half-marathon training day one

Yes, it is true. It's been a week since I have blogged but I have good news. I am hoping to run a half marathon in April!
Last year I ran a triathlon.
While, this could all change in a few minutes (because I have not bought the ticket yet). I started my training today! While it was only three miles. It was a little rough because it has been a while since I have consistently ran. I just wanted to tell you though how great it felt! I felt amazing afterword.

And no this is not my New Year's resolution. I just thought why not?! Ha.

Thanks for reading xox.

dinner...as promised...

Disclaimer: If you ever wonder why I have not been posting a lot or long post. Well I have been sewing nonstop. I have been loving my new serger and new vintage fabric finds. (insert heart emoji here)

As promised though, I did cook dinner and have somewhat of a recipe for you. Last night's dinner was not as fab as I would have hoped it would be but I made something new! I was inspired by a Pinterest pin to make cheesy vegetables. Doesn't sound too appealing but it was delicious (not to mention I am a fan of all things cheese). We also had well, canned soup.  Nothing much homemade about that but it was a laid back kind of night.  So here are some pictures and a little simple reciepe.

Cheesy Vegetables:

For this you can have about any kind of vegetables, put them in a pan together and add some shredded cheese.

I used green beans, peas, and corn. I wanted to add some peppers but we did not have any.

Sorry for the lame pictures it was way too dark.

Thanks for reading. xo

giving it all away // simplifying my life

I was recently inspired by this sermon and this blogger to simplify my life more. I realized I don't need an abundance of things or duplicates. So, I challenged myself to go through everything I own and give away what I don't need. Now, mind that I go through my stuff a lot but this time I think I was more straightforward. For example, I didn't keep something I never used but thought looked nice. As before I might have.

I went through my craft/sewing area (including my fabric), beauty things, purses, clothes, and books. I was so shocked on how much stuff I had that I never used. I came up with three bags full of things to give away and at least one bag of trash. Crazy.

This process can be time consuming, but I highly recommend it. You will be so shocked how much stuff you have.

When simplifying your life here are a few things I suggest:

1. Do you have duplicates? If so, give the one away.
No reason to have duplicates of everything, someone else could use it.

2. Have you used it in the past 6 months?
The likely hood of you using it again is slim to none.

3. The less stuff you have the less you have to clean.
Is is so nice not to have to clean up as much because I don't have as much.

4. Keep it if it's important, but don't keep everything.
Don't give away something that has memory to you.

5. With fewer things you can be so much more content .
If you don't expect to have as much you are more likely to accept what is in front of you.

all the stuff I had and was not using

all the extra toiletries I wasn't using

I don't own many books but I still had a few to give away.

This was my biggest one, fabric. I came up with two big bags of it.

I went from having two boxes full of beauty items to one.

What do you like to do to simplify your life? xo

my review on using all natural hair/body products

Awhile ago I blogged about my beauty products I used and said I was going to try out homemade conditioner and shampoo. I did and it wasn't terrible but it wasn't the best for my hair.

I changed my normal routine and went shampoo free and just used homemade conditioner.  I would use my body soap a few times a week to wash my hair but for the most part I used conditioner. The conditioner recipe I used was 8 parts vinegar and 1 part water. I did this for about one month and was bad but, my hair gets oily really quick and this just made it worse.

One day I ran out of my homemade conditioner and just used my old one again and the next morning my hair was so soft. It was amazing.

While I am trying harder to get more store bought natural products for right now I will go back to using my Suave Naturals instead of my homemade products. I am so sad to say this because I wanted to use more natural products but for now this will have to do. I am sure I will find a better product in the future. Right now, it is not worth it to me to have oily hair just to have my hair products all natural.

On the other hand thought I was successful with my new all natural soap and face wash. I now use Kirk's Castle Soap for my body and homemade coconut oil face wash. These were both a great success!  This is the recipe I used for my homemade coconut oil face wash, I keep it in a mason jar that it works perfect. I added a few drops of essential oil and wa laa!

Thanks for reading, have a happy weekend. xoxo

exercising

Since I have a high metabolism honestly, I could probably get away with not exercising. But, I know that in order to stay healthy I need too. There are also endless benefits to it. While exercising is not my favorite thing to do I do enjoy a quick jog every once in a while (oh yeah, and did I mention I might be doing a big run in the spring...shhhh).

 1// twice a week I swim (2 1/2 hours total)
2// once or twice a week I run (30 min)
3// I do a few stretches every morning to wake up (5< min)

I feel so much better after I exercise and makes my attitude a lot better. I try to keep this routine going so I am consistent. But I have been all over the place these past few weeks. I am trying to figure out how many hours you are suppose to get of exercise a day, but it is an endless mystery. This is not the best I have every done (I use to run everyday and will be soon), but I like to change things up to keep me interested. What do you do to exercise?

I just wanted to share with you what I do to keep in shape. xo

natural favs.

1// Target's "Simply Balanced" fruit strips, oh so yummy.

2// this probably lame but water, is my favorite go-to drink!

3// well, all of these are my faves: diy dry shampoo, Tom's deodorant, Burt's Bees lip balm, essential oil, coconut oil, and diy sea salt spray

4// this is a homemade hot/cold pack add some essential oil and is great to help calm you down at night

5// this probably comes no where near to natural but.. I love ALTOIDS mints.

