2017 has been the year of the books. I cannot get enough. I find that I go through phases when it comes to reading and this has been my year. Call it a good season for publishing. Traveling and bed time are my two favorite times to read. There is nothing worse than getting stuck in the airport with little or nothing to do.

I know what you're all thinking, gosh I hope this girl has a kindle. Yes, I do... but there is something about physically holding a book that gives me all the joy. Sure, a kindle is great, much easier to travel with and you can even get one of those handy kindle lights, but I just don't enjoy it as much.

Wanna check out some other reading lists? I've got them. You can find them here and here.


Paulo Coelho // The Alchemist: My girlfriend gave me this book in a time in my life when I really needed to find my way and my place. I read this book in like 2 days. It was a quick read and so good. Plus, its a classic.

Anna Kendrick // Scrappy Little Nobody: Funny, quick read and made me even more obsessed with Anna Kendrick. This book details funny stories in her life but it also an honest take at her life.

Amy Schumer // The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo: This book is an easy, hilarious read about Amy and her life. Its hilarious, dirty and will actually make you laugh out loud.

Bill O'Reilly // Killing Patton: Not by usual style, but I couldn't put this book down. I took this one off Adam's bookshelf and I'm gonna have to start trusting his taste from now on! Its focus is on how Patton died and the mystery around it. I am not a history buff an had no idea his death was suspicious. This book was great.

Elin Hilderbrand // The Identicals: If you know me at all, you know how much I love Elin. Her books are based in Nantucket which is why I am currently planning my trip there. This book per usual took me all of 5 days to get through. I couldn't put it down. It was a little different than her other books because it takes place in both Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. It was so good.

Jane Corry // My Husbands Wife: This book was hard to get in to. I could tell this book was going to be great, so I'm glad I forced myself to get through the first few chapters. Once, I did, I was absolutely hooked. I couldn't stop. The twists in this book are insane and had me wondering what was going to happen until the very last page.


Liane Moriarty // Truly Madly Guilty: Liane is another cult-following author for me. Just like Elin, I love her books. This book held my attention the entire time because it starts with you knowing something horrible and sad happens, but you don't know what that even is. It's not until more than half way through the book that you find out what the event is.

What are you reading? Tell me everything. I'm always looking for new reads. Send me your recs!

Happy Monday and Happy Eclipse Day! I hope you have an awesome weekend. Welcome back.

The last few months of our lives have been full of constant travel. Don't get me wrong, traveling is so fun but traveling creates a crazy life. Travel for us means eating out, drinking cocktails, little to no sleep and just busy busy busy. We are gearing up for one more summer wedding and then we are done traveling for a while.

To get our lives and bodies back on track, we're doing a mini cleanse/strict clean eating starting today. I don't call it a diet because I'm eating, and eating a lot. I am just being very choosy about what I am eating.

 Please know I am not a doctor. I cannot tell you what the best thing for you is. But this works for me. It's a great re-start after eating like crap for months. I usually incorporate certain rules when I start super clean eating. Keep in mind, if you're doing hard workouts or extra long days you may need to modify this. You don't want to starve your body. Clean eating doesn't mean no eating. 

My top 7 rules for clean eating: 

1. Choose Fresh Foods over Refined Foods. You'll see in these recipes that everything is fresh. 
2. Stock Up on Protein. This is where you'll get your energy. I usually stay away from red meat and stick to fish and chicken. 
3. Stop eating sugar. 
4. Feed yourself. 5 small meals during the day rather then one large dinner or breakfast. 
5. Don't Drink Your Calories. I'm talking to me here. No booze, no pop, no coffee, just stick to water. I usually give up coffee when I first start and drink green tea but usually get back to black coffee later. 
6. Listen to your body. You may find yourself a little hungry since you are regulating meals, but if you go on a 10 mile run and are starving, you gotta eat. Just keep it clean.
7. Cook with a friend/spouse. The key to success with this is prepping your meals and snacks. Life is so busy during the week, don't make it harder by not being prepared. Also, if you've prepared everything, it makes it easier to stick to your meal plan.

