It’s that time again! Monthly favorites are probably one of my favorite posts to write. Is that fair? Can I include my monthly favorites as a favorite? Well, regardless, it is a great way for me to talk about what I like and what I’ve been working on during the month. The dress that I’m wearing in the the above photo is one project that I tackled this month. It is my first big sewing project and I’m so happy with how it turned out. I’m not ready to instruct a course on how to sew but there are a couple of things I’m excited to tell you about. Keep reading to find out.
Food Favorites
Can’t Stop Won’t Stop with Pumpkin
I am either really eager for fall or plain in love with pumpkin. Maybe both. I enjoyed pumpkin in sweet and savory recipes: pumpkin pasta, pumpkin smoothies, pumpkin cinnamon date muffins! The pasta is something I definitely want to turn into a blog recipe because it was so good! As for the others, I followed the Tone it Up recipes for the pumpkin smoothie, using frozen pumpkin ice cubes instead off soft puree. Additionally, pumpkin is my favorite puree to sub in the Cinnamon Date Muffins. I got the recipe from the TIU Nutrition Plan but I used 2/3 cup pumpkin puree in place of bananas in the recipe. I enjoyed the muffins on their own and also included them in bowls with coconut chia ice cream.
Mango Carrot Tumeric Smoothie
I like to keep my smoothies low in sugar so where does that leave mango? Mango needed another partner besides banana and then this delicious little gem happened! Plus, the smoothie lets me take advantage of turmeric in alternative ways besides Indian-inspired dishes. I posted the recipe on Instagram over here. Sometime, hopefully soon, I’ll try to get around to making my go-to smoothies permanent posts on the blog—that way they are easy to find and easy to access.
Chocolate in all its forms
My chocolate cravings usually stay tame thanks to smoothies. Other times, I’ll eat a squarebar. Though, I got creative in the kitchen to make these Creamy Peanut Butter Chocolate Crisp Bars. They’re no-bake and what I’d consider to be a “clean” treat. The recipe ingredients may seem rich but, fear not, because one small slice is so satisfying! Just looking at the photo of the bars reminds me that I need to remake them!
The Notable Moment of the Month
For my mom’s birthday, my family went out to eat for brunch. I usually hate eating out because food options are limited and my family doesn’t eat meals punctually. For the occasion, I rolled with it. As I spent more time out and about with my family, my lunch ended up being a protein bar. Then, my afternoon snack was a slice of the German Chocolate Cake I made my mom.
Sidenote: I used a super easy recipe from the Love Real Food Cookbook and topped it with the suggested date frosting. My healthified baked goods don’t often please my family but my mom enjoyed the homemade cake! She said that it tasted rich enough where a small piece was satisfying. I can admit that it was delicious but it’s definitely more of a treat than I typically desire. Unfortunately, a few hours after eating a slice, my blood sugar felt out of whack.
My eating schedule that day was messy to say the least. Plus, I was relying on sugar and little substance to ride me through the day. Here’s what I observed: 1) my body notices when I’m not eating enough food and when I’m not feeding it with nourishing food. It freaked out by giving me brain fog and a sugar rush headache. Additionally, 2) sweets are just too sweet for me. The cake, while yummy, would have tasted good with a drizzle of peanut butter on top instead of the date frosting. I’ve trained my taste buds to crave fats over sweets and some fat is what I personally missed in the cake.
It is part of life to enjoy different food and I’m okay with the occasional treat. It also serves to reinforce how strongly I believe in the way I eat. I follow a combination of the TIU Nutrition Plan, with FLO Living guidelines, and make that work for me. I am comfortable to veer off the rail road tracks once in a while. Though, for the most part, I’m satisfied with choosing healthy options. Healthy food is what makes me feel good.
What I Read
Always and Forever Lara Jean
In To All the Boys I Loved Before by Jenny Han, Lara Jean’s private handwritten letters to the boys she has crushed on are mailed to the boys’ homes. Readers followed Lara Jean in the subsequent novels as she juggles between Peter and other crushes. Now, in Always and Forever, Lara Jean, is graduating high school and wants to find a way to make things work with the boy she loves and the future she envisions for herself. The concept may sound a bit juvenile but, in YA novels, there is a lot of beauty to explore in first loves and relationships. They are my guilty pleasure and, just like the first two books in the series, this one delivers. I was really satisfied with the way things wrapped. Han keeps the spirit of young love bright and vibrant but also realistic and true.
