So Obsessed Saturday: Nearly Midnight Edition

This weeks so obsessed is slightly less conventional, but I would say even more important than nearly any other I have posted. I have been having some late night thoughts brought on in the rush of the freedom and bliss of summer that has brought me to the conclusion of the following:

A million times over I would choose a million unique experiences and adventures than a million dollars.

I began thinking the other day how much value we, as a culture, and therefore as individuals (whether we mean to or not) put on money. Outside of the numerical value that is required to be a functioning member of society, but really think of the value and the control that it has on our lives. We spend our time thinking often with that piece of paper in mind, it often dictates many of our life choices. But at the end of our lives, when we lie on our bed, surrounded (hopefully) by all those we love, we will be looking back on the great memories and experiences we have had. When did it become the social norm to live for money instead of living to live. Now I am not saying being financially secure isn’t important, but I think what we do with the security says a lot about us. Wouldn’t it be worth it to spend that money on experiences to know that something you earned brought you to something new?

Therefore I have reached the above conclusion. The value of adventure and experience has been vastly underrated in our society, however that doesn’t mean that it always has to be this way. Perhaps what I am saying is that instead of buying a brand new outfit with your bonus check (although there is nothing wrong with bringing yourself that happiness that comes with clothes that make you feel great about yourself, cause I love an amazing outfit as much as the next glitter obsessed gal) put some aside for that amazing trip that you think you are never going to take (and decide that you are going to) or even just grab a friend and try something new like paddle boarding or ordering something you can’t pronounce off of a menu. See the world around you, just so you can realize how much more there is to see.

#MurphyMonday

Happy Memorial Day and Murphy Monday! Hope everyone is enjoying the day off (if you have the pleasure of having one) as much as Murphy enjoyed his…although now he is completely covered in dirt LOL (:

So Obsessed Saturday: Avocado Please

Can you ever have enough avocado?! I mean really I have probably gone through 5 this week…so I guess you could say I am obsessed. There are tons of uses as well as tons of benefits!

Here are some avocado fun facts:

They contain more potassium than bananas!

Avocado is a high fat food! WAIT WHAT Emily why would I want to eat something that is high in fat. This is a huge misconception because not all fats are the same! Avocado is high in fat but they are the good fats! Monounsaturated fatty acids and the main source is oleic acid which makes up 70% of olive oil, and is what gives olive oil its nutrient value.

Avocados are very high in antioxidants and also help you absorb antioxidants from other plant foods! Antioxidants are very important to your body and keep a lot of it in check, avocado is high in certain ones that are great for your eye sight!

They are packed with fiber, both soluble and insoluble, which will help you stay full longer and in turn can help you lose weight if that’s your goal!

I have been using avocados a million ways this week, and I don’t think that that is much of an understatement as they are so versatile!

Salad: You can top your salad with chunks or slices. My favorite has been chicken, spinach, tomatoes, or whatever other veggies I have on hand mixed with avocado and some olive oil. The olive oil adds flavor and the avocado adds creaminess and removes the need for a really heavy dressing!

Instead of Mayo: As mentioned before avocado is very creamy and can take the place of something else less healthy such as mayonnaise. You can mash up the avocado and spread it on bread for your sandwich, or I have even mixed it with chicken instead of mayonnaise to create a different type of chicken salad. (It may even be good with eggs for eggs salad…might have to try that one!)

Guacamole: This is quite the obvious one as avocado is the main ingredient in this very tasty dip. You can really get creative with guac because you can add really whatever you like. I like mine with lime, cilantro, tomatoes, onions, salt and pepper, not a fan of spicy. Guacamole is usually eaten with tortilla chips but you can also use veggies to dip instead for a slightly healthier option!

Fun Food Friday

One of the greatest parts of being home is being able to make just about whatever I want. The trouble is at school it doesn’t make sense to invest in a dozen eggs when you only have a microwave shared by your own hall, needless to say I have been driving my family a little crazy with all the food I’ve been making!

So I don’t know if Fun Food Friday will be a regular thing, but hey we are all along for the ride. I found this super yummy Protein/energy Ball recipe that I love. I have messed around with a  few different ones and sometimes even tried to make my own, but I think this one has turned out the best! What I love about these kind of recipes is that besides the basics you can add just about anything without really messing it up. Another reason I love this recipe is because they are no bake which is a huge plus!

recipe:

1 cup oats

2/3 cup coconut flakes

1/2 peanut butter (or almond butter if you prefer. freestyle it!)