DAY ONE: 
Breakfast
• 1 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt or for dairy free, So Delicious coconut milk yogurt
• 1/4 cup muesli
• 1/4 cup blueberries

A.M. Snack 
• 2 clementines

Lunch 
Avocado-Egg Toast with a Garden Salad
• 1/2 medium avocado,
• 2-3 large eggs, cooked in 1/4 tsp. olive oil 
Season egg with a pinch each of salt and pepper
• 1 1/2 cups mixed greens
• 2 Tbsp. grated carrot
• 1/2 cup cucumber slices
Top salad with 1/2 Tbsp. each balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

Dinner 
• 4 oz. cooked chicken breast, cooked in 1 tsp. olive oil and seasoned with a pinch each of salt and pepper
• 4 zucchini, sliced into quarters; Zest of 1 lemon; ½ tsp. dried oregano; ¼ tsp. garlic powder; Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Combine all zucchini ingredients and grill for 2-3 minutes

DAY TWO:
Breakfast 
Avocado-Egg Toast
• 1/2 medium avocado
• 2 tomato slices
• 2-3 large eggs, cooked in 1/4 tsp. olive oil 
Season egg with a pinch each of salt and pepper

A.M. Snack 
• A handful of Kale chips


Lunch 
• Grab a can of tuna and an avocado with some salad greens, oil, and vinegar, and mix it all up.

P.M. Snack 
• 1 cup blueberries with 20 raw, unsalted pistachios

Dinner 
• 1 serving chicken soup (great for leftovers)

DAY THREE:
Breakfast 
• 1 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt or for dairy free, So Delicious coconut milk yogurt
• 1/4 cup muesli
• 1/4 cup blueberries

A.M. Snack 
• Frozen berries with a drizzle of coconut milk and honey 

Lunch 
Veggie Sandwich
• 2 slices sprouted-grain bread
• 1/4 medium avocado, mashed
• 1 Tbsp. hummus
Add veggies of your choice (try cucumber, tomato, carrots and greens).

P.M. Snack 
• 1 plum
• 5 walnut halves

Dinner:
• 2 chicken tacos 



DAY FOUR:
Breakfast:
• Breakfast scrambler. Store in an air tight container and use it for leftover lunch/dinner or breakfast.

A.M. Snack 
• 8 dried apricots

Lunch 
Veggie Sandwich
• 2 slices sprouted-grain bread
• 1/4 medium avocado, mashed
• 1 Tbsp. hummus
Add veggies of your choice (try cucumber, tomato, carrots and greens).

P.M. Snack 
• hard-boiled egg

Dinner:
• 1 serving of baked mushroom chicken


DAY FIVE:
Breakfast:
• Breakfast scrambler. Store in an air tight container and use it for leftover lunch/dinner or breakfast.

A.M. Snack 
• Half an avocado sprinkled with sea salt and balsamic vinegar

Lunch 
• Salad with roast chicken, dried cranberries, pecans, apple slices, and vinaigrette

P.M. Snack 
•  2 Tbsp. hummus
• 1 cup sliced cucumber

Your wedding day is bound to be wonderful. With all the hustle bustle and planning that surrounds it, you and your partner deserve a beautiful break! Your new beginning should be filled with romance, love, and happiness. What better way than to invest in a beautiful honeymoon to start your life together!

If you’re trying to figure out which are the best spots around the world to go to, we’ve got you covered. Katie from Orla James prefers a variety of choice when selecting beautiful honeymoon spots. We decided to assist them with a few gorgeous, yet romantic spots around the globe. Whether it's adventure, culture, or romance you crave, we’ve got options for you to choose from.
Let’s look at some of them.

BALI, INDONESIA: Bali is popularly known as the ‘Isle of the Gods’. With gorgeous mist-shrouded temples, pristine beaches, and warm welcoming people, Bali is the perfect honeymoon destination spot. The beautiful mountains and cultural hub made it a popular location for the hit movie ‘Eat, Pray, Love’. Take a trip to the famed Pura Luhur Uluwatu temple that stands 200 ft. above sea level. The sunset from this point is one from your dreams! You should head to Bali to experience romance that lasts a lifetime.


CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA: Cape Town has everything you could imagine! From gorgeous landscapes, wild party scenes, exquisite beaches, and a bustling city, Cape Town has something for everyone. You can also visit the plethora of wineries and indulge in a safari or two. Ideally, you should take the 90-minute drive from Cape Town to the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Agulhas and stop off at Boulders Beach to meet the famous warm-weather penguins! If you’re unsure of what sort of honeymoon to invest in, Cape Town is the perfect location for privacy, romance, and fun!



MARRAKECH, MOROCCO: Indulge your senses in this colorful city! Brimming with sights, sounds, scents, and people, Morocco has you covered. If you’re up to it, you can go surfing, binge on delicious seafood and kebabs, drink coffee at roadside cafes, do some street shopping, get your fortune told, and visit the never ending mosques and museums. You can also head to the ancient city of Fez and trade your car for donkey carts and walk old, narrow alleys. Whatever your preference, you are bound to have a memorable honeymoon in Marrakech.



PROVENCE, FRANCE: If it’s an uber romantic location you want, you must head to Provence. Known for rolling lavender fields, wine, art, and history, Provence in France is a beautiful getaway for honeymoon couples. Explore the rugged landscapes that Provence has to offer and the wonderful outdoor sports that are available there. You could also go horseback riding, take a picnic in lavender fields, explore quaint villages, and take French cooking classes. If you and your partner want a peaceful, yet romantic honeymoon, you could consider Provence to be your ultimate honeymoon destination!


LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA: Langkawi Island in Malaysia is an unforgettable destination! Crystal clear waters, dense jungles, and virgin beaches are some of the things that you can expect to see in Langkawi. Experience the famous Malaysian well-being spas, fresh seafood, and juicy local fruits, and go bird watching. Asia’s first UNESCO Geopark is located in Langkawi, so you simply must take a wildlife tour! Some wild animals you can look forward to are otters, snakes, the famous walking fish, monkeys, and eagles. You can also visit neighboring islands by taking a boat and island hop!



MUSCAT, OMAN: Oman is a hidden jewel in the Middle East. This beautiful Arabian oasis is rich in culture and beauty. A favorite holiday destination for many Europeans, it is filled with charming beaches, gold souks, bustling markets intermingled with shopping malls, theatres, cultural centers, and world famous food chains. In Muscat, you can visit the Grand Mosque, Muttrah Souk, and Al-Bustan Beach. If you and your partner would like a road trip, you can also drive down to the beautiful fishing village of Sur while taking stops at the historic Nizwa Fort, and the silversmith and handicrafts markets in Sohar. Oman makes for a beautiful sandy playground and is a wonderful place to spend your honeymoon!


After months of planning your wedding and finally tying the knot, you should spend quality time with your new spouse and leave all your worries behind. Invest in a beautiful unforgettable honeymoon to start your life together in bliss and harmony. Whether it’s a tropical retreat or an adventurous one, make the most of this time together and start your new life with happiness.

Thursday nights are the nights where I hate cooking. I've done by job Sunday through Wednesday, cooking great healthy meals. But, by Thursday, I want my glass of wine and an easy meal! Usually, Thursday nights result in take out something and a glass of wine on the couch. Tonight is the first Bronco's game of the season, so I have a feeling our night is going to center around football. It's back!

My tune drastically changes on Sundays. Sunday is my day to experiment. I love trying new recipes, especially the ones that are so messy I spend three times the time cleaning than we did eating. Sundays are for the meals you always remember and say, "man that was so good."

Luckily for you, I've got both of these recipes.

THE GO-TO RECIPE: I have two of these. Both salad options. When I asked Adam what his favorite easy recipe was that I make, his immediate response was the almond butter chicken salad. My immediate response was my new thai chicken salad. It's the battle of the salads people!

Thai chicken salad v. almond butter chicken salad. Both of these recipes make enough for Friday-lunch leftovers and both are incredible. Plus, I usually have all these ingredients in my fridge and pantry.

