Traveling for Adventure vs. Traveling for Relaxation: Here’s What You Need to Know

December 12, 2016 By Laura

¡Hola de México!

That’s 95% of what I remember from high school Spanish.

There are as many reasons to travel as there are travelers. It is not just about getting your picture taken with the latest cartoon creation… not that there’s anything wrong with that. But sometimes you may want to add a side of education to your adventures.

You all know by now that I LOVE to travel. In fact, I am in Tulum, Mexico as I type this. We came for a wedding, but left time for a few adventures! We’re headed to the Mayan ruins today, for example.

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Two Days in Cinque Terre: From Riomaggiore to Monterosso

October 24, 2016 By Laura

Have you even been somewhere that looks like a postcard?

Cinque Terre is even MORE beautiful than that.

Cinque Terre is comprised of five tiny seaside villages on the north coast of Italy. It literally translates to “The Five Lands.” The five towns are: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso. Each one is beautiful in it’s own way, but they all possess an almost magical coastal Italian charm.

Then main streets are lined with family-owned shops, artisan gelato, and the best seafood you’ll ever eat. The clear, glittering water will almost hypnotize you, and you’ll finish each day plotting a way to retire to one of the colorful old buildings. It truly is like something out of a storybook.

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One Day in Piedmont: From Alba to Barolo

October 17, 2016 By Laura

The city of Alba in Italy’s Piedmont region is my favorite place in the world.

It’s known for food and wine, so this shouldn’t be surprising to anyone.

The Piedmont region in Italy is heaven for those who love food and wine. It’s known for Barolo (the “king’s wine”) and white truffles, which are nearly worth their weight in gold (I’m not exaggerating). Don’t forget that it’s also the home of Ferrero Rocher and Nutella!

I highly recommend at least one day in the city of Alba, which is about an hour’s train ride from the larger city of Turin (Torino, in Italian).

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A Day of Eats & a Donkey Race in Alba, Italy

October 5, 2016 By Laura

Alba is my favorite European city.

I begged Vegas to stay.

Alba is in Piedmont, the northwest region of Italy. It’s been my favorite since my last trip here 5 years ago. This is the area famous for Barolo (the king’s wine), Barbaresco, hazelnuts, and truffles. We did it all!

I’ve had more white truffles than should be allowed. They don’t look like much from the outside, but these rare (and expensive) mushrooms are a delicacy unique to this region. You can only get them in the fall. Alba even has a festival dedicated to them!

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When In Rome

August 3, 2015 By Laura

It’s not secret Italy is my favorite place in the world.

I could move to wine heaven.

When it comes to the combination of history and cuisine, there are few places in the world that provide the type of high quality dishes and sightseeing that Rome does. From Michelangelo’s ceiling in the Sistine Chapel and the Gladiator lore of the Colosseum, to the local eateries and the world-renowned restaurants, weekend breaks to Rome provide something for everyone. I first went when I was 15 and I think my jaw hit the floor and stayed there the whole trip!

If you’re looking for a tasty get away to Rome, here are some of the city’s best dishes.

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Any Excuse to Party

August 25, 2014 By Laura

My family loves a party.

To say the least.

Last Saturday would have been my dad’s 59th birthday. I froze him in my head at 52… it’s weird to think he would have been almost 60 this year. It may seem weird to some people, but we decided to have a little party in his honor with some close good family friends.

My dad loved people. He also loved good food and good wine. We made sure all were present! We laid out snacks while prepping the grilled goods. Cheese, crackers, soppressata, grapes, and figs:

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Sunshine and Pumpkin Pan-lettes

September 16, 2013 By Laura

It’s a sunshine-y day!!!

Hey, we’re supposed to start the week on a positive. #cheese

This weekend was beautiful and sunny in Atlanta. I spent Saturday morning working out, then did some shopping. I purchased fresh eggs from the farmers market before heading to Fresh Market for some goodies:

I really love the wraps and the lentil hummus! Hatch chilies aren’t new to me, but I was thrilled that they were grilling them fresh outside the store to sell. Score! They went really well with the shrimp I bought (pre-cooked and tails removed – I can’t stomach doing those myself just yet).

Then I got dressed to watch two of my favorite people get married.