1/2 cup ground flax seed (I only had whole ones so I used that!)

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/3 cup honey

1tbsp chia seeds

1tsp vanilla extract

Directions: combine all ingredients in a bowl and chill for one hour. once chilled roll into balls of desired size and store in a container in the fridge. they will last for about a week! (When I made mine i also added some hemp seeds and extra flaxseed, tinker witht eh recipe cause you cant really do any wrong!) Let me know how they turned out for you!

M.I.A.

My sincerest apologies for being so MIA lately, I feel like I have only been checking in when I have my usual weekly dues, but I’ve been doing some thinking and tinkering and thats gonna change. I never really told you all (or maybe I did and have just forgotten) how I got around to starting this blog.

It was actually for a school assignment in a communications class, but throughout the entire experience I really loved doing it and decided I wanted to stick with it! So here I am sticking with it, these past few weeks have just really thrown me for a loop just getting back and loving not having to do anything. I suppose what I am saying is be prepared…I feel like I will probably be switching it up a little. I think of this blog as a little bit of everything, so like most other things in my life…we will see where it takes me!

Hope you’re ready for the ride! (:

#MurphyMonday

It’s never too late for a little Murphy Monday! So happy to be back home with him 🙂

As crazy as I look in this picture I absolutely love it because I think Murphy knows how crazy I look too 🙂

So Obsessed Saturday: SCANDAL

I am sure that it is no secret how much I love my TV series…usually on Netflix. Perhaps one of my all time favorite series that I stumbled upon is Scandal. This post is probably long over due because I have been quite obsessed for a while, but the opportunity presented itself because they just had the Season 4 finale.

If you need a new show to watch I would definitely check it out. (And if you don’t want it anyways because it’s awesome) I love crime shows, like everything from NCIS to Criminal Minds and Scandal is the perfect mix because there is also so much plot outside of the action. It is one of those shows where as you are watching a nice moment you are waiting for a bomb to explode or for someone to pass out from poison…and I love ever second of it!

Now there are many reasons why I love this show but I have to say that cast list is definitely one of them. Kerry Washington is just absolutely amazing in her role as Olivia Pope (her character) is my spirit animal even though she isn’t real. She is the Miss.Fix-It of Washington DC and she knows how to use what she has and isn’t afraid of roadblocks…or really law for that matter. And when it comes to Fitz (ugh he aggravates me) it is so great to see her character progression because at first you can see how she will do anything for him and then she shows a great example of going after and only standing for what you deserve (which I know I can definitely take a lesson from)

Jake the B613 agent went to the good side is also a favorite because despite every reason Olivia has given him to run he still stays…ugh what a gem. Then there is always the President Fitzgerald who is really just…well I am not really sure about. Sure he loves Olivia but he’s also a cheater and you never really know what to expect from him. If you tallied pros and cons I am sure they would be even, but in the battle of Jake and Fitz I am definitely team Jake.

There is also a very distinct way that they speak which comes front he script as well as the style of actors, but I think it gives the show a ton of character. I wish I could explain it better, but I guess the best way would be that they use a lot of emphasis and repetition in order to create tension and I think it adds a lot to all of the intense moments.

*SPOILER ALERT*

In the most recent episode there were many plot twists. Fitz definitely got some brownie points from me for throwing out Mellie cause she killed some JURORS IN THE B613 case! Although I suppose in her defense she didn’t know that it was Rowan…but really Mellie always thinks she knows whats going on when she really doesn’t. Speaking of Rowan, I just love to hate him he is jet absolutely infuriating, but seeing him behind bars was absolutely satisfying. I did not expect Olivia to have her little run in with Maya, however I can’t say that she is my least favorite person. Sure she is an international terrorist who seems quite ruthless but somehow I haven’t found myself despising her yet.

Now for me the ultimate question lies in what will happen with Fitz and Olivia, (this final scene was one of those that I was waiting for one of them to drop dead from poisoning because those are the kind of things that happen in this move) even if they can somehow be together I am not sure that I want them to, they have so much passion but not enough normalcy. ( I am almost embarrassed at how emotional invested in this show I am, as well as the amount that I am able to analyze it on such a personal level haha) But I am sure there are some of you out there that will make me feel a little less crazy in your investment in the show! Let me know what you think is gonna happen and what you think of the finale?! (and of course Fitz or Jake?!)