After-School Snack Ideas + Whole Milk
30 August 2019
Let's talk after school snacks-- and milk! I mean, I am a dairy farmers wife after all. When my kids burst into the house from a full day at school they are ravenous little dragons. I kid you not. I love them but they come home as fire-breathing, 'hangry' little creatures. They drop everything on the floor and make a mad dash for the pantry. "MOOOOOOOM! I'm starving. What is there to eat?!" Well, after they hang up with backpacks and find a place for their shoes we get down to the snacking. Lite snacking since dinner if often right around the corner. Also, if their hungry they are often thirsty too-- so it's snacks and milk all around!
Did you know that milk's essential nutrients can be difficult to replace in a healthy way?
Three 8-ounce cups of milk provide as much nutrients as seventeen [17] cups of kale, 3 cups of red kidney beans, 5 cups of cooked broccoli, 3 cups of red peppers, 6 large mushrooms and 15 sardines. I don't know about you but there is no way I'm getting my kids to eat 17 cups of kale per day, let alone the 5 whole cups of broccoli.
So, here are some of our favorite snack and whole milk pairings!
Whole Milk + Snack Pairings
- Granny Smith Apple Slices, Peanut Butter & Craisins and one cup of Milk
-Whole Grain Crackers, Sharp Cheddar Cheese and one cup of Milk
- Sliced Strawberries, Green Grapes and one cup of Milk
-Fruit Sushi and one cup of Milk
[One Banana covered in PB and rolled in Rice Crispies, slice and enjoy]
Whole Chocolate Milk + Snack Pairings
-Pita Chips, hummus and one cup of Chocolate Milk
-Celery, Peanut Butter, Raisins and one cup of Chocolate Milk
-No Bake Energy Bites and one cup of Chocolate Milk
- One slice of After School Banana Bread and one cup of Chocolate Milk
-One cup of Popcorn and one cup of Chocolate Milk
Remember to get those three servings of dairy per/day so you and you're kiddos can rack up all of the amazing health benefits.
Happy Snacking!
Entertain With a Fancy Charcuterie Board
13 May 2019
Step One:
Locate a platter that you love, either from your own cupboard, a thrift store or treat yourself to a new one. I saw one on the Magnolia website and I really wanted it but couldn't see spending the price tag that accompanied it. So I asked a handy friend of ours to make me one out of old barn wood. The end result has been amazing! Let me tell you-- friends with special talents can be the biggest blessing. You can see pictures of it at the end of the post.
Step Two:
Find three small bowls, glass, wood, ceramic, whatever you have around! I love to use the small latte bowls from Anthropologie and I've also have used small mason jars leftover in my cupboard from making jam. Place them randomly about the board (odd numbers are always more appealing to the eye when it comes to design, or so they say). You'll use these bowls for things like oils, spreads, nuts, dips--or things that may have some 'juice' to them like olives or pickles.
Step Three:
Think of your theme and what flavors work well together. Start with your meats, cured, uncured or a mixture of both? We enjoy hard salami, prosciutto, and pepperoni. Then move on to your cheeses, either pick one cheese or do a combination of cheeses that offer soft or hard textures, and mild, sharp, or strong flavors. I love to use various sharp cheddars, gouda, havarti and Yancy's champagne or dill flavored cheese. (You can find them at most grocery stores.)
Step Four:
Now, your accent pieces-- think, olives, fresh cucumber or pickles, carrots, bell pepper, nuts, seasonal fresh fruit such as melon, apples, grapes, or berries. And then add carbs like baguette slices and crostini crackers, dried fruit, sliced figs, mustard's, Jam, preserves, and/or chutney, hummus or other bean dips.
Step Five:
Arrange it! Think layers and packed tightly together. Think of it as an art project, mix color and texture, create a story. And leave no space unoccupied!
Step Six:
Now, let's talk beverage selection. As for beer, think- ales or porters since they can cut through the fat of the meats and playoff other characteristics of the food. When it comes to wines, consider full-body reds, sparkling Proseccos or dry Rieslings which reset the palate. And if you prefer a non-alcoholic selection try sparkling water and mineral water, especially with a slice of lime or lemon, that is always a refreshing choice. I love to use my monthly Winc selections.
