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Vegan Tzatziki 
Food
Vegan Tzatziki 
April 10, 2015 at 6:08 pm 0

Yes!  You heard that right!!!! I always love a good Gyro but am always so bummed when I can't have the Tzatziki sauce because it has dairy in it!!!!  So I made my own dairy free version and trust me you will want to slather this on everything!!!

Ingredients:

1 cup raw cashews ( soak 2 hrs)

1/2 cup water

1 cup cucumber (grated)

1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil

2 Tbsp lemon juice

2 cloves of garlic

1/2 tsp of fresh dill

1 tsp of chives

Salt and pepper to taste


Directions:

1.  Place already soaked cashews, water, olive oil, lemon juice, dill, chives and garlic in a food processor.  Combine until smooth.

2.  Add in grated cucumber, and pulse a few times to combine.

3. Pour into bowl and Serve!




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Lifestyle
How to: a Housewarming Basket
March 23, 2015 at 3:46 pm 0

We all know the moment when we are invited to a housewarming party and at least for me I want to buy the perfect gift that fits their style and personality!... A gift that they go "OMG" they know me so well!"  Last weekend I was invited to one and all of my friends decided to do one huge basket and all contribute a certain amount and I would go around and put it together!!!  I loved every second of it!!!!!



Items I picked for this particular basket:

1.  A plant-  I chose this orchid because it fits her beachy style and let's be honest who doesn't love an orchid!... You could get flowers but who wants to deal with smelly water and fallen petals!  It came in a different pot but I didn't love it so I went to Pottery Barn and purchased a white and terra cotta distressed pot!

2.  Home Depot gift card- You can't go wrong with this!... How many times have you been moving into a house and made a huge list of items you need from your nearest Home improvement store that someone will have to drop everything and go get?... I would say everytime!

3. A candle- my favorite thing to do when I move into a new home is to unpack everything, making it feel as though I have lived there for years and then light my favorite candle, sit back, have a glass of wine and bask in all my interior accomplishment glory!  

4.  A bottle of their favorite wine and spirits- Find out what they like to drink so when they are unpacking they will have something great to pop open and celebrate their new digs! I picked a bottle of Joel Gott Cabernet Sauvignon  ( one of my favs and absolutely delicious) and an IPA and while your at it throw in some chocolates too!

5.  Something to bake- I don't know about everybody else but the kitchen is my favorite place to be in my house!.. I have the best conversations whilst cooking and having some wine!.. The kitchen is literally my living room!... So add something in the basket that they can bake and enjoy later!.. It makes the house smell amazing and instantly feels like home!

5.  Personal Touch- it's important to know the other persons style and add something that you know they will love and lets them know you get them!... Something that they will stop and catch glimpses of throughout the years and think about how much they are loved!  For us we picked a Nautical knot doorstop!

6.  The "basket"- you want to put everything in  something they can use again and not throw out!... I picked a woven basket that she could use for magazines later or to put some folded throw blankets!  I put some burlap in the bottom so add some height and texture!..If someone is more rustic then you could use a wooden pallet or if they are more French country you could put in a copper bowl!... Bottom line just know them and what would make them happy!

Hope this all helps!!!!


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Page 73 of 365 “Vivienne’s First Birthday Party”
Lifestyle
Page 73 of 365 “Vivienne’s First Birthday Party”
March 15, 2015 at 12:51 pm 0

Since the moment I had our sweet girl I looked forward to planning her Birthday. A moment to celebrate her life and all the beauty she brings to it.  I can't believe how fast the actual day goes just running around, getting stuff ready, stressing out just hoping everything goes as planned.  You however can not plan for the little moments that will become the memories.  I will never forget her face when everyone was singing to her, the cautiousness she took with trying her first piece of cake or the squeals she made while opening her presents!  

We are so blessed to call you ours Vivienne Marni Lakich! We love you more than life itself!



