Throwback Thursday - Catalina Island


Throwback Thursdays (a.k.a #tbt) are some of my favorite pictures to go through on Instagram.  I have yet to post one, but I thought it would be fun to do so here on my blog.  It was a bit hard to decide which memory to share but I settled with our trip to Catalina Island from two years ago.  This little island quickly became one of my favorite places to visit and now holds a very special place in my heart.


After a very demanding and stressful couple of months, I am beyond ready to be magically transported back to this little island.  I experienced some of the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets I have ever seen.  Keep scrolling and you will see....



The villa was quite spacious with lovely french doors leading to the balcony.  Upon arriving, we immediately noticed candles lit all around the place.  The placed screamed romance...all we were missing was a bottle of champagne and rose pedals on the bed, hehe. 



This trip was an all R & R mini vacation.  Maybe that is why it was just perfect. 


Sunrise

 See what I mean?

Sunset

Just looking at this beautiful sunset makes me feel at peace (again).  This mini-vacation allowed us to be still for a moment and reflect on the God who made and gave us life.  Enjoying this moment without an agenda of places to go to or people to see.  God is truly wonderful!

 



The best part about this trip was spending it with my wonderful husband.  How cute is he with that smile, huh?


I hope to go back soon, like really really soon!  Do you have a place you wish you could visit this very moment?  Maybe it's a place you've never been to or one that holds a special place in your heart, just like Catalina Island?

I hope you have a fantastic day and an even better weekend.

Until next time,
Karina

Salad in a Jar


I hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!  My husband and I took today off from work and truly enjoyed having that extra time to spend with each other.  We started our day with some  protein pumpkin pancakes (recipe here) then headed to the theater to watch Iron Man 3 (loved it!).  After that we went to our local bookstore where we spent a couple hours browsing through some of our favorite magazines, and then concluded our date with some delicious sandwiches from a local shop.  What a blessing it was to take time off to recharge and relax. 


We were blessed with absolutely wonderful weather.  It was perfect!  I so wish it was like this every single day, but so much for wishful thinking.   According to the Weather Channel, we will be enduring 100 degree weather sometime next week, yikes!  Oh, and speaking of hot summer days, I tried an idea I found on Pinterest a few weeks back.  Salad in a jar.  If you are a salad enthusiast like me, then you will understand my excitement.  Besides, anything in a mason jar is way cuter. :)


I was intrigued by the concept, yet it took me a while to actually try it because I was a bit very skeptical on whether the ingredients (especially the lettuce) would stay fresh for a whole week.  One day while trying to find new lunch recipes for work that would help keep our grocery budget under control, we decided to give this a go.  By the way, if any of you have any tips on how to save money on groceries, please feel free to leave your tips in the comment section below.  We can't seem to find the magic formula. 


I even tried planning my meals - here is my proof.  Okay, back to the subject at hand, the salads were not only easy to assemble but they lasted all week.  The best part about the salads is how versatile they are.  I made mine with quinoa, egg whites, garbanzo beans, cherry tomatoes, black beans, romaine lettuce and spinach, and my dressing consisted on lemon mixed in with balsamic vinegar.  They were so good!   I added grilled chicken to my husband's salads and he loved them as well.  I have tons of different ingredients I want to add to mine next, such as grilled veggies with some nuts for a little crunch. 

Please keep in mind that how you layer your salad is key for this to work.  The last thing you want is to open your jar and realize that your leafy greens went from fresh and crispy the night before to soggy and not so appetizing the next day.  If you follow this guide, you will have fresh and ready to eat salads all week long.
  • Salad dressing
  • Grains 
  • Hard veggies
  • Protein
  • Leafy greens
When ready to eat, simply shake the jar to incorporate the dressing well into the other ingredients and pour into a bowl.  Voila! 

Let me know if you have tried or plan to try this salad in a jar concept.  As always, I would love to hear all about what combinations worked best for you!

Until next time,
Karina

What She Wore


Hi!

It's been a while, right?  I know!  Although I haven't posted on here for a while, I have been working behind the scenes to give this blog a little makeover.  If you've visited my blog before you may have noticed the new design.  What do you think?  Do you like it? It's still a work in progress but I like what I see. :)

This next post is different from what I've shared in the past, but I thought it would be fun to share some ideas of the types of outfits I wear to work.  I work in an office environment, so I try to keep it as professional as possible Monday through Thursday, but kick it down a notch or two for casual Fridays (my favorite!).  Unfortunately, I wasn't blessed with an eye for fashion so I quickly learned to be resourceful and "borrow" ideas from the experts. :)  I like to wear pieces that can be easily paired with basics, so that means lots of neutrals!  I don't have a set style as I like to wear pieces that are comfortable yet versatile. 

By the way, please excuse the bad quality pictures (these were taken with my iTouch).

 

Skirt: J.Crew
Top: Ann Taylor
Shoes: Target black pumps


Top: Forever 21
Skirt: Macys
Shoes: Target 
Watch: Guess


Top: Unknown (bday gift)
Jeans: Express
Shoes: Target
Nude belt: Target


Top: Express
Blazer: H&M
Jeans: 7 For All Mankind
Shoes: Target 
Watch: Guess 
Bracelet: Express

I hope you had a great weekend!  I can't hardly wait for the holiday weekend coming up.  Do you have any special plans?  My husband and I are planning a trip to the beach, so I am beyond excited for a day of relaxation and delicious food!

Until next time,
Karina
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