Whole30: Week 2 Recap + One-Pan Balsamic Chicken Recipe
Confession: I ate Cool Ranch Doritos last night. And they were soooo good. And they were soooo not Whole30 compliant.
Okay, I feel so much better with that off my chest now! I’m halfway through the program and that was the first non-compliant thing I’ve had (excluding alcohol, which I’m giving myself a cheat day for 1 day/week) and I felt so guilty!
Honestly, the second week was harder than the first. I started craving things more, like sweets and a really good cappuccino. Oh what I wouldn’t do for a macaroon (or 5) and a skinny cap! And cooking every single night is really hard and time-consuming and draining, and sometimes all I want is just to order a pizza.
However, I can feel a huge difference in my body. I’m on track with my weight goal, I have more energy and just overall feel better.
We are also getting into a good rhythm with the food. My latest favorite thing to eat for breakfast is canadian bacon with some fig on top – yum! Lunches have still been salads. And for dinner we’ve been trying some new recipes for dinner (thank you, Pinterest). I’ve been specifically looking for things other than chicken to eat, which can get so boring so fast. Unfortunately we don’t eat seafood, so I think it makes it a little harder for us, but last week we cooked some delicious steaks and made bun-less bacon burgers and tonight I have some pork chops in the crockpot that already smell amaaazing! (I’ll share that recipe in next week’s recap)
This week I want to share this amazing one-pan chicken dish. It was seriously so easy and so good that I’ll probably make it once a week from now on. It says it yields 3-4 servings, so I was hoping we would have some leftover for lunches, but nope. We ate it all up!
O N E – P A N B A L S A M I C C H I C K E N
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp Italian salad dressing (I recommend using Kraft light Italian it’s the perfect consistency for this and it’s what I used)
- 3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 1/2 Tbsp honey (okay, so this is not Whole30 compliant, but I think it will be okay!)
- 1/8 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (more or less to taste – be careful, this can make your dish really spicy really fast)
- 1 1/4 lbs chicken breast tenderloins
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- 1 lb fresh asparagus, trimmed of tough ends, chopped into 2-inch pieces (look for thinner stalks. Green beans are another good option)
- 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
Directions
- In a mixing bowl whisk together salad dressing, balsamic vinegar, honey and red pepper flakes, set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper to taste, then place chicken evenly in skillet. Cook about 6 – 7 minutes, rotating once halfway through cooking, until chicken has cooked through (meanwhile, chop asparagus and tomatoes). Add half the dressing mixture to skillet and rotate chicken to evenly coat. Transfer chicken to a large plate or a serving platter while leaving sauce in skillet. Add asparagus to skillet, season with salt and pepper to taste and cook, stirring frequently, until crisp tender, about 4 minutes. Transfer veggies to plate or platter with chicken.
- Add remaining dressing mixture to skillet and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 1 minute. Add tomatoes to chicken and asparagus and drizzle dressing mixture in pan over top (or return chicken and veggies to pan and toss to coat).
xo xo
You might also enjoy: Whole30: Week 1 Recap, One-Pot Chicken Lo Mein Recipe
life lately
{loving this || wonderful friend time at sassafrass}
{starting this || read about my first week here}
{changing this || my hair color, and LOVING it}
{listening to this || on a beautiful saturday morning}
{celebrating this || these cute siblings’ birthdays}
{watching this || day date with the sistahs to see magic mike xxl}
xo xo
Whole30: Week 1 Recap
Whole30: a month-long clean eating program similar to Paleo diet (low carb, high protein), stripping away hormone-unbalancing, gut-disrupting, inflammatory food groups, considered to be grains, sugar, dairy, alcohol, and legumes.
Last night I was tempted by Mellow Mushroom Pizza and two different kinds of homemade cake, and I did not give in! I’ll take a pat on the back now, please.
That being said, this has definitely been the easiest diet I’ve ever done. I’m 7 days in and can honestly say I haven’t been hungry once. I’m eating enough to satisfy my body, but not overindulging which is so easy to do with unhealthy foods. It’s a lot easier to not indulge when your only options to eat are meat, veggies and fruit. They taste great, but I’m not going to eat 3 bowls of salad.
Let me back up for a second – why am I doing this? Husband and I have been talking a lot lately about doing some sort of healthy eating re-start. We are only 2 months out from our European vacation, and I wanted to lose some weight and eat better, so that I can indulge on the trip and feel less guilty about it!