Paleo Chicken Salad


Ingredients:

• 4 cups shredded chicken (this is about two large breasts) 
• 6 tablespoons almond butter
• 4 tablespoons olive oil 
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon salt 
• 2 cups celery, chopped
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 1/2 cup onion, diced (use red if you can, but yellow is good too!) 
• Butter lettuce, bread or wraps to eat it with. Or a fork. Let's be real, it's that's good.

How to Make: 

1. Shred the dang chicken. Get this part out of the way. (To make shredded chicken, place chicken in a saute pan. Cover the chicken with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce and let simmer. Takes about 25 minutes. Flip the chicken half way through.)
2. Make the dressing. Mix the almond butter, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, mustard and salt. Taste it. Last night, ours tasted too much like almond butter, so I added a little more apple cider vinegar and a titch of salt. This is up to your taste buds! 
3. In a large bowl, mix the chicken, celery, cranberries, almonds and onion. Don't be afraid to add other things. I used some seeds last night. I even thought about adding red cabbage. 
4. Wait to toss the salad with the dressing until ready to eat. Toss, serve, enjoy! 

THE BEST RECIPE: Paleo ravioli. It was hands down the greatest cooking accomplishment of my thirtys. (I'm 45 days in!). It's one of those meals, where I envision my girl friends sitting at my counter with red wine while I prepare ravioli and then we sit around and tell each other stories and secrets. Dream life amiright?

Ingredients:
Sauce:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil 
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 4 cloves gargle, mined
• 1 can (24 ounces) diced tomatoes (drained)
• 2 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon oregano 
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 teaspoon truffle salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 bay leaf

Happy Thursday friends and Go Broncos! I hope I helped make meal planning a little easier! And remember, cooking is better with wine and friends.

We're almost to the weekend! Let's do it!

Rachel picks Bryan! Peter goes home bawling, Eric still loves Rachel and I'm over here trying to figure out who in their right mind sends Peter home.


Eric says it all, Bryan was Rachel's second pick. You can see more of what Eric thinks here.

If you don't like the Bachelorette or have been living under a rock, Rachel had the saddest breakup with Peter in bachelorette history (in my actual honest opinion) on Monday night. It was that kind of breakup where they kept kissing, couldn't leave each other, telling each other they loved each other but Peter still went home.

It was very clear from day one that Rachel wanted to get married. She wanted whoever "won" to want to get married too regardless of the man. That sounds harsh, but I think that was made clearer on Monday when Rachel told Peter she loved him, but if he couldn't propose the next day, he wasn't the winner. Harsh. Peter kept telling her he loved her and wanted to spend his life with her, but he wants to propose once in his life. And he wasn't ready to do that in 6 weeks. For real life, sounds normal, for bachelorette land, it's crazy talk.

You can watch their devastating breakup here.
You can see why, it's hard for me to understand how, the next day, bright eyed, Rachel vowed forever to Bryan. If I were Bryan, I'd have some heavy questions.

But they appeared on Good Morning America, People Magazine and every TV station that will have them, proclaiming their love. So, good for you guys, I'm one of the few rooting for you. Adam always tries to tell me that Bachelor couples never work, so I have to prove him wrong. Ahem, JoJo and Jordan.


Let's recap back on how we got here:

THREE WEEKS AGO: The gang heads to Switzerland. Geneva would be such a cool place to go. This is the reason this show is the best. They go to the best places.

