subjective.

design + inspiration + fitness + cooking

the baked good & whole30 reflections.

so i did it. three weeks into my whole30, i broke down and created a baked good.

for the record, i totally don’t understand coconut flour. adjusting recipes i find online by adding ingredients usually always ends in a fail for me. it took me so many attempts to even land decent coconut chicken nuggets that I decided I liked grilled chicken better anyway. i tried onion rings and they were so very dry. meatballs yielded the same result. egg & nut allergies make cooking and baking very difficult on a paleo diet. 

the plan was to make a really small batch of some kind of chocolate chip cookies, and i found this recipe for 5-ingredient coconut flour cookies. It only makes eight 2-bite cookies and I thought, hey, i can use my magic bullet and add in some Good Life chocolate chips and we are good to go for a quick, tasty grain-egg-dairy-free dessert. and i deserve it. i’ve been so very faithful to my veggies, healthy fats, and protein. 

the ingredients to the cookies are simply: 3T Coconut Flour, 2T Clarified Butter, Pinch of Sea Salt, and 1T Agave to sweeten. 

Crazy me, I thought I’d add in 1T of Sunbutter (I’ve been looking for a reason to eat this. It’s too sweet and tempting to allow myself to eat by itself), and a few chocolate chips. Then, it was SO sticky and unbatter-like that i added in more coconut flour. Note to Self: Do not add more than the recipe calls for. When will I ever learn? 

Well, the batter itself was absolutely heavenly. But I resisted - I really wanted to make my tiny, sweet butter chocolate chip cookies that I’ve been patiently holding out for, so I spooned them out onto some parchment paper and baked them at what the recipe called for, 9 minutes at 365F. 

And what do you know? I didn’t watch them. I thought - 9 minutes will make them golden brown. And that is how I found myself with burnt, dry cookies. 

Granted, I still tested and ate them. I mean, let’s be honest - they still tasted buttery and contained chocolate - something I haven’t consumed in what feels like forever. But to learn a very valuable lesson… watch the oven, and never, I mean never add more coconut flour than the recipe calls for, even if it is a mere 3T. 

I’m not giving up, though - I plan to try to make another small batch after dinner. I’ll try them out on my roommates.. see what the hype is. I will make them perfect and feel completely satisfied. I am sure of it. Or it could be an excuse to consume another dessert while it’s still the weekend. Yeah, I said it. 

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In other news, I am so pleased at the positive effects from the Whole30 so far. And there are definitely frustrating moments. A part of me feels like I should have tried this experiment when I was married or had kids, so that I could force everyone else to eat my cooking. Being single makes food expensive and avoiding meals and outings with friends really difficult. 

1. I have a desire to cook! And eat veggies and healthy fat! I’ve always been a meat-lover, but aside from salads slathered in sugary, cheesy dressing, I never kept veggies in the fridge. Other than cucumbers. 

I have a newfound love for guacamole, bell peppers, zucchini, tomatoes, onions, spinach, and an even bigger appreciation for sweet potatoes. I’m not on the kale bandwagon as of yet.. but who knows what could happen. I eat carrots as snacks. I make lettuce wraps.

I’ve added lots of other meats into my daily regimen. I used to be a strictly deli turkey and grilled chicken eater. Now I experiment with marinades, making veggie meatballs, turkey burgers, sausage, a little bit of steak, and most importantly: uncured turkey bacon. i’m head over heels and eat it almost every day for breakfast. 

And honestly, the possibilities are far beyond what I ever imagined. Veggie pasta? Yeah, okay, I bought a vegetable spiraler but it is the greatest creation on earth! I also bought a magic bullet. I use it every day. 

