lately...

 

 

*I picked up some wonderful tulips at Whole Foods today.  They spruce up our table so much and remind me that Spring is really here, even when the weather doesn't seem to agree.

*I also splurged on an adorable onesie for our new wee one coming soon.  It's a sweat-shop-free ethically made garment, and I just love the print and color.  I snagged it from Whole Foods when we were there this morning.  Buying things for this next baby gets me so much more excited to meet him or her.

*Snacking on some delicious muffins while I relax this afternoon.  I found this amazing recipe and have used it many times over the past few months.  Flour-less, sugar-less, and pretty much just awesome.

*Excited to read this book!  My friend mentioned she picked it up from the library, and I gave it a shot as well even though it's a pretty new book and I figured I'd be out of luck.  They had it and I was so happy!  I love the author and how she writes, and after reading her last book, I can't wait to see what she writes in this one.

*Things are going well with life and pregnancy.  I am around 32 weeks now, and feeling pretty good overall.  The baby moves a lot, and it's amazing to think there is a wee one inside my tummy.  I have been busy gathering birth supplies, baby gear we need, and organizing the areas of our home that need some attention.  These next two months are going to fly by, I just know it!

Happy spring everyone!

whole30: halfway...

It's about halfway point for us in our Whole30 challenge.  It's been hard but very rewarding, and we have noticed some good changes in our food habits.

*We eat a TON more veggies than we used to.  Like, for breakfast, lunch, and supper.  Some of my favorite ways to eat veggies lately are cut up cucumbers and tomatoes, some vinegar and olive oil, dill weed, and a dash of salt.

*We don't have as many sweet cravings.  It's been amazing this past week as I realized I didn't really want anything sweet.  In fact, I was craving things like fresh zucchini and meat.  This isn't to say we don't have those days that a cupcake or brownie sounds amazing...it's just not as frequent as it was a few weeks ago.

*Landon has more energy and is sleeping better.  I am not sure if I can say the same for myself, but I don't feel exhausted in the mornings and need a cup of coffee to get going.

*I have lost a few pounds and leaned up a bit.  My muscles are a bit more defined, and I haven't really done any working out.  No running, no cardio.  Just a bit of walking and my weekly yoga.

*We stop eating a few hours before going to bed.  I think this is the most helpful thing we've been doing.  Normally, we would eat a snack at 9:30 or 10, and then just lay in bed watching a movie or whatever before bed a little while later.  Now, my stomach doesn't feel bloated and full, and I wake up ready to eat a big breakfast.

*Some foods just don't taste as good as they did only a few weeks ago.  My brother had a wedding party last weekend, so Landon and I ate some food that wasn't allowed on our challenge.  We had some cake, and some chips, and beer...plus some other not so Whole30-friendly eats.  We noticed that our stomachs weren't settled, I wasn't satisfied with my usual portion sizes, and Landon got a headache.

It's amazing to do something like this and see how your body reacts to different foods.  We are trying hard to stick with it for two more weeks and see even more benefits!  I guess our aim is to understand how certain foods make us feel, and to be more intentional with what we eat in the future.  I am super excited to be done with the challenge and eat some sweets for our anniversary, but I truly believe that our habits have changed a bit, and it will be interesting to see how those are next month.

Simple strata recipe...

We love having simple egg dishes for a quick and healthy supper.
Here's a strata recipe I recently made that we all loved.

Sausage & Pepper Strata
- 1/2 lb. ground pork sausage
- 1/2 jar roasted red bell peppers, drained and chopped
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions
- 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 1/2 T. olive oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add sausage to the skillet, and cook until browned.  Drain onto paper towel-lined plate.

Combine sausage, peppers, onion, eggs, salt and pepper in a small bowl.  Stir with a whisk.
Pour mixture into a pie plate or small baking dish rubbed with oil.
Bake 20 minutes or until center is set.  Let stand for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

summer lunch...

Here is a quick and healthy summer lunch I enjoyed today.


Avocado & Grape Tomato Salad

- 1/2 avocado

- 8 to 10 grape tomatoes

- 1/4 cup greek yogurt

- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Slice the avocado and tomatoes.  Arrange on a plate.  Drizzle the balsamic vinegar over the vegetables.  Top with the greek yogurt.

iced coffee...

After some super busy weeks, vacation, and lots of summer fun, we are finally relaxing for a week....before heading out for some more fun weekends in August.  Doing as much to relax and savor each day of this quickly passing summer, one of my favorite ways is to enjoy a nice iced coffee.  It's been our go-to drink this year, and it's nice to have one that tastes so good and isn't too bad for us either.  Landon takes his black, and I take mine with a bit of milk or half and half.