Here is the finished piece. I was inspired by the Magnolia Market serving plank and cheese board, thanks Robbin for bringing my vision to life!
Here is the finished piece. I was inspired by the Magnolia Market serving plank and cheese board, thanks Robbin for bringing my vision to life!
Academics in our Summer Rhythm
08 May 2019
Last year as Kindergarten came to an end and we approached summer break I went into it with the attitude 'let the kids be kids'-- we extended bedtime from 7-7:30 to 8-8:30 and I let them sleep in unless we had somewhere to be. We wore PJs until noon or later during our indoor days and on nice days they played outside until lunch and then again after rest time until dinner. We went to parks, we took swim lessons, we went with the flow and relaxed.
We were free range all summer and then we started off first grade and Ava was immediately behind reading level-- my heart sank. I had wanted them to be kids all summer, free play and not worry about a regimented schedule or school work. And it's not that I didn't read to them over summer-- I try and read every night before bed. But I didn't put as much of an emphasis on keeping her mind fresh with all of the new things that she learned throughout the school year. Hey, youlive summer and you learn.
So, as we quickly approach the upcoming summer break (less than 30 days to go--pray for me) there are a few things that I plan to try and do differently. I still strongly believe that kids should have the summer to just be kids because they only get seventeen to eighteen carefree summers at home and then that's it-- it's hello part time jobs, college or the real world! But on the other side of the coin I'm also learning that school is moving them along so fast and for me, personally, I need to set aside the time to keep school their skills sharp so we're not always finding ourselves playing catch up at the beginning of a new school year.
Once I came to this realization and made a promise to myself off to google and Pinterest I went-- searching and looking up ways to add little bits of school to our summer rhythm. First, I came up with a schedule of how I wanted to attack our weeks and then I went on a search for materials and websites that offer printable materials for us to use. Lastly, summer is summer this is not carved in stone but routines and schedules have always worked for us.
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We were free range all summer and then we started off first grade and Ava was immediately behind reading level-- my heart sank. I had wanted them to be kids all summer, free play and not worry about a regimented schedule or school work. And it's not that I didn't read to them over summer-- I try and read every night before bed. But I didn't put as much of an emphasis on keeping her mind fresh with all of the new things that she learned throughout the school year. Hey, you
So, as we quickly approach the upcoming summer break (less than 30 days to go--pray for me) there are a few things that I plan to try and do differently. I still strongly believe that kids should have the summer to just be kids because they only get seventeen to eighteen carefree summers at home and then that's it-- it's hello part time jobs, college or the real world! But on the other side of the coin I'm also learning that school is moving them along so fast and for me, personally, I need to set aside the time to keep school their skills sharp so we're not always finding ourselves playing catch up at the beginning of a new school year.
Once I came to this realization and made a promise to myself off to google and Pinterest I went-- searching and looking up ways to add little bits of school to our summer rhythm. First, I came up with a schedule of how I wanted to attack our weeks and then I went on a search for materials and websites that offer printable materials for us to use. Lastly, summer is summer this is not carved in stone but routines and schedules have always worked for us.
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Summer Rhythm:
Monday - morning free play / afternoon reading & journaling [1 - 2pm]
Tuesday - summer worksheets [10 - 11am] / free play rest of the day
Wednesday - errand day | pool day, visit family, grocery store, or park visit
Thursday - summer worksheets [10 - 11am] / free play rest of the day
Friday - morning free play / afternoon reading & journaling [1 - 2pm]
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Summer Worksheet Links:
Education.com Summer Worksheets (some are free!)
Super Teacher Worksheets (some are free!)
Great Schools! Worksheets (most are free!)
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Summer Reading List:
Ava - (entering second grade)
The Princess in Black series by Shannon Hale
How to Hide a Lion
The Little Red Fort
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Why?: The Best Ever Question and Answer Book about Nature, Science and the World around You
Charlotte - (entering kindergarden)
First Day Jitters
Kindergarten Rocks!
My Sister and I
No Roses for Harry!
On Earth
I also found this fun Summer Reading Bingo Challenge!
