A Few of My Favorite Things {Vol. 2}

Good evening, my friends! Life has been insanely beautiful and crazy lately. Tell me how you've been. Seriously; comment below! I would love to hear from you, my faithful followers (you know who you are) and would also love to see some new faces!

It is high time for another favorite things post, so here you go!

Clark Terry

I have recently rediscovered my passion for jazz and the artist at the forefront of my binge-listening is legend Clark Terry. My first exposure to his music was on an episode of "Little Bill" (anyone watch that growing up? Lemme hear ya!). Mr. Terry still plays and teaches and is just awesome. Go to Spotify (Here's the link to my Clark Terry Playlist ). Give him a listen; you won't regret it.

Source

I just bought a gorgeous blue leather jacket at Goodwill and I absolutely adore it! It looks really similar to the one above, except it's a really India-inky blue (and, admittedly, not quite as cool) with a front zipper.

Pacifica's Natural Mineral Coconut Eye Shadow in Ethereal

This amazing shadow came in this month's Ipsy Glam Bag. It's a lovely taupe-y color in the package, but shows up on my fair skin as more of a shimmery pearl and I love it! I also use it as a cheek highlighter. 

Today, I paired it with Rimmel Eyeliner (upper lid and lower waterline) and Cailyn Cosmetics Eye Shadow  in the crease

 (The $15 Cailyn Eye Shadow came in last month's Ipsy bag that I pay $10/month to get). 

This specific eye shadow comes in a palette of other colors; I suppose mine is a sample. You can purchase it HERE

Natalie Yco

(Pronounced like Eco)

For the past three weeks or so, I've been doing Natalie Yco's GymRa workouts on YouTube. Gals, she's amazing! Her workouts are serious burners and she's so encouraging. In the middle of the Kickboxing/Jump Rope workout, she said,

"I can't see you, but I hope you're not slacking off.

Because, if you slack off in your workout, you're probably slacking off in life."

That burned almost as much as the workout itself!

Dashing Dish
by Katie Farrell
 Katie Farrell is one of the contributing bloggers at
 Overcomer Outreach 
 and since my Mom is also one of the other ladies writing for the site, she sent her a copy of her amazing cookbook. These recipes are fantastic! I made a double batch of her Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies (the third time since we got the book earlier this month) and they are soooooo delicious! I made her Santa Fe Stuffed Peppers for breakfast, too. I'm telling you, we use her recipes all the time and you will too! Hop on over to Amazon and purchase your copy HERE

And there you are. What are some of your favorite things? A writer you discovered lately? A new song? An eyeliner? Let me know in the comments below. Have a beautiful evening everyone! 

Trim Healthy Waffles-Original Recipe

"Are you a fan of delicious flavor?"

~Shawn Spencer

Our family has just discovered the most amazing healthy living book EVER!!! 

Trim Healthy Mama (THM for short) has been such a blessing to our family! Pearl and Serene (2 Christian sisters from Australia) explain how to eat the way God created our bodies to and to have an overall healthy lifestyle. I'll be doing a book review shortly :) 

These are my Trim Healthy Mama Waffles! After a failed attempt to find one online or in the book, I decided to find and alter a Paleo recipe and give it a whirl. I found one HERE and changed almost everything in it to create the most delicious, decadent waffles you've ever tasted!!! For our family of 10, I do 2 double batches of this batter to feed us all but most likely, you won't need as much so I trimmed it down.

Please, feel free to pin this image. Clicking the image opens this page so everyone can make waffles!

The key to fluffy deliciousness is to whip the egg whites till they're stiff and don't slip around in the bowl...almost like meringues...exactly like meringues...they're meringues (just kidding)

These waffles fall into the "S" category because they utelize whole eggs, almond flour and butter. So slather on the buttah, Mama! You may use all almond flour but the combo of almond and flax makes it super fluffy and smooth!!! The kids can put syrup or honey on theirs but for you, Mama, butter and Polaner's All-Fruit Jelly are both acceptable and encouraged. You could even make a blueberry sauce with blueberries, stevia and a dash of salt and vanilla (yum!)

I hope you'll try the recipe and comment on your success and advice! I make these waffles at least once and sometimes twice a week, we love them so much! I hope you enjoy :)

Trim Healthy Waffles {S}

By McKenna Rosen

Makes Approx. 12 Waffles

Ingredients

6 Egg Yolks

6 Egg Whites

1/4 C. Unsweetened Almond Milk

1/2 C. Almond Flour

1/2 C. Flax Flour

1/2 t. Salt

1/4 C. Melted Butter

2 t. Vanilla

2 T. Truvia

1 T. Cinnamon

1 t. Nutmeg

Bacon Grease or Coconut Oil (for greasing the iron)

Optional: 1 C. Blueberries

Instructions
1. Preheat Waffle Iron
2. Whisk Egg Yolks and Milk
3. Add Almond+Flax Flour and Salt. Whisk.
4. Add Melted Butter. Whisk.
5. Add Vanilla, Stevia, Cinnamon and Nutmeg (Optional Blueberries). Whisk.
6. Whisk Egg Whites until they form stiff peaks. (This is best done in a KitchenAid or with a hand-held mixer)

7. Fold Egg Whites into batter in 3 parts.

This is what the batter looks like after the egg whites have been added.

8. Scoop 1/3 c. Batter into preheated, greased iron.
9. Cook until golden-brown and scrumptious! Enjoy!

Help spread the word about my Waffles and, who knows? Maybe Pearl and Serene will start making it for their families!

Cheese-less Cheesy Popcorn Recipe

I'm sure that title sounds like an oxymoron, but it's not. This recipe was created by yours truly, a popcorn connoisseur. It works best with "Whirley-Pop" or air popper popcorn; as long as it's homemade. This recipe doesn't call for cheese, but tastes completely cheesy! The secret ingredient is Nutritional Yeast. You can find it at most health-food stores and it's not very expensive at all. This won't work with regular yeast, but there is some magical quality to the stuff that makes your taste buds sigh, "Cheese..." What you're provided is a delicious, buttery, no-nonsense popcorn that is truly addictive! I am NOT exaggerating!

 

Just kidding! I would never let my popcorn spill!

 

Cheese-less Cheesy Popcorn

Makes a double-batch to fill a large bowl

Ingredients

1 Cup Organic Popcorn Kernels

2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil

1/2-1 Cup Butter

1 1/2 Tablespoons Salt

1/2 Cup Nutritional Yeast

An Appetite

 

Method

Make up your popcorn 1/2 cup at a time in either a Whirley-Pop or an air popper. The Coconut Oil is for if you're using a Whirley-Pop or a knock-off Whirley-Pop that ultimately works just as well.

Once the popcorn is all popped and in a large bowl, melt the butter. It's up to you how much to use. 1/2 cup will sparsely butter the popcorn and 1 cup will make your fingers shiny when you pick up a handful. This all depends upon your personal butter preferences. Toss the popcorn with the salt then add the butter. Gently mix that in, using a spatula or your hands. Finally, add the Nutritional Yeast. Mix it up until thoroughly combined. Make sure none of the Yeast falls to the bottom of the bowl. Now might be a good time to say something about the Godly virtue of Self-Control. I promise, it'll be hard to control your portions, so get the family together for a snack or you will end up eating the entire bowl by yourself! But doesn't that look tantalizing?!