Updating, updating.

Well. We're about a month deep into 2013, so I thought I would give some updates on how my New Year's resolutions are going!

So far this little blog has 1200+ views! I'm not sure why, and I can't be certain it's  anyone besides my mom hitting refresh over and over, but it's been a fun adventure so far!

My Etsy site, www.etsy.com/shop/humblehaute has also taken off with orders from Arizona, Oregon, and California! Must be popular on the West Coast...

This month I have also gotten serious about what I am and what I am not eating. 

Since starting my "clean" cooking I have lost 8 pounds! Kinda makes you wonder what I was eating before... Yikes! I didn't really know what clean eating was before I did some research so I'll share a few of the basic principles. 

Don't eat processed foods. 

Don't eat food with more than 3-5 ingredients listed. 

And don't eat foods with ingredients you can't pronounce. 

Besides that it's just about making healthy choices and knowing what you're eating! I also feel better, sleep better, and exercise better. Although, I've always been a great sleeper, so I'm not sure I can attribute that to my diet...

 Since it is virtually impossible to eat every meal this way, I just make the most out of the meals I can control. That being said, there is absolutely no control over chocolate chip cookies. 

None. 

Bible in a year is also going well. Since I probably shouldn't lie about the bible, I'll tell you that this is one resolution that I am a little behind on. But I am not discouraged and I will "press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." See what I did there? It's a bible verse. And maybe it's not at all about reading the bible in a year, but it works for me!

And no babies here. 

xoxo

It's cold.

1. It is snowing sparkles. Like, giant flakes of glitter goodness. 

(Emily - Like the end of the Katy Perry concert!)

2. My parents are coming to visit tomorrow!!!

3. I have another recipe for you guys. 

(You'll find it below.)

4. My husband has become a seriously extreme coupon-er. 

(If you need a toothbrush, paper towels, or guacamole, come on over.)

5. My oldest couzzie is turning 29 tomorrow!! Love you, CA!! 

(Meow.)

So until recently, I had no idea you could use Greek yogurt in recipes instead of cream or mayo. Obviously this was life-changing. Since Jason has become quite the coupon-er lately, I have become quite the use-what-we-have-in-the-pantry cook. So the other night I searched Pinterest for recipes using things we had on hand and stumbled across a few great pasta sauces using Greek yogurt! So with inspiration from a few recipes I came up with one of my new favorite - and healthy! - recipes. 

Spinach Avocado Pasta with Chicken

Whole wheat pasta

2 cloves garlic

1/2 an avocado

1 cup Greek yogurt

1 giant handful of spinach

2 chicken breasts

4 leaves of fresh basil

1/3 cup shredded mozzarella

Place the chicken breasts in boiling water and cook through, at least 160 degrees internally.

While the chicken is cooking, also place pasta in boiling water. This one doesn't have to be 160 degrees...

Mince the garlic in a food processor* then add garlic, spinach, and a little olive oil to a pan and sauté. 

While those things are cooking, peel and chop avocado and then purée in food processor.

Next add the Greek yogurt and fresh basil to the avocado and continue to blend. 

Once the garlic and spinach are cooked, add those to the food processor too and blend everything well. 

Now back to the pasta and chicken. 

Strain pasta and return to pan and cover with your sauce. 

Once the chicken is cooked, chop and add to pasta.

Finish the pasta by sprinkling with cheese.  Voila! 

And it reheats well!

* I got a food processor for Christmas so EVERYTHING IS PURÉED!!!

xoxo

Thursday.

There are a lot of things I like about life. 

Two nights ago I set my alarm for 8:30, just like any other night. When I woke up the next morning, as soon as I opened my eyes, I knew something was, in fact, not right. So I poke Jason and ask what time it is. He shoots up and with panic in his voice says "10:15!!!"

There are several great parts to this story.
1. I has set my alarm for 8:30 p.m.

2. The adorably sad fact that Jason's first thought was that it was his fault. 

3. My boss hadn't even so much as texted me. 

4. I slept till 10:15 on a work day.

And

5. The fact that when I asked my boss, Jen, why she hadn't called or texted me, she said she was worried it was her mistake, just like when it was daylight savings...

There are more. 

Jason has been introduced to many new foods since we have been together. Since I like to cook healthy foods, sometimes Jason isn't as thrilled for dinner as he would be if we were having, say, pizza. Like the one time I texted him and told him a surprise had come and he would see it when he got home. So he gets home, walks in the door, looks at the table, and is devastated that the flat box on the table is only a puzzle(of one of our wedding pictures!) and not a pizza. Jason also informed me that any time he asks what's for dinner and I say, "you'll see," he automatically assumes(wishes, hopes, prays) that it is pizza and is again, devastated when it is not pizza. 

Tonight I ordered pizza. 

Today I had my first sale on etsy, saw some adorable pictures of Codie and Katie's baby girls playing in the snow in Birmingham, said "See you again sometime," to an intern, Shirley, who has become a great friend, and woke up next to my bestest friend - on time. 

It's the little things. 

xoxo

Now Open!!

Y'all. 

My new Etsy shop is now open!!

