Most Popular Recipes of 2015 and Hello 2016

posted on December 31, 2015

Wow what a year right!? I can and cannot believe another whole 365 days has gone by in the blink of an eye. I’ve realized the older I get, summer breaks aren’t really that long, winter break isn’t as long as it once seemed, and being 21 literally feels like yesterday. Like literally. When I look back at all the occurrences in my life I’m just baffled at how fast life really moves no matter what. I mean, don’t get me wrong, life is long, or can be long, but it just feels so surreal looking back. I remember what my grandmother’s house smelled like when she was cooking dinner every night at 6pm and everyone smoked cigarettes, while coffee was brewing years ago. Or how I drank before I was 21, never got sick but threw up on my 21st birthday because I drank too much. How ironic.

Each year that has passed posed new challenges, endings, and also brought new beginnings. Some I’m grateful for, others I’m like eh, I could of done without that but shit happens. Everyday we roll with the punches of life and grow up to realize it’s a humbling yet amazing process. Struggles lead to success, where there is darkness there’s light, and all those metaphors.

This is the end to just one of the many many years of blogging for me. Before I started blogging I just Instagrammed. Yes, I’m an Instagrammer. That means I am plugged in 24/7 posting awesome new content (or at least trying to) on my Instagram feed. Which by the by I’m truly grateful for because it has led me to some incredible opportunities. Like launching my Dessert App, being featured in two huge magazines, networking with great companies, and making some lifelong friends along the way. But blogging is not in any way easy. People assume, and I use that word freely, that when you blog, you’re instantly amazing and making pounds of moola. I so wish that were the case. 😩 However, I’ve learned that taking small steps towards my larger goals are important rather than trifling through shit without any clear thought. 2015 has taught me how to find patience, how to listen, and how remain true to myself.

This past year I learned a lot about my own health. I learned where I needed to make changes, how to sleep better and make an organized game plan for myself so I wouldn’t end up in complete exhaustion… During the year I was a true hot yoga junkie. I went almost every day until my hair started falling out. Since becoming plant based and gmo free, my hair has grown more so than when I was a teenager. My hair never grew for me in my twenties. Anyway, so when my hair started falling out I completely freaked out. It wasn’t falling out from the root but it thinned out so much I went to 3 of my doctors. I did all the blood work, and blah blah, I was certain something was wrong with my thyroid but nada. All came back good. However I still felt something was not right and so I spoke to my TCM doc. We both realized it was adrenal fatigue. Well almost. Hot yoga wasn’t the main cause of my hair thinning but it played a huge factor because it was depleting me and exhausting me while I was already exhausted and didn’t know it. And yes I kept hydrated and drank plenty of fluids before class after class. I was drinking 128oz of water a day plus green juices, smoothies, eating healthy but losing no weight. In life we just get up everyday and do what we have to do as people, as parents. We get up even when we’re tired and hustle through our shit. So I had to stop doing hot yoga and any extensive workouts to restore my body, energy, mind, and spirit. There is still so much to learn and I embrace 2016 with open arms and welcome all the positivity it has to offer and all the amazing experiences that will come with it.

2015 may have been rough around the edges but it was a year of learning and open minded-ness. It’s brought an abundance of knowledge. I want you all to take from 2015 your best, happiest moments, put them in your pocket, keep them, and walk into 2016 with a fresh pair of shoes, and a fabulous outlook on life.

Now without further ado here are my most popular recipes from 2015, my first year in blogging! I’m so grateful for all the support from my readers and followers. I hope I am as much an inspiration to you as you are to me. Have a healthy and utterly Happy New Year. Cheers to 2016 my friends, let’s make this a good one. 🍻