Pattern Play

I’m so excited to share ‘part 2’ of my Spring Picks post with you!!

Since its finally feels like summer here in Minnesota, I am so excited to wear the many adorable outfits I’ve picked out for this Spring. In addition to all of the wraps, shawls & lace that are in right now as well as dresses and shirts with high necklines, patterns are everywhere right now.

I wanted to give you a few more ideas and additional picks of mine for this upcoming Spring. For the first outfit, I chose a long cream maxi skirt with a short, mixed print pattern top. This loose top with patchwork patterns on it, paired with the maxi skirt keeps with the bohemian look and feel that is trending right now. A loose top with a loose bottom = perfection! The top was purchased at PRIMP Boutique and the skirt was bought at Forever21.

The second look I chose, was a simple one-piece romper. Rompers are the perfect thing to wear for this Spring & Sumer and again, this romper has a multi-colored, multi-patterned floral look to it, with a high neckline. It is so easy to wear and pairs perfectly with a long necklace! This piece was purchased at Target.

The last look I chose, was another romper. For this look, I chose an outfit that featured another pattern trend that is in style right now, which is the Aztec pattern look. With neutral, earthy colors, that are multi-colored, this last pick is something to look for when out shopping.  This piece can be found at Target.

I can’t wait to see all of your Spring picks and ‘spring-spiration’ for this upcoming season!! Tag me on Instagram and let me know if you have any comments or suggestions for upcoming fashion posts! 

Southwestern Salad + Avocado Cilantro Lime Dressing

Happy Monday! Who’s ready to start their week off healthy and with one of the most delicious Southwestern Salads ever? For this second week of Motivation Mondays, I have decided to make this perfectly light and refreshing Southwestern salad with a homemade avocado cilantro lime dressing.

There are so many fresh ingredients in this salad, plus its finally corn on the cob season, which gives this salad the perfect sweetness & crunch!  

First, what you’ll need for the salad is romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, avocado, corn on the cob, Cotija Mexican cheese, one bell pepper, black beans and chicken (optional).  Make sure to thoroughly wash the black beans to remove any excess sodium, after taking them out of the can. For the dressing you’ll need plain greek yogurt, avocado, lime, garlic, cilantro and water.

Slice the cherry tomatoes, avocado and bell peppers and boil the corn on the cob for about 8-10 minutes. After you have cut off the corn from the cob, add all of the ingredients to the bed of lettuce and toss together. Finally, sprinkle some Cotija cheese on top to finish it off!

For the dressing, combine the garlic, cilantro (optional), avocado, water, half of lime, greek yogurt and salt into a food processor and process until smooth.

This salad is literally amazing and will be the PERFECT thing to start your week! If you decide to try it out, snap a photo and tag me on Instagram. Also please feel free to leave any comments, suggestions or ideas you would like to see for a Motivation Monday post!

Salad

5 cups of lettuce

1 cup of cherry tomatoes

½ avocado

1 bell pepper

2 corn on the cobs

¼ cup of Cotija cheese

1 can of black beans

Dressing:

¼ greek yogurt

½ avocado

Handful of cilantro (optional)

1 garlic clove

½ cup water

½ lime

salt

Vegan Butternut Squash Pizza

It was such a gloomy day yesterday here in Minneapolis, so I decided it was a perfect day to do some cooking and try out something new! I had never homemade a pizza before and after seeing this vegan, gluten-free pizza snapped by Erin Ireland, who I follow, and who is also an incredibly talented and successful vegan food blogger out of Vancouver, I had to try it! Check her website out here! This Butternut Squash Pizza recipe was originally found on the website, Minimalist Baker, which I am also OBSESSED with. The website is clear, concise and the recipe was incredibly easy to make, using only about 10 ingredients.   

Ok, so I rarely speak of being obsessed with veggie pizzas, but this nothing like I've ever tried before. The butternut squash puree spread as the sauce perfectly compliments the broccolini, onions and chickpeas which decorate the top of the pizza, making it a perfect color and flavor combination! 

Look at these gorgeous ingredients! They are so colorful and were the perfect thing to brighten up my gloomy Thursday afternoon!

So, to make the sauce, you will first roast the diced butternut squash for at least 15-20 minutes or until it is soft and then transfer the garlic and squash to a processor. Process until creamy, then transfer to the gluten-free pizza crust and spread evenly throughout! 

