Easiest Iced Coffee... PLUS, Froth Your Own Milk!!

Have you ever desperately wanted a delicious, frothy iced coffee, only to realize your Starbucks card is empty and that you're over spending $4 on your morning pick-me-up? OH WAIT... that's EVERYday. I realized that making coffee at home is not only cheaper and time efficient, but it's way healthier (I recently found out that my favorite holiday latte contains a whopping FIVE PUMPS of syrup!! FIVE?! Get OUT!!). That being said, a fancy coffee machine is pricey in itself, and I've heard the argument that depending how often you use it, it might not net out either. Ohhh for coffee problems. If you're okay with the office coffee pot and a dash of freeze-dried creamer, I praise your simplicity... but seriously, there's a world of gourmet deliciousness out there that can really bring such simple joy to your life! The sequence below gives you no reason NOT to indulge.

1. Start with your favorite coffee K-Cup (I decided to use a Keurig because they've gotten so popular and affordable that they are for sure the best do-it-yourself coffee option out there. Plus, there's like an infinity of options for K-Cups, so you'll never find yourself at a loss for new coffee, latte, or tea flavors! In my opinion, a lot of the pre-made latte cups are way too sweet and taste a little fake, so I like to make my own! ALSO, on a side note, Keurig Machines are now going to be SOUP COMPATIBLE!? Say WHAT! This is the best news since the invention of the Keurig Machine itself! I can't wait to make some tomato soup this winter as an afternoon snack in my mug at the office!)

2. It's time to FROTH YOUR MILK! I like to do this with almond milk while I let the coffee sit for a second to cool. You can use whatever proportion of coffee vs. milk vs. ice that you like, just remember that it's better to make a small strong shot of coffee so that your drink is nice and cold when you add the milk and ice. Anyways, to frothing your own milk! I thought it was a joke when I read it for the first time but the best thing to do if you don't have a fancy espresso / milk frothing machine is to shake milk in a water bottle really fast for a minute! (extra bonus: this doubles as a workout!) You might laugh, but it totally works. I had just a little bit of almond milk left, so I kept it in the box to shake it (otherwise an empty water bottle works just fine!)

3. Throw some ice into your cup of hot coffee, and top it with your frothed milk!

4. Add a tablespoon of Vanilla Extract for a delicious hint of vanilla (this lets you avoid high calorie creamers and sugar!)

AND VOILA! Enjoy!!

Candle Coziness

They say the kitchen is the heart of the home. For me, this has always been true. The kitchen is a place that is warm and sweet and fun, but best of all, it smells delicious. Whether you're making cinnamon roles on a winter morning or barbecuing on a hot summer day, the kitchen is a place abundant with constantly changing aromas. Of course, nothing trumps the smell of good ole fashioned cooking. But when you're too busy to make that elaborate dinner and still want those flavorful smells wafting through your home, light a candle! It's amazing that a tiny flame can bring about such a sense of coziness! In my opinion, candles in the kitchen (and all over the house!) are a MUST! Birchbox has a great home fragrance section to inspire ideas! I pictured just a few of the faves, above.

Fall Decor

My sister and I spent the whole day at the mall yesterday, and as usual, that meant hours spent oogling home decor and cookware. Williams Sonoma is probably our biggest downfall: with its tantilizing smells and cozy festive allure, we can't leave without considering each new product and how it would definitely better our lives. I couldn't get away from these adorable White Crackle Serving Bowls, which are so perfect for the upcoming fall season! Paired with hughes of orange and gold, the things are literally perfect for everything from your morning cereal to warm tomato soup on a cold day. If you're a sucker for the fun and festive like me, then you'll love these bad boys! (There's also a White Crackle Pumpkin Serving Bowl and my absolute favorite, the White Crackle Pumpkin Sauce Boat!!!)

Brie Basil Artichoke Paninis!

These babies are super easy! Just slice some whole grain bread, throw on a thick slice of brie (don't worry if it's not totally spread across the bread -- the cheese will melt evenly once it's in the panini maker!), break apart a few leaves of fresh basil, and slice artichoke hearts atop to liking! Then, add the top slice of bread and place in a panini maker for 3-5 minutes on medium heat! YUM! Simple, easy, healthy lunch in under ten minutes.

The Beauty Department

TheBeautyDepartment.com is one of my long time favorite websites. It has been my resource for new make-up trends and hair how-tos for as long as I can remember. One of their recent posts discusses the importance of healthy eating for beautiful skin, hair, and nails. I am ever the proponent of "you are what you eat," and truly believe that what you put inside your body hugely impacts exterior results. That's why I'm obsessed with the recent "Beauty-Bites" post by TBD! It even explains how each ingredient inside their very yummy salad is benefitting your body. The article is an absolute MUST READ, and you can find it here: http://thebeautydepartment.com/2013/07/beauty-bites/