Vancouver, British Columbia

If you ever have the chance to take the train from Seattle to Vancouver, or anywhere along that coast for that matter, do it. This train ride was definitely one of the coolest things I've ever experienced. It's about a 4 hour ride, but don't fret there's a little cafe that serves coffee and food if you start to get hungry.
The view is magnificent, looking out at the Pacific Ocean. The water, sky, and mountains all the same dull, blue-gray color. It couldn't be more beautiful. Along with the ocean, we pass by green and gold trees, farm land, and quaint homes.
We arrived in Canada and the border officer asked, "You want a stamp in your passport, eh?"
Oh yes, my first passport stamp!

Favorite things/Recommendations for Vancouver & Victoria:
Capilano Suspension Bridge- A suspension bridge that is 250 feet above the ground and 450 feet long that literally swings as you walk across. I have a slight fear of bridges, but this was pretty awesome. You are walking right through the tall trees in the middle of the mountain!
Riding bikes through Stanely Park- Stanely Park is a huge park that is the best of everything. We rode our bikes through fresh forest, then turned and rode along the beach, and then looked to the left at the city!
Butchart Gardens in Victoria (take the ferry!)- Never have I ever seen (or smelled) so many flowers. Vibrant, magical, bright and mesmerizing. You could spend a good day wandering through this maze of beauty.
Public Market in Granville Island- After enjoying a delicious lunch on the dock, we walked through the Granville Island and found ourselves at the Public Market. I seriously wanted to cry because everything looked SO delicious and we were just way too full to eat anything. This market is one of my favorite's because there are little restaurants everywhere you look, along with fresh produce, vegetables, and other foods you could buy at the stands.
I loved hearing many different accents while in Canada, shopping and eating crepes with my mom, getting ice-cream late at night with the whole family, trying to figure out the currency exchange, walking down Robson St., and seeing the beauty of nature.

"The world is too big to stay in one place & life is too short to do just one thing." 

Latest Loves: SUMMER

Foods:
Vosges Super Dark + matcha green tea
THIS CHOCOLATE IS GOOD FOR YOU. I apologize for screaming but this is my favorite chocolate bar and it just so happens to contain all natural ingredients + super foods. Spirulina is a super food that has health benefits (heart health, detoxification...) and contains 334% more protein than beef and 556% more protein than tofu (thank you back of the chocolate bar for this information). Whoah. Sneak some spirulina into your diet by eating chocolate, sounds good to me. For all you vegans, gluten free-e's, and general chocolate lovers, pick up one of these treats from Cost Plus World Market or Whole Foods

Nana Ice Cream
Who actually knew how sweet bananas are?! Loving this extremely simple, extremely healthy, and extremely delicious way to eat bananas. Blend at least 2 frozen bananas together, scoop into a bowl/teacup, and enjoy. There's always room for toppings such as granola, cacao nibs, Justin's nut butters, or fruit. I tend to eat this just plain though because it is just that good.

Fashion/Beauty:
Natural hair & makeup
It's summertime baby! Nobody wants to be wearing loads of makeup in this heat, at least I know I don't. Keep it natural and light, you don't need a ton of makeup I promise. I don't remember the last time I've actually done my hair this summer. After I shower I scrunch it up so my natural waves come out to play. Spray a little bit of Beach Spray into it and let it air dry. Love the look this product gives my hair. A tip if you want to add some more natural wave to your hair is to french braid damp hair and then take it out after about an hour or so.

Rompers
Rompers are just really great. You aren't really wearing pants, but it's not like wearing a skirt or shorts really either. Slipping a romper on during the summertime keeps you cool. Rompers can be worn casually (a pool or beach day, out shopping, running errands). Dress a romper up with heels or wedges, a statement necklace, or a high slicked back pony for a more formal occasion. The only downside about rompers is when you have to pee...

Music:
Bad Blood: Taylor Swift
I'm Alive (Life Sounds Like): Micheal Franti & Spearhead
The Wild Life: Vacationer
Wilder Mind: Mumford & Sons
Keep Together: Hunter Hunted
Got It: Marian Hill

This and that
Windowsill succulents
Sucker for succulents, all about it. My windowsill is filled with tiny little plants, succulents. They only have to be watered once a week. These little babies make me happy and having them in my bedroom livens it up. You can find succulents at your local grocery store or most farmer's markets!

