Greetings, friends! How ya holding up?

No matter what feelings you’re currently experiencing, I hope you are breathing through it and leaning on the tools you always have available (gratitude practice, movement, loved ones, meditation, journaling…) and remembering to check in with yourself.

As always, I hope these posts take your mind off some of the heavier things and inspire you to find or create some extra joy in your day-to-day.

We’ve got a lot of fall flavors and cozy vibes here today, so I have a feeling it’ll help do just that. 🙂

Let’s jump in, shall we?

Eats

Apple Cinnamon Swirl Bread

I kept reading RAVE reviews on this new addition to Hummusapien’s awesome quick bread arsenal so I knew I had to make it. Especially because we currently have too many apples to handle in our house (might have gone a bit crazy on the farm trips this fall). This was so cozy and delicious and went marvelously with coffee. Also it seemed to only get better with each day, so if you can resist, I recommend baking it up the night before consuming!

Pumpkin Chia Pudding

I found this recipe on an old Hummusapien post where she gave some extra ideas for using up leftover pumpkin (you know that awkward amount that somehow always remains in the can after baking?) The recipe is:

Mix together 1/4 cup canned pumpkin, 1/2 cup almond milk, 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice, 2 tbsp chia seeds, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 1 tbsp pure maple syrup. Let it all sit overnight and enjoy in the morning.

I decided to use half a mashed banana in lieu of the maple syrup and added a scoop of almond butter in the morning. Delicious! 🙂

Pumpkin Oatmeal Pancakes

I for sure have shared these before, and they remain one of my all-time favorite fall breakfasts. Also love that they’re made in a blender for easy clean-up and quick prep. I always add chocolate chips and serve with almond butter and maple syrup. So cozy, so fall. <3

Pumpkin Smoothie Bowl 

Another repeat offender hehe. I LOVE this smoothie bowl. Wonderful for those not-too-cold fall days when you are craving the fall flavors but also want a cold smoothie. Or if you’re like me and choose to eat this on freezing cold mornings, wrapped in a blanket burrito-style and chasing with green tea. No judgment here. 🙂 I turn this into a bowl by adding some frozen cauliflower for added bulk (sometimes replace with frozen spinach, but that turns the color of the smoothie green!), decreasing the almond milk a bit, and topping with cacao nibs, coconut flakes, chia seeds, or whatever floats my boat.

 

Honey Mustard Chicken Drumsticks + Broccoli Slaw Salad + Roasted Maple Acorn Squash

I’ve made the broccoli slaw this way many times in the past (no tofu), but the other two were first times for me. In fact, I think this was my first time ever cooking drumsticks and acorn squash! It ended up being an awesome combination, and everything was so flavorful. I’m currently having a moment with squash, and I love it as a super simple fall side dish.

Pumpkin Bars

One of my all-time favorite recipes. I think I’ve made this every year for the past 6 years or so, and it’s never disappointing. I love how easy and nutritious these are too, but you’d never know with how indulgent they taste! Kinda like a cross between a blondie and pumpkin pie.

Movement

32 minute hiit – one of my favorites for a quick workout that packs a sweaty punch

This 30 minute grounding yoga routine + this 30 minute stretching routine (perfect for a sore slow-paced day)

1 hour power yoga for strength (one of my FAVES and really intense!)

Dance Party in my room + this 10 minute waist Pilates + this 15 minute abs Pilates w/ TikTok hits

This 25 minute super-fun hiit routine + this 15 minute thigh Pilates w/ TikTok hits

 

Currently

Reading:

Everything is Figureoutable – I’m LOVING this book by the one and only Marie Forleo. It’s honestly everything I need right now, and it’s really helping me reclaim a sense of empowerment in this really uncertain confusing time.

Watching:

Kiki’s Delivery Service – I watched this last weekend for the first time, and again, it felt like precisely what I needed at this specific time in my life. In the movie, Kiki is a witch who suddenly loses her powers and needs to figure out how to get them back. The advice she gets from a painter is pretty much the exact same advice someone very dear to me gave me recently about reconnecting to creativity. Love when that happens 🙂

SNL is always a good time. I got a kick out of this New York PSA (and it might have also made me a bit emotional hehe)

Loving:

Central Park – I came to Central Park this past weekend for the first time since last December (!) to meet up with a good friend, and it was so lovely. The fall colors are still popping, and it was just really nice to see the life and energy going strong in my lovely city. Also, we were here on Halloween, and a definite highlight was seeing a banana zoom past on a bicycle (#justnycthings)

Levain Bakery – If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know how I feel about this legendary bakery serving up the best chocolate chip cookies in the city. I have so many memories associated with these cookies, and it’s been around a year since I had them last, so I was so glad we decided to combine this with our walk through Central Park.

Paired with my pumpkin spice almond milk latte from Black Press Coffee and bundled up in my warm jacket on a bench in Central Park, it was the perfect joy moment. <3

 

Hope this brought some joy and/or inspiration to you today. And I hope your week includes something delicious, joyful, and sweet. <3

Sending all the love and hugs.