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Homemade 3 ingredient Deodorant
Lifestyle
Homemade 3 ingredient Deodorant
February 18, 2015 at 10:16 pm 1
Okay ladies and gents, I don't know about you but I do not like to put anything in my body or in my body that could cause me to die any earlier (seriously I am freaked out by death)!!!That being said "I decided to make my own deodorant!"... There are so many disgusting chemicals in deodorants out on the market, I am ashamed I didn't think to do his earlier!!!! It is seriously so simple I can mix it up in 2 secs!!!! Ingredients: 1/4 cup baking soda 1/4 arrowroot flour 5 Tbsp coconut oil Directions: 1. Heat up coconut oil till melted. 2. Combine arrowroot flour and baking soda in a container of choice. 3. Add coconut oil to dry ingredients!!!! Voila!!!! You have yourself homemade deodorant!!!! Amazing! For fun: Try adding in essential oils and see if you come up with a scent you like!
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Potato, Leek and Corn Chowder with Bacon
Food
Potato, Leek and Corn Chowder with Bacon
February 18, 2015 at 5:57 am 0
I have been on a soup kick lately which is weird because it's been like 80 degrees in Southern California! I just imagine I am at a cabin, we just get done playing outside in the snow and we have a huge pot of chowder on the stove that is ready to be enjoyed!! A girl can dream! What is so great about soup is you can start out with a great base and then just experiment with what ingredients you want to add! The possibilities are endless! Ingredients: 6 cups chicken broth 1 shallot finely chopped 1 leek roughly chopped (make sure to rinse well to get sand out) 1 cup of full fat coconut milk 5 pieces of paleo bacon chopped 1/2 cup of frozen corn 8 red potatoes diced 2 garlic cloves minced 2 Tbsp olive oil Salt and pepper to taste Green onion for garnish Directions: 1. Cook bacon in pan on medium heat till brown and crispy. Remove from pan and place on paper towel to soak up grease. Drain grease from pan and add 2 Tbsp of olive oil. 2. Put red potatoes, leeks, corn and shallots into pan and cook till translucent. Then add garlic cook for about 5 min on medium heat. 3. Add chicken broth and bring to a boil, once it's boiling simmer for about 30-35 min. 4. Add bacon back into pot along with the full fat coconut milk and simmer for 5 min. 5. Garnish with a little green onion.
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Page 46 of 365 Vivienne is 11 mos!
Lifestyle
Page 46 of 365 Vivienne is 11 mos!
February 18, 2015 at 5:40 am 0
We loved having a three day weekend with Daddy, and what made it even more special was Vivienne turning 11 months!... I can NOT believe it!.. My baby is getting so big and just has the cutest personality! She brings such joy to our lives and anybody that crosses her path!

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Paleo Chocolate Donuts with Caramel Glaze
Food
Paleo Chocolate Donuts with Caramel Glaze
February 16, 2015 at 5:21 am 0
I LOVE donuts!!!....I could literally have donuts as my dessert all the time! When I came across Elana's Pantry Chocolate Donut recipe I knew I had to try it!!!! I did swap out the maple syrup for honey but kept everything the same. I have made Babycakes donuts before and those are more of a cake like donut consistency which I also love. These are more of a cupcake consistency, which is a good alternative as well! Ingredients for donuts: 1/4 cup coconut flour 1/4 raw cocoa powder 1/8 tsp salt 1/2 tsp baking soda 3 eggs 1/4 cup coconut oil 1/3 cup honey 1 Tbsp vanilla extract Ingredients for caramel glaze: 1/4 cup full fat coconut milk 1/2 cup coconut sugar 2 Tbsp water 1 Tbsp vanilla extract Directions for donuts: 1. Preheat the oven to 350F and grease a standard donut pan generously with coconut oil. In a medium bowl, whisk together the coconut flour, cocoa powder, sea salt and baking soda. Add in the eggs, coconut oil, honey, and vanilla and whisk again until thoroughly combined. 2. Transfer the batter to a plastic storage bag, and snip off one corner of the bag with scissors, to create a “piping bag.” Pipe the batter evenly into the six donut wells. 3. Bake the donuts at 350F for 18-20 minutes, until the dough has risen and is firm to the touch. 4. Allow the donuts to cool for 15 minutes, then gently remove from the pan to cool completely on a wire rack. Directions for caramel glaze: 1. Add water and coconut sugar to a pan and bring to a boil over medium heat. 2. After it is boiling add in coconut milk and vanilla. Bring to a boil and stir constantly for 10 min. The caramel will start to thicken. 3. Place cooled donuts on plate and drizzle caramel glaze on top!