After the sauce has been added to the pizza crust, add some coconut oil to a pan and sauté  your veggies for 2-3 minutes, until they have been somewhat browned. I like my veggies crispy, so I sautéed them for slightly longer! 

I followed the Minimalist Baker's recipe almost exactly, with broccolini, red onions and chickpeas to get a little protein in, except that I wanted to keep it vegan, so I left out the mozzarella cheese that she added on top. You can definitely add cheese if you'd like! 

After I added these toppings to the pizza, I threw it back in the oven to warm up and combine the flavors altogether for about 5 minutes! I can say this was one of the most perfect pizzas I've tried. I am OBSESSED. Its light, healthy and there is a burst of flavors in each bite! 

Definitely check it out! Tag me on Instagram if make it and post a picture at oliviasobjectsofobsession! if you have any questions or comments let me know! I'd love to hear from you! Happy Friday! 

Paleo Chocolate Chip Banana Bread + Walnuts

Since I was a little girl, I always loved eating sweets! I loved being in the kitchen, baking, helping my mom and trying out new recipes for fun, especially for the holidays! As eating paleo and whole foods wasn't a big concern when I was young, I never baked much that was considered to be paleo. But, as my consciousness to live a healthy and active lifestyle grew, I became much more concerned and aware of what I was consuming and putting in my body, and this is when I decided I wanted to start paleo eating. So, I decided that if I was going to make a paleo dessert, it had to be something I loved the most...banana bread!! 

I must say, I made the most incredible paleo banana bread the other day! This banana bread has the best of everything, chocolate chips, walnuts and coconut flour to make it paleo approved! I decided to make it, because it was a gloomy, cloudy afternoon and I thought there would be no better way to brighten up my day, than by making a delightfully, but healthy sweet treat! Since I am just starting to test out paleo dessert recipes, I was eager to see how'd this banana bread would turn out! I also have to give a shout out that this recipe came from one of the most incredible food blogging recipes, called Ambitious Kitchen (minus the walnuts). This site constantly has new, healthy and paleo friendly recipes on it and its a great place to get inspiration and cooking ideas from! I definitely am OBSESSED with it and recommend checking it out! 

In regards to the banana bread, it is incredibly easy to make, it only requires a handful of ingredients, no sugar and coconut flour to replace the typical white refined flour. Coconut flour is incredibly dense and much more nutritional for you. It is high in fiber, protein and is free from wheats and other grains. It is also low in calorie content and has a low glycemic index! Lastly, it helps aid in digestion and often times help maintain blood sugar level! Ok...sounds like I am using this all the now & for everything! 

If you are thinking about trying out a new paleo dessert recipe, I would highly recommend this chocolate chip + walnut banana bread! I am actually OBSESSED with it and could barely stop myself from eating it all. I will definitely be making this again in the future as it turned out amazing! Again, head to the Ambitious Kitchen website to get this recipe and start making it for yourself, so you can become just as obsessed! 

Chicken Quinoa Arugula Salad + Feta

Happy Monday!!

I hope you all had a fantastic weekend! I can’t believe how fast it went by. If you were anything like me, I tried to spend most of my day outside on Saturday, because the rest of the weekend was just dreary! Don’t get me wrong, I love a good Minnesota Spring rain and thunderstorm, but I am ready for more sun!!

So over the weekend, I decided I wanted to make something really healthy for the upcoming week ahead that stayed well for a couple days and was perfect for lunches! Meal prepping is SO important for me, otherwise I tend to resort to eating something that is quick & probably not the healthiest! So from now on, get ready for ‘Motivation Mondays!!’ I will be making healthy, quick & easy meals for your Monday mornings to bring to work or eat throughout the week!

For the very first week of Motivation Monday meals, I decided to create my own spin on a quinoa salad that I’m pretty much OBSESSED with!  Here’s what you need to do:

Salad: First take a cup of quinoa + two cups of water and bring it to a boil, then simmer for 10-15 minutes until the water is gone.

While the quinoa is boiling, take 2-3 chicken breasts, seasoned with salt & pepper, and broil/grill/bake, them in the for at least 15-20 minutes. I really like to get my chicken at Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods, because they have a great variety of free range, non-GMO chicken breasts!

