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Italian Ribollita on a wood board with chunks of bread on top and to the side

Ribollita

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Hiking the Mahana Ridge Trail in Maui

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Time for a little life update. For the most part I

Time for a little life update. For the most part I have taken the last month off of this channel to focus on my mental health. I’ve been going to therapy and have started on a daily medication to help manage my anxiety.

While I am absolutely loving life on the road my anxiety really got to the point where I wasn’t able to participate in normal day to day activities and so finding strategies to manage that has been my number one priority.

I wanted to mentions this because I know people have mixed feelings about mental health medications and this is the third time in my life I have turned to them as PART of a treatment plan.

I will only speak to my own personal experiences, but in all three instances medication has been a TOOL for me to achieve a level of emotional regulation that makes it more possible for me engage in other forms of treatment. It has allowed me to calm down enough to pause and take a breath before a panic attack kicks in, to relax enough to actually hear what my therapist has to say, to have the motivation to take a walk when I’m feeling bad, etc. What I’m saying is it allows me to get more out of all the other things that I have been trying to do for months to help myself with no success.

health is taking over your life, you know that you at least have options out there. (not withstanding our faulty healthcare system)

Sharing some quotes to help you set your November

Sharing some quotes to help you set your November intentions.

Since we don’t know how much longer we will be living on the road I’ve been so focused on being present that I haven’t been setting goals or intentions because it feels like a way to focus on the future. This month, that changes, I am making the intention to journal more and get clear on what our next step is when we have to move back to CA.

Although quotes are fun and can be good reminders, goals and intentions should to be personal so I thought I would share some of the journal prompts that I am using so you can try them too and get clear on what you want for the last two months of the year.

1. What is the feeling that is most important to you?Peacefulness, joy, love, etc. What currently brings you those feelings and how can you get more of that?
2. Think about the person that you want to be, the best version of yourself. Write out how you would describe that person to a friend. What can you do to become closer to that version of you?
3. Finish the thought: This week I can fully commit to…
4. What is a short term goal that you can achieve before the end of the year? What is one small step you can take towards that goal this week?
 Hope these help you gain some clarity and make purposeful decisions this month that support your growth and wellbeing.

NEW RECIPE ALERT: RIBOLLITA. Ribollita holds a s

NEW RECIPE ALERT: RIBOLLITA.

Ribollita holds a special place in my heart. Back in 2018 Cody and I both quit our jobs to take a backpacking trip through Italy. We spent every last dime we had on that trip enjoying the delicious local cuisines and wine. Our very favorite spot on the trip was Tuscany. One of the things that makes Tuscany so charming is the history behind their food. The food is rooted in “poor cooking”, it’s simple, inexpensive, typically uses fresh local ingredients, and does its best to avoid food waste. We love all of those things here at Lettuce Thrive.

This soup is no exception. Ribollita was traditionally made using leftover soup thickened with day old bread. So if you have bread that has gone stale lying around your house this is defiantly the recipe for you. Its hearty, comforting, nutritious, and simple to make. I’ve included an easily accessible ingredient list but feel free to use what ever vegetables you have lying around the house, after all, we want to honor the tuscan heritage and use what we have to avoid food waste.

Click the link in my bio for the recipe!

Our bodies are pretty amazing. We spent last week

Our bodies are pretty amazing.

We spent last week in Denver and I had access to the gym for the first time in a while. Now a little background, up until March of 2020 I averaged 5 days a week in a gym my whole adult life. Then when gyms closed I will still doing 3-5 home workouts a week. It truly makes a marked difference for my anxiety so it’s something I have always prioritized. Now, since we moved into the RV I have been hiking a couple times a week but have only had access to the gym maybe twice a month.

But this week, in Denver, I was back in my normal gym routine and ya know what nothing changed. I walked into the gym cautiously, chose weights that were 15% lighter than I would have been using pre-RV life to ensure I didn’t over-do it and injure myself and to my surprise I was able to increase all my weights back to what I was lifting two years ago when I was going to the gym almost every day.

Now does it really matter how much I can bench press? No, not at all.

But what I take from this revelation is how silly it was that I once stressed about missing a single workout. But also, how silly it was to measure fitness based on weight or body size that changes day to day regardless of activity. Health comes from a sum of our actions to support our physical and mental health LONG TERM and that’s going to look different from person to person, day to day, and year to year so give yourself some grace. Our bodies are so resilient when we choose to work with them rather than against them.

