friday q & a

thanks girls

Every week I get questions from all my kind/sweet/funny/adventurous/super cool readers 

via comments/emails/instagram/facebook.........and as many of you have learned I have the HARDEST time getting back to you. I just can't sit on my computer all day answering questions......call me crazy.  

For frequently asked questions (camera talk, etc,) check out the FAQ (which most likely needs to be updated.)  

If I get questions related to specific posts/photos that apply to everyone, I will try my hardest to post them here every few weeks. .....ask away!

What juicer do you use? I use the Breville Juice Fountain Compact . It's a smaller juicer so you have to make extra batches if you want more than two glasses, but it gets the job done and fits so much better in my small kitchen. (and it's much more affordable than the larger juicers)
Do you peel your fruits/veggies before you juice them?
I will specifically say "peeled" in my recipes if I do so (like citrus). But most stuff just goes right in after it's washed.
Where is your bike helmet from? (this post) It's Bern--you can find them all over but I got a screamin deal on Steep and Cheap. It has a removable liner to keep my ears toasty for snowboarding.
Where are your boots from (above photo). They are Sorel .

Flu Shots. I mentioned sometime last winter that we don't get flu shots.....everyone wants to know why. There really isn't one specific reason at all--we just don't get them. I had a flu shot one time, and I got the flu that year--the only time ever. [knock on wood] but we are usually able to keep fairly healthy. I know nothing is fool proof, but for now we don't get flu shots. (That being said my kids ARE vaccinated. It's only flu shots we skip out on.) What do we do then? We just try our best to make healthy choices--nothing special or crazy. We try to eat the best we can (lots of fruits and veggies all winter long) and I do get a kids multi vitamin and vitamin C in the winter. We like lots of herbal teas, and with enough honey my kids will even drink some of those. I love Wellness Formula for Robby and I. We try to get lots of sunshine all winter and as much fresh air as we can.

Where do you get your recipes? I actually get this question quite often. Unless otherwise stated, all the recipes and cooking ideas on this blog come right from my brain. If I adapted the recipe from somewhere else, I always share the link to where I found it.

Lyme. Thanks so much for your questions you left on this post and emailed to me. I will work on a post and get it up for you in the next few weeks!

Chickens. I have a few chicken questions piling up--I will do a separate post about the ladies. Have a chicken question??  Ask it in the comments here. (haha and I can't guarantee I will know the answer......we are kind winging it over here.......get it? oh boy)

Books. Yesterday I asked a question--what great page turners are you reading right now?
Here is a list of all the books that YOU said--I can't wait to check them out.
What would you add to the list?

-Born to Run (I've read this one--excellent book!)

-The Orchardist 

-History of Love

-Longbourn

-The Scent of Rain and Lightning

-The Kitchen House

-A House in the Sky

-The Gift of Rain

-Eat and Run

-Finding Ultra

-Gone Girl

-Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness

-Blind Your Ponies

What are your favorite outdoor sandals?

Chacos! !! Forever and ever and ever. They are so comfortable and I have put miles and miles and hundreds of miles on my one pair. I do love Keens for my kids because they protect their toes better--but Chacos are for me.

What are your favorite clothes for cold weather running?

I posted a bit about this last year (HERE).....and my answers are still the same.....because I'm wearing all the same stuff. 

I ran all through last winter in my Brooks Cascadias . I'm planning on more snow up here this year, so I'll most likely get some chains for my shoes if I need to. 

Always loving smartwool socks.

My patagonia speedwork tights are my absolute favorite piece of cold weather running gear.
They have been through everything--snow, rain, mud, falling down (often), trail blazing through nasty bushes and trees. I've climbed in them, I've biked in them, I've wore them to get my groceries.....and they have held up so well through everything.

(I have a pair of fleece-lined Nike tights that I usually wear if it drops below 20°, but we'll talk about that another time)

I always layer my shirts. If the sun is shining I warm up quickly so I like to have a few layers on I can peel of a layer or two. 

I wear an ear band if the sun is shining, if it's extra cold or windy I throw on an old beanie. 

My hands usually heat up pretty quickly too so I usually wear those cheap little gloves you can find anywhere for $1, unless I'll be climbing through snow I'll put on a sturdier glove.

A good rule of thumb: if you are a comfortable temperature BEFORE you start your run, you're going to be way too hot while you are running. You want to be chilly when you start. 
It usually takes me a good 1/2-1 mile to warm up. I promise to do another running gear post when it gets really cold and snowy. Right now 30s and 40s feels great!

And I feel like I should leave you with an easy recipe, so here you go.

Steel Cut Oats

cooking method from Alton Brown

1 TBS coconut oil

1 cup steel cut oats

3 cups water

1 cup almond milk

chopped almonds

unsweetened shredded coconut

chia seeds

hemp seeds

ground flax

chocolate chips

On medium-high heat, toast the oats for a few minutes in the coconut oil. 

Add the water and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 25 minutes.

Add almond milk and cook for 10 more minutes.

Spoon into bowls and stir in toppings and a splash of extra almond milk. 

enjoy!

Want steel cut oats in just minutes in the morning?

Recipe for Make Ahead Steel Cut Oats is HERE

Pumpkin Pie Steel Cut Oats HERE

Happy Weekend!

let's see your #howweweekend on instagram!