Gluten-Free for 3 Weeks

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3-reasons-going-gluten-free-could-boost-brainThat’s right, I’m embarking on a “challenge.”

I’m often skeptical of challenges like these – after all, what really changes when it’s over? What keeps us from going back to exactly the way we were before? My friend Jesse, over at The Ripening, has been doing a series of 21-day challenges including going car-free, meditating, drinking only water, etc. This was very inspiring to me, especially when he described how the challenges DID stay with him. He rode his bike more often than before, would meditate frequently even if not daily, etc. Continue reading →

Homemade Basil and Walnut Pesto

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20130827_190136I’ve always enjoyed pesto, but haven’t had it on a regular basis. Last year, I picked up some local jalapeño pesto from the farmer’s market and I became slightly obsessed. It was good on crackers, toasted bread, tossed in pasta…the list went on and on. 

This year I had three basil plants and more basil than I knew what to do with – especially now that the nights have gotten cooler. I know the basil is nearing the end of it’s life, so I figured some homemade pesto would be a great way to use up a lot of leaves at one time. The result was yummy – and much better than the mass-produced stuff at the grocery store. And it was cheap – I already had all the ingredients in my kitchen. Continue reading →

Tori’s Famous Gazpacho

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IMG_20130829_191842229The weather in Atlanta has been hotter in September than in any of our summer months, which has prolonged the desire for summer salads, cool drinks and grilled meats. Normally, we’d be switching over to fall foods, decor and clothing but with days filled with 90+-degree temperatures, we’re still able to swim and shoot the ‘Hooch!

Another thing we’re enjoying with the hot days is a cold soup, specifically my gazpacho. I first tried gazpacho in Spain, which is where this cold vegetable soup originated. I was 15 at the time and didn’t care much for it, but my tastes developed over time and now I love it – so I’m going to share my recipe with you. Continue reading →

Summer Garden Series: Lavender

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IMG_5356Lavender may not be the first herb that comes to most people’s minds when they start thinking about what to grow, but it’s a beautiful and fragrant addition to any garden.

I like having lavender mixed with other plants in beautiful pots, as well as letting it grow in a planter on its own so I can harvest it. It’s so nice to breathe that lovely, soothing scent when I’m watering the plants. In this final post in my summer garden series of 2013, I’m going to share how to grow and harvest lavender and some ways to use it. Continue reading →

Fresh Juice Friday: Morning Green Glory

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It’s been awhile since my last “Fresh Juice Friday” post and recipe. I’ve been so busy sharing gardening tips, summer trips, and job search advice that making fresh juice at home has been hard! Luckily for me, there is a fantastic juice bar in Atlanta called Arden’s Garden that makes great vegetable juices that I can grab when I’m particularly busy.

However, nothing beats homemade juice – it just tastes so fresh and gives me so much energy! This recipe is for my absolute favorite green juice… Continue reading →

Tales from a Job Hunter: HR Fails

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Cropped_guy-eating-paper-in-frustration-smallWorking with internal Human Resource teams is part of any job hunt. HR has a tremendous impact on candidates, and I’ve sometimes wondered if they realize it. Candidates look to them for information and access, as well as take from HR their first impressions of the company. 

Maybe I’ve been a bit spoiled, but our HR Director at Studiocom was top-notch and I had a great experience working with her during my interview period and in the time since as an employee. She’s open, honest, hardworking and personable – I never felt like a number and I came to trust her. Unfortunately, many of my other experiences with HR were not this rewarding – and I’m going to share a few with you now as part of my “Tales from a Job Hunter” series. Continue reading →

Tales from a Job Hunter: The Bait and Switch

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imagesGetting laid off from a job is a difficult thing to go through. There are feelings of sadness, anger, hopelessness, opportunities, relief, fear, etc. Add this to the roller-coaster ride of emotions that is the job search and you’ve got one pretty intense individual. That was me a few years ago – I was up one day, and down the next, sure I’d found the best thing then positive I’d never find anything. Not exactly a great time for a potential employer to change the terms of the job…but they did. In this “Tales from a Job Hunter” post, I’ll tell you exactly what happened and what I did about it. Continue reading →