I’ve always claimed to be a cook and not a baker

I’ve always claimed to be a cook and not a baker. Part of that is because the act of baking has always seemed a bit fussy to me but I do love to eat sweet treats especially around the holidays so I rely on hassle free desserts. This easy apple crisp is exactly that, it packs all the warm, spiced flavors of an apple pie but without having to peel the apples, chill and roll out the dough, form a lattice, or pinch a crust. It’s the apple pies rustic cousin and it’s almost impossible to mess up which makes it the perfect holiday or dinner party dessert.

Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and some bourbon caramel sauce if you are feeling fancy and you have a winner.

The full recipe is on my blog just search easy apple crisp or click the link in my bio.

Here’s why Mental Illness is so dangerous: It hi

Here’s why Mental Illness is so dangerous: It hides in plain sight.

I have been dealing with some form of panic disorder since the age of 7. In honor of world mental health day yesterday I wanted be completely transparent about some of the hardest moments in my life, some of the moments where an outsider would assume “she’s so lucky” and I felt anything but.

- I was a freshman in collage, a social butterfly, making tons of new friends and being offered modeling contracts AND completely numb to my emotions as I stuck my finger down my throat.
- I was in my dream school planning a wedding to the person I love the most in this whole world AND having passive suicidal thoughts.
- I was being offered a promotion at work AND walking out to my car at lunch to cry because the voices in my head were so loud I couldn’t focus long enough do my job.
- Currently, I am living the life I have fantasized about for years traveling the country, I just bought my dream car AND I am having panic attacks causing me to hyperventilate so badly that my face turns blue and I lose the ability to move my hands.

I’ll admit, normally its pretty easy for me to vulnerable on here but I’m crying as I write this thinking about the disease that has robbed me of some of my most precious moments.

I know that it is Impossible to understand the thoughts/feelings someone with a mental illness has if you have never had them. But a mental illness, is an illness. Imagine trying to guess what a heart attack feels life if you haven’t had one.. you can’t really. But what you can do is empathize and understand what a frightening experience that is. You can treat people with kindness because you never know what is going on being the scenes. You can respect others boundaries even if they don’t make sense to you. You can actively withhold judgment. No one is perfect, no one is going to succeed at these things all the time but we can sure as hell try.

We finally had our first cold day of fall now that

We finally had our first cold day of fall now that we are in CO and I most definitely used that as an excuse to throw all my favorite fall foods into one dish. This is by no means the most creative dish I’ve ever come up with but its comforting, nourishing, filling and makes great meal prep for weekday lunches.

Here’s the dEATS:

1. Prep the quinoa by adding 1/2 cup quinoa + 1 cup broth to a small pan. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Let simmer 10-12 minutes, turn off and cover.
2. Cut one large sweet potato into 1/2 inch cubes. Toss with 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. Spread out onto a cookie sheet and roast at 400 for 25-30 minutes or until fork tender.
3. On a separate cookie sheet toss 1 1/2 cups halved brussel sprouts and 3/4 cup grapes with 1 tbsp olive oil, 2 tsp balsamic, salt and pepper. roast at 400 for 15 minutes or until the brussel sprouts are crispy and the grapes are beginning to burst.
4. Microwave 1 cup drained and rinsed chickpeas for 45 seconds or until warm.
5. While everything is cooking mix together a dressing with 1/2 tsp dijon mustard, 1 tsp white wine vinegar, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp tahini, salt and pepper.

To serve toss everything together, divide between two bowls and top with feta, green onions, and a light drizzle of honey. If you are feeling spicy add a light drizzle of balsamic vinegar as well.

Have you ever tried panzanella? It’s a tuscan sa

Have you ever tried panzanella? It’s a tuscan salad with.. you guessed it… Bread. Like many Italian recipes it was created as a way to avoid food waste by using soaked stale bread. If you know anything about me you know I am #teamnofoodwaste and #teamcarbs so I am here for this.