Admittedly, I was a little anxious about the reception. Open bar, lots of tasty reception food… and cake. I mustered all my motivation and commitment.

I knew I wouldn’t last without my own treats, so I came prepared.

Bring your own food to a wedding?! Why not? I made a quick turkey salad with my hatch chilies, parsley, and tomato. That was tossed in a sauce of nutritional yeast, apple cider vinegar, cumin, and smoked paprika. I also brought some green bean chips, a chocolate calcium disk, and kombucha. The kombucha was awesome to have so I felt like I had a “drink.”

Confession: I took a teeny cake sample. It was worth it. So there.

Isn’t the bride gorgeous?!

Sunday there was more marvelous with a great workout followed by a trip to Whole ~~Paycheck~~ Foods. On bike.

It was supposed to help with self-control… but really it translated to weighted cardio on the ride home. It’s 6.5 miles round trip! The need for kabocha is not to be denied!

See that beer in the middle? It’s a pumpkin beer. I’m afraid it will all be gone by the time I can drink it after my competition, so I asked the beer man (Max) to recommend the very best.

I purchased a single and it will remain in my fridge until mid-November. Wish me luck.

I’ve been tagged by a few people for the Sunshine Award. Thank you!!!

The last one I saw was from Janetha… based on the first question alone, I knew I had to answer. 🙂

1. Do you believe in aliens? Why or why not.

I don’t know… I’ll say yes. Because who are we to think we’re all that’s out there?!

2. If you could do ANYTHING in the world and have that be your career and your skills, paycheck, or anything else was not an object… what would you do?

I’d travel. That my one day get boring, but being able to explore and experience the world without the chains of time or monetary needs is my idea of heaven.

Like that time I ended up in Chile by accident and found myself on board a US Navy ship…

3. What is your earliest childhood memory?

That’s tough… I don’t remember? Maybe dancing around the living room to old records at Christmas time with my dad.

4. What’s for dinner tonight?

How about last night? That’s what I have a picture of. 😉 It was one of my new wraps spread with salsa and topped with shrimp, broccoli slaw, and a little local #yolkporn.

5. What was the most fabulous vacation you have ever been on in your entire life?

Italy. 2 weeks traveling to small towns on a self-guided food and wine extravaganza. I almost didn’t come home.

~~Often I wonder why I did.~~

At the tartufo festival in Alba, Italy

6. If you HAD to give up one of your senses (touch, taste, sight, hearing, or smell) which would it be?

NOT taste or smell! Maybe hearing? It seems like that’s the easiest one to accommodate for, especially if you’re able to hear prior.

~~I’d rather not hear half the shit that comes out of people’s mouths anyway…~~ 😉

7. Would you rather always be super freezing cold or ridiculously overheating hot? (and no, you can’t have a warm blanket or AC to combat the issue!)

Bring on the heat! I hate being cold. I have Raynaud’s Disease and it’s uncomfortable and creepy when my fingers go white-purple.

8. Why did you start blogging?

My mom told me to. Seriously. I was reading a lot of blog and getting inspired to make all of this #strangebutgood stuff and my mom said “you should start a blog!” So I did!

This is not at all strange for us.

9. What was the last compliment you received and what was the last one you paid to someone?

Yesterday I Instagrammed a sneaky selfie from the gym and my girl Meg sent me the sweetest text that made my night:

“Wow girl you’re looking phenomenal. Be proud of yourself.”

That Pumpkin Pie Smoothie recipe is on the Instagram post. 😉

*Please don’t be offended, Zumba people. I just thought it was funny. I tried it at Blend and it was HARD for this white girl.*

I’m struggling through this prep and someone noticing progress that’s hard for me to see in myself feels really, really good.

I paid it forward by telling a girl in the elevator that the homemade (paleo!) fudge she was bringing up looked amazing. Then I tried to steal one.

10. What is your most favorite thing to eat?

I hate this question (sorry Janetha!). I love different foods for different reasons, and it depends on the mood!

Right now I’m digging the Pumpkin Pan-lette (remember when I did it with sweet potato?) I made Saturday morning. There’s no flour in it – the base is just pumpkin and egg whites. Like a pumpkin omelette, but cooked like a pancake. Pan-lette. Get it?

