slip and slide

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i've been seeing these in the stores for a long time now. never pulled the trigger on them last year because i was worried they'd be uncomfortable. 

but based on glowing reviews i've read, it looks like i was wrong. 

these would be cute with just about every spring outfit imaginable: casual dresses, shorts, jeans. also good for those days when it's not *quite* sandal weather. 

i'm taking a day off work to go to a nats game during opening week and i have my eye on those navy ones.

i love snacks

do you keep snacks at work? 

i always have. if i have things at my desk, it prevents me from going out to eat as much and let's be honest, it just helps to have something to munch on sometimes.

my office is right in between a safeway and a whole foods. i've been to the chip aisle. i've purchased some dogs and some winners over the years. if you find yourself craving something salty at 3 pm, here's my picks for not-so-bad-for-you snacks.

starting from the top, the quinoa chips are great and light and come in a few different flavors. cheddar is the best.

i was skeptical about the beanitos, but they are so freaking addictive. i swear you could blindfold someone and they'd think it was a dorito.

there's a lot of black bean chips out there, but these black bean tortillas have just the right amount of crunch and salt to make them stand out.

the chia crisps are an at-work staple for me. they come in a few flavors, but i think the jalapeno white cheddar is my favorite. it's spicy!

the skinny sticks are my most recent discovery and i'm sad we only just met. these are so so good. it's like a sunchip, tortilla chip and grown-up funyun all in one. addicting. 

_ _ _

any snacks i should know about?

friday finds: xv

oh boy. this week. cheers to the freakin weekend.

if you're like me and your iphone battery loses steam toward the end of the day, this device holds enough juice for six (!!!) full charges. 

boots | charger | planter | ring | bottle | scarf

this is one of my favorite editions of friday finds. i really want all this stuff. that ring? need it. that scarf? yep.

i've been using my glass water bottle daily for a long time now and i love it so much more than plastic or metal versions. this isn't the one i have, but it's made by the same company and i can vouch for their quality.

we're off to charleston, sc to visit the fam for thanksgiving. i gotta remember to pack some maternity jeans aka the perfect feasting attire.

happy friday!

make this now

i hate doing dishes. 

i'll seriously clean bathrooms before i do dishes. least favorite household chore.

that's why one-pan meals are so awesome.

this delicious, satisfying healthy meal is perfect for chilly fall evenings. and it's foolproof.

first things first: mise en place aka get your shit together. chop up one onion, peel and dice one sweet potato and prepare the kale. that means rinsing, removing the tough middle rib piece and chopping. 

next, cook about a pound of ground meat. i love turkey thigh because it's flavorful without being fatty. but this recipe is so versatile, so forgiving, that you could use anything: beef, chicken, even seitan or another meat-free alternative.

back to the recipe. when i cook ground meat, i turn the heat up to medium-high/high for about two minutes to get the pan nice and hot. then i add just a dribble of olive oil, and dump the meat in the non-stick pan. THEN DON'T TOUCH IT. 

just let it cook for a few minutes WITHOUT MOVING IT and it'll caramelize nicely and get some of that delicious golden brown color on it. at this stage, you should add about a teaspoon of salt and a half teaspoon of pepper. 

once the meat is cooked, drain off the fat if you need to and set aside in a bowl.

now it's time to cook the prepared veggies. 

add a bit more olive oil to the pan, let it heat up for a second and then add ONLY the onion and sweet potato. season with another teaspoon of salt and half teaspoon of pepper. cook until the onions are translucent and the potato softens, about five minutes.

once they're cooked, add the meat back and season the entire dish with two teaspoons of curry powder. any curry powder works. if the curry you're using is mild, you may want to add a few small dashes of cayenne.

once everything is back in the pan, toss in the kale. i used one large bunch here. it will look like a lot, but it wilt.

and that's it! give it a taste for seasoning and you're done! dinner is served. you could even throw a poached egg on top, but that's another dish to wash. your call.

this is one of those feel-good dinners. it's filling, inexpensive, warm and super good for you. make this and you can check dinner off the list for tonight.