Orange Rosemary Chicken

Last week Monterey reached record highs for the month of April with weather reaching high 80's/low 90's.  I know that doesn't sound so hot, but goodness most of the homes and buildings in this area don't have air conditioning systems, our apartment being one of those homes.  It was toasty.

My sister was visiting, and we were originally planning on a soup dinner, but when warm weather hits you've gotta run with it.  Soup was put on hold and chicken was on the menu.  I knew I wanted to make something summery and citrusy, so Orange Rosemary Chicken was born.  I served it with roasted veggies, a summer strawberry and spinach salad and cold watermelon slices.  Yummy, right??  This was easy to whip up and can be left to marinate for several hours prior to baking (or grilling).

Orange Rosemary Chicken

- 1 lb. Chicken Legs

- 1 8oz. Bottle Orange Muscat Champagne Vineagar (from Trader Joes, but any orange or champagne vinegar will do)

- 4 Sprigs of fresh Rosemary, roughly chopped  (set some aside for topping)

- 1/2 Orange, sliced  (save other half to squeeze into marinade)

- 1/2 Lemon, sliced  (save other half to squeeze into marinade)

- 1 T Extra Virgin Olive Oil

- 1 T Honey

- Dash of Salt & Pepper

1. Salt and pepper chicken, set aside.
2. In a large ziploc bag, combine vinegar, oil, honey, and squeezed orange and lemon juice.  Add chicken and top with rosemary.  Let marinate at least 45 min in fridge. 
3. Preheat oven to 375*.  Arrange chicken onto baking sheet evenly spaced (I like to line mine with foil for easy clean up), making sure none of the legs are touching (this ensures even baking).  Top with orange slices, lemon slices and remaining rosemary.
4. Bake uncovered for 30 min, turn and bake another 20-30 min or until inside temp reaches 160*.

I can't wait to hear what you think! 

Here's to warm weather.

Shop for Pensacola

Many of you know that earlier this week, my hometown Pensacola, FL, was hit by a huge storm and unexpectedly left many many families displaced, roads washed away, homes and businesses destroyed and priceless family valuables in ruins.

Thankfully our families have been spared and their homes are dry.  However, the home the hubs and I lived in (and the church we called home) prior to CA was flooded as well as most of our neighbors.  It will take years to rebuild the community.

In a small effort to help those in need, I'm dedicating ALL of my personal Chloe + Isabel proceeds during the month of May to families in need.  Shop using this link (important to use this specific link) and share with your friends. On June 5th, all proceeds collected will be turned into gift cards and sent to families who have been displaced.

If jewelry isn't your thing, visit one of the links below to give to friends who could use the financial help.

http://www.gofundme.com/8s90hs

http://www.gofundme.com/8sxjb4

Several items are 25% off this weekend and all orders placed by Sunday will arrive in time for Mother's Day.

Thank you SO much from the bottom of my heart for the love, prayers and support.

Here are a few photos flooding my social media feed and a few my dad sent me this morning.

Banana Almond Bites

Clean eating 2014 is still going strong.  I've always been one to eat well, but when reaching for a quick little something to snack on, unless it's been prepared in advance, I usually grab something packaged (like popcorn or granola bars or dare I say it?  Chips! *gasp*).  Over the past few months I've been trying to make snacks from fresh foods - it's not always easy, because lets face it, us Americans want instant gratification when our tummies begin to growl or our energy plummets.  Let me introduce you to one of my easy, protein boosting goto's - Banana Almond Bites.

These remind me of my mom's peanut butter banana sandwiches when I was a kid.  On a good day I'd get a little surprising burst of sweet honey, oozing from the insides.  Good memories.  

I know this recipe is nothing mind blowing or totally original, but I thought I'd share for those looking for little ideas to add to their daily recipe box.

Banana Almond Bites

- 1 Ripe Banana

- Almond Butter (my favorite is Justin's)

- Clover Honey

1. Slice bananas into 1/2 in pieces. 
2. Spoon almond butter onto banana slice and top.
3. Drizzle with honey.

Yummy! You could also sprinkle a little protein powder on top for an extra energy boost. And if you wanted to get really creative with it - you could spear them with toothpicks and dip them in melted dark baking chocolate and freeze for a sweet little treat. (I may have to do that and report back with the results.)

What are your fresh and easy goto snacks?  Would love to hear!

XO

d

Simple Living

I hope the past week has been so full for you friends.  I cannot believe we're in the final moments of 2013.  Can you??

