SPICY VEGGIE SOUP

I made veggie soup today and it turned out so yummy I thought I’d share. I have my friend Jonathan to thank for teaching me how to make soup. I didn’t make it for years b/c I let it intimidate me. He came over one day and showed me the basics and was shocked at how simple it was.

This one consisted of carrots, potatoes, cabbage, yellow squash, mushrooms, green onions, garlic + a whole jar of kimchi. It turned out pretty spicy, but oh so yummy. I added a bit of salt + a heaping spoonful of bouillon veggie stock + let simmer for about an hour or so.

I have my friend Shannon to thank for teaching me to put kimchi in soup! I love learning from my friends.

HO HO COOKIES

So, you may be wondering why these are called Ho Ho cookies… These are the cookies we made + set out for Santa as per Ava’s request, so now every time we make these cookies she calls them Ho Ho cookies. She LOVES Christmas, and other holidays, especially Halloween, and for the most part, it’s all her own excitement! So we have gone along with her incredible sheer excitement for all the magic those days bring.

We make these almost weekly. As soon as we see 2-3 bananas getting overripe, we make them. They are so delicious and healthy enough that we call them breakfast often. Vegan, gluten free, sugar free + super easy to make!

Recipe:

2-3 ripe bananas

2 cups rolled quick oats

1/2 cup nut butter of choice

2 tbsp raw honey

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt (we prefer himalayan

1/2 cup chocolate chips (can substitute nuts, dried berries, etc)

optional:

1/2 tsp vitamineral earth powder

1/2 tsp maca powder

1/2 tsp amla powder

*this is where you can get creative with what you add for your own health benefits

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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mash bananas + add nut butter + honey, mix. In larger separate bowl, add oats + all other ingredients except chocolate chips or alternatives. Mix banana mix into oat mix until all blended. Add chocolate chips + mix well. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Add 1/4 cup size scoops onto the pan and slightly flatten with fingers (not too much so they stay nice + moist). Bake in over for 14 minutes. Enjoy!

They keep for about 3 days when kept enclosed so they don’t dry out.

I tried an experiment with just the cookie dough part to make cookie dough balls! They turned out pretty darn yummy! Instead of baking, take your cookie dough mix and roll into balls + roll them in cocao powder (hello superfood), then chill in fridge for a few hours. You could also roll these in a nut mix or anything else that sounds good to you!

Let me know if you make them! I’d love to know any variations you use as well!

PRANAMAT

"I'm excited to start adding the @pranamat into my yoga routine for extra relaxation and muscle relief.  All of my muscles are adjusting to the new life of having a baby, so I'm up for any way of bringing relief.  Not only are these mats beautiful with their lotus designs, they are eco-friendly + FDA certified as a medical device!  Now that I am at the 6 week postpartum mark, I'm ready to start focusing on my self care alot more.  Thank you @pranamat for giving me one more option in my #selfcare routine."

My excerpt from an instagram post a few weeks ago.  It summed it up pretty well, so I just copied it here instead of retyping it.  I will admit my self care routine postpartum has been pretty hit & miss.  One day I'm doing yoga, drinking tons of water, eating healthy, going for walks, then the next day... or week, I'm hardly doing any of these things.  Life with a baby has definitely allowed me space to go with the flow of life, and if something doesn't get done that I had wished, then so be it.  It just is what it is for right now.  But that being said, I really do want to make my self care routine more of a priority right now.  It's been almost 10 weeks since Ive had Ava and I'm ready to start feeling more like myself again. 

Most days look like this below... Not finding the time to do a whole yoga routine, so I plop on the floor where Ava is and stretch for even 5 minutes, or lay on the Pranamat for 5 minutes.  I figure anything is better than nothing. 

I just adore the beautiful lotus design of Pranamats.  Functional and Beautiful, my favorite combination!  There are so many different ways to use this mat, and several different reasons why!  Check out more info on their site, it's pretty amazing.

What are some of your favorite tools for self care, working out, or relaxation? I'd love to hear!

LOVE YOUR SKIN

I thought I'd share some more of my favorite all natural, handmade products I use for my daily skin therapy.  If you have any favorites I'd love hear!  Also, if anyone has any suggestions for natural scar tissue remedies, I'd love to hear.

A few of my my favorite healing products...  The DoTerra clearskin I use every now and then when I have some trouble blemishes that need a little help.  It smells great and doesn't insanely dry out your skin like most blemish products do. 

Gypsy Moth Sol's alliviate is my go to salve for cuts.  I bite the skin around my nails, so this gets used on a very regular basis.  Self induced cuts!  Ha ha.  But this stuff works wonders.  I usually put it on during evenings we are just sitting on the couch watching a movie or something.  Ill slather my finger tips in it, which also helps to keep me from biting my fingers more during the movie, which I will otherwise do!  Then I just rub it into my hands with some lotion when we are done b/c it is pretty greasy.  But its great for any cut or burn, and you can really rub it in so its not greasy all over the place.  (I believe her shop is closed right now, but will be reopening soon).

The White Sage/ Blue Chamomile Skin Therapy from Amrita Aromatics has been wonders.  I roll this stuff on my fingers too, and its much lighter and soaks right in, so I can use it even when I'm sitting at my computer typing.  I also use it on trouble spots on my face at times too.  And Ive even just used it as a perfume b/c it smells so dang good!

These Marble & Milkweed cleansing grains + nectar are so gentle.  My skin can get irritated by harsh products pretty easily.  The rose + chamomile is such a shooting combo.  (I got these from Bondad, a shop specializing in horse lovers, who also support natural handmade products like Marble & Milkweed.)

La La Earth's breast butter is one of my favorite things in the world.  Ive gone through two jars of this stuff!  After losing my mother to breast cancer, I'm wild about breast health, and this has been one of my routine healing therapies.  It not only is putting good stuff into my tissues around my breasts, it also gives me a chance to have a daily check in with myself, as well as give that area love and massages. 

It's not currently in her shop, but you can message her to see when her next batch is coming out!

These babies make my lips in heaven.  The Cosmic Bath & Beauty Clove chapstick has been my go to for a few years now.  I'm obsessed.  I think Ive gone through about 10 sticks of it! Damn good chapstick.  She has other yummy scents too, this one is just my all time favorite.

The Marble & Milkweed chapstick is a new favorite.  It's the fattest chapstick Ive ever had.  Its really wide, and comes in cardboard!  Very cool.  This is one that will last a very long time b/c of its size.  I'm a huge fan of the smell of ginger!

The Cocoa Rose chapstick from Amrita Aromatics is not only gorgeously labeled, but just as beautiful in content.  The smell is outstanding and its so creamy.  I went through the entire stick so fast b/c I couldn't stop putting it on my lips!  I'm kind of sad I'm out and need to be making a purchase soon!

As you can tell, I live in chapstick.  I can't leave home without it.  I have one next to my bed, by my computer, in my purse, in the bathroom.   No joke!

Two other face goodies I love.  This Pure Soul Holistics face oil got me hooked on face oils.  I had used some previous to this that I just didn't love.  This one made me fall in love.  I put face oil on everyday now and my skin is so thankful.  Contrary to thought, it does not make your face feel oily.  It actually leaves my face less oily then when I used to use face lotion.

My face indulgence is using the Indigo Mask by Wild Honey Apothecary about twice a month.  Love this stuff.  It now comes in a powder that you mix with water so it last alot longer on the shelf.  The one I have here is already mixed.  Ill share a pic below of it on my face.  I love the plum color!!!