Chickadee Says

Yoga Must-Haves: Yoga Brights Towel

2015-11-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

Hello Darlings!

When it comes to yoga props I am incredibly picky. From blocks and straps to mats and eye masks and everything in between, I want everything I tote with me to my practice to be both beautiful and functional. On top of that they need to be able to withstand the constant barrage of abuse brought on by classrooms of toddlers and infants, who aren’t exactly the most careful little buggers when it comes to things on the floor while I’m teaching, and the dirt, rocks, and snow of an outdoor practice. Essentially, when it comes down to it I need props that work with my yoga practice that, generally speaking, isn’t conventional. What can I say? I’m a wild child that hasn’t quite grown up.

Weekend Adventures in Denver: goodness guide

2015-10-24T07:00:00.000-06:00

Hello Darlings!

I can’t get enough of Denver. I’ve been here for just about two and a half years and don’t think I’ve even scratched the surface of what this gorgeous city has to offer. However, I do already have a few favorite spots. I’ve teamed up with goodnessknows to pull together a list, a ‘goodness guide,’ to show you around town and give you a couple hints along the way!

I Am Not Invincible. Hello Adrenal Fatigue.

2015-10-23T07:00:00.000-06:00

Hello Darlings,

I am not invincible. It seems ridiculous, but for me acknowledging the truth of that statement was a bitter pill to swallow. I like to think that I was doing everything ‘right.’ I’m a Whole Foods loving, kombucha drinking yogi with a sweet tooth and cheese habit. I’m really in-tune with my body, and fuel it with intention- even if sometimes that intention is ‘quench my grease craving.’ I thought if I kept my physical body in tiptop shape that I could do no wrong. Apparently, that’s not the case.

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Tinkerbelle and Meeko Q&A Featuring I and love and you!

2015-10-19T16:58:00.000-06:00

Hello Darlings!

With my pups’ Instagram growing by the minute, I’ve noticed that I’ve been receiving a ton of questions about what I feed them, how to take care of them, and what they love! So, The girls and I created a fun little YouTube video answering lots of questions that we’ve been asked (watch it at the end of this post)!

Product Spotlight: goodnessknows Bars.

2015-09-29T01:01:00.000-06:00

Hello Darlings!

I have a new obsession. I know that there are about a zillion different kinds of bars out on the market and I feel like I have tried just about every one. But I’ve fallen in love with goodnessknows. Chock full of fruit, nuts, grains, and chocolate (!) they are super tasty and give you such a wonderful energy boost.

Peanut Butter-Peach Frozen Yogurt Dog Treats (Puppy Safe)

2015-09-06T21:39:00.000-06:00

Hello Darlings!

It has been SUPER hot here in Denver and both of my sled puppies have been panting like crazy. So I thought I’d whip up a fun, healthy frozen treat to cool them down.

6 Must-Have Travel Necessities

2015-08-26T17:02:00.001-06:00

Hello Darlings!

If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you may have noticed that I am in Hawaii! My sister and her husband are stationed out here and just welcomed a very darling new boy, H, into their family. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the little munchkin so out I came.

With any long plane ride comes quite a bit of packing, so I thought it would be fun to chat about my six categories of must-haves during any trip.
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Meatless Monday: Vegan Garden Fresh Breakfast Potatoes

2015-08-17T06:00:00.000-06:00

Hello Darlings!

I am not the biggest breakfast fan. Brunch, sure, but breakfast? Functioning that early in the morning is not exactly my thing. However, when you have a box of CSA goodies hanging out on the counter calling to you and leftover potatoes just about to sprout, you get to cooking.

These potatoes turn out crispy, the perfect accompaniment to normal, super soft breakfast foods, without losing their fresh-from-the-garden taste. Plus, leftovers mixed with a scoop of vegan yogurt turns into a delicious potato salad!
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8 Favorite Restorative Yoga Poses

2015-07-14T15:19:00.002-06:00

Hello Darlings!

