superfood salad (with shrimp)

Hold up....this is a post about food, and yet there is no caramel or chocolate in sight.

Jordyn and I have really really been wanting to start sharing our favourite meals (in addition to all the desserts we love) here on the blog, not only to share with all of you, but for ourselves and friends to have easy access to our everyday recipes.  So, be prepared (hopefully) for more legitimate meals to be appearing here.

Don't worry, there will always be a healthy dose of sweets as well!

Anywho....this is superfood salad!  It actually does have superpowers....since I'm not a huge fan of pomegranates or oranges, but since eating this salad I have been converted.  There is so much protein and goodness going on in this salad, that it makes a wonderful lunch or supper, or even a great side dish.

Superfood Salad

(heavily) adapted from: Iowa girl eats

Ingredients:

3 cups quinoa, cooked

1/2 white onion, diced finely

2 oranges, chopped into bite-sized pieces

1 to 2 avocados, chopped

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 pomegranate (seeded)

1 3/4 cup frozen corn, thawed

1/2 cup cilantro, chopped

outfit post: red high-low and too much snow

Funny story.  It snowed way back in December....and I begged Jordyn to help me do a few outfits posts to hoard and post throughout winter so that they actually looked wintery.  Although we do live in Canada, we live just south of Vancouver in the Pacific Northwest, which means a lot of rain and almost no snow ever (unless you're in the mountains of course).

And then mother nature was apparently feeling patriotic with the gold medal win in men and women's hockey in the past few days....and decided to dump a crapload of white stuff down on us.  Not impressed.  I like my snow on Christmas or up in the mountains.  The rest of the time it can just buzz off.

So, while these photos are actually from December, this is what it really does look like outside.
Beautiful, but causing problems everywhere.

lace top: garage // high-low: garage // tights: american eagle // boots: steve madden

I love going shopping with Jordyn, and encouraging her to buy things she might not normally choose herself.  Sometimes she complains that her style is slowly becoming my style...but deep down she loves it. hehe.

chocolate pecan caramel thumbprint cookies

Mmmhhh....caramel!  You can't say that you're surprised that it's shown up again so soon. Ha!

We made these cookies for Christmas (yeah yeah...I'm working on the whole procrastinating thing), and they were a huge hit.  Definitely a bit more work than your average cookie...but well worth it when you want something extra special.

These cookies have so many wonderful textures going on...from the crunch of the nuts, chewiness of the chocolate cookie, and finally the smooth creaminess of the caramel!

Chocolate Pecan Caramel Thumbprint Cookies

adapted from: taste of home

Yields: ~2.5 dozen

Ingredients: 

1/2 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg, separated
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup finely chopped pecans (walnuts would be a great alternative!)

FILLING:
12 to 14 caramels
3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

from whistler, forever ago

I've decided to start a new series here on p.s.heart since I am apparently a master procrastinator. I'll be sharing small collections of forgotten photos that I find here and there.  I hope you enjoy!

These photos are from a trip my family took up to Whistler to celebrate my grandparents 60th anniversary (how amazing is that?) way back in November.  The house we stayed in was an absolute dream, and the views were so insanely beautiful.  I had never been to Whistler before (shocking, I know), and I hope to visit again soon!

So much good food.  We definitely have our priorities in order.

mocha cheesecake

I could have titled this post: "the only cheesecake I ever make", because that is the truth.  

I've tried several other recipes for cheesecakes, but this one is my all-time favorite.  Since cheesecake is a relatively expensive dessert that I tend to only make once in a while (for special occasions!), I really don't like experimenting too much.  I just love this recipe too much!

Also, for those of you who aren't really coffee fans...fear not!  I'm totally not a coffee drinker (at all), and I can't get enough of this cake.  If you're still not sure, you can always leave out the instant coffee for an excellent chocolate cheesecake!

Mocha Cheesecake

from: Jean Pare - Company's Coming: Chocolate Everything

Ingredients:

1/3 cup margarine, melted
1 1/3 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup sugar
3 tbsp cocoa powder

outfit post: pink and red

As you might have guessed from the title of this post...I decided to do a Valentine's Day inspired outfit.  Cheesy?  Yes.  Do I care?  Nope.

The thing is...no matter what you think about Valentine's Day, it always results in sales on chocolates.  And that counts for a huge win in my book.

Anyway, I chose to go with maroon tights, a pink lace shift dress, and a navy blazer to help give the outfit some structure.  I love a good shift dress, but sometimes your shape can get a bit lost in it.  Since it's also Winter here....that's another good reason to add layers!

blazer: gap // shift dress: plenty // tights: h&m // shoes: charlotte russe

a mountain retreat.

So, you may have been wondering whether or not I've fallen off the face of the planet, since I haven't posted anything since Little Red, which was a month ago... but let me explain! I'm still alive and well and I haven't completely abandoned this blog, I promise. Caleb and I have been insanely busy and between my full-time job at Hope Mission (a non-profit organization in Edmonton that serves inner-city people), my photography business, as well as buying a new home, I have just had a ton on my plate. I'm so grateful to Kelsey for all of her hard work in keeping this blog alive, seriously, this blog would be nothing without her! And yes... I did say it.

Caleb and I are officially first-time home owners!! 

No photos yet, but keep your eyes peeled in the next couple of months for the big reveal! For now though, I'll leave you with a peek into our gloriously relaxing and beautiful weekend getaway to the mountains. This was our Christmas present to each other and I think we'll be making this a yearly tradition :) So here it is, the perfect, Canadian winter retreat.  

outfit post: my winter uniform

So...this is what I basically wear every day in winter, as long as it's not raining.  Although it does rain a lot here in the Pacific Northwest, so swap out my red coat for my rain coat, and you have my average outfit for the rest of the time.

I just love that a statement coat, a nice pair of jeans, and a good pair of boots is so so simple, and yet you look nice and put together.  I really like no fuss outfits.

Also, this coat is my favorite.  Totally one of those clothing items that gets compliments from total strangers.  I love it.

red coat: plenty // jeans: aeo // socks: urban outfitters // boots: steve madden // toque: foreverxxi