April Favorites

April showers bring May flowers... I hope! It's been raining all week, and although I'm thankful it's not snow, I'm ready for some quality outside time.

The month seemed to whiz by as we celebrated the twins' 5th birthday, Easter, and my 7th wedding anniversary. It was a month full of celebration!

Here are my favorite posts from this month:

Favorite spring post: Container Gardening

Favorite recipe post: Strawberry Chocolate Chip Frozen Yogurt

Favorite cleaning post: Spring Cleaning the Natural Way: The Kitchen

Favorite tip post: How to Season Stoneware

Happy May, friends! 

Gardening for Fun and Physical Activity

By now you guys know that I'm all about making everyday activities count towards the physical activity I need in my life. This weekend, we planted some colorful flowers around the front of our house and this was one of those opportunities to make every movement count.

Let's go over a few tips for how to burn more calories while gardening:

1. Proper form. You can't burn calories if you have to go inside after throwing out your back. So watch yo-self. Depending on how you like to garden, either kneel or sit on a stool so that you aren't straining your back muscles. Keep in mind that you have the opportunity here to strengthen your core so pull your belly button into your spine to engage your abs. This will help take some of the pressure off your back.

2. Squats. Ensuring proper form, as you bend down to pull weeds, go ahead and do it with a squat. Pretend like you're sitting in a chair and don't let your knees go over your toes. This exercise can be done as a wide squat with your toes pointed out and feet more than shoulder width apart; or as a regular squat with your toes pointing forward and knees shoulder width apart.

3. Arms. Digging can be tough. Especially if you're like me and like to buy the 3 gallon plants :-) Keeping proper form, really try to engage your arm muscles and let them do all the work. This will also help to take pressure off your back. This weekend I was having to dig through and around some well established root systems- my biceps will thank me tomorrow, I'm sure.

4. Think of it as a workout. If you have the mindset that you want to burn extra calories then you will be better prepared to work at a faster pace. The more leisurely you garden, the less calories you burn. It's still a great activity, but you're the boss so kick it up a notch and dig faster, squat more, and don't lolly-gag.

Make the most of your time. Be mindful of the opportunity you have while doing "chores" and you will see that you'll be working up a sweat and enjoying a beautiful yard in no time!

My Favorite Water Bottle

This is not a sponsored post
The Easter Bunny isn't just for the kids. Nope- hubs and I always get each other a little something for our Easter baskets and this year was no exception. The bunny is pretty good at picking out something I'll love- last year it was some cute ceramic containers for my office and the year before that it was Pioneer Woman's new cookbook. This year? This super cute glass water bottle. 

I have a slight obsession with water bottles, coffee, cups, cold cups, etc. and I'm not gonna lie- I may be running out of room for them all. I've owned a ton of water bottles in my day, but this one is my absolute favorite! It's durable and doesn't leak at all. You can actually lock the lid, which prevents it from leaking or opening on accident. It's also an awesome bottle if you're a runner- it's made to "take a hit"- so if you drop it there's a good chance it won't break. You can find it at Target in the fitness equipment section.  The other reason I love my glass water bottle is because every morning I put lemon essential oil in my water. It helps detoxify the body and, as a bonus, sanitizes the inside of the water bottle! 

How to Clean Carpets While Potty Training

My two and a half year old is in that fun potty training stage where she doesn't really want to go to the bathroom on the potty, but she doesn't want to wear her pull-up either. Needless to say it's, er, messy.

We had our carpets cleaned last week and I asked the professional what he recommended for spot cleaning- white vinegar + water. Good news!

I was able to test his recommendation yesterday and I have found the magic formula! Here's my trick...

You will need:

Spray bottle

Towel

Microfiber cloth

White Vinegar

Baby wipes

Here's what you do:

If you're cleaning up urine, use a towel to absorb the excess.

If you're cleaning up poop, use the baby wipes to get as much as possible wiped up.

Mix 1 Tbs vinegar for every 1 cup water in a spray bottle.

