Non-GMO, "Morena" Sugar: Zulka Sugar {w/ reviews}

Sugar.

It's in the name of my blog.

But believe it or not, for years I have not paid any attention to the type of sugar options available. It's silly, I know. For someone who shops at three different grocery stores -- because I know what items are the best quality and price and where to find them on what day of the week -- I have never thought twice about what type of sugar I buy.

Summer Reading {w/ life}

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What are you reading this summer?

So far, I've devoured The Fault in our Stars (John Green), The One and Only (Emily Giffin) and Little Earthquakes (Jennifer Weiner).

A Very Vegan Dinner {w/ restaurants}

We have two sets of vegan friends. 

Well neither are completely vegan -- one couple will eat dairy if they're eating out, but is vegan at home. 

The other is vegan 80% of the time, but with a gourmet-style chef for a dad, their cheat items tend to be duck confit and lobster. Quite the way to "cheat" if you ask me. 

pumpkin patches & a winner

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The last few weeks we've been house hunting, which has left little time to enjoy some of my favorite fall activities. Have you had the chance to visit a pumpkin patch, play in leaves or spend the day baking lately? If so, please do tell. I'm living out my autumn dreams through friends and Pinterest. One autumnal thing I have done, is enjoy the most delicious spiked apple cider. Have you tried Smirnoff Kissed Caramel Vodka in hot apple cider? I'm not one for vodka, but boy oh boy this drink sure will get you warm and toasty.  

In other news, we have a winner for the 3-Day Suja Juice Cleanse:

Congrats to Jane in London! I will contact you for your address... expect yummy juice delivered to your door next week.

Suja Juice 3-Day Cleanse

I love juicing fresh fruits and vegetables - whether for breakfast, a post-workout snack or even a healthy dessert. Juicing makes it easy to eat a handful of raw kale with a cucumber and orange, all in one glass.

Sunday Currently Vol. 1 {w/ life}

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Reading The Light Between Oceans and finding myself nervous for what will happen next.

Writing this post and finishing one for tomorrow about juice cleanses.

Listening to the sound of the t.v. my husband is watching. I love spending time with him, even when we are doing different things.

Wearing a grey tunic dress with burgundy leggings. It's starting to feel a little bit cooler around here so I jump at the opportunity to wear anything warm and seasonal.

Drinking chai tea....mmmm.

Feeling warm and snuggly, especially as my pup nuzzles me.

Clicking on recipes for pumpkin everything. I think I will make pumpkin risotto, pumpkin soup and more pumpkin muffins today.

Dreaming about my upcoming trip to Kauai and the relaxation, adventure and fun that will be had.

Linking up with Lauren at Siddathornton.

Inspirational Photo Collage Wall {w/ decor}

We've said goodbye to our house, but I still have projects that I thought would be nice to share here. So bear with me and let's pretend I just finished this project and am a good blogger who posts about it a few days later, instead of a few months. OK, now that we've got that cleared up. 

Recently, I wanted a way to visually display inspiration. Simple words, pretty pictures. I had some blank wall space that could use some life and decided a photo collage would be perfect because....

• Photos could easily be swapped out over time, or by the season. 
• New frames could be added over time, if I wanted. 
• The idea of a collage is feminine and whimsical, but neutral enough for the main room of the house. 

blush. {w/ style}

Light pink, or blush, is often reserved for the early months of spring. But lately I think it looks fantastic for fall.

Falling into Autumn... Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

It’s coming, or it’s already here for many of you. The air is a little crisper. The leaves are beginning to turn. And suddenly cinnamon, cloves and pumpkin are all you can think about.

Autumn. or Fall. Whatever you call it, this cooler season is upon us. 

Boots. Sweaters. Scarves.

Pies. Cookies. Mashed potatoes. Soup. 

Pumpkin patches. Apple picking. Giving thanks. Turkey dinners.

//

Baking is one of my favorite ways to celebrate the cooler months.

These pumpkin muffins sure did hit the spot.

Emerald City Adventures

When I think of Seattle a few things come to mind.

1// Sleepless in Seattle. I adore this movie. I love the sweetness of Meg Ryan's character and how Tom Hanks' character loved his wife sooo much and how they find love with each other. I am a sucker for a good romantic comedy.

2// Boats. I visited Seattle as a child (I was either seven or eight) and we traveled from Seattle to Victoria, Canada with my aunt and uncle on their boat. It was an incredible trip. We explored the port towns and I vividly remember seeing a deer for the first time in my life. There aren't many deer in San Diego.

3// Rain. Of course, an obvious come to mind. Seattle is known for it's rain. But the byproduct of rain is an abundance of green. Everywhere. No wonder it is known as the Emerald City.

