upward focused.

So I originally found a version of this quesadilla here  but I changed it up a bit with what we had available in our pantry.  I don't usually make this for myself just because it's pretty dense but my husband loves it. The great thing is it's super quick and easy to make! AND you can make it for a (semi-unhealthy) breakfast or a mid-day snack or even an after dinner dessert. Ingredients: SunButter (you can use any type of nut butter you like) 1 Banana Honey Cinnamon Chocolate Chips Tortillas Directions: -->I usually make a half size because it's pretty filling but today I decided to make a whole. Smear SunButter over one of the tortillas if making a whole, or half of the tortilla if only making a half size. -->Cut up one banana and scatter it around on the tortilla.   -->I didn't have chocolate chips so I cut up some chocolate I had and sprinkled it all over A close up- because it looks DELICIOUS Finally, heat it up on

Cinque Terre by far has to be the most beautiful place I have ever visited.  It almost looks like it was just photoshopped on the edge of the Italian coast.  Cinque Terre is located in the Northwestern region of  Italy, right along the coast of the Ligurian Sea, which is actually part of the Mediterranean Sea.  It received its name because it is quite literally "The Five Lands": Riomaggiore, Manarola, Cornelia, Vernazza, and Monterosso al Mare.  I, however think it actually means "The most beautiful place in the world", but I guess we will never know. My mom and I were so fortunate to be able to spend a few days here, and it was the best 20th birthday I could have imagined.  We fell in love with Cinque Terre immediately.  I believe anyone who goes here will do the same. Here are my reasons why. 1.  This should go without saying, but it is quite simply beautiful . All the buildings are painted in a variety of bright colors, which according to local legends,

I first had an Acai Bowl when I was with my family in Hawaii last year.  I had heard about them, saw people raving about them, and I knew I just had to try one.  The verdict? It was amazing . I was never too keen on smoothies for breakfast because I like to feel like I'm eating something and smoothies just didn't quite fill me up.  But THIS.  This was delicious.  It's healthy, filling, and leaves me with energy when I go about my morning.  So when I came here to Japan and saw that some of the restaurants had them, I was pretty excited.  I've had two here and to my disappointment, they were no where near what I had in Hawaii.  They were pretty sweet, almost like an ice-cream.  

Sometimes when I've been eating unhealthy I need something to do to help me turn it around.  Typically, I turn to juicing but after juicing a few times, I don't think it's the healthiest option for me.  So I started searching for healthy cleanses.  That's when I found a more nutritious form of juicing, called "Souping".  I've actually had this soup before when I did the juice cleanse about a year ago and I really liked it.  I like soups because I feel fuller and I feel like I'm getting more nutrition from each meal.  This soup is called "Green Detox Soup" and I found the original recipe  here . (I would suggest making the original if you have access to all the ingredients- follow link)

Mornings are so important in life.  The way you spend your morning reflects on how you spend the rest of your day.  And if mornings account for the time from 6:00am-10:00am, that's four important hours of the day, and about 124,100 hours in your life that you can spend being productive, peaceful, and healthy.  So where do we start?! 1. Go to bed early.  Mornings start long before you wake up.  They begin by going to bed early.  I believe that anyone can be a morning person with adequate sleep.  If we go to bed around 10:00pm each night, 8 hours later takes us to 6:00am.  That 8 hours of sleep will help us function better each day, and I think when our bodies get acclimated to waking up with the natural flow of the sun, it becomes easier.  Even if you go to bed at 11:00pm, I recommend allowing yourself to sleep for 8 hours, our bodies seem to function best on that amount of sleep.  However, if you feel like you function better with 7 or 9 hours, then adjust accordingly.  Liste

Do you ever notice how some people are always happy and seem to always be surrounded by good things?  Maybe good things always happen to them, or they always seem to win or be in the "right place" at the "right time".  What makes these people unique?  How do they always seem to have the best of everything or seem like they are always happy?  The trick?  Positivity.  Not just that however, but I narrowed it down to 6 similar characteristics all of these so-called "lucky" people have in common. 

DISCLAIMER** This post is kind of long (sorry)... it's been a while and a lot has happened! February is a good month. There has been a lot of Bachelor (the show) watching, a lot of exploring, a lot of different events happening, a lot of unpacking, a lot of organizing, and a lot of fun.  Oh, and a lot of LOVE.  We're newlyweds, what can we say?!  Sorry we like kissing each other.   Sorry we're not sorry. That's why I am SO incredibly excited it is February because it's basically the MONTH OF LOVING.  There are heart things everywhere, and flowers, and pink and red things, and . chocolate . (yum).  lots and lots of . chocolate .