Balanced Life | The Clean Sweep | Pt. 1: Environment

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I have recently dived back into health coaching head first and am participating in the IIN immersion program for the 3rd time. While today marks the official start of the program we were provided with a few tasks last week to help us in preparing for immersion. One of the tasks is called The Clean Sweep which was developed by Thomas Leonard. 

So what is the clean sweep? 

Basically the thought is that when you feel balanced/perfect alignment in the four major parts of our lives, environment, well-being, money, and relationships, that we can be more natural energy.  “The Clean Sweep Program, created by Thomas Leonard, consists of 100 items which, when completed, give you the vitality and strength that you want.” You are to answer each of the 100 questions, 25 per category, as truthfully as possible and only answer YES if the statement is virtually always true. The end goal being that you will confidently answer YES to each answer. 

I started this Clean Sweep process years ago but sort of forgot all about it until recently. As I went through the questions this past weekend I thought it would be interesting to actually share my answers with you and to follow up every three-to-six months on how things are going. I guess you could say that these are a bunch of mini goals I have for myself for the next few years. 

So we’ll start of with Environment and i’ll preface this with saying I am not surprised by how many NO’s are in this category. 

  1. My personal files, papers and receipts are neatly filled away. NO. This seems to be a constant struggle at our house and I really want to figure out away to get it under control. 
  2. My car is in excellent condition. NO. I had to laugh when I read this one. Seriously? Who with a toddler and a baby has a perfectly clean car? 
  3. My home is neat and clean. NO. Hangs head in shame. 
  4. My appliances, machinery and equipment work well. YES.
  5. My clothes are all pressed, clean and make me look great. NO. This is another struggle I have had for years, or rather since getting pregnant with Edith. I am working on restocking my wardrobe with clothes that fit and make me feel great. As for laundry – 2 adults + 2 kids + cloth diapering = non-stop laundry. So maybe I’ll be able to answer YES to this when the kids move out? 
  6. My plants and animals are healthy. N/A. One must have plants and animals to properly answer this question. 
  7. My bed/bedroom lets me have the best sleep possible. NO.This is one of those grey area statements so I decided to go with NO. Our sleeping is less than ideal but we have two young children. 
  8. I live in a home that I love. (Big Fat) NO.
  9. I surround myself with beautiful things. NO. I am so sad to say no to this answer and I really wish we had more beautiful things or at least things that I think are beautiful. 
  10. I live in the geographic area of my choice. NO. Yes and no. I love living in the PNW and Portland area but the keyword right now is area. We need to move (back) to the neighborhood we love or somewhere near it #2016. 
  11. There is ample and healthy lighting around me. NO.
  12. I consistently have adequate time, space and freedom in my life. HAHAHAHAHA. NO.
  13. I am not damaged by my environment. NO. So I said no to this one because not loving our home, neighborhood and just feeling blah makes me feel a bit damaged. 
  14. I am not tolerating anything about my home or work environment. NO. ALL I AM DOING IS TOLERATING.  
  15. My work environment is productive and inspiring. NO. We have failed at really putting our office area together #GOALS and right now it’s hard to be productive with babies hanging on you but instead of getting frustrated 90% of the time I embrace the time with them and try not to stress. 
  16. I recycle. YES.
  17. I use non-ozone depleting products. YES.
  18. My hair is the way I want it. YES. This took me years to actually say YES to but I finally am getting my hair done every six weeks! 
  19. I surround myself with music which makes my life more enjoyable. YES.This was one of my mini goals for March and whoot whoot I am succeeding. P.S. you can follow my March playlist over on Spotify. 
  20. My bed is made daily. NO. Umm….
  21. I don’t injure myself, fall or bump into things. NO. I found this statement strange but I guess I have to go with NO. 
  22. People feel comfortable in my home. NO. Ummm? I guess I would say NO just because I don’t always feel comfortable here? Would someone actually tell you? 
  23. I drink purified water. YES.
  24. I have nothing around the house or in storage that I do not need. NO. This is a huge goal of ours for 2015 – declutter and not just declutter but minimize our things. 
  25. I am consistently early or easily on time.  NO. I miss being able to answer YES to this statement. 

