Chickadee Says: January 2014

Friday, January 31, 2014

East Meets West: Asian Spice Jack and Ginger Cocktail

Hello Darlings!

Happy Chinese New Year! And with the new year: Cocktails are back- yay! In honor of the Chinese New Year I’ve concocted a cocktail that captures the essence of two of my favorite Asian flavors, Star Anise and Ginger! However, I thought I would bring a bit of western flair to two eastern spices so the Asian Spice Jack and Ginger was born! Just a warning, with this coming year the Year of the Horse in the Chinese Zodiac Calendar, this drink is quite a kick in the pants (look at me being punny).

Do It Yourself: Oatmeal Lavender Face Scrub

Hello Darlings!

Apparently my skin hates Colorado winters. While I love the fact that I’m a mile higher to the sun and don’t look like Casper the friendly ghost at the current moment (yay sunny winters!) somehow my face has decided to be both incredibly dry and acne prone at the same time. Not. Fair. So, to give my (very naughty) skin a treat every once in a while I use a face scrub to help slough off all of that dry winter skin and bring some light back into my face.

Meatless Monday: Twice Baked Fingerling Potatoes

Hello Darlings!

The Superbowl is on Sunday! And although technically I am a Patriots fan, I’m quite excited that the Broncos are playing- Denver is going to be SO much fun! However, while I’m not particularly jumping for joy over watching a football game (I much prefer hockey, thank you very much) I do plan on eating EVERYTHING. Tailgate food is one of my guilty pleasures and especially when said dish is able to be eaten by hand- such a caveman, I know. I whipped up a fun finger food dish that is quite easy to make and is sure to be a hit at your Superbowl party!

Tinkerbelle’s All Natural Gourmet Dog Treats Launch and Giveaway! (Closed)

Hello Darlings!

I. Am. So. Excited. I’ve been talking about starting up an Etsy shop for quite a while to share the all-natural, organic, homemade dog treats that I make for little miss Tinkerbelle (if you’ve been following me for a while you might know that I am a bit obsessed with her) and I have finally taken the plunge! Tinkerbelle's All Natural Gourmet Dog Treats is a go!

Valentine’s Day Wishlist 2014

Hello Darlings!

I know that it is still January, however I feel like the spirit of Valentine’s Day is in full swing around town (and most definitely on Pinterest!). So as I’ve been browsing I’ve curated a few things that I know I would love for Valentine’s Day- hopefully they may be a bit inspiring for the loved ones in your life!

Meatless Monday: Sweet and Spicy Vegan Chili

Hello Darlings!

There is nothing better than a hot bowl of chili while watching a winter game. Cold weather, great friends, football or hockey, and an awesome beverage (we had my Spiced Pomegranate Martinis) make a Sunday pretty much perfect! I love that this vegetarian chili is both great for you and incredibly flavorful, plus you cant go wrong with a one pot meal!

Kale and Quinoa Detox Salad

Hello Darlings!

If you popped by my What I Ate Wednesday post yesterday you might have seen that I promised the recipe for my Kale and Quinoa Detox Salad that I munched on during yoga teacher training. With lots of ingredients that you’ll both have on hand and are great for detoxing your body as we still work on those New Year’s resolutions, it’s a perfect dish to whip up when you’re feeling a bit heavy. I love how filling the quinoa salad is, and as an added bonus it is incredibly easy to prepare!

What I Ate Wednesday: Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training

Hello Darlings!

This past weekend I got certified to teach yoga to prenatal mothers, which I am so excited about- I have always been passionate about the early stages of life! This weekend was step one in a full certification of 95 hours of additional training which will happen throughout the year. So add that to the baby and me training, and the additional kids yoga trainings and I have my hands full! Because trainings involve so much movement and asana I tend to eat rather lightly as the training is going on so I don’t feel overfull or heavy. I thought it would be fun to share what I brought in my silly little lunch bag for one of the training days! P.S. please excuse the iPhone photos- it might have been a bit weird to lug a DSLR to training!

Meatless Monday: Mom’s Spiced Apple Oatmeal

Hello Darlings!

After a brief hiatus, Heather from Better With Veggies has restarted her Meatless Monday’s from A-Z challenge! This week’s letter was ‘O’ and the ingredient chosen was oats! My mom often makes a wonderful (and healthy!) oatmeal dish for breakfast and I asked if I could share the recipe! Thankfully she said yes- every one knows mom’s recipes are the best! Normally I am not a huge oatmeal fan, but this tastes like you’re eating apple pie for breakfast!

What I Ate Wednesday: New Year’s Detox Edition

Hello Darlings!

I may have been a bit indulgent this holiday season. We’re talking about making cookie dough, yep just cookie dough. To eat, not to bake. Whoops. So, needless to say, 2014 brought on a bit of a very much so needed detox. I thought it would be fun to share some of the recipes I’ve been using to do just that!

Do It Yourself: Herbal Detox Tea

Hello Darlings!

I start every morning out with two hot drinks. One is hot lemon water with a dash of honey and apple cider vinegar, and the next is a cup of herbal tea (which changes on the daily, I have a whole cabinet full!). I thought during the New Year, I would kick off my detox by combining the two! The herbal detox tea I’ve created is both very effective and delicious, which is always a plus, because quite frankly many of the store bought detox teas I’ve tried tasted like weeds- which, yes, many of them are, but they don’t have to taste like them!

Meatless Monday: Detox Salad

Hello Darlings!

After holiday feasting and New Year’s Eve indulging I’ve been feeling a bit sluggish and off my game. Time for a New Year’s detox! When it comes to detoxing menu I love a good salad, they are super light and are an awesome canvas to dress up with lots of detoxing foods! Also, they are incredibly versatile, you don’t have to eat the same ingredients and proportions every day to feel progress- switch it up, your body (and your taste buds!) will thank you.

EcoTrek Fitness Whole Food Bars Review and Giveaway (Closed)

Hello Darlings!

If you’re anything like me, one of your New Year’s resolutions is one that revolves around healthy living and fitness. Whether it be skiing more, hitting the gym, or getting more acquainted with a yoga studio, all of these resolutions require a bit of fuel. I like to throw a protein bar or two into my gym bag and backpack when I head out, just in case I need some extra energy! When the darlings at Eco Trek Fitness Whole Food Bars reached out offering samples of their bars, I was excited to try them!

Behind the Scenes Christmas Card & $300 Amazon Giveaway Sponsored by King of Christmas! (Closed)

Hello Darlings!

Now that the holidays have come and gone I thought it might be fun to show you the holiday cards I sent out this year and the ridiculous ‘behind the scenes’ pictures that are inevitable when you are trying to photograph your dog!

Yoga Poses for Stress Relief

Hello Darlings!

I love the hustle and bustle of a new year. Everyone seems excited and full of renewed energy, ready to tackle their New Year’s resolutions and make the best of what’s to come! However, with all this excitement comes a bit of stress. Making changes can be stressful- changes in routine, changes in eating habits, maybe even switching gears at the workplace! Yoga is my favorite way to help relieve stress (and if you made any fitness goals- two birds one stone!) and there are quite a few poses that help do just that!

Happy New Year! Resolutions and One Year Blogiversary!

Hello Darlings!

Happy New Year! Today marks my one-year ‘blogiversary,’ which is just crazy! I can’t believe everything that has happened this year! From moving to Denver, to getting certified as a yoga instructor, I’ve made quite a few big changes! Yesterday I posted my 13 Top Blog Posts of 2013, and thought I would start the New Year off with great intention and post my resolutions for 2014!