Yoga Poses for Detoxing Your Body

Hello Darlings!

I cannot believe that today is the last day of February, seriously where on earth has this month gone?! I’m still on my detox kick, smoothies, my amazing (yes, I’m tooting my own horn) DIY Detox Herbal Tea, salads that more often than not contain detox greens (like this one) and lots of yoga. I have really been focusing on a slow, mindful practice that is cleansing my body, helped along by lots of yoga twists! Also tomorrow is a new moon, a new beginning- the perfect time to start detoxing your life!

Building on Your Holistic First Aid Kit

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I have a whole arsenal of holistic first aid supplies on hand. One of my first posts about holistic remedies here on Chickadee Says was the Basic Holistic First Aid Kit that covered preventing sickness, stress and anxiety, upset stomachs, burns, sore throats, and sleeplessness. I thought it was high time to create a part two (not going to lie, I feel like such a cool kid- my post needs a sequel!) I love that a few of these you’ll already have on hand in your kitchen and the rest are available just down the street at the health foods store!

Guacamole Hummus plus Popchips & Jillian Michaels DVD Giveaway! (Closed)

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So, I know Cinco de Mayo is ages away and guacamole isn’t generally a winter-time treat, but when the lovely folks at Popchips sent over a ‘chipment’ of flavors to try I fell in love with their Salsa Tortilla Chips. Yep, you read that right, salsa-flavored-tortilla-chips. Yes, please! The salsa chips were one of many delicious flavors that Popchips had sent over, and I genuinely loved all of them. Which, generally speaking, is a bad thing when it comes to snack food, but with Popchips I can snack guilt free!

Do It Yourself: All Natural Yoga Mat Cleaner

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Being a yoga instructor involves cleaning a lot of mats. Being a kids yoga instructor where you lug around your own mats involves cleaning lots of yoga mats at home that have been trampled on by children. So, instead of buying yoga mat cleaners that can be super expensive and have unpronounceable ingredients, I make my own all-natural cleaner that works wonders!

Meatless Monday: Rhubarb-Pear Compote

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I love breakfast but I am often really lazy about making it. Usually I chuck ingredients together for a smoothie, scramble some eggs, or if I am feeling particularly meal-preppy (yep, I made that a word) I whip up a batch of my Savory Baked Egg Cups. But when I was walking down the aisles of the health food store I saw some gorgeous rhubarb stalks and just knew I needed them for breakfast over barley (or for dessert over ice cream!).

Julie Chu & Citi Every Step of the Way Support Children's Hockey

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Now I’m not usually a television watcher, but I have been glued to my TV the past few weeks loving the Olympics! From the (insane) ski jumpers to beautiful figure skaters there is something for everyone to love and for children to aspire to be. Personally I am a huge hockey fan. I am from generations of hockey players on my father’s side and my brother is a phenomenal player, even going to far as to playing semi-professionally! So when I saw that Julie Chu was teaming up with Citi Every Step of the Way program and the USA Hockey Foundation to support Try Hockey for Free Days I was really excited to share the word!

This post was created in partnership with Citi®. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Yoga Poses for Winter Sports

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Winter this year has been strange all over the United States. From snow in Georgia to 65-degree weather in February right here in Denver it has yet to make up its mind other than it chooses to dump snow everywhere. That is fabulous for those of us who love the outdoors in the winter, in particular skiers and snowboarders. And while the mountains are fabulous and catapulting down a mountainside on slick sticks fastened to our boots is quite a rush, we need to be able to warm up and stretch afterward to both prevent injury and feel great post outing! Yoga poses can do just that!

If you’re new to yoga, make sure to check out my Five Foundational Yoga Poses post as I explain each pose as originating from those poses!

Natural Grocers Now Open on Colfax in Denver!

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One of my all time favorite stores is Natural Grocers. Known for their homegrown attitude and all organic produce, Natural Grocers is a store that you know is a great resource for a healthier you and a healthier planet. Being a downtown Denver dweller, I am SO excited that there is a new store now open on Colfax at Washington Street! I popped over for a tour on opening day and fell in love. With the largest freezer section of all the Natural Grocers, a fabulously lovely staff, and a huge emphasis on community, I know that I’ll be popping into the new space-probably far too often!

What I Ate Wednesday: Homemade Meatless Monday

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I have been cooking up a storm this week, so today’s WIAW is chock full of delicious dishes I had whipped up over the weekend- a few of which made their way onto the blog!

Sea Salt and Vinegar Beet Chips

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It is a rather ridiculous story, but I have been craving salt and vinegar chips for a good week. Potato chips are my downfall; I can (and have) eat an entire bag at once. So when cleaning the windows at one of the yoga studios last week with vinegar and water all I could think of, and smell, was salt and vinegar chips. So, to save myself from devouring a bag of (very unhealthy) potato chips, I decided to whip up a batch of beet chips with the same flavors. Tasty and guilt-free? Yes, please!

