On my horizon

Happy Wednesday, y'all! I am so excited for Thanksgiving tomorrow!!! Any holiday solely devoted to carbs and eating is a-ok in my book! I love spending dedicated time with my family, and it makes me oh so happy to get everyone in the same place at the same time. Because Thanksgiving is so heavily on my mind, I decided to dedicate this post entirely to a Thanksgiving theme! So here's what's on my horizon this week...

1. Unplugged Holidays

Every day I have been more and more aware of my dependence on my phone. I always find myself holding it, checking it, and constantly having to know where it is. I am sure some of y'all know the feeling I'm talking about that you get in the pit of your stomach when you can't find your phone. It's a terrible attachment to have and I am quite honestly embarrassed by it. I like to be wholly in the moment when I am with people I care about and I don't like to be distracted by my compulsion to check my technology. Because the holidays are supposed to be about family and quality time, I have made the decision to go "unplugged" and be without my technology on Thursday. And keeping in the theme of being wholly present with my family, I am going to be "unplugged" from posting as well through the remainder of the weekend. So look out for one hefty weekend recap at the beginning of next week! :-)

2. Thanksgiving Tablescapes 

My Pinterest feed has been bursting with yummy Thanksgiving recipes and decorations, as I'm sure your is as well. One of the things that has been catching my eye are the beautiful table arrangements and place settings! I will probably not be hosting my first Thanksgiving for a while, but it doesn't keep me from looking at what others have done for ideas. I have a collection of my favorites on my Pinterest board, but I'd like to share a few top contenders here with y'all!

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3. Black Friday Shopping

Recently, I have realized that Black Friday has become a strategy game. Over the past five years, the experience has changed for me. There are so many people out to take advantage of the great deals, I think you have to be extremely strategic if you are going to go out to fight the crowds and get the items you want. Thankfully, many stores have given you the option to get the savings simply by shopping online in the comfort of your home. How amazing is that?! I haven't decided if I am brave enough to fight the crowds this year, but I do have a few places I am going to check out {whether online or in person} this Black Friday. I love to get my Christmas gifts early when there are still plenty of sizes/colors available. Plus, I just like to check people off my list early so I don't have to stress about it later! That helps me to better enjoy the holiday season.  I definitely want to check out J.Crew, Target, Brooks Brothers, Best Buy, The Body Shop, and Loft.

Where are you shopping on Black Friday? Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year? Do you choose to unplug around the holidays? Please share your thoughts in a comment below!

Weekend Recap

Happy Monday! This weekend was quite a whirlwind. I had an amazing surprise at the end of the week- my sister and brother-in-law planned a trip to come visit for the weekend!!! This was great news for me, as it had been since July since I had seen them. Far too long, in my opinion. They got up here late on Friday night- leaving me just enough time to pop up to Pentagon City mall to take advantage of The Body Shop's latest deal. They are currently offering buy 3, get 3 free! I just discovered this gem in June, and absolutely love their products. I use the seaweed skin care collection and think that is has done wonders with my combination skin! I am a huge fan of the fact that they offer natural products, do not animal test, and are very environmentally friendly. If you haven't checked out their stuff yet, I suggest you take a peek!

Saturday, we headed over to Annapolis to do a little shopping and attend the Georgia Southern/Navy football game! My sister and her hubby both attended GSU- so it was exciting to go cheer on the Eagles with them! It was an unfavorable outcome for our team but I think we all had a wonderful time. I know I did! Before the game, we wandered around the streets of Annapolis and enjoyed the view into the harbor. It was absolutely dreamy over there and I got some awesome photos to share with y'all. All of the boutiques along the streets were stocked with cute items, the food was great, and the atmosphere was just perfect. There were people stopped all around with easels set up to paint the scenery- I'm not exaggerating how picturesque it is! One of my favorite things we did was stop by a gourmet oil and vinegar taproom, Seasons. It was really neat to taste the different flavors and hear tips on how to cook with them. I ended up coming home with the Red Apple Balsamic Vinegar. I'm looking forward to using it with salads and maybe some marinades. Stay tuned for exactly how I will be using it! In addition to these great events, my alma mater beat Clemson! {I was that annoying fan who made the waiter change the tv to my team where we ate lunch!!}

Gorgeous view out onto the water!

Loved this hat! They were all over the stadium.

I couldn't pass up a good foliage photo.