Instagram Account: @dallasclayton 
I discovered @dallasclayton on the popular page of instagram and couldn't take my eyes off of everything he's posted. Follow him for daily inspiration, the most adorable doodles, and a little way to brighten your day.

Video- Jack's Gap: What Do You Believe In? 
Jack's Gap is an incredible youtube channel with outstanding videos. This one really stuck out to me and was posted just a few days ago. I love how this video shows that no matter how different we all are, where in the world we live, or what we believe in, we have things in common and want goodness and happiness on this Earth. Check it out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jq7_SKjBIXo

"Why want and yearn and struggle when the now contains all one could ever wish for and more?" -Thomas R. Kelly

3 Healthy Breakfast Ideas

If you're tired of your normal breakfast routines, here are three simple recipes that are all very healthy! They all take no more than 15 minutes to make and give you the energy to start each day.  All of the recipes below are vegetarian.
EAT GOOD. FEEL GOOD.

Acai Bowl
Ingredients:
Sambazon Acai Smoothie packets (you can buy these from Whole Foods-aka best place ever- in the frozen section)
1 banana
1/2 cup almond milk
Strawberries
Honey granola
Blueberries
Kiwi
-Any other fruit you may want! The possibilities with acai bowls are whatever you desire.

1. Rinse 1 smoothie pack under warm water until it is softened. Place in blender, along with 1/2 banana, 1/2 cup almond milk, and just a few berries.
2. Blend, blend, blend!
3. When your smoothie is completely blended, pour in a bowl.
4. Add your fruits to the top now. Make sure you have cut your strawberries into halves or fourths.
5. Sprinkle granola, almonds, or shredded coconut to the top!
There ya have it! A beautiful, healthy, refreshing breakfast to kickstart your day.

Toasted Avocado Sandwich

Ingredients:

1/2 avocado

1 or 2 scrambled egg(s) or egg whites

1 piece of wheat bread

Hummus (roasted garlic hummus from Trader Joe's is delicious) 

Spinach

Mushrooms 

Tomatoes 

1. Prep your veggies by washing and cutting the ones you wish to use and placing them to the side. Don't forget about that avocado. If you use mushrooms, sauté them using a splash of vegetable oil.

2. Scramble up your eggs using a little bit of butter in the pan.

3. Toast your piece of bread while the eggs are cooking.

4. Once your eggs are fully cooked, spread your hummus onto the toast and cut in half. Then, place the scrambled eggs onto the toast.

5. Add your veggies and enjoy!

Instead of using toast, try using half of a bagel or an english muffin! 

Greek Yogurt w/ Fruit 

If you're in a hurry, this is probably the best option for you. I've been eating these so much this summer and just can't get enough. It's amazing how filling greek yogurt is! You can buy Yoplait 100 Greek Yogurt at your local grocery store.

Picture taken from the Yoplait website

1. Stir your yogurt and add some granola or almonds to go in it. A bowl of fresh fruit always goes great with yogurt because you can mix it in or eat it separately. Extremely simple, perfect for on-the-go. 

I am by no means a chef or professional in this area! This year I've definitely been eating MUCH healthier as well as experimenting with food. It's such an incredible difference in how you feel, even by simply eating a feel good breakfast. Hope you enjoy these if you try them out. Let me know!

"It's not who you are that holds you back, it's who you think you're not." -Unknown

Instant Adventure

When you find an old Polaroid camera in your garage, take full advantage. A 600 film Polaroid Camera was sitting in a box gathering dust and that's just not acceptable in my book. I ordered some film from Amazon and got this baby snapping memories right away. I'm in love with this camera. 

 

On Friday, I embarked on my first drive to California alone. Driving can get kind of boring after a while so you just gotta make sure you have your favorite music playing and plenty of snacks to eat! Those few days on the beach could last forever and I wouldn't mind at all. The beach is such a timeless place; nothing compares to being in the salty ocean with the warm sun soaking into your skin. My travel journal is filled with more incredible experiences and now some rad vintage looking Polaroids that fit perfectly inside.  

