blogging about not blogging

last summer. one of our favorite family spots.

why hello there.

it's been pretty lonely around here lately, I know. 

dust collecting, tumble weeds rolling.

these next few weeks will be the same--we are nearing finals (super excited/dreading this time of year),

and I have what feels like 736 papers due and 421 tests to take.

but come find me on instagram (@_sheenarae) for a little mini blog action. I still post photos with little snippets of life, and super simple, throw-together recipes. 

see you......someday.

friday senses

powder for breakfast.

It's spring! It's Friday!! Woohoo!

Here's a peek at our week.

seeing: blue skies. melting snow. lots and lots of sunshine! spring is here (although I know winter is going to surprise us just a few more times this next month....)

presenting: I gave a presentation in school this week about healthy habits in early adulthood. I found THIS talk on dieting absolutely fascinating--check it out for sure.

schooling: Two weeks ago was midterms! I've made it halfway! These next few weeks are going to get crazy.....and I'm trying not to get nervous with all the papers/papers/papers/tests that will be happening. One day at a time, right?

playing: we've been up on the mountain every chance we get these past few weeks--ski season is just about over.

celebrating: Robby celebrates a birthday this weekend! I was with him when he turned 22.....and now he's an old old man. Can't wait to party.

dreaming: I won't lie.....I'm dreaming about summer.

reminiscing: We have been in this house now for a little over a year......crazy! It has gone by so fast ....yet also feels like forever.
reading: go back and read the comments from last weeks beauty post (HERE). I have the smartest readers in all the land! Can't wait to try some of the tips.

looking/feeling awesome: stuck in powder. laughing and flailing as robby takes my picture.

instagramming: I'm no longer posting your "How We Weekend" photos here on the blog--but keep tagging away and come follow the @howweweekend account for a chance to be featured there!
(new here? tag your weekend adventures #howweweekend on instagram so we can all see what you are up to!)

wishing: as soon as we are done in the snow, I need the trails to dry up so we can get the bikes out!

eating: quick and easy.....that's my motto these days. 

 

Burrito Bowl

I have posted exactly 1274 versions of burrito bowls on this blog....here is the latest favorite:

-brown rice

-quinoa

-black beans

pickled cabbage (cabbage and your favorite vinegar (white, white wine, red wine, apple cider...etc). Eat it right away or let it sit for a few days in the fridge. )

-roasted sweet potatoes (I always roast LOTS of sweet potatoes so I can throw them into whatever throughout the week)

-avocado

-sour cream

-lime

-cilantro

Happy Weekend!

natural beauty

This post requires audience participation......the more we hear from YOU guys out there in internet-land, the better this post will be. We can all learn from each other. 

Over the past few years we have become much more conscious about what we put IN our bodies. Real ingredients, no pesticides, no hormones, no "fake stuff".
We aren't perfect, but we try our best to keep the bad stuff out when we can.

The better we got at paying attention to what goes in our bodies, the more I became interested in what we put ON our bodies. My 6 year old has very sensitive skin, and it really got me searching for the right products, without harmful and irritating ingredients.

We aren't 100% natural.....just like our food--we try to do our best--but I don't stress out about not being "all natural, all the time".

Let's dive right in and start out talking about our armpits. (yay!)
Fun fact: I sweat like a beast--I always have. I'd like to think it's because I'm so active......but I'm most likely also sweating when I'm watching TV in the wintertime, it's just how I was made
(so feminine, right?)
I've always sought out the most potent antiperspirants available, but maybe you've recently read one of the [many] reports over the last few years about links between the aluminum in antiperspirant and breast cancer....it just makes me think. alot. I have tried a few "natural" brands of deodorant and hated them all--they felt weird, smelled weird, and did nothing.
And then I found Jungleman All-Natural Deodorant  
I mean.....it's called Jungleman! I have never seen so many reviews for a deodorant. And it only has 4 ingredients! Now here is the thing--if you are switching from an antiperspirant to a deodorant......you are going to sweat. Our bodies are supposed to sweat, but I promise this stuff keeps you from being stinky (did I ask my husband to smell my armpits....yes I did). We will see how I feel about it when summer temperatures start to make me drip....but for now I am a believer.
(ps for some reason the price shows up as $9something. There are a few other sellers on that same page that list it for less expensive)

Moving on.
I never thought I'd talk about makeup on the blog, I am pretty clueless when it comes to the stuff, but I use Bare Minerals Makeup. It's easy to apply, and the ingredients list is a fraction of what you'll find in some of the more popular drug store brands.

homemade coconut body butter

Coconut Oil

For everything!!

Remember my homemade body butter? I live in this stuff. If I don't have a batch made, I just use straight coconut oil as lotion--it feels good and you can't beat the smell.
I also take my mascara off with coconut oil, and whenever I straighten my hair I smooth it down with just a little bit. (I have very thick, very coarse hair. If you have fine hair, go easy on the oil)

Another way to use coconut oil that has become really popular over the past few years is Oil Pulling. Have you heard of it? I tried it last year and I have a craaaaazy gag reflex.....so I struggled with it.
The more I hear about it though....I think I might have to give it another try. 

