NatureBox :: February 2016

another NatureBox post with some horrible pictures from my kitchen at 9:30 at night. (:

Dried White Peaches :: dried fruit is one of my favorite snacks, and I've had the Dried California Peaches from NatureBox before. I wasn't too impressed with these though. They just had a bland flavor that made me kind of sad.

White peaches are known for their softer texture and sweeter taste than their tangier cousin yellow peaches. Just don’t tell the yellow peaches we said that, they are really sensitive. With this dried version of our favorite summertime fruit, you’ll never have to worry about the pits.

Masa Crisps :: I've had these before {September 2013 // March 2015}, and they remain one of my favorite choices. They're just like mini Fritos (as far as I remember), but they're better for you because they are made of higher quality ingredients and they aren't greasy and gross.

Masa Crisps are a delicious delivery mechanism for your favorite Mexican dip: guacamole, salsa or queso. Made with yellow corn masa and flax seeds, these crisps offer a satisfying crunch that’ll have you saying “chips who?”. They’re the perfect side dish on Taco Tuesday, and great for munching on movie night. Just don’t crunch too loud over the good parts.

Blueberry Almond Quinoa Bites :: I couldn't find these on the website, so I think that maybe they're out of stock for now, but I know that I've had the Cranberry Almond Bites before. I think my keyword for this month's box is bland, because I didn't really get a whole lot of excitement out of these. Yes, they have blueberries and nuts, but they don't have a lot of flavor.

Quinoa is one of those hard-to-pronounce, fashionable grains that everyone's talking about. But for good reason! Few grains pack more of a nutritious punch, especially in these tasty little bites of puffed quinoa, combined with dried blueberries, almonds and pumpkin seeds. Even the worlds pickiest co-worker ate them all.

PB&J Granola :: Another repeat. (: I had this one in May 2014 and May 2015. I'm sure I say every time that my favorite part is that it's a soft granola, and I just love the dried fruit with the salty peanut butter.

Pour a few glasses of almond milk and portion out this granola into several snack bowls to share with your friends. This oat-filled chewy granola goodness tastes just like that classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich - your favorite after-school snack. The added bonus? Sweet strawberries and raisins!

Dark Cocoa Nom Noms :: I first had these in July 2014. I've also had the peanut butter and pumpkin spice ones, and maybe the blueberry ones too. The pumpkin spice ones are my favorite. Anyway! These kind of taste like soft brownies, but the oats add to the texture. They're still soft though, and they are the perfect little sweet.

The Nom Nom craze began with peanut butter and continues to grow - with Dark Cocoa. Feed your nom nom addiction with this blend of oats, cocoa and vanilla - like a soft-baked double chocolate cookie. Best enjoyed with a glass of milk in hand, it will take the edge off your chocolate craving.

Garlic Plantains :: These definitely were a surprise snack and not something that I would have picked out for myself. I was pleasantly surprised that the garlic flavor wasn't very overpowering, and the plantains didn't have as much of a banana flavor as I thought they would.

Made with real garlic, these are quite a hit with lovers of the bulb. Dried garlic lends a dynamic flavor profile against crispy plantains as a flavorful vehicle for hummus, guacamole, or try crunching up and tossing into a salad.

xoxo.

2/52 :: 2016

I'm hoping to be away from the internet for most of tomorrow, which is why I'm publishing this on Sunday instead of Monday. here's a look at some more little details from the new apartment. maybe someday soon I'll take my camera outside again. (:

Friday 8 January 2016 // day eight :: things I should have been dealing with, but I just took a picture and walked away instead.

Saturday 9 January 2016 // day nine :: one of my favorite things about this apartment (okay, maybe that's being overdramatic) is that there are two nails on this window in my bedroom so I could hang my sugar skull garland! (:

Sunday 10 January 2016 // day ten :: my NatureBox arrived the day before, and it's always fun to look and see what's inside!

Monday 11 January 2016 // day eleven :: my nevermore mirror was the first thing that I hung on the walls here.

Tuesday 12 January 2016 // day twelve :: cozy. (I need to get another one of these for the other side.)

Wednesday 13 January 2016 // day thirteen :: Chimes ginger chews are my favorite.

Thursday 14 January 2016 // day fourteen :: when you nearly forget to take a picture, just take one of one of the two other living things in your apartment. (does anyone know what kind of plant this is?)

xoxo.

NatureBox :: January 2016

here's a look at what I got in my NatureBox this month! four of the six things are repeats this time. honestly, I just wish that I could go to the store and get more of this stuff because a lot of this is my favorite.

as always, I don't sit on the floor and eat, it's just sometimes easier to take pictures on the floor because of the light. exploring lighting in this new apartment, where there are only four windows.

