28 Things to Do in February (Quarantine Edition)
Hello February! For me, the entire month of February is Valentine\’s season. So this month\’s line-up of things to do is all about finding small ways to romance the everyday. Get the most out of this month with fragrant flowers, good food, and of course adventure.
28 Things to Do in February
1. Start the month off with a fresh bouquet of flowers.
2. Love the Godiva Fruit Skewers? Make copycat Godiva Fruit Skewers at home!
3. Curl up with a good book and bowl of 1950\’s pink popcorn.
4. It\’s National Soup Day today. Try your hand at a new soup recipe or go with a classic favorite. I am thinking about making a chowder.
5. Make a DIY Valentine\’s bouquet. Here is one that is quick, easy, and my favorite.
6. Support a local restaurant and get takeout.
7. It\’s Superbowl Sunday! Make some game days snacks for Superbowl 55.
8. Head outside for a snowy adventure.
9. Happy National Pizza Day! As if we need a holiday to order pizza. Shake things up, and order pizza from someplace new, or make your own at home.
10. Sweeten the day with homemade chocolate-covered strawberries.
11. Pamper yourself with Valentine\’s Day mani and pedi.
12. Celebrate the Chinese New Year with some delicious Chinese takeout. I might even make some homemade eggrolls.
13. Make a Valentine\’s themed breakfast (think heart-shaped pancakes and fruit), light some candles, turn on a movie and enjoy breakfast in bed.
14. Happy Valentine\’s Day! Do something nice for yourself. Despite being single I have always loved Valentine\’s Day, it\’s my favorite holiday and I completely embrace it. Whether you\’re single or in a relationship romance the day with chocolate, flowers, and everything pink!
15. Write five things you love about yourself on a sticky note and place it on your mirror as a reminder every day.
16. Ever since I went to New Orleans around Mardi Gras I have been in love with everything about it. Don\’t forget to order a King Cake to enjoy today! Or you can make your own King Cake.
17. It\’s Random Act of Kindness Day! No matter if you do something large or small, find a way to be the light in someone else\’s day.
19. Continue Valentine\’s Day festivities and make something sweet for dessert. I am going to make these cream puffs.
20. Today is National Love Your Pet Day. Please, I need a day for this. I love up on Jackers every single day. If you have a dog I suggest making that little cute Jack\’s favorite dog treats.
21. Igloos are still popular, and the perfect way to dine outdoors and stay cozy.
22. Go ice skating!
23. Celebrate National Banana Bread Day with a delicious homemade loaf.
24. National Tortilla Day? You don\’t have to tell me twice. I\’ll be making loaded nachos today.
25. Visit a town you haven\’t been to before and play tourist.
26. Make some simple DIY heart chocolates.
27. Head to your local zoo, because today is National Polar Bear Day!
28. It\’s National Floral Design Day! Pick up some assorted blooms and assemble a bouquet yourself. Why not make a floral cake?
25 Ways to Nourish Your Mind, Body, and Soul
We all can agree that 2020 was a trying year, and you had to learn to make the best of it. Jack and I found ourselves filling our cup with over 100 micro-adventures, and unfortunately, I found myself indulging more than I should have.
This year, I am making simple lifestyle changes that focus on things of benefit first. Instead of living the life of indulgences I am going put things of importance first, so I stop craving the things I shouldn\’t put in my body (sugar). My bff is a trainer and has given me a lot of great ideas on how to really live my best life. I started writing down ways that I could really live my best life this year and nourish my mind, body, soul, and spirit and thought I would share it with you.
25 Ways to Nourish Your Mind, Body, and Soul
1. Water before anything else
2. Self-control before self-indulgence
3. Greens before colorless food
4. Smaller portions before overindulging
5. Local markets before supermarkets
6. Good fats before fried
7. Fruit before sweets
8. Real food before junk food
9. Cooking before eating out
10.Veggies before fruit
11. Sweating before laziness
12. Stretching before sitting
13. Sleep before social media
14. Outdoors before indoors
15. Passion before following the crowd
16. Go with the flow before reluctance
17. Saving before spending
18. Relax before over-scheduling
19. Tidy before clitter
20. Present before future
21. Positivity before negativity
22. Activities before procrastination
23. Love before hate
24. Confidence before weakness
25. True love before convenience
Michigan Winter Inspiration
Usually, I love the cozy calm that January brings. There is just something magical about the stillness of the start to the winter season. I have learned to enjoy simple luxuries at home like fresh flowers, mulled hot apple cider, and crockpots filled with soups and chili. Aside from comfy cozy moments at home with Jack, I have been getting out in nature whenever I can.
Friday Favorites 1.22.20
Happy Friday! Anyone else super excited it\’s finally Friday? January is moving in slow motion, and the lack of snow isn\’t making things better here. This week some snow fell, then two days later it was 40 degrees and it all melted. On a positive note, we did get some gorgeous sunsets! Despite temperatures being freezing this weekend, I cannot wait to get out in nature! I am also going to work on a vision board. What are your weekend plans?
Follow along with my weekend adventures on Instagram.
I started posting my workouts and what I am eating on my fitness Instagram.
Have you watched the trailer for Barb and Star Go To Vista Delk Mar?
If you love Wicked the Musical I highly recommend Leanne Hainsby\’s Wicked Peloton ride!
Dinner and a movie: Disney\’s Ratatouille, and homemade ratatouille.
Have you tried Maui Gold Pineapple before? If not, I highly recommend it!
How are you doing on your winter bucket list? I am not doing well, thanks to the lack of snow.
How To Make Ratatouille
Since I currently cannot travel, I have been bringing food from around the world to my kitchen. This weekend I was watching Ratatouille on Disney Plus, and it inspired me to make this French dish at home. I couldn\’t believe how easy this ratatouille was to make, so I had to share this healthy baked ratatouille recipe with you.
What is ratatouille?
Ratatouille is a French dish that traditionally has eggplant, tomatoes, and other veggies.
Are you ready to learn how to make ratatouille? This baked ratatouille dish may look fancy, but it\’s really easy to put together and packed with veggies. Serve it as a side to fish or chicken or make it the star of a vegetarian meal. No matter how you serve it, I think you\’ll love how easy it was to make. I decided on zucchini, yellow squash, tomato, and onion. Eggplant is hit and miss for me, so I decided to leave it out.
Quick and Easy Ratatouille
Ingredients:
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes drained
dash of olive olive
1.5 teaspoons Herbs de Provence
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
pinch of sea salt
2 roma tomatoes (sliced)*
1-2 zucchini (thinly sliced)
1 yellow squash (thinly sliced)
1 small purple onion (thinly sliced)
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Combine all sauce ingredients in a blender. Puree until smooth.
3. Spread the sauce in a thin layer in a round or oval casserole dish.
4. Arrange the veggies in a spiral, alternating them.
5. Bake for 30 minutes or until the veggies are tender and the sauce is bubbly.
*The roma tomatoes did not look good when I was at the store, so I got regular tomatoes and just sliced them smaller.
Fashion meets Food 