If there is a stain or smell, spray the vinegar and water solution to soak the spot and use the microfiber cloth to gently rub the stain first in a clockwise motion and then in a counter-clockwise motion.

Do not rub vigorously back and forth- this will rub the stain in instead of lifting it out.

Trust me.

I'm so ready to be done with potty training... but at least I've got a good carpet cleaning method out of it! :-) Silver lining, folks.

For more all natural cleaning recipes, click here.

How to Season Stoneware

I've mentioned my stoneware collection a few times. It's great for cooking and baking so many things. Cookies are way better on stoneware!

One of the things about stoneware is that it gets better age. In order to make sure your stoneware lasts and has a good non-stick finish, it's important to season it properly the first 2-3 times you use it.

Depending on what you will be using your stoneware for you will need either olive oil if it's mostly cooking savory things or canola/vegetable oil if you'll be using it for baking sweet treats. A good basting brush is nice to have, but you can also use a paper towel.

Simply use the brush or paper towel to apply a very thin layer of oil to the stoneware, you don't want it to think or it will affect the taste of your recipe.

Oil the stoneware like this before placing it in the oven the first 2-3 times you use it until you start to see a darker brown coming through.

Can you tell I use this to bake cookies? A lot.

Once the stoneware starts to turn color you'll know it's ready to go! The more you use it the deeper the brown color will be. I've seen some stoneware that's completely black. I'm in awe of those cooks!

Happy cooking everyone! Enjoy your Easter weekend!

Spring Cleaning the Natural Way: The Kitchen

I love this time of year- most days I can open the windows and let some fresh air in, get the kids outside to play and burn off energy, and sip on my iced drinks like it's nobody's business!

The other thing I love? Spring cleaning! I know, I know- not everyone loves spring cleaning, and I really don't like the act of cleaning... but I like the result. Nothing a little Starbucks can't help and in the end I feel like my house is super clean. The deep cleaning jobs rarely get done- who has time for that on a regular basis? Not me!

Besides making a list and game plan for all of my cleaning tasks, I also make sure I have all the cleaning supplies I need. I make pretty much all of my own cleaning supplies now, and it has been so nice to be chemical-free. I don't have to lock the cabinet under the sink anymore, and I can rest easy knowing the things I'm spraying around the house are all-natural and healthy for my kiddos and my dogs. Not to mention, it saves us money on cleaning supplies. It's a win-win situation!

Since I spend most of the time in the kitchen, I like to start my spring cleaning there. Here are the cleaning recipes I use in my kitchen:

Window Cleaner
1/2 C. White Vinegar
10-15 drops lemon essential oil
Water to fill

Mix ingredients in 24 oz. spray bottle and give it a good shake. Since oil and water don't mix, be sure you shake it up each time you use it.

All-Purpose Cleaner
1/2 tsp. Dr. Bronner's liquid soap (find at Target!)
1 tsp. Borax
2 tbsp. white vinegar
2-4 drops essential oil (lemon, purification, or thieves)
Hot water to fill

Mix all ingredients in a 24 oz. spray bottle. Shake before use. Spray area to be cleaned and wipe off with sponge or rag. Use on countertops, stovetops, refrigerators, etc.

Sink Scrub
1 cup baking soda
2 drops lemon essential oil
2 drops thieves essential oil

Pour baking soda into mason jar. Add essential oil, twist on the lid, and give it a good shake. Rinse sink and sprinkle mix in and around sink- using more in heavily stained/soiled areas. Scrub and rinse clean.

Deodorizing Spray
Small spray bottle (4 oz) filled with water
10-15 drops purification essential oil

Mix together and spritz throughout room. One or two spritzes is enough in a small room (bathroom, closet, etc.). Perfect to use in the kitchen- especially after cooking. It neutralizes the odor- instead of covering it up!

Oven Cleaner
Spray water in bottom of oven and cover with baking soda. Spray with more water. Let sit overnight and wipe up in the morning!

Stainless Steel Appliances
I use a Kaywos Cloth for my stainless steel. All you have to do is get it wet, wring it out, and then wipe. It works awesome and is the best thing I've found for the outside of my oven and microwave!

