Hey! How is your late summer going so far? The tourists are starting to clear out in La Jolla which means the beaches are much less crowded. This weekend Matt and I took advantage of the perfect weather by hitting up La Jolla Cove. There are tons of seals and sea lions who live in the area so we grabbed some snorkel gear to check them out in their natural habitat. It was my second time snorkeling there but this time the sea lions were so active. They would swim up within just a few feet of us. They are shockingly HUGE up close though, and we didn't want to bother them of course; therefore, we would watch them play underwater from a short distance away. It was downright magical. I can't wait to go back out there before the water gets too cold again. Long live San Diego life!

Coral and white striped tank top: Old Navy

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Light wash cropped boyfriend jeans (also seen here): Old Navy via my sister 😉

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Cognac espadrille wedges (also seen here, here & here): Gap

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Silver hoop earrings (also seen here, here & here): c/o Happiness Boutique

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Silver crescent necklace: c/o Happiness Boutique

Long silver bar pendant necklace (also seen here): c/o Happiness Boutique

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Hammered silver cuff bracelet (also seen here, here & here): Souvenir from our trip to Greece

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What's on your end of summer bucket list? Or are you so over the heat that you're just focusing on your fall to-do list? (I totally get it, if so. Even though I am loving the beach time, we have had some crisper mornings lately and it makes me oh-so-ready for autumn.)

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9 Items Every Vegan Kitchen Needs

Before Matt and I went vegan, the majority of our kitchen cabinets were hand-me-downs from my mom (thanks for always lookin' out, Mom!). We never really invested our own money in kitchenware because honestly, we didn't cook more than twice a week most of the time. Since going plant-based (and just having to grow up in general 😉) we've started preparing our meals at home quite a bit more. Now that we are [junior] chefs, we have picked up a few kitchen items that have become staples for us for most of the recipes we create. Some of them are probably pretty apparent and some of them really aren't but all have been so helpful; therefore, today I thought I'd share our vegan kitchen must-haves!

Recipe for Spinach Ravioli Soup featured in the above photo found here
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1. Masher

This one is straightforward. But it's perfect for mashed potatoes, avocado smashing, etc. Simple but necessary!

2. Plates that are also kind of bowls (obviously I don't know the real name for them)

I am probably very behind the times but I saw these floating around on Instagram featuring prettily plated meals. Now that we have them, these things have been one of my favorite adult purchases. I am an admittedly accident-prone person and that includes staining my clothes like a toddler. This may sound ridiculous but the lipped edges of these hybrid-plate-bowl-type-things mean fewer spills on my shirt while also being able to fit a large amount of food. That's a win to me!

3. Citrus juicer

The number of limes we go through now that we are plant-based is shocking. (Probably not shocking to the average person but it is to me because I never imagined being the type of person who sprinkles a bit of lime on practically everything.) The amount of juice that comes out from these contraptions versus just using your hands is insane. Totally worth the $8 investment!

4. Avocado scoop

I don't know about you but my lawd, we eat a lot of avocados in our home. It's our vegan version of "bread and butter." That said, I mainly make a lot of guacamole (would anyone want my recipe? Not to brag but it has been said ... by my partner ... that it's "the best in the world"). That means I am constantly scooping avocados and this simple tool does the trick.

5. TPU cutting board

We don't have a dishwasher in our house so we hand wash everything. The smooth flexible surface of this specific cutting board has been a Godsend for easy cleanup. Plus it still looks brand new after almost two years - no nicks at all!

6. NutriBullet blender

We use this so much that Matt even bought a second one to bring to work with him to have on hand at his desk. (👈 Dead serious) I use it to make frothy coffee drinks in the morning, fruit smoothies for an afternoon snack, and to make milkshakes at night for dessert. It barely takes up any cabinet space too! And though it may be tiny, it is definitely powerful.