The presence of phytoestrogens in plant-based foods
As I’ve tried to follow the recommendations for cycle-syncing for my hormones, it is important that I’m eating food that will support my cyclical phases. Alisa Vitti’s WomanCode outlines everything quite well but she suggests avoiding soy due to the phytoestrogens. Thus, I found this article listing some common foods high in phytoestrogens. I’m not kicking out any foods from but rather choosing to incorporate them at the best times for my hormones. Check out the article on 50 Foods High in Estrogen here.
Update on Cycle-Syncing
I notice that the more and more I’m looking into ideas for meals for each of my four cycle phases, the more I crave what WomanCode recommends. The same goes for the lifestyle habits and exercise suggestions. The book provides guidance that seems to align with my energy levels and what my body wants. I feel increasingly in tune with what my body is capable of. I know when to push it and when to ease off. If this is your first time here then check out my Healthy Lifestyle: Is it Worth It? post to read a little more on cycle-syncing and WomanCode. Also, I worked really hard on putting together comprehensive A Day of FLO Living posts so read up on the different phases here: Follicular, Ovulatory, Luteal, and Menstrual.
Products I Love
Progessence Essential Oil Blend
A cousin-in-law of mine sells Young Living Essential Oils. A few months ago I started using the Progessence blend, per her recommendation. Quickly, I felt a difference in my mood and thoughts. My hormones are pretty out of whack but they were worse before. I constantly had mood swings and got easily frustrated. This is a big part of the reason why my hormones are at a decent place right now. I use it twice, daily, and I can’t go without it!
Shea Butter
I recently finished up the miscellaneous lotion bottles I had in my stash of body care. I look for products with short, recognizable lists of ingredients. The Shea Moisture Shea Butter is exactly that. I’ve been using it as a moisturizer on my legs, elbows, feet, and lips! It’s 100% raw shea butter and it is a product I can feel safe about using—plus it’s a great light moisturizer.
What I’m Listening To
In Undertow by Alvvays
Have you heard of Alvvays? A friend of mine introduced me to their hit song “Archie, Marry Me” a few years back and I was instantly hooked. I repeatedly listened to their self-titled debut album for months but I’m stoked to see that they are releasing a new album this September! In Undertow is one of two singles off their upcoming album. It’s dreamy, it’s electric, it’s poetic, and everything I loved about their first album—revamped!
Bombay Bicycle Club by Shuffle
This song is MY JAM. I’m constantly (re)discovering old songs and this one has been on replay throughout the month. Oddly enough, I think the song is about a relationship that is irreparably messed up. Okay, maybe not the happiest situation but the lively beat and cascading vocals make it such a joy to listen to! Let me know what you think if you check it out.
Thanks so much for taking an interest in my monthly favorites! I love putting these posts together and I hope to hear back from you what your favorites from the month of July are. xoxo
The official start of summer wasn’t until June 21st but I’ve been living it up in the blazin’ hundred degree weather since the start of the month. The hot weather leads me to have simple days of chill tea dates with friends or just spend a bit more time indoors, discovering new favorites 😉 I’m really excited to share what I loved in books, TV, food, music, and more this month so, if you’re interested, keep reading!
What I’ve Been Reading
WomanCode by Alisa Vitti
Women who have period, fertility, or libido issues are the ones who can most benefit from WomanCode. Though, those problems may exist without you being fully aware. A while back, I heard about the book from Lee from America and hoped it could help with my personal health concerns. The self-help book illuminates the areas in which lifestyle factors may be working against naturally-fluctuating hormone levels. I touched on how reading the book pertains to my health and fitness journey but this won’t be the last I talk about it. I feel positively influenced by the WomanCode Protocol so I hope to share equally positive results regarding my cycle and hormone regulation in coming months. I’m also planning to follow this up in the future with blog posts about how I’m incorporating the recommendations in the book to perfect my cycle.