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Summer Math Activities [For Grades K–3]:
Shopaholic: What can you buy for $5 at the store? From the ice cream truck? In a hardware store? At the beach?
Change it up: Start collecting change in a jar on the first day of summer. On the last day, estimate your change, count it, and plan a special purchase.
Design hunt: Keep an eye out for shapes, patterns, and designs when you’re out and about. You never know what you’ll find in the architecture at the airport, the shopping mall, or even the grocery store.
Word Hunt: Create a word list, writing each of the words on a sticky note. Hide each sticky note somewhere in the house. Help your child use the word list to search for as many of the words as he or she can find. Each time your child finds a word, ask him or her to read it out loud. Once your child has found all the words, read them again and count how many of each word he or she found.
Build Vocabulary with a Daily Word Jar: Fill a jar with pieces of paper that have a different word on each. Each day, let your child draw a word from the jar and ask him or her to define it. Challenge your child to use that word in his or her conversations throughout the day. You can adapt this activity for your child’s grade level, and help him or her build vocabulary skills by adding more challenging words each week.
And, many helpful ideas can be found at Math Resources and Worksheets - education.com
For the Bloody Mary Lover | Gift Guide
22 April 2019
I love gift guides and gift ideas! I just love giving gifts and putting thought and heart into it. Well, my mom's birthday was right around the corner and shes frankly impossible to shop for because if she wants it she buys it so I had to put my thinking cap on and get creative! She has all sorts of interests and passions so that does make things easier. She loves, gardening, flowers, birds, outdoor things, wine, books candles, cooking, crafting, etc. But-- I really wanted to do something unique for her this year and I know that's she's always been a big fan of tomato juice so naturally shes a big fan of Bloody Mary's!
Cue the [light bulb] moment!
I'll get creative and come up with a gift of essentials for creating the perfect bloody mary at home. After research and lots of surfing around the web, I found some really cute items and as a bonus, they were all available on Amazon for 2 day- prime shipping! Wooohoo!
4 fun items for the Bloody Mary lover in your life:
[1.]
These fun socks feature a Bloody Mary cocktail complete with veggies for garnish and a quick meal. An added benefit, the recipe is always right at your toe tips. Nothing breaks the ice like these delicious socks.
[2.]
A beautiful addition to your stack of kitchen cookbooks, or even a coffee table book. The definitive guide for those devoted to the brunchtime classic, the Bloody Mary, with 50 recipes for making cocktails at home.
[3.]
Top bloody marys in style, or dip olives in the salt for an amazing garnish. Each container garnishes at least 40 drinks.
[4.]
Includes everything you need to grow your own cocktail garden.
Seeds include Thyme, Lavender, Thai Basil, Mint, Lemon Balm, Blue Borage. Grow them right in your window sill and have them ready to go. Perfect for a bloody mary lover who also has a green thumb, like my mother!
Rose Honey Syrup & Latte | Recipe
19 April 2019
It's April.
The beginning of a season full of new life, fresh flowers, and flavors. Sign me up! A couple of months ago I posted about one of my favorite simple syrups - lavender syrup. Its a staple in my fridge and makes the yummiest 'pick me up' afternoon iced coffee or latte.
Well, friends-- today I'm going to tell you all about another favorite of mine. Honey Rose syrup. It's made with beautiful and fragrant dried rose petals or rose hips, you can find them at a tea or spice shop or maybe even a store like Wegmans. Now, not only does it taste delicious but it also adds a few neat nutritional extras to your coffee. For instance, I try and always use raw unpasteurized honey because of its natural enzymes that help your digestion, metabolism, and immune system and dried roses can help with skin, hair and have a very relaxing effect on the nervous system. A friend of mine picked up dried rose petals for me at the Spice and Tea exchange located in downtown Lancaster. If you are local then you should definitely check them out!
