Monday, April 30, 2012
For the Love of Oil
More to come soon...
Friday, April 27, 2012
I Pink Puffy Heart Essie Nail Polish
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Strawberry Salad with Goat Cheese + Avocado
Next to my beloved Caprese, this is the second best salad EVER. It's a little sweet and a little savory with A LOT of goodness. Tangy goat cheese adds some fresh creaminess and chopped avocado is the most surprising bite of the bunch! I top it all off with a light and easy balsamic vinaigrette. Add some shredded chicken to the mix and you have a complete meal.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Stop and Smell the Roses: Week 9, Vol. 6
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Mint Chimichurri
Monday, April 23, 2012
Weekly Eats
Friday, April 20, 2012
Recipe Review: Paleo Farmer's/Shepherd's Pie
Thursday, April 19, 2012
La Obsession: La Croix Coconut
Charred Sweet Potato Salad with Cilantro + Lime
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Stop and Smell the Roses: Week 8, Vol. 5
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Amaretto Creme Brulee
If there is a dessert of the Angels, I believe Creme Brulee would be it. A creamy, dreamy cloud made of custard topped with caramelized and toasty sugar and a few bites of fresh berries? My taste buds tell me it's heaven on earth. Normally, this dessert is consumed on a certain special occasion and time: at approximately 1:30 or 2:00am on Christmas Eve, after midnight mass at the Nido house. I'm not sure when my dad started this tradition but it's just what we do. And I love it.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Weekly Eats
TOMS Books for Bloggers WINNER!
Friday, April 13, 2012
T.G.I.F.F. (Thank God I Found Firefly)
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Foodie Finds
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Stop and Smell the Roses: Volume 4
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
TOMS Books for Bloggers + A Chance to Win!
I remember the first time that I spotted a pair of TOMS shoes. I was in college, and while walking King Street in downtown Boone, I spotted a pair in a tiny boutique. I was immediately intrigued. Cute, comfy shoes that gave back? A brilliant idea in my mind! Because I can never make up my mind, it took me nearly four years to finally decide on the perfect pair for me. A pair of TOMS was delivered to my doorstep back in October and they have been adding some extra glitter to my days ever since.
Shortly after I purchased my TOMS, I was selected to be a part of the Books for Blogger program. This program was created to raise publicity for Blake's book because, in keeping with his "one for one" theme, for every copy of his book sold, a new book would be provided for a child in need. I just finished reading "Start Something That Matters" and my mind was blown. Blake's story is inspiring, eye-opening, and full of GOOD. In his book, he highlights the steps that made him successful and how you, too, can follow your passion and do something with it. I am never one to hide my inner nerd, as I found myself reading with a fresh pack of Post-it tabs in hand so that I could mark things I wanted to remember later. And when I misplaced my Post-its, I turned to the "dog ear" on the corners of each page.
"The more strongly you feel about what you do, the more likely you are to push yourself to be good at it and find a way to make a success of it. If you organize your life around your passion, you can turn your passion into your story and then turn your story into something bigger- something that matters."
Blake didn't compromise who he is as a person, or any of his values. He didn't start TOMS with the mindset of making it something huge or becoming the wealthiest man on the planet. He found his passion, and figured out a way to make it into a career. He tells his story through his work and his work is not work, it's who he is and what he stands for. Blake is an outstanding person with a passion for life and a bright, entrepreneurial spirit that is contagious.
" If it isn't clear already, I firmly believe that every person alive can make this world a better place"
Start Something that Matters is an outstanding read. I love stories that ignite a fire inside of me and this book did just that. We all need that extra push from time to time and I opened the pages of this book at the exact moment that I needed to. I highly recommend this book to anyone with a heart- it's that good. I also highly recommend TOMS shoes. I love my comfy go-to kicks and we all know that glitter makes everything better. It's not everyday that you see someone be-bopping around town in bright, glittered shoes. I get stopped every time I wear them which gives me the opportunity to tell the TOMS story. A story I now know the ins and outs of, and one that touches my heart and makes me want to start something of my own.
Today, April 10, TOMS is spreading awareness "of the impact a pair of shoes can have on a child's life by taking off our own". Visit www.onedaywithoutshoes.com to find more information.
As part of the TOMS Books for Bloggers program, I have another copy of Start Something That Matters to give to one of you! I'm so excited for the chance to share this great book with one of my lucky readers. All you need to do is enter below and leave a comment on this post letting me know that you want to win! The giveaway will be open through April 14, 2012.
Additionally, as a little something fun, if you have a pair of TOMS and love them, let me know! Either e-mail (ninalovesfood@gmail.com) or tweet (@ladolcevitanina) me a picture! I'll put together a little collage filled with TOMS love that will be posted when I announce the winner, next Monday, April 16.
I truly believe that we all have it in us to start something that matters. Good luck and thank you again to all of you, from the bottom of my heart, for reading my tiny nugget of the internet.
*Thoughts and opinions in this post are completely my own. In keeping with their core value, TOMS provided two copies of the book, one to keep, and one to giveaway.