My Style: Emerald Twirls

Top: Forever21 (similar)

Skirt: Collective Concepts (Nordstrom, I got mine at Nordstrom Rack)

Boots: Corso Como (Nordstrom)

Necklace: Forever21

Some skirts you just gotta twirl in, and this is definitely one of them. I can't wait to wear it with some sandals when the weather finally warms up! It has been so dreary lately, and I'm ready for a few days of sunshine. Next week is supposed to be beautiful, yay!

Any Arrested Development fans out there? What do you think of the new season? Tommy and I watched it in two days, and have now started watching it again. Overall I thought it was pretty good, but it did take a while to pick up. I'm definitely liking it much better the second time around. There are so many things that didn't make sense the first time. My favorite episodes were probably the first Tobias episode, and the Lucille episode. Can't wait for the movie! 

Trader Joe's Favorites

Making food is awesome, but sometimes store bought can be just as good (or better!). One of my favorite places to grocery shop is Trader Joe's; they have such a wide assortment of products that you just don't see at a "normal" grocery store at great prices. So today I thought it would be fun to share a few of my favorite things to buy at Trader Joe's. I try to buy something new every time I go, so I'm always finding new favorites!

Trader Joe's Pork Gyoza Pot Stickers: These are an absolute staple for me! They are so tasty, easy to make, and relatively healthy (seven per serving!). Trader Joe's has chicken potstickers as well, but I prefer the pork. I love making these with some green beans or brocoli for lunch. I definitely recommend steaming them, but they are easily made in a saucepan as well.

Trader Joe's Mango & Cream Bars: I just recently bought these for the first time, and if you're a mango fan like me, you've gotta try these! They are cute little frozen treats about the size of a small bar of soap, and they have so much yummy mango flavor with just a bit of creaminess. My only wish is that they had a stick to make eating a little easier, but maybe that just means I need to try making my own...

Trader Joe's White Bean & Basil Hummus: I love hummus and Trader Joe's has a bunch of really great options. Their original hummus is good, but my favorite has got to be this white bean & basil. It's really creamy, full of basil flavor and I love the pine nuts on top. Perfect on a cracker with a tomato!

Trader Joe's Bay Blend Coffee: When it comes to coffee, the darker and richer the better. Maybe this preference is a result of living in the Seattle area, but I simply love a full bodied brew. The beans are dark and fairly oily, the aroma is abundant and holds it flavor when paired with cream. Yumm!

What are your favorite products from Trader Joe's? I'm always looking for something new to try!

lazy sunday

Yesterday was a day of drinking lots of coffee, eating curly fries for breakfast, staying in pajamas, watching Arrested Development, Kitchen Nightmares and playing Civ. It was a day of relaxation, making dinner in the slow cooker and enjoying our lack of motivation. Every now and then, you just need those lazy days.

Black Bean & Yam Burgers

Lately I have really been into meatless burgers. This probably has to do with the fact that meatless burgers satisfy my burger craving without the guilt later. Score! Also, meatless burgers still come with french fries and I'm all about those fries.

I ordered two black bean burgers at two different restaurants recently, and was a bit disappointed by both of them. They weren't bad, but I just kept thinking about how much better they could have been! Both were pretty dry and flavorless. So I decided to make my own and they turned out so, so yummy.

Black beans give these burgers texture and substance while the yams add moisture and flavor. Spices are added to give it some heat, with corn and onion adding some depth. Throw on your favorite toppings (avocado is a must), and you have yourself a delicious burger without guilt.

Black Bean & Yam Burgers 
*Recipe makes about 10 patties. Mixture keeps well in the fridge, or make a bunch at once and freeze them!
3 cups cooked and mashed golden yams (approx. 2 yams)
30 oz. black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup diced onion
1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn
2 cloves minced garlic
1 1/2 cups plain bread crumbs
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. sriracha sauce (add more if you like more spice)
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. salt
plenty of fresh ground pepper

1. Chop yams into cubes and boil in a large pot until soft. Mash until smooth.
2.. In a large bowl, mix mashed yams and half of black beans. In a small bowl, mash remaining black beans with a fork and add to yam mixture.
3. Add corn, onions, cilantro, garlic and bread crumbs. Mix until well combined.
4. Add cumin, paprika, cayenne pepper, sriracha sauce, salt. Add fresh ground pepper to taste. Mix until well combined.
5. To cook, form yam mixture into patties. Turn on skillet to medium heat and add a few drops of olive oil. Place patties on skillet, and let cook for about 5 minutes on first side, press down with spatula slightly and allow to cook for another couple minutes. Flip and cook for approximately 5 minutes. Both sides should be a nice golden brown and be a bit crispy.
6. Assemble burger to your liking and enjoy!