The coolest part about these syrups, coffee, and latte creations is that it's so fancy sounding and tasting but so SIMPLE to create!
|| rose honey simple syrup ||
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup honey
1/2 cup dried rosebuds
In a saucepan, bring the water, honey, and dried rose to a boil. Once boiling, stir for 10 seconds, remove from heat, and stir until honey is dissolved. Let cool completely. Once cooled, strain mixture through a fine-mesh strainer and discard rosebuds.
|| to create the latte ||
1 tablespoon rose honey simple syrup
1 cup of cold brew or 1 shot of espresso
1/2 cup whole milk or real half & half
crushed ice
Add the simple syrup to a glass. Fill glass with crushed ice. Pour the espresso or cold brew over the ice, and top with milk or half & half. Stir really well to incorporate the syrup into the drink.
Sip slowly, savor the flavors & enjoy!
Tips*
-The syrup will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
-If you don't want just rose in your syrup, you can also add 1/4 cup of dried lavender. That combination is also very beautiful. Or cardamom! SO good.
Easy Refrigerator Garlic Dill Pickles
12 April 2019
I've been trying different 'refrigerator pickle' recipes for several years now and this has become my favorite-- it's totally customizable, easy ingredients takes a very small amount of time to accomplish and gives a really beautiful jar of pickles. They usually come out very crisp with a nice crunch. You can add more or less of the ingredients to the jars and do it your way! Enjoy.
Easy Refrigerator Garlic Dill Pickles
*this recipe makes 4 - one-pint jars*
ingredients:
-pickling cucumbers
-water
-white distilled vinegar
-kosher salt or pickling salt
-fresh dill
-minced garlic
-whole black peppercorns
-red pepper flakes
directions:
1. Sterilize your jars and lids (if using canning jars) You can use any heat/cold sensitive storage containers.
2. Wash and slice your pickling cucumbers - you can slice them into spears or chips. I personally think the chips look the prettiest in a bowl on the table but-- it's completely a personal preference.
3. Start your brine on the stove - 2 cups of water, 1 cup of vinegar & 1 tablespoon of salt. Bring it to a boil.
4. While your brine is coming to a boil start filling your pint containers with your other ingredients.
Each one-pint jar will get:
- 4 sprigs of dill
- 1/2 tsp or 1 tsp of minced garlic
- 1 tsp black peppercorns
- a tiny (or big) pinch of red pepper flakes
Once those ingredients are in the bottom you will stuff your jars with your sliced cucumbers-- but, be sure to leave enough room for the brine to fill in and around them.
5. Pour the boiling brine over the cukes, enough to cover but also enough headspace so you can give the jar a good shake once it's sealed.
6. Since this is a refrigerator recipe you do not need to use a water bath to seal your jars. Just simply put on the lids and seal with the rings. Give each jar a couple good twists to get everything mixed up.
7. Let the jars cool an hour or two before placing them in the refrigerator. It's best to let them sit for six days to reach full flavor but my husband usually tried to get into them around day five. I also give them a little shake every couple of days to get all of the flavors/brine mixed around.
After six days, pop them open and enjoy!
[they will last up to three weekends in the fridge]
Our Spring Love List
27 March 2019
Remember last year when I talked about creating a love list?
No?
That's ok, I'll refresh your memory.
Last spring I read a book called Soulful Simplicty by Courtney Carver.
In the book Courtney says, "Make a love list including every possible thing you would like to consider in life, love, business and relationships. What would you really love to do? What would you like to see? Who will you be and who will you be with? Before you start your list, eliminate the roadblocks and dream killers. This is not a list for accountability. You won’t be crossing things off or crying over your undone tasks at the end of the year. Instead, use your list to fuel your creative pursuits and to encourage routine breaking behavior. Let your love list remind you what is most important in your life."
Well, today Charlotte and I sat down while Naomi was napping and we came up with a few things that we would love to accomplish this spring.
So, friends-- what's on your Spring Love List?
Drop it in the comments below- maybe you can inspire someone through your journey.
If we're having coffee, you and me, and you ask me to tell you a story about myself. I'm most likely going to tell you one of two different tales. I'll either tell you about the events surrounding my engagement to my husband or I'll tell you about the night that my youngest daughter was born. Now, that's not because my wedding day doesn't make for a great recount or because the birth of my other two daughters is any less beautiful. It’s because both of these monumental occasions have all the characteristics of a truly great story, character, setting, conflict, plot and theme— and they are so much fun to share. Furthermore, the common thread is they both taught me important life lessons, something about myself.
