Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Current Faves

My posts have been random lately, Heck, my brain has been random lately! I blame the heat. I'm loving the sun but I ALMOST just kinda want a rainy day inside with a cup of tea and a book. I guess in Vancouver we're used to a little more variety in the weather instead of just plain hot. 

Because my brain can't compose a one subject post, I'm going to list some of stuff I've been loving lately.

1st off...I am really  enjoying...blogging. I love blogging, blogging's my favourite. Seriously. I don't know why but whenever I hit that publish button and go visit my new post, it makes me happy inside. And that's honestly the only reason why I do it. I was surprised to learn people actually make careers out of blogging. That's pretty awesome! Having a blog is sweet because it's the one place on earth you can be yourself. That being said, when I feel super grumpy and mad at the world, you will not find me talking about it on my blog because I want to send only positive energy into the world. Does that make sense?
Anyways, next - 


The new Dallas. When I was growing up, my Dad always watched Dallas. All the time. There was like 14 seasons so you can imagine the amount of reruns. Fast forward quite a few years to the new Dallas and I. am. hooked. Once again, I am late to the party, because it already has tons of fans and just got renewed for a 3rd season. I watched the whole series over the span of two weeks. Keeping in mind I never sit and actually watch a show I always have to be doing something else like cooking or cleaning. I'm a super nostalgic person so I LOVE that these characters have been around for so long. Larry Hagman (dude in the cowboy hat) recently passed away which they had to write into the show. Seriously cried. What a baby. I also love this show because I'm obsessed with the south. I want to be a southern belle so bad lol!

 The only thing that sucks is that the third season isn't on until JANUARY! So far away! 


I got new dishes recently and I love them. I think having pretty dishes makes me want to cook more somehow. I was playing around and actually ended up figuring out a way to eat egg whites again. I got sick of them during contest prep and haven't had them in forever. I added tons of veggies and it's so yummy. I also throw in a full egg.


In other food related favourites, I randomly found Red Velvet Cupcake coffee at Homesense the other day and bought it out of sheer curiosity. I'm obsessed with Red Velvet but I try to limit myself to a mini cupcake once in awhile (see me about to devour said cupcake above) so I was curious about something you could just throw a little milk and stevia into for a treat. Definitely delicious coffee!! A bit much for every day but great for sweet cravings.

And last but definitely not least the new Quest Bar flavour!  


I'm. In. Love. Seriously. I already love Quest Bars and their many flavours but this one takes the cake. It actually has like white chocolate chunks in it. I love Quest bars because you don't feel like your eating a chocolate bar, you actually feel good after. Between Leigh and I we've been going through boxes of these but I try to limit myself to like 5 a week! So good!

Enjoy your day because it's almost the long weekend!! 






Monday, July 29, 2013

Monday Randomness

Hello people!

It's Monday again. Somehow. How is it always Monday?

I don't even mind this Monday because I'm doing something super fun today, one of my favourite things ever to do!  More about that later this week but for now some total weekend randomness.
I'm currently dogsitting and plant sitting for my in laws. Yes, plant sitting is a thing. They're all on my deck and I just have to water them and I get to enjoy them and their dog for two weeks. Having two dogs is a bit of an adjustment but it's a good excuse for lots of walks!



My mom and I went to see a movie while Leigh was DJing a wedding on Saturday. We saw the Heat which was freaking hilarious. I love Sandra Bullock but Melissa McCarthy is just hysterical. In typical fashion while finding my seat in the theatre I managed to catch my flip flop on something and fall up the stairs. Annndd because the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, when my mom and I got up to leave after the movie was over, we managed to bonk our heads together. It's lucky I don't get embarrased anymore because people probably thought we were morons :-P

Speaking of Leigh DJing weddings, I snuck in and delivered him some (late) dinner to a wedding nearby. Everytime he does a wedding I end up sneaking in to bring him something. It's a long shift to do weddings and you don't exactly get a lunch break. My sister and brother-in-law were at this wedding, I passed my brother-in-law on my way out and when he asked what I was doing there, I told him I like to crash weddings in my spare time. Which is kinda true. I kinda wish I actually crashed this one like not wearing jeans and flip flops because it was GORGEOUS. The bride is clearly one of those super creative people from Pinterest we all secretly want to be.



Leigh and I escaped our animal house to go out to Morgan Crossing because we heard there was a Cupcakes salad bar there, and we had lunch on a patio. Does anyone else feel summer passing way too quickly? This time of year I always feel a bit panicky, like I have to soak it all up before it's gone. Thankfully I've got some reaaally fun things planned in August!

That's it for today because I've got a craaazy day! Hope everyone has a great Monday!

