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Springdale, Utah is the perfect basecamp for adventuring in Zion National Park. It’s situated just outside the main entrance, and you can find everything you’ll need during your stay in the park. I always love scoping out the towns nearest to national parks to get the lay of the land so to speak because you’ll always need to restock supplies during a trip. We spent a couple rainy afternoons in Springdale having a much needed rest from the countless miles we hiked....

A few years ago, I discovered the soothing nature of witch hazel on sunburns as well, and I knew I had to put these 2 together. The witch hazel thins out the aloe vera gel so it goes on easily. And I have to say the 2 together are exceptionally soothing. I’ve actually been on a bit of an aloe vera kick lately, so this recipe is the first of a series of recipes....

I had the best lunch last week at a local Thai place that serves incredibly flavorful food. It was one of those meals that you just keep thinking about, and I knew I was going to need to recreate what I had to share with you too. So the thinking about lunch turned into an obsession, and I cancelled the recipe development I had in mind to get going on this immediately!...

Did you know you can make hummus out of zucchini instead of beans? I know I would’ve never thought of this awesome idea in a million years, but open any raw foods cookbook, and you will find all sorts of good ideas like this. Usually raw foods also tend to be very low in fat, so you’ll find my recipe is a bit different. This hummus is made ultra creamy with 2 healthy fats which help you absorb nutrients better: 1) a whole ripe avocado and 2) a touch of olive oil for authentic flavor....

This hike was one of our all time favorites in Utah’s National Parks, and that’s really saying something! Utah has what they call the ‘Mighty 5’ of national parks including Bryce Canyon, Zion, Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef. And while you can’t go wrong with any of these stunning parks, Capitol Reef is a bit of a hidden gem among the 5. We enjoyed this quieter park, and were consistently surprised by the different hikes we went on....

We rarely went out to eat when I was growing up. But when we did, I was always excited to see Alfredo on the menu. It seemed ‘fancy’, and with my bottomless appetite, it was a favorite. While Alfredo is a classic dish, I wanted to make a version that is perfect for weeknight family dinners or entertaining. We’re going to be adding some chicken and broccoli to make this a one pot dinner everyone can love....

I’ve change my version a little because I can’t find the filler beads here, and Pottery Barn is currently out of stock. My cranberry beads came already strung, so I just cut the wire and pulled the beads off. I picked a couple of clear glass containers, filled them with beads, and then I placed the flameless candles in each container. Speaking of flameless candles, aren’t they great? I still use real candles as well, but the flameless ones really add to the ambiance without incurring so much hassle and mess....

Pasta is probably my ultimate comfort food, even dessert can’t touch it’s satisfying goodness! So… I never would have thought I’d be so crazy about zucchini noodles – I mean they’re not the real thing right? Well, they’re definitely not pasta but I love them in their own way. We eat them a couple times a week, and there’s no end to the toppings and sauces that go well with them!...

If you’ve never made your own applesauce before, you’re in for a treat because there’s so much more flavor in the homemade version. If your apples are big enough to run through a peeler-corer-slicer, there’s almost no work involved at all. Making applesauce this way gives you a chunky kind of sauce that you have the option to blend if desired. I’ve started making my applesauce even easier by not bothering to peel the apples at all....

I never get enough of the sweet spicy combo, and it’s one of my favorite things about so many Asian inspired meals. Hot, Sour, Salty, and Sweet with Spice added in are flavors that are fun to mix and match. I never really thought too much about it, until I read all about it in a cookbook, (called of course Hot, Sour, Salty, and Sweet). The authors talk all about how different dishes from every Asian country fall into these categories....

Are you tired of the same old tuna salad for lunch? Meal prepping can be a lifesaver when you’re busy, but there’s no need to get bored with your meals thanks to a few creative swaps. Combine that with changing up the fruits and veggies in this recipe, and you’ll never be tired of tuna salad again. How to make this recipe step by step I really hope you enjoy this healthy Tuna Salad Meal Prep!...

These breakfast tacos were inspired by one of our last Farmer’s Market a couple weeks ago. I follow one of our local farmers on Instagram, and I saw they were having a stock up sale. To make the deal even more irresistible, there was going to be a chile roaster there! I knew this was something I couldn’t miss. And as I often do, I started daydreaming about how I would use the chiles when I got home....

When I was thinking of something pumpkin to make this year, I decided to do something savory in flavor for a change. There’s just something about pumpkin that always makes me think of desserts. However, pumpkin really lends itself well to so many things outside just desserts! I’m not quite sure how the idea to make a curry came into my mind. But I somehow found myself thinking about how pumpkin puree might combine into a luscious curry....

I love the combination of salty feta cheese against crisp, juicy watermelon. Whoever first put those two together must have known immediately it was destined to be a classic! Today, I’ve rolled this flavor combo into a refreshing and healthy quinoa salad. So… for all those summer picnics and potlucks coming your way, this is the answer! Now let’s get started making this Watermelon Feta Quinoa Salad with Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette step by step!...

I love making pesto with basil during the summer months when I have an abundance of it. But…during the rest of the year, cilantro pesto holds it’s own at a fraction of the cost! This pesto is dairy free, unlike a traditional pesto. But I don’t think it sacrifices anything though, because the avocado and toasted cashews add a delicious creamy depth of flavor. I’ve been serving it over zucchini noodles for a gluten free and paleo meal along with fresh tomatoes....

I can’t decide if I like this smoothie better with peaches or nectarines – they’re both so good! If peaches aren’t stellar in your area, I’d go with nectarines because they’re more reliable than peaches for flavor. We’ve been lucky enough to get some good peaches this year and I’ve been going overboard with peach everything! I love it when you’re meandering through the grocery store and the intoxicating smell of peaches hits you before you even see them....

I made this Healthy Broccoli Salad a few weeks ago. And loved it so much that I’ve started making other variations. This Mexican Broccoli Salad is the first and there’s now a Sweet Chili Mango Thai version as well as the Classic Broccoli Salad too! I have to admit that I’m extra partial to this salad. But that might be due to the fact that I love Mexican food and all of it’s extraordinary flavors....

Have you ever looked at a green smoothie and thought, ‘hmm… that’s too green to be any good’? Well I have, and I was completely wrong. For years into the green smoothie craze I would see another neon green smoothie picture and think, ‘thanks but I’ll just have a salad’! Turns out that green smoothies are unbelievably good, so we’re embracing the green – green smoothie + green jar = a whole lotta green!...

Moraine Lake is one of the most photographed lakes in all of Canada. It’s situated in the Valley of the Ten Peaks in the Lake Louise area of Banff National Park. The scenery is absolutely incredible, and the color of the lake is more vibrant than any other glacier fed lake I’ve seen. Depending on the time of day you’re there, the lake varies from a glacial blue to a glacial aqua in color, either way it’s stunning!...

So this year, instead of unrealistic goals such as, ‘I’m going to juice everyday this year!’. I’m going with a more relaxed approach of making it a priority to juice once a week. I figure once a week is better than where I’m at right now, which truthfully is more like almost never. I have a overly dramatic ‘all or nothing’ type of personality, so embracing realistic goals and habits is a serious struggle for me....