Adventures In Hiking

                                                                 [Malibu Creek State Park]

   Since moving to California five months ago, hiking has become one of my new favorite pastimes. Coming from Florida, where the landscape is extremely flat, the beauty of the mountains overwhelms my spirit. I feel so at peace when I am outside in nature, especially when I get to share the experience with a good friend. Meaningful conversations ensue as we bask in the beauty around us.

  Two of my favorite hiking trails are Malibu Creek State Park and Eaton Canyon Park in Pasadena. In Malibu, you feel like you are in another country – the landscape is unbelievable. And then to top it all off, you get to go for a swim at a swimming hole in the middle of the mountains. Incredible. At Eaton Canyon, you get to jump and skip across rocks as you cross over multiple streams until you make your way to the waterfall there. It’s such a fun hike. Overall, my experiences in hiking have meant a lot to me. Thought I would share some of the pictures with you.

Hope you have a wonderful & inspiring week. ♥

                                               [My friend Erin at Malibu Creek State Park]

                                                 [The hubs climbing on rocks in Malibu]

                                   [The swimming hole in Malibu, shot of a man cliff jumping]

                                                       [Eaton Canyon Park in Pasadena]

                                                     [Me at the waterfall at Eaton Canyon Park]

Homemade Edamame Hummus

Ryan and I are big fans of hummus. It’s the perfect afternoon snack. I’ve made homemade hummus before. But this time I wanted to try something a little different, so I made Edamame hummus. It’s pretty much the same but it is made with Edamame (soy beans) instead of Garbanzo beans. Overall, it was quick to whip up & tasted great!

Ingredients:

1 ½ Cup frozen shelled edamame
¼ Tahini
3 Tablespoons lemon juice (1 lemon)
1 Clove garlic (smashed)
1 Teaspoon of salt
3 Tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
Pinch of Cumin (optional)
Sugar snap peas, carrots, and/or warm pita bread to serve with.

Directions: Bring small pot of salted water to boil and add the edamame. Let boil 4-5 minutes, then drain & cool. Combine the edamame, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, salt, olive oil, and cumin in a food processor and puree until smooth. Serve with the suggested ingredients & enjoy!

Necklace Display

Until recently, my necklaces were in a tangled heap in a little jewelry box. I’m usually rushing out the door, which means little time to choose a necklace and then untangle it. I decided I wanted to get organized. I loved the idea of displaying my necklaces on the wall, so I went on a hunt for some cute hooks. I found these ones at Urban Outfitters, hung them on the wall, and finally untangled my jewelry. I am happy with the results… It definitely makes accessorizing a little bit easier!

Drugstore Beauty Finds

There are a lot of great affordable beauty products out there, it’s just about finding the right items. I’ve compiled a list of my favorite drugstore beauty products. My favorite part? They are all under $15! 

1.     Physician’s Formula Organic Wear Bronzer & Blush – $12.99

2.     L’Oreal Colour Riche Lipstick in British Red – $5.99

3.     Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion – $9.29

4.     Maybelline Gel Liner – Black $7.99

5.     Essie Nail Polish in Geranium $8.00

6.     L’Oreal Extra-Volume Collagen Mascara in Blackest Black $7.99

7.     St. Ives Apricot Scrub – $3.00

8.     Olay Complete All Day Moisture with SPF 15 – $6.49

9.     Physician’s Formula Conceal Rx – $8.99

10.  Maybelline Expert Wear Quads – Sunlit Bronze – $4.99

Lovely Little Things

Let’s go ahead and imagine we live in a dream world where we get to go shopping and buy lots of lovely little things. In this dream world, I would go ahead and purchase the above items. It would just be fabulous, wouldn’t it? So many pretty things. Ahhhhh. 

Don’t wake me I plan on sleeping in… 

You can find the items at the links below:

1. Marc by Marc Jacobs Dress 2. Kimchi Blue Dress 3. Mark & James Wedges 4. J Crew Retro Swimsuit 5. J Crew Chambray Popover 6. Lace Dress, Forever 21 7. 70s Straw Hat, ASOS