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Sunday, November 20

Days 19 & 20



Last week was by no means a bad week, but it was long. Filled with early mornings {hello 4:30 am wake up call}, long hours at the hospital, and quite a lot of reading, the week felt much longer than it actually was. By Friday afternoon I was completely spent {I contemplated a nap when I got home on Friday but luckily realized that a nap would easily turn into me sleeping until Saturday morning}, and I was so very grateful for the weekend....

For not setting my alarm and for sleeping past 7am.
For scrambled eggs with balsamic salsa, turkey bacon, & spiced apples.
For curling up on the couch and watching a movie.
For the fact that my husband makes me laugh uncontrollably.
For time to meet deadlines, work on projects, and catch up on blog reading {clearly a priority}.

{more gratitudes}
What are you thankful for today?
xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Saturday, November 19

Chambray at Sunset



Sometimes a weekend requires only one outfit - one article of clothing is so comfortable or perfect that you wear it multiple times. That was the case with this chambray shirt last weekend. Although I've had it for a while now, I've only recently embraced its versatility. It pairs well with casual weekend jeans and a soft scarf and dresses up easily with a pencil skirt and pearls.

H&M blazer, Crewcuts blouse, Madewell jeans, Tommy Hilfiger booties, F21 scarf & belt, Anthropologie necklace, Vintage & Loft bracelets, LP for Target bag, Essie Eternal Optimist polish

xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Friday, November 18

Day 18


Today I am thankful for food & tastebuds & ....

Delicious recipes, like this and this that I plan to make very soon.
Homemade {sugar-free, gluten-free} sweet potato fries - made from scratch & fried in coconut oil.
The combination of red wine, dark chocolate & a good movie.
Green smoothies that start my day off right.
Chips and salsa - not paleo, but one of my favorite cheats.
Strong coffee & the man that makes it for me every morning.


What are you thankful for today?
 xoxo

image
copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Thursday, November 17

Day 17


Dear accessories living in my closet,
Don't tell the clothes, but you may very well be my favorite part of dressing. Glitzy jewels, fun nail colors, chic clutches, and wedge heels, oh my! I enjoy the daily quest for the perfect combination of accents equally as much as the simplicity of a pair of pearls.

Dear squirrels living in the oak trees in our yard,
I love watching you hunt around in the trees for acorns and chase each other when someone steals your stash. Your mannerisms are really quite amusing. Just don't hide any acorns in my potted plants... that might be awkward when I find you digging up my mums.

Dear little MacBook,
Thanks for keeping up with my ridiculous amount of presentations, projects, and papers over the last six months. You've really earned your keep lately. Not to mention housing all my pictures and blogging! I am thankful for you. Please don't quit.

Dear Christmas season,
I am so very thankful for you. The months of November and December are among my favorite - the cold weather, the sparkly decorations. But most of all I enjoy the time with my family, the warmth of great company, laughing and crying as old stories are told, and the promise of the birth of a holy child, my Lord & Savior.

What are you thankful for today?
xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Wednesday, November 16

Kale & Wild Rice Soup



When the weather turns colder, my sights usually turn towards warm comfort foods such as chili and soups. While this recipe is definitely one of my favorites, I am always on the look out for an unusual soup recipe. This kale and wild rice soup combines some of my favorite flavors, and the Gruyere adds a subtle layer of smokiness to the ham and wild rice. I have made it twice, once with ham and once with chicken, and both are equally delicious. I adapted the recipe below from a soup that mother makes, and it's the perfect blend of creamy and savory, not to mention oh-so comforting on a cold November evening.


{The recipe below includes my adaptations. The original ingredients are included in parentheses}
You will need:
1-2 tbl spoon good quality olive oil
2 ounces of ham, chopped OR cooked chicken breast, chopped
{NOTE: I used three chicken breasts to make the soup a bit more hearty.}
1 onion, chopped
3 small carrots, chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped
1-2 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 cup uncooked gluten-free wild rice
3 cups organic vegetable broth {or chicken broth}
3 cups water {or 4 cups water & 2 cups broth. I wanted a richer flavor, so I used more broth than water.}
3 cups unsweetened almond milk {or regular whole milk}
2 ounces (1/4 cup) shredded Gruyere cheese
2 ounces shredded parmigiano-rregiano cheese {I omitted this and only used about 1/2 cup Gruyere}
1/2 tsp salt {I omitted when I used the ham}
Black pepper to taste
3-4 cups chopped kale {depending on your taste}


Combine the first 6 ingredients and sauté for ten minutes. Add the uncooked rice and sauté for five min, just until the rice starts to brown {warning: the smell is incredibly warm and delicious}. Add the broth, chopped kale and water, and simmer for approximately 40 minutes until the rice is cooked. Add milk and cook fifteen minutes or until desired consistency. {I simmered mine for almost 45 minutes as we like a thicker consistency, more like a stew.} Add the cheese, salt, pepper, and cook for about five more minutes, just until the cheese is melted.


Enjoy.
xoxo

Copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Days 15 & 16


I am back on rotations at the hospital after five weeks off* and it's already slammed. My days are jam-packed with patient counseling, reading treatment guidelines, decompensated heart failure & hypertensive emergency. Holy. Goodness. It's definitely a bit overwhelming, but a great learning experience.
{*I use this term lightly, considering that I worked, moved, and went to a conference in Pittsburgh during my break.}

So today I am thankful for...
The opportunity to see a CABG first-hand.
Sleeping in on Saturdays.
A spicy chai latte made with almond milk.
My health.
The promise of lasik surgery after graduation.
A couple days off next week.
Trail runs and new {minimalist} running shoes.