On this day nine years ago Aaron and I got engaged. Nine years ago tonight I was standing in the middle of five hundred people, in a dining room on a cruise ship floating in the middle of the Caribbean ocean. There’s was a ring box open in the hand of a man with a pure heart of gold, he was down on one knee with a microphone in his other hand. It was the easiest yes that I’ve ever said in my entire life. In an instant, my universe shifted, changed forever, and for the better. To be completely honest we were insane, at the present moment, we were only dating for a grand total of 81 days! That's shy of three months, folks! However, one hundred and eleven days before that night that we found ourselves standing with 1,000 eyeballs on us, one simple, almost meaningless text message opened a door for me to walk through. I thank god every day that I did.
I had a map of what I thought my life was going to look like and somewhere along the way everything started to look a bit blurry. I started praying for a jsign, waiting for a moment to let me know where to go next, knowing that the best things come to you when you don’t even try. So, from the very first moment his number flashed on the screen of my phone I never hesitated, showed my cards and went all in. I’m sure we would both agree that nothing in life ever made more sense. To this day I'm not sure what exactly I did to deserve all that I'm given but I'm forever thankful.
So, you're wondering what life lesson our engagement taught me. It taught me that some of the most rewarding things in life require a giant leap of faith. Close your eyes, say yes, and jump in head first! Don't over analyze it, tear up the flow charts, toss out the pros, and the cons list. And, for the love of god, do not listen to statistics. Follow your heart, listen to your gut, quite the voice of fear perched on your left shoulder, and go for it. Accepting that proposal was the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.
Family Friendly Stir Fry
18 March 2019
You win some annnnnnnd you lose some.
But, our staple Stir Fry recipe has been a favorite from the very beginning. It's easily customizable for the ingredients in your fridge and the sauce is made with fairly staple Asian inspired pantry ingredients.
The best part is the whole dish comes together in under 30 minutes-- especially if you prep your vegetables and protein beforehand. I started cooking my flank steak or chicken on Sundays- slicing it down and storing it in the fridge.
Our favorite combination consists of sliced flank steak, sliced zucchini, shaved Brussel sprouts, carrot sticks, broccoli, and bok choy.
Alternative Proteins: Chicken or Shrimp
Alternative Veggies/Add-ins: Peppers, Baby Corn, Snow Peas, Mushrooms, and Asparagus, Pineapple, Mango, Onion, Cabbage
Family Friendly Stir Fry
sauce:
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 teaspoons minced ginger
1 tablespoon of honey
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon cornstarch
stir fry:
1 lb thinly sliced flank steak or sirloin
3 cups of vegetables (combination of your choice)
1 tablespoon of sunflower oil or vegetable oil
salt and pepper to taste
instructions:
to make the sauce place the soy sauce, water, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, honey, and sesame oil in a small pot on the stove-- stir until the sugar is dissolved then turn up the heat and bring to a boil-- mix the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water until dissolved -- add the cornstarch to the mixture on the stove and let it boil for 1-2 minutes until the sauce has thickened-- turn off heat and set aside.
for the stir fry-- heat 1 teaspoon of oil in wok or large skillet on the stove-- add the vegetables and season with salt and pepper-- cook for 3-5 min until they start to brown and soften-- at 2 tablespoons of water and cook until water evaporates-- when the veggies are crisp and tender remove them and set aside-- wipe out the pan and add the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil-- at protein and cook for 2-3 min on each side until the desired doneness-- add the veggies back in and pour the sauce overtop-- cook on high for 2-3 mins until everything pulls together.
Enjoy!
Sometimes Us Mothers Are Just Human
06 February 2019
Sometimes motherhood stinks.
Sometimes I want to cut motherhood off in the middle of traffic and give it the middle finger.
Sometimes I want run away, fast, jump on a plane and plant myself somewhere sunny with an umbrella drink in my hand and unlimited tacos.
I'm sorry if that offends you but I won't apologize.
Not today.
And that's okay.
It doesn't make me love my children less.
It makes me human.
It doesn't mean I'm going to do it.
It means I'm human.
I know, I know-- you're all like, 'Brenda did you hear her-- she's going to leave her kids and move to Cabo. How could she? My kids are my life. They are the air in which I breathe and need to survive."
