Valentine’s Day Cocktail Idea

February 2019

Valentine’s Day is almost here, and while everyone else is celebrating with chocolate and sweets, I’m much more inclined to toast to love with a festive red Negroni cocktail.

I was first introduced to the concoction of gin, Campari and sweet vermouth when I was living in New York City and helping recipe test a cocktail book. It didn’t take long for it to become my go-to cocktail of choice. Not only is it super easy to make, but it also just looks so classy. Win win!

Miso Pesto Ramen

January 2019

By Jessica Lee

When I posted this recipe to my Instagram Stories one night, I got more DMs than I’ve ever gotten. A lot of people had seen the recipe on Bon Appetit and were curious what I thought of it. Others were like, “What is that, and how can I make it right now?” I knew I had to share the recipe with you guys ASAP.

A friend of mine made it for her boyfriend the day after I sent her the recipe and he has taken to calling them “Smoothie Noodles”. While that may sound odd, it actually makes sense as almost the entire recipe is made in a blender with the exception of the noodles. As Ina Garten would say, “How great is that?”

12 Things To Increase Work Productivity

January 2019

As we inch our way out of January, I’m still on a “let’s make the most out of 2019!” kick over here. In the midst of being very very pregnant, one thing I am still finding joy in is my work. Though it’s getting more challenging to sit for lengthy periods of time (…pee breaks every 20 minutes…leg spasms…all that fun pregnancy stuff), I am still spending a few hours each day at my desk. Whether I’m sitting down to photo edit (spent a few hours editing the baby nursery pics yesterday…that post is headed to LL this week, yay!), research new content ideas or simply tend to my email inbox, a few trusty things are helping me keep my head in the game (HSM reference, ya feel me? 😉 ), and make me more productive in my work! Sharing 12 items that can come in handy when you’re ready to throw in the workday towel…

3 Books to Inspire You In 2019

January 2019

Refill your mug of coffee, throw on your comfiest lounge pants and cozy up to a new book that will change your year for the better. (…I mean, that’s the goal here!). The older I get, the more I enjoy inspiring reads that force me to self reflect and make positive changes in my own life. Though I love a good fiction novel, a few self-help books have been on my “must read” radar for a while now…and I’m diving right in! I received the new Michelle Obama memoir for Christmas and recently purchased Girl, Wash Your Face after seeing rave reviews flood my Instagram feed. I should also note, The Power Of Now completely transformed my year in 2018 (truly, if you read one book this year, it should be this one!!) and Watson ate half of it after I left it sitting on my bath tray (rookie mistake on my end!)…thus, I ordered a fresh one because I like to refer back to it for words of wisdom, encouragement and to keep my rambling brain (…er, those thoughts of self doubt) at bay…

THE POWER OF NOW / BECOMING / GIRL, WASH YOUR FACE

A big thank you to Walmart for sponsoring this post! All opinions are my own.

Delicious Honey Matcha Latte

January 2019

By Jessica Lee

I used to be convinced that I didn’t like matcha. When the green tea started gaining traction a few years ago I tried it and immediately wrote it off as a drink that tastes like dirt. Not my finest moment.

So when a friend of mine started singing matcha’s praises (…it’s packed with antioxidants, boosts metabolism, rich in fiber and vitamins…to name a few benefits), I decided to give it another go. She recommended adding a tablespoon of honey to the mix, and it changed everything. It adds the perfect amount of sweetness to the concoction. I hope you enjoy it!

Pregnancy Diaries: Third Trimester Update!

January 2019

Hello, from the throes of third trimester-land! Not going to lie, this part of pregnancy has left me feeling some kind of way…lack of sleep, kankles galore, gas and indigestion (Tums are the bff I never knew I needed in my life), hemorrhoids (yep, just went there!), and of course, less mobility as my growing bump has thrown off my center of balance and taking a walk around the block results in my considering which neighbors bathroom I can use to relieve my bladder. But like, 35 weeks and g-l-o-w-i-n-g, right?! 😉

New Year, New Fitness Goals!

January 2019

New year, new list of goals to make! Fitness is generally at the top of everyone’s resolutions list, but given that I’m in the midst of giving myself some serious grace (35 weeks pregnant over here), let’s just say my goal is to simply remain active. I currently take a daily walk – anywhere from two to five miles – to ease my discomfort, get my heart rate up and of course, gain some mental clarity. I have no idea what my new fitness routine will be in just five to 10 weeks time (…I mean, I have definitely been pinning “post pregnancy” inspiration to my fitness board on Pinterest, ha! I’m very much looking forward to that time!), but I know I’ll be incorporating some sort of physical activity…strolls with Baby P, maybe start BBG, get back into the gym…lots of options! Also, we just ordered a treadmill, so I’m super excited about being able to workout in the house while our little guy naps!

LEGGINGS (non-maternity version HERE) / JACKET / RUNNING SHOES / TANK TOP / SPORTS BRA / SUNGLASSES

A big thank you to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post! All opinions are my own.

Coconut Curry Butternut Squash Soup

January 2019

By Jessica Lee

Anyone else been craving a hot bowl of soup lately? There’s nothing better when it’s cold and rainy out! I’ve had butternut squash soup on the brain lately, but I wanted to mix it up a bit. If you’ve been following my recipes here for awhile, you probably know that I’m a big fan of curry (check out this Curry Cauliflower Soup recipe and this Red Curry with Cauliflower Rice!) I always have a jar of red curry paste stashed away in my fridge, and I highly recommend you do too!

Pro tip: if you’re intimidated by dicing up a butternut squash, a lot of grocery stores sell it pre cut! No one will know… 😉

The Gift Of Sleep

December 2018

I have been compensated by QVC for this post. All opinions are my own.

Ohh to take a nap. Or rather, to simply get a good nights sleep these days. Between having to pee every three hours and two dogs waking me in the wee hours of the night…let’s just say sleep is something I could use a heck of a lot more of! And while the whole “baby pushing on my bladder” thing can’t really be helped at this point, wearing noise-masking sleepbuds can absolutely assist with the whole “dogs rustling around the room” thing (which to be honest, is 99% what keeps me awake anyway). Which brings me to the topic of this post: the importance of sleep and rest. Not only has my sleep improved since I got my Bose noise-masking sleepbuds in the mail, but Blake has also benefited from these powerful little guys. We take turns using them (…I think I’ve got a good Christmas gift idea in mind…ha!) and lemme tell ya, these things are straight up LIFE CHANGING.
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Chicken Tortilla Soup

November 2018

By Jessica Lee

News flash! It’s finally cold in Texas! I know to some of you this may not feel like a huge deal, but for those of you who live in the Lone Star State, you know what I mean. Sweater weather is a day-by-day thing down here, and a perfect winter day can quickly turn into shorts and a t-shirt weather. Womp womp.

So, when the mercury drops, we celebrate immediately with soup. Or at least I do! This Chicken Tortilla Soup is insanely simple because I made it in a Bella 6-in-1 Multi Cooker. Have you used one of these before? It’s kind of like a slow cooker, but SO. MUCH. BETTER. I use mine to make rice, hard boiled eggs, soups, risotto and so much more.

This Chicken Tortilla Soup is made almost entirely in the multi cooker. How great is that? Any recipe that requires minimal pots and pans is a win in my book!

Lifestyle