Tuesday Tip: natural remedy for infant ear infection!

Here is a little tip I have recently learned and wanted to share about melaleuca oil (certified pure ); it is a safe and natural alternative to cure an infants ear infection!  I like this option instead of having to use antibiotics on a young baby or child to cure an ear infection!! Just put a few drops in their ear 3-5 times a day. The oil can also be used to treat many other ailments. 

I am very excited to be learning more about the benefits of using essential oils! I'll be sure and share more soon!!

Blessings,

Sarah

What's for dinner: Stromboli

Stromboli is super easy to

make and never disappoints! Stromboli is basically a gaint pizza roll.

Here is how I make make my Stromboli:

Toppings: red onion, green pepper, tomato, Italian sausage, mozzerella cheese, parmasen cheese, pizza sauce. 

Dough: I make my own, but you can also buy pizza dough at the store. Roll out your pizza dough.

Add your toppings

Roll dough and toppings into a giant roll.

Fold each end of the roll under, to help contain your toppings.

Top with olive oil, pinch of salt, pepper, parmesean cheese. Bake on a pizza stone for best reaults. Bake at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes.

Slice and serve. Pizza sauce on the side for dipping is also yummy, if you like a lot of sauce!

Serves 8 people. Enjoy!!

Blessings,

Sarah 

Quiche: An easy go-to meal

We eat a lot of eggs in our house! They are fast, easy to cook, and are a filling meal. My husband loves quiche, so I usually make it once every other week. I like making quiche because I can use whatever ingediants I already have in my refrigerator. 

I make my own pie crust! To make crust: Mix 1 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup oil (vegetable or safflower is fine) 1/4 cup milk, 1/4 teaspoon salt. Mix dough, then hand press dough in your pie dish.

Here is what I typically put in my quiche:

-8 eggs

-1/4 teaspoon salt

-1/4 teaspoon pepper

-1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

- 1/4 cup plain yogurt (optional)

-Veggies ( red or green pepper, spinach, broccoli, onion, tomato, mushroom, ect, whatever you have in your fridge)

-chicken or spicy sausage (if I have some)

-cheese (cheddar, feta)

Beat the eggs, add salt, pepper, nutmeg, plain yogurt (makes the quiche creamy) Mix in veggies. Pour mixture into pie crust. Add cheese on top. 

Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 mins. (Make sure the middle of the quiche is firm before you take it out of the oven) Serves 8

Quiche is great the next day for breakfast or lunch!

Blessings,

Sarah

My August fitness challenge

A new month means a new fitness challenge! I completed the guns, buns and abs 30 day challenge yesterday and oh boy, it was definitely challenging!! I completed 250 squats, 40 push-ups and 100 leg lifts yesterday, which was the final workout for that challenge. I must say that I am really liking the definition in my legs and abs from all those squats and leg lifts, so each rep was well worth it in the end!! 

I decided to give my quads and glutes a bit of a rest this month from all those squats and focus on my arm strength. My son now weights about 25 pounds and is continuing to grow, so all the carrying I do definitely strengthens my biceps, but I feel my triceps need to be engaged a bit more. So, the arm routine I'm going to do 3-4 days a week will be primarily focusing on my triceps as well as my shoulders and back muscles. All of which are important for carrying a heavy baby around :)

I am also doing a 30 day running challenge. I read about it in Runners World magazine. Everyday for 30 days I am going to run at least 1 mile per day. I am no longer training for any races this year but I would like to maintain my fitness level and mileage I have achieved this summer after an 5k, 10K, and half marathon. I don't have a specific plan for my runs each day, as long as a run at least 1 mile. I will just base my runs on how I am feeling that day, and will alternate between running on my treadmill and outside.

Come on ladies and join me this month to test your strength, endurance, and feel better along the way! I'll post updates and pics of my progress along the way! 

Blessings, 

Sarah

New favorite beauty products

I wanted to share some of my favorite beauty products I'm using and loving with you. 