Meatless Monday: Grilled Eggplant Caprese

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It was 65 degrees in Denver today. Seriously sixty-five. In February. If that were actually indicative of Denver’s winter weather I would be one happy little critter (Tinkerbelle would disagree) but, alas, it isn’t and we just had a super balmy day to take a break from the generally frigid temperatures. However, it did give me hope that summer isn’t too far in the future and as such I decided to celebrate by grilling. Now I love to grill everything (yep, even salad) and the slight char just tastes like summer. So I popped my grill pan on the stove and had at it in the middle of February!

Mother Earth’s Healing Review and Prize Pack Giveaway! (Closed)

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When it comes to my body I believe that all natural everything is the way to go. From the detergent I wash my clothes with to the scrubs I wash my face with, I do not want any weird chemicals I can’t pronounce making their way into products that interact with my skin. So when I discover all natural products that are made by hand right here in the USA I get quite excited!

Mother Earth’s Healing on Etsy fits the bill. Handmade in Florida, the products carried by Mother Earth’s healing are all natural, full of organic ingredients, essential oils, and herbs- never anything artificial. The Etsy shop carries everything from body scrubs to wood polish- something for everything! The darling owner of the shop sent over a package of products for me to test out and has graciously decided to sponsor a giveaway for you lucky readers as well! (Details in the Rafflecopter Widget below!)

Spiked Pomegranate Cream Soda

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Happy Valentine’s Day! Holidays can be hectic. Bustling around the kitchen trying to whip up a thousand things at once: sides, appetizers, a main dish and dessert (psst. Still looking for a V-Day side dish? Check out my Pomegranate Balsamic Brussels Sprouts!) and I know personally I totally forget about concocting super complicated cocktails. Which is why this Spiked Pomegranate Cream Soda is perfect for Valentine’s day. Three ingredients and about a minute to whip up two! You really can’t get simpler than that!

Natural Remedies for Dry Winter Skin

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This crazy winter has been killer on my skin.  I have been super dry all season- my skin just isn’t used to the lack of humidity in this Colorado weather. So I’ve been combating the dreaded ‘alligator’ skin with incredibly nourishing natural remedies. With Valentine’s Day tomorrow, I know there are plenty of you planning on looking your best- and that includes gorgeous, glowing skin! So why not skip the lotions filled with unpronounceable ingredients and opt natural to brighten up dull, dry winter skin! Plus, quite a few of these natural remedies are easily found in your kitchen!

Do It Yourself: Relaxing Bath Soak

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I am a bath person. Showers are easy, and I love to shower first before slipping into a wonderful bath, but if I had to choose, bath all of the way! I love that you can ‘customize’ your bath experience. You can add smells, bubbles, essential oils, salts, and step out of the warmth feeling like silk. This blend of herbs and salts is a wonderful way to relax after a stressful day, and even a great soak to pop in the tub when you and your sweetheart relax together this Valentine’s Day!

Meatless Monday: Vegan Stuffed Peppers

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Blogger confession: this recipe makes six stuffed peppers. I may have eaten three of the peppers before snapping pictures to post. So, if you happento eat raw peppers before filling them up, you’ve got a great barley salad too! ( #HungryGirlProblems ) Anyhow, I love stuffed peppers- I’ve had them stuffed with pretty much everything, but I decided to create a vegan recipe that is big on flavor, with barley and plenty of veggies!

Salted-Chocolate Dipped Blood Oranges

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With Valentine’s Day creeping ever closer some of you might be finishing up your menus for the date night in, or if you’re me just salivating over the giant heart boxes of chocolate that are omnipresent in any room with a cash register. So instead of buy a (rather overpriced) box of chocolates for myself I decided to make my own decadent treat which is not nearly as bad for you: dark chocolate and fruit? Healthy sugar? Yes, please!

What I Ate Wednesday: Superbowl Weekend

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This post turned out entirely different that I had expected. I thought that it would be full of beer, burgers, and game time snack foods (like my Twice Baked Fingerling Potatoes). However, the cheat day I had envisioned didn’t come to fruition, which my waistline appreciates. I was getting certified in restorative yoga all weekend, and the times got changed which meant the training ran over a huge chunk of the game. By the time I was out and made my way over to a friend’s party, the Broncos were losing by an absurd number of points. So I stayed to watch the Seahawks win and promptly went home to bed.

However, being the good little blogger I am I did happen to take pictures of my meals during the training so I thought I’d share those instead! Sorry for the iPhone quality snaps!

Meatless Monday: Pomegranate Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts

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I really shouldn’t go grocery shopping while hungry. I walked into Sprouts and the first thing I spotted was a gorgeous pile of Brussels sprouts by the pound. Yes, please! Now, there is no reason one single person should ever need four pounds of Brussels sprouts at one time, so I may have a been a bit over zealous, but some of those delicious green balls turned into a gorgeous side dish, Pomegranate Roasted Brussels Sprouts, which just happen to be a perfect addition to your Valentine’s Day meal!

Do It Yourself: Valentine’s Day Mason Jar Treats

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So. I’ve seen Valentine’s day stuff floating around the internet for a good month (btw, I’m also guilty a la: Valentine’s Day Wishlist) but it is officially February and that means I can actually post Valentine’s Day things without looking silly. Yay! So to kick off the festivities (and the obligatory sugar consumption) I’m sharing a fun gift cum decoration that’s fun for both kids and adults- I count as the latter, sometimes.