Mom gave me the book It Starts With Food and it was fascinating. After the first chapter I was convinced this is what we needed to do instead of some ridiculous juice cleanse. The program touts higher energy, better sleep, reduction of cravings and even helping with some chronic issues, which for me is headaches, and you’re eating REAL FOOD.
My thoughts so far …
PROS:
– Since it’s super strict, you know what you can and can’t eat. There’s no guessing, which makes it easier.
– The food is delicious! There are some amazing recipes on Pinterest.
– I can honestly say I’m already starting to feel better, and eating healthier makes me want to exercise more, which gives me more energy.
– It’s harder to eat out, so we’re saving money by staying in.
CONS:
– You have to plan, and cook a LOT, so it’s very time-consuming.
– You don’t get any cheat days. It’s only 30 days so you shouldn’t need to cheat. (I AM allowing myself alcohol once/week, but no cheating on the food – see first sentence about what I didn’t eat last night!!)
– Did I mention you have to really plan? And cook every night?
What I’ve been eating so far …
Breakfast: I’ve been eating fruit and almond butter, Husband’s been eating eggs and sometimes canadian bacon, and we’re drinking (black) coffee. There’s no way I could give that up. Saturday we tried a new recipe with this Breakfast Pizza Quiche I found on Pinterest. The site claimed it would take away your pizza cravings – HA, not exactly, but it was pretty good. We’ll definitely make it again with a few ingredient changes.
Lunch: I pretty much eat salad every day, which gets kind of boring, but it’s not bad. My mason jar salads make it a little more fun.
Dinner: Dinner is the hardest since by the end of the day the last thing I want to do is to cook. We’re still building up our easy Whole30 compliant recipe collection. My favorite thing we made this week was these lettuce wraps with ground turkey, spices, and salsa. Also, huge shoutout to our friends the Hotarys who had us over for dinner and made an amazing Whole30 meal!
Well onward we go into the second week! Keep us in your thoughts, share your recipes and pleeease don’t offer me any chocolate.
xo xo
Texas Forever, or 10 Reasons Why I Need Another Season of Friday Night Lights
Well, it happened. I finished Friday Night Lights. And I’m still crying about it.
If you don’t understand what I’m talking about, or if you are a huge fan of FNL, then you must pause and read this Buzzfeed: What It’s Like Watching Friday Night Lights for the First Time. It captures all my feels perfectly. PERFECTLY. Thank you, Buzzfeed.
I’ve blogged about FNL here along with several other TV shows about why I want to live in a small town, and here when I talked about my real Saturday, but this show deserves it’s own blog post.
10 Reasons Why I Need Another Season of FNL
[SPOILERS AHEAD IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THE FULL SERIES – AND IF YOU HAVEN’T, THEN STOP READING AND START WATCHING RIGHT NOW!]
1. Y’all, I need to see Tami Taylor doin’ her thing in the big leagues. You know she is totally rocking Dean of Admissions.
2. Speaking of, what is high school football like in Philadelphia?! Does it have as much heart as in the South? Probably not, but I’m sure Coach Taylor can change all of that.
3. Where is Landry?!! I’m glad we saw (two seconds) of him in the finale, but I need to know more, and does Crucifictorious have an album out yet??
4. Is Tim just sitting on his land drinking beer in his new house from now on? I need to see that he got a good job and has a life outside of Lyla Garrity.
5. Speaking of Lyla, wait, nevermind. I couldn’t really care less what she’s up to.
6. Did Vince lead the Panthers to another state championship? And where did he end up going to school? And is his sweet mom still doing okay?
7. How are Billy and Mindy handling TWINS? Does she now keep all 3 kids backstage at the Landing Strip during her shifts?
8. Did Matt and Julie really ever get married? Did he at least propose again in a more romantic place than the Alamo Freeze?
9. Just because I can’t even fathom that it’s over. I just need one more season, just one more … I’m not addicted, I swear.
10. Most importantly, I just need more Tim Riggins in my life. Period.
Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.
xo xo
[Read more pop culture posts here.]
60 days.
Y’all, trip planning is hard, and I love it.
In 60 days, husband and I will be embarking on our first European adventure together and I could not be more excited. [London, Paris, Munich + a spontaneous night in Salzburg] (Side note: is it really spontaneous if I’ve already planned it? But I hadn’t originally planned it, so it feels spontaneous!!)
But it’s hard.