Heres the dEATS:
1. Start by tossing 2 cups cubed french or sourdough bread with olive oil salt, and pepper. Toast in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes.
2. While the bread is toasting make the dressing by whisking together 2 Tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp dijon mustard, the juice of half a lemon (~1 tbsp), 1 small clove minced garlic, 1 tbsp water, salt, and pepper to taste. Mix the dressing till emulsified.
3. Toss the bread, 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes, 1 cup sliced and halved cucumbers, 1/4 cup chopped kalamata olives, 1 cup arugula, and the dressing, season with salt and pepper. Let the salad sit for at least 30 minutes to allow the bread to soak. Serve with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.

This salad is meant to make use of seasonal produce so don’t be afraid to switch things up! You can add grilled peaches, roasted eggplant, capers, fresh basil, buratta, you name it. You can even throw in some white beans or butter beans for extra protein. Use this recipe as a base and get creative!

I love this photo. I feel like this photo pretty m

I love this photo. I feel like this photo pretty much sums up my feelings on life right now. I’m in a beautiful place, with people I love but it’s POURING down rain and I am doing my best to smile and make the most of every opportunity presented to me.

Anxiety often feels like you are caught in a tropical storm. There are huge waves crashing down and the best you can do is get a gasp of air every once in a while. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my 21 years of battling with mental health problems its that you can’t control the storm but you can learn to ride the waves.

What I mean by that is you can’t always control your thoughts but you can make an effort not to let your thoughts control you. So that’s what I am working on. Day by day. I hope those of you struggling right now will do the same too!

Snacks and views, what more could a girl ask for?

Snacks and views, what more could a girl ask for? This picturesque scene is at the top of the Mahana Ridge Trail on the north side of Maui. Since you know your girl isn’t supposed to be getting in the water while on the island, I am finding alternative ways to enjoy all the beauty the island has to offer.

I partnered with @diamondnuts to give you a guide to the hike, a list of my favorite packing essentials, and a description of all the @diamondnuts new snacking flavors. We had a little sampler platter at the halfway point and enjoyed them all. The Himalayan Pink Salt are perfectly seasoned, and the Sweet Maple are a delicious treat but my favorite has to be the Salted Dark Chocolate which is reminiscent of a walnut brownie!

To see some more photos from the hike, get my list of hiking essentials, and learn more about @diamondnuts new snack flavors click the link in my bio. If you want to try them at a discount use code LETTUCE15 at checkout for 15% off at shop.diamondnuts.com. #MadeforSnacking #MadeforHomemade

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Time for a little life update. For the most part I

Time for a little life update. For the most part I have taken the last month off of this channel to focus on my mental health. I’ve been going to therapy and have started on a daily medication to help manage my anxiety.

While I am absolutely loving life on the road my anxiety really got to the point where I wasn’t able to participate in normal day to day activities and so finding strategies to manage that has been my number one priority.

I wanted to mentions this because I know people have mixed feelings about mental health medications and this is the third time in my life I have turned to them as PART of a treatment plan.

I will only speak to my own personal experiences, but in all three instances medication has been a TOOL for me to achieve a level of emotional regulation that makes it more possible for me engage in other forms of treatment. It has allowed me to calm down enough to pause and take a breath before a panic attack kicks in, to relax enough to actually hear what my therapist has to say, to have the motivation to take a walk when I’m feeling bad, etc. What I’m saying is it allows me to get more out of all the other things that I have been trying to do for months to help myself with no success.

health is taking over your life, you know that you at least have options out there. (not withstanding our faulty healthcare system)

Sharing some quotes to help you set your November

Sharing some quotes to help you set your November intentions.

Since we don’t know how much longer we will be living on the road I’ve been so focused on being present that I haven’t been setting goals or intentions because it feels like a way to focus on the future. This month, that changes, I am making the intention to journal more and get clear on what our next step is when we have to move back to CA.

Although quotes are fun and can be good reminders, goals and intentions should to be personal so I thought I would share some of the journal prompts that I am using so you can try them too and get clear on what you want for the last two months of the year.

1. What is the feeling that is most important to you?Peacefulness, joy, love, etc. What currently brings you those feelings and how can you get more of that?
2. Think about the person that you want to be, the best version of yourself. Write out how you would describe that person to a friend. What can you do to become closer to that version of you?
3. Finish the thought: This week I can fully commit to…
4. What is a short term goal that you can achieve before the end of the year? What is one small step you can take towards that goal this week?
 Hope these help you gain some clarity and make purposeful decisions this month that support your growth and wellbeing.

