Some things I’m lovin’…..

• Chartreuse: from nail color (Essie’s The More the Merrier), to design projects, to the Portofino shirt, I am loving this hue lately.

• And speaking of my birthday wishlist…

This.

• Also. Apple Cider Vinegar!!! Because I attribute this miracle stuff (along with some healthy doses of kombucha) to being the reason my allergies aren’t nearly as bad as they used to be (like, 4+ sinus infections a year?) and for beefing up my immune system. I seriously love this stuff. So many benefits. Just make sure you get the raw, unfiltered kind; I use the brand Bragg. Couple tablespoons mixed with any concoction of water and/or 100% juice, and I also love using it in dressings for salads. Speaking of that….

• Jersey fresh produce is BACK in full force!!! (PS, Salad in a Jar is genius and a perfect way to eat a ton of veggies in a sitting….and be totally full.)

• This.

• Question of the day? “Jimmies” or “sprinkles?” Hope you’re having a lovely week!

 

We made fresh-squeezed margs with just lime juice, tequila blanco, and a splash of Cointreau (and a frozen version with an entire orange and a little Stevia added), guac, refried beans, roasted tomatillo salsa, corn, black bean, and avocado salad, and both ground turkey and fish tacos (a huge fresh cod fillet!). Prepping all the food (and squeezing all of those limes!) with Coop was so fun (we may or may not have had a Cinco de Mayo station blasting on Pandora…), and sitting outside with our margaritas as our food roasted away after the prep was all done was so amazing. Gosh, I love spring.

xo

The coffee and dark chocolate Chobani Bite is AMAZING. Also a huge fan of the caramel and pineapple Bite, and the new Pear and Banana flavors often make a morning appearance in my breakfast…paired with sliced banana and crumbled protein date balls, of course.

Just wanted to drop in to let you know that if you click THIS LINK (you can only get the promo through this exact link), you will get free shipping at my Society6 store. I have two new illustrations available as iPhone cases, throw pillows, t-shirts, laptop and iPad skins, and more.

Love You to the Moon….and Back is one of my favorite sayings, and when I designed it recently for a personal project (MyPublisher makes the BEST photo books! I make one every year for our anniversary. Hopefully Coop doesn’t read this before this weekend, surprise ruined!), I thought it could make a nice addition to my Society6 shop.

Also, Foxy! He is the first of a larger scale project I am doing, and the first in a series. He makes a pretty cute pillow.

Also, I now have Balloon Duck bookmarks and Treefrog blank greeting cards for sale in my Etsy shop. Check it out!

Kisses, and more to come…..

First up to share with you guys…some Save the Dates!

I loved working with Rachel and look forward to doing her wedding invitations! We decided on postcards, and the matte finish was perfect for writing addresses on; plus I got to design two sides! I worked with a printer in Maryland (thanks for the tip, Taryn!!!) and they did an amazing job. Can’t wait to do more work with them in the future.

If you have an upcoming wedding or event, don’t forget! Sam Bock Illustration & Design is more than just animal drawings, friends (although I could do them everyday for the rest of my life and be enormously content), and we are open for business!

xo

Delia Langan’s jewelry is the prettiest I have ever seen; I literally wear her jewels everyday, from my stackable gold Pretty Girl and I’m Hammered rings, to a few necklaces at a time. I just bought these crazy-beautiful earrings and I cannot WAIT to wear them out. It is all so strikingly unique, organic, and delicate, and yet still bold; perfect for layers upon layers, and every single piece I own can be dressed up or down. I wear mostly gold, and I love that her gold pieces are 14K gold-filled…aka, I NEVER take them off and all it takes is a little Windex to keep ‘em sparkling with the best of ‘em. And her gemstones are ah-mazing.

I worked with Delia to create her new Valentine’s Day sparkly logo (glitter and craft paper, woop woop!), and we created a list of her top 10 gift picks for V-day. Boys, grab some of these for your lady friends. Girls, snatch up as much of her ridiculously addicting jewelry as fast as you can; you won’t regret it…a little V-Day (and everyday) ‘treat-yo-self!’ Beau or no beau, you will fall in love with DLJ.

1. Color Pop Hoops – Pink Watermelon Tourmaline and Handmade Rose Gold Filled Hoops

2. Together Forever Necklace – Hand Fused Sterling Silver Interlocking Circle Pendant

3. Gold Heart Bracelet – 14K Gold Filled Handmade Heart Bracelet

4. Rose Cascade Hoops – Rose Quartz and Teardrop Shaped Rose Gold Filled Handmade Chandelier Earrings

5. Color Pop Drop Pendant – Pink Watermelon Tourmaline, 14K Gold Filled

6. Rosy Droplette Hoops – Rose Gold Filled and Rose Quartz Handmade Hoop Earrings

7. Gold Heart Pendant - Handmade 14K Gold Filled Heart Necklace

8. Rose Petal Hoops – Handmade 14K Rose Gold Filled and Rose Quartz Hoop Earrings

9. Together Forever Gold Necklace – Hand Fused 14K Gold Filled Interlocking Circles Pendant

10. Coral Party Girl Hoops – Coral, Handmade 14K Gold Filled Hoop Earrings

And some other favorites of mine? XL Different Strokes Necklace in Rose Gold, I’m Hammered Necklace, Landscape Wrap Bracelet, Falling Emeralds Hoop Earrings, and the Aqua Worship Pendant.

xoxo

As a recovering beauty product junkie, I used to be constantly on the lookout for the hottest new thing. But now, as I have began to simplify and purge lots of excess crap from my life, I have chosen some absolute favorites throughout the years…and I keep coming back for these. Plus, they all give a little pep in my step during the yucky, cold, dreary, pale winter months.