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Cilantro Lime Hummus

I'm one of those people that's always bit late to the party. For instance, I am always the last to catch on to shows that everyone else is watching. I read Tina Fey's book Bossypants two years after it came out, which I seriously regret because I LOVED it. I had sushi for the first time LAST YEAR. As in 2012. In my latest late to the party move, I am now obsessed with hummus. Why is it so good? Why have I not become obsessed earlier? My favourite is roasted garlic with carrots. After buying several containers a week between Leigh and I, I decided to try making my own.

This started a whole new issue. I had no idea what tahini was at the time (ground up sesame seeds, basically) and after a halfhearted attempt at the grocery store with an already full basket (why do I NEVER get a buggy? I always need one) I decided to use a tahini free recipe.


This recipe tasted so summery, I ended up eating it with small crackers instead of carrots. I wanted to have enough for lunches tomorrow but that did not happen, warning it's addicting!

  • 1 cup packed cilantro, stems included
  • 3 crushed garlic cloves
  • Juice of 1 lime or 2 tablespoons
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 can chickpeas, rinsed & drained
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili paste (no idea what this is either. I used chili powder)
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
Put it all in a food processor and blend until desired consistency. You can add more olive oil if it needs it. Unless you have a crazy awesome blender, don't use it. I have a pretty great blender and I put everything in and turned it on and nothing happened. It wouldn't blend!

Anyways, hope you enjoy this summery recipe! And if you have a favourite hummus recipe pleeeease send it my way! :-)

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

How to Turn a Bad Day Around

I woke up today on the wrong side of the bed. Is that how the saying goes? I don't know, but when I woke up, I felt off. My schedule is a little different than most peoples, I know, but we all go through the same emotions. We all have bad days whether we work at home or office or whatever.

First, coffee. Doesn't even have to be coffee but your favourite beverage needs to by your side, stat. Mine is coffee.

The first thing I did after coffee was went to my blog reader and read my favourite blogs. That bumped my mood up a little bit.

Then I listened to my fave song of summer.






This song is in danger of being seriously overplayed, so I refuse to turn on the radio and save it for special occasions or emergencies.

Then I was cruising Facebook and saw someone posted this article "21 Pictures That Will Restore Your Faith in Humanity" so I clicked on that. Maybe I cried a little. Maybe not.


Then I called my Grandma. After these acts I felt significantly better, more humanlike and less grumpy.

Here are some other suggestions for you:

  • Go for lunch or a lunchtime walk. Preferably with someone you like. I once worked downtown for several months and the best part of my day was hanging out with my best friend on our lunch hours.
  • Call some of your favourite people, the ones you understand you and tell them you feel grumpy. The will help you.
  • Dog people: Look at pictures of puppies on the internet. Cat people: Look at cat pictures on the internet. 
  • Plan something fun. Like a patio dinner date.
  • Help someone else. My mom always used to say "out of self and into others" which means stop thinking about yourself (don't feel bad, it's human nature) and help someone else!
                                            
  • Take a nap.
  • Go to a park and catch some rays. Preferably with a cold drink. There is a park across the street for me and very occasionally I will go get the tiniest little slurpee they have. Instant pick me up! Freezies also work fantastic.
  • Find a new recipe and make an amazing meal.
  • Find something to get excited about. This is my speciality. I was telling my husband the other night about some plan I was working on and I declared "I'm excited!" to which he replied "You're always excited!" I am totally taking that as a compliment. 
There are lots of other things to do when you feel down. Just remember most of life's problems are fixable. 
What's your favourite thing to do when your having a bad day?





Monday, July 22, 2013

Celebrating Hilary: Tiaras, Cookie Butter & Confetti

If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you definitely know my friend Hilary. Hilary and I met through my husband. I kinda stole her from him. She's awesome. We like to eat cookies together and sing Taylor Swift. She sends me the most hilarious text messages. Our most recent discussion was how they should serve wine at the mall.
So of course when her birthday comes around (a little early this year) we like to go all out and celebrate like normal people. You know, with a tiara and sash. Which may or may not be from the kids section.

Nicole made cookie butter cupcakes to celebrate. COOKIE BUTTER!



 Hilary took a cupcake while I was trying to take a pic of the finished cupcakes, Nicole is trying to put it back lol

 Out for dinner at Yaletown Brewery.

 Besties!
 Hilary and her cousin
 Must have party pose.
 Confetti. Best part about Yaletown Brewery, hands down.
 And of course, one of these:


Love you Hilary poo!


Friday, July 19, 2013

Following My Dreams

via

Today is the first day of a new type of life for me. The type I've always wanted. Today is the first day that I am....

self employed!

I have left my job as a trainer at Steve Nash after almost a full year of training there. I met so many great people during my time there and I learned so much. Ultimately, working for a large corporate gym is not what I wanted. All I've ever wanted is to be self employed. And now I am. Crazy, right?

