Currently 10.26.17

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The last time I shared a Currently was February(!!) I would say life has changed a lot since then so maybe it’s time for an update? If you are following me on Instagram you know life is a bit crazy…err challenging but we can chat more about that in a different post. Today let’s catch up on our normal currently topics and make share yours below! 

Doing: My days consist of lots of nursing and making sure that my two older kids don’t get terribly injured. I am finding that my days are full but at the same time I am not getting enough cleaning/laundry done, enough workouts in (or any), spending enough time on bettering myself, blogging enough ….the list could go on and on. But as I write this I wonder what is enough? Maybe it’s time I sit with that and figure out what enough means to me. 

Eating: I am eating a mix of super amazing and healthy meals such as this one, this one and this one and then a whole bunch of crap. This is me calling myself out on my horrible eating and sharing that Monday starts my goal to eat more of these and less of these. 

Watching:  I have been re-watching Grey’s Anatomy again because I am one of those people who loves to re-watch shows over and over. I also just finished watching Manhunt (Netflix) with Neil and if you haven’t seen it yet you should go and watch it now. Neil and I are now on to watching This Is Us and Designated Survivor most weeks. 

Looking forward to: This weekend because I am going to clean the heck out of our house AND I am going to the chiropractor! It’s really the little things these days that make me happy. I also plan on cleaning the fridge and doing a big meal prep. I know I am wild!

Reading: I have been reading The Danish Way of Parenting* and this is a good reminder that I need to spend sometime this weekend reading more of it. If you are looking for a gentle perspective on parenting this is a great book to read! 

Loving: I am just loving all the colorful leaves. Fall is my favorite time of year and while the PNW doesn’t have the crisp Fall air that I hold so close to my heart from my New England childhood…or rather the first 27+ years of my life there are a ton of pretty leaves out right now. 

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

As always this post is inspired by Sometimes Sweet.

SAHM Diaries | What I Do All Day

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A few weeks back I was watching Jane’s instastories and she shared how instead of making a to-do list she decided to write down all the tasks she did each day. I thought this was such an interesting approach because as a stay-at-home parent there are many days where I feel that I never cross anything off my to-do list and end my day feeling like a bit of a failure. So I took Jane’s lead and decided to write down everything I did in an entire day but I took it one step further to basically include almost everything. Since I am a mama of a new baby I included nursing sessions because while those are nice to do they can often feel like tasks and like my life revolves around nursing*. 

Monday September 25, 2017- start time 6am

– nurse
– package up some mail to ship out
– make breakfast for myself
– nurse
– get my littles ready for the day
– coffee shop and consignment shop date with my littles
– emptied dishwasher
– hand washed a load of dishes
– removed everything from the fridge to clean, organize and declutter to take photos for this sneak peek into our fridge.
– nurse
– cook lunch
– read books with littles
– nurse
– attempt to do a barre3 workout…..but instead nurse some more
– quite time over/prepare snack for littles
– nurse
– check emails
– nurse
– put beans in instant pot for dinner
– nurse
– re-heat coffee for 5th time and play with littles
– nurse
– cook dinner
– nurse
– eat dinner
– nurse
– eat ice cream and watch gilmore girls
– nurse
– catch up on YouTube ….
– nurse
– take a shower
– nurse

11pm go to bed.

This whole process was pretty eye opening in that I honestly didn’t realize just how much I actually do in a day. While I don’t often get all my tasks done for the day I am almost constantly doing something with a few moments here in there to take a break to eat and/or relax. My days will continue to change as Ingrid gets bigger and I would say just shy of a month later our Monday’s are already a bit different. 

The reality is being a SAHM/WAHM is not a walk in the park. We don’t just sit around and do nothing all day. Most days are spent cooking, cleaning, facilitating learning (led by our children), driving places, mediating and doing a whole lot of loving. 

*This list was made right around Ingrid’s 3-month growth spurt which is why there is so much nursing. 

It’s Portland Veg Week 2017 + VegFest!

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year…It’s time for Portland VegFest!
 
We have been every year since we moved here back in 2013 and we always have a blast listening to speakers and trying as many samples as our stomachs will allow. However, I think that this year might just be the best one yet. The line up of speakers this year is one of the best with Jenny Brown Co-Founder of the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, Scott Jurek an incredible ultrarunner and author of Eat and Run and Genesis Butler who is an inspiring 10 year old activist and even has her own TED Talk.  
 
