April Favorites!

I can't believe May is already here! As sad as I am that the month just flew by, I'm so excited because that means there's my birthday, graduation, and SUMMER just around the corner! April was a month full of rain (really, Colorado?), fun times, and lots of shopping. I don't have many favorites this month, but that just makes these April Favorites extra special!

April Favorites

Beauty Favorites

Stella by Stella McCartney Perfume ($50) -- I've recently fallen in love with this scent. It's very feminine with strong notes of peonies and amber.  This is the kind of perfume I can see Ivanka Trump wearing before a big meeting -- it screams classy and sophisticated. Stella recently brought this classic scent back, so buy it before it's gone again here!

Sephora Pearl Eye Mask ($5) -- This is the hungover girl's dream cure for dark under-eye circles. I swear that after I put this on for the recommended 15 minutes, my eyes looked bright and wide awake. I stocked up just so I'm prepared for that next tough morning (hello, day after my birthday party). Buy yours here.

Music Favorites

Worth It by Fifth Harmony ft. Kid Ink -- This song is my JAM! Whenever I hear it I can't help but dance and shake my booty. The saxophone at the beginning just owns! You can listen to this in the car, getting ready, at the club...literally anywhere at all and you will just bust out some moves. This song has been on repeat this month...and it probably will be next month, too! Listen for yourself here.

Food Favorites

Breakfast Sandwiches -- I have made myself a breakfast sandwich on this fancy machine for the past two weeks straight. You put in the ingredients and it does all the work for you...how awesome is that?! When I come back from the gym in the morning I plug this baby in and while I wait for it to heat up I take a quick shower and change. Then I add my ingredients (I use a low-fat English muffin, one egg, one thin slice sharp cheddar cheese, and one apple-smoked chicken sausage patty) and it takes just 4 minutes to make! Babe...these are so good and mine are under 300 calories! It will keep you full until lunch and help you get a great start to your day. You need to try them!

Well, that's it for this month! I told you I haven't had too many favorites...but be prepared! Next month a whole lot of things are happening and I'm sure my list of favorites will be longer than my wingspan (6'1"...I'm like a pterodactyl).

What are your monthly favorites? Are you excited for May? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time my loves x.

Trip Guide: Napa Valley

I have literally been in a state of depression since Spring Break. Checking back into reality is so hard! I'm so happy and thankful that my final Spring break of my Undergrad was spent with some amazing people in the absolutely gorgeous Napa Valley, California.  The wine, the food, the views...everything about it was perfect. I went to so many wine tasting that I swear I swirl and smell every drink I'm handed! Napa is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the simple things in life. I miss it so much!

Napa can be a handful...I mean there are over a hundred wineries to visit! But don't you fret because I am here to give you some insider tips and tricks that will make you feel less like a tourist and more like a local!

Napa Valley, CA Trip Guide

Bakeries

I kid you not, I went to a bakery every morning while I was in Napa. And the one I kept finding myself going to was the Model Bakery.  Located right across from the Oxbow Market, this place has everything from croissants, sandwiches, loaves of sourdough, to their (no lie) world famous English muffins.  They have fancy coffee (think Blue Bottle) and even make pretty designs in your vanilla latte. There are also a bunch of little hidden gems...you just have to look! We found this great Portuguese bakery in downtown Sonoma that had croque monsieurs and amazing bunny cookies. And you can't forget to hit Bouchon Bakery in Yountville.  Their macarons are to die for!

A breakfast sandwich and latte from Model Bakery.

Small Wineries

It's very tempting to go to the big shots (think Domaine Chandon, Robert Mondavi) which are an experience in themselves, but the smaller wineries are where you learn the most.  Try Summit Lake on Howell Mountain -- a little farm (they seriously have goats and chickens) that makes one of the best Cabernet Sauvignons I've ever had. Our tasting here was like a French picnic in the park by the Eiffel Tower.  The owner provided the wine and we brought the cheese, bread, honey, and fruit! Hendry is another great spot and you can learn how the grape gets from the vine to the bottle from Mr. Hendry himself!

Splurge

You're in Napa Valley, after all! Our last night we went to Allegria -- a pretty fancy Italian restaurant where the food and drinks were to die for! This is where I got my cocktail fix (I was sick of wine by this point) and one of the best meals of the whole trip. It was worth every penny! I would suggest eating out for breakfast and dinner and then bringing a packed lunch when you tour wineries so that way you have a little extra spending money! One of the restaurants I wish we could have tried was Thomas Keller's French Laundry but reservations are booked for months in advance (that's how exclusive it is!).

Ahi tuna from Allegria.

If you love it, buy it!

Don't hesitate to hand over the cash for a good bottle of wine. You're literally in a place with some of the best wines in the entire world, so why not bring some home with you! I spent probably $150 on four bottles of wine and I don't regret any of them. Trying so many wines, it's important to note which ones stand out for you because those are the ones that your palette likes the most. In fact, if (nah, WHEN) I go back, I'm probably gonna bring an empty suitcase just to fill with wine! That's the whole point of Napa Valley after all!