On Sunday morning I dropped my beloved guests at the airport to send them back to Georgia. Time really does fly by when you're having fun! Thankfully, I will be getting to see them next week for Thanksgiving so it won't be a terribly long time in between visits! I had the best lazy Sunday after church and then went out for a send off party for a girlfriend who is moving. We went to True Food Kitchen in the Mosaic district in Fairfax. I had the most adorably named drink {which was also DELICIOUS} called "spontaneous happiness." I am trying to figure out how to make it at home, hopefully I will be able to recreate it! I also had spaghetti squash casserole for the first time and loved it! I am a huge pasta fan, and although it couldn't permanently replace my pasta, the spaghetti squash "noodles" were really yummy!

What did you do this weekend? Any exciting football scores with your teams? Have you tried any new restaurants lately?

4 Workout Essentials

Lately, I have been chasing after that elusive "runner's high". I hear people talk about it, but I am beginning to think I was not blessed with the ability to reach it. "Just get past the first mile!" they say. "You'll hit 5 miles before you know it!" they encourage. Well, I'm here to say that's just not the case for me. Running can be extremely beneficial from a health perspective but difficult to accomplish from a discipline perspective. What I can share with you is this- there are ways to make running more enjoyable for a "non-runner". While there are many ways to do this, I have accomplished it through the right gear.

Headband {currently on sale!} / Crop / Tank {currently on sale!} / Shoes

For me, a few of the right products have totally changed things up.

1. The right headband. I don't know about y'all, but I always have the hardest time keeping thin sport headbands in my hair! I feel like I stop, fix the headband, and restart for more time that I actually spend running. That feels like a problem to me. I discovered the Fly Away Tamer from lululemon earlier this year and it quickly became my go-to. It stays put, holds my hair back, and looks adorable! As an added bonus, it won't get destroyed in the washing machine so you can keep it sanitary AND the right size by tossing it in with a load. I highly recommend it.

2. Comfortable bottoms. Throughout college I was a HUGE fan of Nike shorts. They were the perfect thing to throw on with a t-shirt to tackle the daytime. While they are excellent for running {since that is their intended purpose}, I like to have a little more coverage on my bottom half when I'm moving around. I am head-over-heels in love with Wunder Under crops. I only have 2 pairs, but I feel like I live in them! They are thick enough to wear without fear of them being see-through with a tank top, but the material isn't restrictive or too thick- making them perfect for serious workouts.

3. A perfect tank top. I get SUPER hot when I work out. It doesn't always translate into pouring sweat, but my temperature always rises quickly. One of my favorite things I've discovered are the Nike tank tops. The dri fit ones are the best! They are form fitting so they don't fling around {depending on what workout you're doing that's important} and they keep you cool since they are sleeveless. If you do happen to sweat a lot, the dri fit technology really helps keep your temperature regulated and the sweat off of your body! All around, it's a winner!

4. Shoes. I can't think of something that would deter me from working out more than an ill-fitting shoe. Making sure you have the right size and support is key to having an enjoyable workout! I was one of the lucky few to snag a pair of the "Tiffany's teal" Nike Free's and I absolutely adore them! They have just the right support for my workouts and don't weigh down my feet so I can keep moving. I seriously dread the day I retire these babies.

With these 4 workout essentials, I truly enjoy my workouts more. And, obviously this goes without saying but I wear my fitbit to track all of my activity while rocking these amazing pieces! Here's to finishing out the year in good health!

What are your workout essentials? Do you have any product recommendations? Have you tried any of these workout essentials?

Sonder

Hi there! I wanted to give y'all some insight into my name choice for this blog. As previously stated, the 'peachy' represents the fact that I am from Georgia. We are known for our peaches, and the sweet southern girls from my home state are often referred to as 'Georgia Peaches'. Pretty self explanatory, no? 

As for the rest of my title, the word 'sonder' is relatively new to my vocabulary. By definition:

"sonder n. the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness—an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk."

This is incredibly humbling to me. All too often, we become consumed by our own lives- making everything about my troubles, my agenda, my excitements, my details- that we forget how many other things are going on in the world around us. We are each just one piece of a complex puzzle. I think it's also very freeing to realize that life is so much bigger than what's going on within the parameters of my day-to-day. Keeping that in mind helps me shift the focus from myself to others in my life. I think that our self-centered tendencies are innate and completely human, but that doesn't always result in the healthiest lifestyle or thought process.

I have always been a people watcher. I think it's completely fascinating to have a glimpse into other people's days/lives- even if just for a few seconds as they pass you by. What are they thinking? Where are they going? What made them behave in that way? These are just a few questions that pop into my head. Since learning what sonder means, this word is all too present in my mind every day. It grounds me and prompts me to live with more awareness than ever before.

With that being said, I couldn't think of a better title for my blog to express my feelings about my current journey through life. Something that ties me to my roots, yet challenges my views and reminds me to take note of my surroundings.