The full lineup is here: https://nwveg.org/vegfest-program-2017.
 

VegFest 2017

 
Of course one of the best things about VegFest is trying all the vegan food options that are out there. I love having the opportunity to find new foods and to sample ones that I have been curious before I buy them – also many of these vendors have special pricing for VegFest so bring your cash. Some of the vendors I’m excited about include LightLife, Miyoko’s, NU Culture, and Toby’s/Genesis. 
 
Here is a link to all of our sponsors and exhibitors: https://nwveg.org/vegfest-sponsors-exhibitors-201
 

VegFest 2015

 
Hope to see you at VegFest! 
 
Disclaimer: Neil and I were provided with weekend passes for VegFest in exchange for sharing about the event. 
 

[Recipe] Screw The Food Rules – Eat The Veggie Dogs

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This post was created in collaboration with Lightlife.

When it comes to eating I don’t have any major “rules”. I prefer to eat foods that are nutrient dense and nourish my body but there are times when I like to enjoy some pizza, fried foods and the occasional sweet. If you’re looking for nourishing bowl inspiration I post a new one on my Instagram or IG stories most days but if you are looking for something that is delicious but not so healthy read on.

When I was a kid growing up in Vermont (and not plant-based) we used to go to a spot called Charlie’s Red Hots. They had this hot dog that was basically the Vermont version of a Michigan dog. To be honest I don’t remember what it taste like 20+ years later but I thought I would go ahead and attempt to recreate this legendary hot dog but make it a bit healthier and plant-based. Of course it would only be appropriate to make this dog when my parents where in town to give it a try.

Lindsay's Red Hots Dog
The vegan version of the legendary Charlie's Red Hots
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Ingredients
  1. 1 package of Lightlife Veggie Dogs
  2. 1 package of Hot Dog Buns (New England style if you can)
Sauce
  1. 1 tsp Chili Powder
  2. 1 Medium Onion, diced
  3. 1 package Veggie Ground Round
  4. 2 tsp Garlic Powder
  5. 1/2 a cube of Not-Beef Boullion
  6. 1 cup water
  7. 1 tbsp vegan Worcestershire Sauce
  8. ½ tsp Cayenne Pepper
Condiments (optional)
  1. Yellow Mustard
  2. Dijon Mustard
  3. Ketchup
For the Sauce
  1. Saute onions over medium-high in a bit of oil until translucent.
  2. Stir in one package of veggie ground round and add all remaining ingredients.
  3. Cook over medium until heated through and thickened.
  4. Heat veggie dogs per package directions.
  5. Toast your bun, add a veggie dog and top with sauce. Add on some yellow mustard (optional).
Adapted from Based of Original Charlie's Red Hots Recipe
Adapted from Based of Original Charlie's Red Hots Recipe
Naturally Lindsay https://www.naturallylindsay.com/
These dogs would be great for Fall camping trips or tailgating; simply make the sauce ahead of time and heat up when ready to eat. We enjoyed ours during a rainy trip to the Oregon Coast.

Okay, but lets get to it how were they? They were so delicious! Although they would have been better with a New England hot dog bun but the West Coast just doesn’t seem to stock the best kind of hot dog buns. Also these are best enjoyed with a great Vermont beer.

What did my meat eating, Charlie’s Red Hots loving parents think? Well as soon as my mom got home to Vermont she sent about 12 text messages desperately requesting that I get this recipe post live so they could make the sauce at home.

What is a food from your childhood that you love to recreate at home?

Psst: If you need a great place to stay on the Oregon Coast my friend Lisa’s #beachvibescottage is perfect– you can find it on airbnb plus use this affiliate link and get $40 to travel.

10 Pantry Must Haves From Thrive Market

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While I would love for this post to be sponsored because my love for Thrive Market is more of an addiction it is NOT however if you’d like to save some $$ you can use my referral link and it helps me out.

Thrive Market Spices // I love the Thrive Market spices. While they are close in price to to the Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s brands I think the quality is superior. I personally love the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon and Italian seasoning. 

Braggs Nutritional Yeast //  This is a staple in our house and the price for the bottle is less than most grocery stores. I will say you can get nooch cheaper in bulk and that is the route I usually go but every so often I add one of these to my Thrive Market cart. 

Lundberg Short Grain Brown Rice // This is by far my favorite rice of all time. I love the quality, the taste and that it has some of the lowest arsenic levels (yes most all rice contains some level of arsenic – read more here). This is also one of the cheapest prices I have found for this rice that isn’t a sale or bulk. 