In the meantime, while both the chicken and the quinoa are cooking, slice one red bell pepper, 3-4 Persian cucumbers (the little ones), 1 jalapeño, 1-2 cups of Arugula, some feta cheese and of course, some avocado to mix together. If you are looking for some amazing feta cheese, go to Trader Joe’s and get the Feta cheese that is still soaking in the brine! I am so obsessed with it!  After the quinoa and chicken have finished cooking, cut the chicken breasts into pieces and mix together all of the ingredients with the quinoa.

Dressing: The dressing is SO simple, all you need to do is get some EVOO & a lemon. Drizzle about a ½ cup of extra virgin olive oil over the quinoa salad and squeeze the half of a lemon over as well. I also like to zest some of the lemon peel to give the salad even more of a fresh citrusy flavor. And that’s it for the dressing, so easy!!

If you make this recipe, please tag me on Instagram and share with me OR feel free to leave a comment or suggestion of any alternative ways to make this salad with other ingredients! If you have suggestions or ideas for other Motivation Monday recipes you’d like to see me make, let me know!! I hope you enjoy this amazing Chicken Quinoa Salad!

Serves 5

Preparation: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 25 minutes

Total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

1 cup quinoa

2-3 chicken breasts

¾ cup feta
3-4 Persian cucumbers

1 red bell pepper

1-2 cups Arugula

1 avocado

Handful of cilantro (optional)

Homemade Dried Apricot + Raisin Granola Bars

So last weekend I went to Vegas for the FIRST TIME! I was heading there for one of my girlfriend’s bachelorette parties and I was SO excited to go. As I knew that the weekend would most likely be filled with delicious (unhealthy) food and some drinking….or should I say a little more than some, I wanted to start the trip off right by making something healthy to take with me!

 As we all know, airport food isn’t the healthiest, so I decided to make the most delicious and nutritionally loaded homemade granola bars!! These granola bars are the perfect thing to take with you while traveling, and are the perfect food to snack on. Also, lets not forget that they they are loaded with nutritional ingredients and are naturally sweetened with 100% maple syrup and dried fruits! Also, they keep well for an extended period of time, because there is no dairy and they don’t need refrigeration.

Oh and lastly, if you don’t know already, I mainly try to stay away from gluten and dairy, so these granola bars are extra amazing because the whole oats are gluten-free! Also, this recipe is so incredibly easy to make, because it uses less than 10 ingredients.

So first, you need to combine the whole rolled oats (gluten-free optional) with the dried apricots, raisins, sunflower seeds and flax seeds in a large bowl. After all of the dried ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the bowl, mix in one mashed banana. Then after all of these ingredients are mixed together, add in the maple syrup, coconut flakes, almond butter and the dark chocolate chips. Also, I added in some tested orange to add that perfect hint of citrus and to give it a fresh, springy taste! 

After all of the ingredients are thoroughly mixed, transfer the mixture into an 8x8 inch pan, lined with parchment paper. Then press down the top of the mixture until firmly set. Place the dish into the freezer for an hour. Finally cut the bars into pieces and eat!!

 I know you guys will love these granola bars as much as I do & make sure to take them with you when you're on the go!

Serves 16

Recipe: 

Whole Rolled Oats - Gluten-Free - 1 1/2 cups
1 mashed banana
Pumpkin Seeds - 1/3 cup
Dried Apricots - 1/2 cup
Raisins - 1/2 cup
Coconut Flakes - 1/3 cup
Honey - 1/3 cup
Almond Butter - 3/4 cup
Flax Seeds - 1/4 cup (optional)
Dark Chocolate Chips - 1/4 cup (optional)

If you make this recipe, make sure to let me know how you like them! Also, if you're on Instagram, make sure to take a picture and tag me @oliviasobjectsofobsession! 

Bachelor Farmer Cafe

Happy first day of Spring!!

It has been such a lovely weekend here in Minneapolis. There is still a slight chill in the air, but the sun was out and shining finally, so it was a perfect day to get outside and explore my neighborhood in the North Loop of Minneapolis. The North Loop is growing and expanding so rapidly, that there are new restaurants, shops and cafes opening all the time. The other day I came across this adorable, quaint cafe, called the Bachelor Farmer Cafe. This cafe is an addition of the preexisting restaurant called the Bachelor Farmer.