Thank you for reading and joining me on my 'peachy sonder'! 

xox. T

Weekend Recap

Happy Sunday! This weekend was both relaxing yet action packed! I had a really rough day at work on Friday, so I treated myself and got a bottle of Prosecco to sip on in my pjs. I snuggled on my couch in front of my first fire of the winter to catch up on some Revenge. It was a perfect way to end the week! 

Pajamas {from Target- old, similar here}

Yesterday, I was able to sleep in and have a leisurely morning. I went to Ikea and bought a new nightstand set to put together for my bedroom. I don't know about y'all, but Ikea furniture can be so daunting to put together! The instructions are purely photos, and someone with limited assembly experience {aka me} may not know the difference between the pieces pictured. I actually got my desk from Ikea and put it together myself- which was a huge accomplishment over a several day period- and swore I would never make anything from there again. Unfortunately, I have been wanting to get nightstands and found ones that will work well {for a great price, no less!} with my current bedroom furniture. These will be a much smaller task, and I will be sure to put up a photo when they are complete! Be sure to check out my new instagram account for photos in between posts! I also found the perfect coffee table tray during a quick trip into Target. Stay tuned on future styling!

Tray

Saturday night, I went out with some girlfriends in Reston Town Center. We ate at a fantastic restaurant called PassionFish. They had wonderful cocktails and the food was so yummy! It's bad when you get the group of us together because we L-O-V-E to get dessert. I'm not usually one to splurge for dessert when I eat out, but if everyone else is doing it I can be easily swayed. I was so full afterwards, but I can't say that I regret it one bit!

Today, I had lunch and did a little exploring with a college friend who was in town for an interview. It was SO refreshing to see her, and we had a blast strolling around Georgetown. I took her to Luke's Lobster {my go-to tourist stop} for a lobster roll, we did a little shopping on M Street, then grabbed some coffee and macarons from Paul and sat by the river catching up until it was time for her flight. It was such a fun day with great company! 

What did you do this weekend? What's your favorite way to relax after a hard work week/day?

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Hi out there! Nothing kicks those cold weather blues for me like a bowl of hot soup. Up in northern Virginia, we are definitely sliding into that winter weather scene. I won't lie to y'all- I'm not happy about it. Maybe it's my inner Southerner, but I just despise cold weather! Earlier in October I decided to take preventative action and purchased a Crock-Pot slow cooker. My mom used to make soup often during those "cold" months in Georgia growing up, and she taught me that a slow cooker is definitely the way to go!

To cheer myself up in the midst of this chilly time of year, I decided to make one of my mom's slow cooker recipes for Chicken Tortilla Soup and share it with y'all! Cooking in a Crock-Pot really simplifies things because you only have to worry about the prep work. You can even get one step ahead of things and do all of the prep work the night before so you just have to add the ingredients into the slow cooker before running out the door!

Before I get to the recipe, here are a few helpful tips to make things run more smoothly. Feel free to chop your veggies/chicken as small or large as you would like- it's your meal! When cleaning the serrano pepper, use a small spoon to clear out the seeds and veins. I sliced my pepper in half and started to scoop from the top down to the point initially- then switched directions to make sure the veins were completely removed.

 

When preparing the garlic cloves, make sure you peel all of the casing off! To check this, slice the clove in half and check the fresh edges to see if they peel before mincing. You can feel free to substitute any ingredients with frozen/prepackaged since this is going into the slow cooker to soak. Don't forget to freeze your left overs for those future cold nights! I recommend making the tortilla strips right before serving- that way they are warm and crispy! 

Momma's Chicken Tortilla Soup with Homemade Tortilla Strips

Soup

1 lb boneless and skinless chicken breast

5 cups chicken stock {I mixed both regular and unsalted}

1 white onion, roughly chopped

1 green pepper, roughly chopped

1 serrano pepper, veins and seeds removed, chopped

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 can {15oz} of whole kernel corn, drained and rinsed

1 can {15oz} of diced tomatoes, drained

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

generous pinch salt

generous pinch pepper

sour cream

Tortilla Strips

canola oil

flour tortillas 

1. Combine all soup ingredients excluding tortilla strips and sour cream into the insert of your slow cooker. Stir.

2. Cook on 'low' for 8 hours or 'high' for 4 hours.

3. After cook time has elapsed, remove chicken breast and shred with forks. Replace shredded chicken and stir the entire pot. Place on 'warming' setting until ready to serve.