1. Bobbie Brown eye corrector: I've been using this under eye concealer for years. It is amazing, conceals my under eye circles like no other! I have not be able to find anything else that works as well. Believe me I have tried. I have used other higher priced concealers and drugstore brands, but nothing compares. It's creamy and blends in amazingly! Worth every penny. $24 from Nordstrom. 

2. Andalou beauty balm: I have been looking for a new all natural day time lotion with SPF. This can by tricky to find! I like a day lotion that feels good on my skin and not to thick and greasy with zinc oxide in it for sun protection. Others I have tried don't smell good and feel too cakey on my face. This BB cream has SPF 30, smells wonderful, is tinted, and goes on smooth without feeling heavy. Plus, it's filled with antioxidants to fight fine lines and signs of aging. I like that you can use this lotion without makeup and your skin will be even-toned. $20 from Whole Foods.

3. Tarte clean slate eye primer: Use this to prime your eyelids before you apply eye shadow and under eye concealer. Works very well! No creasing and makeup stays in place for 12 hours. I like that I can use this primer under my eyes to waterproof my concealer and decrease the look of fine lines! I've used other eyelid primers, and I like this one for its dual purpose! $20 at Ulta

4. Anastasia Beverly Hills prefect brow pencil: I have learned the improtance of eye brow maintenance and appearance.  I spent years over plucking my brows and now they are thin and sparse looking. Having fuller, more defined brows helps make your face look polished, put together, and enhances your eyes! So I order to achieve my prefect brow I use a pencil, and brow shadow to shape and fill in my brows. I love the Anastasia Beverly Hills products. I don't mind spending a little more money for brow products because I use them daily in my beauty routine, and others I have tried don't work as well for me. The shade I found matches prefectly with my natural brows and blends easily. One end of the pencil also comes with a brush. $22 at Ulta

5. Jason Cocoa Butter body lotion:

It smells wonderful! It is thick and intensely moisturizers my dry skin. I am really picky about my body lotion. Here in Colorado it is very dry and I must moisturize daily to maintain soft skin. I also like using more natural products on my skin. This lotion has no parabens, SLS, petrolatum, artificial colors or phthalates! $10 Whole Foods or Sprouts Market.

Give these products and try and let me know your thoughts! 

Blessings,

Sarah 

Date night

Date night with my husband is a special and important time for us. Getting away just the two of us and enjoying each other without baby is such a gift and blessing to our marriage. It can be difficult for us to do often, since our families all live in other parts of the country, we don't have many babysitters! But we try and make it a priority to go out on dates as often as we can. Even if it's having date night at home together, after baby is in bed.

We are able to be better parents to our son if we are putting our marriage first and making our relationship a priority, even in this busy season of having an infant. 

I love to get dressed up and looking good for my man when we go out on a date! Here are my outfit details:

Jacket: Gap

Tee: JCrew

Skirt: Loft

Flats: Target

Bag: Urban Outfitters 

Blessings,

Sarah

Summer time means fresh strawberry rhubarb pie

I am one lucky lady today to receive some delicious, fresh, rhubarb picked with love from my mother-in-laws garden! She flew it all the way from Iowa just for me!! 

 My husbands favorite pie happeneds to be to be strawberry rhubarb. So, some pie baking was in order today, since I received fresh ingredients!! When I make this pie I usually just buy frozen rhubarb. It is hard to find and has a short selling season in grocery stores. So it's a wonderful treat to make a fresh from the garden pie! 

I am excited to share a family favorite 

pie recipe with you! 

strawberry rhubarb pie recipe: 

Crust: (This is a 2 crust pie)

1& 1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix ingredients, roll out your your dough and place it the bottom of your pie dish.

Pie Filling: 

1 1/2 cup sugar

3 Tablespoons flour

1 cup sour cream

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups chopped rhubarb 

1 cup chopped strawberries

Mix all ingediants together then put in pie dish over the crust.

Then make the second pie crust and place it on top of the filling. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. 

Then mix together the topping and add to pie after it's been baking for 40 minutes. 

Topping:

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 butter

Mix together and spread on top of pie. Back for an additional 10 minutes.

 

We think it's best to enjoy when the pie is warm. It also tastes delicious with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top! 

Give it a try! 

Blessings,

Sarah