november senses

november breezes.....brrrrrrrrr

.....just a few happenings from the past week...

seeing: snow. our first flurries in the valley, and the mountain tops are growing more white every day.

missing: not gonna lie, I am truly missing summer. November has me all like, "blehck." The high trails are done for the season, the low trails are too muddy to ride, the fall color is long gone, and the world is just a colorless brown hue.....all that + lots of wind. 

So summer, I miss you.

waiting: but I am anxiously awaiting for our first turns in fresh powder....hoping for a good snow year!

celebrating: last week I had my last clinical in long term care--woohoo!! Come January we start up in the hospital....equally exciting and terrifying.

feeling: so excited for Thanksgiving! I've always loved this day--it kicks off the holiday season, and I'm really a big fan of giant feasts, especially those with mashed potatoes. 

black fridaying: I 99% hate shopping, especially in stores, especially with crowds. Friday I'll be taking REI's #optoutside challenge and spending some time outdoors....which I guarantee is waaaayyyy healthier, and quite a bit cheaper than shopping, am I right?

eating: Buffalo Blue Cheese fries at Cubbys. 

Because......why not.

reading: Nothing exciting. At all. Pharmacology anyone? But I'm looking forward to Christmas break and hoping to read a book or two--any suggestions? Something easy and fast that I really don't have to use my brain for.....it is a break after all.

researching: I recently wrote a paper about the use of medical marijuana for children with epilepsy--it's a fascinating topic to me. If you like that kind of stuff (medical studies....or.....weed?) check out this TED talk --super interesting!

running: I'm trying to get out to clear my head when I can--Charly and I had our first sloppy/muddy/icy run of the season. Looking forward to more.

watching: with the dropping temps and the shorter days we find ourselves snuggling up in blankets watching a movie as a family each weekend. The last few Saturday evenings we've been glued to the screen watching Indiana Jones.....we love him!

driving: as I type this we are currently on our way over the river and through the........million miles of barren Nevada desert.....to grandma's house we go!

studying: everything. My first final is next week and then the rest are spread out over the following few weeks. bad news: these next few weeks will be nuts. good news: I'm so close to finishing my first semester!

cursing: My chickens. We added a few hens to our flock last winter and they have all been fighting ever sense. The last few months have been terrible....they are literally tearing each other to pieces (it looks like there has been a giant pillow fight out in the coop), and one of them is eating the eggs. EATING THEIR OWN BABIES! We are lucky to get out and get one before she tears into them all (still trying to figure out who it is). Anyone want chicken for dinner?

the lone egg...

baking: I mostly stick to my same ol' cookie recipes and Whitney Ingram's famous brownies , but this week we branched out. My mom used to make these around Christmas time when I was little, so I decided it was time to add these into the cookie rotation. 

I added some cinnamon.....just because.

Mexican Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

(I take no credit for this recipe. It's Mrs. Martha's.....all I did was add the cinnamon, swap out the vanilla, and roll in granulated sugar AND powdered sugar

8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt 

1 teaspoon cinnamon

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 1/3 cups packed light-brown sugar

2 large eggs

2 teaspoon Mexican Vanilla (since I am not often in Mexico, I like THIS one)

1/3 cup milk

1 cup(ish) confectioners' sugar, plus more for rolling

1 cup(ish) granulated sugar (I added a bit of cinnamon to this as well)

Melt chocolate in a heat-proof bowl, or the top of a double boiler, over a pan of simmering water. Set aside to cool. 

Into a small bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. 

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and light-brown sugar until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla, and beat until well combined. Add melted chocolate. 

Add dry ingredients alternately with milk. Mix on low speed until just combined. 

Divide dough into quarters, wrap with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator until firm, about 2 hours. 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside. On a surface dusted with confectioners' sugar, use your hands to roll each portion of dough into a log 16 inches in length and about 1 inch in diameter. Wrap logs in plastic wrap, and transfer to a baking sheet. Chill for 30 minutes.  (let's be honest, I didn't roll them into logs, I divided them up into four large lumpy roundish shapes, wrapped them up and put them in the freezer for about a half out, then took them out and rolled them into balls to roll in sugar)

Using your hands, roll the small pieces into balls.  Roll them FIRST in granulated sugar, then in confectioners’ sugar, a few at a time. If any of the cocoa-colored dough is visible, roll dough in confectioners’ sugar again to coat completely. Place cookies on prepared baking sheets 2 inches apart. Bake until cookies have flattened and sugar splits, 12 to 15 minutes. 

Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Enjoy!

How was your week?

Gear guide: 

Basin and Range Vest

Willow Creek Leather Mystery Braid Cuff

FOR WINTER RUNNING I LOVE

-Athleta's Be Free tights--super comfy + warm, but breathable to you don't freeze in your sweat

-a good pair of wool socks

-skida head bands!

friday senses

.... a little catch-up from the last month....

seeing: back to school EVERYTHING. new shoes, backpacks, pencils, crayons, all over my house. The dreaded time has finally come......NO! I'm just not ready....I'm in mourning and we are eating lots of ice cream. I know I know--we still have a good month and a half of nice summery weather around here, but it's just not the same once school starts....who's with me?!

celebrating: speaking of school, I finished up my summer classes! Woohoo for no more math!! I have had my nose in a math book for the past two weeks and I've had math jargon and word problems and interest rates and parabolas haunting my dreams at night. It feels SO good to be done.

anxiously awaiting: I have a week break and then I hop right back into class. Anatomy and chemistry this time--they will keep me busy but I'm excited to dive in. and nervous. but mostly excited....

anniversary-ing: Robby and I hit the big 1-2 in July...TWELVE!! We spent an evening out on the town like real adults, and saw Wicked--I HIGHLY recommend it! I can close my eyes and it seems like it was just yesterday that two crazy kids got married and tried to figure out how to be grownups together. I think of all we've been through--all the moves, our awesome kiddos, 1000s and 1000s of roadtrip miles....and I'm so happy about all we have accomplished in our funny little life together.
hug hug, kiss kiss, little hug, big kiss.

dating: every summer the kids head to grandma and papa's for a week and Robby and I squeeze as many dates in as we can. We hit a handful of our favorite restaurants (order the fig pizza HERE!) and spent a good amount of time on the trail. We climbed Twin Peaks, which rises above the Salt Lake valley at 11,328ft--it's a 5100ft climb in 4 miles, which = ridiculously tired legs. But it was well worth the pain and so fun to get out and get dirty together. Some of you may remember the last time we attempted Twin (HERE)....there were no injuries this time--there was a giant bull moose, but we all came out of it ok.

and look at the view!

running: I had a lapse of judgement last month and signed up for a 50k....ha! I have been getting out and enjoying some long runs on Saturdays, but I'm anxious to step up my training a bit once the kids are in school. I just can't resist these trails...

montana-ing: we spent a few days along the river in Montana with my family last week. We played in the water, explored a ghost town (more on that soon), and spent and afternoon digging for crystals. You know, because Montana is the best.

 

loving: Lu and her fascination with gross bugs. You guys HAVE to check out
Tomboy Vintage shirts. They are the cutest for your girls (and they have adult tees too!) I have the hiking tee and it's super soft and the fit is perfect--I really love a good T-shirt. We were happy to find and support this little company promoting rough and tumble girls--check them out!

devouring: every bite of summer fruit we can get our hands on, and our new favorite Kodiak Cakes. Now you all know that I am a "from scratch" kind of girl, but I am seriously loving this pancake mix. They are whole grain--nothing artificial in them at all, they are super easy to make (add water! and I usually toss in a few eggs). I like the Power Cakes--they have whey protein and these are my new favorite fuel before my long runs. I usually make up a big batch so we have left-overs for a few days. They are so good with coconut oil, fruit, and a little maple syrup or honey.
(some Costcos carry them and most Targets do:)

It's almost weekend! Get out and making the most of it!

friday senses

woohoo for friday! here is a little peek at our week....

seeing: snow. yep. snow. the last few mornings we've woke up to fresh white stuff on the mountain. luckily it's staying up there (I mean c'mon.....it's May), but we are definitely ready for some warmer temperatures....and soon please.

counting down: 15 days left of school for the kids!! We have all given up on getting to bed on time, and they have been playing outside every night until sundown....I have lost all control.

not missing: sugar. If you read my post yesterday, you saw that I am studying this whole Whole 30 business. I love so many things about it, and while I don't think I'll be doing the 30 day program any time soon, (I'm still super hung up on so much meat) I committed myself to this whole week and it's been great. My favorite part has been coming up with new meal ideas--so many vegetables! I don't eat a ton of sugar during the week usually, but I thought I might miss my dark chocolate after dinner or peanut butter and chocolate chip spoonful at 4:00 that sometimes accidentally happens. (tell me it happens to you too) I really haven't missed it. Who knows--maybe I'll have a treat this weekend, maybe not, but it feels good to know that sugar doesn't have a hold on me like it once upon a time did.
thanking: you guys! I LOVED all of your comments on yesterday's post--thank you thank you for chiming in! It's so great to learn from each other.