5. Cover the bottom of a skillet with enough canola oil to float tortillas. Heat skillet to med-high.

6. Slice flour tortillas into strips.

7. Fry 5-6 strips at a time, turning over when the edges appear golden brown. Remove when fully fried to drain on a plate draped with a paper towel.

4. Serve desired amount in a bowl, topped with dollop of sour cream and a handful of tortilla strips. Enjoy!

 

Do you have any favorite cold weather recipes? Any tips for surviving the winter months? Please share your thoughts in a comment below!

Happy Friday, y'all!

On my horizon

Happy hump day, y'all!

I'm not sure about you, but my week has flown by so far. Hopefully it well keep up momentum until this weekend- I have an exciting weekend planned! Look out for a recap either Sunday or early next week. Let's just jump right into what's on my horizon:

1. 'Animals' by Maroon 5

Do you have songs in your life that make you want to drop everything you're doing and dance when it comes on? I sure do. Each one is typically short-lived but I have intense love for them when it's their turn! Currently, the song I'm stuck on right now is 'Animals' by Maroon 5. I can't help but sing along and dance in the car every time it comes on. If you haven't seen the video I don't recommend watching it at work- it's super frisky! But, I think it's spot on for the song. And I think it would be an incredibly creepy video if Adam Levine wasn't so sexy.

2. Aprons

Last weekend in New York, I stumbled upon this adorable apron at Anthropologie. It has the most delicate powder blue lace detailing! I have been looking for one for a while, but I hadn't found the right one. As soon as I laid eyes on this baby I was hooked!

Pretty cute, huh? There are definitely some other great ones out there- here are a few of my other picks.

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3. CMA Awards

I am so excited for the CMA awards tonight! I have always loved country music and can't wait for a whole evening dedicated to some of the best songs/artists! I know Carrie Underwood will be an absolutely stunning hostess along with Brad Paisley.  There are also some intriguing match-ups on the schedule- Little Big Town with Ariana Grande and Miranda Lambert with Meghan Trainor? Let me tell you now I have NO idea how that's gonna play out. I suppose we shall all see tonight at 8!

What's on your horizon this week? Any songs you can't get out of your head? Thoughts on the scheduled CMA Awards performances? Please share in a comment!

All Hallows Eve

Happy Sunday, my friends! 

This weekend was a blast. There is no other way to put it! For me, Halloween is a time to tap back into my inner sorority girl and put together a great costume. I prefer to make my costumes, and usually put a significant amount of time into planning and creating each one. Due to the craziness of the past few weeks, I wasn't able to put in ANY time to even think about what I wanted to do for a costume- so it came down to what I had stored away in my closet. Thankfully, I had a lovely flapper dress, feather headband, fishnet stockings, and some beaded necklaces to pull a costume together in a hurry! With a quick trip to CVS for the last minute essentials {black eyeliner, false eyelashes, and cranberry lipstick} I was good to go! 

On Friday, I went out with one of my girlfriends up in Clarendon. I hadn't experienced any nightlife there up to this point and really enjoyed myself. I will say that I was pretty surprised at how quiet the streets were for Halloween to fall on a Friday night! I'm not sure if the cold temperatures scared people away or if everyone was making the trip into Georgetown for the crazy experience that I've heard Halloween is out there. Regardless- we had a wonderful night of sweet cocktails, loud music, and funny conversations. That's an A+ night in my book! 

I have to admit that the flapper costume came together pretty well! The trickiest part for me was doing makeup. I have pretty fair skin and do not ever wear heavy eye make-up because it is overwhelming on my complexion in my opinion. However, every single photo I found on Google had dark eyeshadow and red lips so I knew I was going to just have to suck it up and do it! Although it was tricky, I found the simplest way to put it all together. I used my Naked 2 palette by Urban Decay {which is my go-to for nighttime looks} and went to town with a heavy hand. I used a black crayon liner to line my lids, smudging with the blackout shadow for a dramatic effect. Above that, I used the pistol shadow to fill in up to the crease and blended the liner edges with blackout again for continuity. For a little sparkle, I used the half baked shadow at/above my crease and highlighted my brow with foxy shadow. After making sure everything was blended and even, I applied the false lashes. I think it is best to do this last so you are able to get up close to your eyelid without the lashes in the way to apply shadow! Overall, it was simple and had just the right effect! For my lips, I used Maybelline's Color Sensational Creamy Matte lipstick in Divine Wine. It stayed put with minimal effort/touch-ups to look nice and didn't bleed around my lips. I highly recommend it!

Here is a glimpse of the costume:

What did you do for Halloween 2014? Any unique costumes? How do you deal with a last minute costume demand?

Thanks for reading!