Total: 18 NO. 5 YES. 1 N/A.

This section of The Clean Sweep is pretty soul crushing actually. After completing it I was like so much to do to turn these NO’s into YES’ and I really would like to have 80% of them be YES’ by the end of the year. I would say there will be a few big and little goals for April that stem out of these results. 

Have you/are you participating in The Clean Sweep? What are your results to this first category? Any surprises? 

Recipe | Celebratory Black Bean Soup (Panera Copycat)

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On March 9, 2015 our dear friends K. and J. welcomed their second baby girl into the world. To say we are over moon thrilled for them and big sister K. is an understatement. I am missing those squishy newborn days so I can’t wait to head on over today to finally meet baby L. (as I type this I’m wondering if they planned on sequential first initials…hmm? Anyways of course I am bringing over a new baby dish for them and yesterday afternoon I said wait a minute I should share this recipe with you all! 

Running With Tongs - Panera Dupe - Celebrate

So K., J. & little K. are lovers of Panera, specifically the black bean soup so I thought why not attempt a copycat of one of their favorite soups? I have to say it turned out delicious and I am planning to make it again soon for ourselves.

Running With Tongs - Black Bean Soup - Panera Dupe

Celebratory Black Bean Soup (Panera Copycat)
Serves 6
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Ingredients
  1. 2 Teaspoons Grapeseed Oil (or oil of your choice)
  2. 3-15oz Tins of Reduced Sodium Black Beans, drained
  3. 1 Medium Red Onion, diced
  4. 2 Large Carrots, diced
  5. 2 Celery Stalks, diced
  6. 1 Bell Pepper (Red, Yellow or Orange), diced
  7. 2 Garlic Cloves, minced
  8. 1 Teaspoon Ground Cumin
  9. 1 Teaspoon Onion Powder
  10. 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
  11. 2 Heaping Tablespoons Tomato Paste
  12. 1 Vegan Chikn Boullion Cube
  13. 2-3 Cups Water, depending on how thick/thin you'd like your soup
  14. 1 Teaspoon Umiboshi Plum Vinegar
Instructions
  1. Heat oil a heavy bottom pot over medium-high heat.
  2. Add onion, carrots, celery and bell pepper, sauté for 7-10 minutes until soft.
  3. Stir in the garlic and spices.
  4. Stir in the black beans (drained not rinsed), tomato paste, boullion and water.
  5. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce to medium-low to simmer for 20-30 minutes.
  6. (Optional) remove 1/2-3/4 cup of soup and puree until smooth; return to pot and stir.
  7. Stir in the vinegar and then season with salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
  1. You don't have to use umi vinegar but I recommend it. I use it in basically every soup and sauce that I make because it just makes such a difference. Don't believe me? Try your soup or sauce before adding and then stir it in and taste again- taste the difference?
Naturally Lindsay https://www.naturallylindsay.com/
I am pairing this soup with Beanitos aka my favorite corn-free tortilla chips, a Porter (beer) because L’s middle name is Porter, a session IPA (low alcohol for mum if she so desires), a dry soda and a batch of fresh lactation cookies and some for the freezer because who doesn’t prefer warm cookies straight from the oven and honestly it’s super easy to do. Hoping they enjoy this basket of goodies!

Running With Tongs - BabyMeal- Panera Dupe

Interested in more vegan recipe copycats? Let me know in the comments below!

What’s your favorite soup? I love a really good “cream” of tomato with crusty bread (obvs).

Giveaway | Caitlin’s Super Natural

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Caitlin's Super NaturalDeodorant’s are often classified as one of those TMI topics but let’s all be real for a moment we all perspire and unless you are one of the lucky ones most of us tend to start to stink without the use of deodorant. Since without deodorant  I personal start to smell a bit offensive I have to use it and I am always on the lookout for really great natural deodorants because for me it’s really important to use products that aren’t filled with heavy metals, chemicals and other toxic ingredients. The problem is that there aren’t a lot of natural deodorants that really do the job of warding off the offensive smell.