7. Pots with strainer lids

These may or may not remind you of college. It doesn't matter though because they are so handy! We boil a lot of water --a lot, a lot it feels like-- and these let us skip a step. Plus it's one less dirty dish to wash! (Every single dish matters when you hand wash, I'm telling you.)

8. Reusable straws

We have a set of glass straws but I've heard good things about the metal ones too. I use these to drink coffee (both iced and hot so I don't stain my teeth), smoothies, teas, etc.

9. Guac-Lock container

Matt purchased this and at first, I thought he'd bought a "Made For TV" product. After using it one time though, I became its #1 fan! As I mentioned above, I love to make guacamole. This guy keeps it fresh for days, especially compared to a normal Tupperware that lets it oxidize after a few hours.
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What are your most used kitchen items? Are there any seemingly obvious ones that I missed?

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Stay Cool | Top + Cutoffs + Espadrilles

Whew, baby! Who else is still experiencing heatwaves where they live? Here in San Diego, we are definitely still in the midst of summer weather which generally isn't too extreme overall -- buuut when you don't have air conditioning (we don't), it gets a wee bit toasty! That's why I've been living in breezy tops, shorts, and open-toe shoes for pretty much any and all happenings for the past few months. It's getting me through these higher-than-usual Southern California temps! (Kinda sorta)

Olive green and white striped mock turtleneck tank top (also seen here): Anthropologie

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Light wash cutoff jean shorts (also seen here, here & here): Old Navy

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White strappy espadrille wedges (also seen here, here & here): Old Navy

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Wooden clutch (also seen here, here & here): c/o UncommonGoods

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Silver cuff bracelets (also seen here, here & here): Souvenir from Greece and gifted

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Silver "Alta" FitBit band: Via my mom 😊

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Silver hoop earrings (also seen here): c/o Happiness Boutique

Long silver pendant necklace (also seen here): c/o Happiness Boutique

Oversized tortoiseshell sunglasses (also seen here): Marshalls

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As I'm sure we all know lightweight, breathable fabrics are a must during the summer. That being said, even with the lightest of materials we can't always stop the perspiration from a-comin'. That's when we can depend on sweat-wicking products, such as this Knix shirt, to keep us feeling fresh ta death no matter how high the thermometer (or more likely, our cell phones) reads.
What are your favorite ways to stay cool during the hot, hot, hot months? Do you stick to dresses day in and day out? And/or do you simply stick to the indoors and wait for fall's blissful arrival? 😉 Either way, stay cool!

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On The Line | Blouse + Denim Shorts + Slides

Whoa... After a very unintentional LunaVida hiatus, I'm back! Let me start off by apologizing for said hiatus. I took this break because my sister (today's blog photos are courtesy of her, and she's pretty good, right?!) and 5-year-old niece were in town visiting from Cincinnati. Now all of a sudden it's somehow already August. I have no idea how or when that happened because didn't we all just celebrate the official start of summer, like, a week or two ago? Anyway, while my family was in town we did as many quintessential San Diego things as we could fit it - including everyone eating vegan for the week, which was fun! My niece even went back to the good, ol' Midwest as a permanent vegetarian like her mom which makes me so happy and proud. Go, Lacey!!  

Blue and white striped blouse with tassels: Old Navy via my mom 😊

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Cuffed jean shorts (also seen here, here & here): JCPenney

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Cognac belt (also seen here, here & here): Gap

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Brown flat slide sandals: Target - so comfy and under $13!

Silver hoops (also seen here): c/o Happiness Boutique

Silver cuff bracelet (also seen here): Gift

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How have you been spending these past few weeks? It's been feeling like full-on summertime here in SD with temperatures hovering around the low 80s. Now, I'm not one to complain about this weather at all, seeing as I previously lived in Phoenix, Arizona and Tampa, Florida (two of the most outrageously hot places in the country)... but our little house doesn't have air conditioning so that has been an adjustment. A very sticky, sweaty adjustment indeed.
Happy August'ing!

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