squeaky clean

In my never-ending efforts toward a greener lifestyle, I've all but eradicated plastic from my shower. And it was surprisingly easy!

To be honest, I never really considered the environmental impact of using products in plastic bottles until last summer, when my mom, tired of constantly throwing away plastic bottles, decided to stop buying body wash and switch to bar soap. "But I recycle plastic bottles," you're probably thinking. And I commend you for that, of course, but plastic recycling is not as efficient or eco-friendly as we would like to think (you can read more information about plastic and recycling here). So, really, the best way to reduce the impact of plastic bottles on the environment is to buy less of them.

So I made the switch to soap.

 

Buying bar soap is actually kind of fun. There are so many delicious-smelling soaps around, and it's easy to find soap that is locally-made from eco-friendly products that are good for your skin (check farmer's markets or local gift shops). A few of my favorite national products are Toms of Maine Daily Moisture Beauty Bar, Trader Joe's Oatmeal and Honey Soap, and the heavenly Archipelago Pomegranate Body Soap (which I got in my January Birchbox!)

 

 

 

 

After tackling body wash bottles, I moved on to shampoo. I had read about Lush's bar shampoos but was a little freaked out by them, to tell the truth. But after I bought and started using the Seanik Shampoo Bar, I was afraid no more.  It is easy to use, lasts forever (I'm going on 2+ months of daily use and still have about half the bar left), and leaves my hair soft, shiny, and healthy. Win, win.

If you use this, I highly recommend getting a wire soap rack - unless, of course, you want to turn your bathtub bright blue...

What about you? Do you think you could make your shower plastic-free?

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healthy recipe round-up

I just got back from my annual Austin vacation to see my sisters and to attend Wurstfest, an annual festival of sausage and beer in New Braunfels, Texas (I confess: I meat-cheated just a little. Don't judge me.) The trip was really fun, and it was wonderful to spend time with my sisters and family. 

Ryan and Kate with two of the ELEVEN pitchers of beer the seven of us drank. We were pretty proud of that number, to be honest.

Alison and I cheers-ing to Wurstfest!

Dad, beer, sausage.

And the delicious barbecue we had the next day, as if we hadn't consumed enough greasy food... 

But like all Texas trips before, this one consisted of too much beer, queso, chips, tacos, and ice cream, and I left for home feeling pretty sick. So this week I'm rebooting with lots of vegetables and very minimal cheese. Here are a few healthy recipes I'm pulling out of my Pinterest archives to help get me back to normal.

Slow-Cooker Vegetable and Chickpea Curry

Source: myrecipes.com via Erin on Pinterest

Risotto with Butternut Squash, Leeks and Basil

Source: epicurious.com via Erin on Pinterest

Creamy Broccoli-White Bean Soup

Source: wholeliving.com via Erin on Pinterest

Creamy Quinoa Primavera

Source: letsdishrecipes.blogspot.com via Erin on Pinterest

Sweet Potato Cakes with Sour Cream and Black Bean Salsa

Source: lisaiscooking.blogspot.com via Erin on Pinterest

Spinach and Artichoke Pasta

Source: team-t-adventures.blogspot.com via Erin on Pinterest

Herbed Pea and Quinoa Pilaf

Source: foodfitnessfreshair.com via Erin on Pinterest

Two-Tomato Pasta with Mozzarella, Basil and Pine Nuts

Source: theitaliandishblog.com via Erin on Pinterest

Have you tried any new healthy recipes lately?

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banana soft serve

Although I'm working on becoming a healthier eater, there is one habit I can't break: I need want dessert after every.single.meal. Obviously, it would not be very good for me to eat chocolate or ice cream or cupcakes after every meal (I'm not one of those people who can eat, like, 10 m&ms and be satisfied. Do those people seriously even exist? I'm skeptical.) So, I'm working on finding healthyish alternatives to satisfy my sweet tooth. And this amazingly easy recipe is one of them.

Homemade Banana Soft Serve

(source)

Ingredients:

Frozen bananas.

...

Seriously, that's it. 

Take frozen bananas (I peel and chop them into 2-inch chunks before freezing), toss them in a food processor, and process them until they're creamy. 

Top with chocolate syrup if you'd like (I highly recommend this step). 

Eat and enjoy!

(source)

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yogi

This afternoon, I went to a yoga class.

source

For some reason, I never remember how much I love yoga. I always leave a class feeling strong, centered, refreshed and re-energized. I've practiced on and off (more off than on) for the past several years, but I've never really been dedicated. But after today's sweaty vinyasa class, I think it's time to re-dedicate myself.