NEW RECIPE ALERT: RIBOLLITA. Ribollita holds a s

NEW RECIPE ALERT: RIBOLLITA.

Ribollita holds a special place in my heart. Back in 2018 Cody and I both quit our jobs to take a backpacking trip through Italy. We spent every last dime we had on that trip enjoying the delicious local cuisines and wine. Our very favorite spot on the trip was Tuscany. One of the things that makes Tuscany so charming is the history behind their food. The food is rooted in “poor cooking”, it’s simple, inexpensive, typically uses fresh local ingredients, and does its best to avoid food waste. We love all of those things here at Lettuce Thrive.

This soup is no exception. Ribollita was traditionally made using leftover soup thickened with day old bread. So if you have bread that has gone stale lying around your house this is defiantly the recipe for you. Its hearty, comforting, nutritious, and simple to make. I’ve included an easily accessible ingredient list but feel free to use what ever vegetables you have lying around the house, after all, we want to honor the tuscan heritage and use what we have to avoid food waste.

Click the link in my bio for the recipe!

Our bodies are pretty amazing. We spent last week

Our bodies are pretty amazing.

We spent last week in Denver and I had access to the gym for the first time in a while. Now a little background, up until March of 2020 I averaged 5 days a week in a gym my whole adult life. Then when gyms closed I will still doing 3-5 home workouts a week. It truly makes a marked difference for my anxiety so it’s something I have always prioritized. Now, since we moved into the RV I have been hiking a couple times a week but have only had access to the gym maybe twice a month.

But this week, in Denver, I was back in my normal gym routine and ya know what nothing changed. I walked into the gym cautiously, chose weights that were 15% lighter than I would have been using pre-RV life to ensure I didn’t over-do it and injure myself and to my surprise I was able to increase all my weights back to what I was lifting two years ago when I was going to the gym almost every day.

Now does it really matter how much I can bench press? No, not at all.

But what I take from this revelation is how silly it was that I once stressed about missing a single workout. But also, how silly it was to measure fitness based on weight or body size that changes day to day regardless of activity. Health comes from a sum of our actions to support our physical and mental health LONG TERM and that’s going to look different from person to person, day to day, and year to year so give yourself some grace. Our bodies are so resilient when we choose to work with them rather than against them.

I’ve always claimed to be a cook and not a baker

I’ve always claimed to be a cook and not a baker. Part of that is because the act of baking has always seemed a bit fussy to me but I do love to eat sweet treats especially around the holidays so I rely on hassle free desserts. This easy apple crisp is exactly that, it packs all the warm, spiced flavors of an apple pie but without having to peel the apples, chill and roll out the dough, form a lattice, or pinch a crust. It’s the apple pies rustic cousin and it’s almost impossible to mess up which makes it the perfect holiday or dinner party dessert.

Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and some bourbon caramel sauce if you are feeling fancy and you have a winner.

The full recipe is on my blog just search easy apple crisp or click the link in my bio.

Here’s why Mental Illness is so dangerous: It hi

Here’s why Mental Illness is so dangerous: It hides in plain sight.

I have been dealing with some form of panic disorder since the age of 7. In honor of world mental health day yesterday I wanted be completely transparent about some of the hardest moments in my life, some of the moments where an outsider would assume “she’s so lucky” and I felt anything but.

- I was a freshman in collage, a social butterfly, making tons of new friends and being offered modeling contracts AND completely numb to my emotions as I stuck my finger down my throat.
- I was in my dream school planning a wedding to the person I love the most in this whole world AND having passive suicidal thoughts.
- I was being offered a promotion at work AND walking out to my car at lunch to cry because the voices in my head were so loud I couldn’t focus long enough do my job.
- Currently, I am living the life I have fantasized about for years traveling the country, I just bought my dream car AND I am having panic attacks causing me to hyperventilate so badly that my face turns blue and I lose the ability to move my hands.

I’ll admit, normally its pretty easy for me to vulnerable on here but I’m crying as I write this thinking about the disease that has robbed me of some of my most precious moments.

I know that it is Impossible to understand the thoughts/feelings someone with a mental illness has if you have never had them. But a mental illness, is an illness. Imagine trying to guess what a heart attack feels life if you haven’t had one.. you can’t really. But what you can do is empathize and understand what a frightening experience that is. You can treat people with kindness because you never know what is going on being the scenes. You can respect others boundaries even if they don’t make sense to you. You can actively withhold judgment. No one is perfect, no one is going to succeed at these things all the time but we can sure as hell try.