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Bacon and Shrimp Corn Chowder
Food
Bacon and Shrimp Corn Chowder
February 8, 2015 at 7:21 pm 0
There is nothing I love more than taking a recipe and making it healthy! This recipe originally called for butter and heavy whipping cream... Big no no's in this house!... I decided why not just take out the butter and use olive oil, and take out the whipping cream and use organic coconut milk instead! So easy and trust me you don't miss the dairy! Ingredients: 4 slices of paleo bacon 1 lb shrimp deveined and peeled 3 garlic cloves 1 onion finely diced 2 tsp smoked paprika 1/2 tsp dried oregano 1/2 tsp dried basil 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes 4 cups chicken stock 2 cups frozen corn 1 bay leaf 1/4 cup full fat coconut milk unsweetened Parsley for garnish 2 Tbsp olive oil Directions: 1. Heat a large pot on medium heat. Cook bacon till its brown and crispy. Remove from pot and drain bacon fat. 2. Add olive oil to pan and cook shrimp until pink, takes about 2-3 minutes.. No more otherwise you will end up with rubber shrimp. 3. Add garlic and onion and cook till translucent about 2-3 mins as well. Stir in paprika, oregano, basil and crushed red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 4. Whisk in chicken stock, corn and bay leaf. Bring to a boil and reduce to simmer about 15 min. Discard bay leaf and add the full fat coconut milk. 5. Take an immersion blender and purée. Garnish with shrimp and bacon. Top with a little parsley.. And serve it up. For those that eat bread, try serving in a bread bowl! Can you just imagine the insane deliciousness!!!!
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Valentine’s Day gift ideas
Lifestyle
Valentine’s Day gift ideas
February 7, 2015 at 6:00 pm 0
Valentine's Day is just around the corner so I put together a few things I wouldn't mind receiving!... And figured someone else might like to send this list to someone who may need some ideas as well!!!

IMG_6856.JPG 1. Soy blend Candle-Champagne-$24 I mean a candle that smells like Champagne.. I'm in! 2. Fresh bouquet of beautiful flowers I don't love receiving flowers all the time but a bouquet of my favorite flowers on Valentine's Day!... Priceless!!! 3. Jennifer Meyer mini heart ring-$275 Who doesn't love a stacking ring? ....and honestly what a great reminder all year that someone cares a lot about you! 4. Eberjey heathered cropped pajama pant-$69 Okay for me it's nice to get lingerie but let's be honest that's more of a present for our significant other!... You want to get me something I want, get me some cozy pjs that will help me slip right off to sleep and don't leave me freezing!
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Page 32 of 365 Vivienne’s  first year pics
Projects
Page 32 of 365 Vivienne’s first year pics
February 6, 2015 at 3:55 pm 0
Let me just start out by saying we are not photographers, we are two parents who didn't want to spend a ton of money on pictures! I knew I wanted to do studio type pictures because I wanted the images to be all about her not a background. I wanted to be able to look back and see her personality and be able to remember all her little quirks! Like she loves to scrunch up her face, she claps all the time when she feels like she accomplished something and she can't stand headbands. Case in point the sad face picture when I put it on her! I mean that stuff is priceless and I didn't want to put a time limit on capturing those moments and I didn't think it would happen in a strange place with someone else taking her pictures!...So we said "let's do this"! We rented some lighting equipment , bought a white backdrop and called it good! We had so much fun and it was nice because we weren't on a time restriction with Vivienne, we could do some photos and then let her rest! It was perfect and made for a melt down free photoshoot!!!! Here are some of our pictures!!!!

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