Vanilla Pumpkin Pie Shake

This recipe came about this week all by accident. I was working on a warm pumpkin spice type warm drink recipe (that still needs some work by the way) and I had some leftover pumpkin that needed using. So the next morning I make this for breakfast.

I tasted and thought, "Wow that's pretty good!" Then the kids came to try and all said that it was very yummy. So I wrote down what I did and the next day (still having a bit more pumpkin leftover) I tried the same thing again just to be sure we really did like it. And sure enough we liked it well enough to post.

So I hurried and snapped some pictures before it was gone and I'm already sharing it with you today because it's so easy to make, very yummy and of course healthy!

Vanilla Pumpkin Pie Shake

3 cups almond milk (less if you like a thicker shake)
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 Tablespoon coconut oil
1 heaping scoop GSG vanilla protein powder
1 frozen banana
1/2 cup crushed ice

Place all ingredients into blender. Blend until smooth and enjoy.

My Weekly Meal Plan

My Weekly Meal Plan

Monday:
Vegetables and Garlic Sauce

Tuesday:
Cauliflower and Curry Soup

Wednesday:
Super Food Bowls

Thursday:
Spicy Italian Spaghetti

Friday:
Chilaquiles

Saturday:
Leftovers

Sunday:
Sweet Potato and Chickpea Curry 

You were born to create!

I have to admit that I tend to be a do it yourself junkie. I love making not only food from scratch but pretty much anything within reason.

I'm not sure what it is. I know when it come to food it's because I want to know what it is that I'm eating and the best way to know is to put all the ingredients in yourself. So it's the health nut in me that makes her own Ranch Dressing Mix, Taco Seasoning etc. etc. etc.

Plus food made from scratch just tastes better......I think it's the extra love that's mixed in! ;)

But I also love making my own lip balms, skin cream, herbal remedies and pretty much anything else I think I could make for A LOT less money then I could buy it. And again if I'm going to eat it or put it on my skin I would really like to know what is in it.

But guess what I started putting other things that I thought where more important ahead of what I enjoy and although it's good to have a balance and do what's needed.....I got myself to a point of burnout and honestly, although I haven't talked about it much (I will more in the future) the past few years NOTHING has seemed fun or exciting.

I have kind of felt like I was just existing......almost to the point of numb. I think just all the stresses of life just caught up with me. And the worst part was I didn't take the time to notice soon enough to refill my bucket.

It's been a long road but I'm starting to get a handle on why the constant overwhelm and I have realized that a huge part of it has been that I haven't been taking enough time focusing on things that I love.....things that bring me excitement.

The past few years I haven't read near as many books as I used too. I have very rarely got out my crochet hooks. I love creating things with yarn. I have also found myself putting off making things like lip balm until the last possible moment but then when I would take the time to make them I found such a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment that I wondered why I hadn't just done it sooner.

My point is I think being children of God makes us by our very nature beings that love to create. The times when life seems most overwhelming for me are the times when I think that I'm too busy to spend a little time creating something.

For the past few months I have been trying to be more intentional about having times of creativity throughout my week. (Along with extra time for prayer and meditation.) I really feel like it's helping to take away the overwhelm and consequential numbness that has followed.

I spent too long in survival mode but now I am climbing back out and I hope to share more of my experience as time goes on. In the mean time.....I have already grabbed  The Ultimate DIY Bundle for myself because I know creating something is part of what fuels me.

It's part of what fuels you too! Why don't you give it a try? You were born to create!

Pickled Beets, Revisited

It seems that beets aren't always a favorite with a lot of people. Maybe it's the fact that everything they touch turns red, pink or purple......but I have always loved beets! Maybe it's because my first meeting with them was in the pickled form that my Grandma would always make.

When I met Ryan I would try to get him to taste beets but he wanted none of them. I would tell him that they had to be super healthy with that deep of a color and full of lots of vitamins. I would later learn how truly healthy they really are and what a powerful blood cleanser that they where too.

I did convince him to let me plant them in the garden years ago since he did like steamed beet greens. It has taken us a few years but we have gotten pretty good at growing a good crop of beets. And early on I started pickling them. Eventually I convinced Ryan to try them on a salad and now like just last night he was sticking his fork in the jar at the table and just eating them plain!

After eating a few and saying how much he loves pickled beets I asked him if he remembered how hard I had to try to get him to just taste them. He then said that, "There are a lot of things that he enjoys eating now that he didn't think he liked back in the day." I'm just glad he enjoys them now!

In fact it was his idea to try roasting them this year with other root veggies and it is now one of our favorite fall/winter dishes! I just want to give a big thank you to all those husbands (especially mine) with open minded taste buds! ;)

For my original "Grandma's Pickled Beets Made Healthier" post click here.