If you didn’t know, I’m super planner, especially when it comes to trips. My favorite thing is to find the amazing local restaurants. Food is too good to skimp on when traveling!! But it can get overwhelming fast when planning for a two week vacation in several cities. I’m starting my itinerary spreadsheets now (go ahead, judge) and I’ve taken a lot of recommendations (go ahead, send me more). I’m already thinking about packing, and the shoes I need to buy, and my passport that still has to come in, and the train tickets I need to purchase, and the adapter I can’t forget, and the budget that needs to be solidified, etc. etc.
Like I said, a girl can get overwhelmed.
But I love it.
And like they say, anticipation is half the fun. I’m already learning new things about the cities and their cultures just from reading up on what to do. I seriously get giddy if I think about how much we are going to get to experience together.
When I realize we will land in London on the anniversary of our engagement.
When I realize I will get to eat macaroons at Lauduree.
(and also at home, in my bath, just like Blair Waldorf)
When I realize we will be in Munich for Oktoberfest. OKTOBERFEST!
When I realize our last night will be in this adorable lakeside hotel.
When I realize I’ll get to go to Platform 9 3/4 and take a cliche picture, all the while praying I will somehow end up at Hogwarts.
When I realize I will get to stroll hand-in-hand with my love beneath the glittering Eiffel Tower.
It all sounds magical. And it will be here before we know it. 60 days.
“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.”
xo xo
Discover Arkansas: Stand Up Paddle Boarding
Ever since I heard about stand up paddle boarding a few years ago, it’s been on my bucket list. I have never been into water sports, but I love being in or near the water. I’ve tried surfing several times (fun fact: I went to surf camp in Santa Barbara for a week when I was in middle school) and enjoy it, but it’s still pretty hard. I thought this would be the perfect solution to be on the water, but not too strenuous.
When SUP first became popular it was only on the coast or in bigger cities. I knew it would take a while to come to NWA. I thought I would get an opportunity to try it before it did, but unfortunately did not. Today, husband and I tried it for the first time, and we are HOOKED. It was exactly like I imagined. I felt so at peace on the water, and just fell in love. Don’t get me wrong – it was hard at first. I was so unsure of myself and my “sea-legs” standing up on the board for the first time, but once you get it, you get it, and it’s like you’re walking on water.
We got up early (6am on a Sunday!) and drove about an hour to a section of Beaver Lake near Eureka Springs. We rented the boards through SUP Outfitters. It was the perfect time to be on the lake – there were no boats out yet, it was about 80 degrees and the water was so calm. It was absolutely beautiful. We had so much fun together exploring the lake. There was only one problem … it was too short! We went for an hour and time seemed to run out just as we were getting the hang of it. Next time, we’re planning to go for 2-3 hours and take a little cooler out with us. Who’s ready?!
After our morning on the lake, we headed to Eureka Springs for brunch at Local Flavor Cafe.
[the best appetizer: baked brie + blood orange mimosas]
[huevos rancheros – mine and husband’s favorite]
[cheers to all of our sides of the best cheese grits]
[love these beautiful ladies and all of the adventures we get to go on together! and love that we all wore the same hat!]
xo xo
Read all my Discover Arkansas posts here.
this is real [saturday]
an unvarnished look at my lazy saturday
[no judgment please – you know you have these days too]
8:30am
rolled out of bed, learned how to make aeropress coffee + spent an hour and a half leisurely talking to an old friend about life
10:30am
ZUMBA [the one non-lazy thing I’ve done today]
12pm
showered [only because I was soaked in sweat from zumba], didn’t put makeup on + and put my PJs back on
12:30pm
watched 3 episodes of friday night lights [bawled my eyes out at one episode, The Son], ate some ice cream to console myself
3pm
tried to take a nap, didn’t work out, so turned FNL back on
4pm
decided to get some sunshine, sat on the front porch + read 2 magazines
5:30pm
turned on FNL again for a final episode of the day + some blogging [okay, this might have turned into 2 more episodes]
next up: cooking dinner with the husband, backyard fetch with the pup + ending the lazy, hazy summer day with a movie and wine
xo xo
life lately
{loving this || a wonderful weekend spending time with an old friend}
{drinking this || a sidecar after running 3 miles in a beer run}
{team building like this || from top to bottom: modern mission laser tag with digital media team; aerial yoga with regine’s rangers; lip sync battle at marketing summer outing}
{snuggling with this || adorable six-week old baby everett} 
{celebrating this || 4th of july with my love and family}
xo xo
Here’s Why I’m a Yuccie and You Probably Are Too
YUCCIE: Young, Urban, Creative, Cultured, Intellectual, Entrepreneur
Here’s what I learned this weekend: The Hipster is dead, and the Yuccie is born. And I’m a Yuccie.