This summer has been insanely busy for me. From blogging to my IT job, teaching yoga, and working at summer markets for my business, The Spiral Collective, I have had my hand in lots of cookie jars. Sometimes I need to totally just crash, curl up in bed, snuggle my pups and escape with a ridiculously cheesy romance novel. Other times I head to a restorative yoga class. One of my specialties I teach is ‘restorative’ yoga, which I lovingly describe as a yoga nap. I am also leading a Restore with the Niyamas yoga retreat in Guatemala this September. Check it out!

The following poses are some of my favorites; most can be practiced with or without props, or by using makeshift props: couch cushions, organizing baskets, and rolled up blankets work just fine. I LOVE the Barefoot Yoga lavender and flax eye pillows for an extra added luxury when in a restorative practice! When it comes to teaching restorative yoga poses I tend to instruct from the ‘do what feels most comfortable to you’ viewpoint.
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2015 Birthday Wish List

2015-07-07T14:51:00.001-06:00

Hello Darlings!

It’s July. Which for most people means fireworks on the Fourth, hot days and beautiful nights, and camping trips. However, it’s my birthday month! Yep, I said month. So I have dreamed up my birthday wish list (yep, wishes, because seriously, who is going to pay $40 for a towel? They are just SO pretty) with some help from my darling friend Melissa from Treats with a Twist, because apparently she knows me better than myself when it comes to pretty presents.

What I Ate Wednesday: Fresh and Local

2015-07-01T11:22:00.000-06:00

Hello Darlings!

This year is my first year in Denver that I have a DUG (Denver Urban Garden) plot with a good friend of mine I met through teaching yoga! I have missed gardening SO very much, so sticking my hands in the soil and being able to bring home fresh greenery makes me so happy! I realized this week that so much of my food was fresh or came from local businesses and it is always fun to celebrate and support your local economy!

Raspberry-Mint Limeade Frozen Yogurt Sponsored by Yulu Yogurt

2015-06-24T11:17:00.000-06:00

Hello Darlings!

With the Solstice come and gone, it is officially summer! And now that the crazy Denver weather has (somewhat) subsided, it is hot, hot, hot here in Colorado! I don’t know about you, but when the temperatures reach the 90s all I want is frozen yogurt and lemonade. So, when Yulu Yogurt reached out and asked me to try their new Aussie-Style yogurt I decided to create a recipe that would cool down my body and perk up my taste buds. Enter: Raspberry-Mint Limeade Frozen Yogurt.

Weekly Snack Attack

2015-06-23T12:57:00.000-06:00

Hello Darlings!

If you you’ve been following my WIAWs for a while, you might have noticed that 1. I am really bad about them getting posted on Wednesdays and 2. I am pretty bad at capturing a single day’s worth of food. However, I am a big fan of photographing my snacks! Which, quite frankly, are often a bit more fun anyway!

So, without further ado: Snacktime!
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Garlic Scape Pesto Shrimp with Rainbow Stir-Fry

2015-06-18T13:16:00.002-06:00

Hello Darlings!

Farmers’ markets make me SO happy. Fun people, pups in tow, great food, and live music- can’t get better than that. This last weekend I popped over to the Cherry Creek Farmers’ Market here in Denver with a one-track mind. I wanted garlic scapes, badly. Ever since I discovered them from a farmer down the road when I lived in rural Connecticut, I’ve been in love. But they have a very fleeting season, twice a year for a few weeks apiece. However, the season is now! So pop over to your local market pick some up and have SO much fun creating garlic-y wonderfulness.

Recipe Makeover: Healthy Spinach Artichoke Dip (No Mayo!)

2015-06-15T12:18:00.003-06:00

Hello Darlings!

I love comfort food- rich, creamy, delicious, not necessarily great for you comfort food. And, when it comes down to it, spinach-artichoke dip is one of my favorites. I have been subbing Greek yogurt for the mayonnaise in recipes for quite a while now. The creaminess without all of the saturated fat? Yes, Please! (Healthy Chicken Salad anyone?) So I set out to finagle my family’s go-to artichoke dip recipe into a healthier, but still delectable version of itself. I have to say, I succeeded with flying colors. Yep, totally tooting my own horn. It is that good.