2. I have discovered intolerances in my body. 

-I think the increased consumption of eggs has been a big red flag, and they seriously make me feel terrible. I’m almost a week into cutting them out completely, and am going to finish the whole30 egg-free. 
-Having more than one serving of fruit a day completely breaks me out. I have to watch this very closely. I love high sugar fruits, but am trying to stick to berries and apples versus bananas and pineapple. 
-My nut allergy stands strong - almonds are not my friend, even though I really wish they were. I think they are drops of heaven, and I used to just eat them anyway without caring, but it’s been easier to avoid them now with substitutions. Sunbutter is more of a allergy-friendly spread like peanut butter, (a die-hard love of mine) yet since cutting sugar, I can’t eat it on bread. I try to reserve it only for baking and avoid taking a spoon to the jar. Because let’s be honest, after staving off sugar, that is all my body wants to do. A big, giant spoon. 
-Things containing too much salt leave me completely and totally bloated. Including organic sauces. I’ve tried making my own, but haven’t had too much luck in that department. I still prefer Trader Joe’s Roasted Garlic Tomato Sauce or Guacamole to my own any day. This may be something I have to live with, but it does help me watch my sodium intake. 

3. I have kissed my RedBull addiction goodbye! I really did try to cut caffeine completely, and that was just too difficult for a girl as active as I am, with a day job where I have to focus the way that I do. Maybe that’s an excuse, I don’t know, but I still function much better with it. So my go-to has been a double-shot of espresso, followed by guzzling more water than my body can probably handle. And glory hallelujah, I am no longer dehydrated or fiending to sip on something sweet. 

4. My body has definitely leaned out. I’ve dropped weight. Now, granted: this was not my goal for the whole30. But I can totally see why crossfitters do it. My body is much more sculpted. i feel like I can push the limits and improve upon my normal workouts. the funny thing is, since changing my diet, my workouts have actually become shorter. I’ve been able to focus more energy into strength training than the cardio that I used to feel the pressure to maintain to stay at a goal weight. My body fat percentage has also dropped 2%. that certainly can’t hurt a girl. 

In terms of what results I haven’t seen from Paleo-living so far: 

My poor skin. This was the whole reason I went Paleo in the first place. Now even natural sugar or anything sweet spikes a breakout and I can’t seem to figure out why, since this diet is supposed to be anti-inflammatory. I’ve been faithful. I’ve taken the Vitamin D and Zinc supplements. I’ve focused on the whole foods. But as of yet, it hasn’t done a whole lot. 

It’s totally possible that it is hormonal. That even though my diet seems to spike it, diet won’t cure it. I thought I had to check this out and see. But Lord-willing, results are right around the corner. 

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Once Whole30 is over, I’ll definitely add a little bit of cheese and grains back into my diet. I may try to make Paleo versions of bread and tortillas instead of actual grains (hard to do without eggs though). But I love my feta. I miss my pizza. I’m 100% sold on the making things at home - knowing what is in exactly what you are cooking, as opposed to a greasy processed mess.

It’s been very nice to crave fresh healthy things. 

I’ll do a recap of my favorite recipes and modifications in future posts. I guarantee these will be my new favorite meals post-whole30 too. 

cheers!

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Whole 30 Challenge - Paleo Lifestyle

So California has blessed me with many things, but a beaming complexion isn’t one of them. I consider myself to be a fairly healthy eater - with a few cheat days thrown in here and there - but the journey from experiencing no skin problems my entire life to my skin throwing a fit.. let’s just say this hasn’t been an enjoyable experience. 

I’ve tried everything over the past year and a half to try to cure the problem. Doctors, topical creams, medications - nothing has worked. these things may have even made it worse. The other day, I ran across a book directly targeting diet as the main cause of acne. I quickly bought the book and read it within the day. It breaks down the importance of putting yourself on an anti-inflammatory diet and resisting as many anti-nutrients (grains, dairy) as possible to achieve a clear complexion. 

It’s basically a Paleo diet - and for the first 30 days especially - no tolerance. Strictly fresh meats, veggies, and fruit and nuts in moderation. I’ve never been a huge veggie eater other than salads, so I knew that this would be a challenge. I’ve also never been a seafood eater, so I’ve been sure to take my daily fish oil supplement. 

The first few days have been fine, but I realized that I need to cut back on the amount of fruit that I’m intaking, as well as increase my veggie intake and get a little more creative with my cooking. Who would have thought steaming vegetables would be so delicious?

A few of the meals I’ve had so far on Whole30:

- Warm Chicken and Roasted Almond Salad with Spinach, Strawberries, Blueberries, and Olive Oil + Balsamic. (roasting a handful of raw almonds and throwing them on is SUCH a good idea)

- Sun Dried Tomato Chicken + Roasted Sweet Potato Salad - oh my gosh, I know I need to eat sweet potatoes in moderation throughout the month because of the starches, but goodness gracious, this was delicious.