sleeping: under one billion trillion stars last weekend. If you haven't seen the stars in the desert, then you haven't seen the stars.   

watching: I basically didn't watch any tv these past few months--2014 has been pretty much tv-less. The few times we turned it on I felt like everything was dumb.....is that true these days? Are there any shows worth watching anymore?

loving: In last month's natural beauty post, I briefly mentioned Aztec Secret Clay. I have been using it since then and really loving the results. My skin still has a ways to go, but it is clearing up better than it has in years. I'll do another post on it in a month or so--but seriously check it out. I mix it with THIS --my very favorite apple cider vinegar.

exploring: new places last weekend--every time I visit the desert I love it even more (I'll share a few more snaps next week) 

asking: ok someone teach me about essential oils. I know I am really late to the game here, but I am so interested in them, and have no idea where to begin--
brand/favorite oils/must have/etc. 
you guys are always so smart--teach me.

juicing:

Go Green Juice

this one is a zinger--one of my new favorites! bonus: stir in some chia seeds

-3 big handfuls of spinach

-1/2 of a cucumber

-1 large piece of pineapple

-handful of parsley (I am loving parsley in juice!)

1 lemon, peeled

1/2" piece of ginger

Do you have a favorite juice right now?

happy weekend! 
and happy mother's day mamas!
(a favorite mother's day post HERE)

blogged 1 year ago: tiny flock

blogged 2 years ago: worth 1000

blogged 3 years ago: friday senses

friday senses

powder for breakfast.

It's spring! It's Friday!! Woohoo!

Here's a peek at our week.

seeing: blue skies. melting snow. lots and lots of sunshine! spring is here (although I know winter is going to surprise us just a few more times this next month....)

presenting: I gave a presentation in school this week about healthy habits in early adulthood. I found THIS talk on dieting absolutely fascinating--check it out for sure.

schooling: Two weeks ago was midterms! I've made it halfway! These next few weeks are going to get crazy.....and I'm trying not to get nervous with all the papers/papers/papers/tests that will be happening. One day at a time, right?

playing: we've been up on the mountain every chance we get these past few weeks--ski season is just about over.

celebrating: Robby celebrates a birthday this weekend! I was with him when he turned 22.....and now he's an old old man. Can't wait to party.

dreaming: I won't lie.....I'm dreaming about summer.

reminiscing: We have been in this house now for a little over a year......crazy! It has gone by so fast ....yet also feels like forever.
reading: go back and read the comments from last weeks beauty post (HERE). I have the smartest readers in all the land! Can't wait to try some of the tips.

looking/feeling awesome: stuck in powder. laughing and flailing as robby takes my picture.

instagramming: I'm no longer posting your "How We Weekend" photos here on the blog--but keep tagging away and come follow the @howweweekend account for a chance to be featured there!
(new here? tag your weekend adventures #howweweekend on instagram so we can all see what you are up to!)

wishing: as soon as we are done in the snow, I need the trails to dry up so we can get the bikes out!

eating: quick and easy.....that's my motto these days. 

 

Burrito Bowl

I have posted exactly 1274 versions of burrito bowls on this blog....here is the latest favorite:

-brown rice

-quinoa

-black beans

pickled cabbage (cabbage and your favorite vinegar (white, white wine, red wine, apple cider...etc). Eat it right away or let it sit for a few days in the fridge. )

-roasted sweet potatoes (I always roast LOTS of sweet potatoes so I can throw them into whatever throughout the week)

-avocado

-sour cream

-lime

-cilantro

Happy Weekend!

friday senses

a peek at our week

wishing: for snow!! I have finally fallen completely in love with winter, and it hasn't snowed in weeks. We've been up skiing on the weekends and loving every second......but we really do need a good storm so we can keep this up......