9 Dog Safe Plants for a Stylish Home

2015-06-07T15:41:00.000-06:00

Hello Darlings!

So, you’re bringing home a new puppy or want to bring home some houseplants to decorate. You know that some plants are poisonous for pups and when you have rambunctious pups like my little Meeko you have to make sure the plants that make your home gorgeous are safe for fido!

I did extensive research when deciding to bring plants into my new apartment, and in the end I chose 8 plants that are both beautiful and safe!
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Wisdom Panel 3.0: DNA Testing for Pups!

2015-05-29T17:24:00.000-06:00

Hello Darlings!

The following is post sponsored by Wisdom Panel 3.0

My two Samoyeds are my fur-babies, and I spoil them as such. From their own Instagram account,to top tier food and homemade treats, I want to make sure that they get the best of the best. I know everything there is to know about them, and quite a bit of that information comes from knowing exactly what breed they are. Knowing your pup’s breed can be integral in diagnosing health issues, learning how to train your pup, and perfecting their nutrition plans.

While my girls are purebred Samoyeds from a show line, I have so many friends with puppies that are rescues and mixed breeds that aren’t exactly sure what breed of dog they actually have. Enter Mars Veterinary.
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Do It Yourself: Picture Frame Earring Display

2015-05-29T06:00:00.000-06:00

Hello Darlings!

When it comes to jewelry, I take after my mother in the way we just happen to chuck everything into a box and be done with it. Usually this leads to us wearing the same set of jewelry day after day because we can be bothered to sift through a pile of goodies.

So, instead of buying a Christmas present this last year (yes, these pictures are that old- I forgot I had photographed the process!) I made my mom a jewelry display for all of her dangly earrings! So, if you are anything like we are and are looking for a cute DIY for summer this is a super inexpensive way to organize!
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What I Ate Wednesday: SunBasket Review (and Giveaway!)

2015-05-27T09:10:00.000-06:00

Hello Darlings!

When it comes to food I want things to taste good, look great, (usually) be healthy, and be fun to eat! With being super busy with my new business on top of my regular schedule of activities :: said like an event announcer :: I have been trying to save time in any way possible. One timesaving idea was to check out one of the cook-your-own-meals subscription boxes, however I had always been a bit wary because of the incredible amount of waste that their packaging produced.

Photo Courtesy of SunBasket Facebook

Samoyed Sundays: May BarkBox Unboxing

2015-05-24T16:44:00.002-06:00

Hello Darlings!

I am feeling so grateful for social media and the blogging community because one, you are all amazing, and two because of you I have the opportunity for really fun opportunities like partnering with BarkBox!

BarkBox is a monthly subscription box for your pups! Filled with toys and treats that your furbabies will love, it makes for such a fun day when they arrive at your door. This month was Tink and Meek’s first month getting a BarkBox and as you can see in the video below they were super excited!
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Samoyed Sunday: Meeko’s Arrival Story (& 3 Tips for Bringing Your Puppy Home Smoothly!)

2015-05-10T16:45:00.002-06:00

Hello Darlings!

Happy Mother’s Day! While I don’t have (human) babies I do happen to have two ridiculously fuzzy furbabies that I spoil just like I’d imagine I would my future children. So while all of the moms out there are getting pampered and sharing the birth stories of their kiddos I thought I’d jump on the bandwagon and tell the story of Meeko coming to join the family here in Denver!

So you might not know this but Meeko and Tinkerbelle are half-sisters. They have the same father, Crush, who is an incredible Samoyed out of White Magic Samoyeds in Connecticut. So, I knew when I was ready for a companion for Tink that I wanted a puppy that came from the same line. It just so happened that when I called to inquire about litters that he had a litter that would be ready in just a month and a half! Excited (and a bit pressed for time!) I booked my flight to CT for the day before New Years and got everything ready to go.
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Tinkerbelle Turns Four, Celebrate with MaxFund!