I am so excited to share it with everyone! It's a little bit of everything, with more on the way! What prompted me to open my shop, Humble Haute, is the same thing that has always motivated me: Because I want to. Also because Jason and I have a 1 bedroom apartment and we are quickly running out of space for all of my crafts... Hope you all enjoy! 

xoxo

Humble Haute

Hangry

I often find myself at the crossroads of my love for healthy food, and my love for Mexican food.

And every once in a while, those roads come together.

Today was one of those exceptional days. I left work early(boss lady Jen is sick) and came home to make some lunch. I will now share my recipe for the yummiest bean burrito I've had in a long, long time. 

1 whole wheat tortilla

2 T guacamole (I used wholy guacamole, no unnecessary ingredients.)

1/3 cup black beans (canned or rehydrated for less sodium)

1/2 an onion, chopped

1 cup fresh spinach

1 Serrano pepper

A few sprigs of cilantro

1 clove garlic

1 T olive oil

First, I put the tortilla in a bowl - my burritos tend to get a little messy... Fortunately, no one was home to see me eat this one today. Then I spread the guacamole on the tortilla. Next, place the onions and olive oil in a pan to caramelize. While that's cooking I placed the Serrano pepper, garlic and cilantro into my food processor to chop into fine pieces. I added that mixture in with the onions to cook down for a few minutes. Next I added the black beans to the pan and when that was warm I tossed the spinach on top and let that cook together until the spinach was tender. I hate the word tender. So, until the spinach was sautéed? Cooked? I don't know. Anyways, after that I put all that right on top of the guacamole and rolled it up. Delish. Took ten minutes to make. 

Well, I'm going to have to figure out a way to end my blog posts less awkwardly. 

xoxo

Oh yea! - these are going on my etsy soon! $14 each or the set of three for $35!

Way to go, Mom and Dad!

Well. 

Today is my parent's 29th wedding anniversary.

So I figured I would share a few of my favorite memories of watching their love as I grew up. 

One time when my siblings and I were little, we were all piled in the car(chevy lumina mini van) on a road trip, fighting about who my dad loved the most.  Being confident that I was truely the favorite, I asked my dad who he loved the most. He answered, "Well, I love your mother the most. If I didn't you wouldn't be here."

Another great memory took place Christmas before their tenth anniversary. My dad had purchased a beautiful diamond and gold ring to give my mom and I can still remember how excited he was to give it to her. However, being a Roebuck he couldn't just wrap it and give it to her, so he wrapped it in a box and put it in another box and put that box in another box etc etc etc... Per usual my mom complained that he spent too much money, but she still wears it every single day. 

And my very favorite memory of them is from the day Jason and I got married. My dad and I stood at the back of the ceremony, ready to walk down the aisle, waiting for my mom to stand up so we could begin. So we continued to wait as my mother seemingly never turned around and my dad kept muttering, "Linda. Stand up Linda. Linda, turn around.  C'mon Linda." So FINALLY she realizes no more bridesmaids are coming and it is indeed her time to stand and turn around. So she stands and turns and I got to see such pride and joy in her smile as I felt the same from my dad who was holding my arm.

Love you both. Mom, stop crying. 

Since I've been married for 9 months now, and have obviously already gleaned as much wisdom as it took my parents 29 years to obtain I'll share a couple of my favorite stories from my marriage as well. 

Bat. In. Our. Apartment. This story deserves it's own post, so stayed tuned for that one. 

Once Jason and I washed and dried an ink pen in our brand new washer and dryer. Twice. 

That time we spilled water all over a puzzle it took us months to complete and then blow dried it until the picture started to peel off. 

And there was that great time Jason told me he couldn't eat the "brown omelet" I had made for him. Oops! Well done. 

That's all for now. 

Roll Tide

xoxo

Year of the blog.

To quote my dear friend, Mary Kay Ash, 

"Fake it 'till you make it!" 

Which is precisely why I am writing this blog like anyone besides my mother will read it. Which she will. After I text her to remind her. 

 I've never really been one for New Year's resolutions because the holiday always sneaks up on me and I don't have time to think of an amazing idea, so I just don't do it. Same reason I don't participate in lent... But this year! This year I really thought about some things I want to accomplish throughout 2013. 

One, obv, is blogging. Thank you Mrs. Angie Whitlow for planting that seed. 

Another is to open my new and improved Etsy shop, also named Humble Haute. - to debut later this month!

2013 is also going to be my fittest year yet. I was pretty fit in the early pre-wedding months of 2012, then came the we're happy and in love and we have a lot of gift cards phase. And the last few months were spent trying to undo the damage. So this year, we(just me) are eating clean and gettin lean.* Just bought an unlimited Hot Yoga pass! I digress...

My last resolution, which Jason and I are actually doing together, is reading the Bible in a year. And thanks to the handy dandy little iPhone app all I have to do is read what chapters it tells me to read! 

Oh and my last last is to not have a baby. 

Yay! Happy New Year!

Xoxo

*Disclaimer: I have never looked at the calorie content of dark chocolate so as far as I know it doesn't have any. 

2013

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Many, many things to come in 2013. 

xoxo