WIAW and Mother's Day Ideas

Ahhhh... is there anything better than a nice lukewarm shower after a long run? CL and I met up after I got off work at the B&A trail for a nice 4 mile interval session. It started raining on and off which felt amazing. I could live in this weather forever. I don't mind evening thunderstorms... as long as they don't interfere with my television!

love my CL <3

 Mother's Day is next Sunday, so I have been brainstorming things to do for the most important person in my life! I know sometimes she stops by my blog so here are MULTIPLE things you can buy/make for your momma bear! Gotta keep her on her toes!

Sending flowers are always a great way to show someone you care. Send them to her work and surprise her a few days early ;-) Shows you were thinking ahead of time!

Go to your local Paint Your Own Pottery store. Mom's love handmade gifts and usually are coffee/tea lovers. Give her something that will remind her of your love with each sip!

Make her a basket full of things she loves! My mom loves to garden. A planter filled with gloves, seeds, snacks, chocolate, tea and suntan lotion is a great gift! Does your mom love relaxation? How about filling a shower caddy with a monogrammed towel, face mask, chai tea, and nail polish (and a spa gift card if you are feeling extra nice!)

Whatever you do, your mom with love it. You could make her a homemade card and bring tears to her eyes! I already found the best recipe for a lemonade cake with blueberries I plan on making for her! YUM!

Breakfast

2 slices bacon, coffee and a banana

Lunch

Black bean cheese burger

A spinach, pecan and strawberry salad with homemade dressing:

1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1/2 tablespoon honey

fresh lemon zest

salt and pepper

Snack

Carrots and Guacamole

Dinner

Chicken and Steamed Brocolli

Dessert

Honey Greek Yogurt with Strawberry slices

Have a great night guys and start planning your mother's day gifts!

Easter Weekend Recap

Tuesday already? I'll take it considering me and CL are headed to the beach Friday evening for the weekend. It's the last weekend in OC before the dogs are officially no longer allowed on the beach for the summer season.

Chance loves getting his tan on. Can you tell?

 

What a cutie. I might be biased, but I love love love my lil gremlin!

Friday night my sister came over to help me dye Easter eggs and make some treats to bring to my Grandma's on Sunday. We made chocolate covered strawberries and chocolate cake pops. The best desserts are the ones with the ingredients I don't enjoy... that way I can just take pleasure in seeing other people eat them!

Whoever thought of putting brown dye in an Easter egg kit is bonkers. What happened to primary colors people? 

Chocolate Cake Balls with Toasted Coconut:

1 bag unsweetened/sweetened coconut flakes

1 box cake mix 

1 can whipped chocolate frosting

1 pound almond bark

lollipop sticks

Spread the coconut flakes on a baking sheet (ungreased) and cook at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, tossing every five until they are a golden hue. Separate your dipping choices. (i chose sprinkles and toasted coconut, nuts would be good too).

Cook your cake according to the box directions. While still warm crumble in a mixing bowl.

Add  entire can of frosting to warm cake and mix well until all is covered. At this point I suggest rolling your balls (hehe) and chilling for an hour in the freezer/fridge (this way they are easier to roll, I learned the hard way). Melt your chocolate - I suggest in a glass bowl over boiling water (again, I learned the hard way and microwaved mine and it got hard faster!). Roll balls in chocolate and dip in your toppings! Stick a lollipop stick in them while hard and cool on wax paper in the fridge. Serve cold!

What to do with the left over chocolate??? Make chocolate covered strawberries!!

It's a Polish tradition to eat White Borscht on Easter. It is a horseradish soup with homemade stuffed kielbasa (made by my mom and uncle) which is smoked (by my cousin) and/or boiled, hard boiled eggs, pumpernickel bread and ham. I think the older you get the more you appreciate the traditions your family celebrates. I hope to pass this on to my kids one day! 

I come from a family who definitely knows their way around a kitchen! My uncle brews his own beer and my cousin Ryan made his own wine last year we finally got to try! Sooo good!

There were plenty of desserts!

CL worked on Easter, which was nice in a way because I got to spend the entire day with my family instead of running back and forth between our families!

Thank god I finally got new running shoes! I got fitted and treadmill tested for a pair of Brooks Adrenaline GTS 11's! I love love love them! It really does make a difference when you have the right pair of shoes!

 

Hope everyone had a great Easter!!

Guest Blogger! Cait @ Fit, Fierce, Fabulous!

Happy Monday everyone! I had a fabulous idea over the weekend to introduce guest bloggers once or twice a month. I think it is a great way to spice things up and share some of my favorite blogger friends with all of you! I asked Cait over at Fit, Fierce and Fabulous to be the first one! She is fab and it is easy to see why so many love her!

April begins wedding season, and nothing makes me more excited than wedding planning and couples in love so I asked Cait what her fabulous wedding would look like!

My pretty friend Cara asked me to be a guest blogger and I’m so excited to be talking with you all today! HI! I’m Cait from Fit, Fierce and Fabulous. Want to know a little bit about me? I love the color pink (more like a tiny bit obsessed) anything with cheese, dr pepper, shopping, being a total girly girl, and anything to do with weddings!

No, I’m not married, or even engaged. But I have been with the boyfriend for 3 ½ years now. When will he pop the question you ask? Well I think any of us girls in relationships tend to daydream about the big day, or even better, the big moment where we can plan the wedding of our dreams. Even if you're not in a relationship, don't tell me you haven't though about running around in a big silk gown pretending to be the princess of the ball!

My favorite décor? Well, here’s a few of my favorite of what I would love to do (someday) for a spring/summer wedding

Cute macroons like these leave you feeling satisfied, plus there colors are divine

the different pinks are good for creating a variety of shades and gives the table a pop!

I’m a huge fan of daises!

Whatever is in this fabulous looking drink, count me in!

I have other ideas of course, but maybe I’ll save that for another time. Clearly I could just tak forever about this idea, but I don’t want to waste your precious time friends! If you’d like to see a great proposal, check my blog post out! It is sure to make you get a few tears! Have a fabulous day!

Love, Cait

In case you are craving more wedding ideas here are a few I am dying over from stylemepretty.

I love gray as a color!

Umm cake ball pops that look like balls of yarn, chic!

Simple and elegant

I love long tables for seating at weddings

The cutest Save the Date idea. Teachers take note!

Making homemade chicken empanadas for dinner tonight so check back tomorrow for the recipe!

Chic Meets Healthy is now on Facebook! Like the page to get updates on healthy living ideas, chic finds and my blog! Click here to check it out!

xoxo,
Cara