- Spinach Eggwhite Scramble with Salsa

- 2-egg scramble with Turkey

- Garlic Steak Fajitas with Red & Yellow Bell Peppers - BEST MEAL EVER. I’m not a big pepper eater, but for some reason, I felt inclined to try. They were so sweet + delicious, I couldn’t even believe it. I will be making this again very soon. I used Steak Tips, cooked them prior, and then threw them into the skillet. YUM. 

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So far, I’ve lost several pounds, succeded in cutting caffeine without any withdrawl symptoms (other than being a little more tired than usual - but I can cure this by eating a piece of fruit in my afternoon crash period) I’ve been sleeping a little better, as well - that’s been a struggle for me lately.

Hopes: Paleo is known to increase your energy and increase your workout performance, so I supremely hope that this helps my joints and body’s ability to push my workouts, but most of all, it’s about becoming healthy, enjoying whole foods, and clearing my skin. I’m going to be keeping a diary, so to speak - a food and progress journal to see how I’m doing. 

Happy Labor Day Weekend Everyone! 

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dripp.

The studio is stoked to be working with Dripp, a trendy coffee ship in Chino Hills. If you haven’t caught wind of them yet, be looking out, as they are soon to franchise. You can even vote on where you’d like the next location to open. (hint: go vote for Newport Beach!)

So, what exactly is Dripp? 

You didn’t come off an assembly line. We don’t think your treats should either. At Dripp, our goal is simple: we want our coffee, ice cream, and cookies to be absolutely the most delicious stuff you’ve ever tasted. That’s why every item we serve is individually-designed and made to order just for you. From the fresh beans we grind for your coffee to ice cream sandwiches stacked your way, you get customized, personal service every time.

You may have seen the brand identity on design blogs all over the web the past couple of months, as Salih Kucukaga, a studio in Istanbul, did a stunning job. We’ll be implementing some new things for the web, so keep your eyes open! 

Take a look at all the goodness.. 

Cheers!

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pantone inspiration

when I first saw this project, by a French designer at Griottes / Palette Culinaire - it brought a huge smile to my face. as designers, we all took color theory classes, and this is such a fresh, new spin on colors found in nature to create pantones. what’s fresher than fruit for design & a vibrant palette? 

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!

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“life happens while you’re making other plans.” - BrandonandLeah

adorable duo from Malibu with a breezy, beachy vibe. a perfect picture of what love in day-to-day life looks like. very jack johnson-esque with a female lead. already a fan.

seize the day! 

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santa monica // day of inspiration

A few weeks ago, our design team ventured out to Santa Monica for a day to get inspired as a group. We took photos, shot video, & browsed and picked up new books at Hennessey & Ingalls. It was a great bonding experience for the team, a day to bounce ideas off of each other and enjoy the day. 

Have I mentioned that I work with a ridiculously talented group of people? 

Aaron Kim documented the day on camera, and created an artistic + abstract video, not to mention a badass logo.

Santa Monica - Day of Inspiration from Plainjoe Studios on Vimeo.

Here are a few polaroids & instagram-moments from the day. More to come! 

PJS Design Team - Photos by Ed McGowan

Cheers!

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40 days.

{an opportunity to notice how God is working in our everyday lives}

we’re entering into the season of lent, something I don’t typically practice, but this year, I have a little bit of a different take on things. While some may use this time develop better habits by giving up things (which I am also doing with refined sugar + alcohol) it is also an opportunity to really focus on how God is working through our everyday lives.

With the craziness of the workweek, I know I don’t always take the time to write down how God is working. And these 40 days, I am committed to doing so. It’s the little acts of kindness, the feelings of success and/or fufillment, the great conversations, the enjoyable outings with friends, the deep connections.. these are all little glimpses of God’s plan unfolding and shaping you into the person he wants you to become.

I’m looking forward to the end of the season where I can look back on all the daily blessings and give thanks.

image source: oh pioneer!

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new year, new habits.