• First ONE-ON-ONE: Bryan. They are darling. I think they are super pretty together. She looks like an absolute dream in that white outfit. I'm obsessed with her today. She just bought him a matching Breitling. I mean, I kinda think ABC bought the watch, but still. I think lit's safe to say they're obsessed with each other. I like Bryan, I think. I sense a little sleeze, but also sense some good. One thing I do know, they love to make out. Miami, here we come.
• Second ONE-ON-ONE: Dean. Rachel walking the streets on cobblestone in heels. Girl, get it. My feet hurt looking at you. Old town Geneva is stunning! I have to go here. I know Rachel says its not the day to talk about faith. But next week is hometowns and if religion is important to you, isn't it the time? To Aspen we go.
• Third ONE-ON-ONE: Peter. I think they are so so cute today. Dog sledding is pretty cool, but I'd rather just cuddle the pups. And here they are having a deep convo in the freeeezzzzing cold. It is interesting watching Peter cry regarding his ex girlfriend. Here's the thing I like about Peter. He's honest. We're in the Bachelorette people. I appreciate that he realizes the idea of what he's doing. Let's go to Wisconsin.
• GROUP DATE: Let's go. Matt, Adam, Eric. Adam has some false confidence here. Strongest relationship eh? His opinion will change when he watches this show back. "Hard but worth it." I appreciate that comment Eric. But, I'm bored with this group date. I really enjoyed watching Matt and Rachel. I think he's very kind and sweet. He's making her cry. She made me cry during this and it kinda of breaks my heart! Nooo Matt. Sad. To Baltimore we go. Eric, don't mess this up.

The remaining men: Bryan, Peter, Dean

HOMETOWNS:

• Baltimore: I am not Eric's biggest fan. But the start of his hometown has me liking him a lot more. He's very authentic and very kind. I appreciate this. Oh and Rachel's ring is amazing. She's very nervous and I'm wondering if those nerves are due to it because she's not sure about Eric, because she loves him or because he is nervous. His family is so cute! Ah. I love them. The phrase "you marry the family" would be so fun with this family. They are so loving and sweet. His aunt verna is such a bun. I wanna hang out with her. My only issue with Eric is he seems young to me. But I love him and his heart. And I think they would make a good pair. I would be worried that they're in different places. "I really love this girl, but lemme tell ya what this means." Yikes.

• Miami: so it's clear that they are very very sexually attracted to each other. But oh hey Bryan talking in Spanish. You sound good. This trip has made me want to go to Miami. Who's with me? Honestly if they haven't had sex I'd be shocked. Ugh oh. The mom is already crying. I don't think his last relationship had anything to do with the ex girlfriend but more the mom. We are blood. The mom actually turned around her attitude. She was very very sweet to Rachel. I love you.

• Madison: so Madison is super cute. I wanna go there. I think they are so darling together. Like his salt and pepper hit. His hidden tats and his gap in his tooth. I love it. They are so good. Peter is definitely the one who thinks this through much more than feeling just with his heart. He's way more logical. It semi seems like he is talking himself into this situation. First guy out of the rose. First one on one. That says a lot. 

• Aspen: how did I not know dean was from co? I would have liked him even more. What kind of siek is his dad? Does anyone have any idea of what it is? Seeing dean talk about his dad is heartbreaking to me. Watching his giggle his way through this really hard time is so sad. I want to give him a huge hug. Wow. So I'm crying during this hometown. So now the dad doesn't want to talk to Rachel. He's not being very kind. I'm falling in love with you. I'm falling in love with you too.

CHRIS HARRISON. WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?! Do you think as the boys line up for their rose ceremony that they talk to each other? Or do they have to stand in silence? DEANNNNNN. NOOOO. Rachel. You said you were falling in love! That's just mean.

The remaining men: Peter, Eric and Bryan


FINALE:

• Peter- I really think he's being genuine in his feelings instead of just forcing feelings of "love." I think it's very clear that she adores him. I think it says a lot that after all the crying she gave him the over night key. It would have been very easy for her to not give him the card. She really likes him - like a lot. Plus he's dang cute. I appreciate that peter asked for her permission to take the key. He didn't assume it or jump at it. He was respectful and kind.

• Bryan- it seems like to me he's trying to prove he loves her by constantly saying "the woman that I love" we get it bryan- you thin you're the front runner and you have for a while. She seems distant from Bryan. Look at her face in the inset picture. I feel like she pics him hence why she's being so standoffish. Gross Bryan. Basically tell her that you want to get in bed with her. "Without any cameras" bleh.

• First Rose Ceremony: Peter looks so handsome! Rachel, those are some good shoulders on that dress. Bye Eric. Damn he is so kind. She's not crying saying goodbye to him. She cried for allllll the last few goodbyes. I never saw that working.

