Recipe: Quinoa Salad Stuffed Avocados

Monica Auslander, creator of Essence Nutrition Registered Dietitians, gives us a great avocado recipe that is lite and easy to make. See ingredients and instructions below. 

Ingredients:

1 Avocado

1/4 cup dry quinoa

1/2 cup chickpeas, rinsed and drained

1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1/4 cup chopped spinach

1 Tbsp water

1 Tbsp dijon mustard

1/2 tbsp lemon juice

1/2 tsp honey

1/4 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp garlic powder

Directions:

Cook the quinoa to package instructions and set aside.

Dice the cilantro and spinach.

Combine with mustard, lemon juice, honey, cumin, and garlic. Add one tablespoon of water to the dressing until it is homogenous. Add tomatoes and chickpeas to the quinoa.

Pour dressing over the quinoa mixture until it is evenly coated. Cut the avocado in half and remove pit. Top with even parts of quinoa salad.

Free Coffee Today Atlanta!

Introducing Chrome Girl Nail Polish

If you are a nail polish lover like me, you have probably begun to think that all nail polishes are pretty much the same. For ages, I have noticed that every brand has essentially the same colors, and, no matter how much they cost, they all chip earlier than they say they will. But there is a new polish on the block that has peaked my attention: Chrome Girl Nail Polish. 

On the surface, the collection has beautiful colors, much like other nail care collections. However, what sets this line apart is that it is only two years old and the only 8-free nail care company on the market. This means that Chrome Girl products do not include eight of the most harmful ingredients common to nail care products such as Acetone, Silicone, and Formaldehyde. The lacquers are also smooth and do not clump when they are applied. Below are three of my favorite colors from the line. 

Deja Blue, $12

How Merlot Can You Go, $12

Like A Boss, $12

Outside of the colors, I am also a huge fan of the Chrome Girl Nail Lacquer Remover. It smells like Apple Spice and it is Acetone and Paraben free. And even though there is not acetone, these remover pads work awesomely, and get off every bit of polish easily. 

Apple Spice Scented Nail Lacquer Remover, $12

Want to see more products from Chrome Girl? Click here.

Helen Ficalora Valentine's Day Picks

I don't know about you, but I don't have a Valentine's this year. It would be cool if I did, but I'm not bummed, seeing that I see every holiday as an opportunity to purchase something special for myself. Helen Ficalora has the cutest pieces that are perfect for Valentine's Day. Below is my Helen Ficalora Wish List. 

Baby Heart Studs, $250

Garnet Gemstone Stacking Ring, $250

Garnet Dangle Earrings, $475

Diamond Stacking Ring with Baby Heart, $250

 See what other goodies Helen has to offer. Click here.

Mark Your Calendars!

There are some cool things about to happen in Atlanta. See below:

What: The #1 show of the summer for the past decade, “America’s Got Talent”, will host Season 11 open call auditions in Atlanta on Saturday, Jan. 30 at the Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center.Atlanta is the sixth stop on a 12-city nationwide search for America’s next big undiscovered entertainer.Those interested in auditioning can register for the Atlanta auditions at AGTAudtions.com. 

Where: Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center, 100 CNN Center NW, Atlanta, GA 30303

When: Saturday, January 30: Open Call Auditions

What: The Cupid's Undie Run is a party and a one mile run to benefit the Children's Tumor Foundation. Come out and run the race in your undies...however, that is not mandatory. See more details here.

When: Feb. 13, 2016 at noon 

Where: Big Sky 3201 Cains Hill Place NW, Atlanta, GA 30305 

Award Season Sips with Sparking Ice and Coco Joy

Take in this award's season with these delish cocktails. 

Red Carpet Ready

Ingredients:

• 4 cups apple cider, chilled
• 2 cups cranberry juice cocktail, chilled
• 2 cups SPARKLING ICE Crisp Apple, chilled
• 1 can (12oz.) frozen orange juice concentrate
• Apple slices for garnish
• Rosemary cranberry sprig for individual garnish, as shown in image, or float fresh or frozen cranberries in punch bowl

Add a splash of vodka or prosecco for a cocktail modification

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients and let sit overnight
2. Serve chilled, garnish with rosemary cranberry sprig

Best Dressed Blueberry

Ingredients:

• 4 oz. Blueberry Pomegranate SPARKLING ICE
• 2 oz. Pomegranate Juice
• Blueberries
• Pomegranate Seeds

Add a splash of vodka or prosecco for a cocktail modification

Directions:

1. Fill a glass with Blueberry Pomegranate SPARKLING ICE
2. Add pomegranate juice
3. Top with 5-6 blueberries and a small handful of pomegranate seeds
4. Stir to combine

Black Cherry Bombshell

Ingredients:

• Frozen black cherries
• 1½ oz. Kentucky bourbon
• 1 oz. SPARKLING ICE Black Raspberry

Directions:

1. Crush cherries into bottom of a glass
2. Pour bourbon then SPARKLING ICE over crushed cherries and ice
3. Add more cherry for garnish

Celebrity Colada

Ingredients

• ½ crushed pineapple
• 1 cup crushed ice
• 1 cup vodka
• 2 cups cold Coco Joy Water
• 2 limes

Directions

1. Combine pineapple, ice, vodka and Coco Joy Water in a blender and pulse until smooth
2. Garnish with limes 

Northern Cobbler Shoes

I have a confession to make: I can not walk in heels. Not only is my walk not cute in stilettos, but I have yet to master keeping a smile on my face while my feet are in excruciating pain like the other women I know have. So, I pretty much only wear flats. But, sadly, it is very hard finding not only cute flats, but flats that every other flat love doesn't have. This is why I am obsessed with Northern Cobbler Shoes. 

I like how they are on trend, yet simple enough to mix and match with all of your outfits. Below are my favorites. 

Nase

Mooneye

Cavefish

Learn more about Northern Cobbler shoes here.

Sneak Peek: Meet the Blacks

Mike Epps, George Lopez, Mike Tyson, and Bresha Webb star in "Meet the Blacks", a spoof on the thriller The Purge. In the film, produced by Deon Taylor and RZA, Mike Epps' character moves into an upscale community after coming into a lot of money. Their move just happens to coincide with the community's annual purge. Comedy ensues when Epps and his family find themselves locked in their home during the night where anything goes.