KP-ingitsimple’s Fit Fuel Series
Over the past year, I’ve become more and more interested in nutrition. I think it’s a natural progression after beginning to prioritize personal health and fitness. I’m avidly seeking out new information about what nutrients are best going to fuel my body and how. Fellow TIU sister and peanut butter lover, Kelly or KP, already shares enlightening health posts on her blog in topics such as water weight and bloating, and now her Fit Fuel Series has me hooked! It addresses exactly that you would want to know as far as how to effectively fuel your body for workouts. The sort of information she provides can be hard to find online so I find it to be such a great resource!
Favorite Eats
Pumpkin Cookies
Pumpkin knows no single season at my house. It screams fall but it also makes the perfect batter for baked treats all year long. I am pretty proud of myself for baking up a super-tasty and lightly-sweetened cookie with good-for-you ingredients like rolled oats, pumpkin, and coconut oil. They are even versatile enough that you can add a scoop or your favorite protein powder to them without sacrificing the cookie-taste. See the post and recipe here.
Halfway through the month, I began incorporating WomanCode protocols and eating with my cycle. During my luteal phase, I was all about sautéed greens and hearty veggies. This skillet dish was one of my favorite meals. I loaded up on dark leafy greens, sweet potato, brown rice, onions, and garlic—all rich in vitamins and minerals—to help with fluid retention and progesterone production pre-menstruation phase. The interesting thing about this time of month is how sugar cravings kick up a notch so roasting and sautéing vegetables helps bring out natural sweetness in food. I am so satisfied after meals like this, and don’t feel the desire to reach for a candy bar to satisfy my sweet tooth.
What I’ve Been Watching
(Surprisingly, all of the shows I’ve loved this month are series finales or just short-run programs)
I simply adore Mary Queen of Scots and her consistent motivation to do better for her people. Yet, I’m baffled by the ending of Reign and disappointed with how history unfortunately played out for Mary. Her long, tumultuous battle for a throne and respect as a queen is one worth watching. I won’t spoil it for you if you haven’t seen it but the entire show is on Netflix if you want to catch up with the 16th century queen.
Pretty Little Liars
I know the series finale just happened so I won’t give away any spoilers in case you have yet to catch up. Admittedly, the show dragged out the A/AD storyline far too long but I’m glad I didn’t give up on it. Freeform aired the second part of the final season which over the past two months and I’ve been hooked. Friendships and relationships were tested but we also got a taste for possible AD suspects up til the finale episode. I seriously didn’t see the ending coming!
This one is an HBO exclusive starring boss babes: Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, and Shailene Woodley. Upon moving to Monterey, Woodley’s character and her son become targets in a finger-pointing scandal. It starts in the children’s elementary school but the parents quickly make it a personal with one another. The show skips back and forth between present investigations about a murder and the past events leading up to it. Viewers watch the past events unfold to get to know the main suspects and piece together who among them gets murdered. It showcases an interesting look at how there is so much more happening in each person’s life than the face that they put forth to others. Also, unlike the next show I’m about to mention, Big Little Lies has a bittersweet but satisfying end.
GirlBoss
Last TV show, I promise! The story of NastyGal founder Sophia Amoruso is one you won’t exactly want to cheer for but it is awe-inspiring. Britt Robertson, who I love from Life Unexpected and The Secret Circle, plays Amoruso with a wild steadfast drive and independence. The NastyGal founder isn’t the most admirable female role model, especially when you see what she had to do to get her business started. Still, I couldn’t help but have hope for the anti-hero. Unfortunately, Netflix probably didn’t want to pursue the series since real-life Amoruso filed for bankruptcy last year, so one season is all GirlBoss is getting.