Buy a "Taste Downtown Napa" Card

Best $30 I ever spent.  Head down to the Welcome Center on Main Street (down by the Napa River Inn) and pick up a card which will allow you to one free tasting at 12 different tasting rooms in downtown Napa. I thought this was worth the money by the second place we visited!  It's not only a deal but it also allows you to try a variety of places you normally would skip over. My favorite one? Vintage Sweet Shoppe -- they pair a piece of their chocolate with whichever wine you taste! I suggest the Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc so you can try their lemon white chocolate with it...amazing! Find more information here.



Talking about Napa just makes me want to plan my next trip! I was thinking it would be the perfect spot for a Bachelorette weekend...now I just need to find a man! ;)

Have you been to Napa? Did you go anywhere worthwhile there? Are you as obsessed with rosés as much as I am? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time my loves x.

Recipe: Southwestern Omelette

I have a confession...I'm addicted to cooking, cooking shows, and just food in general. I mean, have you SEEN Chopped before?! When I'm stressed, bored, or just in the mood for it, I cook and bake to my little hearts desire and I love tweaking recipes to make them my own. I figured if I'm going to be doing it regardless, why not share my favorite recipes and cooking secrets with you!

Recently I have been super into working out and eating clean (thanks a lot Spring Break) and I've been creating recipes to stop myself from eating 5 loaves of bread. I workout early in the morning, so when I get home I'm starving. I came up with this recipe one day when I needed to use some groceries before they expired, and I was so happy with the final product!

Do you like eggs? I love them. I eat them everyday.  Not only are they delicious, but they are super good for you and so versatile! I heard one of the new food trends (why is that a thing) is eating eggs for meals other than breakfast.  Sorry to disappoint you hipster foodies, but this recipe is perfect for right after you wake up.  But there is always breakfast for dinner!

Southwestern Omelette

This recipe is super simple to make, unless you suck at flipping eggs (trust me, I was, too).  The omelette itself is just eggs and cheese, and the condiments give it that southwestern flair!

Southwestern Omelette

2 eggs (in the photo I used 6 tbsp of egg whites cause I ran out of eggs)

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/4 Mexican blend cheese

1/4 cup pico de gallo (I used King Soopers brand...it's bomb)

2 tbsp guacamole (optional)

In a small bowl, mix together eggs, salt, pepper, and garlic and onion powder. Pour egg mixture into preheated pan and cook until edges start to solidify.  Flip egg to continue cooking and fill with cheese.  Fold over omelette and top with pico de gallo and guacamole.  Enjoy!

If you're looking for a guac recipe, check mine out! This omelette is so filling and delicious and I promise you won't be disappointed.  

Are you a fan of making omelettes (omg)? Any favorite recipes this month? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time my loves x.

Trip Guide: Las Vegas!

So I did something absolutely spontaneous this weekend and it was the most fun I've had in a long time. Well, the 14 hour car ride wasn't, but everything inbetween was a blast! I gambled, drank overpriced margaritas, and walked over 10 miles.  That's right bitches...I went to Vegas! Two of my girl friends and I headed out to the desert to party away our Spring semester stress.  We stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel for the night and enjoyed as much as the strip as we could. I now consider myself a Vegas Vet (not really) and I want to provide you tips in how you can survive your next trip to Sin City!

Trip Guide: Las Vegas

Fly, Don't Drive

There is nothing worse than driving 14 hours when you're hungover and sad. We may have driven this time and were able to enjoy a few stops on the way home (the Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon), but I would NEVER do it again.  I hate being cramped in a tiny car and expected to survive off of Cheetos and Sour Patch Kids. Next time I go, I am definitely flying.  If you do decide to drive (bless your heart) I would suggest listening to a book on tape or language-teaching CD so you can benefit from the hours of no rest. Or my friend Christina recommended listening to comedians -- you can't sleep when you're laughing!

Bring Alcohol With You

I paid $10.50 for a frozen strawberry margarita at Margaritaville...and that was in a little plastic cup. I'm not saying you shouldn't buy fun drinks when you can (Fat Tuesdays!) but bringing a bottle or two with you will definitely save you money, especially when you can split the cost with your friends.  We brought a bottle of vodka and a chaser to do shots before we went out so we wouldn't need to buy $12 drinks to get buzzed. It'll save you money in the long run!

Walk the Strip Early

By hitting the Strip early, you are avoiding a ton of tourists and other people that you'd normally start to see in the afternoon.  We arrived at around 9AM and started exploring right away, and we skipped SO many lines because of it. It's nice to be able to explore and take photos without hundreds of people using their selfie-sticks behind you (why is that a thing?).  That way once it starts to crowd up, you can retreat back to your hotel and lay by the pool!

Buy a Macaron at the Venetian

It's a Vegas tradition (according to my favorite professor)! On the first floor of the Venetian is the Bouchon Bakery. They have everything from croissants to baguettes, but you MUST get one of their macarons.  They are a little pricey but definitely worth it, trust me.  My favorite is the salted caramel! :)

Be Willing to Splurge

This is Vegas, after all! I'm not saying you should drop $45 for every meal, but I think one fancy dinner would definitely be worth it.  We weren't hungry enough (or prepared for) a big meal, but next time I go I want to try one of Gordon Ramsay's restaurants or some other big name place. There are so many options to choose from that I doubt you'll be disappointed.  We ate at Pink Tacos at the Hard Rock and it was so yummy and decently priced (especially because free chips and salsa YES). Explore beforehand and see where you want to go, that way you have something to look forward to!

Have you been to Vegas? Any other tips or tricks? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time my loves x.