A Late 2016 In Review

A little (late) 2016 in review. This was the year that I really returned to myself and started to focus on my interests and passions. I found myself diving into the world of essential oils, something that I had been putting off for years out of fear of the unknown and the cost of investment.

What I didn’t realize back in January 2016 when I took the plunge was that I was investing in myself. Investing in my health and wellbeing as well as my families. This spiraled into me focusing on other passions such as my health coaching that had taken a backseat to motherhood and life. It also had me expanding my health coaching into essential oil education.

Additionally, I have felt empowered to focus more on my partner and love of my life and together we found a babysitter whom we love and we have a date night at least twice per month but usually three times.

Along with more focused time with my partner we spent the year really focusing on quality time with our kids exploring Portland and the PNW.

I have devoted more time and effort to my relationship with friends and have found myself surrounded by a group of really amazing people. People whom I have come to respect, love and whom I can rely on for support.

While this isn’t to paint a perfect picture, because things are by no means perfect, it is to say that when you take the time to follow your interests, explore new things and rededicate yourself to the things/ones you love life can be so much richer.

So cheers to 2016 and I look forward to what 2017 has to bring (especially this babe who will be joining us in June). 

What are some of the highlights from you 2016? 

CURRENTLY.

Doing: Cleaning. Call it early nesting or just an a lack of keeping up on household chores but I feel like I spend most of my time purging and cleaning our house. We have a tiny house and with two kids I feel like we just keep accumulating more things without letting go of things. I recently went through boxes of kids clothes and shoes that I had been holding on to simple out of laziness. Finally I set up a consignment appointment and was able to get rid of a bunch of things and the remainder is being donated along with a massive amount of my old clothes that are either too worn or I just know I won’t be wearing in the near future when considering pregnancy and postpartum time. 

I must be doing other things than cleaning though right? I have a really great and FREE Essential Oils for Pregnancy, Postpartum and Babies that starts next week (pssst there is still time to join us) and I am working on a Spring Detox starting the first week of April – I’ll share more when I create the group. 

In other ‘doing’ news we went to Seattle for Neil’s birthday at the start of January and then we went to Vermont to visit family at the end of January. As for February the month just flew by and was mostly spent catching up on life after the holidays and all the snow that literally shut down Portland. 

Thinking about: I am constantly thinking about all the things I want to get done before this baby arrives. I’m also thinking about what we need for when this baby arrives because after Alder was born we had decided on having no more children so we sold everything and now all we have is a carseat and a few swaddle blankets. I know babies don’t need a lot but for us we would like to get a nice reclining rocking chair, a bassinet, a new stock of cloth diapers and eventually we will need to figure out clothes for this baby. I (of course) want a new wrap and ring sling – what can I say it’s the babywearing educator in me and knowing that I will be wearing this baby most of the time. Comment below if you have suggestions for newborn products. 

Watching:  Moana. We took the kids to see Moana as their first theater movie when we were in Vermont and since then we have been watching it at home at least every twice per week and when we aren’t we are listening to the soundtrack. I have to say I would watch this movie and listen to the soundtrack even if we didn’t have littles – it is just so good. I also re-watched/finished Haven on Netflix and Neil and I have been watching Top Chef and This is Us on the weekends. What have you been watching? Any suggestions? 

Looking forward to: I am looking forward to this weekend. We have no major plans except Edith’s ballet class and doing a big declutter dump, recycle and donation drop off. Otherwise we are just enjoying the weekend and I’m hoping I can get a bit more organizing done and some work. I am also looking forward to having a mama’s night out to see Matilda at Keller Auditorium. Apparently it is “The best musical since The Lion King” according to TIME Magazine. I have seen broadway production of The Lion King and it was pretty amazing so I am hoping that this lives up to TIME Magazines claim. For those of you who are in Portland the show is running 2/28-03/05 if you want to check it out for yourself. 

Reading: I have been reading Essential Oils for Pregnancy, Birth & Babies by Stephanie Fritz aka The Essential Midwife. This book has been one of the resources for my upcoming class series and I have been reading it for my own pregnancy since this is my first really using essential oils. Otherwise my reading has been limited to kids books but I am taking suggestions if you have any.

Loving: Hu Chocolate that I buy off Thrive Market because it is the best deal and the best chocolate I have ever had.I could probably do an entire post on my favorite food items right now – would that be of interest to you? Not food related I have been loving my snoogle and eye mask because without them I don’t think I could sleep. Urban Oreganics Baby Balm that Neil got be for Christmas. This baby balm is wonderful for babies but also expecting mamas and really anyone who could use a really wonderful moisturizing balm. I use mine on my stomach post-shower to help with stretch marks and to soothe my itchy belly.  

What are you currently doing, thinking about, watching, looking forward to, reading and/or loving?

As always this post is inspired by Sometimes Sweet.

Easy No Bake Granola Bars | Graceland Fruit

This easy granola bar recipe is a sponsored post brought to you by Graceland Fruit.
graceland-fruit-1Who is ready for a new EASY recipe? Well I finally have one for you. Life has been crazy lately so my time in the kitchen has been all about quick and easy while still being healthy.

My entire family is all about snacking and having easy to grab foods for on the go whether it’s work, a playdate, post swim lessons or a fun family outing. While we love to grab fresh fruit because honestly what could be easier but we love to have something that isn’t just fruit. That is why I am just loving these new bars.

graceland-fruit-9

They are…

EASY
QUICK
HEALTHY
NO-BAKE
INCREDIBLY DELICIOUS

Easy No Bake Granola Bars
Quick and Easy Granola Bars
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Ingredients
  1. 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
  2. 2 cups crushed pretzels
  3. 1/2 cup dried cherries
  4. 1/2 cup dried blueberries
  5. 1/2 cup mini dark chocolate chips
  6. 1 cup unsweetened peanut butter
  7. 1/2 cup brown rice syrup
  8. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. Combine the oats, pretzels, dried fruit and chocolate chips and mix.
  2. Add the peanut butter, brown rice syrup and vanilla extract; mix until fully combined.
  3. Pour the granola mix into a lined baking dish and press down into one even layer.
  4. Pop in the freezer for 30-45 minutes.
  5. Remove and cut into bars, wrap each individual bar and return to the freezer.
  6. They are now ready to grab-and-go whenever you are feeling hungry.
Naturally Lindsay https://www.naturallylindsay.com/
How easy was that recipe? I really love the addition of Graceland Fruit dried blueberries and cherries but you can easily customize these bars based on what you have on hand. These bars would be great with nuts and seeds or even swap the peanut butter for your other favorite nut or seed butter. 

You could also form the mix into little balls instead of bars. They also travel really well. Grab them from the freezer and toss in a lunch bag and go. Quick, easy and delicious! 

What is your favorite granola bar combination?

Graceland Fruit makes packages of dried cherries, cranberries, and blueberries and is now available on the West Coast at Fred Meyer and QFC stores.