Check out some of the natural cleaning recipes we've shared in the past:

Garbage Disposal 

Natural Microwave Cleaner

Many of my cleaning supplies use essential oils- you can find and order them HERE. (I do receive a small commission on any sales that occur through this link.) If you have any questions about the oils, feel free to shoot an e-mail or leave a comment! 

Have you started spring cleaning? Share your tips and tricks with us below! 

Good App: UP Coffee

Remember when I wrote about how I broke my soda habit? Well, I was careful not to say "caffeine habit". I still need caffeine. I'm grumpy without it in the morning and no one wants to be grumpy.

I do have to be careful how much caffeine I take it. I get jittery and anxious if I over do it. That's no good. 

Usually, I do fine with a mocha in the morning and a refresher in the afternoon. Sometimes I am tempted to make it a two mocha day though. Like when I'm up all night with a sick kid... Been there. 

I stumbled upon this great app to help me visualize how much caffeine is in my system. The app is designed to tell you when you will get optimal sleep, but I have found it helps me avoid the jitters. 

It's called UP Coffee and it's from the same folks who brought you the UP Jawbone. (This isn't a sponsored post, by the way)

Here's what it looks like in the App Store (all pics in this post are screenshots from my phone):

The first time you use the app you give it info like your height and weight so it can calculate how your body burns caffeine.

Every time I drink something with caffeine I add it to the app- they have lots of options but if you can't find your caffeine of choice you can add a custom entry:

After I add a drink, my caffeine tank fills up showing me how close I'm getting to jittery:

The app tells you how close you're getting to good sleep and as the day goes on your caffeine tank empties: 

There are graphs that show your caffeine levels over time and compared to all other users. They also give you fun tips and facts everyday. "I'll take caffeine for 1000, Alex."

This app has been great for me to see how much caffeine is still in my system. There have been days where I've felt draggy in the afternoon and checked the app only to find my tank half full- this tells me that I need to GET UP AND MOVE instead of drink more coffee. See how that works?

You should try it, I think you'll find it interesting too. 

What apps keep you accountable? We'd love to know how you use technology to stay healthy!

Strawberry Chocolate Chip Frozen Yogurt

The weather is finally taking a turn for the better here in Minnesota and I am totally on the spring/summer train! I busted out my cold cups, icy drinks, and ice cream maker this week and have been letting the fresh air in. It's the best feeling to air out the house after a long and cold winter, and to be able to put away the heavy coats and boots. I'm crossing my fingers that I'm not getting ahead of myself here. :)

Last year for Mother's Day, the kids got me an ice cream maker. I dabbled in some ice cream making over the summer- I made Adam a chocolate peanut butter cup ice cream that was super yummy, and I'm still on the hunt for the perfect s'mores ice cream recipe (if you have one, link it or share below, please!).

I decided that I would try to use the ice cream maker more this spring and summer, so I started off with this super yummy strawberry chocolate chip greek frozen yogurt. It's a tart and has just the right amount of sweetness to satisfy my sweet tooth. Plus, it's super easy to throw together, and if you use frozen fruit instead of fresh, you don't even need an ice cream maker!

Strawberry Chocolate Chip Frozen Yogurt

Ingredients
2 C. Plain Greek Yogurt (Chobani non-fat is my favorite)
2 C. Frozen or fresh Unsweetened Strawberries
1/2 C. Granulated Sugar
1/2 tsp. Pure Vanilla Extract
1/2 C. Mini Chocolate Chips

Directions
In a blender, add yogurt, strawberries, sugar, and vanilla. Add a splash of water and blend on high until smooth.

Add to your ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer's directions. Add in chocolate chips at the end of churning.

If you used frozen berries, you can probably skip the ice cream maker because the mixture will be pretty thick already. Just pour mix into container and mix in chocolate chips.

Add frozen yogurt to a freezer safe container and freeze until desired consistency is reached. You may need to check in on it every once in a while and stir around to get an even consistency.

