I hope this week is finding you happy, healthy, nourished and caffeinated.

Me? A little over caffeinated but feeling pretty good about the week I’ve had and I attribute it to last weekend full of relaxation, good sleep, yummy foods, and an extraordinary Sunday prep. I promise, a blog post of Sunday prep is coming…it’s truly crucial in every aspect of my week [read: LIFE]. I took some time last Saturday to sit in my back yard, reading, napping and daydreaming. There’s something rejuvenating about the wind against my face and rays of sunshine warming my skin. And besides all the other to-dos of the weekend which is filled with kid birthday parties, visits with friends, and never ending errands, I am hoping to find five minutes to sit in the back yard and read. I am happy to report, I am onto the third book of the year….falling back into reading has been amazing. It fuels my creativity and brings me much needed relaxation.

Somehow we have found ourselves in February, and the theme for this month is love. Cupid has me feeling a bit mushy, so this month is devoted to everything love. Love can be a slippery slope for some of us and can create powerful and confusing feelings. Love comes in so many forms: love of our family, our partner, our pets, our friends, food, books, music, art, travel and so many more wonderful ways. I couldn’t resist and not to share this cute image of expressions of love…

Love is all around us…

Whatcha making for Game Day? How about these nachos?

What Super Bowl is about… Kudos, Budweiser.

I am sleeping so much better!

I can’t wait to see this movie. Girl power.

Food is rich in history and these 10 stories about women and food prove it.

I like my pizza cold, but this is the best trick in my book.

For all my fellow travel junkies…which airline has the healthiest food?

Thanks for hanging out with me…wishing you an amazing weekend, just as you are!

Goodbye 2016, hello New Year!  Another year has come to an end and what a year it has been! I can say it with certainty it was a year of many highs and a few lows, a complete whirlwind. I am grateful for the lows and the highs…lessons were invaluable and I’m grateful for the people that were part of them, but I am ready for the anew.

A nerd in me has to confess, I love this time of year – January, such a big word! The new year means a fresh start, new hope, and another chance to set out to crush my goals! The new year is so darn exciting with 365 opportunities in front of me for the taking. I like to think it’s the beginning of anything I want. Looking back, last year was about letting love and joy into my life, breaking down some walls and trusting again, and I also learned that love comes with losses. It was a year of living with no regrets, and plentiful of gratitude. I experienced wonderfully exciting things that had me thinking “wow, this is good life”! and certain events have brought on a lot more worrying than normal and my top priority for the future is to not let worrying take over my life. This year, I’m focusing on growth, professionally and personally and have deemed it my year of hustle. I’ve said it plenty of times before, I am not the one to make resolutions, but I’d like to put a little more emphasis on a specific word to be my focus for the next twelve months, that single word which ignites the fire in my soul – ELEVATE.

“Elevate” verb (used with object), elevated, elevating – to move or raise to a higher place or position; lift up.”

“2017 was the year everything really changed for me!”  That’s what I want to be saying when I reflect on this year. Not that I don’t already love my life, my family, my work, my home, my adventures, but I know there’s MORE in store for me. I chose the word “elevate” because it applies to a lot of things I want to do with my life right now – all that I do, I want to elevate to the next level; elevate those around me, elevate in business, elevate my blog, elevate my health, elevate my finances, elevate my creativity, elevate my relationships, elevate my experiences….So let the elevation begin!

Do you have a Word of the Year you will be focusing on in 2017? I would LOVE to hear all about it!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and had the best time celebrating this new year we are now in!  Did you have any “lucky foods” for the beginning of the new year…if not, it’s never too late to have some and this “Lucky Winter Salad” is perfectly zesty and refreshing, and brings lots of luck and prosperity.  So if you’d like to get yourself some good juju in the next 12 months, this healthy black eye pea salad is for you!

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Oh, hi.  Remember me?  I used to make food, photograph it and post it here, and then…  Did anyone else feel like this week was extra-long? I am so happy to welcome the weekend. I have decided to relax all weekend long, with not one.single.plan. Well, maybe a few little things here and there, but mostly staying around the house and enjoying my white Christmas tree and lights! What are you up to this weekend? Anything fun?

I started reading this book last night…if you’re looking for me, I am mostly like curled up on my couch and indulging, of course with a glass of bubbles…it would only be appropriate!

This fall has been crazy [I don’t know how is it possibly 15 days to Christmas?!!] When life gets busy, you just ride the wave, right?  Take it all in, one day at a time; and that’s exactly what I’ve been doing. I really dislike using the word “busy” because I think our society has an inflated view of what busy really means.  So, we will just say that my hands have been full.

As I am sure you’ve noticed when you popped in today, there is a new look to The Faux Foodie Girl! The new look and direction is something that I have been thinking about for a very long time and this change was long time coming, well overdue…but like everything in life, when the time is right, the opportunity will present itself… Thanks to this great team, I officially introduce you to the NEW The Faux Foodie Girl, website for a modern woman where I will continue sharing my adventures in motherhood, cooking, fashion, love of books, travels, and living! I’m super excited about it and all that I have in store (big things will be happening in 2017! Of course, there are some updates on where I am in #life today, and new things I am loving! So, stay tuned for all that’s coming as I also have some new characters to introduce you to, and a whole lot more…

In a mean time, here are few things that I read this week that caught my eye….

“I think balance is highly overrated,” adding that “if you find your life is out of control, it’s probably a sign of being very alive and in the game.”  This event recap of Martha Stewart’s American Made Summit honoring inspiring entrepreneurs who’ve made it is, well, totally inspiring. A little old, but not outdated and definitely a must read!

A well planned morning…and a few other tips

The One Surprising Thing You Need To Be Successful

My favorite read of the week –  Julia Child’s Fascinating marriage

I’ve never met a pesto I didn’t like, and this recipe is looking mighty enticing.

Bookmark this! 50 amazing wines under $15

The prices of avocado are on decline, so this tip might be needed if you’re like me and sitting with five avocados waiting to ripen!

How to keep my sanity during the holiday season, but should be practicing every day

Have a lovely weekend, friends. Love, coffee and giggles!