First, let’s start with the Yuppie: originally coined in the 80’s, a young, urban professional who has a high-paying job and affluent lifestyle and who’s not afraid to show it.
Then the rise of the Hipster: a subculture of men and women in their 20s and 30s who value independent thinking, counter-culture, creativity and PBR.
And now, the Yuccie: bringing together the successful nature and affluence of a Yuppie and the creativity of a Hipster.
I don’t think there’s been a better term that identifies me and my husband. Continue reading to see why.
21 Things All Yuccies Love
via this Buzzfeed article and this Yuccie checklist
Having a solid opinion about hot yoga – Um, yes. I even wrote a blog post about it once …. Hot Yoga, thank you.
Not being able to watch only one episode on Netflix – The struggle is real.
Taking it personally when someone says they don’t like Beyoncé – How would that even be possible? She’s QUEEN BEY.
Creating their own vacation hashtag on Instagram – I may or may not be known for this among my friends …
Calling guacamole “guac” – Absolutely.
Calling margaritas “margs” – Obviously.
Knowing that guac costs extra – Of course.
Not paying for HBO Go – We just got HBO Go. Meaning we just got someone’s username and password for HBO Go.
Talking about not having cable – And I’ve also written a blog post about this …. Summer Nights + Why You Don’t Need Cable
Getting pissed every year Modern Family wins all the awards – Husband and I say this every.single.year while watching the Emmys.
Thinking about getting a tattoo but never actually getting one because they’re worried they’re going to hate it in a few years OR SAYING “I only want to get a tattoo if it’s meaningful” – While reading this one to Husband, “Omg, they know me so well.”
Waiting in line at food trucks – FOOD TRUCKS ARE THE BEST. < What a Yuccie statement.
Saying they’re “dead” when they’re not actually dead – I can’t even count the times I’ve said this.
Talking about Mercury being in retrograde – HA. I have told anyone who will listen about mercury in retrograde.
Blaming things on Mercury being in retrograde – HA. I have blamed anything possibly on mercury in retrograde.
Talking down to your friend if they don’t know what “bae” means – While reading this one to Husband, “I don’t think you’ve ever done this, but I wouldn’t be surprised if you have.”
Not understanding people who have Androids – Do you know my husband?
Making fun of your friend for having an iPhone 4 – Repeat. Do you know my husband?
Really wants to go to Austin soon because hears it’s incredible – Husband and I talk about going to Austin at least once a month.
Takes boozy painting classes – Currently have 4 paintings from said boozy painting classes in my garage.
Loves Seinfeld even though it went off the air when they were 16 – We JUST started watching Seinfeld…. And we love it…. And it first aired the year I was born….
xo xo
Why I Want to Live in a Small Town, Thanks to My Latest Binge Watches
I know what you’re thinking.
You live in Bentonville, Arkansas. You already live in a small town.
Um, no. Population 40,000 is not a small town. It’s nothing like Dillon, Texas; Bluebell, Alabama; or Stars Hollow, Connecticut.
Which leads me into my three latest binge watches (which got me thinking about small town, usa and why I want to live there):
Gilmore Girls [Stars Hollow, CT] – I re-watched the full series after my Gilmore Girls Day and just finished it about a month ago. Just as good as the first ten times I’ve seen it. Still my all-time favorite show.
Hart of Dixie [Bluebell, AL] – This was my Mille-only binge, until husband started watching and also loved it. Charming, funny and Zoe Hart’s fashion is TDF.
Friday Night Lights [Dillon, TX] – This is my current binge. So much drama, so much Tim Riggins and a new role model – Tami Taylor. I’m LOVING it.
All three of these shows are set in really small towns. [Fun Fact: Gilmore Girls and Hart of Dixie are filmed on the same set] So here are my 8 reasons why I want to live in a SMALL, small town:
1. There’s always THE place everyone goes. See Luke’s Diner and the Rammer Jammer.
2. Everyone knows everyone … and their business. Don’t worry about telling everyone about your breakup. They already know.