Hair.

If you are hardcore, maybe you use Apple Cider Vinegar instead of shampoo? I have waaaaaaaay too much hair and need my shampoo, but luckily I was recently introduced to Devacurl Hair Products. They are free of sulfates and parabens and help keep your hair healthy. Also--if you have curly hair I promise you THESE are the products you want to be using. My hair is so much easier to manage, and SO much healthier since I've switched over.

If you don't need curly specific products, check out Loma Organics for another great option.

Speaking of Apple Cider Vinegar....what do you use it for? (and I highly recommend the Bragg brand--I've tried a few different brands and this one by far tastes the best). I feel like everyone has their own tips and tricks. I've recently been using it a few times a week [diluted with water] as a toner on my face. We take a spoonful daily during this cold and flu season [and by daily I mean we try for daily but half the days we forget.] Check out THESE uses for ACV.

from Canada two summers ago....just because I needed some kind of "natural" photo....you know.

Let's talk about our faces. Most of you know I was on antibiotics on and off for three years for Lyme disease. While they did their job for lyme (yay!) they also realllllllly messed me up. My face has never ever been the same. My skin wasn't perfect before, but it's a constant mess now, and over the past few years I have tried just about everything on the market--natural--and far from it. I haven't found anything that works (sad face). It's frustrating when I eat fairly clean, drink TONS of water, and really try my best to take care of myself.....and I am constantly pizza face. Last summer I started reading up on the Oil Cleansing Method, and researched, researched, researched, and it pretty much sounded like the miracle I'd been waiting for. After much research, I used a combination of Jojoba Oil, Rosehip Oil, Castor Oil. I tried it for about 2 months....and nothing.....I actually felt like my skin was [oddly] more dry, and my acne stayed the same. 

Yet I STILL hear about it's wondrous miracles all the time--people SWEAR by it. Are you a believer? Teach me your ways! I really want it to work. I still love the jojoba and rosehip oil and will put a few drops on before bedtime a couple nights a week during this dry winter.

Any one else out there acne prone? 
I'd love to hear what works for you. 

For my kids--I used to get away with just using Dr Bronner's Soap for everything--head to toe. We still use the soap (we always have it in the shower), but they both have too much hair and I don't love it as a shampoo for big kids. Like I mentioned above, my daughter is very sensitive to everything, so I really have to be careful about what she uses. We have loved Kiss My Face Whenever Shampoo and Kiss My Face Whenever Conditioner. I was hesitant at first spending $15 for shampoo for my kids, but I just made sure they knew to only use a little bit, and this bottle is so big it has lasted forever. And it has been great for my sensitive gal and her crazy tangly hair.

I asked on Facebook what some of YOUR favorites were. I was happy to see that many of you shared my favorites, but here are a few suggestions that I am really interested in.

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay. This has 1700+ reviews! Have you tried this? I think I need to. 

Grape Seed Oil. I have heard so much about the benefits of grape seed oil for your skin.

Shea Moisture. I had never heard of this line (also carried by Target) but just the scents alone have me intrigued.

Helpful Tips: 

*I found this website last year--Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep. I've enjoyed checking some of the products that we use and see how they rate--some not so awesome, and I know I can look for better options, and some things we love rate very well.

*Check out Elisabeth's blog--I especially like these 6 simple steps. I love the idea of not rushing out and replacing everything all at once--just use up what you have and then look for better replacements. Baby steps.

*Don't stress. I don't see us ever living a 100% natural life, and I am 100% ok with that. Don't let someone else make you feel bad because they "use more natural products" than you do. Who cares. I saw a "recipe" for natural toothpaste the other day, and it had coal it. It made me need to go brush my teeth over and over with my minty un-natural toothpaste. oh well.

What would you add to the list? Tell us your favorites!

spring things

It's not spring....

I have to keep telling myself that.

But that's so hard to do when it FEELS like spring. No snow. Sunshine. Long hours after school spent outside in the grass. "Mom it's blazing hot outside", and "why don't we have any popsicles?!!". 

Yeah, it's been in the 50s. 

We've been running around barefoot and digging in the dirt.

 But I know we will get hit hard with winter again at least one more time this year.....so I'm trying not to get my hopes up.

but really. look at this.

Even with the longer days and warmer temperatures, we are still very much in soup mode around here. 

This soup is a new favorite. It's from the Williams Sonoma Slow Cooker Cookbook. It was so easy to make and everyone loved it. 

And even though the fennel salad is "optional", MAKE IT--I love what it added to the soup.

Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup

from Williams Sonoma

1 Tbs. olive oil

• 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
• 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
• 2 Tbs. dry white wine ( I substituted apple cider vinegar)
• 2 1/4 cups (1 lb.) green split peas, picked over and rinsed
• 6 cups chicken stock
• 1 smoked ham hock, about 1 1/2 lb.
• Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

For the fennel-bacon salad (optional):

• 4 to 6 thick-cut bacon slices
• 1 small fennel bulb
• Grated zest of 1 lemon

Directions:

In a heavy fry pan over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the onion and celery and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Pour in the wine and stir to dislodge any browned bits on the pan bottom. Transfer the contents of the pan to a slow cooker. Add the split peas, stock and ham hock. Cover and cook on low according to the manufacturer’s instructions until the split peas are very tender, about 9 hours.

Remove the ham hock, pull off the meat, and discard the skin, bone and cartilage. Shred the meat and set aside.Transfer about one-third of the soup to a blender or food processor and process until smooth. Return the soup to the slow cooker, add the reserved meat and stir well. Season with salt and pepper. Rewarm the soup on the low setting.Meanwhile, make the fennel-bacon salad: In a fry pan over medium heat, cook the bacon until browned and crisp, about 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels, then crumble. Cut off the stem and feathery tops and any bruised outer parts from the fennel bulb. Coarsely chop the feathery tops to yield 2 Tbs. and set aside. Halve the fennel bulb lengthwise, then core and cut crosswise into paper-thin slices. In a bowl, combine the fennel slices, reserved fennel tops, bacon and lemon zest. Toss to mix wellLadle the soup into warmed bowls and top with the fennel-bacon salad. Serve immediately. Serves 4 to 6.

I have made this cake every year in March for the past 3-4 years (and made it in a different pan every time!) It's so flavorful and just tastes like spring to me. 

Lemon Yogurt Cake

Ina Garten's recipe. The only thing I changed was using coconut oil instead of vegetable oil, and using a bundt  pan instead of a loaf pan. This makes a very shallow bundt cake--it's a small recipe. To make it in a round pan see HERE.

Ingredients 

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 

2 teaspoons baking powder 

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 

1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt 

1 1/3 cups sugar, divided 

3 extra-large eggs 

2 teaspoons grated lemon zest (2 lemons) 

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 

1/2 cup coconut oil 

1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

For the glaze: 

1 cup confectioners' sugar 

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice 

 Directions 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 

Grease a bundt pan. 

Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt into 1 bowl. 

In another bowl, whisk together the yogurt, 1 cup sugar, the eggs, lemon zest, and vanilla. Slowly whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. With a rubber spatula, fold the coconut oil into the batter, making sure it's all incorporated. 

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 22-25 minutes, or until a toothpick placed in the center of the cake comes out clean. 

Meanwhile, cook the 1/3 cup lemon juice and remaining 1/3 cup sugar in a small pan until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is clear. Set aside. 

Remove cake from oven and while the cake is still warm, pour the lemon-sugar mixture over the cake and allow it to soak in. Cool almost completely and turn over onto cooling rack. 

For the glaze, combine the confectioners' sugar and lemon juice and drizzle over the cake when completely cooled. 

enjoy!

What spring things have you been up to?

fear

 At the beginning of the year, I posted a bucket list for us all to work on together--it guarantees a happier healthier 2014.

(check it out HERE! It's not too late to start)

Have you been working on your list? How's it going so far?? 

Last month when we ran away to the desert I checked one of the challenges off my list:

Do something that scares you.

 Now I am not a climber--I don't pretend to be at all.
But the small handful of times I've tied myself in and scurried up a wall.....there has just been something about it. Something good. Something that always pulls me back and makes me want to try it again. 
be better.

It also flat out, 100% terrifies me. 

I feel so uneasy and awkward and unsure when my body is dangling off the ground. 

I ask 97 times "do you have me", and do my fair share of squealing.

ali making her way up

my baby showing me how it's done!

On my way up, I got to a point where I decided was far enough....even though I wasn't to the top yet. 

I was tired, shaky, and had lost my confidence in my ability to make it all the way.

And then I looked down 

(why did I do that??!)

I needed to come down. 

NOW.

"I'm done!"

I let my fears overtake me, and was totally fine with failure this time.

"You're not coming down! You're going to the top!"

Ali yelled at me. 

Robby held the rope tight--the only way I was going was UP.

jerks.

[...but actually, it turns out....I have the best friends and husband ever...]

After throwing around thoughts of divorce, and being frustrated because 

"I WANT DOWN NOW!", 

I forgot my fears--just for a few seconds--and somehow managed to move. 

up.

up.

up. 

Until I stretched out and touched the top.

!!!

I was overwhelmed with happiness, relieved, extra squealy, and almost in tears. 

I did it.

And now I know I have to do it again.

and again.

If it seems a little bit scary, then it's probably worth doing.

“Fear doesn't shut you down; it wakes you up” ― Veronica Roth

Happy Weekend!

go do something that scares you!