With large windows facing the downtown skyline and an outside patio along side of the building with benches for customers to enjoy the outdoors in an alley way, which is reminiscent of an Italian-style cafe, the Bachelor Farmer Cafe is a perfect place to relax, eat delicious pastries and sandwiches and spend the day catching up with friends. 

When walking in, you're greeted with an ever-changing construction paper board which hangs from the wall displaying the day's specials, the temperature outside and more. You can also grab one of the many newspapers hanging from hooks to read while sipping your coffee. The cafe has a constant flow of customers coming in and out every day and the atmosphere is fun, vibrant, light and airy, making the cafe feel spacious and open. 

As I stopped in yesterday for the second time within a matter of a week, I knew this was a place that I needed to share with you, because I am already OBSESSED. The first time I visited the Bachelor Farmer cafe, I ordered their open-faced beet + goat cheese + walnuts + honey sandwich. It was simple, elegant and nothing short of incredible! It was so amazing, I forced myself to slow down while eating, as to savor the amazing explosion of flavors that I was experiencing! This sandwich is a MUST! With the Beet + honey combination alongside the walnut + goat cheese combination reminded me of a fancier, adult version of the PB&J sandwich. It was perfection. 

In addition to how incredible the food is at the cafe, the coffees are just as amazing. Not only because of the taste, but how beautifully they are presented as well. The Bachelor Farmer Cafe ensures that you're not just experiences good food and coffee, but also an incredible experience as well. After my name was called from behind the barista bar, I looked down and my latte had the most intricate and complex design created on top of the foam. It was beautiful and I was OBSESSED with it. The quality of the latte was amazing and it wasn't overly sweet. 

I definitely recommend checking out the Bachelor Farmer Cafe if you're ever in the North Loop of Minneapolis. If you want to check out the website, you can find more information on their site, here. Its definitely a place that I am OBSESSED with and I hope you will love it as much as I do. I hope this recommendation was helpful. Enjoy! 

Midwest Cuisine: Spoon & Stable

So these past couple weeks have been a whirlwind for me! I have been so busy working on new content to write for my blog, spending time with family and it was my birthday! I love birthdays, so I made sure to celebrate in the right way, by checking out one of the most popular and up and coming restaurants in Minneapolis. Last week, my boyfriend and I made reservations at Spoon & Stable in the North Loop. I was so excited to go here, as I had been wanting to go for a while. Spoon & Stable was started by Gavin Kaysen, a James-Bared award-winning chef, who was born and raised in Minnesota. He wanted to showcase the midwest culture in the food, specifically with the stable Pot Roast dish on the menu.  Recently, this staple dish was featured in the New York Times, showcasing how incredible the restaurant and the food has become. You can check out the article, here.

So, after many weeks of anticipation, we sat down at a table located right in front of the open kitchen. I was able to sit and watch the chefs cook, prepare and create all of the many meals flowing out to all of the tables. The restaurant has a rustic, but elegant feeling. With the exposed wood and brick walls, the transparent wine cellar and open concept kitchen, customers feel very involved throughout the whole dining experience. Furthermore, as many of the dishes are shareable, I made sure to try almost everything! The food was exquisite, perfectly timed throughout our meal and the unusual combination of seasonings and sauces meshed perfectly together.

I know, these pictures must be making your mouth water by now, because mine is! These dishes were not only some of the most incredible combination of flavors I had ever tasted, but they were also so beautifully presented and creative. Each dish had a reason for why it was paired the way it was and a masterful idea behind its creation.

Spoon & Stable is not only one of the most up and coming restaurants in the Twin Cities, but it is also located in one of the best areas as well. Located only walking distance away from my neighborhood, I know that I will be visiting Spoon & Stable a lot more, if not for the food, then just for the incredibly creative and delicious cocktails. I can say, that I am completely OBSESSED with Spoon & Stable and highly recommend it to everyone, especially those foodies out.

Oh and since it was my birthday and to top off the night, I was presented with a enormous raspberry cotton candy birthday treat! It was such a lovely and unique touch and a fun surprise! I felt like a kid at the Minnesota State fair again! What a great way to bring the feeling of the midwest culture back into the theme at Spoon & Stable! Check out the website here and see the ever-changing menu for the week and more about the restaurant itself!

