My views on food (literally)...

I haven't been really present on my blog lately, and that's about to change, or well, I should say I'm going to try to change that. Even though I've still been here, baking and cooking and such, I haven't really been up to photographing every detail and writing. I guess, I haven't really been all that inspired.

Anyways, I feel like I need to challenge myself, in everything. Whether it be photographing every little thing that I cook, to writing, to being more active, to doing something everyday that makes me get off my lazy butt. Anyways, here are a few snapshots of the food I've been eating and cooking in this hiatus, that I never got around to posting... 

market haul from my local persian market, rainier cherries are the prettiest!

more rainier cherries!

been really into healthy smoothies lately. on the left: banana + chocolate + date + almond milk. on the right: green monster with spinach + banana + pear + orange juice.

strawberries prepped for roasting.

moody strawberries after roasting.

cucumber-mint gin & tonic. beyond refreshing.

coconut cupcakes.

mini carrots roasted with fresh herbs and copious amounts of butter. mmm.

Cancun Vacation Diary.

My latest vacation was nothing short of magical and filled with awe-inspiring views, have a peek for yourself :)

{heading out to isla mujeres and couldn't take my eyes off the turquoise waters}

{sun, sun, and more sun}

{my fave sunnies ever + delicious pina coladas = lovely mid-day siesta}

{rented a lensbaby composer for the trip, super dreamy and magical!}

{my family loves street side coconuts}

{pina con chile paletas - too bad they weren't as good as the ones I've had in LA before though...}

{beach bliss}

{sunny palms}

{always living for that pink sky}

{swimming and kayaking through stalagmite and stalactite caves makes for an adventure-filled day}

{driving towards adventure}

{my sister & I practicing our synchronized jumping at chichen itza, one of the new seven wonders of the world}

{chichen itza, too bad they don't let you climb it anymore...}

{sister & i at the ruins}

{a cenote, which are a result of limestone bedrock that has collapsed to form a large sinkhole. something from my dreams, basically.}

{local kids diving into the cenote}

insta.life

I just recently joined the iFamily and I couldn't be happier!

Just thought I'd share some tidbits of my life, via instagram :)

Follow me @mm_huynh

(1) sofia riesling is delicious (2) getting back into reading after 'the hunger games' trilogy wooed me back (3) my love, baba ganoush (4) stripey metallic nails (5) dad & the babs (6) pretty fabric that i'm hoping to diy into something (7) water against pavement (8) feet needed some sunshine (9) morning breakfast

(1) my new diy studded iPhone case (2) sparkly vegas nights (3) tea + chambre de sucre sugars (4) mind was a jumble (5) baba and his doggie ice cream treat (6) sunset drives are best

(1) almond custard buns (2) art deco nails (3) silhouettes (4) me & coffee (5) blueberry almond frangipane fruit tart (6) diy chain rings (7) mixed print nail love (8) my furry love sleeping soundly (9) lemons, to make lemon bars!

As you can see, I just love instagramming my nails, my dog and my DIY projects, but sometimes a bit of food and nature sneaks their way in as well ;)

Chambre de Sucre GIVEAWAY!

You all know I love tea, I drink it almost daily and even so, multiple times a day.  I don't often drink my tea sweetened but ever since the folks from Chambre de Sucre sent me their precious gourmet, handmade sugars, I couldn't resist. I mean seriously how precious are their products?! See my last post here.

Anyway, we wanted to extend the Chambre de Sucre love to my readers! 

They just came out with some of the sweetest sugars imaginable: little, heart-shaped sugars that come in a variety of pastels. Can you just imagine the fun you'd have with them? Especially if you threw a girl's day spa party or tea party with scones and muffins! Sounds like heaven to me...

To Enter:

Just leave your name, email and what color you'd like!

I'll name the winner in two weeks. Good luck to you all :)

Go here to browse through their selection and to see what color hearts are offered.

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Update: This contest has now ended. Congratulations to Elizabeth Grace - hope you enjoy your mini purple hearts!