 

feeling: happy! it's my birthday tomorrow......the big 3-1. You guys, thirties are so much better than twenties, I can't wait for this new year.

schooling: I didn't realize how much I missed school until these last few weeks! Learning, reading, highlighting, quizzing.......I love it. We'll see how I feel in a few weeks though.....I have two tests and a paper due next week......gulp.

just-a-little-bit-dreading: writing my English paper this weekend. It's been years and years and years since I had to write a paper about a topic I didn't choose.......and it's....hard. Wish me luck.

flipping through: my sis-in-law gave me this Williams Sonoma Slow Cooker Cookbook . It is not your typical "open a can and dump it in" slow cooker recipe book--the recipes are fresh and full of flavors. I'm anxious to try these recipes out--I'll let you know what I find.

wondering: I'm working on another organic post (remember THIS ONE a few years ago?) I want to cover a few more areas--do you have any questions about eating organic? Ask them here (or leave your advice-the more the merrier) and I will see if I can include it in my post.

flashing back: My homemade yogurt recipe is making the rounds on the Internet right now, and I think I need to make another batch with our milk from down the road. 

Step by step on how to make yogurt (in your crockpot!) HERE

watching: I saw this quick video on the food industry the other day and found it very informative--you should take a look. We hear about these topics so often, but this breaks it down and makes it very easy to understand. 3 Lies about Food You're Used to Hearing and Might Even Believe:
Check it out HERE

asking: do you meal plan? I have always been terrible at it....what are your secrets? I need to be better organized in the kitchen with my busy schedule right now. Help me out!

snacking: What are your favorite portable (and healthy) snacks--either homemade or purchased? I'm looking for some ideas to add to my usuals to keep me alert and awake the days I'm at the school all day. Can I tell you one of my favorites? Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Larabars.  I've made a few different "bars" before (Mexican Chocolate, Peanut Butter), but if I don't have time to make anything, these Larabars are my favorite.

juicing: the juicer is still working full time. Lately for me, the stronger the juice, the better. This concoction is KALE-Y. Probably not for beginning juicers, unless you just love kale. Kale has a pretty strong flavor, and it also adds a texture to juice--a little bit thicker than most.

*saute your kale pulp and eat it with a fried egg!
*want this juice a bit sweeter? add an apple
*not sure about kale yet? start out with 1-2 pieces and build up

Kale and Carrot Juice
5 pieces of kale

5 carrots

1 lemon, peeled

1" piece of ginger

What are you juicing this week?
(see my giant juice post HERE)

Happy Weekend!

friday senses

a peek at our week.

running: in deep deep snow--the trail is still piled high. It's slow going, but it feels so good to get moving even if it's just a few miles.

dating: last weekend we went on our traditional Christmas date. The kids requested Bombay House just like last year, and then we headed to the store to shop for each other...peeking around corners and racks to make sure no one sees.

liking: I just really loved this photo of her doing art in her their room.

hearing: my kids are sooooooo loud. singing dancing laughing and just yelling. how are such tiny people so noisy? nonstop and well into the night. just too excited for Christmas.....and I've stopped fighting them. I just close their bedroom door and let them fall asleep on their own in a pile of legos......great parenting right there.

 

anticipating: last day of school for the year today!!

driving: I drove an hour in a blizzard to go to Trader Joes for some fun things for our Christmas feast. I just love that store and never ever go down that far.....but it was well worth the drive.

wishing: for snow! it snowed all around us yesterday, but most of ours has melted and it's just brown and sloppy around here. bring on the big fluffy flakes for Christmas!

decorating: sugar cookies. every Christmas my sister and brother and I decorated sugar cookies. My kids love doing the same each year.

playing: in the snow. I am so excited for this winter--we will head to the mountain as often as we can. I haven't been snowboarding in over 10 years......so when Ali and Monica took me out I was a bit LOT rusty. I mean, your feet are strapped to a board sailing down the mountain on snow. So yes, my tailbone is still sore and my ego is still bruised. I'm determined to practice practice practice so I can eventually keep up with these two.

teaching: this was our kids' first time ever skiing......it was a long day for all of us. 

see her face at the end of the day? yep.

I found myself often giving the "when you fall down you have to get back up again" speech. It's hard to see our kids frustrated, but we also think it's so important to push our kids--take them out of their comfort zone.....and speeding down the mountain unsure of how to stop.....was DEFINITELY out of their comfort zone. But at the end of the day they were already talking about next time....it's going to be a good winter.

shopping: done done done. I have a few groceries I will pick up on Monday but other than that it feels so good to be done. Thanks internet shopping and UPS man.

juicing: juice by morning, cookies by night. that's how it's going these days.

this juice tastes so good, and pomegranates and cranberries are everywhere right now.

Winter Red Juice

arils from 1/2 pomegranate

1 cup cranberries

3 carrots

1" piece of ginger

Happy Weekend!

blogged 1 year ago: Christmasy Things

blogged 2 years ago: pomegranate 

blogged 3 years ago: Christmas Letters