I love fresh baked goodness. Especially when it’s sweet and tangy. I love that these muffins don’t require a lot of sugar and still taste delicious. Plus homemade always seems to taste better than the boxed mixes, maybe it’s because you get to put the …
This is definitely not a healthy recipe, but if you’ve been following me long, you know I’ve got a sweet tooth. If I’ve learned anything about my sweet tooth, it’s that if I deprive 100% it turns into a binge monster. What better to enjoy …
Exercise is life up in here. If I miss my workout, I tend to be grumpy, less patient, and if I miss it repetitively I tend to get a little depressed. There’s no secret that I’m a sweaty beast when I work out, my kids avoid post workout hugs like the plague. I had been using traditional deodorant and/or antiperspirant since I can remember, oh the high school days of sweating during gym class, not such a fond memory… I digress, the further I venture into becoming my healthiest self, the more I realize how many toxins are in things we use daily. Have I eliminated everything, no, but I’m trying to avoid the things where I can.
Enter…
After learning that antiperspirants block your sweat glands, and hearing that the aluminum used to do so has been linked to women who get breast cancer, getting it 15 years earlier than the women who didn’t use antiperspirants, I went on the hunt for a more natural deodorant. I had a little breast cancer scare a few years back, it ended up being nothing but it still scared me enough to make me want to be proactive instead of reactive with my health. Unfortunately the first glass slipper didn’t fit. So I thought I’d share with you my experience trying to find the best option for me.
Option 1: Nubian Heritage Coconut & Papaya 24 Hour Deodorant
I’ll be honest, I’m cheap, found this deodorant at Walmart. After spending an average of $4 on my old antiperspirant deodorant, paying double that was a bit of a shocker. I took a quick glance over of the ingredients and saw they used vegetable glycerine (be-still my vegan heart, though it doesn’t claim being vegan on the wrapper) but also that the shea butter is a fair trade ingredient. If you’ve never looked up fair trade, I’d encourage you to learn about it, not just for your sake but for your fellow man, woman and child.
I liked this deodorant for the first couple of days, especially the smell. It did the job a deodorant should do BUT my armpits didn’t like it. I started to get rashy and irritated skin. I’m guessing it’s because of the sodium stearate, fancy talk for baking soda. I used coconut oil and baking soda as a face wash for a while and had the same reaction. On to option 2.
Option 2: Nourish Organic Stick Deodorant, Almond Vanilla
I made sure to check the ingredients for sodium stearate and was in luck, this deodorant was even a little bit cheaper, about $6 a stick. Which was surprising because it seems like organic means spendy. I loved that they promote being vegan, cruelty free and chemical free. I used this deodorant for a few weeks before realizing the negatives. I worked hard to earn my Insanity shirt and I started seeing what looked to be stains in the armpits. {insert frowny face here} Thankfully I have a handy Fels-Naptha bar that works great for getting out oil stains. Also realized that I wasn’t feeling as fresh and deodorized as I should. Another stick bites the dust, onto option 3…
Option 3: Schmidt’s Rose + Vanilla Deodorant
I’m starting to see a pattern here, each of these deodorants has vanilla in them. Makes me think of the 90’s when Vanilla Fields perfume was popular, remember Sunflowers? That was my favorite. Any who, I was a little nervous trying this deodorant because it also has sodium stearate in it, you’d think I’d learn. I put a post out on FB in the Chicked Nation Group to see if anyone had a recommendation, this brand was the top, top, top choice. On a whim, we were at a natural foods store in Hood River, on our way to camp when I found some. Ten dollars, was a risk I was willing to take since Troy was paying for it, even though we pool our funds. Mind games at their finest. {Yes I’m rolling my eyes at myself.} But guess what…. Winner, winner, vegan dinner! I’m on pit stick number 2 of this same brand and I’m still loving it. Even though it uses coconut oil also, it’s not so much that it slicks on easy. A couple swipes and I’m good for the day and there’s no new pit stains. There must be a small enough amount of baking soda that it doesn’t bother me, I guess I’ll never really know. I’m just happy to have found something that works! Maybe next stick I’ll try a different flavor, who am I kidding, I’m a creature of habit. Although, they do have a holiday line. ♥O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree ♥
Want to know what’s in your deodorant or other cosmetics???
As I was hunting to learn more about ingredients in deodorant, I found this website called EGW’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database. It lists all sorts of make-ups, lotions, soaps, etc. and rates them. High risk or low risk. Check it out!
Week 3 of Me This week didn’t go 100% as planned but allowing flexibility in my routine has become important. It’s easy for me to become “obsessed” about not missing a workout. But I know that becoming obsessed over my workout results in a lack …
I don’t think I could ever get too much soup, it’s one of those things I could eat every day during the cold winter months. I’ve learned so much about the different benefits of eating beans and cabbage, garlic and onions, peas and lentils, and …
I’m learning to love pushing myself past my own expectations again. Boot camp at the gym was such a driving force before because I wanted to compete with whoever it was next to meet busting out push ups too. Having signed up for a Spartan Race again, maybe helping me want to push harder also. Only downside is my hand is bothering me again, makes push ups and burpees a little tough(er). I just do them on my fists instead of my palms though. Enough whining right, get onto the workout stuff!