Yes, I do love my tiny people. Most moments of the day.
I know there are those out there who have it worse off than I do. I know there are couples who desperately want children and don't have any. Because of that, I'm not supposed to say "Hey, somedays this plain sucks.." because I have children. No. It doesn't mean that you can't feel that way. You're in the trenches folks. You're getting down and dirty with your tiny guerrillas. Guerrillas, not gorillas. That small independent group taking part in irregular fighting, typically against larger regular forces, the tiny resistant fighters that you brought into this world.
You go ahead and feel however you need to.
It doesn't make you ungrateful.
It makes you human.
It makes you human.
It doesn't mean your not sympathetic.
It means your human.
It means your human.
Sometimes navigating motherhood feels like a room full of trap doors and my name is Alice but I'm not falling into Wonderland.
The favorite pajamas are in the dirty pile at bedtime--trap door!
The peanut butter and jelly has too much peanut butter and it's on the wrong color plate-- trap door!
None of the other kids have to listen to their parents-- trap door!
Why won't you let me have ice cream before dinner-- trap door!
My sock is caught on a toenail that I won't let you clip-- trap door!
You braided my hair the wrong way and now I look funny-- trap door!
You just don't understand me-- trap door!
To feel this way doesn't make us less than.
It makes us human.
It makes us human.
To feel this way doesn't mean we're going to give up.
It means we're human.
It means we're human.
Moms are often told that they are superheroes and in most cases we are but we are also just plain old human beings, with real human feelings and life with our tiny kin is hard. Hard with a capital 'H'.
You think it.
I think it.
And sometimes, you need to say it.
Out loud or in print.
From a rooftop or from under your breath.
It makes you human.
Good days.
Bad days.
It all shapes us.
3 Classic Overnight Oats Recipes
31 January 2019
This past November I made a commitment to myself to try and be more mindful and intentional with my food. I'm usually the last one to eat in the morning (10 am- let's be real) and it's usually whatever I can get my hands on- healthy or not. I started working out regularly. I started meal planning with better intention and looking into ways to lighten up the use of carbs. I'm a carb lover. I could kiss them. Warm bread, gooey cheese, delicious white potatoes of any variety, sandwiches, tacos, ice cream, butter... I mean, the list is endless. But-- breakfast is a hard one for me. I either forget to eat it altogether and it's almost lunch until I remember or I end up just grabbing a bagel. I mean, how can you say no to an everything bagel toasted with a healthy smear of cream cheese?! How?
Well, one way that I've been able to say no to the delicious doughy bagel is with overnight oats. I'm not new to them. I knew what they were and I've made them in the past. Like, in 2011 when they were all the rage and everyone was whipping them up. But, I've been lazy. And constructing them up takes mild to morderate effort-- an extra effort that I don't always have left at night before bed when all I want to do is-- go to bed. But, I'm telling you, friends, when they are pre-made and waiting for me in the morning after my workout I am so happy. I'm happy that I took the extra few minutes the night before to whip them up.
So friends, here are 3 of my favorite recipes. They add-ins are all customizable and super easy to make. I like to use my leftover mason jars from canning but you can put them in anything.
So friends, here are 3 of my favorite recipes. They add-ins are all customizable and super easy to make. I like to use my leftover mason jars from canning but you can put them in anything.
The Basic Recipe:
1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup (heaping) rolled oats
2/3 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon chia seeds or ground flax meal
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extractPinch of salt
0-2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- mix that all together, substitue for your personal preferences & store covered in the fridge overnight -
1/2 cup (heaping) rolled oats
2/3 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon chia seeds or ground flax meal
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extractPinch of salt
0-2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- mix that all together, substitue for your personal preferences & store covered in the fridge overnight -
Chocolate Peanut Butter Recipe:
1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup (heaping) rolled oats
2/3 cup whole milk 1 tablespoon chia seeds or ground flaxmeal 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder Pinch of salt 0-2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
1/2 cup (heaping) rolled oats
2/3 cup whole milk 1 tablespoon chia seeds or ground flaxmeal 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder Pinch of salt 0-2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
[mix that all together, substitue for your personal preferences & store covered in the fridge overnight.]