Grandma's Pickled Beets Made Healthier

3 gallon bags of raw beets with leaves cut off

2 teaspoons allspice

3 teaspoons cinnamon

1 1/2 teaspoons whole cloves

3 cups raw apple cider vinegar

3 cups water

4-6 cups Sucanat

2 1/2 teaspoons Real Salt

Cut the bottom tail and top stem off beets and cut in half or quarter depending on size of beet. In very large pot boil beets until tender then drain (I usually save the water and put it in the fridge and add to smoothies, keeps for a week or more)

Place the beets in cold water then peel by using a knife and slipping the skins off. (Some came off easier then others.)  See my "Can't Beet the Harvest" post for more about peeling and canning beets.

Cut the beets into medium sized chunks.

While beets are cooking, tie spices except for salt, into a spice bag or piece of cotton cloth. 

In a medium large pot add the water, salt and vinegar. Place bag of spices into brine and bring to a low simmer for about 10 minutes.

In clean quart jars fill a quarter of the way with brine and then fill with the cooked and peeled beets. Add more brine to the first lip on the jar leaving about an inch to 2 inches of room at the top being sure the beets are covered.

Clean rims of jars and add sterilized lids and rings to jars. Be sure rings are on tightly place in water bath canner with water covering jars by about an inch. Bring to a boil and let boil for 10-15 minutes then remove from pot with jar lifter and let cool. Be sure all lids have sealed before storing on shelves. In the event that a lit does not seal keep that jar in fridge.

Makes about 7-8 quart jars.

My Weekly Meal Plan

I am pretty much in hibernation mode lately. I am doing lots more reading than usual and if the sun does manage to peek out for a few hours I love to take my book outside and catch some rays. (As long as it's not too cold of course!;)

Also with that I'm noticing that I haven't been taking pictures really at all. I did get the Instagram app on my phone though finally so maybe I will post there a bit more if I can remind myself.....I'm one of those people who does NOT carry my phone with me everywhere so I will have to get intentional about posting. You can Follow me on Instagram here and see how I do.

We did get out this weekend and take the family down to a homeschool conference. I think the kids had a good time and where inspired! Ry and I have gotten to where we feel like we could be teaching many of the classes....not trying to brag we are just realizing that we are not new to this anymore and are now considered "experienced" homeschoolers. We still had a great time together and did learn a few fun and interesting things.





I listened to the replay of the first Mastermind Yoga class this morning from Stay at Home Yoga. (It's not to late to start!) I am excited to go through this class again and improve my posture and work even further on resetting my bad habits and turning them into correct posture habits that come automatically. I love Jen's slow and simple approach that is totally doable!

My Weekly Meal Plan

Monday:
Sukiyaki

Tuesday:
Chili Cheese Fries

Wednesday:
Stir Fry with Quinoa

Thursday:
Curried Cauliflower with Sweet Potato and Black Beans

Friday:
Roasted Roots

Saturday: 
Leftovers

Sunday:
Lentil Soup

My Weekly Meal Plan

It's been kind of a recoup, reset type week for me. I have slowed down and enjoyed more reading. I have also pondered and thought about things I want to be doing differently this year.

Spent most every afternoon last week soaking up some sunshine and watching the kids roller blade. Since our January weather has been unseasonably warm! (I'll take it) Maybe one day I'll learn to roller blade or at least get me some roller skates. I used to love to roller skate as a kid. ;)

I did manage to pickle the last of our beets from our garden that I have been storing in the basement fridge since fall. One thing I love about beets is how long they will keep for. I just ran out of time and steam to get everything done in the fall but they patiently waited until I was ready. I was able to bottle 8 more quarts to add to our food storage now nothing will go to waste. I did freeze a few for my beet smoothies too.

I changed the recipe a bit and didn't use agave this time I will post an updated recipe soon.....ish. ;)



I'm looking forward to starting another round of my Stay at Home Yoga 6 Week Mastermind & Body Program on the 18th. I learned so much in the fall but need to continue to improve my posture habits and Jen makes it so easy!

Ryan had a busy week and went North for a couple of days then went with my Dad to Vegas to pick up a truck for work the same one he went to Arizona to look at.

Then he took our boys along with the rest of the scouts and leaders on a planning retreat at a cabin in the mountains. The girls and I enjoyed girl time and looking back at old home videos. It was lots of fun.

My Weekly Meal Plan

Monday:
Mushroom Stroganoff

Tuesday:
Indian Tacos

Wednesday:
Smothered Chimmichungas

Thursday:
Minestrone Soup

Friday:
Sweet Potato and Mango Tacos (pictured above)

Saturday:
Leftovers

Sunday:
Crock Pot Lasagna

My Weekly Meal Plan

Last week we enjoyed more snow and went to Carbon County to spend New Years with some very wonderful friends there! As usual the visit was not near long enough but it was so good to see them.

