Forking Up

• 1 can (~ 2 cups) refried beans
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup mayo
• 1 package taco seasoning
• 1 cup cheese
• 1 small tomato, diced
• 2 green onions, sliced
• 1/8 cup sliced black olives

Fresh, sparkly unicorn poop, straight from the magical horse's butt. This was inspired by Nomageddon's Poop Peep Recipe!

What little kid didn't adore unicorns? I remember I was desperate for any "proof" that these majestic creatures existed. I watched The Last Unicorn hundreds of times, doublechecked every horse I encountered for the trace of a horn, and wished on every shooting star that I'd someday see one.

Why are millennials obsessed with unicorns now? I see it on all sorts of fashion and decor, even moreso than on children's clothes and toys. Could it be because we're nostalgic for a simpler time? Or we're waiting for the magical unicorns to visit us again and bestow some magic upon us (possibly to make our student loans disappear?)...

Well friends, look who I caught in the act:


Did you know that unicorn poop tastes of strawberries? It's true! I carefully recreated the flavors for you here, in case you don't have the good fortune of a unicorn pooping on your own table. These Unicorn Poop Marshmallows are the perfect gift for your favorite desolate millennial, or wide-wondered child with an awesome sense of humor.

• 1 packet gelatin + 1/3 cup water
• 1 cup sugar + 1/4 cup water
• 1 tsp strawberry extract
• 3 drops neon pink food coloring
• 3 drops neon blue food coloring
• 3 drops neon purple food coloring
• Sprinkles, edible luster dust, and candy hearts for garnish

Originally, I was just going to round up what to eat in Costa Rica, but I've been gushing about this trip to anyone who will listen so I decided to dedicate a post to activities as well.

Looking for what you MUST EAT in Costa Rica? See my first post!


Horseback Riding - You'll find Horseback Rides just about everywhere, for any skill level though there's definitely a focus on beginner. The horses are well-trained and chill, so you'll have a leisurely stroll through the gorgeous countryside. In Arenal, it's the best way to get as close to the volcano as possible for those incredible pictures! Taking into consideration the uneven terrain and length of the hike, it's a lot better to have a horse that can do the hard work for you. This is the tour I took, through the hotel I stayed at.

The Volcano! - Arenal is famous for their volcano, and the entirety of what you can do and see here pretty much revolves around it. We were lucky enough to stay close enough to see the volcano from our hotel room. While you can't actually climb it, you can get pretty close (see the horse riding tip above!) and it's pretty breathtaking just to be near.


Thermal Pools - These are in Arenal. Being a volcanic area, these are in no short supply. Luckily for us, we had them right in our hotel area! They were not quite "natural" but still used hot thermal water heated by the volcanic activity under the ground. Our hotel even had a swim up bar, which was pretty cool. We found that it was a great way to relax after a day of adventuring. There are a number of spas in the area that have their own thermal pools in every price range. Our hotel was the Arenal Pariso and we loved having it all right there.


Ziplining - You will see billboards for these EVERYWHERE but the best ones will be in Monteverde, where the rain forest is the most lush. We shelled out for the photography of our first zip and got some pretty good pictures. The guides are energetic and the views are to DIE for. Flying hundreds of feat above the canopy is a memory I won't soon forget. Even my husband, who is terrified of heights, had a blast. In his own words "you go so fast, and there's so much adrenaline, that there's no time to be scared." Plus, you're strapped in and typically flanked by little kids who have no fear--so it's hard to be scared. Click here for the ziplining tour we took in Monteverde.


Rainforest Night Hike - Most of your favorite rain forest critters are actually nocturnal, so a night hike is your best way to get a peek at them. We took two tours: one in Arenal that focused on frogs, and one in Monteverde that focused on mammals. Both had their charm and we saw a ton of animals at both! The best part of the Arenal tour was that it included a meal cooked by the family that owned the land, though it probably ties with seeing three sloths on the Monteverde tour! Here is the one we took in Arenal (with dinner included), and Here is the one we took in Monteverde.


Coffee/Chocolate Tour - We took this tour on a whim because our hotel in Monteverde (the Heliconia) had a deal with them. And let me tell you, it was one of our favorite things we did! You get to sample chocolate in every stage of its transformation from bean to bar, and learn the process of making coffee and sample different roasts. It was all on a working farm with an incredible tour guide that gives you the entire history of coffee. Check out the Don Juan tour we took here!



