Quinoa and Kale Salad

It's difficult to eat well all the time, but when you find a meal that's healthy and delicious you hold onto it for dear life. That's how I feel about this Quinoa and Kale Salad. Filling, tasty, and super duper healthy. If you don't want to make it on your own, stop by LGO and pick one up to go!

QUINOA AND KALE SALAD
2/3 c. Kale, shredded

1/2 c. Quinoa, cooked & chilled

1 tsp. Garlic, minced
1/4 c. Grapes, sliced
3 T. Red Bell Pepper, chopped

1 T. Sunflower Seeds

1/4 c. Reggiano & Manchego Cheese, shredded

Light Vinaigrette Dressing

Add garlic to cooked quinoa and chill. Toss in grapes and bell peppers to chilled quinoa. Layer kale on the bottom of serving dish, place quinoa mixture over kale, top with cheeses and sunflower seeds. Select a light dressing to serve on the side. Bon appetit!

My Favorite T's

It's not easy to find t-shirts that fit well. Boxy shaped t's aren't flattering, skin tight shirts are uncomfortable, so I prefer shirts with more of a slender fit on the sides to complement my figure. I've searched high and low, purchased and returned many shirts, but the picks below have proved worthy of everyday wear and are at the top of my list.

1. The Plain T. +Target. At under $10 this shirt can't be beat. Available in a variety of colors, I own at least five different shades. I prefer v-neck, but scoop neck is also available. Loose around the tummy and more fitted on the top help with appearing more feminine than a traditional t-shirt.

2. The Graphic T. +J.Crew Factory. I love the slim sides of these J. Crew shirts. Absolutely flattering and fun prints liven things up a bit. J. Crew can be a little spendy, but the factory store offers discounts with a slightly different style. A worthy investment for comfortable staples in your wardrobe.

3. The Fitted T. +Banana Republic. This dressier shirt is classy and comes in a variety of colors. It's perfect to tuck in with slacks, skirts, and dresses up jeans. The satin edging around the collar adds the right amount of detail and looks lovely with a statement necklace. This is my favorite shirt for work, hands down.

Salvation Outdoor

We recently moved to downtown Phoenix and love it. There is so much to do. We're central to restaurants, museums, sporting events, and tons more. It can be a hassle to drive everywhere so we decided we need to join the throngs of peeps who ride bikes.

A new bike isn't cheap, so we checked out a place called Salvation Outdoor that has used outdoor equipment. We got an awesome deal, and the guy who runs the place is friendly and helpful. We spent about $300 for two bikes, a bike rack for the car, a basket, and a lock. If you're looking for camping gear, kayaks, fishing equipment, etc. take a road trip to Salvation Outdoor. You might find just what you need and save a ton of cash in the process. Cha-ching.

May Birchbox Review

Another month, another +Birchbox! This box was definitely summer themed. We're gearing up for 90 straight days of 100+ temps in Phoenix (heaven help us), so yes, I can use some sunscreen and lip balm. Thanks for helping a sista out BB.

ABOUT THE BOX: For those of you who haven't heard, Birchbox is a monthly subscription service that sends samples of products for $10/month ($20 for men). Fill out your profile so they get an idea of what you like, then patiently await your delivery. Earn points toward free products by referring friends and writing reviews. Easy, fun, and something to look forward to each month. Use this link to try it out.

Caudalie, Overnight Detox Oil. I grew up in humidity and rarely used lotions, but now I live in the desert and my skin gets PARCHED. Really, it's dying of thirst. I have used oils before and they're a nice change from heavy lotions. This one has a scent to it which I wasn't a fan of, but overall I was pleased with the results. If you want to try an oil I suggest Josie Maran Light Argan Oil. A little goes a long way.

Pixi, Shea Butter Lip Balm. I have a thing for lip balm (see here). Pixi has fun packaging and is a nice moisturizing choice. It's tinted and the shade I was sent is quite vibrant, but still works. I have plenty of lip balms on hand and I'm not quite convinced yet this is better than those.

Supergoop!, Everyday SPF 30. This sample size is handy-- love that. I typically use SPF 15, so I wasn't crazy about 30 but occasionally it's needed. As far as the sunscreen itself it has a subtle tea tree oil scent and isn't moisturizing but applies smooth and light. Not bad.

Whish, Shave Crave Shaving Cream. I don't use shave cream, but maybe I should. I just see it as another bathroom accessory where soap will get the job done. The scent here is lovely, but I noticed a waxy feeling after shaving my legs and I felt like the cream was clogging my razor. Not sold.

