Thursday, December 31, 2015

2015


"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art - write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself." - Neil Gaiman

Happy New Year

Friday, December 11, 2015

breakfast "cookies"


Need a quick breakfast fix, or even late night treat? Look no further, I have the perfect recipe for you!

Ingredients

- 2 medium sized bananas
-1 cup old fashioned oats
-1/4 cup semi- sweet chocolate chips
-Cinnamon (optional)
-Almonds (optional)
-Walnuts (optional)


Materials Needed
-Parchment Paper
-Cookie Sheet
-Mixing Bowl


Instructions

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees

-Line your cookie sheet with Parchment paper 

-Measure out the oats and put into a large mixing bowl

-Peel your bananas and break them off into little chunks. Place in the mixing bowl with the oats

 *The best bananas for this recipe are the bananas that are usually too ripe to eat raw*

-Use your hands to mix both the ingredients together. 

*the ratio for this recipe is usually for every 2 bananas use 1 cup of oats. However, depending on the size of the bananas, you may need a little more oats. I usually find myself using about 1 1/2 cups of oats*

-Once you reach the right consistency with the mix, add and mix in the chocolate chips.

-Now start forming your batter into little balls to place on the lined cookie sheet. 

-Once you have placed the balls on the cookie sheet make sure to press down to flatten into a little pancake shape. Since there is no baking soda in this recipe, the balled mixture will not flatten naturally in the oven.

*Optional Step - When you're all done flattening your breakfast treats, sprinkle a little bit of cinnamon, and finely chopped almonds and walnuts over each cookie.

-Depending on how crisp you like your "cookies" place in oven for about 10-15 minutes
*I usually do a happy medium of 13 minutes or so*

-Pour yourself a glass of nut milk and boom! You have yourself a nice little, and fairly healthy "cookie"

Enjoy!


*Shout out to my old college roomie Mel for showing me this recipe all those years ago ;) *

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Marfa or Bust



"Marfa: Tough to get to. Tougher to explain. But once you get here, you get it." 

___________


After posting a few pictures on Instagram of my mini-vacation, I have had a lot of questions about my recent trip to Marfa, Texas! So I figured I would write a little post of places we ate, stayed and wandered.




Eat

El Cochineal // Definitely on the pricier side, however well worth the splurge! I recommend making a reservation first thing in the morning to guarantee a table.


Beer Garden // Great place for beer, hot dogs, and nachos. Not to mention, great wait staff and customer service.


Marfa Burrito // I mean, the name basically says it all. Make sure to brush up on your Spanish skills before-hand! Or if all else fails, order the Primo...you can't go wrong. (Other fun fact: Matthew McConaughey has been here, and his pictures are all over the walls!)

Food Shark // Great little food truck, with some delicious falafel wraps!






Stay

El Cosmico // We stayed in one of the Safari Tents one night, and the Little Pinky trailer another night. When staying in tents keep in mind that you will be using the community bathrooms, so make sure to bring your personal toiletries to freshen up in the showers. If you're more on the modest side, try upgrading to the trailers! Our's had a personal heated "out-house" and outside shower.

Other places to stay include the Thunderbird Hotel, and The Hotel Paisano






Wander

Prada Installation (Valentine, Texas) // Need I say more?

Marfa Lights // You can't go all the way to Marfa and not see the infamous mystery lights

Chinati Foundation // If you're looking for something to do outside (and free), check out the Donald Judd 15 Untitled Works in Concrete





Helpful Travel Tips

- Bring snacks - Although many restaurants state their hours of operation, we figured out the hard way that they are more of a suggestion than actual set times. Make sure to bring little snacks (or meals) to munch on throughout your stay.

-Bring a flashlight - Definitely would have been helpful to navigate throughout the campgrounds at night time! 

- Bring warm clothes - Obviously there is no source of electric heat in the tent, so bring warm pajamas to layer up with if you plan to visit in the Fall/Winter.




Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Giving Tuesday 2015


Celebrate Giving Tuesday by giving a little piece of hope to those in need. Help give the gift of clean water by donating directly to our Little Pieces of Hope + Charity:Water Campaign page. 100% of your donation will fund water projects for families in need. 

Be the change you wish to see in the world, and give a little piece of hope to those in need this Holiday season.

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Little Pieces of Hope - Holiday 2015




                                         Picture 1                                                     Picture 2                                                                Picture 3


The Little Pieces of Hope Holiday Collection is finally here! This collection is all about going home. Whether home is the childhood house you grew up in, or your new apartment crammed with your closest friends. It's all about getting cozy and spending time with the ones you love. Take a peek at our Holiday Flipagram here!


Friday, November 13, 2015

Marfa Bound





Guess who is finally headed to Marfa, Texas?! This girl! Can't wait to drive west and see them Marfa Lights!

Outfit Details 
Jacket // Madewell
Hat // Goorin Bros
Jeans// Madewell

Thursday, November 5, 2015


Bra // Free People 
Waffle Tee // Mint Clothing from Still & Sea (Austin)
Cutoffs // Tula (Fort Collins)
Booties // Jeffrey Campbell 

__________________________

Need this Waffle Tee in your life? Head over to the Still & Sea website and use our exclusive coupon code. Before checking out, type in "LPOH10" and save 10% on your entire shopping cart! The best part about it... the code never expires! Great way to knock out some Christmas gifts, or even treat yourself to a little summin' summin'. 

Friday, October 30, 2015

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Mongolia : Day 5



After a night of discoing in Moren, we thankfully made it out alive, and on time, for breakfast the next morning. Once we finished our last meal in our "dreamy" hotel, we packed up the van and headed to the infamous Uushig Deer Stones. These Deer Stones, generally made from granite or greenstone, are said to be approximately 3000 years old, and in association with burial mounds. From what I gathered, very little is known about the deer stones' exact age, function and meaning.



In one sense, my first-world mind was thinking as walking throughout the site, "How can something this valuable and full of history be outside without any sort of protection against erosion, or sun-damage!?" Then the other part of me, the one getting used to all this adventure, couldn't imagine these stones to be anywhere else. It was beautiful to admire these historical stones amid the natural Mongolian scenery, at the original location site rather than a museum.


After admiring the deer stones, and snapping a few pictures, we made our way to Toilogt Camp on Lake Huvsgul. 


I honestly, don't even know where to begin when describing this camp site. First of all...the teepees. Like, whaaaat?! They were amazing, inside and out. Ours even had a little prairie dog who lived below our floor. (I know, sounds cute... at first. Then once it was bedtime, and we turned the lights off I could hear it scurrying all around. Truth be told, I have no idea if it was scurrying around inside or underneath our teepee. Either way I was not a fan. Not only do I have terrible night vision, but I also have a vivid imagination. I just imagined waking up with this thing right next to my face, or underneath my covers. Thankfully neither happened)


After getting settled into our teepee, we put on our tennis shoes and went out to explore what all the camp grounds had to offer. First stop...the lake!

                             My very own Cairn, built by yours truly






Lake Huvsgul is the second largest lake in Mongolia, and the world's 14th largest source of fresh water. Not to mention it was COLD! It was so cold that we actually used it as a freezer, as we put a few of our beers and cola's in there to chill before drinking.

                                    Mother Nature's Freezer

As it started getting later into the evening, we decided to walk around the little trails to get some fresh Mongolian air. Each day I found myself falling more and more in love with nature. Which was kind of surprising because I never really considered myself to be an "outdoorsy type".

                            Snapshot from our evening walk among the forest


Another thing I loved about this campsite besides all the activities, (and the hot showers) were the people. Not only were the camp staff amazing, but all the people traveling through were so awesome. I loved hearing everyone's travel stories, and how they ended up in Mongolia. The reason behind people's travels are all so intimate and personal. I loved being able to connect with people I literally just met, on such a deep level. 