House Hunters {w/ life}

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Ideas for decorating my home have been pouring out of my brain like crazy lately.

New color combinations, patterns that captivate my attention but aren't too busy to be vetoed by my other half,  clever tricks and tips for organization, the list goes on.

Husband and I sold our condo in August and are now living in a 5 bedroom, 3 bath house in a great neighborhood.

One thing about that, though. The homeowners - my in-laws - live there too.

Olive Oil or Vino? {w/ travel}

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Olive oil or wine? How does a food blogger choose?

Some of you would say wine without hesitation. The subtle complexities that make their way from the bottle of merlot to your tongue are just too much to deny.

But oh, have you ever tried a good olive oil?

This is just one of the dilemmas I face as I prepare for next week.

Because you see, next week - Friday to be exact - I will attend my first-ever food blogging conference. Eeek!

Devilishly Deviled Eggs {w/ recipes}

The right deviled egg recipe can turn you into near celebrity status in one perfectly planned summer picnic. Ok, maybe that's an exaggeration. But deviled eggs, when done right, are a crowd-pleaser. When wrong, well... you're more likely to become infamous.

Roasted Acorn Squash with Chorizo Sausage and Pineapple Jam {w/ recipes}

I'm not a vegetarian - 

I love bacon.

And a good steak.

And oh boy, a roasted chicken? Yes sir-ee and more gravy please.

- but lately I have been cutting a lot of meat out of my diet. And I like it.  

I used to think that you had to have meat to make it a meal, but there are so many other ways to have a balanced, protein-rich diet.

I have embraced flexitarianism.

It’s like Food Network Star contestant Nikki Dinki says, “I like my meat on the side.”

hellogoodbye {w/ life}

2013 has seen many changes in the With household, most notably, a change of scenery.

Last month we sold our condo. The condo that we spent countless hours renovating. The condo that we bought while engaged, and moved into after our wedding. The condo that saw us laugh, cry, rejoice, mourn and celebrate. The condo that was our first home. 

Needless to say the experience has been bittersweet.   

More changes are ahead. A new home, someday soon hopefully. But for now, we're enjoying this in-between stage of life. 

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Loaded Baked Potato Salad {w/ recipes}

There's something you should know.

I don't like potato salad. 

It's true. I've never cared much for the stuff. At family reunions when my grandma tried to force feed me her famous potato salad, I respectfully declined with excuses of not having enough room on my plate or that I'd have some later. And in instances when excuses weren't accepted (Grandma is very persuasive), I spooned a little on to my plate and ate it. But not willingly.

Adventure is Out There {w/ travel}

Are you a planner when it comes to your vacations? Or do you take spontaneous get-aways? I've always been a planner. As in, tickets are booked 6 months in advance. But sometimes its fun to just get up and go.

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Steven and I recently celebrated our fifth anniversary (June 21). Five years went by incredible fast, and this particular anniversary came up even faster than the others, at least it felt that way. We started talking a few months ago about how to celebrate, but didn't make any plans.

I wasn't sure if I could get away from work since I'm still fairly "new" to my new position and a coworker had already requested time off. We thought about having a "staycation" in downtown San Diego or flying up to Napa for the weekend, but we knew those would be great options because we had already done them. And five years felt like it deserved something original. Something we would remember on our 50th anniversary. A true adventure.

Independence Day Festivities {w/ entertainment}

Heading to a BBQ tomorrow? That's the plan for many Americans. And maybe just now you're realizing that invitation also asked you to bring something to share. Whoops.

Not to worry, here are some simple sides and desserts that are sure to please.

Salted Caramel Butterscotch Pudding

a hidden oasis... {w/ travel}

I know this isn’t a very new trend, but man, succulents are really popular right now.

If you told me this ten years ago I would have chuckled, 

and silently wondered how boring cactus plants could ever be interesting enough to be trendy.

You see, I’ve grown up in Southern California, where cacti and succulents abound.

I never thought of them as beautiful or unique, 

but only as dry, dull and pokey. 

Interesting how opinions can change.

Now I absolutely love them and have half a dozen little pots around my house and backyard. 

I wonder if my opinion of them has truly changed (I am 10 years older now) 

or if I’m just jumping on the bandwagon. 

My thought is probably a little of both. 

But somewhere along the lines of life and trends and style and what is “popular”, 

someone decided that succulents were cool. And that someone was pretty smart.

I Won!

Well folks, I won my first giveaway.

Starbucks and a cute octopus necklace... definitely unique and a fun conversation starter! Thanks Sarah!