3. Everyone goes to all of the town events, because that’s literally all there is to do.
4. And everyone celebrates the events together – the football state championship, the anticipated wedding, etc.
5. There is at least 1 love triangle everywhere you look. There’s so much drama it’s just hilarious.
6. The parties are the best (or the most dramatic, see #5) because the whole town is there.
7. If you don’t go to either church or football games, you’re an outsider. [this one’s just as southern thing]
8. Though sometimes it doesn’t seem like it, when it comes down to it everyone would do anything for each other. Because really, they’re all family.
xo xo
Read my other TV posts here.
Blackberries for Days [Photos + Recipes]
[my bounty]
[skinny blackberry margaritas via – TIP: more tequila needed]
[blackberry & raspberry oatmeal crumble bars via]
[pioneer woman’s blackberry cobbler via]
[M’s blackberry cabernet sorbet via]
[E’s blackberry mojitos via]Photobook: NWA Food Festival
I’ve talked before about how excited I am about all the amazing things that are starting to come to my little hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas – a world-class museum, breweries, stylish new restaurants, a FILM FESTIVAL. Seriously, we’re growing up fast and I love it. We were actually just named one of the newest hipster towns across the US – hilarious, and awesome.
We’ve hosted the LPGA tournament for several years now, but for the first time ever this year we added a food festival at the Walmart AMP. Thursday night was Taste of NWA, showcasing 35 local restaurants featuring the best in southern comfort food. Friday night was a beer and burger fest that we did not attend – mostly because we didn’t have tickets, secondarily I don’t think I could have eaten that much two nights in a row.
We went Thursday night with some friends and had no clue what to expect since it was the first year. We left shocked at how much food and drink we consumed for such an affordable ticket price, and we had so much fun! It was hot. Boy, was it hot, but with a cold drink in one hand and a new food to taste in the other, we could get past the heat.
[one of our first stops – pedal pops. they loved us so much they took a pic and put us on their facebook page and we loved them so much we came back for seconds at the end of the night…]
[scattered throughout the food tents were breweries, wine tastings, bacardi and coke, and whiskey tastings (and some amazing iced coffee from kennedy’s that we really needed by the end)]
[love doing these fun things with husband!]
[and here you go, a picture of [almost] everything I ate. #dontjudgeme by the end we were all so full, but couldn’t stop because we wanted to try everything (which we couldn’t and didn’t). I was definitely in a food coma that night and into the next day, but it was so worth it.]
[end of the night pedal pops again + more beer – things started getting weird]
[wait, this was really the end of the night – the boys doing whiskey shots]
[had such a fun night with these wonderful friends!]
xo xo
Discover Arkansas: Whitaker Point/Hawksbill Crag
“Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
in the heavens.
Through the praise of children and infants
you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?
You have made them a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honor.
You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their feet:
all flocks and herds,
and the animals of the wild,
the birds in the sky,
and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
– Psalm 8
See all my Discover Arkansas posts here.
M. Davis Diary Entry [June 20, 2015]
Sometimes your heart knows something before your head does.
It tugs and pleads and tries to give you all these clues that something is going on up in that head of yours, but you just don’t realize it yet. You think your heart is crazy and your emotions are going wild for no reason at all. There is no logical reason you should be crying this much at the Gilmore Girls finale you’ve seen 10 times before.
Tomorrow is Father’s Day. And as much as I want to think it isn’t affecting me, it is.
This will be the second Father’s Day since my dad passed away. And this one seems harder than the first. Is that weird?
It’s just a made-up day. WHO CARES. Why would I feel any differently on this day than any other day?
Let me tell you when I hate social media – on Father’s Day. It is SO hard seeing everyone post pictures of their dads – throwbacks from when they were little, pics with dad at brunch, pics wishing dad a Happy Father’s Day from afar. It’s just hard to see. And I don’t blame you for posting it. I would be doing the same thing.
This week has been rough. Not for any particular reason, so I thought. I haven’t been sleeping well at night. I’ve been extra tearful. I’ve felt empty and moody and blah. My heart was trying to tell me something that my head hadn’t caught onto yet. I needed to face this. Think about it. WRITE about it, as is my catharsis. I want you guys to know it’s still hard. I want those of you who are also going through this to know I can empathize with you. I really can. It sucks. It really sucks.