If you read my February favorites you know that I have been loving Caitlin’s Super Natural Deodorant. I talked all about why I love it so head on over to this post to read more because this post is all about how you can win this set of three deodorants yourself. First here are some reasons to love Caitlin’s Super Natural deodorants: 

Caitlin's Super Natural

Giveaway: One winner. Must be a US Resident. 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

P.S. Little Rock, AR friends you can now find Caitlin’s Super Natural at your local store! Friends who shop at Whole Foods if you’d like to see Caitlin’s Super Natural at your store then next time you’re in request that they sell it there! 

Disclaimer: Caitlin’s Super Natural sent me these three 2-oz samples to try. I was under no obligation to post a positive review and I received no further compensation. I simply love this deodorant and I am thrilled to share it with you. 

Recipe | Massaged Kale Salad With Creamy Cashew Dressing

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Massaged Kale Salad With Creamy Cashew Dressing | Running With Tongs
I go through phases where I binge on greens and then there are times when I want nothing to do with them. Right now I am just loving greens, all day, everyday. I think it’s in part due to Neil’s juice til dinner cleanse he did at the start of this week. It really forced me to re-think dinners and make them a bit healthier and when I think healthy I think greens. Now I’m hooked and it feels so good to be back. I used the kale and some of the potatoes and garlic from our organics box to make this salad. Side note I say that this salad serves 2 or it could even serve 3 as a side but in all honesty I ate the entire thing myself for lunch. Seriously so good.
Kale Salad With Creamy Cashew Dressing | Running With Tongs | Dressing Ingredients Kale Salad With Creamy Cashew Dressing | Running With Tongs | Sauced Kale Salad With Creamy Cashew Dressing | Running With Tongs | Massaged Kale Salad With Creamy Cashew Dressing | Running With Tongs | Closeup

Massaged Kale Salad With Creamy Cashew Dressing
Serves 2
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Dressing
  1. 1/3 cup nutritional yeast
  2. 1/3 cup cashew butter or cashews, soaked for at least 2 hours
  3. 1 small lemon, juiced
  4. 1 small clove of garlic, minced
  5. 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  6. 2 teaspoons while miso
  7. 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  8. 1/2 Tablespoon coconut aminos or low sodium soy sauce
  9. 1/4-1/2 cup water, depending on how thick you'd like the sauce
For Salad
  1. 1 bunch lacinato kale, de-stemmed and shredded
  2. 1lb new potatoes, diced and tossed with a drizzle of olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 375F.
  2. While oven is preheating place all of the sauce ingredients in the blender and process until smooth making sure to start with 1/4 cup of water and adding more if necessary/to your liking.
  3. Toss the potatoes with the olive oil and seasoning and place in the oven for 25-28 minutes.
  4. While the potatoes are roasted massage 1/4 cup of the dressing with the kale; I find it best to massage for at least a minute (more if you'd like) to help break down the kale. Let it marinate while your potatoes roast.
  5. Once potatoes are done toss them with the kale salad and plate.
  6. Drizzle salad with a little extra dressing, a squeeze of lemon juice and if you like a little spice a few chili flakes.
Notes
  1. You can substitute tahini for cashew butter or if you'd like you could substitute almond or peanut butter and add a bit of ginger and swap lime juice for lemon for more of an Asian inspired salad.
  2. Can't find lacinato kale? Try it with curly kale!
  3. Enjoy your food a bit saltier? Just swap the coconut aminos for tamari.
Naturally Lindsay https://www.naturallylindsay.com/
Kale Salad With Creamy Cashew Dressing | Running With Tongs | Munching Kale Salad With Creamy Cashew Dressing | Running With Tongs | Finished

Haul | Organics To You Box 3.2.15

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Organics To You Box 1Organics To You Box greens Organics To You Box veg box Organics To You Box baby add on Organics To You Box add onsOrganics To You Box mini meOrganics To You Box edith greens

Disclaimer: This is in no way a sponsored post. We purchase our weekly box with our own money and choose to share it with you just for fun.

It’s time for another organics delivery box haul! Back in January I blogged our first Organics To You box (see post here) of the year so I thought I might follow up with how things are going. First off Organics To You is a local Portland area organic produce subscription box that is delivered straight to your front door. They have a variety of different boxes based on your needs as well as additional produce and (limited) grocery items.