We finally had our first cold day of fall now that

We finally had our first cold day of fall now that we are in CO and I most definitely used that as an excuse to throw all my favorite fall foods into one dish. This is by no means the most creative dish I’ve ever come up with but its comforting, nourishing, filling and makes great meal prep for weekday lunches.

Here’s the dEATS:

1. Prep the quinoa by adding 1/2 cup quinoa + 1 cup broth to a small pan. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Let simmer 10-12 minutes, turn off and cover.
2. Cut one large sweet potato into 1/2 inch cubes. Toss with 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. Spread out onto a cookie sheet and roast at 400 for 25-30 minutes or until fork tender.
3. On a separate cookie sheet toss 1 1/2 cups halved brussel sprouts and 3/4 cup grapes with 1 tbsp olive oil, 2 tsp balsamic, salt and pepper. roast at 400 for 15 minutes or until the brussel sprouts are crispy and the grapes are beginning to burst.
4. Microwave 1 cup drained and rinsed chickpeas for 45 seconds or until warm.
5. While everything is cooking mix together a dressing with 1/2 tsp dijon mustard, 1 tsp white wine vinegar, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp tahini, salt and pepper.

To serve toss everything together, divide between two bowls and top with feta, green onions, and a light drizzle of honey. If you are feeling spicy add a light drizzle of balsamic vinegar as well.

Have you ever tried panzanella? It’s a tuscan sa

Have you ever tried panzanella? It’s a tuscan salad with.. you guessed it… Bread. Like many Italian recipes it was created as a way to avoid food waste by using soaked stale bread. If you know anything about me you know I am #teamnofoodwaste and #teamcarbs so I am here for this.

Heres the dEATS:
1. Start by tossing 2 cups cubed french or sourdough bread with olive oil salt, and pepper. Toast in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes.
2. While the bread is toasting make the dressing by whisking together 2 Tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp dijon mustard, the juice of half a lemon (~1 tbsp), 1 small clove minced garlic, 1 tbsp water, salt, and pepper to taste. Mix the dressing till emulsified.
3. Toss the bread, 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes, 1 cup sliced and halved cucumbers, 1/4 cup chopped kalamata olives, 1 cup arugula, and the dressing, season with salt and pepper. Let the salad sit for at least 30 minutes to allow the bread to soak. Serve with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.

This salad is meant to make use of seasonal produce so don’t be afraid to switch things up! You can add grilled peaches, roasted eggplant, capers, fresh basil, buratta, you name it. You can even throw in some white beans or butter beans for extra protein. Use this recipe as a base and get creative!

I love this photo. I feel like this photo pretty m

I love this photo. I feel like this photo pretty much sums up my feelings on life right now. I’m in a beautiful place, with people I love but it’s POURING down rain and I am doing my best to smile and make the most of every opportunity presented to me.

Anxiety often feels like you are caught in a tropical storm. There are huge waves crashing down and the best you can do is get a gasp of air every once in a while. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my 21 years of battling with mental health problems its that you can’t control the storm but you can learn to ride the waves.

What I mean by that is you can’t always control your thoughts but you can make an effort not to let your thoughts control you. So that’s what I am working on. Day by day. I hope those of you struggling right now will do the same too!

Snacks and views, what more could a girl ask for?

Snacks and views, what more could a girl ask for? This picturesque scene is at the top of the Mahana Ridge Trail on the north side of Maui. Since you know your girl isn’t supposed to be getting in the water while on the island, I am finding alternative ways to enjoy all the beauty the island has to offer.

I partnered with @diamondnuts to give you a guide to the hike, a list of my favorite packing essentials, and a description of all the @diamondnuts new snacking flavors. We had a little sampler platter at the halfway point and enjoyed them all. The Himalayan Pink Salt are perfectly seasoned, and the Sweet Maple are a delicious treat but my favorite has to be the Salted Dark Chocolate which is reminiscent of a walnut brownie!

To see some more photos from the hike, get my list of hiking essentials, and learn more about @diamondnuts new snack flavors click the link in my bio. If you want to try them at a discount use code LETTUCE15 at checkout for 15% off at shop.diamondnuts.com. #MadeforSnacking #MadeforHomemade

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