Day 8: Total Body
One minute of Bosu burpees was good stuff! Basically you hold your Bosu ball through out the whole burpee process. Being in the plank with the Bosu ball worked the stabilizer muscles in my shoulders as I did the push up, soo good, and sooo needed! After this workout I also included some foam rolling to help loosed up my hip flexors and lower back. I’ll have to share a how to video on that soon.
Day 9: Chest & Back
I’m loving my TRX and Bosu time lately, only problem I’m starting to realize is that it’s hard to do the fly’s in my hallway. I ended up doing a Y shape instead of the traditional fly, still worked my targeted area, just a bit differently and other muscles also. I ended up having to play taxi so I ended up skipping the run, I’ll be including more running on next weeks schedule.
Day 10: Leg Day
Maybe all the burpees I’ve included is what has my hand acting up angry. After one round my legs were feeling this, I used weights when I did the sumo squat with the calf raise and my calves were finally sore.
Day 11: Core & Shoulders
My cardio of choice for today was to hop on the treadmill at 6.0 and run. I was out of breath! It’s funny the simplest movements, were actually the hardest ones today. My kids have been grossed out for days because of the sweat drops on my bench after doing the bunny hops. I have yet to wipe it down because if it keeps them off of it, I’d rather keep my equipment in good condition, wish I could say the same about my pull up bar. 🙁
Day 12: Arm Day
After last weeks lack of soreness, I pushed hard this time. You may want to skip this routine if you’re no looking for bulk in your arms, or at least use lighter weights. When doing different movements that target the same initial area you are creating cross tears in your muscle and making them larger. That’s why when you see guys bulking up at the gym they are doing all different kinds of bicep curls to make big guns son! #SOsore
Day 13: Leg Day
Can you tell how this workout went down by the shade of my face?!? It may not have been a total leg workout but my legs were done, when I was done. I wish I’d have gotten some lunges in there. Overall though, it was good to get the extra cardio in with the run time. I ended up getting a little over two miles in on the treadmill.
Day 14: REST DAY!
It was such a nice day out. I highly recommend taking your workout outside whenever you can. The fresh air does a body good. Even better when you have good company. <3
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Procrastinator is my middle name, disorganized is my second middle name… Ever since I finished my first Spartan Race I wanted more from fitness, like to be able to help people with their fitness goals. Two years later I decided I wanted to be come …
Yup, it’s that time again. Goal setting, new commitments, lifestyle changes. Hooray!!!Go big or go home right?!? Nope. Let me tell you why… (Unless you are that one in a million.) Change is hard! Change is even harder when you try to pile on 20 …
My family loves burger night. Have you ever had the Morning Star Farms Roasted Garlic and Quinoa burger patties? Those are my favorite pre-made burgers. I try to avoid soy where I can because my body doesn’t seem to like it much. I’m so glad to have found a simple recipe to make my own soy free burger. I really enjoy trying new recipes and this was one, that I tweaked to make my own. So yummy!
You can do all sorts of toppings on your burgers, as you can see I went with guacamole. It’s funny, I’m not big on avocado, I know it’s good for me so I try to eat it regularly. The more I eat it, the less I dislike it. I think the guacamole pairs nicely because it’s got such a creamy flavor to go with the little bit of kick of the jalapeño and lime. As a vegan, it’s super important to get those healthy fats in there because they help keep you satiated, if you’ve ever had a salad for a meal you know what I’m talking about. Seems like a salad doesn’t stick around for long if it’s just straight up veggies. The healthy fats of nuts or avocado helps it hang out a while longer because it takes your stomache acid longer to break down your food, protein works the same way. Hence me trying harder to like the green wonder food!
Black Bean & Quinoa Burgers with a Zesty Jalapeño Sauce
Zesty Jalapeño Sauce:
Burger Patties:
Zesty Jalapeño Sauce: In a small bowl combine vegannaise, lime juice, zest, jalapeno, cilantro, and salt and pepper to taste; mix well. Refrigerate if not serving soon. Makes ½ cup.
Burgers: Measure ½ cup black beans and set aside. Place remaining black beans in processor and process until pureed. Add the green onions, red bell pepper, cilantro, quinoa, flaxegg, garlic, salsa, lime juice, and salt and pepper to taste; process until well-combined. Remove to a medium bowl and stir in the reserved black beans. Taste and adjust seasonings. Form into 4 patties.
In a shallow bowl, mix together the cumin and cornmeal. Dredge the patties in the mixture. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet and saute the burgers, two at a time, until golden and slightly crispy. Repeat with remaining burgers using the last tablespoon of oil.
Tip: If you don’t like the bitter taste of quinoa, try rinsing it before cooking to help get rid of the earthy flavor.
Troy decided to watch “What the Health?” again this weekend and it got me thinking about our diet. I was actually cooking while he was watching it but my ears were perked the whole time. I’ve been preparing vegan food in our house for almost …