Mesa De Vida Recipe Starters
Mesa De Vida Recipe Starters

I introduced you to Mesa de Vida in November! But let’s recap!!!

Chef Kirsten Helle Sandoval has such an inspiring story which you should read in detail here. She creates delicious blender sauces that combine fruits, vegetables, whole spices and herbs to use as flavor bases that had no added sugar, and that are low in sodium. And for someone who eats a Whole30 diet 80% of the time..it is so nice to have something quick, healthy, and flavorful on hand to make dinner! I love Whole30 but I must admit I get so tired some days of all the food prepping. Mesa de Vida really saves me some time and energy and that is so important to me! I just love that Mesa de Vida is a woman + family owned small business that values equity and inclusion too!

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Health + Wellness, RecipesSamantha RubleComment
New Favorite Turntable Speaker System Featuring Andover Audio
New Favorite Turntable Speaker System Featuring Andover Audio

I personally love vinyl for the experience; it’s a deep, physical connection to music. I adore the experience of dusting off the record, lining it up, dropping the needle, and kicking back, instead of just scrolling and tapping a screen. Vinyl really engages me in the listening process, and the medium encourages consumption of a complete album as a piece of work. Sometimes it’s just a nice thing to collect, even if it’s never listened to.

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Home, ShopSamantha Ruble Comment
A Trip To Provence From The Comfort Of Your Own Home
A Trip To Provence From The Comfort Of Your Own Home

I so adore a beautiful subscription box that transports me somewhere else! I so love giving subscription boxes as gifts too because they are truly the gift that just keeps on giving. Discovering a single item that truly encompasses how much you care can be quite difficult. Whether it’s for their birthday or a holiday or it’s a simple token of gratitude, one way to guarantee you’re giving them something they’ll enjoy is by presenting them with a gift that keeps on giving. Translation: Invest in a themed subscription box they can be excited about for months to come. And imagine a subscription box that transports you to Provence without even leaving your own sofa! I am all for someone bringing Provence to my doorstep every season. What about you?!

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Beauty, Francophile, Home, Playlists, Shop, StyleSamantha RubleComment
Return To Your Senses With Osmia -Natural Skincare Handcrafted In The Colorado Mountains
Return To Your Senses With Osmia -Natural Skincare Handcrafted In The Colorado Mountains

Returning to my senses with Osmia Organics. I love this natural skincare hand-crafted in the Colorado mountains!

A few faves:
Lavender Shea Soap- This lavender soap was created for our founder's friend, Alan, who wanted a very simple bar of soap - "without any stuff in it". We use spinach powder and French green clay to give a soft green hue, but the bar is very smooth and untextured in your hands. The beautifully subtle lavender smell comes from organic, Bulgarian lavender and balsam of Peru.

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BeautySamantha RubleComment
Scenes From The Weekend
Scenes From The Weekend

We just got back from a little lake holiday being reunited with family and celebrating Rodge’s birthday along with his two grandsons birthdays too! I want to keep these treasured memories for myself but I do hope you love the photos!

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DiarySamantha RubleComment
Everyday Cooking With Authentic French Cookware Featuring CRISTEL
Everyday Cooking With Authentic French Cookware Featuring CRISTEL

I view cooking as an artistic expression, a labor of love, an exploratory moment where time stands still- therapy even. I just really love testing new recipes, mixing unexpected ingredients, and playing with food and CRISTEL has just enhanced my creating experience with their cookware. Plus this was the the most perfect option for our “smallish” kitchen. Their removable handle concept is incredible and allows us to store all of our pieces in a single drawer!. (You can actually store up to 26 items in a drawer with CRISTEL) The different cookware can not only be stacked within one another to minimize space but also set easily in the dishwasher. And I can easily utilize every single burner on my stove at the same time plus I can get more on the oven rack making things very efficient for me. I can also use these to store food in my refrigerator eliminating the use of toxic plastics. (plus further saving cabinet space not having to fill it with tupperware type containers)

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Home, Recipes, FrancophileSamantha Ruble Comments
French Rosé Season
French Rosé Season

About last night

Rodge joined me for a wine tasting with The Alliance Française de Chicago and that was a very nice surprise . He was very sweet and romantic and it was everything I needed! ( decade long relationships need sparks my dears)

Turns out Rodge loves Tavels and I love Bordeaux when it comes to French Rosè wines! But after learning more I need to get my hands on a really good Savoie . I think the Savoie is going to be the very Rosè that was made for Sam!

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Entertain, FrancophileSamantha RubleComment
What’s in my bag -Summer Edition
What’s in my bag -Summer Edition

Swapped out my regular face spritz for a lovely microbiome mist recently!

The Hydrating Pre+Probiotic Facial Mist from Happy 2nd Birthday is rich in antioxidants, prebiotics, and probiotics. This multitasker can be used throughout the day to restore radiance, soothe sensitive skin, and boost absorption of other skincare and makeup products plus
it delivers refreshing hydration and balances your skin microbiome!

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BeautySamantha RubleComment
Fête + Eat -Bastille Day 2021
Fête + Eat -Bastille Day 2021

Bastille Day is soon approaching, and even if you're not in France, all you lovely Francophiles can still party like it's 1789. Le quatorze juillet, better known among English speakers as Bastille Day, is a time to come together to commemorate the Storming of the Bastille as well as the Fête de la Fédération, the celebration of the unity of the French nation during the Revolution, in 1790. Between the French military parade down the Champs-Elysées, air shows in the Parisian skies, fireworks shows that light up the Eiffel Tower, and the many festivities in cities around the world, there are plenty of ways to celebrate La Fête Nation.

If you have plans to throw your own soirée to honor the holiday, here's a roundup of delicious Bastille Day dishes. They are just perfect for a lovely meal at home too any night of the week. I hope to encourage you to experiment a bit with the french way …..go frenching yourself so-to-speak! LOL!

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Entertain, Francophile, RecipesSamantha Ruble Comment
Currently In My Hair
Currently In My Hair

I get so many questions about my hair….seriously! My hair posts are my most read blogs STILL to this day. You all are VERY interested in these locks.

This is the first time in a super long time I have not had extensions and if I am honest, there are days I wonder what organs I can sell to get them back in. They are truly such an expense and truly so time consuming though so I am focusing on the positives—more money in my account and more time in my life .

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BeautySamantha RubleComment
Red Lipsticks For Summer
Red Lipsticks For Summer

A beautiful moment with “Goldie Red” (The Gucci Red) from Gucci Beauty!

Gucci Beauty presents Rouge De Beauté Brillant, a special lip color set apart by unique benefits. Serving as an in-between for a sheer and satin lipstick, the hybrid long-lasting dual-action formula delivers 24 hours of moisture and a beautifully pigmented shine. Formulated with nourishing and antioxidant ingredients, the creamy texture highlights and preserves the natural beauty of the mouth, so lips look fuller and plumped to perfection. A new vintage shape and design inspired by vintage brooches bears witness once again to the Creative Director’s passion for collectable objects of desire. Obsessed!

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BeautySamantha RubleComment