Lifestyle Extra
SmartyPants, All-in-One Gummy Vitamins. I could do without these. Package directions say to eat 6 per day. No thanks, I'll just swallow my single multivitamin and call it good. The taste is nice but it's overpriced. Skip it.

Overall, great value for $10 and glad I got to try out some new stuff. Keep 'em coming, Birchbox.

Aunt Gwen's Peach Pie

My Aunt Gwen is a fabulous cook. She taught me how to make my grandma's fondant chocolates and shared other great recipes for fudge, caramels, and mud pie. One of my family's favorite recipes is her peach pie. It's different from a traditional pie in that it doesn't have a top crust, uses almond extract, and there aren't any spices. We had more than enough peaches from our trip to the Schnepf Farms Peach Festival so I made the pie and was surprised with how well in turned out! It's simple to put together, but it takes a bit of time for the pie to set up. Here's what you need:

Aunt Gwen's Peach Pie

1 pie crust, baked to package directions
3 large peaches, sliced
2 large peaches, mashed
4-5 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. water
1/2-1 tsp. almond extract
2 Tbsp. butter

In glass pie pan, bake pie crust according to package directions. Layer sliced peaches on top of baked crust. Set aside. In a bowl, mash 2 large peaches. On stove top combine mashed peaches, cornstarch, and sugar. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly until mixture thickens and bubbles. Remove from heat and stir in almond extract and butter until melted. Pour mixture over sliced peaches in pie crust. Chill until set. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream. (Note: Almond extract can be overpowering. Experiment until you find the amount you prefer).

Book Review: Bossypants

Bossypants has been a best-selling book and was highly suggested, so I picked up my Kindle to try it out. I didn't know much about Tina Fey before the book, I only know slightly more now, but enjoyed the easy read. She and I were meant to be brunette soul sisters. She's a wise-cracking, witty, tell-it-like-it-is kind of gal and I can appreciate that. She's just likable, gosh darn it.

There are so many good one-liners in her book, like "Gay people don't actually try to convert people. That's Jehovah's Witnesses you're thinking of." One chapter is devoted to her father and it's perfect. She quotes Colin Quinn after he meets Don Fey: "Your father doesn't f#$%*@# play games. You would never come home with a shamrock tattoo in that house." If you enjoy a nice chuckle every now and then she can deliver. I may even watch an episode of 30 Rock. Grade: B+

Schnepf Farms Peach Festival

Yes, I've had the song in my head all week. "Going to the country, gonna eat a lot of peaches." Spring is lovely in Phoenix. You can go for a hike or lay by the pool since the weather is always perfect. There are loads of events in the area this time of year including the Schnepf Farms Peach Festival in Queen Creek (just across the road from the Olive Mill). Each year Schnepf Farms hosts the event with carnival rides for the kids, peach pancakes, live music, and opens the orchard for the public to pick juicy, sweet peaches.

It gets pretty crowded at the festival so early morning is ideal if you don't want to push through crowds. We stocked up on the $2/lb peaches and they are quite delicious! We've made peach cobbler, peach pie, and there may be peach jam in our future. Schnepf Farms is the largest peach grower in Arizona and the peaches are pesticide free and organic. The festival ends May 18th, but UPICK lasts through the month of May!

Picking the Right Women's Jeans

Ladies,

We need to have a heart-to-heart discussion about your derriere. I've seen too many women waltzing around with bedazzled butts and I can't keep quiet any longer. I'm not innocent myself, I was known to wear some obnoxious jeans in the past, but I've matured and am here to help you do the same. It's not so much about the brand of jean, but more the design on the back pockets, as well as the fit. Are you 25+? Here's an example of pockets you should stay very, very far away from:

The fit on these pants is actually quite nice, and the pocket placement is flattering. But the sparkles, thick threading, and cry for attention is something you should walk away from. Would Kate Middleton wear these jeans? Stay classy, not trashy. More often than not a plain pocket is preferred.

Picking out the right fit can be a challenge. The chart below shows the majority of options that are out there right now. I personally lean toward skinny, straight, and cropped fits for my body. I'm 5'4" and slender, so these work for me. The cropped pant could make me appear shorter than I already am, but paired with heels they'll be just fine. Always purchase denim with stretch. It does wonders for comfort.

Below is a list of brands I've owned and would recommend. They typically have fairly plain pockets and fit nicely. On the affordable end I buy Cello -- around $30, or even less at Ross Dress for Less (be careful, this brand may have hideous pockets, too. I have purchased plain skinnies). The others may be pricey, but you can find discounts at TJ Maxx, Nordstrom Rack, or outlet stores. A pair of nice jeans is worth the investment.