As the year comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on the months behind - wishing I had done this or that, had been more organized, less stressed, more disciplined, less distracted, more present, less busy.  So tonight, I sat in the quiet of my parents' cozy, Christmas-lit living room and jotted down some things I'd like to do differently in 2014.  

- Inductively study the Bible

- Pay off debts

- Be more organized

- Travel beyond US boarders

- Work towards purchasing a home

- Purchase a 2nd car

- Grow my Chloe + Isabel business

Those were some of the more practical things, but laced throughout that list, I found myself writing little things like....

- Enjoy my husband daily

- Be joyful!

- Be others centered

- Serve

- Be more generous

- Share more of my life

- Live more simply

- Cherish the little things

In my youth I dreamt of the years ahead of me, however, as I grow older, I realize that every breath is a gift, every moment a privilege.  Tomorrow is not guaranteed, so more than ever, I desire to live in the here and the now.  As I glance over my goals for 2014, I find a common theme - savor and simplify.  I truly hope to savor and cherish each day as it comes and goes, and I plan to simplify.  So here's to year two thousand and fourteen ~

2014, 

I hope you are full and rich.  Brimming with adventure, blessings, growth, and warmth.  I hope you bring about establishment - completing the work once began in me and establishing more of the woman, once created to be. I hope you're full of joy, gratitude and thankfulness.  And lastly, I hope you are simple.  Keeping a heavenly perspective is my heart's #1 desire as I follow your footsteps and venture into your unknown.  I look forward to what you hold and I wait in great anticipation.  

Yours truly, 

Danya

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What do you have to say to 2014?

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End of Season SALE

We're having a FANTASTIC 40% off Sale!  

Over 100 pieces are marked down AND all are backed by our amazing lifetime guarantee!

Check out my online boutique today.

I also have a one time use $25 off a $75 purchase coupon to offer to one lucky reader!  Leave a comment with your favorite piece from our SALE and winner will be selected at random and announced on Monday, Dec 30th (please leave your email address so that winner can be contacted).

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and are looking forward to the new year!

Lots of love and blessings in this holiday season...

xo

25% OFF

I thought I'd let you know that we're having a Friends & Family 25% off (an entire purchase) sale until December 11th.  Use code FRIEND at checkout to receive your discount.

If you haven't experienced Chloe + Isabel yet, now is a great time to do so!

Merry Christmas!

Click HERE to shop my online boutique.

Are you a purple elephant??

*source unknown

I've been passionate, ambitious and creative since childhood.  I struggled in school because I thought outside the box.  I day dreamed during class lectures and I thrived on relationships with my classmates - I was regularly that kid called out for talking or doodling during class.  But I was a total people pleaser too and when I did less than ok on a test or an assignment, I beat myself up over it.  I didn't fit into the academic mold in the least bit and it hurt.

Twenty years later, not much has changed.  I look around at what everyone my age is doing (getting married, making beautiful babies and/or in the middle of a career they had always dreamt of) and I can't help but notice that I'm different.  

Friends, we were created for more.

Comparison is the root of so many awful things.  Insecurity. Loneliness. Anxiety. Discontentment. Anger. False pride. Physical illness.  Any of these things sound familiar?

How many times have you looked at a girlfriend and thought, I wish I had her life. *guilty*  I'm challenging you to stop.  Put an end to the comparison and find confidence in who YOU were created to be.  Confidence in your circumstances.  Pride in the work God is completing in YOU and not her.

Have you ever noticed that the "purple elephants" are the world changers?  World changers are different.  They don't necessarily have the marriage, the babies, the house, or the career.  All of those things are normal and good, but when we are so focused on what we don't have or how unlike everyone else we are, we are distracted and rendered useless.  

I don't know about you, but uselessness scares me to death.  So I'm bound and determined to guard and protect my heart from the ever-so-tempting game of comparison  {via facebook, instagram, twitter, magazines, reality tv, etc.} and put myself back into the game of changing the world.  I'm taking pride in my "purpleness" and I'm excited to own up to all I was made to be.  If I'm "just a wife" for a season, then I'm going to be the best wife I can be.  If I'm a career woman, I'm going to be the best employee I can be.  If I'm a mom, I'm going to be the best momma I can be.  Lets be the best at where we are in life and lets see the world change!

Dream with me for a moment. Can you imagine an army of secure, confident and God-fearing women?  It's no coincidence the enemy goes after the female heart, making her feel unwanted, unloved, unusable - we're a powerful part of God's kingdom and we were meant for more. 

*If you're the creator of this print, please let me know.  I searched high and low for it's source.