My favorite place ever: Byron Bay, Australia — February 2014
Oh hey Friday! This weekend I still have some Christmas shopping to do but considering the fact that I have 60% done is some sort of miracle. I actually did most of it online, so thank you for existing Amazon!
What’s new: I’ve been in Minnesota this past week and I can’t tell you how quickly the time has flown by. I was able to grab dinner with one of my best friends, see the new Hunger Games movie and do a few yoga classes. I also went to the chiropractor which seemed to help me tremendously. Hopefully I’ll be back in the gym soon lifting weights and running.
Other than that I’ve been craving some sort of vacation. Anything, really! Last year I was planning a trip to Australia and this year I haven’t done much other than stare at reviews on Trip Advisor. I promised myself that I would travel internationally at least once a year so I really do need to get on top of it. My best friend and I are in talks about planning a month long trip to South America or Asia, but haven’t quite decided yet. I’m basically dying to climb Machu Picchu. Anyone done it?
Enough chatting though. Let’s get to some link love! There are so many good things this week, I just can’t even. Also, I have a survey for you with the chance to win a $100 Visa Gift Card! Scroll down the the bottom for more info.
If you’ve never made anything with pomegranates, this guacamole recipe will change your mind.
A complete visual guide to 11 different sugars. Too bad coconut sugar isn’t on the list!
LOVE these essential oils for your skin. What’s your fav?
This chocolate peanut butter pie. Um and it’s vegan? Okay!
Ever tried Barry’s Bootcamp? This treadmill workout is one of my favorites to do on my own.
I desperately want to make this pork tenderloin for Tony. Except maybe I’d use a homemade cranberry sauce instead of figs.
Here are 5 bras every girl must have. I need to upgrade my bra wardrobe.
Don’t let your muffins go flat. Here are some tips on how to make them perfectly domed.
Flourless chocolate brownies with crackly tops? OMG I’m all about these babies.
How to master the cool-girl version of a low bun. With step by step photos!
These salted caramel brownies are sinful, gorgeous and might just make an appearance for Santa this Christmas.
I really, really REALLY want this Vitamin C beauty serum.
You know I have the best snickerdoodle cookie recipe in all the land. Ps. Make sure your b. soda is FRESH!
HOW TO ENTER THE $100 VISA GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY:
How to enter: First fill out THIS READER SURVEY. After you fill out the survey, leave a comment in the Ambitious Kitchen comment field telling me that you have done so and also letting me know what your favorite Christmas/holiday tradition is.
IMPORTANT:Â Readers who leave a comment through Facebook comments will not be eligible.Â
Giveaway will close at midnight EST on Friday, December 19, 2014 and winner will be randomly chosen and notified via email on Saturday, December 20, 2014. Good luck!Â
I completed the survey! My favorite holiday tradition is making cookies!! esp with peppermint in winter!!
I filled out the survey. My favorite holiday time tradition is all the time spent with family. It makes it all so fun.
My favorite tradition is opening 1 gift on christmas eve.
I took the survey! My favorite holiday tradition is making stocking stuffers for our family to enjoy on Christmas Eve.
I completed the survey & my favorite tradition is watching a Christmas movie every night (on the last 5 nights before Christmas) by the light of the tree!
I did the survey! My favorite holiday tradition is listening to all of our classic music!
Completed the survey! Hope you get quality data. My favorite tradition is Christmas Eve service with my family.
Took the survery! My favorite Holiday tradition is our family’s White elephant gift exchange!
I took the survey!
I filled out the survey! My favorite holiday traditions revolve around my family and good food! On Christmas morning, my mom always makes monkey bread and then we have a less than traditional fajita meal for lunch. It’s great fun!
Completed the survey 🙂 My fave tradition for Christmas is the music! It always gets me into the spirit, and I have an album I listened to when I was younger and I still love it now, as well as a disney album (Chrismas) that my Dad has always had, and we listen to at my family gathering every year – wouldn’t be the same without these!
Took the survey and my favorite Christmas tradition is making gingerbread houses!
Took the survey….and my favorite Chanukah tradition is making sufganiot (traditional Chanukah donuts).
I filled out the survey. My favorite Christmas tradition is making cookies one evening with my mom.
I filled out my survey, but I made one mistake. I just remembered that I found your blog by google searching for black bean brownies.
My favorite Christmas tradition is watching my son put the star on top of the tree. He’s done it every year for the past 4 Christmases and I have a photo of it each time. I hope to be able to share it with him and his kids when he’s older.
I always love decorating the tree but I can’t forget baking Christmas cookies either!
Survey done. My favorite traditional, I have 2: making & decorating gingerbread houses with my son & friends; spending a day or 2 in the city ( San Francisco)
Thanks! Merry Christmas!
Finished the survey!! I have always loved putting up the Christmas tree while listening to Christmas music!
I completed the survey! My favorite tradition is baking Christmas cookies with my mom and sister.
filled out the survey!