To make mine at home, I just brewed some strong coffee, then chilled it overnight.  I threw in a few ice cubes, added some whole milk, then filled up the cup with the coffee.  Love it!

I can't wait to share some photos from our vacation we just recently got back from.  We enjoyed touring around the Williamsburg area, and Landon and I got to take an amazing whitewater rafting trip just the two of us.  Summer is so exciting!!

Now, off to enjoy a gloriously beautiful day outside.  I think Finn and I will be exploring a new park in the area and do a bit of hiking.  Happy August!

a simple lunch...

For my simple lunch I threw together...

*Two large handfuls spinach leaves
*1/2 medium zucchini, chopped
*small sprinkle of mozzarella cheese
*1 clove garlic, minced
*olive oil
*balsamic vinegar
*dill weed

Craving something green and full of goodness today.  But I am also looking forward to some yummy treats for the 4th of July and the weekend.  Landon and I are making donuts for the celebration.

We are going to try to take Finn to see some fireworks tomorrow night.  Not sure exactly how he'll react, but hopefully they will be fun for him.  I'll be taking off until next week, so happy 4th of July and happy summer!!

xo

healthy snacks...

We have been enjoying kale in various ways for awhile, and now that Finn is expanding his tastes, we have found that he loves kale chips.  This is his (and my) favorite way to eat kale, and it's so easy to do!

What other ways do you like to prepare kale?  We have tried it as chips, in smoothies, sautéed, in soup, and fresh as a salad.

Here's the recipe for the chips:

Baked Kale Chips

Chopped Kale - 3 cups
Olive Oil - 2 tablespoons
Sea Salt - 2 teaspoons

Preheat oven 400˚.
Place kale in a mixing bowl and drizzle olive oil on top.  Sprinkle sea salt on and toss together.  Place kale onto a large cookie sheet and bake until crispy, about 10-12 minutes.  Allow to cool just a bit, and enjoy!

healthy oatmeal cookies...

Last week, I made some healthy oatmeal cookies for Finn and I to enjoy.  They had mashed banana, oats, raisins, and cinnamon.  I used this recipe I pinned, and I couldn't get over how easy they were.  Today, I made some again, but added chopped apples, cinnamon, and raw honey.  They turned out great and it was nice to know we could have "cookies" for breakfast. :)

There are some things we've been relaxed on with Finn, but when it comes to processed sugar, we are kind of protective.  As he gets older and eats more, I'm sure it will get a bit more tough to deal with, but we will try to hold off as much as we can.  Finding healthy sweet treats that can be a good substitute is important to me.  And helping Finn eat healthy will force Landon and I to eat healthier too...which I love.

What about you, what are your favorite healthy sweet treat recipes?

St. Patrick's Day meal...

Source: flickr.com via Leah on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Leah on Pinterest

On Sunday we decided to celebrate St. Patrick's Day a bit by having corned beef with cabbage for supper.  I may have a smidge of Irish in my family tree, and Landon doesn't think his family does, but he looks sorta Irish, so that counts, right?  :)  We had fun making the tasty meal, and enjoying it together.  The only thing we were missing was a good beer, but we can't buy any in Indiana on Sundays.  Oh well, we didn't miss the extra calories.

I have only made corned beef one other time I think, but it was fairly simple.  Here's my quick recipe:

Baked Corned Beef with Skillet Cabbage

2 lbs. of corned beef including spice packet
2 T. brown sugar
2 T. balsamic vinegar
1/2 head cabbage, chopped
2 T. butter
1 T. coarse salt

Preheat oven to 350˚ F. 
Rinse and pat dry the corned beef, and place fat-side down onto aluminum foil.
Top with spice packet included with corned beef, brown sugar, and balsamic vinegar.
Wrap up the foil leaving some space at the top for steam to collect.
Place wrapped corned beef onto a roasting pan and place in the oven.
Bake for roughly 2 hours.
Unwrap and let broil on high for a few minutes.
Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

While the corned beef is broiling, melt some butter in a skillet on medium-high heat.  Add the chopped cabbage and coarse salt and sauté until slightly browned.  Serve with sliced corned beef.

Well, there you have it.  A simple and festive St. Patrick's Day meal.

mama style: natural face routine...

I finally found an easy and natural face routine to help exfoliate and smooth my face.  These winter months are hard on my skin, and the dry build-up I get is annoying.  After looking through various routines online, I mixed a couple together and the results have been great.

For my skin, which is a combination depending on the weather, I use a brown sugar/olive oil scrub first, then a greek yogurt/egg white mask second.  I have been doing this once a week, and it keeps my face feeling fresh and rejuvenated.

