Hi! Welcome to “good mood food” from Kale Me Maybe’s Carina Wolff. If you’ve made it here and aren’t yet a subscriber, come join! You can expect recipes, musings, and faves in your inbox every Wednesday! Paid subscribers get even more! Learn more about my paid membership here. You can also try a week for free!
CATCH UP!
I am kicking off a month of goal setting, which should come as no surprise since I’ve been talking about how unmotivated I’ve been feeling recently. I’m a firm believer that you have to write EVERYTHING down. Everything. Your feelings, the good and the bad, the things you’re thankful for, and the things you want. There’s something about getting stuff out of our head that kickstarts its journey into reality. And that reality can be accomplishing something new or healing from something old.
So I’ve started to think about my goals. I’ve been feeling aimless, and writing down these goals help me think straight. Here are some I’ve been thinking about:
Getting my new website up and running (some major new branding coming soon!!)
Appreciating the present moment, where I am in life, right now (this one’s a forever goal, a constant work in progress)
Explore new video formats (looking to find the joy in creating again)
Start budgeting a little better (less unnecessary clothing and beauty purchases, less food delivery)
More time blocking (I am much more productive when I plan out my weeks)
Eat more fruit (no real reason for this one, just to get more varied nutrients!)
Okay, so these are just a random sampling of goals, but you get the idea.
I thought this summer was going to be a slow one, but surprise, surprise, it’s not any more! We’re heading to Mexico this week to celebrate our one year anniversary, and then we have some small trips to places like Ojai, Park City, and Grant’s family’s lake house in North Carolina! Maybe we’ll stick around LA in August ;). Actually, we definitely should given it’s prime ocean swimming time!
THINGS I’M LOVING!
Most of you know how much I do not enjoy the act of going out grocery shopping, so I’m a sucker for delivery apps. However, the one thing I do miss when ordering online is finding cool new products. I recently tried out the Feed app (not sponsored, although they did give me a credit), and it is SO cool. It’s basically a virtual market that features local vendors, and there were so many great brands on there! They also have produce, baked goods, seafood, etc. And the delivery is free!!
They gave me a code if you want to try: CARINA20 gets you $20 off your first order of $35 or more! I do believe they are just in California right now, but check it out as they may expand!
I am indeed trying to make less unnecessary purchases, but when it comes to clothes, I am more specifically trying to stay away from cheaper and less environmentally friendly materials like polyester and opt for other options like cotton or linen, especially since they are much more comfortable and breathable! I love the warm weather, and my ideal outfit is a flowy summer dress. I want to feel cool, comfy, and elegant, and it’s honestly hard to find that sometimes. I often want to wear dress styles that don’t require a bra, but I have larger breasts, so I need that support.
I’ve been obsessing over everything at Faithfull the Brand, and I bought their Nolie Midi Dress in Truffle and am absolutely in love. I am 100% wearing this when we go to Mexico and all summer long. It’s sooooo comfortable and breathable, and the smocked top allows me to wear this without a bra. Hot tip: If it’s your first time purchasing, you get 15% off!
This one is random, but I think will be relevant to people. My brother gifted me this Zima Dental Cleaner, and I am so grateful for him to introducing this into my life! So necessary!! I wear a retainer/night guard to prevent teeth grinding at night, but I find it so hard to clean. This ultrasonic pod is a little pricey, but my night guard has literally NEVER been cleaner, and I feel much less gross about it lol.
RECIPE!
Ingredients (serves 2)
Salad
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes
1 tbsp olive oil, plus more for cooking
1 tsp honey
1 tsp za’atar
1-1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast
Paprika
Oregano
8 oz halloumi, cut into 1/2 inch slices
4 heaping cups arugula
2 small Persian cucumbers, thinly sliced into rounds
1/4 cup pickled onions
Salt & pepper
Dressing
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Juice of 2 Meyer lemons
2 tbsp olive oil
Salt & pepper
1. Preheat oven to 425 F. Add tomatoes to a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet, and toss in 1 tbsp olive oil, honey, za’atar, and a pinch of salt. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until tomatoes have burst and are just beginning to char.
2. Preheat your skillet or grill pan to medium high. Pat your chicken breasts dry, and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle on some paprika, oregano, and some salt and pepper. Brush so it coats the breasts evenly, and repeat on the other side.
3. Add the chicken to the skillet/grill pan, and cook for 7-12 minutes on each side, depending on how thick your chicken is. Transfer to a plate and set aside while you fry your halloumi.
4. Add a little bit of olive to your skillet on medium heat. Add the halloumi, and fry for 3-4 minutes on each side or until nice and golden brown.
5. Prepare the dressing by whisking ingredients together in a small bowl with a little salt and pepper.
6. Dice up your chicken. Add the arugula to a large bowl, and top with the cucumbers, halloumi, chicken, roasted tomatoes, and pickled onions. Drizzle on the dressing, and toss. Serve immediately.