Life is just hard. And I know everyone has told us this our whole lives, but there are moments when you really understand that. When something big is going on inside me, I get easily overwhelmed by the little things. Ask husband. I went on a tearful rant today about how it is just too hard to eat healthy, and to stay on an exercise routine, and to save money, and to not be greedy, and to pray more, and to keep the house clean, and to drink less, and to love more. [seriously, it was just like that.] I can’t do it all. And it all seems insurmountable in times like these.
Tomorrow, husband and I are going hiking around the Buffalo River. I’m not going to look at Facebook or Instagram and feel sorry for myself that I don’t have a picture to post. I’m going to focus on the natural beauty that surrounds us. I’m going to pray and reconnect my soul with what it needs. I’m going to soak up the sun, take time to notice the flowers and just breathe.
xo xo
life lately
{drinking this || so much iced coffee}
{dressing up for this || a kentucky derby party}
{eating this || trickdilly tacos}
{enjoying this || my beautiful farmers market flowers}
{celebrating this || our 4th anniversary!}
{working this || a busy week with these wonderful walmart mom bloggers!}
[1 Year Later] What I’ve Learned From Being a Homeowner
[first snow in our home]
I cannot believe it’s been ONE YEAR since we bought our first home – wow! It seems like just yesterday we were giddy beyond belief signing the closing papers, and headed home for our first meal (pizza + wine/beer) sitting on the floor. We walked the house dreaming of the knowns and unknowns to come, excited for it all, and mostly excited to be doing it together! What a monumental step to own your first home with your significant other. We’re putting down roots, planning for a family and a beautiful life together.
I wrote a blog post last May – What I’ve Learned From Being a Homeowner in the First 7 Days. Well, it’s been a year now, and I’ve learned a whoooole lot more.
1. Housewarming parties are always a good idea. I’ll always cherish some of the first memories in our home with our best friends and family. There are still blue feathers to be found.
2. Unless you’re very wealthy, it takes time to decorate a house, and you have to be okay with that.
3. A yard is HARD WORK. Why didn’t anyone tell me about the dandelions, the moles, the stubborn weeds and the cost of a lawn mower?!
4. Speaking of hard work, sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and pay someone to help you. Because we do enough hard work on our own.
5. There should be a “things-you-need-for-your-home-but-you-haven’t-thought-of” kit, including things such as a ladder, water hose, edger, gardening gloves, level, hand vac, etc. etc.
6. Get involved in the neighborhood. Even if it’s just through the Facebook page. You want to know when the neighborhood garage sale is and when there’s been a rash of patio furniture thefts.
7. Even in a new, dream home, there will always be things you wish you could change. Resist the urge to covet. Be content with what you have, because it is such a blessing.
Finally, there’s no place like home.
xo xo
Discover Arkansas: Fayetteville Farmers’ Market
[my first farmers’ market of the season!]
[veggies on veggies on veggies]
[love the live music on each corner]
[stopped in at bouchee bistro for coffee + macaroons on the patio,
then a walk through the anchor – an adorable new home decor store]
[surprise run-in with my sister-in-law!]
[great family saturday morning adventure!]
xo xo
See all my Discover Arkansas posts here.
Book Reviews: Beach House Secrets, Contraband Secrets + Family Secrets
We Were Liars: It seems like decades ago that I read this book, but I still remember very clearly how the ending made me feel. You think this will be an easy, light-hearted read (which it is), but the ending will throw you for a loop like your favorite thriller. You know something’s off while reading, but you just can’t seem to piece it together. I had all these theories, and none of them were fully correct. This is a great book you can read in a few days, and will make you think about the ending for days after.
Grade: A-
All The Light We Cannot See: I read so many reviews on this book and heard so many amazing things, and they were all true. This is a truly beautiful story. Set in WWII, we follow the paths of a young Nazi boy and a young, blind French girl and the fascinating intricacies of how their lives are connected. Though it’s a lengthy book, it kept me interested by switching from his story to hers chapter by chapter. Even if you aren’t typically a historical fiction reader (like me), this is a wonderful read.
Grade: A+
The Best Yes – Making Wise Decisions In The Midst of Endless Demands: Truth be told, I’m actually still reading this book. It’s a great book to keep by your bedside and read a bit here and there between novels. I think everyone can relate to the premise of this book – how to say “the best yes” to what God really wants for your life instead of all the yes-es we say day in and day out that just make us tired and unfulfilled. I’ve been highlighting and taking pictures of my favorite passages in this book, and reminding my people pleasing self that I don’t have to say yes to everything. This would make a great study with a group, or enlightening for people like me.
