Hey everyone! A little exciting news...I'll be a panelist at Blogger Scene this Thursday, January 22! I'm delighted to be joined by a few of my favorite area bloggers, Alicia, Ally, and Cheralee! Come out to The Gryphon to hear us talk about all things blogging for 2015! Tickets get you one free drink and access to a ton of super awesome giveaways. Hope to see you there! Get your tickets here!
Rustic Winter Salad
As the winter months drudge on, it gets harder and harder to pass on the carbs. Lately, all I want to do is curl up in a blanket, eat macaroni and cheese, and wear sweat pants all day. But alas, life doesn't exactly work that way So instead, I've been on the hunt to find and create really tasty healthier alternatives to comfort foods.
This salad is one of my favorites to make any time of year, but especially in the winter. The mix of kale with beets and goat cheese is just magical.
Ingredients:
2-3 medium-sized beets (opt for golden beets if you want to avoid the mess!)
Squirt of lemon juice
A few leaves of kale
Pomegranate seeds
Goat cheese
Olive oil
Instructions:
1. Boil the beets (if you're in a hurry) or roast them (my preference) if you have a good hour to spare (which I typically don't)
2. Massage 2-3 leafs of kale with olive oil and lemon juice. This step is a game changer. I never ate kale raw because the texture is SO rough, and maybe I'm late to the game, but massaging the kale for just a minute changes the kale completely. It's a beautiful thing.
3. Drain the beets, place onto kale, and add pomegranate seeds and goat cheese. Enjoy :)
Free People Sale
It's not very often we see a major sale at one of my favorite stores, Free People. But when we do, you better know I'll give you the scoop on all my faves! Oh and by the way, all sale items are an additional 20% off. Stay on budget and stock up on Free People faves? Don't mind if I do.
Free People Faves
Half Tuck
Photos by Cheralee
I love a good thrift shop find. I donât frequent them as often as Iâd like (the hubby abhors them) but I canât help but stop in every once in a while. You can find SUCH GOOD DEALS. Once, I found a Tibi blouse for $8. True story.
Iâve been really wanting to try the oversized button-up trend, but my hubbyâs shirts looked a bit sloppy on my frame. And I certainly didnât want to pay full price for a trend Iâm not even sure Iâll love a few months from now. I snagged this Theory button-up at a local consignment shop for $10. Yes, you read that right. Ten dollars. I unbuttoned an extra button to give a little sass to the looseness and I really loved the result. Finished off the look with a little half tuck and the prettiest gold necklace from Gorjana.
My subscription with Rocksbox (a site that rents you super popular brands of jewelry) is running out at the end of this month and Iâm terribly sad. Luckily, as a parting gift, theyâre allowing me to share a FREE MONTH with my readers! When you checkout, just use code: julienxoxo. If you love brands like Margaret Elizabeth, Loren Hope and Gorjana, you must check it out.
On Julien: Shirt, Theory (thrifted.) Jeans, NYDJ. Jacket, Calvin Klein. Bralette, Free People Bethesda c/o. Shoes, Tahari via Marshalls. Clutch, South Moon Under (under $50!) Necklace, Gorjana via Rocksbox (get a free month using code: julienxoxo)
10 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues
I struggle in the winter. BIG TIME. The holidays are over, the layers are never ending and itâs only the beginning of frigid cold. Say hello to seasonal affective disorder, my friends. Last year was really hard for me. I slept all the time, ate takeout a ton and gained a good ten pounds. Or more. This year, Iâm determined to make things better. Here are a few tips that have helped me or that I want to try this year.
1. Take time to appreciate beauty.
This might seem silly, ok. But itâs been helping me a lot over the past month when the temps have dropped below 40 (brr!) Iâll take time to consciously appreciate the sunlight rays coming through the buildings as I walk to work. Or Iâll take note of a beautiful photograph I see on Pinterest. When you start to focus on the positive, the negative doesnât have much room to squeeze in, now does it?
2. Get some sun.
Iâm not saying go tanning (although, confession, I did used to do this in college to help my S.A.D.) - but instead, take a mid-day walk. It doesnât have to be long. But just enough to give you that bit of vitamin D your body is craving.
3. Take vitamins regularly.
I am the worst at remembering to take vitamins, but itâs essential to our bodies. I usually take Vitamin C, a womenâs multivitamin and B12 for energy. This year, Iâm going to also try Vitamin D supplements too.
4. Take a vacation to somewhere warm.
I do this every single year. I have to. Even if itâs for a long weekend. JUST DO IT. We usually take our FL vacation sometime at the end of January or February (before the spring break crowds.) For the first day or so, itâs like my soul is unthawing, no joke. But by the end of the trip, I feel like myself again. Itâs a beautiful thing.
5. Eat clean.
I saw this tip from my friend Jaclyn on insta the other day. She also deals with the winter blues and is giving clean eating a try. Eating clean basically means eating more of the good stuff and less of the bad stuff (#rocketscience.) Great foods include fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, farm-fresh eggs, while good foods include whole wheat bread and pasta, popcorn, steel-cut oatmeal, quinoa, brown rice, frozen fruits and vegetables. I think we all know which foods are bad.
6. Limit caffeine intake.
Let me be clear - I am not condoning skipping your mooring cup of joe because itâs not something I would ever do myself. But if youâre downing a cup in the AM, with lunch, with an afternoon snack and around dinnertime, reign it in just a tad.
7. Exercise.
This is the biggest one, and Iâm really talking to myself here. I get so tired after work and my summertime routine of biking after work just isnât happening in the dark. So I need to work on finding a way to stay fit and keep those endorphins up this season. Iâve recently started taking advantage of my gym at work during my lunch hour and I've felt a huge improvement.
8. Donât let the sun dictate your schedule.
This was another great tip from Jaclyn. The sun goes down sooo early, and all of a sudden, Iâm getting home at like 7, eating at 8, and heading straight to bed around 9. Donât get me wrong here - Iâm a huge proponent of sleepâĶbut you gotta live a little too! Step away from your desire to slumber all winter long and spend a little extra time reading your favorite book one evening. Or grab drinks with a friend after work.
9. Pick up a few cute coats and cold weather essentials.
Iâm not saying spend a ton of money here. This one (last seen here) is not only super cute and warm, but itâs also under $80! Pick up some cozy earmuffs and an oversized scarf (love these from Acacia Scarves!) Ever since I started upping my cold-weather fashion game, Iâve felt more apt to leave the house with confidence, knowing that fashion and comfort donât have to compromise.
10. Focus on a passion or learn something new
Iâve found so much joy this season from reading. Iâm not saying Iâm the best reader or the fastest reader, but I love it all the same. Last year, I read about 10 books (although The Goldfinch may as well count as 3 books it was so long) and was really proud of making time for myself to indulge in a great story. I have also gotten into calligraphy (Iâm taking a class on Skillshare) which has been another fun creative outlet for me. Focus on taking time to do things you enjoy (instead of my default plopping down in front of our TV) and youâll see a big difference in attitude this season in yourself.
Those are my best tips - do you have any you think I missed? If so, let me know and Iâll add them to the list!
On Julien: Scarf, Zara (on sale!) Turtleneck, Talbots (old.) Jeans, Not Your Daughterâs Jeans. Shoes, Express. Necklace, Three Jane NY c/o. Ring, Elaine B Jewelry.
Featured