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Mojito Quinoa

Everyone loves a mojito, right? How about a tasty, healthy meal with all the flavors of a mojito? That, I believe, is what they call a win-win.

Mojito Quinoa
adapted from food-fitness-fresh air

 

1 c. quinoa
1 c. fresh or frozen peas
1 avocado, chopped
juice of 1 lime
small handful fresh mint, chopped
smaller handful fresh basil, chopped

cayenne pepper to taste (start with just a dash)
salt and pepper to taste
hot sauce to taste (I added about 1/2 tsp.)

Cook the quinoa and the peas (separately) according to package directions. Chop the avocado, place in a large mixing bowl and sprinkle with salt. Add the lime juice, mint and basil, and the peas and quinoa. Add cayenne, salt and pepper, and hot sauce, mix well, and garnish with a couple of mint leaves if you're feeling fancy.

 Somehow, I managed to add the perfect amounts of all of the spices, including my husband's crazy person hot sauce, and this turned out to be a slightly spicy, flavorful, DELICIOUS dinner. So delicious that I meant to save some for lunch today and ended up eating it all. oops.

Enjoy!

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Avocado Pasta

Last night, an interfriend tweeted about the relative price of avocados depending on where you buy them - specifically, that they're crazy cheap (and delicious) in California and ridiculously expensive here in the Midwest. To which I say: NOT FAIR

So if any of you are reading this from California (OFFLS, I'm looking at you), you need to make this right now. It's super easy, full of healthy fats, and it is DELICIOUS. 

Avocado Pasta

adapted from oh she glows

1 ripe avocado
juice of 1 small lemon
garlic to taste (I used 3 cloves)
small handful fresh basil (I used thai basil, but any will do)
salt and pepper to taste
2 tbsp olive oil, plus more if necessary
1/4 c. frozen peas
the 2 green beans that your garden has managed to produce (oh, is that just me?)
pasta
parmesan or other Italian cheese

Cook your pasta of choice with the peas and beans. While that is cooking, put everything else into a food processor and process until smooth, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula and adding more olive oil if necessary. Drain the pasta and toss with the avocado mixture. Top with a sprinkle of cheese and ground pepper. Eat and enjoy!

I always take blog photos with a ladylike amount of food in my giant bowls, and then heap much more on once I've taken a good picture. and then I usually go back for more. please don't judge me.

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Southwestern Quinoa

When I first became a vegetarian, I was ill-prepared, to say the least. I had no idea what constituted healthy eating, so I spent the first few months of my new veg life eating tater tots and cheese. Lots and lots of cheese. This did not end well. So I began to explore clean eating and gradually learned how to make the most of a plant-based diet, learning about new foods and picking up new techniques along the way.

Even though I've been vegetarian for almost three years now, I'm still learning, and am always striving to find ways to make my diet healthier and more fulfilling. Recently, I added quinoa to my repertoire, and as with the chickpeas, lentils, and green monsters that came before it, thought "why haven't I been eating this forever???"

Quinoa is super easy, super delicious, and super healthy (I know, I should totally be a food writer). After painstakingly following a few quinoa recipes, I realized that an established recipe isn't really even necessary for most simple dishes. So I threw caution to the wind and came up with my own.

Southwestern Quinoa
1 cup quinoa
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup frozen corn
1 green pepper, chopped
1 lime, juiced
1 tbsp taco seasoning (I was out of taco seasoning so I used a Mrs. Dash chipotle seasoning that had been in my cupboard for approximately forever)
dash cayenne pepper
shredded cheese

Cook the quinoa according to package directions. When finished, transfer it to a big bowl. In the same pot, cook the black beans in half of the lime juice. Cook the corn according to package directions. Chop the pepper. Add all ingredients together with the remaining lime juice and the spices. Mix well.  Top with shredded Mexican cheese, serve and enjoy!

what other healthy foods do I need to try?

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an open letter

Dear every guy that lifts weights at my gym,

Hi. Yes, I'm a girl. Yes, I lift weights. Yes, I do so while bouncing around to Robyn or Lissie or even Britney. Yes, the weights I lift weigh less than yours. Yes, I see that you're tough and strong and oh-so-dedicated to weight-lifting. Congratulations.

NOW WILL YOU PLEASE GET OUT OF MY WAY?!?!?!?

Seriously, you are all ridiculous. You do not need to sit on a machine for five minutes in between sets. You do not need to look at me condescendingly when I ask you to move so I can use a machine or a weight. You do not need to judge me for being in the weight room in the first place. You do not need to check me out. You can just keep to yourself and stay out of my way, and we'll all lift our weights and all will be well.

Okay? Okay.

Love,

Erin

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