Superfood Salad

If you have about an hour to make a salad...this is a jackpot bowl of greens! I've had a few days off of work this week so I've had some fun in the kitchen. A cutting board, a knife, and some veggies...instant therapy!

Here is what you will need: 

Salad ingredients: 

- 1 bunch kale, leaves chopped small

- 1 broccoli head chopped small 

- Juice of 1 lime

- 1 small beet 

- 1 carrot thinly sliced

- 1 ripe avocado peeled and sliced

- 3-4 sprigs fresh basil sliced thin

- handful of blueberries 

Blueberry ginger dressing ingredients: 

- 1/4 c. blueberries

- 1/2 in. piece of fresh ginger peeled and chopped

- 2 Tbs. raw apple cider vinegar

- 1 Tbs. maple syrup 

- big splash of water

- salt & pepper

- 1/4 c. grapeseed oil 

Omega seed sprinkle ingredients: 

- handful sunflower seeds

- handful pumpkin seeds

- 2 Tbs. flax seed

- 2 Tbs. chia seed

- 1-2 Tbs. hemp seed 

- handful of puffed quinoa 

- pinch of coriander 

Directions: 

1) In a large bowl, massage the kale and chopped broccoli with lime juice massaging until the kale leaves are tender. Chop and prep all the salad ingredients and set aside. 

2) Make the dressed by combining all the ingredients in a food processor until smooth. 

3) In a medium saute pan, combine all of the omega seed sprinkle ingredients over medium heat. Sprinkle a little coriander and toast the seeds. Remove from heat. 

4) Arrange the massaged kale and broccoli on your serving plate. Top with vegetables, dressing, and omega sprinkle. Enjoy! 

Serves 4 

It's Official!

November 1

It is officially the start of the Christmas season with the first day of November being the release date for Starbucks red cup!

As soon as i get my hands on that red cup I can hear sleigh bells ring in the distance. tiny miracles start happening all around me. and my childlike spirit is awoken... thank you red cups.

Today is a happy day.

Somehow I got my paws on a red cup early!! Woops.. but an americano at King Soopers' Starbucks doesn't count, so let's forget I told you that ;) 

My first "unofficial" red cup of the season!

Here are some more red cup happiness over the years... take it all in and don't be afraid to let a little magic in today' 

"I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes.. Christmas is all around us; and so the feeling grows."

<3 Gabrielle 

Throw Back Thursday

So, lately I've been really aching for my teammates and the soccer community I was a part of for 4.5 years. In college I was fortunate enough to play with some of the most outrageous, uplifting, and encouraging group of girls. Last year before our first game at Nationals, we thought it'd be a good idea to make a video. At the time Taylor Swifts song "We Are Never Getting Back Together," had just come out. Of course we jammed to it, so we thought we'd put some actions to it. We came up with this little music video that is nothing short of brilliant (in my opinion). Here's to my CSU soccer girls! Miss you more than you know. 

"I love my team, I love this game."

--Holly

Short, Sweet, and Sweaty

I'm referring to interval running. I don't know about you but sometimes I just don't feel like going on a long run. I want to push myself for a short time, till I am ungodly sweaty, and be done with it. After my last half-marathon I was pretty spent on running, although I hate giving it up completely. So, I created something short and sweet (or sucky depending on your mood, ha). I believe in interval running, a large amount due to my soccer background. I like the challenge of being pushed for a 30 second sprint or a 2:00 minute tempo pace, and then allowing my body to recover. I get competitive with myself and challenge myself to a longer interval or a faster sprint. I am by no means an experienced runner or personal trainer but, I do like to run and train. If you're looking for something short and sweet, and gives you a good sweat try it out!  

--Holly

A day in the life of Erin

Time is a silly thing to me. It either passes too fast, like in the summer when you just want the weather to stay 85 and sunny forever; or too slow like when you’re running intervals on a treadmill- there is never a longer minute in my life. But here I am again, thinking time could slow down a little bit. I have already been in Denver 3 months! Although, some days are more exciting than others, I’m falling in love with this city and the people that inhabit it’s streets. 

After months of living here, I think I finally have my life in a bit of a routine. And for all of you who care to know what I’ve been up to over the weeks- here is a glimpse! 

A Day in the Life of Erin!

Monday morning Bible study with the girls at Wash Perk

Blue animal print running tights! What could be better!

Training for the half marathon coming up on October 20th

Sloan's Lake is absolutely beautiful. It's my favorite place to run and I love having the city skyline as my
back drop.

Breakfast perfection. Oh and my second coffee of the day! 

Just a little Ben Rector to help motivate me to clean! 

A clean room is a happy room! 

The fall weather got me in the mood to bake. So I made healthy banana oat meal cookies. They made my house smell like heaven!

A few cookies and a protein shake, made for a perfect lunch

Driving through the Highlands on my way to work at Earls. I love the city. 

I'm not sure if Denver could get any more gorgeous. 

 Earls Girls! Some of my favorite ladies! They make work so much fun and my life a lot better!

This is my happy place. Cooking for my roommates and friends!

Our happy little patio. Great food,  delicious drinks, wonderful people and meaningful conversations around this table.

That pretty much sums it up. It’s not a fancy life- but it’s a really good one! Enjoy the rest of your weekend, friends!

I am also working as a Residential Counselor at Hope House of Colorado, but I did not work on the day I decided to post this. But don’t you worry, though, I will tell you all about my amazing job working there very soon! 

XO,

Erin