Grade: A
And The Mountains Echoed: This was actually a spontaneous read, and I’m so glad I read it. Someone recommended it to me on Instagram, then another someone who saw that comment found it in their personal library and loaned it to me. This was another book about paths converging, like All the Light We Cannot See. We follow the lives of several families from Afghanistan to Paris to San Francisco spanning generations. The author is a tremendous storyteller, and I often felt like I was reading short stories within the story. While I enjoyed that, it also proved a little difficult to follow at times. I definitely recommend this book though, especially if you enjoyed the author’s previous works The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns.
Grade: A-
You can read all my book reviews here. What’s your current read?
xo xo
Discover Arkansas: Little Rock, Part 1
I’ve officially started on my Discover Arkansas Bucket List. We spent a wonderful Memorial Day weekend in LR with some close friends, and got to visit some family who were gracious enough to let us stay in their home. Though we didn’t get to do everything on our list, we did ate a LOT. [Spoilers: the following photos may put you in a food coma like they did us]
Note: This is part 1. We have plans to go back in July and will absolutely cross the following off the LR Bucket List: Hike Pinnacle Mountain, Eat at Cotham’s + The Faded Rose.
F R I D A Y N I G H T
ZaZa’s Pizza – The Heights
[We were fortunate enough to be staying with my aunt and uncle who live in The Heights, so a walk to ZaZa’s is always a must on my list]
[The wait for our pizza was 40 minutes, so of course I decided I needed dessert first – Dulce De Leche Gelato]
[The taps were mixed up, so Natalie kept getting the wrong beer … which in turn meant free beer … which I wouldn’t say was a bad thing]
[Finally our pizza arrived, and it was SO worth the wait. First time trying the ZaZa’s Italian and it was delicious]
S A T U R D A Y
[Not Pictured: Josh driving to North Little Rock to get us Mark’s Donuts for breakfast – amazing]
[Spent the morning at the Clinton Presidential Center – where we learned about a lot about Clinton and a little about dinosaurs]
[Next stop: The Flying Saucer because after all that walking around the RiverMarket, we needed none other than carbs + beer]
[said carbs – pretzels, brats + IPA mac and cheese]
[and said beer]
[Not Pictured: Nap time back at the house, followed by a walk around The Heights oohing and aahing over all the beautiful houses]
[Dinner at another one of my LR faves – Local Lime. Six different kinds of salsa, followed by tacos + frozen margs. Not to mention our amazing waiter Kye who sang us show tunes with his BEAUTIFUL voice]
S U N D A Y
Brunch: Loca Luna
[mimosas + breakfast pizza, which we continued to eat on the way home]
[we had a wonderful weekend with these friends we love so dearly!]
until our next adventure! xo xo
Photobook: Bentonville FILM Fest + Fayetteville FOAM Fest
B E N T O N V I L L E F I L M F E S T
What: An inaugural film festival celebrating women and diversity, co-founded by Geena Davis
When: May 5-9
Where: Venues all around NWA
[opening ceremonies at crystal bridges. first photo via bentonville film festival]
[the only movie I got to see during the festival, but it was incredible!]
[movie showing + panel with robert de niro!]
[thursday night baseball game + showing of a league of their own]
[hosts of the baseball game – geena davis + rosie o’donnel. photo via chris davidson]
[volunteering at crystal bridges and got to see some awesome panels]
[closing ceremonies with the husband]
[loved spending time on the blue carpet with kaity + had some awesome celeb sightings! from top: courtney cox, khandi alexander (aka mama pope!), melissa joan hart, soledad o’brien + nick cannon, bruce dern]
F A Y E T T E V I L L E F O A M F E S T
What: A craft beer sampling festival, showcasing 300+ beers
When: May 9
Where: Walton Arts Center parking lot, Dickson Street
xo xo
What I Learned From Hosting My First Dinner Party
It’s hard.
Parties are already hard enough, but add in the dinner part and it’s even harder. I’m not a cook, and never should have attempted to be one. Cooking for two is enough of a chore most nights, so cooking for eight is rough. How do people know when they should start everything so it all comes out at the same time? How do you finish cooking while greeting everyone as they arrive?
I’m the kind of person who wants everything completely done by the time the first person steps in the door, and that is not going to happen with a dinner party.
[Note: I am being a little overly dramatic – everything turned out wonderfully, with no mishaps to speak of. I was more stressed out on the inside, than I was on the outside, which is always a good skill to have.]
