parmesan turkey avocado burgers (amazing)

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I told you last week I wanted to try these chicken avocado burgers with a glass of wine and a porch on the next warm Sunday. 

Ah, ask and you shall receive! Last weekend rolled around us and brought a beautiful 73-degree Sunday. And so, we burgered!

Chris and I were inspired by the Laughing Spatula's, but actually changed them quite a bit due to a few major speed bumps: 

1. I don't have a grill. We did, however, use my Calphalon Grill and then sat on the deck. So it was close. 
2. Trader Joe's didn't have ground chicken, so we used turkey.
3. I don't eat garlic
4. Or panko
5. Trader Joe's didn't have ripe avocados, so we used what I had left. 

And yet, they were still amazing. Truly. As a turkey burger connoisseur I consider myself pretty seasoned at evaluating them and I'd give these a top rating in moisture and flavor. I highly recommend them :)

Parmesan Turkey Avocado Burgers

Ingredients:

1. lb. ground turkey
1/2 ripe avocado
1/2 c. grated parmesan 

Spices to taste (we used salt, pepper, cayenne and onion powder. I think cumin would also be a nice add if you're feeling TexMexish.)

To Make:

Mash avocado
Mix turkey and mashed avocado in mixing bowl
Add in parm and mix well
Add spices
Roll into ~10 small patties or five large patties
Grill (or grill pan at 325) until pink is gone (~8 minutes)

Top with pickles, arugula, tomato, mustard and ketchup if you're me. Or anything else you love if you're you :) 

We ate ours with a salad and baked sweet potatoes and couldn't have been happier while we sat on the deck with the warm air and a glass of white wine. 

Next up? I think these homemade popsicles are calling my name.

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practicing gratitude // beauty in every day moments

These last few days I've felt a little funky - like I can't quite put my finger on what's bothering me, but something is weighing me down. In my heart I knew I needed to spend some time reflecting and make those small, but powerful changes we so often need, like sleeping more, making time for a yoga and doing quiet time. 

After talking with a few friends this weekend, I noticed many of them were in the same boat. The truth is: this winter has been long and I think it's starting to weigh on people. Too much time inside, not enough Vitamin D. Too much stillness. Too much ice. 

I mentioned a few weeks ago that my mom, sisters and I are doing Brene Brown's e-course (which, by the way, I highly recommend doing - it's amazing) and last night I decided to get caught up on it - hoping it would make me a little more reflective.

Brene never let's me down! 

The lesson was on practicing gratitude, which was exactly what I needed to hear. She talked about how it's OK to complain, of course. We want to be real and honest. But we also need to do it with perspective and the only way to get authentic perspective on our own lives is to practice gratitude regularly - especially during times when we really don't want to do it. 

She also said that she's learned that people who experience the most grief in life say they yearn for the normal again. While they miss big, exciting moments in life, they really miss the mundane, every day things they took for granted in what they have lost. 

Isn't it funny, though, that we so often view that normal as boring? We yearn for excitement - a new job, a new boyfriend, a new house, a new city, a new friend...

But in actuality, sometimes the most beautiful times are the every day moments. 

As part of the exercise in the course, she encouraged us to look for ordinary moments for which we're grateful.  I walked around my house last night with my phone and took a few.

1. Having my bike back. Cleaned, fixed and ready to ride. It reminds me that spring is near. 

2. The flowers Melissa bought this weekend. My mom always has fresh flowers and they make me think of her. Also, they breathe life into our house and, like my bike, remind us that spring is near.

3. My [current] favorite mug. It makes me think of weekends, when I fill it with coffee&cream and do the slow sip. 

4. My bags all packed for this coming weekend. Heading to the mountains and cannot wait to breathe in that fresh, unpolluted air and see beautiful stars. 