Banana Republic//Cello//Hudson//J Brand//J. Crew//Joe's//Paige

Wisdom from Hollywood

Occasionally there's a line in a movie or book that sticks with you, or causes you to think about a situation a bit differently. Here's to starting out Monday the right way!

The Best Eyelash Curler

Since I first started wearing makeup I thought my lashes weren't capable of keeping a curl. I used a standard Revlon curler that I would heat up with my hair dryer to give my lashes a lift that only seemed to last 2-3 hours. I tried different mascaras to see if that would affect the staying power. It didn't. I determined the lack of lash lift was the world's way of dishing me bad karma. It was a real narcissistic problem of mine. I couldn't figure it out. I was on the hunt for the best eyelash curler.

I did a bit of research and stumbled upon the Shu Uemura. It's rated the #1 lash curler in many beauty reviews so I wanted to try it. I found it on Amazon for $14. It really doesn't look like anything special, and when I first used it I only noticed a slight difference in its handling compared to a cheap curler. The result: my lashes stay curled ALL DAY! Not just a couple hours. I was overcome with joy on this discovery. I've been using it for about two weeks now and I get the same results every day. I do curl my lashes before I apply mascara, and then again after (wipe it up after so it doesn't get the gunky buildup). But no more hair dryer heating required!

80's Workout Playlist

If I don't have music playing, my runs aren't likely to last long. I need a distraction to keep myself going so my body doesn't realize I'm trying to whip it, whip it good. Playlists on my iPod are plentiful, but one of my favorites is "80's ADD". Try it out for size. Take it for a stroll around the block in your leotard, leg warmers, and sweatbands. A few tips before downloading the music: 1) Look for the shortest version of the song. 2) A remix might be nice to change things up. 3) Listen to it before you purchase.

80's ADD
a-ha, Take On Me (1983)
Escape Club, Wild Wild West (1989)
Wham! Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go (1984)
Whitney Houston, I Wanna Dance With Somebody (1987)
Duran Duran, Hungry Like the Wolf (1982)
Blondie, Call Me (1980)
Young MC, Bust A Move (1989)
Loverboy, Working For The Weekend (1981)
Michael Jackson, Beat It (1983)
George Michael, Faith (1987)

Honorable Mention:
1980: Queen, Crazy Little Thing Called Love
1981: Hall & Oates, You Make my Dreams Come True
1982: The Cars, Shake It Up
1983: Michael Sembello, Maniac
1984: The Pointer Sisters, Jump (For my Love)
1985: Glenn Frey, The Heat Is On
1986: Whitney Houston, How Will I Know
1987: Salt-N-Peppa, Push It
1988: Techtronic, Pump Up The Jam
1989: Tone Loc, Wild Thing

What to watch?

Mulling over what to watch? Let us give a few suggestions. Here's a list of shows to add to your Netflix queue (or Amazon Prime Instant Video, or any other video service out there).

VICE. TV news series on HBO. Like 60 minutes? This is kind of like that, but on steroids. Unbelievable news stories from around the world. VICE was the only TV crew allowed to enter North Korea to film Dennis Rodman on his trip there. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. A-typical newscasters add a young, hipster vibe to reporting and narrowly escape dangerous situations. Personal note: Season 2 just started. Real eye-opening stuff here.

Blackfish. Documentary film. Tillikum, a Sea World performing orca whale, has killed three individuals during his captivity. These deaths have prompted ongoing court cases between Sea World and OSHA. Trainer interviews and video footage provide a compelling case for removing killer whales from captivity. Personal note: I won't ever go back to Sea World. I didn't enjoy it the first time anyway.

The Newsroom. TV series on HBO. Fictional political drama based on actual news events. The show chronicles behind the scene events of the TV network ACN. Will McAvoy, the head news anchor, and his staff face ethical challenges with their own life conundrums in the mix. Personal note: This show is favorite of mine. Who knew Jeff Daniels had this in him? After seeing Dumb and Dumber I wouldn't have thought so. Fantastic cast. Produced by Aaron Sorkin of The West Wing.

Shameless. TV series on Showtime. A Chicago family learns how to survive not-so-everyday life with(out) their drunk father, Frank Gallagher, who's a low-life, spend every dime they have, kind of guy. Fiona, the oldest of the six siblings, leads the pack in the unruly adventures of this poverty stricken family. Personal note: This show isn't for everyone. Nudity. Violence. Drugs. Not exactly uplifting stuff, but holy moly it's a wild, entertaining ride.

Do you have any show suggestions for us? Report in the comments below to let us know your favorites.