2015-04-26T19:47:00.002-06:00

Hello Darlings!

You all know that I am that dog mom. I throw birthday parties, hand-make dog treats, and buy more toys than the girls know what to do with. Tinkerbelle’s birthday is Tuesday, April 28th, and after last year’s super fun birthday shenanigans, I knew I had to do something special. And what can be more special than a charity fundraiser and event benefitting MaxFund, a no-kill animal shelter right here in Denver?!

When it comes to what MaxFund is, they explain best:

"MaxFund is a true no kill animal shelter and adoption center that challenges the traditional methods of animal sheltering by leading the no kill movement in Colorado. We strive to give animals, including the injured, abandoned, and abused, a "second chance at life."

In 2014, 1,407 dogs and cats were adopted from MaxFund, and we spayed/neutered 4,547 dogs and cats. Since inception, we've found great forever homes for 29,297 dogs and cats, and spayed/neutered 39,149! Thank you for helping us to make a difference in the lives of many in our community!"

While Tinkerbelle and Meeko aren’t rescues, they have lots of great friends that are! We believe that every animal deserves a loving home and MaxFund is a great way to give animals that need new leases on life that chance.

So, where do you come in? To celebrate Tinkerbelle’s Fourth birthday, we’ve decided that instead of gifts we will donate money and goods to MaxFund!

We’ve set up a GoFundMe account that will collect money online to be consolidated into a check and presented to MaxFund, and on Saturday, May 2nd at 11am we will have a puppy (and human!) meetup in Cheesman Park in Denver! (Facebook Event Here)

As an extra incentive to donate TinkandMeek has teamed up with BarkBox! For every $5 you donate you get one entry into the drawing for a FREE BarkBox for your pup, a pup in your life, or to donate to your local shelter and a personal shout-out on the TinkandMeek Instagram page! (Not from the USA or Canada? I’ll substitute a $25 E-Giftcard from Amazon) Coming to the event? Bring a toy, food, leash, or another pet-centric item and earn entries for the value of your donation! The raffle event will be open for two weeks starting today so share with all of your friends!

Sierra Trading Post Warm Weather Wish List

2015-04-24T07:00:00.000-06:00

Hello Darlings!

I recently compiled all of my to-do lists into one long list and it ended up being six pages long. Seriously, SIX pages of lined notebook paper. Le sigh. And, because I am a wonderfully productive person, I had a minor freak out and decided to totally ignore everything I should be doing and go online shopping instead- like I said, super productive.

Restore with the Niyamas: A Guatemalan Yoga Retreat

2015-04-21T14:49:00.000-06:00

Hello Darlings!

I have some SUPER exciting news! ::Drumroll please:: I am cohosting a cant-miss-it restorative yoga retreat in Guatemala this September with an incredible yogi, who happens to be one of my close friends, April the owner and founder of Sacred Prana Yoga!

The seven-night retreat -that takes place September 12th through 19th - will focus on the Niyamas, the second branch of the 8 limbs in yoga. Each day our asana practice will focus on one of the five Niyamas, like detoxing for Saucha (cleanliness) or meditation for Santosha (contentment). With two (optional) yoga classes daily, an active flow practice and a restorative or Yoga Nidra practice, plus workshops and meditations, you’re sure to feel relaxed and rejuvenated!
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Meatless Mondays: Candied Kumquats (Two Ways)

2015-04-20T12:43:00.000-06:00

Hello Darlings!

I always say that I should never be allowed in Whole Foods when I’m hungry. I go in for a few things on a list and walk out with a basket full of goodies I technically didn’t need. However, this time it worked out in my favor!

I spotted the cute little kumquats and knew I needed to have them; they’re in season now, so I know that they’d be perfectly tart and sweet. I always forget that kumquats are so sour, so when I popped one into my mouth and thought ‘this needs sugar’ I knew I had the idea for my recipe this week. I candy oranges and lemons often so why not kumquats? I am SO glad I did because this recipe (totally tooting my own horn) made candied kumquats one of my all-time favorite foods!
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