Adventure List. This is something new I started doing about a week ago. I have a bucket list-actually I've probably had about 8 bucket lists throughout my life-that I just haven't kept track of. With an adventure list, you can write down all of the awesome activities or crazy things you do that you haven't really planned or imagined yourself doing. Write down what you did, the date, and where you were. For example, I went white water river rafting about a month ago and I never thought I would ever do that. So it's now going on my adventure list! Every opportunity to live adventurously/try something new, I'm in! The idea of an adventure list is neat because you aren't limiting yourself, but instead exploring all this life has to offer.

I'm going to start ending my blog posts with a quote starting today! Have a lovely evening. 

"No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world." -Robin Williams

Coffee Shop Mornings

Something about being alone in a coffee shop is so intriguing. You get to people watch and think whatever you’d like about everything. Everyone is living their own story at this exact moment here, whether they are dressed up to go to work, just rolled out of bed, chatting with a friend, absorbed in a book….it’s awesome. Wait, do you ever wonder what you’re suppose to do when you’re working in a coffee shop and really have to pee? This is me right now. Does anybody know the answer to this?? I really don’t want to leave my laptop and food just sitting here...

Anyways.

The past week I’ve had crazy amounts of inspiration for new projects and posts soon to come! I’d just like to say that you shouldn’t compare yourself to other people but instead become the best person you can be. Comparing yourself to others just leads to negative thoughts about yourself but actually nobody in the world is like you. You have an amazing set of talents, thoughts, and characteristics that no one shares, which can be turned into something beautiful. Find what you love to do and put 100% into your dreams. Go after your passions, fall in love with them, let them steer you. If things don't go exactly according to plan, you tried and you’ll eventually end up where you are suppose to be at. Rid your mind of fear as well as negative thoughts, surprising things can happen. 

Enjoy your Friday as much as possible! 

If you have suggestions for upcoming posts definitely email/tweet/instagram me! 

Foggy Daze

 Long wavy streets, foggy mornings, seafood restaurants, cable cars...I must have been in San Francisco. What a beautiful place this city is. It didn't even feel like we were in California, the weather was cool and it had a wintery almost Christmas-y feeling in the air. I won't give you a day by day run down but if you ever find yourself in San Francisco I suggest you eat at Boudin Bakery (you have to try their sourdough bread, I promise), visit the Ferry Building Marketplace at the Port of San Francisco (this may be my new favorite place), and ride in a cable car! SF is very liberal which is so compelling; everyone has their own unique style that you just want to watch all day long.

Gorgeous sunset in Yosemite

SF Day 1

Downtown//Chinatown

It's a must...right?

Too delicious not to share, Blue Barn Cafe.

Pressed Juicery located in the Port of San Francisco

Finally spotted street art! Anything is possible.

Shopping day with momma!

Carmel Beach,  California

I love you, California

California, what a lovely place you are. From diving under the saltwater with the sun beating down on everyone, to spending time with my favorite humans, to sitting in downtown LA waiting for the Brandy Melville Warehouse sale... the past 4 days could have lasted forever.

Newport Coffee Company is right in the middle of Newport Beach has delicious coffee (of course), acai/pitaya bowls, gelato, pastries, and healthy beach snacks. Loved it and the beachy feel. 

  

Sunday morning in LA was the Brandy Melville Warehouse sale. After sitting in line for three hours, my best friends and I were in and digging through boxes. I bought 4 shirts, 1 pair of shorts, and a bralette for only $35. Urth Caffe was a must after we were done! It's definitely one of the my favorite organic restaurants.

Urth Salad and Mediterranean Plate

Until next time LA! 

Short & Simple

Summer is in the air! This past week has been full of graduation parties, sunshine, Netflix (yes, already), and good food. I tried a new recipe today but need to make it look a little prettier before posting a picture. It's a sunny side up egg inside of an avocado...delicious! Perfect snack or small meal especially for this season.
Enjoy each and everyday of this summer, try something new! Go to a random concert, turn off your cell phone, eat lunch at Whole Foods, drive without a destination, spend the day baking and licking the spoons, anything and everything.
Sip your hot green tea & sweet dreams, xx