Championship Cupcakes

What better way to get into the football spirit for this weekend's upcoming NFC and AFC championship games, than by decorating and getting all fancy with some colorful cupcakes? A perfect treat and activity to do with the kiddos while you're staying warm and cozy inside! All you need is a box of cake mix, icing, food dye, piping bags + tips and a colorful assortment of fan favorite sprinkles and cupcake liners. Oh, and a printer, scissors, tape and toothpick for the logo picks! Pretty self explanatory there ;)

I will be rooting for the Eagles in the NFC (obvi) - the matchup I am really excited about. The Birds have a tough game come Sunday when they face the Vikings, another household favorite team, being that Zach's fam is from Minnesota. Zach says "I want them both to win." Well, that's not possible, sorry Z, but I guess the good news is that either outcome, someone will be happy in our house when it's all said and done. The cupcakes should help with that, too. xo RCN

Mango Monday Smoothie Bowl

I have always been a major fan of smoothies and acai bowls, and really all of that fruity breakfast business. I'm bringing my smoothie game hard this year with an effort to avoid skipping breakfast altogether, and with the plan to try out some new recipes. First up, my Mango Monday Bowl. Sure to kick any Monday blues, or at least I think so! xo RCN

Ingredients for bowl mixture (serves 2):

1/2 Cup frozen peaches

1/3 Cup chopped frozen mango

1 Whole fresh mango sliced

3/4 Cup Coconut Milk

1/2 Kiwi chopped

1 Tbsp raw honey

Toppings:

1/4 Cup granola mix (whatever kind you like...I use Cascadian Farm's organic vanilla, coconut & pumpkin seed granola mix)

Sprinkle of shaved coconut flakes

Spoonful of chia seeds

1 Kiwi for "M-A-N-G-O" letters + 3 thin slices (I used mini cookie cutters from Homegoods)

1 frozen mango cube cut into 8 small  pieces

Add a few floral buds from whatever flowers you may have laying around in the house. This will definitely help to impress your breakfast buddy!

Instructions:

It's pretty simple folks. Combine all mixture ingredients together in a blender. Blend until thick and frozen creamy, about 1 minute or so. You may need to open blender, stir, then pulse again for an additional 20 seconds if the mango slices get caught underneath the blade (this happened to me). Then, top it all off and decorate with the extra coconut and healthy goodies. Happy Monday or whatever day it may be!

#GOALS

It's 2018 and I am feeling it! Literally, I have never been more happy to have a fresh start. I have a lot of goals for this year and thought I would share a dozen of them with you! xo RCN

1. First and foremost, I want to focus on my blog. I was very sidetracked this past year and I want to refocus, especially on Parsley and continuously creating new and exciting content.

2. Schedule workouts 3-5x a week. I know 5x a week is optimal, but I need to be realistic here so 3-5x is a good start for me.

3. Hire a dog trainer for Ethel. We have found one, but we await scheduling based on our upcoming move. Yes we are moving again! (to another spot in Miami, TBD)

4. Learn to golf - will need Z's help on this one.

5. Grow my plant collection. Obvi.

6. Spend more time in the water. I spend a lot of time around the water, but I want to be in it more, and be more active with it, not just use it as a place to drink frosé. EX: paddleboarding, and swimming for exercise.

7. Schedule a dermatology appointment and get my skin checked. I am ashamed to admit I have not already been doing this. 

8. Meditate & attempt yoga for my mental health. Stress and emotions have taken a major toll on me over the last few years and I want to do my best to relax my mind as best as possible. I just started using the app Headspace and love it!

9. Get a bike! This is happening sooner than later.

10. Write more letters. I have tons of pretty papers and cards. I want to put it all to good use. 

11. Go thrifting somewhere I have never thrifted before. I thought long and hard about things that make me happy, and this is one of them. So, this year I want to do this in either a planned fashion or spontaneous way. It will happen. Hopefully, more than once. 

12. Donate more clothes. I have too many pretty things that are going to waste in my closet. I want to make a point to really part with some of them, even though it may be difficult.