Native Forest Organic Coconut Milk //  I have tried so many different coconut milks and this one is my favorite by far. 

Annie Chun’s Pad Thai Brown Rice Noodles // Have you tried these? They are so good! I always have these on hand for quick and easy lunches and dinners. I use them to make salads, stir fry and add them to soups. 

Thrive Market Extra Virgin Olive Oil // I first tried this olive oil because it was a free with purchase item (a perk of Thrive is that they are constantly offering free product with a minimum purchase). I liked the olive oil so much that I continued to purchase it once I ran out of my free bottle. 

Thrive Market Beans // We eat so many beans in this house so we always have them on hand. There are a few varieties that I really enjoy and Thrive Market’s line is a new favorite of mine. 

Annie’s Naturals Dijon Mustard // I will happily declare this the best dijon mustard – ever. I can’t get enough of it so I am constantly ordering it because not only is it the best but this is the best price. I use this mustard on sandwiches, in sauces, in dressings and for dipping. 

Thrive Market Coconut Aminos // Thrive has a few coconut aminos options and I have tried them all and like them all but I tend to most often buy their brand. I love to use this in place of soy sauce or tamari. 

Thrive Market Sprouted Quinoa // I think you can’t be plant-based without having quinoa on hand at all times. 

Bonus:

Edison Grainery // Edison is a brand that I had no idea about until I ordered their red lentils off Thrive Market. Since then I have ordered their lentils and other beans and legumes countless times because they are the best. They also have the best gluten free pasta which unfortunately you can’t get on Thrive Market – hopefully they add it to the site soon! 

What are your pantry staples? 

Interested in giving Thrive Market a try? Save 25% and receive free shipping via my referral link! Thank you for supporting me, my family and my blog by using my link.

Loving Earth Chocolate Banana Bread Donuts

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Is it doughnuts or donuts? Whatever it is I love them. Powdered, cinnamon sugar, jelly filled, blueberry basil – I love them all. What I don’t love is the sugar hangover that they often give me so they are a treat that I have a few times a year, usually when we bring out of town guests to Blue Star Donuts.

But I have good news! Amazing news! Delicious news!

I have found a doughnut that tastes great, free of refined sugar and you can eat as many as you want without getting that awful sugar hangover. You might even call them healthy or at least healthier plus they are covered in some amazing chocolate that it is Loving Earth’s vegan chocolate bars are free of sugar, dairy, gluten and grain.

Banana Bread Donuts

Inspired by The Little Plantation 

Note: I used a scale to weigh my flour, sugar and chocolate chips based on the measurements from the original recipe. Pssst these doughnuts are also gluten free! 

Ingredients

FOR THE DONUTS

  • 185g gluten-free pastry flour (I used Jovial**)
  • ⅔ tsp baking powder
  • 75g coconut sugar
  • 35g vegan chocolate chips
  • 2 Tbsp coconut oil, melted (+ extra for greasing the doughnut tin)
  • 1.5 tablespoons ground flax seeds + 4.5 tablespoons water
  • 1.5 very ripe bananas, mashed
  • 1/3 cup vanilla vegan yogurt

FOR THE TOPPING

Method

  • Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease the circles of your doughnut pan with coconut oil and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients – the flour, baking powder and sugar until nicely combined. Add the chocolate chips and mix in well. Set aside.
  • combine the ground flax seeds with the water in a small bowl and let rest for 5 minutes.
  • Over a very low heat, melt the coconut oil.  
  • In a small bowl mix together the melted coconut oil, the mashed bananas, the yogurt and the water/flax seed mixture; stir to combine.
  • Add the wet ingredients to the bowl of dry ingredients and mix until just combined. 
  • Spoon the mixture into a piping bag and pipe circles of dough into the prepared doughnut pan. Spread evenly. Bake for 13 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
  • While the donuts are cooling, prepare the glaze by melting the chocolate in a double boiler or simply a bowl placed over a pan with water that’s been gently brought to the boil. Do not microwave the chocolate or it may burn.
  • Once the donuts have cooled down, dip them in the chocolate glaze and top with coconut chips.

I recommend eating these donuts right away or store them in the fridge. If you and/or your family is anything like me and mine these won’t last more than a day anyways.

Now I need to get my hands on some  Loving Earth Caramel Chocolate so I can make these Salted Caramel Donuts.

**Found on ThriveMarket.com – receive 25% off your first order via my link.