My recent trip to the east coast included more on the agenda than just visiting family - it was also to throw a bridal shower for my little brother's bride-to-be! I'm a bridesmaid in their wedding next month, and I flew in to help celebrate with a bridal shower surprise. I had fun planning out all of the decorations and little details that went along with their springtime wedding pastel color theme, and today I thought I'd share a few of the fun party ideas that I implemented with the other bridesmaids and my mom. 1.) Photo Balloons. I absolutely love doing photo projects, and I know that my soon to be sister-in-law Dez also digs them too... so making photo balloons was one of my first ideas for the party. The basic gist is to attach a photo to each balloon and have ... [Read More]
Archives for March 2017
Sunflower Butter Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies [dairy free & gluten free]
Hi friends! I have been down for the count with a killer ear infection + upper respiratory sickness. It's a major bummer because I've gotten sick the last couple of times that I've visited Jersey to spend time with family, despite my nonstop rubbing of essential oils and drinking of green tea. I almost never get sick otherwise, and I think it's the combination of a cross-country flight (the woman next to me was coughing the entire time!), going nonstop making plans with family & friends, the weather change, being around my adorable but very germ-y nephews, and drinking wine multiple days in a row. So, now I'm back home in Cali, resting up this week and taking it easy so that I can get back to normal. But let's talk about something more fun... like cookies! Breakfast cookies ... [Read More]
3 At-Home Kickboxing Workouts to Try
Out of all of the workouts that I enjoy doing, boxing is high up on my list of favorites. I just love the intensity and how fast-paced it is. I've gone to a few boxing classes at a Title Boxing Club near me recently, and boy are they tough. After the last one I went to, my abs, glutes, and shoulders were sore for a good three days. Every time I laughed or sneezed my mid section would be hurting! San Diego area readers, I've been booking my classes through the Lymber Fitness app - which lets you book classes for a variety of workouts at studios in the area without memberships. It's great for exercisers like me that like to switch it up a lot! If you're interested in trying the app out, you can use the code NICOLELYMB-1-21 to get $5 off your first class. While I love the ... [Read More]
Mediterranean Barley Stuffed Peppers
Hi friends! How was your weekend? Did you celebrate St. Paddy’s Day? I was flying cross-country all day Friday on the actual holiday, but I had a chance to celebrate the Irish holiday yesterday with my parents. I’m in Jersey this week visiting family, and went to a winery yesterday with my parents that had a live Irish band playing. It made me want to be back in Ireland hanging out at pubs with my family! So, let’s dive into the real topic at hand today: Mediterranean Barley Stuffed Peppers - an easy Meatless Monday dinner idea! I’ve always been a fan of stuffed peppers, and for this recipe, I wanted to do something different in terms of grains. I usually will use brown rice for stuffed peppers, but this time I decided to try barley instead and loved it. I like to make ... [Read More]
15 Interesting Food Trends & Finds at Expo West
"People who love to eat are always the best people." - Julia Child Last week I got to attend an expo where healthy food and conscious foodies collide: Natural Products Expo West. It's an awesomely overwhelming show with every kind of food producer you could possibly imagine - from things you'd expect like protein bars, nut butters, and salad, to things you probably have never thought of, like brand new products that have never been sold before. There's no shortage of yumminess, and brands are eager to have you sample their latest products. I sound like Captain Obvious saying this, but I love attending Expo West! Today I thought it'd be fun to dive into 15 things that stood out to me at the show. Let's get to it! 1.) Vegan food has gotten more delicious. Even as a ... [Read More]
Healthy Chocolate Chip Matcha Banana Muffins [vegan + gluten free]
This is the story about how I tried three times to create a naturally green recipe and totally failed... but came up with two yummy recipes in the process! St. Paddy's Day is coming up this Friday, and I was actually thinking ahead a few weeks ago when I decided I wanted to come up with a sweet recipe that had a green hue, sans food coloring. I first heard that the chlorophyll in sunflower butter can turn baked goods green when it interacts with baking soda/powder when a friend of mine accidentally wound up with a green colored sunflower butter recipe, so my original idea was to make sunflower butter banana muffins. The result? They did not turn green, and they also turned out a bit dry, so it was a no go. I decided it was possible that because I mixed all of my muffin ... [Read More]