Dried California Peaches :: yum. that perfectly peachy fruit flavor without all of the juicy mess.

Sourced from a family-owned orchard in California, this healthy snack is an homage to our home state. In addition to being a good source of Vitamin A and fiber, they have absolutely no added sugar. Perfect for salads or as an elegant addition to a cheese plate. Bonus points for portability and not bruising in your bag.

{I had these in January 2014.}

Strawberry Greek Yogurt Pretzels :: I'm not much for chocolate covered pretzels (is that weird? because I like pretzels and I like chocolate.), but yogurt covered pretzels are a yes. these have the fruity flavor of strawberries, and so they are a great sweet and salty combination.

We’re going Greek with these tangy bite-sized pieces of heaven. Forget the regular ol’ yogurt pretzels and opt for these instead. You’ll be glad you did. Originally food of the Greek gods, with these pretzels you can now feel like royalty too.

{I had these last January.} 

Crispy Coconut Squares :: these are so so cute! they remind me of teeny tiny rice krispy treats! there is no marshmallow in these, so they don't taste like that, but they are sweet and delicious anyway, with the perfect coconut flavor.

Send your taste buds on a tropical vacation. Or just stay home and try these crunchy little morsels of awesome. They're delicious and made from just a few ingredients like coconut (duh) and a touch of sea salt. Pop 'em into your mouth, satisfy your sweet tooth, and move on with your life.

Aged Cheddar Lentil Loops :: I've had the Salt and Pepper Lentil Loops, so of course I wanted to try these too. at first I didn't think that they had enough of a cheese flavor, but I now disagree with myself. they are perfect. I love that they are light but still crunchy, and the curls are pretty adorable too.

What do you get when the richness of aged cheddar meets our beloved light, airy Lentil Loops? A crispy, savory snack that will make you ditch the chips and wonder where your favorite new snack has been all of your life. Beware: They’re highly addicting so get ready to get loopy.

Asiago & Cheddar Cheese Crisps :: these are a repeat, this time is the third that I've had them! I wouldn't have gotten them again so soon, but they were a $2 add-on snack this month. I still love them and don't know what else to say! they're perfectly cheesy and have a great crunch and airy texture.

If you spent more hours in the kitchen, you’d whip these up yourself the night before the big party. But, who’s got the time? Luckily, you’ve got a secret weapon. Serve these simple yet elegant crisps as a smart alternative to chips and dip or on a charcuterie board for a cheesy twist. Nothing but simple, straightforward ingredients, like real cheese, butter, and a hint of cayenne pepper. Twice baked for extra crispiness and perfect for your next cocktail party spread.

{I had these in October 2014 and March 2015.}

Chocolate Quinoa Granola :: the thing that really confuses me about this granola is the dried blueberries. I just don't understand why there are blueberries in a chocolate almond granola. definitely not my favorite.

It’s time to spice up the same old boring breakfast routine of yogurt, oatmeal or cereal with this cocoa-kissed granola. Crispy quinoa makes for a totally airy and satisfying crunch, while hints of chocolate, vanilla and coconut offer a subtle sweetness that will leave you wanting more.

{I had this in June 2014.}

xoxo.

NatureBox :: December 2015

time again for another NatureBox snack post!

Cocoa Cashew Crisp :: for some reason, this wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be. I had a cashew crisp or cashew crunch in the past that wasn't a granola, and that's what I was expecting it to be, but it's still good.

We get it, sometimes you just need chocolate. This mix of cocoa-dusted cashews, oat clusters, and crispy rice will satisfy your craving without the guilt.

Apple Pie Oat Clusters :: in a word, yum. I had these back in May 2014. these are like a healthy, tiny cookie packed with raisins, apples, and oats.

What do you get when you combine the sweet apple taste of freshly baked pies with the crunchy goodness of oatmeal cookies? We give you our take on a classic American dessert, apple pie. These bite-sized clusters are delicious on their own or even better with a scoop of vanilla froyo. Open a bag and say ‘merica.

Peanut Butter Graham Jam :: I couldn't find this one on their website anymore... I had their Cinnamon Yogurt Mini Grahams last month, and these are sort of similar. this was another one of those ones that wasn't what I thought it was going to be. I'm sure I knew that it was a mix with peanuts and dried fruit and just forgot. I just wish that there were more of the graham squares.

Inspired by everyone's favorite PB&J sandwich, our Peanut Butter Graham Jams are created for the kid at heart. First, we cover mini graham crackers in a creamy peanut butter coating and add peanuts for crunch. Then we mix in raisins and dried cranberries for a slightly tart take on jelly. PB&J reinvented (and you don't even have to cut off the crusts).