These products are all under $6 (6.50 to be exact, coconut oil being the most expensive thing). They are all from your everyday stores and well they are quite great. My all time favorite is probably the Burt's Bees lip balm, you just can't go wrong. They have so many lip balms. It is great.

Thanks for reading. xoxo

yummy food.

    Happy Sunday to you all, I hope you are doing well! I went shopping yesterday and got some yummy food. I always try to get some yummy healthy snacks from Target and this is what I got  (with the exception of bread and some cheese sticks). While I was there I also got some "Tom's of Maine" things I am excited to try out. Simply Balanced brand from Target is also another amazing brand they have so much yummy stuff. What I get can range from applesauce to organic cereal to raisins. So, here is an overview....

I picked up my first essential oil, it is "Organic Sweet Orange"...ahh does it smell good.

Enjoy. xoxo.

natural eating

    You guys the power went out last night and I coudn't post anything. I tried to stay up waiting for it to come back on but I fell asleep.And then I planned to post it early this morning. Fail, this morning I spilled water everywhere and well was not the best morning.  I even had pictures and everything ready for the post! Oh well!
    Today I want to share with you yesterday's planned post that never got posted. Ha. As you can tell by the title it is on "natural eating". I find it so hard to eat clean sometimes and I would like to share with you how I (try to) eat. Honestly, I am not the best at eating as healthy/natural as I would like but for me it just depends what is in the pantry. For example, yesterday I had a donut and milk for breakfast and made cookies that evening. But the rest of my meals were pretty decent. I had organic fruit strip, cheese, turkey, pretzal, yougurt, bread and jam, bacon (maybe not the best but it was so good), chicken and green beans. This wasn't one of my greatest days in eating but definitely worst!

making some keish 

    A few things I would say that help me on a day to day basis are...

1// resist the temptation of eating junk food by not buying it
This can be hard for me because I don't choose what grocieries we get for the month but I still can make healthy choices. For example, I try to buy a few healthy snacks each month to help me.

one of my fave meals

2// it is alright to have two cookies and a donut in one day (guilty)
I know that a few extra sweets for my body every once in a while is not going to affect me but too much junkfood and I just feel yucky. If you know you are craving some sweets then go ahead and have one but don't go overboard.

i made cookies. yumm.

3// self-discipline
The more you practice the better you get at it. I know this is like the exact oppisite to #2 but you will know when it is and isn't good to indulge.

yesterdays breakfast

4// there are so many natural and fun foods out there; have fun making them
Enjoy what you are eating, there is no excuse for blah food.

What are your tips and tricks? xox lovelies

hair & skin products

    I have been reading this blog and I am so intrigued by all of her natural bathroom products. A few of them listed I have tried but I really want to convert to more natural products soon. I thought it would be nice to share with you a few of the things I use and what I hope to start using. 

Everyday Body/Face/Hair:

This is an overall view of the products I use on a day to day basis. I go into detail below.

Everyday:

    Below is what I use every morning to "get ready". These are a few of my favorite products. Have you every heard of homemade deodorant, I know you probably think it is weird but it seems interesting. I really want to try her recipe.  I just need to pick up a thing or two. When it comes to perfume, anyone have an alternative option (essential oils)? I use this one from Burt's Bees but I am trying to see if there is a better option. Last thing mascara, is about the only make up I wear. I am still in search for  a little more clean option, but for now this will do.  By the way I love not wearing any makeup.

Body:

    I love using coconut oil as a moisturizer. I don't have anything bad to say about it. Everynight after my shower I use this to moisturize my face, as well as Burt's Bees hydrating lip balm. Coconut oil has so many uses from a replacement for butter to a lotion. It can be a little oily when you first put it in but it does soak in.

Hair:

    I don't do much to my hair besides my shower products. I just brush my hair and sometimes afterwards I will put in this sea-salt spray. I might just have to do a post on that sea-salt spray. One thing I have been wondering is how often should you brush your hair. I don't want to damage it but after so long it gets super knotty. What do you think?

Shower:

     For shower products I use as seen below. I love the "yes-to" brand but I normally don't use Suave or St. Ives but for now this is what I use. I have tried using a baking soda mixture for my hair but it did not work very well. But I am thinking about going back to using vinegar as conditioner, and using no shampoo. For face wash, I am still trying to come up with a good face wash to use, any suggestions? But as of today this is what I use.

This is today's post, what do you think? What are your favorite products to use?

my yoga/exercise routine

    This post is not a usual one but I thought, why not? As you can tell by the title I just wanted to share with you how I exercise.  Usually I do something everyday, it gives me a boost of energy and makes me feel better. Honestly I do enjoy working out it is a stress reliever and at the end of the day I feel accomplished. I have done many things to exercise but this is what I find myself doing now...

p.s. those are not my workout clothes I just didn't want to change for this picture

1 // every morning I stretch (yoga) and M-F I do 10 pushups, 10 squats, and 30 second plank as well
2 // Monday, Wensday, Friday - I either take a class at the YMCA or run a mile/blogalaties
3 // Tuesday and Thursday - I have swim team (1hr. 20 min)

This is what my weekly exercise routine looks like. Thanks for reading. xoxo

Oh and also tomorrow is my birthday! Yay!