I love driving around to see everyone’s holiday light displays
Filled out the survey! My favorite Christmas tradition is homemade pizza on Christmas Eve. My dad is a pastor, so he always prepared homemade pizzas and we’d have the pizzas scheduled to finish baking once we were home from church. And his homemade pizza is the best pizza ever. 🙂
Completed the survey. My favorite tradition is going to my aunt’s house to celebrate on Christmas Eve
Survey complete 😀
As I am in Australia, my favourite Christmas tradition is going down to the beach to play some cricket with all the family in the Aussie sun 😀
Just filled it out! My favorite holiday tradition is eating my grandmaw’s butter beans. YUM!
Thanks for sharing my brownies, girl! <3 I filled your the survey, and my favourite Christmas tradition is definitely going to midnight mass with my family.
filled out the survey! i love making and decorating cut out christmas cookies!
I took the survey. I love making cut-out cookies and caramel brownies with my mom! It’s our special cookies this time of year.
Hi Monique,
I filled out the survey. My favorite Christmas tradition is making (and eating!!) breakfast pizza Christmas morning. Also, let’s be honest, the tradition of eating excessive quantities of dessert is pretty high up there too 🙂
Finished the survey. My favorite tradition was baking up a storm to make treats to give to everyone. It is the season of giving after all. We didn’t have much growing up to buy presents so we just spent days in the kitchen making goodies to give out.
Just completed the survey! And I love holiday cookie baking days with my mom and sister. Fun to spend time with them and I get to eat lots of cookies at the same time!
I completed the survey. My favorite Christmas tradition is putting up the tree.
I filled out the survey! My favorite Holiday tradition is listening to Christmas music while decorating the tree with my family!!
I took the survey. I love rewatching old Christmas movies!
I completed the survey, as well! And my favorite holiday tradition is Christmas Eve candlelight service and dinner with my family….followed by gift opening!
It was an interesting survey!
On Xmas, it’s one of the rare times where all my family can be home and just relax, other times we’re always either working or at school. So we take our rest day seriously!
I participated in the survey… Favorite Christmas tradition as a kid was probably decorating! After Thanksgiving, we would pull all the boxes down from the attic. Going through and unpacking/putting up everything each year with my family was always a blast. Seemed like we would always find something that we had forgotten about, but retelling the stories that went along with everything was the best part.
I completed the survey! My favorite holiday tradition is watching some classic holiday movies (especially A Christmas Story! I know, you love it or you hate it, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE it) and having a quiet night at home by the Christmas tree and fire with close friends/family. Not to mention, LOTS of baked goods and comfort food! By the way, I have really been enjoying your Wellness Wednesday posts! Though I eat a vegan diet now, I love every recipe I try on Ambitious Kitchen and have had a lot of success making them vegan-friendly. I do, however, have fond memories of your brown butter cookies 😉 Happy Holidays Monique! 🙂
I took the survey. My favorite Christmas tradition is making peppermint bark with my aunt!
I participated in the survey! My favorite holiday tradition is putting up the tree with my hubby!
Did the survey. I love love love cooking with my family on Thanksgiving. Then we watch the dog show!
Hi! I just completed the survey. This is only the 2nd Christmas I have been a mom, but I’d like the following to continue over the years. On Christmas Eve we all get new holiday pajamas and we wear them to bed that night. That way we look festive in the morning while opening gifts!
Just finished the survey! I love watching A Christmas Story on TBS over and over!
Just did the survey! Favorite Christmas tradition is spending Christmas Day with my family cooking, and playing games.
Took the survey! I’ve been away at school for the last 6 years, so when I get to come home a few days before Christmas, we pick up a “leftover” tree at the Christmas tree lot and bring it home! That way I get to decorate a little too and enjoy the Christmas spirit 😀
Did the survey. I love decorating with Christmas music playing while sipping on a mug of hot chocolate!
I completed the survey. I love baking the most during the holidays.
I filled out the survey and today I believe I’ll be making ur butternutsquash patties w orange cranberry can’t wt to try them bug fan of all u do and thanks for giving me a mother option on healthy food always get great inspiration w U!!! 😉 muchas gracias !!!!
Great survey! I have completed it 🙂
My fav holiday tradition is all the great baking!
Filled Out The survey! My favourite tradition is making tourtière and eating it for Christmas Eve…. It’s a French Canadian tradition!
I filled out the survey. Decorating our tree is my fave family tradition over the holidays. Love your blog!
I think I commented in tht wrong spot…sorry.
I filled out the survey…
Thanks so much for your great blog. I started out just looking for some recipes that were weight watcher friendly and now I am obsessed! Thanks!
My favorite tradition is buying a new Christmas sweater each year and wearing a different one as much as possible. I am the queen of ugly sweaters but so many have their own story. Like the one from when my 20yr old daughter was a baby and we had matching ones for our family picture. I still have BOTH!, waiting for a granddaughter one day! I only wear mine one day a year so I can keep it as long as possible! One day my daughter will hopefully find it fun to wear a matching sweater with her Mom again but not holding my breath!!! Merry Christmas Monique!
completed the survey! My favorite tradition (being italian) is christmas eve dinner with the 7 fishes .. over the years we have changed it to 7 seafood dishes.
Completed the survey. And our favorite tradition is making goodies to give to family and friends. We all get together and have a girls day.