Santorini Dreamin...

For some reason my heart has just had this little desire to travel the world. Visiting Greece (specifically the island of Santorini) has been on my bucket list since I was 14... coincidentally the same time that I read "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" series for the first time, so if I said that I was inspired by something less laughable I would be lying.

Recently my need to travel has been at an all time high. I have been daydreaming about Greece for a week now. Any spare time I have I am looking at pictures, videos, vacation packages, and airline tickets. I literally get butterflies when I  see the pictures of the whitewashed buildings and caldera view.

Clint isn't 100% convinced but he's more open to the idea than I thought he would be. I have been calculating costs and timing for the trip over the past week so that I can create a business proposal to present to him because the guy's got the mind of a business man (but seriously, he takes a salesman's approach when we talk about big decisions. gets me every time).

I can't even describe my love for this place that I've never even been. Santorini has my heart and that blue water is calling my name.

...and also I want to ride one of those adorable donkeys. Saw it in a movie once.

Quinoa "Fried Rice" Recipe

Quinoa has a lot of great health benefits, but I had tried a few different recipes and wasn't a fan of anything I tried.  I mentioned this to my mother-in-law and she said she had used quinoa instead of rice to make a quinoa fried rice.

I bowed my head in shame. because I'm half Asian. And I should have thought of that.
or even at least half thought of that.

So on a whim one week night (and by whim I mean I didn't go grocery shopping or have any meals planned), I tried making up my own version of this quinoa fried rice and I loved it! The first time I made it I used half rice and half quinoa because as I mentioned, Clint and I were not big fans of the quinoa recipes I had tried in the past. I would definitely recommend that if you're hesitant about quinoa. I've made it multiple times since then without the rice and both ways are great.
(PS You pronounce it "Keen-Wah" if you're unfamiliar. Who even makes up words like that?)

I posted a picture of my the quinoa fried rice last month on instagram and got questions about the recipe, so today I finally actually measured it out (eh, sorta) so I have a recipe to share:

This recipe will make about 2-3 regular bowl sized servings:

2/3 cup of quinoa
1/2 TBSP sesame oil (olive oil will work too, but sesame adds great flavor)
1 cup of diced yellow onion (you can use white or purple as well)
3 cloves (or about 1 heaping TBSP) minced garlic
1.5 cups of other diced mixed veggies (I've used traditional fried rice type of veggies like carrots and broccoli, but today I also added diced red and orange bell peppers and mushrooms. If you're using frozen vegetables, make sure they're thawed out first.)
3 egg white, and 1 whole egg (don't use less, the eggs are the yummiest part!)
~2 TBSP sodium free soy sauce (plus or minus depending on your taste)
Optional: cooked chicken or diced ham

Start by cooking your 2/3 cups of quinoa (Double the amount of water than quinoa. Bring to a boil, then simmer with the lid on for about 15 minutes).

While that is cooking, add the sesame oil to a pan and allow it to heat up. Add the onion and cook for about 2 minutes until softened, then add the garlic and remaining vegetables (if you are using vegetables that take longer to cook such as bell peppers, just add them in with the onion). Once all vegetables are cooked, move them to the side of the pan and add eggs. Once the eggs begin cooking, mix them in with the vegetables.

Once your quinoa is done cooking, add it in the pan with your veggies. If you are using any sort of meat (I have used both chicken and ham) put it in now as well. Add in the soy sauce and stir all together.

And there it is.

The 18 Tosh Truths

1. Some good old fashioned girl talk/girl time throughout your entire life until your 99 (I'm talkin' Golden Girls' Style) is one of the 5 essentials of life. The other 4 are food, water... stuff like that.

2. Taking the extra time on yourself to get ready every.single.day is 100% necessary. Only good things can come from feeling good about yourself.

You're basically killing 67 birds with one stone. and a good lipgloss.

3. Soulmate friends are real things. And you should find them because they're the best kinds.

4. Developing a habit of healthy eating, exercise and an overall active lifestyle is one of the best things you can ever do for yourself, your family, your body, and your happiness.

5. ... and even thought healthy eating habits are the goal, occasionally unhealthy food is totally necessary. preach. 

6. Unicorns have existed at one point in time. I just have this gut feeling.

7. "Happy is the man who can brush aside the offending remarks of another and go on his way." Gordon B. Hinckley

8. If you don't make yourself laugh in your head at least 5 times a day, you need to figure out how to be funnier. Even if no one else thinks you are.

If you can't figure out how to be funnier, just watch Ellen and live vicariously through her.

9. The best way to feel good about the person you are is to regularly evaluate your personality and actions, and be honest with yourself about what you can work on without justifying anything.

10. Shaving your legs is only necessary once a week before church. Sometimes less.

11. Having siblings you are close to is one of the very best things in the world.

12. "Don't complain about something you're not willing to work hard to change."
Your habits, your body, your marriage, your spirituality, your messy room, your happiness... this can apply to everything and it's given me a new perspective on a lot of things in my life.

13. Sometimes comfort zones are ok... What I'm referring to currently is that short hair is just not me. never again, man. I reallllly miss my long hair.

14. You always feel your best in a dress and heels.

Unless you're a guy.

15. When people don't like Taylor Swift I just don't really understand anything about them as a person. As hard as I try.

[Remember that I over-exaggerate my feelings a little sometimes. but really you should reconsider]

15.  You have to surround yourself only with people who lift you up and inspire you. There are too many good, creative, strong, beautiful people in the world to surround yourself with those who don't.

16. A day at the ocean can clear your head of anything.

17. The hugging type of people are always the best kind of people. Plus I legitimately don't really know how to communicate with people who aren't the type.

18. "Always be kinder than you feel."

xo
Tosh