If you've known me for a long time, maybe you won't think it's that crazy. I grew up in a family of business owners and that was my normal. However, when I was younger, I had no idea how to move forward in things. It was actually my husband who taught me how to just take the next step and not worry about the million steps afterward. I don't have to have all the answers right now. I just have to take one step. This applies to so many different areas of life. I know feel like I've become the type of person that knows how to get what she wants out of life, and help others along the way.

I will still be personal training, because I REALLY love it. I love connecting with people, guiding them along, helping them feel like they have someone in their corner cheering them on. Because that's really what a lot of people need in order to get in shape or get what they want out of life. 

I will also be doing other things, because I have lit this entrepreneurial fire in me and I know it's going to take me places.I can't wait to see what is in store for me.

If you feel like you need someone in your corner to reach your fitness goals, feel free to email me at taren_evans@hotmail.com or message me via my Facebook Page.


Wednesday, July 17, 2013

My Beachy Reads


This is my favourite time of year for reading. Hands down. All I want to do is park myself with a cold drink next to some body of water with a book that has a cover of women doing the exact same thing. Like this one.


I read Meg Donahue's first book last year, How to Eat a Cupcake and loved it so I'm sure this one will be great too. Read the synopsis here.


I LOVE Elin Hilderbrand's novels for summer. They're all set in Nantucket and written beautifully. They're anything but fluff though, perfect for when you want to read something set in summer that's more real.


I recenetly discovered Mary Kay Andrews, who is a southern girl from Georgia which is probably why I love her books so much. Y'all know I want be a southern girl. Okay, I won't say y'all anymore, jeez. But seriously, check out Summer Rental and Spring Fever!



If you like Sophie Kinsella and you haven't read Lindsey Kelk, you are seriously missing out. Her books are just so darn fun. Also, check out her blog where she is re-examing Miss Carrie Bradshaw's "I couldn't help but Wonder" questions!



If your looking for something "different" I was drawn to this book, which you can read about here and I loved it. It was so funny, maybe I liked it so much because the main character was a major Type A to the extreme and I am, as my husband likes to say "Type Z".


I haven't read this one yet, but I'm excited to. I'm sort of saving it. I'm so weird, I seriously do that. I save books for a special occasion, like the perfect not too hot beach day. It's the sequel to the Devil Wears Prada and that alone will make it worth the read.


And last but not least, one of my absolute favourite authors! She writes memoirs which are freaking hilarious. If you don't believe me just go read some of her blog posts. It's one of those things I can't try to describe, it won't be as funny. She has also written two novels that are also hilarious. Maybe it's because the sort of shennanigans she gets into...well let's just say I can relate. Because lets face it, I've had some shennanigans myself.

I hope you enjoy my fluffy cotton candy beach read list! Let me know if you actually read any of them!


Tuesday, July 16, 2013

J's Bridal Shower: Camp "I Do"

After the super stylish event on Friday (see pics here) we still had one more event to pull off! J's bridal shower. I've been looking forward to this for EVER! J is the kind of person that is always doing nice helpful things for other people. She has done countless nice things for me and I wanted to make sure that she got the bridal shower she deserved.

First, the decor. We went with a classy camping/picnic theme. J LOVES camping so we thought it would be perfect. I had an image in my mind and no clue if it would be as classy and fabulous as my mind thought it could be.

The drink table was the prettiest part in my opinion. I made the runner and purchased a million (yet still not enough) mason jars. J's other bridesmaid hosted the shower at her beautiful home and she had this drink dispenser which I LOVE. Side note, don't try to use frozen berries in a drink dispenser like this. Just don't.


Above the table hung this beautiful banner that I made that I'm SO proud of! It says Camp I Do. Super cute and cheesy, I know but I loooove it.


This was the food table, cameo my sis' hand in the spin dip. Typical. Us Sheppard girls cannot resist spinach dip. Period. Also note the printed sign that says A & J...love!


Once all the set up was done, it was time to relax and watch J get to be a princess for a day!
 Besties!
 J and three of her bridesmaids!
 J and her hairdresser aka my sister.





 J opening her recipe book


This is what my mom, sis and I got her. As you can see, she hates it. :-P


 Oh yes, it's your turn to look ridiculous in one of these hats.
 muahaha.
 Cake!
 So pretty. Seriously can't wait to see her as a bride!
 J and her gorgeous sister and sleeping nephew.

 J and her bridesmaids and sis who is maid of honor!
 J getting some quality time with her now awake nephew!

Such a great success. I'm so happy for her and I can't WAIT until the wedding. For now, I'm off to figure out some fun things to do with my new mason jar collection.