Banana Chocolate Chip Recipe:
1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup (heaping) rolled oats
2/3 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon chia seeds or ground flax meal
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
0-2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
1/2 ripe banana, chopped or mashed
2 tablespoons chocolate chips
1/2 cup (heaping) rolled oats
2/3 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon chia seeds or ground flax meal
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
0-2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
1/2 ripe banana, chopped or mashed
2 tablespoons chocolate chips
[mix that all together, substitue for your personal preferences & store covered in the fridge overnight.]
Strawberry Cheesecake Recipe:
1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup (heaping) rolled oats
2/3 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon chia seeds or ground flax meal
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
0-2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
1/4 cup chopped fresh strawberries
3 tablespoons softened cream cheese
Zest and juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 cup (heaping) rolled oats
2/3 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon chia seeds or ground flax meal
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
0-2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
1/4 cup chopped fresh strawberries
3 tablespoons softened cream cheese
Zest and juice of 1/2 lemon
[mix that all together, substitue for your personal preferences & store covered in the fridge overnight.]
[[Extra Notes]]
If you don't care for Greek yogurt then regular plain yogurt will work, too, although your end result will be a bit thinner.
If you aren’t a fan of yogurt at all, you can leave it out all together, double the chia and flax, and add an extra 1/3 cup of milk.
Your final result won’t be as creamy or pudding-like, but it’ll still be good.
If you aren’t a fan of yogurt at all, you can leave it out all together, double the chia and flax, and add an extra 1/3 cup of milk.
Your final result won’t be as creamy or pudding-like, but it’ll still be good.
Capsule Tips for New Recruits
21 January 2019
Good morning!
Today is Day One of the #sevendaychallenge! If you didn't read my last post and your interesting in knowing what I'm talking about you can find it linked here.
And if you're feeling a bit perplexed then here's a basic method to help you get it started picking your 12 items:
Basic Formula:
4 tops
[ex]
consider pieces that layer well like:
-fitted long-sleeve tee
-a button-down
1-2 top layers
[ex.]
cardigan
sweater jacket
blazer
2 bottoms
[ex.]
jeans
skirts
dress pants
1 dress or jumper
2 pairs of shoes
[ex]
1 flat - 1 heel
1 boot - 1 flat
1 fashion sneaker - 1 flat
Remember, you do not have to follow this to the letter-- choose what works for you but try hard to limit yourself and challenge yourself in a way that you haven't before. Everyone has a different daily and weekly schedule. Some stay home, some wear casual work attire, some wear business work attire. If you want to wear scrubs for your job then use this for after work. If you need more bottoms than tops, then take one away from one item from that category and give it to another. Just have fun!
A few other suggestions/useful tips:
-Don’t give yourself too much time to choose.
Set a timer and try and choose your items in 30 minutes. In the beginning, I found that if I took too much time during the selection process then I kept doubting myself and getting frustrated. Capsule wardrobing is supposed to take away the stress of picking out your outfits.
Neutrals.
I said it before but it's true and super helpful --> think neutrals, denim, white, black or navy and grey with one or two pops of color to play with...
Core items.
Start with your favorite items that you always go for and then start adding in pieces that you usually overlook. You may come to find that you love them and you've been missing out or that you really don't like the fit and you need to get rid of it.
-Avoid Dry Clean Only items because that would be a pain to launder during the 7 or 10 day challenge.
Have fun!
Seven Day Capsule Challenge
18 January 2019
First of all-- a disclaimer: I am not a fashion blogger. I did go to school for fashion marketing- but that was a lifetime ago. Now-- I'm just a wife, mother, average human being who is trying to simplify her life. :)
A couple months ago I decided that less is more, especially in my closet. I’m a stay at home mom and pretty much wear the same things every day but I found that when I did get the chance to get out of my mom uniform I would stand in front of my overflowing closet thinking that I had absolutely nothing to wear. I mean, of course, I did, but I was overwhelmed by the about of stuff in there that I owned but didn’t really love. What is the point of excess if you're not going to use it?