“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” — Jim Ryun

Good motto entering the new year. We all have resolutions, but who of us really ends up sticking with them? Last year, I stayed committed to fitness and sleep, two things that changed my entire lifestyle. But going back and reading through my list of resolutions, and there were 8 that I had not accomplished. Eight. Here’s to a year of follow-through and turning good intentions into healthy and satisfying habits! 

New Years Resolutions 

6. Run A Half Marathon. In Fall of 2011, I started training for the first time as a distance runner. Okay, so I’m still not incredibly far in my pursuit of loving to run or hitting a runner’s high feeling like I could run forever, but I’m working on it. I ran my first 5K in November with a few girls, and conquered a 10K in December with the best pace I had ever run a mile in. A half is next. Looking forward to Spring and longer daylight hours. 

7. Personal Creative Projects. I always intend to strengthen my craft as a designer outside of the crazy workweeks, but I never seem to have the energy. I always see fabulous do-it-yourself crafts and decor with detailed tutorials and intend to create something, but I never get around to it. This year, I am committing to one project a month. 

8. Hosting. I’m not sure if this is because I live with three other people, but I NEVER seem to host get-togethers. We have a beautiful home in a killer location across from the ocean, and whether it be having people over for dinner, cocktails, a party, a movie, or a game night, I’m going to make it a point to host. 

Happy New Year, everyone! 

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the new year // resolutions.

it’s time: 2012 is almost here. i am the girl who gets excited about setting new goals for herself, and this year will be no different. 

as i grow older, each year seems to become even more dynamic, and i continue to learn more about myself and what I am capable of achieving. 2011 brought me to a new city, great roommates, and new friends that i couldn’t imagine my life without. my lifestyle has changed into an active one - biking, hiking, plenty of time at the gym shaping up, not to mention my newest challenge, distance running. fitness has become my go-to stress relief.

i recently found a great church home where i have joined a small group to work on building community. my job is transitioning into a more creative position, and i feel like i am finally moving forward again. i went to DISNEYLAND for the first time. and overall, i have really learned aside from my social nature, that independence has another side to it: being totally satisfied with alone time. i have slipped into a very rigid routine, but i love every minute of it, because i am really focusing on myself and what’s good for me at this point in my life. 

i’m going to be making a list of 25 goals, 5 per week during the month of January, starting with this last week of December. Go-time! 

1. Eat Healthier. This may sound generic, but I’ve focused so very much on fitness, and not enough on digesting things that are going to help replenish my body. This includes branching out from my picky-eater syndrome, as well as consistently taking multi-vitamins. I’m so bad at that. 

2. Go to the Doctor. Guilty of not making this a priority, either. Whether it be an eye doctor, a dentist, or a regular check-up, I’m determined to stop pushing these things off and make sure I’m doing all I can to keep my body in check. 

3. Get a California Driver’s Liscence. Yeah, I’ve only been here for 2 years now. This one’s been a long-time coming. I guess I should officiate my California residency. And read the handbook. I’m going to need some motivation. 

4. Explore the West Coast. There is still so much to see. I’m planning a San Fran trip next month, and I just did a coastal drive from Northern to Southern California with my family, but I’ve done a terrible job of branching out since moving here. I’ve done the usual.. LA, San Diego, Big Bear, Santa Barbara.. but what about Sedona, Portland, or Seattle? These are all on the list for the year ahead. 

5. Read. At one point in my life, I was a big reader. I’ve put it off, and I fully believe that gaining information helps you grow as an individual, so I will be breaking out the books this year. Health. Goal-setting. Professional. Creative. I think it will be the year of self-help books and trying to gain insight on what things will help me in 2012. 

… 20 to go. 2012, here I come. Stay tuned!

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the hidden message of jingle bells.

talk about something to get merry about! brilliantly concepted, letter pressed infographic, the team at Paragon has deconstructed the traditional ‘jingle bells’ into a tounge-in-cheek self-promotional poster for their clients at Christmas. has anyone else ever realized that there is a made-up word, “upsot” in the second verse of this song?

in conclusion: while ‘tis tempting during this festive season to disregard the dangers of unbridled merriment, one must not permit said merriment to overwhelm one’s better graces. take heed this cautionary tale, lest you fall prey to the agency of bright spirits and at full tilt, become upsot.

clever. witty. i’m smitten.

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