I hope you all have enjoyed this post and found it helpful! If you have any questions, please reach out! Enjoy!

Vino, Pasta, Pizza...Eataly

Happy April!! Can you believe its already April, because I can't!! The month of March completely flew by. The snow has all melted here in Minneapolis, the trails are slowly starting to fill with runners and bikers, but the best part is, that farmers markets are right around the corner! Speaking of markets, I just spent Easter weekend in Chicago visiting one of my best girlfriends and we went to one of the BEST food markets/restaurants! Obviously since I love all food, eating and exploring, I knew I was going to have a great time. Chicago is such a 'foodie' town and is a perfect place to try out new things and discover new places! 

So, immediately after de-boarding the plane and dropping our stuff off at the apartment, the girls and I went straight to Eataly to grab a glass of vino and bite to eat. Only located in Chicago and New York, Eataly is a combination of an Italian trattoria, wine bar and food market where you can pick up all of your staple cooking ingredients! Although the overall space of Eataly is expands over a two levels, each area is broken up into stations, such as pizza, pasta, seafood, etc., so the customer can choose the area in which they would like to eat. Additionally, there are endless amounts of sections to walk through, such as fresh produce, a cheese section, seafood, wine, dried/cured meats, copious choices of breads, as well as a plethora of olive oils and balsamic vinegars to choose from. Its an amazingly overwhelming experience and I could honestly spend all day, everyday wandering around inside there. 

After stopping at just about every area, the girls and I decided to get a class of wine. I loved the wine area, because there was a beautiful presentation of wines to choose from and the barrels of wine were displayed for the consumers to look at as well. It was a perfect place to sit, while we waited for our table to eat.

After waiting, and do except a bit of a wait, because that is how amazing this place is. Visitors come to Eataly from all over because there is of course, only two of them in the country and the food is spectacular. Finally, we were finally seated...in the pizza section. Of course, we had to try out one, or two, of Eataly's famous thin crust brick oven pizzas! The girls and I shared two pizzas and of course, because I am obsessed with anything truffle oil, I had to order the black truffle and mushroom pizza! You guys, I can honestly say, I am OBSESSED with this pizza and it is probably one of the best pizzas I've ever tried. If that isn't enough to get to come to Eataly when you're in Chicago or New York, then I don't know what is! 

Overall, I have to say I am really OBSESSED with this place. I have now visited Eataly at least three times and it has never disappointed. I only wish that they would open one here in Minneapolis, so I could do all of my grocery shopping in addition to eating all of the amazing food. The ambiance and flavors really brought me back to when I spent time traveling throughout Italy. Go check it out & if you do, let me know your thoughts! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do & I hope you enjoyed this post as well! When you're in Chicago or New York next, you'll now have a spot on your list to check out! 

Whole30 Challenge

Ok, so my most recent OBSESSION is, the Whole30 Challenge!

At first, I was really unsure about doing this. How could I give up drinking, sweets AND going out to eat for 30 days!? Oh and not to mention, all grains, dairy and snacking throughout the day! So, you're now thinking, I'm pretty much going to be eating nothing/like a rabbit, right? Well, yes AND no. But let's get to that later. So, the day arrived and I started on my Whole3o challenge journey.

Before this, I made sure to clear out the fridge, cupboards, created a meal plan and meal prepped for the week ahead. This was crucial for me to successfully follow the Whole3o challenge rules! At first, it was quite easy, eating leans meats, veggies, fruits, etc. It was great, until I realized how challenging it was to "not snack." I didn't know how I was going to make it! SO, the first couple days went by and I consciously challenged myself to make filling meals, so I wouldn't snack. Since the average person is so used to snacking throughout the day, this was quite a challenge, but it allowed my body to really rely on the nutrients I was eating during meal time and adjust to not relying on a boost of sugar or energy in between meals. As the days went on, I learned how to plan ahead better, prep more efficiently and slowly my food cravings and hunger in between meals started to disappear. The book provided me with fantastic recipes that I enjoyed eating more and more at every meal. Furthermore, not only did my love for cooking grow, but I started sleeping better at night, my energy levels went up and I wasn't getting tired during the middle of the day anymore and my nails and hair started to become stronger!! Score!! I was really starting to love this challenge and was feeling great. The last couple of weeks went by and I was nearing Day 30. At this point, I was not only feeling amazing physically, but I was feeling amazing mentally and emotionally as I was so proud of my dedication to finish 30 days, my willpower to not go out to eat or drink and to prove to myself that I could change the way I thought about and relied on food.