White Cheddar Caramel Popcorn :: these remind me of those tins of mixed popcorn at Christmastime. (:

The toughest part of snack time is deciding between savory and sweet. This popcorn has the best of both worlds. Made with simple ingredients, like non-GMO corn, a touch of brown sugar, cheddar cheese and coconut oil.

Garlic Bread Cheese Crisps :: one of my favorite snacks from NatureBox has been their Asiago & Cheddar Cheese Crisps. well, these are their cousins and so delicious! Sonny's Pizzeria is a great local pizza place, and these crisps remind me of the garlic bread that comes with their pasta!

Lovers of cheese and garlic you’ve come to the right place! Say hello to our Garlic Bread Cheese Crisps. These bite-size crisps are full of delicious flavor of garlic bread without any of the greasy guilt. You can tell your stomach and clothes to thank us later.

xoxo.

NatureBox :: November 2015

Apparently I had a bit of a sweet tooth when I was picking out my snacks for this month!

Blueberry Greek Yogurt Pretzels :: I had these for the first time in December, and I don't think that I am impressed with them as I was then. they're still good, but they don't seem as good as I remember them. I don't really care for chocolate covered pretzels (unless they're done right), but yogurt covered pretzels are a yes, and the blueberry flavor on these makes them special.

Next time you hit the trails with your friends, be sure to bring along this berry delicious treat! With no artificial ingredients, it has the slight tang from Greek yogurt and all the tasty sweetness of blueberries. Look for this snack in classic Greek yogurt as well as Strawberry!

Whole Wheat Chocolate Animal Cookies :: I had the vanilla ones last month, and these are just as good, but with a chocolate flavor, which makes them even better. I love the little farm animal shapes too. (: (I usually try to show a serving size for the pictures, but I got a little out of hand with this one because they are too cute.)

We started with a classic animal cookie and gave it an updated spin with premium ingredients including whole-wheat flour, cocoa powder and unsweetened chocolate. These perfectly chocolaty, perfectly crunchy Animal Cookies deliver the right amount of sweetness with a healthy dose of nostalgia.

Lemon Tea Biscuits :: I first had these back in May 2014, and they are just as cute, sweet, and delicious as I remember. they're so cute and little! these mini cookies have the perfect lemon tang cut with the buttery taste of shortbread.

It's 4:00pm and you're ready for afternoon tea. Or maybe it's only 10:00am and it's time for that pre-lunch pick-me-up. In either scenario, help yourself to these lightly lemony treats. They're decadent but they're bite-sized, so it's easy to portion them into snack-sized servings. Simply add them to your favorite scalloped saucer and serve them with a steaming cup of freshly-brewed green tea.

Cinnamon Yogurt Mini Grahams :: oh my gosh! I love these so much! the frosting that they are coated in reminds me of eating Cinnamon Toast Crunch when I was little!

Satisfy your sweet tooth with our Cinnamon Yogurt Mini Grahams. We started with classic graham crackers (in an irresistible mini size) and covered them with rich, creamy, slightly tangy yogurt coating. For a sweetly spiced finish, we sprinkled them with a dash of cinnamon.

Chocolate Peppermint Pretzel Pops :: I can't say that I was too impressed with these... I guess I'm not a big fan of the dark chocolate that they use because it seems so bitter.

The classic taste of the holidays comes together in our Chocolate Peppermint Pretzel Pops. First we take small batches of bite-sized pretzels and coat them in rich dark chocolate. Before we add the peppermint, we let these little guys rest so they stay crisp and crunchy. A little bit sweet, a little bit salty, completely delicious.

xoxo.

45/52 :: 2015

I'm still falling back into this normal schedule thing. it's less of a transition to go from mid-season to huge event to peak season than it is from peak season to event week to quiet season.

lots of dining room table shots this week, but I have some other ones I need to edit for some upcoming posts yet...

Thursday 5 November // day three hundred nine :: part of the mess on my dining room table. there is always at least one scarf. I really love that I could wear both of these at the same time and it wouldn't be too noticeable.

Friday 6 November // day three hundred ten :: starting to fill this journal with lists.

Saturday 7 November // day three hundred eleven :: a week-old unicorn. once last glimpse before it disappeared.

Sunday 8 November // day three hundred twelve :: it's always a joyous occasion when my NatureBox arrives! but it usually happens when I'm at work, so I don't look at it until the next day. (and that's a stack of preschool books because the lighting is best right there.)

Monday 9 November // day three hundred thirteen :: breakfast time.

Tuesday 10 November // day three hundred fourteen :: so in love with my new sunglasses! they fit my face so much better than my old Coach ones and I can see clearer in them too. (:

Wednesday 11 November // day three hundred fifteen :: leaving in the morning.

xoxo.