Kyle’s Birthday Recap!

January 26, 2014 by Christine Skari

Hi there, lovelies!

As some of you might know, this last Friday was Kyle’s birthday! Since it was the start of a weekend and we both didn’t have much work to do, we were able to plan out a great day and a night out with friends to celebrate! Here’s a recap:

Kyle’s birthday shenanigans started off in the morning with him opening up the presents I got him. I know, I know, first world problems, but I always find it difficult this time of year because there’s Christmas, Kyle’s birthday, and Valentine’s Day all in quick succession and boys can be really hard to shop for. I ended up getting creative and got him a panini press and cookbook. If you spend more than a day with him, you’ll quickly figure out that Kyle is a bit sandwich-obsessed and is a big fan of tinkering around with machines (that’s a mechanical engineer for ya).

Luckily, he LOVES it and has made four paninis in the last two days. He even has his friends bringing over sandwich making material to his apartment to borrow it and they all rave about it haha! I’m sure that thing is going to get a ton of good use.

After Kyle opened his gifts and tried out the press (holy smokes was it tasty), we both got dressed and headed out to get in a good workout at the gym. Along with doing 30 minutes of cardio and a full body weight lifting routine, Kyle showed me a fantastic ab workout on an incline bench. It’s safe to say that my muscles are feeling a bit immobile at the moment.

Also, did I ever mention that I randomly discovered that I can do pull-ups? The last time I tried a couple of months ago, I couldn’t even get up half way, and now I’m able to do two in a row! Progress!

After the gym, we came back home, showered, and I sat down to do a bit of work before our reservation at a Thai restaurant for dinner. We had ten of our closest friends with us and took over the small place! The boys were intent on making Kyle show off his chest hair… Don’t ask me why, I don’t know either. The boys ordered a ton of dishes to share, while I stuck to the classic Beef Pad Thai. It was beyond delicious and I can’t wait to go back to that authentic, hole in the wall restaurant! After dinner, we headed out to grab some ice cream at McConnell’s. If you’re ever up in the Santa Barbara area, you have to get a scoop or five. While it’s pretty pricey, they churn up the most delicious and unique flavors! Then, after our ice cream run, we headed back to the apartments to get ready for a night out of dancing and more fun with friends. I hope you had a great birthday, Kyle! You’re such a wonderful, loving, intelligent, and fun guy and I love you with all of my heart. I feel so blessed to have you in my life and can’t wait to celebrate another birthday with you next year!

Mocha Avocado Truffles

January 23, 2014 by Christine Skari

So these:

But first, this:

I’ve been busy lately. The combination of studying, classes, exercising, making time for friends and Kyle, and balancing my blog don’t leave me with much time to spare. In fact, as I write this, I’m sitting in my college’s library taking a break from writing a tedious French essay. Now that I think about it, I should probably just live here since I already spend the majority of my free time sitting at a desk with a textbook and a latte. Woohoo! Don’t I sound like a regular party animal!

Anyways, while I am finding time to cook dinner most nights, it’s always a welcomed relief to have healthy and delicious snacks waiting for me when a craving strikes. Even better if they include chocolate, because chocolate makes everything better. True fact. Think about it. World hunger? Chocolate. Diseases and progress in science and technology? There’s a bizarre juxtaposition between a country’s chocolate consumption and the number of Nobel Peace Prize winners per its population density. Shoutout to my motherland, Norway! You go, Glenn Coco!

So that’s why I’m in love with my new version of my Dark Chocolate Avocado Truffles. Enter: Mocha Avocado Truffles! Not only do I get to eat a tasty truffle made with dark chocolate, but I also get my caffeine fix, which will lead me to be successful in life. Let me explain with this helpful diagram.

Absolutely foolproof.

But seriously, they taste just as rich and chocolate-y as truffles made with tons of sugar and heavy whipping cream. And, you can hardly taste the avocado, if at all- pinkie swearsies. I’ve tested them on at least 10 different people, and every single one of them is shocked when I tell them that they’re made primarily from an avocado. If you don’t believe me, go check out some of the reviews in the comments of my original version.

