It’s Monday once again, but it’s of course a marvelous day still!
{ It always helps to have baked banana bread oats to greet you first thing. }
If you’re feeling the Monday blues, definitely head over to Katie’s blog since she’s always spurting out positive and beautiful energy, not just on Monday’s but everyday.
Some people feel that the start of the work week can be seen as a downer, but we are always in control of our happiness each morning. Why let a day of the week dictate how we’re feeling? That’s the way I always look at it, at least.
First things first, I have to wish my lovely Sister a Happy Birthday!
This weekend, I started to really notice Spring come into full force. It’s been so gorgeous out lately.
A majority of my scenes, just so happened to be Spring Things. Things I’ve been missing since Spring ended, but am so happy they’re back once again.
Time for more flowers, sun, salads, smoothies, dresses, and more. Every season brings out a lot of beauty in the world, and these things happen to show Springs beauty.
Beautiful Spring Salads
A bed of spinach overtop a bit of quinoa, roasted chickpeas, chopped berries, a lovely berry vinaigrette recipe (recipe below), and chopped avocado. Love this salad. It screams Spring.
Berry Vinaigrette (serves one; vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free, soy-free)
- 1/2 cup berries (fresh or frozen),
- 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed juice from an orange (or lemon)
- 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil
- 1/8 teaspoon stevia
- 2 tablespoons water
Combine all the ingredients into a blender or food processor and puree until everything is smooth.
This dressing SO delicious. Once the coconut oil cools, it hardens slightly and coats all of the other ingredients in the salad so wonderfully. I’m addicted to this dressing.
Pastel Nails
I’ve been all about the pretty pastels lately! This essie color is absolutely gorgeous.
It’s classy and simply stunning on almost every skintone.
This pop of pastel is the perfect accessory for Spring.
Birthday Celebrations
My Sister turned 19, which is a big deal here in Canada.
It’s the legal drinking age here, which means she can finally party with me;)
Classic Green Smoothies…in a bowl
So let’s be honest. I have a full blown smoothie obsession. What’s with me and my food phases? I totally get obsessed with a meal/food and eat it over and over until a new obsession starts. Eh, whatever I guess that’s just how my mind works.
Classic Green Smoothie
- Handful of spinach (frozen or fresh)
- 1/2 frozen banana
- 1/2 avocado
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional)
- 1 scoop sun warrior protein (warrior blend in natural flavor) or your favorite protein powder
- 1 cup almond milk, unsweetened
- dash stevia and cinnamon (optional, to taste)
- handful of ice
Add all ingredients together in a blender and blend for about two minutes, or until it reaches to your desired consistency.
This smoothie is the ultimate in creaminess (that kind of sounds wrong, but you know what I mean).
Between the avocado, frozen banana, chia seeds, and the gums it’s fantastic. As I said before, this vegan protein powder is by FAR the best I’ve ever had in my life. It’s incredible how well it incorporates into the smoothie, no funky or chalky aftertaste at all.
Flowers in Bloom
I just love when the flowers begin to grow, and all the trees that were left bare, begin to fill up with vibrant colors once again.
Well, I’m off for a birthday celebration for my Sister.
Hope you all are making this Monday marvelous!
What’s your favorite Spring fruit or veggie?
Favorite salad combination?
What did you get up to this weekend?
Have a beautiful day!
About Lisa
I LOVE that essie color! I saw it and really wanted it…twins
You and your sister seriously have the BEST hair! Happy Monday 
I finally did bikram yoga again and it was absolutely marvelous!!
Happy birthday to your sister!
I love pastel nails too. I always have to find a friend to do them for me though because I can’t paint my nails myself haha.
This weekend I had a movie night with a friend, met up with Sam from Better with Sprinkles for burgers, and worked on writing a paper!
Your sister is gorgeous – your family is clearly blessed with great hair!
I’m totally going to try the coconut oil salad dressing – I always get stumped on what to use, and end up with plain old balsamic or hummus. Fav salad combo is mixed greens, olives, avocado, pickles, goat cheese & hummus. Mmmm.
Thank you so much for your positivity and good thoughts!! I was having a bit of a down in the dumps kind of morning, but you are right…I can absolutely control my happiness level today. So, it is Monday…who cares!!
You girls have the most gorgeous hair – it’s obviously a genetic blessing, I’m so jealous!! I traveled this weekend, which was loads of fun – but I feel like I could use a day off right now, to catch my breath! Thank God spring break starts later this week. I just need to push through until then! And my birthday is this month, too, the day before Easter. I can’t believe how grown up I am!
Happy birthday to your sister! Hope she has a fabulous 19th birthday (although if it’s anything like mine, she won’t remember all of it… :-p)
We had a gorgeous weekend weather wise, which made me so excited for Spring. Cannot handle the cold weather anymore! I went home for the weekend, so I went shopping and out for dinner with my best friend, out for burgers with One Healthy Munchkin Chelsea, and a dinner/movie date with my mom. Best weekend I’ve had in a long time!
Wow, both you and your sister have gorgeous hair!! That smoothie looks insanely good – can’t wait to try it. Those flowers make me happy on this Monday – come on Spring!
I agree with Erin. You should post a hair tutorial because your hair always looks marvelous!
Beautiful tulips. Ahh, I love spring so much. I’m so looking forward to the 75* temps we’re getting in California this week.
Such a gorgeous family
Happy Birthday to your sister! Drinking age, yesss! I’m loving pastel colors, as well. I’ve bought farrr too many nail polishes lately! My favorite salad combination would have to be spinach, strawberries, Gorgonzola, pecans, and a raspberry/strawberry vinaigrette! Those flowers are beautiful!
aw happy birthday to your sister!
Happy Birthday to your sister, you guys are both so pretty and m jealous of both of yours hair! Looking at those smoothies- i am tempted to try it now, havent tried chia yet though. Have a marvelous day and im so excited for the spring.
Happy Birthday to your sis! I almost bought tulips yesterday but went with my favorite Hyacinth instead. Love their fragrance! Those along with tulips are always a sure sign spring is around the corner! Love it!
You know I love my essie and I love and own that color
Happy Birthday to your sister! Beautiful like you!
<3
Wow, your sister’s a beaut; she’s basically your brunette clone
Spring is coming SLOWLY for us out here, but I love all the things about it that you do. I can’t wait to see flowers springing up!!
oooo, that salad. Yummm!
I live in Michigan, but spent my 19th birthday in Canada…good times
You two have the most beautiful hair!!! And that smoothie is exactly the combo I love too!!! I am obsessed with berries in spring. Blueberries and Strawberries. Happy Birthday to your sister!
Happy birthday to your sister! Great to hear Spring has sprung for you just around her birthday.
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We had a few lovely warm days last week but are now back to snow. All the more reason to get excited for when Spring decides to come and stay – hopefully soon.
Honestly, why do so many people let the fact it’s Monday put a damper on their mood? We should give every day the chance to become a good one because only then it can. It’s all about our decision to let it happen
I love that Essie color! I need it!!
You and your sister look so much alike!
thick smoothies are the best!
always a fun and crazy time haha
our weekend was fun as we are together