If you remember we started off with the small bin and baby add-on. Since then we have gone with the large bin but due to too much fruit (one can only eat so many pears, apples & kiwi) we skipped last week and this week went with the all veggie box  and the baby add-on. We also sometimes add grocery items to our order such as Papa G’s tofu or a bar of chocolate or loaf of bread; this week we went with blue corn tortillas and pinto beans.

This week we received in all veggie box ($36): 

  • 1# Tomatoes: Mex.
  • 4-5oz. Bulk Spinach: Local, farm direct
  • 2# Potatoes: Local, farm direct
  • 1 Bunch Spring Green Onions: Local, farm direct
  • 6oz. Shitaki Mushrooms: Local, farm direct
  • 1 Bunch Broccoli: Cali’
  • 1 Bunch Celery: Cali’
  • 1 Bunch Lacinato Kale: Cali’
  • 2 Yellow Onions: Local
  • 1 Garlic: Cali’
  • 8oz. Brussels Sprouts: Mex. Missing from our box and no substitute (contacted them)
  • 1# Beets: Local
  • 1# Rutabaga: Local

In our Baby Add-On ($15):

  • 1 Mango
  • 2 Pink Lady Apples
  • 2 Fuji Apples (both were super bruised – disappointed)
  • 4 Pears
  • 3 Kiwi
  • 6 Bananas
  • 2lbs Sweet Potatoes

Grocery Add-On’s ($9.50):

  • Blue Corn Tortillas
  • Pinto Beans

Overall I am mostly happy with your box this week with exception of brussels and apples. Hoping that maybe they will send replacements next week. 

Goal: Share recipes next week after I cook up these veggies!

Have you ever tried a produce delivery service? 

 

Let’s Be Honest | Training For A Race with 2 under 3

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Nike Run

I tell you I hate to write this post. I mean I don’t have to but I want to share with you that training for a race while having a baby and a toddler is a challenge. I had these grand ideas of getting back to running regularly (3-4x per week) but lately it’s been once per week. I have come to dread the double BOB because it just makes running that much harder and currently nights are a little rough with a baby who won’t be put down and wants to nurse all night long. Anyways these are simply excuses when you look at it but that’s what’s going on. 

It finally really hit me, not that I didn’t already know this, but I have a race in 10 weeks. 10 weeks!! That really isn’t that much time and since I have only been running once per week you could say I am a little behind. So here I am all dressed to run as soon as nap time is over because I committed to this race and now I am going to do it. 

The plan is to run three times per week and at least one of those be solo or with the single BOB (so much easier than the double). I know I might have to do a few treadmill runs this time around to fit my runs in but I am going to do it. This is me committing.Here is my updated race calendar and I am planning to check in week or bi-weekly regarding my status.The days might shift a bit each week depending on life but luckily with 7 days in a week I should be able to find time for 3 runs. Anyone else training for a race right now? Who wants to be accountability partners?

Screen Shot 2015-03-04 at 1.20.37 PM

 

February Favorites | Caitlin’s Supernatural, Gabriel Cosmetics, Manitoba Harvest

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Body Care Product
caitlin's super natura;Who else has been on the search for a really great natural deodorant? I have found you one. No seriously I have. I have tried I want to say 8+ kinds myself and Neil has tried a few himself and some have been okay, some have irritate my pits (no pretty way to say that) and most just don’t really work. While I have pretty much come to terms that natural deodorants won’t last as long as chemically filled ones I still want one that actually works. This is where Caitlin’s Supernatural comes in. 

Caitlin’s Supernatural deodorant comes in three scents lavender & currant, bergemamot & cypress and sandalwood & olive leaf. They are all vegan, cruelty free, organic, made from 100% botanical and sustainable ingredients. Also they are for both women and men so feel free to share them with your husband (I do!). I am partial to the lavender scent and Neil is loving the sandalwood but honestly we both use all of them. I also love that they don’t end up smelling a bit funky after awhile once they mix with your body chemistry like other natural spray deodorants I have tired – example the one that made me smell like I had just visited a cafe in Amsterdam. 