Happy Monday! It's the Bachelorette finale tonight! Can you believe it? Who do you think wins? I'll be live-tweeting it tonight, so make sure to tune in! I'll have a HUGE recap on Wednesday detailing all things Rachel, why Dean went home and the winner!

How was your weekend? Mine was so nice. I had a sleep over with one of my girlfriends on Friday n night. When is the last time you had a sleepover? It was so fun. She lives in Denver, but kinda far away, so I offered a guest room and she said yes. We happy hour-ed, ate delicious food and drank wine on the couch. It was so fun. Saturday was such a chillll day with my hubs. Restarting ourselves before a new week started.

Today's post is a little deep. I'll warn ya. But it's my heart, I hope ya like it. PS. If you got the newsletter this AM, you had a heads up for this weeks posts, congrats!

Anything specific you wanna see in the newsletter? Let me know in the comments! Missed your chance at a newsletter? Don't fret, sign up below!


My brother-in-law Ryan posted a video of Matthew McConaughey's Oscar acceptance speech from a while ago on Facebook and I absolutely loved it. It was so good, I saved it on Facebook and I've watched it probably over 10 times. Ya know those videos that kind of give you goosebumps and maybe some tears to your eyes. This is that video.

It's incredible. You can watch it below. It's only 2 1/2 minutes, but so powerful. It brings tears to my eyes to listen to such a successful actor speak with so much humility. If only all actors and actresses could speak with such humility at awards shows. But, that seems like a blog post for another time now doesn't it.

• Cold cucumber slices with unflavored yogurt, garlic powder, vinegar, salt, and pepper. 
• Sliced squash and zucchini, placed in a foil packet with vegetable seasoning and olive oil. Grill them for about 15 minutes.
• Smoked peppers, sliced into strips and pack in garlic infused olive oil.
• Wilt spinach in the side burner if the grill with a little balsamic vinegar and garlic/herb seasoning.

What about sandwiches? They are a BBQ classic food and are very easy to prepare and very delicious. Here it is a quick and easy recipe for vegetarian BBQ sandwiches:
Coleslaw

• 1/2 head purple cabbage
• 2 carrots
• 2 cups vegan mayonnaise
• 2 Tbsp. of white vinegar
• 1 Tbsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. of celery seed

Sandwiches

• 1/2 head purple cabbage
• 2 carrots
• BBQ Sauce
• Whole-Grain or Gluten-Free Sandwich Buns

Directions

1. Grate carrots using a food processor and slice cabbage into thin ribbons. 
2. For the coleslaw preparation, combine half cabbage or carrot mixture with other slaw ingredients, mix well and refrigerate for a few minutes before serving. 
3. For BBQ, warm BBQ sauce and then stir the remaining cabbage or carrot mixture and cook until the vegetables become softener. 
4. Serve it on toasted buns and add additional BBQ sauce as desired.

This is just a quick and easy example recipe of a Vegetarian sandwich. There are a lot of other combinations and sandwich recipes for you to try.

Is it just me, or does summer feel like its end is coming quick. Today on the news, our weather lady said it was gonna be 65 degrees tomorrow. That is not acceptable summer happy hour weather.

Lately, Pinterest is full of thanksgiving recipes, Michaels is full of christmas decor and I am not ready. My jackets are still shaking off the snow from last season and I just want to stay in my sundress forever. Call it the Arizona girl in me, but I am not ready for boots and snow.

To banish the "Winter is Coming" blues (that was a game of thrones reference people, don't even get me started on last weekends episode) let's chat about all the good stuff.


NORDSTROM SALE ITEMS

If you don't know, now you know. The Nordstrom sale is still going strong! It ends August 6, so you've got a few more days to grab some essential fall items. This sale is one more reason summer is ending quicker than usual. Guys, these rag & bone jeans are everything. They fit like a glove, but with the right amount of stretch that you don't have to undue the button after a big dinner (that's not just me right?). This Free People sweater, ahh, all the fall dreams. And those Vince booties. Guys, I'm in clothes heaven. Get to shopping before you miss all the deals!