What I’ve Been Listening To
Paramore’s After Laughter
Long after punk-rock and teen angst phase has passed, Paramore is still relevant! I’ve been growing up with their music over the past few years and their latest release, After Laughter, is no different. It’s expressive of struggles of changes with life and growing up but with a new fresh sound. Expect groovy, pop-y tunes, and Hayley Williams’ soaring, fiery vocals. Some favorites from the album include songs like Fake Happy, Told You So, and Grudges:
Product Favorites
Coconut oil
Coconut oil is under controversy recently but, like all oils, it should be used in moderation. I’m not needlessly swallowing down coconut oil in coffee drinks but the unrefined variety is my go-to choice for baking (see below). A little bit of this oil adds decadence that only butter may come close to providing. Though, the jury is still out on health benefits of coconut oil, I’m keeping the unrefined, virgin, expeller-pressed variety around in my kitchen. I like Spectrum and Nutiva.
Avocado Oil
Two favorite oils, Melanie? Yes! I’m not deep-frying up a storm over at my house but oil is still important to have on hand. I have a collection of quality cooking oils that I use for different purposes. Avocado oil is perfect for roasting veggies or pan-frying. Its high heat temperature won’t smoke on the stovetop like extra virgin olive oil or other vegetable oils. Plus, I notice it imparts a slight richness to food without messing with the flavor of your dish. I’ve tried Chosen Foods and Primal Kitchen. Both are great!
pHresh Deodorant Cream
I’d been searching for a natural deodorant that is not only aluminum-free but organic. As I mentioned above, I’m making adjustments to my lifestyle to help out my hormones. A step towards doing that involves ridding my environment of toxic chemicals that may be endocrine disruptors. Our armpits are such a sensitive area and an important one for excreting toxins (which happens when you sweat). I do need to apply the cream 1-2 times a day but, for a softening and protective cream deodorant like pHresh, it is worth it! I’m not smothering my sweat glands with antiperspirant anymore, plus, my armpits have never been softer! The Deodorant Cream deserves to be amongst my monthly favorites and you can read more about how I use it in my Shower Routine and Essentials post.
Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask
This lip product was all the rage a few years back but it never struck me as a big deal. I had all but abandoned my Bite Beauty lip mask until I pulled it out again in the springtime. I’ve been using it ever since as my nighttime lip protectant. It is thick and made with food-grade quality ingredients. It is something I feel safe to put around my mouth and the moisturization benefits last for hours!
Notable moments of the month
Friends from Instagram will remember that my pet rabbit, Twix, was always at the top of my favorites list. So, I want to touch on what exactly happened to lead to this moment. He had been slowly losing weight since April but we figured it was because of his age. His hind legs were also giving out a bit more. He no longer was able to hop onto our couch like he used to and he would slip when walking. The signs pointed to age.
Though, in the month of June he got dramatically skinny almost overnight. Twix wasn’t eating his food or hopping around like he used. Or even going to the bathroom in his potty dish. If you knew Twix, you’d know that’s a big deal because he was particular about his preferred “peeing spots”. Unfortunately, his condition just escalated so quickly.
Even if I fed him all the veggies and leafy greens, those were not going to be enough to put weight on him. He felt frail and I think he himself noticed that his body wasn’t cooperating with him anymore. It pained my family and I to watch our furry baby’s deterioration so we had to say goodbye to him after nearly 6 years. I miss him every day but love is not limited to life or death. I’ll always care very much about Twix and treasure the memories I have with him.
On another note, an old friend from school was here for the month in between graduation and the start of his doctorate program. It was so fun to reconnect and hang out multiple times this month. Nothing beats having a good catch-up and enjoying fun activities with friends.
Thank you for taking an interest in my favorites from the month of June!
I only share products that I’ve been using for a while and can vouch for their effectiveness. As for other favorites, like TV shows and interesting reads, those are ever-rotating. Have you encountered some favorites in the past month? If so, definitely drop me a line and tell me what they are! I love hearing you guys’ ideas and suggestions.
This month has been a long one but a slow one. I know that is quite the contradiction but maybe that is just life in general: long and slow. Ooh look at me being all thoughtful. 😄 Anyway, I thought I’d just whip up a post going over some favorites as far as things I tried and notable moments for me in this month of May.
