HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Hellooo!  So excited I've found a momentary lull in my crazy schedule to share a few things I love for Thanksgiving and wish you and yours a wonderful kick off to a holiday season filled with goodness and gratitude.

No better place to drink in fall than in Northern California and I'm excited to share my recent adventure in Napa Valley with you, hopefully next week.  Dreaming of  grape vines and cramming so much in before the end of the year and I have to say it is flying by! 

I hope these easy DIYs and beautiful tablescapes give you a little inspiration for the holiday. Follow along on Instagram to see my Thanksgiving table come to life.

Image and instructions via paper and lace and Vintage House

Image via my creative days

This and more via the sweetest occasion

Bar cart via the glitter guide

 
Via kaylie m. interiors

I loved my tablescape last Thanksgiving, if you missed it you can see it here. And my Thanksgiving Al Fresco here.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

BE WELL WEDNESDAY:

I love this concept of incorporating a few (12) detox tips into each day. It makes it doable, less overwhelming, and makes you mindful of your health on a daily basis. Which isn't easy for most of us running around doing a zillion things at once like crazy people.

1. Drink tons of water, make it fun with favorite bottles, take them with you, spruce it up with lemons, cucumbers, berries and mint. Drink, drink, drink! 
2. Dry brush your skin.
3. Drink plenty of tea, especially green for it's detoxifying benefits.
4. Move that body of yours, it's your one and only.
5. Eat at least one super food at each meal.
6. Include probiotic foods or take one in pill form.
7. Get enough sleep! (I need to do better with this one.)
8. Limit your TV and news in take, especially late at night.
9. Scrape your tongue.
10. Eat organic.
11. Incorporate fruits and veggies in smoothies and fresh squeezed juice.
12. Stay away from fast food, refined food, chemicalized food, fake food! You get the picture.

Have a Happy, Healthy Hump Day!

Read the full article on bembu and pinned to my Pinterest Health and Beauty Board.

TODAY IN THE KITCHEN:

Let's face it, no matter how healthy you eat, there is always room (cravings) for comfort food. And on top of that list is the ever satisfying (and fatty) Mac & Cheese. Although I always have an emergency Amy's Mac & Cheese in the freezer when I came across this mouth watering picture from damn delicious on Pinterest  I had to give the recipe a try. I tend to tweak recipes a bit, OK a lot, I'm a tweaker. So here is the original recipe and my 'tweeks' in blue for a healthier version.

8 ounces of pasta shells

8 ounces quinoa/brown rice pasta 

3 cups broccoli florets

3/4 cup milk

3/4 cup almond milk

1/4 cup julienned sun tried tomatoes

I buy them in a jar from Trader Joe's 

6 ounces Laughing Cow Light Cheese Wedges

6 ounces non dairy cheese or sometimes a mix of non dairy and real

2 cups shredded chicken breast

Kosher salt and fresh pepper to taste

Pink Himalayan salt

Gluten free bread crumbs

While the pasta cooks whisk milk, sun dried tomatoes, and cheese until melted smooth. Add the broccoli to the pasta water about 5 minutes before you're ready to drain it. Then I put it all in one baking dish and sprinkle bread crumbs on top and put it in the oven until the top gets crispy. Yummo!

It's mac & cheese from drabulous to fabulous!

LET'S DO LUNCH:

I love lunch and lunch in Los Angeles is its own institution. And it pretty much goes on all day. Doesn't anyone work!?! In a town full of entrepreneurs and creative types lunch for most people isn't just about the food, it's about the vibe, seeing people and being seen and wheelin' and dealin'. But guess what? For me it's really about the food! Eating it and photographing it. So if you live in LA or are visiting here are some great places to do lunch, outside of course!

One of my favorites, my mouth is watering just writing about it, is Mauros Cafe at Fred Siegels 8112 Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood. The Fred's Pasta is scrumptious and you can get it gluten free!

Another favorite, (I will probably say that about all of them), if you're in the downtown area is Bottega Louie, 700 South Grand Avenue, famous for their amazing macaroons and deserts. The Saturday vibe here is great and the food is fantastic. Here's my favorite, the walnut salad and the best potatoe pancakes you'll ever have anywhere, crazy combo, but hey it's all about balance.

A valley favorite spot on a quant little stretch called Little Tujunga is Aroma Coffee and  Tea, 4360Tujunga Avenue Studio City. It's one big garden space and the food is amazing. 

Zinque, 8684 Melrose Avenue, has my favorite rice bowl, I have even tried to recreated it at home, it's not as good but it's close. Brown rice, spring salad mix, roast chicken slices, shaved Pecorino Romano cheese and organic Chipotle Ranch Dressing. Fast, easy and delicous!

This is the Zinque patio, it's beautiful and never, ever empty, except on this day when it happened to be 100 degrees. A one time photo opp!

This is the interior of Gracias Madre a plant based Mexican Restaurant at 8684 Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood. And you'd never know it was vegan by the food in fact I think I don't have a picture of any food because it just gets devoured too fast!  Best guacamole anywhere.

No frills and fast yet healthy is Champagne French Bakery and Cafe 8919 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood. A good place to work too, they have wifi.

Another very quant 'order and take a number' yummy lunch spot is Food Lab 

7253 Santa Monica Blvd. West Hollywood and 3206 W. Sunset in Silver Lake. Their moto is EAT . DRINK . SMILE . LOVE. 

Le Pain Quotidien can actually be found all over the word and probably in your city. My favorite is at 4719 Commons Way in Calabasas. It's beautiful and built around a huge fountain, and we're kind of addicted to their banana cranola, quinoa spelt scones and chia pudding. (Oy I'm so LA!) 

Urth Caffe is another lovely place with great food. There are many of them and they all have found unique locations in old tiled buildings, my favorites are the one downtown in the Arts District at 451 South Hewitt Street, the one in West Hollywood at 565 Melrose Avenue and the one in Pasadena at 594 East Colorado Street.

Have I made you hungry yet?  I'm off to the kitchen!  For more on my foodie adventures follow along on instagram and my hashtag ~ #busydaysdeservecafes.

BON APPATITE!