feathers found while walking along outdoors and gold that I have picked up with my own two hands from many places all over California. I keep small meaningful objects that were gifted to me from amazing people, the small green bird was given to me in Jamaica from a lady whom said its good luck to receive one of them. The golden pomegranate came from a small winery in Greece, Brandon surprised me with it, such a special gift. I try to keep things that remind me of the beauties of the world and people out there. 

I like to have things that smell good, whether it's an amazing scented candle like the one from JaxKelley or some Essential oil blends I made from Young Living products, having something that makes you happy is key. 

I like to keep books, journals, and spiritual cards around my spaces. Having one that you are currently vibing with is good for when those moments come that you just want to reflect and relax.

One of the final things that I have been keeping at my alters lately is jewelry. I have special Mala necklaces that go straight to my spaces when they are taken off. These help to remind me of the person I am seeking to become. We all strive to be better whether its physically, emotionally or spiritually, these guys are there especially for that reason.

I read a quote once that said:

"Sometimes, you need to step outside, get some air, and remind yourself of who you are and who you want to be."

That shit resinated with me, I would like to believe that my alters work just as well as outside does for me.

Do you guys have special Sacred Spaces? I love to be nosey and see pictures! #Owbblog your pictures so I can take a peek. :)

Food Fridays: Frozen Chocolate Bananas

Hey guys! So I have been wanting to try and start a schedule of certain days during the week to regularly post on. I love food... I also love Fridays so BAM I present to you.. Food Fridays.

This recipe is not only super easy, its super duper fast.  #Getinmybelly

Ingredients:

•  1 TBSP Chocolate spread ( I used Trader Joes Cocoa almond spread but you could use Nutella or any type of yummy chocolate)
• 1 TBSP Organic coconut oil
• 1 to 2 ripe bananas
• Wax paper

Dude thats all you need....easy easy easy.

Step 1:

Cut up your bananas into bite size slices and set aside. 

Step 2:

Get a small bowl and put the chocolate and coconut oil in. Put in the microwave for 30 seconds, I usually check half way through to make sure its not too hot. (Burnt chocolate = nasty)

Step 3: 

Stir the delicious chocolate mixture until it's runny and smooth. Grab a banana slice and dunk it all up in that goodness.  I usually pick it up with a fork and let some of the chocolate drip off.

Step 4:

Put your wax paper on a small cookie sheet and place the slices on to it. This isn't a perfect Martha Stewart recipe so you chocolate will drip and may not look that neat but who will really complain because... chocolate.

Step 5:

Place the cookie sheet into the freezer and let sit until frozen, I left them in there for a few hours. Once they are done transfer them to a Tupperware and place back into the fridge. Since there is coconut oil they will be melt in your mouth/hands so its best to keep them in the freezer and pick out a few that you want to eat.

You, my friend, are now a frozen chocolate banana chef. Congrats.

Top 5 podcasts of summer 15

I was first turned onto podcasts when I began a new job where I had quite a lengthy commute. I would sit in an hour and a half of traffic one way to work and just remember being SOOO bored with the radio stations. I signed up for an online audio book subscription but found myself listening to the books front to back. I would end up with no book "credits" left and was back to square one. I was working at a school and the teacher whom I worked for started to talk about a podcast called Serial. (P.S. If you haven't listened and like murder mysteries GO...NOW!) I started to browse around and realize that there were podcasts on every topic imaginable. BINGO. In a way podcasts helped to save my sanity during these epically long commutes. If you aren't on the podcast train well, beep beep the train has arrived.

These podcasts are in no particular order but are my top 5 podcasts of this year/summer 2015.

1. One Part Podcast-

Jessica Murnane hosts this awesome, inspiring and creative podcast. She interviews some of the coolest creative people around, from food, fashion, wellness, artists & designers. The podcast is on a current hiatus but is set to come back at the end of August. If you love hearing about other creativity or just need some inspiration check this one out.

2. Mystery Show- 

This podcast randomly fell into my lap while I was browsing around the podcast store. Starlee Kine hosts this podcast where she solves mysteries that people bring to her. This is totally not on the grand scale that Serial was on but none the less she uses her wits, humor, and outspoken personality to crack the cases. Want some thing light yet intriguing? Check this one out.

3. Loveline-

First of all YOU LIVE! If you understand that saying then go right ahead and skip over this one. So what can I say about Loveline... I often tell people that one of my all time favorite podcasts is Loveline. The typical response that I get it," that's still going?!" along with a completely baffled look. YES Loveline is still going, and going strong might I add. Dr. Drew Pinsky and "Psycho" Mike Catherwood host this show where people all over North America call in for Sex, Dating, Relationship and Medical advice. They have tons of famous guests on the show which come out Sunday through Thursdays. Not only are you sure to learn something but you will also be that person literally laughing out loud while people look at you awkwardly. Own it.

4. Artists Helping Artists-

 Leslie Saeta hosts this podcast which is #1 on Blogtalk radio. Leslie is a seasoned artist who paints with a pallet knife instead of brushes. She has different guests on each week to give you tips and tricks about selling, advertising and knowledge of the business part of art. This blog deals with artwork as opposed to crafts.

5. Naturally Nicole -

We have now arrived to my guilty pleasure, well actually fuck it! No shame in my game... Nicole "Snooki" LaValle is best known from the MTV show Jersey Shore. I know what you're thinking.... TRAINWRECK. Well yes....and no. She has really turned herself around from those drunken television days. She has grown up to become a great mother and wife while she hasn't lost her potty mouth and don't give a shit attitude. #zerofuckstogive I listen to this podcast to crack up along side her and her best friend Joey. They talk about girl shit, mommy shit (literally and figuratively) and celeb gossip. You either like it or you don't, either way I won't judge to each their own.

Bonus: Elise Gets Crafty-

I am a recent follower to this podcast, I haven't been listening for very long. It is a podcast on small business inspiration, motivation and knowledge. Totally right up my ally! So far I am really enjoying listening. Boom for a bonus.

What are your favorite podcasts? I'm always looking for new hidden gems on the web.