What are you thankful for today?
xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Monday, November 14

Days 12, 13 & 14


This weekend passed all to quickly as we spent most of our time surrounded by family. We woke up to a big breakfast on Saturday {courtesy of my parents}, and spent the afternoon in the city with husband's family, watching the game
and munching on tasty pizza. Sunday was gorgeous and perfect for a trail run in our new running shoes, and the cold evening had us curled up on the couch with a bit of television. Throughout the weekend, I was acutely aware of how precious these  times are and how blessed I am to have such a wonderful family.

Today {and this weekend} I am thankful for...
A warm fire in the fireplace.
Everything cozy, from fleece blankets to snug socks to plush pillows.
This season of thanksgiving and togetherness.
Woodsy scents, like my favorite fall candle.
My health and the ability to run, shape & challenge my body.
Hot water in the shower.
Crunching leaves with my nephew.
Clean foods that make me feel healthier and stronger.


What are you thankful for today?
xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Friday, November 11

Day 11


Today I am thankful for...
Simplicity ~ something I am striving to center my life around.

The smell of chocolate chip cookies baking in my oven and the ability to bake them on a whim.

Flannel sheets and the coziness of an over-sized blanket.

The love of sweet girlfriends whom I know are always there for me, even though we don't see each other often enough {here's looking at you
l, e, a & s}.
Our water filter and the ability to have clean water whenever I want.
My education and the promise of graduation in the near future.

The love of an honorable, godly man.


What are you thankful for today?
xoxo

image via
copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Moments


I know this has made it's way around a bit, but I just can't get enough of it. Such a precious, sweet little moment.
{Scott Avett & Eleanor Avett}


Things like this {and this precious little thing} really make me look forward to a little one.
xoxo

Thursday, November 10

Day 10

Last night as I was catching up on some blog reading {hello, no internet for two weeks}, I stumbled across this. What a sweet reminder how much in life we have to be thankful for. And this coming on the heels of a very humbling moment I had last week...

Since we moved into our new home, I have been stressed out and overwhelmed by the fact that all of our stuff doesn't fit into this house. It's actually smaller than our two bedroom apartment, and from furniture to bikes to books and office files, we simply don't have enough storage space. I was irritable and grumpy because we have too much, sighing as I unloaded boxes, and I was taking out my irritation on my sweet husband. It was like a slap in the face when the Lord opened my eyes to how selfish and ungrateful I was being. In essence, I was complaining about how blessed we are. Talk about a humbling experience.


So I have decided to choose every day to be thankful. To wake up remembering that my hope is not in this world or in its material possessions, but instead, my hope is in the one and only, all-powerful creator of this universe and his intense love for me.

Today I am thankful for:
God's incredible grace that renews every morning.
Our new {rental} home where husband and I can be together every day and not just on weekends, where we can sleep next to each other every night, and where our camping equipment is "stored" openly in the living room.
Sweet times with our families ~ you truly never know how valuable that time is until it's gone.
Rose flavored hot tea for these cold fall mornings {and afternoons... and evenings...}
The beautiful colors of fall & being able to view them directly outside my kitchen windows.
The tiny space heater that warms my feet while I study.


Here's to being thankful.
Won't you join me on this journey? What are you thankful for today?

xoxo

images can be found here
copyright Hiking in Stilettos


Bejeweled


While I am always drawn to the luxurious warmth of winter whites and woodsy scents this time of year, there is something to be said for the jewel tones of the season as well. Vibrant magenta, deep royal blue, and chartreuse green add an unexpected twist to any outfit, and with pairings such as corduroy and silk, are also seasonally appropriate. Lately I've been drawing inspiration from the lovely changing leaves and vibrant southern scenery {evidence here}, and here are a few of my favorite colorful pieces.

Clockwise from the top left:
1. Green cords - The Loft
2. Bejeweled necklace - Kate Spade
3. Lace detail cami - Topshop
4. Suede pumps - J. Crew
5. Liquid silk skirt - J. Crew
6. Lime green handbag - LuLu's
7. Red ankle trousers - Topshop
8. Plaid scarf - Madewell
9. Chocolate clutch - Kate Spade
10. Cashmere sweater - J. Crew

As the Kate Spade ad says,
Live Colorfully.

xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Tuesday, November 8

Life in Motion: Moving


The past week and a half has been a complete whirlwind as husband and I packed up our little life and moved out to the country. While we will miss being close to Atlanta, we can at least be together all week instead of only on weekends. {Woot!} And we're only about 30 minutes from one of our favorite cities, Athens. {Fun facts: our first real date was in Athens, where we saw what would become my favorite band. Also, we were married in a lovely historic home in Athens.} So, I apologize for my unexpected hiatus! {Apparently, it takes two to three weeks to set up new internet service with AT&T. Who knew?} I've been busy with boxes and totes, arranging, discarding, painting, and trying to get in a little down time in between. While I am getting back on schedule, here's a peek at the last two weeks of my life, according to my iPhone.

Packing, painting, and unpacking; a little mountain biking adventure to get out some stressful energy;
I've been living in these green cords; we grilled some delicious kabobs; we took a trip to our favorite burrito place in Athens; the bare walls are starting to look a bit better....


More {fun things} to come.
xoxo


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