After a nice long, hot shower, I ran back to my teepee and snuggled up in the covers. You know those moments in life where you take a still shot in your mind, and tell yourself "don't ever forget this moment." This was one of them. 

As I went to bed that night, I was smiling from ear to ear. I first of all still couldn't believe I was in Mongolia, and secondly sleeping in a freakin' teepee. I was surrounded by the most beautiful scenery I had ever seen in my life, and people who I had grown to deeply love and care for. What could be better? All my wildest dreams had come true. 

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Mongolia : Day 4



Day 4 started out a bit rainy, and cold. When our group met up for breakfast in the morning, everyone seemed a bit hesitant on whether or not to follow up with the plan of hiking to the extinct volcano of Uran. 

Thankfully, our group's thought process was "we didn't come all this way to NOT climb up to a volcano in the rain."

3 layers of clothing later, we were in the van heading towards the base of the volcano. 




Throughout our hike there were these beautiful pinkish, purple flowers that led up towards the crater. The juxtaposition between the bright colors, and the fog was absolutely beautiful! 


After 30 minutes of slipping and sliding around, our group made it to the top of the crater! We then proceeded to walk around the entirety of the ridge. I tried to take pictures, but it was just one of those moments where the pictures didn't do the scenery justice. So after a few attempts, I simply put away my camera and decided to enjoy what was right in front of me.




 The hike down with the wet mud, and tiny rocks definitely wasn't as easy as the trek up. Thank goodness for our trusty Drivers, and Guide Grace! 

 The view from our room in Moren

After an afternoon game of Volleyball at the ger camp at UranTogoo, we packed up the van and headed to our next destination in Moren. Our group was so excited as our guide, Grace, told us we were staying in a hotel. Immediately everyone's eyes lit up imaging a hot shower, electricity and wait for it...WIFI! It became a joke within our group as everyone was more excited for wifi than a hot shower. However, the hotel wasn't as dreamy as we thought it would be.

 My sister and I walked into our room and couldn't help but laugh in fear. (I say fear, but I'm slightly exaggerating. It was more of just a culture shock) The room was scented of cigarette smoke, and dust. The carpets were a bit grimy, to the point where Hannah and I didn't take off our shoes the entire stay. Sadly, the hot showers we were dreaming about was exactly that...a dream. The electricity was shut off for the day, leaving us with no hot water. However, I needed to shower...and might I add badly.

This was a moment of the trip I will never forget. I'll keep the story short, but I have never experienced a shower colder than this. As I was shrilling in the bathroom while attempting to wash off, my sister was in the other room saying in a condescending tone "You know Ceci, sometimes you are just going to have to take a cold shower." Little did she know, when it was her turn to shower how cold it really was. Luckily, I got to throw the same line she gave to me, right back at her. Sisterly love right there.



After dinner we had the choice of staying in the hotel room for the night, or going out to experience a Mongolian Disco. You can bet your bottom dollar we chose the second option. 

Hop to, we are at the "Mongolian Disco", which we all came to the conclusion we were just in someone's basement. However, we embraced the night out and took shots of the iconic Chinggis Khan Gold Vodka! Thanks to Chinggis, we all were able to have a good night's sleep in the not so ideal hotel room.

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I also want to add, that I say all of this with love and a smile. I am in no way shape or form complaining in regard to the hotel room, as it was one of those experiences where Hannah and I came out with a changed perception. I wanted to include the bit about the hotel to show that not everything in travel is glamorous or as expected, but in the end it is all worth it. This was one of those days where I was thankful I got to experience everything I did, especially with my sister. It made us appreciate the little things we had back at home, such as hot water and electricity, that not everywhere in the world has access to. 

All of a sudden all my emotional problems back at home, seemed like small potatoes compared to the situation at hand. I am forever grateful to have experienced this trip, and especially this day in particular, as it altered my perception in a way that I will never forget.