Here is the method I've used:











My favorite moisturizer for the day is Lumene Pure Radiance Day Cream with Vitamin C.  I use the night cream in the evenings.  I have also found that applying almond oil to my face before showering helps with the dry skin, as I love to take hot showers.

chocolate donuts...

A few weekends ago, Landon made these delicious donuts for us to enjoy.  He made them the same way as we did here, but did a wonderful chocolate icing glaze instead of plain or cinnamon and sugar.

Easy and quick to make at home, you should try them!

They were gone too quickly, and I am in the mood for some right now.  Ahhh, we are still working on our slow carb diet thingy, so we can't have sweets until Saturday.  Looking at pictures of food I want sort of helps during the week, but eating them is waaayy better.  Come quickly, weekend.  It's funny though, this is our third week trying this diet out, and our sugar cravings have gone down quite a bit.  The first week was rough, the second easier, and the third is not too bad.  Mind you, we've failed a few times and eaten something we shouldn't have, but overall, I've been very proud of our efforts.  I'll do a post once we're done with the diet...which is February 6th! So close...

Meanwhile, you can find me gazing at pictures of perfectly prepare desserts on Pinterest, finding a slow carb menu option we haven't tried yet, or filling up my water bottle for the 5th time in the day.

green goddess sandwiches...

Last week we made a recipe I had wanted to try from this post.  Now avocados can seem intimidating to use, and I am always trying to find ways to use them creatively.  This was a perfect recipe though and Finn loved it too....big plus!  I used Ezekiel bread to make them, put goat cheese and avocado on, then grilled them in a buttered skillet.
Delish and quick!

3 pins I want to try...

I love Pinterest!  Finally, I have a way to keep all of those links in one organized space online...instead of a ridiculous amount of tabs or bookmarks.  Every time I get on and check out other pins, I am inspired.  A goal of mine is to become better at trying the pins out instead of just pinning to make my board look complete.  So, here are 3 pins I am aiming to complete in the next couple of weeks.

#1

Source: prettystuff.tumblr.com via Leah on Pinterest

This hairstyle looks awesome.  My hair is getting long, very long, so I am able to do a bit more with it.  I'm all about laid back looks, so this one seems like it would be fun.

#2

Source: vimeo.com via Leah on Pinterest

I am actually doing this one already!  But my goal is to practice yoga regularly, so I'm hoping to develop a good habit and incorporate it into my weekly routine.  I love the freedom and calmness of yoga, and it's a secret dream of mine to one day master it and be able to teach it to others.  A dream, I said.  Tomorrow, I am taking a class at a local place and I am so excited to get in there with some other people.

#3

Source: tastespotting.com via Leah on Pinterest

This sandwich looks delicious.  Landon and I are working at eating healthy, and it's a constant process. I have loved Pinterest and all the amazing recipes I stumble upon.  Thankfully, Finn is great at trying new things...he already loves avocados, goat cheese, and spinach, so I'm sure he will love this recipe too.

Here are a few pinners I love to follow:

Joanna Goddard

Megan Gilger

Sarah Kieffer

I'll let you know how it goes.  What about you, what are your favorite pins?

i'd eat these...

via

Don't these cookies look absolutely delicious?  I am getting over being sick, and am trying to stay away from sugar and sweets until I'm better.  So naturally I am craving anything chocolate or peanut butter-y or dessert-y.  Maybe I will try this recipe for the holiday season.  Speaking of, our tree is decorated and our banister is too.  I'm so loving this cozy time of year.

a fall breakfast...

Well it sure feels like fall around here with the cool weather, bright skies, and the sun setting earlier.  Fall is for sure my favorite season, and I'm excited to experience it with our son this year.  We'll try to go to a pumpkin patch, the Renaissance Faire, have apple cider from back home, and try some great recipes.

Two nights ago, I made a Butternut Squash Risotto that was pretty tasty, and today I made pumpkin muffins for my breakfast.  They are the perfect pairing with my cup of coffee.

Here's the recipe I adapted from a few sites:

Pumpkin Muffins

1 1/2 c. natural sugar
2 eggs
1/4 tsp. baking powder (we've cut out traditional baking powder from the house and make this substitute.)
3/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 2/3 c. flour
1/2 c. natural applesauce
1/2 c. cold water
1 c. pure pumpkin

Mix everything together in one bowl.  Place in greased muffin tins.  Bake at 325° for about 40 minutes.

I am getting really excited because tomorrow, Landon's brother and his wife are coming to watch Finn overnight so Landon and I can go to a bed and breakfast to celebrate an early anniversary.  Ben and Casey got us a gift certificate for this adorable place a few hours away, and we are really really looking forward to a whole 24 hours without a baby.  We'll check out some hiking, I'm taking this new book to read, and just do a lot of relaxing.

This will be the first time away from Finn overnight, so hopefully I can just forget about him and enjoy the time with my husband.

What about you, what are your plans for this weekend?

Have a great one!

easy donuts...

The other night, Landon and I had a hankering for some homemade donuts.  We both found some similar recipes and sort of made up our own.  They were delicious and so easy to make!  It literally took no more than 10 minutes from start to finish!

Here's our recipe:

Donuts


Vegetable Oil
1 tube refrigerator biscuits (we used Grands, but next time we'll use the cheap small ones)
Sugar
Cinnamon


Mix together sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl.
Place some paper towels on a plate or tray.
Fill up a small skillet halfway with oil and heat over medium-high until hot.
Meanwhile, take the biscuits and form into donut shapes by making a hole in the middle.


When the oil is hot, carefully place two donuts in and fry for 10-20 seconds. Flip and repeat.
Remove the donuts quickly and place in the sugar bowl to cover them with the mixture before they cool.  Place on the plate or tray that's ready.
Repeat with the rest of the donuts.
Enjoy immediately!


Tips:
*Use small cheap biscuits because our Grands brand was too thick and they didn't get quite done in the middle
*Use chopsticks to flip the donuts. (we didn't have any so we used two wooden spoons instead)
*Watch out, because these are so good that you'll probably eat the whole batch in one sitting like we did. :)

greek style pitas...

One of our favorite meals to eat lately is greek style pitas.  The recipe varies every time, but it's more or less the same.  Here's what I made last night...the recipe is completely flexible.  I learned how to cook like my dad, throwing in ingredients that we have in the house and measuring with my eyes, so it's really easy to adapt.

I hadn't had tzatziki sauce before until we were at my aunt and uncle's a few weeks ago.  She made a delicious bowl of it, so we thought we'd try it out!

Greek Style Pitas
1 bag whole wheat pita bread
chopped kale
2 T. lemon juice
2 lbs. or so of beef (I like to get the beef tips or stew meat since it's already cut up)

Marinade
greek seasoning
italian dressing
soy sauce
apple cider vinegar
(make enough for about 1 cup of liquid)

Tzatziki Sauce
1 cucumber peeled, seeded, and diced
8 oz. plain greek yogurt
2 garlic cloves
salt and pepper to taste
2 T. lemon juice
2T. olive oil

Combine marinade ingredients and put into gallon size bag with beef.  Try to do this at least 4 hours before you make your meal.  Place in fridge and shake the bag every so often.

Combine all the tzatziki sauce ingredients into a blender or food processor.  (I used a garlic press for the cloves of garlic.) Blend until well mixed.  Place in a bowl and chill the fridge for at least one hour before serving.

Put some olive oil into a skillet and heat until the oil is hot.  Drain the marinade from the meat and put meat into the skillet.  Cook your meat how you like it, rare, medium, well done. Cover and keep warm.

Place about 3 cups of chopped kale (or spinach) into a skillet with 2T. lemon juice and cook over medium heat until wilted down a bit.

Warm pita bread, then stuff with the kale, meat, and sauce....enjoy!

This recipe is so simple and so good...and good for you!

chocolate almond cupcakes...

I spotted a delicious looking recipe on foodgawker today and just had to make it!  The recipe is chocolate lavender cupcakes, and you can get it here.  I didn't have any culinary lavender, so I used almond extract and some almonds as a substitute.  The results were great and curbed my chocolate craving today.

peppermint bark!

One of the things I love to make for Christmas is peppermint bark. Why, you ask?  Because of how ridiculously easy it is to make and how tasty and delicious it is in my mouth!

Here's the recipe, you should try it sometime. :)

I can't wait to go back home for the holidays and share this with our families!

My go-to snack lately...

1) Cut up one granny smith apple into slices.
2) Cut up a chunk of your favorite cheese into slices...sharp cheeses work well.
3) Pair up a good looking apple slice with a great slice of cheese.
4) Enjoy!

Tomorrow is Landon's birthday, so we are taking the entire day and celebrating.  I told him no baby talk is coming out of my mouth tomorrow.  He deserves some quality one on one time, and I am going to make it the best 25th birthday that I can for him.  For sure it will include: cherry turnovers and chocolate milk (a Rife tradition we have carried on), Boogie Burger...seriously the best burgers in Indy, a movie that Landon gets to pick...I think we might see The Rum Diary, a special yummy dessert that I'm making, and hanging out all day!

I hope you all have a great weekend!