After purging my closet and 'upcycling' my unloved items I was able to bring my wardrobe down to 33 pieces total. 33 pieces that I loved, felt comfortable in and wanted to wear. Then, in the fall I heard about the 10×10 Challenge. It intrigued me and I wanted to try it. Basically, you just choose 10 items from your closet, create 10 looks and wear them consecutively over 10 days. The 10x10 only happens a couple times a year and I’ve really been wanting to do another challenge. But, it’s so much fun to do it with other people. So I thought— why not create one to do with friends!
It’s a fun way to connect with others and get inspired by them and their capsule of clothing. It also really helps you to see what you love and what you do not love in your very own closet. Is there a shirt that you swipe by every day but you keep it there just in case? That was me! But now I just pull out something, put it on and go!
Below I’ll talk more about the guidelines and then you can choose if it’s something that you would be interested in taking part in— it’s supposed to be a cheerful and simple challenge. And will hopefully spark inspiration and help you to breathe life back into items hanging stagnant in your very closet.
Seven Day Capsule Challenge
7 days
7 looks
12 items
Goals—
What might be your goal for this challenge? Do you want to rediscover items that are usually forgotten? Do you want to use this as a prelude to slimming down your closet? Or do you just like a good challenge? Whatever your goal might be you can either commit it to memory or write it down and tape it up in your closet.
My goal for this time around consist of two words — comfort and effortlessness. It’s a season of cozy. My days are spent packing lunches, getting kids off to school and spending the majority of my day in the kitchen. So my 7-day capsule will probably consist of my favorite broken-in jeans, cozy knits, warm sweaters, and a neutral palette.
Timeline —
Seven days straight starting on January 21st — you have the entire weekend to come up with your 12 items for your 7-day capsule. Feel free to join in on sharing your looks in your stories on Instagram or Facebook— or don’t share them, totally up to you what you feel comfortable doing! Use the hashtags #sevendaycapsule #sevendaycapsulewinter2019 #threegirlsandachallenge if you want to see what others are up to with their personal challenge!
Creating a Seven Day Capsule --
First, the weather— it’s crazy cold here so that’s what I’ll be considering when I create mine. Secondly, schedule — there's nothing too intense on the calendar so I’ll be keeping that in mind and planning a more casual capsule. Also - when you pick an item, consider how you could wear it three different ways over the course of the week. Try and choose mostly neutral colors but feel free to add in one fun but a versatile piece, like a bold colored blazer or a bright layering tank top. In this challenge have fun with accessories and don’t count them. Also, don’t count your workout clothing if you have a workout routine.
My capsule will include:
2 pairs of jeans (blue denim & black denim)
2 sweaters
2 long sleeve tops
2 layering pieces
1 layering tank top
1 dress (date night / church)
1 pair ankle boots
1 pair converse
I'll share more on that in a post the night before the challenge! Stay tuned.
Benefits of the Challenge —
Take a break from shopping and adding to an overflowing closet.
Reinvest in an existing closet.
Spark creativity.
Make closet work for you, not you for it.
Define your individual style.
Test if a capsule closet is for you.
Basic Guidelines —
Pick any 12 items from your current closet.
Style those 12 items for 7 days.
Have fun.
Don’t stress.
Don’t let the word ‘guidelines’ scare you— it’s not supposed to be an unbending assignment. It’s all about being creative. There is no wrong way to do it.
You can limit yourself to only those 12 items for the full 7 days or just wear those items to work or after work.
If you’re really not loving one item— switch it out!
Loungewear and gym gear don’t count unless you want it too.
Stressed about choosing shoes, no prob, let those count as extra!
Do whatever feels manageable for your life but still challenge yourself!
How to Join in on the Fun--
[1] The challenge starts on January 21st.
[2] Pick your 12 items for the seven days.
[3] Capture your outfits and share them with others participating in the challenge. Community friends! That's what this is about also! Creating community and sharing experiences, goals and challenges. You can post just the outfit, you in the outfit, or don't post-- it's up to you!
[4] Use the hashtags #sevendaycapsule #sevendaywintercapsule and #threegirlsandachallenge! I'll be sharing mine and others to continue sparking creativity!
[5] HAVE FUN!
Let's do this friends!
If you have any questions, just ask!
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