life around here {this weekend}

Happy Monday! I'm over on Brittany's blog today, talking about overcoming body image issues. Check it out :) 

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This weekend felt long in the very best way possible. It was busy but somehow still restful. It turned springy again and reminded me that winter really is almost over. It had good food and good music and good people, and left me here, Monday morning, with a very full heart.

There was a road trip to Birmingham (with snacks).

To see Lord Huron in concert. 

And eat Mexican.

With dear friends.

And a morning walk around Birmingham to get coffee and brunch.

And back to Atlanta. 

For green smoothies with Duke. 

And a V'Day dinner at Bocado + a surprise (no pics but an outfit selfie I sent to my friends for approval...ha)

And Sunday brunch at Cafe Jonah. 

And a workout outside in the beautiful weather. 

And church and dinner. 

And early to bed.

And happy. 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Avocado Cookies {recipe}

What do you get when you've been snowed in for three days, have cleaned and organized everything, are caught up on emails and have worked out just plenty?

A new recipe, that's what!

The snow days have been fun but, at some point, you begin to crave routine and productivity. Last night I babysat and was ready for it so early and didn't have anything else I needed to do. How nice, I thought, to not be rushing - for once. To not be in traffic, running late, acting crazy trying to get out the door. 

How nice, indeed it was. And today? It feels pretty good to be at work. I guess that's the best of both worlds - the snow was fun and now I'm just craving some cube time. 

As for yesterday, I decided to get a little crazy in the kitchen. I'm a big fan of sneaking vegetables in anywhere I can, but I've never tried putting avocado in baked goods. Until yesterday, that is. 

I tried out the Lean Green Bean's Peanut Butter Avocado Cookies and am really pleased with how they turned out. They're gluten free, easily made vegan if desired and didn't even turn out green. Yaay! Sometimes when spinachy, kaley, avocado type things get too green, I can't handle it. These puppies look totally normal. And, they have so much healthy fat in them, which is only one of my favorite things. 

So here we go...

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Avocado Cookies (adapted from the Lean Green Bean)

Ingredients

⅓ c. mashed avocado

1 c. peanut butter

2 eggs (sub flax if vegan)

3 Tbsp. honey (sub agave if vegan)

1 c. gluten free oats

½ tsp. baking powder

½ c. dark chocolate chips

Instructions

- Preheat oven nto 350 

- Combine avocado, peanut butter, eggs and honey

- Stir until blended

- Mix in oats and baking powder

- Add chocolate chips

- Make into balls and drop onto greased cookie sheet

- Bake at 350 for 12 minutes or until golden

- En.Joy!

Check out the Lean Green Bean's recipe. I made a few changes re: the amount of peanut butter and oats and mine were definitely dryer/crumblier than hers. Different oats for different folks, ya know? 

our snow day

Because, as it turns out, winter ain't over.

We're going on day three of working from home, day two of being iced in and by 5 p.m. yesterday, cabin fever was in full swing.

The remedy? A cold run on the icy, empty streets with Chris.

Followed by walking to When it Rains it Pours at Park Tavern.

Where we met up with friends and brothers

And stared at our fair city, distant and hazy in the pouring snow.

And eventually made our way home for some night sledding on Melly's old school toboggan. 

As for today, more snow coming down and streets still icy. As for next week? In the 60s. What a wild winter it is, I tell ya!

Hope you're warm and cozy today! 

PS: I think this video resonates with most of America this winter. Jesus make it warrrm!

breathe in

image via sarah tucker styles

It's cold here again today and I do say this isn't quite the winter Georgia boasted when I decided to move south. But if there's one thing in life we surely can't control it's the weather, so bundle up we will!

I was at home yesterday for fear of another snowpocolpyse and it was one of those lovely work from home days where I got so much done that I kind of wanted to do a happy dance at the end of the day. I love productivity so. 

Yesterday when I was journaling, I wrote that lately in life I'm feeling really content. I know there will be time for highs and time for lows in the future, but for right now, a deep sigh of content is washing over me and I feel really grateful for it.

It might have to do with a few great things, including making an effort to do my quiet time in the morning. Something about it makes me feel so much more relaxed during the day - more focused, less stressed. Also, I have a new electric toothbrush that I basically am obsessed with. I hesitated to buy it because of the price, but holy smokes it was so worth it. My teeth feel so clean!

So yes, a little more still in the mornings and a little bit cleaner teeth. It doesn't take much to make this girl happy, it seems. 

Happy Wednesday, everyone!