Back at home we quickly took down, cleaned up and purged our Christmas decor.....then tried cleaning just a little deeper than usual.  I'm not sure what it is but something about cleaning up after the holidays spurs me to want to deep clean and organize just a bit more. It happens most every year but don't worry I never take it too far. ;)

Recommitting just a bit to be more scheduled and spend spend more one on one time with my children has taken up the majority of my "New Years Resolution" thoughts. Along with one word... TODAY. I tend to be one who can at times find it hard to just be totally present.

So this year I'm going to take more time to just think about today and what needs doing at each moment. As I'm sure you know by now I am one that tends to get very easily overwhelmed and my mind loves to race with all the many things I think I need to be accomplishing over then next weeks, months and even sometimes years......That the weight of it all becomes unbearable.

So I have been learning and feel the need to focus on just each day at hand and learn to tackle TODAY well and let go of things that cause me to feel crushed.

Of course I always have a few health goals in mind and my very favorite one involves more movement and flexibility both in body and mind.



I have been meaning to tell you for a while now about how much I have been loving my membership to Stay at Home Yoga. I have mentioned it lots to my real life friends but somehow it has slipped my mind to share it here.

But now is the perfect time because Jen over at Stay at Home Yoga is getting ready to start up another one of her 6 week Mastermind and Body Programs starting on January 18th. I participated in her last one in the Fall and learned so much. I love her simple and peaceful way.

My membership not only gives me access to all the Mastermind and Body Programs she offers but all the classes, podcasts, live classes, videos, etc. and she has up on her site and ones she will post in the future. I have been taking her advise to move more in general and also taking the time to do a full yoga class 2-3 times per week.



I cannot tell you the difference this has made for me not only physically but since relaxation is an important part of yoga it seems to be doing wonders for my racing mind to practice the art of learning to quiet it and take a little time to deeply relax and rejuvenate in that way. Such a simple thing but I think many of us don't realize how very burnt out we are until we spend a little time to actually renew and feel the difference.

I am very much looking forward to learning more in this next Mastermind and Body Program and highly recommend that if any of you are feeling frazzled and a bit burnt out that this is a perfect non-overwhelming simple way to start to turn that around. I just can't recommend it enough and feel that it has been Heaven sent.

My Weekly Meal Plan

Monday:
Quinoa and Sweet Potato Grilled Wrap

Tuesday:
Split Pea Soup

Wednesday:
Sweet Potato and Chick Pea Curry

Thursday:
Spanish Lentil Soup

Friday:
Tacos (pictured above)

Saturday:
Leftovers

Sunday:
Veggie Pot Pie

A little last minute info!

This is all very much last minute but I wanted be sure to let you in on some of this info before it's too late. With the New Year now here some or all of these may be just what you are looking for.

Yes I am an affiliate with some (but not all) of these programs and will make a little commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase through my links. For that I thank you for your support. Please know though that I am very committed to only sharing things that interest me and that I plan to use or have used and tried myself. I think of my readers like I do my good friends and I try very much to treat you as such.

I hope your New Year is off to a wonderful start!

Green Smoothie Girl does this live detox a few times a year and the next live one starts tomorrow! You can just buy the manual and do it on your own but you are much more likely to succeed with the added help and support. This isn't a basic little cleanse it's an all out detox that systematically tackles the different areas of your body and cleanses it. Robyn has done her research and knows her stuff perfect if you are ready for some serious cleansing!

I am not super familiar yet with all Vintage Remedies has to offer but I have done a few small classes and have been following the blog for a while now and I really like what is offered here. Great for the beginning or advanced herbalist who wants to keep on learning. I love all things herbs and my favorite thing after using them is learning more about them. Their end of year sale is still going on but it ends tonight so don't wait!

Also be sure to check out their FREE 8 Weeks of Real Food....it started yesterday but I'm sure you can still sign up. I got the first email and it is fun and informative giving ideas and recipes for healthy drinks to replace things like soda etc.

I have been following Tiffany over at Don't Waste the Crumbs ever since I fell in love with her High Protein No Powder ebook. I have been fascinated by how little money she spends on healthy meals for her family. We are pretty frugal around here but she has inspired me to be even more so and shows that it can be done. She does feed her family more animal products then we do but the principles and her system will still be the same and when trying it out I found her meals easy to adjust, substitute or leave out what we use instead. Check it out it may be a great fit for you and your family. Special introductory price ends on January 5th! 

I have really enjoyed the blog Beauty that Moves for I while now. I find it very inspiring especially the posts this week in my kitchen. I have also felt like winters get really long, dark and cold for me and maybe even a little SAD at times. So this year I have decided to participate in Heather's Hibernate program and see if it can help me with my winter blahs. It starts January 12th and I'm looking forward to it! Maybe I'll "see" you there!