Portland Japanese Gardens

One of the highlights of our mini vacation to Portland was visiting the Japanese Gardens. Situated just a few minutes outside downtown, the gardens feature five and a half acres of lovely plants, waterfalls and pathways. It was a really peaceful place to visit and was the perfect way to end a day of exploring downtown.

the dream of the 90's

Dress: Mystree (consigned) 

Necklace: Francesca's 

Belt: Delia*s

Sandals: Franco Sarto (TJ Maxx) 

Tommy and I got back yesterday from a short trip to Portland. It was a lot of fun to explore a new city, eat some new food and visit some friends. Highlights included the Japanese Gardens, Salt & Straw ice cream (we ate it twice!), bringing a huge box of Voodoo donuts home, and visiting a few breweries. 

I wore this on our first day in Portland which we spent visiting our hotel bar, eating dinner at Deschutes Brewery, walking around downtown, visiting Powell's Books and eating a pint of Salt & Straw ice cream in our hotel bathrobes while watching Game of Thrones. It was perfect after a long day of driving. 

Usually when taking trips I have to pack about five more outfit options than I really need. I just hate being limited! I mean, what if I spill something on my shirt, or it starts pouring and I have no boots? But then if I bring boots, I need jeans for boots, socks, and probably a sweater cause it's raining. See what I mean? Serious first world problems. Anyway, I was pretty proud of myself because I planned my outfits ahead of time and only brought an overnight bag (that was so full I couldn't zip it...but still!).

Dala Horse "Makeover"

A few weeks ago I stumbled upon this kooky dala horse at the Goodwill. Not only did it have  a strange "nerdy" paint job, but it was wearing glasses! Jackpot. Being a swede, dala horses are not only cute, they are a symbol of my heritage. My grandma has a few in her house, so I was really excited to find such a unique dala horse for my place!

I debated if I wanted to paint the dala horse in the traditional style because it was really intimidating! I'm not the best painter and the designs on dala horses are pretty intricate. I decided to use the traditional style as a reference but put my own spin on it. It took me two days to finish it and I really love the result! I'm so excited to have a unique dala horse of my own.

Cucumber Rose Gin & Tonic

A few days ago, I made the most refreshing gin and tonic ever and I'm really excited to share it with you. Now, I know what you're thinking, "the most refreshing gin and tonic ever? Amanda, you are exaggerating." Friends, I'm not exaggerating, they are seriously that good. Keep in mind this is coming from the girl who pretty much orders a gin and tonic whenever drinks are being had. I'm kind of an expert.

The only thing tricky about this cocktail is the cucumber flavor, because it comes from cucumber juice. If you have a juicer I recommend juicing about half a cucumber for several drinks. If you don't have a juicer, muddle slices of cucumber in a glass then strain through a fine mesh strainer. I tried both methods and found the juicer to yield tons more juice (duh), flavor and color. But both were tasty and if you don't have a juicer, it's still totally worth the extra work.

Oh, and the rosewater. This stuff is awesome, but can taste a bit like perfume if you use too much. I recommend adding a couple drops, taste, then add a few more if you think it's not enough. I usually use about 3 drops.

Cucumber Rose Gin & Tonic
2 ounces cucumber juice
2 ounces gin
4 ounces tonic
Lime juice
Rose water

1. In a medium glass, combine cucumber juice and gin. Add ice and fill glass with tonic (I found about 4 ounces did the trick). Add fresh lime juice and a couple drops of rose water. Mix with straw and garnish with cucumber. Enjoy!

Sponsor Spotlight: Jessica from Cherry Foxes

I'm excited to share with you the adorable Jessica from Cherry Foxes. In addition to blogging, Jessica also owns a cute jewelry shop called Gold Bangle, where you'll find super cute and affordable jewelry. You can also find Jessica on Instagram and Twitter, but first read more about Jessica below!

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Tell us a little bit about yourself and your blog:
I'm a 21 year old living in little Idaho with my wonderful husband, Joseph. I absolutely love sharing bits and pieces from our lives and things that make us who we are. I run a few blog "reader series" that really challenges me to find new inspirations, and I hope they also inspire my readers.

Why do you blog? 

I blog for me and my future family. I think blogging is an amazing way to look back through our memories and share our moments with friends and family. There are so many opportunities to get to know people we may never have met if it weren't for their cute little blogs :)

What inspires you?

I am inspired by so many things, but the two things that are really big right now are: thrifters who can take junk and make it something beautiful and people who turn their hobbies into their jobs.

Tell us 3 random things about you:

1. Pistachio nuts make me sick. 

2. I sing horribly. Like a tone deaf... person. 

3. I watched Jurassic Park for the first time, ever, this year.

Favorite Posts?

1. Old Childhood Photos

2. Our Day at the Zoo

3. Our Wedding Day

So whatcha waiting for? Go check out Jessica's blog, Cherry Foxes and say hello :).