I think I just might be the last person on the planet to have discovered Etsy. How have I been lurking the internet all this time and never stumbled across this gem of a website?! Honestly, who knows. Etsy is a site that sells all handmade products, and people can make their own little “shops!”

I wanted to share with you guys what I ordered from the cutest little shop called Primlark! I found the necklace I am wearing in the photo above, and couldn’t not have it!! Seriously so freaking beautiful! I love how delicate the jewelry is; it makes it feel so luxurious.

I also got this super simple bracelet that totally fits my style. If you haven’t noticed, I liked to keep it pretty simple with my jewelry most of the time. So when I saw this beautiful little piece, I knew we were meant to be together. For ever and ever and ever <3 I am talking about jewelry here… is this weird? Do I care? 

The prices are also super reasonable in the Primlark shop. This made me the mosttt happy, because you guys know I love a good deal! If you want to check out the Primlark site, click here. They also do completely custom orders on request!! So bomb. Love it.

Have a great day!

x,

Today I had the most beautiful and relaxing breakfast. I mean, would you look at this food?! It looked so good I almost couldn’t eat it. KIDDING, that’s just not humanly possible.

I always try and eat lots of grapefruit because of the seriously awesome health benefits you get. Grapefruit is low in calories (!!!) and super high in nutrients. There is tons of Vitamin C in grapefruit, so I always chow down on one of these if I am feeling a cold coming on. In addition to boosting your immune system, grapefruit will: increase your metabolism (sign me up!!), prevent wrinkles, brighten your complexion, decrease junk food cravings, and increase energy. Any natural food that increases my energy is basically a done deal for me. I don’t know about you guys, but I swear there are never enough hours in the day! I like being busy, so it is nice to feel alert and energized all day long.

Okay so to the muffin. Let’s be clear here, I rarely eat muffins… if ever. They are usually just (as my Dad likes to call them) “lard pucks.” Hahaha. But really, they are just filled with straight up butter (not a healthy amount, a stupid amount) and tons of refined sugar and other nasty stuff we don’t even need to talk about.

This muffin though? 110% yes, yes, and yes again. All honesty here: I definitely did not make this one. The convenience of popping into Whole Foods and picking this precious little baby up was too real. Anyyyyways, this muffin is perfectly Skinny Belle because it is completely vegan, made with squash, has very little oil (often sneaks in as the first ingredient in “healthy vegan recipes,”) and barely any sugar. Winning! Where is the fail? I totally forgot to get the name for you guys! Even though I buy this all the time I have a tendency to just point at it and say “that one.” (Oops) I will get back to you on this, promise! 🙂

Check out some of my other favourite breakfasts… here, here, here, and here!

x,

Happy Wednesday everyone! Hope you guys are all having a great week so far. I am just loving furry vests these days, and I picked this one up the other week from Club Monaco. IT’S SO FLUFFY!!! Haha seriously though. So. Fluffy. If I am being totally honest here I have no idea where my dress is from. Why? Because I temporarily stole it from my friend Elisha. Not going to lie I was the most sad to give it back. Kind of like a kid who took some candy that they probably shouldn’t have taken, but just went ahead and did it anyways. Except I am a big kid so I was responsible and got her permission. 🙂 hehe

My shoes, well, I do know where those are from! They are the pair that I can’t get enough of right now, and they are made by the wonderful Michael Kors.

Hope you like this look. 🙂 Lots of love,

x,

Smoked salmon is always such a yummy treat, and there are so many different ways you can eat it! I seriously can’t get enough of this stuff.

These little Smoked Salmon Bites are a great appy if you are having friends over, or just a nice afternoon snack. My self-control seriously diminishes when I have these babies around, I just can’t help myself!! But it doesn’t even matter because they are amazing and I love them.

What’s in it?

• Smoked salmon
• Cream cheese (don’t get the low fat kind it’s just nasty, buy the regular one)
• Purple onion
• Crackers
• Capers (I fully crushed a whole jar while making these haha! Love capers)
• Lemon

**AMAZE TIP YOU NEED TO KNOW: go to the seafood section at whole foods and buy the smoked salmon ends! These are like half the price of regular smoked salmon. They are just the bits that get cut off when they cut the salmon into those pretty shapes that they sell for the price of a brick of gold. SO, smoked salmon ends for the win! You’re welcome.

So this recipe is superrr simple. If you can’t cook at all and want to seem impressive in the kitchen, throw my little Smoked Salmon Bites together. Everyone will be all “oh my godddd these are amazing” and you will be all “ya I totally spent hours slaving in the kitchen.” LIES!! But nobody has to know. I won’t tell, promise. 😉

Okay back to the recipe. Just take your cracker and put some cream cheese on it. (SO complex, I know.) Then add your smoked salmon on top, and some thin sliced purple onion and capers on top of that! Finish these beautiful little morsels of joy by squeezing some lemon juice on top. Voila!!

There really is no actual “cooking” involved in these, but that is the beauty of them. If you are having people over, nobody wants to be all sweaty and disheveled from actually slaving away in the kitchen all day. Simple recipe = more time to spend getting dressed up. 😀

Try these Smoked Salmon Bites for an easy appy! Let me know what you guys think. <3

x,

Today is so grey and chilly, but I kind of love it to be honest! The weather is so relaxing and calming when it is like this. Don’t get me wrong, I loveeee the sun… but sometimes it is nice to appreciate different kinds weather as well. 🙂

This morning I totally wanted to just cozy up in bed, but somehow I dragged myself up and went for a nice pre-breakfast power walk. There really is nothing like walking by the ocean in the morning… just the best!

Power walking is so so so good for you. I actually can’t get over how great it is for your body, and all the amazing benefits that it has.

Want to know why you should mix power walking into your fitness routine? Well, here’s the skinny:

• Power walking burns fat even FASTER than if you are jogging!!! Whattt??? Yes, you heard me. Burns. More. Fat.
• It is easier on your joints! I don’t know if any of you are prematurely elderly (like myself lol) but when I start to get sore joints from jogging, I switch to speed walking and it always feels much better.
• Stress levels are lowered! Power walking gives you some alone time, where you can redirect your focus away from any nasty stressy things in your life. Everyone needs some “me” time! Including ME! (See what I did there?? hehe)
• Total body workout! Power walking has some exaggerated arm movements and this works out way more of those sexy muscles.

If all these health benefits aren’t enough to get you up and moving in the morning, think about this: How much easier is it to walk than it is to run. You literally don’t even have to pick up your feet! I may or may not have used that thought to motivate me to stop being a sloth and get out of bed this morning. 😛

Sometimes I just trick my mind and tell myself something is WAY easier than it actually is, so that I am not intimidated and just get out and do it. Try it… it is surprisingly effective haha!

Now, how do you power walk?

• “Heel, ball, toe” is the order your should stride in. Do quick steps like these and concentrate on planting your heel at the beginning of each step and propelling yourself through the step.
• Avoid taking super long strides, it is best to keep them quicker/shorter and more controlled.
• Bend your elbows at about 90 degrees, and do an exaggerated arm swing. I always feel so ridiculous when I do this, but whatever… haters gonna hate! 😉 Girl is getting her power walk on.
• Keep your core engaged! Your tummy should be tight and strong while power walking.
• GLUTES!!! Right so tighten those glutes, to make sure your entire core is working.

And go for it! I also love power walking because it is really fun to do with your friends. It is way easier to talk when you are not doing quick jogging to running intervals and just power walking instead. I usually go for 30 – 45 minutes depending on how I feel!

Do you guys ever power walk? What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. <3

x,