Their new and lovely heart sugar collections!

xoxo hope you guys enjoy xoxo

Tea Time & The East India Company

I think people often underestimate the time you need for yourself. It's nice to keep yourself busy with work, school, loved ones and lovers but I firmly believe that to be happy in life, you have to be happy with who you are. I love to spend time with myself. That sounds weird, I realize, but I like having my alone time with only my thoughts and I like to take time out in the day to relax a bit, whether it's going to the gym and sweating it out or just spending 10 minutes out of my day to enjoy a hot cup of tea. 

The nice people of The East India Company were kind enough to send me some of their delicious jams. I had just baked a loaf of 10-grain bread (recipe up soon) the day before, and it was perfection paired together. Soaking up the sun, reading the paper and nomming on some jam-laden homemade bread... what an afternoon! It only took 10 minutes, but that 10 minutes could be, quite literally, the thing that saves me. That sounds a bit dramatic but stress is probably the worst thing for your body.

The East India Company's Strawberry & Champagne jam was like a little gift of self-appreciation and I thank them for that! I don't normally like to talk about products on this site, but I thoroughly enjoyed this jam and thought I'd share what large effect this small bottle of jam had on me, and who knows? Possibly on you too :)

{Website}

Thanks again, The East India Company!

Zion, Springdale, Utah

I know this is a wee bit late, but my vacation to Zion, Utah was something I'll never forget and something I definitely want to share with you guys. Vacation in Utah, you say? I swear I told so many people that I was taking a week away to Utah and they responded all the same way: "Why Utah?!" 

Even though there are about a million places around the world that I'd love to see in my lifetime, one of my lifelong dreams is to see all of the beauty that the United States has to offer, because, well, there's so much of it! Zion was just one of the most unbelievable places I've ever been to. The landscape... oy, it's like nothing I've ever seen and something I've never even dreamed of. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves...

{weeping rock, zion national park}

our first official hike in zion after a 6-hour + all night long drive up. we were such troopers, driving all night then hiking all day long!

{weeping rock, zion national park}

weeping rock is literally a huge overhung rock that weeps. slow trickles of water drip down its sides and even though the hike is short and uneventful, the end stop is nothing short of breathtaking.

{the narrows, zion national park}

our second official hike and definitely one of my favorites! wallowing through ice cold water in deep lush canyons was such an awesome experience - we even had to swim through some parts!

{the narrows, zion national park}

NARROWS we rocked you!

{the narrows, zion national park}

a quick long-exposure to capture the awesomeness of the fast rapids!

{the narrows, zion national park}

oh hey it's me!

driving through utah while the sunrise greeted us!

a guided multi-repel trail through outer zion land. amazing - except for the one repel where i basically skinned my hands. ick!

{angel's landing, zion national park}

the gorgeous beginning to my favorite hike of the trip.

{angel's landing, zion national park}

finding inner peace in zion.

{angel's landing, zion national park}

oh hey, it's my girls & i in a rock! what's upp?

{angel's landing, zion national park}

angel's landing was by far the most gratifying hike of the trip. climbing 12,000 ft. up was challenging and most definitely terrifying but the view... oh that view!

{springdale, utah}

such a small quaint town! almost nothing to do once the sun went down, but after 8+ hours of hiking everyday, sleep was on our minds anyway.

{springdale, utah}

we ate out one night and decided to cheers with some ice cold beers... they weren't that refreshing though. did you know utah reduces the amount of alcohol in all of their alcoholic beverages?! another interesting fact: they don't let you order an alcoholic beverage without the accompaniment of a meal... interesting.

{bryce canyon, utah}

like nothing i've ever seen - definitely the most visually stunning hikes of the trip.

{bryce canyon, utah}

my girls & i in the most epic canyon ever.

{bryce canyon, utah}

of course, there had to be a jumping picture!

{bryce canyon, utah}

ugh, seriously!??!

{bryce canyon, utah}

me, wandering a new world. btw, camelbaks save lives!

{bryce canyon, utah}

{bryce canyon, utah}

taking advantage of the gorgeous sunlight.

{bryce canyon, utah}

utah, i sure will miss your golden horizon!