For anyone curious and wondering about this program or interested in taking the challenge, I can easily say, that I am OBSESSED with it and it will definitely be worth your while! Challenge yourself and try out this program! Click here to see what it is all about as well as the program rules! 

Spring Picks

I know I have been talking all about Spring and warm weather, but I can’t help but get excited! Us Minnesotans wait for warm weather to come around, for far too long every year, and I am personally obsessed with warm weather, sunshine and the opportunity to wear cute tops, shorts, dresses and all of the incredibly cute pieces that are in style right now!

So since I am incapable of waiting, I went out shopping to check out the new Spring trends and new outfits to wear for this Spring. After stopping at almost 3-4 different places, I noticed patterns and lace everywhere! The bohemian, whimsical, festival theme of clothing is still around and didn’t go away after last season. But, instead of carrying pieces that mainly consisted of floral and Aztec-type patterns, lace took a prominent place in almost every placed I shopped. In addition to see-through lace patterns, off-the-shoulder shawls are what to buy and keep an eye out for this Spring as well. This nonchalant, care-free, bohemian look and feel, not only looks great with a simple piece underneath, but doubles to keep you warm as well.

Lastly, another trend for this coming Spring season is the high neckline on tops and dresses. High necklines are flattering for all body types and pair great with necklaces.

The first combination that I put together was a beige, high neck, suede dress paired with a white lace shawl over it. Both of these pieces were purchased at PRIMP Boutique, a local business here in Minnesota.

The second outfit I chose for this Spring, was an off-the-shoulder white lace sheer top. This top is perfect for a casual look during the day paired with jeans or to dress it up, pair it with black jeans and heels. This top was also purchased at PRIMP Boutique.

The last outfit combination that I picked for this Spring season, was of course another, long-sleeve cream, lace shawl with a design on the backside to make the piece more interesting! I paired this with a loose grey & white top lined with embellishments on the bottom. The shawl can be found at Francesca’s & the grey & white top can be found at PRIMP Boutique.

I can’t wait to share more of my picks with you! Please comment or feel free to share any of your awesome picks for this upcoming Spring season! I hope you enjoyed this post and found some Spring-spiration from it! 

Taiwan...Asia's Hidden Gem

My idea for my first post about traveling was an easy one for me. One of my favorite places in the entire world and that I am OBSESSED with is, Taiwan!

Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall 

First off, I am OBSESSED with traveling, in general. I can easily say, this is the number one thing that I love and that I love to do. It is a passion of mine and I plan to never stop exploring. Having the opportunity to do some extensive traveling in the past, I have a few places that you NEED to explore and that I can't wait to tell you about. But, for right now, I will give you tips and information about why you must visit Taiwan at some point in your life!

I am OBSESSED with everyone in Taiwan, aka. the Taiwanese people/expats/etc. I am obsessed with its culture, people, food, its natural landscapes and language. A few years back, I moved to Taipei, Taiwan. I lived there for a year and fully immersed myself into the Taiwanese culture. The moment I arrived, I was greeted with an inviting welcome, hospitality and eagerness to please and help. Taiwan is a hidden gem of an island, located off of the coast of China and its beauty is insurmountable. The capitol city of Taipei, is very commuter-friendly by the Mass Rapid Transit system (MRT). The bullet-train from the north side of the island to the southern most tip of the island, allows for a quick and easy way to check out both sides of the island, and lastly you can easily explore the nearby islands by taking a quick hopper plane or ferry to, to check these islands out for the day, as they are right off the coast of Taiwan.