5. My newly reorganized closet. I don't care what they say, cleanliness can buy happiness. 

6. My new camera, which will surely be in tow in the mountains this weekend. Although I don't yet have any sort of photography skills, it reminds me that the dream is within reach :) 

7. My bed. Clean, bleached sheets. Calling my name.

It's amazing that I started the lesson feeling down and by the end of this exercise I could have found about 10 more things to snap. Gratitude yields joy, and not the other way around.

What are you ordinary moments of gratitude today?

pure happy weekend.

This weekend I was hoping to go to Denver to make up for the weekend I missed when I got sick but tickets were upwards of $600, which is sadly out of my budget. So, I headed into this weekend largely unplanned.

As it turns out, as much as I wanted to be in Denver with my parents and Ashley, I needed this weekend here. To unwind, slow down, catch up and catch my breath. 

It was an absolutely perfect weekend - warm, full of productivity and relaxation, friends and alone time, movement and rest. 

There was dinner at Yeah! Burger and a concert Friday night. 

And a long walk Saturday morning at Lullwater. Followed by brunch at 246 in Decatur.

And an afternoon bike ride with Duke and Megan, during which we tried out Condesa Coffee. 

(are you gathering that there was a lot of coffee this weekend?)

Then Yeah! Burger again (judge me for picking it BOTH times. #obsessed) with Duke, Sam, Meg and Melly.

Followed by a party for our friend Kate at FunTime bowling.

And a happy Sunday Funday with a good church service, more iced coffee with Melly, about eight hours outside on walks and in Piedmont Park and cooking a super tasty dinner with Chris. 

And now, here we are Monday, feeling recharged, organized, rested and happy. 

Hope your weekend was lovely!

life this week

It's never been so apparent that I'm no longer 21 as it has been this week. Monday and Tuesday, I was still in full recovery mode from the weekend - a little tired, feeling like I was playing catch up. Alas, I no longer have the rebound rate of a college student when it comes to weekends like this. 

That being said, I haven't had enough coherency to effectively put my thoughts together. Just enough to report on a few things...

1. I'm in a pedometer challenge at work that ends next week. I've been hovering around third to fifth place the entire time and suddenly find myself being a little crazy with one week left. Is it wrong to march and type?

2. I'm really craving the beach. And spring, in general. Spring in Atlanta is only my favorite season, ever. I'm ready! Come onnnn March! 

3. I thought this was an interesting read on calories, weight loss, etc. When did we become so obsessive? [see #1: Yes, I do realize I'm part of the problem, too]

4. This year I have (finally) gotten serious about budgeting and it is changing everything. Amazing how much more self control you have when you force yourself to take the time to enter everything. Those Whole Foods salad bar runs at $15 each? They hurt!

5. I chopped off my hair. Chopped for me. Cut three inches by normal people standards. I snapped my friends proclaiming I got a bob. Small exaggeration, but it still felt like a big deal!

6. Ever since stopping being vegan and overcoming an unwritten fear of burgers, I've become obsessed. I want them all of the time. I recently saw these chicken avocado burgers (sans garlic + a wheat substitute) and am now salivating. I'm thinking the next warm Sunday will call for a grill, a glass of wine, a sunny deck spot and these burgers. Who's with me?

7. I tried Jeni's ice cream this week. I had no idea what I was missing! Everyone I told that I was going told me, Oh ya! It's my favorite! How have I never heard of this honey hole? Super rich, but super tasty ice cream. 

8. I need to buy a new car (yes, there will be a post dedicated to mourning my Jeep) and have mostly no idea what I'm doing. Any suggestions or tips? I want a small SUV, I think. And a sunroof!

9. Some friends and I are headed to Imagine Dragons tonight. Yaay! Mid-week happies! I really hope they play My Fault. --> my fav!

10. I added brunch at Murphy's to my Atlanta Bucket List.  I think it needs to be on there because (1) it is amazing (2) it has become a VaHi staple (3) they put coffee ice cubes in their iced coffee. Need I say more?

Happy day!

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