First up, FOOD. I received a package of some new product releases for 2017 at the end of April and have been slowly making my way through them. I’ve had the pleasure of trying some really inventive foods but here are a few standouts:
bRAW bars
Healthy bars can be hard to find so when I checked out the ingredients label on the bRAW bars, I was blown away. They are plant-based superfood bars filled with nuts, seeds, and gems like cacao nibs and gogi berries. They are soft, yet crispy from the texture of all of the goods inside them. These bars do need to be stored in the refrigerator but I found they were fine to carry with me in my bag if I consumed them within a few hours. Their store availability is limited but, fortunately, they are available online from their website.
Rolling Greens Millet Tots
The brand Rolling Greens has put a creative, healthy spin on the classic tater tot without sacrificing the texture and flavor that I grew up loving in traditional tots. Instead of white potatoes, the tots are made from the ancient grain millet. So far I’ve tried the Poblano Chili and Sweet Potato flavor, along with the Garlic and Basil flavor. There is also a plain sea salt one but I was too excited about these two flavors so I haven’t touched the plain yet. I’m sure it is as great as the two I’ve tried! You can check out their gluten-free, soy-free, and vegan-friendly tots here. The Rolling Mills millet tots come frozen and are ready to eat after just 15 minutes in the oven! They make a fun addition to salads, roasted veggies, homemade hamburgers, or simply as a snack/appetizer with some zesty dip.
And I’ve got a couple of non-food favorites…
Love Real Food Cookbook
After over a year of reading Kate from Cookie and Kate talk about writing, revising, and developing recipes for her cookbook, Love Real Food, the pre-order finally happened in January. These past few months of waiting were brutal but, now that it is in my hands, I love it! The book perfectly captures the simplicity of her blog and the clean, plant-centered cooking method I love. I predict each of the recipes will become favorites of mine because all of the dishes look so good! It’s not a cookbook just for vegetarians either–there is much to enjoy even for omnivores, gluten-free eaters, and vegans alike 😉
Follow me on Instagram to see what I cook up from Love Real Food and find more details about the book here.
Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me by Lily Collins
Another book I’ve been into this month has been Lily Collins’ new release. Earlier this week I published a blog post on my thoughts about the book so I won’t overdo it with the review–see my post for that. I just love that each chapter has a positive and inspirational message. I did not relate to each one but many of the messages did touch me on a personal level.
TV favorites: Riverdale
This is the show I didn’t know I was missing! The neat thing about this CW show is that the characters are based on Archie Comics characters. Though, you don’t need to have read the comics to understand the show. The first season’s plot circles around a crime committed during the summer before the teens’ sophomore year of high school. The Archie gang is hot on the case trying to figure out who did it but anyone in town can be a suspect. At the same time, the tangled web of romantic relationships between the Archie gang and the Riverdale adults keeps viewers on their toes. The show was just added to Netflix so catch up over there!
Yoga for Days
I’ve been practicing yoga on a daily basis for around 6 months now. Majority of the time I start my day with a video from Yoga with Adriene but occasionally I’ll practice in the evening, try another yogi’s video, or simply do my own thing. There’s lots of wiggle room for when, where, and how you can practice yoga. Notice the keyword: practice. I’ve long let go of the idea that I need to “do” yoga and instead I let my body be. That has allowed me to slowly build up to bakasana, or crow pose.
This was a really hard one for me back in December when I first started practicing. It has been my favorite to practice because it is so challenging! I couldn’t even lift a toe off the ground and now I can actually balance. My form is definitely not perfect but I’m proud of how far I’ve come. This little victory makes me really appreciate what my body can do.
Moment of Reflection
I spent the past few months feeling like I was in some kind of rush to get the right job, push my body to look a certain way, and overall be at a place I’m just not at yet. I’m not giving up on anything but I think the more I focus on what I don’t have, the more stressed I feel. And I don’t need that. Instead, I’m working on being present and taking care of myself right now. I quickly get caught up in a plan that I have/want for myself in the future but I don’t want to sacrifice enjoying the now to get there.
What have you guys been up to this month? Have you discovered some new favorites? Made any realizations? Heck, even if you just ship Bughead from Riverdale (no, especially if you ship Bughead) then I want to hear from you. Drop me some comments down below and I hope we can all leap into a happy month of June!
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