super bowl eats

It's Wednesday which means my Super Bowl planning is going into high gear! This year, I am hosting a little get-together and am so excited! It's going to be potluck style so the food prep will be distributed among myself and my friends. I've been scouring Pinterest for the past week for yummy--but most of all, easy--recipes to whip up for the big day. Below are a few of my favorites. I'm pretty sure many will make an appearance in some form or fashion at the party--can't wait to dig in! Are you planning a Super Bowl watch party? What are your favorite football foods? xo.

Skinny Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip via Skinny Taste 

Pepperoni Pizza Monkey Bread via Confections of a Foodie Bride

Nacho Bar via Your Homebased Mom

Football Whoopie Pies via Make Merry; Pulled Pork Sliders via Dishing With Leslie

Skinny Beer-garitas via Eat Yourself Skinny

what's in my pantry?

It's been a while it seems since I have written a food-related post. Life has gotten in the way, which isn't a bad thing, and so my kitchen adventures have been not quite blog-worthy. However, in an effort to overhaul the hubs and my eating habits in favor of healthier selections, I've found some yummy snacks and food items that are healthier choices but still very satisfying! Take a peek into my pantry to see my must-haves this month. I'm not sure how often these will change but I'll be sure to share when they do! Also, please feel free to share some of your favorite healthy snacks/meals in a comment below.  xo.

1. earnest eats superfood trail mix granola bars are one of my new favorite grab-and-go snacks! With wholesome ingredients with none of that artificial stuff, I feel satisfied when an afternoon craving hits.

2. Almond Nut Thins are an obsession. Not only are they gluten free, but they are light and crispy and perfect dippers for hummus! They come in several flavors but I prefer the original.

3. This white balsamic & honey salad dressing is fabulous! I am not normally a salad person and am especially picky when it comes to dressings, but I think this is the only one I'll ever need. Flavorful and light, you don't need much to give a boring salad a good kick!

4. Lately, I've vowed to reduce dairy intake after reading/hearing from multiple sources that it is not necessary to a healthy diet. After having a delicious coffee and coconut milk drink at the new coffee shop down the street, Brewed, I decided to purchase this delightful drink for myself to mix with the occasional morning coffee. So. Good!

5. When a food craving hits right before mealtime, I pop a piece of gum to tide me over until it's actually time to eat. It really helps to keep me from too much snacking.

6. Bananas aren't really "new" for me, but I did go a few weeks without buying them so I added them back to the grocery list as a quick and healthy addition to breakfast or lunch.

7. My hubs and I decided to give the "gluten free" thing a try after he was experiencing a sensitive stomach. Though neither of us are diagnosed with Celiac disease, it has helped us discover new foods we wouldn't have normally tried, such as this gluten-free quinoa spaghetti! It tastes the exact same as normal spaghetti so we've made it a permanent staple.

8. I like to keep trail mix on hand when I need a little sweet and salty fix. This cranberry mix from Target is my favorite! Plus, I think it is one of the only ones that does not have ingredients that contain gluten.

9. Pears are a new fruit addition to the grocery list and have slowly replaced apples. Don't get me wrong--apples are wonderful but after many months of the same thing, it's nice to shake things up a bit! Plus they have tons of healthy fiber.

10. These cranberry bars have to be my number one favorite snack these days! My mom introduced them to me recently and I can't get enough! They are a delicious and filling breakfast packed with protein. What I especially love is that they contain a mere 7 ingredients. Wholesome and tasty!

treasure hunting

It is so thrilling and just plain fun to visit antique/vintage/junk shops in hopes of discovering something old that will get a new life in my home. A few weeks ago, I finally ventured out to Curiosities in Dallas [something I've been dying to do for months] and was amazed at the vast amount of inventory that they had! Admittedly, I was a bit overwhelmed but it was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Here are a few photos I took:

Since I left empty-handed, I still felt determined to find some new pieces to decorate with since the hubs and I decided to revamp our living room [I'll save the re-do photos for another post once everything is in place!] After mom and sister decided to visit me last weekend for a girl's shopping day, I did some digging and found a fun "junk" shop to explore much closer to home: Junker Val in Bluebonnet Circle, Fort Worth.

This place was a little piece of heaven! It was a much smaller and more manageable shop to navigate than Curiosities, with a bubbly shop owner who offered cookies/cake/wine/soda to all the visitors who wandered in the open front door. I purchased three items that I am so excited about! A silver tray [$5], a gold piggy to hold my rings [$5] and a vintage photo of the Dallas skyline [$10]. This is definitely a place I plan to frequent more often! If you plan to visit, note that this is a cash only business. If you are a klutz like me, I've learned it's best to wear a slim cross-body style purse as opposed to a large bag to avoid knocking over breakables.

Do you like to treasure hunt? What are some fun things you have found or places you've visited? xo.