Neil and I have been wearing these for going on two months now and we both really love them and they actually work. I will spritz it on in the morning and I can chase two kids and go for a run and I am able to manage my stink no problem. I do find by the end of the day I need to reapply a bit but honestly depends on how active I have been that day. Neil who has a tendency to really get stinky (sorry lover) and finds himself turning back to more conventional deodorant at times has really found that this actually works for him. He does find it wears off him a bit quicker than he’d like but it has worked the best of any natural ones he has tried. So overall a winner for both of us. What is your favorite deodorant? 

Makeup Product
gcpaletteI have been making time to take care of myself more lately and I am working on getting a good skincare routine in order and also taking a little more interest in makeup. I would have to say currently my most used makeup palette is this beautiful one from Gabriel Cosmetics. I use this palette basically every day that I decide to wear makeup. 

This palette includes four neutral eyeshadows, a translucent powder and a blush; basically the perfect palette for someone getting into makeup. I use he translucent powder basically everyday to set my makeup and then I will either use all of the eyeshadows, my favorites being the two on the left, or a combination of these shadows with a few others that I have. I generally always use the color bone which is the top left eye shadow as as neutral base on my eyes. 

The only thing I haven’t been in love with is the blush but not because of the quality but just because it’s a little bit darker than I like wearing. I am not as much of a blush person as I am a bronzer and highlighter so I just don’t reach for it as often. 

For my gluten free and/or vegan friends this makeup is both and it is a mineral makeup. I have to say I have been experimenting a lot with mineral makeups and find that they usually can be a little more challenging to work with but I don’t find that with this one at all. Have you tried anything from Gabriel Cosmetics or their other brand ZuZu Luxe? I hear that the ZuZu Luxe liquid eyeliner is pretty amazing and it’s on my “to purchase” list right now. 
 
Book
tumblr_static_eleanorpark_thumbFor this month’s book club I was to pick a love story and ended up going with Eleanor & Park*. I picked this after a number of other bloggers recommended it and I honestly was as little skeptical. While I have enjoyed my share of young adult books they are usually more dystopian fiction. Anyways I have to say I LOVED this book. I don’t know what it was about the book but I couldn’t put it down and found myself going to bed early just so I could read it and I finished the book in about four days. 

The book is set in the 80’s and is about two awkward teens who end up being each other’s first love. Eleanor and Park meet on the bus and after weeks of sitting in silence they start to really take an interest in each other. They basically silently bond over comic books and eventually they actually talk and find themselves bonding over music as well. Time goes on and they begin to connect more and more and eventually they find themselves in this crazy state of first love fog. They encounter a number of challenges from Eleanor’s step-father to Park’s parents who find Eleanor a little odd but ultimately how their love for one another can overcome these obstacles.

I honestly don’t do well at describing books without giving everything away so I know I haven’t done this story justice. Anyways I think I was a bit of an awkward teen and I remember those feelings of your first “love” plus all of the music they were listening to in high school I was too. I also loved the ending of the story because well it wasn’t super predictable. I’ll leave you with that. Who else has read this book? This coming month I need to read a biography or rather this month I need to and I still haven’t picked one- help!! 

Food
hemp hearts pasta primavera

Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts.  I don’t know why but until last month it had been forever since I had picked up a bag of hemp hearts. I ended up receiving a trial sized bag via my Sweat Pink Ambassadorship and I also bought a small bag earlier in the month as well. Now we are eating them on everything and I need to buy a big bag when we do our next grocery shop. I sprinkle them over salads, soygurt and oatmeal. I also love them on avocado toast. Edith calls them sprinkles and insists on having “sprinkles” on her toast in the morning.

I also have been playing around with using hemp hearts in recipes including this recipe for Creamy Vegan Pasta Primavera. The “cream sauce” is just 1/4 cup hulled hemp hearts, 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast, 2 tablespoons rolled oats, juice of 1/2 a small lemon and 2-4 tablespoons of water; blended until smooth. I poured the sauce over sautéed leeks, zucchini, green beans, shiitake mushrooms and tomato that was seasoned with herbamere, garlic and black pepper. Lastly, I tossed with about two servings of einkorn pasta.

*affiliate link.

What are your February Favorites? 

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