Top 5 Friday {Summer Songs}

BBQing is in full swing, the sun doesn't set until past my bedtime, and we are running the AC at night.

You know what that means, right??

SUMMER is in da house!!  Fo shizzle!

There are certain songs that just make me feel like summer.

{Don't be afraid to sing, or even dance, along}

1. "Summer Nights" - John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John

What female under the age of 40 did not have a sleepover that included this movie??  Some of my best high school memories included summer sleepovers & "Grease."

2. "Summertime" - DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince

Will Smith has always been such a cool guy, hasn't he??  If there is one song that says "summer is here, so grab your flip flops," this is it!

3. "American Pie" - Don McLean

What road trip happens without this song?!?!  It's so fun to sing along to, but so deep when you really think about the lyrics.

4. "Boys of Summer" - Don Henley

This is in the Top 3 of my favorite Don Henley songs...he is such an amazing writer, musician and performer. Gary & I have seen the Eagles 3 times and Don Henley on his own once {tied for BEST show I have ever been to with John Mayer...JM concerts are a freaking religious experience}.  Whenever I hear this song, I wish I had a top to put down on my car.



5. "Smooth" - Santana {featuring Rob Thomas}

Well, hello, summer of 1999.  It was the summer I went to Europe & the summer before I met Gary.  I did a lot of growing up that summer, and this song was a part of the whole experience!


***Which of these songs do you like the best?***


***What song screams "SUMMER" to you?***

What Gets Me Through The Week

Work has been crazy busy since coming back from Winter Break with no end in sight, so here are a few things that have been getting me through the week.

ALMOND MEAL - I am in LOVE with this almond meal.  I don't want to say we have been eating strictly Paleo, but we are trying as much as possible and the possibilities are endless with this one ingredient.  Pancakes, pizza crust, breading for chicken, fish, etc.  Oh, and it is MUCH cheaper than almond flour {only about $4 at Trader Joe's}.

ALMONDS - These are raw almonds that I have been taking with me everywhere I go.  Just a few when I feel a little hungry and I am good to go!  I tend to have these and a banana for my morning snack at work.

EGG MUFFINS - Last weekend I shared my recipe for these.  Gary jumped on board this week and he is a HUGE fan.  I keep experimenting with my own recipe.  This week I added a handful of spinach and broccoli  to the food processor, which is why they look so green!

PITTED DATES - How have I been able to say no to M&M's in the afternoon?  2 of these babies.  Sweet, sticky and super filling!

 STIR FRY - On Wednesday, I did not feel like making the complicated meal I had planned {note to self: any meal that will take more than 30 minutes of work needs to be saved for the weekend}.  Rather than fall off the wagon, I used the chicken breast I had already defrosted for that night, some broccoli that wouldn't make it past the weekend and a bag of frozen veggies to create this easy meal.  It turned out really nice and I even garnished it with a few of the almonds I showed you above.

This was my 2nd stir fry of the week {the 1st one was planned} but it was soooo different.  My 1st one included red bell peppers, mushrooms, and more almond butter than I would like to admit!

Surprisingly, there were no adult beverages included in that list {this may need to change tonight}!  

Wishing you all the most awesome weekend ever!

A Few Of My Favorite (Holiday) Things

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Everywhere you go...

Christmas is definitely my favorite time of the year - the cheerfulness, the baked goods, the MUSIC!!  I am in my element during the holiday season and make a point to slow down during the craziness to enjoy all the great things about Christmas {if I don't, Gary makes me...one more reason he is a great husband}.

Here are a few of my favorite things during the holidays:

1. Peppermint Schnapps.  Add a tiny bit to your hot chocolate and you are guaranteed to warm up by the 3rd sip!  Who needs to use the heater when you've got Peppermint Schnapps?!

2. Grilled Cheese & Soup - Maybe this is not exclusive to Christmas, but this is a staple in our house during the holidays...it's warm, it's filling, it's quick to make.  

3. SNOWMEN!!  I bought this cute snow couple for Gary & I during our first Christmas living together and we have been hooked on snowmen ever since.

4.  My "Daughter" ornament - At the time my mom gave this to me, neither of us had any idea that less than a year later Gary & I would have moved to the Central Valley, with my parents to follow us soon after, and that 2002 would be the last Christmas in my childhood home.  I always look forward to putting this ornament up every year.

 5. Miracle on 34th Street - It's ridiculous how many Christmas movies and cartoons Gary & I own, but this one has always my hands down favorite.  I am such a realist {and dare I say it, cynical} at times, that it's nice to watch movies that restore my faith in believing in things I cannot see.  "Faith is believing when common sense tells you not to."


***What are some of your favorite holiday things??***