1. Urban Decay Naked Eye Palette 1 & 2: Hands down the best color selection in a palette. I own both and use them ALL the time. Perfect for a low-maintenance girl when it comes to makeup, as the colors are gorgeous neutrals, but also can be used to create the prettiest smoky eye.

2. Coconut Oil: I love it for cooking (doesn’t burn at a high heat like EVOO does!), but this stuff is pure magic for your hair. The only leave-in conditioner I use anymore. Does wonders for your brittle ends and parched hair! You can find it in any grocery store with the olive oil.

3. Mac Eyeliner in Teddy: The prettiest eyeliner with amazing staying power. Been a favorite for years.

4. Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Tiger Lily: The only chapstick I buy over and over and over, everytime it runs out. Smooth and not tacky, no overpowering flavor, and the slightest, most natural tint. Love.

5. Sephora Blush in Rose Glow: Natural, light, pretty. Seeing a trend here? Gives a perfect hit of color to paler winter skin.

6. Essie Turquoise & Caicos: Just look at it. It is perfection in a nail polish. Tropical!

7. Benefit Hoola: Love this in the hollow of the cheeks & across the nose and forehead; it’s great year-round, and looks awesome with a little rosy blush on top. Love that it’s not shimmery. And Benefit always has killer packaging. Hoola, you get a gold star in the bronzer category!

8. Loreal Voluminous Mascara: It’s just the best. I’ve tried ‘em all, from department store to drugstore, and this, my friends, wins them all. Makes for easy, feathery, long, full, and bold lashes, all at the same time. Lift, and separate!

9. Philosophy Lotion in Unconditional Love: I love all of their lotions; this one is a fave, but I often pick up limited edition ones that I fall in love with and cry when they are discontinued. Sniff, miss you, Aloha Girl! But their lotions smell the BEST! This one is heaven in a scent. Yum.

10. St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse: Because the evil sun rays scare me. I am petrified of wrinkles and skin cancer, and although I am a beach-lover and sun-goddess through and through, SPF is always at hand! This is hands down the best self-tanner. And again, I’ve tried ‘em ALL! The lotion is even better in the color department (read: darker), but has a much stronger smell. Can’t go wrong with St. Tropez, though.

What are your beauty favorites? Do you love any of these?

xoxo

But so far today, I have gone to Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and Total Wine with intentions of getting stuff for a cheese plate/dips/spreads for tonight and tomorrow, ingredients to make a salad inspired by one I had in Doylestown a few months ago (Pecans! Cranberries! Swiss Cheese! Vanilla Vinaigrette! Recipe to come…), and a make-your-own six-pack.

One of my favorite things in the world when I have “me time” is strolling through these places, finding new and exciting (or tried and true) foods and drink.

Like these two cookie butters! (Taste tested them both this morning….both ridic. Oh. My Lord.)

I also did my last workout of 2012 (BodyPump, with a broken-ish finger. I jammed my ring finger hard on Saturday afternoon when I took Koda for a run)!

Allowing myself to do these seemingly trivial things today, on the last day of the year, helped me to put things into perspective. I often yearn for what I will have, and push for the future. This helps keep me motivated and determined, no doubt, but for 2013, I really aim to keep doing what I am doing (working hard at my jobs, expanding my design and illustration business, balancing fun, food, fitness, and relationships) while staying in the moment. Realizing what joy I got today out of simply food shopping at my favorite stores and taking a class at the gym with a group of motivated and energetic individuals really helped me to see how lucky I am. Although I am no where close to where I thought I would be in my life at 25, I am still able to pay for my food bills; I am able to push my body in workouts and fuel it with healthy foods. I went through a scare earlier this year where I had lots of internal and back pain for many weeks, and I thought I’d never be able to exercise again. After discovering a chiropractor when nothing else was working, I was finally fixed and am building up my strength again; just today I finally got back to my normal squat weight and feel really healthy and strong. I often wish I could have more time to dedicate to my business, but I should be appreciative for all the new ideas and opportunities that are coming for Sam Bock Illustration & Design. So many awesome things coming up, including a new line for an older demographic (think plates, mugs, pillows).

I am lucky enough to have met the perfect person for me, and my family and friends are so, so wonderful. I am thankful for so many things, and I need to let go of the constant yearning for the future and be happy where I am right now! And it’s just getting better and better. There are SO many awesome things coming up in 2013. I think we could all benefit from realizing what great things we have going on in our lives when oftentimes we let those little moments and achievements pass by because we are just too busy pushing forward.

Happy New Year. xo

Creamy Wild Mushroom Farfalle
Based on Cooking Light’s Farfalle with Creamy Wild Mushroom Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 pound uncooked farfalle (bow tie pasta)
• 1 TB Smart Balance
• 12 oz pre-sliced exotic mushroom blend
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/3 cup finely chopped green onion
• 1 can peas, drained
• 2-3 cups fresh baby spinach
• 1 TB minced garlic
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 C dry white wine
• 2/3 C heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup (2 oz) grated fresh parmesan and asiago cheese
• 2 TB chopped parsley
• Minced fresh parsley (to taste)
• Crushed red pepper (to taste)

Prep: