Chickadee Says: All-Natural

Showing posts with label All-Natural. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Daily Handbag Essentials: Stress Less, Smile More with Bach Rescue!

Hello Darlings!

What do you bring when you know you’re going to have a stressful day? I have a few staples that I don’t leave home without! I love carrying around my Michael Kors suitcase of a handbag because I have easy access to everything I need, which is incredibly helpful when I feel my chronic anxiety start to become overwhelming. From homeopathic remedies to tasty chocolate I carry around a bit of everything to help calm myself down!

Do It Yourself: All Natural Makeup Brush Wash

Hello Darlings!

I have to admit, actually using makeup brushes other than for bronzer is fairly new to me. I had always used my fingers to apply everything from concealer to eye shadow and finally got on the brush wagon when I realized using my fingers in my makeup wasn’t exactly the most hygienic way to apply it. However, I have super sensitive skin that is particularly sensitive to chemicals (I can’t wear perfume because it irritates my skin!) so when it comes to keeping my brushes clean and sanitized I go all-natural!

I love that three simple ingredients can cleanse and sanitize my brushes. Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic, lavender oil naturally kills bacteria, and the white vinegar’s acidity helps to break down makeup stuck in the brushes!

Experiments in All Natural Easter Egg Dyeing

Hello Darlings!

I’m not generally an egg person (cue #YolkPorn addict shocked faces) I’ll have them scrambled but there is something about the texture that just doesn’t agree with me. However, that dislike of eggs gets chucked out the window around Easter. I love coloring eggs! From the crazy tie-dye eggs to eggs covered in wax then dipped I’ve done it all; so this year I thought I would experiment with dying eggs from things I had on hand in my kitchen. I got mixed results but some of the egg dyes worked wonders, gorgeous colors without all the chemicals!

All Natural First Aid Kit for Pets

Hello Darlings!

When you look in the cabinet over your sink you’ll probably see lots of remedies for yourself, your kids, for everything under the sun. But if you have a furry little friend like my Tinkerbelle, you should have a first aid kit put together for them as well! So these few items are a great start for treating your pets naturally.

Disclaimer: I am not a veterinarian; consult your vet before administering holistic remedies.

5 Ways To Go Green for Saint Patrick’s Day

Hello Darlings!

When it comes to St. Patrick’s Day most people think of four leaf clovers, wearing green, and a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. However fun those ideas might be they’re fleeting. Why not go green in a different way this Saint Patrick’s Day and help take care of the environment and save yourself some money to boot?! I’ve found that the easiest way to start going green is by starting in the kitchen!

Do It Yourself: All Natural Yoga Mat Cleaner

Hello Darlings!

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: Grilled Eggplant Caprese

Hello Darlings!

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)

Hello Darlings!

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!)

Natural Remedies for Dry Winter Skin

Hello Darlings!

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!

Salted-Chocolate Dipped Blood Oranges

Hello Darlings!

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!

Meatless Monday: Pomegranate Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Hello Darlings!

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: 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!

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: Shaved Asparagus Salad

Hello Darlings!

While I love salads, I do admit that I tend to get bored of them rather easily. I constantly change toppings, but I rarely stray from the baby spinach I use as a base. So its fun when I decide to pop outside the box for a bit and change it up. I did just that by shaving raw asparagus into ribbons, and topped the veggies with some of my usual garnishes. The best thing about this “recipe” is that it really is more of a guideline- like something? Add more. Dislike something else? Reduce it!

Three Ingredient Vegan Hot Chocolate

Hello Darlings!

While I’m not vegan (I tried, the lack of cheese was my downfall) I do enjoy vegan recipes! Especially when the recipes are substitutes for milk, which I am not particularly fond of. I set out to create a hot chocolate recipe that didn’t call for much sugar, mainly because I’ve been overloaded with holiday sweets, yet didn’t have the slightly bitter taste of pure cocoa powder. Almond milk to the rescue! The slight sweetness made up for the lack of additional sugar and a pop of vanilla give it the extra depth it needed. These three ingredients together stirred with a candy cane made for a delicious hot chocolate that is perfect for curling up with on a cold winter’s day!

Traditional Medicinals Winter Wellness Kit Review and Giveaway (Closed)

Hello Darlings!

If you’ve been following me for a while you may have noticed that I am rather obsessed with tea. We’re talking obsessed to the point that I have an entire cabinet full of just tea and four very large teapots in a one-bedroom apartment, obsessed. So when the darlings at Traditional Medicinals reached out about their Winter Wellness Kit I was undoubtedly excited- a fabulous brand and a chance to try three of their teas and share them with you all? Yes please.

Meatless Monday: Three Ingredient Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Hello Darlings!

I love cranberry season. When the gorgeous deep red berries start popping up in produce aisles you know that the holidays are just around the corner. Cranberries are so multifaceted in the autumn and winter they make it in to both my menus and my decorating- you really can’t go wrong with homemade cranberry sauce and strands of popcorn and cranberries decorating the tree. However, knowing that I am rather partial to anything delicious I thought I would share my super simple, three-ingredient (four if you count water, but I don’t!) cranberry sauce recipe. Simple and quick, you really can’t beat some homemade cranberry sauce to top off a winter meal.

Meatless Monday: Fall Spice Nut Butter by Better With Veggies

Hello Darlings!

So, my (more than) slight obsession with nut butter continues! When I submitted my Autumn Spice Almond Butter recipe to the MMAZ linkup I noticed that Heather from Better With Veggies had created a nut butter, with almonds. And cashews. And PUMPKIN. And MAPLE SYRUP. Cue the happy dance! I knew I had to try it! The recipe is just as easy to make as any typical almond butter, just with a few more ingredients. Make sure you check out her site to grab the recipe!

The maple syrup and cocoa powder bring an incredible richness that brings a dessert-like quality to the nut butter. I may have been eating it with my fingers out of the food processor, (quite hygienic, I know) it really is that good! I will definitely be using this recipe to spice up some fall treats, squash comes to mind, as the days grow colder and I need a bit of not-so-naughty sweetness to brighten up a dark evening!