How does my garden grow? {Part 3: Container Planting Tips}

The time for planting has come! Well, if you live in Oklahoma. Chances are, we are past all "hard freezes" and if it might get close to freezing overnight I just throw a couple of old towels over my containers.

I chose to plant in containers for a few reasons- no weeds, no soil testing, nothing for my husband to mow around, and I can move them and rearrange as necessary.

I used large galvanized water tubs from my local farm supply store, organic planting mix ("soil" isn't necessary) and organic seed starter mix, later I will fertilize with organic fertilizer. I talked about how I started a few things from seeds, they were well established in their seed cups so I knew it was ok to plant them.

I made notes of a couple of tips I have for planting and wanted to share them with you. 

I am looking forward to some yummy herbs, veggies and fruit. Stay tuned for more from my garden!

How I Broke My Soda Habit

Soda, pop, coke, whatever you call it- it's not a healthy drink. Don't even get me started on "diet" versions! Regular pop has a lot of sugar (41g in 12 oz of Pepsi), a lot of empty calories (150 in 12 oz), and sodium that no one really needs because we get enough from our food.

Up until recently, I have been a one-pop-a-day drinker. The size of that pop varied depending on how much caffeine I felt like I needed that day ;-) but I have always had to have a pop in the afternoon to keep me going. I was so addicted that if I hadn't had a pop by 3pm I'd start to get a headache. Yikes.

I know better!

I've been on this journey to a "healthier me" for a while and I have made so many improvements to my lifestyle over the past year or so. I knew it was time for me to stop my pop habit.

So, I started contemplating alternatives. I knew I still needed the caffeine, but I didn't like the idea of having more coffee- that's more caffeine than I needed in the afternoon. I don't like iced tea- I end up making it too sweet and less sugar is one benefit to letting go of pop. I was also worried because, at this point, I craved pop. Finding an alternative would be difficult. I was ready to make a change, I just needed to find something I loved as much as pop.

After much R&D I have replaced pop with...

Starbucks Via Refreshers Strawberry Lemonade (6g of sugar, 0mg of sodium, and 35 calories for half a packet)

• I only use half a packet in my 16oz cup and I usually fill the cup half full with ice.
• I love the flavor. It's sweet and slightly tart. 
• The caffeine comes from green coffee extract- this is also the stuff found in popular drinks like Plexus.
• Since the powder is added to water- I'm also drinking more water, always a good thing!

I went for a whole week without a single sip of pop and never had an issue! I didn't even crave it. I have one half-packet of refreshers per day (two if I'm super run down) and I'm good to go.

Now that I've broken the habit, I'm determined to keep this up. Just to make sure I don't fall into the pit of deprivation, I do still get pop when I eat out- but that's rare so it's more of a "treat" than a "must have".

Taking on unhealthy habits one at a time is a manageable way to make lifestyle change.

What's an unhealthy habit you wish you could break?

**This is not a sponsored post, just my story**

Calcium- What's the Big Deal Anyway?

When most of us think of calcium we think of two things- dairy and bones. I like to think I get my daily dose of calcium every morning with my skinny decaf toffee latte- it's my favorite way to put a dent into my daily dose. Ha ha!

But, did you know that calcium can come from sources other than milk, yogurt, and cheese?  Or that calcium does more than build strong bones?

Calcium aids in muscle contractions, blood clotting, nerve impulses, secretion of hormones and, of course, in bone structure. Those are some pretty important jobs- and many women have a hard time getting their daily dose of calcium.

I'm really not a milk drinker unless it's in my coffee or flavored with chocolate, and my morning coffee definitely doesn't give me all the calcium I need for the day. Bummer, right? Well, the good news is that there are lots of other ways to get calcium that don't come from milk or dairy!

Broccoli 

Kale

Oranges

Almonds

White Beans

Soybeans

Soy or Coconut Milk

Tofu

Fortified Orange Juice

Cheerios (fortified)

What's your favorite source of calcium? I won't judge if you say ice cream or a mocha/latte/fancy coffee drink- those are my favorites too! :)