It's the first day of August and it's 85 degrees in San Diego, so safe to say, summer is going to be sticking around for a while! Which means it's the perfect time to whip up this Watermelon Mint & Arugula Salad that I shared recently on Inspired by This. It's beyond easy - only just a couple minutes and a few simple ingredients stand between you and the ultimate summer salad. The combination of the watermelon and mint with a drizzle of balsamic glaze is absolutely delicious and so refreshing for this Southern California heat wave! Plus the colors are gorge!

Even though I’m still a bit jet-lagged from our trip to Italy, I’m already dreaming of going back! Between the insanely delicious food, the romantic cities, gorgeous sites, the Aperol Spritzes (order one, trust me!), and the Italian lifestyle that just forces you to slow down and enjoy every moment, it’s definitely become my happy place! As I was sharing our daily adventures on my insta stories, I got a ton of a requests for a “guide to Italy” with all of our favorite restaurants, hotels, and activities. So I used the long flight home to get all the details in one place and I’m super excited to share it with you! Please send me a message or comment on this post if you end up going to any of these spots… I’ll be so excited to hear about your experience there!! Allora i miei amici, here we go…
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One of the most common questions I get from clients, friends, and readers is how to satisfy a demanding sweet tooth without completely "falling off the wagon". Believe me, I get it. I love my sweets. It's something I look forward to each day, and if someone tried to tell me I couldn't have it, I'd feel deprived and restricted, and I'd want it that much more. Then I'd probably overdo it, and feel a little guilty for going overboard. So it's important to quit the deprivation and restriction, and figure out how to indulge consciously, mindfully, and guiltlessly! Delicious sweets are supposed to make you feel satisfied and happy, after all. Here's my 5 tips to make it happen.

When you need an appetizer that's super quick, but looks impressive, and is sure to please a crowd, you can't go wrong with a giant crudité snack board! ​It's fun, fresh, and colorful, it can be made in just a couple minutes, and you can load it up with all of your favorite fruits, veggies, crackers, and dips so there's something for everyone! 

Whenever I'm stressed or anxious, the instant cure for me is to put on some happy music and do a little baking. Maybe it's the spoonfuls of cookie dough, or the smell of freshly baked cookies making it's way through the house, or Otis Redding coming through my speakers, but regardless, these baking breaks always make me feel calm and happy! The other day, I was in serious need of a relaxing baking sesh, and I looked through my pantry to see if I had everything I needed to make some cookies happen. I had just enough almond flour, coconut oil, and vanilla to make one batch, thank goodness! Inspired by one of my favorite cookie recipes in the Sprouted Kitchen cookbook (her almond meal cookies with coconut & cacao nibs), I whipped up these Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookies, and they were everything I was craving and more!