Whatever you call it, it is a fluffy cake of fall deliciousness. I topped with a peanut flour sauce, which we all know I’m addicted to.

Pumpkin Pan-lette

1/2 C pumpkin puree
1/2 C egg whites
1/2 tsp butter extract (or vanilla)
1/2 tsp pumpkin spice
1/4 tsp cinnamon
Pinch of cloves
4-5 drops vanilla liquid stevia (optional)

For the sauce:

1 T peanut flour
1 T Greek yogurt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
2-3 drops vanilla liquid stevia
Almond milk or water, to thin

Combine all pancake ingredients into a medium bowl and stir until smooth. Pour into a prepared (I used PAM) skillet and cook as you would a pancakes (~2-3 mins on each side).

Note: I made this as one huge pancake, but I’d advise you to turn it into 2. It required some serious acrobatics and two spatulas to flip.

Meanwhile, stir together sauce ingredients in a small bowl.

Plate your pie-cakes, top with peanut butter syrup, and enjoy!

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Don’t forget to check out all the other marvelous in the world over at Katie’s link up!

The Sunshine rules say you have to come up with 10 questions and tag 10 people. Everyone and their brother has already done this… so I tag YOU!!! Choose one of the questions above and answer it below. Sharing is caring.

Would/have you ever brought your own food to a wedding?

Indecisive Love

August 9, 2012 By Laura

It’s a travel week at work

That means a quiz post is on order. I always do these when I’m short on time, thinking it will be a quick post.

The joke’s on me. These almost take me longer than a regular post because I debate so much over the choices. Indecisiveness prevails.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MORE?(Copied from a bazillion other bloggers.)

1. Strength training or cardio?

Strength training all th way. Which is convenient since I’m going to do a figure competition. 😉

I do hate this machine though:

My Nemesis: Hack Squats

2. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

Brinner! (That’s breakfast for dinner.) I’d eat breakfast for any meal. PB & Jeggs, anyone?

3. Dress up or workout clothes?

Workout clothes. Getting me to wear “real” clothes is like pulling teeth. If you really think about it, it’s pretty stupid that we have to dress uncomfortably to go sit behind a desk all day.

4. Wine or beer?

Hi, have we met? I love wine. I traveled to Italy to drink it. If I could, I’d live on a vineyard. ~~Or in a wine glass.~~

5. Peanut butter or almond butter?

I love all nut butters. Especially these Nutty Butters. If forces to choose… I’d have to go with my childhood classic: peanut butter. Preferably in the form of a simple, grilled PB & J.

6. Heels or flats?

I’ll get even more specific than that. Flip flops.

Please ignore the ugly feet, but these are a must-have. (Click for source.)

More terrifying than wearing a bikini on stage for my competition is the though of having to walk across that stage in stripper heels.

7. The actual cake or the frosting?

20 years ago (wow… that make me feel old), I would have said icing. Now I’m all about the cake. Unless it’s cream cheese-pecan icing on carrot cake. That required equal parts of both. 🙂

8. Spring, summer, fall, or winter?

Either spring or fall. Maybe a little more fall because I love trips to the mountains to get apples and see the leaves change. But spring is so fresh and full of possibility.

Ohhhh… just remembered that fall also means college football season. FALL. Go Jackets!

9. Real animal or stuffed animal?

Stuffed. I love the idea of a real animal. I’m a cat lover. However, I am terribly selfish.

My boss and I were actually just talking about this and she said I’m centered around self right now. Not self-centered, but focused on accomplishing specific goals. So much so that it’s all I can do to keep my house plant alive. Is that a terrible thing to admit?

10. Bright or light?

Errrrr… black? If you look in my closet, it’s all black. To me, it’s comfy like workout clothes. Black workout clothes, that is. 🙂

Black with accents of gray.

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I’m in Texas selling (I hope) some work today. I forgot my cowboy hat, but the dude on the plane next to me let me borrow his. (Not really, but he was wearing one.)

Don’t forget: click here to enter my giveaway for a loaf of high protein bread from P28 High Protein Bread – ends tonight at 11:59p!

Are you/have you ever been centered around self?

How about you? Pick a couple and tell me your loves!