This is one of Kyle’s favorite recipes and he loves enjoying them with his morning coffee while immersed in a good book!

Skinny Salted Caramel Apple Crisps

January 21, 2014 by Christine Skari

When it comes to food, I usually have a pretty good sense of intuitive eating. All you can eat Korean barbecue? No problem. I eat till I’m full. Free pizza? If I’m not hungry, I don’t really care to have it. But, throw in anything that involves apples and brown sugar and I’m a sucker. Zero self-control. Like, I’ll eat apple pie till I’m sick and eventually have to ask Kyle to take it away from me.

What I’m trying to say here, if you haven’t already caught my drift, is that I have the self-control of a 4 year old when it comes to any type of apple dessert.

That’s why, these single serving Skinny Salted Caramel Apple Crisps are perfect for me! Well, they’re perfect for anyone who loves gooey homemade caramel blended perfectly with soft baked apples. Then you throw on a fabulous crumble made with golden raisins, pecans, and oats and you’re set! A fantastic dessert with only 235 calories and with its own built-in control system for those days when you think it best not to devour an entire pie singlehandedly.

One recipe makes two mouthwatering crisps total, so you can use it to earn brownie (err… apple crisp) points with a significant other, or you can stop kiddin’ yourself and just inhale the second one as well. You’ll have to guess at which option I’d go with.

Honestly, these crisps have everything you could possibly want in an apple dessert and are bursting with that sweet caramel flavor that’s accentuated even more by that small pinch of salt that makes them mhhmm mhmmm good.

And they’re easy to boot! Cut up yo’ apples, pour that sweet caramel over (don’t lick the spoon, you’ll burn off the top layer of your tastebuds… not that I would know), and straddle that streusel right up in there. Also, let’s pretend I didn’t just use those two words in a sentence together.

Then you get a scoop of vanilla ice cream that melts into the ramekin and makes you swoon. Honestly, why are there Hey Girl memes when skinny salted caramel apple crisps and vanilla ice cream exist in the world? Some things in life just don’t make sense.

Ahhh, that’s better.

Marvelous In My Monday: Eat ALL the Food!

January 19, 2014 by Christine Skari

Happy Monday all! I hope you have today off to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but if you don’t, I hope today is going smoothly for you.

Here’s a few marvels from my Sunday. Mostly food, because food is always marvelous!

Kyle and I went to browse through our local Farmer’s Market this morning and had a great time in the sunshine. The weather here is unreal right now and I’m really enjoying being able to wear sundresses and sandals!

While we were there, I grabbed some apple chips from a local vendor to snack on as we walked around. I feel like these would be so simple to make. Just slice some apples super thin, sprinkle with cinnamon, and pop em’ in the oven on a low heat for a few hours! I’ll try them out within the next few days and report back :).

Kyle and I went to one of our favorite Thai restaurants after some shopping at TJ Maxx to grab some lunch. Since he had a late breakfast and the portions are huge, we split a beef pad thai. Delicious!

Later that day, Kyle and I took his little brother and my younger cousin (they’re bffls) along with a few other boys to get some Korean BBQ!

Then, to round the day of eats off, we split a huge bowl of frozen yogurt.

To say I’m stuffed would be an understatement!

This is going to be short MIMM since I need to sleep off this food coma, but I’m also looking forward to some birthday festivities for Kyle tomorrow. His actual birthday is on the 24th, but we’re home for the long weekend and his family want to celebrate!

Have a fantastic Monday!

Pins I’m Loving: Style Edition

January 17, 2014 by Christine Skari

If I had to pick my dream job, I would be a professional Pinterest pinner. That site sucks up so much of my time and I love endlessly scrolling through the site to find inspiration in regards to how I dress myself. Not that I really wear much else other than workout clothes and pajamas. But hey, a girl can dream!

All pictures via my Pinterest Boards!

Now this is a ring…Looks simple, but probably would just tie my hair in a knot haha!