Southern most tip of the island - Kenting 

Taiwan has temples and night markets everywhere you go, allowing for an exposure and insight into its incredible culture and ways of living. While in a temple, you will have the opportunity to participate in the praying rituals such as offering up items or lighting incense, or just observe and watch. Longhshan Temple is a must while exploring the capitol of Taipei. Oh and DO NOT forget to go to Shilin Night Market. Shilin Night Market is located off of Jiantan Station on the red line and is the largest night market in all of Taiwan. You will be delightfully overwhelmed, when entering the market, with noises, lights, smells and people in every direction you go!! It is incredible! And if you're daring, you'll try and stinky tofu!! 

Longshan Temple 

Furthermore, I am mostly obsessed with Taiwan because of how safe it is. Having a sense of safety and security while walking alone or not having the worry if any of my possessions would be stolen, made my time there, so much more enjoyable and put me at ease. The Taiwanese are wonderful people who believe in karma, so they try not to cause anyone harm or to do anything bad to others as they believe it will come back to them. Pretty amazing, right? Can't we ALL think this way? 

Finally, Taiwan's natural beauty and landscapes will keep you mesmerized and busy for days, even weeks! Taiwan not only has mountains, oceans, beaches and an incredible downtown metro area, it has also incorporated many parks into the surrounding city limits as well as having a national scenic park outside of the city called Sun Moon Lake and a World Heritage site called Taroko Gorge.

Temple in the mountains in Taroko Gorge

Mountains in Taroko Gorge

Out of all of my many travels, I can say I am truly OBSESSED with Taiwan and that you should experience everything it has to offer at some point in your life!

Olivia's Obsessions/Recommendations:

1  Head north on the MRT to Xinbeitou. Walk around the quaint town and visit the natural hot springs and take a dip in the thermal hot spring baths. Here, you will also find hotels offering traditional Taiwanese massages. Spend the day relaxing and pampering. 

2  Day trip to Wulai. Wulai District is a mountain indigenous district in southern New Taipei City and also is known for its hot springs. Take a hike through the mountainous region to a natural three tier waterfall to experience the natural beauty of Taiwan. 

3  Shillin Night Market - As the largest and most expansive night market in Taiwan, this is a must. Right off of the Jiantan station on the red line, it is a short 20 minute commute outside of the city center. 

4  Taroko Gorge. (see above) - Located on the east side of the island, you can take a three hour train on the coast to Hualien. From Hualien, you will then be able to drive, rent a scooter or take a tourist bus to and through the famous Taroko Gorge. 

5  Kenting - at the southern most tip of the island, this beach town is filled with fun activities to do during the day as well as a great place to party. Check this out, if you're looking to get out of the city and for something more laid back and relaxing. 

6  Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall - this massive memorial hall created for the leader of Taiwan who led the revolution against the Chinese is a must. I am actually OBSESSED with its detail, enormity and overwhelming beauty it offers! 

Enjoy & travel well! 

Triple Berry Smoothie

I am so excited because Spring is in the air here in Minnesota, and I am so ready for warm weather, cold drinks and being outdoors so I thought there would be no better way, than to make a delicious and beautiful triple layer smoothie to brighten up the day! I also thought it would be the perfect healthy recipe to start off the day!  To check out the recipe here for ingredients and steps to make! 

I came across this recipe from a LA based lifestyle blogger that I started to follow recently. She has incredible ideas, DIY tips, travel inspiration and is known best for her recognizable aesthetic and styling! Check out her website here! 

I didn't stick to the recipe exactly and decided to throw in a few other ingredients that I love and to make it more of my own. Also, I wanted to use as little dairy products as possible, so instead of using whole milk, I subbed almond milk instead! The original recipe included pineapple as well and so to make it a completely berry smoothie, I decided to include blackberries in place of the pineapple, which also gives the top layer the beautiful dark purple color! Lastly, to give it more of a healthy spin, I included some chia seeds in the smoothie as well! 

Ok, so I have to admit, making the thee layers is a bit more challenging than you'd think! In order to make sure your smoothie look beautiful and has the defined colors and layers, make sure after each time blending the ingredients, you store in the freezer for at least 10 minutes for it to become more of a thicker consistency, so the layers can sit nicely on top of one another. Also, another tip to create that beautiful triple layer look, SPOON in the middle and top layer of the smoothie!  

Finally, if to make your triple layer smoothie look even prettier, top it off with a sprinkle of unsweetened coconut flakes and a cute straw! This triple layer smoothie really incorporates the perfect amount of berries, yogurt, coconut and healthiness into one jar!