Before I share some photos of the evening, let me back up a bit – while in Vegas with the sistahs, we decided to do a family supper club. Each of the four couples hosts once a year, youngest to oldest. We started the tradition and will pass it to Sister E for summer.
When it finally comes back around to us next year, I have it all figured out – not only will we have a porch party again, this time it will be a pizza porch party. One of our favorite foods, and so easy. I can spend more time on the decor, drinks and dessert, which I love, and less on the rest of the menu.
The Location:
Front porch – with folding tables, butcher paper tablecloths + rented chairs
[Without a formal dining room table, or seating for 8, you have to get creative!]
The Menu:
Baked Parmesan Pork Chops
Green + White Asparagus
Crockpot Potatoes
Baby Wedge Salads
Sister Schubert’s Rolls
[Not Pictured: Appetizer – Baked Brie with apples, summer sausage + vintage cheddar cheese]
The Drink:
Sunset Sangria
15 oz. Blanco Tequila
1 bottle of Pinot Grigio
25 oz. Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice
25 oz. Club Soda
1 cup Lime Juice
Mix together. Add ice and large fruit garnishes. Enjoy!
[Tip: Ask every couple to bring a bottle of wine. You supply a signature drink!]
The Dessert:
Pioneer Woman’s Lemon Lime Pound Cake – YUM.
So fresh, moist and very spring-y tasting. Also, goes perfectly with coffee the next morning.
The Guests:
The best part of any event!
The Morning After:
Coffee (and leftover cake) on the front porch, thankful for a wonderful family + the ability to get to host an event with abundant food and drink
Happy Sunday!
xo xo
Work Picturebook: San Francisco
[Day 1]
{Golden Gate Bridge pics are a must, even when you’ve seen it multiple times!}
{walking the streets of Presidio, where I found my dream home, then pizza + burrata at Delarosa}
[Day 2 – Pinterest HQ]
{my job is pretty cool…}
{dinner at an amazing Peruvian restaurant on the water – La Mar}
[Day 3 – San Bruno]
{meetings at Walmart.com}
{having some fun at YouTube HQ across the street}
{YouTube conference room names on fleek}
{so thankful to get to work with some amazing people – Walmart co-workers and partners!}
xo xo
life lately
{enjoying this || an evening on the Pedaler’s Pub patio listening to The Show Ponies}
{oohing and aahing over this || a beautiful remembrance of spring at our family house in Magnolia, AR}
{drinking this || moscow mules with family}
{eating this || (most of it anyway) at Crystal Bridges Wednesday Over Water event}
{celebrating this || a beautiful baby momma-to-be + a dear friend’s birthday}
xo xo
UPDATE: Arkansas Bucket List + Discover Arkansas Series
I had such an overwhelming response to my Arkansas Bucket List post, (thank you, I Love You, Arkansas Facebook page for posting) that I had to share an update.
I’ll be starting a new series on my blog called Discover Arkansas. Each post will highlight pictures and my experiences. Thanks to all of you, my bucket list has expanded tremendously! I’m not sure if I’ll get to all of them this summer, but will certainly keep you updated as I do.
1. Float the Buffalo River
2. Eat a famous hubcap burger at Cotham’s [Scott/LR]
3. See the new Crystal Bridges exhibit, Van Gogh to Rothko [Bentonville]
4. Dig for diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park [Murfreesboro]
5. Climb Pinnacle Mountain [Little Rock]
6. Go to the drive-thru wilderness safari [Gentry]
7. Climb to Hawksbill Craig and take a cliche picture [Ponca]
8. Enjoy an evening at the drive-in movies [Fayetteville]
9. Tour the Ozarks through railway [Springdale to Winslow or Van Buren]
New Additions:
10. Spend the night in a tree house at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge [Eureka Springs]
11. Visit the Elephant Sanctuary [Greenbriar]
12. Float the Mulberry River
13. Visit [Mountain View] – go to the Drive-in and Blanchard Springs Cavern
14. Rivermarket & Heifer Project [Little Rock]
15. Hike to waterfall at Petit Jean State Park
16. Trout fishing on the White River and swimming at Big Spring Park [Cotter]
17. Hike at Painter’s Bluff
To follow along on my journey, make sure and follow my blog via WordPress or email:
I’m excited to explore our beautiful natural state! xo xo
m.davis xoxo 