The Beach! - My one regret about our trip was that we didn't set aside enough time for the gorgeous Costa Rican beaches. While I have heard that the Carribean-side beaches are the best, I was only able to check out the Pacific side. Namely, Jaco. And I have to say, it was AWESOME. I loved it. It was a bit touristy, but the beach was absolutely gorgeous. We walked a bit past the main strip where the hotels are and had our own private little stretch of beach that looked straight out of the movies.

What do you think of this list? Let me know in the comments!

At the beginning of July, my husband and I (finally!) took our honeymoon. Since we got married in Massachusetts last year and used up all our vacation time, we decided to make this our one-year-anniversary trip.

When I was researching for our trip, I found a lot of suggestions on what to DO, but not a lot on what to EAT! So I thought I'd do a roundup of both for my blog. This is specifically for the area we visited, Arenal and Monteverde, during the rainy season.


First up (of course) is what you MUST EAT when you visit Costa Rica.

While most of the food in Costa Rica is what you'll find throughout most of Latin America, there are a few unique dishes I came across that I immediately fell in love with. For the most part, the food here is so good because it's all super fresh, local, and not buried in seasoning so the bright flavors come forward.


Chifrijo - If there is one thing you must eat in Costa Rica, this is it. I need to make my own version because I keep thinking about this dish! It's a classic bar food but so incredibly tasty. Rice, beans, pork, salsa, served with chips. It sounds so simple, but it is SO. GOOD. It's one of the few totally Costa Rican dishes I could find and it was hands down my favorite. It's typically an appetizer, but I ate it as my dinner at least twice. It's filling!


Casado - Casado is a Costa Rican meal made up of rice, black beans, plantains, salad, a tortilla, and a protein like fish, chicken, or beef. It's a simple dish but you can find it everywhere and it's a meal you know will taste good. You can eat it separately or use the tortilla to make your own taco. Nothing is over-seasoned, and the freshness of the food stands out.


Arroz con Pollo - Chicken and rice. Or beef, or pork, or whatever else but chicken was the most popular. Rice is a staple here, so low carb diets will have a lot of trouble avoiding it. My advice? Don't avoid it. Indulge. It's worth it. The rice isn't soaked in sauce or cheese, but the flavor is worth it. Slightly spicy with fresh veggies, this was a whole meal in and of itself.


Salsa Lizano - This stuff is like ketchup in Costa Rica and it is DELICIOUS. Tangy, only slightly spicy, and so perfect on everything from rice to eggs to every meat. I brought home two huge bottles and am consuming them by the teaspoonful so as to make it last as long as possible.



Breakfast! - We filled up every morning with the generous breakfast buffets at each of our hotels. I feel like this is where America comes up short--our continental breakfasts (crappy make-your-own waffles included) honestly suck. Costa Rica had amazing breakfast spreads with all sorts of breads, meats, eggs, and more American options like cold cereal. Gallo pinto (rice and beans), fried cheese, and fresh fruit.


Fresh fruit juice - Every hotel and restaurant we went had their own fruit punch or fruit juice, as did every restaurant. The fruit here is plentiful and fresh so it's easy to find just about everywhere! Strawberry and Pineapple were my favorites, but Sour Guava was a surprisingly tangy juice we loved, too!


Chocolate and Coffee - You'll find these together at souvenir shops since they're two of Costa Rica's most popular exports. The best place to grab these are straight from the farms themselves, as you'll be guaranteed local, fresh products. However, if you want to save some money you'll find excellent options at grocery stores as well.

What did you think of this list? Let me know in the comments!

Specifically, Creamy Boozy Dairy-Free Fudge Bars for Summer! What's better than a cool treat that gives you a bit of a buzz? A friendlier diet recipe! By removing the dairy and cutting down on sugar, this is way better than your typical cocktail, and definitely better than your typical popsicle.

Broccoli Picnic Salad

• 2 heads broccoli, cut into bite-size pieces
• 5 slices bacon, diced
• 1/2 medium red onion, diced
• 1/2 cup shredded carrot
• 1/4 cup silvered almonds
• 1/4 cup golden raisins
• 1 cup mayo
• 2 tbs sugar (or sweetener of choice, as much or as little as you think you need)
• 1 tbs red wine vinegar

-Cook bacon in a skillet on medium-high until desired crispiness is reached. Drain, and set aside on paper towels to let grease wick off.

-In a separate bowl, mix together the mayo, sugar, and red wine vinegar. Taste, and add more or less vinegar and sugar to taste. You can also add a bit of salt and pepper.

-Toss the rest of the ingredients with the dressing, and put in the fridge for 30 minutes. Serve cold.

*This will keep for a few days, but be sure to mix it up regularly, otherwise it'll get watery.